A/N: Part three, continued from previous two chapters.

The Prince

Prince Riku frowned over the scroll spread across his desk, his head propped up on a hand. It was an old treaty, yet another historic document his father insisted that he study. He didn't mind studying, really, but he missed the days when he had more free time, when he could slip away from the palace and pretend he was just another boy. How he envied the street rat he'd befriended. Sora, with his dirty face and bright smile. The boy was free, without any responsibilities or obligations.

Well. His so-called friend had been so presumptuous about the life of a prince. There was more to it than sitting around and doing whatever he wanted. And being a prince was very lonely. His father was caring, but overprotective of his only son, and Riku's only visitors were nobles and foreign royalty. All of whom were so different from him. Haughty, simpering, and courtly. He was to meet yet another princess this evening, and her entire entourage, including a withered old crone of a king and—

Riku slammed his fist into his desk with a huff. The whole thing would be exhausting and useless. He had no interest in princesses or marriage. He had no interest in carrying out yet another series of false interactions for the sake of appearances. He'd have to beg his father for a respite. Even a few days to call his own would be better than none. He took a calming breath, eyes flicking down at the document before him. No, he couldn't concentrate on that anymore.

He stood up and began pacing, trying to work out a sudden excess of energy.

Which is how Sora found him when he appeared within the prince's chambers with an audible pop. The brunette glanced around, catching his bearings and trying not to be overwhelmed by the sumptuous décor. He'd never seen so many beautiful things in one place, and in the midst of it all, shining brighter than it all, was his childhood friend, staring at him with wild eyes and a slack jaw.

Sora beamed. "Ku!"

Riku narrowed his eyes. "How did you get in here?"

Sora scratched the back of his head, casting about for Kairi, who was inexplicably absent. "Well, about that—"

"Did you steal those clothes, Sora?" Riku's mood had been foul, and the addition of Sora just traipsing in irritated him. As always, the brat could do whatever he wanted, it seemed. Riku ground his teeth at the thought.

"I didn't—Ku, you stole, too! Since when did that bother you?"

Riku glared at him. "Stealing a loaf of bread and stealing that," he gestured at Sora's fine attire, "are completely different. I should—"

Sora cut him off. "Well, I didn't steal this!" He sighed and looked at the ground. "I looked everywhere for you, Ku. I wanted to see my best friend again."

Riku stiffened. Sora had…looked for him? "Why—" he paused, hearing the sound of footsteps outside his door before the knock.

"Prince Riku, is everything alright in there? I thought I heard voices."

Riku noticed the way Sora's eyes widened with realization, and rushed to clamp a hand over his mouth. "Shh," he hissed, before calling out, "Yes, I'm fine. Please do not disturb me again, unless I call." Sora squirmed, fighting his natural instinct to flee. Because, despite his protests, he did make his living by thieving, and getting caught in the palace was something he wouldn't be able to explain away.

"Yes, your majesty." Footsteps retreating, and both young men relaxed, Riku dropping his hand from Sora's mouth.

"You're the prince?"

Riku tossed his hair over a shoulder and strode to a chaise lounge. "Don't act so surprised, Sora. You knew I wasn't one of you the whole time." He sighed, some of his anger leaving him, and sat down. "But you pretended I was. That was kind of nice."

Sora sat down next his friend, gingerly, unsure of his welcome. "Well yeah. We had a lot of fun that way." Silence between them for a few moments. "Is it true, what you said? That it's lonely, being the prince?"

Riku deflated, slouching against the corner of the couch. "Yeah."

Sora leaned against the prince. "Well, now that I know where you are, I can come visit more often, right?"

Riku looked down into those blue eyes and felt something clench in his stomach. He squeezed his own eyes shut. "No, Sora, you can't. They'll haul you away and lock you in chains."

"Can't you just tell them not to? You're the prince, so they have to listen to you."

Riku shook his head with a jingle of gold. "It's not like that. I—my father wouldn't allow it. He's the sultan, and his word is law. The only people I'm allowed to talk to are hand-picked by him."

Sora frowned. "Ku—"

"You should go. Before you get caught."

"You could come out with me again. Like you used to."

Another shake of silver and gold. "Father is entertaining a princess tonight. My absence would be noticed."

"A princess…" Sora rolled the word around in his head, thinking, remembering something Ku had told him once. "If…if I were a prince, I could see you?"

Riku chuckled and flicked the brunette's nose. "You, a prince? It would be a disaster!" There was a familiar, teasing smirk on his lips, and Sora broke into his own grin. But Riku sobered. "Don't pretend you're a prince to get in here, Sora. They'll figure it out."

Sora only jumped up with a secret smile. "I'll come back tomorrow, Ku!"

"Sora, don't—" But Sora had already slipped out onto the balcony. Riku rose to follow him, but his friend was nowhere to be seen. He stared into the empty courtyard for a moment, before returning to his desk. He suddenly felt weary, and his loneliness was sharper than it had been before seeing Sora again. But he really hoped Sora wouldn't return. His father may be kind, but a criminal was a criminal.