Disclaimer: The characters used for this fan-fiction in no shape or form
belong to me. They are the property of SquareEnix and Disney, and I
acknowledge this, no matter how much I wish they could belong to me.
Warning: This fic at one point will contain explicit yaoi [in later chapters]. If you are offended by shounen-ai or yaoi, I do not suggest you read any further; I rather not be flamed for your stupidity.
Note: Sora and Kairi are 18 years of age, and Riku is 19. They are or will be on Destiny Islands. This fic will unfortunately be parted by chapters; be prepared for angst, denial and what not.
***
Sora had no intentions in remaining on Destiny Islands. But the days rolled into weeks, drawn by the warm summer breeze that surrounded the cozy location with a frightening familiarity. So he housed with a neighbor, and an old family friend, welcomed into their home with nothing but polite glances.
And in his dreams, he was plagued. He'd toss and turn in his slumber, body already drowning in a cold sweat, fighting off the demons of his conscience and memories. But the struggle was futile; everything that held meaning to him was slipping through his fingertips, pulled by the hasted sands of time.
Then he would wake, startled from his light rest, never managing to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep as he often prayed for before crawling into the foreign bed. He'd roll to the floor, breaking the suffocating knot that allowed him to still linger in his dreams. Frequently, he'd discover fresh tears coating his cheeks, or the drying streams that reminded him of their previous presence. It concerned him, of their common visits through the evening; and no amount of searching his mind could direct him toward an explanation to why he had been crying.
But he had a vague idea; the very thing that had tore his heart in two, crushed his spirit and sucked the very life from him. And so, after each night of waking, Sora would climb onto the bed, and gaze fondly out the window. He would admire the painted horizon, listening to the quiet melody of the ocean, and watch the foamy, aqua depths whisper against the white sands. The same aqua waves that reminded him of an ache that still plucked his heart-strings.
Shortly after Sora's previous encounter with Riku, he had decided it would be best to avoid Kairi and Riku. But as his first plan didn't cooperate with his wishes, neither had his second. And being as Destiny Islands was a very compressed location, Sora soon grew familiar with the fact avoiding people was a lot more difficult than he had realized.
And increasingly more painful with each meeting.
The situation soon became a daily process, and Sora was beginning to consider remaining within the sanctuary of his neighbor's home until he felt the need to leave. But he knew, under no circumstances, would the family friend allow him to do so, which left only one other option available to the dear, broken-hearted boy: Distraction.
"Good morning, Mrs. Domier," Sora greeted as he slowly descended the stairway, ignoring the increasing ache of his lower back. Each night of slumber always seemed to bring a new pain to his fragile figure, despite his frequent rotation of positions.
"You're up early, Sora," Mrs. Domier remarked from the kitchen sink, a handsome elderly woman nearly crippled from old age. But her disability hardly bittered her kind and gentle personality, despite the personal belief of those who failed to familiarize themselves with her; people always were afraid of what they didn't quite understand. Like love, for instance.
"Early bird catches the worm," he replied as he seated himself on a wooden chair near the window, catching the faint fragrance of an ocean breeze tumbling through at dawn. The furthest corners of the horizon were already a pale shade of blue, spreading toward the orange and yellow glow where the horizon swam within the sea. He admired the view thoughtfully, before regarding the elderly woman, and forced a smile. She returned it, seating herself across from him and laid the rag she carried on the table-top.
"I've lived here for seventy-five years, and still am breathless at the beauty of the sunrise," she murmured, crow-feet eyes twinkling with dreams she yearned to remember. Her expression melted into something Sora didn't recognize, but he assumed she was lost deep within her thoughts.
'I wonder what it's like...' he mused absently before he stood, and quietly crept toward the door.
"I'm going to gather some coconuts, Mrs. Domier. I'll be home before noon to help with the house-work," he obliged, and disappeared through the leather flap, allowing it to fall noiselessly behind him. He had noticed, during the earliest hours of the morning, the elderly woman would be seated at the wood-stove, staring into her own, private oblivion. He had thought to wake her from the trance a number of times, but he never was able to bring himself to do such. He imagined, where she must have been, she was better off.
Sora listened to his quiet footfalls against the wooden ramp as he crossed toward small shack near the oasis. He felt at ease with the deafening silence around him, the seagulls long from their time when they would wake, and call 'mine' without skipping a beat.
Mutely, he allowed his feet to carry him to the island, where he paused, hesitant to set foot on the almost sacred ground. His gaze drifted to where he had sat what felt like yesterday, dreading Riku's visit when he should have been erupting with excitement. His brow furrowed, recalling the bewilderment of Riku's face, his change in tone, his fury...
But it was behind him, there was nothing he could do that would change it. He had destroyed something beautiful for the sake of another, for the sake of a girl who he had once thought to love him, instead of Riku... But it hardly mattered to him now who she loved, or who Riku loved.
Or at least he kept telling himself that. Even if it didn't make it any easier to accept.
"Sora!" He cringed to the call of his name, making a silent prayer to whatever omniscient being there is that it wouldn't be who he thought as he turned, witnessing Kairi's over-exaggerated wave. Riku stood nearly at her elbow, his glare blazing with ice as he directed his attention as well, toward the keyblade master.
Trying not to look at him, Sora returned the gesture, forcing a frail smile upon his lips. But he couldn't bring himself to speak; suddenly his tongue felt heavy inside his mouth, his throat raw and dry.
"Sora! Hey Sora! Riku and I are going to go explore the far-side of the island! Would you care to come?" she offered, then glanced suddenly to Riku as he placed his hand on her shoulder. He murmured something to her, expression thick with dislike, but kept his aqua gaze locked to hers. From the distance, Sora couldn't decipher what was being said, though hardly doubted he wanted to know.
Kairi turned back to Sora, considering a thought before replying to what Riku had said, seeming to disagree. Sora watched without amusement as the two conversed beneath their breath, the idea of leaving crossing the boy's mind. It would solve either's problem: He wouldn't have to disappoint Kairi, and Riku wouldn't be irritated by his presence. Both would luck out.
Whatever they had been discussion came to an abrupt end, as Riku turned and departed through the doorway Kairi had guarded with her life what felt like eons before. She watched him leave, before offering a sad glance toward the chocolate youth, and walked slowly after him. Defeat had been accomplished, but was hardly triumphant.
As she left him as well, Sora felt a tug of anger toward the two. It was obvious neither had told the other of what they had asked of their former friend, and the bonds were still untied because of such dishonesty. But he knew he couldn't force them to share their deep, dark secrets with their recently discovered love. It would be their sin to bear, and their sin to carry. He shouldn't have let it rest so uneasy on his heart.
Turning, he knelt by a fallen coconut, lifting it gingerly from the ground and inspected it's ripe, lime color. Evenly weighed in his hand, he balanced it carefully as he stood, cradling it between his palms. A seagull cried from nearby, circling where he stood before it flew off toward the trees near the shore, instead of having to beat it's wings helplessly where air currents hardly thrived.
'I wish I could fly.. Just fly away from all my problems...' A tear slid across his cheek, a lone traveler as it fell against the coconut's shell. He felt near his breaking point, unable to with-stand against the constant aches, the remaining pains, the haunting memories. Drawing back his arm, the coconut became airborne as it sailed toward the ocean, landing with a heavy splash as Sora dropped to his knees, arms around his slender torso. He bowed, his forehead against the smooth, cold, forgiving grass.
And he wept. He wept as he did the day he and Riku ceased to be one, ceased to be anything. And it felt good, the tears pouring freely from the long bottled anger, rejection, desperation, disappointment, and most importantly, loneliness he had kept tucked away, in the darkest depth of his heart.
And for the first time in what had been ages, Sora truly felt alone.
***
Riku had woke that morning with the remains of a horrible headache. Each wasted moment he spent with Kairi was draining him physically, mentally and emotionally. He only wondered how much longer he could stand the torment of her enthusiasm.
They had discussed plans that morning to "explore" bits of Destiny Islands they never dared to as children. But Riku hadn't been so cowardly, and before Kairi had arrived, him and Sora would frequently scale the island, despite what the elders would warn.
'Sora...' The name was sour within his mind, causing him to glare absently as if a thought of disgust had lingered too long and too often; and maybe in its own way, it had. It had only been ironic that they bumped into each other every day or so, twice if he was unlucky. And today was no different.
Riku noticed Sora's stationary figure on the separated island, no doubt day- dreaming in the small, immature fragment of his mind, before Kairi did. But as she did acknowledge his presence, she called to him, describing her and Riku's plans in a manner only a woman could, and he fought the sudden urge to slap her. She didn't know of Riku's and Sora's past disagreement, nor did he have any intentions of allowing her in on his private humiliation, but her stupidity to him was amazing.
He didn't know who he hated more; the company of Kairi, or the thought of Sora.
"Kairi, this is suppose to be a romantic outing. We don't need a fifth wheel," he murmured as he placed his hand on her shoulder, forcing himself to make eye contact. Her wide, innocent eyes briefly revealed suspicion before her expression shadowed concern.
"But.. We haven't had Sora with us for nearly three months now, Riku... He probably thinks we hate him," she argued, mimicking a pout Riku had often witnessed on Sora's handsome face.
'If only he knew we did,' Riku thought bitterly. And despite Kairi's inquiring gaze, he felt no need to further explain himself. If she longed for him as much as she reminded him she did, which was every few hours of his bloody day, then she should have at least agreed. Or nod. Nodding would have been nice; then he wouldn't have to listen to her speak.
"Listen Kairi. I've been enjoying our time together, just you and me. And I don't want Sora to.. interrupt our further development in our relationship," he explained calmly, a wave of triumphant washing over him as the idea finally seemed to dawn upon the young damsel. He had never thought of himself as a poet, but when it came to Kairi, and her silly puppy love, he was her Shakespeare among the Edgar Allen Poe's of society.
He allowed her to consider his proposal as he turned, walking toward the door that lead to the next area, where their pathetic excuse for a raft once had been docked.
"Besides, I don't want him to come," he admitted, voice iced with honesty, dismissing her to watch his leave. It was fine with him; she could at least know Riku didn't want anything to do with the other boy, but she wouldn't be permitted to ask nosy, annoying questions. She was already a nuisance as it is, and her days with him were numbered.
She followed him, her pace slow and lacking her usual grace, though he felt her hesitate for a brief moment. Likely to bid a farewell glance toward his former companion. He wasn't about to stop her; Sora had said he wanted Riku to be with Kairi. But Riku had never agreed he would like the arrangements; yet it concerned him the girl hadn't noticed his dislike toward her quite yet.
Riku wasn't in the mood to find anyone remotely interesting. Especially not the two of them. But Kairi did prove useful, in her own various ways. A grim smile touched his lips.
"What's going on between you two?" Kairi asked, abruptly, unaware of the cruel grin her boyfriend had been wearing.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Kairi," he replied, turning to face her. She searched his face thoughtfully, her disbelief apparent in her subtle features.
"I don't believe you, Riku. You're lying," she declared, stepping toward him. "What are you hiding?" She reached forward, gripping his arm gently, eyes demanding for the truth. Eyes that reminded him of Sora.
He pulled his arm from her grasp, stepping away from her in case she was unable to resist the urge of tackling him. She was known to be spontaneous.
"Kairi, is it your place or concern of who I choose to socialize with? Right now I don't want to be around, be seen, or even think about Sora. I would hope you could respect that," he growled lightly, pleased to witness a wave of horror sweep over her face.
"But Riku.. He's our friend, he shouldn't be discluded like this. For the past few weeks or so, every time I mentioned him, you'd either snap or snarl at me. So obviously there's something going on between the two of you; I've seen it in his eyes," she responded quietly, brow drawn together. "What did you do to him?" He glared, directly toward her, clenching his fists with irritation. He hadn't done anything; he hadn't been the one who played with his heart, then threw it back in his face as if saying, 'you're not good enough for me.'
"It's not what I did, Kairi. It's what he did," he corrected numbly, aware of the sudden flutter of his heart. It still pained him, these days, of what Sora had done. It didn't matter how far he pushed the situation toward the back of his mind, trying to convince himself he was better this way; he knew he wasn't. He wasn't happy with Kairi, but he doubted he could be happy with Sora.
Yet the thought of Sora's unhappiness wasn't appealing either.
"Riku.. Please, will you at least speak to him? I know you may not want to, but I'm sure it'll mean so much to him. Just talk to him," she pleaded. "For me." Riku hesitated, privately considering her plea. He searched her face, expecting to find traces of betrayal, or something that would declare she knew the truth. But it was empty except for deep sorrow, and the half- mast droop of her eyelids.
"If I do, will you stop pestering me about it?" he asked; she gave a vivacious nod. Sighing in defeat, he peered around her to the door, then back, a frown present on his lips. Then briskly, he walked by her, allowing their shoulders to bump only slightly.
"Fine.. I'll be back shortly," he promised, pushing through the door and leaving Kairi to dance within her private triumph.
***
Sora's tears had ceased to fall shortly after Riku's and Kairi's departure, blissfully unaware of the argument they were currently having as he made his way toward the secret cavern. But he paused at the entrance, his vision swimming before him, and he had to lean against the nearby wall to keep from collapsing. He waited for it to past, glancing to the small doorway, then glanced toward the oasis.
Once, long ago, he and Riku had discovered an opening behind the waterfall. But due to it's height and their lack of a growth spurt, they had to muse over the cave's entrance for a number of days before they completed the puzzle.
He dropped into the shallow water, making his way behind the waterfall, blindly searching with his fingertips for the same opening. Upon finding it, he hoisted himself up into the mouth, momentary confusion washing over him to it's lower location. As a child, it had been a chore to climb into, yet he had managed without a struggle a moment or so ago. Then it dawned on him; he had been no taller than three or so feet then, now he was rounding nearly six.
Musing over his midget proportions, Sora crawled to the opposite end of the tunnel, stepping out into the lush wild-life he was sure had been destroyed. He was surrounded by the white crash of a larger waterfall nearby, the path he stood on extending through it to the opposite bank, and to a large pool of water beneath it. It had been his and Riku's favorite swimming hole, especially when they had desired solitude from the others, and it surprised him the other children hadn't discovered it.
But he felt at ease with the thought it was still his and Riku's private sanctuary as he made his way through the tall brush, following a familiar path. He paused briefly to the fall of the waterfall, brushing his hand through it's icy sheet before he placed himself beneath it.
The cool water washed over his aching figure, increasing the pain momentarily before he felt his limbs numb. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head, enjoying the sensation; he wanted the falls to clean away his thoughts, his memories, and his pain. He could sit there for hours, allowing himself to drown in complete bliss, emotionless and oblivious to what would wake around him once he left.
But he knew better; even if he remained here, his mind would still linger on Kairi and Riku; there was no escaping the mess he had caused. And he knew there would be no escaping Riku, either. But irony is funny like that.
"I knew I'd find you here."
***
After-note: ^^; Riku's hate for Kairi is because of the rejected feeling he has from Sora; somehow he blames her for all the disappointment and trouble that's been caused.
And I apologize if the fic seemed dull. Chapter 3 was very difficult to write.
Preview for Chapter 4: Sora's been discovered! It's time to face the facts; Riku, angry and hurt that Sora would reject him, feels the need to put him in his place. But Sora will easily refuse as he knows the honest truth behind Riku's and Kairi's sudden relationship.
But will Riku ever know?
Chapter 4 of Meet Me at Midnight, shall be posted soon!
Warning: This fic at one point will contain explicit yaoi [in later chapters]. If you are offended by shounen-ai or yaoi, I do not suggest you read any further; I rather not be flamed for your stupidity.
Note: Sora and Kairi are 18 years of age, and Riku is 19. They are or will be on Destiny Islands. This fic will unfortunately be parted by chapters; be prepared for angst, denial and what not.
***
Sora had no intentions in remaining on Destiny Islands. But the days rolled into weeks, drawn by the warm summer breeze that surrounded the cozy location with a frightening familiarity. So he housed with a neighbor, and an old family friend, welcomed into their home with nothing but polite glances.
And in his dreams, he was plagued. He'd toss and turn in his slumber, body already drowning in a cold sweat, fighting off the demons of his conscience and memories. But the struggle was futile; everything that held meaning to him was slipping through his fingertips, pulled by the hasted sands of time.
Then he would wake, startled from his light rest, never managing to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep as he often prayed for before crawling into the foreign bed. He'd roll to the floor, breaking the suffocating knot that allowed him to still linger in his dreams. Frequently, he'd discover fresh tears coating his cheeks, or the drying streams that reminded him of their previous presence. It concerned him, of their common visits through the evening; and no amount of searching his mind could direct him toward an explanation to why he had been crying.
But he had a vague idea; the very thing that had tore his heart in two, crushed his spirit and sucked the very life from him. And so, after each night of waking, Sora would climb onto the bed, and gaze fondly out the window. He would admire the painted horizon, listening to the quiet melody of the ocean, and watch the foamy, aqua depths whisper against the white sands. The same aqua waves that reminded him of an ache that still plucked his heart-strings.
Shortly after Sora's previous encounter with Riku, he had decided it would be best to avoid Kairi and Riku. But as his first plan didn't cooperate with his wishes, neither had his second. And being as Destiny Islands was a very compressed location, Sora soon grew familiar with the fact avoiding people was a lot more difficult than he had realized.
And increasingly more painful with each meeting.
The situation soon became a daily process, and Sora was beginning to consider remaining within the sanctuary of his neighbor's home until he felt the need to leave. But he knew, under no circumstances, would the family friend allow him to do so, which left only one other option available to the dear, broken-hearted boy: Distraction.
"Good morning, Mrs. Domier," Sora greeted as he slowly descended the stairway, ignoring the increasing ache of his lower back. Each night of slumber always seemed to bring a new pain to his fragile figure, despite his frequent rotation of positions.
"You're up early, Sora," Mrs. Domier remarked from the kitchen sink, a handsome elderly woman nearly crippled from old age. But her disability hardly bittered her kind and gentle personality, despite the personal belief of those who failed to familiarize themselves with her; people always were afraid of what they didn't quite understand. Like love, for instance.
"Early bird catches the worm," he replied as he seated himself on a wooden chair near the window, catching the faint fragrance of an ocean breeze tumbling through at dawn. The furthest corners of the horizon were already a pale shade of blue, spreading toward the orange and yellow glow where the horizon swam within the sea. He admired the view thoughtfully, before regarding the elderly woman, and forced a smile. She returned it, seating herself across from him and laid the rag she carried on the table-top.
"I've lived here for seventy-five years, and still am breathless at the beauty of the sunrise," she murmured, crow-feet eyes twinkling with dreams she yearned to remember. Her expression melted into something Sora didn't recognize, but he assumed she was lost deep within her thoughts.
'I wonder what it's like...' he mused absently before he stood, and quietly crept toward the door.
"I'm going to gather some coconuts, Mrs. Domier. I'll be home before noon to help with the house-work," he obliged, and disappeared through the leather flap, allowing it to fall noiselessly behind him. He had noticed, during the earliest hours of the morning, the elderly woman would be seated at the wood-stove, staring into her own, private oblivion. He had thought to wake her from the trance a number of times, but he never was able to bring himself to do such. He imagined, where she must have been, she was better off.
Sora listened to his quiet footfalls against the wooden ramp as he crossed toward small shack near the oasis. He felt at ease with the deafening silence around him, the seagulls long from their time when they would wake, and call 'mine' without skipping a beat.
Mutely, he allowed his feet to carry him to the island, where he paused, hesitant to set foot on the almost sacred ground. His gaze drifted to where he had sat what felt like yesterday, dreading Riku's visit when he should have been erupting with excitement. His brow furrowed, recalling the bewilderment of Riku's face, his change in tone, his fury...
But it was behind him, there was nothing he could do that would change it. He had destroyed something beautiful for the sake of another, for the sake of a girl who he had once thought to love him, instead of Riku... But it hardly mattered to him now who she loved, or who Riku loved.
Or at least he kept telling himself that. Even if it didn't make it any easier to accept.
"Sora!" He cringed to the call of his name, making a silent prayer to whatever omniscient being there is that it wouldn't be who he thought as he turned, witnessing Kairi's over-exaggerated wave. Riku stood nearly at her elbow, his glare blazing with ice as he directed his attention as well, toward the keyblade master.
Trying not to look at him, Sora returned the gesture, forcing a frail smile upon his lips. But he couldn't bring himself to speak; suddenly his tongue felt heavy inside his mouth, his throat raw and dry.
"Sora! Hey Sora! Riku and I are going to go explore the far-side of the island! Would you care to come?" she offered, then glanced suddenly to Riku as he placed his hand on her shoulder. He murmured something to her, expression thick with dislike, but kept his aqua gaze locked to hers. From the distance, Sora couldn't decipher what was being said, though hardly doubted he wanted to know.
Kairi turned back to Sora, considering a thought before replying to what Riku had said, seeming to disagree. Sora watched without amusement as the two conversed beneath their breath, the idea of leaving crossing the boy's mind. It would solve either's problem: He wouldn't have to disappoint Kairi, and Riku wouldn't be irritated by his presence. Both would luck out.
Whatever they had been discussion came to an abrupt end, as Riku turned and departed through the doorway Kairi had guarded with her life what felt like eons before. She watched him leave, before offering a sad glance toward the chocolate youth, and walked slowly after him. Defeat had been accomplished, but was hardly triumphant.
As she left him as well, Sora felt a tug of anger toward the two. It was obvious neither had told the other of what they had asked of their former friend, and the bonds were still untied because of such dishonesty. But he knew he couldn't force them to share their deep, dark secrets with their recently discovered love. It would be their sin to bear, and their sin to carry. He shouldn't have let it rest so uneasy on his heart.
Turning, he knelt by a fallen coconut, lifting it gingerly from the ground and inspected it's ripe, lime color. Evenly weighed in his hand, he balanced it carefully as he stood, cradling it between his palms. A seagull cried from nearby, circling where he stood before it flew off toward the trees near the shore, instead of having to beat it's wings helplessly where air currents hardly thrived.
'I wish I could fly.. Just fly away from all my problems...' A tear slid across his cheek, a lone traveler as it fell against the coconut's shell. He felt near his breaking point, unable to with-stand against the constant aches, the remaining pains, the haunting memories. Drawing back his arm, the coconut became airborne as it sailed toward the ocean, landing with a heavy splash as Sora dropped to his knees, arms around his slender torso. He bowed, his forehead against the smooth, cold, forgiving grass.
And he wept. He wept as he did the day he and Riku ceased to be one, ceased to be anything. And it felt good, the tears pouring freely from the long bottled anger, rejection, desperation, disappointment, and most importantly, loneliness he had kept tucked away, in the darkest depth of his heart.
And for the first time in what had been ages, Sora truly felt alone.
***
Riku had woke that morning with the remains of a horrible headache. Each wasted moment he spent with Kairi was draining him physically, mentally and emotionally. He only wondered how much longer he could stand the torment of her enthusiasm.
They had discussed plans that morning to "explore" bits of Destiny Islands they never dared to as children. But Riku hadn't been so cowardly, and before Kairi had arrived, him and Sora would frequently scale the island, despite what the elders would warn.
'Sora...' The name was sour within his mind, causing him to glare absently as if a thought of disgust had lingered too long and too often; and maybe in its own way, it had. It had only been ironic that they bumped into each other every day or so, twice if he was unlucky. And today was no different.
Riku noticed Sora's stationary figure on the separated island, no doubt day- dreaming in the small, immature fragment of his mind, before Kairi did. But as she did acknowledge his presence, she called to him, describing her and Riku's plans in a manner only a woman could, and he fought the sudden urge to slap her. She didn't know of Riku's and Sora's past disagreement, nor did he have any intentions of allowing her in on his private humiliation, but her stupidity to him was amazing.
He didn't know who he hated more; the company of Kairi, or the thought of Sora.
"Kairi, this is suppose to be a romantic outing. We don't need a fifth wheel," he murmured as he placed his hand on her shoulder, forcing himself to make eye contact. Her wide, innocent eyes briefly revealed suspicion before her expression shadowed concern.
"But.. We haven't had Sora with us for nearly three months now, Riku... He probably thinks we hate him," she argued, mimicking a pout Riku had often witnessed on Sora's handsome face.
'If only he knew we did,' Riku thought bitterly. And despite Kairi's inquiring gaze, he felt no need to further explain himself. If she longed for him as much as she reminded him she did, which was every few hours of his bloody day, then she should have at least agreed. Or nod. Nodding would have been nice; then he wouldn't have to listen to her speak.
"Listen Kairi. I've been enjoying our time together, just you and me. And I don't want Sora to.. interrupt our further development in our relationship," he explained calmly, a wave of triumphant washing over him as the idea finally seemed to dawn upon the young damsel. He had never thought of himself as a poet, but when it came to Kairi, and her silly puppy love, he was her Shakespeare among the Edgar Allen Poe's of society.
He allowed her to consider his proposal as he turned, walking toward the door that lead to the next area, where their pathetic excuse for a raft once had been docked.
"Besides, I don't want him to come," he admitted, voice iced with honesty, dismissing her to watch his leave. It was fine with him; she could at least know Riku didn't want anything to do with the other boy, but she wouldn't be permitted to ask nosy, annoying questions. She was already a nuisance as it is, and her days with him were numbered.
She followed him, her pace slow and lacking her usual grace, though he felt her hesitate for a brief moment. Likely to bid a farewell glance toward his former companion. He wasn't about to stop her; Sora had said he wanted Riku to be with Kairi. But Riku had never agreed he would like the arrangements; yet it concerned him the girl hadn't noticed his dislike toward her quite yet.
Riku wasn't in the mood to find anyone remotely interesting. Especially not the two of them. But Kairi did prove useful, in her own various ways. A grim smile touched his lips.
"What's going on between you two?" Kairi asked, abruptly, unaware of the cruel grin her boyfriend had been wearing.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Kairi," he replied, turning to face her. She searched his face thoughtfully, her disbelief apparent in her subtle features.
"I don't believe you, Riku. You're lying," she declared, stepping toward him. "What are you hiding?" She reached forward, gripping his arm gently, eyes demanding for the truth. Eyes that reminded him of Sora.
He pulled his arm from her grasp, stepping away from her in case she was unable to resist the urge of tackling him. She was known to be spontaneous.
"Kairi, is it your place or concern of who I choose to socialize with? Right now I don't want to be around, be seen, or even think about Sora. I would hope you could respect that," he growled lightly, pleased to witness a wave of horror sweep over her face.
"But Riku.. He's our friend, he shouldn't be discluded like this. For the past few weeks or so, every time I mentioned him, you'd either snap or snarl at me. So obviously there's something going on between the two of you; I've seen it in his eyes," she responded quietly, brow drawn together. "What did you do to him?" He glared, directly toward her, clenching his fists with irritation. He hadn't done anything; he hadn't been the one who played with his heart, then threw it back in his face as if saying, 'you're not good enough for me.'
"It's not what I did, Kairi. It's what he did," he corrected numbly, aware of the sudden flutter of his heart. It still pained him, these days, of what Sora had done. It didn't matter how far he pushed the situation toward the back of his mind, trying to convince himself he was better this way; he knew he wasn't. He wasn't happy with Kairi, but he doubted he could be happy with Sora.
Yet the thought of Sora's unhappiness wasn't appealing either.
"Riku.. Please, will you at least speak to him? I know you may not want to, but I'm sure it'll mean so much to him. Just talk to him," she pleaded. "For me." Riku hesitated, privately considering her plea. He searched her face, expecting to find traces of betrayal, or something that would declare she knew the truth. But it was empty except for deep sorrow, and the half- mast droop of her eyelids.
"If I do, will you stop pestering me about it?" he asked; she gave a vivacious nod. Sighing in defeat, he peered around her to the door, then back, a frown present on his lips. Then briskly, he walked by her, allowing their shoulders to bump only slightly.
"Fine.. I'll be back shortly," he promised, pushing through the door and leaving Kairi to dance within her private triumph.
***
Sora's tears had ceased to fall shortly after Riku's and Kairi's departure, blissfully unaware of the argument they were currently having as he made his way toward the secret cavern. But he paused at the entrance, his vision swimming before him, and he had to lean against the nearby wall to keep from collapsing. He waited for it to past, glancing to the small doorway, then glanced toward the oasis.
Once, long ago, he and Riku had discovered an opening behind the waterfall. But due to it's height and their lack of a growth spurt, they had to muse over the cave's entrance for a number of days before they completed the puzzle.
He dropped into the shallow water, making his way behind the waterfall, blindly searching with his fingertips for the same opening. Upon finding it, he hoisted himself up into the mouth, momentary confusion washing over him to it's lower location. As a child, it had been a chore to climb into, yet he had managed without a struggle a moment or so ago. Then it dawned on him; he had been no taller than three or so feet then, now he was rounding nearly six.
Musing over his midget proportions, Sora crawled to the opposite end of the tunnel, stepping out into the lush wild-life he was sure had been destroyed. He was surrounded by the white crash of a larger waterfall nearby, the path he stood on extending through it to the opposite bank, and to a large pool of water beneath it. It had been his and Riku's favorite swimming hole, especially when they had desired solitude from the others, and it surprised him the other children hadn't discovered it.
But he felt at ease with the thought it was still his and Riku's private sanctuary as he made his way through the tall brush, following a familiar path. He paused briefly to the fall of the waterfall, brushing his hand through it's icy sheet before he placed himself beneath it.
The cool water washed over his aching figure, increasing the pain momentarily before he felt his limbs numb. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head, enjoying the sensation; he wanted the falls to clean away his thoughts, his memories, and his pain. He could sit there for hours, allowing himself to drown in complete bliss, emotionless and oblivious to what would wake around him once he left.
But he knew better; even if he remained here, his mind would still linger on Kairi and Riku; there was no escaping the mess he had caused. And he knew there would be no escaping Riku, either. But irony is funny like that.
"I knew I'd find you here."
***
After-note: ^^; Riku's hate for Kairi is because of the rejected feeling he has from Sora; somehow he blames her for all the disappointment and trouble that's been caused.
And I apologize if the fic seemed dull. Chapter 3 was very difficult to write.
Preview for Chapter 4: Sora's been discovered! It's time to face the facts; Riku, angry and hurt that Sora would reject him, feels the need to put him in his place. But Sora will easily refuse as he knows the honest truth behind Riku's and Kairi's sudden relationship.
But will Riku ever know?
Chapter 4 of Meet Me at Midnight, shall be posted soon!