Okay, so like this amazing girl I know, on here goes by Repliku, but also goes by Pez and other various names, did a breath-taking fan comic for a few chapters ago. So therefore, this chapter is dedicated to her. Pssh, she deserves it. Much love to the reviewers are well. This chapter is a lot less "HOMGANGST" that I felt the last few were. Hopefully it'll be a refreshing, humorous, and enjoyable bit? Lord do I hope so. (and for my dearest possessed toaster friend, I put a slight humorous reference to Aspire just for you )

update: i would love it if you guys went my forums under cerulean hues and had some discussions with me (regarding riku x sora in general, of course)

Innovation

Riku wasn't quite sure why he had come to Demyx for advice. True, the blonde was his older brother and was successful, but he had never been one for good advice. Perhaps Riku was desperate. Or maybe he just needed someone within his family to help him sort out his jumbled up feelings. Either way, Demyx was the man he went to see about it. Thank heavens the man's boyfriend wasn't in the area. Riku wasn't too keen on the idea of having to have a civil conversation with Zexion. Not after all that he did to Sora (even if it was part of Zexion's job…).

"So, let me get this straight," Demyx shifted in his seat, back pressed firmly against the comfortable booth, "you came to me for love advice? Oh, Riku! I'm honored!" A smirk appeared on Demyx's lips.

"Right…" Riku arched an eyebrow uncertainly.

"It's not that hard, Riku. Here, I'll help you!" Demyx grinned this time as he extended his hand across the table. He clasped his brother's hand within his own before speaking. "Now, I'm going to pretend to be you, and you be Sora."

Riku silently groaned.

"Now, repeat after me," Demyx explained softly before batting his eyelashes, just for dramatic effect, "I."

"I…" Riku said cautiously, his voice containing a bit of strain.

"Love," Demyx continued in a reassuring voice.

Riku paled and bit his bottom lip. His eyes diverted to the side, finding entering customers much more interesting than his mullet-head brother. Demyx took note of this and stubbornly tightened his hold on Riku's hand. Perhaps a bit too much, for Riku hissed in slight pain seconds afterwards.

"I love," Demyx repeated slowly, tranquil eyes meeting Riku's flustered ones.

"…I like," Riku stated stubbornly, breaking off the eye-contact like it was a thin twig beneath his foot on a forestry path.

"No Riku, love," said Demyx with irritation.

Riku was starting to feel uncomfortable due to all the weird looks he and Demyx were getting from the random people around. "I can't say it," Riku whispered, shaking his head as silver strands (namely the fringe that usually covered his forehead) shook side to side.

"Yes, you can," Demyx refuted, letting go of his brother's hand. "If you love him, you can say it. It's not like you're jumping out of a plane or something. You're just saying three words. Three!" To emphasize his point, Demyx displayed three fingers.

"Easy for you to say," grumbled Riku. The silver-haired author stared down at the chicken alfredo, half-eaten. He suddenly wasn't in the mood to finish his lunch. Not anytime soon, at least.

"You do realize you won the bet," Demyx pointed out, grabbing a breadstick from the neglected basket. His teeth chomped down on the bread skillfully. The restaurant owner then pointed the food in Riku's direction, as if to gather his undivided attention.

"I don't care about the stupid bet," Riku seethed through gritted teeth.

Demyx's thin eyebrows rose and then furrowed together. "Really? A month ago the bet was the only thing on your mind." Demyx took another bite, chuckling to himself. "Has my little brother truly fallen in love in a month's time?" Demyx teased, a smirk appearing on his refined lips.

"We've been together for almost three weeks now," Riku stated softly, more so to himself than his obnoxious (yet helpful) brother, "and he said he loved me. I was surprised that he didn't leave when I yelled at him for saying it."

"You yelled at him for saying 'I love you'?" Demyx inquired with the utmost curiosity. Normal people didn't do such things. Then again, Riku Karada was the opposite of normal. He was the grey when it came to people. He wasn't a saint nor was he a sinner. He was just a soul lost among the challenges of life. Someone who needed someone else to reach out and embrace them.

"I apologized!" Riku answered in his weak defense.

"Uh-huh," Demyx trailed off, poking the basket of bread with dismal amusement. "Perhaps you should just tell him that you love him. It'll strength your relationship ten-fold."

"I can't get myself to," argued the silver-haired male in exasperation.

"Just think of it this way. You've finally found someone who you claim you love. Why wouldn't you want them to know how you feel?" Demyx then cocked his head to the side, awaiting a plausible answer.

"I don't know," Riku sighed. Honestly, he had no idea.

"Oh the wonders of love!" Demyx declared out of literally nowhere, clasping his hands together in the air. Riku shot him a confused stare. The owner chuckled and then cutely responded, "The conversation was starting to get too cliché and serious. So not my style."

"Then why are you dating Zexion?" Zexion was the icon of serious and cliché.

"Shut it," Demyx mumbled, cheeks turning a light pink.

"You blushing is creepy," Riku made known, eying his brother with slight concern. He picked up his fork, his appetite slowly returning, and jabbed a stray piece of chicken.

"You being in love is creepy," Demyx retorted, finishing off another breadstick before turning his attention to his steak.

"So I've been told," Riku replied with a shrug.

x x x

"You should have seen it, Roxas! The poor bloke here could barely walk after Karada was finished with him!"

"Wait! You never saw-" Sora quickly tried to argue, his cheeks turning a maroon shade. The brunette reached for his glass of tea quickly, as if to hide behind it. For once the trio wasn't indulging at Demyx's restaurant, but instead a local café. Everyone needed a bit of change once in a while, right?

"Was he really?" Roxas snickered, shooting his friend a look of entertainment.

Sora stared blankly. Since when did Roxas and Axel start getting along? Was it just to humiliate him when it came to private matters, such as his sex-life with his boyfriend? Sora audibly groaned as he wished he was somewhere else, with other people. Even worse, the blonde and red-head were acting as if he wasn't even here.

"For sure!" Axel declared, smirk never once leaving his sharp features.

"Tell us, Sora. How did it feel losing your virginity to Riku?" Roxas taunted, wagging a finger near Sora. Their friendship, to say the least, was a complex one. Sora was surprised that it lasted as long as it had. Roxas had always been there for his brunette friend throughout high-school, through the thick and the thin, the best and the worst. It was just natural that these little bursts of teasing, taunting, and mood-swings went without saying.

"I'm not going to tell you that!" Sora blushed a crimson shade now, setting his drink down and trying to hide his face in his hands.

"And to make matters even better, little Sora here was issued in the newest edition of my favorite magazine!" Axel proclaimed, shoving a magazine in Roxas direction. Sora tried to intercept, but failed miserably. I liked them better when they were biting each other's heads off… just what happened to make them so … mutual? Sora thought bleakly.

"Riku Karada and local artist Sora Kayaki have what reporters say the hottest new relationship to hit the Big Apple. Apparently the silver-haired celebrity introduced his young lover to the business world…" Roxas trailed off until he got to the end, "… Sora's artwork has captured the eyes of many notable figures. It is a given that the young boy's career will surely take off."

"Um…" Sora looked shyly downward. Was he to feel proud? Embarrassed? Nervous, even?

"They called you guys lovers," Roxas sneered, ignoring all the praise. "My best friend a lover. Oh that's great stuff." The look on Roxas' and Sora's faces were priceless.

"Why do you guys tease me?" Sora pouted, crossing his arms to his chest, trying to make them stop. It wasn't going to work.

"Because it's our job," Axel reassured Sora, patting his shoulder, "besides, if your boyfriend was here we'd keep our mouth shuts."

"Afraid he'd kill ya?" Sora stated immaturely, sticking his tongue out at his newly found friend.

"…I'd be afraid that he'd sue me," Axel snorted in amusement and then looked to Roxas. It was obvious from the man's cat-like eyes that he was hiding his adoration for the blonde. Something must have occurred between the two to keep Axel silent like this about his feelings. What ever it was, Sora was glad for it.

"When's your one month?" Roxas asked, eyebrows arching suggestively.

"Er…" Sora thought for a moment, raising a finger to tap his lips. "I think November 9th."

"A week from tomorrow, then?" Roxas asked.

"I think so," said Sora, shrugging a bit.

"Are you two planning anything special?" Roxas asked in a serious manner.

Sora cocked his head to the side, a light scarlet scattering across his cheeks again. "I'm not sure? He hasn't said anything about it," Sora answered with a faint smile.

"We should throw a party!" Axel suggested, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Seconds afterwards the red-head was in stitches, laughs flying right and left out of his mouth.

"Party?… Anniversary party?" Sora inquired dimly. He hadn't really ever heard of someone throwing a party for their friend's one month anniversary. Then again, one month with someone may be a miracle for Riku Karada.

"Yep! And we'll bring kegs and wine and strippers. Yes, we need those. Unless Roxas here-" Axel began intelligently, a smirk rolling onto his lips. Before he could finish Roxas had whacked the side of his head. Axel winced automatically and rolled his eyes.

"No strippers," Sora answered quickly. After that whole Kairi scenario, he wasn't too keen on anything to do with strippers. Besides … it wasn't like he'd be interested in them. He had Riku and… Sora closed his eyes quickly, banishing the slightly perverted thoughts that were entering his mind.

"Aw, Sora. Strippers make it exciting. Especially when they come out of a cake," Axel sneered.

"Like that's ever happened to you, Mr. I-Live-With-My-Mom," Roxas groaned, crossing his arms. The blonde shifted in his seat, a bit farther from the red-head.

"It will one day!" Axel refuted angrily, obviously having a difficult time with keeping his cool. Sora figured it had to do with Axel's obsession with Roxas. Being forced to hide your love was painful, Sora knew that all too well. Maybe that's why Axel had taken such a liking to his love's best friend? Sora sighed at the thought.

"If we throw a party, within five minutes or less Sora and his boyfriend will be making out and fucking in the bedroom. And all we'll hear over the music is 'Oh, Riku," Roxas teased, wagging his finger over at the brunette.

"Stop it!" Sora complained, a famous pout appearing on his dainty lips.

"We're just joking, Sora," Roxas reassured his friend. He took note of the discomfort on Sora's expression and thus changed the topic. "Axel, did you hear that Demyx is changing the menu again?"

"Really?" Axel arched an eyebrow, uncertain if he believed it or not. "We could stand for a change. How many things is he changing?"

"Just a few," Roxas replied coolly. "He told me there would be more Italian entrees. Supposedly it will bring in more customers and mean more raises for us." Roxas grinned.

"I like Italian food," Sora added in his two-cents, offering a smile towards the two.

"Then ask Karada to bring you down for a dinner-date," Axel explained, a grin plastering itself on his face.

"Er…" Sora giggled a bit nervously and distracted himself with his drink. He'd do anything for me, I know that, but he can't do the simplest thing…

x x x

"Hello, Sora…"

Sora lightly cringed when he heard the familiar voice waft through his ears. Blue eyes widened and then shut tightly. A shudder and then a shiver slipped down Sora's spine, making him feel queasy. His chest clenched. Sure, he had been young, but voices don't change that much. And appearances change, but you can still tell who someone is years after seeing them. Especially when you harbored emotions for them. The spiky brunette bit his bottom lip and cautiously glanced over his shoulder.

"Hi…Cloud…" Sora whispered uncertainly, turning around. Hands laced together in front of Sora as he offered an awkward smile. Apparently Cloud remembered him. Was that a good thing, or a bad?

"It's been awhile," Cloud stated softly, crossing his arms as he walked up to stand beside the brunette. There they were, waiting for the crossing light to turn green. Sora's stomach churned a bit. Why did he always stumble into people at this corner?! Irony, that's what it was.

"It has," Sora agreed and began watching the red and blue and silver cars drive by. Apparently they were more interesting than his long-forgotten heartthrob.

"Leon told me you're working for our publishers now?" Cloud asked curiously, swatting a blonde lock of hair out of his eyes.

"Yeah," Sora answered in a quiet voice. "I'm doing the artwork for a few of their books for four years, I think. Mostly for Riku's, though…" It was odd. Every time he said his boyfriend name he felt the need to see him. But of course, Riku was at a meeting down at the office.

"That's good," Cloud stated simply. "I'm one of their photographers and spokesperson for them. You know, advertising and all that jazz," Cloud explained, watching the cars as well. "That's how I met Leon and Riku. Through the company."

"Everyone works for them…" Sora noted, still refusing to make eye-contact.

"Tell me about it," a somewhat awkward laugh followed that uneasy statement. "I was surprised that one of my old friends was part of it…"

Friends?… We were really never friends … "Ironic," Sora agreed with a sheepish smile.

"Not to invade your privacy, but I heard that you and Riku are dating?" Cloud asked.

"Mhm…" Sora trailed off, shoving his hands into his pockets. Why do people keep asking me that? We've been dating for almost a month! Is it so hard to believe that we're dating? Maybe it is … "Almost a month now…"

"That's good," Cloud commented with a sharp nod.

"Hey, Cloud?…" Sora asked after a moment of awkward silence. He finally willed his eyes to wander and rest on the taller blonde. Their eyes met briefly and Sora flinched. Even after countless years he still felt a tinge of pain hit his heart. It was nothing compared to what he had felt when Riku had told him he didn't want love, but it still hurt.

"Yeah?" Cloud asked, tilting his head an inch to the right.

"Do you think we could start over?…"

There was no need to state that they both had been immature when they were younger. There was no need to bring up past, painful memories. Understanding was suddenly in both their eyes. Sora was willing to extend his hand and heart and mend what had been broken. Friends. Friends and fellow employees. No explanation needed, on either of their parts.

A smile. "Of course we can, Sora."

x x x

Riku wasn't sure why he had lied to Sora. He wasn't even sure why he was doing this. He only started having second thoughts when his hand made contact with the front door. His knuckle banged against it and the sound dragged him into the realm of reality. He cringed a bit as he looked to the right, waiting for an answer. Lips parted, as if about to say something. But no, he didn't say anything. He just stood there in silence and solitude.

His breath hitched when the door opened. That was when he stopped breathing.

"Riku Karada… what do I owe this honor to?"

"…Hello, Taranda," Riku murmured, eyes lifting off the ground and onto the brunette. He gave the other a mustered sympathetic look as his knuckles clenched by his side due to nerves. Something stung in his chest as he stared at the woman.

"Considering you're giving me that look…" Taranda began, a frown falling onto her lips, "and considering my son isn't with you … this doesn't have anything to do about Sora, does it?…"

"Not at all…" Riku answered, trailing off. Aquamarine eyes flickered upwards, feeling her judging gaze upon him. He just hoped that the years the woman had known him would make up for his fake identity in the eyes of the media. Truth be told, Anayo knew Riku better than Taranda did.

"Come in," Taranda motioned into the house. Riku nodded and gratefully entered. The familiar scent filled his senses and he felt like a complete moron for not having realized or remembered. Eyes swarmed around the area before they rested on the woman who was leaning against the nearest wall.

"Is this about my daughter?…" Taranda asked, her voice mellow and quiet. Broken, maybe.

"I suppose…" Riku answered honestly. "I wanted to know a few things."

"Which are?"

"Did she…. Really die in a car crash?" Riku felt horrible for bringing up the past. Horrible for asking about the details. Horrible for asking about how she died. He winced, eying the floor. It had been love, yes. But it was different than what he held for Sora, and that confused him. Were there … different types of love?

"Yes," Taranda answered emotionlessly. "She was with her friends."

"Yeah… Sora told me that," Riku kept his gaze glued to the floor, a bit ashamed to meet the other's.

"You were her first boyfriend," Taranda began, amazingly not crying. "And I assume you and Sora…"

"Yeah…" Riku answered with a half-hearted nod.

"I don't think that's good for him," she made known in a mutter.

"What?" Riku suddenly snapped his gaze up to meet his boyfriend's mother's.

"Sora isn't the … brightest boy when it comes to things. He over thinks things. He lets the smallest things bother him. I love him, but I worry about what he may think if you're dating him after having dated his sister," Taranda explained, showing her obvious concern.

"He isn't a replacement! I … I didn't know when I met him!" I didn't know a lot of things when I met Sora… I didn't know that I'd …

"It's much easier to lie, Riku," Taranda commented, a frown appearing on her features. "I don't want Sora to get hurt. But the way you treated her…" her eyes flickered downwards, as if remembering, "I trust you not to hurt him."

"He's going to be real famous soon," Riku stated blandly. "Fame changes a lot of people. I know that first-hand," they both nodded a bit sadly, "and I don't know what's in the future. One of these days he might get tired of me and my insecurities and he'll just move on. Because one day he'll realize he can have practically anyone and I'm not what he deserves…"

"Don't talk down about yourself," Taranda argued, trying to cheer the author up. "I saw the look on his face when you're near him. I've never seen him that happy."

"Love isn't eternal…" he murmured, emerald hues staring at the floor, as if observing his own tattered heart.

"No, Riku. Life isn't eternal," the words stung both of them, "but love is." A pause and then, "Besides, Sora wouldn't throw away a relationship like that. He's not like that."

"I know…" Riku bit his bottom lip. "It's just so much has happened in these past few weeks that I'm afraid what he thought I was won't stand up to what I really am. You know?"

"Don't worry so much," she tried to reassure him, walking over and placing a hand on his shoulder. Her blue eyes looked sympathetically at the author. "Life's too short to waste it on worry."

"That it is…"

x x x

"What're you painting?"

Riku loomed over Sora's shoulder, crystalline eyes glimpsing at the canvas. Beautiful colors blended together and contrasted wonderfully. His writing paled in comparison to the art his boyfriend was producing. Pictures could take your breath-away, words couldn't. At least that's what Riku figured. The skill you lack always seems so much more appealing than the one you possess, after all. Authors envy artists and artists envy authors. Even if it's just subtly. You always want what you don't have - it's human.

"The ocean," Sora replied with a smile, his paintbrush dancing across the canvas, painting the horizon. Blue eyes were consumed in the picture. "The publishers said that they're gonna open a gallery for my art on Ninth street!" Sora declared, still not looking at Riku.

"That's great," said Riku, a warm smile covering his face.

"I know! Not only do I get to do illustrations but I get to open my own gallery!" Sora excitedly answered, continuing to blend the colors together. Hues of green and blue met, forming a color almost identical to that of Riku's eyes. Sora liked that. It was a calming and alluring shade. Yeah, it was gorgeous.

"Your career is really taking off," Riku began, his chin resting on his boyfriend's shoulder. "Soon the media will start chasing you as much as me." He smirked after that.

"You think?" Sora questioned, a light blush on his face as he continued.

"Of course. Especially when you're so damn cute," Riku teased, tilting his head to the right so it was resting against the other's. He could hear Sora's even breathing. It calmed him.

"S-stop that," Sora stammered. "Guys aren't supposed to be cute."

"But you are," Riku refuted intelligently.

"Oh quit it," Sora pouted, mixing that blue-green color with a bit of darker blue for the next tier. "Don't you have something more productive to do then to tease me?" Sora's voice remained pouty and downright adorable. "I'm trying to my job after all."

"I'll make dinner then," Riku grumbled, lifting his chin off Sora's shoulder. He departed from the brunette's side and headed towards the kitchen, wondering why his boyfriend wasn't taking advantage of the gallery Xemnas had provided.

"You're cooking?" That was all it took for Sora to cease his brushstrokes and glance over his shoulder at the silver-haired male.

"I believe that is what I said, yes," Riku answered, placing a hand femininely on his hip, lips curling into a smirk.

"I didn't know you cooked. Heh. What are you making?" Sora asked, a smile once again on his lips.

"Don't really know. How does … fettuccini sound?" he asked.

"Okay!" Sora grinned and resumed his artwork jubilantly.

x x x

"Er…Riku?"

Sora felt a bead of sweat appear on his forehead as Riku poured his sixth glass of wine. "Don't you think that maybe you should … stop? I.." Sora began apprehensively, still on his first. He was planning on getting water after he finished his glass. There was no way he was getting drunk again. Especially on a full-stomach. Sora groaned at the idea and watched Riku continuing pouring, not phased whatsoever.

"I'll be fine," Riku murmured, taking a long sip. His words were slurring just a bit as he finished his meal seconds later.

"How strong is this stuff anyhow?" Sora asked curiously, holding his glass cautiously up into the air. It felt nice eating at home. Especially when Riku made it. The silver-haired author wasn't the best chef but he still was pretty damn good, in Sora's opinion. He wondered why Riku had never offered to cook before. He shrugged off that thought. There were more pressing matters.

"Pretty strong…" Riku answered when he realized Sora had asked a question. Hazy blue-green eyes stared back at Sora.

"At least you're home so you won't do anything stupid," Sora muttered to himself. He didn't want to know what Riku Karada would do in public when he was intoxicated.

"I'm not going to get drunk," Riku commented, pouring his seventh - already?

"Riku, seriously, stop it," Sora demanded, his eyebrows knitting in frustration. He wasn't sure what was the safe amount of alcohol that could be in someone's body without getting poisoned. "Stop drinking it and come and sit with me on the couch. We'll do the dishes later," Sora suggested, arising from the comfy kitchen chair.

"I suppose…" Riku replied.

Sora sighed in relief but paled when his boyfriend snagged his glass of wine and the bottle and followed Sora. A groan slipped Sora's small lips as he collapsed onto the couch. By the time they got to the couch Riku had already finished his seventh.

"Give me that!" Sora insisted, trying to snatch the glass.

"I'll be … fine," Riku murmured, shakily pouring another.

"No," Sora pouted and snagged the glass and bottle away. He placed them neatly on the table in front of them. Riku eyed them and then shrugged, the alcohol slowly entering his vein.

It was a slight rush, if you will. The silver-haired male blinked and then rose his hand to his head, feeling like his body was losing pounds and that he was entering a dream-like state. Eyes sought out Sora's form and looked helplessly at him.

"Riku…" Sora sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I'm ..fine," Riku slurred and waved his hand to dismiss the details. "Let's just…talk."

"Okay," Sora replied uncertainly. "I went to see Roxas and Axel today. Apparently they want to throw us a one month party," Sora explained blushing lightly at the thought. "I think it's really sweet of them! Especially seeing they're getting along now! I don't know how that's possible, but I'm glad it happened! I hope they invite Demyx. Wait, why wouldn't they?" Sora continued rambling on.

"Is that so?…" Riku barely caught any of that. It wasn't because Sora was talking too fast, it was because his mind was fogging.

"I'm so glad that everything's finally working! You know? Like, my career, all my friendships and all that stuff! Things haven't gone this smoothly for awhile," Sora continued, more so to himself.

"Oh…" Riku's eyes couldn't help but linger on Sora's appealing lips.

"I still have to check in with Zexion about the rent on my apartment and see if that's paid off! And then I can sell it and I can move in with you permanently! Er, if that's okay with you, that is!" Sora blurted out quickly, looking to his right for an answer.

"Sure…" Riku wasn't quite sure what he was agreeing to. Oh well.

"Thanks!" Sora exclaimed happily. "I'm just so .. ecstatic. I don't know why. It feels nice," Sora said as he looked at Riku with a bright smile. Dinner with Riku, lunch with his friends, a party in a week for his one month with Riku… things were going great.

"Sora?…" Riku whispered.

"Hm?" Sora asked, having completely forgotten that Riku was falling into the realms of intoxication. It was only when he caught sight of that lusty look in his boyfriend's eyes that he realized and remembered the situation. "Um…"

Riku pulled Sora closer to his body. His arms tangled around Sora's middle as the author nuzzled his face against Sora's neck. A gentle gasp slid from Sora's lips as his eyes briefly lidded. The silver-haired author smirked somewhat drunkenly against Sora's neck, placing a delicate kiss there before nuzzling the spot.

"Riku.." Sora warned, a shudder flying up and down his spine.

"I want you right now," Riku made known bluntly.

The words sent shudders throughout Sora's body. His eyes widened as he felt his heart beat increase once Riku's lips began to trail slowly down his neck and towards his shoulder. A mew of want escaped Sora's lips before he flinched. "Riku…. Not when you're drunk…"

"I'm not that drunk," Riku sighed, lips sloppily (obviously a drunk side-effect) trailing up and down the pale columns.

"Drunk enough to forget things," Sora mewed, eyes shutting as he tried to keep his cool. "Ngh… we can … tomorrow. Ok..ay?"

Arms tightened around Sora's middle. He was a bit alarmed when the sloppy kisses ended and were replaced by sporadic, chaste kisses. They lead upwards, finishing at his cheek. Riku allowed his own lips to linger there.

"Ri-" Sora began, uncertain if Riku was okay.

"I love you."

Sora suddenly felt his heart stop. His breathing then became frantic as the words slipped into his mind. His body trembled as he felt tears for no apparent reason prickling in the corner of his eyes. His heart skipped another beat as the brunette closed his eyes, refusing to cry. "W-what did you say?…" Maybe he heard Riku wrong.

"I love you, Sora…" Riku answered simply, eyes slipping shut as he nuzzled his head against Sora's neck. All his uncertainties and worries left him when he took the first sip of wine. Now the words didn't seem so hard.

No… Riku didn't just … say that when he was … drunk… Sora winced at the thought. Wait. He needed to stop thinking pessimistically. Riku said the three words. He said them regardless. That must mean he feels that way. A light smile appeared on Sora's face.

"Riku, I…"

"I love you so much that it drives me insane and I can't even think when you're not there," Riku slurred the words together. He was suddenly an open book. A quiet, slurring book. "Mm…But I don't mind…"

"Riku…" Sora shifted, a few tears falling from his eyes. He shifted a bit so that their foreheads were resting against one another. He felt safe with Riku's arms wrapped around him. "Are you going to remember this?…"

"How could I possibly forget loving you?…" The quite poetic and yet heartfelt words were spoken.

Sora made him feel different. Things had been set in stone the moment they met. Sora made him change. No, not change. Sora didn't do that. Sora made his mask slip away and allowed him to fall back into his old self - the one that had once loved someone.

"iloveyouRiku," Sora slurred quickly, tears falling from his eyes as his nose brushed lightly against his boyfriend's. I love you so much that my hearts bleeds because of it… I need you in my life so badly… Is that a bad thing?

"Tomorrow…" Riku began, eyes drooping.

"Tomorrow?" Sora asked curiously, eyes opening as he glanced wearily at Riku.

"Tomorrow …" a yawn, and then Riku stopped talking all together. The author had somehow fallen asleep, sitting straight up. Lack of sleep. It was obvious that the other had sleep deprivation from staying up trying to sort out his confusing heart. Sora sighed and ran a hand through Riku's hair, uncertain what Riku was getting at. Perhaps he meant they would continue their conversation tomorrow? Yeah…

"Please remember this," Sora murmured.

Most of the loose ends are tying up..
I think it's ending soon … yeah, two more chapters.
and if anyone spots any plotholes, please mention them in the review.
just so i make sure to explain them ;D
Leave a review please.