"Tampered Emotions" Part 1 ---------- by: Crimson Night ---------- Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own them. Try to sue and you'll get nothing. ----------

The night was cold and silent as he sat there thinking, letting his mind wander to questions he'd been asking himself a lot lately. Should I tell him how I feel? Could he handle knowing my feelings? Does he already know? He had been sitting there for hours, thinking, contemplating. Wondering what he was going to do. He was confused. An unusual feeling for him. What could I tell him? 'Oh yeah, and by the way, I'm in love with you.' How would he react? How would S---"

"Riku!" Riku's thoughts were interrupted by Sora calling his name. "Here I am!" Riku yelled back and hastily pushed those thoughts away to the back of his mind and put a forced smile on his face as Sora approached him.

As always, Sora had an 'ear-to-ear' smile of his face. Riku noticed how the sunlight reflected in Sora's sparkling blue eyes. Perfect. Of course, to him, every thing about Sora was perfect. "Riku." Sora said and Riku was brought out of his daze. He noticed Sora looking at him with a worried look about his face. That look was erased when Riku looked up and gave him a reassuring smile. He looked into those sea green eyes that were returning the gesture, waiting for the silence to be broken. Sora felt that there was something bothering Riku but did not ask him what it was. Finally, Riku turned away and started walking down the beach. After about five seconds, Sora ran to Riku.

After walking side by side for what seemed and eternity, Sora finally went and stood in front of Riku, stopping his movements. "Okay I can't sustain this question any longer. Riku what is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I'm perfectly fine."

"Don't tell me it's nothing. I can see there's something wrong with you. Just tell me what it is." Sora was trying not to yell. It wouldn't be fair. Riku never yelled no matter how angry he got.

"You just simply wouldn't understand, Sora." Riku ran down the beach. Sora looked after him until he was from sight.

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Sora jumped when he noticed the shadow of a figure standing behind him. How long has he been here? Did he see? No, he couldn't have.

Riku was standing inside door looking at Sora with eyes full of sorrow. He had entered the house nearly a half hour ago. He had been watching Sora cry, unsure of what to do. So, he just stood there. He watched as Sora was consumed with tears that he had caused. He hated himself at that moment. He hated that he had made Sora cry. Now Sora was staring into to his eyes. It was obvious by his looks that he had been crying.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"About a half hour."

"Oh." Sora was embarrassed about having Riku seeing him cry that way. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Listen, Sora. I'm sorry about running off."

"I should've left you alone. It was obvious that you didn't want to talk about it."

"I still don't. I can't. Right now."

Sora stood up and faced Riku. "I accept your apology."

Riku just stood there, in the doorway, seemingly in his own world. It didn't seem he was paying any attention to anything. Sora just sighed and went toward the bathroom. On his way he glanced back at his friend who was still standing there with his arms crossed, not aware of the world around him. "I'm going to take a shower," was all he could think to say. Then he went into the bathroom and shut the door.