Warnings: yaoi, limes, mild lemons, other mature content, OOCness, language, mild character bashing, emoness.
Author's Note: This is my first fanfic that I've actually put a lot of effort into. I put a book I'm writing on hold for this idea. Don't bother flaming because it'll make me do it more. Don't like, don't read. This takes place several years after KH2, and I guess in a way could be a KH3 fic, but it has nothing to do with actual Kingdom Hearts yet… But that might change somewhere along the line. I'm really only bothering with this as a side project and because I haven't really seen a lot of fics similar to this. I enjoy my stories just as much as the readers (because after a month I forget what I wrote and go back and read it and get frustrated at the stopping point too). Jyaa, R&R. It will inspire more. Expect updates to be slow. I'm an Art and all honors high school student. The work load is weird most nights. Damn this note is getting long…
Disclaimer: If I owned Kingdom Hearts Riku and Sora would have made out when they found each other again. But sadly I don't and we have to put up with simple ass grabbing from Sora at the end.
"Oh, gawd. Do that again!" I moaned as the skilled man above me rammed hard into my sweet spot. Sweat and blood coated our bodies and God knows I'd already climaxed at least twice before. But he hadn't even once. Though, we had changed positions every time I came. He was just insatiable. But I wasn't complaining much. This little tryst was getting on Cloud's nerves and it was rather satisfying that I could at least make someone jealous. I almost screamed as a strong hand grabbed my cock. He must've been close since he never did such things unless he wanted that little extra push.
When we both came together I couldn't stay alert, my senses being so overloaded as they were. Before my partner- lover never seemed like the right word- could even pull out I was drifting off. But could I be blamed? No, not really. Of course, I wanted to laugh at how far I'd fallen. About the only thing in a relationship- if it could even be called that- with Sephiroth was the sex. Everything was off and on, violent, and confusing. And to top it off, it was obvious that I was just a substitute for an unwilling Cloud. What would Sora think of me now?
-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-
Cloud's eyes were so beautiful, but they honestly couldn't ever stand up to Sora's. Those deep cerulean pools that glinted with Mako were also tinted with a heavy darkness that Sora had always managed to stave off those years we had our adventures. When I spent time with Cloud, and sometimes with Sephiroth, I often found myself wondering that if our roles had been reversed and the keyblade of light had chosen me, if Sora would have ended up similar to Cloud. They really did look alike.
"Riku. Where is Sephiroth?" Each of his words were said in a low, restrained anger.
"Hell if I should know," I said, rubbing the last of the sleep from my eyes. And fuck, my back ached horribly. It was a miracle that I could even walk.
"He's you're boyfriend, you're supposed to know where he is." Cloud was growing more rabid by the minute. It'd only be a matter of time before he'd storm either past me or out the apartment complex in search of Sephiroth.
"Try boytoy, Cloud. I really don't know. He was gone when you woke me up." Cloud's features softened ever so slightly in understanding. You didn't date Sephiroth; he visited when he wanted something. It wasn't hugs and cuddles; it was all rough kisses and violent sex. But what wonderful sex it was, nonetheless. Gawd, I was becoming such a masochist.
"Fine, I understand. But go see Aerith. Those marks don't look to good," the blonde said as he nodded and turned away. Aerith. She was Cloud's excuse for not joining Sephiroth. She was his light, or at least that's what he said. Yet everyone who knew Cloud well knew that what he really wanted was Sephiroth-- or Leon, since he gave mixed signals every once in a while. No one said anything though. Even Aerith herself had told me that Cloud would finally come to terms with himself and leave her someday.
Dejectedly, I closed the door and stripped of the clothing I had thrown on to be decent, which wasn't more than an under shirt and boxers. A nice hot shower and coffee sounded delightful. Then maybe if I felt the 'love' marks were bad enough, I'd go see Aerith. It was a bother since the new apartment complex she, Cloud, Leon, and Yuffie took residence in was on the other side of the half rebuilt city. I, on the other hand, lived in a section of town closer to the Heartless castle. Funny how easily I started falling back into darkness when I returned here, returned to Radiant Garden. But it would always be Hallow Bastion to me. Always.
When I finally got a good look at myself in the mirror, I winced. Cloud was right. Sephiroth's 'love' marks were particularly nasty this time. Most likely due to the fact that he swept me up in the middle of sparring in favor of duking it out on a bed. Masamune had left fairly nice wounds on my arms, chest, legs, and most likely my back as well, considering how it stung delightfully the night before when the one winged angel dug his claws in certain areas. I was definitely turning into a masochist. But the wounds were beyond my ability to heal alone, despite the fact that I was currently more physically fit than any point during my search for Kairi and Sora.
I turned the water in the shower on cold and stepped in. The cold water would do a much better job at getting off what was left of the dried blood, despite being uncomfortable. Sighing, I began shampooing my mid-back length hair and watched pink suds and water drain from the shower. After a good fifteen minutes of scrubbing dried and crusted blood off some of the deeper wounds and my back, I turned the water off and put in my leave in conditioner. I still insisted on taking damn good care of my hair, but the main reason now being that Sephiroth's was absolutely fabulous and he didn't do a thing to it. I just had to reach that level of perfection. The man didn't even have so much as a split end or wrinkle-- which was amazing since he was in his mid to late thirties already.
With a towel around my waist I headed back in my bedroom. The site of the sheets made me cringe. They probably couldn't handle another bleaching. It was time to throw them out. Ignoring clean up for the time being, I headed to my closet. Seeing no need to keep an overly large wardrobe, I kept maybe five outfits at best. Often it was less since Sephiroth wasn't exactly mindful of my clothing. I picked out the outfit that would cover the most skin, as to not show off the lovely wounds.
Before dressing in the wide-legged midnight blue pants and zip-up, long sleeved black cardigan turtle neck, I made sure to cure any minor wounds away and bandage over the deepest. It was the least I could do to control any future bleeding. I guess the whole problem could be avoided if I kept a nice stock of potions and elixirs like Leon and Cloud. They were too expensive on my salary, however. Buying an elixir was like spending a week's pay and trying to scrounge up the materials was counter productive. Potions and high-potions were somewhat useless things since they required multiples to completely heal me. Besides the fact that they had all had to be bought in group sums, Sephiroth was bond to make sure I went through all the potions and elixirs the night I bought them.
I pulled on a pair of black commando boots and left, not bothering to eat breakfast. I stopped eating breakfast back in middle school and just never broke the habit. Back then it was more for appearance than it was lack of hunger. I just wasn't that hungry anymore, especially on the day after with Sephiroth. I just seemed to feed off his darkness.
The walk was long, but it was a nice warm-up for my training later, nevertheless. The apartment building the others took residence in was one of the biggest and classiest in the city. They lived there practically free of charge since they were the founders of the restoration committee. Cloud and Aerith lived together in an apartment about half way up. Leon had claimed the sole Penthouse apartment and Yuffie was somewhere in the lower levels. Cid lived on the outskirts of town, nearer the new castle, running his Gummi Shipping, Spacelines, and Repair business. Under normal circumstances, and on a weekday, I would be heading over to his office to work. It was really the only thing I could do besides physical labor and fighting.
Walking down the busy city streets many people stared at me. I knew a lot of people knew me and they knew it wasn't uncommon for me to beat up from training. I knew most of the people were looking because they like what they saw. It was all those prying eyes that made me hate the way I look in the end. Sure, I wanted to be perfect like Sephiroth, but it didn't stop me from hating the way I looked and acted. It never really helped me when I really wanted something. My looks never helped me catch Sora's attention. I was grateful when I finally reached Aerith's door in the apartment complex. I knocked hard and waited a moment for her to answer.
When the brunette answered the door, she gasped a little. It wasn't like this was an uncommon thing for me to do. I'd been doing it for the last three or so years, after all. She ushered me in with a quick, "Oh my. I really wish you'd break it off with him."
Aside from helping with the restoration, Aerith had started up a nice little flower shop and donated most of the money to families that had members fall victim to the heartless. It was the least anyone could do. They hadn't exactly disappeared completely yet, anyway. But the flower shop gig suited her to the fullest. She was just so gentle and caring. So different from Sephiroth.
"Mmmm... You know I can't. He's like a wonderful drug," I replied with a half sheepish and half conceited grin on my face. Sephiroth was like a drug. A damn good one at that.
"Then maybe we should send you to rehab. They just opened one on your side of town, you know," a much deeper, monotone voice joked. Leon? Why was he here? I peaked over Aerith's head to see the older man lounging on the couch in his usual fighting clothes.
"Oh, sorry! Leon's here. I hope you don't mind?" Aerith said, ushering me over to a couch in the living room.
"So, what are you doing here, Leon?" I asked as I took at seat in a chair across from him.
"I came to see Cloud, but he was already gone by the time I got here."
"Disappeared not long after breakfast," Aerith added.
"Ah, well, he stopped by my place about an hour or so ago. He was looking for Sephiroth."
"Then I guess that settles that. I should head down to the dojo then." Leon stood and nodded at me before heading to the door. "Take care," He said, looking directly at me before leaving. I sighed and turned towards Aerith. She smiled and nodded. She and cloud kept all of their healing items in the bathroom. I knew she was planning on washing the wounds with potion before curing them. Dutifully, I removed my shirt first. We'd been through this procedure so many times that it really didn't affect either of us. Cloud wasn't even bothered by it anymore. Besides, Aerith was like an older sister or aunt to me after all these years.
When Aerith came back she did little more than sigh and start treating the wounds, starting with the deepest. I didn't so much as flinch into her prodding. I enjoyed the pain- at least to an extent, since she was always so much more gentle than Sephiroth. My masochism was bound to be rooted in when I started cutting when I was thirteen. That was when I realized what I really felt towards...
Aerith started curing the wounds on my back. The feeling was strange yet pleasant at the same time. It was a weird sort of tingling feeling in the area being cured. After a moment, Aerith spoke, "So how are things with Sephiroth?"
"It's been the same, more or less," I sighed as I leaned back into her hands.
"The wounds are bad this time," she murmured as she pulled away and moved around front. She rested her hand on my lean, sculpted, and very marred chest. Some wounds just couldn't be erased so easily. "Some of these will scar."
"We were sparring. Two days in a row." Aerith nodded and took that as an acceptable answer.
"You're off work today, right? When do you go back to work?" Aerith's hands dropped to my stomach.
"Tomorrow. You know how Cid always has to have Sundays off."
"Yeah, I guess your right. Leon might enjoy your help if you've got nothing to do."
"I might stop by the dojo then. Kicking Leon's ass is way more entertaining than sparring by myself." Aerith laughed as she pulled away and handed me my shirt. I pulled it back over my head and stood. Now came the more awkward, less dignified part of the treatment. I dropped my pants to the floor and remained still and quiet as Aerith worked on my legs. Anything on my more private parts had already been healed. I didn't exactly want to flaunt my stuff in front of a practically married woman-- that just so happened to date my almost nonexistent rival. I pulled my pant back up after she finished. Nodding gratefully, I asked, "You sure there's not anything I can do to repay you?"
"Well, I do have an errand that would be a little hard for me to do today. I should have asked Leon to do it, but it slipped my mind," Aerith said as she stood up. She was so little compared to me. Even Cloud and Leon were shorter than me, come to think of it, But I guess it didn't really matter either way.
"Sure. Anything you need. It's the least I can do." I smiled down at her-- the winning wonder smile that made men and women alike melt like goo. That smile never really worked on Aerith though. She only smile that could fully bend her was one of Cloud's rare ones. I'd seen it happen on occasion.
"I need you to run down to my shop and deliver a bouquet of roses to one of Leon's students. I'd take it to her house, but I think this will be much easier for me," she said with her own bright smile.
"In that case, I might as well get a move on. Can't let down a girl that's expecting flowers." We both laughed an easy laugh, but my was partially empty. It had been for a year or two now and Aerith knew it best out of anyone. She placed her hand on my arm and looked at me seriously.
"Please, take care of yourself." I nodded and took my leave. People had been telling me that too much lately ad I knew what they were hinting at. They were afraid Sephiroth would swallow me whole.
-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-
I pushed open the doors to Leon and Cloud's martial arts dojo with a bouquet of two-dozen roses in hand. Several of the students became distracted by my entrance and got knocked on their asses and several of the females flushed. I kicked off my boots and walked across the mats to the special girl. I presented the roses and I could hear several of the other girls in the room grumble in jealousy.
"From your boyfriend," I clarified before she could voice her misunderstanding. "Happy Anniversary."
"Riku," Leon's deep monotone voice called out to me from across the room. "What are you doing here?"
"Ha, well I thought I'd come help out since Cloud's dropped off the face of the earth. Think we could do a sparing match?" I walked towards the older man. He met me half way and looked up into my eyes.
"Thanks but no thanks. After the way you looked an hour and a half ago, I don't think you'd be up to your normal level."
"Fine, then I'll be happy to teach. I've got nothing better to do." Leon nodded solemnly. He needed the help. There were around fifty people in each class learning martial arts from him and Cloud and when one couldn't make it, all hell usually broke out in class. I took a largely male portion of the class, leaving the fangirls to Leon. The only reason over half the girls were even here was because Leon and Cloud were drop dead gorgeous. I was just an added bonus from time to time.
By the time the day actually ended I had broken a light sweat. It was more from the heat of the room than actual work, but I was still sweaty. Leon had offered me dinner in return for my help, but I had to turn him down. I still wasn't hungry. I made my way home and was greeted at the door by a frisky, half dressed Sephiroth. He had me pushed to the door the moment I closed it, his lips against mine. Something wasn't quite right. They were bruised.
That line of thought left me though as Sephiroth's hand cupped my ass and pulled me flush against him and his already hard cock. His hands went everywhere, but finally settled on my nipples. He pinched and twisted them as he began to trail his lips to my neck. I waited for him to bite, or claw, or something, but it never came. My bad feeling came back as he hefted me up so my legs could wrap around his waist and he carried me to the bed room. As he dropped me on the bed and climbed on top of me, I gasped out, "You slept with him."
Sephiroth made no reply. Instead, he kept moving forward. His hands were gentler than anytime in the past years. He even prepared me- something he hadn't done since the first time. Our rhythm was painfully slow and passionate. And despite how much more mind blowing his gentle sex was compared to the rough bloody sex I was used too, I couldn't help but laugh at myself in my after glow. I stayed awake and as Sephiroth got up to leave, I couldn't help asking:
"You're not coming back, are you?"
I laughed myself to sleep.
-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-
I dreamt for the first time in a long time after sex. But I guess it was really more of a memory than a dream. I was walking in the wastelands past the Crystal Fissure, heading to the Heartless Castle. It was where I had started to train. Getting there was half the workout since after the cliff that dropped down, it was a series of crevices and gorges that wound to the castle base. When I reached the cliff, a tall man with long flowing silver hair stood looking out over the still desolate land. As I approached, he whirled on me. I jumped back several feet and called the keyblade forth. The man chuckled at me and in a silky deep voice, called out, "Another Keyblade master? What is it you seek?"
"I'm going to train. I don't have any business with you." I was puzzled by this man's words. It was no doubt Sephiroth, the very man that everyone in Radiant Garden had warned me about.
"I do not believe you," he said as he drew his sword and charged me. We engaged in battle, seemingly evenly matched. The exact movements eluded me, but the match ended abruptly when Sephiroth slammed me into another cliff face and pinned my hands above my head and pressed his sword against my throat. He stood only an inch taller than me but his broad shoulders and sharp eyes made me feel like an ant. He leaned closer, his lips almost brushing mine as he whispered, "You are a child of the darkness. You reek of it. I am what you seek."
He pulled away and disappeared. Just vanished into this air. That was when I first became infatuated with the man. When I woke from my sleep, I laughed. I laughed because there were no more tears to cry. They had all been shed years ago on Destiny Island.
I pulled myself out of bed and ripped the sheets off it. Last night would be the last time I let another man in my bed. I could only imagine what Aerith was going through. Not caring about my nakedness, I dragged the sheets across the apartment and shoved them into the kitchen trashcan. I threw myself into a cold shower and worked quickly. I'd go into Cid's early and call Aerith from there. I'd never seen the real importance in getting a phone.
I dressed in a yellow, sleeveless knit top with a black, cropped jacket over top and a pair of black boot cut jeans. I pulled on my boots before leaving and making my way to Cid's. The old coot was still drinking his first cup of coffee when I came in.
"Well look what the dragged in so early. Why the fuck you here?"
"I need to use your phone."
"At five in the fucking morning?"
"It's about Cloud." The old coot sobered up then. He muttered something incoherent and waved at the phone. I dialed the number swiftly from memory. It took four rings before a groggy Aerith answered the phone.
"Hello?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"Did Cloud come home last night?" I got straight to the point, my sanity teetering on the edge.
"Riku?"
"Just answer the question Aerith. Yes or no?"
"Yes, he did."
"Where is he now?"
"Oh, god," Aerith gasped, probably catching onto my train of thought. "And Sephiroth?"
"Been gone for several hours."
"I'm so sorry." I could tell she was holding back tears.
"No. It should be me that's sorry. Nothing's your fault Aerith.
"What… will happen from here?"
"I'm not sure, Aerith. We'll just have to move forward. We'll look for Cloud. We'll bring him back like Sora brought me back, someday, at least." Aerith sniffled and took a deep shuddering breath. She was strong at heart, though she didn't look it all the time.
"You're right. It would be stupid of us to give up now, Riku." The corners of my lips curled up ever so slightly at her remark. She was Cloud's light. We would bring him back.
"Uh, well, I should go. I'm racking up Cid's phone bill. Maybe you could come to the dojo. And we'll all spend time together? Maybe come up with a game plan?"
"Yes, that would be wonderful. Goodbye." Aerith hung up with out waiting for my reply. I didn't really blame her. She wasn't one to let others see or hear her cry.
"So, he finally ran off?" Cid said, his tone somewhat rude.
"So what if he did?" I snapped back at the coot.
"Go get started on working, kid. Get most of it done and I'll let you off early. And do it right. You fuck up too much when you're depressed." At laughed dryly at cid, but the smile on my face was every bit real. Crazy coot.
-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-
Sparks flew as Way to Dawn scrapped against Leon's gunblade. He jumped back and began moving towards my more heavily guarded side and charged. I dodge rolled at the last second and aimed to take his legs out from behind. He dashed forward just in time to only be grazed. Leon charged me again and again, but the heavy onslaught was easy to defend against. Finally Way to Dawn and his gunblade met in a draw.
"I'm going easy on you, you know, Leon?" I gloated. It felt good to gloat. It felt good to make myself seem better.
"Don't rub it in asshole," Leon grumbled before pushing me back and gaining the advantage.
"But you know it's true, old man," I called, grinning madly as I pushed him back several feet. The brunette withdrew his sword and dodged back out me my stumble. I recovered quickly and jumped up into the air, charging at him in a move that I had copied from Seifer when I was in Twighlight Town. I'd never personally made contact with him, but he did have some pretty good moves. Leon jumped out of my hitting range and I countered by arial jumping at him. Our blades came into rough contact again as I kept pushing him back with the force of the jump. The crowd of students watching broke out into cheers, no longer being able to withhold their amazement. When my feet hit the ground, the playing field leveled out some.
Off to the side, the door opened with an audible jingle over the roar of the students. I didn't pay much mind since it was probably Aerith. It was about time to finish this hour-long match anyway. I was starting to get sweaty and I could already see the sweat leaking through Leon's white shirt. I shifted us around until I could clearly view the door. I did not, however, see Aerith Standing there. Instead I saw a rather grumpy Cid--with an "I'm fucked" expression on his face, I might add—standing beside a familiar looking young couple. My arms went limp when I realized who they were and I found myself colliding with the floor, the gunblade pointed at my heart.
"I believe I won, Riku," Leon said, some sort of satisfaction in his words. But I didn't care. My eyes were focused on the couple standing at the door with Cid.
"S-sora…" I stuttered out at last. The last person I wanted to see, the love of my life, was standing at the door to Leon's dojo with Kairi attached to his arm. Cid certainly was fucked.