Disclaimer: I love this game but sadly I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any
of the characters otherwise I would be rich living off in some place
beautiful like Hawaii.
Parings: Sora/Riku because they rule together.
Warnings: This fic is an AU and a YAOI (which means male/male relationships). R for language, adult behavior, and sexual stuff in later chapters. So, if you feel that this not what you had in mind then please proceed to the next story and do not read mine. Otherwise enjoy and dream of Riku and Sora kissing.
First off, I want to thank everyone who reviewed and left me feeling really good about myself. I'll be honest, I wasn't really expecting that. Thanks. Anyway...So have fun and hope 'ya' like because me like lots...me like writing it lots.
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:::Chapter 1- New Morning:::
"Sweet dreams, Sei."
Those were the last words I registered before I slipped into deep sleep.
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
"What?! Where?"
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
Disoriented I immediately shoot up out of my cocoon made of sheets only to see big red numbers glaring right back at me.
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
6:00am. Why the hell would I set the alarm for SIX AM?!
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
"Dammit! Fucking alarm!" I hiss smashing the top of the alarm. Blissful silence follows.
"I hope you break one of these days you little electronic bastard." With that said my head dramatically falls back against my pillow in hopes that sleep will find me quickly. However, luck was not on my side today. Morning light slowly creeps across my floor until it reaches the side of my face hitting me square in the eyes.
"Naugh. Sleep." I mumble irritably.
Nothing.
Rrrrrr. Must go back to sleep.
Nothing.
I stay still for a few more minutes.
Nothing.
Fine, I give up. My feet attempt to find the edge of the bed. Once there, I swing my legs up and over the blankets until I am sitting upright. I absently running my hands through my silver tresses hoping somehow to jump start my brain. :::YAWN:::
6:00am. Why 6:00am...on my day off too. Seems getting older every year entails getting up earlier and earlier as well. My mom would scold me if she heard me think that. Riku, honey, nothing under thirty is old.
:::sigh::: Whatever, mom.
The few times Sky and I talked about our lives outside of our dreams, she related to me that she needed four alarms to wake up in the morning. I didn't enquire any deeper but who in the world needs four alarms? I mean Wakka, one of my roommates and close friend, needs only two alarms and it takes a grenade to get him up. I and my other roommate and also close friend, Tidus, have quite a time of getting his ass out of bed so he can make work on time. Not that we really care if Wakka gets up or not but if it endangers rent, nothing is sacred. I mean nothing.
:::chuckle::: That's a story I'll have to tell Sky about, sometime.
:::YAWN::: Must have had a good reason for me to wake myself this early.
Um...rrrr...nope my brain's still mush.
By the way, if you haven't already guessed, my name is Riku. I'm 27 and living on my own with two friends of mine, Tidus and Wakka. They're good guys. We've been sharing a small house just off the main shoreline of Destiny Isles for about 2 years now.
Physically, I'm in great shape with wiry muscles and very quick in movements. Tidus has virtually the same build as I do. Wakka on the other hand is well defined from playing blitzball all day and strong as an ox. He looks the part too. We LOVE to tease him pretty much every other day because of that, poor bastard.
:::chuckle::: Now I think I'm starting to wake up.
My height...well...to say the least, I'm very tall. I tower over all of my friends and family members at 6'5". Not too sure how I got my height since it was definitely not from either my late father, who was at 5'11", nor my mother at 4'11". Thank god I didn't get her genes. I think I would have to kill myself. How bad can it be? Well, case and point, my mom from a distance looks like a twelve year old girl especially when she's driving. Can't count how many times the cops have pulled her over for under age driving. I pity the police; my mom has a fiery temper and doesn't really take much to set her off.
What I did inherit from her was the fair skin and oddly enough, silver hair. You think it's kind of weird having silver hair? Believe me I know. I'm not too fond of it but damn if all the female population finds it alluring. Don't misunderstand me, LOVE the women. LOVE the attention and the dates I can get at the drop of a hat but it makes things difficult when you least expect it. Like seven ex-girlfriends at one of Wakka's 21st birthday bashes. What happened? Nothing that I ever want to experience again. Let's just say that there was a lot of alcohol, loose mouths, tempers flying, nails scratching, pulling hair, and a very scared Riku in hiding.
Wonder what Sky would think if she ever saw me in the real world. Would she find me attractive?
:::YAWN:::
Better get some coffee.
I make my way into the kitchen using my last reserves of energy. The legs attached to my lethargic body were still waking up making my journey more of an adventure. Multiple times I'd lose my footing after grazing over the round surface of randomly discarded beer bottles. Thanks to my naturally quick reflexes I am able to rapidly gain back my balance.
I stop for a second to map out the safest course to my destination. Empty bottles were littered everywhere. Placed in front of the television I notice a bowl containing a few remaining chips that had escaped consumption. I guess the guys were up late last night.
Our house isn't big but it is enough for the three of us to live comfortably and more importantly it was ours. What the house didn't have, it made up by the fantastic view directly outside our door. We live with the beach right at our front steps. Every night you could clearly hear the constant lapping of the gentle waves of the sea.
Wakka, Tidus, and I were born and raised on what we call the Destiny Isles. This is place is made up of three major islands with a dozen surrounding smaller isles sporadically sprinkled around. It's really beautiful here, breathtaking actually. The weather does not change much; it varies from 74 to 80 Fahrenheit. A native tribe that Wakka and Ansem, my sister's lover, come from says that the air is the breath of Yevon, their God. As long the sea is warm and the air is constant their God's children are blessed. Whatever, all I know is that we only have two seasons, mass quantities of rain and no rain. The rest is commentary.
All plants that grow here are different from island to island. Not one is repeated or shared. A great example is the paopu tree. The tree grows only on Makko Isle. It's ordinary looking by normal standards but when it blooms, its flowers give off an incredible fragrance that smells better than any perfume aspires to copy. There is also the special legend about the fruit the paopu bares. Lovers from all over Destiny Isles enjoy participating in the local mythos surrounding the tree but that is something I really don't pay much attention to. God, I love sitting by those trees though. The always make a great place to relax and think.
I try to tell Sky about the tree and its fruit but I'm not very good at articulating myself in front of her on subjects like that. It's kind of idiotic if I think about it too much. It would be better if I could show her but I still can't control the dreamscape as well as she can. Maybe I can get her to help me practice again. I really think she would love to see a piece of where I live.
:::YAWN::: right...coffee...back to the present and less sap.
"Nice boxers, Riku."
I immediately look up and find both my roommates sitting at the table with two unopened bottles of beer. PSHHHHT. Scratch that...two opened bottles of beer. "What about my boxers." I swish my hips and tilt my head in coy manner. I look directly at Tidus and smile seductively. "Like what you see, Tidus?"
"Oh yeeesss. Lovable teddy bears are such a turn on. I'm hard as we speak." He walks up to me as he says all this. When he closes in on me, he begins to run a lone finger slowly from my collarbone across my neckline to the other side. I shiver in spite of the joke. "You want to take this somewhere where we won't embarrass our friend, Wakka?"
I drape my arm around his shoulder placing my body almost directly in front of his. "but?...I think Wakka wants us to share.." I start to pout dramatically looking straight at Wakka. I am desperately trying to hold back my laughter. The look I am receiving from him is priceless. That's when Tidus turns around to glance at our other roommate and we both bust out laughing. Wakka is thoroughly embarrassed. "Man, you guys freak me out every time you joke around with that FEY stuff."
"Worth it every time too, dude." I say instantly releasing Tidus and return my full attention to the coffee brewing. We both love to yank Wakka's chain. It's too easy. Tidus and I are not gay, far cry from it...really. It's just the easiest button to push on him and it works no matter how many times we taunt him.
Tidus and Wakka go back to their drinks from before. They voice their cheers then begin to chug.
After filling my cup with caffeine, I join my buddies at the table. They're both close to finishing their drinks. I stare at them for second then shake my head in disbelief. "Starting early aren't we?
Wakka scoots over his chair to allow room for me sit. He immediately offers me a beer. I decline waving my hand, "No, thanks." He shrugs and he looks towards Tidus giving him a confirming nod, "Well ya, man. We're both getting rid of a hangover." Tidus shakes his head with a smile, "He's getting rid of his for work while I never stopped drinking." PSHHHT. They open two more. "Cheers." I go back to consuming my now luke warm beverage ignoring them.
"What's your excuse, Riku?" I look at Wakka with a questioning look. "6:00am. What the hell, man. I thought it was your day off?"
"Yeah, It is, I just can't remember why I set the alarm. Must have had a good reason though."
Tidus places his second beer down. "Play blitzball?"
"Nope."
"Meeting a girl?"
"I wish."
"Boyfriend?"
"Fuck you."
"Enjoying your rights to be girly and see the sunrise?"
"What?"
"Get to the stores on time to buy more MANLY boxers?"
"What the...?"
"Make up with Ansem and become wonderful pals."
"Ah HELL NO. You will NEVER catch me saying anything nice to that piece of wasted space if my life depended on it. I HATE that mo...
"Just a thought a man." Tidus interjects.
...ucker. If he was hauled off to jail and was placed inside a dark dank box for the rest of his lowly life becoming the prisoners' perpetual boy toy, I would die happy...
"Sucks that he's your brother-in-law."
"Shut up. That asshole is not my anything. There is no way that I will ever be related to that fool. He is my sister's lover and that's all. Nothing more."
Wakka's face brightens considerably with the last statement. "Ya man, have to agree with you there. He's a temporary fix."
I'm standing now slapping the back of my fellow comrade. "Yeah, Wakka, he's just a piece of tissue paper my sister is using to wipe her nose and discard when finished."
"Ya!" Wakka yells excitedly like he was some warrior coming out of a battle victorious.
"There is the tiny little fact that Ansem is the father of her children." Tidus quickly chimes in.
I stop for moment and consider that, "Well..ok..there is that."
Tidus finishes the rest of his beer, smacking it against the table making ring with a dull thump and smiles happily. Wakka just looks as if he had been defeated utterly from the greatest battle he'd ever fought. Poor guy. He still has strong feelings for my baby sister Kairi. In their early teens, it started out as a crush and now he is hopelessly in love.
I honestly think they would have made a great couple if Wakka had grown balls to ask her out before that lowlife cuss. Ansem had swept her off her feet with his smooth talk and confident playboy looks. They didn't date long until she was pregnant with twins. Subsequently, she dropped out of school when they were born. Her father, my step-father, was pissed but insisted they move in together and marry. Ansem never married her and they still live with our parents to this day. He uses her as a safe haven for the games he plays with everyone including 'other' lovers. There's not a day that goes by that I don't see the hurt of Kairi's face and the rage that gathers within me.
Sky has saved me so many times from maiming that piece of shit. She doesn't know the specifics but it always helps to have her near comforting me in my dreams. I love her for that. Thank you, Sora. You are my life's blood. I hope to touch you in life one of these days, but I digress...back to Kiari and shit head...The only thing good that comes from that relationship is the children, Squall and Quitis...I stop my internal ranting for a moment...One thought pops into my head. The twins...SHIT!!!!
"THE CHIDREN! I remember now." I say excitedly. "I'm to baby-sit them today so Kairi can have a day off."
Wakka suddenly looks like an animal struck dumb by two headlights of a car on the verge of flight or freight. That boy's got it bad. "So...so Kiari is coming here? Like here like right now?...now as in a few minutes?"
I scratch my head pretending to be indifferent. I love seeing him squirm. Man, I hope one of these days he gets his act together and be the man Kiari needs. I start to look very interested in my nails and respond. "Uh...yeah. Think so. What's up, big boy?" Tidus only smiles at me knowing full well what I'm doing.
Here comes the freight stage. "Oh shit, dude. She'll be here any moment!" The oversized ox stands up looking around running his hands through his hair in desperation. His eyes continue to dilate every second. Not sure that's possible, hope he doesn't have a heart attack before little sis gets here. Hehehe. I take that back, that would give us more food to give him shit about for the rest of the year assuming of course he survives. I know. I'm a callous bastard.
"There's bottles everywhere. Tidus! Help me clean, ya?"
"No, ya?" Tidus holds his beer up high in a salute, his smile growing wider.
Wakka frowns until his eyes hit my attire. "Dammit, Riku. Get some clothes on!"
"Wakka, this is clothes." I sigh as if I was the teacher scolding the student. "Who cares? She's my sister. There's practically nothing she hasn't seen." Wakka's getting pissed now. "On there other hand I'm sure you wish that..." Before I could finish I was cut short by the hammering upon our door.
:::KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK:::
:::KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK:::
Rushing to the door, I quickly open it to see who's making all the commotion and find myself looking down straight into the biggest blue eyes staring right back at me. Little Squall was caught in mid-motion when he discovered the door was no longer in front of him but instead in its place his uncle. He smiles instantly upon seeing my face. I wink in return and look just beyond the little boy and spot Quitis shyly smiling with her hands in a death grip on Kiari's pants. The twins love their uncle and their uncle loves his niece and nephew. A smile already forming grows when I see their mother, my half sister, Kiari. We both have the same mother but different fathers. When my father died my mother remarried two years later and had Kiari the following year. I never looked at my mother's new relationship in any other way other than positive.
Cid, my second father, was a very eccentric man to the public but to my mother he was gentle and fair and loved me as one of his own. When I found out mother was pregnant and I was to have another sibling, I was ecstatic.
Although we are related, Kiari and I look very different. She has brilliant red hair cropped in a very fashionable style with blue eyes peaking through her bangs. She did indeed inherit the family height, very short. She is still cute for her age. Now I'm not saying that she is old but the years as a mother has add time to appearance beyond her chronological age, especially having that shit head of a father for her children.
The twins are very different. They are five years old and both share the same eyes as their mother but, Squall has chocolate brown with streaks of silver, from his grandmother no doubt, and Quitis had fair blonde hair almost coming from her father, Ansem. They make the cutest pair.
I open the door further inviting them to come inside. I ruffle Squall's hair affectionately. He intensely scowls and tries to remove my hand. "He's full of energy today, huh, Kiari?" With that I swing Quitis up into the air spinning her around a few times eliciting a squeal of delight.
"Yeah, you could say that. He's in full form today. I wouldn't give him any sugar." Kiari frowns when she really takes a good look at me and my lack of clothes. "Riku, you forgot didn't you? You forgot we were coming over this morning," she accused.
"What?!" I follow her line of sight to my boxers and shrugged. "NOooo. I just got distracted antagonizing poor Wakka." Kiari starts at the mentioning of his name and looks over in his direction. My roomate is in the kitchen looking a little embarrassed. He shyly gazes at her and a blush begins to creep up his face. "Hey girl. How's it been going?"
"Not too bad. Glad I got to see you this morning. Doing well?
He breaks eye contact. "Can't complain."
"Hey Kiari!" Tidus bolts out of nowhere and engulfs her into a huge bear hug full of affection. She is always the sister he never had and is just as protective as I am. He would never vocalize it but he hates Ansem with a burning passion as well. "How about me? Aren't you going to ask about me?"
Kiari chuckles and her eyes soften with humor. "Hey Tidus. Not too sure anyone could forget you." After she is released she motions for her children to come towards her. Both twin start to protest when their mother gives them big strawberry kisses on each one's cheek. "Okay, sweethearts. You listen to everything Uncle Riku says and behave. No running off or crossing the streets or talking to strangers AND Squall you treat sister nicely. Understand me?" The last question was said in a very stern voice.
In unison, "But mommmmmm."
"No buts. Now let me talk to Uncle Riku for a second."
The twins yell before running of to other parts of the house. "OKAY!!!!"
"Riku, you sure you don't mind me dropping them off like this?"
"Geez, Kiari. It's cool. You know it is." I walk up to embrace her matching Tidus from earlier. "You're a good mom and you DO deserve a day off at least once in while. So enjoy it with Selphie or who ever else you decide to hang out with." I kiss her on the forehead hoping she would let my words sink into that thick skull of hers. "Now get the hell out of here. Iz gots thangs to do." She smiles brightly and gives me one more hug before stepping away and saying her goodbyes as she leaves our house. God, one of theses days her life will get better. She just needs to hang in there and hopefully Ansem will fall off a cliff or something equivalent.
Looking over where Wakka is standing and I take notice that his eyes still staring at the place Kiari had just been few seconds before she left the house. He's hopeless.. Tidus and I are going to have to do something about him and his secret and that may have to be sooner than later.
"Hey, Wakka, when you're ready to go to work, the kids and I are going with you."
"Ya?"
"Yeah, I was thinking today would be a good day to show them the dolphins."
Tidus gets excited after hearing this. "Hey dude, let me join you. Maybe later we can start a small game of blitzball."
Absently scratch my chest I shrug again, "Sure, that would be cool. It's time the little heathens learn about the greatest game of Destiny Isles."
Tilting his watch to see the current time, his ox like friend eyes widen with shock. "Shit guys. We better get going if we're to make the ferry."
In stereo, "AH!! YOU SAY BAD WUUUURD!!!"
I smack the palm of hand against my forehead letting out an exasperate sigh. I pinch my lips together forming a scowl across my face and whip around looking straight at the offender. He inadvertently steps back from the glare I was giving him. "Now, you've done it, ox boy," I growl. The look I received was one of pure innocence. Fucker. Right now I'm wishing I am back in bed blissfully asleep and in lying in Sky's arms. I miss her already.
"What? What'd I do?" he said.
Idiot. What'd he do? Well for the last half hour until we were seated on the ferry boat making our way across the sea, Wakka's 'bad word' was all the twins would focus on. On and on and on they would go, chastising us forever and a day for our bad language. It's cute the first five minutes but then all you want to do is rip all your hair out in frustration trying to find any way to shut the little buggers up while still remaining the nice uncle. Next time I see Kiari, I need talk to her about their obsessive nature. When Squall and Quitis both center in on something, anything they don't stop until they get what they want or their attention falls on something else. Thankfully that is exactly is what's happening when I show them the birds circling above.
We are traveling further away from the shoreline and the sea gulls are flying high above singing their song in tribute to the sea. I hand the twins some bread to tear up in little chunks. I teach them how to toss up the individual pieces in the directions of the birds, high enough so the birds have time to react. At first they didn't quite get it throwing a hand full up. I didn't mean to bust out laughing. A few minutes go by and they both seem to learn and start gleefully laughing as they feed the birds. The sea gulls with each toss would node dive quickly snatching the morsel out of the sky and gracefully return to their respective distance eyeing the two kids for the next present. I stand next them watching and making sure they don't get too close the edge of the boat. Tidus soon walks up next to us and happily joins the twins in their mission, throwing crumbs high above the birds making them change the tactics swoop up competing against one another for their prize.
I lean into the railing losing myself to the sensation of the wind running through my hair and caressing my face. The smell of the sea hits my nose causing me to inhale deeply. I love the sea. I love everything about it. I love the fact it mirrors the sky and its ever changing colors like the way the dreamscape changes with Sora's moods and desires. I always thought it was poetic that my name meant the sea. The locals would call it a sign from the Gods that I was chosen by the sea to be its counterpart in living form, like a soul mate. The very idea of someone born to belong to you makes me leak tears at times. I guess it upsets me to think that the one person I desire out of the myriad of people I have dated and had sex with does not exist. My heart aches with the knowledge. Calm down Riku. Don't think about it and you won't feel the pain. Out of sight, out of mind. Right? I ought to kick the ass of the dude that came up with that little colloquialism because it doesn't work.
Taking another deep breathe, I stop brooding and start to look at the passengers around me. There are a lot more people on the ferry today. There must have been a plane that came in from one of the main islands bringing in more guests to stay at the resort on Teca Isle. More business for us and that's always good. The resort probably makes up the main commerce here at Destiny Isles. Almost everyone works at the resort. Wakka is the main instructor for recreations and teaching blizball. Kiari and butt munch work there too. Tidus is self employed creating websites online for people all over. He's the local geek. I, myself, work at a local mom and pop café on the same island. Even though the café is inside the resort it is separately owned by the Raven family. It's not a bad place to work and more importantly it pays the rent.
Arriving at our destination, my eyes travel lazily over random faces passing by as people are exiting the ferry boat. Everyone who comes here, they're all the same. They all want to escape from their worries to only go back a week later and have nothing change. Stress returns and none of their problems resolved.
Still in my own world, I'm caught off guard when something familiar catches my eye. A guy walks by and turns his head in my direction not really looking at anything. For a moment we lock eyes and sapphire meets emerald. My breathe hitches involuntarily at the sight. What's going on? My hearts is racing. It feels like it's about to burst. I grab my shirt in response.
"Uncle Riku?"
I'm distracted momentarily by a tiny voice seeking my attention. I look down at little Squall. He is grabbing his pants in front with a distress look on his face. "Uncle Riku, I gotta go peeeee." Now he's bounces to emphasize his dilemma. I quickly look back up searching for the cause of my strange reaction but he was gone. The ferry was pretty much deserted except for me and the little boy now using both hands to hold his pants.
Upset at nothing and feeling defeated I answer the boys call, "Sure, Squall. Let's get you to a restroom and meet up with the others."
"Um, Uncle Riku?"
"Yeah, what's up squirt?"
"Can we see dolphins today?"
"That's the plan."
"Uncle Riku?"
:::sigh:: "Huh?"
"I like swimming with dolphins."
I look down at the cute boy ruffling his hair affectionately. "Yeah, me too. Let's find you a restroom first."
As we walk off the ferry, I can't help but wonder what exactly I had seen. Those eyes, they were like just like Sky's; the same impossible blue. Who was he?
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Well, there's the first chapter. I thought about making them shorter and post more often but I decided that that won't really work for me. I had outlined most of what I want to happen and shorter chapters are going to confuse me. I guess what I'm saying is chapter 2 won't be posted until about two to three weeks from now. I desperately need to finish the fifth chapter of my comic book so....:::sniff::: :::sniff::: I promise in the next chapter Sora and Riku will meet but I'm not telling you any more.........(insert evil laugh)
Parings: Sora/Riku because they rule together.
Warnings: This fic is an AU and a YAOI (which means male/male relationships). R for language, adult behavior, and sexual stuff in later chapters. So, if you feel that this not what you had in mind then please proceed to the next story and do not read mine. Otherwise enjoy and dream of Riku and Sora kissing.
First off, I want to thank everyone who reviewed and left me feeling really good about myself. I'll be honest, I wasn't really expecting that. Thanks. Anyway...So have fun and hope 'ya' like because me like lots...me like writing it lots.
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:::Chapter 1- New Morning:::
"Sweet dreams, Sei."
Those were the last words I registered before I slipped into deep sleep.
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
"What?! Where?"
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
Disoriented I immediately shoot up out of my cocoon made of sheets only to see big red numbers glaring right back at me.
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
6:00am. Why the hell would I set the alarm for SIX AM?!
Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa Eaaaaa
"Dammit! Fucking alarm!" I hiss smashing the top of the alarm. Blissful silence follows.
"I hope you break one of these days you little electronic bastard." With that said my head dramatically falls back against my pillow in hopes that sleep will find me quickly. However, luck was not on my side today. Morning light slowly creeps across my floor until it reaches the side of my face hitting me square in the eyes.
"Naugh. Sleep." I mumble irritably.
Nothing.
Rrrrrr. Must go back to sleep.
Nothing.
I stay still for a few more minutes.
Nothing.
Fine, I give up. My feet attempt to find the edge of the bed. Once there, I swing my legs up and over the blankets until I am sitting upright. I absently running my hands through my silver tresses hoping somehow to jump start my brain. :::YAWN:::
6:00am. Why 6:00am...on my day off too. Seems getting older every year entails getting up earlier and earlier as well. My mom would scold me if she heard me think that. Riku, honey, nothing under thirty is old.
:::sigh::: Whatever, mom.
The few times Sky and I talked about our lives outside of our dreams, she related to me that she needed four alarms to wake up in the morning. I didn't enquire any deeper but who in the world needs four alarms? I mean Wakka, one of my roommates and close friend, needs only two alarms and it takes a grenade to get him up. I and my other roommate and also close friend, Tidus, have quite a time of getting his ass out of bed so he can make work on time. Not that we really care if Wakka gets up or not but if it endangers rent, nothing is sacred. I mean nothing.
:::chuckle::: That's a story I'll have to tell Sky about, sometime.
:::YAWN::: Must have had a good reason for me to wake myself this early.
Um...rrrr...nope my brain's still mush.
By the way, if you haven't already guessed, my name is Riku. I'm 27 and living on my own with two friends of mine, Tidus and Wakka. They're good guys. We've been sharing a small house just off the main shoreline of Destiny Isles for about 2 years now.
Physically, I'm in great shape with wiry muscles and very quick in movements. Tidus has virtually the same build as I do. Wakka on the other hand is well defined from playing blitzball all day and strong as an ox. He looks the part too. We LOVE to tease him pretty much every other day because of that, poor bastard.
:::chuckle::: Now I think I'm starting to wake up.
My height...well...to say the least, I'm very tall. I tower over all of my friends and family members at 6'5". Not too sure how I got my height since it was definitely not from either my late father, who was at 5'11", nor my mother at 4'11". Thank god I didn't get her genes. I think I would have to kill myself. How bad can it be? Well, case and point, my mom from a distance looks like a twelve year old girl especially when she's driving. Can't count how many times the cops have pulled her over for under age driving. I pity the police; my mom has a fiery temper and doesn't really take much to set her off.
What I did inherit from her was the fair skin and oddly enough, silver hair. You think it's kind of weird having silver hair? Believe me I know. I'm not too fond of it but damn if all the female population finds it alluring. Don't misunderstand me, LOVE the women. LOVE the attention and the dates I can get at the drop of a hat but it makes things difficult when you least expect it. Like seven ex-girlfriends at one of Wakka's 21st birthday bashes. What happened? Nothing that I ever want to experience again. Let's just say that there was a lot of alcohol, loose mouths, tempers flying, nails scratching, pulling hair, and a very scared Riku in hiding.
Wonder what Sky would think if she ever saw me in the real world. Would she find me attractive?
:::YAWN:::
Better get some coffee.
I make my way into the kitchen using my last reserves of energy. The legs attached to my lethargic body were still waking up making my journey more of an adventure. Multiple times I'd lose my footing after grazing over the round surface of randomly discarded beer bottles. Thanks to my naturally quick reflexes I am able to rapidly gain back my balance.
I stop for a second to map out the safest course to my destination. Empty bottles were littered everywhere. Placed in front of the television I notice a bowl containing a few remaining chips that had escaped consumption. I guess the guys were up late last night.
Our house isn't big but it is enough for the three of us to live comfortably and more importantly it was ours. What the house didn't have, it made up by the fantastic view directly outside our door. We live with the beach right at our front steps. Every night you could clearly hear the constant lapping of the gentle waves of the sea.
Wakka, Tidus, and I were born and raised on what we call the Destiny Isles. This is place is made up of three major islands with a dozen surrounding smaller isles sporadically sprinkled around. It's really beautiful here, breathtaking actually. The weather does not change much; it varies from 74 to 80 Fahrenheit. A native tribe that Wakka and Ansem, my sister's lover, come from says that the air is the breath of Yevon, their God. As long the sea is warm and the air is constant their God's children are blessed. Whatever, all I know is that we only have two seasons, mass quantities of rain and no rain. The rest is commentary.
All plants that grow here are different from island to island. Not one is repeated or shared. A great example is the paopu tree. The tree grows only on Makko Isle. It's ordinary looking by normal standards but when it blooms, its flowers give off an incredible fragrance that smells better than any perfume aspires to copy. There is also the special legend about the fruit the paopu bares. Lovers from all over Destiny Isles enjoy participating in the local mythos surrounding the tree but that is something I really don't pay much attention to. God, I love sitting by those trees though. The always make a great place to relax and think.
I try to tell Sky about the tree and its fruit but I'm not very good at articulating myself in front of her on subjects like that. It's kind of idiotic if I think about it too much. It would be better if I could show her but I still can't control the dreamscape as well as she can. Maybe I can get her to help me practice again. I really think she would love to see a piece of where I live.
:::YAWN::: right...coffee...back to the present and less sap.
"Nice boxers, Riku."
I immediately look up and find both my roommates sitting at the table with two unopened bottles of beer. PSHHHHT. Scratch that...two opened bottles of beer. "What about my boxers." I swish my hips and tilt my head in coy manner. I look directly at Tidus and smile seductively. "Like what you see, Tidus?"
"Oh yeeesss. Lovable teddy bears are such a turn on. I'm hard as we speak." He walks up to me as he says all this. When he closes in on me, he begins to run a lone finger slowly from my collarbone across my neckline to the other side. I shiver in spite of the joke. "You want to take this somewhere where we won't embarrass our friend, Wakka?"
I drape my arm around his shoulder placing my body almost directly in front of his. "but?...I think Wakka wants us to share.." I start to pout dramatically looking straight at Wakka. I am desperately trying to hold back my laughter. The look I am receiving from him is priceless. That's when Tidus turns around to glance at our other roommate and we both bust out laughing. Wakka is thoroughly embarrassed. "Man, you guys freak me out every time you joke around with that FEY stuff."
"Worth it every time too, dude." I say instantly releasing Tidus and return my full attention to the coffee brewing. We both love to yank Wakka's chain. It's too easy. Tidus and I are not gay, far cry from it...really. It's just the easiest button to push on him and it works no matter how many times we taunt him.
Tidus and Wakka go back to their drinks from before. They voice their cheers then begin to chug.
After filling my cup with caffeine, I join my buddies at the table. They're both close to finishing their drinks. I stare at them for second then shake my head in disbelief. "Starting early aren't we?
Wakka scoots over his chair to allow room for me sit. He immediately offers me a beer. I decline waving my hand, "No, thanks." He shrugs and he looks towards Tidus giving him a confirming nod, "Well ya, man. We're both getting rid of a hangover." Tidus shakes his head with a smile, "He's getting rid of his for work while I never stopped drinking." PSHHHT. They open two more. "Cheers." I go back to consuming my now luke warm beverage ignoring them.
"What's your excuse, Riku?" I look at Wakka with a questioning look. "6:00am. What the hell, man. I thought it was your day off?"
"Yeah, It is, I just can't remember why I set the alarm. Must have had a good reason though."
Tidus places his second beer down. "Play blitzball?"
"Nope."
"Meeting a girl?"
"I wish."
"Boyfriend?"
"Fuck you."
"Enjoying your rights to be girly and see the sunrise?"
"What?"
"Get to the stores on time to buy more MANLY boxers?"
"What the...?"
"Make up with Ansem and become wonderful pals."
"Ah HELL NO. You will NEVER catch me saying anything nice to that piece of wasted space if my life depended on it. I HATE that mo...
"Just a thought a man." Tidus interjects.
...ucker. If he was hauled off to jail and was placed inside a dark dank box for the rest of his lowly life becoming the prisoners' perpetual boy toy, I would die happy...
"Sucks that he's your brother-in-law."
"Shut up. That asshole is not my anything. There is no way that I will ever be related to that fool. He is my sister's lover and that's all. Nothing more."
Wakka's face brightens considerably with the last statement. "Ya man, have to agree with you there. He's a temporary fix."
I'm standing now slapping the back of my fellow comrade. "Yeah, Wakka, he's just a piece of tissue paper my sister is using to wipe her nose and discard when finished."
"Ya!" Wakka yells excitedly like he was some warrior coming out of a battle victorious.
"There is the tiny little fact that Ansem is the father of her children." Tidus quickly chimes in.
I stop for moment and consider that, "Well..ok..there is that."
Tidus finishes the rest of his beer, smacking it against the table making ring with a dull thump and smiles happily. Wakka just looks as if he had been defeated utterly from the greatest battle he'd ever fought. Poor guy. He still has strong feelings for my baby sister Kairi. In their early teens, it started out as a crush and now he is hopelessly in love.
I honestly think they would have made a great couple if Wakka had grown balls to ask her out before that lowlife cuss. Ansem had swept her off her feet with his smooth talk and confident playboy looks. They didn't date long until she was pregnant with twins. Subsequently, she dropped out of school when they were born. Her father, my step-father, was pissed but insisted they move in together and marry. Ansem never married her and they still live with our parents to this day. He uses her as a safe haven for the games he plays with everyone including 'other' lovers. There's not a day that goes by that I don't see the hurt of Kairi's face and the rage that gathers within me.
Sky has saved me so many times from maiming that piece of shit. She doesn't know the specifics but it always helps to have her near comforting me in my dreams. I love her for that. Thank you, Sora. You are my life's blood. I hope to touch you in life one of these days, but I digress...back to Kiari and shit head...The only thing good that comes from that relationship is the children, Squall and Quitis...I stop my internal ranting for a moment...One thought pops into my head. The twins...SHIT!!!!
"THE CHIDREN! I remember now." I say excitedly. "I'm to baby-sit them today so Kairi can have a day off."
Wakka suddenly looks like an animal struck dumb by two headlights of a car on the verge of flight or freight. That boy's got it bad. "So...so Kiari is coming here? Like here like right now?...now as in a few minutes?"
I scratch my head pretending to be indifferent. I love seeing him squirm. Man, I hope one of these days he gets his act together and be the man Kiari needs. I start to look very interested in my nails and respond. "Uh...yeah. Think so. What's up, big boy?" Tidus only smiles at me knowing full well what I'm doing.
Here comes the freight stage. "Oh shit, dude. She'll be here any moment!" The oversized ox stands up looking around running his hands through his hair in desperation. His eyes continue to dilate every second. Not sure that's possible, hope he doesn't have a heart attack before little sis gets here. Hehehe. I take that back, that would give us more food to give him shit about for the rest of the year assuming of course he survives. I know. I'm a callous bastard.
"There's bottles everywhere. Tidus! Help me clean, ya?"
"No, ya?" Tidus holds his beer up high in a salute, his smile growing wider.
Wakka frowns until his eyes hit my attire. "Dammit, Riku. Get some clothes on!"
"Wakka, this is clothes." I sigh as if I was the teacher scolding the student. "Who cares? She's my sister. There's practically nothing she hasn't seen." Wakka's getting pissed now. "On there other hand I'm sure you wish that..." Before I could finish I was cut short by the hammering upon our door.
:::KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK:::
:::KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK:::
Rushing to the door, I quickly open it to see who's making all the commotion and find myself looking down straight into the biggest blue eyes staring right back at me. Little Squall was caught in mid-motion when he discovered the door was no longer in front of him but instead in its place his uncle. He smiles instantly upon seeing my face. I wink in return and look just beyond the little boy and spot Quitis shyly smiling with her hands in a death grip on Kiari's pants. The twins love their uncle and their uncle loves his niece and nephew. A smile already forming grows when I see their mother, my half sister, Kiari. We both have the same mother but different fathers. When my father died my mother remarried two years later and had Kiari the following year. I never looked at my mother's new relationship in any other way other than positive.
Cid, my second father, was a very eccentric man to the public but to my mother he was gentle and fair and loved me as one of his own. When I found out mother was pregnant and I was to have another sibling, I was ecstatic.
Although we are related, Kiari and I look very different. She has brilliant red hair cropped in a very fashionable style with blue eyes peaking through her bangs. She did indeed inherit the family height, very short. She is still cute for her age. Now I'm not saying that she is old but the years as a mother has add time to appearance beyond her chronological age, especially having that shit head of a father for her children.
The twins are very different. They are five years old and both share the same eyes as their mother but, Squall has chocolate brown with streaks of silver, from his grandmother no doubt, and Quitis had fair blonde hair almost coming from her father, Ansem. They make the cutest pair.
I open the door further inviting them to come inside. I ruffle Squall's hair affectionately. He intensely scowls and tries to remove my hand. "He's full of energy today, huh, Kiari?" With that I swing Quitis up into the air spinning her around a few times eliciting a squeal of delight.
"Yeah, you could say that. He's in full form today. I wouldn't give him any sugar." Kiari frowns when she really takes a good look at me and my lack of clothes. "Riku, you forgot didn't you? You forgot we were coming over this morning," she accused.
"What?!" I follow her line of sight to my boxers and shrugged. "NOooo. I just got distracted antagonizing poor Wakka." Kiari starts at the mentioning of his name and looks over in his direction. My roomate is in the kitchen looking a little embarrassed. He shyly gazes at her and a blush begins to creep up his face. "Hey girl. How's it been going?"
"Not too bad. Glad I got to see you this morning. Doing well?
He breaks eye contact. "Can't complain."
"Hey Kiari!" Tidus bolts out of nowhere and engulfs her into a huge bear hug full of affection. She is always the sister he never had and is just as protective as I am. He would never vocalize it but he hates Ansem with a burning passion as well. "How about me? Aren't you going to ask about me?"
Kiari chuckles and her eyes soften with humor. "Hey Tidus. Not too sure anyone could forget you." After she is released she motions for her children to come towards her. Both twin start to protest when their mother gives them big strawberry kisses on each one's cheek. "Okay, sweethearts. You listen to everything Uncle Riku says and behave. No running off or crossing the streets or talking to strangers AND Squall you treat sister nicely. Understand me?" The last question was said in a very stern voice.
In unison, "But mommmmmm."
"No buts. Now let me talk to Uncle Riku for a second."
The twins yell before running of to other parts of the house. "OKAY!!!!"
"Riku, you sure you don't mind me dropping them off like this?"
"Geez, Kiari. It's cool. You know it is." I walk up to embrace her matching Tidus from earlier. "You're a good mom and you DO deserve a day off at least once in while. So enjoy it with Selphie or who ever else you decide to hang out with." I kiss her on the forehead hoping she would let my words sink into that thick skull of hers. "Now get the hell out of here. Iz gots thangs to do." She smiles brightly and gives me one more hug before stepping away and saying her goodbyes as she leaves our house. God, one of theses days her life will get better. She just needs to hang in there and hopefully Ansem will fall off a cliff or something equivalent.
Looking over where Wakka is standing and I take notice that his eyes still staring at the place Kiari had just been few seconds before she left the house. He's hopeless.. Tidus and I are going to have to do something about him and his secret and that may have to be sooner than later.
"Hey, Wakka, when you're ready to go to work, the kids and I are going with you."
"Ya?"
"Yeah, I was thinking today would be a good day to show them the dolphins."
Tidus gets excited after hearing this. "Hey dude, let me join you. Maybe later we can start a small game of blitzball."
Absently scratch my chest I shrug again, "Sure, that would be cool. It's time the little heathens learn about the greatest game of Destiny Isles."
Tilting his watch to see the current time, his ox like friend eyes widen with shock. "Shit guys. We better get going if we're to make the ferry."
In stereo, "AH!! YOU SAY BAD WUUUURD!!!"
I smack the palm of hand against my forehead letting out an exasperate sigh. I pinch my lips together forming a scowl across my face and whip around looking straight at the offender. He inadvertently steps back from the glare I was giving him. "Now, you've done it, ox boy," I growl. The look I received was one of pure innocence. Fucker. Right now I'm wishing I am back in bed blissfully asleep and in lying in Sky's arms. I miss her already.
"What? What'd I do?" he said.
Idiot. What'd he do? Well for the last half hour until we were seated on the ferry boat making our way across the sea, Wakka's 'bad word' was all the twins would focus on. On and on and on they would go, chastising us forever and a day for our bad language. It's cute the first five minutes but then all you want to do is rip all your hair out in frustration trying to find any way to shut the little buggers up while still remaining the nice uncle. Next time I see Kiari, I need talk to her about their obsessive nature. When Squall and Quitis both center in on something, anything they don't stop until they get what they want or their attention falls on something else. Thankfully that is exactly is what's happening when I show them the birds circling above.
We are traveling further away from the shoreline and the sea gulls are flying high above singing their song in tribute to the sea. I hand the twins some bread to tear up in little chunks. I teach them how to toss up the individual pieces in the directions of the birds, high enough so the birds have time to react. At first they didn't quite get it throwing a hand full up. I didn't mean to bust out laughing. A few minutes go by and they both seem to learn and start gleefully laughing as they feed the birds. The sea gulls with each toss would node dive quickly snatching the morsel out of the sky and gracefully return to their respective distance eyeing the two kids for the next present. I stand next them watching and making sure they don't get too close the edge of the boat. Tidus soon walks up next to us and happily joins the twins in their mission, throwing crumbs high above the birds making them change the tactics swoop up competing against one another for their prize.
I lean into the railing losing myself to the sensation of the wind running through my hair and caressing my face. The smell of the sea hits my nose causing me to inhale deeply. I love the sea. I love everything about it. I love the fact it mirrors the sky and its ever changing colors like the way the dreamscape changes with Sora's moods and desires. I always thought it was poetic that my name meant the sea. The locals would call it a sign from the Gods that I was chosen by the sea to be its counterpart in living form, like a soul mate. The very idea of someone born to belong to you makes me leak tears at times. I guess it upsets me to think that the one person I desire out of the myriad of people I have dated and had sex with does not exist. My heart aches with the knowledge. Calm down Riku. Don't think about it and you won't feel the pain. Out of sight, out of mind. Right? I ought to kick the ass of the dude that came up with that little colloquialism because it doesn't work.
Taking another deep breathe, I stop brooding and start to look at the passengers around me. There are a lot more people on the ferry today. There must have been a plane that came in from one of the main islands bringing in more guests to stay at the resort on Teca Isle. More business for us and that's always good. The resort probably makes up the main commerce here at Destiny Isles. Almost everyone works at the resort. Wakka is the main instructor for recreations and teaching blizball. Kiari and butt munch work there too. Tidus is self employed creating websites online for people all over. He's the local geek. I, myself, work at a local mom and pop café on the same island. Even though the café is inside the resort it is separately owned by the Raven family. It's not a bad place to work and more importantly it pays the rent.
Arriving at our destination, my eyes travel lazily over random faces passing by as people are exiting the ferry boat. Everyone who comes here, they're all the same. They all want to escape from their worries to only go back a week later and have nothing change. Stress returns and none of their problems resolved.
Still in my own world, I'm caught off guard when something familiar catches my eye. A guy walks by and turns his head in my direction not really looking at anything. For a moment we lock eyes and sapphire meets emerald. My breathe hitches involuntarily at the sight. What's going on? My hearts is racing. It feels like it's about to burst. I grab my shirt in response.
"Uncle Riku?"
I'm distracted momentarily by a tiny voice seeking my attention. I look down at little Squall. He is grabbing his pants in front with a distress look on his face. "Uncle Riku, I gotta go peeeee." Now he's bounces to emphasize his dilemma. I quickly look back up searching for the cause of my strange reaction but he was gone. The ferry was pretty much deserted except for me and the little boy now using both hands to hold his pants.
Upset at nothing and feeling defeated I answer the boys call, "Sure, Squall. Let's get you to a restroom and meet up with the others."
"Um, Uncle Riku?"
"Yeah, what's up squirt?"
"Can we see dolphins today?"
"That's the plan."
"Uncle Riku?"
:::sigh:: "Huh?"
"I like swimming with dolphins."
I look down at the cute boy ruffling his hair affectionately. "Yeah, me too. Let's find you a restroom first."
As we walk off the ferry, I can't help but wonder what exactly I had seen. Those eyes, they were like just like Sky's; the same impossible blue. Who was he?
~~***~~*~~***~~*~~***~~*~~***~~*~~***~~*~~***~~*~~***~~*~~***~~*~~
Well, there's the first chapter. I thought about making them shorter and post more often but I decided that that won't really work for me. I had outlined most of what I want to happen and shorter chapters are going to confuse me. I guess what I'm saying is chapter 2 won't be posted until about two to three weeks from now. I desperately need to finish the fifth chapter of my comic book so....:::sniff::: :::sniff::: I promise in the next chapter Sora and Riku will meet but I'm not telling you any more.........(insert evil laugh)