*******
Wednesday and Thursday wore by, as Sora, Selphie and I visited Riku every day after school. On Thursday the doctors said that he could finally go home. This was all very good because we knew that just one night in his own bed would do him a world of good.
The story about his dad seemed to travel far and took a few turns for the worst. Horrible rumors were going around that his dad was abusive. Of course we all knew that Riku's dad was really a nice guy, he just had a bad drinking problem. His mom put him on a program that's part of the hospital, but courts gave him a restraining order that he couldn't come with in a certain mile of Riku, or his wife. It was kind of sad to see him go, because Riku did forgive him. Riku's mom, however, filed for a divorce a while back and finally got him to sign for it. I guess all of this emotional stress in all but two days was a little much for Riku to handle. That night Sora and I just took him down to the beach to try and get his mind off of things. We knew that above all of the crap the three of us were going through, Riku was tumbling down the hill the fastest and we all knew that once he hit the bottom then it would be unlikely for him to get back up again.
-Riku, I'm so sorry, is all I can manage to say as the three of us sat at the edge of the dock on the small island. I watched as the liquid blue sea slowly morphed into a black hole.
-Don't be, it's not your fault. He replied. I felt so bad for him, how could he take all of this? I mean, I'd be crying non-stop if this were ever to happen to me. I'd be so depressed that I wouldn't even be able to talk. I'd probably become mute and lock myself in my room forever. But Riku didn't even complain, didn't shed so much as a single tear. He had put up his shield and I found it to be especially difficult to break through.
-Well, I just want to make sure that you don't think that it's your fault either.
-I don't.
-Good, I said. Now to talk about something different, something happy, something that wasn't going to make us more depressed than we already were.
-Ever wonder what life would be like if we could start all over? Sora randomly questioned. Hmmm, it didn't seem like a too depressing topic.
-Yeah, I guess everyone does. I replied. I know that I sure did. I've already planned out everything that I would do differently if that ever were to happen.
-I never really thought about it, besides, I wouldn't do anything differently. Riku responded. -I guess I just rather think about the future, and what lies out there, beyond this island. I can't help but feel that it's like a tiny prison, that there is so much more out there that I'm forbidden to see because, I'm stuck, here.
-But I thought you liked it here. I questioned.
-Really, the only thing I like about it is having such great friends like you two. If it wasn't for you guys then I don't know where I'd be. Riku answered.
-Probably face down in a ditch, Sora snorted. I elbowed him in the arm.
Riku smiled, -Who knows. I just want to leave. I want to go out and explore, see other worlds, different places, meet new people. I want to see what life is like off of this island. To see if magic really does exist, to be able to just be free and not care. I want a life where you can just live. That was deep. I sighed in agreement. I think that's all everyone wants, except for me of course.
-I don't really care where I am, just as long as you two are always there by my side, I'll be good. I smiled as I splashed my feet into the water, making tiny ripples in the motionless sea. -What do you think Sora? I mean, you were the one who brought it up.
Sora looked over at me, either deep in thought or about to jump. -I think someday we'll see. Someday the three of us will get out and suddenly we'll be so sick of each other we'll want to go home and get away. You know? Of course everyone's dream is too escape, but once you've escaped and you've realized what being alone is all about, you want to go back, you miss the memories. No one wants to stay out there forever because here, this island is the single place in the entire universe I think that we belong. This is truly the one home I'll ever have and I don't think that I could bear to live without it forever.
-Yeah, I think I know what you mean. Sora smiled at me and I smiled back. This really was home. -But whatever adventures we go on, with or without each other, I know that the three of us will always be right here. So if we ever need a shoulder or a friend, just look.
-Yeah, that's why they call it Destiny Island, right? Because each of our Destiny's, no matter how off track they get, they will always manage to lead us back here, where we started. After all, we'd at least know where to find each other. Said Riku. The three of us smiled, overwhelmed by a sudden tinge of fluffiness.
-So we'll always be together, no matter what. Said Sora.
-Forever,
-And a day. Because you always need that extra day, you know, to say goodbye and stuff. Riku smiled as Sora and I smiled back. The three of us headed home walking on a lighter cloud that night. Though the rain hadn't stopped coming since Tuesday, I felt it clear up a little, as it turned into a gentle mist. A calming mist that sifted slightly through you. It wasn't all that cold today, but it felt nice as the two of them wrapped an arm around each of my shoulders giving me a warm and thoughtful sense of protection. Some how I felt that whenever either of them was around me that nothing could hurt me, nothing could tear us apart, we were one and that was the way it should stay. This, right now, is how life should be forever. and a day.
*******
(A/N) Sorry, couldn't resist. Besides, you haven't heard my thoughts regarding my story for a while! Man, that chapter was a load of 'Dicey'! (Read my Bio, you may understand). I think that was fluffier than chapter three, Starting Over. Okay, I needed to load this one up with extra fluff because of what is coming up. I'll just warn you that 'Adrienne' is about to take her gifted sense of angst and turn it into mega angst like you have never seen before! And I'll tell you, it should last for another, oh, say three to four chapters. But don't worry, she's almost done. (the story that is). And it brings a tear to my eye because I have had so much fun with this one! I mean, it's my baby and it has slowly grown up into my best friend. I think I'll name her Sebastien, good Sebby, please don't end soon because 'Dicey' isn't happy. the lack of fluffiness is making her break out with acne. Well, this A/N has thus made up for the lack there of from the last few chapters. Enjoy and take care of yourselves now, you hear?
~ *Always* Lei ^_^ (Your beloved author extraordinaire)
Wednesday and Thursday wore by, as Sora, Selphie and I visited Riku every day after school. On Thursday the doctors said that he could finally go home. This was all very good because we knew that just one night in his own bed would do him a world of good.
The story about his dad seemed to travel far and took a few turns for the worst. Horrible rumors were going around that his dad was abusive. Of course we all knew that Riku's dad was really a nice guy, he just had a bad drinking problem. His mom put him on a program that's part of the hospital, but courts gave him a restraining order that he couldn't come with in a certain mile of Riku, or his wife. It was kind of sad to see him go, because Riku did forgive him. Riku's mom, however, filed for a divorce a while back and finally got him to sign for it. I guess all of this emotional stress in all but two days was a little much for Riku to handle. That night Sora and I just took him down to the beach to try and get his mind off of things. We knew that above all of the crap the three of us were going through, Riku was tumbling down the hill the fastest and we all knew that once he hit the bottom then it would be unlikely for him to get back up again.
-Riku, I'm so sorry, is all I can manage to say as the three of us sat at the edge of the dock on the small island. I watched as the liquid blue sea slowly morphed into a black hole.
-Don't be, it's not your fault. He replied. I felt so bad for him, how could he take all of this? I mean, I'd be crying non-stop if this were ever to happen to me. I'd be so depressed that I wouldn't even be able to talk. I'd probably become mute and lock myself in my room forever. But Riku didn't even complain, didn't shed so much as a single tear. He had put up his shield and I found it to be especially difficult to break through.
-Well, I just want to make sure that you don't think that it's your fault either.
-I don't.
-Good, I said. Now to talk about something different, something happy, something that wasn't going to make us more depressed than we already were.
-Ever wonder what life would be like if we could start all over? Sora randomly questioned. Hmmm, it didn't seem like a too depressing topic.
-Yeah, I guess everyone does. I replied. I know that I sure did. I've already planned out everything that I would do differently if that ever were to happen.
-I never really thought about it, besides, I wouldn't do anything differently. Riku responded. -I guess I just rather think about the future, and what lies out there, beyond this island. I can't help but feel that it's like a tiny prison, that there is so much more out there that I'm forbidden to see because, I'm stuck, here.
-But I thought you liked it here. I questioned.
-Really, the only thing I like about it is having such great friends like you two. If it wasn't for you guys then I don't know where I'd be. Riku answered.
-Probably face down in a ditch, Sora snorted. I elbowed him in the arm.
Riku smiled, -Who knows. I just want to leave. I want to go out and explore, see other worlds, different places, meet new people. I want to see what life is like off of this island. To see if magic really does exist, to be able to just be free and not care. I want a life where you can just live. That was deep. I sighed in agreement. I think that's all everyone wants, except for me of course.
-I don't really care where I am, just as long as you two are always there by my side, I'll be good. I smiled as I splashed my feet into the water, making tiny ripples in the motionless sea. -What do you think Sora? I mean, you were the one who brought it up.
Sora looked over at me, either deep in thought or about to jump. -I think someday we'll see. Someday the three of us will get out and suddenly we'll be so sick of each other we'll want to go home and get away. You know? Of course everyone's dream is too escape, but once you've escaped and you've realized what being alone is all about, you want to go back, you miss the memories. No one wants to stay out there forever because here, this island is the single place in the entire universe I think that we belong. This is truly the one home I'll ever have and I don't think that I could bear to live without it forever.
-Yeah, I think I know what you mean. Sora smiled at me and I smiled back. This really was home. -But whatever adventures we go on, with or without each other, I know that the three of us will always be right here. So if we ever need a shoulder or a friend, just look.
-Yeah, that's why they call it Destiny Island, right? Because each of our Destiny's, no matter how off track they get, they will always manage to lead us back here, where we started. After all, we'd at least know where to find each other. Said Riku. The three of us smiled, overwhelmed by a sudden tinge of fluffiness.
-So we'll always be together, no matter what. Said Sora.
-Forever,
-And a day. Because you always need that extra day, you know, to say goodbye and stuff. Riku smiled as Sora and I smiled back. The three of us headed home walking on a lighter cloud that night. Though the rain hadn't stopped coming since Tuesday, I felt it clear up a little, as it turned into a gentle mist. A calming mist that sifted slightly through you. It wasn't all that cold today, but it felt nice as the two of them wrapped an arm around each of my shoulders giving me a warm and thoughtful sense of protection. Some how I felt that whenever either of them was around me that nothing could hurt me, nothing could tear us apart, we were one and that was the way it should stay. This, right now, is how life should be forever. and a day.
*******
(A/N) Sorry, couldn't resist. Besides, you haven't heard my thoughts regarding my story for a while! Man, that chapter was a load of 'Dicey'! (Read my Bio, you may understand). I think that was fluffier than chapter three, Starting Over. Okay, I needed to load this one up with extra fluff because of what is coming up. I'll just warn you that 'Adrienne' is about to take her gifted sense of angst and turn it into mega angst like you have never seen before! And I'll tell you, it should last for another, oh, say three to four chapters. But don't worry, she's almost done. (the story that is). And it brings a tear to my eye because I have had so much fun with this one! I mean, it's my baby and it has slowly grown up into my best friend. I think I'll name her Sebastien, good Sebby, please don't end soon because 'Dicey' isn't happy. the lack of fluffiness is making her break out with acne. Well, this A/N has thus made up for the lack there of from the last few chapters. Enjoy and take care of yourselves now, you hear?
~ *Always* Lei ^_^ (Your beloved author extraordinaire)
