A/N: Oh man. I cannot believe I haven't updated this since January. I swore it had at least been March, but I guess I got caught up in a lot of things over the semester. ANYWAY. DEAREST READERS, thank you for your patience on this. I hope I can give this fic a little more attention now that I'm free for the summer, so please look forward to more!

Pilfering Silver
Chapter Nine:
In Favor

"How did you find the ride, Princess?"

Kairi beamed at the sultan. "It was quite fun, Your Majesty. Your horses are very fine! And so fleet of foot, I almost thought I was flying."

Sultan Eraqus chuckled. "They are indeed fast. Most princesses aren't so eager to ride at such a pace, but our horses are no palfreys! I am pleased, indeed!"

Xemnas spoke up. "We should toast such a fine-spirited princess, Sultan."

"Of course, my brother is right. Let us give a toast to Princess Kairi!" Servants stepped forward to pour wine at a gesture from the sultan.

Riku shot a glance back to Sora, who stood behind him, looking bored, and more than a little annoyed. After changing out of their riding clothes, there hadn't been time for him to eat before lunch. It was unheard of, for a servant to eat with those he served. He cleared his throat to get the brunette's attention, and looked pointedly at his wine glass. Sora took the hint and filled the glass, but not without a discreet glare.

"To Princess Kairi!" echoed throughout the room, followed by the clink of glasses coming together for the toast.

Xemnas' gold eyes studied the prince and his new servant during the exchange, noted the way the brunette's lips pressed into a thin line, and the prince's shoulders stiffening. Turning his eyes to the princess, he found no tell there, but he thought that, in itself, was suspect.

"My Prince," he murmured, "I noticed you are already putting your new gift through its paces. It is highly unusual for you to take a servant along on your rides."

"It would have been a slight to the princess not to," Riku replied, face aloof. "In any case, it is high time I keep a personal servant."

"That it is," Eraqus rumbled. "That reminds me. The keyblade you have gifted us, I should like to learn more about it, if you would be so kind, Princess. I have heard it has quite the story."

"Not at all, Your Majesty; I would be happy to tell you of its origin." With a nod from the sultan, Kairi continued. "It is an old tale, and as old tales go, quite fanciful. But it is said that once, very long ago, the world was not as it is now, but rather, countless smaller worlds, each cut off from the rest.

"In one of these worlds, there arose a great darkness, one that found a way to travel between the worlds. It began seeking the lights of each world, to extinguish them. Of course, in the wake of this darkness, there appeared many heroes, who would fight this darkness, and drive it out. To do so, they, too, needed to travel between worlds. It was not meant to be a weapon at first, the keyblade, but rather the way between worlds, unlocking hidden corridors. However, when one of these heroes succumbed to darkness himself, he honed the teeth of his key and turned it against those he had once fought alongside.

"They had no choice but to follow suit, engaging in a great battle that jumped from world to world. With the teeth of the keys now sharpened, the keyblades tore at the corridors between, slicing through the borders that separated them, and causing a great cataclysm. When the dust settled, the darkness had been driven back, but the worlds had been thrown into chaos, gravitating towards each other, until nothing lay between.

"Seeing the damage that had been wrought, the surviving heroes decided to lock away the true power of the keyblades. The tale says that those who remained settled in Destiny's Island, and as a reminder for all that had happened, a warning to future threats, forged an inert replica. It is, however, a token of peace, rather than war, symbolizing the new bond created between all of the worlds."

Eraqus brought his hands together in brief applause; the rest of the table followed suit, and Kairi's cheeks reddened. "Well-told, Princess!"

Xemnas was nodding. "Yes, well-told. But, as you said Princess, it is quite a fanciful story."

Kairi smiled at him. "It has been passed down for generations. I'm sure it has been embellished quite a bit since then."

Xemnas leaned forward. "Of course. But, I have heard there's more to the story. I'm surprised you didn't tell that part, as well."

"What's this, Brother? You're familiar with Destiny Islands' folklore?"

Riku's eyes narrowed on his uncle, but his voice came out cordial. "Uncle, since when do you have interest in dusty myths?"

Xemnas fixed his golden eyes on the prince. "Why, since my beloved nephew, the Prince, has taken an interest in the princess from that country." He smirked.

Eraqus beamed. "It does seem so, doesn't it?"

"She is very unlike our previous guests," Riku murmured, face neutral. Kairi smiled, something playful on the edges of her lips.

"Indeed. Princess Kairi, please, oblige an old man." Xemnas voice lilted as he folded his hands on the table. "Share with us the rest of the story. Of the princess who led the keyblade warriors, and who founded the country. The one whose name you bear; it seems there has always been a Princess Kairi from Destiny's Islands, according to the genealogies. I am quite interested to know more."

Riku felt himself stiffen in his seat, but kept his face composed. If Xemnas knew that much about the country, it would be easier for the girl to get caught in whatever lie she had woven.

The question didn't faze Kairi. "Well, it's true that the name has been passed down in every generation, although it is more of a title." She winked at Xemnas. "Every family has its traditions. Being named after a legendary princess is ours."

"You say legendary as if she wasn't real." Xemnas's eyes were intent on Kairi.

"Now, now, Xemnas, don't press the poor girl," Eraqus chided. "Not everyone is as enthusiastic about history as you are."

Xemnas widened his eyes in innocence. "I was just curious, Sultan. After all, there is no record of her death, only of a mysterious disappearance. The birth and death records of all the 'Princess Kairis' are nonexistent."

Riku frowned, debating if he should voice support for their guest, to avoid Xemnas's scrutiny, and was about to open his mouth when his father beat him to it.

"That is indeed curious."

Kairi's smile only widened. "As I said, it is more of a title than a name. I do have another name, which I call my own." She sent a conspiratorial glance in Riku's direction; Riku shifted uncomfortably. "However, it is a name I share with only those closest to me."

"Ah, I see." Xemnas pressed on. "But what of the original 'Princess Kairi,' what became of her?"

Kairi sighed, her smile finally falling. "It is as you say. A mysterious disappearance. It was so long ago, that all that remains are theories. Perhaps she simply grew tired of ruling. Is it not quite tedious, Your Majesty?" She directed the question at Eraqus.

Eraqus chuckled. "It can be, at times. But it is the duty of a country's ruler to rule, whether or not that is what he wishes. Royalty's first duty is to their country."

Kairi nodded. "Of course."

After that, the conversation turned to the weather, and the plans for entertainment later that evening, peppered with commentary on this or that delicacy as it was presented to the royal table. It was, Riku realized, no different from the usual lunches his father hosted, and he found himself growing bored before long, fiddling with the edge of a table linen as his father regaled their guest with his favorite hunting story. Xemnas and Riku had both heard it a hundred times, but Xemnas, Riku noted, always humored his father with laughter at the appropriate pauses.

But Xemnas's attention wasn't on Eraqus.

His uncle's attention was directed towards Riku, sometimes flicking to Kairi, and, perhaps more alarming, was when his yellow eyes focused on Riku's quiet shadow. Riku suppressed the urge to glance back at Sora. He could imagine well enough the bored look he sported, or maybe even a scowl, without the practice Riku had at hiding his real expressions.

It was a relief when the sultan excuse himself. Less so when Xemnas offered to show Kairi to the royal library. Riku frowned and offered to join them, wary of his uncle's motives, but Kairi waved him off.

"Don't worry, my prince, I do not think I can capture the attentions of this lovely princess quite as well as you have." Xemnas's smile was saccharine; Riku felt an unpleasant twist in his stomach.

Kairi's smile was more genuine, and as she waved for her entourage to follow, Riku wondered again how she had found herself in Sora's company, and what her true motives were; if she wasn't here simply to help Sora, but had some other goal in mind. He hoped, at least, that she could take care of herself, in Xemnas's company.

"She'll be fine." Sora's soft voice startled him as they made their way down the hall, back towards Riku's rooms. He hadn't forgotten about Sora—how could he?—but Riku—what had Riku expected Sora's reaction to be, after a lunch like that? Riku was quiet, and only spared him a glance, a curt shake of his head, hoping Sora would understand. Guards lined the halls, men and women who were paid in gold. Men and women who had ears.

He could breathe again once his door was closed on the rest of the palace. He collapsed onto the chaise lounge, slouching against the pillows.

Sora stood uncertainly, a small distance between them. "You don't trust him, do you? Xemnas."

Riku's eyes found Sora's blue ones, saw his brow furrowed. He shook his head. "I'd be a fool if I did. He may posture well for court, but…his mask has slipped. For my benefit only, I'm sure." Riku heaved a sigh and closed his eyes.

There was a rustle of fabric, Sora stepping closer to Riku. "You can trust me."

Could he?

Riku didn't have an answer for that. Sora wasn't an idiot, he knew that much, but it had been some years since he'd slipped away to cavort in the streets with him. Riku felt weary, suddenly, a tiredness that weighed him down until he slouched deeper into the pillows.

He wished he could just slip away. A prince who mysteriously disappeared, like the first Princess Kairi. Run away and live freely, like Sora. But his father's words echoed in his mind. But it is the duty of a country's ruler to rule, whether or not that is what he wishes. Royalty's first duty is to their country.

"Ku?" Sora's voice was tentative, and Riku wondered idly why he wasn't irritated about acting as a servant during lunch. With a pang of guilt, he realized that Sora still hadn't eaten, and even tempered with the thought that Sora was probably used to that, he didn't feel any happier about it.

"It's not 'Ku,'" he murmured. "It's Prince Riku." He draped an arm over his eyes, another shield against the outside world. "You should go to the kitchens if you're hungry."

Sora let out a soft snort. "You think I sat there watching everyone eat without helping myself?"

Riku felt his lips tug up in a small smile. "You little filch."

"Yeah." Sora's weight settled on the edge of the chaise, not quite touching Riku. "Is it always like this? Always watching your back?"

"Yeah."

"You know, you have to watch your back out there, too. It's not as easy as you think it is."

"I never said it was. But at least you have a choice. At least you have freedom." Riku thought he might sound petulant, but decided he didn't care. Sora was just a street rat. Just a servant. Of little consequence.

That was a lie. Riku drew in a long breath, let it out slowly.

Sora was quiet from his spot next to him. When Riku moved his arms and cracked his eyes open, he could almost see the gears turning in Sora's head, thinking, as he stared into space. "I wonder if Kairi's story is true," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "About the worlds once being separated."

Riku pursed his lips. "Maybe. If you believe in fairy tales. Then again, even in myths, there's always a grain of truth. Or so Father has said."

Sora fidgeted. "Ku…"

"Hm?"

"Do you…do you think it always has to be separate? Prince Riku, and Ku, couldn't they be the same person, like the world is the same place, now?"

Riku's eyes opened more fully, his shoulders tensing. It wasn't the kind of thing he expected to hear from Sora. "Sora." He wasn't sure what he was going to say, but whatever it was, he forgot it when Sora brushed Riku's hair from his forehead. He froze, his breath stuttering.

"It got messy," Sora explained, dropping his eyes.

Riku let out a strained laugh, his throat tight. "Yours is worse."

Sora made a face. "Yeah, I guess so. But it's always like that. Yours is…" He let the sentence trail off, but leaned in and reached out again, trailing his fingers through silvery strands.

"Sora." Riku licked his lips. "Please don't touch me."

"Oh." He regretted the words immediately, the wounded look on Sora's face sending his stomach plummeting, but it was too late to take them back. Sora's hand retreated, and he twisted his hands together in his lap. "Sorry." He stood up. "Uhm. I. Uhm. Okay." He didn't look back as he walked over to the balcony overlooking the courtyard and leaned on the balustrade.

Riku sat up, staring after him. What was Sora even doing here? He asked himself this, not for the first time, and still had no answer.