Lips quivered every time Riku's hand brushed against Sora's. Riku grunted as his green orbs wandered, wandering their gaze down to Sora's hand. His stomach sunk, shoulders slouched at the sight. He eyed the smaller male, seeing him standing close. But the words just wouldn't come.

"So, Riku, are you enjoying this walk so far?" Sora asked with a toothy grin, his cerulean hues glancing up at the other.

"Mhm."

"You're not talking much. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Pulling a shrug, Sora averted his gaze to the path in front of him. Tall trees enclosed them, the tops entwining together to form an archway. Green eyes looked up to the arch, seeing the sunlight trying its hardest to scream through the cracks.

"It's so nice out here, Sora."

"Right?"

"It's pretty much just trees out here, right? No lakes or anything?"

Feeling his knuckles brush against Sora's hand a second time, Riku flinched, pursing his lips shut. He just refused eye contact with Sora. Instead, he focused on the calm breeze that idly brushed through his short silver locks.

"This is a good place to think about things."

"Yeah," answered Riku.

"Hey, Riku! Look!" Sora chimed in excitement, pointing a hand in the near distance.

"H-huh?"

Unexpectedly, Sora's hand grabbed Riku's, and then the smaller lad pulled Riku along to what he wanted to see. Short silver locks bounced gently when Riku felt his hand being grabbed, and he looked down, finding their hands holding each other's. A small blush dusted his features.

"Look, Riku!" Sora voiced another time, his voice still bearing the same level of excitement as before.

Halting at a cliff, Sora spotted something amazing. He looked up at Riku and tugged the taller male close, keeping his hand locked with Riku's.

"It's the sunset, Riku. Pretty, right?" Sora chuckled.

Riku pulled a bittersweet, small smile, albeit he still refused the eye contact. His hand tightened around Sora's, almost naturally rather than intentionally.

"Yes, it is pretty."

He watched the orange and yellow hues break apart in the horizon, and while holding Sora's hand, this felt...nice. Too nice.

"Does this feel any different to you, Sora? The sunset feels more gentle than it was before you lost your power of waking," mentioned Riku.

Sora nodded, "Yeah, it kinda does!"

"I almost feel bound to this sunset," he continued, pulling his free hand close to his chest while he thought about it, "It's like I don't want to leave this place. That's probably because...it feels like our lives will end tomorrow if we leave this place."

"You can't keep thinking about morbid things, Riku!"

Riku scoffed, "I know. Sorry, I just can't help it."

"We'll always be together, no matter what! I promise - and you know me - I always keep my promises."

"Positive like always," he snickered, and even at this point, Riku still refused eye contact with Sora.

"Hey! Stop being a big jerk, Riku!" Sora pouted, looking up at the silver-haired, only to see Riku looking away like always, "I know that in my heart we'll always be together, even after Xeonhart's dead."

"If you say so, then I guess it's true," he snickered again, and this time, he pulled a shrug.

"You don't believe me at all, do you?"

"One part of me does, and the other part of me doesn't. But I trust you, Sora, and I know you wouldn't joke about these things."

"Gee, thanks, Riku!"

Riku looked down at Sora again, observing those dishevelled brunette locks this time. And without saying anything, Riku followed his gaze, seeing where he was looking, and it was right at the sunset that seemed to be disappearing now. The sun was departing to another world, leaving the sky in a dim, shady blue.

"Sora, we should build a camp here! You know, like the one we built on the Destiny Islands."

"Yeah, okay! I'll go search for the food, and you...you should gather the wood," he suggested, releasing from Riku's hand now.

"Hm, sure," he put.