Perfect Night
Chapter 32
Once it was decided Riku would contact King Mickey the call ended shortly after. The computer screen blipped to black and Hinata stared back at her reflection. She sat in the computer chair that Lupe had insisted she use during the call, while the others stood around her. Even with multiple people in the room, things were quiet, their peaceful morning all but forgotten with the arrival of Maleficent. And now everything was moving back in motion at a breakneck speed, giving Hinata the sensation of emotional whiplash. Slouching back in the seat, she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Are you alright, Hinata?" Chirithy asked.
She lifted her hand, seeing the small cat-like creature watching her from its perch atop of the desk. Its fuzzy head tilted ever so slightly in concern.
"Yes." She forced a smile that she hoped would help convince herself that she indeed was alright. "I'm fine, just have a headache."
"It is a lot first thing in the morning," Chirithy agreed, plopping down to sit on the desk.
Hinata hummed, nodding.
"I'll get some coffee going," Lupe suggested, squeezing Hinata's shoulder as he went past. He spun around when he saw Velcia, walking backwards and pointing towards her with a couple finger guns. "And maybe some tea for you?"
Velcia chuckled, her hands clasped in front of her. "That would be lovely, thank you. Only if it isn't any trouble."
"I wouldn't offer if it was," he pointed out with a sort of grin that spread across the group and by the time he left the bedroom, everyone felt just a little bit lighter.
A smile still across her face, Hinata stood from the seat and pushed it back to its proper place. She held onto its back and looked towards the window, spotting Sam outside on the balcony. There wasn't much space there for her beside the metal stairway leading up to the roof, but that didn't seem to bother Sam. She leaned against the railing in the corner, her hair billowing in the breeze.
Hinata's smile softened, her chest aching. "I'm going to check on her," she said softly.
"I was planning on it as well," Velcia replied, and Hinata looked back at her. "Though if I would be intruding—"
"You wouldn't be," Hinata assured her and motioned her head towards the window. "Come on."
Sam startled at the creak of the door opening and quickly rubbed at her cheek with her shoulder. Red blotches speckled her face and she let out a stuttered breath. "I'm fine…" she strained out the words once the door shut. "Sorry I ran off, again."
Neither of the girls said anything at first, realizing there was less space on the balcony than they initially anticipated. Both of them went to the stairwell and sat along the steps at different heights. Sam watched them, a soft smirk spreading across her tear stained face when Velcia motioned for her to join them. She sat a stair below Hinata and leaned back against the railing. None of them spoke. The morning wind swirled around them, birds sang, with the occasional one sounding just a bit mechanical, reminding them they weren't in the real world.
Eventually, Lupe opened the door bringing each of them a steaming cup of either coffee or tea. He apologized sheepishly for having to use a glass cup for one of their drinks, since he only had two mugs. Before they could assure him it was fine and offer him to join, he excused himself and carefully stepped between them to head up to the roof for a smoke. His feet rattled the stairway until he made it to the top and they heard his fading footsteps against the brick.
Hinata sipped on the coffee, humming as it warmed her chest. She leaned her head back against the railing, gazing up towards the clouds. "You don't need to apologize, Sam," she said softly.
Nothing but the wind replied and Hinata wondered if Sam heard her. Then she felt the weight of Sam's head moving to rest against her arm. A lump of emotion strained in Hinata's throat and she closed her eyes with a smile.
Hinata stepped out of Riku's Corridor and immediately sneezed. Dust particles twirled from the burst of air, glittering in the sunlight that beamed through the cracks in the mansion's roof. Riku chuckled beside her, spelling his Corridor away.
"Told you," he teased.
With a sniffle, Hinata looked around the foyer. "I can't believe how much worse it's gotten. We weren't gone in Halloween Town that long, were we?"
"I didn't think we were." Riku went down the stairs. He at first put his hand along the railing but quickly retracted his hand when he noticed the distinct layer of grime and dust along it. Rubbing his fingers together with a frown, he said, "But you're right. This seems a lot worse."
Hinata followed him downstairs, careful not to touch the walls or railing. "I wonder if something changed when Dad let down the barrier. Maybe to make the place seem less lived in, because—"
Her voice cut off when she turned towards the garden. Without a word, she rushed outside, not bothering to carefully close the door behind her. Weeds crunched beneath her feet. To an outsider it would seem as if she were standing in a long forgotten garden. Rotting wood framed the dried up flower beds. Whatever plants remained were wilting and falling against the gentle breeze.
Hinata carefully held a barren sunflower in her palm. Its once vibrant golden petals were brown and twisted, a few falling away from her touch and disappearing in the wind. She hardly heard Riku's approaching footsteps.
"I'm sorry," Riku said, coming up beside her. "I know how much this garden meant to you."
She blinked, suddenly realizing the moisture in her eyes. Swallowing, she released the sunflower and stepped back, watching its long stem wane from the top heavy blossom. It no longer had the strength to carry it.
"Namine and I had a lot of good memories here…" she said softly.
Riku's hand soothingly swept across her back. "Those memories aren't gone."
Hinata breathed in, nodding. "You're right…" She looked towards him. "How long until we meet with Mickey?"
The question might have seemed out of nowhere, but Riku smirked. "About an hour. Do you think DiZ left the garden tools here when he transferred everything to the new place?"
She met his smirk. "Let's find out."
Sure enough, the tools remained stashed away beside a small stone well Hinata and Namine used as their source for watering the plants. Without even having to be asked, Riku pulled on a pair of gardening gloves and grabbed a hoe. The pair of them focused on the front most flower bed, digging up the weeds and the withered flowers. Hinata carefully gathered what seeds she could from them and replanted them.
By the time the hour passed, two of the flower beds were cleaned up and renewed with fresh seeds. They stood back and admired their handiwork, spattered with blotches of dirt and sweat, but beaming with pride.
"I'll work on it between missions when I can," Riku assured her as they put away the tools.
"I will too," she agreed, taking off her gloves and wiping her forehead with the back of her arm. She looked over the garden. "It can be something we share even though we're apart. We can watch it regrow." Riku's hand wound around her own and she smiled up at him. "Thank you."
A bright light flashed behind them before Riku mustered a reply. Turning around, they saw Ben standing in the center of the garden, holding a thick black coat. Jack floated around him, sniffing the air with his tail wagging. He followed his nose to Hinata and Riku, nuzzling both of them before settling on Hinata's shoulder.
"Aha!" Ben exclaimed, scampering over. "There you are, Hina! DiZ wanted to make sure you had this before you left the mansion." He held out the coat.
"Oh." Hinata grabbed the Organization coat and held it up, letting the heavy fabric fall to its full length. She swallowed thickly, folding it over her arm and nodding.
"I tried finding that bracelet you made, but I didn't know where to look and didn't want to snoop through your stuff too much." Ben scratched the side of his head.
"I appreciate the thought." Hinata softly smiled, the expression faltering when she looked down at the coat. "But, um, it's on the deck of my Highwind model. I don't need it though, I'm fine wearing this."
"Well…alright, if you're sure." Ben crossed his arms. "I should probably head back to the ship, call if you need me!"
And with that, a bright light encapsulated him and Hinata and Riku shielded their eyes from the intensity of the light. Jack floated off of Hinata's shoulder once Ben was gone and set off to float around the garden.
"I guess it's time to get ready," Hinata said before blowing out a breath.
She held out the coat, reluctantly putting it on. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Riku watching her in silence, something seemed to be on his mind, but she didn't question him. The heavy fabric wrapped around her tightly, emanating an intense heat that seemed to serve as a constant reminder of its existence.
"Why don't you wear the bracelet anymore?" Riku asked.
Hinata paused, her hands wrapped around the sides of her hood. She glanced up at him, then looked away. "It…reminds me of everything that's happened," she answered honestly. "Mostly James…I know it's silly. It shouldn't even be related."
Riku was quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowed in thought, like he was trying to remember something. "It's not silly," he told her. "It makes sense. You…made those things for all of them, didn't you?" She looked back at him, unsure what he meant. "Everyone back on Monstressor?"
Her lips curved into a lopsided smile. Even with the ache in her heart, she was excited he remembered something. "Yeah, we thought it might keep the Organization away, but…didn't really help in the end."
He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she placed her hand over his. A device in Riku's coat pocket vibrated and he pulled it out, revealing an old silver communication device.
"Haven't seen that in a while," Hinata chuckled. "I've gotten so used to our tablets."
Riku smirked as he turned away and pressed the button. A small holographic Mickey appeared over it and the two filled the other in on where they were. Hinata took the opportunity to tuck her hair away in the coat and pull up the hood. Even standing outside, the very air around her was suffocating. She swallowed thickly, reaching into the pocket and pulling out the black gloves.
"Ready?" Riku asked.
She looked up to see him already back in the coat, his face concealed behind the hood. "Ready."
They walked through the forest. Leaves crunched beneath their feet, the occasional Heartless peered at them from the branches above but didn't attack. Hinata readjusted her gloves for the tenth time in the last minute, making Riku chuckle.
"I don't know how you manage to wear this all the time," she grumbled, pulling at the neckline. "It's suffocating."
"You get used to it," he told her.
"If you say so."
Riku moved a low hanging branch out of the way, allowing Hinata to go through first. "I was thinking…"
"Yeah?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.
He released the branch and rejoined her side. "Maybe you should make more of those bracelets."
She looked back forward, not replying right away as they walked. "You think so?"
"There's the practical reasons, but…" he came to a stop and Hinata stopped a bit ahead of him, looking back. He crossed his arms, looking up towards the shroud of leaves overhead. "It might help you, too. Making new memories, like you and me fixing up the garden."
Hinata's eyes drew around the forest. A soft smile pulled at her mouth. "I might." She laughed softly. "It would certainly be better than all of us running around with these coats on."
"Yeah," Riku chuckled, grabbing her hand as he continued walking.
Coming to a clearing, golden rays of sunlight peeked through the over brush, speckling light over a mossy log glistening with dew drops. Mickey sat on top of the log, wearing an identical coat to Riku and Hinata with the hood pulled up to conceal his face. Hinata fought back a smile at the sight of him. Even with the coat, Mickey's large round ears gave away his identity without even needing a second glance.
He perked up at the sound of them approaching and jumped to his feet. "You made it," he greeted them with a hushed voice.
"Thanks for meeting up with us," Riku replied with a similarly soft voice. He didn't kneel down to Mickey's level but kept a watchful gaze on the forest around them. "Has the Organization been bothering you?"
"Not lately," Mickey told him, looking over his shoulder. "But you can never be too careful."
Hinata knelt down and pushed back her hood. "It's good to see you again, Your Ma-"
"Shh!" Mickey abruptly interrupted her, a finger to his mouth. "Gotta make sure we don't say each other's names, ok?"
Hinata nodded in understanding, slowly standing before she whispered to Riku, "Would it be better to bring him back with us to DiZ?"
"I asked but both of them are worried about getting unwanted attention," Riku explained. "The Organization's been after him for a while."
"Right," Hinata realized, pulling her hood back up to conceal her face. Thinking about it, she wasn't particularly interested in getting the Organization's attention again either. "Then what's the plan?"
Mickey reached into his pocket and pulled out a bundle of blue tickets. "There's a train comin to the station tomorrow," he explained. "It'll take all of you where ya need to go."
"A train?" Hinata asked, grabbing the tickets as Mickey handed them to her. They shimmered with details of silver and gold, dictating the exact time of their departure the following morning to 'The Mysterious Tower'. "Where is this?" she asked, looking up, but Mickey had disappeared. She blinked. "He's…" Her voice trailed off and she turned her attention to Riku. He silently watched the forest, arms crossed. "What's wrong?"
"I'm just wondering how much of this he's been handling on his own," he replied. "The Heartless, the Organization, Sora…"
She looked out into the forest with him. "He won't be on his own much longer." Grabbing his hand, she gave it a small squeeze. "Right?"
He glanced towards her, then back to the forest. "Right."
"It'll be good for him to have you there again," she said softly. "You two make a good team."
Riku hummed, squeezing Hinata's hand in return. He breathed in deeply and Hinata found herself doing the same. So much was about to change… again. She looked down at the tickets in her hand, wondering what awaited them at this 'Mysterious Tower'. They would have to wait until the following morning to find out.
"Should we head back?" Riku asked, breaking the silence.
"Actually," Hinata placed the tickets into her pocket, "I think I'd like to stick around here for a bit. Maybe… get the beads I need for the new bracelets."
"Yeah?" Riku asked. "You think you're ready for that?"
"I'm… not sure, honestly," she replied with an awkward chuckle, turning towards him. She pushed back a loose strand of her hair. "But I'm ready to try."
Even without seeing his face, she felt him smiling back at her. His thumb ran across her gloved hand and a faint flutter rustled in her chest.
"Lead the way," he said.
Hinata's mouth tipped into a lopsided smile and she went on ahead, tugging Riku behind her.
Soft humming filled Hinata's room. Her hair draped over her shoulders as she carefully braided the black strip of fabric through a lilac colored bead. She and Riku had returned from their trip to the real Twilight Town just a few hours before and it didn't take long for DiZ to steal Riku away. Selfishly, she had hoped to spend the rest of the evening with Riku. Something in her gut told her they would be going their separate ways sooner rather than later. Both off to save the universe, in their own driven way.
Instead, she found herself alone, trying to fill the minutes until their train ride set for the next morning. Everyone else seemed to be doing the same. Sam locked herself up in her work room, oddly bringing Ben along with her, so she could finish upgrading her arm. Velcia busied herself with brewing potions, wanting to be prepared for whatever awaited them on their next mission.
If Hinata were completely honest with herself, she could set out into the digital Twilight Town to find Lupe and Chirithy, but Lupe hadn't had a single moment to himself since they'd all met. With everything going on, Hinata wanted him to have a night to relax. There was no telling when they'd get the chance to again.
Finishing the braid, Hinata leaned back in her seat and admired her work. The bracelet was thinner and quite a bit smaller than the other two she'd finished earlier. Only one bead fit on it, compared to the others with three each. She gently laid it down on the desk, beside the one with red translucent beads, then bent her head back to stare up at the ceiling.
Golden strings of lights wound around the rafters above her, filling the room with warmth. Hinata's shoulders relaxed as she absently counted the individual lights. She knew the exact amount of them already, having counted them repeatedly as a child, but was curious if her dad remembered it precisely enough to program each one in.
She scoffed with a chuckle. "Fifty-three," she whispered.
There were fifty lights exactly in her real room growing up.
It felt strange to her, spending time in her childhood room. Even after the past week in the digital mansion, it still didn't feel quite right. It was like living in a window of her past, a small sliver of home in a new life so far beyond what she could have comprehended as a child.
Walking through the door still washed her with waves of nostalgia and nearly every night that week had been spent in bed, recalling memories of childhood with Riku beside her as they fell asleep. She glanced towards her bed, still mussed up from being used recently, and hoped she'd get the chance to do that with him again tonight.
A knock rapped on the door, cutting through Hinata's wandering thoughts. She sat up in attention and cleared her throat. "Come on in."
"Hey Hina, sorry to interrupt," Lupe said as he opened the door.
Hinata blinked, moving to stand. "No, no it's fine. Is everything ok?"
"Oh, yeah." He waved flippantly before putting his hands in his coat pockets. "Wow, your room looks great! So cozy."
Hinata looked around with him and chuckled. "Yeah, my dad did a good job putting it together." She turned her attention back to him. "Did you need something?"
"Oh, right." Lupe sheepishly laughed, ruffling his hair.
"DiZ sent us to get you." Chirithy toddled into the room. "He said he wants to talk with you and Riku before tomorrow."
"What Chiri said." Lupe motioned towards Chirithy with his elbow.
"He interrupted your night off to do that?" Hinata asked.
Both Lupe and Chirithy tilted their heads.
Hinata sighed. "Don't tell me you two were at his lab this whole time."
"Is that bad?" Chirithy asked.
Sitting back in her seat, Hinata shook her head. "No, I guess I just assumed you two were finally getting a night to yourselves."
"You don't have to worry about that," Lupe assured her with a sweet smile. "We've had plenty of time to ourselves."
"Too much sometimes," Chrithy added, making Lupe snicker.
"Yeah, maybe sometimes," Lupe agreed.
Hinata huffed a soft laugh. "Well alright. Thanks for letting me know." She looked towards her desk and smiled. "Actually, since you're here, I could use your help with something."
"Sure thing!" Lupe came further into the room and stood to the side of her seat. "What's up?"
"I'd like to make sure these fit you guys." She picked up the bracelet with red beads. "Could you hold out one of your hands?" She glanced down towards Chirithy as Lupe scrunched back one of his sleeves. "I'll need you to try one, too."
"Oh!" Chirithy hopped in surprise. With a puff of purple sparkling smoke, Chirithy disappeared and reappeared on a free corner of the desk.
"What are these?" Lupe asked, patiently staying still as Hinata found the correct length for the thread around his wrist.
"They're made with strips of fabric from Organization coats," she explained, a bit distracted as she tied a knot. "It will shield your heart from the Organization." She admired it with a soft smile. "I'm hoping to make one for everyone."
"That's amazing!" Lupe pulled back his arm once she was done and looked it over. "Can they sense our hearts here?"
"I'm not sure, actually," Hinata admitted, holding up the much smaller braid with the lilac colored bead. "Would you mind holding up one of your arms, Chirithy?"
"I'd be happy to." Chirithy held up its plump arm, staying perfectly still as Hinata found the fitting length for the tiny bracelet.
"But whether or not they can sense your heart in here, I wanted to make sure I made these for you guys," Hinata continued, her eyes narrowed and focused on making the knot.
"Why's that?" Chirithy asked.
Hinata cut the excess fabric off of Chirithy's bracelet that settled on its upper arm. Her smile grew as Chirithy admired it. Then her eyes flitted away towards the other finished bracelet with purple beads that she planned on giving to Riku. "It might sound silly," she started. "But these are connecting us, in a way."
"I believe I've seen something like these before." Chirithy tapped its paw against its chin. "Like a friendship bracelet?"
"Yeah, I guess that's a good way to put it," Hinata admitted, pushing back her hair. "You don't have to wear them, but-"
"You kidding?" Lupe interrupted, then caught himself. Laughing awkwardly, he ruffled the back of his hair. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's fine!" Hinata waved her hands. "What were you going to say?"
Lupe leaned back against her desk. He held up his arm and admired every detail of the bracelet. "I'm never taking this off. You'd have to cut it from me in my sleep."
Hinata broke into a sudden laugh, and Lupe grinned. "I'm really glad you like it. I tried to pick out fitting colors that reminded me of you guys."
"They're perfect." Lupe smiled warmly, looking back at her. "Thank you."
She returned the smile. "Of course."
"I don't think I've ever had anything like this before," Chirithy told her, spinning the single lilac bead that matched the color of its eyes. "I like it very much."
With a giggle, Hinata beamed, "I'm really happy to hear that."
"What color did you make yours?" Lupe asked.
"Oh, I haven't made mine yet," she replied, rubbing her wrist where her old one used to rest. "Not a new one, anyway."
"Did something happen to the old one?" Chirithy asked, plopping into a seated position on the desk.
Hinata frowned, not answering right away. Her gaze wandered towards her shut wardrobe where the model of the Highwind was hidden away. She knew exactly where the bracelet was, dangling from the model's mast where she'd hung it after James' funeral.
"Hinata?" Chirithy asked.
"Hmm?" Hinata's eyes flitted back to Chirithy and she strained a smile. "Sorry, got lost in thought." Shaking her head, she grabbed her locket and explained, "Um, but nothing really happened to my old one. Just… felt like it was time for a new one."
Lupe placed his hand on Hinata's shoulder, giving her a squeeze. "Nothing wrong with that," he assured her, smiling when she looked up at him.
She smiled back, noticing a gleam of understanding in his eyes, even if neither of them acknowledged it.
A knock to the doorway broke through the discussion, something HInata found herself thankful for. Looking over, they saw Riku letting himself in.
"Just like DiZ said, you all got caught up talking," Riku chuckled, shaking his head.
"Gah, yeah, sorry 'bout that," Lupe apologized, slipping his hand off Hinata's shoulder and ruffling his hair.
"Hinata wanted to give us something first," Chrithy explained, hopping to the floor with a slow and graceful descent. It held up its arm. "See?"
"That was quick," Riku said, nodding with a smile when Chirithy proudly showed off the bracelet.
"Still a lot more to go," Hinata noted, grabbing Riku's arm and tugging him towards her. "Speaking of though, I finished yours, too."
Riku merely smiled as Hinata bunched up his sleeve and tied the bracelet.
"I told her I'm never taking it off." Lupe lifted his arm and turned his wrist side to side, allowing the dangling lights to glisten through the beads. "Feels sort of like a token of acceptance into the team."
"Very official." Chirithy nodded.
"Exactly," Lupe agreed.
"I guess it kind of is." Riku turned his wrist around and looked at the bracelet, then at Hinata. "They look great."
She warmed, smiling back. "Thanks." She stood from her seat, carefully stepping around Lupe and Chirithy. "But I guess we better get to my dad. I've kept him waiting long enough."
"Actually," Riku started as he pushed in her desk chair, "DiZ changed his mind. He said he'd talk to us tomorrow morning and figured we could use the night off."
"Oh," Hinata realized with a small hop. "That's great, actually." Her smile grew into a grin as she talked.
"Yeah, I thought so too," Riku agreed, his expression softened in a way that caused Hinata's chest to flutter.
Lupe chuckled, patting Riku's shoulder. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to it, then." He pushed off the desk and walked around Riku, making sure not to get between them. Nearing the door, he spun back around and motioned towards Hinata. "And thanks again. Seriously."
"Of course," Hinata replied with a small wave. "Try to get some time to yourself tonight, alright? You and Chirithy have been doing so much for us. You guys need a break, too."
"Alright, alright," Lupe relented with a laugh, putting up his hands. "Only cause you insisted though."
"Have a good night," Riku called after them, smirking with an amused huff of breath when Lupe called back unintelligibly as he disappeared down the hall.
As the door to the foyer swung closed, Hinata's gaze danced around the room. She'd been wanting the night alone with Riku, but now that he was there she wasn't sure what to say. So much lingered in the air and there wasn't enough time to fit it all in. She supposed there never was.
"I'm… not sure what to do," she admitted, grasping her locket.
She looked up when Riku grabbed her hand and she noticed a warm blush burning the tips of his ears.
"Would you like to have dinner together?" he asked.
A sudden grin spread across her features. "You mean, finally have our date?"
His head hung forward and he laughed. "Yes. Finally have that date."
Hinata stepped forward and pecked a kiss on his cheek. "I wouldn't want to do anything else tonight."
There was something so inviting about the nightlife in Twilight Town. Even in a digital recreation, the streets came alive under the night sky. Live music poured from open patioed taverns, an old black and white movie played across a massive projector screen setup in the Sandlot, and the bell of the trolley rang over the crowds as it carried passengers from one district to the next.
Hinata took it all in, seeing the laughter and joy across everyone around her. The murmur of conversations melded with the lively music, composing a symphony of sound. Children ran underfoot, the balloons tied round their wrists bouncing with every one of their stumbling steps.
Hinata's outfit blended in seamlessly with the festivities around her, wearing the same floral dress she'd planned for her previous date with Riku.
It flowed behind her with every step, nearly catching the children in its fabric as they ran by. She stepped out of the way, pulling the dress close, and laughing at their antics.
"Might have guessed tonight would be a festival," Riku commented, his hand winding around Hinata's waist to pull her aside from an oncoming, oblivious group.
"I'm surprised they have them here," Hinata replied, enraptured by it all. "Did my dad really program them in?"
"I'd appreciate it more if it wasn't so packed," Riku lamented and Hinata snickered and tousled the loose braid of hair hanging over his shoulder. He huffed out a breath with a subtle smirk, giving her look.
With another snicker, Hinanta scanned her eyes over the crowd, attempting to find a route towards food and anywhere remotely secluded to eat it. A cacophony of scents wafted in front of her, enticing her forward. Reaching back, she grabbed Riku's hand and interlaced their fingers so they wouldn't lose each other, then she pushed through the fray.
She excused herself and apologized more times than she could count, pushing past one person after the next with Riku in tow. His voice mixed with the crowd, whatever he was attempting to tell her would have to wait until there weren't thousands of sounds demanding her attention.
Reaching the Sandlot, Hinata discovered that it wasn't just a movie being shown, but rather it seemed to be the center of the festivities. An array of colorful stalls lined the brick walls of the lot. Some of them offered trinkets and hand-crafted items, others promised delicious delicacies that made Hinata's stomach rumble just by looking at them.
"Can you hear me now?" Riku asked right beside her ear, his voice rumbling through Hinata and making her flush.
She turned her head towards him, seeing his amused smirk at their predicament. Gently grabbing the side of his head, she lowered his ear towards her and asked, "Do your Corridors still work here?"
He paused before nodding.
"Then I think I have an idea," she continued. "We get our food and then use a Corridor to get somewhere not so crowded."
"Maybe the clock tower," Riku suggested and Hinata nodded emphatically with a growing smile. "Lead the way then."
She was more than happy to do so. A certain stall promised crisp and savory Monte Cristo sandwiches and Hinata could swear it was calling her name. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was as every option made her stomach attempt to convince her that it could eat one of everything. Riku seemed to notice as he nudged her forward every time she paused, or perhaps that was the general crowded populace pushing them along.
Finally though, they reached the sandwich stand and Hinata ordered their meals. After paying, they were sent over to another line where customers awaited their orders. Riku said something, but again Hinata couldn't quite understand him over the commotion. She grabbed his wrists and tugged him forward to be flush against her back. He sucked in a breath in surprise, but then chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"What were you trying to say?" she asked now that he was considerably closer.
"I said Lupe's over there." He motioned his head towards the rows of seats set out in front of the movie projection. "And looks like he's got a friend."
Hinata whipped her attention over, smiling in sweet adoration at the sight of Lupe whispering in the ear of a girl Hinata recognized as one of the shopkeepers in town. The girl giggled, toying with her hair, completely enraptured with whatever Lupe was saying and doing.
"That's the girl that sells candy in town, right?" Hinata asked, resting her head against Riku's chest with a smile when both the girl and Lupe began laughing together. "I'm so glad he has someone here."
"She's probably wondered where he's been this past week," Riku noted, prompting Hinata forward as the line moved.
Hinata's brow furrowed slightly. "That's true. I wonder why he hasn't mentioned her?"
"Isn't exactly our business." Riku shrugged.
She hummed, looking away to give them their privacy. "I suppose that's true."
Riku kissed the side of her head. "It's sweet of you to care though. He seemed to really appreciate the bracelet you gave him."
"Yeah," Hinata laughed softly. "More than I expected, which… was really nice. It gets me excited to make them for everyone else. I think I'll even make ones for Jack and Avan."
"Oh yeah?" he asked.
"Something about what Lupe mentioned," she recalled, stepping forward again as the line moved, "that it feels like he and Chirithy are officially part of the team now. I really like that idea."
Riku hugged her closer. "I like it too."
"Order up!" a large, burly man called from behind the sandwich stand, holding up a somewhat greased paper bag and a cardboard carrier with two filled drinks.
Hinata stepped out of Riku's embrace and grabbed the goodies, giving a quick thanks to the worker before turning to leave. Riku grabbed the drink carrier from her and motioned his head for her to follow. She did the best she could, weaving between people while holding the bag of food close to her chest in hopes it wouldn't be accidentally snatched away. They came to a stop in front of a beautiful stall that displayed all manner of hand woven blankets and shawls. Hinata admired them, barely noticing as Riku purchased a large blanket.
"Ready?" Riku asked, coming back beside her.
Without even questioning the stop for the blanket, she nodded, leaning on her toes and giving him a short kiss. By the time she was back on her feet, she already found herself in a completely new location. A chilling wind swept past her, billowing her dress and hair. She turned around carefully, seeing the expanse of Twilight Town below their secluded perch on the clock tower.
They could still hear the music in the distance, along with the murmur of people's laughter. But at least now Hinata could hear herself think. From so high up, the lights of the town against the darkness seemed to match the stars scattered across the night sky.
"Wow," Hinata breathed out. "Sometimes I forget how beautiful it is up here."
A hand gently grabbed her arm and she looked over to see Riku already seated with the newly purchased blanket spread out beneath him. He smirked, motioning his head for her to join him. Hinata bit her lip with a smile and moved to sit on the other side of the blanket.
"Here you go." She handed him his sandwich before grabbing her own.
Her mouth watered at the sight of the crisp, golden crust and she didn't waste a moment before biting into it. Her face lit up, eyes widening with delight. Riku snickered at the sight, covering his mouth with his wrist.
"That good, huh?" he asked.
"Mmhmm," Hinata hummed between mouthfuls. She swallowed and wiped her mouth with a napkin, before laughing sheepishly. "I didn't realize how hungry I was."
"Lupe mentioned the food in the digital world isn't as good as real food," Riku noted before taking a bite himself. He chewed, nodding.
"But it's actually pretty close, right?" Hinata asked, gesturing towards her already half-eaten sandwich. "At least here it is."
"Yeah," he agreed, taking another bite. He looked out towards the town and once his mouth was empty again, he said, "Makes me think of something DiZ mentioned."
"Hmm?" Hinata merely hummed a response, unable to keep her mouth empty for more than a second.
"That this town's evolving, even beyond what he programmed it to do," he recalled. "Makes you think. Did he really add in the festivals? Or did the town come up with it on its own?"
Having finished her sandwich, Hinata wiped her hands with another napkin and cleaned up. She joined Riku in looking out over the town, mulling over his words. "He mentioned that to me, too," she told him. "He said it found Lupe's and Chirithy's code in the medal and created them here. There's no telling what else it's doing."
"It's incredible," Riku said.
Hinata nodded, but didn't reply. Riku began eating his food and Hinata absently drank her tea, watching the silhouettes of people dancing to the live bands. They seemed so happy, blissfully unaware they resided in a crafted world. It was a thought she didn't allow herself to linger on for long. She wanted to trust her dad knew what he was doing, or at the very least pretend she trusted him. There was too much going on for her to add another thing to be concerned about.
"If nothing else, it's giving Lupe and Chirithy a better place to live," Hinata said suddenly, grabbing Riku's attention.
He looked over at her, brow raised. Swallowing, he grabbed his drink. "Are you worrying about it?"
With a nervous chuckle, Hinata admitted, "Trying not to. It's incredible, but also a bit scary. A program getting a mind of its own and creating life."
Riku shrugged. "We've seen stranger things. I heard Velcia and Sam made a brain to get to our dreams."
Hinata nodded, lips pursed. "Yeah, I guess that's true." She scoffed with a laugh, "And I turned into a mermaid and could breathe underwater in Atlantica… And you can literally teleport wherever you want with your Corridors."
"You have a pet ghost dog," Riku continued, leaning back on the palms of his hands. "And you found an old crazy robot on a random planet that just happened to be filled with pirate treasure."
A laugh bubbled out of her. "Yeah, yeah, point taken." She continued giggling. "We've had some crazy adventures."
"And that's not even half of them," Riku said, smirking.
She huffed a short breath of laughter, still smiling as her gaze drifted away. "And we have a lot more to go on."
"Probably always will," Riku agreed, standing up and brushing crumbs off his pants.
Hinata watched him. The moonlight glistened off of his silver hair and she found herself distracted, her eyes softening and a smile lazily curving her lips.
That was until she noticed the way he tilted his head side to side as if trying to loosen his neck. He rubbed the back of his neck, a frown twisting his expression.
"Everything alright?" she asked.
"Ah, yeah." He stretched his arms and yawned. "My neck's still a bit stiff from last night."
Hinata looked away for a moment, then her eyes widened slightly and she realized, "You slept sitting up on the couch."
"Yeah," he chuckled.
She winced, recalling falling asleep on his lap while they all watched the movie. Of course sleeping sitting up would have been uncomfortable, but he didn't complain. He never did. Letting out a breath, she reached up and grabbed his hand.
"Come here, I might be able to help," she told him, flush with a mixture of embarrassment and nerves as she tugged him back down to sit.
"You don't need to," he assured her, but still conceded to her regardless and sat back down.
"But I'm going to." She got on her knees and scooted behind him. "Or try to, anyway."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, sitting up straighter when she pressed her hand against his back. "Am I your test subject for a new spell?"
She giggled. "Would it bother you if you were?"
"Only if you mess up," he teased, smirking as Hinata snickered.
"Ha ha." She playfully rolled her eyes, grinning. "Alright, sit still and straight. I'll start in a sec."
"I'll try my best," he replied and Hinata shook her head, still smiling to herself.
She held her palms out in front of her and let out an even breath. A subtle orange glow bloomed on her fingertips, heat emanating off of them. A smirk tipped the corner of her mouth, but she otherwise didn't react. Breathing in deeply, she focused on the heat inside her chest, willing it to her hands. Gradually, the glow spread down her fingers, covering her palms.
Satisfied, she tentatively tapped her fingers against her cheek, testing the intensity of the heat. Even on herself, it felt comforting, like a heating pad. She cupped her own cheek, allowing all the warmth to touch her and she smiled. Not too hot, but enough to feel.
She turned her attention back to Riku, thankful his hair was in a braid over his shoulder. His neck was already red from being repeatedly rubbed throughout the day
"I wish I realized sooner," she said softly.
"How could you have?" he asked, but the end of his sentence melted into a hum.
Hinata gently pressed the base of her palms between his shoulder blades. Her thumbs swept upwards along the back of his neck.
"Let me know if I do anything wrong or hurt you," she muttered.
All Riku did was hum in response. Hinata could feel the tension leaving him. His shoulders relaxed, his usual straight back slouching ever so slightly. She smiled to herself, continuing her ministrations to his shoulders and then further down. Riku's head lolled to the side, sighing softly. Hinata took the opportunity and kissed the base of his neck, grinning with a giggle at the way goosebumps shot up his skin.
"I'll take that as a successful test," she teased, getting up on her knees and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She kissed his jaw, still giggling as Riku choked out a laugh.
"I take it back," he said, running his hand along her arm, "you should have realized sooner."
A sudden laugh bubbled out of her, causing Riku to join in.
"I'm glad it helped." She raised his hand up and kissed his palm.
Riku was about to reply but was interrupted by a whistle ringing through the air. They looked out into the town just in time to see a bright firework burst in the night sky. Vibrant hues of reds and blues exploded amongst the stars, painting them with colored light before it fizzled away into golden dust.
"Wow," they both breathed out in unison.
More and more rockets fired into the air, whistling and bursting with thunderous cracks and vibrant displays. Hinata reluctantly detangled herself from Riku as he gathered the blanket, neither of them completely taking their eyes off the show. She settled into his lap, feeling his heart pounding against her back as the fireworks drummed in the sky. Riku pulled the blanket over her, holding it close and shielding them from the chilling wind.
Hinata's eyes were bright, her mouth agape with wonder. Then a warm kiss pressed against the side of her head. She looked up, seeing Riku watching her rather than the show. The urge to look back at the fireworks disappeared when she saw the way the light danced over him. Color glistened against the silver of his hair, his amber eyes, and painted his features in a way that took her breath away.
"Hi," she whispered and Riku's soft smile grew into a grin.
His fingers weaved into her hair, cradling the back of her head, and he pulled her into a kiss. Hinata's heart leapt, her eyes sliding shut as she completely lost herself in the way Riku's lips moved against her own. Her hand wound around his forearm, hoping he'd never let her go. But all too soon, the kiss ended, their breaths shallow and fogging between them from the chilling air.
Her gaze fluttered up towards him, seeing the reflection of the fireworks in his eyes. The show was all but forgotten as she leaned in for another kiss, sighing when Riku kissed her in return.
The town below erupted with distant cheers and claps, the commotion causing the kiss to reluctantly end. Hinata and Riku grinned at each other for a moment, their noses brushing, before they looked out and realized the fireworks had come to an end and so too had the festival.
Hinata laughed softly, resting her head against Riku's chest while he watched the town. His arms wound around her, pulling her closer. Hinata's heart still pounded, her lips still tingling and face flushed. Her eyes slid shut and she smiled, relishing in the way her heart residually fluttered.
After a short while, Riku summoned a Corridor to take them back to the streets of Twilight Town. With the rolled up blanket bunched under one of Riku's arms and Hinata linked around the other, they walked along the cobbled roads. The earlier commotion had come and went, but remnants of it remained scattered throughout the town. Scents of food lingered, the bands put away their instruments, while one of the guitarists strummed calming chords.
Hinata and Riku talked quietly, their voices barely carrying beyond them. It didn't matter specifically what they discussed, as it went from one topic to the next. All they cared about was spending the fleeting quiet moment together until they reached the hidden portal to take them back to the mansion.
The portal swirled in front of them in a decrepit corner of the alley. Its unnatural glow illuminated the brick walls on either side of it and painted Hinata and Riku in its eerie light. Neither of them moved. They stared into it, knowing their date had come to an end.
"Are you ready?" Riku asked.
"I should be," she answered honestly, her voice barely a whisper. "But… I don't think I am."
Riku looked over at her, his eyes flickering over the soft frown across her features. "Should we head back to the clock tower?"
She huffed out a laugh. "Part of me would like to. But, I don't think it will help in the end."
He hummed. "Worried?"
She nodded. "I don't want to find out what's waiting for us tomorrow. Or the next day. I just… want this, every night."
Taking in a deep breath, Riku turned towards Hinata completely. She looked up at him as he turned her as well. A squeak escaped her when Riku leaned down and kissed her, but then she melted into a hum, cupping his cheek with her hand. Riku rested his head against hers when their lips parted, neither of them saying anything as they breathed the other in.
"We'll face it together," he said softly, his hand running down her arm to her fingers. "Always will. Even if we're apart, remember?"
She breathed in sharply, a rush of emotions straining her throat. "I-I don't want you to leave…" she confessed in a stammering rush. "I know that's selfish."
"It's not." He kissed her forehead, lingering there for a moment. "I don't want to either." He pulled back to see her face, chuckling softly. "Probably for the same reasons as you."
Letting out a shaking breath, Hinata nodded, a smile half-smile tipping her mouth before it faltered. "I… know why you need to go. I want you to be able to help Sora and Kairi, and I've been supporting it this whole time. I'm just… after tonight, it's like… it's hit me. We're going different ways."
"Yeah," he agreed solemnly. "It hit me too."
"I want to be there," Hinata continued, "helping my sister, supporting you and Sora, and I can't. Instead I'm doing something that…" Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. "I want you here. I feel stronger with you here. And, I don't know if I can do this without you."
"You can." He grabbed her hand.
"Deep down, I know I can," she agreed, with a hoarse laugh. "And I know that our hearts are connected, that we'll still be part of each other's everyday life with messaging and visits, but there's also that small part of me that's… I-I don't know how to explain it."
"You don't have to." Riku's gaze went down towards their clasped hands. "I… think I feel the same."
"You do?" she asked.
"When I'm with you… I feel like I can think clearer," he explained, pulling back his hand and habitually rubbing the back of his neck while he averted his eyes away from Hinata. "The darkness isn't overwhelming when you're with me." He chuckled, his face warming. "I even forget what I look like. And I think that's because you see me for who I am, even better than I see myself."
Letting out a breath, he explained, "There's a part of me that's worried about being on my own again. Especially without you."
You'll be alright…
The thought whispered through Hinata's mind and she caught it before the words came out of her mouth. Even in her thoughts, she knew that's what both of them wanted to say to the other. Assure each other that everything will be ok, that their hearts are connected, they're stronger than they think… Maybe they were true sentiments, but they weren't going to help.
She grasped her locket, running her thumb along its engraving. The indentations in the metal were beginning to smooth. If Hinata were to really examine it, she'd see faint marks that matched the direction of her thumb caressing the design over and over again. It was her life-line, the promise that helped her more than well meaning platitudes ever could. Maybe it was time to share it.
The thought frightened her, if she were to be completely honest with herself. But looking over at Riku staring into the swirling portal lost in thoughts of his own, the uncertainty dissolved into a trusting resolve.
Without saying anything, she reached behind her neck and undid the clasp of her locket. Riku looked over, stepping back when Hinata held it out for him.
"Are you sure?" he asked, watching as Hinata lifted his hand and placed the locket in his grasp.
She nodded, a soft smile across her face.
A warmth spread up Riku's ears, his eyes softening. Dropping the blanket, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. Hinata blinked in surprise, but quickly hugged him back, listening to the pounding of his heart.
"You don't even know what's inside it," Hinata muttered, her voice muffled.
Riku shook his head, holding her closer. "It doesn't matter. You told me this was everything."
"I did,"—she closed her eyes, swallowing the lump straining her throat—"didn't I?"
Pulling back just enough to hold the locket between them, Riku examined its details. Hinata watched him with an adoring smile, before drifting her gaze towards the locket.
"You know how Sam has a recording of Hen Wen's vision about her dad?" she asked, glancing up at him to see him nod. "Well… this is one of us."
Riku snapped his attention up to her and Hinata couldn't help but laugh, nodding excitedly. "Wait," he remembered, looking back to the locket. "You mentioned you were the reason Sam and I went to Prydain in the first place."
"It was to see if Hen Wen could show you a vision about me, so you could find out if I would be safe from the Organization," she explained, placing her hands around his cupping the locket. "But, the vision wasn't exactly what we were expecting. It… showed our life a lot further into the future."
He didn't reply right away. Swallowing hard, he caressed his thumb along the metal in the same way he'd seen Hinata do countless times. "This really is everything."
"Yeah." Hinata said breathily with a grin. "It reminds me that everything's going to be ok. And… I hope it does for you, too."
Riku suddenly looked around them, his hands clasping over the locket.
"What is it?" Hinata asked, joining him in looking around.
"I don't want to watch it here," he told her, grabbing her hand. "Come on."
A Corridor surrounded them and Hinata shut her eyes instinctively. Upon opening them, she found herself on a thin window ledge atop of the mansion's roof. The tall stained glass window towered behind her, the moonlight shining through its orange and yellow panes.
"We haven't been here in a while," she noted as Riku helped her sit down along the ledge. She looked over at him carefully holding the locket. "Are you ready?"
Riku choked out a laugh. "I don't think I ever could be."
She snickered. "Yeah, I felt similar the first time you showed me."
"I wish I could remember it," he admitted, staring at the locket rather than opening it.
"I know," she agreed quietly, gently grasping his knee. "Someday you will."
He swallowed, nodding.
Hinata leaned her head against his shoulder, her eyes sliding shut as she waited for him to be ready and open it. A subtle wave of exhaustion washed over her, all at once reminding her just how much they'd done that day. And just how late it likely was. She forced herself to open her eyes, refusing to allow herself to fall asleep. She wasn't going to waste a single minute tonight.
Riku blew out a breath. "Alright…"
He unlatched the clasp along the side and the locket opened, revealing a shimmering hologram. Hinata remained silent, subconsciously holding her breath as the vision played out. She had memorized every second of it—the smiles, the subtle touches, even down to the amount of fallen coconuts on Destiny Island in the first part of the vision. Then there was the strange, mystical room. Cut out windows shaped like moons and stars. Hinata liked to imagine herself lounging in the window-sill of the crescent moon, writing in her journal. All of them would be there someday, the vision chose to show it, though Hinata didn't know where it was. Someday though, perhaps they would.
"Sora's there, and Kairi," Riku said under his breath.
Hinata kissed his shoulder, brought back to when Riku had first shown her the vision on the deck of the Highwind. "There's more," she told him, just like he had to her back then.
Riku's breath hitched, Hinata felt the chills course up his arms. Their future daughter appeared in the vision. She looked so much like Riku, with the same color hair falling in waves down her back as a future, older Hinata braided the long locks with flowers. Riku reached up with a trembling hand, his finger touching the vision as if he'd be able to reach in and feel the future. His hand pulled back with a twitch when their son toddled into view and stumbled into Hinata's arms.
The vision blipped and restarted and Riku shakily clasped the locket shut. Hinata didn't say anything, her own breath shook as she awaited his thoughts. She'd watched that vision a hundred times over. Every little detail of their future children was etched into her heart and even so, the swell of emotion came over her without fail.
Riku's hand wound around her own, gripping her tightly. "We're going to be ok."
A breathless sob escaped Hinata. She lifted their clasped hands and kissed his knuckles. "We will."