Riku
Serenity is divided into sections based on the two games, and therefore this page only focuses on Kairi’s relationship with Riku in Kingdom Hearts II. If you wish to read about their relationship in Kingdom Hearts first, please go to this page before continuing to read the content below.
Kairi is reunited with Riku after being freed from her cell in the World That Never Was by Naminé. He is wearing the Organization XIII cloak, and his face is covered. After he saves them both from Saïx, he quickly tries to get away before he is forced to face Kairi. She does not let him leave, however, as she pleads for him to wait. Riku pauses, probably partially because he is unable to deny a request from her and that partially from the fact that he most likely really wanted to see her again. Pluto gets in the way and makes him go towards her. Kairi slowly approaches her old friend, and reaches up to his hood. She pushes it down, revealing what appears to be Ansem. Riku looks away from her eyes in shame, and stares at the ground. He obviously did not want her to find him in that state and was embarrassed to have her see him like that. Kairi does not care though, as she finally found one of her two friends. Despite the fact that Kairi does not mind what Riku looks like on the outside, she does not understand that the reason he looks that way is partially because of his sacrifice for her. Riku knows she has no idea what he did and gave up for her still, and that only adds to his embarrassment of looking like Ansem. Riku more than likely never plans on telling her of his sacrifice because he does not wish to mention his feelings for her when he knows she loves Sora. His consideration for the relationship of his two best friends makes things very difficult for him…
Riku saves Kairi from the Heartless who attack her when she tries to help Sora, and gives her a keyblade to fight with. She tells him that Sora is helpless without them, and runs off in order to fight. Riku does nothing at first except watch his friend fight her way through the crowd of Heartless in determination. He probably wonders why she treats him as if nothing was different about him, but then shakes it off and fights by her side. When they are reunited with Sora, Riku turns to leave after Sora and Kairi embrace each other. I have a feeling that he probably wanted to leave because he was slightly jealous of how strong Kairi’s feelings for Sora were, and therefore did not want to stand there and watch them hug. He also had left Kairi in Sora’s care after he was shut behind the door with King Mickey as a final decision for himself and his feelings, and since Kairi was with Sora again, he might have felt that he was no longer needed. In a way, Riku probably thought his feelings for her were shut away, but seeing her run up and hug Sora more than likely dug them out again out of jealousy. Riku and Sora were still separated by Kairi.
Kairi stops him, however, as she does not want him to leave. She runs to him and grabs his arm, trying to tell Sora that it is Riku, not Ansem. Sora does not believe her at first, but she forces the three of them hold hands and makes Sora close his eyes and see with his heart. Ironically, the person who unintentionally made a crack in their bond ended up bringing them back together again. The three continue forward to defeat Xemnas, and Riku makes sure to shield Kairi with his body when Saïx attacks them.
When Sora and Riku finally make it back to Destiny Islands, Kairi calls out to both of them, but they do not have any conversation as she speaks with Sora. Kairi will never see Riku more than a friend, and I still believe that Riku accepts that. When he and Sora are talking after the credits, he appears happy just to be home and with his friends. As long as Kairi and Sora are both happy, then he can be happy too. Riku will probably continue to look out for her and I would not doubt he would jump to protect her if needed, but he has his feelings for her under control. Riku more than likely has gotten to the point where he can move on and be fine without her feeling the same way about him. The two will always remain very close friends.
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