Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.

"Love isn't finding the perfect person, it's about seeing an imperfect person perfectly." -Unknown

a/n: Welcome back to the thirteenth chappie of Juvenile Hearts. It has been an intense journey so far, right? I mean, the angst of true love not revealed, fist fights and near drownings, witches in the woods nearly killing the gang, a love confession and steamy you know what afterwords, extreme storms, a love lost...a love realized...and the unmentionable horrible acts that were in the last chappie...

Happy Readings!

Sora's POV:

Rain...

Rain falling...

Where am I...?

I'm not outside...where the rain is...so...where am I...?

I can't open my eyes...

I can't lift my arms...

I can't move my body...

I can't feel my heart...

"Sora?"

Where is that voice comming from?

"Sora, can you hear me?"

I know that voice.

"Sora! Are you awake?!"

I want to be where that voice is...

"Kairi don't yell at him!"

"I-I'm...sorry..." she whispered.

"I know. You're just worried about him."

I'm trying to speak...but I can't...

What's wrong with me?

I heard their footsteps leaving me, and I finally managed to make a noise.

"Wait..." I moaned.

Immediatly they jumped back to my side. I knew who they were now, but they wern't who I was hoping it was going to be. Riku and Kairi stood by my side now, both hovering over my hurt and broken body.

Not Roxas...

After a momment I was able to speak again. I mumbled horsely, "Hey...guys..."

My eyes opened to a crack so I was able to gaze up blearily at the two of their white faces. Kairi was crying hysterically, and Riku looked just about to cry. I smiled faintly, wincing slightly as I felt pain errupt from where I had been punched and kicked before. Kairi flung her arms around my shoulders and wept, I tried desperately to comfort her, but I was still unable to gain any motor skills. The nurse came from out of my range of vision and hauled her off, saying quietly, "It's alright deary. He'll be fine."

Riku stayed however, and continued to stand away from me, with tears clinging to his eye lashes. I twitched my finger slightly in his direction, and whispered, "Riku...It's alright..."

Finally, he cried. The tears falling with the same intensity as Kairi's, but without so much noise. He choked out, "Sora! I'm s-sorry! I didn't look for you! I j-just thought that, after Roxas left, y-you'd want to b-be alone!"

I smiled painfully again and said softly, "Don't worry...I'm fine."

"NO YOU'RE NOT!" he screamed. "YOU WERE BEATEN! AND RAPED! THAT IS NOT FINE!!"

I starred at him dumbstruck. He just whimpered and cried as he said hiccuping, "This is all my fault..."

"No." I said harshly. He stopped crying to look over at me lying helpless on the bed. "Don't you dare ever say that again!...It was not your fault! I did this to myself. And...it was worth it."

There was a tense silence, and then, "How can you say that...it was worth it? You were almost killed damnit!"

I chuckled slightly, "You don't understand. I'll do anything for Roxas. I love him that much."

Riku's tears continued to slide down his face as he drew closer to me. He gingerly picked up my bandaged hand in his own and said, "I went to see him."

"Roxas?" I asked incredulously.

"Yeah..." he mumbled, glancing up to look into my eyes. "I told him before...that...if anything ever happened to you...he would be the first one I came after. Because if he couldn't protect you like you deserved to be, then...he was scum."

"Riku..." I whispered, tears forming in my own eyes.

"As soon as we got you into the school, and you were in surgery, I left..."

Riku's Flashback-

I went through the town until I was able to find a motorcycle. I hotwired it and drove the rest of the way to his house. When I got there, I jumped off the bike, went straight up to the door, and knocked. I waited for a momment, and then an old butler man came. He asked me why I was there, and I said, 'I want to see Roxas.' The old man looked at me for a momment, and then said, 'One momment please.' And tried to close the door. But, I put my foot in the way and growled, 'I want to see him now.'

The old man looked at me haughtily, and nodded, showing me up the flight of stairs. We went along the brightly lit hallway at the top of the stairs, and started making our way to his room. Soon, the butler stopped, looked at me, and then knocked on the door in front of him. A small voice called sadly, 'Come in...'

So I did. With enough force to knock over a mountain. Looking around wildly, I spotted him starring at me worredly from across the room. I strode over, grabbed his collar, and lifted him up roughly against the wall. The butler man had already left before, and therefore didn't see me doing any of this. I could have easily killed him if I wanted to.

I yelled, 'You fucker! You stupid ass fucker! I told you! If anything ever happened to him, I'd kill you!!!"

"What?!" he asked me, choking slightly.

"Don't play dumb you bastard! Your damn thug boyfriend went and beat my best friend half to death, and then raped him! Don't tell me you don't understand!!!" I screamed in his face, spit flying out of my mouth onto his cheek.

But, he didn't seem to notice. His face had gone white, and he had stopped struggling against me. He whispered horrified, "No..."

"Yes you ass hole!!! Sora was almost beaten to death, and it's all because of you!!!"

He starred at me blankly, all emotion seeming to have been swept away. Then, almost inhumanly, he pushed my hand away. He tried walking over to his bed, but before he could get two steps from me, he collapsed onto the floor.

I sneered down at him, "Why are you feeling bad? Isn't this what you wanted?!"

"No..." he mumbled, his voice sounding dead.

"No?!" I questioned mockingly, circling around his crumpled body on the floor.

"No...I don't know how this could have happened. I mean...I...did what he asked..."

"Did what who asked? What are you talking about?" I asked, kneeling down in front of his stunned face.

He was silent for a momment, starring horrified at the floor.

"He told me, that if I didn't speak to Sora ever again, that he wouldn't hurt him. If I made it look like I really did hate him, he would leave me alone. That's why I left school and said all those horrible things to him."

I was astonished. I couldn't take in what he was saying. I asked, "Who made you leave?"

He turned his head up to me slowly, and mumbled darkly, "My father..."

And then what you had told me when we found you came back to me.

"Where's the painting?" I asked quickly.

"What painting?" Roxas asked incredulously, glaring up at me.

"Sora said something about a painting that he made, and it had a note on it. But, your father...was the one to answer the door..."

That's when I realized what must have happened. Roxas must have too, because his face grew even more white than before. He looked up to me slowly and asked faintly, "Do...you think...my father..."

I nodded, feeling the anger rising in my chest once again. Just then his old man burst in through the door screaming, "What the hell is going on here?! Get out of my house you vermin!!!"

"Vermin?" I asked, my voice shaking. "You want to know what vermin is you son-of-a-bitch? I'll tell you..."

But, just as I was about to take a step towards the mad man standing in front of me, a flash of golden hair rushed past me and up to him. An arm flew towards the man's twisted purple face, and landed right in the middle, sending the man crashing to the floor. Roxas cried out instead, "You fucker! You fucking piece of shit!!! I should kill you for what you did!!! You shit-faced pile of muck!!"

His father gazed up at his son with such shock, that he couldn't even speak. All he did was stutter incoherent words until Roxas cut him off, "Shut up!! I tried to protect him!!! And I did what you asked, but you still hurt him!!! You shouldn't even have the guts to talk about my friends being vermin, when you are even lower than that!! You're nothing!! A no good creep that's all alone!!! You sick fuck!!! You're lucky you're my father, or you would have been dead by now!!"

His father stuttered again before he let out a cry as Roxas snatched him up by the collar, sneering into his face, and growling, "Where is it?!"

"W-w-what...?" his father choked out.

Roxas shook him slightly, tightening his hold. He snarled, "His painting?! Where is it?!"

His father choked again, and Roxas screamed, "ANSWER ME YOU BASTARD!!!!"

"I-in the st-study..."

He was released, and he lay gasping on the ground as Roxas dissapeared around the corner. I followed after in slight disbelief, stepping over the old man, making sure I caught his fingers under my foot as I went. I caught up with the seething Roxas, but we didn't speak to each other the rest of the time we were in his house.

He tore apart his father's study, finally finding his precious gift. He held it to himself tenderly as he exited the house and made his way determinedly to the school. Not even phased as wind and rain lashed against him. I could only follow quietly.

End Riku's Flashback -

"He stayed up next to you for two days. Only just a couple of hours before you woke up did he finally let himself rest. He's over there. In the other bed." he mumbled, pointing over at him half heartedly.

I painfully turned my head in his direction and saw my sleeping prince, looking completely worn out, passed out on the bed. I smiled slightly, seeing my painting tucked under his arm as he drempt away.

"Sora...are you sure you want to be with him..." Riku asked tentitively.

I turned back to him and asked astonished, "Are you kidding me?"

"I mean..." he said, breathing in deeply. "...why can't you be with someone...like me..."

My eyes widened, and I asked breathlessly, "What?...Riku..."

"I've liked you for so long, but I just didn't want to ruin our friendship by telling you!" Riku said desperately. "Can't you...love me back...?"

I was completely taken aback. And then, it all made sense. Him always being so protective of me, always making sure I was happy. I gazed up at him teary eyed as he took up my hand and said softly, "Riku...you're my best friend...and...I'll always love you...but, just not in the same way as you would hope..."

Tears dripped from his eyes slowly, but, they wern't tears of sadness anymore, he was smiling as he looked into my eyes. It was as though a great weight had been lifted from his heart. He leaned back and said, "I see...I'm kind of relieved...I just thought that if I got it out before I lost you forever...that there might be a chance..."

He shrugged, releasing my hand, and backing towards the door, "Oh well...I hope you're happy together Sora...truly. ...See you later..."

"See you..." I whispered faintly, watching as he left without another sound.

Riku...

"Mmn...Sora?" I heard a muffled voice say from to my left.

I turned my head to look, and saw that Roxas had woken up. He was now pushing himself up, blinking blearily over at me. Then it was as though the sight of me being awake finally clicked. He nearly fell off the bed trying to get to me, and as soon as he had regained his footing, he rushed to my side. Tears in his eyes falling down effortlessly. But, he didn't fling himself ontop of me, that I was thankful for. But, he didn't touch me either. Not at first anyways. He instead, stood a foot away from me, gazing down at me in disbelief. More tears splashed to the white tile, and then he reached his hand out, occasionally stopping to think about wether or not he was going to hurt me or not. And, when he was only an inch away from my hand, he hovered in mid air, shaking madly, unable to reach down to me.

There was a pained look on his face. It made me start crying as well, so, instead of him standing in fear, I helped him. Lifting up my own hand to clasp his. He gasped slightly and glanced at me quickly. I smiled faintly, showing him that it was alright. He starred at me for a momment longer, and then collapsed onto his knees, shuddering and sobbing.

"I'm so sorry Sora!" he cried, clinging to my hand tightly. "I tried everything to save you! I never meant to hurt you!"

"I know..." I cooed, squeezing his hand and resting my other on top of his head, stroking his soft angel hair lightly.

We both cried together until we were both calm enough to talk. He climbed up into the bed next to me, and snuggled in close. Holding me as though he hadn't seen me in years. I told him what happened, and sometime in the middle of the night, we fell into a peaceful sleep.

One Month Later...

"Alright Rox, start from the line when Romeo sees his 'Juliet' for the first time, yeah?" the portly man said to my right.

I turned to Roxas and I saw him scoot into the middle of the floor with the script we had practiced for so many long hours clutched in his hands. The papers shook as he raised them up to flip through the pages for the right line, and fumbled with it slightly as he turned them. (a/n: kawaiiiiiiiii!!!)

He cleared his throat slightly and mumbled, "Oh he doth teach the torches to burn bright..."

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" the orotund man said jumping up from his chair. "Speak louder! You do want this part don't you?!" (a/n: How rude!!!!)

"Yes..." Roxas mumbled, clearing his throat once again.

"Alright...keep going."

Roxas glanced over to where I was standing, and I smiled warmly at him, willing him with my eyes to go on. He nodded and continued, slightly louder, "Did my heart love till now? Foreswear it, sight, for I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss-"

"Stop! Stop! Stop! You've got it all wrong!!! I need more! More!" the man yelled, sounding completely disgusted.

I knew Roxas was in trouble, and I didn't want him to lose the part he had wanted so badly, so, I rushed past the red-faced man, and into the arms of my Roxas. As soon as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders I called out memmorized lines, emotion clearly audible in my voice, "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this, for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."

There was silence, and as I gazed up into my beloved's eyes, I saw the emotion in them change from fear, to newfound strength. His eyes told me silently, Thank you.

I looked around and saw the stunned faces of the crew in front of us, still not able to speak. I turned back to Roxas and gave him a look that said, "Well-are-you-going-to-try-out-or-not?"

He smiled, nodding and continued on with the scene, the brilliant actor that I know, back, "Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?"

I grinned shyly (acting) and said, "Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

I turned away from him, pretending to be embarassed. He continued hastily, "Oh, then, dear saint, let lips do...what hands do."

He stepped in front of me, and placed his hand up against my own, looking deep into my eyes, and continued, "They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

I try to turn away again as I say, "Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."

He catches me by the hand and turns me around, whispering, "Then do not move while my prayer's effect I take."

He leans down swiftly, and kisses me tenderly. As he pulls away he says, "Thus from my lips...by thine...my sin is purged..."

My eyes flutter open, and I look up into his glowing face. It was as though we weren't acting anymore. Like we were really telling each other these lines from our hearts. I can't continue on with the lines. I'm too caught up in the momment. But, we wouldn't have been able to anyways. Just then, a solitary clap rang out into the stunned silence. We both look around and see a man standing in the doorway.

His hands drew apart, and came together once again, Letting the stale sound reverberate in everyone's ears. It was almost painful to hear. Then he continued, getting slightly faster each time, his palms slamming into each other, and soon, others started joining in. Until, it seemed almost everyone was cheering, and applauding excitedly.

The casting director was still taken aback, and I could see his face twist in anger. He yelled at the unknown man, "What are you thinking?! You're mad!! That boy couldn't act if his life depended on it!!! Stop this insane clapping!!! All of you!! I will not tolerate this!!"

The man ranted on, and didn't notice when the man who started the applauding frenzie stepped into the light. Everyone gasped, and soon it was dead silent. Only the rantings of the obece man echoed around. But, that soon stopped as well, and the man turned around slowly. Dreading what was comming.

When he was facing the tall, slender man, he stuttered out, "M-Mr. Mashima, d-director sir...u-um..."

"Enough, Kakashi." the director's voice rang out, puncturing what little bubble of pride that was left in the quivering man before him.

"Right, sir. I'll just...go now..." he mumbled, stumbling away.

As soon as the clacking of his shoes died away, the director turned to us and smiled. He called out to the room, "No more auditions..."

Everyone scuttled around, rushing to shoo the down-trodden handful of kids that didn't get to show their talent, away from the fake medievil backdrop. Roxas and I started to move away as well, but were stopped cold as the booming voice of the man said, "No...not you two...you stay..."

We faced the man again, waiting until the doors closed and his crew got settled into silence once again. Then, he said softly, "Meroko..."

A woman popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, and asked perkily, "Yes, sir?!"

"Could you write up Roxas Fujioka for the role of Romeo, and his charming little friend here for the role of Romeo's 'Juliet' for me?"

"Certainly, sir!" the girl squeaked, saluting him, and dashing off.

Both of our mouths hung to the floor as we starred dumbfounded at each other. The man walked up to us, chuckled, patted us both on the heads, and walked off, giving a little wave over his shoulder as he dissapeared out the door he came from.

One Year and a Month Later...

"Roxas! Roxas! Over here! Can I ask you a few questions?!" a woman screamed over all the others. Roxas and I made our way over to her, careful to give smiles and waves to the other cameras stationed behind the barrier.

She thrust a microphone under his nose and asked hurredly, "We've been hearing alot about your movie that's premiering tonight, can you tell us a little about it?"

"Sure. Well, it's the typical Romeo and Juliet story with a little bit of a twist. The original dialog was kept, but the characters and the setting were changed slightly."

"Where does the setting take place?"

"In Destiny actually. Right in my hometown. It was nice to work in such a familiar place, and it gives the viewers something to relate to." Roxas answered smoothly.

I beamed over at him, but was caught off guard when the woman nearly clobbered me in the jaw with the microphone, asking, "And you must be Sora! The 'Juliet' to this 'Romeo' over here?! In real life, and in the movie?!"

"Y-yes." I answered, blushing scarlet and becoming suddenly interested with the red carpet under my feet.

"I see. I have to say, you two make an extrordinarily cute couple! Congratulations on your movie, and good luck to you!" the woman said brightly, grinning as she winked at the both of us.

"No, thank you, Kitty." Roxas replied graciously.

He steered me back to the middle of the carpet where the other celebrities where strutting along, occasionally halting to make a pose. I leaned up to his ear and whispered, "You're wonderful...you know that?"

He just smiled and pointed to the cameras that had started flashing madly in our direction at my sudden intimate motion. I blushed yet again, and grinned sheepishly. Roxas leaned down and kissed me lightly on the cheek, whispering in my ear as he stroked the side of my face, "You're the one that's wonderful..."

My cheeks deepened in color as he intwined our fingers together and started making our way to the theater doors to watch the premier of our movie.

Many reporters called out, "Roxas! Sora! What's the story on you two?! How did you two meet?! Tell us!!"

And everytime they asked, he and I would smile, and stay quiet. Because only we and a few producers knew that we were writing a script on just that subject. He and I were working together every free momment to perfect our masterpiece.

We would only reply (in unison), "It's a long story."

"Sora! Roxas!" two audible voices called to us from the movie entrance. "It's starting!"

We looked ahead to see Riku and Kairi waving for us to hurry up. Riku and I locked eyes, and he smiled, nodding his head, and leading Kairi off to find seats lovingly. I smiled and watched as my two best friends dissapeared, looking happier than they ever had before.

I looked up at Roxas and smiled, slipping my hand behind his neck and tugging on him slightly, placing my lips against his tenderly. When we parted, I whispered, "I love you..."

"I love you...forever and for always..." he mumbled back, holding me close to him. We followed after our friends after a few more momments.

Smiling as we entered into the movie house, I thought back to what that little boy from so long ago called to his love across the playground, "I love you too! I'll find you someday!"

...Well...I kept my promise...

a/n: Finally!! It is finnished!!!! R&R, and make sure not to forget about me in the future!!! I am planning on posting a new story soon (Called Paralyzed With Love)!!!!! I think I'm seriously thinking of starting my own fan club!!! Hehehe!!! Whoever wants to join, raise your hand!!!! j/k. Lurv you all, and Happy Readings!!!