Once, long ago, when the sun still gleamed like a fat bulb over tranquil islands…
Riku had sworn that he'd always, no matter what, stand by her side. He had meant it at first like a childhood declaration: puppy love given the shape of an oath and sealed with crossed pinkies and a light kiss on the cheek.
And damned be him if he didn't fulfill his promise to the word. There was no day when he wouldn't hang on to her words, seek her company…
Well, he was damned right now anyways. So, somewhere along the line, he had broken it. Maybe it was when the darkness blotted out the sun with cackling ink and devouring tendrils. Maybe it was when he realized that, of all things, he had forgotten to pick both of them up.
He found her later, in a small nook that had slipped from his mind. Her hand fell from his, red hair hanging limp over half-open eyes like gems: shining with empty light and not seeing anything at all.
Kairi hadn't truly woken up in days, weeks if Riku's count was accurate. She'd barely move, barely react… and he missed her lilting tones and the trilling laughter and seeing her dance when just stepping over to say hello.
But only true love would wake the little princess up, and he knew he wasn't; the prince never left the lady like this, much less dwell willingly in darkness. It hurt, thinking that only Sora would be able to aid her (not that he didn't deserve it, but…)
Riku would continue to do what he swore to the once-radiant Kairi on the lazy shores of 'their' beach, with the sky painted in fading watercolors and the soft rush of the tide. It was the only thing he could do, beyond chasing the colors away to buy more power to him in the hopes that she'd be back sooner.
He'd stand by her. The ever so loyal knight – maybe not in shining armor, but…
Darkness did gleam at times. Maybe enough to get them the fairytale ending.