Riku sat on the clock tower in Twilight Town, contemplating his life these past few months. Sora was still asleep, he still had trouble with darkness... at least he was pretty sure Kairi was safe and sound back home...
"I have often dreamed, of a far off place..." he sighed "Where a great, warm, welcome, will be waiting for me..." he stood, knowing this was absolute fantasy he was talking about "And the crowds will cheer when they see my face... and a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be...!"
He switched to a more realistic approach "I will find my way, I can go the distance. I'll be there, someday..." he clenched his fist "If I can be strong!"
He raised his voice "And I know every mile, will be worth my while..." he stepped off the balcony edge, walking away, his confidence and eagerness subsiding "I would go 'most anywhere to feel like I..."
Riku, despite wearing a blindfold, looked towards the eternal sunset "...Belong..."
He walked down to the streets, passing by the blissfully unaware residents. He knew they had never encountered the evils he had faced.
The world is cruel, Ansem's thoughts rang in the back of his head, the world is wicked...
But-
It is I alone who you can trust in this whole city! I am your only friend! Riku quickened his pace, not wanting anyone to be hurt by his darkness. I who keep you, teach you, help you, hear you! I who look upon you without fear...
Shut up! Riku gripped his hood over his head, dashing through abandoned alleyways. How can I protect you boy unless you come to me... give into the dark...
NEVER. Riku spat back at him.
Ansem only chuckled, Remember what I have taught you Riku: You are dark-
No I am not!
And you have no friends-
That's not true!
And you have given into darkness one time too scarcely! You do not comprehend-
You do not speak any truth...!
Riku collapsed against a graffiti covered wall, trying hard to shut out the man who had started his descent into darkness.
Out there they think darkness is a monster...
It is a monster...
Out there they will hate and scorn and jeer...!
Because you are a monster...!
Why invite their calumny and consternation? Come to me... Be faithful to me...
I will not...!
Be grateful to me...
Yeah right...
Do as I say... Ansem's presence started fading away, Obey, And give... in... here …
Riku took a deep and shaky breath, relieved that Ansem had given up for now.
"Safe behind my friends and my memories of love," he whispered "Gazing at the people all around me..." He began walking back through Twilight Town "These few months I've watched them as I hide and fear and roam... hungry for the histories they've shown me..."
He knew a few local kids were walking around and eating sea-salt ice cream. "These few months I've memorized their hearts... knowing them as they'll never know me..." he kept on walking "These few months I've wondered how it feels to pass a day, not with darkness... as a normal kid..."
He laughed, feeling hope well up in his chest "And out there, living in the light... Give me one day out there! All I ask is one, to hold forever!" He felt a few tears moisten his blindfold "Out there, where they all live unaware..." Riku swung around a lamppost, about to head into the subway system "What I'd give...What I'd dare..." he sighed "Just to live one day out there...!"
His pace quickened, daydreaming about his life if he hadn't made such horrible decisions "Out there among the other kids and the girlfriends and their guys! Through the cloth and darkness I can see them!" he wept and laughed at the same time, feeling so much pity for himself "Every day they shout and scold and go about their lives, heedless of the gift it is to be them!"
Riku ran around the pathways in the subway's tunnels "If I was in their skin, I'd treasure every instant!" He knew he was out at the train station now from the warmth of sunlight on his cloak "Out there, strolling by the sand... Taste the morning out there, like ordinary men who freely walk about there!" he panted, feeling his passion starting to ebb away "Just one day and then I swear I'll be content... With my share..." he leaned against the railing at the edge of the plaza, and whispered "Won't resent, won't despair, old and bent, I won't care..."
He raised his voice one more time, putting all his desire in his last words
"I'll have spent... One day... Out there…!"
This was originally just going to be 'I can go the distance', but after I found it to be too short I added in a modified 'Out there'. Both songs really fit Riku, both personifying a desire to be accepted and loved. Riku come here so I can give you a hug (T_T)