A friend and I have been doing a RP for a while now, and it has been scattered across several threads on two different sites. It started as a group story (about fast food of all things ) but then it transformed into something else entirely.

 

We request that nobody join in this RP or post anything on this thread; if you wanna say how awesome we are, message us some other way.

 

Um...You're free to read this for fun if you want to, but this thread has major Birth By Sleep spoilers. And since we've been doing this for a while, we will probably refer to things we've done in the past and you will have no idea what we're talking about. So if you want to save yourself from confusion, then you probably wanna stay away. If not, hey, whatever.

 

The plot was discussed and posted on another website, but here's a quick summary of the whole thing: It's the return of Xehanort.

 

Characters:

Peanut: Sora, Namine, Leon, Aerith, King Mickey, Terra, Ventus, Xehanort, etc.

Forever Love: Riku, Kairi, Roxas, Yuffie, Aqua, Vanitus, Tron, etc.

 

I believe I've said everything that needs to be said...Forever Love, let's get this show on the road, eh?

Riku chuckled, his arms around the pillow he was using. "But who has the blankets and pillows?" he bragged, smirking still. Lightning would have to fight him for those; he wasn't giving them up...unless she rested next to him. Then he would make an exception.

"Who needs the blankets because of their cold heart?" Lightning returned smoothly without moving. The answer was obvious: in this little game of theirs, Riku needed the blankets because he had a cold heart. The fact that he chased her away to the chair proved as much. She didn't know how he could come up with a better comeback to that one.

Riku's smile disappeared, his eyes widening as he looked at Lightning. His head no longer rested on the pillow, unable to believe she just said that. "Hey..." he said lowly. Even if this was supposed to be an amusing squabble, he took that kind of stuff to heart. Because of his past, how couldn't he? He pretty much didn't have one; it was so close to being devoured by Darkness.

Lightning tried to keep it lighthearted, able to tell by Riku's tone that she struck a nerve. "Well, taking up the whole bed and forcing me to another chair isn't too kind," she hinted, staying away from the topic that Riku obviously thought up: Darkness. She hadn't meant it in that way, and she wished he hadn't thought of it. But she supposed it was natural, since the Darkness was a big part of him. She peeked open an eye, studying him.

Riku met Lightning's gaze, though his eyebrows were still furrowed. She was just kidding, he told himself. Relax. "...Who said I meant to be kind?" he mumbled, turning his head away from her as he played along again. "I'm a guest. I get the last bed."

"Fine Riku, if that's how you feel," Lightning sighed, shutting her eyes as she folded her arms over her chest. "Goodnight." She'd "let" him have the bed, but she knew that he wouldn't keep it. There was no way that he was going to let her fall asleep in that recliner, and out of his arms. There was simply no chance of that happening.

Riku didn't say anything, simply staring at the arm of the couch in front of him. He was still sensitive to the comment Light made a few seconds ago, about his heart. He knew she didn't mean anything by it, but he couldn't help it. It was a time he regretted, even if he did get stronger in the end. But...he was there for his friends now, as that showed earlier today with the wedding. He handed off his little sister figure to his best friend in all the worlds. All was well again, and that was that.

After a few moments of silence, Lightning's heart sank. Riku wasn't back in the swing of this being a playful conversation. He was offended. She opened her eyes and picked herself up off the chair, laying down on the small space that she could fit in. And because it was so small, she was close to Riku. She wrapped an arm around his lower back, turning her face so that it was against his side as she laid on hers. Sorry, she thought silently. I didn't mean it like that.

Riku felt the weight cause the futon to sink, and that was when he knew Lightning was close. But when she touched him, he closed his eyes. He could practically feel her grief at what she said, and it hurt him more. She had to have known he wasn't mad at her, right? He was mad at himself, for making those mistakes. His past was his fault. Not hers.

Light started running a hand over Riku's back, her eyes opening even if she couldn't see much since her face was against his side. This just reminded her of what she was thinking of earlier at the wedding. She didn't make him happy. Not like he deserved to be. Instead, she made an inappropriate comment and had him upset. But she didn't dare say sorry and bring it into the open; she feared he wouldn't like that.

Riku felt the gentle sensation, which caused him to relax. He didn't know he was that tense to begin with, but memories of Darkness and Xehanort often did that to him. He thought about it daily, though only in snippets. He sighed softly, allowing his grip on the pillow to loosen as his body molded into the futon. It was time to sleep.

Though Riku began to relax, Lightning was tense as she kept rubbing his back. It's not right, she thought. Riku deserves happiness. Why does it seem like I drag him down so often? She loved him and he loved her; she realized that as truth. And nobody could love him more than she did. But what if they loved him better? What if they made him smile and laugh like he deserved to? Was there someone better...?

Riku realized that he couldn't really sleep without one thing, and that was having Lightning in his arms. Especially with the ugly thoughts. Light wasn't only her name; it was one of her purposes in his life. Riku turned over silently, scooting over at the same time to allow his beloved more room on the futon. They would cuddle tonight, just like any other night together.

Lightning quickly put a mask over her eyes when she glanced up at Riku to see what he was doing. He was making room for her. She picked herself up a little bit, scooting up and laying on her back with an arm between her head and the pillow as she gazed up at the ceiling. What now? Was Riku feeling a little better? Because she wasn't at all.

Riku grabbed the blankets and pulled them up to his and Lightning's waists. Once that was done, he moved over to be next to her, but instead of her cuddling up to him, he cuddled up to her. He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek before whispering his love to her, then descending to rest his head against her shoulder. From there, he could hear her heartbeat, and that would be enough besides her presence to move him to sleep.

Light glanced down at Riku, eyes softer as she lifted a hand and set it on Riku's cheek. Let's just forget about all this for tonight, she thought silently, referring to his thoughts as well as her own. She just wanted to be happy, and so did he. She would be happy just as long as he was alright and not hurt by what she said earlier in joking.

Riku's hand rested on Lightning's small side, and when her touch registered on his cheek, he pulled her a little closer. His forehead was pressed slightly against her jaw, his head still on her shoulder as he relaxed again. The Darkness had gotten to him twice, but he bounced back each time. The first because of Sora, the second time because of Lightning. And now that he really had his Light, it wouldn't get to him again. He hoped Lightning realized that.

Lightning looked down at Riku without moving, wondering what he was thinking. If she knew, her heart would have sank. He had a lot of faith in her and her Light, when she didn't have too much faith in it. Light and Darkness...She was somewhere in the middle, or so she believed. Even if her nickname was "Light".

Riku started to fall asleep despite the uneasiness he could feel in the room. He knew some of it was coming from him, but not all of it. Because of that, he lightly traced circles in Lightning's side, allowing himself to drift slowly into unconsciousness. They would discuss this later, but not now. They were both too tired for that, or so he assumed.

Light eventually shut her eyes, turning her head so her cheek was against the top of Riku's head. He had the right idea; it was time to sleep. Both of them were emotional and the exhaustion wasn't helping. Her even breathing blended with his, and despite the lights still being on in the living room, she felt herself drifting really quickly.

The next morning

 

Riku lingered in the living room as Lightning's guests talked on the sofas. It was the day after Sora and Kairi's wedding, and now that the event was over, everyone was heading back. Serah and Snow would be helping to get Hope home, and then they would head home themselves. Crossing through worlds wasn't easy, so he was sure Hope was grateful for the help. While Riku was thinking of the guests, he was also pondering the host; she seemed a little different this morning, like something was off. He wasn't sure what to make of it, or her behavior.

Lightning was in the kitchen, washing dishes from breakfast. Her mind was in a completely different place though. She dreamed about him again. That man Caius. He said that she gained the strength she needed and now was the time to face him. She knew then that she couldn't ignore Caius any longer. For so long, she feared being dragged off to face him. Now she was eager to face him, and to face him on her own terms. She couldn't hide from him anymore.

 

"Lightning?" Serah called once she was in the kitchen. Her sister's back was to her, but she was still surprised when Lightning jumped. That was completely unlike her. And so was her behavior this morning. She was acting like she was keeping secrets. Did something happen late last night or this morning that had her so on edge? Regardless, Lightning turned around to face her and did a decent job hiding her surprise. "Something's wrong, isn't it?" Lightning may have shaken her head in response, but Serah knew that it was a lie.

Riku's senses picked up on the voices from the kitchen, and his eyebrows furrowed when he thought he heard concern in Serah's voice. He turned, leaving Snow and Hope to talk as he approached the kitchen. Once there, he stopped in the doorway, expression remaining as he gazed at the woman he loved. Was he not the only one to sense it? Did Serah as well?

"Nothing's wrong," Lightning said aloud, looking back to the dishes that she was in the middle of doing. She noticed that Riku appeared in the doorway as well, so that was extra encouragement not to open up. This was a big deal, and Riku would find out about it eventually, but it wouldn't be right now. And Serah...she'd remain in the dark. It was better for her not to worry.

 

"Don't turn your back to me," Serah snapped with surprising harshness. She hardly ever raised her voice or spoke harshly; she was a very gentle spirit. But she knew what it took to get to Lightning. Sure enough, her sister turned around and faced her in her surprise. Serah approached, speaking as she did. "I'm sick of you leaving out details of your life just because you don't want me to worry. Don't you get it? I can take it! You raised me after all." Serah was strong because of that.

Riku leaned against the doorway, watching Serah in silence. Since when did she become the stubborn one? He never saw her act like this. He continued to watch in silence as he gazed from the youngest sibling to the oldest, wondering just what Lightning would do. Something was bothering her, that much was obvious, and he was glad he wasn't the only one to notice. It proved that he wasn't just being overprotective. But what could be wrong? Lightning was perfectly fine--better than fine--yesterday.