Testing Sora

(A test of true love and faithfulness)

Chapter 3

Sora cut the engine off and stepped out of the car. He breathed in the fresh air that hits his face and headed towards a flower shop called, Marly's.

Sora pushed the door open and the chime echoed inside the whole vicinity.

"Just a second…" He heard someone say, probably from the storage room.

Sora laughed. "Just take your time, Marly."

"Stop calling me that!" 'Marly' said. Sora laughed again. He sat on the counter and drummed his fingers playfully on the said counter as he waited for the owner to come out.

"Please do refrain from sitting on my front desk, Sora. And welcome." Marluxia said as he stepped out from a pink curtain. Sora looked backed and smiled. Sora hopped down from the counter and grinned at the man with pink hair.

"Sorry Marly, I got bored." Sora explained.

"It's okay… And stop calling me that." Marluxia said.

"Pfft…" Sora rolled his eyes/. "But it's fun, Marly." Sora ruffled Marluxia's neatly combined pink hair.

"Hey! I just did that!" Marluxia scolded as he straightened his hair up. Sora laughed. And it was a good laugh. "So what you need sport?" Marluxia asked after a moment of fixing his hair.

"The usual." Sora said casually.

"The usual?" The flower shop owner repeated.

"Marly!" Sora half-whined, half-laughed.

"I'm just kidding." Marluxia smiled. "I'll just get it from the back."

"Okay." Sora nodded.

"Here." Marluxia said as he handed Sora a shiny silver box. The cover of the box was transparent which reveals three well-bloomed red roses, resting on a white fabric.

"Thanks Marly!" Sora grinned as he examined the box.

Marluxia just sighed, seeing there's no point in arguing about penname. "So what's the occasion, Sora?" Marluxia began after some time. "Wait—wait, lemme guess." He cut-off before Sora had the chance to say anything.

"Okay, so last month the boy confessed his undying love—"

"No, he confessed 2 months ago." Sora interrupted.

"Hey I'm telling the story here, honey." Marluxia snapped his fingers. Sora placed his hand over his mouth to refrained himself from laughing. "Okay…" Marluxia tried again. "So two months ago, a boy named Roxas…" Sora smiled at the mention of his beloved's name. "…confessed his undying love for you."

"Well, congratulations Mr. Kimura, the man of your dreams had finally fallen for you." Marluxia said. "But wait—what's this, Mr. Kimura has a problem. HE…" Marluxia toned up his voiced, seeing that Sora's about to interrupt again. "He, and I meant you," He pointed Sora. "…doesn't know what to do. SO what he did was bombarded my flower shop and ask for an advice.

"Can you believe that you sabotage my flower shop for an advice?" Marluxia said exasperatedly.

"Hey that's not what happened…" Sora said.

"Really?" Marluxia asked with a sly smile. "You tell me your version of the story then, Sora. I'm starting to miss your cute reactions when you talk about Roxas…" Marluxia said and added kissing sounds at the end.

"S-Shut up." Sora blushed.

Flashback…

"Marly! MARLY!" Sora burst into Marly's front door and immediately almost every customer in the store went to panic mode. "Marly! Marly! It's an emergency. I have to talk to you!"

"What's going on?" Said one of Marluxia's customer.

"Are we being robbed?" An old women with Two white tulips on hand, asked.

"I don't wanna die!" A girl, with two babies on hand cried.

Marluxia hopped in front of his desk and said, "Calm down everyone, we're not being robbed. My friend has issues. Please bare with it."

A chorus of 'Oh's were heard from the crowd.

"I do not have issues!" Sora glared at the pink-headed man.

"So if you guys don't mind, I'm gonna entertain my friend for awhile, okay? Just called my at the back when you need me." Marluxia said and the customers went back with their lives.

"Suzie!" Marluxia called out.

"Yes?" Suzie, a blonde-haired girl asked. She was wearing a pink skirt, a white sleeveless top, and her hair was in a pony.

"I know you're here to buy some flowers, honey, but would you mind taking in charge for a while?" Marluxia asked politely.

"What's in it for me?" Suzie asked.

"I'll give you fifty bucks." Marluxia said.

"Deal." Suzie said as she held her hand for Marluxia. Marluxia placed the fifty-dollar bill on Suzie's hand and they shook hands. "Thanks Uncle! You're the best!" Suzie grinned.

"I know." Marluxia smiled. "Now into the back with you." He said as he pushed Sora to the storage room.

"Riku!" Sora exclaimed as he spotted the said guy sitting on a box, with a bouquet of flowers in hand.

"Hiya Sora!" Riku stood up with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" Sora asked.

"To buy flowers." Riku said, pointing out the obvious.

"I didn't—never mind." Sora said. He sat on the box, Riku had been sitting at and sighed.

"What's wrong, Sora?" Riku asked worriedly. He placed his flowers on the side and sat next to his best friend.

"That's what I wanted to know as well." Marluxia said.

"I'm in love…" Sora muttered.

"You're what?" Riku asked.

"I'm in love, Riku!" Sora exclaimed. "I'm in love."

"With the Roxas dude?" Marluxia asked. Sora nodded. "Well congratulations. You've finally realized your true feelings for your long time crush." Marluxia smiled and gave him a thumb up.

"Okaaay…" Riku said, trying to keep up with the conversation. "So you're in love, what's wrong with that?"

"Roxas loves me too." Sora said, almost above whisper.

"He does?" Riku asked just to make sure. Sora nodded.

"He does? O my… that's terrific, honey." Marluxia cooed.

"Well if Roxas is in love with you and you love him as well, then what's the problem?" Riku asked, patiently.

"I don't know." Sora buried his face in his hands. "I know I love, well at least I think I do. But the more I think about it, the more scared I become."

"What are you afraid of, Sora?" Riku asked.

"I don't know." Sora said, his voice muffled by his hands.

Marluxia placed a hand on Riku's shoulder and gave him a look that says 'lemme handle this'.

Riku scooted to the left and gave room for Marluxia to sit. "Sora…"

Sora grunted, indicating that he is listening.

"You love him right?"

"Yeah…" Sora whispered.

"Then tell me, what are you afraid of, Sora?" Marluxia said in a motherly tone.

Sora lifted his head and looked at Marluxia. He looked at Riku, who's looking back at him with worry, then looked back at Marluxia again. He sighed. "I'm afraid to love him, Marly."

Marluxia snorted a little at this because even in Sora's weakest time, he still managed to joke about Marluxia's name. "Why, Sora?"

"Because if I fell deeply in love with him, it'll be hard for me to get back up." Sora explained "Think about it, what if he and I had a huge fight and he decides that he and I are done. What will I do then, huh?"

"Sora…" Marluxia wrapped an comforting arm around him. "If that's what you're afraid of, then you're not ready?"

"Not ready? For what?" Sora asked.

"For LOVE." Marluxia said. "Maybe it's just a crush or a fling that's why you're so confused, honey."

"But it's not a fling, MARLY! Nor it is a crush." Sora removed Marluxia arm and stood up. "I know it's love because…" He trailed off.

"Sora." Said boy at Riku. "Riku?"

Riku sighed. "I'll make you a deal, okay?"

"Okay." Sora agreed.

"I'll give one month to sort out your feelings for Roxas and once you've realized that you are truly, madly and deeply in love with him, I'll help you in courting him or whatever it is that you want with him."

"What do you mean by 'whatever it is that I what with him'?" Sora asked, not getting Riku.

"Oh you know what I mean." Riku smiled.

"Okaayy…" Sora said, still confused. "But what if I don't figure out my feelings for Roxas, but I know it's there?"

"Then, just like what Marluxia said, you've got issues." Riku said with a sly smile.

"Rikuuuu!" Sora whined.

"I'm just kidding!" Riku raised his hands up.

Sora pouted. "Oh and in the event that Sora's finally gonna make the move, you guys tell me okay? I wanna make it special for this little brat we love so much."

"Thanks." Sora smiled. "Hey!" He glared at Marluxia.

End of Flash Back…

Sora ended his story with an angry blush on his cheeks which leaves Marluxia laughing on the floor.

"See! That's why I love it when you tell stories about Roxas." Marluxia laughed. "You're soooooooooo cute!"

"S-shut up." Sora blushed harder. Marluxia laughed.

"A-anyway, I have to go now. I still have lots to do and Roxas is already dismissed." Sora said whilst looking at his watch.

"Okay, okay." Marluxia said.

Sora bid goodbye and headed to the front door. "Happy One-Month, buddy! Goodluck!" Marluxia shouted before the door closed.

Sora smiled inwardly and headed to the next shop called Delicacies. Inside the shop was full of chocolates and other sweets people nowadays craves.

"Afternoon, Demyx!" Sora said as he entered the shop.

"Hey Sora!" Demyx said gleefully.

"So, here to pick up those special boxes of chocolate you ordered?" Demyx asked, his energy level never faltering.

"Yeha!" Sora smiled.

"Sweet!" Demyx laughed at his own joke. "Wait here!"

After a minute or two, Demyx came back with a rectangular black box sealed with a dark blue ribbon. "Here's your chocolate." Demyx said as he handed the box to Sora. "Some lucky guy that Roxas, aye?" He playfully elbowed Sora's arm.

"No, I'm the lucky one." Sora smiled at the box.

"So cliché, man." Demyx snorted.

Sora miled at Demyx. "Well gotta go now, don't wanna be late for my big day."

"See ya!" Demyx waved at Sora. Sora waved back and left the shop.

He went back to his car and placed the items that he bought on the passenger's seat. He opened the glove compartment and took a small black velvet box inside.

He placed it on above the box of chocolates. Sora smiled as he looked at the gifts.

"I'm sure Roxas wouldn't want it any other way. After all, he loves cute gifts such as these." Sora told himself. "Besides, surprises like these are the very reason why he and I are together in the first place."

Flashback…

"S-Sora… Is that- is that Sora?" Roxas asked his friends, Xion, Axel and Larxene.

"Well, let's see…" Larxene said as she and the gang reached the school's main. "Tall, brown and spiky hair, tan skin, adorable cheeks… Yup, it's your Sora alright."

Roxas blushed. "He's not my Sora."

"." Axel and Xion said, clearly not buying Roxas's protest.

"Shut up!" Roxas pouted. "I have to go now."

"Yeah! Have fun with your date Woxxxxiiiieee!" Xion cooed.

"Bye!" Roxas bid goodbye, slight irritated by the penname and head towards Sora.

Sora watched by his car as his soon-to-be-lover made his way towards him. He squeezed the teddy bear on his hand and looked at it. "Maybe I should give you in a little while?" Sora said to the bear. "Don't wanna scare him off now, do we?" Sora made the bear shook his head and laughed.

He open the backseat door and placed the bear on the seat. He closed the back door immediately just in time for Roxas's arrival.

"Hey!" Roxas said with a huge grin.

"Hey… Sora smiled.

"Watcha got there?" Roxas asked as he tried to look at Sora's back.

"Where?" Sora asked, acting innocently. "I don't see anything here, Roxas. You must be losing your mind."

"I am not." Roxas said as he tried his best not to stick out his tongue. "I saw you holding something in your hands awhile ago."

"Really?" Sora raised a brow.

"Really." Roxas crossed his arms in front of him and raised a brow as well.

Sora took out a box from his jacket and showed it to Roxas. "You mean this one?"

Roxas took the box and opened it. "Those are for you, Roxas." Sora stated without looking at the blonde boy.

"For me?" Roxas grinned. "Why?"

"I don't know." Sora said. "I just figured I'd give you something since I'm already here."

"Oh thank you, Sora." Roxas smiled, nd this time it was a full smile. You can tell because his eyes are glistening with joy.

"You're welcome." Sora matched the smile on Roxas's face.

"Speaking of which, how come you are here? Not that I don't want you here, but I thought you training today?" Roxas asked with a little worry in his tone.

"Yeah, we do." Sora said calmly. "But I kinda don't feel like attending our training today."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, I just wanna spend this day with you." Sora blushed.

Roxas blushed as wel. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. C'mon. I'll take you to the park." Sora said as he motioned for Roxas to get inside the car. Sora sighed heavily and went inside. He buckled his seat belts up and started off his engine.

"You ready to go?" Sora asked.

"Just one second." Roxas said.

"What is it?" Sora looked directly at his friend's ocean blue eyes.

"Have you seen a scientific calculator somewhere in here?" Roxas asked.

"Not really." Sora said. Sora leaned over the glove compartment which made Roxas blush at how close he and Sora is.

"Well, it's not here." Sora said.

"Are you sure?" Roxas asked not looking at Sora. "I remember I threw my thing on the backseat when we were headed to the Struggle. Remember?"

Roxas turned around on his seat so that he can have a better view of the back seat. "Maybe it's on floor…"

"Wait don't look there!" Sora exclaimed.

"Wehehelll, what's these?" Roxas said as he the teddy bear on the seat. He sat back properly on his seat and examined the teddy bear. The teddy bear was a white bear dressed in navy blue polo shirt and navy blue shirt.

"Who's this for, Sor?" Roxas asked, ignoring the pain in his heart. "Or better yet, who gave this to you?"

Sora slumped back on his seat and sighed. "No one gave that to me, Roxas. I actually bought it for someone special."

At this Roxas couldn't help but look at Sora. "R-really?" He asked as he tried to put on his best smile. "W-who is it?"

Sora smiled and ruffled Roxas's hair. "Why don't you see for your self."

Roxas took the card attached to the bear's arm and read it.

Roxie—is it okay if I call you that, because if not I can stop. Just say it okay.—Alright, serious mood again. Roxas, I'm very thankful that someone like you came into my life, unexpectedly. I never thought that I'd be in-love. Nor did I consider the idea of being in-love.

But then, that day came, that very memorable day when my world was suddenly turned upside down. The day I saw the thing called Love in your eyes.

I was so surprised the day you said you have feelings for me. I didn't expect that you, of all the people in this great world, would fall for me. ME! I mean c'mon, I'm not that special. Well, that's what I used to think about myself, until you.

Day by day, you showed me how special I am as person by your words, your actions… your everything. Sometimes I feel like abusing your kindness because never once have I done anything to return any of your kindness.

I was so afraid to love you at first, Roxas. First of all, I'm older than you. I know age isn't always a factor when you're in-love with someone, but the fact that I am older, makes our thinking different. You and I see the world differently because I myself have experienced a lot of things that you haven't.

Because of that, we sometimes tend to argue about the smallest bit of things which leads us to my second reason. I don't want us to fight, Roxas. I know in every relationship, fights come and go and they help make a relationship stronger, still I can't help myself but think that if you and I had a fight, I would lose you forever because you and I would think that we'd be better off without the other..

But because of you showed me that you truly love me with our day-to-day activities, I realize that there's nothing to fear in loving. Not if that someone is you, Roxas.

I'll forever be grateful to have you Roxas. I love you. There I said. *finally* I. LOVE. YOU.

~Sora

Roxas finished reading the note and folded it back in it original manner. He placed it under the teddy's arm and placed the teddy bear on his lap as he adore the beauty of it.

"So…" Sora began when Roxas didn't say anything. "Roxas…"

"Yeah…" Roxas said, still adoring the teddy bear.

"Roxas…" Sora tried again.

"What?" Roxas smiled and looked at Sora. Sora blushed, seeing that Roxas too had the equal amount of redness on his face. Roxas placed the teddy bear on the back seat, and smiled at Sora once more.

"Roxas, aren't you—aren't you gonna say something?" Sora asked nervously.

"What's there to say, Sora?" Roxas said.

Sora took a deep breath. "Roxas…"

"Yeah?" Roxas asked.

"I l—lo—love." He sighed. "Roxas, I love you." Immediately, Sora closed his eyes and waited for Roxas's reaction.

"I do too, Sora." Sora opened one eye and was surprised to see Roxas smiling, the same blush was still on his face. Sora opened his other eye and said, "You do? Sorry that was a dumb question."

Roxas took Sora's hand and shook his hand said, "It's not a dumb. And yes, I do, Sora. I Love You."

Sora blushed harder. "But why didn't say anything when you finished reading my letter?"

"Because I wanted you to say, Sor. After all, things are better off said than written." Roxas said.

"You know that most cliché thing I have ever heard." Sora said.

"I know and that's okay. At least it came from me, the one you love." Roxas laugh.

"S-shut up!" Sora blushed.

"Shut up?" Roxas face fell. "I'm sorry, Sora. I won't brag anymore."

"Hey, hey." Sora cupped Roxas right cheek and made him face him. "I didn't mean it that way, Rox. I just—you made me feel so giddy that I didn't know how to think anymore. See, because of your sweet words you're making me say things like giddy and stuff. It's not me—"

"Sora, you're ranting again." Roxas cut-in.

"I—Sorry." Sora smiled weakly.

"It's okay. I love it when you rant." Roxas smiled. "So what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?" Sora asked.

"Well now that we know our feelings for each other, don't you think we should do something about it?" Roxas said.

"Well what do you think we should do?" Sora asked.

"I'm new to this world, Sora." Roxas stated.

"Don't laugh okay, but I'm new too, Rox." Sora said with his head down.

Roxas placed his hand under Sora's chin and made the boy face him. "Now why would I laugh at someone that I love."

Sora smiled weakly at Roxas. "I'm glad to have been you're first and hopefully, I'll be your last."

"Oh, you surely will be." Sora smiled. He cupped Roxas's cheeks and stared in Roxas's eyes. "Can I?"

"Can you what?" Roxas asked even though he already knew the answer.

"This." Sora gave Roxas's lips a quick peck and parted from the blonde immediately.

"That one?" Roxas asked whilst blushing madly.

"Yeah…" Sora breathed hard.

"Would it be okay if you do it again, Sora?" Roxas asked, shyly.

"I thought you'd never ask." Sora cupped Roxas's cheek again and kissed him. This time it was longer and sweeter than the first. Sure it was sloppy at first, but after some time, the two found the right angle for their kiss and soon it became a passionate one.

End of Flashback…

Sora laughed at that memory. Surely, that was the happiest day of his life.

He hit the gas pedal and started to drive.

On my way, Rox. Give me five minutes and meet me at the front gate.

-Sor

To be continued… ^_^

A/N: Hey guys, sorry I haven't update for a decade, been busy with school lately, hey I'm a junior, need to work really hard if I wanna graduate. Anyway, it's my vacation now which means more time for my SoRoku fics. By the way, remember my story "Chances", I'm still gonna update that once I've finish this. Hehe…

Another thing: About Roxie's letter I expressed my feelings in that letter, so if you guys have any advice or comments please do say. Ehehe. Thank you people! ^_^V