Author's note: I apologize for the lateness. I was going to post it last week but due to many reasons ( written at the end) I didn't. Thx for all who have reviewed. Greatly appreciated! :D I've checked this chapter a couple of times so hopefully everything would be correct.
Nemesis Crux
By Zarith
Feelings in a box...vol. 2
Sora sat on the Paopu tree, gazing at the broad horizon deep in his ocean of thoughts. The sky is an eternal blue without a single touch of white. A gentle breeze made its way slowly across the tiny island, sweeping the boy's chocolate bangs across his forehead slowly.
He signed softly, a thousand thoughts on his mind.
Mostly concerning Riku.
He and Riku have always been best friends, they were as close as any brothers could be. They were simply inseparable.
They have been equals ever since they were little kids on a quest. Riku have look out for him as he have look out for Riku. But as the years passed, Sora's feelings towards Riku have increased. Every time he was with Riku he couldn't seem to take his eyes off him. He is confused at what he was feeling.
Weren't they just best friends?
Sora pulled a face then, brows furrowed tightly together forming an expression that looked almost like a pout.
He hate to be confuse. Sora sign again, trying to think of other things to distract himself but the image of Riku immediately pop into Sora's cramped mind. He shook his head furiously but the image wouldn't go away.
Sora gave up trying. The silver hair boy seems to have a permanent space occupied in his mind. He have tried every possible way to confront Riku about his confused feelings towards him but his stomach always gets in the way. Secretly, he was relieved. To say the truth, he was afraid of what Riku would think of him. He don't want Riku to reject him but he felt like he couldn't keep this feeling bottled up anymore. His feelings inside a box.
There is one thing he's sure of.
He have a certain feeling towards his best friend. Something strong. Something words could not describe.
Sora was so concentrated that he had failed to notice a dark shadow slowly approaches him from behind. The shadow pounced, knocking Sora onto the sandy floor. Sora managed to land on his feet thanks to his swift reflexes but turned a fraction to slow as an arm locked themselves tightly around his shoulders and neck.
He was surprise when he saw who it was.
"Ri....Riku!!" Sora managed to utter in disbelief. He didn't know whether or not he want to see Riku right this moment.
Riku smirked, silver hair dance on his face. It seems that he was pleased to have catch Sora by surprise. Sora tried to free himself from the arm lock but Riku's grip did not loosen.
"What's wrong Sora? Selphie passed her disease to you?" Riku said in a mocking tone.
Sora rolled his eyes. He knew Riku was referring to Selphie's consistent daydreaming.
"I wasn't daydreaming, I was thinking." Sora correct him. Riku smirked at that.
"Think? I never knew you think."
Calm, cool and constantly smirking. Yeah, that is so Riku.
Sora pout at that statement. Riku was teasing him to no ends. So what if he've always acted irrationally? He knew he wasn't as complicated as Riku but he does think.....just not as much.
.
"I hope you're prepared seeing you've so much time to think." Riku paused, casually dropping his arms from Sora's shoulders. "We'll be leaving at dawn tomorrow."
Oh yeah! The raft! He have almost forgotten about it. They have no trouble finding any of the materials and the hard work have paid off. The raft was finally finished. Everything is prepared. All they need to do now is to set sail. Sora grinned, every speck of excitement shown on his face.
Tomorrow they will go see the world!
With only Riku and him.
His grin must've been a little too wide as Riku was staring at him with odd amusement.
"How about a quick round, Sora?" Riku challenged the younger boy, now holding his wooden sword in a fighting stance. Confidence written all over his face. It was a challenge Sora couldn't decline.
Sora grabbed his sword which he'd been neglecting on the sandy floor and face his alter ego with alike countenance.
Riku strike first.
The swift blow was dodged easily by Sora who've then tried aiming for Riku's abdomen but Riku have managed to deflect it.
The two circles each other, intense blue meets green. Both are eyeing the other like a predator glaring at its prey. But who is the prey?
Sora managed to knock Riku onto his back with a combo only to be greeted with Riku's counter attack. Sora was knocked backwards and found himself sitting on the sandy floor.
"Ow...." Sora grumbled as he felt the sharp, stinging pain began to dig into his senses.
Riku smirked.
"Was that the best you can do Sora?"
Sora returned the smirk and leap to his feet, ready to charge again. Riku has always managed to push him to his fullest.
The battle was playful but drastic rivalry radiate around them, each striving for dominance.
The duel end with both of them sprawl out on the ground, gasping for breath.
"So, I guess it's a draw again." Riku said emphasizing the last word as Sora nodded vaguely, too exhausted for a proper answer. Sora was briefly wondering why they always ended up lying on the Paopu Island.
"You know...why do we always ended up lying here?" Riku spoke aloud Sora's thoughts.
Sora grinned. It was weird but very often, the two of them would ponder identical thoughts.
The two lie on the warm, soothing sand gazing at the azure sky. The only sound audible was his and Riku's soft breathing and the smooth lapping of the waves. Sora had always enjoyed Riku's presence. He only ever felt at ease when Riku was around him even though he couldn't explain why. Sora looked up when he felt a pair of eyes focus on him.
It was Riku.
Riku's soft, sea green eyes laid fixed on him. It was so hauntingly beautiful that Sora began drown in it.
"Um...what's the matter Riku?"
Why is Riku staring at him like that? It wasn't uncomfortable but those piercing eyes make him feel restless.
A silence drape between them. Riku considered a moment before replying, eye's never shifted off him.
"I just remembered when we were young, we had always compliant about how boring this place is, how one day we will leave this place to explore the world."
Sora nod in understanding. It was quite true. The closest they've come to a real adventure was when they've first discovered the secret cave. Even that was a decade ago.
Riku continued, a tint of sadness in his voice. "and as time passes by these memories just slowly faded into childhood dreams."
Childhood dreams? Faded? Surely not Riku. Sora clearly remember what Riku had declared after they found out there was nothing inside the secrete cave except a door to nowhere.
// Hey Sora! When we grow up, let's get off this island. We'll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff! //
It was Riku that triggered his curiosity about the world out there, if there was one.
Sora was about to cheer his friend when Riku spoke.
"but you reminded me, Sora." Riku said grinning, the sadness had vanished from his voice. "You reminded me of a dream long forgotten and bought it back to reality. Don't ever change, Sora. Don't ever forget your dreams like I nearly did."
Their eyes met as Sora felt his face start to flush.
Sora frown inwardly. He'd never realize Riku stares at him like this before. Sure, he knew that every time he looked at Riku, Riku's eyes seems to be focus on him but......wait! Why would Riku's eyes be focus on him?
Sora lifted his face only to find himself drowning in that pair of crystalline eyes again.
How did you manage to make me feel like that?
Instead, Sora reassured Riku by saying, "Don't worry Riku, I'll never change. We'll always be best friends."
Even if we couldn't be anything more than that.
A strange flicker passed Riku's eyes. It was so brief that Sora though he'd imagined it. The pair gaze at each other intently until a recognizable voice broke the contact.
"Hey Sora! Riku!"
Sora sat up, looking towards the direction of the sound.
It was Tidus. Beside him stands Selphie and Wakka, both waving and shouting something Sora couldn't interpret.
"Do you guys wanna duel? Three against two!!" Tidus shout at the top of his lungs.
Riku and Sora looked at each other, a sly smile spread onto their faces.
"You heard him." Riku stated, shrugging his shoulders absently.
"Let's go whip their asses!!" Sora agreed blithely.
The two shared a wild grin before running off towards their new challenge.
"One day, Riku" Sora promised "One day I'll tell you my feelings."
One day....I'll tell you how much you mean to me.
Little did they know....tempest is on her way.
TBC
---------------
End notes: Alllllright! Innocent childhood ends here. The first two chapters have been dealing with both Riku and Sora's feelings toward each other, which was quite essential later on in the story. The real story begins in the next chapter (finally)! It will probably have some angst in it as well. Hints as to how they will leave the Island lies in one of the passages.
Personally, I'm not all that please with this chapter. I couldn't express the deep bond and interaction between Sora and Riku as I'd planned. I sincerely apologize if this chapter wasn't as good as the last. I have re-written this chapter several times but there still seems to be a piece missing. Therefore I'm going to try very hard to improve the next chapter and pray you'll continue reading.... -_-
Nemesis Crux
By Zarith
Feelings in a box...vol. 2
Sora sat on the Paopu tree, gazing at the broad horizon deep in his ocean of thoughts. The sky is an eternal blue without a single touch of white. A gentle breeze made its way slowly across the tiny island, sweeping the boy's chocolate bangs across his forehead slowly.
He signed softly, a thousand thoughts on his mind.
Mostly concerning Riku.
He and Riku have always been best friends, they were as close as any brothers could be. They were simply inseparable.
They have been equals ever since they were little kids on a quest. Riku have look out for him as he have look out for Riku. But as the years passed, Sora's feelings towards Riku have increased. Every time he was with Riku he couldn't seem to take his eyes off him. He is confused at what he was feeling.
Weren't they just best friends?
Sora pulled a face then, brows furrowed tightly together forming an expression that looked almost like a pout.
He hate to be confuse. Sora sign again, trying to think of other things to distract himself but the image of Riku immediately pop into Sora's cramped mind. He shook his head furiously but the image wouldn't go away.
Sora gave up trying. The silver hair boy seems to have a permanent space occupied in his mind. He have tried every possible way to confront Riku about his confused feelings towards him but his stomach always gets in the way. Secretly, he was relieved. To say the truth, he was afraid of what Riku would think of him. He don't want Riku to reject him but he felt like he couldn't keep this feeling bottled up anymore. His feelings inside a box.
There is one thing he's sure of.
He have a certain feeling towards his best friend. Something strong. Something words could not describe.
Sora was so concentrated that he had failed to notice a dark shadow slowly approaches him from behind. The shadow pounced, knocking Sora onto the sandy floor. Sora managed to land on his feet thanks to his swift reflexes but turned a fraction to slow as an arm locked themselves tightly around his shoulders and neck.
He was surprise when he saw who it was.
"Ri....Riku!!" Sora managed to utter in disbelief. He didn't know whether or not he want to see Riku right this moment.
Riku smirked, silver hair dance on his face. It seems that he was pleased to have catch Sora by surprise. Sora tried to free himself from the arm lock but Riku's grip did not loosen.
"What's wrong Sora? Selphie passed her disease to you?" Riku said in a mocking tone.
Sora rolled his eyes. He knew Riku was referring to Selphie's consistent daydreaming.
"I wasn't daydreaming, I was thinking." Sora correct him. Riku smirked at that.
"Think? I never knew you think."
Calm, cool and constantly smirking. Yeah, that is so Riku.
Sora pout at that statement. Riku was teasing him to no ends. So what if he've always acted irrationally? He knew he wasn't as complicated as Riku but he does think.....just not as much.
.
"I hope you're prepared seeing you've so much time to think." Riku paused, casually dropping his arms from Sora's shoulders. "We'll be leaving at dawn tomorrow."
Oh yeah! The raft! He have almost forgotten about it. They have no trouble finding any of the materials and the hard work have paid off. The raft was finally finished. Everything is prepared. All they need to do now is to set sail. Sora grinned, every speck of excitement shown on his face.
Tomorrow they will go see the world!
With only Riku and him.
His grin must've been a little too wide as Riku was staring at him with odd amusement.
"How about a quick round, Sora?" Riku challenged the younger boy, now holding his wooden sword in a fighting stance. Confidence written all over his face. It was a challenge Sora couldn't decline.
Sora grabbed his sword which he'd been neglecting on the sandy floor and face his alter ego with alike countenance.
Riku strike first.
The swift blow was dodged easily by Sora who've then tried aiming for Riku's abdomen but Riku have managed to deflect it.
The two circles each other, intense blue meets green. Both are eyeing the other like a predator glaring at its prey. But who is the prey?
Sora managed to knock Riku onto his back with a combo only to be greeted with Riku's counter attack. Sora was knocked backwards and found himself sitting on the sandy floor.
"Ow...." Sora grumbled as he felt the sharp, stinging pain began to dig into his senses.
Riku smirked.
"Was that the best you can do Sora?"
Sora returned the smirk and leap to his feet, ready to charge again. Riku has always managed to push him to his fullest.
The battle was playful but drastic rivalry radiate around them, each striving for dominance.
The duel end with both of them sprawl out on the ground, gasping for breath.
"So, I guess it's a draw again." Riku said emphasizing the last word as Sora nodded vaguely, too exhausted for a proper answer. Sora was briefly wondering why they always ended up lying on the Paopu Island.
"You know...why do we always ended up lying here?" Riku spoke aloud Sora's thoughts.
Sora grinned. It was weird but very often, the two of them would ponder identical thoughts.
The two lie on the warm, soothing sand gazing at the azure sky. The only sound audible was his and Riku's soft breathing and the smooth lapping of the waves. Sora had always enjoyed Riku's presence. He only ever felt at ease when Riku was around him even though he couldn't explain why. Sora looked up when he felt a pair of eyes focus on him.
It was Riku.
Riku's soft, sea green eyes laid fixed on him. It was so hauntingly beautiful that Sora began drown in it.
"Um...what's the matter Riku?"
Why is Riku staring at him like that? It wasn't uncomfortable but those piercing eyes make him feel restless.
A silence drape between them. Riku considered a moment before replying, eye's never shifted off him.
"I just remembered when we were young, we had always compliant about how boring this place is, how one day we will leave this place to explore the world."
Sora nod in understanding. It was quite true. The closest they've come to a real adventure was when they've first discovered the secret cave. Even that was a decade ago.
Riku continued, a tint of sadness in his voice. "and as time passes by these memories just slowly faded into childhood dreams."
Childhood dreams? Faded? Surely not Riku. Sora clearly remember what Riku had declared after they found out there was nothing inside the secrete cave except a door to nowhere.
// Hey Sora! When we grow up, let's get off this island. We'll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff! //
It was Riku that triggered his curiosity about the world out there, if there was one.
Sora was about to cheer his friend when Riku spoke.
"but you reminded me, Sora." Riku said grinning, the sadness had vanished from his voice. "You reminded me of a dream long forgotten and bought it back to reality. Don't ever change, Sora. Don't ever forget your dreams like I nearly did."
Their eyes met as Sora felt his face start to flush.
Sora frown inwardly. He'd never realize Riku stares at him like this before. Sure, he knew that every time he looked at Riku, Riku's eyes seems to be focus on him but......wait! Why would Riku's eyes be focus on him?
Sora lifted his face only to find himself drowning in that pair of crystalline eyes again.
How did you manage to make me feel like that?
Instead, Sora reassured Riku by saying, "Don't worry Riku, I'll never change. We'll always be best friends."
Even if we couldn't be anything more than that.
A strange flicker passed Riku's eyes. It was so brief that Sora though he'd imagined it. The pair gaze at each other intently until a recognizable voice broke the contact.
"Hey Sora! Riku!"
Sora sat up, looking towards the direction of the sound.
It was Tidus. Beside him stands Selphie and Wakka, both waving and shouting something Sora couldn't interpret.
"Do you guys wanna duel? Three against two!!" Tidus shout at the top of his lungs.
Riku and Sora looked at each other, a sly smile spread onto their faces.
"You heard him." Riku stated, shrugging his shoulders absently.
"Let's go whip their asses!!" Sora agreed blithely.
The two shared a wild grin before running off towards their new challenge.
"One day, Riku" Sora promised "One day I'll tell you my feelings."
One day....I'll tell you how much you mean to me.
Little did they know....tempest is on her way.
TBC
---------------
End notes: Alllllright! Innocent childhood ends here. The first two chapters have been dealing with both Riku and Sora's feelings toward each other, which was quite essential later on in the story. The real story begins in the next chapter (finally)! It will probably have some angst in it as well. Hints as to how they will leave the Island lies in one of the passages.
Personally, I'm not all that please with this chapter. I couldn't express the deep bond and interaction between Sora and Riku as I'd planned. I sincerely apologize if this chapter wasn't as good as the last. I have re-written this chapter several times but there still seems to be a piece missing. Therefore I'm going to try very hard to improve the next chapter and pray you'll continue reading.... -_-