Author's Note: I proudly announce that the sequel to Tainted Summer Light has been released! Rejoin Natsuno and her quest for love! If you're a new reader finding this story from the stream of stories, be sure to read Tainted Summer Light before tackling this behemoth. It'll tie up the loose ends c;. Enjoy Chapter 1!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Kingdom Hearts characters, places, and/or plot lines. I am of course some sort of Riku stalker. Why wouldn't I be?
Tainted Summer Memories
Chapter 1
Here
I stared at the great expanse of the velvet black sky and the creamy cheese moon, pulling my legs closer to my chest. The moon seems to get bigger everyday… How long have I been here anyway…? I wonder when I'll be blessed with the first star so I can make a wish… Oh… With a soft sigh, I released my grip on my legs and reached out towards the moon with my left hand. Maybe if I try hard… I'll probably be able to touch the sky… That would make my life much more exciting…
The familiar sound of whisking darkness reached my ears, a surprised expression shattering across my face that gradually melted into relief. I let my arm drop while I stood, dusting my capris of dirt. The ground was the same color of the sky and practically just a solid void so I guess I wouldn't be composed of dusty, dry soil, but it's a habit I'll never lose. Those sandy strips… When will I be able to go home…?
"Viz…" My soft voice called with a chime, hands clutching my heart as I turned to the figure who emerged from the darkness. "How's my brother?" The figure's shining orange eyes looked back at me, large, lifeless, and never moving; his red tattered cloak bellowing behind him as he cut across the dark velvet clad in equally black clothing. I thought about the stitched on smile on his face, forever smiling like a Jack-o-lantern only with devil horns and a halo hanging onto the horn on the right for dear life, and how he will never express his emotions like a normal person would with a frown. The dark marionette… Viz…
"Your brother is currently in enemy territory." Viz's voice, deep and rich, entering my ears as I worriedly casted my eyes upon the ground.
"Will he be okay…?" I questioned. I knew he would be alright, but… I can't help but to worry…
"The enemy probably won't mobilize until sometime." Viz explained while I nodded in response.
"What about Riku and Kairi?" Riku…
"The girl has returned to your home." I sighed a breath of relief. "The boy is till behind the door with the king."
"Shouldn't we search for the king…? We can find Riku too…" I suggested softly. Riku…
"… The king knows what to do. We can only believe in him and wait." I sighed, disappointed that my crush will have to continue wallowing in the darkness. Oh, how I wished to escape from this lovely prison and pull him into the light… but I know King Mickey would have forbid it. All I have to do is… pray… I heard the marionette's footsteps quicken away from my lingering figure, a confused expression coming to my face.
"Viz… where are you going?" I asked with curiosity. The cloaked puppet glanced back at me before turning away once more.
"I still have to monitor your brother." He replied.
"Can you give him a message? And… can you let me know his response…?" There was silence.
"I apologize. I cannot do that." I sulked, casting my eyes downcast and letting the arms that were beginning to hug my frame drop to my sides. "I must not let you be found by the enemy." I nodded silently, eyes still glued to the black velvet of the ground.
"I understand…" A moment of silence passed before the familiar sounds of whisking darkness came to my eyes.
"Don't answer to any intruders." I perked my head up with a baffled hum that questioned the marionette's final statement, only to find him gone and the silence to answer my curiosity. Gone again… I breathed a sigh, scanned my dark surroundings, the uneventful color of black sheering through my liveliness. The orange leaved peach trees that dotted the landscape started dying out the moment the moon in the sky speared. I've been a little out of my usual stupor. I'm a little bit quieter, but much more daring lately… This isn't like me at all…
Crouching down, I concentrated on one small piece of the ground, formulated a wish, a plead for a change of scenery. This world simulates my imagination's desires, but that's Viz's explanation. I never desired a moon to appear in this world, but never chose to act against it. I snapped out of my thoughts with surprise. I really need to concentrate… Focusing my green gaze upon the ground once more, I imagined soft blades of grass sprouting from what was probably nutrient deprived black velvet darkness. A frown came to my face after a few moments, disappointed that nothing happened. What's the deal with this world…? Is it… dying? I just want to see my imagination… for what it really is… I looked upon the ground, shaking my head, closing my green eyes. It made no difference anyways… everything was casted in darkness in this world…
Opening my eyes, a pool of light within the onyx ground appeared, long blades of grass spouted within the warm rays. With a soft gasp, I stared with awe, reaching out hesitantly. The blades look so fresh, so crisp, as if they were real… not carbon copies fabricated by my swaying emotions and unpredictable imagination. It's… beautiful… Suddenly I heard faint humming of a whisper, my body freezing as I stood in my mild fright. My arms hovered into a defensive position, my eyes darting back to the ground. The light… was gone along with the grass. I frowned and shook my head, my eyes beginning to sweep across the horizon.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" The faint apology was repeated by what seemed like a sobbing, reserved hum.
"S-sorry…? Who are you?" I questioned into the darkness, turning to sweep my eyes upon the darkness.
"They're forcing me to hurt him… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" I stared at the moon, gazing at the darkness below and the ghostly figure merging with it. A pale white dress. Ghostly blond locks. Eyes plagued with tears. And a sketchbook gripped in her delicate hand. Is that…? I shook my head. I see… myself in her…
"If these people are making you do this to him," I began. Could she be talking about my brother… or…? "then they're the ones at fault…" The tear stricken eyes looked up, electric blue and dulled by sorrow. She's… A moment passed and her image disappeared into the darkness. What was that…? I clutched my heart in confusion. Why was she so troubled…?
Don't answer to any intruders…
I jumped, Viz's warning ringing through my mind. Oops… I forgot… Casting my eyes upon where I last saw the light, I pouted. I wish I could just… No… It'll never happen…
"Ah… So this is where you've been hiding…" I jumped, turning towards the owner. A sleazy man clad in a black coat stood in the darkness, his dirty pale tan hair coloring the landscape. Intruder…! Viz… help…? "Have you heard about your brother" I brought my arms up into a defensive position, pursing my lips. Must not talk… Must not take temptation… A moment passed…
"You must have not heard the news, poor thing." The man doted. I bit my rosy lips, mustering a hard glare in the intruder's direction. Don't you dare spare me your mock pity… "He's returned home! What's it called Destiny Island." He barely remembers my home's name… A look of skepticism came onto my face, my hand forming a tight fist. Is this… the enemy? The man shrugged. "Still no answer?: My gaze hardened with unwelcome and hostility. The man shook his head.
"Then answer me this. Why would he come home without his beloved sister?" Because of Kairi. But the two would formulate a plane to find me for the\y would be hopeless without their radical thinker. However this isn't the case isn't it? Oh how I wanted to blow up and make my soft voice be heard in the darkness, but I must follow Viz's dictation. I can't betray this trust especially after all he has done…
"Still no response." The man tsked, slowly shaking his head with mock disappointment, flinging his arms lightly in frustration. "Let's try an experiment then, shall we?" There was a blue tinted light and the man stood on the horizon donning a light blue shield. The edges were composed of sharp daggers that looked as if they could shred through flesh with ease and gave off an icy presence.
"The hypothesis and variables are simple." The man began with a smirk. "We're going to see how long it will take for you to scream for mercy." The man took a step in his approach, prompting me to leap back in my defense. This isn't good… Viz… where are you? Should I use my magic? Or…? Confusion mixed with my panic as I mustered a brave face to hide the fear my spirit stirred. What should I do? What's going to happen to me…? I continued to back away from the fore, looking around the landscape for a sign of salvation, but only the darkness that gripped this land.
Suddenly as I looked beyond the approaching cloaked man, a certain color that almost blended with the black velvet caught my eye. The dark violet of the darkest midnight. Whisking darkness that I've become accustomed to very much. A worm hole to different lands, but in Suno tongue, a Viz hole. Why would he-? That's it…! The world…
Thrusting my arms before my frame, palms facing the now stationary adversary, I plastered a determined expression upon my face. An amused look came to the man's face, his weapon relaxed in his hand.
"What's this? Magic? This will be interesting…" was the man's amused response, my teeth gritting in annoyance. How dare he try to mess with my already untamed emotions and thoughts… I wish he would just disappear…! Please… dark abyss… grant this sole wish… So we can somehow come to understand each other afterwards… A breeze picked up around my feet and I felt something coming. I closed my eyes and left my arm cut across the darkness before me.
"Get out!" I heard the impact of the gale and soon the closing of the dark worm hole. Opening my green eyes, I gazed upon the dark landscape with a frown. He's gone… but… something rested on my head, making me jump with surprise and turn with arms raised high.
"So… they've come…" I stared at the puppet with a blank gaze, feeling his hand leave my brown locks.
"Viz…" I breathed with relief. It's just Viz… No need to get so worked up… "Viz… who was that guy?"
"Our foe." was the marionette's reply, his figure strolling away.
"But why did he try to get inside my head…?" I interrogated further, following the caped figure.
"Did he ask you questions?" Viz countered. I nodded, stopping in my tracks.
"I didn't answer though…" I added receiving a nod from the ever smiling puppet.
"Good." Viz turned to leave, causing me to deepen my frown. A moment passed. "They call themselves the Organization."
"What?"
"All in due time." I pouted, watching as he disappeared into the whisking darkness. Alone again… I looked upon the ground and wished for grass to appear once more. If only… But nothing happened. With a long sigh, I collapsed onto the ground, locating the only landmark in the sky with my green orbs.
"And I thought we would have a bonding moment abyss…" I sighed, letting my eyes droop. This world is just so unpredictable… Hmm…
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" I repeated, my eyes closed. "The one who should be apologizing one day… is myself…"
And You're Not With Me
End of Chapter 1
Author's Note: Don't destroy me! I'm just a meek fanfiction author that dies for a few years then comes back then dies again then is phoenix downed into oblivion. Look forward for Chapter 2! It'll come in due time... Everything will come in due time... All in due time...