Hey everyone,
I am going to LOVE this chapter. It will feature two of my favorite pairings – I actually have a bit of a Top Five when it comes to that – as well as my #2 absolutely favorite character and my #1 favorite redhead. Sirius will always be my #1 favorite character, but there is something about Lea that draws me to him and I don't mean his voice actor or his good looks. Those are definitely some positive bonuses, but not my reason for him being my #2.
Who's your #1?

Venquine1990


Chapter 12
Sora takes a stand

7th of August 1995
Grimmauld Place, London
Sora's POV

The next morning I am barely shocked to find myself lying on my front with my arms crossed, but my head next to my arms and Harry, who has already changed himself into a blue shirt with buttons at the neckline and a pair of black pants that have a red trim at the waist, asks: "Are you okay? I woke up and noticed you lying like that. I would have woken you, but you seemed to be having a pleasant dream. Does that even feel comfortable, sleeping?"
And I turn around, sit up and stretch myself, determined to take the most out of the double dream event as I say: "It does if you consider the fact that I might already be in my Dream Week." Harry stops short, his hands freezing while he tries to tie his shoes and he looks at mem crouched down in such a way only his head sticks out over my bedside which looks kind of cute as he asks: "Already? Are you sure?"
I nod and say: "Two dreams of the same man I love and both dreams where I couldn't open my eyes no matter how hard I tried. It was great. Not to mention that he found a special spot on my body in the first dream and instantly went for it in the second." Now my brother smiles at me and asks: "So, are you going to be like dad and wait out of fear of losing a friend or like mum and do something so rash he just has to accept that you love him?"

And I laugh as I say: "Seeing that I've been – holy Keyblade, Kairi and the others have been onto me all this time." I suddenly shout and Harry falls back in shock of my shout before he asks: "What makes you say that?" And I explain him everything, of Kairi not playing with us, leaving us as we watched the sunset and everything Roxas, Aqua and the others tried over the years, including all the times they set us up for what I now realize were blind dates.
By now Harry is rolling on the floor, laughing his ass off and he says: "Your friends used all those attempts to get you two together? They must be so pissed that you didn't catch on all this time. I can only imagine how Xion and the others felt when they gave up trying to get you two together." But while he laughs, do I realize something else, something even bigger and whisper: "Riku loves me back." Making Harry stop laughing.
He looks at me and I say: "Neither Kairi nor the others would try and hook us up, if they hadn't seen signs with both of us. She would have respected the fact that only one of us loves the other and not vice-versa, but she still went through all that trouble so –." And Harry seems to have caught on as he whispers in shock: "Riku loves you back."
This makes me want to hit myself with my Keyblade, but instead of that does it fill me with exactly the confidence I have been lacking for the last three years and I ask: "Want to help me get it out of him, Harry?" And the playful grin that appears on my little brother's face is enough to make me smirk deviously myself. And then Harry makes it even better: "Two kids both born from devious master-pranksters. That boyfriend of yours doesn't stand a chance."

Riku's POV

I really don't know how to feel about the last few days as the time in this house does not make it easier for me to be where I am or to hide what I've been hiding for the last three and a half years – not to mention making it harder for me not to give in to the signs Kairi and a few of our other friends have been giving that they are onto my feelings for Sora.
I had been slightly unsure of this at first, but the blind dates that Roxas set us up with a few times made me realize that my emotions were visible even to a Nobody. And when she passed up on one of the most beautiful sunsets of 1997, only little under a year ago and during the fall season – when the Paopu fruit is known to fall off the Palm trees – was I sure she was up to something as Kairi had always dragged Sora and me to exactly those sunsets.
Sora had never really liked these sunsets as the sun seemed to set so much faster than during Summer or Spring and because it usually brought along a cold wind coming from the west, but since we had both grown used to wearing either a sleeveless vest or a jacket with short sleeves, have we grown accustomed to seeing
them through. And while I had not come out with my feelings, because Sora didn't seem to recognize them, did I still enjoy all of them.
The fact that others had also helped, even if Xion and a few others seemed to have given up over the years, had almost convinced me a few times, especially the fact that neither Kairi, Aqua or Roxas had given up these last few years. Yet I had just let them have their fun, enjoyed every chance they gave me to be with the one I loved and right now, in this house, I feel relieved that I didn't tell Sora anything of how I felt.

It pains me day in, day out to hear about Sora's upcoming Veela dreams and his Destined mate and I just know that this person will be someone he will meet here, on Earth. Even if he has actually had the Dream Week back when he first turned 16, something that gave me a sliver of hope before he told me he couldn't remember about who. I had taken solace out of that and thought: "If he had remembered, I wouldn't have been with him these past few years."
I had taken this, the fact that my time with my one true love was up and that he would now spend alone-time with someone else in stride and think: "I might not be the one meant for Sora, but at least I can protect him against whoever is destined for him until that person knows Sora as well as I do and is ready to care for him like only Sora deserves." And with that do I again push away the fantasy that has been ringing through my mind for years.

Sora on a rocking chair on a wooden front porch of a wonderful little, two-story cabin somewhere on Destiny Island, his shirt slightly unbuttoned at the top and his hands happily, peacefully crossed over his grown belly, while I stand behind the rocking chair, making sure it moves in a gentle pace to keep my beloved asleep as we both enjoy the outside as well as the peace and quiet of a universe no longer terrorized by Master Xehanort.
I sigh as I think of it, of how I could get Sora pregnant, of how we could learn to play with each other in bed as we grow older, of how we could get jobs on either Destiny Island, some other world or perhaps even here, in our homeworld and of how we could – together – raise our offspring, whether they be boy or girl.

I then shake my head violently and think: "You had your chance, remember? When Sora cried at your reunion at the Stronghold and when you were together with him at the Dark Meridan. You even had your shot when he hugged you after you woke up from healing him of the dark magic put on him by Master Xehanort and when it was just you and him against the Demon Tower that swallowed up all of our friends at the Keyblade Graveyard.
You blew each and every chance you had with him and now, you just have to make sure his true mate will make him the happiest he can be. That's your job now, so stick to it." And with that I sigh, turn away from the mirror in my room as I can't help but still want to look my best for Sora just to see that brilliant smile of his. I take a steadying breath and leave for the staircase down to the kitchen, only to stop dead at the ground floor landing.

Sora is standing there, talking with Harry, Ron and Hermione, but the boy is wearing something that instantly makes my mind drive me wild as his clothes are skin tight and almost look a size too small for him, his baby blue t-shirt stretched to the max around the muscles on his abdomen, sides and stomach. And the sight of those abs and toned muscles makes me clench my teeth and my fists as I try to remember my decision.
His jeans are also skin tight, while they seem just a few inches too wide at his waist, but thin down around his hips, making them stand out amazingly and making me want to grab and hold them as I kiss him senseless, while the fabric around his legs makes me want to rip his jeans apart, just to see those powerful muscles underneath.
The boy's outfit is finished with a pair of slippers with stockings wrapped around his lower legs and hidden quite visibly under his skinny jeans and the way he keeps moving his toes to get comfortable on the wooden floor makes me want to let him fall on his back and tickle them until he laughs himself completely senseless. "Tickle them? Great Keyblade, Longbottom, stop lying to yourself. You know what you really want to do with those toes." My mind whispers at me.

Harry looks just as amazing and yet it's the amazing way the blue t-shirt brings out the blue in Sora's eyes and the way his shirt is actually tied in a knot at the waist, showing off his belly button, his skin tone matching his jeans perfectly that makes me unable to even see if Harry wears a blue shirt or some kind of vest. And Ron and Hermione are standing so far away, they are almost invisible, as if the glory of Sora's body casts a light on himself that casts them in the shadows.
Sora then stretches, making the shirt rise even higher up his stomach and says: "I'm going to go and get some breakfast. You coming, Harry?" He then looks up, smiling brightly when his eyes lock with mine and asks: "Good morning, Riku? Slept well, I hope?" And just by how amazing he looks am I unable to answer as I know that, if I do open my mouth, anything I say will just go against the decision I try so desperately to hold onto.

The boy tilts his head, making his long brown hair fall over his left shoulder and actually revealing a bit more skin on his right, which makes me catch my breath as it looks as if he coated his skin with some kind of cream to give it a healthy shine. Then he turns around, breaking me out of my trance when he disappears around the corner. Feeling stupid for letting myself go like that, I try not to be too obvious and then hear Harry say:
"Sure looks like Sora dreamed well. Guess his older mind is catching up with his younger Veela side. Might actually make him have dreams already." And Ron looks shocked, while Hermione asks: "Are you sure?" But I don't hear Harry's answer as he leads his friends to follow Sora and he too disappears around the corner. I myself just stay standing, my mind stuck on replaying the images of Sora in all his glory, all the ways his cloths showed off his health and skin.

Just then what the other boy said reaches my slightly befuddled mind and I think: "Sora already started dreaming? Does that mean he dressed up like this to impress whoever he dreamed about? But we've only been here for three days? How can he already know who his mate is? Did he see his mate in the dream or something? Did he have the same Dreams as last time and actually recognize or remember who they were about?"
I walk down to the kitchen, my mind racing with these and other questions and then hear Hermione ask: "Sora, is it true? Did you really already have dreams of your mate?" Sora nods, breaking my heart, even though I try my hardest to just smile at my best friend and then he says: "I couldn't see a thing in either dream, but – well, it was definitely obvious who it was. And when you've known your mate as long as I have –."
And Sirius, who came down after me and sends me a look that proves I am not at all succeeding in keeping my heartache hidden, ends: "You'll recognize even the smallest hints that make you know who he is. Exactly, Sora, that is why Veela dreams always prevent sight from being possible during the dreams. It's always someone the Veela can later recognize, whether he has known them for years or is soon to meet them."
"How big is the chance of the mate being someone the Veela hasn't met yet, dad?" Harry asks, sounding genuinely as James and Sirius seat themselves between their sons, Sirius on Harry's left and James on Sora's left and Harry's right, allowing for one spot to remain open on Sora's right. Looking at it with longing, but trying to remember that it now belongs to whoever Sora's true destined mate is, I listen as Sirius says:

"The chance of the Mate being someone the Veela will meet later on is only fifty percent with Empathic Veela, Harry, other Veelas are – strangely enough – more loyal based to their mates and will therefore always meet their mates beforehand." Harry nods and then Sora asks: "Riku, aren't you hungry? Come sit down, already."
And only then do I realize that the only seat left is the one on Sora's right and while hating myself for sitting so close to what I just can't have, do I follow with the boy's request. I try yet again to just smile at my true love, forcing away images of him sitting next to some other guy or girl and he slides a full plate over to stand in front of me as he says: "There, I saw you eat it yesterday at breakfast. Your favorite, right Riku?"

And to my shock has he actually made me a glass of orange juice and a loaf of bread with creamed cheese, something I eat at least every week when we have picnics on the Play Island. Amazed that Sora knows me so well which I then reprimand myself on as it must be because of us having been close friends for years and years, I smile at the lad, his eyes shining brightly when we lock gazes and I whisper: "Thanks, Sora."
Unable to control my voice. The boy closes his eyes and tilts his head again, looking more adorable than should be legal and he says: "Anything for you, Riku. Like I said, I know you well enough I can recognize you from just what you eat." Yet then he actually leans a little closer, which I try not to respond to either way and a look I have almost never before enters his eyes as he whispers: "Or how your footsteps sound when walking on the Play Island."

This, especially the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, confuses me and I wonder why he would make that comment, but then my mind, still befuddled by conflicting thoughts and personal desires, catches up and I think: "Wait, a Veela can't see who his mate is when he dreams of them, but Sora mentioned that he really knows his well. And he just said that he can recognize me by my meal and my footsteps on the beach.
And dreaming of seeing your mate on the beach is something any person would dream of. How many times haven't I dreamed of – wait a minute!" I turn my head to Sora, who has moved away, but still sits tantalizingly close and who calmly drinks his glass of water and while both hopeful and trying not to sound too hopeful, do I ask: "Sora, you – you said you – know who you dreamed of." Sora nods and Ron asks: "Who was it?"
But Sora just smirks, his eyes showing his love for his mate and his amusement at all of this and he says: "My mate knows." And that, along with the fact that his gaze slips to me as he says those three words, is all the incentive I need, breaking my three-year restraint. And while I wait for Sora to put his glass down, do I gather all my courage, grab Sora's shoulders and while the smirk on his face widens, do I kiss him full on the lips.

Ron's POV

"Has Riku lost it?" I think with shock as I see Riku kissing the living daylights right out of Sora, but then see how my best mate seems to try and hold back laughter and realize that he played us while trying to help Sora get Riku to accept him as his mate. Amazed that the two can be that devious and then remembering that both their parents are renowned pranksters and that Harry has pulled stunts on others before, do I whisper:
"Those two know how to play matchmaker." And Hermione whispers back: "Just in time too, Tonks and I planned to use the next break to help Kairi think of ways of getting those two together and I could only think of following in James' footsteps." This makes me hold back a snicker while I see Tonks sending a wink our way. I look at Kairi and the girl is looking at her two best friends while I notice her tonelessly whisper: "About damned time."
I then look back at the two, who are still lip-locked and think: "Sure wonder how long that's been going on." But decide that I have other things to worry about and whisper: "It's good that Sora and Riku got together, but they're not the only new Veela couple here. We need to try and find out if Harry could be compatible with the twins, if they are his mates. You know, see if we can get him to have his Dream week early and stuff."

The girl nods and then finally Riku pulls back, Sora gasping for air, before he happily puts his face in Riku's shoulder, Riku even going so far he pulls Sora onto his lap and then I hear him whisper: "And then to think that I was in the belief I had ruined all of my possible chances with you." Making me wonder what he means.
Sora seems to have some kind of clue and asks: "You mean during our reunion at the Stronghold? Or when it was just us at the Meridan." And Riku nods, his head softly tapping Sora's as he says: "Not to mention when you hugged me after I freed you from that Dream Eater a few years ago. And when it was just us at the Keyblade Graveyard and you so obviously needed me after the others were taken." He then sighs and says:
"I'm a real idiot." But while I can't help but think: "You wasted four chances to express your feelings? Yeah, you are." Does Sora shake his head and softly kisses his lips, making Riku smile in the kiss as Sora whispers: "You're no idiot, Riku. If you were, I would have never fallen for you. I don't date idiots, you know?" And Riku laughs hard, while I cannot believe what the brown-haired lad just told his new boyfriend this.

Then suddenly Kairi says: "WELL, IT'S ABOUT BLOODY DAMN TIME!" And Sora smiles guiltily as he says: "Sorry I let you and the others waste so much time and effort getting us together, Kairi. And thank you to you as well as Aqua and even Roxas for not giving up all this time. I just didn't want to – well, the same thing my dad feared, really – so – yeah." He ends with a guilty smile on his face and his hand in his neck.
Now James and Sirius hit themselves on the forehead and Sirius even shakes his head as he says: "Thank Merlin for the Veela dreams. At least those gave you the boost you needed to get your destiny settled. Oh, and Riku, I'd accept the Dementor's kiss for murder if you dare hurt my son, understood?" He ends icily.
Riku cringes at this and says: "Don't worry, Sirius. I hurt Sora once before and even went so far as to betray him, but I learned my lesson. Sora is my life and future and I won't let anyone harm him. Besides, I've been punishing myself enough by not giving into my desires, I'm done wasting time being a friend when I can be a boyfriend." This makes Sirius raise an eyebrow at the betrayal part, but he still smiles as he sees how tightly Sora hugs Riku in his happiness.

Sora's POV

"Finally! Finally I have the man of my dreams in my arms. I finally have my Riku." I think, trying not to squeal in happiness at these thoughts and instead just hold onto my one true love strongly, my heart skipping a beat when I hear him say that I am his life and future and I strengthen my hold to show him my gratitude. And I still let a squeal of glee loose when Riku calls himself my boyfriend and I think: "We've both been doing that."
Then Riku lowers his head into my hair and whispers: "And between you and me, Sora, did my mind often remind me of how much I saw you as my future." This makes me look up at him, but he makes sure no one notices as he softly starts petting my hair, the feeling of those long fingers going through my hair feeling like true heaven. I shudder in delight, no longer caring about keeping my feelings a secret now that I know they are returned.
He then goes on and whispers: "I often dreamed of you and me living together in a small, two-story cabin, with you sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch, our kids running around playing in the front yard and me keeping you fast asleep as I softly rock your chair while standing behind it, keeping an eye on our offspring. And that's just one of the many, many fantasies I had over the years, both in my dreams and when we were just alone."

By now I am both beat red at the idea of having kids with Riku – something I now know is a possibility without need for adoption due to my own parents being both male – and trying ever so hard not to cry in pure happiness at the fact that Riku actually dreamed of a future for us together, complete with our own home and everything. And the fact that he and both imagined romantic scenarios when were alone together makes me happier than words can describe.
Lying my hand in his neck and pushing his face down with the tip of my fingers, I look up, actually feeling the love I see shining in his eyes reach deep into my heart, I smile at him widely and the three words I have, until now, only dared to say in my dreams as I whisper: "I love you, Riku." And the way his blue-green eyes shine as he hears this makes the years long wait all the more worth it and make all the dreams pale in comparison.
Then, the five words I have always wanted to hear – or at least since I woke up from a sleep I still don't get having gone into and desiring to get back to the Destiny Islands to see Riku and Kairi more than anything else – are spoken in such a soft, loving and reverential way, I almost tear up at hearing them. "I love you too, Sora." Is whispered in that deep baritone voice that steals my heart every time I hear it and I can't help myself any longer.

Over mastering Riku like he did me earlier, like I wanted to do the few times we were alone, sparring and had our Keyblades clashed against each other, I don't even care that we fall off his seat as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him full on the lips, those divine lips tensing in shock before responding to my love and Riku's arms quickly moving to wrap themselves around my back in a cross, his hands holding my shoulders tightly.
Lying on top of the one I love, I don't even care for the fact that we are on a dirty floor, that my parents are right next to me or that I probably have the attention of the entire room as Riku's arms around me and his lips cherishing mine are all that matters to me after having waited for him for so many, many years. And while I have seen him in various states of dress and undress and fantasized about him, does nothing compare to the sensation of his body against mine.

Riku's POV

Sora's confession of love fills my heart with so many emotions I cannot stop myself from returning the beautiful words back to him, something I did over and over in my dreams and desired to so many times when we were alone. I utter them even if I still feel small fear that the boy is playing with me, that I am dreaming yet again or that this is some prank pulled by one of the twins as last night they had shown just how great they were as Pranksters.
Yet the sweet, delicate lips of that amazing brown-haired angel on mine and the way he had actually pushed me to fall off my chair and onto the ground had erased the very last of my doubts that Sora could be meant for someone else or that his love could ever be changed by any possible destiny with another Veela Mate. And as I feel him fall onto me, do I also feel something else, in his lower regions, that further confirms this.

I grab onto the lad, not even caring that his parents are right beside me and hold his shoulders tightly. His neck, I had discovered during my journeys, is his most sensitive part as I had often seen him block the Heartless and Nobodies that aimed for his chest in such a way his neck was also blocked by the entire length of his Keyblade.
Deciding to play with the lovable little lad – as my mind is still nineteen, no matter what my body – I let a single finger run down the backside of Sora's neck ever so slowly and the guttural moan that comes from his throat and is slightly suppressed by my lips on his is enough to make me feel glad that his lower body moved itself to lie next to mine, even if this did allow me to feel his manhood move across my leg.
Feeling myself growing hard, I try to think of my adoptive grandma, as the woman had been almost ugly enough to call Malificent beautiful and the growing appendage quickly slinks back down. The incentive is also gone and my plan to play with my new mate is gone as well as I have no intention of showing my needs in this room. Yet then my own mind betrays me and whispers: "No, that's for when you're alone in the bedroom with him."

I then finally part with Sora and he whispers: "Wish your dream self had figured out that little spot." And I hold back a moan as I realize that I activated Sora's eighteen year old mind, before he huskily whispers: "Want to find the other spot on my body that makes me yours?" And while I keep the imagine of my grandmother in mind as I try to fight my newest urges and I whisper urgently: "Not with your folks around, no."
And the boy turns red, actually darkening the color of his hair as he seems to have forgotten where we were. This makes me smirk at my beloved and I ask: "Do I really make you forget all about your basic training and your surroundings, my sweet Blader?" And the boy whispers: "You know I easily get lost in the ones I care for."
Making me smile widely as Sora has definitely shown signs of forgetting important or vital events when he's around friends before he says: "Imagine how bad that makes me around those that actually have my heart." And I kiss his lips in gratitude before finally helping him up, only then noticing that our crowd has increased with Albus Dumbledore and Alastor Moody, the second of who seems to have calmed down.

Then, while I notice the scarred man send a short, wary look at Harry, does the elder of the two turn to Sirius, as Sora and I take our seats again, and says: "I'm truly sorry we couldn't have our meeting concerning your youngest last night, Sirius, would you mind skipping it to dinner?" The man seems not at all bothered by this as he shrugs and says: "Harry, James, Sora and I got to have our first pillow talk, so it's okay."
The man nods before he smiles and congratulates us. And then, after we all finished our breakfast meal, does Kairi ask: "This one with anything in particular?" And I smirk at her as I answer: "Other than that we start reading about the future?" The girl nods and Sirius says: "Molly and I were at the start of a big fight just before you showed up, so someone with a good temper will probably be the best reader for this."
The girl nods and then turns to me and Sora as she asks: "How about Lea?" And while I suddenly notice Harry looking up, before he raises an eyebrow in confusion, making me know he doesn't understand his sudden reaction either, does Sora say: "You mean, start getting our whole team together? Great idea! Though we should make sure to get Aqua and Roxas around soon as well. I owe them the same apology, after all."
And while I know that I owe these two – and our other friends – the same apology, do I smile widely as the sound of my new mate's happiness ringing through his voice is like hearing the waves of Destiny Island crashing upon the Paopu Island during a sunset, but then my mind catches up with me yet again and I shout: "THE PAOPU FRUIT!" And instantly I cause for Sora to turn red as he seems to read my thoughts.

Looking at the love of my life with inquisitive eyes, wondering if he perhaps dreamed of that while having his first dream of us being on the beach and feeling I can wait with uniting our destinies together if he wishes so, do I whisper: "Do you have it on you, lovely?" And the boy puts his right hand in the back of his neck as he says: "Sorry, it's in on my other outfit." Which makes me smile as Sora's looks more than make up for it.
I then pull him closer, making sure to lie my hand on the bare spot of his skin where his shirt is tucked up and whisper into his hair: "Don't worry, you look delectable enough I can wait for us to unite our destinies forever. And I don't mean it that way." I say as I had heard Sirius start to growl, even though I think: "We've been together for years. Let me have my chance already." Yet instead of this, I say: "I mean through the feeding."
This doesn't seem to appease the man at all and Sora says: "A paopu fruit can easily be eaten by someone by himself or even split apart and eaten by more people at the same time, but if one were to willingly let his partner be fed by him, does the magic of the Paopu fruit unite those two destinies together forever." Yet then I look at Kairi, who rolls her eyes and says: "We shared as friends and shared two, not one. Relax." Making me smile at her.

Now the man seems appeased at last and he says: "Good to know." Before Harry asks: "I thought only Vampires feed off of each other." And while I am slightly shocked that Vampires exist and feel determined to protect Sora against them, does Sirius answer: "Veela can also bond for life by changing their love into a special form of magic and then letting their mates suck that magic out of them through use of a kiss, thus through feeding them."
This makes both Sora and Harry turn red and I wonder if I can ever get Sora far enough to actually share his magic with me like that. But then, while I can only imagine how delectable the taste of his magic would be and feel like salivating already, do I wonder how his amazingly strong Light magic will affect the darkness that is in my heart, before realizing that the light can simply find its home in the light of my love for Sora.
Smiling at the simple solution, I whisper: "I can only imagine how delectable your magic may taste, Sora, but I want my first taste to be special. How about we make the Paopu fruit our 1 month anniversary and perhaps the magic share our one year anniversary gift, huh lovely?" Now Sora laughs and says: "Let's first see if you can even stand me by your side for a whole year, won't we?" Making me growl before I say:

"I waited three and a half years for you, little Keyblade Master, and felt determined to protect you and be by your side until I thought your mate worthy of you. Now that I know it's me, no way am I ever going to let you go again. You're stuck with me for life whether you like it or not." To this Sora kisses me again and says: "Then I am glad as Kingdom Hearts that I dreamed of you even before the Veela dreams kicked in, just so you know."
"Okay, enough with the teasing, already. I got it memorized, you like each other. We've known that for years, guys, you don't need to make it any more obvious, you know." A deep voice suddenly says and we both look up, seeing a red haired man, who's red hair almost shines ruby red in the darkness of the basement kitchen and who has emerald green eyes and a playful smirk on his face while he leans against the wall.

Now I smile widely as Lea, over the last three years, has really become somewhat like a brother to me, someone I can easily relate to as he, like myself, was manipulated by another form of Master Xehanort and was almost completely lost to the Darkness himself – and just like me had he too been saved from this fate by Sora. And while the man stopped participating in the attempts of others to get us together, do I feel sure he kept encouraging Roxas at the same time.
I then look back at the love of my life and think: "And the best of it all is, he doesn't even realize in how many ways he has saved – and keeps saving – either of us." Then Lea's words hit me and Sora says: "If you mean that Riku and I are destined for each other due to my heritage here in this world, then yes, we like each other."

Lea laughs at this and says: "Okay, okay, I get it, I get it. You two like each other, finally realized that the other liked you back and are making up for lost time. I get it." He then turns to the rest of our group and says: "The name's Lea, got it memorized?" And I roll my eyes as that catchphrase sometimes annoyed the crap out of me during some of the conversations I shared with the man, but then I notice something that makes me smirk.
Harry is sitting with his side to the table and is trying to have a conversation with his dad, but both Sirius and I myself can easily see how every now and then the younger boy's eyes stray back to the well-toned, red-haired, green eyed man, who seems just as unable to keep his eyes off the boy, to the great annoyance of two twin boys.

I snicker at this and whisper: "Want to bet those two will fight Lea over rights as Harry's mate before the day's over?" And Sora quickly shoots glances at his little brother, the twins and Lea and then snickers as he turns back to me and while I love how he seems temporarily lost in my gaze, does he whisper: "That's a given. And Lea is definitely perfect for Harry. He's protective, fiery and burns anything to the ground to get what he wants."
Making me laugh and actually pulling Lea out of his little staring contest with Harry before I quickly say: "Just the chances of Sirius allowing for Molly to win that fight in the book." And the rest of my beloved's family laugh as well as James snickers: "Not a chance, not when it concerns our little boy, he won't." Which funnily enough makes Lea turn back to Harry all over again, yet the man seems respectful enough to keep his gaze at eye-height.
And Sirius smiles at his mate, pulling James almost onto his lap as he pulls him against his side and whispers: "Thanks for the confidence, Jamie, I love you too." And the two share a loving kiss, making me pull Sora all the closer as I, instinctually, long for that kind of romance myself before Lea asks: "So, should I start?" And yet I can't help but wonder: "Start reading – or start conquering a heart that is already yours?" Making me hide a smirk.


You know it, Riku.
DANG, I LOVED THIS CHAPTER! I loved adding Kingdom Heart III into it, I loved adding hints about the three years between the war and the time-travel thing in it, I loved expanding on Sora and Riku's feelings as well as their fantasies and their desires. All of it was just such a blast to write, rewrite, edit and whatnot. And then Lea showed up and the whole picture just came together perfectly, as I expected.
Thank you, Lea,

Venquine1990