Note: Update! Thanks to all reviewers, readers and anyone who put me on their alerts/favorites list. I heart you all to pieces. -hugs around- I do need to apologize though. One-shortness of the chapter. Two-horridness of the chapter. Well...I think it's terrible anyway. I still have small hope you all mght like it. Next will be better, I promise!

Warning: Oh for the love of-it's yaoi dears. Accept it or leave. Chappie warnings...erm...oh. Excessive use of the word 'fuck.' Yeah, that'll do.

Disclaimers: I own nothing related to Kingdom Hearts. That gets depressing to type...oh and I don't own the little bold and italicized lines. That is from the song "I Never Told You What I Do For A Living" by My Chemical Romance. Great song, not mine. Peachy?

Eight days.

One hundred and ninety-two hours. Well…one hundred and seventy-seven hours if you looked at it accurately.

Time was running out, and Riku knew it.

And he was starting to worry again.

Leon sat on the only windowsill in the room, head resting against the glass, pen in hand. He was scrawling rapidly across the lined pages in a spiral notebook. Sora was cross-legged on his bed, immersed in a book, eyes occasionally flickering to the door; sitting at a perfect angle.

Perfect angle for Riku anyway.

Riku was curled up across the room; only sounds made were of his pencil scratching across the paper. A person standing behind him would see a drawing of a boy in his midteens, legs crossed on his bed, spiky locks framing his soft face, a few of those strands catching and holding onto rays of sunlight. Riku surveyed Sora through his platinum fringe and smiled. He enjoyed drawing Sora immensely; he just hoped that no one would notice…

"Hey Riku, you're quiet today. What's up?"

Fuck.

Sora turned to Leon. "He's not always like this?" he asked. Leon shook his head. "Never! Usually he's dragged me off somewhere or we're planning something. Never quiet. Riku being quiet is as likely as the Headmaster giving out Christmas presents." Riku remained silent, praying that Leon wouldn't come over to see what he was doing…

Leon hopped off the windowsill, a small but evil grin on his face.

Fuck.

"Let me see what you're drawing," Leon towered over him, holding out a hand. Riku frowned and glared at him. Leon blinked slowly and lowered his hand. "What? Since when do you not show me your sketches?" he asked, confused and to the Leon-trained eye, a little hurt.

'Since they were of Sora and he's three feet away,' Riku thought, giving Leon a meaningful look. Leon's eyes lit in understanding and Riku relaxed. As long as he let it drop…

"So let me see it."

Fuck.

"No Leon," he responded coolly. "But why?" the towering teen asked, crossing his arms and wearing a very Riku-like smirk. "You have never, in five years of friendship. Not let me see the things you've drawn. And I assure you, I've seen many things I wish I hadn't my friend. So come on, what did you draw?"

It was a damn shame looks couldn't kill a guy.

"If he can't see then let me see Riku," Sora piped up, smiling with a hand outstretched. His azure eyes shone with curiosity and amusement. This was all Riku needed, to have Sora involved. "I-" Riku began, but was cut-off by a knock on their door. 'Thank you, whoever you are,' Riku thought. Sora bounded to the door, which opened to a very pleased Cloud. "I found it Sora," he declared, delighted. Sora beamed. "Yes! I knew I could count on you Cloud. Help me get some clothes, okay?" Cloud nodded before acknowledging Riku and Leon's existence. "Hey Riku, hey Leon," he added, finding the scenery outside very interesting all of a sudden. Leon gave a sheepish grin which earned him an alarmed stare from Riku. "Since when are you sheepish about anything?" Riku murmured in his ear. Leon only shrugged in response and surveyed Cloud and Sora's seemingly random collecting of clothing around the room. Riku noticed and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing," Sora said simply, looking under his bed and muttering to himself.

"Are we supposed to believe that?" Leon said in disbelief.

"You should," came Cloud's muffled reply from near the window, where he was scrounging around in Sora's bag. He straightened up, holding a bundle and his gaze fell on the abandoned notebook. "Hey…whose are these?"

Leon froze.

Cloud picked up the notebook and began to read. "Don't-" Leon started, striding to the window, his face taking on a pink tinge. Cloud kept reading. He turned to Leon with an unreadable expression. "These are really good. Whoever he is, he's lucky," he said quietly, holding out the notebook. Leon took it silently and Cloud looked at Sora, smiling again. "Ready?" Sora nodded and picked up his small duffel bag.

"And where are you two going?" Riku asked. "Out mother dearest," Sora replied, batting his eyelashes. Leon suppressed a smile. "We promise to be back before curfew-with our pants on the right way and everything," Cloud added, eyes aglow with secrets. "Come on Sora." They left.

Leon exhaled in relief and Riku faced him, grinning. "So-I take it Cloud's name wasn't on that page of love and dedication?" he asked. Leon shook his head before giving him a middle finger. His expression melted when he looked back down at the nearly full pages. "He thinks they're really good," he mumbled, seeming amazed. "Yeah well, you stay here and fantasize," Riku said airily, heading for the door. "I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" Riku opened the door. "To follow Sora and your boyfriend."

"DAMNIT RIKU, HE'S NOT MY-"

There was a snap as the door closed.

"Thanks again Cloud, this means a lot."

"Don't mention it!"

Riku crept along, following their voices that carried down the corridor.

"Which staircase?"

"This one here…"

Riku hurried around the corner to see two spiky heads of brown and blonde descend the left staircase. Cursing under his breath, he ran after them as quietly as he could, straining to hear what they were saying.

"I can't believe this."

"Yeah, down here no one will bother you…"

They turned one last corner and stopped in front of a room Riku had never been in before. He hid behind a pillar and waited.

"Can I stay and watch?"

"No Cloud."

"Why not!"

A sigh, followed by, "Just not yet. Go play tonsil hockey with Leon or something." A pause and then, "Shut up." Sora laughed before adding, "It's alright to like him Cloud."

"Uhm…right. Later Sora."

Sora took a deep breath before picking up his bad and walking in. The door swung shut behind him and Riku came out of his hiding spot. He looked at the door for some time, contemplating. 'Should I go inside?' he wondered. 'Or just wait and interrogate him afterwards?' The door's small square window caught his attention.

That will do.

He peered through the window and his jaw dropped. It was a studio.

A dance studio.

In the center Sora sat on the floor, doing stretches that made Riku cringe to look at. Sora had talked about dancing as if it were something he almost never did anymore. If at all. Soon music started inside and Riku immediately focused on the window. As the song played on and Sora began to dance, for the second time today (and the fourth in his life), Riku felt his jaw drop.

Sora could dance-well. Far too good for someone who danced "only a little."

Stay out of the light,
Or the photograph that I gave you…

His moves were fast and aggressive, but graceful. It was like being hypnotized; Riku's nose was pressed against the small pane. There was an elegance Sora's dancing that Riku couldn't have accomplished with all the practice in the world. Confidence glowed in Sora with every twist and step. It all made Riku wonder just what he gotten himself into.

Because of course, he was only doing all of this because of the bet. His pride. Leon's sheer embarrassment. That's all it was and nothing more.

And yet…he could tear his eyes away from the dancing teen in front of him. Not to save his life. The swaying hips, the bright happy sparkle his blue eyes, the way his sweaty brown locks clung to his face…

With all of this staring, it was no surprise that Riku gave a rather girlish yelp and looked around wildly when Cloud prodded his arm. "You scream guilty," Cloud said, grinning. "How long have you been lustfully staring at Sora?"

"I do not-" Riku began heatedly, but the music stopped inside and seconds later the door opened, Sora looking around in surprise-then annoyance. "Riku? Cloud what are you doing here? I said you weren't allowed to watch…" he frowned. "I just got here!" Cloud said defensively. "Because I came back to tell you something important…" Sora looked interested. "Oh? About what?" Cloud grinned again, a wicked grin. "You've got yourself a secret admirer. Someone you already know," his eyes flickered on Riku casually, but Riku inhaled sharply. 'He knows…' he thought desperately. "Who is it?" Sora asked, smiling now. "Come on Cloud, spill it." Cloud shook his head. "I can't tell you that. But I can tell you that he draws you really well. Oh and Riku-Leon wants you for something," he added, inwardly smiling at the relief in the silver-haired teen's eyes. "Right," Riku said. "Thanks." It took a lot of effort to keep him from running off madly. That was too close…

"Hey wait a second Riku!" Sora called. Riku froze and turned, keeping calm. "Yeah?" he asked. "What were you doing down here anyway?" Riku bit his lip, knowing he should have seen this question coming…but he couldn't tell Sora the real reason he was down here. Who knows how many doors that would open. "I'll tell you later!" he lied, and kept walking down the corridor, breaking into a run after he turned the corner.

Leon heard footsteps pounding down the corridor and grinned. He knew exactly who it was and they would be barging in here in three…two…one…

BANG.

"Leon!" Riku practically howled, glaring at the brown-haired boy. "What's wrong with you?" Leon asked calmly. Riku stormed up to him and prodded him in the chest. "You know damn well what's wrong with me! You went and looked at my drawings after I left didn't you? And then when your lover got back up here you showed them to him too didn't you!" he shouted. "There's no need for yelling I'm not even a foot away from you," Leon said calmly. "And to answer your questions in order-yes and yes."

"Do you know what that could've done?" Riku demanded, no longer shouting but looking very annoyed. "If Cloud would've told Sora, he would ask a lot of questions and I'd have to lie to Sora."

"I'm sorry, I forgot how strange and new lying to guys to sleep with them was for you." Leon's voice dripped sarcasm. "Not the point," Riku said shortly. "I don't want to lie to Sora more than I need to." Leon raised an eyebrow. "What's this? Riku Harada actually developing real feelings for someone?" He put one foot on the floor. "Hmm…it doesn't feel like hell froze over…" Riku crossed his arms. "Of course I'm not," he said coolly. "Sora's nice enough but I'm only doing all of this for the bet."

"Really?"

"Really."

"So why are you trying to keep your-ahem-interest in Sora a secret? Don't you think it would make things between you two go faster?" Riku didn't have an answer to that. "Sora's different," he said shrugging. "I just got him to trust me. Now all I have to do is play sheepish and gentle and he'll fall for me. You'll see. Pick out one of the dozens of love songs I know you've written about Cloud and start practicing." Leon only stretched out on his bed and closed his eyes. "Whatever you say Riku. But I must say you're a fantastic actor." Riku glared at him before attacking.

Cloud and Sora watched Riku turn the corner with different expressions. Sora's eyebrows knit in confusion as he shook his head. "What was that all about?" he wondered. "That wasn't the first time he acted a bit…strange…" Cloud shrugged. "I have no idea," he said. Sora sighed and went back in the studio to pack, muttering about how his "mood was ruined." Cloud smiled after Riku and leaned against the doorframe. "No idea at all…"