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's eyes locked onto Lightning's, and while she was furious and desperate, he was confident in his choice. She didn't realize it now, but she would later; Kain would treat her better than Riku ever did. It was just the way things had to be. He glanced from her to Kain, positive the man wouldn't let him down, even if they didn't agree on much. Lightning's well-being, however, topped all else. Riku's aquamarine eyes found Lightning again, and they said what he couldn't at that moment: "I love you, Claire."

"Stop!" Lightning cried. She read the message in his eyes and couldn't believe he would lovingly put her through this. Before she could stop herself, the words came pouring out of her mouth. "I want to marry you!" She didn't want him to leave her here forever; she wanted the opposite. She wanted to be by his side forever.

Riku had turned to depart at Lightning's one-word order, but he only made it a few steps when he heard her declaration. He whirled around, eyebrows furrowing as his eyes questioned her. "What?" he replied quietly. She couldn't mean that... Just last night she said she didn't want to try anymore...

Lightning felt Kain's arms loosen around her in surprise. "I want to marry you," she repeated. "I know I don't deserve you and I'll probably drag you down forever, but more than anything, I want..." I want to be your wife. But that was a selfish wish, wasn't it? To force herself upon him and drag him down along with her. It was...selfish. 

"But last night..." Riku started with a glance to the side in uncertainty. His eyes, however, returned to Lightning without much effort. "Last night you said..." You said you didn't care anymore. Kain said she was better off here, and a part of her surely agreed with that. Riku was finally letting her go...and now she was pulling him back?

"I said I wasn't worth your love," Lightning said. When Kain slowly released her from his hold and moved to the side, she had a clear view of Riku again. "I didn't say that I didn't want it." What did Riku think he heard her say? She didn't deny that she loved him or anything like that! Was this related to why he was leaving?

Riku's grasp tightened on the necklace in his hand. "...I thought..." he stumbled, lifting his free hand to his short hair. "I-I...You gave up... I thought this was what you wanted." She wanted him to leave... She wanted him to find somebody she thought was more worthy of his affections. Riku never said he would do that, but leaving was a start.

"I want...I want you, but I want you to have better than me. Riku, I..." Light took a small step forward, though she could hardly stand with all these emotions lingering between them. "I'm being selfish again. I should let you go, so you can find somebody better than me." He deserved it. Maybe...this was her one chance to do the right thing. To set him free.

Riku's eyebrows furrowed a little more, both of his hands at his sides as he faced Lightning a little more. She should let him go... That didn't mean she wanted to. So...what did they do? He was clearly a poison; why else would she need to get away from him in order to get better?

Lightning set a hand on the wall to keep herself balanced. She couldn't even look at Riku now, so she gazed at the floor. "I'm being selfish," she repeated. "You don't want to be here. You want me to stay. Okay. I'll stay. I'll do whatever you want me to do." She would stop thinking of what she wanted and do what was best for Riku. This was the least she could do for someone she loved.

Riku glanced over at Kain, confused beyond measure. What was going on here? He took a moment to gather himself before he gazed at the necklace in his palm. It was then that he slowly approached Lightning, his footsteps echoing throughout the long hall. Riku stopped right in front of her, looking from the piece of jewelry to her in the tense silence. If this was what she truly wanted...

Light followed Riku's gaze to the necklace. She couldn't take that back from him. She gave it to him for a reason--so that she would always be with him. "If you don't want it," she began slowly. "Throw it out." If you don't want me...throw me out too, her words seemed to say. If he didn't want her, it was okay. She understood why he wouldn't want her now.

Riku wordlessly lifted his free hand and grasped Lightning's, turning her gloved hand over and placing the necklace against her palm. He proceeded to curl her fingers over the jewelry, both of his hands now holding hers. "It gave me strength," he said of the pendant, lifting his aquamarine eyes to the face of the person he loved. "...Let it do the same for you." She had this necklace long before he did, and she overcame her battles. Maybe it was time she took it back.

The only reason Lightning's hand remained curled around the necklace was because of Riku's hands holding it in place. I don't want it, she silently thought. I don't want... Riku's hands were soft despite the battles he fought. They were warm and caring and gave her comfort on so many occasions. Having him hold her hand now made her want to bawl. 

Edited October 19, 201312 yr by Peanut

Riku gazed at Lightning for a moment, absorbing this memory--this feeling of his hand against hers. He knew it wouldn't happen again. "...Take care of yourself, Claire," he repeated softly. He loved her. Lightning knew Riku loved her, but saying that would only make this harder. So as Riku finally stepped away, he tore his eyes from Lightning's and nodded silently to Kain, who he trusted with Lightning's life. He started back down the hall, not looking back.

Lightning dropped the necklace as soon as Riku took his hand away from hers. She couldn't believe he was walking away. He promised to pursue her always, but here he was, leaving her. The thought brought tears to her eyes. And Kain, who never forced himself upon her, finally took the liberty of embracing her.

Riku heard the necklace drop, and he closed his eyes at the sound. It was also a signal: this relationship was over. Riku approached the entrance to the castle and pushed it open without a word or a glance back, disappearing from Lightning's sight. It was time he let Serah know how Lightning was doing, and time he returned home to his family. Riku had a feeling he would need them.

A Week Later

 

Serah was serious and focused as she walked down the well-lit corridor of a castle. This was the castle where Lightning had been for the past three weeks. This was the place she began to find healing, and then the place where she found pain. The person who caused her pain was the one who brought Serah to this world to visit her sister. Riku explained his actions to her--he said she needed to find healing, and this was the place to do it. He said that they were broken up but he had high hopes of getting back together with Lightning. She didn't quite agree with his methods, but she was trusting that he knew what Lightning needed. She looked out the window to a castle garden, slowly stopping as she caught a glimpse of something. It was Lightning and Kain. 

 

Lightning still wasn't talking much, but at least she was moving around. She didn't feel like it, but she knew moping and lying in bed wasn't going to help anything. Kain was extremely helpful. He still gave her plenty of room to breathe, but he was also great at reading her. When she needed a hand on her shoulder in reassurance, he was there. When she needed fresh air, he took her outside to get it. That was what was happening now, in the castle's glorious garden.

Riku walked with his hands in his pockets, though they were in fists. Being here made him very uncomfortable, for obvious reasons. Lightning was here, and he hadn't seen her since their break-up. He could call it that, because what else would it be? He gave her back her necklace, something that was significant to the both of them in different ways. He left her here with Kain, somebody who held feelings for the woman Riku still loved. Riku couldn't be with her, though, not like this. Lightning was broken and fighting demons. All Riku did was make it harder for her; leaving was the best option, even if neither of them wanted it. Riku hoped that maybe when things turned around in Lightning's life, they could give it another shot. Riku certainly still loved Lightning, and by the look on her face when he was leaving, he was sure she had room in her heart for him too. But...maybe things were different now. Maybe she hated him for deserting her, even if it was best for her.

"Riku," Serah called. "They're in the garden." She didn't mean to make it sound suspicious--or however she made it sound; she just was thinking that Riku had been in this castle previously, and she wondered if he knew how to make it to the garden. But then her thoughts went elsewhere when she noticed something else. Kain and Lightning were holding hands, and not just in a casual way; their fingers were interwoven. They were standing still and looking at flowers; Kain was saying something and Lightning wasn't looking at him. What...?

Riku stopped walking and looked in the direction Serah indicated, lifting an eyebrow in suspicion. Lightning was dressed in this world's attire once more, and she looked beautiful. But that was to be expected. What Riku didn't expect, however, was the twined hands. His eyebrows furrowed at the sight, his heart rate increasing. Regardless...he couldn't be angry or jealous. I set them up for this. I can't take it back now.

Lightning listened to Kain's words,but even with his lead-up, she wasn't prepared for his next actions. He set his free hand on her shoulder and lightly turned her towards him, forcing her to look him in the eye. She had to admit, his eyes were nice. They had some honest talks in the past few days--okay, talks where he spoke and she listened. He told her about his past, and how many sins he committed. It was somehow...endearing. They were both weighed down by sins of their pasts and trying so hard to move on, yet every move they made was wrong. Even now, she wasn't sure what was right, and she wasn't sure if she minded when Kain moved his hand from his shoulder to her cheek as he swept away some of her hair. Is he...going to...?

Riku's fists tightened, his jaw flexed, and his eyes hardened at the sight before him. First there was hand holding, and now Kain was brushing Lightning's hair away just like Riku used to do. The sight made Riku's stomach turn. This wasn't right...at all. Realizing that caused Riku's blood to boil, his heart pounding as he ignored the fact that Serah was here; his anger was clear on his face, but he tried to fight it. It's my fault they're this way. Kain's better for her than I am. But why did Riku's heart squeeze with disagreement?

Kain's breathing was controlled. He was inching nearer, and his eyes were asking for permission. Lightning's didn't say no. He gently tilted her chin upward with his finger and kissed her in the same manner. Though they were smitten with each other in an alternate reality, she knew that this was the first kiss that they ever shared. She would have remembered his kiss if she felt it before.

Riku released a grunt at the affection being shared in the gardens, and he felt his heart skip in sorrow. No...he thought in fear. It had been a week. A week, and Lightning was already kissing Kain? Riku figured this would happen, but actually witnessing it... Riku abruptly looked away, eyes wide as he frantically searched for something to distract him. But it was no use. The image of Lightning kissing Kain was burned into his mind.