Chances in Life

XO'MagickMoon'OX

.Chapter VIII. Confrontations

AbnormallyWeirdPerson: Ahh, thank you SO much for your review. Yes, the long review was VERY nice. :D It made me happy. Hopefully all of your questions will be answered in this chapter! ...I think I answered them all. -checks- Yup, pretteh sure. :) You're a freshman, too? Freshman power! -pumps fist- (Or, well, seeing that school's out, that'd make us sophomores now, right?) Hehe, well, anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Rampaging Sorrow: Glad you like Mae! They are an awesome band, ne:)

BeuitifulDisgrace246: Of course, thank you SO much for your review! I think I told you that, but I wanted to tell you again. :) Hopefully you enjoy this chappie, too!

Tsuki Fox: Good luck learning guitar! My bro plays guitar, and I play bass, hence, Riku plays bass. :D I think I said that in one of my A/N's. Oh well.

RainbowSerenity: Haha, I can relate to Sora, too, his whole (as you put it) "oh, I'm plain lil' ol' me, no one will ever love me" thing he's got going on. I think that's why I find it easy to write. And yes, Riku is very stubborn, and don't we all love him for it? XD Thanks for the review!

Anyway, on with the show! -raises curtain-

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/Riku's POV/

Well, fuck if I had ever seen anyone who looked as good as Sora did tonight! This was a side of him I had never had the pleasure of seeing, nor known existed. His delicious outfit left little to the imagination. Those pants—which looked suspiciously like girls' pants—fit every curve perfectly, and I found myself pondering all of the possible ways I could help him get out of them. And just for a challenge, I'd make sure not to tear them. Yes, that would be a challenge, indeed. And the collar around his neck was just issuing all sorts of "S & M" ideas. It was all I could do to not mercilessly kiss him until he was unconscious, and I wondered if he was as hot as I was right then.

From the sounds he was making as I nipped at his lips, every now and then drawing his tongue into my mouth and sucking on it, I would think so.

My hands found their way under his button-front shirt (how was it possible for anyone to have skin so soft?), and I resisted the urge to undo each and every one. I knew that if that happened, they'd need a SWAT team to hold me back from ravishing Sora senseless. And the fact that there was no SWAT team present made the idea so much more appealing. But the fact that we were tucked away into a corner at the end of the hallway outside my school cafeteria doused any desire I had to do anything more than making-out. Well, here, at least.

He gasped as my fingers brushed his sensitive nipples, his hands tightening around the hair of mine that he was fisting. I smirked into the kiss, a second later breaking it so as to gain access to a suitable amount of air. But that didn't stop me from leaning into him and kissing his jaw, slowly traveling further south. My hands gallivanted down from his chest to his belt, and I immediately recognized it by touch as one of the ones that Hot Topic held in stock. I chuckled lightly before forgoing the belt and pressing one hand on his thigh just to the right of his groin. "Riku," he gasped.

I smirked against his neck, whispering, "No one's ever touched you like this before, have they?"

He shook his head.

"Have you even touched yourself like this before?" I asked, moving my hand suggestively to the left.

Again, he shook his head, and I knew that he was blushing, this time not just flushing from the lack of air. He was so cute. And so chaste, goddammit. I couldn't believe not even he'd ever touched himself. How did he survive? Then again, not everyone had as overactive a libido as me, I reasoned. But still, the thought that I was the first to ever get to do anything even remotely close to touching him touching him sent excited sparks through my system and made my stomach turn happily.

I grudgingly returned my hands to his shoulders and pulled away from his neck, pressing my forehead against his. Soon, we were kissing again. And I swear, I'd died and gone to Heaven. Again. I think that every time I was with him, I died, finding that place of euphoria that can only be reached through the passage of the nonliving, just to be pulled down from the clouds by his beautiful voice time and time again.

"Sora!"

My breath hitched as we hastily broke apart. We turned to see Mr. Strife sort of glaring at us, except with something much more deadly than anger in his eyes. My band-mates were behind him, as well as a giggling Kairi and an equally as giddy Selphie. Damn, how long had they been standing there? Not long, I hoped. I generally wasn't one for exhibitionism, believe it or not.

"Now, now Cloud, let them have their fun."

Whoa, was that my brother speaking? I blinked, and sure enough, it was my brother, standing there, smirking at Mr. Strife…erm, Cloud. Where was his stoic seriousness? His refined sagacity? …Wait, how did Sephiroth know Sora's teacher?

Cloud stalked over to us and grabbed Sora's hand, pulling him from between me and the wall.

"Hey!" I snapped, quickly following them. "What the hell is your problem?"

Cloud whirled on me, that same lethal glint in his eyes. "You're Sephiroth's brother?"

"Um…yes?"

"Oh no. No, no, no, no, no! Sora," he turned to my boyfriend, "you are not to have anything more to do with the Ishiguro brothers."

"What!" Sora squeaked.

"Yeah, what!" Kairi chimed in. "What's wrong, Cloud?"

Cloud ignored her, pointing at Sephiroth. "I thought I recognized you, up there on stage."

Seph just smirked, rather evilly, one would note.

"What the hell is going on!" I approached my brother. "Seph?"

Sephiroth just shook his head. "It doesn't concern you, Riku." He never once took his eyes off of Cloud.

"The hell it doesn't!" I gestured to Sora. "What about Sora? Why isn't he allowed to see me? It has something to do with you and Blondie,—"

"Blondie?"

"—and it therefore concerns me!"

Much to my agitation, Seph seemed to ignore me. He glanced around the hallway, then back at Cloud. "Doesn't it bring back memories, Cloud?"

I saw Sora wince as Cloud's grip tightened around his arm. "Shut up," Cloud hissed.

What memories? What the hell was going on!

"Sephiroth, don't start."

We all glanced in surprise at the brunet standing beside Sephiroth. There seemed to be a flicker of anger beneath Leon's stony countenance.

Cloud shook his head. "Sora, Kairi, Selphie, let's go." He began to try to tug Sora away.

"Wait!" I called at the same time that Sora cried, "No!"

He wrenched his arm away from Cloud's suddenly lax hold and ran to me, almost knocking me over as he buried his face in my chest. I recovered quickly, though, as I wrapped my arms around his back and glared at the others, as if daring them to try and take him away again.

"Sora." Cloud stressed the syllables of Sora's name in warning as he spoke. "Let's. Go."

Sora turned in my arms and faced Blondie, looking defiant. "No. I've waited all day to see Riku and I'm not ready to leave yet!"

"Then you can get a ride home with him, because I'm leaving."

Shocked silence followed this as Cloud turned and departed down the hallway, his gait seeming to spark flames in its wake with the anger rolling off of him.

Leon sighed and, much to our added surprise, went after him.

Sora turned to me then, and said, "Wait here." Then he followed Leon.

Tidus, Wakka, Yuffie, Kairi, and Selphie were all standing mutely around us. I faced Sephiroth and demanded, "What the hell was that all about?"

/Sora's POV/

"Cloud, wait!"

I followed Leon's voice as he called after Cloud. I stopped when I heard their footsteps cease. Peering around the doorway, I saw them standing on the patio, the blunted darkness surrounding them seeming to blend with the somber auras rippling off of both Cloud and Leon.

"What do you want, Leonhart?" Cloud demanded.

Wait, did Cloud know Leon? I think Cloud mentioned one time that he had gone to the public high school during his student career. So maybe Leon and Cloud had gone to school together, with Sephiroth! Oh, the pieces were finally coming together.

I remained hidden behind one of the closed wooden doors, their voices floating to me through the contiguous open doorway.

"Don't let Sephiroth get to you like that," Leon said.

"Easy for you to say," Cloud spat.

There was a sigh, whether from Leon or Cloud I couldn't tell. Then, Leon spoke, "I know. I'm sorry. You have every right to be angry with Sephiroth—"

"'Angry' doesn't even begin to cover it!" Cloud snapped. "I hate him!"

I had never before heard Cloud so incensed. He was usually calm and didn't express his emotions this liberally. Who was Sephiroth in accordance to Cloud that he could get such a rise out of him?

"But, don't take it out on Riku."

Silence followed.

Leon continued, "He's really a good kid."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure," Cloud scoffed. "Just like his brother, right?"

"Hey," Leon growled in warning. "Didn't you hear what I just said? Don't take your hate of Sephiroth out on Riku."

There was a sigh, one that I was sure was from Cloud. "I know. I… I'm sorry." He seemed to have calmed down some. "It's just… Sora's like a little brother to me. I don't want him getting hurt."

"Riku won't hurt him."

Silence again followed Leon's words, a silence that just seemed to ring of incredulity. But I felt wholeheartedly that Leon was right. Riku wouldn't hurt me! He would never hurt me.

I caught my bottom lip between my teeth as I thought through my claims again.

Why would Riku hurt me? He wouldn't, would he? He seemed to care about me, just as much as I cared about him. My mind sort of reeling, I turned away and took off with a bit of a brisk gait that I tried to tell myself wasn't anxious in the least.

As I returned to the hallway where everyone was waiting and Riku wrapped me in his arms, I was sure.

He did care about me. Cloud was worrying for nothing.

"Ready to go?" Riku whispered into the top of my head.

I smiled a nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Yeah."

He took my hand and began to lead me away, his bass packed and slung over his shoulder. We passed Leon and Cloud out on the patio and continued down the cement stairs to the sidewalk, crossing the street and finally reaching Riku's car. As he stowed his guitar away in the trunk, I looked up at the inky black sky, offset by the light from the moon and punctuated by the stars and yellow streetlamps. Then, I heard a car door click and saw Riku holding the passenger side open for me.

"Your chariot awaits," he said with a grin.

I laughed and bowed dramatically with one arm tucked behind my back and the other across my stomach. "Why thank you, kind sir." He laughed in return. I loved the sound of his laugh.

I slid into the seat and listened to the click of the door as it closed. A moment later, Riku was beside me, and then he was practically on top of me, one hand gripping the back of my headrest for balance and the other holding the side of my face while he kissed me. And I just smiled through it all.

Sitting back, he started the car up and pulled out of his parking spot, and soon we were leaving the school vicinity.

"So, where are we going?" I asked. The air around us was so much less suffocating than the first time I rode in his car, and it made my heart beat happily.

"Well, I was thinking we'd just go back to my house. We could make some popcorn and watch a movie, or something."

I bit my lip to keep from saying something stupid, something that mirrored my thoughts of what we would probably really end up doing at Riku's house. Instead, I said softly, "I'd like that."

"Good." There was a momentary spell of silence, nothing but the quiet purr of the engine filling the void, until Riku said, "So, what did you think of the show?"

A wide grin split my face as I turned in my seat to face my boyfriend, gesticulating animatedly as I replied, "It was awesome! You guys sounded amazing, as usual. And your lyrics were just…"

Oh, was Riku blushing? I bit back a chuckle as I saw, in the flashing lights of the passing streetlamps and shops, that he was blushing. If he hadn't been driving, I would've pounced on him right then and there for being so irresistibly adorable. Now, tell me again, how did I wind up with someone as perfect as him?

"They were just…?" he prompted.

"They were beautiful. All of them." I smiled fondly. "And the song that you wrote…on account of me…was…" I couldn't think of a word. It was just… "Perfect." Oh, look, I thought of one. Go me! "And that actually doesn't even begin to cover it. It was more than perfect; it was…indescribable." I laughed a little nervously. I knew that if he didn't say something, I was going to start rambling.

"Thanks," he murmured. He sounded embarrassed. And it made me giggle to notice that he was still blushing. "What?" he asked curiously.

"Hm?"

"What's so funny?"

"Oh," giggle, "nothing."

He made a face. "Fine, don't tell me."

I just leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "Okay, I won't."

And together we laughed, and all too soon, it seemed, we were pulling into his driveway. Or maybe it wasn't all too soon, because not even a second after the engine had been put to rest was Riku leaning over again and engaging us in a heated kiss.

I loved his kisses. I think I could get drunk off of his kisses. His lips were so soft and warm, and just the near-suffocating propinquity of him was intoxicating, and when he started using his tongue, my mind knew that it had no chance of functioning properly from that point on. Like now.

I idly noted that he smelled like cologne and sweat and then something softer, something that had to have been his natural scent. It was like…the ocean. He smelled like the ocean. And not the nauseating salinity of the ocean, but the gentle breezes carried over the water, the smell of sunset over the sea, the smell of the moon reflecting off of the rolling waves, the smell of laughter and exuberance, the smell of the warm sand beneath your feet. I didn't know exactly how things like that could have a smell, but when with Riku, anything ranging from the unlikely to the impossible was wont to happen. And now my senses were all crisscrossed, case in point.

And his hair was so soft. I was ever marveled by his hair, the color, the texture, everything, the way it slipped through my fingertips like something ephemeral, like moonlight, like water. I loved it.

Breathing heavily, he pulled away, almost grudgingly. And then was my chance to note on his eyes. Even in the darkness of the car, they seemed to sparkle. His eyes… Again, I was drowning in their depth, their beauty, and at the same time, I was being scorched by their intensity. The way he was staring at me made me blush. I smiled sheepishly and tried to hide my face behind my hands. Quickly, he caught my wrists before I'd even made contact with my burning cheeks and said, "What are you doing?" Amusement danced in his breathless voice.

"Y-You're embarrassing me…" I murmured in equally breathless reply, and my answer itself only served to embarrass me more.

"By looking at you?"

I giggled nervously and nodded.

"Well, get used to it." He looked as if he wanted to kiss me again (and I surely wouldn't have argued) but instead he sat back in his seat and pulled out his keys, smiling softly. "Come on," he said, "let's go inside."

I nodded again and pushed open my door. Stepping onto the driveway, I looked up and noticed something that I'd been too previously preoccupied to notice. "Hey, Riku? Whose car is that?" I pointed to the black Honda CRV that was parked in front of one of the closed garage doors.

Riku swung his legs out of the driver's side and glanced up. And I swear, I'd never seen him look more angry and frightened than he did then. Even from only the view of his profile that I had, the fire and ice that collided cataclysmically in the one eye I could see was scary. "Shit," he swore under his breath. "What the hell is she doing home?"

/Riku's POV/

No. No, no, no, no, no, no! This was bad.

"Sora, get back in the car," I said as lightly as I could.

"What? Why, Riku? What's wro—"

"Just get back in the damn car." I instantly regretted my tone of voice as I saw Sora wince out of the corner of my eye and hurriedly comply. But I didn't apologize; I could do that later, when we were far away from here.

I slid back into the driver's seat and started the car up again. Sora pulled his door closed and buckled back in as I pulled out of the driveway, a little faster than I'd intended, and cruised down the street.

Everything was tensely silent for a while. Sora was looking out his window, and I could feel the hurt rolling off of him in waves. It sent a pang through my chest to know that I was the cause of that hurt. "Sora," I said softly, "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

He didn't reply right away, but when he did reply, he said, "It's okay." He sounded so timid, and I knew that it wasn't okay.

I sighed heavily. "I'm gonna get us ice cream," I explained.

Again Sora was loath to answer, or maybe he was just picking his words carefully for fear of me snapping again, but finally he said, "Will you tell me what was wrong?"

"When we get to the parlor, yes."

He nodded mutely, seemingly satisfied with that. And I still felt horrible.

The rest of the ride would have been spent in silence if I hadn't turned on the radio, flipping to one of my favorite stations that was devoid of anything that fell under the Rap, Hip-Hop, and/or R&B genre. Finally, after what seemed like an excruciatingly long car ride, we reached the ice cream parlor. I glanced up at the welcoming pink building that was strung with festive lights and other winter decorations in preparation for the upcoming holidays and let slip a small smile. I'd always loved the place.

I killed the engine and got out, waiting as Sora did the same. I took his hand and squeezed it, causing him to look up at me. Getting his attention, I said, "I'm really sorry, Sora." Why was I going to such lengths to apologize to him? I don't ever remember harboring this abhorrence of my boy/girlfriend being mad at me before; I'd never really cared about whether or not I'd hurt them, since I knew I'd probably wind up hurting them again in the end, anyway. And even in the end, after I'd broken their heart, I'd still never cared. But now…

"It's okay," he said again, and this time it felt sincere. He smiled at me, and something warm and fuzzy started skipping around in my stomach, throwing flower petals all over the place and singing happily. I smiled back at him.

Together, we walked up the wooden ramp that led to the front entrance and stepped inside, greeted by the oxymoron-like warm chill that usually filled an ice cream parlor. I saw Sora shiver involuntarily and moved to wrap him in my arms from behind, nuzzling the back of his head. I heard him laugh.

With me still holding him like that, we clumsily made our way to the counter, greeted with a dreamy smile and pleasant "Welcome!" from the woman behind the cash register.

Settling my chin on the top of Sora's head and glancing up at the choices posted in multicolored marker on a whiteboard, I said, "I would like…soft chocolate in a sugar cone, please." I flashed the woman a charming smile as she nodded.

"And…um…" Sora read over the flavors and combinations again, saying, "Can I have…mint chocolate chip…in a sugar cone…" he paused, before adding, "with rainbow sprinkles!"

"Coming right up." The woman, whose nametag read Emily, went to work preparing our orders.

Sora turned in my arms and leaned up to place a chaste kiss on my lips. I smile lazily at the warmth that permeated my body and glanced around the relatively empty parlor, locating a table in the front by a window. I pulled Sora over to it. When he tried to detach himself from my embrace to sit on one of the chairs, I smirked and pulled him onto my lap as I sank down into the other chair. He blushed a pink that would rival the outer walls of the parlor, causing my smirk to simply widen. And so he sat there, blushing and trying to hide it, and, of course, failing miserably.

Then, Emily came over and handed us our orders, grinning broadly. "No charge," she said hurriedly before rushing back to the counter and pulling out some book, pretending to busy herself with reading it while not so surreptitiously sneaking glances at us.

I shrugged and took a lick of my ice cream, savoring the sweet taste. Not that many people knew it, but I had a big sweet tooth. I could be bribed into almost anything with sugar alone.

Sora managed to wiggle off of my lap and take the seat across from me, running his tongue around the perimeter of the ball of mint chocolate chip ice cream on top of his cone. Thankfully, before my thoughts decided to take a rather perverted turn, Sora spoke. "So, are you going to tell me now?"

I felt my heart sink, being pulled down from my fluffy little piece of Cloud Nine by the cold hands of reality. "Oh, right." I licked my ice cream again before beginning.

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And, cut! -lowers curtain-

So, thoughts? The next chapter is where you all learn the reasons behind Riku's twisted philosophies on love and lust. The more you review, the faster I update:D