Chapter four: Chemicals

P.S: Sorry for the late update. xD You all must hate me, right?

Riku found himself going mad. Sitting there, with this new information burning the very edges of his thoughts, his brain. Everything reminded him of Cloud's little.. Explaination. Actually, things were very simple. Perfumed with cruelty, and laced with the most gorgeous misery. Yet, plainly, it was, but it took Cloud what seemed to be hours to form words on his lips. And Riku stared at him with deathly still shock.

There was no matter to offer him something to drink, because it wasn't the time. He allowed, this one time for Cloud to just waltz in and take a seat on the opposite couch. He seemed to take less interest in Riku's texture in the room—Black— As Sora did.. But then again, seriously, who was like Sora anyway? A mere graze of the eyes, a plain glance, as though nothing seemed to scathe Cloud's usual attire…Somewhat like Riku himself. But Riku wondered if this was his expected nature, or forced, like Riku's was…? He shrugged it off.

Yes, what happened to Sora was plain, and hideous. It was simple and disgusting.

Sora was beaten by his father.

And when Cloud finally finished with his chronicle, of the things Sora had thrashed through, he let the stories play with his mind. Movies retold in his head. He could almost feel Sora's soft screams and shrill shrieks, and the tears which formed in his eyes. He could almost have... kissed away his pains, he could have been there. It's absolutely amazing how oblivious he found himself. Who knows what he was doing when Sora was being torn. Why, right this second…

..Someone was being hurt. Someone was crying.

Riku sewn the seams of his mask tighter, and lifted his head, and quirked a brow at Cloud. "And you? What'd you get out of all this?" His voice, though smooth and graceful, was shaded but with the slightest bit of impatience. Not at Cloud, of course. But he was just about ready to shed something to itty bitty pieces.. However, knowing Riku, that still wouldn't have been enough.

Destroying inanimate objects wasn't satisfying to Riku. Not now, anyway.

Cloud was lost in a moment of hesitation, eyes glazed with contemplation. He seemed a little... sad, and perhaps off balanced. And as much as Riku loves to watch a human be thrown into deep concentration, he was beginning to grow a little impatient. Then immediately guilty quickly after; Because he was Sora's brother, which must have meant he had gone through the same thing, and watched his brother fall deep within it's depths. That's never easy to explain to someone foreign to the soft subject. That's never easy to confess to…

Just as Riku was going to ease Cloud's trouble mind and tell him to even forget Riku even asked in the first place, the blonde shifted his weight so his shoulder was visible seen by the silver haired vampire. Hesitantly, the blonde's hand reached the collar of his azure shirt, with little imprints of pink dashed along the fading colour, and slowly began to reveal tanned flesh. Cloud was much more brawny than Sora, Riku began to notice… But he supposed he loved Sora in his girlish way. Then again, Riku may have appeared more striking and regal to any human, and perhaps aloof, Sora would seem more warm and sunny. Trustworthy. The opposite truly did started Riku to his gut.

As Cloud began to expose his shoulder, on the crook of his neck, Riku noticed the discoloration. And the ripples, the grotesque feature it was… Riku recognized it at first hand. It was only a patch, seemingly like plastic almost, with its melting texture. The harsh indention it made into the mind as well as the skin… The vampire noticed that the pain in Cloud's eyes matched that of which the scar emitted. And Riku doubted if that hurt, the lucid pain diagnosed with one glance, would even compare to that sunk deep within Sora's eyes.. Thank goodness he continued his slumber.

"It's a burn mark."

Cloud nodded.

The vampire continued, "And judging by how deep it is.."

"..It was held there for a long time." Cloud finished him, hiding the scar again, though the damage was deeply visible in his eyes still, "A book."

"Book?" Riku inquired, "Did he burn one on your shoulder?"

Cloud nodded, "I'm not quite sure why he did so.. But I remember he held it there. Somehow he managed not to burn himself in the process, though now as I look back on it there were no flames.. Meaning he might have just toasted the pages and held them there…"

"You don't remember why, because it wasn't nearly in comparison to the pain," Riku obligated...But then his voice fell, "Which must have meant that the punishment was way overly servered."

Cloud nodded solemnly. "Sora… Will most likely hate me for the rest of my life for telling you this.." He ran his hand through his blonde locks again, "..But I feel like you should know. You need an explanation anyway, or you might blame me, which would definitely ruin things."

Riku laughed a bit. Rich, forgo the previous tension. That thought had crossed his mind once or twice…

"I'm sure he'll thank me later, too." The blonde explained, "Because Sora has a hard time expressing things. Painful things, anyway."

Riku nodded, and quickly shot a glance to the Felix Clock, and his chest became flustered.

"It's getting late.. You should probably take him home for a good night's rest. Tomorrow morning I'm sure.." Riku grinned a bit, "He won't be feeling too well."

Cloud rolled his eyes, "Greaaat." Standing up, and shaking his head, he took out a card. "Here. It's our address. You're coming tomorrow—I don't care when— and you're helpin' the kid. It's your fault in the first place."

Riku laughed at that, "Well alright then."

Cloud scooped the slumbering boy in his arms, soft breath escaping his lips, accompanied by a hiccup every now and again. As Riku ushered him to the door way, Cloud gave a slight smile. "Hey, thanks. I'm sure Sora would have wanted it to say it," Cloud grinned, "I'm sure he had a nice time."

"I sure did." Riku stood in the door frame, digging his hands into his pockets. The night didn't seem to scathe him at all... But Cloud brushed that thought off. Who could sleep in this city of neon and chrome?

"Are you going to tell me where this bastard lives?" Riku asked as politely as he could, "Or do I need to track him down myself?"

Cloud chuckled at the thought, but solemnly shook his head. "I'm afraid someone beat you to it."

Riku straightened his posture to attention, "What?"

"He was killed… A while back. I don't really remember when," Cloud sighed, "It was pretty pathetic. Sora was so delirious at the wake."

"Was it because he wasn't sad?" The calmness returned to Riku's features.

"No.." Cloud fumbled over his words, "..He cried. I mean, that's normal, I guess... But this man... He shouldn't even be allowed to be called 'father.' To be known as one, because he wasn't..." He sighed, "The tears Sora shed that night should never have been meant for that devil."

Riku nodded. He let the conversation drop at that. Enough had been revealed that night... Nothing more needed to be spoken. He felt... tied to Sora, again, as he brushed the dark locks from his eyes as Cloud strode away, giving a half-heart wave behind him. And Riku remained in the doorway for a moment's grace, till Cloud's and Sora's figures were hidden behind the elevator doors. He sighed.

And now here Riku was, sitting there, the night after the information leaked in Riku's mind. He wasn't…sure what to do. He knew quite well he couldn't stay here. Eyes grazing over his dark room. A smirk. He had lied, earlier. He wasn't waiting. Riku knew that he had to hide the room securely before anyone came. That's how long it took. Everywhere he stayed he had to dress up, he had to darken. It was.. so miserably painted. The strokes, they bled with passionate grace over the tones of his room. Each and every where he went he left behind a black gash… He prettied the place up.

He was now lying on the couch, eyes looming over the ceiling. Combing through his silver locks and closing his eyes...He contemplated. Riku had been in dull situations similar to this before. What had he done then…? When he felt like there was nothing he could do. First, he arranged what mattered most important to him, right then, right there. At that time. Then, what he wanted to do. As the list finally ended in his mind, he came to a single conclusion. All together… Sora was more important than the man who killed his father.

So… To Sora's it was!

Grinning as he practically leapt off the couch, a madman without his tracker, as he slipped into some shoes and a coat. He wondered briefly how the boy was doing… Was he still ill? It was long past since the moon had fallen… And he hadn't given him that much to drink, had he? Then again, Sora didn't seem like one to have a low tolerance to alcohol. But.. The more Riku thought about it..

He barely knew anything about Sora to begin with.

He slipped on his trench coat, rummaging through the pockets to make sure he didn't have an unexpected presents. Sighing, lacing his boots. He ran his fingers through his chaotic silver hair, figuring a comb wouldn't do much better. Another sigh. He always felt happy whenever he thought about Sora, because that's just the affect the boy had on him, but now… He was a little timorous to go and find him. But Sora would probably feel more awkward than Riku ever could…

He knew how that felt, knowing someone knows your secret. Every little thread which you could trace back to a memory, to a thought, you wondered, were they thinking about it too? Were they curious, did they fear what might appear, also? It was a sickening feeling, yet, also somewhat comforting. But the downside always made confessing worse. And, again, the thought of his own little confession decided to meddle in his mind. Depression. He knew… The truth would come out. Though he so wished he could doubt it, he knew it would. Someday--- He feared it.

Slipping the door closed behind him, he took another deep sigh, trying his best to forget all these thoughts as he began his way to Sora's apartment.

A knock.

No responds..

Another knock, more harsh.

And the door finally opened.

Riku must admit that the apartment was fairly decent, by judging on the circumstances. A creak here or there, lighting casting shadows along the maroon walls. When he was walking down the corridors, he couldn't help but glance side to side, peeking into the doors which remained opened. A wax museum.. The sadness escaping from the rooms was parcel, for it remained contained within the wax bodies. Watching TV, perched by windows, eating dinner.. They were all in different poses. It was almost, frightening, how this apartment reminded him of a hospital.

Even the faint scent of antiseptic clung in the stagnant air, which made him nauseas. He always hated hospitals…Grimace. Riku was grim by the time he found Sora's apartment door, and when the boy didn't answer the door at first, he grew a little impatient. His knocks became more harsh until finally a pale Sora opened the door, eyes glazed with disease ashe panted, flesh glazed in sweat.

"R..Riku.." He muttered, "I..I'm..I'm so—"

He held a hand to his mouth and took a dash to the bathroom, and soon the sounds of vomiting could be heard through out the air. Riku grimaced. Again. Feeling a little awkward, he walked into the doorway, eyes peeking around the humble apartment. It was solid, blended with colors of neon and brightness. The couches were red, the walls different shades, each wall a different color accordingly. Abstract paintings hugging on the walls, varies shades of white spreading out. Riku couldn't help but smile. How suiting it seemed for Sora…

Another vomit tore Riku from his admiration. He bit his lip and followed the sound to the bathroom, finding Sora with his head hung over the toilet bowl and his arms wrapped around the toilet's body. His shoulders shuddered each time he heaved, a sickening sound lofted into Riku's ears. Softly, he approached, kneeling beside him and soothingly rubbing his hand over the boy's back. To be honest, he knew nothing else to do but whisper soft nothings into his ear. After a few moments, which seemed like hours, Sora pried his face from the toilet bowl, and offered Riku a weak smile.

"..I'm sorry.."

Riku laughed, "You didn't have to go this far," He said, and Sora quirked a brow… So the vampire added, "Was my first date that bad?"

Sora laughed a little, though it was weighted with his own ill nature. Riku nodded, and leaned over.

"Do you think you can hold it in for a little while?" When Sora nodded, and he had enough sanity in his eyes to actually know what was going on, Riku scooped him up in his arms and carried him softly, careful not to upset his stomach any more than it already was, and lay him to rest on the couch. Then, after a quick search of the house, found a bucket, and placed it beside him. Taking the nearest blanket, he cautiously layered it over the lithe body, as if even the tiny blanket would crush the boy. He sighed. What a long night this would have turned out to be…

From that point on, for the rest of the night, Riku took care of Sora. Like a mother would a sick child. He tended to his every need, his every moan.. Any word which left his dry lips, he did. It wasn't hard or anything, and it wasn't like Riku was being forced into anything.. It just felt rather relieving. He loved helped the boy like that, to care for him. That's all he really felt like doing, to hold him. He had no idea where Cloud had run off to… Probably with this "Leon" or something, but Riku didn't mind. He could sit here forever wit his beloved.

During the night, at about midnight, Sora awoke from a deep slumber. His eyes were glassy with his dreams, but his conscience was clear. Riku was smiling down at him.

"Hey, how're you feeling?"

Sora couldn't help but smile, "A lot better."

Riku nodded, "Well, that's good."

Sora sat up, though he still kept the blanket to his chest. And then, he did something Riku never really expected. Not from Sora, not from… Not from a human. From this angel. Not from someone who was vomiting just a few hours ago. Sora wrapped his arms around Riku's neck and pulled him into a tight embrace. Riku could feel the warmth of his heart, the pulse, against his own, hideous dead one. Riku had no heartbeat. But the warmth Sora emitted… Riku almost felt lost within it. He'd never felt this love before... It was so…So…

"Thankyou, so much." Sora said, "For all you've done. I really appreciate it."

And then, Riku did something Sora would never excpect.

He pulled back, and brought his fingers beneath Sora's chin, and tilted his head up, wide ocean eyes curiously gazing back at Riku's. The vampire smirked.

And kissed him.