Flee From Our Troubles
The Boy I Betrayed
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. Reality sucks.
Author's Note:
Gomen! Gomen! Gomen nasai! I am soooo sorry that this took so long! I'm trying my hardest to get these done faster! I know it's been like a month (probably over)since I've updated, and once again, I am sooo sorry! When the summer comes, I will be updating like crazy, I promise! Once, again, sorry, and if you couldn't be troubled, give me a present and review!
The next day when I woke up, Riku was already gone. In a panic, I threw off the covers and jumped to my feet, frantically searching for the silver haired boy. When I couldn't find him, I collapsed on to the bed.
'Where had he gone?' I wondered to myself, feeling the hot tears pricking at the back of my eyes, although why I didn't know. 'Why am I crying? I only knew him for three days. It's not like I really even knew him that well. But why – why do I feel so sad?' I asked my confused heart and mind as I let my head drop into my now sweaty hands. Well, this is what happens when you've been secluded from the world for so long.
"I should have known he'd leave. Just like everyone else. They said they'd always be there, but in the end, they all disappeared, one by one without a single explanation," I whispered woefully into my moist palms. I felt a tear slowly travel down my face and I felt my heart twinge with the pain of yet another betrayal. "Not again … it's funny how someone can come into your life for only a short time and mess just about everything up." I sighed with resignation and lazily planted my face in the fluffy, slightly dingy pillow that at that moment I was starting to wish I had never woke up from.
I breathed into the pillow, but it soon became hot and stuffy, so I dejectedly turned my head towards Riku's bed. It was then that another thought entered my head and dawned upon me, hitting me like a ton of bricks; fast and hard. Riku had taken the money. The very same money that I had risked my life and freedom for. As this grim realization set in, I did the only thing I had wanted to do for years, and at that moment, I had one of the strongest urges ever. I cried. Long and hard. I cried myself into a fitful, depressed sleep.
"Hey. Wake up," was the first thing I heard when I woke up from my pity-induced sleep. I groggily opened my sore, red eyes only to see a brown paper bag flying towards me. I went to catch it, but just missed, so it hit me in the face. Shaking my head to get rid of the sting, I looked up to see the silver haired enigma standing there with an amused smirk on his face. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with some sort of small writing on the back. "You're supposed to catch it," he said in a joking taunt, sauntering over to his bed and sitting down with an air of confidence that I wish I had.
"Yeah, I'll remember that for next time," I retorted flatly, slightly embarrassed. I looked at the bag in my lap. "What's in here?"
"Breakfast," he answered smoothly, setting down his backpack and opening the bag. He pulled out a bagel and a small container of cream cheese and started eating. "You better hurry, we'll be leaving soon."
"Okay," was my short reply before opening the bag and pulling out the contents. I finished it within a few bites, and I immediately started feeling better.
"Ready?" he asked me once I finished my small breakfast and had changed. If he had noticed that I was crying earlier, he didn't say anything about it, which I was thankful of. I handed him back his clothes.
"Yep, thanks," I said, and he just nodded quickly. We left the room and handed the key to the receptionist, who lazily took it from us while smacking her bubblegum loudly. We left the dank hotel and started outside. I followed Riku like a puppy throughout the town, and he eventually led me to a small clothing shop. He pulled me inside, and my eyes widened at the sight of all the clothes. "Wow," I exclaimed, my eyes running wildly over all of the selections.
He leaned down by my ear and murmured, "Remember, nothing too expensive. We have to make this money last."
"I know," I replied quietly while he led me over to the boy's clothes. He helped me pick out a pair of jeans, a pair of sweatpants, two long sleeved shirts, a hoodie, and some sweat clothes. We paid for the clothes and left, stepping out into the warm air. "Hey, Riku?"
"What?"
"Where are we going?"
"I dunno. Wherever the path takes us, I guess," he said, walking down the street towards the city's gates. He had a far off look in his eyes as he said this, and I immediately wondered if that was true, or if he was looking for something … or someone … And although I didn't know it at that time, but that was the last long sentence I'd get out of him until later that night. No matter what I said to start a conversation, he would end it rather quickly.
"Riku?"
"Hm?"
"What town are we in?" I asked, and he just pointed at a passing sign. "Oh." All of our conversations seemed to be like that. As little communication as possible between us. It made me wonder for the hundredth time why in the world he was even traveling with me. He didn't seem to like me much …
"You're falling behind again," he said just loudly enough for me to hear, and I jogged to catch up with him. How the heck did he walk so fast? I guess it's because he's had a lot of experience. He's probably a lot stronger than me, too. I've been malnourished for years, living only off of table scraps and whatever he thought to feed me if I had been "good" that day. Living like a dog. A servant. No, worse. A slave. I was so weak, and helpless … it makes me wonder how I even got this far. Man, I'm so tired … maybe Riku is too? I mean, it is starting to get dark and all …
"You know, it's getting dark, Riku," I mentioned, and he seemed to snap out of his thoughts. He sighed.
"I guess we should find somewhere to sleep for the night, huh?"
"Mm hmm," I mumbled. Now I felt really guilty. All he ever does is be nice to me, and all I ever do is bother him. I'm doomed to failure …
That night we decided to sleep in the woods so that we would be safe from that gang that's after me. Speaking of which, I haven't seen them in awhile. Hopefully they've given up by now, but knowing my luck, probably not. I just don't want anything bad to happen to Riku … or me, for that matter. But that sounds really selfish to me … Is it okay to pity yourself like that?
"So … um … Riku … where are you from?"
"Nmh. I don't wanna talk about it," the silver haired enigma muttered as he turned on to side. "You hungry?"
"Um … yeah …" I said, sitting up. I watched as he rummaged around through his backpack, and produced a couple of paupu fruits. He cleaned it off, and then tossed it to me. "When did you get these?" I asked, indicating the sweet yellow fruit.
"This morning when you were sleeping," he replied, opening his own paupu and taking a bite, ending the conversation.
"Oh," was my only reply as I started eating as well. I took a bite, and memories started flooding back to me at the familiar taste. 'Just like the wild one's back home," I thought, as I savored the taste.
Apparently I said that out loud, because Riku gave me a surprised look, and then said, "You mean you've had these before? What island?" He looked really excited, even hopeful.
"I … um … don't remember …" I said sadly, leaning back against the ground. He looked so hopeful, and I'm letting him down … again …
"Oh … okay …" he said, leaning back as well, a dejected look on his once hopeful face.
Soon after dinner, Riku decided to go to sleep. I decided to as well, and I ended up staring at the sparkling ebony sky. "The stars are so beautiful," I whispered more to myself, and tensed when I heard a voice say something back.
"Yeah, they are, aren't they?" the voice said, and I calmed down after I realized that it was Riku.
"You're still up?" I asked, as the teen next to me as he sat up. Following suit, I tilted my head at him not unlike a puppy.
"Can't sleep," he replied, and I started to panic. What if it was my fault?
"I'm sorry, am I keeping you up? I'm really sorry … I'll try and be quieter ne –"
"No, it wasn't you. I just have a lot on my mind right now," he reassured me, but I think it was more to shut me up than anything else. But I still had my doubts …
"Are you sure?"
"'Bout what?"
"That I didn't keep you up."
"Yep."
"Really sure?"
"Mm hmm," he replied. A long silence followed, before he said, "You remind me of someone I once knew," in a barely audible voice.
"Really? I do? How?"
"Well, for one thing you like to talk as much," he said, and I gave off a sheepish grin. "And for another, you share the same kind of hyper-ness as him. You just seem so familiar …"
"What was his name?"
"I … can't remember. I can't remember much of anything about my past. I can only remember little bits and pieces of it. I remember him … but not much else. But all I know is that I'm not going back. Not to him …"
"To who?"
"To my father."
"Why?"
"You … probably wouldn't understand." There was another long silence. "What about you? People like you don't belong on the streets."
"Well …" I didn't want to tell him. What if I told him and he turned me in? Or what if he decides that he doesn't want to get involved with a slave? What will I do then? "I … don't really want to talk about it … I'm sorry … I trust you and all, but it just … hurts …" I was starting to ramble.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," he said, and I looked up at him with a confused expression. "Everybody's got secrets," he told me, giving me a reassuring smile. "C'mon, let's go to sleep. We have a long day of traveling tomorrow," he said, laying down and using some clothes as a pillow on our make-shift sleeping area. Following his example, I lay down and closed my eyes.
'I'm so happy. Riku finally opened up to me … at least a little anyways. But now I feel guilty. He's told me so much … and I've told him so little. I have to learn to trust him … to trust people again. It's just – I've been through so much already. When you've led a life like mine, how can you just start over, just like that? I want to be open with him, but how? How do I know that I won't meet another heart break? I'm … so … sleepy … Nmm … I'll think about it later …'
As I started to drift off, I heard his soft voice say, "You're just like him. The boy I loved … and betrayed …"
Author's Rambles:
Well, there you go! A look into Riku's past! Sorry if the first part was kind of angsty ... I was really depressed when I wrote that part ... bad day at school and what not. So, Happy Holidays, and have a Happy New Year! Leave me a present and review!