Another day came, another day went, his steps heavy as he traversed the cobblestone streets of Radient Gardens, absently he rubbed at his left wrist. The muscles within already contracting from the mild cold that had enveloped the town. Riku tugged at his vest, burying his wrist against his side beneath the fabric, attempting to derive some warmth to sooth the slight ache which had begun to act up. To an islander, no matter how long it had been since he'd set foot on their islands- the cold was far too harsh. As if to prove his words, a cold wind whipped through the narrow tunnels of buildings he found himself between, forcing him to hunch further against the chill which invaded his bones. A few yards beyond to his relief the haphazard hodge podging of Merlin's cottage appeared in the darkening gloom of dusk. From its windows, warm light spilled into the streets a welcoming sight to a weary traveler.
As he drew near, he could make out figures passing before the windows, their arms ladened. A screech from Yuffie, a surprisingly loud protest from either Leon or Cloud, defienately a sharper one from Cid. It was funny how a year ago he'd felt out of place, cast adrift with little to no one to help ground him, then he'd met Aerith after Kairi had been put to sleep. She'd offered him a way of distraction, to which he'd somehow after agreeing, found himself within the crumbling ruins of a church, helping to tend to beds of flowers in lee of pews.
Cloud had been the first to find them, someone to which he already had the slightest of connections with, regardless of how fragile it may have been. Leon had been cold and standoffish upon first meeting, not that he could blame the man, knowing the response came from his earlier actions. Of not only abandoning Sora, but hurting him as he had. Yuffie had accepted him after a battle, to which they'd drawn a tie, though he suspected neither had been truely fighting at their full strength during. Cid was- Cid. Aloof and seemingly cold shouldered, the gruff exterior hid a heart of gold beneath, something he could relate to. Merlin had all but adopted him as part of the household, going so far to offer a permeant room within his cottage whenever he was in Radiant Gardens.
/ / /
Warmth enveloped him as his steps crossed the cottages threshold, the scent of wood smoke clinging to its interior alongside the scent of baking. Yuffie darted across his path, arms ladened by garland, he huffed a chuckle at the sight. Yet no sooner had he, then he found himself to freeze, the warmth of before replaced by an instant chill as though he'd been plunged into a frozen lake. A sharp gasp, his breath hitched painfully in his throat as reality crashed in.
"No, put it there Squall!" Yuffie called out, earning an instant retort of- "It's Leon!"
"Cloud, a little higher, no, bigger Cid!"
"Who the heck put you in charge?" Cid demanded.
"Me, myself and I!" Yuffie announced.
Garland stretched from rafters above, strings of colored lights melding within to cast the room with a rainbow of soft lighting. Behind Merlin's favorite chair towered a douglas fur, its branches already ladened by tinsel and ornaments. A star glowed from its top, the metal filigree across it speaking of hand made craftsmanship. Yuffie was perched on a stool, directing the men with pointed instructions, multitasking like a pro.
"Cloud, to the left." she ordered, as the blonde haired swordsman held a ream of garland which was currently in the process of being tacked up. "Squall, over there. There's enough ornaments on this side."
"Leon." Said corrected, yet obeying, carting a carton of ornaments to the other side of the tree itself.
"Cid, what did I say? Bigger, bigger!"
"Any bigger and I'm going to set the cottage on fire instead!" Cid snapped holding a log in one hand and a bundle of twigs in the other, crouched before the fireplace. Already a cache of logs had been piled within the fireplace, bundles of twigs peeking out from between alongside scraps of paper; kindling.
"Oh, welcome back, Riku." Aerith greeted warmly from the kitchen, a tray of cookies having either been taken from or were heading for the oven in her hands.
The counters covered in a fine layer of flour, empty wrappers from butter sticks littered them alongside empty bags of flour and sugar. A smudge of batter swept across her cheek, a flush to her cheeks from the ovens warmth. The sight alone spoke to this having not been the first batch as the scent of Snickerdoodles melded with Sugar Cookies, the smell alone curling his stomach uncomfortably. The sight together- unconsciously he felt himself stumble back, his progress halted against the yet open doors frame.
Having noticed the teens reaction, Aerith exchanged glances with Leon, concern within her gaze, his own betraying nothing as usual.
"Riku?" Maternal instinct warned her to be gentle, if the shimmer of tears within teal depths hadn't been enough.
How could he have been so stupid? To have missed the signs. Memories of a year previous flashed through his head, he, Sora, and Kairi- Christmas together. A tiny cottage decorated merrily with decorations, a counter covered in cookies and baking supplies.
"Were you raised in a barn or something'?" Cid demanded, noting the open door. "Kids these days," he grumbled. "Close the door would ya?!"
"Cid," Leon silenced the man with the single word, having noted Riku's condition as Aerith had. Saw how the teen slumped back against the door frame as if it alone were bracing him upright. The faraway look within his gaze spoke to whatever the teen saw, it wasn't the reality before him. Memories perhaps? If so, they clearly were not good ones, to which he could personally relate.
"Riku?" Instinct set Aerith to approach, reaching out once within range. Her heart seized at the sight before her, of the flicker of tears within teal depths, the way he seemed to simply cave, curling into himself as though the world had crashed down onto his shoulders. Save for the day Kairi had chosen sleep, never had she seen the teen so vulnerable as he appeared now.
"What's wrong with him?" Yuffie piped up.
"Yuf," Leon warned as he had Cid.
Maternal instinct screamed for her to enfold the silver master into a tight hug and never let go. Same said instinct however cautioned her to that very action. "Riku!" her startled cry was met then by the others combined attention.
"Whats up with him?" Cid questioned as Riku suddenly fled as though the hounds of hell were after the teen.
/ / /
His steps pounded across the cobblestones, the cold air burned his throat as he gasped for breath. Darkness danced at the edge of his vision, forcing him to halt when the call to flight screamed through his veins, desperate to out run the memories born from what he'd witnessed. How could he have been so stupid? How did he not notice what time of year it was?! The cold weather, the vase of poinsettias that had appeared with the castle itself when he'd visited Kairi. Cursing his own cluelessness, he at last faltered, his legs buckling painfully so he ended up slumped against cold stone walls. Around him, despite all the towns progress the one section he'd managed to stumble upon was that of a district yet to be restored. Cold and empty, it was the perfect representative to his own heart at the moment.
/ / /
"Riku!" With the teens flight, Aerith had immediately set after him. Rubbing at her arms to circulate some warmth with the sharp rush of wind, she shivered though not from the cold itself but rather the thought of the teen in this weather. Clearly having been raised on a tropical island, to having come from the castle he'd worn little more than the t-shirt and vest the Good Fairies had crafted. Though his capris had been traded for a pair of long jeans, he at least had a pair of study boots which would go a long way in the weather. Still however, she knew it was no where near enough for him to remain any sort of length of time outside. If he even was outside. For all she knew he'd retreated to the castle or his Gummi Ship.
"Aerith!"
"Cloud, Leon, Yuffie!" Relieved to see her friends, save for Cid, the pleading lilt to her voice went without saying. "We have to find him."
"We know," Leon assured, "And we will." he then directed his next words to them all. "We'll split up, Yuffie you head for the lower districts. I'll check the castle, Cloud the Fountain District, and Aerith-"
"I'll try the church, he could have gone there." she spoke up.
"Alright. Cid will wait here in case he comes back. If you find him, call us, we'll either come to you or meet back here."
A round of nods, Aerith found herself tugged to a halt by a gentle hand on her arm. "Cloud?"
"Here," he offered, settling a heavy cloak around her shoulders. "We don't need you both to freeze out here."
"Thank you." she murmured tugging the heavy fabric closer as she set off into the twilight lit streets.
/ / /
"RIKU!" Someone called his name, the note one of concern, of worry- female as well.
Above him the stars sparkled in the cold night air, his breaths soft puffs of fog as he fought for breath. When had it gotten so hard to breath? Each inhale a struggle, too shallow, his head swam from the lack of oxygen. Sleep tugged at the edge of his consciousness, some instinct screamed not to give in, but the promise of release it would give would be worth the trade off then this echo of emptiness that currently filled him.
Cold seeped into his skin from the stone tiles beneath him, the scent of dirt overruling the scent of baked cookies that seemed to cling to his skin and clothes. Snickerdoodles; Kairi's favorite. Sugar cookies; Sora's. Their time together, Sora had made batches of those between their activities. A painfully hitch of his breath, hot tears stung his eyes, the cold making it all the worse. Silently he swore he wouldn't cry.
He wasn't sure how long he lay there, when next he knew someone was crouching over him.
"Riku. . ." Chestnut hair in a loose braid, someone gently drew him upright, another wrapping something around his shoulders, the sudden sensation of warmth instantly nulled by the chill which had already all but seeped into the marrow of his bones. Instinct set him to reach out to tug the cloak, he came to realize, closer; only to find his left wrist rebelling into absolute uselessness. His right wasn't much better, muscles taunt, stiff from the bone chilling cold. Teal glazed yet by emotion met Aerith's soft gaze at her coaxing. "How long have you been here?" she questioned, brushing aside silvery bangs, her fingers brushing against flesh that was far too cold against her own. Pale lashes fluttered shut in response, the sparkle of tears on lashes, though none fell.
Reaching out as she had before, ever so gently she grasped his hands within her own, not having failed to notice the way his left hand hadn't even responded, the right little better. The barest whisper of a spell, warmth flooded his form then, a fraction at a time, before increasing as the chill began to wan. His soft whimper as feeling; which he hadn't realized he'd begun to lose, returned.
/ / /
"The day before the war, the fight- the three of us. . . we went to Christmas Town, to celebrate Christmas. That was our first and. . . last Christmas we spent together. This year, I thought I'd have them both back by now." he admitted, a flicker of a pained filled smile meeting those before him.
After Aerith had found him, Cloud had followed not far behind and between the two had helped him back to Merlin's, though it truely was the last place he wanted to be. Then before Yuffie, Cid and Leon as well as Aerith and Cloud he explained his reasonings behind his reaction- or rather overreaction he silently berated himself.
Guiltily Yuffie glanced around at all the decorations. "It's been a long time since we celebrated ourselves." she began, "so we- okay, I decided to go all out. I never thought about you, if it might bother you. I especially never thought that it would trigger anything about you being separated from Sora and Kairi."
"I know. . . I don't blame you. It's not your fault." Riku assured, though his gaze remained heavy with repressed memories, and the pain instilled from what should have been a fond memory.
Again glancing around, Yuffie felt a small pang, "We- we could take it all down if it would make it easier while your here."
"Excuse me?" Cid protested.
"No! No, it's. . . fine. . ."
"Riku, if this is too much, please don't stay silent about it." Aerith coaxed.
Riku shook his head, denying either way. He refused to deny any other of their celebrating just because the sights drew too sharply the memories of last year. Of the trio together for the last time. Even now, he alone remained, awake while Sora was light only knew where, Kairi asleep- a small part of him questioned to whether or not he'd ever be done paying the price yet for his mistakes. Or would this always be his burden, the sense of lonely isolation despite those who reached out.
/○-^ 🔔🔔🔔 /○-^
Warned ya, didn't I? Angtsy enough? If you answered no. Well, I'll admit I'm not much of a writer to begin with, so- (shrugs), no hurt feelings. As before, and always, thanks for reading another chapter! I hope your enjoying this story as I enjoyed writing it. :) Final Fantasy characters appeared! Yeah? I think. . . Forgive on this one if any of them were OOC, I have the barest knowledge of them. I have never played anything Final Fantasy except Curtain Call, and Four Heroes of Light, and they distinctly lack character building on these characters. Kingdom Hearts version, I haven't played anything but C.O.M, 358/2 days, Re:coded, and 3D, and I mainly was trying to build an idea of who in the worlds they even were in terms of personality from watching Re:minds cutscenes. So again, if they are OOC, forgive me, I tried. . .
On another note, tomorrow's chapter- another filler. This one I really couldn't figure out how to fit it into this chapter. At least not without adding more to the story itself, and I think my writers muse abandoned me on this story so this next chapter is going there exactly- next chapter.
Also, and this probably should have been mentioned earlier: Readers, never go out into frigid tempatures without proper clothing. Frostbite is real, and it is serious. Do not follow Riku's example. Follow Cloud's. Ex. Cloak for Aerith. Dress warmly, and never expose yourself to negative tempatures for an extended amount of time.
Following that note. Anyone else bothered by the fact that Sora runs around in short sleeves and capris on a snow covered mountain the entirety of Arendalle? Really? That's not teaching the kids common sense for winter weather. (Says sarcastically)
Anyways, that's all I got for now. Until next time! LRW