Sorrow's Promise

Chapter 15

"So, where are we going today?" I had just finished changing shirts after an excessive amount of sweating during our morning training session, and was walking back into the foyer to meet Riku.

"You decided to come with me again, huh?" Riku smirked. "I had a feeling you would. That's why I brought this." He held up the black fabric in his hand, and I could immediately tell that it was another coat just like his.

"Ooh, you shouldn't have," I exclaimed sarcastically.

Riku tossed me the coat. "Hey, it might not be the latest fashion trend, but if you're going to be traveling by dark corridor and following the Organization around, you're gonna need it."

Unzipping the coat, I slipped it over my arms and jiggled my shoulders up and down to get a feel for it. "It's actually more comfortable than I anticipated." I zipped it back up the front. "Not as hot as I assumed it would be, either. Oh, do I get to do the creepy, you-can't-see-my-face thing, too?" Reaching back, I grabbed the hood and pulled it up over my head and eyes, then held up my hands like claws. "Shire...Baggins..." I hissed.

Riku shook his head with a look of amusement on his face. "Are you ready now?"

"Yep," I laughed, shoving the hood back again. "But you still didn't tell me where we're going."

Drawing in a deep breath, Riku looked away and let out the air in a heavy sigh. "Home."

My eyebrows flew up in surprise. "Wait, you mean like, your home? The beach?"

"Destiny Islands," Riku nodded. "Yeah, that's what I mean."

It didn't take a genius to tell that he wasn't overly happy about this trip. "Have you been back there since...?"

"No." He gave me a smile that was definitely forced. "But there's supposed to be an Organization member there right now. So let's go see what they're up to, shall we?"

I agreed, and he opened a dark corridor for us. If I was honest with myself, I kind of missed holding onto his arm as we crossed through into the In Between. Riku opened another door, and we walked out into bright sunshine that left me blinking after the previous darkness.

We were standing right at the edge of the water, with gentle waves lapping up almost to our feet. "Whoa," I breathed. As my eyes adjusted, I let my gaze sweep over the endless turquoise ocean in front of us. I had seen so many pictures of beaches in my life, but none of them quite did this justice. The heat of the sun on my head, the smell of the water, the sounds of the waves rolling in and birds crying overhead, the wind blowing spray off the ocean into my face. I closed my eyes for a moment and breathed deeply, soaking it all in.

"Nothing ever seems to change here," Riku commented from beside me.

Opening my eyes, I glanced up at his solemn face, then looked back out over the water. "It's so beautiful," I sighed. "I've always wanted to see a beach in person."

I could see Riku cock his head towards me out of the corner of my eye. "You've never been to the beach before?" he asked, surprised.

I shook my head. "Foster kids don't usually get taken on too many vacations. At least, not in my experience."

"I guess growing up here, you kind of take it for granted," Riku shrugged. "Don't get me wrong, I love the beach. It's nice to feel the crunch of sand underneath my feet again." He shifted his feet, and I did the same, giggling quietly at the strange new sensation.

Riku sighed. "Maybe someday I'll make it back here, for real. We'll see. I'm just not ready yet." He turned his back to the water. "For now, though, we have a job to do."