Chapter thirty-seven: Keeping Riku Safe

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Shortly after they got home, Riku fell asleep on the beach, completely drained in every way. Sora decided to stay with him, when a day had passed and his best friend still hadn't opened his eyes. "What'll we do?" He asked Goofy. "Riku's shutting down. He'll never be the same without her. And... I really miss her, too." They thought for a minute. 

"Well, what about that there Replica Program?" "Huh?" "You guys said we'll bring 'er back, just like Roxas and Namine." "That could work. But what about her heart? I do feel like it's still here." Goofy looked over Sora's shoulder, at Riku. "...You think?" 

They decided to talk to Ienzo about it. "You go. I'm gonna stay here. Riku's my friend. I can't just leave him all alone, not with what he's going through. Someone's gotta be here, to look after him while he's asleep, and help him out when he wakes up. Someone to talk to, and even a shoulder to cry on. I feel like... I feel like Riku needs me." Sora closed his eyes, as his mind flashed to when they were both very little. A promise he'd made to Aqua. 

"You make sure to stay with him, and keep him safe. That's your job, Sora. And I'm counting on you to do it, okay?" 

"...Right." Riku's mind was going back as well, to his promise to Terra. Protecting the things that mattered. He was now completely convinced that he'd failed to keep that promise, and his dreams kept going back. It was only when a gentle hand squeezed his, that his mind eased, knowing it was Sora, and the nightmares ended for the time being. But he still didn't wake. The process went on for a few days. 

His breath would become audible and shaky, and he would tense up, panicking. Then Sora would squeeze his hand, reminding him that everything would be okay, and he'd slowly exhaled, whispering. "Sora..." Sometimes, Sora would even snap, telling him to pull it together, and Riku's mouth would twitch into a soft smile. "Best friends... forever..." "That's right. It's me. It's Sora. You can relax." Squeezing his hand, he watched and felt Riku steady, as he drifted off once more.

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