Kingdom Hearts 2
These Chains That Bond Us
- Lament

Well, it's finally up - Chapter One of These Chains. It's a pretty long chapter, because that's just how I happen to write (sorry). Hopefully this'll sustain you until I finish chapter two, y'know? (hahaha, Rai. xD)

Uhm... Oh yeah.

Chapt. 1 summary: YaoiAU Takes place after KH2 (no spoilers).
Riku's feelings for Sora are still unknown to all his friends. Because of this, he shows no special treatment towards the boy, but is willing to do anything to see a smile on his best friend's face. While relaxing on the beach, Riku's gut tells him that something's up, that something's coming... But what?

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts/2 is the property of Disney and Square Enix (and Buena Vista Games).

- Chapter One: Eclipse of A Familiar Land -

Stepping lightly across the soft, loose beach sand, a certain 15-year-old boy crept off, hoping only to be able to avoid--

"Sora! There you are! Where have you been?" A cry broke the calm, and caused said Sora to jump. Kairi appeared at the doorway of the Seaside Shack, basically a dry passage from the beach to the stray island where Sora and his best friend Riku used to duel. The girl waved and made her way quickly across the sands towards Sora. Seeing no escape, the boy sighed before turning to her, a friendly smile on his face.

"Oh, hey there Kairi. I was just on my way to… Uh..." He paused. "…See Tidus, that's right," Sora immediately replied, as soon as the excuse occurred in his mind. Pouting, Kairi put her hands on her hips and stared at her friend.

"Sora… You know very well that you were supposed to be meeting up with me today. We were going to go collect supplies together, while Riku was working on the raft, remember?"

"That was today..?" Sora sarcastically questioned. He knew very well that he was supposed to do that. But frankly, he could care less - the boy only wanted to relax today. "Sorry about that Kairi, guess I forgot." He feigned innocence. Kairi crossed her arms, a suspicious look in her eyes. "Hey, what d'ya say to me going to see Tidus really quick, then I'll come back with some supplies, how's that sound?" Sora couldn't wait for the girl to give in, just to get her off his back. Sighing, Kairi relaxed and looked sympathetically at Sora.

"Alright Sora. But you had better get back with at least something!" She exclaimed, as she ran off to the nearby springs for water. Sora watched the red hair and pink dress dash behind the Seaside Shack, then promptly ran off in the opposite direction. He knew Tidus wouldn't care if he came to bother the other boy.

Signature black and yellow shoes jumped up a ladder, and a many belted matching pair of pants made their way onto the platform above. The dark navy short-sleeved jacket rested and chocolate brown spikes lay in mess on the wooden walkway. Slim arms relaxed, hands hung over the edge, legs stuck out from under the short pants before disappearing into shoes. Sora was relieved at the tranquility of the island where he would always run around and hang out with his friends. Little did the young man know what would befall him next.

"Sora..?" A familiar voice paired with blonde spikes floated into Sora's subconscious. Names popped in his head, until he opened his eyes and realized who it was.

"Oh, hey Tidus." Sitting up, soft brown tips messed then reformed, giving the illusion of self-correcting locks. Intense sapphire eyes met ocean blue, an aura of delighted friendship surrounding the two, with a smile on the face of the sitting boy. The one standing straightened up, then turned to look at the beach, seeing an orange-red peak tossing around a blue and white ball, light brown hair curls sitting on the dock, red locks gathering mushrooms.

"What were you doing?" Tidus inquired, puzzlement in the blue orbs of the boy. A yawn replied. He turned his gaze away from those on the beach to glance at his content friend. "Sora?"

"Nothing." Sora shook his head. Another yawn passed his lips before he stood up. He smiled at the other boy, before opening his mouth to ask, "Hey Tidus; know where any extra rope is?"

It had taken Tidus a moment to register what had been said. When he realized, he laughed. "You're something, Sora, you know that?" Smiling broadly, he pointed in the direction of the tree house, which lay opposite of their current location. Sapphire jewels followed the implied path, before turning back. Sora nodded and smiled as a 'thanks' escaped his mouth. Before Tidus was able to murmur a 'you're welcome' the boy was off. Smiling, the blonde turned and went back to practicing his swings, muttering to himself how simpleminded and carefree the brunette lived his life.

Meanwhile, the latter was already halfway to the entrance of the tree house, which was at the top of two curving platforms, connected by ladders. He'd said that he was going to get something after seeing Tidus, right? He wasn't the lying type, so he figured he'd get the first thing that popped in his mind - rope.

After an uneventful retrieval of rope, the brunette made his way to the other half of the island, where Kairi and Riku were sure to be, working on the raft of theirs. Carrying his supplies over his shoulder, he waded through the shallow water, smiling as he saw his friends. It was just like those few years ago, when they had first decided to build the raft so they could discover new worlds… How naïve they must have seemed. They knew the truth now, though it had taken the longest time to get through it all.

But in a way, it was all for the best.

"You got rope? Sora, you idiot, we have plenty."

"It doesn't hurt to have extra, right?"

Even though, they were still pretty much the kids they were back then.

---

The horizon was stained with reds, oranges, yellows, and even a little pink, as the daylight's sun was half set. Light brown spikes stuck out behind the trunk of the curving paopu tree. Leaning against the strong wood of the strangely growing tree, Sora relaxed to the sight of the ever-fading light. It was only time until a contented type of darkness befell the island and everyone would have to head home. It didn't matter though - that would come later. What mattered right now was what was happening right now. The brunette sighed, happily knowing he was at peace.

Unbeknownst to him, a figure lurked behind. Long silver locks shimmered in the dulling sunlight, and aqua blue eyes focused ahead. Riku calmly made his way behind the curious paopu trunk and rested his head on his arms, silently enjoying the sunset near his best friend.

A moment had passed and Sora knew nothing of the presence just around the tree. Aqua orbs shifted their gaze from the warm-colored dusk to glowing chocolate tips. A smile formed on the 16-year-old's lips; that delicate mess of hair ruffled in the sudden breeze.

'It's actually kinda cute,' Riku thought. 'He's always had his hair the same way, ever since he was a kid… He's the only one I know that can pull it off so perfectly…' With each passing thought, the older boy's hand slipped further from him and closer to the curious hairstyle his thoughts were so focused on. Not too long after, Riku was gently caressing a few stray stands of the silken loveliness he had been adoring.

"Hey, what the heck?" Sora turned his head, pulling away what had been a moment's entertainment from Riku's fingers. "Riku?"

"Oh, so you were awake, Sora." A flash of silver and the boy was up and over the tree, standing next to his younger friend, smiling.

Pouting, the brunette retorted, "What's that supposed to mean?" Riku glanced at him, thinking to himself how cute Sora's pout always was as he laughed on the outside.

"Sora, what else would it mean?" Came the teasing response.

"Riku!" Sapphire eyes stared the elder boy down; all the while, Riku couldn't stop adoring that cute face of Sora's… Resisting the temptation to just pull the boy to him, to feel their lips touch, was an amazing feat.

"Yes, Sora?" Riku, once again, teased, turning away to stare at the continually darkening horizon; it made the chore of resisting Sora all the more easier. He heard a small "hmph" on his left, and the ruffling of clothes. He let out a slight chuckle as he glanced over, seeing the pout still on the smaller boy's face as he leaned against the tree, arms folded high over his chest; he looked like a whiny little kid who wasn't getting his way. "Hey. You know your face is gonna stick like that if you keep that up."

"Hmph." Again. He glanced away from his silver-haired companion. Riku's cheerful expression began to fade.

"C'mon Sora, it was a joke. Lighten up." Slowly, he reached out to the brunette, his fingers lightly brushing the other boy's slim arm. After a moment, Sora eased up and faced Riku.

"Was it?" Riku laughed at this remark.

"Of course it was! C'mon Sora, quit being so uptight. Nothing's fun if you act so serious!" Laughter pulsed through the older boy; soon enough, the 15-year-old began to laugh as well.

--

A calm, silent type of darkness encompassed the island. It was near abandoned already, but two figures remained, laying on the now cool beach sand, the water enveloping their heels each time a wave cast itself onto the shore. The stars were, one by one, beginning to peek into the serenely shadowed world. It was almost as if the realm of darkness was finally at peace.

"It's so… calm." Sora's voice seemed to carry itself across the waves.

"Yeah… It's like how it was before…" Riku spoke with a much quieter tone. Gentle sounds were audible as the two boys lay in the calm serenity. After a moment, the older of the two raised himself up, one knee pulled up to provide a place of test for the adjacent arm, while the opposite arm propped the boy up from behind.

"Something up?" Sora inquired, both knees bent as he pulled himself into a sitting position.

"I don't know. There's something that seems out of place…" The silver-haired boy replied, staring off over the water, his expression glazed with grim anticipation. "Sora… Let's get out of here," he said, standing and brushing himself off without blinking. The boy next to him raised himself up as well, worry lining his eyes.

"Riku, what--" Sora suddenly latched onto his friend's left arm, a gasp passing his lips. Riku grabbed the smaller boy's right arm, gripping almost threateningly tight. An eerie sort of fog had suddenly engulfed the island they were on; thick mist concealed near everything in its dull haze. The two boys held their ground, lest they hurt themselves, or lose one another. Riku swept his eyes across all that surrounded him - fog, fog, Sora, fog.

"Wait." Aqua blue jewels locked themselves on a lighter portion amongst the mist. "Sora, look."

"What is it?" He turned his head in the direction his friend was staring. "That… a light?" The fifteen-year-old gazed curiously.

"I don't know, but right now, all I can think of is getting us somewhere other than right here." Riku glanced towards their feet, where the water was still lapping at the soles of their shoes. "Let's go." Keeping a firm hold on Sora, the silver-haired teen guided the both of them towards the source of curiosity.

--

It had taken them a little longer than expected to shift their way through the thick haze, but the two teens were able to make it to where there was shelter - their secret place. Sora rested against the wall while Riku stood and gazed around the small hideaway, wondering how exactly light was streaming outward. His thoughts were interrupted as a loud crash was heard outside the entrance; both boys snapped their attention towards the tunnel. They glanced at one another before setting off to investigate.

"What the hell!" Riku exclaimed as they realized what happened. At the tunnel's opening, a doorway had appeared. It had the appearance of a large boulder, mysteriously snug against the roots and rocks that lined the entrance, but immobile. Sora had attempted to use it as it appeared; testing the knob, he found it to be locked. "Shit… Now how are we supposed to get out of here?" The older of the two brought his hand up to his face, burying half of his face in his palm. "I'm sorry, Sora. I wanted you to stick around with me, and look what happened."

"Riku, c'mon, it's okay, really." Sora smiled. "It's actually a good thing I stayed behind with you. If I hadn't, you'd be stuck alone in this situation by yourself, you know?" Riku turned to his friend, his eyes a little wider than usual. A second passed and his mouth curved up in a soft smile; he nodded and thanked the boy. Just seconds later, there was strange flash of light that came from the alcove. When it dimmed, the pair once again looked at each other strangely, then made their way back in.

"It's… open? But… How?"

"I'm not sure… This is probably the only way out though, so we've no choice but to go through, unless you want to stay here…"

"No… Let's go."

"Sora…"

"Yeah?"

"Don't let go." Riku took Sora's hand in his, interlacing their fingers and keeping a firm grip. Riku couldn't lose the younger boy; not again.

Sora glanced at their hands before looking back into the mysterious aqua eyes of his friend.

He smiled.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Reviews are really appreciated : What did you like? What do you think I could improve on? Questions, comments?
I'd love your opinions; let me know if you want more!

- Lament