Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix and Disney does. I do, however, own the original characters like Sira Lockheart, Shell Bastion, and the ever so sexy Rai Kisaragi.

A/N: I have been pretty, well, dull lately. It kind of sucks thinking you didn't care about someone but then realizing that you really do care about them. And even worse is when 'things' keep getting in your way from being their friend. That's all I want! Not like I want to fuck them or anything! Insolent shrew. Well anyway, I will hopefully delve into Sora's issues with the accident and also with Rai's past. Maybe some other things will be addressed later, who knows. All I know is that I will be getting to the Sora x Riku soon. Until then, the plot shall build. Enjoy!

P.S. If you know who and what I'm talking about, it's true. It sucks.


Promise Me Mortality


"I see you remember me."

"I'd remember Satan if I saw him."


Chapter 3: Hidden Feelings

'What am I doing here?' thought Sora as he looked up to the stars. They were dull in this overly bright city and not as clear as when he was at home. So far, the three of them had covered a good section of the busy downtown scene of Sector 2. Well it was different, the air was thicker, harder to breathe, and the noises were a lot… noisier. How could people figure out how to sleep in this place? He was beginning to have a massive and dizzying headache.

But Shell was so beautiful, sitting in the black park bench next to him, her soft head resting against his already tilted shoulder. Her warm hands rested neatly in her lap as she lightly dozed, the soothing magenta neon lights bathing her in a gorgeous glow. Luckily he was tired because if he had the energy, he would have kissed her in her beautiful state.

Rai walked back to them with a bored expression. "Seems she's too tired to get through to the party. Too bad," he said unsympathetically. He then sighed and crashed onto the bench next to them. Leaning forward, he leaned against his arms on his legs and peered down at the equally cold mosaic sidewalk. Contemplating for a moment, his voice softened as he searched through his deep pockets for his cell phone.

"You should call Ansem. He'll send someone to pick you two up." Sora eyed the gesture and the smiled, receiving it. He supposed that there was some kind of good in all kinds of people and this was one of his moments. "Just go through the phonebook."

Following his directions, he went through the directory and found the first contact. Ansem Bastion. Her father picked up the receiver and agreed to send someone immediately to pick up the sleeping beauty. Ending the conversation, he gave back the phone with a small thank you.

The rest of the wait was in silence. They both had the awkward feeling of not knowing what to say to the other, some with more reason to. So Sora did the one thing he felt comfortable in doing, looking up at the stars. They were twinkling weakly in the sky, but still maintained the fact that they were still there, that they didn't have any intention to leave no matter how bright the city lights could be.

He looked over to the contemplating Rai. The youth now confused him even more than before. When they had first met that morning, he had been an impulsive jerk, jabbing at him like a dead animal with a stick. But tonight, he really had fun. It was a blast. They first went to a few museums, then to the coffee shop where he learned that Bulban coffee wasn't the best thing to have when you wanted to keep your cool. After their hyper attacks, they then went to the Traverse Mall and dressed each other up in ridiculous outfits. They then talked about simple things while eating some of the specialty pizza of East Midgard. That was when they crashed at the bench.

Sora smiled as watched the youth still think intently. Shortly, he realized that he was being watched and practically jumped out of his skin.

"What the hell are you looking at me for?" he yelled, clutching at his panicked heart. The other boy laughed heartily as he kept replaying the look on his face.

"You seemed so focused on something. It was pretty amusing," he explained between his fits of laughter. Rai frowned childishly and pouted. 'Real tough guy.'

"Well don't look at me like that. You scared the hell out of me," said Kisaragi, trying to regain his composure. Sora simply smiled and looked up to the stars.

"How do you know Shell's dad?"

"Who?" he asked, leaning back in the bench to look up at the stars with him. He never really noticed them and smiled at their beauty.

"Ansem."

"Oh. Well, he's the reason why I was able to go to this school."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It was back when I had finished my first year living here. I was homeless and had nothing but the job at a rundown hardware shop. The owner was going to close down the store so I figured I could live there until they finally decide to tear it down for a smoothie shop or something."

Sora looked over to his companion with concern. He had never known that Rai used to be homeless. How had he managed for a whole year without a stable place to live or a secure food source? He couldn't even imagine not being able to have a place to call home or at least a warm house.

"Where did you sleep?"

Kisaragi smirked and his skyward gaze deepening.

"Well, I lived in many different places. First, it was the mall. I'd hide in the stalls and pretend I was sick if they ever caught me. Then they would just tell me to hurry it up and leave. Then I lived the library. That was pretty easy but one time I was caught and they took me to jail for a few days as a repeat offender. So that was another place too. But the worst I had to say was when I lived in a brothel."

The brunette's eyes flashed over to the other boy in shock. Rai smiled bitterly, sadness in his eyes.

"I was really sick back then. It was really bad and I knew I wouldn't make it if I didn't find help soon. A woman took pity on me and told me to follow her to the brothel. There, I could stay as long as I wanted and they would feed me, give me the medicine I needed, and a warm place to stay."

He then spat out the last few words.

"But I had to work."

The thoughts of what he could possibly mean by that made Sora feel sicker. How could someone put him under those conditions? Where were his parents? Wasn't there any family to take care of him when he needed them the most?

A sleek black car pulled up next to them on the curb and the window rolled down electronically. An elegant white haired man with a bright orange eyes looked out to the party on the bench. Frowning, the man quickly got out of his car and walked over to the group.

"I see you took care of her Kisaragi," said the man as he gracefully picked up Shell and cradled her in his arms.

"She just was worn out and she was napping here sir. Totally harmless," said Rai as he stood up respectfully. The man nodded and glared over to the confused brunette still sitting at the bench.

"And who is this?" asked the man. His voice was very sensual but still had the icy edge that could kill a man if he felt like it. Sora quickly stood up flustered and bowed slightly, as Rai had.

"My name is Sora Strife sir," he said, trying to remember all of the manners that his parents had taught him. The man in front of him smiled cruelly and walked his daughter to the car. Rai walked over quickly and gently opened the passenger door in the back. Nodding approvingly to him, the man gently laid Shell into the backseat of the car. Getting into his car, he gave a final nod goodbye and sped his car out and down the street.

Rai sighed in relief and grinned back to Sora. "That was Ansem."

"Oh really? What's his problem?" Sora asked arms crossed.

"Well, he is very influential in the academy; also, he has real problems with men being around his daughter. You know, the protective type."

"Well that Ansem guy was my ride home," pouted Sora, glaring down the street. He just had the nerve to not even offer a ride back to Sector 3 at least.

Rai blinked in confusion and looked sharply back at the direction that Ansem had driven off. By the time they would be able to reach them, they would already be at their house in Sector 3 and he definitely wouldn't drive all the way back just to pick up Sora. He was screwed.

"Well, it's late and I don't think it would be a good idea to drop you off back home in the middle of the night," said Rai, shuffling through his pockets. He pulled out his keys and started to walk away.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Sora asked, trying to keep up with his long strides. The other boy grinned to him mischievously.

"Just follow me. You can stay at my place." His place? Where the hell was that? The brunette soon began to feel that it would have been best to just drop him off at his own house after all. Sure his uncle would be thoroughly pissed off that he woke him up to let him in. But it wasn't his fault that Zack slept in until the key shop was closed. His uncle could be really irresponsible, and this was only his second day of staying there!

They began to walk into a dark side alley, quickly stepping over random boxes and stale alcohol bottles. 'That's it, I'm gonna get raped. Someone's gonna come out from a corner and tackle me down, I swear," thought Sora as he kept closer with Rai. The taller youth then grabbed his hand as he led him into an increasingly dark passage.

"Where the hell are we going?" Sora whispered sharply. The other remained silent as they blindly made their way. It seemed like forever until Rai suddenly stopped. Knocking into him, Sora squinted his eyes, trying to catch any light he could. Then suddenly, with the fiddle of some keys, it was bright.

It was a motorcycle, another one of those accursed things. But it wasn't as monstrous as his uncle's model. Rather, it was smooth and sleek with most of its parts covered in bright electric blue casing. On the side of it was another of Rai's trademark eight balls painted into it within a blood red rose with the words 'Lucky Eight' in cursive lettering over it. This one was easier on the eyes.

Rai then mounted it and revved it up a little, sounding like a strong tiger's purring throughout it. He motioned to the excess of seating behind him.

"Hop on, I'll give you a ride to my place," he said with a grin. Sora eyed the vehicle one more time and reluctantly walked over to it, taking the matching blue helmet from his hands. Putting it on was a bit difficult since his massive amount of unruly hair fanned out all over in his face, making him have to meticulously sort them out so that he could see properly.

He then swung his leg uneasily over the bike and loosely wrapped his arms around the boy's waist.

"You have to get closer than that or else you'll fall off." Sora glared daggers behind his back and clenched his teeth. What kind of sick fuck was he? He was probably enjoying this? Sadly enough, Sora didn't realize how right he was. Sighing heavily, he scooted closer and clung onto him. As soon as he did, they sped quickly around the corner, down the garbage-ridden alleyway and out onto the street.

'Yet again, what am I doing here?'


The next morning, the sun shone brightly in through the windows as he slept almost sinfully. It was so comfortable lying under the billowy blankets that he snuggled deeper into them and refused the morning for a few more minutes. The faint sounds of a shower could be heard in the distance as he shut his eyes tighter. Who was taking a shower this early in the morning? Normally Zack was still knocked out at this time and he would have to douse him with ice water to wake him up.

Groaning, Sora turned over and tossed the comforter over his head, bringing him back into dark serenity. The shower stopped and he could hear the rustling of what he assumed to be a shower curtain and then the clearing of someone's throat.

"God, hurry the hell up so I can get back to sleep," moaned Sora as he buried his face into his pillow. Zack was definitely going to pay when he got out. The door slowly screeched open and he could hear approaching footsteps. They walked into the room and sat on the bed, humming to themselves.

His uncle then leaned over and soothingly rubbed his back. "Wake up sleepy head. It's late."

"Oh really Zack I wouldn't have-" Sora stopped in mid sentence. When he had angrily forced the covers from his head, his vision of his uncle quickly disappeared to show the true intruder's form. His eyes widened as he then looked around the room. It wasn't his. Instead of the neutral blue walls that he associated with his room, these walls were a rich navy color instead. And the room was a bit smaller, but featured a personal bathroom inside.

"Where the hell am I? What did you do to me?" Sora ranted as he pulled the covers closer to him, checking to feel if there had been any 'foul play.' Rai simply raised an eyebrow and then burst into laughter. This caused the other to glare, recoiling into the pillows. "What's so funny?"

"You honestly think that I would take you to my home to rape you?" he asked between fits of laughter.

"So? I wouldn't expect less from someone who wakes me up wearing nothing but a towel around his waist."

Rai eyed his appearance confusedly and laughed again.

"I took a shower you idiot. Normal people like to take them in the nude," he said with a smirk, his eyes alight in playfulness behind the long strands of his still damp hair.

"Makes it even more suspicious."

"Well," he began, shrugging as he stood up, walking to his armoire. "If you were so worried about that, you shouldn't have fallen asleep on your way here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, let's just say that you almost killed the both of us when you suddenly conked out behind me and made my bike almost skid off to the left in an illegal turn."

Sora reddened and sunk deeper into the mass of blankets in embarrassment. This only caused more laughter from the younger man.

"Now, unless you want to watch me get naked, I have to dress." This made Sora even redder.

"Why don't you just go into the bathroom and change?"

"Well, it's all damp and hot in there. And besides, this is my apartment so you have to do what I say."

With an annoyed groan, Sora turned over and laid on his stomach, covering his head with the pillows. 'This was great. I'm stuck at this asshole's house, real fun. I just hope I can get home to go to bed. I'm still so tired,' he thought as he heard the sounds of fabric moving over skin and the rough crinkle of jeans.

"You can look now," said Rai as he leaned back on the bed next to him. Sora rolled back onto his stomach and sighed contemplatively. "What's wrong?" asked the younger.

"I just need my medicine," lied Sora. It was a small lie but one nonetheless.

"Why, for mental issues?"

"I guess you could say that."

Silence prevailed for a while as Sora continued to look up at the ceiling. School should have been happening right now, probably at his second class. He, however, didn't care and was more willing to lie in Rai's comfy bedding than go to see that many people. The excitement of a new life lost its shine to him and he began to rather want his old life back on the island, with his parents, Kairi, Tidus, Wakka, and Riku.

He casually looked to the side to see warm brown eyes peering at him.

"What do you want?" he asked, looking back to the ceiling emotionless.

"Jeez, some people can be so approachable at one moment and act so… how do I say it?" thought Kisaragi as he looked up in thought. "I've got it! Like a total bitch."

The other gasped and pouted at him, blue eyes glaring.

"How the hell am I the bitch? You're more of a woman than I am! Look at the hair!" exclaimed Sora as he continued his ice cold glare.

"I don't think so, you do have those very sexy hips of yours," said the other as he moved closer to Sora, biting his lip suggestively. The victim scooted away nervously, starting a soft blush upon his cheeks. This wasn't good, definitely not good. Soon the other boy was over him, a firm hand on his shoulder as he pinned him down into the mattress.

His look was purely predatory, causing Sora to become even more nervous. But somehow, his hands just didn't have the strength to push him off as they simply rested on his broad shoulders instead. 'Damn it, I really need my medicine.'

Rai's smooth thumb rubbed against Sora's downy lower lip as he watched the trail with intense almond eyes.

"And those pink lips of yours," he continued. At this, the brunette found all of the strength within him, before the other could successfully capture his lips with his own, and shoved him off of him, making him bounce off of the edge of the bed and land in a heap on the floor. He quickly pulled the covers around him yet again and tried to hide his furious bright red blush.

Then, he heard laughing. He was laughing at him! A pair of milky arms heaved onto the bed as he could see a silky black head of hair shaking in a fit of laughter.

"You should have seen your face!" squawked Rai as he slowly and painfully pulled himself halfway onto the bed as he laid on his back, holding his sides with a large and toothy grin on his face. This infuriated Sora more as he tossed the covers off, perfectly landing on the boy's face, muddling up his fit of hysterics. Seeing his bag on the chair next to the window, he grabbed it and walked his way out the bedroom door.


The weeks went by and he had managed to survive it all. He now had a group to hang out with after school composed of Shell, Yuna, and Selphie. Basically, he had been only approached by girls, all of whom thought he was the most adorable thing on the planet. It was okay to him, as long as Shell liked him, he was okay.

Well, he had learned a few days ago that she really did like him and, with Selphie's help, they started going out. On their first date, it was magical, well, kind of. They were only taking a walk across The Yard as the large stretch of green behind the school was called. But at night, with the stars up in the sky and a warm basket of food she had prepared earlier, it was great.

That night was last night and he slept in like a dog and Zack vouched for him to come to school late. Walking down the halls, he spotted Rai walking his way to class, at the same spot as usual. Smiling happily, the brunette waved, shortly calling out his name. The other boy looked to him casually and then proceeded down the hall past him, ignoring him.

Sora simply stood there confusedly. 'What's his problem? Normally he's always so eager to talk to me. Maybe something happened between him and Reno again.' Rai wasn't the type of person to hang out with the group that he did. They were the rebels of the school, ones that were pretty popular and that all of the girls enjoyed swooning over. Who couldn't blame them living in an uptight and reserved school such as this?

Looking back at the direction of his troubled friend, he sighed and continued his walk to class. 'I'll make sure to talk to him at lunch.'

It was Al Bhed and quite an interesting class. Apparently the general population didn't really like the group of 'thieves and pirates' as they were called. However, he had learned that they hated the Wutai the most. He had heard a long time ago about them when Sephiroth would rant how the Wutai rebels didn't appreciate what ShinRa were doing for them. It was something that he never paid attention to before so he didn't really care about it now.

For the rest of the class period he dazed off, thinking about what could possibly be irking Rai. 'Well, maybe he could have had another fight with Seymour Guado. That guy could really be a jerk, thinking he was the moon and the sun,' he thought as he shivered at the thought of the blue-haired menace. But to the boy, nothing like that should trouble him that much. No matter how childish or seemingly slow he could seem, there was nothing that Seymour could presently say that could make his friend even flinch.

"Hey kid," sharply whispered the red-head behind him. That was Reno. He was a junior like him and the prankster of the group. Many of the girls loved him and rumor was that he even had male admirers as well. No one really talked about homosexuality at this school though; it was something that was considered immoral and even sinful.

Sora turned to the side in his desk. "What?" he asked curiously as he settled himself in his new position.

"Rai's acting different," Reno stated blatantly. Sora blinked at the comment and nodded is head.

"Yeah, I know. He didn't say 'hi' to me or anything when I saw him walk by."

"What did you do to him?"

"What! I didn't do anything! I thought he had a fight with you!" yelled Sora taken aback.

Eyebrow raised, Reno leaned back in his desk, folding his arms behind his head. Sora never had to wonder why Rai hung out with him as the red-head stretched out his legs, knocking over his neatly-placed sidebag. Glaring at him, he picked up his fallen parcel and sat it on the other side of the desk, far from leg reach.

"Oh well," said Reno as he closed his eyes for his every class nap. The lazy bum, another thing Rai had in common with him.

Too bad Reno wasn't nearly as smart as his friend so his grades reflected on it. Sora sighed and opened his book. The language was really tricky, something that he really didn't like. He'd rather learn Wutai like he used to but it wasn't a well liked language in Midgard.


At lunch, Sora decided to confront Rai about his sudden change in mood. Even though he had known him for only a short time, he was close to him, one of the few people who actually looked out for him.

'So I guess he should be at his locker now, since the bell had just rung. Hopefully he'll be there,' thought Sora as he rushed out of his classroom and down the hall. Looking down both sides of the hall, he charged down the glass corridor, moving quickly through crowds of chatting people. When he rounded the corner, he was grabbed by the wrist and dragged down a different direction.

"Come with me."

The taller teen then led him down the hall and into an empty classroom, the psychology room. It was creepy enough, just a large room filled with shelves upon shelves upon shelves of books, all dark and seemingly old. They ranged in titles from 'Martinus Relation of Theory,' to 'Darkness and its Effects on Human Thought,' to 'Breaking Points in Human Thoughts.' The desks all were set along the sides of the room with chairs arranged around. It all seemed like a small drab library, a study hall of sorts for any kind of dark research that he could possibly imagine.

Rai shut the door behind them and pulled out a chair before deciding to sit on the desk. His face seemed disturbed, or worried, or distressed, something was wrong with him. He sighed and folded his arms, watching the shadows play on the gray tile.

"I'm worried about you," said Sora as he looked at the old fashioned reading lamp on what he presumed to be the teacher's desk. "What's wrong Rai? You normally don't act so down."

There was a long pause as the older boy waited for an answer. Normally, he would quickly reply with something cocky or some kind of smart remarks that would make him want to pull is own hair out. However, he had no reply like that.

"Tell me what's wrong. If there's anything I can do, just tell me and I'll help you."

"An assassin came after me last night."

"Wait, what did you say?"

Rai bit his lip as he glared at the ground bitterly. Something really was wrong. An assassin… after Rai? How could that be possible? He was just a normal guy right?

"Look, I don't think you should be around me anymore."

"Rai…" started Sora. Why was this happening now?

"Just don't come near me. I…"

"Why Rai? If you're in trouble, I'm not gonna leave you," said Sora with a look of concern in his eyes. Rai looked away from him sadly and leaned against the table. Walking over to the table next to his troubled friend, the older teen rested his hand on the other's shoulder comfortingly. "Tell me what's wrong. I'll understand."

"You can't possibly understand what I'm going through," he said before straightening up. "I just wanted to tell you that we can't associate with each other anymore."

"Why not? Is that what you really want? Tell me what's going on!" yelled Sora. It was all a stab to the heart. Rai was a close friend to him, someone he relied on in this still new school. And what was worse was that he had the feeling that it wasn't something as simple as concern for him that made Rai act so different. The person that he had come to know was at least kind enough to explain his actions.

"I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want them to come after you!" He could tell it in his eyes that Rai was panicking, a sense of terror that seemed to rack his body, making him shake uncontrollably.

"You don't want who to come after you? Tell me damn it! What's wrong with you?"

Sighing, the taller boy averted his gaze from his friend's soft blue eyes to the flooring at the side of him. He was stalling, but why, he didn't know. What was his big secret that he was trying to keep from him? Why did he want to keep a secret from him? It was all so confusing. What had Rai done to make an assassin want him dead for? Was he that important?

"I'm a high risk enemy of the Wutai, the nation ShinRa is trying to modernize."

"ShinRa?"

"Yes, they are the mega-corporation that dominates Midgard and its military. It's the same military that I'm to be signed into in SOLDIER when I graduate from this hell hole."

"So, are you okay?"

Rai gave a big laugh at this statement and grinned sadistically.

"Oh yes, I'm perfectly fine indeed! I returned to my apartment to find a ninja crawling through my things before she almost killed me. Then I had to run over to Ansem's to then spend the night in the military encampment. It was the best night of my life, among other things."

"Don't worry Rai; if you talk to the police I'm sure that they'll-"

"Don't you think that they already know? And they can't do anything about it, not the police, not the military, no one!"

"Well what are we supposed to do!"

"Do nothing, just leave me alone!" yelled Kisaragi before he made his way to storm out of the room. Sora grabbed his wrist in an attempt to hold him back. "Let… me… go," he said slowly in a frustrated rage, his whole body quaking so much that Sora thought he could very well collapse. Heaving a frustrated sigh, the older boy pulled him back to face him with a look of sternness.

"I'm not gonna let you go, not yet." Grabbing his other arm, he held both hands in a firm grip. "We need each other Rai; you need me as much as I needed you. I don't care if some damn assassin comes after me because I know you need my help."

Rai looked to the side nervously; he probably wasn't used to anyone being so close to him on their own will, at least with pure intentions. But it appeared as if he was listening because his eyes seemed to glaze over in thought like he usually did. This tugged a smile at Sora's lips; he was getting to him, underneath his shell.

"Rai, I know what it feels like to be alone. I know how it feels when the one person who could have possibly helped you just leaves you out in the cold." He felt his friend's gaze of concern, he had his full attention. "When the accident happened, I was so… lost. Lost in myself, in the fact that I lost he girlfriend that I loved since we were little, lost that I no longer had a father who always took care of us and loved my mother and I more than himself."

It was silent for a while as Sora bit back tears, remembering that day when they were driving on the coastline highway and skidded into an incoming car. They were only supposed to go to a party, a simple birthday party for one of Kairi's friends. He could remember how he had yelled at her for being late; she just wanted to wear the right dress with her new shoes that her father had bought her. His mother had even told them they couldn't go because it was a storm going on and it was dangerous. But his dad insisted that they go so they could have a little fun. 'Let them live a little Aeris. And besides I've gone through typhoons that way and I'm still here.'

"I always had the question, 'why me? Why did I have to be the only one who lived? Why couldn't it have been Kairi, or Dad?'" he sniffed as he focused his eyes onto the floor. "I was afraid of what everyone would think, how they would blame me for the whole thing happening, but I knew that I had Riku and, as long as he stuck with me, everything would be alright."

He then felt the warmth of his friend's shirt on his shoulder as he started to cry. He had been betrayed, when he needed him the most, Riku wasn't there. His best friend since birth wasn't there to cheer him up and make him feel better. That was the real reason why he had to leave, he was truly alone.

Rai simply held him as the other boy cried out his tears and frustration. He himself had never known the intensity of Sora's problems. In his eyes, it seemed as if he was the typical teenager, a little angsty but mostly happy and carefree. Rubbing his back, he let him empty out all of his tears on his shoulders, thoroughly dampening his shirt.

"I won't leave you."


Sora grabbed his overnight bag as he looked in his room for his last few things that he might have wanted to bring. There was nothing else that really had caught his eye except for one thing. The small blood red velvet box sat on his nightstand, the black satin ribbon neatly folded next to it. It was Riku's gift to him before he left, its contents still a mystery. Every time he had tried to open it, something always happened to prevent him from doing so. Not today. If he had to even walk with it to see what it was, so be it.

Sitting down on his soft bed, he gently grasped the box into his hand, looking at it nervously. He never understood why he was so nervous about a simple present from Riku; after all, he had a million gifts from him in his eyes. Laughing at his potential lunacy, he started to open the box, its hinges creaking before flying open.

He looked at it with unease, nervousness, and shock all in one. It wasn't a very Riku-like present, not one bit.

It had gleamed up at him in all of its white gold glory. It was a ring, a very good-looking one at that too. It was a simple one with a masculine but thin band. Another length of white gold wrapped around it in a winding fashion. A pair of wings spread across it with a diamond shaped blue jewel in the middle, sparkling brilliantly.

"Wow, pretty awesome," he said as he gently plucked it out of the holder, displaying it to the light. The glimmers twinkled in his eyes as he looked the jewel over. It was a soft royal blue at first but then it changed at certain angles with the light to a soft sea green, Riku's favorite color. It was the most beautiful gem that he had ever seen.

Trying it on, he finally found a fit on his left ring finger and held his hand in front of him. It fit perfectly, his hand, his personality, everything. Most of all, it reminded him of Riku. It was so elaborate and exquisite but still so simple and subtle deep down that it was pleasing to any eye.

Before he could dwell on Riku or his gift anymore, the phone rang, blasting him out of his reverie. Sighing, he placed the box onto its original spot on the nightstand and hopped off of the bed, eyes still fixed at his new present. His uncle stood outside of his door, phone in hand.

"Sora, phone for you. Some Rai guy I think."

Grabbing it from him, he shoved it onto his shoulder as he wandered back into his room. His bag was already packed and there was nothing else he felt that he needed to bring with him. 'It is only going to be a few days, nothing more right?' he thought as he answered the phone.

"Hey Sora. I'm outside of your complex right now. Do you have everything?" asked the calm voice of his friend. Tonight he was going to spent a few nights with Rai in another place of town. Rai had insisted that he go alone in case that the assassin might come after him again but Sora felt it would be better to go together, safety in groups no matter how small they really were.

"Yeah, I think so. My uniforms, after school clothes, toiletries, a few movies, money, cell phone, my backpack. Yup, I've got it."

"Good, I'll meet you downstairs right now," he said before he hung up.

Rushing to the door excitedly, he checked everything one more time. His uncle came up beside him and took his overnight bag.

"I'll take this for you."

"Thanks Zack."

Zack then looked at Sora with concern. Even though they weren't related, Sora was still like a nephew to him and, even more so as the days went by, like the son that he truly wanted to have. He didn't agree with the whole plan of letting him go to some seminar for school way out in Sector 2 but if it was for his grade, he guessed it would be alright. And Ansem himself called to tell him that it was alright.

They continued out of the condo and down to the elevator, each second filled with anxiety on both parts. Right outside of the elevator was Rai leaning against his motorcycle, looking at his nails. Upon seeing the two, more at the sight of Sora, he grinned and walked over quickly, taking his sidebag and putting it on himself.

"Now you're going to be safe right?" said Zack in more of a stern command than a request. Sora raised an eyebrow at his tone. He'd never heard his uncle, of all people, have so much authority in his voice. Sure he was in SOLDIER but that didn't mean that he really acted the part at home or off duty. And he wasn't one to say anything about driving safety. There wasn't a day yet that he didn't cut someone off, go through incoming traffic intentionally, or even stay on the street and not try to get anyone killed.

Rai simply bowed slightly in respect and swore that he would. This whole exchange left Sora surprised. Ignoring how much of an asshole that Rai could be, he also had a polite streak in him, one that he had only started seeing more recently. The both of them, Rai and his uncle, both had shown sides that he never could have even dreamed of, making him respect them more, if that could be possible. Zack had helped give him the new life that he had and Rai helped him cherish it.

Blushing at how sappy his thoughts were getting, he fiddled with the end of his t-shirt impatiently. When the two had made their last respects to each other, Rai led the dazed off boy by the shoulder to his motorcycle. Snapping out of his reverie, Sora fastened his overnight bag's strap over his shoulder more securely, resting it against his neck. They then both hopped on and sped off into the distance.


The house seemed empty, it always was. Even with his mother wanting to practice her kickboxing with him and his father always muddling over ancient books on ancient races, the one that he claimed they were from, it still felt lonely. Well it was. It had been over a full month since that night with Sora, the night before he moved to the megalopolis Midgard.

Everyday he feared what could possible happen to him there. His best friend, the one he knew before birth, was out there in that big city. He was out there without anyone to take care of him, to help him meet new people, to protect him when he was in remote danger. Most of all, in his eyes, Sora was alone without anyone there to love him like he could.

It was a feeling that had confused Riku for a long time. Since they were small, he always felt for Sora as his second half, two pieces to their central being, strong and wonderful. Whenever they were apart, Riku would have fits and was cold and distant, not wanting to acknowledge the existence of anyone and anything else until his companion was back at his side.

As they grew up, Riku began getting used to the fact that for certain hours of the day, they couldn't be together and if he wanted to continue school with him. So he sucked it all up for Sora's sake and behaved when society needed it. And each year, the distance between each time they could see each other became farther and farther away until he had only a few one hour classes with him and their half hour lunch period. Because of this, Riku then began to cherish their time together even more to the point that he would sometimes shut out their other friends to fill himself up to the brim with Sora's essence so he could last the rest of the day.

Because of this, he realized his most shocking secret. As each day passed by, he realized how much he enjoyed when his friend laughed, and how much he loved the perfect blue of his eyes. Even the way he smelled or how soft his skin slowly began to come to his attention. When he decided to date women, many of the things he liked in them were things that reminded him of Sora.

When he realized that he was infatuated with is best friend, it sickened him. He was obsessed with his male best friend, even to the point where the things that turned him on with women were if they felt like him, or smelled like him, or even cooed out his name like he had imagined Sora would do in his awkward fantasies. It was something that was shameful to him; he was objectifying his best friend who was so pure and innocent that he probably couldn't even understand someone doing such a thing.

He then became more distant, trying to find women that were so opposite of Sora that he couldn't find any trace of his friend in them. Filling himself up with easy women, he felt even more ashamed and perverse. Ever so slowly, he came to understand that he loved his friend. He had truly loved Sora and his smiles, his blushes when he was flustered or embarrassed, how socially awkward he was, and how he always felt triumphant when he would beat Riku at a game. He loved him with all his heart and it was something that always brightened up his days whenever he thought of it.

Laying on his bed, he looked up at the ceiling to see the numerous scribbles in crayon and marker. They made them together when they were young; playing like children did when they felt they could get in trouble with it. The drawings went down the walls as they made a zoo-like trail of bunnies, penguins, tigers, and horse-dogs. Whenever he felt lonely, he would sit in his room and look at them and remember their childhood.

"Kiku?" asked a younger Sora, about twelve-years-old. They were drawing on the walls like they normally did, the blue-eyed boy making his second bunny. Even at their age, they still loved to draw on the walls as their favorite pastime, trying to better the old drawings that they had started with when they were smaller.

"What Sora?" asked his friend eloquently for a child his age.

"What's kissing like?"

This question took Riku aback. What was kissing like? It was something that people did when they loved each other; at least that was what his mother had told him before .But that information was stale from when he was four and saw his mother kissing his father sweetly.

He blushed at the inquiry and focused more on his drawing. It was of a dragon like the one on his father's sword, the Nocturne. It was an interesting weapon but he had really wanted to see his father's prized possession, the Masamune.

"Well it's something that makes the other person feel happier, that's how it makes Dad feel when Mom kisses him."

Sora took in this information and nodded contemplatively. He always was a thinker, never too much but just enough to get him through the day. Riku always wondered what he was thinking, probably something big or interesting at the very least.

"Have you ever kissed someone before?"

Now Riku was embarrassed. Sure, he had kissed a few girls here and there, never really liking anyone, not yet at least. But it always was something odd; it never made him happy even if the girl was the one to initialize it.

His first one was in sixth grade in the back of a tree in the playground. It was with Kairi, the little girl who had just arrived to the islands a few months before. She was more of a mission than anything. Sora liked her a lot and he felt that it would be interesting to see who would get to kiss her first. It was enjoyable but it was something that quickly lost its spark. He had won the competition, and he had to break it to her that he didn't like her.

"Well, you remember I had won the dare to kiss Kairi. And a few other girls I guess," said Riku as he looked through the rest of the colors to find a suitable red for the scales. 'Please drop the topic here,' he thought as he concentrated on the mixed box of markers. He was feeling a little too uneasy about the conversation and didn't really feel like explaining all of the girls that he had kissed.

He felt Sora's soft hand on his, making him try to move it. The right color was right there, why was he playing around? Frowning at his friends' sudden act of playfulness, he looked up at him, about to scold at him.

Then, Sora kissed him. It wasn't really a kiss, more like the younger boy pressing his lips forcefully to his own in an almost bruising manner. Blushing madly, Riku recoiled violently and fell back onto his back, rolling over to his side stunned. Sora, his best friend, his male best friend, had kissed him. It was a little too much for his brain to take.

"What the hell was that for?" yelled Riku as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "That was uncalled for!"

"But Riku, I've kissed you before! All the time!" argued the brunette as he blushed in a fluster.

"Yeah, when we were little! And that was only on the cheek too! This is totally disgusting!" he replied, now rubbing his mouth raw with his shirt. It was embarrassing to him, Sora was his best friend and he had no right to do that. He started to sound more like his father Sephiroth.

"Still, I never got to kiss anyone. And I thought that maybe I could kiss you." Sora then looked to his hands despairingly. Whenever he did that, Riku always gave in. It was heartbreaking to see Sora sad, no matter how out of line he truly was. Giving a frustrated sigh, he placed his hand on Sora's shoulder. "I just wanted to make you happy Kiku. I'm sorry."

"Its okay Sora, I don't mind," said Riku, blushing now at his cheesiness. He was really going to let Sora kiss him, but only for today. If he let him do it again, it might get a little weird, they were both boys after all.

Gently holding up his chin he kissed him, using everything he had learned from the little experience he had. It was a simple one, gentle and encouraging. Sora froze, trying to think of what to do. He felt like a cold fish in his hands and Riku tried to motivate him to respond more normally to say the least.

"Just relax," he moaned before he kissed him again. Sora nervously eased into his friend's kisses, letting him take over. In doing so, Riku then let go of his chin and wrapped an arm around the other boy's waist kissing him with more enthusiasm.

It was all new to the silver-haired boy as he gave kiss after kiss, each one deeper than the last. Blushing brilliantly, Sora let Riku ravish his lips, feeling every petal soft fold and crease of them. He clutched the older boy's shirt as he timidly started his own counter kisses.

"Riku," he moaned, taken back from the feelings that he was getting from it. So this was kissing? It was more enjoyable than he thought. And his friend seemed so good at it too he thought innocently.

Knock, knock, knock.

Riku suddenly stopped the onslaught and stared at his friend in shock. Someone was at the door and whoever it was, it wasn't good. It could either be his mother and he couldn't imagine what her response could be at seeing her son practically making out with is guy best friend. Or, even worse, it could be his dad and he knew that he wasn't very tolerant with anything that could happen around him that he didn't know about. He hated secrets and this could be a big one.

Looking back at Sora in a panic, he tried to figure out what evidence could be seen. Sora's lips were the strawberry red and he appeared to be a bit flushed as he looked back at Riku nervously like a deer in headlights. His own shirt now had a tell tale cluster of wrinkles on his chest and nothing he could presently think of could cover that. They were screwed.

Saying his prayers in his head, he quickly stood up to get the door before it gently opened. 'We're going to be caught, and then Sora will get in trouble, and then we won't be able to hang out anymore. And I'm not even gay!' he thought in a panic, tensing up for whoever it could be.

"Riku, Mom wanted to know if you guys wanted something from a drive thru." It was the answer to his prayers. Sira looked at him with her father's bedroom eyes in a gentle expression. She was always more understanding than their parents and the most observant.

"Uh… yeah, that would be great. Right Sora?" asked Riku nervously, trying to gain back his composure. His whole body felt like he was shaking, making him feel as if he was going to collapse at any moment. Sora looked up at him and blushed profusely.

"What?"

Riku learned then that Sora was a bad liar, even to save both of their dignities. They were busted and there was nothing they could do about it. Sira looked at the both of them with a skeptical gaze and then her eyes widened before she let out a knowing laugh.

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it," she said. Before closing the door, she continued, "Just make sure that you lock the door the next time you want another little rendezvous."

With Sira gone, Riku sighed before letting his legs collapse, sliding down the wall. Laying his head back, he looked to the wall ahead of him. That was close, it was only Sira. His sister wouldn't tell anyone but he was still shaken about it. It was too close.

He felt Sora scoot up to him and put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Are you okay?" he asked in his usual innocent tone. The silver-haired boy pulled up his knees to his chin and huddled himself there, the tremors slowly dying down.

"This never happened Sora," he said, still shaken about it. It was embarrassing to him, he had kissed his best friend and very heatedly at that. They were also too young to be doing such things; a small and chaste kiss would have been enough if anything. The kiss they shared had feeling in it, too much feeling. It didn't make him happy or satisfied or anything of that nature. It had left him scared, ashamed, and the weird urge for more that hit him in the pit of his stomach. He felt ravenous, if it was that exact feeling; he had the desire to grab him back again and run his hands all over his skin. There were so many indescribable feelings that raced through his mind and body that it left him dizzy inside and almost maddened.

Sora lowered his head and sat next to him, tapping his feet together with a frown. "I'm sorry I asked you." Riku then eyed him nervously. Even though he himself felt as if he was going insane, the blue-eyed boy next to him didn't seem to be harboring any of those feelings whatsoever. He seemed more upset that he could have possibly hurt him with his bold action than anything else. He sighed heavily and mussed up his friend's already tousled mass of brown hair.

"It's alright Sora. I just got a little carried away, that's all. We're still friends right?" he said with a weak smile. Sora then grinned his trademark grin and nodded his head determinedly.

"Now that you've taught me Kiku, I'll be even better than you! And then I'll have all of the girlfriends." Riku bust out laughing, falling out of his fetal position to a more sprawled out fashion against the wall. That was Sora for him, quick to look over anything that he said to look over.

Remembering that day, Riku smiled, curling over to the side. Sora was too innocent for his own good, no matter how much he may have toughened up and become more of a man. Deep in his heart, he would always be a kid, no matter what. That inner youth was what had drawn Riku to him most of all. It was a forgiving and gentle soul that he had that could make him feel as if he was bigger than life. Whenever they played games, or sparred, or even on tests, he had mostly come out on top, in turn making his friend idolize him even more. But Riku enjoyed it, it was what made him strive to be a better person and do well in school, and help his mother workout, and seduce many girls that he didn't really care for. He loved being the one thing Sora looked to the most.

When the accident happened, it shattered him. He remembered watching TV when the phone rang. Tifa picked up the phone and then started crying hysterically. She told him that Sora had been in a horrible car accident and that his father Cloud and Kairi had been killed. His mother had loved Cloud as a brother since they grew up together in Nibelheim. They did have feelings for each other for a short while until Cloud fell in love with Aeris. So the shock of her childhood friend being killed in an accident hurt her severely.

But what shocked Riku was when she told him that Sora was in the hospital and might not make it through the night. The other deaths did hurt him greatly but at the thought of losing his true love he shattered inside.

Everything seemed to be falling apart. The only thing he did was fall to the floor and cry. Never before in his life had he felt so alone and lost inside. When Sira died he knew that he had Sora at his side. He knew that no matter what, Sora would help him out of it. But the thought of not having him there with him, to smile when he was sad, to hug him when he felt lonely, or to even be there to let him love him from afar, it all broke him apart.

He huddled himself hunched over the carpet, showering tears and screaming to God why He was taking Sora away from him. He felt betrayed, like the heavens could be so cold as to take away the one thing that kept him living. It was suffocating pain that he felt but he didn't care as he hyperventilated and passed out in a mess of tears.

When he had woken up an hour later, he remembered that he had stumbled out of the bed and landing in a heap on the floor with a thud. His mother then rushed in and struggled with him to put him back in bed, mumbling something like he had to rest. But he didn't have to rest, he couldn't rest.

"I can't! Sora's hurt and he needs me! I have to help him or he'll die! HE'LL DIE!" he yelled as he pushed himself off of the mattress as his mother was trying to hold him down. He heard her calling for his father frantically from between his loud cries. But he kept wrestling against his mother's strong hold on him as he swung anywhere he could at her if it could get him closer to Sora.

His father calmly walked in with long strides before stopping at the bed. He could hear his mother franticly telling him that if he didn't stop fighting that he was going to pass out again. Sephiroth pulled Riku out of his mother's grip and wrapped his arms around him in an iron grip, forcing him to be cradled in his father's lap.

Screaming even more, struggled maddeningly against his father, his eyes reddening in he stress. Running out of energy, he soon had calmed down and simply laid his head against Sephiroth's broad shoulder. Sora was dying, he knew it. What was worse was that there was nothing to do. He couldn't see him one last time before he died, he couldn't tell him that he loved him with all of his heart and that he made him the happiest person in the world when he simply said a friendly 'hi' to him every morning. He had failed him and he would lose him for it. At that thought, he miserably passed out once again but didn't wake up until the next morning.


A/N: Hey everyone, I hope this chapter had cleared some questions up for you. Now you know what is inside of the box, what Riku's feelings really are, and a little into the life of Rai Kisaragi. Most of this chapter was happily typed on my brand new tablet PC! I got it for my graduation present! It's so awesome! It's called Azrael. I named him. Well, I hope you liked the chapter. I tried hard to clear some very confusing things up. Well, review!