Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Sora/Riku
Warnings: Yaoi or boyXboy love, references to intense situations, rating may change later
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own anything from Kingdom Hearts. I don't own any characters or places or anything.
Summary: After the doors were closed, Riku has been in the shadows but in the shadows, there is no such thing as time because time is meaningless. So what happens when Sora opens the door five years later? SoraxRiku
Timeless
Short brown hair fell into periwinkle blue eyes as a gust of wind blew through the palace grounds. The young man, just barely turned nineteen years of age, felt his lithe body fall back onto the plush grass. Eyes that held a usual sparkle to life were not shinning. They weren't shinning because today would mark another year of his mistake. It was theday when he closed the door to Kingdom Hearts and lost his best friend, his unrequited love.
Sora closed his depressed filled eyes and let out a puff of air. He tucked his black gloved hands behind his head and raised his knees to the sky. He felt his baggy black shorts slip further up his legs but he paid it no mind. He kept his eyes plastered to the sky, where scattered clouds were passing through. Sora could almost swear that some clouds looked like Pluto, or a crab, and even one of Kairi.
Sora's body tensed up at the name of his friend. He hadn't seen here for a few months now. She was suppose to be at the palace today and she hadn't arrived yet. He grimaced. The last time they were together, Kairi left, very angry. It was then that Sora told her that he didn't love her, that he wasn't exactly straight. Kari understood that he would never love her and she accepted him. She did not, however, accept who he loved. She had screamed at him, called his desire foolish and out right stupid. Sora wouldn't stand for it and fought back. There was no way he was going to take that from someone who should accept him no matter what.
He made his body relax and he pushed himself into a sitting position once again. He crossed his legs and picked at the grassby his unclothed feet. His thoughts drifted back to Kairi and her visits. It would seem impossible since all the doors to the world were sealed, but, just because something is locked, doesn't mean there isn'tanother way out. A small smile crept on his lips when he remember the blessed day when Cid Highwind came through the castle doors with a huge grin painted on his face. Cid had found a way to travel through the worlds without using the Gummi ships.
Sorabarely remembered the complicated theory that Cid used about the Gummi ships and how therewere worm holes and dimensional breaks. Cid even said that the dimensional breaks had to be calculated precisely for time, speed, and passengers, otherwise the breaks could swallow the whole ship and anyone could die. Traveling alone with no ship was possilbe with worm holes but they appeared sporatically sometimes though. Cid, of course, preferred the worm holes considering how dangers a dimensional break was when a worm hole was very easy to predict the locations and it didn't need any specific details.
A smile crossed rosy lips. From that moment on Sora knew he would be able to find his best friend. He knew because he could feel a constant tugging at his heart, just barely though. At the first, it was incredibly strong, but as time when by, it began to decimate. The tug was leaving and lately at an alarming rate. Only a week ago the tug was like a little baby holding onto a mother's hand, but today, it was like any rash movements would break the connection.
A sudden scream snapped Sora out of his revere. His periwinkle eyes searched the area and he spotted it. It was Kairi. She was screaming at him to get up and meet her half way. Sora let a halfhearted smile cross his features before pulling on his socks and then black tennis shoes. He jumped up from the grass and flew across the grassy land separating him from his friend.
Kairi's violet eyes glittered in the sun as she ran towards Sora. She had changed a little from their time apart butnot much. She had grown to be about 5'8" and her sinful red hair was down to the middle of her back held in a secure french braid. Her usual short purple skirt had been tossed aside for pale pink shorts and a white shirt with quarter cut pink sleeves. Her black strap necklace was replaced with a silver chain with a four leaf clover. Her rosy red lips opened again to call out to Sora.
"Sora! I've missed you!"
"Kairi!"
They crashed into each other. They fell to the ground, hands and legs intertwined and their laughter was heard through out the castle land. When they pulled apart, Kairi sat back on her knees and Sora sat with his legs crossed. Their smiles never left their faces.
"Sora, It's so good to see you again. I've felt so bad for what I said to you last time I saw you, I've been miserable since then. I'm so sorry!"
"Thanks Kairi. I've missed you too!" Sora reached out to her and enveloped her in a tight embrace. Kairi threw her arms around him and squeezed. Sora shifted in slight discomfort but was more than willing to accept a hug from his friend.
Kairi pulled back, with watery eyes. Sora immediately looked concerned but Kairi waved him off. She smiled and brushed away a single crystal tear. She then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She moved herself to be sitting on her rear and her legs were to the side. One hand braced her weight and she let her head fall back.
Sora just watched on as his friend basked in the sun. He was more than happy to accept her back again. Kairi was a strong woman now and he needed that kind of emotional support.
Before long, loud and clumsy footsteps were heard coming closer. Sora knew who it was immediately. A genuine smile graced his lips before he jumped up and pounced. Two people fell to the ground rolling and laughing. Sora landed on his back while the other loomed over him.
"Gawrsh Sora! I didn't know you were that happy to see me!" Goofy beamed at him and stood up. He offered a gloved hand to Sora. Sora happily took it and brushed himself off.
"Of course I'm happy to see you Goofy! You're my friend!"
"Ahh, shucks!" Goofy chuckled and then suddenly went serious. Sora's smile disappeared from his face. Kairi, who had watched the whole exchange, got up and stood next to Sora.
"What's up Goofy?"
"King Mickey wants your presence as soon as possible. He thinks he found it."
Sora's posture tightened. Without thinking or hesitating, Sora took off at a dead run. He didn't care if anyone followed or if they even were. He knew his heart was beating like a drum in his ear and his chest was like a vice, squeezing the life out of him. He could here the pounding of his feet, simultaneously with his heart, and his heavy breaths.
When he reached the large doors to the court chambers, Sora didn't stop to calm down. He slammed open the door. The bang echoed through the mostly empty room. There was a surprised yelp after the door but Sora couldn't really tell who it belonged too. It could have been Queen Minnie or Daisy. It was more than likely Minnie.
"Sora. I'm glad you could come so quickly."
Sora stepped away from the throne a foot away. His chest heaved and he bent forward to brace himself with his hands on his knees. He put one hand to his unsettled stomach and gave shallow coughs. He heard Kairi and Goofy and stop next to him, also huffing and puffing.
Catching his breath, Sora stood straight and stared into the small black eyes of the mouse king. Mickey had been gone for two years in Kingdom Hearts. When he mysteriously returned, he was blinded by the light for almost three months afterwards and had to be escorted everywhere. He didn't look a day older but then again, neither did Minnie so Sora and everyone else paid it no mind. Sora did, however, ask millions of questions about his best friend. Mickey told him the story straight out and almost burst into tears the first time.
"We think we found it. We think we found a worm hole to Kingdom Hearts." Mickey said with hope filled eyes.
"Where?" Sora replied.
"Right here, in the castle."
"Are you serious?" Kairi all but shouted.
"Yes." Mickey nodded and stood up. He descended the stairs from his throne and stood in front of Sora. He motioned with one hand to a side door and it opened. Leon stepped out from the door. Sora's eyes widened in the slightest at sheer surprise. Leon looked just the same. He was still fairly tall with creamy white skin and delicious chocolate brown hair. His usual cold steel eyes were softer now, like the color of a storm after the worst is over. But one thing definitely didn't change, he still wore the same clothes. Ever the stubborn man.
Leon nodded to Sora and spoke.
"I've been here for two weeks. I've been researching the worm holes and found they are more constant and not as sporadic as we thought they were." Leon made his way over to the group, chains on his boots clanging as he came closer. "I've made a map of the palace and the area around. I have all worm holes traced, named, and counted. But," Leon said stopping next to Sora, "I found one that leads to a barrier. It's a shield to keep people out, but I can feel the darkness. I know it's Kingdom Hearts."
"Where at in the castle?" Sora whispered.
"Convenient really." Leon let a small uplift in his lips occur. "It's in your chambers. To the left side of your bed."
"Can I go through it now?" Sora asked rapidly.
"Maybe. The barrier is strong. You'd have to attack it until it broke."
Sora steeled his eyes. "Let's do it."
----
Sora stepped to the left side of his bed. He called to his heart to bring forth his keyblade. He a heavy weight drop into his hands and he gripped it tight. It was Divine Rose. It wasn't his most powerful, but it would do the job.
"Remember Sora, you have to keep attacking or the shield won't break." Leon said from his seat on the bed.
"You can do it Sora! Just think, you'll be able to see him again!" Kairi cheered.
"Good luck." Minnie and Mickey whispered.
"Give it all ya got Sora!" Goofy hooted.
"Go for it!" Donald cheered in his very raspy voice.
"Thanks guys." Sora held out his left hand. He walked forward and then he felt it. The barrier was right there. Taking one step back, Sora raised his keyblade and prepared his strike. With all of his strength, he brought the blade down and bright blue sparks flew around him. He tried to ignore them and kept repeating the hits over and over. He cried out in pain when a few sparks landed on his cheeks but he never gave up.
With one final hit, the barrier shattered. Blue light exploded in the room and Sora ran into the hole, not caring about the lack of vision. Sora felt a familiar tug at his heart and he couldn't help but feel excited. He followed the worm hole until it brought him to utter darkness. He heard muffled movements in front of him and he walked forward. He was vaguely aware that two others had followed him. He figured it was Leon and Mickey, but he couldn't be sure.
As he made his way, he felt himself pass through another barrier, although this one was extremely weak. It was nothing compared to the other. He ignored it and reached out. He felt his gloved hand come in contact with a solid cold and his body shivered. It was a horrible feeling. It went straight to his bones and the chill didn't leave.
Sora heard more muffled movements and entered the cold place. He felt the tug at his heart pull him down and he fell to his knees. He felt around the freezing ground before his hand brushed something warm. He let his hands roam over course fabric and then spoke.
"Riku? Is that you? Riku, answer me please!"
"Sora?"
"Who is it?"
"It's Mickey and Leon. Where are you?"
"Just a second, I'll make a light." Sora closed his eyes and clutched the fabric in one hand. He held the other up to his face and concentrated. He reached for his magic and found what he was looking for. With a whisper of words, blinding white light filled the area followed by a blood curdling scream.
Sora's eyes opened and looked down. Tears filled his eyes instant.
"Gods! I found you! Riku, I found you!" He grabbed Riku into a hug and squeezed. He felt no response from him and realized Riku was unconscious. Before he could make a statement, Mickey called out to him.
"Sora! Hurry up, let's get out of here. I can feel the heartless coming closer!" Mickey shouted.
"All right. Just give me a second to get him out of here!" Sora kept the light going in mid air and reached under Riku's back and then under his knees. He lifted him with ease, which startled him greatly. Riku shouldn't be this light. He should have been more than he could handle.
"Hurry Sora!" Leon warned.
"Coming!" Sora pushed his thoughts aside and ran out of the shack, leaving his fire spell to burn itself out. Heheard Leon and King Mickey stop at the worm hole's entrance. He then felt the darkness closing in. It was an overpowering feeling. It yanked at his mind and gripped his heart. He gasped for breath. It hurt so much to be surrounded by such darkness. How could Mickey and Riku have lasted for so long?
Shaking his head furiously, Sora bolted through the worm hole, followed closely by Mickey and Leon. He burst through the hole and ran into the bed. He felt himself smoosh Riku's frail body into the firm mattress. He tried to push himself away but Leon fell on him and then Mickey. Sora 'ooffed' each time and groaned. No matter how light each one was, the impact took his breath away.
"Sorry Sora." Mickey quickly backed away.
"My apologies."Leon slid to the side.
Sora nodded and stood up. He then let his eyes drift to his best friend, and his lost love. What he saw shocked him. His breathing stopped and he swore his heart skipped a beat, or three. Riku's skin was paler than a sheet of paper, even his cheeks held no color, and his lips had a blue tint to them. His hair was still just touching his shoulders, just like years ago.
Sora's hand shook as he began to pull off the worn grey robe and the piece of cloth holding it on Riku's body. Sora had to get assistance from Leon to hold Riku's body up to pull the robe completely off the frail body and Sora had to hold back tears. Riku's body was thin. There was no other word for it. His clothes bagged off his hips and his shoulders, not to mention all color had faded and they were caked with dirt and grime. Where the clothes sunk into his body Sora could see small outlines of ribs and bones. But what was an even bigger shock, was Riku didn't look an inch taller. Aside from the clothes and the weight, Riku hadn't changed. Not an inch taller or older.
Sora's mind shouted at him. It had been five years! It was impossible!
TBC...
Author's Note Here's the second chapter! I didn't get to double check my spelling so I'll have to revise it later. ((I actually might remake the whole chapter. I'm not to happy with some parts.)) Anyways, I hope everyone liked it. I want to say a few thank yous!
D-chan: Thanks a million! I loved your review. What a popper. LoL. I love that word! Oh, and I did go back and revise the first chappie. Thanks for the help! grins
Anniken: I appreciate your review! Hope you enjoyed this part!
Life's scar: Woohaw! I hope this was fast enough for you. I would have had it out yesterday, but I went to another state and watch Les Miserables! So much fun! Anyways, thanks a lot!
black-magician-girl: Well, yes, Riku does go home. In a sense. He goes to the palace. Thanks I suppose.
Uzumaki: Thanks for your review so much! It put me is such a good mood and I wrote a lot for my fic after reading it! So in a way, you're my inspiration for this one! Woohaw for you! Thanks!
christie: Yuppers. I finally did a fic that's not Beyblade. I feel kind guilty though! I was going to continue a BB fic that I'd written awhile ago, and I trashed it! sighs Anyways. Thanks for reviewing, glad ya liked it and hope you read more!
Lotsa love to everyone and thanks again!
PS: Hey hey hey muh fella readers! snickers Sorry, my lame attempt at an accent. But seriously, I'm going to be revising this story for the next few days, if not weeks. This is the first chapter done. I will NOT be revising chapter one unless I am otherwise asked to do so. Expect a few minor changes, nothing big. Thanks for your time!