Destiny Island
~O~o~O~o~O~
The shells were within his reach. He calculated that he had roughly 30 seconds left before he needed oxygen, and he had to grab them quickly. The shells shined from the light that reached the bottom of the ocean and revealed that they were a pink-purple colour (Kairi and Selphie's favourite colour). Sometimes he wondered on the hold those two have on the boys around town, including him.
It had been a simple request that Sora turned into a contest (that boy couldn't keep his affection for Kairi a secret for long now). It was simple; the first one to grab a shell from the bottom of the ocean would win. The group waiting on the shore would judge.
With a quick kick of his feet, he swam towards the shells and grabbed them. He breached the surface, hearing his name travel through the air.
"Riku! You're the first one up!" The voice of an over-excited teen reached him. He turned to face the voice, and saw the gang waving at him. With a smirk, he swam back to the shore, shells placed in the pockets of his swimming trunks.
Tidus waited at the edge of the shore, towel in hand. Riku whipped his silver locks around, spreading water everywhere, including on Tidus who yelped. Selphie was standing nearby, eagerness in her eyes and patiently waiting to receive her shells. He smiled and handed her one. She yipped in excitement and placed it against the dying sun. The colours shined bright, the shell almost luminescent.
The gang turned to where they last saw Kairi, a few meters away from them along the beach. She gave out her hand as she helped Sora, who was emerging out of the water. She laughed as Sora slipped, dragging both of them into the sea. The groups laugh fills the air and reached the two.
~O~o~O~o~O~
Destiny Island was known for many things; it's famous Paopu fruit, its beaches and the fact that it was home to the saviours of the worlds. The last fact rather unknown to most inhabitants of…. Well, everywhere. The final battle had been fought and won, and they returned to their little home of sand. It was as if the past years had not happened, their disappearance unnoticed. They shrugged it off and continued with life. This life consisted of new things the group had trouble adjusting to: fixed schedules, school, and freedom from fear (something they hadn't had in a long time).
The beach was inviting on their free summer days. It helped that Riku, who had graduated a few months before, had bought a small house along the beach. Wakka and he spent afternoons playing volleyball and trying the newest brew they could get their hands on. None for Sora though. What he would accomplish on alcohol is something they didn't want to find out.
After the respective chores and responsibilities were done, they ran down to the house. Towels, floaters and scuba masks in hand. They played until the sun would go down, when they would just lay down until the last streaks on light left for the day. One by one they would leave, homework, sleep, dinner, until he was the last of them left. He would sit there long after the sun was gone. The stars held his attention more than the bright, clear sky. He mused it must have been the same for Sora and Kairi too. Their adventure had changed them. They cherished things more, like how he cherished the stars. He didn't cherish them like they did though. He never felt at peace when looking at them. It was always bubbling under his skin, waiting for the sign to come out. Once it was out, he mused, it would take over. It just needed one star to blink out of existence, and his sense of duty would kick in.
So he stared. Some days sleep would call him home and some days he would stay until the sun woke-up. When that happened, he would sigh in relief. Another day passed, and he would keep his mind off it. His friends helped him with that. But then night would come and they would go and he would sit there and wait.
He waited for a long time before it happened.
~O~o~O~o~O~
Sorry if people got a double-alert for this chapter. Faced an issue while loading.
This one is a little shorter, but more will come regularly soon~
Notice any spelling/grammar, don't be a stranger! Point it out to me. -smile-
