Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. I just write fan fiction because I love the game. I'm not making any money off this, so please don't sue.
Warning: Y'all should know what's going on in this fic by now. (Yaoi, if you are still confused.) Yaoihater, you should get off your high horse and come out the closet. By the way, thanks for the ammo for the "Riku and Sora make out in front of the Fireplace" scene written for the entertainment of Yaoi obsessed fan girls (like yourself). Well, I think I should move on to the fic.
Here is chapter four of the giftfic for the amazing Uzumaki-sama. If you want to read a great story, you should read her three fics, "Stygian Solace", "A Complete 180." and " Half Sandcastle" What are you waiting for? Read and review my fic and get busy with hers!
Enjoy!
Chapter Four, Part One:
Lately, You're All I Need
It is still raining when Riku opens his eyes, but he smiles, Sora is snuggled cozily on his chest, one arm loosely about his waist. He tightens his own arms around the slim figure, burying his nose into Sora's hair, careful not to wake him up. The brunette smells like sweat and spring rain, and Riku inhales deeply, planting a soft kiss on his scalp. He closes his eyes to better savor the moment. Holding Sora made him feel as if he is holding a summer day on Destiny Islands, like he is holding the sky in all its vastness. It is almost as if all the freedom he had searched for when he left his small island is all contained in the boy sleeping safely within his embrace. Riku feels his chest tighten as he realizes just how deeply he has fallen for his friend. If Sora doesn't return his feelings he may be lost, Riku doesn't even want to try imagining a life without him.
Sora stirs in his sleep, muttering something incomprehensible and snuggling closer. Riku pulls a stray lock of hair away from his friend's face, fighting a strong, sudden urge to kiss him.
When did you get so much power over me Sora? Will I ever get it back? Do I even want to have it back?
Sora stirs again, opening sapphire blue eyes and looking up into Riku's aqua. He blushes lightly for a moment, and then it fades as he grins.
"Good morning."
Riku's heart flutters. "Good morning, Sora. Sleep okay?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Of course I did." Riku says with a smirk. Sora's face flushes red at that and he shyly drops his eyes. Riku chortles at him. "Are we going to get up, or lie here all day?"
"It's still raining." Sora says matter of fact, as if answering him. Riku makes a small, amused sound.
"And that means…?"
"This is fine." Sora almost sighs. He lifts his head up to look at Riku. "Tell me more about myself. About what kind of friendship we had. I want to be able to remember you."
Riku is touched by Sora's words and their meaning, even though he doesn't want Sora to remember anything. He looks up at the ceiling to think for a moment. "Well, there was this one time you were trying to climb down from this tree and your foot got stuck in the branches…"
Riku talks about their happy past for some time. At some point he begins to stroke Sora's back in a gentle rhythm that causes the other boy to doze off again. Riku sighs and touches Sora's lips with gentle fingers, remembering how soft they are.
"…And at some point I had fallen in love with you, and when I finally noticed it was too late to do anything."
Yet Riku has snatched another chance from fate's tight fingers, and he still isn't the least bit sorry for it at all. If he has to do it again he will, without the slightest hesitation.
"I love you, Sora." Riku whispers to the sleeping boy. "I love you, I love you, I love you…and if it meant I had to let everything sink into the darkness to keep you I would do it."
Just outside the window, a figure dressed in black smiled, amber eyes glinting dangerously.
"Oh, really now?"
A few hours later Riku wakes to a pair of sheepish blue eyes.
"Oh, Riku! I'm so sorry!"
Riku blinks in confusion. "Huh? What for?"
"I had asked you to tell me about my past, and I fell asleep on you! I'm sorry!"
Riku's confused look softens. How cute that he is so upset about something so small. "It's okay, Sora." His words do little to erase the sorrowful expression on Sora's face. Riku smiles at how adorable his friend looks. He lifts his head to give him a gentle kiss, but stops himself, remembering the previous night. He plops back with a sigh.
"It's really oka-" Riku's eyes pop open as soft lips cover his own. He makes a small noise of surprise, but Sora ignores it. The brunette teen gently kisses Riku; almost chastely, like a shy boy giving his first kiss. Riku wrestles with himself to let Sora control the kiss, but after awhile, it just isn't enough, and he wraps his arms around Sora, pulling him closer and urging his lips apart with his tongue. Sora complies, but shocks Riku by sliding his tongue into his friend's mouth first, effectively retaking control of the kiss. Pleasantly surprised, Riku relaxes; very willing to see what Sora is going to do. Not one to disappoint, Sora dances his tongue in Riku's mouth, his hands coming up to cup his friend's face. Riku sighs into the kiss, realizing that Sora is kissing him. Sora initiated this. He rubs his hands along his love's back, tracing his ribs with curious hands. Sora moans, shivering slightly. When Riku's hands travel down to cup Sora's buttocks however, Sora breaks the kiss, alarmed.
"Riku-!"
Sora's plea is cut off when Riku flips him over, pinning him to the bed. Sora gasps when Riku begins to kiss his neck, and again tries to stop his friend.
"Riku, wait…aah!"
Riku begins to move downward, pausing when Sora calls his name and arches into his touch. He smiles briefly, closing his lips around one of Sora's nipples, torturing the spot deliciously, and listening to Sora's ragged breathing.
"Riku, please!" He hears Sora try again to beg for him to stop, but he stubbornly refuses to listen. He isn't through trying to seduce his friend into becoming his lover. Riku moves to the other nipple, his hands sliding down to Sora's groin, and Sora arches again, unable to help himself.
"Riku!" Sora half sobs. He isn't ready for this step. Riku hears the desperation in his voice, and brings his head up to look into Sora's wet eyes. "I…I'm not…I'm not…" Riku sighs softly, disappointed yet understanding. He lets Sora up, and the sapphire-eyed boy quietly excuses himself and makes for the bathroom as quickly as his current state will allow him. Riku collapses back onto the bed, sighing and running his hands through his hair. He feels like such an idiot, pushing Sora although he isn't ready. He should have gone slower. If he is going to win Sora he should do it the right way. He just… can't help himself. Damn it, why did this have to be so hard?
Sora returns after a little while, slightly pale and nervous. He edges into the room, looking everywhere but at Riku. Riku clears his throat softly, ready to apologize.
"I'm sorry."
Riku blinks; the words he has intended to say have not come from him but from Sora. He is the one who had done wrong, not his friend. Riku shakes his head and chuckles.
"What are you apologizing for? I was the one who pushed things." Riku smiles warmly at Sora as the brunette jerks his head up to look at him.
"Yeah, but-!"
"Sora?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm willing to drop it if you are."
"Ah."
Riku walks past Sora, pausing at the door. "The rain let up. I was thinking we could look for the king some more. Are you up for it?"
"Yeah." Sora picks up his clothes to get dressed. "I'll be ready when you are." Riku nods and leaves for a quick shower. He lets out a sigh of relief when he is out of Sora's hearing, he is glad it was resolved so easily. He wouldn't know what to do if he had ruined his chance with Sora. Not giving it another thought, Riku showers and dresses quickly, needing to use the search for the king as a way to clear his head.
True to his word, Sora is ready when Riku is and after eating they leave to search the city some more. It is eerily silent and still, so quiet, one can almost hear the water evaporating from the ground. Riku's muscles tense, his many years of training telling him that something is not right. Sora notices as well, edging closer to Riku, but keeping an eye on whatever the other Keyblade wielder cannot. After a moment of waiting, Riku moves on, feeling even edgier and even more cautious. Going back to the house is only going to prolong whatever it is the heartless are planning to do, he figures it is better to let them go ahead and do it so they can be shoved back into whatever hole it is they crawl out of.
"This…"
Riku looks over at Sora; his head is bowed slightly, his forehead being held in his left hand. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"
"This seems familiar…something…" Sora snaps his head up just as the wind begins to blow. "Something is coming!" Riku barely has the time to summon his Keyblades, when the world suddenly explodes. Riku is thrown to the ground as a long black wall bursts up from the ground, destroying anything in its path and separating him from Sora.
"Sora!" Riku shouts, racing toward the wall. It grew several feet in height when he tries to scale it, and he frustratingly attacks it with both Keyblades, desperate to get to his friend.
"I'm alright!"
Riku hears Sora's voice from the other side, faint, but sounding like everything is under control. Relieved for the moment, Riku looks for a way to get to the other side so he can help Sora.
"That's useless. It's impenetrable from this side."
Riku turns quickly. "You!"
The amber eyed boy known as Mizu saunters into the area with the grace of a panther. "The only vulnerable spot it has is on the side the Key is on."
Riku hisses his rage and brandishes the Keyblades with intent to kill. Mizu holds up his hands as if surrendering.
"Now, now, there is no need for that, is there? We are both after the same thing after all…"
"What are you babbling-?"
"The Key's heart." Mizu interrupts. He smiles at Riku's confusion. "Aren't you after it as well?"
"Not in the way you are!" Riku growls. "I'm not trying to steal it away like you!"
"Oh no?" Mizu purrs. "Am I wrong about the fact the Key has lost his memories, and you are using that to your advantage?"
Riku's blood runs cold. It is exactly as Mizu has said. He is using Sora's amnesia to win his heart…
Mizu's smile widens. "So how about a truce…?"
"No! I'm not about to make a deal with a heartless…not again." Riku shakes his head. There is a difference between what he is doing and what Mizu wants to do. Riku is only stealing a chance. If Sora doesn't want him, he isn't going to force it. "I'm not like you." He hisses. "So don't go trying to make it seem like I am."
"No…" Mizu casts Riku a knowing grin. "I suppose you aren't like me." Behind them the black wall shudders, and a sharp cry resounds loudly into the dark sky. Riku looks back quickly, seeing the wall writhe with what seems like pain.
"I guess the Key has found the heartless's weak point already." Mizu muses, tapping a finger against his chin thoughtfully. "It's amazing how you manage to protect him even though I took such pains to separate you."
"What?" Riku's eyes narrow.
"You haven't realized? Ah, well. I supposed I should be grateful…" Mizu trails off, the rest unintelligible.
"Start making sense!"
"If I did that, things wouldn't be as much fun. Don't worry, all things will become clear soon enough." Mizu turns. "Are you sure about not joining forces? I'd hate to see what would happen if the Key there ever regains his memories. It would be a problem for both of us."
The wall heartless's screams become more frequent. Mizu smiles over his shoulder at Riku.
"Get the hell out of my face."
Mizu shakes his head. "As you wish. My offer is always open." He disappears off into the shadows just as the wall heartless gives a final cry and vanishes, a small pink heart escaping into the sky. Riku watches it go, not knowing what to feel. He brings his eyes back down to catch the incredible blue of Sora's, the boy looking at him questioningly. Riku walks over to him, looking him over quickly. He notes his friend's burned shoulder.
"You alright?" He asks.
"It got me a few good times, but I'll be fine. What about you? You don't look so good."
"I had a run in with your buddy, Mizu. He said some things I don't agree with. Nothing major." Riku shrugs.
"Riku…"
"So how did you get that thing?" Riku feels guilty changing the subject like that. He had told Sora that they should tell each other important things, and here he is dodging the subject. He can't help it though. He can't tell Sora what was really said. He just can't. Sora heaves a sigh.
"I'll tell you later. We should be looking for the King, right?"
Riku winces. Well, he did deserve that, he supposes. "Sora, I didn't mean…"
"Hey, it's fine. Really." Sora turns away from Riku, waving a hand dismissively. "Can you tell from the gold Keyblade which direction he is in?"
Riku sighs and decides it's better off left alone. "I can feel him off somewhere in the west part of the city."
"Then we should go."
Riku nods, even though Sora can't see. "Yeah. We should."
Chapter Four, Part Two:
Imadoki Yakusoku Nante Fuan Ni Saseru Dake Kana
…Something is coming…
"Something is coming!" Sora sees Riku's Keyblades materialize as a long black object shot forward from the ground. Sora rolls out of the way, his own Keyblade forming in his hand. He looks up at it; it appears to be a large wall with a massive, smiling face. Sora didn't like the look of that smile.
"Sora!"
Said boy heard his friend call him, as he slides into his attack stance. "I'm alright!" He shouts, wanting to put his friend at ease. It's just a big wall. It can't move. How hard can it be to fight?
He has his answer the minute he tries to hit it. The Keyblade bounces off harmlessly, and the wall's smile only gets bigger. It opens its mouth and Sora jumps away to try to avoid its attack. The wall begins sucking in air, creating a vacuum that tries to drag Sora in. Cursing under his breath, the Keyblade's master struggles against the wind, trying to keep his distance, which is his only advantage.
The wall stops sucking in air and holds it in a moment, eyes blinking rapidly. Sora lifts the Keyblade to defend himself, and the wall shoots out a stream of fire. Thinking quickly, Sora rolls quickly to the side. The wall chuckles softly and the face moves down its 'body'.
"Oh how weird…" Sora says, making a face. The wall only smiles and blows out more fire. Caught unawares, Sora doesn't move in time and the flames singe his left shoulder. Grunting in pain, Sora backs away as the wall begins to suck in air again. The wind whistling past his ear seems to cry out harshly to him.
…Ice…
Sora scrunches his brow. He looks down at the Keyblade, feeling a familiar tingling through his body. It is just like the time he had summoned the lightning for aid. Sora stops fighting against the vacuum, letting it pull him in. He lifts the Keyblade up level with his shoulder.
"Deep freeze!"
A gust of icy wind shoots forth from the tip of the Keyblade, right into the wall's mouth. It stopped sucking in air and starts to choke, coughing and sputtering. Sora raises the Keyblade again, a small memory of magic returning. "Here!" He calls, and a black orb of magic materializes around the face, and the wall shudders, crying out in pain. Sora jumps back as it composes itself, preparing for another strike. When it begins to suck in air again, Sora simply repeats the process, and after a third assault, the wall gives one final shriek before vanishing, a single pink heart rising into the sky. Sora feels as though it holds some significance, but the feeling is gone as quickly as it has come.
When he looks across to where Riku is, their eyes meet, and they hold gazes for a moment. Riku walks over to Sora, his eyes catching the weary warrior's injury.
"You alright?"
Sora manages a smile. "It got me a few good times, but I'll be fine." He looks concerned at Riku's troubled expression. "What about you? You don't look so good."
"I had a run in with your buddy, Mizu. He said some things I don't agree with. Nothing major."
A run in with Mizu? That didn't sound good. "Riku…"
"So how did you get that thing?"
Is Riku changing the subject? Sora blinked in disbelief. He has nerve, after forcing Sora to tell him what happened with that insane heartless. Sora sighs, thinking that maybe Riku is only trying to protect him with his memories gone. That actually only makes him angrier. He doesn't know why, but he is angry.
"I'll tell you later. We should be looking for the King, right?" He doesn't mean to be so bitter, but he can't help it. He doesn't need coddling.
"Sora, I didn't mean…"
"Hey, it's fine. Really." Sora turns away from Riku, waving a hand dismissively. No the hell it's not fine, but he'll get over it. "Can you tell from the gold Keyblade which direction he is in?"
"I can feel him off somewhere in the west part of the city."
"Then we should go." 'Quickly, before I say something nasty.'
"Yeah. We should."
Time doesn't seem to move too fast. Actually, time doesn't seem to move at all, with the skies perpetually full of dark clouds. Because there are no clocks, Sora basically went by his body. If he is tired, it is time to sleep. If he is hungry, it is time to eat. Simple, but it is all he has.
It is taking a while for his body to tire, longer then usual, or so it seems. It is strange considering what he has just been through with that wall…heartless…thing. Maybe he is getting stronger. Maybe time is just laughing at him. Sora jumps as a hand is laid gently on his injured shoulder.
"Got you pretty good here."
"…Yeah." Sora says, his voice sounding clipped and angry.
"We should take care of that, maybe get you a change of clothes."
Sora looks Riku in the eyes, not bothering to hide how upset he still is. "I think finding your friend and getting out of here is a little more important."
"I don't." The look on Riku's face is pleading, apologetic. Sora's shoulders slump in defeat.
"Alright, fine." He lets Riku lead him over to a large building with a large lock off to the side. Riku uses his dark Keyblade to open the lock, and then pulls an astounded Sora inside.
"How did you…?"
"You can do the same thing." Riku says dismissively. Sora feels annoyed again, but Riku pulls a small box out from under a counter and his annoyance fades into curiosity. Sora takes the opportunity to look around.
"Where are we?"
"It seems to be a department store or something." Riku says distractedly, looking through the box. "I was looking in here earlier, I thought you might be in one of the buildings."
"But the doors are all locked, and I didn't know I could use my Keyblade to open them."
"Yes, but I didn't know you had lost your memory." Riku pulls out some bandages, a bottle and some cotton balls.
"Ah. That's right." Sora let Riku pull him over to the counter and pull off his white short-sleeved hoodie.
"This might sting a little." Riku says, wetting the cotton ball with the liquid in the bottle. He cleans the burned area gently, and Sora only winces slightly. Riku puts the bottle away and pulls a jar out of the box. Working quickly, he opens the top and rubs a cooling salve on Sora's shoulder. They both fall silent for a moment, Riku concentrating on his task, and Sora lost in thought.
"Sora?"
"Y-yes?" Sora stammers, brought back to reality by Riku's voice.
"If…if I…if I do, um, did something…anything… terrible…to you…"
"Riku, what…?"
"If something like that happened…would…would you forgive me?"
Sora gazes over at Riku's downcast face. "What…brought this on?" Riku doesn't reply, he just bows his head lower. He wraps Sora's shoulder with the bandages, tying it loosely, but securely. Sora continues to stare at him. What does he mean? Then it hits him.
Mizu.
He must have said something to Riku to mess with his head, or…
Or Riku is feeling guilty over not telling Sora what had happened.
Suddenly understanding, Sora lifts Riku's head, smiling into the watery eyes of his friend, his anger forgotten.
"According to you, you already did do 'something terrible' and I forgave you. Why wouldn't I do it again?"
Riku stares at Sora for a minute, searching his friend's face desperately. "Sora…" He lifts the other boy up onto the counter, burying his face into his friend's chest and sobbing uncontrollably. Sora strokes Riku's silver hair soothingly.
"As long as you want me to, I will be here for you. Just like you are here for me, Riku." Sora's eyes close and his smile become gentler when Riku squeezes him tighter.
"Then I want you with me forever. I never want to lose you, Sora…" Riku tightens his grip with every sentence, as if he is afraid the boy will disappear. "I don't want to lose you again…"
Sora hugs Riku comfortingly. Riku pushes his body between Sora's knees, trying to get closer. He lifts his tearstained face to look into Sora's eyes, begging wordlessly for a kiss. Sora complies, lowering his lips to Riku's, intending only to show affection and offer comfort. Riku presses forward into Sora's kiss with a desperate one of his own. He pulls his love tighter to his body and lifts him off the counter, trying to get more of what his Sora is offering. He nibbles on the brunette's bottom lip before moving on to taste the skin on Sora's ear and neck. Sora shivers, and the action causes Riku to shove the other boy's backside against the counter, pushing his hips as tightly against Sora's as he could, hands pulling the brunette head back so he could get more of the soft skin at the base of his love's neck. Sora gasps at the contact, eyes fluttering closed as a moan escapes his lips. Riku kisses his way up Sora's neck and then proceeds to shower Sora's face with petal soft kisses, lips barely touching skin. His hands massage Sora's arms as he softly whispers into Sora's ear,
"I love you, Sora. There are no words to express how much or why. I just do…and I have since that moment long ago when you looked me in the eye and told me that we would be friends forever."
"Riku…"
"There is nothing I wouldn't do for you…and nothing you can do to turn my love away from you."
Sora fights back tears. Who is supposed to be comforting whom here? Riku pulls back to look Sora in the eyes.
"I love you, Sora." Riku repeats. "I always will."
"Riku…"
Those aqua eyes are like moonlight shining off calm waters. Finally, Sora has to close his eyes because of the expression in them.
Author's Nonsense:
I know what you're all thinking. Riku and Sora switched POV's?!? WTF?!? Hey, there's a reason, kids. I'm not telling you what it is, at least not now, but there IS a reason.
Still confused about Mizu? Those who are confused are actually on the right track. Don't feel bad, this is a HARD one. My clues are pretty vague. I'll tell you this, though, He's NOT Ansem. (though I admit he talks in a weird way like Ansem, but would Ansem waltz in the middle of the street with an enemy?) Can you guess the nature of Koritsu City? Mizu gave you another vague hint. Read the past chapters again, I fixed them up real pretty. Fixed grammar and the tenses and the like. Want the translation for part two's title? I bet you do. Here ya go.
Imadoki Yakusoku Nante Fuan Ni Saseru Dake Kana
And about recent promises, is it just that I'm so anxious?
Note the titles still fit the respective character, Sora the Simple and Clean title, Riku the Hikari one. Hee hee, that was done on purpose too. I'm not just messing with your minds! (wouldn't it be mean if I were though?)
Mood Music: (Nothing that hasn't already been mentioned…)
Okay, I'm done here. Go read the Pisces update. The new fic, Temptation's Rhapsody, will have to wait a few more days on account I don't like it. I will work real hard, so it should be out soon. I did fix up the first three chapters of this fic for you all. I must like you all or something… Next chapter contains a lemon. (right in the first part even!) However, I will be placing a "tame" version here at FF.net, because they don't want lemons on their site. If you want the "non-tame" version, you'll have to go to Adultfanfiction.net or Yaoiville.net to read it. I have the same penname and the story has the same title. Easy, ne? Well, I had better go and write it, huh? See you soon!
Ciao! flips over car (I'll be REAL happy if you know where I got that from and even happier if you tell me in your review)
