A/N: I'm happy. I'm really happy. Why? Well, this story has got 166 reviews, nearly 10,000 hits on the first ten chapters alone and 3 C2s. The number of story alerts and favs, I can't remember exactly. So it's all good! Anyways, there was a big demand for Sora and Riku, alongside Cloud and Leon, so I'm giving it to ya!! Enjoy!

bliss: I don't think they will. They'll have Mary and Axel to deal with XD

Please enjoy and review! Reviews are my Pop Tarts!

Charm. Yes. That explained it. The young prince had a lot of childish charm about him with the energetic babble coming out of his mouth, almost like a brook babbling out water. His moves were quick and exaggerated; at points Riku couldn't quite exactly follow what Prince Sora was saying but whenever the young prince laughed at his own joke, Riku couldn't help but smile a little, out of politeness and also because there was something so amiable about the boy that anyone would have to smile at him.

"You're so silent!" Sora pouted, kneeling on his bed. "You hardly say anything."

"I am just a mere servant, my prince. My opinion of what you say can do very little."

"Well aren't you boring. You're just going to be like the rest of the servants." The prince sighed. "They never really just talk to me. I'm the one having conversations by myself practically with them all."

"Why not talk to the other lords and ladies of the king's court?" Riku asked, only to immediately bow after asking. "Forgive me. It was not my place to ask."

"Don't apologise," Sora smiled. He then sighed again. "They just agree with me and nod their heads. Kairi's good to talk to when she's around, but when she isn't, I get…lonely."

That surprised Riku. Sora was surrounded by loads of people, both from nobility and the servant class. His every need was answered, his want was cared for; the prince shouldn't have been lonely. Riku would've asked why…but his status prohibited him from doing so.

"Oh," Riku said quietly, turning back to his work with the prince's clothes.

"Won't you ask why?"

Riku kept his silence. It wasn't that he didn't care. It was just that servants were never meant to question masters. It was unheard of.

"I'm lonely because everyone just treats me as a prince…not as a person. And then there's also the fact that I get sick often so no one except for a few are allowed to come near me when I am and-"

"You don't have to tell me everything, my prince," Riku interrupted, not looking at him. What he had done was also not expected of a servant. It was best not to look upon Sora now that he had done it. "I was informed of your condition. I understand why you might feel lonely."

The room fell silent. Riku felt eyes on his person, feeling a bit unnerved. Had he offended his new young master? It was foolish to upset him. No doubt he would tell someone, who would inform the king, who would undoubtedly see him punished for committing such a sin. Best to make amends now, before Riku found himself at the other end of the whip. He turned to face Sora, about to bow, but then noticed something that took him aback.

Prince Sora was smiling, as if someone had just given him a gift that he would treasure for ever more. "That's…the first time someone other than my brother has interrupted me."

Riku wasn't quite sure why someone of the young brunet's status would be so happy to be interrupted…but maybe, in Riku's rationalizing of the situation, interrupting the prince helped to make him feel more normal. But just to be sure. "Does it offend you, my prince?"

"Not at all." Sora's smile turned into a grin. "I think I like it. It feels…like I'm being talked to as a normal person, not as a prince."

"I should not have spoken to you in such a manner though, my prince," Riku regurgitated what he had been told by many of the foremost servants in the king's household. "You are born of a high class. I am a mere servant who is privileged to serve un-"

"Don't give me that load of rubbish," Sora interjected, giving the silver-haired youth a neat little pout. "I don't like hearing it."

"I apologise."

The prince frowned, having not liked that response from his new stoic and mysterious servant. This one was no better than Leon, the epitome of stoicism.

"My prince, please get changed," Riku requested, his voice quiet. "I am sure your brother and Lady Edea would scold you if you were walking around in your nightshirt."

"Ah…you have a point there."

Riku gave him a small amused smile, placing clothes in front of the prince before taking steps back towards the door and bowing. Sora gave him a blank stare.

"Where are you going?"

"Outside so to give you privacy, my prince."

"Servants usually help with the dressing though."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Since you're my personal servant, doesn't that mean you have to be with me constantly unless I dismiss you?"

Riku nodded and bowed. "My humblest apologies, my prince. I had not quite realised the importance of my position."

"Hey, hey, all you ever seem to do is apologise," Sora laughed, grinning widely. "If you don't want to look at me naked, you have permission to turn your back to me."

"You are very kind, my prince."

"I get told that a lot." In that instant moment, Sora swept his loose, near translucent white nightshirt, his whole naked body on show. Riku's eyes widened, turning quickly before he could peep at the young boy's body for much longer.

"My prince, might I make a small request?" Riku inquired.

"Yes. What?" The young prince was looking at the back of Riku's silver tresses, it having been tied back with a simple dark leather cord so to keep the luscious locks out of his face.

"Please warn me when you are going to change, so that you can preserve your modesty." The image of Sora's slightly tanned naked body had burned itself into Riku's mind. Slightly defined but very slim, his bones almost pushing against his skin as if he hadn't eaten at all. He daren't remember what was lower down the prince's body, in fear of something within him stirring which could be considered immoral.

One immoral sin was enough for Riku. He did not need two.

"Well…alright…" Sora didn't understand why his new servant was acting like that. But then he came to the conclusion that maybe the silver-haired servant had never stayed in the same room with someone changing. Maybe modesty was a great deal in Hollow Bastion. But then, there was also the case that maybe Riku didn't want to see the extent Sora's constant run-ins with illness had done to his body. The prince frowned, for some reason not liking that.

He threw on the deep blue tunic with red embroidery lining the collar and hem of it, slipping into the black trousers Riku had chosen for him. He looked back over to his servant, whose back was still turned to him. "You can look now Riku."

"My prince…" Riku turned, eyes looking up and down at his work. A small inkling of a smile appeared on his lips, but then it changed back to the usual stoic expression. "I thought they would be befitting of you." He then bowed to him, not noting to look of annoyance on Sora's face. "I believe you have a lesson with Lord Zexion after breakfast."

"Riku."

"Yes, my prince?"

"We're alone. You don't have to be servant-y-polite."

"Servant-y-polite?"

"Yes!" Sora then sighed deeply. "Look, just call me by my name when we're alone. Not by my title. And stop bowing in front of me all the time! It's making me nauseous!"

Riku looked up and blinked dumbly, surprised at the request. "It's expected of me to show the proper manners when in front of such nobility."

"Well I don't like it!" Sora whined childishly, pouting with aplomb and crossing his arms sharply. Riku continued to blink, unsure of how to react to such behaviour.

"My prin-"

"Sora."

"…Sora…I'm not sure if you realise the severity of such a request."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm a servant and a stranger to this land. I had been an enemy. By right, I shouldn't really even be alive, much less be a kitchen servant or a gongfarmer if your king was feeling generous. To be your personal servant is such a high rank being given to one of your former enemies. And so…I must behave appropriately."

Sora's pout intensified. "Then you have two behaviours. The public one and the private one. In this situation, you use the private one in front of me."

"My pr-"

"Call me Sora!"

"…please just come down and get breakfast," Riku sighed, seeing that this was going nowhere. Truly, Sora and Leon really were brothers. They were both as stubborn as the other.

Sora had duly noted that Leon wasn't joining him today, even after months of absence. He guessed that Leon had important matters to catch up with, having heard from a few whispering servants that the king had locked himself up in his study with only the lord advisor and the manservant for company. He sighed, poking a little at the meat and fruit put in front of him. Riku was standing a little behind him, hands behind his back, posture rigid yet waiting for orders, behaving like a model servant. Sora looked a little behind him.

"Won't you eat?"

"I believe you already know that servants are not to eat with their masters, my prince."

"But…"

"If you are worried for me, don't be. I will eat later on in the servant's quarters."

Sora honestly didn't see how fair that was. This was, however, odd. Up until now, Sora never really took much notice of the servants who fussed over him and did their jobs, standing silently as they waited for commands. It seemed as if being given Riku had also helped him open his eyes to what he had never truly seen…almost as if being woken up to the reality of his day-today life of being served but never doing something to return the kindness. Riku's expression changed slightly again.

"But thank you for showing concern, my prince. It is much appreciated."

Sora smiled a little, but felt that it wasn't enough. He continued to poke away at his food. A small sigh could be heard from behind him.

"…Sora, you need to eat."

The prince turned sharply, looking at Riku with a surprised look. Riku's eyes went downcast.

"There was no one around…does it displease you that I called you by your name?"

"Ah, no! It's just that you were so insistent in calling me by my title that I didn't expect it!"

Riku nodded his head, a slight tug at the corner of his lips. It then quickly disappeared as he bowed quickly. Sora gave him a baffled look.

"Riku? Why are you bowing?"

"I see you seem to have forgotten about this morning's lessons, my prince," a new voice chuckled dryly, causing Sora to stiffen. Slowly, he turned his head, eyes locking with a pair of wry indigo eyes.

"Zexion! Um, no I did…not…?"

The advisor shook his head, looking over to Riku who kept his distance, understandably. "Does he take your liking, my prince?"

"Yeah! He's really great! He's so helpful!" Sora beamed brightly. Zexion closed his eyes, a sign that something annoyed him.

"My prince, the word is not 'yeah'. It is 'yes'. And please keep your voice down. Not everyone will want to know what you think of your personal servant."

"Oh…" Sora's smile fell, looking very apologetic. He then instantly brightened up. "How's Leon? He didn't come down here this morning."

"The king is busy with other matters. Kiros is helping him right now. Now, if you would follow me please."

Sora nodded his head as Zexion turned, following the steel-haired advisor. Zexion then turned again. "Riku, you are dismissed for now."

"Huh? Why?" Sora asked. "I thought Riku would come with me."

"I do not want you to be distracted, my prince. Riku could provide such distractions from what is expected of you."

"But-"

"My prince," Riku whispered, watching Sora's head turn back to him. "It's fine. Your studies are important. I will find something to do during this time." He then bowed, loose silvery strands of hair falling into his face. "Please excuse me."

Sora was about to protest to this when Zexion took a hold of his shoulder. "Come along now. I hope you haven't been negligent while I have been away." Sora immediately paled at the thought.

He had hardly studied at all while Zexion was gone.

Riku had found himself doing a few odd jobs while the prince was in lessons, keeping his eyes open for a certain blond. He had heard from a few servants last night that there had been screams of agony coming from the king's room during the night, which alarmed Riku as that meant that his former prince had been violated, and quite savagely at that. He closed his eyes, wishing that he had been executed that day when they were captured. At least, Hollow Bastion might have still been standing and Cloud and Roxas may have been rescued. Though, in his mind, he very much doubted that it would happen while Sephiroth had power and influence over the king.

"Cloud, I'm not sure if you should…"

"I will walk on my own. I have some pride and dignity left that I want to preserve."

"But you are still hurt."

"I don't care. I am not going to just lie down and do nothing."

Riku turned the corner, seeing that Cloud was striding purposefully down the corridor, being followed closely by Tifa. Riku noticed that there was a limp in Cloud's steps. Cloud looked at Riku, for a long moment not saying anything until he was standing right in front of him. Riku found that his mouth was failing his mind, refusing to open to ask the thousand of questions that were swarming his head.

"Have you nothing to say?" Cloud asked quietly. Even now, when his body had been trespassed, when he was completely under attack because of his new position and the position he had been before, Cloud kept a strong will. He stood tall, uncaring that he was dressed like a mere servant, the fire of his spirit still burning brightly in his sapphire-like eyes. Riku kept his eyes downcast. He had no right to look upon Cloud, he who was though so lowly when he had been entrusted the welfare of this kingdom's current heir.

"Will you…be fine?" Riku managed to force out weakly, though the question was a stupid thing to ask.

"I'll live. But I won't give up," Cloud assured him. "I'll find a way. Just give me time."

Riku closed his eyes. Cloud was already thinking of escape. He had so boldly declared that in front of Tifa, who would undoubtedly report this. He shook his head.

"Cloud…" Riku had paused, thinking it odd that he was now calling the prince he once served by his name. Cloud didn't even bat an eyelid at it. "Cloud…please try not to do something foolish. If not for my sake or for your own…then for Roxas'."

"Don't worry." The way Cloud had said that had done little to comfort him. He brought Riku close to him, whispering into his ear quietly so that Tifa could not hear him. "I'll find a way to get all three of us out. We'll find Sephiroth. We'll take back Hollow Bastion and defeat this barbaric kingdom. And when I find the one who betrayed us, I'll have him personally executed."

Riku's eyes widened, his heart racing with tension and fear. If Cloud…if he ever found out…

He nodded, bowing his head slightly out of habit. "Please don't strain yourself too much, Cloud. Walking for prolonged hours will damage the muscle in your condition."

"Thank you." Cloud went on his way, ignoring Tifa's words of advice and nagging. Riku walked a little forward, his mind and heart still racing. Once finding a vacant room, he rushed in and bolted the door, leaning into it and sliding down, taking deep shuddery breaths to calm himself down.

"If Cloud ever found out that I was the one who betrayed Hollow Bastion…he'll kill me." He put his head into his hands, cradling it as he further tortured himself. "I deserve it. I deserve a thousand deaths for what I have done. But…" He looked up to the bare stone wall, his mind slowly calming and putting his thoughts back together, but his heart would not stop thumping wildly at his chest. "If Cloud escapes and goes back to Sephiroth…he might be killed, or become a pawn in Sephiroth's plans."

At that moment, the fog that surrounded his eldest brother began to thin a little. If Cloud were to go back to Sephiroth, wherever he may be, either the general would declare him a traitor to Hollow Bastion and have him slain on the spot, or, alternatively, welcomed back with open arms and be used like a pawn in a game of chess.

"I cannot let him go back. I can't," Riku murmured, remembering the oath he had made to himself in front of the court of Hollow Bastion. He would protect and advise the young princes, even at the cost of his own life. He just had to.

He would not anyone become pawns under his watch.

"Checkmate."

"Wha-?? How did you do that?!"

"My prince, it was a very simple strategy," Zexion laughed at the flabbergasted prince. "Your king was protected by your knight, which was indeed poised to capture my queen. However, you didn't take into account of my pawn next to your king and thus lay your undoing."

"Aww, you're way too good at this," Sora moaned, flicking one of the white pawns.

"Please speak with the proper etiquette, my prince. The phrase is 'you are much too good at chess' and please do not flick at the pieces. We might end up losing them."

"Moan, moan, moan, moan, moan," Sora grumbled childishly, sticking his tongue out at Zexion. The advisor raised an eyebrow.

"Is that how the next possible king should behave, my prince?"

"Well I'm not a king, now am I?" Sora challenged

"But you will be. And thus we expect you to behave accordingly. Your brother would agree to this."

"But he's such a grump! He's been king since ever!"

Zexion sighed, shaking his head. To the young prince, Leon had only ever been king but never a child. The brothers were close but as Leon had gotten older, they seemed to have distanced from each other. Now Sora was more interested in hanging onto his childhood, while Leon was more concerned for the welfare of his kingdom which included the education of his current heir.

Zexion had explained that to the young prince thousands of times before, but it never seemed to sink into the boy's mind. "My prince…please try to understand where your brother and I are coming from."

The boy pouted, looking as if he was about to protest, but then sighed. "Fine."

"I thank you for understanding," Zexion smiled slightly. He then stood up, gathering the pieces and placing them back. "You may go now if you so wish."

"Finally! Bye Zexy!"

"It's 'Zexion'."

Sora was gone by the time the advisor had finished correcting him. He sighed and shook his head. "As stubborn as his own brother, but is that really such a good thing," he chuckled dryly, finally placing all their places in their prospective places. He himself then left the library, heading straight for the king's study so to continue to oversee the young man at work.

Riku had been finding himself just idly walking around, waiting for the prince to come out of his lessons when all of a sudden he felt a heavy weight landing into his back, knocking the wind out of him.

"Wha-?!"

"Riku! Hide me!"

"My prince? What is the matter?"

"Hide me before Zexion comes back for more lessons!"

Riku shook his head, chuckling. "But my prince, shouldn't you go to lessons?"

"But they're boring!"

"And necessary," Riku added, trying to subtly push the young prince off his back. However, Sora had the grip of a monkey; there was no pushing him off. "You are the most immediate heir to Radiant Garden's throne. You should take your lessons seriously."

"But they are boring!" Sora reminded his servant. "They're no fun at all!"

"I can see that you are going to be stubborn about this, my prince."

"Then hide me. I order you to!"

Riku sighed. "As you wish…my prince."

"No one's around," Sora muttered. Riku once more shook his head, unbelieving at how persistent this young boy could be.

"Then…as you wish…Sora."