u/lightley13

♡ ♡ ♡

I know we don’t see them together nearly as much as we should, but they still care so much for each other!

Some of the things (maybe a lot of the things) I see about Kingdom Hearts (from seemingly “popular” fans) have felt so awful and strange to me because it’s so wrong. I see things like “Riku wasn’t upset that Xehanort shattered Kairi, he was upset because Sora was upset” “Riku’s problems in the first game was stemming from him competing with Kairi for Sora, he was dragging her around to mess with Sora” I really don’t understand where these conclusions are coming from and made me feel so confused and a bit upset.

My understanding is Riku’s darkness was his own, he had to overcome himself. Thats why his growth and his journey is so beautiful and so very powerful. He is not someone I would like to call a friend in the first game. He made horrible mistakes and hurt Sora and Kairi so badly, and he took full responsibility for it. Seeing Riku’s guilt and agony over what he has done and doing everything in his power to try to make things right, by the time we see him in Kingdom Hearts 3, I would feel so honored and proud to have a friend like him.

I do believe Riku and Kairi care for and understand each other in a way Sora and Riku don’t (even with the little information we have!)

Kairi was the first one to notice something was off with Riku and the darkness growing in him during the sunset dock scene with her and Sora (I see this being used against her a lot to accuse her of not liking Riku)

Riku's heart fights so hard to break free from Ansem, just for a moment, to tell Kairi to run to safety

Kairi is the glue is the holds Sora and Riku together, she reunited them in the World That Never Was and wouldn't let Riku disappear from them again

Riku gives her a Keyblade because he believes in her ability to fight, and admittedly it was a little upsetting when he told her that it wasn't a good idea to come with him at the end of Melody of Memory, but he doesn't know what he's about to get himself in to, and he doesn't want her to get hurt again. They both know she needs more training, and Mickey jumps to run after Riku after learning he went by himself because he's so worried about him

His behavior in KH3 is the complete opposite from KH1. He knows that Sora and Kairi love him and will not leave him behind. He wanted to keep Kairi away from Sora in the first game, and by the third he is so happy and at peace, smiling at them together (before Sora fades way T__T)

The scene of them reuniting at in MoM after Kairi wakes up is also very sweet and cute! They are so happy to see each other!

Also as a little side note about the first game-
I can’t remember who posted this, but this what they said:

“kh1 Riku protected Kairi's body and Sora protected her heart/soul and how she would have probably died if one of them didn't do their job correctly and protected her the whole way through. and how at the end of the day they were working together without even knowing it, and how she was with both of them at the same time, and then she was the one to give Sora his human form back, and she was the one to stir Riku's heart enough to give him strength to hold Ansem off; and how in that game she is the literal ocean binding the sky and earth to each other”