Riku Essays

Riku Essays
 
The Truth Behind Kingdom Hearts
   
 
Fanfiction Page

Please send in any of your fanfiction for Kingdon Hearts. RikuXSora fiction is highly appreciated, but other KH fanfiction is accepted if it's good too. You can send your fanfiction to coffeewithriku@yahoo.com along with the name you want me to credit you as, the rating, title, and summary. When e-mailing your fanfiction know that it will appear on this site if it's accepted (which it most likely will endless it was written badly and has too many errors I can't edit). Please send in your fiction! I'm eager to read all of your wonderful stories! Thanks!




Stories so far...

1, The Keyblade Wars,-series- by Forbidden Fox (OrlysElf@aol.com)

2,"Before Her", by Forbidden Fox- (OrlysElf@aol.com)

3,"Unlimited Fault", by RikuEssays-series

4, "On Moving, Friends, and Makingout- by princessOFdarkness-series (11 chaps)

5, "Without You Around"- by princessOFdarkness-series (11 chaps)

6, "You Never Left Me"- by princessOFdarkness-

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Title: The Keyblade Wars
Authoress: Forbidden Fox (OrlysElf@aol.com)
Rating: Mature for blood mostly
Summary: The Oblivion...the Kingdom...two Bearers destined to meet, destined to end the war. But, will they forsake their destinies and turn to darkness? Or find their light within the other? This is an Alternate Universe, so it does not follow the game's timeline.
 
 
Note: The X's in the story mean breaks in time, just wanted to let you know.
 
 

Division One: Twilight’s Embassy

He could feel the sweat dripping down his neck; he could feel it running down in his eyes which made him blink. The salty flavor coated his dry lips and his hot breath blew onto his cheeks, trapped by the thickness of helm.

His arm ached. And his fingers, though covered by armored gloves, stung from the countless blows. Three more of his foes, creatures cloaked white, fell by his blade. Looking around, he noticed his enemies were gone for the time being. He could see in the distance far off blurs, and hear the other Bearers fighting their own battles.

But for now, he deemed himself safe enough. He collapsed to his knees, armor crashing with the force. His blade supported him and kept his ragged body from falling to the hard ground. The sun’s cruelty and hours of fighting had left him exhausted and the breath gone from his lungs.

Blue eyes found themselves resting on the mighty blade before him. Its unyielding strengths shined in the sun. The weapon was known as a Keyblade; it was much like a key, prong detailed and ever-sharp. Its golden handle and beautiful silver body had cut many in this battle, yet showed no sign of it. For the enemy had no life-blood which they might stain the Keyblade’s sheen.

Nobodies felt no pain. The white creatures simply vanished back into the Void from where they had come. However, these creatures may not have had blood of their own, but the Nobodies did have the thirst for spilling it from others. This is what forced the Bearers to wear the thick, protective armor.

The blue-eyed warrior stood with shaking legs. And he took another deep breath. Then he heard something behind him, and while turning, he caught sight of a flash of white with wide eyes. He knew he had no time to raise his Keyblade and he closed his fearful eyes from the Nobody’s strike.

With his eyes closed, he did not see what happened but he heard it clearly. There was that definite hiss which echoes when a Nobody disappears. The blue eyes snapped open, and he was faced with not a white creature, but another Bearer donned in ebony armor. The other’s Keyblade was still steaming with the dark vapor of the Nobody’s insides. His eyes could not leave the beautiful weapon, the very weapon that had just saved his life.

It was a black Keyblade; as black as its Bearers armor. Intricately carved silver designs splayed around the handle and a shinning amethyst was embedded in the hilt. Finally, the stunned warrior gasped in recognition. He knew that Keyblade from his lessons and training.

“That…that’s the Oblivion. You’re the Oblivion,” he rasped, looking up to the other’s tall helm.

“You should be more careful,” the dark one said. And that was the only warning he gave before he took steps away from the startled other. His long, tattered, black cape licked his greaves and his heavy boots kicked up clouds of dust from the blue cliffs.

The other made to follow him, “Wait! Wait, please!” To his relief, the Oblivion Bearer stopped, but did not turn around. “You saved my life. Won’t you at least leave me your name?” The blue-eyed one waited, after realizing his mistake. Asking a Bearers name went against tradition. Names were given to those only of high class who asked them of another. The silence left him afraid. He knew he had overstepped his bounds.

He watched as the other turned to face him and reach up to his helmet. The blue-eyed one began to shake. He could not understand it; to take off one’s helm was the highest honor among Bearers.

Before he could voice a protest, the Oblivion had removed his helmet. Silver locks fell from inside and he shook it. But with the heat, the motion did very little to remove the long strands stuck to the back of his neck and cheeks. Dust had made a band across his eyes and nose where the helm opened to allow sight. Yet his vibrant green eyes shone through the grime.

“My name is Riku,” he said as he situated his helmet to rest on his hip. “Riku the Oblivion.”

The other couldn’t get his golden helm off fast enough. And when it was finally removed, it was dropped to the floor in haste. Blue eyes gleamed from an equally dirty face. “I’m Sora,” he smiled. He could feel the silver haired one’s eyes studying him. Sora glanced up and his gaze was captured by the green eyes framed in light hair. He couldn’t find the strength to pull himself from their stare. Fire shot through his veins and lighting was sent through his back.

Riku was the one who finally broke the spell. He looked to the expanse of cold blue stone around him. He could not see many more of the white creatures, and those he could, other Bearers were making swift work of them. With a flash of purple light, the Oblivion vanished from his hands. Riku set his helmet on the ground and raised his left leg to lean on it.

Sora had still not let his eyes leave Riku’s form. He barely heard Riku when he spoke, “The battle’s dying down.”

All the blue-eyed Bearer could so was nod, “Yeah.”

The Oblivion then reached into a leather pack, black like the belt it was attached to, and withdrew a small bottle. It too was of an ebony color, but its topper was imbued with clear crystals. Sora could see there was some sort of liquid within it; however through the black glass he could not tell what the substance was.

Riku removed the top and took a small sip from the container. He replaced the cap, turning it only slightly to close it. Then, without warning, he tossed it to Sora. The brunette fumbled with it before finally catching it.

“What’s this?” Sora asked as he held it to the sun, peering inside.

“It’s just water,” Riku smirked. “I don’t have anything better, but it looks like you could use some more than me.”

“But -”

“Keep the bottle,” Riku kicked up his helm and easily caught it. After running a hand through his hair, he replaced the black helmet and summoned the Oblivion again. He shouldered the blade and Riku turned away from the blue-eyed boy, “See you around, Sora the Kingdom.”

Sora was too stunned to do anything but watch him fade into the distance. Once the black shape disappeared over the horizon, he closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. But when he opened his eyes again, he was not faced with the blue towering cliffs of his homeland, but of mountains which brushed the sky and a sun glowing in the oranges of twilight.

~XXXXXXXXXXX~

“Sora? Sora! Wake up, Sora!”

He came to awareness slowly. At first, Sora didn’t understand who was calling him. The last he remembered was the tall peaks and the twilit sky. His eyes snapped open and as he sat up abruptly, his head connected with something solid.

A duel chorus of painful gasps sounded. Sora grasped his forehead and cracked open one eye to look at the blonde boy who was also clutching his own head.

The other one recovered first, “Sora, what are you doing? Are you planning on sleeping all day? It’s already a quarter passed the eleventh hour.”

“Wha-?” Sora mumbled, still only half awake. His eyes finally became focused, and they met equally blue tones. “Roxas?”

“Uh, yeah…who else?” the blonde boy responded. “What’s wrong, bro? You’ve been dreaming again, haven’t you?” When Sora hesitated, playing with the sheets puddle around his waist, Roxas sighed, “Was it the same one again?”

“Yeah,” the brunette nodded. Roxas sat down on his bed, which was across from Sora’s. The castle was large enough to house all the Bearers chosen to come live there. Yet, the two brothers were taken from their parents at such a young age that they chose to share a room. Now, some twelve years later, both remained in their shared quarters.

“You need to put him out of mind,” Roxas smirked.

Sora looked to his brother. Roxas was a year younger than him, but almost the same height. Though, obviously not twins, the two looked remarkably similar. Both their eyes were a deep ocean blue framed by a rounded face. While Sora’s messy hair was a reddish-brown, Roxas’ equally strange style was a golden blonde.

The brunette uncovered himself and detangled his legs from his soft blue sheets. He swung his feet over the side, until he was sitting much like Roxas. “I can’t, Roxas,” Sora ran his fingers through his unruly locks.

“What makes you think he even remembers you?” the blonde asked as he stood up. He moved to their shared dresser and took the small black bottle from the top drawer. Sora’s eyes were fixed on it. “It was three years ago.”

“Three years isn’t that long,” Sora told him. He also moved to his feet and padded over to the dresser. He took the bottle from his brother’s fingers. “And how many times did I tell you not to touch this?”

“Excuse me,” Roxas laughed. “Get dressed, if you hurry you might make it in time for lunch.” With that the blonde headed for the door.

“Lunch?” Sora whined, “But what about breakfast?”

Roxas only laughed as he turned out the door, shutting it behind him. Sora hastily grabbed one of his tunics and threw it on. He didn’t bother making his bed for it was one of those things he deemed pointless. It would only get messy again tonight, so unless there was an inspection, it was left untidy.

When Sora went into the hall, he found Roxas speaking with a girl. Sora smiled as he recognized that red hair, “Hey Kairi!” Roxas and the girl turned toward him, Kairi waved.

“Morning, Sora,” she laughed. He jogged up to them. Kairi was a close friend of Sora and Roxas. The three were not far apart in their age, and had grown up together in the castle. Kairi was the same age as Sora, but she was closer to Roxas’ height.

“It’s not really morning anymore, Kairi,” Roxas joked. His brother playfully punched his arm and the three headed down to the kitchen.

While walking there, Sora realized that his friend shouldn’t even be able to come downstairs yet. “Kairi, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be training?” Kairi was a powerful Bearer in her own way. Unlike most, who would wield their Keyblades in battle, she was training in the arts of White Magic. Her weapon healed, not hurt. On every odd day, Kairi was to report upstairs to train with the resident White Mage, Aerith.

“Nope,” she smiled happily. “I get the day off. Lady Aerith was summoned by Lord Ansem.”

“Yeah,” Roxas laughed. “Unlike you, she had a valid reason for missing her lessons.” The blonde laughed again when his brother’s face became pale and he stopped walking. “Leon’s pissed.”

Sora ran a hand over his face with a sigh. Leon was one of the more powerful Bearers in Radiant Garden. It was frightening to see him angry, for he hardly showed emotion at all. Leon was the wielder of the Keyblade known as the Lionheart and he gave lessons each morning to younger Bearers.

“Leon’s pissed about what?” a voice sounded from behind them. The three turned to see a young girl with short black hair grinning at them. Slightly behind her was a taller man with shoulder-length, brown hair. He wasn’t smiling.

“Hi,” Kairi and Roxas said at the same time. Sora, was slowly creeping behind his brother. It may have worked if Roxas had not been a few inches too short.

“Sora,” the man spoke and the blue-eyed Bearer cringed.

“Yeah,” he squeaked.

“You look like you just woke up.”

“Huh?” he moved out from behind his brother, who was trying not to laugh. Kairi also was grinning. “You’re not going to yell at me, Leon?”

“Why would he yell at you?” the girl questioned. She looked between Sora, the smirking pair beside him and back to Leon again. “Wait, you didn’t steal his belt did you? I tried that once and he yelled at me.” Those words enough sent Kairi and Roxas into a fit of giggles. Sora was confused.

“Yuffie…” Leon warned in a low tone. “Sora, explain yourself.”

Sora scratched the back of his head, “I missed my lesson this morning. Aren’t you mad?” The brunette unconsciously closed his eyes in dread. He could have run away, straight down that hall and onto the beach. Instead, he tensed and waited for his eminent demise. It hadn’t been the first time Sora missed a lesson, for he was rather incapable of ever getting up on time, so he always had this deep-rooted fear of Leon. Sora blamed it on how many Nobodies he’d seen the Lionheart cleave into clouds of smoke.

“I canceled them this morning,” Leon stated. He began to head to the stairs on their left which lead to the upper levels, places only certain Bearers could go. “Come on, Yuffie.” Leon disappeared up the stairs, but Yuffie lingered a little longer.

“Why you-!” Sora lunged at his brother, who easily avoided. The blonde was laughing and wiped a fake tear from his eye in a dramatic fashion. Sora stood still fuming while his little brother slowly calmed his laughs. Kairi chuckled once; a small smile remained on her lips.

“You’re just lucky,” Roxas said. “It’s not my fault that you sleep ‘til lunch and have weird dreams.” As he said this, Kairi leaned over to see Sora’s face. His cheeks had the faintest tint, even when he grumbled at Roxas to shut up.

“Dreams?” Yuffie asked, the three had almost forgotten she was there. After a moment, something seemed to click, and she laughed too. A strange gleam came into her eyes, “Was she cute?”

Sora’s blush only darkened while Roxas and Yuffie laughed. Kairi only wore a thoughtful frown.

~XXXXXXXXXXX~

“Lord Ansem, was there anything else you need me for?”

An older man, clothed in a long, red tunic, took a seat near a table. He shook his head while running a hand through his blonde beard. The other in the room, a young woman with long golden-brown hair, bowed slightly and moved toward the door.

“Just one more thing,” the man said from his seat. The woman turned to face him again with a smile. “I don’t need to tell you how important this treaty is to our kingdom’s future. I want all of the most gifted Bearers to be there to welcome the embassy.”

“Of course,” she replied. “Formal tunics?”

“Yes, I think that would be for the best,” Ansem nodded. “Twilight is a kingdom of formality. We do not want to appear threatening.”

“Which Bearers would you like to be present?”

“Leon…and you of course, Aerith,” the lord said without hesitation. “Yuffie and Cid are welcome as is your young pupil.” Aerith nodded with a smile. “Perhaps, Kingdom and Oathkeeper as well…those two show such promise.”

“I shall inform everyone at once, my lord,” the young woman bowed, her braid slipping to her front. She turned and headed for the door once more. This time Ansem did not stop her, he only began to fiddle with the papers on his desk. With a sigh, he hoped everything would work out well and that fate would shine on Radiant Garden once more.

Aerith found the three friends in one of the small dining halls adjacent to the kitchen. Roxas and Kairi were eating lunch, while Sora was busily eating what he had found leftover from breakfast.

When she approached, they looked up and smiled a greeting. “Hello, Lady Aerith,” Kairi said. Roxas also gave a smiling greeting with a wave, but Sora was to caught up in his meal. Aerith eyed him with a smirk and shook her head with a sigh. Though, the brunette had to admit, she found Sora’s childish personality uplifting in such times. The war had taken away many people’s smiles. It was good that the younger Bearers still found the strength to laugh.

“Hello everyone,” Aerith returned the greeting.

“So, how was the meeting with Lord Ansem?” Kairi asked. Her face had become serious. She knew from listening to the older woman speak on certain matters that the lord of the kingdom was planning something, yet she did not know the details.

“It went well,” the woman smiled. She took a seat across from them, quietly adjusting her pink dress. “I have orders from Lord Ansem, to you.”

Sora even focused on her now. “What? Direct orders?”

“Were the three of you aware that Radiant Garden has been working peace negotiations with Twilight Tower?” she asked. Kairi nodded, it had been one of the topics Aerith had spoken to her about before. However, Roxas and Sora seemed confused.

“But I thought we already were on peaceful terms with them?” Roxas voiced.

Aerith nodded, and continued to explain, “We are. But we have never been formally allied. We simply have been fighting the same enemy, therefore, fighting on the same side. Tomorrow an embassy from Twilight Tower will arrive and Lord Ansem will sign a treaty.”

“Really?” Roxas asked. “An embassy? I’d like to see it.” He glanced to his brother, “Wouldn’t you, Sora?” But, his brother gave no indication he had heard the question. His face had suddenly become thoughtful and he was unusually quiet.

Before Roxas could snap him out of it, Aerith’s voice compelled him to turn back to the healer. “Well, you’re in luck,” she said happily. “Lord Ansem wishes for all of you to be present at the welcoming ceremony tomorrow.”

Kairi and Roxas exchanged an excited grin. Sora looked at her, eyes wide. “You mean it?” he asked.

“Yes,” she laughed. “Make sure you dress in your formal tunics, no armor. And be there on time, Sora.”

“Wha-hey!” Everyone laughed. Aerith bade her farewells and excused herself, her soft boots making quiet taps on the way out.

Finally, when she was out of earshot, Roxas turned on his brother, “Alright, what’s up with you? You’re thinking, aren’t you? That can’t be good.”

Sora totally ignored the comment, for now. He would simply have to remember to suffocate his brother with a sock tonight. His blue eyes had lit up and goofy grin had appeared on his lips. Kairi and Roxas now exchanged nervous looks.

“If an embassy comes from Twilight Tower…he could be there! No, he has to be there,” Sora mumbled, more to himself than anyone. The brunette rested his chin in his palms and continued to mumble his thoughts out loud.

“Do you know what he’s talking about?” Kairi turned her blue eyes to Roxas. She watched as the blonde ran a lazy hand through his hair with a sigh. The girl looked at Sora once more only to see he was still lost in thought. Kairi had known the boys for years, and they had always told her everything. But, now…she felt as though she’d been left out of the loop.

“Unfortunately,” Roxas replied. “Hey,” he called to his brother. “Hey, Sora! Roxas to Sora….calling all Sora’s.” When the Kingdom continued to ignore him, Roxas gave a low growl and roughly whacked the back of Sora’s head, “I said, Sora!”

“Ow!” he cried, rubbing the forming lump. “What the hell was that for?”

His brother shrugged, “Had to get your attention somehow. Now, tell me you’re not thinking about what I think you’re thinking about.”

“I’m not thinking what you’re thinking I’m thinking,” Sora was still rubbing his head and he smiled. Kairi laughed, although she was still rather confused. Roxas ‘hmphed’ and turned his head the opposite way.

“Think about it, Roxas,” Sora started, “if there’s an embassy coming, Riku could be a part of it. And I’ll finally get to thank him!”

“Do you even know the chances of that happening?”

“No, but I don’t have to.”

Kairi watched the siblings argue for a moment more before tilting her head and clearing her throat to get their attention, “Who’s Riku?”

“The Oblivion,” Roxas drawled. Kairi’s eyes went wide.

“You know him?”

“Yeah,” Sora chuckled. “You remember a few years back when I said someone saved my life?” He watched her nod. “That was Riku…the Oblivion. He saved my life that day and told me his name. I’ve wanted to see him again for so long.”

“And you honestly think Ri-the Oblivion is coming tomorrow?” Roxas eyed his brother as he enthusiastically nodded and laughed. With a sigh, the blonde rose from his chair. At times like these, there was no use in arguing with Sora. And Roxas had years of experience. “Come on then, let’s spar. We should get a few matches in before curfew especially since lessons were canceled today.”

“Alright,” Sora agreed. Before anyone could get a word in, he was headed toward the door and out to the training grounds.

“Well, what do you say, Kairi?” Roxas smiled. “Scorekeeper?”

“You got it,” she grinned back and followed the younger sibling after Sora. She didn’t have time to think why the two had kept that from her.

~XXXXXXXXXXX~

Nightfall had brought Sora back to his thoughts. He sat on the edge of his bed, cradling Riku’s bottle loosely in one hand. Roxas had already fallen asleep, so the only sound was his deep breathing, leaving Sora and his thoughts in peace.

He knew there was almost no chance that Riku would be with the embassy when it arrived. With him being one of the strongest Bearers in Twilight Tower, they may have required him to remain fighting on the frontlines. Sora could only hope they had sent him as the escort, seeing as an embassy as important as this needed to reach their destination.

His blue eyes rested quietly on the black bottle for an unknown period of time before Sora placed it carefully back into his drawer. The Bearer yawned and stretched, hearing his back pop. Then he slid into bed, a hopeful smile remained on his face the whole night.

He didn’t dream of Riku.

~XXXXXXXXXXX~

The hall was beautiful. It had always been a grand sight, but the banner of purple, blue and various grays adorning the columns made it grander. The colors were symbols of the kingdom of Twilight. Radiant Garden had been transformed in the excitement and hope of the peace at hand.

Many Bearers had been invited, and all stood near the dais in their formal garbs. Some of the citizen granted special privileges also lined the room. Upon the dais, Lord Ansem sat in his throne. He too was dressed in elaborate clothes. To his right, Aerith stood in a beautifully crafted white dress trimmed in pale pinks. Her hair was down, reaching the base of her back. On his left, there stood a regal-looking Leon.

Sora, Kairi and Roxas, as well as Yuffie and Cid, were all standing in a group near the left side of the throne. Sora stood in front, giving him a clear view of the large, ornate doors at the back of the hall. The brunette found he couldn’t stop fidgeting and he’d begun to sweat from anticipation.

Sora wore his formal tunic…and how he hated it. The pants were black reaching down to cover the tops of black leather boots, which were freshly shined and cleaned just this morning. His tunic was a deep blue similar to the hue of his eyes. It was trimmed in white and a red cloth belt hung from his waist.

He had brought Riku’s vial with him. The Kingdom had grabbed it from his drawer as an afterthought, and he didn’t know why. Sora looked up at the ceiling and took in a deep, calming breath. He was jolted when the doors were opened by an attendant announcing the arrival of the embassy.

The people all turned to the back, whispering to one another. Soon four figures, in complete battle-gear could be seen slowly making their way to the door. Sora saw Lord Ansem rise from his seat, but his wide eyes did not leave the four Bearers striding through the door.

Sora’s gaze could not be torn from the figure leading the way, the one donned in familiar ebony armor…

Fin~ Part 1 of 23

 

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Title:  "Before Her"

Rating: T

Summary: "You were my first memory Sora. Was I yours?"

Authoress: Forbidden Fox (OrlysElf@aol.com)

 

Before Her

Do you remember how we met, Sora? I do; though you were probably too young to recall it. It was one of my first memories. I can’t remember being born, or the face of the doctor who delivered me, or my first birthday. But I remember the day we met. You were my first true memory, Sora. Was I yours?

It was your birthday. You were turning one; so, that would have made me about two. Funny, most would think someone would never be able to bring back memories from that early in life, but I can. Your mother had invited my parents, knowing I was around your age, hoping perhaps we’d become friends.

Do you remember how you took my hand in yours, linking your frosting-covered fingers with mine? The start of our friendship, I guess…

Remember that silly promise we made when you were three? I was over at your house, we’d been playing. What about when you screamed and tried to take refuge on my head. I was rather confused, but you did pull my hair pretty hard, Sora. There was a spider. Who would have thought? The future savior of the worlds was scared of spiders.

After I managed to detangle your grip from my hair, I grabbed the nearest thing and smashed the bug, hoping to shut you up. Unfortunately, the nearest thing had been your stuffed monkey. I remember you made your dad bury it. Of course you were a bit sad at first, so in an effort to cheer you up, I gave you a new one. You never let it go.

From that day forth, you called me your hero. Hah, me? Your hero, Sora? You made me swear to kill every and all spiders you saw. Riku the Spider Squisher. Well, at least I was good at something. I’d protect you anyway I could, Sora. You know that, right?

Do you remember all those nights we slept together? You would have to have remembered some. We each had two homes. You’d never catch us in our own bed for more than two nights in a row. I was either in yours or you in mine.

We’d fall asleep the same way every night. Your hand would slip into mine, since you had a terrible fear of the dark back then, and I’d stay up a little longer, sitting crossed-legged under the sheets. A few times you’d open those big blue eyes of your to check if I was still awake and watching your closet for any sign of the boogieman or monsters that you insisted lived in with your sweaters. I would always give you that same sideways glance, and you quickly would close your eyes again and feign sleep.

Even after you had long since fallen asleep, I’d stay up. You know that? Did you ever wake up and catch me watching you breathe deeply? I can’t remember how your face looked as you slept, one hand cuddled around your new stuffed monkey and the other tightly entwined in mine, but I can still feel your hand in mine; it’s a memory I hold strongly to. I fight for memories like those.

Remember our first trip to the Kid’s Isle? I guess you would have been six. I was seven, and finally deemed old enough to escort you to the island, so long as we would stick together. Not a hard promise to keep since you happily gripped my arm the entire time.

You took my hand only to drag me around behind as you explored. We found the Secret Place that day. You remember that, don’t you?

Once I showed you that a small rock could be used to write on the walls, you hastily grabbed it from my hand and began scribbling something on the back wall. Every time I tried to what you were doing, you covered it with you hands and promptly yelled at me.

When you finally moved, I saw something I could never forget. You had sloppily written our names and right under them, three large letters, ‘BFF’. Of course, the character for my name was rather crooked and one of your ‘F’s was facing the wrong way. But even still, when I think on it now…the tears threaten to come. Though when I was young, the notion of ‘best friends forever’ was a foolish idea and hard for me to understand. So, instead of thanking you, I gave your head a rough smack and walked away.

It’s funny…I think I know why now. I was afraid. There was no such thing as forever, not since my mom died. So, I was afraid…were you just making promises you couldn’t keep? Later that week, we went back to the Secret Place and I insisted on adding something. Do you remember what it was? You sat curiously at my side. I made you close your eyes, which you agreed to after a good deal of whining. But, when I let you open them again, you smiled and hugged me.

All I had written was ‘and ever’ right next to your, ‘BFF’. If I knew it would have made you that happy, I’d have done it sooner. We’re still friends, right? I suppose that means something. It may not be for forever, but hopefully it’ll be close.

Do you remember how many broken bones I had? Seven. Seven broken bones by age eight, that had to be some sort of record. You, of course, felt guilty for every one of them. It wasn’t entirely your fault…it was those bullies, remember? They always picked on you. One day, I got fed up. Three ten-year olds against me? Yeah, I was one tough kid, huh? Not as to say I was injured at least once from each fight…a broken nose, a few fingers, an arm and a collar bone. That last one hurt, I’ll admit it.

But I suppose all those nights you spent with me in the hospital made up for it. You would cry at first, thinking that I was going to die. Sora, you can’t die from a broken nose. Although, I probably looked pretty scary with all those bandages. I didn’t mind…as long as you were okay.

The nurses let you stay some nights. We practically knew them all by name since I was in there so often. They must have thought I was a real klutz, seeing how I always managed to break something. If only they knew, huh? Most nights I was too drugged up to keep awake for very long. But I remember you stayed up, like I had done for you so many times before. Couldn’t trust those doctors, eh Sora?

It was after that where things changed. Do you remember? It was when your hand left mine, for hers. When she came…you left me.

You were happy. So, I was content to let my fingers slip to my sides while yours curled around Kairi’s to lead her wherever she wanted. I followed you one day, only to find you broke our promise. You took her to our place…our Secret Place.

I was willing to share it with her. But, you never asked…I watched as you showed her all of our drawings and how you happily explained what each one was, when it was drawn, and such. Then you took her to the back wall and I remember closing my eyes and running to the paopu tree.

Remember what you had done, Sora? The two of you had sloppily drawn yourselves, right over our spot. So much for best friends forever, huh? If you look closely enough, you can still see my ‘and ever’. I wasn’t angry…and that frightened me. Why? Why did I accept it…?

As the years went by, your hand continuously reached for hers…and I continued to offer mine. Was I foolish?

What was it that you fought for? What kept you going after all those battles? Did you fight for the memories you made with Kairi? When I left you, when I betrayed you, I held tight to the memories of us, Sora. I kept those close to my heart until I saw you again. I’d die for those memories…and for the ones yet to be made.

So what was it that you remember? Are the memories before her or after what keep you smiling? Has the feeling of my hand faded only to be replaced by her soft touch?

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On Moving, Friends, and Making Out- Chap. 1

Okay, this story is a continueous POV coming from Riku the whole time, so I didn't say that in the story. These are his thoughts and feelings and what happens to him as he struggles to strt over him life in this new place, Destiny Island after moving away from his father with his Mom and two brothers.

Hope you like it!

On Moving, Friends, and Making Out

By: princessOFdarkness

“Mom, why are we here again? Do we really have to live here of all places?” My older brother scoffed, his head falling back against the too short for him headrest. Like me, my older brother Sephiroth was depressed about having to live here of all places. As soon as we had turned into the neighborhood, I couldn’t believe we were actually going to live here. I just wanted to scream, ‘this is a late April Fools joke right’? It was all so bright, so sunny, so welcoming with the neat cut lawns and perfectly matching cream colored houses. In short, it sucked.

“Yeah, there is no way any of us are going to fit in here. I mean, look at us.” I sighed, flipping my hair out of my eyes with a shake of my head. My hair was long, too long as my Mom was always reminding me, but seriously – Sephiroth’s was longer. My hair was more silver than his though, Sephiroth’s hair was more grey than silver. It made him look way older than he really was, since he’s only 21. He should have his own place, I know, but since Dad just picked up and left us he’s been around more. I get why though. It’s to help Mom and us. “Mom, this place looks like that Stepford Wives place, you know? I’ll be dead as soon as I step out of the car.”

“See Mom, you killed Riku with sunlight. Told you a good sunbeam would kill him, didn't I Mom.” Sephiroth joked, turning in his seat to laugh at me in my discomfort. Sure, it was summer and I wearing a jacket but only because I needed the hood. I was burning up but the need for comfort was nothing next to the need to stay out of the sun, believe me. I pushed my sunglasses down a little on my nose so my brother could see the look in my eyes as I smiled and flipped him of. “Oh, feisty today are we, my dear baby brother?”

“I’m not your ‘baby’ anything!” I grimaced, pushing my large sunglasses back up on my face. My sunglasses were large enough to cover half my face, good enough for me until I could retreat into the cold and dark interior of own new house, whenever that would be. “Shut your face up, idiot.”

Our Mom sighed, giving up immediately and letting us argue. She didn’t like to see us fight, but she knew it would blow over soon. And that was only because of the seatbelts we couldn’t kill each other properly. Sephiroth and I rarely fought, but we joked and teased each other about everything and anything. Brotherhood – all giggles and lots of love, right? No. It. Is. Not. End of story, have a nice day, come again sometime.

We’d been on the road for about ten hours, and everyone was getting a little cranky and uncomfortable. No one as much so as my other older brother Cloud. Technically, Cloud isn’t really my brother. He’s my adopted older brother. Cloud’s parents were killed when he was only seven in a fire that destroyed his house completely. Mom adopted him and took him in when I was five years old. He had been in the orphanage for a year at that point, and it had nearly killed him. He was all dead inside when Mom first brought him home – all quiet and a loner. I liked him like that actually, never any fights between us, but nothing else either which kind of sucked, like talking to a wall. Since walls obviously don’t answer back when you talk to them unless of course you’re on drugs, in which case maybe they do. He warmed up to us eventually and accepted us as his new family, but he was still quiet, and a bit of a loner, but less so. Unless he didn’t know you, then he just didn’t talk to you at all.

Hey, he’s old enough to make his own decisions and to drive me around. He’s 19 and I’m 16 if I didn’t mention that already. Well, now you know. I’m a sun-deprived unbelievably pale 16 year old guy with long silver hair and aqua green eyes. Weird, I know, but it’s just how I am. You don’t have to like it. You just have to live with it.

“Are we there yet? I need out of this moving metal deathtrap and soon or I’ll slit my own throat with a paperclip.” Cloud groaned from the seat next to me, pressing his forehead against the cool glass of the window, his eyes closed as he slumped forwards in the seat held back by the seatbelt. “Please, speed or something, I can’t take this anymore!”

“I don’t need to speed Cloud, we’re here.” Mom said brightly, pulling into the unfamiliar driveway. The house looked like all the rest, with a neat little lawn and all the trimmings. “How do you like it boys? Isn’t it cute?”

All I could think about was putting a big sign with flashing lights on the top that read: ‘This place sucks!’

“Great Mom, really I like it a lot, it’s spiffy.” I lied and she smiled. Making sure my face was covered from the sun before opening the car door and stepped outside.

“Riku honey, why don’t you just go on inside dear? I know how you hate the sun. Sephiroth and I can get the boxes. Cloud, you go on too.” Mom said, opening the bag window of the van to unpack the boxes. “You two can go pick out your rooms.”

I nodded, looking over at Cloud. He smiled and jerked his head toward the door. I knew what he wanted, and both of us got ready. Cloud had been on the cross-county team back home and had taught me how to get ready for a race and all that stuff. I was fast, but I hate all sports and refused despite his pressuring and bullying to join the team.

“Hey Seph, count it off.” Cloud yelled over his shoulder.

“Alright. One, two, three, GO!” Sephiroth shouted, and Cloud and I took off. We raced for the door, elbowing each other as we went. I beat him by a landslide, running up the stairs with him eating my dust. I glanced through all the doors, finding the darkest room I could. It had one of those orb windows with a seat, a walk-in closet, a bathroom right off it, and plenty of room. Plus, it was dark. Yay darkness!

“Are you sure you want this room? It’s really dark in here.” My Mom said, sticking her head in the door. I sighed, shaking my head as I smiled to myself. My Mom never understood my hatred of the sunlight. I just didn’t like it, so what if it meant I was sickly pale looking to everyone in the outside world. In the dark, who could tell the difference?

“Yeah Mom, I love it, it’s just the way I like it. It’s the window you know, good reading light.” I said, trying to act sweet and innocent. She bought it, smiling as she left the room. I sighed, sitting down on the mattress and flopping back against it to look up at the ceiling.

Cloud stuck his head in, looking around the room I had chosen. I nodded my head deafly, telling him he could come in.

“So this is it? You really are weird.” Cloud said as he walked in, hands in his front pants pockets.

“Well, you’re my brother so you must be weird too!” I said, throwing my sunglasses at him. He ducked and they hit the wall behind him, and turning to look back at me he smirked. Damn, I thought trying to scurry off the bed, he’s gonna do it again!

He did do it again too. Smiling broadly he pounced on me, wrestling me down to the bed. Cloud was still smiling, and he spit a loogie right in my face. He smirked, jumping off me and rushing out the door before I could retaliate.

It was then Sephiroth walked in, carrying about six heavy looking boxes in his arms. I jumped off the bed, wiping the spit and snot off my face in disgust, and he set them down.

“These are yours. There’s more in the truck coming tomorrow I think, spoiled brat.” Sephiroth said jokingly, sitting down on what space was left on the bed. I stood in front of him, confused.

“What does that mean?” I asked. He looked up at me still smiling broadly.

“You heard what I said. You have way more boxes than Cloud or I do, so either you’re a terrible packer or you’re a spoiled brat.” Sephiroth said meanly. “You ARE the baby, so it’s understandable you’d be spoiled more than us.”

“I as not a baby! I’m 16 already, I have a license! I’m just too lazy to get off my butt to drive myself around!” I shouted, balling my hands into fists. Sephiroth laughed, making me even angrier. “Shut it fag!”

“A 16 year old baby!” Sephiroth said coolly. “Burn, Riku!”

“I also had a job so I could buy my own things and not have Mom do it for me.” I sneered at him. Sephiroth could never keep a job for long. Probably because he had no focus whatsoever, no work ethic, and no determination. Unless you meant for girls, dating, and partying like the world was gonna end tomorrow. “Burn, loser!”

“Well you look like a girl with your hair long like that and with the color it is.” Sephiroth countered quickly. “Burn baby burn!

“Well, better a girl than a screw up!” I said angrily. He stayed silent, turning and heading for the door. He didn’t look back at me as he left, and I knew I had won. “Burn, Sephiroth, burn! Bounce back from that, sucker!”

“Shut it!” He yelled back sticking his head back inside the door. I bit my lip. I could tell I had gone too far with that last one. “Just shut it okay? I get it, I’m a screw up! I know that, okay? You don’t have to rub it in. We all know Dad left because of me, you don’t have to remind me all the time Riku!”

“Sephiroth, I didn’t mean it like that, don’t take it so hard! Com back here!” I called, rushing after him. God, why was he getting all touchy all the sudden? And what did he mean about Dad? Did he seriously think our Dad had left because of him, because I knew it wasn't true. Everything was always my fault, Dad had told me so the day before he left, so why was he all upset about it?

I caught up with him, tackling him from behind and forcing him to the ground. He’s way bigger than me and I still don’t know how I did it. Next thing I knew he had flipped me over and was straddling my waist, holding my wrists above my head. “Look, I’m sorry all right? I was just joking around with you back there.”

“Well, you took it too far.” Sephiroth said roughly. “That was way below the belt Riku. We all know why Dad really left, because of me.”

“Dad didn’t leave because of you moron! I’m sorry I said that, okay?” I moaned, gasping through the pain I was feeling. Sephiroth isn’t fat or anything, but for my skinny waist it was like having a dump truck sitting on top of me. “Sephiroth, please get off me, you’re too heavy!”

“Oh, so now I’m a screw up AND fat, I see how it is!” Sephiroth said, quickly changing his position so that he wasn’t straddling my waist anymore. Instead he was sitting in the center of my chest looking the other way away from my face, arms crossed stubbornly. “Now say I’m fat, go on. Say it, I dare you.”

I would have said it, just to annoy him, but I couldn’t even breathe so bad was the pressure he was exerting on my lungs. I was slowly dying due to lack of air, I could feel it, and if Sephiroth had had any idea he would have jumped off by now. He’s a jerk at times yes, but when it came down to it he was a good guy who would never suffocate his own younger brother.

Unless of course he had no idea he WAS suffocating me, like now for instance. Damn, I thought, this is the worst possible way to die. That and being thrown into a volcano or something. With my now freed arms I attempted to shove him off me, but it was no use, my muscles had failed me. Thank God Cloud was walking by at this exact moment. He looked over at us, first at Sephiroth who waved cheerily at him from my chest and then to me. I was tuning pink in the face by now I was sure, and I waved my hands at him, telling him deafly to push Sephiroth off me. Cloud’s eyes got real big as his mouth dropped open and the next thing I knew he was charging down the hall and plowing himself into Sephiroth with his shoulder.

Sephiroth tumbled off me with a grunt and a cry, not understanding why Cloud had suddenly tackled him out of nowhere. I mean, that was MY job after all, I was the one would randomly attacked Sephiroth and Cloud while Cloud usually sat there and watched television. I think Sephiroth finally grasp what exactly was going on when Cloud helped me up into a sitting position, smacking me a little too hard on the back as I coughed and gagged, still pink in the face.

“Damn, Riku! Was I really hurting you?” Sephiroth cursed, kneeling in front of me. I nodded, still unable to talk just yet. “You could’ve just told me I was suffocating you.”

“You can’t talk when you’re being suffocated Seph, duh. Be a little more careful next time.” Cloud said sternly, helping me stand up. Sephiroth looked a little put out. Muttering he was sorry under his breath her walked off to his new room, shutting the door. “Come on Riku, you should lie down for a while.”

Cloud helped me over to my bed and I lay down, closing my eyes. I heard him walk across the room and opened my eyes. He hadn’t left the room, just walked away from the bed to sit on the floor near the end of it.

“Thanks a lot Cloud, you really saved me there.” I whispered to him. He smiled and said it was nothing. Even if it wasn’t, it meant something to me. What a glorious way to be welcomed to the neighborhood! Yeah right.

The next day when I woke up I had no idea where I was. It took me a while to remember the day before. Moving in, picking my room, and getting strangled and so on. You know normal moving stuff, nothing too important.

My room was filled with boxes, boxes, boxes, and more boxes. The moving truck must have come while I was asleep. I smiled to myself, knowing exactly why no one had woken me up. Sephiroth was still feeling guilty about yesterday and damn it, he should feel guilty about it! He nearly killed me after all.

I opened the box at the foot of my bed looking through it and smiled, it was full of the books I had read back home. Jumping off the bed, I picked up the two book shelves one at a time and moved them to where I wanted them across from the end of my bed in the corner and started putting the books on it. I know, normal 16 year old guys don’t carry bookcases by themselves, but I did. So there.

The next box was books, and the box after that was filled with my books as well. Well, I’m a bookworm, what can I say? So what if I am? When you have no friends like I did back home, you tend to pick up hobbies like obsessive reading or working out in the weight room after school a lot. Both of which I did everyday just about, since I always had a lot of time to myself obviously.

I started sifting through the many boxes, looking for my posters and the photographs in my frames and albums. This room was really boring, with its white walls and all, it was in a serious need for some color. And what better way to make it fit for human habitation than with posters of my favorite bands. Up went my Pink Floyd poster along with my All American Rejects one, Blink 182 even though they broke up, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Bowling for Soup, the NBA poster my Dad had got me in an attempt to make me like sports, and a few other posters I had saved from home. My pictures in the frames went on top of the book shelves and the dresser by my door while the albums I placed in the drawer of my desk, which I had pushed into the corner by the window fro lighting purposes.

“Unpacking already are we?” Mom asked, sticking her head in the door, smiling broadly as ever. I smiled back, and this time I didn’t have to fake it. I was actually happy at that moment. Who knows how long that could last though, knowing how I am and all with my cheery disposition towards the world. Well, I’ll just enjoy it while I can. “I have to go to work now, so you boys have fun together today okay? Go explore the neighborhood with Cloud when you’re done unpacking and settling in, since Sephiroth has a job interview today it will just be you and Cloud later on. Meet the neighbors and stuff, make some friends. Well, bye then.”

“Bye Mom, good luck.” I called after her. Hanging my clothes up in my closet, I bumped up against the wall with my elbow and knocked a board loose. Light peeked through the hole and intrigued I pulled the boards all the way off to find a window, in my closet wall. It was a normal sized glass window, strange only because it had been boarded up and that it was in my closet. “Why would anyone want to board up a window? Oh well, it’s not their problem anymore.”

I opened the window up and smiled as the light breeze skimmed over my face. Looking down, I saw a small group of four kids talking with my Mom and Sephiroth as Mom got in her car. Mom drove off finally, but the people stayed talking to Sephiroth, who seemed to enjoy the attention. Typical Sephiroth, an attention hog as always, nothing had changed. My brother seemed to be motioning to the house, inviting them in.

“Hey Cloud, come here and look at this! I found a window in my closet we could use for sneaking out or something.” I yelled as he walked past my door and he came in my room, looking out the little window with me. “What do you think Sephiroth is doing down there with them?”

“Well, inviting them in it the house looks like, probably to meet us.” Cloud said, straightening his collar and running his fingers through his hair. “I’d get dressed quick, unless you want to meet everyone in your Hawaiian surfboard boxers.”

“I don’t want to meet anyone at all!” I said as Cloud walked off, well aware he was laughing at me again, as always. Nothing had change with my brothers then. Maybe it was just me that wanted to start over completely. So what if I was in my boxers, it was our house not theirs and it’s not like I asked to meet any of them anyways. Still, I rummaged through my boxer until I found the ones that had my other clothes not already in my closet in them and got dressed – baggy faded blue jeans with slashes in the knees and my white polo shirt. It made me look even paler than normal, but it would do for now, just meeting the new neighbors. I fixed my hair, brushed my teeth with my recently found toothbrush, and pulled on my socks and black skate shoes. “I’m not going down stairs, if they really want to meet me for some strange demented reason of their own they can come up here to me.”

I began putting things away again, opening up more of the taped boxes, breaking down the empty ones and sticking them in a neat pile on the floor of my closet. I bushed the boxes with my clothes in them in the closet, thinking I could unpack them later when we didn’t have company. I shut my closet door, thinking about how embarrassing it would be if one of my neighbors came in and saw my bowers or something weird like that, better safe then sorry.

“RIKU! Come downstairs already, we have COMPANY! Our neighbors are here to see you!” Sephiroth called up the stairs to me. I scoffed, continuing to unpack my things. I heard him muttering about something to the general assembly downstairs waiting for me I suspected before I heard Sephiroth climbing the stairs. “Riku, you awake? Don’t tell me you didn’t hear me shouting at you from downstairs, come on! There are people downstairs waiting to meet YOU! Scary, I know its weird people actually want to meet you, but it’s true. Come on.”

“Sephiroth, I hate humanity remember, what makes you think I want to meet anymore of humanity than I already have had the misfortune to meet at my last school?” I asked, joking with him. I was far from hating humanity, but I had hated everyone from my high school back home and I was pretty sure none of them cared for me either. I was that weird pale kid from down the street, the guy who aced every test the teachers threw at him, the loser who didn’t have ant friends at all, that cute snob that had turned down the hottest girl in school when she had asked him out. That last one had been why everyone had hated and feared me. I’m sure the others had something to do with it, but it was defiantly the last one over all. “Do I have to meet them?”

“Yes, we’ll be in the kitchen.” Sephiroth said, lowering his voice to an excited whisper. “They brought us food and stuff as a housewarming present! One girl brought us a cake! Chocolate cake with the little swirl icing flowers!”

“Oh, well if there’s chocolate cake!” I smiled, chasing him out of my room. I didn’t really feel like cake, but I had thought about what this meant for me as a whole – the move and all. I could start over and do things right here, get some real friends and stuff. I mean, I had had no friends back home when I had left there. At one point I was the most popular person in the school, but then everything had changed when I had turned down Heather Carmichael the hottest blonde haired blue eyed supermodel wannabe girl in our high school. Everyone said there must be something wrong with me if I could turn someone like her down, like I was mental or something like that. It wasn’t that I was metal, but I had my reasons. They stopped talking to me after that. I had officially become socially dead after that with no chance of revival.

“Here he is then, my other younger brother!” Sephiroth said as I walked through the door and into the kitchen. There was Sephiroth and Cloud, sitting at the kitchen table cutting a large chocolate cake into slices and putting them on dessert plates. The other four people crowded around the room must have been the neighbors.

The girl closest to me had long brown hair pulled back by a large pink ribbon tied in a bow on the back of her head. She had on a long pink dress that matched her ribbon perfectly. With her large brown eyes she seemed kind of shy. The girl blushed scarlet when she realized I was looking at her.

“Hello.” She said softly, looking down at her feet. Why wouldn’t she look at me? Maybe if I talked back to her or something like that...

“Hey.” I said back kindly, not sure what else to say. Did I scare her or something? Already? That must be a new record, it usually takes over five minutes or so at least before somebody admitted to being scared by me.

“That’s Aerith, she’s shy like that.” Another girl said, bounding forward to get right up in my face, smiling broadly at me. I took a step back to look her over. Her hair was short and black, and she was dressed up like a ninja or something in a Halloween costume. “I’m the great ninja Yuffie! Nice to meet you! Welcome to the neighborhood my friend!”

“Okay, hi ‘great ninja.’” I smiled at her, and she giggled, jumping up and down.

“I like him, he’s fun!” Yuffie giggled, bouncing around the last of the girls, who looked up at me kindly.

“I’m Tifa, nice to meet you.” She said brushing her hair out of her eyes as Yuffie jumped on her back suddenly. Apparently Yuffie wasn’t kidding about the ninja thing! She was quick!

“Nice to meet you too.” I said, nodding in her direction, stifling a laugh as she struggled with Yuffie.

The last person in the room was a taller, older looking guy with brown hair. He looked kind of forbidding, like he was silently daring anyone to talk to him. I highly doubted that he had come here of his own free will. Unless his free will happened to be named ‘Yuffie’ that is.

“That’s Squall. He’s a loner!” Yuffie said, gesturing at the grumpy looking male.

“That’s Leon!” Leon said gruffly, glaring at her. He turned back to me, sticking out a hand for me to shake. I took it, and he shook my whole arm.

“Hey everyone, I’m Riku. Thanks for the welcome.” I said, waving at them all. They all smiled back kindly.

“So, do you want to come with us and meet everyone else?” Yuffie asked. The others grumbled in disagreement. No one sounded too thrilled at the prospect of having Yuffie dragging them around all day.

“I have to go home and baby-sit. You know how it is Yuffie.” Tifa said, dragging on Leon’s arm. “Leon, walk me home, would you?”

“Okay, I’ll go.” Leon said quickly, waving goodbye as Tifa ushered him out the door. I couldn’t blame them, but I hated to see them go. Less people between me and Yuffie’s spastic energy shifts.

“Aerith, do you want to hang out here, with me? I have a book I think you might like.” Cloud asked quietly, walking over to her. Aerith looked up at him eyes wide. She nodded, taking the hand Cloud offered her. They headed for the stairs that led to Cloud’s room together.

“I have to go now, job interview.” Sephiroth said, heading out the door. That left me with Yuffie. Damn it, how did this always happen to me!

“Let’s go then Riku! The rest of the group awaits us!” Yuffie said, grabbing my arm. She dragged me towards the door and I panicked. It was bright out there! I could see the sunlight showering in through the window and I dreaded going out in it.

“Whoa, hold on Yuffie!” I said, grabbing onto the edge of the table. She looked at me, confused. “The sun’s out. I can’t go out there.”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“I hate the sun because it’s so bright and all, so I don’t go outside when the sun’s out. It hurts my eyes and I burn easy.” I explained to her. She nodded in understanding – I think anyways. Who could tell with Yuffie? “I mean look at me, I’m more than a little pale if you didn’t notice already.”

“Oh, I guess you’re right about that.” Yuffie said, dropping my arm. She pouted for a moment, thinking intently. If Yuffie’s brain could handle thinking intently that is because I wasn’t so sure at this point. “Hey, what if I bring everyone to one place, like for a party tonight?”

“A party? Where would you do that?” I asked. Not here, that’s for sure. We still had to unpack.

“At Kairi’s house of course! She’s loaded!” Yuffie said happily, jumping up and down. “I’ll go talk to her about it and come over tonight to get you and your brothers for the party! Bye then Riku!”

I watched her run out of the house and down the street in confusion. A party, for us? And all because I refused to go outside in the sun? This was too good to be true!

“What’s with this place?” I asked myself, flopping down at the kitchen table, reaching for the slice of cake Sephiroth had cut for me.

“You get used to it, after a while.” My head jerked up, looking over to the door. Standing there in the door was a little boy.

Well, he’s not really a little boy. He was defiantly shorter than me and less buff. He was skinny, with brown hair probably styled by a porcupine or something, a great tan I could only dream about, and the deepest crystal blue eyes I had ever seen. In short, I was in like with him. I can’t say it was love, I don’t believe in love at first sight, but he was defiantly hot enough.

“Oh really, that’s good to know.” I said, standing up. I walked over to him and extended a hand, which he took. “I’m Riku.”

“Hey, I’m Sora.” He said, smiling broadly. He had a nice smile, unlike Yuffie – her smile gave you a feeling like she was going to jump you the next second or do something crazy and unexpected. “So you just moved here huh?”

“Yeah, yesterday.” I said, going back to my cake and shoveling a bite in my mouth. I choked. It was terrible! I ran over to the trashcan and spit it out. I hated to gag in front of Sora, but it was that terrible. I felt like I was going to puke.

“Oh, Yuffie baked you a cake, didn’t she?” Sora asked, looking at the cake with disgust. He poked the top of the cake with one finger, licking the icing off it. “She’s a terrible cook, but no one tells her. It would only upset her, you know.”

“No one told me either. Someone could have warned me not to eat it or something.” I moaned, throwing the rest of the slice of cake away. “Well, my Mom, two older brothers and me just moved here from California.”

“Wow, all the way from California? Destiny Island is really far from there. How long did it take you guys to get here?” Sora asked, sitting down beside me, propping his head up on his hands, his elbows on the table. He looks so cute like that, I smiled to myself. You just want to hug him.

Okay, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m gay. I just couldn’t say yes to Heather when she asked me out because I don’t like girls that way. Everyone found out about it after that and stopped talking to me at my old school.

“Well, a few days. Mom doesn’t like to drive at night and she didn’t want any of us too either.” I said, staring at him. He looked up into my eyes for a second and I had a sudden urge to grab his face and kiss him hard against the mouth. I restrained myself though, looking away from Sora with a difficulty. I wanted Sora to be my friend, not to run away and tell everyone I was a gay pervert who had tried to assault him and force him to make-out with me. But the making-out with him part did sound like fun...

“Have you unpacked yet?” Sora asked, twiddling his thumbs.

“A little, but not everything. I still have a couple of boxes left to open.” I said, looking up at him again. “Why?”

“Well, how about I help you.” Sora asked, standing up and heading for the door. “I could help you unpack and we could talk and stuff. You know, get to know each other. It’s nice to have another guy on the island around my age finally! All the other guys are like, three years older than me and stuff. Everyone but Roxas anyways, but he’s all wrapped up in his relationship with his boyfriend Axel and doesn’t have time to hangout with me anymore really. He used to be my best friend.”

“Alright.” I said, standing up. He followed me through the house and up the stairs to my room. He looked around at what I had done already to it and smiled.

“I like your posters.” He said, looking around. “I like all those same bands and stuff. Really cool.”

“Cool um, yeah.” I said, opening a box. It had my laptop and school stuff from last year in it. Sora helped me arrange my things on my desk and hook up my computer, afterwards sitting on the bed and talking as I bounced my basketball against the wall.

“So do you like sports then?” Sora asked, pointing at the ball as it bounced back to me off the wall.

“No, I hate sports actually. I only kept this because Dad gave it to me for my birthday last year. It was his way of telling me I wasn’t good enough. I never was like Sephiroth or Cloud, you know?” I said, my voice getting quiet as I caught the ball. I didn’t feel like talking anymore especially about Dad.

“Oh, I see.” Sora said, patting me on the shoulder. “Well, at least he tried. My Dad was never around at all. He left as soon as I was born. It’s been just me and my Mom ever since.”

“Sorry.” I said, not looking at him.

“Aw, it’s okay Riku. I’m probably better off without him around, just like you with your Dad it sounds like.” Sora said, standing up. Things were silent and creepy after that. Sora finally broke the silence with some rather depressing news, for me anyways. “Well, I have to go. I promised Yuffie I’d help set up for the party tonight at Kairi’s.”

“So she was serious about throwing us a party then?” I asked, stuffing the basketball in my closet on top of the broken down boxes before turning back to Sora, who nodded.

“Yeah, and you need to find a date.” Sora said, laughing. “You can’t show up without one! One of Yuffie’s crazy party rules.”

“I don’t know anyone really, so I can’t get a date.” I said, shrugging as I shuffling my feet in the carpet in discomfort. “Well, you’re the only one really. You’re the person I’m closest with so far.”

“Well, I’ll go with you then Riku! You can be my date to the party!” Sora said brightly, smiling as he took my hand in both of his. I gagged, staring at him. Did he just say what I think he said? Someone shoot me, I’m hearing things. “How ‘bout it Riku? Will you go to Yuffie’s party with me tonight then?”

“Um.” I said, unsure of what to say. What he seriously asking me out to a party with him? This was nuts, like something had jumped out of Sephiroth’s brain and into my room. This might all be a prank, and I wasn’t going to fall for it and say ‘yes’.

Even though I really wanted to.

“I’ll take that as a yes then!” Sora said, dropping my hand and heading for the door. He stopped at the door and looked back at me. “I’ll come by to pick you up around eight o’clock, okay? Put on your party clothes Riku!”

“Yeah, um okay I guess. See you later then Sora.” I said quietly, still unsure about what was going on. Sora beamed still brightly, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.

“Okay, it’s a date then!” Sora said, running out the door and down the stairs. I stood in complete shock in the middle of my room until Cloud walked in on his way down stairs.

“Aerith just left, she had to get home.” Cloud said his face a bit pink as he said it. He looked at my face, still unmoved and came over to me, waving a hand in front of my face. I blinked, looking at him. He laughed, kindly smacking me in the forehead. Notice I said kindly, meaning he didn’t knock the wind out of me. “What happened to you?”

“I got asked to go with someone as their date to Yuffie’s party.” I said, still a bit dumbstruck. Cloud laughed harder.

“So? I’m going with Aerith, its no big deal to get asked out.” I looked at him, and he shrugged. “She asked me and I said yes. She’s nice and kind and – I don’t know, I just like her, okay?”

“Yeah.” I mumbled. “Okay Cloud, except I’ve never been asked out before. Except that one time by Heather and we all know how that turned out, do we not?”

“So who asked you? Yuffie?” Cloud asked, sitting down on my bed. “Oh and who was that guy I saw leaving your room?”

“He’s Sora.” I said, sitting down next to Cloud. “He was helping me unpack my things. He’s the one that asked me.”

“What?” Cloud asked, shocked. He knew I was gay and all, but no guy had ever asked me out before, just as I had never asked any guy out. I just looked at other guys and wished I could ask them out, and here was adorably hot little Sora – asking ME out!

“And I said yes, sort of. I mean, I’m going to the party with him.” I said quickly, figuring like with a band-aid it would be easier to get it over with as soon as possible. Cloud made a weird noise and fell of the bed and onto the floor in a heap. If that’s how my own adopted brother reacted, I couldn’t wait to see how everyone else at the party acted when the new guy would was exceptionally pale 16 year old with aqua green eyes and silver hair showed up as Sora’s date. This was gonna be a night I would never forget, one way or the other, for better or worse.

How about that for Riku's first two days? Running form the sun, being smothered by his brothers, and getting asked out by strange boys to parties at people's houses he doesn't even know! What an experience

-----------------------------------

Moving Friends and Makingout Chap2

Chapter 2

“You said yes!” Sephiroth shouted through his laughter a few hours later. He had come home from his job interview successful and happy having landed the job at the bank and the theater had taken him on as the stage manager and had given him a small part in the upcoming play. “You said yes to Sora, you really did it? He asked you to the party and you said YES?”

“Yeah, I did.” I mumbled, pouting slightly. Sephiroth was trying to make me angry so that I would hit him so he could best me again like he had the other day, but it wasn’t going to work this time. I was thrilled I was going with Sora and nothing he said could make me angry. “What of it Sephiroth, he asked me didn’t he? All I did was accept his invitation.”

“Alright, don’t get your boxers in a bunch little bro.” Sephiroth said getting off the couch to go and into the kitchen. I got up and followed him around the house. He realized I was following him and stopped, turning to look at me. “What do you want from me now Riku? You only follow me around when you want something.”

“Well, Sora said dress for a party.” I said slowly, twiddling my thumbs.

“So?” Sephiroth said, getting a can of soda out of the fridge. Sephiroth doesn’t just drink pop, he chugs it. I don’t think he’s ever just drank a can of soda like a normal person, not enough time for that I guess. Taking a long drink he crushed the can, letting out a low burp as he sat down at the kitchen table. “What does that had to do with me?”

“Well, you party like a maniac!” I said sitting down at the kitchen table with him. “Help me out here Sephiroth! What the hell do you wear to a party?”

“Oh, that’s what you want!” Sephiroth said laughing. He stood up and I followed him up the stair to my room. He went through all my clothes, searching for an outfit for me to wear to the party, throwing the clothes he didn’t like around the room. Cloud walked by my room looking inside as a pair of my shoes went flying passed the door. He came in walking over to where I was standing watching Sephiroth throw my clothes everywhere.

“What is he doing and why aren’t you stopping him from doing it?” Cloud asked quietly as a pair of pants landed on top of my lamp, a shirt covered the computer, and a pair of boxers got stuck up on top of the book shelve. Sephiroth seemed happy with the clothes he had left in the closet for me anyways because smiling broadly he patted me on the shoulder before leaving the room.

“I left the outfit in the closet. No need to thank me.” Sephiroth said from the hall as he walked to his room.

“Outfit for what? Oh, for the party tonight at Kairi’s you mean?” Cloud asked me looking at what was left in my closet. A nice black button down shirt, my long kaki pants, a pair of nice black shoes and the black socks that went with them was left. “I must say, he has great taste in party clothes even if his methods are a little strange as to what to do with the things he doesn’t deem suitable.”

“Yeah, why else do you think I got him to help, for my health?” I asked Cloud, cuffing him around the top of the head before taking the party outfit out of the closet and hanging it on the curtain rod so I could pick up the room and not get the clothes mixed up. Cloud shrugged, helping me pick up the clothes all around the room and hang them back in the closet. “So do you like this Sora guy?”

“Yeah, what I know of him so far. I mean I obviously haven’t known him very long but I do like him.” I said hanging up the last few things in the closet before flopping back on the bed.

“Yeah, and he can’t know you that well obviously or he’d be running the other way!” Cloud laughed, sitting down on the bed next to me and ruffling my hair lightly. I never let people touch my hair, but I didn’t mind Cloud playing with it. He was my brother and he meant no harm by it. Unlike when Heather asked me out - she had been playing with it when she had asked me out and then started yanking on it cruelly trying to pull it out of my scalp when I had turned her down. Cloud’s fingers were twisted tenderly in my hair making me feel like he cared about me. “Does he know you’re gay?”

“I don’t think so unless he guessed it somehow, and that can’t be too hard to do.” I laughed, brushing his hand away as he grabbed my nose in fun. “I haven’t told anyone here about my sexual preferences seeing as it’s not really a conversation topic.”

“You’re kidding me right? Of course it’s a conversation topic Riku! You just invite them all over for tea and crumpets and say ‘by the way my good fellows, I think you’re all smashing because I’m gay my darlings.’ That simple Riku, it will work real well.” Cloud said, puffing out his chest as he laughed at the look on my face no doubt. “Just kidding with you little brother. Don’t get angry with me or anything, I like to see you squirm that’s all. But really think about it Riku, they’ll all find out about you eventually won’t they?”

“Not if I don’t say anything. Or if you don’t.” I said, looking up at Cloud’s face. “Don’t tell anyone my secret, especially Sora okay? I’ll tell him and everyone else when I’m ready.”

“Alright, I won’t tell anyone about your little ‘closet issue’ as I shall call it in front of you and any company that should arise from now on.” Cloud said, hopping off the bed so I couldn’t strangle him. Because believe me, I wanted nothing more than that right then. “Listen, its six o’clock now so we only have two hours left. It always takes you forever to get ready so I’ll just leave you to get ready.”

He stuck his head back in the door looking over at me for a second deep in thought. He looked like he had something he wanted to say, but for once in his life he wasn’t just saying it. Usually he just blabs out whatever he’s thinking around me. Cloud said I’m the closest to him so he tells me more than anybody else, which is true. He only talks really when the two of us are alone together if you haven’t noticed already.

“What?” I asked, confused. He opened his mouth but nothing came out of it. “What is it Cloud, say something already!”

“So is Sora cute?” He asked quietly, his face going red. I laughed, falling off the bed in enjoyment. Cloud wasn’t gay by any means, but my God! It was hilarious that he was asking me that about the boy who was taking me out tonight. “Well you know, I was just wondering. He had to be if you said yes right?”

“Oh Cloud my dear, you have no idea just how hot he is!” I said going to him and putting my arm around his shoulder. “He had brown hair that’s all spiked, a nice tan I wish I could have, he’s skinny and short. Well, shorter than me anyways and smaller but not wimpy looking at all. And I adore his eyes, his beautiful blue sapphire eyes.”

“Great, now let me go gay wad.” Cloud said slipping under my arm and out the door to running down the hall into his room, locking the door quickly. A smile burst across my face and I ran after him, banging on his door until he finally yelled at me. “Go away stupid faggot!”

“Come on Cloud open the door! I just want to tell you something!” I yelled through the wood of the door. Cloud opened the door grudgingly, looking angry for the first time.

“What? Tell me already so I can go back to hating you.” He said grumpily.

“Okay.” I said, leaning forward. Suddenly I kissed him on the cheek, shocking him slightly. “Love you too Cloud! You’re the best older brother I could ever have let Mom adopt and bring home to live with us!”

“Why you little!” He yelled angrily. He hated it when I tricked him, which was often enough. I laughed as he chased me back down to my room. I dashed inside and slammed the door, locking it as Cloud banged on it trying to knock it down. I was having such a great time today. Life here on Destiny Island might not be so bad after all.

“Might as well start getting ready.” I sighed, looking at the clock. It was quarter after six. I had wasted fifteen minutes taunting dear Cloud. “Oh well it was so worth it.”

I showered, dried off, changed into my party clothes, and was just fixing my hair when I heard the front door down stairs open. Panicking, I looked hurriedly at the clock beside my bed. It was seven thirty, no worries. But if it wasn’t Sora downstairs who was it? Aerith wasn’t coming until eight either so it must be...

“Riku? Cloud, Sephiroth? Is anyone home?” It was Mom.

“Yeah, the kids are upstairs getting ready to go.” Sephiroth could be heard telling our Mom from the bottom of the stairs.

“Getting ready for what?” Mom asked curiously. The thing about my Mom is you have to let her know what’s going on or she freaks out. She lets us do just about anything we want but she has to know about it. I heard her climbing the stairs and knock on my door. “Riku, can I come in?”

“Yeah, hold on.” I said, unlocking the door for her to come in. She looked me over and smiled. “What is it Mom?”

“Where are you all going all dressed up?” Mom asked sweetly straightening my collar. “Sephiroth is dressed up too. I haven’t seen Cloud yet.”

“He’s in his room getting ready. We met some of our neighbors today and they decided to throw us a party at Kairi’s house so we could meet everyone at once in one place out of the sun without having to run or drive all over.” I explained, going back to doing my hair. I was freaking out inside though I tried to play it cool in front of Mom. Sora would be here soon and I was no where near being ready for him to arrive.

“So do you have a date to the party? You look so nice.” Mom asked, sitting down on the bed. “Can I meet them before you leave for the party?”

“I guess you can meet ‘em.” I said, blushing. Mom didn’t know I was gay, at least not yet. She never knew why I had hated school so bad back home or why all my friends had turned on me. All she knew was that I was unhappy and unsure of myself back there. “There’re coming at eight. Cloud’s got a date too. Her name’s Aerith, you’ll like her Mom she’s nice.”

“Oh, Cloud too!” Mom squealed, clapping her hands. She loved it when we had dates or friends over to the house. She loved to see us happy and healthy and all the parental junk. “I’m going to check on him okay? You finish getting ready for the party.”

“Thanks Mom.” I laughed as she rushed out. I finished getting ready and went to check myself in my mirror. My mirror ran from the floor to the ceiling so I could look over myself before I went out if I wanted to go out and look nice. Something was missing but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

“Hey Riku, I have the perfect thing for you.” Sephiroth said, sticking his head in the door. He threw me a little brown paper wrapped package that fit in the palm of my hand. “I ran to the store and picked it up for you. Try it out.”

I unwrapped it to find a hot pink tie. I laughed, putting it on. Strangely enough, it worked! And I liked the way it looked on me.

“Perfect!” Sephiroth laughed, giving me the thumbs up. We heard the doorbell going off down stairs. “That’s either your date or Cloud’s! I’m picking up my date myself. Go get it!”

I ran out of my door at the same time as Cloud. We looked at each other real quick before each dashing for the door. Whoever got there first would get to open it.

Needless to say, I won as I always did. It also helped I wanted to see Sora again so bad. Opening the door though I was let down. Aerith was standing there looking radiant in a white summer dress, but it just wasn’t the same. It wasn’t Sora. I was going out of my mind with the need to see the little guy again!

“Hello again Riku, nice to see you. You look nice.” Aerith said quietly, smiling at me. I smiled back, stepping aside so she could step inside. When she saw Cloud she blushed. Cloud was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and kaki pants and dress shoes. He looked nice, I had to admit. The girls were going to go nuts over him. Not that I actually cared about what the girls thought, obviously. “Hello Cloud.”

“Hey Aerith.” Cloud said, looking into her eyes and smiling at her. She lightened up a little though still tense. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you Cloud.” Aerith blushed, looking down at her shoes. “You look very handsome tonight Cloud.”

“Thanks Aerith.” Cloud said, turning a little pink himself. That’s funny, Cloud was blushing. Big tough spit-in-your-eye-to-blind-you-while-I-punch-you Cloud was blushing at a girl who complimented him on how he looked tonight. Aw, so cute and innocent! It made me want to gag on my own tongue or strangle myself with my tie. “Come in the kitchen you have to meet my Mother before we leave, okay?”

I watched them walk away together, sadness filling up the empty hole inside of me. I had been hoping it was Sora at the door. I was just walking sadly into the kitchen when...

Thump, thump, thump!

I turned and looked through the peep hole in the door to see big brown spikes blocking everything else from view. I smiled broadly as I opened the door for him to come inside.

“Hey Sora!” I said happily. He looked really hot standing there in his black suit coat, red vest, white shirt and a black tie back with his hat with a red stripe held under his arm. He had a black rose in his other hand, which he handed to me. I put it up to my nose, still smiling.

“Hey Riku, I picked that up for you.” He smiled at me, beaming as he walked inside the house. He looked so hot! God, I just wanted to grab him and kiss him hard against the mouth until I left him moaning for more. But I couldn’t for appearances sake. And because he didn’t know I was gay – yet, but believe me he was going to find out one way or the other. The good option being I tell him at the right time while the ‘other’ was I just break down and kiss him on the spot and just screw appearances. “So do I get to meet your Mom and everyone?”

“Yeah, they’re all in the kitchen.” I said, grabbing his hand and led the way. He allowed me to hold his hand, grasping mine just as tightly back making me smile as I pulled him into the kitchen. Everyone stared at us as we entered the kitchen together. “Hey everyone.”

“Who is this Riku dear?” Mom asked, politely puzzled. Here it come, oh God please help me make Mom understand...

“Hello, you must be Riku’s Mom! I’m Sora. I came to pick Riku up for the party.” Sora smiled, holding out a hand for her to shake. But she didn’t take it. She stared at Sora, confused out of her wits apparently. “He said he’d go with me to the party as my date when I asked him.”

“Your Riku’s date for the party?” Mom asked, growing paler with every word spoken between the two of them.

“Yeah Mom, he’s my date.” I said softly looking her straight in the eyes as I spoke. “Sora asked me to the party and I said yes.”

I though she was going to blow up or burst into tears or something but no.

“Alright then Riku.” Mom smiled taking Sora’s hand and shaking it. “Nice to meet you Sora. This is Sephiroth my eldest son and that’s Cloud my next oldest son.”

“Hey Sora.” Cloud said sticking out a hand to him which he shook as Sephiroth waved his hello. Cloud pulled Sora closer to him and whispered something in his ear I couldn’t hear that made Sora laugh. His laugh made my heart flip over. I loved the sweet sound of it ringing in my ears.

“You ready to go then Riku?” Sora asked, turning back to look at me. I nodded silently, and he took my hand leading me out of my house and down the street in the dark. I looked up at the moon in happiness.

“I love the full moon.” I said quietly to Sora as he continued to walk beside me still holding my hand in his. He looked up at me, still smiled me, inviting me to go on. “I don’t know why but I do. I always have loved the moon, just like I despise the sun. So what did Cloud say to you back there?”

“Oh, he said he was adopted.” Sora laughed. “He wanted me to know that in case I thought you were all nuts or something like that.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Cloud.” I laughed. Then I said the stupidest thing ever. It just slipped out like I had no control over my stupid tongue and vocal cords. My stupid, stupid vocal cords that never listened to a word that my brain spoke to them like it was another language or something. “Hey Sora, are you gay?”

“Riku.” Sora said softly, stopping and dropping my hand. He was looking at me with eyes wide. Damn it, he’s not gay is he! I blew it big time! “Of course I’m gay. I mean I asked you to be my date after all. Wait, do you have a problem with that Riku?”

“No Sora, I don’t have a problem with you being gay, considering I’m gay and all but I thought you asked me as a joke up until you came to pick me up.” I said happily, taking his hand again. “You didn’t know I was gay then?”

“No I didn’t.” Sora said, squeezing my hand as we started to walk again. “But I always could hope you were. I mean really, you’re so hot and buff, look at you!”

“Really? I am?” I asked, surprised. He smiled up at me and nodded. I was turning pink but it was dark so he couldn’t see anyways. “I thought you were really hot that first time you walked in my house when we first met.”

“Really, because everyone else says I look like a little kid and it pisses me off.” Sora sighed, running his free hand through his hair. “Do you think I look like a kid?”

“No, not tonight.” I said, tapping on his hat still under his arm. “Tonight you look like a perfect gentleman going to the prom or something.”

“That’s good, that’s what I was going for.” Sora laughed. I laughed too, smiling up at the moon in my happiness. Sora had a way of making me laugh and making me feel happy. “Tonight’s going to be great!”

“Yeah, I guess so.” I said quietly. What if no one liked me or everyone judged me because I had come to the party with Sora? Sora frowned, waving a hand in front of my face snapping me out of it.

“Hey, no frowning alright Riku? This is your first time meeting everyone. After tonight they will go back to being their true selves, which for some of them isn’t always a good thing. Once first impressions are over they go back to being themselves.” Sora said.

“Then how do I know if anyone’s being real with me or not?” I asked, unsure of what Sora had meant. “Does that include you?”

“No, I’m real.” Sora said happily, letting go of my hand to put his arm around my waist instead. “This is me, right here right now. I’m never fake, unless I’m sick and then I don’t leave my house you know?”

“Good, I like you like this.” I said softly, looking down at him. He looked up into my eyes for a moment, his sapphire eyes capturing my aqua ones before he leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. It was silly and childish but oh well, it was Sora just being Sora the way he was meant to act. We both burst out laughing at the same time, it seemed so silly to both of us.

“I like you like this too Riku.” Sora said, pulling me closer to him by my waist. Sora finally stopped in front of a large black gate. Clearing his throat he pushed the button on the call box.

“Hello?” It was some girl, probably the one throwing the party. “Are you here for the party?”

“Yeah, Kairi its Sora and my date.” Sora said holding down the button to talk. “Can we come in please?”

“WHAT? You have a date, no way Sora! Who’s your date?” Kairi asked in a high pitched voice. “Tell me Sora!”

“His names Riku, he’s one of the neighbors that just moved in.” Sora said, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet like he had in my room before earlier. “Please let us in! Open the gate Kairi.”

“Alright, I’ll meet you and Riku up at the front door.” Kairi said and with a low buzzing noise the gate opened up for us. Sora grabbed my hand and we ran together up the lawn to the front of the large house. It was enormous with large door and large windows with a sloping well kept lawn filled with trees, shrubs, and flowers leading to that black gate. The front door opened and a redhead girl walked out to us smiling. She was very pretty, with large eyes and pale skin – nowhere near as pale as me however. I always win in that category, unbeatable as ever! Yay, I’m so excited about being a pale freak. Not.

“Hey, you must be Riku!” She said, holding out a hand for me to shake. “I’m Kairi and this is my home.”

“Nice to meet you Kairi.” I said, lifting her small fair hand to my lips to gently kiss it. She giggled and blushed, Sora laughing outright. I smiled at him, punching him in the top of his arm.

“Sora, be quiet you jerk!” Kairi said happily, moving to let us in the house. She led us down the hall into a large golden-yellow ballroom filled with people, some of which I had met earlier like Yuffie, Tifa, and Leon but other then them I was in a room full of strangers. And believe me I didn’t go unnoticed by the room at large.

And Kairi made sure the rest of them noticed me. “Hey everyone, can I have your attention for just a moment please! This is Riku! He’s new in town!”

Everyone said ‘Hello’ and stuff and I waved and smiled around at everyone staring at me, not really wanting the attention. Sora noticed I was uncomfortable and led me away from the center of the room towards the punchbowl. Sora placed a cup of punch in my hand before getting himself some and we stood there together as I breathed in sigh of relief.

“Hey Riku, what’s wrong?” Kairi asked when she had made he way over to us on her patrol across the room. “Is something wrong? Are you not having fun?”

“You shouldn’t have done that Kairi, he was uncomfortable or didn’t you notice that little minor detail?” Sora whispered lowly, making her blush.

“Oh Riku, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were uncomfortable Riku!” She said honestly, but I shook my head silencing her.

“No harm, no foul. It’s fine Kairi.” I said smiling at her and she walked away, satisfied. Turning to Sora I started to figure out who everyone was. “So who are all these people anyways?”

“Just kids from school and around the neighborhood.” Sora said, sipping his punch. He started pointing people out as they walked around, telling me about how they acted and who they were friends with and were dating or what people knew they for. Like when Sora pointed out a large blonde boy with a scar across his face thuggish boy and quietly deadly girl that followed him everywhere. “The blonde one’s name is Seifer Almasy. He’s the school bully and a jerk at that. He gets whatever he wants using the thug and the scary pale girl. The thug’s name is Raijin or Rai and the creepy girl’s name is Fujin or Fuu. They’re his thugs and part of his little group that goes around ‘punishing’ everyone. Stay away, far away from him and those two.”

“Okay, I’ll remember that.” I said, drinking my punch. “What about that blonde girl in the corner by herself?”

“Oh, that’s Namine, Kairi’s twin sister.” Sora said. “She’s an artist and she likes her alone time. See those three kids by her? The shorter one’s Pence the camera lover, the tall boy’s Hayner who’s the Struggle fighter – I can tell you about Struggle later. The girl with them is Olette. She’s into shopping and dragging the two of them around on a string.”

“Poor guys, that’s what’s good about being gay, you know?” I said throwing my empty paper Dixie cup away in the trashcan by the end of the table. I turned to see a tall skinny red head and a shorter dirty-blonde haired boy walking toward us, waving animatedly. “And who are those two coming over here towards us?”

“Oh shit!” Sora laughed as the two guys I had been talking about jumped on him, knocking him to the floor. The two boys jumped back up, pulling Sora up with them. Sora grabbed my arm, clinging to it for support when his legs gave out under him. I grabbed him by the waist, holding him up. “Thanks Riku.”

“So who’s your friend Sora?” The redhead asked, brushing dirt off the blonde’s shoulder for him. The blonde smiled broadly up at him, putting hi arm behind the other’s back, squeezing him around the waist slightly. And then the redhead guy burst into song, and after a moment the blonde guy jumped in too. "Happy happy happy ball of sunshine!dun dun dun Spikey headed cutie that has blue eyes!dun dun dun hes so cute he's small and hyper to boot!Hes my little ball of spikey shine!" (That was the song ArosxIrukxOxarsxLeax wrote for me! Yay! Thank you!)

“Thanks for that wonderful song guys, it's just like me. Guys this is Riku.” Sora said and I nodded, still smiling like a robot. I was getting better at the whole smile-at-them-even-if-you-don’t-want-to stuff Mom had said was polite when meeting new people for the first time. “Riku, the redhead is Axel and the blonde one that looks like me is Roxas.”

“Hey Axel, Roxas.” I said, holding out a hand. Roxas shook it smiling, but Axel brought it up to his lips and kissed it as I had Kairi’s hand. “So do you always kiss the people you just met or am I just special Axel?”

“Oh you’re special all right.” Axel smiled and Roxas nudged him angrily. “Sorry Roxie, but if Riku’s a hottie, he’s a hottie. There’s nothing I can do about that.”

“But I’m your boyfriend Axel!” Roxas scoffed angrily, stomping his foot. He turned to leave, calling back over his shoulder as he walked away from us. “I’m going home! Bye Sora, Riku, Axel. And Axel, don’t bother to follow me, it won’t work this time! This time you’ve got too far.”

“Oh come on Roxas, don’t be like that.” Axel called, cupping his hands around his mouth. When Axel saw Roxas wasn’t coming back Axel started running after him across the ballroom toward the doors that led out of the house and into the night. “You have to forgive me Rox, please come back!”

“What was all that about Sora?” I asked, helping him fix his suit coat, which was a little off centered thanks to being pounced on. “What was going on with them?”

“Oh it’s nothing really. It’s how they always are, you know?” Sora said, stuffing his hat on his head so it squished his hair slightly – which didn’t actually look that bad. “Actually, you wouldn’t know would you? Well, Roxas is the possessive-jealous-clingy type while still fun and sweet and loveable while Axel likes to flirt with anything that can walk and speak English, including boys other than his boyfriend Roxas. They love each other AND they love to hurt one another fro the fun of it.”

“Oh, okay.” I said softly as Sora reached a hand up to stroke my hair and I shivered. Not a bad ‘what the hell is he doing touching me’ shiver, a good ‘I think he likes me’ shiver. A very good shiver. I leaned into his hand a little as he played with my hair and Sora smiled, laughing softly as he continued to stroke my hair. “Sora, why are you so nice to me? I mean, why bring me here as your date and hold my hand and stuff when you could ask any of the other guys here? You barely know me and you treat me so good like I matter or something.”

Because I don’t matter. There when you want me, throw me away when you don’t. Throw away friends like me don’t have the right to exist. Not that Sora was like that though. He wouldn’t throw me away.

“You want to know why I’m like this around you Riku.” Sora asked, looking up into my eyes again and I nodded. He smiled sweetly up at me, pulling me by the waist so we were closer than we had been all night – so his body was pressed against mine. His hat had fallen off and onto the floor as he pillowed his face into my chest, nuzzling against me and making me feel happy and loved as I wrapped my arms around his body. “I don’t know why exactly, I just know that I do like you and I like having you around. It’s just like when you told me how you liked the moon so much but didn’t know why, like it drew you in somehow in a way you didn’t understand. You drew me in and I never want you to let me go Riku.”

“I feel the same way Sora, I really do.” I said my voice tight in my throat. I cared about Sora, but I was shocked to know he cared about me that way. I had thought the idea of him wanting to take me to this party a joke on his part, that him holding my hand and playing with my hair was just for fun, but the fact that he said he cared and he never wanted me to let him go made me feel as happy as I could ever remember being in my entire life. And he meant what he said, just like I did.

“Hey Riku, can I ask you something?” Sora asked suddenly, looking up from my chest. I nodded, still smiling at him. “Do you want to dance with me?”

“Sure Sora, as long as you play the girl and I get to lead.” I laughed as he led me out onto the dance floor. I felt a little conspicuous or like I stood out terribly, but I didn’t care as long as I was with Sora – the only person I had ever truly cared about besides my screwed up little family of four. I held one hand of his in mine, the other of his hands on my shoulder as my free hand went to his waist. We danced around the floor as other people stopped dancing to star or gape at us as we danced by not really caring. I was having a grand time dancing with Sora, until Seifer stepped in. Literally.

Sora caught his foot on Seifer’s outstretched leg sending him sprawling into me. I caught him against me and stopped him from falling before turning to Seifer. Forget what Sora had said, Seifer was going to get all of my furry raining down on him for messing with Sora like that. I wanted to punch his face in.

“Oh dear, I'm so sorry!” Seifer sneered at Sora, smacking him on the back. Sora lurched forward into me again, coughing. Sora picked himself up quickly, walking to stand behind me slightly. “I didn’t mean to ruin your dance Soar or what ever.”

“My name’s Sora.” Sora squeaked from behind me. Rai went behind me and pulled him out from behind me, holding him above the floor up by the collar of his suit coat. Sora squeaked quietly, struggling with Rai in an attempt to make Rai drop him. “Come on Seifer! Just leave me alone so I can have a good time at the party, okay? Please let me go!”

“Nonsense, I didn’t mean any harm Sora, just wanted to meet your friend here.” Seifer said, shifting his gaze onto me. He smirked at me and I scowled back, wanting more and more to pound his face in with every second I spent in his company. Seifer was such a jerk. I was new here and I had already picked up on it, and if I pick up on anything it has to be obvious or it goes right over my head most of the time. “So you’re the new guy in town. What’s your name pale one?”

“Who wants to know?” I asked stubbornly. Seifer smiled, I mean actually smiled at me! Weird and unbelievable, I know but true.

“I like you, you have the right attitude.” Seifer said, putting an arm around my shoulders. “Listen, you drop this little gay worm and come work for me. I can make sure you go places in this town. What’d you say?”

“Well Seifer, thanks for the offer.” I said and Sora gasped, looking up at me clearly terrified out of his wits. He looked like I’d just ripped his heart out of his chest. But I wasn’t done talking by a long shot. “First of all, get off me. I don’t like people touching me who annoy me. Second it’s not the ‘right attitude,’ it’s my attitude Seifer. Third, I won’t work for you because I don’t follow, I lead. And last and most important of all, Sora is not a ‘gay worm’ and I like Sora. I wouldn’t drop him if you put a gun to my head and tried to force me into it on pain of death. There’s your answer Seifer, and it’s the only answer you’re ever gonna get from me.”

Seifer snapped his fingers and Rai dropped Sora, who landed on hid feet for once. I smiled at Seifer grabbed his hand and led him away from Seifer, Fuu, and Rai who stood staring at us angrily. I’m not ashamed to admit it, I was pleased with myself. Sora stopped walking in the middle of the dance floor, grabbing my hand and tugging hard on it so that I would turn around and look at him.

“What is it Sora?” I asked him, but he shook his head deafly telling me to follow him to where ever he wanted to go. I followed him willingly unsure of where Sora could be taking me but sure it would be someplace great knowing Sora. He led me out of the ballroom through a door in the wall I hadn’t seen earlier into a dark hallway. Down a hall, through another door and up a flight of stairs he led me, until he stopped in front of a door, pulling the keys out of his pockets. “Where are we?”

“You’ll see in a second.” Sora said, opening the door and pushing me inside ahead of him and shutting the door. It was so dark I couldn’t see a thing. I felt Sora leave my side and after a few moments the lights flipped on and I gasped. We were in a huge library full of never ending books from floor to ceiling. I was in paradise, especially when Sora pulled the curtains lining one wall to reveal a wall of windows that showed the lawn, other houses and the sky, light from the stars and the moon shining down on my face. “Do you like it Riku?”

“Sora, I love it!” I said looking around with a genuine a smile plastered on my face for once. I turned back to him, running over to hug him tightly around the middle. “This is so amazing Sora, thank you so much for bringing me here.”

“No problem Riku. Especially after the way you stood up to Seifer for me.” Sora said, snuggling against me as he wrapped his arms around me. “I hoped you’d like it. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to pay you back for what you did for me back there Riku, but I hoped this would help.

“It helps Sora, I’ love it!” I insisted happily.

“So now that we’re here what do you want to do?” Sora asked pointedly, smiling at me with a strange look on his face. He hugged me closer, his hair poking me gently in the face.

“Huh, I don’t know Sora. I’m good like this, just being here with you.” I said, pulling him over to the couch facing the window. We sat down together with me reclining back across the couch, Sora sitting curled up on my lap, draping himself over me with his arms wrapped around me, his eyes closed as his head rested on my shoulder. We stayed like that a long time, until Sora started fidget like the little kid he was inside, unable to lay still too long. He sighed softly as he wiggled around, his hair tickling my face. I laughed, pulling back from him a little, but he kept scooting up so his hair was in my face again.

“Hold still already Sora, your hair is tickling me!” I mumbled and he laughed, continuing to move around. “I mean it Sora, stop it.”

“What are you gonna do to stop me Riku?” Sora asked playfully running a finger down the side of my face. Did he just dare me? Oh no he didn’t, he obviously doesn’t know who he’s messing with here. He should have had more sense than that after seeing me take on Seifer. I smirked up at him and his smile faltered. Not so confident now I laughed to myself as he bit him lower lip.

“Oh, is that a dare? We’ll just see about that!” I smirked, pouncing quickly. Sora squealed cutely as I pushed him back against the end of the couch that had gone unused, pushing him down into the soft cushions, moving up his body so I was straddling his waist, my knees locked around him. I held his arms above his head by his wrists so he was powerless to throw me off him, not that it seemed like he wanted to. He was barely moving, just staring up at me shocked at the position he had gotten himself into.

“What are you going to do to me Riku?” Sora asked sounding more than a little scared at the prospect of not knowing what I was going to do to him or in face what I could do to him. I smiled down at him, releasing his hands so I could gently caress the side of her face with the back of my hand. He quieted, growing completely still beneath me as I caressed the side of his face and petted his hair when he realized I meant him no harm and wasn’t going to go through with my threat. Or so he thought anyways. “So you aren’t going to punish me Riku?”

“Oh I’ll punish you alright, but I think you’re going to enjoy it as much as I will Sora, don’t you worry.” I smirked, leaning down to kiss the side of his face. He seemed to be holding his breath as I kissed a path down the side of his face and down his jaw to his neck where I kissed him tenderly, sucking on the spot where I had kissed him until I had left a mark and I had him moaning out of pleasure and longing.

Raising up my head I looked into his eyes before he snaked his arms around my neck, pulling my head down to his so he could kiss me on the lips. Sora kissed me, pushing his head up to get closer to mine. With one of my hands braced against the cushions by the side of his head and the other twisted in his hair, we were just about as close to each other as we could get. I felt Sora’s tongue pushing against my lips in an effort to part them and get inside my mouth. I let him in gladly and he moaned into my mouth, his tongue playing against mine as he deepened the kiss unlocking a store of passion I had never know before that had been stored deep down inside of me. One of his hands moved up and down my back, pulling me closer to me while the other tangled itself in my hair. I deepened the kiss, leaning into him as far as I could. Sora moaned again, finally pulling away to breath.

“You okay?” I asked him, worried. He was flushed and panting, lying there under me looking ruffled from where we had struggled against one another. He nodded, moving to sit up. I let him out from under me as he fell back against the couch, still breathing heavy as I straightened my tie.

“That was amazing Riku, no ones ever kissed me like that before.” Sora moaned, resting his head on my shoulder again, latching onto my waist. “Really, never like that.”

“You’re telling me.” I said, struggling to control my breathing as I held him closer to me. Then we heard it – footsteps outside the door coming this way. Damn it, of all the times to get caught! “Quick, hide!”

Sora and I jumped up, Sora rolling under the couch while I ran and hid under one of the tables that littered the room. Pulling my knees up under my chin I held as my breathe, trying not to be found out hiding under the table. Two people walked inside the room, shutting the door behind them and flipping off the lights. The two people sidled over to the couch, sitting down upon it together and began making out with each other. Looking out from under the table, I had to clap my hands over my mouth not to burst out laughing at who one of them was.

SEPHIROTH! Who was he with anyways? Probably the date he had been talking about. I didn’t recognize her, but it didn’t matter really who it was. All that mattered was the Sephiroth and his ‘friend’ were so wrapped up in each other, literally, to notice us if we tried to sneak out of the room.

Crawling over to the couch I lifted up the shirt to see Sora lying flat against the floor looking terrified. I pulled him out and together we crawled to the door, opening it quietly and crawling out into the hallway.

“Well what do we have here?” Damn whoever had invented making-out, everyone seemed to want to go to the library to do it. We had escaped the room just to get caught by someone else!

OH NO! Guess who caught them - and who Sephiroth was making-out with... Go on guess! Add your guesses in your reviews and I (might) tell you if you're right! Until next time then! La la la...

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On Moving, Friends and Makingout Chap 3-

Chapter 3

“Well what do we have here?” Seriously, the person who invented making-out forgot to work out a few things – like making it so different people like to make out in different places. The library seems really popular, but not for the reason parents like us hanging out there for. They want us to read and study! While not against reading... studying sucks. The person standing in front of us was shining a flashlight in our eyes which did not illuminate our captor sadly. I wanted to know who I was about to beat up and curse to the fiery depths of hell for all eternity.

“Um, I can explain I swear.” Sora said nervously as he picked himself up off the ground, pulling me up with him. Sora was staring up at the teenage boy who had caught us petrified. “It’s not what it looks like really its not!”

“Oh isn’t it Sora?” The stern voice asked. It was too dark to see who was standing in the hall in front of us, but the voice stirred something in the back of my mind. Why did this voice sound so familiar and strange at the same time? Where did I know it from? “Do you even know how bad this looks Sora?”

“Look I’m sorry alright?” Sora pleaded wringing his hands as he fidgeted beside me in evident discomfort. Why was he so nervous? He wasn’t this scared when Seifer had had his thug buddy hold him captive while Seifer talked to me. “Please, we didn’t do anything, really!”

“How the hell am I supposed to believe that?” The hard voice yelled making Sora flinch. This was clearly someone Sora had issues with – not that I could be sure or anything, but I think it’s a good assumption seeing how they acted towards each other. “Sora, I swear you have no brain at all! You’re so stupid sometimes! Why do you do this to me? Do you like me like this, yelling at you and acting like a jackass in front of your friends to you? Do you do this for kicks or something Sora?”

“Please don’t do this here.” Sora said quietly. It sounded like he was about to cry or something and I felt terrible for him. “Look, you can yell at me all you want when we get home okay? But not here, not in front of Riku, please.”

“I just don’t know what to do with you anymore Sora.” The voice sighed. “I never though would have guessed this about you Riku.”

“What do you mean like that? Wait, do I know you?” I asked, confused. My brain was surely turning to jelly from these strange happenings going on at the present. The flashlight pointed toward the wall moving along it until it fell on a lamp sitting on a small table pressed against the wall. A hand reached out and turned it on. Light flooded the hall around up making me blink, unable to see. Rubbing my eyes I looked at the owner of the flashlight and gasped. Damn. “Leon?”

“Yeah, nice to see you remember me now.” Leon said gruffly, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he stared angrily at Sora who looked terrified. And I couldn’t blame Sora for it. Leon was way scarier now than I remembered him being. “You just wait until we get home Sora!”

“Come on, give me a break Leon!” Sora groaned pleading with Leon whom I knew wasn’t going to budge the slightest bit in Sora’s favor. Duh, this is Leon we’re talking about. “Nothing happened I swear! Please don’t lock me in my room again!”

“Wait a second, hold on here!” I shouted cutting across Leon before he could reply. They both looked at me but thankfully stayed quiet. “You two live together?”

“Of course we do you idiot!” Leon said gruffly. “Sora, are all your friends retarded or something?”

“Riku’s not retarded Leon! Shut it! I don’t think he knows, did you say anything to him about it?” Sora asked Leon quietly, excluding me from the conversation. Leon shook his head and Sora snapped his fingers. “See, there you go Leon! I didn’t get around to telling him either.”

“Tell me what?” I asked angrily. They were talking about me like I wasn’t standing here with them listening to all of it and it was starting to upset me. It was just like back home at my old school – people would talk about me as I walked passed them not bothering to keep their voices down, hoping they would be the one to get me to blow up and yell. But that never happened somehow I managed to keep my cool for a whole year.

“We’re brothers!” Leon and Sora said together, each voice laced with a certain amount of detectible distain.

“Brothers, the two of you are brothers?” I said slowly hoping they were joking. I mean really, the only thing worse than Leon really being Sora’s brother would have been Cloud catching us or Sephiroth coming out of the library with his date to find us like this because I’d never hear the end of it, believe me. Or Leon could be Sora’s ex-boyfriend. That would be was worse than being his brother, but thank God Leon was Sora’s brother instead of his ex!

“Yeah, good old Leon here is my older brother.” Sora said sarcastically grimacing at Leon.

“Don’t give me that look Sora! I’m not the one running around banging guys!” Leon yelled