Salvete omnes! Tee hee, I'm cool, I take Latin. Ha, just kidding. Anyways, this is my new story! The title translates (it's in Latin, that's the only language I speak…er…write fluently) to: "Wounds to Heal", or, literally, "Wounds we Ought to/ we Must Heal". I wrote the first chapter over spring break, flying on a nice long plane ride, but I was just too lazy to type it up and edit it. And by the time I really wanted to, it was finals time. But now, since I've been out of school for… a little less than a month, I'm going to finally post it. Also, I felt really nervous about posting the first chapter before I'd gotten a good head start on the second because I am a really slow, meticulous, and lazy writer. But now that I've got a nice 1½ page start (which I wrote on another long plane ride), here you go. Ta-da!

P.S.: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, or Riku, or Sora, even though I wish I did. And! I don't think that St. Mauritsdale's College really exists (I'm pretty sure Maurits isn't a saint… I don't even know if Maurits is a name… probably not… last name, maybe?), but in the unlikely chance that it does, I don't own that either. Damn. I don't own anything.

P.S. Again: I... er... remembered something... but then I forgot... so... nevermind...

Chapter 1: St. Mauritsdale's

Won't… cry… won't… cry, Sora repeated futilely as he wiped his sparkling sapphire eyes roughly. He waved to his tearful parents until after the taxi they had called was long gone. Feeling a bit forlorn, he turned to look at the expansive façade of St. Mauritsdale's, his home for the next four years. Or more, he thought, suddenly bitter. He shivered as a cold wind blew over his bare arms, calves, and neck. Sora had never been a brain. He worked hard at his schoolwork, and his parents had even tried hiring a tutor for a while, but nothing seemed to help. He hadn't brought home a single A in his entire four years of high school (excluding P.E., of course). In most of his classes, he was lucky to bring home a B. Wonder why… he almost snorted because of the irony. Then he shook his head, not wanting to think too hard about his past… His college counselor in high school told him that he had a 'fighting spirit', however, and that, along with a very desperate essay, was what had gotten him into the college he was currently standing in front of. Fighting spirit my ass, he thought, a bit more than intimidated at being so far from everything he had ever known and already absolutely sure that he couldn't possibly do well. Realizing quickly that he was going to dig himself into a hole just standing out here, he adjusted the duffel bag strap currently compressing his arm rather painfully, and lugged his suitcase toward the large open doors, full of apprehension.

The sun streamed merrily through the tall French windows that lined the walls, illuminating the huge entrance room of St. Mauritsdale's. Arching his neck to gape at the high vaulted ceilings, Sora walked towards one of the many tables bearing a sign reading "Welcome, New Students!" Reaching the table, a skinny girl a bit shorter than him smiled in greeting. She had short burgundy-colored hair that framed her pale face and blue eyes.

"Hello," she said cheerily, putting aside the conversation she was having with a few other girls beside her, "Last name?" Sora began to blush as the other girls giggled and squealed, obviously talking about him. "Hello?" the first girl called.

"Oh… heh… sorry," Sora replied, blushing even deeper. He gave the girl his last name and she began riffling through a box of folders in front of her.

"Sora?" she asked, looking through a folder she had pulled from the box. He nodded. "I'm Kairi. Nice to meet you," she said, smiling and offering her hand. Sora shook her hand, flashing his own smile – looking more cheesy than charming, but adorable just the same. A light blush coloring her cheeks, she continued. "I'm in my second year here at St. Maurits'." She looked through the folder again. "Your dorm is in building D, on the fifth floor. Room 127. Funny… it doesn't say anything about who your roommate is… you'll just find out when you get there. Anyway, my dorm's in building B, on the second floor. If you ever need anything come over and ask for me in the lounge. If I'm not around, I'm sure the rest of the girls will be able to help you," Kairi said with a knowing gesture towards her giggling classmates.

"Thanks," Sora replied with a genuine smile. This girl seemed like she would make a good friend. She handed him the folder, and Sora left to begin looking for building D.

Walking towards his new dorm, Sora contemplated his past life somberly… he hadn't had many friends, had he? Well, what is a friend anyway? Someone you trust? Well, Sora trusted everyone, didn't he? Or, at least, he used to. Someone you… laugh with? Turning these questions over in his mind, Sora passed buildings A-C without much notice, almost automatically observing them and storing the information away. All three were exactly alike – tall, maybe 7 stories each, with beige stucco walls and brown trim along the roof and balconies. Double wooden doors seemed to be the entrance to all of them, and it was these he opened as he stepped into his dorm building.

Inside, he was greeted by fluorescent lights and a hard to place but not altogether unpleasant smell. Sora stood at the beginning of a long hallway with many other hallways branching off. There were a few guys greeting their old friends outside their doors, but other than that the hall was almost completely empty. To his left, though, was the elevator, and Sora decided to not start exploring because he knew that he would inevitably get very, very, lost. Through the closing elevator doors, he saw an open room with a couple of guys watching TV on a couch. Figuring it to be the lounge, he resolved that he wouldn't let his low self-esteem keep him from making friends, just like Cloud had said. Cloud… Sora was pulled from his thoughts by the elevator dinging.

Stepping out of the elevator, he saw what looked to be another lounge across the way. Then he began walking down the hallway looking for his room, suddenly so cheerful that he surprised himself.

"25… 26… 127!" he thought aloud. The door was cream colored with modest brass numbers above a peep hole. Pulling the key Kairi had given him out of his pocket, Sora set his bags down and fumbled a bit before finding the door unlocked already. "Hello?" he called, wondering if his roommate was here. Receiving no answer, he called out again, a little louder. "Helloooo?" Suddenly, he heard a door open and close, and then almost silent footsteps walking their way closer.

A man stopped in the threshold and leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb, the light from the hallway illuminating him. Sora gasped. His roommate was… gorgeous. Wearing only a pair of baggy, black pants that barely clung to his slim waist, Sora could see how toned the other's physique was; his firm chest, well-defined abs, and muscular arms completely bare. He was a few inches taller than Sora with shoulder-length, stunning silver hair and a delicate pale complexion. Staring at the other's silver hair made a pang of sorrow rip through Sora's stomach, but before he could look away, he was caught in the man's intense gaze. His eyes were a striking shade of aquamarine, their beauty only marred by how bloodshot they were. He seemed to be appraising Sora as well, and this caused a deep red to creep into his cheeks. He watched the other's silvery eyebrow arch slowly and was lost in the mellifluous deep voice that followed.

"Who are you?"

Sora opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He stood there and gaped. A slight frown crossed the other's face before he spoke again. "Hey, kid. I said, who are you?" Snapping out of his trance, Sora instinctively went on the defensive.

"I'm not a kid!" he squealed, as his voice box came back into action with gusto. He managed to scowl and pout at the same time. The stranger straightened abruptly, eyes clenched shut and his hands flying to his head. "Sorry!" Sora shouted instantly, only to watch the other's gorgeous eyes disappear behind his pale eyelids again. "I mean, I'm sorry," he whispered, his brain slightly clouded over by the stranger's exquisite beauty.

"I'm fine. Don't apologize," the other said, voice suddenly icy, as his hands fell back to his sides.

Slightly crestfallen by the man's unexpected coldness, Sora cursed his still-rampant hormones before speaking. "I'm Sora. I… er… do you live here?" he said, only realizing what a stupid question it was after he asked it. The stranger blinked.

"Of course I live here… Why else would I be here?" he replied cynically, eyebrow arching once more. He watched the red come back into Sora's cheeks.

"I… yeah… sorry," he said, running his slender fingers through his spiky dark brown hair with a quiet sigh. God. I already made myself look like an idiot. "I think this is my room, too… What's your name?" The stranger was silent a moment, looking Sora up and down slowly.

"Riku…" he said after a pause that felt like years to Sora. "Riku."

to be continued…

A/N: IT'S OVER!!! Whoops, not Teen Girl Squad time. Yeah, anyways. That description of Riku was what I had the most trouble with. And then, when I finally felt like I had edited it enough, I wrote some of the Sora back-story, and I had to change it. Damn back-story. What am I talking about? You'll just have to wait till' the next chapter… ::does a next chapter dance::

Yeah, so, review, don't review, whatever, I'm just glad you read it! Although it sure would be nice to have some reviews! Domo, in advance.

Kat