hoshiko's notes: Oh dear... I'm so sorry for not updating last week. I had a combination of writer's block and then a personal injury that kept me from writing. I had this entire chapter written down in my head, but then...it never made it to the computer. Stupid me.

I really appreciate everything you guys have done for me. Really, it's wonderful. Thanks for the favorites, reviews, and alerts. However, I have to really extend my love to my beta, OhmeGawd, because she's so wonderful for reading these while studying for SATs and losing her kitty. I love her.

Oh yeah, and I changed the summary of this a bit because... well I felt like it was time. The summary don't exactly fit with the story anymore. Stupid me and being bad with summaries. Anyways! Enjoy! Comments appreciated! (smile)

Chapter 10

Sora walked right on into his boyfriend's house, uninvited, and waltzed up to the boy's room. He then swept the older teen off his feet with an incredible apology and explanation. From there, Riku treated Sora to his mouth and eventually his body.

Wait, back up there, Somebody. Did you just imagine all that and think you're going to have sex with him? Since when did you get so horny? Roxas asked. He sounded a bit disturbed, but also a bit entertained.

"I didn't mean to think that up… I just…," Sora mumbled. His face was furiously red. There he stood on the front porch of his boyfriend's house, thinking up a horribly cheesy scenario. Somehow in there, he thought up having an intimate moment with Riku. The scene kept replying in his head until suddenly Roxas made Sora's hand open the door. "You really gotta stop doing that."

I will when you knock it off with these nasty images. I don't wanna see my body doing those things…, Roxas said angrily. Now march up those stairs and be the prince you like to say you are!

Sora was really getting upset with his Nobody, but at the same time, he was really admiring his strength. The blonde had very good points, and the brunette had only made up excuses or grumbled his annoyance at the argument Roxas was making. The teen eventually just stopped fighting back his other self and did as he was told. The other boy seemed more in control than Sora did, sadly.

Sora walked up the staircase and down the hallway to Riku's room. The door was shut, and it sounded far too quiet for the brunette's mind to take. He was seriously worried about his boyfriend's well being.

Don't just barge in there. You still don't have a good explanation or a good apology. Wait! Stop! I said not to barge in there! Sora, would you stop thinking with your heart?! Roxas yelled. He worked to stop Sora's legs, but the Somebody was now in control of his body. Damnit! Think for once you stupid shit!

"Riku?" Sora asked as he came into the room. He looked over to see a suitcase open with some of Riku's clothes carelessly thrown in. The boy's heart sped up. "Riku, where are you?!"

"Calm down, I'm right here," Riku said. He popped his head out from his walk-in closet. "What're you doing here?"

Relief washed over Sora, and he approached his boyfriend slowly. "I wanted to talk to you."

Riku strode over to his suitcase and dropped some clothes in. "That's nice. What about?"

Sora winced at the tone his boyfriend had. It was one of restrained anger, and he could tell the silver haired boy was trying far too hard to remain casual. "Um… are you upset with me? I tried to defend you and stuff…but… I'm sorry…"

Riku threw his clothes extra hard in to the suitcase. "Why didn't you defend yourself, Sora?"

Sora shuffled and fiddled nervously. He figured this was what had made the boy so upset. It seemed that was what made everyone else angry with him too. "I'm sorry…"

"I didn't ask for an apology, Sora. Tell me why you didn't take those guys down. If it's 'cause they're my friends, I won't accept that. That's stupid. You fought me, and I'm your best friend!" Riku stopped packing and came over towards Sora angrily. "You could've very easily taken them all down with a flick of your wrist."

"I didn't… I just…" Sora backed up a little bit, but felt his feet stop.

Oh no you don't, Roxas said. I want to hear your reason too.

Sora sighed deeply and knew he couldn't win. Better to say it and receive the proper reaction from Riku, than continue to hide it and get the silent treatment from not only his boyfriend, but his Nobody.

"I didn't fight all those Heartless and Nobodies only to come home to those I protected and get my ass handed to me. I fought all those things for them," Sora said looking at Riku in the eye.

"Bullshit, you fought for your friends. Not those jerks. They deserved every bit of punishment as the Organization," Riku said, his voice rising.

Watch it, buddy. I was part of that Organization.

Sora shook his head to shut Roxas up and kept his gaze on Riku. "I also fought for everyone on the islands. I didn't want to fight those I had just protected."

"But it was self-defense, Sora! There's a difference! It was either them or you, and I prefer you over them any day!" Riku yelled. "And besides, if you didn't want to get pummeled by them, then you should've fought back!"

"Hey! Don't yell at me!" Sora blurted out.

"Why shouldn't I?! You deserve it, you stupid fuck! You could've really gotten hurt, and we can't afford to lose you!"

"Why, because I wield the Keyblade? Is that the only reason?" Sora narrowed his eyes.

"What the fuck? When has that ever been a reason, Sora? We can't lose you, because you're our friend!" Riku was getting red from yelling. He towered over Sora. "And why are you upset?! You have no reason to be! If anything, I have tons more reason to be pissed off at you!"

"Why?! Just because I chose to not fight for once?!" Sora wouldn't back down and glared up at his boyfriend. "Not everything is solved by fighting, you know?!"

"No shit, Sherlock! I did a lot of that behind your back while you went off and fought Nobodies!"

"Well, thanks for that! You really helped me out! But it's your fault you had to go into the background in the first place!"

Riku threw his hands up in the air and for a second, Sora feared if the older boy would actually hit him. "So, now it comes out! All right, Sora, come on! Hit me with your best shot!"

"You always said I was the dumb one for thinking with my heart, but at least I knew what was right and stayed away from the darkness! I was safe and I got the girl, unlike you! I'm liked by everyone! I'm the savior of the worlds! That could've been you, but you had to be so damn dumb!" Sora began to walk forward, pushing Riku back some. "What happened to our friendship and our promises and our memories?! Do you have any idea how hurt I was?! You chose darkness and some witch and power over me! The one you claim to love and cherish! That's such bullshit! How am I supposed to trust you?!"

Sora, shut up right now if you want to keep Riku, Roxas said with a warning tone.

Riku didn't look upset nor did he look amazed. He swayed on his spot a bit with a sigh. It sounded as if that sigh was filled with complete relief.

"I knew that was coming…," Riku mumbled. His gaze turned from Sora's blue eyes to the floor below them. "I was just waiting and wondering when all that would come out."

It was Sora's turn to be amazed and even a little upset. Should he be upset over the fact that his boyfriend had been waiting for this moment? Was it Riku's turn to yell at him now?

Oh please, just leave the thinking to me, Roxas groaned.

Suddenly, all of the anger Sora had pent up inside his heart was washed away. There was something about Riku's voice resounded throughout the younger teen's body. "Are you…pissed at me?" Sora asked cautiously.

"No." Riku lifted his head up, somehow managing a smile, and brushed his hair out of his face. "Some of what you have to say is right. Some of it is downright stupid, but… if that's how you feel, then I won't argue it."

Sora's shoulders slumped. "What do you mean some of it was stupid?"

Riku moved back to pack up again, but Sora's body worked on its own. His hand reached out, snagging the older boy's arm tightly. Green eyes met blue as they stared at one another.

"What're you doing?" Riku asked with a bit of a growl.

"It's not me, it's Roxas," Sora said pleadingly. "I'm sorry. I'm trying to let you go."

Riku grabbed Sora's arm roughly. "Let me help you with that." The older teen began to twist the offending hand off. It remained after some hisses of pain from the brunette. "Come on, seriously. Let go."

"I would if I could! It hurts! Stop it, Riku!" Sora shouted. The boy did as he was told, but the hand remained on the silver haired boy's arm. "Look… I'm… Roxas wants me to apologize."

Thank you for listening to me, Roxas said smugly.

"Apologize for how you feel? Why should you apologize for that?" Riku wasn't looking at Sora. His head had turned away in fear of seeing into the blue eyes of his boyfriend; he might see something he couldn't handle at that moment. "Sora, it's fine. I'll be okay."

"Then, why are you packing?" Sora asked, glancing at said bag on the bed.

"Not everything is because of you," Riku muttered. He, too, had looked at the bag, but never turned to look at his friend. "I know the minute my father learns of my expulsion, I'll probably be kicked out of the house in a heartbeat. I should just pack before he gets home."

Sora, not Roxas, tightened his grip on Riku's arm. "You can't be serious. You don't think that's really going to happen, do you? Riku, look at me, please."

Slowly, Riku did as he was asked. Eyes full of worry looked at the spot just above Sora's shoulder. He could still see blue, but decided to ignore them for the moment. Neither really knowing what to say, they just stood there instead hoping for an answer to this situation. Sadly, if they tried to fix it, the fingers would begin pointing again. It was a stalemate at this point.

"Sora…let me go…," Riku asked slowly, careful to not say anything wrong. But apparently he had, as Sora looked frantic now. The older teen sighed. "I didn't mean anything else other than I want my arm back."

Sora let go and stood back. He knew nothing was going to work. Riku had made up his mind. While neither wished for this scenario to be playing out before them now, there was nothing they could do but move forward.

"Riku… I forgave you…," Sora started. "I forgave you for all those things you did… That's why I went in search of you… If you leave, I'll do it again."

Riku had stopped walking away. He didn't turn to look at Sora, but instead waited for anything more. He hadn't anticipated this. Riku had figured that there would be a fight, feelings hurt, and then he could leave without Sora. It would probably make things easier for him. He'd just move in with a family member that had also been disowned by the family name or even another friend. An apology was new to his plan.

"I said those things just now, because that's how I used to feel," Sora continued. He was walking closer to Riku, slowly, building up his courage. "I was hurt. You had cast me aside for something else… something that we both knew was wrong, yet you still didn't care. But I did. And I searched for you endlessly, twice, because I couldn't leave you… But I don't feel that way anymore."

"But you don't trust me," Riku said, still not facing Sora. Suddenly there was a warm hand on his. Not used to such tender touches, the older boy's first reaction was to jerk it away, but he resisted this urge. The boy he loved was now gently holding his hand like he had always wanted. "It's ok, though… I wouldn't trust me."

"It's just that everything that's going on in our lives: school, our friends, even this relationship… It's all so new to me, and it's confusing. It's all going so fast." Sora tried to move so Riku could look at him. He desperately ached for his touch at that moment as his heart banged in his chest. "I'm just unsure what to do, that's all."

"And you think I'm stable?" Riku sounded like he fought back a laugh. He glanced over to see Sora in his peripheral vision.

"You're a lot more stable than you used to be," Sora said with a confident smile. It was contagious and soon, Riku felt his own mouth twitching to smile too. "I know now that if you were given the option to leave here again, you wouldn't."

A small snorting noise came from the back of Riku's throat; it sounded oddly like a restrained laugh. Sora's confident expression vanished quickly only to be replaced by confusion. "Sorry, don't be scared. I won't leave here under the same pretense as last time. If I leave, I'll choose when to leave."

The older teen chuckled to himself, expecting Sora to do the same, but stop short when he saw the scared look to the boy's eyes. "What's wrong?"

"You're going to leave?" Sora asked sadly.

Riku sighed and ruffled his boyfriend's hair. "I knew you'd react that way. I didn't mean I'd leave and never come back, but you know me. I've wanted to get out of here forever, and now, we have that ability." Sora looked down as Riku continued. "I get restless and need to keep moving. I've seen the outside world. It's like candy. I want to keep going back for more. I can't help it. You know that I'm restless, Sora."

"Yeah, but…," Sora mumbled.

You think he wouldn't bring you along, Sora? Roxas asked; his voice was tender and sensitive. Why would you think that you can have sex with him, but not trust that he wouldn't go along with you? Are you that selfishly stupid?

Sora winced at the truth to his Nobodies words. He was terrified of being left behind once more by Riku. During the Keyblader's adventure, the boy wished more than anything to go to all these worlds with his best friend. That wish now had grown even more since he and the older teen were now together.

"I want to come, too," Sora whined. He forced himself to not sound so sad, but it just happened. Why was he starting to act this way? It wasn't always like this.

Riku chuckled to himself. "So, is that what's bothering you? You're so silly sometimes, Sora, I swear." The older boy pulled Sora into a tight hug and sighed into his hair. "It makes me wonder just why I put up with such a troublesome boy like you."

For the first time, Sora thought up a retort to Riku's words. "Because you know if you leave me, I'll just keep chasing you and bring you back here."

Riku rolled his eyes with a groan. "Oh gawd, not back to Destiny Islands. Not here, again!" He cried dramatically, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The two boys laughed and hugged. "This place could be, like… our vacation retreat."

Suddenly, like a bright light, an idea hit Riku. He held the younger boy back with a wonderfully bright smile, mimicking one like Sora's. "The universe is ours to travel now as we please, Sora! We don't even have to stay here to go to college!"

Sora watched quietly for a few minutes as Riku's imagination ran wild with dreams of grandeur. The boy slowly smiled as he watched his boyfriend's eyes light up and his face return to that of a child. Memories of sweet, innocent childhood flooded back making the entire rambling sound familiar. Pretty soon, Sora was shaking from laughter.

"What? Hey, don't laugh at me!" Riku exclaimed. He glared down at his chuckling boyfriend, but soon smiled. His arms moved, slipping around Sora's waist, and pulling the younger boy close so he was flush with Riku's chest. This brought a smile to the older boy.

Sora stopped laughing and quieted. A sweet lull settled in, now that the boys knew they were okay. Sure, there was a problem on the parental level, but as long as they had each other, there was a security that couldn't be severed. Both believed that if one was far away, they would still find one another. Their hearts beat that truth so hard, they could hear it in their ears.

"I was so scared…," Riku whispered. Sora had closed his eyes, but opened them at hearing the words. "When I saw you being strangled… You have no idea…how terrified I was that I wouldn't get there in time… It was just like when we were fighting Xemnas. He caught you in that electric bubble and kept me at bay with a clone. I almost lost all hope of getting to you and saving you."

Sora smiled in Riku's chest, his face blushing. It felt nice to know his boyfriend had worried about him so much. Such concern made his heart flutter about. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you worry. I was so glad you saved me… and not someone else, you know?"

Riku breathed a laugh before he kissed the top of Sora's head. "Even heroes need saving sometimes, Sora…" He leaned down and kissed his boyfriend on the cheek, then. Shortly after that, Riku moved to the other cheek and then the nose. He looked at the younger teen in his arms only to catch him smiling with his eyes closed. "Sora…," Riku whispered before descending upon said boy's lips.

The two then began the dance of their mouths with their tongue being in the spotlight. Closing whatever space was left, their bodies became flush with one another. Sora started panting as he felt the rougher hands caressing his face, down his neck, and along his sides. It was startling when those hands pushed up under his shirt to stroke his skin. Thinking that he should do the same, the younger boy tried to mimic his boyfriend's movements, but somehow they came out shaky and slow. Not at all like the relaxed motions from Riku.

A quick gasp came from Sora's mouth when he found himself being moved backwards to the bed. Was it finally time? Was he ready?

Oh no you don't, Roxas said. Sora pushed the Nobody from his mind, but he was like a persistent child and pushed to have himself heard. I didn't fight him only to get fucked up the ass by him.

Sora bit his lip and arched his neck back, allowing Riku access to whatever he wanted. The boy began to squirm as he felt himself grow hard, but at the same time, he forced his mind to shut off and not bring a reasonable Nobody into the matter.

Oh, I'll get into the matter. I'll make myself a part of this! Roxas exclaimed.

"Mm, shut up," Sora whispered as he ran his fingers through Riku's hair.

"What?" Riku asked as he lifted his head from messing around on Sora's chest.

"Oh…nothing, it's fine," Sora replied. He sat down on the bed, pulling Riku onto him. "Just keep going. It feels great."

"Heh, good," Riku chuckled.

He laid Sora back on his bed, pushing his suitcase to the floor. Crawling on top of the smaller boy, Riku then worked on getting both their shirts off. Sora was much too enraptured by the feeling of fingers and warm kisses all across his body. This was what he had been waiting for, but for how long? It wasn't until he realized the reality of this situation that it occurred to him that he had been aching for these intimate touches for a long time.

Riku tore his own shirt off, giving Sora full access to run his hands over the well maintained torso of his boyfriend. While they touched and tasted one another, the older teen's hands found their way to his partner's pants. Tearing his lips and eyes away from the soft skin for just a second, the situation changed quickly.

"Sora…," Riku whispered, tugging on said teen's pants slightly.

"No." That certainly wasn't Sora.

Looking up in confusion at the cold voice, Riku knew then what had happened. Instead of deep blue eyes clouded by lust a moment before, they were now a cold and emotionless azure that could only belong to one who never knew feelings.

"Roxas," Riku said flatly. He was not pleased to see those harsh eyes looking at him again. "What're you doing? Let go of my wrists."

Roxas had clamped his hands tightly on Riku's arms to stop his movements. The Nobody kept his eyes locked on the older boy's, making sure that nothing would continue.

"No," Roxas replied with an almost eerily deadly tone. "He's not ready."

Riku sighed and sat back so he was no longer hovering over Sora's body. He ran his now free hands through his silver locks with a long, drawn out sigh. "So, you took his body over? Why didn't you do this earlier today when he was getting attacked?"

"Hey, don't blame me for that," Roxas said bitterly, his eyes narrowing a fraction. "I tried and I yelled at Sora to fight back, but the stupid twit wouldn't. You now know why, and you have me to thank for that."

Riku looked at Roxas with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Roxas had begun to button his school uniform back up while he spoke. "I told Sora to go and face you; calm you down some. It took a lot of persuasion on my part. He's such a baby. I guess I'm the one with bravery in this body."

Riku grabbed Roxas arm tightly. The blonde glared up at the older teen without moving his head. "Don't you ever say that Sora isn't brave. He's done way more than you ever will."

"Funny, I thought we were the same person," Roxas growled.

Riku smirked. "If that's the case, then I guess you're a baby, too." Roxas tried to yank his arm free, but Riku squeezed. He wasn't finished with the Nobody. "Roxas…I want you to do me a favor."

"A favor for you?" Roxas scoffed. He stared at Riku like he was crazy. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"It's more like a promise," Riku sighed. He was fighting back the urge to punch the boy in the face. But he reminded himself that the sweet face, though it may be masked by the Nobody, still belonged to Sora. "It works in your favor too, you know…"

There was a tense silence for a heartbeat before Roxas chuckled. "All right. I'll bite."

"If something should ever happen to Sora… and he doesn't want to fight back because he doesn't want to hurt them… I want you to promise that you'll take over his body and protect him." Riku looked in the blonde's eyes, searching for the answer before the boy had spoken.

Roxas stared right back, trying to see the seriousness Riku was conveying. It was a few minutes before the blonde nodded and then got his arm back.

"Thank you," Riku said, a small smile starting to form on his face.

"This includes you too, pervert," Roxas said suddenly. He smirked at Riku as he zipped his pants back up.

Riku snorted as he pulled his own shirt back over his head. "I'm not a pervert, Roxas. It's called normal, teenage hormones. Something you'll never experience."

Roxas held a hand over Sora's heart. It would be his if he was the Somebody, but sadly, he isn't. "Oh no! I can't be a sex driven teenager! How will I ever manage!?"

Riku slapped Roxas upside the head and for just a moment, the two accepted each other. But it was only for Sora. Both knew that was the case, and soon the awkward situation was over. The blonde stepped aside for his Somebody to regain control again.

"I'm…sorry," Sora mumbled. He didn't know what had happened at first, but Riku calmly explained things. The younger teen looked embarrassed as he fiddled with his fingers. "I thought…"

Riku's hand rested upon Sora's head, making the younger boy look up. "It's okay, Sora. You don't have to apologize. If you're not ready, then you're not ready. Simple as that."

Sora nodded and smiled reassuringly. "Yeah, you're right."

The brunette started to get up, but Riku hugged him tightly. He lay down next to the smaller boy, holding him tenderly. Feeling Sora tense up, the older teen had to smile and whisper into his ear. "It's ok. I just want to be with you while I still can."

Sora relaxed quickly, but looked at Riku confused. "What do you mean?"

Riku sighed as he brushed some of Sora's spikes to the side giving him a nice resting area for his face. His cheek rested there comfortably. "I know that when my father gets home, I'll probably never be able to return to this house, and it might be awhile before I find a place to stay, so… Who knows when we'll be together again like this?"

Sora sighed sadly, but decided to not argue with it. The matter was done and over, and now all he could do was hope for the best. Maybe Riku's father would let it slide and somehow get his son back into school with him. Who knows?

Boy…you sure are the dreamer, Sora, Roxas said flatly. You really think that everything is going to come together in your perfect little world? You have got to be kidding me.

Hey, one can hope, right? Sora asked Roxas.

Roxas shook his head. No… you need to wake up and smell adulthood. It's not your little playtime anymore. This is serious. And you better start seeing how important it is. Or else, you're gonna get another slap in the face and there's a good chance neither Riku nor I can help out.

Sora understood the severity of the situation better than Roxas could know, even if he was his Nobody. He snuggled deeper into Riku's chest, hoping that for a little while longer, he could stay in his childhood dreams before stepping back out to the pain reality would soon deal him.