Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix and Disney do.

A/N: Well, due to the recent amount of reviews that I have been receiving, this will temporarily be the last chapter of the story. Meaning I'm discontinuing it until I find the urge to write on it again. It doesn't necessarily mean that I'm not going to keep writing on this, most definitely no. I'll be adding to this story every now and then. However, I will not be posting anymore of this for a while. It may be a short while or it may be a long while, depends on how much I actually feel like writing. I've been writing and changing this story for reviews and I need to get back to writing it for me.

But about the chapter, this is more of a "season finale" per say. It's not the end of the whole story, rather it's the end of a certain ark of the tale. It won't be very dramatic, but it will clear some things up about the end of their freshman year. I hope you guys still enjoy it.


Phase 08: Miss Me
The concert came and gone and with it, everything in Besaid University began to find a sense of normalcy. Kairi was reluctantly unable to go because of a fever so he, Zen, Tidus, and Selphie decided to go in her stead. At first Sora was upset but he ended up having a great time with them and Zen even caught a guitar pick for him to brink back to Kairi.

Sora continued his relationship with Kairi and tried to forget his feelings for Riku. It still was hurtful to think of him, that would take a little more time to get over. But he learned to enjoy the relationship that he had and soon he had rekindled the flame between he and Kairi's icy relationship. It was almost as if he had entirely erased the jock from his life, with a little bit of help of course.

He and Zen had become even closer in the past few days and they spent many afternoons walking along the beach or sitting under the trees just talking. With each passing day, Sora enjoyed the blonde's company, taking in his advice and just relating with each other. After all, Zen really was such a great listener, better than Tidus. And of course he couldn't talk to Selphie about anything involving Riku unless he wanted Kairi to know secondhand.

Two weeks had passed since the sadly uneventful concert.

"Hey Zen?" asked Sora as they both laid side by side on the beach. The warm sand felt wonderful on his bare back as he looked up at the sky, thinking. A few clouds lazily drifted by the lazy late spring island sky.

Zen 'hmm-ed' in reply, shielding his eyes from the sun as he sat back. He had just finished swimming and he was starting to develop a nice tan evenly across his body.

Sora exhaled slowly, rolling onto his side to face his friend.

"How do you think next year will be? Do you even think that we'll be the same this time next year, laying in the sun as comfortable as we are?" he asked, earning a chuckle from the blonde.

"What made you think of this all of a sudden Sora?" laughed Zen, his aqua eyes glittering in amusement.

The brunet just shrugged, leaning up on his elbows, whipping his slightly longer brown hair from his face with a casual swish of his head.

"Well," he started, not sure if he really wanted to voice his insecurities on this matter just yet. "Last year, at this time, I was thinking that right now I would be with Kairi and we'd be doing all of the things that normal freshmen do at the beach, drinking and fooling around."

"You still can do that Sora, it's not like it isn't an option."

Sora nodded his head, closing his eyes. "I know Zen. The thing that bothers me is how everything has changed. How in a simple year, friendships and relationships have changed so much. Tidus and I haven't been as close since he's been seeing Selphie. Hell, he's even studying and seeing only one girl for more than a month. Kairi and I grew apart for most of the year, though we got back together again. And… well, you came into the picture too."

Zen grinned at that last point that he made. It was true for him too. Sora was definitely not an intended thing that he was planning when he first got to Besaid University. But sure enough, they had developed such a strong and special bond that he couldn't even imagine having with anyone. No matter how social he was, he was still very much a lone wolf by nature.

"I guess it's true," replied Zen. "And I'm glad that things are like this."

"Oh, I am too. Don't get me wrong. It's just that… well."

A wave of sadness washed over the brunet's face, his features downcast. It was Riku. He'd never planned on Riku being there, that the jock would be in love with him, or that they would have such a fiery and illicit romance as they did.

Sora sighed as he looked out into the sea, the same sea that held the same shade of blue-green as the silver-haired jock that had in the mess and lies, swept him away for just a moment in time to something that he could accurately describe as pure happiness.

"I didn't plan on really falling in love."

He looked up at his friend to see the blonde avert his eyes to the ocean, blond brows narrowing in some unknown emotion.

"You should tell her Sora."

"She's not the one-"

"I know that Sora. I'm not stupid or anything," said Zen, his voice low and unusually tranquil with a hint of annoyance.

Sora whipped his face up at him, deep blue eyes filled with apology.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

Silence ensued for a few moments after that, the atmosphere tense in awkwardness and pensive thought about the conversation. Sora felt guilty, feeling in the dark about why his friend took offense. He figured that Zen might have had a bad day earlier or something of that nature. Or maybe he did hit a nerve in the blonde that made him act in irritation.


At the Seaside Maiden, work was actually a bit hectic. Many more tourists had decided to pour in to visit loved ones in the university and take in the Besaid scenery. After all, summer was going to start soon and that was where the big business for the restaurant was. Caska was sitting in the back, looking over the ideas for the new summer themed menu with the head chef while Cloud watched them bored. It was his lunch break but he didn't really feel like doing anything else. Yet again he and Sephiroth had a huge argument but instead of the blonde being the culprit, as normal in their spats, Sephiroth had been the one to suddenly flip out at him for nothing at all.

"Cheer up Cloud, that guy isn't good for you anyway," said Caska as he pat his friend in the back. Cloud just sighed and tried to give a weak smile.

"It's just been hard lately. I don't know what's up with him."

The dark haired waiter shrugged as he sat back in the chair, looking over a list of warm desserts.

"He's weird anyway. Maybe you should just give him some space."

"And maybe we should keep focusing on the new menu. It's not going to make itself," grumbled the chef, making Caska laugh.

"Oh come on Paul. There's no need to be so serious about it. Hell, I'm looking right now if it makes you feel so much better," he snickered, bringing a more genuine smile back to the blonde's face.

The cook just rolled his eyes. "Do whatever the hell you want. But this menu better damn well be finished before your shift is over," he said, getting up and walking away.

Caska childishly made faces behind his back and laughed.

"Sometimes I wonder how far that pole is shoved up his ass."

"And sometimes I wonder how old you really are," chuckled Cloud.

The other waiter just smirked, mussing the blonde's hair a little. Just as he did, the young red-headed waiter was rushing into the back room, tugging at his necktie with a frenzy.

"Shit! I can't believe I'm late again!" he cried as he rushed like a tornado past a few startled servers with full piping hot meals balanced awkwardly on their palms.

Cloud raised an eyebrow at the spectacle of Clay practically tearing off his shirt at the lockers with a string of obscenities. Caska leaned over with a laugh and gestured to the panicking teen.

"It's classic. Clay here's actually managed to hook himself a date and he's late for the second time this week," said the raven haired man.

"A date? He must be a looker if it would get a priss like him to act like this."

A loud yelp echoed into the kitchens, making the two laugh loudly and some of the cooks to groan in annoyance. Making their way inside of the locker area, they spied Clay whimpering while he rubbed the back of his head in pain.

"Look who it is," mocked Caska, folding his arms with a smug grin. "Late to a date again kid?"

The red head growled lowly and childishly stuck his tongue out, pulling on a snug fitting emerald tee with an intricate gold cross design on the lower left side. His hair was messily pulled out of the hair tie that had previously tamed it, resting choppily on his shoulders as he pulled a section back behind his right ear.

"Cute, very cute. Just the person I want to see right now," Clay grumbled.

Cloud just placed a hand on his hip, watching him in slight curiosity.

"Must be a hot date if you're so frantic over pleasing someone," he stated, earning a sigh from Clay.

"Oh he is di-vine! Not only really hot but great in the sack."

Caska scrunched up his face in disgust. "Okay, bad images. I seriously didn't want the thought of you sleeping with anyone in my brain right now."

"What's he like? Has he been around here before?" asked Cloud, ignoring Caska's gagging sounds.

Pulling up his deep-washed jeans, Clay looked up in thought, nibbling on his bottom lip.

"Oh, I don't think so. He's a real quiet type sometimes so you never know. But if you ever did see him, well, let's just say that he's the kind of guy you wouldn't forget for a long time. He's that gorgeous."

The blonde 'hmm-phed' while the waiter next to him laughed.

"I'm a bit skeptical. After all, if he looks anywhere near as attractive as you say he is, then why would he pick up an annoying little kid like you?" remarked Caska with a grin.

Brushing his hair, Clay just rolled his eyes with a smirk. "It's cause, unlike you, he's a man that definitely knows beauty. Now, excuse me boys. I have a date to catch."

Pulling on a loose white and blue plaid button up shirt, he grabbed his keys, wallet, and cell phone, and made his way towards the back door. Caska snickered as he watched the teen hurry off to his date.

"The only thing he'll be catching is an STD," he said, earning a smack on the arm from the blonde.

"You should leave him alone. After all, it's better that he's happy than us having to deal with him being alone and miserable."

They both laughed at the thought and went back to arranging the new menu.


"Things are just too damn quiet lately," whined Rikku as she pulled two glasses down from the cupboard in her house. Ever since the concert had been over, she had been restless.

Zenith just shrugged and sat at the small kitchen table. Class had been over early for that day and he had nothing to do until tomorrow.

"I guess it is."

"What do you mean 'you guess'? Riku's been busy doing whatever the hell he does lately and Vincent has become some kind of recluse. Its not even fun getting drunk with them anymore," she pouted, sipping some pineapple soda while passing Zenith his glass.

Swirling the liquid around a little, he sighed before taking a slow sip. Paris Hilton's new song was playing in the background, making him feel a bit sleepy. He never knew why but whenever he listened to the song it always made him want to lay on a hammock and nap.

Thinking about it, there were only a few weeks before they would have to all go home for the summer. Well, he already arranged it with Rikku to stay there at her house so he knew that they could have a pretty good time. But for Vincent, he was just going to go home and so was Riku. And even when school was going to start again, he didn't know how they were going to keep their group together. Vincent was going to be living with another roommate in the apartments and Riku probably was going to live on his own in the condos.

"I'm worried about next year," confessed Zenith, watching the bubbles start to die out in his glass. Rikku paused in thought before drinking a little with a sad frown.

"I know, I am too."

They sat like that for a few moments more, just marinating in the fact that their group might be at its sad end. Paris Hilton continued to sing while the seagulls cawed outside of the windows, the waves rushing up to the beach and then pulling back like the sound of rustling sheets.

"Riku's dating again," said Zenith slowly, trying to start up a conversation. "He told me a couple of days ago."

"Yeah, he called me yesterday. Sounds like he's really happy."

"Yeah."

More silence.

"So…"

"I wonder what he's like. Riku said he's really interesting. I hope that's a good sign," said Zenith.

Rikku shrugged, finishing off her soda. "Don't know. Maybe we might see him next week at the party. He said that he might bring him over this time. But he won't be anything close to how Sora was."

"Yeah, true."

"Vincent must be upset."

At this, Zenith chuckled a little. "Oh yeah, he'll get over it though. It's not like he won't find some pretty girl to bury his issues in. That or he'll get drunk next week and totally forget about it all."

"Yeah, let's hope so."

At the third round of silence, Rikku washed the glasses and put them away while Zenith put his head on his arms on the table, looking out the window, watching the gauze white curtains billowing away from the warm lazy late spring wind. Summer was coming, faster than any of them wanted it to. Even though he had only been at Besaid University for a semester, he felt like he had known his friends for a lifetime. He hated the fact that they were going to be split up just like that. They were almost like a family to him.

Rikku and he just spent the rest of the day watching the television, flicking around from music videos to cheesy vampire movies. Even when they showed Yuna's music videos, Rikku didn't have the compulsion to get up and dance like she normally did. She just listened and turned the channel after they were done.

"I'll miss them, Riku and Vincent."

Zenith leaned back into the sofa and closed his eyes.

"Yeah, I will too."


Sora yawned as he tried to keep awake through his lecture. For the past few weeks, he had been well and ready to just finish the year and get it over with. Looking back on it, it had been so hectic dealing with living on his own, catching up with old friends, and definitely having to deal with Riku.

Just thinking about him lowered his mood dramatically. Their relationship had ended miserably and for a once, he actually missed being called a fag by the jock. Hell, he even missed having to hear him boast about how wonderful he was and how lame Sora was.

The thought brought him a sad smile as he looked at his notes, doodling a little drawing of a pouting Riku in a stick figure fashion, his hands looking like a pie with twigs coming out of them. Life without Riku was becoming a lot harder than he ever realized. As far as he could remember, the little silver-haired boy had always been in his life in some way or another, even if they didn't have classes together. They always found a way to come into contact and Riku would always tease and humiliate him.

'Stick Riku' looked up at him with a monstrous frown, a pair of horns shaded into his head with the streaky marks of a black ballpoint pen. Sora just smiled at it before looking back at the overhead projection.

'Shit! I already missed a whole page of notes!' thought Sora as he hurriedly flipped to a new sheet of paper and scribbled down everything that he could catch, getting halfway down the notes before the instructor went on to the next slide.

The brunet sighed and tried his best to figure out what the hell they were talking about now. At first they had been conversing about cells and now they were talking about the intricacies of eukaryotic organisms. Not a single word seemed to stick in his head as he got the rest of the notes copied, frowning at his paper.

'Damn Riku. I would have paid attention if you weren't such an asshole,' muttered Sora in his head, glaring at the now closed notebook at the end of class. And he was pretty sure that the stick figure of Riku glared back at him with a wicked little smile.


"S-Squall?" asked Cloud increduly at the man who was standing in the water.

Cloud had just left work not so long ago and was dazedly walking the long way back to his house. The whole thought of Clay finding someone gave him a deep sense of lovesickness and loneliness. It didn't make sense to him as he had the one he loved for so long living with him and he should have been at least satisfied. But there was that one piece that he definitely knew was missing.

And it was standing in front of him.

There was a low grunt in confusion as the tall brunet turned his body ever so slowly to face the man that had called out to him. He stood off in the distance, a good ten yards or so away from Cloud and in the shallow part of the ocean, standing and, previously, looking off into the distance in thought. His slightly fair features seemed to glow in the moonlight with a feral beauty, the look of an untamed wolf masked in lunar light.

Cloud took a step back, reeling in the fact that Leon was standing right before him, the very man that seemed to haunt his dreams and robbed him of his sleep, the man that had walked out into the bitter cold in Nibelheim more than five months ago on Saint's Eve, and the very same man that had robbed him of his heart unknowingly so many times. He was standing so calm and beautifully knee deep in the shallow ocean water, wild grey eyes boring into his startled blues.

No words could force themselves from his mouth as Cloud simply watched him in awe, soft lips slightly apart. His very own heart had frozen in silence, too afraid to move and frighten Leon away. For a few moments there was an unsettling silence, the gentle ocean tide lapping at Leon's thighs, his rough brown hair rustling slightly in the saline breeze. His slate eyes shifted downward and then away, turning back to the sky, his back once again to the brunette.

"You shouldn't be here Cloud. Go home."

The blonde watched him in shock, heart fluttering back to life to only sink deep into his stomach at the calm whisper of those words. Go home? Why should he go home when he had no real home to go to?

"I have no home Squall, you know that," he replied sorrowfully. He wrapped his arms around himself as he looked down at the water just reaching his cold toes. A short chuckle filled the air, deep and mocking.

"Oh, so you're homeless now? I can't do anything about that."

"That's not what I mean and you know that," pressed Cloud, a pout fixing itself to his perfect features. The water continued to move through the brunette's legs as he directed his gaze up to the bright and glowing moon. He remained silent, just trying to avert his eyes from the man behind him.

"I need you Squall. I was worried about you and you never contacted me to tell me you were okay. Hell, you could have been dead for all I knew."

More silence ensued, making Cloud sigh in frustration.

"Yeah, lame, I know. But without you, life just isn't so bearable anymore. I feel like I'm falling apart with everyday you aren't home."

"I think that's what a shrink is for," remarked Squall, running his fingers through the water. A small wave slapped against his hips, weaving its way around his body and up towards the shore. Cloud fumed.

"I know that! I'm not stupid after all!" he yelled. A sudden amount of rage crept up his legs and into his torso, making its way to his chest and slamming against his lungs. Everything was just utterly frustrating him. Here he was, worried to death for months on end about Leon's welfare and it seemed that he didn't even care that Cloud had missed him. It even seemed like he didn't care that life for Cloud was becoming almost unbearable without him.

Leon made his way back to the shore, the water dripping off of his legs alluringly as he silently walked passed the seething blonde.

"By the way," started the brunet, slowing his pace a little ways away from his former friend. "You should take your time getting back. Sephiroth left this afternoon while you were away."

And with that, he yet again was gone.


A/N: Yeah, yet again, a really odd chapter. But then again it is the "season finale" chapter. Thus, I hope that I gave you enough answers about everything and still, maybe, kept your interests in this story. It may be a while for the beginning of the second part of this story but when it is, it'll be a lengthy chapter filled with a lot of goodness. Well, make sure you review or this may be the last chapter of the whole thing. Until the next chapter!