Kairi opened the door to her now familiarly silent home with the sinking feeling that her fiancé was not there to greet her. True enough, the house echoed her footsteps without a trace of another human being in its walls. In the lonesome twilight lit kitchen she put out her frustration in beginning to prepare the fish she'd brought home from the mainland that day. She hardly ever saw Sora these days. He was always gallivanting around the island like he was a child again. There was so much to be done, and he was acting like a… a…

"Ugh!" she groaned, throwing the pan aggressively onto the stove. The fish began to sizzle as she poured in the oil and added the spices. She hated thinking about him off in some dark corner of the island all by himself pretending he could just forget the world around him.

"The world doesn't work like that, Sora!" she accused the frying fish. "You can't just purpose to someone then expect to be so distant and unreliable to them!" The redhead was horrified to feel tears streaming down her face. She got the fish off the burner just as she crumpled behind the counter with her eyes tightly shut against her sobs and her nose beginning to drip down her face.

Kairi had been trying so hard these past weeks, planning this and that, writing invitations, estimating costs… Her stress was at an all time high, and then they had to fight. But this silence and isolation was much worse than the daily rows. He'd just suddenly given up on her argument of being married on Riku's island and accepted it. It hadn't seemed strange at first, but then these days going out with no explanation, going out into the storms…

Just a few nights ago she'd awoken alone in bed after a sweet intimacy they had rarely shared these past few weeks to find him coming in out of the storm, disheveled, panting and soaked.

There had to be some sort of answer to it all.

She heard the door open with a creak, but no one stepped into the house for a moment. She held her breath, pushing her back into the corner of the counter. Sora usually walked in loudly…

"Smells like someone's been cooking," came a voice, oddly familiar, but not Sora's. It had a slightly strange dip to it, and at the end was a little, "hyuck!"

Kairi jumped up with an excited, girly scream. The duck and dog standing before her both jumped back in surprise as Kairi threw her arms up in the air and embraced both Donald and Goofy.

"Get off! Get off!" the little mage quacked, pushing Kairi off of him. Goofy however, hugged the young girl back and gave her a little pat on the shoulder. Kairi beamed, even though her face was tear-stained.

"Have you been crying Kairi?" Goofy asked, his large eyes furrowed in concern. Kairi gave a nervous little laugh and stroked away a few remaining tears.

"I just… I was…" she mumbled, not knowing how to describe the past two months. With a sigh she finally said, "I'm just stressed, but that's not important! What are you guys doing here?!"

"I think we oughta answer that with Sora around," Donald said, his voice as dark as a duck's could get. His expression made Kairi very nervous. They had to have traveled for at least a solid month to get here. World travel wasn't very quick now that the Door was closed and the worlds were no longer linked together by the darkness.

"Well, I'm glad you came for the wedding," Kairi said, turning back to the meal she was halfway through making.

"We might not be staying that long."

"Donald, course we will!"

"W-why wouldn't you?" Kairi stammered, holding a bowl of lettuce as she stared at the two with watery eyes.

"It's easier if we just waited for Sora before we say," Donald insisted though he looked like he regretted saying that to Kairi. "It is sort of important… so if you could call him down."

"Well, I don't know where he is," Kairi muttered bitterly. "He's been running off lately, says he's "sick of sitting around". If he's so sick of sitting around, then why doesn't he just help me with the planning I mean—"

"Wait, where's he been going off to?" Donald interrupted, his eyes narrowed as his hands went on his hips. Kairi was glad for the suspicion in the duck's voice. It made her feel less guilty for not trusting Sora.

"I dunno. Says he wants to get in shape again," she sighed, tossing a few tomatoes into the mix of the salad bowl.

"I bet he did get our letter, Donald," Goofy said in a voice that reassured and calmed both the girl and the mage. "He's probably just gearing up in case something happens, hyuck!"

Kairi paused and said slowly, "Wait… what did your letter say?"

"Didn't he tell you?" Donald replied skeptically, glancing up at Goofy who blinked innocently.

"T-tell me what…?"


"Sora… Sora…"

"Ngh." The brunette half-opened his eyelids, seeing someone's face swimming before his. It was very close, and he closed his eyes once again, assuming it was Kairi. "I know, I know, I'm a lazy bum," he grumbled into the soft shoulder he leaned against. He hadn't slept this comfortably since…

"Well, yes, that and Kairi's going to wonder where you've been. It's past twilight now."

Sora's eyes flew open and what he saw was a pair of most brilliant eyes he'd ever seen. He felt like he was staring into the sea. Everything else went out of focus as he tried to lean into those eyes…

Riku blinked, and the spell was broken.

Sora realized that he was in his friend's arms, and the blindfold lay on the cave floor beside them. The brunette was curled up with his legs against his chest, resting upon his friend's chest as a pillow. Over all, the circumstance was rather awkward. Riku had noticed the vacant stare up into his eyes and gave a little smirk.

"My eyes aren't the only things you can get lost in…" Riku cooed in a way that Sora had never heard. Sora gave an unconscious shiver at the sound.

"W-what are you talking about?" Sora stammered, being sure not to look at the silver haired boy's eyes. Those eyes sparkled with understanding and mischief.

"Why did you bring me back?" Riku said, suddenly serious. He let go of Sora and was now staring at him with an intensity that made Sora shiver again. How could his moods change so suddenly?

"Riku, I told you…"

"No, that's not it. I know it isn't. Why did you bring me back?"

There was a long silence, as Sora fought with his thoughts. He wasn't even sure why. Now, he had to face the fact. Why had he brought back the boy who'd caused him so much pain and suffering?

"…Because I made you a promise," he whispered softly, his eyes looking down at his shoes. "And I'll never turn my back on a promise I made to someone I love."

The cave filled with silence, and Sora felt Riku move. The older boy stood and stretched his arms above his head, staring out at the soft moonlight seeping through the entrance of the cave. Sora figured that Riku hadn't wanted that answer, but he knew that was why he'd done it. He loved Riku like a brother—even if his best friend had betrayed him.

"I'm never going to be able to fill Kairi's shoes though, huh?"

"What?"

"You heard me. You love me, Sora, only as a friend." Riku wasn't look at him still, but Sora was now staring up at his friend in confusion. "But… Sometimes I think that I want more than that from you." His bright eyes caught in the moonlight and Sora caught a glimpse of something behind his eyes, something dark and not right. He turned back towards Sora, holding out a hand. Sora suppressed the gasp rising in his throat. He was offering him to follow, but this time it wasn't into the darkness to discover worlds. This offer made Sora's heart split into two.

"Sometimes I want you to love me the way I love you."

"Riku…"

"The darkness isn't so bad, Sora," Riku continued, taking the conversation in an odd direction to Sora. That same flash happened behind those eyes that Riku could not control. But his next sentence made Sora's skin prickle with unease. "It may drive you mad, but when it does… you figure out things that seemed so complicated in the light. But the dark casts no shadows.

"Follow me," Riku demanded in a hushed whisper. "Let the darkness strip away the questions. Let it cleanse you."

"Riku, what are you talking about! The darkness nearly swallowed you!" Sora cried weakly, afraid.

"Yes," Riku laughed and flexed his fingers, still waiting for Sora to take his hand.

"Riku… I can't."

The shining quality of his eyes seemed to dim for a moment as Riku took in a deep breath. The strange dark flashes behind them flickered and seemed to move as he breathed, it reminded Sora of someone lunging. His breath turned to a gasp. He fell to the ground and Sora was at his side in a moment. He took a hold of his friend's waist, trying to get him to sit up. He was on all fours, coughing and gasping. It seemed there was something… in his mouth. There was dark water pouring from his lips, thick and black as ink it poured down his front and onto the cave floor. As it touched the ground it began to twitch into shapes that made Sora gasp. They took shape into the heartless that could lie flat upon the ground. They began to pop up, but Sora was ready. He thrashed out at them with the keyblade that had come to his aid at once, slicing through them with ease. But they kept coming from Riku as he retched and choked on the strange ink.

A sudden idea popped into the brunette's head, and before he could fight it off, he'd stopped fighting the creatures and knelt down beside his friend. He pulled the gagging boy up, and pressed his lips to Riku's.

What happened next was all a blur to Sora. He could feel the heat pouring from his own lips, the heat of the light inside him. It clashed with the deathly cold of the ink smeared on Riku's lips. It seemed to bubble away at the touch, and Riku ceased to choke upon it. The remaining heartless scuttled away without Sora's notice. He had his eyes closed tightly as he experienced the odd sensation. Then, slowly, a hand's fingers entwined themselves in his hair, while the other snaked around his waist and pulled him closer.

Sora hadn't expected this. He'd thought it was the darkness talking to him, tempting him to be tainted as well. But it had been Riku speaking. He really did love him…

Riku's lips broke away for a moment and Sora gave a gasp. "Riku, let go, please," he begged. "I…"

"Started it," Riku finished. "How did you know that would work?"

"Erm…" He could feel his cheeks burning hot. It seemed to have just made sense to kiss Riku, but… now that he thought about it, he knew exactly why. He gave a tiny smile that Riku didn't catch.

He set his face, and said with confidence, "Because heartless can't stand love."

"And I had thought you just wanted to piss me off."

"That too."

"Shut up and kiss me."

"Mmf!" Before Sora could say another word, Riku's lips were back on his, this time, they both accepted it, and slowly Sora felt his body being lowered to the floor of the cave. He reached up and ran his hands through Riku's hair. Riku pulled away for a breath and leaned closer to Sora. The keyblade master's mind was reeling. He had no idea how this hand happened, but it seemed so wonderful. He didn't let his mind think of all his responsibilities. He forgot about the heartless and the dangers of them escaping, about Mickey still being held in Kingdom Hearts, but most of all, he let himself forget Kairi. In that moment, it seemed so simple. He couldn't marry her. Not now, not after he'd just done this. Riku was gently holding his face in his hands and whispering something to him, and he just managed to make it out from his swirling thoughts.

"Don't loose yourself, Sora," he was murmuring. "The worlds need you."

Sora wasn't sure what he meant, but didn't question it as their lips met once more.


N/A -- Came quite suddenly, didn't it? I actually had no idea what I was doing when I was writing this. xD It's a whole new plot idea, but I like it. Yes, I'm thinking of things as I go. It's fun.
Thank you to BabyBlueRowen, Darkmoon Fleur, FallenPhoenix9, FernClaw, HitomiLoveless, Kita Ito, MysticMaiden 18, SilverYaoiHellion, Sometime, animeadmirer, and namikun masaski for keeping alert. ;)
Also thank you to Alaris-Kun, Cattypatra, and Gurei-Chan for the favorites!
TO THOSE WHO REVIEW! YOU'RE AMAZING! -hands cookies-
Jacqueline Out.