Kiss Paralysis

Let me tell you the secret of tonight.

Chapter 3, Starlight Exposure

A secret? Sora began to grow rigid but he tried his best to keep his eyes on Riku.

Riku took the final inhale on his cigarette and flicked it beyond the patio, "We've been friends for some time now Sora," he said while exhaling a stream of smoke, "Even before Kairi came before the islands."

Sora feared to find out what Riku was going to say next so he delayed it by interrupting, "This is about Kairi, isn't it?"

The silver-haired man furrowed his brows, "Dammit Sora, it's not about her, it's about us."

Sora grimaced at Riku's agitated tone, "Riku . . ."

He approached Sora, closing the small space between them, "To me you're more than just a friend," his voice barely above a whisper.

This subtle and whisper-like talk made the hair on Sora's neck stand up, he felt his finger nails digging into his palms, "Riku, we're best friends."

Suddenly, the double doors swung open, and the both of them flung in opposite directions, "You guys were taking a while so I came to see what was up," Tidus explained feeling out of place since he blatantly interrupted something.

"We were just going inside," Sora replied grinning, "Right Riku?" he asked requesting for back up by elbowing Riku's side.

Riku nodded, "Yeah."

"Desert is waiting," Tidus said trying to remove the awkwardness between them as the trio walked inside.

"What is it?" Sora asked.

"Cheesecake."

"Sounds good."

"There's some chocolate cake too."

"Cool."

They soon entered the private dining room and Sora took a seat, Kairi handing him a plate of cheesecake as soon as he sat down, "Thanks."

"I knew you'd want some so I saved it from the wrath of fatso over there," she said nodding her head towards Tidus.

He pouted, "I'm not a fatso."

"Pff, yeah right," Selphie remarked.

Tidus looked to Wakka for redemption, his friend only shrugged and laughed, "It's the truth," Wakka said agreeing with the girls.

"C'mon Sora eats way more than I do," Tidus explained using Sora as a scapegoat.

"No I don't," Sora defended himself.

All this laughing and being merry was antagonizing Riku, he had a mission to accomplish and it was set aflame when Tidus had to announce the arrival of desert like it was something important worth mentioning. He had to go, he had to go before he said something rude and ruined everyone's happy, go-lucky mood.

He forced a smile and stood up, "I've got some work to do back home, sorry I can't stay any longer."

"Riku . . ." whined Kairi, "You promise you'll drop by my house tomorrow to help Selphie and me pick out wedding dresses?"

"I'll try," he answered.

"Leaving so soon?" Wakka asked, "You should stay longer, ya?"

Tidus nodded, "Yeah man, don't leave so soon."

Sora aware of Riku's habits knew that his friend was eager to leave, and for good reasons he imagined, "Guys, let him finish up his work."

"Fine, leave us Riku," Selphie said sarcastically.

"I'll see you guys later," he gave a curt wave and the group was left puzzled, and began conversing to Riku's unexpected departure, except Sora, who knew full well that Riku wanted Sora to know that secret bad, real bad.

Conversation continued to spark and burn like a wildfire among the friends. Sora was finding it tedious to stay interested in the subjects that were talked about but it wasn't because they were boring subjects it was because of that secret. He had been afraid of it but now it was irking him . . . what could Riku have wanted to say? If it wasn't about Kairi then what was it about?

After about an hour or two it was time to for everyone to leave, not because they wanted to, but because The Landing was closing. Selphie, Kairi, Wakka, and Tidus were still rather chatty even as they left and Sora was struggling to be chatty right along with them.

"Let's go home already Kairi," Sora called out to her.

"Sora, go on without me, I'm going to stay the night with Selphie," she called back, running into his arms to hug him before going back to Selphie.

"—But," he sighed.

"I'm only keeping her for one night," Selphie assured.

"Sora, you should go visit Riku, he's such a night owl, I bet he could use your company right now," Kairi urged him.

He smiled, "Yeah, you're right, I guess I'll pay him a visit."

"OK, I'll see you tomorrow then, I love you," she embraced him for a short moment and waved good-bye.

"I love you too," those words felt lonely as he voiced them but he smiled despite that and left for Riku's house.

As Sora was nearing Riku's house he was always contemplating on turning around. His thinking process went in a pretty repetitive session. First he'd think maybe Riku is asleep or he's probably really busy I should leave him alone, but then he'd come to a reality that Riku was probably, more than likely awake.

Once at Riku's abode he gradually managed to ball up his fist and knock reluctantly upon the door, cringing at the sound of the wood against his knuckles. Something in Sora hoped that he wouldn't answer the door and he could put off this meeting with Riku for another day but all hopes of that dissipated when he heard the unlocking of chains on the other side of the door.

"Hey," Sora said, feeling odd and scratching the back of his head out of nervous habit.

Riku didn't reply but simply moved aside and allowed Sora to walk in. Still quite hesitant he entered following Riku upstairs. He was impressed by Riku's house. His friend had built it on his own, with little help from anyone. The rest of the guys, especially Sora had tried to convince Riku to allow them to help but the boy was adamant in building his home independently.

It ended up turning out perfect, two stories, and two bedrooms, one being a master, two and a half bathrooms, a kitchen, and the sea view for a backyard. Sora was having a bit of a hard time walking up the stairs because of the dim light. Riku must have had yet to install lights but then again Riku was talented at navigating in the dark.

"Riku, I can hardly see," Sora complained as he turned a corner in the hallway.

"I'm going to install lights tomorrow," Riku answered stoically as he entered his room.

The odor of fresh paint intoxicated Sora as he entered Riku's room, "Painting?" he asked as he looked around at the light blue walls that seemed white and immaculate with the moonlight upon them.

"Yeah, just touching up now, you can sit down if you want," Riku gestured to the chairs and continued his work on the walls.

Sora looked around the room, "Kairi decided to stay with Selphie tonight and said I should come visit you."

"Doing everything she says now?" there was a bitterness in Riku's voice.

"No," Sora answered, appalled that Riku would say something rude like that . . . the last time he sounded that malicious was on their fateful journey.

There was a tense quietness around as Riku continued his precise painting and upon finishing he opened the windows to let some of fresh air in. When Sora looked up to speak to Riku he couldn't choke anything up to say. The room was pitch black except for the moon rays that shone inside and Riku was looking out to the ocean, his broad back turned to Sora, and wisps of his hair blowing majestically in the zephyrs. It was just like a dream. Riku looked just as he did in Sora's dream.

"Sora . . ." Riku stated in that whisper-like voice he had used early that evening.

The brunette boy swallowed thinking that he could regain his voice but to his avail he was incapable of saying anything.

Riku turned around, the black jacket he had worn was opened and exposing his muscular chest, "I never got to finish what I wanted to tell you."

Sora managed to speak, talking in the same manner as Riku, "Tell me now," his azure eyes that kept a constant stare on the ground noticed Riku's shadow growing smaller and soon he became within a two foot radius of him.

Riku lifted Sora's chin, forcing eye contact between them, "Sora, I love you."

"I love you too, Riku you're the bestest friend I could ever—"

"Not just like that Sora, I love you romantically, intimately, entirely," Riku's tone again had become firm.

For some reason, the loneliness Sora had felt the entire night seemed to disappear. Riku's confession seemed to grant Sora all the security in the world. For that, Sora felt he needed to thank Riku. Not taking his eyes away from Riku's he stood up, wrapping his arms around Riku's neck and kissing him. Riku began to walk backwards their lips not daring to part.

Once on Riku's balcony Sora parted from him, catching his breath, and trying to absorb what just happened into his mind. Riku tried to hide his panting under calm breaths but his heart was leaping out of his chest and writhing on the floor.

"I'm getting married, you should've—" Sora stopped talking and averted his stare away from Riku.

"I had to tell you before you got married to Kairi."

"Why'd you do that Riku?"

"I didn't do it, you did."

"Why didn't you stop me? Riku—I'm not in love with you, I'm in love with Kairi, deeply in love with Kairi," it seemed that Sora was not only trying to convince Riku of this but himself.

His best friend smirked egotistically, "That's why you're having a hard time telling me that?"

Sora furrowed his brows and attempted to go back inside but was blocked by Riku, "—Let me leave!"

Riku brought his arms around Sora's waist and captured his lips; Sora fell into a trance once again but snapped out as soon as his guilty conscious settled in. He shoved Riku out of his arms and stared at him with a dismayed expression, then ran off, scrambling down Riku's stairs.

Riku who had been rammed into the porch railing listened for the echo of Sora's feet on the concrete outside, that victorious smile on his face, "Now I know how you really feel, Sora."

A/N: I know seven reviews really doesn't cut it but hey the reviews given by those few people were really well written. As Leon said 'Beggars can't be choosers' but do please keep reviewing it really does help me to get motivated. I plan on writing another Kingdom Hearts fic after this one so expect more from me. Hopefully there's no errors in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own Kingdom Hearts . . . the game but not the concept.