Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts nor Square Soft. The plots and some original characters within this fanfiction are rightfully mine.
Waves crashed gently to the warm shores, echoing in the small cavern within the island itself. Sunlight drifted into the small, hidden place, creating a mysterious, yet comforting, setting. Before one cold, black stone wall sat a young boy of fifteen, hair spiky and a delightful strawberry hue. His eyes, a sea all on its own, stared coldly at the chalk drawing before him. The pictures displayed two crudely drawn faces, one that was similar to the boy himself, and another resembling a young girl. Each were smiling, holding a star to one another. Gritting his teeth, he gripped a papou fruit in his hand. The juice oozed out of it, running down his strong hand like blood.
Throwing the pulp of the fruit at the chalk drawing in a fit of rage, the boy stood, kicking sand whichever way he desired. Everyday, his mother came here and wept. Everyday, he came here and glared at the pictures, so innocent to others, and heinous to him.
"Damn it!" He hissed, ceasing his tantrum. Of all the other days, today held an invisible overcast above the paradise of Destiny Islands. Though sunlight and youthful laughter resonated outside the cavern, the boy could do nothing but cringe, wishing happiness to befall him. Breathing heavily in an attempt to calm his anger, the boy picked up the fruit, examining its pathetic remains.
"Seven years today, Dad. Seven years today." Dropping the pulp, he walked out, placing his hands inside on of the many pockets his large, flowing black pants held. Disappearing into the underbrush of the entrance, the papou juice slowly dripping down from the chalk drawings. The sticky moisture obscured the chalk, beginning to make it bleed into one another, and cry.
"Hey, Rikou!" Rikou turned from his solemn gaze into the endless horizon of utopian waters, watching as a boy younger than he approached him.
"Yeah?" He replied, remaining on his perch of the bending tropical tree. Panting, the boy leaned over, hands placed on his knees. Once collecting enough breath, he looked up, emerald eyes full of curiosity.
"Kyra needs you. She says it's important." Grunting, Rikou fell back, laying stretched out on the trunk of the palm. Putting his hand on his head, he smoothed back his spiky strawberry hair, then jumping down reluctantly. Rikou landed before the boy with an effortless grace, looking past him.
"Kyra thinks everything 's important." Rikou mocked, walking by the boy. Stopping, you ruffled the child's hair.
"Thanks, Zander. I know how much of a pain my sister can be." Feigning a smile, Rikou jogged past the boy Zander. With a constant swift jog, Rikou passed the bridge, shoving open the old, creaking door to the shack. As he scaled down the stairs, he could hear the wood whine under his weight, and felt the sagging of the boards. He had to admit, though, that the shack had outlived its predicted expiration date, having been under stormy weather and salt and wind. Bursting through the door, Rikou was met with blinding sunlight. Shielding his eyes with his hand, he walked forward, curious as to why a wind board was on the beach.
---
"Oh, good, you're here!" A cheerful voice spoke. In the shelter of the docks, Kyra was shielded from the sun, sitting on the beach with a computer in her lap. The slight breeze toyed with her short, chocolate hair, tugging at the end of her short white skirt, stained with sand and damaged by salt water. Relieving his hand of its position above his eyes, Rikou squatted down beside his sister, gazing at the screen.
"What're you doing?" He asked, confused by the constantly scrolling green writing. Kyra's fingers flew across the keys with an expertise and ease, eyes darting as she digested each bit of information.
"Oh, nothing. Just comparing some data from the past geography of the island to the present. Oh, and upgraded the wind board. It now has a motorized back up system. Isn't this great? Maybe we can even find Dad!" A smile broadened on Kyra's face, beginning to type with more enthusiasm. Rikou merely looked into the distance, cerulean eyes glazing over in a solemn state.
"Who needs him?" Rikou hissed under his breath, standing up. He looked into the distant waters, curious as to what lay beyond the horizon. But his curiosity had always been subdued by the notion that his mother needed him here. Kyra clicked a few keys with gusto, then looking up to Rikou with a shimmer in her eye that plead him to stay and calm himself.
"You know we need him...jus' because he left doesn't mean that-"
"Don't you get it, Kyra?! Sora ditched Mom! Our own Dad left us!" Rikou dug his feet into the hot sand, stalking off to the cove of the island.
"Rikou!" He did not look back. He would not look back. He refused to watch his sister beg him to stay, to help her find his Father. He was tired of it.
---
The numerous trees on the other side of the island had always been his refuge. The view was isolated and placid, and the leaves the tree bore comfortable and sturdy. Hugging his knees close, he rested his head on his knees, cerulean eyes staring off into the distance. The gentle sea breeze flicked his strawberry hair, and ruffled his large, navy shirt. The sunlight reflected on the anhk earring his right ear displayed. Black and white striped arm warmers hid both his fore-arms from the world, and his feet protected in large, comfortable black shoes fit for skateboarding. To him, the world was too small for happiness. There was no room for a smile, no time to relax. No, his mother needed him, and he would never leave her. Kairi needed him.
"Damn it, Dad...why did you leave us?" Rikou growled to the air, question answered only by the gentle crashing of the waves onto the beach.
"DO YOU HEAR ME? WHY DID YOU LEAVE?!" He shouted to the air, devastated voice echoing around him. He could feel tears form in his eyes, obscuring his vision. Slowly standing up, he clenched his fists, silently examining the horizon.
"Of course you won't answer me. No one will."
---
It was seven years today. Seven years Sora had left her...left her with two children, left her with the empty hopes of his return. The first year had been deeply positive, as though he were on business. The second year was conducted with hope, as though Sora was on vacation. The negative thoughts floated around Kairi's mind in the third year, and she was consumed more deeply in sorrow as the years passed by. Her single joy was in the children, but even then, their sight was difficult. Rikou, named after her best friend who had disappeared long ago, was the spitting image of Sora, retaining some qualities that appeared as Kairi's son. Kyra, too, looked like her father, perhaps acting more like him than Rikou.
Kairi sighed, flipping through a photo album. A tear rolled down her cheek, looking at Sora, smiling widely with Rikou about his neck, he too, smiling. How she missed the days of laughter and light...but it seemed as though the door to the light had shut upon them, left to linger in darkness. With the sudden slamming of a door, Kairi jumped, dropping the album and wiping away her tears as she quickly made it to the kitchen.
"Rikou?" She asked, looking at her son as he sat in a chair, resting his head on the table. Frowning, Kairi approached him, sitting beside him. Grasping her son's hand in her delicate, slender clasp, she looked to him gently.
"You must be strong."
"I have been for the past seven years." Rikou grunted, turning his head so not to look to his mother. However, his hold on her hand remained. Kairi frowned, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear, resting her head on the table.
"He'll come home...someday..."
"I'm tired of waiting!" Rikou spat in a burst of rage, abruptly standing up and releasing his mother's comforting hand. She jumped, startled by his sudden outburst.
"Honey..."
"No, I'm tired of waiting! All he does is cause us pain! Cause you pain..." Kairi stood, quietly gazing at her son. She rushed into his arms, embracing him dearly. She shook with sadness, stifling tears.
"Don't talk like that, Rikou. Sora loves you...I love you..." Tenderly kissing him on the cheek, Rikou returned the embrace, allowing himself to be the shoulder she cried on, instead of someone who never bothered to be a part of their lives.