In the weeks following the defeat of Xehanort by the Guardians of Light, Riku thought it would be a good idea to take Namine to see a movie. She was still getting used to her replica body as well as being out in the real world. So they sat side by side in the Twilight Town square and enjoyed a Mickey Mouse cartoon. To be honest, it was the first time he had relaxed in a while after countless hours and days spent looking for Sora. Riku didn't care much for the movie. He simply watched Namine gasp and smile throughout. His adventures made everything in normal life seem dull, but to her everything was new and exciting. When it ended, the sun had set and the night sky hung above them. Riku walked with Namine through the darkened woods on the way to the Old Mansion where she had made her home.

"You aren't scared living in such a big empty house all by yourself?" Riku asked.

"It's the first place I ever called home," Namine said. "The mansion is filled with my memories of when I was free. The year we spent trying to put Sora's memories back together."

Riku smirked. "And here we are, still looking after him." They soon arrived at the front gate. "I still remember when we first met at Castle Oblivion. Like it was yesterday. It was you who told me to confront my own darkness. So I wouldn't have to live with a lock around my heart."

Namine passed through the gate and walked up to the front door. She bowed her head, her back to him. "Riku, you don't have to do this."

"Do what?"

Namine turned to face him. There they stood. The short girl in a white dress. The tall boy with silver hair.

"You worry about me. A lot. When you should be looking for Sora. I can face the world on my own."

"All hearts are connected," Riku told her. "My Replica dedicated his life to protecting you, even until his last moments."

"But those were false memories," Namine insisted. "I did that to him."

Riku smiled. "You made me fall in love with you."

Namine blushed. "That's not what I meant. You don't even know me. I'm not even sure I know myself."

Riku took a step toward her. "Your name is Namine. It reminds me of the ocean. You have blonde hair like the sun shining off the sand of Destiny Islands. You like to draw. And you have a good heart, even after spending all that time with DiZ."

Namine looked up at him but felt embarrassed. "Why do you always have to look at me like that? I liked it better when you were wearing the blindfold."

"I also know that we're in a big mess looking for Sora. We've got people searching every known world, every unknown world, even the darkness. And I have a bad feeling that sooner or later I'm going to have to do something stupid in order to save Sora again. So before that, I'd like to live my life without limits, like never confessing to you how I feel. But if you reject me, that's okay too."

Namine was starting to feel warm. Her body was not used to such situations of awkwardness and anxiety. Looking at this boy, almost a man, who was so much taller than her. Strong arms. Tight lipped smirk. Icy eyes and hair. An aura with a hint of darkness. Something inside her just needed to escape the boiling within before it killed her.

"Do you want to kiss me?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Riku closed the gap between them and kissed her. Everything between, inside them, holding them back, and holding them up, dissolved. They were like waves crashing against the land. All this energy and chaos mixing between them. He held her and she held him. Perhaps the sun rose and set again while they had their eyes closed. Eventually, they did part.

"Riku," Namine sighed without thinking.

"Namine," Riku said to hear the sound of her name.

And they kissed again.

END.