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!

Riku looked over at Lightning, though he placed one foot behind him and bent his knees, one hand resting on one. "Be my guest," he told her, then focusing forward. This would be interesting. He knew Lightning was fast, but he had the familiarity of the Island under his belt. He could use that to his advantage.

"Okay," Lightning said. She placed a foot behind her as well, eyeing the bridge. "On 'go'. Three..." She narrowed her eyes on the path before her. "Two..." Her heart began to speed up in anticipation. "One...Go!" She took off, feeling the dirt and then the bridge underneath her feet. The race was on.

Riku pushed off immediately, sprinting ahead and leaping over the gap in the bridge once he reached it. He and Lightning were neck and neck, but he knew that would change soon. Especially when he made his way toward the zipline. Once off the bridge, he reached for the ladder and started to climb, knowing that the zipline could help him with the speed.

Lightning ignored the zipline and ran, but she wasn't terribly surprised when Riku zoomed past her from above and landed at the top of the hill. Rats. She didn't know how she could make up the lost ground now, but she would try. She sprinted up the hill, ignoring the biting cold air and focusing only on her goal.

Riku glanced behind him only for a second, a smirk coming to his face as he started leaping to the different ledges. When he reached the one that held the star-tree, he tagged it. "Better hurry," he said, winking at Lightning before he jumped down from the top ledge and booked it across the sand. Doing this...it made him feel like a kid again. It was a nice feeling to have. He didn't think Lightning realized how innocent he suddenly felt, how free. It was...sad, almost. He would never have it again.

Lightning followed Riku's lead and his advice, tagging the tree before running after him. Yet he still made it to the finish before she did. Not by much, but it wasn't extremely close either. She slowed her run once she was on that land, tipping her head back as she stopped and gathered her breath. She lost fairly--not because Riku's wink distracted her, even though it did. He was such a flirt, even when she was mad at him.

Riku put his hands on his hips as he smiled in triumph, trying to catch his breath at the same time. He turned around and looked at Lightning, shaking his head a little. "Not bad," he admitted. She kept up nicely, even though he did beat her. But that was because he ran the course so many times; he knew the ins and outs.

Light looked over and gave Riku an appreciative look, knowing that he wasn't patronizing her. He seemed to know from the start that was one of her pet peeves, so when he gave compliments, he meant them. You know you can't stay mad at him forever. He's such a terrific guy, even if he is a flirt. She knew it had only been around three days since she found out about the kiss, but maybe it was time to let him off the hook.

Riku's triumphant smile faded to a faint one, and he released a heavier breath as he looked out at the ocean. He caught that look Lightning gave him, and he wasn't really sure what to make out of it. Regardless, he noticed that the sky was getting darker...and that he had some confessions to make. It was time he told Lightning about his past. Everything.

Lightning glanced at the ocean and then towards the door. The sunset was nearly impossible to see from this side of the island--at least where they were standing. ...Did Riku want to go around to the other side and watch it? Light wasn't big on romance books and films, but she knew that watching the sunset together was one of the most innocent, romantic things a couple could do.

Riku finally caught his breath, and that was when he dropped his hands and looked to his companion. "Take a walk with me," he requested. "There are some things I want to tell you." He started toward the door, sure that Lightning would follow. He was going to reveal his past sins, things history books only briefly covered. Coming from the sinner himself, Lightning would know everything.

Lightning sensed something different in the air then. What happened to the joyful Riku who just beat her in a race? She wasn't about to ask stupid questions like that aloud though. Whatever Riku wanted to talk about, it must have been important. Was there something with Ashe that he didn't tell her? Did he really have feelings for her? Despite her questions, she followed his lead to the other side of the island.

Edited August 1, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku walked to the other side of the Island with Lightning, though they went up to the bridge this time. As he walked across it, he gazed at the sunset, his eyes narrowing slightly because it was so bright. That wouldn't last long, though, he was sure. "...You're the first girl I've ever brought here," he said softly, talking to the person beside him. Ashe had never come here, and neither had any other girl he dated. Lightning was the first...and they weren't even together.

Light looked over at Riku, surprised. She was the first. With all the girls Riku dated and flirted with in the past, she was the first he brought here. And they weren't even in a real relationship. "...I'm the first girl you've let see this part of your childhood?" she asked quietly, referring to everything Riku told her about his memories here with his friends. She was...touched. Very touched.

"Yeah," Riku said softly, then turning his head to look at Lightning. He told her she was special, and he hoped this proved it. Nobody had been here with him, as far as girlfriends went. Light wasn't even that, but he trusted her. What he was going to tell her, he was sure she wouldn't spread. Not even to Serah. It was hard to admit in the first place.

Lightning kept her gaze on Riku long enough to convey her thoughts and the message behind her gaze before she looked forward so she wouldn't trip on something. She understood the significance of Riku inviting her into his childhood, especially when he didn't allow any other girl in. Maybe he had been paranoid that other girls who were about fame and glory would use this against him to make him look childish, but he trusted her not to. Your trust isn't misplaced.

Riku approached the Paopu tree in silence after that, hopping onto it and sitting down. He let one leg dangle while he rested the other on the trunk, his arm sitting atop his knee. He gazed at the sunset for a moment, wondering how he was going to start everything. He guessed he could start with the islet, and what happened here--how he accepted the Darkness and was pulled away from his friends. It was best to start at the beginning.

Lightning sat down on the tree next to Riku, letting her legs dangle even if she instinctively wanted to bring them up closer to her chest to ward off the cold. It was chilly all day, but now that nightfall was approaching, it was going to get a lot worse. She wasn't going to complain though. She was here with Riku, and that alone made the cold worth bearing.

Riku gazed at the horizon for a while, letting the silence between him and Lightning sink in. But he knew he couldn't avoid this conversation forever. "...I wanted to talk to you about what happened to me," he started softly, keeping his eyes forward. "About how I fell into Darkness." And how he got out of it, he supposed. But that would come later. Right now, he needed to start at the beginning of it all. Of when his life took a drastic turn.

Lightning automatically looked over at Riku in surprise. This definitely wasn't what she was expecting. "...Are you sure?" she asked quietly. Falling into Darkness was no light topic, especially when it was actually something Riku experienced. If he felt the need to talk about it for some reason and didn't genuinely want to discuss it, she wouldn't force him to. Yes, she wondered about his past, but it was his past. He could bring it up if he wanted to, or he could act like it never happened. It was his choice.

Riku nodded a little, turning his head to look at Lightning. By the look in his eyes, she should have known that he was sincere. He wanted to talk about it; he had to. He hadn't really talked to anyone about it since he got back. Sora knew the story, as did Kairi, from personal experiences of their own. But...there was also another reason he wanted to share his story. Lightning shared so much of her life with him, and he hadn't shared enough of his own. He would hit two birds with one stone with this one.

Lightning nodded softly after a few moments, turning her gaze to the sunset. She would let Riku talk, then, since he wanted to. She would also listen, obviously, but she wouldn't pressure him with her stare. One thing that she was good at was being a patient listener; she had plenty of practice with Serah that helped her develop that skill.

Riku gazed at Lightning a moment longer before he turned to look at the sunset, at least while it lasted. There wasn't much left. "...You know how every world has a Keyhole, and once it's opened, the Darkness has a way of sinking in?" he started softly, voice lower than normal as he reflected on his past. "...I was the one who did that. I've been able to see the Keyhole since I was little, because of a guy I met here on the Island back then. I don't remember his face or his name, but I remember seeing his Keyblade and going through some type of ceremony. He gave me the power to have the Keyblade, even if I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into." Riku's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the memory. "Every time I was on the Island and saw the Door, I remembered. Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me, and so did my impatience. I was sick of being trapped on the Islands. Sora, Kairi, and I built a raft to leave, but I knew it wouldn't work. We would have died after a few days away from the Islands, so I went to the Door and used some kind of power. After a little while, I realized it was the Keyblade's power, even if I didn't have the weapon in my hands at the time." Riku shook his head. "I was stupid, and I ended up destroying my home."

Edited August 2, 201213 yr by Forever Love

Lightning remained silent, only listening to the story. She didn't give off the vibe that she was disgusted with him though. This was the past, not the present. This person who destroyed his home--her home too--wasn't the same person that was sitting beside her and telling her all of this. This was all crazy already. Riku got a Keyblade through some ceremony? She had no clue a Keyblade was gained that way.

"Sora realized something was wrong, not that I'm very surprised," Riku continued lowly, frowning at the memories. "He found me right over there." He motioned to the center of the islet with his head. "He tried to get me to help him find Kairi, and he was scared because he didn't know what was going on. All I knew then was that the Islands was going to be swallowed by Darkness, and I was finally going to be able to leave. It was our only chance, and I didn't care what I had to do in order to leave. So I welcomed the Darkness." He closed his eyes, reliving the memory in his head and hating it. Scared of it. "The Darkness swallowed me and took me away from Sora. I have no idea what happened to him after that, even now." At least his best friend was alive. That was what Riku was thankful for most.