Reflection of the Heart

Warning: Minor (And I do mean very minor) Slash.

Reflection of the Heart
Chapter Two: Paopu from the Heart~Night of Fate

He didn’t look up when he felt a body sit right next to him, so close that the sides of their arms were brushing up against each other. He didn’t respond to the soft whisper of his name. The soft touch of a fingertip poking the side of face at an attempt to get him to answer.

All he could do was train his eyes on the image carved on the stone wall just ahead of him. It was all he had been able to give his undivided attention to since he’d come to his secret spot–they’re secret spot–just a half an hour ago.

He’d brought her here. To their place. The only refuge he thought he’d kept locked away with his Sora.. Away from that little wretch. They’re secret. Just the pair of them, like old times.

But there, crudely drawn along the cave wall was a small image of a young boy and a young girl, sitting across from one another, smiling happily. With a damnable Paopu Fruit being fed to the smaller girl by the younger boy.

Sora and Kairi. And he’d know Sora’s sketches anywhere. He felt like his heart would never stop breaking into pieces.

“Please talk to me Ku,” the voice begged from his side but he ignored him. What did it matter anymore? It was clear to him now that he would never have Sora to himself. Not even in their sacred place.

“Riku please? Don’t shut me out–”

“Why the hell not Sora, you’ve already shut me out ” he screamed at the brunette in a fury he wasn’t aware he had, recoiling from the boy’s touch. Sora stared back at him with wide eyes while Riku himself fought to keep the tears that were welling in his.

He’d be damn if he cried. He never cried. He hadn’t done it since he was four, when the only parent he had left–his father–had abandoned him just like his mother had four years beforehand. Leaving him behind to fend for himself.

He’d promised himself that he’d never cry again–that he’d never feel so much pain. And then came Sora to undo everything he’d tried so heard to protect his heart from.

“Riku, stop–”

“Stop what Sora?” he demanded. “Stop getting pissed that I don’t matter to you anymore? That I can’t even go to my own secret spot–the spot I shared with you and only you–the only spot I thought I could escape to just so I could have you all to myself, even only in my memories. And you’re drawing damn pictures of Kairi on the wall ”
Sora looked directly over at the carved drawing, narrowing his eyes slightly to see it properly. His face fell from bewilderment to understanding and he stared back at Riku almost sadly.

“Oh...that.”

“Yeah, that,” Riku mocked in venomous sarcasm.

Sora sighed softly, closing his eyes for a brief moment before he spoke. “Riku–”

“I don’t want to hear you damn apologizes,” he snapped angrily, storming further into the cave to get away from the stupid boy.

He ignored the cry of his name. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid Sora. Stupid Sora who wouldn’t give him his heart...

This made Riku stop dead in his tracks, clutching his fist at his sides.

Why? Why couldn’t he be the one in Sora’s heart? What the hell did Kairi do to earn the honor of being the one thing that Sora could think about? Talk about? Maybe even live for? The tears were stinging his eyes, they wanted release so badly.

Why couldn’t he make Sora see just how important he was to him? How much he needed the boy? How with just a simple gesture such as a smile could make or break his day? How he completed him?

Riku paused, staring at his own feet, an ironic smirk appearing on his face as a single tear finally escaped from his eye. No one had ever made Riku feel emotions so strongly. Anger. Happiness. Sorrow. Love–no one had made him feel that since his father died. No one but Sora. The light he clung to. The only thing that made him cling to the very heart he thought had abandoned him long ago.

But now it was useless. Because Sora’s heart, his light, his everything. It already belong to someone...his best friend.

There was a sound, abrupt, out of place and it caused the boy to look up, snapping himself out of his self induced depression. A...door?

Riku frowned as he took a few steps toward a wooden door that had never in the sixteen years of him coming to this place–had been there...

“I don’t blame you,” a voice purred at him and Riku spun around to find himself facing a cloaked figure dressed down in black, a hood over it’s head, shadowing it’s face perfectly. Riku stared at him for a moment, his face unreadable as usual but truly he was dumbfounded. Where on earth had he come from? And...where had Sora gone? Wasn’t he following him?

Riku continued to glare at the now pacing figure, watching as he positioned his arms and hands in a thinking manner, his index finger stroking what Riku thought would be his chin if he could see his face, his other hand tucked neatly under his other elbow at his side. “Such a young boy with a strong, perhaps even beautiful heart. Never tainted by the darkness yet drawing all sorts of it all the same. Like the darkness in your heart, Riku.”

“Who are you,” Riku demanded, taking a defensive stance of sorts. “And how the hell do you know my name?”

“It surprises you that one knows of your existence Riku?” he asked in his silky voice, lower his hands and turning his hooded face in the boy’s direction, advancing towards him. Riku held his stance, but the man simply waltzed past him, his robes brushing up against Riku as he did so. Riku turned to see that he had stopped just inches in front of the oddly placed door, now practically rocking of it’s hinges with anticipation. “One that treads so near the darkness...”

“How do you know my name ” Riku screamed annoyed. The figure let out a soft chuckle, hitting a sore spot with Riku. How dare this out of nowhere bastard ignore him.

“Of course I am aware of your existence Riku–we all are. We were like you once long ago. Lost long before to the darkness yet clinging in a false hope to a light we could never possess. It’s only a matter of time Riku.”

“What are you talking about?” Riku snapped at him. “You don’t know the first damn thing about me ”

“Oh?” the figure questioned in mock surprise, turning his attention back to Riku. He advanced on him again and once again Riku stood his ground. But the man didn’t attack. Instead stood, just mere inches away from Riku and bending down slightly took a hold of Riku’s face softly, almost cautiously, stroking the side of his cheek with his thumb.

“Are you not the boy’s who heart is shrouded in pure darkness? Immense pain? Do you not sit in this world, a part of your soul dying every day out of sheer boredom? Yearning for something more for yourself? A thirst for knowledge, to know other things, to see other things than just a small little insignificant island? Do you not crave the light that surrounds that young boy’s heart? Do you not crave the boy’s undivided affection? To be loved by him? Do you not hold the desire to have the sweet, delicate beauty withering underneath your body in undeniable passion?”

Riku took in a sharp intake of breath, his eyes widening slightly. The guy not only knew him–he knew him well.

“You want those desires. The desires of your heart. So much so that you called out to it Riku. You called out to the darkness.”

“...I called...the darkness?” Riku repeated, frowning curiously.

“Such a beautiful boy,” the figure purred almost absently, still stroking Riku’s face. “Abandoned. Forgotten. And yet your heart is as strong as the delicate. Perhaps...even stronger. Though the boy makes you weak.”

Riku was about to protest but the voice continued. “You allow your light to burn for another. You allowed the boy to escape you Riku. You’re heart is too strong to let another steal the only light you have—the only salvation you may ever have. Even if your fate is as undeniable as your heart–is it not worth the try? The girl already has a light of her own. The boy’s heart is willing to share. Why let her take was it rightfully yours Riku?”

Riku looked down bitterly. “She’s already won. She already has Sora’s heart. His everything. I’m just in the way.”

Another soft chuckle erupted from the figures lips and before Riku could blink, he leaned in and left a linger gentle kiss along his lips, his tongue flickering out to taste Riku before he pulled only an inch away from his face.

Riku’s eyes were wide again, but only for a split second before a glint of something that made the figure smirk entered his now cold aqua eyes and with a sneer, Riku snatched his face away and almost as if an after thought, swung a fist at the man, hoping to connect with his jaw.

But he would not get such a pleasure as the man pulled away gracefully out of reach.

“Now do you understand young one?” he purred.

“What, that you’re a perv?” Riku snapped. Another nerve hitting chuckle.

“You recoil from my touch, my affection. Because your loathsome heart still belongs to the purity of that boy. That same fire you used to rebel against me young one. Use it against that wretch. Use it to take back which rightfully belongs to you.”

Riku was rendered speechless, his eye twitching slightly as he glared at the guy in a “what in the hell” fashion. He needed to molest his lips to demonstrate that?

“And how...” he began finally, softly, letting his frown return to his face. “Am I suppose to do that? Just walk up to Kairi and slap her in the face?”

The figure chuckled softly as he turned on his heel, walking back toward the door. “Such a violent nature that is masked by indifference. You remind me so much of my dear Saix.”

“Who?” Riku frowned.

“All you need to complete your task young one,” the figure continued, ignoring his question. “Is simply open this door.” His hand swept over the handle and the door seemed to stop moving so violently, though the seam along doorframe still glowed brightly–welcoming. Beckoning Riku to it.

Riku gave him a disbelieving look. “Riiight. So you mean to tell me that all I need to do–to get off the island, get Kairi out of my way and have Sora all to myself–is open...a door.”

“And the last time you’ve seen an oddly placed door that has never appeared in this cave–and let’s emphasize the fact that it is in a cave–was?” the figure asked sarcastically.

Riku pondered this for a minute and sighed. “Good point.”

The figure turned back toward the door, not speaking a word as he continued to stare at it in thought.

“All you want is right before you Riku. All you’ll ever need lies behind this door...”

With this the figure walked away from the door and into the darkness of the cave, disappearing completely from sight.

Riku stared after him, blinking slightly before turned his attention back toward the door. Everything he wanted...everything he’d always wanted...was right behind a door. He frowned. What if that was just some crazy islander that got loose from some asylum and got a kick out of kissing young boys and building doors in odd places?

Riku shook his head. That just sounded stupid. And besides, how could he explain the door reacting to him? Or not being there earlier this morning when he’d came?

And even if it didn’t work...well at least he’d tried. And Riku was never afraid to try anything.

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a brief moment, he took a few steps forward, outstretching his hands and reaching for the door...

“Riku ”

The boy turned around with a start, watching as an all too familiar boy ran toward him, a worried look on your face.

Sora paused to catch his breath, his hands on his knees while he bent over, panting. Finally, he lifted his head, looking up at Riku with worry in his eyes. “Have you been back here all this time? How come you didn’t answer?”

“Didn’t hear you,” Riku replied matter of factly in his usual cool demeanor. And really–he hadn’t. He briefly wondered if it had something to do with the hooded guy...

“Well I’m glad I found you,” Sora replied, giving his trademark smile, and finally, standing. Riku narrowed his eyes slightly.

“What, you had to go check in with Kairi to make sure that was alright?” he snapped. Sora gave a low growl of frustration and Riku couldn’t help but smirk. Sora was simply adorable when he was upset but more over, he felt better teasing him. Riku turned his attention back to his task–and once again was shocked. To his utter dismay, the doorknob had completely vanished. Sure, the door itself was there–but the doorknob–the way to his freedom, to having Sora all to himself–was completely gone.

This day just totally sucked.

“Riku? What’s the matter?” Sora questioned, walking up right beside him, staring at the same door curiously. “And who put that there?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Riku snapped softly, turning away from it, feeling his heart sink. He’d actually had a little faith then. A little hope. If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear he was being punished for that time he put a spider in Kairi’s soda–and she drank it. Or maybe for earlier today, for insulting the girl straight out of showing her affections to Sora. Or for being really cold to Sora when maybe he hadn’t done anything wrong by a greater power’s standard.

Or he was insane for believing in a stupid door. Either way, it had to be something.

Riku shifted his feet slightly, then sighing softly, adverted his eyes for a moment to the door then back to Sora.

The brunette shifted uncomfortably while the two shared the awkward silence, neither boy saying a word, neither staring directly at the other, but at their feet instead. Then finally, Sora took in a deep breath and placing a hand behind his back, he took a few steps forward, placing his other hand on Riku’s shoulder.

At this, Riku lifted his head, not fully, but just enough to meet Sora’s gaze through his bangs, an indifferent look about his face.

“I was thinking about today,” Sora began softly, trying hard to hold Riku’s gaze but he could tell that Sora was nervous–that he desperately wanted to look away. “And...well...”

He sighed, closing his eyes before looking Riku directly in the face–or as much as he could through Riku’s bangs. “You promise–you won’t get upset?”

Riku felt a clutch at his heart at those words but sighing slightly, he only nodded his head slowly, still glaring at Sora with those piercing eyes of his.

Sora looked unsure only a moment longer, before letting go of Riku’s shoulder and taking two steps back, he pulled his other hand from behind his back and held the item with both hands, outstretched, for Riku to take.

Riku didn’t make a move to take it from him, but it had cause him to snap his head up.

A Paopu Fruit. Sora was giving him a Paopu Fruit. But...

“Why?” Riku asked softly, his eyes trained on the golden fruit that could barely be seen the darkness of the cave. Sora looked up at Riku then, pulling the fruit back and fidgeting slightly, rambled: “You told me when I was really young that if you gave the fruit to someone you cared a lot about–”

Riku’s mind almost froze on that last part. ‘Cared a lot about.’

“–then you give them the fruit, and if they except, then you’re destinies will entwined forever. No matter where the other person goes or does, they’ll always be a part of your life–and your heart. And I mean, I know it’s girly–don’t take it the wrong way ” he said quickly, with a sheepish yet nervous laugh.

Riku once again felt something in him ache. ‘Don’t take it the wrong way...’

“But...”

Finally slowing down and taking a deep breath, Riku had to try not be taken about when Sora simply rushed forward and embraced him, ensnaring his arms around the pale boy’s neck. “You’re my best friend Riku. The first real friend I ever had. And I don’t want you to forget that–or me. I want to be with ya ”

Riku closed his eyes, still not moving anything but his head as he buried his face in Sora’s untamed mane. They were silent for what seemed like an eternity before Riku pulled away from him, though held on to the upper portions of Sora’s arms, the brunette looking anywhere but at him. Maybe Sora didn’t ‘love’ him yet–but this was certainly a start.

“I know it’s stupid,” Sora laughed softly, so his heart wasn’t in it. This must have meant something to him–Riku couldn’t help but wonder...or hope...it was something more. “You said so when we were six remember? When you first told me about the fruit? And then I gave you one right after you said it and you laughed.”

Riku only stared at the brunette, still unwavering. He was the one that wanted so desprately to be in Sora’s heart. And yet–Sora was the one giving him the fruit that meant just that very thing–that the boy wanted to be a part of Riku’s heart–that he wanted to stay with Riku’s heart no matter what may come.

“Yeah, I laughed,” Riku responded softly, a gentle smirk crossing over his face as he leaned and taking his index finger, tipped up Sora’s face so the boy would actually look at him. “But if you remember–and you probably don’t cause your memory sucks–I also said that you didn’t need to give me the fruit. Cause you were already in my heart.”

Sora smirked at this lightly and rolled his eyes. “You were that sappy when we were six? Man I did forget.”

Riku laughed. “And you’re the one still handing me fruits from the heart Sora.”

Sora smiled at this and joined Riku in his laughter, both voices echoing softly from the stone walls. When if finally died down, the pair caught themselves staring at one another and Sora gave Riku an annoyed look. “So...will you take it?”

Riku hunched. “Do I need to?”

“It would nice,” Sora replied, lifting his eyes and Riku saw a hope that shined in them similar to his own when he’d wanted to open the door.

Smirk unwavering, he tilted his head to the side, his bangs falling over his face in a tossed manner, still covering them.

“On one condition Sora,” he replied and the brunette listened intently, waiting on his response. “You have to share it with me.”

At this, Sora gave a bright smile and laughed as Riku took the fruit from him gently and took a rather nice bite. “Sure Riku, I don’t mind sharing the fruuu–”

That was about as far as he got before Riku, smirk widening as the boy spoke his words and as usual, oblivious to things around him, like how much closer Riku had gotten, or how he let his free hand trail from Sora’s arm to the side of his waist, taking that bite of the sweet yet tangy fruit and pulling Sora toward him, placed his lips over his own, his tongue softly yet forcefully begging for entrance, dancing along with Sora’s tongue as he passed along the fruit from his mouth to the crimson blushing boy.

And Riku was all to happy to stay this way, maybe even for eternity, before Sora finally pulled away, chewing the remains of the fruit softly though his eyes stared back at Riku in total amazing bewilderment, shining even. Riku on the other hand, only hunched with a cocky smirk, taking another bite of the fruit–his bite.

“That’s...not how you eat that Riku,” Sora spoke dumbly, still chewing lightly.

“That’s how I eat it Sora,” Riku replied matter of factly before placing the rest of the fruit down and taking Sora by his hand, lead him toward the door. He’d seen it again–the handle–when Sora hugged him. It had come back for him. It had given him another chance and this time, he wouldn’t waist it. He had a good chance of gaining Sora’s heart, more than just on a friendly basis, and he’d be damn if he’d give it up for Kairi to steal away again.

“Let’s go.”

“What?”

“Me and you. Let’s go,” Riku restated calmly, still heading toward the door.

“Go?” Sora repeated in a questioning tone looking thoughtfully for a moment before looking back up at Riku. “Go–where?”
“Anywhere.” Riku continued. “Anywhere but here. To a new world–maybe the world you’re from. We could go, and find out everything about you Sora. How you got to the island.”

“But Riku–” Sora began to protest.

“We can have all the adventures you’ve always wanted” the older teen continued, finally stopping just before the door and pulling Sora closer, in to a light embrace. Riku wasn’t sure why he’d become so persistent but he almost felt like he was drawn to it–like someone, something, was calling out to him. Needed him. Just like he needed Sora.

“Meet new friends, see new things. Just the two of Sora.” He placed their foreheads together, the tips of their nose touching. He stared deeply into Sora’s eyes for a moment before pecking him again on the lips softly and pulling away from him completely and taking a few slow steps forward, took a hold of the doorknob.

It felt warm–alive. The light behind the door seemed to radiate, as did the doorknob itself as he took a firmer hold. This was it–all of his desires where literally, at his fingertips.

“Riku, come on, should you be messing with that?” Sora called to him a worried tone, not taking a step forward.

Riku looked back at him, letting a almost eerie smirk cross over his lips as he lifted his face lightly, his piecing eyes trained on the beauty that stood on inches away. He wouldn’t stop now–he couldn’t stop now. Not even for Sora.

“Don’t be afraid Sora,” he whispered softly holding out his free hand to him, his eyes becoming heavy lidded as his smirk widened. “The darkness is nothing to fear. I’ll protect you–just–take my hand.”

Sapphire eyes stared deeply into his own before gazing at the outstretched hand that welcomed him, worry etched on his face. Riku raised an eyebrow.

‘Just take my hand Sora...for once. Just go trust in me and me alone...’

There wasn’t a word spoken as Sora finally took a step forward and almost in a trance like state, took his hand. And in that same motion and with the closing of his eyes, Riku opened the door. . .
~~~~~~~~~

It was all so surreal to her. The darkness. The moving shadows. The entire island was being torn about by the moving shadows with glowing yellow eyes. Surrounding her. Tackling her to the ground.

She’d cover head with one arm in a protecting motion, the other high above her head. Then she felt something. Something solid. And without thinking, she swung wildly through the air, hitting one of those shadows that was jumping directly at her. And it simply dissolved, melting back into the rest of the shadows.

Within a few moments, the others had done the same, though her movements clumsy and her attacks, sloppy.

Then–she’d seen him. In the middle of it all, right at the center of the beach. A tall beautiful figure, with silver hair blowing wildly around him as the darkness surrounded him. His face was calm. Collected. Almost as if he was welcoming the chaos, welcoming all the darkness directly to him.

Kairi watched him unnerved for a moment before taking a deep breath and with a fear more of the shadows would attack her, she ran straight for him. She’s found Sora earlier–the boy had been looking for Riku just moments before running off and abandoning her to do his task. Sora had seemed worried–confused. But if Riku was there...then Sora was sure to come. Or maybe he was there already. After all, she could barely see Riku properly now...

She called out to him–but he ignored her completely in favor of something else–no wait–someone else.

“Sora ” she screamed happily, her feet picking up speed. She was right. He had shown up with Riku The boy was stumbling up to Riku at that point, falling into his arms with Riku catching and embracing him, looking down at the smaller boy with that unnerving calm expression of his. Though now it was combined with heavy lidded eyes hidden behind long silver bangs.

“Sora ” she cried happily again, kicking up sand as she went, still clutching whatever the object was–she wasn’t exactly sure but it looked like a very large key with flowers on the end instead of the usual grooves on a old style one–as she ended up a few inches away from the pair.

“Sora ”

At this point, Riku looked up at her, his calm expression, the smirk, simply fading as his heavy lidded eyes seemed to darken, a deep frown coming over his face. Sora himself turned to look at Kairi slowly, his face twisted in what seemed like blank gaze, his eyes wide but–dull. Lightless. Empty. His mouth was slightly open, his hair still untidy and wild, going every where in this maddening wind.

Kairi’s eyes stayed focus on Sora. What was wrong with him? Why didn’t he answer her? Why did he seem so–lifeless? What happened to her poor Sora?

Those thoughts in mind, she reached out for him, a worried expression etched on her face...

...and cried out in shock as Riku took the boy and moving him out of the way slightly, pushed Kairi away from them just as the darkness began to engulf all three of them–and began to pull three downward, like quicksand.

Kairi’s eyes widened in shock and filled with hurt as Riku watched her as she fell, a gentle smirk breaking on his lips while Sora’s eyes widened very slowly but otherwise, he made no effort to help her. How could Riku do that? Why would he do that to her?

He was her best friend–her first friend. Perhaps they hadn’t been getting along well lately but that still wouldn’t give him the need, the reason to push her away from him. From Sora.

Sora...

“No Sora ” she screamed desperately reaching out wildly with both hands–the item she had been clutching simply disappearing into thin air–and before she’d realized it, she had latched on to Sora’s free hand, holding on tightly and letting out a scream as the darkness began to pull harder on her–trying to engulf her entire being.

Riku looked down at her, frowning darkly again and for a brief, stand stilling moment, the two stared unwavering into each other’s eyes–before the darkness gave another tug at Kairi, coming right in between the trio of friends at it engulfed them completely, pulling Kairi–and Sora–away from Riku. She saw only for a brief moment the surprise on Riku’s face before the darkness shielded his view from her, swallowing him completely before it swallowed her as well, smoother her–and tore her hand away from the one thing that stayed true to Kairi’s heart.

“Sora?”

She couldn’t see. She couldn’t breath. She couldn’t even feel. There was only pure, never ending darkness.

“SO-RA ”
~~~~~~~~~
He paused, frowning slightly as he tucked his trademark weapons–well–somewhere. They just seemed to appear and disappear into thin air really.

Kinda like the small boy now blocking the path of himself and his less than pleasing companion, who paused in his graceful footsteps as well, staring first at the young charge, then at the red head that stood beside him with an expressionless face. As sure as the beauty of his flames, he hated that man.

“It would appear that he arrived sooner than excepted,” his companion replied, eyes boring down at the boy in their path. “The child has already lost his heart.”

“I can see that,” the read head snapped, returning his glaze, though slightly more hostile, toward the azure haired man before kneeling down beside the young boy with short, untidy blond hair. He wore–well–nothing at all. The boy was completely nude, though the way he laid, his legs covered everything nicely–a pity. Smooth long legs that he could envision wrapped around his waist–or preferably his neck, small bulb tulip like buds of pink on his chest he craved to run the tip of his tongue over. Beautiful blood stained lips that were just parted over so slightly that he wanted to drown in, tasting the boy. Long lashes that protruded from his eyes, closed as he breathed softly, curled into a slight ball as he slept. He looked rather peaceful.
No scratch that. The boy looked simply fuckable.

~Unknown World~

“. . .Maybe you should call back the dog.”

‘What? Are those...voices? I don’t recognize them.’

“Ah gee, he’s just trying to wake her up.”

‘There’s two of them.’

Kairi’s eyes fluttered open just in time to see a golden dog’s hind leg lift up right above her chest...

“EEEWWWW ”

“Or...he just needed to go to the bathroom.”

“Garwksh ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Notes:
Thanks for reading. More to come.