Kingdom Hearts (My Way)

Chapter 4

[Riku’s POV]

     I respected Estrell’s wishes and left.  I knew I should’ve stayed because she needed me and I needed her.  Whoa, hold up.  I stopped walking.  I needed her?  I shook my head.  What the heck am I saying??  I’m strong.  I’m a warrior.  I don’t need a girl.  And yet…

     I looked back at her.  It was a sad sight.  Estrell was sitting in the sand, crying.  I wanted to help her.  Mostly because I had seen the same thing in my eyes that I saw in my own when I looked in a mirror.  Darkness.

     Hey wait…  I started walking away again.  I was alone.  I was the only one the darkness wanted.  I was the only one that was shrouded in darkness.  That’s why I pushed Estrell away.  I did not want her getting involved in this.  I couldn’t let her get hurt when I became enslaved by the darkness one day.  She has already been put through enough pain.

     I felt y heart drop and my stomach twist into a knot.  Maybe I did feel the same way for her the same way she felt for me.  When I first saw her, I could tell that we were meant for each other.  But I was just so heartless when it came to relationships, and I didn’t know why.

     I was farther down the beach now.  And it was getting pretty dark.  I climbed up into a tree and gazed up at the darkening sky.  The day had passed by so quickly.  Though if I remembered correctly, I was spending most of it trying to stay out of Estrell’s sight.

     I closed my eyes.  A cool breeze ruffled my silvery hair.  It was so peaceful here.  I wished that this would last forever.  Though I knew it wouldn’t.  The darkness was going to find me soon.  I could feel it.  I needed to train.  I needed to be stronger than it.

     “But first…  Some rest…” I whispered to no one.

     I leaned back and thought about what had happened the past few days…

**flashback**

     “Hey there, what’s your name?” Kairi asked the girl sitting on the cliff.

     “Huh?”  The girl looked up at Kairi.  “Oh, hi.” She said, forcing a soft smile on her face.  “I’m…  Estrell.”

     “Thar’s a nice name.  I’m Kairi.”

     “Nice to meet you Kairi.” Estrell said.

     “Nice to meet you too.”  Kairi sat down next to Estrell on the cliff.  She swung her feet back and forth.  “So, when did you come to the island?”

     “Just yesterday.” Estrell said, looking back out at the ocean.

     “Really?” Kairi said with surprise in her voice.  I gave a little ‘hmph’ because I had told Kairi already that she arrived yesterday.

     “So, those two down there your friends?” Estrell asked Kairi.

     Kairi looked down at Sora and me standing there, watching them.  “Um, yeah, they are.  The one with the brown hair is Sora.  And the one with the silvery hair and holding the sword it Riku.”

     I saw Estrell look at Sora first.  In the corner of my eye I saw him grin widely and wave to her.  She smiled a bit.  Then, her gaze was focused on me.  Our eyes met.  The second I looked into her eyes, I saw it.  The reason why she had come to this island.  She was haunted by the darkness just as I was.  And I saw that we were to be together one day.

     “Hey, come on, Estrell seems like a nice girl.  I should really introduce you two to her.”

     “Uh… maybe some other time Kairi.” I said and backed away.  “I forgot to do something…”

     I ran off.  I didn’t want to meet Estrell.  She’s been through enough pain and I knew if we met, I’d cause her even more pain.

**end flashback**

     I opened my eyes.  I really needed to stop thinking about Estrell now.  I was getting weaker because of that girl.  After all, I didn’t need her, did I?

     Jumping out of the tree, I pondered about my last thought.   I didn’t need Estrell.  If I needed her so much, I would become weaker, right?  Besides, I didn’t want to hurt her…  Hey wait, if I didn’t need her and didn’t care about her, why the heck am I saying I don’t want to hurt her?  Do I really care about her?

     I shook my head and focused on where was my sword.  Where is it??

****

     I’ve been looking for minutes along the beach, and I still haven’t found it.  This was stupid.  I’d go home to get my other sword, but I knew my mom and dad wouldn’t let me out of the house after I got in.

     I sighed.  The last place left to look was the forest.  It was dark, but I wasn’t going to let it stop me.  Some measly darkness wasn’t going to stop me from training.  And it couldn’t hurt me.  Walking into the forest, I squinted in the dim light.

     I walked farther into the forest.  This was hopeless.  Maybe I should go home now…  Wait, what was that??  I looked around.  There it was again.  It sounded like a scream.  Sounded like…  No way, it couldn’t be…  I quickly walked further into the forest.  My curiosity was getting the better of me.

     “No…  Why doesn’t anyone care?!?”

     The scream was loud and clear.  I knew I was getting closer.  The screams led me to a cave.  I could see that a fire was illuminating it.  Someone was in there all right.  I quickly stood to the side of the opening, listening.  There were sobs.

     Suddenly there was a sharp pain in my left shoulder.  What the-?!?  I looked at it.  It was perfectly all right.  No bruise.  I wasn’t hit there in the fight with Estrell, was I?  Oh wait, now I remember, I hit her there.  Are we connected?  I haven’t shared a paopu fruit with her yet…

     “Leave me alone…”

     The voice snapped me out of my thoughts.  Did whoever it was in there know I was standing out here?!?  I peeked in the cave.  It was Estrell.  But she hadn’t seen me.  She was sitting there in front to the fire, holding her arms around her.  She was shivering, though it was warm for a night here on the island.  What was wrong?

     “Riku-koi…  Help me…”

     I watched helplessly as Estrell looked up at the ceiling of the cave.  And suddenly, as if there were stings that were holding here were cut, she fell on her side on the floor.  There were loud sobs, but as each minute passed, they quieted.

     “Estrell?” I managed to whisper.

     No answer.  I started to walk into the cave when I saw it.  The fire flickered out and a dark mist hung about the cave.  It gathered around Estrell.  No…

     “Leave her alone!!  It’s me you want!!” I shouted into the cave.

     The mist instantly descended upon me.  I ran out of the cave.  I tripped and stumbled upon something.  It was my sword!  Quickly grabbing it, I turned around.  But the mist was already upon me.  I froze in fear.  I couldn’t move even though my life depended on it.  It was going to take me now.

     I shut my eyes, waiting for its move.  But nothing happened.  I opened one eye.  Then the other.  I stared at the scene before me.  There was a light hanging in midair, between the mist and me.  It flew forward and both of them disappeared.

     I stood up quickly and ran out of the forest.  I’ve had enough for one night.  I’ll talk to Estrell about it tomorrow, and maybe rethink about sharing a paopu fruit with her.  I most likely won’t though…  But do I really care about her?

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