Riku immediately lets his fingers slip from the short, dark locks and allows the man to kneel on the ground. He catches his breath for a moment as Riku glances over his shoulder. He can see Reno and Rufus glaring holes int eh back of his head, but he tries not to pay them any mind. After all, reality is before him and the truth of what he's done makes his stomach churn. All he can feel is despair at the thought of hurting the one person that's cared for him since waking up. "I... I'm sorry."
Shaking his head, Vincent sits back on his heels before finally standing up. "No, I'm the one that should be apologized. A newly born vampire needs constant nutrition for the first week, otherwise it cannot survive. I suppose I'm surprised you lasted as long as you have without more." Vincent sends a glare over Riku's head, straight at Reno. Although he still speaks only to Riku, "Do you feel any different now?"
Riku tries to answer, to form any coherent words. But his eyes trail straight for the already healing puncture wounds on Vincent's neck. He watches several trickles of blood bead off, running down to soak into his collar. As he watches it disappear into the material, Riku's vision begins to spot with black. He can't focus and he can't grasp what flashes before his eyes.
He can see that boy and girl he had run into earlier. It's replaced by the view of water washing up around a small island. The one to follow is the greatest contrast. Everything is black around him save for the gray path he walks, suspended in the darkness.
A grown splits from Riku's lips as his word tilts sideways. Vincent immediately reaches for him, pulling him close into the crook of his arm. Crimson eyes are filled with nothing but worry while the expression on his face is as blank as always. Riku isn't given a chance to disagree before Vincent sweeps the younger boy into his arms.
Vincent walks toward Rufus and as he stops, tightening his grip on Riku. "I take full responsibility for what happens."
Rufus scoffs, as if holding back a laugh, although he backs down rather quickly. "I can't always bail you out. Remember that."
Not another word is exchanged as Vincent carries Riku past them, taking him straight to the car. Riku sulks the whole way there, not particularly liking the treatment. He's grateful the instance they get to their destination as Vincent finally put him down. Climbing into the car, they don't say a word to each other. Riku merely leans against the door with his head on the window.
The voice in the back of his mind grates on his nerves and makes him close his eyes so he doesn't have to look at the stars. The thoughts tell him that each star is different, housing a world of its very own. They bring back memories that should well be stripped away and it merely makes Riku's head throb painfully.
He's so absorbed in his own thoughts that he doesn't realize they've returned until Vincent's door shuts. Quickly getting out, he follows the dark haired vampire up to the front door. Once inside, Vincent closes up behind us and goes to walk past Riku, heading for the kitchen. Although he stops at the last second, "Is something wrong?"
Riku sighs, "I could have killed her."
"Her companion wouldn't have let you."
The answer doesn't help him at all. In fact, it only turns Riku straight towards what's really clawing at the corners of his mind. "What did you talk with Rufus about? It was about me, right?"
"It's none of your concern."
And he walks away. Vincent stops at the cabinet in the kitchen and pulls two glasses out. Riku hurries over to him, stripping off his jacket and throwing it over a chair. He watches Vincent open the fridge and pull out a large dark bottle. Riku glares at it, "If it has to do with me I have a right to know. If you don't tell me, I'll just go back and make them tell me."
A rather amused smirk lifts at the corners of Vincent's lips. "You'll be told nothing." He pours crimson liquid into each glass before returning it to the ice box. "The superior of the creatures that turned us gave only one rule. To never touch a certain group of individuals. Rufus believes I've crossed the line and doesn't wish to be a part of anything I do."
"Who are the people?"
Vincent lifts one glass to his lips, taking a small sip. "Those that are referred to as Princesses and Keyblade Wielders."
"And was I in that category?"
Striding past him, Vincent doesn't so much as glance at him. "Go to your room and rest Riku." He makes his way up the staircase and turns down the hall to the left.
Riku, assuming Vincent will be going ot his room, turns on his heels. He refuses to be told to let it go, especially when it concerns his – and Vincent's – well being. Angry, he can only think of getting as far away from Vincent as possible. Soundlessly, Riku hurries to the door and shuts it behind him. The second he's outside he breaks into a run, one that appears human enough.
He sprints through streets, back alleys, and skids around corners. But he can't find where he wants to go. He just doesn't remember anything and no amount of landmarks can bring his memory back. Infuriated at having run in circles at least a good three times, Riku wishes he could simply scream at the top of his lungs.
Mentally exhausted, he slips into the empty park filled with leaves falling from trees. The red, brown and orange hues struggle to bring a smiling memory into focus. But just as he reaches for it, it vanishes without a trace. His knees buckle and he plops down onto a metal bench. Leaning back, he stares up through the dying leaves and bare brances to that of the sky.
It's not like the eyes of that boy. The normal bright blue is replaced by a darkness so thick that he's not sure if the sun can burn it away in the morning. His eyes hop from star to star, losing himself in his thoughts once again.
He can't seem to work through any of them. He's aware that Vincent told him he chose this, to give up everything and start completely fresh. But the longing to have it all back remains in his heart and it aggrivates him. That how can he possibly want to go back to something he supposedly gave up so willingly.
A soft laugh shatters his thoughts, "I knew I'd find you eventually." The metal creaks slightly as the slender man sits down. "You always did love to sit here."
Riku lifts his head and looks over at the newcomer to see that boy. Everything is the same and it's comforting; bright smile, brunet spiky hair, and those enchanting blue eyes. Not sure what to say, he turns his eyes away. "I did?"
The male sighs and the sadness around him is practically tangible. "You mean you don't remember anything?"
"I didn't want to." Riku can't stop the words before they come and he can't stop the way they come out. His tone is empty, lacking any emotion whatsoever.
He scoots closer to Riku and reaches out to place his hand on Riku's hand. "Does that mean you don't want to now?" His warm fingers wrap around Riku's cold ones and it makes Sora have to resist the urge to drop Riku's hand. "G-Geez Riku, you should have brought a jacket."
"I don't need one."
He tilts his head to the side, completely clueless, "How come?" Riku refuses to look at him, merely keeps hie eyes wandering elsewhere. "You can always talk to me, I'm here for you." For a moment, Riku glances at him. He feels sorry for the brunet and opens his mouth slightly. He leans forward instantly, getting far too close for comfort, but Riku stays steady. After all, his breath hitches at the sight and he sits back down immediately. "You're... a vampire? But those aren't real."
A chuckle breaks from Riku's throat and he's talking before he realizes what he's saying. "After all we went through and you don't believe in vampires?" Riku sighs and pulls his hand away from the man's to cradle his own head. "Sorry, I shouldn't get your hopes up."
Smiling at Riku, he swings his feet ever so slightly. "You know Riku, you told me something the night you disappeared and I didn't get to respond."
"And?"
"You told me you loved me..." He leans toward Riku, turning so that he can stretch up to press his forehead against Riku's. His fingers reach up to grasp at Riku's shoulders, as if to hold himself still. "...and I wanted to tell you that I – I love you too."
The distance between their lips vanishes in one swift second as he captures Riku's mouth. He pulls away a moment later but keeps their foreheads touching. "Do you remember now?"
Riku gives a curt shake of his head and the boy moves back in for another kiss. Inwardly fighting himself, Riku tries to resist the urge to let this person continue. Part of him screams to run away before it's too late, before any memories bubble up to the surface. Riku draws his hands up to the brunet's shoulders but it's no use.
Memories bombard him the second Riku touches him. Everything floods back; drowning in darkness, running up stairs only to be too late, walking away from the twisted castle and down the path laid before him. Even more rise to the surface and Riku can't seem to take it as he remembers up to the night he met Vincent. Tears, ones he wasn't sure he could even have anymore, well up at the corners of his eyes.
It stuns the boy before him to the point where he pulls away. He wraps his arms around Riku, holding him close. "It'll be okay Riku, I'm here for you."
The reassuring words do little to comfort Riku. The darkness he knows all too well is already reaching for him. He grasps tightly at the boy's – no, Sora's – shoulders as he tries to stay conscious. But he can't, he can barely focus his eyes as he falls forward into Sora's awaiting arms. However, as he closes his eyes it's not the brunet's name that slips from his lips.