Ikurx
By MathiaSweetSlaughterArkoniel
Rating: PG - 13
Warnings: Language, violence, romance
Pairings: Riku x Sora, Axel x Roxas
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and characters belong to Square Enix and Disney
Summary: After the defeat of Organization XIII, Sora and Riku find happiness in the simplicity of a normal life. A year later King Mickey sends a summons that the fight with the Organization isn't truly done yet. Light. Dark. As long as either exists the battle is never over.
Chapter 37
In the darkness of a broken down city two figures continued to cling as tight as they were allowed after what seemed like hours of stress on their entire bodies. After the questions over what to do about the two stray Nobodies had been asked Riku would have no other worries coming from Sora and silenced him by keeping the other teen as near as he could. It didn't matter that they were still alone in an old abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. They were together and okay again, that's all that mattered to the both of them.
After a while Sora had dozed off against Riku's chest as was obvious by the way his hold had grown so slack around the other's waist. He hadn't had a decent sleep in a while and found it so easy to just wind down and fall fast asleep as he was in Riku's arms. Even if there were so many other important things to worry about, his body just wouldn't allow it without some type of rest.
Riku leaned heavily on the wall he'd dragged them to. His eyes had started to fall shut, lowering little by little. It seemed inevitable that his body felt the same as Sora's in matters of sleep. If Riku wasn't going to sleep when he should then it was going to make him. The stress of what he'd done on his own heart, he shouldn't have been conscious at all. But with Sora whole again Riku had found his energy to keep going in the one that mattered most.
But now with Sora sleeping there wasn't anything now to keep Riku going. Sora's slow sound breaths were lulling, helping Riku drift off as well when he had no energy left to fight it.
The memory of when he'd visited Sora while the boy slept outside fell into his mind. He remembered how sleepy Sora was, so much to the point he believed Riku when he told him they were still on Destiny Island. He'd confessed so much to Sora, and yet some how they'd still managed to fall on the silly topic of weddings and braiding hair. That was Sora for him. Innocence to a fault.
Riku cuddled Sora just that much closer, Sora's words spoken back then flitting through his mind; stay with me until I fall asleep, Riku. Riku rested his cheek on Sora's head. "I will," the whispered words left him. And with an exhausted breath, Riku let himself drift off to sleep for the moment.
The two teens were undisturbed and left for a much needed rest on both their parts for a good long while, but the peaceful moment would be short lived. A certain individual that had broken away from the group long ago would finally find them once again after feeling the darkness that had been forced from the abandoned building.
The door to the building had been pried open much further so not only one, but two people could make their way further in and lay their eyes on the scene. One look at the smaller figure huddled up to Riku gave the wrong impression of what happened, but the thought wasn't voiced out loud just yet. Instead, ears dropped low at the thought of having to wake the two teens much like before. It was upsetting, but it had to be done. A keyblade was banished, having been out after such a long fight, and the hand which had held it reached out to shake both teenagers awake.
Riku's hand slapped Mickey's on defensive instinct, his eyes snapped open but he gawked when he saw who it actually was who woke him. "M-Mickey?" He stared at the mouse as if he were seeing a ghost. He'd nearly forgotten Mickey's existence with everything that had gone on. It felt like a life time since he'd seen Mickey's face. Riku's brows furrowed, caught between several emotions that wanted to take him. "W-where have you been?" He sat up more, disturbing Sora against him. "We needed you!" All that happened, it might have gone so much better had he his close friend Mickey there to keep him grounded; Mickey's light had often been the beacon that helped Riku find his way in his own darkness.
Sora had easily been disturbed between Riku's movements and his words. He moved both arms away from the other boy and raised a hand up to wipe under both of his eyes as he tried to get rid of the groggy feeling that still had a hold of him. "Riku?" His friend's name came out in a curious tone until he turned his head to look at what had the other's attention. "Mickey! What happened? Where were you?!" His eyes had widened as soon as they caught sight of the mouse and his tired tone disappeared.
Mickey looked back and forth between the two boys as he was asked question after question. He couldn't help shaking his hand which had been slapped away, but it didn't hurt too much. "It seems Axel and Roxas weren't the only ones that were in this city." He placed his hands behind his back while he kept his eyes on the two. "I was led to one of the other Organization members who turned this city into what it is now while the two of you ran in here."
Riku was taken aback. "Another Organization member?" He shook his head, lost. "Who?"
"Saïx," another voice spoke up behind Mickey, soft and feminine. It had the hairs on the back of Riku's neck standing on end. "He's the one that did all of this." The blonde girl stepped forward, her hands clasped together, she looked sadly at either of the boys on the floor.
"... Naminé." Riku began to pale, staring at the Nobody girl. He suddenly felt very small. He then became very aware of Sora's touch, the smaller boy still on his lap, so close against him. It left him feeling uncomfortable and guilty, as if it were wrong to touch or be near Sora at all. Sora had been the reason for her end; she had loved him. It felt like being caught in a guilty crime of bastardizing her memory by Kairi's very ghost.
Sora's eyes widened further at the face he saw connected with that one voice. He didn't think he would be able to speak up much like Riku had, but if he could he was sure he would only echo the girl's name much the same. Sora didn't seem to notice the worry that played out on Riku's face and kept right where he was on the other teen's lap. It was the clearing of a throat from Mickey which had him snapping his head back over so he could stare at the mouse instead.
"It was Naminé that led me to him. She knew about everything that has been going on in this city for a good while now and was able to take me to Saïx." Mickey gave a quick glance to the girl before he looked back at Riku and Sora. "He was in pretty bad shape, but for good reason."
Sora could only nod his head numbly to everything that was said. He still couldn't get over the fact that Kairi's Nobody was standing in the same room with them. If that was the case then maybe there was a small bit of hope for Kairi. He couldn't help voicing it out loud as he looked back at Naminé with hopeful eyes. "What about Kairi? What happened to her? How did you get free?" The questions came tumbling out as soon as he found his the will to speak.
Riku cut off Naminé. "A Nobody is created when a strong willed person turns into a Heartless." He turned his gaze away, unable to bare the sight of Naminé; she was living proof of the cold murder he'd done. "You know that, Sora." Riku pushed Sora off his lap; the guilt was just too much. "K-Kairi's… she became a Heartless." He pushed himself up to stand, walking away a few steps.
Naminé watched Riku sadly before she looked back to Sora. "Riku's right... When Kairi changed I -I was just me again. I woke up somewhere else, some how I ended up here. I ran into Roxas, he- he has a heart. A real heart." She was truly bewildered at that. "He wasn't just a Nobody anymore. Saïx was after him. It was Kairi's tie to you Sora that I was able to direct him to safety." She slowly shook her head. "So much has seemed to have gone wrong. I'm so sorry, Sora."
"And what about Roxas?" Mickey had taken to looking around the broken down building while words were spoken among the teenagers so he could get a feel for what happened. The mention of the other Nobody had caught his attention and he couldn't help voicing his own thoughts. "You're no longer a Heartless, Sora. Which means things must have been fixed between you and Roxas." He turned his gaze back on Sora after he finished speaking.
Sora turned his attention on Mickey from where he was now kneeling on the floor since Riku had left. The surprised look left his face and only a sad expression took its place. He didn't exactly know how to explain things, but he tried his best. "Not really. Roxas is still gone and Axel too. We let them go." After those words he got up off the floor and walked over to Riku, wanting to be near him after everything that happened and feeling an even bigger need then ever before to never leave his side.
Naminé chewed her lip but eventually turned to walk over to Sora. She reached out and took the boy's hand in hers, squeezing it with concern. "What happened between you and Roxas that put such a rift between you?"
Riku watched with a cool expression, trying his best not to make Sora and Naminé's touching hands the focus of his gaze; but it was something he couldn't tear his eyes away from. Jealousy and shame mingled together in what heart he had left. "Roxas loves Axel," Riku stated plainly before he forced himself to look away.
Sora didn't seem to think anything about the fact Naminé had taken hold of his hand. Still, he could almost feel Riku's gaze watching carefully, and the way the other teen had spoken the words had him giving the girl another sad smile before he pulled his fingers back from her grip. "It's true. Roxas wants his own life away from me. He wants his own identity. He doesn't think he can be loved this way." He dropped his gaze away from Naminé. It was easy to tell that such a thing still upset him as well.
Mickey narrowed his eyes at hearing such a thing. He still didn't understand the situation very well as he looked back and forth between Sora and Riku. If Roxas was still torn away from Sora then the worst should still be in effect, but Sora seemed to be his usual self. "If Sora was never able to rejoin with Roxas, then how did he escape the Darkness?" He voiced his exact thoughts, hoping to get an answer from either of the two.
Riku tensed up on the question but he didn't answer. He wasn't sure what Mickey would think on the stunt he pulled to heal Sora's heart. The least thing he needed at that moment was another speech about what more he couldn't and shouldn't.
"... I'm sorry, Naminé," Riku spoke up, changing the conversation for the moment. "I know that won't make up for what I've done in the least, but I am so very sorry. Kairi was my friend too. Her heart betrayed Sora's, and mine betrayed them both." His head hung low as his fists tightened.
Naminé shook her head. "It was a tragedy, yes, but... Vexen knew everything all of you felt, and planned the worst to happen." She walked over to Riku and rested a hand over his heart. Under her palm she noticed something strange, there was something different, a change she could feel through Sora's heart about Riku's own. Still Naminé managed to smile just a little. "I forgive you, Riku, if only because I've felt the love Kairi has for you, and Sora." She glanced at Sora before she looked back up at Riku. "Both of your friendships meant everything. I know that she wouldn't want you to feel guilty about what happened now that she's gone. It was just as much her fault." Naminé retracted her hand, drawing it back to her own chest. "Ansem the wise wasn't lying when he said that hearts are unpredictable. So please, find it in your heart to forgive yourself Riku, and, please, Kairi too."
Riku opened his mouth and then closed it, glancing aside. He didn't know what to say to all of that. It was like hearing the words from Kairi herself, yet it wasn't Kairi. It had Riku backing up until his back hit the wall to lean against. It was a bit too much to bare all in the span of one day. Riku found himself looking to Sora. Sora, who had the good nature to forgive anyone without second thought; especially Riku. All of it left Riku feeling a little more than dazed.
Sora's eyes were quick to lock with Riku's own as soon as he could feel the other's attention on him. He tried his best to smile, anything to help Riku feel better. He walked over with concern in his eyes and stopped in front of his friend, taking the other boy's hands in his own and keeping them held tightly while he started to speak up again. "She's right, Riku. There's no reason to continue feeling guilty about something if you've already been forgiven." He squeezed their hands together and smiled a little more. "Stop beating yourself up over it. Besides, Ikurx said he could probably help us, and bring Kairi back to us, remember?"
Mickey's ears perked up at that. The name Sora had just spoken was unfamiliar, but for some reason he had a sinking feeling he should know, and it made things even more confusing. It was true that he had found Naminé in the city, but the girl had yet to tell him very much, considering the Heartless problem. He was still learning what was going on as the teenagers spoke. "Ikurx?" He looked over at Naminé for a brief moment before he looked back at Sora and Riku, searching for answers for anyone that was willing to give them.
Sora seemed to realize his slip up because at that very moment he flinched and quickly turned around, letting go of Riku's hands in the process to scratch at his head. "Uh, yeah, Ikurx." He glanced around the room they were in as he racked his brain for some kind of explanation for the Nobody that would make the most sense. "He's... uh... a person." It sounded better in his head.
Riku groaned at Sora's quick wits. "Brilliant, Sora." Though some how Sora's horrible explanation had lightened the mood, at least it had for Riku. He stepped forward and ruffled Sora's hair. "I can definitely see why the universe is so safe with you on the job."
Naminé blinked, smiling she covered her mouth with a hand to stifle a giggle. Sora and Riku, they really were quite the pair.
Sora squinted an eye as his hair was ruffled. "Yeah, well it's not really far from the truth." He shook his head once Riku removed his hand and ran his own through each spike on top to straighten it again even though the action wasn't needed. "I'd like to see you try and explain things better then that." He dropped his hand and grinned up at Riku. "At least I'm quick enough to think of something."
Mickey shook his head. "Well, someone better explain something and a little more detailed then that, please." Despite his words he couldn't help smiling as well. It was a nice change to see some semblance of humor around the room after everything that had happened to the two teenagers thus far.
Riku let out a slow cleansing breath, centering his mind, readying himself for the words he was going to speak next. "Ikurx is... my Nobody." He glanced from one stunned face to the next. "It's a long story. A very long story, so let me simplify it: He's a Nobody who holds power of the light, the ability to make hearts whole; Heartless, Nobodies- he can make them into Somebodies. The Organization knew of his existence from the start. He's a fail safe if their Nobodies weren't to succeed. All of them are racing to desperately find him to become whole." Riku looked to Sora. "... We found him here, along with Roxas, Axel and Demyx." His gaze fell to the floor. "It was Ikurx that split Sora's heart in two, giving Roxas his new heart that he has now."
There was silence in the room after the explanation for what felt like an eternity. No one dared breathe after the truth had finally been spoken and it seemed that Mickey couldn't keep the shocked look off of his face. Finally after several moments he began to shake his head back and forth as he held his hands up to place them across his eyes. "Oh no... oh no..." He continued to mutter the small mantra under his breath for a few seconds until he dropped his hands to look back at Riku and Sora once more. "This is very dangerous. That power of his could very well be our downfall if the Organization is successful." He continued to stare at the two until he turned his complete attention on Sora. "W-Why would he willingly split you in two? He knew who you were, right?"
Sora jumped a little, startled at the sudden question. The smile had been wiped off his face long ago. He nervously rubbed at his arm as he tried to come up with an answer to the question. "I don't really know. I mean, he seemed to know who I was while we were all here, but I'm not sure about while I was being split apart from Roxas. That part of my memory is still fuzzy to begin with. I hardly remember anything at that time because of Roxas." He chanced a nervous look up at Riku.
Riku gave a weak shrug. Mickey's reaction had done little to assure him. "There are plenty of complications to go with this." He let out a sigh that sounded far more aged than he was. After all he'd been through, he felt more like an aged man than any teenager he should be. "But... what I can tell you, is that every time the Nobody uses his power there's this bright sort of energy, I'm sure you've sensed it. Well, unfortunately so does the other Organization Heartless. They go running towards that light to fight amongst themselves to retrieve the 'fail safe'." Riku shut his eyes, his shoulders lowering tiredly with the weight of the problem resting heavily upon them. "I've seen Saïx, even Marluxia, and Larxene." Mickey was right, his very Nobody could be their downfall, the Organization's winning piece. His hand lifted to rest over his own heart; his Nobody, his fault.
Sora moved to grab Riku's free hand and ran his thumb across the palm to try and sooth his friend as best he could. At the same time he turned his attention back on Mickey and tried his best to be optimistic while everyone else poured out their fears. "It's not that big of a deal though, right? I mean, you said you went and fought Saïx which means that's one down and we don't really have to worry all that much about Axel. Wherever Roxas is then that's where he is. We'll just worry about him when the time comes again. It's not that big a deal guys..." He trailed off at the frown on Mickey's face. "What?"
Mickey shook his head at the question before he stilled and tried to think of how to phrase his words carefully. "We did find Saïx and tried our best to finish him off. Whatever had happened to him before hand gave us a very good shot at defeating him, but we could tell something was wrong over here. We sensed the Darkness, much more powerful then before, and while we were distracted he got the upper hand and was able to escape." With careful steps Mickey finally walked over to the two teenagers, but only stopped when he was in front of Sora.
With one hand Mickey tugged rather hard on the younger boy's scarf which only caused what little hold it had left around his neck to finally give and make it fall away. The dark collar that had been given long ago back on the beach was even more visible on tanned skinned and even more vicious looking then before. "He told us that the Keyblade Master was still collared." With those last words Mickey looked up at the two teens with sorrowful eyes.
Sora's free hand immediately flew up to his neck, but he didn't dare touch the collar. He was too afraid to even attempt it. It was the brief flash of memory of doing such a thing before and the consequences that came with it which had his fingers stopping just inches from the dangerous piece. It still didn't keep his hand from shaking before he turned wide eyes on Riku and let out a distressed sound.
"S-Sora." Riku stared with wide eyes at the collar. Why he hadn't noticed it before, he didn't know. Perhaps they all had been caught up in themselves to see it. The dark collar hadn't been wholly visible on Sora's previously black skin, the darkness always drifting from him in twitching coils.
Riku took Sora by the shoulders, tugging him nearer to get a closer look at the terrible thing. He tentatively raised a hand, keeping his fingers and palm inches from it. "S-Saïx did this?" The collar reeked of the Heartless' dark power. Riku tensed his fingers, trying to manipulate the dark collar to force it away. He didn't trust what it could do, so he didn't force it, he didn't want to harm Sora if the attempt back fired.
Sora kept perfectly still as Riku tried to will the collar away from his neck, but it seemed to be doing no good. If anything he could feel it trying to tighten itself and in an instant Sora started to panic and his hands shot up to grip Riku's arms as tight as he could. "Stop! Riku, stop it!" He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. "It won't come off. It's only getting worse."
Mickey watched with worried eyes while he continued to keep a hold of Sora's scarf in his hands. There seemed to be no solution to the sudden brand that Saïx had on Sora. Until they could figure out a way to get the dangerous piece of darkness away from the teen then Saïx had the upper hand at the moment. It was just one more thing to add to the list of worries.
Riku's brows furrowed, he frowned at Sora's tight hold on his arm. He tried something as simplistic as touching the collar, but that caused it to tighten as well. Riku quickly pulled his hand away, resting it back on Sora's shoulder. "... Sorry." He hung his head, resting it a little on Sora's. It never seemed to fail; one problem was solved only to have a whole new more complicated one arise.
Naminé had been watching with a sad expression. She felt bad for her Somebody's two closest friends. Still, she refused to let their moods sink lower. "Don't worry, we'll think of something. You always do." She smiled a little. "It's just a collar. It could be worse, I'm sure." She raised a knuckle to her lips in thought. "Maybe it could be cut off? I doubt it can be indestructible."
Sora moved his gaze towards Naminé after the girl's sudden suggestion. He couldn't recall having tried anything to actually destroy the device that seemed to have gotten much tighter around his neck over the span of a few seconds. "I don't know..." He looked back at Riku with a worried expression while he kept their heads close. It was easy to tell he was scared over the entire situation.
"It's worth a shot." Mickey spoke up to try and help reassure the two distressed teens. "It will do no good for Sora to basically be held captive in such a way by Saïx. If we can find some way to destroy the collar then Saïx has no hold over him any longer. Pulling it off obviously isn't working. Maybe cutting it will?" He turned his gaze to Riku only.
Riku could feel all eyes on himself, but he kept his gaze on Sora. He gave Sora's shoulders a squeeze, trying to assure him in some way. "I can cut with precision with Way to Dusk, but... I won't do anything you're not sure about." He touched Sora's cheek, trying to ignore the uncomfortable pang that came from his stomach at even the smallest of affections under Naminé's gaze. "It's up to you, Sora."
Sora seemed to settle down a little at those words and the small touch. Riku wouldn't let anything happen to him and he could count on the other teen to try his best at getting the collar off if it was at all possible. He was scared, but he still had a large amount of faith in his friend. "Do it." The words came out easily as he continued to stare into Riku's own eyes. "Cut it off."
Riku gave a small nod against Sora's head. "Alright." He took Sora's wrist to lead the boy as he walked. "It's best if we do it outside. In private." He glanced at the others before he left the room to head outside. Once his boots hit pavement Riku gave the scenery a quick glance. There was no one residing on the planet save for minor Heartless; they would pose no problem, hidden away from the new comers.
Riku turned to face Sora once he stood in a decided spot. He took Sora's shoulders in either hand, positioning the boy. "Please, stay absolutely still." He tilted Sora's head back so that the collar could be best seen on his throat. "Head back. Don't be nervous, trust me, I won't hurt you." Without anyone there Riku was free to place a quick kiss to Sora's bare throat. "I'll do my best."
Sora kept his head right where Riku had pushed it to and followed the other teen's orders exactly as spoken. His even breaths were the only thing that moved his body along with the quiet words he spoke. "I know you will, Riku. I'm not nervous..." And he meant it even as he closed his eyes instead of staring at the darkness of the city's sky.
Riku let go of Sora, stepping back a few feet. He summoned Way to Dusk, twirling it in his hand as he ran his eyes over the collar. He let out a slow careful breath, pushing away all worried thoughts from his mind. Gathering focus, Riku raised his weapon. With quick precise movement Riku moved forward and sliced the collar diagonal. Anything else would have been cut away at such a powerful hit, but the collar remained unscathed on Sora's neck. Riku stared confused but then his eyes grew wide around; the collar began to tighten without mercy.
Sora's head fell forward as he felt the air start to be stolen away from him. His own eyes had widened just as much as Riku's but with his frightened expression came small gasps for breath that were doing no good at all. "R-R-Riku!" Amidst it all he was able to strain out the other's name while his hands flew to the collar. All his cares about touching it were erased from his mind as his fright over what it was doing to him had suddenly come back into play and he tried to yank it off only to make the situation worse.
"Damnit!" Riku threw his keyblade away; it disappeared on touching the ground. He latched onto Sora's hands, yanking them away from the collar. "Don't touch it!" He tried to keep Sora's hands down so he wouldn't try to desperately yank at it. "Relax, please- relax, Sora. Just leave it and it'll loosen." Or so Riku prayed it would. He squeezed Sora's hands. "Just keep calm, just keep still, and it'll loosen again."
Sora continued to gasp for breath around the tight hold that the collar kept around his neck, but he didn't dare struggle against Riku. Amidst everything he had heard the other's desperate words and tried his best to obey them. It was hard when he felt as if the world was blurring in front of his eyes and all he wanted to do was panic, but he managed to slowly keep calm.
With no more attempts at trying to be rid of it the collar soon started to return to its normal size around Sora's neck much as Riku had hoped. Especially with how still the teen had slowly become over time. As soon as the tight hold was gone Sora took in as much air as he could, coughing and gasping for breath as he held on tightly to Riku's hands. His whole body shook from his actions as well as the scare he just had and he nearly fell into Riku without really noticing.
Riku let go of Sora's hands to take the boy into his arms, letting him rest against him to catch his breath. "Cutting it obviously doesn't work. Tampering it in any way only makes it tighten, it doesn't matter what." He rubbed Sora's back, trying to help him regain his breath and sooth the coughs. "The only way we're going to get it off is defeating Saïx."
The hand on his back helped Sora settle down little by little as his breathing started to even out. Over time he had unconsciously started to cling to the front of Riku's cloak, but even when he realized it he refused to let go. "How will we do that?" The question came out in a hoarse tone after what had just happened. "Mickey said that they saw him, but we don't know where he is, do we?"
Riku shook his head and rested it down on Sora's as he continued to rub Sora's back. "There's just so much to be done... it's hard to figure out which problem we should tackle first." He let out a tired sigh, wishing he'd gotten longer than just a few minutes sleep before Mickey had found them. "But I suppose that decision is yours, Keyblade Master." He smirked just a little, finally slipping his arms around Sora since his coughs had finally subsided and they were alone. "Whatever you decide, I'll follow, to the ends of the world and further."
Sora managed his own small smile at such words and buried himself further against Riku's chest as the taller boy held him close. He tried to think over their options and it wasn't hard for him to put his own problems aside over the safety of everyone else. The most important thing in all the worlds was to not let any of the Organization get what they desired, but in order to do that they either had to do one of two things and it was this which Sora finally voiced out loud. "Our main goal was to defeat the Heartless, but I think things have changed more then a little. I think our safest route would just be to keep an eye on Ikurx and keep him away from the Organization." He pulled his head back finally to look up at Riku. "He's what they're after and whether he wants to join with you or not we still need to keep him away from them."
Riku nodded in agreement. "Find him." He brushed Sora's hair from his cheek, tucking a bit behind his ear. "Keep him safe. Though I doubt he'll be very happy to see me. I doubt he'll want me near. Maybe we should all split up. You could take Naminé with you, and finally fix the sin I committed." Riku didn't know why but he kissed Sora on the forehead, there was something sad about the affection. "While you protect him, I could take out a few of the Organization's Heartless. Find and defeat Saïx."
Sora's eyes widened a bit at the suggestion and the simple kiss almost had his stomach dropping. In a quick second he narrowed his eyes and pushed Riku back a little forcefully. He wouldn't have the other teen making such rash decisions much like he had in the past. Not after everything that happened. "No way, Riku. If we're going to defeat Saïx then we're going to do it together." He placed his hands on his hips while he tried his best to give the other teen a stern look. "You said that whatever I decided you would follow me. We're not splitting up. Not this time. We're going to be together through all of this just like we planned from the get go. Remember?"
Riku was taken aback by the shove and the outburst. Given what happened he hadn't expected Sora to still have such passionate fight in him. Riku had only given the suggestion of separation in their best interest but with Sora's heart mended it seemed Sora was dead set about keeping them together. Riku didn't feel insulted like he expected, instead he felt somewhat touched that Sora wanted to keep him at his side; together. He found Sora's attempt at authority rather amusing, cute anyway.
Riku nodded to Sora's question. "I remember and haven't left your side yet, Sora." He smiled just a little despite Sora's stern look. "I'll stay, don't worry. How can I leave when you're scowling at me like that?" He chuckled as he pointed to Sora's face. "With your hands on your hips like that, you kind of look like your mother." He hid his grin.
Sora quickly dropped his hands in an instant and tried to find somewhere else to put them. He settled for crossing his arms while he tried to stand up straight and keep the stern expression on his face. Sadly it had morphed into just another pout after Riku's words. "Do not." He defended himself and kept his gaze on the older teen for a few seconds. After a while a slow grin spread on his lips and he lifted a hand to point. "At least I'm not the one with braids in my hair."
Riku couldn't help but automatically run a hand through his hair to feel the tiny braids. He was actually surprised to feel they were still there, having forgotten them. Neither Mickey nor Naminé had made any mention of them.
Easily Riku tossed his hair back over his shoulder in an uncharacteristically hoity manner, smirking playfully right back at Sora. "Yeah, well, at least I'm not the one that put the braids in there in the first place." He grinned a little more as he teased Sora. "Did you get that quality from your mom too?"
The grin was wiped away from Sora's mouth as quick as it came and he started to blush as he tried to think of his own witty come back to such a response. He was never very quick on his feet with such a thing. "Shut up, Riku. You know my mom doesn't braid hair." As soon as the words left his mouth he realized they didn't sound as good coming out as he had hoped and he quickly had to stop and think about them. "Wait... um... hmm."
Riku laughed, grinning some. "I'd hope not." He rested a hand on Sora's head, enjoying the little back and forth now they could have even after such a dire moment had just occurred. "You are a boy after all." He ruffled Sora's hair a little.
Sora squinted his eyes a little as his hair was ruffled and just barely looked up at Riku from where the other boy had his hand on top of his head. He managed a small smile at their playful words all because of finally being able to get a laugh out of Riku. It was better to see his friend in a good mood then to see him feeling so much guilt. "Well, you didn't seem to mind having your hair braided. So, you can't really say much to that." He grabbed at Riku's hand and held it tightly with his own, letting them both fall between the two of them while he looked up at the other teen with the smile still on his face. "See, we're okay." He echoed earlier words while he swung their hands a little. "And we're still together."
Riku blinked at the obvious statement but managed to share Sora's smile in the end. "We're okay," he tapped Sora's chest, "because of you. Everything is always okay as long as you're there. You have a tendency to fix even the worst. I mean, if you can even make me smile, no wonder saving the universe is such a piece of cake." Riku rested his free hand on Sora's shoulder. "You can do anything, Sora. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Sora blinked his eyes at the words Riku spoke before his smile became bigger while he answered the other teen. "I know and that's how I also know we'll get through all of this, but only together. I'm not going to let you leave my sight any more." Even though lately it had been the other way around, Sora just felt better pointing it out his own way. He brought up his free hand to tick off their names on his fingers as he spoke. "You, me, Mickey and Naminé. We'll make sure nothing happens to Ikurx and because of that, because of us, the Organization will never get what they want. We won't have to worry and we'll defeat all of them." He dropped his hand only to wave it out in an excited way. "Then when this is all over we can finally go home."
Riku opened his mouth to say something but after that optimistic speech he wasn't quite sure what to say. He quirked his lips in amusement and soon shook his head. "You make it all sound so easy." He shrugged at a loss, though he couldn't crush Sora's good mood. And to think that only seconds ago Sora had feared asphyxiation. "Nothing to it, right?" Riku smirked. "Just put a few Nobodies in their place, destroy a few Heartless and we're as good as home. A snap." He snapped his fingers at that.
"Exactly!" Sora nearly bounced on his feet at just the thought of going back home to their island and their home where they could return to a normal life. He grabbed Riku's other hand so he had both captured and pulled the other teen down so their faces were inches apart, causing him to grin a little. "And, when we get back home you have to take me to the dance, just like you promised." With those few words he leaned in and pressed their lips together while the grin stayed in place.
Riku blinked several times, mostly to being yanked down and being kissed. Sora seemed so optimistic he was about to burst. It had a nervous laugh escaping Riku, muffled against Sora's lips. He leaned back, clearing his throat. "Right, the dance. Amazing how that silly idea has kept you going. You make dancing at a mundane town's school's dance sound like it's something much more exciting than traveling from new world to world fighting the darkness in people's hearts." He half smiled as he rested his head on Sora's, his silvery hair falling down to veil either side of their faces. "Remind me why it's so appealing."
Sora let go of Riku's hands at those words and allowed them to slip up around the other's neck instead, letting Riku's hands fall around his waist. "Because, it's just another moment that we get to share together." The words came out quietly while he buried his face near Riku's chest. "Plus, it's nice... when you hold me like this. I feel safe like this even if we will just be dancing." He shook his head a little after his words and pouted a bit, but it couldn't be seen very well. "Besides, it's not a silly idea. I still think it will be fun."
"Of course," Riku agreed as if it were indeed the most obvious thing in the world; according to Sora. He held Sora a little closer around the middle, swaying just a bit since Sora seemed so keen on 'dancing'. "Although, you beat Xehanort's Heartless and Nobody, I don't see why you'd need me to make you feel safe." Riku couldn't help teasing; knowing Sora would only pout more since he was only being sincere. "Though I guess I did help a little with each," he added with a smirk.
Despite what the cause of such a desolate city had been, Sora still found the situation they were in at that moment in the street nice and possibly romantic, but he wasn't going to admit that last little bit out loud to Riku. He'd only get teased for it again. So, instead he focused on trying to defend himself once again for the other's last few words. "I could have done it on my own, ya know." He mumbled the words quietly, but instantly remembered the last few seconds that he had been pushed out of the way so Riku could take a hit instead of him. "But... yeah... thanks..." His arms tightened a little.
"I know," Riku quietly agreed. "You can't live without me." He pressed a small kiss to the top of Sora's head, hugging him closer as well. After that he stayed silent, still swaying slowly with Sora in his arms. He'd never been one for dances or public activities of any kind, but the more Riku thought about it now, right at that moment, going to a silly dance at their school sounded like the best that all the worlds in their universe had to offer. If only to see Sora get what he wanted most now in life.
"...I love you, Sora," Riku murmured quietly against Sora's soft spiky hair.
"I love you too." Sora quietly spoke the words in return and after countless of times saying them they felt even better saying once more after all that they had gone through. Even if they weren't back home at that very moment he felt happy that they had some sort of peace and that they could easily play around with each other. Still, he couldn't stop his thoughts from wandering to an earlier conversation as curiosity took over his voice. "Riku, why didn't you tell Mickey about what you did for me?" Even after the question he still refused to move away just yet.
Riku went a little stiff at that, the swaying stopped. He felt as if he'd been caught doing something guilty. He tried to shrug it off. "Same reason you didn't, I guess. I wasn't sure how to, or what he'd say about it. I guess I was worried he wouldn't condone it. What we did was dangerous, what we've been through was far worse. I don't think I could take hearing one of Mickey's speeches." He gave a bit of a grumpy sigh as he half buried his face in Sora's hair. "We've put him through enough. You've heard his mantra of 'oh no's."
For some reason Sora couldn't help giggling at that even though he knew that he shouldn't and he quickly tried to quiet himself as best he could against Riku's chest. "S-Sorry." He cleared his throat and tried to settle down again. "Anyway, I'm sure he would have understood, but I guess you're right. Just hearing about Ikurx was a bit much. Adding onto that probably wouldn't have helped matters. Besides, we're dealing with it just fine on our own. No need to worry anyone else." He finally pulled back, causing Riku to unbury himself from his hair, so he could look up at the other teen. "Thanks, for saving me again..."
Riku brushed his thumb just barely along Sora's jaw. That pleasant pang in his chest was the same despite the dark surroundings as it was when they shared something back home away from prying eyes. And here they were alone for the moment, out in the streets in the middle of no where in an abandoned city, yet it felt the same as if they were stealing kisses in his room when they should have been studying. Sora made any place feel like home.
"Nuh-uh," Riku smiled just a little as he leaned down nearer to Sora, "thank you for saving me again." He just barely brushed his lips to Sora's in a kiss.
A small blush crept its way across Sora's cheeks, but it was hard to see with Riku so close. With such a simple kiss Sora couldn't help giving a small whine that it would be over so quickly and tightened his arms around Riku's neck to keep the other teen in place right where he was. It was then that he pressed their lips closer together, wanting more then he had been given.
There was a gentle feminine clearing of throat not too far off. It had Riku's eyes snapping open, jerking back from Sora as if the other teen's touch burned. Uncharacteristically his cheeks grew hot and he lowered his head to hide that fact beneath silver hair. He hid his mouth behind the back of his hand, wiping it unconsciously. Being caught by Naminé left Riku far worse than embarrassed, it had the shameful guilt washing over him again.
"I'm sorry," Naminé quietly spoke up. As a Nobody she still couldn't help feeling somewhat bad for walking in on what she did. Everyone harbored feelings that she wished she could mend. "I didn't mean to interrupt. You two were taking so long; I was worried something might have happened." She raised a hand to her mouth trying to hide her smile; she couldn't help being a little amused. "But I can see you're both quite alright."
Sora's face had turned a shade redder if at all possible and he stared at Naminé with wide eyes much like a deer caught in headlights. He seemed to recover much faster then Riku though, and gave a quick nervous laugh as he raised a hand to scratch at the back of his head. "I-Its okay, Naminé. We were just talking about stuff." He dropped his hand and glanced at Riku, noticing that the other teen still seemed much more nervous then he was.
Sora quickly reached out and grabbed Riku's own hand before he yanked on the other teen's arm to pull him over to Naminé, stopping just a few feet in front of the girl without letting go of his friend. "We couldn't get the collar off." He pointed with his free hand at the said object, but acted as if the situation was the most normal thing in the world while he gave a shrug. "So, we're going to find Ikurx." He gave the girl a smile.
Naminé returned the smile gently and nodded. "Sounds like a plan." She looked to Riku who looked less than happy to be tugged around in his moment of embarrassment. "Don't worry so much, Riku." She leaned forward to look up, trying to see the teen's face through his hair.
Riku couldn't help but lean back, his hand fidgeting in Sora's. "I'm not worrying." He glanced at Sora, wondering how Sora could have such a smile so wide at such an inopportune moment. "I have nothing to worry about." With a smirk he gave Sora's arm a tug, giving the other teen a taste of his own medicine.
Sora stumbled a bit on his feet since he hadn't been expecting the sudden pull on his arm. "Hey!" He looked up at Riku and narrowed his eyes on the other teen for only a few seconds before a small laugh came from him and he pushed the other back playfully. After the small bit of retaliation he seemed to realize he had been in the middle of something and quickly looked back at Naminé. "Oh! You'll come with us right, Naminé? I mean, if we're careful then Ikurx could help you and Kairi."
The girl paused at Sora's question. She steepled her fingers as she gave it some thought. "If you think that's what's best." She nodded. "I'll help you, Sora. I'm sure if I do it'll put Kairi's heart at ease to know that she was able to, when all she could do before was stay at home and wait for you two." She lowered her hands from her chest and offered either to each boy. "Friends?"
Sora was about to take Naminé's hand in his free one, but stopped quickly and instead looked back and forth between the Nobody and Riku. With a quick movement he grabbed the girl's two hands and placed his and Riku's own clasped ones on top, grinning back and forth between the two the entire time before his eyes landed on Riku. "Friends."
Riku stared at their hands on top of each other. Maybe things would actually be alright. Maybe things could go back to the way they were. Naminé was Kairi in a sense after all. And Naminé was so willing to forgive, to look forward to a better future along with Sora, maybe Riku could too.
Riku glanced at Sora then Naminé and gave a small smile. "Friends."
It had Naminé smiling that much wider, feeling a genuine emotion where ever her true heart was. "Friends. Forever."