Chapter V
Perplexity
Point of View: Riku
Written by: Aniiston (Chapter V)
I can hear the clock ticking in the distance; each hand slowly following the beat of time. One by one the time flows by, gradually turning to hours, which turn to days. I sit here, upon the bed of my best friend, watching her sleep so peacefully. Her breathing is silent, and with her chest levitating and decreasing slightly, she continued on in her serene slumber.
So gorgeous...
Sleep has once again left me, and I no longer felt the need to commit such an act. The slumber took me for a mere 15 minutes, before I could hardly stand the restlessness of it all. And so I find myself here, sitting upon the edge of the bed my beautiful friend resides in. In sleep she is so lovely...an angel inside Hell. But there is no knight to save her, for the chains of the darkness have enveloped her easily.
I could see it; anyone could. It wasn't to the point of obvious, though I had known her for so long it was relatively easy. Her mood was darker. For the hour I had actually spoken with the girl, her thoughts were dismal; her attitude was solemn. This world has done what few could: demolish the light that lay inside this young woman's soul.
When I had first seen her, so many things shattered; so many emotions filled my mind, weighing me to the dying floor. Kairi...She was here. My best friend, one of my best friends, was here with me. I had a friend. She was with me now and I will not lose her. Not to the darkness, nor to anything else. The woman I had been in love with four years ago lay in front of me, still as the night air.
I glanced at the clock, much enthusiasm subtracted from my expression. Two in the morning. I had been observing Kairi for the last few hours, watching her still body. Her house, like mine, was neat, though I could tell it was only because of simple loneliness. My home was clean for I wish not to act as though these inhabitants do, and I believe Kairi thought that same thing.
Movement.
Stirring. My heart stopped as my eyes locked upon Kairi's face, watching as her eyes tightened and her body stretched. She yawned, bringing her hand to her mouth, and awakening for the first time in hours. Outstretching her arms, she sat up, rubbing her crystal blue eyes and blinking multiple times. Turing to me, she looked quite surprised.
For a moment, we only stared at one another, my blue, almost aqua eyes meeting hers. If you've ever truly gazed into Kairi's eyes, without any disruption around, it's almost like becoming lost in a gem. Her eyes are something mysterious, so beautiful all on their own. And once again I found myself falling for this young woman.
I broke our gaze.
Kairi smiled at me, combing her hands through her no longer braided hair and threw her legs over the side of the bed. We stood close to one another, and she stretched again, motioning for me to follow her. I obeyed, and soon found myself in the doorway of her kitchen, watching as she began pouring heated water into two mugs. Almost instantly did she begin adding tea pouches, stirring it thoroughly. With an outstretched hand, I gladly took the warm drink.
Once again, Kairi smiled at me, and made her way towards the sofa where we both sat down. I looked at her, and averted my gaze to the floor.
"Not tired?"
I looked at her, surprised. "…Not really."
Kairi nodded, sipping her tea. We sat in silence for the next ten minutes, both of us trying our best to make light conversation, for our discussion hours before left quite a burden riding upon our shoulders. I, in turn, took a sip of my tea, enjoying the feel of warmth trickle down my throat, for it rarely happened. And that was when I found myself staring into her eyes again. Kairi had gotten so radiant…and had lost her delightful attire long ago.
Now she plainly wore black shorts, with a raven sweatshirt and socks. The absence of light colors did not startle me, for everyone in the world wore dark attire. I preferred it, for I blended into the shadows far easier. I averted my gaze to my drink, following the ceiling, and finally settling upon Kairi once again. I spoke.
"Would you live with me?"
She nodded.
"Thank you."
Kairi smiled softly, sipping her tea for the second time. I watched her with cold eyes, and finished my drink, setting it lightly upon the glass table that lay in front of me. Silence filled the room.
"Riku?"
"Yeah?"
Her gaze rested upon the pure glass that could only be called a window. With softened eyes, her lips pursed, and her hands folded neatly, she spoke:
"I missed you."
I stood up and moved beside her, wrapping an arm around her delicate shoulder. "I missed you, too." It was at that moment that I realized Kairi didn't like being touched. I could feel her slightly shift uncomfortably under my simple contact, and I quickly removed my arm. Though all it did was create an urge to hold the young woman tighter. It had been so long…She needed time. Though why didn't I need any?
For the past four years I did my best not to think of Kairi, though now once she has appeared in my life, I feel motivated to sweep her into my arms. It's a dull pain and sharp emotion; something one tries to avoid, though I have never been good at avoiding things.
Meow…
I moved my feet slightly to see the stupid white cat crawling around upon the floor, attacking invisible dust rodents. I snorted. "So where'd you manage to pick that thing up?"
Kairi smiled. "I take it you're not exactly friends with Keiko?"
"No. And I still don't get why you named it that."
My beautiful best friend rolled her eyes. "And what, dare I ask, did you call the poor thing?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, thinking. "Actually, I called her 'thing of fur' a lot. That was pretty much it." Well it was true. I didn't want to name something I had a good chance of eating.
I heard Kairi laugh as the small kitten pounced upon her lap, curling up and resting. "She's been with me since I first came here."
"Are you sure? Shouldn't she be an adult by now?"
"I noticed that as well, but Keiko doesn't age. She's stayed a kitten ever sense I found her."
I sat back, content with my answer, though I didn't feel the least bit tired. And when Kairi asked why, I lied, saying I slept too much. Humph. Slept too much. Yeah right. And here I was trying to get sleep! But as an hour past, Kairi fell asleep upon her resting hand that propped her head up. Feeling obligated, I carried her to her bed and tucked her in.
And once again, began observing the lovely young woman.
~*~
I had fallen asleep an hour before I awoke, feeling rather drained of my energy as well as my thoughts. Today I would not fight the Heartless. For the first time in 4 years, I decided I would skip a day of slaughtering the evil fiends; though that meant lives would be taken. But there was nothing I could do. I couldn't save every life in this lifeless city, despite how hard I tried.
Knocking upon Kairi's open door, she turned to me, small items in her handbag. "You finished?"
"I'm not bringing much."
"Fine."
I wanted Kairi to stay with me now until we found a way out of this terrible Hell. I needed her. No, I wanted her. Just the simple fact that she would be so near gave relief to me. Whether or not she knew it, she was saving me. Saving me from Nihility, as well as the silence. I flashed a quick reassuring smile at the woman, before leaving the room.
She walked out behind me.
And I saw the cat.
"No."
Her hands met her hips. "She's coming."
"Kairi…" I mumbled, running a hand through my hair.
Her expression changed to apologetic. "I promise she won't be an annoyance to you."
She already is an annoyance to me. I sighed, stuffing my hands inside my pockets. "Fine. But if you find her bones lying about, don't look at me."
She smiled. "Okay."
With my back to the girl, I mumbled: "Let's go."
It would surely take a good couple of hours to reach my home, though Kairi seemed to not mind in the least. But there was one thing I wasn't counting on, and even when I look back upon it, I feel immensely stupid. Kairi and I continued walking down the terrible flights of stairs, sparking my wonder of how she did this everyday. Not only was the trip tiring, it was quite dizzying. But then again I hadn't done this for four years.
Step after step...
Our of the corner of my eye, I saw Kairi place Keiko on the ground, paying greater attention to the items that lay in her hands—two potions, a blanket, a small pouch of various stones, and three candles. Cautiously, she began placing each one inside her pack, and swung it upon her shoulders, creating a sort 'back pack' effect. I smirked at her, and turned my attention back towards the stair.
I heard a screech, and before I had a chance to look down upon the descending step of the tall staircase, I had been tripped off, and was falling towards the ground. The staircase wound upward, staying close to the wall, leaving a huge gap in the center of the building, allowing items to fall freely towards the cement ground.
"Riku!" Kairi screamed, her hand out stretched as mounds of Heartless surrounded her.
I looked back at her before I felt a beam of wood intercept with my back, and I began tumbling faster towards to the ground. With the pain aching through my body, I regained my composure as best I could and caught onto a passing railing. In one swift motion, I swung my body over the railing, staggering down a set of stairs before crashing into a wall. Without having much time to halfway recover myself, I stood up, swaying slightly...and falling over.
I could hear Kairi screaming.
Before I realized what my body was doing, I was up on my feet, sprinting up the staircase as fast I humanly could. And if smoke could rise from one's feet, it certainly would be doing so now. My muscles ached, and I cursed myself for not being in better shape. With my adrenaline at its peek, I returned to the spot I had fallen from, to find Kairi gone as well as the Heartless. I choked.
The Heartless lay in front of me, or at least their blood and limbs did, completely mutilated. The smell was terrible and I found it odd that it was the first time I had noticed it. But my thoughts quickly changed as I thought of Kairi. Where was she? Had the Heartless taken her heart for the second time?
No!
I quickly averted my gaze over the short railing, straining my eyes for any sign of moment; any life form. None. Panic filled my body as I began descending the stairs once again, this time pushing myself past my limit. Though my body ached terribly, I thanked the Heavens nothing was broken, and continued down the endless flight of stairs. My heart was pounding and my lungs were as though fire had been ignited upon them.
Go...Come on...
When at last the last set of stairs had been descending, I stopped, breathing hard, and looked around. No one. Not one person was in my view. I ran behind a corner and looked through niches, hoping Kairi had the sense to hide. Quickly turning around, my shoulders shrugged in relief. Kairi lay against a wall, unconscious, her head slightly tilted.
I had no idea how she had gotten past all those Heartless alive, or how she ended up here so quickly, but I didn't care. She was still breathing! And as I quickly bundled her into my arms, never wanting to let her go, the white kitten known as Keiko meowed, for she had been sitting by Kairi obediently.
Come to think of it, now that I have taken a good look at Kairi, she was in perfect condition; not a single scratch on her lovely face.
What...
What had happened...?
I locked my eyes upon the feline once again.
And realized something was different about that cat...
