" Lust is easy. Love is hard. Like is most important. "

Tuesday morning and Sora found himself warily entering the school grounds, the hood of his coat up as he tried to hide himself from everyone; especially teachers.

"Sora, why do you even have a coat? It's too hot for that…" Roxas walked beside him, embarrassed as fellow students stared at them.

"Hiding."

"Err…Well I think you're attracting more attention than actually managing to hide…You kind of look like one of those guys that hang out in kids parks." Roxas held back a laugh.

Sora stopped, peaking out at Roxas from his hood. "You're joking right?"

"Well…You look suspicious." He started to laugh as he carried on walking ahead.

Jogging a little to catch up with Roxas they reached their lockers, Sora immediately pulling the coat off and shoving it in his locker with a slight frown.

'I guess I just have to fight this out, without hiding!' He thought to himself, as if he was playing a battle game of some sort.

"Roxas what lessons have we got today…?" Sora asked, even though he promised to himself he would fight he was still incredibly nervous.

"Erm…" He rummaged through his bag, pulling out his little school planner. "Science, English, and then English again after break; Oh and then I have Drama which means you have PE, then we end the day sadly with Maths." Roxas pulled a face at that, he hated math.

Science had gone like it always does, though Sora had found himself watching Axel closely. He could tell their red headed teacher had felt uncomfortable with it, what with catching Sora's eye a few times, only to return it with an awkward smile.

'He's one to watch.' Sora thought to himself as he walked to their next lesson with Roxas, he had to admit the red head was good looking, he definitely wouldn't mind if it was him.

"Did you do the English homework?" Roxas asked, bringing Sora back to his senses.

"Huh? What English homework…?" Sora stopped walking, a look of panic spreading across his face.

"…The short paper we had to write on Romeo and Juliet, about our view on the play and whether we enjoyed it and whatever else." Roxas waved a dismissive hand.

"Shit…I'm going to get stabbed!" Sora flung his hands up to his face, how could he forget to do such an important thing? All his recent homework and essays were going to be added on to his exam grades at the end of the year, missing one piece of homework could ruin his final grades.

Reaching the classroom the two entered, taking their seats, a thick black cloud following Sora to his.

"Today's first lesson will be self-study, looking back through what we have done the last year." Riku announced as he entered the classroom, his silver hair blowing a little as he walked over to his desk. This was the first time Sora had ever seen him at school with it down.

"Then after break we'll be doing a practice exam, so make sure you're on time or you'll end up getting an F." He smirked a little at that as he scanned the room. "First though I'd like everyone to pass their homework to the front."

Sora shuffled a little in his seat before raising a hand. "Erm…I-I forgot to do mine." He didn't look directly into his teachers eyes, instead just above his head.

"That's unusual for you …" The silver haired man walked over to Soras desk, where he placed a hand on it and leant down a little. "Well… I guess I could let you off just this once. But you'll have to do it this lesson instead of studying."

Sora couldn't stop himself from looking at the other, his eyes meeting Riku's "R-really?" He couldn't believe he was actually being let off, he'd seen people end up in multiple detentions for not doing just one piece of homework by this demon teacher.

"Really; though that means that you'll be at a disadvantage to everyone else in the practice exam. Someone could steal your title as my top English student you know." Riku stood up straight, his fingers still resting on the desk.

"I'm fine with not studying." Sora smiled up at him, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. He was seeing this demon teacher in a whole different light at this moment in time.

"You have until the lesson ends to write at least five pages, if you're not done you lose your break." He drummed his fingers a little on the desk before hesitantly pulling his hand away and walking back to the front, collecting everyone else's homework; a small frown arching his brows.

The bell signalled the end of class and the start of break, causing Sora to start panicking a little; he'd almost finished but not quite. He glanced around as everyone started to clear out of the classroom, leaving their bags behind as they'd be back after.

"So you didn't finish on time huh?" Riku sat in one of the two chairs at the desk in front of Sora's.

"Almost" was all he replied with as he pushed the already finished six pages toward Riku.

"Oh? How many pages are you planning on writing?" He watched Sora scratch away at the page.

"This is the last page…I think." He scratched his head a little with his pen before glancing up at the silver haired teacher. Realising that he was being watched he blushed, looking back down and continued on with his work.

"Doing more then you have to like always, it doesn't surprise me anymore." Riku smiled a little as he scanned over the pages that had already been done.

'Perfect grammar and spelling…like always.' He thought to himself as he read the brunettes work.

"Done" Sora announced, picking it up and holding it out to the other "I hope it doesn't sound too rushed."

"I'm sure it's just fine, Sora." He took the piece of paper from him, putting it with the rest before standing and heading to his desk; adding it to the small pile of work to mark. "You can go and enjoy the last ten minutes of break if you like."

"I don't see the point really…I'll just wait here." Sora rummaged through his bag, pulling out his IPod and earphones. "Is it ok if I listen to this until class…?"

Riku eyed him for a second or two before nodding his head. "I don't mind, but only if you put one of these tests on each person's desk." He held up the pile before placing it at the edge of his desk.

"No problem." Sora smiled as he plugged in one earphone, putting his IPod into his uniform trouser pocket. Grabbing the pile he walked around, placing a test paper on each person's desk.

"Crystal Castles?"

"Oh sorry is it too loud?" Sora stopped what he was doing and turned round to look at the other.

"No it's fine, I like it." Riku replied as he smiled softly.

Sora blushed; managing to pull his gaze away from the others and turn back round, to continue the job he'd been given. It was weird, Riku was weird; had he really always been this nice and Sora just hadn't noticed?

As casually as he could he looked over his shoulder at the busy silver haired teacher. 'I suppose I could include him as one of my suspects, he looks about the right age…'

He quickly looked away as he caught the others eye, he'd been staring too long. Stuck in his thoughts he suddenly jumped out of his skin as the school bell rang again, signalling the end of break. Quickly throwing down the last few tests he dropped the spares off at Riku's desk before taking his seat.

The rest of the week had gone smoothly, though Sora found he'd made no progress at all and it was already Friday. He'd listed three possibilities so far, Axel, Riku and their PE teacher Seifer; as far as he could tell they were the only ones who fit the age he'd been given within the school.

"Hey Sor-...WILL YOU MOVE OUT OF MY DAMNED WAY?" He looked round as his name was partly called, seeing a short red haired girl squeezing through a crowd of leaving students, occasionally swearing at some of them and actually pushing one boy out of the way.

"Hey Kai…Is something up?" Sora smiled and asked as she finally reached him, her brows knotted in a frown.

"Argh these people…." She muttered under her breath as she straightened out her uniform. "Oh yeah, you're free tonight right, fancy going out with me, Tidus and a couple of my friends?"

"Out…Where to?" He tilted his head a little in question.

"Downtown to a club" Kairi replied and smiled at him.

"Aren't we a little too young? I'm not eighteen yet, and most places downtown are for twenty-one and over." He made a face, he wasn't much of a liar, and he of course couldn't show any form of ID.

"Oh don't worry about it; we'll get in no trouble. Olette, a friend of mine knows the owner, and you'll fit right in." She giggled a little at the last bit.

"What do you mean 'fit right in'?" He raised an eyebrow at her; he could kind of guess what she was going to say.

"It's a gay club of course! Well of course it welcomes everyone, but it's mainly for gay people." She smiled at him. "And don't look at me like that; you will enjoy yourself I guarantee it."

Sora stood there a second or two, kicking the ground a little as he thought about it. "…Fine. But I'm not staying until stupid o'clock in the morning, and I'm not getting wasted either."

Was what he said, but come twelve AM, he was already completely drunk, dancing with some guy he just happened to meet on the dance floor, a glass of some random alcoholic beverage in his hand; he had no idea where it had come from and to be fair he didn't care at this moment in time.

Taking a swig of his drink he moved his hips along to the song, turning to teasingly press his bottom against the others crotch as he continued to move his hips. He'd never done this before, the drink had by now blown all his senses; he had no idea what he was doing.

Sora was barely listening as the other man started to speak to him, his lips brushing the brunettes' ear, his hands on Soras hips.

He broke out of his slight daze however when he saw a familiar red spikey haired idiot at the bar, through the tight crowd. Not paying much attention to his new "friends" protests, he walked away, heading toward the bar; a small cheeky smile on his face.

"Fancy a good time sexy?" Sora tried to say in his best seductive voice, against the reds ear; he was glad the pyromaniac was bent a little leaning on the bar, or he would have had to of just groped him or something.

"Sorry but I'm-AH!" The red head said a little too loudly as he pointed at the now laughing brunette, a look of shock on his face.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you underage kid?" Axel frowned a little as he loudly spoke to Sora.

"I came with some friends; one of them knows the owner…though I have no idea where any of them are." Sora pouted a little as he dizzily looked around, stopping to turn his nose up at his empty glass.

"So they left ya here? You look pretty wasted already, what have you been drinking?" Axel looked him up and down, a slightly worried look on his face.

"I don't know, I just keep getting drinks bought for me." Sora grinned at the other, holding out his glass and attempting to flutter his eye lashes. "Buy me one, won't you. Sir~" He purred the last word out.

Axel shifted a little on his feet; swallowing harder than usual he took the glass. "Fine fine…What do you want?"

"I don't mind, anything you want to get me." He smiled at the other, his hands behind his back in a coy looking way.

The red head nodded a little hesitantly before turning back to the bar. Smiling a triumphant smile he took a step forward, though he was pulled back again straight away by a hand. The guy he'd been dancing with took the wrist of his other hand in his grip, stopping Sora from pushing him away.

"Will you let the fuck go of me" He slurred out, the sentence making no sense at all as he weakly pulled at his hands.

"Aww don't be like that cutie, I thought we were getting along." The man pulled him in closer.

Before Sora could ask again someone else's hand slipped around his waist pulling him away from the man.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't touch this boy." The silver haired saviour said against the man's ear, his voice sounding a little menacing. "I don't like my property being tampered with, touch him again and it won't just be a warning."

Sora obviously hadn't heard a thing; he instead blinked up at his saviour, his mouth stupidly open. He didn't even realise the man had gone until Riku looked down at him, a frown on his face.

"Idiot, letting him touch you like that, didn't your mother ever teach you not to go off with strangers." He said in an annoyed tone to the other as he led him back to the bar and Axel. His hand hadn't left his waist.

"Oh ya found him!" Axel called as he smiled at them both, before handing a drink to each of them.

"Oi, don't give drink to under-agers, especially students!" Riku frowned some more as he took the drink away from Sora, earning himself an angry look.

"Give it back; I can do what I want!" Sora outstretched his arm and attempted to snatch the drink back.

"You most definitely don't need any more alcohol in your system; you can hardly walk in a straight line as it is!" Riku, just as irritated, replied.

"Fine, fuck you and your drink, Ima go home or whatever, this place suddenly just got suffocating and uncomfortable, since a certain person entered." Sora spat at him in a drunken ramble before trying his best to glare.

He stumbled away angrily, muttering obscenities under his breath as he pushed though the dancing crowds of people; reaching the exit he kicked the door open earning a disapproving look from the bouncer.

He shoved his hands into his jeans and waltzed off down the street, heading toward the busier part of town, often stumbling over his own feet.

"Oi faggot!" He frowned and looked over the road to the opposite pavement; a couple of cocky looking guys were standing outside a small bar smoking, pints of beer in their hands.

Giving them a dirty look he carried on walking, almost tripping over again, much to his embarrassment.

"Don't you fucking ignore me kid, I'm trying to talk to you here." The biggest man in both height and mouth size by the sounds of things, was now crossing over toward him.

"Well I don't want to talk to you, idiot." Sora growled at him, as he continued to walk.

"Yeah well you don't have the choice." He was grabbed by the arm and yanked back for the second time tonight, though this time it was a little more on the rough side.

His shirt being gripped at the front he was shoved against a wall, both men now standing in front of him.

"Got any money on ya? We've used all ours you see and you faggots are always loaded; always willing to hand it over." He grinned down at Sora, his head motioning for his friend to search his pockets.

"Don't fucking touch me you ugly bastard." Sora kicked out, scoring bulls eye as he got him in the crotch, his reflexes coming back to him as his drunken senses slowly started to recover.

"You little bitch!" The man holding him shouted, raising a fist to hit him. Squeezing his eyes shut he waited for the blow.

But it never came.

Feeling the grip on him come away he slowly cracked an eye open, he hadn't realised he'd thrown his arms up over his head as protection.

"Are you ok Sora?" The brunette lowered his arms and opened his eyes completely, staring in shock at the scene in front of him.

The two guys were on the floor, the one he'd kicked scrambling toward his now knocked out friend, while the silver haired Riku stood there as if nothing had happened.

"Y-yes…" He stuttered out, still shocked from everything that had just happened.

"Come, let's get you home." Riku held out a hand, a worried look on his face now. Sora took his hand, gripping it tightly as he realised he was shaking a little.

"I-I don't want to go home…" He finally protested as Riku pulled him toward a string of taxis at the end of the street.

"Idiot, you're drunk, and you've just almost been beaten up. You can't stay out here." Riku frowned at him, and yanked him along as the Brunette attempted to hold his ground.

"B-but I can't go home like this! I was meant to be staying at a friend's…" He pulled his hand from the others grip, standing there panicking now. "My dad will kill me, I'll be grounded until I'm forty, or worse I'll be killed before I even turn eighteen! I don't want to die a virgin!" He rambled to himself, completely forgetting that he had company.

Sighing Riku grabbed his hand again. "I'll take you back to mine, and we'll get in contact with your friends from there. Sound ok?" He didn't know if he could trust taking Sora back to his, but at least he knew he'd be safe there.

Groaning he half-heartedly shuffled in bed as he stirred awake; my god he did ache, and all over at that.

Finally flipping onto his front with great effort he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, the duvet slipping down his bare back.

Wait.

Bare?

A hand holding his head he looked down at his body. 'WHY am I naked…?' He asked himself, before finally realising this was in fact not even his own bed.

"Oh god…I didn't…" He couldn't remember anything from the night before; he hadn't been picked up by some guy right? Did he ache because of…well you know. He blushed at the thought before pulling the covers up and around himself, hiding.

Five minutes later however he jumped out of his skin as the bedroom door opened, he was unable to stop his curiosity as he peaked out from the covers.

"You're finally awake then." The very familiar person said as he walked over to the mirrored wall opposite the bed; sliding one of the panels open and dumping the duvet he had in his hands into it.

Closing the door to the now apparent storage cupboard he looked round with a raised brow at the brunette, who had a look of horror on his face. "…You can't remember a thing from last night can you?" The silver haired male sighed and opened another panel; many clothes were hung in this one.

"Here wear this…" He threw a t-shirt at Sora before walking to the chest of draws at the other side of the room, and searching through them. "And these" He threw a pair of shorts onto the bed this time.

Sora looked at the clothes then back up at the other male.

"Get dressed and then come and eat something, I'll explain what happened then…" Riku smiled softly at him before leaving the bedroom and a shocked Sora behind.

Eventually getting dressed Sora made his way out of the bedroom, the clothes baggy on him; oh the disadvantages of being short.

"Took your time, you must really have a bad hangover if it took you that long just to put some clothes on" the other teased as he cooked something on the stove in his kitchen. "Take a seat, want some coffee?"

Sora shyly sat at the small table, nodding "please." Riku smiled at him again as he turned the kettle on quickly, before continuing his cooking.

With the silver haired teachers back to him, Sora found himself eyeing the other; he was wearing a pair of blue pyjama bottoms and a white vest top, showing off his rather toned arms.

Letting his eyes wander too far down he blushed a little, bringing his eyes all the way back up, smiling slightly at the others bed hair, his normally tidy hair was down, with bits sticking out.

"So where do you remember up to?" Riku said, without turning back to look at his guest.

"Err…" Sora replied, sounding slightly stupid. "I vaguely remember dancing with some guy…and that my glass kept getting re-filled…I have no idea where the others went." He scratched his head a little.

Riku chuckled a little as he grabbed a couple of plates, dishing the food up onto them.

"Well when I found you, you were flirting with your Science teacher." The silver haired male smirked as he placed a plate down with scrambled egg, bacon, tomatoes and toast in front of Sora.

"I…wh-…" Sora was at a loss of words, had he really been doing such a thing? "Oh god…"

Riku smiled to himself as the brunette hung his head in shame, he hadn't exactly told the complete truth; but he was hoping this would keep HIS Sora away from that damned Red head.

"Oh don't worry, you'd had one too many. Besides it's nothing compared to what happened after." He placed a mug of strong coffee down on the table next to Sora before sitting down in his own chair, mug of tea and a paper in hand.

"I don't know if I want to know…" He grimaced as he stabbed at his scrambled egg with a fork.

"Hm…Let's see" Riku ignored him and continued on, casually eating as he read the paper. "You left the club in a huff when I stopped you from drinking, you angered a couple of boys who went on to try and mug you and when you refused they tried to beat you up, I then brought you back here to try contact your friends but not a single one of them answered and in the end you grew impatient and ran wild in my home. " Riku flickered his gaze toward Sora, watching his various expressions.

"S-so you let me stay?" He stuttered out, swallowing hard.

"Not particularly…You stripped yourself of your clothes for some odd reason and made yourself at home in my bed. I had no choice in the matter." He shrugged and chuckled, finding this all rather amusing. "I took the liberty of washing your clothes; they stunk of alcohol and cigarettes."

Sora didn't know what to say, he was embarrassed beyond words. How could he of let himself drink that much?

"I'm sorry…" He mumbled out, lowering his head in shame again.

"It's not a problem; I don't mind really…It's nice to have company in the morning, for once." Riku shrugged and bit into a slice of toast, frowning at something in the paper.

Sora looked up, feeling a little better as the other said this. Smiling a bashfully he started to eat the food he'd had cooked for him, the silence between them a comfortable one, as if this was something they did every morning.