A/N: For the sake of keeping things nice and easy, let's pretend that chapter 4 isn't part of the story for the time being. The events of that chapter will be expanded upon soon enough, but it's nothing to worry about for the time being. For now, let us return to our regularly scheduled programming.
Warnings: Can't think of anything I need to warn you about for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is a property of Disney, Square Enix, and Tetsuya Nomura (among others). This is a Fanfiction made for entertainment purposes only.
Title song: N/A
Blinded by Light
"You're staying?"
It was a reasonable question for Ventus to ask. After all, Aqua was still unsure about the situation herself.
"Riku asked me to."
"You mentioned that," Terra replied, his expression unreadable. "You didn't say why he asked you."
"That's because he didn't give me a concrete reason," Aqua told him, her gaze lowering to the wooden dock beneath their feet. The ocean hummed loudly around them, nearly drowning out the words she'd spoken.
"He just asked me to stay for a few days and I agreed."
Terra crossed his arms over his chest, looking a little perplexed.
Aqua let out a soft sigh. "It was a surprise to me too, Terra. I imagine he needs help explaining what happened to Sora's parents. He has his hands full trying to comfort Kairi right now and, aside from Donald and Goofy, the rest of us agreed to help send word to his friends in other worlds about..." She stopped, unable to speak for a second.
"Anyway, I would still be going with you two if Riku hadn't asked me to stick around."
"I see," Terra answered, seeming to understand. "It's just weird he asked you out of the blue like this, especially with Donald and Goofy staying behind as well."
"I guess he just felt there needed to be someone around who didn't really know Sora that well," Aqua supplied, though the explanation didn't feel all that adequate. "We were talking before we saw him and...I was the first person who noticed him disappearing."
Ventus had been quiet throughout this exchange, but at the mention of Sora disappearing he dipped his head downward, a muffled sound of anguish escaping him. Aqua's expression softened upon seeing this. Terra also stared down at him, concern clear in his eyes.
"Aqua...why do you have to say it so...matter of factly?"
The blue-haired woman didn't respond.
"It's just...Sora kept my heart safe all those years and...he rescued you too."
There was a brief pause in the air.
"I know."
They didn't hear her. Her voice was drowned out by a fearsome gust of wind passing through that particular moment, and Terra was too focused on Ven to look her way, so he didn't see her lips move to form the words. If he had, perhaps he would have interjected to say something meaningful to help them feel even the slightest bit better about the situation.
Aqua wished he would have noticed, if only to prevent what Ventus said next.
"You're sad too, aren't you?"
"Yes, Ven. Very much so."
"Then why say it like that?" he asked, clenching his fists. "Why did you say it so robotically just now? You were crying before. I saw you."
Again, Aqua didn't answer. She merely stared back at him.
Terra sent a sharp glare to the boy. "Ven, that's enough..."
"This is hurting you, Aqua," Ventus continued, ignoring Terra's words. "It's hurting you really badly. I can feel it. I'm sure Terra can feel it too. We're...we're family, Aqua. So...why?"
"Why what?"
"Why won't you share your feelings with us?"
"I..."
"Can't you just be honest for once?"
The question hung in the air. Like keys on a chain it dangled between them, waiting for Aqua to speak, to clarify, to give an explanation or excuse.
She made the decision to let the silence speak for itself.
Eventually, Ventus' gaze on her softened. Maybe he saw the reason in her face as she stared wordlessly back at him, though Aqua couldn't be sure.
"I'm sorry. That wasn't fair."
"It's alright."
Ventus cringed a bit at her indifferent tone. "I'm just really worried about you, Aqua. Are you sure you can handle this right now...with the nightmares and all?"
"Yes, Ven. I'm sure."
Terra glanced at Aqua to try and read her expression, but couldn't get a feel for what was going on in her mind. It unnerved him to think he didn't quite know her as well as he used to.
But then...what did he expect? Ten years had come and gone. No one stays the same forever.
Aqua's eyes remained on Ventus, her heart aching in ways she couldn't begin to share with him through words. So instead she extended her arms and slowly walked forward. Once close enough, she gently wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He lifted his hands slightly, as if to return the embrace, but ultimately left his arms dangling by his sides.
Her eyes slipped closed while she held him there, musing silently that this was the only way she could share her hurt with him yet there he stood, unable to accept those feelings. Venus expressed himself best through the words he spoke. She expressed herself best through the actions she took.
A key component of communication is the ability to listen.
And just as there's more than one way to speak, there are different ways to listen.
Aqau knew those ways better than most, even after a decade alone.
Solitude has its benefits, believe it or not.
However, Ventus wasn't like her. Aqua knew he needed people. He needed to see faces and hear words. The solitude he experienced in sleep was far different from hers and Terra's. Even in sleep, he hadn't really been alone.
Sora gave his heart refuge, which allowed Ventus to see his experiences. His dreams were full of adventures, of a life outside of the cards of despair dealt to them.
He wanted to understand her. Aqua knew he did. But right now...she couldn't communicate in the ways he needed in order to gain that understanding.
She just hoped that at the very least, Ventus could feel how important he was to her and how badly she wanted to let him in.
"I'm sorry I keep breaking my promise to you."
Out loud, she whispered, "Please don't worry about me, Ven. I'm strong. Trust me. Okay?"
He nodded.
Comforted a little by that, Aqua took a step back from him. Terra placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It'll be fine," he said, smiling down at the boy. He turned to Aqua. "You sure you don't want us to stay with you?"
"Yeah," she answered, smiling weakly at him. "I think it's for the best. I don't know how Riku would feel about it, and you two have a job to do."
Terra moved away from Ven to wrap his arms around Aqua. She returned the hug after half a second of hesitance.
"We'll be back soon."
"I'll be waiting."
Terra let go of her slowly, his hands sliding down her arms until his hands were in hers.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
His hands slipped from hers, and as he turned to walk toward the edge of the dock with Ventus by his side, Aqua couldn't shake the feeling she wouldn't see him again for a very long time.
The two of them activated their keyblade armor, ascending to the nearly black sky on their vehicles without her. She lifted her arms and waved them off, shouting out her goodbye as loudly as she could.
They departed in a flash of light, disappearing in a manner reminiscent of how they left the Land of Departure all those years ago...
The last day she saw her master alive.
He was dead now, slain by the man she used to be in love with.
Likewise...Sora was gone too.
How much grief could she bear in a lifetime?
It was in those moments of contemplation that she realized how the sky above and the ocean below had become mirrors of each other.
Once again she stood alone in utter darkness.
A torrent of horrible memories flashed before her eyes while she waited for Riku to join her so the two of them could row to the main island. Donald and Goofy had already gone ahead with Kairi after Riku asked for a little time to himself. Kairi hadn't wanted to separate herself from him, but relented after he uttered a nearly silent plea for her to let him go.
Aqua was nearby at the time, waiting for Terra and Ventus who were exchanging a few quick words with Mickey when Riku turned to her, asking if she would mind staying on the islands for a few days.
She didn't hesitate to accept the offer.
Of course, she didn't anticipate having to wait for him in the darkness...again.
"Breathe," Aqua muttered to herself, forcing a slow exhale. "You're not in the realm of darkness anymore. It's okay." After another inhale she repeated the words "It's okay" to herself a few more times.
Eventually the words shifted to "I'm okay."
An hour passed like that before Riku finally joined her on the docks. His approach startled her, but he didn't offer any words of apology, choosing instead to step down into the rowboat a short distance below the dock. Once standing in the boat he silently extended his hand to her, his eyes hidden from view thanks to his bangs.
For a few seconds Aqua could only stare blankly at his hand.
Aqua.
She gritted her teeth.
"Aqua," Riku whispered again, a flash of impatience flaring in his eyes. "Let's go."
With a nod she quickly took his hand and stepped into the boat. Once they were both seated, Riku grabbed for the oars and began rowing. Aqua offered to help but he quickly shook his head, saying he could handle it fine alone.
They remained silent for a while, which left Aqua to gaze thoughtfully at the sky once more.
"Thanks for waiting on me."
Aqua jumped a little. "Sure."
"I know it was a weird request," he continued. "My asking you to stay that is."
"Yeah," she agreed. "Terra and Ven were really confused when I told them."
Riku nodded once, distracted not only by his thoughts but the task of rowing. "I...I just don't buy it. And you don't either. That's why I asked."
Aqua blinked once, confused by the wording of his statement.
"I don't believe Sora's dead," he answered, reading the unspoken question in the air. "It's just a gut feeling I got. And..."
"Hmm?"
"When I looked at you earlier I saw that you felt the same way I did."
"How could you tell?" she asked, not bothering to deny his claim.
He groaned in response, the muscles in his arms shaking a bit as he strained against a particularly strong wave. "I don't...really know. I just looked at you and remembered the drawing you made in the sand. I felt like you should stay and see more of our world."
Aqua stared down at her hands folded neatly against her lap.
"Why?"
Riku stayed silent for a little while, his focus on the waves. Once more she attempted to ask if she could help since it was clear he was beginning to struggle, but instead of acknowledging the offer he muttered, "Because Mickey was right."
"Huh?"
"The reason I want you to see the world that shaped Kairi, Sora, and I," he clarified. "When we went searching for you in the realm of darkness, Mickey said you were like Sora and I see now that he was right."
Aqua tilted her head to the side a bit, more confused than ever. She couldn't begin to guess what qualities she and Sora shared. He was cheerful and sociable almost 24/7 while she was quiet and reserved. He believed anything was possible and never gave up hope.
She stopped believing in a happy ending until he reached for her hand.
"I don't...understand."
Riku smiled and even chuckled a little. "Guess that's another thing you two have in common."
Aqua's responding glare chilled him to the bone. "Excuse me?"
"Um...what I mean to say is that..." he trailed off for a long moment, recalling when he'd been too weak to walk properly after defeating Xemnas. But Sora, who had just gone through the same draining battle, supported his dead weight as they walked to the shore where Kairi's letter waited to call them home.
He wouldn't have made it that far without Sora.
Riku often felt the same sort of awe when he looked at Aqua. She braved the realm of darkness alone for ten years before Mickey found her the first time, then sacrificed her chance of escape to protect him, a boy who had willingly let himself be controlled by a piece of the very man who set the path for the misery she endured. And then, immediately after they finally rescued her, she sought Ventus out without bothering to take a break, woke him up, then proceeded to participate in their final fight with Xehanort only a day later.
"You're a strong person, Aqua," he said finally. "Just like Sora is."
Aqua was touched by the compliment, but she couldn't say she agreed with it fully. These days she didn't feel so strong at all. She felt like she was getting weaker and weaker by the day.
"Thank you," she whispered, noticing that they were approaching the shore of the main island. "Now, will you let me help you row to shore?"
Riku nodded. "Please."
When the duo finally arrived at Kairi's house, they found Donald and Goofy sitting outside on the stoop, their forlorn faces downcast.
Goofy noticed them first. Though he tried to smile at them, it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Kairi's inside," he told them once they were close enough. "Her parents were really happy to see her."
"They were crying," Donald mumbled.
"So, we figured it was best to let Kairi have time alone with her parents," Goofy finished, patting Donald's back gently. "The only problem is that we didn't really have a place to go after that."
Riku gazed up at the two-story mansion in front of them. After a moment of silence he smiled fondly at Donald and Goofy.
"Don't worry. We can all stay at my place. It's just a little ways down the road."
"Are you sure, Riku?" Aqua asked, watching as he turned away from the immaculate house.
"Yeah, my mom won't mind."
"What about your dad?"
Riku's footsteps halted. "I...don't have one. Not anymore."
The news sent a jolt through the blue-haired wielder. "Oh. I'm...sorry."
"Don't be," he replied, sighing heavily. "He's been gone for a long time now. A really long time." After a few more seconds he motioned with his hand for the trio behind him to follow. Donald and Goofy didn't waste any time catching up with the teen, but Aqua lingered, her eyes drifting back to the house. It was an ornate white building with a modestly sized front yard full of varying flowers. Two large palm trees stood to the right of the house and another tree stood off to the left. Though large, the house itself wasn't especially fancy. It was a simple looking house with a turquoise tile roof. It was this aspect Aqua found the most interesting about the structure. The way the tiles folded over the roof reminded her of the ocean.
It was a fitting place for Kairi to live.
She stared at the manicured lawn below her feet for a few seconds, a contemplative frown on her face.
"Did he visit her house often?"
"Aqua!"
Startled out of her thoughts, Aqau looked over her shoulder to see Riku waving for her to hurry up. She glanced back at the house one last time, noting a single light shining out from a window on the second floor, then darted down the street to catch up with the others.
"I hope Kairi will be alright."
Donald and Goofy were oddly quiet during their trek down the street. Riku didn't make an effort establish a conversation either, which left Aqua feeling like she had to fill the silence.
"It's a nice neighborhood," she said, appreciating the streetlights marking their path. "Very quaint. Did Sora live here?"
"Sora's house is in the next neighborhood over," Riku answered briskly, his expression reflecting a bit of irritation, though Aqua suspected it had nothing to do with her.
This suspicion was confirmed when they reached his front door. He started to reach into his pocket for the key only for the wooden door to open. The inside of the house was so bright compared to the dim lighting outside that Aqua had to cover her eyes.
"I thought I made myself clear last time. You have a curfew!"
Suddenly a fist rammed against Riku's chest, sending him careening backward into the dirt.
"Riku!" Goofy shouted, rushing to his side with Donald close behind. "Are you okay?"
"What do you think, Goofy?" Donald quacked irritably, noting the stars dancing around Riku's head.
"I'm fine...just...winded."
Aqua remained still, not sure how to process the situation as an older woman with pink hair swept to the side of her head brushed past without so much as a word. She wore a khaki blazer over a pale-blue sleeveless blouse with dark wash Capri pants, a couple silver bracelets on either arm, and beige fingerless gloves. As she stomped down the yard, Aqua noticed she wasn't wearing shoes.
Donald and Goofy stood protectively in front of Riku. "Stop right there!"
"No guys," Riku mumbled quickly, hurriedly pushing the two of them aside. "It's okay. That's...my mom."
"She's your mom!"
The pink-haired woman bent forward, her right hand reaching for the teen's left ear.
"Nine o'clock," she proclaimed, all business. "And what time do you think it is?"
"Um...Nine o'one?"
The woman replied by dragging him to his feet by the ear. When she turned to pull him toward the house, Aqua finally got a good look at the woman's face. She was a stern looking woman in her late thirties with fierce, pale blue-green eyes.
"Ouch! Mom! Stop! I'm sorry!"
She chuckled, a smirk lifting the corners of her lips. "Oh, you'll be more than sorry when I'm through with you, kid." For a few seconds she stopped to stare at Aqua, then glanced over her shoulder at Goofy and Donald.
"The three of you have a place to stay?"
Donald and Goofy shook their heads. Aqua smiled apologetically.
With a huff she gently pushed Riku inside. He let out a yelp as he tripped over the threshold.
"Come on in then. I'll prepare the guest rooms once I'm through yelling my son's ear off..."
A low grumbling from Donald and Goofy's stomachs suddenly shook through the otherwise still air.
The woman narrowed her gaze on the two of them, looking very displeased.
"Sorry," Donald mumbled.
"I guess I'll make some snacks too." the woman answered with a sigh. She tilted her head in a motion ordering them to hurry inside.
The duck entered first, gasping in delight at the crystal chandelier hanging high over their heads. Goofy was close behind, his gaze also traveling to the light fixture. They walked around Riku, who lay sprawled against the rug cutting through the room.
"Thank you for the hospitality Mrs...uh Ms...um?" Aqua wasn't sure how to address her.
With another soft sound akin to laughter, the woman stepped over the boy on the floor without so much as a glance.
"Just call me Lightning."
A/N: Now that the chapter is over, the song this chapter is titled after is Blinded by Light from Final Fantasy XIII. This is Lightning's battle theme, though for this chapter the softer version of this track is a better pick to listen to. It's simply titled Lightning's theme. While editing through this chapter, I listened to a mix of Face My Fears and BTS' Fake Love on repeat. If you've never heard of BTS before, you will get acquainted with their music through this story. Just wait for it. The particular Face My Fears/Fake Love mix I listened to is on the YouTube channel Ryu Mixing and is titled Fake My Fears. It's awesome. Seriously, go listen to it.
On another note, Lightning is in this story guys. It's bothered me for a while now that the parents of these crazy kids aren't involved in some form or fashion in the series, especially when it's been established that Sora's mom has been waiting for this child to come to dinner for years now. While on that line of thought, I wondered which Final Fantasy characters could fit the bill. For Riku, picking was easy. Lightning and Riku have similar personalities in some ways and having her as his mother just seemed like a perfect match. So, look forward to seeing more of Lightning next chapter. Also, it's looking like it's going to take a little longer to get to some actual Aqua/Sora moment than I originally anticipated. Of course, I didn't exactly anticipate for this story to be more than one chapter originally so...let's just see where things go. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! See you in the next one!