1

The rain came down in cold drops,

As Sora headed home to the small house on the quiet backroad, his hands shoved in his pockets to guard against the chill.

He fingered the tattered piece of black cloth that was once a glove, and a soft smile crossed his lips, as memories of the man who once wore it danced through his head.

He turned a corner, and thought about how it had all come to this point: as a kid on Destiny Islands, he couldn't have ever predicted the way things would turn out.

The 19-year-old felt his sky blue eyes moisten with more than just raindrops, as he remembered... and these memories were painful.

The Mark Of Mastery in the Dream Realm had left a hole that could never be filed in he and Riku's friendship, and Sora left the Islands at 17 to go to Twilight U, while Riku remained to attend the local community college. Kairi headed out for safer pastures, sick of being a Princess Of Heart, and damning all pre-ordained fate.

 

As he neared the small house he rented, he wondered if his decision had been a good one: had it been HIS idea.... or fates?

13

"... are confusing meeee.... "

Damn straight, thought Neku, as he stared at two men, who lay crumpeled in the wreckage of the snack bar, clothes torn and riuned, both quit clearly out cold.

" Neku? What happened?" Said Shiki, clutching Mr. Meow close to her side, as she edged close to the men, who had begun to stir a little.

Neku did something he'd never done before: he took of his headphones.

" Ungh..." The taller, silver haired sat up, his work shirt torn down the front.

" You ok?" Said Shiki, gracefully averting her eyes from the nearly shirtless man on the ground before her.

" uhh.. yeah... I .. I feel.."

Riku laid a hand on the back of his platnium hair: it came away red.

Neku ran forward to catch him, as he face planted on the cement.

Edited September 15, 201312 yr by TheTimidLight

14

Riku was floating, no visable signs around to show him where he was, only darkness.

He some how KNEW he was dreaming, but could do nothing about this fact, and merely let himself float along the great blackness that surrounded him.

He thought he heard whispers in the darkness, but the air was deathly silent at the same time, cold and dank.

Riku, can you hear me?

" Yes. Who are you? "

Nevermind that. Right now, you must listen: The Princessess... they need you, they need you both.

Riku suddenly realized the voice was speaking into his mind, but this oddly didn't trouble him.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" God, is he ok?" Shiki squeaked, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet in worry, her face a twist of fright and concern, distorting her usually pretty features.

Neku wondered what had gone on; men usually didn't fall from the sky to crash parties like that.

The fact of every party guest still being frozen was odd as well, but there was no sense worrying about it now.

He stood, brushing street dust of the knees of his shorts.

" He'll live; nasty bump though."

He nodded at Sora, " What about him?"

Sora sat a few feet away, staring blankly ahead, his eyes distant, almost like...

Sudden fear gripped Neku's very being: like someone who's lost their heart to the darkness!

Edited September 24, 201312 yr by TheTimidLight