Fear not, this is meant to be a short chapter. Trust me, its best as a short chapter. PoV and all that good stuff. I was a little afraid of this chapter and how it would look, but I had a few people read it, one who didn't like Riku much too but actually felt sorry for him because of this chapter. So yes, I feel pride for this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
Suggestions for this time is Tabitha Dornoc. She's written some lovely stories, but most are located on her livejournal. One of my favorite here on has to be Witch's Favour. Enjoy!
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The island was still their island. Actually, more so. Even though they still loved their other trio of friends, they were not quite the group of six they once were. Selphie was less interested in fighting with her jump rope then she had been and more interested in growing up and becoming whatever she decided to be that week. Then again, she was willing to experiment with new weapons. Wakka and Tidus were both in the school's Blitzball team and took their aggressions out that way. It was the season for the sport, but once it ended, then maybe they would be around more
Therefore, they often stayed there with just themselves. Like old times. Sora, Riku, and Kairi. The two boys are calmer now and spend their time teaching their princess about how to fight. Just incase something bad happens again. If it does, it will not be too much of a problem.
A lot of the time, maybe more then they should, they ended up here. If their parents had any problem or objections, they kept it to themselves. Sora's mother was too happy her baby was home. She had her panic fears and insecurities but she just wanted her son's love. That was all she could ask for. Riku's parents, both father and stepmother had been shocked when their son came home and who thought he might have run or died in the storm. They took him back in without questions. It was uncomfortable, but Riku's parents only would care if the police were involved. And Kairi's family asked her a million questions as soon as she came home. She answered them all patiently and as best she could and made sure to take her phone with her, wherever she went.
Right now, Sora was supposed to be helping clean up a bit of a seaweed mess along the beach. Supposed to, but the boy fell asleep in the sun as the lazy bum he was. So now Kairi had to pick the pieces up all by herself, except making sure that a few landed around and on Sora, just because he was and is a lazy bum. Riku was…
Kairi paused. Riku was here a moment ago. He was checking the boards on the wall, but now he was gone. After disposing her pile in the right places, she began to look around. He was not on his island, his usual favorite place. She knew he never liked being in the tree fort and his boat was still there. Even if he was going to leave, he would have said something. Kairi was worried.
Not the fear of him totally disappearing, but the fear that he felt left out. That was something Kairi did not want to happen, for him to think and experience. Early she thought she saw a shake in the bushes while she decided a certain pieces of grass just had to be set into Sora's already grassy hair.
But that was the door…
Kairi had already climbed through the entrance (a little smaller then it was only about a year back). It was something the three never talked about unless they needed to discuss it. She knew Sora still journeyed in here, but it was always assumed Riku kept his distance from this place.
But there he was, staring around at everything. Surprisingly, his gaze was not focused on the door that lead to the heart of the world…but on the many drawings that all the kids did once upon a time. His back was placed against some brush to the side of the whole cavern as to not accidentally ruin any drawing. Both of his hands laid flat to his side in the sand
"Riku?" The teen in question blinked and looked over to his female friend. There was a strange look in his face. It was peaceful, but sad at the same time. They stared at one another before a small smiled tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"It's weird. This place really is innocent. Just…"
Kairi simply sat down next to him and patted his shoulder. "I know." Kairi smiled. Both their gazes turned to the door. Kairi had been here when she lost her…
She shook her head. Those memories were blurry and frankly should never be visited again. Her eyes instead turned to look at the drawings. Those made a blinding smile cross her face. They were of everything and nothing; childhood and dreams. Kairi turned to a certain portion of the wall and nearly giggled. There was the discovery she made when she came home the first time, when everything appeared right before her eyes. The good one. Two pictures of a girl and a boy each giving the other a star. The legendary Paopu fruit. She was never certain of Sora's feelings until then.
Then she looked over a Riku, and realized that the sad face was back.
It made her blood freeze.
This was a subject she had been trying to avoid for a while. She knew it needed to be discussed…but nobody should be hurt by it. He suddenly turned to her and gave her a wide smile. Yet the sadness dance behind his aquamarine eyes. "It's good to visit this place." He stood up and started to walk out.
It should not end this way. This…this needed to be solved or resolved. "Riku!" She got up and scampered to him. Before she reached him, however, his hands were already up to hold her back by her shoulders, holding her back from actually showing close affection. She paused, staring at the hands, then at him. "I'm…" Riku shook his head.
"It's fine." Though from how Riku stated it, it sounded everything but fine. "I knew it was what was going to happen. I'm not mad."
'Not but you are sad.' Kairi thought. "Riku…I owe you so much. If I would have known what was going to happen with everything…I still want to help as much as I can." Kairi pulled back but quickly entwined both of her smaller hands into his larger hand. He froze, but gripped her back as much as he could.
"I love you."
Even though it was something that Kairi had known, she jumped a little at hearing these words. It felt good but hurt in ways she could not begin to describe. More so because it hurt him even more to have to finally admit it. Kairi pulled one of the hands to her face and held it against her cheek. She was crying. She knew she was. But she did not, could not, would not stop the tears. "I know…I love you, too."
"But not the way I do." It was a final statement. Kairi stared at him. He was actually smiling brighter. "But that's okay."
She bit her lip to stop a sob from escaping. "Riku, I didn't want to choose. I mean…yes, I had, but I shouldn't be about choosing something like this. It should be…I'm sorry." Kairi was out of words
He leaned over and brought up his free hand to placed one finger over her lips. "I'm glad you choose him."
Kairi was stunned. She was not sure if it was because of the contact or his tone, but it forced her to listen. She wanted things to be okay. She wanted to say something to make it all better. What came out was one word:
"Why?"
Riku let out a sigh, but still smiled. "You two…you both mean more to me then anything. Really. I have some guilt…for bringing the darkness on you. It was my fault you got involved. Even though you weren't from here and both of us undoubtedly would have been swept up in all of this anyways…You still forgave me." Riku looked down on the ground, "And what I almost did to Sora….He forgave me, too."
Kairi waited for him to go on, but he stopped after that. She did not want to press, so she just waited since she knew there was more he wanted to think. He seemed to find the words again after a minute, "I've already figured out something. No matter how lost I got in darkness, you two will find a way to bring me back." He pulled the one had off her lips, but moved it back to her shoulder. "I use to be afraid you two would go ahead of me and leave me behind. I use to feel like an extra. But…" A bright grin slid across his face. "Even if you two are together…you'll never leave me behind. Especially you two."
A sniff. Full tears finally fell down her cheek. Small arms wrapped around the larger frame as ocean drop sunk into cloth of her shirt. "Yah…us. We will always be there for you, even if me and Sora aren't…" Something cracked in her voice when she spoke in the last part.
Riku, though clearly overwhelmed by the hug, rubbed the girl's head and seemed to ponder the end of that statement. "Kai?"
She looked up at the aquamarine eyes and bit her lip, wondering if she should even bring it up. But maybe she should. "Sora hasn't given me a paopu fruit…"
The boy's eyes opened widely or a second. Of course, that sentence had more then one meaning. And Riku understood them all. He hugged her back, a bit of merriment behind his voice. "Ah…you know Sora. He's pretty dense, unless you outright tell him."
A smile crossed her face. "Yah…" She finally looked back up at the taller boy, genuinely smiling. She gave him a quick peck on the lips. Maybe more then quick moment, but it was still a peck with not so much puckering behind it as laughter. It certainly shocked him as his jaw looked reading to fall. The ocean girl only giggled. "I'll still care. Okay?" Riku paused, but bore that rare, genuine smile again and hugged the girl closer, placing his chin on her head.
Maybe he didn't have her…but he had them. Kairi hoped he understood that. She still loved him. And perhaps…perhaps Riku could find someone to take that place in his heart. But for now-
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! KAIRI! RIKU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!"
A hush settled in the two until they started at one another. Then two identical wicked smirks spread across their face. Then laughter echoed in the cave as the two teens, hand in hand, darkness and light, left to greet their sea-weed friend.
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"It's weird…their bond."
The girl turned away from her spot, looking at her male counter-part.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
The boy did not reply at first. Instead, he looked down at the smooth, glossed ground. It was a difficult question.
"Not on its own. But…it is going to get jumbled. Because the each want someone who wants another and another and another…" This time, he stared at the picture. There was no apparent change in the picture. No new colors. No refinement in the sketches of lands and seas and skies and people and trees and surf and everything that needed to go into the picture. But there is a key difference. A large key difference. Only took a slight twirl of the pencil to finish it. The triangle in the center. The shape itself changes by nothing. But…
A perfect circle encased it.
The boy frowned. "What does that mean?"
She shrugged and set the paper down to her side.
