When I'm Gone

A/N: This is a alternate version to my Don’t think of Me story. Just something on my mind. I will be continuing Don't think of me shortly.

The café was small quiet and out of the way of the main city, it was known to attract many couples for a romantic and cozy sitting. In the corner two teens sat, the saviors and keepers of the powerful Keyblades. No one was the wiser of who they were, or what they had done for not only that world but the others.

One was a tall silver haired boy with devilishly sharp aqua marine eyes, he was sipping at a cup, his face mostly black. His eyes wandered from the white ceramic cup in his hands to the teen in front of him. The other was slightly shorter with wild gravity defying chocolate brown hair and vivid blue eyes, he was staring into his cup, watching the off white swirls in his cocoa.

The silence between them was tense and awkward, Riku reached out and touched Sora’s hand, but the smaller teen pulled his hand away sharply. “ Sora…” Riku began.

“Are you sure….about what you want to do?” Sora asked quietly, he looked up at Riku lightly tilting his head to the side.

Riku shrugged a bit before he ran a hand through his hair “…I’ve always put you before anyone Sora…I gave up a lot for you…I made mistakes too…and I thought…the reason I did it all was because…I loved you” he rested his chin on his hand “It’s not that I don’t…just I realized that the love I feel for you …isn’t the kind we’ve been pretending it is. I love you like a brother”

“Ooh..” Sora said before he sipped at his drink, it was almost tasteless though. “ So why are you going to move then?”

Riku rubbed at his nose before he leaned back “ I don’t like to stay in one place…I want to keep traveling around, exploring seeing everything this world…and the others have to offer”

Sora nodded his head a bit in understanding, he lightly smiled before he got up he leaned over and he kissed Riku his eyes sliding shut. Riku kept his eyes open though, studying Sora’s face, he could see his eyebrows twitching a bit, how his eyes were clenched shut as tears leaked out of his eyes, and he could feel Sora’s lips trembling against his own. It was hurting him to have to do this to Sora.

Their relationship had been perfect at first, Sora spent hours with Riku after they had returned home. During a party at Kairi’s house, Sora after a few drinks, admitted to Riku that he liked him as more than a friend…and from there they had always been together. That had been 3 years ago…And at one point the passion died, their love making became routine, it was the same thing daily. They began to argue more and more often over anything….It was at a party that Riku figured out…it was time for them to move on. A pretty girl had been there, lovely long brown hair and ocean blue eyes, and after a few drinks and a game of spin the bottle…Riku kissed her and he liked it.

Riku snapped out of his daze and kissed Sora back his fingers lightly tangling in his hair. Sora pulled back, licking his lips and rubbing at his eyes. “ I’m going to stay over at Kairi’s place while you get your thinks out of the house…call me before you leave alright?” he lightly smiled before he walked off.

“Sora….you don’t have to leave the house” Riku bit his lip “ I still want us to be friends”

“we still will be I just…got to get used to this all, you understand right?” Sora asked tilting his head a bit

Riku sighed before he nodded and he just waved a bit. He watched as Sora walked away, his eyes a bit blinded by the light, but he could see Sora’s tears falling.

10 Years Later

A tall silver haired man squinted as the ferry neared the small island bunch called Destiny Islands. He could see the clear blue water crashing against the surf, the water reminding him of the reason why he was coming back. He was older now, his hair longer reaching the middle of his back, and tied back with a rubber band.

In the years that had passed, he left and attended college off on the mainland. He dated girls for a while before he began to mix it up, dating boys as well. He kept in touch with Sora for the first couple of months…but about 9 months in, Sora stopped calling and never picked up his phone. Riku had called Kairi and she told him Sora just had been busy. Eventually he stopped calling…and moved on.

One night though, just four months ago, he had been up late and while looking for a DVD to watch while he was looking in his closet for it an old photo book that Sora had made fell out . It had pictures from when they were children, old notes they had passed during classes, and small summary’s of various events. Looking through the old pictures brought back memories, especially one.

He was seated on a table Sora in his lap, they were kissing but both had their eyes open and facing the camera. Riku couldn’t help but smile at the light that was in Sora’s eyes…and for a moment he missed that warmth.

Riku looked up as the ferry docked, and he got off. The island had hardly changed at all, it was still a small quiet little community. He walked down the road his boots silent on the sandy ground, he looked at the small shops but did not recognize most of the faces. He passed his old house, not wanting to visit his parents, they had stopped speaking to him ages ago. The old worn house next door was a welcome sight, he walked up the familiar steps before he rang the door bell.

Sora wasn’t the one who answered, instead it was a man he didn’t even know. “ ..Does Sora still live here?” Riku asked arching an eyebrow a bit.

The man shook his head “No I’ve been living here for years now, family moved out couple years back” he answered gruffly. Riku made a soft sound before he nodded and turned waving a bit.

Sora had moved? He idly wondered why Sora didn’t bother to tell him. Riku walked down the street until he came to a nice tidy looking house with pink shutters. He walked down the stone path before lightly knocking on the door. After a few moments the door opened a crack and a boy with large blue eyes peeked out before he slammed the door shut.

“Aunt Kairi! There is a stranger at the door!”

Riku couldn’t help but smirk a bit at that, aunt Kairi?

There was an answering voice before the door opened and Kairi’s familiar face peeked out. She was far more mature looking, her long reddish brown hair tied back in a pony tail but there were soft lines of age already. She smiled before she pushed the door open and tackled Riku “ About time you visit stranger!” she chirped before she let him go and stood back “ wow…you age nicely.’”

Riku smirked “ why thank you…you don’t look too bad yourself” he looked over her shoulder before he did a double take. Two boys were standing there, dressed identically wearing beanies t-shirts and shorts, clear they were identical twins and both were looking at him curiously. One of them was holding a baby girl who was just slobbering and squirming. “ who are the kids?”

Kairi turned before she bit her lip before she motioned for Riku to come in “ the twins are my nephews, and the baby girl is lea she’s mine.” she answered. Riku walked in and he looked at the pictures on the wall, there were a few of the children, but one caught his eye. It was of soar who was smiling brightly giving the piece sign . He was in a hospital bed though his hands resting on his large stomach. Riku arched an eyebrow before he followed Kairi into her kitchen. She motioned to the table before she served them both something to drink.

“ Atem! Go with sensuo and take lea for a walk in her stroller!” Kairi called out. There was an answering voice before the door slammed a bit.

Riku sat back and looked around before he turned his eyes on Kairi “ so….where is Sora…the guy at his old house said he moved away a few years back”

Kairi nearly dropped the cups as she walked over, she set them down before she pulled a chair up and sat down. She rubbed her eyes almost tiredly “ he did….he was living there with Sensuo and Atem, his boys”

Riku’ eyes widened “…s…sora had kids?” he took a sip of the lemonade Kairi had brought him. “so who’s the mother?”

Scooping a bit of sugar into her cup, Kairi just stirred it in before she licked her lips. She wasn’t sure how to word it “…..Sora is” she quickly added “ and I know your going to say ‘but he’s a boy’….but…well…I guess all that traveling around world to world did something to him”

Riku actually choked on his drink, and nearly spat it all over himself. He coughed before he managed to gasp out “w…what?!”

“that’s the look Sora got on his face when he found out” Kairi said with a soft laugh “ he kept getting sick but was gaining a lot of weight …so he got checked out and the doctors told him…he was pregnant…whole island was in uproar over it.” she took a drink of her lemonade before she handed Riku a napkin “they summed it up to some sort of mutation…but Sora being Sora said he would stick with it…and see what happened” she went quiet for a few moments “…you know….you really broke his heart Riku …I hope…what ever you did when you left, what ever you accomplished…was worth it” she said quietly.

“Kairi…” Riku began before he paused and he shook his head “ …it was a mutual thing…he even agreed our relationship was falling apart” he swallowed before he looked at his fingers “ so who did he get with after I left?”

Kairi snorted softly “ him and I tried it out….but not even a week later….he said he couldn’t do it…that he didn’t want to lead me on thinking that him and I could be something more “ she smiled a bit “ and he was right…its how I met my husband. He was there when I was crying in the café Sora broke up with me in. “

“Then who …you know….knocked him up?” Riku asked. Before Kairi could answer there was a thundering sound before the door busted open and one of the twins came running in. he was sniffling tears streaming down his face “ aunt Kairi…sen…Sen tripped me and I hit my head and it hurts!” Kairi sighed before she got up and dragged the boy over to the freezer. She reached out and pulled his beanie off and silver hair came cascading down to his shoulders.

Riku was frozen in his chair as he stared. He could see Sora’s features in the boy, same cherub face, same bright blue eyes….but the hair the eye shape, even the boys posture….was his. Kairi noticed riku’s look and she gently placed an icepack on atem’s head. “ go sit down in the living room alright? I’ll talk to Sensuo when he gets back”

Atem sniffled and nodded before he walked off wiping his eyes. Kairi sat back down and looked at her nails and they stayed in tense silence before Riku broke it. “…t…they’re mine aren’t they?”

Her lips twitched a bit before she nodded “yeah…they’re 10 years old…born about 7 months after you left….Sora was going to tell you…but after all the ridicule he got…he changed his mind and just kept quiet about it”

Riku just sat there, still in shock…he couldn’t believe that Sora would keep something like this away from him. He licked his lip before he looked at Kairi “ …where is he?”

Kairi didn’t answer for a moment before she took a deep breath “ he died four months ago…doctors said it was because he had a rare heart condition….but…I think it was because he had a broken heart…and finally gave up on hoping you’d come back”

Sora was dead…..

Dead…

It kept ringing in his head over and over….Riku just sat there looking off into nothing. Every moment he had ever spent with Sora flashed before his eyes and he kept hearing in his head “ …I love you Riku, I’ll never stop loving you “ …

“…o….oh my god…” Riku croaked out, he bowed his head, covering his face with his hand before he quietly cried. It was loud and dramatic, it was just soft broken crying. Kairi looked at Riku before she got up and hugged him pulling him close rubbing his back . Riku though just shook as he cried.

Several hours later after Riku had calmed down, Kairi left the kids with her husband who Riku thought to be a nice guy. They rowed over to the island that they had played on as children. They got off and silently walked to the small little island Riku had often sat on and thought about how he wanted to explore. The paopu tree was still there, heavy with fruit. Right at the base where Sora had often stood resting his head against the tree was a small plaque with Sora’s name on it, his birthday and his death day and a picture of him with his brilliant smile was framed in the center.

“….can…you leave me alone” Riku asked. Kairi nodded before she left him. Riku took his usual seat before he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply taking in the sweet air. He sat there for at least and hour before he spoke softly “….I’m so sorry….Sora…I know it won’t bring you back….but I’m ….I’m sorry “

Riku stared out at the ocean, his throat tight and his heart heavy. He’ would never see him again, he wouldn’t hear his laugh, see his smile…feel his kisses or his hugs…he would never be able to hold him ever again. Tears slid down his cheeks but he didn’t move to wipe them he just stared out at the horizon.

“…Riku?”

Riku looked over his should and saw Kairi. She walked over to him before she held out an envelope “ Sora…wrote it out to you…he got too sick before he could send it out to you….I’m going to head back…there is a spare boat in the shack. “ she said before she ran a hand through her hair. Riku nodded before he watched her walk off. He watched her row off into the horizon before he looked at the letter…

/ The letter /

Dear Riku…

Its been 10 whole years…almost since we talked. I have so much to tell you…first…I know you won’t believe me…but you’re a father…two son’s named Atem and Sensuo…Sen.‘s older by a minute. I told them all about you, and what we used to do on our adventures….I’m really sick and they wont’ tell me…but I know I’m probably going to die.

I know its been long…but…I still miss you….I still miss you and I love you so much. Its pathetic…that I can’t move on…but…well…can’t help it I guess…

I thought after you left…I wouldn’t need you…your side of the bed and everything…was made up and the clothes you left…I didn’t touch…but I could still smell you each time I walked past the closet. I keep remembering…the last time we were together….how I kept hoping you’d run after me when I walked away….

Silly dreaming right?

Enough of my sappy romance…

If you get this…come back to the islands…and meet your sons…Kairi said…if anything were to happen she would take them in…but Riku…

Its only right they’re with their dad…

I’m getting tired, its probably the medicine ….I hope I get to see you

I love you

Sora.

/ end /

ooor is it?

continue it or not?