Err….Ahh….hmm…::BOW BOW BOW:: I'm sooo sorry! I'm sorry I was sick! I'm sorry I was lazy! ::dusts off:: But, I finally bring to you the next chapter…I swear to ya'll I had about 3 people a day IMing me asking for the next chapter. I didn't know this story was liked *that* much! But I'm glad to hear it. ^ ^; So, without more blabbering about stuff I'd like to mention, here's chappie 16~!
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"Haah….haah…" Riku panted, running through the muddy sand, gushed clumps flying every which way, his eyes catching a stinging bit every now and then.
"Ouch…!" He grunted, one eye closed.
Sora…I'm sorry…I don't know what exactly I'm going to say to you, but…
Riku's thoughts stopped as his foot caught a root. He face-planted into the squishy muck, his arms flailing into it right after.
Riku laid there for a moment, his body itching and soaking with muddy clumps and smudges. Lightning crashed dangerously close by to the island, thunder roaring loud after. Riku moved his right arm out to the side, sliding among the mud, the rain falling even harder. He lifted himself no more than a foot above the ground and stared down at the dark mud, tiny streams of water forming below him in the concaved area his body had formed.
W…What…
Riku slipped his dirty glove off, now sitting in the muck, and raised his cleaner hand to his face, gently rubbing his fingers over his cheeks, and eventually to his bottom eyelid.
Tears…why are…
Riku sat up with more of a stiffened back, as another bolt of lightning crashed nearby.
…Tears…?
Riku was quick to rub his face roughly, getting rid of the tears he forced himself to believe was rain. There was no way he was getting all emotional about this.
…But if so, why?
After noticing he was drowning in sorrow…and rain, Riku jumped back up to his feet, and continued to Sora's. Now matter what, he had to make Sora believe him. Nothing happened!
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"Phew…finally…made it…" Riku said, hunched over gathering some air.
He looked up to the door right after, noticing a small note taped on very well, waterproof so the ink wouldn't wash away.
"Aww man…lets see…'Out at the moment, but Sora's inside. If you need to drop something off, please just knock and leave it at the front door. My son does not wish to be bothered. Thank-you! 3'"
Riku sweatdropped.
"…What do moms DO in the rain!? …And who would wanna deliver something in this weather…" Riku looked all the more miserable, and slumped with his weight against the door.
"Well…what am I supposed to do now…? 'My son does not wish to be bothered'…" The silver-haired boy sighed.
-Click-
"Huh…? Riku looked up at the door handle, and noticed it was opening.
"……………SHE DOESN'T EVEN LOCK HER DOORS?!" Riku face-faulted.
But hey, since it was already opening, why not just peek in? It couldn't hurt. Riku bit his bottom lip, and did just that.
The light was on in the room the front door lead to, and some skittering feet raced around the corner as soon as Riku had brought himself to his own feet.
"Sora…?"
Of course calling probably wouldn't do anything; Sora could hate him with a burning passion at this point. Although Riku knew that was highly unlikely. He started walking in the direction of the feet, and turned the corner.
"Sor….a…?" His voice grew softer on the second syllable.
Sora stood at the other end of the wall, peeking behind its other corner. His face was shaded by the darkness of the hall, and only one squinted, blue eye peered back at Riku. His appearance was awful. Riku even began to doubt that he was really Sora. His eyes seemed swollen and his face was pale, with bags under his eyes. He looked skinnier…even after just one day; his swollen eyes quivered along with his fingers that were holding onto the wall. And his frown…his frown? It was like he was a totally different person without his trademark smile. He must've been up all night crying. How else could you look that bad in just one day?
"….Sora?? You look awful!" Riku's pupils grew small, as he covered his mouth after the comment.
Probably not the best thing for me to say…
"……W-Why are you here? My mom's not in…" Sora asked, his voice hoarse and quivering.
Riku's body felt a quick cold sting. It felt like Sora had almost forgotten him when he spoke…and so quietly.
"Sora…c'mon, I'm here to see you." He half smiled, but his eyes were still filled with worry.
A stray tear ran from Sora's left eye after Riku spoke, coughing after, looking away from the silver-haired boy.
"Why are you here to see me…?" He choked.
"Why…Sora, we need to talk…c'mon, please stop acting this way…" Riku stepped a bit closer, tracing his fingers along the wall.
Sora stepped backward, as if he was about to be attacked by some wild animal.
"I-I…! …I don't think I can talk to you…right now…" He coughed sharply again.
Riku stopped in the hall, stabbed by Sora's movements and comments. Sora had never acted this way. Was he really hurt that badly?
"…I see…" Riku simply replied with his head lowered.
He turned around to head out around the corner. There was still pure silence…all but the rain was heard. He turned his head once more and looked at the dark hall. Could he really just leave Sora like that? He looked like he was on the verge of death or something! But then again, Riku was the one that caused Sora's pain.
A-Ah…
Riku placed a hand to his chest. It hurt…so much.
He walked passed the large table in his way as slowly as possible, and reached for the doorknob, his chest stinging even more.
Sora…I don't want to leave you like this…!
"…W-what…?"
Riku's head turned around quickly, something clutching against his dirty shirt to keep him from leaving.
"Sora…?!" He exclaimed surprised, the pain in his heart weakening.
He looked down at his friend, who gave him no eye contact in return. He just rested his head against Riku's upper back, looking down.
"…You're really dirty…" He said softly.
"Dirty?" Riku asked, not expecting anything like that to be said. "Ooh, yeah…well, it's okay, I gotta get all dirty when I run back out there again…"
Sora shook his head, then raised it upward to look at Riku, revealing a wet cloth he had in his hand. He raised it up for a second, waiting for any rejection from Riku, then continued to his cheek as his friend held perfectly still.
Hmm…?
Riku stayed frozen as the brown-haired boy rubbed his cheek. It must've been the one he nearly rubbed off in the rain. He watched Sora's arm move gently back and forth…then looked to his face that seemed so concentrated on soothing his wounds.
…His eyes were so focused…and color seemed to be back in his cheeks, although he still seemed down.
Sora stopped.
"Huh? W-What's wrong?" Riku asked with a bit more of a stutter.
Sora simply placed his finger on Riku's cheek, watching Riku's face for a reaction. He was blushing…deep red, and it wasn't because he was out in the storm.
Even Sora had that one figured out.
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Wowiiee! This one seemed more depressing. Was it just me? I think I need to be in a better mood, I actually had a liiiittle bit different of an idea for this chapter, but it all basically turned out…eh, pretty much the same. ^_^; Please R&R! And DON'T WORRY! I'm already going ahead to start the next chapter. Heehee!