Author's Notes: Well, I just couldn't stand going without updating for more than a day. I wanted to write ahead a little bit...and I sort of succeeded, but I sort of didn't. All I can say is that Chapter 50 will have a nice little surprise and that its alternate version will be available on my LiveJournal.

I feel like I half-assed the job with the talk between Sora and his parents. I was going to originally omit it altogether, since it didn't seem that important, but my reviewers kept saying how they were so revved up and curious to see what would happen and what the reaction would be and yada yada yada...so I added it in. You can say goodbye to Kairi, though. Kairi's gone.

But you know...now that I think about it...in the second game, she actually does look really...pretty. Like, in the first game, she was just this big bubble-headed little fourteen-year-old girl, and now she's fifteen, and she's actually got a figure and a nice face, and her hair's subtled out to this nice reddish-brown...I actually like it. I can actually stand to look at her now. Plus her outfit's way cooler.

I now have three entries so far in the contest, from Daenis TooShy, Lee, and nummycreampuff, respectively. All are good entries, but does anyone have any competition to give them, hmmmm? Also, someone asked me how many chapters they thought would be in this story. Honestly, I truly cannot say for sure. It could definitely be well over 50 chapters, though. (This is such a LONG story! I'm sorry, it must be agonizing to read through when you're a first-timer.) That's why I'm trying to write at least two or three chapters ahead, so I can give warning when we're nearing completion...as well as the end of the contest.

We've cleared 600 reviews - WOW! Thank you so much, you guys, for all the support you've given me. It's been a great pleasure writing this and I'm so happy that people like this. It really makes my day to check my e-mail and find all those reviews sitting in my Inbox; really. Thanks a lot!

Chapter 49

"Step It Up In Invitation"

Sora was still squirming on the couch. Thank God Selphie wasn't there, at least. Then again, he had a feeling his parents would be explaining this to Selphie later, and then she'd go around telling everyone, "My big brother likes boys!"

"So, Sora," his mother said gently, "Just how long have you been 'seeing' Riku?"

Sora looked down. "Uhm...s-since we took off..." he noticed that he said "we" and not "he", which would have been more accurate, since Riku was doing the running away and he was just a tag-along.

"Well, you know my feelings about him..."

"Sora, he kidnapped you."

Sora looked up and growled. "He did not kidnap me, Dad! He was just scared. He thought I would get hurt if I stayed behind, that's all..." he licked his lips. "He really does care for me."

"It's still a kidnapping." His father said. "And all the same, we're surprised. You never told us that you were...gay."

Sora groaned. His father was saying "gay" with a very off tone, like he hardly knew who his own son was anymore. Thankfully, his mother had been more understanding. Just not very happy that he'd picked Riku, out of anyone he could have been with.

"Honestly, I didn't really know myself, until Riku..." he paused. "Well, until I moved here. That was sort of when it started..."

Lisa sighed. "You really hurt Kairi's feelings."

Sora bowed his head low and whimpered, "I knooowww. I tried not to do too much damage, okay? Don't remind me."

"Did you tell her the whole situation, Sora?"

Sora gulped. "No..."

"I'm disappointed in you! You could have at least told her the truth!"

"I'm sorryyy!" Sora whined. "I didn't want to hurt her that badly! She'd break down and cry! I didn't wanna see that..."

His mother sighed. "What is it that you see in Riku, exactly? Because lately, what he's been doing has been telling me he's not exactly a good match for you."

Sora's father cleared his throat as if a point of his had been proven, and Sora leered at him. "Don't give me that look," John scolded. Sora pouted.

"He's nice, he's funny...he just makes me happy. That's what I see in him."

Lisa crossed her arms and leaned back. "Well...I still don't trust him, but I suppose I can't keep you from him. As long as he doesn't hurt you..." she sighed. "I suppose I shouldn't be too harsh. You are my son, after all." She smiled. "And whatever the case, I'll support you, because I love you." Here, she elbowed her husband sharply in the side. John startled.

"E-Er, y-yes." He cleared his throat. "We're by your side no matter what, son." Lisa gave her husband and approving smile, but underneath that, John could still pick up on the fire-eyed glare she gave him in case he should slip up or make Sora feel awkward.

Sora smiled a little bit, but he still shifted nervously. "So...that's it?"

Lisa laughed. "Yes, that's it, Sora. Now go on up to bed. It's late, and you're going back to school tomorrow."

Late? It's only 9:30. Sora didn't argue, though, so he got up and went upstairs to his room. Snatching the phone on the way there. When he got to his bed, he closed the door behind him and dialed Tidus.

"Herro!" Called the blond on the other end.

"Tidus! Hi."

"So, how'd 'The Big Talk' go?"

Sora shrugged, rolling onto his back. "It went...okay, I guess. My Dad's a little weirded out, but my Mom is okay with it, aside from the fact that I'm dating Riku."

"Heh, heh, heh. You're gonna have quite a story to share when you get to school."

"Oh, yeah, I'm going back tomorrow." Sora nodded. "Me and Riku. I guess we'll have to dispel all the rumors?"

"And prove some!" Tidus exclaimed. "Some of the people already think you guys are gay."

Sora blushed. "Well, I guess those people are right..."

Tidus paused for a while, and then Sora heard him snickering. "Lulu did a good job, don'tcha think?"

Sora shrugged again. "I don't know; we'll see."

"We'll see? We'll see?" Challenged Tidus. "Lulu is totally gonna kick Ansem's sorry, twisted, sicko ass!"

The brunet smiled again. "Yeah, I don't think Ansem's gonna walk with this one." He admitted.

"Mwahahaha. We'll be watchin' that, yeah? I'll see you at school tomorrow, man."

Oh, God. School.

Sora hadn't even been here five minutes, and already there were eyes. Everywhere. Staring at him. From every corner of every hallway at every locker on every floor. It was invasive. Everyone had this bewildered look on their faces, like he was a ghost come back from the dead. He shifted his backpack nervously on his shoulder, wearing his blue denim jacket over a black tank top with a sketchy skull on it. Hayner had a shirt just like it. With it he was wearing dark blue jeans and tennis shoes, and that crown necklace he loved. Nobody cared. They just saw him, and they were all probably thinking, Oh God! It's SORA!

"Soraaa! Heyyy!" Sora groaned at his name, and turned around, expecting someone to pummel him with questions about what had happened. Instead, he was shocked to see that it was Wakka, rushing up and suddenly giving him a crushing hug that made him lose all his air.

"You alive, man! We all got worried sick over you, ya? How you feelin'?" Wakka slapped Sora's back, and Sora lurched forward with a cough. He'd forgotten how rough Wakka could be—he hadn't known the other that long, but he found he'd gotten well-acquainted with the Latino-esque boy's brute strength.

"F...Fine..." Sora coughed again, "Th-thank you."

Wakka slapped his back again. Sora cringed but stood up straight. This wasn't right—he could feel those hits through the cushioning of his backpack!

"Everyone's talkin' about you and Riku, ya. They think Riku mighta raped you or some shit like that. So I say, 'Hey, you can't blame the guy for everything, ya?' 'Cause that crazy foster guy hurt 'im for so long, ya!"

Sora was also quickly reminded of Wakka's habit of saying "ya" at the end of most of his sentences. He apparently did this more often when a friend returned safely from something, because he could never remember hearing it this much.

"R-Riku didn't rape me," he murmured as they walked.

Big mistake.

"He didn't?"

"So what'd he do?"

"Yeah, Riku won't let slip a word!"

"Tell us what happened, Sora!"

"Are you gay?"

"Are you dating him?"

"Did you guys have sex already!"

"No, no, no, no! GAH!" Sora flung his arms around him wildly in a sudden hyperactive spurt, flailing about and spreading out the crowd. "Get away from me! God! You freaking bunch of buzzards! Picking at my remains and demanding my words! I HAVE NO TIME FOR SUCH ANIMOSITY!"

Wakka laughed and pushed some of the people back. "Give the guy some room to breathe, ya?"

"Shut up, Wakka!"

"Yeah, Sora knows answers and he'll probably give them to us!"

"Are you gay, Sora?"

"For God's sake!" Sora wailed. "I'm not going to tell you if I'm gay! That's my own business!"

Some girls turned and whispered to each other ("whispered"; Sora could clearly hear them), "That's okay, if he won't tell us, all we have to do is watch him!"

"Uh-huh! If he starts clinging to Riku and they act all mushy..."

The two girls did a collective fangirl squeal, and that did it. Sora shoved past Wakka. "Sorry!" He told him. "I need to go to class!"

I can't believe how bad it is here! These freaks have no manners! Sora was practically blowing steam out his ears as he trudged off to class. It was NEVER this bad in the country. When I turn eighteen, I'm moving someplace where it's nice and cozy and QUIET! He grumbled and shifted his backpack on his shoulders. A very plain-looking girl with books in her arms made the mistake of walking up to him.

"Sora. Uh...hi. I heard about what happened with you and Riku, and—"

"Can't talk, sorry." He snapped, walking right past her. She blinked at him for a moment, and then shrank back into the crowd. Sora burst into the Auxilary Gym for first period P.E., and tossed his backpack down in his squad spot and sat down with his arms sternly crossed, huffing. Saix, the gym teacher, glanced over at him while he checked things off on his clipboard.

"Glad to have you back, Sora." He said.

Sora sighed. "Yeah, who isn't?" He grumbled.

"Ah, kids. Just try not to let them get to you." Saix tapped his pen on his clipboard. "I'm afraid I'm not the type to dodge around the bush, so allow me to be painfully blunt instead. You've missed a couple of quizzes and some handouts on activities. I'll hand them to you by the end of class. We've been playing soccer as a major activity since last week, so if you don't know the rules, you should ask one of your classmates."

This calmed Sora down slightly, though it now weighed him with concern over having to catch up with what he'd missed. Dammit, Riku! He cursed in his mind. Well, at least I won't be the only one to suffer. So you'd better be getting as much work as I am!

"Thank you, Mr. S." Muttered the brunet. Saix 'hmm'd and turned his back on the other, but then turned around again. "Oh, by the way," he said, "I hope all goes well for you in the future, considering the chaos as of late."

Sora just sighed and fell back to stare at the gym ceiling. "I hope so, too." He mumbled.

Sora spent most of the spare morning minutes he had relaxing in the gym. Hardly anybody showed up except for a few people, and when he got bored he tried walking around, though he hardly left even the gym doors outside. When there were fifteen minutes left before the warning bell, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He twirled around, biting on his thumbnail, and blinked.

"R-Riku!"

Riku waved a casual hand. "Yo."

The brunet smiled. "What are you doing here!"

The other teen shouldered his backpack. "I'm attending classes, silly."

"I know that," groaned Sora, "I mean, what are you doing down here? Isn't your class up there?" He pointed to the second floor upstairs. Riku smiled at him and laughed.

"Am I not allowed to come visit you?"

Sora frowned. "What about all the people?"

Riku looked around them. "What? You mean these guys?" Some of them were staring at the two boys, but for the most part, in this section of the school, people were in their own little cliques and minding their business. Riku smirked. "I don't think they really care."

Sora grumbled and pouted. "They ambushed me."

"Awww, poor baby," Riku teased, "Does the baby want a hug?"

"The baby wants a space bubble so he can keep out all the nasty gossip freaks!"

Riku laughed again. He reached up and tapped Sora's nose with his finger, making the brunet go cross-eyed for a second. "But if you put yourself in a bubble, then I won't get to have fun with you," he said pointedly. Sora looked up at him and frowned.

"Knowing us, I think we'd find a way around that," he said. Riku smiled at him.

"Oh, I'm sure. Take this, for instance...follow me." He turned on his heel and started walking. Intrigued, Sora blinked and followed doggedly after, keeping up perfectly at Riku's side.

"Where are we going?"

"Just somewhere."

Sora frowned. "And this somewhere would be...?"

Riku chuckled. "You'll see. Couples use it all the time for privacy. Nobody uses it in the morning."

"That still doesn't answer my question..."

Riku stopped as they walked down the hallways and, with a sigh, turned and said to Sora with a deadpan face: "It's a totally abandoned part of the school that's still under renovations. There. Are you happy?"

Sora grinned cheekily. "Yep! Super!"

Riku shook his head. "You totally just made that sound less romantic," he mused.

The brunet smiled and continued following, but just as they got there, he stopped. "Wait! What if someone finds out about this? Everyone's gonna bug us!"

Riku sighed again. "Sora, I'll tell you right now that it's no damn secret we're going out, and we just got back to this school today."

Sora's eyes widened and he paled. "Did you tell someone!" He cried. Riku's eyes scrunched and he shook his head.

"Nooo!" He groaned. "Hell, no! That's just how high school works, Sora. Get with the program. By tomorrow, every gay guy, fag hag and queer-hater is going to know about us. Okay? It's school. Things don't stay secret for long."

The ocean-eyed brunet pouted again and looked down at his shoes. "Well, that sorta sucks..."

Riku took Sora by the hand and drew him into a dark little corner where the walls were still boarded-up wood and half-bricked, unpainted, and it still smelled like wood chips. "And that's why we've got our own little Make-Out Point." He said. "Besides, we can talk here and no one will disturb us."

Sora looked up. "You promise?"

"Absolutely. Anyone comes in to fuck up our shit, and they'll go home with a black eye."

That made Sora laugh. Still the same old Riku, he thought. Ready to pummel anyone who he sees as a threat.

The silver-haired teen looped an arm around Sora's middle and drew him close. They both leaned back against a wall, which turned into Riku against the wall, with Sora against him, looking up. "So let's talk," Riku suggested. "There are a couple of things I wanted to say." He smiled and stroked Sora's cheek, kissing him briefly. "First of all...I thought you might wanna come home with me sometime this week."

Sora's eyes lidded half-shut as Riku gave him another short, sweet kiss, and he smiled dreamily. "Sure. I think my Mom will be a little upset, but if I tell her your mom will be home, I don't think she'll mind."

Riku scoffed. "My Mother works late nights. I doubt she'll be home."

Sora shrugged. "So? I'll lie."

Riku grinned, and tapped Sora's nose again. "See! You're getting the hang of this already. Sneaking around like a pro."

"How's Wednesday sound?"

"I think that sounds just fine."

Sora purred and snuggled cozily against Riku's body, and Riku stroked his fingers through the brunet's chestnut hair. They looked at each other for a moment, and then Sora stood up on his toes in order to reach Riku himself—he had almost forgotten how signifigant those few inches on Riku's height were in comparison to himself. He pressed his lips firmly against the other's, and Riku kissed back with equal fervor. They immediately skipped all steps and went right for the "good part"; Sora parted his lips willingly for Riku's tongue to enter, and they both engaged in a short duel, though Riku quickly won and drew Sora's tongue into his own mouth. Sora tilted his head to get better access and, ending the kiss with a soft smack, he lingered by nibbling on Riku's bottom lip.

The older teen hummed pleasantly and shifted to hold Sora tighter, kissing him again. "And..." a kiss. "Another thing..." (Damn, I can barely get a word in! Riku thought. Ah, hell...) They parted again, and Riku craned his neck down to kiss Sora's jaw. "Mmm," he purred, "I wanna ask you something."

Sora arched as Riku nipped his earlobe. "Yes?"

Here Riku suddenly stopped and held Sora at half his arm's length, looking at him sternly in the face. Sora blinked, and his bottom lip thrust out in a small pout, disappointed at the abrupt lack of contact.

"Do you want to take this slow?"

Now Sora was really confused. "Take it slow?" He wondered. "Whaddya mean by that?"

Riku frowned, glancing at him sideways. "Do you want me to back off, to chill out, go any slower with this...? What? What's a good pace?"

Sora blinked again—several times. Then his face cracked into a goofy smile and he giggled.

"Riku, what are you talking about? I'm happy like this."

"You're joking!" Riku held Sora further away from him dubiously. "You're not at all freaked out about the lightning pace we're taking? For Chrissakes, we already hit third base!" Riku peered at Sora sideways again. "Do you know how long it usually takes a normal couple to hit third base?"

"Third base?" Sora wondered.

"Naked in bed with no sex."

Sora blushed. "B-But that was before it was official, wasn't it?"

Riku sighed and cornered Sora against the wall, groaning as if distressed. "Sooraaa, you're such a pleaser!"

Sora snorted. "I'm a what?"

"A pleaser! As in, a people pleaser!"

"But..." Sora shook his head. "...Seriously, Riku, I don't care." He frowned. "I mean, if it's what makes you happy..."

Riku pressed up against Sora then, until his knee was practically rubbing the other's groin. Sora yelped and tensed up. "I don't want to know what I want, Sora. I already know what I want. I want to know what you want."

Sora shook his head, reaching up and looping his arms around Riku's neck, and Riku stared at him with firmly riveted caribbean eyes.

"Riku," he said, "As far as I'm concerned, everything just feels right. You know? So...let's just..." Sora shrugged, "...Let's just...go."

Riku didn't act happy with that. Well, maybe half-happy. He sighed yet again and nuzzled Sora's neck, wrapping him into arms again.

"Please, please, please fix that quirk of yours," he whispered. "If you grow up acting like that, the world will make shark meat out of you." He paused, then added, "Or just a doormat."

Sora grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Only around you. You'll probably be the one sitting on the couch asking me to bring you a beer—and I'll be dutifully fetching it for you and expecting praise or something."

Riku chuckled and kissed the corner of Sora's mouth. "I do know one thing. You're an eager little bastard."

Sora stood up on his toes again and pecked Riku's cheek. "So," he asked curiously, "You said you already know what you want. Well...what do you know you want?"

The older teen cocked an eyebrow. Then, with a vicious smirk, Riku cornered Sora up against the wall and leaned down, pressing his lips against the other's ear. His voice dropped low, and he said in a whisper:

"What I want, Sora, is to see you shuddering with every breath you take while I fuck you into the bed...I want to hear you begging for more, and crying my name..." And Sora did shudder, just hearing the way Riku said it, and the other nipped the lobe of his ear and murmured, "That's what I want."

He's...blunt! Was all Sora thought, his cheeks reddening again. But the way he said it...gah! He makes everything sound so good!

Riku chuckled when he was finished, amused by Sora's reaction. "But we don't have to do it right away." He kissed the younger one's forehead. "That can wait."

Sora frowned at him. "Who says?" He wound his arms around Riku. "I'll do it. Whenever we want. I like what you do to me, Riku." He reached up and nuzzled the other's neck. "You make me feel..." he paused, running into a bump, "...I dunno..."

"Sexy?" Riku finished for him.

Sora nodded. "Mmm...I guess that describes it."

Riku smirked. "That's 'cause that's exactly what you are."

The brunet smiled a cheeky smile. "Hee hee," he giggled. He was about to say something more when the bell rang. Sora blinked and looked up at the ceiling. "Didn't that ring a little early?"

"It doesn't matter. We won't be late." Riku winked. "Shall I escort you, or are you going to fend off the masses by yourself?"

Sora groaned, and hugged Riku's arm. "Take meeee." He whined cutely. "They're going to mob me if you don't!"