Kiss Paralysis

We're shining near paradise, we're an untrue shining.

Chapter 10, Tinsel Evening

"There's nothing I want more than to be here, with you."

Sora couldn't find the nerve to say it to Kairi. When he was young, probably around three or four he used to hear his father say that to his mother. When he finally realized the significance and impact of what his father said he swore he'd say it to that oh-so-certain-someone one day, someday. He twiddled his thumbs as he overlooked the evening scenery. He rested his hands in his lap and then lifted his hand to message the injury had gone away just like Riku.

The fireflies were floating glitter in the air and Sora was going through thoughts of retrospect, "Hmm."

"It'll be any day now," Kairi placed a hand on Sora's shoulders, "I can't wait Sora," she took a seat beside him on the stoop.

"Yeah, I can't wait either," Sora replied in the same euphoric tone.

The topic of what happened between Riku and Sora hadn't been brought up in conversation since the last time he was seen and the last time he was seen was when he argued with Kairi, which was exactly three weeks ago. She called time after time yet no one picked up. Night after night the windows at Riku's house were left black. Day after day the screen door remained locked and closed.

"I tried to get a hold of him again," she said, knowing what Sora was thinking about, his happiness seeming too passionate to be honest.

Sora blinked, "Oh really?"

"Yes, no one picked up again, I'm sorry Sora, it was my fault for jumping to conclusions like that, I just, I was so worried about you," her apology was sincere despite its haste, "I felt that I needed to blame someone and it was wrong of me to blame Riku."

He understood, he completely understood, that was a completely logical explanation, "It's OK, don't let it bother you," he brushed back the bangs that curtained her eyes and kissed her forehead.

"Hey--why da' long faces? You guys are 'boutta get married!" Wakka was about fifteen meters away down the street, being followed by the company of Tidus, Selphie, and a blitz ball.

Tidus balanced the ball on his index finger as he approached the two, "Ready for next week?"

Kairi nodded and giggled as she watched Selphie attempt to steal the ball away from Tidus, "Yep, everything is all ready, just got to rehearse this weekend."

"I guess he hasn't came around yet," Wakka mentioned, noticing Sora's somewhat solemn expression.

"Oh who? Riku?" Sora questioned.

"Hey man, don't worry about it!" Tidus said giving a hearty man slap on Sora's back, "He's bound to show up, you've guys been pals since who knows how long."

Sometimes when Tidus said things were going to work out you'd end up believing it, "Thanks Tidus."

Selphie who finally managed to pull the blitz ball from Tidus's super-ultimate-stubborn grip urged Kairi and Sora to stand up, "C'mon now, let's go spend the night on our island like we used to!"

"Been a while since we did that, ya?" Wakka asked as he caught the blitz ball as Selphie threw it in mid air.

Sora grinned, "Good idea! I think we still have some marshmallows in the cabinet . . ."

"Let's hurry up and load the boat before it gets too dark to see," Kairi immediately began to go inside and gather their necessities for staying the night on the island.

"C'mon Sora, we'll go get our fishing poles!" Tidus beckoned him to follow the path to his house, Wakka in the lead.

He nodded and jumped up from his wistful and lethargic sitting position on the stoop. The trio of boys grabbed every little thing they used to bring when they were kids, fishing poles, nets, buckets, wooden swords, flash lights, all of it. The sky was a cross between lavender and blue when they finally finished. Loading the boat didn't take long considering their vigor and eagerness to live their childhood once more. The ride to the island was quite pleasant, the water was calm, the breezes were refreshing, and the sea aroma didn't smell like rotting fish.

Once on the island Selphie and Kairi went to their special shed where they kept their immense stocks of firewood, going to the old bon fire and setting up the logs in a methodic order, "Where's the lighter?' asked Selphie, her hands on her hips.

"Right here, catch!" Tidus threw it to her and it slipped from her hands two times before she actually caught it.

She lit the fire and everyone encircled the dancing flames, watching the orange light wiggle above the logs. Once settled with blankets and marshmallows the group engaged into their normal talk.

"So who gets to tell the ghost story first this time?" asked Kairi as she rested her head on Sora's shoulder, the two of them sharing a fuzzy woolen blanket.

"Who told it last time?" asked Sora.

"I think it was Wakka," Tidus answered.

"Then it should be Riku's turn!" Selphie said out of reflex.

The entire party fell silent, the awkwardness catching them by the throat.

"I guess I'll go in his honor," declared Kairi as she placed a marshmallow onto a stick and began to roast it.

"Alright," Selphie did the same.

She stared contemplatively at the fire, trying to find the scariest story in her mind to start the night out, "OK! I've got one!"

The small talk quickly ceased so Kairi's story could be projected and heard correctly.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat and took a nibble from her warmed marshmallow, "There once was a man and a lady who lived in the country side and they--"

"We've heard this one already!" Tidus complained as he munched on his burnt-crispy marshmallow.

"It's different, trust me," Kairi assured.

"Geez, why can't you just let her talk?" asked Selphie, peeved.

"Anyways, they were deeply in love the two of them . . ."

"Pff, figures--ouch!" the mutterings of Tidus always meant pain afterwards.

Sora laughed lightly at their petty verbal fight, listening as Kairi tried to tell her ghost story, but it seemed to be losing its magic due to Tidus and Selphie.

Wakka rolled his eyes and shifted his seat to a different area, wiping the sand off his bum.

"Hey Wakka, I think there's some chairs in the huts, I'll go get some for you," Sora offered.

"Really? Thanks man," Wakka stood up, "Need me to go with you?"

"No, enjoy the 'ghost' story."

Wakka took a seat on the ground, chuckling at Sora's sarcasm, "OK."

Sora walked slowly on the sandy beach towards the huts, enjoying the smell of nature, and pausing momentarily to look at the waterfall. Whistling idly he pulled the door open and grabbed the extra chairs. Funny, they seemed to be bigger before. He grabbed two of them and began to drag them back to the direction of the orange glow and cacophony of arguments.

So what should I tell when it's my turn, I wonder if anyone would remember that one story I told a long time ago, Riku probably would but Riku isn't here.

He stopped and looked at the ground, watching a little hermit crab crawl by. This wasn't the time to be thinking about him. Even when he was happy he was thinking about Riku. Sighing, he began to drag the chairs again. When he arrived he handed one of the chairs to Wakka but the other chair that he had reserved for Kairi was snatched from his hands.

"Just because you're so stupid and you can't even prove your points I'm taking this chair!" Selphie scolded firmly setting her buttocks on it.

"No you're not! You know just as well as me that the beast kidnapped the kids first then the wives!" Tidus countered trying to pull it from under Selphie.

"You big dummy! They kidnapped the wives so the children would go looking after their mothers!"

"Are you guys talking about the story that I told that one ti--"

"Yes!" they replied in an aggravated unison.

Kairi shook her head and took the blanket from around her and set it upon the sand, sitting upon it, "They've been going at it ever since you left."

Wakka seemed to be trying to laugh as discreetly and as unnoticeably as possible but it didn't seem to work at times and he would receive a glare from either of the two. Suddenly Wakka's small chuckles came to an abrupt end and his eyes transfixed on the far east end of the island, Sora had noticed the disturbance at the same time as Wakka and grew quiet too, Kairi caught on right after. As for Tidus and Selphie it took two to three minutes for them to notice that the rest had grown still.

"Who is that?" whispered Kairi.

"I don't know," answered Selphie, "C-could it be that ghost they say th-that haunts Destiny Island w-with one leg?"

"You're letting your imagination get away wid' you," Wakka replied dully.

While everyone was trying to make sense out of the dark mirage before them Sora knew.

"Riku . . . that's Riku!" Selphie kicked off her sandals and began to run in the direction of the dark silvery figure.

Kairi soon ruefully followed after her female companion and both of the girls gave Riku a tight embrace.

"Did you get my messages?" asked Kairi, tears in her eyes, "I didn't mean what I said, I promise!"

Riku nodded empathetically, "Kairi, I can always forgive you."

"I'm sorry!" she apologized and hugged him tightly once more.

Sora stood farthest away from Riku the rest of them huddled around him in a merry reunion. Though everyone's faces were lightened with the happiness of having the entire party together like old times none of them were as happy as Sora. Their happiness had no equality with Sora's happiness. Despite his seemingly stoic expression he was glad. Very glad.

A/N: Sorry it took a while for me to update this. I thought I wouldn't be able to continue it cause I couldn't think up the rest of the plot line but I think I have something so I've made it my ambition to finish this! Please review or I'll just forget about the entire idea of the rest of the plot and work on something else. Thanks to those who kept up with the story and reviewed.

Disclaimer: No, I still don't own Kingdom Hearts, I can't believe Square-Enix won't give it to me, I mean, it'd be in good hands if I owned it.