Authors Notes: Hokay. Short and sweet, my fingers aren't used to typing so much and again, I'm not a very good writer. But thank you everyone for your very kind, and very very welcome comments on my last installment. I was surprised anybody even read it, honestly. And I feel a bit more confident, and a tad more bold. So here you have it, the next one. Thank you again, and honestly, I really do appreciate your kindness. If you care to see any of -my- original work, and the thing I'm remotely good at, check out my homepage.

Disclaimer: Little more proper this time, yeah? I don't own anybody here. None of these people are my creations. Square-Enix and Disney are the fathers of these boys and girls. Like anybody is really going to sue me, but eh, why not everyone else is doing it. :P

Warning: It's shounen-ai, which means boys kissing boys, boys hugging boys, boys doing strange and questionable things with boys, or not. :P If the sight of boys with boys makes you ill, well. I'm sorry you're still considering reading this then.

Chapter 2 --------------

Homecoming

It had taken him a good few hours to at best, stop crying in Riku's chest. His life, his family and friends, everything.. It all seemed to be ripped away, one after another with no way to take even a small breath. Sora felt beaten, down, a rather scared. He'd never actually been -alone- before. He realized this on his trip back to the island. He'd open and close his soon-to-be shut off cell phone, a vague hope anybody would call him. See how he was... Nobody called of course.

So Riku had taken him into his home, a very small house on the south end of the island. It was quaint, simple, but still stylish as Riku had tended to be himself. The yard was nothing more than a well taken care of bush or two, on either side of a wood panel door. The window was square, and the shutters simple wooden planks that open and closed a bit too easily with the soft wind. The white curtains were also a nice touch. Sora would of appreciated this a lot more if he wasn't busy sulking.

Riku simply escorted his spiky haired friend into his house, which looked bigger inside than it did outside. Leading him into his bedroom, Riku gently pushed Sora over the bed with his hand, and smiled. "I think you could do with a little rest, Sora. I'll be back with something to eat and drink later, alright?"

Sora just gave a slight nod, almost curling up on the bed when he turned on his side. Riku's plastered on smile faded into a worried frown when he left and closed the door behind him. He knew why Sora was so broken, but he'd never seen this boy act in such a way. This was so unlike him.. Unlike that happy go lucky Burnett that laughed off the darkest times with a nod, and determination scrawled all over his beautiful face...

What could he do? He didn't know... Maybe Kairi would have an idea. Yes.. Kairi. With that though in his mind, he went straight to the phone, and dialed up Kairi's number. She'd moved away quite a while ago, but left Riku her number to stay in touch. Granted he did a very poor job at it, only calling her once in a blue moon. But she never seemed to mind, being the sweet person she was.

"Hello, is Kairi there?" He said quietly.

"This is she. Can I help you?" Came back that cheerful voice. Riku sighed in relief.. Honestly he hated her husband. The guy was nasty to him everytime he -did- call..

"Hey, Kairi. This is Riku."

"Oh Riku! It's been so long.. what.. two months! How have you been? How's your boyfriend?"

"Ah.. We broke up right after I called you last actually. But I'm alright." He said with a slight, fake smile. Way to convince yourself, he thought...

Kairi sounded a bit more sympathetic now. "Oh, that's too bad.. Well I'm glad you're okay. I know you two were close."

"Ah well.. anyway. Sora came to visit."

Silence. What did he say? Kairi should of been overjoyed at hearing about Sora.. why was she so quiet?

"...Oh? Oh I see.. Uh.. How is he?"

Riku frowned a bit again. She sounded funny.. "Well.. he showed up at the island, while I happened to be out. The second he saw me he just clung to me and started sobbing..."

There was a sigh on the other end. "...Yeah I heard..."

"You.. heard? From who? I thought you hadn't spoken to Sora in a long time."

Kairi just laughed a little. "Actually his girlfriend was one of my friends..."

"Was?"

"Yeah... She called me up not half a day before and bragged how she used Sora, how stupid he was... She hit him pretty hard. I guess Sora walked in on her and his friend where he used to live.."

Riku raised a hand, gently rubbing the bridge of his nose. So that's what happened, exactly. What a cruel, nasty thing to do to such a wonderful human being... Riku just shook his head, not knowing what to say just yet. He could only stay silent while he ran over the information a few times, before he actually did talk. "I see.. " Well that was great.

"I'm sorry Riku. I'm married now, and.. I just don't feel comfortable being around Sora at all. You understand, right? I'd prefer you just didn't mention we talked.. or me... alright?"

Riku frowned, once more. "...Kairi he was our best friend."

"I know that! But.. I can't alright?"

"Why?" Now this was getting strange. Kairi wasn't usually so distant.

"...I just can't! I have to go now.. but.. you take care of him, alright Riku? I'll see you later. Take care of yourself too." With that the phone clicked. Riku just stared at the receiver before putting the phone back in it's handle. He couldn't understand it.. when did the three of them become like strangers? Riku seemed to be the only one with the memories of all the good times they'd had...

He turned back to stare at the bedroom door through his long silver bangs. "Sora..." He whispered, the cerulean pools of his eyes softening with warmth. He would.. help. If only he would do it, he would gladly for Sora. He'd always.. Cared for him. No matter what Sora's choices were.. he cared for him. And that wouldn't change...

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The next morning came so fast. Sora felt his head pounding just as he opened his eyes at the dawns early light. How long had he been sleeping? The last thing he remembered was crying in Riku's bed.. But that was still around late afternoon.. How long? He sat up slowly, raising his hands to rub his sleep hazed eyes. He looked a mess. His hair was even more crazy than it usually was, and his clothes were wrinkled and disheveled.

Slowly his eyes, once focused, turned towards the half open window, the curtains in it whispering just over the floor. Always such a beautiful breeze here.. always so calm and warm. Like a mother cradling her child. Despite it all, he did feel as if he'd come home, even if nobody but Riku was even here... A smile touched his lips. Just barely. Riku. That's right. His strong arms embraced him the entire time he cried on that beach.. they never let him go when he walked them to his home.. he even came back at some point and tucked him in the bed. Riku.. he was always thinking of Sora's wellbeing.. Even if he played it off as a challenge half the time.

Just then, something caught his eye. It glimmered slightly, in the pale sunlight. It looked like a locket or a pocket watch.. Just as he was about to reach for it, there was a knock at the door and he snapped his hand back, looking behind him like a scared animal. When Riku walked in and saw that look on Sora's face, his heart nearly broke. What in gods name did that woman do to him?

"...Sorry. It's just me. I thought you'd be hungry.." Riku said quietly, his hand raising to show Sora a small tray of breakfast in it. Sora simply blinked, as if he didn't understand the concept of breakfast in bed.. But he smiled slightly, and visibly relaxed. Riku simply smiled, heading in to set the tray on the bed.

"How are you feeling? You look terrible."

Sora just chuckled a little, rubbing his eyes again. "Thanks, you look.. well.." He stopped, and sighed. "...You look good." He continued, as if he was finally giving Riku a proper greeting. Riku picked up a piece of toast from the tray, holding it out to Sora. "...You still like strawberry, right?" His pale lips curved in a soft expression, and Sora swore he saw sparkles all around him. That was just the sunlight, right?

"...T..Thanks..." He took the toast and quickly began to eat.

This of course, made Riku laugh a little. "Alright. So you're on vacation now right? Take the time to relax. You know how it is here, nothing to do but relax. If there's anything at all you want to do, let me know. Tidus and Wakka still live around here you know. Goofy and Donald visit from time to time also."

"What about Kairi?" Sora asked simply.

"...Kairi. Ah.. well you know she got married and moved away.."

"I know.. but does she even visit? She always told me she couldn't make it down to where I was..."

Riku rubbed the back of his head a little and looked away. How to explain this? He wasn't even sure himself.. "Well.. She never visits here either. She just had her second kid, and.. well she's really busy with her career and everything. Don't worry so much about it."

Sora's eyes downcast slightly, and though he smiled, he seemed almost sad. "..It doesn't surprise me. I think she's avoiding me... "

"Come on.. why would she do that? A guy like you, it's hard to avoid.."

Sora looked up at Riku, blinking a bit. "...Guy like me?"

The white haired man just laughed, moving a hand to mess up Sora's already messed up hair. "Hey, hello? Who do you think kept everyone together, and our hearts connected? Nobody could avoid you. A guy like you. Well.. " His hand paused a little, but didn't move from Sora's head. It stopped messing up his hair, and traded the action for something a little more sweet. "...A guy like you. Is hard to forget. You're a beautiful person Sora."

Sora couldn't feel his cheeks turning a rosy red at Riku's gentle words. He hadn't even realized he was staring at his best friend until Riku's face seemed to come closer.. and closer...

"Hey! Is anybody there? Riku, you home man?" Came a voice from outside. That islander voice, the deep cool voice of the blitz ball player Sora used to know and play with all the time. Riku just snapped up out of his daze, laughing off whatever it was he should of been laughing off. "Oh, looks like we have company!" Riku got up quickly and nearly ran to the door. Sora looked, once again confused, but followed Riku, curious to see his old friend again. They barely had to walk into the living room though, as Wakka and Tidus were half-hanging inside the open window. "Hey man! How's it goin'? Sora, you back? Sure took your time, yah?" Sora smiled a little at that, and responded with a nod. "Yeah, I sure did."

Tidus waved, shoving Wakka out of the way. "Sora! It's good to see you again! We heard you came back to the island, so Wakka of COURSE had to come running."

"Who's running!" Said the redhead. "Ae, you'd better watch yourself, or I'll take you out on the playing field."

Riku looked a bit off. How did they..? "Wait.. who told you Sora was here? I've been here all day."

Wakka and Tidus paused in their bantering at one another, looking at Riku. "You didn't hear man? Selphie came back too. She said she saw Sora and you.. you know.." He grinned, giving Riku a sly look. Riku blushed and was rather quick to retort. "H-Hey! Cut it out! You'll embarrass Sora!"

Sora looked up at Riku, that dense deer caught in a headlight look on his face. "I'm not embarrassed. What does he mean?"

"Guyh..." The silver haired boy just laughed, shaking his hands in front of him quickly. "N-Nothing! Anyway.. So, does this mean we're having another party?"

Wakka nodded happily, Tidus mimicing his moves in time. "You know it! Let's celebrate the return of our two best friends, yah?"

With fists in the air, and two extremely excited boys nearly running over eachother to start preparing for said party should of been frightening.. But Riku knew they'd at least refrain from blowing anything up.. Anything.. of value anyway...

"Riku?" Sora said, tugging a bit on Riku's shirt. It drove the man from his deep thoughts of an inflamed island back to reality as he looked down at the shorter boy. He blinked when he saw Sora at that moment though. Despite looking a mess, and tired.. his eyes seemed a bit brighter all of a sudden.

"Riku, thanks.." He said with a smile, moving to wrap his arms around the taller man in a gentle hug. "Thank you.."

Riku shook himself out of his daze, wrapping his arms around Sora as well. "...If you need to stay, then stay. I have an extra room, and if you'd rather not sleep alone, I've got plenty of room on my bed. It'll be nice having someone else around."

Sora nodded, and hugged Riku tighter. He felt so warm, here in his arms. What was this feeling? He recalled such a feeling.. somewhere in the past. Somewhere he couldn't quite remember...

"Sora?"

"Hm?"

The next thing Riku said was a faint whisper. Only for Sora's ears, and he would repeat this again and again, as many times as Sora would need to hear it.

"Welcome Home"

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Hands.. ow. Not used to typing this much.