Wow I polished this off in record time…this only took a day! I figured I would go ahead and knock out this chapter since I will be going on vacation for spring break next week. I might start chapter 8, but I won't have it up until after I get back from the beach.
A bit of a note: I decided to shorten this story slightly, but not too much just one chapter. I will say that the 3rd and final installment of the Chronicles of Darkness is shaping up to be one hell of a story. I want it to be around 30 chapters and it is going to be great.
Ankoku and Yamato are mine, everyone else is Square or Disney.
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: A Gray Day in February
Winter continued to roll right along in Destiny City, though the snow that fell in December didn't come with it. The New Year had started off fairly uneventful for the Destiny City gang, aside from a small party that they held, and January had turned into February. With the new month came a new holiday as well…Valentine's Day. All around the town there were decorations for the holiday and restaurants were piling up with reservations. Everyone seemed to have a plan for the night, except one…
"So…you aren't doing anything at all tonight?" Kairi asked the silent male to her right.
The wind whipped around the duo as they walked up to the schoolhouse. Other students were already entering the school, as the two approached.
"No…" Riku said slowly.
"You should come out with all of us tonight…Tidus and Selphie are going out by themselves for dinner, but then we are all going to get together and go to the big dance at town square tonight!" Kairi said cheerfully.
Riku continued to look down at the ground, and didn't pay attention to the comment that Kairi had just made. Kairi looked at him, and took from his silence that he wasn't keen on the idea. She could tell again that something was bothering him, but decided not to query Riku about it. The two continued their stroll towards the schoolhouse, and up into the building. They heard the bell ring, and they parted for class. Riku watched Kairi walk down the opposite hall and round the corner. Once she was out of sight, he then turned back around and proceeded to head out of the school. He walked back down the dirt path, and back towards town. He passed several shops that all had valentine's decorations strewn about their windows. Riku sighed and pushed on. He continued down the street, before he came to a halt in front of the candy store. He looked at the window at the various sweets that were in the window. Memories came flooding back to Riku's brain, and they involved…her…
I was working late into the night on our raft. Sora had gone home just an hour earlier, since he had to be up earlier for something Kairi wanted to do with him.
"She always wants to do things with him…why not me?" I wondered to myself, as I cut another piece of wood.
"I mean…I'm the genius that came up with the idea to get to the other worlds, I do the most work, why not me?" I thought to myself, bitter at my friend.
I pushed those thoughts from my mind, focusing on the goal. I had been consumed with leaving the island ever since those visits from the strange hooded man. I was fascinated by his stories of the different worlds, and the opportunities that would come with it. With this as my motivation I continued to work well into the night. At one point though, I heard someone approaching me and my raft. I whirled around, ready to defend the raft, but was stunned to find a raven-haired girl in a white sun-dress. She shimmered in the full moon, and I recognized her immediately as a friend from school.
"Hey Selene…" I said. "What are you doing out here so late?"
She looked at me, and seemed to blush a little bit. I noticed that she was holding something in her hand, but I paid it little mind. I turned around and went back to work on my raft. I paid no attention to her, even as I heard her slowly approach me.
"You should get some sleep…you've been out working for a while…" Selene said softly.
"I have too…the raft needs to be finished." I said bluntly, turning to her and wiping some sweat away from my eyes.
She looked down at the ground, avoiding my eyes and continued to blush.
"You still haven't told me why you are here…" I said, bluntly again.
She looked down at the bag that she was holding in her hands. She held it out towards me, and I simply looked at it.
"I…I brought you some candy…and some things to eat…you were out here…so I figured you might be hungry…" She stammered.
I looked at her and down at the bag and took it in my hands. I looked inside and saw some candy and a few rice balls. I looked back up at her and saw her wearing a shy, but somewhat happy expression.
"Thanks…" I mumbled to her, more out of courtesy than caring. I really wanted to get back to work on the raft.
"I'm going to be out here a bit longer…" I said trying to get her to leave.
"W…would you like some company?" She stammered out, keeping her head down.
I wanted to tell her to leave, but there was something inside of me that fought that urge. I really wanted to work on the raft, but there was something inside that just couldn't say no to her.
"Sure…I guess…" I said, before turning back to work on the raft.
She took a seat nearby on the sand, and sat there for as long as I did. At first I was annoyed, but soon I began to welcome her company. It became a routine thing for us, as I would work late and she would sit there and talk to me. The bond between us would grow…until…
"…that day…" Riku finished aloud.
He looked ahead and saw the door open in the candy shop. A blonde-haired boy walked out of the shop, and Riku immediately recognized him as the captain of the Blitzball team: Tidus. Tidus looked over and saw Riku looking at him. He smiled and walked up to him, a box of sweets in his hands.
"Decided to skip school today?" Tidus asked.
Riku shook the unpleasant thoughts from his mind and forced a smile for his friend.
"Yeah…didn't feel like going…" Riku said quickly, and then glanced down at the chocolates. "Bit old-fashioned don't you think?" He said.
Tidus laughed.
"She likes em a lot…so why not…" Tidus said with a shrug.
Riku gave a small laugh.
"So…have you two talked about the draft?" Riku asked.
Tidus suddenly looked very uncomfortable at the mention of the WBL Draft.
"We…discussed it a little last night…and I told her what my agent has been telling me…" Tidus began.
"Word on the street is you're projected to go #1 to the Radiant Garden Warriors." Riku stated.
"That's what it looks like…but she wants to stay here for school…she got a full ride to Destiny Island University…" Tidus explained.
"Tough deal…" Riku said.
"Yeah…the only thing that could happen here is if Destiny Island makes a trade to get the #1 pick…" Tidus said.
"Yeah…but I doubt that…they finished runner-up this year to the champs…so it would cost a lot to trade up." Riku stated.
"Yeah…plus they added some new free agents to go with Wakka…so they're content with their pick." Tidus said.
"Yeah…Wakka won the MVP this year too didn't he?" Riku asked.
"Yup…1st person since the league formed to win Rookie of the Year one year, and then MVP his second year." Tidus stated.
"Good deal." Riku said.
"But I figure that we have two more months before the draft, so we should spend as much time together, before we have to part…" Tidus said glumly.
Tidus then perked up with a smile on his face.
"So… are you coming out with us tonight?" Tidus asked suddenly.
"Probably not…I'm not really feeling it…" Riku said.
"This coming from the biggest playboy I know?" Tidus asked with some shock.
"Why do you and Wakka keep calling me that?" Riku questioned.
"Hmm let's see…how many dates did Riku go on last year…was it fifty?" Tidus pondered, placing his hand on his chin.
"Yeah…but…those weren't really dates…" Riku said, trying to shrug off Tidus's comment.
"No those were definitely dates, and I know for a fact that many of them wanted to continue dating you…but you never called them back…" Tidus said.
"I never gave them any promises of a relationship, and I never asked them out either." Riku said, defending himself.
"True…" Tidus said.
"None of them…were right for me…" Riku admitted.
"Jeez…you practically dated everyone on this island…I mean…except for Kairi of course…" Tidus said slowly.
Riku gave him a stern glare.
"Not happening…" Riku said, giving Tidus almost a warning tone.
"Yeah…I figured as much…well don't worry about it…I'm sure the right one will come along." Tidus said, as he began to walk off. "I gotta roll, but I will catch you later!"
"Later…" Riku said, with Tidus's words echoing in his ears.
He continued to walk through town, thinking about what he said.
"The right one…" He thought to himself.
"Did I already have it…?"
In the Realm of Darkness:
"I must say…this is taking some getting used too…" Yamato said, trying desperately to move his flippers to swim.
"You'll get the hang of it…" Sora said, using his flipper to propel himself forward.
The trio was navigating the underwater world of Atlantica but was having no such luck in locating the access point. Sora had reverted to his half man half dolphin form, and Yamato had been turned into a weird walrus/man hybrid. He had the body and flippers of a walrus, but the upper portion was that of a man, though he had no arms. Roxas had to resort to staying in Sora's mind for the duration of their venture underwater.
"Do you think it could be on land?" Roxas asked from inside Sora's head.
"That's a good idea…I mean we've checked everywhere down here…" Sora said to himself.
"Hey Yamato! Head towards the surface!" Sora called out, and then propelled himself up towards the surface.
Yamato followed and the two of them crashed through the water, and waded around looking at the coastline. Roxas came out of Sora's head and floated just above the water's surface. He glanced around the coastline but saw nothing. He did notice how dark and gloomy everything looked.
"Well…this makes par for the course…" He said.
"Tell me about it…I almost want to see a heartless now…at least we'd see a color other than gray…" Sora added.
"Don't worry lads…we'll be back soon enough…" Yamato chimed in.
"How long have we been here now?" Sora asked.
"I have our count at a month and 6 days…" Roxas said.
"Unreal…I wonder how much time has past in the real world…" Sora wondered.
"I dunno… but the sooner we get back the better…I don't mean to sound shallow or anything…but I'd still like a young Naminé to get back too." Roxas added with a grin.
"Amen to that!" Sora said with a grin as well.
"Well…I think I can help speed up the process lads!" Yamato said suddenly.
Roxas and Sora turned to Yamato, and saw what he was talking about. There on a rock in the middle of the ocean was the access point! Sora and Roxas looked at each other, a grin forming over their faces.
"Last one to the access point has to collect firewood for the week!" Sora shouted, and quickly swam towards the access point with Roxas trailing.
By the time Yamato realized what was going on, they were already halfway there. He quickly tried to go as fast as he can, but he couldn't catch up. Sora and Roxas made it to the rock and were laughing as Yamato brought up the rear.
"Looks like you get the firewood!" Sora said with a smirk.
Yamato gave a thin smile, which confused Sora. Yamato hopped up on the rock.
"Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I do believe you said first one to the access point…and seeing as its right here…bye!" Yamato said quickly as he touched the access point and disappeared.
Sora and Roxas looked at each other.
"He's right!" Roxas said quickly as he floated and touched the access point.
Sora sat in the water for a second trying to digest what had just happened.
"Aw crap…" Sora muttered as he realized that his plan had just backfired on him.
He leapt up and touched the access point, vanishing to the next world. Little did any of them know that floating in the air high above them, Ankoku was sitting there watching them. A sadistic grin formed on his face.
"That's right…keep working your way through this realm…I will be waiting for you in the end." He sneered.
"My vengeance will be glorious Keyblade Master…and there isn't a damn thing that you can do to stop it!" He cackled with glee, before vanishing into a dark portal.
Back in Destiny City:
The sun was beginning to set, and Riku's odyssey had led him to the island. He walked along the coast, clutching something in his left hand. He walked with a purpose, kicking up sand as he trekked across the sandy beach. He walked up towards the large wooded area, spying the remnants of their various tree fortifications that were strewn about the island. He paid little attention to them, instead choosing to focus on the moss covered hole embedded in the side of the rock. Riku brushed away the moss, and ducked down into the hole. The tunnel was much smaller than Riku had remembered…although it had been close to three and a half years since he had been back to their secret spot. Riku navigated the small tunnel and came to an opening. He stood in the small area, and took in the sights. He noticed the drawings that Sora and he had done, paying particular attention to the faded drawing of Sora and Kairi sharing a Paopou fruit. He looked around at the place, but as he did memories of that fateful night…
"Come on Selene I wanna show you something!" Riku called out to the raven haired girl trailing him and looking nervously at the sky.
"Riku…it looks like there is a bad storm coming…we should get home…" Selene called out.
"Stop worrying!" He said as he approached the small boat that lead out to Destiny Island.
Riku clambered on to the boat and held out his hand for Selene to grasp to come on board. Selene looked nervously at the small boat, as her worn, white, sundress flapped up in the wind.
"I don't know Riku…" She said quietly.
"Come on Selene…is this a face you can't trust?" He said smiling at her.
She blushed a little bit, and slowly grabbed his hand. As she did; her heart fluttered a little bit. Riku led her into the boat, and began rowing towards the island. It was a little cramped, but it didn't matter to Selene. Selene looked nervously at the black clouds that were forming above the island. She looked back at Riku, who was busy rowing towards the island. She blushed again as he looked at her and flashed a grin. She had always liked Riku, ever since she had moved to Destiny City two years ago and met him that day in school. She was an outcast, never fully accepted, and often ridiculed by those who took her shyness and quiet nature as a sign of arrogance. She met Riku outside of the school one day while she was getting bullied by a group of students. One of the girls in the group knocked her to the ground, and the guys with them were busy destroying her books. Riku apparently saw this going on and stood up for her, fighting off the other boys, and scaring off the girls. She began spending a lot more time with Riku, and since they were in similar classes they were able to talk often. While shy at first, she found Riku easy to talk to and very comforting. She had met Sora once or twice, and thought that he was nice, but she was still scared about him, given the nature of the other students. She had never met the other girl that Riku had talked about named Kairi, as they had no classes and she was usually in another part of the school with Sora. There was a bit of jealously towards Kairi for Selene, simply by the way that Riku spoke of her. She never went outside, opting instead to stay inside and read books. She never hung out with Sora, Riku, and Kairi when they were together either, not because of anything wrong with them, merely because of her experiences with the other students at the school. The only time that she came outside was if Riku was alone. Riku looked at her, seemingly lost in thought, and looking down into her lap and blushing.
"Are you okay?" Riku asked.
"F…fine…" She stuttered.
"You know…" Riku began. "You should really consider joining us on the journey to other worlds…" Riku said slowly.
She looked at him with a light pink glow on her face.
"I…I don't know…" She said quietly.
"Come on! You wouldn't be the only girl…Kairi is coming, and she's really nice!" He said.
"But…why would you want to leave…? It's so peaceful here…" She asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Riku said bewildered.
"It's boring here, and don't forget…those kids treat you like garbage!" Riku stated.
Selene looked down at the ground.
"We're not like them…you'd be accepted with us." He stated in a more comforting tone.
She looked into his eyes. She wanted to say yes, but she was afraid…afraid that Sora and Kairi would treat her as an outcast, and who knows; they might turn Riku against her.
"I don't know…" She said as she turned away.
Riku watched her and was about to say something, but decided against it as he saw the shoreline fast approaching. He quickly prepared for the ship to dock, and quickly jumped out and dragged the ship to shore. The wind had really begun to pick up, and suddenly rain began to fall. There was even the sound of thunder sound off into the distance. He looked at Selene, who quickly began covering her head from the falling rain. Riku quickly grabbed her hand and raced across the beach, kicking up wet sand as they went along. Riku raced towards his and Sora's secret spot, with Selene in tow. He quickly brushed the leaves that covered it out of the way and darted into the cave. He panted and looked back at Selene, who was wringing out her dress. Riku gazed at her with a hint of admiration; he had never noticed how beautiful she could be, even when she wasn't looking her best. Riku quickly snapped out of it, and remembered that the raft was out in this storm! He raced out of the room, but stopped at the entrance and turned back to Selene.
"Stay here, I need to check on the raft, I'll be right back." He said as he raced out of the room.
He raced outside braving the weather in order to get to the raft that the three of them had worked so long and so hard on. He raced down the beach as the wind tried to force him back, and the rain continued to pound on him. He finally came to where the raft was, but was stunned to find it gone. He looked out in the choppy waters, and saw hunks of broken wood and the remnants of a sail being tossed around by the unforgiving sea.
"Damnit!" Riku cried out in anguish.
All his hopes and dreams of finding another world vanished upon viewing the tattered remains of the raft. The wind picked up and lightning cracked in the night sky. Riku quickly tore himself away from the sight of the broken raft, and ran back towards the secret spot. As he approached the cave he heard Selene scream. He quickly darted inside the cave. Selene stood there surrounded by shadowy ball with small black creatures with yellow eyes dancing around.
"SELENE!" Riku cried out, as he lunged towards her.
Before Riku could get to her, a figure in a brown robe appeared in front of him.
"Do not fear the darkness…embrace it…and it will lead you to what you want most…" The figure said mysteriously.
"Wha…what do you mean?" Riku asked as he looked from the hooded figure to Selene.
"The darkness holds many possibilities for you…you could have power…fortune…seek new worlds…" The figure continued.
"RIKU! Please help!" Selene cried as the shadow began to slowly cover her.
"…new worlds…?" Riku said, seemingly intrigued by the idea.
"Riku!" Selene pleaded desperately.
"The door is open…this world has been connected to the other worlds…Use this knowledge well…" The figure said as he disappeared.
The strange creatures quietly left the cave, out into the island, leaving Riku and Selene alone. Riku pondered what the figure had said, before another cry from Selene interrupted his concentration.
"Riku!! Help me!!" She cried with tears beginning to flow.
Riku looked at her with excited eyes.
"Selene…relax…just accept it! You can have all the power that you've ever wanted! You can travel to new worlds with me!" He said with a grin.
"No! This isn't what I want Riku! This isn't what I want!" She screamed.
"Just relax…and don't fear the darkness…" Riku said. "I'll see you soon…" He finished as he walked out of the cave.
"RIKU!!! RIKU!!!!" Selene cried out after him, as the darkness slowly but surely swallowed her.
Riku meanwhile had walked over towards his area, where the Paopou tree was, and gazed out at the sea, and thought about all the possibilities that lay open to him now. He glanced up and saw a gigantic black sphere hanging in sky. He eyed the sphere with wonder and amazement for what seemed like forever, when all of a sudden he heard footsteps racing up towards him. He turned around and saw Sora running up to him.
"Where's Kairi? I thought she was with you!" Sora called out frantically.
"The door has opened..." Riku said serenely.
"What?" Sora asked, bewildered by his friend's response.
"The door has opened, Sora! Now we can go to the outside world!" Riku explained with a hint of glee.
"What are you talking about? We've gotta find Kairi!" Sora screamed.
"Kairi's coming with us! Once we step through, we might not be able to come back. We may never see our parents again. There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us! I'm not afraid of the darkness!" Riku said to Sora.
Sora looked at his friend, who seemed not quite right.
"Riku!" He called out desperately to his friend.
Just then two shadowy spheres engulfed the two of them, much as they had done to Selene just a few minutes earlier. Riku held out his hand for Sora to grab, but Sora was reluctant to take it. Riku shrugged and allowed himself to go within the darkness, towards realizing his dreams, and discovering new worlds. Selene was probably already there, and Sora and Kairi would no doubt follow him; he just felt it to be true.
Riku thought about this…this horrible atrocity that he had committed. He had let the darkness win, and in one fell swoop it had changed his life forever. While Sora and Kairi had forgiven him…he could not forgive himself for the pain and suffering that he had caused to them. More importantly, he could never apologize to Selene for what he did to her. All of this swirled in Riku's mind as he looked around the room. He brought forth his left arm, and held out his hand. In the palm of his hand was a single, white, rose. He knelt down and set the rose down in the center of the room, and stared at it for several minutes. Finally he stood up, and quietly left the secret spot. When he emerged from the spot, he saw that the sun was just peaking over the water. He walked over to a rock and sat on it. He gazed out to sea, thinking about all that he had pondered that day. Suddenly, a voice interrupted his concentration.
"RIKU!"
Riku turned to his right to see Kairi running up towards him, with Naminé floating behind.
"Kairi?" Riku said with some small shock.
Kairi slowed down to a trot, and panted a bit for breath.
"I've been looking for you all day! Where have you been!?" Kairi cried in between breaths.
"I…I've been around…" Riku said, staring off into the horizon.
"Well I just got a message! Donald and Daisy are about to have their baby! King Mickey wanted us to come ASAP!" Kairi said hurriedly.
Riku looked at her, before the words sunk in. He quickly leapt off the beach and began walking towards the hangar that they had set up for his ship. Kairi and Naminé followed behind.
"I called your phone about thirty times, Tidus said he saw you this morning and that you skipped school…is everything okay?" Kairi asked with a touch of concern.
"Yeah…I'm fine…" Riku said, his voice trailing off.
"You're lying to me again Riku…" Kairi said; a bit peeved at him.
Riku whirled around, with a glare that put the fear of god in Kairi.
"WILL YOU GET OFF MY BACK!!?" Riku snarled at her.
Kairi and Naminé simply stared at Riku, not sure of what to say. Riku's eyes slowly softened.
"I'm sorry guys…it's been a rough day…I just…I just don't want to talk about it…" He said.
Kairi was about to say something, but Naminé stepped in front and silenced her.
"That's fine Riku…if you don't feel like telling us that's fine…" She started, looking at Kairi with a convincing glare.
Kairi looked at her, and then slowly nodded.
"Thanks guys…" Riku said.
"Alright!" Naminé said clapping her hands together. "Let's go see the baby!"
Kairi smiled.
"Yeah let's go!" She exclaimed.
The three friends continued to walk towards the hangar, talking about what gender the baby would be, and other things like that. However, there was the always lingering shadow for Kairi over what was bothering Riku.
End of Chapter 7
I really can't wait to start on the 3rd Story, and with Ankoku getting ready for a master plan, this story will be reaching the climax pretty soon.
Hope you guys enjoyed it! I'll see you in a few weeks!
Later!