Chapter 15
**Recap: Hinata and Velcia have returned to Twilight Town and Riku is beginning to realize his true feelings for Hinata. They spent the day catching up and relaxing in town, before their debriefing with DiZ the next day.**
Hinata rested her hands along the wooden railing, gazing out at the golden sunset beyond the grassy hills. She could see the clock tower far out in the distance, its bell chiming and echoing through the town. Velcia laughed behind her, making her glance over her shoulder to the group. Sam had brought along Hayner, Pence, and Olette on their outing and they made quick friends with the others. Pence was going on about a crazy conspiracy he had heard about, the others rolling their eyes and laughing. Despite the friendly atmosphere, Hinata had drifted out on her own to enjoy the sunset and be alone with her thoughts.
Her lips tipped into a smile as she turned back to the landscape, her fingers tracing along the grain of wood in the fence. She barely glanced over as Riku came up beside her, leaning against the fence as he let out a sigh. His hand rested beside Hinata's, his fingers brushing along hers before he hesitantly placed his hand over hers entirely. She hummed, leaning her head against his arm.
"We should probably be heading back soon." She spoke up softly, her smile growing as he squeezed her hand.
"Yeah, it's almost movie night." The corner of his lips tipped into a smirk at Hinata's snicker.
"If you're too tired we-"
"No, I'm too interested to see what horrible movie you've picked out." He interrupted her with a chuckle. "I wouldn't miss it."
"Well good," she smiled up at him, the glow from the sunset making the amber in his eyes stand out. "I'm looking forward to it."
His smirk softened as he looked her over, his ears warming until he cleared his throat and directed his gaze back to the warming sky. "Are… you doing alright?" She tilted her head to the side in question, before he clarified, "Doesn't really seem like you to be off by yourself when you're pretty friendly with everyone else here. That's my thing."
She chuckled, "Well maybe I'm just trying to adopt your mannerisms. See what it's like to be handsome and broody."
Riku blinked, looking back at her to see her keeping back a smile. He huffed in amusement, nudging her with his shoulder. "Yeah? And how's that going for you?"
"I think I'll leave it to you from now on." She shrugged with a giggle. "You make it look good."
"I'll take your word for it," he told her with a breathy laugh, his face warming.
"Good," she smiled up at him before her expression slowly fell as she looked back forward. "But, um, I'm alright. Thank you. Just, a lot on my mind and… worried about what's next." Her free hand began to fidget along the fence, her nail digging into the wood as Riku looked over at her. "Today's been… wonderful. But, now that it's coming to an end, I know the real work starts back tomorrow. Everything I learned from Eos, everything I've done, I have to figure out how to use it against Thaanix and…" Her voice trailed off, a lump tightening in her throat. Softly shaking her head, she whispered, "I don't know if I'm ready…"
"You will be," Riku assured her, squeezing her hand. "I know it."
She lightly scoffed, "I'm glad you're confident at least."
He frowned, moving his hand off of hers and pushing her hair back behind her ear. She looked up at him, her cheeks dusting with rose as she saw the genuine, soft gaze in his eyes. It caused her breath to hitch.
"You don't give yourself enough credit." His eyes danced over her face, the backs of his fingers barely brushing her cheek, before he realized what he was doing and brought his hand back down to his side. Taking in a breath, he continued, "The Hinata I read about in all those journals... She's strong, dedicated; she doesn't let anything stop her, no matter what."
Hinata's eyes softened, her hand reaching up to her locket to grab hold of it. "You… really think so?"
He let out a breathy laugh, "Yeah, of course I do. I…" His voice trailed off as he downcast his gaze and ran his hand along the back of his neck. "Hinata, I…" Taking in a shaking breath, he shut his eyes, his hand clenching closed into a fist.
Soft lips pressed against his cheek, making him open his eyes. "I keep telling you not to rush it." Hinata reminded him with a sweet smile when he looked back to her. "But... Thank you." She slid her hand down his arm to his hand, relaxing his grip. "That really meant a lot."
"Hey! Lovebirds!" Hayner's voice grabbed their attention as he waved over at them. "We're leaving!"
Riku let out a long sigh as Hinata smiled and called back, "We'll be right there!"
"Hayner, I told you to leave them alone!" Sam harshly whispered, grabbing Hayner's arm and pulling him away, despite his protests.
"I was just-ow!"
Hinata giggled as the group disappeared further down the hill before she looked back to Riku. "You about ready to head back?"
"It's impossible for us to get a moment alone." Riku muttered, making Hinata chuckle.
"Yeah, it's always been like that." She admitted, grabbing both of his hands as she looked up at him, her grin melding into a soft smile. "Riku…"
"Hmm?" He met his eyes with hers, his heart skipping at her loving expression.
"I… really enjoyed today with you." She confessed, her smile growing at the way his eyes widened ever so slightly. "And, I also really appreciate the effort you're putting into getting comfortable around me again." She looked towards the sunset, "I can only imagine how hard it's been… being around someone you feel like you're close to, but can't actually remember. And then, here I've been insisting you still be around me just because I care about you-"
This time warm lips met with her cheek, making her suck in a sharp breath as she darted her attention back forward. Riku was barely inches apart from her, his face warmed and breath shaking. Both of their gazes drifted towards the others' lips and Hinata fought the urge to close the distance. Averting her eyes, she cleared her throat and forced her heavy feet back.
"W-We should probably join the others." She mumbled, keeping her eyes averted from his as her hands clasped in front of her.
"Yeah," Riku took in a breath, "Don't-" His voice faded as he kept his eyes downcast. "Don't pull away next time…" He murmured. "Alright…?"
Hinata blinked, looking up at him, despite his eyes still being averted from hers. "You mean… you would have-"
"They'll be wondering where we are if we keep them waiting." He interrupted her, his face burning red as he walked towards the hillside.
Hinata couldn't help but grin as she jogged after him, her own cheeks warming. They met the others at the train station. Olette greeted them the moment she saw them, pulling Hinata over to help her explain something to Velcia. Riku stayed near the edge of the group, watching the interactions with a soft smile as they all waited for the train to arrive.
A sizable crowd joined them in the wait, giving little room for the group to move. With a loud whistle, the train arrived, screeching to a stop and sliding its doors open to ensue the chaos. It was the last ride of the day, so it was much busier than normal as people streamed out of the already full cars and others slipped their way in to take their seats. Hinata stumbled, people pushing past her as she went in, finding all of the seats taken and everything rather crammed. Riku grabbed her arm, pulling her over to him standing in the center of the walkway as he held a bar along the top of the train to keep them steady. She wrapped her hand around his arm once she was next to him, sending him a small smile before she looked around for the others.
Pence waved at them from their corner of seats, where they had rushed to get with practiced ease. Hinata waved back before looking out the window as the train began to leave the station. The force of the sudden movement pushed her against Riku, and they both chuckled as she stood back, but not as far from him as she was before.
"So… get back to the main town and find some dinner?" Hinata asked, trying to make conversation.
"Velcia and I were actually thinking of making dinner." He told her, smirking when she looked up at him in surprise. "She mentioned how much she loved cooking with that Ignis guy, so she wanted to help me out, too."
"Oh that is going to be so delicious." Hinata grinned, making Riku chuckle. "I wish you could have tried the food they made in Eos."
"Yeah, from all the pics I got sent of it, I have to say it all looked pretty tasty." He admitted. "Even gave me a few ideas for some new things to try out."
"Well, I will happily taste test for you." She chimed, giggling.
Riku's eyes softened as his smile grew, "I'd appreciate it."
"Good," she giggled again, before looking back out the window at the world passing by outside. "Okay, so dinner, movie night, then tomorrow is debriefing… Do you think I'll get to have a look at that practice arena that DiZ made up in that fake Twilight Town?"
"Probably," Riku nodded, "I'm sure DiZ will want to see for himself all the stuff you learned and how you and Velcia fight together. Then you have to see what Sam's learned."
"I'm really looking forward to that." She told him, smiling back at him for a moment. "Get to see how well your amazing teaching paid off."
He scoffed, "Definitely wouldn't call it amazing. Half the time was spent just arguing with each other, cause she didn't want to do something."
Hinata bubbled into laughter, "That doesn't surprise me, to be honest. I wish I could have seen that."
"You probably will, tomorrow." He sighed, sending her a fond smile.
She smiled back, softly humming before admitting, "I'm so glad I'm back."
"I am, too." He agreed, his heart skipping at the way her smile grew.
The rest of the ride went smoothly, the occasional comment passed between them. As the train came to a stop in the Twilight Town station, Hinata kept her arm linked with Riku's as he led the way off through the crowd. They began walking back towards the mansion without waiting for the others, completely forgetting they were out with anyone else. Their hands ended up laced by the time they reached the edge of the forest that led to the mansion, being stopped by Sam calling out for them and scolding them for leaving the rest of the group behind without warning.
"We were looking everywhere for you!" Sam ranted, her hands placed firmly on her hips. "If it wasn't for Velcia noticing you guys leaving the station, we could have been there forever."
"We weren't thinking, alright?" Riku told her exasperated.
"I'm sorry we worried you, though." Hinata added, looking around, "Where are Hayner and the others?"
"They said their goodbyes at the station." Velcia explained, looking to Riku, "But really don't worry about going on ahead. I'm sure you just wanted some time to be alone with Hinata, which is completely understandable! We managed just fine."
Riku looked away, letting out a huff of breath, "Y-Yeah."
Velcia's smile grew as she winked at Hinata, before turning and heading into the forest. Sam snickered, following after her.
"That was awesome," Sam whispered to Velcia, holding out her fist.
Velcia laughed under her breath, staring at her fist and hesitantly bumping her own fist against it as she recalled the boys in Eos doing multiple times. "Why thank you."
Riku scoffed, rolling his eyes as his hand released Hinata's. "Great, even got the new girl teasing."
"I'll tell them to reel it in." Hinata assured him, stepping forward and turning to face him. "I know Velcia at least doesn't mean anything by it."
"It's fine," he waved it off, taking in a breath. "She wasn't wrong."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I wanted to be alone with you, too." She smiled as his eyes darted to hers. "Maybe…" She pushed her hair behind her ear, "We could go out sometime soon… Just the two of us?"
"Tomorrow night," he told her, looking away, but smiling softly. "After the debriefing… We can get some dinner."
"That sounds perfect," Hinata grinned, reaching forward and grabbing his hand. "Now come on, let's get dinner for tonight started."
"You're not allowed to help for dinner." He told her, letting her pull him along through the forest. "Rather not have it burnt."
Hinata scoffed, reaching behind her to smack him, but he laughed and missed her swing. "Uncalled for," she laughed, glancing back over her shoulder at him to see his cheeky grin. Letting out a sigh, she resigned, "Well fine. I'll go talk with DiZ while you and Velcia make dinner."
"Oh yeah?" He asked, a snicker still under his breath. "What about?"
"Oh, not much," her voice quieted as she pushed her hair back. "Um, Ben had mentioned that he helped DiZ decipher some of Vexen's reports, so… I want to see what he wrote."
Riku stopped walking, making Hinata stop and glance back at him. A soft frown curved his lips, his brows furrowed in concern. "You sure you should do that by yourself? What if-"
"I can't keep running from what happened." She interrupted him, her grip tightening around his hand as she downcast her gaze. "I need to understand what they did to me and why I was the one the Organization wanted... " Taking in a breath, she brought her eyes back to Riku's uncertain gaze, a soft smile tipping her lips. "And maybe it will help me move on."
He let out a breath, stepping closer to her. "It's alright if you need time before getting into all of that."
"If we weren't having to race to take down a crazed murderous copy of me, I would agree with you." She told him, a bitter laugh at the end. "But I don't really have that luxury."
Riku lifted his hand, hesitating before he pushed her hair back behind her ear, his fingertips brushing across her tattoo on her cheek. She lifted her gaze to his, showing him the slightest glaze of tears over her eyes that made his heart sink.
"Don't push yourself more than you have to." He told her, "You won't get anywhere if you wear yourself too thin."
Her lips tipped upwards as her eyes softened. "We'll also never take down Thaanix if I keep holding us back." Looking away, her smile fell as she added, "And she'll just keep destroying everything she touches. All because I can't get over myself-" She cut herself off, taking in a sharp breath as she shook her head. "Sorry… I'm fine."
Her eyes slipped shut, keeping in the tears threatening to escape. Riku opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying desperately to figure out the right things to say. His heart was tightening, strained between the two parts of himself that wanted to pull her into his arms, while simultaneously getting as far away as he could. Looking back at Hinata, he noticed the subtle shake of her shoulders, realizing how close she was to breaking down.
"Hinata…" he whispered, bringing his hand to her face, just in time to wipe away a tear.
"S-sorry," she stammered, shaking her head and stepping back.
"Don't," he ordered, grabbing her wrists and pulling her into his arms. She gasped, before whimpering as she buried her face against his chest. "Don't you dare apologize." He murmured, completely ignoring the alarms in his head telling him to push her away.
Her dam broke, her shoulders trembling. "Dammit…" She sobbed against his chest, "I-I need to stop doing this…"
"Hinata..." He tightened his arms around her, looking up when he heard the door to the mansion creak open.
Velcia peeked out, her smile dropping when she saw Hinata sobbing in Riku's arms. She was about to step out further to come help, but Riku shook his head. Velcia paused, looking between him and Hinata. Letting out a breath, she nodded, sending a soft, encouraging smile before she headed back inside.
"What's wrong with me…?" Hinata cried softly, sniffling and trying to pull herself together. "Just randomly bursting into tears… I'm a mess…"
"Nothing's wrong with you," Riku assured her, resting his cheek against the top of her head as his hands ran up and down her back.
"H-How am I supposed to lead anyone like this?" She asked him, her voice breaking. "I can't even talk about it with you without breaking down…"
"With everything you've been through lately… I get it." He spoke softly, forcing himself to focus on her sobs rather than how perfect she fit in his arms. His hands slid to her shoulders, pushing her back just enough so he could see her face. Gently gripping her chin, he tipped her teary gaze up to his, his eyes darting to her slightly parted lips before going back to hers. "Hinata…"
His voice dried in his throat as fresh tears dripped down her cheeks. She was being completely open with him, allowing herself to be vulnerable so he could hear her greatest worries and fears. His mouth slowly shut as his heart beat just a little bit faster. All the reasons why he kept her away faded the longer his eyes danced over her face. There wasn't any reason to hold back.
"I… love you…" he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.
She blinked, the slightest spark of surprise showing through her emotional haze. "W-What..?" She squeaked.
"I love you..." he confessed even softer, his heart swelling the longer he looked at her as his thoughts spiraled through his mind. He wasn't even sure where it was coming from, but they were the only words that he could find.
"I…" She swallowed, her voice strained and shaking with emotion. "I love you… too." A breathy laugh mixed with her tears, her smile growing, "I-I love you so much."
A soft breath left him as his lips curved into a smile. His eyes drifted to her mouth, his heart pounding even harder in his chest. It was all he could hear, his entire body feeling weightless as butterflies ruffled overwhelmingly inside of him.
"I-I don't know where that came from…" he admitted, his gaze fixed on her lips as he began leaning towards her.
Hinata's breath hitched as her eyes slid shut. "Did you mean it…?" She asked under her breath.
"More than anything," he muttered, right before their lips met.
Hinata whimpered, her hands immediately going to the sides of his face as Riku hesitantly moved his lips against hers. He felt different, but still so much like the Riku she remembered. His appearance didn't change a single thing. She kissed him back without hesitation, sighing as his hand laced in her hair.
He broke the kiss after a few seconds, leaning his forehead against hers. "...Wow…"
Hinata giggled, "Y-Yeah."
"I... " he cleared his throat, trying to calm his pounding heart. "Don't really remember how to-"
"It's alright," she assured him, pulling back to see his warmed face. "Really." She smiled, caressing her thumb along his cheek. "I'll happily teach you everything you forgot."
"I'd appreciate that." Riku's smile grew into a grin as he softly laughed. "I... can't believe I just did that."
"Yeah," she agreed with a laugh before looking away. "I… honestly wondered if I'd ever get to kiss you again."
"Really…?" His eyes softened, the overwhelming excitement in his chest dwindling as he remembered everything he had put her through recently. Averting his gaze, he muttered, "I'm sorry."
His breath hitched as Hinata leaned on her toes and kissed him shortly.
"It's fine," she assured him, "I don't have to worry about that anymore."
"Yeah," he softly smiled, his faced warmed considerably.
"Although," she added, kissing his cheek before she forced herself back. "I am going to have a really hard time keeping back now."
"N-No it's fine," he assured her, the uncertainties and alarms faintly returning in the back of his mind, but he shook them away. "I'd… really like… more."
"Me too," she agreed, grinning and wiping away her tears. "God that was a rollercoaster of emotions."
"Y-Yeah, sorry about that…" He chuckled awkwardly. "I wasn't really planning on doing that."
"It helped," she assured him, grabbing his hands and looking up at him. "Now that I know I have you again… I'm not so worried anymore."
He squeezed her hands, ignoring the way it sent the butterflies in his stomach into a frenzy. "Even without me… you're strong enough to lead. You're a lot more capable than you give yourself credit for…"
"Riku…"
"No one is expecting you to pretend nothing happened." He continued, finding his words easier with the mental block finally broken through, "It's alright to be struggling. What matters is that you're still moving forward and you're trying." Removing one his hands from hers, he pushed back her hair, watching her tattoo glow brighter as he brushed past it. "Don't let yourself get so caught up in everything going on, you forget to take care of yourself."
Hinata blinked, her heart swelling at his words and the loving look in his amber eyes. He didn't seem like anyone else, only Riku. Releasing his hand, she grabbed his shirt and tugged him down to her level, meeting their lips together. Riku's breath hitched, but melted into a soft hum as she kissed him. It somehow felt even more amazing than when he had kissed her. By the time she pulled away, reality took a moment to settle in before he opened his eyes to see her smiling.
"Thank you…" She whispered, looking away with a soft giggle. "We better get inside."
"Y-Yeah," he agreed, clearing his throat as Hinata pulled him along. His heart skipped every time she'd glance over her shoulder at him, her tattoo glowing brilliantly.
They finally made their way back inside, already smelling the savory scents of whatever Velcia was cooking away in the kitchen. With a quick kiss to her cheek, Riku told her he'd be back and left to help Velcia with dinner. Hinata checked in with Sam in her room, where they were going to watch the movie. Avan and Jack played behind her as Ben helped her set up the large screen television they had bought during their day in town. Giving them a quick hello, she tried to offer her help but was promptly waved away since she would only get in the way.
With that, she decided to go see DiZ as she had initially intended. She walked down the steps towards his lab, an uneasiness itching her heart as she pressed the button to slide open the door. DiZ's typing paused when he heard the door and he turned his chair around to see Hinata entering his dark room.
"Hinata," he greeted, a fondness in his usual dull voice. "It is good to see you back."
"Thank you," she smiled in return, coming closer to glance up at the computer screens behind him, most of them covered with things about Sora and his progress. "Working as usual?"
He chuckled as he turned back around, "Yes, keeping an eye on Sora so Riku and I can know when and how to aid in his mission."
Hinata hummed in thought, "Can't Riku just join Sora? They are best friends, after all."
DiZ let out a breath, "I offered that to Riku, but he refused."
"He… did?" She looked to him. "Why?"
"That is something you'll have to ask him yourself." He told her, typing away. "He didn't share his reasons with me, I simply respected his decision."
"I see," Hinata softly frowned, but didn't say anything else on the subject. "How is Sora doing?"
"He has been spending most of his time in the Land of Dragons." DiZ explained, bringing up pictures of a beautiful town with pink floral trees swaying from the breeze. "He and his companions have been training in a military sector of the world. Similar to you on Atlantis."
Hinata's lips quirked upwards at the mention. "That's pretty amazing. How long has he been there?"
"At least a month, by what we've seen." He explained, "However, it is difficult for us to keep track. Even with all my resources, I do not know where he is at all times."
"Still, at least we know he's making progress and doing well." Hinata told him. "That's the best we can ask for."
"Hmm, indeed." He agreed, looking up at her. "Was there a reason for your visit?"
"Oh… yes," She let out a breath, running her hands along her arms. "I… was wondering if I could see the Vexen reports that you've been able to decipher."
DiZ frowned, his visible eye narrowing. "Are you certain you should read them? If you would rather, I can have Riku-"
"Please… Dad," Hinata looked to him almost pleading. "I need to read it for myself."
Letting out a long breath, he looked back to his computer screens, mulling it over. "Very well."
With a simple keystroke, the screen right in front of Hinata flickered and showed a screen full of text. She glanced between DiZ and the screen for a moment as she stepped forward, suddenly feeling queasy as she read the words on the page.
...
Vexen Report 001
We've been assigned to Castle Oblivion, a strange place to put it lightly. It is a labyrinth of sorts. The rooms themselves seem to hold memories, but for whom I am not sure. There is an unfathomable power here, one that intrigues me to no end. I was hardly expecting Lord Xemnas to send me here, but after our discussion of traitors in the midst of our Members and the need for them to be dealt with, I will obey without question.
There is a young Nobody that Marluxia acquired. It calls itself, Namine, not that it deserves a title; it isn't a Member of the Organization, after all. However, it does have interesting properties. Marluxia believes it has the power to manipulate memories… to change them and remold them to its will. Very interesting… I will be keeping my eye on her throughout my time here.
…
Vexen Report 002
Namine certainly is an interesting specimen. I have begun experimenting on it between my studies on the newest intruders to this castle. Perhaps it is possible to use this power on another? To mold a mind to my will and have them obey of their own free will because of it… Surely we would no longer have traitors amidst the Organization if this were possible. Or perhaps we could create all new Members entirely… Ones that would never question the will of their Superior.
If only this were possible when Lord Xemnas was training that child for the Organization. All of that potential, wasted.
…
Vexen Report 003
I have created my first successful Replica. It is an exact copy of Riku, our most recent nuisance in the castle. I was able to manipulate its 'heart' to accept the Darkness. By a purely physical standpoint, it is a marvel, yet I know the truth inside. It is weak and unstable. If it were up solely to me, it would be destroyed until a more solid copy could be created, but I suppose in the circumstances, it will have to do.
The success has spurred me into pursuing creations of Replicas of my fellow Members. To think, if I could find a way to fully manipulate the core of the copies, we could have seemingly endless amount of us… I believe I will attempt to create one of myself first and foremost. If I were able to have multiple copies of myself working on the same goal, think of the possibilities!
I will contact Lord Xemnas about the matter. I might have a use to the failed experimental Replicas locked away in my lab. Perhaps I gave up on them prematurely, there is so much more I have yet to discover. There have been rumors of a race in a neighboring galaxy that researches in the same vein of my work. With Lord Xemnas' permission, I believe I will contact them. An alliance may be in order.
…
Hinata took in a deep, shaking breath, looking away from the screen as DiZ told her. "That is all we've managed to decipher thus far. There is much more we have yet to go through."
She nodded, swallowing hard as she turned on her heel and paced towards the back of the room. DiZ turned his seat, watching her as she walked, her arms firm on her hips as she thought over everything she had just read.
"Was I the child Vexen mentioned?" She asked when she reached the back of the room. "The…. wasted potential?"
"That is what I believe," DiZ nodded, letting out a huff of breath. "I only wish I had realized what Xehanort had planned for you. He was grooming the three of you for his own purposes, and I completely disregarded it."
"It's not your fault." She assured him, wrapping her arms around herself. "I just… I don't get why they were obsessed with me." Turning around, she motioned her hand towards the screen still showing the reports. "They got Lea and Isa, why were they so upset they didn't get me? And then to go through all that work to capture me so they could create some Replica, Clone monster..." Shaking her head, she looked away, "Just doesn't make sense…"
DiZ was silent for a moment, before asking, "You believe there was a reason Xehanort wanted you specifically?"
"I-I don't know, honestly." She put her arms out at her sides, turning around to continue pacing. "I'm not anything special. Sure I can fight, and I know how to fight with different weapons, but it's not like I was some prodigy. I'm just some girl that likes to swordfight."
A deep chuckle from DiZ made her pause. "I believe you're much more than that." He told her, a soft laugh still in his voice. "However, I have wondered the same as you. Perhaps it is our relation, as a final blow to his betrayal towards me, but the lengths he has gone to obtain you seem too far for such a thing."
"I've wondered about that, too." Hinata admitted, turning around and leaning back against the wall. She absently stared at the dim blue lights lining the room, letting out a breath. "You know...When I was growing up, I never really had anyone understand me. Mom, Grandma, even my friends didn't really accept me for who I was. They all wanted to change me in some way, to take things away and force me into a box they decided was how I was supposed to be…"
She glanced to DiZ, noticing him watching her as he listened. Looking away, she swallowed before continuing. "But then Xehanort suddenly showed up. And… he was the first person that really got me. He encouraged me to stand up for myself, to follow my passion in weapons, and not to listen to what anyone else told me." A bitter laugh slipped out as she shook her head, "He used to tell me I was full of potential. The others just didn't see it. He'd give me that purpose, help me see it… help me make a difference in the world." Groaning, she buried her face in her hands. "Thinking back, it's pretty obvious he was just manipulating me…"
"I... " DiZ started to talk, but his voice uncharacteristically choked. Downcasting his gaze, he tried again, "I'm sorry I didn't see past my own pride to see what was really happening. You were so young, I should have protected you."
"You did when it mattered most." She told him, smiling softly when he looked back up at her.
His frown tipped into a smile before he chuckled, "You have grown so much, Hinata. I hardly think your mother would recognize you if she were to see you now."
Hinata's smile faltered at the mention of her mom. "Yeah… Do you ever think we'll see her again?"
"I… don't know." He admitted, clearing his throat. "I do not know what happened to her after our world was attacked."
"Have you… looked for her?" She asked, frowning further as DiZ nodded. "Nowhere, huh?" Letting out a sigh, she leaned her head back against the wall. "The more I try to think back to our old home and life growing up… the more I realize there's so much I've just pushed under the rug… I'm so focused on getting Thaanix, taking her down… I haven't even thought about going to look for mom, or trying to get Lea and Isa back, or making sure Kairi is safe…" Letting out a short laugh, she shook her head, "Aaaand I'm completely off subject from what I came to talk to you about… Sorry, I know you're busy."
"I rather appreciate you coming down here." He assured her, his formal demeanor fading as he leaned back in his seat. "My work can wait."
Hinata smiled, the weight on her heart lifting ever so slightly. "Thank you for listening. I guess I have a lot on my mind."
"I can only imagine." He told her, clasping his hands in front of him. "Going back to your inquiry about Xehanort's purpose for you… I agree with you that there seems to be more to it than initially meets the eye. I have hopes that deciphering more of Vexen's reports will aid in discovering what they really had planned."
"I hope so, too." She sighed. "If there is something off about me that they found interesting, I'd like to know it. Maybe get rid of it somehow."
"Or learn how to use it." He offered, noticing Hinata tense.
"Depends on what it is… if it is even anything." Her hands tightened along her arms. "I just wish they could have left me alone…"
"You wouldn't be here if they had." DiZ pointed out. "There is no telling where your life would have led if things had gone differently."
Her thoughts flashed to Riku, her heart skipping. "True… There's a few things I really love about my life right now."
DiZ smiled, "That is good to hear."
"Thanks, by the way, for that tablet." She told him. "It was nice."
"Riku certainly seemed to enjoy it." DiZ noted, making Hinata laugh.
"Yeah, I did, too." She smiled up at him, "I know you made him the one to check in on me everyday on purpose."
He smirked, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh," she laughed, looking over when the door to the lab slid opened and Riku peeked in.
"Riku," DiZ greeted. "Was there something you needed?"
"Just getting Hinata," he told him, coming into the lab. "Dinner's ready."
"Oh!" Hinata realized, looking to DiZ. "Would you like me to bring you a plate? Or... you can come with us to eat?"
DiZ was stunned silent for a moment, before letting out a soft laugh and turning back to his computer, "I appreciate the invitation, but I will remain here. I will retrieve my own food at a later time."
"Well, alright," Hinata accepted, turning to Riku and returning the smile he sent her.
"Enjoy your night." DiZ told them right before they left the lab entirely.
"Thanks," Riku spoke up, glancing towards him as he led Hinata out, "What time do you need us for debriefing tomorrow?"
"Mid-morning," DiZ replied, already back to typing away. "There is much to cover."
"Sounds good," Riku nodded, the door sliding closed behind him. He looked to Hinata with a smile, but it faltered as he noticed the soft frown on her lips. "Hey, is everything alright?"
Hinata blinked and looked up to him as they went up the stairs. "Oh… Just thinking. DiZ told me something about you and Sora that I wanted to ask you about."
Riku tensed beside her, looking away and stepping aside to put a little bit of space between them as they entered the foyer.. "...Yeah?"
"Is there a reason you won't join him?" She asked, noticing the distance between them as Riku tensed even further. "You know he'd be overjoyed to see you."
"Like this…?" He muttered, keeping his forward and expression straight. "He'd try to attack me the moment he saw me."
Hinata frowned, reaching over to grab his hand, bit it remained limp in her grasp. She stopped walking, forcing Riku to stop as well. "Then let me come with you. I'll explain it's you and-"
"It doesn't work like that, Hinata." He interrupted her, shaking his head as his eyes shut.
"Why not?" She pried.
Riku let out a long breath, opening his eyes as he looked to the ceiling. "Look at me… you really think I can just face him like this?"
"You're facing me." She stepped to be in front of him, grabbing his other hand. "And you even kissed me." A flush filled his face as she continued. "The way you look doesn't change anything about how I feel about you or how we are with each other now. Why can't it be the same with Sora?"
"Hinata…" He sighed, looking away.
"What?"
"When I'm with you… I forget what I look like." He admitted, looking back to her. "I… I feel like myself again and then the minute you leave, it's like I'm a different person."
She blinked, looking down to their clasped hands. "Are you saying… you wouldn't have kissed me if you had been thinking about how you looked?"
"I'm saying that it wouldn't be like that with Sora." He told her, not addressing her question as the warmth on his face deepened. "I… I can't face him…. Not like this…"
"Riku…" She squeezed his hands, keeping her gaze on them. "I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. That this even happened to you." She looked back up, meeting her eyes with his. "It's not fair that you feel like you have to hide away from the people that care about you. If anyone deserves better, it's you."
He paused, taking in her words as his eyes danced over her face. She was so genuine with him, in every little thing. There wasn't a doubt in his mind how she felt about him and it was borderline overwhelming to think about. Releasing her hand, he brushed the back of his hand along her cheek, his heart skipping as she immediately leaned into his touch.
"I guess we both deserve better." He told her.
"At least we have each other." She pointed out, her soft smile growing into a grin at the look he gave her. "Don't give me that, you can be just as cheesy."
He snickered, leaning forward and pressing his lips to her forehead, a surge of tingles pulsing through him as he made contact. "You're right though." Looking in her eyes, he smiled. "I'm pretty lucky… even if I don't completely understand everything yet."
Leaning on her toes, she closed the distance between their mouths for just a moment, making Riku freeze. "You'll get there."
He blinked, taking a moment to come back to reality, before laughing softly and looking down to her. "This… really doesn't bother you…?" When she tilted her head to the side, he clarified. "The way I look…"
"You're Riku," she reminded him, the corner of her lips tipping up. "That's all that matters to me."
The door to the hall opened in a rush, startling both of them out of their conversation as Sam stood at the doorway, hands on her hips.
"You guys going to stay out here making doe eyes at each other all night, or can we eat some dinner?" She asked, making little attempt to hide her impatience.
Riku's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to give a snarky reply, before Hinata cut in. "Sorry, we were just clearing something up. We're coming."
She walked forward, glancing at Riku over her shoulder with a smile. He let out a breath, rolling his eyes as he went after her. As he passed Sam, he backhanded her shoulder, getting a curse from her in response as she jumped to try to smack his head. He easily blocked her attempt, sending her a smirk before he turned to follow Hinata.
"You guys are hopeless," Hinata muttered under her breath, noticing their interaction.
"There you are," Velcia chimed as the entered the kitchen, already filling bowls with food.
Hinata beamed as she went forward and grabbed her portion, her mouth watering at the stew Velcia and Riku had put together. "You have no idea how hungry I am." Hinata told her with a small laugh, "Thank you."
"Of course," Velcia smiled, "Riku was a great help. He really knows his way around a kitchen."
"Thanks?" Riku chuckled, grabbing his own bowl and settling on a stool at the counter beside Hinata.
"Do you guys just want to eat while we watch the movie?" Sam asked, sending Velcia a thankful smile when she handed her a filled bowl. "At least give us something to enjoy while we suffer through that."
They snickered as Velcia looked between all of them, genuinely confused. "Suffer through? Dinner or the movie?"
Sam's voice was riddled with laughter as she joked, "If Hinata made the food, I'd say dinner-" Her voice cut short as she looked to Hinata, who stared at her wide eyed. "Actually, have no idea how she cooks. So-" She cleared her throat, running her hand through her hair as she looked away. "Nevermind."
"Well, you aren't wrong." Hinata tried to lighten the mood.
"Was that… a forgotten memory?" Velcia asked, looking between them.
"I have no idea." Sam said, shifting her weight uncomfortably.
"It probably was." Riku spoke up, sending Sam a reassuring smile. "I get them, too."
She strained a smile back before she averted her gaze, causing an awkward silence to rise in the kitchen, until Hinata stood up.
"Let's just watch the movie." She suggested, grabbing her bowl and leading the way down the hall.
They gathered their food and a few other snacks for later and made their way to Hinata's room, where Ben was making the last minute touches, while Avan and Jack were curled up on the bed. Hinata sat at the edge of the bed, finally taking a bite of the stew as everyone else came in and got situated. Sam sat on the floor, her back leaned up against the bed. Avan growled at all the sudden noise and poked his head up, seeing Sam and jumping into her lap to curl up again.
Riku carefully climbed to the back of the bed, making sure not to spill any of his food. He leaned back against the wall, before grabbing Hinata's arm, tugging her back to sit beside him. Velcia smiled at them as Hinata settled in next to Riku, before sitting on the ground by Sam, asking her what exactly she was in for. Riku settled his bowl in his lap, before wrapping his arm around Hinata's shoulder. She looked up at him, leaning into his touch as she smiled. He returned the expression, his eyes drifting down to her locket secured around her neck. Just by looking at it, a spark of security and comfort washed through him, as if this was where he was meant to be. A knot of emotion tugged at his throat, shifting away when he looked back to Hinata's eyes, his smile growing.
"Make sure to actually watch the movie." Sam called back to them, waving her hand behind her. "If you're forcing us to sit through it, you better suffer with us."
Hinata chuckled, leaning her head against Riku's shoulder. "Oh please. Watch you end up falling in love with this movie."
"Not likely," Sam noted, crawling towards the television to help Ben put the DVD in before he shattered it.
As the movie flickered to life, Ben scurried over and switched off the lamp in the room, his eyes brightly illuminating the room regardless.
"Ben," Velcia whispered, "Dim your eyes, please."
"OH! Right," Ben realized, his light dimming to a soft glow as he laid on his metal stomach, his feet bent up behind him so he could watch the movie.
Hinata nestled in further against Riku, placing her hand along his leg as the movie started. She whispered little tidbits of information about the setting, where the shots were recorded in Eos and telling him the names of the creatures that appeared on the screen. It was every bit as awful as she hoped it would be, everyone, spare for Ben and Velcia, groaning and cringing at the cheesier parts. The effects were laughable and the acting over dramatic, but Riku loved every second of it. He would make comments to Hinata, little jokes here and there. If they laughed too loud, Sam would demand they fill her in, until Ben or Velcia would tell them to quiet down.
By a third of the way through the film, they had finished their dinners. Hinata took Riku's empty bowl, crawling forward to place them safely on her bedside table before going back to his arms. She nudged his legs apart, so she could sit between them, her back leaned against him. A smile curved her lips as she felt his heartbeat quicken. She nestled in against his chest, grabbing his arms and wrapping them around her as the movie continued.
It took Riku a few minutes to adjust and calm his racing heart as he kept his eyes focused on the screen. Over an hour passed, all of them continuing their antics of whispering to each other over the movie, before Riku noticed Hinata's breathing slow. He glanced down to check on her, and his heart swelled. Her eyes were closed, a peaceful smile on her barely parted lips as the soft glow from her tattoo cast blue hues across her face. She had fallen asleep.
"God, that was awful." Sam's complaints caused him to look up, noticing the credits to the movie scrolled across the screen.
"But what happened to Claudia?" Velcia asked, genuinely worried, "How horrible to have everyone around you turn into cannibals… It was so sad..."
"Don't tell me you actually liked that…?" Sam looked at her incredulously.
"You didn't?" Velcia and Ben asked at the same time at differing volumes, until Riku scolded Ben with a harsh whisper to be quieter.
"What did you think, Hina-" Sam glanced up to the bed, rolling her eyes when she saw Hinata asleep in Riku's arms. "When did she fall asleep?"
"I'm not sure," Riku whispered, his face gradually warming as Velcia joined Sam in looking towards him.
"Awwwww," Ben gushed, about to say more until Riku shot him a glare. Clearing his mechanical throat, he pretended to zip his mouth closed and scurried out of the room.
Sam grabbed the remote and turned down the volume to the movie before letting out a long breath. "At least she got some rest. But I kinda wanted to hear her reaction to that ending."
"I'd be happy to watch it again sometime." Velcia offered, standing and sitting along the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb Hinata with her movement.
"Oh geez, please no." Sam shook her head, "I've suffered enough."
"Can you guys take this conversation somewhere else?" Riku asked, pointedly looking at Sam. "You'll wake her up."
Sam scoffed, "Yeah, yeah, fine." As she stood up, she glanced to him and Hinata, before asking. "So… I'm guessing you told her then?"
Riku looked between her and Velcia, both of them staring and awaiting his reply. With a huff of breath, he asked, "You're really wanting to do this now?"
"Well did you?" Sam asked, crossing her arms.
His face warmed deeper by the moment, looking between Velcia and Sam. "Why do you care?"
"Because today was agonizing!" Sam blurted out with a harsh whisper, going into a rant and greatly animating with her hands gestures. "You are so obviously in love with her. I was so close to yelling out that you needed to grab her and fricken kiss her, cause watching you staring at her like you're some lovesick puppy is exhausting! I already told her that you wanted to make out with her, but noooo, she was set on waiting for you to make the first move. SO, you better have said something to her, cause I won't watch any more of this."
Riku blinked, his heart beating in his ears from a mixture of irritation and embarrassment as Velcia held back a snicker with the back of her hand against her mouth.
"You don't have to tell us anything, if you aren't comfortable." Velcia clarified with a soft voice, stifling her chuckle. "We just worry about Hinata." She cleared her throat, "Though, I will admit today was a bit awkward to watch."
Riku looked away, his arms tightening around Hinata as humiliation pulsed through him.
"Just give us a yes or no." Sam pleaded.
"Then we'll leave you alone." Velcia added.
"Fine…" Riku grumbled, looking back to them. "Yes… I did, alright?."
"Did you kiss her?" Sam asked, getting a glare from Riku.
"Goodnight, Sam." He said sternly, his voice just over a whisper, before his glare narrowed as Hinata sleepily muttered from the sound.
Putting up her hands in surrender, Sam backed off. "Fine, fine. Goodnight. Thank God you finally said something." She sent him a fake salute before she turned to leave. "See you at debriefing."
"And I'll be back with some tea for Hinata." Velcia added, standing from the bed to leave.
"Tea?" Riku asked, noticing Sam stopping as well.
"It's what I used in Eos to help her sleep." She explained. "It helps you fall asleep with no dreams."
Riku and Sam exchanged glances before looking back to her. "You think I could get some, too?" Sam asked softly, clearing her throat when Velcia turned to look at her. "I've… been having some really intense dreams lately."
"Me too." Riku said shortly, looking away when the girls looked to him.
"As if they are actually real," Sam stepped towards Riku, a questioning look in her eyes.
"And they're hard to wake up from." Riku nodded, bringing his eyes back to Sam's, a confusion in them that she knew what he was talking about.
"And you wake up even more stressed and exhausted than you were when you went to sleep." Sam finished, nodding as well.
"Yeah, exactly."
"You're both having dreams like this…?" Velcia asked, an uncomfortable tension rising in the room. "That can't be a coincidence… Hinata doesn't have any sort of tie or magic in the realm of dreams, at least, not that I'm aware of… so it couldn't be Thaanix's doing."
"Plus she seems unaffected," Sam noted, motioning towards Hinata. "She's sleeping like a rock."
"That might be due to having the tea every night." Velcia noted, "The effect can linger if you have enough of it."
"That's good," Riku leaned his chin against the top of her head, his eyes downcast. "I'd like some of that tea, too. If you don't mind."
"Not at all. I'll get right to making it." Velcia smiled warmly, gently grabbing Sam's arm. "We'll leave you be while I get it ready."
Riku strained a smile, watching as they left and waiting until the door closed behind them to let out a long, relieved breath. Closing his eyes, he listened to HInata's soft breaths, feeling the rise and fall of her chest as he held her. If it weren't for the nightmares he knew would appear the moment he began to dream, he would have allowed himself to drift to sleep. As it were, he simply waited for Velcia to return, relishing in the peaceful moment with Hinata.
"Riku…" Hinata murmured, rustling in her sleep and leaning her cheek against his chest.
"Hmm?" He hummed, softly smiling.
"Don't go…" She whispered, already falling back to sleep.
"I won't," He smirked, kissing the top of her head, "Promise."
She hummed fondly, "Good…I love you..."
His heart jumped, making him take in a sharp breath from her words. He didn't think he'd ever get used to hearing her say it. "Y-You too." He barely managed his reply.
Velcia returned shortly with two cups of the tea, wishing Riku goodnight and telling him how happy she was for him and Hinata. He gave her his thanks, watching as she left before he took a sip of the tea. It was sweeter than he expected, washing him with a wave of exhaustion. Shaking his head, he grabbed Hinata's arms and carefully pulled her off of him and laid her down. She mumbled, but turned around, falling back to sleep in her new position. Riku smiled, kissing her cheek before taking a gulp of the tea again and putting the empty cup on the bedside table.
He laid down beside Hinata, pulling a blanket bunched up at the end of the bed over them. Hinata nestled in further, humming from the warmth from the blanket and Riku settling in behind her. There was a small part in the back of his mind that was nervous and panicked to hold her in his arms as he slept, but the tea had made him so exhausted, he didn't have the energy to listen to his doubts. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Hinata, pulling her close and resting his hand along her stomach. His last thought before he drifted into the dreamless slumber was how perfect she fit in his arms.
A sharp knock on the door startled Hinata awake, taking a moment to remember where she was before she noticed the strong arm firmly wrapped around her waist. Her body warmed, knowing instantly that it was Riku. He pulled her closer with a sleepy groan when there was another knock on the door.
"Hinaaa! It's time to wake up! Debriefing awaits!" Ben chimed. "DiZ sent me to come get you guys! Speaking of which, any idea where Riku is?"
"I'm in here," Riku called back with a raspy growl in his voice from Ben's overly cheerful demeanor so early in the morning. "Go away, Ben! We'll be out soon."
"Oh, OH! Finally!" Ben cheered, "AH Wait until I tell everyone about this!"
"BEN!" Both Hinata and Riku yelled, making him laugh out an apology before he ran off.
Riku leaned his head against Hinata's back after Ben left, letting out a drawn out sigh. Hinata shimmied to turn around to face him, meeting her eyes with his tired, amber gaze. He sleepily smiled at her as their eyes met.
"Morning," he greeted, his smile growing at her grin.
"Good morning," she replied, her eyes dancing over his face. "What are you doing in here?"
He chuckled, "You asked me to stay last night."
She blinked, "I...did?"
He nodded, kissing her forehead, before adding, "Granted, you were half asleep. I probably shouldn't have taken it seriously."
"No, no," she shook her head, a grin still pulling at her lips. "I'm really glad you did. Surprised, but in the best way possible."
He huffed in amusement, "Well good."
They both fell silent, eyes looking over the others' face with smiles curving their lips. It was only a matter of time before they had to rush to get to the debriefing, but they wanted to treasure their tranquil moment.
"How did you sleep?" Hinata broke the silence.
"Best sleep in a long time." He told her, glancing towards the bedside table. "Velcia made me some of that tea. Made you some, too, in case you woke up."
"I'm surprised I didn't need it," she admitted, absently tracing the embroidery on his shirt with her fingertips. "Have you been having trouble sleeping?"
"Yeah," he sighed, running his hand along her back. "Sam and I have been having some pretty awful nightmares keeping us up."
"Oh no," Hinata propped herself up on her elbow, her brows knitted together in concern. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry," Riku assured her, bringing her back down to his level. "That tea helped."
"Still though, I'm so sorry." She leaned her head against his chest. "I know how awful that is to deal with."
Riku pulled her closer, kissing her hair. "...Thank you. Everything's fine now."
"I hope so," she took in a deep breath, her eyes sliding shut as she listened to his heartbeat. She was silent for a beat, before asking, "How have you been, by the way?" She pulled back to look at his face. "Like… around me? Do you still feel conflicted about everything?"
He opened and closed his mouth a couple times, considering what to say. "It's… hard to explain."
"Can you try?" She pried, smiling when he looked at her.
"It's not as bad as it used to be," he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Before, there was this part of me that freaked out whenever I'd get the urge to hold you or to be around you, because I had no idea who you were. It was… weird and it wasn't like me to be like that around someone."
"How about now?" She asked.
"Now… it's still there," he admitted, noticing a pang of worry flash over her eyes. "But it's not as strong." He quickly assured her, before trying to explain. "I still don't really know how we were or how I felt before all of this. And if I try to really think about it and figure it out, I just end up getting more confused by it all. But-" he ran his hand up and down her arm "what I do know, is that I don't want to run away anymore." He huffed out a breath of amusement, smirking, "You're stuck with me now."
Hinata's smile grew into a grin as she giggled and closed the distance between them for a kiss. Riku hesitated, drawing in a sharp breath as she easily moved her lips against his; as if she were teaching him the things he had forgotten. His hand tightened along her arms as her hands rested along his chest. She lingered before ending the kiss, resting her forehead against his.
"This feels like a dream." She whispered to him, her eyes closed. "What if I wake up?"
Riku chuckled, "If it is, I wish your dream made up a better movie last night."
Hinata bubbled into laughter, "No, this is definitely real." She pulled away and moved to sit up. "My dreams can't handle your snarkiness. That combined with Sam's is a telltale sign that this must be some sort of reality."
"Some sort," he repeated in agreement, letting out a long yawn and lacing his hands behind his head. "You know… I don't want to spar today."
"Well now I'm questioning everything, that definitely isn't the Riku I know." Hinata shot him a smirk as she got out of the bed entirely, lifting her arms to stretch.
He chuckled, "I think want a vacation… just a few days to relax. Not have to deal with Sam's stubbornness, or run errands for DiZ, just…. Be lazy for once."
Hinata's eyes softened at his honesty as she sat along the edge of the bed, resting her hand along his leg. "I know… I feel the same way. Especially with how fun yesterday was… there's so much going on, so many things we have to constantly worry about and prepare for… it's exhausting."
"Yeah," Riku sighed, before sitting up. "We'll get that vacation after all this is over. Helping Sora, taking down Thaanix, it's all too important. Someone's gotta do it, better to be done by the best than some other saps."
Another laugh slipped out of Hinata. "We're the best, huh?"
He nodded, making her laugh a bit harder. "Someone's got to be."
"Well, I'm honored to work alongside the best." She respectfully bowed her head towards him with a laugh. She looked towards the door to her room, sighing. "We'll get to that, though. A vacation, a chance to truly rest." Grasping her locket, she finished with, "Someday."
"Yeah," Riku agreed, groaning as he sat up before placing a kiss to her shoulder. "Come on, better get ready."
**Author's Note: Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! It was such a joy to write this. I've been working on it a little bit everyday. Lots of catching up, interactions, and growth between everyone! There's going to be a lot to cover in the next few chapters, so I hope you enjoyed these last couple slower ones that just focused on the characters! We'll be heading to the next world very VERY soon. I'm looking forward to it!
Also wanted to note that while game canon implies that KH2 isn't more than a few months timespan, it's going to be a bit longer in my story. I just feel that there's so many worlds that warranted Sora staying at them for days to weeks, maybe even a month. So, if you notice my timeline a little bit different than canon, that's why!
I hope you all are doing well and have a lovely week! See you next time!**