Author's Notes: Ahh! Sorry this is so late. I have a lot of RL problems going on right now. I also started a new story! The new one will be updated whenever I get the chance because I'm making those chapters rather long. Anyway, onwards!

Chapter 11

Free Me

"You know me…?"

Kairi stared at Riku as if he'd just given birth to an alien child.

"Riku—you, Sora and I grew up together… and then they took you, and we haven't seen you since then."

Sora stared at Kairi in shock. "What? You never told me you remembered Riku!"

Kairi turned and glared, her eyes still glowing with unshed tears. "I thought you didn't want me to talk about it! You never said anything about him, so I didn't bring him up."

"Kairi, I forgot him!" Sora hissed. "And he's forgotten me too. I don't know him. I mean, he's familiar, but I don't know him."

Riku nodded. Though it stung just a little, he felt almost the same. "Apparently someone's been messing with our heads…" He gave a weak smile. This Kairi girl was very familiar, just like Sora and Roxas. She narrowed her eyes at them both, and then blinked, as if she'd realized something.

"Those tests—" She clamped her mouth shut and Sora's eyes widened.

"They—they've messed with my memory… it made me forget Riku…" He whispered, looking at the boy beside him.

Kairi sighed. She stepped back and let the boys walk past her. "Well, come in and eat."

Sora stepped by her and Riku followed, a little nervous. Kairi closed the door behind them and moved over towards the kitchen area. The dorm had one bedroom on the left, a tiny living room, and a bathroom on the right. Riku followed Sora into the bedroom, still not sure how he was supposed to go about things here. He'd never admit it out loud, but being near Sora made him feel much more comfortable.

Once Sora was in the room, he turned on a small lamp on a table between the beds and moved towards the bed on the left. There were two beds in the room, and in between them sat the table with the lamp on it. The room was a little cluttered, papers on the floor and the table, and the bed on the left hadn't been made. Sora set his pack down on it and looked at Riku.

"Uh… well, I guess we're sharing the room." He smiled. "That's your bed, obviously. We'll split the closet and the dresser..." Sora looked at the small dresser between the beds. "The bathroom's in that other room. It's got shampoo and everything so…"

The brunette scratched the back of his head nervously. Riku set his old pack on the other bed and sat down, pulling off his shoes. "Alright… thanks Sora."

Sora smiled widely. "I'm going to go change. You can use the room…" He turned on his heel, digging in the small closet and pulling out a few articles of clothing before bolting out the door. Riku blinked after him and shrugged, pushing the door so that it closed half-way.

He proceeded to pull off his cloths. Just as he was putting on a collar to hide his neck scars, the door opened and Kairi stepped in. Riku turned around and frowned at her. "Did anyone teach you to knock?"

The red-head smirked as she pushed the door closed. "That's just like you. At least you haven't really changed."

Riku huffed. "You just wanted to see me naked."

Kairi giggled and flopped down onto Sora's bed, looking Riku over with her blue eyes. "Not really. I know you don't like girls."

Riku froze. He slowly turned towards her, looking at her with one eye. "…"

Kairi smiled and shook her head. "Look Riku, I don't know if you remember anything but… You're here, and you're alive and that's all that counts…"

Suddenly she stood up and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay…" She whispered. Riku stared down at her, not sure what he should do. He settled for hugging her back, looking down at her head. It barely reached his chin.

"I must have gone through something really bad…" He chuckled. "I've had a lot of people tell me I shouldn't be alive… or at least that's what they implied."

"Where have you been?" Kairi asked, stepping back and looking up at him. "Do you know?"

Riku shrugged. "I've been with my uncle and cousins for the last few months."

"Zexion, Kadaj and Yazoo?" Kairi asked. Riku blinked.

"So they really are related to me…"

"You didn't know?" Kairi rolled her eyes. "Anyway Riku… I want you to do something for me."

Riku blinked down at her, his brow furrowed. The more time he spent near her, the more comfortable he became. It was almost like being near Sora, except it wasn't as strong. "What?"

She gripped his upper arms and looked him in the eye, stern. "I want you to take Sora and get away from here."

Riku almost stepped away in surprise. "What?"

Kairi looked away. "Sora needs to get away from here. Riku, this place… they do things to him. I still don't know what they do, but whatever it is, it's making him sick. He always changes the subject when I ask him about it, and he won't refuse them because… well, they threaten him." Kairi looked up at him sadly. "They threaten to kick him out of the school. He can't get kicked out Riku; if he does he's as good as dead."

Riku stared at her, then he looked her in the eye fiercely. "Tell me."

Sora was in trouble. Sora needed help. If Kairi hadn't helped him yet, then there was nothing she could do. But Riku, he knew that he was capable. He could do anything he wanted right now; he had money, people behind him, and the guts to do it.

"Sora's parents are dead." Kairi began, dropping her gaze. "Well, his real parents. They died in the war when he was three. There were so many orphans that needed families, and you and Sora both did."

Riku's chest froze. He hadn't really thought about his parents—his mind was too cluttered with everything else to even consider them. But now he did. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, small.

"My parents are dead…?"

Kairi looked up sharply, and then gave him a sympathetic look. "They died when you were four. You met Sora and me at the orphan house, where all of us were taken. Because there were so many loose kids, the army just offered money to people who would take a kid in. I got lucky, but you and Sora… well… you weren't so lucky.

"Sora's parents bought him what he needed to live, but other than that… he didn't exist. They ignored him and shunned him. You lived a few blocks away from Sora, and you were always together, talking and playing." Kairi smiled. "It was impossible to separate you two. We went to school together, you, me, Sora, and Roxas. You met him today right?"

Riku nodded, drinking up the information. Everything pricked him, pulling his soul uncomfortably as faint feelings of familiarity brushed his consciousness.

Kairi nodded. "Just before middle school… the army came. They took a bunch of kids with them. All of them were fostered orphans, and you went with them. You were fourteen and Sora was just a month younger. For two years we didn't see you… we had no idea what had happened to you. When we finished middle school, Sora looked for a school that was as far away from his home as possible. And… well, this was it." Kairi shrugged. "It's a good school, so Roxas and I followed him. As soon as he enrolled a few months ago, they asked Sora to join a program. He agreed and… well… he hasn't been the same since." Kairi rubbed her arm subconsciously.

"I want you to take him and… and just go somewhere. Anywhere but here."

"What about you?" Riku asked gently, his brow furrowing. Kairi gave him a small smile.

"I'm fine. Here is where I belong… it's what I decided to do. But Sora didn't have a choice. He didn't want this…" Kairi stopped talking and squeezed her eyes shut. "Please Riku… you have to save him."

Riku bit his lip, milling around in his ideas. It would be easy to leave. He could take Sora to Leon and Cloud, and then they could go see his uncle… He would help. He'd make sure they were safe. After a moment, Riku clenched his jaw and looked at Kairi.

"I'll help him," He said, setting his hands on Kairi's shoulders. "I promise."

Kairi smiled up at him and gave him another tight hug—this one he returned without hesitation—and then pivoted and walked to the door. "Sora's probably already ready for bed," She giggled. "Come and have some food—I made spaghetti."

Cloud was staring in awe as the popcorn in the microwave starting splitting and producing large, puffy excrements. He'd never had a microwave that was this clear. He could see how the heat affected his food. Popcorn was so… strange.

The phone rang.

"Leon! The phone's ringing!"

"You're in the kitchen! You can reach it!" came the reply from the living room.

"But I'm busy!" the blonde shouted back. There went the second ring.

"I'm not moving all the way into the kitchen to get a phone that's only two steps away from you." the brunette growled. Cloud scowled.

"Stop being lazy!"

"Cloud, you've made three bags of popcorn already! There are pigeons making nests on our balcony because you're leaving bowels of it outside! Get. The. Phone."

"Fine!" Cloud whined, tearing his eyes from the microwave and turning around to grab the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Cloud."

"Riku," Cloud smiled a bit. "How's everything going?"

"Fine. Did you know that the dorm you got me was actually Sora's?"

Cloud smirked. "Maybe."

He heard Riku laugh on the other line. "I love you."

"Aww thanks. So, his name's Sora?" Cloud leaned back against the counter and continued to watch his popcorn.

"Yeah, isn't it beautiful?" Cloud smirked. "I've met three people here that I know—or knew—and Kairi—Sora's friend—she remembers me! She gave me a rundown of how I used to live… and what's been going on with Sora."

Cloud smiled, truly happy for Riku. "That's great!"

"She… well, she wants me to take Sora and get out of here."

Cloud's senses went on alert. "Why?"

"She said that there's a group of people that Sora agreed to help when he came here. Ever since he joined them he hasn't been the same, and whatever they're doing to him has made gaps in his memory. He doesn't know me…"

Cloud froze and straightened. "Riku you have to get out of there. Has anyone seen your scars?"

Riku sounded confused when he answered. "No. I'm pretty sure I've kept them well hidden."

"Good," Cloud glanced at Leon as he entered the kitchen, having sensed the tension. "You have to take Sora and get away from there. If you don't, Sora might end up like you in the end."

"How? When?"

"As soon as possible…" Cloud looked at the calendar that he'd bought that afternoon. "Tomorrow night at the latest. Tomorrow's Saturday, so you have plenty of time. Meet me and Leon outside the gates tomorrow and we'll get away. Tomorrow at…" Cloud glanced at the clock on the wall. "Six. We'll take the car and head to the coast. From there we'll catch a ship and head where ever we need to go."

"Alright. Is Leon there?"

"Yeah," Cloud looked at Leon with a frown. "Why?"

"No reason. Alright, I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Okay. Be careful Riku."

"Will be." Click.

Cloud placed the phone in the holder and sighed, slumping back against the counter.

"What's going on?" Leon asked, stepping closer. Cloud scratched his head and looked at him.

"They're testing the boy Riku's been looking for." He said, "It sound like what they did to me, except a lot less complicated. The kids name is Sora."

Leon frowned. "I've never heard his name."

"Probably after you left. Riku has to take Sora and get out of there as soon as possible. We're going to pick him up at the gate tomorrow at six."

Leon nodded and stepped even closer to Cloud, pressing his hands on the counter on either side of the blonde. Cloud smirked and leaned back.

"Better enjoy our time alone then," the brunette mumbled into Cloud's ear. Cloud chuckled and brushed up against Leon's chest, pressing his lips against Leon's.

"I hope you haven't gotten rusty…" Cloud whispered as his arms snaked around Leon's neck and he was pushed back against the counter.

"Riku?" Sora peeked into the room just as Riku set the phone back on the cradle. "So here's where you went." He smiled and entered the room. He was wearing a large T-shirt that was far too big for him and a pair of loose pajama pants the bunched at his ankles. It took all of Riku's willpower not to look him up and down and drool.

It did leave him speechless for a small moment. "Uh… Riku?"

The silver-haired teen shook his head. "Sorry. I had to call my… uh, "parents"."

"Oh," Sora smiled. He moved over to his bed, closing the door behind him and flopping into the mattress. "I'm so glad it's the weekend…"

Riku looked at the wall. It was now or never. He had to convince Sora to come with him tomorrow. He wouldn't leave him, not again…

Again…?

"Sora…" Riku started, taking a seat on the edge of Sora's bed. "I… want to ask you something."

Sora blinked at him and turned, looking at him intently. "What is it?"

"Will you… um. I'm leaving tomorrow. I… I have to get away from here, and I want you to… come with me." Riku looked up, catching Sora's startled gaze.

"Why? Why are you leaving?" Sora muttered, scooting closer. He looked a little hurt, nervous.

"Sora… I guess when I was taken from you and Kairi the army did some things to me." Riku took a breath and pulled up the sleeve of his long sleeved nightshirt, revealing the scars circling up his arm. Sora gasped, staring down at him in awe.

"That's… that's why you were wearing so much…" He whispered, reaching out to touch one of the marks. Riku watched him, not looking down at his arm.

"They… they might do the same thing to you, Sora. I don't want that to happen… so… please… come with me." He pleaded. Sora looked into his eyes, and a spark went through Riku's body. They both froze and stared each other down.

"Riku…" Sora whispered, breaking the eye contact and looking at the floor. "I…"

"Sora," Riku whispered, moving closer to him. Sora started when he noticed just how close Riku was to him. The silver-haired teen was just inches away from his face, and Sora's breath caught as he looked into those deep, sea-green eyes. "Please…"

"A-alright…"

Riku closed the distance between their mouths, and all Sora could feel was warmth. He pressed closer to Riku, feeling so comfortable and familiar with this feeling that tears came to his eyes. Riku's arms wrapped around him and pushed him down against the bed. Sora started gently when something pressed against the seam of his lips and he let them fall open, inviting Riku into his mouth. Riku let out a breath and shivered as he explored Sora's mouth, relishing in the warmth crawling down to his stomach.

They broke away and took a breath, then Riku kissed him again. Sora lifted his arms and buried them in Riku's hair, mewling quietly as the silver-haired teen left his mouth and started trailing small butterfly kisses down his jaw to his neck. "Nnn… Riku…"

"Mmm…" Riku panted, slipping his hands up from beneath Sora and ghosting them over the brunette's sides, delighting in the shivers he elicited. He climbed up onto the bed until he could hover over Sora, and then he attacked his mouth again. This time the kiss was confident. Riku knew what he was doing. He felt it in his heart—he'd done this before. So many times before. The longer he touched Sora, the more familiar it felt. Every sound that Sora made was familiar to him, and so were the curves of his body.

He felt Sora's hands on the edge of his shirt, and then he froze. What was he doing?

Sora stopped as well, and he looked up into Riku's eyes in surprise. They sat there for a moment, staring at each other. Then Riku blushed, pushing himself up and off of Sora. "Uh… S-sorry… I didn't… I don't know… why I did that…"

"Riku," Sora whispered, grabbing Riku's arm as the boy attempted to stand and move to the other bed. Riku turned around and looked at him. Sora could see the nerves in his eyes, the fear of not knowing. He smiled, tugging his arm towards him. "It's okay."

Riku turned around completely and looked at Sora. "You… you don't mind it?"

Sora shook his head. He looked up and gave Riku a large grin, a small blush tinting his cheeks. "It… I think we've… done this before. More than this…"

Riku looked at the floor. "… Me too."

"Sleep with me," Sora said, then seeing the horrified look on Riku's face, he quickly rephrased his question "I-I mean, just lay down here with me… You… well, when I'm around you I feel…"

"Comfortable?" Riku smiled as Sora nodded. He slid onto the bed as Sora moved over and lay down, pulling the covers up over them as Sora snuggled down beside him. "Me too…"

Sora smiled and snuggled close. Riku hesitantly put an arm over his waist and closed his eyes, smiling gently.

Somewhere nearby, a soldier set his phone back on the cradle and turned to his superior.

"Sir, we have confirmed the whereabouts of Squall Leonhart and Cloud Strife, as well as their next plan of action."

A slow smirk spread over the angled face. He chuckled lowly, leaning back in his chair and turning to his group of subordinates.

"Ready the cadets in the academy," he said, his voice low and soft like silk. "We need fire… lots of fire."

Disclaimer: I own nothing. O-o