Disclaimer: This story is © by me.

Author's Ramblings: Hmm, that last chapter went down pretty well. I'm not really too sure where it's headed from here. Perhaps… Nah.

Let's go make some noise!

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Chapter 21: Mob Mentality

Riku stared down at the icy water for a few more seconds, his face impassive. A few metres away, the crowd was staring in awe. A few of them were beginning to fidget, as he was hoping for. They were beginning to realise the inherent problems with going against a boy with abilities such as his, and so might perhaps come to their senses.

"Um… Your Highness?" one of the townspeople asked, from the safety of the crowd.

Then again, Riku thought wryly, the intelligence of a mob IS the lowest common denominator. He sighed and turned to face them. "Yes, my audience?" he asked sweetly, his hands clenching and unclenching behind his back. "Is there something I can do for you?" He'd act oblivious to their former questions, maybe give them the hint.

Suddenly there was a slight noise behind him; his royal training kept him from looking, but Auron bent down and whispered in his ear. "Sora's here. He's wisely decided to hide behind your father and mother." He offered no advice, nothing more than that. As per the silent agreement between him and the prince, Riku wouldn't tell Auron what to do as long as the wolfish samurai didn't point out the obvious to him. He nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, to indicate he had heard and understood. "Auron, if anything starts…I'm relying on you to look after him," he said softly. Auron grinned a lupine grin and moved his weight slightly. None of the townspeople would pick it up, but he was almost in a combat stance now.

He turned his attention fully back upon the townspeople. "Now, what was your particular problem?" he asked again, letting his hands fall to his sides and touch lightly the small dagger he kept hidden for comfort.

The man who had gone unnoticed just in front of him, snivelling slightly, drew the albino prince's attention. "Yo-your Highness… I, that is… we were… wondering about the truth of the newspaper article we showed you earlier," he muttered, shifting and scratching in anxiety at his exposed position.

Riku sighed dramatically. "First, a question for you; why does it matter to you people?" he asked, letting a touch of passion slip into his voice. "Does it really, honestly matter to you?" Behind him, his father started; the crowd's attention was drawn to him by the movement and by extension, to the small brown-haired, blue-eyed boy hiding behind the royal family. As soon as their attention went in that direction, Riku mentally kicked himself.

The crowd as one began shouting and pointing. Jeez, you'd think they were all cavemen, Riku thought bitterly. Well damn. Me and my big mouth.

Auron had ushered the whole royal family inside, signalling for the portcullis to be dropped – regardless of whether or not people were under it. Riku stood in the main foyer of the castle, panting. God damn it… of all the times for father to twitch, it had to be then!

They could still hear the calls and clamours from outside. Apparently the crowd had largely managed to put two and two together, mob mentality or no. And now they were, by the sounds of it, howling for his blood. "I really hate homophobes," Riku muttered dryly. "I don't think I'll be going outside in a long time." Though I bet if I weren't a Zephyr they wouldn't care, he thought grimly.

Ansem coughed. "Son, this is your own fault. You are royalty, you know what is required of you. Yet you're the one who-mmff mmff!" Ansem stopped, his mouth covered by Riku's hand.

"Father, shut up. You can take your royal requirements and shove it up your-"

"Riku!"

Riku shook his silver mane. "Sorry, mother. But… Ugh. Leave me alone. I need time away from this whole stupid thing," he spat, storming off down the halls.

With an apologetic glance and a slight nod to Riku's mother, Sora silently padded off after him.

Ansem blinked twice. "Damned boy. Why can't he understand?"

The queen simply shook her head and smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "Come now. When you were young, you wanted to follow your heart, no? Riku's only a teenager, you know that."

Sora followed Riku to the crystal garden, but stopped at the entrance. Riku had disappeared into the maze of crystals and the brunet didn't really want to get lost. "Dammit…" he muttered. "Where is he?" He'll probably go to the centre… but how do I get there?

He felt a tap on his shoulder and nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun, holding one hand over his heart. Riza smiled at him, gliding past gracefully. "Come on, I'll show you…"

He followed the girl through the maze of crystals. Why is she doing this? Didn't she love Riku too?

When he asked her as much, she snorted. "Please," she said, not turning around. "He's practically a brother to me. Ew!" she shivered. "Besides… You're the one Riku loves… that way. You should go and comfort him, not me. Here we are," she said quietly, stepping aside. "Go on. I'll go do damage control." And with that she was gone, whisking her way back through the crystal garden.

Sora stepped forwards, tip-toeing up behind the boy. Riku was focussed entirely on the massive centre pillar-crystal, clearly losing himself in its depths. "Sora?" he asked, making the boy jump.

"How did you know?" Sora asked, put out that he hadn't been able to sneak up and wrap him in a hug.

Riku turned, his mouth tilted into a small, soft smile. "I just knew. Besides… I could smell you."

Sora raised one eyebrow. "Smell me? Yeah right."

Riku nodded. "You smell like the beach," he grinned. "Much better than some of the smells around the Bastion, I'll tell you that."

Sora grinned too and stepped forwards, his arms gliding around the taller boy's midriff. He squeezed the older boy tightly, not wanting to let go. "So, feeling better after yelling at your dad?" he asked impishly, leaning his head against Riku's chest.

Riku's arms tightened around Sora. "Yup. I've been wanting to do that for ages now." He smiled and kissed the fuzzy hair on top of Sora's head. "I don't know what's going to happen now," he admitted. "I mean, now that most of Radiant Garden believes I'm gay, they're likely as not to reject my rule – if and when it comes."

Sora tilted his head up. "Don't worry about it," he murmured, standing on the tips of his toes so his lips could meet Riku's. "Just don't worry about it." He pushed Riku back against the pillar, locking his lips with the silver-haired boy's again. After a moment, he leaned back and glared at Riku. "What's wrong? You don't want to?"

Riku shook his head. "Sorry… was a bit unexpected." One hand slid up behind Sora's neck and forcefully pulled him closer, Riku crushing his lips against Sora's. Dammit, this heals everything, he thought absently. It just feels so damned good.

Behind him, the pillar began to glow a soft pink as it resonated with the passion of the two…

There was a loud crashing sound, as if someone were storming through the crystal garden angrily. Sora and Riku pulled apart regretfully, each straightening the other's collar until they looked marginally respectable.

The Queen stormed into the opening, glaring at the two. They shrunk away from her ire, cowering against the other for support. "What do you two think you're doing?" she growled. "I cannot leave you two alone for more than five minutes, can I?"

Riku raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think we were doing anything, mother?"

His mother waved a hand at the crystal garden around them. It was only then that they snapped out of their daze and saw that all of the crystals were pulsing reds and soft pinks and lavenders. "They get like this when… when people let their heart run freely in here!"

The two glanced guiltily at each other. "We didn't do anything that bad," Sora said placatingly.

"As well you didn't!" she muttered. "I really wouldn't want to have walked in on that," she finished.

Riku rolled his eyes. "As if. Admit it mother, you're a yaoi fangirl."

The queen blushed a little. "Shh… it's a secret. Besides, my own son?" she growled, all traces of embarrassment and amusement gone. She turned to leave. "Both of you, come with me. Now."

They were led to her private study. She stepped behind the desk and sat in the huge leather armchair, pointing at the two chairs on the closer side. "Sit. We really need to discuss this relationship of yours."

Sora swore he felt time freeze. His back tingled. God, that felt like a whole freakin' army just walked across my grave! The two teenagers obediently sat, watching Riku's mother as if she were a dangerous predator.

She sat down and steepled her fingers, looking at the two boys. For a minute she sat there, examining both of them. Sora felt as if his life were being laid bare in front of her. Presently, she opened her mouth. "You two... look. I know you two love each other, that's fairly obvious. But…" she sighed and rested her forehead on her steepled fingers. "It's not good. You know that, don't you?" Both boys nodded slowly, afraid. 'Well… if the circumstances were any other… I'd still find it absolutely disgusting that my son is-" she shuddered. "Reading books with characters like that is all well and good, and sometimes quite nice, but in the real world it's unfortunately not… not practical." Riku nodded again. Sora blinked, letting it sink in. He opened his mouth to protest, but suddenly felt Riku stomp down on his foot. He shut his mouth again quickly, silently making a note to get the prince back for that one.

"Now... You two, I hope you understand my position," the queen stated. "I honestly cannot let you two be seen together now. I have only a very small chance of calming down the blasted riot that's going on outside, but if you two are found to be anywhere near each other again all hope of that will go out the window."

Sora blinked again, trying to work out what she meant. Next to him, Riku gasped angrily, shouting "WHAT?!" loud enough to draw worried mutters from the guards outside the door.

"Behave yourself, Riku." The queen said dangerously. "I'm sorry, but I have no choice. Sora, I'm going to have to ask you to return to your home a day early… I just don't want to risk the fiasco that's brewing because of you two. Riku, I'm going to pull you out of Twilight High; you'll be returning to getting schooled by your tutor."

The two boys just sat there quietly, the end of their love life slowly sinking in. Sora couldn't move; he couldn't feel anything anymore. Riku was much the same, shocked into silence. His hands were gripping the chair's arms, his knuckles a stark white against the usual pink of the rest of his skin. His eyes were wide, every nerve lapsed into unconsciousness.

"Love is a beautiful thing," the queen muttered. "But at times, so impractical. You knew the first law, Riku. Royalty may not love."

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Author's Mental Kitty-Cat: Dear God… I hated writing that last bit. I felt myself as if I was going to cry…

Guys reading this, please don't cry. And don't leave my story, okay? I swear, it'll get better.

It… it just doesn't seem right to threaten you all now. But… please review. Tell me that this story is loved, give me the will to continue. If I don't get reviews, I may leave this story unfinished… and leaving it sad like this is no good.