Kiss Paralysis
At one time, we had everyday.
Epilogue
A blitz ball was sent buzzing high into the tropical-blue sky and Tidus caught it in his arms and cradled it close to him as he raced to the crashing waves. The boys ran down the shoreline, kicking and tossing the ball about in a mad-flash-frenzy. If you were a fairly far distance you might distinguish them as the kids that they had been about five years ago. Even if they had all grown into their own fashions and developed into a sense of 'man' the adolescence remained inside every single one of them.
The same with the girls. When they found something funny, the same shiny charming smiles came across their delicate faces and their movements hadn't change a bit. A habit Kairi had yet to grow out of was grabbing her right arm whenever staring out into sea. With the addition of Naminé into their clique their girly-girl ways only enhanced.
"Hey aren't you guys hungry? Quit goofing off and come get some lunch!" Selphie yelled to boys, her hands resting on her hips in a motherly stance.
Tidus grinned and headed in the direction of the girls, "Coming Selphie!" he said obediently.
Sora looked at Wakka and Wakka looked back at him, they exchanged a mutual understanding in that one stare, both of them laughing in unison. No one really saw it coming but Tidus somehow got the nerve to ask Selphie on a date.
Selphie, of course, rejected at first but after some convincing from Kairi she gave in and the reasoning according to Selphie was, "I only listened to Kairi because she's my best friend," but everybody knew better than that. Selphie harbored feelings for Tidus she just had a difficult time admitting to them.
To everyone's surprise the first date didn't ignite the apocalypse and they'd actually been going pretty steady ever since then . Even with their fits and arguments their love was blatantly underneath every bitter word they screamed at each other. They were good for each other and that's what mattered.
Kairi moved over and gave room for Sora to take a seat, "Here," she offered.
He smiled in thanks for the seat and sat beside his wife and automatically wrapped his arm around her like good husbands often do.
Wakka had taken the seat where Riku would be, had he been there, "What's Riku up to?" he looked to Naminé as he took a bite of a turkey sandwich.
"Some pipes are broken inside the house, along with a window," she replied as she pulled out a sea-salt ice-cream bar and took a bite, "He said he'll try to be back before we go to the market to go shopping."
Tidus had hurriedly consumed his first sandwich and said, "Riku ought to take some time to have fun, he's always working on that house."
His girlfriend gave him an exasperated look, "At least he does work!" Selphie countered, scolding him.
Sora just smiled and chewed idly on his sandwich, not entirely hungry, "He put his heart into that house, he just wants to take care of it," somehow Riku's feelings always conveyed very smoothly to Sora, vice versa with Riku.
Kairi nodded, "Riku has always been that way," she agreed with Sora.
Sora glanced over to the sea and placed down his sandwich, getting that solitude, lonely-like feeling again, "I'm going to see if Riku needs any help," he announced as he brushed off the sand on his shorts.
"Alright," Kairi answered cheerfully as she stood to kiss Sora good-bye, "I'll see you soon then!"
"I'll meet you at the market place around three," Sora returned the affection.
He grinned and waved good-bye to everyone and they contagiously smiled and waved as well. Sora hadn't truly decided to see Riku despite that honest smile, instead Sora decided to wander to about the market place and look around there alone, there was something reassuring about wandering that busy place on your own.
Once he reached the market place, he first browsed around the knick-knack shop, watching the colored glass decorations catch the light in a multitude of blue, yellow, green, and red. He looked over the wooden carvings on an opposite shelf and smiled, the duck and dog resembled Donald and Goofy, and all the fond memories refilled his mind.
Sometimes whenever Sora saw a key, or even a shadow lurking behind a wall he longed to live adventurously again. When he returned home a few years ago he thought he extinguished any needs for adventure and that sealing all the worlds was enough but the hunger for journeying was permanently attached to his soul, manifesting silently.
He sighed and laughed to himself, those times are over with, he thought as he exited the store and then entered the pet store beside it. He meandered to the kitten pin and scooped a tiny black fur ball into his hand, petting the blue-eyed kitty under the chin and behind the ears.
Cute, such beautiful eyes . . .
He glanced over at one of the cat clocks with hanging tails that moved back and forth in sync with the eyes, "Three-thirty," he muttered and placed the kitten down that mewed for him to stay longer.
Sora stepped back outside into the warm afternoon sun and to the left, exiting the tool store adjacent to the pet shop was Riku. Why did Fate and Destiny control Sora like he was their favorite mannequin?
Meanwhile, everyone watched as Kairi began to eat her third sandwich as hungrily as she ate the second one and Selphie bravely spoke for everyone, clearing her throat beforehand, "Hey Kairi, you're going to get fat if you eat too much," she laughed to show she was joking, sorta.
"Huh?" Kairi blushed and placed her sandwich down, "Well, I am eating for two," she stated proudly.
With that said, everyone's mouth dropped, "Did you say for two?" asked Wakka who did nothing about the sea-salt ice-cream that was melting on his hand and dripping down his arm.
Naminé smiled and hugged Kairi, "Congratulations!" she was first to relate with Kairi's feelings.
Selphie blinked but soon hugged Kairi as well, "Does Sora know?" she asked as she tightened her embrace momentarily.
"No, I was going to surprise him tonight during dinner," Kairi replied with a giggle and a bat in her eyes.
"Boy, he's going to be in for a surprise," Tidus chuckled, getting a mental image of Sora's reaction.
Kairi had always wanted a family and she was glad her plans of marriage and children were following through as she had intended them to. She yearned for something to love and nurture and it was happening. Even with such hasty decisions everyone was supporting her which was also a blessing. Kairi didn't mind starting a family so soon, she'd always liked children and this would be perfect for her. All of Kairi's dreams were being realized sooner than she believed they would've occurred. And she was jubilant, glad, happy, joyous, anything that could describe such brilliant feelings.
What is he doing here? Sora attempted to ignore Riku but was taken by the forearm by a calloused and firm hand, "Sora," the loneliness he had earlier was beginning to decay inside him.
"Riku, I've got to meet Kairi and everyone else at the entrance of the marketplace," Sora answered urgently, looking down so Riku's eyes couldn't compel him to stay.
"Sora, now's our chance," somehow Sora couldn't get out of that grip. He didn't even realize he wasn't even trying to get out of Riku's clutches.
Sora looked up, which defeated the purpose of him looking down the entire time he had been in Riku's presence, "What are you talking about?"
Riku smirked the scheming smirk he had owned ever since they were children, "We can get to the next island if we leave now."
No, Sora couldn't leave Kairi behind after all they endured and they just got married, "Riku . . ." however, Sora couldn't ignore the fact that the offer was tempting.
It was like another chance at adventure.
He was suddenly pulled into a hidden nook between two stores and Riku kept his arms around Sora--stern but soft much like the walls of an asylum. He pressed his lips against Sora's and Sora tasted the nicotine on Riku's tongue. When Sora should've resisted he only became more addicted. When both were rendered breathless Riku slowly parted but still kept Sora in his arms. Even after kissing Riku Sora could still feel Riku's moistened lips on his own.
"What do you feel?" Riku's question was like a quick stab with a dagger or maybe a fast jab to the face.
"I feel . . ." Sora wasn't sure--so unsure he felt he couldn't decide, couldn't think, couldn't move, "like I can't do anything."
"Paralyzed?"
"Yeah."
"Good," Riku took Sora's hand and dropped the tools he intended to use on his house, abandoning it along with any inhibition to remain at Destiny Islands.
After they managed to weave through the crowds of afternoon shoppers they ran towards the docks and jumped into Riku's boat that would quickly lead them to the next island. Once Sora released the rope that had been tied to the dock he knew that somehow is symbolized everything else that he was letting go and leaving behind.
"This way guys!" Kairi called to her party of companions and took a seat at the center-most area of the market place, where street performers entertained and a simplistic dolphin fountain stood, filled with shiny coins and wishes tagged on them.
Naminé looked at the dazzling orange ocean, "Look at that boat," she pointed in its direction and among all the other others, it was distinguishable due to its speed.
Selphie had been staring at the boat as well, "It's going awfully fast."
"Wonder where it's off to," Tidus gazed at it momentarily and lost interest quickly as he tossed the blitz ball back and forth in his right and left hand.
"Maybe out on an adventure," Wakka suggested.
Kairi smiled, she detected something in that boat that she could empathize with, like it was chasing and realizing dreams too, "It's definitely going on an adventure."
The party of friends who were still unaware of the passengers upon the fleeing vessel, waited for it to become an invisible speck amongst the never ending sea. Once out of sight Kairi and Naminé smiled at each other and silently wished for each other's happiness in their hearts. They both had so much in common: similar eyes, similar gestures, a similar romantic love, and even the similarity of bearing a child within their wombs.
Sora and Riku continued nonstop to the next island.
Both of them aware of what they left behind but also of what they had obtained.
Aware of what they had now would last far into the ages.
Sora stared at Riku, watching his silver locks swim in the evening sea wind, watched the pallor of his skin match so easily with the moon, and especially watched Riku's fixated eyes. He then though of how one kiss could give you the power and will to do something of such great magnitude yet also leave helpless and even unable to move.
Tired of being captain Riku allowed the boat to steer itself and took Sora into him arms, granting him a slower and more romantic kiss than the stern and demanding one he forced onto him earlier.
"I love you," Sora said, without a stutter, without regret, only wholesome truth.
Riku smiled a genuine smile and replied, "I love you too," sweet words like that seemed unfitting for Riku but to Sora, at this moment, under the stars and over the waves, it suited Riku perfectly.
It may have been cowardly for them to just run away without even a letter to leave behind. Without a word and without warning but Sora and Riku vindicated their heinous rebellion with their love, they knew it wouldn't be understood, and to continue life there would be oppressing their love, it would be killing it in a slow and relenting form of torture. It was selfish but they had hidden it long enough and it was past time they free such a profound love.
All that was left now was to race and embrace it for as long as they could.
A/N: Dedicate a moment of silence for me. Thank-you.
This is the first fan fiction I've ever completed successfully on my own and I couldn't ask for more. I'm very proud of it. I got wonderful reviewers and for those who stuck with me to the end, I'd like to thank you a lot. I really do appreciate it. And in case you're wondering, I've been scheming up this plotline from the very beginning, and I'm not trying to play with your emotions, lol.
I have no idea if a sequel will be created, it's all up to my best friend who wants to write it, I'm not sure what she'll name it or if it'll be under my penname or her own.
Just cause Kiss Paralysis is finished doesn't mean I am, so look out for a new Kingdom Hearts fic I plan on putting out soon. I'm hoping to write a Roxas and Axel fic.
Disclaimer: I feel like I own Square-Enix due to my happiness but I don't.
