fourteen.

[dawn_is_coming]

[Sora wakes up with a start, sitting up in the little blanket roll---and out of most of his clothes, which are too big for him now. Frightened, he peers around Riku's dark room]

...where am I? Riku...Kairi...?

RIKU! KAIRI! WHERE ARE YOU? [tears start to well up in his big blue eyes---real fear blossoming on his chubby face. He hiccups, looking

Comments

[dawnward]

[Riku's just as naked as Rangiku. unfortunately, he was - and still is - sleeping next to Sora.

as soon as the yelling happens he starts awake, squinting in the abruptly blurry gloom]

Wha--?

[dawn_is_coming]

[he peers at the other warm body next to him, inwardly quailing. His small hand pats wide pale chest and shoulder, and he squeaks. THERE'S AN UNFAMILIAR MAN. STRANGER DANGER.]

Wh-wh-wh-who're you?

1/3

[dawnward]

..... [shoots up, bangs his head on a lamp, curses, and gropes around anywhere for his glasses.

they are not to be found. woe. he leans towards Sora, squinting]

....

2/3

[dawnward]

[he's about five inches away when Sora's big blues come into focus]

...Sora?

3/3

[dawnward]

You're...

Sora.

[dawn_is_coming]

Yeah! Of course I'm Sora!

B-But you---[stares at his older friend with eyes that are swimming with tears, scrunched up as small as possible in defense]---who're you, mister?

[dawnward]

I...I know. You--

[get a hold of yourself Riku. think. you need to think]

I'm...

[back to normal, older. yesterday he was--...god. it's hard to breathe, but he manages. he can't see clearly, but he tries to look at Sora squarely]

I'm Riku.

[dawn_is_coming]

[he's silent for a few seconds, sizing up this adult. He's got the same color hair and eyes, but...]

Riku's a kid, like me! And he doesn't have hair like a girl, you big fat liarpants!

[dawnward]

...my hair is not--[CALM. calm. Riku is calm.

how did Sora deal with this again?

...right]

Sora. It really is me. ...ask me a question. Something only Riku would know.

[dawn_is_coming]

Is too. Is too is too is too.

[he thinks about this, brows scrunching up in deep thought, and finally points a finger at Riku]

If you're really Riku, where is the secret place?

[dawnward]

Is not.

[takes a deep breath and meets Sora's eyes...he has to be kind of close, but he does it]

On our island, next to the waterfall pool. You have to crawl under the roots from the tree to get there.

[dawn_is_coming]

[...a huge smile breaks over Sora's face. He throws himself at Riku, thin arms wrapped around his neck]

How'd you get so big, Riku? Tell me! I wanna be big, too!

[dawnward]

[stiffens for a moment as that small, warm bundle of Sora latches onto him. ...he really needs to find his clothes]

It's...a little hard to explain. So you're going to have to listen carefully, Sora.

[dawn_is_coming]

Okay! I'm listening! [is still latched on. It will take a crowbar and a prodigious amount of lubricant to get him off]

[dawnward]

You used to be older, like me. You're only a kid for a little while.

[doesn't want to admit it, but...] It happened to me, too. I'm back to normal now.

[dawn_is_coming]

Really? What am I like? Do I get big and tall like you? That'd be cool! ...but is my hair all long and stuff, too?