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Riku was on his way to visit Kairi he hadn't seen her in awhile due to her too training very hard to become a keyblade wielder alike to him and Sora. The sand crunched underneath his shoes with each step he took it remind him of when he was younger always the beach it was, it couldn't be helped though living on a island had it perks sometimes.
It's funny how the thing he hated the most when he was a kid comforted him the most nowadays, the rushing waves meeting him at the edge brought Riku great reminder of his younger days. But god was he a stupid kid he couldn't help smirk to himself closing his eyes. He was stupid to do everything he did even if he thought it was right (which it wasn't) none of what he did back when was right, he didn't know he would end up paying a hefty price for his actions had he known he would have never wanted to leave the island.
Or at least that's how he thinks the universe works, maybe if he was younger with the mindset of after he met the king things would have been very different.
His foot hit the bottom of the short staircase he walked up it until he reached the top, houses littered that side of the island where the sand started turning into grass. It could only be described as beach creeping up onto greenery, then pavement, then beyond the clutter of houses a school with a big bell could be seen. Riku knows that's where Kairi goes to school with her friend who's name he can't seem to remember, short brunette even shorter yellow dress flirted with him near thousand times as a kid. Sel- something.
Riku made it to the street and kept on that way until he was met with a big house, a wooden sign crafted by the finest woodworker on destiny island. The back of his hand met the door in a familiar fashion of 3 knocks and a “Mayor! It's me Riku, anybody home?” He pocketed his hands in his pants waiting for an answer not because he was cold but because it was a unconscious decision to hide his hands.
“Riku ol' boy!” a older gentlemen with shoulder length graying hair opened up the door. “Good evening Mayor is Kairi home?” Riku straightened up felt like he should have dressed up and comped his hair in this man's presents.
“Sorry my boy she hasn't been here at all today actually, im sure she's somewhere on the island with her little friend Selphie. Those two are nearly conjoined at the hip kind-of inseparable.” The man leaned against the door frame. “My apologies son would you like to come in for a bit? You look worn.”
“That isn't necessary sir, i'll just go find her. i kinda need to speak with her.”
Damn even though the Mayor was climbing the age ladder he still maintained his beach body. Good for him.
Riku hoped he could maintain his looks after he got older. “Alright son take care.” he close the door as soon as Riku started away.
Where could Kairi be? How can she even be that hard to find?
Riku made it a few feet away from her house before it finally hit him hard in the head.
That girl's name!
Her foster fathers words rang in his head. Maybe she was with that Selphie girl. Riku booked it down the street back to the mid-section of the town. Wheres her house? Riku scan the small island, I don't know where she lives i don't know the first thing about her! his hand pushed his bangs out of his eyes looking back and forth for any sign of her house, maybe a big actual sign that said Selphies house or a famliy name or something.
“Looking for something? someone?”
Riku didn't scream but a small sound passed his vocal cords inresponse to unknowingly sneaky girl's appearance. Riku turned around so fast he felt it in his neck.
“Wow mister keyblade wielding master didn't know you scared so easily.” Her devilish side decided to make a appearance.
She was reminding him so much of that friend of Sora's... Who's name he also couldn't seem to remember. At this point Riku stop trying to remember names and just kept the faces in his memory.
Finding his bad posture he replied. “Oh hush i was focused looking for your friend's house. I didn't hear you come up to me.”
“Who Selphie?”
Kairi came closer to Riku je didn't resist whatever she was about to do when she placed a hand on his shoulder lifting herself higher using him as a sort of climbing rock or ladder to hang on so she could see where she was looking. She pointed in a direction and said, “Far left, the yellow and white one see it?” with how many clusters of houses there was in that one area Riku found it puzzling enough to see whatever one she was talking about. As hard as it seem the one she was talking about was the only yellow and white house he didn't need to squint his eyes to locate it.
“Yeah i see it.” Riku said, “It's that one with the red flowers yellow build white roof yeah?”
“hm-hmm,” Kairi nodded letting herself down. “By the way what are you even doing here Riku, don't you have like, some hard-ass training to be doing? Don't tell me you took some time off just to come see me, I appreciate it don't get me wrong but doesn't that seem a little irresponsible?”
Riku's face flattened at her comment, his lips together in a frown. “Actually me and Sora were gonna go train together and we thought it would fitting if we all trained together for once.” Riku wondered if Kairi thought he never thought about her. He actually believes Sora thinks about her waaay more then he does but Kairi enters his mind alot as of lately the three of them used to be inseparable like her and Selphie are apparently.
Her heart seem to soften, her look alone said she didn't mean her rudeness. “I do enjoy seeing you guys Riku,” Her lithe frame leaned against his sturdy one in a quick embrace. Her arms dangled around his neck fingers pulling him in. “but im gonna have to take a hard pass on that one, I've been training my ass off morning til night and im super tired right now. That's why i was here i just got back home Riku.”
Riku didn't want her to let him go he felt this way about Sora alot too, the way Kairi let Riku handle all her weight made him feel something he couldn't place in his throat. She let out a exhausted huff untangling her hands from his build it took a mild will power for Riku not to just pull her back quickly all he could do was watch, watch Kairi do as she pleased in unfairness just like when they were smaller.
“But, i will come for the watch. Maybe i can pick up a few pointers off you guys if you don't mind.”
Of course I don't mind, I want you to watch me.
Riku had to find his sea legs before he could speak Kairi's ocean eyes watching him with the ignorance of a child only fueled the fire of unfair.
“Ah, i see.” his hand went up in gesture. “Taking a page out of Sora's book by being lazy and letting us do all the work while you smooch off us isn't like you Kairi.”
Her eyes were fixed on Riku but they moved to his held up hand, “Oh?” She held said hand gently like a knight would a princess or like someone about to get married, or like how Sora held his hand... “Oh.” Her tone shifted as she stared and stared more.
What?
Her eyes lit up like Sora's would anytime Riku would do anything to trigger his fancy.
“You painted your nails,” Kairi examined his hand carefully turning his fingers not getting enough of the teal color on it. She already had his head reeling he was sorta out of the loop just watching her be so enticed with him she was just like this about him growing out his hair, Kairi cooed over it for the longest until he cut it and she fake cried along with Sora.
It's only polish not that big of a deal.
He couldn't tell if she was so overwhelmed he would do such a thing or if she was surprised of the color he choose. He didn't know what to say so he just didn't say anything at all. Better to not say anything then say the wrong thing.
Kairi looked up at him with curious eyes. “Did you paint them yourself?”
His brain was wondering he didn't reply as quick as he should have. “Oh uh, yeah. I did it awhile ago.” his other hand itched in the back of his choppy hair trying to locate his thoughts to do anything besides explain himself.
“Oh, that's cool.” her eyes sadden but she kept on messing with hands why was she so alike to Sora?
He would do the same if he had noticed.
Maybe he didn't pay to much attention to it, they were taking their mark of mastery exams after-all. That was more important then the boy he liked looking at his painted finger nails.
Kairi raised her voice at him, “Riku, did you hear me?” Kairi was talking? He zoned out again. “Sorry,” Riku wanted to pull his hand away from her she was still holding it fascinated to no worlds end with his nails like a kid with a comic book.
“Next time can I paint them? I got some sky blue polish in my bag and we could be matchies.”
Kairi maneuvered her hands to spread out flat against Riku's palm to palm her baby blue nails next to his teal ones, her fingers were thin not like his or Sora's. She also had a picture on her thumb of a paopu fruit it was really cute he couldn't help but get a closer look, he grabbed her hand not thinking so he could get a closer look at the nail art.
“How did you do that?” Riku said mesmerized. “How'd you get it to look that good? Did you draw that yourself?”
Kairi's grin spread returned across her face. “Nope! Axel– uh Lea actually did it for me.” the girl said.
“Axel?” Riku's face drew back furrowing his brow. “Axel can draw?”
“No, Namine showed him. well, that's what he says. He said when you let him go after Diz told you to hunt the two of them she showed him that you can paint your nails more colors then black.” Kairi smiled.
When his voice escaped his lips even Riku didn't know what he was asking for.
“W-willyoushowme?”
“Huh?” Kairi's hair moved on her shoulders when she turned her head slightly.
“Teach me how how to draw, on my nails? Please?” His hold on her hand tightened. He couldn't sound anymore ridiculous but he really wanted- no NEEDED her to show him how to do something for once.
“Uh I can get Lea to do it for you, i don't know how to do nail art like I said Lea does my nails.” She pushed the hair off her shoulder back in it's place.
Riku didn't know how to feel about Axel doing his nails let along touching his person, his hands in particular those were Sora and Kairi only zones but he wanted the pretty nails alot more then he cared about how he felt towards the somebody-nobody. He would have to suck it up and let Axel do his nails if he truly wanted it that bad.
“Fine, but I want you there when he does them.” Riku guessed only after he said it the way his tone was as if he didn't like the somebody-nobody made her elbow his lung in.
“Hey, hes really good at it! His long boney fingers gotta be good for something!”
Riku snorted at that fact. “It's true! and i told him about it, he said he,” she tried to do a voice that sound like the older teen. “I guess i was born a daddy long legs spider. And i was like GROSS!” Riku's snort upgraded to full out laughter, trying to cover his mouth.
“Ohmygod! Riku your laugh is so cute!” Riku's cheeks hurt, his face hurt all the way to his ears never in his days has he ever heard such a comment about a stringy tall man. “S-shut up Kairi! you're weird!” The girl's laughter had died down enough for both of them to start making their way down to the beach.
“C'mon lets go see Lea” Riku said.
Lea use the little brush to swipe the polish over Riku's thumb Riku didn't expect Lea to be as good as Kairi had him out to be but the older teen was better then he expected at his job. Examining his art skills the redhead was drawing a tiny detailed paopu fruit on Riku just like Kairi's.
“This is actually really good Lea.”
Lea gave him what looked like a friendly smile but there seem to be something else in there with it.
“One of my past pals used to let me do his nails when I was your age.” Lea seem proud of that statement.
“Really now? What was his name?”
“He? I never said it was a boy but, Isa... his name was Isa.”
“Where is Isa?”
Lea was silent for awhile and with good reason to. Lea was troubled the kind Riku knew because he was sure he had felt it once, twice, three times before. His heart was missing something; rather someone. He didn't want to pry so he didn't press the issue any further.
“Uh, you don't have to tell me if it's personal. We haven't known eachother long enough for detailed stories huh?”
“He's,” For a moment it look like his hands lost their ablity to continue he gathered his thoughts and words parting his lips saying.
“He's lost. He lost his way I guess and I helped him... I helped him dig his filthy hole as deep as we could go.” Lea chuckled though nothing was funny. “I guess you can't win them all can you?”
Riku knew actually what Axel ment he too dug his great share of holes for his friends to fall into, holes he should have never dug so deep.
“We just gotta start filling up our holes right? Sora and Kairi on gonna help us, and I'm gonna help you so we don't have to do it alone. Okay, Lea?”
“Yeah,” His fire was dim but now it was starting to light itself back up. “Gotta make those guys we look out for are priorities got it memorized? ”
Riku didn't know how to talk to Lea really the guy just kinda talked up a storm all on his own if you bring up one topic but bringing him hope was something he could be proud of. There was no doubt that in the organization he had to do some things he didn't want to that he doesn't wanna talk about just like himself so Riku guess they could bond over that one thing they had in common.
“So, does Sora want me to do his too? so you Kairi and him can be all matches together?” It's like he became a whole another guy once his spirits were lifted.
“I don't know if Sora paints his nails.” The boy would probably mess it up with not being able to sit still for a second then proceed to chew it off after it dried that sound so Sora. “I don't think you should waste polish on him if you could help it-”
Lea cut him off. “It's not wasteful if he gets to look at it at least once! besides i have a feeling he'll like it.” Lea dabbed at the edges of Rikus nail with a alcohol cotton swab fixing Riku's own mistakes at painting his nails. Riku's job was a little outside the lines but Lea touched it up real fine for him making Riku amazed he didn't do this for a living.
Could have fooled me.
“Ya know that friend of mine at first he complained about me doing his nails but he grew to love it.” Lea said that absent mindedly, Riku wasn't sure if that was ment for him to hear so he left well enough alone.
Lea let go of his hand, “So, tell me how it looks. How d'ya like it?”
Riku spread his fingers holding them out so he could look at them properly. “It's really good! really, i like it thank you, Lea.” Lea had a satisfied look on his face. “I'm sure your friend appreciated it.”
“Yeah he did, Isa never said it but i knew he loved it deep down. He liked the same color i gave Kairi yesterday baby blue, but i didn't know how to do the art part when i was a kid and it end up looking just like yours did,” Lea showed Riku his nails. “I used to do mine orange and yellow but those colors are too loud for me now, i like black, fits me better ya' know?”
“You seem like a punk lover so the black nails fits you with the spooky aura you have going on. Maybe try changing your clothes to fit it? get a jacket instead of the coat, maybe some neted gloves?”
“Harsh man, Maybe I love my coat so much I don't wanna change it. Right after i did your nails for you too? i feel betrayed.” The drama queen played his part covering his face with his arm. “You drama queen.” Riku pushed him with his palm making sure not to mess up Lea's work.
“Hey i got emotions now baby, gotta use em.” Lea genuinely smiled with his heart.
“Well don't let me stop you from using your emotions to your hearts content. I'm gonna show Kairi she was begging to see what you were gonna give me.”
He uncrossed his legs standing up taking his time to get to where Kairi was stationed in the kitchen of their shared space sipping on her cup of what he hoped wasn't anything Lea poured her. Riku felt like he was starting to like this guy as a actual person.
“Alright Kai, hows it looking?” he approached her with his hands out.
Kairi turned the plastic cup in her hand up gulping down the last few swallows. “It's nice, for you I mean. But i thought you would get something edgy like black redone or get your keyblade drawn on it, but that's super cute too.”
Was Kairi always like this? He didn't remember her being this way her demeanor was very off beat the way she carried herself. Maybe that's just how Kairi's always been now that he thinks about it, she was always out there with the all the boys on the island playing with wooden sticks, rustling eachother to the grown, and picking up icky creatures no man would dare touch.
Not even himself.
He hummed in the back of his throat. “I didn't wanna hold Lea up so just this is fine.”
Kairi's face twitched. “Hold him up on what? All hes gonna do is lay back down and sleep on his day off.” she gestured to the older teen rolling up his makeup bag and crawling onto the couch to catch some undeserved sleep.
“This is fine Kairi. I like it because it reminds me of you and Sora alot! If we could get him to hold still for a moment maybe we can get Sora to get his painted.” Riku smiled warmly.
“Aww! wouldn't it be super cute if Sora got his white and on one hand a baby blue thumb like mine and on the other a sea salt icecream!”
“Why a sea salt icecream?” Riku creased his brow pressing his lips together.
“Because of Namine of course.” Kairi explained. “It's my way of thanking her. I'm not sure how to thank Namine but this is one of the many ways I can keep her in my thoughts.”
“Thoughts are power.” Riku agreed honestly.