A/N: Well this is Chapter 3. Now they still haven't left the island I know, I'm a prolonging this a little but hey, I have time now so i'm doing this all for the fun of it! Ok So this one Sora does get a little OOC but its all good! Kairi (bitch that she is) will be back in later chapters, so don't hate her too much...by the way, If you haven't played "The World Ends With You" I suggest you go find a copy and play while you still have the chance because it will be coming into the story in a few chapters!
If anyone can guess what world they go to first, I will give you guys a really juicy 'Lemon' between Sora and Riku. other couples will also be presented when i get the chance...like Akuroku and Cleon and JoshuaNeku and a whole bunch more. Don't fret, i will find a way to get Roxas his own body! I LOVE ROXAS AND AXEL! - Love D. A. Ashiuchi
Not the Same
Chapter Three: Connections To Old Smiles
A bell sounded through the chatty air of Destiny High School instantly the chatter ceased as the teacher crossed the room from the door at the back. Sora spared the teacher a slow glance before turning to the window he sat beside. The island air was as hot as it has always been and in some ways that calmed him from the nervousness in his being.
This was to be his last day of school. Of course, no one but Riku and Kairi know that this was the final time he'd be in school, but the fact still filled him with a wondering sadness that left him empty for a while. He could feel the worry from beside him and knew that Riku was silently staring intensely at him.
He turned blind eyes and deaf ears to all else but his own thoughts. It was something he felt he needed to do right now. He was leaving in a few hours, so he was trying to soak up all of the time in this island as he could, he'd silently say goodbye to those he used to call 'close friends' before he'd set off to say hello to his new ones. Even Riku had told him to take as much time to himself as he needed. That, of course, didn't mean that Riku wouldn't worry about him as he fell into his silence.
With eyes toward the clear sky, he thought about his decision.
This wasn't his home anymore. Everyone on this island would look at him blankly before recognition shun in their eyes. Even his mother had done this at first. It left him heartbroken when he had to say: 'Hi mom. It's me, Sora. I…I'm back.'
It had been terrible to wait until his friends recognized him before he could greet them warmly. That had been some reasons for his uneasiness around those people, those strangers. If it hadn't been for Riku, he'd have broken over these past two months.
He smiled as he thought of Riku. The person sitting beside him had saved him many times over their struggle. Sometimes it had been without even realizing it.
After that kiss last night and the declaration of affection Riku had finally said straight out, the pair had gone to the shack and debated what they would do the next day. The King's letter had said that Donald and Goofy would be at Destiny Island by sunset the next day; meaning they'd be there on a Friday. It had been Riku's suggestion that they attend School one final time before leaving. Even if it was not their home anymore, it had been their home once and it just felt right to say goodbye to it in the end.
Kairi had avoided them when they had walked into class together. Not even bothering to look in their direction; but they knew she felt their presence. The air had been heavy at first, and stayed as such until she had gotten in an animated conversation with Selphie and seemed to have completely forgotten they had come to school at all.
It had hurt, but in a way, she was merely a stranger now compared to the person in his memories. Still he couldn't stop getting flashes of a Kairi that looked so much like this girl who was hell bent on ignoring him and Riku.
"In the end, it was said that the heart possessed the greatest power. What do you think of the opinion of the Bladers'? Sora?"
The brunette felt eyes on him, catching him off guard in this stupor like trance. He looked around the room, noticing that everyone was indeed staring at him expectantly. Riku seemed to be smirking behind his science book and when he's eyes turned to Kairi, she looked away quickly. Still, he remained quiet.
"Why do you think the Bladers' were correct in assuming that the heart possessed the greatest power, Sora?" The teacher at the front repeated the question again, smiling in a kind way despite the annoyance he truly felt at being practically ignored by one of his students. This brought a chuckle from many of the students around him but Sora just smiled at the question, feeling faintly dreamily as he thought his answer over. He didn't feel right to answer that question, so with a chuckle; he merely shrugged to his teacher.
The middle aged man sighed as he looked to the seat beside Sora at a snickering teen who looked as if he was about to blurt into a loud calls of laughter. "Want to give it a try Riku?" The teacher asked skeptically. Riku had always been a good student but after he'd skipped so many days of school the teachers all labeled him as a 'bad kid' which endlessly pissed Riku off.
With another snicker to his love, Riku returned his attention to the front of the room, ignoring the eyes of his peers as he answered the question.
"The Bladers recognized that the heart, though made up of both light and darkness; could follow only a single path. Those who didn't follow their hearts fell to the darkness within them, searching for a light despite the hopelessness. And those who followed the path their hearts had set become the light to lead those hopeless people out of the dark. The hearts are what lead beings to make choices, though if right or wrong, would depend on how much light and dark control that person's heart. Bladers thought that the key to the heart would always be love. When a person followed love, they can never go wrong." With a sly glance at Sora, he saw that the brunette was smiling at him openly, not even worrying about the people that were glancing at the two with jealousy and disgust in some of their eyes. Riku noticed those stares though, and scowled at the ones sending them.
The teacher at the front smiled in acknowledgment of the answer, ignoring the vibes that went through his class as if it was just something he saw every day. It probably was, but Riku wouldn't know since he hadn't been in class since he returned to Destiny Island.
"That is correct. The heart is something many have tried to understand but its true nature is something I believe no one will ever truly understand. That being said, some have tried and there will probably be more who will attempt to capture the essence of a heart in data."
The way the teacher spoke reminded Riku slightly of Diz; bringing a nostalgic feeling to the pit of his stomach. Sora must have noticed because the Keyblade Master had placed a hand on his arm faintly before bringing his hand back to rest on his desk. He sent Riku a leveled glance before turning once again to the window.
The silvernette sighed, also lost in his thoughts.
He knew he didn't belong here. He felt glad to be leaving and that scared him. It was true he was leaving with Sora, but he had it in his mind that he should feel at least a little sad at leaving these islands that he had grown up in for sixteen years of his life. The fact that he didn't feel even remotely affected frightened the shit out of him.
What would Sora say if he knew that Riku felt this way? Would he think Riku was heartless? Would he think Riku was too dark to feel anymore? Would it even really matter to the brunette? It was things like that, that made Riku feel as if he was heartless.
In the end both boys were too lost in their own minds to notice the bell ringing, signaling the end off class. As the other students filed out, a figure walked towards their desks.
"Riku, Sora. Can I talk to you two for a little while?"
Both aqua marine and sky blue eyes looked up to the face of the middle aged teacher that had just minutes ago dismissed the class. They then looked at one another in question, both turning back to the teacher with a nod. This motion made the teacher laugh quietly.
"You two were always like that when you were younger but now it's just creepy." Sora smiled as the teacher said this, but when he glanced at Riku he could see his lover frowning. This was a look Sora recognized faintly. This was Riku's thinking face, meaning that he had picked up on something that Sora had apparently missed. He was about to voice this thought, when the teacher once again spoke before them.
"The King told me that you two will be leaving again today, is that correct? Well I can't say it surprises me but the fact that Kairi was ignoring you two did. Are you guys leaving her behind again?"
Shock rolled into Sora making his chin drop but when he looked at Riku all he saw was a dawning answer. So Riku had guessed it and was now confirming it. Just great, looks like I can still miss the obvious, at least not everything has changed. Sora scowled inwardly, but the look of surprise still remain on his outward features.
"How do you know the King? I thought no one in Destiny Island knew of the existence of other worlds." Even as Riku kept his tone hard, his curiosity was seeping off him in waves. This such as this always had intrigued Riku so why wouldn't it now?
The teacher shook his head, a grin on his lips as he ran his hand through his faintly graying hair. Shinning jet-black eyes twinkled at them. "The King has connections in every world, why would this one be any different. I was put here to watch over the Keyblade Master that was born into his world. Though when I first met you, Sora, I must say, I had greatly underestimated you."
Sora did scowl at that, seemed like a lot of people just didn't know how to trust in him. He wasn't perfect, you know, but he was more than capable. "Yeah, I get that a lot." The brunette huffed making both the teacher and Riku chuckle.
"Don't feel bad, Sora. King Mickey had told me you'd be the greatest Master that ever lived. You can't really blame me for wanting more than I had seen. Truly in the beginning, I had thought Riku would become the Keyblade Master." That made Riku snort from his spot beside Sora.
Folding his arms in front of his chest, Riku rolled his eyes. "I'm not strong enough to become a master. I am merely a wielder."
This seemed to surprise the teacher. "So you can call forth a keyblade too? That is truly amazing. You may not be strong enough to be classified a 'master' Riku, but the mere fact that you can call forth a keyblade makes you far stronger than any other. The King had been right when he said I'd know strong hearts when I see them." A pensive look took the old man's face, but that only annoyed Riku.
"Look, Mr. Karmer. Why are you telling us all this now? You couldn't have talking about this a few years ago?"
"Oh please Riku, call me Cid(*). Mr. Karmer makes me feel old!" the man called Cid laughed and then smiled. "I could have told you anything, or things might not have turned out the way they had. King Mickey had warned me against telling you before you got your Keyblades, even if I noticed who you were beforehand. Besides, everything turned out for the better, despite the fact I didn't tell you. Or do you disagree?"
Sora nodded slightly at Cid's explanation, trying to keep what was in the past, in the past was something the brunette just felt the need to do at the moment. It is better not to dwell in what could have been when everything is said and done anyways.
"But why do you come to us now? On the day that we will be leaving this island?" Sora asked thoughtfully, frowning in confusion. A look Riku found endlessly cute.
Cid merely kept up is perfect smile.
"Well it's because you two are leaving that I'm telling you now. You don't seem to think of this place as your homes anymore, am I wrong?" when neither teen spoke, Cid continued. "With you two on bad terms with Kairi and the other's having forgotten you Sora; I felt that you should have a person to connect you to this world. Even if you don't want to return, it will always be here if you do."
The two Keyblade wielders grinned at that. It had been a subject that had come up when they were in deep conversation the night before. They had wanted to at least have the peace of mind that if they ever wanted to return, Destiny Island would still be here, but they didn't have a person whose heart would stay connected to Sora's after the talk with Kairi. Sora would have left regardless but he knew he would have always felt a little empty without this place at least on the map.
Sora gave Cid one of his rare grins that made all those he met become his friends in seconds. It seemed to have worked again as Cid's eyes fell gentler. The old man looked tired now, having let go of the impulse to smile forcedly at his students. He had to keep in mind that these would no longer be his students after today, but merely his friends.
"Thank you, Mr. Kar-I mean Cid. It would lighten my load if I knew that I at least had this place if I wanted it." Sora gave his genuine thanks as he stood to shake the old man's hand. Riku did so too, silently.
Cid just gave a gentle smile, a deferent sight from those he flashed in during classes.
"Yes, that is what I had thought. Now leave with easy hearts. You friend will always remember you. She'll see what went wrong eventually, just give her some time."
Sora nodded as Riku remained tight lipped. They walked to the door, giving a wave over their shoulder as they left Cid in the empty class room.
"Thank you Cid!" They both yelled after the door had closed, bringing a laugh bubbling from Cid's chest.
Once they were out in the hall, along together, they smiled at one another. One of the problems they had at leaving this place had just resolved itself and they had also learned something interesting out of it.
"So King Mickey keeps connections to all the worlds? I remember that in every world I visited, at least one person was aware of the existence of a King Mickey. I guess it's just a perk to being a King." Sora stated thoughtfully as they walked. As if naturally, his hand snaked into Riku's filling with warmth when Riku grabbed it without a second thought.
"King Mickey is always like that. Making sure to think of all the worlds before focusing on a problem."
They made their way to the front gates, knowing that this was a 'see you later' that would last for a long time. They both glanced around wildly, trying to commit everything to memory so they had something to hold on to when they visited countless different worlds. Soon they would see this place again until at the very least a few years. That is, if trouble didn't drag them back before they were ready.
"It'll be sunset soon, Sora. Do you want to gather our stuff before heading for the Island?"
Sora nodded in answer, gripping Riku's hand slightly tighter. He was sort of scared at seeing his mom again. The first time had been awful but it had been getting better. Now though, he'd be leaving, to only return in a few more years. It hurt to think that he may not recognize him the next time he returned.
"Hey don't worry." Riku called, knowing instantly what was bothering his love. "If you don't want to see her, we can climb up your window?"
It was suggestion made to make Sora feel more comfortable, but it only made the boy only felt bad that he had to do something like that when faced with his own mother. And this may be the last time he'd see her in perhaps years. He had to at least say goodbye to his mother, right?
"No, I want to say goodbye. I won't get to see her face for years Riku. I want to at least tell her I love her while she still has me in her mind."
Riku nodded in understanding. Not needing to say much else to know what Sora was feeling. The squeeze of the hand holding his was more than enough.
With slow steps, they walked toward Sora's house, trying to prolong the time they had together before facing the inevitable. We have a few hours before sunset anyways, so why not take your time while you have it? I'm with Riku and I always will be if I can help it.
~~~SXR~~~
Within a half an hour, Sora and Riku stood before Sora's house; looking intensely at the building as the air around them became heavy. The entire walk there had been rather tense for both of them, but Riku was doing his best to keep Sora from running away from this, ever since coming back two months ago, Sora only went home when it was completely necessary and only stayed for a short period of time.
"Do you want me to go in with you?" Riku asked carefully, squeezing Sora's hand as the other boy nodded stiffly. When they walked forward, it was with hesitant steps.
"Mom, I'm home!" Sora's voice was raspy as he yelled out his usual greeting. This was something he'd used to do as a kid and never really stopped. He wanting to make sure that every time he yelled that line, his mom would know it was him. It didn't work for the first week, but after that it had become natural.
When the figure of a relatively young, beautiful woman stepped out from the kitchen, Sora had to restrain himself from gulping.
The woman's eyes were just like his, a deep and inviting blue, though her's were clouded slightly as she once again attempted to recognize her son. Unlike most times it only took a few seconds, but that was because Riku stood next to him.
"Sora, Its good to see you home! You two haven't been sleeping in that island again, have you? Oh how many times have I told you not to do that, you'll worry your mother to death!" Her motherly banter lightened Sora's heart but only minutely as she hesitated to give him a hug and a kiss. She HESITATED!
Riku tightened his hold on Sora's hand as he felt the sadness of the other boy as he gave his mother a one armed hug. Even the silvernette had caught the hesitation, so he was certain Sora had caught it too, after all, the brunette had been looking for it.
"I'm sorry mom." Sora gave a strained, pained smile in an attempt to lighten the tension he felt within himself. Riku could only feel a sense of overwhelming sadness as he watched the display silently. "Me and Riku are planning on going on a trip this afternoon. We'll be going to a whole bunch of different worlds meeting a whole bunch of old friends. I won't be here for a while."
Even as he said this Sora could feel that he was slowly falling into a darkness that was, at the moment, surrounding his heart. His only light was the hand that gripped tightly on his own.
"Oh dear." His mom smiled at her adventures child, knowing that she could not prevent this child from doing such outrages things. Even when he had been a boy Sora would speak of journeys and worlds that he'd go to when he was older. Sora's mother just always thought that it was all in Sora's imagination and he'd be back in a week at most. "Well make sure to call everyday and don't wonder too far out to sea. Don't be too reckless either child, you are the only one I have."
Sora chocked down a sob that rounded at him when she spoke. That had hit him deep.
The pale, strong hand that was keeping him sane pulled him up the stairs. Over his own cloudy mind he thought he heard Riku shout a reply to his mother but couldn't bother listening as he fell farther into despair.
Once safely inside Sora's room, Riku pulled the motionless boy into his arms, falling with the teen onto his bed. This hadn't been the first time he came to Sora's house, but it had been the first time his mother had been home. If that had been what the teen had been dealing with for two months than it is no wonder Sora didn't feel at home in Destiny Island.
"Dam-Dammit! I always en-End up crying!" frustration rose in Sora's chest as he cried into Riku's chest. Now he was crying about crying. It made Riku chuckle rather sadly.
"It's ok, Sor." Riku cooed softly, running his fingers through Sora's soft hair. Despite its gravity defying tendencies, Sora's hair was actually the silkiest think Riku had ever touched. It was ironic really but if he were to say it out loud the irony would be lost to Sora himself. "You will always have me, you know. Don't think about it so much, I know it hurts but in the end it may be for the best."
What the hell is he saying? Has Riku gone Insane? Sora pulled himself from Riku's embrace, looking at him with question and betrayal. "How is this for the best?" he demanded, making Riku gulp.
"Sora, If that letter had come and you still felt like this is where you belonged, I know that you'd still follow the King's request. Maybe the effects of Namine's magic were for the best. Even if it causes you pain now, if it hadn't been this way you would just miss them more, wouldn't you?"
Sora thought about it for a second, knowing in his mind that Riku was right but feeling bad for that. He nodded with a sigh, sitting on the edge of his bed, and wiping his tears with his sheets.
He felt arms wrap around him from behind and leaned back into the welcoming felling. Riku's breath blew against his ear as he heard the other speak.
"It'll be ok, Sora. You'll have me, always and forever, you know that right?"
Sora nodded his head mutely, enjoying the feel of Riku.
With slow movements Riku began to drop kisses lightly over Sora's neck, marveling in the sounds that left the other's mouth. "We'll be ok in the end. Our home is beside one another Sora. I know you miss Goofy and Donald, and Ariel, Beast, Belle, Leon, Areith, Yuffie, Cloud, and everyone in every world you landed on. We'll see them again, together. Keep that thought in your mind through this whole trip ok?"
When Sora gave a nod, Riku bit into the neck against his lips drawing a sharp moan from Sora. As he sucked he could help but feel slightly possessive at the moment. Sora was too busy paying attention to other's that he forgot all about Riku.
He was marking his territory now, sucking and biting roughly as Sora squirmed. The brunette was by no means innocent after all he's been through, but this was new to him and he marveled at the feelings Riku was creating within him. He knew he wanted more, but when a rather loud moan left his lips, a worried voice carried from down stairs.
"Sora are you alright up there?"
Both boys stopped dead in their track to pleasure, feeling slightly embarrassed despite the fact that no one was really looking at them.
With a glance to each other, Riku and Sora burst into smiles, laughing loudly at the embarrassed feelings. They grinned, keeping the air light between them. Leaning forward, their lips touched in a light kiss before pulling back.
"Get your shit ready, Sor, we just lost like two hours!" Riku pushed Sora off the bed, watching the boy fall to the floor with no grace to be spoken off. He laughed a little louder when the Keyblade Master stuck out his tongue. It looked like he'd gotten the old Sora back. Now his goal was to keep it that way.
"If we lost two hours, it's your fault Ri-ku!" Sora grabbed Riku's arm, dragging him over the edge of the bed and onto the floor as well. Another laugh rounded through the house and for the first time in a while, a gentle, familiar smile shined on the lips of Sora's mom. For a sudden minute she looked three years younger.
(*) Cid is the Headmaster for Garden in Final Fantasy 8 not the same Cid from Final Fantasy 7