Alia: Yes, I know I posted the other chapter like a day ago, but no one can really see what the story is about so far and you guys need to get a bit of a hint! It'd be stupid just to leave ya hanging. Now, prepare to be confused. I still am.

Title: The Silver Heart
Author: Alia D
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Rating: PG
Warnings: vague hints of child abuse, language, angst, sap?
Summary: Years later, Riku's secret is revealed as something is learned about Sora. All actions have consequences. "Cause and effect, Riku," said the laughing voice. "Cause and effect."
Author's Notes: Yeah. I know I posted the other one like yesterday but you need to at least get a glimpse of what's up, right? By the way, I have no beta. Sorry for any mistakes.

Silver Heart 2

"You'll never leave me, right Riku?" Sora bit his lower lip nervously as he looked at the other boy.

The seven year old silver haired boy sat across from him with a small smile playing on his lips. Riku's gentle eyes were focused solely on Sora, despite their shadowed surroundings. The boy's hands were slowly rubbing warmth into his bare feet. Like Sora, Riku was in pajamas.

"Of course not. I promised I wouldn't." He shook his head. Sora could tell the boy thought the question was silly.

"Even when I'm bad?" he asked hesitantly. Riku had been angry after the fight he'd had with Wakka. He hadn't even spoken to Sora after seeing the bruise on the older boy's face.

Riku seemed to know what he was talking about. He raised a hand and ruffled Sora's wild hair. "Even when you're bad. Besides, it's not often when you get really mad."

Sora quieted for a minute and stared at his friend. He wanted to believe that but Sora knew that if Riku wasn't nearby the slightest thing would set Sora's temper off. Sora's eyes turned even sadder causing Riku to stare at his friend in concern before leaning forward.

"You're my best friend. I'd never leave you," said Riku as he hugged the other boy.

"You..." Sora blushed. Puppy eyes dropped to his twisting fingers before looking back at Riku. "You love me don't you?"

"Of course," was the automatic answer.

Sora frowned, not particularly happy with that. He'd see two different types of love. There was his family's love and Riku's family's love. He wanted what he saw between Riku's parents and Riku. Not what he saw at home.

Shifting forward quickly, Sora pressed a dry kiss to Riku's cheek, surprising the beautiful boy. Riku blushed and raised a hand to his cheek. "S-sora?"

The brunette grinned. Riku was older but sometimes... "I love you too Riku." Sora declared. "And we'll always be together."

Riku smiled and nodded. "Yes. And we'll protect each other no matter what." There was something in Riku's eyes that Sora didn't quite understand but he trusted completely.

A determined gleam shone in Sora's own eyes. "Yeah. Always." He leaned forward again, much to a blushing Riku's surprise, and puckered his lips.

A sudden angry roar startled both boys. It sounded like something from a lion, but was very different. Sora watched Riku's head snap to the side and his eyes widen. A pale, frightened face turned back to Sora. The younger boy couldn't hear what his best friend shouted at him, but he could read the words on Riku's lips.

"RUN, SORA!"

Sora snapped up from the wall of the cave, his scream stuck in his throat and a hand automatically going to his chest. He curled over into himself, scared, no, terrified at something he didn't understand.

Blinking frantically, Sora threw himself back against the cave wall breathing heavily as he stared out into the slowly dimming light around him. "What was that?" he whispered to himself as he slowly regained his composure. His brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to recall the more than half forgotten dream.

All Sora could remember was that one moment of intense fear before waking. That and something else. Sora pressed his shaky hand to his lips. He'd kissed someone, or he'd been kissed. /Kairi?/ Sora wondered. /Is she in danger?/

Confused, and growing more worried by the moment, Sora stood unsteadily and headed toward home. He didn't know where Kairi was and found himself needing to talk to the girl quickly.

"Kairi!"

The red headed girl turned around with a smile. She'd been just about to leave the dock and head home. She raised a hand and waved at the boat headed toward her. "Sora!"

The boy grinned at seeing her safe and sound. His heart beat a little faster as she moved to meet him. Sora loved how Kairi was always happy to see him, always greeting him with her beautiful smile. Riku had been right. Sora was lucky to have a girlfriend like Kairi. She was perfect to him and for him.

"She always makes you smile" is what Riku had told him when he had planned to confess to Kairi. And since Riku was usually right, Sora didn't find any excuse to argue with his friend.

"I thought you'd be home by now." Kairi stepped closer to Sora.

The boy blushed and cleared his throat. He raised a hand and rubbed the back of his head. "Uh yeah. I was suppose to be home an hour ago." He laughed. "I fell asleep in our cave."

"Riku didn't wake you?" she asked. Riku and Sora were usually together after all. Their relationship grew even closer after Riku returned from the darkness, although there were times Riku would become very distant with him. It had happened again lately, but everyone put that down to him giving her and Sora space for their new relationship.

Sora sighed. "I was a bit sore that he won earlier. He said he'd let me have my space to sulk." He pouted and muttered, "I don't sulk."

Kairi giggled. She kissed Sora on the cheek and smiled at the goofy grin on his face. "It's alright, Sora. Besides, you're cute when you sulk."

"Hey!" Sora lunged at Kairi only for her to take off running toward her home, leaving her boyfriend to run after her.

Of course, neither saw the figure heading away from the happy scene.

Sitting in the sand, hidden by the shadow of the Paopu fruit tree, Riku stared out silently in the ocean. His right knee was pulled up to his chest while his other leg was sprawled out in front of him. His right hand was buried in the sand beside him, clenched in a tight fist. The skin was slowly giving way to the sharp nails, but this went unnoticed to the silver haired boy.

Riku's unfocused eyes watched the repetitive beat of the ocean waves as the pushed and pulled the salty water toward land. The chilled air blew over Riku's bare arms but garnered no response from the boy, except the involuntary rise of goosebumps from his skin. Even as the wind picked up around him, Riku didn't pay attention to the silver strands that whipped into his face, a few nearly striking into his eyes.

His attention was focused inward and so entirely concentrated that nothing else would catch the young man's attention for some time. It was a desperate attempt of Riku's that often repeated itself but today had to be the absolute worst of it all. A clench of a jaw was the only movement made as Riku continued to fix things.

It was stupid really, but he knew he had to try something. Because all he was getting out of the situation was more hurt added on to the emotional pain he was suffering from. Yet at the same time, he was grateful for it.

If Riku just concentrated on the constricting pain in his chest, then he wouldn't have to worry about the rest that had followed. He wouldn't have to worry about the sad gasp of pain that would escape from him. He wouldn't have to worry about the wet feeling growing in his eyes, or the stuffy feeling that would clog up his throat.

He wouldn't have to worry about the feeling of running into the ocean and never coming out of the water and it's soft lullabies. He wouldn't have to worry about the reason he was feeling this way and how it always made the pains before it that much worse.

Riku didn't want to breakdown. He had after all accepted it before anything had been realized and made concrete. So he shouldn't be crying over a broken heart or an unrequited love. It was ridiculous really.

The wind picked up more this time and a soft thud was heard behind Riku, and a little to his left. Although his eyes remained unfocused, his attention was caught by the noise. Moving his head slowly, as if time was shifting around him, Riku turned to see a star shaped fruit that had fallen from the tree.

He smiled bitterly. Even when he'd been little, he'd known who he wanted to share that fruit with. He'd even told his parents once, garnering a wide eyed look from his dad and a grin from his mom. A strong optimistic child, he always believed that things would work out with his silly dream of him being with Sora forever.

Of course things never do work out well. Especially not in the way he'd imagined.

Finally back in touch with the world, Riku sighed, reached back, and picked up the bruised fruit. He stared at it, letting his thumb run over the curves and edges. "And to think," he whispered, his voice slightly hoarse, "I had such great hopes for you." He shook his head.

There weren't many things Riku wished he could change. There was one big thing, such as him going to darkness, but that situation had been uncontrollable. A series of unfortunate events one could say. But Riku did regret never letting Sora know that he had romantic feelings for the brunette. No way would Riku mention it now. It would only screw with Sora's head and emotions.

Riku couldn't bring himself to do that. Sora looked so happy now that he and Kairi were together. No reason to drag Riku's issues into the light.

He did realize that he would always be with Sora. Even when they were older and had their own lives, when Sora married Kairi, and Riku continued to live alone. He and Sora would always be together even if they were just friends. Besides, he'd always have a part of Sora. Riku snorted at the thought and rubbed his chest. Oh yes, he'd always have a part of Sora to love and cherish, even if it only caused him pain and made him want more.

The teenager stood, not bothering to brush the sand from his clothes. Aqua eyes peered down at the fruit that Riku shifted to hold in both hands. Using his thumb and forefinger, Riku pulled off a piece of the paopu fruit. Blowing off any sand that may have remained on the fruit, he ate the small piece with a small smile. His eyes changed quickly as he swallowed and looked down at the rest of the fruit.

"I don't suppose," he whispered painfully over the wind, "that I need you." Riku then tilted his head to the side with an amused smile that lacked enthusiasm. "But maybe..." He stopped and snorted. "What a stupid idea." He stared out into the ocean.

The weight of the fruit seemed to grow heavier in his hand the longer he held it. Shaking his head, still rather taken back at the hopelessly romantic idea that had made it's way into his head, Riku lifted the fruit and let his arm fall back over his shoulder.

"This is stupid. But seeing what love has made me do over the years..."

Riku let the paopu fruit fly into the air, and then out into the ocean waters. He knew it wouldn't go anywhere. Probably just sink to the bottom, killing his foolish hope with it. But maybe, one day it would get to someone meant to love Riku. Not as a friend but as a lover. Maybe he wouldn't be alone.

The pain in his chest amplified for a moment before dying. Riku turned and headed home.

TBC

Alia: That last part was so sappy but I had to write it. I just really felt for Riku. Now REVIEW!!! Come on. You know you want to.