Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, if I did then life would be beautiful

Key:

- Dream State - , Flashback , ' thoughts ', " Dialogue "

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A change in writing style/time/place/whatever (will notate in () which one)

Author's Note: This is the sequel to An Alternate Ending

Rating: M - for language and graphic images in later chapters

Warning: This is still a Sora/Riku fic… yeah. XD. Deal with it.

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(Chapter 1: A few years later)

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! SLAM!

Sora rolled back over in bed and yanked the covers over his head to block out the sunlight that was streaming into his room. "Stupid alarm clock…" He muttered sleepily, his mind too groggy to remember why he'd even bothered to set the dumb thing in the first place.

"Sora… get off." Muttered a disgruntled female voice from underneath him. Sora jumped about five feet. "Kai-kairi? What the hell!" He exclaimed in surprise as he fell off his side of the bed and hit the floor with a dull thud.

The redhead giggled and peered over the side of the bed at the mess he'd made, tangled all up in blanket and hair tousled more than usual. "Honestly Sora… you'd forget your head if it wasn't attached to your body." She muttered humouredly as she slipped out of bed and helped him untangle himself. "I mean seriously, how long exactly is it going to take you to get used to sharing your bed?" She asked in a slightly hurt tone.

They'd been staying with each other on and off their entire lives but since they'd been dating for well over five years now Kairi had thought it would be a good idea to have a trial marriage of sorts. Sora however, had heartily disagreed to her proposal… saying that he just wouldn't be able to handle it. After a bit of arguing and cajoling though, he'd finally let up a little and said that she could live with him, but insisted that was as far as it would go.

Despite his best efforts to confine her to her very own room in his house, she'd weaseled her way into his room, a fact that he disliked more and more as the days went by. At 20 years old he was probably the only one on the island who was still unmarried at his age… and frankly he never wanted that fact to change. It wouldn't be right, marriage after all was a sacred union between two people who loved one another deeply, and who, despite any obstacles would be willing to stay with each other for the rest of their lives.

Sora knew that he would never love Kairi enough to make it right in his own mind to marry her, and really only dated her for her, annoying yet necessary, company. Inwardly he'd increasingly begun to wish that she'd meet some other guy and get the hell away from him, but always countered that he would crumble to pieces without her.

He could see though, as she helped him out of the blankets, that this need to have her around was taking its toll on her. If he didn't stop being so selfish soon then she might never recover… and he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for destroying her like that after she'd practically saved his life.

Kairi beamed at him and wandered off into her closet. "C'mon silly, you'd better get into the shower soon or you'll be late for work."

Work! Right… Sora was the manager of a rather wealthy hotel on Destiny Islands. He got to meet the most interesting people from all over his little world and at the same time it paid the bills.

Sora sighed as he wandered into the bathroom and locked the door behind him for privacy. How would he break it to her without hurting her feelings? And on top of that… how would he cope alone? He undressed and turned on the shower, stepping in and closing his eyes, just enjoying the feel of the warm water running over him.

'Well… I guess I'll figure that part out when I get to it…' He thought idly as he washed up. 'After all… I used to be a fearless hero… I brought peace to so many people… it's about time I let myself enjoy the same.' He thought, a smile reminiscent of the old days crossing his features. "I deserve as much…" He muttered, finishing his shower and toweling himself off.

As he looked in the mirror he watched with less enthusiasm as his reflection flashed to a familiar silver and green. He closed his eyes immediately, cursing himself for crossing that fine line that he was forced to walk in order to keep up his appearances. 'Riku…' He collapsed on the porcelain toilet and shoved his face into the towel to keep the sound of his sorrow as quiet as possible.

"Sora? You ok in there?" Came the female voice from the other side of the door.

"Y-yeah Kairi… I'm just fine." He said in the most normal tone of voice he could muster.

"Ok… well, hurry up. I have to get ready too you know." She replied and then he heard her footsteps disappearing down the hall.

'Why'd I have to go and look in the mirror?' Sora had gotten so used to avoiding looking in mirrors after he'd realized he'd begun seeing Riku in himself. He'd let his unruly chocolate hair grow out as a testament to Riku's life. However; he hadn't known that his own reflection would soon afterwards become the source of most of his problems.

But avoiding mirrors had turned out to be quite a difficult task. Because it was not only mirror's themselves that reflected one's appearance. Car's, windows, lakes, the side of steel buildings. It seemed like everywhere Sora went; Riku was following close behind like a shadow. Sora had spent the last five years trying in vain to get someone to tell him why he saw Riku everywhere he went, but all the psychiatrists ever told him was that he was deeply hurt by the death of his friend and that it was perfectly natural for him to see Riku, in other people, and in himself.

So Sora had given up trying to get an explanation for his problem and did his best to avoid looking into things that reflected one's image. Funny thing about what those doctors had told him… he'd thus far never seen anyone else who reminded him of Riku besides himself. 'Quacks… don't know what they're talking about.' He grumbled as he finally found the strength to wrap the towel around himself and exit the bathroom.

Kairi had been helpful at that point in time, instead of looking at his own reflection he merely ran a brush through his hair then asked her to make sure he looked presentable, which she was only too happy to do, being a girl. It seemed to him that perhaps she also believed that his asking for her help was a sign of their closeness, but he paid no attention to that, knowing for himself the true reason.

He dressed himself in his usual island t-shirt and tan swimming trunks. He dressed like a tourist mainly because he enjoyed watching the surprise on people's faces when he told them that he was the hotel manager and proceeded to give them some sort of discount that they couldn't refuse. He smiled at this, he really loved people…

As he dressed his eyes wandered around the room… and alighted on his window which was open. Upon the sill was a small bottle with a slip of paper inside with a very familiar insignia. "Shit…" He muttered crossing the room and grabbing the bottle from the sill, just in time too, as Kairi walked in.

"You done in the bathroom then?" She asked with a teasing smile.

He grinned back at her and nodded. "Yup, it's all yours." He returned.

"Thanks… be out in a few." She said turning around.

"Uh, Kairi!" He called after her, causing her to turn around with curiosity.

"Yes?" She asked.

"I have to leave early today… some stupid meeting or other with my underlings. I can't wait for you." He said apologetically.

"Oh… alright then, see you later honey." She beamed and exited.

Sora froze in place with the grin plastered all over his face until she turned away then flinched and followed it with a shudder. 'I have to tell her soon… this is ridiculous.' He thought as he quickly changed out of his tourist clothes. That bottle could have meant only one thing. The King wanted to see him… and that called for another dress code entirely. He threw on a dark blue shirt and a pair of baggy black pants. He threw some yellow belts over his outfit, tied a couple of red bags around his waist for carrying items. Tossed on his best pair of overly large black and yellow shoes, a black jacket and hopped out the window, bottle in hand.

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rozukitsune