~I don't own Kingdom Hearts~

Riku x Sora

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Lots of thanks to Angel K.D., Lil-ChiBi-person, and Lalapad for reviewing ^_^

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~~~~~Chapter 2: Of Dreams and Nightmares~~~~~

Sora's POV

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"Sora... I believe you."

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Going towards his oustreched hand, he pulls my back to his chest puts his arms around me in a protective way. Kairi once said that stuff like this is 'so wrong'. But what's wrong with being comforted by your best friend? Riku and I have *always* been this close... even before I had realized I loved him, I loved it when he did this.

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"You... you do?"

"Yeah. I can tell when you're lying. And I've... well, that can wait till later. But..."

"But?"

"I don't think you're telling me everything..."

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Gah! Why the hell does Riku always have to know *everything*?! I mean, I know he's freaking *perfect* and all... but, really! I thought it was a good enough answer... it would have fooled *me* into believing that was all. Damn it!

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"That's... I... it doesn't matter."

"Sora, why won't you tell me? It obviously matters, you're all upset. Gods, what kind of a friend are you making me out to be? Don't you trust me?"

"Yeah! I do! I trust you, Riku... but I... I can't tell you."

Pulling away from me with a slightly hurt look on his face, he says "...Fine. I understand. Why don't you just go tell *Kairi*, or something. Just do me a favor. Don't let it get to you, okay?"

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Before he starts to walk away, his pained expression turns into another cocky grin. This one only seems half-hearted, though... Man, what have I done? I didn't want to tell Riku because I was afraid he wouldn't want to have anything to do with me... but I'd rather have him mad at me than have him think I don't trust him. Gods, Riku, you make everything so complicated...

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"Riku!"

"Yeah?"

"I... she seemed so happy, until she asked me something, and the whole conversation changed."

"What did she ask?"

"Well... she said I liked a guy, and she wanted to know who he was. I didn't tell her, but she guessed... and she looked as if the world was about to end when she realized she was right."

"So you..."

"I what?! Yes, I like boys, Riku! Only boys. I don't want Kairi. So sorry. I've *never* looked at her that way. If you don't want to associate with me, I'll understand. You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine, really. So, why don't you walk away, like I know you're dying to but you're too polite to actually do."

"Sora, what the *hell* would I do that for? I'm your friend, no matter what. ...Just finish the freaking story already, okay? If the girl was who I think it was, we really ought to do something about it *now*. We can deal with your issues about your sexuality later."

"Riku..."

"So? Go on, finish the damn story already!"

"...Well, actually, that's kinda it... She didn't really tell me anything else. Just that things were going to happen, and that I shouldn't cry, even though I loved this boy."

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A little embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my head; I really didn't mean to freak out on Riku like that. I just thought he'd get upset... I don't know, if I were straight, I think I'd be pretty damn surprised if I found out my best friend was gay. Especially if I found out the way I just told Riku. He really is a great friend... I should have known he'd always accept me for whoever I was. Riku's just like that. He doesn't ditch friends. Especially not when they need his help.

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"Oh... that's it? So... I guess the only question left is... Sora!"

"Uh, yeah?" He seemed kinda lost in thought there for a few minutes, so I wasn't really expecting the sudden urgent 'Sora!' when he said it. I wonder if he's figured out what's going on? Gods, I knew he would be able to help me. Riku can do anything.

"Sora... I don't know how to say this, really, but..."

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Riku, at a loss for words?! *Riku*?! Has hell frozen over? My God! And, is he... blushing!?

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"Sora, is the person you love... me?"

I wince. Is it that obvious? Damn, now I've *really* messed everything up. Everything's gonna change, I just know it.

"Um... well... yeah." I can feel the heat in my cheeks... I don't think I even want to *know* how red my face is right now. What does he think of me? Is he disgusted?

Does he even care?

"Just as I thought. I get it, now... the girl's name was Lachesis, right?"

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Nodding dumbly, I wonder if it's a good sign or bad that he's not even acknowledging the fact that I told him I love him; I mean, yeah, that wasn't exactly the way I had dreamed of him finding out, but *still*! He could say *something*, couldn't he?

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"I've seen her, too. About a week ago. She's got silver skin, right? I saw her out by the paopu tree; she told me she had been waiting for me there."

"Waiting for you? What did she say?"

"...She told me not to interfere."

"Interfere? Interfere with what?"

"Fate."

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Interfere with fate... what could that possibly mean? How could anyone do something like that? Isn't fate supposed to be predetermined? As in, unchangeable? And, what fate would Riku run the risk of changing?

Well, no matter what, *something* must be seriously wrong. After all, the normally cool and collected Riku seems pretty damn nervous. As in, getting fidgety and stuff. Another first. Man, is today weird...

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"Riku? What did she mean by that?"

"I... Well, before we were even born, our lives were predetermined, right? That's basically what fate is. ...Lachesis is the goddess of fate."

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That... kid?! The goddess of fate?! Um, right. Wasn't expecting that. I would have thought the goddess of fate would be a little... older, maybe?

Whatever. If Riku says she's the goddess of fate, it's gotta be true; Riku's always right.

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"Yeah, so? What does that have to do with anything?"

"I know our fates; I know what's supposed to happen. I only really have a vague idea of how I could change it, but Lachesis obviously sees me as a threat. Personally, I like *my* version much better than the original, but..."

"Um... Riku, if it's okay to ask... what's your fate? The one you want, I mean."

"...I-I don't really know how much I can tell you... but, well..." He's stammering. God, just let this all end and let everything go back to normal...

"That's okay, then. I just..."

"I'll tell you this much. It has a lot to do with you."

"With... me?"

"Yeah. Actually, the fate most affected by the change would be yours."

"Mine? How? Can't I know?"

"Not really..."

"But why? And why would you change *my* fate?"

"Sora..."

"Come on! I wanna know!" Real mature, I know. But, damn, this is *my* fate we're talking about here! Don't I even get a say in things?

"...Alright! Alright, already! She told me not to tell you, but... I love you! I love you, okay?! I hated Kairi when she came to the island for taking you away from me, even though we still spent most of our time together. I didn't want to share. I still don't. Sora, I want you to be mine..."

"Yours..."

"But you're... you're fated for Kairi. You're going to marry her, and have a son... a son that will unify the worlds. If I were to try to change your mind..."

"But, Riku, I love you... I've never loved Kairi. It's always been you. To tell you the truth, when she first came, I was convinced that she was an 'icky girl' that would take away my Riku, because you were so handsome she wouldn't be able to resist. Actually, I kinda still thought that until just now. I've always thought Kairi would steal you from me. And it hurt. It hurt a lot!"

"Sora, I know. I should have realized you didn't love Kairi... because I know there's no love in your fate. And that's what hurts me the most."

"Riku..."

"But, now that I know you love me... I'll do anything to keep that from happening. When I thought you wanted Kairi... I wasn't going to try to change your life for my own sake. Even if you'd grow apart, it wouldn't really be my place to say anything, would it? But now, I won't give you up, no matter what fate dictates."

"Riku, thanks. Thank you so much..."

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But just as we were about to kiss, just as the moment I had been waiting for all my life had begun to happen, Lachesis appeared again.

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"Riku. I've said it before; I will *not* let you interfere."

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With that, the sweet looking, childlike Lachesis raised her right hand, and Riku fell. And I mean, really fell; the floor below him opened up and sucked him in. As i stood there gaping, not quite realizing what had just happened, she reverted to her previously angelic composure.

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"Well then, Sora, now that that's over with, how about we have a tea party?"

Finally finding my voice, I screamed. A delayed reaction, yes, and there were no coherent sentences; just a lot of 'Riku' here and there, and lots of 'why'. But this was enough for her to twist her mouth into a thoughtful frown.

"Aww, Sora! It's better this way! And a boy as cute as you shouldn't be unhappy! Come on, Kairi's not that bad. And that stupid boy isn't half as great as he thinks he is."

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I was shaking, shaking with rage, sadness, a little bit of fear, and something I couldn't identify. How could this stupid brat do something like this?! How could she take my Riku away?! And what the hell was she thinking, playing it off as nothing like that?!

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"Don't... don't say that about Riku. I love him. To me, he *is* that great. He's everything. And your opinion really doesn't matter, anyway."

"But, Kairi's pretty! Couldn't you love her, too?"

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Pretty?! What do looks have to do with love? Sure, I love the way Riku looks. But that's just part of him. I didn't fall in love with his appearance. I fell in love with *him*, with everything about him. I fell in love with the way he smiles and helps me up after another of my many losses; I love the way he sits under the paopu tree, thinking, at twilight, with the light reflecting off of him; I love the look of determination on his face when he's decided to do something; I love the way he smells, sweet and like the ocean, with something I can't place; I love everything about him, so many things I couldn't possibly name them all. How could I learn to love Kairi, when Riku has completely taken over my freaking *soul*? How can you love someone else when there isn't even enough room in your heart to contain everything you feel for one person? And how can you *learn* to love someone, anyway?

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"Kairi's like a sister to me... why can't you see that? You're the goddess of fate; you should know that I can never love Kairi the way I love Riku. I *need* Riku."

"Stupid... you annoying humans, always talking about this; you 'need', you 'love', you 'want'. But what do they really mean, Sora? What does needing Riku mean to you? Why won't you forget about him, already?"

How the hell am I supposed to explain something that can't be explained? I dunno, it's like, if Riku's not there... Riku's *not there*! Riku *has* to be there! You know, air, water, food, Riku? I don't know how to put it into words! I guess I have to try, but... still! Why doesn't she know?! How can she control fate without understanding human emotion?

"Ah...When Riku's not around, I feel like I'm only half there. If something happened to Kairi, or Selphie, or Tidus, or any of the others on the island, I would be really sad; but not if something happened to Riku. If something happened to Riku, I really don't know what I'd do, but I'd never be the same. I'd never get over it. It's cliche, but I'd probably die without him. And, if I didn't die, I know there's no way I'd be optimistic, cheerful, motivated... any of the things I am today. Riku gives me confidence; he keeps me alive."

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It's amazing, the things you realize when you're in the heat of the moment. Riku really *is* that important to me; I had just never thought about it like that before. It's kind of nice to know you have someone you love enough to die for; very romantic. Cliche, yes, but romantic nonetheless.

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"I see... so you're going to make this difficult. I wish you'd just go along with it, Sora; the future is inalterable."

"But I can always die trying, can't I?"

"All right then, Sora... I'll leave you alone, and I'll even return that... *boy* of yours. But keep this in mind: I will not give up. I *was* going to go easy on you; I felt bad for you, because you really seemed to think you loved him. Of course, I knew better, but still... humans are easily decieved. But, after this... I do *not* tolerate utter defiance, Sora. Some people need to be taught a lesson; apparently, you're one of them."

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