'What happened?'
'You were having a bad dream. . . . I woke you.'
'My head. . . . .'
'You fell, Sora. I guess I scared you. . . . What happened in your dream?'
'I don't know. . . .'
'You should get some rest.'
Sora opened his eyes, feeling his head throb with pain. He slowly sat up and let out a groan. He placed a hand to his head surprised to find a bandage wrapped placed there. Sora let his hands drop to his lap and sat in silence, wincing in pain and shuddering. He couldn't remember how he hurt his head or anything before he had slept.
Taigan had left to talk with Betsuri. He told Sora she probably had something to with everything. Sora couldn't figure out how, though. She did nothing to him, except look at him. He stared blankly at the wall before him and tried to force himself to remember his dream. Nothing came to mind, though.
Hours passed and Sora never left the bed. He slipped in and out of sleep, his dreams only a hazy memory when he woke. In the back of his mind he could hear Riku's voice, though; he was trying to tell him something but his voice would disappear all too easily. Sora wondered what was happening to him. He felt like he was losing his memory some how.
The door slowly opened to the room, letting in a slight breeze. Sora rolled over and watched silently as Taigan entered the room. The silver haired man smiled softly and approached him with cat like grace. Sora watched, feeling something stir within himself when he watched Taigan and saw his soft smile.
"How are you feeling?" Taigan whispered, kneeling beside the bed. He stared into Sora's eyes. "Are you still in pain?"
"A little." Sora replied softly. He studied Taigan before turning his eyes away. "What did Betsuri say?"
Taigan looked up into Sora's eyes and a soft, sweet smile passed over his face. The look in his eyes softened as he gazed at his young companion. "She had nothing to do with it. There was no spell, no curse. That girl could never lie to me so I'm sure it's the truth. You have nothing to worry about."
Sora was silent for a while. He could feel Taigan's eyes watching him, studying him attentively. Sora wondered why this man was so interested in him. He had been there for three days and Taigan seemed to grow closer to Sora, never truly wanting him to leave. In a way, Sora didn't want to leave. Taigan made him feel wanted and loved, something Sora hadn't felt since he lost Kairi.
"What's wrong, Sora?" Taigan asked. Slowly he crept onto the bed, sitting next to Sora and causing the auburn haired boy to sit up. They looked at each other for a moment, Taigan smiling gently. "You can tell me anything." he whispered, pushing a lock of auburn hair out of Sora's face.
"I miss my friends." Sora whispered. He lowered his eyes, staring at his hands. "I don't know where they are or what's happening to them. There are times when I hear Riku's voice calling for me, but I can never hear what he's saying. I wish there was some way I could get to them."
Taigan lowered his own eyes and looked away. Sora looked at the silver haired man and watched as those dull eyes began to grow teary. With a sigh Sora rested his head against Taigan's shoulder, feeling his own tears beginning to form. He wondered why his knew friend was brought to tears, but that was pushed away when he felt Taigan's arms wrap around him.
"I'm sorry I made you cry." Sora whispered, letting Taigan draw him closer.
"There is no need to be sorry." Taigan whispered. He heaved a heavy sigh and smiled slightly. "At one point in my life I lost my friends as well. I spent years finding them and when I met them, they had changed. One of them, though, never returned and I'm still praying that, one day, I will find him. It's strange, though; you have his eyes."
Sora shuddered as Taigan's slender fingers began to run through his hair. He looked up into his face, catching a strange flash of emotion in the man's eyes. Taigan leaned his face closer, his lips touching the boy's forehead softly. Sora closed his eyes, feeling the kiss came once more and than another coming softly to his cheek.
Taigan took Sora's hand and kissed it softly, his eyes never leaving his face. The silver haired man smiled to himself as he led his kiss down Sora's arm. The boy shuddered as Taigan kissed his neck, pulling his hands away but wrapping them around the man's neck, keeping him close. A smile crossed Taigan's face, never leaving as he pulled Sora closer and kissed his lips softly.
Slowly Taigan pulled away, peeling Sora's hands away from his neck. Sora's eyes flew open, staring at him with mixed feelings. He was scared more than anything else. Sora had never had something like that happen to him before, but a familiar feeling welled up inside of him. It was the same sensation he felt when he woke up in Riku's lap and saw the older boy smile at him sweetly.
"Do you want me to stop?" Taigan whispered, staring deep into Sora's eyes. A seductive smile crossed his face when Sora couldn't answer. Taigan leaned closer, tilting his head to one side, but stopped before their lips touched. "What is it that you want, Sora? Do you want this? Do you wish for this to happen?"
Sora closed his eyes tightly. "I. . . . I just want my friends. I want to see them again. I miss Kairi and Riku. There isn't a night when I don't dream about them." he whispered. Sora trembled as he felt Taigan fingers grazed against his face. Tears formed in his eyes and began to trail down his face as the kisses returned. "Please, Taigan. . . . Please stop. . . ."
Taigan stopped his face beside Sora's. He smiled to himself, listening to Sora's quickened breath. "Come now, Sora." he whispered into Sora's ear. Taigan pulled away from him and looked into his face. Tears seemed to stream, none stop, from his blue eyes. "You know," Taigan said, suddenly grabbing Sora by the chin. "you're pretty when you cry."
With a cry of anger Sora pulled away from Taigan, moving away from the silver haired man. He paused though, his eyes meeting those dull seeming to stare into his soul. Sora couldn't move as Taigan slowly crept closer to him, slinking like a cat ready to pounce on its prey.
"Listen, Sora." Taigan whispered. He seemed to take on a softer appearance, his eyes losing the hungry look they once possessed. He sat on his knees, taking Sora's face into his hands. Taigan looked down into his eyes, watching the tears fall from those beautiful blue eyes. He wiped them away slowly with his fingers. "Listen to your body, to your heart. What is your deepest dream?"
Those words echoed in Sora's mind as Taigan kissed his forehead gently, his silver hair touching his face softly. "What is your deepest desire?" Taigan whispered, wiping away another tear. He kissed Sora once more, the tip of his tongue trailing down the curve of his cheek and ending in a soft kiss beside Sora's mouth. "What is it that you truly want?"
Sora closed his eyes and shuddered as Taigan kissed his neck once more. The tears never seemed to stop flowing. He searched his mind, trying to pull his thoughts away from what was happening, but he couldn't. This experience was frightening, but it was, in some way, exciting. As he looked at Taigan, Sora couldn't help but see Riku in his place and those feelings of excitement and fear only heightened.
"I'll stop when ever you tell me to." Taigan whispered into Sora's ear. A smile crossed his face when he heard no response. He wrapped his arms around Sora's waist and pulled him close, kissing him full on the lips. Sora's body stiffened as the two fell to the bed, Taigan stopping himself before he landed on top of the boy. His hair cascaded around his face and he stared into Sora's eyes. "Are you scared?" he asked in a whisper.
"Yes." Sora managed to say.
Taigan smiled. "There is nothing to fear." he whispered, caressing Sora's face. "I can become anyone you want me to."
Sora blinked and in that moment Taigan seemed to melt away, leaving Riku in his place. A gasp escaped Sora as he stared up into the eyes of his lost friend. "You. . . . You're not really Riku."
"Its okay, Sora." The voice was Riku's; Sora could never forget it. "I'm here now. Everything will be okay."
"This is just magic." Sora said, suddenly reaching the point where he could no longer cry.
Riku shook his head and sat up, pulling on Sora's arm until he did the same. "This is nothing like magic. I'm here, with you. You can believe me or not. I'm happy that I can be with you, even it is for a short time."
Sora's eyes widened. "What?"
"I can't be here all the time, Sora. I have to return to the island. There are things that I have to do."
"Don't leave me. Riku, I'm scared. This guy, Taigan, he's. . . ."
Riku placed a finger on Sora's lips, causing the younger boy to grow silent. "Don't talk about anyone else. The time we spend together is about you and me, no one else. We can do what we want."
Sora stared at him in silence. "Anything?"
"Yes." Riku replied with a nod. "What do you want?"
"I want you to hold me like you did when we watched the sunset that one time." Sora replied. He twisted the sheet around his finger nervously, lowering his eyes. "Will we remember what happens tonight?"
Riku shrugged. "We might, we might not. I don't know. Why?"
The only thing Sora did in response was lean forward and kiss the older boy. The kiss was nervous at first but when Riku returned it, the mood changed. The two embraced, Riku holding Sora tightly and Sora nuzzling against his neck. Sora closed his eyes and kissed Riku once more. He wished the night would be endless, but knew that soon the sun would rise and Riku would disappear. The only thing either boy knew was that they had to make the most of the night and that was what they planed.
**********
"I did what you asked. Please, let me take the boy away from here." Taigan pleaded. Tears streamed down his face as he knelt before the shrouded figure. He bent his head, trying to hide his loss of emotions. "I don't want to hurt Sora."
A soft laugh rose from the shadows, echoing in the darkness. "You've grown attached to him, haven't you Taigan?"
Taigan closed his eyes tightly, forcing more tears out. "Don't even start with that. You know. . . ."
"He does look much like Sukai." the shrouded figure said.
"Yes, sire." Taigan whispered.
The shrouded figure snickered. "I suppose that is why you have grown attached him, and chose a strange way to connect with him." The other voice laughed softly, but was quickly silenced. "You loved Sukai and since this boy, Sora, is here he has become a substitute. I promise you, Taigan, that this boy will lead us to your lost love and everything will fall into place."
"I'm sorry, sire, but I cannot continue with this." Taigan said. He stood quickly, letting his black jacket sway around him like a shadow. "I will not lead you to Sukai so you can use him."
"You cannot back down now." the figure spat. "We made a pact those years ago and neither of us can back down from it."
"Then I will break the bond." Taigan replied angrily.
"Such a thing cannot be broken without giving up your life." the other voice said, breaking its silence. "We all know that. Take the boy to another world, Taigan, for the stars have shown that the others have begun their move."
Taigan stiffened. "Sora's friends. . . ."
The shrouded figure nodded. "The boy, Riku, still has his powers from the sorcerer. He will be able to transport himself from his world to another. He also wields one of the three Keyblades. I have the other. Sukai, no doubt, will have the third, which is why we must find him."
"But he cannot use the Keyblade's true magic without Sora." Taigan said. "Her prophecies will be nothing if the two never meet."
"True." the voice whispered. "But, Sora's friends will find Sukai and he will lead them to us. The boy, Riku, will see within Sukai the truth and the girl, Kairi, will hold the key to the end."
"You will continue as you were told." the shrouded figure announced. "Take Sora into the other worlds and track Sukai down. If you do not than you will pay with your life."
'You were having a bad dream. . . . I woke you.'
'My head. . . . .'
'You fell, Sora. I guess I scared you. . . . What happened in your dream?'
'I don't know. . . .'
'You should get some rest.'
Sora opened his eyes, feeling his head throb with pain. He slowly sat up and let out a groan. He placed a hand to his head surprised to find a bandage wrapped placed there. Sora let his hands drop to his lap and sat in silence, wincing in pain and shuddering. He couldn't remember how he hurt his head or anything before he had slept.
Taigan had left to talk with Betsuri. He told Sora she probably had something to with everything. Sora couldn't figure out how, though. She did nothing to him, except look at him. He stared blankly at the wall before him and tried to force himself to remember his dream. Nothing came to mind, though.
Hours passed and Sora never left the bed. He slipped in and out of sleep, his dreams only a hazy memory when he woke. In the back of his mind he could hear Riku's voice, though; he was trying to tell him something but his voice would disappear all too easily. Sora wondered what was happening to him. He felt like he was losing his memory some how.
The door slowly opened to the room, letting in a slight breeze. Sora rolled over and watched silently as Taigan entered the room. The silver haired man smiled softly and approached him with cat like grace. Sora watched, feeling something stir within himself when he watched Taigan and saw his soft smile.
"How are you feeling?" Taigan whispered, kneeling beside the bed. He stared into Sora's eyes. "Are you still in pain?"
"A little." Sora replied softly. He studied Taigan before turning his eyes away. "What did Betsuri say?"
Taigan looked up into Sora's eyes and a soft, sweet smile passed over his face. The look in his eyes softened as he gazed at his young companion. "She had nothing to do with it. There was no spell, no curse. That girl could never lie to me so I'm sure it's the truth. You have nothing to worry about."
Sora was silent for a while. He could feel Taigan's eyes watching him, studying him attentively. Sora wondered why this man was so interested in him. He had been there for three days and Taigan seemed to grow closer to Sora, never truly wanting him to leave. In a way, Sora didn't want to leave. Taigan made him feel wanted and loved, something Sora hadn't felt since he lost Kairi.
"What's wrong, Sora?" Taigan asked. Slowly he crept onto the bed, sitting next to Sora and causing the auburn haired boy to sit up. They looked at each other for a moment, Taigan smiling gently. "You can tell me anything." he whispered, pushing a lock of auburn hair out of Sora's face.
"I miss my friends." Sora whispered. He lowered his eyes, staring at his hands. "I don't know where they are or what's happening to them. There are times when I hear Riku's voice calling for me, but I can never hear what he's saying. I wish there was some way I could get to them."
Taigan lowered his own eyes and looked away. Sora looked at the silver haired man and watched as those dull eyes began to grow teary. With a sigh Sora rested his head against Taigan's shoulder, feeling his own tears beginning to form. He wondered why his knew friend was brought to tears, but that was pushed away when he felt Taigan's arms wrap around him.
"I'm sorry I made you cry." Sora whispered, letting Taigan draw him closer.
"There is no need to be sorry." Taigan whispered. He heaved a heavy sigh and smiled slightly. "At one point in my life I lost my friends as well. I spent years finding them and when I met them, they had changed. One of them, though, never returned and I'm still praying that, one day, I will find him. It's strange, though; you have his eyes."
Sora shuddered as Taigan's slender fingers began to run through his hair. He looked up into his face, catching a strange flash of emotion in the man's eyes. Taigan leaned his face closer, his lips touching the boy's forehead softly. Sora closed his eyes, feeling the kiss came once more and than another coming softly to his cheek.
Taigan took Sora's hand and kissed it softly, his eyes never leaving his face. The silver haired man smiled to himself as he led his kiss down Sora's arm. The boy shuddered as Taigan kissed his neck, pulling his hands away but wrapping them around the man's neck, keeping him close. A smile crossed Taigan's face, never leaving as he pulled Sora closer and kissed his lips softly.
Slowly Taigan pulled away, peeling Sora's hands away from his neck. Sora's eyes flew open, staring at him with mixed feelings. He was scared more than anything else. Sora had never had something like that happen to him before, but a familiar feeling welled up inside of him. It was the same sensation he felt when he woke up in Riku's lap and saw the older boy smile at him sweetly.
"Do you want me to stop?" Taigan whispered, staring deep into Sora's eyes. A seductive smile crossed his face when Sora couldn't answer. Taigan leaned closer, tilting his head to one side, but stopped before their lips touched. "What is it that you want, Sora? Do you want this? Do you wish for this to happen?"
Sora closed his eyes tightly. "I. . . . I just want my friends. I want to see them again. I miss Kairi and Riku. There isn't a night when I don't dream about them." he whispered. Sora trembled as he felt Taigan fingers grazed against his face. Tears formed in his eyes and began to trail down his face as the kisses returned. "Please, Taigan. . . . Please stop. . . ."
Taigan stopped his face beside Sora's. He smiled to himself, listening to Sora's quickened breath. "Come now, Sora." he whispered into Sora's ear. Taigan pulled away from him and looked into his face. Tears seemed to stream, none stop, from his blue eyes. "You know," Taigan said, suddenly grabbing Sora by the chin. "you're pretty when you cry."
With a cry of anger Sora pulled away from Taigan, moving away from the silver haired man. He paused though, his eyes meeting those dull seeming to stare into his soul. Sora couldn't move as Taigan slowly crept closer to him, slinking like a cat ready to pounce on its prey.
"Listen, Sora." Taigan whispered. He seemed to take on a softer appearance, his eyes losing the hungry look they once possessed. He sat on his knees, taking Sora's face into his hands. Taigan looked down into his eyes, watching the tears fall from those beautiful blue eyes. He wiped them away slowly with his fingers. "Listen to your body, to your heart. What is your deepest dream?"
Those words echoed in Sora's mind as Taigan kissed his forehead gently, his silver hair touching his face softly. "What is your deepest desire?" Taigan whispered, wiping away another tear. He kissed Sora once more, the tip of his tongue trailing down the curve of his cheek and ending in a soft kiss beside Sora's mouth. "What is it that you truly want?"
Sora closed his eyes and shuddered as Taigan kissed his neck once more. The tears never seemed to stop flowing. He searched his mind, trying to pull his thoughts away from what was happening, but he couldn't. This experience was frightening, but it was, in some way, exciting. As he looked at Taigan, Sora couldn't help but see Riku in his place and those feelings of excitement and fear only heightened.
"I'll stop when ever you tell me to." Taigan whispered into Sora's ear. A smile crossed his face when he heard no response. He wrapped his arms around Sora's waist and pulled him close, kissing him full on the lips. Sora's body stiffened as the two fell to the bed, Taigan stopping himself before he landed on top of the boy. His hair cascaded around his face and he stared into Sora's eyes. "Are you scared?" he asked in a whisper.
"Yes." Sora managed to say.
Taigan smiled. "There is nothing to fear." he whispered, caressing Sora's face. "I can become anyone you want me to."
Sora blinked and in that moment Taigan seemed to melt away, leaving Riku in his place. A gasp escaped Sora as he stared up into the eyes of his lost friend. "You. . . . You're not really Riku."
"Its okay, Sora." The voice was Riku's; Sora could never forget it. "I'm here now. Everything will be okay."
"This is just magic." Sora said, suddenly reaching the point where he could no longer cry.
Riku shook his head and sat up, pulling on Sora's arm until he did the same. "This is nothing like magic. I'm here, with you. You can believe me or not. I'm happy that I can be with you, even it is for a short time."
Sora's eyes widened. "What?"
"I can't be here all the time, Sora. I have to return to the island. There are things that I have to do."
"Don't leave me. Riku, I'm scared. This guy, Taigan, he's. . . ."
Riku placed a finger on Sora's lips, causing the younger boy to grow silent. "Don't talk about anyone else. The time we spend together is about you and me, no one else. We can do what we want."
Sora stared at him in silence. "Anything?"
"Yes." Riku replied with a nod. "What do you want?"
"I want you to hold me like you did when we watched the sunset that one time." Sora replied. He twisted the sheet around his finger nervously, lowering his eyes. "Will we remember what happens tonight?"
Riku shrugged. "We might, we might not. I don't know. Why?"
The only thing Sora did in response was lean forward and kiss the older boy. The kiss was nervous at first but when Riku returned it, the mood changed. The two embraced, Riku holding Sora tightly and Sora nuzzling against his neck. Sora closed his eyes and kissed Riku once more. He wished the night would be endless, but knew that soon the sun would rise and Riku would disappear. The only thing either boy knew was that they had to make the most of the night and that was what they planed.
**********
"I did what you asked. Please, let me take the boy away from here." Taigan pleaded. Tears streamed down his face as he knelt before the shrouded figure. He bent his head, trying to hide his loss of emotions. "I don't want to hurt Sora."
A soft laugh rose from the shadows, echoing in the darkness. "You've grown attached to him, haven't you Taigan?"
Taigan closed his eyes tightly, forcing more tears out. "Don't even start with that. You know. . . ."
"He does look much like Sukai." the shrouded figure said.
"Yes, sire." Taigan whispered.
The shrouded figure snickered. "I suppose that is why you have grown attached him, and chose a strange way to connect with him." The other voice laughed softly, but was quickly silenced. "You loved Sukai and since this boy, Sora, is here he has become a substitute. I promise you, Taigan, that this boy will lead us to your lost love and everything will fall into place."
"I'm sorry, sire, but I cannot continue with this." Taigan said. He stood quickly, letting his black jacket sway around him like a shadow. "I will not lead you to Sukai so you can use him."
"You cannot back down now." the figure spat. "We made a pact those years ago and neither of us can back down from it."
"Then I will break the bond." Taigan replied angrily.
"Such a thing cannot be broken without giving up your life." the other voice said, breaking its silence. "We all know that. Take the boy to another world, Taigan, for the stars have shown that the others have begun their move."
Taigan stiffened. "Sora's friends. . . ."
The shrouded figure nodded. "The boy, Riku, still has his powers from the sorcerer. He will be able to transport himself from his world to another. He also wields one of the three Keyblades. I have the other. Sukai, no doubt, will have the third, which is why we must find him."
"But he cannot use the Keyblade's true magic without Sora." Taigan said. "Her prophecies will be nothing if the two never meet."
"True." the voice whispered. "But, Sora's friends will find Sukai and he will lead them to us. The boy, Riku, will see within Sukai the truth and the girl, Kairi, will hold the key to the end."
"You will continue as you were told." the shrouded figure announced. "Take Sora into the other worlds and track Sukai down. If you do not than you will pay with your life."