I'm back with another chapter, finally!  I'm free for a while now, so hopefully I can get a few more chapters going and posted soon. 

(Sadly I still do not own any of the Kingdom Hearts characters, except for my very own Chika, nor do I ever think I will do…unfortunately.)

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Chapter 4

What very little light there was, had now faded when Riku opened his eyes to stare up at a darkened ceiling.  Had he really slept all day? He frowned for he didn't remember drifting off, and sat bolt up right, eyes darting around the large bedroom.  His gaze soon dropped to the bed, a smile playing upon his face.  Beside him Sora was sleeping peacefully on his side, curled up into a ball.  Eyes closed and full lips parted slightly, he looked adorable, not like a seventeen year old but more like a five year old.  Riku eased himself gently back to rest on his elbow, head in hand, he silently watched Sora sleep.

The younger teen rolled onto his back and his eyes fluttered open, blurry with sleep.  Yawning he pushed himself onto an elbow and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles before turning his head slightly to suddenly come face to face with Riku.  "Whoa!"  Startled, he jumped slightly and placed a hand to his chest.  "Riku!"  Sora jabbed his grinning friend playfully in the ribs and dipped his head low to hide the blush creeping up his cheeks.  We fell asleep together, on the same BED?  His eyes were wide, even as he attempted to shake the thought away.  Big deal Sora, we've had sleepovers when we were younger.  We shared beds then!   The brunette bit his bottom lip and began to bang his head with his fist, cursing himself for being so stupid.

"Sora, what the heck are you doing?!"  Riku frowned and grabbed the boy's wrist to prevent him from hurting himself.  "What's up?"

It seemed to take him a while to reply, eyes downcast.  "Nothing…really."  Sora looked up, his cheeks pink and offered a weak smile.  "Sorry."  He swallowed hard and avoided the others gaze by turning his head away slightly, only to find Riku's hand rest upon his cheek and gently turn it back so they were staring at each other again.  Sora felt weak, his heart beating faster than ever and his face burned like hell.  He resisted the urge to lean into the soft palm of his friend's hand and instead closed his eyes relishing the tingling warmth he was receiving from this single touch.

The silver-haired boy could feel the embarrassment touch his cheeks too, and even began to question himself as to why he was doing this.  Sure, he wanted to kiss Sora and most probably have his way with him, but he wasn't cruel and didn't want to loose the brunette because of some brash act.  Instead he opened his mouth and allowed it to hang open for a second, attempting to think up of something to say fast without it becoming ridiculous.  The desperation to tell Sora how he felt about the boy was growing inside him, aggravating him beyond belief.  However, it's all too easy to spill out all your feelings to someone if you get carried away, then who knows what happens.  Anything can slip out before you realize what you are actually saying and he didn't want to sound pathetic and stupid, and then risk loosing his best companion.  "Sora…" That was all he could think of, but it was a start, right?  Riku frowned as he thought and sighed shakily.  "I'm sorry."

Sora attempted to control himself as his friend's large hand remained cupping his cheek.  He shivered internally with elation just imagining Riku's soft lips press against his own, so tender and gentle, their hands moving beneath one another's clothes, moaning softly as pure bliss rippled through both of their bodies.  He opened his eyes again as the hand dropped from his cheek.  Face now crimson from thinking such dirty thoughts in front of his friend…about his friend, he took a juddering breath.  "W--what are you…sorry f--for?"

Riku sat up properly and shook his head.  "Everything, Sora."  He watched the boy nervously play with his crown-shaped necklace, eyes downwards taking shallow breaths.  "I didn't mean to join with Maleficent, it's not what I wanted.  I didn't want to fight, or hurt you…I was being dragged into darkness and it ended up with my body being controlled by Ansem.  I guess I was being greedy…I wanted to find you and Kairi and take you both back myself."  He paused to make sure Sora was listening and continued.  "When we met up in Traverse Town I was so happy that I had found you.  Then I saw that Keyblade of yours…I admit, I was pretty jealous, wanting to be…better at the physical side of things, you know.  Life was like a competition between us, every day!  Now I know after everything we have been through I am weak, I am weaker than you."  He gritted his teeth in anger at himself and slammed his fist down on the bed, making Sora jump slightly.  "All I thought about was being better, better than anyone!  Better than Tidus, better than Wakka, better than…you.  Then there was Kairi.  Yeah, she's a friend, but ever since she had arrived, she's always been in the bloody way." 

Silence filled the room.  Sora waiting for his friend to continue, he looked up to find Riku looking shocked.  "She's always been in the way?  Of what Riku?"  The boy questioned quietly.  Having a fair idea of what she had been getting in the way of a spark of hope flickered in Sora's heart.  Maybe, just maybe Riku did like him in more ways that one.

"She was just in the way."

Sora shook his head, not satisfied with such a blunt answer and bravely asked again.  He knew this was dangerous territory, quite aware that he was asking Riku to spill out his feelings, something the silver-haired one was not used to doing.  All these years that they had known each other, Sora knew Riku kept all his emotions locked away, deep inside.

Riku sighed and inspected Sora's rather embarrassed face, silently questioning himself if he should tell.  This is what he didn't want...to be stuck in an awkward situation.  By opening his mouth he thought everything was about to be flushed down the drain.  But how could he back out of it now, he only hoped that Sora would understand.  There were most probably many excuses and lies he could have formulated to get him out of the situation, but at the moment he couldn't think of any.  His mind entirely focused on how he truly felt.  The longing looks he had received and nervous reactions he had got made him plead that they weren't just raging hormones of a very, very confused teen.  "Kairi took you from me…you love her and…I don't want that, because..."

"I don't love her Riku."  Sora cut in impulsively.  "She's just a friend."  He chewed nervously on his thumb and swallowed again.  "You don't want it to be like that anyway, because you…" 

Riku was quick to cut him short.  "Because I lo--I think I…I love you."  He risked a glance up at Sora; stomach churning with uneasiness and his head pounded so furiously it hurt.  "You don't have to return anything Sora, just forget what I said.  I don't want to loose a friend like you, I really don't…you are my strength even as friends." 

Sora sat up and smiled feebly, knowing his cheeks were aflame, just as Riku's was.  Without saying a word he leant forward on his hands and gently pressed his lips to the others, their eyes closing gently.  The boys remained there motionless, both just happy to feel one's soft lips against his own.  After what seemed like eternity, Sora pulled back, suddenly unknowing of what to do next. 

Riku leant back on his elbows as he stared back into those bright blue eyes.  He was shocked and speechless to say the least but couldn't hide the smile plastering itself to his face. 

The brunette licked his lips keen to taste Riku once more and frowned, wondering why nothing had been said.  Maybe there was nothing to say.  Feeling suddenly brave, he gracefully moved one leg over the boy's stomach and sat upon Riku's lap, legs straddling his hips.  "You've meant more to me than ever before over these past few years Riku…I like you more than a friend, and I want you more than a friend."  His voice was quiet and shaking slightly from nervousness.  He was taken back at his own valor, wondering where it was coming from.  Why was he saying this?  Why was he doing this?  Before he received a response from Riku, Sora pushed down slightly on the silver-haired teen's shoulders and brought his face closer until their lips met again, this time the kiss was more forceful and passionate.  Lips parted, he gently but urgently slipped his tongue into Riku's mouth, relishing the sweet taste of the other boy.  It was clumsy and unskilled, but both boys didn't care, just desperate to have one another, to satisfy their need to feel and taste, to prove their feelings were true. 

Riku blindly reached up and placed one hand on the back of Sora's neck, the other pushed lightly against his back, bringing their bodies closer than ever before.  He could feel Sora's heartbeat against his own and their excitement grow, the friction increasing between their legs as the youngest ground himself against the other.  Riku managed a small smile in the kiss as a low growl sounded in the back of the younger one's throat and their breathing became even more ragged.  

Sora reluctantly pulled away, eyes half lidded and lips swollen, he allowed Riku to take hold of his hands and intertwine their fingers, before he rested his head upon his chest, just listening to the steadying thump of his friend's heart and his erratic breaths. 

"Sora…" The elder boy waited until he had lifted his head and reached up to place a hand beneath the other's chin, his thumb tenderly caressing his jaw.  Slowly he slid his hand down the boy's neck, Sora tilting his head backwards slightly only to expose more of the tanned skin, whilst allowing a moan to escape his lips.  Riku too let out a growl as his friend shifted against his groin, which was now becoming increasingly painful and restricted with every move Sora was making.  He focused upon the brunette's face; his eyes were closed in pure bliss as he continued to trail his fingers down his neck.  Riku pushed the black jacket from Sora's shoulders, for the brunette to automatically shrug it off, continuing to strip himself of the red and white top and willingly drop it to the floor.

A disappointed look crossed the Keyblade wielder's face as he was shoved rather roughly from Riku's lap and landed on the space beside, to where he was before.  "Riku?!"  He struggled to push himself into a seated position, a frown creasing his brow and his lip jutted out into a pout, wondering what he had done wrong.  Before he knew what was happening, the silver haired one moved over to straddle him, lips hovering teasingly over his own, his breath warming his skin.  Sora shivered with delight as Riku nibbled at his bottom lip, before trailing butterfly kisses from his lips, down his neck and along his collarbone. 

Riku sat back on his heels and a moan of disappointment from Sora was just about audible.  His bright emerald eyes drifted over Sora's golden and rather toned body, making his own being feel weak.  His best friend had grown to become a truly beautiful…man.  His muscles were more defined, rippling beneath tanned skin.  Riku cocked his head to one side and frowned as he noticed quite a long scar crossing the left side of his stomach.  "What the hell did that to you?!"  He asked rashly, but somehow softly.  He traced the wound with his thumb affectionately, eyes focused upon Sora.  A stab of hurt shot through his chest as Sora turned his head away.  "Did I do that to you?"

"It doesn't matter, Riku."  Glancing down, he smiled weakly.  "It's over now."  He reached up and gripped his friend's broad shoulders, bringing him lower as he closed his eyes to place a kiss upon his lips. 

The elder teen was motionless, giving no response and did not return any affection no matter how much he wanted to. He wasn't worthy of Sora; he had hurt and betrayed him three years ago, and felt the younger teen deserved better.

Sora's eyes flew open as felt his hands being removed from around the other's neck and the weight was lifted from his body.  Sora opened his mouth and allowed a whimper of sadness to escape, turning quickly to see Riku moving to settle himself beneath the thick covers of the bed, turned on his side he put his back to him. "Riku…" Tears stung his eyes as he debated whether he should settle beneath the covers with him or not.  With a sniff, he took a deep breath and crawled over to his best friend until he was kneeling behind him. 

Riku closed his eyes and allowed a tear to slide down his cheek.  He never meant to hurt Sora at all in any form and it pained him to look at the scar.  If he weren't so curious, maybe none of this would have ever happened, maybe they would still be on their island, happy and carefree as they had once been.  He felt a depression in the bed, knowing Sora was behind him and tucked his chin into his chest to hide his face.  He tensed as a hand came to rest on his arm, while the other caressed his back.  Assuasive warmth enveloped his body, making him relax slightly and a quiet sigh escaped him, while fingertips traced the muscles in his arms for a moment or two.  Riku swallowed and pulled the duvet around him tighter as Sora moved back.  Immediately he tensed again as Sora lifted the covers and slipped beneath them.

Sora shuffled as close as he could to the other boy; pushing his body against his back and slipped a hand under Riku's body hugging top.  His smooth hands glided beneath the fabric, over taut muscles to caress his robust chest, finding it quite easy to imagine what he must look like shirtless.  Sora removed his hand and propped himself up on one elbow, smiling.  He carefully moved Riku's long platinum hair to one side, exposing a rather muscular neck.  His fingers continued to stroke the silky locks as he buried his face into the creamy white skin, inhaling deeply he couldn't help but recognise the familiar scent which brought back so many memories. Tenderly he pressed his lips to the warm flesh before slowly lifting his head.  "Riku…" 

Riku remained silent, his eyes closed tight.  Although his ears remained strained against the silence waiting for Sora to say something. 

"Riku…I love you."

The silver haired boy's eyes flew open and he swallowed hard.  I don't deserve you Sora.  Pressure against his back increased as Sora tried to press himself closer still.  Hesitantly, Riku slipped his arm beneath the covers and removed Sora's wandering hand from his stomach, only to lace his fingers with the others.  "I love you too."  He whispered closing his eyes once more.  He had given in.  He loved Sora and Sora loved him regardless of the past and it came as a relief, although he still thought the brunette deserved much better.  I'll make it up to you Sora, promise.

Sora smiled, relieved that he had got a response and snuggled into his back; resting his head against Riku, he lay awake too excited to sleep again. 

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