Last Name
Chapter 8: Distance
"I see you survived your first day." Ansem pitched his keys and wallet to their appropriate places on the front counter. "How was it?" He shook his head. He remembered his days at the mix-matched school. It was bitter sweet. School was like that.
"You know. It's school?" Riku scratched his side. "It's only the first day though. We'll see how it goes."
"I can understand that. Have any homework?" Ansem chuckled seating himself at his desk near the edge of the living room. He hoisted his computer out of its leather bag, and pulled out his project blueprints. He would be gone all next week to travel to the capital for a presentation. The necessary and meticulous details weren't going to plan out themselves before that time came.
"Math. I did it after school. You can look over it if you want." Riku stood in front of the clear porch doors and watched the sun set. He couldn't wait for night to fully fall. Xemnas had left him an old Premium telescope while he was gone all day. It was perfect for star gazing; not one cloud drifted across the horizon. He'd tell Xemnas thank you next week.
"No, I believe you. Who was your friend?" Ansem popped the cap of a white ink well. With the cork wedged between his teeth, he checked over the different sizes of his fountain pens.
"That was Sora." Riku plopped on the couch ignoring the growl of his stomach. The smell of food drifted from the oven, through the small kitchen, and into the living room. He tried to distract himself. His telescope box—covered in a light coat of dust—rattled with different changeable parts. From what he could tell it was silver and hand crafted in another country.
"Sora? Make any other friends?" Ansem removed his wristwatch and sat it to the side. He was hoping that Riku was. If so, it was a great start. He had already pinned Riku as somewhat reserved. He had noticeable quiet tendencies, but in that aspect they were very alike. Ansem liked to observe before he did anything.
"Hmm, not sure." It was darker now. "Can I turn on the TV?"
"After dinner."
Riku yawned putting together the last pieces of his gift. It took a lot longer than he expected it to. By the time he was done, it was already time to get ready for bed. He sighed with slight disappointment. He had chalk and black construction paper (Ansem had found him some) so he could chart stars as he gazed. Bummer, but he would try again another time.
"You have school tomorrow, Riku." Ansem reminded him.
Sighing for a last time Riku left his fully functional telescope on the porch, sloshed down the hallway, and entered his room to get his things together for tomorrow. After brushing his teeth in the hallway bathroom, he returned to his room to change into his night clothes. He stretched. Being in his own room still felt odd, but it was nice to have the privacy and a bed that actually accommodated his size.
He changed his shirt first making sure to sift through his pockets. He pulled out a card. "Oh, yeah!" He remembered the card Axel had given him earlier that day. He never really got around to reading it. He flipped it over. It definitely was just as interesting as Axel was. The card decorations were dazzling with designs of green and gold, and leaping Lipizzan horse surrounded by fire works.
THE GREEN CAROUSEL!
Aodhfin's Family Entertainment and First-class Fireworks since 1825
Fire, Acrobatics, Irish Dance, Meals, and Extravaganza!
"Wow." It was defiantly something. Riku sat the card on his bed side under his lamp. With the last of his pajama's on he tucked himself away for the rest of the night.
"Good Night, Riku." He could hear Ansem from down the hall. He could still see light flashing from the TV.
"Night." He closed his eyes.
"Do you think I'm being too distant?"
"It doesn't sound like it to me. You are only being yourself. That's proper, yes?"
"Are you sure?"
"Are you sure?"
"No, that's why I called." Ansem rubbed the bags under his eyes.
"It's okay to let yourself grow attached, Ansem. I can understand why you might be hesitant, but the past is the past."
"But-"
"You have to let it go. Let him go. It wasn't your fault."
"…"
"I know you can be a father again. No going back now. You've got a good kid who needs you."
"I know."
"…" There is a long silence were no end spoke.
"We're here you know. All of us. Uh, even Dad. As absolutely delirious of an old man he is."
Ansem chuckles. The conversation warms if only slightly.
"Persevere?"
"Absolutely. Thank you, Xemnas."
"No trouble. See you Sunday."
"Bye."
The school parking lot over flooded with children of every size. Car horns honked, and parents yelled in every direction to whisk their noisy children hom. Riku, however, didn't request for a ride today. He was invited to walk home with the kids he now found himself associating with. It was weird how friendships worked. He barely knew them, but already he felt comfortable enough to make small talk.
He walked along side them on the paved, brick side walks and roads. He could see the different cliques break off from one another into even smaller groups of kids. They ran into sweet shops, and gas stations for food and chat. The feeling of not knowing much still prickled at the back of his mind. Perhaps he would become familiar over time.
"Bye you guys! My mom has me on shelving duty." Xion (Riku always thought of cotton when around her) split from their pack and darted towards Twilight Uptown. The Ramsy's owned a bustling little book shop. He was welcomed to visit there. He'd go when he had the chance.
"Bye!" The gang said in unison.
By now, Sora, Kairi, and himself were the only ones left walking.
"Where'd Roxas go?" Kairi suckled on the bar of sea salt ice cream she'd gotten when the Ice Cream Trolley rolled by.
"Skateboarding." Sora bit on his own bar. Riku had already consumed his. It was hot for August.
"Figures. Are we all going to your apartment?" Kairi skipped and staggered over all the dark red bricks in the pavement. In her mind they were probably lava.
"Yep. We all live in the same complex don't we?" Sora snapped his fingers at the realization.
"The Destiny Islands?" Riku chewed on his popsicle stick and tried to keep his book bag on his shoulder.
"That's the one! Kairi lives with her aunt, and I stay with my parents. Do you stay with your dad, Riku?" Sora picked up on Kairi's game, and eagerly joined in. Bright red: good. Dark read: boiling hot lava.
"Yeah." Riku nodded, gave in, and joined along. They were a few cozy blocks away. On his way to Sora's he could stop by his own living area to tell Ansem which number he was in. He called using a school phone in advance.
"Do you have a mom?" Kairi hic'd as she jumped. Her small hands curled around her bag straps.
"No. Just a dad." The back of his heel taped a dark red tile and he jumped.
"Which reminds me! How come you and your dad don't look alike? He looks really different." They were even closer now. The complex stretched out above them blocking the heat of the sun.
"He's my dad…What's the word? Legally, but not…really." Riku stuffed his hands in his pockets after whipping sweat from his forehead. "I'm just getting to know him, though. He's pretty nice."
Kairi tilted her head. The game ended with the side walk. "You'll tell us more, right?"
They walked through the cool lobby, past the lounge, and to the stair way.
"Sure, while we do our homework."
"Blargh, more Math, right? Mr. Lupin's one of those teachers." Sora scrunched his nose.
CHAPTER REVISED 7/14/2013
