(Riku's POV)
I waited for Sora by the university gates. The sun was at its highest point in midday. It was taking Sora a while to meet me, so I passed the time on a mobile game on my phone. After getting bored of it, I put my phone back in my pocket. A few minutes later, I heard a "hey" from behind me, which almost made me jump.
Sora was standing behind me! I didn't even hear him walking!
"Whoa! How'd you get there? I swear, I didn't hear you!"
Sora only laughed playfully. He replaced his red and black jacket and gauntlet gloves with a bright blue jacket and a leather bracelet, his usual silver crown necklace hanging around his neck.
"Someone's jumpy today, what'd you do on your date? Watch a horror movie?" Sora teased.
"No, I'm not a scaredy cat, but I can't say for you." Sora grumbled, crossed his arms, and looks to the side.
"I'm not a cat..."
"Haha, so you want to come visit my house? It was empty last I was there, we can play something."
Sora looked oddly uncomfortable before settling with an "okay".
Walking through the park to my house, I saw the bench where Sky and I sat at the day we first met. I sat on the bench and Sora, though confused, sat next to me.
"So, about this morning," I started.
"Yeah? What about it?" Sora asked.
"How can you summon magic?"
"Riku, I can't, you won't like it, it's better off forgotten."
There he goes with his riddles again...
"Sora, you're the one that let it slip, might as well tell me, and who am I going to tell it to? I can't tell it to the Roars cause then they'll know I'm friends with you." Sora got a little offended by that.
"Are you saying being with me is embarrassing?"
"No, no, of course not! They just don't like you!"
"And you?" Sora asked, tilting his head and squinting his visible eye.
"W-Well, I um.. I.." I studied Sora's form. Studied his eyes, mouth, and curves.
"You're kinda cute." I blurted out without thinking.
I swear, if Sora was human, both of us would be red as a tomato. I don't know where that came from! I've never thought that before.. or have I? Well, I do compare him to cute things: toys and kittens, like how his mouth looks like a kitten's. Seriously, if you put whiskers on him, they wouldn't look out of place.
Sora looked away, only glancing in my direction.
"You think I'm.. cute?"
"No! I mean, yeah kind of.. I-I..."
Sora gazed at me, trying to find something I couldn't tell if that I was even hiding it from him. Then he closed his eyes with a shrug.
"Well if the Scaring career doesn't work out, at least I'm adorable." He said, making us both laugh, the awkward atmosphere dissolving.
"Yeah maybe you can be a comedian or model. You're scary, but plenty cute."
"Thanks."
We walked to my house, Sora not saying anything about it being a mansion or how I could live here. We went to my room where I started up a more casual game on one of my consoles.
"So," I asked Sora, "what do you like to do for fun?"
"Sparring, swimming, videogames, reading, watching movies, hanging out with my friends, a lot of things really."
"You fight?"
"For fun, yeah. Only with Roxas or my friend Zidane, and occasionally his brother Kuja and Tidus or Wakka, but sometimes we have an audience who decides who won."
"What do you do with your sisters?"
"We mostly watch movies, do homework, hang out. What do you do with your spare time?"
"Mostly hang out with my friend Axel, but he's been busy for some reason."
"Wait-" Sora turned sharply to me, "'Axel'? Like Axel Himura?"
"How'd you know?"
"He's my brother's boyfriend!"
"What? When told me he was dating a blondie, I assumed meant some girl he met."
"No, they met at work."
"So you've met Axel? What do you think of him?"
"He's a nice guy, but when he first started dating Roxas, he had too many side chicks and Rox gave him hell."
"How many?"
"One." Sora said with mirth and I cracked up a laugh.
Soon we got bored of the game and I put the game away. We went to go out but the door to my room suddenly opened!
"Riku?" It was Kadaj, my eldest brother. After him came my second eldest brother, Loz, and the second youngest, Yazoo.
"Kadaj? Loz? Yazoo? What are you guys doing here?"
"We were going to grab some picnic blankets for a meteor shower tonight, but when we came to the door we found it unlocked." Yazoo said in his usual smooth voice.
"We thought maybe mother or father were home early, but we found you." Loz said.
"Wait a minute.." Kadaj said, looking at Sora so closely Sora started leaning back, but Kadaj held his face to keep him there. His other hand his chin to look over his face.
"Oh my.." he muttered, "it's you.." he smiled suddenly and wrapped Sora in a huge hug.
"Kadaj?!" Sora asked surprised.
"It's you! Sora, you're alive!" He turned to Loz and Yazoo. "Guys, it's Sora! He's alive!"
"Sora?" Yazoo approached Sora slowly, and grabbed his hands, almost like he couldn't believe he was there.
"Yazoo..?"
"Sora, it is you! This is unbelievable!"
"But how?" Loz asked. "You were caught in that storm."
"Loz...I-it's complicated.."
"Wait," I said, "you all remember Sora? Why didn't any of you tell me about him?!"
"You were devastated when Sora left. We thought if we didn't bring him up, you could move on and make new friends." Yazoo said.
"So we made sure no one ever mentioned Sora, not even father. We're sorry, Riku, we just wanted you be happy again." Kadaj said.
"It's been years since we've seen him. I'm surprised he even remembers who we are, or what our names were."
"What happened to you, Sora?" Kadaj asked.
"I was flown far from the islands, farther than planes fly, and at that age, I was still too young to go through Doors on my own. So I was taken to an orphanage."
"We're so glad you're okay, Sora." Yazoo said tearing up.
"Don't cry, Yazoo," Loz teased. Sora gave him an unimpressed face.
"Really? And remind me, who was it that cried watching Charlotte's Web?" Loz started sniffling.
"Don't cry, Loz," Yazoo said.
"How come you remember them and not me?" I asked Sora.
"Oh, I remembered you, I just didn't recognize you. Honestly, Riku, you became an asshole."
"Wha-?- Name one asshole thing I've done." Then I realized, too late, that I fucked up.
"Hm, let's see: the first thing you did when we reunited was physically drag me behind a building, nearly broke both my collarbones, insulted me and bragged about your accomplishments, flicked my face, said I didn't have a chance in my chosen career, stalked me for nearly a week, including following me into the showers, spying on me after class, and waiting for me outside my classes, broke into my dorm several times, woke me up and held me down on my own bed, insulted me in front of other people, stole a pig and took it to my dorm, called me a dumbass, freak, weirdo, and a show-off, and teased me whenever you got the chance... But, hey, other than that, I really can't say why I called you an asshole." Sora finished sarcastically.
By this time, I was blushing madly, Kadaj was laughing into the bedsheets, Yazoo was trying to suppress his giggles and Loz was laughing and shaking his head. Kadaj lifted his head, eyes watery from laughing so hard.
"Y-you- you did what to him in his dorm?! A-and the shower-ers-s, ha ha ha! Man, you put more effort on him than the girls in high school!"
"On top of that, you got called out. I'm actually impressed how bad you were. But you were worse in high school." Loz said.
"What did he do?" Sora asked.
"Don't tell him!" I protested, but of course my jerkass brothers did it anyway.
"He was a skirt-chaser, best in all his classes, and was a jerk to a lot of students. He threw a ton of parties, and had several girlfriends, few boyfriends, side chicks, and affairs, sometimes all at the same time. He couldn't hold onto a girl for more than a few weeks once," Loz said.
"Guys~, stop it~! I'm not like that anymore! I actually found someone I really like!"
"Oh congratulations, can't wait to see Dad blow up over another again," Loz said.
"So who is your new guy or girl?" Yazoo asked.
"His name is Sky Aozora."
"His name means 'sky blue sky'?" Kadaj asked with a confused face.
"Huh? What?" I asked, not getting it.
"The first part of the last name means either green or blue, and Sora's name, meaning 'sky', is in the form of 'zora' in the last part of the last name. It just sounds like a ridiculous name."
"Oh.. I did think it was a funny name, I guess that's why.." I studied Sora for his reaction but he shrugged.
"If it makes you feel better, my name means 'sky light'." He said. Truly, it didn't, but even if my suspicions were correct, I found myself doubting to mind if it was.
"I thought your name was Sora Strife?" Kadaj asked. Sora's real last name is "Strife"?
"I was adopted by the Hikari family."
"...What the fuck does 'strife' mean?" I asked. I could tell it had a negative connotation, but Sora shrugged and took out his phone to look it up.
"It describes my birth father, Cloud Strife, perfectly though; 'anger or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues'," he said.
"Must have.. been a swell guy, your father. So.. how do you think your current name fits you?"
"I guess I'm light. Or maybe I'm a window." Sora said smiling. Kadaj picked Sora up.
"Wha-? Kadaj?!" Sora said, looking at him.
"Hey, he is light!"
"Put me down!" Sora demanded indignantly.
"Okay. Hey Riku, catch!" He threw Sora up and towards me.
I did manage to catch Sora, but when I did, I glared at Kadaj.
"Kadaj! You can't throw Sora around just because you feel like it! You're twenty-four!"
"Aww, you care so much for him," he teased, "even though you were an asshole to him."
"Yeah, he's pretty cute, maybe you should date him instead," Loz teased.
"What?!" Sora and I both exclaimed.
"Well, if you don't want him, I'll take him," Kadaj said, reclaiming Sora.
"Huh?" Sora looked so confused. Kadaj laid him in his lap on the bed and stopped Sora when he tried to get away.
"Kadaj, what are you doing with him?!" I demanded.
"Nothing! C'mon, he's so cute!" He said hugging him. "He's like a kitten!"
"Why does everybody compare me to a cat?" Sora asked exasperated.
"It's because of your mouth," Loz said.
"And the stripes," Yazoo said.
"And you're soft," I commented.
"And you're cute," Kadaj said.
"Okay, the first two, I can't deny, the last one I can accept, but how am I soft?" Sora asked.
"You joking?" I said, "we've slept in the same bed twice, Sora," I got to the bed and went to kneel next to Sora in my eldest brother's lap, "you can't deny anything I say about that."
"Riku's right, Sora, you are very soft, I could hug you all night." Kadaj said, hugging Sora again.
"The negative of being fluffy is that you can't feel fluffy."
To be honest, I was getting kind of jealous of how Kadaj was holding Sora. I wanted to hold him again, heck, I wouldn't mind if Kadaj threw him again, as long as I caught him.
"Alright, let him go, Kadaj," I said, tugging at Sora's bright blue jacket.
"Fine, you want him? You can have him." He lifted Sora up and settled him in my lap.
"Hey.. I was starting to like his lap," Sora pouted.
"Then you'll love mine." I assured.
"Oh, I almost forgot; we were just going to have a picnic for the meteor shower tonight. Would you two like to join us? We made extra food, so two more wouldn't hurt," Yazoo said.
"Sure, how about you, Sor?"
"Sure! I've never seen a meteor shower before, and I love picnics!"
"Then, yeah, we'll go," I said.
"Come on then," Yazoo said.
I picked up Sora, supporting his back and legs, and in response, Sora wrapped his arms around my neck.
"Um, Riku, I can walk."
"Yes, but then you might go back to Kadaj's lap."
"Haha! Jealous much?"
"Mmm, maybe. Plus he might throw you again."
We went on a path through the forest into a clearing of soft grass where we set up the picnic blankets. The sky was pitch black but speckled with stars, some meteors already streaking by. I decided to let Sora sit next to me because he said "I want to be able to do things" and proceeded to get a sandwich and some crackers. Kadaj was eating chips, Yazoo was eating a sandwich, and Loz was having an internal debate on getting chips or crackers.
After a few minutes of looking at the stars, Sora starting shivering. He scooted closer back to me and I wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"K-kind of wish I got a b-better jacket."
"I can get you one if you want, it's not far a walk back," I said, but Sora shook his head.
"No, if you don't mind, I'll just be a minute," Sora said, getting up.
"Where are you going?"
"No where important, I'll just be a minute," he repeated stiffly.
He didn't go through the path as I'd thought he would, but into the forest. When he was five seconds deep into the forest, I followed his path to see where he went. I had to be careful of where I tread. It was fall, and every leaf was a mine that could easily alert Sora to my location. Never has my biggest adversary ever been such an innocent threat as a leaf.
I found Sora next to a tree on a much smaller dirt clearing, shivering and rubbing his arms for warmth. He took some stones and leaves and muttered a "fire" spell to make a small flame. He sat by it, trying to get warm. When he seemed satisfied, he put out the fire an looked at his hands for a considerable amount of time and then a flash of light shown around him.
The light nearly blinded me, but after it faded and I looked for Sora, I found Sky sitting in the same position Sora was just sitting in. He wore the same bright blue jacket and brown leather bracelet, as well as a black t-shirt and black jeans. A different outfit from this morning, but undeniably him.
"Sora?" Sora turned, startled to find me.
"R-Riku..?!" Sora sounded terrified, "I- how much did you see?"
"Not much, did you... Sora?" I said emphasizing the name.
"Riku, I'm not Sor-"
"-Sora, stop it- there's no use in denying it now."
Any warmth Sora gained from the fire seemingly vanished abruptly, leaving him frozen, shaking, and silent. His face was distraught and fearful. His eyes sparkled. He closed his eyes and turned away, a glittering tear running down his cheek.
I could feel a pull in my chest, Sora playing my heartstrings to a wistful melody composed by his melancholy. He didn't move from where he stood, caught in the reverberations of the loud silence.
It took so much to take the few steps to him, but eventually I stood in front of him.
"Sora.." I said quietly. Then Sora asked the one question I asked myself every time I pictured this situation.
"What are you going to do now?"
What was I going to do? To start with, I wanted answers.
"How did this.. start?" Sora wiped his eyes and looked down guiltily.
"I was going swimming when I saw you in Hollow Bastion and wanted to see where you were going. I thought you'd be at the RΩR party, but then we were talking in the café."
"How are you like this? What are you?" I demanded. Sora's body shined and he was in monster form again.
"It's tricky to explain. I'm- for the most part- half human, half monster. When I was born, I was human, but I was given as a volunteer -along with a few others- to a group of scientists who studied monster DNA and added parts of it to my DNA. It was infused with magic, so we obtained an ability to change between human and monster. My brother was left out of the experiment."
"That's how you can be in two forms and use magic?"
"Partially, my parents could use it too."
"Why did you start talking to me as Sky?"
"You just started talking to me, and flirting with me, and you really seemed to want to be with me, so I thought that maybe I'll get to know you better."
"..Do you.. even care about me?"
"Of course I do! I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't!"
"Then why the lying? Why make things up like that?" I asked angrily.
"I never lied!" Sora said quickly. "Sure, I gave partial truths sometimes, but I never fully lied!"
"You lied about your name."
Sora was quiet.
"If you had believed my real name, you would've freaked out, and if you didn't, you would've thought I was crazy. And it's not like it was a good name. I thought with how bad the name was you'd catch on anyway. What could have I said?"
"Then why did you let us happen?"
"I don't really know why, I just liked it. I wanted it. I really do like you, Riku. I just didn't want to say 'no'."
"Is this why we've never really kissed? Because you were hiding from me?" Sora said nothing.
"Sora?" Sora's fins hid his face, and I brought a hand to his cheek to feel moist tears wetting his fur.
I then understood why Sora did all that he did. He wanted to be with me, so badly, but wanted me to know the truth, even though it might cause me to reject him.
"You wanted to, didn't you?" Sora broke into tears, collapsing into me, sobbing. I led us to kneel in the dirt. Regaining control of himself, Sora started breathing deeply.
"I did want to," he said into my chest, "I wanted to tell you, so much. But it never felt like I could. If you could forgive me, and maybe still like me... but I can't force you to date me." I hugged Sora closely.
"It's okay, Sora, I forgive you," I moved apart from him to meet his eyes, "and I still like you."
"Wha..?"
I hugged Sora's waist and finally kissed him. Sora froze before relaxing. His hands hesitantly held my face and played with my hair. I moved him to sit in my lap, trying to bring him closer. I ran my hands through his fur, feeling his strong body pressing against mine.
We broke the kiss and when I felt like going back into it, Sora gasped and pointed at the sky.
"Look, look! The meteor shower!"
The meteor shower was picking up, more streaks of light falling through the dark night.
"Come on! Let's get back there!" Sora urged.
We ran back to the clearing, back to the picnic with my older brothers.
"There you guys are! You were gone so long we were about to send a search party." Loz said.
"Sorry guys, ran into some things, but we're fine," I assured.
"Well you're right on time, look!"
We laid back into the blankets, staring mesmerized by the lit up night sky. I discreetly moved closer to Sora, throwing an arm over his stomach like a side hug, Sora scooting closer until his head laid on my chest, watching the sky light up with streaks of white fire and shimmering stars.
It was almost an hour before the meteor shower started to stop, and it was nearing midnight. We decided it was time to go back to Monsters University, thankfully before we hit the curfew.
By the time we reached the entrance of the university, it was around 12:30, just enough time to check back in. I walked with Sora to his dorm door. As soon as we opened the door, Roxas, completely awake and worried about his brother, started frantically asking and checking Sora's body for injuries.
"Sora, where have you been?! You told me you'd only be out for a few hours! It's past midnight!" He said like a worried mother hen.
"Roxas, calm down. We were back by curfew. We're fine," Sora reassured.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Roxas asked.
"Yes."
Roxas sighed in relief and told Sora to go to bed, then left himself. Sora and I shared one last hug, kissing each other goodnight.
(A/N): So Riku knows and accepts Sora! But there's still plenty worth of story to go left, so stick around! Next one is going to have some more conflict! As usual, if you liked the chapter, favorite, comment, and constructive criticism is always welcome, still learning, and I'll see you next chapter! -Jewel
