From Eternamente -- Another chapter! Another kind-of-filler, though, but the plot does indeed have lift off by the chapter's completion! There! It only took me seven chapters of fluff and stuff to finally get there! Hehe, I'll stop talking about it... enjoy!

Disclaimer -- All characters and Kingdom Hearts references belong to Disney/Square Enix. Stuff and fluff belongs to me. Sora's also somewhere hanging out... oh, there he is, trying on my clothes. I don't think I should disturb him... I also shouldn't be dangling this camera around... taking pictures...

--------------------

Until Eternity -- Chapter Seven

"So you're trying to tell me that Sora is an angel?" Tidus said. The four were back in Riku's apartment, sitting around the kitchen table chatting over a pitcher of lemonade.

"Yup!" Kairi replied. Sora had just come out of Riku's bedroom, having taken off the sweatshirt. He needed to let his wings out soon. After constantly having them out they were too used to being exposed, and so keeping them dismissed for too long eventually caused Sora's back to ache.

"Where is his robe, and wings, and halo, and harp and such?" Tidus remarked.

Riku snorted as he placed his glass of lemonade onto the table. "Are you really comparing Sora to some Sunday School angel? Geeze, be a little more open-minded. I mean, damn, you accepted Sora and I, but you can't accept that he's an angel?"

"Riku, don't be harsh on him," Sora interjected as he entered the room and sat down on Riku's lap. Riku happily placed his arms around his angel. "You can't make someone believe without actual proof."

Kairi poked Tidus and pointed at Sora's back. "There, you see? Why would he be wearing a shirt that looks like that from the back?" Tidus rolled his eyes, but did take note of the shape of Sora's shirt. The back was racer-style to expose his shoulder blades. "I mean, answer me that?"

Sora sighed. "Kairi, I should just show him."

"He's your friend, Sora. He should just believe you."

"Yeah, but he's obviously not going to just believe me without proof. I should show him already," Sora replied as Kairi threw her hands up in defeat. Sora knew she was right, but he also wanted to make Tidus believe. It was easier that way. Plus Sora's back was really starting to ache. Sora leaned into Riku and closed his eyes tightly. "Brace yourself, Riku," he said with a laugh as he summoned his wings. Sora's brilliant pair of silver wings shot out of his back and flapped magnificently in the room; the force knocking over the pitcher of lemonade, causing it to create a minor flood on the table. Tidus' eyes grew wide in amazement.

"Woah! Sora!" Tidus exclaimed.

Sora breathed a sigh of relief. "It feels good to let them back out," he said as he nuzzled into Riku's neck. "I've had them out ever since I could first summon them."

"It hurts to keep them dismissed?" Riku asked concernedly. He glanced around for a napkin... something to clean the spill up, but Kairi was already a step ahead of him as she came back to the table with a bunch of paper towels.

"It's become natural to keep them out," Sora replied. "After nearly a year of having them out constantly, I guess I kind of got used to them out all of the time, and it hurts to keep them dismissed now. That's what Aerith told me the first time I tried to keep them dismissed. After a few hours I was in such pain… it's kind of like if you get into a position for so long, and you try to move and it just hurts… Anyway, I promised myself I'd always keep them out, because they reminded me of you." He gently kissed Riku's neck and cheek.

Riku rubbed Sora's back and shook his head. "Maybe we should start finding ways to keep them out."

Sora shook his head as well. "Nah, it's okay. It's not really too painful. It's more like a cramp or a crick in your neck or something like that. I'm just not dismissing them while at home." Sora laughed lightly. "I hope you don't mind having a bird in your house."

"Waitwaitwaitwait WAIT," Tidus snapped. "SORA is an angel. An honest to God, wow that's literal, angel." Sora turned to look at Tidus and shook his head in affirmation. "That's impossible. When people die, they just die or become ghosts or something. They don't sprout wings and become angels."

"Tidus… I'm sitting here, right?" Sora raised an eyebrow. "I mean, not to sound rude, but how can you deny something that's in front of your face. You know I died. You were at my funeral. You…" Sora sighed sadly as he tried to change the subject slightly to avoid talking about his own death again. "You can't deny something as real as this."

"I just… I don't get it. I read that angels were little babies floating in the clouds…" Tidus looked up to the ceiling as if in thought.

"Like Riku said, are you really comparing me to some Sunday School story?" Sora said with a laugh. "Tidus, I'm real, and whether or not you can accept that, I'm back. And I'm with Riku again. I'm happy again," he continued as he turned to look his boyfriend in the eyes. Riku pulled the angel into a hug, and Sora's wings flapped happily in response.

"Sora, you're like some kind of pet when you do that wing flapping thing whenever Riku touches you," Kairi pointed out with a smirk.

"Well, I am his little uke, aren't I?" Sora chuckled as his wings continued to flap. "Close enough."

------

"I can't believe he's an angel," Tidus shook his head. "It's too weird." Riku had grown tired and wanted to take a nap in his bedroom. Sora, being his guardian angel, decided to join his boyfriend despite not being tired at all.

"I know it is, but I accepted it. Sora died, became an angel, and is back here," Kairi replied. "It's weird, but it's also sweet and wonderful."

"I missed him, but I thought he was gone forever. I let him go," the blonde replied. "Why did he come back, anyway?"

"For Riku."

"Wow. He died and came back to be with Riku," Tidus said as he leaned back in his chair. "That's like, romantic and stuff. Like, their love for each other went beyond the confines of afterlife."

Kairi smiled as Tidus seemed to finally accept Sora's angelic status.

"I always knew he'd become something amazing," Tidus laughed. "I mean, he was strong-willed, kind to everyone, friendly, funny… a bit of a ditz at times, but he was always looking out for people. He'd do anything for anyone. I guess it makes sense he's an angel now. He was one when he was alive."

Kairi smiled again. "It'll mean a lot to Sora if you just accept the truth. He wouldn't lie to you. And, you know, it's kinda cool."

"Those wings are awesome," Tidus exclaimed.

"Thanks," Sora replied as he entered the room. "Oh, Riku fell asleep, and I was gonna lay with him but I couldn't sleep. So I watched him for a little while, but something's on my mind."

"What's up?" Kairi inquired as the brunet took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Do you guys know where my car is?" Sora asked. Kairi could sense the undertone of sadness in Sora's voice.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I want to see it," Sora replied. "I left something in there that's important to me, and I need it. And… I just want to see it."

"I can take you to the impound lot if you want? It's probably still there," Tidus offered.

"I'd like that. Thanks," Sora smiled. "I'll go let Riku know we'll be gone for a little bit."

"Why doesn't he come?" Kairi called after the angel.

"No! Er… no, Riku can't come. It's important that he doesn't," Sora stated.

"He's already seen the car, Sora," Kairi said. "He knows everything that happened."

"I know, but, I just can't bring him with us. I can't tell you right now. I'll just let him know we'll be back in a little bit," Sora smiled a goofy assuring grin before heading back into Riku's room.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to get used to the wings," Tidus scratched his head while Kairi giggled. "They're cool and all, but they just seem weird."

"I dunno. I think they befit him well," she smiled.

A few minutes later the trio headed into Riku's car. Sora sprawled out in the backseat with his wings outstretched for comfort while Tidus drove. Once again, Kairi sat in the front seat. Shortly thereafter the group arrived at the impound lot, and Sora whined a bit about having to dismiss his wings again. They stepped out and headed to the information desk within the small building.

"Hi," Kairi smiled at the man working the desk. "We're looking for a Mazda Miata?"

The man nodded and began typing in some things in his computer. "What color?"

"Navy," Kairi replied.

"License plate?"

Kairi hesitated before Sora answered. "767-2RK"

"Hmm… belonged to a Sora Tsukada?" the man asked as Kairi nodded. "Oy, that car came in a bad shape. No one's ever claimed it, even though it's been here for nine months. Do you guys own it?"

Sora couldn't lie, but he couldn't exactly tell the man, 'yeah, I'm Sora back from the dead and looking to reclaim the car I died in. It's not a problem, right?' Fortunately Tidus spoke up before Sora could respond.

"Not yet, but it's a friend's car. We might be picking it up for him within a few days," the blonde said as the man gave an approving smile.

"Alright. It's at lot 120," he said as he allowed them to head past the desk.

"You little sneak," Sora jabbed Tidus in the ribs. "You shouldn't lie."

"I didn't lie. It is a friend's car. You're a friend," Tidus pointed out. "And we might be picking it up. We might not. Who's to tell what we'll do?" Tidus giggled.

Sora laughed, and paused for a moment. His mind envisioned the glove compartment where he had placed his golden ring for safekeeping, but in his vision he saw the compartment to be empty. "Oh no," he whispered as he ran across the lot. For a brief moment he stretched his wings and arrived at his old car in no time at all. A few moments later Kairi and Tidus saw Sora sitting in the passenger's seat of his convertible shaking and crying, huddling his wings around himself protectively.

"Sora? What's wrong. I thought you said you couldn't cry," Kairi gently placed a hand on the angel's shoulder. He continued to sob, but when she looked she could only see single tears rolling down his cheek. He was making the motions of crying, but only a few tears were making their appearance.

"Sora, I know it's hard to see the car you died in, but you were the one who wanted to see…" Tidus began before Sora interrupted him.

"It's not here," the angel whimpered. "I thought it would be here, but it's not."

"What's not here?" Kairi asked.

"The ring," Sora whispered. "Riku's ring. I remember putting it in the glove compartment before we pulled out of the parking lot. And now it's gone. Lost. Probably flew out of the car, or landed in a ditch, and just got lost and forgotten, and I'll never find it!" Sora curled himself into a ball on the front seat and punched the seat violently. "I just want to cry, dammit, and I can't. All I'm doing is whimpering like some puppy. I was going to give that ring to Riku. It's gone."

"Sora…" Kairi said sadly as she pulled the angel into a hug. He whimpered and shook in her arms. "Sora, I'm sure you can get another…" Her sentence was cut off as she suddenly recalled a distant memory of her pocketing the small box that held Sora's ring. Kairi gasped as she brought Sora's face into view. The angel's eyes and forehead looked heavy, as if he had cried his eyes out, but his face was completely dry and angelic. "Sora, I have the ring."

"What?" Sora looked into Kairi's eyes hopefully. "How do you have it?"

"When we were in the accident, the box had fallen into my seat and I took it before seeing you and being taken to the hospital. I put it in my jewelry box when I got home that night," she explained. Sora's eyes grew wide with happiness.

"Really? You really have it?" Sora smiled. "It's at your home?" Kairi nodded, and then was surprised when Sora pulled her into his arms. "Let's go!" Sora spread his wings and took to the sky gracefully with Kairi holding on for dear life. The two could hear Tidus shouting at them from down below to come back.

"S… Sora…?" Kairi gasped out as the night sky flew by her.

"I need that ring so badly. I need to give it to Riku, Kairi. That's one of the reasons why I came back. Not just to be with Riku, or fulfill my mission. I needed to give my soul to him," the angel said as he expertly maneuvered through the currents. "It's in your jewelry box, right?"

"Yes," Kairi gasped as she held on for dear life. Shortly thereafter the two arrived at her home. Sora landed on her windowsill with ease and helped Kairi into her bedroom window. He knelt on her windowsill as she turned on a light and opened her jewelry box. "Did you want to come in?" she called to the angel.

Sora's nose suddenly picked up the scent of an ominous aura. At first he thought it was strange that he could sense such an impure sensation, but he suppressed that disbelief in favor of investigating the source. He sniffed the night air suspiciously and glanced around. "Uh… Kairi?"

"Yes?"

"I'll be back in a few minutes, alright? I… something's come up. I need to look into it," Sora called out as he readied himself for flight. "But find that ring. I'll be back soon for you."

"Oh, okay," Kairi called out as she continued to search.

Sora flapped his argent wings and flew towards the aura. There, sitting in the darkness of a nearby park, was the source of the aura Sora could sense. The angel gracefully landed on the ground a safe distance from the aura. As he approached, he could see it was emanating itself from a young man.

"Who's there?" Sora asked cautiously as he dismissed his wings.

"Huh?" A shaky voice met Sora, and startled him that such an uneasy voice could come from something with such an aura.

"Uh… I asked who's there," Sora responded.

"Who wants to know?" the being turned around and Sora could see a young man dressed in a long black coat. His hair was a blonde spiky mullet, with a few loose strands flitting about his forehead, and he carried himself with a timid disposition.

"Sora," the angel replied.

"Sora! It's you!" the man said excitedly. "I'm glad to see you! I was told you'd be in the area, so I was sent here. I've been waiting here for hours!"

"Er… how… how do you know me?" Sora asked, utterly confused.

"My boss sent me to destroy you," the blonde replied with a smile.

"Excuse me?" Sora ached an eyebrow at the man before him. "Your boss sent you to… destroy me?"

The man nodded happily, which only further confused the angel. Here was a very timid man, emitting a strange aura, suggesting that he was going to destroy him as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"You're kidding me. Who are you?" Sora demanded.

"The name's Demyx," he said as he summoned a guitar-like weapon. "And this is my sitar. I love to play it, but my song will be the last you ever hear."

"No, seriously. I don't even know what you're talking about," Sora said as he crossed his arms in disbelief. He wanted to crack a smile and laugh, but for some reason he had a feeling this person might actually be serious.

"I am serious!" Demyx replied as he played a short tune on his sitar. A bolt of water shot out from the instrument and slammed against Sora, sending the surprised angel reeling back in pain. Feet away the angel lay on the ground dazed. Sora sat up as he regained composure from the sudden impact, but his shoulder ached sharply. The angel winced slightly, and realized that he felt pain. "I thought only supernatural means could harm me," he muttered out loud. "What… what are you?" he called out to his attacker.

"What do you think, angel?" Demyx shot out another bolt of water from his sitar, and at the last moment Sora dodged the impact. "We're going to take over this world and be free to roam the lands once again," he cackled.


In celebration of FINALLY starting the action plot of this story, I've decided to present you with a few UE factoids:

-- Sora's birthdate: That's my birthday... at least the month and date are.
-- Sora's date of death: The month and date are my brother's birthdate.
-- Sora's hospital room number, 926: Once again, my birthday. Now you all know when to get me presents hehe.
-- Sora's liscence plate number, 767-2RK: Using a telephone keypad '7672' spells out 'Sora,' and RK stands for Riku.
-- Sora's surname in both Until Eternity and An Angel's Savior is Tsukada. Riku's surname in Until Eternity is Matabi. Both have no meaning, as far as I know. I chose them because they sounded good with their respective first names.
-- Riku's surname in An Angel's Savior is Lyonhart. I'll leave that reason up to your imagination ;) Hey, I did say this was a bunch of UE factoids, didn't I?

And that's all she wrote! I can't think of any more factoids for UE. Reviews, as always, cause the plot bunnies to multiply. Thanks!

P.S. Did you notice the lemon?! I'm an evil little schmuck, aren't I. Mwahaha...