Riku flopped down on the beach with a heavy sigh, feeling down again. He buried his face in his knees to shield it from the light, not really wanting to watch the sunset or eat ice cream-- it wasn't the same without her.
Without Rachel... everything seemed different. It was too quiet. Sora had been trying to stay positive, but this was hard on everyone.
Copper snuggled up beside him and gave a small "Yip!" As though telling Riku that everything would be okay.
"Thanks, bud..."
Rachel walked through a quiet forest, looking this way and that for Maleficent-- but she was nowhere in sight.
She sighed and turned to her small companion, and asked him, "Well... What should we do now?"
Suddenly, a strange, unexpected sadness engulfed her heart, mixed with worry, and...
And guilt.
Oh, I'm sorry, tough guy. I have to do this.
"You okay?" asked Chicken Little, looking at her with concern.
"I'm fine," She replied, "but..."
"Hm?"
"...Nothing. I'm not sure you'd really understand."
And the two of them pressed on.
Riku looked up, feeling a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, you doing alright?"
"Axel. I'm... fine."
"Clearly." Axel muttered with a shake of his head. "C'mon, let's go have some fun. It's pretty obvious that you need cheering up. Let's go to Twilight Town."
They hung out, but he didn't say much, just stared at the ground and sighed on occasion.
"Man..." Axel muttered, scratching the back of his head, after trying struggle matches, grandstander, and cooking at the bistro-- none of which did anything. Riku's eyes remained fixated on the ground.
"There's gotta be somethin' that can... Oh! How 'bout you and I go get some ice cream?"
They went to the sweets shop, bought two ice creams and headed to the clocktower.
"It's like Roxas all over again. You're a total zombie!"
"Sorry..."
Riku stared below the clocktower, watching Hayner, Pence, and Olette as he bit into his ice cream.
After finishing their ice cream in silence, they went back to the island.
"Sorry I couldn't do anything to help, man." Axel saidd quietly.
"It's fine, i-it's not your fault."
He really did feel bad for not being able to cheer him up. After a whole day, he was as sad and quiet as ever.
Rachel stopped in her tracks again, feeling her chest ache again.
"Riku..."
She pulled out the Gummiphone.
"Well, see you tomorrow, kid... I guess. Really sorry." Axel said as he turned to leave.
"Stop apologizing."
"S--... Right. See ya."
Just then, the silver-haired boy's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out.
A gasp slipped out and the Gummiphone fell from his hand, but Riku fumbled to pick it back up...
He stared at the screen for a good while, mouth opening and closing even though no words came out. A tear rolled down his cheek.
He'd just received a text...
A text from Rachel.
"This is... way too good to be true. I-i-it's a cruel prank. I-- I swear. I... just got a text from her."
"From-- from Rachel!?"
Riku nodded, wiping his blurry, watery eyes so he could read the message.
"Great!"
"Hey, tough guy. I hope you're doing alright. I'm so, so sorry for running away, but... there's something I have to take care of. I love you so much, and I miss you. Take care. <3"
"Rae... How long will you be gone for?"
"I'm not sure."
"Are you okay? Are you safe?"
"I'm fine. :)"
"Good."
"I... I have to go now."
"Okay. Love you."
"Love you, too."
Riku turned off his phone. Axel could clearly see it coming, from the look in his eyes.
And the boy had felt it coming as soon as he'd seen her name on the screen.
An unstoppable flow of tears spilled down his cheeks, and he turned away from his friend, who rushed over. And that was when Sora showed up.
"Whoa, what happened? Are you okay?"
"I-- I-- I g-got a--" He tried to reply, but just ended up sputtering.
"He got a text from Rachel." Axel explained, putting a hand on Riku's shoulder. "Give him a minute."
After some time, it finally slowed. He took a deep breath, smiling and shutting his eyes.
I'm with you.
YOU ARE READING
My Dark Heart: Ryan's tale (a Destinies Intertwined, Riku x Oc sequel)
FanfictionA year after Master Xehanort's defeat, Ryan comes to two terrifying realizations One: His sister has gone missing Two: Briefly being controlled by Ansem had left a dark stain on his heart (The only Oc's are Ryan and Rachel and their parents) (and th...
