A/N: It's nice not to have writers block. This is that fastest I've ever written anything in...ever. . Anyway, thanks to all who read it. 3

Chapter Two

The air was beginning to cool. Soon the sun would fall beneath the horizon, it's light being overpowered by the moon and stars. Somewhere down the bank, away from the shack, a lone cricket had began to chirp. Soon it would be joined by others. For now, it was just that one.

To Riku, who had recently once again begun to consider life enjoyable, especially the simple things, found the cricket annoying. He didn't care if it liked the sound of it's own voice. He would give up anything, except the one he loved, for it to just shut up so he could think. Even if it had had a friend, it would have been less aggravating. He could tune out a choir of crickets because he was used to them. The steady, lone chirp of that single bug however, was an entirely different story.

He sat on the roof of the shack, both feet dangling off of the edge. His arms stretched out behind him, easily supporting his weight. For here he could see much of the island. Usually, he only came up here to admire the beauty, and the memories that sitting here brought back. Once, a long time ago, Sora had dragged a reluctant Riku up to the rooftop at the crack of dawn, begging him to watch the sun rise with him. Even then, the feel of Sora's hand in his had sent shivers through his body. He just hadn't understood why at the time. He had been to young for love then. To young to recognize the messages his body sent him whenever Sora was near. All he knew was that he cared about Sora. Cared about him so much that it broke him just to imagine life without him. It had, in a sense, been love at first sight. He was just to young to recognize it for what it really was then.

In the past, he had hid it well. Disguising his feelings with a mask of other emotions. Emotions he supposedly felt for Kairi. He even tried to believe it himself for awhile. It didn't work. Not even for a second. While he cared for Kairi, his love for her didn't even come close to his love for Sora. Sora was special. There was no one else in all the worlds that could compare to him.

All that had changed when Sora had finally found him. When he had been brought to tears, just from the knowledge that he had finally, finally found Riku. It hadn't matter to Sora what Riku had become. It wasn't important to him how Riku had looked, or what he had given up to become what he had. All that mattered was that he had found him. All that mattered to Riku was that Sora needed him just as much as he needed him. Sora had spent forever searching for Riku.

After that, Riku couldn't even pretend to deny it. It was as if someone had pressed 'go' the moment he was reunited with his childhood friend. He could easily lose him again. That couldn't happen. He wouldn't let him. Not ever. It was time for Riku to admit everything to the younger boy. One day soon...

For now, he was testing the waters. Seeing how far he could go with the things he said and did before Sora pushed away, an uncomfortable look on his face. So far, he hadn't. Not once. It was almost as if he returned the feeling. For instance, earlier today, on the beach. He was sure that Sora had understood every word he said. Certain that he had gotten the meaning, despite his sarcasm.

But damn, it had been so hard not to kiss him, when he was laying pinned beneath, the fine grains of sand contrasting with his darker hair and skin. He was just so perfect, in every way. Which is why it pained Riku so much to be sitting on that roof, watching Sora from a distance.

Far below him, he could see Sora's small, almost indistinguishable, figure, sitting on the dock. His back was hunched slightly, and despite the distance, it was mindlessly easy to tell that something was on his mind. Whatever it was appeared to be physically weighing him down. Something must have happened. After the race, which he had won by several seconds, he hadn't even shown the slightest gloating smile. There were none of his usual bragging, friendly insults. He had simply flopped down on the grass, not speaking a word. Kairi, who had been watching the proceedings from the window, had run outside to congratulate him. In a high, excited voice she had told him that he and Riku were really even now, and –no offence meant to Riku himself, of course- that she was sure he could switch around the score so he was the better.

On any other day, he would have laughed and been a bit modest while still agreeing. Today he could only manage to force the barest of plastic smiles on to his face.

He had sat around with the other two, eating lunch, sometime giggling at jokes. Always, he seemed distant however. Eventually he had just given up, saying he needed to be alone until he could figure something out. Without waiting for anyone to say or do anything further, he had left, an event that had lead up to the present situation.

'Was it something I did? Did I freak him out down there on the beach?' Riku thought desperately, still hyper-focused on Sora's small silhouette. 'What if he's not gay? I shouldn't have done anything. I should have just kept it to myself. I have no business falling in love with him. I never should have. A part of me must have known that one of us would get hurt. Maybe both of us...'

From his position on the dock, Sora slowly turned around, his slight body facing away from the endless ocean, towards the shack. Was he looking at Riku? He stood up and started walking toward Riku. His heartbeat sped up painfully as he neared the end of the beach. Did he notice he had been watching him, practically like a stalker, for the last few hours?

"Riku!" Sora waved, climbing up a slop toward him. "Are you just going to sit there watching me like a stalker? What way is that to treat a friend who needs you a lot? Couldn't you have come to comfort me? " He the stopped, quite abruptly as though a thought had strayed from his brain when it wasn't supposed to.

Thank god the sun had began to set – it hide the crimson colour that had risen to Riku's face . It was like Sora could read his mind. He had always found that sort of creepy. Who wouldn't? Sniggering inwardly at the though, he didn't realize that the setting sun was cloaking Sora's rose colored cheeks at the same time.

"Anyway" Sora laughed lightly as he began to climb up the roughly made rope ladder thrown over the side of the building. "Sorry about earlier today. I know it might sound dumb to say this... but it wasn't anything you did, okay?"

Riku shook his head, even though the brunette couldn't see it because he was ascending the building and currently out of view.

"That doesn't sound dumb. I- I was actually a bit worried that I had..."

He cut off there, leaving his words hanging in the night air.. Sora was still just a boy of nearly 14. It was possible he was still utterly clueless about Riku's recent displays of affection. He would have to be a complete idiot not to notice.. but that wouldn't be the first time Sora hadn't noticed simple things.

Sora jumped up on to the roof gracefully, settling in close to his silver-haired friend. He tilted his head to one side, his muddy hair hanging to one side, his bangs falling over his sky-blue eyes.

"Yeah? Worried about what?"

"It's nothing. Just forget it. Do you want to talk about what is bothering you?" He gently laid his hand on the boy's shoulder, letting it rest there in a gesture of affection and concern.

"I do... that's why I came up here." Sora pulled his knees to his chest, the fabric of his black pants pressing into indentations of his fingers.

Riku sighed in relief, because he had seemed to forget about his unfinished sentence, because he wasn't to blame for his sudden mood swing, and because he was going to find out what was causing it.

"But first, " Sora grinned teasingly, "I want you to finish that sentence.

'Crap.' Riku groaned inwardly. 'Okay. Just play it dumb. Act like the only thing on your mind is his problems.' This wouldn't be hard – the boy was the only thing on his mind.

"What sentence? Are you trying to avoid telling me something? Scared I'll make fun of you?" Then he grew serious, the kidding shine in his eyes fading away.

" Sora, you know you can tell me anything. We've been through so much together that it won't matter what it is. Alright? Whatever's bothering you, I'll try my best to help, and even if I can't, I'll still be there for you."

Sora nodded slowly. "I've been having these dreams lately. Well, ever since we got back here, anyway. They're sort of... weird. You know? I've never had any dreams like them. It's like they have their own live. Like, they're a part of me or something. I don't know how to describe it... but, you know what I mean, sort of, right?"

Riku nodded, trying hard not to fling his arms around Sora, sobbing that it was okay to feel how he felt, because he felt it himself.

"I was having on of those dreams while I was on the beach. Before you woke me up."

"Yeah? What exactly was it about?"

It was best to make sure this was about what he wanted it to be about. No need to make a complete idiot out of himself yet.

Sora took a deep breath and, in the most detail he could manage, explained the dreams to the older boy. He tried his best to convey the overwhelming emotions that the dreams left him with. Part of him knew he wasn't really getting the whole situation across, but he was sure Riku would understand. He was good like that.

"So, anyway...when we were racing, I started to think. I know Roxas dreamed a lot about my memories. Why can't I do the same thing? Maybe that's what's happening. Roxas must have known Axel. Axel kind of mentioned he knew him, that one time we met. I think Axel might have seen Roxas in me. That must be why he saved me."

Riku deflated for a second. Did it make him a terrible person to be disapointed that he hadn't been about to confess his undying love for him? He had been so sure this would be the moment it finally happened. Their first kiss... the scenery was perfect, the setting... everything.

Except Sora wasn't interested in that.

There would always be a next time though, right? Maybe?

"...I just don't understand why I'm remebering this things. Roxas knows Axel died, doesn't he?" Sora whimpered in confusion.

Pushing his selfish thoughts aside, Riku pulled Sora close to him in a tight embrace. Sora shifted himself closer, leaning his head on his shoulder. Protectivly, as if by instinct, Riku gently placed his arm around his waist. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

"Maybe that's why he's remembering him. Maybe he's sad because Axel died. If someone I cared about died, I would spend alot of time thinking of them to. I'm sure that's it. Try not to worry about it to much, K?"

Was it just him, or had Sora moved closer?

"I would be sad if you died."

He added suddenly, looking up at Riku innocently. His blue eyes sparkled. "I would be really sad. I don't blame Roxas. I can imagine how he feels."

Despite the seriousness of the moment, Riku couldn't help but break out into a wide smile. Without thinking, he pressed his lips caressingly on to the soft skin of Sora's forehead. It was as if the boys words had opened up every gate he had ever closed. The affection was overwhelming. A nice overwhelming, as though he had finally found something worth holding on to.

"Do you think you should do anything about it?" Riku whispered softly. "About Roxas?"

It took Sora several seconds to regain himself. Not even aware of it, he pressed two fingers to the spot on his forehead Riku had kissed. In that single moment, he had forgotten his problems. Some unknown thing however, brought him back to reality, jogged his memory. Right- the dream.. memory.. things.

"Only if I really have to. His best friend died, Riku. He needs time to sort through all that. I was stupid to think there might be something more complex going on here. He's not sending me messages or anything. He's just... " He searched for the right word, "Mourning."

The words hung in the air. They had been head, but not really understood. For Sora, his worries seemed far away. It didn't occur to him that even the most insignifigant of dreams had meanings. It didn't occur to him that this was one problem that hadn't been solved. All he knew, all he wanted to know, was that Riku would help him through it. He was sure. For Riku, the moment was frozen in time. He would give up anything, everything, just to be with Sora. Just for the moment to last forever. Just to keep his arm around him. Just to feel the smooth fabric of his shirt on his fingertips. Just to hug his slim figure close. He knew he would help Sora no matter what. Silenty, he plegded this to himself. Even if, in the end, Sora didn't love him, he would always love Sora. Nothing could take that away.

Nothing.

In that moment, they both sensed that this might be the start of something.

Random end of chapter A/N Was that short? Was it boring? Am I just being paranoid? Meh. I'm proud of it. It's very emotional. Well, I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a comment. 3 They're very much apperciated.