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Disclaimer: Unfortunately...no I don't own Kingdom Hearts. How I wish it though...
Ch. 1 Confusion and Renewed Freedom:
5 Years Later
--
Eyes you could just drown in...the color of the ocean...aqua. So beautiful...
Silver strands framing... Framing what? Nothing...empty...a blank face.
Thin, pink lips...pale, creamy skin...
The most serene touch...but...from where?
A previous life? A distant past?
Who?
Who is he...
A voice whispering...soothing
Its fainting, drifting away, leaving...again...
Another voice speaking...getting louder...
Sora.
"Hey Sora."
Chocolate tresses, poking out from under the Mickey blanket, stirred as the young man fought against that persistent voice. "Hmm..." He carelessly kept on sleeping as he tried to give himself in to that dream once again.
"Argh. Sora! Wake your happy ass up!" Blue fluffy pillow went flying through the air making contact with the brown spikes. Thump!
Sora's head jerked up. "Huh? Wha-" Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Blue irises located the bright red numbers flashing on his alarm clock, 6:07. He groaned as his head flopped back down on his pillow, his right hand extending lazily through the air finally making contact with the snooze button. He heard snickering coming from across the room and unwillingly opened an eye to stare at his yellow-haired roommate. He reached behind him on the bed for the blue fluffy pillow and threw it back at Tidus.
"What you laughing at?"
His roommate shook his head in disbelief, clear humor in his voice. "I can't believe you didn't hear it go off! You must be turning deaf. I told you to stop sleeping with those headphones in your ears."
Sora pulled back the covers and slipped his legs off the bed, stretching as his feet made contact with the floor. He reached down for his black ipod, scratched and smudged with fingerprints from months of use. "I didn't even have them on. Look..." He lifted it for his roommate to see. "Plus it's off, the battery must have run out."
"Yeah, whatever you say Sora."
He connected the ipod to its charger and then headed to his drawer randomly picking out some boxers, shorts, and a shirt. Tidus, his expression suddenly turning somber no longer holding any humor, watched him hesitantly. "Hey Sora?"
"Yea?"
"Did you have another one?" Sora instantly stopped in his tracks. He looked towards Tidus and considered lying to him so he wouldn't worry but then thought better of it knowing he couldn't lie to his friend even if he tried. So he simply nodded. "Yea. I had another one. How did you know?"
"Sora you're my friend and having lived with you for a year now i think i know how to read your eyes for those hidden feelings you try to keep inside...plus you wouldn't stop talking in your sleep. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Mmmh, no... not really. Nothing's changed. It's the same every time. Nothing more, nothing less. I'll just end up getting frustrated again over the simple fact that I don't know what it means." He gave Tidus an innocent smile, but he didn't buy it. "Don't worry I'll be fine," he reassured him. "I'm going to take a shower," Sora stated as he headed for the bathroom door.
"Sora?"
"Yea?"
"...nothing...just know that I'm here for anything you need, ok?"
"Yea, I know. Thanks, Tidus." Sora stepped into the bathroom and slowly shut the door. He leaned against it and sighed. He had seen the look on Tidus' face, and he just couldn't shake off the sense that he was keeping something hidden.
For a reason that was unknown to him he felt like crying. He resisted the urge. Why? Why this empty feeling inside?
For a couple of days now he had been having similar dreams to the one this morning. The dreams never showing a face just those eyes, familiar yet forgotten. And the feelings? Somehow...they all seemed...real. Unknowingly that certain feeling of needing to cry increased ten-fold and by the time he made his way under the shower head his resistance crumbled and his tears spilled over mixing with the rushing hot water as they streamed down.
--
I've been so lost since you've gone
Why not me before you?
Why did fate deceive me?
Everything turned out so wrong
Why did you leave me in silence?
You gave up the fight
You left me behind
All that's done's forgiven
You'll always be mine I know deep inside
All that's done's forgiven
Free. After five miserable years of drowning in his own misery and of those around him, he was finally going to be free.
"Riku Kazma?"
He just about jumped off the uncomfortable mattress he was that excited, but he forced himself to contain it. Inside he was quite literally screaming for joy, but on the outside he was long-faced and serious as he stared intently at the man. He was escorted by that single guard, through numerous walkways and hallways, towards the desk near the entrance. He was given the belongings that he had been wearing the day he had been arrested five years ago. His yellow vest and black jeans folded neatly inside a plastic bag and his beloved black and white converse set atop them. Then as he was handed the final item he was wearing that day, something so unexpected occurred, something he'd sworn would never happen again. All the sorrow that he had held in since the day he was escorted out the court room finally caught up with him and burst out in the form of a tear. In his hand he held his most cherished possession, a platinum chain necklace and from it hung a single star-shaped pendant with a sapphire stone embedded in its center. He whispered a simple "thank you" and then he turned around and walked towards the exit, and as the single crystallized tear made its way down to earth, Riku's thoughts wandered away without his knowing. Into a distant memory his remembrance took him, a far away place long since hidden but not forgotten...
The sun beat down casting its radiant rays on his gentle face. He stood motionless, at peace, letting the tranquil breeze play across his grayish-white tresses. He out-stretched his arms welcoming the wind to sway him from side to side; a little dangerous as he was standing mere inches from the cliff's edge.
"Before you go jumping off, give me just one more night to show you just how I feel."
He dropped his arms and spun towards the familiar voice. He chuckled, "Just one?" He out-stretched his arms once again this time welcoming Sora into his arms.
Sora slid his arms to twine around Riku's neck, resting his cheek on his shoulder, lips pressed to his neck . "Mmm, no how 'bout every night."
"Hmm, every night it is then." He gave him a gentle squeeze.
"Oh wait, I almost forgot..." He pushed himself out of Riku's embrace and reached into his pocket. In his hand he held a small navy blue velvet box. " Here...," he said with obvious embarrassment tainting his cheeks.
Riku took it in his hand with difficulty, for his hand was slightly shaking and his curious "What's this?" came out in a hoarse whisper as his throat was closing up. This was the first time anyone had given him a gift. And just by the looks of the box it looked expensive.
"Weeell...hehe...I kinda got you a gift." He flashed Riku his most dazzling smile. Riku started to look at the box in confusion, obviously his attempt at distracting him had failed, so before Riku could refuse it he quickly rambled his explanation, " I know you don't like people giving you anything but I feel you deserve it...especially after you gave me this..." He played with his crown-shaped pendant hanging from his necklace. "I love it by the way, I know I've told you like loads of times but i just feel like it suits me perfectly."
"Sora," Riku began to protest in his disapproving tone but before he could go on he was interrupted.
"Ri-ku please, at least open it before you decide to turn it down."
He let out an exasperated sigh before he finally gave in. He lifted the lid grudginly and refrained from gasping as his eyes settled on the most beautiful star-shaped pendant. In the center of the star, was a single sapphire stone. It was the exact same shade as...
"I know how much you like to stare into my eyes, you said so yourself," Sora had to hold himself back from giggling like a school girl, ( XD lol )"so I had that stone embedded into it. That way even when we're not together you can always look at it and...well...remember me..."
"I...I don't..." He couldn't stop staring at the sapphire blue, it was entrancing. All of a sudden he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. And he in turn couldn't help but hug back.
Sora let out a contended sigh. "I know you love it, you don't have to say anything." He turned to look up at Riku; a smug look on his face. " It's not everyday I get to make you speechless."
"Hehe, you know me all too well...I do love it, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"You do know I'm going to have to get you back for this right?"
"Make it simple."
"Nnnope, not a chance.". . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"Riku?"
"Hey Ry!"
He slowly came back to reality and vaguely realized he was standing outside. For the first time, in who knows when, he was standing without any bars between him and the outside world. But for some reason he couldn't quite make the connection yet.
A hand shot out of nowhere and slapped him across the face. Well, that certainly brought him back fully to awareness. His own hand came up to sooth his raw cheek.
"Argh, you son of a- Axel! What the hell?!"
The spikey red-head spoke with a lazy drawl, "Well sooorry, but you were standin' there looking all catatonic and crap. I was thinkin' you were gonna pass out from disbelief or something. What aren't you happy to be out?"
Riku glared at him for a minute his hand still trying to stop the stinging on his cheek.
They had met three years ago when Axel had been brought in as his new cellmate, and ever since then they've been almost like brothers. He ended up telling Axel his story and, thankfully, Axel hadn't asked any questions after he had abruptly ended it. They watched out for each others backs and stood up to anyone who got in their way. Not once were they touched, physically or emotionally, and though Riku had been by himself for a year before Axel had gotten there he hadn't let himself be intimidated and he had learned to defend himself for whenever the occasion presented itself.
"Of course I'm happy you idiot! Its just- It's been awhile that's all."
"Hmm, yea well anywho, how 'bout we get outta here? I'm getting hungry."
"Well geez Axel way to ruin my happy moment with your stomach."
"Hey whoever decided to put me in the same category as nostalgic was dead wrong. Besides when my stomach growls it gets what it wants."
Riku couldn't help but laugh at that. And he had to admit he was a little hungry himself. After eating the disgusting food they provided for him inside for five years straight even 99 cent tacos would do.
"Ok, but you're paying."
Axel let out a hearty laugh. "Well c'mon then. My uncle Reno let me borrow his car."
They walked through the parking lot until Axel stopped in front of a red Toyota Corolla to take out his keys. It was a pretty beat up car and old in its years.
Riku craned his head in confusion. "I thought you said your uncle was rich."
Axel finally managed to pull out his keys from his extremely tight jeans and exclaimed in victory, "A-ha!" " Well he is rich," he said looking at Riku as if that was clearly obvious. And then sensing Riku's confusion he looked down at the Corolla. "Eww-No! That's the car." He pointed to a car a few feet away.
Riku let out a low whistle as he walked towards it. "Wow, this is one nice ride." He stood in front of a red Dodge Viper with two white stripes down the middle.
"Haha, yup, that she is. You should see his other one, a brand new Audi R8, a real beauty."
"A what?"
Axel's brows creased. "Hnh, yea never mind i guess i didn't know what it was at first either. Now get in the car."
Riku pulled open the door and sat down in the hot leather seat strapping on his seat belt, Axel doing the same. He put the key in the ignition and just before he turned it he changed his mind and instead leaned back into his seat.
Riku, who had been admiring the interior, stopped to look at him. "What's wrong?"
Axel sighed, " Look I know I said I was starving and I really hate to bring this up but I just... I have to know, man. What are you gonna do now? With your life, I mean..."
Riku's whole face turned into a frown. He turned his attention towards the windshield and gazed out. What was he supposed to do? Sure he was free...but he hadn't actually stopped to think about what he was going to do afterward. He couldn't just go back to his old life. No, definitely not. Nothing was going to be the same now.
"...what do they think that you can just pick up right where you left off and nothing was going to be wrong?" Axel lightly punched the dashboard. "Argh! It just pisses me off that they wronged you, man. They wronged you so bad...shit! They fuckin' messed up your life!"
His life was a mess right now. Riku's mouth turned up in a sad smile. But it at least warmed his heart a little to know that Axel really cared. "I don't know what it is I can do... I guess in the end, the only thing left is to go back to where it all began...and hopefully start anew."
"Will you be able to, though? Do you have anywhere to stay? Any money at all? Any relatives who can lend you a hand? I remember you telling me about your mom but what I don't remember is you ever receiving any letters, calls, or visits. And I don't know but-" Axel looked up to see Riku's upturned eyebrow and impatient expression. "I really gotta stop rambling huh." He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, " I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I'm here for you, Ry. My Uncle's a nice guy and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you came to stay with us..." And remembering that Riku hated charity he threw in a last tidbit for the sake of Riku's pride. "...uh at least until you get a job and get up off your lazy ass, got it memorized?"
Riku smirked slightly at Axel's infamous catchphrase. Well, for one thing Axel was right, he really did need a place to stay. He hadn't spoken to his mom in five years thus he had no help what so ever and absolutely no money. He mulled this over for a few more seconds before he groaned,"Ok fine!"
"Really!?"
"Yes but I'm not happy about it. Like you said only until I can get a job and I'm able to stand on my own two feet, ok?"
"Yea, man, whatever you say. Woohoo! This is gonna be fun! We get to be roomies again!" Axel had the stupidest grin on.
Riku groaned again, Oh no! "So can we go now?"
Axel chuckled and turned the ignition. "Yup yup, I want some yummy in my tummy!"
Riku shook his head in disbelief, merely mumbling, "God help me."
"Hey, I heard that!"
"I said it out loud didn't I?"
"Smart ass."
"Dumb ass."
"Loser."
"Idiot."
"Why am I always the idiot," Axel whined.
"Be-cause you are an idiot."
"Humph!"
Riku smirked he loved picking on the red-head. At least he wasn't completely alone, which is what he most feared sometimes. Starting a new life, well it wasn't going to be easy without him, but he would pull through. He clutched the pendant in his hand and squeezed it lightly. He was going to change his life for the better. I'll come back to you I promise...
But first things first, food. Hmm, he really needed some new clothes too.
Wow this was a pretty long chapter. I'll try to keep the length of the chapters constant but I'm not promising anything. So Review please! :)
Oh the lyrics I used are from Forgiven by Within Temptation. And just as a heads up I get most of my inspiration from some of my favorite songs so I'll be using lyrics quite a lot.