Entwined Destinies

By Solange MacLeod

A/N: Uhh... not much to say here. Sorry for the wait, though. –passes out cookies-

Disclaimer: Riku, Sora, Kairi, Axel, and Jack Sparrow do not belong to me. Shio does not belong to me. Neither does Amy Lee, Evanescence, or anything related to them.

Claimer: Ongereol, Ryushiimon, Yukimon, Kebekol, Adrian, Suzumi, Nanashi, Nameless, Zander, Selene, Lancer, Umeka, Solange, Sálvatien, Kanaye Segador, and Kasim are © to me, Solange MacLeod. You steal, you get sued. End of story.

Chapter Eight

Love/Hate Relationship

Adrian came in, Solange held like a sleeping child in his arms, Shio and two strangers following. One had red hair and a black cloak, and the other was swaying half-drunkenly.

"Wha's this?" the latter asked in a British-accented voice, looking around Adrian at Riku and Sora on the couch.

The strangled silence he got in reply made him turn around and grab the redhead stranger's arm and head for the front door again, saying something about not wanting to "get in the middle of a lovers' quarrel. Jack and Elizabeth are bad enough." The cloaked one chucked, shutting the door behind them, and Shio blinked, waving.

"Ja ne, Captain Jack! Axel-san!"

Solange started awake, looked at the autographed CD in her hand, and promptly passed out again. Sora stood up, looking anxiously at her.

"Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine," was the answer, and Sora suddenly noticed that Adrian's voice was more monotonous than not as Riku moved to let the man place his bundle on the couch.

"You mean she's not okay now?" Zander had sidled in, sensing that the emotional coast was clear, and was craning his head to peer at Solange.

"Zander-san!" Shio suddenly latched onto the shorter muse in a hug, and who yelped at the sudden blast of cold. "We got Amy Lee's autograph!! WE GOT AMY LEE'S AUTOGRAPH!"

"Oh God it's cold!"

"And she let us glomp her! WE ACTUALLY TOUCHED THE HOLINESS THAT IS AMY LEE!"

"Help! KYLE-KOI!"

Summoned by his name, a muse with sea-green hair and eyes came hurtling into the living room, and hauled Zander away. The two tripped over the couch, though, and they and Solange smacked onto the floor with a loud 'crash.'

"Grlgh!" the girl sputtered, awakened, and flailed to escape the weight of the two men piled on her.

Sora sweatdropped, but he knew better than to get involved with that fray. He looked back for Riku, as instinct demanded, and froze. He wasn't there. He glanced to Adrian, who was also ignoring the mini-battle on the floor, and said to him, "I'll be right back."

"What's wrong?" The brunette ignored the sharp question and stepped outside, looking around and up. He wasn't on the roof, nor in the front yard. He turned to try the back, but the scraping sound of a window opening somewhere above his head stopped him short. Tilting his face back, he peered up, only to see Kairi looking down at him.

"What're you doing out there, Sora-kun? Me 'n Riku are up here!"

"Where?" he called up, moving backwards a little so he wouldn't have to crane his neck so far. He had slept downstairs with Riku again, but Solange had made Kairi sleep upstairs for some reason.

"In Solange's room!" She pulled herself back in, and Sora stepped back inside and starting climbing the stairs, slower than he meant to. He'd never not wanted to see Riku before, but what did he expect after... that? He hardly realized it when he reached Solange's room, and stared at the door for a few moments before opening it, squashing a strange urge to knock. Sure enough, Riku was sitting stolidly on the edge of the blonde's bed as Kairi happily chattered away – she didn't notice his arrival, but the male did. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, neither knowing if it was wiser to look away, or keep up the staring contest. Riku's bottom lip moved a little bit, and Sora tensed and glanced away. The elder slowly shut his mouth again, letting out a breath. The only girl in the room blinked at the sound, turning.

"Ne, Riku, you okay?"

"Fine," he answered automatically, and stood, leaving silently. Hopefully Kairi's talking would keep Sora there long enough for him to get outside uninterrupted. The wish was granted, and he slumped onto a swing in Solange's yard. He leaned forward, supporting his arms on his knees, staring across the grass. Only mindful of his own thoughts, it took a few minutes for him to notice the gleam of gold eyes. 'Massive' flashed across Riku's mind, seeing a leopard sitting in the tree above him, tail swaying languidly. The creature's eyes stayed on him, and when they at last blinked, the Destiny Islander let out a breath he'd been inadvertently holding. The tail twitched again, and the cat's left ear flicked to the side.

"You're not really 'fine.'" The voice was unmiskably Kasim's; Riku had never encountered a deeper one. He stared for a moment, eyes growing cold. The elder had nerve, listening to their conversation.

"It's none of your business."

"No, it isn't. My apologies." The feline leapt to a higher branch, and beneath his anger, Riku wondered how such a big creature could manage that so quietly. "But, sometimes it helps to have someone say it to you, rather than having to admit it to yourself."

Riku froze, not even able to say goodbye when Kasim leapt into a nearby tree, then another, and disappeared. He lowered his head into his hands. Who was he fooling? The cat was right.

"Riku... you all right?"

The seventeen-year-old jumped, whipping around. When had Sora gotten there? Once he'd caught his breath, he nodded. Sora's face smoothed out, and he smiled, sitting down on the ground near his friend.

"Riku... um... wh—"

"Don't worry about it."

"But I—!"

"It's none of your business." Why did Riku remind himself of a broken record?

"What?" Sora stood and glared up at the other, hands clenched. "Riku, how long have we known each other? You ARE my business! You're my best friend!"

"Not that it's worth much nowadays." The silver-haired teenager got to his feet as well, turning to the side and looking up, shielding his face in shadow.

Shocked into silence, Sora gaped up at the other's darkened face, torn between being very pissed off and just utterly amazed at the disrespect. Finally he shook his head, not choosing either approach. "...Don't get all distant and stuff. Let me help you. Help me help you. ...come on, Riku, look at me!" he demanded, begging with blue eyes.

"Last time I checked, you didn't need my help." At least he'd responded to one of his pleas, but Sora almost wished he hadn't. That smirk – he could see it now – unnerved him more than anything ever had.

"Or is it that you don't need me?"

The younger watched Riku stalk away into the house. Apparently he didn't need a reply, which was good, because Sora had none to give that he could say aloud. But since when had he ever had a problem telling Riku anything?

"Note to self: IMS is not a myth." Umeka put a small device in her pocket, then waved at him from the sliding glass door that led to Solange's home. "Want to talk about it?"

"..."

"Okay, after dinner, then. You want anything in particular?" Sora numbly followed the woman inside. Yes, he wanted something, but again, it was nothing he could say audibly.

A/N: IMS is short for 'Irritable Male Syndrome,' btw. Yeaaaaah. Look it up on Wikipedia or something. XD Well, there it is – the next chapter, and a cliffhanger! ...-runs- Loveyouall!