Author's Note: Welcome back! I'm so sorry about the delay in the update! I tried to get it up by last Saturday, but things were a bit chaotic. Oh well, "Que sera, sera," as they say. Hope you all had a very happy Halloween!! w(v-v)w...teehee...that's supposed to be a bat by the way. Anywho...on to the thanks...I'm getting more reviews than I thought, so I might cut this part out of the beginning and put it at the end instead next time.
"Bluumberry"- Really?!? I never would have even guessed English wasn't your first language judging from your reviews. That's pretty cool. I liked the blindfold thing a lot...I dunno...there's something about the idea of Riku in a blindfold that really gets to me (which is why I loooove the KH2 trailers .) As for the warmth...that goes along with a lot more of the story, as does the touch of fate. It all ties together in the end, including Riku and Sora's dreams.
"Um1"- Yeah... Chapter 3 is a little shorter than I would have liked it to be. I had a little trouble with that chapter. It took me forever to start it because Riku and Sora just started making out every time I tried to have them act out the scene for me .. They wouldn't let me continue with it either. They wanted it to end there. Hopefully they've behaved while I was writing this chapter...
"NiGhTrIkKu"- Thank you! I'm very glad you like it! And yes, things will be explained later, and no, I would NEVER do anything bad to Riku...except maybe rape him....
"evilgoddess1990"- Thanks for the review, I'm glad to see so many people keeping up with the fic...for some reason I usually gain new readers and lose old ones...thanks again."
"lun4r-flow3r"- Teehee! Fanku! You should feel giddy about knowing Oriel's significance! No one else has even asked about it!! O.O!! I love being best friends with you too! Hooray! All hail Pea and Juu, Queen of the Losers!!
"KageKitsune16"- I'm glad you enjoy it so far. As for the "curse" and Oriel, you'll have to wait and see! I'm actually rather surprised that there's as much mystery around "the curse" as there is...I expected someone to at least guess at it by now. I think it's a little obvious. Just think of the side-effects and maybe it'll come to you. .
Chapter Four: Smiles
Sora swallowed the last few spoonfuls of his watery broth, pouting as he did. It was so thin he might as well have been eating water. After the meal he'd had with Riku the night before, he was very disappointed. His stomach grumbled as he fondly remembered the five helpings of roast beef he'd enjoyed. Hopefully his dissatisfied appetite would be remedied tonight.
He walked out of the galley, which had taken him an hour to find. Yawning he made his way back to the very poorly lit parlor where he'd spent the night. And sleeplessly. Sora didn't find that odd, considering he'd slept for almost the entirety of yesterday. He snuggled into the plush velvet couch, grabbing a thin blanket before allowing his lids to slide closed.
But before sleep embraced him, a long groan pulled him away from its grasp. He made his way toward one of three doors in the room, which happened to be the source of the noise. Since the other two doors lead to the deck, and the dining room, Sora assumed the third led to Riku's bedchambers. Riku's previous warnings to stay clear of this room barely took time to echo in Sora's mind, let alone register, as he strained to hear the whispers from behind the door.
"Close the door!" he heard Riku's usually soothing voice growl. It was heavy with pain which, for some reason, worried Sora incredibly.
The ever-calm voice of the commodore spoke next.
"You wouldn't need me to if only you'd-"
He was interrupted by a loud crash, which Sora assumed was the result of Riku throwing something.
"Stop being stubborn Riku! You try to deny it, but I can see it in your eyes."
"What are you talking about?" Riku spat.
The commodore's answer was delivered matter-of-factly. "Lust."
"Riku scoffed. "That doesn't mean I love you Leon."
"It could." Sora heard Leon's whisper, although he was sure Riku hadn't. There was a note of hope in the commodore's voice, which greatly surprised Sora. Leon spoke louder now. "Lust may not be Love, but it may be enough. Take up my offer and see if my theory is correct."
"Ha! You told me yourself it had to be love. And I will never take up your offer. Never! I don't love you Leon, and I never will."
Sora blinked. So the commodore was in love with Riku? It explained Riku's high standing at such a young age. But the door, the offer? Why did the door need to be closed? What was the offer?
There was silence in the room beyond. Sora assumed that Leon had quit the room, until he heard the door slam shut. He held his breath as the commodore's footsteps clicked by the door. Sora knew very well that he'd heard a conversation not meant for his ears, and the knowledge pounded in his chest until the footsteps had faded.
Peeking his head out into the mid-day sun, Sora contemplated whether or not he wished to stay in the parlor. A long, full yawn told him he did. He shut the door, careful not to let it make any noise, and returned to the small couch. His destiny began to call to him as he lay there, it's voice luring him into the realm of dreams.
"Sora." The thin voice called. "Come back, there is someone you must meet."
"Who?" the boy called as the image of those red eyes formed in front of him. A sleek, feathered body and a powerful pair of wings followed them. Sora now stood before a breathtaking, regal hawk. The embodiment of his destiny. It snapped its beak and fluttered its wings.
"Follow me!" It cried as it took off. Sora ran after the hawk. He ran faster than he thought possible, but the bird was faster still. After what seemed an eternity, the bird finally disappeared. Sora collapsed, gasping for breath. He felt dizzy, and slightly nauseous.
"Wait!" he called breathily. "I can't...wait..." His head was swimming, he could barely breathe, and his heart was pounding hollowly. He opened his mouth to call out once more...
But was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Sora sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Come in," he half stated, half yawned.
Riku stepped calmly through the door. "Are you ready for dinner?" he asked.
Sora nodded and blinked wearily. "Mmhmm..." his voice was thick and groggy. "Almost." He smiled at the prospect of a proper meal. It was something he'd adjusted to incredibly easily.
Riku's eyes wandered over the boy. With moonlight creeping under the door and lighting him softly from behind, Riku found it easy to believe that the brunette would become his saving grace. He suppressed a small, half-smile, and told Sora to hurry before the food became cold. The boy jumped eagerly off the couch and made his way to the dining room, where he re-enacted the previous night's dinner.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Did you sleep well last night?" Riku asked Sora, in attempt to make conversation. They were on the deck, and had spent the last few minutes in silence.
"No. I didn't get to sleep until early this afternoon," came the reply.
Eyes narrowing ever-so slightly, Riku glanced at the boy next to him. His suspicions were slightly roused. "Oh?" he asked non-challantly.
Sora nodded, and Riku sensed an amount of discomfort in the boy.
"Uh...before," the brunette began, "before I had a chance to fall asleep...something...distracted me."
"And what might that have been?"
"I...I heard something I don't think I was supposed to. I really couldn't help it through."
"I see," Riku murmured. His expression softened. So Sora had heard his conversation with Leon. What of it? If Riku's hunches were correct, the boy would have to discover his secret sooner or later. Riku just would have preferred it to be later. He turned to the brunette, who was silent, nervous. "What exactly did you hear?"
"Well I heard you. You sounded like you were in pain." The boy paused, and Riku was surprised by what he saw in those shining, oceanic orbs. Pain. Was it possible that his own pain caused Sora pain as well?
"And then you yelled at someone to close the door. They, I think it was the commodore, told you he wouldn't have to close the door if you'd take up his offer. Then you threw something at him, I think, and he told you not to deny that you...uh, that-"
"That I desire him?" Riku interjected. "I feel no shame in admitting that. I overcame the shame, and the denial, long ago."
Sora suddenly became very bold. "Does he love you?" There was a slight edge in his tone, one he hadn't expected to sneak through.
"Yes, Leon does love me. Or at least he says he does. I doubt it is true, although lately that doubt is disappearing."
"Disappearing?"
Riku nodded. "He's been neglecting his duties on the Night Rider, leaving his first mate to do most of the work. And all to come and convince me."
"To take up his offer?"
"Yes, you see..." he hesitated, unsure of how to phrase his thoughts.
Sora saw the hesitation, and the pain that lingered in those entrancing, blue-green eyes.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he whispered.
Riku looked at him, somewhat surprised by his remark. After a moment he smiled. It was a bitter-sweet smile, for, although Riku didn't wish to dig up his past, Sora would have to know about it at some point. Riku was absolutely sure of that now. But it was still the first time he'd really smiled since that day twelve years ago.