Disclaimer: Don't own KH
Alrighty, chapter 4! Hope ya like it, please review guys!
"…"
"Kairi?"
"…"
"Kairi!"
The dazed girl snapped out of her thoughts when her friend hit her in the face with a chip.
"Huh? Oh, Sorry Selph" She apologized, "I just spaced out for a minute there, I guess."
Selphie rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I can see that. What's up?" she asked before delving her hand back into the bag of chips.
Kairi sighed and moved to lie down on her stomach, hands pressed against her chin with her elbows resting on the floor. "Nothin'. Just thinking I suppose.
"Ooh, I bet I know what about." Selphie teased.
"Huh?"
Selphie casually flicked her hair behind her shoulders and got up off the couch to sit with Kairi on her sleeping bag. "You should just forget it all Kairi."
"But I-"
"No, sorry, not forget…just…put it all behind you. You'll be a lot happier if you go back to the way things were. Isn't that what you wanted?" she said, giving the other girl time to speak. Selphie wasn't stupid. She knew her friend was having trouble in dealing with all the things that had gone on in the past year.
Kairi bit her lip and frowned, "Ugh… I don't know. It's just hard to put anything behind me when it's not back to normal in the first place…since Sora is still gone. That, and the whole Riku "thing"."
Selphie nodded with understanding but stopped when she registered what Kairi had said, "Whoa, wait. Riku thing?"
"Yeah…I dunno, something's changed in him, but he's still the same." She explained, reaching to grab the bag of chips off the table and putting a few in her mouth. "I can't really explain it, Selph. We've just been getting closer as friends since Sora left. I feel kinda guilty."
"…Go on…"
Kairi placed the chips bag on the table and sat up, bringing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them protectively, "Like, we were always best friends but it was always the three of us. It was sometimes just Sora and I, or Sora and Riku…but never me and Riku. It always felt a little off, just the two of us and now it really doesn't and I like it."
Selphie scratched her head, "So…what? You feel more comfortable with him now, or something?"
"Yeah, something like that Selph." Kairi said with a laugh.
"And what do you mean by he's different but the same?" Selphie continued to pry.
Kairi shrugged, "Like I said, I can't explain it."
Selphie placed a finger on her chin and looked up at the ceiling in thought; hoping to figure out just what she was talking about.
"I know what's different!" She announced.
Kairi looked at her with surprise and doubt, "You…do?"
"Yeah!" Selphie exclaimed, "He got hot!"
This sent her friend into a small it of giggles, "Oh, you think so huh? Well, he was always good looking…"
"Ah ha, I knew you thought so!" she taunted.
Kairi rolled her eyes, "Oh c'mon, it's not like it's hard to see or anything. Riku was always cute. Now I guess, he jus grew up…real nicely." She trailed off.
Selphie grinned, "So, would you ever…you know…go out with him or anything like that? Or even like, have an innocent foolaround? I know how you get at parties with a few shooters in ya."
Kairi looked to her with embarrassment, "Hey! C'mon, I'm really not THAT bad! Especially compared to all the other girls! I've done like, nothing!" she defended herself.
Selphie almost burst out laughing at how defensive she was getting but decided to hold it in, "I know, I know, I was only teasing…but seriously though…? Would ya?" she asked in anticipation. Truth be told, Selphie knew if she got a positive answer she wouldn't be the one two hook the two up or anything. Sora was her friend too, and if anything was going to happen, it was going to happen on its own…but that didn't mean Selphie couldn't inform her friends of the whole situation now could it?
Kairi sat in serious thought for a moment. She had occasionally wondered what it would be like, but always pushed those thoughts far from her mind. After all, Riku was one of her best friends…and best friends weren't supposed to feel that way. Now that she was actually having some time to contemplate the whole situation though, it somewhat scared her when she realized it was quite enticing.
"Yeah…" she finally responded, "I think I probably would." It sounded surprising even to her. Kairi glanced to Selphie to see what her reaction was.
She shrugged, "Hey, I don't blame you. I mean, not only is he hot…with like…an amazing boy, but he's totally cool too."
"You raise good points…but wouldn't a situation like that get kinda weird? I mean, I don't know if I'd be up for a serious relationship. I've never really thought about it…much."
Selphie smirked to herself. Oh, this was too easy. Read Riku like a book, then ask Kairi anything. That's all there was to it.
"Well…what about Sora?"
Kairi found herself frowning again, "You know…I know how he feels about me now and I've tried to picture it in my head, just to se if it would work. Maybe to see if I could give him a chance, but I can't. Thinking about it just doesn't feel right. I do feel bad though."
"Hey, cheer up!" Selphie said, giving her a small slap on the arm, "I'd think that just knowing that you have two guys who'd do anything to make you happy and practically drool over you to be satisfying enough. Not to mention they're your best friends."
Kairi looked at her, confused. "Say that again please?"
Selphie rolled her eyes, "Ugh, you know? Sora? And Riku? They're both like, in love with you?"
Now she was lost, but it didn't feel all that bad for some reason. "What makes you think Riku…"
"Likes you? I dunno, maybe the way he stares at you like you're the only thing he can see? Or the way that, despite they're best friends, he and Sora are always bickering and fighting when you're around? Or, that he'd probably do anything for you. Just try asking him about what happened while you were heartless."
Kairi stared at Selphie with utter shock, "Selphie…How do you know about – "
"Hey," she interrupted, "I only know what happened to him cause I heard him and Sora talking about it before he left.
"I can't ask him anything." She confessed, "He said he'd tell me when he was ready, but why hasn't he mentioned any of this? If it is true."
Selphie sighed again. Sometimes Kairi could be too naïve for her own good. "In case you haven't noticed, Sora happens to be the more forward one about it. And there's the fact that they never fight or spar anymore really. I think Riku might have stepped down or something. Maybe if you want to be with Sora, he's accepted that.
A sudden realization hit her, "So that's why he was so edgy when I asked him about Sora the other night. Selphie…how long have you suspected…"
"A long time. And, you know I'm always right about these things."
Kairi got up to sit on the couch, "I still can't believe he never did or said anything."
"For the same reasons you haven't…Sora."
"You're right, but hey! What makes you think that I would have done something?"
"Why else would it have felt strange to be around him alone? Kairi, listen. Sora has been gone for two weeks, and look what's happened between you two. Look at how close you've gotten. Now just imagine what it would have been like if Sora were never around at all…I'm not saying it's good or bad, but it's how things would have turned out. You said it yourself you feel guilty. Being just friends isn't anything to feel guilt about and you know that. You feel guilty because…"
"I like him…?"
Selphie nodded and smiled, "There, see? Now you're catching on."
The next morning, Kairi and Selphie found themselves up quite early, to their disliking. Selphie suggested that they go to the island early for fun. At around eight o'clock or so, the two got dressed and showered and headed down to the docks.
Kairi stepped into her own boat and began to untie it when she noticed something missing. Standing up and looking around, she figured out what it was, "Selph?"
"Yeah?"
"Where's Riku's boat?"
Selphie took her own look around the docks, unable to stop what Kairi was looking for and shrugged, "Beats me. He might already be over there…for some odd reason."
"Maybe you're right. Weird…I didn't know he was a morning person."
Selphie hopped into her own boat as they both began to row out into the ocean, "Hey, maybe he pulled an all-nighter sitting outside my window and couldn't get to sleep after."
Kairi chuckled when she remembered his comment from the previous day about spying on them. "Maybe we should ask him?"
It didn't take long for the two to reach the island. As they drew closer to it, their chatting stopped. Kairi squinted her eyes and looked to the dock. Sure enough, Riku's boat was securely tied to it.
"Hey, there's Riku's boat." She said.
Selphie looked to where she was pointing and asked, "But where's Riku?"
Kairi scanned the distance of the island and saw no movement. It was entirely possible that he was on the other side, or in the secret place. She was about to tell Selphie that she had no idea where he was when she caught a glimpse of disturbed water near the shoreline. When she glanced to it, she saw Riku come up out of the water.
"Found him." She said.
"He must be tired." Selphie pointed out, "He hasn't even noticed us yet."
Just then, an idea popped into Kairi's head. "Selphie, row over behind the terrace." She ordered.
"What? Why?"
"Just do it! And be quiet about it." She said in a hushed tone.
Selphie complied and the two rowed silently away from the docks and over behind the safety of the terrace where they wouldn't be seen. When they were out of sight, Kairi stood up in her boat.
"Kairi, what are you doing?"
"I'm gonna scare the crap outta him." She said, in a satisfied tone while she unzipped her dress and left it on the floor of her boat so she was clad only in her bikini. "Make sure my boat doesn't get away will ya?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just remember to be super quiet."
Kairi gave Selphie a thumbs up before diving silently into the water. Holding her breath, she paddled below surface toward the docks. When she felt her air run out, Kairi lifted her head up above the water slowly. She was behind the docks now. Riku was still in the water, facing away from her. He got up from his floating position on his back and stood up. Kairi took this chance to dive back under and swam towards him. When she saw his legs appear under the water, she brought herself back above the surface yet again.
Riku had stood up and stretched out his arms, taking a moment to bask in the heat of the morning sun. He enjoyed waking himself up with a quick swim. Although, he wasn't usually up this early in the summer. It was nice though; everything was quiet and peaceful and he had his alone time. Or…so he thought. Riku felt something playing in the back of his head. Someone was coming. The water was moving and he wasn't doing it. At first he thought it was a fish, but then found that the movement in the water was too great, so, without any other option, Riku hesitantly turned around only to be violently shoved down to the ground.
Not only was Riku surprised by the attack, but Kairi was as well. She really hadn't intended for him to turn around. The plan was to jump him from behind, but being in mid-air while he turned around…it just couldn't be stopped.
They landed with a splash in the shallow water. Riku sat up and held himself up with his arms behind his back, the water reaching just past his elbows. He shook his head and opened his eyes with confusion, and slight joy. "…Kairi?"
Unable to answer due to laughing so hard, Kairi struggled to form coherent words, "R- Riku, I-I I'm sorry!"
He continued to sit there in silence while she was still engaged in laughing. His mouth was slightly open, still trying to fathom what the hell happened. He noticed that his body felt heavier, looking down he realized that not only had Kairi fallen with him, but she had fallen on top of him as well. He was sitting under the water, and she on his lap, legs on either side of him. He didn't really want to move anymore now…
She had finally calmed down and wrapped her arms around him quickly in a hug and then pulled back with her hands on his shoulders, "Riku, are you alright?"
"…Yeah…what?"
"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to knock you over." She said with another laugh.
"Where did you even come from?" he asked.
"Selphie and I came here early and saw you swimming, so I decided to sneak up on you. I really didn't know you were gonna turn around, I was just going to jump on your back and scare you."
Riku threw his head back and laughed, "Well good job."
Since she had stopped laughing, Kairi finally got a chance to notice the situation they were in. Well, she hadn't intended on landing on him…but it really wasn't all bad. They both silenced themselves when it occurred to them that they were both half naked. Kairi tried not to let her eyes wander, but it didn't work so well. She glanced down and took in the sight of him. Truth be told, he looked way too old for what he was. Strong arms, defined chest…abs, very nice ones. It was a damn good thing he was too busy looking at her to notice her own staring.
Selphie sighed with annoyance when Kairi hadn't come back. She grabbed the rope off Kairi's boat and tied it to her own and began to row toward the dock. When she came into view of the rest of the island, she looked up and slapped her forehead, and cursing aloud to herself, "Oh, for the love of – HEY!" she called out.
She watched Riku and Kairi's heads snap toward her direction. 'I thought you were going to scare him! Not seduce him!"
Kairi felt her face go red, but decided in facing embarrassment and just yelled back, "Well I was! But you know, one thing led to another, Selph!" she felt Riku laugh beneath her and wrap one arm around her bare waist then pushed them both off the ground effortlessly with his other hand, keeping her attached to his hips. He stood both of them up and gently led go of her, letting her slide down the ground.
"Kairi looked to him, "I am sorry, Riku."
He shook his head and smiled, "Don't even worry about it, I'm fine."
"Good." She smiled back.
By this time, Selphie had tied their boats and jogged over to the edge of the beach, "Hey! Get out of the water and let's eat some breakfast!" she called, holding up their fishing rods that she and Kairi had brought along.
"You up for food?" she asked, looking up at Riku.
"Sure thing." He agreed as they waded out of the water to start the day.
