Chapter 13: Monkey in the Middle?

Riku and Sora pulled up to the café and sighed.

"She sounds like an idiot over the phone. How do you know if this is a false alarm?"

"And how do you know it's not?"

"Sora, if I'm wasting my time-"

"You knocked me up you insensitive prick"

"You are so sexy when you're upset"

Sora's cheeks were flushed.

"…S-shut up and let's go"

"Am I being a naughty boy? I guess you're gonna have to teach me a lesson Sora"

"R-Riku stop doing that, we really have to go and-"

Riku licked his lips and leaned into Sora.

"Riku, d-don't do that, we have to-"

Riku put his lips to Sora's ear and blew softly. Sora clenched the seat of the car.

"R-Riku, wait-"

"…aren't you gonna teach me a lesson?"

"W-what do you m-mean?" Sora managed to whimper.

"I want you to-"Sora stopped Riku mid-sentence and stepped out the car. Riku walked out after him and locked up the car. Sora looked up at he café and looked at Riku.

"Is this it?" asked Riku plainly.

"Yeah, I think so"

Sora and Riku walked in. There before them, was a woman with glasses waving her hand at Sora. Riku put his hand in his pocket and sighed, walking slowly after Sora. The woman held her hand out.

"…I thought I was supposed to meeting up with Dr. Kitari"

"…yes, but she sent me instead because she had some…business to tend to"

"Okay, well then, what's this about?"

Riku stared off to the side, noticing a guy with long blue hair, about Riku's height, with striking yellow eyes. He wore a long black coat, much like Axel did. He walked over to them.

"Riku, long time no see"

"Well if it isn't Sai'x, isn't it a little past your bedtime"

"Still a smartass I see"

"Mr. Hikari, she gave me your test results and I must say…oh Sai'x you're back. I forgot what it was I was supposed to tell him, so why don't you start off"

Sai'x looked over at Sora, and then back at Riku.

"This is really weird, Hikari and Izumi shacking up together. This is beyond rich. Riku, I feel sorry for you. Sora, good luck with the estrogen"

Riku and Sai'x began laughing their asses off.

"Asshole" Sora muttered under his breath.

"…Sora, Dr. Kitara told me that I was supposed to tell you the gender of your child, but I'm not qualified, so..."

"Yes, we should get going. You can give us a call later"

"Hold on Sora, don't you think we should get caught up"

"Yes, much like you have your head caught up your ass" said Sora lowly.

"Yeah Sora, it's been a while since we've seen Sai'x"

"Riku, can we just go home?"

"Relax, and have a drink"

Sora sat down and folded his arms staring off to the side angrily.

"Awe, is wittle Sora upset?"

Riku laughed harder.

"Leave me alone Sai'x"

"So Riku, what made you decide to go for the half pint here? I mean we all knew you were best friends, but come on Sora just isn't your type. It's no wonder he's the pregnant one"

"…I really can't think of a reason, but I can understand your reasoning for thinking so"

Something ached inside of Sora. He wanted to break down into tears, but his anger surpassed that. He pretended not to listen and ignored the fact that they were there. The woman stared into Sora's eyes and saw how hurt he was.

"Riku, if you were desperate, you could've called me"

"Well, you never offered so I got stuck with-"

"UM SAI'X DON'T YOU THINK WE SHOULD GET GOING?" shouted the woman, nearly tripping over herself.

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Um, well you see, I need someone to walk me home"

"Do you really need an escort; you don't live that far from here"

"Yes, but there could be predators and-"

"I'll walk you" said Sora unenthusiastically.

"Mr. Hikari, you don't have to"

"Its fine, it's better than being taunted all night"

Sora walked out, and the woman stumbled out behind him.

"What was that all about?" Riku muttered under his breath.

"Mr. Hikari, I'm sorry that he said all those things"

"He's right ya know"

"What do you mean?"

"When we were younger…look it really doesn't matter but-"

"Um…Mr. Hikari, I can take a cab"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

She walked around the corner.

Riku walked out after Sora and sighed.

"You take things too literal ya know"

"Yeah whatever, can we just go back home?"

"Whatever you say, guess what you won't have to struggle so much, Sai'x is gonna help out with the campaign"

"Riku, I don't need help"

"Well you seem to"

"Maybe I wouldn't if you'd contribute once in a while"

"Why do you always treat him as an outcast and-"

"You wouldn't understand"

Sora followed Riku to the car and quickly got inside the car, instantly sitting in the backseat.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Like you care" muttered Sora as he angrily crossed his arms.

For the next few weeks, Sai'x and Riku seemed to get closer and closer, and Sora was feeling even more frustrated.

Sora was walking down the halls plainly with his head down.

He heard a familiar tune being whistled and looked up only to see Axel walking towards him.

"HEY SORA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"A-Axel, what are you doing around here, are you actually studying for once?"

"No, but I always come down here to relax"

"So, what are you doing down here, meeting anyone?"

"No, I came here to get a few things off of my mind"

"So where is Riku?"

"He's wrapped up in something…s-something more important"

"What could be more important to Riku, than finding more ways to grope you?"

"…Sai'x"

"Sai'x is back? Uh he sickened me and- That must mean Riku is with Sai'x and Riku's ignoring you big time?"

"That and they're both always talking about how much better it would be if they were together, and how much Riku lost out because he's with me, and Riku said that if Sai'x would've offered sooner than he'd-you know what, never mind, it's a non-issue"

"Sora, how much is this really eating at you?"

"Things are changing more and more as you may have noticed. Axel, there's nothing anyone can do to fix this mess of a relationship I'm in. Lately, all he's been wanting is sex. It's never really bothered me until now. Now because there are a bunch of reasons behind it, and I can't live up to what Riku seems to want? If Riku and Sai'x manage to get together then I guess no one can do anything about it. Maybe they're right after all. Maybe Riku chose me because I was a last resort"

"Sora, don't think about things like that"

"How can I not. His presence makes me think about it more and more"

"I don't know, but here's what I think. Sora, you're not a failure, you're not a mistake. I just think you need to be more flexible"

"Like how?"

"You need to lighten up and take a break"

"…Axel, why are you so easy to talk to?"

"I dunno know, Demyx tells me the same thing"

"So how is Demyx?"

"Well, we decided to end things, he's with Xigbar now, but I'm happy for him"

"Well at least you have a positive outlook on things"

"Yeah, besides he kinda acted strange"

"How do you mean?"

"I can't really say. So do you know what you're gonna have?"

"No, but I think I'd rather not know"

"Do you wanna go and hang out with Riku and that prick?"

"Do I even have to answer that question?"

"No, I don't think so, but it would be nice to talk to Sai'x"

"I thought you hated him"

"Yeah, well I don't wanna be rude"

"In other words, you want to piss him off more?"

"What kind of man would I be if I didn't?"

"Um…normal"

(Riku headed back to the room after hearing Sora's words).

"Sora, how about we double team them?"

"Axel, Riku won't take nicely to that"

"Like everything else that doesn't go his way"

"Al right, well suit yourself. Just remember that I warned you"

"Okey-dokey"

Sora and Axel walked back into the café'. Sai'x was even closer to Riku, and Axel had a cynical grin on his face.

"Well, well, if isn't old Axel"

"Yeah, and I still can't believe that you're still preying on other people's boyfriends"

"Well, maybe if they did what they what they were supposed to and stop being such a brat, then maybe their boyfriends wouldn't have to flirt with other guys"

Axel looked over at Sora and then back at Sai'x"

"You really are an arrogant bastard, ya know that"

"You're one to talk; I hear Demyx dropped you for Xigbar"

"That's none of you business"

"That makes two that can't hold onto a guy"

"Well, it's natural. They both focus too much on what they want and not on what really matters"

Sora stood quiet.

"Riku, you've got some nerve"

"And what the hell did I do?"

"You're sitting here badmouthing the both of us, how stupid can you get?"

"Axel, it's just harmless fun"

"You are a two-timing bastard… Sora, how can you sit here and take this from him?"

Sora stared at the floor, and held his tears back.

"Awe, is wittle Sora going to cry?"

"Sai'x, shut the hell up!" yelled Axel.

"Axel, you're getting way too worked up over this ya know"

Axel grabbed Sora's arm and pulled him out of there. He hauled a cab and headed back to the dormitory with Sora in hand.

"Axel, there's no need do for you to get worked up over this the way you do. You know as well as I do that Riku and Sai'x and Riku were close"

"Yeah, so were you and Riku, but you-"

"I love Riku, and I always will. But there are some things that we don't agree on. The only thing I'm wondering is…is Riku going to say them some time soon

He looked down at the ring on his finger.

"Sometimes I think we're not going to last much longer" Sora said lowly, not expecting a reply from his friend. Sora's eyes watered as he stared at the ring intently.

"Axel, he promised me, and now…everything he's ever said to me seems like a translucent dream that I can never have. I don't think he loves me anymore and I've thought that for quite some time. Hmph, why am I even saying this? It's not like it matters"

Sora was wrong. Axel was one of many who cared for him; he just had to see that. It pained him to hear such words. Sora got up and walked over to the window lazily.

"Why am I thinking so negative lately?" Sora asked himself aloud.