Title: The Permanence of a Memory

Chapter 6: Old and New

Game: Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children

Author: Kat-chan8806

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Time was standing still for Riku and Kadaj. They said nothing, letting the silence set in all around them. Finally, Riku whispered the one thing that had been bothering him for days: "I'll be sad to see this end..."

Kadaj didn't understand at first. "It won't end..."

"Yes, it will... As soon as we enter that town... it will... be over..."

"No, it won't." Kadaj got to his feet, pulling Riku up with him. "If you're so worried about it, then let's get it over with."

"I... I want to stay right here."

Kadaj smiled. "You're just scared."

"Am not!"

"Then come with me. I want to know what has you so worried."

Riku reluctantly climbed onto the motorcycle with Kadaj. They rode into town. Riku was once again strangely quiet. Kadaj looked back at Riku and asked where they needed to go.

"...He lives in that blue house over there."

Kadaj parked in front of the house Riku has indicated and they stood beside the motorcycle.

"Well, lead the way, Riku."

Riku walked up the the front door and raised his hand to knock, but then he stopped and looked back at Kadaj, who simply smiled. Riku knocked on the door and waited in a tense moment for the door to open. It did, and Riku took a step back from the boy standing in the doorway.

Kadaj walked up beside Riku and addressed the boy who had opened the door. "Hello, I am Kadaj. What might your name be?"

The boy ran a hand through his spiky brown hair. "I'm Sora. Who is--- Riku!"

Riku tried his best to regain his composure. "Hello... Sora."

Sora gave Riku an energetic hug which seemed to knock the breath out of poor Riku. Kadaj simply watched.

"Sora, I... Can you let go of me? I, uh..." The situation was rather difficult. The classic 'old boyfriend meets new boyfriend' scenario.

When Riku finally pried Sora off of him, he looked at Kadaj, ready to explain about Sora. Kadaj, however, already understood.

Riku opened his mouth to say something, but Kadaj cut him off. "Don't explain to me. I can tell that you two were once in love. It shows through your eyes."

"But... Kadaj, I'm still with Sora. We..."

"That's right. We belong together! But... why is he with you?" Sora was more than a little confused.

"Sora... I think I might be in love with Kadaj..."

"You... what?" Sora took a step toward Riku. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I didn't even know until this morning, honest. But... I'm still in love with you."

Kadaj looked at Riku. "Then you must decide. Which of us do you really love?"

Riku but his lip. "I've known Sora since I was a child... Ever since I left home, I... I've thought of him every day..."

"And you met me only recently. Is that the problem?"

"I... I don't know..."

Sora walked up to Kadaj. "Riku and I have been together for a long time. He would never leave me for you."

Kadaj looked back at Riku. "That isn't true. Right, Riku?"

Riku was close to a breakdown. "I... I don't know! Just... leave me alone..."

Riku walked off by himself, looking for a quiet place to think. His feet led him to the bank of a small stream.

"I used to come here all the time..." he said to himself. He sat on the ground and gazed at the water. He let out a sigh. "Why can't I decide...?"

"Decide what?" a girl's voice asked from behind him. Riku jumped up and turned around. It was Kairi, one of his childhood friends.

"Kairi... Why are you here?"

"I come here to think, too, you know."

They both sat on the ground by the stream.

"What's the problem, Riku?" Kairi asked,

"...Sora."

Kairi hid a frown. "You stole him from me..."

Riku looked up from the ground. "I... I thought he would go back to you when I left, but... he never did. Now I wish that he would have."

"Why? Don't you love him anymore?"

"I... really don't know..." Riku looked back at the stream.

"...Is there someone else?"

"Yeah, but... how did you know that?"

Kairi giggled. "I can tell from the look in your eyes. You're in love."

"...I could be in love with Sora, you know."

"No. You never had this kind of gleam in your eyes when you were with him. So, tell me about this new guy."

Riku sighed. He never thought he would be discussing boys with Kairi.

"His name is Kadaj... His hair is a whitish-silver and he has deep green eyes..."

"Sort of like you," Kairi commented.

Riku chuckled. "Yeah, sorta like me..."

"So what has you confused? You love this Kadaj guy, so why are you still even considering Sora?"

"I've known Sora forever! I can't just leave him for the first attractive guy that comes along!"

"...I think it's more than that. This new guy obviously makes you feel different than Sora ever did."

"...That's true..."

"So why are you still here? Go tell Kadaj how you feel!"

"Kairi... I never thought we would have a discussion like this."

"You can never tell what's going to happen in the future."

"...You're wise for your age. Sora will be lucky to have you back."

"Thanks, Riku. Now, go to your boyfriend."

"Alright. Thanks, Kairi. For everything."

With that, Riku left at a run to catch up with his boyfriends.