It had been a while since he had changed much in his routine, always doing the same thing everyday. Get up, take a shower, have breakfast, go to work, come home, and then walk on the beach while he watched the sunset. It had always been the same thing, and Riku found himself growing bored of his normal schedule. He lived alone in a small one-bedroom, living area, kitchen, and one-bathroom house on the corner of one of the smaller islands, just west from the much larger mainland. It wasn't very often that he got visitors, but occasionally his best friend, Sora, would stop by and they would have dinner, or mock fight on the beach.

While Riku openly accepted his best friends company, or the company of a few others, there were times where he found that he didn't mind being alone. It gave him time to think and dwell on the possibilities of his future. He had a steady job as a model, of all things, and that got him more munny than he could possibly spend by himself. Riku could probably afford a much nicer, bigger house, but found that he didn't want that. He enjoyed his small house with his meager belongings. All of the extra munny that he earned, he saved. After all, munny didn't bring him his happiness; his friends did.

Unlike himself, Sora grew up in a family that didn't have extra munny to spend on small little nic-nacs, and lived on the side of the island where the people generally had 'less munny.' Even growing up Riku had more stuff than he could handle, and often went and spent his own allowance on his best friend. Sora wasn't the only one, however. Selphie, a younger girl with twice the amount of energy as her height, had been rough housing with Sora a few months back and had ripped her favorite yellow jumper. Bluntly said, the young brunette was crestfallen. To Riku, Selphie had always been something like a little sister, so seeing her that upset made the older male feel the need to amend the situation. The next day, he took her to the market where she not only got another jumper, but a whole assortment of clothes that could easily last her for two years.

Riku had no need for the munny, it didn't make him happy. And even though his friends were more than enough to keep him happy, the silver haired male found that lately, things had been too quiet, almost lonely.

His simple routine was becoming boring, and it seemed that all around him things had been changing. Sora and Selphie had gotten together as boyfriend and girlfriend, and they were getting along great. On a few occasions they both would come over, and that was when Riku found he was the happiest, but it also etched a small corner of loneliness in his heart. Seeing the happy couple made Riku feel like a part of him was missing, and often when he was alone he would sit on the porch of his house, staring out at the ocean and thinking if he would ever meet his 'special someone', or get his own happy ending.

Even now, as he walked along the shore, sand molding softly to his bare feet with each step he took, he wondered about his own future. Would he ever meet someone who he could truly love, and be loved in return? Having people 'like-like' him was no big deal. When he was in school, girls would simply fawn over him when he walked down the halls, or even when he went to the market for groceries. They wanted to be with him for his looks, though, and not for his heart, which Riku found was an annoying and despicable trait. The silver haired male wanted someone who was gentle, serene, and kind. Someone who could make him laugh, and laugh in return. That could love him for his heart and who he was, and not claim to for his looks. Riku wanted someone he could spend the rest of his life with, in his small house, happily ever after.

Taking in a deep breath Riku folded his hands behind his back, walking with deliberately short steps. He wanted the walk to take longer than usual, wanted the sunset to last for a few more minutes than usual, just so that he could prolong returning to home. It was getting more and more lonely by the day living by himself in his small house, and seeing Sora and Selphie didn't help like it used to.

"...What's wrong with me?" He asked himself, stopping in mid-stride and turning towards the ocean. Silver hair blew slightly in the breeze, aquamarine eyes gazing passively out at the setting sun. His favorite time of the day, and once again, he was watching it by himself. Without a sound he let his hands fall simply to his sides, waves lapping at his bare feet as they rolled onto the beach. The soft sounds from the waves were soothing, and Riku found himself closing his eyes and breathing in the calming smell of the tropical enviornment.

Maybe there's nothing wrong with routine. Maybe I'm thinking too much, putting too much thought in the things that I should be cherishing... With another deep breath, Riku opened his eyes and continued on his way, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he enjoyed his walk.

Just as he was coming to his favorite spot, which in his opinion, was the best spot to watch the sunset, he noticed something different in his routine. Someone different, that he couldn't remember seeing before. Brushing silver bangs from his eyes, he gazed at her, taking in her soft, etheral appearance. The girl was shorter than him by a lot, pale skin cast in a orange glow from the setting sun. Her blonde hair framed her soft face, and from where he was standing Riku couldn't make out the color of her eyes. She wore a short, white dress and light blue sandals, and in her hand was a thin paintbrush. Situated in front of the girl was a canvas, facing her and away from the ocean. Despite the fact that the girl looked deep in thought, Riku could easily see the tears in her eyes.

Concern etching his emotions, he picked up his pace and quietly moved closer to her. Upon getting close enough to see exactly what the girl was painting, Riku felt his heart skip a few beats. She's painting the sunset... Oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds were all blending skillfully in with blues and purples, the picture a perfect image of what Riku found so enchanting. The girl sniffled lightly and reached up with her free hand, wiping away the tears from her eyes. Pausing in his stride, he took a deep breath before speaking, his voice soft and gentle.

"Uh... Excuse me. Are... Are you alright?" At the sound of his voice the girl spun, dropping her paintbrush into the sand. She raised a delicate hand to her chest, and Riku was suddenly met with beautiful bright blue eyes. In all of his years, Riku was sure that there was nothing more beautiful than the sunset... But here, in front of him now, was something that could easily make the sunset tremble. Pale cheeks were slightly flushed, with either embarassment or sadness, Riku couldn't tell. Bright blue eyes were slightly glassy from her tears, and the breeze caught strands of her blonde hair, toying with it gently. Simply put it; she was beautiful.

The girl hesitated a moment, delicate hands reaching down to smooth out her dress. "Um, yes... I'm fine, thank you." She glanced away, as if she was uneasy from his scrutiny.

"What were you painting?" Riku asked quietly, averting his eyes from the girl and to the picture setting upon the canvas. He didn't look back at her, but took a few steps closer to examine the piece of art.

"Just the sunset, although I messed up."

Riku paused, looking back at the girl. "Is that why you're upset?" She nodded and in an almost elegant way, bent down and picked up paintbrush that she had earlier dropped. After cleaning the sand off of it, she looked back to him, her expression forlorn.

"I messed up right here, see?" She pointed to a small patch on the painting with the end of her brush, pointing out where the blue ocean had run too much into the yellow of the setting sun. "I've been out here for hours; I wanted to get it just right, but I messed up. I thought that maybe with this piece, I could maybe go to art school and become a real artist. The sunset is so beautiful, I wanted to get it perfect." Riku moved so that he was standing right next to her, hand raising to his chin in deep thought.

The picture was truly well done, and perfectly captivated the beauty of the setting sun, so he could see why the girl was so upset. The spot, however, didn't seem as noticeable as she had thought, and Riku didn't even notice it until she had actually pointed it out.

"It's really beautiful, and I don't think that it's ruined. Why not accept it and it's flaws? It's unique that way; makes it all the more beautiful and special to look at... And each time that the sun does set, is it always the same? The colors can't always been in the same spot, that would make it bland..." The girl glanced at Riku thoughtfully before looking back to her painting, seeming to consider the things that he had said. With a small sigh she looked back to him, a shy smile upon her lips.

"Thank you... I suppose you're right." Riku smiled softly and glanced down, noticing that she had offered him her hand. "... My name is Namine. You're one of the first people that I've met that actually enjoyed my work."

Taking her hand, Riku smiled, giving her a soft laugh. "I find that artistic talent's amazing. I don't have it, so..." He gave her another smile, reaching with his other hand to brush his silver hair from his eyes. "Riku. My name, it's Riku."

"Well then... It's a pleasure to meet you, Riku." Riku laughed softly, shaking her hand gently before letting it go. This was the first girl that he had ever met that hadn't jumped him when knowing his name, or when they realized that he was the model Riku.

"The pleasure's mine, Namine." He said gently, looking back from her to her artwork. "Are you going to finish it?"

The blonde looked thoughtful for a moment, before breathing out a deep sigh. "Probably not today, the sun is setting too far down. I'll come back tomorrow, though, and maybe I'll finish it then. Do you walk on the beach often, Riku?" He nodded and she smiled shyly. "Then maybe I'll see you again. I like to come out here and watch the sunset; it's so pretty."

"Yeah, it is. I walk every evening, so if you're out here, I should see you." He flashed her a smile and looked back out to the sunset, failing to notice the way that she blushed. "It's so calming. I've fallen asleep a lot out here, actually, listening to the waves and the birds and stuff. It's just so relaxing."

"Mm-hmm..." Namine was silent for some time before she began putting her supplies away into a white sidebag that Riku had failed to notice earlier, moving slowly and to her own rhythm. Aquamarine eyes glanced back at her, watching the way that she elegantly moved, and Riku was once again enchanted by her. Everything about her seemed so etheral, and even the silver haired male couldn't deny that he was definately attracted to her. Namine's presence itself was calming, like when you were around her all of your worries could be thrown aside.

After she finished packing up all of her belongings, Namine turned back to face him, that same, shy smile placed on her pale lips. "It was nice to meet you, Riku, but I should be getting home. It's getting late..." The older male nodded gently, before taking her hand again in a soft shake.

"You too, Namine. If I walk tomorrow, I'll see you again, won't I?" The girl flushed slightly and nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'll be looking forward to it, then."

Namine looked up at him softly, before giving him a glowing smile. "So will I, Riku. Thanks again." As she moved to walk away, her hand slowly slid out of Riku's palm, leaving a tingling feeling where it had been. Riku stood quietly as she watched the retreating figure of the young girl, finally looking away when he couldn't see her and to the ocean. The sun had almost set completely, the sky turning a dark purply-blue. With one last glance at where Namine had walked off to, Riku turned around and headed back to his home, his mind already contemplating what he exactly thought of the blonde girl that made even the beauty of the sunset pale.

~~~~~

"Namine!" After spotting the familiar blonde girl, Riku jogged the rest of the way down to the shore, smiling all the while. At hearing her name, Namine's head jerked up from her painting, looking around nervously before spotting the silver haired male. With her free hand she waved, her lips forming a gentle smile.

"Hello again, Riku. Out for your walk?" He laughed, catching the way that her eyes sparkled in kindness as she asked her question. Riku nodded, smiling down at her softly.

"Yeah, and I see that you're painting again." She nodded and he smiled, looking at her canvas. It was the same picture that she had been working on the day before, but it was more complete. The beach was almost done, and the sun setting was more detailed than the night before. Taking a closer look, Riku smiled when he saw that the 'flawed' spot was still there, undisturbed. Eyes skimming over the picture, they paused at the corner, where he spotted a darker spot of paint. It looked like a sillhouette of a young man sitting in the sand, whose back was to the viewer and front facing the setting sun. Looking up front the picture slowly, aquamarine eyes met with cerulean, managing to catch a faint blush on pale cheeks before Namine glanced away, fiddling with the brush in her hand.

"I thought that maybe it needed something more... I hope that you don't mind." She murmered softly, head down to hide her blush. With another smile, Riku shook his head, reaching up to tilt Namine's head upwards.

"I don't mind at all, Namine. It's your piece of work." She smiled at him happily and looked back to the ocean, eyes dancing over the waves and the scene before them. Riku followed her gaze, looking up at the pink-ish sky before his eyes were distracted by a pair of white birds. Namine seemed to have noticed them as well, Riku managing to catch a soft, "Oh, look..." as his eyes followed the two birds. After they both dissapeared into the setting sun, both Namine and Riku were silent, content with each others presence.

After some time, Namine went back to her painting, picking and mixing her colors expertly before applying them to the picture. Riku sat down in the sand next to her, watching her paint the scene in front of them with small changes. As the older boy watched, he noticed simple things that Namine did that transfixed him. The way that her hand moved as she precisely painted her lines, or the way that her brows would furrow in intense concentration, how she nibbled at her bottom lip if she couldn't decide on what exact color to use... It was all so simple, all of them every day gestures, but when Namine would quirk her head to the side in comparison from the picture to the real thing, Riku could feel his body tremble. With Namine everything was different, even every normal expression was different, and that was what captivated the silver haired male laying in the sand by her feet.

There was no denying it; Riku was definately attracted to Namine.

Brows furrowed Riku managed to look away from the beautiful blonde, gazing up at the sky quietly. He had only just met the girl, but already he felt so attached to her. It was almost as if he had known her just as long as he had known Sora...

... She's something different in your 'routine.' You wanted change, and here it is, just in the form of a beautiful girl! Take the opportunity and get to know her! Riku frowned lightly at his inner thoughts, not quite sure what to make of them. It was true that he wanted a change in his every day life, but what if Namine didn't want to get to know him the way that he wanted to know her? They had only met the evening before... So what?! She may be the answer to that corner of loneliness in your heart! Just give it a shot, nothing too big. Ask her to dinner or something, not to marry you.

Riku scoffed at that thought, leaning back and folding his hands above his head. Dinner did sound good, although it was pretty late and the only thing that he knew of Namine's schedule was that she came out to the beach when the sun set to paint. Didn't she have some other place to be after this, or what if she already had a 'special someone?' At the thought, Riku visibly paled. What if she already had a boyfriend? If he asked her to dinner, that might ruin their already fragile relationship. Namine was a kind woman, Riku could tell that already. She was timid, but it seemed that if she was provoked, she wouldn't be afraid to speak her mind. Riku was pretty sure that Namine was the kind of woman that he had been looking for, but if she already had someone...

"... Riku? Riku. Hey, Riku, snap out of it. I need your help..." At the sound of the blondes voice, Riku sat up, blinking.

"Hmm, Nami?" At the shortened version of her name Namine flushed, looking away quickly. Just as soon as it had come out Riku had clamped his mouth shut. Was it too much? Would she get angry? Too fast?

The sound of giggling however, diminished any negative thoughts from his head and Riku looked back up, seeing that Namine was holding a hand to her mouth. "'Nami', huh? I don't think I've ever been called that before... But I do like it, Riku." At that, the silver haired male smiled. Good, he didn't damage anything... "Do you think you can help me...? I need some help." Blinking again, Riku nodded and stood, brushing the sand from his baggy pants.

"Help with what, Nami?" There it was again, and Namine giggled before pointing at a certain spot in her picture. It was where the sky met the ocean.

"I'm just having problems finding the right color... Should I add more blue, or make it almost purple?" At first, Riku wondered why Namine would even ask since he had no artistic talent, but shrugged away the thoughts and decided he might as well help. Glancing up at the actual sun setting he thought about it, folding his arms. Looking back to the picture, he spoke slowly, considering his options.

"I think... Go ahead and make it more purple. Add some red, though, so that there's warm colors blending with the cool." Namine did as he instructed and he nodded, watching her brush strokes with precision. "Yeah, like that. See? I think it looks perfect." The blonde blushed softly, finishing her strokes as she compared it to the scene before them.

"You're right, Riku. Thank you." Looking up at Riku she flashed him one of her kind smiles and Riku felt his legs tremble.

With a deep breath he smiled back, trying to calm his nerves. Just getting to know her better wouldn't be a crime, would it? And if she did have a boyfriend, then maybe they could just be friends...? He didn't know, but he had to try. There was something that drew him to the blonde young woman in front of him now, something that Riku had to understand. Whether it was just curiousity or actual attraction he had to know.

"Um, Nami... Would you like to have dinner with me tonight at my place? It won't be much, I'm not that great of a cook, and I was just thinking that maybe we could, well, err, hang out, I guess." 'Hang out?' What the fuck, Riku?! 'Hanging out' is what you and Sora do, not something that you do with a girl you barely know and has suddenly fancied you without your knowledge... "Well, I mean, not hang out, but just, get to know each other and -" Before he could get another word out, Namine had reached up and placed a slender finger on his lips to silence him. Immidiately when he felt the contact he shut up, feeling himself tense at the contact. She smiled at him and giggled softly.

That laugh... It was mesmerizing, and Riku found that it entranced him almost as much as Namine herself.

"Riku, calm down. I'd love to have dinner with you." She smiled again as she lowered her finger from his lips, turning back to her painting. Giving it one last hard look, she sighed softly and began packing all of her belongings. "I'll wait until tomorrow evening to finish it," she said quietly, placing her paints and brushes into her small white sidebag, "It's getting late, and if you want to have dinner with me, we should probably do it now. Oh, don't worry, I can continue painting another time. It's no big deal, really..." He nodded towards her dumbly, giving her a soft smile when she turned to face him after she was finished packing.

With a small smile, Riku offered to carry her canvas and she nodded, handing it to him gently. After a few more moments of watching the sunset together, Riku turned and led the way back to his house, walking quietly with Namine at his side. It was definately something that he could get used to...

"It's so peaceful out; I can see why you enjoy walking during the evenings." Namine spoke softly, her blonde hair swaying gently on the ocean breeze. Riku smiled at her, nodding.

"The evening is my favorite part of the day, besides when I get off work, but that doesn't count. I find the sunset calming, and it's really beautiful. Have you ever watched the sunrise?" Namine shook her head, looking at Riku all the while as he spoke. "It's not nearly as calming as the sunset. At least that's my opinion... It's not as beautiful, either."

At this Namine nodded, looking thoughtful. "I never have, but I think that I'd like to, someday. Though I don't think that I'd enjoy it as much as the sunset, anyway. Getting up that early may have me fall asleep as I watch it." She added with a giggle and Riku laughed softly. As they walked along the shoreline, their paces were matched perfectly. It was like a cliche scene in a movie, and Riku had a feeling that if his hands weren't occupied with holding some of Namine's fragile belongings, then one of his hands may have been holding the young womans' hand.

"I almost did, and I would have if Sora hadn't been there to keep me awake." At Namine's perplexed expression he gave her an apologetic grin before speaking. "Sora's my best friend, you may meet him eventually, but, anyway... Sora kept pestering me that I just had to watch the sunrise with him, because he always watched the sunset with me. So I told him that I would. It was pretty, but nothing compared to what I was used to..."

"I could imagine..." She said softly.

After that the walk to Riku's house was mostly silent. Occasionally Namine would point things out that she figured would be nice to paint someday, and Riku would agree and maybe point out things of his own before they grew silent again. As they walked, the minutes passed, and soon Riku found himself standing in front of his small home. Namine looked at the home appreciatively, and Riku couldn't see any form of judgement in her gaze. That alone reassured him.

"You have a lovely house, Riku." Namine said softly once they were inside. They had set Namine's things down in the small living room which you directly walked into when you entered the house, and they were both now sitting in the kitchen. He smiled, appreciating the kind comment.

"Thank you. Would you like anything to drink?" Namine nodded and requested just a glass of water, and Riku obediantly complied. Filling the glass with ice first he poured the water into the cup, the sound of the ice crackling the only sound in the room. Turning back to the table, he was mildly surprised to see that Namine had gotten up and was standing in front of the curio cabinet that sat against the kitchen wall. She seemed to be looking thoughtfully at the pictures that had lined the cabinet, and she was holding one in her hands gently.

Walking back to the table, Riku set the glass down where Namine had been seated and moved to stand next to her, gazing down at the picture. It had been taken only a month ago, and was of Sora, Selphie, and Riku. Selphie hand her arms around Sora, and Sora had one arm around his girlfriend and one around Riku. Why he had it, he didn't know, but he bemused that it was because Sora and Selphie looked so happy in that picture.

"You look lonely..." The comment was abrupt and hesitantly spoken and Riku found himself looking from the picture to Namine, who was examining the photo with a careful eye.

"You think so?" Riku asked softly, quirking his head to the side. Namine replied only with a nod before she set the picture back down to it's original spot and moved past Riku to sit back down. Gratefully she took the glass of water and sipped it, smiling.

"Thank you, Riku." He smiled and nodded her a welcome before he sat down next to her, gazing out of the kitchen window at the last dying rays from the sun. "You're a wonderful man, did you know that? I don't think anyone has ever treated me with as much kindness as you have, and you've just met me... If I had a way to thank you properly, I would."

Taken aback, Riku could only stare at her. Thank him properly? There wasn't any need for that. All Riku wanted from Namine was just a relation of friendship, if not eventually more.

"There's no need to thank me, Nami. I do what I do because, well, I guess you can say that I want to be your friend..." He trailed off slowly, wondering if he had said the right thing or not. Namine was quiet as well, drinking her water slowly.

"The brunette in the picture... Is that Sora?" Riku nodded slowly.

"Yep. That's my favorite bouncing ball of energy. Most of those pictures are of him, I think..."

"You look happy in those pictures, but in that one you look lonely..." She spoke hesitantly, as if she was crossing fragile lines. Taking in a deep breath Riku looked at Namine for a moment before letting his gaze travel back to the picture. What the blonde said was true, even to himself. In all of the other pictures that he was in, he looked happy, like he was truly enjoying himself. But with the picture of his two friends and himself, he almost looked, well... Left out. Selphie and Sora had twin grins on their faces, while Riku's trademark smirk seemed almost fake and out of place.

Thinking on the fact for only a few more moments, Riku shrugged, gaze traveling back to Namine. "Selphie and Sora had gotten together, and I guess that I just felt out of the loop. It's not that way now, though, I'm used to it." Namine looked thoughtful again, giving Riku a subtle nod.

"Are you with anyone, Riku?" She asked softly, a blush rising to her cheeks. Blinking at the question, Riku shook his head, smiling softly.

"No, I'm not. Can't find anyone that I would want to spend my life with. Those two," As he spoke, he motioned to the picture of him, Sora, and Selphie, "Are as perfect as two peas in a pod big enough for only two. They're both hyperactive, they both like the same thing, and they both love each other. Me? I'm a model, so people want to get with me for either my looks or my munny..."

Namine looked up at him thoughtfully, shaking her head. "That's awful. I don't see why people use each other like that, it's not right." Riku shook his head in full agreement.

"No, it's not right. Playing with people's hearts is something that I can't stand." He paused briefly, clearing his throat. "What about you, Nami? Surely someone as nice as you has a boyfriend..."

The blush on Namine's cheeks reddened, but she managed a soft giggle that wormed it's way into Riku's heart. She looked up at him, setting her half-empty glass down on the table. "Me? Oh, no. I don't think that anyone would even want me. It gets alittle lonely being by myself, but I'm used to it." Nodding thoughtfully, Riku smiled, the thought of why he had invited Namine over in the first place hitting him in the head like a brick.

"I'm sure that we'll both find who we're looking for eventually, when our time is right... But right now, I have a more important question... What would you like for dinner?"

~~~~~

A month had passed since he had invited her over to dinner, and Riku could clearly say that his routine had definately changed because of the blonde haired beauty. He could also say that he had fully developed a crush on her, as well. Every evening Riku would take his walk, and would always see Namine in that same spot, sometimes with her canvas in front of her and sometimes without it. To his knowledge she must have finished the painting that she had tried so hard on, but he had never gotten around to asking what she had done with it. After he would meet in in their usual meeting spot, Namine would accompany him along the walk to his house and they would have dinner together, sometimes even sharing a desert.

When Sora had found out about Riku's new 'friend', the brunette had been exstatic, jumping up and down repeatidly yelling, 'Riku's got a girlfriend! A girlfriend, a girlfriend!' And then he would ask what her name was, and Riku would hit his friend over the head and tell him to shut up. Riku would say that he didn't have a girlfriend, just a friend that was a girl, nothing more.

"... But you have to like her, Riku!" Sora had said one day while they were sitting on the beach after he had gotten off work. It wasn't time for his walk yet, but Riku had decided that Sora should meet Namine as well.

The silver haired male scoffed, shaking his head. "I do like her, Sora, but just as a friend. I don't think she's the type for a full blown relationship anyway." Sora, however, didn't seem satisfied with that answer and crossed his arms, mock glaring at his best friend.

"You're a bad liar. Stupid Riku." Riku glared back at his unnecessary comment, reaching up and swatting him on the back of his head. It was strange, but Riku found that he had been doing that a lot lately... "And you're mean! Mean, stupid Riku..." Shaking his head, Riku chose to ignore the rest of the words that Sora mumbled, instead gazing out at the ocean as he watched the sun casually drop.

After about another hour of the two of them sitting at the beach, Riku stood up and brushed the sand from his pants, offering a hand down to his friend. Sora grinned and took it, completely seeming to have forgotten about their earlier 'bickerment' and laughed as Riku pulled him up.

"Are we going to see Namine, now, Riku?" The brunette asked and Riku nodded, turned, and began walking down the shoreline. Sora jogged up to meet and they walked together down the beach, Riku lost in his thoughts and Sora, for once, doing the same. Their steps were equal, even though Riku's stride was slightly longer than his friends. As they walked, Riku subconsciously began to think of things that made him anxious. Would Namine even like Sora? Would she find him annoying like so many other people did? Were his clothes on right? He wasn't going to make a fool of himself in front of his best friend and this girl that he was fond of, was he?

Frowning slightly, Riku slowed his pace some, Sora doing the same without even realizing it. Anxiety took over and Riku began to wonder about every little thing; if his hair was brushed and well kept, were his clothes clean and stain-free... Without warning, Sora clapped him on the shoulder, laughing and smiling.

"You're worrying too much, Riku. Calm down!" Staring at his brunette friend, Riku could only nod slowly.

"How did you know?" Sora tilted his head to the side, brows furrowed in thought. They took a few more steps before he spoke, smiling again all the while.

"It practically radiates off of you in waves! Don't worry so much, you told me that when Selphie and I had our first date, remember?" Sora's voice was happy and joyous as he recalled the memory, and Riku was brought back to it as well. Sora had frantically been running around his house, constantly throwing things on and ripping them off less than a second later because he didn't think that they looked good. After finally finding some clothes, a pair that he had tried on at least four times, he pulled Riku with him to the bathroom and tried to get his wild hair to be slightly tamed by some hair gel. Riku could have sworn that he had tried at least seven different hair styles before he just ruffled it up, gawking as it seemed to form back into his usual messy-head of spikes. What was even the point of all that trouble? As it turns out, the date went well, and Sora was all talkative when he got home.

After thinking more about it, Riku chose not to answer and just continue walking. As they approached his and Namine's usual meeting spot, Riku noticed that Namine wasn't there yet. Maybe they were just earlier than usual...? With a sigh, Riku sat down in the sand and Sora followed soon after, resorting to drawing assorted pictures in the grains with his fingers to pass the time.

An hour later Namine still hadn't shown up. Sora had already finished with his second 'picture story' about Riku and him going to the market to buy some fish, when they were attacked by some rabid dog/bird hybrid... Thing. Riku didn't dare question where Sora's mind was at when he thought that up; his friend was just hard to read, sometimes. Laying back in the sand, Riku wondered what was taking her so long. Glancing back to the sun, he noticed that it had almost completely set, and worry began to etch in with confusion. What if she was hurt, and couldnt' leave her home? What if she was too afriad to meet with Sora, or if she thought that he wouldn't like her...

With a sigh, Riku shook his head. Sora liked everyone. He would sure as hell like Namine, too.

Thirty minutes came and went, the sky turning from it's brilliant show of orange, yellow, and red to a dark blue-ish purple.

"I don't think that she's coming, Riku..." Came Sora's voice from right next to him. The brunette had obviously gotten bored with drawing pictures in the sand and had laid down next to his friend, kicking his feet. "We can come back out tomorrow, maybe she just forgot, or was busy or something." After a few more moments of silence, Riku sighed in defeat and nodded, moving into a sitting position.

"Maybe you're right. We'll come back tomorrow." Sora hopped up and reached down, helping his friend up. The walk back to Riku's house was unbroken silence, Riku wondering and worrying where Namine was and if she was okay, and Sora wondering what exactly was wrong with his best friend.

The next couple of days passed slowly and agonizingly for Riku. He and Sora went out the next night, and still Namine hadn't showed up. Every evening, even if Sora wasn't with him, he would walk along the shoreline, hoping that he would see the blonde haired beauty. Though every night, he never did. He would wait until way past the sun had actually set, the moon rising slowly and reflecting upon the ocean's surface, before he would head home, more worried than ever for his blonde haired friend. Days continued to pass on to more days, and eventually a week passed since Riku had last seen Namine.

It was another night just like all the others. Riku was sitting in the sand in his and Namine's spot, staring at the moon's reflection, almost expecting Namine to not show up. Even if she didn't come again tonight, the mere thought of how this is where they had met and where they had gotten to know each other was more than slightly calming. Meeting Namine and getting to know her had been a nice reprieve from his normal schedule, but it seemed, day by day, that it was getting back to 'normal.' Though now that he had experienced something different in his routine, Riku didn't want it any other way. He wanted to see Namine again, wanted to hear her laughter and see her smile, feel her warm presence that was so calming. He didn't want his boring life back, not when he could possibly have something so much more in life with Namine.

If he ever saw Namine again, he would tell her what he thought of her. He would tell her that every time she smiled at him, his heart would beat faster, and everytime that she laughed, his knees would get weak. When they would brush against each other without meaning to, how the spot that had been touched would tingle in the aftermath, craving more. How when she was with him, he felt calmer than he ever had in his life, or even how she was more beautiful than the sunset... Riku swore to himself that if he ever saw her, even one more time, he would spill everything.

"... It's what my heart tells me to do..." He murmered, not even realizing that he had spoken aloud. With a soft sigh he closed his eyes, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore lulling him into a calm daze.

"What is?" The voice was soft, almost hesitant, but Riku recognized it immediately. Eyes snapped open and he looked behind his shoulder quickly, eyes automatically locking onto the figure that he was sure he might never see again.

Namine was standing a few feet away from him, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her hands were behind her back, and she was once again wearing her usual white dress. Hidden behind her, however, was what looked like a covered picture.

Moving quickly, Riku stood up, shaking the sand from his pants and shirt before turning to her.

"Nami! Where've you been? I've been worried that something may have happened to you... That you got hurt, or you had to leave, or something..." At hearing his voice her smile brightened, but in her eyes there danced some kind of sadness. He took a few tentative steps towards her, stuffing his hands in his pockets with no idea what to do with them. If he didn't, he may have reached forward and grabbed her into a protective embrace, and he didn't want to scare her off. Riku still had no idea what she thought of him, or if she even considered him what he considered her...

Just as soon as he was about to speak again, Namine set the covered picture down and in one fluid motion, closed the gap between them and wrapped her thin arms around his waist. At the quick contact, everything in Riku's mind shut down, the only thing that was making sense was the repeated phrase of, 'she's hugging me...' circling around his thoughts. After a few more beats Riku realized that Namine was loosening her grip, and that she was about to pull away, and with only a brief hesitation he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle hug.

The blonde seemed shocked, and Riku managed to catch a glimpse of wide, blue eyes and a faint blush on her pale cheeks before she hugged back again, letting out a content sigh. After awhile, she finally spoke, her words soft and hesitant. If he wasn't holding her so close, Riku doubted that he would have been able to hear her at all.

"I'm sorry that I worried you, Riku... I just, I had a lot on my mind, and I didn't understand any of it. I've never... Well... I don't think that I've ever... Been in l-love before..." Riku was absolutely positive that his heart skipped a few beats as soon as his mind registered what she had said. 'In love?!' With him? This wasn't a dream, right? He didn't fall asleep while listening to the waves, did he?

"I- well, err... N-nami... What do you mean?" After a hesitation, Riku pulled away from their hug and held her out at arms length. The young blonde woman before him now seemed to shrink with his scrutiny, hide into herself at the uncertainty of his voice. She looked down and away, looking at the zipper on his shirt, or his hands, or anywhere but his eyes, with a bright blush on her cheeks.

She hesitated, began, stopped, and then took a deep breath, cerulean eyes finally meeting aquamarine. "I think, Riku... I think that I like you, a lot. Like... Like I love you..." The last part was so soft, so fearful, and so uncertain, and the only thing that Riku could do was smile. She was so cute, standing there uneasily under his gaze. Her hands were trembling as they fiddled with the hem of her dress, trying to find something to occupy themselves with. After some stretched silence between them, Riku closed the gap once again and hugged her tightly.

"I fancy you, Nami. Everything you do captivates me, I... Well... I guess what I'm trying to say is that, hmm... I like you too, like, well... A lot more than just a friend..."

Namine giggled softly, flashing her dazzling eyes up at him again. "Like, well... Maybe 'love'...?" At that, Riku could do nothing but nod. Namine's smile widened and she nodded as well, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

"Yeah, Nami. I think that 'love' is a pretty good word..." Holding her tightly with his left arm, Riku raised his right hand and tilted her face up to his, moving closer to her. He placed his fingers on her cheek gently, caressing carefully, realizing for the first time that Namine was like a porcelien doll. She looked so beautiful, yet so fragile. Like if you did one small thing wrong, that she would break.

Heart beating rapidly in his chest, Riku lowered his head slightly and with little hesitation, he pressed his lips to hers. In his arms he could feel Namine stiffen in shock, and just as soon as Riku began to question if he did the right then, he felt her arms tighten around him. It was a soft, gentle kiss. Nothing intimate, but it showed love nonetheless. Neither of them pulled back for some time, standing quietly and kissing on the shore of the beach. It wasn't until Riku's heart finally slowed down did he pull away from her, looking down and smiling softly at the shocked expression on Namine's face.

Pale cheeks were flushed and she raised her bright blue eyes to him, a small smile on her lips. Slowly she lowered her arms to her side, folding them behind her back.

"Does this mean... That we can be together?" Riku smiled softly at that, giving her a small shrug as he took one of her hands, gently tracing his finger over her palm.

"Is that what you want it to mean, Nami?"

The girl shrugged as well, glancing down at their entertwined hands briefly before looking back up at him, smiling still. "I think so, well, I mean... Yeah."

"Then we'll be together. I'd like that." Namine giggled, nodding.

"So would I." It was simple small talk, but it meant more than what they actually said. Holding her hand tightly, Riku turned and looked out at the ocean, spotting Namine do the same out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't the sunset, but even now, standing with this girl that had stolen his once-lonely heart, it was more beautiful than any sunset could bring.

Silence settled around the two, the only sound that filled the air was the waves that crashed gently upon the shore. Occasionally there would be a splash from the water, where a fish may have jumped, or some crickets chirping in the grass higher up on the beach. It was calming, it was serene, and it was perfect.

"Oh!" Namine's voice pulled Riku from his thoughts and he turned, feeling her hand pull away from his. With small but quick steps, she hurried over to where she left her painting, picking it up carefully and bringing it over to Riku. With a smile, she held it behind her back, much like she was doing earlier when they met. "I finished this for you... I hope you like it." And with that said, she brought the painting around, pulling off the cloth covering the image.

Even though it was dark, Riku could easily make out the image because of the moon and it's reflection. Immidiately he recognized it to be the picture of the sunset that she had been working on when they had first met, and he noticed with a smile that the smudged 'mess-up' was still there as well. As his eyes roamed over the picture, he noticed new details now that caught his eyes. The beach was finished, and sitting there, side by side and holding hands, were the silhouette of a young man and a young woman. They were both watching the sunset together.

Mouth hanging slightly open, Riku found that he was speechless. For a few moments the only thing that he could do was stare at the picture, look up at Namine, and then look back down at the painting.

"Do you like it, Riku?" She asked softly, seeming as though she was fearing his answer. With a smile he started to nod.

"I do, Nami... I really do, it's really good. I just, wow..." She giggled and took his hand again, holding the painting in her other arm.

"I've wanted to give it to you for awhile, but I just couldn't find the right time. I've been working on it this past week; I wanted to get it perfect. You told me how much you loved the sunset, so I just figured that, well, you know... You  might like this one, too."

Riku smiled softly, holding her hand gently in his. "I do... I think it's the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen." They were both silent for some time, looking at each other quietly, trading glances and smiling softly. Namines blush intensified every time that they made eye contact, but she didn't seem nervous at all, just pleased with herself.

After an undeterminable amount of time, Riku looked up at her softly, flashing her a winning smile. "Do you want to head back to my house? I know it's late, but we could have dinner, or something..." Namine seemed to consider the options before she smiled, nodding.

"I think I'd like that, too, Riku..." She spoke softly, holding his hand gently.

Gently then, Riku pulled Namine towards his house and she walked with him calmly, their strides matching. The sand shifted and crumbled underneath their feet and Riku tilted his head up, looking up at the sky and the stars. They were all twinkling, and Riku found himself smiling. The waves crashed lazily upon the shore, bugs in the distance chirping, and occasionally there would be a breeze that ruffled the nearby palm trees. His routine, hell, his whole life had been changed by this blonde beauty walking with him now, hand in hand, and Riku found himself never wanting it to end. She was his, and he was hers, and it was all so perfect.