Ok! Sorry this chapter/update has taken so long to get to, for the few people that read this little story. About two weeks ago I was having a LOT of school projects, and then after that I had no computer for 2 whole weeks! So on this note, I won't be updating much until May 25th because that's when school ends...and with Final Exams coming up and the fact that my Birthday was on the 13th, I don't know where I'll find much time for this story.

So, please bare with me and enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: Ok, if I owned Kingdom Hearts, would I really be complaining about having no internet and working on an 8 year old computer that has Windows 98? I think not.

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Sora gave an impatient sigh. Again. He and Riku had been waiting in line for a total of 30 minutes to buy tickets, get food and drinks, and get more tickets. For some reason, and he couldn't understand why, at fairs you pay with tickets to get food instead of money.

"Sora, I know you're getting impatient, but we're almost done, I promise."

"I'm not impatient, I'm bored," Sora huffed back. "And I still don't understand why you have to buy your food with tickets instea-"

"I've explained this to you a million times! What's so complicated about the system?"

"The so-called "system" doesn't make any sense!"

"Excuse me, Sirs; are you going to buy tickets or what?" The cranky, mid-30's looking woman behind the ticket booth looked at them sharply, her eyes showing scorn when she noticed a few bruises on Sora's arms and Riku's silver hair. "Is that hair color allowed in school..?" When Riku just stared at her, she turned to Sora and said, "You've got quite a few bruises there. Did he do that? I have an emergency button right here, I can call the police and you'll be free of that rotten-"

"No, no, we were just playing around and my poor, dear friend fell down this hill. Apparently he hit a rock or two. He bruises easily. Please, we'd like $20 worth of tickets..." After the transaction, Riku quickly pushed Sora away from the lady and the booth.

Sora looked back at the booth, a hint of fear in his eyes. "She was...terrifying. Riku, please tell me we don't have to go back and get more, she was all stare-y and her face freaks me out.."

He gave a small chuckle accompanied by a smile. "Nope, we're all set." Looking down at the younger boy, Riku gave a frown. "Although, I can't help but think your arms will cause some stares...you do have some noticeable..." He trailed off, for once not exactly sure how to put it.

"I know the bruises are noticeable...I was going to wear long sleeves, but it is so hot and sunny I figured that would cause more stares then my bare arms. Either that or heat stroke," Sora said, in a lighter tone that Riku would have imagined. Questions are for later, Riku reminded himself. Today is a day for Sora to get away from all that. To have fun.

"Now, what ride should we go on first..." Sora gave no reaction to this; therefore, Riku decided for them. "We'll start off with something wild. Let's go on the roller coaster, Sora!" Grabbing his arm, Riku dragged him into the line.

"Uwah, Riku! Another line?" Sora cried out, obviously distraught; however, when Riku just stared at him blinking as a smirk crept on his face, he had to ask why. "Er, Riku...? Why-why are you looking at me like that..?"

"That noise...was so...oddly...Ugh, God Sora, that noise you made was adorable. And it fit you perfectly." At the comment, Sora started blushing madly, trying to hide his face in his hands. This made Riku laugh-yes, an actual, full-out laugh. No snigger, or small chuckle, or anything; just laughter. Sora looked up in astonishment. "Now, c'mon! We can get on!" Sora slid next to Riku on the seat, and the ride began.

Turning, rotating ever faster, the wheels took the passengers up to the top of an extremely tall hill. It squeaked to a stop; the riders just sitting in a still silence. "This is the best part, "Riku told him. "We'll start going down in a second...it's horrifying at first, but once you realize it's just wind and you're perfectly safe, it feels like you're flying."

Sora opened his mouth to say something; however, before he had a chance to, the train of cars began its decent. It only lasted a second, the feeling of dread, of falling and never coming back up, of plummeting downward in a never-ending spiral; but the second was long enough. After the initial shock of the ride, Sora began to enjoy himself. "Riku, you were right! It does feel like I'm flying!" Sora yelled at his friend, but the wind prevented him of hearing it. So, to demonstrate, Sora closed his eyes and put his hands outward; he smiled, for Riku did the same.

The ride ended sooner then expected. As the passengers tumbled out, Sora rushed back into the line, almost dragging Riku with him. "We're doing that again! Again, again, again! It was awesome! How do people complain about these?"

"Don't you want to try all the other rides first and then decide which is your favorite...?"

Sora stood there blinking. "Oh...right. I forgot. There's more then just the roller coaster..." Riku smacked his palm against his forehead; it was pretty hard to not notice all the rides, the noise, and the people, yet Sora had. So, the pair continued their 'Fair Adventure', as Sora called it.

---

Riku sat down next to Sora, who was crying quietly into his hands. "R-Riku," he hiccupped, "I n-never want to go on that r-ride e-ever, ever again. W-why do people like such s-scary things?"

A tear streaked face looked up at Riku, and he instantly softened inside. I shouldn't have taken him on the Haunted House, I should have known something would happen. Riku gently rubbed Sora's back as he grabbed at pieces of the funnel cake he'd brought back. "No worries, you don't have to." His friend began to look a little more cheerful, so Riku added, "And I'm...really, really sorry for taking you. I should have guessed that you would react this way."

"No!" Surprise showed in Riku's face. "I mean, you promised to show me all the rides; if you hadn't let me go on it, I would forever call you a liar. Now I know what it is, and I know I don't like it...after I've tried it. So thank you, Riku!" Beaming, Sora got up from the bench and started walking. Riku jogged a moment to catch up. He was gazing intently up into the sky, perhaps at the big, bright moon. "It's time to leave, isn't it? It seems awfully late..."

Riku sighed. "You don't want to, do you?"

"..."

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to come over tonight and hang out, maybe play some video games or something..."

Sora looked back at him, goofy smile plastered on his lips. "Thanks for the offer, Riku, but I really should be going home. I've got some chores I need to finish, and it's getting kinda late. So, thanks a lot for today! It was really fun, and I appreciate it. I'll see you on Monday, right?"

With a nod, "Yup. Monday. See ya!" He waved and turned his back, going in an opposite direction from Sora.

---

Quietly, Sora slipped into his house and became attentive. No lights, so sounds...maybe I'll be lucky and get a 'no father'? He sneaked around the house, checking all downstairs rooms before he slunk upstairs. With a sigh of relief he fell into a heap of blankets on his bed. "What a lucky day, " he murmured, "I get to spend time with someone...actually nice, and I come back to an empty house." Decidedly, Sora got up, grabbed a towel, removed his clothes and went to take a shower.

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He opened the bathroom door, the steam that had been building up in the tiny room billowing out, and he shivered; it was so cold compared to the hot goodness of the bathroom, so much so that he almost walked back in and closed the door. One thing stopped him-noises. He heard noises downstairs, and being the curious (and slightly paranoid) person that he is, he went down to check things out.

The instant Sora saw who it was, he wanted to bolt back up to his bedroom and lock himself away, but the dreaded person had already seen him. His father. Again, Sora shivered; not only was he cold in only a towel wrapped around his waist, but also the eyes of his father were enough to cool even the brightest flame. He visibly gulped.

"Sora, where have you been all day?" His speech wasn't slurred, which, in the end, made him even more dangerous.

"I was here."

"Liar. I came back every few hours and you were never home. Where were you, Sora?"

"I was home." This remark made his Dad's brow furrow and crease in anger and annoyance.

"I'm warning you, Sora, don't lie to me. You know you won't like what happens. Now, where were you?"

"I. Was. Here." Sora couldn't tell this man he'd made a friend, that he'd spent all day with him; knowing his Dad he would forbid him from ever seeing him again, and that was the last thing he wanted. Seeing Riku was the top of his priority list at the moment, and he could take a few hits for that-he knew they were coming.

As soon as the remark was out of his mouth, his right cheek was slapped hardly, and the noise was very audible. "I told you not to lie! Give me the truth, Sora! What are you afraid of?" With no answer, he roughly grabbed Sora's shoulders and shook him violently. "Where did you go? Who did you see?" He smirked after the second question because Sora had looked him in the eyes when asked. "Aah, so you did see someone...Who was it?"

"..." Another slap, this time leaving a large red print.

"Who, Sora? Who did you see?"

"..."Again, no answer. This time, two slaps in the exact same place.

"Dammit Sora, just tell me who the fuck this is!" After yelling, he lowered his voice to a mere whisper, "I'm just trying to help you. You're worthless and don't know it, and so many people want to hurt your pretty form...but see, if you just tell me who it is you're seeing, I can stop them from hurting you. See? I just want you to remain here, unhurt, forever..." When Sora continued to remain silent, he slammed the boy against the wall.

Sora gave a gasp of surprise; the slam was unexpected, and he saw a few stars for a moment. "You still won't tell me, will you?" When Sora nodded, his father got a maniacal smile on his face. "Then I'm sorry, my boy, but this is the only way to teach you to mind me..."

That's when it began- at first, it was like only moments before, where he would get the occasional slap, violent shake, or push against a wall; however, soon his father grew more violent. He began to punch at Sora, not paying attention where, and he gave a loud groan and toppled over when he made contact with the middle of his stomach area. The kicks rained down on him, but before he could get fully used to it, something that had never happened before occurred: his father stopped. He just up and left the room into his own.

His mind a fog of confusion, Sora got up, his weak, tired, and sore body barely able to. He looked over at his father's room before he was about to climb up his stairs when all his confusion was cleared up; in his father's hand was a leather belt. Before he had chance to make the connection, the was a hand around his neck directing him to his room. Once there he was shoved, face down, on the bed, so that his knees were on the ground. He was about to ask why when he felt a pair of hands work their way around to his midriff, staying there longer then necessary on purpose. "Now, I promise you, Sora..." he began to murmur softly as he untied Sora's towel and let it fall down to the ground., "This will hurt you more then it does me." Laughing, he stood up, unrolled the belt, and began to smack it against Sora's backend.

---

He rolled himself into the fetal position and was crying softly. He had been for the past hour. Sora was completely naked, new, large bruises dotted his body, his behind was redder then a tomato, and his back, also red, had a few bleeding cuts on it. He no longer cared about anything except making the pain, the suffering, the fear, and the humiliation go away. Slowly he began to drift into a clouded sleep; the last thought he could make out was I won't be able to go to school...there's no way I can sit down, function with these aches...or...face Riku...

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uwah! Poor Sora! Don't you feel bad for him? I wish to give him a hug. I'm so cruel to my favorite character...

As I said before, I really don't know where this is going..feedback would be nice, and I appreciate those 3 who have already! I would put your special names here, but I can't look it up, as I have no internet. read the above note. So anyway, please review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

- sora AI