The Deep Shadow Within

What is it, the third time I revised?!

Random KH Fact:

Originally, Sora and Riku are supposed to be a couple, in Japan. Since Disney wouldn't allow yaoi, and America banned it, the two were changed to close friends.

Chapter One: Alone

The misty wisps of thunder clouds loomed overhead, the low rumbling of thunder threatened to unleash a storm. As the gentle breezes started to blow in great gusts, the trees swaying back and forth, the figure laying atop a particular bent paopu tree rested alone.

Sora smiled sadly up at the sky, the sunset not orange, but a dull, saddening grey, just like his emotions.

The keybearer looked down at the ground as the splotches of tears stained the dry sand, as the past few moments rumbled through his head. "Kairi, Riku, I'm sorry," he whispered to himself, ignoring the light patters of rain on his skin.

A quite tall girl rested on the very tree Sora sat on, her short pink dress lightly fluttering in rhythm with the beat of the wind. A trio of other children raced around the tree, chanting things to them.

"Sora," Kairi asked, glinting her purple eyes at the boy. "What's this about your attitude? You've been acting odd-" Sora glared at her, turning around coldly, sighing, "It's none of your business!" before attempting to jump off the tree.

"Sora!"

"It's not your place to even talk about it!" came the reply.

The Princess of Heart was silent before saying, "But you're my friend, and I'm concerned!"

Sora turned around swiftly, celestial blue looking into violet. "Well maybe I don't want you to be! It doesn't matter, and it doesn't matter to anyone else, whether it be Tidus, Selphie, OR Riku!"

"... Why did you put so much emphasis on Riku?"

Sora hissed, and Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie quit running around the two friends.

"Will you stop pestering me?!" Sora asked angrily, and Kairi flinched.

"Sora, why are you yelling?! What's so wrong about me asking you about-"

Sora fiercely grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to his chest. She gasped in surprise as she was about an inch away from his emotionless face.

"Stop it."

Turning away, and leaving the girl behind, Sora felt the urge to just apologize for being a fuck-tard, but instead, he kept his pace.

"Sora, I don't want to fight with you." Kairi held her breath, waiting for her friend to reply.

"Who said you had to?"

"Nobody, I guess..."

"Then drop it!" Sora screamed, very aware of what left him, giving up on feeling sorry, feeling sympathy. "Quit acting like this, Sora! I don't know if I could even call you that, since you're not acting like him! I'm tired of putting up with your attitude, and I need to know why!"

Sora paused in his walk, then slowly turned around. Kairi closed her mouth and straightened her posture as Sora's blank stare chilled her.

"You..." he whispered, and held a gloved hand to his chest.

She blinked oddly.

"W-what is it?"

Sora glanced at her dead-on, panning his next question down flat.

"D-do you love... Riku?" Mouth hanging slightly open, and violet eyes wide, before the orbs darted downwards.

"I like you... And... I like Riku a bit more..." came the sheepish reply, and Selphie stood behind Kairi now, Tidus and Wakka behind her.

Sora stared at her wide-eyed, azure rivaling the ocean. The keybearer felt hot tears spring to life, and he suppressed the urge to scream. She couldn't have Riku. Riku was HIS friend. Riku was HIS special friend. Nobody else can have him. He was Sora's from the start. It was just supposed to be them, and he couldn't realize it until now?

"...No." Sora finally looked up, a look of anguish now visible, if you look directly at his eyes.

"What?" Kairi asked, pulling away from their friends.

"YOU CAN'T FUCKING LIKE RIKU!"

She stared at Sora in fear. It wasn't like Sora to swear. Who- who is he?

"Wh-what?!"

In this absolute rage, Sora and Kairi's argument intensified, and the clouds looming overhead were threatening to block all light from the sun. As for the Princess of Heart, Kairi gave up on being nice to this 'Sora', and unleashed herself. The one that she had been holding back.

"Stop yelling at me! I can like who I WANT!"

"Yeah, but not HIM!"

"Why? It's not like he can date you or something!" Kairi quickly responded, and those words struck Sora like a slap to the face. And for a moment, he realized; she was right.

Absolutely, positively, right. But.. but why... why did his body... move on it's own?

Kairi sobbed quietly, cupping one red cheek in her palm, Selphie, Tidus and Wakka exchanging worried glances as they comforted Kairi. Sora's tears accumulated, wet splotches dotting the wooden bridge he stood on.

What Sora had just now noticed, was that Riku, had saw the whole thing.

And everything came crashing down on the keybearer.

He had just hit his best friend's CRUSH. He quickly turned to avoid Riku's worried glance, and dashed from the island, the calls of his name heard.

Sora let himself free his emotions, smiling up at the darkening sky. He lifted his head at the sound of crushed sand below footsteps, and to his luck, it was just the person he didn't want to see.

Riku.

Quickly turning to face the sea once more, Sora flinched when he felt the warmth of a hand on his shoulder. "It's raining out, Sora," Riku calmly stated, and Sora's expression darkened.

Ignoring the person he secretly loved so much, Sora focused his sullen gaze on the crashing waves of the high tide. "Come on, you can't stay here by yourself." Once again, Sora remained silent, and Riku sighed.

"Sora, if this was about before, I know you didn't mean it, so just talk to me! You're not acting like the Sora I know at all!"

As these words came to life, Sora turned angrily at Riku, and hissed through clenched teeth, "Maybe this is the Sora that had been here all along! maybe, this is the Sora, who hid behind a smile for many years, the happy and carefree boy! Well, let me tell you something Riku-"

Sora stood up from the tree, the rain drifting down his face concealing the salty tears that were falling.

"This is the real Sora! The one you failed to see through all these years!"

The keybearer trudged off, leaving a shocked Riku soaked, and standing alone in the rain.

Sora ran a gloved hand through his wet, damp hair. The front door to his home was knocked off it's hinges, as Sora had kicked it off. "Everyone will probably love it when I'm gone," he thought aloud, rummaging through his side pockets for that one item.

That wayfinder.

The signature bond of his ties of friendship to Kairi and Riku.

And he knew just what to do with it.

Climbing the rickety trellis up to Riku's open window, Sora hummed quietly to himself when he saw Riku asleep. The silver haired youth was snoring quietly, his breathing vibrating his toned body.

Sora smiled at his friend, wearing a compassionate expression. "Hey Riku," he whispered, and flinched in surprise when Riku seemed to awake. When the boy continued to sleep, Sora sighed.

"I guess, you won't be seeing me anymore. You'll never forgive me. After all that I did-" Tears welled up in Sora's eyes, and he held the Wayfinder close to his chest.

"I'll stop now. You be happy with Kairi." Setting the star on Riku's nightstand, where it will be visible when he awakes, Sora casually smiled again. "And if you look for me, I'll keep moving on. Remember Riku-"

Placing a chaste kiss on Riku's forehead, Sora brushed his bangs aside.

"I love you."

I really hope this chapter is better, it needed that DRAMA. Until the next revision! -Yaku-