As some of you may know, Peanut and I are crazy about Roleplaying, and it's clear, since this is the second one on this site that belongs to us. And we aren't even done with the first one! Regardless, that won't stop us from starting this new roleplay, Rude Awakening!

 

Kinda dark and mysterious title, eh?

 

As stated in the title, this RP is one on one, no exceptions. Please refrain from posting in the RP. Instead, follow us on this new journey!

 

Peanut, my amazing friend, let's begin!

Light glanced up at Riku, but otherwise followed his lead. She began to eat her food again in silence, not bothering to answer the question. Of course she was jealous. Angry too for having this blindside her. Yet she didn't lash out at Riku the same way she would have lashed out at anybody else who betrayed her trust so severely. You've gotten soft. Maybe too soft.

The rest of the meal went by in silence, but Riku didn't necessarily think it was awkward. He was too lost in his thoughts, regarding his feelings, Light's feelings, and how his friends must have perceived him now. It probably wasn't good, but if that was the case, why did they defend him today? It didn't make sense, at least to Riku. After one last bite of his vegetables, he set his fork down, finished with his dinner...and the night in general.

Two days later

 

For the first time since coming to this island, Lightning found herself in a tiny little rowboat. She wasn't the one rowing--that was the duty of the young man across from her. He had been trying to earn her confidence again and today was no exception. She had a feeling he would have done this specific thing sooner if Lightning hadn't been so busy helping Serah move yesterday and telling off Cecil once and for all. She was proud of herself for that; she was starting to feel more like herself again after that. Stronger and firmer. Yet she didn't feel those attributes now specifically; she was confused. Why was Riku taking her out to a dinky little island?

Riku rowed the boat in silence, hearing the paddle push against the water as he got closer and closer to the Island. Not once had he brought a girl out here, nobody but Kairi or Namine; that didn't actually count, though, since this was their island too. They claimed it a long time ago, Sora, Kairi, and Riku did. Roxas and Namine were automatically allowed access, for obvious reasons. But Lightning... She was the first girl Riku was bringing to the Island, and he had to admit that he was a little nervous. By the look on her face, she thought this was ridiculous, but she didn't know how much the place meant to him...or his friends. It was their safe haven.

Lightning glanced over the water, seeing that the sun was close to setting. It wasn't that late, but the sun always set early in the winter. "It's a nice view," she finally commented, breaking the silence. She noticed before how beautiful the sunsets were here, but seeing it reflect off the ocean like this while she was on it was a bit different. Better. And if she and Riku were on better terms, it would have been more terrific.

Riku steered the boat toward the dock, glancing at Lightning before his eyes moved to the islet. "It's even better up there," he said, jerking his head toward where he was staring. He, Sora, and Kairi always used to watch the sunset up there, but it seemed like that time was over. They hadn't done it in too long.

Lightning hummed, following Riku's gaze to the tree. She had never seen one shaped like that before, with the trunk so curved. "What kind of a tree is that?" she asked. They certainly didn't have them back in Bodhum. She thought she saw some kind of fruit in the leaves, but it was hard to tell with this lighting and the distance.

Riku grabbed a post holding up the dock, stopping the boat from going any closer to shore. "A Paopu tree," he said, standing. He balanced himself and started wrapping the rope around the post, knowing that the ladder was near Lightning so she could get out if she wanted. "They're the Islands' legend."

Light used the ladder to get out, careful not to get wet. The water temperature at this time of year was very cold. "Never heard of it," she said as she shook her head. Her eyes lingered on it for some reason, the girl curious. Apparently the tree was only legend around this island, because they sure weren't popular in Bodhum. What was the legend?

Riku finished tying the boat, not bothering to use the ladder as he hauled himself to the dock. He rose to his feet, looking from the tree to Lightning. She had lived on the Islands for a while, but hadn't heard the legend? Not even at school? "Looks like I've got a story to tell," he said then, walking past her and toward the sand. But first, there were some other plans he had in mind.

Lightning arched a brow as she followed Riku. "Looks like it," she agreed, watching him for a few moments before looking around. The place looked nice while it was lit up by the setting sun, but it was so...boring, almost. It looked like nothing of significance happened here for a long time. She certainly never imagined people coming out to it for any reason, least of all Riku.

Riku's eyes roamed the Island, and he couldn't help but smile faintly. How could he have deserted this place for so long? It was a place he felt safest, despite what happened here in the past, with the Islands being swallowed by the Darkness. His eyes locked onto the shack above, before finding the waterfall...and the Secret Place hidden nearby. How long had it been since he'd been in there?

Light didn't prod for a story--Riku seemed caught up in something else. "...This place seems important to you," she said after a few moments. He had an expression on his face that said that he was happy here. Reflective, but happy. She didn't understand it, but she would eventually if Riku told her about this place and its meaning to him.

"I came here everyday, since I was little," Riku said, glancing around the place before finding Lightning. "I haven't been here in months." More than that, actually. It felt like a year, at least. He faced forward again, walking under the bridge as he approached the door to the other side of the Island. "...One of the last times I was here was right after I got home." He and Sora had reflected on everything then, but it seemed like another life now. He hadn't left this world in so long.

Home from saving the worlds, Lightning added silently. The only reason that she knew about Riku coming home at all was because of history textbooks. When he and Sora returned and told what happened, they became famous. Most textbooks had information about their journeys in there. That was the only way she would have known they left the world though. They were both so normal sometimes it was hard to believe that they saved multiple worlds when they were preteens.

Riku walked through the door, holding it open for Lightning once on the other side. He saw the bridges that led to the zipline, and all the palm trees. "One of my favorite memories of this Island happened right here," he said, taking a few steps forward and stopping. This was where he and Sora raced, and not too far ahead, Kairi counted down. He bet the race would be pretty close now; Sora gained a lot of speed, but Riku had a lot of endurance. It was close in the past, but Riku usually won. Sora would probably give him a run for his money now.

Lightning stopped when Riku did, glancing down at the ground. It wasn't covered with loose sand like she expected it to be; it was just dirt. "Right here?" she repeated, looking over at him. What was so special about this spot? She saw the bridge up ahead, but that was all she could see from this spot.

Riku nodded, his smile still lingering. "We raced," he said, speaking of himself and his best friend. "Sora and I had a route. Whoever made it to the tree not too far off and got back first won. Kairi thought it was ridiculous, but she loved it all the same." He hadn't run the route in a couple years. The realization surprised him.

Lightning tried to get a look at the rest of the island, but she still couldn't see whatever tree Riku was referring to. "Show me," she encouraged, looking back at him. If this was one of his favorite memories, then she wanted to hear and see everything about it. So what if she was mad at Riku? He was still important to her.

Riku let his eyes rest on Lightning then, and his smile turned into a smirk. "Only one way to do that," he said. They had to race, and even if she wasn't up for it, he was running it anyway. For old time's sake.

Light studied Riku's expression, recognizing it easily. "You can't be serious," she said. "I don't even know the course." How were they supposed to race when she didn't know where to go? Riku would probably tell her that she'd be running behind him anyway and losing, but she wasn't going to accept that argument. If she knew the course, she had a chance to win.

Riku's smirk remained as he motioned with his arm for Lightning to follow him, the young man starting forward. He stepped up onto the broken bridge and started across, though he picked up his pace a little to leap over the gap. The loose floorboard, as he expected, fell after his weight was on it, splashing to the water below. "Watch that," he called over his shoulder. "Happens all the time."

Lightning hmphed in amusement, taking a few steps back. She'd need to make a big jump, then. Obviously she could do it; she was athletic even if she wasn't in any sports. She ran a few steps and pushed off with her last one, making it across the gap and landing near Riku. It had been close, but she made it.

Riku released a hmph as well, though he then continued onward, approaching the pit of sand not too far off. Once on it, he hopped down to the beach and started forward again, knowing that he could show Lightning the tree he was talking about down here. She would see what he meant, and then they could race. Or he could. Whichever.

When Riku showed Lightning the course, she was intrigued. Obviously he expected her to race with him, and she expected to do the same. The two of them were both extremely competitive. They proved that in the gym last time they went together. Even if it was ridiculous, she was in. "So, who's going to count down?" she asked once they were back at the beginning.