Chapter Five

A/N: OMG, It took me forever to get this out! I'm so sorry! I just had my birthday, then my friend was having a lot of troubles, and then Kingdom Hearts 2 distracted me for about FOREVER.

Sorry. Not much happens in the way of action, I'm just trying to build up plot. Trust me, the next chapter will be up sooner, because it's already written out, I just haven't edited it or typed it.

I don't own Kingdom Hearts. I do own Asylia, the white dove. I DO own a copy KH2 though! I'm on Agrabah. You?

Of course, Thanks as always, for reading my story! PLEASE REVIEW or tell me how good it is on AIM! I'm always on usually, so the SN is magicalchmygrl5. I love reviews and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism!

P.S. The dove's name in this chapter is pronounced "A-se-lee-ah"

Riku lay awake for a long time, starting out the window of the small room he was sharing with Cloud. On the floor, the man was curled up, his blonde locks falling into his face. The open door let in a small breeze of the running air conditioning.

Riku sighed quietly, looking at the stars that he could see. What could Ansem be planning…he thought, Sora's very vulnerable to him, more so than any of us would like to admit…

The silver haired boy was worrying the ends of his hair by rubbing the soft ends between his fingers. Laying in the darkness, playing with his hair, Riku realized that he must look ridiculous. Something was nagging at him relentlessly.

Ansem mentioned something…once…to me…

Riku's rubbing of his hair began to intensify.

The white knight…he stopped the chosen one from destroying his world. But the chosen one was being controlled by someone much more evil…

Riku sat up quickly, his hair finally forgotten. "That's it!" he said a little too loudly, before covering his mouth. Cloud only snorted and rolled over on the cot, muttering something about Aerith.

Riku started to lie back down, but looked to see Sora standing in the door way, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Riku…" said Sora, his voice heavy with sleep, "I had a nightmare…"

Riku smiled at the thought that even though Sora was only fourteen, he really did look much younger. Riku got up, carefully walked over Cloud, who had yet to wake up from all the noise, and walked to Sora.

"Come on; let's get you back to bed…"

Sora nodded and let Riku take him back to his room, lay him down and tuck him in. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Riku smiled at him.

"What was the dream about?" The older boy asked gently. Sora pulled the sheets up, blue eyes fully awake now.

"Ansem…he killed my parents…I saw you…you were killed…I thought…"

Riku placed a finger on the boy's warm lips. "It's okay…I'm here…I'm here…"

Sora's eyes filled with tears, but the boy quickly rubbed his eyes, as not to cry in front of his friend. Riku felt his heart break as the blue eyes looked up at him, hurt, scared and vulnerable. Years of pain and crying were still left in those eyes, those eyes that shouldn't have ever had such emotions in them.

Riku pulled up the covers and lay down with Sora, taking the boy in his arms. Sora tried to push him away in embarrassment, but submitted in the end.

"Riku…" Sora said, looking up at him, "I'm sorry…"

"For what?" Riku said, looking into those eyes again, feeling his face warm up.

"For everything… If I wasn't who I am, your father wouldn't have died. If I wasn't a prince, we would have been happy…" Sora said, immediately away from aqua eyes.

Riku place his hands on Sora's shoulders. "Sora! It's not your fault! Don't ever say that!"

Sora stayed silent, Riku wondering if the boy believed him. Sora suddenly buried his head in Riku's chest.

"I'm so sorry….I is sorry…" Sora said, crying, saying the phrase repeatedly. Riku ran his fingers through the wild brown locks, trying to remember something to make his feel better. Riku's face brightened as he struggled down to meet his prince eye to eye.

Riku took in a breath and began to softly sing, his voice carrying out into the hallway.

Come stop your crying…It'll be alright…

Just take my hand…hold it tight…

I will protect you from all around you…

I will be here, don't you cry…

Sora's crying began to stop as Riku sang, his eyes drooping sleepily. Sora reached up and grabbed Riku's hair softly, the long sliver strand lying on the pillow. Riku held the prince in his arms, still singing.

You'll be in my heart….

You'll be in my heart…

From this day on, now and forever more...

You'll be in my heart…

No matter what they say…

You'll be here in my heart..

Always…

Riku sighed and close his eyes, sleep overcoming him as well. The two boys didn't know that they had an audience out in the hallway, the three adults, smiling softly as the reunion between the boys.

Cloud yawned. "Can't believe, after all this time…Riku still remembered that song the Queen used to sing to Sora."

Leon smiled. "It's something I'm sure her majesty wanted Riku to remember…So when she wasn't there, someone could comfort her little boy…"

The next morning, Riku woke to find Sora sitting in his windowsill with Leon, pointing to the grey doves that flew outside the window. A bag of bread was between the two, all broken into small pieces. Riku sat up and heard Sora exclaim in happiness as the only white dove landed on the other side of the window.

"Hi Asylia!" Sora said, as he opened the window. Leon gave Riku a simple smile and stood up.

"Today is 'feed every bird in Traverse Town' day," Leon said, as the silver haired boy got up and stretched. The man received a half hearted, blue eyed glare, but the attention was returned to Asylia the white dove. Other birds began to flock over for food, some even sitting on the awnings for the shops below.

"Mornin' Riku," Sora said, as he threw some more food out the window.

Riku went to help his friend, Leon walking out.

"No birds in the apartment, your highness…"

Sora waved him out, apparently disregarding the last part completely. The white dove was soon in his hands and Sora petted it.

Riku smiled as he took the bag and passed out some food as well. Sora always did love birds. Riku remembered a pet bird the brunette had when he was very young. Its name was….

"That's Asylia?" Riku said, amazed that the bird was still alive. Sora nodded and petted his bird happily, the white dove very happy to be back in its masters hands.

"But I thought…" Riku began. Sora grinned.

"Yea! Me too! But one day, not too long after the attack, Asylia showed up right at my window! She was a little hurt, but other wise than that, she was fine!" Sora said, setting her down in the sill with them, Riku setting more food down for her.

"But the people who are letting us stay here won't let us have any pets, so she has to stay outside a lot," Sora said, sadly, "I don't think she minds though." The dove seemed to chirp in agreement, causing the boy's to laugh. Their laughter was stopped when Leon reentered with breakfast.

"SORA TENKO MISONAI! GET THAT BIRD OUT OF THE APARTMENT!"

The boys spent the rest of the morning getting lectured about why animals, especially birds, aren't allowed in the house. Once Leon was done, they began to pick up the room, Sora stopping to see Asylia patiently waiting for the window to be opened again. The prince proceeded to it, smiling.

"You know, Riku…" Sora said, softly, "You're kind of like Asylia…"

Riku looked up as he pulled the covers up on the bed. The boy opened the window and the bird jumped in, almost cautiously, continuing to eat the left over bread.

"Even though you were hurt…you still came back to me…."

Riku saw the boy turn, his ever present grin replaced with a warm smile, one that reflected the King.

"Thank you…"

A/N's: So who do you think is going to fall for the other first! I would love to know! Well, gotta go! There's trouble brewin!