It wasn’t supposed to be that way. I wasn’t supposed to love him… like that. At all.

I was master, he was servant. I was supposed to not even notice him. Hate him, even.

But I didn’t. I loved him.

And this was what possessed me to hurt him like I did. What possessed me to laugh, when he screamed, cried out as my keyblade ran through him.

But that feeling didn’t last like… like I thought it might. By the time I woke up the next morning, I knew what I did was… wrong. Awful. Inhuman.

My heart ached for Riku when he came limping into my room. He didn’t look at me, just set the tray on my bedside table and turned to hobble out.

My heart ached for Riku when I called his name after him and he winced. A twitch in his shoulders, as if he’d been… struck.

Again, he hobbled back to me, his eyes trained on the floor, coming to stand before me where I sat on my bed.

I could barely hear his breath as I took his hand into mine, stroking his bandages gently.

I was about to speak, when I choked on my tears, and only a gulping sound uttered from me. He looked up slowly toward me, his mouth hanging open slightly.

“I… I didn’t m-mean to hurt you, R-riku…”

I swallowed the rest of my words, squeezing my eyes shut and squeezing his hand in mine. I felt his gloved hand come to my head, gently stroking my hair.

“It’s… I just… I can’t love you!!”

His hand ceased its motion.

“I can’t… but I do… I can’t stop… I love you, I do…”

His hand fell to my cheek, wiping away my tears.

“Apology accepted,” he said softly.