Disclaimer: I hate this things If I owned KH I would have someone writing this things for me
Parings: Sora/Riku
Overall Rating: R
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Warnings: This fic is a YAOI and in case the paring didn't give it away it means male/male relationships don't like don't read. Really very simple. It's also an AU okay. Well having said that enjoy the story.
A/N: I don't know why I posting this here but I just thought you'd like to know. Kingdom Hearts has two secret endings the one you get at the end of the game when you have gathered all the necessary requirements and what not that one is called "Another side Another story" and it's rather short. The second one is called "Another side another story: Deep Dive" which is in a the game called Kingdom Hearts final mix released only in Japan which is much longer and just as confusing as "another side another story". How I got the "Deep Dive" ending? Heh I downloaded it from Kazaa anyway they're both great.
Thanks to: afpboriqua, it is more work but I'm having fun doing it so it's no prob. Grey Elven-Eyes, I know Zack's older, but I wanted him to be a bratty little brother and as for Sephiroth well I'll do my best he's coming very soon and I hope you'll like what I'll do with his character. Heather Christi, glad you liked it and I love messing with their lives too yeah me evil. PrincessSwifty, thanks and more Sora/Rikuness in this chapter and more plot development oh wow that's too much for me I'm gonna go take a nap. EvaBeaver, thanks glad you liked it and Sephy will arrive very soon I'm not sure who's mere exited about that you or me, doesn't matter yay for Sephy ( bouncing up and down) Jaded queen of the Damn, I have fans yay thanks for the incest idea but perhaps for another story Zack was only meant to be a cameo. Zelphie, I know fluff is oh so good. Crystalline Tears, yep sorry just cameos and Riku says two things I'll e-mail you so I don't spoil it for other people. Sora Lover: Angel of Darkness, thank you very much here's another chapter so you can review just as you requested. animegirl171 thank you and yes there's more Sora/Riku this chapter. Kahura, (jumping up and down waving arms wildly) I want a Riku clone too (lol) Anyway I hope this was soon enough and I'm sure you'll love this chapter you're review on chapter fourteen gave me inspiration I've a surprise for you (winks). BBchan, I inspire fanart yay! ^ _ ^ go me, go me. Could I see it please, please, please, if I can't that's cool as long I keep giving inspiration yay me. Anicoolgirl, See I continued, that I have (giggles) And there's no such thing as too much Kenshin, that there isn't., 0.0 okay I'll stop now, that I will gah that's addictive. Baby-Kitsue, thanks man glad you're still liking it. OnlyHAUNTED, this chappie isn't' angsty the angst doesn't start 'till later on again and No I don't know where you can get the movie I got mine from Kazaa if that helps.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Kahura who inspired this chapter, thanks.
A couple walked slowly hand in hand through the park, on a bright though somewhat cool Sunday morning. The shorter of the two smiled looking up at the old, tall tress on either side of the brick side walk they were walking on. He had always enjoyed walking in the park especially now, now he someone to walk with.
Sora and Riku continued walking in blissful silence the only sound they heard was that of the crunching of dried leaves beneath their feet. It was Autumn, Sora's favorite season. Sora stared ahead watching in fascination as golden yellow leaves fell slowly to the ground. He loved how they shook in the light breeze and seemed to swirl around in a dance before gracing the ground with their golden color, the side walk was almost covered with golden leaves, and he had the strangest feeling of walking on the yellow brick road.
The sun though shinning brightly did nothing to warm anything. It only served to provide light, light which was currently filtering like beams as it tried to cut its way through the still thick canopy of greenish yellow leaves. The light beams filtering softly thorough the trees giving him a surreal feeling of walking in a dream.
Sora sighed at the perfect morning a quack made him turn his face searching for the sound. He spotted some ducks by the pond to his right and smiled thinking in a few more months when the weather became colder the pond would freeze over becoming a skating rink. A skating rink, he remembered the first time he had skated there with Riku, it had also been the first time Riku had seen snow.
~Flashback~
Riku had never lived in a place where it got so cold. They had always lived in warm places always near the beach, and even though the beach was close here, it still got cold. Very cold, he was not used to the cold weather, though he didn't show it since the smaller boy beside him didn't seem to mind at all.
"It'll be great Riku you'll see"
Sora said excitedly, they were in Sora's parents car driving to the park. A few days ago Sora had mention ice skating to Riku and Riku had told him he had never ice skated. Sora's face had light up finding something he knew how to do that the other didn't. Sora had told Riku he would show him how to ice skate. Riku was of course curious to try and had asked his parent's to buy him ice skates since he didn't have any and now he held them in his hand, looking skeptically at the blade.
"We're here"
Sora yelled and unbuckled his seat belt jumping out of the car, Riku gave a small sigh and followed suit.
"Riku this gonna be so much fun"
Sora said sitting down at the edge on the frozen pond on the cold ground, lacing up his skates. Riku examined his skates again running his small hand along the side of the thin blade wondering how he was suppose to stand on that thing let alone glide across the ice. He looked at the frozen pond there were no people around, it was a rather cold day and Sora's parents had almost refused to bring them, but Sora had been set on teaching Riku how to skate.
"Sora your Dad and I will right over there on that bench if you boys need anything, okay?"
Sora nodded giving his mom a happy grin.
"Okay. Me and Riku are gonna have fun"
He said cheerfully.
"Riku and I"
Sora's mom said correcting his grammar. Sora though missed the correction and looked at his mom a bit confused and giggled.
"No silly me and Riku not you and Riku"
She smiled at her son and shook her head ruffling Sora's hair. She turned deciding he would learn proper grammar in time and she walked towards the bench to sit next to her husband, leaving Sora to teach Riku the art of skating.
"Come on Riku put on your skates."
Riku nodded taking his shoes off and putting on his skates on quickly. He was a bit nervous about ice skating sure he new how to skate but the wheels of his skates were much wider then this blade. Sora stood up and Riku watched the usually clumsy boy glide easily over the ice a goofy grin plaster to his face the end of his blue scarf trailing behind him. He stopped in front of Riku and extending his small hand to him.
"Come on"
Riku smiled, he wanted to learn how to skate it looked fun.
"Okay"
He said and took Sora's hand, he stood up slowly on shaky feet and held on to Sora's hand, while trying to gain some sort of balance.
"Now what?"
Riku asked, Sora's brow furrowed, he had never taught anyone anything before and he wasn't sure how to explain to Riku what to do. After thinking about it for a minute he decided the best way was to show him.
"Well I don't know how to splain it so I'll show you"
Sora released Riku's hand and began moving slowly so Riku could see what he was doing.
"See just kinda move your feet like this"
He said pushing himself with his skates showing Riku what to do. Riku noticed it was just like roller skating except on ice. Sora went back to Riku and took his hand.
"Okay just do what I do"
Riku nodded looking down at his feet angling his right foot to the side and pushing off and repeating the process. Sora smiled, Riku caught on quickly. After growing more confident he finally let go of Sora's hand and started skating around the pond by himself, still not quite as fast and fluidly as Sora but getting there.
Sora giggled skating freely, the wind tainting his cheeks with a red color but he didn't care he was with his best friend. Riku was doing very well and he had only fallen down once. Riku watched Sora gliding across the ice in front of him, he gave a small jump and turned facing Riku smiling at him, now skating backwards.
"This is fun"
At some point of the day Riku tapped Sora on the shoulder and yelled.
"You're it"
And they had begun playing a game of tag. Which was a bit unfair since Sora was still a much better skater than Riku who was having trouble catching Sora. Sora laughed nearing Riku and began spinning in small circles the scarf around his neck caught the wind and began to unwind, one of the ends catching Riku in the face momentarily blinding him. Riku yanked the scarf and stumbled bringing Sora down with him, since Sora had been holding on to the other end of his scarf trying to keep it from falling off his neck.
They collapsed on the ice side by side and began laughing. Riku felt something wet and cold hit his cheek and he thought it was rain, but when he opened his eyes he saw small white petals falling from the sky. He sat up startled.
"Yay! snow"
Sora said, Riku turned to him and watched Sora sit up and tilt his face up to the sky and open his mouth, trying to catch the snow in his mouth. Snow?
"I've never seen snow before"
Riku said. Extending his hand out opening his gloved palm and catching a few snow flakes in his hand, watching them melt quickly from the warmth radiating from his hand.
"You've never seen snow?"
Sora asked confused, how could Riku not ever have seen snow? It always snow every year.
"No. Where we lived it never snowed and it never got this cold, it was always warm and sunny just perfect for the beach."
He sighed missing going to the beach. Sora looked sadly at Riku in part because Riku had never seen snow and because Riku missed his old home. Sora felt tears in his eyes and he flung his arms around Riku wrapping his small arms around his friends shoulders.
"I'm sorry you miss your old. It's okay Riku in the summer it gets warm here too and we can go to the beach and have lots of fun"
Sora bawled. Riku was only a bit startled by Sora's reaction having gotten used to him reacting in such ways. Besides shouldn't he be the one to be crying.
"Sora it's okay I like it here"
Sora pulled away wiping his tears away.
"Really?"
He asked in a small voice, Riku nodded.
"Okay"
Sora said cheerfully quickly changing his mood, that too Riku had become used to.
"And snow is so much fun we can make snowmen and have snowball fights and make snow angels and igloos and..."
"What's a snow angel?"
Riku asked. Sora brighten and laid back down on the ice.
"Oh it's when you lie on the snow and do this"
He said opening and closing his arms and legs on the ground.
"And when you stand up it looks like an angel"
Riku smiled snow sounded like fun and he was sure it would be with Sora there. Suddenly Sora sat up and looked at Riku with uncertainty in his eyes.
"Riku. Will you always be my best friend?"
Riku thought it was a silly question to ask, but Sora always asked silly questions.
"Of course but only if you're my best friend too"
Sora smiled and stretched his right hand out for Riku to shake.
"Deal"
Sora said shaking Riku's hand.
"Sora, Riku it's time to go home"
His mom yelled to them and they stood up to change into their shoes. Which took a little longer since Riku kept stopping to look up at the falling snow. It looked so beautiful it seemed to him like small pieces of clouds were falling down all around them. The ground was quickly beginning to disappear and be replaced by white flakes.
"They look like small feathers"
Riku whispered but Sora had heard him and smiled, he had always thought that too.
~End Flashback~
"What are you thinking?"
Riku asked noticing the small smile Sora was wearing still looking out at the pond. Sora turned to Riku.
"About the time I taught you how skate"
Riku smiled remembering that day, it had also been the first time he had seen snow. He remembered thinking they looked like tiny feathers. He pulled Sora closer to him. They had always been together since the first day they had met, and he couldn't imagine what his life would be like had he never met Sora.
Sora sighed kicking the leaves before them, making them fly up in the air before they fell down again. He loved the sound the leaves made, when he walk throught them and shuffled them like he was doing at the moment. He was glad Riku had suggested they take a walk he was really enjoying just being with Riku. He looked up at Riku and noticed he was also smiling.
"Why are you smiling?'
Sora asked. Riku looked down at Sora.
"Because it's been six weeks since I've had this stupid arm cast and tomorrow I'll finally get rid of this stupid thing"
And the flowers He thought with a small shudder. Six weeks. Sora thought six weeks since the day Riku had fallen unconscious, since weeks since the day he had felt he was going to loose Riku. Six weeks had passed, since that day and it seemed like eons ago. Sora was just happy that, was all behind them, and Riku was there with him.
"And that means two things I can go back to playing"
Even thought the season was almost over and he would probably only get to play three more games tops, but it didn't matter he would still get to play.
"And I can actually hold you properly"
Sora smiled and stopped walking turning to Riku.
"That's definitely a reason to be happy"
Sora said and stood on his tip toes wrapping his hands around Riku's neck. He brought their faces close together touching forehead to forehead and stared into Riku's eyes.
"Hey Riku"
He said his breath brushing warmly against Riku's cold skin.
"Hmm"
Riku answered. Sora nuzzled his nose to Riku and leaned closer still, his lips brushing but not quite touching Riku's yet. Riku knew Sora was teasing him. Sora gave Riku an evil grin and place a loud kiss on Riku nose before pulling away.
"You're it"
Sora said and ran ahead of Riku laughing. Riku stood frozen for a few seconds. No way Sora had just not done that to him. He turned smiling towards Sora who had stopped a few yards from him and was waving his arms, still laughing. So Sora wanted to play games, that was fine. He liked playing cat and mouse, specially since he was the cat, the cat always caught his prey. With a mischievous grin of his own he took off after his prey.
It had been a little over a month since he had patched things up with Cloud and it had also been a bit over a month since he had kissed Tidus. Tidus, why was he thinking of him now? Oh yes, because said boy was currently part of his crew, he still had soccer practice even though the season was coming to a close. He guessed Sora had talked him into helping when he didn't have practice, which was what he had done with Cloud too.
Tidus hadn't even spoken to him since they had kissed, and Squall was not about to go chasing after him like a love sick girl. No that was not him, except there was one tiny problem. He wanted to know why Tidus seemed so angry with him, whenever he saw him Tidus would glare at him before turning away walking away from Squall. Squall would have loved to believe he didn't care but a part of him wanted to know why Tidus was so angry with him, he knew it was not just because of the kiss it was something more.
Squall had even asked Sora, and what Sora had told him left him very unnerved.
~Flashback~
Everyone had exited the stage having finished rehearsal, some mumbling about what a dictator of a director he was, which only made Squall smirk.
"I'll see ya tomorrow Squall"
"Wait"
Squall said turning to Sora. Sora stopped and waited for Squall to talk. Wondering why Squall wanted to talk to him. It couldn't be about his performance, his characterization of Ashazel seemed to be the only one Squall liked and refused to change, so it couldn't' be about that, than what?
"Can I talk to you, about Tidus?"
Squall could clearly see Sora tense.
"Why?"
Sora asked unable to stop the anger from his voice. Why was Sora angry? Squall walked towards Sora.
"He seems angry with me, and I'm not sure why"
"Than ask him not me"
Squall sighed running a hands through his hair.
"I would really love to do that, but it's kind of difficult when he bolts every time he sees me"
He wasn't even going to tell Sora the time he had actually gotten Tidus to talk to him, or more like had cornered him. Didn't matter that meeting had not gone well at all, Tidus seemed to have issues about people cornering him into walls.
"He must have a good reason to do that then"
Sora said and started to walk away.
"Sora I just want to know what I did so I can fix it"
Sora turned reluctantly and looked at Squall. Squall was his friend and so was Tidus and he refused to see anyone hurt his friends especially by another friend.
"He told me you kissed him"
Squall blinked, was that it was that the reason Tidus was angry, because he had kissed him? Squall sighed maybe it had been a mistake to kiss Tidus, if he got upset over a kiss he was obviously not ready to pursue anything else. Or. A horrible thought struck his mind, did Tidus even like guys? He had assumed, because he had said he liked Sora but, what if he had been confused and actually didn't like guys. A cold feeling settled in his stomach.
"Is he straight?"
Sora frowned shaking his head, and Squall relaxed though to Sora he looked the same.
"Is that why he's angry because I kissed him?"
Sora glared.
"He thinks your using him Leonhart"
Sora spat out angrily, this really wasn't his place but he had to tell Squall what Tidus thought. Squall cocked his head.
"Using him?"
Sora nodded.
"To forget Cloud"
At that Squall almost laughed but thought that action would not leave Sora very happy. Sora who seemed to want to burn holes through him with his glare.
"But I'm not"
Squall said now a bit bother Tidus would think that. He would never use another person to forget another and it bothered him to know Tidus would think he was capable of doing something so wretched. Sora's stare soften at the sincerity in Squall voice.
"You're not?"
Squall shook his head. He realized he didn't want Tidus thinking that way, he wanted to explain he was not using him. He was not that type of person.
"But he obviously thinks so"
"Than tell him that you're not"
Sora suggested. Squall scoffed.
"Right, when? When he's running away form me? or when he's glaring? He won't even come ten feet near me"
Sora thought for a minute than grinned up at Squall.
"I can fix that"
Squall quirked a brow looking skeptically at Sora. Sora bit his lip than frown, maybe he shouldn't get in the way. He looked up as Squall.
"Squall I don't know what you want with Tidus but if you want to make things clear between you and him I'm all for it"
Sora said and turned walking away, hoping he was not making a mistake. He didn't want to see his friend hurt and he hoped that getting Tidus to talk to Squall wouldn't leave Tidus later on.
"How are you going to get him to talk to me?"
Sora turned and gave him another smirk.
"Leave that to me. Just have your apology ready"
Sora said his voice trailing off as he moved further away. Apology? Squall thought.
"For kissing him?"
~End Flashback~
So Sora had gotten Tidus to help out, he still wasn't' sure how that was going to get Tidus talking to him, all he knew was he needed to clear things with him. He looked up at the balcony across the stage where said boy was fixing some lights, with another blond next to him. They were far but they were yelling loud enough for him to hear what they were saying.
"Oi Tidus not like that man"
"Well Wakka maybe if get your hand out the way I can actually see what I'm doing"
The boy Wakka stood up and folded his hands over chest.
"Fine suit yourself"
"Hah there"
Tidus said jumping up he turned a switched on and the light shone down on the stage.
"Well I'll be"
"Ahh what the hell!"
Yelled Cloud momentarily blinded by the light that had hit him. He tried glaring up at who ever was operating the light but failed miserably. Tidus laughed nervously turning the light off.
"Sorry"
He yelled down and proceeded to connect other lights. Cloud sat down on the floor next to a box full of tangled microphones and sound equipment he had been sorting and tried to blink away the spots before him but was unsuccessful. He glared seeing Squall laughing at him.
"Not funny"
That was the first time he had laughed in a while, he had been so busy with the play. He looked around, the theater was bustling with noise and it was getting more and more difficult for the actors to concentrate. They had been going over the same scene over and over again and Squall was getting a headache.
"Squall where do you want these?"
A girl asked below the stage and Squall paled seeing what she was carrying. They were props very fragile props. Before he could say anything though Cloud cut him off.
"Those go up in the balcony, give them to Wakka and Tid..."
A loud crash was heard followed by a.
"Oops"
"Wakka!"
"Don't worry mate I can fix that"
Cloud looking worriedly up at the balcony and changed his mind.
"Better yet don't give them to Wakka give them to Tye he'll know what to do with them"
Cloud said going back testing the sound equipment making sure it worked properly. Squall was thankful for having Cloud there, but also frowned hearing Cloud call Tidus by his nickname. He wondered why Cloud got to call him that? His musing however was cut short by another question.
"Squall I'm not sure I have this background piece right"
Said a girl with short black hair in pig tales, she held a paint brush in one hand and a sketch in the other.
"You want this piece to be a storm but don't' you think it would be better if we leave out the lightning I mean the sounds and the light effects should create that easily enough."
And before he could answer he was again cut off by another person.
"No. The scene is suppose to be dark and full of mystery sounds isn't enough and the audience needs visual effects too so they can get that sense of something wrong and what better than lighting to indicate something sinister is going to happen"
The girl nodded.
"Makes sense"
She went back to the big canvas and Yuffie winked at Squall moving to the right wing of the stage carrying the fabric for costume designs. Squall brought one hand to the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath before turning back to his actors who were waiting patiently for him.
"Okay lets take it from Nia's line again"
Nia cleared her throat trying to ignore all the commotion around them and slipping into character.
"Why won't he talk to me?"
Squall shook his head.
"No, Nia. You're feelings are wrong you're heart broken not whining like a spoiled brat. Grinidell your character has feelings which she doesn't' feel but thinks she does. Grinidell has had these ideas drill into her head that she's in love with Malekai she's been told time and time again they will marry and she has to be a good loving wife like her mother, like a proper lady. She has been led to believe that is the way things are done, she believes what she has been told, she believes she's madly in love with Malekai but only because that's the only thing she knows even though she doesn't realize it"
Nia stood quietly listening to Squall explaining her character to her.
"So you are his fiancee and as such you expect him to return your feelings and you are hurt and confused as to why he does not. Okay?"
Nia bit her lip and nodded.
"Okay let's take it from Sora's line this time"
Sora nodded and cleared his throat making his voice a bit more clear and sophisticated.
"M'Lady I'm not sure what you speak off"
Nia walked around the table they were using as a prop, wriggling her hands nervously.
"Oh but surely you must. After all you are his advisor"
Sora gave her a gentle smile and stood calmly with his hands folded behind his back while Nia paced the stage.
"That I am and as such I advice him on matters regarding to his rule and only that"
Nia spun around looking a frantic, moving closer to the table..
"But I know there's something wrong and I'm afraid I do not know what"
"Why not ask him, m'lady?"
Nia bowed her head.
"He'll not talk to me"
A confused and pained looked crossed Sora's face and Squall nearly jump with excitement there it was the look the way Sora was able to project unspoken feelings through a shift in his eyes, so clear just perfect. The audience always looked for that, even if they didn't know it and Sora always delivered.
"I'm sure it is nothing to worry about, just business Malekai is rather busy m'lady"
Nia waved an elegant hand in dismissal.
"Oh Ashazel would you stop the formalities"
She paced.
"Perhaps you are right"
She smiled and than sadden again.
"He should still be able to tell me"
That was Squall cue he entered the stage from the left wing facing Sora with Nia's back to him.
"Ash, Ash,"
Squall called stepping onto the stage. Nia turned to face him a bright smile on her face. Squall froze looking from her to Sora.
"Grinidell. What brings you by? Did we have a meeting I've forgotten about?"
Nia shook her head and walked closer to Squall.
"No, I only stopped by to invite you to lunch"
Squall forced a smile.
"I'm terribly sorry. I'm about to go into a meeting and only came to fetch Ash"
Nia's smile wavered and Squall nodded mentally. It seemed like she was getting the feeling better.
"It's quite alright another time perhaps"
Squall nodded and moved towards Sora.
"Of course. Ash we must be off"
Sora gave a curt bow to Nia.
"As you wish Malekai"
Squall walked back to Nia taking her right hand placing a quick kiss before turning to Sora. He gave Sora a nod and they began walking away to exit stage left.
"Now Ash, how many times do I have to tell to not call me Malekai call me Trin, like everyone else"
"Yes your maje... Trin"
Trin was Malekai's middle name, Trinadorian, Trin for short and he asked everyone to call him that except the one he was suppose to marry. Hearing that Nia's character was suppose to feel heart broken that was the feeling Nia had been having problems with. Nia stared after them and Squall stopped before he exited the stage and turned to see if she projected the feeling she was suppose to project.
"You've never told me to call you Trin"
She whispered sadly her gaze downcast.
"Why won't he talk to me?"
Her voice was a broken whisper and Squall nodded in approval.
"Perfect, now just remember that for next time"
Nia smiled and nodded it was easy to understand a characters emotion once Squall explained why the character felt like they did.
"Everyone"
Squall raised his voice a bit and everyone stopped, it was amazing how Squall never had to raise his voice too much for everyone to hear him. His voice was strong and carried through out the theater including the balcony where Tidus and Wakka had found two canes and had begun sparring, even they stopped to listen to Squall.
"Alright that's enough for today go home"
They all nodded and the crew and actors began putting things away. Everyone had left but Squall stayed behind walking around the stage looking at the backgrounds examining the props putting scattered pain brushes away. He sigh they were a bit behind but he was confident they could pull things off by opening night. He just wish he could split himself in three or four or five.
He was really starting to feel the pressure now, directing the actors, the crew and set design and not to mention his own roll. Squall walked to a box crouching down examining it's contents they were props that needed to be cleaned. He sighed and began taking them out.
"Need help?"
He looked up to see Tidus walking towards him. In all the commotion he had even forgotten the had wanted to talk to Tidus. But wasn't Tidus suppose to be angry? Why was he offering him help?
Jin: You make me sick too much freaking fluff.
Cardel: Man chill out you'll get your turn well how was this chapter good, bad?
Demak: Good very good.
Cardel: Not you, anyway I hope the play doesn't scenes don't become too confusing and I introduce Wakka well a little bit.
Demak: We are good and little Squall's in trouble.
Cardel(nods) Well not really so tune in for next chapter guess who's coming ( big grin) Heh heh
Jin: A meteor I hope
Cardel: I seriously think that sometimes you're worse than a girl during pms.
Jin: O.O
Demak: Anyway be nice all you people and review please
