Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Kingdom Hearts: Castle of Darkness, Heart of Light ❯ Partings ( Epilogue )

The dining room in Sora's house had the warm, homely feeling of Christmas. Riku couldn't help but smile as he sat at the table with all of his friends. Sora's mom served them food, which everyone happily ate. Conversation ran up and down the table. There was one moment when Cid and Yuffie started to squabble, something about Yuffie wanting to fly the Gummi Ship and Cid point blankly refusing, but it stopped when Aerith shoved a roll in Yuffie's mouth. Keirii kept making mooing noises every time Tifa cut into her steak until Tifa swung a fist at her, causing Keirii to burst out into laughter. Everyone was in a relaxed state, something Riku had never seen before. It turned out that Cloud had a small sense of humor and Leon wasn't all cold and hard-faced like he usually seemed. It was like none of the past experiences had ever happened and everyone was enjoying the time that they had together, because soon, they would all be returning back to their worlds, not knowing when they will see each other again. That was the only thing that marred Riku's good mood.

 

When Leon and the others returned to Radiant Garden, Donald, Goofy and Mickey returning to Disney Castle, Keirii will be going with them. She couldn't stay at the island, like Riku wanted and that's what made him sad. They had just reunited and now they had to separate again. But she's willing to make it work, he thought to himself, so I should be just as willing, if I love her this much. So Riku tried to push all of that aside and enjoy the time they all had together.

 

Once they finished dinner, Sora's mom shooed them outside so she could clean up. They all returned to the beach, the night sky filled with stars. They sat down on the soft sand and relaxed, still talking amongst each other. Riku talked with Sora and Kairi, laughing at some of the things Sora was saying. So much has happened, but nothing has really changed. Well... He looked over at the many friends he had made. His eyes fell on Cloud and Tifa. Cloud had his arm casually around Tifa's shoulders and Tifa was leaning against him. Maybe some things have changed. He looked around and he realized that Keirii was gone. He looked around and he could see a figure walking down the shore. He looked at Sora, who nodded to him. Riku stood up and followed the figure.

 

The sound of the voices of his friends faded behind him as he walked down the shore line. The water brushed the sides of his feet as he walked; the sound of the waves was all he could hear now. He came up to the cliffs that hung over the water of the ocean. In the light of the half moon, he could see a large wolf standing at the edge of the cliff, looking over the water. Slowly, she lifted her head and let out a long, beautiful howl. Riku stopped and listened to the wolf song. She sounded just as beautiful as she did when she sang in her human form. The land seemed to throb with her voice and it vibrated in Riku's chest. He started forward again and headed up to where Keirii was. When he got up there, Keirii had stopped and she was human again. She was still standing where she had been when he came upon her, her hair lifted up in the sea breeze. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms over her shoulders and across her chest. He rested his face against the side of her head and breathed in her scent.

 

Keirii looked down at the water that crashed against the rock below them. “I love you,” she said softly to him.

 

Riku smiled and lightly kissed her hair. “I know,” he said, “and I love you.”

 

“I wish that I didn't have to go. I've only just been able to be with you again.”

 

Riku sighed softly and closed his eyes. “I know, but we'll see each other again. You can always come back here and I'm sure I'll be heading back to Radiant Garden sometime soon.”

 

Keirii nodded and said, “We can do it. I'm sure we can.”

 

“I know we can,” Riku said, “It'll be hard, but we can do it.”

 

Keirii looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. Riku smiled back and lowered his head to hers and kissed her. Keirii brought a hand up and rested it on the back of Riku's head, lacing her fingers through his hair. After a moment, he pulled back and he held her close to him. She rested her head against his shoulder and they enjoyed each others company for as long as they could; that's all Riku wanted.

 

~*~

 

Everyone stood in the clearing where the Gummi Ship sat. Sora, Riku and Kairi were seeing their friends off. Cid walked down the ramp off the ship and gave a thumbs up. “We're ready to go,” the pilot said.

 

Leon nodded and he turned to Sora, Riku and Kairi. “We will see each other again soon.”

 

“Keep in touch,” Sora told the gunblade wielder, “and let us know what's up.”

 

Leon nodded and Aerith looked at them. “We'll miss you,” she said.

 

The others nodded and Cloud said, “Be careful. Who knows what Sephiroth may try to do next.”

 

Sora grinned and said, “I'm always careful.” Beside him, Riku gave a snort of laughter and Sora wheeled around and looked at his friend. “And what was that for?”

 

Riku shook his head and turned to Keirii. Sora watched as his best friend hugged the girl and Sora turned away, smiling at Kairi, who was also smiling at Riku and Keirii.

 

After giving final good-byes, their friends boarded the ship and Sora, Riku and Kairi waved as the ship rose into the air and took off into the sky. Sora looked over at Riku and saw his friend staring up at the ship that was slowly beginning to get smaller and smaller. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked his best friend.

 

Riku continued to watch the ship until it was out of sight. Then he looked at Sora and smiled, his silver hair hanging over his green eyes. “Yeah,” he said, “I'll be fine.”