Chapter Text
Sora stared out at the scenery before him, admiring every part of what he saw. People were walking through the pathways of the local park, many of them with another. The ones Sora focused on most were the ones who had someone to walk with. Most of them walked with their hands intertwined with the other while they talked to each other.
All of it made Sora smile as he let his thoughts start to zone out. But unfortunately he wasn't able to drift off for very long. Someone shook his shoulder before sitting down next to him. "Hey! You lazy bum, daydreaming again?"
Sora blinked a few times, bringing his mind back into reality. Now that he was focused, he saw that it was none other than Kairi who sat next to him on the bench.
He laughed lightly. "Hi Kairi. And yeah so what? I like to daydream."
"You do that a lot more than you ever did before. I think I lost track of how many times you fell asleep during class."
"Hey it's not my fault math, history, literature and everything else all really boring," Sora sighed before leaning back against the bench. "So what are you up to Kairi?"
"Just was taking a stroll after a visit to the bakery. Wanted to check on my order of cake and cupcakes for tomorrow."
"Ooh yeah, I forgot…" Sora said with his voice trailing off slightly. "Your Valentine's Day party is tomorrow."
"Yeah, just about everything is ready. But Sora… why do you look so sad? I thought you were excited to come to this party?"
"Oh I am, don't get me wrong. But it's a Valentine's Day party… the holiday for love and stuff… and I got no one to bring," Sora closed his eyes, letting the thoughts sink into his mind.
Kairi reached out and placed a hand on Sora's shoulder, causing him to open his eyes. "Sora, you don't have to bring a date to the party. It's just meant to be a fun party."
"Yeah, but you have a date, and Roxas has one, and even Vani has one too!" Sora shouted. He raised his arms up in exasperation but quickly lowered them. All his quick anger faded and he was left far more solem than before. "And I am just here all alone with no one…"
"Sora, you shouldn't worry so deeply about that. You will find someone. Besides, not everyone has a date who's coming. Naminé doesn't have a date for one."
"I know… and I know I will find someone… I just don't know where he is yet," Sora replied far more seriously than Kairi had expected.
"He? And where he… is?" Kairi asked, tilting her head slightly. "What do you mean?"
"He's out there…the guy of my dreams… literally," Sora whispered. He could feel the heat creeping up in his cheeks, but he didn't care. "You wondered why I daydream so much lately… well you can't tell anyone else this, not even my brother."
Sora scooted a little closer to Kairi, leaning in towards her. "I've been having this dream about this guy. He's really handsome and I keep wanting to try and find where he is from, but either I never can get around to it, or I just actually can't remember when I wake up."
"You've been dreaming about some guy? But Sora you know that dreams don't work like that," Kairi replied calmly.
"But it… he just has to be real! I've had so many dreams with him lately it just wouldn't make sense to not be real. It isn't just the same dream over and over, it's different dreams each time. But he is always there in them and apart of them."
While Kairi was still feeling skeptical over what Sora was explaining to her, she could see how happy he looked when he spoke. His cheeks were reddened and his eyes were lost in a distant and dreamy thought. It made her feel more curious over than skepticism and she decided to try and ask him for more information, hoping to get some better answers on it.
"Does he have a name?"
"Of course he does! I just… I can never remember it when I wake up, no matter how hard I try his name is always gone by morning." Sora stopped briefly to sigh before he continued. "But I haven't forgotten what he looks like. There's no way I could ever forget his pretty teal or turquoise eyes. I can never remember which color is which. But oh! Also can't forget his rare trait of silver hair. You just can't forget a combo like that!"
"Sora, are you sure though? I don't want to dismiss your dreams or anything, but if you've never met this guy before in the real waking world, how do you know he is real? I mean in psychology we talked about how the brain can dream up people from our everyday to day life, but sometimes creates a new person based on someone we may have seen or a mix of other people. But that still could leave a lot of theories for your case."
Sora shook his head. "No he has gotta be real. These dreams feel so much more real than any other dream, so I just know it. It's like… our dreams are connected or something. He's dreaming too, we've talked about it before."
"You've talked about if you are dreaming while in your dream?" Kairi asked, feeling far more confused than before.
"Yeah it's weird. Like I said these dreams feel so real. Like I know I am dreaming type of dreams. That's why I know about him and I know he is in the same boat as me. But we never can seem to remember the important information about each other when we wake… it makes it hard…" Sora's posture slouched over, his glowing happiness fading away.
"I just don't want to believe it's all just a dream. If I just dreamt him up, whether he is based on someone I once passed in the street or even just a mix of things like you said…"
Pursing her lips, Kairi tried her hardest to think of a good logical answer to give Sora. Though the more she stared and saw his sadness lingering, she thought it was best to try something else. While the idea seemed quiet out there, she never knew Sora to make a big deal out of something if it meant nothing. Clearly this was something meaningful to him and that meant he truly believed in what he spoke about. He sounded so passionate and happy when he talked about the mysterious boy in his dreams
"Sora, it is weird, I can agree to that. But if you have been having this go on for sometime, maybe there is some truth to it. If you can remember that much about him and have dreamt of him or shared the same dream, maybe it is real."
"You're just saying that to try and cheer me up…" Sora muttered.
"Well? Is it working?" Kairi asked, slightly grinning.
Sora chuckled before having his usually cheerful smile show up. "Yup! Thanks Kairi!"
"You're welcome Sora, and I promise I won't tell anyone about this," Kairi replied before placing a hand over her heart.
Before Sora could reply to thank her once more, a different voice spoke up instead from right behind them. "But I sure won't make that promise!"
Sora nearly jumped to his feet when he whipped around to see who stood behind him. "Ah! Roxas!"
Arms wrapped around Sora, pulling him back into an awkward hug or some form of friendly strangle. "So you got some dream boy on the brain?"
"Roxas! Let's Sora go," Kairi scolded.
"Fine fine," Roxas said before releasing Sora from his hold. He leaned forward giving a rather amusing glance to Sora after that. "So how long have you been dreaming up you dream guy?"
"I'm not dreaming him up!" Sora replied. "He's really and I know he's out there."
"Sure thing dreaming boy," Roxas taunted. "Just never thought you'd be desperate enough to just dream up a boyfriend."
"I didn't dream him up, Roxas please. Please don't tell anyone this. I don't care if you don't believe me, but just please keep it a secret," Sora pleaded bringing his hands together to stare wide-eyed at Roxas.
"Why? I think it's funny. And just imagine if your brother just so happened to find out."
"No! If you tell Vani, he'll never let me live it down."
"And I am sure it will be hilarious," Roxas taunted.
Kairi frowned at Roxas's childish taunting. Before he could go further with it, she grabbed onto his wrist and twisted it slightly. "Ow, ow! Kairi! Hey cut it out!"
"Don't be rude to Sora like that. You shouldn't make fun of someone's dreams, got it?"
"All right! All right! You can let go now!" Roxas said, trying to pull his wrist away from Kairi.
"Promise that you won't go blabbin about this to anyone," Kairi stated. Her dead serious expression glared right at Roxas, making him all the more nervous.
Sora laughed softly before he heard Roxas agree to not tell anyone. Once Kairi released him, Roxas went to rub his wrist, pouting slightly. "Sorry Sora if I upset you or anything. Didn't realize it meant so much to you."
Sora nodded. "It's fine. I understand, it's not everyday that I just talk about dreams, let alone the ones with him in it. But they are all I have right now. And even if he is just a dream…" Sora tilted his head up to look at the clear blue sky. "Don't they say if you dream and believe hard enough, your dreams can come true?"
That night Sora wrapped himself in his covers waiting for the moment when he would fall asleep. His mind was slowing growing heavier with each passing minute and he knew soon enough he would be out like a light. But like every night he was always a bit anxious as he tried to doze off.
"What if I don't dream about him tonight cause I told Kairi and Roxas? What if it was something that only I could know about and now that I revealed it, it won't work anymore? Please… don't let it be that… I wouldn't know what to do otherwise…"
But eventually Sora became far too tired to continue with his thoughts. Everything around him faded away and his mind was finally pulled into sleep. When he opened his eyes again he saw that he was on the small island that was off of the mainland to his home.
Once again there was a strange sensation in his mind that he was dreaming. He knew the island well enough as he played on it a ton as a child, but there were always things that weren't exactly the same. It was all down to simple things like a few trees in different spots or the wooden structures not looking exactly the same. All indicators that this was most likely a dream.
Though Sora looked around he thought at first glance that he was alone. He started to wonder what was happening, but then he noticed something. Someone was sitting over on the paopu fruit tree on the smaller island. He could tell that they were facing the ocean, most likely staring out at the magnificent sight that it was.
Not waiting a second longer Sora ran over there as quickly as he could. The closer he got the more his heart started to pound against his chest. The person was coming into view and the beautiful and familiar look of silver hair was all that he focused on. The hair was unevenly layered, but most of it fell past his chin, just barely reaching his shoulders.
"Hey!" Sora called out just as he came up to the tree.
The boy turned and greeted Sora with a smile, his bangs flowing just above his eyes with the movement. "Hey, I was wondering when you'd show up."
As soon as he jumped off from his sitting spot, Sora ran right into him, burying his head against his chest. Sora smiled happily before looking up to the boy. "I'm glad you're here, ah… um…" Sora's smile quickly faltered and he averted his eyes away.
"Still can't remember my name? Don't be so discouraged, I still can't remember either," the boy replied softly as he began to stroke Sora's head. "It's Riku."
"I know now that you said it!" Sora pouted childishly while looking back at Riku. "It makes so much sense, but no matter what I do I can't ever remember it by morning. It's just gone…"
"I know," Riku replied calmly. "It's the same for me…" He waited a moment before clearing his throat. "You going to help me out here or leave me hanging?"
"Oh! Sorry. Sora."
Riku chuckled lightly. "Sora, that's right. Maybe one day we will be able to remember. Maybe we just need to keep trying."
"I hope… but Riku…" Sora said, trying to speak as calmly as he could. Though honestly it was a lot harder than he would have wished. He could already hear the cracks in his voice and he knew for sure Riku was easy to pick up on that stuff.
Breathing out, Sora finally said what was on his mind. "How do we know all of this is real? I mean… how do I know if you are real? This is just a dream after all…"
Riku casually moved his hand over to Sora's shoulder, giving a light and gentle hold. "I thought we agreed that these dream meetings or whatever were far more than just the average dream. We've been in each other's dreams all the time now, and even went something strange happens in the dream we are still here together."
Sora didn't reply, he only dropped his head to stare at the ground instead.
"Did something happen to you today? That's why you are thinking about this?"
"Maybe… I'm just worried I've been dreaming this all on my own… d-dreaming you and that you aren't real." Sora's voice quivered and shook over each word, afraid of what was going to happen now that he had admitted his fear.
Now Riku had both of his hands on Sora's shoulder, his grip much more firm than before. "Sora, this isn't just your dream, this is my dream too."
"But how can I believe that!" Sora shouted, his voice immediately cracking. "I never can remember your name when I wake up and neither can you as you say. So how can I not worry that I am just dreaming you up. I could just be dreaming that you say you dream this."
"Sora," Riku said, staring at him with a concerned gaze. "If you were just dreaming me up, wouldn't you have some insight into what I was thinking or what I claimed to be in my real life? You can't know these things about me because you didn't dream it up. I'm real Sora, just as I know you are real."
"B-But…" Sora said, letting tears fall down his face. He wrapped his arms around Riku and held him tightly. He buried himself once more against Riku's chest, trying to embrace all the warmth he could from him. It was only a dream, but the warmth he felt from Riku was real enough for him. "I just wanna find you. I don't want to spend the rest of my life just dreaming with you. I want to be with you. In the real waking world. I want to remember your name and everything."
"I know," Riku whispered softly into Sora's ear. "It's the same thing I wish for too. Everyday I think of you, wondering where you are and what you must be thinking about."
"Thinking of you of course!" Sora replied. "What else would I be doing?"
Riku laughed and it made Sora smile. There was just something about the way Riku laughed. It was soft and gentle. It was music to his ears. He couldn't explain it, but there was just something about Riku's laughter that made the air around him feel lighter.
"So that means your head is always in the clouds?"
"Well my name doesn't mean 'sky' for nothing!" Sora stated proudly. All of the fears and sadness he felt left him, and now only the warmth from the joy of being around Riku remained.
"I guess that means I gotta keep you grounded to the 'land'," Riku chuckled before tackling Sora playfully down to the ground.
Both boys started to laugh as they tried to keep a hold on one another but also at the time tried to break free from the other. Eventually their energy wore out and they were left laying there, entangled with one another. Both of them kept on laughing though in between their now exhausted breaths.
Riku turned his head to the side and looked out over the ocean. "I know I said it the last time we dreamt being here, but your home town is just beautiful."
Sora, who was resting his head on Riku's chest sigh in agreement. "Yeah… I'd love it if you could see Destiny Islands in person. I just wish you could remember it… cause then maybe you could find me. Or if I could just remember where you said you lived..."
"I wish it were that easy, the names just don't wanna stick it seems."
"Wait! What if we wrote it down! Maybe then we could have it when we wake up," Sora said, lifting up his head.
"But we're dreaming, we can't write it down and have it when we wake up. It just doesn't work like that."
"Well what if we wrote it down on our hands or arms? Maybe then we could remember it or have the motion in our mind, maybe then we could-"
"Sora," Riku cut him off, speaking as sincerely as he could. "I know you want to try, but I just don't think it's going to work. We may just have to keep waiting until we find a proper way to remember."
"But what if it takes forever? What if… what if it never happens?" Slowly Sora could feel the cold rigidness from his fears creeping back in. He clung to Riku as tightly as he could, trying to make sure it wouldn't encase him.
"Look at me Sora," Riku said. He reached out his hand and placed it on Sora's face. Sora gave a half smile as he leaned into it, listening to what Riku had to say. "I promise that we are going to find each other. I wouldn't be happy any other way until I see you in person. And when we find each other, we'll come here when we are awake and enjoy a real sunset together."
Once again the fears melted away like before. Riku always had a way with his words and brought out the true happiness Sora had always wanted to feel. "Hmm, I like the sound of that. You really promise?"
"Of course I promise. Wherever you are, I'll find you."
"And when we find each other, we… we can…" Sora drifted off, letting all his fantasy thoughts fill his head,
"We can what?"
Sora smiled as he moved a little closer. "We could do this."
Sora leaned forward and pressed his lips against Riku's. A relaxing bliss was felt as he stayed there for a moment longer before he finally broke the connection between their lips. Now that he could look at Riku again, he could see how red Riku's face had turned, though Sora knew full well that his own face was probably just as red.
"I think… I think that may be a bit quick to jump to if we finally meet for the first time."
"But that's the thing! It wouldn't be for the first time. We have already met each other so many times in our dreams we practically already know each other for real."
Riku smiled. "Yeah I guess that is true."
"Plus I wonder if a kiss would feel just as magical in real life. I bet it is even better," Sora replied before he went back to laying his head down on Riku's chest.
"You think so?"
"I wanna believe it," Sora replied softly as he closed his eyes. "I know we've only met here in our dreams, but I really love you, Riku."
"I love you too, Sora."
Sora kept his eyes closed as the two of them rested there, but slowly everything started to feel disjointed. His eyes shot back open and saw that the world around him was fading away. He sighed softly to himself. "I guess I'm waking up."
"Hey Riku, I wanted to say… tomorrow's Valentine's Day, and…" Sora looked back down to finish telling Riku what he wanted to say, but he saw that there was no one there. He was now laying on the ground all by himself.
"Oh… I guess he woke up first… Oh well… I'll just wait 'till the next night to tell him. Wouldn't mean too much anyways… just a dream after all. But… please Riku… please be out there somewhere."