Sweet Redemption

Sora woke up to a ray of light shining in his eyes. He yawned and stretched out his arms to cuddle a sleeping Shazz, but instead his fingers brushed across Riku’s chest and his arm than lay flat upon the mattress. He lay there confused for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the brightness of the room as he scanned it for signs of his little beauty. She was nowhere to be seen.

Sora’s eyes made their way back to Riku who was still sound asleep. He thought about jumping on Riku and giving him a rude awakening, but something about how serene he looked at this moment kept him from doing so. Riku looked so cute the way his legs were wrapped up in the white sheets, his silver hair sparkling in the morning sun, the way his long eyelashes fluttered against his cheek, and how his arms were still stretched out as if he were still cradling someone.

The cinnamon hair boy reached over and brushed away the loose strands of hair that covered Riku’s face and kissed his forehead, Riku never even stirred.

Sora rolled himself out of bed and went into the bathroom. The sun lit up the white marble tiles that showed signs of condensation from a hot shower upon them. He looked around and noticed that moisture still lingered on the mirror as well as their clouded shower door. Sora began to wonder if Shasta had showered and taken off and if she did, it wasn’t that long ago.

He turned on the shower and while testing the temperature of the water he noticed Shazz’s clothes were folded and sitting on top of a closed toilet seat. Certain that she wouldn’t have left without her pants, Sora hurried up and showered. When he was down he vigorously dried his hair with a towel and fished through the hamper for a pair of Riku’s sweat pants. He slipped them on and drew the drawstring tight around his slim waist and walked out of the bathroom.

He stood quiet for a moment, trying to hear anything that would indicate Shazz’s where abouts, but there was nothing. He closed his eyes and concentrated harder when he heard a faint whistling. He was sure it wasn’t coming from a person because it was too light and out of tune.

His gaze turned towards the glass sliding doors that opened to the balcony. He saw that it was left a crack open and the morning breeze was creeping through the small passage, causing the airy hum. Sora slowly slid the door open to find Shazz cuddled underneath a fleece blanket and she was wearing Riku’s black shirt from last night.

Shazz was relaxing on a beautiful piece of wicker furniture that looked like a miniature bed. Her legs stretched out in front of her and her back laid against the woven headboard. She appeared peaceful, but her eyes betrayed a feeling for forlorn.

“A penny for your thoughts.” Said Sora has he slid the doors shut behind him.

Shazz quickly turned her head and her cold expression melted into a warm smile. “Oh good morning Sora.”
“What brings you out here so early?”

That question caused her smile to fade and her gaze turned back towards the ocean. “I couldn’t sleep much this morning. I had a lot on my mind.”

Sora sat behind her and straddling the cushion, he pulled her close to his bare chest and she laid her head against his shoulder. Wisps of her hair tickled his cheek and the ocean breeze carried the scent of her shampoo from her damp hair to his nose. His arms held her tightly and their fingers interlocked with each others.

“What are you thinking about sweetness?” Sora whispered in her ear.

“I was…I was just thinking about how much I want what you and Riku have. I believe that’s how love is supposed to be and…well…I want that.”

“You deserve that.” He replied while kissing her temple. Shazz just chuckled lightly

“What is with you two and being so nice to me? Seriously, look at me. I am complication wrapped with disaster and anyone in their right mind wouldn’t touch this mess, but you, you embrace it. Be honest with me. Why take the risk?”

Sora sighed. “Honestly Shazz, I said no at the beginning. I knew you were in a relationship and regardless of how volatile it was, it wasn’t my place to break it apart, but Riku said something that would change my mind.”
“And what was that?”

“He said he saw us in you.”

This made Shazz smirk. “How presumptuous, considering you two were in me.”

Sora couldn’t help but laugh and he squeezed Shasta tighter. “I meant figuratively not literally. Jesus has being with us poisoned your mind?”

The brunet beauty giggled and nuzzled herself comfortably back in Sora’s arms. “Yeah right, baby I’m already damaged goods so I would consider my witty banter a sign of healing and not poison.”

“Fair enough.”

The two laid there in comfortable silence for a brief moment, enjoying the sounds of the waves and the cooing of the morning doves when Shazz silently asked. “So why did what Riku said change your mind?”

“Well…let’s just say that your story isn’t that different from ours.” This made Shazz break away from their embrace and she sat up and turned to face him. The look on her face of one of total confusion and curiosity. Sora took this a sign to go on with his story. “You see, Riku wasn’t the sociable type when were kids. He was always alone and I couldn’t stand it. I thought that everyone deserved to have a friend so I was determined to be his first.

Although he didn’t quite warm up to me at first, we eventually became inseparable. I couldn’t believe how close we had gotten and I thought that nothing in the world could tear us apart, but life always has a different plan. People started coming into our lives and my time became spread amongst them all and I started to see less and less of Riku.”

Sora sighed and Shazz could feel the anguish behind his words. She curled her fingers around his hands and held it tightly has he continued his story.

“My absence caused him to go off in search for someone who would fill the void I left in him. Unfortunately he came in contact with someone who manipulated him to believing that he could gain what he wanted by force.”

“I’m so sorry Sora.” Shazz said as she pressed her lips against Sora’s hand. “I had no idea that you two went through so much.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. Despite the horrible situation, I believe it strengthened our relationship. When he left, I stopped at nothing to find him and somewhere along my journey; I began to realize something that I had been hiding for years. The reason I wanted to be beside him and the reason why I kept my distance was because I loved him. I feared that if he knew my true feelings he would hate me but if I wasn’t such a coward and told him, I could have saved him from living with so much regret.”

“Regret?”

“Oh yeah, Riku has quite the weight upon his shoulders. Because of his dark feelings, Riku has destroyed many things and he has hurt a lot of people.”

Shazz sat in silent contemplation. She could see Sora in her that’s for sure, but not Riku.

“Well, I know how I’m like you Sora, but I can’t seem to figure out where Riku fits into all this. Is Riku Ken? I mean I know he hurt you, but he with you now and…”

“No Riku’s not Ken, he’s you as well.” Shasta’s head snapped up and she quickly let go of Sora’s hand. She stared deep into Sora’s dark blue pools, looking for a sign of a lie, but they remained serious. “He sees the same darkness in you.”

Shasta let out a gasp and moved further away from the boy. “H…how could he? Sora, I would never…ever hurt anyone. I can’t believe…”

“He wasn’t thinking about you hurting someone else.” Sora said softly and it didn’t take Shazz long to understand the meaning behind his words. He watched as her soft brown eyes turned from his and there was no doubt that what he said had hurt her but she needed to hear the truth. “Shasta, those feelings of neglect, loneliness, and desperation can drag you down to a place where you don’t want to be. You have to trust that Riku knows what he talking about because he’s been there.”

“Yes, but look at him now.” Came the girls quivering voice. “He has you and he is happy. That’s a lot more than I can say about me.”

“But Shazz there is still a lot more he working through. There’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t try and make up for what he’s done and despite his efforts there is still a bundle of remorse that he carries and he hates the fact that you carry the same load. Shasta, you deserve the love that Riku shows me and we can’t understand why Ken refuses to give it to you. That’s why we took you in. I knew there was no way Riku would let leave this Island feeling one ounce of what he felt and still does.”

A single tear began to trickle down Shazz’s cheek but she quickly brushed it away.

“Wow...” she sniffled and swallowed back the lump in her throat. “ I uh…kind of sound pathetic don’t I. I mean…Riku’s been through so much and I’m whining about how I can’t leave someone who doesn’t love me anymore.”

Sora wasted no time in closing the distance between them and his arms instinctively wrapped around her protectively.

“You’re not pathetic darling. We all have our own weaknesses, but it’s how we overcome that truly defines who we are.”

He felt her body relax and they sat there holding on to one another in a beautiful silence that was soon broken by the sound of running water

“Riku’s up.” Sora said softly into Shazz’s ear. She lifter her head off of his shoulder and her brown eyes had a hint of sadness in them, but her smile seemed to mask it well enough. Sora got up off the miniature bed and help Shazz to her feet. “Come on babe, it’s time that we honor the age or tradition of a great night of sex.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m making you eggs.”