Hey guys! I'm back! I know that I would say that I would update like, a month and a half ago, but I was just swamped with work and homework and just everything else. Excuses, excuses, I know. ANYway. I updated now! :D So, yay! And also, those of you that are fans of Kuroko no Basuke, I wrote a fanfiction for that too! My very first fanfiction outside of KH! :D That's a big step for me. So If you are a fan of Kuroko no Basuke, please go read it and tell me how I did! Thankies! ^^

And also, I read up that the Squall are the wind storms that happen during hurricanes/tropical storms and such, so that is why I put the reference to a squall in here.

And Riku will have long hair like he does in KH2. Because, I loved his hair long…*spoiler alert* I can't believe they cut it! So I'm keeping it long. xD

Disclaimer: I do not and will never own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy or Disney or the characters! T-T hence to why it is called a FANfiction. :)

Enjoy! :D

Nine years later…

Silver hair was splayed out on one of the feathered pillows that accompanied the servant quarters. The body that accompanied it shifted on the bed, shielding his eyes as rays of sunshine beamed into the room.

"Good morning, Riku." One of the other servants greeted as they were getting dressed for the day.

After a yawn and some popping of his muscles Riku replied back with the same tired greeting. He shifted out of his woolen blanket and lifted his shirt over his head, getting ready to change into his day clothes. After slipping on his pants and shirt he buttoned up the navy blue vest that went over his billowing cream colored garment underneath. Buckling up his boots and brushing the tangles out of his long hair, as well as performing other morning routines he was ready to face the day ahead of him. He had already started doing a mental checklist of things that he would most likely have to do, such as make his master's bed and sift through all of the letters that were coming from more suitors. And most likely his master would have at least ten letters from that Caraway fellow who would still stop at nothing to have Master Leon marry his daughter.

Riku sighed. He didn't understand why Leon wouldn't just get the whole ordeal over with and marry her already. Leon was offered more substantial amounts of money for their union every time they received the letters. Riku shook his head and smirked. His master was so stubborn, for this ordeal had been going on ever since he started to live here. But even though he had a somewhat boring day ahead of him he couldn't help but look forward to the time that he would spend with his father in the afternoon.

"Oi! Riku!" One of his comrades motioned for him to come closer and look out the window.

"What is it?" Riku inquired, looking out to the sea. It looked like it always did in the morning, the yellow reflection of the sun dancing across the waves while seagulls sang their songs overhead. Even though it was a daily occurrence it never ceased to amaze Riku just how beautiful the sea really was.

"Can you smell it?" The older servant asked him, as he continued to scrutinize the waves.

Riku looked off to the side in confusion before looking back to the man in front of him, "Smell what?"

The other man took in a deep breath and let it out, "The storm."

'A storm?' That made Riku look back out to the ocean again. It was as clear and beautiful as ever. "Hmf, right. A storm." Riku rolled his eyes and made to leave his quarters when he heard the raspy voice of the man behind him again.

"Don't let the sky deceive ya, boy. There's a storm comin', and a mighty big one at that." His eyes kept squinting out over the calm waters underneath.

Riku slightly shook his head as he went on his way. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out for it then."

Sora woke up early in the morning, stretching backwards to where he almost made a complete circle, his hands nearly touching the tip of his tail. He rubbed his eyes and swam throughout his house, checking in on his dad first. Turning the corner he saw blonde hair flowing to and fro as his father's body moved to turn over in bed. Sora grinned and silently made his way up to the surface for some air.

He loved to swim up to the surface in the mornings. It was always so beautiful and serene, and it was just a nice place to think sometimes. Breaking through the sun kissed surface of the water, Sora shook out his hair and gazed up at the sky, watching a couple birds here and there fly above him. He smiled as he watched them, and kept his eyes on them as they made their way towards the shore.

A soft sigh escaped his lips then. 'Shore…land…' Sora has always wanted to see it, but his father wouldn't let him, and for a good reason too. He didn't want the Atlantica patrol to find him or his father. But just once, he wished that he would see it, touch it. The closest that he has ever got to doing that was hearing his dad's tales about how it looked. He felt an unwelcome clench in his chest and decided that it was time to go back underwater and start the day. He had a huge exam at school that he couldn't possibly afford to miss.

On his way back down into his house he smelt breakfast already cooking. When Sora came back inside and into the kitchen area Cloud turned to him and gave him a soft smile. "How was it today?"

Sora slumped and crossed his arms on the table, "Beautiful, as always. I saw some birds go towards shore too! I wonder if they are going to the same place that…Papa is…"

Cloud turned back around and shrugged his shoulders. "They could be. Or they could be headed to a different place entirely." He brought over their food and placed a plate in front of Sora for him to start eating.

"Thanks, Dad." He gave a big toothy grin as Cloud responded with a slight smirk before starting on his own breakfast.

When they were finished eating Sora grabbed his netted messenger bag, making sure that all of his essential books and materials were in there before giving his dad a hug and making his way out the door.

Cloud touched his son's shoulder lightly before he made it completely out of the house. "Sora, be careful today and come straight home. There is supposed to be a huge storm later on this evening."

Sora lifted up an eyebrow in suspicion. But it had looked so nice up above. Then again, if he paid enough attention he could feel the slightest bit of a difference in the current. He nodded to his dad, giving him another hug before swimming off to school.

Just as Riku had suspected, more letters came from Fury Caraway, insisting that Leon take his daughter's hand in marriage. He sighed and set the papers across from him while rubbing his eyes; they were starting to hurt from reading all of the letters. Marriage proposals here, conflict that needed settling there. It was all so tiresome that he didn't know how Leon survived before he came along. After some minutes of quiet rest he stood up, gathering the letters in one hand while straightening out his vest with the other. He walked up the stairs to his master's chambers before letting out a slight cough.

"Master Leon." Riku knocked on his master's door, waiting a few seconds before a faint "Come in" was heard. Riku slowly pushed open the door to find his master at his table, writing down on some papers, probably some more legal matters. He just finished his signature before he put the quill back in the bottle of ink, ready for it to be used again as soon as his servant left.

"What is it Riku?"

The young seventeen year old held out the letters while a soft smile came across his face, "I finished all of what was assigned to me. I was wondering if-"

"Of course you can, Riku." Leon said, face stoic, but his voice betrayed his physical features.

Riku had a half smirk on his face, "Thank you, Master Leon." He strode over to his master, laying the letters in a neat pile before making his exit.

This situation had become routine ever since Riku had come to live with Leon as one of his servants in the mansion on Destiny Islands. Riku would go up to his room, barely ask to leave before Leon would interrupt him and tell him to head on his way to see his dad.

Riku made his way down the velvet carpeted steps, heading toward the kitchen to grab some bread for Kadaj. Even though the crops were doing exceptionally well these past few years Riku always worried that his father wouldn't have enough to eat.

He greeted the kitchen staff with smiles and curt nods as he went to the bread oven. He looked inside; the new batch was almost ready.

"Not yet, Riku." The bread baker, Maurice, laughed as he put a floured hand on the boy's shoulder, making Riku's silk navy blue vest become covered in white powder on his left side. He frowned; it almost got into his hair.

"You'll have to wait 'bout another five or so minutes."

Riku smiled up at the big man while he played with the creamy, slightly billowing sleeves that ended at his wrist until the bread was done. He watched the baker as he looked inside the oven every couple of minutes, waiting until he nodded in approval before taking his bread paddle and placing it underneath a couple of the baked goods, then bringing them out and dropping them in a basket.

Riku went to work once they were all out, trying to find two of the best loaves to bring to his father.

"Woah, laddie! Aren't ye gonna wait till they cool off some?" He stood with his hands on his hips, giving the silverette teen a strange look.

"Oh, I don't mind it, really. This way they will still be nice and hot when I give them to my father." Riku took his two chosen bread loaves and wrapped them up in some cloth before bidding the cooks a good day. "That lad." Maurice shook his head, a smile on his face before turning to go make some more bread.

"Hey! Sora, wait up!"

"Hm?" light brown hair turned around to see his friend, Demyx, swim up to him. "Hey Demyx! How was class?" Sora asked as his friend caught up to him. School just got out for the day, and Sora was headed home to help his father with dinner.

"Ugh, don't even talk to me about school. Especially since we had those soldiers come over today. What the hell were they doing away from Atlantica?" Demyx sighed dramatically, resting his head on Sora's tan shoulder. Sora gave a sympathetic look while at the same time rolling his eyes, "I'm not sure, but it was some scary stuff." 'Especially for me.' Sore furrowed his brow, but shook off his worry. He has been living undercover with his dad for sixteen years now. If the Atlantica soldiers wanted to find him, they would have by now. "So, anyway, what are you going to do this weekend?" Sora asked, trying to be cheerful again. The other male's hand came up under his chin as he looked out in deep thought, "I dunno actually. Probably make some music I guess." He tilted his head to the side, "Oh! And annoy Zexion of course!" He laughed as he patted Sora's shoulder. They both continued to chat and laugh until they had to part ways, "See you tomorrow Dem!" Sora shouted as he turned in the direction of his house.

"See ya!" Demyx yelled back.

Sora was uneasy going home, he could feel it in the water that the storm was getting closer, and he wanted to be safe at home when it finally hit. The rest of the way to his house was ten minutes of silence. It was one of his favorite parts of the day, going home. He got to say hi to his lobster friends and the occasional sting ray that would swim by. But he loved it whenever the porpoises would come along and swim with him. He related to them most, so they had a special connection, but it looked like none of his mammal friends would meet him on his way home today, for Sora could already see his house.

He leisurely swam up to the door before going inside, throwing his net with his books in it on the floor.

"Sora?" Cloud called as he swam in from the kitchen. "Hey, Dad!" Sora swam over and gave him a hug before going into the kitchen to see what his dad had already done. "So, any word from Zack yet?"

Cloud sighed and leaned against the rock that served as the arch for the doorway, "No. I've been really worried. I haven't heard a word from him or his family about where they are."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Cloud and Zack were supposed to meet up a couple days ago in the market again, but he never showed up, and afterwards Cloud went to his house, only to find that no one was there. "Was Olette at school today? Did you see her?"

"Actually no, I didn't" Sora furrowed his brows while swimming over to the living area. "And I even asked Pence and he said that he hasn't heard from her either. I'm getting kind of worried."

Cloud mindlessly scratched his forearm, trying to think of reasons as to why his best friend had suddenly gone M.I.A.

Just then Sora came in and swam up to his dad, "And also, today. Something weird happened."

Cloud raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And what was that?"

"Soldiers…from Atlantica. They were at my school today, patrolling and asking people questions."

Cloud's heartbeat sped up and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

"But I tried to keep as far away from them as I could! I promise! I don't think any of them saw me." Sora tried to reassure his dad who was currently having a breakdown.

"Are you sure?! No one saw?!" Cloud's voice was louder as he asked, slowly taking a peek out of one of his windows, almost afraid of what he might see.

"Positive!" Sora grinned; trying to make it sound like it was no big deal. "So let's just eat dinner okay? I'm starved!"

Riku was at a slight jog, his boots padding softly in the sand that surrounded the mansion. It was right next to the ocean, which Riku loved. The heat of Destiny Islands was canceled out by the cool breeze and salty air that came from the roaring sea. Riku stopped next to the waves, coming on shore just enough so the rising tides would barely kiss the toe of his boots. The water was so beautiful here. But even though it was beautiful, the hurricanes were not, and Riku could see the darkening sky just barely beginning to form. 'I guess the old bat was right…' He let out a sigh, and ran toward his father's house, about fifteen minutes away. He didn't want the bread to be cold by the time he reached him.

"Woah, Dad. Do you feel that?" Sora asked, as he was at the table doing his homework. There was a sudden major shift in currents, meaning the storm was arriving faster than they anticipated.

"Yeah, I did." Cloud swam up to him, then over to the door to see if he might feel the currents better. He should have never opened it. He felt like his heart almost stopped as he saw a swarm of Atlantica soldiers swimming rapidly toward their home. By their distance Cloud estimated that they might arrive within three minutes. Cloud slammed the door shut and grabbed Sora by the arm, swimming over to his room.

"Dad! Ow! What is it?" Sora yelled, yanking his arm out from his father's grasp.

"Are you sure no one saw you?! No soldiers?!"

"Yeah! Sure! I mean, well I don't know! But I'm pretty sure, why?" Sora asked, now confused, but suddenly his whole body went cold.

"Sora, I want you to listen to me." Cloud leaned down to his son's height. "You have to get out of here. Now!" His voice tried to remain calm, but as of right now, he was anything but calm.

"Dad, what the heck are you talking about?" Sora's eyes went wide, "I don't understand." He made to look out the window when they heard screams from the neighbors. They heard the faint shouting, "Orders from Atlantica!"

Sora was in a state of horror, 'But how?!'

"Sora, now!" his dad pushed him out of the window in his son's room, "You have to leave!"

"Bu-but where?!" the boy was on the point of hyperventilating.

"You know where to go." Cloud's eyes narrowed somewhat and Sora gulped in understanding. 'Squall'.

"But, what about yo-" he was cut off by a shrill scream.

Both mermen turned toward the sound, then a familiar voice spoke up, "Cloud! Please!" 'Zack?!' "Please come out or they will keep hurting them!" It was so broken and filled with panic as another scream broke through. "Please!"

"Go!" Cloud commanded but Sora was frozen to the spot, shaking his head back and forth.

"Sora, you have to!" 'I can't watch you die! I love you so much!' "And no matter what you hear, or how you feel, you have to keep going! As fast as you can!" Cloud quickly swam over to him, bringing his son to his chest before placing a hard kiss to his head.

Sora was stammering "I-I can't leave you! I can't!" He was starting to cry as his dad pushed him away. "Sora, I promise that I will be okay. But right now, you have to leave, and swim there as fast as you possibly can! Do you understand?!"

The young boy gulped,"Y-yes!" Sora clenched his eyes shut as he yelled his response, not even sparing his father a last glance as he swam off. He couldn't look at him. Just knowing his dad's fate…it made him want to throw up. But he had to live. He had to keep on going for both his and his father's sake. 'I have to!'

Cloud watched him go, his chest tightening in such a manner that he thought he would cave in on himself. It was then that he heard the pounding of the door, and after a few more hits, the door shattered.

"Cloud Strife!" The soldiers barged in, and along with them came a battered and bruised Zack. His eyes were both swollen, the right one to the point of being completely shut. Olette was also there, along with Aerith, whip slashes marked their backs.

Cloud's voice caught in his throat as he looked at the soldiers with dead eyes, then turned back to his friends, "I am so sorry." He managed to whisper.

Olette was clinging to Aerith while Zack was being held up by the arms by two Atlantica soldiers. He saw a couple soldiers move to patrol the house and then call over to another one. In the far off distance, they saw him.

Cloud was frightened, more so than he had ever been in his life. He put his Sora in danger and that was the last thing he wanted. A fist came in contact with his head, and suddenly his life was spinning in a web of chaos. He caused all of this…he had no one else to blame but himself. Just knowing that he was the cause for all of his loved ones pain and suffering was enough to make him completely surrender.

As he found himself being beaten and wrapped in chains his only thoughts were those for Sora. He was praying continuously to Leviathan to keep his son safe. Nothing else seemed to matter as a bolt of metal clashed with his head, putting him in a world of complete darkness.

Sora swam as fast as his muscles would allow. He was already in need of air from so much exertion.

"Follow him!"

"We can't let him get away!"

'What?!' Sora's mind screamed as he continued to swim faster. 'How did they find me?!'

He swam up to the surface for a huge gasp of air to replenish his lungs. He took notice of how dark and demonic the sky had looked compared to this morning, as well to how huge the waves had gotten. When he came back underwater it seemed as if the soldiers had gained on him. 'No!'

Sora was releasing grunts and groans now. His muscles were aching from swimming against the harsh currents. He couldn't get caught! As he looked back down he noticed that even though the soldiers were gaining on him, they were having considerable trouble fighting against the hellish currents as well.

Sora thought that his arms were going to fall off any minute due to his fast swimming. He could tell that he was getting closer to the major part of the storm, but he had to keep going, or risk getting killed. Hell, he could get killed in this storm, but he would rather die in a hurricane than by the hands of the soldiers. That just fueled his motivation even more. He pushed his muscles harder and faster, with enough force to propel him at least five yards with each downward stroke of his tail.

He barely heard the yelling from his pursuers but when he looked back, he noticed that they were gone, not a trace of them to be found. But he still wasn't sure. There could be more soldiers up ahead, on patrol. But he had to keep going.

He had no idea how far or how long he had swam since he had left his dad to be condemned to death. He let out a harsh cry as he thought about it. Just this morning he had witnessed a beautiful sky and had a nice, calm breakfast with his father, and now, he was swimming for his life while who knows what was happening to Cloud.

One of the sporadic currents hit him hard, jutting him to the left, but he couldn't lose course. No matter how many currents hit him from different angles, he had to keep track of where he was going.

But at this point in time, when he went up to get air again, a monstrous wave crashed down on his body, sending him tumbling down into the water, just to be picked up by another wall of water, only to come crashing down again. He couldn't get any air. He scrambled his arms in the salty liquid, failing to bring him toward the surface. When he was thrashed upward by another onslaught of waves he barely got enough breath in him to keep him conscious. As he was tossed and turned underwater, he gave up. It was useless to fight against nature, especially when it was Leviathan's doing. 'Well, at least I'm not dying by the hands of those monsters' that brought a small smile to his face, as well as the next one, 'I'm dying in the midst of a squall.'

Riku peeked out at the morning sun from his father's house. He had stayed the night over there due to the horrible storm that had raged on the night before. Looking outside he saw rubble from old boats that had been splintered apart, and a number of Paopu trees that had been torn over due to the sheer force of the powerful hurricane.

He let out a defeated sigh and turned back inside to say goodbye to his father.

Kadaj was up and about, getting ready to go check on his crops after the storm, already in a panic.

"Hey, Dad, I have to leave now. Will you be okay with the crops?" Riku questioned, concern laced in his voice.

Kadaj just shook his head, "Oh, I'll be alright. What can ya do? You know?" He rubbed at his temples as he grabbed his hat and a hoe that he sometimes used as a makeshift walking stick. "Mother nature can sure be a bitch." He spat, but then turned to his son, gesturing for a hug, which Riku gladly accepted. After patting his father on the back and wishing him good luck, he made his way back to the mansion. He wasn't expecting any substantial damage to happen to it. It has lived through more hurricanes than Riku has been alive, and only twice has it had to have major work done to repair it.

The wet sand squished under Riku's feet as he once again walked along side the ocean, now as calm as the morning before the hurricane. He shook his head. Nature was sure unpredictable.

As he walked for another five minutes toward his destination he couldn't help but look to the other side of him, where all of the plant and wild life had been severely affected by the onslaught of powerful waves. For about a mile and a half, all of the trees and bushes were flattened. Paopu fruits were nearly disintegrated as he walked over to examine one of the trees that had been broken in half.

He sighed and turned to leave, but not before noticing an odd coloration amongst the flattened greenery. He slowly walked over to the tan object. It looked big, maybe a little smaller than his body. 'Is it some kind of animal?' was the first thought that Riku questioned. He slowly made his way around the debris that had mad its new home on the shores of Destiny Islands. As he walked closer toward it, he noticed that it indeed was a human, and absent of clothing at that. Now he couldn't hold back the instinct to run over and see if the person was okay. Running up next to the injured being he moved some of the debris that had fallen on top of the body. He noticed after some more removal of wood and leaves that it was a boy, probably 16 or so, somewhere around that age range. He had slightly tanned skin and brown hair that stuck up in all directions.

"Hey!" Riku called to the naked boy as he gently shook his shoulder to see if the young man was alive. There was no response and Riku had almost assumed the worst until he put a hand on the boy's chest and felt a faint heartbeat, and the slight moving of the abdomen, meaning that he was breathing.

The silverette let out a grateful sigh and tried to maneuver the boy so he could pick him up and bring him back to the mansion to receive medical care. It was when he picked him up bridal style that he noticed a nasty gash on the boy's right arm. 'He definitely needs to see Merlin.' Riku thought as he quickened his pace to the mansion. He had to get the boy help as soon as possible, and hopefully, he could find out what happened for the boy to be washed up like that. 'Maybe it was a shipwreck, and he tossed up on shore.' That was the only plausible thought that could come to his mind. But right now as he saw the mansion in his view he could only hope that he wasn't too late in saving this boy's life.

Now, to get it off of everyone's chest (cause I was thinking this too, and almost wrote it in here before I remembered that people would laugh) *ahem* Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, what do we do we swim!" ...okay. Now it's out of my system. xD And also, I finished my freshman year of college yesterday! Thank God! (Oh, and also, Leviathan is a god that is used in the FF games. ^^) So this means that I will have at least three weeks to work on cosplays and my fanfiction before A-kon! :D who else is going? But then, right after A-kon, I'm starting summer school...I want to get out of college as fast as I can. haha.

Well if you would be so kind, I would love it if you guys would take the time to review and tell me what you think of this chapter! And FINALLY! SORA AND RIKU MEET! :D I told you all it would happen in this chapter. ;) And I think that it is just fabulous that Fanfiction now has the option of more than two characters! So, I changed that as well. Anywho.

Until next time! Which hopefully won't be too long. I'm going to try to update another one of my fanfictions as well. ^^