Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Variable Thought-Space ❯ Chapter ii: Lucidity ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Variable Thought-Space
Chapter ii: Lucidity

Riku stared at Sora over the kitchen table and studied him.

Since he'd last saw him the shadows underneath Sora's eyes had darkened and deepened to a very noticeable degree and his face was etched with worry lines from the newest weirdness that had come his way.

"Well, he did say he'd stop." Riku pointed out in an attempt to sooth.

"But he said he didn't even mean to! What if he can't stop Riku?" Sora began to wring his hands in his lap, a gesture made only when Sora was upset.

Riku looked thoughtfully back at the other’s distress.

"And it's true! I am tired! Feels like I haven’t slept in days but I had a full night's rest!" Sora calmed down and found himself sighing. "I just thought it was some weird side-effect... Of sleeping for all those months or something." It had been a bit of a shock to realize he'd been out for such a long time. Though, looking back, it was kind of obvious he'd lost some time somewhere what with his growth...Sora cradled his head in his hands in dejection.

"Are you sure your dream isn't just making you paranoid?" Riku asked and when Sora looked up at him, betrayal showing in the set of his jaw he hastened to add "I believe what you told me! I just mean you didn't tell me you were feeling like this when I called today. Is it really as bad as all that or is your worrying making it worse?"

"No, I think it's been really bad since the last week of school." Sora explained. "I just wasn't questioning things enough...like always." Sora looked down sadly at the table, he had vowed to himself to be more observant after realizing how much he had missed. But he'd been blindsided yet again.

"We should probably talk to the King." Sora sighed.

Riku was quiet for a bit, thinking most likely. But what he finally said surprised Sora.

"Does Kairi know?" Riku asked.

"No." Sora answered, wondering at the question. He'd only just found out himself, how could she know? His brow furrowed in confusion.

"Oh. Okay then." Riku looked at him oddly and his reaction confused Sora further. He hadn't seen Kairi lately which happened, especially during holidays. Sora leaned his chin on both fists, elbows supported by the table to stare at Riku questioningly but he didn't seem to be explaining himself.

"Why do you-"

"I have some ideas." Riku interrupted. His sudden statement caused Sora to lose his balance but he recovered quickly.

"What?" He asked hopefully in a brighter tone.

Riku smiled at the sudden display of clumsy exuberance.

"Well for now you could try 'Lucid Dreaming'. I read about it once in one of those weird books from the living room book shelves." He made his way over to Sora's side of the table and sat down in the chair next to him.

"It's like..." He began. "Taking control of your dreams by becoming aware that you're asleep and dreaming."

"Would that help?" Sora asked, sceptically as he leaned back in his chair.

Riku sighed and said, “Well it could help you take control of your dreams. If you have more control... then Roxas..."

"Then he won't be able to kick me out!" Sora interrupted.

"I still don't understand that part about Roxas 'kicking you out' of your own head." Riku stated, looking thoughtful.

"I don't either." Sora replied and Riku snorted. "Well, we may as well give this a shot." He laughed and Sora kicked him in the leg.

"Your kicks are suffering too I see." Riku teased, but still reached down to rub his calve, nearly wincing.

"Ha, ha, how do I learn this thing anyway." Sora rolled his eyes at him.

"There are exercises in the book." Riku explained. "You train yourself into realizing you are dreaming... I figured out a few short cuts when I was experimenting with it."

"You've done this before?" Sora asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Sounded interesting so I tried it." Riku shrugged. "It was a few years ago. I haven’t really bothered with it recently."

"K. sounds good. Do you remember what it's called so we can find it again?"

"Something like 'Lucid Dreaming in a Month" I think." Riku replied.

"A month?" Sora asked, startled. "I can't last like this for a month!"

"Calm down." Riku put both his hands up, palms outward in a gesture of 'stop'. "I told you. I found some short cuts."

"How long then, do you think?" Sora asked, sounding calmer but still impatient.

"You'll still have to read the whole book, but it's small. I'd say, if it goes well, a week at least to learn the most important techniques." Riku said decidedly as he laced his fingers together.

"Is it difficult?" Sora asked.

"Well no... But... er..." Riku pressed his palm to his forehead. "You can't take it too seriously. If you force it it won't work." He explained.

"So that's why it usually takes a month?" Sora asked.

"Yes. It’s supposed to be hard or easy depending. It's different for everyone." Riku explained.

"So it might not work at all." Sora stated bluntly and dropped his head to the table with a thunk.

"It's something we can do now." Riku rationalized. "While we wait to see what the King thinks."