Sunrise

Sunrise

By DarkHybridChild

 

Roxas quietly stood up, his body animating itself from out of Sora's. He silently turned back, to see Sora still in a dead sleep, his form rolling over to curl around one of the millions of pillows he had all over his bed. He smiled a little, before slowly, so as not to wake him, climbed over to the window, gently eased it up, and climbed out, maneuvering himself over and climbed down until he had nothing left to climb down with, and let go, falling down and landing with a quiet thump.

 

Slowly he began to walk through the town, just deciding to explore. He had only seen it all once, when Sora showed him around when they first got back to the Island. He hadn't had the chance to go exploring due to the fact they couldn't separate themselves and he just didn't want to take over Sora's body.

 

So he spent his time thinking of a way to separate themselves, and came up with a small loophole. If they were half of one another, to be together was to be whole, and to be separate was to be half again. So currently, both he and Sora were only half. Emotions would be dulled, feelings, senses, maybe. But he still felt and held emotions, so he was fine with that.

 

He shuffled his way through the town, just taking in the sights, before he finally came to the small dock where Sora’s and his friends' boats were. He carefully untied Sora's boat, pushed it out and climbed in, took the paddles and began to row.

 

It was slow going at first, since he wasn't experienced with it, but he got the hang of it and made his way steadily towards the small island that Sora, Riku, Kairi and their friends hung out and played on. Once he got there, he tied the boat down again and climbed up onto the small dock and looked around, a small, peaceful smile forming on his face. It was even better seeing it with his own eyes and body as to seeing it through Sora's eyes.

 

Slowly he walked along the length of the island, checking out the small shack that lead up to the small island, and walked under the bridge, coming to another door and went through it curiously, finding another part of the island and looked around in fascination, before walking along the bridge, seeing an uneasy, wobbly plank. He pressed his foot on it, and it collapsed to the shallow water below. Jumping across to the next side, he kept going, jumping once more before getting fully across the bridge. He saw a small tower-like thing with a ladder and slowly climbed up it.

 

When he got to the top, he saw a small pulley with handles that was attached to a rope that went down across the beach to end at another platform. With a large grin, he grabbed the handles and pushed off, swinging with all of his might.

 

He flew, fast and the wind whipped through his hair and he started laughing, and let go of the handles just before he crashed into the other end of the platform and landed. He grabbed the handles again and used them to flip up on top of the pole and then jumped again, landing on top of a palm tree, repeating this process until he was all the way over to a rocky-area with a star-like tree and he looked at it, seeing a tunnel next to it. Curious, he ducked down and walked through it.

 

He came out in an area right next to the ladder and the part that lead up to the other treehouse. He slowly walked out and turned, heading back towards the waterfall. He stopped and looked towards the small cave there by the base of the waterfall. He saw what was in there through Sora's eyes, and didn't really feel inclined to go in. It was something special to Sora, Riku, and Kairi alone, it wasn't his place to intrude on it.

 

Slowly, he made his way back over to the shack and went inside, walking up the stairs and came out on top of it and stood there, to just look around and take everything in. It was so different when no one was around and it was dark, adding another sense of illumination to it. With the ocean glinting with the moonlight and the small shadows cast from the palm trees and everything else. Slowly, he walked across the bridge going out towards the round islet.

 

Riku's Island.

 

Roxas began to ponder on Riku. He was...interesting. When he met him when they first fought, he was so cold. And he was cold when they fought again, but he seemed more confused rather than angry. And then, when in Sora, he saw how untrue his attitude was. He was hesitant when he reunited with Sora, but he wasn't cold. And he gradually grew warmer and warmer as he and Sora proceeded through the castle. Especially when his form was restored and he disposed of the cloak of darkness and removed the mask in front of his eyes.

 

He was so different. Even when it came to interacting with the others. With Kairi he was warm, smiling and friendly, but he was reserved. He was cocky, and arrogant, being a pain in the ass to Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie, his other friends. And he yet he was completely open and held nothing back around Sora.

 

He stopped in the middle of the island, right next to the large Paopu tree and stared out at the ocean, still lost in his thoughts.

 

Riku was so strange... He had so many sides to him, and the way he thought was just as interesting. Riku was...complex. An enigma, to say the least. It reminded him of Axel in a way.

 

A pang of hurt and guilt ran through him at the thought of Axel. He was thankful he could only feel so much, because he couldn't imagine what the full-blown feeling would be like. He sighed quietly, looking out over the ocean again, this time, taking it in fully.

 

Axel... Axel was a mystery. He felt like he knew him so well and yet he knew hardly anything. Best friends... Almost to the point of Riku and Sora. He wondered quietly as he slowly leaned against the base of the Paopu tree. "The Flurry of Dancing Flames..." He muttered softly.

 

Riku reminded him of Axel with how complex he was. With his thoughts and ideas, with how he acted regarding others, and yet was so completely open to Sora. Another pang stabbed through his heart. But he couldn't identify the emotion he was feeling. Something akin to sadness and bitterness.

 

It wasn't anger, or hate. Dozens of emotion terms flooded through his mind as he tried to identify the feeling. He finally stopped on one and thought it over.

 

Jealousy.

 

Jealous...of who? And for what reason? Another pang ran through him and he closed his eyes. He was jealous of Sora and Riku's bond. He was jealous that they were still together and he didn't have his best friend. He was jealous...that Sora wasn't alone and he was. He was jealous of Sora for receiving so much affection from Riku; it made him long for Axel.

 

With widened, startled eyes, he whirled, keyblades summoned in both hands immediately as he swung them down with deadly accuracy. There was a clang as his blades hit something else. He looked at his blades to see them being blocked by another keyblade. He looked up and stepped back, letting go of the blades and they disappeared, no longer needed by their wielder.

 

"Riku," He said quietly, nodding to acknowledge the teenager.

 

Cool, ice blue eyes stared back at him regardingly before they lowered their own blade and let it go. "You still have sharp senses and good reflexes I see." He commented.

 

Roxas cracked a small smirk and shrugged, turning away. "Strange though, since my senses are dulled because I'm apart from Sora. I should've noticed you long before then." He stated.

 

He heard Riku vaulting himself up to sit on the Paopu tree and turned his head to look up at him. The way the moon glinted off of his hair and made his eyes shine made him seem like an illusion, a mythical creature of some sort. Riku was very good looking. Strikingly so. And the image before him was just...perfect. If anything could be, that is.

 

"What do you mean? Isn't Sora with you?" Riku asked, staring out at the ocean, watching the waves gently sway. Roxas chuckled a little. "No, he's not." He said, leaning back against the tree again. "I've found a way to separate us. It's temporary, though." Riku turned his head and looked down at him with slight curiosity. "How?" He asked.

 

Roxas shrugged. "I'm half of Sora, Sora's half of me since we're one now. So...if we were separated, as we are now, then clearly we're only half. Emotions and feelings are dulled, my senses aren't as sharp, reaction time is a little slower, but it's still there. Sora's dead asleep and won't wake up till mid-day tomorrow probably, so he won't know. I'm using half of Sora's image to be here." Riku stared at him for a moment, before nodding.

 

Silence overcame the two of them, the breeze gently blowing, rustling the palm leaves, making the ocean lap against the island a bit more, the water washing up upon the shore, the sounds were very calming. "Why did you come here?" Riku asked a few moments later.

 

Roxas shrugged. "I wandered around town for a while, exploring. I wound up at the dock and I decided to come out here and explore, too. It's even better when seeing it with my own eyes and feeling it." He crossed his arms, tilting his head up to look up at the other male. "What about you?" He asked.

 

"Couldn't sleep. I come out here whenever I can't sleep. The sound of everything is comforting. I just stay out here and doze sometimes, and watch the sun rise." Roxas nodded, looking down towards the ground. Reminded him of Axel. He used to wander around the castle idly when he was restless, unable to sleep or calm down. He also used to come into his room and just stand there and watch him when he thought he was asleep, or just look around the room or stare out the window.

 

He sighed heavily and brought a hand up to run through his hair, closing his eyes for a moment, and let the breeze blow against his face before opening them again. "You seem sad," Riku said from above him, before jumping down and turning towards him, a small amount of concern in his eyes.

 

Roxas stared for a moment. So strange for him to be concerned about him, but he supposed it was because he was Sora's other half. Because Riku was guarded around him, he was careful in what he said, and yet he just changed again. So randomly. Like Axel. But unlike Axel, Riku was Riku. No matter how alike, Riku was different from Axel, couldn't be Axel, and it didn't do any good comparing him to Axel.

 

He looked over at him with a grim smile. "Not really sad, just...remorseful. Coming to realize a few things I already knew, but just couldn't accept." His eyes moved out to gaze at the ocean for a moment. "I was thinking about him," He explained, walking forward to the edge of the island, before turning his head back to meet the teen's eyes. "And how much you remind me of him."

 

Riku blinked. Really, he wanted to ask. Instead, his brow arched up slightly. The other teen was like Sora yet not... He wasn't naive, and wasn't as innocent as Sora. He experienced more than Sora had in some senses. He didn't look just like Sora, but bore striking resemblance. Though his hair was a bit different, their eyes were still the same. Those eyes held the same look in them as Sora did. Calm and gentleness, but Riku knew that there were other feelings behind those eyes.

 

The other was slightly taller than Sora, and held himself differently, and everything about him was almost polar opposite of Sora, and yet at the same time just screamed 'Sora'. He was snapped out of his comparing with what the boy said next.

 

"But I've come to realize that no matter how much I compare you two together, you're still you. You won't be him, you couldn't ever replace him, and you’re you. Riku, not Axel. And Axel couldn't be you if he was here. He's my best friend, just as you're Sora's. But I just feel..." The blond paused, frowning as he sighed again and turned to fully look at the silver-haired teen. "Jealous. That you have Sora, and he has you, and I'm somewhere in the middle without him. I guess I feel alone, but I don't know. Emotions are still new to me. I could feel somewhat before I was one with Sora, but it was even duller than this."

 

Riku stared at Roxas for a moment, eyes slowly regarding him before he came to stand right in front of him. He felt different around Roxas. Sora was his best friend; Roxas wasn't Sora, just part of him. Roxas had his own mind, his own feelings, and Sora had his. He didn't feel the same bond he had with Sora, but something else. Roxas was sharper in his facial features, older looking, but they were the same age physically. Roxas looked innocent, but his eyes said more than that.

 

Sora was good looking, Kairi liked him, Selphie, when she wasn't staring at Tidus, was staring at Sora. Roxas... Roxas was a bit above the average. Not on the level of stunning or beautiful in the feminine sense, he was just...somewhere in between. No explaining it, he was just Roxas.

 

And maybe that was why he moved to stand in front of him and looked down into his eyes, trying to see as far as he could into him, as he said his next words. "I'm sorry," He felt dimly proud of the shocked look that appeared in the teenager's blue eyes as they widened ever so slightly.

 

It wore off after a few seconds and the male shrugged. "It's not your fault," He said, bringing a hand up to run through his own hair. "If anyone's, it would be Axel's. Reckless as always. Doing whatever he felt like doing. I guess he thought I wouldn't miss him or something." He said, laughing bitterly as he turned his back to the silver-haired male, hiding the welling of liquid in his eyes. "It's funny; I said no one would miss me if I left, and I believed it. Even when he said he'd miss me. Shows how wrong I was," He murmured, looking down towards the ground, hands curling into a loose fist. "I guess he's returning the favor."

 

He didn't expect to feel this much emotion, or the tight clenching of his heart. He closed his eyes, feeling the wetness in his eyes begin to fall down his cheek. Tears. He had never cried before. It was a strange feeling...

 

Riku stared at the back of the blond. He really didn't expect to hear that. There was a lot more to Roxas then he had first thought. And maybe, maybe Nobodies could feel. To a certain extent. The heart allowed one more freedom over emotions... But a person's soul is just as strong. The soul can feel, make connections and bond. The soul must probably overcompensate for lacking a heart, thus allowing a Nobody to feel something. Maybe dull and diluted, nowhere near compared to when you have a heart, but still feeling.

 

Maybe that was why Roxas and Axel defied the usual Nobodies, because their souls had connected, allowing them to feel, be best friends. And maybe that was why Roxas was mourning. He couldn't blame him - he'd miss Sora if he had ever done anything like that. He slowly approached the teen and reached out a hand and hesitantly let it rest on his shoulder.

 

Roxas opened his eyes and stared out at the sea, wishing he could just fade away to find Axel. But to do that, he'd leave Sora. And Sora would be half again. And that wasn't fair. A few more tears slid down and he tried to blink them back. His heart felt so heavy, pangs of sadness were stabbing through him. He jumped when he felt Riku's hand on his shoulder. He had forgotten he was there.

 

His hand was warm. Hesitant, but comforting. He felt something break inside of him and the tears flowed harder. He whirled around to look up at the boy, before flinging himself onto him, burying his face in his neck and latching his hands onto his shoulders. "I'm sorry," He muttered against him, "I'm sorry."

 

Riku stumbled back, eyes wide. The look on Roxas' face when he looked up at him was so sad. And he hadn't expected for the other just to throw himself onto him, either. But he surmised that it was probably the emotions taking over. Dulled or not, the heart was a powerful thing, and some emotions could never be dulled.

 

He frowned, eyes glazing with concern, as he slowly began to respond. Roxas wasn't Sora, just part of him. It stabbed through his heart for some reason hearing the other cry against him, feeling the wetness through his vest and shirt. He put one arm loosely around the boy's waist and brought the other hand up to pet his hair - something he used to do with Sora when he would cry.

 

Roxas had never cried before, but he certainly knew what it was like to be hugged. Demyx, being the bubbly person he was would glomp or hug everyone randomly. And there were times when Axel would just hug him when he was feeling bitter, before laughing at how sappy he was. Riku's embrace was different. Riku was hesitant, but his movements seemed practiced. And he knew it to be true from Sora's memories. Sora used to cry over some of the littlest things, and Riku would always comfort him, reassure him of anything that frightened him.

 

And it was comfortable to be like that, but it didn't help his crying, it seemed to intensify it. Maybe it was because there was someone here that cared enough to even bother to comfort him. Because Riku barely knew him, and they had been enemies. Or maybe it was just because he was Sora's other. That thought made his heart clench before he abruptly pulled away looking down as he did so, to hide some of his tears and shame. "Sorry," He muttered again as he turned away.

 

This left Riku confused, he had pulled away so abruptly, tense, looking almost heartbroken. The 'sorry' sounded so bitter, and the tears had slowed down, but that made it even more emotional. It stabbed at his heart again. Why, he wondered. Why did he push away, when clearly Riku knew he wanted, needed comfort and attention?

 

He stepped back behind him, leaving enough space, and put his hand on his shoulder again, feeling the other teen tense up. "What's wrong?" He asked quietly. Roxas shrugged his hand off, laughing bitterly again before answering. "I'm not Sora, Riku. I don't want you to pay attention to me or comfort me because I'm his other." He choked on a sob as he brought his hands up to cover his face with them as he started to cry harder again.

 

Riku frowned, his heart clenching with hurt at the other's words. He knew Roxas wasn't Sora, but it was a little hard to see it as such, but he knew they were different. He sighed heavily and slowly pulled on the male's shoulder, slowly getting him to turn around and gently pried the other's hands away from their face. "I know you're not Sora," He said quietly as he titled his head and bent over a bit to see the other teen's eyes, because the boy had dropped his head. "And I wasn't doing it because you're his other. You needed it; because half or not, some emotions can't be dulled. Sadness, longing, mourning... Heartaches can't be dulled. Those types of feelings and emotions can never be dulled. Neither can true joy and happiness."

 

Roxas raised his head up slowly to meet Riku's eyes and stared at them. "Really?" He asked quietly. "You didn't do it because you see me as Sora or because I'm part of him?" His voice was hopeful, longing echoing behind it. He didn't want to be seen as Sora's other; he wanted to be known as who his mind was: Roxas.

 

Riku brought his hand up to gently rest on the shorter male's cheek, staring back into his questioning eyes, feeling like he was going to suffocate and drown in the mass sea of emotions that were swimming in them. "I know you're Sora's other;" He said honestly, "But I also know you have your own consciousness, your own mind and feelings. Your being is Roxas. I didn't do it because you were part of Sora. I did it because I wanted to help you. I know what it's like to feel alone and to miss someone you care about, to feel abandoned. I did it because I understand."

 

Roxas' eyes widened a fraction as he stared back into Riku's eyes. The color was like ice, but there was a fire behind them. Truth; and a sense of understanding. The fire in them gave off heat and he wanted to leap right into the flames, to feel the heat engulf him and warm him. He launched himself at the other and this time was accepted without hesitance as he let out a muffled sob. "Thank you,"

 

Riku smiled a little. He didn't cry, but there were times when he felt like it. And he didn't blame Roxas at all. He gently tugged the other to follow him as he walked backward until his back was leaning against the paopu tree. He shifted his weight onto it and just let Roxas lean all of his weight on him, letting him cry because he knew the emotions were overwhelming the boy.

 

Roxas clung onto the silver-haired teen as he tried to ride out the emotions that were flowing through him too quickly to grasp and identify. He took in a gasping breath as he tried to breathe through the stabbing pains in his heart that felt like Larxene's throwing knives going through his chest. The arm around his waist tightened as the other's hand began to move along his back soothingly. The teen didn't say anything, but he felt comforted by the gesture.

 

A bit later, the emotions started to die down and the tears slowed down until they stopped. He didn't pull away, though; he felt physically drained and didn't think he would be able to stand very long without Riku's support.

 

Sensing the other's weariness, the other slowly began so slide down to the ground, taking the blond with him until he was sitting on the ground, with the other sitting in between his legs, head resting against his shoulder."Thank you," The smaller murmured quietly. "For letting me get everything out. I feel...lighter."

 

"I don't blame you; and don't thank me; you needed to get it out. So much had built up inside of you, and you couldn't express it before until now. It's good that it happened, because it gives you room inside of your heart."  The other male answered back. Roxas stayed silent, taking in the other's words.

 

The breeze gently blew, making the palm leaves rustle and the paopu tree lightly sway. Roxas closed his eyes as he listened, to the sounds of the ocean, to the wind blowing, and to Riku breathing. The sounds were so soothing. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before he moved his eyes to look up at the silver haired teen. "There are so many emotions to feel... Where do you even start?" He questioned quietly.

 

The other shifted and sighed lightly, tilting his head up to look at the stars. "I'm not sure," Riku answered honestly. "To live is to feel, I don't think there's any real starting point. You've already started with your sadness and mourning." Roxas furrowed his eyebrows, moving so he was sitting on his knees, staring at the taller one. "Then what emotions are there to feel?" He asked again.

 

The silver-haired male looked down at him and met his eyes, ice staring into royal blue. "A lot," He answered. "Happiness, joy, sorrow, sadness, depression, anxiety, fear, courage, love, emptiness, anger... There are just so many. And then, there are just more spin-off's of those emotions. It's so complicated I don't think we humans truly understand them all, either. It's just something that's part of us,"

 

Roxas closed his eyes and let his head fall back as he thought it over, lips parting so he could breathe in the crisp air. Riku watched him with curiosity. His face looked so innocent, like Sora's did a lot of the time. He felt entirely different around Roxas than he did with Sora. He didn't know why he felt that way or what it was entirely, but it was just there.

 

He felt himself leaning forward towards the other, just taking in his features. Pale skin, illuminated by the moonlight shining down, blond hair gently blowing with the breeze, also lit by the moon's rays, and deep blue eyes that were currently hidden behind closed lids. His breath stopped for a moment as he looked him over, pulling back away as the other opened their eyes.

 

"What triggers all of these emotions? Thoughts or actions?" Roxas asked again. His eyes were alight with curiosity and Riku wanted to smile again. He was like Sora in that way. He shrugged a little. "I think it's a bit of both. Actions can cause some emotions, and so can thoughts. Sometimes it's just the heart itself that decides what to feel."

 

The smaller nodded a little, brow furrowing a little as he contemplated it. "I recognize happiness, anger, hate, sadness, contentment, and fear. I've felt them in some form or another." He said quietly. "But not to this extent. It's so..." He searched for a word, brows furrowing even more. "Unnerving, I guess. Frightening; I feel overwhelmed with the extent of emotions and things you can feel. Dulled or not, this is so much more compared to how I used to feel."

 

Riku nodded at him. "Darkness can do that to a person. But I believe you felt those emotions because it was your soul feeling them." He answered. Blue eyes turned to look at him questionably. "What do you mean?"

 

"When a person loses their heart, the body and soul stays behind and becomes a Nobody. The soul can feel, too. It makes bonds, and what it feels is deeper. Not to the same extent of a heart, but it can feel. So I think, that when a person loses their heart, the soul overcompensates in the heart's absence, enabling the Nobody to feel, albeit blandly.

 

"The soul is the personality, and the heart is the emotions, and the body is what contains them both. The personality holds some emotions, as it makes up who the person is. I think Axel and your souls bonded, allowing you two to feel a bit more; I think that's why you were best friends. Soulmates, if you will."

 

Roxas stared at him with slightly widened eyes as he took what he said in. "Then...is that why Sora's heart came back to him when he turned into a heartless? Because of Kairi's and his bond?" Riku gave a small nod. "And it was my bond with them that kept me from fully giving into the darkness."

 

Roxas nodded, eyes looking contemplative again. "Then, I think I understand a little. About actions and the mind causing some emotions, while it's the heart that truly decides." Riku gave him a small smile. "That's good. There's a lot to living, I don't think we truly live until we understand. Because understanding is just the beginning of it all."

 

Roxas leaned a little closer. "Then what's there to feel physically, since we've covered emotions? I know there's pain, I could feel pain physically." Riku looked over at him with slightly widened eyes. He hadn't been expecting that. He blinked slowly before swallowing. "Well, there are different forms of physical feeling. There's affection; hugs, holding hands, kisses, things like that. Simple touches, sometimes. There's pain, like you said." He stopped and looked contemplative.

 

The blond leaned a bit closer, eyes eager to know more. Anything to learn. "And?" He questioned. The older male sighed a little, bringing his eyes down to level with the others before shrugging a little. "There's physical pleasure, lust. It's not to be confused with love. Lust is just the wanting, the need to attain your body's cravings. Love is different. Love is emotional as well as physical. Love can range in so many ways. Friends, family, and the one you're destined to be with. Lust has no feeling like that; it's just an empty wanting." Riku stared silently at the blond as he took it in, quietly understanding. That was what it was... He lost himself to his thoughts as his mind started processing things.

 

Roxas looked at the ground as he thought it all over. So many things to feel, emotionally, physically. It was hard to take in, but he was beginning to understand. He looked up and over to the silver-haired male and just watched him. His eyes were glazed, his face showing he was lost in thought. He looked relaxed and peaceful.

 

The blond smiled a little, a new feeling coursing through him. He felt a little light from it. He stood up on his knees and leaned forwards towards the other boy, bringing his face close to the others, but far enough away so as not to seem threatening. "Riku?" He questioned. The silver-haired male snapped out of their trance and jumped a little at the closeness of the other. "Yes?" He replied, blinking twice in slight confusion.

 

Roxas looked a little hesitant and chewed on his lip for a moment as he pushed away the sudden nervousness that was forming inside of him and looked up into the taller male’s icy eyes. "...show me?" His cheeks flushed a small bit but he remained serious, staring up into the older boy's eyes as they widened a small fraction.

 

Riku stared with shock, utterly speechless. If it wasn't so out of character for him, he was sure his jaw would have dropped. He stared into the younger's eyes, searching, finding nothing but curiosity and question in them. There was also trust in them, which surprised him because he had given the other plenty of reasons not to trust him. He felt himself leaning forward until there was hardly any space between them and so his face loomed a few inches from the blond's.

 

He caught the slight hitch in Roxas' breath and watched as the teen's eyes widened a bit, face flushing a little more. "Are you sure?" He asked quietly. The blond stared up at him, eyes flashing various emotions as he thought for a moment before he replied, eyes reflecting his agreement. "Show me," He answered voice barely above a whisper. "I want to feel."

 

There was a slight pause, before Riku moved, lifting his hand to trail up the blond's arm, to his shoulder, and move back behind to cradle the back of his head as he gently pulled him up until their faces were millimeters apart, feeling a shiver run through the other. "You can tell me to stop whenever you want," He murmured as he closed the small space between then, letting his lips brush against theirs.

 

The was a small jolt from the smaller teen, his eyes widening even more, a gasp escaping in his surprise. It was a short kiss, testing, just barely a brush of lips. His lips brushed over Roxas' again, lingering a little longer, pressing a little firmer, watching the blond for any reaction. The feeling was so very different... The teen wasn't quite sure what he was feeling or what to do. Riku's lips were warm, soft, barely moving against his.

 

He knew the other was waiting for a sign, but wasn't sure how to respond. Just the sensation of the other male kissing him was thrilling, it made his lips tremble, barely responding and moving against the silver-haired's own in return. It seemed to be the sign the boy was waiting for because he pressed a little closer, pushing his lips more firmly to his, the hand on the back of his head not giving-way.

 

He gasped again from the small spark that just flowed through him at the more firm contact, eyes fluttering in an effort to keep them open an onslaught of feelings started up. He stared into the older teen's blue eyes, feeling himself losing all sense of the world outside of them except this contact between them. He was starting to drown and fall into them and he pressed closer, wanting more.

 

It was real. He was feeling. Every small shift or move made between them, the heat and small shocks tingling his lips, everything. His eyes lowered, losing the battle of keeping them open, staring half-lidded into the other's eyes, which had darkened a shade or two, an unreadable emotion in them.

 

Riku smirked a little against the blond's lips, as he brought his other hand up to push the other boy back and slowly lower him back onto the sand, crawling over beside him, not breaking their kiss. His hand left the back of the shorter boy's head in favor of gently tilting the boy's head slightly to the side, pressing closer, kissing him a little harder. A sharp inhalation and shiver was the response from the boy.

 

He pulled away a few moments later, to take a few breaths as he moved his hand to support himself upright as he leaned over again to kiss Roxas again, taking his time to slowly let his lips play over the others, the long, slow feel of it drawing another sound from the blond again.

 

The smaller teen's hands shyly crept up to Riku's shoulders, pulling him closer, lips responding to the older boys, albeit a little clumsy. But that didn't matter, since Riku wasn't that experienced, either. Knowledge was one thing; experience was another.

 

Riku's hand began to wander, taking time to run slowly down along the other teen's form, a shudder running through the boy as he did, his mouth falling open a little in a shocked gasp. Slowly, in soft curiosity, he caught the other boy's lower lip with his and barely grazed it with his teeth, nibbling gently.

 

The fingers clinging onto his shoulders went limp for a moment, unresponsive as a shudder ran down their spine, before they clenched again, bringing them closer as they tilted their head up towards them, a soft, wanting, almost whining sound escaped from the back of the blond's throat.

 

It felt so good... Everything felt so new and wonderful. So sensual, it made the blond's spine tingle. The other's hair gently tickled his cheek, their hands softly sliding up along his body, their lips caressing his...

 

They broke apart and the other leaned down, to bring their lips right next to their ear. "How far are you wanting to go?" He breathed huskily. A shiver ran down their spine from the sound and the air against his ear. He swallowed, willing his vocal chords to cooperate. "Only as far are you're willing to take me," He answered back, voice sounding a pitch deeper.

 

A sensation of heat ran through him at the blond's voice, before he made a sound of acknowledgement to the others answer and let his lips brush along the boy's neck just below his ear, and began to trail downwards. The Key of Destiny moaned softly, lids fluttering as his eyes shut once more. Riku nibbled his way down the others skin, feeling their pulse spike beneath his lips, feeling the quickening of their heartbeat against his fingertips as he ran them over the teen’s arms.

 

A long moment later, he pulled his lips away, although it took all of his concentration to do so because he’d begun to find Roxas’ skin addicting. He slid his hands back to the boy’s shoulders before moving down to slowly finger the charm that held the zipper to their shirt. Roxas’s eyes fluttered open, the usual bright blue was gone replaced by glazed, foggy almost dark blue eyes filled with lust and longing.

 

“Are you sure?” Riku asked softly once more. Because for him, there was no turning back once it began. If he said yes, then he would see it through to the end. If he said no, he would quietly respect that and give the other his space. Roxas’ face flushed a little, his eyes blinking a few times to try and clear them. After a long moment of silence, he spoke. “Let me feel everything… The pain, the pleasure… I want to feel what it’s like with you. I, my feelings… They are deeper than Sora’s… I…what I’m trying to say is…” He closed his eyes with frustration before murmuring softly. “I only want to feel this way with you…”

 

Riku’s eyes widened. His heart fluttered loudly in his chest at the blond’s words. “I…” He tried to say. Roxas gave a small smile to the other. “Don’t say anything,” He whispered. “I trust you.”

 

Swallowing back the feelings coursing through him at the others confession of sorts, he gave the subtlest of nods. His fingers curled around the charm and slowly slid the zipper down, revealing inch by teasing inch of skin as he went until the zipper finally unhooked. Roxas arched his back up in a small display of flexibility as he let his arms slide out of the shirt and let his body relax back down in the sand.

 

He moaned as Riku touched his skin, tracing his fingertips across his chest downwards, feeling over his sides, making him nearly laugh from being ticklish, before they stopped at the belt to his pants. Riku looked at him for some kind of permission. Their eyes met and the blond gave a short nod, tipping his head back, eyes taking in the glimpse of the night sky, to all the twinkling stars that numbered in many worlds, so many he’d never knew of and some familiar. His eyes fluttered closed when he felt Riku begin to unbuckle his belt.

 

Riku’s hands were careful, but deft as he undid the belt before the button to Roxas’ pants; he hesitated for a moment, but the shift of Roxas’ hips kept him from turning back as he undid the zipper and eased them down and off of the Key of Destiny’s hips. A fine blush marred the boy’s face for a long moment once it sank in that he was fully exposed to the other Keyblade wielder’s gaze.

 

Riku made a pleased sound at the boy’s bare body, his eyes taking in every inch and detail of his skin. His fingers came to life without his own knowledge and began to stroke over the other teen’s abdomen down to his thighs and back up over his hips and up his sides. Roxas moaned lowly, arching his body up into the silver haired male’s hands. “Riku…” He murmured dazedly, eyes opening up, fogged over and his pupils were dilated wide from pleasure.

 

Riku shivered at the expression on the blond’s face, a bolt of lust striking him like a Thundaga spell at the realization that it was he that was giving the other that pleasure, that it was he who was drawing out every sound and shiver as he touched the other. He leaned down, unable to resist the euphoric expression on the others face and kissed him deeply.

 

Roxas groaned, reciprocating the kiss with equal passion; his fingers tangled in Riku’s hair and pulled him deeper into the kiss and arched his body up as close as he possibly could into the other, his bare skin rubbing against the fabric of Riku’s clothes, making his skin sensitive from the roughness of it. Riku dominated the kiss, completely taking over Roxas’ mouth, tongue sweeping over every inch he could reach before he pulled away.

 

His hands hastily made quick work of his own clothes and they were tossed into a pile on the sand. Roxas propped himself up on one elbow and admired the ethereal-like glow that Riku’s skin took on from the moonlight. He looked like some kind of god bound to a human form. His heart pounded in his chest when Riku smiled mischievously when he caught him staring. “Like what you see?”

 

Roxas swallowed, giving a nod before replying. “You’re beautiful. I could stare at you forever like this…” Riku only smirked, crawling closer and closer to the blond slowly with a seductive grace.

 

“Maybe later,” He replied, mouth hovering by the blond’s ear. “But right now…I’m going to make sure you get exactly what you asked for.”

 

Roxas’ face heated up at the thoughts that suddenly swam through his mind, shivering. “Then what are you waiting for?” He teased, brow cocking haughtily. “Ravish me.”

 

Riku let out a near feral growl at Roxas’ tease and all put pounced completely on top of him, hungrily kissing him, his hands were everywhere it felt to Roxas, he let out a deep groan as he arched and squirmed at the touches, kissing back as best as he could. It didn’t take long until their hips began to grind together, making them both moan aloud.

 

Roxas’ head fell back into the sand as his lungs heaved and his eyes were once again glossy and dazed, perfectly dilated again. “Gods, Riku… Please…” He whispered, bucking up into the silver haired teen. Riku didn’t reply verbally; instead, he pulled Roxas up and beckoned him to follow. Roxas followed, face reddening again from the lust and the dirty thoughts flowing through his mind, and the innocent naivety that still remained about what was happening.

 

Riku pulled them to the ladder and grinned, a gleam in his eyes. “Up for skinny dipping?”

 

Roxas’ brow raised, glancing towards the waves that lapped at the sandy beach before he grinned back. “Absolutely.”

 

Riku grinned wider, before he grabbed Roxas’ hand and all but pulled him into the water with him without warning. The blonde came up sputtering, glaring mildly through soaked bangs. Riku only laughed before he pulled the boy close to him. The contact of wet skin against wet skin made them both shiver.

 

Roxas moaned as he began to wind his hips against Riku in time with the waves that were swaying them. Riku bit his lip to keep a sound from coming out. “God, you’re hot like that…” He murmured at the way the water lapped at Roxas’s skin and then slid away, making the water drip off before repeating.

 

Roxas only smiled, before he leaned up just a little and kissed Riku briefly. “Enough talk, more play.” He said huskily.

 

“So the little boy wants to play, hm?” Riku teased, reaching a hand down, letting his hand skim over the stiffness of Roxas’ hard length. Roxas’s hips jerked and he let out a fairly loud gasp.

 

“R-Riku…” Roxas moaned out when the silver haired teen’s hand closed around him and began to stroke him slowly, lazily, a heated look in his eyes.

“Or should we play…here?” Riku asked, his other hand slipping around Roxas to gently slide a finger against the blond’s entrance. The Key of Destiny’s eyes flew open wide before he let out a deep groan when the finger just barely pushed inside of him. “Oh, Gods…” He whispered.

 

Riku let his hands fall away, grin still in place before he pulled the other teen to the shallows upon the sand and pushed him down to his hands and knees. “We can ‘play’ here,” He murmured into Roxas’ ear once he joined him. Roxas’ face heated up again, a shudder wracking his system and a small moan escaped him.

 

“Eager already?” Riku questioned.

 

“Mm-hm.” Roxas hummed, tilting his head back, and Riku watched as the water droplets slid down his neck and dripped off into the water beneath them. It was exciting, he was already hard and wanting to take Roxas as his own, but he wanted their first time to be…special, for lack of a better word. He wanted to experience everything. He wanted to know how far the teen could go from their teasing fun, how much it would take to have him a begging, shivering, incoherent mess. How much he could take from hearing it, he wanted to know everything about them both.

 

He slowly pushed on Roxas’ shoulders until he lowered to his elbows in the sand, ass completely in the air and Riku hovered over him, dragging his tongue up his spine, tasting the salt from the sea and the pheromones the teen was exerting and the other taste that was completely Roxas. The touch of Light and Darkness that lingered right beneath his skin. That energy resonated with his own.

 

Roxas moaned loudly, head dropping forward, and Riku could feel the shiver traveling up his spine after him. He reached the back of his neck and moved his mouth over to his shoulder, placing a teasing nip to it. “You taste good,” He murmured. “It makes me want to eat you.”

 

Roxas blushed heavily, almost unsure how to respond, swallowing heavily before he managed to croak out: “Then why don’t you?”

 

Riku shivered at the words. He slowly began another trail down Roxas’ spine wordlessly, watching his reaction carefully. He moved even lower than he had originally began before, stopping just barely below the teen’s tail-bone. Roxas squirmed, face reddening further, thanking everything that Riku could not see, but it felt so good… His hips squirmed and raised a little more. Riku got more than just an eye-full of the blond’s rear. That quivering little hole was just beckoning him… Unable to resist, he dipped his tongue lower and traced it around the rim.

 

“A-ah!!” Roxas cried out, his fingers clenching at the sand. The bolt that raced through him made his head feel light. Riku did it again, this time lingering just a little longer, the tip just barely teasing at the entrance. Roxas moaned even louder. “Riku, ohgodohgod, it f-feels so good…”

 

Riku didn’t hesitate the second time and slipped his tongue completely inside of the blond, who bucked back hard, gasping loudly, nearly crying out. The other male held Roxas’ hips still curling and wiggling his tongue experimentally, trying to get the best reactions out of the other. The Key of Destiny nearly came unglued when Riku curled his tongue and pushed in as far as he could reach, flattening it out a moment later. “Oh my god!!” Roxas cried out.

 

Riku pulled back after a long moment, a small slurping noise accompanying the lewd action. “You do taste good,” He said after a long moment after giving the teen a chance to recover. Roxas was panting hard and his fingers were clenching and unclenching in the sand. He was so hard it hurt, and his cock was leaking precum--a testament to how affected he was. “Gods above, Riku, please… I can’t take any more of this teasing. I need you…”

 

Riku nearly moaned at the blond’s words. He slowly pulled Roxas’ boneless form up and back into the deeper water. Without another word, he slid two fingers inside of Roxas. The other teen moaned deeply, bucking back onto his fingers. The silver haired Keyblade wielder began to stretch the other slowly, doing his best not to hurt the other. Roxas only made whining noises, his hips quivering and trying to move with his motions. Riku held him still and slipped a third finger in.

 

Roxas’ noises moved up a notch and it was driving Riku mad. All he wanted was to push inside of him and fuck him until he screamed. He grit his teeth and reigned in his self-control as best as he could and finished preparing the other teen. When he slid his fingers out, the other male whimpered with need. “Please…”

 

“Shh,” Riku soothed, placing a kiss to the side of Roxas’ throat, nibbling and suckling till he left a good bright mark as he slid closer until he felt the tip of his own cock bump up against Roxas’ entrance. The other groaned, hips squirming again.

 

Taking a deep breath, Riku slowly guided himself in, slowly sliding inch by torturous inch inside, stopping every time Roxas let out a discomforted sound.  Once he was fully inside, he rest his forehead against Roxas’ back, panting from the effort to not just pound him into next week.

 

Roxas was going stir-crazy, Riku was just so big and it felt incredible… For the first time since he rejoined with Sora, he felt whole, complete. This feeling…he didn’t want to let go. He experimentally rocked backwards, pulling Riku in just a little deeper… He choked on a gasp and that was it. “Riku!” He mewled. “Move, please…”

 

Riku couldn’t deny the other. Slowly, he began to rock with the pull and push of the waves that were around them, pushing in a little deeper each thrust until--

 

“OH GOD!!” Roxas screamed, white burst across his vision and his entire body flared with electricity before going numb. It was such an experience he could never hope to describe. “More, Riku, please, I-I…”  He stuttered.

 

Riku had felt Roxas clench almost unbearably tight around him when he thrust in that time. Wondering what he’d done, he did it again, thrusting in at that same angle, that same way--and it happened again. Roxas’ whole body jerked and spasmed, the blond crying out loudly.

 

The tide was slowly beginning to become harder due to the lightness of the sky signifying dawn was soon to come. Riku thrust in time with it still, each time, it brought them both closer and closer to the brink of ecstasy, their bodies were quivering and shaking in strain. Riku’s arms wrapped tightly around Roxas’s waist and his head buried in his shoulder. “Oh, god, I’m… I’m…” He murmured.

 

“I know… Me, too…” Roxas panted. With a unified cry from one final thrust from Riku, they both came. When they finally came to, they noticed that the tide had washed them onto the shoreline. Roxas was shivering slightly when Riku slowly pulled out. “Are you alright?” He asked gently.

 

Roxas nodded, opening his eyes blearily. “That was…so amazing.” He whispered. He turned over and wrapped his arms around the other teen, hiding his face into the others now-wet strands of hair. “Thank you…”

 

Riku shook his head a little. “There’s no need to thank me. This was mutual, wasn’t it?”

 

“Yeah.” Roxas replied, a small smile rising up to his face.

 

“Come on, let’s get back to our clothes. We’ll catch a cold if we stay here.” Riku suggested, half-dragging a still limp blond with him into the water again.

 

“Okay.” Roxas agreed. They swam back to the island and climbed up the ladder back to their clothes. Though they were damp when they put them on, they were warmer.

 

“Now what…?” Roxas asked hesitantly.

 

Riku thought for a long time. “Well… It’s not as if we can deny this happened, and I…” He looked a little at loss for words. “I…don’t necessarily want this to be a one time thing.”

 

Roxas’s face turned the slightest hue of red, but his eyes lit up. “…Really?”

 

“Yeah.” Riku replied, a small smile rising to his face.

 

“I’m glad… I didn’t want it to be a one time thing, either.” Roxas admitted.

The pink and orange glow to the sky was getting brighter and brighter in the sky. They were silent for a long while as they contemplated what just transpired and what this meant now. After a long moment, Riku looked over to the other. “Hey,”

 

The blond looked over at him confusedly. “Huh?”

 

“C’mere.” The other replied.

 

Walking over, his blue eyes widened as he suddenly found himself falling. It was only a moment before he felt arms winding around him and he felt Riku’s chest against his back, now sitting back against him. “Wha--”

 

“Just look.” Riku whispered in his ear.

 

When he looked out, the sun was just beginning to rise above the horizon, casting a beautiful reflection upon the ocean. Roxas’ eyes were wide with wonderment and surprise at the beauty of it all. He had never seen such a thing for himself, only through Sora’s memories. He felt Riku rest his chin on his shoulder, his arms tightening around him. “Great, isn’t it?”

 

“It’s… It’s wonderful.” Roxas whispered, voice still in awe.

 

“This is one of the reasons I come here. But now, I think I have another reason.” Riku murmured.

 

“Yeah?” Roxas asked.

 

“Yeah. You.” Riku replied, giving the slightest of chuckles.

 

Roxas sat there for a long moment, processing the short sentence. After another moment, a smile of his own arose. “Then, I guess I have another reason to come out here now.” He said finally.

 

Riku smiled as well. Neither spoke another word as they continued to watch the sunrise, signifying the start of another day and a new beginning.

 

Owari.