-1Kairi was sobbing. She was standing in front of her car, crying. Her school uniform looked dirty, with the skirt hanging awkwardly off her hips, one of her socks slipping down her ankle, and her tie halfway undone. Her mascara ran in rivulets down her cheeks, and her hair looked like it had been to Hell and back.

Riku ran up to her, his footsteps echoing in the empty parking lot.

"Riku!" Kairi cried, slinging herself into his already outstretched arms. Riku enveloped her in a warm hug, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his head in her hair. She smelled like kiwi and strawberries, and as he returned the crushing grip, Riku allowed himself to sink into her familiar embrace.

Kairi was like a sister to him. He loved her more than He loved anyone save Sora, and when he realized that he was gay, she was the first person he told. Kairi understood people like that. To her, it didn't matter if you were green, as long as you were a good person.

"He-He just… Collapsed! Like that! And he was so pale… Like a ghost. They-they carr-carried him… The stretcher…"

After this, she became unintelligible, crying into his shirt.

"Come on," Riku coaxed her. Keeping one hand around her slender waist, he used the other to open the passenger door to her pink bug. She slid in, and he buckled her seat belt, pausing to make sure it stretched across her hips, not too loose or tight. He was in the midst of adjusting the shoulder strap when he noticed his hands were shaking.

"Come on Kairi. I need the keys. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can see him."

She handed him the keys, her smaller, soft hand brushing his in a comforting gesture. People used to say that he and Kairi would make the perfect couple. They looked good together.

Riku buckled himself in, lowering and adjusting the seat and the mirrors. It was a sunny day, so he pulled the visor down. Paper-clipped to it was a picture of the three of them.

"Oh God."

Riku didn't think they would make a good couple at all. Riku and Kairi were too much alike. Heck, half their wardrobe was identical!

Riku backed out of the parking spot carefully, and then, putting the car into drive, drove out of the parking lot.

"He kept coughing… But I didn't… I didn't even notice."

Sora and Kairi made a perfect couple. He was modest and calm where she was outgoing. His wardrobe wouldn't even make a dent in Kairi's. He was neat, where she was a slob. They finished each other's sentences, and fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

"I should-- I should have said something Riku."

Riku took his eyes off the road momentarily to look at her. Her sobbing was coming under control, and her breaths were evening out.

"It's OK. Sora wouldn't want you to blame yourself, especially when it wasn't your fault to begin with."

It was his. He just had to chase Leon through the rain. Sora saw him and ran after him. That's why he got sick.

"Thanks Ri-Ku," Kairi muttered, a miserable frown on her face. She brought her hands up to wipe away the tears, smearing mascara all over her face.

Then, she let out the mother of all hiccups.

Kairi looked at Riku with wide eyes. Usually she would never let out a sound like a hiccup. It wasn't civilized! She was the mayor's daughter for Christ's sake!

Then Riku started laughing.

"What are you -hic- laughing at -hic-?"

And he started laughing even harder, pulling off to the side of the road. He put the car in park and leaned forward, clutching his stomach and pounding on the steering wheel, accidentally setting off the horn.

"Kairi, that was hilarious."

"No -hic- it wasn't!"

Tears were coming to Riku's eyes by now.

"Ri-hic-Ku!"

"Yes Kai-hic-Ri?" Riku mocked.

Urghhh… You-re -hic- impossible!" Kairi said, red in the face.

"That's why you love me, right?"

Kairi pulled him across the seat, crushing him in a bear hug.

"Yup Ri-Ku. That's why I love you!" Riku wasn't responding, only making small choking sounds.

…

He didn't find hugging her disgusting, did he?

"Kairi-- My seatbelt is chocking me!"

"Wha… Oh! Sorry!" Letting go of him, she laughed as he rubbed his sore neck.

"I love you too Kairi. Now all you need is a sex change and…"

"RI-KU!"

"Just kidding!"

222222222222

The hospital was bustling with activity. Nurses ran back and forth, carrying various medical supplies and patients. The frazzled lady behind the counter glared at her co-workers with a vehemence that bellied laser vision.

"What can I help you with?" Riku and Kairi stared. The woman's voice was pleasant enough, but it had an underlying tension that threatened death. This woman clearly was dying to rip someone's head off. Riku silently begged any gods listening that it wasn't his head.

"Can you tell us where Sora Mizushima is?" Kairi asked. The woman gave an annoyed sigh, as if all her problems were their fault, and started clicking away at her computer.

"He's in room 334," the woman replied in a dull voice.

"Thanks," Kairi smiled at her, grabbing Riku by the wrist and pulling him away.

The nurse watched the unusually attractive teens walk down the hall. That silver-haired boy looked edible. The nurse watched them go, her eyes straying said boy's tight jeans. A smile came over her face. She now had a nice mental image to help her through the day.

Someone called for her. Turning, her eyes met their demise. A balding man, wearing a sweat stained wife beater three sizes too small, with hair hanging out from his armpits and his stomach hanging over his pants smiled at her, revealing the fact that he didn't practice regular dental hygiene.

She sighed. She hated her job…

Riku and Kairi reached Sora's room just as his doctor left.

"Excuse me sir!" Kairi asked, waving around her free arm.

"Yes," the doctor smiled. Riku looked at her, unsure if this woman was actually a doctor. Her long brown hair hung down her back, and her lab coat parted in the front, revealing a low cut black shirt. The woman had big boobs, to say the least.

"You must be Sora's friends! I'm Dr. Lockheart, but you can call me Tifa!" She grabbed Riku's hand, shaking it enthusiastically, and Riku cringed. She had the most crushing grip he'd ever felt… His hand felt like she had crushed it.

"Sora's conscious now, but very weak. It's seems he's been stressed out lately, as well as slightly dehydrated, so what started out as a simple cold did a lot of damage. He should be released soon. It's fairly typical and we get a lot of teens around this time of year, teens over-stressed from finals…" Riku tuned Tifa out, vaguely catching that only one of them could to visit Sora at a time.

"Thank you," Kairi told the woman as she walked away.

"You can visit Sora first. I'll wait here." Riku pointed at a chair situated in the hall, by a small table. A few decade old magazines were scattered over it.

"Thanks," Kairi replied. Riku sighed, sitting in the uncomfortable plastic seat. This might take a few hours.

3333333333

"Where can I find Sora?" Someone asked impatiently.

"Excuse me?" the hassled lady behind the counter asked, her anger at the man's rudeness clear.

Lifting her head, she found that she had run across another unbelievably hot man. He was a few inches taller than the silver haired boy was, and he was more muscularly built, wearing all leather.

"Room 334," she answered automatically, not taking into account that the man hadn't specified a last name and that she might just have just given him false directions.

With her luck, he was gay anyways, probably with that silver haired boy…

Hmm, interesting idea…

4444444444

Riku was sitting in a plastic chair, reading an old magazine when Leon found him. Deciding that he might be able to get out of this almost painlessly, Leon dropped the bag at Riku's feet.

"You left this in the art room," Leon said, before setting off towards the elevator. Behind him, Leon heard Riku drop the magazine on the ground.

"Wait, Squall," Riku grabbed his arm, pulling him backwards. The younger boy stood up, and Leon saw that his eyes were ringed with red. He had been crying. For some reason, Leon wanted to wipe the tears from his face.

Then, Riku's soft lips met his, and Riku's arms found there way around his neck.

Leon stood in shock for a second, before he realized what was going on. Riku's tongue licked at his lips impatiently. This boy stalked him, bothered him, snuck in his window, wrecked his car, and made his life a living Hell. By all logic, Leon should be getting a restraining order, not kissing him, but then again, a man who wears nothing but leather in the middle of the summer doesn't understand

logic.

Not wanting to outdone by a teenage boy, Leon wrapped his arms around the boy, pulling Riku against him and tilting his head to enhance the kiss.

"Squall…" The younger boy moaned his name, those long, artist's fingers clutching his hair. Leon plunged into Riku's mouth, exploring the hot cavern.

He had wanted this since he had first seen the boy. He had wanted to dominate the boy. When he had gotten Riku pinned to his floor, he had wanted him. Wanted to be inside him. Wanted to wipe that irritating smirk off his face and see that sweet mouth open in a scream.

Backing Riku into the wall, Leon pulled away for a second, the wet sound of their kiss echoing down the empty hall, catching his breath before plunging into Riku's ready, hot mouth. Their tongues danced, but there was no battle for dominance. Riku willingly gave into him, spreading his legs and wrapping them around Leon's sturdy hips.

Riku's mouth tasted like watermelon.

"Please, Squall…" Riku moaned into his mouth. The younger boy's voice low and husky, wanting. Leon pulled away, rolling his hips against Riku's.

Riku gasped, throwing his head back and exposing his long, pale neck.

"My name is Leon," Leon growled, rolling his hips into Riku's once again.

Leon was burning up, but all he wanted was Riku's heat; against him, around him, bellow him.

Attacking Riku's neck, he smirked at the feeling of Riku's excitement against him. He had control. He was in charge. The boy tasted intoxicating, like a drug. Leon wanted more. He wanted to taste all of him.

Biting into the tender, pale flesh of Riku's neck, he sucked on it, determined to leave a mark, eliciting excited gasps and moans from Riku. He almost missed the salty taste of tears on Riku's skin.

And then he almost didn't care.

But he wasn't a monster, taking advantage of people when they were vulnerable. He wasn't something people used and then tossed away. He wasn't a toy.

"You don't want this," he stated with a sigh, backing away and uncurling Riku's legs from around his waist.

"I'm a big boy, Squall, I know what I want," Riku stated, leaning forward for another kiss. Leon stopped him, pushing him back into the wall much more gently than he had before. He gazed into Riku's green eyes, reading the answers in them.

The boy was too young and naïve to have lying eyes.

Suddenly, Riku looked like a little kid playing dress up in the grown up world.

"You don't want this," Leon told him, taking Riku's hand and placing it against his crotch. His member was hard and throbbing, begging for release from his tight leather pants, and the hand against it did nothing to deter it.

"You don't want me inside you, Riku. You're just trying to ignore everything else." Riku's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything.

"It will hurt," Leon told him, looking directly into Riku's eyes.

"I know. I'm a virgin, not a moron." He said, looking away, a slight blush on his face.

Leon released his hand, sighing.

"Not that, Riku. You can run away, and lie to yourself for as long as you want, but in the end it will still hurt just as badly, maybe even more." When was he this open? Why wasn't he walking away? Where was his calm whatever?

Why was it the more he was around Riku, the more the boy confused him? Being with the green-eyed boy was like reading a mystery book. Every time you think you've got it figured out, a twist or turn throws you back into confusion.

"You don't know anything," Riku replied, his voice shaky, with none of its usual arrogance.

Leon cupped his face, turning it to face him. His eyes were watery, like an ocean held back by a breaking dam. A tear slid down his face, landing on Leon's hand.

"I know that you don't want this, not now."

And then the damn broke and Riku started crying, vainly trying to bring his hands up to his face to hide it.

His hair was falling from his ponytail, hanging over his face. He was shaking from the force of his sobs.

"You don't know anything. You don't understand anything." He grabbed the front of Leon's jacket, but he was a mess, and his hands were shaking. Leon easily removed them, feeling the barriers around his heart chipping away with every tear shed.

Riku's hands were slightly smaller than his, with long fingers, his right hand callused from years of painting. They seemed to fit perfectly in his own hands.

How was it that a boy he had known for less than a week was breaking through barriers he had put up to protect himself.

"Want to dance?"

How was it that he was making Leon remember things he had thought were long buried?

"You're silly!"

Things that had forced him to move here in the first place, away from that place, away from her.

"Maybe I don't."

The boy latched onto his shirt, wrapping his arms around his neck. Only this time it wasn't in a rushed frenzy, it was in need. He needed someone to hold onto. He needed someone to hold him in return.

"You stupid little kid," Leon joked, resting his cheek against Riku's soft, feathery hair, stroking his hair gently with one hand as the other one rested against the small of his back.

"Dumb old retiree," Riku replied, tightening his hold. His heart beat against Leon's, frantic and agitated.

Leon stood there, unsure of why he was comforting Riku, but even more unsure of where else he should be.

Kairi and Sora peeked out the hospital door, looking at their friend. They didn't care about the age difference, or the fact that Riku had found comfort in the arms of someone else.

Some things Riku needed to deal with on his own. In a place where everyone knew everyone else's life story, the same old people could become suffocating.

Kairi grasped Sora's hand, smiling at him. "Let's leave them alone," she whispered. The two of them snuck back into their room, smiling.

They both knew that this wasn't just about a car anymore, it just started that way.

5555555555

Leon sank down against the wall, ignoring the uncomfortable plastic chair a couple feet away from them. Riku came down with him, nestling against his chest.

Leon stroked his hair, still not understanding quite what he was doing, and why he hadn't walked away.

This kid was impossible. He barely knew him, but here he was, cuddling with him in the middle of a public building. It was absurd, it was infuriating, it was annoying, and it was the best Leon had felt in a long time.

Slowly, Riku's breathing evened out, and his heartbeat slowed. The kid had exhausted himself, and now he was trying to recover, using Leon as a pillow.

If the kid started drooling, Leon swore he might throw him out a window.

"Hey," the red headed girl Riku hung around whispered, kneeling next to him.

Leon nodded.

"He's cute isn't he?" Kairi asked, giggling slightly. Leon made no response.

"Of course, you can't tell him I told you that." She turned her head to the side, a calm smile covering her face.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Leon asked impatiently. It was hard enough dealing with one kid, let alone another one. He wasn't a freakin' babysitter.

"Am I that obvious?" Kairi's smile became even broader, and a delicate hand lifted to her chest, if fake indignation. She ran her other hand through Riku's hair lovingly, like a mother does to her child.

"He wasn't always like this, ya know?" She motioned to the boy lying in Leon's arms.

"He didn't always throw himself at innocent bystanders. He used to be kind of shy, actually. He drove everyone but Sora and I off with a glare and didn't let anybody come too close. It's almost hard to believe he's the same person."

She removed her hand from Riku's hair, staring at Leon with amazing blue violet eyes.

"So?" Leon asked, wondering why she was telling him this.

"He's had a hard life, and it's taken a lot to get him to open up. If you do anything to make him turn back into that glaring little boy…" She trailed off, and Leon snorted.

"What, you'll kill me?" He asked sarcastically. The girl looked like she couldn't even lift a textbook, much less overpower him.

"Hey, I'm stronger than I look!" She pouted, folding her arms across her chest.

"…Whatever."

"That was a noble thing you did back there. I know a lot of guys who would've taken advantage of him, but you didn't."

"And…" The conversation was going in circles.

"I'm just saying… Never mind, it's not my place. It's just, I think we should get Riku home."

Leon nodded, that made sense.

"Do you need me to carry him to your car?" Leon asked politely. He might be a rude bastard, but he was a considerate rude bastard.

"Umm… No… See, um, my car's kind of small, and it'd be a shame to wake him up, and besides, his dad's probably home by now and if we bring him home like this his father will kind of freak and I don't want to get him in trouble and I was wondering if maybe he could stay the night at your house because I'm not allowed to have boys spend the night and um please!"

Leon blinked. She had said all of that in one breath.

"What?"

"Could he spend the night at your house? Please? I promise he won't be any trouble. He's house broken and he won't make a mess. Please, just for the night!"

Leon's first answer was no. There was no way this boy was sleeping in the same house as him… AGAIN. Still…

"…Whatever."

He was surprised and shocked when Kairi leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks so much! I promise he'll be a good boy! I'll bring over his PJs and all his toys. Riku eats a lot, but don't let him any sweets or caffeine before bed or he'll be up all night. I'll give you some numbers where you can reach me at any time, and if something happens, don't hesitate to call!"

Leon blinked yet again. Were they talking about Riku, or a dog by the same name?

"…Whatever."

"Is that all you say?"

Leon shrugged, scooping the boy up into his arms and carrying him towards the elevator. Riku's head rested against his shoulder, his legs brushing Leon's thigh. The boy was a heavy sleeper.

Exiting the elevator, they walked past the front lobby.

The nurse at the counter stared at the three unusually attractive people leaving the hospital. Were they models or something?

Ohh, the way the leather one was carrying the silver haired one was so sweet. And the girl walking beside them didn't seem to realize that her skirt was riding up with every step!

"Heaven, pure and simple!"

"Natalie, stop staring and do some work! Just for that you're also working the late shift tonight!"

Natalie groaned. She hated her job.

6666666666

Leon laid Riku across the back seat of his car. The boy made a small sound of disagreement in the back of his throat, but didn't awaken. Leon was glad. He still wasn't sure about how he was going to deal with Riku after what just happened.

Getting into the driver's seat, he buckled his safety belt and backed out of his parking space, driving through the parking lot.

Stupid kid. He couldn't believe he was doing this. The trio to his house was silent, since Riku didn't make a sound when he slept.

Finally, Leon pulled into his driveway, stopping. In the backseat, Riku's body jerked forward, falling out of the seat with a thump and landing on the floor of his car. Leon cringed.

There was silence from the backseat.

Pulling the keys out of the ignition, Leon climbed out of his seat, slamming the car door behind him. The sound echoed down the empty streets.

Leon cringed.

There was silence from the backseat.

Opening the door as quietly as possible, Leon saw Riku…

Still asleep.

Either he had been knocked unconscious by his fall, or the kid slept like the dead. Then again, he had still been asleep when Leon left in the morning, even though the couch was lumpy, the sun was shining directly in his eyes, and the birds were chirping loudly.

Crouching, he hauled Riku out of the SUV, carrying him up to his front door. He then realized that he really should've opened the door before he carried Riku up here.

Then again, the kid was a deep sleeper…

Leon rearranged Riku, hauling him over his shoulder and hanging onto him at the crook of his knees. Using his now free hand, he searched his pockets for his keys and finding them, unlocked the door.

Meanwhile, his neighbor, old Mrs. Clermont, gasped from behind her binoculars, wondering if she should call the police. After all, it's not everyday that you see your neighbor hauling around dead bodies.

Then again, Murder She Wrote was coming on soon…

Ah, she could solve the murder mystery later. Now she needed to watch her reruns!

Carrying him inside, Leon debated whether he should put him on the couch or in the guestroom.

The couch was closer, but the guestroom could be locked from the outside…

Options, options.

Finally, he decided on the guestroom, and he threw Riku onto the bed, confident (after the boy's earlier displays) that he wouldn't wake up.

Rubbing his shoulder, (after all, Riku was kind of heavy), he headed to his kitchen. Kairi said that Riku could eat, right?

Looking through his food, Leon quickly decided on what to cook. Personally, he could live on microwave dinners, but Aeris had feared for his health and (against his will) taught him how to cook.

Leon looked at the clock. It was already four and Riku hadn't eaten lunch, so…

Leon set to work.

7777777777

I must be very quiet, Kairi thought.

I'm hunting rabbit. Wait, no I'm not. Shaking her head and swearing never to watch Looney tunes again, Kairi approached the trellis underneath Riku's window. Gripping the white trellis, she climbed quickly, years of experience under her belt.

Opening Riku's window, she climbing through with the grace of a cat, landing in a crouch, her arms spread to maintain her balance.

She felt like one of those super cool ninjas from the movies.

Snickering at the thought, Kairi crept silently over to Riku's closet, opening the door without so much as a creak.

"He he he," she giggled, grabbing a duffle bag. Looking through the large closet, she pulled out Riku's Mickey Mouse PJs and the stuffed Mickey Mouse he stashed in a corner. Grabbing the pair of jeans she had gotten Riku for his eighteenth birthday and one of his cutest navy blue shirts, she snuck over to his drawers. Lifting the top drawer, she blushed and dug around in Riku's undergarments, pulling out the first thing she felt.

Kairi's face became redder than her hair, for in her hands was a lacy black thong.

"Gross, I'm going to pretend I never saw that, ever."

Tossing it back into its drawer, she hesitantly reached back in to the drawer of doom. Finally, she pulled out a pair of Mickey Mouse boxers. She looked from the jeans to the boxers, wondering if the boxers would fit underneath the tight jeans.

Then again, what did Riku wear under all those jeans of his? I mean, he couldn't fit boxers, and she didn't think he wore thongs to school…

Maybe he didn't wear---

"Stop that thought right there Kairi."

Putting the boxers back, she closed her eyes and dug through his underwear one last time, finally pulling out a normal pair of white briefs.

Stuffing them in the bag, she grabbed a pair of socks from the next drawer down.

"OK, all he needs is a toothbrush."

Dropping the duffle bag, Kairi slowly made her way into the hall. Making sure not to step on any of the squeaky parts, she finally made it to the bathroom and grabbed Riku's toothbrush. Just as she was about to leave-

"Riku! Are you home son?"

"Shit!" Kairi hissed.

"Are you in the bathroom?" Riku's father asked. Kairi heard him heading her way.

"Hiding spot, hiding spot, hiding spot." Finally, she saw it, Riku's laundry basket. It was made of wicker and it had a lid, so she wouldn't be visible.

Kairi dove for it, closing the lid just as Riku's dad entered the room.

Do not move an inch. Do not breathe loudly. How about this; do not breath at all!

Kairi sucked in a breath, ignoring the fact that dirty clothes, and underwear surrounded her.

Riku really owed her for this.

"Oh, didn't Riku need to do a load of laundry. I guess I'll carry it down their and put it in the wash for him."

Kairi's eyes widened to the point where they almost fell from their sockets. She heard Riku's father walk over to the basket, and then she was hefted into the air.

"This is heavy laundry. What the Hell is Riku wearing?"

Fat! Was he calling her fat?

No, she would not make a sound. She was stealthy, like a ninja. Riku's father carried her out of the bathroom, down the hall and down the stairs. With every step, Kairi was jarred against Riku's Snoopy boxers.

Shit shit shit shit shit shit!

She felt him turning, and she knew they were in the laundry room. Riku's father was just trying to lift the basket when the phone rang.

"Guess I'll have to get this later."

Kairi waited until the footsteps faded away before she leapt out of the laundry basket, racing up the stairs.

Throwing the toothbrush into a separate part of the duffel bag, Kairi did a little jig.

"You are the Woman!" She sang.

"Kairi?" OH SHIT!

"What are you doing here?" Riku's father asked, looking at her.

"Uh huh huh…" Kairi paused in the middle of her victory jig.

"I was, um, coming to see if Riku wanted to hang out?" Kairi explained. Riku's father didn't look convinced.

"Why are his Snoopy boxers on your head?" Kairi reached up, mortified, and grabbed the boxers.

"Um… Look at the time! Got to go!" Slinging Riku's bag out the window, she rushed past Riku's shocked dad, throwing the Snoopy boxers at his head for good measure. Taking the steps two at a time, going around the house, grabbing the bag, and racing for her car (which was parked around the corner, cause Kairi's smart like that) she made her escape.

Somewhere along the way to Leon's house, she started humming the Mission Impossible theme.

8888888888

Riku awoke slowly, his stomach growling. Somewhere, he smelled food, good food.

Stretching, and hearing his back crack in an alarming fashion, Riku stood up, heading for the food.

He hadn't eaten breakfast of lunch, and his stomach was reminding him of it.

"It smells like," Riku sniffed the air, "pasta and garlic, with homemade marinara sauce and," he sniffed again, "Caesar salad and bread sticks."

Walking up to an unfamiliar door, he shook it, to no avail. It was locked from the outside.

"What?" Riku exclaimed, shaking the knob. Reaching into his pocket for his bobby pin, he found it missing.

Riku slowly examined the room. It had a bathroom connected to it, so Riku headed in there. Searching through the drawers, Riku found a small comb, with a pointy end.

"Perfect."

Riku wasn't devious by any standard (yeah right), but he had stumbled upon a few… Opportunities to hone his lock picking skills. He was sure that he could unlock anything anywhere, at anytime.

Heading back to the door, he jiggled the simple lock around, finally hearing a click.

The door swung open, and setting the comb down on a table, Riku headed towards the smell of food.

For the first time since that morning, he realized that his ankle hurt, just a twinge, but enough to keep him from breaking out into a full run. Lifting the leg of his pants, he found that the bruising had gone down to barely anything, and that it was just really stiff.

"So, sleeping beauty wakes up. I thought I locked that door."

Riku wasn't surprised to see Leon. He was surprised, however, to see Leon COOKING.

"I'm a man of many mysteries." Riku replied, sitting at the table and looking at Leon expectantly.

"What makes you think that any of this is yours?" Leon asked.

Riku held a hand to his stomach, which growled pathetically.

"I guess you can have some." Leon conceded.

Riku grinned. "Don't worry, I'll pay you back. You know what they say, 'wine him, dine him, 69--'"

He suddenly found himself face to face with a rather large knife.

"You don't want to finish that sentence. If you do, I can't be held responsible for my actions."

Riku gulped, and Leon went back to stirring the pasta. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Riku answered, and before Leon could discourage him, rushed to the door.

"Here. You owe me big time." Kairi told him, dumping a duffle bag into his arms. Suddenly, she sniffed the air.

"Is that pasta I smell?" Pushing past Riku, she headed into the kitchen.

She took one look at the food and sat down at the small table, impatiently awaiting dinner.

Leon sighed, setting the table for three instead of two.

Riku came back into the kitchen, chatting amiably with Kairi. Leon served the pasta silently before he realized his dilemma. If there had only been two people, Leon could've moved the extra chair away and sat across from Riku. Now, he had no choice but to sit next to Riku.

…

Dinner at Leon's house sure was going to be interesting.