this chapter is a little over 8 pages :) my average is about 6 pages, so you guys got a nice chapter ahead of you :3

oh! warning: this chapter and probably the next one will be centered around Riku and Sora and probably some Cloud and Leon

It was a dark room. Light peeked through a few cracks, but otherwise, all was black. Not overly large or small, the room was nicely sized for royalty. A few tapestries hung off the stone walls while rugs carpeted the floor. And in a grand, cushioned chair against the wall lounged a body that wouldn't appear more than sixteen years old.

"Saix?"

"Yes, my Queen?"

Yawning, the bored girl lazily twisted a few strands of hair around her finger. "About how long has it been since Sora has been in confinement?"

"Almost three weeks, my Queen," he answered obediently.

"Hmm . . . I suppose it's time to check on him then. Send for Dr. Lulu, will you?"

"Yes, my Queen." Stepping outside the dark room, he barked the order at an unlucky passerby who was, unfortunately, also a subordinate. It wasn't long before the lad had returned with the doctor in tow.

"What did you need me for?" she asked in her low, calm voice.

"The Queen requires your services," Saix replied vaguely.

"Is she sick?"

"No, just come," he ordered before she could ask too many questions. However, before he could bring the woman into the room, the young queen already stood at the open doorway.

"This way, Dr. Lulu; we're going to check up on Sora today. I've heard a few rumors from his guards, so I thought I'd better let you check," she said sweetly, giving the doctor a sickeningly innocent smile.

"Very well," Lulu agreed. Following the queen, silence ensued as they roamed around the halls with Sora's prison as their destination.

-

Huff huff huff Cloud breathed as he jogged around the track—Leon next to him. Both men let one foot fall in front of the other as they made their way around the course.

In the center of the indoor track was four courts that could've been used for basketball, volleyball, or, well, almost any 'ball.' Of course, actual fields for games such as baseball and football were outside, but everyone knew you could play it indoors if there was enough space. And in a gym this size, there was definitely enough space.

If you stepped out of the gym and track area, you'd go into the hallway. Down said hallway were doors leading to the locker rooms, weightlifting rooms, and the front desk. Through the other side of the locker rooms was a pool, too.

Ahem. So now that the layout of the recreation center has been explained, it was about eight thirty at night and Cloud was performing his weekly workout. Normally he would jog around the track for approximately an hour before heading to the weightlifting room. Sometimes, if he felt like it, he'd take a dip in the pool to cool off, too. Lately, Leon had been joining him on these weekly trips to the gym though he wasn't completely sure why.

Not that he minded. On the contrary, he didn't feel as awkward working out with someone as he did when alone. Admittedly, they'd both been silent while exercising, but Cloud preferred it that way. Listening to nothing except the yells and balls bouncing from the other gym-goers and the pat pat pat of his footsteps lightly hitting the ground as they paced was relaxing. He had nothing to worry about—nothing to concentrate on except getting the next foot in line and breathing before his sides began to ache.

Leon, however, never came with Cloud to the gym to exercise. Being a vampire, he didn't exactly need to exercise; his youth and strength were bound tightly to him and would last through all time.

No, what Leon came for was, quite simply, Cloud's company. That really was all there was to it.

Well, and maybe to catch a glimpse of his boyfriend hot and sweaty, but that wasn't the main attraction. Leon knew it was hard to be a strong person, so he felt naturally drawn to others who were relied upon. He wasn't exactly sure why—maybe because he could relate? Being the oldest sibling in his family had certainly taken its toll, and it was tiring always having to look after people.

Cloud, on the other hand, was independent. While Leon still didn't trust his friend Sephiroth, he knew Cloud wouldn't willingly drift from him. More than likely, he'd be manipulated into pulling away from him.

Yet the fact remained unchangeable: Cloud was, though gullible, certainly not a pushover. And Sephiroth would have to do some damn good convincing to break them up.

But thoughts like that'll give me a headache. Leon decided—shoving such thoughts out of his mind and replacing them with the cool motion of air against his face and the pat pat pat of his feet beating the rubber of the track beneath him.

-

Sora sat up abruptly as the three figures entered his room. Yawning, he said, "Kairi? What are you doing here with Saix and Lulu? Wait, scratch that, what are you doing here at all?"

"Sora," Kairi started, raising a hand up to her face to place a few stray hairs behind her ear. Lulu began preparing her tools while Saix stood silently next to the shut door. "I heard a few rumors that you hadn't been feeling well, so I took it upon myself to bring Lulu here to check up on you."

Sora snorted, but said nothing as Lulu approached him with her equipment.

"Hold out your arm," she ordered quietly. Reluctantly, the sick vampire held out his arm as requested. In the doctor's hand rested a sharp needle.

"I hate shots," he muttered.

"It won't take long if you stay still," she replied, wiping an area near his elbow with a chemical that smelled an awful lot like rubbing alcohol.

Shutting his eyes, Sora braced himself for the stinging sensation that was about to come. Suddenly, the needle pierced his flesh and made him want to cry out, but he bit his lip noiselessly—not wanting Kairi or Saix to hear him in pain.

A moment later and the needle was gone. Lulu handed him a small towel wet with hot water which he draped over the inside of his elbow. Placing pressure lightly upon it, he waited to hear the results as the doctor examined the puny amount of blood she'd obtained from his arm. She swished the red liquid around in a tiny vial while staring at it fairly intently.

Finally, her eyes looked up as her verdict had been determined. Kairi smirked albeit faintly while Saix remained as still as ever where he stood.

"Sora, your blood states that you are, while not the healthiest vampire around, not sick enough to be placed in the infirmary. I am going to personally oversee that you get the required blood, but not from the reserves. I've heard my own rumors about them and would like to look into them before they are used anymore. If they are determined healthy, I will put you back on the reserves although it will be a greater amount that previously given—your blood is too thin right now." Turning to the Queen, she said with a slightly mocking tone, "I don't need your permission to do this, so I won't ask. Is that alright, my Queen?"

Kairi gaped like a fish out of water. Sora was to stay in his room and start receiving healthy blood?! She couldn't let this happen—she was the Queen! . . . But, as Lulu had said, the doctor overruled her opinion on any matter relating to the health of the vampires in the clan. Thus, she was powerless to stop her.

Regaining her voice, she stated, "Very well, see to it that the reserves are fit for my clan. I will head back now—you may leave when you wish."

Lulu nodded as she began to put her tools away. With that, Kairi spun around and motioned for Saix to come with her. The door was left ajar behind them as Kairi walked briskly away from the room—Saix fighting to keep up with her without jogging.

"Saix!" the queen barked once they were out of hearing range.

"Yes, my Queen?" he huffed.

"Change of plans!" she snarled, eyes ablaze with frustration that her plan had gone wrong.

Sora was still a threat.

-

Meanwhile, Axel was just coming into view of Sora's room. It struck him odd though how Lulu was leaving the place he had determined as his destination. He didn't say anything—deciding he'd ask his friend about it soon enough. Zexion and Demyx weren't the guards at the moment, so it wasn't too difficult to get by. Knocking lightly on the door, he entered to find Sora rapidly jotting something on paper.

Probably his letter for that Riku kid, he realized. Sneaking toward the younger silently, he stealthily slunk over behind the brunet.

"BOO!" he yelled, grasping Sora's shoulders harshly.

"ACK!" yelped the victim, jumping in his seat and bolting into an upright sitting position. Twisting around the back of the chair, he turned to face his friend laughing until he was blue in the face.

"Axel, you jerk!" Sora insulted half-heartedly, beginning to pout.

Still laughing, his friend attempted to reply, "Ha . . . s-sorry, Sora . . . Buh-but your face!" Having said this, he broke out into a whole new fit of giggles. After finally managing to calm down, he took a seat on the edge of the bed. Barely able to keep a straight face, he inquired, "So what was Lulu doing in here?"

"Oh, Lulu? Well, there's a story behind that . . ." Sora began.

"I'm listening," Axel assured him, leaning his chin in his palm.

"Ok, well you know how the reserves are poisoned?" at Axel's nod, he continued. "Right, so Kairi heard—" finger quotation, "—rumors—" finger quotation, "that I haven't been doin' so good. So she got Lulu and Saix to come down here and check me out. Lulu took a sample of my blood, examined it, and said that—get this—I'm not sick enough to have to go to the infirmary and she's heard a few things about the reserves herself! Meaning: she's not gonna feed anybody the reserves! I'm gonna get a real meal!" he yipped excitedly, practically jumping up and down in his seat.

Axel grinned. "Sora, that's awesome!"

"Yeah! So you won't have to get me any good blood tonight, I think. You'll get to be with Roooo-xaaaaaas," Sora teased, enjoying the slight blush that decorated his friend's cheeks.

"Sora, shut up! It's not like that!"

"Yet."

". . . Yet," he agreed. "By the way, what was that you were writing? Another letter for me to deliver to Riku?"

"Oh, that!" Sora said, his eyes going wide as he returned to writing furiously on the paper. "Just one sec . . ." he promised. Axel gazed over his shoulder, trying to get an idea of what was so important. However, Sora sent a glare his way and he backed off.

Leaning his back onto the mattress, Axel whined, "Are you done yet, Sora?"

"Almost . . ." Stuffing the letter into an envelope with Riku's name on the outside, he hesitated. Somewhat reluctantly, he groped around his neck for the chain he'd grown so accustomed to wearing. Finding it, he lifted it over his head and off his shoulders. His reflection glinted at him, mirrored in the crown pendant. Running his thumb over the warm, smooth metal, he raised it to his lips—kissing the silver charm once before carefully inserting it inside the envelope.

"Done?"

"Yeah, Sora answered.

"Really?" the redhead checked, lifting his head.

"No, I'm just messing with you, dummy," Sora replied sarcastically—rolling his eyes for good measure.

Rolling his eyes as well, Axel snatched the letter from Sora's unusually tight grip. "Whatever," he muttered. "But I gotta get going—they're gonna let me outside soon. You gonna be ok? You don't look that great, man," Axel murmured concernedly.

Surprised, Sora instantly offered up a bright smile. "I'm fine, Axel. Have fun."

"Will do," Axel replied, saluting his friend before heading out the door.

However, as soon as the door shut, Sora's face saddened as he looked at the floor. I may finally get well-fed, but this will only make Kairi more desperate. But . . . she still needs me to find it. Sighing, he stared off into space, thinking. I just hope she doesn't burst in and demand its location.

Goosebumps trailed up his arms as he shivered, wondering. Is it just me, or did it get a lot colder in here when Axel left?

-

Barely a few hours later, Riku shut himself in his room—not willing to let his parents see what he was about to read. He'd seen a figure at his mailbox earlier after supper and, assuming it was Axel, made some lame excuse about thinking he'd seen an empty beer can near their driveway. His mother, of course, had fallen for it immediately and practically shoved him out the door to get rid of the offending piece of garbage. It'd been a simple matter to slip the letter (heavier than usual) into his navy blue hoodie's pocket while outside since he knew his parents weren't watching him. They trusted him.

The thought almost made Riku feel guilty, but it wasn't as if he could quite come out just yet. Like he'd told Sora, it wasn't easy and it just didn't seem like the right time yet. Of course, someone could argue that it would never feel like the right time, but Riku felt he still had time. He was only seventeen after all.

Sprawling onto his bed belly-up, he tore the envelope open. Before he could stop it, a silver chain tumbled onto his chest. It was a metallic gray, the chain clinking as he fumbled with it. A clunky crown was attached to one of the links. The oddest thing about it was its warmth. Normally metal was cold, but Riku would've sworn the necklace was producing its own heat.

Shrugging his shoulders and setting the jewelry to the side, he opened the letter to read.

Riku,

First, you're right. I really don't know much about your family, nor do you know much about mine. But Riku, in the end, it won't matter how you tell your family you're gay—it'll be a shocker no matter what. You're just stalling.

But I don't' have a lot of time right now. The doctor—Lulu—is going to start checking up on me regularly now, and I have no way to tell time in my room. So, you got the necklace, right? If you didn't , let me know. If it got lost, I need to know.

It's a necklace my sister gave me when I was human. It's really important to me, so please don't lose it! And take good care of it. I'm not the only person it's important to.

Oh, jeez, Axel's already here, so I have to wrap this up if I want you to get it! Sorry it's so short!

Take care!

Sora

Riku glanced confusedly at the necklace again. It was nice that Sora entrusted him with it, but what made it so important? Yeah, he got the fact that it had sentimental value; however, that didn't explain why it would be important to anyone else.

Maybe it means a lot to his brother, too? Riku wondered, remembering vaguely that Sora had a brother. I think Roxas said his name was . . . Leon, right? I can't remember for sure—he only said it in passing. Oh well . . .

Taking a closer look at the necklace, he tenderly stroked the crown as the chains' clinks echoed in the empty room.

-

In Sora's room, the young brunet twitched in his sleep—a smile gracing his face as a wave of warmth ghosted over him. Sighing contentedly, he cuddled into his pillow as a feeling of security passed over him.

-

Riku continued rubbing the crown, unaware of how many minutes had passed whilst he examined the unusual piece of jewelry. And really, it was unusual for jewelry. Most necklaces made of chains nowadays were thin, delicate little chains with some equally small ornament hanging from it. Yet Sora's wasn't. Instead, the chain was fairly good-sized with the similarly-sized crown attached to it.

Flipping the crown over, he realized there were a few dirt marks. Without giving it much thought, he went to the bathroom, wet a washcloth with hot water and brought it back to his room where he affectionately scrubbed at it—effectively cleaning it.

-

Drowsily, the imprisoned vampire awoke. Blinking, he smiled and drew his legs into his chest. As he leaned against the head of his bed, Sora stared off into space with half-open eyes—enjoying the rare feeling of comfort that seemed to engulf him.

-

Riku was so absorbed in cleaning the bit of jewelry meticulously that he, in all his silent bliss, failed to notice his mother opening the door.

"Riku, dear, would you mind throwing a load of laundry in before you—oh! What's that, honey?" she questioned.

Her son looked up, surprised at the intrusion. Eyes went wide as they took in the pale-skinned woman wearing soft, gray sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt with some local décor on it. Thin lips pursed and blue eyes hardened as silence reigned on.

Brushing a long blond-going-white hair our of her face, she prompted, "Well, Riku? What is it?" Riku winced slightly—her voice wasn't near as easygoing as it'd been a moment ago.

Looking away, he said distantly, "Never mind, none of your business."

"What do you mean it's none of my business? I'm your mother, for goodness' sake! What is it?" she demanded harshly.

At this, Riku bristled. "Well, you sure don't act like it!" he retaliated.

"And just what do you mean by that, young man?!"

"I mean, you may clean and cook and make sure I keep my grades up, but you never care about anything I do!"

"What do you mean! I always pay attention to who you hang out with and where you go and what you do with your friends!"

"Yeah, but can you tell me right now what my favorite color is?"

"Why, of course! It's red—has been ever since you were four," she stated proudly, allowing just a hint of a smirk to show through.

Riku gave a hallow laugh. "Wrong! It's been blue since I was six! I've hated red ever since I bloodied up my knee from that biking accident! You remember, don't you? I've still got the scar right below my left kneecap. It just kept bleeding and I passed out—I know you remember 'cause you were upset over the hospital bill and told me so once we got home. You were disappointed that your own son couldn't ride a bike without training wheels yet!" he barked out bitterly.

"We weren't as well off then as we are now—that's why I was upset over the bill! Besides, I could ride a bike without training wheels by the time I was five!" she yelled, her face taking on an ugly expression of frustration, and anger. "Now tell me who that's from! It's someone I don't know, isn't it? Who is it?!"

Riku snarled, "What if it is?"

"It's not from some gangster, is it? Who have you been hanging out with that I don't know about!"

"You don't need to know everything about me! You never will know everything about me! How could you? You only see what you want to see! You never allow me to express myself the way I want! I wanted to take an art class last year, but no—you said—"

"That was for your own good! Hardly anyone ever makes it as a career in the real world! Wake up—if you want to make it in this world, you have to get a career that it needs!"

"No—you wake up! You've been molding me to be perfect ever since I was born, but you never really knew who I was or who I am today! I mean, maybe if you had, you might've just realized that I'm not perfect! No one's ever been perfect, and I'm certainly not the first one to reach it! I mean, c'mon, I'm gay for crying out loud!" Riku shouted, on the verge of tears.

His mother's eyes widened as her mouth went dry. "Y-you're what?" she choked out, her posture stiff.

Riku's eyes widened as well in realization as to what he'd just said. But . . . he'd already said it, and there was no taking it back. Accepting reality, he shoved past her, muttering clearly, "You heard me."

Sprinting up the steps, he blindly jerked his feet into his worn pair of flip-flops. He heard a vague "Riku, wait!" as he slammed the front door shut behind him, but it was too late.

His parents were too late.

Mind a numbing blank, he ran away through the empty streets. He barely saw where his feet were taking him as the summer stars shone from above. Necklace gripped roughly in his grasp, he continued to run—just a figure in loose jeans and a dark hoodie to others. But if one looked closely, one would see the liquid droplets stinging his eyes.

-

Slip. Drop. Plip. Small, dark circles stained the blankets.

Sora reached his fingers up to his cheeks—they were wet. Why? He wondered. I haven't done anything to make me sad recently, but . . . I'm crying, and my chest is heaving with guilt or something . . . It hurts, he realized, biting his lip.

Why? Why do I hurt . . . ?

-

Riku's father rushed to his distraught wife downstairs. She stood there broken—a doll uncertain of what went wrong. Blue eyes stared blankly at him. Her frame—once strong and intimidating—now appeared delicate and petite.

"Violet, what's wrong? What happened? Did you and Riku get in a fight?" he asked concernedly.

"He's gone . . ." she replied softly.

"What? Who? Who's gone?" He was beginning to worry now. Surely she didn't mean . . .

"Riku. Riku's gone . . ."

And with that, the once-strong woman fell to her knees and sobbed.

-

"Is that him?" he asked. Dressed in the standard black coat and boots, the vampire blinked with his right eye—the left socket covered by an eye patch. Dark hair with stripes of white and grey pulled back into a ponytail, he awaited an answer. "Well?" he grunted. "I can only see with one eye, you know—I wouldn't ask for your recognition otherwise."

"Yes, that's him," Saix snapped back, focusing his gaze on the youth running nearer to their location.

-

Riku, however, barely noticed them as he slowed his pace. The air stung the drying paths on his cheeks from the tears he hadn't been able to halt. Glancing around, he saw unfamiliar cobbled streets and strange houses. Something—maybe hope?—dropped even further into the pit of his stomach at this realization.

He was lost. Great. Just great.

And he sure wasn't going home—not now, anyway. He'd push that drama aside as long as he could.

Damn it, I really am a terrible procrastinator, aren't I? he mused, slipping his hands comfortably into his hoodie's pouch.

"HEY! Kid!"

Whipping his head around to find the source of the noise, Riku found two men clad in black standing ahead of him on the sidewalk. The coats looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place them . . .

"Yeah?" he replied cautiously. If they hit on me, run away. If they hit on me, run away. If they hit on me, run away . . . he chanted in his mind. His life may've been somewhat sheltered, but he wasn't stupid.

Both men stepped under the street light. The main difference Riku could see between them now was their hair color—it was too dark to see much else even while they were under the harsh, yellow light. One's hair was almost a florescent blue while the other's reminded him of Cruella De Vil. Blue-Haired Guy let his mane flow down his shoulders; Mr. Cruella De Vil had his back in a ponytail. Riku prepared himself to run or possibly kick them in the can if they tried anything.

"You wanna see Sora?"

Aqua eyes widened as their owner's posture stiffened. Sora? They knew Sora?

Slowly, he nodded his head in response. He had a few questions for the vampire that he knew Roxas couldn't answer.

Blue-Haired Guy smirked softly. "We can take you to him—if you trust us . . ."

"W-wait . . . what are you to Sora?" Riku questioned; he didn't want to land in the hands of his enemies or something like that! (Not that he knew if Sora had any enemies or who they were if he did.)

"Housemates," Mr. Cruella De Vil answered bluntly.

". . . A-alright then. Take me to him—take me to Sora," Riku decided. If they lived together, they must be on semi-good terms, right?

"Good choice, kid. Now c'mere, we gotta show you the big boy's way of traveling," ordered Mr. Cruella De Vil as Blue-Haired Guy lifted his hand—shadows stretching from his fingers and twirling into a vertical pool of swimming darkness.

Riku sealed his fate as he stepped forward and was roughly shoved into the portal. The last thing he felt was cold as he slipped out of consciousness.

...betcha didn't see THAT coming! XD WHOO... haha... Riku is so emo/angsty X3

oh, and yeah... i guess i kinda messed with some of your guys's heads with what Sora said at the end of the last chapter, huh? sorry about that... but it sounded dramatic and i know that's a terrible excuse, but it felt like a good way to end it... ha, with me you may never be able to tell what's foreshadowing and what's just a load of crap (no, i lie, usually it's there for a purpose of some sort... it's just that this time it wasn't -.-;)

and it'd been so long since i'd updated one of my stories, that i actually forgot to hand things out to reviewers! -gasp!- i've been a little out of it lately, i guess -.-; ANYWAYS, reviewers for this chapter will get a star-shaped box full of chocolates! (cuz heart-shaped boxes are too common and go to peoples' bf's and/or gf's... and even though i love you guys, it's not in that way. also, knowing me, i probably won't get the next chatper out by Valentine's Day -.-;)

i'm expecting the next chapter to take about 2 weeks--possibly a few days more depending on how much time and inspiration i have.