Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts owns me, I don't even own a Keyblade =C
Pairing: SoRiku
Summary: No one seemed to notice when Sora's smiles faded (SoRi) and then, Riku came back.
A/N: Just going through my old notepads. Cleaning has it's uses after all! It's an old fic-plot, but still something I liked =D Reviews make my day! Love, Jaffa xxx
Needs of Many
No one used to notice, in the thrill of battle and amongst all the fighting, the way Sora really fought.
Donald was to busy chanting.
Goofy to busy raising his shield.
Mickey was fighting on ahead.
No one used to notice Sora's smiles fade, eyes glisten.
Then... Riku came back.
Tainted and broken though he was, even in the heat of battle Riku noticed Sora and Sora's tears.
One for every heartless slain, one for every Nobody downed.
Sora was hurting, breaking, even as he charged on and on.
The heart that beat inside Sora was light and pure, the perfect weapon...
But humanity shone through Sora's soul. Compassion and caring and forgiveness, so very wrong for a soldier.
So very heartless to make him fight anyway.
Death by death Riku saw his friend fade.
Losing himself, piece by piece, as he made the sacrifice of his beautiful soul to fight for the cause.
So, Riku fought beside him.
Right alongside him, though often in front. Striking before Sora had to, protecting Sora from his self-inflicted pain.
And Sora wasn't oblivious.
Confronted his friend, the boy he searched again and again for, and scolded him for working so hard. Then, with a sad smile, told him to stop.
"I'd rather the world be safe," he'd confessed, "then me returning to it."
That had hurt Riku maybe more than it should have.
Wasn't he the one to walk the path of darkness to save? Before it all went wrong, he was out only to protect all he cherished.
However, Riku could do nothing but consent.
Slaughter alongside, rather then before.
Sora seemed, at least, to smile more this way.
Never did Sora leave to patrol without Riku.
Never did Sora fall if Riku hadn't fallen first.
Never did Sora cry without Riku their to comfort.
And Riku did comfort.
From presence alone the burden was easier to bear.
The warm embraces held of the chill of gnawing guilt.
The gentle carresses were beautiful, all the more for they weren't for only pushing aside pain.
It was for them, and only them, when they kissed and promised afterward.
No for the souls and lives they felt themselves in debit to.
But there were so many to save.
One heartless-nobody life for the thousands it could ruin.
Maybe Riku was right, and it was a fair exchange, the guilt bearable.
And the sacrifice of Sora's comfort felt less like a sacrifice, when Riku was there to hold his hand.
(xxx)