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The warm ocean wind brushed Riku's bangs out of his eyes like a gentle hand as he gazed, unseeing, out across the water. The sky was bathed in the deep, melancholy orange of twilight, and he swayed ever so slightly as the old, lazy palm tree shifted beneath him. The rhythmic sound of the waves rolling in, out, in, out, echoed the unending restlessness of his thoughts. He couldn't have guessed how long he'd been there, but long enough to watch the clear blue sky fade and the first pricks of twinkling light begin to appear on the horizon. It was all so familiar... but at the same time, it all felt so distant.
"Hey,"
Riku wasn't startled to hear a voice behind him, but it did bring him back to the present. He turned, a little surprised to see a blonde boy standing in the sand, looking up at him with bright eyes and an unreadable expression.
"Hey," Riku answered.
Roxas frowned ever so slightly. It was clear even to him that Riku's heart was far away. Without another word he hopped up onto the tree in a single motion and settled beside him. They sat in silence for a moment.
"It's strange," Roxas finally said. "This place feels so familiar. Like a home that I'd forgotten. But it feels... lonely somehow, too,"
Riku nodded once. "Yeah. I know just what you mean,"
There was another quiet moment.
"I didn't see you today. I was wondering where you were," Roxas said.
"Oh?" This surprised Riku a little. He hadn't thought Roxas would be particularly concerned with him. Before he knew it, there was a slight lilt to his tone. "Did you miss me?"
"What?" Riku didn't have to look to know that Roxas was flustered. He felt the tree shift as the other leaned back from the impact of his words. But he recovered quickly. "In your dreams!" Roxas felt the words bubbling out of him like the waterfall hiding the Secret Place. So effortless. Even on this island where everything was the same and everything was different, something about this felt so familiar. So natural.
Roxas saw the corners of Riku's mouth prick upwards, and felt glad he couldn't see Riku's eyes beneath his bangs. He gave a huff that was swept away by the cooling breeze. "I guess you've been busy out here all day acting mysterious, huh?"
"Yeah, guess I have," Riku answered.
Roxas would never admit that he was a little disappointed he hadn't teased back. But then, something caught his attention.
"Oh, is that...?"
Riku followed Roxas' gaze to the end of the tree and noticed something he'd missed before. Nestled between the broad palm leaves was something smooth and yellow that gently shone in the light of the setting sun. Even just peering out, its shape was unmistakable.
"A paopu fruit?" Riku finished the question.
Roxas was already leaning forward to get a better look. "I've heard about these," he said. "Even in other worlds. I haven't seen one for real before. They're really special, aren't they?"
Riku nodded. "Yeah. You know, they say that if you share one with somebody—"
"—you'll be together forever," Roxas finished. He sat quietly now, staring with reverance down at the fruit in his hands. The edges of the star seemed to glow where the fading light passed through. So familiar...
Only the sound of the waves could be heard, and the rustling leaves. Suddenly, Riku felt the island sun's soft warmth melt into the depths of his heart.
"Well? Are you going to give me a piece?"
Roxas' head snapped up and met Riku with wide eyes. "H-huh? You mean—?"
Riku laughed, brief but even warmer. Roxas felt it echo through him. "Yeah. Here. Do you know how to split it?"
Roxas raised his arm with the offering and Riku closed the distance, placing his hand on the other side of the star. Their fingers overlapped, no leather between them. "Hold steady."
Snap.
The paopu fruit broke evenly down the middle into two halves of a whole. Roxas, for once, seemed stunned into silence, nothing teasing to say. Riku smiled at him. He could see the redness on his cheeks even in the twilight.
After what seemed like much longer than it was, Roxas asked, "...Are you sure?"
Something in Riku faltered. His heart began to sink. "If you don't want to—"
"It's not that!" Roxas exclaimed, and suddenly, with conviction, he brought the fruit to his lips and sank his teeth into its soft skin. It was unlike anything he'd ever tasted, sweet, sweeter than ice cream with an irreplicable tang, and at once he found himself meeting Riku's eyes again, expectant and impossibly fond.
Roxas swallowed and felt a dizzy feeling travel downwards along with the fruit. "Your turn." He had meant for it to sound daring, but it came out breathless.
Riku took a bite and felt the sweet juice drip down his chin, but he didn't look away from Roxas. There was so much he could say that the thoughts and words all melted together. He opened his mouth to speak, but wavered. Before he could gather his thoughts again—
"You made a mess," Roxas chided, taking Riku's wrist. His tone didn't match his words. Riku blinked, dazed for a moment, but before he could make a sound he felt Roxas' soft tongue against his chin, cleaning the sticky sweetness, and an instant later their lips pressed together. The last of the sun's rays danced over the waters as it disappeared into the sea, and the light of endless worlds came to life above them.