I told you had this chapter done. Anyway, enjoy.

Oh yes… There will be angst.

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"Wishes"

'It Can't Be…"

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I awoke to hands threading through my hair again… if this was going to be the norm, I think I was going to wake up pissed every time I passed out. I hated passing out, and I hated waking up pissed.

Right now it was a lose-lose situation. I opened my eyes to see green cats eyes staring down at me. Sephiroth's face was unreadable as I lifted my hand and knocked his away from my hair, sitting up quickly. I was still shirtless, but I really didn't care. All I cared about was my head swimming. I lifted a hand to cover my eyes as I moved away from Sephiroth. I was back on the floor, and my back hurt. I gave a soft growl, sneering at the silver-haired man… Which only made my lower lip hurt even more.

"Back up, psycho. I don't want to lose my lip."

Laughter and a motion from Sephiroth, "I was thinking of something a little lower. And I wasn't going to use my teeth."

Before I could stop it, my cheeks grew warm with a blush and I cursed loudly. I seemed to still be at Merlin's, and Cid and Aerith were still here, so at least I wasn't alone with Sephiroth. I think I would have run screaming if I was. I turned my back to the other man, pulling my legs up to my bare chest and settling my chin atop my knees. It was a position I'd seen Sora use a lot, and I guess it was rubbing off on me.

The thought made me frown. I wanted to see Sora… But I had no idea how to navigate this town. With my luck, I'd end up hopelessly lost and cornered by strange men…Or Sephiroth. I think the strange men would be the lesser of the two evils. I lost myself in my thoughts of Sora and the normal life we had not six hours ago. Yes, I still became so submerged in my thoughts that I didn't notice anything around me. It was dangerous and made me vulnerable…But thinking of him alive, warm and safe was the only thing I could to do so I wouldn't cry.

A smooth rustle of cloth, the sound of hair sliding against leather distracted me, and the strong arms that wound themselves around my bare shoulders made me jump out of my skin. The smooth voice, near my ear, made me shiver, "What are you thinking about, little one?"

"Stabbing you in the eye!" I snapped back as I jerked myself free of the offending arms. I was tired of this. Tired of this man trying to molest me, tired of being confused, tired of being here, by myself…

I was tired of it all. I would have welcomed a herd of rampaging Heartless right about now. I stood slowly, using the wall as my support. After I knew I wouldn't fall over, I shook my head lightly. My vision didn't swim. Great! Things were starting to look up.

"Why do you deny yourself simple pleasure?" Questioned Sephiroth as I worked the kinks out of my back, my shoulders and my arms. I felt his eyes on me the entire time, but I didn't acknowledge them as I turned around.

"Because it's disloyal to my lover. You should get one. They're really great, and stop you from trying to molest seventeen year old boys." I shot back evenly, as I leaned down, reaching for my toes. Just a few simple stretches had already made me feel better. All I needed was a nice hot shower and I would be good to go.

"But I already have my eyes upon my lover, little one. He's standing right in front of me, flaunting that delicious body."

I made a face as I straightened my self and leaned to one side, one leg bent and the other straight out to my side. I leaned on my bent leg, my fingertips out in front in case I fell forward, "You have no morals. Doesn't it bother you that I'm young enough to be your son?"

I watched him give a graceful shrug, "Age has never stopped me before. Ask Cloud. He was sixteen when I first took him."

I could help but laugh as I shifted to stretch my other leg, giving a few easy bounces to further stretch my muscles, "You're impossible." I said finally, as I fell back onto my ass unceremoniously, curling one foot into my self, and almost laying down on my right leg.

"Perhaps… You are very flexible, little one."

"So good of you to notice, and I'm not little." I said without looking up. After a count to ten, I shifted to the other leg.

"Yes, you are. And so beautiful."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." I said as I stood, stretching my arms over my head. I already felt better. Without another word, I walked away from Sephiroth, rolling my neck slightly. Aerith was sitting at the room's only table, reading a thick leather bound book. If our conversation disturbed her, it didn't show. I cleared my throat softly, and she looked up to me, smiling,

"Yes?"

"Can I take a shower?"

She nodded, "I was wondering when you would ask that! Of course you can, Riku. It's in the back, through that door." She motioned with her hands, "Hard to miss. Your lip is healing up nicely."

I nodded, "Thanks, for everything." And I made my way to the shower, anticipating it more than I had even anticipated anything in my life.

The room was small with a toilet on one side, and a shower stall on the other. A small sink and mirror completed it. I wasted no time in stripping. I was only wearing pants, so it didn't take long. Besides, I was very casual about my nudity, and wandering around shirtless hardly had fazed me. Maybe that's why Sephiroth had been staring so intently at me. Yea… That's why. Riiight.

I turned the water on and stepped under the spray with a sigh of relief, a small moan trailing out of my lips as I braced my arms on the shower wall, dipping my head down to let the water run over my hair, the water heavy strands looking gray.

"Oh, this is bliss… Utter bliss." I said to myself as I pushed away from the wall to wash my hair. When I moved my arms up, the skin between my shoulders felt tight, and I smiled fondly at the memento of one of the best nights of my life. I never let Sora trim his nails after that, but since then, he'd been really careful. It made me want to pout, but the scars I had now from his greedy fingers were enough to keep me smiling when I thought about them. I was surprised Sephiroth didn't mention them… but, then again, I was facing him most of the time. They were fading now, pale pink and shiny across my milky skin in an intricate crisscross patterns.

I gave a small purr as I reached my hand to my back to wash between my shoulder blades, where the scars were. They were sensitive to the touch, and I shivered softly when I touched them. I turned my back to the shower curtain after I rinsed my hair, just soaking in the heat and washing the grim from my body. I was consumed in my mind, that I didn't hear the door open, or the shower curtain slid back. All I felt was the cool air, and I froze.

"Interesting scars you carry, little one."

I think it took all of my will power not to scream and try to hit Sephiroth. I knew how that would turn out. I bet I wouldn't have a tongue next time. Instead of screaming, I gave a low hiss, as I spun, water flying from my hair, which hung limply, sticking to my face. I clenched my fist at my sides, and Sephiroth didn't even seem to care that I was on the verge of homicide. He just watched me with hungry eyes and took a step forward. I stepped back and bumped into the wall.

"Ahh, my little one is not so… little."

Fuck. I didn't have anywhere to go. I was cornered, and I hated to be cornered. Maybe I could…stall him or something, "Where's Aerith?"

"She went to the store." He replied causally, as if he wasn't backing a naked boy into the shower.

"Where's Cid?" I hoped my voice didn't sound as panicked as I felt.

"Asleep." He said softly as he stepped into the shower. The sound of water hitting leather and feathers made me shiver without really wanting to. Slowly, he was growing damp, his hair hanging heavily, sticking to his back and the sides of his face. He looked like some giant, winged predator, with those eyes, and that giant black wing… I heard a noise rise in my throat, and it seemed to excite the silver haired man as his hands came up to rest on either side of my head, "Relent your hard won control, Riku… Succumb to me…" His lips drew closer to mine, "Let me fulfill those dark little fantasies…" His lips brushed mine and I stopped breathing, the fear threatening to over take me, "Let me… Save you… from… Yourself…"

And he kissed me. His lips were so soft… But this was the second time he had touched me in as many days. I don't know what I would have done, if the situation had been different. But it wasn't different so I bit his lower lip. Hard. I didn't even take the time to hear his wounded cry. I bolted out the door, taking enough time to grab my pants. I stumbled as I ran, trying to pull them on. Thank god for draw strings. Beads of water were falling form my hair and clinging to my chest as I burst out of the door, panting heavily.

"Succumb! It will be less painful if you do." Sephiroth said, his voice loud but eerily calm.

"Fuck you! Go to hell!" I slammed the door shut behind me, and wasted no time in walking as fast I could away from that house, and that goddamn man. The nerve! The utter audacity! I seethed to myself as I took the first corner I came around. Maybe it was fate, or maybe it was the gods playing cruel, evil tricks on my already tormented soul…

Because there he was; Sora… My Sora, being held around the waist by another man…No, two other men! I was beside myself, not with anger...but with grief… How…how could he? He said…

I wonder if I made a noise, because those blue eyes I used to love so much darted upwards, and he smiled brightly…but that smile faded when he saw the raw look in my eye, across my face. I wore my hurt like a blanket. I shook my head and turned my face away from him.

"Riku! Wait! It's not what it looks like!"

I gave a dry, humorless laugh that sounded, even to my own ears, like broken glass, and I knew my words cut like blades, "That's what they all say, Sora. That's what they always say."

And I walked away from him, without looking back. Right now… I would do anything to rid myself of this horrible weight that had settled on my chest.

Sephiroth wasn't looking so bad when I walked back into the house with eyes vacant and glazed. I saw Sephiroth, concern etched across his features, looking sultry and shirtless, but I wasn't really seeing him… I was seeing a twisted sort of comfort. He stood from his spot at the table and moved towards me, cautiously. He had stripped himself of his leather coat; it was lying carelessly across the table. His fingers reached out as he closed the gap between us…

When he was within touching distance, I fell into his arms, and wept.

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Yay, angst! I was originally going to put this in chapter three, but I decided to make it a chapter all on it's own. It seemed to fit better that way. Anyway, enjoy the angst!

Ookami: I cannot believe I consented to this.

Believe it, buddy. –pats his Riku muse fondly- He loves me. I hope you enjoyed this! Review my lovelies! I have chapter five in the making. And I'll post it when I feel I need too…

-!Phoenix!-