this chapter took forever to write. I kept rewriting it, and then when i got what i wanted, my laptop died and i lost it... yes, that was very annoying for me.

in the world of me... not much has happened. sophomore year is boring ... and my lively writing class is amazing. with the addition of a lovely guy who loves edgar allan poe stuff. Soo yeah. and ... my birthday is october 1st ... three days after homecoming... and now i'm rambling.

ENJOY THIS CHAPTER XD

By Chance

Sora looked as hesitant as a person could possibly be. After his last incident with the journal, Sora wasn't sure if he even wanted to pick the diary back up. Curiosity got the better of the teenager as he grabbed the diary, quite desperately, from under the bed. Sora dropped it a few times before dropping it onto the bed, shakily opening the book. Perhaps this could keep his mind off later today. That sounded like a magnificent idea right about now.

"Where did I leave off," Sora murmured inaudibly as his slender fingers flipped through the slightly frayed pages. Blue eyes remained glued to the flipping contents until he came across the spot he had left off on.

"Aha," Sora said triumphantly before shifting positions so he would be more comfortable. The brunet then proceeded to lean his weight into his elbows as his eyes settled upon the literature before him (if you desired to call it such a thing).

My friend asked me the other day what I imagine love to be. I told her that if I knew that, I probably would be in love already. She gave me an odd look and then said to describe what I'd wan from love. So, I said something along the lines of never wanting to leave the person, never wanting to be with anyone but him, smiling every time I saw him, his face being the only thing on my mind… I'd never be able to keep my hands off him and I'd ever let him from my side. He'd know me better than I know myself and so much more. My love would consume me, I bet you.

Sora cautiously reread the cursive script a few times. The way the author described love made it even more appealing to Sora. The brunet smiled softly at the words for a second time. Perhaps when today was over he could find a love like that.

"Maybe," Sora said in a gentle voice and went to put the journal back in its resting place. However, before he could do such, the brunet had second thoughts. Deciding to keep the invaluable book with him, Sora instead tucked the maroon object in the flap of his jacket.

"I wouldn't want Riku to find it," Sora mumbled.

Sora continued to lay on his bed, a million things running through his head. It seemed so odd that the day was finally here. The day that he'd been anxiously anticipating for over five months now. "I hope it goes well," Sora muttered under his breath, fingers playing with the fraying ends of his blankets.

Guilt, though, stung in Sora's chest and the brunet tried his best to ignore it. If he let the guilt overcome him, he wouldn't be able to go through with his plans. So it was best to not think about it too much right now.

Sora swung his body off the bed and walked placidly out of his room. The brunet left his coat on his bed, figuring he'd just grab it before he headed off. Sora closed the door and sheepishly made his way towards the kitchen, trying his best not to let his mind wander off. If he did that, he would surely have a breakdown from the plethora of troubling issues that were twirling around in his head.

"Morning, Sora," Riku called from over at his placement at the counter.

Sora blinked and then offered a warm smile towards his host. Something tugged at the brunet's heart, making the smallest shade of pink rush over his cheeks. He almost kissed me last night, Sora remembered, staring blankly at the silver-haired male. And I wanted him to… is it just because he's gorgeous and he was willing to…?

"Morning," Sora managed to reply after a moment of reflection.

Riku took note of the reddish hue on Sora's cheeks. "Is it too warm in here? I can turn the thermostat down," Riku suggested as he set down the newspaper and allowed their eyes to meet from across the room. And it was chilling.

"No it's fine," Sora answered shortly.

The brunet made his way over to the table, careful not to trip over his own feet or walk into anything. He was out of it at the moment and it was hard to even think correctly. Regardless, Sora managed to take the seat next to Riku without a word.

"I have to work down at the café later tonight," Riku informed Sora pointedly.

"Okay," Sora answered simply as he sauntered over to the fridge. The slender teen opened said appliance and peered inside curiously. "Do you have any juice?" he drawled as blue hues searched the interior of the refrigerator.

"Uh… no," Riku said with a frown plastering itself onto his face. "I can get some from the café, if you like. They have all sorts of flavors."

"That's fine, you don't need to do that," Sora murmured as he grabbed the bottle of soda. Next, he dragged the liter over to the counter and promptly sat down beside Riku again.

"Cup," Sora reminded himself, about to get to his feet for the third time.

"I'll get it. Sit down. You running around is making me dizzy," Riku muttered as he set his cup of coffee down and walked over to cabinets. The silver-haired male retrieved a purple glass and brought it back over to his younger brunet friend. "Here," Riku said as he offered the cup to Sora.

"Thank you," Sora replied with a smile as he took the glass from Riku's hands. Sora barely noticed that Riku deliberately avoided any contact. No fingers brushing. No lingering moments. Nothing at all.

"No problem," Riku said in a muffled voice as he took a sip of his brimming beverage.

"Any plans for today?" Sora asked quietly as he unscrewed the cap of the bottle and proceeded to pour himself a glass of soda, his eyes never really meeting Riku's again.

"Not really," Riku said honestly with a shrug. "I have to catch up on my stock work and stuff. I'll make it up for you tomorrow. We'll go do something innovative tomorrow," Riku explained a bit verbosely, seeming to ramble towards the end.

"No, no. I understand. You're busy. It's okay," Sora quickly interjected, shaking his head. "I'll… be on the computer and napping all day."

"Sounds good," Riku said with a sharp nod.

"I'm a heavy sleeper," Sora made known with a light laugh, despite his melancholic mood. "So it's best if I wake up on my own. I doubt you could wake me."

"Sure thing, Sora," Riku hummed, promptly rolling his eyes as he glanced down at the paper, as if expecting to see something interesting. When he didn't, he rose his aquamarine gaze up to the brunet's sapphire eyes.

Sora hesitantly grabbed his glass of soda and took a long sip, peering at Riku over the rim of the glass. The teen's cheeks scorched a light red that was barely noticeable. Sora just hoped that the silveret couldn't spot the blush. Sora wouldn't deny it, though. Riku was illegally beautiful. And Sora, regretfully, had one of those 'admire from afar' relationships with the older male. And that's the way Sora wanted to keep it. Besides, there was no way that Sora could ever see Riku in a romantic light.

"Has your friend contacted you yet?" Riku asked, as if to break the awkward silence.

"Who, Tidus?" Sora guessed and then shook his head, setting his glass down. "No, he hasn't." A frown appeared.

"I'm sorry," Riku mumbled and reached out to gently place his hand on Sora's shoulder. "Some people are just asses. They're just born that way."

"How elegant of you," Sora sighed under his breath, not daring to pull away from the hand.

"I'm not a motivational speaker, so excuse me if my logic sounds screwed up," Riku said with a flirtatious smirk.

"It's okay," Sora whispered, beginning to twiddle his thumbs in his laps.

"Anyhow, I better get to work," Riku declared as he swung his body off the stool and got to his feet. Though, he hesitated, not leaving Sora's side or removing his hand from the boy's shoulder.

"Okay," Sora complied but then looked to Riku with inquiry. "Something wrong?"

"No," Riku stated bluntly and eyed the brunet for a long moment before letting his hand slip from Sora's shoulder. "See you at dinner," Riku made known as he departed.

Sora sighed and looked weakly at the retreating form of his host. "If I'm back by then," Sora murmured under his breath. Don't worry about me, Riku. I'm not worth your time, anyhow.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Hah, easy profit," Riku declare triumphantly as he closed the window to his account.

The silver-haired male lounged back against the bed's headboard and closed his laptop. Why he had two computers, not even he knew. Riku figured that since Sora was using his desktop, he might as well as make use of his laptop. Riku accredited his ability to spend money leisurely on the stocks and his father's eagerness to teach his son about the wonders of the stock market. For that, Riku was quite thankful. Hell, even Riku's step-father (his father's husband; his mother was still single and looking for her prince charming) took interest in the stocks and the three males discussed them sometimes. Sometimes being the key word.

Riku and Roxas were childhood friends, but that friendship had come into fruition because of their fathes. The two had grown up knowing each other, to some degree. When Naminé joined the bunch in later years, the three stuck together, talking and visiting sporadically. Even though it was a stretch to say that Roxas was a friend, it was nice to have a group of people he could converse with.

"Hm…"

Riku broke from his train of thought and spared a glance at the diary that was resting on his nightstand. A curious look spread across his face like wildfire as he snatched the book and flipped it open to where he had conveniently bookmarked.

"You know … I'm curious," Riku said to himself as his fingers flipped to the last two entries of the notebook. "I wonder what he wrote before he came here…"

Riku read over the entry the night before Sora came quickly.

Cloud told me that the guy I'm staying with will probably bring me shopping and sight-seeing. I'm… not sure if that's true or not. I've never met the guy in my life. For all I know, he'll hate me… I mean, I don't really get along with anyone outside of Tidus and Cloud…

Guilt wrenched at the silver-haired teen as he stared at the words. So his assumptions were right… Riku sighed and frowned a bit. If he had known Sora was this timid around people and wasn't just an annoying twerp who thought he was superior, they probably would have been best friends by now.

Riku went back to reading, trying to dismiss the idea that he had screwed up big time.

At the end he sighed, a bit louder, and looked around the room. Something didn't feel right in his chest. It was a mixture of two things. One he knew to be the dreaded attraction and another to be something he couldn't quite distinguish. It was a bad feeling; he knew that right off the bat. It was like something was off. Something was … wrong.

Riku shrugged it off and went back to reading. To reading the entry that he should have read prior to this.

June 23rd

Cloud just dropped me off. I'm on the subway right now, to be exact. I've never been on one of these things before. What if it like … stops or breaks down? Will I die? Er… let's hope not. I really don't want to die right now. Not before I get my first kiss, my first real boyfriend, and get to fall in love and actually live life. .. Haha, I'm being stupid and hopeful again. I get like that a lot. Oh well. I'm fine!

Let's see … oh yeah… that guy… that I've yet to mention in here, just in case Cloud got a hold of this… His screen name on my messenger Cloaked Schemer. Kind of a sadistic and cool screen-name, eh…

Well, anyway, moving on. I made a plan with this guy.

Maybe I should start at the beginning…

All right, about five months ago I met him on a forum. He said he knew my brother and that they went to high school together. I questioned it at first but he gave enough correct information. He said that his name wasn't important, and that mine wasn't either. So that comforted me a bit.

Anyhow, we got to talking and we had a lot in common. Favorite foods and music and that sort of stuff. Everything was going good, you know? Until one day, it was like two months in, I started complaining about how Cloud never tells me anything about my parents… So CS (it's easier to write that) told me that he knew about their death and would tell me.

So I asked. But he said that it'd be much easier if he told me in person. I asked why… and he said because it was too hard to explain over a computer. So I said to try, and he said no.

Anyhow, I only recently agreed to it… A few weeks ago… You know, going over this Riku's house was a blessing in disguise, because in about a week or less, I'm meeting CS and he's telling me about my parents so I'll finally know. I trust him a lot. Who would waste five months on someone like me and not be nice?

Well, I'm meeting him at the corner of fifth and seventh street. It's a bit of a secluded place, he tells me, so he gave me directions so I wouldn't get lost. I plan to learn about my parents and … yeah. I think I actually might… sorta … kinda like CS. I mean, I can't tell until I meet him in person.

I mean… he's kind enough to tell me, so yeah. And that's the plan… Wish me luck; I'm getting off now… it's my stop.

Sora Kayaki

Riku's heart stopped as he dropped the diary down onto the bed with instant stun and shock. His lips ghosted a slew of curses as his heart beat frantically against his chest, threatening to explode. The silver-haired male screwed his eyes shut tightly as he shivered.

And then he realized what was going on.

It took only twenty seconds to get his keys and leave the apartment, forgetting to lock it for the first time in two years.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sora hugged his arms tightly to his chest as he traveled down the isolated street. It was a side-street, less traveled by pedestrians. This street apparently connected to the one that he was supposed to meet 'CS' at. Sora kept his eyes glued to the unfamiliar buildings in the distance, only briefly looking down to the address that had been scribbled in the back of the mysterious author's notebook. Sora figured that if he wrote it in there, he wouldn't forget it.

Regardless, the brunet continued on.

As he walked, the million things that had been swarming in his head resurfaced. One by one.

The first was Cloud. Why hadn't Cloud just told him what happened to their parents? Was he that terrified of his younger brother knowing the truth? Sora shuddered at the thought. Cloud was probably just trying to protect him. From what? Sora had no plausible guesses. It was just death. Death couldn't hurt the living, unless, of course, they were the ones dying.

Cloud loved him, even Sora knew that. Cloud wanted to protect him … and Sora just felt like a pest. Part of the brunet didn't want to return to Riku's after his meeting. Part of him told him to just run away and start a new life so Cloud and Leon could be happy. Another part of Sora reminded him of how much grief Cloud would feel. It was a painful internal struggle. Sora knew which choice was right; it was just right now that judgment was being clouded.

The brunet's next thoughts centralized around Riku. Riku had almost kissed him the night prior. Or was that a slip-up? Was Sora reading too much into it? Sora groaned out loud as he hurried his pace. "Riku's just a flirty idiot who I'm living with, that's all," Sora said in a pathetic attempt to convince himself that the spoken words were the truth.

Sora tensed when his eyes made contact with the street sign. Seventh Street.

"I'm… here," Sora whispered and glanced weakly around. There was barely anyone walking the streets. Just a couple down at the other side of the street, walking in the opposite direction.

Sora looked down at the journal and hugged it to his chest. Whoever you are… you mean a lot to me. When…when I get back from this meeting… I'm going to find you. I'm going to meet you…

"It's you, isn't it?"

Sora blinked and looked up from the maroon-notebook when he heard a deep and smooth voice cut through his thoughts. Sapphire eyes met a darker shade. Sora's spiky brown hair looked normal compared to this man's lilac. It was a rich and dark color, but not black. Perhaps a plum?

Sora blinked once more as he took in the man's sight. The stranger was cloaked in a black jacket along with black pants. Sora tensed when he realized that something was attached to the stranger's belt loop. A… cell phone, perhaps?

"Cloaked?" Sora guessed, tilting his head to the side shyly. The man was … handsome in his own way … but for some reason, Sora didn't feel the way he thought he would. I thought it'd be love at first sight. Wow. I'm such an idiot…

"Ah, so it is you," the man replied as he motioned for Sora to follow him inside a small building that was at the corner of the streets. "My apartment," 'Cs' explained as he looked to Sora, his unreadable eyes glancing at the brunet.

"O…kay," Sora drawled as he hurriedly entered behind the stranger.

The small apartment was dark and so unlike Cloud's and Riku's. It was a bit … depressing. Cobwebs and dust loomed about, giving it a non-appealing presence.

"My name's Zexion," informed the dark-haired man as he walked to the other side of the room, his back to Sora.

"Oh…" Sora said quietly, committing the newly acquired information to memory. "I'm Sora," Sora returned, a bit shy about giving his own name.

"I know," Zexion replied simply.

"You do? I thought you didn't?"

"Cloud told me about you in high school," the man explained as his fingers danced along the bare wall he faced.

Sora watched from where he was in subtle interest. What is he doing? "Oh," was the only thing Sora answered with, unable to think of a more intelligent or polite answer. The brunet's mind focused on one thing: his parents.

"Cloud never told you about your parents," Zexion sympathetically stated the obvious as Sora gave an affirmative nod.

"You do know, right?" Sora asked hopefully, wishing that the other would just turn around and face him. Then again, Sora never was one for eye-contact.

"Of course," Zexion said as his fingers began drawing shapes on the walls. Shapes that had no real form or name. Some appeared to be circles with sides … whilst others just were scribbles.

"You can tell me, right?"

"I can," Zexion said shortly, finishing his drawing on the wall.

A moment of silence before Zexion questioned, "I hear you're living with Riku…"

"While Cloud is on vacation," Sora confirmed as he glanced around the room, his uneasiness fading.

"Ah," Zexion answered with a nod, his back still to the younger. "Do you get along with him?"

"I suppose," said Sora with a dismal shrug.

"I'm surprised that Cloud never told his best friend what happened. Or his brother," Zexion commented with a lack of like towards the blond brother. His tone said what his words did not.

"Please, what happened to them," Sora begged, desperation filling him all of a sudden. It tore at the brunet not knowing the demise of the two people who had brought him into this world. Blue eyes were filled to the brim with fear and determination, a deadly combination that could easily be taken advantage of in the wrong hands.

"Your father was a great man," Zexion said as he turned around, his arms folding across his chest, his bangs falling over half of his face. "And your mother was an excellent lawyer. They both were wonderful people."

For some reason, just hearing this made Sora slip back into a content and anxious state. The brunet gave a hasty nod, silently telling Zexion to continue.

"But you see, your father and mine didn't really get along. Their jobs conflicted… they weren't … on good terms, to be vague," Zexion explained as he looked out the dusty window, hiding the dust-written words on the wall. "Apparently your father broke a deal with us…" Zexion paused and attempted to make eye-contact with the brunet.

Sora shivered, a bit scared to see where this conversation was going. "You're … saying?"

"We killed them."

"Over a deal?!" Sora automatically retorted, disbelief drenched in his voice. "What kind of deal would make you kill an entire family?!"

"The kind the government isn't aware of. I'm not going to waste time explaining everything to you," Zexion scoffed and waved his hands, dismissing the subjects.

"You killed them?!" Sora demanded, his throat clenching; making it hard to breathe.

"I accompanied my father," Zexion corrected and blew on his hand, as if he was bored.

"How… how could you possible do that?!" This wasn't making any sense to Sora. People just didn't go around killing one another. What had his parents been involved in?"

"Cloud was there," Zexion pointed out with a shrug and glanced to the window once again. "He tried to stop us and negotiate, but it failed. I suppose he never told you because he didn't want you trying to find me."

"How… could you kill someone?" Sora shouted, tears clouding his eyes.

"You'd be surprised," Zexion muttered and arched an eyebrow at Sora.

"W-why… did you… tell me this?" Sora stammered, fear suddenly settling in after the shock. No longer was Sora shocked by the truth. No, he was now terrified of the truth. Here he was, in an apartment, with his parents' killer. The man had to be a psychopath to kill two people over a deal. It still made no sense.

"Because I wanted to personally tell you," Zexion said with a snicker. The man motioned to the words behind him. Written in dust were the names of his parents and their date of death. Apparently the dark-haired male found pleasure in remembering the way they had been slaughtered.

"You….You…" Sora slurred as he took a cautious step back. "You…" Sora couldn't even form any other word.

"You're not leaving," Zexion informed Sora as he smirked at the younger. "Did you honestly think that I would come to my victim's son without a reason?"

"You… are going to…" Sora tried to ask but felt his throat tightening, making it harder and harder to talk. I should have never come… I should have listened to Cloud… I should have minded my own business… I'm nothing but a burden to everyone…

"Kill you?" Zexion guessed and proceeded to chuckle distantly as he fingered the sheathed weapon on his belt. "I don't know. The idea seems intriguing, but I don't see a reason to. Not yet, anyways."

"Can… I… go?" Sora requested slowly, tears flooding from his eyes due to fear.

"And tell the police where I am?" Zexion questioned and rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to kill you, but you're not leaving either. I'm not that stupid."

"What do you want from me?!" Sora hollered in a demanding tone, crumbling to his knees weakly.

"I want you to beg for your life," answered the man with a dark smirk.

By now Sora had learned two things. One: Zexion never had any pure intentions, not even when they first talked on the internet; and two: the dark-haired man was a deranged psychopath with no remorse and a messed up mind. Sora shivered as his mind kept looping the same thoughts over and over like a broken record. Why did I have to believe him? Why is this happening to me? Why couldn't I have just listened to Cloud… Will Cloud care? Will he be sad…?

Sora felt the hot tears leak from his face, down his cheeks.

"You don't understand anything," Zexion whispered harshly as he began circling Sora like a lion would to its defenseless prey. That's all Sora was: helpless prey. The brunet fastened his eyes shut, not daring to move. If he did move, he would be terrified of being attacked by the weapon.

"Please," Sora begged, but strangely forgot what he was begging for. "Please…" Things like this did not happen in real life. Bad scenarios were never this bad.

It was then when Sora felt cold metal at the base of his neck. Sora didn't dare to breathe, he was too terrified. A slender arm reached out from behind the brunet and snagged his wrist, preventing any movement. Sora compulsively winced and whimpered, feeling hot breath on the back of his neck. And it was so chilling.

"Please," Sora begged again, the tears falling from their pools.

"I have no mercy for people like you," Zexion hissed.

Sora's next pleas went unheard when the weapon clattered to the ground, making an echoing noise. The man's tight grip on Sora's pale wrist loosened and vanished completely. The dark-haired male pulled away from the short brunet, jerking his body around to glance at the stranger who had entered.

"Playing hero, are we?" Zexion sneered as he went to reach for the dropped gun.

"Touch it and you die," growled the stranger with such seriousness that it drilled holes through Sora's head, as the stranger unsheathed his own weapon.

"You don't even know how to use that thing," joked the stranger, straightening up. "The role doesn't fit you, by the way," he sneered cruelly.

"Touch him and I'll shoot you," hissed the stranger as the sound of a gun's barrel being shifted was heard.

Sora didn't even have the willpower to turn around. All he could feel was an icy substance making its way through his veins, weakening his body as it went. All Sora wanted to do was run. Run so far away. Run where he was safe with Cloud. Why was I so naïve? Why did I put myself into this situation?

"What are you planning to do? Threaten me?" laughed Zexion as he reached out and yanked on Sora's immobile arm. The brunet winced and yelped in pain whilst his knees gave in. Seconds later Sora sat weakly on the ground, on his knees to be precise, his head hung low. It was obvious that he had given up.

"You hurt him and I swear," threatened the stranger in such a tone Sora had never heard before. It wasn't just anger … it was something else.

"Sora and I were just discussing things into you so rudely showed up. We'd like it if you left us to our business. Isn't that right, Sora?" Zexion demanded as his thin fingers curled around the locks of brown.

Sora hissed in pain as he eyed the discarded gun by his hands. It was only then when Sora's eyes flickered upwards to meet the stranger's. Pools of cerulean met familiar aquamarine ones and Sora was at once lost.

"I'd think that a psychopath would be more suave then you," Riku sneered as he quickly looked away from Sora's eyes. Sora at once missed the comfort. "I thought that killing the boy's parents would be enough for you… but I guess I was wrong," Riku grumbled.

"So you were eavesdropping the entire time? How becoming," Zexion muttered darkly as he shook his head. "You're just as simple-minded as him." Zexion then pointed at the weak brunet whose fingers were slowly pulling the weapon closer.

"Let us go, unharmed, and we both won't say anything about this or you to anyone, okay?" Riku offered as concern flickered in his eyes.

"Destiny is destiny, Riku," Zexion pointed out, oblivious to Sora's newly acquired weaponry. "You can't avoid fate, either. It's just destined that I kill this boy and his brother, just like I did with his parents."

"Leave him be," Riku snapped, tightening his hold.

"You can shoot if you want," Zexion said with a non-phased shrug. "Won't do you any good."

"Then let us leave," Riku growled once again, his silver bangs falling down in front of his eyes.

"How'd you know he was here, anyhow?" Zexion questioned as he rose a hand to his chin, looking quite thoughtful. "Did he tell you?"

Sora shook his head violently, confusion spreading through him. How did Riku find me, then…? I made sure to delete my passwords from his computer… so how did he know about this meeting place?

"No, he didn't tell me," Riku mocked and advanced, coming face-to-face with the dark-haired man. "If you want a fight, then leave Sora out of it. I'll be glad to beat the shit out of you."

"No fighting. Not now, anyway," Zexion mumbled, and slipped past Sora's crumbled form towards the middle of the room. "Leave. It won't do you any good. You can't avoid the inevitable."

"Oh shut the fuck up," Riku groaned as he kept his weapon steady. The silver haired male's free hand extended outwards to lightly grab at Sora's free one.

"Sora… hey," Riku said softly, looking down at the broken brunet. "You okay…?"

"Ri… ku," Sora whispered painfully, his mind trying to wrap itself around everything. Zexion had killed his parents and now wanted to kill him. And now Riku was here to save him. Sora shuddered a bit as his hand weakly tangled itself with the silver haired male's. "You…"

"We'll talk later," Riku murmured smoothly, giving a light squeeze to their hands. "Let's just get out of here," he reassured the brunet.

"Not a word," Zexion reminded the pair as he left into the depths of his apartment, as if he wasn't bothered or unnerved by everything that just happened.

"Do you want me to kill him?" Riku asked Sora, helping the trembling teen to his feet. Sora fell forward into Riku's chest, burying his head against his chest. Countless apologies fell from the burnet's lips as he nuzzled his cheek into Riku's firm chest.

"Don't ever do that again," Riku scolded as his fingers played with Sora's, trying to calm his shaking friend. "We could have done our own research to figure out what happened to them, Sora…"

"I'm so sorry," Sora said, barely inaudible. Blue eyes were tightly shut as his hand that wasn't in Riku's dropped the other man's gun. "So… sorry."

"The world's a dangerous place," Riku reminded Sora as he pocketed his own weapon. Now with a hand free, he wrapped his arm around the teenager and began brushing his knuckles down Sora's back.

"I didn't think this would happen," Sora slurred, wanting nothing more than to stay in his friend's arms.

"Let's just get out of here," Riku muttered as he tugged on their adjoined hands.

After a few moments, Riku had lead Sora outside and onto the bright streets. The pair headed towards Riku's apartment. Riku kept his hand tightly interwoven with the brunet's, randomly looking at Sora as they walked side-by-side. Sora's usually bright blue eyes were clouded with confusion and aftershock. He could have died. He walked into the trap of a killer. And somehow, he had gotten away safely because of Riku.

I should have known to not trust someone like him … I shouldn't have done this… I must look like a moron now… I am, after all… But how did Riku… Maybe he just felt… a vibe? Sora sighed and soon became vaguely aware of the other's hand in his. A light blush crossed Sora's face as he eyed the tangled fingers.

Is it… natural to feel like this? Sora wondered as the color grew. He said nothing and continued walking with his friend, terrified to ask any more questions. All he knew was that Riku wasn't going to forgive him anytime soon.

And he had a lot of explaining to do when they returned home.