Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Together In Our World Alone ❯ Intricate liasons ( Chapter 9 )

I honestly thought I'd never get this posted… I'm so sorry, so many things happened over the last few months and life got hectic and pretty crappy. But never even think I'll give up on this, I will finish it, even if the time between chapter is agonizingly long. Again, accept my sincerest apologies.

Also, this chapter was kind of a revelation for me in terms of how I see Riku and Sora's relationship evolve into. I guess it's safe to say that I was surprised. Maybe you'll be too.

Please enjoy this chapter. (More angst… yay?)

 

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9: Intricate liaisons

 

His eyes fell shut with a happy smile on his handsome face, the touch of soft hands playing on his cheeks and lips.

Deep, loving blue eyes gazed down upon him, an impish smile growing on his full lips.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are to me right now?”

Riku opened his eyes and looked up, letting Sora throw his right leg over his hips so he was straddling him on their white and blue picnic blanket. A big, juicy strawberry dangled right above his lips and he bit in it, suckling on the fruit. Sora bent over and licked the excess juice that trickled down the side of his lover's mouth, licking his way back up to his lips and taking in the rest of the strawberry with a kiss.

“You know…” Riku murmured with a lazy smile, watching Sora reach for the basket next to his head, “we are in a pretty isolated area of the park…”

Sora glanced his way and smiled. How predictable, yet so characteristically Riku; thinking of sex no matter where they were. “Yes, and?” Though he was predictable, it did not mean he would make it boring. Far from it.

“Ever wondered how it'd be like to do it in such a public place?”

Sora arched an eyebrow. “If I recall it correctly, we've done it in the restrooms down that path countless of times.”

“Yeah, but that was still a covered place.” A sly grin formed on the older male's features now. “How about here, naked, with a high risk of being seen…?”

“Is that argument supposed to sway me into it?” Sora demanded with an incredulous stare.

“It'll add a new thrill to the whole experience, babe,” Riku murmured, nuzzling a kiss on his lover's bare shoulder.

Sora mused it over. They were practically in the middle of a bush clearance and no one hardly came to where they were. Still, if anyone riding a bike were to ride by, they would unmistakably see the two of them frolicking behind the bushes.

Impatient fingertips were drawing circles underneath the hem of his black top.

"On one condition."

Riku now concentrated his attention on his face and smiled, "Anything."

Sora rose an eyebrow at that, holding back a smirk. "Are you sure?"

"There's nothing I would refuse from you at this point, you know that..." Riku murmured, nuzzling his nose against the brunet's bare right arm and kissing his skin.

Sora grinned mischievously now, "I do."

"So what is it?"

"Remember that toy shop you told me about a few weeks back?"

Riku nodded, his attention now peaked, "Uh-huh?"

Sora turned himself over and lay on the blanket now, looking up at his lover's ever so handsome face. "How do you feel about pleasurable pain?"

"Huh?"

The younger male laughed at the dumbfounded expression he received and placed both his hands on each side of the blonde's face. "I want to do a role-play."

Riku's expression turned into a silent wince at that. "And let me guess, I just agreed to have my butt cheeks flagellated, right?"

Sora giggled, pulling him down on him for a kiss. "I will make sure to minimize the reddening of those beautiful cheeks of yours."

"Sora..." he whined, but immediately stopped when one of Sora's hands slid into his hair and closed around a few locks before pulling rather harshly.

"It's Master Sora or just Master, pretty slave," he throatily whispered into his right ear, licking the lobe sensually afterwards.

Riku gasped at the sudden pain, but soon stilled at the erotic murmur and caress that followed. He gulped, feeling the beginnings of an arousal spilling itself within him and he nodded, suddenly wanting his little boyfriend all the more. "Yes, my Master."

Sora nodded and released him, locking eyes. The intensity of his desire was mirrored in Riku's eyes and he smirked darkly, absolutely loving this new sense of power he had over him. He simply looked at him for the longest of times, just letting his eyes roam the lean, yet muscular features of the man that had shared his romantic life for over 3 years and licked his lips, shivering internally at the thought of him naked and sweating from their shared pleasure. He had the fullest intention of seeing him writhe and moan while bathing in sweat tonight. To have his dominant and passionate lover quiver underneath his touch almost made his mouth water at that delicious thought.

"I want you naked," Sora commanded, propping himself up on his elbows to have a better view. "But don't rush, slave," he smirked as Riku scrambled to remove his shirt, nearly ripping it in the process, “I want to cherish every second of it…”

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The large, main street outside the window was dark and abandoned, all houses in vicinity quiet. Most of the inhabitants of Ohalland Lane were either asleep or preparing themselves to go to bed. Only behind the curtains of house nr 9 was still light and movement to be witnessed. And every now and then, a dark silhouette could be seen peering onto the street, looking left and right.

“Riku, you should try and sit down. Axel said he'd call when he'd be on his way over here.”

Riku let the curtain slip from his fingers, took a step back, but couldn't keep himself from staring at the window. At this point he felt himself on the brink of insanity, longing for Sora so much he couldn't think straight anymore. If it hadn't been for Axel calling earlier to keep him inside the house, Riku was pretty sure he'd gone out and start searching for his boyfriend himself. He had told himself that by following the clues Ansem left him with that picture he'd get to the monsters that had taken Sora away faster, but it was the wait for answers that was driving him closer and closer to committing homicide.

Roxas looked up from his research on Sora's laptop and saw Riku standing there, not talking, nor moving, just standing there, hands clenching and relaxing at his sides. He had never seen Riku the way he was now… it was downright scary, to be honest. “This is going to sound stupid right now, but are you okay?” Roxas asked carefully.

“Fine,” was his short reply, his lips barely moving. “Have you found out anything?”

A frustrated grunt escaped the blonde and he sighed, “It's not that easy, Rik,” Roxas replied, scratched the back of his head with a pen. “That picture is over 30 years old and anything older than 25 is `HC'”

“Hard Copy.”

“Exactly, there were no digital databases back then, so everything was printed out and there's no digital trace of it.”

Riku threw his head back and took a breath, keeping his erupting anger inside. He knew Ansem wouldn't have given him the picture without a purpose and if he did have a purpose it would not lead him to a dead end. “There's something we must be missing.”

Roxas shook his head in dismay, leaning back against his chair. “Affiliated company, enrollment document, recommendations, reports… I just can't seem to find anything about Ansem's military career. It's like they got—”

“Erased,' Riku finished.

“Yeah,” Roxas said, shrugging, “It's like he never went to the army.”

“Wait,” Riku suddenly whispered, understanding something, “say that again.”

Roxas blinked, “What? He never went to the army?”

“No,” the older male softly said, a smile forming on his face, “he didn't.”

“Okay…?”

Riku smirked and walked back to the dinner table. “Not much people know this, but Ansem wasn't a native of this country.”

Roxas stood up from his seat behind the computer and let Riku take place. “He wasn't?”

Riku shook his head and reached for the picture that lay on the table next the computer. “Look at their clothes. Ansem is only wearing a military jacket over his civilian clothes. One of them is only wearing a shirt and his pants… Wait.” He turned the picture around and found a date on the bottom right. “Christmas 1974?”

“Oh!” Roxas suddenly exclaimed, “That's the day the Separatist War ended. The one that opposed the Eastern Unionist Alliance and the Western Independentists Movement of New Glymer. Asteria and Coveness were stuck right in the middle of it.”

“Thanks for the short history lesson,” Riku said, eying the blonde with little surprise and concealed amazement at how much the guy actually seemed to know. “So, if I remember my own history classes correctly, the soldiers on this picture are Asterians, I recognize the setting sun emblem on their shirts. And I know we won that war.”

“Yeah,” Roxas nodded. “That makes Ansem a Covenetian by birth. And I'm guessing that he was a spy for the Asterian army.”

Riku agreed, “Which would explain the air of camaraderie I get from the picture.”

“And also why his military record was blank.”

Riku nodded. “We can now figure out who the other four John Doe's are, right?”

Roxas nodded and took place behind the computer again, with Riku now looking over his shoulder. “We figured out that D'Laine was a corporal during the war and that he was in command of a small squadron of infiltrators in enemy territory. I think we have his team on that picture.”

“Ansem was their Covenetian contact?”

Roxas nodded, still searching for more information. “I wonder what made them have a fall out… War usually forges a life long bond between people who served and survived together.”

Riku shook his head, “That's not our concern right now, do you have names?”

“Hold on, I'm getting there…”

Riku's phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket and he took the device in his hands, not recognizing the number on the display. “Yes, Masako here.”

There was a cracking sound on the other line and then someone sighed into the receiver, sniffling softly.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

“Baby?”

Riku immediately recognized the voice and bolted for the kitchen, a flower of hope blossoming deep inside. “Sora?” he whispered, keeping his voice low. “Babe, is that you?”

“Yeah… it's me…”

A smile of relief formed on the blonde male's lips and he held his phone tighter. “Are you alright?”

“I miss you so much…”

“Did they hurt you?”

“I wish I could hold you right now…”

Riku bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, feeling exactly the same. Sora's voice was so small, making him ache all the more… “I won't rest before I've found you, I swear.”

Sora's voice was soft and affectionate when next he spoke, “I know you won't.”

Riku nodded determinately, as if Sora could see him right now.

“And that's exactly what I'm afraid of.”

Riku fell silent, his sudden enthusiasm disappearing as quickly as it came. He frowned and shook his head. “What are you talking about?” he whispered in a low tone, bordering angry.

“You need to stop looking for me.”

Everything came crashing down on him with that one sentence. All of his hope and pain, frustration and anger, his love… it all threatened to explode within him. He breathed out shakily and reached out a hand to the door of the fridge in search of something to lean against as his heart suddenly hemorrhaged. “What…?” he gasped, “Why are you asking this of me…?” he whispered, his eyes shut tight as the pain inside escaladed further.

“Remember the times when you took care of me and looked after me when we were kids?”

Riku shook his head and bit back a sob, “What do they have on you?” He gritted his teeth, “I can't let this go. I can't let you go…”

Roxas entered the kitchen then, his curiosity having gotten the better of him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Riku leaning against the fridge in obvious emotional distress.

“I wouldn't be able to live knowing they ended your life because you relentlessly searched for me.”

“You—?” Riku breathed back, hurt by the lack of consideration Sora seemed to have in his regard, “You think I won't…?”

“They won't hurt me… I have something they want…” Sora interrupted, holding back his own sobs desperately at this point.

“Me,” Riku figured, throwing his head back to keep his tears at bay. “It's me…”

There was a silence on the other line in which soft sobs could be heard. Soon they were both crying over the phone, the physical distance painfully present.

“You'll live, baby… That's all I want now…”

“I can't do this…!” Riku whispered harshly, letting his tears fall silently. “Dammit Sora, how can you ask—!”

By then, Roxas bit his lower lip and threw his head back, keeping his tears from falling before turning around to re-enter the living room.

“They told me they'd let you have whatever Ansem left you, his fortune, possessions and whatnot. All except the company.”

“And you…” Riku whispered, heartbroken.

Sora sniffled. “I love you.”

Riku closed his eyes shut again and shook his head, “I want to see you.” He wiped his tears away like an angry child would, “I need to see you!”

There was a short silence on the other side and Riku almost wondered if Sora had hung up on him. The next thing he said made all his blood run cold. “We left Astoria a while ago…I've been locked up on a plane with this phone, Riku and I don't know where I'm headed, but morning is dawning through the windows…”

“Fuck!” Riku cried in sorrowful frustration. Sora was probably halfway across the globe now on his way to God-knows-where…

They cried again, not saying anything, desperately hanging on to the supposititious feeling of togetherness the phone provided them.

“Just so you know,” Sora's voice whispered after a while and after most of their tears had dried, “It's not your fault.”

Riku took a breath, holding back a new waterfall of tears. “How can you say that?”

“Because it is the truth and beating yourself up about it, won't change anything…” Sora paused and Riku imagined him smiling a trembling smile right about now, “You're a good man, Riku.”

That had him sobbing all over again and he slid his back down against the fridge until he was sitting on the floor with his knees drawn up close to his body. “What will I tell your mother? Or the others for that matter?”

“How much I love them,” Sora replied, “and that I'm sorry.”

Riku frowned slightly, “Why `sorry'…?” He then fell silent as he understood. “You didn't…?”

“You're a good man, baby,” he repeated, his tears coming through his words, “and I love you more than anything.”

“Goddamn it, no!” Riku bellowed, standing again. “You didn't, Sora!” he whimpered desperately.

“There's so much I would do just because of you…” Sora whispered back.

“Me too!” Riku responded hotly, “I'd sell my soul for you!”

Sora giggled, but there was no heart in it. “I know… but this way we'll both live, that's all I want.”

Riku didn't reply, his sorrow and anger having consumed him whole now. He couldn't, wouldn't be able to say goodbye to his best friend, partner and lover. He just would not do it. He would not let it end like this. He would not give up. Not now, not ever.

 

“I'll always love you.”

 

-click-

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~Three months later…~

 

The foamy waves crashed onto the shore, the ocean breeze caressing his features comfortingly. The air was warm and carried the screeching cries of the seagulls over the land. His naked toes sank away in the soft white sand as he walked and stared at the sea.

The house on the hill behind him stood silent, windows reflecting the blazing after summer sun, lighting them up like beacons for lost ships at sea.

In the distance a dog barked and he looked up to see the black animal run up to him with a red ball in its mouth, ready to have it thrown away again. A sudden gust of wind blew his black bucket hat away, revealing the short, silvery hairdo that it had been concealing. The dog dropped the ball in front of its boss's feet and ran after the hair garment, happily jumping after it as the wind made it twirl and flip in the air.

He chuckled slightly and watched the pet amuse itself for a while before sitting himself down on the sand, facing the sea. It always made him feel peaceful and never judged him, letting him sit there without asking for anything in return.

Three months had passed and every day seemed to crawl by less painfully than the last, but he would never be the same again. Nothing would.

He glanced at his watch and sighed softly, beginning to stand up. “Trooper!” he called after the dog, seeing it catch the hat finally. “We're going boy!” He walked to the cliff that enclosed the small private beach and up the stairs that led to the grand house on top.

*

 

“Nervous?”

Wakka took a small breath and shrugged, rearranging the golden ruche tie around his neck for the umpteenth time. “Nah man… Easy sailing, ya?”

Riku chuckled and tapped his friend's hand away from the tie, to fix it himself. “Right. You're only like getting married. No big deal.”

Wakka's complexion began to turn green and Riku briefly wondered if he should try and get him to sit down or keep a bucket under his chin. “Hey bro, relax.”

“This is it, man,” the redhead whispered, swallowing as he looked out of the panoramic window and to the sea. “I'm getting married.”

Riku smiled and stood behind him, tapping him on his right shoulder. “Yeah… are you ready?”

He turned around to face his friend and nodded, a healthy color having returned to his face. “Ready as I'll ever be.”

“Alright,” Riku grinned and walked out of the large bedroom and into the hall where he met with Selphie, wearing a gorgeous satin, strapless, golden dress. Her hair was done up in an elegant low knot.

“The groom says he's ready,” Riku told her.

She sighed and bit her lower lip, “Kairi is not doing too well…”

Riku glanced at the door down the hall, “Is she dressed?”

“Yeah…” she whispered back.

Riku walked passed her and knocked on the door, “Kairi? Can I come in?”

There was no answer and he looked back at Selphie who shrugged helplessly. Riku took a breath and opened to the door.

Kairi was standing on the balcony, overlooking the ocean in her ivory dress. Her hair fell down her back in a cascade of auburn curls with glittering golden pieces and ivory colored flowers in them. He could hear her sniffling as she gathered her enormous dress and began to turn around.

“Kairi, you look beautiful.”

She froze and let go of her dress, standing there with a sad smile on her face. Although she was now 4 months pregnant, the dress, that had been loosened in the back, did not show any evidence of it. Her violet eyes shimmered with unshed tears and she tried to blink them back. “Thanks.”

Riku took his hands out of his pockets and walked up to her to give her a comforting hug.

“Sora helped planning this day…” she whimpered, looking up to spare her make up. “It's just not going to be the way I hoped it to be.”

Riku closed his eyes and pressed a careful kiss on her cheek before taking a step back to look at her. “I'm sure that where ever he is right now, he's thinking of you on this day.”

She smiled slightly and hugged him again. “How are you holding up?”

Riku shook his head, “Don't worry about me, this is your day. I'll manage.”

“Thank you for doing this; lending us your house.”

“What was I supposed to do with all the space anyway?” Riku replied, shrugging.

“Thank you, I know how hard this day is going to be.” She let go of him and ran her right hand through his millimetred hair, still not used to not seeing the abundant locks there. “For the both of us.”

“You just make sure you get Wakka through it, I'll take care of the rest,” Riku said, smiling back.

Kairi laughed and nodded, understanding the underlying reason for Riku's evasive answer and thanking him for it silently. “It'll be alright.”

“Yeah,” Riku nodded. “It will.”

She took a breath and cleared her throat nervously, “So, uhm, is Wakka ready?”

“Yup,” Riku said, shaking his watch out of the left sleeve of his black jacket to check on the time. “And it's almost time for the show. No more stalling, ok? I don't think the shrimp and the ice bar can hold out much longer.”

Kairi let him throw an arm over her shoulders and leaned against him as they walked to the door. She pouted, “You sure?”

Riku laughed, “Positive, now go get married already!”

The door opened and Selphie stepped in, jumping in surprise as they stood right behind the door. “Oh! Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” Kairi said with a smile, adjusting the grip she had on her dress.

“Ok, then. Wakka's already gone to stand at the altar,” Selphie informed them. “And I need to go take my position as well.” She smiled at them a last time and then rushed down the hall towards the stairs.

“You should go too,” Kairi whispered, her voice slightly shaking as she took a breath. “We can't start without our best man.”

“Good luck, beautiful.” Riku began to walk away backwards from her and winked. “I'll see you at the end of the aisle.”

She took another breath and nodded, willing her tears to stay at bay and her mind to stop thinking of the one person who's absence was painstakingly evident in that one moment.

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Nightfall had settled itself on the party and the great garden behind the Masako Mansion had been transformed into a fairytale paradise. 50 round tables with white and golden decorations and centerpieces stood on the terrace part of the garden, all divided by a white aisle that led down the few steps and ended on the lawn, on which the white dance floor and the stage for the band were in the background of an enormous white with gold pavilion that had been raised over said dance floor and stage. In addition to the regular flora that the garden had, bushes with exotic white flowers and lights had been imported and aligned on the border of the oval terrace and the stairs to add to the golden aesthetic quality of the main theme.

Behind the pavilion was the pool, which had been shut off for the occasion.

 

Riku smiled at the girl pouring him a martini through an ice sculpture. He waited for his drink to have poured itself into his glass and then walked on, through the gigantic glass doors that led to the terrace turned restaurant for the evening. He nodded at some guests that passed him by and walked out into the refreshing evening, finding his place at the large family table on his left.

It had been a nice ceremony on the beach, with lots of happy tears and emotional moments. He smirked as he remembered how Wakka's face had turned beet red as he tried so hard not to cry. He was definitely going to be holding that one against him next time.

His eyes swooped over the guests and it seemed that everyone was pleased. He turned to look at the dance floor on his left and silently watched how his two best friends were lost in each other's eyes as the rest of the world seemed to disappear completely around them, only leaving both of them dancing a slow waltz in the middle of the empty floor.

He smirked; both of them had gotten extremely good at it, considering the fact that they sucked at it so badly at the beginning of their lessons. It seemed that their feet had gotten the time to heal after all.

Riku finished his martini in one gulp and sat there looking at his empty glass for a moment, contemplating to have something stronger to drink.

He could feel their eyes on him, poking against his skin.

 

“Masako steps down as head of Nobuhiro Corp…”

 

“Famous Gay couple breaks up…”

 

“Where has Sora Nagakawa gone?”

 

“A new directive force for the Giant Corp…”

 

“ Masako's Brutal Departure: Calculated or Forced?”

 

For three months he hid here, in his mother's old mansion, his safe place, his haven of solitude. Surprisingly, without Sora there, his departure from DC had been relatively easy. After he broke off any ties with the company his step father left him with, it hadn't been too difficult to blend in with the shadows once he had explained his reasons to those maniacs of the press and his flabbergasted staff.

He regretted betraying Ansem like this, but he didn't see any other choice.

Riku looked up from his glass and stared into the crowd at nothing in particular, taking the assaulting gazers head on. He was not going to justify himself nor would he sit here and be taken pity of.

He definitely needed a stronger drink.

“This was such a nice wedding…”

Riku turned his head to the right and found Sora's mother standing there, looking beautiful in her midnight blue dress. An elegant scarf was resting on her neck and she flipped it back as she sat herself next to him on an empty seat. She took a small sip of her champagne and then put the glass on the table, her eyes fixed on the couples now dancing with the bride and groom on the dance floor. “It's a relief to see those two finally married.”

Her whispering voice barely overcame the music of the band, but Riku had heard the happiness and the underlying pain in her voice. He took hold of her hand lying on the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I'm glad you came, Michiko,” he told her, their eyes meeting in a silent sign of comfort.

She laid her other hand on top of his and nodded, managing a soft smile. “I'm glad I came. Family should stick together, especially on days like these.”

Riku could see the tears shimmering in her eyes in the dim lights of the tea candles on the table and he reached out for her, taking her in his arms. He didn't know what to say anymore. It had been excruciatingly hard to tell Sora's parents the news that their son had decided to leave everything and everyone he held dear to pursuit a life somewhere on the other side of the earth. He had apologized, begged their forgiveness for letting Sora get away and turn his back on his friends and family. Not that he had used those exact same words, but in the eyes of his parents, that was exactly what Sora had done. Only Riku knew better, but telling them that Sora had been kidnapped would mean admitting that he had been blackmailed and that would put his family at risk.

It was one of the terms of the deal.

Once he had stepped down, he had been forced to renounce his search for Sora at the risk of having his friends and family harmed.

He shut his eyes tightly and his grip on her tightened as he fought down his tears, reminding himself that Sora sacrificed himself to have this woman safe and sound.

But when would they stop being goddamned martyrs? When would it finally end?

“You should come with us to Thailand tomorrow.”

Riku let go of her and smiled, “I can't, I have a business meeting with possible shareholders the day after tomorrow.”

Michiko placed a soft palm against his left cheek and looked at him with a gaze filled with compassion and love. “My heart tells me that Sora will come back one day, but then I look at you and I realize that perhaps it is time to move on too. You've taken over a local marketing enterprise and worked so hard these past 3 months… ”

Riku only stared at her without saying anything.

“This whole wedding tells me the same thing,” she continued, letting him go and clasping her hands in her lap. “Life goes on even with the loss.”

She moved to stand again, but Riku held her back by her arm and shook his head. “He will be back, Michiko. Hold on to that. I do too.”

She sobbed softly and smiled, nodding. “Yes,” she whispered, taking the napkin he held out for her. “Thank you.”

He watched her walk away and join her husband at their table. Guilt began to gnaw at him and he looked at his empty glass.

“I will bring him back. Even if it's the last thing I do.”

He stood and grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, descended the steps towards the dance floor, all the while chucking the golden liquid down his throat. He halted next to Wakka and Kairi who were now slow dancing.

Wakka turned his head to him, “Hey, bro. Something wrong?”

“Hey,” Kairi whispered, head resting against her husband's chest, a dreamy expression on her face.

Riku smirked and scratched the back of his head. “I just wanted to wish you guys all the luck again.”

“You leaving?” Wakka asked, his brows furrowing together.

Riku looked at his watch just so he could avoid the accusing stare he received from the both of them. “You know me,” he chuckled embarrassedly, “I'm always busy.”

Kairi cocked her head to the side a little, letting go of Wakka. “Dance with me,” she then said, taking Riku's hand in hers and leading them away from Wakka, who went to go get a drink at the bar inside.

Riku followed obediently and took her by the waist.

“I am going to Thailand tomorrow.”

Riku simply nodded and kept his mouth shut. He knew better than to talk back when Kairi got that mother hen tone in her voice. Like now.

“Don't you dare do something moronic before I come back.”

Riku was honestly taken by surprise, but quickly covered it up and held her closer, shaking his head. “Now why would you think I would do something moronic?”

She looked up at him and her pretty violet eyes had narrowed themselves into slits, silently asking him who the hell he took her for.

He laughed and held her close again, “Don't worry so much about me, Kai.”

“Don't say that,” she whispered softly. “I have to worry about you, since you don't seem to be doing that for yourself…”

He kissed her on her curls and smiled into her hair. He knew that his next words would be a string of half truths and half lies. Yet, somehow, he couldn't bring himself to care anymore. “It's been three months since Sora left. He made sure that I wouldn't be able to find him. He broke my heart and yours. I thought that I'd die from the pain, but surprisingly it's getting better… honestly. I'm not saying that he won't be back, but I can't promise to put my life on hold just because of that.”

“So…you've moved on?”

Riku heard the accusation in her voice and sighed, “Not quite yet, but I'm getting there.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Promise…”

“Promise what?”

“To forgive him,” Kairi said, sniffling softly.

“What—?”

“I can hear it in your voice…” she said, still holding him close as she leant against his chest. “It gets so cold when you're angry. It's the same one you used to use to talk about your brother…”

Riku fell silent after that, realizing that he indeed felt a little aggravated. He hadn't been aware of it as he talked. “I'll try,” he simply stated, hoping that would be the end of it. He let go of her and turned away, leaving her on the dance floor with a suspicious expression on her face.

*

 

Riku walked into the house and into the income hall, where he met Cloud talking to a an elderly man. They seemed fully submerged into their conversation and so he thought to just pass by until Cloud held him back from walking up the stairs.

“Riku, hey!”

Riku turned, holding back a sigh, “Cloud.”

The blonde flashed a white smile and stepped up a few steps. “Yeah. Hey I was going to ask you if you were alright, but I didn't get the chance before. Are you turning in?”

“I think so, the party is starting to unwind and I have an early start tomorrow.”

Cloud nodded in understanding. “Just thought I'd say how much I appreciate everything you've done for Kairi and us over the last couple of months.”

Riku pulled him into a brotherly hug and chuckled, “Don't mention it. Enjoy your holiday.”

Although he could clearly sense that something was a little off with him, Cloud decided to put it off to fatigue and dissimulated grief, which were both acceptable reasons. “Alright, goodnight then.”

Riku smiled and continued his ascent to the upper floors of his estate, leaving Cloud frowning in silent concern as he opened his right hand, unfolding the note Riku left in it during the hug.

*

 

Once the door to the master bedroom was closed and the sounds of the party 2 storey below were drawn out enough for him to hear his own thoughts, Riku walked over to the balcony on the opposite side of the door from which a cool ocean breeze billowed the transparent white curtains.

A silent figure stood there already, looking over the private beach beneath and the sea beyond, smoking a cigarette through a theatre length cigarette holder. Her head turned his way when he approached.

“Did you enjoy the party?”

She remains silent as she takes another drag out of her smoke. It then takes a few unsettling moments before she finally speaks. “Riku. I'm not going to ask it again—”

Riku leans next to her on the railing, his jaw clenched in a determined stare, “Then don't.”

The woman turns to him fully now and looks at him for what seems hours before she silently turns and walks back into the room.

Barely five seconds later screams erupt from downstairs.

Riku runs into his room and towards his walk-in closet, grabs a bag that lay there readily and is out the door a moment later.

*

 

20 to 30 commandos in black outfits storm through the house, startling all the guests and causing panic as they make their way to the backyard.

 

People shouting and pushing to get out; the ice sculpture at the bar falling over and crashing onto the white marble floor.

 

“Wakka…?” Kairi was looking around her in slight panic, suddenly finding herself left behind and confused in the ongoing chaos.

“Kairi!”

She turns around and away from the guests fleeing inside the house, bumping into her brother, who grabs her arm and leads her in the direction of the stairs at the back end of the garden, passed the pool, leading down to the private beach. “What's going on?! Where's Wakka?”

“Come on, we need to get out of here quickly, the others are waiting for us on the beach!”

“But—”

 

Her voice was drawn out by the roaring sound of an helicopter flying over their heads, causing her dress and hair to flail around her in the gust of wind its passing created. The chopper flew away from them and in the direction of the ocean ahead and Kairi could've sworn to have seen—

 

“Riku…”

“Come on, sis!”

Although her feet followed him as they made their way down the stairs and onto the sand, her eyes never left the receding helicopter in the distance, flying away with a piece of her heart.

 

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Monaco, France

 

The azure of the Mediterranean Sea stretched itself for miles and miles on end before him as he stepped out onto the 3rd floor terrace of the Villa for breakfast, sitting himself calmly at the round white table laden with French delicatessen, croissants and freshly made orange juice.

“Good morning.”

Sora didn't reply to the man sitting opposite from him, instead he just took a sip of his juice, turning his head to stare out to the magnificent view. Every morning it was the same, the same contradicting reality his life had now become. Everything around him screamed peace and beauty, but nothing quelled the agony and torment of his imprisonment.

“Kadaj sends his regards as usual,” the man said, paying no mind to Sora's silence, “he's excited to see you at the upcoming soiree. You seem to have left him with a lingering remembrance last time, hm?”

Sora's hands tightened around the glass he was still holding.

“Nevertheless,” he sighed, “I imagine the time you spend at the gallery excuses your… reticence towards his affections?”

The glass fell to the floor.

“Marie, please come and clean this up?”

A maid came rushing onto the balcony and quickly cleaned the juice and glass from the floor.

Eyes tightly closed in a desperate attempt to keep his emotions under control, Sora took a breath and managed to put it beside him. He then reached for the bread basket.

 

“Le Monde” was greeting him on the other side of the table, folded open for him to read the Headline of the renowned French daily newspaper.

 

“Death of the Golden Child : Tragic end of the Masako Line”

La Mort de Riku Masako - Guillaume Cachet

 

The croissant he had been holding dropped to the floor as he read it, his breath catching in his throat.

“You promised!”

The paper got folded up and a questioning expression came to rest upon the man's face. “I'm afraid I missed something here, what are you talking about, Sora?”

Sora stood suddenly knocking his chair down as he did. “You wouldn't hurt him! If I came along…” he was screaming through his tears now, pointing a finger in the man's direction. “You would leave him live his life if I came with you! You killed him! I should've known your word meant shit, Thomas!”

The man cocked his head to the side for a moment and then looked at the paper he still held in his right hand. “This?” he asked with a surprised look, pointing at the headline. “I didn't do anything to kill him, trust me.” He calmly took a sip of his coffee after that, folding the paper open again.

“Trust you? You expect ME to trust YOU?!” Sora bellowed, slamming his hands on the table, causing everything on it to bounce up slightly. “You forced me away from everything that I love!”

Xehanort put the paper down this time and gave him a blank look. “Calm down.”

The sugar bowl hit the raised parapet behind him.

“Sora—!”

“THE FUCK DID YOU DO, SON OF A BITCH?!”

Xehanort had risen out of his chair now, nodding his head to one of his men standing nearby. The man grabbed onto Sora from behind, immobilizing his arms.

“LET GO OF ME!” he yelled, kicking with his legs as he was dragged away and back inside of the house. “GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME! ASSHOLE! YOU KILLED HIM! YOU KILLED RIKU!”

As Sora's cries drowned into the house, Xehanort turned back to pick up the paper, a calculating expression spreading over his features.

“How unexpected…”

________________________________________________

 

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-BDP-