Title: My Memories
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Characters: Yuffie, Riku, Aerith

Prompt: #25 Strangers

Word Count: 1133
Rating: G
Summary: She's one of the few things that Riku can remember on his own
Author's Notes: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.

The day he met her was a day he'd never forget. Hollow Bastion was just becoming rein habited and he was trying to find his light. He couldn't remember some things. But, he realized later, he knew things that hadn't happened to him. King Mickey had told him that some of his memories had been filled in with Sora's memories. Eventually, the King said, Sora would need those memories back, but for now, they were his. It was weird; he'd rather have his own memories. Places he never had been to he knew about. He could remember conversations he never had. He could remember people he had never met. Overall, he didn't like it.

'I've never walked this corridor,' he thought to himself in pure frustration; he wished he didn't know any of Sora's memories. They were Sora's memories, not his. 'But I can remember exactly where it leads.' What would he have, a blank memory when Sora wanted his memories back? He didn't even know why he had his friend's memories and neither did the King. He considered it a bad sign. Something small and hard crashed into him. While sprawled on the floor, he could swear he was dieing from the impact of the hit. When he opened his eyes he looked down to see a rather familiar head of short black hair on top of him.

"Watch it Yuffie," he groaned.

The girl slightly sat up, although she was still on top of him he noticed, and gave him a once over, "Do I know you?"

For once, he actually had a memory of his own of the girl. Sure, it was only a glimpse he had gotten once in Traversetown when he had found Sora, but it was his own memory, even if it was added to Sora's.

"No," was the simple reply.

"Then how-" she asked slightly defensively. She was in a hurry and had no time for this. Leon was waiting for her for training and Cid needed help with Restoration stuff.

"You're in his memories," Yuffie looked curiously at the silver haired boy. 'He's pretty cute.' "You're in Sora's memories."

'How does he know Sora? Did Sora save his world or something or is it an enemy of his or-' Yuffie shook her head, "What'd you mean I'm, 'In his memories?'"

"Whatever," Riku turned and his black cloak hardly moved. 'Creepy,' thought Yuffie, "It doesn't matter. I don't know you; we're strangers." Yuffie blinked and he was gone. "Weird," was her soft whisper and she ran down a nearby alleyway. Riku watched from a rooftop, "Yeah. Weird." The whole ordeal was quite strange. They were strangers; they had to be strangers. It was just how the world went. If you didn't know someone, you were strangers. That was just how the universe worked, 'I'm wasting my time; I need to find my light.' An image of Kairi set in his mind, but he shook it off. Now he understood that Kairi was Sora's light. Their fates were forever entwined in the weavings of destiny. Someone had once told him that everyone had someone whose fate was entwined with his or her own. Most of the time people didn't find their 'other half'. They settled for the next best thin. Soul mates wasn't the correct term for 'other halves'. 'Soul mates' meant that you were perfect for each other in everyway. It kind of surprised him when he first came up with the idea he didn't want someone perfect for him in everyway. He wanted someone to fight with, someone who would keep him guessing.

"Hello," a rather soft voice greeted behind him. Surprised, Riku quickly turned his head toward the sound. A woman with long brown hair dressed in head to toe pink smiled warmly at him, "My name is-"

"Aerith," Riku cut her off and turned his head back to the curving streets of Hollow Bastion. She was no threat to him.

"Yes," she smiled again, "If you're looking for Yuffie, she's at the Rising Falls."

"Whaa," he was shocked, "Why would I be looking for her?"

Aerith giggled and held up two entwined fingers, "Fate."

"What's fate," he questioned.

"The entwining of your paths. I can sense it."

"How?"

She giggled again and smiled at him softly, "I could call it woman's intuition, but that would be a lie. It's a nearly completely lost skill that was taught by magic users. In a distant world there was a woman who could see what was going to happen to those around her. Most of her art was lost, uncultivated. But wizards had been able to master some of it, but little by little it is again being lost. Entwined destinies are one of the few arts I still know of."

Riku looked up at her, "Does that mean no matter where I go, she'll find me? That fate will destine us together, no matter what world I'm in."

Aerith nodded, "But just to let you know, Yuffie's always been one to go against fate. She won't accept you quickly."

"Well, it won't matter if she resists if we're going to be together anyway."

Aerith looked down at him, "Don't force yourself with her yet. Right now, you're just strangers. Eventually you'll be friends, then maybe lovers. You have your whole life to become each other's friends, to love each other. Don't rush things."

Riku smirked, "I won't." he looked back at the pink-clad woman. "Have you found your destiny?"

She smiled, "Yes." A faraway look came into her eyes and Riku felt it was best to leave.

"Hey," someone called. Riku turned around to see a familiar black haired ninja approaching him. "You're that kid from earlier."

"Maybe," he smirked. If they were going to end up together anyway, why couldn't he mess with her head? "Or maybe not."

She stuck her tongue out, "Whatever. What's your name?"

"Riku," he smirked. 'Urg, he'd be so cute without the smirk.'

"Well, Riku, if that is your real name, how do you know Sora?"

"I'm an old friend of his."

Yuffie pulled on his cheeks granny style, "You don't seem to old, kid."

"Hey, stop that," she didn't comply with his demand and started poking him on his forehead, 'I'm supposed to be annoying her', "I have to go," he lied.

She smiled, "You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"Whatever."

"Ha! I'm right," Yuffie struck a victory pose that made Riku groan. 'I'm stuck with her?' "Ya know," she continued, "You are pretty cute." She kissed his cheek by standing on her tippy toes, "See ya around, Riku." She waved before running down any alleyway and disappearing from sight.

"See ya around, Yuffie," he blushed.

An indirect reference to the Wheel of Time series.