Ok guys sorry for the long wait but phew I'm finally done with this chapter. XP

My thanks go out to:

Micro chibi baka-san: Thanks so much for your review! :D I'm glad you like it so far. Oh and yes Riku is older. Sora is about to turn 21 and Riku is 23. So yay!

Disclaimer: Which I've noticed I haven't been putting on any of my other chapters. / Anyways so none of the characters in this story are mine. Goes off and sobs hysterically

FYI: The italics are the person's thoughts or whatever is going through their head hope you don't get confused. Happy Reading! XD

Ch. 2 - Familiar Much?:

After four super-sized meals, three of them being Axel's, and two extremely long hours of "shopping" at Axel's favorite store, were they finally going to what would now be called Riku's home. For the time being anyway.

They arrived at a gate that stood before a long road ahead. On the other side was a booth. A middle-aged man stuck his head out as he heard them pull up.

"Hey Frank! It's me!" Axel waved his hand out the window.

The man waved back and went to press the button that would open the gate.

"That's Frank. He's been a close friend of my Uncle's for years now."

Axel drove past the gate and stopped in front of the booth where Frank was standing. "Hey how are ya', Frank?"

"I'm doing good kid. Traffic's a little slow today but I'm expectin' Cloud will stop by later." His voice was scratchy and hoarse, the result of years of smoking.

"Well that should be fun. There's nothing better than having a sour-puss for company." Frank let out a throaty chuckle. "Anyways, I'd like you to meet Rik-uhh I mean Ry. He's going to be staying with us from now on."

Frank hadn't missed the alteration of the name but he pretended not to notice. "So Ry, it's good to meet ya'. The name's Cid," he extended his hand out and at Riku's confused expression, he clarified, "Frank is what this bone-head likes to call me for some unknown reason but my real name's Cid."

Riku shook his head in amusement and grasped Cid's hand. "Well it's good to meet you too, Cid"

"I still say Frank suits you better," Axel murmured to himself through a pout.

"Aw shucks kid you can call me anything you want, just don't push it. Now get on home, I suspect your uncle will want to meet Ry here."

"Yea alright Frank I'll talk to you later."

Riku nodded in agreement. "It was real nice meeting you Cid."

"Same here kid."

Axel sped off up the road while Cid waved them off, whispering to himself.

"He looks strangely familiar."

--

Please, please forgive me,

But I won't be home again.

Maybe someday you'll look up,

And, barely conscious, you'll say to no one:

"Isn't something missing?"

You won't cry for my absence, I know -

You forgot me long ago.

Am I that unimportant...?

Am I so insignificant...?

Isn't something missing?

Isn't someone missing me?

"SORA!! Are you ready yet!?. . . .Why do you have clothes all over the floor, silly?"

Kairi made her way to Sora in lithe moves, almost like dancing.

"Kai was that really necessary?" Sora held his fisted hands against his hips and glared at her.

She tried to hold back from giggling, "What did I do?"

"You scared the bejesus out of me that's what! Now I have to re-pack my bag thank you very much! You know you could knock before coming in."

This time she couldn't hold it back and let out a series of screeching laughs, "Ne-next ti-time y-you try to be a-angry, try to do it without a pair of undies on your head." She reached out and plucked said item from his head and stretched them out for him to see. "Very nice."

"Shut up." Sora yanked his briefs out of her hands, a blush stealing across his cheeks, and threw them under his other clothes.

"Heehee, oh lighten up. Aren't you excited? Cos I certainly am!"

Sora's mouth turned down in a frown and mumbled, "I don't see a reason for you to be excited, it's my birthday after all. And I'm not even that thrilled over it."

"Aww c'mon So-ra. We get to go back home...even if it is just for a little while. Don't you miss the beach, the cool breeze, the clean smelling air? Not this polluted smog that we call oxygen floating around our heads."

He winced, but not enough to make Kairi notice. Miss what exactly? He let her question linger for a moment. Home? Isn't this my only home? "I happen to like Hollow Bastion just fine." He plopped himself down on his bed and put his head in his hands.

Kairi rushed to kneel by his side, worry crossing her face. "Sora? Sora, what's wrong?"

He looked up and into her eyes and she like wise stared back. He had to admit she was a real beauty, her violet eyes and auburn hair made her unique in anyone's eyes. Not only that but just her persona was refreshingly original. Any guy would be lucky to have her, but needless to say he didn't feel anything towards her except sisterly affection. He let a small smile pull at his lips. "I love you."

Her face lit up in a somewhat brilliant smile, but her concern was still showing. "I know that. And I love you too. Now tell me."

He let out a shaky breath before answering in a whisper. "I'm scared, Kai. Real scared. I haven't been home in over four years. I hardly think I can call that place home for all the memories I have of it. Ever since the. . . .incident, I have never felt right at home. I have no special memories of that place, I mean obviously I do have memories, just not any that I could say have been some of my happiest times, you know? . . . . . Don't get me wrong, you guys, my family are everything to me, but even then all those years ago when I woke up, I could hardly remember my own name. It took days, weeks just to remember you guys, the ones I love..."

He stopped to take in a deep breath and let out a quiet sob, closing his eyes tightly. Kairi reached out to grasp his hands. "S-sometimes I feel like I'm walking through an empty void, everything is pitch black, I can't see anything b-but I can feel it. I have so many unknown feelings rolling inside of me. . . .but I just can't seem to figure out where they belong. Lately, whenever I have dreams, there's always blanks, gaps, empty spaces." That was a lie. There was only one blank. One gap. One empty space. "I j-just feel like there's a part of me missing and until I can find it I don't think I'll ever be able to be whole again."

He let his tears run freely. His now red eyes opened to meet with Kairi's wet ones. His face wrinkled in an attempt to hold back his tears and as a result let out a dry laugh instead. "It seems like all I can do lately is cry."

She sat, staring at him in joyless wonder. Can he be remembering? Maybe...just maybe... "Sora..."

He once again met her gaze and she abruptly surged forward and embraced him in her arms. She sobbed lightly into his collar. "Oh Sora...why didn't you ever tell me? So much suffering. You shouldn't have to bear this alone."

He hugged her tightly to him, grateful for the contact. "I'm sorry I haven't told you anything. I just figured it was my burden to bear. I've been trying to figure it all out and the only conclusion I came down to was that I'm being punished. Either by fate, destiny, karma, or a past life, I figure I must have done something despicable and now, now I'm paying for it."

Kairi sniffed and wiped her tears away. She pulled back and sat on her heels. "No Sora. Don't say that. You have the purest heart of all. Clean and unblemished by sin or wrong-doing. I would have to say that your greatest flaw is loving too much. Not that I'm complaining. Instead of thinking of this as punishment, think of it as fate's plan, or destiny, if you will. We all have our obstacles to face, this may be your greatest one yet, now all you have to do is overcome this. But I will tell you one thing, you will find that missing piece, Sora. You will be whole again, I promise you that." Can I possibly keep that promise?

Sora sniffed and ran his hands across his face, wiping away any trace of tears. Oh no. Now she's going to be worried. "Thanks, Kai. . . .Now I think I have to finish packing if we're off to have some fun." He managed to smile and stand up, picking up any clothes left on the floor.

Oh gosh, he looks so miserable though... "Hey...we don't have to go if you don't want to. We can stay here and do something else...just family."

Pull it together. "No, I'll be fine...really. Plus, it's not fair to you guys. You and those traitors have been planning this behind my back for months now." He really smiled meaningfully this time and even added a wink for Kairi's benefit.

Ok so maybe not so miserable. But still...

"You guys deserve to have some fun too."

Kairi simply mumbled out and "ok," too caught up in her thoughts at the moment.

"I'm gonna go freshen up. I don't want Roxas to see me like this. Can you do me a favor and finish packing the rest of the clothes in my drawers, please?"

"Sure, sure. Go do your thing." As Sora walked into the bathroom, Kairi sat contemplating. He said it himself. After he woke up, he couldn't remember, but after seeing us again the memories slowly came back. Maybe...seeing is believing. Or in this case seeing is remembering. Maybe...but how...

She stood abruptly and rushed to Sora's drawers picking up his clothes in handfuls and throwing them into his duffel bag, not caring for neatness in her state of hurry. This was so not like her. She checked her watch before going to bang on the bathroom door until Sora pulled it open looking apprehensive.

"What's wrong?!"

"I'm sorry but I've gotta go! I just realized that I left Tidus in charge of things at the harbor-I have no idea what I was thinking at the time-don't forget the ship leaves in an hour-I'll have your boarding pass ready-please, please, please don't be late." She was speaking in such a flurry that he was having a hard time understanding anything. She pecked him once on the cheek and flew out the front door.

"Geez...what was that all about? And I thought I had problems."

--

Riku was now laying in his new king-sized bed situated in the center of one of the biggest bedrooms, no, the biggest bedroom he had ever been in. It was now officially known as his bedroom. He still couldn't quite wrap his mind around it. He was momentarily in a state of shock, or was it euphoria? Quite frankly, at that moment, he couldn't care less. He couldn't remember a time when he had felt as secure as he felt now. Well...maybe once.

But still he was reluctant to put any claim to the room. His new clothes were still folded neatly in their trademark bags. His other personal belongings were still inside their own plastic covering, all except his chain, which now hung proudly around his neck. It was all just too good to be true. His life had taken a turn for the better, all thanks to Axel and his gracious uncle. Which, speaking of Axel's uncle, made him think back to his brief encounter with him.

Upon reaching the house, or mansion was more like it, Riku had been shocked speechless. It was much bigger than he had at first imagined. The area, the setting was beautiful. Not only that but the extent of it was breathtaking in itself. Before Riku had even thought to ask, Axel had told him that his uncle's land ran just a little over 160 acres. And as if that wasn't enough he even had his own private beach equipped with its own house and everything.

Riku had stood gaping like an idiot for what seemed like minutes until Axel, jokingly enough, brought him back from his daze,"Haha! C'mon Riku. You don't want to drown in your own drool."

Riku closed his mouth shut with a snap, and glared. I was not drooling!

Axel made his way to the steps leading to the front door, laughing his butt of as he went.

He laughs at anything doesn't he? But, none-the-less, Riku followed at his own pace. He was still able to hear Axel yell out from inside the house, even though he was still admiring the outside of it.

"Uncle Remus, I'm home!!"

Riku merely rolled his eyes at the changed name, and upon reaching the door was able to hear another voice, which was surprisingly similar to Axel's.

"Haha! How's my favorite nephew doing?"

"That's not really fair, I'm your only nephew."

Riku stood silently by the still open door, waiting for and introduction, not wanting to be rude.

"Which makes you all the more lucky don't you think?"

Riku snickered, maybe a little too loudly, for it had brought both of the men's attention towards him. He managed not to appear embarrassed, only because he was so shocked at the striking resemblance the two relatives shared. They looked more like brothers than uncle and nephew.

"Uhh, Uncle, I'd like you to meet Rik-uhh argh Ry, damn it that's twice today! Sorry I'm just not used to it."

Riku decided to speak out. He figured it was better to start off by being honest. That included his name. "That's ok Axel. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir. I've heard a lot about you. My name's Riku." He extended his hand out.

Reno walked towards him and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion before meeting Riku's hand with his own. "So you're Riku?" He paused to examine his face further. "Hmm..." The silence continued and as Riku was getting anxious from all the scrutiny, Reno finally let go of his hand and apologized, "Sorry about that, it's just that you look real familiar. But it's a pleasure to meet you. Axel's told me a lot about you, too, you know?"

Riku just let out a nervous laugh, a little uncomfortable at the thought of being the topic of discussion.

"So? Uncle? Can he stay here...with us?"

"Well I don't see why not. We have more than enough room here."

Axel cheered his approvals and appreciations. Riku had stood, a little stunned, wondering if he had heard right. "R-Really?" He'd let out a breath he hadn't even known he'd been holding. "I-I can't thank you enough, sir. You don't know how much this means to me. Thank you so much."

Reno had waved it off. "Ah, it's nothing you are very welcome here. This house is now your house. So feel free to do what you want. Besides, I figure I owe you for befriending Axel. A difficult task if I do say so myself."

Riku smirked while Axel was trying his best to form a pout through his excited-ness.

Reno just chuckled. "Well I've gotta get going. I was just on my way out before you got here."

"Oh, well again, thank you so much. Really, I'll find a way to repay you somehow."

"Yea thanks, Uncle."

Reno yanked his keys from his pocket and started towards the door. "It's no problem. So Axel will show you around and we'll get to know each other a little more when I get back. I'll take you guys out for a drink or something, my treat." He smiled and just before he walked out called back, "Oh, and Riku? Just call me Reno. Me a 'sir'? P-uh-lease. I'm not that old." And with that he walked off closing the door.

"Hehe, see I told you he'd be cool about it. Now c'mon I'll show you to your room."

And that was how he was now laying down in his ultra-comfortable bed, in his fully furnished, amazing room. But he was still feeling a little out of sorts from the whole ordeal. You see, nothing good ever lasted for him, this he had learned years ago. He was still expecting that at any moment someone was going to jump out from behind a door and scream 'Haha! Fooled you!' It was an unsettling thought, for this was his last resort, his only resort. If Axel's Uncle had said no, he had no idea what he would have done. So for this, he was grateful, and even silently sent out a prayer to whoever was watching over him.

There was a light tapping on door and he rose just in time to see Axel come in, with a huge smile on his face, mind you.

"So what do you think so far? Cool, huh?"

Riku nodded and looked around, "Yea it's unreal."

"You'll get used to it don't worry. Soon you'll wonder how you ever got along without all this."

That's what I'm afraid of...

"So, my uncle just called and said that he had to go mainland on some business affair, he won't be back till tomorrow." He shrugged. "Told me to take the car and go have some fun...buuut I thought you might want some time to get settled."

"Yea thanks. We can go out tomorrow, if that's ok. I just need some time, you know?"

"It's cool man. I get it. Ok so I'll leave you to yourself. If you get hungry there's cooks in the kitchen, they'll make you anything you want. Um, the bathroom's down the hall and if you need anything else I'll be in my room." He turned to walk out.

"Axel..."

"Yea?"

"Thanks."

He smiled. "I know. Get some rest, we'll talk later." And he walked out, closing the door behind him.

Riku lay back down and played with his necklace, raising it to his lips and pressing it lightly to them. What have you been doing all these years? Are you still even here? I hope so. Well, I'll believe, for now, that things are finally turning around for me. For us. Hopefully things stay like this, at least long enough for me to find you again. He let his eyes close and his thoughts wander. Not realizing how tired he really was he slowly drifted off to sleep, all the while imprinted memories of him and Sora together flashed by behind closed lids.

And if I sleep just to dream of you

I'll wake without you there,

Isn't something missing?

Isn't something...

--

Missing...

It's that soothing voice again. The same one as always. "Aren't you missing something?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" My own voice sounded weak and helpless compared to this person.

He let out a low chuckle. I don't think he meant for it to sound sexy or provocative, but it did, which put all the more stress on my emotional state at the moment.

"I mean don't you miss something. Or someone?"

How would he know? Did he know me? His whole body was cast in shadow, while mine was cast under a spotlight. I walked towards the darkness, hoping to get a better view of him. I stopped just inches from where light met dark. "W-Who are you?"

"You mean...you don't remember?"

That gave me pause. Remember what? What was it that I was supposed to remember? "I...I don't know..."

I could sense him getting closer. Step by step moving forward, towards me. "You...don't know?"

Even though his features were still hidden in the shadows, my nervous jitters started kicking in as I felt him step within my grasp. " N-No, I d-don't."

"Well do you remember this?"

His hand touched my cheek and my skin responded. All along my arms goose bumps came out and a shiver ran down my spine. I knew this touch. I stayed silent, not sure if I was ready for the answer to his question. My hands just itched to close the distance of mere inches and touch him, to feel his skin under mine, but I locked them into fists and kept them tight against my sides. I took a tiny step forward, making myself step on the boundary line. One more step and I'd be completely submerged in darkness.

He stepped forward too, leaving no more space between us. His body pressed lightly against body, and my eyes closed instinctively. A part of me screamed to open my eyes, to finally look into this person's face and have all my questions answered. But the other part of me wouldn't let me, too afraid to know the truth or,most likely, too afraid to look and only find a blank again.

His voice now only a whisper, "I know you know."

His breath fanned my face and I inhaled. His scent immediately assaulted me, reaching into the farthest corners of my lungs, triggering something in my mind and body. My mouth watered. I knew this smell. Like sea breeze and pineapple...mixed with something citrus? I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but who cared? It was heaven all the same. My knees felt like mush, my arms hung limp at my sides, and, as if sensing my problem he wound his other arm around my waist, holding me upright, crushing us even more tightly together.

My voice was shaky, barely coherent, "Te-Tell m-me?"

He pressed our foreheads together. "I can't...It's not for me to tell you... Please So-ra. I know you know. Tell me who I am."

I squeezed my eyes tighter trying my best to find some kind of clue in the puzzle of my brain. "I...I don't..."

"Tell me," he whispered more urgently.

"I - You're...you are..."

"Yes?"

"You are..."

"Sora wake up."

His eyelids fluttered open to see Kairi standing above him.

"Kai?"

"Hey, you lazy bum. C'mon the ship is about to dock."

Sora stretched and yawned, his mind already dismissing the dream. "So soon?"

Kairi chuckled lightly, "Sora, you've been asleep for over ten hours."

"Really? Hmm, I guess I was tired."

"No worries, you didn't miss anything it was pretty much open water everywhere. Now let's go the guys are waiting up on the deck."

He grabbed his duffel bag from atop the table and followed her out. They reached the deck through a set of steps and set eyes on their friends standing a little ways off, Kairi skipping lightly towards them.

"Hey guys! I finally got Sora to wake up."

Sora smiled sheepishly. "Hey guys."

"Hey!"

"Sup, Sora."

"Ya', man"

"Hey Bro."

Sora's closest friends were all here with him. Kairi, Tidus, Selphie, Wakka, and his twin brother Roxas, who he had barely met for the first time a few years ago. His other friends Squall, or Leon as he liked to be called, and Cloud were already settled at the beach house where they were going to stay.

The ship had already arrived at the harbor and the passengers were now waiting for it to come to a complete stop at the docking area. It was warm out, not quite hot yet since is was still early in the morning. The breeze swayed softly playing with everyone's hair. And right away Sora felt welcome, not due to the cheesy sign that read ' Welcome to Destiny Islands', but more with the overall homely feel to the place. He was born here after all. Maybe all he'd needed was to come back. Maybe now that missing piece would be filled again. He breathed in deeply. It smelled good too. Like sea breeze, of course, but pineapple was thrown into the mix along with something...citrusy? It seemed familiar. He smiled triumphantly. Yes he would certainly find something here.

"You may now disembark."

Wow this chapter was even longer than the last :D Hope you liked it and don't forget to review please!

This chapter's song was Missing by Evanescence