[Video] The Wheel Keeps on Turning.

[runbysmiles]

[ This time the announcement about Riku's departure is intentional. Sora's up on the island sitting on the beach. The sun is setting. He's had plenty of time since this morning to think about it, and he's actually able to smile a little at the camera. ]

Hey everyone, I just wanted you guys to know Riku went home again.

[ He forces the smile to stay on his face, acting as if everything's okay. He's sort of getting used to this by now, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt. ]

Kairi, if you didn't know yet, I'm sorry.

[ He actually seems a little sadder at that. He ends the transmission there without another word. Really there's nothing else to say. ]

Comments

video;

[terranullius]

[Terra still isn't sure why or how people come and go from this world, but he knows all too well what it's like to be suddenly separated from a close friend.]

Sora. Let me know if you want to talk.

video;

[runbysmiles]

Hey, Terra.

[ Sora's still keeping the smile on his face, though it's really not easy. ]

It's okay. It's the third time it's happened, so you get used to it.

[ That was a lie. You never really get used to it, well to the fact that it happens maybe. ]

video;

[terranullius]

[Given what Terra had felt himself every time he was involuntarily separated from his friends, he guesses that Sora might just be putting on a brave face for this video. He wishes he remembered Sora from his time in the bubble from before so Sora didn't feel he had to keep smiling for his benefit, but there was only one way to fix that.

[He nods, accepting Sora at his word for the moment]

I've been meaning to talk to you again anyway. Can I meet up with you?

video;

[runbysmiles]

Sure Terra.

[ What did he want to talk about? The company actually wouldn't be too bad, at least it would get his mind off of things. ]

Do you know where the island is? I'm ---

[ He let Terra know where on the beach he was. ]

video --> action;

[terranullius]

I'm on my way.

[It doesn't take Terra long to locate Sora. Honestly, while he did have things he wanted to talk to Sora about, it was merely an excuse to check on the boy. Sora seemed like the type of person to whom, even if he was used to something like this, it couldn't have been easy to see his friend leave. Especially three times. Especially if you didn't know when they would be coming back again.

Terra had been told a few things when he first arrived that he didn't understand, and a lot of it seemed to center around Sora. He'd also spent the previous week in a coma (something he hadn't mentioned to anyone yet), so Terra needed a little bit of distraction from his own thoughts as well.

He speaks as he approaches]

I thought this world was all underwater. This is a nice surprise.

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[croceamors]

How unfortunate for you. I can't imagine how much the loss of something so important must mean to you.

[...This would probably come off a lot more sincere if he wasn't smirking. Oh well. Saix is just here to enjoy the misery Sora is trying hard to hide.]

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[runbysmiles]

[ At least pissed off is a better emotion than sad at the moment. Sora's instantly glaring at the screen. Like hell he'd trust you, Saix. ]

Ngh, why don't you find someone else to bother!

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[croceamors]

When you make a public post like this, you only have yourself to blame when anyone decides to respond.

I wonder how many times someone you love will be torn away from this place, leaving you with nothing?

video;

[runbysmiles]

You're the one who responded!

[ Sora's glare deepened and his fist balled up. ]

Even if they all left I wouldn't have nothing! They're still in my heart and that's more than you can say for yourself!

[ It was a low blow perhaps, but Sora was pissed. ]

video;

[croceamors]

How cruel.

[Saix, clearly, doesn't seem to care for what Sora thinks. Still, that offers something he's been hoping to twist into the keyblade wielder.]

You know, we could have had hearts if you hadn't deemed us as lesser creatures. How easily you slayed us, as if we were nothing more than those mindless animals you were far more used to beating... In fact, I might say you did it too easily.

It's as I told you, do you remember? Nobodies can think and remember, so very hard to distinguish from a normal person like yourself. All we would need would be our hearts again, and that's hardly much to ask for at all. We had dreams and desires. We were people as well, something I suppose Demyx is a good example for. Of course, you couldn't have that. You just charged right in and slaughtered nearly all of us without thinking about the lives you were vanishing to nothing.

Have you ever pondered if you are a murderer, Sora?

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[flared]

[How many times has Riku left now? Either way, this can't be easy for Sora. Axel's lost his best friend here on more than one occasion, too, so he understands.

Well... he can try to make light of this. Somehow.]

... Where are you at?

video;

[runbysmiles]

[ Three, at least by this version of Sora's count. ]

Hey, Axel. I'm up on the island, near ----.

[ He has a feeling Axel's going to show up, which is fine, he doesn't mind. ]

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[flared]

Don't move, then, got it?

[Because yeah, he is gonna go up there. Just you wait.]

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[runbysmiles]

[ Sora nodded. ]

Sure, okay.

[ He'll be waiting, Axel. ]

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[flared]

[Axel shows up a few minutes later through a Corridor of Darkness not too far away from where Sora is up on the island. After he spots him he makes his way over... then shoves this in Sora's hands. Here take it it's awesome.

But don't worry. Axel has a Sea-Salt ice cream pop for himself.]

Yo.

[video]

[serving_love]

Again? You can go home more than once?

[video]

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora nodded. ]

Yeah, but you wont always remember this place when you come back.

Re: [video]

[serving_love]

...Well, that sucks. [Seriously, this place makes no sense to him.] This Riku guy, is he from your world originally?

[video]

[runbysmiles]

Yeah he is. We'll see each other again if I ever leave, or if he comes back again.

[ It just sucked in the meantime. ]

[video]

[serving_love]

At least you know what he's going back to, right? That's gotta be a little reassuring. [Pause.] Unless you got a lot of shitty stuff going on back home.

[Action]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas knows the island well enough by now to recognize roughly where Sora's broadcasting from. He portals up to the beach, walks along the sand until he reaches his Other, and just sits down quietly beside him, close enough to bump shoulders.

It seems like everyone's leaving lately. Selfishly, he realizes that even if things aren't quite what he'd like them to be, he still has Axel. It isn't fair.]

One of these days... he's gonna have to figure out how to stick around.

[Action]

[runbysmiles]

[ The smile turned a little more genuine as Roxas sat beside him. He leaned against his brother taking comfort in the fact that he was close by. ]

Yeah...maybe one day he'll get it.

[ Not that Sora could really blame Riku for this. Things happened one way or the other. ]

[Action]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas leans back against him. Even he can't really blame Riku for this, more than words.]

...you shouldn't have to keep losing him like this. Not- when you can't follow.

[Action]

[runbysmiles]

It's okay, Roxas.

[ He looked over and smiled at him. ]

I'm happy I'm here. I wouldn't get to do this with you if I wasn't.

[ Not that the situation was good, but Sora knew he was very lucky to be able to sit beside Roxas like this. To be able to reach out and touch Roxas, and talk with him was a blessing Sora wasn't going to wish away. Besides...he had something else now that he hadn't had a chance to tell Roxas about. ]

I have Kairi now too, so it's okay. I'll see Riku again.

[ There was a slightly blush on Sora's cheek at that. Actually it wasn't too far from this spot that it had happened -- His first kiss with Kairi. ]

[Action]

[coolerthansora]

Yeah, but you should have both your best.. friends...

[He trails off as he notices the look on Sora's face. Is he blushing?]

Um... Did something happen?