Sora: Nightmares

My eyes were bleary. My face was cracked with stale tears and stained with sweat. I needed a shower. I hesitantly peeled open one eye and glanced at the shadowy figure next to me.

"Kairi? Mein kopf tut weh…"

She grinned. What did I just say?

"Hit over the head with a hardback German dictionary. Well, she must have hit you harder than the nurse thought."

I remembered. My first ever intimate moment with Riku and the cookies, and Rinoa Heartily had ruined it. Rinoa and Riku's dad that is. I felt cheated, like I had been robbed of something precious. A strange feeling warped my heart and made me feel sick. I was worried.

"So, Sora. Your head hurts?"

"Where's Riku?"

She looked shocked. Did she not expect me to remember? It was one of the most beautiful moments I had ever lived through, and it had been taken away from me in the click of a door. My head hurt, and all I could think about was Riku. What if his dad hurt him again? It would be my fault, and I don't think I could live with that.

To speak of the devil, I heard a rowdy crash in the corridor. One guess.

"Sora? Are you ok? Did they prod you with cold sticks where they aren't supposed to?"

Zero guesses.

"Riku! You damn stubborn child! Get back here! You are going with your uncle whether you like it or not!"

WHAT? My mind shut down. Riku…was going away?

It was then that I got a real look at Riku's dad. He was tall, and was very muscular. White hair floated around his shoulders, and burning amber eyes sought me out and broke my own sapphire gaze. He hated me. I could see it in the way he looked at me, and the way his face sneered at me. Now I DID feel sick.

Then, an unfamiliar stranger entered the room. There was an air of death lingering in his aura, and a sense of discipline in his stride. He stopped at the end of the hospital bed.

He was different to Riku's dad. His face was hard set, and his expression was stony. He looked at me, with unmoving green eyes.

"Sora Leonhart."

I shuffled back a bit. How the hell did he know who I was? The sheets crinkled as I sat up to address him.

"How do you know my name?"

He smirked. I didn't like that. His eyes still hadn't moved. It was like he was searching for something deep inside my soul. Something that even I didn't know was there. There was something strange about his probing gaze that made me feel like I had seen him before. His face was composed again, and he tilted his head slightly to the left in a quirky fashion.

"You have a brother. Squall Leonhart? Leon, as he is known by the likes of you. I take it your parents sent you here?"

I managed a nod. He leaned down next to my ear, lowering his voice so the nurse wouldn't be able to hear him.

"What were they thinking? Sending you to an all girls' school? Didn't want another fag of a son? Is that it?" I swallowed. He was being so harsh. "Or, is it that they just wanted rid of you?"

I froze. Why would my parents want to get rid of me? They loved me….didn't they?

"Don't listen to him Sora. He's just screwing with your head." Riku was glaring at his uncle across the room. The silver haired man approached him, and raised his fist to Riku's face. To my surprise, he didn't hit him; he just cupped his face with one hand.

"Now now Riku, wouldn't want to ruin a pretty face like that, would we? Just remember your discipline child; I will not tolerate that arrogance."

Riku swatted his hand away and stood still for a minute. I could see hatred burning in his eyes. The aqua in them blazed with suppressed fury, and he turned away. His uncle smiled and left the room after uttering, "5 minutes."

Riku came and sat down. Kairi put a hand on his shoulder. He didn't shrug it off; he turned and gave her one of his beautiful smiles.

"Where are you going Riku?"

He shuffled up so he was sat close to me. He took my hands in one of his own soft ones, and held it tightly. I could feel tears slowly building up behind my expressionless eyes. I told myself I wasn't going to cry. I'd look so pathetic and needy. So I held them back.

"To stay with my uncle. I'll be back. He can only legally keep me for two weeks. Then I have to come back here."

"I see."

Of course I saw. After what his dad had witnessed, I was damn lucky it was two weeks, and not forever. And I was glad that his dad hadn't told anyone I was a guy. He tilted my head up, and lightly kissed my lips. I heard Kairi giggle. I didn't like this kiss, not one bit. It felt like he was trying to forget me. I pulled away quickly. I know it's silly, but that kiss hurt.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't." My voice was shaking. The tears were going to fall, I just knew it. I couldn't take much more emotionally. I noticed the hand he had so gently clasped in his was trembling. I pulled it away and set it in my lap, where it continued to quiver.

"Don't what?"

"Do this. It feels like you're saying goodbye for good."

He chuckled and pulled me against his chest. I let out the breath I had been holding and relaxed against him. I could hear him murmuring. "Sora, I'd never say goodbye. We're going to be together for a long time you and me, you'll see. I will never want anyone else, 'cos I have you. Kay?"

I felt myself nod, but I couldn't really feel it. I felt alone. Completely, and totally, alone.

He tightened his hold on me. A felt a warmth spread through me. I like this Riku. The one who didn't want to let me go. I liked it.

"See, you're smiling now! If I knew a hug was going to cheer you up, I would have done this ages ago!"

I grinned. "Two weeks…though…right? No longer?"

He nuzzled my cheek in an affectionate manner. "No longer. You have my word."

"Kay."

And, with a small wave goodbye, he left. Out of my life for the next two weeks. What was I to do?

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When I got to the dorm, it was empty. Everyone was at class. The nurse had given me three days off to check for concussion. And to let the nasty bump on my head go down.

It wasn't long before I heard scratching at the bottom of the door. I stiffened. I had seen something like this in a horror movie, where the damsel in distress is all alone and she gets jumped. I picked up a sock full of my money and headed to the door. I took in a breath, and opened it.

There was a streak of chestnut. I smacked the sock down, missing the target, which had bounded over to my bed, and was busy curling up and panting at me.

"Shadow?"

He was holding a little letter. I hesitantly took it from his mouth and opened it.

Dear Sora,

I'm sorry I had to give you this by my dog, but my dad would have found it otherwise. I need you to look after shadow until I come back. There's a key to my room in the envelope. His food and stuff is in the cupboard underneath the computer. Kairi will no doubt help you anyway. And I had to give you this too. We used to give these pendants out to those we left behind for a while, so they wouldn't worry. Corny, I know. But I thought I should give it you. Just in case. I will be back in two weeks, so don't fret about me. Shadow likes to go through the forests in Fiteng Mountains. Just don't get lost. I don't want that on my mind too.

I'll miss you. We can make up when I get back, right? And no falling in the lake this time. Although, if that means I get to kiss you again, by all means, dive in head first.

Joke.

Feel free to use my computer, or my TV, or anything else like that. I don't mind. And hell, as long as it's you, I don't care. Ignore the back room though, that's just full of junk.

Sayanora Sora. I'll look forward to when I get home. –Wink-

Love, Riku

Xxx

I folded it up and put it in my pocket. I tipped the envelope upside down and two tiny objects rolled out onto my palm. One was the key Riku was talking about. The other, was a tiny silver crown on a chain. I put it around my neck. If Riku said it would stop me worrying, I believed it.

I sat on the bed next to Shadow and ran my fingers through his glossy chestnut fur. He was beautiful. He got up, and shot to the door, whimpering and scratching at it. I knew what that meant. He wanted to go out. Sheesh…fine.

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Riku's room was a mess. Underwear and pants were strewn all over. That must have been in his hesitation to pack. I headed to the computer, which I automatically assumed was the giant mound underneath his t-shirt. There was a little cupboard underneath. I pulled out a box of dog biscuits, and a leash. He turned up his nose at the leash AND the dog food! What the hell else did he want than?

God, what the hell was Riku thinking? Didn't he know I was crap at looking after animals? I barely had a goldfish before I left it out on the windowsill in the sun. needless to say, it was a little more than 'well done'.

I sighed and opened the door. He wanted to walk without the leash. Of course he did. Riku never had him on a leash. And he seemed to be well behaved for me.

Kairi was in class. Looks like I was going be myself.

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There was a strong smell of freshly cut grass by the lake. I loved that smell. My mum and dad had always told me off for rolling in the grass and reveling in the smell when it had just been mowed. Good times.

There was no path. I intended to go just a little way in and let Shadow do his stuff, but that wasn't what happened. When I looked ahead, Shadow was running further in. I yelled out for him, but to no avail, he didn't listen. I started running after him, my feet tumbling over rocks and twigs that strewn the floor. I got a mouthful of leaves, but that still didn't stop me.

I carried on, until my foot collided with a fallen log. The ground came rushing up painfully to meet me. I opened my eyes, my face full of mud and dust, various foresty things in my hair. I vowed to put him on the leash next time.

I staggered on, for a little longer until my feet found a clearing. There was no debris cluttering the floor. The only thing that resided in this clearing was a little white stone, in the shape of an old Victorian door…or a…

No.

Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was true. It was a small white tombstone. Shadow lolled in the shade provided by the surrounding trees. I moved closer.

There was a small bunch of flowers placed there, and a tiny box. The box was small and silver, and untouched by rust or dust. I clicked it open, to reveal letters.

Hundreds of them. Tiny letters, all written in the same familiar handwriting to the letter in my pocket. I closed it hurriedly.

I ran a hand over the smooth front of the stone. The writing wasn't covered by moss, or leaves, but perfectly legible.

Iris Almassy

Beloved Mother And Wife

May You Be With Us Forever

R.I.P

I gasped. Almassy was Riku's last name. Riku…Riku's mother was…?

Dead?

I frowned. He never told me. But I guess, I hadn't seen her, and he never spoke about her. I couldn't believe it.

I stood up, as I heard a rustle nearby. The hairs stood up straight on the back of my neck. I turned, but there was no one there. Shadow barked suddenly, making me jump. There was someone here.

I urged Shadow to come to my side, and he did. I took in a deep breath before running back the way I had came. Or so I thought.

I couldn't look back. My feet hurt, and I was struggling to breathe, but there was someone in that clearing and they were probably following me now. I stopped all of a sudden. Where the hell was I? The trees were darker here, and there was little sunlight. A cold breeze whipped around my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to keep warm. Shadow whimpered. I didn't blame him. I would too if I was lost with a complete moron in the middle of nowhere.

I bent down. "Shadow, do you know where we are?"

"I do."

I fell backwards. The dog… did the dog just talk?

"Did you just talk Shadow?"

"Shadow? Sora, she really must have hit you hard…"

"Oh…Kairi… thank god…"

"Some girls in class 15 saw you head down here. It's easy to get lost you know. You're lucky Sora."

I was getting that.

I had to tell her. Kairi was so understanding, she'd know what to do. And then, just maybe, the weight that was wearing heavy on my chest would leave me alone.

So I did. I told her. I told her everything. And maybe a little more too.

Sorry about the delay. I had exams, then there's the trouble we are having, 'cos we are moving to New Zealand from the UK. Damn…

Hope this chapter was good enough for you. I want to thank all the reviewers so far. Seriously, if it wasn't for you guys, this story would have been abandoned a long time ago. I hope I replied to you all, my email was messing up on me, so if I didn't, I'm so sorry!

Riku is in the next chapter and we get to see where he goes and what he does with his uncle! (That sounded rude…didn't it? It wasn't supposed to).

So… please forgive me –begs- and please leave a review! I seriously love you all!

Review please.

-Gives cookies and roses and plushies-

and this time…you get….

A kiss from Sora to you! (a peck bearing in mind, not a full on tongue fest. That's Riku's job. –Wink-)

Review!

XD