Disclaimer: Don't we all wish we owned Kingdom Hearts? I know I do! But, unfortunately, I don't. Now on with it!
"Hey Riku!" Tidus called from upon the mini island where he had been practicing.
Riku raised a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun as his vision spanned the length of their small island.
"What?"
"Come and spar with me!"
The two continued to yell.
Selphie and Kairi burst into a fit of giggles when they kept at it. "Why don't you just go over there and talk to him Riku?" she pointed out.
He looked down on the dock to where she and Selphie were sitting, "And not yell all the way across the island? Now Kairi, where is the fun in that?"
"You'll find fun knowing that you have some common sense in you. How bout' that?" she offered, still in between laughs.
"Ah, fair enough." Riku agreed and hopped off the home made wooden terrace.
He walked past the boats and by the docks and as he passed the girls he made sure to ruffle Kairi's hair for being smart with him.
"Heeeyyyy!" she complained, trying to get it back into place.
Riku looked back at her while continuing to walk as she gave him a pouty look. He merely smiled and laughed before facing forward again.
"So, how bout' it? We haven't had a good rumble in a while eh?" Tidus pried when Riku reached him.
Riku crossed his arms and looked down skeptically.
"C'mon, Riku, I'll get to fight you with my shiny new sword too!" he boasted pulling out an elegant, ocean blue sword.
"Where'd you get that?" Riku questioned.
"Wakka had it made for me for my birthday. All I got him for his present was a card and some money."
"It's nice."
"Yeah...soooo?"
"Ah, I don't think so. Not really in the mood for it much anymore." Riku admitted.
"Aww...Hey! It's okay if you're outta practice or something."
He laughed. It was really the complete opposite. After travelling through endless darkness and fighting every day for his life, Riku was anything but out of practice. Truth be told, in situations like this he was afraid of what he might accidentally do. Hurting his friends was the last thing on his list.
"You're hopeful Tidus, but sorry. Go have a round with Wakka, he's always up for it." he suggested.
"Ah fine." Tidus sighed with defeat. "But sometime this summer, you'll be at my mercy!"
"Sure thing, pal." Riku chuckled and waved him off.
When Tidus had jogged off the mini island, Riku propped his hands on the edge of the crooked tree and pulled himself up.
Feeling the sea air hit his face and hearing the faint sound of the waves made him wonder why he ever wanted to leave here in the first place.
Great friends, peaceful scenery, loving yet lenient parents, their own island. All that trouble of wanting to leave, and yet, when it was all over...they just wanted to go back.
But then, if they had never left, none of them would have grown up in the way that they had. He would have been the same kid silently bragging about everything he did and rivaling Sora in every way possible...they both knew why. Riku wasn't that person anymore. Sure, he still looked out for the others and he still was good at everything - although he never showed it off. And he still knew that as soon as he heard Kairi question a relationship with Sora his heart had skipped a beat. But he was different, and it was better.
His trained ears picked up a sound behind him. Sand crunching underneath feet. A girl's feet from the sound of it. Riku could tell by the way she moved how she carried herself. He grinning slightly and spoke up before turning around, "Hope I didn't mess up your hair too bad."
"How'd you know it was me?" she questioned playfully.
Riku turned all the way around to see Kairi approaching him slowly, hands behind her back. "I'm psychic."
She nodded in a fake convincing manner, "Ahh I see..then without looking...what color are my eyes?"
He scoffed at the stupid question, "They're blue."
"Laugh all you want, Mr. Psychic." she taunted, hopping on the tree to sit beside him, "A lot of guys actually don't know that about their friends, or girlfriends or whatever. Now... how many bracelets am I wear-"
"Three."
"What color are-"
"Blue white and black."
Kairi grumbled and thought for a second, then propped her head up in triumph, "What color are my socks."
Riku chuckled again, "You're not even wearing any."
"Okay, do you just sit and stare at me all day or something?" she teased while laughing.
"Mayyybe." 'Well not all day...' he thought to himself.
"Well alright then, genius, what color are my underwear then?" she joked.
"You're not wearing any of those either!" he countered.
Kairi let out a half gasp, half laugh before punching him in the arm. "Don't be stupid, I am too!" she stated.
"Well if you manage to sit any closer to me than you already are, then you won't be for very long." he said darkly, his eyes motioning to their legs, which were pushed tightly against one another with her arm half on her own leg and half on his.
Kairi had to take a moment to get the shocked look and deep crimson color off her face while moving her arm away before responding, "Oh, well since when did you become the King of pick-up lines?"
Riku shrugged, "Since always."
Kairi laughed loudly, "I don't know when you would have had time for that. Did you practice on King Mickey."
He laughed with her this time, "You know I did, and let me say he was quite convinced."
After the small fiasco, the two got their laughs out of their systems and calmed down.
Kairi took a deep breath and sighed contently, "Hey, how come you wouldn't spar with Tidus? You used to never be able to resist that."
Riku looked down at his shoes, "I don't want to hurt him. I get afraid of myself now sometimes, you know?" he said, looking to her. "Having the power to take someone's life so easily is...unsettling."
Kairi nodded, "I know what you're saying."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned her head onto him, a little surprised at her own actions, "But, I also know you wouldn't ever do anything like that."
Riku breathed out shakily. Partly at what they were talking about, and partly at how she was relaxing on his shoulder.
"Yeah, but I decided I don't want to fight anymore...not unless I have to."
"Hmm...good." she mumbled.
They sat in a confortable silence after that, neither content to move. Both knowing the only thing that would interrupt would be one of their friends.
"Hey Selph." Riku greeted her, she was sitting under a nearby tree on the other half of the island. Tidus, Wakka and Kairi had gone to draw some more pictures on the wall in the secret place. They all knew it was childish, but it had been their thing since they were young. Everyone's thing really. They all had done something on there from time to time, and each picture had been left untouched.
"Hey Riku." she said back. "I thought you were with the others?"
"Nah," he said sitting down beside her, "Felt like being in the sunshine."
"Mmm me too!" she agreed, stretching out her legs.
"Say," he started, "we haven't had time to talk, you and I. What have you been up to?"
"Well," Selphie pondered, "Not much went on during the school year. Nothing really changed or happened, but you guys never told me how fun high school was!" she exclaimed.
Ah yes, that's right. Riku always forgot Selphie was two years younger than him, and a year younger than Sora, Kairi and Wakka. She and Tidus had just finished their first year of high school.
"Sorry," he apologised, "Guess I've just been used to it is all."
"Ah, it doesn't matter. But we all sure did have a lot of fun at all the parties! I wish you and Sora could have been there."
Riku looked at her, unsure, "Parties eh?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at her, "Sure you didn't have any drunken hanky-panky at these parties Selph?"
Selphie burst out laughing, "No, I'm no slut...but Kairi on the other hand-"
"What!"
Selphie moved away from him, slightly scared from his outbusrt, "Ah! Relax, relax, I was kidding...she didn't do anything that serious."
Riku exhaled and backed away from Selphie. Well, just because she hadn't done that, didn't mean he felt better at the fact that was doing other stuff... But who was he to say what she could and couldn't do?
Selphie sensed his discomfort in the matter and spoke up, "Hey, she's not stupid Riku. She wouldn't do anything you wouldn't do."
Riku looked up and gave her a warning glare.
"What? Was that not comforting...?"
"It was definately not comforting."
His actions suddenly piqued at Selphie's curiosity, "Why do you care so much anyways?"
Riku stopped to think of a good answer that wouldn't be saying anything other than what a best friend was supposed to say, "...Because I just do."
Brilliant. That was the best he could come up with. There was no fooling Selphie with an excuse like that. If there was one thing in the whole world that could define that girl, it would be a hopeless romantic.
He wasn't surprised when he saw a smile play on her features and her eyes glitter with realization, "You like her." she stated.
"Selphie...c'mon."
"You do. You do! I always knew by the way you looked at her...you and Sora. I mean, with Sora it was kind of obvious just by the way he acted around her. Not with you though, you just looked. Sora does too, but I noticed you look with more...more..." she placed a finger to her lips and looked up into the sky looking for the right word.
"Passion."
"Yeah that's the word." she continued to ramble and all Riku could do was stare dumbfoundidly at her. Everything that was pouring out of her mouth was entirely true and there was nothing he could say to defend himself.
"...Yeah...I noticed that every time she wasn't around, you were all normal, but then she'd come over or something and Sora would get all happy like a little kid at christmas or something. Then, I'd look at you who had become quiet, and your eyes would droop just a little, becoming warmer with a faint little smile on your face. You'd just keep your mouth shut." Selphie sighed dreamily and folded her hands together while placing them on her cheek.
"That's so cute."
Ah Selphie, that hopeless little romantic...If she ever spoke a word about this...
It was late afternoon when they all decided to head home. Riku followed Tidus and Wakka onto the dock with Kairi and Selphie not far behind. He had made sure to stay in front of Selphie and not look their way. He knew she'd be analyzing his every move.
"Hey Kairi! Let's have a sleepover!" he heard Selphie speak up from behind him, "We can stay up all night and gossip."
Gossip; the Devil's talk. Riku spun his head around as soon as Selphie mentioned it with an all knowing hint in her voice. Their eyes met and he narrowed them in warning.
Selphie shrugged and gave him a silent look that said 'relax' before Kairi came into the conversation, "What's wrong Riku? You bummed cause you're not invited to the all girl's slumber party?" she said with false concern as she linked his hand with her own.
How could she make all his uncertaintly go away with one sentence? He smiled warmly at her, "You got me." he sighed, "I know I'm gonna be missing one hell of a pillow fight. But don't worry, I'll be waiting at Selphie's window with my trusty camera."
"Now that's the way to do it, man!" Wakka called to him from his boat and giving him a thumbs up before taking off.
"Don't worry Riku, you and I can have another sleepover another time, it's only been a week." she promised. Riku glanced back to guage Selphie's reaction, only to find her with her mouth half open in surprise and half smiling at the same time.
Kairi let her hand slide gently out of his, and he recluctantly let go and headed to the opposite side of the dock where his boat was.
When Kairi's back was turned and busy getting in her boat, Riku shook his head with embarrasment as he watched Selphie grin at him with utmost satisfaction. She even threw in a few obscense guestures as well.
'This is gonna be a long summer.' he decided as they all headed home.
C'mon you hooligans shakes fist I need to know if I'm doin' an okay job here. Review please!
