{{Riku}}

Black. That's the color today. Even the sky seems to agree with me. A storm is coming, it's going to be bad, I can feel it. I can see the white flashing through the black in the sky. It's only half past one, and the sky is dark as midnight. Black. There's no color here. Words drone on and on, I stopped listening two hours ago. Everyone wore black, there was no color here. Even his final bed was black. I wanted to scream for them to make it blue, or red, anything but black.

I held back these words though. Silence is in my favor today. The day just kind of blurred as it dragged on and on. I didn't stop to wonder why, I didn't really care to know. The only thing I know is that he's gone. And I wanted to fix that, but there's nothing to fix. It's over. What's done is done, and there's nothing I can do about it, as much as I wish there was, there isn't.

Everything was a blur to me right now, the voices, the people, the color, it all mixed into an ugly mess, and I was the center of it all. I couldn't pick it apart, so I just let it blend until I couldn't see at all. I was supposed to be the strong one, the one to get through everything without the bat of an eyelash. That's how it's supposed to be, but things changed; I changed, she changed, he changed.

I couldn't even look at him anymore. I couldn't do it, just staring at him like that. What happened to him was a crime no one could account for. The witch is dead, but he shouldn't be. It's not right, not fair. He's the person who could put a smile on anyone's face, no matter the situation. Without him the happiness in the world seems to disappear. I know that's not true, but I can't ignore the feeling that it will.

He's my best friend, I can't just sit by and let this happen, let the world take him from us. But it doesn't matter what I want to do, or even what she wants to do. He's gone and he isn't coming back. That's a fact we have to learn to live with. I still don't understand what happened in her strange world, but I know he was murdered there, because of the witch. She seems to be the problem of everything, and I killed her, but it was too late.

I trusted him to know what he was doing, but I shouldn't have been so naive. I knew him so well, I should have done it. I should have went in there to get her, maybe I could have made it out, and he wouldn't be taking the final sleep. If things had been different, maybe this whole mess could have been avoided. But I'm not stupid. I know not to say things like "What if" or "If I had done that," they don't help, they don't change what's already happened. They just add salt to the wound.

My wounds are pretty deep, her's too. Though no one can see them, they're there. We both hurt for him, she probably more than I, or maybe I hurt more, just not in the same way. It was no secret they loved each other, and I respected that, even if once I felt the same for her. Not anymore, I won't say I do like her more than a friend. It's because of him, I can't.

He's my friend, and I'd never betray him like that. I couldn't, not after everything he's done for me, and for her. I just can't. I want things to be different, I guess I always will. But as I watch his bed being slowly lowered into the ground, I know I have to let go. One day I will, but that day isn't today. The people start to leave, the rain begins to pour, and there she goes, running for that sanctuary of ours. I hadn't been there in two years..

{{Kairi}}

Sitting at the shore of the Islands is calming, even though I'm getting soaked and sand is sticking to me everywhere. I'd usually be annoyed and head home at this point, but home isn't where I want to be. I want to be here, because this is the last real place I had been with Sora. I can still remember it, that day. How stupid I was, I should have just stayed with him, then this wouldn't have happened, and I'd still have him here with me.

I know I'm being childish, playing with what I already know will do nothing for me. I just hurt, and I don't like it. I had missed so much of his life, and it was my fault it had ended so short. I know Riku's hurting too. He hasn't said a word since the day I woke up. That was three days ago. He has a lot on his mind, I can accept that, but I really wish he'd come talk to me. He's the only one I can come to.

"Kairi.."

I turn my head to see Riku standing behind me. I stand and turn fully to him, after attempting to dust myself off, get all this unwelcomed sand off. I look up into his haunting turquoise eyes, "Riku..?"

"You ran off," he says, "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

He's soaked as much as I am. Did he really come after me? I guess it's not hard to figure, we're still friends. Aren't we? I look away and cradle myself, "It's my fault.. I couldn't stand to be there one more second. I had to..."

"Get away? Yeah, me too." he replies.

I look back at him and he stares at me. I shiver lightly, the cold getting to me, but I can't make myself think better of this and go home. Suddenly he takes off his jacket and drapes it around me. I stare at him and he shrugs, "Your colder than I am."

"Ah.." I pull the jacket more around me, but it doesn't help much, it's just so big, "Thanks.."

He shrugs again, staring up at the sky, "It's not your fault, you know."

"What?" I blink and stare at his face, he doesn't look away from the sky, "That he's gone. It's not your fault."

He's just trying to make me feel better.. And it's working. I sigh, "You're right, but I don't know what to do.. I missed most of his life, and then he.."

"I understand," he closes his eyes, "But don't blame yourself, that won't fix anything. Trust me, I know."

I smile softly and walk closer to him and I hug him. He gasps softly, and slowly he hugs me back. This is all I know, it's the only way to comfort us both, at least, I hope so, "Thanks, Riku."

He smiles softly, very softly, I almost didn't catch it, "You're welcome.. Butterfly."