A/N: See Prologue for typical disclaimer.
To the Reviewers
Bakoneko: Thank you...I tend to look at storytelling as an art rather than just simple writing. I think my composition teachers complain about it -wry grin-
Diechan: There there..don't cry dear. -hands over tissues- You'll find out soon enough, and is one day really that long of a waiting period?
diamondprincess: I'm going to have to set out a few boxes of these... -passes out more tissues.-
ZTX: Again..is one day so long? I try to give you an update a night. Anyway, here you go.
BagginAlong: I was wondering where you got off to. Yes..I have updated a lot. Everyone was demanding it, and this is sadly the last part. I'm going to miss you all but I hope to see some of you back when I crank out Independence Day.
And now: the last chapter.
Chapter 5
It was a few days later that his eyes slowly opened to a very bright white, and he closed them again, his first thought being that he wasn't ready for death just yet. He felt something moving beside him and he chanced opening his eyes again, looking through his lashes at the face of an angel; an angel that looked strangely like Sora. He risked opening his eyes fully and felt himself being tentatively hugged. "Sora..?" He winced at the sound of his own voice, soft, scratchy, and not at all like his own.
"Shh...I'll get you some water." As he reached for the pitcher beside the bed, the door opened and Riku turned a very tired gaze to a man in a white lab coat. He knew where he was now; he was in the hospital. Sora must have run in to call the police and they'd gotten there before his father could seriously hurt him or kill him. Now he was glad Sora had agreed to sharing the paopu. They would surely be torn apart now.
After drinking a little bit of water, he answered the doctor's questions about how he was feeling, voice still soft and a bit of sadness lingering in his face. When the doctor left them alone again to get a nurse and presumably his mother, he closed his eyes again, trying to fight off the sting of tears and depression that he knew was coming.
"Riku..?"
Sora's soft voice made him look at him again with a watery smile. "..thanks Sora." He received a bright smile and nod in answer and another gentle hug, which he returned with one arm. He had only just realized, during the questioning, that one of his arms was in a cast. It didn't feel broken, so it was probably just a sprain. But he was afraid to see under his hospital gown to where most of the problems probably were.
The door opened softly again and he turned his head to look, blinking in surprise at seeing Sora's mother there. "..ne..?" was his only question, his voice already sounding tired.
"Oh yeah!" Sora pretty much sprung up from where he was. "Mom's gonna take you in if you think it's okay so we'll probably be sharing a room since you said your mom took off. All you gotta do is sign something or other and it'll be final."
"In essence, I'm adopting you Riku," Sora's mother added softly, giving the injured teen a smile.
Riku didn't say a word, more in shock than anything else. Sora must have told his mother, but that wasn't upsetting. The fact that his friend had decided that he wanted him still around enough to persuade her into letting him stay with their family was astounding to say the least. "I ..."
She cut him off. "Get some rest...and we'll talk about it when you wake up. I know you need some time to think about it."
Riku nodded numbly, looking over at Sora again and smiling very faintly. He already knew his answer, and it was going to be a blast.
-Owari.-
Well, this is the end. Did you like it; did you hate it? Let me know; and please, include your email address on your final reviews. I'll respond personally.