Last chapter! There will be a lengthy epilogue, but last chapter with this story line. I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I have.

(Sorry about being MIA for a while. Kent State ate my life.)

Disclaimer: I love this characters, but I can't claim them as my own.

Loveless Lies

Chapter 14: Regrets and Romance

Watching the love of her life and the love of his walk away from her was probably the hardest moment in Kairi's life. She knew they would never come back to her, not in the way she needed. Minutes seemed like hours as she wept on the ground.

The young woman finally crawled to her knees as she whipped tears off of her eyes. The crowd had left, leaving only Axel, Roxas and Selphie behind. Somehow she managed to pull herself to her feet.

The sight of Selphie brought a new sense of anger into her heart. She knew it wasn't her friend's fault that Sora hated her, but everyone needs someone else to blame. Kairi grabbed Selphie's shirt and dragged her out of the building. The fresh air felt good on Kairi's skin, but nothing would make her feel any better.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Kairi blurted out to her friend. If anyone had seen what Kairi looked like at the moment, they would think she was surely drunk. The girl could barely stand, let alone talk in a normal tone of voice.

"Excuse me?" Selphie knew she shouldn't have gossiped, but the information had burnt a hole in her mouth. She had to tell someone. So maybe Riku and Roxas weren't the best of choices, but what can you do? What's done is done and would have been done eventually anyway. Why should Kairi hate her for it?

"You told me that all Riku and Roxas knew was that I slept with someone after the game. God, Selphie, can I not trust anyone anymore?" Kairi scolded her friend.

Selphie had never condoned Kairi's actions. She had told her friend time and time again that what she was doing was wrong and would cause more pain than it was worth in the end, but Kairi had never listened. This time, Selphie would make sure she did, "Well, excuse me for caring about my friends."

"I am one of your friends," the redhead said with a snarl.

"No, no one could consider you a friend. I thought you were my friend, but how could someone be friends with a girl who cheats on and hurts those around her?" Selphie glared at Kairi. "You knew exactly what you were doing the entire time you were doing it. You knew you would hurt people, you even told me that you knew it, but you kept going."

"But you did the same thing! You hurt me and you knew you were doing it!" tears began rolling down Kairi's cheeks, again.

"There you go again. All you do is think about your fucking self. I knew I was hurting you, but I also knew your actions would affect so many people. I should have told Sora long ago, but I was giving you time. I thought if I told Riku and Roxas I would feel less guilty, but it didn't help. I'm fucking glad they ratted your ass out. At least someone had the balls to do it," Selphie knew that by the end of their discussion, she would probably be out a best friend. She shook her head at the sight of Kairi. Such a pathetic soul, she thought to herself. I don't need her. No one does.

Kairi searched her mind for something to say. Her body was weak and her head hurt to no end, " I'm not a horrible person."

The brunette rolled her eyes, "You keep telling yourself that."

"You know what, fuck you. I don't need you, you backstabbing little bitch. I don't need Roxas or Axel. They never were my real friends. I don't need that heart stealing Riku. And I most certainly do not need Sora. He wasn't even a good lay," Kairi stopped crying and found herself lost in her own thoughts. I'm attractive enough. I can find someone else. They're all replaceable. Kairi walked closer to the other girl, "So consider this goodbye."

Selphie took one last look at the girl she had called her friend for the past 14 years of her existence, "We're not as easy to replace as you think." Something hurt inside the brunette. She knew that the girl wasn't worth it, but 14 years down the drain...it didn't seem to settle right in the girl's head.

"Sure you are. All I need is a gay couple, a hot kid, an overly happy boyfriend and a gossiping brunette, and I'm good to go. I don't need you," Kairi spat before the girl she had once called her best friend. Best friends don't fuck over a three year relationship, she thought.

"That's all I am to you, someone who gossips? What about all those times you came to me crying because of what you had done? Obviously they don't matter. Obviously everyone around you doesn't matter. So, goodbye, Kairi,' she waved at the girl, "Have a nice fucking life." Selphie turned around and headed back to the show.

Kairi stood on the sidewalk, noting that her life was disappearing, I don't need them. I can move on. A tear rolled down her cheek as she turned around and headed toward her new life. A life without Destiny High, without Selphie, Roxas, Riku and Axel. A life without Sora. She was bawling by the time she reached her car. The girl sat in the driver's seat, unable to properly see the road as she drove.

"I'll miss you, Sora...I'm sorry," she whispered between sobs as she passed the venue, knowing this chapter in her life was at its end.

xx Meanwhile xx

Sora walked down the hallway. Anger could still be found on his face, but sadness seemed to be taking over that emotion's presence. He took a seat at the card table he had been to before and placed his hands over his eyes. Surprisingly, tears were not forming.

Why? Why God? Why did you let this happen? I had a child. My own kid. And now, now they're gone, Sora thought, still unable to cry. "I don't deserve this," he said in a quite tone.

"No, you don't." Sora turned his attention to the door to see Riku. Riku walked toward the table, "You don't deserve any of this. You're a great person. A great person who happened to be dating someone who was an asshole." He stopped and placed a hand on Sora's shoulder.

Sora looked into Riku's eyes, "But why didn't you tell me before?" Finally the tears fell from his eyes. The tears he knew would come at some point, "Why did you let me stay with her? Why did you let her hurt me?" Sora couldn't hold himself up any longer. He fell into Riku's arms, sobbing.

"I haven't known for that long. It was her place to tell you, not mine," Riku held Sora tightly against his chest. "I know none of that matters. Just know I wanted to tell you, and I'm sorry it happened." There was a brief moment of silence. Sora stopped crying and the music that was once loud and unbearable, paused. Riku's hands brought Sora's face into view, "I love you, Sora. I know this probably isn't the best time, but, will you be with me?"

Sora looked into Riku's eyes. Everything that had happened, all the shit he had been through, that was now in the past. He had his future to look forward to, a future Riku wanted that to be a part of. Sora had to let go of all the hurt, he had to move on. It was time to let go of high school and all the shit it held. It was time. "Riku, I...," his voice trailed off.

"Look, if you're not ready...If you still need time...," Riku was interrupted as Sora held his finger to his lips.

"You didn't let me finish," Sora smiled. The first one in hours, maybe days. "Riku, I love you, too. Of course I want to be with you." Sora put his arms around Riku's neck and lifted himself to the balls of his feet. He closed his eyes and took his boyfriend's lips into his own. It was their first kiss as a couple, and it was perfect.

Riku pulled out of the kiss, only because he knew if he didn't stop now, he never would. Just as he was about to speak, music filled the small room. "Looks like the next band has started. We must have made out for the entire break."

"Heh," Sora giggled. "We better get out there, then." He headed to the door, motioning for Riku to follow.

Riku smiled at the sight of Sora. It had been some time since he had seen his friend genuinely happy. He walked with Sora's hand in tangled in his own. All the shit that had happened, all the hurt, it didn't matter. Finally, after years of waiting, he had Sora. Not only did he have him, he was loved by him. His life couldn't get better.

Or so he thought.

As he and Sora entered the stage area, the sounds of The Organization blared behind them. The lead singer wailed into his mice, "Note to self: I miss you terribly. This is what we call a tragedy. Come back to me, come back to me, to me." The voice hit something in Riku's ear that made him turn around. His eyes fell upon familiar pink hair.

"Marluxia...," he couldn't believe it. It had been so long, six years to be exact, since he had seen his brother. Yet, he looked remarkably the same. Tall, lanky, vibrant pink hair, and his voice, well that sure hadn't changed. Riku laughed as he remembered Marluxia's real hair color, silver like his own. Marluxia had been dying it every week since the boy had turned 13.

Sora tugged on Riku's hand as he enthusiastically waved at the stage. Riku smiled and nodded as he fell back into his memories. All the good times came rolling back. He had always looked up to his older brother. He was the only father figure he had for quite some time. Sure, Marluxia had made some bad decisions, but it didn't matter now. They were family.

Riku mentally smacked himself for not putting the pieces together earlier. He had been a fan of The Organization for about a year. Though, he had never looked up anything but songs online, he had always thought the voice sounded familiar. Riku dug deeper into his memories and realized that Marluxia's old gang had called themselves The Organization back in the day.

I'm an idiot. I could have found him long ago...But why didn't he find me? Suddenly, the happy Riku turned sour. It had been six years. Riku had tried countless searches online and they always returned nothing. He had been on trips and made phone calls in pursuit of his older brother. He wondered why his brother hadn't done the same.

Riku continued his mental battle over the sight of his long lost brother while Sora enjoyed the music. It wasn't until Sora poked Riku's shoulder that the teen realized The Organization had finished playing. And it wasn't until someone grabbed Riku's arm and pulled him aside until he knew what was going on.

All of the sudden, arms grasped the confused teen, pulling him tighter and tighter. "Riku...," said Marluxia.

Riku said nothing as he realized it was his brother who had devoured him into a hug. Tears fell from the teen's emerald eyes, "It's been so long. Why didn't you..."

"I couldn't," the older brother interrupted, letting go of Riku in the process."I was a disgrace. A nobody. I was hurting you and Dad. I had to get away. I had to change. I wanted to call. I just, just couldn't." Riku noticed tears forming in his brother's eyes as he spoke, "I'm sorry for who I was. I'm different now...Please, forgive me." Marluxia released the hold on his younger brother, watching Riku's face, waiting for a response.

Riku knew he couldn't tell his brother to fuck off, even though for so many years that's all he wanted to do. He knew Marluxia had to have had good reason for not keeping in touch with him. He knew his brother was here to stay this time around, "Don't worry about it. We're family, right?"

Marluxia laughed, "I guess so." The brothers stood in silence for a bit as the next band began to set up. Just being in each other's presence was enough to keep the two satisfied, "I didn't think you would be here. I hoped you would."

Before Riku could respond, arms reached around his stomach and pulled him back into a hug. Riku turned his head to see Sora grinning at him. He took the opportunity to move his boyfriend to his side. Sora was, after all, much shorter than him.

"Marly! You're back!" Sora said with enthusiasm still clinging tightly to Riku's waist.

Marluxia ran a hand through his hair as he chuckled, "God, no one's called me that in ages."

"Heh. Six years, right?" Sora smiled.

"Yep. Six long years," Marluxia shook his head. "So, it looks like you two finally came out of the closet." The adult took in the sight of his brother clinging to another boy.

"Um, yeah. About that...," Sora started to explain, but was denied when Riku kissed him briefly on the lips.

"Actually, we just made it official tonight," Riku said after the brief kiss.

"Nice. Seems like there's a lot we need to catch up on," Marluxia paused as Riku shook his head. "I've seen this next band a few hundred times. Want to go get coffee or something? We can talk for a while before I have to leave. The tour must go on."

"Yeah, I'd like that," Riku turned his attention to Sora. "Call me after the show's over. We can all hang out like old times."

Sora nodded. He leaned in and kissed Riku's lips, "Talk to you soon. I love you."

"I love you, too," Riku said. "So much." He smiled as he took his lover into his lips, not caring who saw him. Riku's tongue parted Sora's lips as he deepened their embrace. A few moments and the intensity of their kiss died down. "Actually call me this time."

"Heh. I will," Sora smiled.

"You better," Riku winked to his lover before giving him one last quick kiss. He turned from Sora and nodded to his brother. Marluxia motioned for Riku to follow.

Sora watched Riku leave with Marluxia. The past week had changed everything. He wasn't dating Kairi, instead he was dating his best friend, who had just found his long lost brother. Kairi would no longer be part of his life, so he assumed neither would Selphie. Sora would be moving to Twilight Town in a few months, probably with Riku, who was now in a band. Roxas got accepted to Columbia and would be moving upstate. Axel would probably follow.

Sora sighed as he made his way through the crowd in search of Axel and Roxas. Sora knew that they all couldn't live in the same 5 mile radius for long, but still, Columbia was at least an hour from Twilight Town. Life is all about changes. Guess I'll have to enjoy what I have while I have it, Sora thought to himself.

He caught sight of his friends who were buying merch from an overly tattooed vendor. Roxas smiled as he began walking toward Sora.

"So...how did it go?" Roxas asked while poking Sora's shoulder.

Sora couldn't help but smile, "We're official." The mere thought of being Riku's took away all the anxiety about the next chapter in his life.

"Aww. How cute," Axel chimed in as he draped his arms over Roxas' shoulders.

Sora blushed then changed the subject, "Marluxia and Riku are getting coffee. They want us to meet up later."

"Sounds good. So will Riku be leaving with Final Fantasy to go on tour, then?" Roxas asked as he tried not to fall over from Axel's weight.

"I don't know," Sora hadn't thought about losing Riku so soon.

Axel noticed worry in his friend's eyes, "Don't worry, kid. I talked to Leon. We go way back. Riku's not leaving until Octoberish."

"Thank God," Sora said as he sighed with relief. "Hey, what's going to happen next year? You know, when I move here with Riku and you guys move to Columbia?"

Roxas shrugged, "I dunno. We can always all share a place in the mid point between here and Columbia. A 30 minute commute isn't so bad."

Axel nodded, "It would help with bills. Hell, we could all share a house. A pretty nice one at that with all for of our salaries going into it."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan," Sora smiled. He had everything. He had a great job, a great family, two best friends and one amazing boyfriend. What more could anyone want? he thought to himself.

Just then strong arms spun the short teen around. His blue eyes met emerald one's.

"I just wanted to say I love you one more time, before I left," Riku said softly into Sora's ear. The words sent shivers down Sora's body as a grin appeared on the brunette's lips. "Now, there's the happy Sora I remember."

"It's all because of you," Sora said sheepishly.

Riku pulled Sora close to his body, nuzzling his face into his lover's brown hair, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Yay! I like it, I think. Who knows? I should have the epilogue relatively soon. ::crosses fingers:: School is raping me like nobody's business. I still have to update my other story.. ugh.

Anwyays! So, yay! Hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!

--Em