Title: Dreaming of You

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Author: Nietzsche's Itch

Characters: Riku, Terra

Genre: Friendship/Hurt/Comfort

Rating: T

Status: Oneshot, Complete

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts

Summary: Riku and Terra are reunited, if only in spirit. Not slash unless you want it to be.

It was a dream, he knew it was, and yet when he opened his eyes, Riku had not yet awoken. The brunette sitting on the sand beside him sighed sadly, and tilted his face upwards to enjoy the mimicry of a sea breeze, created by his companions imagination.

If he could not be on the real islands with him, then at least they could pretend for a little while. As Sora would say, you just have to believe.

Terra looked at Riku. "I'm sorry to have brought you here again."

Riku shook his head negatively. "I don't have to come here, I choose to," he said firmly. There was a silence where all that could be heard was the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the shore before Terra replied.

"I like it when you do…it makes me feel less lonely," he admitted. Riku broke character and shuffled a little closer to his friend, brushing their hands together. It was not something he would normally do, initiate contact, even with Sora and Kairi, but they understood each other and it seemed like the right thing to do. They were the two who had been punished by the light, and only Riku had gotten a second chance. He entwined their fingers with only the slightest hesitation.

Terra was cold, Riku was warm and he shared that warmth willingly with the other.

"I'll stay as long as you want," he promised.

"That might be forever," he replied resignedly, knowing he could not and would not separate Riku from the friends he had fought so hard for. He missed Aqua and Ventus with all the heart left in this lingering sentiment that was all that was left of him. Xehanort had taken everything else from him.

Riku scowled. "If I could do it, then you can too."

Terra's mouth twisted unhappily. "I guess," he said hopelessly "either way, this is nice, being with you."

"Yeah," Riku sighed, watching as the artificial sun began to sink beneath the horizon, and bathing them in red gold light.

"It's still hard to believe you know, that its been so long since that day I met you. You were so young…"

"And already cooler than Sora," he smirked, drawing a half-hearted chuckle out of the other.

"We made that promise, and you became a keyblade wielder. I still wonder if that was my fault, if my darkness tainted you enough to become vulnerable to it. Some promise," he muttered dejectedly.

Riku punched him lightly. "I don't know if that's why I got the keyblade, but I do know that I couldn't have done anything without it. I needed it to help Sora, and for that, I'll bear the consequences willingly," he swore.

Terra simply gazed at him with sorrow.

"Care to make another promise?" he suggested. The brunette shrugged.

"It couldn't hurt, not any more than the last one," he muttered.

"Summon your keyblade," Riku asked. Terra did so, the tarnished weapon coming into existence in his hand. Riku raised his own shining keyblade and touched it to the other.

"Let's promise, to meet on the real islands again one day, not if, but when," Riku said softly. Terra cast him a startled glance, and then closed his eyes. A glow surrounded the interlocked keys and then faded away.

Terra laughed quietly. "When my body and heart are returned to me, I'll meet you on the shore."

Riku smiled. "It's a promise."