A/N I realized... Sora would actually be 15 during the time this story takes place. xD. Which would make Riku older. Sorry for the confusion I may or may not have caused. I guess. xX
Chapter Three
The moon was shining in the sky, bright and round. The night was clear, not a cloud in sight, and the radiance of the moon lit up the night lands like a sun. It cast over the ocean, light rays bending this way and that in the reflection in the water. By night, Destiny Island was a mystery. The stars shone stronger, the moon was fuller, the night animals were many. Reality was further away.
Set in the middle of this scene was an old shack. It's wooden walls were worn from the years of use and love then it had seen.
Not love in that sense, pervert.
Ever since it had been built, children had grown up wasting their days in this cabin with their friends. Tonight, two boys lay atop the weather beaten roof. The older one, nearly a man at 17, lay on his side, his long, nearly shoulder length white hair sprawled out underneath him messily. His hand was laid gently across the chest of the younger of the two. The 15 year old lay snuggled against him, his breathing deep, even and peaceful. He had only recently fallen asleep, the two had stayed up for hours, talking through any and all topics.
Neither of them had dared to stray toward the one topic that was both, to a certain extent, but in variety, foremost on their minds.
In relation to the one topic of conversation they had avoided, neither of them had manifested their feelings in to actions. The only accepted affection was, first as a comforting gesture, then as an attempt to warm him up, that the older boy kept his arms firmly locked around the brunette all night.
Again, not in a perverted way.
Besides, they hadn't need to talk about their feelings for each other. What wasn't said with sentences was whispered with the eyes. They didn't need to tell each other. Mutually, they understood that now was not the time. Neither were ready for 'I love you's' that might come later. When everything was certain. When there was no doubt.
Riku watched Sora sleep, his green eyes taking in his resting face. The whole business of Roxas' memories had settled uneasily on him, now that he was able to think clearly. By nature, Riku wasn't a trusting person. It had taken an entire lifetime for him to build the friendships he had now. He saw evil everywhere. Some might call him paranoid. He would consider himself cautious and protective. After all, he hadn't gotten to see this night by jumping in to things without thinking about them. He would have been dead now if he had trusted everyone he met.
What bothered him was the why. He knew so little about Roxas that it was hard to tell anything for certain. Even a stranger, however, would, in all probability, think it weird that Roxas was showing Sora treasured memories in his dreams. Yes, they were, in essence, one and the same. They had lead separate lives though. Met different people. So when it came down to it, they were different people. Different existences in with the same soul.
Sora snored lightly, then sighed, still asleep. Was he dreaming right now? Riku touched his face lightly. Should he wake him up? Would he wake up on his own?
Might as well let him sleep. He was cuter then a kitten when he slept. Especially when he slept curled up, as he sporadically did.
With that thought in mind, Riku stifled a yawn, reminding himself that he too, should sleep. There was no use worrying about the unknown. Not when it was yet to happen. As it usually was with the unknown.
He closed his eyes and tried to keep his mind from racing.
The moon was still out, high in the sky, when Sora finally opened his eyes to find Riku's arm snaked around his body, his eyes still watchful and alert. Not expecting to find Riku still up, or to find himself sleeping so close to this boy, he let out an involuntary squeak.
"Riku! You creep! How long have you been watching me sleep?"
He moved away an inch, slightly frightened, amused and, in some weird way, intoxicated that the first thing he had woken up to was a front row image of Riku's startling eyes. Riku, noticing he had shifted away, sat up stiffly, an almost offended look on his face. His strong arms moved away, careful to distance his finger tips from Sora.
'Why was he watching me sleep?' Sora followed his example, pulling his still-sleeping body in to a position that could almost resemble sitting, if that was what one was looking for. 'Was he holding me like that all night? Why.. does that make me happy? ' His thoughts staggered around, disorganized and confused.
"Why are you looking at me like that? You look cute when you sleep... that's not my fault, is it? Not illegal to think that, is it?" Riku asked, stung, his voice wavering slightly.
It felt as if his eyebrows had shot off his forehead. He was still dreaming. That was it. This was all a dream. There was no way Riku would say something so... direct. Not to him anyway. Just like there was no way that he could be enjoying this conversation. There was no way his heart was fluttering at the thought of Riku. There was no way that could be happening. It was a dream. Just some weird, twisted, perverted dream.
"Well, it was creepy."
'If this is a dream, ' Sora reasoned inwardly 'Why would I be thinking this is a dream? That's just stupid.'
"Riku?" Sora inquired in a hushed voice, " Are you mad?"
He glared aggressively at him, his arms crossed. "I love how you point out the obvious."
The words dropped on Sora, comparing to almost nothing he had heard before. He would rather be fighting a million Heartless then dealing with this right now. The idea of Riku being angry was terrifying.
'He's my best friend. We've had fights before. I can't... like him, can I?' Now he was on the brink of panic over his confusion. 'Do I like him? Like that? I know I do. I'm just accepting it now. That's all. Right?'
These internal conversations with himself were starting to disorient him even more. It just wasn't normal. He didn't think his feelings were either. All the same, he didn't want Riku to be upset about anything anymore.
"I'm sorry. " He hung his head slightly, angling his body toward Riku, "It was just so unexpected to wake up like that. I'm not saying you're creepy or anything. I'm... glad you think I look cute."
Riku continued to hold his icy gaze as he spoke. Gradually, his frown melted in to a relaxed line. He almost smiled.
"No, it's okay. I'm to uptight. I would have been a bit surprised if I had woken up to find someone staring at me like that too. Like a stalker..."
He paused. Took in a deep, considering breath.
"Can- We're okay right?" His sentence changed direction. His hand had found it's way to Sora's right cheek. It was just natural to touch him when they spoke. Like he was a magnet or something. A very attractive magnet.
Sora nodded. "Want to go back to sleep? I'm still tired..."
A roaring debate was going on in Riku's head as they spoke. Should he make a move? Now was the perfect time. Should he not? Now might be a bit awkward. He was going to regret it if he did. He was going to regret it even more if he didn't. There would be other times, more appropriate ones. What was more appropriate then now? There was no time like the present. What if Sora didn't like him like that? What if he did, but he was to scared to do anything and if he didn't gather the courage now, nothing would ever happen. No, it was to late now, you dumb ass, he's going to lie down and go back to sleep. Now you're to late. You've ruined your life. I hope you're happy.
"Oh, screw this." Riku snapped at himself.
An awkward silence followed as he realized he had spoken the closing statement of his dispute out loud. There was going to be no rational explanation for that outburst. He grasped Sora's arm, disabling him from laying back down.
"What are you talking about?" Sora raised an eyebrow. There faces were only inches apart and he could feel Riku's uneven breathes on his face. This was both exciting and scaring him.
In replay, Riku closed the distance between their lips, kissing him cautiously.
Every nerve in Sora's body sent waves of passion draping over him. He hesitated only a second before returning the kiss. His hand ran up Riku's neck, in to his soft hair. A small part of him was protesting almost violently, telling him that this was wrong. Wrong. He ignored it. Anything it had to say now was worthless. The only feeling left in his body was that of Riku's lips on his. It was all that mattered.
This was what it was like to kiss the one you loved. Really and truly loved. Like this was what it was like to share a first kiss with 'the one'. If someone had asked either of them to describe the electricity that ran through their bodies, connecting them, or to replay the sheer breath stealing emotions, they wouldn't have been able to. Both would agree that such an experience was one that you could only understand after having encountered it yourself.
Encouraged and enjoying the feeling of fingers in his hair, Riku pulled Sora closer, lightly touching the side of his face.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, time pulled itself out of a stop and Sora pulled away reluctantly.
Still in Riku's arms, Sora lay his head down on his lap, looking up at his breathlessly, his deep sapphire eyes shining clearly in the moonlight. Riku grinned down at him, caressing his hair slowly.
Neither spoke a word. Everything they needed to say was said with their eyes, with their bodies. There was no need to speak. No need to express the affection that had joined two souls together. Even a whisper would have shattered the beauty of the moment.
'Why?'
'Because I need you.'
"Wow. Wow, you guys. Get a room, why don't you?"
Kairi stood above the two boys. The sun had already risen high in the sky, reflecting of the pink of her outfit brightly. The rays of light caught in her auburn hair, causing each strand to shimmer like a diamond. Her hands were on her hips, her lips pursed slightly, as she took in the sight before her.
Once again, the boys had fallen asleep. Sora curled up like a helpless child in Riku's arms. They were still on the roof of the shack. Neither had wanted to ruin the night by suggesting they move, and so they had fallen asleep together here.
As one, their eyes snapped open, Kairi's sharp voice acting like an alarm clock. One of those annoying ones that didn't shut up. For a second, neither understood what she was going on about. Then a deep, crimson blush rose in their faces as they looked at their current position. Grinning sheepishly, they untangled themselves, then looked up at their friend innocently.
"Here I was, worried that you had gotten lost or something what I woke up and there was no one around." She shook her head.
Sora stuttered, embarrassed and an little dazed. "It was cold out. You don't except Riku to let me freeze, do you?"
He threw his arm around said boy's shoulder in a friendly way.
Going along with it, Riku nodded. "What kind of a terrible friend do you think I am? Without me, Sora would have died. He's completely helpless." He flashed Kairi a row of straight, white teeth.
"Hey!" Sora pouted, his eyes shimmering with fake tears, "I'm not that helpless, Riku!"
Kairi crossed her arms, trading the bulk of her weight to the other foot. "Couldn't you just have gone inside, or something? Unless.." She pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a giggle. She wasn't mad. Quite the opposite. A large part of her found it entertaining to catch the two in compromising situations such as this. She didn't believe they were ever actually doing anything. The two were just so close that the suggestion was believable. Besides, their reactions were always priceless enough to crush whatever doubts she might have. She would end up with Sora one day. He had said so by sharing the Paopu fruit.
Even if they didn't, Riku was just as good looking.
Sora looked at her dumbly. "Unless what?"
"Unless you guys were making out up here." She said, firing the statement point-blank.
Already having been through similar conversations a million times, she wasn't expecting anything new, really. The way Sora instantly stiffened and took his arm off Riku. The way Riku blushed and shot what might have been a guilty look at his friend however, that was new. Usually they just went along with it. Giggling like school girls, giving each other sexy looks. That sort of thing.
"Don't know what you're talking about." Both boys chimed at the same time, obviously masking something.
Sora, noticing the suspicious look Kairi was giving them, laughed nervously. "I would never touch him."
"Yeah. I could get way better." A seductive look shot Kairi's way.
She shrugged, ignoring Riku. She was used to him doing things like that. It was nothing new. It was just who he was. She knew he didn't mean anything by it. A flirt by nature was the basic gist of it.
Still... she had caught the tense look that was hidden by the smile. They hadn't really... had they?
No. It was impossible.
She turned around, making to climb down the ladder. "Anyway. Are you boys hungry? It's nearly noon. I made lunch if you want some. God. I sound like your mothers."
Nods from both boys. They stood up sleepily, stretched, ran hands through their messed hair, half-heartedly trying to tame it. Satisfied that they were up, Kairi grabbed the rope ladder, climbing down.
Sora and Riku, too good to use the ladder, jumped off the roof of the shack. Sora landing neatly on his feet, did an exaggerated bow, and watched Riku's elegant landing. Riku, still slightly annoyed by his hair, offered one arm to each of them.
"Mind if I walk you both back? We all know Sora would get lost without me. I'm sure you'd be fine, Kairi, but I'm a gentleman."
Together, they walked in their own separate thoughts.
'Good, things are back to normal. I must just be paranoid.' Kairi chided herself. 'Why would they have something going on? Seriously?'
A few minutes later they were on the beach. Before them in the sand lay a traditional picnic spread. Red checked blanket laid beneath a wide, wicker basket, inside of which was obviously carefully prepared sandwiches and assorted snacks. A thermos full of juice lay next to it, several cups, cutlery and plates beside that. It was all spread out with care, as if the one who had done it was expecting pictures to be taken. In a few words, picture perfect. A small, cool breeze from the ocean turned up the corners of the blanket slightly.
"It was such a nice day that I thought we just had to have a picnic." Kairi stated, by way of explanation. "I love picnics!"
'Kairi," Sora put a hand on her shoulder, " Every day here is a nice day. It barely ever rains here."
His face lit up in a playful smile with the simple joy of pointing out the obvious.
"Are you saying there's something wrong with having a picnic then?"
In reply, both Sora and Riku, dying of hunger, fell down messily in to a sitting position on the sheet. Greedily, they eyed the food as Kairi took it out of the basket at what seemed like an agonizingly slow pace. Ignoring their protests, she purposely set everything out carefully, telling them that if they had gotten up before noon, they wouldn't be so hungry now.
After what seemed like an eternity, she nodded, giving them permission to ruin her careful display.
A few hours later, the food was eaten and everyone was content, to a point, with the world. Kairi lay on her stomach, feet swinging in the air. Her wet auburn hair was plastered to her head. The sand underneath her was a darker colour from her moisture of her bathing suit. She was watching Sora and Riku. The boys were still in the water, both clad in swim trunks, all their attention focused on the water fight at hand. They splashed water violently back and forth with their hands. Every so often, Riku would grab Sora round the waist like a rag doll and plunge the protesting boy in to the cold water. Despite his kicking and screaming, even from here, Kairi could see the smile on the younger boy's face. He was enjoying it. A lot.
'...And they wonder why I joke about them being gay. Honestly.' She stopped there. No way was she going to go back to that line of thought. No way would it lead anywhere pleasant.
Sora's voice rescued her from straying toward that territory.
"You win, Riku! I'm done for today." He was swimming toward the shore now, his stroke long and even.
"Awesome! Race you to shore?" Riku replaying, catching up to him, his muscular arms matching him stroke for stroke.
"You already won. You just want to show off."
Whispered words. The only thing Kairi could catch was "...as long as I get to..." Wow, was her imagination running wild with that one. Mentally, because doing so physically would look strange had either boy been aware of her existence at the moment, she slapped herself. No thoughts about that! She slapped herself again. Do not imagine what they might have been doing on that roof, or when they were both fully submerged in the water. No. Just don't. She shivered in spite of the warmth. It was their fault that they were so close. Their fault she kept thinking of them like that. Even if it was wrong beyond any other possible thing in this world. Or any other, while she was on topic.
Sora stepped on to the sun heated sand first, water dripping to the ground in fat, round droplets. Riku was right behind him. He grabbed him by his waist, hugging him. Sora brushed him off awkwardly, whispering words in his ear. Nodding, Riku backed off, waving to Kairi.
"Enjoying yourself?" He jogged toward her.
She nodded. "I want to get a tan."
"Why? It's not like you really need- "
She cut him off pointing to Sora's retreating back. "Where's he going?"
Riku shrugged thoughtfully, a clouded look passing over his features for a second. "Probably just inside for awhile. To much sun, I'll bet. " He shrugged, then impulsively hugged Kairi. "It's been awhile since just me and you talked, hasn't it?" He smiled at her. "Been spending to much time with Sora..."
Sora looked back at Riku and Kairi. Good. They were talking. Hopefully not about him, but they were talking. That was the important part. It would give him time to think. Time alone to clear his scattered head. He felt bad about telling Riku to cool it back there. Ashamed that he was scared to show Kairi what had happened between them. There was no helping it though. Kairi would be so disappointed in him. Not their relationship. Just in him. She and him were supposed to be together. Destiny.
He wandered down a small path to the jungle, sitting on a boulder sticking out of the mossy ground. It was surrounded by trees, completely secluded. One edge jutted out high in to the air. He climbed to the high point, sat and dangled his legs off the edge, his bare feet swinging back and forth. Just the place to think.
Destiny. What was it? Him and Kairi? He had thought that was it. That she was the person he would love forever. He had always thought, been determined, that Riku and him would stay friends. Again, destiny. Kairi though, she and him were meant to be. At least, he had thought so until Riku had kissed him...
Annoyed by always having more questions then answers, he curled his hand in to a tight fist, silently cursing and loving Riku at the same time. Had he never made his feelings clear, this wouldn't have happened. Had he just pretended they had never kissed, they wouldn't be in this situation. He wouldn't feel like he wanted to be with Riku and run away from him at the same time. He wouldn't feel that, with every touch between the two, Kairi was getting closer to figuring out the two of them were more then friends. Not that he hadn't wanted him to. Last night was a haze. A dream in a dream. Except this time, it wasn't a dream. It was reality. That night, things had really changed. Friends had become lovers.
Were they even more then friends? Was Riku his... boyfriend? Having spent the last couple years of him life saving various worlds, he wasn't very experienced in relationships like this. Riku seemed to think so though. He just wished he wasn't so open about it. He just wished they could hide it away forever. He needed him. He needed to hide it. That Riku would understand, now that he had whispered the words in his ear.
Wait. Was he ashamed of liking Riku? Did that have something to do with it? Was this whole thing a combination of fear of hurting Kairi and being ashamed of who he was? Was he even really that person?
Could knowing that Riku liked him be the cause of his feelings? Knowing that someone cared? Was he just desperate to feel needed?
Reflecting on his thoughts towards the boy in the last year or so, he knew the answer was no. He liked Riku because he did. There was no reason other then because. There didn't have to be. Riku was the reason.
Having established that he liked Riku, and Riku liked him, his thoughts turned back to Kairi. What would she do if she found out? After all, they were destined to be together. It was fate. Destiny.
'Forget it!' His mind screamed at him as his logic ran around in circles. There was no point to thought if the thoughts themselves just repeated over and over. Riku, Kairi, Riku, Kairi. No justification for bothering to think if all you came up with was more questions then before.
Besides, his optimism had kicked in, things would work themselves out in the end. If he meant half as much to them as they meant to him, this would all work out. Even if it took time. It would all work out. Like a story with a happy ending. Things would be solved. He just had to wait and make it through. He'd made it through worse. He could do that.
Deep inside him, another thought squirmed. He had had the dream again. Axel, always Axel. Riku had woken him up in the middle of if, but not before he had seen his face thrown in to shadow by a black hood. He hadn't seen his eyes, or anything to identify him, but he had been certain it was him. He hadn't need to see red hair or green eyes to know who it was. The feeling in his heart had told him.
He felt so sorry for Roxas. He could only imagine what it would feel like to know that someone so close to him had died. He wished there was something he could do to heal him. Something he could give, do... say. Anything to ease his pain. For this purpose, Sora bore the sadness that had sometimes threatened to over-come him today. He had not complained even once about the sudden flashed of emotion that overtook him. Despair, anger, jealousy, hate, envy, love. As irrational as they might have seemed, he was sure they would pass. Eventually Roxas would become unaware of his existence, at least to a point. Or, at least his would stop attaching his pain to Sora. He wanted to help him, but the most he could do was accept him. He had to accept it. Even if he didn't understand why he was being shown all this.
After all, Axel was dead. He'd seen it with his own eyes.
And Roxas knew it. But why was he seeing his memories?
A branch snapped in the trees behind him, shattering the silence like a bullet through glass. His self defense shot up, even though it was probably just an animal. As if reading his mind, someone spoke.
"It's all your fault."
A/N Drama! o Scandal! Gasp! Listening to emotional music. Etc. Etc. Anyway! 9.5-ish pages long this time. . Quite a skippy chapter to. Jumps around a lot... There was just so much I needed to get in. I hope I did it well enough. (Paranoid, again, I know. -.-) Hope you enjoyed it. Review, please? I really love feedback. It keeps me writing knowing that more then one person reads my little story.
Yavi, 3
