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Well, guys I have to be quite honest I can't pick anymore! I've been really busy, but all your reviews mean a lot so I just want to let you guys know that.

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Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You
Chapter 8: What a Warm Hug

"What was that?" Sora asked loudly. He stared at her confused. 'Did she just say--?'

"I didn't say anything Sora," Kairi stated firmly, "No I did not say anything whatsoever. Nuh-uh. At all. End of this freaking discussion!" She started picking up her fork and stabbing it down gently on the table to hide her anger and embarrassment (if you considered that stabbing could be gentle).

"I could've sworn I heard—"

"NO!" Kairi exclaimed cutting him off.

"But Kai…I swear I heard you say—"

"What would you like to order?" a tired and bored waitress asked drearily as she surprised both Sora and Kairi.

Sora stopped in mid sentence and completely forgot that they were supposed to order. 'Okay maybe I am hearing things.'

"Can I have this dish?" Kairi asked as she pointed to a picture on the menu, "With the pancakes, bacon, eggs, and biscuit?"

'She ordered ALREADY?' Sora wondered incredulously.

"And for you sir…?" the waitress asked tiredly.

Sora just stared at her and then back at Kairi, "Uhh…could you give me another minute?"

"Yeah, sure," the waitress sighed and walked away.

"What is taking you so long to order? If it takes you long to order than it's also postponing my breakfast as well," Kairi explained, "And I'm hungry—"

"And if you haven't noticed I'm paying," Sora interrupted rudely and Kairi just rolled her eyes. "Plus I like to look at my options. What if I don't like the eggs, but the bacon? I don't want to order that big plate you just ordered if I have to have the eggs. I want all the good food I can get." Kairi once again rolled her big violet eyes. "Okay, whatever. I'm just going to pick for you at this rate," Kairi stated simply and Sora went back to looking at the menu.

Eventually he ordered (some eternity later) and the food was finally served to them.

"This is amazing. Who knew that this breakfast place was this good? If I knew I'd come here like every day!" Kairi praised as she took a bite of her bacon. She smiled and laughed along with Sora as he attempted to chug down some eggs (which he ended up enjoying a lot).

"I would have another chugging contest with you, but right now my stomach hurts so I'm going to take my time and eat," Sora said as he stuffed more food in his mouth. Earlier on both Sora and Kairi had had a full on chugging contest and of course Sora won, but not without the consequences. He ended up having a huge stomach ache, which started to die away as they began talking once again.

"Shut up! You won you know," Kairi giggled and her fork was waving in the air as she said this.

Did she just giggle?

"I know I won. I knew I was going to win, but you just had to not listen to me," Sora pointed out and Kairi just rolled her eyes (yet again).

"That did not make sense," Kairi retorted.

"It most certainly made sense," Sora defended as he grabbed a sugar packet and threw it at Kair's nose, which caused a small yelp from Kairi and a few stares from other people. Kairi couldn't help, but crack into a smile as she grabbed the plastic spoon and threw it at him. But that wasn't why she was lying on the floor cracking up at this very moment…no…that wasn't it.

The spoon was stuck in Sora's head and he was trying to get it out.

Finally Kairi got up to help Sora. After all she couldn't just leave him there like that…all confused and cute like that…

Whoa, whoa.

'Did I just think Sora was confused and cute?' Kairi wondered, but shrugged it off as she leaned forward and attempted to get the spoon out of his hair. She was standing up and her head was a couple inches above his head, staring down. Sora on the other hand was looking up at Kairi's deft hands. He was at eye level around her neck and shoulders, but it seemed he was the only one who noticed the close proximity of the two.

"Got it!" Kairi shrieked as Sora jumped up from surprise and banged the top of his head on Kairi's chin, which caused her to fall forward on her stomach. She was now on Sora's lap with her legs in midair. Sora and Kairi were too busy laughing at their awkward situation that they didn't notice the door open in the background.

"Sora…?" the oh-so-familiar voice asked.

"Crap," Sora mumbled as Kairi stopped laughing for a second.

Perfect Timing.

"Sora…that you?" the voice asked once again.

Sora was actually considering saying 'no' or that the man had mistaken him for some one else…or anything, but before he could catch himself a 'yes' was forming in his throat and rolling off his tongue.

"Yes," Sora replied as he turned and looked straight into the eyes of yours truly,

Riku.

'Crap…crap…crap! Riku's going to think I've flipped and I'm definitely not going to explain my living situation with Riku cause then he's going to think…dirty thoughts. Not to mention his thing for her…he's going to think that I'm a traitor if he finds out that we've been hanging out. Crap…crap…crap…'

"What the hell are you doing? Are you getting a lap dance or something?" Riku asked curiously.

"NO!" The booming voice from Sora's lap yelled shrilly as Kairi jumped off of Sora and stared straight at Riku. For a second Sora swore he saw Riku flinch and then smile.

"My, my, my, Kairi Aozora. Didn't fancy seeing you here with Sora," Riku taunted.

"Umm…I…" Kairi's voice quavered, "You…Sora and I…No…"

"What was that? I didn't catch that," Riku teased.

"Shut up you inconsiderate jerk," Kairi hissed and was about to push him away or slap him (cause god knows he deserved it), but Riku grabbed her hand in midair and the other hand caressed it gently. Kairi growled in disgust and tried to pull away.

"Now, now…let's not be frisky Kairi. Acting hard to get I see—"

"Yeah right. You keep telling yourself that. It's not called acting, it's more called, hate," Kairi interjected rudely as she tried to pry away from Riku's tight grip, but it didn't seem to work.

"Hey Riku come on—"

"What Sora? If you ask me it doesn't make sense…I mean…you and Kairi eating breakfast together? Last time I checked you guys hated each other. Did you guys suddenly decide to be best friends? If so, I didn't get the memo," Riku glared at Sora.

"Just let go," Sora demanded. Seeing him hold on to Kairi made him angrier and angrier by the second, but before Sora could resist the urge to punch Riku, he had already let go of Kairi.

"You better explain Sora," Riku commanded.

"I've got nothing to explain to you," Sora muttered as he looked down.

"You heard him," Kairi reinforced loudly as she stepped in front of Sora, "He's got nothing to tell you. Now go away."

"Gees, Sora…didn't know you hired a bodyguard. What the hell is going on? Why are you and Kairi suddenly buddy-buddy?" Riku questioned.

"We are NOT buddy-buddy!" Kairi exclaimed, "We're doing a science project together!"

"On what? It seems way more than a science project to me," Riku asked as he raised an eyebrow and Kairi let out a shriek of frustration.

"YOU. OUT!" Kairi shouted.

"I'll be waiting for that explanation," Riku mumbled coolly as he walked out the door of the breakfast restaurant.

Sora sat back down in his seat and began eating again quietly. He felt rather guilty for some reason. Maybe it was the fact that Riku used to (or maybe still does) have a huge crush on Kairi. But if he still did Riku would've gone for the kill and kissed her right then and there.

Ugh. Love triangles. Not something you want to deal with every day.

'No…no, no, no, no it's not a love triangle it's…a…a…uhh…friendship triangle! That's all. I mean really Riku's just mistaking it as like a date or something when really we're just having a friendly outing that I just so happened to be paying for and—gees I should just stop thinking in general…' Sora thought gloomily.

But maybe Riku was over her and was just annoyed at Sora for being such a hypocrite (and technically Sora was being a huge hypocrite).

Kairi on the other hand was still red and fuming with anger. No one…no one ever humiliates or insults her or her friends (if you consider Sora a friend) like that. She was still standing and was breathing heavily. If she could she would've smacked him or kneed him in the groin.

Oh what she would do to punish Riku.

"Riku is such a JERK!" Kairi shrieked as she plopped down on her chair and started ranting, "I swear next time I see him I think I'll kill him. He is just such a horrible person. Not to mention a total womanizer. I mean I can list at least a trillion times that he's hit on Namine, Yuffie, and Selphie."

Sora was just staring blankly at his food.

"Sora? Sor—ahhhh? Say something?" Kairi enunciated on Sora's name. He suddenly snapped his attention toward her.

Sora looked up, but had to look away from her beautiful violet gaze.

"Something up?" Kairi asked confused. She pushed back some of her crimson locks out of her face and tilted her head to the side, "If it's something Riku did then ignore it. He's a total jerk right?"

"It's nothing…it's just…" Sora trailed off. Should he tell her about Riku's feelings for her?

"Yeah…?" Kairi asked.

What was he doing? Risking his friendship for Kairi? No way! He wouldn't do something like that! He was supposed to remain loyal to his best friend and not spill one of his best friend's most important secret about Kairi! He couldn't tell her! That was obviously the best and right thing to do for their friendsh—

"Riku-used-to-have-a-huge-thing-for-you," Sora blurted all in one breath.

Talk about slap in the forehead.

"Wha—what?" Kairi's eyes widened and her mouth hung open. The fork in her hand made a loud CLANG noise as it bounced on her plate. "Ri—RIKU?"

"He…er…forget what I just sai—"

"Did you just say he…liked me?" Kairi repeated with disgust dripping off of her voice. "Are we talking about the same Riku? Cause like I know a few Riku's…"

"Yes, we're talking about the same Riku," Sora clarified, "So I felt kind of guilty cause maybe he was jealous and stuff…and…"

"Well, let him think what he wants! Serves him right. I hope he's seething with jealousy right now because I rather spend my time with a guy like you than a stupid jerk like him!" Kairi suddenly snapped her mouth shut.

Did she just say that out loud?

"Uhh…" Sora wasn't sure if he should be insulted on his friend's behalf or happy about the compliment Kairi just gave him. Either way Sora was blushing.

"Well, I didn't mean it like that. You aren't any better than him," Kairi immediately snapped back, "I mean you guys are both jerks and all. But I just so happened to have gotten to know you better! I didn't have a choice. You live with me. I have to get along with you. I'm sure if I was in the same predicament with Riku this would be happening…except that whole crush thing."

Ouch. Sora hoped Kairi didn't hear that strange breaking noise coming somewhere in his chest…which sounded somewhat like a heart kind of cracking.

He hoped she didn't mean that…no scratch that…he begged deep down inside she didn't mean that. That maybe she was just ranting on again, like she usually did. They had chosen to be friends right?

Wrong.

'God why am I being such a girl about this? We aren't REALLY friends so I shouldn't get all upset with what she said.' Sora lectured himself, but it still wouldn't numb that strange feeling.

Kairi once again snapped her mouth shut. Why did she keep saying the wrong things that she didn't mean? Why?

"Sora…I didn't mean it like that—" Kairi reached out her hand to at least touch Sora's hand, but he pulled away subconsciously and Kairi's eyes widened.

Now that hurt.

"It's okay. I get it," Sora simply stated.

"No, Sora come on I didn't mean it like that I'm sor—"

"Here's your bill," The waitress interrupted once again.

"Thanks," Sora thanked as he scanned the bill and left 15 dollars, plus a tip on the pad.

"Sora, let me finish. I didn't mean it like that. Come on…" Kairi begged as she attempted to reach out for his hand yet again, but he pulled away.

Now that burned this time.

'Why the hell am I being such a girl over this?' Sora wondered to himself once again.

"I told you Kai, I get it," Sora growled as he got up and quickly walked out the door.

Kairi followed him and suddenly she couldn't control herself anymore. She was frustrated, hurt, and most importantly…warm?

Yes, warm.

She had suddenly ran in front of him, grabbed his arm and in the midst of all of this she hugged him.

"I'm sorry Sora. I didn't mean it. I really didn't," Kairi whispered as she buried her face in his chest. Her hands were wrapped around the back of his neck and she was pressing herself closer and closer against him until she was as close as she could get. She felt so warm and protected as she hugged him.

Sora on the other hand was on some other planet called…dreamland.

His cobalt blue eyes widened and his body froze on how tight she was squeezing him and how close she was. He could feel almost every single curve of her body and the skin on the back of his neck was almost being electrified by her touch.

At first Sora thought that he was dreaming this up or something, but when he wrapped his arms around Kairi and she didn't disappear he realized that this was all real.

This is real…

"I…uhh…Kai…" Sora stammered.

"I didn't mean it Sora," Kairi whispered, "So just forgive me. I still want to be friends."

"Of…of course," Sora managed to somewhat choke out. His voice was all choked up and his hands were all clammy. What the hell was going on with him?

"I just don't know what got over me," Kairi whispered.

'What got over you? What's going on with me?' Sora thought as he closed his eyes and inhaled her scent of paopu fruit. God she was amazing. 'Stop it Sora.'

"Thank you," Kairi thanked sweetly.

Since Kairi was too short to reach Sora's cheek and didn't want to break the warm embrace she just kissed his neck…barely. That is if you considered a brief nanosecond brush of the lips over the skin of his neck.

But even so it made his heart beat wildly. Such a reaction Sora had never experienced before.

"K—kai…what…wha---are…you…?" Sora stammered as Kairi blushed the same color as her hair.

"Uhh…we should go home," Kairi changed the subject as she broke the embrace and began leading him back home and Sora followed.

Sora almost wanted to just grab her back and beg for another 10 minutes…at least. But Sora didn't want to make a fool of himself and not only that Kairi would get a bit suspicious. After all Sora was getting a little suspicious of himself too.

'What the hell is wrong with me?' Sora wondered.

But in reality the question shouldn't have been asked as 'what the hell is wrong with me?', but it should've been asked as…'what the hell is right with me?'

Because truth be told there was nothing wrong with Sora…

No, on the contraire everything was right with Sora, just right.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxMeanwhilexxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Unbeknownst to the two embracing teens a tall male figure with silver hair had been watching them the whole time. He was hiding behind a nearby palm tree near the café and although his silver hair would've been a definite eye catcher no one seemed to notice him. If this was a good thing or a bad thing he wasn't sure because at this point he almost wished they would've seen him so that they might have not done that, had they known he was there.

As his eyes scanned them and his heart broke at the same time he frowned at his best friend while Kairi suddenly pounced on him and hugged him tightly. Something the silver-haired fellow only dreamed of doing.

His cold aquamarine eyes narrowed and he abruptly turned away and narrowed his eyes, but not before be could utter one heartbroken word.

"Kairi…"

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Currently 1:04 AM. Yes, it's late, but I knew I wouldn't have time to write this or post this later so here I am writing it on Sunday at 1:04 AM. I don't have school on Monday! WOOT! Or next Monday! But remember my posts will get longer because of school.

Kind of obvious who that was in the last little section. Poor Riku :(

Anyways, I posted again! YAY! I hope you liked this chapter. It was kind of long just for one scene, but the next chapter will be up by…I hope this Saturday? I know long, long, wait, but I got a 72 on my math TEST. EEK my first math test below a 90. High school can be so stressful especially since I'm taking two 10th grade honors courses and not to mention I'm a 9th grader! I mean beginning high school's so hard! And my swim coach is giving us practice during our 3 day weekend! WTH!

And once again a big thanks to my reviewers! I wasn't sure if I'd get any reviews since it was on hiatus, but the reviews are back again! BIG THANKS x3 :)

x3,
LJ