There was complete darkness shrouding the two of us.
A hand softly grasped mine, gently tugging me forward.
"Sora...I'd like to show you something."
I felt this tingling of anticipation in my heart as I allowed myself to be pulled through the darkness.
Where were we going?
What's…going on?
I glanced towards the ground, trying to make out the shapes of our feet as we walked along the sandy shore.
My foot hit something rough, cold and wet. Hard.
I stumbled a little, caught off guard as I tried to regain my balance.
"Oh! Careful, Sora. You ok?"
I nodded, wondering if I could even be seen.
"I wish I had a light…just walk directly behind me so you don't trip over the rocks."
We were going somewhere else now… I wasn't familiar with these rocks.
Suddenly I felt a cold icy sting embrace my legs, soaking straight through my shorts.
As we waded along in the shallow waters, I wondered what could possibly be in store for me.
What could be so important that it required us to wade through these frigid waters in the pitch darkness of the night?
Wait a second…why are were we in the ocean? I thought…
"Ok, Sora… We're almost there. Just follow me along the sides, ok? Don't worry--I'm right here beside you…"
I allowed myself to be eased a little at that. Sure, I couldn't see where we were going, plus I had no clue what was going on… but as long as he's here with me…
I reached out to grab a hold of his hand as we sidled along what seemed to be a cliff wall.
He gently squeezed mine as we made our way across the pointy rocks, waves lapping against our ankles.
As I felt along the cool, rough wall in front of my face, I closed in on his even breathing…
He seems so calm, even in this darkness…
"We're here."
We…are? But…we're just standing on some rocks by a cliff wall.
There's nothing here but miles of ocean stretching out in every direction.
What the heck is going on?
Suddenly his warm hands grasped my sides.
A little shocked, I drew in a sharp breath.
That earned me a small chuckle.
"Hold your breath, Sora. We're going underwater."
Underwater…?
What? But I thought…!
My thoughts were penetrated as we suddenly started to plunge through the waters, and I quickly swallowed as much air as possible.
--------------------------
Tap! Tap! Ta-ta-tap! Tap tap!
I slowly opened my eyes and scanned the room around me.
I glanced at the clock, sighing to myself as I tried to recollect the events of my previous dream.
Or…was it a dream? It all felt so real…It felt like…
"Soooora! We're going to be late! Come ON!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming…"
I glanced out the window to find Kairi waiting by the front door.
As I walked out my door, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror.
Hah, no need to worry about having bed head, I guess.
I fumbled around in the dark, trying to make my way downstairs.
Man…I didn't practice what I was going to say to Riku…what if I wind up saying something stupid? What if I--
"OW! What in the-?!"
I quickly cast a glare at my now injured foot, noticing fragments of what appeared to previously be a Lego starship.
Roxas.
Honestly now. Just how many times did I need to tell him not to leave his Legos out lying on the floor?
That starship got what it deserved. He's lucky I don't throw those damn things out the window. Why I ought to--
"SORA! Quit screwing around! I see you in there!"
I quickly looked up and noticed Kairi spying on me through the window.
I hastily limped my way down the rest of the stairs and across the living room to the front door which she waited behind. I quickly slipped on my shoes as I reached for the knob.
As I opened the door, I quickly put on my apologetic puppy dog face.
"What…what is that look for?"
I whimpered a little as I pointed to my foot.
"What, is there something wrong with your foot?"
"Uh-huh! I st-stepped on some Legos on the stairs…"
"Want me to take your mind off of that foot?"
I nodded a little. The puppy dog faces wins again!
I saw a flash of white below me as a swift kick connected with my shin.
"Owwww, what was THAT for Kairi?!"
"You asked, I delivered." A small smile spread across her glowing face. "Took your mind off of that foot now didn't it? I suggest we leave before we're late. We don't want to upset Riku any further do we?"
I slumped over a little. I almost forgot about that in the midst of all the commotion.
"Well, what do you expect me to do now? I definitely can't walk around like this!"
I limped around a little to show her.
She rolled her eyes at me and placed her hands on her hips.
Uh-oh! Hands on the hips! Better think fast, Sora! C'mon Sora…thiiink…
"If you think that's going to prevent us from leaving, you're wrong. You gave me your word that you'd go. Are you backing out on me because you stepped on some Legos? Think of what Riku would say. 'Sora decided not to come over because …why? He stepped on…Legos?' He'd really be upset then."
This was not going the way I had hoped.
This calls for drastic measures…
Puppy Dog Face 2!
Her eyes widened a little as she slowly removed her hands from her hips.
Yes! It's working!
"Sora…don't give me that look."
I stuck out my bottom lip a little further.
She winced as she turned her head away.
"Aww…c'mon…"
"Not only does my foot hurt, but you kicked me too!"
"It can't possibly hurt that bad."
I pouted a little more.
"Ohh…alright, alright. I'm sorry for kicking you. That better?"
"I still can't walk…"
"Oh, quit being such a crybaby and let's go!"
She grabbed my arm and dragged me forward a few steps before I softly squealed in pain.
"Kairi…"
She looked back at me, and sighed.
"Oh, alright. …Climb on my back."
Hooray! It worked! Puppy faces always win!
"Thank you!" I said, as I climbed on her back.
She mumbled something as she struggled to gain her balance.
"Sora…you are getting to be way too heavy for this…"
I buried my head in her shoulder as we traveled along the road.
------------------------
"Finally!" A breath of air escaped the exasperated Kairi's lips as I slid off of her back.
"We're here!"
A wave of anxiety washed over me.
She reached out to ring the doorbell, but the door swung open before her finger got there.
Familiar strands of silver hair flowed gently in the wind as a deep, strong, yet gentle, voice greeted us.
"Took you guys long enough! I was beginning to wonder if you guys would even show…"
I carefully looked up just in time to see his gaze shift from Kairi's to meet mine.
Another wave of anxiety.
His eyes widened at my glance, but only for a second before he turned to allow us into his house.
"Well of course we'd come Riku! Why would we break the tradition now?" Kairi chirped just a little too excitedly.
"…I'm not sure." replied Riku, a little too quietly.
Ok. It's official. I hate this feeling. I hate this awkwardness. And I hate this whole situation!
I struggled to suppress my feelings as I sat down on the blue corduroy couch.
Kairi plopped down beside me, and Riku on the other side of her.
Oh great, now he doesn't want to sit by you. Good job!
…Oh, who's to blame him after last night?
What should I do?
"Ahem!" Kairi cleared her throat as she shifted a little in her seat.
"Sooo…What are we watching tonight, hmm?"
Riku shifted a little at this.
"Uh…actually. I didn't have the chance to go out and rent anything last night…So um…"
Great. You ruined last night and tonight too? Just smashing.
"Oh! I know! Let's watch a Disney movie!"
Oh God… not a Disney. Questionable plots and lots of terrible singing every five minutes?
No thank you.
Riku shifted some more as his face twisted up a little.
"O-ok…well, what did you have in mind?"
Bad choice, Riku. You shouldn't have asked her…
"How about…The Little Mermaid?!" Her smile quickly spread into a huge grin at her own suggestion.
"Uh…I guess. What do you think, Sora?"
His eyes slowly shifted over to where I was.
Why did he seem so afraid to look at me?
"Uh, yeah. Sure. I guess that's fine. Whatever she wants."
There was no stopping her now…
She jumped off of the couch and did a little spin.
"Great! I'll go make some popcorn! Hooray!"
She skipped off to the kitchen, leaving Riku and I alone.
Dreadfully alone.
I glanced at my feet, trying to think of something to say.
'I'm Sorry, Riku…I don't know what was going on in my head…'
Or 'Riku, please forgive me. I didn't mean to--'
Suddenly I felt his gaze on me.
I could feel my face get a little hot.
"Sora…We need to talk about last night."
I swallowed a little.
God, I hope he didn't hear that.
"Yes…yes, we do."
He squirmed a little in his seat, crossing his legs and turning to face towards me.
"I'll start. Sora, I didn't mean to hurt you."
W-what? Shouldn't I be the one saying that?
"Or make you feel uncomfortable in any way. I thought you and I were on the same page, but…"
He looked away, pain clearly written across his face.
"I guess…I was--"
I could hear popping noises in the background.
"--Right."
He looked at me, startled.
"Sora, are you sure about what you're saying to me right now? Do you understand how I feel?"
"I'm the one who should be apologizing. I didn't mean to hurt YOU. It's obvious what kind of feelings we're having, isn't it? I've come to realize that."
He stared at me, mouth slightly opened.
"Sora…then why…?"
"I'm not sure, Riku! I'm so sorry!"
I buried my face in my hands.
"I don't understand what happened! It's like, I wasn't ready, or…something."
"…Are you ready now?"
"I don't know…" I felt my face getting even hotter. What is wrong with me?!
Why can't I just do what I know would make me happy?
A jumped a little as two warm arms gently wrapped around me, bringing me closer to the source of the warmth.
"…Sora, we can take this as slow as you like. Or we don't have to at all. I don't want to pressure you in any way. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable in any way…I--"
"What would I giiive, if I could liiive, out of theeeese…wateeers? What would I pay, to spend a daaaay…"
Riku and I quickly glanced at each other as we tried to stifle our laughter at Kairi's terrible singing.
"Now look what you've done! We'll have to put up with this for over an hour! With straight faces? I don't know if I can make it…"
Riku smiled at me, and pulled me a little closer.
My heart beat a little faster.
"Neither do I…"
Our gazes met and held for a few seconds.
I could feel our breathing growing more rapid by the second.
"I just want…to make you happy, Sora."
I could feel my entire body becoming stunned by those words and my eyes widening a little.
His eyebrows furrowed a little, then he became completely expressionless.
I looked up at his silver strands flowing over his eyes, as I suddenly felt the urge to reach out and touch them.
"You…do make me happy."
His eyes grew sad at this, as he pulled his head back a little.
"It…doesn't seem like it."
I rested my head on his chest as I wrapped an arm around his.
"But you do… You make me feel all kinds of wonderful feelings…but. I think I've been in denial until now."
I buried my head deeper into his chest, sighing softly.
He squeezed me a little, his breathing quickening.
"I'm so sorry, Riku…"
"No, Sora. No need to apologize. It's not uncommon for people like us to be uncomfortable at first. Afraid, perhaps even in denial."
People like us…?
"I was too, at first. I wasn't even sure, until I met you…then I knew it was real."
Wow…he went through this living hell? But he seems…
"But, you're so calm…and comfortable with it."
"Not exactly. The thought is still kind of scary…but when you care about someone as much as I care about you…"
His voice grew softer as he whispered into my ear.
"It's a little easier."
That sent shivers down my spine.
The good kind…
He…cares about me, a lot, doesn't he?
I smiled. "That tickled, Riku."
A soft, warm chuckle rang softly in my ear.
"You're so cute, Sora."
My face reddened.
"Aw. Quit it, Riku! You're making me blush…"
A small smile graced his lips as he quietly said, "Let's take this slow. For both of our sakes. What do you say?"
I nodded, relieved.
"This seems a little scary, but as long as you're by my side, I'll be ok…"
"I'll always be here, Sora. As long as you want me."
Suddenly, I noticed Riku stiffening a bit.
I looked up to find Kairi hovering above us, grinning hugely, holding a big yellow bowl of popcorn.
"Ohh, please. DO go on. This almost seems better than watching The Little Mermaid."
Riku laughed heartily as he released his hold on me with one arm to grab a pillow, threatening to throw it at Kairi.
I quickly glanced at her, gauging her reaction.
"A pillow fight, my dear sir?" She cocked an eyebrow up.
"I didn't realize you were feeling so suicidal after such a display of emotions like that…"
She slowly placed the bowl on the rug below her and backed away quietly.
"HAH! Now you've asked for it, Kairi!" Riku gently pushed me off, grabbing another pillow, while throwing the first.
Kairi quickly darted to the side. She glanced at the bowl of popcorn a little ways off, then looked up at Riku with a horrified expression on her face.
"Now look what you almost did! If you spill that popcorn, you're cleaning it up!"
"If that popcorn gets all over my freshly vacuumed rug, you won't be leaving until it's clean. And you'll be doing the cleaning, madam!"
She grabbed the pillow Riku had thrown and attempted to throw it back at Riku, earning a smack in the face with the second pillow Riku had.
"Ahhh! That's it! You've crossed the line!" Kairi screeched, trying to force the pillow out of Riku's hands.
*Wham!*
"What the-?" they cried in unison.
"Mwuahaha! FOOLS! That's what you get for underestimating the mighty Sora! Now I've got you both right where I want you! It would be wise to forfeit the popcorn over to me and begin the movie…or you'll both be dealing with these." I lifted my hands to display the two pillows I had just used to hit them with.
Kairi dropped to her knees immediately upon seeing this.
"O powerful and ever mighty Sora! Please--take this peace offering in my attempt to appease you from your wrath!" She held the popcorn bowl ceremoniously over her bowed hear as Riku just stood there and laughed.
I smiled as I lowered my weapons. "Place the offering before me and back away slowly, and I shall let you enjoy your cinematic adventure in peace, along with your…" I glanced at Riku playfully. "Accomplice."
They both glanced at each other, grinning.
Riku sat down on the couch, sighing with contentment as Kairi placed the bowl in front of me and turned to put the tape in the VCR.
I plopped next to him, offering him the bowl.
"I see being the accomplice gets its rewards." He smiled at me, placing an arm around my shoulders as Kairi turned to stick her tongue out at us before sitting down on the floor in front of the television screen.
The cries of the seagulls could be heard, as I slowly let my surroundings, and Riku's gentle scent, envelop me completely.