YAY!

---

When Riku woke once more, he heard the shuffling of feet, and he felt very weak and light-headed. He raised his head a little, then immediately put it back down.

"We've gotten some information on his parents," It was a formal voice, and it sounded scary to Riku's numb mind, "They'll be fine, they'll be able to come out of the hospital before the end of the week,"

"Thank you so much," That was Sora's voice, Riku'd recognize it anywhere. Riku closed his eyes, because they were feeling surprisingly tired at the moment. Wait...what had happened? Why were there constant shuffling feet? Who would be out of the hospital before the week? Wait...who was in the hospital? This was all so confusing!

"Sor...Sora..." it's like he couldn't form out the words. He felt all fuzzy and he couldn't think strait, he couldn't bring himself to think on one thought alone, it was like he was asleep...yet awake. He reached out a hand, and felt something take it. He looked at it with his confused eyes, then traveled up the arms, then to the face. Who was this again? Brown hair...poofed-up brown hair. Beautiful blue eyes...hmm...who was this?

"Wh...who..?" his voice sounded so weird to his ears. He could feel his brow come together in question, and he calmly waited for an answer.

The man looked worried, "It's me...Sora, you remember me, don't you?"

Riku relaxed. Oh! Sora! That's who this man was. Riku knew that he looked rather familiar. Riku looked around, then back at the man. Wait...he already forgot his name...damn. Riku looked at him, "I...is...some...thing...wr...wrong...he...here...? Is...some...one...hurt...or...some...thing?"

Riku felt the hand tighten, and he felt odd. He suddenly felt his world go blurry again. He didn't know what was happening, and then his world went black.

---

Sora was worried. And when I say worried, I mean WORRIED! He was so scared for Riku's health. After him fainting in the lounge, then him waking up and immediately falling asleep again in the middle of the night, and now? Him waking up for five minutes and asking if someone was hurt. He was hurt! His parents were fine. They'd actually be out in two days, the news having been overboard on how intense the whole situation was. Riku, on the other hand, was suffering from immense shock, or so the doctor told him.

What scared Sora most, was that Riku's eyes were unfocused and hazed over, as if he were thinking about something. Sora was scared. But the doctor told him that all Riku needed was rest and someone to be there with him when he woke. Sora would always be there, holding his hand. Sora sighed, reached in, and kissed Riku slightly on the forehead. He felt so bad. He rested his forehead on Riku's, listening to the calming sound of the other's breathing. He couldn't believe this. Why did this have to happen? Now that he finally had a family, Riku already being the biggest part of it, why did it have to get separated?

Sora sighed again and sat back up, wondering when this was all going to pass. He heard the door open and saw Leon enter, leading Cloud. Sora smiled, standing, letting reluctantly go of Riku's hand.

"Leon, Cloud, thank you so much for coming," Sora had called them, telling them that Riku had to be transferred to the hospital. Nothing serious, he just needed an AV because if he didn't wake up soon, he would have been malnourished. Cloud reached forward and put his hands on the edge of the firm hospital bed, just staring at the blank wall before him. His sightless eyes looked down at where his hands were, and he clenched at them,

"I knew letting them watch the news was a bad idea," Cloud said, then clenched his teeth, "I was against it,"

"So was I," Leon said, walking up and putting his arm around Cloud shoulders, "we have enough problems of our own without watching the problems of the world,"

Their gazes shot to the bed when they heard the person in it groan. Riku was waking up!

Riku opened his eyes slowly, taking in his surroundings. His memories came back to him, "mom!"

"She's fine," Sora said, patting Riku's hand, "She'll be out in two days, she's okay,"

Riku looked at him, then looked down at his sheets. He blushed, then scooted down in his bed and put the covers over his face, embarrassed at what he was about to do. Sora looked confused, then easily took the covers off the boy and saw that Riku was...crying. Riku was actually crying. Sora felt something hurt in his heart...having never seen Riku cry.

Riku noticed that the sheet was off, and he put his face in his knees, his shoulders shaking. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. He didn't want anyone to see him crying. He didn't... but... he needed to see his parents!

Riku jumped up and out of the bed, roughly pulling the IV cords out of his arm. He turned toward Sora, "What room are my parents in?"

Leon interjected, "shouldn't you-!"

"180, two doors down from here," Sora said, and Riku went running to the door. Leon knew why Sora told him.

---

Riku was running in the direction of the door that seemed to be surprisingly far away. He started to slow, but bumped into someone he failed to see. He looked forward, the tears running down his cheeks and he nearly died when he saw who it was.

His friends. His friends before he met the band.

Riku stared at them, and they stared back. (AN: the friends are made up) There were three friends here, but all he had were three friends, and he was secretly terrified of them all. The first one, Loki, was very tall, having long pitch black hair coming in front of his eyes. He always wore baggy cloths, baggy black cloths. The second, Kouga, was two heads shorter than Loki. He had a bright green Mohawk; his eyes always having thick black eyeliner; his pale flesh contrasting with the black tank and black shorts. The third was the most terrifying of them, Koda, coming from America. (He was bald) He was masculine, always wearing skin tight shirts, always wearing jeans, always having a death glare set on Riku.

Riku stared at them for a moment, then turned around and opened the door to his parents room. He nearly ran to the bed where his mother was and saw that she was sleeping. He stood next to the bed and took her hand in his, wondering why watching her sleep with all those IV and breathing tubes hurt so much. He could literally feel his heart clench at the sight of it. He could feel more hot tears run down his face and land on his hand, but he didn't do anything to stop them. He turned around, picked a chair, and dragged it to the edge of the bed. His mother and father were right next to each other, so he could look at them both.

"Mom..." he was looking at her, leaning over the bed, as if some miracle would have her wake up and actually see her son crying. He hadn't cried in a couple years, ever since meeting the band.

"Hey, we're sorry,"

He looked up and saw that his friends were standing there, looking at him holding his mother's hand. Riku gasped and let it go, trying to wipe of the continuous tears, "I'm sorry guys, you don't have to be here, I...I just..."

Riku felt someone pat him on the shoulder and looked up, it was Koda. He was smiling... wait ... Koda and smile did NOT mix. Well, why was he smiling.

The smile died down and he looked at Riku, and this time, without a glare, "we came to see how you were doing, and we find this,"

The taller of the four, Loki, walked up to Riku and looked at his parents, "we're sorry about your parents too,"

Riku was flabbergasted, and that's the only word that he could find. This was his BAND we are talking about here. The foul-mouthed, punk, mean, rude, and everything-they-were-not-here. And now, they were being kind, caring, and sensitive. Were these aliens?

"Don't look so surprised," Kouga walked up and stood a few feet away from them, "we aren't the rude punks we always seem to be,"

"Damn strait!" Koda yelled happily, then patted Riku roughly on the shoulder, "sorry I keep glaring at you, the sun gets in my eyes!"

Riku would have laughed, if he were not crying. He turned to look at his parents again. He sighed, taking his mother's hand again, "I'm sorry...but..."

"We understand," Koda smiled wildly, slapping Riku hard on the back, "We'll leave, hey, on second thought! We'll get that boy you were running from!"

Riku nodded, then heard them leave.

"They gone?"

Riku was shocked, and then saw his mom open one eye.

"I'm quite scared of them if I might admit," She laughed, looking at Riku with both eyes opened. She gasped when she saw that Riku's eyes were red and slightly puffy, and he was still crying, "Wait...You were seriously crying? But..."

Riku looked away, his face covered in a blush. He choked back a sob and then turned back to his mother.

"Wha...Riku!" She was nearly tackled by her son. He was hugging her tightly around the waist, and his face was on her shoulder. His shoulders were shaking, and he only held her tighter.

"I'm sorry, mom," He said, his voice shaking terribly, "I'm really sorry...I'm sorry I was such a terrible kid...I'm sorry I hung out with the wrong people. I'm sorry I went to jail so many times, I'm sorry,"

She gasped again, then put her hand slowly on Riku's head, "It's alright, you did nothing wrong. I love you the way you are, and I wouldn't have you any other way,"

Riku looked up at her, then clenched his teeth again, even more tears running down his cheeks. He put his face back on her shoulder and his shoulders shook again. He couldn't believe it. His mother was okay.

He had another chance.

He'd be a good son from now on. He'd get a new house for just himself, then send his parents money every month. He'd do anything for them. He'd clean the whole house, He'd cook a feast, he'd go back to jail for a thousand years. He was nineteen after all, he would be able to live by himself, not having to burden them with himself ever again.

He heard the door open, and he hid further, not wanting the person who entered to recognize him. He blushed when he finally noticed that his tears stopped. But he just wanted to stay like this, in his mother's arms.

"I'm Sora,"

Riku gasped.

"Nice to meet you Sora,"

Riku completely forgot! Riku jumped up, giving a 'sorry' glance toward his mother, then ran to the other bed. He tackled his father this time, sighing, "dad!"

Arthur gasped. Riku hadn't called him 'dad' in forever! He put his hand on his son's forehead and laughed a little, "Who are you and what have you done with my son? Are you sick?"

Riku laughed, hugging him tight for a second longer, then backing up, blushing and hiding his face behind his bangs, "Well, this is Sora,"

Arthur nodded, then smiled, "So you're the angel that Riku has told us so much about,"

Riku blushed harder, "dad!"

"Hey! Mrs. N! Mr. N!" Loki walked into the room, holding a can of Coke-Cola. He smiled while walking to the edge of the bed, "Nice to see you're up in the AM!"

Loki was the one friend of Riku's that his parent's actually liked. He was kind, didn't smoke, didn't drink, and didn't do drugs. They were especially glad that Loki was a friend because he was a positive influence on Riku, and he was the one who kept Riku away from all of those things.

"Hello, Loki," Mrs. Nori said with a smile, looking up at the dark-haired man. She smiled, then looked toward her own son, "Riku, be a dear and go get me some water? I'm parched,"

Loki got the edge in her voice and hid the water bottle that he was holding behind his back so that Riku wouldn't see it when he was running out the door. Loki watched it close, waited a few seconds, then turned to Riku's mother, "what is it, Mrs. N?"

She sighed and looked up at him, "Riku's changing,"

"You didn't have to be a genius to figure that one out," Loki said, stealing a glance over at where Sora was talking to Arthur, "he was wearing a white shirt yesterday, I saw him in the supermarket talking and smiling to Mr. N over there. I've never seen Riku wear white,"

She sighed back and started to twiddle her thumbs, "I think I have an idea of what's making him change,"

"also," Loki said, taking a swig of his soda, "You see the way he looks at him?"

"I didn't think Riku went that way," She said, then held up her hands at his gaze, since HE went that way, "I mean, not that it's a wrong thing, I just always thought Riku was...different,"

Loki sighed, then glanced at Sora once again, "Nice kid,"

"very nice," She answered, sighing and looking up at Loki, "you think this is a good thing? His going to the homeless shelter?"

"Best thing that ever happened to him," Loki smiled, then patted her on the hand. He gave her a reassuring smile, "don't worry, Riku's old enough to straiten out his own life...not literally the straiten thing,"

She laughed nicely, then saw the door open and Riku run in with two water bottles. He tossed one to her, and then tossed one to his lap. He turned to Loki, "You didn't want anything, did you?"

Loki held up the coke, answering the question with that. Then Riku turned toward Sora, "Oh! Sora! Did you want anything?"

"No, I'm fine," Sora stood and smiled, walking up to Riku. He blushed, reached up and kissed Riku on the cheek, and then walked out, saying something about having to tell the doctor that Riku was ready to be taken out of the hospital.

Riku was blushing wildly, and then looked down, then up, then at Loki, "thank you for coming this afternoon,"

"No prob," He smiled, then walked up to Riku and slapped him on the back, "I had a nice chat with Mrs. N,"

Riku looked from his mother to Loki, "You guys had a talk?"

"Not important," Mrs. Nori smiled, then waved her son away, "go and get to the shelter and let everyone know you're okay,"

Riku walked to his mother, then hugged her tightly, "I'll be back before visiting hours stop,"

She smiled and waved him off.

---

Mrs. Nori, well, Samantha, sighed, dramatically wiping a tear from her cheek. She Sighed, clasping her hands to her chest and swooning toward her husband, "Oh, my dear Arthur, Sora has valiantly melted the ice barrier around our sons heart!"

"Or," Arthur said, smiling toward his wife, "Our son has fallen in love,"

"My way's prettier," She crossed her arms and pouted.

He laughed nervously, "Of course honey, Your way's always prettier,"

---

"Riku!"

"Riki-kiki!"

The first people that met them in the front hall were Demyx and Yuffie. Yuffie nearly tackled Riku in a huge glomp, and Demyx just snorted at Riku, Demyx having never liked Riku in the first place.

Yuffie proudly went bounding into the Lounge, running to tell everyone that Riku was alright, Sora and Riku following her. Cloud and Leon followed after the two boys, having given them a ride.

"Leon," Cloud moved his eyes up at him, even though they couldn't see him, "we need to go to a special summer school thing tomorrow, remember,"

"Why, again?" Leon asked, looking down at Cloud with a bored look.

Cloud sighed and smiled, "Remember, they need proof that a blind person can teach kindergarten and you need to drive me there,"

Leon nodded, then noted that Cloud couldn't see it, "come on, let's go,"

Cloud smiled while Leon led him toward the lounge.

Riku was shocked, actually shocked. Everyone there was glad to see him. They all came up, wondering if he was alright, wondering if he needed anything, wondering if his parent's were alright. They were all seriously worried about him.

"I'm fine, seriously," Riku laughed, telling them all. He saw the wave of relief shower over their faces, and then they all asked the same question,

"Since this is already your fifth day in community service, and that means that you only have two days left, are you coming back after?" The wave of voices that said that all mingled up and jumbled made Riku confused. But he caught on. He knew what they were asking, and he actually smiled.

"Of course!" Riku smiled, walking through them, all of them looking at him like he were the king of the world, "Why wouldn't I want to come back?"

There was another wave of relief, another chorus of words, and Riku sat on the couch as he watched them all mingle to their places.

"Riku, You're really coming back?" Sora asked, plopping next to Riku and smiling at him. He looked up with those wide innocent eyes, and Riku couldn't have said no if he wanted to,

"Of course," Riku laughed, reaching up and ruffling Sora's hair, "I'd come back even if a circus of elephants were there trying to stop me,"

Sora laughed, "That's a weird way to put it,"

Riku laughed with him, "My mom always used to say that,"

Riku stopped when he heard the door open, he looked up. A smile broke out on his face and he jumped up, "Officer Axel!"

The red-head rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand and he smiled nervously, "Why are you so exited to see me?"

Riku was relieved to see that Axel only had a broken arm, but Officer Roxas walked in behind him and Riku saw that the younger one was on crutches, sporting a broken leg and some nice bandages around his eye.

"What on earth happened!" Riku asked, running up to them. He grabbed their arms (the healthy ones) and dragged them to the couch carefully, making them sit down.

Axel looked up at him, "Who turned you into a pansy?"

Riku glared at him and punched him in the arm. But this was no friendly punch.

"OW! Okay, you're not a pansy!" Axel said glaring up at Riku. Riku was smirking down at him, his hands on his hips.

"Now that you're sitting down," Riku said, his smirk widening, "What happened? You get shot at and block with your arm like the smart person you are?"

Axel growled, "No, Roxas tried to kick the bad guy, the guy grabbed his leg, flipped him over onto his face. And I tried to help him and the guy broke my arm,"

"Smart move," Riku laughed, then sat next to Axel. He reached up and whispered, "You like him, don't you?"

Axel jerked away, "what?"

Roxas put his hands on Axel's back and winced, "Umm...Axel...umm..."

Axel turned and looked. He gasped, "Shit, sorry,"

He was currently sitting on Roxas's hurt leg, thank god it already had a hard cast. Axel jumped off him and rubbed the back of his neck, "sorry,"

He caught out of the corner of his eye Riku smirking at him. Axel stuck his tongue out at Riku, then walked to the door.

"Aren't you going to help Roxas?" Riku's voice filtered through the door, catching Axel's ear. Without thinking twice, Axel turned around.

---

"Mom," Riku walked back into the hospital room, smiling while he nearly jogged in, "visiting hours don't stop for about two more hours,"

His mother smiled, then pointed, "look who came,"

Loki again. Riku smiled and waved toward him, then saw that Hayner and Pence were there too. Wow, everyone was there!

Riku smiled, "Thank you,"

"We should be thanking you,"

Riku turned at the sound of his mother's voice. He tilted his head to the side, and stared at her in wonder. She laughed a little into her hand.

"You'll understand when You're older,"

---

Sorry for taking such a long time to update.