Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 21

Luna smiled as she heard Kairi shriek, looking around the wall to find her on the ground, the boys pinning her down to tickle her. They were settling back in which was good but she'd seen Sora's reluctance when it came to trying to catch up on his schoolwork…maybe she should pull him out, let him home school at his own pace and for subjects he wanted? It wouldn't be hard to have the same arranged for Riku if he wanted, even though she wasn't his legal guardian since he was old enough to choose for himself.

Something had happened the day Donna had come over and they'd argued. She'd seen Sora flee and Riku follow moments later, her son had never liked arguments true but there had been something different…a feeling of danger in the air. For a second she would have sworn the shadows in the room had clung to him which was just ridiculous.

That woman and her husband…how they had ended up with such a wonderful son Luna didn't know, then again with all the time that Riku had spent in her home, perhaps he was more her and Noctis' son than theirs. He'd reminded her more of Kadaj in those last months before the storm but now he was quiet but his devotion to Sora and Kairi, though in different ways, was obvious to Luna. Whatever had happened to them had helped him grow up and settle his emotions. She just wished she could banish the shadows in both boys eyes.

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Kadaj paused as he spotted a head of silver hair down the street, moving carefully closer. Riku was leaning against the fence, an ice cream cone in hand, head tilted slightly to the side as he listened to Sora chatter away, the younger boy in danger of losing his ice cream as he gestured with his hands. They seemed to be waiting for something or someone, he assumed Kairi.

He had a good view of the boy, the first good look he'd gotten of him since he'd returned. His hair was longer than Kadaj had ever worn his own, closer to how Yazoo had worn his. Thinking of any of his brothers hurt but it was hard not to make the comparison, although Riku's eyes were more blue than any of theirs had been, more like…he shook his head, it didn't do to think of him either.

He knew the boys had trained with wooden swords as children and from the new muscle on both of them…he didn't think they were using those anymore. Where could they have been to need the real thing? He saw Riku step away from the fence and then grimace ever so slightly, Sora immediately alert. Kadaj moved closer, hoping to overhear.

"Riku…"

"It's fine Sora, you heard Donald, the wound's healed and it'll just take a while for the pain to fade for good."

"I know…I just hate seeing you in pain," Sora grumbled, looking away, and Kadaj saw his son's expression soften, pretty much screaming to him that the rumours were true.

"Sora…I'd take that blow a million times over to keep you safe. If it'd hit you…"

"I'd be dead," Sora winced. "I just hate you getting hurt for me."

"Well you're the one who took a year nap," Riku teased.

"Not like I wanted to!" he crossed his arms but then frowned. "How do you think that worked here?"

"What do you mean?" Riku shifted his weight, but Sora gently pushed him back against the fence…taking the weight off one of his legs.

"Well no one's apologised for forgetting I existed for a while, so do they not remember that they forgot about me or is it too weird for anyone to want to bring up or what?"

What? How could they all…he had, he had forgotten about Sora for almost an entire year and yet that seemed almost hard to remember. What had those boys gotten mixed up in for that to be possible? He could remember seeing Kairi, thinking she looked lonely without Riku, but he hadn't thought once of Sora.

Riku shrugged. "They remember you now, that's all that matters. Besides, things weren't as dire memory wise as DiZ and Mickey believed, Naminé and I lied to them to keep your secret. I don't want to imagine what he might have done considering his views on Nobodies."

"Did…did you forget me?" Sora asked.

Riku looked around, and Kadaj made sure he was well concealed, watching Riku draw Sora into a hug. "No Sora, I never forgot you. Everything I did that year was so you'd wake up and be you again and not…"

"Not a Heartless," Sora nodded.

"Things were a bit hazy but my whole memory of who I was, was a mess. Without Naminé," Riku shrugged.

"I'm sorry," Sora's whisper barely reached him.

"I'd do it all again to save you Sora. Seeing you like that…watching you lose the ability to speak, everything that makes you who you are," Riku shuddered, holding him closer. "At least now if it happens, I know it won't last."

"I hate it," it was Sora who shuddered this time.

"That's why you're not sparing much isn't it? If it's just a drive form, then don't use them. We can talk to the King or Merlin, see if there's something that can be done about that."

"Riku it's not because it's the Darkness," Sora quickly told him. "It's that it hurts, that it's hard to remember what happened when I'm…like that." Sora seemed to press even closer to Riku who held him even closer. "Your Darkness is different, you control it, can use it," Sora shook his head.

"I can now, you saw what I was like…what I almost," Riku took a deep breath. "We'll figure it out Sora, promise." And with that the two fell silent even as Kairi rushed into view, grinning happily at them, the three walking off together.

Kadaj watched them go, confused by most of the conversation. He was even more unsure what to think of the boy now than he had been before. Although their devotion towards each other was very clear…and he wouldn't speak of it.

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He watched the three teens playing on the beach with others. They had done it and without his aid. They had defeated his wayward apprentices and the rest and saved the Worlds. Somehow Riku had even been restored to himself, although he still carried Darkness within his Heart and likely always would. Then again…so did young Sora, it seemed Roxas had shared his anger with him or perhaps it was due to being a Heartless for even a short time? Either way, it was over now, perhaps they would be left to be children now.

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Riku slipped silently into the house through the attic window, cheating with magic. He listened but the tv was on downstairs and he made his way to his old room, finding his baby sister in her cot. Sleepy grey eyes blinked up at him and then she squealed softly, wriggling, and Riku smiled softly. Cautiously, he reached a hand down towards her and she grabbed onto his finger.

"Hello Mia, what a strong grip you have," he whispered. He wanted to pick her up, to hold his baby sister, but he didn't dare.

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Donna looked at the baby monitor and turned the volume up. She looked at Kadaj as they heard the soft whispers, going to get up, but he stopped her, standing himself. Good, he'd deal with the boy. She turned the volume down again and settled back in to watch the news.

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Riku carefully stroked his fingers over fine reddish-brown hair. "I'll keep you safe, you'll never go through what we have," he promised. Even if he couldn't be part of her life, he'd do everything he could to keep her and the Islands safe.

"You can pick her up."

Riku's head snapped up and he stared at his Father in the doorway, he'd only seen him at a distance since their return. "Dad…"

"Go on, you won't break her."

Riku stared at him in shock before looking back down at Mia. He slowly reached into the cot, not sure how, and then his Dad was there, guiding his hands, showing him how to hold her. "She's so small."

"You were that small once."

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Kadaj stood in the doorway, watching as Riku stared at Mia, so fascinated that he didn't realise he was being watched. It was obvious he wanted to pick her up but wasn't sure how. He listened to Riku's quiet promise to keep her safe and he felt…guilt. "You can pick her up," he offered quietly, almost wincing at how fast Riku's head snapped up, seeing the wariness in his eyes.

"Dad…"

"Go on, you won't break her," he urged him on, and his son stared at him in shock before looking back down at Mia, reaching for her, but hesitating. Kadaj watched and realised Riku didn't know how to hold a baby so he moved in, guiding his hands, showing him how to hold her. When was the last time he was so close to his son, had touched him?

"She's so small," Riku whispered in awe as he cradled her to his chest.

"You were that small once," he pointed out. It was strange, in his time away Riku had grown, not surprising given his age, and they were now eye to eye.

Riku glanced at him and then back at Mia, and despite not knowing her…the love was plain to see in his expression. Riku was not him or his brothers, no matter how much he looked like them; he was his own person. He…didn't know who his son was but he was battle scared and hardened and yet still gentle and loving. How had he missed all of that?

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Sora smiled at his Mum; he knew she knew that something was up with Riku having vanished after dinner but she hadn't asked. He just hoped it went okay, that Riku got to see his baby sister. He thought Riku would make the best big brother ever, if his parents would get their heads out of their…well. That wasn't a nice thought and he knew it.

Since their talk he'd started participating more in spars, being careful to not do anything that would cause the drive forms he could use alone to trigger or build up enough that he'd have to use one. He did sometimes wonder if maybe Riku and Kairi's magic could fuel other ones, but he didn't have the guts to try without anyone there to fix things if they messed up.

Riku was in control of his Darkness and he didn't have a Nobody willing to help him, surely he could learn to get control of Anti-form somehow? If he couldn't get rid of it or stop slipping into it then maybe he could get to the point of at least keeping some kind of awareness when he was in it. He was worried about Roxas, he'd barely felt him at all since they'd returned…maybe he was just tired?

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Mickey was quite content to sit on the couch, Minnie tucked into his side, both smothering their laughter as Daisy let Donald have it. It was so wonderful to finally be home again and while he never could have abandoned Riku or have turned his back on the threat of Organisation XIII…he whished he could have come home before. Knowing Maleficent had threatened his home made him feel sick. He owed Sora so much for his defence of the Cornerstone and Minnie. The Worlds were at peace again…but for how long? He'd thought it was all over a decade ago and had been proven wrong, hopefully this time it was truly over.

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Aulea smiled and waved at the various people in the street as she did her shopping. She listened to the talk around her, keeping an ear out for any mention of the three children…then again Riku was rather close to being considered an adult now. there'd been a lot of talk of all three at first; questions about where they'd been, what had happened, how Kairi had found them… things were quieting down now it seemed. That was good, the last thing anyone needed was a scandal like that.

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Kairi laughed as she locked blades with a grinning Sora only for them to leap apart as Riku slashed at them. The free for all had been her idea and she knew they were both holding back but she was determined to catch up.

She knew Sora didn't want to stay forever, she could see it in his even greater than normal disinterest in schoolwork and how he wasn't making a big effort to get back to island life. She wasn't surprised, life out there exploring and protecting people suited him, suited Riku tool. When the time came, she was going with them, she wanted to actually get to see what they had, maybe meet the other Princesses properly, say thank you to all those who had helped them.

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Riku glanced over the top of his book to see Sora frowning at his notes, scribbling something out. Hopefully it actually was his schoolwork and not just an aimless doodling or even plans for leaving. He…he knew Sora didn't want to stay permanently and even with the kind of reconciliation with his Dad he didn't either. Then he felt bad because it would mean leaving his sister behind, but she had two parents who loved her. And leaving didn't mean never coming back or finding some way to remotely watch over the Islands. They just didn't fit in anymore, not that he'd ever really felt like he fit, not since they were really small.

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Kairi grinned and wriggled her fingers for the baby who squealed at her. She was kind of shocked that somehow Riku had been allowed to babysit. Sure, he'd said he'd talked to his Dad when he'd snuck in to see Mia but it was a big leap to the man letting them watch the baby. She was very cute even if she didn't really look anything like Riku, then again he didn't look anything like his mum. She laughed as Sora pulled funny faces at Mia before Riku shoved a sandwich in his mouth.

School would be starting soon and she knew they weren't coming back with her which sucked. Riku was going to see if he could test out and Sora's mum had arranged for him to be home schooled. She almost wished she could be too; it would make things easier if they had to leave for Keyblade issues. Then again, would anyone think to ask her along since she was so new to it?

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Sora grinned as he walked into the Secret Place, seeing all of their drawings on the walls, his eyes going to one automatically. The picture he'd drawn of himself before he understood what he was feeling, the fruit could be going to either Kairi or Riku. Sora picked up a rock and went to work, making it more obvious that it was meant for Riku, before he pulled out the camping gear he'd stored, setting up a nice comfortable spot. No one ever spent the night on the island anymore which meant they'd be alone.

He settled into the comfy nest he'd made to wait for Riku, he'd been at the school taking some tests to see if he could graduate or would need to do some work. It wasn't long though before he heard him in the tunnel and then he grinned as Riku emerged, having to duck his head these days. Soon they'd be too tall for the tunnel at all.

"Hey," Riku smiled at him, and Sora grinned back. "You did this?" Riku shook his head but took his shoes off and knelt down on the bedding. He leant in and Sora moved to meet him, kissing him.

Sora gripped his shoulders and then lay back, bringing Riku with him, even as they kept kissing. Riku settled over him easily, careful not to squish him under his greater weight, not that Sora couldn't take it. it felt so good to just relax and be together in a way they hadn't since that dark beach. His hand slipped under Riku's shirt and he felt him shiver but he didn't stop him so Sora moved his other hand under as well, caressing warm skin. He gasped when one of Riku's hands slipped under his shirt in return, the other being used to brace his weight. It felt even better than the kisses they'd shared on that beach, no danger at all at the moment, nothing but them.

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Riku woke up slowly and looked down to find Sora's head on his chest, the brunette still fast asleep, hair even wilder than normal. He knew Sora's mum wouldn't ask questions about them being gone all night, she trusted them not to do something dumb and it wasn't like they'd never camped on the Play Island before. Kissing Sora in his own body was definitely better than when wearing Ansem's, everything felt…more. He was so glad Sora had managed to give him his body back, even when he'd given hope of that ever happening. With Sora around, he should have known better.

He dug out his old, battered watch and checked the time, sighing, before moving to try and wake Sora up. Either they went back now before anyone was awake to spot them, or they waited several hours so they could claim they'd come over to the Island early and who would believe that of Sora? The Sora they knew anyway.

Sleepy blue eyes opened, Sora lifting his head enough to see him, and Riku smiled.

"Rise and shine," he teased, and Sora groaned but got up, grimacing before yanking his shirt down properly from where it had twisted around him in his sleep.

"Why so early?" he grumbled, running a hand through his hair, making it worse.

"Because no one will believe you were up this early if we head back later and are seen," Riku answered as he got up and began folding up the bedding.

"Oh," Sora sighed but helped.

They moved out of the cave and back to their boats, checking the coast was clear the whole time.

"Don't suppose we could cheat with a Corridor?"

"And how would we explain our boats being here?" Riku smirked, and Sora shrugged but got in his. Rowing over was a lot easier now with the extra muscle they'd both gained in the time away.

It used to be that no one would comment on them sleeping over there for the night, but now? They couldn't take the risk and it was frustrating. He'd love to know who started those rumours, even if they were true it was no one's business but their own. At least they'd died down in the months since they'd appeared, probably since they were seen so often with Kairi and even the others and they were always very careful in public to be seen as nothing more than best friends.

"What's wrong?" he asked as they snuck back to the house, easily climbing up to Sora's room, theirs now really.

"I miss Donald and Goofy," Sora admitted, flopping down on his bed.

"Yeah, I miss Mickey," he agreed, laying beside him. The air mattress was only there for appearances sake now.

"Think we'll see them again?"

"Of course we will, we have the ship and too long without seeing friends could be an emotional emergency?" he smirked, and Sora laughed.

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Kairi smiled when she saw Sora and Riku at the old tree they'd all sat at together for years. She walked across the beach towards the bridge that would get her across to them only for her shoe to hit something. She looked down, surprised to see a bottle with a letter in it. Could it be? She picked it up and sighed, no, it wasn't the one she'd sent to Sora when his memory and body were being restored, the bottle was different. Curious, she opened it and wriggled the letter out, recognising the symbol. Her eyes widened and she took off running to get to them. Riku would be happy to hear from his friend!

TBC…