Title Explanation: Let's play 'Imagine.' Imagine you're walking through a town, and you reach the underside of a bridge. Picture all the graffiti sprayed over the walls. Now I want you to imagine the words 'Riku/Kairi OTP' scrawled over everything in red and blue, taller than you are.
That is Rikairu Graffiti. (smiles)
Disclaimer: Ari does not claim ownership of the characters or settings below; she has merely taken them for her own devices. She does not claim these to be the true or false implications of the real owners of Kingdom Hearts, but feel free to take them as such!
Origin: This drabble was written for Insert Phrase, a drabble community on LiveJournal.
Phrases Used: 23) "Next time, I lead and you follow." as well as 49) "You look gorgeous."
Suggested Music:What else? Kiss Me, by Sixpence None the Richer.
Rikairu Graffiti
I — Swing, Swing
Kiss me, beside the bearded barley
Lightly, beside the green, green grass
She wonders when she receives the note; he can see it in her eyes. He smiles to himself, settling down to lean against the side of her house. The window above him is open; he hears her humming to herself.
Why does she make him wait for so long? He tugs on one strand of silver hair before catching himself, draping his arms over his knees and leaning his head back to rest against the siding. He's started the dance, made the move to lead, but it's up to her whether or not to follow.
Swing, swing, swing the spinning step
You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress
It's nearly dark when she says that to him, leaning out the window so that her hair almost brushes his forehead. He responds with a smile, waiting until she goes back inside to jump up and rush home to prepare.
He doesn't want to seem too eager.
But she's watching him, sitting on her bed, hands folded properly. She waits for him to leap up, an elated grin upon his face, and as he darts away, she giggles.
And then she turns back to her bureau to finish preparing, tying a periwinkle ribbon around her neck in a bow.
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
By the time he reaches her door again, the sun is setting. They sit on her porch for a while, silent as they watch the sun retire for the night, and then he tentatively reaches for her hand. When she smiles at him, interlacing her fingers with his, he is visibly relieved—she almost giggles because he is so nervous. They walk to the docks, and as he rows them to Twilight Isle, they talk quietly, never approaching the subject of just what they're doing.
He helps her out of the small boat and they walk, walk until they reach the shack that allows them to the bridge. They cross slowly, arm-in-arm, but when they reach the end, he steps ahead of her, turning back to offer his hand in a dance.
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies
Dance, silver moon sparkling
She giggles a little as she takes the proffered hand, placing one hand on his shoulder as he gently places his on her waist. Is he still nervous? She shakes her head ever-so-slightly, the smile never fading, and as the tape player hidden under the paopu tree begins to play a tune, she sighs happily, wrapping her arm almost around his neck and laying her head on his shoulder.
He is surprised, she knows, but he recovers soon enough, curling his arm tighter around her waist. 'You look—' he starts, but his voice is so hoarse that he has to stop and start again. 'You look gorgeous.'
She looks up at him with an almost shy smile. 'Thank you,' she murmurs, leaning her head back to his shoulder. She starts to say something more, but doesn't know what words will accomplish, and so she remains silent for several moments, feet moving without thought to the beat of the music. She wonders what thoughts are running through his head, wonders if he has the courage to do what she so desperately wants. She doesn't know.
She doesn't know . . .
The song on the tape finishes; there are several moments of silence before the next will start up again. She raises her head from his shoulder, looking up at him, looking at the anxiousness in his eyes. He wants to, she knows, but he's afraid to—afraid that she would rebuke him for it?
She will not initiate this.
'Kairi?'
The question is quiet, his voice almost wavering and cracking. She smiles again, leaning into his shoulder yet again. 'Yes?'
He swallows hard, Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and licks his lips before beginning. 'Kairi . . . would it be a horrible thing for me to kiss you?'
She smiles again, eyes closing as she replies, 'No. That would be simply wonderful.'
So kiss me
His fingers tilt her chin upwards gently, and his lips slowly touch to hers, such a gently brush she isn't sure he's kissing her. She rises up onto her tiptoes, a hand on either of his shoulders to steady herself, startling him as she deepens the kiss. She doesn't push the kiss any further than mere contact; there will be plenty of time for that on later days.
So kiss me
As she lowers back to the ground, his eyes open slowly, a crooked smile coming to his lips. 'You were waiting for that, weren't you?' he accuses, still looking awed.
She shrugs. 'Next time, I lead and you follow. Then maybe we'll get to that part sooner.'
Riku just grins.
