Disclaimer: Tehe... I own Kingdom Hearts, so do I really need this?

Author's Rambles: Okay, I have had an inordinate number of people yelling at me for shooting Kairi. That's not fair, people. You wouldn't have liked the alternative, okay? It involved Riku getting his manly bits shot off by mistake.

This chapter is dedicated to all of my reviewers, and all of those who have listened to me blathering on for ten chapters now. Thankyou.

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Chapter 11: Mistaken Identity

They were halfway across the Autumn's lawn when the first mine went off. It knocked Raz flying backwards, colliding with Dill. They both summarily collapsed to the ground, their near brush with death count up to two now. And that was a new record for these two; nearly dying twice by eight o'clock in the morning.

Unfortunately for them, the time it took them to recover gave Axel the time to get out the window and jump down the gap to the grass. Disregarding the fact that he had jumped from the second storey, he marched for the two assassins with fire in his eyes – and in his hands. He stalked down the lawn towards the now-cowering assassins, their gun lying forgotten on the second storey of the Autumn residence. "How dare you," he hissed. "That was my sister you just shot."

Author's Note: Yes, I (at least I hope so) spelled storey correctly. I know it's different to story, okay? One refers to house level.

Raz's hand shot into his jacket, reaching for his gun. Unfortunately for him, he just noticed its apparent departure. Dill tried a different tactic; "Hey man, calm down! It's nothing to do with us, take it up with the king!"

Axel spat to one side. "You two are the ones who shot her. Not the king. As far as I'm concerned, the king can go fuck himself. As for you two... I'm here to send you two to hell."

Half an hour later, Kairi was in the emergency ward of the hospital, just finished treatment for serious internal bleeding.

Author's note: Actually... all internal bleeding is serious.

She was unconscious, lying on a bed in the hospital ward, oxygen mask over her mouth and various electrodes positioned to monitor her status. Roxas, Sora and Riku were standing on one side, watching as the doctor withdrew the bullet and sealed the wound. "Y'know," Roxas said as the doctor left the room. Alisha and Gyre were outside, conferring quietly and hurriedly with the doctors, nurses and policemen arrayed outside the ward's door. "Pinecone, you never told us you had a thing for Kairi."

Riku winced and ran a hand through his long silver hair. "I don't, though," he murmured. "They were mistaken."

Roxas looked askance at him. "You mean they shot the wrong person?" when Riku nodded, he asked another question. "So what did they mean by Tuesday having a most interesting end?"

Behind the blond, Sora turned red. "Well... they were half right, Roxas. I do have a 'romantic interest'," Riku muttered, turning red himself. "But it's not Kairi."

Not noticing Sora's change in complexion, Roxas goggled at the prince. "Who?"

"Me," Sora whispered. "Roxas, Riku and I are... you know..."

Roxas shrugged. "Ah, so that's what this was all abou-WHAT?" He spun on his older twin. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" Sora ran around his twin and cowered behind Riku, positioning his boyfriend between him and his twin. Riku simply watched Roxas' face carefully, viewing the interesting amalgamation of fear, anger, disgust and... sadness? "Sora, how could you?"

Sora stood up, peering around the side of Riku, his hands holding tightly onto the older teen's muscled arms. "How could I what? Fall for Riku?"

"Yeah! How could you?"

Riku crossed his arms, leaning back slightly. "I don't really see what the problem is, Roxas. Care to explain it to me?"

Roxas' mouth gaped, opening and shutting like a fish for a while. "Uh... The problem is... It's my brother! He... he just can't be gay!"

This is going much better than I expected, Sora thought. I half expected him to be trying to kill Riku. "And why not, hmm? Why can't I love Riku?"

Roxas grimaced and waved a hand in defeat. "Ah jeez, I don't really care anymore. I don't have the strength to argue. Just don't regret anything, bro." He shrugged and turned back to the unconscious girl on the hospital bed in front of him. The blond pulled up a seat and sat down, intently watching the girl. "Pinecone, this doesn't mean I like you any better. You better not hurt my bro, or you'll regret it."

Riku grinned and stepped closer to the young teen, using one arm to hug him around the shoulders. "Thank you, Roxas. That means a lot to me."

Roxas shook him off. "Yeah, well... Hey, who else knows?" he asked quietly.

Sora ticked them off on his fingers. "Axel, Larxene, Mrs. Autumn, you... anyone else?" he asked Riku.

"Nah, that's it. Hey look, she's waking up!" Riku pointed at the once-prone girl who was suddenly showing signs of life. As they watched, her eyes flickered a couple of times, opening and shutting rapidly. Then with a twitch and a slight groan, both eyes slowly opened, revealing her violet orbs to the world. "Hey Mr. and Mrs. Autumn, she's awake!" he cried, bringing the two anxious parents at a run, the family doctor not far behind them.

Kairi looked around at the crowd of fretful people surrounding her small bed. She blinked slowly a couple of times, before her mouth edged open into a weak grin and in a raspy voice she said; "You know, that really hurts."

The doctor coughed lightly into his hand, drawing everyone's attention. "As well it would, Miss Autumn. You don't know just how lucky you are," he said with a grin and a salute. "It was nothing short of a miracle. The shot entered just below your stomach and managed to get embedded in the thicker muscle in that section of the body, somehow missing every vital organ in that region. By all rights you should be dead or dying, Kairi."

Kairi grimaced. "If this is what being lucky feels like, I'm glad I'm not unlucky. Have... have you taken the damned thing out yet?" she questioned, still in a scratchy voice.

The doctor nodded. Yes, we have. It was tricky, but the 'damned thing' is out."

Just then a call came over the intercom; "Would Dr. Wood and Dr. Stawk please report to Emergency? I repeat, would Dr. Wood and Dr. Stawk please report to Emergency?"

Gyre turned his head to the doctor. "Who're they?"

The doctor grimaced. "Paperwork generators. Dr. Fiona Wood is a burns specialist and Dr. Harold Stawk is an orthopaedic surgeon. In other words... they've just received casualties with severe burns and critically broken bones, if they call them there personally."

The three healthy teens looked at each other. Riku smirked. "Sounds like Raz and Dill got caught, ey?"

The doctor stared as if just noticing the three. "Um, who are you three? You aren't family, are you." The second sentence was a statement, not a question.

Roxas shifted uncomfortably. "No, we're not. The brunet and I are twins, Roxas and Sora Durin. The albino guy is Riku... Pinecone." Roxas' stamp on his twin's foot kept the older one quiet, while Riku's royal upbringing resulted in not a single spark of reaction showing. "We're good friends of the family and were there when it happened."

The doctor shrugged. "Ah, that's okay then. Just as long as you aren't random people who've just walked in off the street."

The lead policeman, who had been jotting notes in his pad for the duration of the short conversation, chose that moment to enter, followed by his assistant. "Um... Mr... Pinecone, was it? Could you and the two other young 'uns with you please step outside for a moment?"

The two lovers grimaced at each other, each imagining the ensuing scene that was inevitable. But, regardless of their wishes otherwise, the three followed the man in blue out of the hospital ward, the second policeman bringing up the rear. They were led to a small conference room and sat down in the chairs, the second and as of yet silent policeman taking up a position next to the door.

"Okay, basically I would like to know what happened," the policeman asked.

Riku nodded. "Well, first thing's first. My last name isn't Pinecone. But I have a perfectly good reason for that..."

The three spent a good half an hour in that interview with the policeman, going over and over the events and facts. When the policeman mentioned the two latest entrants to the hospital – two severely burned and beaten men answering to the names of Dillan and Razen – Sora and Roxas explained Axel's excitable nature and his fierce protective instincts.

In the end, the policeman decided to not arrest Axel, as the man was clearly 'temporarily insane'.

"You see... I lost my younger brother in a similar manner, and I reacted in much the same way as your... excitable friend did. Seeing as the two would-be assassins are still alive – which is a lot more than I could say for my brother's murderer – I'll let him off this time," the policeman said, smiling wanly. "Just don't let it happen again, your highness."

So all in all, that small chapter in our lovely couple's lives had a most desirable end.

Kairi was still in hospital, and would be for the next three or four days. The doctors wanted to monitor her and make sure she didn't start bleeding internally again.

The other four teenagers were all sitting in the downstairs lounge of the Autumn's residence – none of them could bear to go upstairs into the rec room yet. The horror of the situation was still too fresh in their minds.

"Riku, do you mind actually explaining just what they wanted?" Axel growled at the silver-haired prince. "As far as I'm concerned, a good portion of this stems right back to you."

Riku waved his hands as if warding off the vengeful pyro. "Those two are... were spies for my father. Spies and, if necessary, assassins."

"So the King wanted my sister dead?" the redhead yelled. His mother patted his arm, trying to calm him down. Everyone else turned to Riku to see whether or not he would explain.

"Not your sister, per se. He had no idea that it would be your sister who'd be targeted. At least... I hope he didn't," Riku said calmly. I seriously hope he didn't. "I also don't think he meant for her to get shot. Those two tend to be a little extreme in how they deal with problems."

Axel shook his head. "That's completely beside the point!" he yelled. "Why did he do that?"

Riku snorted. "You really wanna know why? Because my father absolutely hates me. That's why. Since I was about three, he's made my life a living hell," he murmured, staring at the cherry blossoms in the vase on the Autumn's mantelpiece. "I have no idea why. I suspect it may be... because of the royal abilities."

Gyre raised an eyebrow. "That's an interesting grudge against a three-year-old."

Riku nodded. "Well... he can't even shift a feather, since he only married into the royal family. As I can throw cars and things around, and have been doing that since I was about three, he's quite naturally hated me for it."

Gyre's other eyebrow shot up. "Cars? You can move cars?" he stuttered, surprise entering his voice. Everyone else in the room stared at the prince, who nodded.

"Yup. And that's why he doesn't like me. I think. It's more than likely the fact that he got shown up by a three-year-old than anything else," Riku continued. "And that's why I had Auron."

"Auron? Who's that?" Roxas asked, puzzled.

"My personal guardian back at the Bastion. He likes sunglasses, sake and big blades. He's also the one who taught Mr. Strife how to fight."

Roxas nodded slowly. "That explains quite a bit."

Axel slammed the coffee table, making everyone jump. "That still doesn't explain why Kairi was shot! Why didn't he just kill you if he doesn't like you?"

Riku raised two fingers. "Two reasons; One, he's not stupid. I'm the heir, and killing me will land the country in a hell of a lot of strife. So I'm safe. Two, if I died, so would he."

Sora blinked. "Howcome?"

Riku smiled a grim smile. "Because my mother can use the royal arts as well. And while she can't quite throw a car around, she most certainly could kill him."

It was Saturday afternoon. By unanimous decision, the three boarders had been taken back to the boarding house a day early, as the whole air of the weekend had been spoiled completely. And our favourite couple were in their room... No, not being perverted. Jeesh. Look at the rating, people!

He was sitting on his bed, leaning back into the corner of the wall. The young brunet he loved was nestled in the crook of his arm, a warm weight leaning against him. The warm golden light of the afternoon was spilling in the window, washing over them with a blanket of late-afternoon light.

"Hey Riku," Sora mumbled, a little drowsy from the soft light.

"Yeah?"

"What if your dad tries again?"

Riku laughed softly. "In that case, I'll protect you. Okay?" he said, kissing Sora on his nose. "I'll always protect you." He continued kissing Sora's nose and forehead.

Sora squirmed out from under Riku's lips, glaring at him. "Hey, I can protect myself! I'm not a defenceless little kitten, you know!" he retorted angrily.

Riku grinned. "I know that. But, I'll still protect you, no matter what, because you're precious to me."

This time, Sora didn't wriggle out of the way. He turned his head slightly, looking into Riku's face, the brunet's cerulean eyes softening. His lips met Riku's descending ones. At first it was soft, but then his hand slipped around to the nape of Riku's neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. Riku's hand cradled the back of his head, both of them enjoying the sensation of the other's mouth against their own, little hot flushes sparking all along their bodies.

After a minute or so, Sora pulled back slightly, gasping for breath. Riku was panting slightly as well, his cheeks red from the hot fire flowing through his veins. Sora moved back slightly, tugging at the collar of his shirt. "Jeesh, a little warm in here, isn't it...?"

Riku smiled, his breath still coming a little quickly. "Yeah... But still a little to cold for my liking."

Sora spun on him, grinning. "I can fix that." He reached forwards tentatively, his hands grabbing hold of Riku's unresisting shoulders. He pulled himself forwards, kissing Riku once more, his arms slipping around the older, silver-haired teen and drawing the two ever closer together. He felt Riku's arms do likewise, slipping under his armpits, crossing over on his back and pushing against his shoulder-blades.

His lips were fervent, passionate; Riku's no less. Riku felt a small nip on his bottom lip; he opened his mouth obligingly, allowing Sora's soft, small tongue to enter his mouth. He used his own tongue to press and massage Sora's against the roof of his mouth, running his tongue up and down the underside of it, exploring the many surfaces. His heartbeat began to quicken beyond measure. Before it had been racing; now it felt like it was going to leap out of his chest and beat him to death with the force of its pounding. His blood was throbbing in his veins, causing his skin all over to redden, bringing colour to his pale complexion. The room began to swirl, his vision began to darken as he felt himself getting dizzier and dizzier.

Neither of them noticed the bell for dinner, so caught up were they in their passions...

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Author's Rambles: Aww... Yeah, I wanted to give you guys a sweetness bit to make up for the lack of it in the last couple of weeks. Aaaaaand... I'll let your imaginations run riot due to my last sentence.

Ooh, one last thing. Fiona Wood is an actual person... She was Australian of the Year a while ago, a fantastic person and she really is a burns specialist. So it just seemed right to put her in here... Raz and Dill will most likely need a nationally-renowned burns specialist, won't they?

Next: I dunno how easily I'll be able to write the next couple of chapters, since I'm about to move to Uni. It'll take a while for my new I-net connection to be set up, but... Hey, who knows? So you are warned.

Now, an important part in any fanfic-related diet is the threatening!

Niccolo: Okay guys, here's the deal. You review enough, and Kairi will begin making out with Sora... and most likely more.

Riku: Hoy! I'm gonna kill you!

Sora: But... how will that entice them to review?

Niccolo: 'Cause if they don't, it'll happen in this story.