We enter the moment the sky falls.
The land can't reach the sky himself, but maybe his heart can.
"Riku, wait-"
I'm already at the door to her room. "He's supposed to be here for you! He's so...thick in the head. He needs to get chewed out big time." My hand grabs the handle.
"RIKU!" Kairi stresses, gripping her bedsheets. She grabs her stomach and falls against the mattress.
I clench my fist. I want to push on and find where Sora went. Kairi's heavy breaths shake me. I return to her side and touch her hand. It's amazing how even in the state she's in, Kairi's fills this room with a feeling that I can only describe as wonder. She never fought as often as we had, but in terms of mental strength, Kairi had far more than Sora and I ever will. The toughest Princess of all. She looks at me and tightens her fingers around my hand. I feel calmer.
"Don't be mad at him, please."
"And why shouldn't I be?" I ask with a smile.
She returns it. "Because he'll come back. He always will. Just like you."
Kairi holds so much optimism, but at the same time, she can't rightfully be upset about this. I nod to her and rise from my seat. "Well in any case, I'm going to find him. He needs to see you up and feeling well."
"If you have to be mad at him," Kairi laughs, "just don't beat the daylight out of him."
"Sora can handle me."
By the time I reached the exit of the hospital, all the rage that lingered in me had faded. Most of my anger did come from Kairi being left alone when she woke, but I also wanted to get my speaking with Sora situated. Perhaps my selfishness was what left me in that room..
"Riku?"
My name rings through my ears like a siren. Oh no.
I turn. I see no one. Sora isn't here. Hell my heart is telling me that.
"Hey." Lea walks down the opposite side of the hall, eating a pudding. He says with the spoon in his mouth: "You look like you saw a ghost."
"I need to find Sora."
"Well if he isn't here I imagine he'd be home," Lea shrugs. "God have you tried these? Wow, it almost beats ice cream. Almost being the keyword, heh."
I'm confused for a moment. "How many of those have you had?"
Lea freezes. "Uh…"
Every time I come back, the main island feels like it shrank another few feet. Every house is in its same place, same distance apart. Same coastlines, but it could be that I just feel bigger every time I return. It's a nice feeling, don't get me wrong. I can't blame Destiny Islands for being so small.
I walk down a rocky path where Keyhole Island lays in far off sight. I think we called it Play Island when we were younger and clearly experts on naming things. I resorted to Keyhole for obvious reasons; and despite always going back, I could feel the island not wanting me there. Until now.
I had spoken to Sora's mom, who had a number of grays in her hair since I last saw her the day before the world first fell to darkness. Sora was back on Keyhole, doing who knows what. Seems he never got the news that Kairi was awake.
I approach the shore. Take off my shoes, feel warm sand between my toes. The sand clumps as I get to the rising tide, and soon enough I have ocean water rushing past my ankles. Never when I was younger did I sit and appreciate this world and its charm. How gentle the waves always were? God, my mind melts down and stops thinking just to listen to them.
This wonderful little place showed me just what I could miss when I was away. I still enjoy traveling, but I've learned the error of my ways. Destiny Islands matters in this universe of ours, even if it's a small percentage.
A boat rows in to the pier, and eclipsing the sunset is - of course - the silhouette of spiky hair. There are flowers upon flowers filling his boat when Sora finally comes into view. He looks frantic.
My heart flutters, and while I feel I want to run, the ocean keeps me planted. Aqua's words float into my head. I take a deep breath and flawlessly play the cool friend.
Sora freezes with the flowers in his hands when he spots me. Again, he looks as if he doesn't know how to approach me. It...it almost hurts.
"Riku...I-"
"You're late." I manage to smile. "Kairi's pretty pissed with you."
He clenches his flowers. "Oh no!" He races off the pier, flowers falling behind him onto the cedarwood. I really don't think he knows how to switch off his goofiness.
He pauses for a moment and turns back to me. "Uh...Riku. About before…"
I feel it coming, so I close my eyes when I speak. I let my heart lift up. "I'll stay right here, Sora."
I turn back to him and I finally see his face fully in the sunset. I finally see an expression in his eyes, and they're worried. This is for Kairi of course, but at least he isn't looking at me like I've alienated him.
Though that's exactly what I did.
I feel dark emotion creeping in again, so I take another breath. "Go on, see Kairi and how she is. We can talk when you're done. That and your flowers are gonna start wilting if you don't get to her."
Sora blinks and makes his signature grin. "Right." He takes a step away. "I won't be too long."
"Take your time. See your light."
And like that he's gone.
Come back, my thoughts ring. I want this to be over, and I willingly gave myself more time alone with the ideas of what Sora is going to say to me. I let the worst case scenarios bother me until the countless stars appear in the sky.
"I'm going to hate this so much."
Stars fall all over. I won't look at the one coming to kill me.
