challenge post

[helixian.livejournal.com]

Challenge: 117- End.

Title: Unrest

Words: 438

Spoilers: End of KH 2.

 

“I thought it’d be different.”

“What?”

Sora was regretting the idle remark before he finished the sentence. He bit his lip and dodged the crimson blade that barely missed his feet. Unleashing a fatal blow in return, he released the Keyblade with one hand and held it out to steady himself. He grinned triumphantly before realizing that he was suspended upside down with his legs flailing in the air, much to the mirth of his opponent. Sora ignored this and righted himself, arms spread to his sides. His feet dangled unsupported beneath him before he alighted on the ground.

“That was over quick,” Riku noted with amusement. Sora ignored him and hefted Oblivion to eye level, gazing wistfully at the lattice of pewter ribbons tracing the cutting edge even as they evaporated in a black-and-silver nimbus.

“I’m tired,” Sora lied. “We’ve been out here all day, and you didn’t exactly make it easy for me yesterday.”

“You, tired? Tchah, right,” Riku scoffed. “How ‘bout you answer my question?”

Sora’s face fell. He hadn’t really expected changing the subject to work with Riku, the master of evasion. He walked a few paces and leapt nimbly atop the trunk of the lopsided tree.

“It’s just…” Sora’s shoulders slumped. “After everything…” he began unsteadily, appearing to address his knees.

Riku said nothing. The frown creasing his brow spoke for him.

Sora laughed humorlessly and tugged at a brown spike. “It’s funny…I only thought about defeating Ansem, and Organization XIII…I never really thought about what would happen afterward.” He glanced at Riku, hopeful that his friend might sympathize, but the older boy’s eyes were unreadable behind overgrown bangs.

“And here we are, everything’s over, back to normal, and it’s just like-” Sora’s eyelids fluttered as he twisted his gaze away, avoiding Riku’s curious face. “Like watching the sun set on a day that never came.”

Surprisingly light fingers rested gently on the back of his hand. Sora turned back, his eyes still lowered. He stared at Riku’s hand lying awkwardly on his, and finally up at his friend’s face, which became less stony as his eyes softened.

“That’s the best way I think anyone could put it,” Riku finally said. Sora’s eyes widened and a stunned smile grew on his lips.

“You mean-”

“Yeah. Ever since the letter.”

Riku turned back to the shrinking sun, and Sora’s smile evaporated. “Yet I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not over.”

“Because it’s not,” Sora says softly, eyes glinting despite the fading sunlight. “…is it?”

Riku smiled wryly, cocking one eyebrow. “Almost relieving, huh?”

"Yeah."

They sat in darkness, waiting for twilight to come.