Chapter Two: Discovering Riku

Before I know it… the new week starts. I keep going to bed at my regular time—sometimes earlier—and yet… I wake up tired—always tired. I muse aloud as I work on typing more of my story, "What does my subconscious do at night?" Shaking my head at this notion, deciding that I don't want to know… I focus on my writing.

Despite my fatigue, I do my best to remain my usual self. (Although, I must admit: the fatigue makes me prone to dozing and daydreams—more so than usual.)

On Tuesday, I fall asleep—really fall asleep—at the lunch table.


For some reason, I am in one of the school bathrooms—one of the ones that have the walk-in doorway. I walk in, peering around, on the alert because I have a bad feeling. I feel… nervous… scared. My adrenaline rushes.

And then I see him—this guy with silver hair dressed in mostly black clothing… sitting on the floor… his back against the wall… his knees up against his chest… his forearm draped over the tops of his knees… his head bowed.

My brows furrow, and I blink, regarding him. Something in me causes me to step forward—slowly—cautiously.

Suddenly, the guy speaks, seemingly unaware that I am there. His voice is rough… hushed; I can barely hear it… but when I do… I realize something: It's… Nobody.

"They're all going to stare…. They're all going to whisper… whisper about the freak! I can't do this…. I can't… I can't go…. I can't…. They'll all stare! They'll all whisper!"

I kneel in front of him, hesitantly placing my hand on his arm in a concerned, friendly gesture. He jerks, lifting his head. Those aquamarine eyes lock onto my blue ones; I swallow at the intensity of them—at how they seem to glow. He looks terrified… fragile. I smile, but the expression falls when Nobody stares at me… fearful… distrustful…. I frown as I question, "Don't you recognize me? …I'm Sora! …Remember?"

He starts trembling and shakes his head, uttering, "I don't know you…."

My heart squeezes painfully. I remind, "The Looking-glass Room? The mirror? Remember?"

He shakes his head, his wide, glowing, utterly entrancing eyes staring at me. This is when I realize: Of course he would not know me. We are not in my room… we are not in the Looking-glass Room. That is where we convene… that is where we know each other.

Shaking my head, I smile, offering, "No one is going to say anything! No one is going to stare! You'll be fine! —Trust me!"

He swallows, fearfully wondering, "Won't they stare? I would… if I were them. I would whisper… if I were them."

I insist, "No! They won't! Not if you hold your head up high… and face them with a brave face."

He vulnerably admits, "I'm scared. I'm scared that I'll… that I'll… see HIM!" He looks down, avoiding my eyes.

I inquire, "Who?"

"…My best friend. The one… The one that started all of this in the first place…. It's not his fault… but… if I see him… it will hurt! I won't be able to handle it!"

I grasp at his arm as I assert, "I'll be there to help you."

His eyes find mine again as he nearly whispers, "I don't even know you…."

I grin, crying, "That doesn't matter! I'll still be there to help you… and you'll feel better for it—because you know that you'll have support no matter what!" I clutch at his arm, firmly declaring, "You can do this! You can go! You HAVE to go! If you don't… you'll never be able to face your fear… and you'll never be able to live again."

He stares at me… and then… a tear drops from the corner of his eye. "Thank you…."

I smile as he puts his hand on mine, squeezing it gratefully. And then… my body jerks… and the room fades into darkness.


"Sora!"

Someone shakes my arm.

"Sora! The bell rang! C'mon! You'll be late for class if you don't get up now!"

Lifting my head, I rub at my face, mumbling words that even I don't catch—probably a bunch of gibberish. Kairi smiles, insisting, "You should get more sleep at home."

I mutter, "Yeah…" and grab my backpack from the tabletop, swinging it onto my back as I yawn. My body feels sluggish as I head to my fifth period.


As soon as I finish my homework, I head upstairs, flop down on my bed, and stare around my room. I am exhaustedand lethargicbut… I cannot seem to fall asleep. Due to this, I head to the computer so that I may listen to music and type.

Time seems to fly; and then I am being called down for dinner. My mother tells me that I look tired; I shrug while quietly eating my meal. My mother insists that I should go to bed early tonight… because I look so tired; I nod in agreement, hardly listening to her.

After dinner, I break my routine by taking a shower before bed, getting dressed in freshly washed boxers and pajama pants, deciding to not wear a shirt to bed. I stare dully into the mirror in the bathroom as I comb my hair; as I brush my teeth.

My footsteps are slow as I shuffle toward my bedroom, tiredly shutting the door behind me once I am in.

I wearily throw myself onto my bed, lying flat on the covers, my face half-buried in my pillow. It takes a while… but I do manage to fall asleep.


Lifting my face from the pillow, I blink a bit before pressing my hands down on the mattress so that I can get on my knees. Sitting back on my feet, I blink some more, looking around. I get so lost in staring around me for no apparent reason that Nobody is actually forced to call out, "Sora…? Are you there?"

This moves me to action; I hop off my bed and run toward the mirror, shoving my hands through urgently. I am so impatient that I nearly start blindly stepping through before he grabs my hands—almost.

Grabbing at Nobody's arms, I pull him over to the bed, claiming my usual spot as I pull him down into his. I hasten to tell him, "I fell asleep at school today—during lunch. I had a dream…."

He swallows, watching me intently as he prods, "And?"

"Well… I was in a bathroom at school… and I saw someone sitting on the flooragainst the wall. Their knees were against their chest, and they looked… upset. They were talking to themselves. When I stepped closer, I saw that that person was… you. But… you didn't recognize me… because… we weren't here. But, somehow… I still knew you."

He asks, "What happened?"

Thinking back, I recall, "You were worried about… going somewhere. You thought that 'they' would stare at you… whisper about you. You said that you were scared to see someone… your best friendbecause he started it all, apparently. I don't know what, exactly… but you were definitely terrified about going… wherever—to school, I think—I'm guessing.

"So… I told you that I would be there to help you. I gave you very generic advice—saying that you should just go… and face your fears… but that you wouldn't be alone—because I would be there to help you. You got tearful… and you thanked me… and that's when Kairi woke me up to go to class."

Nobody stares at me with admiring eyes, murmuring, "You're amazing. Did you know that?"

I grin, teasing, "Oh, so, first I'm a freak… now I'm amazing?"

He completely ruins my teasing by intoning, "Yes." I smile ruefully at him.

Rather abruptly, he pulls me into a hug, earnestly mumbling, "I care for you so much, Sora…. You're my world. You're all I have." I can feel his arms and his clothes against my bare skin; they feel… nice.

As sweet as this is… it makes me uncomfortable. My heart stirs… and I realize that I, too, care for this person… this person that I do not even know—this person that may not be real. And this hurts me. This hurts me so much that I pull back from him, frowning, wanting to get away.

Bowing my head, I utter, "I don't know if I can handle this… handle… keeping this up. It's getting… difficult. I care for you… but… it hurts." I regard him, exclaiming, not quite yelling, "I don't even know if you're real! I wake up every morning exhausted—and for what? For these moments? For glimpses of a dream? It makes me hurt inside!"

His hands come to clutch at mine. Tears form in his eyes as he cries, "Sora! Please don't do this! I need you! Without you… I'll die! I know it!"

I jerk away from him, standing. My vision blurs as tears begin to swell in my eyes. I insist, "But you're not even real! I don't even know your name! For all I know… you could just be in my imagination! You're not real!"

He comes after me, falling to his knees as he clutches my hands, begging, "Sora, please don't go! I'm real! I know that I'm real! Please!" The tears in his eyes streak down his cheeks, hanging onto his jaw for a moment… before falling. His voice softens as he implores, "Believe in me, Sora. Please…." He starts sobbing. His voice gets choked up as he utters, "I know that you're the reason that I still exist. I know that I'm real! You have to believe that! You have to!" His grip tightens on my hands as he insists, "Feel me…. I'm just as real as you are. If I weren't… wouldn't I be different? Even in your imagination… wouldn't I feel different than this?"

"I don't know…."

"Sora, please! Swear to me that you'll come back! Don't leave me here without any light! Don't let the darkness swallow me!" His fingernails dig into my skin as he painfully screeches, "Please!"

This is what causes my tears to fall; they splash as they hit the person kneeling before me on the forehead. I shakily reply, "Okay…. I'll come back… for you…. I promise."

He swallows; his voice wobbles as he whispers, "Thank you…."

My right hand twitches—my signal to leave. I help Nobody to his feet… and the two of us walk to the mirror. Nobody pulls me into a tight hug before releasing me, allowing me to return to my side of the mirror while assisting me with his hand. I climb into bed, underneath the covers—which I pull over me. I stare at my nightstand for a moment before closing my eyes… and drifting from the dream world….


Opening my eyes, I find that I am lying on my left side… underneath my covers. Blinking, I bring my hands up to my face, and am surprised to find it… faintly sticky. I get out of bed, heading to the mirror. Peering forward, I take note of my appearance.

There are dark circles under my eyes, but, more than that… my eyes are bloodshot—my face is sticky from what can only be… tears. I cried in my sleep….

This unnerves me; it makes my heart uneasy. Gathering up my clothes for the day—which consist of dark jeans and one of my all-time favorite t-shirts—a brown one with beige lettering declaring:

erA uoY

!lufituaeB

It is not really the message that made me buy the shirt—it was the fact that the letters were reversed, therefore making it impossible to read unless you stood in front of a mirror.

The rest of the morning is normal… until second period. Second period is typically when I have to relieve my bladder. So, after asking my teacher if I may goand getting reminded that I only get five minutes in the bathroomI grab the pass and vacate the classroom, feeling more and more lighthearted the further I get from the room.

As I walk along the cement pathways, I get the sense that something is guiding my feet; that something is leading me… somewhere. I notice that the nearest bathroom has the gates closed. So… I must head to the next nearest bathroom. And it is as I am walking into there that I get this odd sense of déjà vu. My heart skips a beat as my eyes land on a figure across the room… sitting on the floor… his back against the wall… knees tucked against his chest… forearm across the tops of his knees… his silver-haired head bowed. He is dressed mostly in black, and, for some reason… I feel as if I know him.

I take a few cautious steps forward, hoping that he is all right. He hears my footsteps and slowly looks up, staring at me. As I stare right back at him, he finally—irritably—asks, "What are you staring at?"

I question, "...Do you have any idea how filthy that floor is? Most people wouldn't deign to touch it with their shoe… let alone their butt."

"I'm not most people."

"I can see that."

Sounding vexed, he mutters, "Didn't you come in here for a reason?"

I grin, responding, "Yeah. To ditch class. I was going crazy in there. However, my teacher is strict—she's got me on watch—she times how long I take in the bathroom—not just me—the whole class, really. So… I have a maximum of five minutes here before I have to head back to class. I set the alarm on my watch and everything."

He snidely says, "Good for you."

I frown, retorting, "You don't have to take that tone. I'm just making conversation."

"Well, maybe I don't want conversation! Maybe I want to be left alone."

I laugh at this. "Nobody wants to really be left alone. And those that do…." I trail off, hoping that he will take the bait.

"'Those that do…' …what?"

"Those that do must never have had human contact before—must be scared. I'm willing to be that you're the type of person that likes to pretend that he wants to be alone… but really craves human contact. And that's where I come in!"

His nose crinkles as he suspiciously questions, "That's where you come in… and do what?"

I shrug one shoulder, casually answering, "Talk to you—make conversation. Ask you how you are… don't take no for an answer… and basically annoy the crap out of you until you talk to me—all in the space of five minutes." I grin at him… and his eyebrows lift up; he regards me with wary eyes.

Stepping forward, still grinning, I offer, "We'll start with an introduction. My name's Sora—Sasaki. And you?"

He purses his lips but eventually mutters, "Riku—Shimizu."

I beam delightedly at the fact that he gave me his name. My heart tickles with pleasure at this simple act. I muse, "You know… I know that I'm going to sound insane when I say this… but I just have to! I am the type of person that believes in fate… destiny… what have you. And I think… I think that it's fate that you and I met today." His brows furrow; he regards me with wary, concerned eyes again. I elaborate, "You see… I know I don't have much to go off of… but here is what I have so far…."

I hold up the respective fingers as I begin ticking off reasons.

"Number one: You happen to be sitting in the boys' bathroom at the very moment that I enter. Not only this… but the bathroom nearest to my classroom was closed!

"Number two: You are sitting, which attracted my attention because normal people do not sit on filthy bathroom floors. And I do not like normal people very much—I find them boring. (Although… even if you were standing, leaning against the wall… I might have still talked to you—but probably not in the same way… which would have altered the course of this conversation.)

"Number three: You claim to have the desire to be left alone. Everyone knows that anyone who says that is usually full of shit. Being that I am the type of person who does not take no for an answer… the type of compassionate person that likes to explore areas that normal people back away from out of fear… I am the perfect person to have stumbled upon you.

"Number four: Our names. I find it ironic that your name means 'land' and my name means 'sky'—in Japanese. I find it ironic because where land and sky meet is the horizon. And, for me, one of my favorite things about this world… is the horizon—everything about it—especially the symbolism. For me… the main symbol of the horizon is that of strength and light. It symbolizes the future and hope."

I jut out my thumb, displaying all five fingers as I finish, "And, finally… Number five: I have this funny feeling in my heart that I am right where I am supposed to be… at the exact moment that I need to be."

My companion blinks at me before uttering, "You're a freak. Did you know that?"

I laugh wholeheartedly at this. "Yeah, I know! It's why I have a maximum of… one friend! Probably the only reason that she's my friend is she finds my madness endearing." I shoot him a carefree grin. His brows furrow again, and he purses his lips, peering up at me.

I decide, "I'm feeling uncomfortable with you just sitting there while I am standing. So… either I sit down with you… or you stand. Personally, I would prefer not to sit on the disgusting bathroom floor. But… it's your choice."

My lips curl into a smile as I offer my hand in case he decides that he wants to stand up. After staring at it for a good few seconds, he grabs my hand, allowing me to pull him to his feet—albeit with a tiny bit of difficulty considering that he is larger than I. The momentum carries him forward into me a bit; we nearly topple over. His face hovers before mine. He is at least a couple of inches taller than I am. I flush at the close proximity, but I laugh, softly greeting, "Hello." He says nothing… and drops his hand, turning away so that he faces the sink, keeping his head down—avoiding looking in the mirror. His hands grip the edge of the sink as he stares at the drain.

I step forward, up to his side, and peer down with him, wondering, "Do you ever wonder what lives down in the sewers? Do you think that mutant creatures live there?"

He turns his head, giving me a look that clearly says, 'About what the hell are you talking?'

I simply grin at him, declaring, "You know… you seem familiar to me. I swear I've seen your face before. Truthfully… you look like something out of one of my stories. I'm always making up fantastical characters—ones with unique eye and hair colors—usually flawless in appearance. Aside from those dark circles under your eyes… I'd have to say that you fit that description. It makes me rather jealous. I feel rather inferior standing next to you."

His brows furrow yet again; he questions, "Stories?"

I grin, exclaiming, "Yeah! Fantasy, mostly! I like to write fictional stories—things that pop into my head. I figure, since I daydream so often… and pretty much live in my imagination… I might as well do something productive with it! So… I write stories based off of ideas that pop into my head! Oh! And from books that I read! I draw inspiration from a lot of things!"

The alarm on my watch goes off. I scowl at it, swearing, "Damn! Looks like I have to go…." Looking up, I cry, "Hey! You should come sit with me at lunch! I have second lunch… and I sit with Kairi over by the east gate—near the cafeteria. You know those tables under the pavilion? Yeah! We sit there! So… you should come sit with us! And… oh! Here! If you can't find me… you can call my cell!"

Digging in my right front pocket, which happens to be big and baggy, I produce my small notebook pad and pen. Flipping open the cover… and rifling through a few of my used pages, I scrawl out my full name and my cell phone number, tear out the page, and offer it to Riku. He warily takes it, regarding it for an instant before shoving it in his pocket. His eyes come up to meet mine; he mutters, "I'll think about it."

I grin, clapping him on the shoulder as I gush, "Great! Hopefully see you at lunch! Have a good day!" And then I bound off, shoving my belongings back into my large pocket, happily humming under my breath as I get back to class.


It is now lunch. I sit down in my usual spot, making certain that the spot to my left is open—in case Riku decides to drop by. In fact, I am so sure that he will… that I don't even open my bag yet—I spend my time keeping an eye out for his noticeable appearance.

I catch sight of Riku and grin. Standing up, I unabashedly call, waving my arm to attract his eye, "Riku! Over here!"

Even from afar, I can see him purse his lips. He seems to debate with himself… before reluctantly coming over. I scoot over, patting the spot to my left on the bench. He sits down, setting his brown paper bag sack lunch down on the table. I grinningly introduce my two friends, gesturing across the table, "Hey, Kai! This is Riku. Riku, this is Kairi—she's the friend I told you about earlier."

Kairi smiles, murmuring, "Nice to meet you."

Riku merely nods. He then slowly opens his bag, pulling out the contents and setting them on top of the now-flattened bag. I spy a Granny Smith apple, a sandwich of some kind in a Ziplock bag, and a bottle of lemonade. I deduce that he eats healthily… or perhaps someone at home forces him to eat healthily.

My lunch consists of: a bag of chips, a can of soda, a banana, a Ziplock bag full of grapes, and an open-ended plastic ("sandwich") baggy full of homemade chocolate chip cookies—baked fresh the night before. I decide to save the cookies for last—for dessert! As I begin eating, with Riku quietly chewing a bite of his sandwich, I ask, "So… tell me, Riku: What genres of literature do you enjoy reading?"

Kairi rolls her eyes, informing Riku, "You'd better be honest. Sora judges what type of person you are by the books you read. Trust me: He did it to my friend Selphie… and, ironically, pegged her personality quite accurately."

I grin, insisting, "You are what you read!"

My friend teases with a smile, "Guess that makes you a girl who falls through a mirror into another world!"

I protest, "Excuse me, dear Kairi… but that is not how it is done. In the case of me reading Through the Looking-Glass, one could merely surmise that I enjoy—nay, entertain! —the idea that my mirror is—!"

She quotes me from many times before, "'A mystical portal that has the potential to lead me into strange, wonderful, exciting new worlds!'" She smirks at me while I glare at her. Riku snorts into his sandwich, clearly finding this amusing—even though he does not even smile.

Clearing my throat, I continue, "In the instance of Through the Looking-Glass, I merely enjoy the thought that something exciting could happen to me on an ordinary, dull day."

She counters, grinning, "And then you'd wake up and find it all to just be a dream."

I cross my arms over my chest, insisting, "Even if something like that were to happen to me… and it were a dream… I would enjoy every instant of it!"

She chuckles at me. "I bet you would, Sora. I bet you would…."

I give off a small "Hmph!" at her mockery of me before tearing off a grape—which I pop into my mouth. Riku bites into his apple, minding his own business. Kairi distracted me so much that I nearly forgot about my original question to Riku—which I now repeat.

He blinks, regarding the tabletop pensively while thinking on my question. He finally declares, "Stories with angst… but with happy endings. I don't like character deaths."

Kairi grins, exclaiming, "Sounds like Sora! He believes that every story should have a happy ending! And… even though he will kill me for saying this… he likes romance!" She giggles while I glare at her, scowling and blushing in embarrassment at my secret being exposed.

Glancing at Riku, I notice that a small smile tugs at the corners of his mouth; he whispers without looking at me, "I have a secret affinity for romance, too." I grin, glad that he told me this—it makes me feel better. He turns his head slightly, looking at me from beneath those long, dark eyelashes of his that contrast with his pale skin; his little smile turns into a conspiratorial smirk. My grin widens… and I happily return to eating my lunch.

About a minute later, Selphie pops up, sliding in on Kairi's left, gushing, "Oh, my God! You'll never guess what happened!"

Deciding to mock their girlish behavior, I lean forward, asking, "Oh, my God! What happened?"

Riku gives a short laugh into his apple but tries to cover it up by clearing his throat. Selphie scowls at me, getting snippety at my mocking tone. "I wasn't talking to you, So-ra"

I roll my eyes, muttering, "I hate it when you say my name like that…."

She beams, batting her eyelashes at me. "I know you do! Now… mind your business!" I roll my eyes as she turns to Kairi, gushing about the latest development in what I have classified as: The Tidus Files.

Riku squirms uncomfortably at their talk of how hot and sexy and just plain gorgeous the blond blitzball star is. I lean in close, whispering in his ear, "Ignore them. They're boy-crazy. They've had their sights on Tidus since freshman year… but, frankly… I don't think they'd ever have a chance. There's this girl Yuna in my math class… I know for a fact that she likes Tidus… and Tidus likes her! So… all their talk is just wishful thinking."

I say, raising the volume of my voice, "You hear that, girls? Wishful thinking!"

Selphie and Kairi roll their eyes simultaneously. Kairi turns her head, declaring, "You're just jealous because every girl in school is crazy for Tidus… and not one of them is interested in you that way. Probably because… you're not very sexy."

I get indignant at this, protesting, "I can be sexy! I am sexy!"

Both girls snort derisively at this, rolling their eyes; Selphie mutters, "I'll believe it when I see it!"

I scowl at them both, pouting—yes, pouting—as I cross my arms over my chest. Kairi sighs, trying to appeal to me, "Sora, listen…. I think it's about time you realized: You are not the sexy type! You're more like… the brotherly type—the, 'Oh, Sora! You're such a good friend!' type—the far-too-adorable-to-ever-be-considered-sexy… type. You know?"

I huff at this, muttering, "Yeah, I know…."

Selphie helpfully suggests, "You could always try batting for the other team… if you know what I mean!" She giggles.

I roll my eyes, blushing at the mere suggestion. Kairi insists in a studious tone, "What I said just now holds true for Sora as a person; whether he's gay or straight… that doesn't change any of those factors."

Selphie muses, "Hmm… you're right." The two then return to gossiping about Tidus, uncaring about my wounded ego.

I mutter to myself, "Maybe I'd rather 'bat for the other team'! At least guys wouldn't gossip… or talk too much about things that nobody cares about but them… or giggle!" The girls do not even hear me; they grin, and they giggle, and they continue chattering. I roll my eyes yet again.

Riku mumbles, his words soft and not very distinguishable, "I think that you could be sexy… if you wanted to be…."

I grin, bumping against him playfully with my side as I reply, keeping my voice low lest the girls hear me, "Thanks! I think you're sexy, too!" I wink at him… and he busies himself with eating more of his sandwich, his hands obscuring the lower half of his face; his fingers curve in such a way that they hide his cheeks as he ducks his head. Thinking nothing of this, I happily resume eating my own food.

As the girls chatter, we merely eat. Riku finishes before I do… and gets up to throw his bag out. When he returns, I open my little plastic baggy and pull out a thick, soft cookie. I offer it to him with a grin, asking, "Want a cookie? I just baked them last night!"

Kairi refutes, "You can't bake, Sora. Your mom does all the cooking at your house!"

I sneer, "Just for that, you're not getting the extra cookie I brought just for you!" She pouts at this… but then forces herself to resume conversing with Selphie… who eyes my cookies yearningly and swallows. I make a big point of gushing about how delicious the cookies arehow, even cold, they melt in my mouthand I slowly lick my lips, clearing them of any chocolate smears. I even go so far as to suck on my fingertips to grab any crumbs. Kairi and Selphie—both fans of my mother's cookies—scowl at me, their eyes reproachful. Riku quietly chews on his cookie, looking appreciative at the yummy taste.

I bemoan, "Woe to he who eats all of the cookies! The women folk be after ye!"

Riku snorts, muttering, "You really are a freak!"

Selphie chirps, "Aww! But he's a cute freak! And we love him just the way he is!"

"Thank you, Selphie… but you're still not getting a cookie."

She pouts, offering, "What if I tell you that I think that you're sexy?"

I refute, "That is bribery—and lying—both of which are bad! So… no!"

Grabbing the third cookie, I break it in half, willfully giving the other half to Riku. As I nod at him, we both bite into it at the same time, smirking. The girls glare and turn away, ignoring us for the rest of lunch.

Once I finish my lunch, I get up to throw my bag away. Unfortunately, just as I sit back down… the bell rings. Standing back up, sliding my backpack on, I ask Riku, "What's your next class?"

"Math."

I grin, chirping, "Me, too! I'll walk with you!" On my way past Kairi and Selphie, I cannot resist ruffling their hair. Very annoyed at me, they squeal my name at me in a humorous way, hurrying to fix their hair. I chuckle, calling, "See you! Have a good day!" They scowl at me, resentfully not saying anything back.

Looking back over his shoulder as we walk, Riku wonders, "Do you always antagonize them like that?"

I snort, "Nah. Today's just special—because they wounded my ego by telling me that I'll never get a girl!" I laugh at this.

Riku smirks, suggesting, "You could always follow Selphie's suggestion."

Chuckling a bit, I retort, "I'll think about it!"

Right at this moment, someone bumps into Riku. I immediately recognize him: Tidus—the person about whom almost every girl on campus gushes. He blindly puts his hand on Riku's shoulder, apologizing, "Sorry! I—Riku?" The two stare at each other… and Tidus quickly withdraws his hand, running said appendage through his hair. He nervously asks, "Are you okay? I… heard about… what happened."

Very rigid, Riku mumbles, "I'm fine. …Thank you for asking."

Clearing his throat, Tidus awkwardly says, "All right…. Well… take care!"

Riku stiffly nods… and Tidus waves before hurrying off. That silver head bows; he trembles. Instinct guides me to put an arm around his shoulder, drawing him close against me. (This is a little bit difficult considering that he is taller than I… but I make it work.) Deciding to overlook Tidus's cryptic comment about something having happened to Riku, and knowing that Riku wouldn't want to talk about it with me anyway, I speak to take Riku's mind elsewhere.

"So… do you walk home—take the bus—drive?"

His voice is distant as he mumbles, "I walk…."

I grin, exclaiming, "I was hoping you would say that! Now I can offer you a ride—since, amazingly enough, I drive! How 'bout it? Want a ride home?"

He swallows… then nods—a bit more fluidly than before.

"Great! My car is parked in the lot by where we ate lunch! Meet me by that gate—actually, no! Meet me by that cement bench. You know which one I'm talking about?"

"Yeah."

"So… you'll come? Because… if you don't… I will end up sitting in the parking lot for hours… and I happen to have an afternoon routine by which I like to abide—so, really, you'd be throwing my whole day off if you ditch me."

He mutters, "I'll be there."

As we approach the math building, I wonder, "Are you busy this afternoon? Want to come over to my place for a bit before I take you home?"

"I thought that you have a routine 'by which you like to abide'."

I laugh, retorting, "I do! But... I like the idea of spending time with you—getting to know you better… better! That and my mom will want to meet my new friend. So… yes?"

"…Sure."

"Awesome! Well… this is my classroom. I better go. Have a good day! See you after school!—The cement bench! Don't forget!"

He regards me, unsmiling, as he assures, "I won't."

I grin, waving lightly as I head into the room and take my seat. I am unable to get rid of my grin… because I am just so happy to have made a new friend… and I feel really good about this afternoon.


As I make my way toward the gate on the east side, passing the pavilion on my right, I swallow nervously. I worry that he might not be there—that he might change his mind and leave—that maybe I came on a little too strong.

Stepping through, I grin in relief—he is sitting there, on the bench. I run toward him, apologizing, "Sorry I'm late! My sixth period is way on the other side of campus! Ready to go?"

He nods, and slowly stands, putting his backpack on. He walks beside me as we move forward then turn left, climbing the three cement steps that lead to the parking lot in which I have parked my car. We start to go near a couple of girls (whose car happens to be parked only a couple of spaces away from mine)… who stop smiling as soon as they see us—see Riku—not even noticing me—and then they turn to each other, whispering. I frown at this, instinctively not liking it.

My suspicions are confirmed as Riku seems to withdraw into himself. Pursing my lips, I make a quick decision. Right as we pass them, I rather awkwardly put my right arm my tall friend's shoulders, saying loudly to Riku, "God! I hate it when people whisper about me behind my back! It pisses me off! I mean, really, are those people so pathetic that they have to waste precious moments of their life belittling me? That's just stupid! The next time I see someone whispering about me… I'm going to march right up to them and say, 'Hey! I'm happy with who I am. Obviously, you're not happy with who you are… if you have to insecurely pick on someone else. Why don't you stop wasting your time and think about how to fix your screwed up self?' Or… something like that. I don't know what I would say—but something like that."

One of the girls laughingly cries, "What a freak!"

Looking over my shoulder, I call, "I wasn't talking to you, sweetie! Mind your business! Better yet: Go do something productive with your time—like eat something! Your body will thank you!" I grin at them… then turn away, guiding Riku to my car as I state, "Here it is." I unlock the passenger door for him, waiting for him to toss his backpack on the floor and get seated before I close the door.

Feeling rather proud of myself, I go the driver's side. The girls are talking to each other while casting glances at me, obviously saying what a weird person I am. I grin, crying, "Bye, ladies!" just before I put my backpack in the backseat, get in the car, and close the door.

I utter, "Before you say it: Yes, I know—I'm a freak. And I'm damn proud of it! Now… let's go!"

Just before I start up the car, Riku quietly says, "Thank you."

I smile, nodding my head. "You're welcome." I then pull out of my parking space, maneuver around the parking lot until I reach the exit. Pausing briefly to wait for a car to go before me, I turn onto the street. I ask, "Would you prefer the quiet… or the radio?"

"The quiet…."

I nod my head in agreement to this to show that I am fine with it—whether he is looking at me or not.

Despite the fact that Riku's reply of wanting quiet clearly means that he would rather be left to his thoughts, I take this opportunity to ask him questions—starting with: "So… in what grade are you?"

"I'm a senior."

"Oh. I'm a junior—so are Kairi and Selphie. …How old are you?"

"Seventeen. I'll be eighteen in late November."

"Ah. I'm sixteen. I won't turn seventeen until February twenty-fourth."

He says nothing in reply… so I ask, "What's one of your favorites books—and what do you like about it?"

"I like Pride and Prejudice because of the banter between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. I like the themes of vanity among the rich, too."

Grinning, I wonder, "And the romance?"

He gives a small laugh, adding, "And the romance…."

I offer, "One of my favorite books is Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. As you heard at lunch… I like the idea of being able to go somewhere interesting on a dull day—or, to be more accurate—just the thought of traveling anywhere! Heh!" I cry, "Hey! I'll show you my room when we get in! Then I can show you my mirror, and you can see why I think that it is not just a mirror—but a magical portal."

He snorts, muttering, "Okay…."

Considering that drive is a short one, I decide to let Riku sit in the quiet after this—we simply drive along in silence. As I turn into my cul-de-sac, I cry, "Here we are! Approaching my house… right… now!" And then I turn onto the driveway, opening the garage door with the remote attached to my visor. Once the car is parked, I get out of the car, opening the door behind mine to get my backpack out. Riku stands by the front of the car, his backpack slung over his right shoulder, his hand on the strap as he waits for me. I hurriedly bound toward him—toward the door that will lead inside the house. I do not need to tell him to take off his shoes; he does it automatically—right as I take off mine.

I open the door for him, gallantly gesturing for him to go first—and then I follow, closing the garage door on the way in.

Clutching at the right strap of my bag, I call, "Mom! I'm home! …And I brought a new friend with me!"

I listen very carefully and hear a far-off reply: "Oh! Welcome home! I'm in the kitchen!"

Riku trails after me as I make my way into the kitchen. My mother tosses a dish towel onto the counter, having just finished drying her hands, and turns toward us, smiling. She greets Riku by saying, "Hello! You must be Sora's new friend. I'm Sora's mother, obviously—but you may call me Kumi, if you so wish. And you are?"

He seems a little nervous about meeting my mother… probably considering that this is the first day that he has even met me… so his voice is soft as he replies, "Riku Shimizu."

My mother smiles, nodding her head as she declares, "Well, Riku! Feel free to make yourself at home! In fact… would you like to stay for dinner? It isn't very often that Sora brings a friend over—I can't even remember the last time Kairi was here! You've met Kairi, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have. She seemed… sweet."

I grin at this, tempted to snicker.

Tilting her head, my mother requests, "So… you'll stay for dinner, then?"

Shifting a little uncomfortably, Riku responds, "I don't know. I'd have to call my mom first and see if it's okay."

"Oh! Go right ahead! Here's the phone!" She grabs the white cordless from its cradle, handing it to him. He quietly thanks her before dialing his home number. I find it interesting that he speaks in a mixture of English and Japanese to his mother.

"Okaa-san! May I stay for dinner at my friend's house?"

There is a pause. He yells, obviously repeating himself—just in Japanese, "Ban gohan! Ii desu ka?"

Another pause. He emphasizes, "Sora! Sora's house!" I feel tickled that my name was said with a Japanese accent. I like the way it sounds.

He impatiently listens to his mother before replying, "I met him today. He was really nice to me. He invited me to have lunch with him—and he said he could give me a ride home—he will—either now or later. His mom asked if I wanted to stay for dinner."

He scowls, insisting, "I'm being serious! You want to talk to him?" He frowns, glancing at me. He covers the bottom of the phone with his hand, murmuring, "She wants to talk to you."

I shrug, holding out my hand to take the phone; he warily hands it to me, watching me as if this will somehow help him to hear the conversation better. "Hello?"

"Are you a furendo of Riku's? Sora?" She says my name—and Riku's—the Japanese way. I find this endearing; I rather like the sound of our names in Japanese. Her voice has a heavy accent—I can tell that speaking English is a struggle for her.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm Sora Sasaki."

"Sora… who?"

"Sasaki."

"Ohh. You… You nice to Riku?"

For some reason, I blush at this question. "Yes, ma'am. I know that I just met him… but I really like him. I was hoping he could stay and have dinner with me and my parents." Repeating the sounds I heard Riku make earlier, I ask, "Ii desu ka?"

Apparently, my speaking Japanese tickles something inside of her—perhaps it warms her to me. She sounds quite happy as she asks, "Ah! Anata wa nihongo o hanashimasu ka?"

I shoot Riku a 'help me!' sort of look, mouthing, 'Nihongo what?' He grins at this, whispering, "She probably just asked you if you speak Japanese. Say, 'Iie. Sumimasen deshita.' It means 'No. Excuse me.' The 'deshita' makes it more polite."

Blindly following Riku's directions, I respond, "Iie. Sumimasen deshita." I then add, "I was just repeating what I heard Riku say, actually."

She laughs at this, complimenting, "Your Japanese… it's very good! Good pronunciation!"

Grinning, I say possibly the only word that I know in Japanese: "Arigatou!" Riku whispers a word at me—and I hastily tack on, "…gozaimashita!"

Furrowing my brows, I give him a questioning look. He whispers, "It makes it more polite!" I nod in understanding.

"Ano… You… You seem like very nice boy, Sora. You… You take good care of Riku, ne?"

"Umm… yes. Good care!"

"Okay. Bye-bye now! Tell Riku I say, 'Bye-bye!'"

"A-All right! Goodbye!"

"Bye-bye!" She abruptly hangs up the phone, leaving me to do the same.

I laughingly relate, "She says, 'Bye-bye!' …I'm assuming that you're allowed to stay for dinner." Riku smirks at this, his eyes swimming with emotion. It makes my heart feel warm. Tilting my head, I suggest, "C'mon! Let's go to my room!"

Just as we move to do so, my mother reminds, "Sora! Homework first!"

I complain, "Do I have to? You said it yourself: I practically never have friends over!"

She gets stern on me. "Think of it this way: The sooner you get your homework done… the sooner you can hang out with Riku!"

Heaving a sigh, I nod in acquiescence. Riku follows me into the dining room, where we sit at the table. I shrug, smiling as I offer, "At least you can try and get your homework done early!"

He nods, bending down to fish his binder out of his backpack. He murmurs as he opens up to a certain section, "You might just be a good influence on me…."

I laugh, declaring, "Maybe… but I bet you'll still end up getting Senioritis!"

"Probably." He bends down again to fish out another binder—this one is slimmer—as well as a couple of textbooks.

I snort, "Glad I'm not a senior!"

Riku quips, "You will be next year!"

I have a system for doing my homework: I go chronologically by period; if a period does not have an assignment, I skip to the next one. Once I get through my homework assignments for periods one through three, I crack open my math textbook, groaning, "Ugh! Algebra II!"

Riku wrinkles his nose, not looking up from whatever he is writing as he says, "I remember how much I hated Alebra II. Of course… last year… I took Math Analysis—Trigonometry—and that was a bitch—much worse than Algebra II, in my opinion. This year, I'm taking it easy by doing Probability and Statistics. And the only reason I'm taking a math class this year… is for college applications."

"Hehe. Good idea."

We continue working in silence. I spend so long getting stuck on my math homework… that Riku actually finishes all of his homework… and watches me struggle. Finally, he scoots his chair over, peering down at the problem with which I am struggling. He then begins to tutor me, using his memory… and the book… as a reference.

We look up as my mother pops her head in, smiling. "I know you won't like me saying this… but… you two look adorable together." Hesitating for a moment, she requests, "Riku? Do you think that you could help Sora with his math homework everyday? He really struggles with it… and I'm not much help. I understand if you wouldn't feel comfortable with coming here everyday… but I'm sure that it would be very helpful—whatever amount you could do."

Riku regards her, blinking a couple of times. Finally, his face stoical, he replies, "I wouldn't mind."

My mother and I both grin. She gushes, "Great! Glad to hear it! I'll bring in some snacks in a bit. You two should get back to work!" We nod, and she leaves the room. Riku looks down at the book again, pointing out the example—the different steps that were taken. I nod to show that I understand… then attempt to recreate it by doing a problem. I make a mistake, and Riku stops me by putting his hand on mine, pointing his other index finger at the line above the one I was writing. His hand slides away from mine as I erase my mistake and try again—this time, writing it accurately. He nods at me, and we continue on.

Ten minutes later, my mother enters, placing a plate of baby carrots and sliced cucumbers and radishes in front of our books. Grabbing a baby carrot, I dip it in the puddle of ranch that fills the center of the plate, popping it in my mouth. I gesture at Riku to help himself—so he takes a slice of radish, dipping it lightly in the ranch before placing it neatly in his mouth, politely chewing it for a while before swallowing.

So… snacking intermittently, we work on my math homework. We finish the plate of vegetables near the end of the assignment. Once we are done, Riku checks his watch, noting that it is nearing six o'clock. We clean up our stuff, putting our belongings in their respective spots in our backpacks—which we leave by the door that leads to the garage.

Right as I put my hand on the banister—and my right foot on the bottom step—my mother appears, informing us that dinner will be ready in an hour. We nod then turn and ascend the staircase; Riku follows behind me as I gesture at certain rooms… while showing off others (such as the upstairs bathroom—in case he needs to use it). Finally, we stop at my room. I grin in anticipation before opening my door and letting him enter before me.

"Obviously… this is my room." I point at each object as I say, "My computer desk—and everything on it. My dresser. My bookshelf. My nightstand. My bed. And this…" I approach the mirror, "…is the infamous mirror. Now. You tell me: Does this not look like a magical mirror?"

He comes forward, peering at it pensively. After a great amount of thinking, he softly proclaims, "It could be magical." I grin at this answer—Kairi always just tells me that I am too imaginative.

"Glad to hear you think so!"

We both stare into the mirror—at the way we look standing side by side. My shirt exclaims, 'You Are Beautiful!'

Riku murmurs, "I think it's ironic that you chose to wear that shirt today of all days."

Looking to my right at him, I question, "Why?"

He shrugs, obviously not wanting to state his reasons—evidently regretting having even said anything. Somehow, I get the sense that he finds it ironic… because he feels ugly. This moves me to put my hand on his shoulder—which causes him to eye my hand… before bringing his eyes to my face, his expression an apprehensive, questioning one. I smirk, saying, "Let me just say this here and now."

Without looking, I smack my left palm upon the mirror, pressing it there as I swear, "Even though I hardly know you… I can firmly state that you are beautiful—inside and out. No matter what has happened to you… and no matter what will happen… I know that I'll always think that. This I swear—with my hand on this most magical of mirrors! May I get sucked into a world of doom if I ever don't think that you are beautiful!"

He blinks at me before softly uttering, "Thanks… I guess."

I grin, chuckling. "You're welcome."

Glancing at the mirror, I stare into Riku's eyes, deciding, "As long as I am here like this… I might as well add one more important oath."

When I don't immediately mention it, Riku asks, "What oath would that be?"

With the feeling of the cold, smooth glass beneath my left palm… and the warm shoulder of my new friend beneath my right one… I solemnly swear, "I'll always be here for you—when you need me—when you don't—if you want me—if you don't—no matter what! If you're ever stuck in a dark place… I'll be your light. This I swear—with my hand on this most magical of mirrors! May I get sucked into a world of doom if I am ever not here for you!"

I give his shoulder a quick pat… before dropping both of my hands. He stares at me very intently; his face has no readable emotions on it; he is very calm. I am unable to tell what he is thinking. Getting a bit embarrassed under his gaze, I rub at the back of my head with my right hand, defending, "Well… really… umm… I did the same thing with Kairi—years ago—when I was a little kid. I guess… I guess it's pretty corny to still do it now, huh?"

Riku softly shakes his head, intoning, "I don't think so. …Thank you."

I grin in relief and cry, "You're welcome!" We stare into each other's eyes for another long moment before I look over at my computer. Turning back to Riku, I wonder, "Want to go on the computer until dinner?"

"Sure."

I take this as my cue and head over to the computer, booting it up. There is only the one chair. I gesture at it, offering, "You can sit down, if you want."

He refuses, "I couldn't. It's your chair. You should sit down. I'll stand."

I counter, "Yeah, well… you're the guest! So you should sit down—and I'll stand! I'll just lean over your shoulder."

He doesn't move; I get so impatient that I just grab his shoulder… and sit him down in the chair anyway. As the blue login screen pops up, I lean in front of Riku, typing in my password. While my desktop loads, I randomly ask, "Hey! …Do you want to read a chapter of one of my stories?"

He blinks at me for a moment. "Okay."

"Great!" I swivel the mouse, loading up the document. Shifting positions, I move to stand behind Riku, leaning over his shoulder as I suggest, "I could read it out loud—that way we'd be at the same spot."

Turning my face toward his, I realize that we are indeed very close. I get a little warm at the close proximity but decide to play it off as nothing. Riku simply nods his consent while staring into my eyes. I grin, turning my head to face the computer screen. Starting at the top, I begin to read the prologue of my story aloud.

"'Seth Mason was just an ordinary guy—in an ordinary world—with an ordinary life. The problem with this was: He wanted to have the extraordinary. He hungered for it; he craved it so badly that he often created his own fantasy worlds—worlds where he was the hero—worlds where he, the hero, went on mystical adventures. In his opinion… reality was boring… and limited. This was why he preferred to dwell in his imagination: because his imagination knew no bounds.

"'Ever since he was a child, Seth would create these fantasies in his mind; he would make up countries… make up languages… make up people… and make up villains whom he could battle and defeat. And because he was the hero… everyone would love him. The people would praise him; whole countries would honor him. In these worlds… Seth was cherished and adored.

"'As Seth grew older, his fantasies began to change. He would still be the hero, but his motives changed—if only slightly. To correspond with his loneliness, and the desire to be loved, he began imagining girls—girls that he would save—girls that would fall in love with him because he was their rescuer—girls that admired him for his courage and fortitude. However, he often got bored with these girls; he could never maintain a constant focus on them… and, in truth… he almost always forgot them."

I pause to swallow, then, continue.

"'In reality, Seth was a nobody. He only had one friend… and even though she was very nice… and they had been friends since they were children… he found himself wishing for something more. Sure, Kari—" Riku smirks at this obvious name change, "—was sweet and a great support about most things… but she wasn't the friend that Seth wished she could be. She didn't support his daydreams; she preferred to mock them with her pretty smile and her sparkling eyes and that oh-so-innocent laugh… with that sympathetic voice of hers. She pretended that she supported him, but, really… Seth knew that she thought it was all just one big joke. He would smile and play along… but, really… he just wanted to sigh miserably at the fact that she did not understand him as much as she thought she did.

"'When he was alone, Seth would wonder what it would be like to have a companion who would understand—who would support him and maybe even join him in his mystical adventures. Sure, they wouldn't be kids anymore… and they might not be able to play like children could… but they could still go there in their minds; they could still talk to each other… build a whole new world together… be heroes together. They could be each other's best friends."

I blush at this part, having forgotten about how much of a loser I sound like in this narration. When I don't immediately continue, Riku turns his head to look at me; I feel his breath on my cheek as he urges, "Go on. I like it so far." I nod my head, and we both look at the screen again. After clearing my throat, I continue, blushing for a good long while because of how pathetic I sound. However, as I go on further, I get lost in the narrative, uncaring of how it sounds.

"'All in all, Seth was very lonely. He made everyone around him—his friend(s)—his family—his teachers—his classmates—believe that he was happy; he acted as if he were… but, truthfully, the loneliness gnawed at his heart, paining him. Sometimes, his fantasies could not save him—he would still suffer. Sometimes… the daydreams even made it worse… because it made him realize that his life was pathetic… that he really had no one… that no one really understood him. It was at times like these that Seth would curl up on his bed… and cry—where no one could see him. He would cry tears of loneliness; he would cry tears mourning his solitude; he would cry because there was no one to whom he could turn… no one to whom he could really talk… because no one really understood.

"'He built his fantasy worlds… because he couldn't stand reality. He created "characters," who were really just imaginary friends… friends who would understand him… friends that he sometimes hated because they were not real. He hated them at times for loving him… because it made him realize just how pathetic he was. He had to create people in his head… just so that he would feel loved. Sometimes, these friends were characters in some of his favorite books—persons that other imaginative people had created. However, most of these people were not his friends—his true friends. His true friends were the ones that he created.

"'There was one in particular whom he adored… and wished with all his heart were real. This was his fellow warrior—Ryouichi—whom he called "Ryou" for short. Ryou had—." I cut myself off, flushing and swallowing. I feel too embarrassed to read the rest of the sentence; and even though I know that Riku is reading along with me… I rather hope that he is simply staring at the screen, reading the story only when I say the words.

He turns his head, urging me in the same way as before—except with a simple: "Go on."

My heart thudding, I pick up where I left off. "'Ryou had long, flowing silver hair that he always kept tied back in a long ponytail—tied off with a black ribbon. His skin was pale like the moonlight… and his eyes glittered like precious jewels—jewels the color of the sea—sometimes green; sometimes blue—the color tended to change with his moods. Seth decided that the best color name to describe them was aquamarine—namely because he rather liked that word, and he thought that the color was lovely… and that it truly was the color of Ryou's eyes. Despite his delicate appearance, Ryou was very tough; he had built up strong muscles from the use of his sword—and, quite frankly, was far stronger than Seth—but Seth didn't mind this. He actually preferred this.

"'Ryou was everything Seth could ever want in a best friend. He talked to him; he supported him; he fought beside him; he risked his life for him—he protected him; he was always and forever his protector. Ryou was someone to whom Seth could confess anything and everything… without the fear of him laughing. The silver-haired warrior was always very serious whenever Seth wanted to talk. However, he knew how to be funny; he had a great sense of humor… and he knew just how to make Seth smile. They would banter… and they would laugh… and they would smile. Their bond was unbreakable; no one could compare to it; no one could touch it.

"'Sometimes, Seth would just lie on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Then, he would close his eyes… and seek out Ryou.

"'He would lie in their favorite clearing… and Ryou would instinctively come to him, sitting beside him. He would sit there silently, knowing that he would not need to say anything—Seth knew he was there… and would talk when ready. And then, Seth would talk. He would tell Ryou about his life in what he liked to refer to as "The Other World"… and Ryou would nod his head, listening intently. After confessing the events of the day, Seth would sit up, and he and Ryou would travel together, exploring—sometimes peacefully—sometimes fighting evil. (It usually depended on the mood Seth was in at the moment.) Either way… they were times that Seth cherished deeply.

"'But, at some point, he would have to tear himself from his fantasies… and return to the real world. Whether because it was time for dinner… or because his mother or father needed him to do something… or simply because he just… had to… he would drag himself away from his best friend, promising to come back to the magical land in which Ryou lived as soon as he could.

"'Seth loved Ryou; he honestly considered him to be one of his best friends… despite the fact that he was not real. But, even though he felt so strongly for his dearest friend… Seth couldn't help but wish for that something more—that something more in real life. He wanted to stumble upon something exciting—like Alice tumbling through the looking-glass into Wonderland (or, rather, more accurately: the bizarre world involving the chess board, just as strange as the previous dreamscape). He wanted something extraordinary. What he did not know… was that he was about to get his wish."

I inform Riku, "This is just the prologue. Chapter one is in a different file… and… I'm still working on chapter two."

He gazes into my eyes as he utters, "I like it so far—it's very good. You're a very talented writer."

I grin, ducking my head as I blush, finally pulling away from him. I walk across the room, my hands clasped behind my head as I shrug and reply, "I guess. Practice does help… and, as I said… I like to do something productive with my imagination." I wheel around to face him, my hands slowly dropping back to my sides as I ask, "Would you like to read the first chapter?"

He smirks, nodding his head. I grin and come back toward him. I pause, though, and decide, "I'll be right back—I'm going to go get a chair!" As I rush from the room, I call, "Feel free to use the Internet while I'm gone!"

I pop downstairs, seeking out a chair. As I skid into the dining room and grab one of the four chairs at the table, my mother appears at the doorway, asking me, "Sora? What are you doing?"

I explain, "I'm taking this chair upstairs so I can sit with Riku at the computer."

"Okay. Well, make sure you bring it back down when I call you down for dinner—and I expect you to help me set the table tonight. All right?"

"All right! Just give us a call when you want us to come down! Love you!" I grasp the chair by the back, lugging it to the foot of the stairs. Peering up the long staircase, I purse my lips. This could be difficult….

Hefting the chair in front of me, I struggle my way upstairs, taking a breather on the landing before carrying the thing into my room. As soon as I arrange the chair on Riku's right, I plop down, panting a little. He frowns at me, insisting, "I would have brought it up for you if you'd asked."

I grin at him, quipping, "You can carry it down for dinner, then."

He smirk widens. "Okay."

Scooting my chair closer to the computer—with Riku scooting his a bit to the left to make room for me—I lean in to open up the document for chapter one. Once it is open, I begin reading it aloud. It is about twenty pages long. By the time I finish, my mother is calling us down. After I stand, Riku grabs my chair, hefting it before him as he heads downstairs. He states as we descend, "You know… taking it downstairs is the easy part. Next time I'm here… just have me carry it up… and you can carry it down."

Leaning forward a bit, I remind, "Next time being… tomorrow, right?"

He hesitates before agreeing, "Sure. Tomorrow."

As Riku sets the chair down in its respective spot at the table, my mother calls from the kitchen, "Sora! Set the table, please!"

"Yeah, Mom! Coming!" I grin at Riku. "Be right back… unless… you want to help me?" He shrugs, following me into the kitchen.

My mother scolds, "Sora! Riku's our guest! Don't make him help you set the table!" She softens as she smiles and says to Riku, "Riku… please just relax and sit down at the table."

He insists, "I don't mind. I set the table all the time at home."

My mother sighs but agrees to it anyway. I get down four big plates, handing them to Riku who leaves the room to place them on the table. I scan the cupboards for the bowls that we always use to put our salads in, taking them down one at a time. When Riku re-enters, he takes two, and I take two, both of us dispersing them around the table—as the plates are.

Back in the kitchen, I rifle through the silverware drawer, picking out the necessary silverware from the container as I request that Riku get four napkins, telling him where they are. When I enter the dining room, I find that he set all four cloths on the table, to the right of each plate—folded over once. He says that he'll handle setting out the silverware—that I can go back in to get the glasses. I nod and do so, making two trips so that I do not try to carry four glasses at once. Once the table is set, Riku and I stand back to admire our handiwork. I compliment, "We make a good team!" He shrugs in a noncommittal way.

"Sora! Come get the salad bowl!"

I excuse myself, telling Riku to take a seat before I leave to do my mother's bidding. As soon as the salad bowl is in the middle of the table, I rush back into the kitchen to get some potholders and help my mother carry out the casserole dishes in which our meal is contained. (These, also, go in the center.) Riku compliments my mother, "This smells wonderful."

She beams. "Thank you, Riku!" She puts her hand on my shoulder, telling me to sit down right as she turns, calling out my father's name… and that dinner is ready. Then she bustles off to get the pitchers of ice water and lemonade that we have in the fridge, placing them on the table in their usual spots (by the salad bowl). When my father enters, Riku stands.

My father smiles, murmuring, "You must be Riku. Kumi was telling me about you just a little while ago when I came in. I'm Sora's father—you may call me Calvin, if you wish." Riku shakes my father's hand, and the two sit down—my father at the head of the table—Riku right across from me—my mother across from my father.

My father tosses the salad as he conversationally asks, "So, Riku… how did you and Sora meet?"

Handing his plate to my mother, who graciously serves him, he replies, "We met in the boys' bathroom. Sora just… started talking to me… and invited me to eat lunch with him. And… I accepted. We both have the same lunch, because we both have math fifth period—not the same class, though. As we were walking to math, he offered me a ride home… and asked if I wanted to come over. The rest is history."

My father nods, falling quiet as he serves himself some salad. My mother softly says, "Sora…" holding out her hand for my plate—I quickly hand it to her, and she serves me large portions of everything, warning me that it is very hot as I retrieve the plate from her. I am quite cautious as I set it back down in its respective, prior spot.

Now it is my mother who makes conversation. "In what grade are you, Riku?"

"I'm a senior."

"Oh, that's nice. Do you know where you're going to college yet?"

"I'm not sure yet… but I'm applying to a lot of different places—most of them out-of-town."

I frown at this, becoming a bit worried. I question, "Why out-of-town?"

He shrugs, mumbling, "Because I have a lot of bad memories here."

My mother coos, "Oh, that's too bad!"

Riku looks uncomfortable as he mutters, "Yeah…."

Cheering up, I suggest, "Maybe you could go to one of the ones here for a year or two… and then we can both go to an out-of-town one!"

He looks at his plate as he replies, "Maybe…."

My mother beams, declaring, "I think that's a wonderful idea! I'm betting that's what you'll end up doing—because, believe it or not, Sora grows on you!"

I snort at this, dryly questioning, "I had to grow on you?"

She laughs, answering, "No! Of course not, honey! I just meant that Riku will probably end up like all of your other friends who love you."

Riku catches my eye… and I quickly look away, mumbling, "Yeah, Mom. I'm sure he will."

I told my mother that I have a lot of friends at school—but that we never have time to hang out together—except during school hours. Apparently, she believes me—I guess I am quite convincing when I act cheerful and active.

In an effort to keep conversation flowing, my mother asks, "What were you two doing up on the computer?"

Riku responds, "Sora was showing me something that he wrote."

My mother beams, obviously taking this as a sign that he and I are getting along very well. "That's wonderful! I'm glad that Sora wants to share his writing with you! Lord knows he's very creative and intelligent! He used to show his stories to Kairi… but after that day…." She turns to me, asking, "What exactly happened?"

I frown, grumbling, "She's just not a fan of fantasy. I was trying to show her one of my stories… and she snapped at me that she didn't want to read it… so I told her that if she thought my stories were so boring… that she should just never read them again… and then I kicked her out of my room… and she stormed off."

Shaking her head, my mother murmurs, "Yes, well… you took it pretty badly. I'm just glad you that you've found someone with whom you can share your interests!"

I smile while staring down at my food. "Me, too."

For the rest of dinner, we are all quiet—it is a peaceful, comfortable quiet. After we finish eating, we all chip in to clear the table. My mother begins washing the dishes, calling over the rush of the faucet, "Would you like me to drive you home, Riku?"

I offer, "I can take him!" Turning to him, I ask, "Do you want to hang around for a bit more… or do you want to go now?"

He states, "I should probably go now."

"Okay."

Putting my hand on my mother's shoulder, I kiss her cheek, thanking her for dinner, complimenting her cooking by saying, "It was delicious."

Riku echoes, "Yes, it was. Thank you."

"You're welcome. It was a pleasure having you. Come back anytime!"

After this, we head off to gather our belongings and get in the car, buckling our seatbelts. As soon as I am out of the garage, I turn on my headlights then back out the rest of the way, quickly pulling out of the cul-de-sac.

We sit in the quiet again. I ask, "So… what'd you think?"

"What'd I think about what?"

"Everything…. My house… my room… my story… my family…."

"Your house is nice. Your room is comfortable and has a nice feeling to it. Your story was interesting—and very well-written. And your family seemed very nice."

I laughingly say, "That about sums it up, doesn't it?"

"Yeah…. I really liked… I really liked being there. Thank you for inviting me."

"You're welcome. As my mom said, 'Come back anytime!'"

"I think I will… if that's okay with you."

I laugh. "Yeah! Definitely! You have to help me with my math homework tomorrow, remember?"

"Right…."

Riku directs me on where to go. It is a ten-minute drive to his house. As I park at the curb, he requests, "Would you mind coming in? My mom will want to meet you." I shrug, unbuckling, and removing the keys from the ignition before getting out of the car.

The two of us walk side by side up the walkway… to his front door. Hesitating for just a moment, Riku opens the door, calling, "Tadaima! Sora wa boku to issho ni!"

"Ah! Okaeri nasai! Chotto matte kudasai! Kimi no tomodachi wo mitai!"

Riku whispers to me, "She wants us to wait—she wants to see you." I nod, remaining in place.

A few seconds later, a smiling woman (who looks a great deal like Riku) appears. She looks at me, questioning with that smile in place, "Sora desu ka?"

Blinking a bit, I nod. Her smile turns into a grin. She slowly enunciates, "It's… nice… to meet… you."

I nod, smiling fondly at her attempt at English. "It's nice to meet you, too."

She utters, her accent very heavy, "It's so very nice of you… to have Riku… for dinner."

I smile broadly, nodding my head as I try not to laugh at her slight mistake—the omission of the key word 'over'. Riku snorts, rolling his eyes. His mother turns on him, very agitated—her eyebrows furrowing—concerned that she said something wrong—asking, "Nani?"

He mutters, "Betsuni. Ii yo."

She stares at him for a moment before turning back to me with a smile. "Thank you… so much… for… for being nice to Riku. He needs good friends! You be good friend, okay?"

I love this woman. I think that she is adorable. I grin at her, nodding enthusiastically. Riku rotates his body toward me, saying, "Tell your mom thanks again from me… and… I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow."

As I turn to the door, Riku's mother puts her hand on my shoulder, causing me to rotate around to face her. She slowly intones, "You… good boy. You… wondaaful. Like angel." She smiles… then leans forward, embracing me. I blink, looking over at Riku during this moment. He fidgets, appearing very self-conscious. His mother then pulls back, her hands on my shoulders, still smiling. "You… drive safely. Come here anytime you want." Her eyes sparkle with sincerity, her lips curved at the corners in an enthusiastic sort of way.

"I will. Arigatou."

Just before I leave, I call, "Good night!"

They both echo it back at me. I even hear Riku's mother cry after the door is closed, "Itterashai! Oyasumi nasai!"

Standing on the doorstep, I hear Riku scold, "Okaa-san! Yamete yo! Hazukashii!" I cannot hear what she quietly says back… but I realize that I wouldn't understand it anyway… so I take this opportunity to head back to my car… and drive on home.


As soon as I open my eyes and realize that I am in the dream world, I scramble out of bed, rushing over to the mirror.

"Sora?"

I shove my hands through eagerly, demanding, "Yeah! Pull me through!"

As soon as I am in, I embrace… Riku… squeezing him as hard as I can as I breathe, "You'll never believe the day I've had!" Pulling back, I grin at him, shaking my head as I utter, "I can't even believe it…."

He furrows his brows, questioning, "What is it?"

I drag him over to the bed by the arm, where we assume our customary position. He watches me intently, waiting for me to spill the big news.

I excitedly gush, "Riku! It's Riku! …Your name… is Riku Shimizu. You're seventeen—you'll be eighteen in late November—I didn't ask when, exactly. I'm sure I'll find out later. But… you're real! You're really real! Not only that… but… you and I are FRIENDS now!" I then proceed to hurriedly tell him the events of the day.

He gapes at me, in awe. Sounding astonished, he nearly whispers, "You… don't even know me… and yet… you… befriend me… you invite me to have lunch with you… you invite me into your home… to stay for dinner… you show me something that is immensely private—a piece of your heart—and… you… you don't even know me." Tears fill his eyes as he begs the question of: "Who are you?" With glassy eyes, he further inquires, "What type of person just opens their heart without a second thought to a complete stranger?" The tears slip from his eyes… but he makes no move to wipe them away.

I grin, trying to joke, "I guess my mama raised me right!"

He doesn't even laugh—that is how moved… how taken aback… he is. He simply stares at me, those trails on his cheeks glistening in the soft light. And then… he softly wraps his arms around me, laying his head on my shoulder… remaining silent as warm tears seep onto my shoulder, staining my t-shirt. The only thing I can do is return the embrace… and be there for him.

My hand twitches… and I regretfully pull away, telling him that I will see him tomorrow. He nods, wiping at his cheeks. He walks with me to the mirror, grasping my hand as I step through. The last thing I see is him smiling at me as he squeezes my hand… and then I am back on my side of the mirror… heading back to my bed, filled with the knowledge that I have done something phenomenal—that I have touched someone's heart… and possibly rescued them from the darkness therein.


A/N: Thus ends chapter two. I must admit that I love Riku's mother. I think that she's adorable. Lol. Oh! I feel I must also confess that I want to give this Riku that I have created a hug because he is so sad and lonely. (I'm sure I'm not the only one! Lol.)

The following is the translation of some of the less obvious Japanese terms used in this chapter.

Glossary of Japanese terms:

Okaa-san: Mother/ Mom

ban gohan: dinner

Ii desu ka?: It is okay/ all right?

Tadaima!: I'm home!

Sora wa boku to issho ni!: Sora is with me!

Okaeri nasai!: Welcome home!

Chotto matte kudasai!: Please wait a moment!

Kimi no tomodachi wo mitai!: I want to see your friend!

Nani?: What?

Bestuni: Nothing

Ii yo: It's fine.

Itterashai!: Take care! (said whenever someone leaves)

Oyasumi nasai!: Good night!

Yamete yo!: Stop it!

Hazukashii!: It's embarrassing!

Please note: The way that Riku and his mother speak to each other is pretty informal (most of the time).

That should do it...

Anyway… hope you enjoyed it.

Please review.

Kagome-chan