Sora was crying. Riku wasn't sure why he was crying, or for how long he'd been crying, but he was definitely crying. Kairi had left long ago, had told Riku that Sora had left before her, but as he walked up to the entrance to The Secret Place, those were definitely Sora's sobs coming out.

"Sora?" He called, tearing at roots and vines blocking his way. How had Sora managed to get in there anyway?

"Riku?" Sora's reply was shaky, tear-filled. "D-don't come in here Riku."

Too late. He was in. Sora sat in the back cornet, amid fragments of what used to be part of the wall. Riku recognized the place immediately; it was where Kairi and Sora had carved each other into the rock. That part, however, was now scattered around Sora.

"Sora? What happened, are you alright?"

Sora only shook his head as sobs racked his body. There were several pieces of stone, some large, some small, stuck into his skin and he was bleeding from several places, but he didn't seem to care. All he seemed to care about was what had happened to the wall.

Riku sighed and started to say 'let's get you home' before a loud boom of thunder stopped the words from finishing.

Sora whimpered at the sound, and Riku was glad they weren't outside they weren't outside where he could have seen the lightning.

"C'mon Sora, all that time as a hero and you're still afraid of storms?"

"I wasn't…but…it was during one that I lost everyone…that it all started…I lost you…I lost Kairi…I was so scared, Riku, so alone."

"Sora…" Riku instantly felt all the guilt he had so carefully laid away at Sora's insistence coming back. It was all his fault. He had called the heartless. He had given his heart to Ansem, to the darkness. He had caused everyone so much pain. Riku felt the beginnings of tears rolling down his cheeks.

"It's my fault." Sora sobbed "I wasn't strong enough to reach your hand. Because of me you…you were alone. I couldn't even save Kairi. I lost you. I was so alone."

"It wasn't your fault Sora, I called the darkness here."

"Because I wasn't enough. If I had been stronger…"

"Sora…" Riku embraced the sobbing boy, now crying himself.

"I'm not good enough for anything, for anyone..."

"That's not true Sora, don't ever say that. You're perfect Sora, perfect."

"Impossible. How can I be perfect if I've never managed to tell you the truth?"

"What truth?"

"Riku... I realized something, after I left you... I realized… I love you Riku, please don't hate me."

"Sora…" Riku's hold on the boy loosened for a moment, before he pulled him close.

"Sora," Riku whispered gently "there's something I've been hiding from you, too."

"What?" Sora's voice shook. When no answer came, he looked up at Riku, who was smiling gently.

"This." Riku gently placed his lips on Sora's in a kiss

A chaste kiss

Lips moving

Mouths opening

Tounges dancing

Fingers entwining

A kiss

A need

A separation

Riku had kissed him.

Sora had kissed back.

"Riku, you…?"

Riku only nodded in response, before standing and offering his hand to his childhood friend. "Let's go together, Sora."

"Home?" he questioned as he grabbed Riku's hand.

"Home." Riku replied, pulling Sora up into another kiss. "The place we return to."