Hiya! I'm back! Camping sucks! Bugs, sun cream and loooong walks to the middle of nowhere! Plus absolutely no sleep! But anyway... back to writing once more! And back to a warm solid building to live in! Ah, life is good...

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Chapter 13 - Not yours to be claimed

Sora's day at school hadn't been too bad. He still heard the occasional 'Cloud Lover' references; but they didn't bother him anymore. Selphie was going on for ages, asking way too many questions as usual. Eventually Sora just learnt to ignore her. Riku had picked him up, and asked him about his day, making sure that nobody had been mean to him, or made fun of the slash on his forehead. Sora just smiled, and answered all the questions. He was glad that Riku was so overly protective of him. It showed how much he cared. Unlike some people.

Back at the apartment, Sora was doing his homework on the floor, when he heard raised voices in the hall. One of them was Riku's. The other voice belonged to...

"I am taking him back to his real home! With the people who really love him!" Sora froze like the iciness of his mother's voice.

"This is his real home and I love him far more than you ever did!" Sora winced as he heard the sound of his mother slapping his lover.

"Get out of my way boy! He's MY son and I am claiming him!"

"He is NOT yours to be claimed!"

"Well he sure as hell isn't yours!"

"No. But he loves me." Sora heard the sound of footsteps getting louder and louder. He was too scared to move. He wouldn't let his mother take him away. Not unless she could accept him and Riku.

"Sora sweetheart! Mummy's come to take you home." Sora stood up to his full height; which wasn't much - but he was taller than his mother.

"Only if you start treating me with respect. I'm fifteen NOT five. I'm in love with Riku so DEAL with it and accept it. Riku is wonderful and loves me. He protects me and cares for me. He saved my life." Sora felt warm tears sliding down his face. He saw Riku in the corner of his eye; walk to his side.

"I do love him. And if you are going to take him away, you cannot take him away from me. Because I will never stop looking for him. And I will never stop loving him." Sora's mother looked at the odd couple and actually smiled.

"If this is what it takes to finally make you happy baby. Then I'll try my damned hardest to accept it."

"Him," Sora corrected.

"I'll try my damned hardest to accept him. Now please come home." Sora reached out, and took his weeping mother's hand. He led her back to the bus stop, followed by Riku. They all walked through Sora's front door to find Sora's father, looking exhausted and forlorn.

"SORA! ANNIE!" He ran up to both of them and hugged them. Sora had no idea his mother had been missing too. Had she been looking for him? Sora's father suddenly noticed the other boy. "And just who might you be? Are you the reason my wife and son have been missing for a week?"

"No. I am the reason your son is alive and your wife is home. I am the reason they are together again."

"Um... But who are you? Well... Actually I know who are you are. You're in that movie with the big keys."

"Yeh close enough," Riku moved closer to Sora.

"I see," Sora's dad raised his eyebrows, but did not object. "Well as long as my family is together; I will accept this... new development. If it makes my son happy."

"He does make me happy Dad." Sora took Riku's hand, and smiled. His dad nodded; showing that he understood.

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"Riku! Don't go!" Sora wailed, hurling his arms around Riku's waist.

"I'll see you again tomorrow! But I have to go back to my apartment!"

"No! Stay here!"

"I can't stay here, there's nowhere for me to sleep!"

"There's the sofa!"

"Sora. My angel. I cannot torture your poor mother anymore. I must leave you for a while with your family."

"But Riku... Don't you love me anymore? Are you going to leave me here and run back to the city with Kairi?" Riku grabbed Sora as tightly as he could, their tears mixing in a whirlpool of love and confusion.

"My angel I will never ever leave you! Don't ever think that! I love you so much!" They embraced each other until footsteps could be heard outside.

"Riku? Are you still there? Sora needs his sleep! I've said I'll accept you being together but you're not doing anything in my house!" Riku let go reluctantly.

"Don't worry. I'm leaving."

"Riku?"

"I'll be back my angel. I promise." And Sora knew this time; that Riku would be back. To save him once more. And to at last; show him real happiness.

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The End

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Seemed like a good point to end it. It's been fun! Thank you loyal reviewers - especially catwwoman47 and Tidus the Almighty! Will write more stories soon! Probably RikuxSora again! They rock!