Luna ran her fingers over the course stone walls. She loved this little cave, ever since she was little. All of the drawings, she always wondered how they came to be, and she now knew. She stopped as she stared at a drawing of Riku, which she had drawn. She knelt in front of it and traced it with her index finger.
"So long ago, its been two years since we met, or maybe a year and a half..." She said out loud, with a smile on her lips. "All of the fights, the make ups, the pain. You were there, even if I pushed, you pushed back. Unafraid of me, unlike the others, I trust you..." She found herself frowning as she continued.
"I'm almost fifteen now... fifteen, doesn't seem too long ago I was thirteen and just figured out what happens to the worlds, why can't I tell you? You'd think I could just sit down with you and talk, tell you everything without fear...Damn it! We're so close to the end of happiness, so close to growing up..." She felt a few tears escape her eyes and run down her face.
"You don't deserve this, you deserve better then what they have planned. But will they listen? No, they have to get others to do their bidding!" He voice got angrier as she continued. "I promise, in the middle of the year when I turn sixteen, you'll life will go back to normal. I won't be a bother anymore."
"Hey." She turned her head around to see Riku standing in the doorway, with a smirk. She felt butterfly's in her stomach as he looked at her. 'Damn that smirk.'
"Hey yourself." She replied with a smile. Riku walked towards her and bent down, then saw the tear streaks on her cheeks, and instantly frowned.
"Are you crying?" He asked, concerned.
"Huh? No, no." She turned her head and wiped the tears. He turned her head to face him and smirked.
"You're a terrible liar. Ya know?"
"Please don't start talking like Wakka." She jokingly begged.
He chuckled. "I'll remember that." He glanced at the picture her finger was on, and remembered that day. He put his finger on it too and sighed. "Our second meeting." He stated. "What great fun, you managed to fit in a crevice in the rocks, and I was scared you'd get stuck. But, look where we are now. Ever thought you'd agree to make friends?" He asked, as he put his hand on his picture of her. She put her whole hand on her picture and sighed.
"Honestly, no. But I don't regret it. I never would have thought our friendship would last so long, I thought it would have broken much sooner." She told him. "Feels so long ago, doesn't it?" She looked at him, as she asked. He nodded and sighed. "Amazing, huh?"
He put a arm around her shoulder and sighed. "Are you feeling okay?"
She looked at him questioningly, and asked, "What do you mean?"
He cleared his throat. "You know, its...Well, I mean..."
Luna chocked her head to the side and thought. 'Whats he getting nervous about? What could be...Oh! Aww, how sweet! He cares! Oh, of course he cares, idiot! He's your friend, duh!'
She put the hand on the picture on his cheek, and smiled widely and said. "Of course, its been what? Two years or so, I'm not gonna break down again. But, if we could do what we did last year..."
"You mean the party?" He asked, causing her to shake her head with a smile.
"No, silly. The flowers and sea, that! That's what I wanna do, 'kay?" She asked.
Riku nodded. "Then, I'll send everyone home." He said seriously, making Luna laugh, but stopped at his serious expression.
"You're serious? How can you-I mean-Uhh...Would you?" She finally asked, confused.
Riku chuckled, and nodded. "Of course, I will make that our day, okay?"
She nodded, slightly teary eyed. "Thank you, for everything. You didn't have to stay around, you could have left." She gripped him in a hug, he returned the hug and whispered.
"I wouldn't have skipped anything."
He pulled back and went back to looking at the drawings, then remembered something. "Hey, I've wanted to ask you something, for awhile now. Is there anymore secret places on the island?"
She turned her head away and sighed. 'Maybe, maybe...I can trust him, I can trust him, I can trust him. Yeah, I'll just keep telling myself that til I believe it.' She thought.
She kept her head turned and said. "Yeah, I mean...There is one place..."
"Really?" He asked looking at her.
"Yeah, though, its like my sanctuary." She told him sadly.
"Oh, well never-" He started but was cut off by her holding up a hand, but keeping her back turned. "But! Because I trust you, I'll show only you, okay? And your not allowed to tell the others."
Riku nodded firmly. "So, you wanna show me?"
She turned to face him and smirked. "Nope."
Riku stared in confusion at her. "Nope-Nope, but you said-And I-Uhh, you don't make sense." He said as he buried his face in his hands.
She lifted his chin up, to make him look her square in the eyes. "Not in the day, it's best at evening. So, why don't you stay over for supper, and such. Then I'll show you." She told him.
He blinked stupidly, and thought. 'Supper, alone, with a girl. That be a first...God, what would my parents say? Wait, they don't know she's orphaned. I'm clear.'
Unknown to him, he had spaced out for five minutes, causing Luna to lose her smile. 'Great, I either broke him, or scared him. I guess that's a no.'
She removed her hand, and stood up. Riku looked up at her hard expression and thought nervously. 'Oh shit, I've offended her in some way...But-Oh damn, I haven't said yes!'
"Luna, I-" He started but was interrupted by her holding up her hands.
"Forget it Riku, it was a stupid suggestion." She walked towards the entrance and continued. "I-I'm sorry I mentioned it, lets just leave it behind us, 'kay?" Even as she spoke, she couldn't help how much her heart ached.
As she started to walk away, he spit out in a hurry. "What time's supper!"
She stopped dead in her tracks, and asked, "What?"
Riku stood up and said with a little more suave as he leaned on the wall. "What time's supper?"
She found a giant smile on her lips as she answered. "Six o'clock. Don't be late."
"Am I normally late?" He asked, as he readjusted himself, he fell off the wall. Causing her to let out a giggle. "Gee, thanks." Riku said sarcastically, as he stood up and dusted himself off.
"Bye." She called out, as she left. Once she was outside and out of hearing, she let out a happy. "Yes!" As she jumped up and down, then ran home.
Sora and Kairi who were watching, glanced at each other. "Umm, you got any ideas?" Sora asked.
"Nope." Kairi said, both watched Riku come out, with a small smile. "Though, I think Riku has something to do with it." She told Sora, as they approached him.
"Hey, Riku!" Sora called, he turned his head towards them and asked.
"Yeah?"
"Do you know why Luna was jumping up and down and smiling?" Kairi asked.
Riku looked thoughtful for a minute and said. "Nope! No idea, I'll go ask though." With that Riku went off towards her house and opened the door.
"I have only heard of the dreams, of this lonesome world. I haven't gotten the chance to heal, because no one wants to begin anew." He heard her humming, "Never fearing, the dangers. I've been warned, but I don't care. If death comes knocking, I won't answer. 'Cause of you, you make me feel alive."
'Damn she's good.' He thought, he walked farther into her house to see her carrying some dishes, that were tall enough to cover her face. He cleared his throat and saw her head pop out behind the tower of dishes, she smiled widely, then her face turned into distress as she tripped. Sending the dishes flying, and her landing in Riku's open arms.
Riku grinned at her, as they both ignored the dishes clattering around them. "Hmm? Hasn't this happened before?" He asked jokingly, making her chuckled and say. "Maybe, but I can't seem to remember." She stood up and looked around, while clicking her tongue. "Well, this is gonna take awhile to clean up." Both looked at the glass shards, littering the ground around them.
"Heh, sorry. I'll help you clear it up." He told her, she nodded and said. "Yup! 'Cause you don't have a choice." Riku glared at her, as she smirked at him.
"You are something else."
"Hmm? Great, I'm gonna get glass in my foot." She muttered, as she looked down. "Or..." He started, making her look at him. 'Don't do it.' His mind warned.
"I can carry you." He told her, making her tilt her head at him.
"Hmm?" She questioned.
'Idiot.'
"I'll carry you, my shoes are thicker then yours, probably. Kay?" Riku told her.
"Oh, Riku. You don't have to, I'll just jump." She told him, Riku held out his arms and rolled his eyes. "And land into what? Your furniture? Just trust me."
Luna looked thoughtful, and sighed. "Okay, but you'd better not drop me!" She warned.
"Trust me, I want to live." He joked, as he picked her up bridal style.
Both heard the door open, and turned to see Kairi, Sora, Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie, standing there, the five at the door burst out laughing, as Riku sat Luna down, then went towards the door and slammed it shut. Luna winched at the sound it made as Riku came back towards her, muttering and cursing.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, fine." He told her gruffly, she sighed and crouched down. "What are you doing?" He asked her.
"Getting ready to jump, I wouldn't think you'd wanna carry me, after that incident."
Luna sprang up wards, just as she was slightly in the air, she felt someone grab her waist, and twirl her around, until she was being carried bridal style in Riku's arms. "I thought you'd-"
She trailed off as Riku gave her a small smile and said. "Just because I'm pissed, doesn't mean I don't care."
He walked over the glass and sat her down, then went to grab a broom and started sweeping absentmindedly.
"You really are something." Luna said to break the silence, Riku looked over to her in surprise, as she came forwards. "Riku, let me tell you something. Forget. Them. Can you please smile? Please?" She begged, causing a small smile to form on his face.
She grinned widely and said. "Good! Now, don't stop. Or so help you, I'll beat ya til you smile!" She walked over towards the kitchen, Riku watched her walk away til she was hidden under the island. 'I have gotta be crazy. God, I hope they don't know figure out were having supper together...Man that sounds weird! After this glass is cleaned up, I can go and tell my parents I'm staying over.'
"Okay, Luna. It's cleaned." He told her as he dumped the last of the glass in a trash can.
"Good, now you'd better tell your parents you're staying over for supper." She said, as she came out from under the island.
"Gotcha, see you tonight?" He asked, as he was about to open the door. Luna gave him a 'well, duh' look and said. "No, I'll pencil you in for next Tuesday. Of course, you idiot!"
He chuckled and said. "Good, I was getting worried." He left leaving her smiling.
"Why did I have to go and fall for someone so good to me. Way too good to me." She asked herself.
She left the kitchen and entered her bedroom, and opened a drawer in her vanity and pulled out a envelope, that had a crescent moon seal. She press it to her, and sighed. 'To think, this will be the only way for him to see me again.' She stepped towards the full length mirror, and sighed. "To think I'd go back there, willingly!"
She pressed her right hand to the mirror, while her left hand was clutching the envelope. The mirror shimmered, and wavered, allowing her to step through. As she stepped inside, the area shifted to a pure white hallway, with multiple white doors, each had a full moon symbol. 'Remember, straight face. No emotions.' She thought as she went threw multiple hallways, until she entered a large white circular room, with a crystal ball in the center.
"Hello, princess. Been a long time, hasn't it?" She jumped inwardly, at the male voice behind her. "Hasn't been long enough." She replied back. The male chuckled, as he came in front of her. He had short brown hair and dark green eyes, and wore a long white robe, with long sleeves that draped over his hands.
"You're pretty clever, your Highness. Just like your-"
"Don't say it." She interrupted him.
He circled the crystal ball, and asked. "So, what be it the honor of making your acquaintance?" She shrugged and handed him the envelope. "Make this enchanted, to where my Guardian will be able to see me when he reads it." She told him firmly.
He took the envelope and sighed. "Really? Are you-"
"Yes, I'm sure!" She interrupted him, raising a hand up. "Don't question my judgment, I want this. Bring it to me tomorrow." With that she turned around and walked back towards the hallway, as she heard him say. "Whatever you want your Highness. I hope you know what you're doing!"
She went back through the portal, and was back in her room. She sighed and collapsed on her bed.'I hope this day goes right.'
"Mom? Mom, I'm home!" Riku called, as he entered his house.
"Riku? Is that you?" His mom asked from the kitchen, Riku rolled his eyes at his mom, and responded. "Yeah, mom. It's me."
"What are you doing home so soon?" She asked, coming out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"I'm not staying, I'm here to ask you something." Riku told her, as he moved to sit down on the couch.
"Okay, hun. I'll be with you in a sec." She said, as she went back into the kitchen to finish up.
He looked around the room, the one thing he never like to talk about, was about how rich his family was, it was something he wasn't proud of, they had waaay too much munny, he wasn't even sure how they got it.
"Okay, whats the problem?" She asked as she sat opposite from him. Riku looked at the floor, not really wanting to see his mom's reaction, one: she'd be soo excited that she bound of the ceiling. Two: She'd smile so wide she'd burst.
"Mom, you know about Luna?" He asked, she nodded and said.
"That nice girl you keep mentioning? Oh, don't tell me! She's coming for dinner, for us to finally meet her? Or, or, do you want some munny to buy her something nice? We could have given you the munny last year, but you said-"
"I know mom, I wanted to earn it, not just get it!" He said a little too harsh. "One: No, she's not coming for dinner. But, her family invited me for supper, I was wondering if I could go."
After hearing nothing for a minute, he looked up and saw her grinning like a mad man. 'Oh, great. I broke her.' He thought, then she started speaking a mile a minute.
"Of course you can go! As long as your back by ten! And as long as you promise me, that you bring her here for me too meet her. She sounds sooo nice! And after how you talk about her, and what you've been doing for her. I wonder if you two will get ma-"
"MOM!" Riku yelled in embarrassment, he then buried his hands in his face and sighed. "I will take that as a yes, and I'll try. But there's no guarantee, she's not very friendly to strangers. And please calm down." He told her, as he hoped she'd believe him. Truth be told she wasn't as abrasive to strangers anymore, he just didn't want her to meet his mom.
"Okay, okay, I'm calm." She said, as she stood up. "You are going to dress nice?" She asked, making him look at her like she was crazy.
"Dress nice? Your joking, right? Its just Luna and her parents! Nothing special!" He started laughing, while his mom was staring at him with a angry expression, making him stop. "You're not kiddin'? Mom, its just a friendly dinner! Nothing formal, or anything like that! I don't have to dress nice!" He protested, standing up.
"Honey, I will not let you go to dinner dressed normal! Don't you want to impress her parents? Why she could be your future w-"
"I'm out!" Riku said, as he ran out of the house, his cheeks red from embarrassment. 'Note to self, never, ever, let her meet my mom!'
Luna was busy stirring a pot of soup, as she kept glancing at the clock. '5:30? I wonder when he's coming? Better be soon!' She thought, just then the door opened and in came Riku.
He went to stand near her and asked. "Guess who's staying for dinner?"
Luna turned away from the food, and looked thoughtful as she said, teasingly. "Hmm? Is it Wakka? No, Tidus? No, uhh? Sora! It has to be Sora!"
"Very funny, you make me laugh so hard!" He said sarcastically, she giggled and said. "I'm sorry, but it's fun to tease you."
Riku went over to the table and sat down. "So, whats for supper?"
"Potato soup, its my mom's recipe." She told him, she came around to sit opposite from him and put her head in her hands and asked. "Soo? Have you told your mom about me?"
"Yup, she says she'd like to meet you sometime."
"Hmm? Maybe, I'm not sure. Whats your mom like?"
"Basically, over joyed about anything, happy, slightly crazy, as in crazy happy."
"She seems nice, and friendly."
"Yeah, she really wants to meet you. Its kinda creepy."
"Well, I'd love to meet her. I'm guessing you got most of your personality traits, from your dad?"
"Yup, I'm more like him. But I can talk easier to my mom then him."
"Whats your dad like?"
"Uptight, strict, tough, those kinda things."
"Hmm? I never had a dad, are most dad's like that?"
"No, every dad's different. I just got a strict one, Sora's is goofy."
"Makes sense, Sora's goofy too. Does your mom know I'm orphaned?"
"Ummm...I think foods burning." Riku told her pointing to the kitchen.
"Shit!" Luna yelled as she raced to get to the pot, she stirred frantically, and sighed. "Its fine, nothing's burnt." She grabbed two bowls and filled them up and sat them down in front of them. "So, what did the guys say when I left? Did they talk to you?"
"Yup, they asked where you were going, and I told them to mind their own business, and if they didn't, I'd pummel them to a pulp! Thus shutting them up, permanently." She told him with a grin.
"Ahh, now I know why I'm friends with you!" He said, as he tasted some more of her soup. "This is good, one of your unknown talents? You keep surprising me."
"I try." She told him with a sly smile, the two ate in comfortable silence, Luna glanced at the clock to see it reach 6:30, she grinned and slurped up the rest of her soup, she got up from the table in a hurry and ran into her bedroom, she came out holding a midnight blue blanket, with stars embroidered on it.
"My favorite blanket, come on, lets go." She walked towards the wall on the left side of her house, with Riku following, she pressed her hand on a secret button, and the wall moved back to reveal a circular staircase, Luna began walking up with Riku following in stuned shock.
"Wow? This is amazing, is this how you-"
"Got up on those ledges?" she finished for him, she nodded and said. "Yup, I can reach all three if I really wanna."
The two continued to climb the steps, until they hit the ceiling, Luna placed her hand on the ceiling, making it open up, letting in the setting sun. "Come on." She turned slightly and reached out her hand, Riku grabbed it, and allowed her to lead him up.
When Riku came up, he stared in stunned shock at the beauty of the place, instead of sand, the ground was green grass, with a small pool, about ankle deep, and fireflies all around. With the setting sun, making it look more magical. "Amazing." He breathed out, Luna went and laid the blanket down away from the pond, while Riku went towards it.
She looked over to see him starring at it intently, she slowly crept behind him, and pushed him into it. "Ahh! Damn it Luna! What was that for?" He demanded as he shook his head, to help get rid of the water.
She giggled and said. "You were looking too serious, so I livened you up!"
"What is with you and this fascination with dumping me with water?" He muttered, he looked at her, as she was giggling with the sun setting light surrounding her, making her look almost eternal.
He grabbed her hand, and pulled her into the pond, she glared at him, while he laughed. He stood up and helped her up, she stumbled slightly into him, making her arms wound around his neck, and his around her waist. Both blinked in embarrassment, but soon they started swaying to a tune heard in there heads, she laid her head on his chest and sighed happily.
"Wow, look at that one!" Luna said pointing upwards to a star formation, "It looks like a dog." The two were laying on the blanket, staring up at the stars. "Yeah, that one." He said pointing to the left of the duck. "Looks like a mouse." She let out a small giggle, and grinned, he glanced over to her smiling face, somehow it always made him at peace, then her smiling face, was replaced with worry. He heard her breath out. "Oh no."
She sat up slightly, propping herself on her elbows, and said. "Please, please don't fade!" Riku looked up at the sky, to see a star flickering in and out. "Please, hold on. If you can hear me, don't go. Please..." He saw she was now sitting on her knees, with her hands in front of her, and her eyes closed. "Please, we need you. Everyone needs you, you hear me? You can't go, fight it!"
He saw the star, now stopped flickering, and seemed brighter, he looked to see her have a smile on her face as she said. "Thank you, please, stay strong."
She laid back down, beside him. "Umm, Luna? What just happened?" He asked, she turned her head to give him a small smile as she explained.
"My mom, she always told me stories about the stars, that if one flickers out, with it a million lives go too. So, she told me, if I ever see a star flicker, to pray and beg for it too stay aglow. Do you understand?"
Riku nodded and said. "Yes, when a star burns out, so do people's life's."
She shook her head sadly, as she sat up cross legged, and facing him, with Riku coping her. "No, you don't understand. Life isn't just people, its everything." She put a hand on his chest, and said. "You are one ounce of life." She pointed at the pond and continued. "The water is another ounce of life." She started pointing at the trees and grass and continued. "The tree's, the grass, the rocks, and bushes. Don't you see? Everything has life, everything has a heart, even if they don't know it. Even this world, its alive, or else we wouldn't be here. The world is what keeps us alive, but we can't see that, we take it for granted, like the breaths we take, or the love of our parents. Everything is taken for granted, until its too late too see how much we need it. Now do you understand?"
Riku nodded dumbly at her. 'I never thought of it that way...' He looked at the grass and plucked a blade.
"You killed it, you killed apart of it." She told him, he dropped the blade of grass, and looked apologetic, as he said.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it." She sighed and said. "We never do, promise me, that your never take your life for granted, that you will live everyday like its your last, and that you'll pray that no star burns out. Promise me?"
He nodded and said. "I will, I'm sorry I never noticed before. I won't take anything for granted, ever."
"That's all I ask for, forever." She leaned back on the blanket, with Riku doing the same, Luna circled into Riku, as her eyes began drooping, Riku gaze was fixated on the sky.
"Hey, Luna?" He asked.
She stifled a yawn and muttered. "Hmm?"
"Is it possible the stars are the other worlds?"
"Maybe, Riku. Its possible, if so, then we'll have to think of something else."
"Its silly, huh?"
"Mmm, hmm." She muttered sleepily, Riku noticed a star flickering again, he glanced at Luna's sleepy face, and turned back to face the stars and closed his eyes and thought. 'This may seem stupid, but...Please stay alight, if not for me, for Luna. She believes in you so much, I don't think she could handle another going out.'
When his eyes opened, the star was burning brighter then before. 'Hmm, there may be something to praying to stars after all.' He thought as he faded into sleep.
Like? Love? Adore? Okay, the last ones going too far, waay too far. Regardless, pretty nice and long chapter huh? My longest so far, 4665 words! I hope it was good, I loved it, again, thank you to all you make writing this story a pleasure! :)