Before you read this chapter, I'd suggest listening to or buying or just downloading the song 'Stars' by Madina Lake. Why? Well, you'll figure that out later on. You'll get the 'full-effect' of this chapter if you do. And yeah ... progression in this chapter ... setting up for the next few. The plot will be thickening and bubbling and all that jazz soon. Don't worry. Plotholes? They'll be filled shortly ... just how soon? Depends on the development between Riku and Sora. Anyhow, enjoy and leave a review. Next chapter either Monday or late weekend.

Innovation

The plane ride was much longer than Sora had anticipated. The flight left at sharply seven AM and was predicted to arrive around two. Sora had assumed the ride would be shorter (as most flights were), but once again he was proven wrong.

Sunlight leaked in through the windows around him. Sora Kayaki /wanted. to get some sleep, but the current situation as preventing him from doing such. It always seemed like his plans ended up thwarted. In fact, Sora figured, Riku sitting beside him wearing an oddly alluring fragrance of cologne was the cause of his downfall. Eyes narrowed at the author. Sora shifted in his seat, desperately seeking comfort. And perhaps childish vengeance... that sounded good as well.

Riku, on the other hand, was fast asleep. How he managed to do such was a mystery to Sora. Perhaps he was used to all this flying and had simply built up a resistance. Sora winkled his nose and jabbed Riku in the shoulder.

Riku cracked open an eye briefly. Orbs of an almost perfect blend of blue an d green observed Sora. The irate state caused Riku to snicker as he stumbled (metaphorically speaking) out of the realm of dreams. "Sora?" He inquired hazily.

"You're not allowed to sleep," Sora declared immaturely, "If I can't sleep, you can't."

Riku smirked wider. Hesitation instantly flared up in Sora's eyes. "Oh, really?" Without a second thought, Riku slipped his arm around Sora's shoulders. He practically dragged the boy onto his lip. He would have also, but the arm-rest between them was preventing him from that action. Pesky arm-rest. First class, he never hated it so much. "Better?"

"I guess..." Sora eyed the drowsy Riku nervously. He seemed utterly amused in this state. Less uptight. More compulsive.

"Need anything?" Riku asked. The tired male nudged his head towards the hostess'. "I can call one over if you want." Eyes remained glued to Sora. He frantically tried ot unravel the mystery of Sora before it /consumed/ him. That'd be a sight.

"I'm fine." Sora replied. Blue eyes watched Riku's fingers stroke his shoulder. Sort of a massage. The brunette allowed a content sigh to slip from his lips. God, Riku was such a great kisser. How he craved to do that again... But he refrained. For his own safety.

"When we get there we have a meeting at five. So if you want to sleep an hour..." Riku began but noticed the intense look Sora was giving him. "Something wrong?"

"No." Sora answered automatically. He snapped out of his daze. Just long enough to address the question. "I bet you'll be the one sleeping." Sora teased. Oddly, his cheeks scorched a shade of pink as he refused to break eye contact. Not like Riku was planning to do such anyhow.

"Of course. I was just offering. You know, if you want to rest with me." The author nearly cooed and hummed the sultry words in Sora's direction. What was the strange part was that Riku's tone contained no cockiness or seduction. Strange.

"..." Sora gulped down the lump in his throat, "Do you want me to?" He asked innocently.

'There's a lot of tings I'd like you to do... or more so I'd like to do to you...' Riku mused with a smirk. Mental smirk, that is. "Perhaps." Came the simple but witty response. It wasn't a yes or a no. Just a 'perhaps'.

"You just want my body," Sora commented awkwardly. He lacked anything better to say. The artist blinked a few times, gaze never once faltering. He was trying his best to be funny but he was failing horribly. He was far too dense, innocent, and nervous.

"Hell yeah." Riku sneered. His hand on Sora's shoulder moved upward. The male's hand soon after began to fuss with locks of brown hair.

"Hehe." Sora laughed nervously, trying not to lean into the touches or to sigh in pleasure. It was comforting. Wild, dangerous, heart breaking /Riku Karada/ was /comforting/.

Okay, so Sora wanted to risk a relationship with Riku. He wanted to show Riku /love/ ... if that ever formed. He wanted his friend /kissing/ him ... Did that make him as shallow as Riku? Just as /needy/?

"I heard a lot of artists are going to be there." Riku informed Sora. His hand remained raking through Sora's hair. "Maybe you'll find one that tickles your fancy." Riku offered a helpful smile.

'Well... I'd rather try dating you...but you'd break my heart' Sora thought weakly. "Maybe. Like what you said. What happens in Vegas stays-"

"In Vegas." Riku said at the same time. The way Sora said it sounded /suggestive/. "I'm going to try and get some sleep before we land." Riku quickly stated.

Sora nodded, "You do that."

"See you in a few." Riku whispered softly as he closed his eyes.

"Of course."

x x x

The hotel (to say the least) was more than Sora expected. Of course, this /was/ Riku Karada, so who wouldn't have guessed the tycoon to have anything less than the best. Sora lazily dropped the bed closest to the window. Half of him was glad that Riku had the decency to request two beds. Yet, the other half wished there was one. The fading memory of the day before remained in his mind. God, he had wanted that.

"Comfy enough?" Riku asked with a famous smirk.

"Mhm." Sora grinned but paused soon afterwards, "Want to lay with me?" It was a simple question. He expected a simple answer.

If only things were simple when it came to Riku Karada.

"As much as I'd like to, I have to unpack." Riku replied. The author began his rummage through his suitcase. He removed shirts, pants (some were leather to Sora's amazement) and other materials. Sora's face displayed a look of disappointment.

"You can unpack /later/." Sora whined, taking extra care to accent the 'later'. Blue eyes shone with dominance over at Riku. The brunette gently tapped the spot beside him.

"Do you really want me in bed that badly?" Riku teased his friend, arching his brow.

Sora stiffened, "You just look tired." Sora retorted smartly.

"Mm..." Riku set his clothes down on the large dresser and made his way over to Sora. He forced a smile down at the immature boy. "Maybe I am." Riku confessed with a shrug.

"Then lay down." Sora restated cutely. Childish orbs fixated on the wild Riku Karada (who actually wasn't that /wild/.)

"You win." Riku scoffed as he sat down on the bed. Seconds later he laid down; shoulder-to-shoulder with Sora.

"Ever wonder what happens when you die?" Sora asked, closing his eyes with relaxation.

What an odd question, "No. Why?"

"I was watching this show and this girl died. Her father regretted never telling her how much he truly cared about his rebellious daughter. I was asking you for your opinion on death because you're a writer ... I just figured writers had creative ideas regarding that sort of stuff."

Riku was amiss for words for several moments. "I guess death is the last step on our journey of life. Everyone dies and I guess it's inevitable. it's fair..."

"What about the teenage girl?" Sora inquired.

"Was she involved in a DUI?" Riku asked.

"...Her friend was driving.." Sora wracked his brain for the details. They were there, just a bit foggy and hazy. Slowly fading with time.

"Then it was her fault," Riku muttered stubbornly.

"It's her fault she died?" Sora squeaked. Eyes opened and glanced at Riku in disbelief. Maybe...

"It's fair." Riku stated, "Her fault."

"She wasn't drunk!" Sora snapped, "I don't see how you think it's her fault, Riku."

"You asked for my opinion." Riku glared back at Sora. The air went stale. "i just think that every death is fair, okay?" Both aquamarine eyes and oceanic blue ones stared at each other for a long while. Riku tried his best to understand how Sora's mind worked and how a person could get so worked up on something as small as death. Then again, him and Sora were complete opposites, so he figured Sora just had compassion for everyone.

"Whatever," Sora mumbled, looking away from Riku at once. He was angry, Riku could tell. Those usual carefree features were now drenched in frustration. Lips were pierced into a sharp frown that was directed at Riku.

"Darling." Riku eyed Sora's perplexed state. He had so much to learn about his new friend, didn't he? Riku witnessed Sora flinch at what he had said. "So now you hate me?" Riku guessed, voice suddenly converting to an emotionless monotone.

"No," Sora answered honestly, "You're entitled to your own opinion, I'm sorry." Sora apologized, shutting his eyes as he turned back in Riku's attention.

"Let's just drop this?" Riku suggested, not wanting to be in a petty little fight with Sora on their first day in Las Vegas.

"Deal." Sora whispered uncertainly.

Riku sat there for a long moment. He had no idea what to say. No idea of how to start a more interesting and kind conversation. So he just laid there beside Sora. He listened to the even and small breaths of his friend, the occasional coughs, and the way the brunette's chest raised and then elegantly deflated.

"So it's a convention?" Sora asked as he finally opened his eyes.

"Yeah. Booths for authors and artists. There's a huge banquet and after-party." Riku explained casually, eyes never once removing themselves from Sora's. Eye contact was such a precious thing.

"So it's an art convention?" Sora wondered, blinking very slowly. He was at peace once more, and was quite relaxed to be laying there with his friend.

"Refined/famous/ art. Authors and well-known artists only. Well ... you're an exception. You're with me." Riku flashed Sora a toothy smile that screamed 'I'm up to something. What? You'll never know'.

"That's good then." Sora replied, shifting a bit. He reached for the pillow above him. Once he had it in his grasps, he tightly squeezed the object and nuzzled his chin into it. Feather pillow. They were a lot better than the kind he had back at his apartment.

Riku laughed a bit, "If you find a pretty girl, I won't hesitate in leaving the room for you two to be alone." He grinned and then rose a hand in the air to point at a small fridge, "There's wine in there. You know, just incase you wanted to woo her some more." Riku winked soon after.

"I'm not going for a one-night stand, Riku." Sora laughed apprehensively. The brunette sighed before speaking once more, "But I'll do the same thing for you."

'Too bad I can't get myself to /see/ anyone since I've met you. I want to yell at you for that but I can't. It's not your fault' Riku hollered angrily in his mind. What was going on? It was physiological, he knew it was. It was just ... he didn't even know. He was acting stupid. "Tch. Okay." Was the simple and yet elegant response.

Riku was ever so slowly becoming completely enthralled by his younger counterpart. He always what was out of his reach. Always.

x x x

"Sora."

Riku jabbed his snoozing friend. Sora's head was leaning against the red-covered table. Yawns emitted from the artist as he peered over to his right at Riku. The author was dressed in a nice white dress-shirt with a maroon tie. Sora's jaw slacked a bit, remembering where he was. Blue eyes fell off Riku and then around them. People clothed in suits and fancy clothes walked by. All of them were eagerly chattering. Some stopped at the booths whilst others headed into the adjoining halls.

"What time is it?" Sora asked curiously. No clocks were insight to Sora's disappointment.

"Six." Riku replied, "We have another hour before the after party." Riku informed him.

"Can I go walk around?" Sora requested. His eyes fixated on Riku. The tie and the shirt. It was all too much for him. Sora's heart ached. He hated, he really did, that he was attracted to Riku. But he hated the idea that would never take a relationship seriously even more. And therefore, Sora would never allow himself to confess. Plenty of people kept quiet about their attractions. It was a daily thing in society. There were just too many risks.

"Don't get lost," Riku teased, smirking over at the younger.

"Like I would," Sora grinned, "If anyone asks about my stuff," He motioned to the paintings, "Say whatever sounds good."

"Can do." Riku nodded as he strummed his agile fingers along the table.

With that, Sora wandered away from the booth. The brunette wore a dress-shirt, dark red. Unlike Riku, he wore no tie, but instead a black jacket. The hood rested neatly behind him, pooling at the base of his neck. The jacket had fancy white outlining (something Riku bought him a day or so ago as a 'friendly gift'). Along with the shirt, Sora wore his typical black cargo pants with red strips of fabric. All in all, Sora looked ... typical.

Sora then came across a booth near the west corner. Eyes traveled along the paintings hung upon the walls. The color caught his attention at once. The paintings were more of a realistic style than his own. Realistic humans. but the backgrounds were swirls of color forming a landscape. It was a bit ... creepy. Yet beautiful.

"Sora Kayaki, correct?"

Sora's attention was drawn away from the painting by the speaker. The silver-haired man looked familiar. In fact, Sora remembered meeting him a few days ago, just not his name. Go figure.

Sora offered a timid smile at the man. He shuffled his hands into his jacket. He felt under-dressed standing next to this man. "It's nice to see you," Sora greeted.

"I'm surprised you're here." Xemnas said, leaning against his own booth with subtle amusement. "So he really is endorsing you," Xemnas said but more so to himself.

"He has some of my art up," Sora explained with a wide smile, "I'm really glad to be here."

"Do you like?" Xemnas nudged his head over his shoulder.

"Very much." Sora grinned and marveled. "Wait ... are these /yours/?"

"That'd be correct." Xemnas answered. The man slid behind the booth and took a seat, "Been in the business for ten years."

"Wow." Sora gaped at the man, "That's a long time."

"Mhm." Xemnas paused, "I'm curious. Are you and Karada dating?" He arched his grey-toned eyebrows.

"No." Sora answered quickly. A blush danced across his face to which he forced to disappear. "We're just friends." That's all I'll allow, Sora mused wearily in his head. He couldn't let some stranger (a famous stranger at that) thinking that he and Riku were dating. That spelled doom.

"Interesting." Xemnas sneered. Sora furrowed his brows questioningly. "He seems to be protective of you. Very protective."

Sora gave a sheepish nod, "He is." He cracked a smile. he was thankful that Riku cared so much about him. Even if they were new to this friendship thing. He was /very/ thankful. "I should be heading back, actually." Sora stated. He was uncertain as to how long he had been wandering about.

"You do that." Xemnas gave a small wave, "Take care." The way he said it made Sora shiver just a bit.

"You too..." And with that Sora made his way quickly back to Riku's booth to mingle to fans and other artists. It was relaxing ... for the most part. That was until the after-party.

Discretion went /out the window/.

x x x

Sora's hand quivered on the empty wine glass. Nimble fingers did their best not to lose their grip and drop the glass. Blue eyes were clouded and hazy as he imagined said glass shattering on the floor. His mind was spinning a bit and he felt like he was in a life-like dream. He exhaled sharply and then took in the scent of fruity alcohol lingering in the air.

Riku was somewhere ... last time Sora had seen him was when Riku was flirting aimlessly with a waitress. After that Sora forgot where he went. Even if he wasn't insight Sora's mind did not wander away from the author.; Riku this. Riku that. Mysterious and sexy Riku in Las Vegas.

A dark blush materialized on Sora's face at the thoughts of Riku biting his neck like some sort of vampire. Sora giggled at the thought. Riku would make a hot vampire... never before had his thoughts so freely danced around. Especially about men ... especially about /Riku/.

Riku found Sora a few moments later downing a glass of blackberry wine. The author stared blankly at the clearly intoxicated brunette. Aquamarine eyes met cloudy blue ones a few seconds later. Riku barely recognized the boy. God, Sora was /really/ a light-drinker.

"Sora?" Riku asked, the only one who was still in his right mind.

"Hey, Rikuuu." Sora slurred with a sloppy grin. He took a final sip from his glass before setting it back down. He attempted to stand but instead decided upon falling into Riku's un-expecting arms. Riku blinked cautiously as he caught Sora from under his arms, supporting the boy's lithe form.

"I wasn't expecting you, of all people, to get drunk." Riku groaned and helped Sora to stand straight. "...You're gonna be sick later." Riku noted and frowned.

"Nahh... I'll be fine, Riku." Sora whispered cutely. He pushed his body upwards in attempts to kiss Riku but missed and placed and awkward kiss onto Riku's nose.

"Don't do that, Sora." Riku warned, face oddly turning a dark red.

"You're a very pretty man, Riku." Sora giggled, trying to stand upright. Defiance flared in his eyes. "Very pretty." He squeaked with a smile.

"Thanks?..." Riku sighed and removed his arms from around Sora. He rose his hands to brush his hair out of his eyes. "I think we should get back to the room. I'm not having fun and you're just drunk..." Riku mumbled as he glanced around the dark dance room.

"No, let's dance." Sora argued with an affectionate smile.

Before Riku had time to even respond, Sora was dragging him across the room and towards the dance floor. The small lighted part of the huge room soon vanished as the pair was engulfed in bodies. Riku was surprised that Sora hadn't collapsed or fallen into anyone yet. Very surprised.

Sora paused near the middle of the dance floor. "Now if they'd only play some music," Sora sighed adorably, resting his head against Riku's chest.

"Sora," Riku warned, trying to pry Sora off him, "You do know that we're not dating, right?"

"I know." Sora answered simply in a slur, world still spinning around and around. He had only a thread of reality left, and he was doing his best to cling onto it for dear life.

Before Riku had time to respond again, music began to fill the room. Riku's eyes turned towards the stage in the distance. A band was on the stage, strumming guitars, banging drums, and singing. The song sounded familiar ... and within a few seconds he knew which one it was.

"Who are they?" Sora hummed drunkenly against Riku's chest, peering up at his friend.

we walk past a dead end street

"Madina Lake." Riku answered in a sigh, "They're alter-" Riku began but let out a yelp when he felt Sora's hands on his waist, lingering on his backside, "Sora..." Riku warned, eyes glowering at the boy.

"Dance with me?" Sora asked once more.

atop the hill so we can be alone

"Fine." Riku gave in.

Sora beamed and then pulled Riku close to him. Sora hazily gazed up into Riku's vast eyes as he nuzzled his face against the other's strong neck. "You lead." He instructed, fingers trembling along Riku's sides in beat with the fast-paced music.

under the moon it's beautiful

Riku sighed a bit and effortlessly swung his arms around Sora. He leaned down and whispered into Sora's ear, "Sora… you're going to have to turn around." He resisted the urge to nip at his friend's earlobe. He couldn't take advantage of Sora when he was drunk. He promised him. Dancing wasn't taking advantage though…

the stars clear the black of night when i'm with you

Sora blushed, half from the alcohol coursing in his veins and half to his stupidity. He turned around and felt Riku pull him effortlessly against his back. They bodies met that caused a relaxed gasp to elicit from Sora's lips. He could not see Riku anymore, but having Riku behind him, arms around his waist tightly, lulled him. Blue eyes shut as he felt Riku's dexterous fingers rock his hips in sync with the music.

and nervously i take your hands

and promise you i'll take you for a ride

Sora rose his hands from his sides up and around Riku's neck. He pulled at the author's neck, just briefly so he could let their eyes meet. Sora laughed, staring up at Riku (quite literally). The hands on him felt like they were on fire. It was like a spa, or a massage … but a lot more electric feeling? Like slipping into a warm tub and relaxing all your tense muscles? Or biting into something sweet. The pleasant shudder you got. Yeah, maybe it was that.

"and someday we'll have it all, you and me, we're gonna be stars"

Their bodies met in the middle. Sora gasped a bit when he rocked back against his friend. He felt Riku somewhat thrust forward, pulling Sora as close as he possibly could. Riku's hands traveled along his clothed sides, fingers digging at him as they went. The jacket was bothersome, yes. He slipped his hands under the jacket's flaps and caressed the dark red shirt he found there.

we'll runaway from everything you hate

runaway to everything you've wanted

"Riku…" Sora purred softly, fingers tangling themselves in Riku's previously neat hair. He shut his eyes and pushed back against his friend seconds later. He smirked sloppily at the groan he received from his friend. Riku's fingers, now blocked from view of any people who were looking (not like anyone was…), slipped under the dress shirt. Sora arched when he felt the cold fingers against his hot skin. "Ri…ku." Sora breathed hotly.

we'll runaway from everything you fought

runaway to everything you love

take my hand, let's get famous

"I doubt you've ever danced with anyone before, huh?" Riku teased, lips ghosting over Sora's ear. He heard the mewed response from Sora as his fingers danced along Sora's sensitive flesh. Sora kept his arms around Riku's neck above him, as if it was a reassurance that Riku wasn't leaving and he was there. Sora's mind was still quite fuzzy … so he doubted he'd remember much … but for now, this was all he needed.

i'm amazed how things can change

how the real world can chase our dreams away

how did you give up easily

cause i'd rather make them bury me, so let's

Sora practically ground back against his friend, loving the reaction and the feeling doing such produced. Riku sighed helplessly into Sora's ear. Against his better judgment, he craned his neck down and took the brunette's lobe in his mouth. Sora gasped loudly. Everything that Riku was doing, all at the same time, was a bit too much for the poor, drunk artist.

our names in lights across the sky

it's beautiful and our whole lives will be headlines

across the whole world

"Rikuu…" Sora murmured when he felt the author's hand teasingly dance across his nipple. His eyes slipped shut and he melted back against Riku. Riku let go of the boy's ear briefly, licking it quickly as he caught his breath.

"Too much for you?" Riku teased, swaying against his friend.

"No?..." Sora wasn't sure how to answer but supposed a no would suffice.

"Good." Riku hummed, letting his hands fall from under Sora's shirt and back on his clothed hips. He /felt/ Sora pout as the song ended. The people around them cheered for the band. Except them.

By this point Sora was facing down Riku, tugging eagerly at Riku's tie. Sora pulled the other close to him, letting their chests compress against each other's. Riku's aquamarine eyes widened when he felt Sora reach up on his tip-toes and nip at his neck, just above his collar.

"Sora…stop it." Riku slipped as he felt the brunette's inexperienced lips work at his neck.

"No…. let me have my funn." He whined in a slur, nuzzling Riku's neck. Lips continued up Riku's neck. He was a bit disappointed when all he could reach was Riku's jaw. Sora muttered something incoherent, probably just a drunk rambling, before tugging at Riku's tie again.

"Sora. No." Riku knew if he let Sora, he wouldn't hear the end of it. The first rule of friendship, hell even of life, was not to sleep with your best friend.

"Rikuuu." Sora pouted, lips biting at his friend's jaw.

"Damnit, Sora. No." Riku argued harshly, arms rising up to press between them. He easily shoved Sora's hand off his tie.

Sora stared meekly at Riku. Questions flashed in the youth's eyes. "Riku?..." He whispered softly.

"Let's get you back to the room," He reached down and snagged Sora's hand, "You need to lie down before you pass out or get sick." Riku whispered soothingly into Sora's ear.

"Fine…" Sora muttered and hiccupped as Riku lead him out of the party and towards the elevator. Once there, he turned to the side, noticing that Sora had a very pensive and almost dead like expression on his face.

"You tired?" Riku asked with a shrug.

"…Y-yeah.." Sora slurred eyes heavy.

"Go Figure…" Riku sighed and pressed up on the elevator to the hotel rooms. He was thankful that the convention was in the hotel. Very thankful that the people had booked rooms for the authors in the same hotel.

"Hey….Riku?" Sora asked in a yawn, leaning against his friend's side.

"Hm?" He peered down at the ravished Sora.

"I really like you." He purred out softly, eyes shut.

"W-what?..." Riku asked, eyes widening as the elevator opened. The two entered and Riku clicked level ten. He turned to Sora the moment the doors shut, leaving them in utter silence. Just themselves.

"I really like you, Riku." Sora repeated, leaning against the wall, trying his best not to let his stomach or his want to sleep get to him. "…but …" He tried to form intelligent words, "I'm afraid…. That….. you…" He kept slurring and Riku tried his best to pick out the words, "break.. my heart."

"…" Riku stared down at the floor. "I told you not to get involved with me."

"Riku?..." Sora asked weakly.

"I told you just to be my friend because I'll-."

"You said you'd never…hurt me." Sora refuted eyes hazy as he opened them and stared at Riku questioningly.

"Just please," He looked at Sora as the elevator opened, "…don't ever bring this up again."

He was frightened of going back on his promise. He said he'd never hurt Sora if they dated. Honestly, he was afraid that he had lied. And more than ever did he just want to through his worries out the window and /try/ dating his friend. But… things weren't going all that well. No matter what Riku Karada did, he couldn't keep his mind off Sora… and it was hurting him in the long-run.