From Eternamente -- Hello again! Thank you for reading thus far. At first I had planned for An Angel's Savior to be completed upon Chapter Twelve, but I fell in love with how I've written the characters. So, I'm continueing the story. If you haven't read the previous chapters thus far, you really should. Sora goes through a life-threatening ordeal, and Riku hatches a plan to save the boy who entranced him upon first sight. I'm told it's a good read! hehe
In any event, An Angel's Savior continues on... not really a sequel, but more like a second part to the story. Part One dealt with having Sora and Riku meet and falling in love with each other, and this second part will deal with their future and the strengthening of their relationship. Expect a lot of tests to come across both of our boys, and expect them to realize how much they truly care for each other despite obstacles being thrown in their way.
I've written ahead a few chapters, and so far I'm enjoying how the story is unfolding. I expect Part Two to be around twice as long as Part One, so expect a lot of plot twists and cliffhangers galore (is it me, or does just about every chapter I write end in a cliffhanger of some sort?). I won't spoil things, but in the chapters to come I'm introducing a few other Kingdom Hearts characters to the storyline in their versions fit-for-this-universe. You'll be delightfully surprised to learn of a few of them, I can assure you.
Oh, I have a question for you all... if anyone knows... Does Tsukada translate to anything from Japenese to English? I'll be honest here... I stumbled across the surname somewhere while reading other Kingdom Hearts fanfictions, and I just loved how nicely Sora Tsukada flowed together. Most people use Hikari as Sora's surname because it means 'light' (in some form), but Sora Hikari just didn't do it for me. But I'm curious if it translates to anything... does anyone know? If you can give me a translation and proof that it does actually mean what you found it to translate to, I'll um... I don't know hehe. Maybe write a one-shot or short multi-part with the pairing/setting/theme of your choice (must be KH related)? Thanks!
Disclaimer -- Sora is mine, so neener neener neener. Disney/Square Enix can have the rights to all of the other Kingdom Hearts characters and references, but Sora is mine. Cookies are like catnip for this boy, I swear.
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Chapter Thirteen -- Haunted
Sora sat alone in the darkened kitchen. For some reason, the boy couldn't sleep that night. It had been several months now since his father had been incarcerated for child molestation and abuse inflicted upon Sora. Ever since then he had been free. Sora smiled inwardly as he thought of how his body had fully healed. It was almost like magic; his body didn't have a single scar, scratch, or reminder of the ordeal he had gone through at the hands of his father. He woke up each morning knowing that he hadn't spent the night unconscious on the basement floor. He still had nightmares, but once he woke up and his mind settled on reality everything was fine.
Despite his newfound comfort in Riku's home, he was concerned about the future. Riku was graduating from high school in a few days, and was looking forward to his own future. Sora had one more year of school before he also graduated, and had no idea what would happen the next year. Kairi's father was his foster-parent, so he could always be taken into his home should Riku choose to leave the Islands, but he also hoped Riku would wait for Sora to graduate so they could start their future together. The nervousness of not knowing Riku's plans caused Sora a few sleepless nights as of late.
Sora crept to the refrigerator and pulled out some cold cuts and began to make himself a sandwich. He laughed to himself as he recalled a time when there was barely any food in his own home. His father was a drunken fool who frittered his paychecks on booze instead of food and bills. He was irresponsible, but now he's paying for his ways in a prison cell.
Sora sighed as he began to place slices of meat on bread. A tiny sob escaped from his mouth as he felt the ghost of an all-too-familiar pair of hands upon his body, despite him being alone in the dim room. 'It's been eight months since he last touched me, and yet I can still feel his rough hands on me. This is bullshit,' he seethed. He hated knowing that he couldn't block the memory of that touch. He had been visiting a psychiatrist ever since his father was sentenced. His friends thought it was a good idea, after hearing about how Sora would wake up every night in a cold sweat thinking of his father. Every time he thought of it, he either cried or got angry at himself for remembering.
Sora sliced the sandwich into two pieces before taking a bite out of one half. "Why did you do that to me? Why can't I forget?" he asked the darkness. "I have everything now. A good home, good friends, food for Christ's sake. And you still haunt me." Sora sighed and slumped his head into his hands at he put the sandwich down. Although he won his freedom, his father still had a grip on his sanity. He couldn't let that man win, though. Sora was able to do anything he wanted now, and he would. He'd find his sanity again soon.
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Riku lay awake in his bed. He heard Sora shuffling about downstairs, and although he had an urge to go down and keep the boy company he felt it was best that Sora be left alone with whatever thoughts he had.. He couldn't sleep, because he was worried about what would happen to Sora should he accept a modeling job elsewhere. His parents knew about Sora living at their home, but they were apprehensive to the idea of allowing Sora to stay if Riku decided to leave.
'Maybe if they visited and we really discussed it, they'd let him stay here if I accepted a job elsewhere,' Riku thought to himself. 'It's worth a shot. I haven't exactly discussed it with them. Sure, he could live with the mayor for a year, but I don't think he wants that. I wish it were easy to just find a solution.'
Riku got out of bed and pulled on his bathrobe. He was too alert to sleep right now, and so he decided he should check up and see how Sora was doing. He had a deep concern for the sleepless nights his boyfriend had been going through. He wanted to help, but there was really no way for him to mend Sora's mind. Not that he could think of, anyway.
Riku silently crept downstairs and found Sora muttering to himself in the kitchen. He called out to the boy so as not to alarm him, and saw Sora wave his hand to usher him into his presence.
"Chibi?" Sora smiled as Riku addressed him by his nickname. Some time ago Riku started calling the boy that in regards to his adorable features whenever Sora would blush. "Couldn't sleep?" Riku asked.
"No," Sora glumly replied. "I can't get him out of my head." Sora inched over to his counterpart and laid his head into Riku's chest. "Every time I begin to fall asleep I can feel his gritty touch against my skin. Every place he had touched just throbs. I can't forget him. I want to." A few stray tears fell down Sora's cheek and landed on Riku's chest.
Riku held the boy close and stroked his hair. He was happy knowing that he could hold the boy with a strong embrace and didn't have to worry about pressing too hard against a wound or grazing a sensitive spot anymore. But, the effects of Sora's ordeal were still very taxing on his mentality. He wished he could make his lover's bad memories disappear, but he couldn't think of a way. He could only hold him and tell him everything was fine.
"You know he's locked up. You never have to see him again," Riku told the boy.
Sora thought about that. Ever since his father was sent to jail, he had yet to visit the man. He didn't want to see his face again. But, despite the man's imprisonment, his face was burned into Sora's skull. He needed to get rid of the images of his father beating him, and using him sexually. But the memories remained, and they kept him awake at night. It had been a sleepless year for Sora.
"Do you want to sleep in my bed with me?" Riku offered. Sometimes he would, and it helped Sora sleep a full night. Riku was far too respectful to do anything beyond holding the boy, though. He knew once Sora was ready, he'd allow him to explore his body.
"I'd like that. I'm so tired," Sora yawned sleepily as he put the other half of his sandwich back into the refrigerator. He put his arm around Riku's neck and hopped into his arms. "Carry me?" Sora batted his eyelashes and smiled sweetly despite a yawn escaping from his mouth.
Riku laughed and carried him upstairs into his room. Together they fell asleep, hugging each other.
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"Hey Sora," Kairi called out. Technically this girl was now Sora's step-sister of some sort, but they regarded each other as good friends. Kairi's father was the mayor of Destiny Islands, and the generous man had offered to be Sora's guardian after learning of what he had been through.
"Hey, Kairi. What's up?" Sora greeted the girl as she bounded up to meet him. Today was one of the final days of the school year, and school had become much more relaxed as the year winded down. Having been home schooled for most of his life, he was just getting used to how a school year worked. A full semester, then finals. A winter vacation, another semester, and then finals. He'd have to do the same routine the next year, and probably once again for the following four years after that for college. He was ready for it, though.
"Not much, just wanted to see how you were doing. Riku told me you couldn't sleep again last night." She gave Sora a concerned look and gently brushed a stray hair from her friend's forehead. "You doing okay?"
Sora rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm alright. I just can't stop thinking about… you know." He didn't really want to say the words, at least not during school hours. He made pains to block out those memories during school, because he knew he'd be embarrassed for having a mental breakdown in these walls. At least his friends understood what he was going through and wouldn't embarrass him for suddenly going ballistic elsewhere.
"You look really good today," Kairi mused as she attempted to change the subject. "Did you guys go shopping yesterday?"
"Yeah," Sora laughed. Riku took Sora out shopping for new clothes regularly. He knew Sora felt better every time he got something new to fool around with. A new game, a new book, new clothes. Sora was taken by the idea of buying new things. He could never do that while living in the poor house with his drunken father. Sora recalled the first time Riku had ever bought him new clothes. It was on their first date. They had visited a Hot Topic, and Riku picked out some very form-fitting clothes for Sora to try on. Stepping out of the dressing room wearing nothing but a tiny black t-shirt and tight white leather pants, Sora had to smile at Riku's infatuated expression. Ever since then, he decided he'd wear anything Riku wanted him to.
Sora's style had changed substantially over the year as well. When he first met his new friends he often wore loose, bland, baggy clothes so as to hide his scars and markings. Now that his body had healed from his father's abusive ways, he showed a lot more skin than normal (much to Riku's discretion and delight). Today Sora was dressed in a baby blue sleeveless midriff hooded shirt, and a pair of low-riding deep blue jeans. His waist displayed three belts arranged in several directions, and his left wrist was covered in wristbands and bracelets. He always wore sandals, being an islander, and his hair still had his signature cinnamon spikiness. One could say Sora's style had become decidedly feminine; not that he carried himself in a gender-bending fashion, but he didn't mind because he felt it suited him. Besides, Riku helped Sora choose his clothes every morning, and Sora made it a point to dress only for Riku.
"He's so good to me, Kairi. I don't deserve to have him," Sora turned away and looked sullen for a moment as he hugged himself. He often wondered why Riku chose him of all people. Riku's life was set for him, but he chose to save a poverty-stricken scruff of a boy. To this day he was still in a state of disbelief.
"Sure you do. Riku's a nice guy, and you're a great friend," Kairi smiled as she took Sora's face and guided it back to her focus. She loved staring into this boy's deep blue eyes. She was almost jealous that Riku had snatched him up. "If there's one thing I know for certain about Riku, he's genuine. He has a glorious heart. You two deserve each other."
"If he's so glorious, why did you break up with him?" Sora asked. He didn't mean harm by the question, but he could tell Kairi was slightly unnerved by the bluntness of it. "I mean, if you like him so much, why did you break up with him?"
"Well," Kairi said. She recalled her relationship with Riku. It only lasted a month or so during Riku's sophomore year of high school, but during it she could feel Riku constantly pulling away from her advances. She tried everything she could to make the relationship work, but he pulled away each time. They couldn't talk, they couldn't be together. Being friends was Riku was easier on her, because they could connect on a friendly level. An intimate level didn't work for them, though. "I knew I wasn't the one who could make him happy. Believe me, I tried. We make better friends than we make a couple." She thought for something to add to make Sora feel better. "I think he was just waiting for the right person to come along so he could truly be happy. And since meeting you, and giving everything he could to you, his heart… I think he's found true happiness. He found you, Sora."
Sora smiled at the kind words, although he knew Kairi was saying it to make him feel better. She was right, though. Ever since the two had met, Riku's eyes brightened. Every time he and Sora were together, he became animated. He was always acting cool around Kairi, Roxas, Axel, and the rest of his friends. But around Sora, around the boy who knew him the most intimately, he could truly be himself. Sora blushed as he thought of how much Riku loved him.
"He really does love you, Sora. And he wants to make sure you'll always be safe," Kairi said. "You mean the world to him." The bell rang through the halls, indicating it was time for another period of class. "We'd better get going, or we'll be late for English. Try not to think of your father. I know it's not easy, but you need to get yourself at ease again."
Sora nodded, and the two popped into the room adjacent where they were standing and hurried into their seats.
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"Ugh, I wish I knew how to help him now," Riku groaned as he plopped onto the bench next to Axel and Roxas. The three of them had gym class together, but being that the school year was nearly over gym acted more like a study hall. The only requirement was to show up to the gymnasium, have a seat in the bleachers, and behave.
"What's the problem, man?" Axel asked. He was laying down on the bench with his head in Roxas' lap. Over the course of the year the two had decidedly toned down their displays of affection in school. Not of their own decision, but at the demand of the principal.
"Two big ones," Riku replied. "First off, I have job offers in New York and Paris. The chance of my lifetime, but if I take either of them then Sora can't live in my home for the next year. I know he wants to stay with me. And secondly, he can't stop having those nightmares about his father. He can only sleep when he's with me." Riku groaned again. "If I take the offers and leave, Sora's going to be living at the mayor's home or something and won't get any sleep because I'm not there. And the mayor will probably have Sora seeing a psychiatrist every day. He already sees the guy three times a week!" Roxas and Axel looked at Riku curiously as he stood up and began pacing. "How can I fix this?"
"Well, have you asked Sora what he wants you to do?" Roxas offered.
"Um, well, no, but I'm fairly certain it involves me staying with him, or somehow taking him with me," Riku responded. "But I can't take him with me, because then he'd miss his senior year of high school and won't graduate. He needs to at least graduate high school."
"Well, I dunno what you should do," Axel said. "But, I think you and he need to discuss this at least so you can come to a conclusion together."
"When?" Riku asked.
"How's about right now?" Axel pointed towards the coaches' table near the bleachers. One coach was keeping an eye out for the class, and she was jotting some notes down. She glanced up as a very familiar spiky-haired brunet stood before her. Sora talked to the woman for a moment and passed her a note, and started to head out the door. Noticing the three, he smiled and waved before taking his leave.
Seeing an opportunity to chat with his lover, Riku approached the coach and asked to go to the restroom. Leaving the gymnasium, he caught up with Sora.
"Hey, Chibi," Riku grinned as he put an arm around Sora. "Mmm, you look sexy today," he murmured as he buried his face into Sora's cinnamon locks.
Sora giggled before placing a delicate kiss on Riku's cheek. "You should know. You helped pick out my clothes."
"Got a few? I told the coach I had to go to the bathroom. I thought we could chat for a couple of minutes?" Riku urged.
"Sure, about what?" Sora inquired. It wasn't unusual for Riku to make up excuses just so he could chat with Sora during the day. The two only had one class together, and that was lunch.
"Let's go into the bathroom, though, so no one wonders why we're in the middle of the hallway." Taking Sora's hand, he led the boy into the nearest restroom and the two leaned against a wall.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Sora asked again.
"The future," Riku replied.
Sora groaned on the inside. He didn't really want to talk about such a serious topic right now. "Can't it wait until later? I told my teacher I'd be right back."
"I know, but I just wanted you to think of something," Riku replied. He took Sora's face in his hand. "I know you've been pretty worried about what's going to happen next year. I might be looking into a modeling job elsewhere, but you have a year of school left. And my parents said that you couldn't stay at my place if I wasn't living there." Sora glanced away, but Riku needed to at least assure him he was going to think of a way to keep the boy happy. He brought Sora's eyes back to focus on him. "But, I want you to know that I'll think of a compromise so that we can be together, alright? I promise I won't let you be alone."
Despite Sora's distaste for the subject, he nodded. He knew Riku would brainstorm some way for them to compromise, and he trusted him. "Thanks," he replied before kissing Riku lightly on the cheek. "I know you won't let me be alone. But, I have to get back to class. We'll talk more about this later?" Sora smiled at Riku.
"You sure you have to rush off so quickly?" Riku grinned as he pulled the boy in front of him and gently caressed Sora's exposed waist. Sora retracted a bit as a tear began to form in his eye, and Riku frowned and apologized. "I'm sorry… I… I forgot."
"No, no, it's okay. You're allowed to do that. I just," Sora sighed as Riku brushed away his boyfriend's tear with his thumb. "I'm just not used to that kind of touch being good yet." He patted Riku's cheek where he had kissed him. "I still need time," He whispered as he forced a weak smile, and then turned to head back to class.
Riku watched the boy exit the restroom, and he leaned heavily against the wall. "He's still not comfortable with that yet." He smacked his fist against the wall. "I just want him to be happy, but still it's nearly a whole year and he's still thinking of what that man did to him. Shit."
Riku stood upright and headed back to the gymnasium. Upon entering, Axel gave him a 'how did it go?' look. Sitting down next to his friends, Riku sighed. "Well, I at least assured him I'd think of a compromise."
"Anything else?" Roxas asked.
"He's still not comfortable," Riku replied dejectedly. He didn't plan on doing anything in the bathroom with Sora. He just wanted to hold him for a bit, but he thought he'd try finding out the reaction he'd get to a sensual touch. He cursed himself for not realizing Sora was still mentally fragile. He knew it'd be a long time before he'd be able to hold Sora in every way. But, he also knew Sora would be worth the wait.
Axel beaned Riku's head with a rubber band. "You didn't try to do anything with him in the bathroom, did you?"
"No, of course not. I just held Sora's waist, but he retracted. It hurts knowing that even though it's me, Sora can still feel his father doing that to him," Riku said as he looked at the ground. "I want him to know my touch is okay and safe. But, I don't know how."
"You just have to wait for him to come to you and tell you it's alright. He might not say the words, but he'll let you know when it's alright to play," Roxas smiled as he sat up and put an arm around Riku in comfort. "It'll take time, but you love him, right? He's worth the wait."
Axel nodded in agreement. "Besides, that fine piece of ass will be all the more sweeter once he's ready for you to take it," he grinned evilly. Riku arched an eyebrow at Axel's comment as the flame-haired boy raised his hands up defensively. "What? Sora is hot… can you blame me for being honest?"
"Axel!" It was now Roxas' turn to fling a rubber band.
"Baby, you're the only one for me," Axel cooed as he brought Roxas' face up to meet his own. "It's not my fault we have a hot friend. But you're the only one who has my heart."
Roxas blushed as he leaned into Axel and received an expected embrace from his lover. "I know," Roxas giggled. "Even I think Sora is hot."
Riku shrugged as he sat up. "Oh, what do you guys know? You can barely contain yourselves during school," he teased with a smirk. "Seriously, though, I guess you're right. I'll just have to wait for him. He's worth it."
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Sora headed back to his English class and took his seat next to Kairi. She smiled at him as she scooted her desk a bit closer to chat. The teachers were very loose on rules during these last few days of the school year.
"So, I saw Riku just now," Sora said.
"Oh? Oh, yeah, you went to give his coach a note, right?" Kairi replied.
"Yeah. I left, but he made some silly excuse to go to the bathroom just so he could talk to me," Sora giggled.
Kairi laughed in response. "He does that a lot, huh. Next year's going to be kind of weird without him and Axel. I wonder how you and Roxas will get through a school day." She held a hand to her face as she continued to giggle.
"I'm sure we'll manage."
"So, what'd he talk to you about?"
"He wanted to let me know that he'd think of a way to let me stay with him next year. I dunno what, but there's probably some way," Sora replied. "I mean, I don't make the rules. I just kinda… hope."
Kairi nodded. She then looked away for a moment, as if in thought. "So, I have an idea for you."
"Mmm?"
"I was thinking of a way to kind of get rid of your father's memory. Or at least a way to override them."
"Huh?" Sora sighed. "I said I didn't want to talk about this. Not during school."
"I know, but hear me out," Kairi replied as Sora signaled his surrender. "Maybe you and Riku need to kinda… fool around." Sora's eyebrow arched at the idea, and then turned to stare blankly at the girl. "Well, you know. Maybe you need to actually… you know… do it with Riku."
"Are you suggesting Riku and I…" he realized he was talking a bit loud, and then toned down to a whisper. "Are you saying Riku and I should have sex?"
"Yeah."
"Are you nuts?!" he squeaked before clamping a hand over his mouth. He looked at the teacher in front of the class who seemed to be busying himself with grading papers and the like. "Are you insane? I can't have sex with Riku. No way."
"Sora, I read something that if you replace a bad memory with a good memory, then every time the bad memory would surface the good memory blocks it out," she offered. "You need to replace the bad memories of your father with good memories of Riku."
Sora hugged himself and pouted. 'I can't have sex with Riku. Not now. I'm not ready for that. I can still feel his touch against my body. I still feel his arms wrapped around me, and his rough hands stroking my waist. I feel him inside of me. I… I can't do that to Riku. I'll freak out. I know I will.'
Kairi placed a hand on Sora's arm. "Just think about it. I know it's kind of strange to hear someone give that advice, but I think it'll help."
Sora nodded. "Alright, I'll think about it. But don't tell Riku a thing."
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Kairi stood at Riku's silver convertible as he walked up to it. Every day Kairi and Riku got out of classes a little early, and would wait for Sora so the three of them could go home together. Upon seeing Kairi, Riku had to question the incredibly innocent grin plastered on her face.
Riku pointed at the girl as he arrived. "You're up to something," he accused.
"Who, li'l ol' me?" Kairi breathlessly imitated an old southern belle before giggling. "Maybe," she said as she flashed another sickeningly innocent grin.
"Alright, what's up?"
"Sora told me not to tell, but I have a plan to help him. But I can't tell you what it is," Kairi grinned.
"Then what good is a plan that you can't tell me?" Riku huffed as he sat in the driver's seat. He saw Sora exit the building and smiled.
Kairi took a seat in the back. "Well, I can't tell you what it is. But I can give you a hint. Just be super nice to Sora for a while, and I mean nicer than even you could think possible to be, and he might come around."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Riku turned to get an answer.
"Nothing," Kairi cleared her throat. "Hey Sora, had a good class?"
Sora rubbed the back of his neck as he opened the door and gently sat in the front seat. "Yeah, I guess." He shifted nervously in his seat as he thought about his conversation with Kairi earlier. Riku pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards Kairi's home to drop her off. The three were relatively quiet until the car pulled up in front of the mayor's house.
"Don't forget what I said, Sora," she called after saying her good-byes.
"Yeah…" Sora muttered before saying good-bye to her.
"So… Chibi," Riku piped up as they pulled away from Kairi's place.
Sora nervously glanced over at his boyfriend before responding. "Uhh… yeah?" The boy fidgeted with his shirt as he made pains to avert his eyes from Riku's.
"Something on your mind?" Riku smiled as he tried to coax Sora's gaze upon himself.
Sora nervously scratched the back of his neck. "Wha… whaddya mean?"
"Nothing," Riku smirked as they continued on to the downtown district. "So, hey, Kairi was mentioning how she had a plan to help us."
Sora's eyes grew as wide as saucers as Riku unknowingly urged into the topic on the brunet's mind. Sora cleared his throat and balled his hands into fists. "Riku?" Sora wanted to make sure he had Riku's full attention.
"Yeah, Chibi?"
"Do you want to, well, um… how to put this…" Sora bit his lower lip. "Help me replace my bad memories?"
"Yeah, of course. I'll help you out however you need. How do we do that?"
Sora blushed a vibrant shade of scarlet. "Can we try… you know… doing it tonight?"
Riku skidded the car to a halt, and he just turned to the blushing boy and stared. Riku's mouth fell wide open.
"So… Sora," Riku blushed. "Sora, I… yes, I want to more than anything, but… but I was waiting for you to be okay with it. Are you sure you want to?"
Sora nodded vigorously. "I do want to. I have to. I want to badly. I really want to badly. I just haven't been ready, and I don't think I am yet either, but I just really really need to have sex with you."
As always, thank you for reading! Recieving reviews makes me happy, and I typically answer most of them. Reviews are most appreciated... you have no idea.