A/N: Ha ha! and you thought it was over... well it's not... not for another chappy anwayz! =P As a final chappy should be, i worked real hard on it (hence the long update... don't you just hate writers block?) and i'm quite proud of it. lol, nice and long... THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REDONE!!! because i forgot to add a crutal part in OO thats wut i get for not updating for soo long.... (if you already read all of it, i just changed the ending.. you should prolly be able to figrue out where) Thanks!
Disclaimer: For the last time! (literally...) I don't own Kingdom Hearts! But guess wut i do own.... UR SOUL MUWAHAHAHAHA! -cough- carry on...
Shed Some Light
"Sora look!"
"Huh?"
The brown haired boy looked up from where he was sitting on the ground. Kairi had somehow gotten into his lap, and he looked over her shoulder to see what she was pointing at. He followed her slender arm to her hand, then her finger, pointing out to the door of the "Secret Place". It was glowing.
"What's that?" Donald quaked.
"I don't know," Sora said. Kairi got off of him so he could stand and get closer to it.
"Uh, careful Sora," Goofy warned, "Remembered what happened last time you touched the glowing shiny thing."
Sora ignored him and carefully touched the door. He could feel the smooth wooden surface, but the glow made it warm to the touch. When he came in contact with it, he felt like he had just been completely refreshed. Like waking up after a good nights rest, energy fully restored. He suddenly pulled back thought, as the light of his own heart leapt to his fingers and into the door.
"Sora!" Kairi said in concern.
He didn't reply, but they all watched as his light, combined with the doors, began to fade away and reveal a golden keyhole. Sora broke out into his famous grin and looked over to everyone else.
"He did it!" he exclaimed, "Riku really did it!"
Everyone cheered and Kairi ran over to Sora and hugged him tight. Goofy and Donald preformed some sort of victory dance chanting: "Riku really did it, Riku really did it!"
"Open it Sora," whispered Kairi.
Sora nodded and she pulled away to give Sora the room he needed. With all his heart, he summoned the Keyblade to open the door. He had only sealed them before, so he put everything he had into opening it. The light gathered at the end of the Keyblade and shot into the keyhole. Soon, the familiar clicking sound of a lock was heard and Sora lowered his Keyblade.
He looked and Kairi and smiled. "Lets do it together."
"Riku, thank you, but you must go now," rang Naomi's voice as the light she held was suddenly gone. She was still floating with those wings, with that expressionless face, but all her light had returned back inside her. And he didn't see it, but back inside her necklace as well. The circle pendant with the star on the front, only now the engravings surrounding the star had returned. The necklace was once again how it was when Riku first gave it to her for her sixth birthday.
Riku couldn't say anything. He couldn't move. The day had finally come, the day when he'd walk through the door and finally be home. Sora and Kairi, and the whole island were just a few steps away. He wanted to run to it, afraid that the door might suddenly disappear. But he couldn't move. It all happened so fast.
"Why did you say thank you?" he asked, then covered his mouth with his hands. He didn't mean to say that. It's like someone else asked through him. But Naomi, ignoring or not noticing his surprise answered anyways.
"Do you not remember?" she asked but didn't expect him or give him the time to answer, "At the gates of Hallow Bastion it was proved that you were the true master to be chosen by the Keyblade. The only reason it failed to come to you that night on your island was because you welcomed the darkness before it could get to you, thus choosing Sora instead."
As she spoke, every word seemed to be lined with great depth and emotion, yet at the same time, it seemed like a toneless drone with no feeling at all. She continued, and caused Riku's mind to flood with visions of that night, and everything she spoke of, down to the very tiniest detail.
"If you had not chosen the dark path, the Keyblade would be yours at this very moment. Even now, now that you have seen the light and returned to it, the Keyblade would return to your hand if it's task had not already been completed," she continued and new visions came to Riku, ones he had not experienced, but perhaps Naomi was giving them to him, "Only the true chosen one has the power to unlock the great light of Kingdom Hearts. A strange twist in fate caused the Keyblade to chose a secondary master, but the true one it was intended for was you. Therefore only you had the power to unlock the light."
"But I don't understand," said Riku before he could stop himself, "How could I unlock the light with no Keyblade? With nothing at all?"
"You hold the greatest weapon of all, your heart. The Keyblade was created to bring the holder to understanding to his task, and to aid in sealing the worlds. The heart is the real key. When it comes to tasks that require the chosen ones heart, Sora would fail. Only you have the power within your heart." There was a moment of silence, as everything Naomi was tell Riku slowly sunk in. He understood everything now. But before he could say a word, Naomi continued, "Riku, it is time now to go through the door. Your role, as well as Sora's, has ended. Everything will become what it once was. So go home now."
He looked up again and looked at Naomi as if seeing her for the first time.
"Aren't you coming?" he said.
She shook her head. "You belong on your island, I belong here."
"But you were living on my island before you were here!" Riku said, shocked at what his friend was saying.
"But before that, I wasn't an orphan. I know now, I was never a person. I was born when Kingdom Hearts was, the body a disguise for the light inside."
"That can't be true!" Riku yelled, full of anxiousness, "You're a real person, you were my best friend, still are! I won't forget about you like I did before. I broke a promise, and I won't again. I promised you'd come to my island!"
She paused for a second, confused. The first emotion Riku saw on her face since the light had been released. He could see Mariha, or at least the girl he had met all that time ago, coming back into consciousness. She began to fall gently to the ground, wings fading away, looking more like a ghostly figure had been there all along and weren't really real, until they vanished completely.
Riku went over to her. Walking slowly. "You may have been born as the light of Kingdom Hearts, but you'll always be Naomi to me, be Mariha to me. Be the girl that I fell in love with..."
Her clothes change back. Her eyes fluttered closed as she failed to support herself as she landed and began to fall to the ground. But he caught her, just as her feet touched the ground, just before she could fall. Her eyes opened once more, to reveal the life in them again. She went limp for a second, like all the energy was drained from her, but recovered quickly to stand without Riku's support. But he wouldn't let go of her. He pulled her into a tight hug, like he was never ever going to let go.
"Riku..."
"You heard me, I love you, I'll never let you go again," Riku said, he needed to say it, it had been held up inside for too long, so long that he no longer cared if she returned his feelings or not; anything so she would come home with him, "Never let you down again... I-"
But he couldn't finish, Mariha had slipped her arms around Riku's back, and let a hand run up to become buried in his hair. She pulled his head close; close enough to allow her to lock her lips with his. Riku was caught off-guard, but let his eyes close as his hand involuntarily drowned in her hair and deepened the kiss. Neither Riku nor Mariha had felt so completely whole ever before. And neither of them noticed, but as their hearts became one, two long steamed roses shaping a circle appeared on Mariha's necklace. Everything was complete. That moment felt like an eternity, and he would have gladly continued for longer but she pulled away so they could both breathe.
Riku looked at her with a puzzled look in his eyes and opened his mouth to say something, but she put a finger to his mouth, stopping him from uttering a word. She beamed at him; like she did when they had first met, and Riku finally knew that annoying feeling he had been getting so long ago when she did that. He smiled back, then heard a familiar voice.
"Riku!"
Riku and Mariha turned to where the cheerful voice of Sora came from. He was standing in the doorway, waving and calling for him. He looked closer, and sure enough, Kairi was standing beside him, staring in surprise and joy.
"Come on!" Riku said to his old friend Naomi and grabbed her hand to pull her toward the door.
He couldn't wait to go home, and finally with Naomi! He looked up at Sora and Kairi as he broke out into a run. He couldn't tell, but they didn't seem to see Naomi at all. Their faces showing not a hint of confusion as Riku dragged a girl from Kingdom Hearts with him.
When he finally reached the door, up close, he could see a thin material dividing him and his friends, Kingdom Hearts and Destiny Islands. It was like water, rippling with the slightest movement of the air.
"Riku," said Sora as he beamed at him. Riku returned the gesture, "Come on, you're finally home." With that, Sora and Kairi stepped aside to allow Riku to come through the small opening of the door.
Riku nodded and looked over to Naomi. "You ready?"
She nodded, but a shred of guilt let itself creep across her face. She was the light of Kingdom Hearts, so what would happen when she left? Would Kingdom Hearts really become nothing but darkness? Riku knew that's what she was thinking, but he had a theory of his own...
He started forward, raising his free hand to touch the water-like barrier first before letting the rest of him follow through. He held on tighter to Naomi's hand. He opened his eyes to find himself in the secret place, a place where Sora had once thought there were monsters in, but then came here often... often with Kairi.
He looked forward at his smiling friends, but then back. Naomi hadn't followed him. His had was still grasping onto hers, but it was on the other side. And when he looked through the "water", he didn't see her. It was like he was holding onto air. But he could still feel her hand. A thought crossed his mind. What if she was right? What if she really couldn't leave, from this side, it was like she didn't even exist.
"Riku, are you ok?"
He looked forward again, to Kairi who's face held concern. He nodded, but Sora gave him a look. The famous "hey-you're-lying-and-I'm-not-falling-for-that-one-again" look Riku had provoked Sora into doing so many times when they were little. He laughed a bit.
"O man, he's gone mad," joked Sora and poked Riku in the stomach.
"Stop that!" said Riku and shooed Sora's hand away, "I'm not mad. Sora, remember when I said that I couldn't leave before because someone was with me?"
Sora gagged at him. "O yea! I totally forgot about that, who are they and why were they there!" he said in alarm, which caused Riku to laugh at him more.
"Well..." He knew it had to work, she WAS real, she had lived here before, she was coming home too. He pulled his hand back, the one still holding onto Naomi's. It was hard, it was like getting an elephant to move, but he kept pulling, just hoping he wasn't really hurting her.
"Riku...?" Sora and Kairi were both completely confused, but the looked over his shoulder to see what he was doing nonetheless.
He kept pulling, he saw his whole hand now, and in it was Naomi's! Suddenly, a voice rang through his head, and it seemed like time froze.
'Riku! I can't more. I can't leave...'
Come on! he said to her though in the form of a thought, hey if she did, he could too, nothing will come between us, not this stupid watery thing, not if you love me...
'Riku... I... I do!'
More than anything?
'YES!'
Then he saw her. Through the barrier that had kept her hidden from vision until now. Time was frozen now, but Riku remained conscious of what was happening. He couldn't move, but he saw it. He saw a little flying snake-like thing covering in pure white feathers with little feathery wings appear, wrapped around Naomi. And another, only this one as black as a moonless night covered with scales and wings that reminded him of Natia's...
It was the Light and the Dark inside of Naomi. The Light was now equal with the Dark and both could remain in Kingdom Hearts forever. Naomi's body wasn't needed anymore. Alee and Natia's true from nodded in unison at Riku then they both released Naomi, unwinding themselves from around her.
Time started again, but it started to suddenly it was as if a dam broke, and all the water came tumbling onto him at once... literally! The barriers hold on Naomi gave way so suddenly, that she fell right on top of Riku, who then fell backwards to the ground, with Sora under him.
Riku looked over Naomi's shoulder, and caught a glimps of Alee and Natia before the opening he had come through closed up to be replaced with that wooden door.
"Riku!" Sora complained, "GET OFF!"
Naomi, seeing as she was the one on the very top of the pile up, quickly scrambled to her feet and help Riku up with the hand that he still held. Sora just lay on the ground for a second, catching his breath.
"Riku..." he panted, "since... when... have... you... gotten... so... heavy?"
Kairi giggled. Sora hadn't noticed Naomi yet for she was hidden behind Riku.
"What?" moaned Sora. Then a head popped up from behind Riku's shoulder.
"I'm sorry!" said the new girl and held out a hand for Sora to get up. He took it before looking at who was helping him, but when he was halfway to his feet, he noticed that it wasn't Kairi helping him up but another girl. He yelped and let go of her hand, this causing him to fall back onto his butt.
Kairi burst out to burst out into fits of laughter (obviously not phased at all at another person just popping out of Kingdom Hearts... for some reason), even Riku couldn't hold back a chuckle. Sora just stared at Naomi and blinked.
"AHH! IT'S A GHOST!" he shrieked and jumped into Goofy's arms.
Kairi was now practically on the floor laughing, Naomi was near tears of laughter and Riku had long given up trying to hold it in.
"Hey..." said Naomi in a thoughtful tone, "Sora? Yea Sora! I remember." She grinned widely. She had completely forgotten about when Ansem showed Sora to her in that trick. Then again she didn't realize she knew him then. It was a shock to see him all grown up all of a sudden, when last she remembered him was the night she "drowned".
Sora however, stared at the with his mouth hanging open in surprise and shock. He stared for the longest time, and no one spoke, but Kairi finally shut Sora's mouth with a giggle.
"What's wrong Sora?" Riku chuckled, "Don't tell me you forgot about Naomi already." Boy it felt good to be teasing Sora again like old times. Of course Sora remembered Naomi; he didn't hold that bad habit of wiping his memory of some things like Riku did. Since they day Naomi disappeared, Sora knew never to speak of her to Riku again, until even Sora almost forgot.
"R-Riku," Sora began (now out of Goofy's arms), staggering slowly to Naomi, holding out his hand is if to touch her to see if she was real. But Kairi bounced in his path, nearly knocking him over to greet the "newcomer" everyone else seemed to know.
"Kairi," she said with a cheerful smile and held out her hand.
"Naomi," she replied, returning the smile and shaking hands with the other girl, "I'm an old friend of Sora and Riku." Then a puzzled look washed over her face, "I'm sorry, I don't remember you Kairi."
"Oh, I came to the island when I was about six..." she then looked at Sora who was still looking at Naomi like a ghost, "Sora, you never mentioned Naomi at all before."
There was a pause, but Sora finally found his voice and couldn't help but blurt it out:
"S-she's dead."
"She looks very alive to me," said Goofy, poking Naomi timidly in the shoulder.
"Goo-fy!" wailed Donald and pulled him back, trying not to be rude, but couldn't help himself from checking and quickly poking her hand before withdrawing with Goofy behind Kairi.
"Yea Sora, "I think you've officially lost it," teased Kairi, twirling her finger beside her head to display Sora's craziness.
Sora stuck his tongue out at Kairi while her back was turned to him so she didn't see. Naomi did, however, and held in the giggle as best she could, but couldn't stop a smile from breaking out over her face.
He's just how I remember him, she thought.
Sora then turned to Riku as Kairi, Donald, Goofy and Naomi began talking amongst themselves. He looked at his friend with a stern glare, pointing his finger at the silver-haired teen.
"Explain!" demanded Sora.
Riku laughed, "Okay, okay, but lets get out of here first. I haven't seen day for - I don't even know how long."
Sora gave Riku the best pouty face he could muster up before replying. "Fine. Kairi? Donald? Goofy? Come on lets go outside."
"Yessir!" the three chimed together and stood at attention, hands at the salute.
"Ha ha very funny now lets go!" was Sora's reply and couldn't stop his mouth from curving slightly upwards. He let the three out before he turned to leave himself, but he hesitated and looked back at Riku and Naomi. Neither of them had budged. Riku opened his mouth to say something, but Sora spoke before a word was uttered.
"I'll meet you guys out there," he said then turned to leave again.
"Sora!"
He turned at the call of his name.
"Thanks," Riku said with a grateful smile.
Sora just flashed his famous goofy grin before joining the others outside.
Riku looked back at Naomi, just standing their still in front of the once again plain door. He looked into her eyes. It was strange to think that the girl standing before him, with her hair messily tied up again and face dirty with a little dust and dried blood, was the same kind-hearted young girl from so long ago who had found him alone in the rain. She looked so different now compared to her six-year-old appearance, but one thing remained the same. Her soft brown eyes still danced with joy and laughter deep inside, like his childhood friend was still in there, waiting for him to let her out and play together again under the sun.
Naomi's mind was filled with similar thoughts about Riku. She finally remembered, and Riku looked just as she would picture him to be all "grown-up" when she was six. The same confident smile, the same light silvery hair, and the same mystifying eyes.
There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. Riku could feel nervousness coming over him because, although he always appeared to be the strong and confident one, he was shy about his feelings for Naomi. He never was shy about his feelings for Kairi, so he was a little confused as to why he was with Naomi. But he realized why almost as soon as he questioned it. He didn't love Kairi the same way he loved Naomi.
"Um, so I'm Naomi now right?" said Naomi at last, breaking the eerie silence, "It's going to be kinda weird since I'm used to Mariha but..."
She smiled warmly at him causing Riku to melt inside. He was getting even more nervous, and Naomi wasn't helping... damn it!
"So," continued Naomi, seeing Riku's uneasiness, "I guess we should meet everyone outside." She walked up to Riku and grabbed his hand before beginning to lead him away and out of the cave.
But Riku didn't move when she pulled at his arm. Instead, he gripped her hand tighter and pulled so she fell into him. She gasped in surprise but Riku wrapped his arms around her anyways and held her tight.
"You'll always be Mariha to me," he whispered softly.
She hugged him back and the two of them just stood there for a moment.
"Riku it wasn't your fault," she said in a quiet voice.
"Huh?"
She hugged him tighter. "That day, when I was lost and sent to Kingdom Hearts. Remember during that storm? It wasn't your fault."
"No Mariha, I could have saved you," he said back, the memory almost causing tears to form in his eyes, "If I just jumped in for a second I could have gotten you."
"What?" said Mariha letting him go to look at his face, "You don't remember it all do you?"
Riku just gave her a puzzled look. She sighed.
"I got sick from the cold wind and rain from getting those coconuts for you and Sora... they never blew off the trees I had to climb up and get them," she said slowly, "I probably wouldn't have survived the night if you and Sora hadn't bravely decided to head home in the storm. Besides, none of this would have ever happened."
So that's why... That's why Riku's dream of that day suddenly changed out of nowhere, with no explanation at all. His evil half only wanted him to feel responsible for her death, not letting him know that she would've died if they had stayed away from going out on the water. And she was right, he wouldn't be back safely with her here if all that didn't happen the way it did. Wow... funny how destiny works...
Riku pulled her into a hug again and held her for a few seconds before he let her go.
"Come on, I want to show you." With that, Riku took her hand again and side-by-side they made their way through the little tunnel to the outside where everyone would be waiting.
He led her out of the cave, through the tunnel but made her cover her eyes as he guided her. As soon as he had led her away from the tree, and onto the edge of the platform before the sandy beach started, facing the wide sparkling ocean on that sunny day, he gave her the best birthday present she could ask for since that little necklace he gave her exactly eight years ago.
"Ok, you can open them now," he said with a smile. And he would never forget the look on her face when she saw the light of day for the first time in so long. He made a mental note to himself as well; never take these beautiful warm sunny days on his island for granted ever again.
THE END
A/N: there, it is done and over with! I hope anyone who read this enjoyed it somewhat at least =P Thank you soooo much to you if you've reviewed! The reviewers are what keeps me writing... and the fact that i couldn't stop if my life depended on it (no matter how bad the piece o.O) COOKIES FOR YOU ALL! -tosses cookies into the air-
Disclaimer: For the last time! (literally...) I don't own Kingdom Hearts! But guess wut i do own.... UR SOUL MUWAHAHAHAHA! -cough- carry on...
Shed Some Light
"Sora look!"
"Huh?"
The brown haired boy looked up from where he was sitting on the ground. Kairi had somehow gotten into his lap, and he looked over her shoulder to see what she was pointing at. He followed her slender arm to her hand, then her finger, pointing out to the door of the "Secret Place". It was glowing.
"What's that?" Donald quaked.
"I don't know," Sora said. Kairi got off of him so he could stand and get closer to it.
"Uh, careful Sora," Goofy warned, "Remembered what happened last time you touched the glowing shiny thing."
Sora ignored him and carefully touched the door. He could feel the smooth wooden surface, but the glow made it warm to the touch. When he came in contact with it, he felt like he had just been completely refreshed. Like waking up after a good nights rest, energy fully restored. He suddenly pulled back thought, as the light of his own heart leapt to his fingers and into the door.
"Sora!" Kairi said in concern.
He didn't reply, but they all watched as his light, combined with the doors, began to fade away and reveal a golden keyhole. Sora broke out into his famous grin and looked over to everyone else.
"He did it!" he exclaimed, "Riku really did it!"
Everyone cheered and Kairi ran over to Sora and hugged him tight. Goofy and Donald preformed some sort of victory dance chanting: "Riku really did it, Riku really did it!"
"Open it Sora," whispered Kairi.
Sora nodded and she pulled away to give Sora the room he needed. With all his heart, he summoned the Keyblade to open the door. He had only sealed them before, so he put everything he had into opening it. The light gathered at the end of the Keyblade and shot into the keyhole. Soon, the familiar clicking sound of a lock was heard and Sora lowered his Keyblade.
He looked and Kairi and smiled. "Lets do it together."
"Riku, thank you, but you must go now," rang Naomi's voice as the light she held was suddenly gone. She was still floating with those wings, with that expressionless face, but all her light had returned back inside her. And he didn't see it, but back inside her necklace as well. The circle pendant with the star on the front, only now the engravings surrounding the star had returned. The necklace was once again how it was when Riku first gave it to her for her sixth birthday.
Riku couldn't say anything. He couldn't move. The day had finally come, the day when he'd walk through the door and finally be home. Sora and Kairi, and the whole island were just a few steps away. He wanted to run to it, afraid that the door might suddenly disappear. But he couldn't move. It all happened so fast.
"Why did you say thank you?" he asked, then covered his mouth with his hands. He didn't mean to say that. It's like someone else asked through him. But Naomi, ignoring or not noticing his surprise answered anyways.
"Do you not remember?" she asked but didn't expect him or give him the time to answer, "At the gates of Hallow Bastion it was proved that you were the true master to be chosen by the Keyblade. The only reason it failed to come to you that night on your island was because you welcomed the darkness before it could get to you, thus choosing Sora instead."
As she spoke, every word seemed to be lined with great depth and emotion, yet at the same time, it seemed like a toneless drone with no feeling at all. She continued, and caused Riku's mind to flood with visions of that night, and everything she spoke of, down to the very tiniest detail.
"If you had not chosen the dark path, the Keyblade would be yours at this very moment. Even now, now that you have seen the light and returned to it, the Keyblade would return to your hand if it's task had not already been completed," she continued and new visions came to Riku, ones he had not experienced, but perhaps Naomi was giving them to him, "Only the true chosen one has the power to unlock the great light of Kingdom Hearts. A strange twist in fate caused the Keyblade to chose a secondary master, but the true one it was intended for was you. Therefore only you had the power to unlock the light."
"But I don't understand," said Riku before he could stop himself, "How could I unlock the light with no Keyblade? With nothing at all?"
"You hold the greatest weapon of all, your heart. The Keyblade was created to bring the holder to understanding to his task, and to aid in sealing the worlds. The heart is the real key. When it comes to tasks that require the chosen ones heart, Sora would fail. Only you have the power within your heart." There was a moment of silence, as everything Naomi was tell Riku slowly sunk in. He understood everything now. But before he could say a word, Naomi continued, "Riku, it is time now to go through the door. Your role, as well as Sora's, has ended. Everything will become what it once was. So go home now."
He looked up again and looked at Naomi as if seeing her for the first time.
"Aren't you coming?" he said.
She shook her head. "You belong on your island, I belong here."
"But you were living on my island before you were here!" Riku said, shocked at what his friend was saying.
"But before that, I wasn't an orphan. I know now, I was never a person. I was born when Kingdom Hearts was, the body a disguise for the light inside."
"That can't be true!" Riku yelled, full of anxiousness, "You're a real person, you were my best friend, still are! I won't forget about you like I did before. I broke a promise, and I won't again. I promised you'd come to my island!"
She paused for a second, confused. The first emotion Riku saw on her face since the light had been released. He could see Mariha, or at least the girl he had met all that time ago, coming back into consciousness. She began to fall gently to the ground, wings fading away, looking more like a ghostly figure had been there all along and weren't really real, until they vanished completely.
Riku went over to her. Walking slowly. "You may have been born as the light of Kingdom Hearts, but you'll always be Naomi to me, be Mariha to me. Be the girl that I fell in love with..."
Her clothes change back. Her eyes fluttered closed as she failed to support herself as she landed and began to fall to the ground. But he caught her, just as her feet touched the ground, just before she could fall. Her eyes opened once more, to reveal the life in them again. She went limp for a second, like all the energy was drained from her, but recovered quickly to stand without Riku's support. But he wouldn't let go of her. He pulled her into a tight hug, like he was never ever going to let go.
"Riku..."
"You heard me, I love you, I'll never let you go again," Riku said, he needed to say it, it had been held up inside for too long, so long that he no longer cared if she returned his feelings or not; anything so she would come home with him, "Never let you down again... I-"
But he couldn't finish, Mariha had slipped her arms around Riku's back, and let a hand run up to become buried in his hair. She pulled his head close; close enough to allow her to lock her lips with his. Riku was caught off-guard, but let his eyes close as his hand involuntarily drowned in her hair and deepened the kiss. Neither Riku nor Mariha had felt so completely whole ever before. And neither of them noticed, but as their hearts became one, two long steamed roses shaping a circle appeared on Mariha's necklace. Everything was complete. That moment felt like an eternity, and he would have gladly continued for longer but she pulled away so they could both breathe.
Riku looked at her with a puzzled look in his eyes and opened his mouth to say something, but she put a finger to his mouth, stopping him from uttering a word. She beamed at him; like she did when they had first met, and Riku finally knew that annoying feeling he had been getting so long ago when she did that. He smiled back, then heard a familiar voice.
"Riku!"
Riku and Mariha turned to where the cheerful voice of Sora came from. He was standing in the doorway, waving and calling for him. He looked closer, and sure enough, Kairi was standing beside him, staring in surprise and joy.
"Come on!" Riku said to his old friend Naomi and grabbed her hand to pull her toward the door.
He couldn't wait to go home, and finally with Naomi! He looked up at Sora and Kairi as he broke out into a run. He couldn't tell, but they didn't seem to see Naomi at all. Their faces showing not a hint of confusion as Riku dragged a girl from Kingdom Hearts with him.
When he finally reached the door, up close, he could see a thin material dividing him and his friends, Kingdom Hearts and Destiny Islands. It was like water, rippling with the slightest movement of the air.
"Riku," said Sora as he beamed at him. Riku returned the gesture, "Come on, you're finally home." With that, Sora and Kairi stepped aside to allow Riku to come through the small opening of the door.
Riku nodded and looked over to Naomi. "You ready?"
She nodded, but a shred of guilt let itself creep across her face. She was the light of Kingdom Hearts, so what would happen when she left? Would Kingdom Hearts really become nothing but darkness? Riku knew that's what she was thinking, but he had a theory of his own...
He started forward, raising his free hand to touch the water-like barrier first before letting the rest of him follow through. He held on tighter to Naomi's hand. He opened his eyes to find himself in the secret place, a place where Sora had once thought there were monsters in, but then came here often... often with Kairi.
He looked forward at his smiling friends, but then back. Naomi hadn't followed him. His had was still grasping onto hers, but it was on the other side. And when he looked through the "water", he didn't see her. It was like he was holding onto air. But he could still feel her hand. A thought crossed his mind. What if she was right? What if she really couldn't leave, from this side, it was like she didn't even exist.
"Riku, are you ok?"
He looked forward again, to Kairi who's face held concern. He nodded, but Sora gave him a look. The famous "hey-you're-lying-and-I'm-not-falling-for-that-one-again" look Riku had provoked Sora into doing so many times when they were little. He laughed a bit.
"O man, he's gone mad," joked Sora and poked Riku in the stomach.
"Stop that!" said Riku and shooed Sora's hand away, "I'm not mad. Sora, remember when I said that I couldn't leave before because someone was with me?"
Sora gagged at him. "O yea! I totally forgot about that, who are they and why were they there!" he said in alarm, which caused Riku to laugh at him more.
"Well..." He knew it had to work, she WAS real, she had lived here before, she was coming home too. He pulled his hand back, the one still holding onto Naomi's. It was hard, it was like getting an elephant to move, but he kept pulling, just hoping he wasn't really hurting her.
"Riku...?" Sora and Kairi were both completely confused, but the looked over his shoulder to see what he was doing nonetheless.
He kept pulling, he saw his whole hand now, and in it was Naomi's! Suddenly, a voice rang through his head, and it seemed like time froze.
'Riku! I can't more. I can't leave...'
Come on! he said to her though in the form of a thought, hey if she did, he could too, nothing will come between us, not this stupid watery thing, not if you love me...
'Riku... I... I do!'
More than anything?
'YES!'
Then he saw her. Through the barrier that had kept her hidden from vision until now. Time was frozen now, but Riku remained conscious of what was happening. He couldn't move, but he saw it. He saw a little flying snake-like thing covering in pure white feathers with little feathery wings appear, wrapped around Naomi. And another, only this one as black as a moonless night covered with scales and wings that reminded him of Natia's...
It was the Light and the Dark inside of Naomi. The Light was now equal with the Dark and both could remain in Kingdom Hearts forever. Naomi's body wasn't needed anymore. Alee and Natia's true from nodded in unison at Riku then they both released Naomi, unwinding themselves from around her.
Time started again, but it started to suddenly it was as if a dam broke, and all the water came tumbling onto him at once... literally! The barriers hold on Naomi gave way so suddenly, that she fell right on top of Riku, who then fell backwards to the ground, with Sora under him.
Riku looked over Naomi's shoulder, and caught a glimps of Alee and Natia before the opening he had come through closed up to be replaced with that wooden door.
"Riku!" Sora complained, "GET OFF!"
Naomi, seeing as she was the one on the very top of the pile up, quickly scrambled to her feet and help Riku up with the hand that he still held. Sora just lay on the ground for a second, catching his breath.
"Riku..." he panted, "since... when... have... you... gotten... so... heavy?"
Kairi giggled. Sora hadn't noticed Naomi yet for she was hidden behind Riku.
"What?" moaned Sora. Then a head popped up from behind Riku's shoulder.
"I'm sorry!" said the new girl and held out a hand for Sora to get up. He took it before looking at who was helping him, but when he was halfway to his feet, he noticed that it wasn't Kairi helping him up but another girl. He yelped and let go of her hand, this causing him to fall back onto his butt.
Kairi burst out to burst out into fits of laughter (obviously not phased at all at another person just popping out of Kingdom Hearts... for some reason), even Riku couldn't hold back a chuckle. Sora just stared at Naomi and blinked.
"AHH! IT'S A GHOST!" he shrieked and jumped into Goofy's arms.
Kairi was now practically on the floor laughing, Naomi was near tears of laughter and Riku had long given up trying to hold it in.
"Hey..." said Naomi in a thoughtful tone, "Sora? Yea Sora! I remember." She grinned widely. She had completely forgotten about when Ansem showed Sora to her in that trick. Then again she didn't realize she knew him then. It was a shock to see him all grown up all of a sudden, when last she remembered him was the night she "drowned".
Sora however, stared at the with his mouth hanging open in surprise and shock. He stared for the longest time, and no one spoke, but Kairi finally shut Sora's mouth with a giggle.
"What's wrong Sora?" Riku chuckled, "Don't tell me you forgot about Naomi already." Boy it felt good to be teasing Sora again like old times. Of course Sora remembered Naomi; he didn't hold that bad habit of wiping his memory of some things like Riku did. Since they day Naomi disappeared, Sora knew never to speak of her to Riku again, until even Sora almost forgot.
"R-Riku," Sora began (now out of Goofy's arms), staggering slowly to Naomi, holding out his hand is if to touch her to see if she was real. But Kairi bounced in his path, nearly knocking him over to greet the "newcomer" everyone else seemed to know.
"Kairi," she said with a cheerful smile and held out her hand.
"Naomi," she replied, returning the smile and shaking hands with the other girl, "I'm an old friend of Sora and Riku." Then a puzzled look washed over her face, "I'm sorry, I don't remember you Kairi."
"Oh, I came to the island when I was about six..." she then looked at Sora who was still looking at Naomi like a ghost, "Sora, you never mentioned Naomi at all before."
There was a pause, but Sora finally found his voice and couldn't help but blurt it out:
"S-she's dead."
"She looks very alive to me," said Goofy, poking Naomi timidly in the shoulder.
"Goo-fy!" wailed Donald and pulled him back, trying not to be rude, but couldn't help himself from checking and quickly poking her hand before withdrawing with Goofy behind Kairi.
"Yea Sora, "I think you've officially lost it," teased Kairi, twirling her finger beside her head to display Sora's craziness.
Sora stuck his tongue out at Kairi while her back was turned to him so she didn't see. Naomi did, however, and held in the giggle as best she could, but couldn't stop a smile from breaking out over her face.
He's just how I remember him, she thought.
Sora then turned to Riku as Kairi, Donald, Goofy and Naomi began talking amongst themselves. He looked at his friend with a stern glare, pointing his finger at the silver-haired teen.
"Explain!" demanded Sora.
Riku laughed, "Okay, okay, but lets get out of here first. I haven't seen day for - I don't even know how long."
Sora gave Riku the best pouty face he could muster up before replying. "Fine. Kairi? Donald? Goofy? Come on lets go outside."
"Yessir!" the three chimed together and stood at attention, hands at the salute.
"Ha ha very funny now lets go!" was Sora's reply and couldn't stop his mouth from curving slightly upwards. He let the three out before he turned to leave himself, but he hesitated and looked back at Riku and Naomi. Neither of them had budged. Riku opened his mouth to say something, but Sora spoke before a word was uttered.
"I'll meet you guys out there," he said then turned to leave again.
"Sora!"
He turned at the call of his name.
"Thanks," Riku said with a grateful smile.
Sora just flashed his famous goofy grin before joining the others outside.
Riku looked back at Naomi, just standing their still in front of the once again plain door. He looked into her eyes. It was strange to think that the girl standing before him, with her hair messily tied up again and face dirty with a little dust and dried blood, was the same kind-hearted young girl from so long ago who had found him alone in the rain. She looked so different now compared to her six-year-old appearance, but one thing remained the same. Her soft brown eyes still danced with joy and laughter deep inside, like his childhood friend was still in there, waiting for him to let her out and play together again under the sun.
Naomi's mind was filled with similar thoughts about Riku. She finally remembered, and Riku looked just as she would picture him to be all "grown-up" when she was six. The same confident smile, the same light silvery hair, and the same mystifying eyes.
There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. Riku could feel nervousness coming over him because, although he always appeared to be the strong and confident one, he was shy about his feelings for Naomi. He never was shy about his feelings for Kairi, so he was a little confused as to why he was with Naomi. But he realized why almost as soon as he questioned it. He didn't love Kairi the same way he loved Naomi.
"Um, so I'm Naomi now right?" said Naomi at last, breaking the eerie silence, "It's going to be kinda weird since I'm used to Mariha but..."
She smiled warmly at him causing Riku to melt inside. He was getting even more nervous, and Naomi wasn't helping... damn it!
"So," continued Naomi, seeing Riku's uneasiness, "I guess we should meet everyone outside." She walked up to Riku and grabbed his hand before beginning to lead him away and out of the cave.
But Riku didn't move when she pulled at his arm. Instead, he gripped her hand tighter and pulled so she fell into him. She gasped in surprise but Riku wrapped his arms around her anyways and held her tight.
"You'll always be Mariha to me," he whispered softly.
She hugged him back and the two of them just stood there for a moment.
"Riku it wasn't your fault," she said in a quiet voice.
"Huh?"
She hugged him tighter. "That day, when I was lost and sent to Kingdom Hearts. Remember during that storm? It wasn't your fault."
"No Mariha, I could have saved you," he said back, the memory almost causing tears to form in his eyes, "If I just jumped in for a second I could have gotten you."
"What?" said Mariha letting him go to look at his face, "You don't remember it all do you?"
Riku just gave her a puzzled look. She sighed.
"I got sick from the cold wind and rain from getting those coconuts for you and Sora... they never blew off the trees I had to climb up and get them," she said slowly, "I probably wouldn't have survived the night if you and Sora hadn't bravely decided to head home in the storm. Besides, none of this would have ever happened."
So that's why... That's why Riku's dream of that day suddenly changed out of nowhere, with no explanation at all. His evil half only wanted him to feel responsible for her death, not letting him know that she would've died if they had stayed away from going out on the water. And she was right, he wouldn't be back safely with her here if all that didn't happen the way it did. Wow... funny how destiny works...
Riku pulled her into a hug again and held her for a few seconds before he let her go.
"Come on, I want to show you." With that, Riku took her hand again and side-by-side they made their way through the little tunnel to the outside where everyone would be waiting.
He led her out of the cave, through the tunnel but made her cover her eyes as he guided her. As soon as he had led her away from the tree, and onto the edge of the platform before the sandy beach started, facing the wide sparkling ocean on that sunny day, he gave her the best birthday present she could ask for since that little necklace he gave her exactly eight years ago.
"Ok, you can open them now," he said with a smile. And he would never forget the look on her face when she saw the light of day for the first time in so long. He made a mental note to himself as well; never take these beautiful warm sunny days on his island for granted ever again.
THE END
A/N: there, it is done and over with! I hope anyone who read this enjoyed it somewhat at least =P Thank you soooo much to you if you've reviewed! The reviewers are what keeps me writing... and the fact that i couldn't stop if my life depended on it (no matter how bad the piece o.O) COOKIES FOR YOU ALL! -tosses cookies into the air-