A/N: I was really beginning to think that I would never get this chapter up. Lots of things happened...like me losing all contol of the internet on my laptop. It went psycho, but I think it's okay now.

Sorry, I'm gonna admit, this chapter is CRAP. Please don't tell me it is, I know. You always gotta get the crap chapters out of the way first, right?

I don't own KH.

Chapter 2- September

"Oh mi gawd, did you see Riku? He's gotten so much hotter!"

"I know! That long sliver hair…"

"Those beautiful green eyes…"

"What about Sora? Did you see him come in with him today?"

"Totally! He grew up a lot in that year he was gone!"

"Yes! He still looks as cute as he did then though!"

"I know!"

Kairi passed the throng of girls who began debating on which guy they would ask out this year, and why. Rolling her eyes, she came up to the two boys in question, leaning up against the blue lockers of Destiny Island High, laughing loudly with each other. Both had on the standard boy's uniform of black pants, white button up shirt and blue plaid tie, in Sora's case. Riku had his hair pulled back in a simple, low ponytail, with no tie on his shirt.

Sora's shoes were the most amazing part of his ensemble, because for once he wasn't wearing those yellow and black ones, but a simple pair of black clogs. Kairi returned their smiles as she opened her locker.

"Sleep well?" Sora asked, his head poking around the corner of the door. Kairi nodded and smiled warmly at him.

"Yes, did you?" Sora grinned at her, but Kairi noticed that there was something forced about his grin. Under his blue eyes she could see faint circles.

"Yep!"

The first month back at home had proven to Sora and Riku that they had a lot more catching up to do than they thought. After meeting with the principal, taking about a million placement tests and talking with the principal again, it was decided that the boys needed to catch up on the classes they missed their first year. Riku got lucky and didn't have to make up quite as much as Sora, who was splitting freshmen and sophomore classes in his A and B days, respectively.

This was something that worried Kairi and Riku; that Sora had once again managed to take on more than he could handle. Again and yet again, Sora still smiled, saying that he was fine, that things were going smoothly.

Kairi gave Riku another significant look, him just smiling sadly back as Sora bounced away to his first class.

"Riku, I can't get him to say anything…He just…" Kairi began, as the fell into step with each other.

"Smiles and says everything's fine? Yea, he's been doing that to me too…" he said, looking into the window of the class Sora just went into, watching him greet Tidus and Wakka loudly, the boys slapping hands in a high five.

Kairi sighed as they walked past, Sora's voice carrying into the hall.

"Yeah! I did the homework! I can help you if you want!"

Yes, but who is going to help you Sora…

Sora smiled as he walked into his mother's teaching room, the sun pouring in from all the windows around it. An old piano of his grandfather's was against the far wall. He padded silently over to it, sitting on the bench. His finger brushed the keys, smiling at how they were still in perfect tune, ever since that day he asked his mother to teach him piano.

"Hey momma, can you teach me that pretty song?"

"Yes, Sora, and lots of other pretty songs too, if you would like to learn…"

"Yep!"

It was going on about nine years since he had started playing piano and of course one year that he hadn't practiced at all. He placed his fingers onto the white and black keys, softly beginning the first song he could remember. It was soft and slow, picking up slowly to go only little faster.

Closing his eyes, Sora let his thoughts carry on as he automatically carried his fingers over the keys.

I shouldn't be doing this…I should be studying…He thought, as the door creaked open to reveal Riku, Sora obviously too involved with his thoughts to become distracted, I need to study so I'm not up late again…like last night…

Riku walked up and placed a cup of tea on the piano as Sora's little song ended abruptly.

"I came over to see if you had that book of mine, the geometry one," Riku replied to the quizzical look, "And Hana-san sent me up with tea…she said you had a nightmare last night…"

Sora immediately cursed his mother and her telling Riku everything about him. He didn't really want Riku to know that he had been having nightmares about the battle with Xemnas, his worries about what could've gone wrong clouding his subconscious judgment, producing said nightmares.

Sora smiled at him weakly, his body tired all of the sudden.

"Its ok—"

Riku gave him a significant look. "No, it's not. You're lying, I can tell…"

Sora immediately looked down, his throat tight. Images of the previous dreams flooded into his mind once more and took over his senses. Xemnas had slammed that sword into Riku's back, but this time, Riku didn't make it…he fell, fell hard to the ground, blood pooling around his pale frame as he smiled at Sora.

Beat him for me….alright, Sora?

Sora felt the same tears that he cried the night before fall down his cheeks. Moments later, a warm hand was on his cheek, pulling his face upward.

"You know…Sora…" Riku whispered, "I was gonna stay here tonight…if you want me to…Hana-san already told me I needed to…"

"Why?" Sora whispered worriedly.

"Halen-san told her to tell me that Dad's coming home from the business trip…and not in a pleasant mood. It was something about the company being taken from less capable hands…"

Sora let out a low whistle, then nodded.

"I'd like that…"

The sword was pointed low at his shoulder, yellow malicious eyes glaring down upon him; the same eyes that had done so one year ago. Helpless…Alone…worried…Was this how it was going to end? He could feel his blood from the wound on his cheek leaking down his face. The sword came up; ready for the final blow…he closed his eyes in anticipation…

But it never came…

The familiar noise of weapons clashing opened his eyes, taking in the image of Riku sprawled before him, his sword clashed with his opponents. A hand on his chest pushed him back and he fell, looking forward to see his enemy's second sword connect with Riku's back, the boy crying out. Sora regained his balance and ran to his friend, grabbing the Keyblade that was held out to him. Riku fell down hard, bright red blood filling Sora's senses.

"Riku! Riku! RIKU!"

Sora was thrashing in his sleep. Riku held onto him as a hand was holding on to his shoulder. He had come over from his room, (the guest room had been fixed up by Hana just for him) to see what all the screaming was about. The older boy immediately went to the boy when he saw him in such a state, trying to shake him awake. The brunette had just latched on to his upper on, his grip tight.

"Riku! Riku! RIKU!" Sora screamed; his blue eyes opening, wild and scared. Riku looked at him with worry, immediately saying:

"It's alright, I'm here….I'm alive…"

Sora immediately sat up and embraced the boy, something that surprised Riku greatly. The empty feeling had returned to his stomach as Sora cried onto his bare chest.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry!" Sora said, crying, "I couldn't save you…."

Riku pulled him back at the boy cried, tears staining his face. The sliver haired boy made him look him in the eye, the blue depths fill with fear and regret.

"Sora, don't you ever say that you are sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about…What's happened has happened and we made it out okay…"

"But…what if…"

Riku placed a slender finger on the boys pale lips.

"No. No more what ifs….No more nightmares. I'm alive. Kairi's alive. You are fine. You're at home, with me…"

Sora's eyes drooped sleepily, him leaning into Riku.

"With you…"

Riku lay him back down, lying down on the bed with him. The empty feeling remained in his stomach, this time replacing it with butterflies. Riku really wanted to understand this feeling he got whenever he was this close to Sora. He didn't understand why he felt so complete with the boy, nor did he understand why he always felt the need to be close to him.

It was all very confusing, the feelings. Riku wanted to spend every moment with Sora, to laugh and cry with him, to smile, to hug him when he felt sad…like they used to be when they were kids. He looked down at the sleeping form of his friend, who was now smiling softly, curled up in his arms. The older teen felt heat rise up onto his face.

Riku was beginning to wonder one fact, one life changing thought that could alter all those thoughts completely…

Was he falling in love with Sora?

X3 Review, por favor!

P.S. Sora playing piano was inspired by Josh Barren's arragments of some of the KH music on piano. They are really pretty if you haven't listened to them. 3