Silver Lining: Mutual Introduction

Author's note: I did not want to hurt Riku's pretty face but it is necessary if the story is to move on. Apologies for those who feel outraged that I got Sora to mar Riku's complexion. And sorry about what Selphie turns into. No regrets for doing so though. ^-^ 

Now onto the serious bit: If you are not a Sora/ Riku fan, you either stay away or get converted. This piece of fiction is set in an alternate reality/universe. In other words, everything but the characters (they might also be altered) is different from the original Kingdom Heart storyline. Many apologies for naughty thoughts, bad grammar and spelling because I just cannot be bothered to check my work beyond a cursory glance.

Disclaimer: None of the KH characters belong to me, they belong to those who spent their youth designing and developing them.

Selphie could not believe her eyes.

This little squirt just gave her beloved master a solid punch in the face! Not only did the porcupine head hurt her master, the maniac was also grinning away, as if the punch was intentional. The stranger had just gone too far and his outrageous behaviour ruffled Selphie's yellow feathers. She headed straight for the rude stranger and plunged face first into his shoulder.

Sora's sky blue eyes widened an inch as he saw a flash of yellow, which was followed by a sharp impact in his shoulder. He took a step back in pain and caught hold of the flapping 'thing' attacking him.

"Let go of me! You big bully! You brute!" Selphie squawked.

Surprised by hearing 'it' talking, Sora's grip loosened and Selphie immediately used the chance to wriggle out of Sora's clasp.

Riku was slightly shocked by Sora's sudden aggression. His pale skin turned red where the blow had struck but only momentarily. The bruise faded off as Sora fought off Selphie's rage.

"Selphie," said Riku, in a low voice, "Stop attacking him."

Selphie looked at her master in indignation, "He hit you!"

Cold blue eyes flashed in annoyance as Riku commanded, "Now."

Selphie had no choice but to stop. Her master's word was law.

Sora could not believe the dialogue he had just heard.

A talking canary?

Selphie shot Sora a black look with her now beady dark blue eyes. She flew over to a low hanging tree branch and perched cautiously upon it. From her sentinel view, she could see her master's lean back and the bewildered look plastered on Sora's face.

Riku flashed a smile at the confused stranger as he walked towards the shorter boy.

He had used a little bit of his power to turn Selphie into a canary. It was the price she had to pay in order to follow Riku around in the real realm. Riku alone was already eye-catching and he did not want to draw more attention to himself as it already is. With Selphie bouncing along besides him, more interest would be attracted. Thus, Selphie was turned into a bird so that she would not cause any unwanted trouble and act as Riku's spy now that she had the advantage of flight. Of course, Riku thought it would be interesting turning Selphie into bird and he did enjoy seeing the girl throw a fit when she woke up to find herself covered with bright yellow feathers.

Silver strands fell forward as Riku leaned down, he cold blue eyes holding Sora's gaze prisoner. Sora felt the blood rush to his face as Riku's overtly beautiful visage hovered just an inch away from his own heated one.

"Why did you hit me?" asked Riku in a soft drawl.

Sora blinked. He just wanted to goad Riku into a fight. If Riku was one of the assassins after him, Sora wanted to make sure he gets it over and done with. No point waiting for what you can get, thus Sora decided to take the initiative and get himself killed. He wanted to tell Riku that he had hit him because he did not like his face. Yet, under Riku's probing gaze, Sora could not bring himself to lie.

"I wanted to get your attention. And now you can kill me and be done with it," said Sora truthfully.

Eying Sora like a new play toy, Riku's eyes flashed in fascination.

After a moment of tensed silence, Riku asked, "May I ask why I would want to kill you?"

Sora took a step back in uncertainty. Isn't this guy out to get him for the treasure? Or is he just bluffing?

"You… you want my treasure… don't you?" stammered Sora.

From her perch, Selphie scoffed, "What kind of treasure can a barbarian like you have?"

"Silence, Selphie. Or next time you will be chirping." warned Riku.

"What…are… are you?" stuttered Sora as his clear blue gaze shifted to avoid Riku's sly eyes and turned his attention to the talking bird staring over the latter's broad shoulders.

Long tapered fingers reached out and firmly held Sora's chin. With a flick of his wrist, Riku tilted the brown haired boy's head back, forcing him to look up into his amused gaze. Sora felt the pale warmth from the tips of Riku's fingers graze his hot skin. He eyes fluttered in confusion before meeting the challenge in the sliver haired stranger's eyes.

Riku felt a surprising sense of satisfaction when the shorter boy finally dared to meet his eyes. His eyes, the clear blue of a mid-morning sky on a summer's day, reflected bewilderment and something deeper.

Keeping his voice deliberately soft but audible, Riku asked again, " Answer my question."

Sora felt compelled to answer, " I thought you are after my treasure and that you be able to kill me to get it."

Riku raised a brow, "You sound eager to be killed. Why?"

Sora turned away. Riku gently forced Sora to turn back to look at him. Sora started to chew on his bottom lip, wondering how he could avoid answering this persistent stranger.

"Well?"

Exasperated, Sora exclaimed, "Because I want to die!"

*

Riku's eyes narrowed. Was Heaven mocking him? Did they send this angel to torment him?

He let go of Sora's chin and turned around in a flash. All Sora saw was the flicker of silver against black. As he watched Riku leave without a word, Sora thought he would have sighed a sigh of relieve but instead of relaxing, he felt something within him tug at his heart. Without thinking, he ran towards Riku.

He grabbed the black satin coat and felt Riku tense. Only then did Sora realise what he was doing. Ice blue eyes held a sharp and tormented gaze. Sora felt a pang of empathy as he saw the depth of pain within that narrowed gaze.

Riku was surprised to see that Sora was not deterred by his stare.

Selphie kept her distance. As much as she wanted to step forward to 'protect' her master from his unpredictable stranger, she was curious to see what kind of reaction 'spikey' could invoke form her master.

Dropping his voice to a glacial tone, Riku said, "Let go."

Sora's grip on the slippery fabric tightened. Brown brows furrowed as Sora tried to explain the foreign emotions within his self that were confusing him, "I can't let you go yet."

"I will not kill you."

Sora shook his head and suddenly, he felt his heart starting to race, like the time he galloped back to his burning village. Trepidation made his body shudder. Riku stood silence in his stance as he waited for Sora's reply.

Seeking a resolution from the myriad of thoughts that flooded his mind, Sora closed his eyes and calmed himself. Then, like a clear ray of light that breaks through a cloudy sky, Sora found what he looked for.

Riku felt the body behind him tense up. Gaze downcast, Riku lost the hope for a reply.

"If you are not willing to kill me, then, will you teach me to become like you?"