A/N: I'm happy to see that you guys liked the choice of Lightning as Riku's mom. She'll be in the bulk of this chapter, so definitely let me know if I characterize her decently. While I'm familiar with the storyline, I've never actually played Final Fantasy XIII, so if something is a little off or if she's a bit too abrasive in some ways, don't hesitate to tell me. The beauty of Fanfiction is that I can always go back and fix things later, whether it be grammar errors, character inconsistencies, or whatever else. Granted I can get lazy about such things sometimes, but we're not going to discuss that. Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter. Things are progressing more slowly than I originally anticipated, but I'm having a lot of fun with this. I hope you guys are too.
Warning: This chapter contains allusions to a sensitive subject matter within an extremely tiny section of the chapter. I would say what it is, but doing so ruins the surprise and the general, "OH MY GOSH! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE YOU EVIL, MALEVOLENT..."
I'm getting ahead of myself. My evil side has returned. Let's leave it at that. In general, while this chapter contains some humor it is on the heavier side of things. That angst tag is there for a reason.
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is the property of Disney, Square Enix, and Tetsuya Nomura. This is a Fanfiction made for entertainment purposes only. Much as I would like a paycheck for work like this, unless Square Enix just wants to randomly hire me as a writer for Kingdom Hearts, that ain't happening. A girl can dream though. Haha!
Title song: Never Coming Back from the OST of the anime Violet Evergarden. (If you've never seen Violet Evergarden, you should watch it. Seriously. It's so beautiful!)
Never Coming Back
"And that's the whole story."
Lightning stared thoughtfully at the cup of oolong tea in front of her with glassy eyes. "Sora..."
"Yeah, it hit me pretty hard too," Riku answered quickly, glancing at Donald and Goofy. They were at the other end of the small table, happily munching on the variety of snacks his mother prepared for them. It was a temporary happiness that would soon fade, but Riku figured it was best to prolong it. Those two and misery really didn't go together.
Sora and death didn't go together either, yet here they were. Whether he actually believed the news or not was irrelevant.
Aqua sat across from the white-haired teen with her hands folded against the wooden tabletop. Similar to Lightning, her gaze remained fixed on a steaming cup of oolong tea.
"I can hardly believe it," Lightning said after a moment, her attention shifting carefully to her son. "He was...such an energetic boy. Full of life..." She started to reach for his hand. "Riku..."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm okay," he cut in, moving his hand away before she could touch him. "Anyway, that's why I was late getting home."
Lightning nodded, maintaining a calm demeanor though sorrow lingered in her eyes. "You said Kairi finally came home too. She's the one who told you the news, right?"
"Yes."
"Was she...with him when he..."
"I think so," Riku interrupted again, clearly trying to get through this conversation as quickly and as possible. "I'm not too certain on the details."
"None of us are," Aqua added before bringing the mug of tea to her lips.
"After the fight with Xehanort, Sora went off on his own to find her."
Aqua nearly choked on the drink upon hearing Riku's words.
"Yes, I remember you telling me that..."
Swallowing the scalding liquid she'd gulped a little too quickly, Aqua hoarsely blurted, "Wait a moment."
She waited patiently for them to give her their full attention. Neither looked particularly pleased for the disruption.
"Riku," she began, her tone stern. "You told your mother about the other worlds and Xehanort?"
Donald, somehow hearing this over Goofy's loud chewing bounced out of his chair and onto the table, screeching, "WHAT!? YOU DID WHAT!?"
"It's true," Riku muttered, covering his eyes with his hand while Lightning arched a brow at the duck waddling across her table with dirty webbed feet.
"Uh, Donald..." Goofy tugged the back of his shirt in an attempt to get the enraged bird back into his seat.
"What about the world order!" Donald wailed, his arms flapping wildly. "Riku should know better than to go blabbing!"
"Sit down, Donald," Riku moaned, noting how his mother's scowl had become increasingly dangerous. "Now."
"I will not sit down! There are rules prohibiting..."
Lightning slammed her hands against the table, shaking it so badly Donald nearly fell face forward into a bowl of homemade hummus.
"You will not come into my house and stand on my furniture," she whispered through gritted teeth, her voice sending shivers down Donald's tail feathers. "Unless you want me to make a fine roast out of you, sit down and keep quiet. Have I made myself clear? Hmm?"
The duck grumbled audibly but quickly did as he was told. Goofy merely shook his head, looking about half as embarrassed as Riku did.
"You know Donald, it's kinda silly to get angry when Sora told his parents about our adventures too."
Aqua perked up a bit at this. "He did?"
"Yeah," Riku answered, sighing heavily while Lightning took a slow sip of tea to calm herself down. "Sora's a terrible liar and Mom..." He glanced at her and groaned, "She forced the truth out of me."
Aqua stared at Riku's mother in awe. "And you believed him?"
Lightning shrugged, setting her cup down once she'd taken a satisfying drink. "Not at first, but I know my son." She closed her eyes for a second, smirking. "He wouldn't dare tell a story that convoluted and stupid, then expect me to buy it. Not unless it was actually the truth."
"Still," Aqua paused, noting how visibly distressed Riku was becoming. "It's highly dangerous information. We're not supposed to share it under any circumstances."
The older woman glanced briefly at her agitated son, then back at Aqua. "Consider this a special case. My child doesn't get to disappear for almost two years and not tell me exactly where he's been. Besides, the news about other worlds wasn't any surprise to me. I'm not originally from Destiny Islands myself."
Riku tensed at the words. The whole room seemed to freeze as the information settled over them all.
"What?" The white-haired teen rose from the table, his green eyes alight with fury and hurt. "You weren't born here!?"
"Nope."
"Then...why have you never told me this? Was Dad..."
"It wasn't necessary," she explained in a rush, resting her cheek against the palm of her left hand while tapping the edge of the porcelain mug with her fingernails. "After all, as your friend Aqua just said, it's highly dangerous information."
"But..."
"Knowledge of other worlds has already taken something from us," Lightning interrupted again, her voice quiet yet authoritative. "And now...it's taken something else."
Awkward silence held the room, but after two minutes without so much as a peep from anyone, Aqua just couldn't take it anymore.
"Um...you have a lovely home, Lightning. Just...beautiful."
Lightning didn't answer. She and Riku were having a silent contest of wills with each other. A whole series of probing questions lingered in the teen's darkening gaze and Lightning returned his questions with a somber expression in which he'd find no answers. Even if he asked directly, it was clear the woman wasn't going to share anything.
Aqua stared at the liquid in her cup, her thoughts slowly drifting to the questions Ventus asked her.
Why won't you share your feelings with us? Can't you just be honest for once?
"If you're angry about me keeping things from you," Lightning began, "Then you should know you have no right to be. There are things you kept secret to protect me, right? Likewise, I kept this secret to protect you, not that it did any good. Danger found you anyway." The older woman chuckled darkly, her eyes closing for a moment. "Perhaps it was a mistake to hide the information away. Ignorance is what's truly dangerous. Wouldn't you all agree?"
Goofy scratched the side of his head. "Gawrsh, ma'am. I don't know."
"Hmph, my point exactly."
"Hey!" Donald screeched, glaring at Lightning again. "That isn't very nice!"
"Whoever said I was nice?"
Aqua watched Riku slowly clench his fists atop the table. He was clearly reaching a boiling point after everything that had happened, and not just from the day either. His journey to the person he was now hadn't been simple by any means. Aqua wasn't caught up on all the details since she hadn't bothered to finish going through all the data Jiminy programmed into her Gummiphone, but she knew he'd struggled against the darkness inside of him and even lost himself to it for a while. Regardless of the passage of time, some of that darkness would always be part of him. In the same way, her time in the realm of darkness would always be part of her.
Of course, the blue-haired keyblade master wasn't entirely focused on Riku's emotional struggle or on anything else in the room.
Instead she was pondering the statement Lightning made.
Ignorance is what's truly dangerous.
And then she thought about Ventus' questions again.
Why won't you share your feelings with us? Can't you just be honest for once?
Maybe that was the reason why Terra and Ventus wanted to make that promise: to be honest with one another. Honesty between them meant they couldn't be ignorant of each other's feelings. Even so...
Not everything needs to be shared. Some secrets should be kept.
Her torment was hers alone to bear. She couldn't share that. Not with them. Not after everything they'd all been through.
Eventually, after a few minutes of Donald yelling and Lightning threatening to roast him again, Riku spoke, breaking into the fray with words so frigid Aqua felt it in her bones.
"I don't need you to protect me anymore, Mom."
Silence followed the declaration for a minute and in that minute, Riku exchanged another long stare with his mother. This one was different though. Aqua could see he was trying to hide his pain. He was trying to be strong despite not having any strength left.
The corners of her lips twitched.
"It's a terrible feeling, isn't it, Riku?"
Lightning responded with a heavy sigh of exhaustion, the kind only parents would understand.
"Oh, please. What? You think you're too old or something?" The pink-haired woman laughed, but the sound was hollow. "You think because you've been away from home fighting monsters and saving worlds means I'm not supposed to do my job?"
Goofy started to stand, looking highly uncomfortable as he glanced at Donald and Aqua. "Maybe we should let them have the room..."
"Sit down," Lightning ordered, only waiting a second for Goofy to comply before facing Riku again. "No matter how old you get or how capable you think you are, you will always be my son, and you will always need me to be here for you. Nothing changes that. You hear me? Nothing."
Riku didn't answer. No one else dared to say anything either.
The older woman inhaled slowly, her voice softening. "And while you're sitting there angry at me for keeping secrets, I'm just glad my son came home at all." A shuddering breath escaped her as she lowered her gaze, hiding her eyes from the other people in the room. "Sora's parents won't experience the same blessing."
Aqua visibly flinched at Lightning's words.
Donald and Goofy seemed to physically deflate as well, which caused Riku to get even angrier.
"Please don't say that," he pleaded, trying his best to remain respectful of his mother since he'd clearly crossed a line before. "Sora disappeared. Kairi may say he's dead but...but..." Riku's words tapered off, his head bowing toward the table. Lightning lifted her gaze, a single droplet of water sliding down her cheek as she scooted her chair closer to Riku's. Gracefully and tenderly, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders without a word. Riku responded in kind, leaning against her shoulder.
Feeling his tears dripping against the front of her shirt, Lightning finally addressed their visitors.
"I need some time alone with my son now. The guest suites are on the hall to the right of the living room. Make yourselves comfortable."
Donald got up from the table first, followed by Goofy. The duck started to say something but shook his head and waddled out of the kitchen. Goofy briefly placed his hand on Riku's shoulder as a way to say that he had his and Donald's support, then left.
Aqua was the last to rise from her seat, her heart heavy.
Kairi's confirmation, evidence or no evidence, left little room for hope in any of their hearts. She was with Sora at the end, so she, more than anyone else, would feel his death.
Perhaps she and Riku were in denial, searching for hope where it didn't exist.
"Riku...I'm so sorry."
Aqua departed quickly after that, though not quickly enough.
She caught the sound of Riku's crying. It was practically inaudible, but she heard it and would continue to hear it in her mind throughout the night.
"Kairi has to be wrong," she thought, escaping into one of the specified guests rooms. It was a simple room with pale blue walls and cream crown-molding along the ceiling and floor, which was covered in beige carpet. It was an odd transition between the hardwood flooring of the hall, but as Aqua hobbled out of her shoes, she found herself appreciating the soft fibers beneath her feet.
Once out of the silver footwear, Aqua gently closed the door behind her and took in more of the room. There was a full-size bed in the corner, which was draped in a beautiful cream duvet with intricate flower patterns covering its surface. Walking over to it, she gripped the side of one of the pillows to test its fluffiness while noting the same intricate flower pattern.
Her gaze shifted to the curtains adorning the bay window a little ways from the bed once she was done examining the pillows. Upon further inspection she realized the window was a door leading to a small patio. She was unable to completely see it due to the dark, but she could faintly make out the silhouette of a two chairs and a table.
The other furniture in the bedroom was a cream color as well, with sea-themed knick-knacks of varying pale colors. Aqua noticed this while searching one of the dressers for something to sleep in.
After a minute or two she settled on a periwinkle-blue sweatshirt and grey sweatpants for the night.
These simple activities were a distraction from the multitude of words repeating endlessly in her mind.
Dead.
Why won't you share your feelings with us?
He's dead.
Ignorance is what's truly dangerous.
Sora.
Gone.
Never coming back.
He should be here...with me.
Terra.
Darkness.
Can't you just be honest for once?
Pain.
Sora.
Never coming back...
Because he's dead.
Dead.
Dead.
"Shut up," Aqua muttered breathlessly while pulling the sweatshirt over her head. Her heart was racing now. "Just shut up already."
There was a bathroom connected to the bedroom and after she finished changing she padded inside, closed the door, and turned the sink on.
The running water would drown out the thoughts...would drown out her cries.
"Kairi has to be wrong. She's the person who loves him the most. I know that...but...she has to be wrong..."
Aqua sunk to the floor, her knees rising to meet her chest. She rested her head against them, forcing herself to focus on breathing.
It took a substantial amount of effort to remember how to do it properly and she panicked a little when she realized how tired she was...and not just in the physical sense.
Mentally and emotionally, Aqua was spiraling to a breaking point.
Aqua.
"Sora..."
Saying his name soothed her a little, then brought on another wave of agony.
She saw Riku in her mind's eye, crying in his mother's embrace. An instant later she saw Kairi wrapping her arms around herself and screaming.
And then out of nowhere she felt the sensation of Terra's lips on hers, robbing her of the oxygen she so desperately needed to escape the memory of constant suffocation.
"Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale."
She couldn't breathe anymore.
It was too much. All of it was just too much.
Aqua rose unsteadily, her body swaying as she moved to turn off the faucet.
At the Mayor's house on Destiny Islands, a broken girl opened the door to her balcony and silently stepped out into the night. She walked leisurely toward the white railing ahead, her sapphire gaze taking in the peaceful view of the paradise around her.
But deep in her heart, she knew it was nothing but an empty, cold world.
The wind picked up, playing with the strands of her short red hair.
Almost unconsciously the girl climbed atop the thin railing, balancing precariously on it as the wind continued to beat against her body.
Extending her arms, she smiled, and then...
"Aqua! Aqua!"
The young woman felt large hands against her shoulders, gently shaking her. Disoriented she started to open her eyes only for her head to start pounding.
"Gah..."
"Try not to move too much," Lightning's voice commanded. "Riku, go get the first aid kit. Daffy, grab an ice pack from the freezer."
"It's Donald!"
"Yeah, and I have a pot you'll fit into perfectly."
Footsteps hurried away from her, accompanied by intense grumbling. Aqua tried to open her eyes again but the pain returned, so she opted to just keep them shut for now.
"Goofy, on the count of three, we lift her up."
"Lift me up? Oh no..."
Aqua tried speaking, but she was drowned out by Lightning's counting.
"One. Two. Three."
Suddenly Aqua felt weightless, although her legs were being held up a little higher than necessary, which meant her body was being carried at an odd angle.
"Goofy, hold your half of her up a bit higher."
With a grunt of effort, Goofy did as he was told. Aqua felt the upper half of her body lift a bit, which almost leveled her out.
"Okay," Lightning breathed, also adjusting her hold on Aqua's legs. "Carefully back out of the room and make sure you don't drop her."
"You got it ma'am."
Aqua fought against a groan of embarrassment. "This is humiliating."
After about a minute, Lightning and Goofy gently lowered her to a soft surface. Aqua assumed it was the bed.
"W-what...happened?"
"You passed out and hit your head," Lightning stated simply as footsteps approached. "Thank you." She paused and Aqua heard a click. "Try opening your eyes for me."
"A-alright."
"Take your time. It's no rush."
Aqua struggled for a couple seconds as another sharp pain shot through her skull, but managed the task. Lightning's face was a little blurry and the bright lights of the room made her head pound even more.
The older woman brought a cold compress to the side of her head after shining a light in her eyes. "You're bleeding a little, but it doesn't look like you have a concussion. I'll clean the wound then dab a potion on it." She made a motion with her hand and Riku was by her side in an instant.
"Hand me the peroxide."
Riku did so, then spoke to Aqua. "You really scared us there for a minute, but it looks like you'll be fine."
"Yeah, I guess," the blue-haired warrior muttered, wondering how Ven and Terra would have reacted to this spectacle. "I was...washing my face and started to feel dizzy. The last thing I remember was reaching for the faucet."
"It's a good thing you didn't reach it," Lightning replied, removing the cold cloth to press a different one to her head. Aqua flinched a bit, but otherwise didn't react to the stinging sensation.
"The running water let us know something was wrong."
Donald waddled forward, concern showing easily on his face. "Are you gonna be okay?"
Aqua smiled though doing so hurt a bit. "Yes. I'll be fine, Donald. Don't worry."
Lightning continued to clean the blood from the front of Aqua's scalp. "It definitely could have been worse." She paused, motioning to Riku again. "Potion."
"Here." The pink-haired woman took it gently from his hand and opened the bottle. Setting it on the nightstand table, she withdrew a few bandages. "I want you to keep this secure around your head for the night. You'll be good as new in the morning."
Aqua glanced at Riku. "Is your mom a doctor?"
Lightning smirked at the question. "No. Not really. I just have a lot of experience patching up injuries like this. Sora would always come in here with skinned knees or a bump on the head thanks to somebody playing too roughly."
"We did rough-house a lot didn't we?" Riku chuckled, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Donald and Goofy joined in on the giggles while mentioning different stories Sora told them about those days spent playing on the islands.
Aqua pictured Sora as a child, which was fairly easy considering when she'd first met him. He had an easy smile that persisted throughout the years despite all the scary things he must have gone through throughout his journey as a self-taught keyblade wielder.
She would never believe that smile was gone forever.
Even so...the words of doubt repeated.
Never coming back.
A dial tone sounded, stopping all conversation. Riku reached into his pocket upon realizing the ringing was coming from his Gummiphone. Without a word he answered it, holding the device up to his ear when a face didn't appear on his screen.
"Kairi?"
A/N: And that ends that chapter. I'm looking forward to reading your responses to this one, although this is nothing compared to what I have in store for you next. Muhahahahahahahahahahaha! Thank you for reading! God bless you all! See you in the next one!