Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. I'm pretty sure everyone know that.

Warning: This fanfiction contains the yaoi - (male-male relationship). If you don't like it, just please leave. And also, it is AU. Pairing: Riku and Sora

Author's Notes: I already got an idea for another fanfiction story but I'm putting that idea on hold until I finish this story. There will be a final chapter next this one. And I'm begging my friend to beta my stories but so far no luck. Oh well.

False Mask

Eighth Chapter

He was enjoying his time on the beach. It was sunny day and the sand was little hot. The blue sky looked so beautiful with no clouds in sight. He smiled for no reason and kept walking on the beach in hopes to find the certain person.

He saw somebody was sitting on the beach, holding the soccer ball. He knew right away it was Wakka. He sighed. Wakka wasn't dealing with Riku very well.

"Hey, Wakka." He said, merrily. Wakka turned his head around to see him, and then waved at him.

"Tidus." Wakka greeted before returning his eyes upon the sapphire ocean. Tidus walked over to him and sat down besides him. He didn't know what to say but he knew he had to talk to Wakka about Riku and Sora. He watched at the ocean, sparkling under the sun. It was very peaceful moment.

"Wakka… Why are you avoiding Riku?" Tidus said, kept his eyes on the ocean. "Are you homophobic?" Wakka shook his head furiously, mumbled something he can't hear. "Wakka?" Wakka looked down at the ball.

"It's just… I knew Riku when we're just the children, ya. I always saw him, surrounded by the nice girls." Wakka said, smiling. "Always surrounded by the girls. Sometimes I was jealous of him, ya." Tidus chuckled,

"Sometimes? Are you sure?"

"Oh, shut up, ya." Wakka mumbled, "Yesterday… I didn't see any girl. Just one boy. It's… well, very weird." He shrugged, threw his ball high into the air. He caught it easily and threw it again. "I don't mean to act like that. It's very flabbergasted. Oh, how's Kairi?" Tidus sighed heavily at mention of her name. He shook his head, stumped.

"She won't come out of her bedroom. I tried to call her and knocked her door but she won't talk to me. She definitely is taking it too hard. But what's about you? When are you going to talk to Riku? I know he's starting to suspect that there is something wrong with you. He's your friend."

"I know, I know. I just need to get used to it. Though, I wonder about one thing."

"What is it?"

"Why Sora?" He turned to look at Tidus. "I don't see anything special about him, ya. He wears ugly clothes and he doesn't comb his hair." Wakka rubbed his chin with his one finger. "Well, he's good at playing the soccer but I don't think that's why Riku like him." Tidus nodded.

"But then, we also wondered same thing about Riku and Kairi before. So, who cares?" He pointed out, grabbing Wakka's soccer ball away from him. "C'mon, slowpoke! I betcha can't get this ball from me."

"Hey!" Wakka yelled, jumping on his feet.

I noticed the office has the light on. My father was still there. I sighed, and leaned against the wall. It had been the couple weeks since I got the new boyfriend. Sora moved out of the bedroom and was now living in his apartment. But, I was getting sick about keeping the secret from my mom. I really wanted to tell her. She's my mom, for god's sake. I didn't usually keep the secrets from her. I looked at the office once again. I wanted to go there and talk to my father about it. But lately, he had been so busy. Whenever I tried to talk to him, all he said to me was 'get out of here'. But I had to give it another shot. I walked to the office, knocking on the door.

"Is it you again, Riku?" I heard the voice.

"Yes, father." I answered, opening the door. I realized my father wasn't working. He was merely sitting on his over-sized chair, staring at his pictures in his hands. "Father…"

"Do you know who is it?" He held up the picture for me to see. There were the two men, smiling in their casual outfits. I recognized one of them. The left, younger man was my father. "His name is Chris. He is my childhood friend." I decided to keep my mouth shut until he finished his story.

"It was good times. Drinking and chasing the ladies. It was few years ago; that I found out Chris is like you. He's gay. I was furious, of course. He kept it secret from me for the couple years. We hadn't been talking to each one for a half year. But I sat down on this chair and started to think. Am I that foolish to furious with him, simply just because he's different? It took me long time but I eventually went to talk to him. I apologized to him. But imagine if I never met Chris? If you was first one that I knew who is one?" My father shook his head, sighing. He was silent for few moments. "I'd never forgive myself."

"Father." I was struggling for the words to say. My father held up his hand to silence me.

"I know why are you here. You want to tell your mother, isn't it? I don't know for sure if she will fine with it or become your mortal enemy." He chuckled at this. But I wasn't finding it as amusing. "But if you want to tell her, I will be there with you. Now, try to guess what I will tell you."

"'Get out of here'?"

"Bingo." I removed myself from his office and headed for my bedroom. I stood nearby the window, deep in my thoughts. I stared at the night sky, sparkling with bright stars and half-moon. I had to do something about Sora and my mother. I can't tell my mother tomorrow because my father has a court trial to attend. I wasn't very sure what'll my mother's reaction to be. I always thought I can tell her anything but now I had some doubts.

And also, there was Sora. I really wanted to know what's happened in his life. Whenever I was with him, I was itching to grab him and force him to tell me everything. I didn't want to drive him away but I really wanted to know. I felt like I had been with him for the months. But it was the two weeks ago, not months ago when we got together. What did happened in his life? I did know it had something do with his deceased mother. I made my mind up and picked up the phone.

"I'm telling you, Mrs. Mikilah, it was accident! The accident! It's not like I stamped on your flowers on purpose!" Sora was screaming at me.

"Darlin', it's Riku…" There was a pause.

"Oh. Heh… hello." Sora chuckled nervously, "Sorry about it. Mrs. Mikilah had been calling here for like thousandth time about her 'precious' flowers."

"It is okay. I'm only calling you to know if you want to come over at my house. I'm going to explore in the park tomorrow."

"Oh, yes! Tidus told me that he found some cave in the park. Maybe we can find it!" said Sora, excitedly. I remembered that. Tidus had been exploring with others and me. Tidus walked off from the group for an hour. He came back and shouted that he found an awesome cave. We went to look but Tidus forgot where it was. We spent the several hours searching for it before we gave up. That was the three years ago.

"Dad! Dad's here!" All of a sudden, Sora shouted. "Good night!" He hanged up without waiting for me to reply. I stared at my phone for long moments. My mind was already planning about Sora's situation. I collapsed on my bed, putting the phone on my small table besides the bed. Doubtless, Sora will come over here at noon; he always came at that time.

I wasn't really in mood for exploring, but I thought it is best opportunity to ask him some personal questions.

Sora tried to put on his best intimidating face while he swung that stick. I dodged it easily and then grabbed it out of his hands. He stopped and stared his hands. He blinked in confusion. I smirked, throwing Sora's stick and mine into the cold river. We were in the forest park, were exploring or least until Sora found the stick and decided to duel against me.

"You had the practice, hadn't you?" Sora pouted. In the flash, he grinned and said, "Don't matter! I'll just get better and win the battle. You just wait!" I can't help it but laughed at him. He showed his displeasure by sticking his lower lips out. "I'm serious!" He pounced at me, with intention of knock me off my feet. But I did saw it coming and ducked quickly. Sora landed right into the river.

"Ahh! Cold! Cold!" He screamed. He leaped out of the river. His clothes were wet, clung to his skin. He stood on the shore, shivering.

"You should look where you are going, darlin'." I said casually. He shot me a glare, but I smirked more. "C'mon, let get your clothes off."

"Oh, you would like that." Sora snapped. He went to take his wet black shirt off, anyway. I realized he was wearing my clothes. How come I didn't notice before? Maybe, that's because I got too many clothes. I sat down on the shore, watching him. Sora didn't take his pants though, how very disappointing. Sora walked and sat besides me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and buried his wet face into my shirt. He slowly pushed me down and continued his snuggling. After the few moments, he finally found most comfortable position and rested.

He's almost on top of me. His head was on my chest, while his leg was over my leg. Only problem with that I wasn't very comfortable. There was a stupid, sharp rock under my back. I wiggled, hoping somehow get rid of the rock. But it only made it even worse for me. I twisted around and grabbed the rock. I threw it high and far at the trees.

"Stupid rock." I muttered and lay back on the shore. Sora laughed briefly as he snuggled close with me. We stayed there long time, well, I don't know how long time it was. But it felt like ages. I thought, perhaps, it was good opportunity to ask him. I didn't want to ruin the moment, but back of my mind was itching to know.

"Can I - May I ask a personal question, darlin'?" I watched at Sora's face for any sign of reaction. There was only brief confusion. He gave me a nod. "I don't want to pressure you into something. You don't have to answer if you don't want to… But um… why did you, uh." At this instant, I forgot the words to say. I was thinking furiously, trying to find right words to say.

"The accident." Sora got up and walked away from me. I went after him but then he shook his head so I stopped. "I suppose I can't hide it from you forever." He crossed his arms and leaned against the tree trunk.

"You don't have to tell me…"

"No… I want to." He shook his head, and I knew he want me to be quiet. I watched as Sora slowly slides to the ground. I simply stood there, didn't really know what to do. I kept watching him, waiting for him to speak. Finally, his mouth opened.

"It was that day. When I came from the school, to my house. I entered the room, and saw my father sitting on the couch. He didn't look too well. So I came to him and asked what's wrong. It was that day my world had fell apart. It was that day when I learned of my mother's death. She was murdered during her work in the bar. By some bloody drunken man. He's in the jail but it wasn't enough.

"Everything changed. I walked into the room, half-expecting my mother was there and plotting some pranks on my father, like usual. But she's not there. There was no smell of bacons during Sunday mornings. She always cooked the bacons to wake me up on Sundays. It was so different for me. For first time in my life, I was lonely. I missed my mother greatly. Sometimes I did saw her but she faded away. It was just my imagination.

"My father also changed. He never laughs anymore, or plays the chess with me. He's hardly there. He quitted his job and took a new job. I don't know what kind of the work he's in. He never told me. All I know is he's away all time. He only comes back to rest and give me money so I can feed myself. I tried to talk to him but he ignored me. Yes, I make my own breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I was depressed most of time. But the suicide never entered my thought, not once until not long ago.

"Selphie, she is my childhood friend. But… I hated her. She always looked so happy and carefree. I was jealous and secretly wanted her to have the miserable life. Just like mine. Most of the times, I can't even stand her. But I didn't tell her though. I didn't want to hurt her so I avoided her. To make my life even worse, there was a group who always teased and taunted me about my clothes. Sometimes they threw the pebbles at me.

"My mother's death changed my world. My father was absent most of time. So I was alone all time. I didn't like to be alone. It was so sudden for me. I wasn't used to it. I was just walking to my home.

"It was that day when I thought of the suicide. I walked and was very depressed. Then, I heard your car. I don't know… I just acted on the impulse. Launched myself at your car. I would never do that if I were thinking clearly. But my mind was clouded."