#riku x kairi

[autumn-may]

waiting for the bus

[kumeko]

A/N: For the Shorelines and Sandcastles zine! My first ship in the game, I’m still very partial to them now. Especially to Kairi being a bit of a shit to Riku XD

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Riku was a traveller. Kairi had known that going in, had known that since they were little kids, sneaking around the yard as they pretended to explore a jungle. Sora and Riku had always taken the lead, wayward adventurers clearing the path, and she had tagged along because it had looked fun. None of this had changed as they grew up, as backyards became neighbourhoods became cities, as their journeys took them further and further from home.

Even now, half-way through university, Kairi could hear Riku’s wanderlust on the phone as he rambled on and on about his new city. Sitting on her bed, her red blanket half covering her legs, she leaned back against the headboard as she listened to him describe the beaches near his dorm and the crusty old man selling spicy fries. If she closed her eyes, she could see his bright eyes, his small smile. There was none of Sora’s energy in his words, but she preferred it that way. If Sora had been the sun in their childhood, their leader and constant motivator, then Riku had been the earth, stabilizing them all and keeping them on path.

And she was the moon, pulled along by their gravity.

“Kairi?”

She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Huh?”

“Were you listening?” Riku sounded mildly exasperated. In the background, she heard seagulls cry and waves crash. He gently teased, “Or is it past your bedtime?”

“If it is, it’s only because you had to go to another time zone for uni,” Kairi huffed in response, covering up her embarrassment with mock hurt. It wasn’t like her to be so gloomy, especially when their timetables finally synced up for a proper call. “I can’t believe you left your girlfriend behind like that.”

It was an old disagreement, one they delved into when they were bored. She could almost hear him roll his eyes. Wryly, Riku pointed out, “You didn’t even want to apply for this school. What did you say again—that it was too much packing?”

“Well, it was. It took you a day and you don’t even own anything.” Kairi grimaced as she scanned her bedroom. Between her posters and her clothes, she’d have trouble getting the bare necessities. “It’d take me a whole week.”

He chuckled, deep and rich. She’d missed the sound. “You just have too much shit.”

Riku had always been a minimalist, preferring functionality over form. Kairi understood, but only to a point—what was the point in having an entire room if you didn’t personalize it? Why even live if you weren’t actually going to live? The only good thing was that he had an eye for style and quality; if Riku bought something, it would last for years.

“Some of us like having things. Also, that’s sacrilege,” Kairi huffed, wrinkling her nose at the insult. “None of my things are ‘shit’, that’s all Sora’s poor-quality impulse buys.”

“Oh, don’t get me started on that.” RIku groaned. There was a soft thud as he leaned against a wall. “He sent pictures of his room. I don’t think he has a bed anymore. Or a floor.”

“Same-day shipping was a mistake,” Kairi agreed, remembering all of the pictures Sora had sent in the group chat. Alone in a new city, there was no one to protect their poor friend from his terrible lifestyle choices. “Did he get a pet? Or two?”

“I’m not sure,” Riku admitted. She was certain he was rubbing his forehead now, though that wouldn’t save him from his frown-wrinkles. “I thought his roommates were dressing up as a prank, but maybe he really did buy a duck and a dog?”

“This is why I didn’t leave home.” Kairi shook her head sadly. “Look at all the misery I’ve been spared.”

Riku laughed, a short, bark-like sound. “Look at all the adventures you missed.”

“There’s plenty of adventure here,” she countered.

“Like the trip to the ice-cream shop? You can say what you want, but I know the truth.” She heard a squeak as an old window slid open and the seagulls’ cries grew louder. Riku teased, “You just wanted to stay home, didn’t you?”

“It’s comfy here,” she weakly protested.

Riku laughed fondly. “You’re such a homebody.”

“And you’re a nomad,” she retorted.

They’d had this argument before. For fun, when she relaxed on the beach while Riku dreamed of rafts and pirates. Seriously, when they were tykes and she had been scared to step onto the sidewalk.

And now, it hit home like a punch to the gut. It was such a basic fact. She’d known it before they’d started dating, before she’d fallen in love with him. His eyes had always been on the horizon, on the places just out of sight. Hers had always been on the ground, focused on familiar comforts. If he liked travelling, she liked staying still. If he liked adventure, she liked lazing around. And now he had actually left. Would he like his new home? Would he stay? Would she be forced to follow? The questions crowded her throat, wanting to get out, and she stared at the phone.

“Kairi?” He sounded concerned when she didn’t respond. “Kairi?”

She swallowed down her worries, too afraid to ask. Weakly, she grumbled, “You know, it’s not fair you’re right next to the beach. It’s still cold here.”

“I don’t think there actually is ‘winter’ here. Seriously, Kairi, what’s wrong?” Riku replied quickly, not dropping the matter. He’d always been ridiculously perceptive when it came to her.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she mumbled.

“Kairi. You’re a terrible liar.” There was a long silence before he added, “If you want, I’ll ask Sora to call you—”

“No!” Kairi immediately cut him off. It had been an old insecurity of his, comparing himself to Sora, and she knew how hard it must have been for him to suggest that. “It’s not…He doesn’t…I’m just scared.”

Riku breathed in sharply. “Of what?”

“I don’t know…” Kairi ran a hand through her hair. “No, I do know, I’m…here. You’re there. It’s just…It’s exciting over there and it’s boring here and I’m not, I’m not really—” She dropped her hand, staring at her palm. It felt silly, complaining about this. Like she was in elementary school again, crying that the boys had left her behind.

They were adults now. This was just whining. Softly, she whispered, “I miss you.”

In all honesty, that was the root of her fears.

It was silent on his end. A seagull squawked, the wind blew, and she could just picture him leaning against his window, staring at the sea. His expression would be tight, his brows knit, and she really wanted to see his face right now.

Finally, he broke the silence with a simple “Oh.”

That quiet response knocked her back to her senses. Mortified, she flushed. “Never mind, I—”

“You know,” Riku interrupted. “I was going to keep this a secret, but I’m coming home next weekend.”

Kairi almost dropped her phone. “R-really?” she squeaked.

He chuckled. “Yeah, really.”

“Why—” She glanced at the Mickey Mouse calendar on her wall, taking note of the date. “Oh, the long weekend?”

“It is, but that’s not why.” Kairi heard him shift, his clothes rustling in the breeze. “I didn’t come back for the last one.”

She half-wished they’d done a video call instead. Riku had never been much of a talker, his body often speaking for him. Kairi couldn’t read his voice at all. It was terrifying. “Then why?”

“It’s nice out here,” he replied evenly. “There’s a beach. There’s a series of caves. There’s so much to see and do here.”

Kairi had no idea where this was going. “You’re bragging,” she accused.

“A little,” Riku admitted with a laugh. “But the thing is, whenever I find something new, I just want to call you after. I only like finding these places because I want to see your reaction. Even now…I’m just counting down the days till I come home to you.”

She didn’t have to see his face to know how red it was, to hear the slight hitch in his voice whenever he got embarrassed. Not that it mattered; even if they had video on, Kairi wouldn’t have been able to see him. No matter how quickly she blinked, tears filled her eyes. “That’s mushy,” she mumbled, her voice cracking.

“I’m never saying it again,” he stated. “Ever.”

“Still mushy.” Kairi wiped her eyes. “I love you, too.”

There was an embarrassed cough on the other end. Riku cleared his throat. “Hey, Kairi, next time why don’t you visit me.”

Kairi was a homebody. She always would be. Yet, that didn’t mean she didn’t like a vacation every once in a while. Especially if Riku was waiting on the other side, with his warm eyes and confident smirk, with his firm hands and gentle hugs.

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

[pupsandartwork]

sorikai gem fusion

[alieinthemorning]

Star Crossed Festival [Rikai Week 2020]

Content: Fluff, AU: Fantasy, Wishes, RiKai Week 2020, Oaths & Vows, Poem: When by Lang Leav

Header:@natade-art

Reblogs: Let me know that you enjoy my work and want to see more, so don't forget to like and reblog (and comment in the tags. I love seeing people’s rambles in the tags)!

This work's concepts, plot and original characters are my own which means I do not allow any sort of creative theft nor do I allow my work to be entered into any sort of A.I. bots. Thank you for respecting my space and boundaries.

Three knocks woke her. “Princess, time to wake up.” A soft voice announced.

Kairi groaned. “Five more minutes.”

“You said that five minutes ago.” The covers were snatched from her, allowing the cold air to attack her exposed legs. She shoved her nightgown down over them and glared at the blonde who roused her from her slumber.

Just as she opened the curtains.

Kairi harshly flinched back from the light, causing her to tumble over the side of the bed and fall to the floor with a loud thud.

The door burst open, “Princess!” and a sword left its sheath.

“She’s fine, Sir Riku.” Her lady in waiting giggled. “Just had a little rude awakening.”

The man sighed. “If you say so.” Then, with a curt ‘good morning’, he took his place outside once more.

Kairi shimmed from underneath the bed. “Naminé!”

Said woman giggled. “Yes, my lady?”

“Don’t ‘my lady’ me.” She climbed to her feet, dusting off her nightgown. “Anyhow, what’s on the agenda today?”

As Naminé went through her list of responsibilities, Kairi shifted her attention to the outside.

“Hey, Naminé?” A hum in acknowledgement. “Can we go outside after breakfast?”

“Only for a short while, my lady.”

Per her wishes, Naminé dressed her in a low-high empire dress. She relished in the cold water lapping against her ankles as the sun beamed down upon her.  

As she reached down for a blue tinted shark eyes shell, her gaze trailed to the sparkling ocean behind.

“The Star Crossed Festival is tomorrow, isn't it?”

Naminé huffed. “I’ve been telling you about it for weeks! Honestly, do you ever listen, my lady?”

Riku chuckled. “I believe her highness keeps her head too far in the clouds to hear us.”

“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be in the crowd.”

“You always seem to slip away right when you’re needed.”

“No, I mean like,” Kairi stood, gaze on the horizon. “Being down with the people of my kingdom and those from the far lands.” She ran her hands across the rugged skin of the shell. “What kind of music plays? How do the people dance? What kind of foods will there be? Will it be as magical as I’ve always dreamed...”

Her two friends were silent, the sound of the waves carrying her questions along with them. She knew she would never be allowed among her people unless she were armed with almost all of the royal guard.

“Well, I do have a dress that would fit you, and it wouldn’t take much to change your hair…”

Kairi whipped around. “Huh?”

Naminé nodded. “Yep! I’m sure we can sneak you in, no problem!”

“We?” She and Riku echoed.

She winked. “Even if she’s undercover, the princess still needs to be protected by her royal guard.”

Everything was just as she imagined it to be and more. The lights were golden and lit the smiling faces of the patrons beautifully. The music was familiar yet different, while the dances were something completely other worldly. The food was also to die for! She’d have to get them working in the kitchen as soon as possible.

“This is amazing!” Kairi shouted as she pulled Riku deeper into the crowd.

“Your majesty—”

She spun on her heel, jabbing her finger in his face. “Rikai! I’m undercover!”

Riku sighed, letting her drag him along once more.

When Kairi was finally tired enough to be pulled away from the bustling crowd, Riku led her to the shore. The cool salty breeze doing wonders on her heated face. She found herself staring at the boats that lined the docks, then further down to the full moon dancing atop the water’s edge.

“Hey, Riku?” He grunted. “What’s beyond the horizon?”

“The rest of the world.”

“Yes, but what is that? The rest of the world.” She wrapped his jacket, which she had stolen, closer around herself. “Is it like our kingdom? Or is it different? Is it better or is it worse?” She sighed. “What lies beyond the horizon without the light of the moon?”

Riku was quiet for a long while as he contemplated her question. “Even in the deepest darkness,” His voice pulled her from the moon’s stare and into the green pools of his own. “There is light.”

He looked up and Kairi swore she saw a glint of light in his eyes. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flicker of something.

She gasped, and stood, “A meteor shower! It's beautiful!”

“It truly is.”

“Let’s make a wish.”

Another bout of silence fell upon them, the stars fell from the heavens.

Just as she was going to tell him she was ready to go, a familiar tune. One that brought her back to once she was a babe.

“Grandma, sing me the song!"

“Again?”

“Yes, I love it!"

“Well, alright."

"When every night

You close your eyes,

And long inside

For something more.

Remember this

And only this,

If nothing else

You can recall—

There was a life

A girl once led,

Where you were loved

The most of all.”

“How romantic! Will I grow up to be that girl?”

“You already are that girl. You only need to find someone to give your love to.”

“Give my love to…” She placed a hand over her ever beating heart.

“Kairi.” She jolted. He hadn't called her by her name since they were children. He certainly had her full attention. “May I tell you what I wished for?”

She puffed her red cheeks. “No! If you tell me, then it won’t come true.”

He gave her a soft smile. “I believe that it will happen regardless.”

“If you’re sure…”

He took a deep breath, then dropped to one knee with a hand over his heart. “Princess Kairi of the Isles, might you do me the honor of allowing me to protect you with every ounce of my being?”

Kairi was speechless, her heart tumbled, her body shook.

He pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “I give you this vow of holding my heart forever more.” He flipped the box open and there laid a simple silver band with a beautiful pearl.

She dropped to her knees and placed her hands over his.

“I shall take care of it always, as you shall take care of mine.”

THE WAY THAT I SURPRISED MYSELF WITH THAT ENDING

I TOO FELT LIKE THE READER IN THAT MOMENT

Ko-Fi | Commission | Masterlist

[skytsunrose]

Rikai is so underrated so heres a one shot for them that I tried my best at it.

[haido]

Listen to my story

(KH ver.)

[luxmoogle]

˖♫ + *' +*:ꔫ Brand Ambassadors *ੈ✩‧₊ + ☆⋆｡࿐ Kingdom Hearts X The World Ends With You

[kittyjosei]

@ohnoesitsnidia Requested Vala and sigrun, but my pc died and I could only finish vala, next is sigrun!

Is only me or does Riku look a lot like Vala???

.⋆ ✯⛧⋆ . Request more KH characters! .⋆ ✯⛧⋆ .

[varietivity]

My contribution to the Kingdom Hearts community becoming Organization XIII members when Twitter rebranded to X in the last week.

There is also a BONUS PANEL in a reblog to this post.

[nikutsuneart]

Yesterday's Mermay Community Draw stream!

The program was giving me grief so I didn't get to draw too much unfortunately ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So a BIG thank you to everyone who came and contributed many a sora and riku in my stead hehe 🧜‍♀️

[idkhow2usetmblr]

Hey KH fans, i wanna make a poll (or maybe a tournament) about rare ships.

So please give me your rare ships but rare rare ships. the kind that only you and your bestie ship and no one else does

Im reading (I may not be able to pick ALL of them tho)

[thelamentknight]

Kairi: Really? Right in front of my chips?

Also this is a birthday gift for my friend and mutual @helpthegremlinisloose . Thank you for dealing with my bs and listening to me scream about my OTP every day. I gift you with a meme of your OTP 🎂🎂🎂

Reference under the cut

[phoenix-downer]

Love’s First Bloom

Summary: Kairi accidentally falls into a rushing river when she tries to pick a rare paopu flower. Sora and Riku work together to rescue her and realize they both have feelings for her.

Kairi likewise has a few realizations of her own.

~5000 words. Set between BBS and KH1. Love Triangle, Friendship, Romance, Fluff, Angst, Feelings Realization, Crushes, First Love, Introspection, Hurt/Comfort. POV Kairi, Riku, and Sora.

🌸🌼🌺

How quickly life can change. Like a cool breeze picking up or a slight shift in the scenery, suddenly what you took for granted can be gone in an instant. 

“C’mon, Kairi, let’s go!” Sora called. Kairi looked up from her current crafts project: a flower crown with purple asters, white chrysanthemums, blue forget-me-nots, and big red hibiscuses. Those colors were all nice together, but a yellow flower would be a nice addition. Maybe she’d find one as they went exploring. 

She tucked the flower crown in her pocket, then grabbed her straw hat and put it on. She wasn’t like Sora and Riku—they tanned easily, especially Sora, but her skin turned red so fast. And then the red turned into dozens and dozens of freckles. Redheads weren’t made for the tropical sun, and brief memories of another place flickered through her mind. A place with a big castle and lots of flowers and waterfalls. 

“Coming!” she cried as she stumbled after the boys. They were both so much faster than her, and the sand on the beach was always hard to run on. But presently the ground beneath her feet got more solid, and the boys finally slowed down as the three of them passed through the town and started climbing the hills behind it.

“Where are we going this time?” Sora asked, looking at Riku. Riku always decided what they would do. 

Riku grinned and swung his play sword. “It’s a surprise. But I think you’ll like it, Kairi.” He looked at her like he wanted her to say something. Come to think of it, he’d been looking at her a lot lately. 

“Oh, are there nice flowers?” she asked, her fingers resting on the flower crown in her pocket. She wanted to finish it as soon as she could.

Riku’s grin got bigger, and his eyes had a teasing glint in them. “Maybe.” 

“And pretty scenery?” she pressed. Every part of Destiny Islands was pretty, but Riku always knew the best spots.

“Only the best for you,” Riku said, and Kairi felt a funny feeling blooming in her chest.

Sora frowned, his face twisting into a scowl. “I know some pretty spots too, Kairi,” he said. 

Riku rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. The stuff I showed you guys last week,” he said, and Kairi giggled into her hand. 

Now Sora was pouting. “That’s not true, I know a lot of nice spots Riku doesn’t know!” 

“Prove it, then,” Riku said, and Sora muttered something about how he would. At the branch in the mountain path up ahead, he led them to the right. They followed the path for a little longer until Sora took them off the path and through a clump of trees. On the other side was a beautiful clearing full of wildflowers, perfect for sparring. The sound of running water reached Kairi’s ears. There must be a branch of the river nearby. 

“Oh, this is really pretty!” Kairi exclaimed, clasping her hands together. She glanced at Sora, and he grinned and rubbed his cheek. 

“Hmmph,” Riku said. It was clear this was a place he hadn’t been before. Either that or he had but hadn’t thought to bring them here.

Sora pulled his wooden sword out. “Wanna fight?” he asked Riku, and at this Riku perked up. He loved the chance to spar with Sora. He pulled his sword out too and moved into an attack stance. 

Kairi smoothed her skirts and dutifully sat down on the grass nearby. Sora recklessly charged, and Riku carefully evaded him, then caught him in the back. Sora plunged into a roll and then sprung to his feet. He whirled around so quickly that he caught Riku by surprise, knocking Riku over. But Riku still had a trick up his sleeve; he waited a few seconds, then pushed himself up with his arms, using his momentum to kick Sora with both of his feet. Sora flinched and yelped but still clung to his sword. And so the fight continued with neither of them getting the upper hand. Riku was stronger but Sora was faster, so it wasn’t clear who would win.

After a while, Kairi got kinda bored watching the boys fight. They sparred so often that she felt like she'd seen every combination of tricks they could pull off, and there were some pretty-looking flowers over by the riverbank that she really wanted to pick. She skipped off in the direction of the river. A quick glance over her shoulder told her the boys didn’t even notice because they were so focused on their fight. Smiling to herself, she continued on. She usually enjoyed hanging out with Sora and Riku, but sometimes they were just such…boys. Lately they’d been constantly sparring and competing with each other, even when she wanted to pick flowers or go swimming or make seashell crafts. 

Besides, this way she could give them both flowers no matter who won the fight. 

The wildflowers along the riverbank were really pretty. Their petals were small and delicate, like little blue bells hanging off the stems. The river sped along nearby, deceptively calm for having such a fast current. Her parents always warned her about not swimming in the water when it looked like that. One wrong move and she would easily get swept under. 

Humming, she picked a few more flowers and tucked them into her pockets. She was always careful not to take more than she needed. Only enough for her crafts—the rest she needed to leave behind so there would still be pretty flowers in the future. That was what her parents had taught her. The flowers she did pick would make nice gifts and supplies for her crafts.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brilliant yellow blossom. It had five petals, and the rounded shape of the petals made it look like a paopu fruit. Kairi’s breath caught. Was this the paopu flower? She’d only seen it a couple times in the wild before, and never in a place she could reach it. It was supposed to be super rare, and she hadn’t expected to see one today.

Which meant she had to pick it. Who knows when she might find one again? Edging towards the riverbank, she thought about who to give it to: Sora, or Riku. A blush crept up her cheeks. You were supposed to give the flower to someone you loved. But who did she love? She wasn’t really sure. 

Just…a little further…there. She plucked the flower and smiled, glancing back towards the boys. But the movement threw her balance off, and she gasped and dropped the flower. A clump of earth crumbled beneath her hands, and a root from a nearby tree broke off when she grabbed it. She clutched at something, anything, to keep herself from falling in, but it was too late. With a scream, she tumbled headlong into the cold, fast-moving waters of the river.

🌸🌼🌺

The moment Riku and Sora heard Kairi’s blood-curdling scream and then a loud splash, the boys dropped their swords and raced to the riverbank. Riku knew Kairi was a strong swimmer thanks to his careful lessons (well, and if he had to, he would admit Sora had helped her too), but the river was cold and the current was fast. And if she’d hit her head on anything when she’d fallen…

Riku reached the riverbank first. He yanked his shirt off and threw it on the ground. “Sora, I’m going in!” he called as Sora arrived, panting hard. “Find a branch I can hold onto and pull us out.” Sora nodded, trusting him completely, and with that Riku dove into the icy water. Man, it was cold, and the current was fast, but he had to find Kairi. She hadn’t fallen into the water much earlier than him, but—

There she was, a little further downstream. Her eyes were half-lidded and she was gripping a tree branch, but as he watched in horror, her hand went limp and she slipped back into the water. 

“KAIRI!” he shouted, then swam to her as fast as he could. This couldn't be the end of her. He wouldn't let it be. Ever since she had washed up on the shores of the Destiny Islands eight years ago, his life hadn't been the same. She'd been shy and quiet at first, her eyes always gazing off into the distance like she was searching for someone she couldn't find, but that was before she’d opened up to them. They were all friends now, and the thought of never hearing her giggle or seeing her smile or watching her eyes light up when he surprised her made his stomach churn and drove him to reach her. He had to see the way her eyes danced and her smile got playful when she teased him and Sora again. He just had to.

Faster, he had to go faster. His senses sharpened, and his feelings were as clear as the river rushing to take her away from him: he couldn't bear for her to slip out of his life just as suddenly as she'd entered it. Her head briefly popped out of the water again, and relief flooded him at the side of her familiar red hair. He reached towards her, he was almost there, just a little farther—

“Kairi, grab my hand!” he shouted.

She latched onto his arm with far more strength than he expected, and he knew Sora had to act quickly, or they would both drown. In her desperate state, Kairi wouldn't remember to avoid dragging Riku under the water with her. It was something all parents told their children on Destiny Islands, and the warning rang clear through Riku's mind.

“Riku, grab the stick!” 

Never had he been so relieved to hear his best friend's voice. Sora had tied himself to a tree with some spare rope and was holding out a tree branch to him, his eyes filled with panic and worry. Riku grabbed on, and the unwanted thought flashed through his mind that Sora might not be strong enough to pull them both out. He was still pretty scrawny and small. But a determined glint was in his friend’s eyes now, and Sora braced himself and pulled with far more strength than Riku thought he was capable of. The muscles in his arms strained and shook, and he gritted his teeth and groaned loudly, but he refused to let go. For a split second, Riku thought he saw a blond boy several years older than him in Sora's place, but then he was gone and it was just Sora. Slowly, inch by inch, he pulled Riku and Kairi out of the river.

Sheesh. Riku must've been seeing things with how stressed out he was. He turned his attention to Kairi. She gasped and coughed, and at last enough of Riku was on the bank to pull and drag her the rest of the way up. She was shivering, soaking wet, and now covered in mud from the bank, but she was alive. He suddenly felt very, very weak, and as he glanced at Sora, he was shocked to see tears dripping down his cheeks.

“Thank goodness,” Sora said, sniffing and rubbing his red eyes, his voice filled with relief. “I thought I was gonna lose you both.”

Riku was irritated at how much of a crybaby Sora was being. Again. Seriously, he'd been such a crybaby ever since they were kids, and even at twelve years old, he still cried shamelessly in front of other people. Then Riku was annoyed at how little faith Sora had in him. Did Sora really think he wouldn't save Kairi? 

But when Sora smiled at them both and knelt to hug them, all of that melted away.

We really matter that much to him, don't we? A pang of guilt shot through Riku at how he'd been treating Sora lately. Putting him down in front of Kairi to try to impress her. Goading him and teasing him when he reacted and got upset. Turning everything into a competition because a tiny, green-eyed voice deep down wondered if Kairi liked Sora more.

Not that Sora noticed. The idiot was still so oblivious to his own feelings, let alone Kairi’s.

But Riku didn't push Sora away or tell him not to hug them. He didn't like how clingy Sora was being, but after what they’d all just been through, he would allow Sora to be clingy. Just this once.

“Kairi, you’re as cold as ice,” Sora said. He pulled away from them and frowned. He was right. When Riku touched her arm, it was way colder than it should've been. She coughed and wouldn't stop shivering, and when Sora said her name again, she didn't respond. 

“Kairi, wake up,” Sora begged, but she still wouldn't respond.

“I think she needs to see a doctor,” Riku said. “Hang on, let me grab my shirt so you can put it over her, then I'll go get her parents.”

He found his shirt upriver a little ways away from them, right where he’d left it, and brought it back. He tossed it to Sora and took off running, following the path of the river. He had to make it back to town as quickly as possible. But he was tired, so tired from going after Kairi. Would she really be okay? If only he were stronger, he could carry her all the way back to her parents or to the doctor himself.

Another pang of guilt shot through him. He needed more strength. More strength to protect her. His body was growing every day, but it still wasn't fast enough or strong enough. He still had to rely on adults for help. One day, he would have the strength to protect his friends himself. He had to. 

The thought urged him forward even as his legs ached and his lungs burned. Strength, to protect what matters. That was what he wanted, more than anything else.

🌸🌼🌺

Sora didn't know what to do. Even though he’d wrapped Riku’s shirt around Kairi, she kept getting colder and colder. She wasn't responding to him anymore, like she'd fallen into a deep deep sleep. She was still breathing, but her face was as pale as a ghost’s.

His heart was thundering in his chest, and his head swam. His arms ached from lifting Riku and Kairi out of the water, and he felt so useless. What good was it that he'd gotten her out of the water if she died here?

“Riku, hurry," he pleaded, but he knew he had to do something before his friend returned with help. It would still be a while yet before anyone else came. So he pulled Kairi close to his body and held her tight, hoping with all his heart that his warmth would make her body warm up again.

This was the closest he'd ever been to her, but all he could think about was how cold she was, how limp she was, how he wanted nothing more than for her to open her eyes again. Her eyes were so pretty. Blue like the sea with just a hint of purple, her favorite color. How did he not notice how pretty they were before? And now she might never open them again.

“Wake up, please,“ he begged, and the words sounded strangled and choked. “Kairi, you have to open your eyes!”

How could he have been so stupid? The thought of losing her made him realize just how much she meant to him. She was such an important part of his life, woven into so many memories as tightly as she wove her flower crowns and daisy chains together into beautiful creations. He couldn't imagine the future without her. In his mind, he'd arrogantly acted like she would always be there. But today had shown him he couldn't ever take a single moment with her for granted.

So he willed with all his heart that she would live, that his warmth would be enough. If it was, he would be sure to treasure every memory with her from now on.

After what was probably only minutes but felt like hours of agonized waiting, her skin felt ever so slightly warmer. At first he thought it was his overactive imagination, but no, a slight flush had returned to her cheeks. He gripped her even more tightly. A minute passed, and then another, and at last she stirred and opened her eyes.

“Sora?” she said weakly. Her voice sounded more like the croaks of the frogs they liked to catch in the pool on the Play Island, but to him it was the most wonderful sound in the world.

“You're awake!” He smiled, and in that moment he thought his heart would leap out of his chest. A warm, tingly sensation tumbled through him, but it wasn't a bad feeling. Just exciting and new. He would think about it later.

She smiled back. “You saved me. Thank you.”

He couldn't help himself. He hugged her tightly, and a moment later, he felt her arms wrapping around him. This was a very different hug from the quick hug he’d given her and Riku earlier. She was close, closer than she'd ever been, and something stirred deep inside him. His face, no, his entire body felt warm. He’d never been so aware of his body like this before, let alone hers. He was embarrassed by what he was feeling, but at the same time, he didn't want to let go of her either. It was like he couldn't move and didn't want to. She wasn't pulling away either. Did she like hugging him? He sure liked hugging her.

What was all this? He’d never felt like this before. Before he could make heads or tails of it, Riku returned with the grownups. 

The look on Riku's face was strange. Like Sora had just said something awful and punched him. Sora felt oddly…guilty. Like he shouldn't be hugging Kairi like this in front of Riku, even though it felt better than he could've imagined. So he pulled away from her even though he could've sat there hugging her for hours.

“Kairi, are you okay?" her mother asked, holding a blanket out to her daughter. The grownups took over from that point, and Sora just sort of watched everything in a daze.

Until Kairi wondered whose T-shirt she was wearing, and Riku shyly said that it was his. Kairi thanked him and tried to give it back to him, her cheeks pink as she avoided looking at his bare chest. Riku shook his head and insisted she keep it, and his cheeks were flushed too.

Sora felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. The breeze that had felt pleasant earlier felt cold now. Like the world was strange and different and off kilter because he knew something he wished he didn't. 

He understood now why Riku had given him that strange look. A tiny green-eyed monster reared its ugly head inside him. A creature of shadow that whispered Kairi's mine. Sora pushed the creature deep down to where he couldn't hear it anymore. Kairi wasn't a possession to own, she was a person. She was his friend. How could he even think something like that?

But a part of him didn't want her hugging anyone else the way she'd hugged him. And that part of him did not like the way she had looked at Riku, or the way Riku had looked at her.

Sora had stepped into a storybook he didn't want to be any part of. Riku was his best friend. Kairi was also his friend. He didn't want to hurt Riku, and he couldn't bear to watch Kairi smile at Riku or blush because of something Riku had said or giggle because of something Riku had done. He had the funny sense that the little green-eyed monster would grow bigger and stronger every time she did.

So when the grownups took Kairi back to the town, Sora stayed behind. She looked disappointed but didn't argue, and he promised he'd see her tomorrow. Now he was wandering back and forth by the river and kicking clumps of grass. He didn't think he could be around Riku or Kairi right now. He was relieved she was okay, but he had no idea what was going on with himself. The three of them were friends. They would always be friends. Right?

He wanted everything to go back to the way it was. Things had been fine this morning. Sure, Riku liked to tease him, and Kairi liked to tease him too, but he knew where his place was in that world. This new world, with these confusing new feelings? He had no idea. All he was sure of was that he wanted to hug Kairi again like that, but he didn't want to hurt Riku's feelings. And he knew that if Kairi ever hugged Riku the way she had hugged him, the monster might destroy him from the inside.

Not that he could ever let either of them know that. All of this felt so wrong and so complicated. 

He wandered over to the spot where Kairi had fallen in the river. A yellow flower with five petals caught his eye. Huh. The rounded shape of the petals kinda made it look like a paopu fruit. He picked it up and carefully tucked it in his pocket. It was a nice flower, and for some reason, he felt like it should stay with him. Maybe it was a token of good luck that had kept Kairi safe. He would take it home and put it in a vase. That would help it live for a while longer.

As he walked home, the future didn't seem so scary anymore. Those strange thoughts he had had earlier, those weird new feelings…it all felt a little silly now. He and Riku and Kairi would always be friends. He put his hands behind his neck and whistled as he walked the path home.

A tiny part of him, not the little green-eyed monster but something smaller and more delicate and yet harder to kill, hoped that someday, Kairi would hug him again like that, and that Riku wouldn't hate him for it.

🌸🌼🌺

The next day, Kairi was feeling much better. A good night’s sleep, her mother's miso soup, and the day off from school had worked wonders. Still, that had been an awfully close call, and she promised her parents never to do something so foolish again just to try to get a flower.

She sighed sadly. She'd been so close to having a legendary paopu flower of her own. Imagine what she could've done with it! Oh well. It certainly wasn't worth her life, and she knew she would find another one eventually.

The weather was perfect today. She happily skipped down the path to the main part of town, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Her father was the mayor, and her family lived in a big special house on a hill overlooking the town. Sora and Riku's families lived in town, so it was a bit of a walk to reach them, but she didn't mind.

She decided to stop by Sora's house first. It was a little closer, and he'd acted strange after their hug yesterday, and she wanted to know why. He’d gotten all quiet and thoughtful, which wasn't like him at all. She was a little bummed out he hadn't walked her home along with the grownups and Riku. But he’d said he wanted to stay behind a little longer, and she’d been too tired to argue.

She knocked on the door, then rocked up and down on her heels as she waited for him to answer, her hands behind her back. His mom opened the door instead and invited her in, and she greeted her politely and took off her shoes. Then she took the stairs two at a time and burst into his room. He was lying on his bed with his hands behind his neck, and he sat up, surprise written on his features until he realized it was her. His face lit up and then softened into a smile.

“Hey, Kairi! I'm glad you're feeling better.”

She tilted her head and leaned closer, which made his breath catch in an adorable way and a flush creep up his cheeks. “It's all thanks to you and—“

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brilliant yellow blossom carefully placed in a simple glass vase on his bedside table. It had five round petals, and Kairi’s breath caught. Was this the paopu flower she’d picked yesterday? 

“Sora, where did you find that flower?” 

He grinned. “Oh, that? It's pretty, isn't it? I found it on the riverbank yesterday and brought it home because I liked it.” He paused for a moment, studying her face. “Do you want it?”

She just stared at him for a few moments. You were supposed to give the flower to someone you loved. By fate or by chance, the flower had made its way to Sora. And in that moment, her feelings became crystal clear. The flower was a sign, but it hadn’t made up her mind. No, it was simply confirmation of what she already knew, deep down inside her heart.

She was very grateful to Riku for saving her from the river and for his friendship over the years, and like every other girl on the islands, she thought he was attractive, so of course she had blushed at seeing him shirtless yesterday. But she'd also realized something very important, something that had taken her by complete surprise.

Sora was the one she had a crush on. Sora. On paper she should prefer Riku. He was older, he was more mature, he was stronger and faster and good-looking. So why didn't she like him like that?

The answer was Sora. As she gazed at him, her heart grew warm and a blush spread across her cheeks. She couldn't stop thinking about the tender way he’d hugged her yesterday. How safe and gentle his arms were. How he had warmed her cold, shivering body up. The smile on his face that was meant only for her. It had lit up his eyes when she woke up and transformed his entire appearance. And his eyes were so pretty. How had she never noticed before? They were as blue as the sky at midday without a cloud to shroud them. She loved his messy mop of spiky brown hair and his dorky clothes, too. 

He was so brave and kind and goodhearted. Finding the strength from deep in his heart to rescue both her and Riku from the river, even though it must've been really difficult to pull them both out of it.

Sora was a good person. And knowing he was a good person, that he would go to any length to save her, painted him in a different light. Or maybe she was finally seeing what had been there all along.

She suddenly felt bad about the look on his face yesterday when she’d tried to give Riku back his T-shirt. He looked so hurt in a way she hadn't ever seen before, but he’d quickly masked it. Was it possible he was jealous? The thought sent a little thrill through her.

He had nothing to be jealous of. The paopu flower was only confirmation of something that had been growing and growing until today it had burst into bloom. Its yellow petals cast everything in a different light, like rays of the sun showing her Sora’s true self.

He tilted his head, a faint smile twitching at his lips. “Kairi? Everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry! I just got lost in thought, that's all.”

He just shook his head and grinned. “And you give me such a hard time about daydreaming,” he teased, putting his hands behind his neck. Then his expression softened and he lowered them. “But seriously, do you want the flower? You can have it.”

“Oh! No, no I want you to keep it. It suits you, and it suits that spot on the window.”

Still…The fact that he’d offered her the flower…was that confirmation he had feelings for her, too? 

No, he didn't know what it meant. She wasn't even sure he knew what his feelings were. But maybe one day he would. And then maybe he would tell her.

“Okay!” He glanced out the window looking out over the area in front of the house, where Riku was now waiting for them. “C’mon, Riku’s here.”

“I'll be right down,” she told him. With that he took off and clambered down the stairs while she lingered, staring in awe at the flower. It had found its way to Sora like it was supposed to and had revealed her feelings to her. Her heart.

This was all so strange and sudden and new. She needed time to think, to process her feelings before she went downstairs and joined the boys. A blush crept up her face, and she giggled into her hand. Sora! She liked Sora! Selphie would tease her endlessly about it if she knew.

But she didn't have to know yet. For now, this was Kairi's precious, private secret. She didn't have to tell anyone until she was ready. How this would all unfold was uncertain, but these new feelings were wonderful, and she would treasure them in her heart just like she treasured Sora in her heart.

And, when the time was right, she would tell him. Glancing at the flower one final time, she knew how she would do it. It was all in the flower’s namesake. She descended the stairs with a smile, looking forward to the day her daydreaming would become a reality.

🌸🌼🌺

A/N: Happy birthday to @hollypollly! 🥳 She gave me a very detailed prompt and outline for the story which was a lot of fun to write ❤️ Thank you so much for everything, Holley, and I hope you have a wonderful day and a fantastic year ❤️ I'm really grateful we met, and I'm glad you're a part of my life 🥺❤️

And thank you all for reading ❤️ I really enjoyed exploring how each of the characters felt in this situation because I do think they would all be feeling conflicting emotions, and it was fun to put that Ventus cameo in there too. I also really enjoyed exploring the world of Destiny Islands more and expounding on the paopu flower concept Holley came up with. Hope you all enjoyed!

[pupsandartwork]

rikai gem fusion

[d4rk-x-w0lf-17]

any time someone says that sora isn't gay, i hit them with the KH2 reunion cuz that shit is still just as funny now as it was back in 2013 when i first saw it

[superdorkcat]

When it comes to thinking about the future of KH, few things give me more joy than imagining Sora making it back home with all of his cool new unreality friends in tow and all of the other Guardians just having to deal with it.