The sun was starting to set by the time the group arrived at Sora's mom's house. Sara's blue lancer was already parked in the driveway, so they parked on the street, all three getting out and breathing deep of the rich country air. It was a cool spring day, and the nights were still chill. Sora's mom lived in a little house just off the beach of Destiny Island. She liked being this close to the ocean. On the warmer summer days. It wasn't uncommon on warmer summer mornings for all of the windows to be opened, welcoming in the briny sea air and sunshine. Riku looked past the trees out to the beach, smiling at fond memories of their childhood playing on that same beach. Building sandcastles, having sword fights, even the not so occasional camping on the beach.
Riku lost track of how many times they woke up with a soggy tent because the tide came in. But Sora always wanted to sleep as close to the shore as possible and no amount of talking to him from Riku or Kairi could ever change his mind.
The front door opened and there stood Sora's mom, Tsuzumi. A delightful plump woman in her late 40's with warm brown hair, and stunning honey brown eyes. A stark contrast to Sora's bright blue eyes, which he got from his father.
"Hey mom!" Sora shouted up to the house, waving enthusiastically. Walking up the front porch hand in hand, Kairi trailing closely behind them. She gave Sora a quick hug before moving onto Riku.
"Hello, ma." He smiled and gave her a light peck on the cheek before stepping inside.
"Hey there mama! Looking beautiful as always!" She hugged Tsuzumi tight and stepped inside. The house was filled with the savory sweet smell of Tsuzumi's stew with homemade cornbread. The table was half set so Riku headed into the kitchen to grab silverware. Sara was standing over the stove pouring the stew into a large silver soup tureen.
"Hey sis." Riku greeted her, heading over to the silverware drawer. She peeked over her shoulder with a wide grin.
"Hey, Riku!" She said warmly as she scraped the bottom of the stew pot.
"So, did you get it?" He asked and Sara just beamed in response.
"It was tricky picking one. Did you know that there are 12 different tattoo parlors on this island?" She asked incredulously. Riku was actually surprised. He hadn't thought about how many different shops there were to choose from and felt a little bad that he had left Sara to do the leg work by herself.
"That's insane." He responded as he grabbed the silverware.
"Yeah, I finally decided on the one that treated me the nicest. They were the most helpful and polite and if that's how they treat someone who's just buying a gift certificate then you know they'll treat the person actually getting the tattoo right." She smiled wide, obviously proud of herself.
She picked up the soup tureen and headed into the dining room. Riku and Sora finished setting the table while the girl's chit-chatted in the kitchen finishing the salad and slicing bread for the stew. Everyone gathered around the table and the night proceeded with cheerful banter and talks of school and work. Sora prattled on about upcoming exams and finals, Kairi complained about clients at the salon she worked at, Sara interjecting with her own professional expertise. Due to Sara being a therapist she couldn't exactly talk much about work and when she could she had to be careful about explaining too many details, what with patient-doctor confidentiality and all. Finally after dinner was over Tsuzumi brought out a huge birthday cake. Chocolate three layer cake with white and blue marbled frosting decorated with a fondant paopu fruit. The real fruit, though exclusive to the destiny islands and looking like a bizarre five pointed banana was practically inedible. There was one particular bakery that had managed to make a fruit tart using the strange fruit but for the most part, most people on the island had relegated it to an old wives' tale.
The legend says that if two people share the fruit their destinies will be intertwined forever. The three of them in their youth, Sora, Riku, and Kairi, had all shared a paopu fruit once. It made all three of them sick from the sickly bitter taste of the fruit, but that was many years ago and here they were, still three of a feather despite everything.
After cake Tsuzumi announced that it was time for presents. She proudly produced a comically large box from the family room and everyone laughed as Sora dug through box after increasingly smaller box until he finally found the Verum Rex game in the center. When Sara gave him her present Sora practically went through the roof, he and Kairi squealing in excitement immediately going into brain storming mode to decide what matching tattoos they'd get.
Finally Kairi suggested they all head down to the beach for marshmallows and stargazing. Everyone agreed and started gathering blankets from the linen closet.
"Riku, why don't you grab some firewood and we'll build a bonfire. Sora, could you bring the firepit?" His mother asked. The boys nodded and headed off to the side of the house.
They rounded the corner and Sora grabbed Riku by the elbow. Riku turned around and saw a nervous look on Sora's face.
"What's wrong?" Riku questioned. Sora bit his lip and Riku noticed there was slight tremor in Sora's voice as he responded.
"Riku, are you…are you happy?" Sora couldn't quite meet Riku's gaze, though Sora's face was half hidden in shadows Riku grew even more concerned about the sheltered look in Sora's eyes.
"Of course I'm happy. I've never been happier. We have a loving family, wonderful friends, and I get to spend my days with the most kind, compassionate, caring, and funny dork I've ever met. You mean so much to me and I wouldn't trade our life for the world. Is everything okay?" Sora glanced at the ground and it was a long moment before he spoke again.
"I just…last night as you were falling asleep you said something. You said that I'm more than you deserve. And that's not true. You're strong and brave and kind and confident. You deserve the world and I just worry that I'M the one not deserving of YOU." Riku wrapped Sora in his arms, cradling the back of his head as he hugged his boyfriend tightly.
"Sora, whether I deserve you or not, I'm never letting go of you again. I couldn't bear to lose you. I almost did once and if it happened again I think I would literally die." He pulled back and gazed deeply into Sora's eyes, slightly tear filled, and smiled tenderly.
"Heh, looks like we both worry too much." Sora said with a small sniffle. Riku reached a hand up and tipped Sora's chin slightly as he looked down at the smaller man. He kissed him lovingly, wrapping his arms around Sora's waist, pulling the brunette in for another tight hug.
"Sora, I love you." He finally said as they broke the kiss. Sora looked up at his amazing, handsome, and daring love.
"Thank you. For loving me. I love you, too." He said slowly releasing his arms from around Riku's shoulders.
"Hey! Quit making out behind my house!" They heard Sora's mom cry out through the open window. They both laughed gently before Riku spoke again.
"Come on, let's get this stuff down to the beach before she gets the hose and soaks us down again." The last time they were making out by the wood pile Tsuzumi had literally hosed them down, busted straddling each other Riku with his hands up Sora's shirt. That was when they decided that Sora needed to move in with Riku.
Once down at the beach Kairi and Sara had set all the blankets up in a circle. The boys got the firepit set up and with a little magic had the bonfire going full blaze in no time.
The evening proceeded with little event until finally the moon was riding full and sitting at the zenith. Riku motioned for Kairi and she gave a little nod.
"Hey! Why don't we get a group photo?" She asked pulling a camera out of her purse along with her portable tripod.
"Geez, is there anything you don't carry in that duffel bag you call a purse?" Sora asked incredulously. She only giggled.
"I think that's a marvelous idea!" Tsuzumi exclaimed. Kairi set up the tripod and everyone gathered around at the edge of the tide facing the bonfire.
"Okay, Sora, move forward, Tsuzumi why don't you and Riku switch places?" Having worked in a photography studio for a few years Kairi expertly navigated everyone into position with Riku and Sora standing in the middle, Riku slightly behind Sora. She set the timer and raced up into the position.
Riku thumbed his jacket pocket checking for the ring box. Riku could feel the blood rushing in his ears as the flash went off and Kairi ran to check to the photo.
Sora glanced nervously at Riku reaching into his pocket to check for the ring box. He was so nervous, but he was excited.
Kairi ran back and got back in position for another photo.
"Okay, one more!" She hollered. She made eye contact with Riku while she was up at the camera, directing Sora to take another step forward to give Riku some room to maneuver. She locked eyes with Riku one last time and gave a thumbs up. She ran back up while everyone was locked on the camera Riku dropped to one knee behind Sora pulling the ring box out of his pocket and snapping it open. At the sound, Sora turned around, glancing about for a split second before landing on Riku, rested on one knee in the sand.
"Sora, I've known you for practically my whole life and in that time I've discovered depths of love that I'd never thought possible. And I can't think of anything that would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life discovering new ways to love you. Will you, Sora Kayaitch, do me the honor of marrying me?" Riku spoke, his heart in his throat as realization dawned across Sora's face, mixed with disbelief. Sara and Tsuzumi gasping and squealing.
To Riku's shock and horror, Sora started to laugh. Everyone fell silent until only Sora's raucous laughter echoed across the beach.
"No, damn it!" He yelled through laughter. But as he caught the hurt and disappointment that suddenly engulfed Riku he tried to correct himself.
"No, wait, Riku! That's not what I-GOD DAMN IT!" He hurriedly dug the small box out of his cargo pocket before dropping to both knees in front of Riku. He extended his hand holding the open jewelry box to expose the small ring sitting in it.
"What I mean is, will YOU marry ME?" Shock rippled through the small gathering before chaos erupted. Riku started laughing, Kairi just kept screaming "YES" over and over, pumping her fists in the air, Sara and Tsuzumi were both crying hugging each other. Then slowly the world quieted, the world seemed to still until it was just Riku and Sora, both kneeling in the sand staring adoringly at each other. In unison they spoke.
"Yes." Was all they said before each taking their respective rings out and placing them on the other's fingers. Suddenly they were hugging, gripping each other tightly, both laughing, both crying with joy. They kissed, then hugged again, then kissed some more before the world finally split back open and they realized Tsuzumi had her arms wrapped around the men, weeping a congratulations.
There was an echo of congratulations from Sara and Kairi to the two of them. Finally, everyone sank bank down onto their blankets, Riku with his arm around his now fiancé who was deep in conversation with Tsuzumi about wedding plans already leaving Riku to his thoughts.
Sora turned to his fiancé and smiled. Tears welled up in the corner of his eyes. He couldn't believe it. He was so happy he thought he'd burst. He hugged Sora tighter as the brunette turned those stunning blue eyes to him and smiled. Riku reached up to wipe away a small tear that escaped from the corner of Sora's eye before leaning in for an emotional kiss.
'This is it,' Riku thought to himself. 'This is what it feels like to be incandescently happy.'