((Author's note: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Sora, Riku, or the picture that this story was based on. I managed to contact the artist that created the piece that inspired this story. She has graciously allowed me to host it and share with all of you. See my profile for information.))

I've walked so long in darkness that it's almost a comfort to me. I have no need for my eyes, for in this world, what you see can deceive you. It's your heart that needs to guide you and too often it can be swayed by visions. And so, to keep my heart from being swallowed by the darkness once again, I surround myself with it.

"Riku?"

The voice I know so well. Still touched with youth and yet tempered with the fires of experience. We had to grow up fast, he and I, and yet Sora still holds that innocence within his heart, something pure that the darkness cannot touch, no matter how hard it tries. I listen to his tentative voice, the scrape of his cautious steps, and I turn my covered eyes to his. The timbre of his breathing, the pitch in his question, those are things that can only be natural.

He moves closer and I can smell the ocean around him. Neither of us have been close to the shore for some time, but the memory of it lingers, clinging to him and stirring images long past in my mind. How jealous I was of him back then, so much so that I allowed the darkness to take me, to take all of us. The penitent part of me wants to draw away from him. It was my fault, all my fault, and yet, he can still bring himself to be close to me. I don't deserve such willing forgiveness.

"Is it really you, Riku?"

I feel the brush of his fingertips against my chest and suddenly feel bared before him. He needs proof. He needs to see inside of my heart to give peace to his own. His hand trails down my arm, fingers clutching at mine to assure him that I am no phantom. The warmth of his body so close to mine brings me comfort as well and I tip my cheek to the hesitant touch he wishes to lay there. I feel him brushing the cloth that covers my eyes, curious to its nature. My free hand comes up and captures his own. Now is not the time to reveal such secrets.

He lets out a soft noise as I gently pull him into my arms, wrapping them around him. He's pinned to my chest, but not so tightly that he can't slip a hand up and through my hair. Allowing myself no hesitation, I bow my head, capturing his lips with mine. There's a warm sweetness to his kiss, made all the better as a groan rolls in his throat and I feel his tongue eagerly seeking my own. His innocence is vanilla smooth, heated with cinnamon desire, and it makes me want to devour him.

"Ri...ku."

A wanting thickness coats his voice and I deny him nothing. Heated breaths pass between us as we match each others tongues, stroke for stroke and kiss for kiss. The grip of his fingers tightens in my hair as the warmth building between us seems to be intensifying. A light glimmers behind my eyes and I moan into our kiss. His fingers slide up, tugging away my blindfold. I'm certain that he can feel me trembling and that's when he draws back, my heart beginning to fear that it has been lead astray once again.

It's so faint, I barely feel it, but my heart won't let me miss the soft brush of Sora's lips against my cheek. His arms wrap gently around my neck, our bodies flush against one another. Then comes a feather-light kiss at my lips, one that slowly deepens as our heartbeats pound in my ears. Coaxed by the sound, I break from his sweet attentions, slowly allowing my eyes to finally flutter open. The blue that they meet is as pure and depthless as the sky itself and when he smiles at me, I know. He is here. He is real. My Sora is real and I know he can lead me, always, from the darkness.