Title: Love On A Rotten Day

Author: Slashapalooza

Disclaimer: Sora isn't mine. He belongs to Riku. Every part of him. Especially his ass. Riku isn't mine. He belongs to Sora. Every part of him. Especially his (fruity) hair. Kairi isn't mine. She belongs to Square-Enix. Every part of her. Because nobody else would take her.

I do, however, own this plot seeing as it was my weird mind that came up with it, although somebody did say that it reminded them of the movie 'Cruel Intentions'. I've never seen it. Ryan Phillipe is in it though and he is hot.

But not as hot as Riku.

Author's Note:

Kari: Riku is the Silver Haired Sex God. He demands sex.

Slashy: So?

Kari: Since he is god we have to give him a sacrifice (ie. Sora). And SINCE you insist they can only sleep together in chapter 14…

Slashy: ...

Kari: It has been made by god that 14 comes after 11. You can't argue with the silver haired one. He'll smite you into Kairi-ville.

Slashy: AHHHHHHHHHHHH! twitches and shudders

Kari: I think I made our point.

This chapter has enough Cloud/Leon and Riku/Sora goodness to satisfy everybody! I hope. Hee.

Thanks to:

Swordchick, MorganEddasil, Ivaeddia, hikaruS, Phoenix, Ink2, AJH, kinkydoomhobbit, Willum, WhiteLightning, Tinted Amber, xPEACHSz N CREAMx, Skweeshy, Anukis-san, JaninaKeks, Xeora, Ultima, ChibiNekoSakura, somewhatcrazyhappyperson, PlayingWithFire, PSYCH0tic, Dark Drangel Kira, AllmightyNano1, BadLuckShuichi, Shattered Darkness, Jenni'sHeartofGold, Tama-Kitsune, Neko Kate-chan, shishi-san, Reina-183, XxX Chains XxX, Momochi Zabuza, kuramasgirl13, lordkagome, LiLi-Sama, Risky-reaper,

Sora's Short Replies (With Commentary By Riku):

Chiyosuke – HA! HA HA HA! As if I would ever allow myself to get molested by that evil (sexy), crazy (hot), sex-obsessed (you know you want some) Riku! And you! Don't think I didn't go to your livejournal and see all those horrible (and yet unbelievably well drawn) pictures! I would never make out with Riku in the water (he'd just do it everywhere else)! I don't like you very much at all (but I love you and that's what matters).

cammy-world – Fourteen does NOT come after 10 (yes it does). Can't you people count (we're counting properly. You're the one who can't count)! And I don't care how many cookies you give me! I'll never forgive you for this (until I drag him to the bedroom and make him forget for a few… days).

PlayingWithFire – Once again, we're not switching anything with anything! The molesting ends here (or just gets worse) because I have a plan (that won't work) to stop it! I'll… leave (brilliant, Einstein) and then when we get to Chapter 14 there will be no sex (you've been talking to the plot again, haven't you?)! Bwahahaha (yeah… don't do that anymore).

Teizontidus – Tidus? Fall for Kairi? Never! That's about as likely to happen as me falling for Riku (okay, that did nothing to reassure anybody, Sora). Tidus is just being a bit stupid right now (the only person whose stupidity surpasses your own) and… Hey! Did you just insult me, Riku? RIKU!

Greyspark – It's finally happened! I knew this would happen! You've KILLED somebody, Slashy! Do you see what the sick circulation of this fandom has done? Oh woe is me! We should stop this right now before anything else happens (or we could just continue writing these fics until Sora becomes submissive. Your choice).

Kitten4ever303 – -staring at 'Report Possible Abuse button' with an awed look on his face- Must… press… and… save… self… (…Now… Why did you go and tell him about that button! -ties Sora to a chair-)

bOb the bUilder – You hate Riku too? Yes! Let's go hate Riku together and eat cookies and be best friends and do each other's hair (or Sora could just stay here and do me. I think we all know which option is better).

Riku's Long Replies:

Lymerai– Ah, one of my favorite, and more dedicated fans. And, yes, it was terribly fun making out with Sora in the park in front of those poor, defenseless children. You have to plant these seeds very early on in life so they don't grow up to become ignorant homophobes, you know.

Although, Sora would probably disagree and say that scarring small children is not okay no matter what the circumstances, but we all know the truth.

Slashy would also like me to note that this is not a TidusxKairi story. Although, that would be an interesting pairing. This is all TidusxSelphie, trust me. Selphie would probably go medieval on Kairi's ass for stealing her boyfriend, but, ahem, maybe that's just me.

Anyway, you're missing the point. This is all about me! …And, Sora, too, I guess.

Insanehikari– Another one of my favorites. That is the best advice a mother can give. Who can gaze upon my beautiful face without wanting to jump me? Well, Kairi can, but we all know she's sick in the head.

And I'd just like to note that I do tell him in this chapter so you can stop reprimanding me! Of course, I run away right after I tell him, but at least I told him, right?

Right?

Oh, shut up.

And no video cameras in the bedroom!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO REPLACED MY BEDSHEETS AND GAVE ME THE TOOLS NEEDED TO CLEAN MY BATHROOM! I AM FRESH-SMELLING, RESTED, AND READY TO WRITE!
-Love Slashy

Date Begun: March 8, 2005 – One month until my birthday and Amon's-Girl's birthday! Hell yeah!

Date Posted: DATE "MMMM d, yyyy" April 3, 2005

Chapter 12: I Don't Mind

Sights and sounds pull me back down another year

I was here; I was here

Whipping past the reflecting pool

Me and you, skipping school

And we make it up as we go along

We make it up, we go along

You said you raced from Langley

Pulling me underneath a cherry blossom canopy

Do I have?

Of course I have!

Beneath my raincoat

I have your photographs

And the sun on your face

I'm freezing that frame

And somewhere Alfie cries and says,

"Enjoy his every smile

You can see in the dark through the eyes of Laura Mars."

"How did it go so fast?" You'll say

As we are looking back

And then we'll understand

We held gold dust in our hands.

- Gold Dust by Tori Amos

Riku was very, very afraid.

Why hadn't he realized that Sora had finished off a grand total of five and a half cans of Red Bull? Why couldn't he have foreseen the horror that was to befall him? Riku sighed from his place on the bed, laying sideways with his head propped up with his elbow. His aquamarine eyes were following Sora's every move.

"I'm a goofy goober! ROCK!" Sora was singing at the top of his lungs, kneeling on the floor and playing air guitar. "You're a goofy goober! ROCK! We're all goofy goobers! ROCK! Goofy goofy goofy goofy goober! ROCK!"

Riku twitched.

"'Put your toys away'. Well then I got to say, when you tell me not to play, I say NO WAY! No no no no way!"

"Sora, can you please"

Sora hopped up off the floor and dived on the bed, knocking Riku onto his back. Riku winced and looked up at the incredibly hyper brunette that was now sitting on him and poking him in the nose. "'I'm a kid' you say. When you say I'm a kid I say 'Say it again.' And then I say Thanks! THANKS! Thank you very much. So if you thinking that you'd like to be like me, go ahead and try. The kid inside will set you free!"

Riku really wished that Sora would get off him because it was damn near impossible for him to have Sora that close to him without his mind drifting to the gutter and he was afraid that if Sora scooted backwards a few inches, he'd run into the 'problem' Riku was trying to stifle. "Sora, get off me."

"I'm a goofy goober. ROCK!" Sora sang on, ignorantly. "You're a goofy goober! ROCK!"

Riku realized that Sora was bouncing up and down in time with the beat and groaned again. Ugh, he thought, trying to think of things that would get Little Riku to calm down. Tidus naked. His algebra teacher naked. Kairi in a muumuu.

He felt sick to his stomach, but his problem hadn't lessened one bit.

"We're all goofy goobers! ROCK! Goofy goofy goofy goofy goober!" Sora bounced one last time, falling backwards. "YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The brunette erupted into peals of uncontrollable laughter before he stilled completely and blinked. Riku groaned again as Sora shifted and sat up and then looked down. Sora smirked. "Little Riku's happy."

"Oh god." Riku said, twitching.

"Did Sora make Little Riku happy?" Sora pressed in the same smug-yet-innocent voice. "I bet Little Riku wants Sora to be his plaything. Doesn't he?" Riku wisely chose not to answer that particular question. Sora beamed even more, then hopped up, landing safely on the floor. He chuckled evilly. "He'll have to catch me first!"

Riku sat up, watching as Sora ran out of the room. He heard Sora's footsteps pounding down the stairs and blinked. Note to self, he thought, never give Sora Red Bull. Not only did it give Sora wings, it also gave him a mountain of energy.

"RIKUUUUUUU! COME AND GEEEET MEEEE! I WANT TO PLAAAAAAY WITH YOOOOU!"

Riku smirked. "I want to play with you, too," he said as he got up and headed downstairs, trying to keep his thoughts relatively clean.

He didn't succeed.

-

Kairi grabbed a stand of her hair, holding it out from the rest and giving Selphie a meaningful look. "What is this?" she demanded.

Selphie stared at her blankly. "A… hair?" she tried, blinking a bit.

"What kind of hair? I mean, what color is it?" Kairi demanded again, tugging out the hair with a wince and holding it directly in front of Selphie's face. The green-eyed girl blinked, narrowing her eyes and staring.

"A… red hair?" Selphie said after a bit, sounding as if she were seriously doubting Kairi's sanity at this point.

"Ha! Don't you lie!" Kairi frowned, stepping back and looking at the hair in her hand. "It's gray. I've got a gray hair."

Yuffie snorted, turning it into a cough when Kairi fixed her with a glare.

"Now, which one of you wants to tell me why I have a gray hair?"

Selphie crawled over to join Yuffie on the bed, figuring that if Kairi attacked, at least she could hide behind Yuffie and survive for just a little while longer. Yuffie shrugged her shoulders, humoring the girl. "Why do you have a gray hair, Kairi?"

"Because…." Kairi said, pausing dramatically. "I am here and Sora is probably out getting raped and molested and all kinds of illegal sexual things!" she finished, folding her arms.

Yuffie blinked slowly. "And this is… bad?"

Kairi rolled her eyes and let the hair fall to the Lost Lands of Carpet Hairs. "Yes. Yes it is. You know what I think we should do?"

"Um, move out of the way so Selphie and I can finish watching 10 Things I Hate About You?" Yuffie suggested, motioning with her hands for Kairi to do just that.

"No," Kairi said flatly. "We should go over to Riku's house and check up on them. You know, to make sure that Sora's alright."

Selphie snickered. "I'm sure Sora's alright. In fact, he's probably in the depths of happiness right now." She quieted down at the look Kairi gave her. "I mean… Um… Yeah, let's go check up on Sora…."

"But Heath Ledger is about to sing!" Yuffie protested with a groan. "I don't want to go check up on Sora when Heath is singing."

"That's what the 'stop' button is for," Kairi said, grinning as she turned off the TV. "Come on! Operation: Keep Sora Alive is underway."

"I've heard the Happy Sunshine Insane Asylum accepts late admissions," Yuffie whispered to Selphie as they followed Kairi down the stairs.

"Maybe if we call those nice guys in white suits, they can get here before she eats us," Selphie whispered back.

-

Riku peered under the table for any sign of Sora and sighed. The brunette had gone into hiding at least an hour ago and Riku had been unable to find him since.

He folded his arms and listened, trying to see if Sora was making any sounds, but there was silence except for the ticking of the hall clock. He sighed again. "Sora?"

There was no answer.

"Come on, Sora. Where are you?"

When the silence persisted, Riku headed out of the kitchen and into the hallway. He checked the hall closet and found nothing, then headed towards the living room. He blinked when he saw Sora sitting in front of the television, unblinking.

"Uh…" He walked over, peering at the TV screen. "Sora, why are you watching The Discovery Channel on mute?"

Sora leaned his head back to look at Riku, blinking at long last. A smirk curved on his face. "I was waiting to see how long it would take you to find me, Ri-ku."

"Um," Riku said, gulping at the low tone Sora's voice had suddenly taken. "Well… I found you."

Sora got up, smiling in an innocent way that made Riku instantly suspicious. "And what are you going to do with me now that you've found me?"

"Screw you until the only words in your vocabulary are 'Riku', 'faster', and 'harder'?" Riku guessed, vocalizing his current thoughts. It was a miracle he was even thinking at all considering most of the blood in his brain had rushed elsewhere.

Sora snickered. "No."

"Damn," Riku said with a sigh. "Okay, kiss the hell out of you?"

Another snicker. "No."

"Then what?" Riku groaned, his hand starting to reach out for Sora of its own free will. Sora stepped away, successfully avoiding being grabbed and smiled cutely.

"Let's play… tag," Sora said, smiling. He stepped close to Riku and kissed him lightly on the lips, then just as quickly pulled away. "You're it."

Riku watched Sora go tearing off down the hallway and started walking after him. He grabbed a scarf from the hall closet as he passed it. Next time he found Sora, the brunette wasn't going anywhere.

-

Cloud lay down on Leon's bed once again, staring at the ceiling. Leon was downstairs rummaging through the cabinet for a good movie and Aerith was in bed. Cloud couldn't seem to shut his mind off.

He'd thought he knew everything there was to know about Leon and it bothered him that he was wrong. Sure, Leon was practically a mystery inside an enigma wrapped up between the pages of a Nancy Drew book, but still.

Cloud had never really had a problem understanding the brunette before. And he'd definitely never had to worry whether there was something about Leon that he didn't know. There never was.

Well, at least there never was before. Now he wasn't so sure.

He was busy scowling at the ceiling when he heard the door open and close and amused voice asked, "Did you and my roof get into another fight?"

Cloud turned his head to look at the brunette in the doorway, watching as Leon walked over to the television and turned it on. He didn't say a word, but if Leon found this odd he didn't comment. "We're watching The Ring."

"That's nice," Cloud said as he looked up at the ceiling again. There was a moment of silence before his glaring contest with the roof was broken as Leon's face blocked his view. Cloud frowned. "What?"

"You are the moodiest person I know," Leon informed him as he crawled onto the bed and looked down at Cloud. Cloud was momentarily distracted by Leon's extremely tight pants, but then his eyes returned to Leon's face and he blinked.

"Is that a problem?" Cloud asked, sitting up so that Leon wasn't hovering over him anymore.

Leon rolled his eyes. "What's bothering you? Did you not like the seventeen glasses of Sangria you had? How did you do that without getting drunk?"

"I don't get drunk," Cloud answered simply. "I have a very high tolerance for alcohol. I've tested this before."

Leon didn't let him get away with the subject change. "What's wrong, Cloud?"

"Nothing."

With a sigh, Leon leaned over and straddled the blonde's hips, pinning Cloud's hands above his head. "What's wrong?"

Cloud looked up at him, then tilted his head away. "I just told you. Are we going to watch the movie or not?"

"No, I'm going to sit here until you tell me why you suddenly have a stick crammed up your ass," Leon said calmly, continuing to pin Cloud down to the bed. The blond rolled his eyes and sighed, hoping Leon was prepared to sit up there for the rest of the night.

-

I'm too sexy for my love
Too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me

Riku blinked as he heard the pounding melody of Right Said Fred coming from the living room. It sounded like Sora had gotten bored of playing tag. He walked back the way he'd come, still holding the scarf in his hands and half-tempted to grab something to hit Sora with, if necessary.

As soon as he got to the doorway, he was met with the sight of Sora dancing around. That wouldn't have surprised him if it wasn't for the way the brunette was dancing.

He very much reminded Riku of a pole dancer in a strip club with the way Sora was slowly sliding his body from side to side with the beat and smirking when he realized Riku was there.

Every movement of Sora's hips and every wink sent in his direction was driving Riku wild.

I'm too sexy for my shirt
Too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts

Riku's vision was suddenly clouded by fabric. He pulled Sora's shirt off his face and stared at the half-naked boy that was still dancing. Sora hopped up on the low table and ran his hands down his sides, glancing over his shoulder at Riku with a 'come hither' look.

Riku swallowed and tried to remind himself how to breathe.

And I'm too sexy for Milan

Too sexy for Milan

New York and Japan

Sora's hands were working on the buttons of his jeans. Riku's eyes widened as he stepped further into the room and dropped the scarf. He didn't think he was going to need it. At the rate Sora was going, the only thing that would be keeping Sora down would be Riku's body.

Sora would be very lucky if he was still a virgin after the night was over.

The brunette continued dancing, oblivious of Riku's dirty thoughts, but the look on Riku's face amused Sora greatly.

And I'm too sexy for your party

Too sexy for your party

No way, I'm disco dancing

Sora laughed and swiveled his hips, hopping off the table and stalking towards Riku. The brunette laughed again at the look on Riku's face. Sora turned around and patted his butt.

"You know you want my ass," He said with a smirk.

Riku's hand reached out to grab him, but Sora quickly moved away and got back on the table.

I'm a model

You know what I mean

And I do my little turn on the catwalk

On the catwalk

On the catwalk, yeah

And I shake my little tush on the catwalk

Sora shook his butt and got off the table again, his jeans slipping down his waist. Riku caught sight of a pair of blue boxers, hanging a bit off a creamy white waist. He swallowed, pausing to try and control his breathing.

"Sora…" he groaned, unable to take it anymore.

Sora laughed. "Yes, Ri-ku?"

That was the last thing he got to say before Riku attacked.

-

Kairi continued leading the 'troop' along to Riku's house, worrying her head off. What if Ayumi was wrong? What if Riku wasn't in love with Sora and was just faking it to get in Sora's pants?

And, really, how would Riku getting laid help the popular kids?

She was missing something important, she knew, but she couldn't very well ask Selphie with Yuffie there with them.

So her only option was to continue the crusade to Sora's house and hope Riku and Sora weren't going at it. If Sora got hurt, it would be all her fault. She'd encouraged it for pity's sake! She'd continuously tried to get Sora to see what a good guy Riku was.

Good guy. Yeah, right.

Kairi glanced behind her to see that Selphie and Yuffie had stopped walking and turned around, looking at them curiously.

"Hold perfectly still," Yuffie whispered out of the corner of her mouth. "Maybe it won't attack."

Kairi rolled her eyes. "Ha, very funny guys."

"Oh no! It's seen us! Run!" Selphie screeched, laughing as she darted part Kairi, with Yuffie on her heels. Kairi rolled her eyes once again, wondering where those two had gotten the idea that she was psychotic. She was completely and perfectly sane.

For the most part.

"Great. Now I'm starting to think I'm insane," she muttered as she followed after them in the direction of the Masaki residence. "Guys! Come on, wait for me!"

Selphie and Yuffie had stopped at the end of the street and were peering into someone's window. Kairi blinked, realizing that had arrived at Riku's house already. She really had to stop thinking so much.

Reality beckoned.

Yuffie was giggling while Selphie while was whining, "Damn, why didn't I bring my camera? Damn, damn, damn…" Over and over. Kairi raised an eyebrow at them and peeked over their shoulders.

Sora was standing on top of a table, shirtless and dancing around while a stunned Riku stood in the doorway, a scarf and a t-shirt by his feet. He looked torn between fear and lust.

It was obvious which emotion would dominate.

Kairi kept her eyes on Sora. Something was off about him. The only time Sora ever listened to Right Said Fred was when he was hyper. A discarded can on the ground by the table confirmed her suspicions.

"Oh no…" Kairi said, slowly backing away from the window before Sora spotted her. "Oh no, oh no, oh no…"

Yuffie and Selphie exchanged glances once again.

Yuffie was the one who attempted to soothe the obviously psychotic girl. "Kairi… It's just Sora… He's not going to hurt you… especially not on the other side of the window…"

"No, you don't understand!" Kairi persisted, grabbing Yuffie and Selphie and dragging them away from the window as well. "You've never seen Sora drink Red Bull. I have. It's not pretty."

She shook her head as she remembered. "It was, like, last year. We were having a sleepover at his house and we found his mom's stash of Red Bull. Sora drank five cans of it." She shuddered as she continued. "He stripped, he tried to 'fly' off the roof, and he licked me, convinced I was a new flavor of candy, until I hid in the closet and he fell asleep."

Selphie blinked. "Sora licked you?"

"He obviously has no taste," Yuffie coughed into her hand, ignoring the glare she received from Selphie and Kairi simultaneously.

Kairi rolled her eyes. "We've got to get out of here and come back when it's safe. You do not want to see Sora after he's had some Red Bull. You'll be scarred for the rest of your natural life, I swear."

"Okay then. I really didn't want to see Sora naked anyway," Selphie huffed, folding her arms. "Let's go back to my house and finish up the movie. Then we can stay up all night and giggle like school girls!" She giggled as a demonstration, locking arms with Yuffie and then with Kairi. "Ready, gal pals?"

Yuffie laughed at Selphie's sudden enthusiasm. "Ready!"

"Ready…" Kairi chipped in, glancing behind her at the house before she headed back up the block to the slumber party, leaving Riku to his doom. She wondered which one of them would return to school alive.

-

They fell back onto the couch, with Riku pinning Sora's arms over his head. Sora snickered, looking up at Riku innocently. He shifted a bit, then smirked.

"Ri-ku," he said in a child-like voice. "You're 'happy' again."

Riku glared at him.

"Is that for me?" Sora asked as he shifted again, causing Riku to groan. Sora's voice still sounded perfectly childish. "Am I making you excited?"

Riku shut Sora up with a fierce kiss, sliding his tongue past the brunette's lips and plundering the hot, moist cavern. Sora made a small noise at the back of his throat and kissed him back, tangling his tongue with Riku's and moaning softly.

Two seconds later, Riku found himself flat on his back with Sora straddling him. Riku blinked, swallowing at the smirk on Sora's face.

"I want to be seme," Sora announced, trailing a finger down Riku's chest. "You always get to be on top."

"Height rule," Riku muttered, shivering and locking eyes with Sora. "And I'm the more experienced one."

"But I'm the cute one. And I can make you do this," Sora swiveled his hips once, then twice, blinking innocently when Riku groaned and clamped his eyes shut. "I can make you do that. So, it's only natural that I should be seme."

Riku was really in no mood to complain. He had to concentrate on breathing. In… Out… In… Out…

Of course, that mantra didn't help at all since it led his mind to dirtier things, so he merely groaned and pulled Sora down for another kiss. Sora smirked into the kiss, returning it whole heartedly. Riku was thankful that the younger boy didn't squirm much after that.

-

Almost an hour later, and the two teens were still at a stalemate. Cloud was determinedly staring at the ceiling in silence while Leon was busy staring at him with the same amount of determination.

Neither of them said a word.

"Okay, this is going to sound weird," Aerith said from the door. "But I can't seem to sleep without the familiar banging against the headboard that I have to put up with every night."

Cloud and Leon glared at her.

Aerith walked further into the room, yawning. "So, what's wrong with you two?" she asked, seemingly unperturbed by the fact that Leon was straddling Cloud on the bed. "In such a position, I'm surprised you both still have your clothes on."

"What position? He won't get off me," Cloud informed her, giving Leon a dull glare which the brunette ignored completely.

"Cloud's sulking about something or other and he's not talking, so I'm not moving," Leon added to Cloud's explanation, watching as Aerith pulled up a chair and stretched a bit.

She smiled in amusement. "So, basically, you're having a lover's spat? So soon? I'd say you were better off with me, Cloud."

The matching glares she received made her hold up her hands in a surrendering gesture. "It was a joke! A statement of humorous intent? Us people with personalities tell them often."

"Aerith, either say something of importance, or get out." Leon said flatly, looking down at Cloud with an 'I'm prepared to stay here all night if I have to' look in his eyes.

Cloud returned it with a glare that plainly said 'Bring it on'.

"Okay, could you guys stop the silent conversation? I'm still here," Aerith pointed out, waving a hand and breaking their locking gazes. "Now, Cloud, how about you just tell Leon what's bothering you so we can all get some sleep?"

"How about you go back to bed and watch dirty videos until the banging from the tape lulls you to sleep?" Cloud returned snidely.

"How about not?" Leon inputted, glaring at Cloud. "Let's try not to put dirty thoughts into Aerith's head."

"She can't fall asleep unless we're screwing. How much dirtier do you think her mind can get?" Cloud asked with a raised eyebrow. They both turned to look at Aerith who was watching them with an innocent expression on her face.

"What?" she asked, blinking angelically.

"Go back to bed, Aerith," Leon and Cloud said simultaneously. Aerith muttered incoherently under her breath, but got up and exited the room. Once they heard her bedroom door slam closed, Cloud returned to staring at the ceiling and Leon returned to staring at him.

The stalemate waged on.

-

Sora could feel the hard grip of reality trying to break through the sugary haze of his mind, but his entire body felt like it was on fire and he was so very warm and he didn't want this new found warmth to ever, ever stop.

He was vaguely aware of hands tangled in his already messy hair, but that was alright because, he realized, his own hands were busy as well, fisting in the fabric he was clutching onto for dear life.

And as the haze began to fade further, he became aware that he was sitting atop something warm, yet hard and it wasn't entirely uncomfortable. He could vaguely hear low groans and whimpering moans, then gasped as he realized those sounds were coming from him.

Groaning because the haze was almost completely gone, but he still lacked the ability to have a coherent thought, he opened his eyes only to find that his lips were currently connected to Riku's.

When did that happen? And… why were they on the living room couch?

And what the hell was with the suggestive music?

Sora's expression changed into one of confusion as he tried to get the answers to his questions out of Riku, who was making it difficult to talk since he couldn't seem to stop kissing Sora for longer than half a second at a time.

"Ri… Riku—mmph!" Sora managed to get out, trying to pull out of the kiss. He gave up after three failed attempts and just melted into it again, reveling in the delicious warmth that was pooling in his stomach.

Why was he fighting this? It felt so… right and good and absolutely perfect and he never, ever wanted it to stop.

Riku seemed to notice that Sora had lost his will to dominate and quickly flipped them over, trapping Sora between himself and the couch. "You're amazing, you know that?" the white-haired boy murmured as he stroked Sora's cheek.

Sora could feel his face heating up as the warmth in his stomach intensified. "I-I am?"

Riku chuckled low in his throat. "Yes, you are," he said, leaning down and giving Sora a gentle kiss that was just a mere brushing off lips, no tongue involved. "So… Are you calm now?" Riku asked once he'd pulled away.

"Calm. Yes." Sora answered, blinking a bit. "No more Red Bull ever again."

"That's something we can agree on." Riku laughed. "You were scaring the hell out of me. Playing hide and seek, stripping—"

"Stripping!"

Riku pointed downward and Sora followed the hint, looking down at himself. He nearly choked on his own spit as he realized that he was shirtless and his pants were close to falling off. He hadn't noticed his state of indecency because he'd been… preoccupied.

"Riku… were you going to rape me?" Sora asked in a completely mortified voice.

"No… well… not really…" Riku shrugged and kissed Sora once again. "You just seemed so responsive. And, besides… look what you did." He gestured towards the lower half of his body and, in turn, his problem.

Sora's face flamed once again. "I did that?"

"Yes, you did. Now what are you going to do about it?" Riku asked in amusement. There was a moment of silence in which they stared at each other without moving an inch.

Then they both attacked in a fury of crashing lips and tangling tongues and Sora once again lost the ability to form a coherent thought as Riku left his mouth to trail kisses along his very sensitive neck.

"Riku…" he groaned, arching his back as his hands reached out to grab something – anything. They ended up tangling in Riku's hair, keeping the older boy from pulling away.

Riku had no plans of doing so, anyway.

-

Selphie was settled into the lime green bean bag chair by her bed, about to ask another question for their rousing game of 'I Never' when the phone rang. She paused, watching Kairi stretch over the bed to grab it and tilted her head to the side.

"Hello?" Kairi answered, busy painting her toenails a dull pink color with her free hand. She dropped the polish on the bed in surprise, then immediately picked it up before it could spill. "What do you want? I still hate you."

Selphie didn't need any more hints after that. Her eyes narrowed. Yuffie, who was sitting on the floor in front of her since Selphie had also been braiding her hair, immediately moved away.

"Yes, she's here, but I don't think she wants to talk to—"

"GIVE ME THE PHONE!" Selphie cried in a warlike voice as she leapt across the room, tackling a surprised Kairi and ripping the phone from her grasp. She sat down, seemingly unaware that she was crushing Kairi and the redhead couldn't breathe with Selphie sitting on her like that. "Mihada?"

"When did we get back to a last name basis?" Tidus' voice sounded strangely sheepish. However, Selphie was not in the mood to be forgiving.

"About the time you tried to get in Sora's pants. When was that? Last year? A week ago? Time sure flies," she said in a cold, clipped tone. "Why are you calling, Mihada? I think you made it quite clear that we're through—"

"Selphie…"

"—when you kissed Sora—"

"Selph…"

"—or maybe when you kissed Kairi. What was that about, anyway? She's giving you what I wouldn't?"

"Hey!" Kairi's breathless voice protested. Selphie looked down, realizing that Kairi was turning a slightly pink shade from lack of air. She shot Kairi an apologetic look, getting up and sitting on the bed rather than on her friend.

"Selphie, listen… I'm sorry," Tidus said quietly. Selphie opened her mouth to yell obscenities at him, but he quickly cut her off. "And before you start yelling at me, just listen for a second."

"You've got exactly thirty seconds before I hang up on your ass," Selphie hissed, checking the clock.

Tidus sighed. "Fine. Look… When Sora turned me down last year, it kind of stung a bit, okay? I mean, I'm me and he was the first person to do that so it was a matter of pride, I guess. And it was great that you were there for me and I did mean it when I kissed you that night when we started going out."

"Fifteen seconds," Selphie said, swallowing and ignoring the concerned looks Yuffie and Kairi were giving her.

"Right. So, I suppose there's this one part of me that still doesn't forgive Sora for doing that to me last year, which is why I want to get him back for it. I mean, he was the first and only guy I ever liked that way and… Well, yeah." Tidus continued. Selphie could practically picture the way he was glaring at the wall for having to confess all of this.

Usually, the thought would have made her smile.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat, forgetting she was supposed to be keeping time. "Wh-what about Kairi?"

"She was just pissing me off," Tidus said flatly. "And I knew if I tried covering her mouth, she'd just bite me so I kissed her instead. It was stupid, I know, but it was as far as I could think at the time. She was trying to kill me when you walked in."

Selphie stared directly across at the wall, a blank expression on her face. "Oh."

"So," Tidus said uncomfortably after a moment of silence. "Do you forgive me?"

Selphie continued staring at the wall without speaking, chewing on her lower lip. "No," she whispered, setting the phone down on the receiver.

Yuffie sat down on the bed next to the suddenly silent girl, shooting Kairi a worried look before returning her eyes to her friend. "Selph? Selphie, are you okay?"

Selphie swallowed again, her vision getting blurry. "No."

-

Cloud had lost the feeling in his legs and Leon showed no sign of moving so he sighed and closed his eyes. "My leg's asleep," he muttered, reopening his eyes and locking his eyes with Leon's.

"Aw, poor baby," Leon said sarcastically, not taking his ice blue eyes off his boyfriend, who, he noted, had been sulking for a consecutive three hours now. Not that this was a record for Cloud.

"I think you've cut off the circulation to it," Cloud tried again, frowning.

Leon didn't budge. "I think so, too."

"Alright," Cloud sighed. "Let the blood flow back into my leg and I'll talk," he said, folding at last. He sighed in relief as Leon smirked and got off him, sitting next to him on the bed instead and giving Cloud an expectant look.

"Well?" Leon asked when Cloud said nothing.

"…I didn't know your parents owned a bar." Cloud's voice was so quiet that Leon wouldn't have been able to hear, had it not been for their close proximity. But hear he did.

His lips curved into an amused smile as Cloud averted his eyes. He didn't have to say anymore; Leon understood him perfectly.

Leon knew he wasn't the easiest guy to figure out or get to know. He also knew Cloud prided himself on being one of the few people who could read Leon like a book and who knew more about him than anyone else.

It was almost sweet, really.

He looked down at Cloud, who was still staring at the wall as though it were the most fascinating thing in the world, and smiled. "I've got a birthmark on my hip." Leon said quietly.

Cloud's eyes flicked up to meet his. "I know."

"My favorite color's red," the brunette continued, still smiling vaguely. Cloud's face was a whirlwind of confusion.

"I know."

Leon brushed a stray lock of hair from Cloud's face. "The only kinds of shoes I own are combat boots."

"I know, Leon," Cloud said, sitting up and giving Leon a frustrated glare. Leon merely grinned back.

"Yes. You know."

Understanding dawned on the blond and he smiled sheepishly, laying back down on the bed. "Yeah."

"So, done sulking?" Leon asked as he laid down on his side facing Cloud with his head propped up by his arm.

Cloud laughed. "I'm done."

"Good. Ready to watch The Ring?" Leon held up the movie and shook it from side to side until the smile on Cloud's face grew. "Yes? Great. I'll put it in and you sit here and look hot."

"I'm good at that," Cloud said with a smirk, rolling onto his stomach and watching Leon head over to the VCR.

Or, more specifically, watching Leon's ass as Leon headed over to the VCR.

"Finally! I thought you two would never make up!" Aerith's voice called sweetly from the hallway. "I was prepared to spend the entire night in the kitchen, eating ice cream until I was too exhausted to move!"

Leon and Cloud exchanged glances, then charged out the door to forcibly put Aerith to bed.

She never stood a chance.

-

Riku was quite sure that Sora was some kind of new drug. He had to be. The brunette was positively addicting and Riku couldn't get enough.

He buried his head against Sora's neck, inhaling the strawberry scent that radiated off the younger boy as his tongue flitted out for a taste. He smirked at the loud moan this prompted from the boy squirming under him and repeated the action.

"Riku!" Sora groaned again, his hands fisting in Riku's hair. Riku kissed a slow trail along Sora's neck to his chin and along his jaw back to his lips, his tongue slipping into the brunette's mouth immediately.

This, he reflected during one of the brief pauses they took for air, was turning out to be a mutual seduction since he couldn't seem to think straight with Sora so close to him and making those delicious noises.

Sora made a whimpering noise as Riku's hands slid along his bare chest and Riku took a shuddery breath as Sora shifted, causing their hips to rub together.

Riku paused a moment, clamping his eyes shut. "Damn, Sora!" He kissed the younger boy fiercely, letting his mind go blissfully blank. He took a deep breath, brushing his lips across Sora's cheek. "Damn."

Sora sighed blissfully, opening his eyes to look up at Riku. They locked gazes and Riku held his breath, overcome with emotion. He swallowed, unable to tear his eyes away.

"I love you," he said breathlessly, unaware of what he was saying. He leaned down and capturing Sora's lips with his own. "I love you so much."

Sora tensed up under him, unresponsive, and Riku paused in his ministrations, pulling back to give the brunette a confused look.

"Wh-what did you say?" Sora asked, his voice and face betraying his complete and utter shock. He looked almost hopeful, which made Riku even more confused than before. Riku blinked, replaying the situation back in his mind to figure out what he could have said to make Sora so surprised.

As soon as his mind caught up with his mouth, he froze, returning Sora's shocked gaze. The brunette shifted uncomfortably, blinking as Riku seemed to space out right on top of him. Sora shifted again, unpinning his arms and frowning.

"Riku," Sora tried again, waving a hand in front of the boy's face. "Riku… Did you just say you… love me?"

Riku paused.

And just as suddenly, he let Sora go and got off him, practically racing out the door. Sora sat up and blinked as he heard Riku's footsteps heading upstairs.

A small smile was spreading on his face. Riku loved him. Riku loved him.

And, really, that was all he needed to know.

-

Kairi bit her lip as she watched a despondent Selphie cover her head with the pillow and lay still. Selphie wouldn't tell either of them what she and Tidus had been talking about. Selphie just plain wouldn't say anything, which was weird because, usually, she never shut up.

She sat down on the bed next to Selphie's limp form. Yuffie was downstairs mixing up some hot chocolate since, as she explained, Kairi was better with words and Yuffie was better with sugar. She placed a hand on the pillow, about to pull it away when Selphie's hands clamped over it and prevented her from doing so.

"Move this pillow and I will gnaw your arms off," Selphie said in a low, dangerous voice. Kairi quickly pulled her hand away and instead clasped them together.

"What happened between you and Tidus?" Kairi asked tentatively, once Selphie had gone immobile again. The brunette said nothing. "Oh, come on, Selphie. I know what a jerk he is first-hand. You can talk to me."

"Oh, right, like you got a good grasp on his personality when he was busy ramming his tongue down your throat, you dime store whore."

Kairi frowned. "I'm going to pretend that's the emotional trauma talking."

"You delude yourself a lot, don't you?" Selphie returned, her voice still muffled by the pillow she insisted on keeping over her head. Kairi sighed, giving the girl a frustrated look and standing up. She grabbed the pillow and gave a firm tug, ripping it away from Selphie's grasp and tossing it across the room.

Selphie sat up abruptly and narrowed her eyes. "What did you do that for!"

"Because your name is Selphie Says Do It not Please Pity Me Polly!" Kairi said, hands on her hips. She ignored the confused look Selphie shot her, knowing the girl was doubting her sanity again. "You are not going to spend the rest of this slumber party laying on this bed and moaning about how your boyfriend is an asshole who doesn't love you!"

"This coming from the girl who gets crushes on gay guys?" Selphie shot back, her own hands on her hips as she knelt on the bed. "I reserve the right to sulk if I want to! Who do you think you are telling me I can't?"

"Oh, I don't know. Your friend, maybe?" Kairi shouted, her voice raising. "Tidus is a low-down filthy bastard, okay? Accept it and move on! There are plenty of other fish in the sea!"

"A, you don't know anything about Tidus. B, fish give me hives!" Selphie shouted as well, her tone matching Kairi's.

"That's not what I meant and you know it!"

"How am I supposed to know what you mean? I can't read minds, let alone ones that don't exist!"

"Would you stop insulting me so we can sit down and have an actual conversation?"

"I'll stop screaming if you try not to yell!"

Kairi gave Selphie a flat look. "That made no sense," she said, her voice returning to its normal decibel level. She folded her arms and sighed. "Look, Selphie, why are we even fighting in the first place?"

"Because you don't know how to stay out of other people's business," Selphie answered without missing a beat. "What happens between me and Tidus is none of your business and I don't want to talk about it, okay? I just…" She sighed, sitting down on the bed again. "I miss how he used to be."

Kairi sat down next to her, giving her a confused look. "What do you mean 'how he used to be'?" As far as Kairi knew, Tidus had always been that way. He hadn't shown any signs of being a compassionate human being… ever. The only time she'd ever seen him even have feelings was when he asked Sora out, and that was short-lived.

Selphie drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them, staring at the floor. "After Sora turned him down in freshman year… Tidus was really upset about it. He didn't show it, but I was like his best friend, you know? I could tell. He'd spend insane hours out playing blitzball with Wakka, or just practicing by himself. You know how people throw themselves into something when they get their heart broken? That's what he did."

Kairi made an understanding noise, waiting for Selphie to continue. She glanced up to see Yuffie leaning silently in the doorway, a tray with three cups of hot chocolate in her hands. Kairi turned her attention back to Selphie as the girl started to speak again.

"I kind of got worried about him. He stayed out all night in this rainstorm so I went to go get him down by the blitzball field and I took him home with me." She smiled a bit. "He looked like a drowned dog with his hair all wet and hanging all over the place and his clothes were practically falling off because they were so soaked and I very nearly laughed at him."

Yuffie walked into the room, handing Kairi her cup of chocolate and taking one of her own, sitting cross-legged on the ground as the two of them continued listening to Selphie's story. Kairi handed Selphie a cup, watching as she blew on it, then took a sip.

"So, I took him home and I let him take a bath and I tried making us some food but, uh… We decided to have pizza instead," she said in amusement. "He was really sweet. He called the pizza people and he helped me clear the smoke out of the house and scrub the burn marks off the pan and then we went into the kitchen and were sitting down and I told him how worried about him I was. I was having one of my talkative moments and, well, he kissed me."

"Awww," Kairi and Yuffie said simultaneously, both grinning.

Selphie blushed. "Yeah, so, he kissed me and he said thanks and, the next thing you know, we were going out. It was really fun and he was great and everything… Well, up until school started up again. Then he kind of started getting distant and picking on Sora a lot and… Oh, you know the rest."

"So, the point to this story was…?" Yuffie asked, shifting on the floor and finishing her cup.

"The point was to prove that Tidus wasn't always an asshole," Selphie answered, standing up and setting her cup down on the tray. "He used to be nice and compassionate and sweet." She sighed. "But none of that matters because we're over."

Kairi frowned, her eyes compassionate. "Oh, he called to break up with you? That bastard."

"Actually," Selphie corrected, dusting off her pajama bottoms. "He called to make up with me. But I turned him down."

"But why?" Yuffie pitched in, confused beyond belief. "From what you just told us, you're still in love with him, right? So why'd you say no to getting back together?"

"Because he's not in love with me." Selphie stared at the wall detachedly. "He deserves to be happy and he can't be happy with me. He only called because he felt guilt and a relationship built on guilt is no relationship at all, right?"

"Right…" Kairi said tentatively. "But, what about you?"

Selphie paused before answering. "Well, it's like you said. My name is Selphie Says Do It not Please Pity Me Polly. I'm going to move on. You know, go back to being Tidus's friend. Things were better that way."

Yuffie got up, collecting the cups. "If that's what you want, Selphie. But I'll tell you one thing." She headed for the door, glancing back over her shoulder to find both Selphie and Kairi staring at her. She shrugged. "Before you guys started dating, Tidus was a mess and a bastard. What makes you think that won't happen again?"

Selphie frowned. "This time he'll be happy."

"Are you sure about that?" Yuffie asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'll make sure of it," Selphie answered, the familiar determination flashing in her eyes. Kairi rubbed her temples and sighed.

-

"You're scared, aren't you?" Cloud said in amusement. The brunette seated next to him on the bed shot him a glare that could have made the devil flinch, but which only served to make Cloud even more amused than before. "You are."

"No, I'm not," Leon answered shortly, his eyes going back to the screen. He tensed up as he watched the movie, frowning.

Cloud raised an eyebrow at this. "You're scared."

"No, I'm not."

"Afraid the little girl from the video's gonna come out and eat you, Leon?"

"I thought that was your job, Cloud."

"Ha. Funny."

They turned back to the movie. Cloud kept a trained eye on Leon, watching the boy tense up and relax in reaction to whatever was going on in the movie. He snorted.

"If that's me you're laughing at, I'm going to take that TV and beat your ass with it," Leon said, without dragging his eyes away from the screen.

Cloud grinned cheekily. "Just because you have a preoccupation with my ass is no reason to get frisky. Your sister could hear us."

Leon's arm shot up, shoving Cloud off the bed before returning to his side. Cloud sat on the floor, laughing. "Are you sure you don't want me to come up there and hold you until the bad little girl goes away?"

Leon glared down at him from the bed.

"Is that a no?" Cloud asked innocently, laughing as a pillow smacked him in the face.

"I think I liked you better when you were brooding," Leon said flatly, grabbing another pillow in case he needed to throw that one, too. "Now, shut up so I don't have to come down there and punch you."

Cloud sat cross-legged on the floor, looking back at the movie and biting his lip so he wouldn't start laughing. He was quiet for a few moments before an evil idea occurred to him and he sat up, his arm suddenly darting out and grabbing Leon's leg.

He broke out laughing at Leon's screaming, calming down and looking innocent when the brunette gave him a murderous look.

"FUCK, Cloud, I'm gonna kill you!" Leon said in a low voice, his eyes glinting dangerously.

"I thought you weren't scared," Cloud teased as he got back onto the bed. He noticed that Leon was still glaring at him and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I hate you so much right now," Leon said flatly, watching Cloud stretch out on the bed. The blond smirked.

"And yet, you want me so bad. Isn't it funny how life works out?" He gave Leon a kiss and then pulled away, watching as Leon instantly went back to look at the movie.

The brunette snorted. "I hope you know this means no sex for a week."

"What!" Cloud panicked, giving Leon a fearful look. "You're kidding right? That's a joke right? Ha ha?"

Leon merely smirked. "Now who's scared?"

"You'd be scared too if your boyfriend suddenly swore that he wouldn't sleep with you anymore," Cloud said with a pout. He faked a gasp. "There's someone else, isn't there!"

"Who else?" Leon asked in confusion, giving his boyfriend a dubious look. He wondered if lack of sex would cause Cloud to go crazy. Well… crazier.

Cloud narrowed his eyes. "That's what I'd like to know."

"There is no one else, you idiot," Leon said with a roll of his eyes. "You're just paranoid and thanks to your idiocy, we missed half the movie."

"You should thank me then. It was scaring you," Cloud pointed out with a smirk as his hand reached over and trailed up Leon's leg, earning a shiver out of the brunette.

Leon tensed, releasing a deep breath. "Stop it."

"Stop what?" Cloud asked, his hand pausing just below Leon's ass.

"That," Leon got out through gritted teeth, frowning in Cloud's direction. The blonde's hand merely continued to travel upwards, over the contours of Leon's behind and under the other boy's shirt.

"'That' is pretty vague, Leon. I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." The hand began tracing circles on Leon's lower back and the smirk on Cloud's face only increased. "So… No sex for a week, huh?"

Leon glared at him. "No sex for a week," he insisted, frowning. "Starting tomorrow."

Cloud laughed as Leon suddenly pinned him to the bed and began attacking his neck with kisses. "Got it."

-

Sora stood outside Riku's bedroom door, his hand hesitating over the door knob. He didn't know whether he should enter or not and, as usual, he was having his doubts. Riku hadn't exactly hung around and professed his deep and unending love or anything.

What if the reason he'd run off was because he'd realized that he was leading Sora on? What if he was inside his bedroom, regretting it?

Sora bit his lip, smiling a bit. He wanted to trust in this, trust in the hope that Riku's words were heartfelt, trust in all the emotions and confusion and feelings that he'd been feeling for the past few weeks.

He just didn't know what he would do if Riku just walked out of his life. Especially now.

He'd gotten used to the arrogant smirk forever grazing Riku's face… the gentle way Riku kissed him just before deepening him and pressing him up against the nearest hard surface… the unnaturally silky feel of Riku's hair…

Sora took a deep breath and nodded. What else could this possibly be but love? He knew he loved Riku – truly, madly, deeply – and now he knew Riku loved him.

The only thing standing between them and true happiness was a door.

That in mind, Sora grabbed the door knob and turned it, pushing the door open. "Riku? Riku… are you in here? Can we talk?"

He walked inside and blinked, seeing Riku lying on the bed, his back to the door. Sora wrinkled his nose in confusion and slight frustration. Riku couldn't possibly have gone to sleep after that! Sora himself didn't feel very much like sleeping at all.

"Riku! You're not asleep, are you?" he said aloud, going over to the bed and leaning over Riku's immobile form. The white-haired boy's eyes were closed, his breath coming out evenly and his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Sora sighed, now irritated. Alright, the only thing standing between them and true happiness was a door and Riku's completely stupid ability to fall asleep no matter what the circumstances!

"Fine, go ahead and sleep. See if I care. Not like we were doing anything important anyway. Not like I maybe come up here to talk to your stupid, sleeping ass of a self!" Sora said with a pout, throwing a mini-temper tantrum. He grabbed his pillow and beat Riku over the head with it. "God, I hate you!"

He huffed, folding his arms and glaring at the innocent items arranged around the room. Seiya was coming to pick him up some time tomorrow. There wouldn't be much time for declarations of love before school on Monday.

He sighed. Fine. He'd just tell Riku in school on Monday… in front of staring boys, giggling girls, and glaring popular children…

Sora sighed again. "Damn you, Riku."

He left the room and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready for bed, missing when Riku sat up in bed and watched him leave, a frown on the older boy's face.

-

"God, I hate you!"

Riku was still awake in his bed, even after he'd quickly gone back to pretending to be asleep and listened as Sora re-entered the room, got dressed in his pajamas, and then settled down on his sleeping bag.

Riku had remained 'sleeping' until he'd heard the younger boy start snoring in a loud, yet extremely endearing, way.

His heart hurt, as much as it pained him to admit. He couldn't get Sora's words out of his head.

"Not like I maybe come up here to talk to your stupid, sleeping ass of a self!"

If admitting he was in love made Sora think he was an ass, Riku was afraid to think of what could have happened had he stayed downstairs after his confession. He'd hated himself for going running up the stairs like a scared little girl, but he hadn't been able to help it.

He was afraid. Afraid of being rejected by the one person whose opinions mattered more than anybody else's.

Well. Maybe not anybody else.

But Sora had somehow managed to become one of the top ranking people in Riku's life. And Sora hated him.

"Damn you, Riku."

Sora hated him. Riku had put his feelings out on the line – and then run away, yes, but that was not the point – and Sora had just flung it all back in his face. Riku swallowed.

How did this start?

Not when he'd moved, no, or even when he took on this task in the first place. When had he started feeling more for the brunette than a desire to get him into bed as quickly and easily as possible?

How did this start?

And, more importantly, when would it end? If those were Sora's true feelings, then Riku wanted to get out of this whole 'love drama' before he could get hurt. He just couldn't believe Sora had led him on like that.

Although, the only times Sora had ever been the one to initiate anything was when Riku was upset… Had Riku been pushing himself on Sora…? Molesting him even?

He paused. Well, duh.

Was that it? Sora hadn't exactly fought off his advances, so Riku had merely assumed the boy's protests weren't honestly meant. But what if they were? What if he was a second-degree rapist? What if…

What if he stopped doubting himself and went to sleep. Riku sighed, blowing his hair out of his face and looking down at the brunette curled up on the floor. Sora couldn't possibly be comfortable down there.

And… this might be the last time Riku got to hold him…

Making up his mind, Riku hopped off the bed and picked the boy up, quite easily since Sora didn't weight very much. He placed Sora down on the bed by the wall, then got in bed next to him, pulling the covers up over them.

His arms wrapped around Sora's waist gently, pulling the boy up against his chest. Sora murmured something in his sleep and exhaled, his breath tickling Riku's neck.

Riku couldn't stop the small smile from spreading on his face.

He was happy like this. Really and truly happy with Sora in his arms. It was scary, but undeniably true.

"God, I hate you!"

The smile faded. Riku stared down at the sleeping boy and sighed, brushing his lips against Sora's forehead. "I love you…"

Sora's eyes fluttered, but he remained asleep. A smile spread on the younger boy's face and, for a moment Riku was afraid Sora had heard him. However, Sora merely reached up and grabbed a fistful of Riku's shirt, snuggling closer.

"Ri…ku…" Sora murmured, sighing happily. "Mine…"

Riku smiled again, brushing his fingers through Sora's hair. Maybe Sora didn't hate him after all. Or, at least, not subconsciously.

Which, Riku supposed, was good enough.

"Riku…" Sora murmured again, humming slightly as he rolled over until he was resting on top of the older boy. "Riku…ri…ku…"

The smiled widened.

Sora, I'm here.

-

.F.A.Q.

Does Tidus like Selphie?

Of course he does! Tidus needs Selphie like normal humans need air. He just can't let go of his feelings for Sora and, because of that, he's screwing up his relationship with Selphie big time. He won't be stupid forever, don't worry.

As for Selphie, she's got one huge stupid moment coming up very soon. So does Kairi actually, but it's got nothing to do with love between her and Tidus, which isn't happening. More to do with Sora and Riku's relationship and that video… Dun dun dun…

Are you going to write a lemon for this story?

Um… no. Wasn't planning on it because I am an innocent blushing virgin (who will probably be fifteen by the time you read this) and I possess no knowledge of how to write a lemon. Well, okay, that's a lie considering how many I've read, but I do not plan on writing a lemon until my 17th birthday exactly. NC-17 and all.

My friend Nicele claims that as soon as I hit 17, that's all I'll be writing. I say 'who knows'.

What's wrong with the mothers? Did they forget to take their medicine today?

Believe it or not, they're always like that! If you want some history… Ayumi's parents were always really strict with her so she kind of has this vow that she'd never do that to her child. That and trying to stop Riku is about as successful as trying to keep ice from melting in your hands. And as for Seiya… she's a modern day hippie. Kind of.

Anyway, no, they're always like that and are totally supportive of their kids' relationship. And the sex. Because making Sora blush is everybody's favorite pastime!

When will Sora finally admit to Riku that he is totally in love with him since it is totally obvious anyway?

Heh. Next chapter. He kind of can't now because, as you read, he's asleep in Riku's arms and all. But, anyway, yes, next chapter Sora's going to meet up with Riku in the hallway and confess it all. And Riku's going to confess it all back and they're going to hug and kiss and then they're going to go to Ayumi and Seiya and go off and get married or get a partnership or whatever it is they do and…

I'm lying. Except about the 'next chapter' part.

Why is Tidus such an asswhole and stupid?

Well, you see, if I have to be honest, the reason Tidus is an asshole is because I needed somebody to be the bad guy. I already had the layout of who the group of popular kids were and so I put all their names in a hat to see who would be the Big Bad Wolf and Tidus's name came out.

Surprisingly, I love Tidus to pieces. Just not, you know, in the story. But KH Tidus was so adorable and arrogant and kicked my Sora's butt. In my game, anyway.

Why are you so lazy?

I think it's hereditary on my mom's side. My mom's lazy. We affectionately call her 'Lazy Daisy' behind her back. As for why I don't write when I'm lazy… Unsolved mysteries. Sometimes I just need a kick in the pants, which Kari usually gives me with a nice 'Lime! Write!'.

It works surprisingly well. Every once in awhile…

Where did you get the titles for the chapters?

The titles of the chapters come from Miss Ashlee Simpson's song 'Better Off'. It's on her CD Autobiography, which everybody should go buy because it rocks. In case anybody was wondering about the story title too, it's the name of this astrology book I have by Hazel Dixon Cooper.

It's so funny. Like, seriously. Go out and buy it. Unless, you know, you're underage and don't want to be here about your love and sex life and how good or not good you are in bed. Ahem. My mom bought it for me. I just picked it up and didn't let her read it. Ahem again.

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Next Time on Love On A Rotten Day:

"Last night… You said you loved me… And you ran away before… b-before I could tell you that… I love you, too." Sora whispered quietly, a blush on his face.

Selphie looked up at him sheepishly. "I was thinking… why don't you and I go to the amusement park or something? You know, as friends like how we used to be?"

"Remember, Sora, just because you can't get pregnant doesn't mean you shouldn't be safe!" Seiya informed him, holding up the box of Trojans. Sora blushed deeply.

Five Days until Slashy-chan's birthday! April 8th! Write that down! Hee!