Well, not much to say, here's the next chapter. If there are typos, sorry...and sorry if the story might sound rushed...I may re-edit this.

Chapter 8: Comfort from the Truth

Italicized: thoughts

Roxas woke up to something bright shining against his face. He groaned as he pulled the covers over his head. His eyes hurt from all the crying last night. He had practically cried himself to sleep, though it wasn't much of a sleep. He shuffled around in bed to find a comfortable spot. He heard the door creak open and soft footsteps coming towards him. Roxas tensed up. He wasn't ready to face Riku yet. The covers lifted and Roxas flinched at the light. He looked up slowly and saw a girl instead. He stared up at the face dumbstruck. The girls' jaw dropped open. She turned around and hurried to the door.

"Riku! How can you bring an innocent boy here! And to do it with him too! You sex fiend!" she yelled out through the door.

Roxas stared at her, finally realizing what she had just said. He blushed furiously and sat up in bed.

"It's...it's not like that!" he said to her.

She turned around and faced him. She had a frown on her face and her hands were placed on her hips. Roxas took a good look at her, noticing her red hair and blue eyes. He gulped, finding her very intimidating, then again, he had always found girls intimidating. Were all girls like that? He looked to the side and Riku rushed into the room with a flustered look. He glared at the girl and lightly smacked her arm.

"Don't call me sex fiend in front of a guest! And I did NOT do it with him! He just happened to faint in front of Sora's grave," said Riku.

"Faint?! In front of Sora's grave?! That's mighty suspicious! And you didn't think teice! What if he turned out to be a grave thief!" she yelled at him.

Riku rolled his eyes and walked to Roxas. He smiled and slightly knelt down.

"You feeling better? Your eyes are all red and puffy? Did you cry all last night?' he asked in a very concerned tone.

Roxas couldn't help but smile. The scene that happened before him made him feel a lot better. He nodded, glad that he was able to meet Riku. But what if I was made to meet him because of...Sora. Roxas shook his head to rid of the thoughts that started to linger in his head. He looked at the girl that was still frowning at him. He have a sheepish smile at her. She turned her head with a small 'hmph.' Riku chuckled and got up.

"Don't worry about her," he muttered to Roxas, "she's just surprised, right Kairi?"

"Whatever," she mumbled and looked at Roxas again.

"Kairi, this is Roxas. I met him a few days...weeks...ago and Roxas, this is Kairi. She's a childhood friend of mine," said Riku.

Roxas nodded and looked at Kairi who was overlooking him. He pulled the blankets over himself a bit more, starting to feel uncomfortable under her gaze. Riku gave her a warning look, making her shrug and leave the room.

"Don'r worry about her too much. It looks like you didn't get enough sleep, so you can rest some more," said Riku.

Roxas nodded and pulled the blankets over himself as he laid back down. Riku left him and followed after Kairi.

"He looks a lot like him," she said to Riku, "Sure you're not using him because he looks like him."

"No," he stated bluntly, "I feel like I've repeated myself a hundred times already. He's just a friend."

"You mean an acquaintance. You haven't even known him for a long time and you're letting him into your house and use your bed? And to find him in front of Sora's grave is suspicious. I don't ever remember Sora having a friend like that."

"Don't be rude Kairi. It's just...I feel like I know him though. He gives off a familiar aura. I don't know why though. When I'm around him, it makes feel like I want to tell him everything."

"That is so cheesy. Sure you're not in love with him?"

"No! I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

"I guess."

Kairi sighed and sat down on the couch once they had reached the living room. The rays of the sun shone through the glass window. The sight of the quiet neighborhood stood just outside of it. The room was really warm, it would have made anyone fall asleep in comfort. Riku sat across from her and folded his hands.

"So?" she asked.

"So what?" he replied.

"The boy-!"

"He has a name you know."

"Okay, Roxas...how does he know about Sora?"

"Well, I'm not sure if he knew him. He only said that he fainted in front of Sora's grave while looking around."

"That is a lame excuse."

"I know..."

"What are you going to do?"

"What do you mean what am I going to do?"

"Are you going to kick the boy out?"

"No! Geez, you're so harsh."

"And? I'm being protective!"

"Right...I don't know. I mean, he might be able to...I don't know...fine the murderer?"

"I'd like that too, only if it was real...but it's not. That Roxas boy is suspicious!"

"You've said too many times. How are you so sure? Even though I barely know him, I at least know he's good at heart."

"Fine. I'll trust your instincts, but you better find out more about him! Especially about the Sora gave part...and to faint in the cemetery, that is creepy!"

Riku sighed and got up to get some coffee for the both of them. He poured the coffee into two clay mugs and added some cream to his and Kairi's. He added some sugar into Kairi's since she happened to like her coffee sweet. He took the two cups to the coffee table and set one in front of Kairi. She smiled with delight and drank hers. Riku sipped slowly on his, letting the hot coffee run through is body. He set the cup down and looked up when he heard gentle footsteps. He saw Roxas standing by the door way.

"Did you need something?" he asked.

Kairi looked over her shoulder and saw Roxas. She looked back to Riku who had forgotten about her once Roxas came in. She smirked and continued to drink her coffee.

"Could I use your phone? I need to call my family. I've been gone for two days already. They're probably worried about me," he said.

Riku nodded and got up to give him the phone. He picked the phone up and handed it to Roxas. Their fingertips touched each other tenderly. Roxas took the phone into his hands faster so they wouldn't linger there with their fingertips together. Riku smiled slightly and walked back to where he was sitting. He looked at Kairi who was still smirking at him.

"What?" he whispered out.

"Oh nothing," she replied just as quiet.

Riku watched as Roxas went back inside the room. Kairi giggled and slapped Riku on the arm. He looked at her as though she was crazy.

"Not in love huh? You sure seem like it. I think that's good improvement," she said.

"I'm not! But being able to talk to others is a good improvement," he replied.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm taking my leave. Have fun...and don't be rough on the kid."

Riku threw a couch pilled at her, but missed as she left through the front door, laughter bursting through the wall from outside. He shook his head and leaned back against the cream color couch. He closed his eyes and tried to relax himself. Come on Riku...this isn't the time to get all nervous. He opened his eyes again and saw Roxas put the phone away. He stood and as Roxas sturned around. An awkward silence fell between them. Roxas shifted on his feet and kept his gaze on the ground.

"So, you're leaving then?" asked Riku, breaking the silence.

"Yeah...sorry for the trouble," said Roxas.

"It's not a problem."

"So, did Kairi leave?"

"Yeah."

"I get the feeling that she doesn't like me."

"Oh, don't worry. It's just that she's not use to having me have people over at my house anymore."

Riku grabbed the two cups and walked over to the kitchen and set them in the sink. He turned on the water and started washing them and a few other dishes. Roxas watched Riku's back, happy that Riku wasn't looking at him, because he was actually slightly crying. He reached his hands out to Riku, but even though Riku had looked so close to him, he couldn't touch him. He dropped his hand back down.

"Hey Riku?" said Roxas.

"Hm?" replied Riku, not turning around.

"Do you...still miss Sora?"

Riku stopped washing the dishes. He let the water run for a long time, staying silent.

"What if...Sora was still alive...not physically, but mentally?" asked Roxas, "What if...Sora's feelings were taken to someone else and that person doesn't know what to do...and when they meet you...Sora's lover, they start having weird feelings...and what if they confessed to you and told you that Sora's feelings and mind was with him or her...would you be willingly to take that chance and be with that person...because Sora was there?"

"...It really depends on the person. I mean, it'd be rude to become that person's lover just because you're ex lover's heart is with them," replied Riku as he started to continue washing the dishes.

"Well, if you didn't tale that person's feelings to mind! Like...it just happened out of no where and taken you by surprise...will you take that chance?"

Riku became quiet again. It was a very long silence.

"Yeah...I might have," he whispered, so quietly that Roxas couldn't even make out his words.

Roxas looked away from Riku. In this big wide world...there could have been anyone who could have received Sora's heart...anyone, and I happen to be the one. I don't even know anymore, which is mine and which is his? What is my life and what is his? Questions are aroused every minute and every second. Who am I? Roxas of course...but I hold Sora's heart...does that make me part Sora? And in somewhere in this world...is Sora's lover...Riku, in which I happened to...have fallen for...then again, it might be Sora's. And in this world, Riku still holds onto Sora, closely in his heart...he would have taken that chance to be with Sora, even if the person is different, it is still Sora's heart...his feelings. Does that mean...my love will be unrequited? Or...did I ever have any feelings at all?

Riku turned around, only to be taken by surprise as Roxas lunged forward and embraced him.

"Ro-Roxas?" he muttered.

"If...if someone was to find Sora's murderer, will you take revenge? Will you hate that person forever?" asked Roxas.

"I'm...not sure..."

Riku pushed Roxas away and saw tears. He frowned slightly and gently wiped away the tears.

"What's wrong? Lately you've been crying. Did my story about Sora really make you that sad?" asked Riku.

"Yes! Because you still love him so much! And...and Sora loved you too! He loved you so much that in the end...in the end...he wasn't able to tell you," said Roxas in between sobs.

"What are you talking about? It's almost like you were there during the bur..glary...were you?"

Roxas pulled away from Riku and became quiet. Riku stared at him in disbelief.

"You...were there?" asked Riku.

"I...I..." Roxas started to stutter, backing away as he did.

Riku reached out to him and took him into an embrace. Roxas's eyes widened by the action.

"It must have been...horrible for you to remember," whispered Riku, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you about it."

Roxas wrapped his arms around Riku, tears streaming down his cheeks. I'm such a horrible person...even now I'm taking advantage of him...but...is this really my feelings! I...I am so sorry Riku...I wish I could tell you...I really wish I could tell you who the murderer was...but if I did, then you'd hate me...you'd hate me so much you wouldn't want to see me anymore...and...I don't that...Sora doesn't want that. Roxas remained in Riku's warm embrace, letting the time pass by ever so slowly.