HA! We're getting good now. Three updates in a relatively short time period. XD

Enjoy...

It's just a game right? Wrong.

Cloud tapped his foot impatiently as he waited in the infirmary. It was well into the afternoon and Soku hadn't brought Everent back to the tent for a checkup. Granted he hadn't asked the little prince to but he figured he wouldn't have needed to, it was fairly obvious Everent needed to be looked after for a little while.

He twirled a pen in his fingers before putting the tip into his mouth and sucking lightly on it as his companion sat the other side of his desk suddenly became very uncomfortable.

"Cloud…" Leon coughed. "Please… don't do that."

Cloud lowered his hand with a confused expression. "Don't do what?"

"Suck on that pen."

"Why?"

"It will have dangerous effects on you; that I promise you." Leon said in all seriousness as Cloud mused over playing with his pen again anyway. "Don't do it… I will throw you over this desk if you do."

Cloud grinned, "And…?"

"And you know the rest." Leon growled as the pen brushed over Cloud's lower lip. Smirking impishly the blond pushed the very tip of the pin to meet his tongue before licking around it and pulling it into his mouth. "I'm warning you!" There was an audible sucking noise then a 'popping' sound and Cloud barely had time to blink before he felt the pen roughly pulled from his mouth and felt himself being pulled from his chair and rammed against the desks edge, Leon's weight behind him. "I warned you." The brunet whispered huskily into Cloud's ear.

"L-Leon…!" Cloud gasped as he felt Leon grind against his backside, pushing him further against the table as Leon slipped a hand under his doctor's coat and dark shirt, cool fingers trailing goose bumps everywhere as the elder began to tug on a nipple. "Leon! Ah!" He roughly pulled a nipple and made Cloud groan and hiss in pain and pleasure.

"Say it louder… I like it when you say my name."

"Leon! Leon! Ah!" Cloud moaned loudly in compliance as he arched his back against Leon, bucking into the gentle hand as he felt Leon sucking on his neck. "W-we c-can't! Anyone c-could walk in here! T-there are p-patients!"

"I don't think I mind people watching…" Leon murmured in thought as he continued tweaking the hard numbs on Cloud's chest, bringing the blond to a state of haziness with surprising ease.

"Ugh… Leon…"

"In fact… the idea of someone watching while I make you scream my name as you hit the pinnacle of ecstasy is turning me on…" Leon murmured as he deftly unbuckled Cloud's belt, his fingers teasing the hidden flesh beneath the tight cloth of the blonds' boxers.

"P-please! Ugh… I-I… I need… please!"

"What do you need?" The elder teased.

"Leon, I need you, please! J-just do it!" Cloud begged, feeling his knees buckling as Leon's hand slipped under the cloth and wrapped around him firmly. "Leon!" He knew he was being stupid letting Leon do as he pleased with him in a relatively public place but he couldn't fight the elder anymore, there was more sexual frustration between them than words could describe and it was all to easy to give in at this point. Besides, it wasn't as if anyone was going to come in-

"Are we interrupting?"

Cloud froze and his eyes snapped open as Leon looked up to see a blushing Soku and a smirking Everent stood in the tent-come-office. The blonds' arms gave out in shook and he hit the desk hard as Leon released him, their mouths forming stunned 'o's with wide eyes.

"We'll come back later." Everent suggested, Leon recognized the humor in the Dark Prince's voice. He guessed it was pay back for yesterday. But Leon was not amused.

Taking Soku's hand, Everent pulled the stunned silveret from the tent and they left as silently as they had come. Cloud groaned and buried his head in his arms muttering, "I need a lock or a 'do not disturb sign' and from now on: no sex in the office."

Leon pouted. "Aw…"

Cloud glared up at him, "You just molested me over my own desk in a very heated manner in front of your grandson, what the hell do you have to say for yourself?!"

Leon smirked and pushed against Cloud again, "Where were we?"

Everent burst out laughing as they exited the infirmary and turned to Soku, "Did you see their faces?"

Soku nodded, his own face still blushing heavily. "I did not need to see that…"

Everent nodded and carried on laughing but Soku didn't join in. After a moment Everent stopped and eyed his lover critically. "What's wrong? You don't seem well. Would you like something? I can get it for you. Or someone. I can get someone for you if you like."

Soku smiled softly, "No… I don't need anything plus you know wandering around this camp as obviously dressed as you are would only draw unwanted attention and someone would kill you." The silveret sighed. "Besides… I'm just… thinking is all."

"About…"

Soku blushed. "It doesn't matter."

"Aw, come on. We had sex last night, there's nothing that we can't share now, I trust you completely."

"But that's just it… we had sex last night…" Soku chewed his lip.

Everent's eyes widened slightly, "Are you in pain? I knew it was your first time but was I too rough?" Soku blushed. "I should have done something like lubrication or something." The blush deepened. "I knew this would happen, I feel horrible, do you need a doctor? I can get Cloud to take a look at you. " Soku just about died then.

"Everent!" The blushing prince cried in distress. "I do not need a doctor!" He ran a hand through his hair and took a calming breath. "I'm just… new to this. I'm trying to figure things out. Like… where does this leave us?"

The dark prince nodded in understanding. "I guess… like… a couple."

"And what does that mean? Like… my parents?"

Everent nodded slowly, "And Cloud and Leon, Vincent and his wife, Shelke, and the rest of the other couples we know." He stuck his tongue out. "But we're different."

"How so?"

"We're not so…"

"Old?"

"I guess that works." Everent and Soku burst out laughing.

After a moment Soku looked down in embarrassment and chewed his lip again, "Everent?"

"Yeah?"

"It does… hurt a little, I mean."

Everent smiled and laced his hand with Soku's. "Okay, let's get a shower. It'll help."

"Together? Doesn't that… defeat the object of helping my pain?"

Everent laughed, "I'm not going to do it again for a while, we've got to let you heal first, okay?" He ran his fingers through the silver hair that gleamed before him. "You've got beautiful hair. I really like it."

Soku blushed, "T-thanks…"

"It's so silver it's almost blue in colour…" He grinned suddenly and kissed Soku's blushing cheek. "But it's your blush I love best."

Soku didn't know what to say as his mouth fell open and he let Everent pull him towards the Gummi ship. After a while he turned and kissed Everent's cheek mid-step. "Thank you, Everent. For everything." And he meant it. He thanked Everent for not pushing things Soku wasn't comfortable with, though that was never really a problem, he thanked Everent for protecting him and putting him first and just generally being there for him.

Everent retuned the smile and let Soku lead him to the showers.

Riku looked up at the king from his seat before the large desk behind which the mouse sat, shuffling through papers and sighing occasionally. Riku himself looked awful, he hadn't slept at all, his eyes rimmed with dark rings, his skin paler than was healthy even for him and his clothes dirty with the search he'd conducted through the surrounding forest. He'd looked all night until Mickey forced him to come home and even though he knew searching wouldn't help because they truly had no idea where Sephiroth could have taken Sora; he felt better doing that then cluttering up the king's office.

After a moment Mickey spoke up, "Have you seen Soku this morning?"

Riku slowly shook his head as though he was a robot, his movements precise but lethargic. It seemed as though all purpose in life had left Riku and he was but a shell of himself as he sprawled out in the chair. "He should be with Everent."

"Has he asked anything, about what we're going to do or such?"

"I haven't seen him, so… no." Riku replied in a monotone. Mickey nodded and put his papers down with a sigh.

"I worry about him." Riku made no response but Mickey wasn't expecting one. "He and Everent have been inseparable since Soku brought the prince back to camp but… I find myself distrusting Everent automatically and that's not fair. The dark prince has suffered hardships because of his father and I pity him but I still worry this is all a game Sephiroth is playing with us." Mickey rose from his chair and moved to the window. "I do not think it would be wise, however, to separate them. It would only make things worse as Everent's presence seems to be helping Soku with Sora's absence."

Riku made a soulless sound of agreement and sank lower in his chair. Mickey sighed and moved over to the pained being and laid a hand on Riku's knee.

"Please, Riku, what's wrong with you. This is more than depression about Sora being taken, it seems as though… you're sick." Mickey pleaded.

Riku's green eyes looked up and Mickey gasped. They were dull, a dead celadon that seemed to be fading as he gazed. Mickey became very worried and even more so when he heard Riku speak. "I don't feel so good, Mickey… I… I can't feel Sora anymore."

"Riku…"

"He's supposed to be right here," Riku placed a limp hand over his chest and winced at the effort that took. "But I can't feel anything but cold. I feel… hollow…"

Mickey pursed his lips and nodded seriously. "I think we might need Ansem to look you over." He took Riku's hand and pulled on it gently, "Come on, Riku. Let's go and get you a check up." Riku nodded mutely and allowed the mouse king to guide him from the office and down the many corridors to Ansem's lab.

Knocking politely on the door Mickey waited for the cry of 'enter' from within before he pressed the button by the door and the metal slide to the side and allowed them entrance. Mickey led Riku to the table in the center of the room and helped him lie down before looking around for the scientist. Spying a white shape tinkering with various vials and liquids on a bench to the side he gave a half amused smile as he heard mutterings of 'only one drop' and 'fucking stupid vial'.

"Ansem…" Mickey started softly, so as not to startle the old man.

Ansem growled, "One moment, Highness!"

There as a pause and Ansem gave a cry of surprise and leapt backwards, his stool being knocked away, as the test tube he'd been mixing his potion in shattered and oozing blue goop sprayed outwards.

"That… was not supposed to happen." Ansem muttered distastefully, looking down his nose at the mess that, in his mind, wasn't supposed to be there. Turning to the mouse he looked down and asked pleasantly, "Can I help you, your majesty?"

Mickey smiled softly, "You know as much as there is to know as yet about hearts, right Ansem?"

Ansem gave a noncommittal shrug. "I've studied it; it doesn't mean I know more than you."

"Well, for Riku's sake, I hope you do. Since Sora was taken by Sephiroth, Riku's been… fading. I don't fully understand why. It wasn't immediately after Sora vanished but within about twelve hours he began to… stop. I do not know how to describe it but I think Riku's dying."

"Dying?!" Ansem gasped. "This is most serious, please, let me see to him at once!"

Mickey indicated the examination table and Ansem shuffled over hurriedly. Peering down at the man on the table his eyes widened at the state the male was in, seeing all Mickey had and realizing what Mickey had decided might not actually be far wrong.

Calming himself slightly, Ansem spoke to Riku. "You spoke to me, a few years ago, about a bond you and your husband share. Can you describe to me what that was like again, please?"

Riku blinked and began to speak but his voice was so stiff and empty it hurt to hear, emotionally it was as though with his words Riku was transferring his pain and suffering with merely his tone. "It was the closest any two people could be. We were made for each other and he was the guardian of my heart, he looked out for me and with him watching over my heart I was happy, I could feel him through it. Feel his pain and take it from him, feel his happiness and share in it."

"And now?"

"Nothing. I can't feel anything. Just… cold." Riku murmured, his form shivering slightly as he spoke the last few words.

Ansem nodded slowly and pulled Mickey aside as Riku lay there motionless. "It is exactly as you feared my friend. Sora is suffering unimaginable pain and because of the bond they share Riku is taking as much of it away as he can to save his love and as such… he's killing himself." Ansem sighed. "Sora is suffering too much pain for him too handle so Riku is taking it and keeping him alive but as such we can't tamper with it or else we risk killing Sora… but failing to do anything will mean we lose Riku first and then, without Riku's protection, we might lose Sora Sora." Mickey sighed heavily. Ansem rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder and smiled bravely at his old friend. "If we can get Sora back, there should be no problem."

"Oh crap…"

Mickey and Ansem looked round as the heard Riku speak and gaped openly at what they saw. Another Riku stood over the Riku Mickey had put on the table wearing a black shirt and black trousers and a mildly irritated expression,

"Fucking hell… I thought I fixed this!" The Riku stood in black growled. "I can't believe this, can he look after no one?! Even after I gave him that kid to look after?! Dear-y me…" He turned and grinned at Mickey and Ansem. "Hello again!"

Mickey closed his mouth and gulped in shock. "Are you… is it… Xikru?!"

"I really think this is a bad idea…" Soku whined, pulling away from Everent as the dark prince led them to the showers.

"Aw come on, I want to help you!" Everent demanded.

"I can't shower in the day, bad things happen!" Soku cried in distress, tugging harder but Everent was stronger.

"Excuse me? That's the randomest thing I've ever heard."

"'Randomest' is not a word and I don't care!" Soku yelled.

"I'll let you go, if you promise to get Cloud to check you over."

Soku stared at the dark haired male in horror. "But… he'd know I've had sex! I can't do that!" Everent grinned and nodded, Soku sighed in resignation. "Fine… have it your way…"

"Chill out, I'm here with you. Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise."

Soku didn't fully believe him but he wanted to so he followed the elder into the communal showers, tightly gripping the ivory skinned hand holding his.

The showers were usually empty when Soku used them at the ungodly hours of the morn so it was strange to see them so full with men passing from the showers to the changing area and vice versa as they went about their business. Soku chewed his lip and ducked his head to avoid attracting any attention but heads were already turning as the men realized who had just entered: the princes of light and darkness.

Everent glared at anyone brave enough to catch his eye and pulled Soku away from their prying eyes so they could change with no one watching them. Suddenly Vincent walked up to them and placed a hand on Soku's shoulder as the boy seemed to be trying to shrink into the background, Everent watched their exchange curiously.

"I am finished here, but would you like me to stay with you, Soku?" The tall gunman asked, his voice low and gravely as always but held an intriguing note of sympathy and compassion.

Soku seriously considered it for a moment but stopped just short of saying 'yes' and instead replied, "Its okay, Vincent. I don't want to be a burden to anyone. I'll be fine. Please, don't worry about me and just go and do what you'd like."

Vincent frowned and glanced at Everent and then at Soku again. "Fine… but only because I am leaving you in Everent's care. If he wasn't here I would stay." He turned to Everent, "Keep an eye on Soku and these men more suited to be pigs…"

Everent nodded firmly and watched the man leave before turning to Soku, "What does he mean by that?" Soku just shook his head.

"Nothing, lets just get this over with."

"Please talk to me Soku…"

Soku's eyes flashed darkly as he glared up at the prince who'd obviously hit a nerve. "Okay, you wanna know?! Every time I even work past a horny man I fall pray to their raging testosterone and so bathing publicly is a huge no-no!" He groaned and fisted his palms into his eyes. "I told you to get up earlier… then this wouldn't be a problem."

Everent gave an attempt at a comforting smile as he enveloped the little prince in his arms, cradling the diminutive form close and rocking him gently. "I promise, I'm sorry for making you do this but I will protect you. Do you really think that now you're mine I'm going to let anyone get their disgusting hands on you?" Everent grinned and held his index finger up, the tip of which suddenly turned black with trails of black matter coming off it.

Touching the tip to Soku's exposed neck and collarbone he begin to write something then turned the little prince to look in one of the mirrors on the wall. Soku blushed heavily at the writing.

"See…" Everent traced the words lovingly. "'Property of Everent.'"

Sephiroth gazed over the image he had summoned. Through a crystal of cloudy white the dark king sat upon his throne languidly and surveyed his newest triumph that confirmed everything, Everent had taken Soku's innocence and in doing so Sephiroth could see them using dark magic.

A figure approached from the shadows who hadn't been there before. Sephiroth smirked at the male. "See… I always win…" Sora's blank face looked up at Sephiroth impassively, soulless yellow eyes watching his every move with faint interest but nothing more as the elder man spoke. "Now all I need to do is have someone collect Soku and then Riku will come of his own accord. Exactly, now what to do what to do... Sora, lets play a little game. An endurance challenge, if you will. And maybe, just maybe, you might live to play another. Oh what a fun game it this be."

AN by Tragedy: Okay, now just to clear a few things up. I figured since we made it to where Sora was getting severely hurt, we should also make it to where you know how. And as for our favorite couple (which differs for some of us. E/S, R/S, C/L) You all should know more things are going to happen to them. Lets just say, Peace will not reign for very long. hehehehe. So cruel yet, so...nope just cruel.

Thanks for the reviews and updates coming soon. Tragedy and AkaibaXXXXXX

Akaiba: I only have two things to say, I've been listening to Redemption by Gackt (end song in Dirge of Cerberus) all the way through writing the last few updates and I am totally loving this story! X3