stilldontgotit | 37 - action/voice;

[Things have been pretty stressful recently, between his argument with Xion, Vanitas' surprise attack on Axel, and the impending possibility that he could strike again. Fortunately, with Sora's return to Luceti, Riku's feeling a bit better today, and he'll be spending the evening out and about. Aqua's still kidnapped, which means he'll have to work on his magic on his own, but the battle dome can wait a bit.

For now, he'll chill by the fountain with his journal in hand. Even with everything cooling down, Riku's got a lot on his mind, and one question in particular's been bugging him.]

[Filtered from Known Villains]

Seems like we've got a few new threats to worry about. I'm sure that with the Blue Rogues and Brave Vesperia on the job, it'll be pretty safe, but doesn't it bug anyone that we can't do more to stop them? All we can really do is hold them back. Even death's just a temporary solution.

[He sighs. Mostly, he's just venting.]

Anyway, there's something I've been wondering. How many of you come from worlds where light and darkness actually means something? And by that I mean more than just lamps and shadows.

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[Unfortunately, Riku's quite clueless about what's going on, and while he's a bit wary around Xion, he doesn't suspect what's going to happen.

As such, he'll turn to face her, looking cool and collected.]

Hey.

[ ........... augh this is going to suck. really, really hard. somewhat reflexively she smiles, a deeply crooked thing. ]

... listen ... I need to talk to you about something.

[Hm, that's odd. Well, it can't be anything too bad.]

Oh yeah? Well, go ahead. I'm listening.

[ oh ye of little faith.

but she's quiet, then, the smile slipping off her face. she looks -- well -- unhappy, at best. ]

... it's about ... about us.

[...hah. That calm demeanor from before? Consider it gone. Riku's eyes widen for a minute, and then he puts his journal to the side.

He's got a bad feeling about it.]

Oh really?

... after ... after that last time we fought, before I was drafted ... it took me a while to figure it out, but ... I -- I realized something.

[ the words come very slowly. never has she been more shame-faced. this hurts. ]

[He doesn't say a word; Riku's already anticipating what she'll say, so he'll quietly nod.]

[ so, so quietly: ]

... I'm sorry. I don't...

[ she takes a step back, clasping her hands over her chest and staring at the ground, expression tight and very sad. ]

... I don't feel ... that way ... anymore.

[... And his heart just went crack.

He clenches his hands into fists and turns away. Right about now, he could easily snap and say something he'd regret. That's what happened in the past.

But this time? He slowly gets up and turns away, pulling up his hood.]

So that's how it is.

[ she makes a noise -- quiet, yet sharp, edged with something unnameable, but there is pain there. it's like a slap in the face, the way he reacts, but -- she -- has she really got any right to feel hurt? considering this is her doing...

there's such a temptation to -- to try and make it better, to take it back. to make everything okay again. she wishes this was easy. but it never really was. not once, not ever was it actually easy, and just, somewhere along the way ... it became hopelessly painful and damaged, too.

fighting off tears she can't explain, she swallows hard and nods, though he can't see her. ]

Riku, I -- I'm so sorry.

[He doesn't say anything. Instead he laughs, but not because it's funny. His laugh is dry and hollow. Almost forced.]

[ winces.

... but she does not go near him. ]

Why are you...?

Maybe I should've given up months ago.

[Walking away now.]

[ ... she lets him go. as much as that seriously, seriously hurt to hear -- they won't be speaking for a long while -- she lets him go. ]

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