Sitting in the Summer Sun

[runbysmiles]

Who: Sora and everyone!
When: Backdated to earlier in the week
Where: The island and the beach!
Status: OPEN
Style: Whichever~

[ A day before the big event a text message goes out to everyone who responded to this post letting them know when the day is going to be! But Sora's not the best with technology so a few other people probably got it as well. ]

HEY EVERYONE! I SAID WE SHOULD ALL GET TOGETHER AT THE BEACH, SO LETS DO IT TODAY! MEET ME AT THE BEACH AND BRING SOME FOOD OR DRINKS ALONG TO SHARE! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

[ Sora's waiting on the beach with a grin on his face. He's already in a pair of swim trunks and there's a huge blanket set up a ways back where they can put the food. It looks like Sora had the sense to brings some forks, plates, and cups so they'll have something to eat off of too. ]

Comments

[limitless_land]

[Right. Because anger and grief never made anyone do stupid things. Riku wasn't even completely sure what he was saying at this point. What he did know? He was right. Nothing he'd say would make things any better. He couldn't fix the damage he'd helped to create.

When Sora spoke up, Riku couldn't help the sudden urge to summon his Keyblade and create a path away from the island and back to the city below. Something he barely resisted as he began trapping these emotions deep within.

It wasn't the time or place for this conversation. Riku knew that much, especially with Sora right there, silently pleading for them to stop. If there was anything or anyone from their worlds that could stop him, it was Sora. He couldn't do this to his best friend.]

...Right.

[Roxas had no idea why they did what they did, but he couldn't say it here. This was supposed to be a time for fun; not renewed hatred.

It may very well be the hardest thing he's done; turning his back on the Nobody instead of following his competitive nature. If that's what it would take, he'd leave.]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas looked back at Sora for a moment, and then looked away.]

...Sorry.

[The apology was only meant for Sora, of course. He hadn't meant to start a fight here, just he hadn't been able to help himself. He wasn't even really supposed to feel anger, but it was there. Maybe even more frustrating because Riku was Sora's friend, and he knew he could never do anything to seriously harm him.

Did he want to? Roxas wasn't even really sure what he wanted out of Riku. What kind of answers had he been expecting? Something besides the excuses he'd gotten, but it didn't seem like he'd be finding out now.]

[runbysmiles]

Riku...Riku wait!

[ It was as if Sora knew what his friend was doing. Maybe on some level he did since they'd known each other for so long. He frowned a bit even as he called Riku back. This was all so stupid! ]

Look, I know you two don't like each other but it doesn't have to be like this!

...god, it's like feuding in-laws sitting on a porch with one another. :|

[limitless_land]

[...Sora knew him far too well. That much was obvious from the moment he stopped again. Not at Roxas' apology to his friend, but at Sora's pleading. Maybe he was being stupid, but really... what else could he do when Roxas wasn't ready to listen and probably never would be?

After all, it was partly his fault for what happened to him.

He stayed silent, but he didn't turn around again. If either of them wanted to say something, then go ahead. Riku wasn't stopping them.]

...now I'm picturing them in rocking chairs.

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas would have been fine with Riku just leaving, and he frowned when Sora's words stopped him. He bit back a few sharper remarks about how it was a little stronger than just not liking each other and how he couldn't see it being any other way.]

Sora, it's- just easier if one of us leaves.

[If he wanted Riku to stick around, Roxas could go.]

pfft....oh lord so what does that make Sora?

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora frowned. ]

No it's not! You're both friends to me, you can't keep doing this!

[ Sora felt like his heart was constricting. He didn't think he'd ever wish this, but he actually wished he didn't have a heart right now, at least then maybe he could think clearly about what was happening right now. He took a deep breath and looked down at his feet. ]

I don't want you to both keep doing this....

a monkey's uncle.

[limitless_land]

Neither of us are ready to talk, Sora.

[Well, one of them wasn't. He sighed, walking over and placing a hand on Sora's shoulder like he was trying to assure him of something he couldn't voice or promise. Things would be alright eventually... At least that was what he hoped but didn't quite believe.]

Sorry, but I still have work today.

[He let go of Sora's shoulder, gave Roxas one last glance, then continued on his way. He couldn't do this to his friend anymore... but maybe that's what made the lie so easy to say.]

...

[coolerthansora]

[The solution to this feud seemed to be the only thing they agreed on. Roxas met Riku's gaze flatly as he left. He wasn't sure about things working out eventually either, certainly not after this brilliant encounter.

He glanced at Sora, but didn't say anything. Probably he would've been better off not coming at all.]

:|

[runbysmiles]

Riku...

[ Sora looked sadly up at his friend. Something told him it wasn't the truth, but what proof did he have of that. He looked back down at the sand as Riku walked away. What could he possibly say to bring him back? If they didn't want to talk, Sora couldn't force it. ]

I feel like this is my fault.

[ Sora's voice was quiet, but still loud enough to be heard. ]

[coolerthansora]

Your fault?

[Roxas blinked in surprise. That wasn't what he'd expected-- But then, it wasn't like it had nothing to do with Sora either. And he must have heard them shouting about him...]

You didn't do anything.

[runbysmiles]

You say that, but there's a whole year of my memory missing while I was asleep.

[ Sora's fist clench at his side. ]

I don't remember any of it, but I must have done something, and you must have existed. What if I could have stopped all of this?

[coolerthansora]

[Having spoken to Naminé and being able to recognize that one glimpse of Castle Oblivion before the gaping hole in Sora's memory, Roxas could make a few guesses about what had happened. But he didn't know anything for sure.

He shook his head.]

You didn't know about me. And even if you are the hero, you can't do everything.

[runbysmiles]

That doesn't mean I couldn't have tried.

[ At least then...maybe they could have existed separately back home too. ]

[coolerthansora]

Sora, no one's blaming you.

[runbysmiles]

....

[ Sora wasn't so sure about that, at the least he was blaming himself if only a little. ]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas let out a sigh and looked off towards where Riku had gone.]

Maybe I should go, too.

DAMMIT BF

[angelphones]

[Katsu runs after Riku, having watched the scene but didn't understand what was going on. Once they're a fair distance away, he jogs up next to Riku.]

... Mind telling me what that was all about?

NOT COMPLETELY HIS BAD???

[limitless_land]

[Riku hesitates at the question, but keeps moving. He doesn't want Sora to overhear, not yet. This wasn't the place for any sort of conversation like this. He's silent until the other two are out of sight before he even opens his mouth.]

Roxas hates me for what I did to him. We'd been avoiding each other out of courtesy until now. [He sighs, shaking his head.] He probably wants the truth, but no matter what I say it'll never be a good enough answer for what needed to be done.

...This is what I was trying to avoid in the first place.

He's trying to understand. ;w;

[angelphones]

... Is it all right if I ask you for an explanation of what happened, in your own words? I got the sense that there's a lot involved, but I don't really know the whole story.

[If he can figure it out, maybe he can help try to mend things, at least a little.]

But their lives make no seeeeense. ;n;

[limitless_land]

... Yeah.

[He waits until they're almost to the beach, still separated from the others for now. In fact, the darkness that still lingered here was... familiar.]

A year ago back home, I made a few big mistakes that led me and my friends to be separated. Kairi got to return home, Sora was stranded where the door separating two realms in our worlds stood before we closed it, and me in the realm of darkness. The next thing I knew, I was in a castle where everything fades into oblivion.

...Sora was a victim to that place and this group's plans, all of his memories replaced with lies that could make him a willing puppet for them. So he chose to sleep and recover his true memories. At least, that's what a new friend told me at the time.

[He looks out to the sea, not showing any of the pain he experienced... not saying a word about what happened to him. How he had to wrestle for control and learn to trap the darkness within his heart. Instead, he only continues to speak:]

But something happened, and the memories were escaping into another person... his Nobody. We spent a year trying to undo what had been done to them, but we ran out of time. The rest of the group Sora and I cut down in that castle were close to having a power that would allow them to to rewrite the entire universe as they saw fit, and we couldn't let that happen. Not with Sora still...

[His voice trails off for a moment, and he looks to Katsu with his arms crossed.]

I didn't deserve to go home to the islands. I still don't. But Sora... he did, and Kairi was waiting for him the entire time. So I did what I had to to make sure he woke up and kept his promise. Unfortunately, that meant Roxas would lose his right to exist.

[angelphones]

[Katsu reaches out and puts a hand on Riku's shoulder.]

There wasn't any other way to keep them both alive?

[He... doesn't like this. He'll address your crippling case of emo kid in a bit, but the more immediate concern is this part.]

[Who gets to decide who exists, anyway?]

[limitless_land]

[Not emo, more like trying to atone for the biggest mistake he made as a fifteen-year-old kid before coming back.]

If there was, I would have taken it. I'd do anything for my friends and people so closely tied to them.

[He places a hand over Katsu's, almost pushing it aside before thinking better of it. He didn't need to be smacked for being too emo.]

I gave up my own appearance and became someone I hated just to make sure Sora woke up, and I'd do it again too. Hell, I still want to sock DiZ in the face once for what he did to him...but my own hands were tied at that point. All I could do was gather hints and hope Sora could figure it out.

[angelphones]

[He backs up slightly, sensing that Riku needed some more space. He speaks a little slowly, choosing his words carefully.]

... I'm sorry. I... can't imagine having to make that choice. I'm sorry. I just want... things to be all right with you, and with the people you care about. I wish I could help you fix things, but I don't know enough about this, and really it's not my fight. Just... let me know if there's anything I can do.

[limitless_land]

[It may not be the space that he needed other than time, but he's grateful.]

Don't apologize. It's my fault to begin with.

[He just has to find it in him to apologize to the one he has to... and that in and of itself is hard. He's silent for a few moments before nodding.]

...I will.

[angelphones]

... All right. Want me to walk home with you, or do you want some space?