Picture credit: xxTsukixx

1, Gravity-by Forbidden Fox (OrlysElf@aol.com)

2, Short Evaluation of Sora and Riku's Relationship-by RikuEssays

Happy reading and Contribution!

Gravity-  by Forbidden Fox (OrlysElf@aol.com)

"Hey love, I am a constant satellite of your blazing sun. My love, I obey your law of gravity. This is the fate you’ve carved on me, the law of gravity.” –Vienna Teng

Like the quote? Well, it’s here to get you all thinking. Plus, I happen to be listening to the song it’s from while I’m writing this. So, then…gravity? A driving force in this world most definitely. Gravity holds us down to the earth, it holds the earth in orbit with the sun, and the moon with our planet. It is a powerful force. A driving force. Never changing. Constant. But, can we, as people, be drawn to others? Is there a force that holds us together as well? Sure.

Friendship. Companionship. Love.

But I digress…I’m supposed to be talking about Kingdom Hearts, right? Well, then…let us all gravitate to this lovely game then. My introduction was not entirely off the subject now that I think about it…shall I point out that Riku and Sora seem to gravitate to each other? Yes, they do. I mean, even the power of darkness wasn’t able to tear them apart for long, right? A bond, nearly unbreakable. So then, can we suspect this bond is friendship? Companionship? Love, even?

Let us delve first into Sora’s dream…the opening of Kingdom Hearts. Ever hear of dream interpretation? Well, basically it’s the idea that symbols or hidden meanings reside within our dreams, and Sora is dreaming, so then, what are the hidden messages in the opening movie? Perhaps a younger audience wouldn’t catch them, but a more mature gamer might be able to see the subtle clues to a beautiful story.

Riku is wading in the ocean when Sora sees him, which is strange because ‘wading in clear water’ usually means a love affair. Hmm, is Riku telling us something with that simple gesture? Riku then turns and extends his right hand to Sora. This is an easy one. The ‘right’ hand symbolizes what is right or true. So, to take his hand is right? Yet one more thing to consider isn’t it? The wave is also something to look at. Did you notice the way it receded from Sora? Perhaps this is a symbol of the darkness, and how it will fear Sora, yet engulf Riku. Once swallowed by the wave, Riku seems not to notice the danger he’s in and Sora tries valiantly to reach his friend. And soon, Sora is drawn away from him completely. All very interesting things to ponder…

When Destiny Islands is overrun by the darkness, Riku again extends his hand to Sora. Sora obviously seems hesitant to go with the darkness, yet he reaches for Riku anyway, the trust is easy to see. Would a mere friend be willing to throw themselves into darkness for another? I suppose. Yet…is there something more?

I shall now bring up something rather interesting. Remember the paopu scene? Riku gives Sora a paopu fruit in a jest, and Sora simply throws it off the bridge seemingly embarrassed. Yet, if one reads the Kingdom Hearts manga, Sora keeps this paopu fruit that Riku gives him and actually brings it home! Maybe not just a jest then?

Now then, skip ahead a bit…still with me? Alright, so after exiting Merlin’s house Sora and Riku are reunited. A few words are spared, but one can tell Riku was just happy to have his friend back. Yet, all Sora seemed to think about was his new friends Donald and Goofy, their magical ship and Kairi. Some welcome back, right? Poor Riku, I bet all he wanted was a simple, “I was worried.” So, what is one to do? Run. Run from the feelings that hurt.

Pain. Sadness. Rejection.

Reflection. A time to look deep within oneself…to find faults, desires, and truths. This is what I believe Riku was asking Sora to do when he created an Anti-Sora in Neverland. It’s odd, isn’t it? Why would Riku summon a creature that looked like his friend instead of a powerful Heartless? Well, that’s because he wasn’t hoping Sora would just fight and move on. No. Riku wanted him to realize something. But what?

To forgive is one of the most challenging things. Yet, it really wasn’t a hard choice for Sora was it? Riku was Riku still…there was no need for repentance in his mind. Now, think here. What is that supposed to mean? How can you tell Sora forgave him just by watching the ending of the first game? That’s another easy one. Because, Sora stayed.

Sora had the perfect chance to return home with his ‘girlfriend’. All he had to do was step a small gap and go home with her. I mean, all that searching for Kairi and he simply let’s her out of his sight that fast? Strange. So, he’d rather go on yet another journey to find Riku? Well, if that doesn’t tell you Sora cares, I don’t know what will. See? It’s that gravity thing again.

Ready people? We’re about to jump into Chain of Memories. I only have a few things to share with you from here, since I seem to have a problem with finishing the game. But these few things, I believe, are very powerful.

Let me first share with you an actual conversation from the game between Sora and Riku. And no, I didn’t make it up…go back and play through the game, you’ll find it.

Riku- “That is so like you. You’re always trying to worm your way into my heart!”

Sora- “Whoa, whoa, time out! When did I ever do that?”

Riku- “Hmph, you probably forgot. It never mattered to you how I felt!”

Well, then, I find this highly interesting indeed. So, is Sora still living in naivety? Riku seems very passionate about the whole thing if you ask me. Perhaps, it was the beginning of a love confession? I’ll leave that up to you…

Now then, I move to a conversation between Namine and Riku. Namine takes Riku to see Sora, who is now in the orb sleeping and regaining his memories. One of the first things Riku says is, “What did you do to him?” Worry. Anger. Both? Such a beautiful thing it is to worry for the one you love.

Namine then offers Riku a chance to be rid of the darkness within him forever. However, there is a price to pay…he must forget. Forget everything he and Sora have been through to that point. Yet, Riku does not sway.

Riku- “Keep your lock. I’d rather finish off Ansem once and for all.”

Namine- “But what if the darkness he wields gets the better of you…?”

Riku- “I’ll make the darkness show me the way.”

Such bravery. Is Riku really willing to keep the darkness, the embodiment of his betrayal, just to keep the memory of Sora with him? As he leaves, he asks Namine to take care of Sora. But Riku dear, I believe you already have that covered.

Everyone ready and willing to further explore Kingdom Hearts II? This whole game is basically a huge push toward something much more than friendship. This whole journey is for Riku. As for the Nobodies? One word…side-quest.

Sadly, there isn’t much to talk about during the beginning of the game. Since Riku seems to be nowhere in sight, yet right in front of our nose at the same time. Yet, I suppose that is something to talk about, isn’t it? Riku gave into the darkness, had the chance to rid himself of it, but chose not to for him. For Sora. He felt he still needed the power it gave him to help Sora from the sidelines.

Silly Riku. He’s something of an Anti-Hero isn’t he? Does hero-like things but won’t tell you he did.

Reunion. Finally, together again, and what does Sora do? Cry. Funny thing is, he didn’t do that for Kairi. She had been away from him just as long as Riku had. Of course Sora was happy to see her, the hug they shared proved it. Yet, if the two of them are destined to be together, to love, then I think that was a sorry way to greet her and that Sora would have been a tad happier to see her. A kiss maybe? Some tears there? Not a hug…but then, look what happened when he realized ‘Ansem’ was really Riku. Sora collapsed into tears literally at Riku’s feet. “I looked for you. I looked everywhere for you!” Just come out and say you missed the big lug, Sora. It’s easier.

Ah, yet another moment comes next. Another moment he chose Riku over Kairi. After Kingdom Hearts opens…everyone is down and out. Sora is the first to wake, shaking the shock from his mind. Kairi, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy all lay behind him. Yet, Sora only had eyes for Riku who was laying face-down in front of him.

He runs to Riku, kneeling near him as Riku rises…in his own body. You can just smell the relief. Sora’s face seemed so happy. His friend was back…with him. Yes, you guessed it, the law of gravity again.

Home.

What a word. They say home is where the heart is, right? So, home could be a rather bleak existence within the world of darkness, right? If it meant Sora and Riku were together. The end of the game is a beautiful beginning I’d say.

Riku had been giving out his hand to his friend…always waiting for him to take it. But it’s Sora who, this time, gives his hand to Riku…and Riku takes it.