Sunset

I've noticed Riku hasn't been himself lately. He seems distant, always staring off into space whenever I see him. I wonder what's on his mind.

"Sora!", Riku calls me.

I turn around, and there he is, his aqua eyes looking right into mine. The corners of his lips are curved into a smile, and the sun shining on his silvery blonde hair makes him look like an angel. He tosses a something to me, and caught off-guard I almost don't catch it. I look at what he's tossed me and am surprised to see what I'm holding; a paopu fruit. I blush and look at him confused.

He approaches me, his cheeks slightly pink and says "It's a paopu fruit. Legend has it that if two people share a paopu fruit, their destinies become intertwined, they become a part of each other's lives forever." He looks me in the eyes and says "I found it and I thought of you.". He lingers for a moment, studying me, and then walks away.

Where did that come from? What just happened?

Later, I see Riku sitting on a tree that's grown bent over, staring into the sea. He looks like he's somewhere far away and I wonder what's on his mind. I walk over to him and sit next to him. Staring at the sunset, I say "Hey."

"Hey", he replies. A moment of silence passes as we think of something to say.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" I say, trying to start conversation.

"Yeah.." he says... "it's just..it gets boring seeing the same thing everyday, endless sea..I want to get off this island, see the world.. I know there's so much more out there, so much more to see, to do..Sometimes..this island feels like a prison..and I want to escape".

I've always thought that, always felt the same way, but I shoved it to the back of my mind. All that thinking about it does is get me depressed. I know how Riku must be feeling. I want to tell him that we'll run away together, sneak aboard a ship at the pier and get out of this place, go to the city, start new lives. But I can't. I couldn't just leave my family like that, without a word, without saying goodbye. I couldn't do that to them.

"Yeah.." I say.."I know how you feel.." My stomach drops. I can't repress my feelings anymore. A great sadness comes over me as I stare into the endless sea with Riku. Is this really it? I think to myself. Is this all there's ever going to be to my life? Another long moment of silence passes between us as we listen to the waves crash against each other in the distance. I look at the ground and push myself off of the tree. "I should be getting home." I say.

"Wait, Sora." Riku says. I look at him and he walks toward me. In front of me, he looks at the ground for a moment, as if debating what he'll say. He then lifts his head up and leans toward me, closing his eyes, his lips pressing against mine and his body pressing me against the palm tree behind me. It happened so sudden. It felt like his lips just appeared out of nowhere against mine. I feel myself blush inside out, my whole body becoming warm, my eyes wide as I study Riku ..kissing me. I'm stunned, I don't know what to do. ..It feels so right. I close my eyes.

Riku's hands find mine, and we intertwine our fingers as we kiss. He pulls away for a moment and we kiss again

and again

and again..

I'm in pure bliss. I feel the cold ocean air against my face and through my hair, with Riku's body against mine keeping me warm. A moment has never felt so perfect. I wish I could stop time.

The perfect moment is coming to an end as Riku, knowing I should be home, slowly pulls his lips away from mine. Looking me in the eyes, his hair blowing in the ocean breeze, he gives me a soft smile. I smile back at him. It will be dark soon. I should have been home a long time ago. I don't care. "Let's run away together!" he says, his eyes lighting up. I feel myself smile inside.

"Whenever you want." I say.