Chapter 4

Shattering Perfection

Riku ran his hands in Sora's shirt, moving over his soft skin. Sora was completely relaxed, letting Riku touch him. The feeling was amazing. Riku smirked.

"What?" Sora asked.

"You. Dreaming again. This could have actually happened last night. But you let me fall asleep on your lap without saying a word," he said. Sora frowned.

"Dreaming? Well, I don't care anymore. He is moving. It is not like it would have mattered," Sora said crossing his arms.

"Mattered? It would matter if you were the reason to stay. How do you know I would not stay if you told me you loved me?" Riku said.

"I don't know," Sora muttered.

"It is worth a try, don't you think? "Riku asked as he began to fade.

"Yeah. I guess so. It' just so-"

"Hard. I know. But you probably won't regret it, even if it doesn't work out." Everything faded to whit now and Sora woke up.

----

"Huh?" Sora felt heat from the sun on his face. Riku was throwing rocks into the lake. Their were several ripples on the edge of the lake indicating he had been doing it for a while.

"Morning," he said. He seemed to be in a better mood, but his expression showed his true emotions. He was sad.

"Hey, Riku?" Sora asked.

"Yes," he turned to look at him.

"Umm...What time is it?" Sora diverted from what he was going to say yet again.

"Noon. No point in going to school now, if that is what you want," he told him.

"No. When are you supposed to leave?" Sora asked.

"Around 4. The plane will be leaving at 4 that is. I'm not sure exactly."

"That early?" Sora asked surprised.

"Yep."

"So I guess you should head home then," Sora said depressingly.

"Yeah. I was going to after you woke up. Want to walk with me?" Riku asked.

"Sure."

They walked into the forest together and Sora could not find the right way to ask Riku to stay. He decided to try asking, as a friend.

"You know, Riku, you are old enough to make your own decisions. I mean, I don't think you have to go, if you don't want to," Sora suggested. Riku looked at him funny.

"You know, you're right. I should have a choice. The only problem is, where would I stay. It isn't like they are going to buy me a place."

"Maybe you could live with me?" Sora said, even though it was probably a bad suggestion.

"What? Live with you?" Riku asked.

"Yes. My mom won't mind. We have an extra mattress you could use. It would be fine. Then you still go to school here and everything!" Sora said, becoming extremely excited at the thought.

"Maybe. You know, that might work. Why would they make me go with them if I really don't want to. I'm going to tell them. Check with your mom too," Riku took off running to his house and Sora walked to his feeling confident. This would be perfect. Now he could take his time and ease into telling Riku how he felt. It would be easy.

When he got to his house, his noticed his mom's car was gone. She was at work. He would have to ask her later. He was sure she would agree. She was the kind of person to allow someone shelter if they needed it. While he waited for Riku to tell him if it was okay, he found the mattress they had and dragged it into his room. It fit perfectly.

As he walked into the kitchen to find some food, the phone rang.

"Hello?" Sora answered.

"Sora?" Riku said, cutting out badly. He sounded either angry or upset.

"Riku, what is it? Where are you?" Sora asked as he stopped looking for the bread in the pantry.

"I am using a cell phone. I called my parents and they refused. They want me to meet them on the plane within the hour. I have to go Sora. I'm sorry-" the phone cut off and Sora hung up. He stood silent for a minute. Everything backfired so quickly. There was no time for a back up plan. He sat down and ate a sandwich slowly, not actually enjoying it. He felt alone. He should have told him. Now he would live with these feelings forever. Never knowing if Riku felt anything back.

A sudden knock came on the door. Sora rolled his eyes. It must have been a neighbor wanting to talk to his mom. He ignored it as he walked to the bathroom. It came again, harder than before. He ignored it again, becoming annoyed. As he stepped into the bathroom, the knock came again, as though desperate for his attention.

Sora walked quickly to the door and opened the door.

"Riku!" Sora yelled in surprise.

"Sora," Riku walked in and took a deep breath as he tried to calm down. "I tried to call back. I was on my to the airport in a taxi. I had him turn around and that is when I called you. I was going to tell you what happened then tell you I was coming over anyway. I refuse to leave." Sora looked at him in disbelief. He threw himself on Riku in a hug.

"I can believe this. What made you do it?" Sora said releasing him.

"You. The most faithful of all my friends. I could not leave and find anyone else like you Sora."

"Really?"

"Yes." Sora laughed.

"You really are the same," Sora told him.

"Same?" Riku asked.

"Yeah. I thought your new friends had changed you, but I guess you really haven't forgot about me."

"No. I don't mean to be like that, Sora. I'm sorry you thought that."

"It's fine. You're here and every thing is better."

"So what do we do now, roomie?" Riku asked. Sora smiled.

"I have an idea," Sora stated. "We should go swimming in our secret lake."

"Excellent idea. You have a bathing suit for me?" Riku asked.

"Maybe. Let me check," Sora said as he ran to his room. Riku came in behind him as he tunneled through his dresser.

"Is this my bed?" Riku asked as he saw the mattress on the floor.

"Yep!" Sora said. Riku tried it out.

"It will do," Riku said, growing attached to living at Sora's already.

"Here! One for you and one for me," Sora said as he threw a pair at Riku.

"This is a little short," Riku said, concerned. Sora laughed as he ran into the bathroom to change.

"Too bad!"

Riku changed into his swimming trunks in Sora's room. He looked at them in an embarrassed fashion. They were tight and revealed more than Riku would have asked for.

"Okay, ready...Oh my!" Sora blurted out as he viewed Riku. The tight shorts hugged his body and revealed a lot of leg. Riku was turned around as Sora came in, giving Sora the opportunity to see his perfectly, toned butt in the tight fabric. As he turned, Sora tried not to look at the bulge in his shorts.

"It is kind of tight," Riku said.

"Hehe. Oh well. Come on," Sora said as he ran down stairs.

They walked down the sidewalk and Riku's face went bright red as a woman gave him the most curious stare. Sora laughed so hard he could not breath. Riku smacked him.

"I can't believe you made me wear this!" he yelled angrily.

"Come on! You look good," Sora teased, although, he did look damn good.

"Shut up," Riku said.

They arrived at school and walked to the trail. When they reached the turning point, Sora took off running. Riku caught up quickly, but was having trouble running with his shorts. Sora ended up beating him their.

"Nothing about that race was fair," Riku said taking off his shirt. His skin seemed to glimmer in the sun. His body looked amazing and Sora day dreamed about what he wanted to do to it. "Hey Sora? Snap out of it." Riku said. Sora turned a little red and tried to hide it by turning around. He took of his shirt. He had a nice body, but it was not as toned as Riku's.

Riku jumped in without warning, splashing Sora. Sora joined him. They met at the bottom of the lake, which was deeper than it appeared. Sora bobbed out of the water first, taking a breath of air as the water dripped from his still spiky hair. Riku came up next to him.

"This is great, Sora," He said as he ran his hands through his hair to release the water.

"Yeah, I know. I have always wanted to swim somewhere," Sora agreed.

"Not just this. Being here with you. You did not have to do what you did. I'm not just talking about today either. Supporting me when my dad did get promoted. And coming to help me through it last night. That was great. Riku was directly in front of Sora.

"It's cool, Riku. You would do the same for me," Sora said. His heart was beating with lust for Riku. He looked so beautiful.

"Yes, but not as good as you," Riku said smiling. Sora felt a desiring urge to kiss his soft lips. Maybe now was it. Maybe he could tell Riku now. Why should he keep his feelings to himself while Riku blurted his out.

"Riku I...I...I-" Sora stuttered.

"What?" Riku said, eyeing him with those penetrating eyes that made you feel like you needed to hide something from his gaze.

"I'm glad you stayed," Sora once again said something else. Riku still stared, a bit confused.

"Me too," he said. Riku started to go under.

"Wait!" Sora said suddenly. Riku raised his eyebrow. "Fuck it." Sora casted away his nervousness and his unsure thoughts and grabbed Riku. He embraced his body and placed his lips on Riku's. He held them there, as his hand wrapped around the small of his back. Sora never wanted to let go. He wanted the moment to last. Riku did not push away, but he also held Sora, in an equal romantic hug. As much as Sora resisted, he had to let go. They both took deep breaths.

"Sora? I had no idea," Riku said.

"I love you, Riku. I think...I always have," Sora confessed.

"Really. Sora," Riku said as he pulled him into another kiss. This one was shorter. As they released, Riku laughed. "I'm really glad I stayed now." Sora laughed too.

"I am glad I finally told you," Sora said, feeling perfect.

"I did not have any idea you felt this way. I have always had a connection with you, I just didn't know what it meant. I love you, too," Riku told him kissing his forehead and hugging him. As Riku let go of him, they waded toward land. As Sora started to get out, Riku grabbed his waistband and pulled him back in. He pushed him up against the edge of the bank and kissed him again. Sora' felt Riku's tongue push its way past Sora's lips. There tongues met and slid against each other, back and forth in a slow rhythm. Riku took back his tongue and kissed Sora's chin and neck. Sora moaned quietly.

"I love you so much," Sora told him again.

"I assure you-" Riku started as he grabbed Sora's butt. "-the feeling is mutual." Sora giggled and kissed him lightly.

"We better get back before dark," Riku said.

"You sure. That water is making those shorts look even tighter," Sora laughed.

"It's okay. Property of Sora, now. Look but don't touch." Riku said. She grinned widely.

"That's right." They both put on their shirts and left.

On the way back, they held each others hands. They walked slowly across the field and to the sidewalk when Riku released. Sora assumed he did not want people to see. He was okay with that. It did not matter to him. He knew how he felt, and that was all that mattered.

When they reached Sora's house, the door opened before they got to it.

"What is going on, Sora," his mom said. She did not seem angry, but concerned. That is what he loved most about his mom. She never jumped to accusations or became angry every time something happened.

"Mom. Sorry I missed school, but I had to be with Riku. he was having a hard time with this. I thought, maybe he could stay with us. He can still go to school and everything. He did not want to move and all he will need is a place to stay," Sora said calmly. She raised her hand to silence him.

"Come in, both of you," she said stepping out of the way. She shut the door behind them. "Come to the table." They all sat down.

"Mom?" Sora asked. He was becoming a bit worried.

"Listen Sora, you know I would do anything to help someone who needs it, but I am not his parent. I would not have a problem with him staying-"

"Mom!" Sora yelled.

"I would not have a problem with him staying, but I am not doing it without his parents wanting me to," she said raising her voice.

"But he needs to-"

"Sora, I am sorry, but I have think of it from their point of view. I would not want you to stay behind with anyone if I moved. I could not do that. I have to respect Riku's parents. I am sorry Riku, but I can't do this. You need to be with your parents," she said sympathetically.

"I understand," Riku said quietly. Sora felt his perfect moments with Riku shatter. He finally told Riku, and it meant nothing.

"Mom?" Sora said as tears began forming on the corner of his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but it is final. Riku, I will take you to the airport. Sora please stay here," she told him. Sora felt his heart did everything, but beat normally. It raced and it slowed as so many feelings bombarded it. He started to cry as they both stood up.

"Bye Sora," Riku said, sounding final.

"Bye," Sora said back, unable to raise his head for eye contact. His mother did look upset, but he still hated her for what she was doing.

The front door shut and the car left. Sora walked up to his room and collapsed on his bed. Why did this happen? Why did things become better, only to get worse? Why did life find ways to make the impact of sadness and depression worse?

As Sora cried in his room alone, he thought about nothing but Riku until he drifted away into a slumber of depression.