d a w n m a s t e r y

               Just like the last time, Riku blinked his eyes open to find himself on the dock of the play island. He was well aware that it wasn’t actually Destiny Islands that he was standing on, but rather Sora’s memory of it within his Heart. Figuring that it was best not to waste his time, he began walking. 

               It had been a bit strange to explain to Sora that there were people besides Roxas within his Heart. Sora had no idea who the boy who looked just like his Nobody was… or the girl, though he had said that he came across her during their exam, just as Riku had. She was the reason that Riku was here in his friend’s Heart once again, although he had no hope of explaining why he needed to see her a second time. The best answer he could give himself and the others was that he felt like he must know her from somewhere, and that he thought she was important somehow. He had decided to exclude the fact that she wore Organization XIII’s uniform to spare everyone the worry. 

Questioning Sunset

               Riku couldn’t even hope to explain why this was, but… he felt like a lot of events from a very specific time period had managed to evade his memory. It wasn’t as though he had trouble remembering most things – in fact, he had a relatively good memory, he thought – and the fact that months were missing from his thoughts was more than a little unsettling, especially with how inexplicably important it felt. He was very confused as to why he was so upset over something he couldn’t even remember, but he was. 

               There were some nights where he laid awake, staring at the ceiling, listening to the waves. It was in that state of half-consciousness that he felt closest to the answers. It was this that had led him to head out to the beach and pick up seashells, twiddling them in his fingers as he dozed off. Riku swore that he could catch glimpses of his missing memories on the edge of the waking world and the sleeping one – or, rather, he could remember the smells and sounds, his vision having been obscured in those days. 

               He remembered a girl’s voice, tinged with confusion and sorrow. He remembered the scent of darkness clinging to her clothes, but not deep enough to be coming from her own self. He remembered holding a small figure in his arms on the islands he had once called home. He remembered a name, right on the edge of his tongue, so close he could almost taste it—

               Thank you, Riku.

               Turquoise hues shot open when he woke, lips parting to try and speak a name that he had already lost again. After a moment, Riku released a sigh, looking around for the thalassa that had slipped from his fingers upon having drifted off. 

❝Aren't they beautiful?❞

❝The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us.❞

❝What's that over there?❞

❝These stars are nothing compared to the ones I've seen in your eyes.❞

❝Shooting star, make a wish.❞

❝It's actually a comet, but I'll still make one.❞

❝And if you look over there, you'll see Corvus.❞

❝Imagine if it could always be this way, even in the city.❞

❝Looks like a great night for flying..❞

❝Can you sing that one song? Y'know, the about the little star sweeper?❞

❝Never thought something so beautiful could exist in nature...❞

❝Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another.❞

❝Wouldn't it be cool to name a star after yourself?❞

❝Y'know, your roof may not be the safest place for us to stargaze.❞

❝This is why you made me drive three hours out into the middle of nowhere?❞

❝Is that a-- wait, no, just an airplane.❞

❝I wouldn't mind falling asleep out here.❞

               It’s far from the first time Riku has been like this, but that never makes it any easier. With his father away for a bit, it’s Sora’s parents who were asked to keep an eye on Riku in his absence. It’s a good thing that autoimmune disorders aren’t contagious, because the last thing anyone needs is for Anya or – heaven forbid – Sora to come down with it: this flare up is a bad one. Everything hurts, it’s hot and it’s cold all at once, his body fighting itself like it’s only supposed to with disease. 

               He doesn’t know why this happens to him so often, why he’s different from Sora and kids his age, or how it was this that had taken his mother away, causing her to bleed out so shortly after he was born, getting Riku’s once-black hair to turn pale in color when he was only a year or so old. He’s still too young to know any of this, despite the fact that it sits heavy on his tiny shoulders. What he does know is that he wants his dad. He wants this to stop. He wants to run around and play like Sora does instead of feeling awful and being holed up inside. 

               Riku hates being sick. Hate is a strong word, he remembers his father saying once, but he means it. 

               “I think you’re confusing me with Sora,” Riku retorted easily, throwing Kairi a light smile as she joined him. Kairi was correct: he hadn’t been sleeping, although he had been taking it easy for a few minutes after some training on his lonesome. If there was anyone who had always gone above and beyond when it came to a physical routine, it was Riku.