Chapter 1: Sent Back In Time
Author's Note: O.o Thanks to these wonderful people, I've decided to update early.
Thecrazydarkfangirl, jfbj, Lieberisse, Anonymous, Paparate, star-chan, dustbinbaby!
I think twins can feel if each others are in danger, so about Riku falling into God-knows-where is very real.
"She's stirring! Hurry! Get the basin! She might throw up…" someone commanded. Clumsy shuffles of footsteps took leave from the room.
Her arms creaked as she forced herself up; her right arm flung out to stop them from getting all fussy because of her; her eyes barely opened as her brain was still groggy. From lack of oxygen, Riku thought sluggishly. She tried to blink.
"Eriku, don't strain yourself." A strong arm traveled to support her back. Riku stiffened.
She felt his hand cupped her cheek. Riku's eyes snapped open the instant his fingers stroked her jaw. She turned quickly to look at the stranger beside her.
Riku's jaw dropped. Sitting on her bedside was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. His long golden hair shimmered under the flecks of hanging lanterns and oil lamps; his eyes hinted of concern and relief as he stared at her with such kindness that had Riku rooted to the spot.
Suddenly, buck loads of images rained down into her mind like pouring rapids, tipping the balance of normalcy and headache to a new equilibrium. The short scenes appeared everywhere, depicting a girl who looked a lot like Riku albeit in a very stiff and starched dress talking and laughing with the blonde guy and a redhead, who looked exactly like Daisuke. The scene moved to Riku-replica kissing the blonde…
Riku blushed, and if it's even possible, she pushed aside the images and stared deeply into the blonde's eyes. She wasn't searching for answers, but for familiarity. Riku wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her, having her daydream about kissing another guy whilst she should be kissing Daisuke.
When her own reflection in his eyes stared right back at her, Riku did a double take. My hair's longer. She grabbed a bunch of her hair and took a look. It was a deep mauve colour, darker than she thought her original hair colour was.
Riku began to notice her loose, long and white nightgown. It was plain and conservative, covering every inch of her body except her head. The design was so old-fashion, Riku almost blanched. Ha… Riku chuckled a bit; At least I'm well covered.
"Don't worry, dear. Your dress is still here," a matronly voice said. Riku looked over to the woman and was startled to see her dressed so spectacularly: the deep green velvet looked like its bogging her down and the fur lining as decoration on her dress made her looked like an overstuffed furniture.
This sort of design does not even exist now! It looks like she just came out from the 16th Century… Riku nodded to herself. Suddenly, her eyes fell onto the boy who stood beside the woman.
A memory reverberated itself into Riku's already-confused mind. Riku saw Daisuke hovering at the large windowsill, his back toward her. She took a step forward, preparing to greet him. Suddenly, a mass of brown hair obscured her sight of Daisuke's face. Her heart thumped loudly against her chest. They were kissing! Daisuke… and Risa…
Pain shot into her heart at the memory. Riku gave a half-cry and clutched the quilt close to her chest.
"Eriku! What's the matter?" The blonde asked, panic lacing his tone as he swiftly took her form into his embrace.
Riku shot a pained look at Daisuke-replica, which hindered his way over to her. Instead, he took a step back.
Riku gripped the blonde's arm and gave him a pitiful look. "Hikari, I need to rest." (She was relieved to scout out his name through her ancestor's memories in such a short time)
She looked at the people around her. "Please leave me alone, I have a terrible headache." To make it look real, Riku slipped under the covers.
"Do you want us to call the doctor?" the woman asked, concerned.
"No, thank you, Lady Niwa. I'll sleep it off," a muffled reply.
Hikari bent down to give Riku a kiss on the cheek and left the room along with the others. He stopped at the remaining figure at the door. "Daiko, come. Let her sleep."
The shadowed figure "hmmph"ed quietly, then walking down the hallway. Hikari took one last long look at his beloved Eriku before closing the door behind him. He wondered if she was still bothered about her hair.
--
After everyone left, Riku sat up suddenly on the spongy mattress, no doubt stuffed with goose feathers. She pondered on her last memory. Am I dead?
Riku looked around, her eyes scampering to the detailed classical designed print on the walls, the antique-looking wardrobe, the silver 'basin' on her nightstand, the oil lamps… Riku covered her mouth in horror. She was sent back in time!
Drawing her knees to her chest, she pondered, Why?
Snatching a mirror conveniently placed beside the basin, Riku examined her appearance. I still look the same except for my hair. She pinched herself and almost cried out in pain.
"Ow." That actually hurt.
"So, I'm not dead yet." Riku was being surprisingly calm about this, even replaying the memory of Daisuke kissing Risa. "No, no. That couldn't have been Daisuke. The clothes and the surrounding don't match. He must've been Daisuke's ancestor! And Risa! Hmm…. Are we related?" Riku asked herself loudly.
Knock, knock.
"Who's there?" Riku automatically asked.
A male voice whispered. "It's me, Daiko. May I come in?"
Riku's heart thumped fiercely and she blushed involuntarily. Get a grip, girl. He's not your Daisuke. He could be Daisuke's great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather. By repeating the 'great', Riku felt much better, but decided not to let him in. She lowered herself by the door.
Riku heard shuffling on the other side of the door; she mentally pictured Daisuke… no, Daiko making himself comfortable. "Eriku…"
Riku felt strange when he called her 'Eriku', but figured she just had to bear it for now until she find a way to get back to her present time.
"Eriku, I'm sorry. The kiss with Arisa was an accident. I didn't know she would---"
Riku took a deep breath. "I know. It's not your fault…Daiko." Riku let the name roll off her tongue. She had to be careful and not let the name 'Daisuke' slip.
"You've told me a thousand times that I should be careful with that girl. She just likes a challenge and I have consistently held my ground. I knew she was just looking for some comfort in another man's arms after Hikari tactfully sent her off again…"
Riku was jolted with another memory.
"Hikari! Please don't leave me!" Arisa cried, defeated. "After all I've done for you! I've given you status, money, even my heart! Why can't you love me back?"
Riku spied from behind a bush. Hikari threw a clean handkerchief at her lap and lifted her face to his. "Because you try too hard."
Tactful? Not quite.
Daiko moaned again, "You said she was a 'flirt-o-miscuous' and you were quite right…"
Daiko stopped rambling as he heard a soft giggle escaped from beyond the door. "Eriku?"
"I'm sorry!" His childhood friend, Eriku said between giggles. He heard her again, "I can't believe I would cross the word 'flirt' and 'promiscuous' together!" Daiko relaxed and slumped his back to the door, with a small smile hidden in the shadows. "Would you forgive me?"
"Of course I would, you silly boy!" Her voice clear. "Now, tell me what happened after I fainted?"
Daiko duly complied and the two spent the night by the door exchanging words. But mostly, Riku listened contently to Daiko and admiring his great story-telling skills.
"RIKUUUUUU!" Daisuke yelled on the rescue boat just metres away from the devastating sight. Survivors were trying to get away from the blazing torch, some caught hold of drifting furniture to hang on to. Screams and shouts for help swam all around the site; however, Daisuke was narrow-mindedly searching for his beloved Riku.
"Daisuke Niwa!" Someone called him, but he didn't reply, because he can sense no familiarity in the voice. "I say, Niwa! Snap out of it! Rescue the immediate ones first!" The commanding voice latched him back to notice the victims crying out for help.
Realizing his error, Daisuke quickly hauled the survivors onto the rescue boat and lifted his eyes, only to be met with Ukawa's stern eyes. He was stationed on another boat. "I care about Riku as well, but these people are dying in front of us if we don't save them fast!"
Dark eyes met with his flashing ones. Daisuke nodded curtly. He knew Ukawa had not gotten over the fact that he kicked him and stole his crush from him. Even if it were Dark possessing him at that time, Daisuke would be willing to re-enact the scene, because he believed that a guy should never force himself on a girl.
Riku! I'll come for you!
Bet everyone already figured that Hikari looks a lot like Krad :-) , right?
Incidentally, Riku goes into another world when Risa was sick (in manga). But in my fic, Riku goes back to the past and Risa's sick. Hehe, I was trying to make a connection.
I'll be fusing in elements from the manga as well as the anime. Just to be informed! And I adore your reviews, dear readers.