Disclaimer- I, sadly, own none of this. If I did, I would be using the profits to make an inter-dimensional teleporter to be able to get to Riku.

"word" Talking Italics Thinking New Place

Chapter One

Disclaimer- I, sadly, own none of this. If I did, I would be using the profits to make an inter-dimensional teleporter to be able to get to Riku.

"word" Talking Italics Thinking New Place

How long had it been since Riku had started living here? Half a year… one year? Riku lost count. He stopped counting, as those things caused him pain. He started to become a recluse. He hadn't seen any of the others for a few months, except Kairi. Kairi seemed to take up an interest in talking to him lately.

And today seemed to be one of these days.

"Hey Riku!" Kairi's cheerful voice echoed from somewhere in the tunnel leading to Riku.

"Hello Kairi," Riku called out in a hollow sort of voice, as though something was missing.

"Why are you so sad?" Kairi asked as she finally came into view. Riku glared at her. She knew why he was sad.

"Why are you so cheerful? Sora's out there and we have no clue where he is!" Riku snapped.

"Well, why not? He might not be back, so we just have to forget about him and continue with our daily lives! Now get up and get out of this cave!" Kairi said with her hands on her hips.

"Why do you care?" Riku asked. She stole Sora. His Sora.

"Because you're my friend of course!" Kairi said and giggled.

Oh no you aren't. If you hadn't moved from Hollow Bastion, Sora would have looked for me…

"I like it in here," Riku said. It was kind of true. He only liked it here because it is the only place that Sora could come back. Other than that, he hated it here.

"Please Riku?" Kairi asked, pouting. "It's important!"

"Fine," Riku said glaring at Kairi. He stood up, remembering how it felt to stand. He barely got up anymore. Probably the only way that he survived was Kairi bringing him food, or sneaking out at night to get some fish, or a coconut.

Riku walked behind Kairi through the tunnel. It was sort of light in there, light enough to see. Riku finally saw a bright light, and he knew that he was getting close to the entrance.

Riku looked down at his clothes. They weren't that dirty. He had gathered a few supplies before he had started to live in the cave, and that included a pair of extra clothes. There were a few spots of dirt on his navy blue pants, but that was pretty much it.

Riku stepped out of the mouth of the cave, and got the surprise of a life time. It was a party. A party for him.

Riku's jaw dropped. Why in the hell am I getting a party?

He finally understood why once the crowd of his former friends shouted, "Happy 17th Birthday, Riku!"

Wait… I'm 17? When the hell did this happen?

"See? It is important! Not letting us know it was your birthday… silly!" Kairi said, grinning.

"I didn't know…" Riku muttered. No one seemed to hear.

It's been that long since I got back from Kingdom Hearts and Hollow Bastion? How the hell did this happen?

"Get over here and blow out your candle!" Kairi said, practically dragging him towards a table that had his cake and one or two small packages.

Riku licked the tip of his finger and touched the flame, making it sizzle. "There," Riku said, crossing his arms.

Kairi frowned. "You're no fun!"

"So? I don't think that I have to be fun," Riku said. Kairi frowned again and shoved a plate with the cake in his hands. "At least eat the cake," Kairi said.

Riku watched as he ate the cake and the others talked.

I wish Sora was here…

Riku finished as the others were talking and went over to Kairi.

"There. I'm done eating," Riku said. Kairi smiled. "Good! Now you can open your gifts!" Kairi said.

All that Riku got was a crowbar from Wakka, a flashlight from Tidus and Selphie, and a journal from Kairi.

It was finally nightfall, so they let Riku leave.

Riku walked through the cave, carrying his items. Well, at least I could try to get the door open using the crowbar…

Riku finally got back to his little area, and turned on the flashlight so he could see.

About an hour later, Riku became tired. The crowbar didn't make the door budge. Well, at least I tried…

Riku plopped himself on his sleeping bag against the wall, and looked at all of the pictures. They were all poorly drawn pictures, as Riku and Sora were only 5 and 6 when they drew them.

Riku was gazing at the pictures, when he heard footsteps in the cave. "Who's there?" Riku called out.

"It's me!" Called the oh-too-familiar voice of Kairi. What is she here for?

"Hello Kairi," Riku said monotonously.

Kairi appeared in the area that Riku was in. "Hey Riku," Kairi said with a huge grin on her face.

"Yes Kairi?" Riku asked. He knew that Kairi would not be out this late unless she wanted something. "What are you here for?"

"Just to talk," Kairi said. She walked over towards Riku and sat next to him.

"About what?" Riku asked, not really caring.

"Well… I wanted to tell you something," Kairi said.

"And what would that be?" Riku asked.

"Well… I… I'm in love with you."

Nami- Oooo, cliffhanger! How sad. Riku has been waiting for Sora over a year, only to find that the girl that Sora loved instead loved Riku. Oh well. I'll update soon!