Chapter 9: How Do You Do!

Memo: This chapter will be written in either Rei's pOv or Riku's pOv, but marking the change will be different. I have decided to use Song of Songs (a book from the Bible--even if you aren't Christian, you'll appreciate this book...it's completely about love) to mark the changes and set the mood. To help you follow, Rei will be going first.

)()()()()(FOUR MONTHS LATER)()()()()(

"How handsome you are, my lover!...His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me...My lover is mine and I am his..."

It's been the most peaceful time of your life. Though it has been a bit routine, you really can't complain. You have the most amazing friends, a wonderful house, a fun job...

Not to mention Riku.

You'd think it would get old. After all, you spend every day together, all day. At work in the morning, dinner--though usually Kairi and Sora join you for that; and every night he's the last person you see. In the morning, he's the first, and the cycle starts all over again.

You will admit...your life has started to get a little more hectic as the date for your wedding draws nearer and nearer, but it only makes you want to be closer to him.

Today is the first day you spent nearly all day with Kairi. Just you and Kairi. It was quite fun, you're not going to deny that!! But it was different.

But exciting!

After all, Kairi is the only person you would ever trust when it comes to things like picking out a wedding dress...

The unfortunate thing is that Manders and Tashie can't be here to celebrate with you.

Riku assured you that he would talk to King Mickey, and he would try to see if they could arrange a flight to Earth in order to temporarily "kidnap" your sister and bestie. But you haven't heard back from the King yet, so you're losing hope for a reunion anytime soon.

As you think these thoughts, standing out on the balcony as you've done so many times before, your brain races in twists and turns of emotion. You feel sad, but happy, but disappointed, but excited...

Your brain finally stops when you see Riku standing beside you, and your heart, as if in response, starts to jump around in joy. That's how it always is. Everyone else has your mind, but only he has your heart.

"Hi," you say quietly, smiling at him.

"Hey," he says, returning the smile effortlessly.

You've never been so thankful in your life for one single thing.

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you...You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes...How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!"

Just earlier today, Sora spent the afternoon with you as Rei and Kairi were shopping for your wedding. You've always thought Sora to be like your kid brother, and today, he seemed even more that way. He couldn't go five minutes without poking fun at you--"lovebird" was the common "insult" he used today.

Whatever.

Though there's less than a year between the two of you in age, you've gone through more maturing than he has...or probably ever will. Sometimes you can't see how Kairi puts up with his antics...

But she must feel the same way you feel about Rei...and how Rei feels about you. There's absolutely nothing to hide anymore.

As you gaze into her shining, silver eyes, you think back to when you first met Rei. You knew then that she was something special, definitely deserving of attention. You didn't have any idea then how much you would come to adore her and love her with every single fiber of your being.

When you were younger, you used to wonder how long forever was. A long, long time, you figured. Too long, perhaps...

But now, it seems like it's not enough. You want to be with her longer than forever.

Rei slowly wraps her arms around your waist and presses her ear to your chest. She does that often, as if to remind herself that the nightmares she experienced a year ago are really over. Her soft, pink lips curl into a smile, and she turns her head to look up at you once again.

"Listen! My lover is knocking: 'Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched in dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.'...My heart began to pound for him...Tell him I am faint with love."

How?

Every time you look into Riku's beautifully piercing aqua eyes, how are you so entranced? Is it so possible to be so...incredibly unfathomably in love?

His lips meet yours gently, lovingly, in a way words could never describe. Your hand, in the same way, reaches up and places itself on his neck, as if to pull him just a bit closer. You can feel his silky, silver hair brushing against your knuckles with every slight movement, with every calm breeze. His hands have found their way to your waist, resting on your hips.

It's a beautiful night.

"Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me...My dove, my perfect one, is unique...I said, 'I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit...'"

You can't even begin to imagine what your life would be like right now if it weren't for Rei. Would you still even be on the islands? Would you even be alive? Would you ever have fallen in love?

Despite the hardships, despite the heartbreaks, you're closer to her than ever. You love her. You're going to show her every way you know how, whether it's a smile or breakfast in bed or pure passion...the latter of which seems to be what you're heading toward now. Not that you can complain. It's just...the last time something like this happened, the consequences were insane. But the circumstances were different.

"...I don't know if I can wait four more months to have you," you admit to her, feeling yourself turn red.

"I can't wait four more minutes," she replies instantly.

"I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me...His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me...Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires..."

You can hardly breathe, your heart is pounding so hard. But, surprisingly, your thoughts are totally clear. You know exactly what you want. That rarely happens. Usually there's such indecision...

However, your awareness of your surroundings kind of fuzzes out at one point, and the next thing you know, you're on Riku's bed, and he's on top of you, kissing your neck. That's a pleasant thing to snap back to reality to...no lies there.

For a moment, you think of your sister, and how PISSED she'd be if she found out what you were up to again. But you're an adult now. You've made your decision, even if--in the end--it's wrong.

But for some reason...you're calm. You have want you want right in front of you. Everything surrounding you is practically flawless. The possibilities are endless.

Riku moves his lips from your neck to your forehead, then looks down at you, his aqua eyes glowing in the disappearing daylight that's peering in from the open windows. Well, heck, you're the only ones on this island!! Curtains are a luxury, not a necessity!!

Anyway...

Heart in your throat, you run your index finger across Riku's chest slowly. It's glistening with sweat, but he looks like he's been oiled, shined. He's like a god.

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you...You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes...Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me..."

Honestly, you could stare into her eyes for hours without any problems.

"I love you more than anything in the world," she says quietly, staring you straight in the eye.

"You don't even know," you say. "You've stolen my heart, Rei... Thank you."

Flushing pink, she smiles, her eyes growing wet.

Well, it's true.

You had such an unforgiving nature when you were growing up. Not so much with other people, but with yourself. That's why you had that shack in the first place. And then you met Rei, and your view of the world changed completely because of her. She was so scared, so sheltered, like a blooming flower.

There was nothing you wanted more than to see her bloom.

She alone taught you kindness and patience...nobody else, not even Kairi or Sora, could've helped you achieve that. Rei is the part of you you always lacked, the part you always needed. And now...

Well, now you have it. You're complete.

"My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him...I opened for my lover...He is altogether lovely...I am my lover's and my lover is mine..."

You have...never felt any feeling more powerful than this before.

Slowly Riku's lips meet yours again, and you wrap your arms around his neck tightly, tears streaming down your flushed cheeks. His warm body presses against yours, your heart flutters with passion. You let him take you, claim you, become his to love...for forever. Beyond forever.

*I wish this moment could last forever,* you pray, more tears falling.

Such a moment like this...you want to lock it away, keep it inside of you, touching upon it when you need love most. Someday, when you are dying and old, withering away, you want to remember this.

"For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a might flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away."

There are times it hurts to be in love with someone. It can hurt you, both physically and mentally. Rei and you have definitely been through such moments.

But as the night pushes on, you realize how strong you both have become because of each other.

Sora was right...for once. Friends are your power.

Love is even more so.

"His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me...Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires...Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death..."

Your eyes shoot open at the sound of your name, but you don't dare move. Instead you lie still, waiting for your name again.

But nothing ever happens.

Sighing in relief, you close your eyes again. You just had a slight flashback to last time this all happened. Though you shouldn't compare the two events lightly. This time was different.

It seemed like...a vow...of togetherness...rather than spontaneous passion sprouted from sheer desire.

*I will be with you always,* you hear yourself saying in your head, from previous night.

*Beyond forever,* Riku had agreed.

You must've fallen asleep after that, since that's the last thing you can remember.

Sighing quietly, you lie still enough to feel Riku breathing against you, sound asleep. What a calm moment. It's like you've waited for this calm state your whole life...

)()()()()(FOUR WEEKS LATER)()()()()(

(it's still Rei's pOv)

Sneezing for the fifth time in a row, you cough, trying not to choke. Riku, who is sitting next to you, starts laughing.

"It's not funny!" you cry through coughs.

"Sorry," he says, still grinning.

"No you're not!"

"No..."

Pouting, you throw a cashew at his face. It hits him square on the forehead, and he grimaces. You laugh now, genuinely amused as he pouts and slowly rubs his forehead.

"I'm going to dump this bowl on your head," Riku threatens, pointing to the bowl of assorted nuts on the table in front of you.

"Do it, I dare you," you say, sticking out your tongue.

Suddenly Riku rushes for the bowl, and you spring out of the sofa, bolting outside as quickly as you can. Considering you've felt kind of sick the past couple of days, you can't run too fast, and soon Riku is right behind you.

"You dared me!" he shouts as you scream at him not to.

This is how many of your days off are spent: being stupid. The closer it gets to the date of your wedding, the more hyper you become... Like kids in a candy store.

Suddenly something falling from the sky catches your eye, and you stop.

"Giving up?" Riku asks, holding the bowl above your head as if to simply tip it over onto you.

"No, look," you say, pointing at the sky. Lowering the bowl, Riku stares into the clouds, then smiles.

"It's a gummi ship," he says. "And whoever it is, they're coming our way."

You gasp, quickly turning to him.

"The King!" you both exclaim.

This must mean he can find Tashie and Manders! This must mean you'll get to see them again!

You bounce on your toes anxiously as, sure enough, the King's ship lands in the ocean, just short of the shore.

"Golly!" he exclaims as he exits his ship. "I never can land this thing on the beach!" He laughs, and you and Riku do too.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" Riku asks, surprised. "Not that we're not happy to see you!"

"Riku, Rei...I need you to come with me," he replies, smiling at the two of you. "There are some things we need to talk about."

King Mickey waves you along, so you and Riku quickly follow him to his ship.

"Where are we going, Your Majesty?" you ask, noticing Riku is still holding the bowl. The King notices too, and in result gives Riku an amused look. Riku flushes, embarrassed, and shrugs it off quickly.

"To the castle, of course!"

To your surprise, Sora is the one who answers you. He and Kairi are sitting on board already.

"What's up?" Kairi says as you sit beside her.

"What's going on?" you ask her. She shrugs.

"Dunno. Said he needed to talk to us all. Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka are here, too." Kairi nods toward one of the back rooms. You nod too.

"Maybe it's about my sister, and my friend," you wonder out loud. Kairi shrugs again.

"Guess so. But why would we all be here?"

Good question.