Unspoken
Warning: Yaoi, OOC for Riku in Prologue, Blood, MurderRating: T - language! I will be cussing a lot and more blood and gore will be coming
Pairings: eventually SoraXRiku with some Sora/Kairi (only the beginning)
Summary: Ten years have passed since Riku has left Destiny Island. He planned to never return again but when he's a victim to attempted murder, he's forced to take refuge on Destiny Islands. With no voice and a damaged heart, who could possibly help him? Or even save his very life.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KINGDOM HEARTS. I do, however own Melanie, Quinn Saxton, Aya, Shima, Emiry, and Sonya. Please do not steal.
Chapter Seven
"Ten Year Reunion"
Sora didn't get it. His thoughts were scrambled and his mind was a little fuzzy. He didn't think he could swallow for fear of choking on his own tongue. He thought he stopped breathing, but guessed he didn't, otherwise he would have passed out by now. That didn't matter right now though because he was completely confused. Utterly baffled. It just Didn't. Make. Sense. At all.
How could someone he was so sure, absolutely positive, that was gone, come back? After all this time. Ten years. No phone calls, no letters, no visits, nothing. He just suddenly reappears. No words exchanged, no hugs - or kisses, in Sora's blind hope - or even a nod. Just "deer-in-headlights" stare and then BAM! Passing out on the floor so quick that no one, not even the blonde haired woman who nearly broke Sora's ear drum with her scream got to him fast enough to catch the falling body. It seemed improbable. Or rather, impossible. Who knows, maybe neither.
He didn't seem to register anything. His daughter tugged herself free from his grip, sliding down his side and running to get wash clothes - as per Grandma's orders. He didn't seem to feel the hands guiding him, pushing rather, to the chair and forcing him to sit down. He saw his mother and this blonde haired woman picking up his long lost…. Friend? Love? Whoever, and put him on the couch. He saw it, but didn't really get it.
"Is it really…. him?" Sora thought. "I mean, I can see him, but he's so different. His body is so thin. It's like he starved himself. Does that mean he can't cook? Or he's just not a big eater? Or maybe he didn't have enough money to eat! He couldn't feed himself!" Sora didn't really stop to really process what he was thinking. It just came and went, without any real consideration.
"And his hair. I knew he always liked it long, but this, this is just…" Sora sucked in a breath. "Fucking hot. He's gorgeous. I can't believe how good he looks with long hair. I hope to God he never cuts it. I wonder what kind of shampoo he uses. I bet it's something girly. He always did fuss over it like a woman."
Suddenly his eyes narrowed at the woman sitting next to his fallen friend. Striking emerald eyes were wide. He gave her a quick, and unflattering, once over. Her tanned skin seemed flush and her platinum hair seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. He scowled when she touched pale skin and pushed back silver hair. He dropped his glare at the woman when he saw a crimson red starting to dye silver hair. His periwinkle blue eyes widened a fraction, his mind flashing his dream before his eyes. He shook his head. No, this was nothing like his dream. No, in his dream, he was dying. And that wasn't happening right now. No way.
In a rush of an instant, reality really came back to him. His daughter, bless her soul, came crashing back into the room. She tripped - later to find out over nothing - with a warm, damp wash clothe in her hand. Her startled yelp was what brought her father back from his daze. He still didn't move, but his mind was fully functioning and operational. He grabbed his daughter back from Sonya and Melanie after Emiry gave the clothe away. He hugged his daughter. He couldn't take his eyes off his love… friend.
"Daddy, will she be okay?" Emiry turned around in Sora's embrace. Sora blinked owlishly at his daughter. A she? Dear lord, he didn't know if he could handle it if his daughter thought that… tha… he just hoped not.
"I think he'll be fine hon. He just needs a Band-Aid and some rest." Sora patted her head, trying to reassure the little girl.
"Dad, that's a girl. Don't call her a boy." Emiry wrinkled her nose.
Sora nearly choked.
"No babe, that's a boy. He just has really long hair."
Emiry was silent.
"But I thought only girls had really long hair! He even has longer hair than me! And Mommy too." Emiry pouted.
"I know but some people like long hair: boy or girl."
Emiry nodded.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember my friend from the beach that I told you about?" Emiry dug her foot into the floor.
Sora's heart beat faster.
"Well, that was her. I mean him. I thought that he was a girl! We played in the water together and the sand and we threw seaweed at each other." Emiry started to tear up. "I don't want him to be hurt."
"Don't cry, Em. I don't wanna see him hurt either." Sora enveloped his daughter in a hug and rocked her gently.
"Well, that's all we can do now Sonya. He's just got to wake up now." Melanie sat on the floor, next to Riku's head. She reach up and pushed fallen silver bangs out of his eyes. She had to keep herself from wincing when her fingers came in contact with stained white bandages wrapped around Riku's head.
"I believe so. I would imagine we could use the smelling salts but I don't think that would be the wisest choice right about now." Sonya stood up, giving a slight groan, and turned to her son.
"Sora." She forced her voice to be loud. "I think we need to talk."
Sora just nodded. He let Emiry go from his arms and she ran over to Riku's prone form. She gave Mel a quick look but then placed a kiss on Riku's cheek. She sat down next to Mel, her knees tucked under her and her arms folded on the edge of the couch.
"Don't worry, I'll watch him." Emiry whispered to Mel. Mel couldn't resist a small smile.
"I believe you know who this is." Sonya motioned to Riku and sat down on the chair opposite of Sora. "I don't believe this was the best way for you to find out, honestly."
"You mean, you knew he was here?" Sora sat at the edge of his seat.
"Not much longer before you. I met him yesterday in the market. We ran into each other at a vegetable stand by pure accident. I made him promise to come here today so we could catch up." Sonya took a deep breath. "He came here at 11. I was going to meet you after he left."
"Were you even going to tell me he showed up?"
"No." Sonya closed her eyes.
"Why the hell not!!" Sora didn't really ask, he demanded. He was getting angry. What right did his mother have to hold something like this from him? Why would she? She was his mother for crying out loud! She knew how much he was worried about Riku. She was the one always saying he was okay, or that he was alive. Or… wait.
"How long have you known?" Sora didn't want to believe it. He didn't. It would hurt too much. His own mother. Keeping such a secret from him.
Sonya knew what her son was asking. She didn't have to look at him to know the hurt she'd caused. She could already tell.
"Nearly seven years."
Sora's stomach dropped and his chest constricted. Seven years. That's how long she had kept this secret. Seven whole years. She'd known Riku was alive and well for seven years and she never once said anything about it.
"Why?" He started to cry.
"He told me not to tell you." Sonya got up from her chair and hugged her son. She held his head to her chest. "I had to keep my promise to him. I didn't want you to lose all contact with him. That's why I always said he was fine. I never once lied to you, I promise. All I knew was where he was and that how he was doing. We talked only because I rent out his parent's home for him."
Sora understood that. But it still hurt.
"If you want, I saved every email I ever received from him. I never erased one. You can read them if you want." Sonya patted Sora on the shoulders and leaned away. She wiped away the few tears leaking down his face.
"Maybe… later."
"I'm so sorry Sora. Really, I am."
"I - it's, um… I kinda get it Mom. So, really, it's okay." Sora nodded his head, if only to reassure himself.
Melanie scratched her head and waited for the sickeningly tender moment to be done before she could butt into their conversation. She didn't really like to be "outta the loop." She preferred, rather, to be the one that taunted those "outside" that she knew something they didn't and to hell with them.
Mentally shaking her head, she cleared her throat.
Sonya and Sora pulled apart, looking somewhat embarrassed by their display but still very emotional.
"Yeah, so, who the hel-…. Er, heck, are you?" Mel gave a side ways glance at the little girl.
"I'm sorry dear, this is my son, Sora." Sonya made the introduction quick and painless but Mel nearly threw herself at Sora.
"No way!" She grabbed him by the collar and brought him nose to nose with her. "You mean to tell me this person is Sora? THE Sora." She man handled him, jerking him left and right, staring at him, patting his cheeks and poking his chest. She would have went as far as pinching his sides but was dissuaded from it when her pet guinea pig decided to have a voice. The nerve of it.
"Excuse me, what do you mean, 'the Sora'?" Sora pushed her probing hands away.
"Oh." Mel grinned. "Nothing." She went and sat back down by Riku.
Sora blinked.
"Sora, dear, this is Melanie, Riku's friend from the city." Sonya filled in the missing information.
"I see." Sora groaned. No, he really didn't get it.
"Call me Mel." She glanced over at Riku and smiled.
"Looks like Silver is rejoining the land of the living."
That got Sora's full and undivided attention.
Riku wanted to groan. He wanted to scream. His head hurt like hell and he wanted it to be know. But damn him and his lack of voice. He couldn't say, or do anything that could make him feel better. Well, that was a lie. He could get some Tylenol… or aspirin… or maybe morphine. That stuff is the shit.
He stopped thinking at that point. He must be delirious if his thoughts were towards drugs. Preferably, he would rather not take them. He liked to be in control of his body and mind functions thank you. It made more sense than being so lose he couldn't think, or walk straight.
"I suppose I should open my eyes." He thought.
That was a mistake.
Blinding light pierce his eyes like hot needles. He would have yelped, yes yelped, he was in pain here, but once again he couldn't. Not for the last time did he curse himself for having no voice.
"He's waking up! Daddy he's waking up!"
The high pitched girl's voice made his head hurt. He wanted a pillow to smother himself with. It would make the pain go away. Or at least make him pass out again. That would be nice.
"Hey Silver, time to rise and shine sleepin' beauty."
'Go to hell.' He mouthed.
"Nice to see you so happy." There was a pause. "Now get your as- I mean butt up. You have company."
Aqua eyes opened and closed a few times before giving into peer pressure to be awake. Riku decided it was overrated to be awake, especially when his head hurt so bad, but didn't want the repercussion of going back to sleep. Mel would have his ass, hurt or not. You didn't mess with that woman when she was worried. Not if you valued your life.
'Morin' Mel.' He mouthed.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence o' ye of little brains." Mel punched him in the arm.
'Oh, the hell are you doing crazy?' Riku glared.
"That's what you get for just passin' out on me like that! I tell you, just a few days here and you're a mess. I mean, seriously, next time you decide to have a mental fit don't. Schedule it around lunch time, or whatever meal I might miss out on, and THEN do your thing." Mel grinned viciously.
'You're such a bitch, you know that?' He smiled.
"Yeah, but you know you can't get enough of me." She hauled him into a sitting position, ignoring his silent cry of protest. She made him stable and sat herself down next to him.
'You just wanted my seat you brat.' Riku glared.
"Duh, that should be obvious."
A cough interrupted their banter.
Mel and Riku stopped and the room was deathly silent.
"Hey Mel." Emiry broke the silence.
"Yeah, er, little one?" Mel looked around, a little confused to be addressing such a small person. Her plus children equaled utter confusion.
"Why are you talking to yourself?" Emiry tilted her head.
"I'm not. I'm talking to Riku."
Emiry looked at her friend. She didn't believe Melanie.
"No way. He hasn't said a word since he woke up. I know, I was listening." She crossed her arms.
"That's because he can't speak little girl. He doesn't have a voice." She pointed to her mouth. "Do you see how my mouth moves when I speak?" Emiry nodded. "I can figure out what he says by watching his mouth move."
"Oh. I don't really get it but okay." She grinned and turned her attention onto Riku, ignoring her father's gasp and near cry of shock.
"I'm glad you're okay. I missed playing with you." She climbed up on his lap and kissed him on the cheek. "I like you. Let's play again, okay?" She smiled and sat down on his thighs.
"Wow Silver, you sure are a lady's man." Mel jabbed him in the side, earning herself a glare and quick hand motions from him. Some of them, unrepeatable in front of a child, or anyone really.
No one seemed to speak after that. And Riku didn't really want to look away from the little girl or his police friend. He'd rather put this moment off, ten years didn't seem long enough now. Maybe a few more years. He vaguely wondered if Sora would be distracted by, "Look! A plane!" and he would make his great escape.
He looked over.
Periwinkle met aqua.
Shit. That plan wouldn't work at all.
Riku tore his eyes away. He really didn't want to look at Sora. If he could, he would never have showed up at Sonya's today and just been on his merry way off of Destiny Island. But oh how his dreams where shot down and torn to shreds. It's like someone, he couldn't imagine who, wanted him to suffer.
"So." Sora began but didn't know how to go further.
Riku just nodded his head, face still turned away.
It continued this way for nearly five minutes. One chance to guess who broke the silence…
WHACK!
Melanie's hand came flying from out of no where and landed square on Riku's thigh. He nearly jumped out of his skin, hands flying to hold his throbbing thigh and eyes glaring icily at his ex-friend. His face turned red with anger and his mouth was moving a mile a minute, "screaming."
Mel smiled.
"You should really calm down or you'll pass out from high blood pressure Silver."
If glares where daggers she would have been stabbed multiple times now.
"Better. Now, how about you turn your head this way," she reached up and forced Riku's head towards Sora, "and talk to him." His eyes moved back to her since his face was still a captive. "You know what I mean you dip shi - iii, yeah. So talk." She let go of his face and he took a deep breath.
'Hello.' He signed.
Sora nearly cried out in shock when Mel had hit Riku like that. His first instinct was to tackle the woman - though his brains told him that woman would kick the shit out of him if he tried. Then, seeing their moment together, he couldn't help but feel extremely jealous. In the past, it was usually him that got Riku to open up or confront his demons. It was disturbing and disheartening to see Riku replace him for this woman.
His thoughts where halted when Mel translated Riku's wave. He didn't really know what to say. It just seemed to awkward. So he did the next best thing: he tackled Riku on the couch and hugged the life out of him.
Problem solved.
Riku and Sora sat next to each other on the couch. They were so close, as if afraid if one move was wrong, the other would run away. It took all of Sora's will power not to grab onto Riku's arm and hold him there. He mentally decided, being thigh to thigh with his long lost friend would be enough for now.
"So you really haven't spoken a single word for ten years?" Emiry asked, climbing into Riku's lap. She extended her tiny legs across her father's lap also and laid her head on Riku's shoulder. The silver haired man tentatively put an arm around the little girl, brushing violet hair out of the girl's eyes and nodded.
"About a year before I met him," Mel started, "he swore he almost spoke to someone." Mel shifted in the chair. "It was only a word - thanks - but it never really came out." Mel offered a half smile. She couldn't imagine the hurt that must have caused Riku. To be so near speaking but so far away at the same time.
"So why did you decided to go into the cooking field?" Sora forcefully changed the subject, noticing the slightly depressed atmosphere.
Riku grinned.
'Why not? It was something that held my interest when Mom was still around and no one would have thought to connect me and cooking together. If someone came looking for me, it would be pretty hard. Most people pictured me as some athlete or fitness instructor or something. It was a perfect disguise.' Riku, regardless of Sora's feelings on the matter, was proud of how well thought out his plan was. (Because really, if someone did want to find him he would have made damn sure not have done something so characteristic of himself. It would defeat the purpose of running away thank you very much.)
Sora nodded his head. Really, he couldn't expect less from Riku. He always was the more devious one of the two.
"Well, that settles it then." He clapped his hands together and put an arm around Riku's shoulders. "You're going to have to cook everyone dinner and dessert."
'You are so pushy.' Riku groaned. 'Are you sure you and Mel aren't related?"
He got a pillow to the face when Mel translated it. And then a glare.
"I'm sure." Sora beamed. "So what are you gonna make? You can do it tomorrow! It'll be great."
'Okay, okay. I give up. You win. I'll cook you some food. Ya pig.' Riku smiled and ducked another pillow to his face, this time from Sora.
"Good."
Melanie stood up. Riku followed her gaze and nodded. He handed Emiry, who fell asleep on his lap, off to her father and stood up also. He felt the world spin and had to steady himself.
"Why don't you come over tomorrow around 6 o'clock. You and Riku need to have a more serious talk together." Mel patted Sora on the back and leaned down.
"You should probably leave your daughter with her Grandmother too. This isn't really something she needs to hear." She whispered. Sora and Mel held each other's eyes. He nodded, not really understanding the reason for such words.
"If you want to know before tomorrow, ask Sonya. She can fill you in but don't lose your head about it. Remember, I'm a cop and Riku's a black belt. We can handle ourselves pretty good." Mel went to full height, stretched her arms over her head, and headed out the door.
"Thanks for everything Sonya! Come on Silver!! Dinner is waiting for you to cook it! I'm thinking, chicken noodles soup and sandwiches!" She sauntered out the door, chuckling to herself out noodly goodness.
Riku grabbed Sora's hand and held it palm up. He traced his fingers along the palm in letters.
Sorry, for everything.
He dropped the hand and left, with a quick wave to Sonya and Sora before he closed the door and disappeared.
Sora was disappointed to see Riku go. He wanted him to stay. Really bad. He didn't want him to go away again. It hurt to see his silver haired friend shut the door on him so quickly. Sora clutched his hand that Riku traced on to his chest.
Sora's attention slowly went to his mother.
"What does Mel mean about Riku?"
The boat arrived on time: in the dead of night. The few passengers left the boat, hurrying to their hotels or the family they came to visit. Two people, one hobbling on crutches and the other with an unhurried gate left the boat also. A gleam from something metallic reflected off the moonlight before the man covered it with his long black coat. He gave a feral smile and took a deep, deep breath.
"Fuckin' good to be back home." Aya gave an amused grunt and reached back to his partner and thawed him on the head.
"Hurry the fuck up or I'll leave you here to rot. We've got business to do." With that, Aya walked briskly away.
"Aww, Aya, why'd ya haveta go 'n do that fer?" Shima whined and shimmied after his partner in crime.
"You're lucky I don't just kill you now you rotten puke." Aya didn't slow.
"Ya know ya need me fer this. Boss said ya did." Shima was silenced when Aya grabbed Shima by the throat.
"Doesn't mean I won't kill you when this is over." He squeezed harder before letting Shima go. "And that bastard ain't our 'boss' ya shit. We don't have a boss." Aya growled, his good mood gone.
Author's Note
Huzzah!!! This is what everyone has been waiting for! Even ME!!! I didn't know how I should have either of them react and now that it's... done, I'm like... WOW!! Interesting. And don't you worry none, I cut out a lot of pieces - like the explanation as to WHY Riku is here to Sora - because I wanted to. Haha. Sorry, I'm cruel like that. But seriously that explanation will involve some heavier emotions and I wanted to keep this chapter emotional but not like the next one. I thinking more along the lines of some deep seeded hate and anger would work nicely. At least, I think so.
And you guys are SO NICE!!!! Thank you for being so understanding! I'm really inspired by you all! Such dedication! It makes me that much more sure that I will get this done! Thank you all sooooooo much! Everyone who reads/reviews/favorites/story alerts this has helped me a lot!
Oohh, and guess what? It only took me 8 days to post this chapter! How cool is that! I would love to say that I've started the next chapter but that would be an out and out LIE! I really haven't. I don't even have a clear idea of what I want to happen. It figures I actually get writter's block when I don't want/need it. I figure a year off from writing would be sufficient enough for anyone but nope, apparently not for me.
Thanks again everyone! I'll try my best! My new college starts up on the 24th of September so… you know the drill. College first, recreation next. That's sooo sad. Hopefully I'll have more time than I think to be able to write.
Much love,
Yoink Daydurfurits