Ahhh! I'm so sorry for not updating fast enough, must have kept you all waiting! But school has me in a chokehold with projects and homework that I don't have time go on the computer as much, but since my tennis season is over and I don't come home as late, I might have more time! Anyways, let's start!

Chapter 6: Sora

Italicized: thoughts

Italicized bold: memories

For the rest of the day, Roxas had avoided bumping into Riku. He had made it home safely and went into his room. No one was home again, so it gave him some time to think in silence. He stared at the white ceiling of his room and pondered what was happening to him. Why were the memories coming to him? Why not someone else? Where is Sora? What happened to Sora? Questions flooded his thoughts as he laid still. He flipped to the side and let out a frustrated groan. He was starting to get a headache from all the thinking and he was getting tired quickly.Maybe…maybe I should find out from Riku? But I don't think he will want to tell me. I barely even know him! At the last thought, a sad feeling surged from the bottom of his heart as though something had knocked him off his feet. That's right…I barely even know Riku…but Sora…Sora knew him. He even had a relationship with him! Roxas closed his eyes and Riku's face appeared before him. Something warm spread through his heart, but it was as though an internal raging war was going on inside him. His own feeling of sadness against a stranger's feeling, and somehow, he was losing.Just…I don't know who I am anymore! Roxas sat up and everything disappeared like it was a nightmare. He breathed out slowly and relaxed himself. He was sweating, like he was really fighting something that was unbeatable. He ran his fingers through his light sandy brown hair and decided to get out of his stuffy room and house that seemed to chain him. He left the house with a sweater on and walked on the sidewalks of the busy streets. He passed by flower shops, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, clothing stores, fast food places, and even parks, but he continued to walk, lost in thoughts that he didn't see the lights turn green. Someone yelled out to him and he turned around and saw a truck coming towards him. Someone jumped at him and they both fell to the ground in safety. The truck passed by and people gathered around to see if they were alright. Roxas opened his eyes and was staring straight into deep azure eyes. He felt himself become enchanted quickly by the eyes.

"Are you okay?" asked the man.

Roxas blinked and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out so he just nodded. The man got off of him and held a hand out for Roxas. He took hold of it and felt himself be pulled up a bit too hard that he fell forward and crashed into the other man's chest. The man looked down at him and smiled.

"Well, aren't you light?" he joked.

Roxas smiled sheepishly and pulled away and bowed a bit.

"Thank you for saving me," said Roxas.

"No problem…" replied the man. "Hmm…Have I seen you somewhere before?"

Roxas looked up and finally took a good look at the man. He tiled his head and thought for a second where he had seen the guy.

"Ah! Now I remember. You're the boy was with Riku at the ice cream parlor," he said smiling."

"What?" said Roxas, confused on who he was.

"You were at the ice cream parlor on Sunday with Riku. Sorry you must have not seen me. My name is Cloud, I work with Riku at the ice cream parlor…well, I live there too, along with my two other friends."

"Oh…"

"So, what's your relationship with him?"

"Huh?"

"With Riku, what's your relationship with him?"

"…nothing, just acquaintances."

"I see…Want to stop by for a bit? Riku doesn't work today. He only comes by once and awhile to help."

"Uh, sure."

Roxas shrugged and started walking alongside with Cloud. They remained quiet the whole time, which made Roxas felt a bit awkward. They reached it in a short amount of time and entered the ice cream parlor. The sweet aroma hung in the there as usual and it felt cozy as usual. Cloud gestured to a seat and Roxas sat down.

"So what were you thinking about so hard that you didn't notice the lights?" asked Cloud as he walked to the back of the counter.

"Just things…like school…" said Roxas lying.

"…Teenagers actually think about school?"

"Well I do."

Cloud gave a gentle laugh and gave him a bowl of strawberry ice cream.

"Enjoy, it's on the house," he said smiling.

"Thanks," replied Roxas as he took a scoop and ate it.

He felt a lot better now as he was eating, enjoying the taste. He smiled a bit and remembered Riku giving him a bowl of strawberry ice cream too, then something came back to his mind.

"Yeah…but my friends don't know I prefer strawberry…I don't want to sound weird and all."

"Haha, there's nothing wrong with a boy who prefers strawberry ice cream…I knew someone who preferred it too."

"Really? What's his name?"

"…I rather not mention it…too much memories."

"I'd rather not mention it. Too much memories…" I wondered if he was talking about Sora. Roxas became a bit sad and put the spoon down.

"What's wrong? Don't like the ice cream?" asked Cloud.

"No, it's great. I really like it, but…I hope you don't mind me asking, but…may I ask who Riku's lover was and what happened to them?" asked Roxas.

Cloud stopped what he was doing at looked at Roxas for a long time. He put down the cloth he was holding in his hand and let a sigh and rested his arms on the counter.

"Why do you ask?" asked Cloud.

"Nothing…just…you don't have to tell me," replied Roxas looking at the ice cream as it started to melt.

"…Riku…lost his lover only a few months ago. He's still recovering from it and when I said lost I don't mean a break up. I mean that the lover is no longer a part of this world. He died…in a store robbery. He was shot and the bullet had hit an artery that carried blood to the heart. He lost a lot of blood and died when they were rushing him to the hospital. Riku has been mourning all this time."

"So his lover was a boy."

Cloud was taken by shock a bit that he had said that and looked to the side. He smiled sadly and nodded.

"Yes…It was a male lover. Do you have a problem with that? That Riku doesn't go for girls? Are you afraid of him now?" asked Cloud.

"No. Never, I could never be afraid of him…what was the boy's name?" asked Roxas.

"Why do you want to know so much?"

"I…I just need to know."

Roxas voice had sounded deperate. He needed answers to his questions and Cloud had seemed to know the answers to it all. I have to make sure if these memories I'm getting are correct. I need to know!

"Sora," replied Cloud looking at Roxas now.

"…Sora…" replied Roxas as he clutched his heart.

His heart was beating fast now and it finally occurred to him that he wasn't talking to Cloud like he was some stranger but almost like a close friend. Why? Maybe…

"Cloud, do you know if Sora signed up for any organ donation if he died?" asked Roxas.

"Huh? I think so…I think he signed one for donating his heart," replied Cloud.

Roxas clutched onto the cloth of his clothes near his heart as it started to beat faster and faster. He breathing came in a faster pace. Cloud looked at him worriedly.

"Are you alright?" asked Cloud as he reached out to touch Roxas's shoulder.

Roxas flinched from the touch and moved of out the seat. He tried to say something, but nothing would come out. He ran out of the ice cream parlor with Cloud yelling after him, but he didn't stop. He kept running, having no idea where he was going. He ran until he was out of breath and could no longer run. He came to a slow halt, trying to get air to his lungs. He looked ahead of him and realized where he was. It's the hospital that did my surgery…maybe I'll find out some more answers here. Roxas walked inside and asked for Dr. Ansem. He had remembered the face of the old man that had greeted him on the day before his surgery. Roxas was born with a bad heart and he wasn't able to do sports like other kids or be too excited, his heart wouldn't have been able to handle it. It wasn't too long that he was adopted into the family he was in now and they gave the heart surgery after a few years when they thought he was old enough to handle it. The nurses gave him the number and Roxas found the room on the second floor. He knocked at the office door and heard a voice telling him to come inside. Roxas opened the door and met face to face with the man.

"Roxas? What are you doing here?" asked Ansem.

"…I want to know the donor of the heart that is inside of me," replied Roxas as he came forward and sat down in the empty chair.

"The donor? Well…he's already passed away a few months ago."

"I know that…but even still, I should be able to thank him."

"Well alright."

Ansem searched through some files and found a manila folder. He handed it to Roxas and Roxas took it quickly. He flipped through the folder and found a profile on him and there it was. All the proof he needed to show that everything was true. There was a picture of Sora's face there and the age and everything on his family profile. He died at the age of 17…so young…he had no family member but a close friend of his fathers took him in. Roxas gulped and handed the folder back to Ansem and thanked him. He left the hospital and was back outside. He was walking, but he had no idea where he was walking to. He was just walking until he had reached a cemetery. Roxas entered the place and walked around the graves. He came to a stop and stared at one grave that was covered in flowers. Everything has seemed like it was a dream, but Roxas knew he wasn't dreaming. He fell to his knees and reached his hands out to touch the engraving of the rock.S…O…R…A…Sora…Roxas clenched his fingers and closed his eyes tightly. He pulled his hands back and touched his chest. He didn't realize that he was crying. He gripped onto his shirt and let the tears run down his cheeks. His sight was becoming blurry as he continued to cry. These aren't my feelings…they're Sora's…his and his only! Something that isn't mine, something I can't have as my own...And here I thought I had finally found something to make me happy...Roxas clenched his teeth together and looked to the ground, letting the tears drop.

"You're so lucky Sora…" mumbled Roxas as he fell to the ground.

Roxas had fainted a few minutes before someone came to the cemetery. Roxas had caught a glimpse of silver hair, but he was so very tired that he didn't care anymore. He felt strong hands wrap around him and a familiar voice calling out to him, but he couldn't force himself to wake up.

"Roxas! Roxas wake up!" yelled Riku as he held the boy in his arms.

Riku looked around for help, but it was late. There wouldn't be anyone out here at a time like this. Riku adjusted himself and had somehow managed to put Roxas on his back. The bouquet he was holding was on the ground next to him. He looked at it and then to the grave. He frowned, confused as to why Roxas was doing here.

"Why was Roxas in front of Sora's grave?" mumbled Riku.

He decided to think about that later and worry about Roxas right now. He turned around and carried Roxas back to his house.