Chapter 2

It was a dream. It had to be. Nothing this perfect and beautiful could ever be real.

Or maybe it was the alcohol. Yeah, that was it. It was some sort of alcohol-induced mirage, and he was drinking it up. That green-drabbed fairy that pays visit to all desiring men had found him, cornered him, and was currently torturing him.

But maybe he was just a masochist.

Who hadn't had a good lay in maybe gods knew when.

"Riku, are you okay?" Riku, his eyes glazed over, blinked his eyes in response. His mouth was slightly agape and, if Yuffie was correct, a sliver of drool was starting to fall.

"Riku, get out of my way!"

Yeah, it was definitely the alcohol, or, that was what he would tell Yuffie before she decides to fling a knife at him.

--

Yuffie was left wondering the halls, chewing her lip over the deranged nurse. Nurses were healers, assistants, intuitive. They were supposed to help stop a problem, not insist upon it!

But no, Yuffie just had to get the lost-in-her-romantic-fantasies nurse. Whether or not that nurse actually remembered Yuffie's problems, probably just a speck in her mind, she hoped, it was just an additive to an already bad day—night, midnight, whatever.

She decoded the signs hanging on the wall before her. She was in the west wing of the hospital. Yuffie rubbed her head. Wasn't she at the south wing just an hour ago? And wasn't Yuffie administered in the north wing?

Yuffie smacked the sign, then instantly regretted it as she held her numbing hand. Why did the hospital have to be so goddamn big, anyways? Just because it was the city's main hospital didn't register to her at all, or that it was the nearest to the downtown area where crime and mayhem thrived.

She leant her head against the peach-toned wall, trying to shut her brain down long enough to find a map. What she found just added once more to her ever-rising maelstrom.

"She says she's on love with one of the patients. Have you ever heard something so heartbreaking? Then she went into this whole rant about how her brother won't let them get together because she's poor, or something, I dunno," said a seemingly innocent voice. To Yuffie, it was the equivalence to fingernails scraping a chalkboard. She slowly patted her way to the doorway where the voices originated.

"Are you sure that was what she was talking about? You tend to twists people's words around…" said a quiet, yet confident voice. Yuffie could have hugged the unknown girl.

"Actually, Yuna, I think I might have to agree with Selphie on this. I hear all these heartbreaking stories around the hospital just like this girl's story. To think, a place that is meant to help people can cause so much sadness too," one peppy voice said, followed by a sigh. Yuffie's hands clenched, forming a fist. No! You're adding to the problem!

"This is the same girl that said a guy was heartbroken over the fact he couldn't tell his feelings to the girl he loved, only to find out the guy was her brother and she was "checked out" after having bunion surgery on her foot," said a disinterested voice nearby. By this time Yuffie was right at the edge of the door. She could have hugged this girl.

"I'm telling you, I'm right! I heard it quite clearly. Look, she's peeking through the doorway right now. Ask her!

Three pairs of heads swiveled around to the doorway to a caught Yuffie. The girls looked old, possibly around their late twenties, and were sitting in a recreational room with couches and a TV. One had short black hair and her facial expression was placid. Besides her sat Selphie, a seemingly innocent smile on her face. A girl with long blonde hair sat on a couch near Yuffie, a quizzical smile on her face. And at the end sat a girl with short brown hair. A pleasant, almost homey expression lay hidden in her smile.

Yuffie, suddenly embarrassed being caught eavesdropping, quickly said goodbye and rushed down the hall.

She didn't stop until the signs turned from "You are in the West Wing" to "You are in the North Wing, Exit this way" followed by a red arrow. Yuffie never thought she'd be so happy to see a red exit arrow.

Rushing toward the direction it pointed toward, Yuffie quickly walked down the steps to the large foyer.

It was midnight and not many people were left in the large area save the receptionist doing the graveyard shift. Yuffie walked toward the receptionist.

Her hair was blond, leading to her shoulders, and she was drabbed in the white uniform of the hospital. The computer was buzzing besides her, but she was doodling in a medium-sized sketchbook.

"Bristle paper, right?" The girl looked up. Her eyes were a large clear blue and her smile was small, yet seemed to reach across the foyer.

"How did you know? Not many people know about types of art paper." The girl asked, her expression seemingly brighter. "It's all the same to them."

Her voice was quiet, almost mousy. Yuffie had to strain her ears to actually hear the girl. In response, Yuffie just shrugged her shoulders.

"I dabbled a bit in art before, in university," Yuffie replied. A small 'o' formed on the blonde's face.

"Oh, wow, university. That's nice. You must be smart." Once more Yuffie shrugged.

Her? Smart? Yeah right. Her family just had a lot of money to waste. Yuffie would rather have been exploring Europe or something more exciting than being stuck in a stuffy classroom.

"Sure, I guess." The girl, as if suddenly aware of her surroundings, closed the pad and whipped out a pen.

"I'm so sorry. You must be here to sign out, right?" Yuffie nodded and the receptionist got to work filling out the necessary information.

"My name is Yuffie," Yuffie replied, not wanting to disrupt the girl. The girl bobbed her head lightly, the scritch of the pen loud in the empty lobby.

"There you go," the blonde said, straightening up. Yuffie leaned forward conspiratorially.

"Actually, I was wondering if you could tell me the condition of a girl on the sixth floor. I came in with her and I just want to know if she is going to be okay." The blonde thought a moment before a genuine smile crossed her face.

"Of course." Yuffie gave Kairi's information and headed toward the exit doors. She passed by the only person in the hospital, a man wearing a brown coat and seemed to be huddled in it. Yuffie didn't blame him—it was cold.

Suddenly, as Yuffie approached the door, she heard a voice shout back at her.

"Oh and my name is Naminè." Yuffie turned around and nodded, showing she heard. Naminè nodded back in acceptance and went back to her drawing. Yuffie, a bright smile on her face and feeling this new acquaintance might mean an upside to her night, reached toward the doors.

Unfortunately, her hopes were squashed before they had begun. A loud, screeching voice met her ears, one Yuffie did not want to hear at the moment.

"Wait, Yuffie!" Yuffie glanced behind her, and then cursed when her assumptions were confirmed. It was Sora, the brat that had called her heartless.

Yuffie quickly threw the door open, but was met with Riku, standing cockily in front of her. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he was wearing at least three layers of heavy jackets, most likely from the harsh cold air, if the seeable puffs of air coming form his mouth were anything to go by.

He had a small smirk on his face and looking down at her.

"Yuffie, what did you do now?" He asked mockingly, sounding much like her mother. Yuffie sighed annoyed and told him to go, but his eyes were suddenly caught on something behind her. Yuffie's eyes narrowed.

"Riku." No response. She tried pushing against him, but he trained in a gym and was taller than her. Confused by her friend's sudden immobility, she glanced back at the approaching brunet.

"Yuffie, don't leave yet," Sora exclaimed. Yuffie paled. No, like hell she was going to stay here. She turned back at her soon to be ex-friend, to see that dazed look once more. Yuffie blinked. She turned to look directly behind her, only to see Sora and Naminè. She then turned back to Riku.

Seeing as Riku was gay, he was definitely not gazing at Naminè. Yuffie almost choked on her own spit when she realized that look. Riku was looking at Sora. He was looking at Sora. She put her hands on the silver-haired man's shoulders.

"Riku, get out of my way. I'm not afraid to dig a knife into your shoulder to do so," Yuffie said dead serious. Unluckily for Yuffie, he didn't move. He spoke.

"Yuffie, do you know him?" Riku asked, his voice sounding like it was in a daze still. Yuffie shook her head vehemently.

"No I don't know him, so let's just go-" Yuffie was cut off by a panicked Sora.

"Wait Yuffie don't go. I think you mistook what I said!" Sora retorted, not wanting the girl to go before he could explain himself. He kept a firm hold on her arm, staring at Yuffie, waiting for the girl's response. Yuffie scrunched up her nose, feeling that all too familiar headache returning. She opened her mouth to retort negatively, but surprisingly, it was Riku who spoke up.

"Maybe you should hear him out?" No, Yuffie didn't like that alternative at all. She just wanted to go home. She was tired with all this misinterpretation. The moment she came home, she'd turn into a hermit, away from human civilization.

But when she turned to Sora to say no, she saw the most pathetic sight.

Sora had large puppy-dog eyes, using all his energy into it. Yuffie, who had not been exposed to such cuteness, and therefore not immune to it, could not relent.

Reluctantly, Yuffie decided to hear the brunet out.

--

"And that's what I really meant. I didn't mean what I said before," Sora, said, wide blue eyes pleading with her. Yuffie sighed. His cuteness was getting to her, and to Riku too, Yuffie observed, glancing at her childhood friend out of the corner of her eye.

He oozed calm, but his green eyes were fixed on the brunet seated in front of Yuffie. There was a glint of interest in his eyes and a twitch of his smirk proved to be concealing a genuine smile. Whatever spell this Sora guy was putting on her friend had worked surprisingly quickly.

Riku hasn't even known the kid for more than an hour and already he was transfixed.

Then again, Riku was a master in the art of infatuation.

"So Sora, how do you know Yuffie?" Riku asked, a warm pleasant smile on his face. Yuffie tried squeeze herself into the chair, hoping it would open up its jaws and eat her whole.

"She saved Kairi's life," Sora proclaimed, turning back to Yuffie. "That's why I want to apologize. I don't want Kairi to be sad."

"Yuffie? Save a Life?" Riku asked, turning to Yuffie with a look that said 'who are you and what have you done with Yuffie?'

"No, poor boy, he mistakes me for the ambulance," Yuffie muttered sardonically under her breath, crossing her arms.

"So do you forgive me? Because I'd feel awful if I was the reason you gave up on Kairi." Two pairs of eyes, one green and one black, blinked back at Sora.

"Huh?" Yuffie asked unintelligently. What is this guy on? Yuffie thought to herself, trying to find the demon she knew under this sheet of cute confusion.

"Yuffie, you're a lez?" Riku asked, looking at Yuffie as if she had suddenly grown another head. Yuffie continued to stare at Sora incredulously. How did he come up with this?

"What do you mean?"

"Well I heard you and that nurse talking. You said you didn't think you were enough for her, but you still tried and now, you're giving up because of me," Sora explained, confused by her sudden reaction. He thought she would be sad, happy, surprised. Not confused.

"How-" Yuffie tried to correct the guy, but Riku intervened.

"I never knew you had a crush on anyone," Riku said, raising a brow.

Maybe he knows, Yuffie hoped inwardly. Perhaps if Riku could use that big brain of his and see through the misunderstanding, Yuffie anticipated.

"I'm so happy for you," Riku said, a smile on his face. Not a smirk, a real smile.

"But I don't-" again, she was interrupted.

"Yuffie, you have my blessing," Sora said dead serious. "Please make Kairi happy."

Yuffie stared at Sora before turning to Riku, who was looking at Sora.

Then she walked out of the room rigidly. Riku's head snapped toward the door suddenly when the door was roughly shut. As if rising from a trance, Riku stood up, but stopped.

"I better go see Yuffie. It's not exactly a good thing for her to be angry," Riku said slowly, cautiously stepping out of the room. Sora watched as the door slowly closed shut before turning his gaze toward Kairi. His face grew serious as he hovered beside his best friend.

"Kairi, I'm going to sit by my promise to you. Just wait until I get everything cleared up, okay?" Sora said solemnly, his gaze becoming unfocused as slowly slipped into a reverie of memories.

"Yuffie, what is wrong with you?" Riku asked innocently, trailing languidly behind the black-haired girl stomping her way down the hall. Yuffie growled low in her throat but refused to answer the silver-haired boy.

Riku was an idiot who fell for anything with two legs, pouty lips, and nice eyes, Yuffie thought sardonically to herself. She glanced behind herself, to see that the silver-haired boy was still following her at his moderate pace.

It took three hallways and one staircase to finally convince Yuffie to stop and turn around. Riku almost walked into the ebony-haired girl, but managed to stop himself. His arms were crossed and his face was neutral. Yuffie, glanced at him, and a sudden thought began to prick at her brain. Riku awfully reminded her of someone. Someone familiar, whose neutral, quizzical face seemed to match the expression Riku currently had.

"You know--" Yuffie began, but was stopped by Riku. The silver-haired man was not going to let Yuffie interrupt.

"Yuffie, wait. I'm so confused right now. You like that girl right?" Yuffie, opened her mouth to protest, but Riku, once again, stopped her.

"You wouldn't go to great lengths to sit and wait for the girl for almost an hour, which is what I presume you were doing when you skipped out on us tonight, if you didn't care, even just a little, right?" Riku confirmed, watching her. Yuffie frowned and shifted her weight.

"I don't even know her!"

"Exactly! Why put up with a girl you don't even know. Unless--"

"No, you're drunk and infatuated, two things that should never mix," Yuffie stated. Especially at a time when I need you to be thinking clearly, Yuffie thought to herself.

"And that's beside the point. I'm thinking right now. And do you know what it is I'm thinking about right now?"

"What Sora wears when he goes to sleep?" Riku was taken aback. His cheeks slowly turned a miniscule red and he stuttered on his response,

"N-No. What I'm thinking right now is that I'm your friend--!" The moment was lost and Yuffie puffed out her cheeks.

"If you were my friend, you would be siding with me!"

"But can't you see. If I let you just leave, you'll be missing out on something important. I'm making you do this because I am your friend, ever since we were little. I'm trying to help…" Riku sighed audibly and turned away, going back the way he came. Yuffie obstinately stood at her spot, unwilling to let Riku's words get to her.

The stupid player should have just gone to university, Yuffie thought bitterly to herself.

Sora looked up at a creaking noise from his far left. Riku shuffled in, closing the door carefully. He raised his head, silver strands forming in front of his face. Then his eyebrows rose.

"Um, what are you doing?" Riku asked, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Sora was sitting by the bedside of the other patient, a tray of food seated on the bedside table. Sora was eating some of the food on a plate, and ravenously at that.

Sora sheepishly grinned, red smears visible on both cheeks. He slowly placed the food back on the tray and stood up.

"Sorry you had to see that. I haven't eaten for, like, days!" Sora exclaimed, rubbing at his stomach, a sign that the hospital food had not filled him up yet. Riku couldn't help the smile creeping onto his face.

He's so…

"…adorable…" Riku whispered, one hand coming up to rub at his mouth, muffling his words. Sora tilted his head, hand going back to take a bite from the tray again. It wasn't like the guy was going to eat anyways. He looked pretty comatose, Sora thought to himself, glancing at the man sleeping deeply in the bed.

"What you say?" Sora asked, voice slightly muffled from the food he was chewing around. Riku shook his head dismissively.

"Hm? Nothing. Say, uh…" Riku stopped. Through the whole infatuation and revelations, Riku had forgotten something key in order for this relationship to get as far as Riku hoped it would.

He didn't know the object of his affection's name.

"This will sound really stupid, but what is your name?" Riku asked sheepishly.

"Sora. Shiozu," Sora, still digging into his, or actually the patient's, food, nonchalantly answered back, food still in his mouth.

"Sora. That's a beautiful name," Riku replied, his flirtatious tone seeping in, lacing his words. Sora didn't catch Riku's romantic insinuation and merely shrugged.

"That's what people say. It's too girly if you ask me," Sora said with a grimace, scrunching up his nose.

I'd rather have a manlier name, like Sean, or Leon or…." Sora trailed off, his face thoughtful and eyes seeming to glance faraway.

Suddenly Sora cocked his head toward Riku, still leaning against the wall. Under the scrutiny Riku straightened up, feeling as if he were being dissected, or admired. Riku liked the latter.

"Hey, what is your name?" Sora asked, head still cocked towards him and face quizzical.

"Riku Nagasaki. I'm from the--" He was cut off as Sora suddenly jumped toward him. Riku was slightly put off. He would have rather enjoyed Sora jumping him.

"Yeah, a name like Riku is cool, Ri-ku. Ri-ku. It's not that manly--" Riku glared slightly, indignant "—but the name is still pretty cool. You must have all the girls going for ya, huh?" Sora asked, nudging Riku's side. The side of Riku's mouth twitched in response as he eased a bit from Sora's elbow, which had begun diving into his side and was pretty painful.

"I guess," Riku said quietly, looking down at Sora. Riku was appreciating. He had a wild flop of hair. It was cute, but looked untamable. His eyes were wide, innocent-looking eyes, with the color of the ocean, or the sky. Both were beautiful shades of blue either way. He had a cute nose with a seemingly endless grin.

Overall, Riku had to think he was the cutest guy he had ever come across. It was too bad Riku's nifty gay-dar, which had scored him quite a lot of dates and one night stands, was not going haywire. Quite the contrary, it seemed to be stuck to straight as an arrow.

Riku would have pouted, but he never had before. Thus he smirked as the challenge held before him was considered: Operation Bend the Arrow.

The door abruptly opened, a disgruntled Yuffie entering.

"Can I have a moment with Kairi?" Yuffie gritted out. Sora walked out, giving Kairi a soft glance. Riku went past Yuffie, stopping momentarily to whisper something in her ear.

"Are you considering what I said?" Yuffie glared, but it was weak. Riku grinned like Cheshire cat.

"Make sure you don't regret this," Riku said before closing the door after himself.

"I'm regretting it already," Yuffie muttered to herself, hearing the door close behind her. She stepped toward Kairi's bed, a grimace on her face.

The redhead was slumbering peacefully on the bed, the only sound in the room was the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Yuffie couldn't help but feel guilty that she somehow had gotten the redhead in this predicament.

The more she looked at her helplessly sleeping on the bed, unaware of the problems she would have to face when she woke up, Yuffie couldn't help but proverbially kick herself in the butt.

"A part of me hopes you don't wake up. Then there would be no problem to anticipate," Yuffie whispered, hoping the girl didn't hear her. It was a mean thing to say, but Yuffie couldn't help but ponder it.

"Who are you?" Yuffie was taken aback, almost falling back onto her behind when that small, but stern voice suddenly spoke. Yuffie looked toward the bed of the other patient, but the voice came right in front of her.

"Where am I?" Yuffie groaned in dread. She really hated coincidences. Kairi sat up a little. It was a sluggish process, the anesthesia's presence still in her system and her throat felt like sandpaper.

Kairi only gave the black-haired girl a bleary glance before demanding a glass of water. Yuffie would have been more offended, if she weren't filled with trepidation.

"She's awake, and she doesn't look happy, Yuffie mentally anguished, pouring a glass of water at the bedside table.

She turned to give the water to the redhead, when the door burst open, a sheepish and worried Riku standing there.

"Um, Leon's here. And he's not very happy." Yuffie noticed a red mark on the left-side of Riku's face. It looked hand-shaped. There was a scandalized Sora in the background. Yuffie put two and two together, but there were more pressing matters at hand.

She maneuvered away from Kairi's bed and out the door, a still sheepish Riku following.

Sora shuffled in, immediately going to Kairi's bedside, asking her how she was.

"I'm okay," Kairi said dismissively. "But who were they?"

Kairi gestured toward the door where Yuffie and Riku had disappeared. Sora shrugged.

"The Coo-Coo Squad?" Sora said, shrugging. Sora mentally made a note to avoid Riku like the plague once this whole unrequited love situation was done with.

--

A/N uh-oh. What will Riku do now that Sora's afraid/angry at him? And what did happen in the hallway for Sora to fear/hate Riku? And what will Yuffie do? This in the next installment of HOC!