Pairings: Sora/Kairi Sora/Riku
-Chapter 04-
A week after Riku had disappeared into the ocean, Sora's father was
trying to read the news, a task that he was finding hard to accomplish
with Sora grumbling irritably to himself.
He set down the paper, and turned his attention to his son.
"Sora," he said, calmly, "You haven't spoken to Kairi in almost a
week. You two are best friends, and now that Riku has left, you two
need each other"
"Riku killed himself because Kairi jumped to conclusions," Sora
pointed out. "I don't ever want to see her again"
"Are you so sure of that, Sora? There's a full moon tonight, so the
beach will be nicely lit. You and Kairi should go there tonight. You
need to get your feelings out"
"I told you, I don't want to speak to her." Sora said, quietly as his
father put a hand on his shoulder.
"Then talk to Riku," he said.
"Riku's dead," Sora reminded him. Then he realized what his father was
saying to him. "Oh, you want us to visit his grave. I guess we owe him
that much. But, could I go alone tomorrow"
"No, Sora," his father replied. "You and Kairi have to go together
tonight. I don't want you two to be mad at each other any longer than
you need to be.
"It was so nice of you to call me, Sora," Kairi said, smiling, as she
and Sora stood together on the shore, looking out at the moonlit
water. "I missed you"
They watched the water, both wanting to say so much to the friend they
had lost. Neither of them were able to find the words to say, so they
just sat there until it grew late, and they began to grow weary with
sleepiness and sadness.
"I didn't want to see you again," Sora told Kairi as they finally
stood up and turned to go home, It was my dad's idea. I'm still mad at
you. I guess I'll never really get over what happened. I mean, he was
our best friend"
"What do you mean was?" Riku asked from behind them.
Sora and Kairi both spun around so fast in surprise that they collided
with each other and fell on their butts.
Riku was in the water about eight feet from the shoreline, his eyes
sparkling with amusement.
"I had a feeling you'd be here tonight, Sora," he said, once Kairi had
gotten to her feet. Sora just sat there, too stunned to stand. "Your
dad sent you, didn't he"
Sora nodded.
"I think he always knew about me," Riku smiled. "That's why he told
you to come here. He knew I'd be topside tonight. My kind never could
resist a moonlight swim"
"Huh?" Sora blinked.
"Sora," Riku asked after a while, "I can't believe you haven't given
me hug after all this time. And I thought I meant something to you"
Sora and Kairi stood up and waited for Riku to join them at the shore.
"You'll have to come out here," Riku told them.
"Are you a ghost, then?" Sora asked.
"Come and see," Riku teased, a wicked smile on his face.
Sora and Kairi ventured out into the water, until they were only half
a foot away from Riku.
"Well?" Sora asked, anxiously. He frowned as Riku vanished beneath the
moonlit water. "Riku? Riku"
All at once, Riku leapt from the water, and high into the air, his form
graceful by moonlight. Water ran over his elegant tailfins, glistening
in the moonlight as he leapt right over Sora's head.
Sora stood there with his mouth hangin open.
"But... how... wha...?" was the best Sora could come up with when his
mouth had started working again. "When did you become a merman"
"I was born one," Riku admitted. "I left the ocean to be with you"
"Why?" Sora asked.
"Because I loved you from the first day I set eyes on you. Even when I
was a boy, I knew you were the only one I'd ever love. But when you
chose Kairi, I could no longer bear to stay in your world"
"Riku," Sora told him as he swam to shore. "I didn't chose Kairi. She
only assumed I did. I wanted to pick you. But, I guess it's too late,
isn't it? I mean, you aren't coming back are you? Well, I guess this is
goodbye then, at least until the next time there's a full moon"
He got out of the water, and went home, leaving Riku and Kairi alone at
the beach.
Kairi watched him go, then turned to Riku. "It's good to know you're
okay. We thought you had"
"Killed myself?" Riku finished. "I'm sorry that I've hurt you so. It
was not my intention. Sora's met merpeople before, so I figured he
would guess my secret. It's getting late. You should go home and get
some sleep. You'll see me again. I promise"
Kairi hugged him once more, a task that was not easy while trying to
stay afloat. Then she swam back to the shore and returned home.
Sora put on his shoes the next morning, to fetch the morning paper for
his father. The minute he opened the door however, the newspaper was
cast from his mind by the sight that met his eyes.
Riku was lying sound asleep on the front lawn, completely nude, a warm
smile upon his lips.
Sora carried him inside and put him on the sofa, covering him with a
blanket. Then he kissed him softly upon the lips.
"Welcome home, Riku." he whispered.