Hiya! I am proud to say that I am back!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed SOTM so far. I worked long and hard trying to get chapters up and everything. So, I am glad a lot of reviews came in. This was the story that now has over ninety reviews. I think.... anyway, I would like to say that I am grateful for those who have given me ideas in the past. Especially my teacher, who I have bugged for the past week. She gave me ideas on the story and I have finally the layout needed to continue forth.

Reviewers were... Promise (Sorry, hun, Riku isn't a prince... though I wouldn't mind him being one...) VampssAmby10210, Rinoki Rio (I am lazy!!) KingdomHearts309, chibi chidori 16 (I love that name!) and kawaiidark. If I missed anybody, I'm sorry.... is slacking in sending me review alerts.

Amazingly, I found a review for Unwanted Paradise, which was my first story on Thanks to Meroko-san. Also, thanks to Imbri of the Moon (I think that is what their name is...) for reviewing Stardust.

Note to those who guessed chapter nine's title- I am still waiting for your requests, Remember, is how you can contact me. Cassidy dell and Animeagnel are the ones who guessed correctly, if you all remember...

Okay, warnings... Yaoi, Slavery, Abuse, Language (Tee Hee), and many other things...

Riku, Sora, and other characters used in this story that are not mine belong to SquareEnix and Disney. You know what would happen if I got a hold of it, don't we...?

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Servants, Obey Thy Masters

Chapter Eleven: Tainted Purity

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Sora groaned when he found himself being forced to eat once more by the ever-watchful Riku, who, in the past few days, had acted more protective and assuring of Sora. Sora opened his mouth reluctantly, only for it to be filled by another spoonful of soup. The heir chewed on the mushy chunks of potatoes and meat before swallowing, a soft gulp heard as he did so. "Riku, can't I stop now, I'm getting full!" Sora whined, poking his bottom lip out and throwing his arms across his chest in his childish manner. He was never hungry in the first place. Riku, however, considered the fact that he let the prince pass breakfast earlier that morning and decided that Sora was famished. That, however, was not truly the case...

"No. You can't stop until I feel that you've had enough," Riku answered in a stern, mother-like fashion as he dished another spoonful of the soup. "Besides, you didn't eat breakfast! You'll starve!" Sora grunted and glared angrily at his lover, hissing at him through his clenched teeth. "Well, it's not like I ate three plates full of food last night for dinner...!" Sora flinched as he remembered how much his stomach ached after eating so much yesterday. A full breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was all too much for his small stomach to handle... "I'm fine without a lot of food anyway. I can function with just a full meal a day, you know that," Sora retorted matter-of-factly. He enjoyed acting superior over Riku. It made feel older than he really was. "Yeah, but also, you're skinny as a twig! Geez, Sora, sometimes I think I could fit you in door knob!" Riku stated, showing his 'more experienced' side more than usual. Sora shifted under Riku's stubborn, yet heated gaze and then sighed, defeated. "All right, all right... but I don't eat anything but chocolate for dinner!" Riku rolled his eyes, finding it completely... strange that Sora griped about eating so much, and yet he wanted something like chocolate for dinner that evening. Riku, who was trying to give Sora another bite of soup, found it extremely amusing. "You can't have any sweets unless you eat something like chicken or something like that. Tell you what," Riku started, seeing Sora become even more hostile, "I'll ask the cooks to make you a sandwich, and that'll be all you have to eat for dinner. Then, you can have chocolate. How does that sound?" The older teen saw the heir begin to think hard about the compromise. He eyes looked upward and his lips became perched. His hands that were at his sides came up to scratch his head, making it seem the younger boy was thinking through his decision. "All right," Sora answered, smiling. Riku chuckled, then began to ruffle Sora's hair playfully. "You're so easy to persuade!"

-

"Sora, there's someone I would like you to meet..."

Riku shifted his weight as he stood beside Sora. They were both in the main hall of the castle, and, unfortunately, the king had summoned them. The General that had spoken to the king earlier that week about Sora's mother had banged on their bedroom door, coaxing the prince out to see his 'father's' visitors. Though unwilling, Sora decided to get up and go anyway, but he had a condition; Riku also had to go. That wasn't a big problem... Riku understood the hatred his lover had for his 'father'. Ever since they had learned the truth of Sora's birth, both had noticed a quiet loathe for the king, both implying through similes and actions that they wanted to choke the king with barbed wire around his throat.

"Prince Sora, meet Princess Kairi of the Hollow Bastion Kingdom."

'Kairi!? What is she doing here?!'

To Riku's surprise, the one he saw walk through the large, elegant doors of white and silver happened to be his old childhood acquaintance. Princess Kairi had lived on Destiny Islands for several years until some 'secret' about her past was found out and she disappeared from the shores forever. It was a good riddance, Riku had always told himself. Kairi had always had her way with people, but Riku knew better. She talked his friends into doing things they never thought they would dream of doing. Like Wakka, when she persuaded him to see how long he live without food and water on one of the joining islands just across the piers. Wakka, not being one to back down from a challenge, stayed for three days before Riku and Selphie became worried. They got in their wooden boats and rowed to check on him, only to find him insane and excruciatingly ill. They, however, found just in time to be treated and cured. However, Riku despised Kairi with every fiber of his muscular being. Hopefully, she wouldn't remember him, seeing as five years had passed since they had seen eachother.

"Hello, Prince Sora. It is an honor to meet you."

Kairi walked towards them and curtsied, only receiving a small 'hello' and bow from Sora. Riku grinned joyfully inward, knowing Sora wanted nothing to do with her. Riku felt a hand on his shoulder, a spark lighting in his brain telling him it was Sora. "Who is this handsome man? He looks familiar..." Kairi asked, tapping her finger as she gazed hungrily about Riku. The silver-haired teen was about to growl when the heir interrupted his mad frenzy. "His name is Riku. He is my best friend,' Sora replied, giving this 'Kairi' the evil eye. He didn't like how she was staring at his lover in awe and lust, like Riku was some door prize. Kairi immediately perked up, realizing whom she was admiring over. "Riku? Riku from Destiny Islands?! It can't be you!" Kairi giggled sweetly, eyes closing softly and hand to her face in a shy gesture. She then stopped, staring straight into Riku's icy sapphire orbs. They seemed to be cut from the shiniest of glass and then mixed with gems of ice blue. They were lovely, and yet so malicious all at the same time. The pink-haired girl blushed, finding herself in a familiar situation when it came to men who were as beautiful as her 'old friend' standing in front of her.

"Nice to see you again... Kairi," Riku hissed, spiteful towards her and soon furious when she threw her arms around him, as if nothing she had done in the past had mattered. "It's so good to see you!" Kairi squealed happily, squeezing the life out of her victim. Riku grimaced over the giddy princess, then noticing Sora's evil, jealous glare. Sora's nails were digging threateningly into his palm while he painfully gritted his teeth, baring them as he shook with abhorrent. How dare this Princess Kairi act as if she had known Riku all her life! And by the looks of how the elder was taking the life-draining embrace, Riku didn't seem all too cheerful to see her...

"Um, Princess Kairi...?"

Kairi turned her head to see her body guard, who had shoulder-length, coal-black hair and a necklace of a lion emblem dangling from his neck and was kneeling down on one knee before straightening up and firmly glaring at her. "Please release that... slave, your highness. It is the prince we are here to see, not old friends." Kairi huffed before pulling herself away and turning her attention to the lithe, and girlish-like prince. "Fine. Can't even hug an old friend when you're around, gee-!" Kairi griped profusely with annoyance. She smiled bitterly to Sora, and Riku felt that right then, right there, he could easily take care of the problem... Riku then turned to the bodyguard, who he knew from earlier years. "Leon... so you were her bodyguard, not her brother..." Riku stated, standing firm when a cold glance was shot at him. "Yes, I am Princess Kairi's bodyguard. When Hollow Bastion was under attack, Princess Kairi and I found refuge on your island. However, when the danger decreased, we were allowed to go back. Thankfully, that was around the time the princess was found out," Leon muttered, arms crossed, eyes closed, head hanging slightly, and Riku could have sworn he was a black, lone wolf, clad in leather and metal.

"So, why are you here...?"

"Because-"

"Prince Sora..." Kairi said, interrupting Riku and Leon's conversation. Leon glanced at the young woman and sighed sadly. "Accept my sympathy, Riku. You are about to have a hell of a life..." Riku twisted suddenly towards the leather-claded bodyguard, confusion evident on the teen's countenance. "What do you-" Riku was cut off, hearing Kairi's words over his. He heard them and immediately, he felt his heart shatter and his breathing hitch. "Wh-what...?" Riku stuttered gently before Leon opened his eyes, a blazing aqua piercing into Riku's similar ones. "I'm sorry... we have to do this to you..."

"I-I... this can't be..."

"I am agreeing to an engagement and marriage to you, so that our kingdoms may join."

-

Riku felt his eyes tear up at the memory of how Sora and that slut were going to marry. Not for love, but for the kingdom. Sora, who was just as shocked as Riku was when the news was heard, went into a daze. Like he was in paralysis, he neither spoke, nor moved. Riku, at times, doubted whether or not Sora even listened. But what was so bad about it was that Sora couldn't even object the king. From what Riku caught, the King of Hollow Bastion and the King of Kingdom Hearts had spoken over time about the joining of the kingdoms through Kairi and Sora, which, of course, Kairi agreed to so suddenly that Riku thought he would die at how... anticipated she was to get married. Leon, later, had drawn Riku aside to speak with him about the marriage.

"She only wants to be queen. That's the only reason why she was agreeing. Also, for a marriage to be holy, the bride must be pure in order to perform a joining of kingdoms. She, however, is tainted, and by the way your prince acts, he is." Riku nodded, comprehending what Leon was saying. He had always understood things when Leon told them. Also he had always had a certain brotherly liking to Leon, especially when there was no one else to talk to around the islands. Usually, they would speak of epic battles between two opposing forces or of mystic legends from long ago. Riku, being young at mind and body, took in everything the elder had spoke of. It was also Leon who taught him how to fight with a sword, and now Riku understood how Leon obtained such skills...

"But... once the kingdoms join... Kairi will immediately go after any man she can get her hands on. I doubt she wants anything to do with Sora unless it's to have an heir to the throne. So... I'll just remind you to be careful. She's even more dangerous than she was when you were younger. Believe me..."

Riku, are you okay?"

Riku jumped slightly when that loving voice called him back into reality. Sora's big azure eyes blinked with concern and Riku dismissed it with a comforting smile. Sora sighed before flopping himself into Riku's strong embrace. He shuddered as another wave of tears came over him and snuggled closer to the warmth. "I don't want to marry her... she looks... malicious... and yet... so... sweet..." Sora whispered icily. Riku inhaled deeply before leaning back against the fluffed-up pillows of the bed, pulling Sora with him. "She seems that way, doesn't she? Believe me, that 'sweetness' she claims to have does not exist. I knew her when she was on Destiny Islands... almost killed my friend... all because she knew that she was far superior than us, even though we didn't know that," Riku mumbled through the slow breathing of the exhausted heir. He let his fingers trail upward across the silken cloth on Sora's back and neck to stroke the spiked-up cinnamon-brown hair. Content, Sora's eyes drooped even more. Yawning, he stretched out before snuggling himself into Riku, a light snore soon accompanying his soft breaths. Riku smiled mildly to the prince before laying his lips on the petal-soft skin of the forehead. He then laid back, closing his own eyes, and drifted off into a restless sleep.

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"Is everything ready for the attack?"

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Yay. I'm done. Now I don't have to worry about it anymore... ::yawns:: Ugh... man, it's late. Well, I bet some of you knew I would add Kairi into the mix. ('It's all in the mix...' Sorry) But, rest assured, Sora is going nowhere. Okay? Okay...

Personally, I find this chapter mottled with plot mistakes. Meaning that I just threw a lot of stuff together. Which, I had the idea in my head, but it sometimes didn't come out the way I wanted it to. Oh, well... I'm posting this up, checking the Megaman section, then going to bed... 'Night... ::snores::