Disclaimer: We own Kingdom Hearts. Yeah, yeah, Square Enix, you can sue us. Too bad we don't have any money.

Dedication: To all of our reviewers, both old and new, this chapter is for you, but especially for xXxSmidgexXx, because yes, we really do remember.

Author's Note: We've been getting a lot of comments lately about the ambiguous feelings people have for certain characters, namely Riku, although some don't know whether they like Axel or not either. The truth is, you're supposed to feel that way. Sadly in life, kiddies, very seldom do we meet people who are all bad or all good. Yes, Sora comes across as extremely cute and sweet but I'm sure even he has his moments. The point is that our characters are a product of not only their own natural characters, but their environment as well. How they grew up, who their parents are, what kind of friends they've made, etc. Riku isn't totally bad, nor is Axel. We shouldn't forget the lessons of Kingdom Hearts. Sora had to help draw Riku away from darkness, and yes, that's what this is all about. So just keep it in mind when you're reading.

Additional A/N: Because we've been so busy it's hard to respond to all our reviewers so we're going to try to reply to as many as we can, but sadly in this chapter we only managed a few responses so here goes:

VanyelXFan: We just loved your response and your list of inappropriate sex talk and behavior in front of poor innocent Sora. Honestly, you're just giving us more ideas!

Walkin' kitten: We always love your reviews! Don't worry, tutoring starts soon in the fic, we think probably after their weekend fiasco, so probably Monday in Sora's world and so does fencing practice so it's going to be a very busy Monday. As for Riku's whispered words to Sora…well, read on…

Finem: Wow! What can we say? We love you and most especially your fic, Life on the Blitz. Keys and I stayed up all night reading it, it was fantastic! We're so flattered that you reviewed us and we're glad that you liked it so much.


The tourist season was over—long stretches of beach all but abandoned except for the occasional couple or family. Here and there people dotted the strand: a man with a dog throwing a Frisbee—letting the dog have his fun so that the energetic pup would sleep later; a single mother and child, an overturned orange bucket, the child scooping up shovelfuls of sand while the mother read her paperback in the low light.

Twilight Town's tourists had left for the busier cities of Radiant Garden—of Midgar, and Traverse Town. They were port cities for the most part, full of commerce and bright lights, and were reputed to never sleep. And although technically in Twilight Town it never reached full dark (the sunlit shadows of dusk lingering all day, every day) shops closed early in the off-season, most around the dinner hour of eight o'clock.

Twilight Town, while host to a myriad of cosmopolitan peoples during the season, was primarily a family-town, an old-home town, where streets of homes housed families—mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, dogs and cats. There were two-car garages, pavements lined with maple trees whose leaves turned yellow and orange in the autumn and cherry blossom trees that sprouted pink and white during the spring. It was a town that still had neighborhood picnics, where every resident knew who their neighbor was; where teenage girls babysat the neighborhood kids without reference checks and the local schools had not seen or even really heard of metal-detectors.

Roxas loved it. He stood facing the shore, water lapping at his ankles and creeping up his calves, soaking the bottom edges of his board shorts, and looked out at the distant horizon, hazy with the pinks and golds of perpetual sunset. There was a level of comfort here that he had never felt before, not even in his beloved Destiny Islands. Home before this had always been wherever his mother and Sora were, and that had been the Islands. It was as simple and complicated as that. He knew, in the same way that he knew that the sun rose in the east and set in the west, that he would end up here, that no matter where he went after he graduated, no matter how far he travelled or the distant worlds he saw, he would always be drawn back to Twilight Town.

He had wanted Sora to see Twilight Town, to recognize the same mix of majesty and comfort that he himself felt. But as they had walked through the busy streets of Radiant Garden toward the train station, he had seen Sora's eyes gleam with excitement as they took in the paved streets lined with stalls bursting with color and scents, and he knew that Sora and he were destined for separate roads and separate lives.

But not yet. Not now.

Now Sora was talking to Hayner and Pence in that easy way of his, smiling and ruffling his hair, sweeping his heavy bangs away from his eyes as the placid sea breeze kissed his face and cheeks. Olette stood farther back, hands clasped in front of her, smiling shyly at the new arrivals and glancing warily every now and then toward Riku, as if she could sense something of a predator in him and the rest of them were prey: birds around a cat that was too full to eat them just yet.

Axel sat on a nearby sand dune, looking contemplatively and somewhat longingly into a cigarette pack, pulling one out before shoving it back in, and repeating the process.

Roxas was about to ask him what the hell he was doing when Hayner spoke.

"So, I was going to go get some pretzels. Did any of you want some?"

Sora's eyes lit with pleasure at the promise of food. "Pretzels? I'm in!"

"Be careful, Hayner, he's a bottomless pit." Roxas shot Sora a smirk and his brother stuck his tongue out in response.

"How about the rest of you?" Hayner asked, glancing over at Roxas and then at Axel. He stiffened slightly before turning toward Riku, tilting his head in a challenging way. The older boy met his gaze, a slight upward tilt to his mouth before he replied.

"No thanks." He brushed silver bangs away from his face before turning his back to Hayner, looking over briefly at Sora then turning to face the shore.

Hayner muttered something presumably uncomplimentary beneath his breath before looking back at Roxas, but he just scowled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, Hayner, that'd be good."

Olette piped up. "I'll buy us some sea-salt ice-cream."

"And I'll get the watermelon," Pence said, looking back and forth between Riku, Roxas, and Hayner as if trying to decide where the source of tension was.

Roxas stared at Riku for a moment, a plan beginning to develop in his mind. But first he had to get Sora out of the way.

"Sora, why don't you go with Hayner and help with the food?"

Sora looked over at Roxas, a quizzical expression on his face, but a moment later it was broken with a smile as he turned back to face Hayner.

"Sure, I'm always willing to help out with the food!"

Roxas rolled his eyes but smiled, shaking his head as Sora left with Roxas's friends.

Roxas glanced over at Axel, unsure how to deal with him and get him out of the way so that he could put his plan into action, but the redhead looked over at him, a knowing gleam in his emerald eyes. He winked and stood up, shoving his hands into his long black coat that was decidedly out of place against the golden horizon and blue ocean. His combat boots were caked with sand and the long spikes of his fiery red hair blew stiffly in every direction.

"I'm just going to go for a walk. It's been a while since I've been back here," Axel said, pulling out the now familiar cigarette pack before guiltily looking back at Roxas and shoving them back in his pocket.

Axel's comment caused Roxas to hesitate. He had been here before? Roxas wanted to ask but was stopped by his earlier resolve to go through with his plan. He couldn't get distracted. He might never get another chance. The choice was taken away from him when Axel turned and started down the strand of beach, seagulls darting hastily out of his way, his black coat fluttering open with every sand-caked step.

Roxas took a deep breath and turned back toward Riku. Riku, who was looking at him with imperious curiosity, one eyebrow raised in question, his mouth set with a familiar quirk.

"I assume there's a reason you got everyone to leave? I can only surmise that you have something you wanted to speak to me about. Sora, perhaps?"

Roxas scowled, trying to hide a defensive response to Riku's intuitive question. There was no point beating around the bush about it. He had planned on being subtle, had hoped that Riku could be drawn out with a few discreetly-put probing questions, but it was obviously too late for that.

Roxas took a few steps closer to Riku, wanting to look into his face while he spoke, to gauge the older boy's response to his probes. In Roxas's experience, more answers could be found in body language, reading the eyes, and the set of someone's mouth than by the words they spoke. People lied, even to themselves.

"You and Sora…" All of a sudden Roxas was tongue-tied, not knowing where or how to start asking the questions he wanted answers to. How did he ask about someone's intentions toward his brother without seeming…well, without seeming interfering and nosy?

"Sora and I, what?" Riku's face was now openly mocking, his head tilted sardonically and Roxas could feel his hands clench involuntarily into fists.

"You like my brother, don't you?"

Riku stared back at him, his face expressionless, his arms crossed in front of his chest. In anyone else Roxas would've called it a defensive gesture, but on Riku it was just…natural. Roxas couldn't remember the last time he had seen anyone's face that blank before. And it wasn't just the face, it was his eyes. It was as if Riku was wearing an invisible blindfold.

"If I owe anyone the answer to that question, it's Sora himself. I certainly don't owe it to you," Riku finally said.

"I'm his brother. I love him. I have his best interests at heart. Do you?"

"Are you asking me if I love your brother?" Riku asked sarcastically.

"Do you?" Roxas hadn't meant to ask that. It definitely wasn't subtle, but now that it was out he was glad that he had. The shock on Riku's face was worth it.

"What the hell are you talking about? You have got to be kidding." Roxas could see that Riku was trying to play it off, but he could still see the shock in his eyes. The invisible blindfold was gone. For now.

It was Roxas's turn to smile sarcastically. "Am I? Is it that shocking? You seem to have it in for Sora, only it's not physical harm you mean him, is it? You want something from him. What I can't figure out is why? Why Sora? After all, by all accounts you're quite the ladies' man." Axel had told him that much during the course of their journey through the tunnels.

Riku was once again silent, his face set in blank lines, eyes empty of emotion but Roxas could sense his turmoil. He could also sense that the other wasn't used to it.

"I'm still not clear on exactly what you want from me. Are you expecting me to declare undying love for him? Assure you my intentions are honorable?"

Roxas snorted a laugh. He couldn't help it. It was too ridiculous. "Are they?"

Riku started laughing and then they were both laughing together. After a while they both calmed down but Roxas's breath was still shaky with laughter when he asked, "How about platonic? Your interest in Sora? It's not platonic, though, is it?"

The smile faded from Riku's face as quickly as it had come. His eyes glinted aqua in the low light and for an instant some emotion flickered across them, too fast for Roxas to pinpoint. He didn't say anything and the tension that had been released with their laughter was back. Roxas growled, a sound of frustration that welled in his throat. He wasn't getting anywhere.

Riku turned to face the shore and Roxas repeated his question. "Is it?"

"What's between Sora and I is none of your business, Roxas. Maybe you should worry about yourself."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Roxas asked uneasily, his body tensing.

"I never suspected that you would be as naïve as your brother. I guess blood really does tell," Riku replied after a moment.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Riku shook his head. "I'm going for a walk. Let Sora know."

And with that he turned his back and walked with an unhurried gait past Roxas in the opposite direction that Axel had taken minutes before.

What the fuck?

Roxas couldn't decide whether he was angry or just plain annoyed but he was definitely confused. Only one thing was certain in his mind. Riku was hiding something and whatever it was, he was afraid it had bad implications for Sora. He knew that he hadn't been mistaken about the hunger he had seen in Riku's eyes when he looked at his brother and until he could be sure his brother was safe he wasn't going to give up trying to find out what Riku's real intentions for Sora were.

Roxas waited until the others came back with the food before following the path that Axel had taken. He wasn't sure what made him seek out the company of the questionably sane redhead but suddenly the laughing chatter of the others had been too much, too overwhelming after the scene with Riku. Hayner and Pence hadn't seemed surprised that Riku had left but Sora was worried. He could see it in his brother's eyes, could see the vague hint of reproach there, too. His brother wasn't stupid for all of his wild antics. He had known that something was up, that there was a reason for Riku's absence and Roxas's sudden quiet.

"Are you looking for me?"

The voice came from his left and Roxas stopped and turned. He was not surprised to find Axel sitting on top of a rocky outcropping smoking a cigarette. Roxas looked around, noticing for the first time that he had reached the end of the small beach, the sandy portion leading into a pile of unsymmetrical jagged rocks home to tide-pools and sea-worn logs.

"No."

Axel smirked, clearly not believing him. Roxas wasn't sure why he lied. Something about Axel made him feel that if he gave the redhead an inch he would take a mile.

Ha, he'd probably take a hundred if I let him.

Even so, Roxas climbed the rocks, careful not to cut his bare feet as he made his way to where Axel was sitting. The other hastily put out a cigarette, waving at the air in front of him to clear the smoke and Roxas rolled his eyes.

"Why do you smoke those things? They smell terrible, they can't taste that good."

"Don't knock it until you try it, kid."

Axel leaned back, spreading his arms to accommodate his weight, his elbows propping him up. Roxas sat down gingerly in front of him, bracing himself with his legs and propping his elbows on his knees. Silence reined between the two for a moment, the heavy lapping of waves and sea foam creating its own music to fill the emptiness.

"I'm trying to quit," Axel said abruptly.

"What?"

"I said I'm trying to quit. This is my last pack." Axel fidgeted restlessly for a moment, looking uncomfortable with the admission.

Roxas couldn't figure out why Axel would feel awkward admitting to something like that and was about to make a sarcastic comment but something about Axel's demeanor in the admission had him hesitating.

"That's good."

Silence reined again for a moment before Axel finally spoke.

"So, what happened with Riku?"

Roxas snorted. "Nothing happened. I couldn't get anything out of him."

"Hmmm." Axel looked contemplative for a moment, staring out to where the sea met sky. "Maybe you should wait, see what happens. Riku's motives will reveal themselves soon. He's not exactly the subtle type. And Sora, he's made some good friends."

"I know, but…" Roxas paused, not knowing how to continue. He knew that was true. Sora made friends easily and he had the tendency to make the kind of friends who watched his back, but Roxas had always been around whenever Sora had a problem and he wasn't used to being left in the dark when it came to knowing what was going on with him.

"I'll tell you what. Give me your number and your email address. I'll let you know if anything is going on that I think you should know about. You know, just in case."

"Are you suggesting that you'll spy on my brother for me?" A part of Roxas was horrified with the idea, but the larger part of him was relieved. He knew about Sora's tendencies to keep important details to himself. Like a bully who might possibly want to get in his pants.

"I prefer to think of it as being an informant of diplomacy."

"Spy," Roxas said wryly, but he furrowed his brow in contemplation and then nodded his head. "All right. Just—let's just keep this between us. There's no sense in worrying Sora." Or making him angry.

"Sure." Axel smiled like the Cheshire cat for a moment before pulling out a phone from his left pocket and typing Roxas's phone number and email address into it at Roxas's direction.

Roxas suddenly remembered something that had made him curious earlier. "So, you've been to Twilight Town before?"

Axel nodded his head, a sardonic smile that suddenly seemed out of place fixing itself on his face. "Yeah, my old man lives here. And I guess I call this place home when I'm not back at the Academy."

Roxas's eyes widened in surprise. Twilight Town and Axel didn't seem like they went together well. T-Town seemed too tame, too quiet for someone with Axel's fire and energy.

"He's not around much, my old man," Axel gestured dismissively before continuing. "Yup, he's always off on one of his crazy schemes. Quite the con artist, my Pop. And I do mean artist. He could sell sand to Agrabans."

"I guess you come by it honestly, then," Roxas said dryly.

Axel stared at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. "What do you mean?"

He fidgeted uncomfortably before he spoke. "You. You seem like the type who could sell sand to Agrabans, too."

Axel gazed at him, his green eyes wide with surprise before a startled laugh escaped him. "Yeah, I guess that's true. You know, you're a lot smarter than you look." An expression of genuine admiration swept across Axel's sharp feline features and a real smile, not the sarcastic or Cheshire smile Roxas was used to seeing, but a sincere one formed across his lips, brightening his green eyes to true emerald and causing the lines of his face to soften. In that moment Axel was beautiful.

"Beautiful," Roxas murmured softly.

"What?" Axel asked, giving Roxas a puzzled look.

H could feel himself blushing and he looked down hastily, getting to his feet and wobbling slightly on the uneven rocks.

He turned back to see Axel smiling at him, the knowing grin back in place. "Beautiful, huh?"

Roxas could feel himself flushing further, his mouth flopping open as he tried to speak words that wouldn't come but he was saved by the ring of Axel's phone. The redhead looked down at it for a few moments without answering it. He stared at it like someone would a scorpion that was prepared to sting. Finally he flipped the phone open.

"Hello, Pop."


On another beach, in another part of the world, a girl sighed, the sand wet and soft beneath her feet as she wondered to herself just how long it had been since she had come to her favorite place. Time had become relative in his absence, and as she stood immobile in the chilled sea breeze she realized how numb she was beginning to feel, almost to the point where she could separate from herself and the memories that crept along the surface of her mind. She chuckled briefly and the soft lilting sound drifted from her lips and blended with the moaning wind.

It was the weekend now, and all the thoughts and feelings she had been avoiding by staying busy with friends and school were rushing back to her, their presence causing a heavy weight to press down uncomfortably on her chest.

Feelings of guilt and anger were bubbling over and she found herself taking deep breaths to compensate for the sudden and suffocating lack of air.

I will remain strong.

She had repeated this mantra many times over the past few days. She had been unwilling to cry but the drain from denying their release was taxing.

"Kairi!"

She turned in startled surprise, her violet eyes widening as she finally noticed the softly feminine figure that stood beside her. She shook her head and offered an apologetic smile, glad for the darkening sky that cast a shadow across her dispirited features.

"Sorry, Naminé. I was just lost in thought. I'm sure you know how that is."

Naminé nodded in understanding as she flashed a brief, reassuringly warm smile. She knew what was on Kairi's mind, for it had also been on her mind. Their closest friends, Sora and Roxas, had left and now neither of them could help but notice the empty spaces that were made so prevalent in their absence.

She gazed at the writhing tides that crashed and undulated in synchronous hypnotic movements before she looked over at Kairi. She crossed her bare arms in an attempt to deflect the mist of tingling spray that swept in on the waves.

"I know. I've been thinking about Sora and Roxas, too."

She glanced at Kairi as she tried to gauge her reaction, and even with the growing darkness that cast an unnerving glow around them, she could feel the disheartened emotion from the auburn-haired girl's small, pallid form. An aperture had formed where her heart had once been.

Places they had frequented together so many times now somehow seemed colorless and barren, their existence replete with nostalgia. Kairi had told Naminé with such optimistic certainty right before Sora had left that they would find new places to build memories. Naminé, however, had not had the same buoyant attitude and considered true friends that she had a real affinity for difficult people to come by.

The blonde girl took off her sandals as she found a dry spot on the sand to sit, offering her friend a place beside her with a gracefully gesturing hand. Kairi responded by taking a seat beside her and they both listened to the soft rolling waves of the sea. Its sweet crystalline scent permeated the air.

"I was relieved to hear from Roxas, and to hear that Sora won the duel against Riku," Kairi finally said.

She was turned slightly away from Naminé's gaze, but the blond-haired girl's bright blue eyes didn't miss the downturned corners of her pursed lips. Obviously something else was worrying Kairi. Naminé had received an email from Roxas as well and had felt a similar sense of dismay.

"But?"

Kairi put her knees up and crossed her arms. "But he's hiding something. His response was vague and short. You know that Roxas is usually very expressive when he writes. He doesn't like to give all the exact little details, but the feelings he conveys are always there. It just felt blank." She paused for a moment and looked at Namine before saying, "I think he was trying to tell us something."

Kairi furrowed her eyebrows and bit her lip in thought as she stared dully at the sand. Naminé placed a comfortingly warm hand on the small of her back, urging her to continue.

"I don't want to seem paranoid Nami, but I saw the look in that boy's eyes…" Aquamarine eyes flashed before her for a brief moment and the small hairs on her arms stood erect as she became uncomfortably cold. She shivered and quickly wrapped her arms around her torso.

"Riku," Naminé whispered. "From what you've said about him, he doesn't seem like the type to be easily deterred."

Naminé looked over at Kairi who nodded her head in agreement.

"Roxas is with Sora even now. You know how protective he is. If he actually believed the situation was something that Sora didn't have a handle on, I'm sure he would tell us."

The words hadn't rolled off Naminé's tongue as smoothly as she thought they would. Would Roxas tell them if something was wrong? She shook her head at the thought, looking over at Kairi. She could tell from her friend's scowl that she wasn't so sure either.

"Why would he tell us? From his point of view there's nothing we can do. Especially since my presence at the school only served to make things worse for Sora." Kairi paused for a moment as her eyes met Naminé's worried ones.

Roxas wouldn't tell them because there was nothing they could do if they were stuck on the Island. Kairi kicked the sand in frustration, and it jerked and rippled up into the air, flaying itself across her bared legs as it slowly trickled down in a tingling caress.

"Why do you think he joined Sora in the first place? He sensed something was wrong, too. Have you noticed Sora's emails? They're even more cryptic than Roxas's." She huffed in indignation. "You'd think they would know by now that they can't hide things from us, or omit truths as they've been doing."

Naminé nodded her head sadly as a light and cool sea breeze softly grazed across her face. The sun had receded from the sky and only the tender penetrating glow of the moon was left in its stead. Roxas was trying to protect them, but by doing so they were becoming even more worried.

"I think they're busy with their own problems now, Kairi. Sora doesn't want to make his issues ours by getting us involved."

Was she being selfish? Kairi shook her head. She couldn't think so negatively when Sora needed her. Although she had wanted to help; thus far, all she had done was succeed in making trouble. Did that mean she couldn't in some way make reparations for what she had done?

"You're right, Naminé." Kairi paused for a moment before she continued. "That doesn't mean we can't indirectly be involved. Does Sora have to know that we're helping him? In fact, it's best if he doesn't know. He won't have to worry about us."

Naminé looked at her auburn-haired friend dubiously as she bit her lip in uncertainty. If they were going to do something so unobtrusively then they would need to have a plan.

"I think it's time that we do something together, Naminé. We can't stay in this protective bubble forever. Our friends need us." Kairi stood up and stretched her arms and legs before she turned around to offer a hand to the slender blond girl.

She stared at Kairi from where she sat and she wondered if it wasn't the other way around. Kairi needed Sora, although she was sure her friend would never admit it. Naminé smiled a little sadly as she gently placed her hand in the comforting one of her now smiling friend. Kairi's alabaster brilliance had been restored to its former warm vitality and Naminé felt relieved at the sight.

She was glad to finally be able to do something. What harm could be done by trying?

"What do you suggest that we do?"

Kairi smiled playfully. "I have a plan."


The dim light of twilight was ever-present; the only changes to be seen were the colors of the sky. Twilight Town had a sunset like no other, probably because the sun never actually showed itself fully but was always a glimpse on the horizon, a backdrop for violets, pinks, and radiant orange. Sora loved it, but he loved it in the way that people loved their memories, with nostalgia, a faint hint of sadness touched with joy. The stars never appeared, nor the moon. It was as if the sky was in suspended animation but for the kaleidoscope of hues.

He walked with meandering steps, not having any particular direction, and without any real thought began cataloguing the differences between this beach and the one on Destiny Islands. The sand here was grainier, less soft to the touch, the water cooler but still pleasant, and the ocean was made of dark grays and blues rather than the bright cerulean and aqua he was used to (the colors reminded him of Squall's eyes, truth be told).

Roxas had been silent about the cause of Riku disappearance but he suspected that his brother had gone into his overprotective mode (ridiculous really, because Roxas was the younger one. But it had always been that way so Sora never questioned it). His brother had disappeared but that wasn't unusual. Roxas, although amiable and always having friends, was at heart a loner, more comfortable with his own company than most.

When Sora had come back to find Riku gone he had felt momentary panic, as if Riku's absence was more significant than he could logically explain. He knew that Riku wasn't really gone, that he had just gone for a walk, but something inside Sora cried out for him to go look for him, the idea that Riku would leave him untenable. He didn't understand why. It made no sense. He barely knew him, and what he did know wasn't exactly wonderful. Still…

"Sora." The word seemed almost whispered, a product of the wind or Sora's imagination but Sora turned around anyway. Sitting above him high on a sand dune was Riku. The panic the he had been feeling left as suddenly as it had come.

"Hey," Sora said softly in reply, a light blush coating his cheeks. Riku smiled at him, eyes a dark cyan, silver hair tinted violet in the setting sun. "I've been looking for you."

"Well, you found me," Riku responded, his smile widening as he gestured with his hand to the place next to him, inviting Sora to sit. He climbed the sandy hill and took a seat before glancing over at Riku who was still watching him with a slight smile on his face. "I had to get away from your brother's Q and A."

Sora blushed again. He looked down before glancing upward, a mischievous smirk on his face. "Sorry about that."

"No you're not," Riku retorted, rolling his eyes and leaning back on his elbows, his chest bare and glowing peach in the dim light.

Sora glanced away as his smile widened. "You're right, I'm not. I'm betting it was pretty funny."

"Oh yeah, hilarious," Riku said dryly and Sora couldn't suppress a low chuckle. Riku rolled his eyes.

"Roxas is…"

"Protective," Riku finished for him.

"A little too protective sometimes, I guess."

"No," Riku shook his head. "You're lucky. To have someone who cares like he does."

"Don't you? Have someone like that, I mean?"

Riku looked over at Sora, examining the other's face. The younger boy's eyes were wide and curious, his cupid bow mouth puckered in question. Riku fought the strongest urge to reach over and touch Sora's cheek, to lower his mouth toward the other's, to explore that inner wet warmth with his tongue. His heart started beating a rapid tattoo against his chest as he struggled with himself.

Now isn't the time.

But Sora was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He wanted to be close to him, closer to him than he had been to anyone.

He pondered Roxas's question. Why him, why Sora?

He didn't know, but there was something about him, something that called to him, pulled at him, as surely as the moon pulled the tides. He was tired of it, this inner battle that raged inside him which was a constant thing since he met Sora. He used to be so certain of himself, what he wanted, where he was going, but since he had met the spiky-haired brunet, since the first day he had looked into Sora's wide blue eyes, nothing was clear anymore. His world that had once been unmistakably defined was now…well, now it wasn't.

"Riku?" Sora waved his hand in front of Riku's face trying to get his attention. He was smiling and it lit his features to such brilliance that Riku felt almost blinded by it. "Riku, where'd you go?"

Suddenly Riku was annoyed. Why should this matter so much? The answer was that it shouldn't. He should just want to fuck him and move on. So why didn't he? Frustration welled within him. He remembered his whispered words to Sora after the duel. This isn't over, Sora. And it was true. It would never be over until he could rid himself of this obsession.

Burying the growl that welled in his throat he said,"I should get back."

Sora, sensing Riku's annoyance but not sure where it was coming from, furrowed his brows in confusion. "Back to the others?"

"No. Back to Radiant Garden," Riku snapped, shifting as if to get up. He looked over at Sora and his tone unconsciously softened when he noticed his bewildered expression. "It's getting late."

Before he could stand Sora jumped up and clapped his hands together. "I have an idea. I haven't been around Radiant Garden yet. Maybe you could show me around."

Riku gaped up at him, trying to comprehend what Sora had just said. He wanted to spend time with him? Wanted Riku to show him around? He felt unsettled, as if he could never quite keep his balance around Sora. It was as if he was constantly walking a tight-rope that was being jostled and jarred.

Suddenly an idea came to him, a plan that could put them more on even-footing.

He smirked, looking up into Sora's excited face. "All right."

Sora jumped up and down and Riku laughed, not sure what to think. Was Sora ridiculous or just…really, really cute?

Sora reached out his hand to Riku. "We'll go together."

Riku blinked up at Sora and for an instant he was disoriented. He felt as if he wasn't there with Sora on this beach, but another, like a memory from a dream. The light seemed to go out for a moment, the beach going dark. Then he looked again, the halo of light that had seemed to surround Sora disappeared. And then it was just Sora, reaching down to Riku with an expectant look on his face. He took his hand.


Sora walked along beside Riku as he led the way through the Market District of Radiant Garden. Towering stone buildings of varied shapes and sizes stood erect before Sora. The concrete monuments to commercialism soared above the citizens of its city, casting them in shadow as they bustled to and fro. He had never experienced the grandeur of anything so large and magnificent. It was a metropolitan city, filled with so many different shops, boutiques, and stores that catered to the extensive desires of the general populace.

Axel had made the decision to stay in Twilight Town and had stated his ambiguous reason with a chuckle that had caused Roxas's blue eyes to tilt downward and his lips to pinch in a look of concern that was usually reserved for his close friends. His brother had always been a bit protective, but Sora hadn't like to see him looking so worried.

When he had hugged his brother goodbye at the train station, he had quickly asked if everything was all right, but Roxas had only shaken his head and told him it was nothing. Sora was fairly certain that wasn't true and he made a note to himself to dig for details later when he had the chance. It wasn't the first time Sora had been forced into probing for more information from Roxas and it undoubtedly wouldn't be his last. He had come to the conclusion that if he didn't ask, Roxas would never tell.

Kairi and Namine had always been good at getting Roxas to confide in them, and the three of them had often sat together, huddled in a tight circle as they had long conversations. Sora sighed under a brief wave of nostalgia. He remembered the scent of saltwater, the laughter and faces of his friends, and the comfort and security he had felt when he was with them.

He was drawn back to the present as he glanced around the plaza. The gray stone of the flagstone pavement brought to mind a set of eyes nearly the same color.

Squall.

He had never experienced such feelings before, a constant weight of apprehension and excitement. Squall wasn't a friend like Zexion or Demyx. Sora jutted his lower lip out as he crossed his arms, staring blankly at the people passing by.

What do I want him to be?

He felt a shiver run down his spine and he arched his back at the intrusion, a wave of heat piercing his cheeks at his shameless thoughts. Was this what his friends back home had meant when they had talked about "liking" someone? He had never really thought about it back home on the island but he had gotten his fair share of love confessions from girls.

Why was it that he had never been interested? The fact that Roxas had never cared for girls either had given him some comfort. But was the real reason he had never been able to reciprocate any of those girls' feelings because he liked men instead?

The thought somehow felt wrong to him and he shook his head. No, that wasn't it. Even if Squall had been a girl he still would've liked him. Sora inwardly chucked at the thought of Squall as a female and then felt warmth flood his cheeks. Yes, he was certain he would be attracted to him, regardless.

He felt better at the thought and turned to look at his silver-haired companion who was now sporting a look of frustration.

"Sora! Try to keep up. I hadn't realized I was babysitting a child. If I had known, I might have thought twice about offering to give you a tour." Riku crossed his arms as he challenged Sora with a hard and penetrating stare. He enjoyed seeing the reactions that he that he could evoke from Sora by teasing him. Riku smirked when he saw the blue eyes grow darker in frustration and Sora's lips formed into a familiar pout.

"I'm not a child. I just don't see the point in giving me a tour if I don't actually get to explore anything, Riku. I thought the point of a tour was for you to show me the town, not to point and say the name of the landmark without giving me a chance to explore."

Riku shook his head and smirked, silver hair falling over his face as he sighed and stared at the people around him. Sora's refreshingly simple, straightforward, and open fascination with people and sights gave him an endearing child-like quality, very unlike the shrewd and contrived people that he was used to dealing with in his every-day life. Riku smiled indulgently as he nodded his head.

"Very well, Sora. We'll do it your way. I don't want you to feel dissatisfied with your tour." He nudged Sora ahead of him as he thought of the plans he had in store for him. Sora was definitely in for a surprise.

Sora smiled as he jumped up excitedly, running into the nearest sweet shop with a display window that was filled with various assortments of flour-based food. Riku sneered at the garish display of cookies, cakes, and pastries thickly coated with fat-rich substances. But even so, he couldn't keep from shaking his head in a gesture that was simultaneously amused, disgusted, and admiring of Sora's bright and honest display of pleasure as he looked at all the sweets with covetous eyes.

Noticing his apparent lack of enthusiasm, Sora placed his hands on his hips and frowned. "What are you doing? Come on, Riku!"

Riku smiled at Sora before shaking his head, his eyes glinting with good humor. He could afford to indulge Sora. There would be plenty of time later for them to do what he wanted to do.


The dorms were filled with the laughter of students. Saturday nights at Radiant Garden Academy were always loud. From every dorm room could be heard the sounds of various TV shows, movies, video games, and the blasting of stereos. Students were packed into rooms, lolling about from every conceivable surface, laughing and chatting about the week's events, plans for the following weekend, or commiserating about the homework that they had postponed until the next day. Saturdays were, in fact, the busiest day of the week for dorm leaders and keeping the noise level to a minimum while preventing chaos from leaking into the halls was an extremely taxing challenge.

A door slammed to the left of where Squall was standing, back propped against a pillar, keeping watch for errant students. The sound was followed by a loud explosion of laughter and then the scrambling of pounding footsteps. Two students appeared in front of him, one chasing the other. A blond with a haircut that looked suspiciously as if it were the love-child of a mullet and a Mohawk, was holding something above the head of another boy. The second one had slate hair that fell to one side of his face and was grabbing at it in a vain attempt to wrest it back. His expression was one of sternness but it was ruined by the smile quivering on his thin lips.

"Give it back, Demyx," he said in a serious voice, still reaching for it, wrapping one arm around the waist of the blond to hold him still. Even from where Squall was standing he could see the blond blush in response.

"No way! Come on, Zexion, just let me see the sketch. Please?" The blond poked his bottom lip out in a pout, but ruined it when he smiled. They stared at one another, the slate-haired boy's arm still wrapped around the blond, for long tense moments, and Squall could tell that there was more than friendship between the two. Then again, from the way they were standing, bodies pressed flush to one another, eyes locked, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

He was about to wave them back to their rooms when someone familiar to Squall approached the couple.

"Hey guys, you're friends with Sora, right?" Tidus asked, already clad in pajamas, his bleached locks still wet from his shower.

The two broke apart abruptly, the blond running a self-conscious hand through his hair. He took an additional step back from his companion, who appeared annoyed at the interruption. His face flashed for a moment with hurt as the blond stepped away before it settled into a blank mask, the smile disappearing from both his eyes and mouth.

It was the blond who finally spoke. "Yeah, Sora and I, I mean we…" he said, glancing over at his silent companion before continuing. "We are friends with Sora."

"Why are you asking?" the one called Zexion questioned.

"I was just wondering if he's back yet. I had something I needed to speak with him about," Tidus said.

Zexion frowned slightly, his brow furrowed in thought. "What do you mean 'back yet'?"

At that Squall stepped forward. "Yes, Tidus, what do you mean?"

Tidus stared at Squall in blank surprise, his mouth dropping open for a moment before his lips came together and pursed into a knowing smirk. "Are you asking me as a dorm leader, Leon? Or are you asking me as a concerned friend to Sora?"

Squall wasn't sure if Sora's friends understood Tidus's implications but Squall did. He and Tidus just stared at one another for a moment and Squall could read in his friend's eyes what wanted to say aloud.

I know, Leon. I know about Sora.

Squall's heart beat uncomfortably in his chest for a moment as they stared at one another but was finally broken when he spoke. "Where is Sora?"

Tidus was about to come back with another snarky comment but something in Squall's eyes made him visibly hesitate.

"He's gone."

"Gone where?" Squall practically growled. Sora's friends were conspicuously silent and he could feel the blond, who apparently went by the name Demyx, tense at the question.

"He left," Tidus paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "with Riku."

Demyx sputtered and Zexion's eyes widened in surprise before he frowned in thought, his eyes still on Tidus.

Squall didn't know what to think. Sora was with Riku? Voluntarily? Why? How? What could Sora possibly be thinking? And more importantly, what was Riku up to?

"Where did they go, Tidus?" he asked through gritted teeth. Tidus was taken aback by the anger in Squall's eyes so he didn't come back with one of the thousand and one smart-ass comments he had ready. "They went to the beach with Sora's brother."

"Which beach?"

"Fuck, Leon, I don't know. Some beach in T-Town!"

Squall's eyes widened in surprise. Twilight Town? That was two hours away by train.

"And they're not back yet?" Zexion spoke up for the first time since Squall had joined the conversation. His hands were shoved into his pockets, the earlier frown only deepening at the information Tidus was giving them. Zexion's question seemed to bring Demyx out of his horrified trance.

"Sora's with Riku? Outside the castle? Oh God, this is really bad!"

"Calm down!" Tidus snapped impatiently. "Riku ain't gonna hurt him!"

"Oh yeah, 'cause he's been so nice to Sora up till now!" Demyx snapped back with heavy sarcasm.

"Demyx," Zexion said quietly, "there's nothing we can do about it now. We just have to wait and see. If Sora's not back by morning—"

"Morning!" Demyx protested.

"—then we'll go look for him," Zexion continued as if Demyx hadn't interrupted. "And if anything has happened to him…" Zexion's voice trailed off and his voice became nearly inaudible but the threat was clear.

"I'll take care of it," Squall said, looking the slate-haired boy in the eye. A look of understanding passed across Zexion face and he nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement of the other's promise. The issue of possible expulsion for Sora leaving campus without permission wasn't even broached. Even if Squall hadn't been concerned for Sora, there was still Riku to think about.

"Come on, Demyx. Let's go."

"But I wanna know why—"

"Later," Zexion said, taking the still protesting Demyx by the hand and leading him away.

Tidus and Squall were left standing there, neither looking at the other, as if not able to face what they both knew to be true. What that truth was, Squall was no longer certain of. That he had feelings for Sora that went beyond the boundaries of friendship? Or that Riku, his best friend at the academy, was even now with the boy he was rapidly falling for, and who in all likelihood had feelings for him, too? Or maybe that Sora had chosen to go with Riku against Squall's advice to stay away from him? His thoughts were a painful jumble of tangled confusion, denial, and bitterness.

Why wasn't anything ever simple?

"It'll be okay, Leon," Tidus said, giving Squall a look tinged with pity. "I talked to Riku a few hours ago and they were headed back to Radiant Garden."

Squall scowled. "Well, how come you didn't say that before?"

Tidus was silent a moment before he looked up and his gaze met Squall's, naked concern present there. "Riku was going to show Sora around Radiant Garden." Tidus's voice trailed off slightly as if knowing that the news wasn't good.

Squall's eyes narrowed for a second and then they widened in dismay. "Damn it! Riku can't do that!" he gritted out, hands clenching into tight fists.

"He'll be okay, Leon. Sora will be fine." But Tidus's assertion lacked any real force and his eyes wouldn't meet Squall's. He and Tidus both knew Riku a little too well to believe that.

"Damn," he whispered again and this time the word was spoken with tense hopelessness.


"Riku!" The silver-haired boy sighed as the remorseless bundle of energy waved over to him once again, exclaiming once more that he'd found something "interesting." What was it now? He hoped it wasn't another useless rock formation shaped in the form of a duck or a dog. Sora seemed to have a fascination for those two animals.

"Come on, Riku! Let's go this way!"

Darkness had descended, and the street lamps that surrounded them led up to an array of buildings surrounded by neon flashing lights. The place Sora was pointing to was the Red Light District; a place rife with drugs, alcohol, and debauchery. Riku looked into the guileless electric-blue eyes of his companion and smiled. Sora's curious nature would be his downfall.

"Are you sure you want to go, Sora? I've been here before. The Red Light District is filled with a lot of bad things." Riku paused for a moment as he stared challengingly at the young boy. "This place isn't meant for kids."

Sora glared at Riku as the thought occurred to him, not for the first time, that he was being treated like a child. One that needed to be protected.

"I'm not a kid! If you can go there, I can too! How bad could it be, anyway?" Sometimes he felt like people underestimated him, treated him as if he couldn't take care of himself.

Riku shook his head as he smiled inwardly at Sora's frustrated reaction. He didn't even realize that he was playing right into his hands.

"I don't know, Sora. Roxas asked me to take care of you." Riku's expression was deliberately dubious as he stared into Sora's glaring eyes. In the end, this would be Sora's choice. He was only giving him a friendly nudge in the right direction.

Sora huffed in exasperation. Roxas always did this, tried to make decisions for him. Why couldn't his brother trust him? Sora glowered stubbornly but his eyes pleaded silently, locking onto his silver-haired companion's. "Please, Riku? What better time to do this than now? You're here with me and you already know this place. You can show me around and protect me like Roxas wanted you to."

Riku chuckled as he admitted to himself that Sora was very good at the art of persuasion. If he hadn't planned this, he might have been sold already. "All right Sora. We'll have it your way."

Riku smiled at the answering shout of joy that erupted from Sora's lips. The trail of street lamps that were glowing brilliantly led to the Red Light District, and as he and Sora started forward, he wondered to himself if it would be everything that Sora had hoped for.