"Ceasing Fear" and the general concept of "Ceasing Fear" is completely copyright Orin Drake 2006. All characters contained within are owned by Square-Enix and Disney.
Background: No idea. It was just a thought. And it was all written in less than half an hour, which is just amazing for me. So, proof I am not a Kairi-hater--she just really, really got on my nerves in the first game. grin

Ceasing Fear
by Orin Drake

Softly shining lips barely parted to speak more lies--but I would not let her. It was my hand over her mouth, my pain and rage and stupid quick thinking that only took me as far as to stop her from talking that made her eyes go wide with surprise... and maybe something we shared in that moment after her words: fear. It wasn't the first time I'd seen that look in Kairi's eyes... and that made it so much worse.

I jerked away with some mumbled apology, disgusted with myself. But more, with what she had been trying to say to me. I got up to run, to take off and hide for a little while--

Damn her. She'd grown up some. We all did, but... she'd also lost the rest of her timidness. And gained some muscles, apparently--she clung to my arm and yanked me back to the ground so I couldn't escape, bright eyes swimming in concern rather than fear. With a voice so soft, so genuine... "Riku..."

"Don't." I must have sounded pathetic. I couldn't even look at her... and I didn't have the strength to yank my arm away.

"It's true, though." She whispered, her voice trembling a little.

So I felt even more like shit. Fuck. I didn't make her cry, did I? "I'm sorry..."

"Riku!" she cried, sounding angry.

I forced myself to look up, prepared to find hatred in her gaze--but all I was met with was a raw honesty in her eyes. Like she believed what she'd said absolutely. Like it was... true...

"He does." She continued, pleadingly. "I know he does, Riku. And you love him, too."

I tried to pull my arm back, but she would have none of it. I'm sure I could have dragged her around for days if I'd felt so inclined to put us both through that kind of torture. Even as the words came from my mouth, they burned; shredded my heart along with my lips. "We're... just friends."

"Stop it!" That time she was angry, and loud enough to obviously not care who heard. "Hasn't it ever occurred to you that I've seen how the two of you look at each other when one of your backs is turned? That maybe I've heard the confession from both of you without the words spoken? Dammit, Riku! I just want you both to be happy! And you'll never be that if you both don't swallow your fucking pride and admit it!"

My jaw must have hit the sand. There were... so many things about what she'd just told me that had shocked me to the core... Unfortunately, I was only able to point out one. "Wow. You cursed."

She glared at me until I was sure she was actually going to punch me--then finally started giggling. "You moron."

I let myself laugh a little along with her. If... she was right... then...

My thoughts were broken by the too-familiar crunch of too-large shoes on the sand behind us. Sora's voice was full of laughter. "Geez, Kairi! I heard you all the way from the shore!"

She blushed. So did I.