Bait, Chapter 34
They were sent back to Yen Sid's tower about two days after Riku awoke, bearing advice and blessings from those who were close to them.
Sora had a lighter heart now, knowing his best friend was safe and had a spiritual protector. Riku still had a hard time grasping the idea that he held such a pure light within himself. There were still hints of self-doubt deep within, and he hardly considered himself "pure," not after he betrayed his friends all those years ago.
They all knew things would no longer be so simple. With the knowledge that they had, any one of the keyblade wielders could be targeted- Mickey being a king and Keyblade master, Kairi being a princess of heart, Sora being a perspective vessel, Riku a being of pure light holding a separate yet equally powerful darkness, and Lea being a former Organization member.
So the few moments they did have just to sit back and be themselves were treated with the utmost reverence Who knows how many more chances they would have to do that before the war began.
Ironically, those moments between Sora and Riku were spent sparring, not with Keyblades, not to train. But using wooden staves, for the sake of enjoyment. Like all those times on the Destiny Islands when they were younger.
One of these sessions found Sora pinning Riku to the ground, the end of his stave aimed at his neck.
"You just might finally be getting the hang of this!" Riku exclaimed, grinning mischievously as Sora withdrew the makeshift weapon and held a hand out to his friend, helping him to his feet.
"Can't depend on you to save me every time, can I?" Sora answered, wearing an equally mischievous grin.
The two of them ended the sparring sessions the way they always did on the islands- by abandoning the staves and laying back to watch the clouds. Though there were fewer clouds here, the view was more surreal and breathtaking.
"Hey, Riku?"
"Hmm?"
"You think we'll ever get to do things like this again? I mean, after the war..."
"It's hard to tell. I may talk to a spirit occasionally, but I'm no clairvoyant... If I could see the future, I would've stopped myself in my tracks so many times..."
"I just hope nothing happens to us, to tear us apart forever." Sora said sadly.
"Sora... Listen to me. Even if something were to happen, and me, Kairi, or the others could no longer be there, we'd still find a way."
Sora turned over, looking at Riku with a curious expression.
"If we have to, we'll think of something else!" Riku smiled coyly at the reminder of that first adventure. "I would stay by your side as long as you need me, even if it's for an eternity."
"That a promise?"
Riku turned to look back at Sora, his eyes holding a most sincere expression.
"You can hold me to it."
The End.