A/N: Ok this is Chapter 4...this is the farthest I've gotten in a story before it became boring to me...don't worry thought, i still plan on finishing my old works at some point. This however i've had the time to work on it ever since Summer school ended. Yay for freedom during SUMMER! Now they have yet to leave yet, but they will in this chapter!...at the end...lol sorry i'm drowning the story out aren't I? well there a lot of RikuXSora fluffy and a lot of sad moments to a point but its all good, we'll have our Sora back to the cheery boy we remember in the games in no time!

Enjoy and comment and that thing about guessing what world they go to first still stands. If one of my readers can tell me what world i'll have them going to first, I'll give you all one of my hottest Lemons i will probably ever write...it'll probably be a whole chapter...if no one gets it i'll just make a normal Lemon, not that descriptive and hot. So you guys pick? Hot? or not? - D. A. Ashiuchi

Not The Same
Chapter Four: Finally Leaving

"Mom! Riku and I are off! Goodbye!"

"Sora wait!"

Sora paused at his front door with Riku besides him as they watched the kitchen door for his mother. When he saw her he had to blink a few times to believe his eyes, yet even after he did he still could not believe them. The smile that overtook most of this mother's beautiful face was a very familiar, much missed expression to Sora.

"Mom?" He asked breathlessly, feeling Riku's worry but not really caring as he kept his eyes on his mother. She had put up her light brown hair, making her face seem younger as the light struck it just right. That and the smile made Sora's breathe catch.

With kind gentle eyes his mother rushed forward throwing her arms around the taller form of her son. This was the first time since his return that she had not hesitated to show him affection in any form. She placed a kiss on his cheek and pulled back keeping her hands firm yet light on his shoulders. Sora couldn't move, afraid that if he did he'd lose this moment completely. His best friend remained at the door watch silently with a blank expression, not knowing if this was going to be good thing or a bad one.

Eyes that finally resembled Sora's stared at him with love and caring, just as motherly as the expression Sora remembered. It made his eyes water as he kept quiet. His mother began to talk after a minute of simply staring at him.

"Now young man if you think for a moment that I'd just let you go without a proper 'goodbye' then you are sorely mistaken!"

Sora smiled as she said this, drowning in the memories of this moment happening before. Expect, before he'd be looking up and his mother, not down at her.

"You will stay safe and try and stay out of trouble out there! You don't want your mother to come and bail you out of trouble when you're at this age do you?" Sora chuckled lightly at the soft banter his mother was throwing at him. Feeling at easy for the first time in a long time, even if this moment would bring him a slight twitch of regret later, it would be a memory he'd keep close for as long as he traveled.

From the talk he'd had with Riku up in his room, he had decided that he wouldn't let things like this get to him anymore. Even if these were the people he remembered, he would have gone one way or another. His mother was just that: His mother. Even if she forgot him, he'd never lose her.

"What are you laughing about young man? I'm serious you know. If you get in trouble, I won't be able to help you." Sora's mother sighed as she pulled him in once again, making Sora smile sadly into her shoulder as he hugged back. This was familiar to him; this was how it was supposed to be. She was coming back to him just when he was leaving. Another laugh rounded from Sora at the irony.

"Promise me you'll come back. I know I may be over reacting, but I have this feeling that you're leaving me again. I feel like the next time I see you, you'll be a full grown man caring the weight of the world on your shoulders." His mother's voice broke on the last sentence, letting him know that she was now crying. It brought a lump to his throat but he stubbornly swallowed through it and breathed deeply the smell of vanilla and pineapples; the scent of his mother.

"I promise." Sora noted faintly that he's voice also broke as he spoke. His throat dry and strained but he knew that he had to get this out. He had to strengthen the ties he had with this world and he had to return one day. "I promise I'll be back, and maybe I will be a man with the world on my shoulders, but at least I'll be back."

His mother nodded into his neck. Pulling away and smiling through teary eyes. Sora himself felt as if he'd cry again but he refrained. He needed to remain strong.

"Goodbye Sora."

"Goodbye mom."

~~~RXS~~~

Aqua colored gems followed Sora's form as the younger teen walked in front of them. They'd been walking for an hour now, just getting the last views of the city in before they left, and since leaving Sora's house, said brunette was acting unusually cheery as they raided the town.

It's not that Riku particularly hated this Sora, no in fact he enjoyed this because it came the closest to being the old Sora; what he didn't like however, was the possibility that Sora was hiding his feelings behind this act and not telling Riku what he really felt. After leaving Sora's he had actually felt lighter as they walked, and he had thought the other did too, but the sudden change still made Riku suspicion, despite his want for Sora to let go a little more. He made a decision to call Sora out on it the next time they found themselves alone.

He got his chance not moments before he made that decision.

As they walked, Riku noticed that the roads where empty, leaving only the two of them to walk along them. With his mind made up he grabbed one of Sora's swinging hands and pulled the brunette close.

"Wha-Ri-Riku?"

He ignored the blush on Sora's face as he pulled the boy just a little closer. When they were flush against each other, Riku finally spoke in a whisper, straight to Sora's ear.

"You do know that if you have any problem, you can tell me, right?" his voice was husky and low, making sure Sora heard him from the sudden inhale of breathe the younger gave. Unconsciously the brunette moved his head to the side, allowing himself to expose his neck to Riku's warm puffs of breathe. It brought chills up Sora's spine that he could help but love.

"Ye-yeah." Sora stuttered trying to remain calm under a new feeling: arousal. "I k-know Ri-Riku."

"Good." Riku breathed against his tanned skin. God that felt good, kind of ticklish but undeniably wanted. This was the first time he'd allowed someone this close for this long and in public, but at the moment, it wasn't in Sora to care. "Then tell me what's wrong, Sor."

Sora blinked, clearing his mind for a moment as he registered the request. "There's nothing wrong Riku."

A growl was his answer and that sound just made his shudder in want. Why was that so hot anyways, he's heard Riku growl before but right know it was doing something to his body that he could help but want to enjoy for as long as given the chance. He almost jumped out of his skin when he felt the outline of teeth scrape against the skin on the junction of his neck and shoulder.

"Try again." Riku groaned out, also highly aroused but more worried than not.

"Ri-Riku, l-later!" Sora didn't want to bring up saddening thoughts know, not when he felt so light for the first time in years but he knew that with Riku, there was no putting stuff off.

"Sora you have five seconds to tell me what's bothering you, or so help me, I will bite you till you bleed." It was a growled threat but it only sent pleasant shivers through Sora's body, he couldn't help it, he needed to play with out for as long as he could.

"Is that a threat or a promise?" The smirk that lit Sora's face couldn't only be described in one world: 'flirtation'. He couldn't help it now, he felt playful with Riku this close. He never had the chance to do this type of thing before so this right now was just perfect for him to drown his thoughts in. Riku knew this and even if he didn't approve, he liked this playful Sora.

That however, was not the reason for this act of PDA right now.

"Sora!" The silver haired animal growled yet again, softly sinking his teeth into the skin of Sora's neck. Even the scent of the brunette was making him quickly lose sight of why he was doing this. He could feel it him that unless Sora gave in, he would.

Luckily, he didn't have to; Sora caved first.

"F-Fine! Its Kai-Kairi. I was wondering if she'd s-see us off."

Riku stopped all movement as he heard this, Sora let out a whimper of disappointment as the feelings he'd been falling into suddenly stopped. He hadn't even noticed when his arms had thrown themselves around the taller teen's neck and his hands buried themselves in those soft silver strands of heaven. "Wh-Why'd you stop?"

The silver haired Keyblade wielder sighed into the damp skin of the body in his arms. Kairi, it was once again Kairi that was causing nervousness in Sora. Why hadn't he guessed it before? He sighed again, pulling his face from the other's neck but not relinquishing his hold on the boy.

"Sora I thought you said goodbye to Kairi already?" In truth, Riku wasn't too happy with the red head in question and this subject was bound to only make him angry. That being said, if talking about it helps Sora, then he'd do it with smiles on his face.

The brunette let out a tired breathe, breathing in the scents of cream and ocean salt; a combination so uniquely Riku that it brought a slight smile to Sora's lips before it dropped. "I can't help it Riku. I said my goodbyes but I still want her to see us off. I want her to believe that we'll be back, just like before. I guess I'm still stuck in my memories."

Riku shook his head fondly as he let out an exasperated sigh. It was just like his lover to think like a child, it was also like him to want to keep such childish thoughts to himself.

"Don't be stupid. I want her to be there two, I want it to seem like we will really be back, but she won't be there Sora. Even if the old Kairi would have, this one won't. She most likely has a date with both Tidus and Wakka, anyways." It was a bitter comment but it made Riku feel somewhat better. The same couldn't be said for Sora, though the other did let out a faint silent laugh.

"I should be thinking like this, but I can't help but feel like it's my fault. I wish I could have let her go on those journeys with us."

"And what-? Die in an attack. Think clearly Sora. If she was there all the time, we wouldn't be able to protect her all the time." Riku made good points, and Sora knew that, it didn't mean that it'd end his pity party though.

"I know but-" The silvernette stopped Sora's protests before they began by pressing his lips to Sora's own slightly opened ones.

The sudden contact made Sora gasp, giving the silvernette the chance he needed to deepen the usual sweet kiss. When his tongue slipped past those lushes lips, Sora let out a soft moan at the new sensation. Riku was becoming a god at making Sora feel something new every hour or so.

A strangely familiar taste of Sea-Salt Ice cream assaulted Sora's taste buds with a vicious need as he felt his own tongue getting sucked into Riku's mouth. Sweetness overtook the sour of a taste of pure Riku and when Riku gave a particularly hard suck on his tongue; Sora didn't not even try to stop the rumble of the groan that vibrated through their mouths. When Riku hummed in pleasure, Sora also felt it.

They took turns playing with the other's tongue, keeping the pace light and intense all at once. They wouldn't go too far, especially not here, right in the middle of the city.

"Le-Let's head for the Island. We'll watch the sunset as we wait for Donald and Goofy."

Of course, Riku was the first to regain his breath after breaking apart; though this would be the first time Sora has ever been glad that Riku was quicker to recover at something than he was. He was still blissfully loving the lingering feeling of the tongue that had joined his own in his mouth; the fact that it had been Riku was undeniable after Sora got a mouthful of that Sea-salt taste that he'd only ever tasted once. Roxas on the other hand, was a different story.

"Yeah. Sunset is in one hour." Sora sighed as they began to walk again, headed for shore so they could take a boat to the play island that still looked the same. It was the only place that still looked the same anymore. As he walked with Riku's hand held tightly in his own, he couldn't help but let the feelings of sadness leave his heart for now. He was with Riku, and he would always be. In other words: He was home. And he always would be.

~~~~SXR~~~~

"Where do you think they are? The King said they'd be here at sunset? Do you think they couldn't find the road? Maybe the door to Destiny Island is closed and now we can't leave? Where are they?"

Riku sighed with a smile as he listened to the ranting Sora had fallen into as the sun had begun to fall with him. It had been rather funny to see the Keyblade Master start to pace and rant in his nervousness, but now Riku was getting only the slightest bit worried. Not that he'd tell that to Sora at this point, but it still remained in his mind.

"Sora the sun isn't even touching the ocean yet, calm down, Donald and Goofy will not get lost!" In an attempt to give reassurance Riku pulled Sora against his chest by the hips. It affectively stopped both the pacing and the ranting. See, I am god. Riku thought with a small snicker. "You have to remember they're your friends, Sora. Keep the connection you share with them strong and they will find their way here if the ship has to put itself on auto-pilot.

That earned a laugh from Sora, lightening Riku's heart with his chiming sound.

"Your right! If worse comes to worse The Highwind will know how to get here on its own." Riku raised an eye brown at the name of the gummi ship and as if Sora could feel his question, the brunette only smiled mysteriously.

"The name was something I used to remain connected to you. I had Kairi's lucky charm and I felt it only fair to keep something that would always remind me of you." Sora's answer made Riku smile faintly then frown at unpleasant memories. Thoughts of 'it's his fault' popped into his mind and brought the feeling of deep regret into his being. Before Sora could even argue with the chance in attitude, Riku squeezed his waist, pressing a kiss to his temple.

"I'm so sorry. I started it all with my jealousy and hate. It's my fault all of that happened, maybe if I hadn't opened the door-" It was Sora's turn to stop Riku from rambling.

"If you hadn't opened the door, I never would have gotten the chance to make so many friends and see so many worlds. Don't regret what you did Riku, thought it was only half your decision, I still never blamed you. If I had, I wouldn't have looked for you, now would I?"

Sora's forgiving nature sometimes frustrated the silvernette, but he could help but smile this time. Pressing another kiss to Sora's temple before connecting their lips; the brunette was only too happy to comply.

When they pulled back Riku rested their foreheads together, closing his eyes so he could just feel Sora surround him. That was, till Sora opened his mouth again.

"So do you really think their coming?"

An irritated roll of the eyes got Riku just before he pulled away, not letting up on his grip on the slim waist he held securely to his own. He could feel that Sora wanted to start pacing again but not if he could help it. "Yes Sor; Goofy, Donald, and the Highwind will be here before nightfall. Just relax and enjoy the time we have left alone together; I know for a fact that you will be stolen from me the second you see that dog and duck."

Sora rolled his eyes too, hitting Riku's arm lightly as he shook his head. "Will not, maybe I'll give them a hug and all but no one can ever steal me from you." This again, got a raise of an eye brown from Riku. He decided to ask the question that rose in his mind regardless.

"And why is that?"

It was a simple question with a simple answer.

"Because I love you."

But the answer brought the most un-simple smile onto Riku's face since Sora had closed the door to the darkness with him inside. It was a look of slight pain mixed with a heart fluttering pleasure that hurt to look at. It was the same expression Sora had seen when just before the door closed, separating them for another year. The only difference was that the cause of the pleasure before had been different.

Back then he was just happy that he had gotten the chance to see Sora and have the brunette save he heart before falling into darkness; while the pleasure now came from hearing said brunette say such words of affection so easily.

The reason for the pain remained just the same: 'Regret'. Regret for putting the one he loved through so much heartache and regret for not being strong enough to resist the darkness. He should have known that the kind hearted teen would forgive him, but never would he forgive himself.

"I love you too Sora."

That was all he could do for now. Keep telling Sora just how much he cares. That was all he could do.

Sora's radiant smile at hearing those words brought a slightly bitter smile to Riku's own lips. If he had been stronger, he wouldn't be holding this boy in his arms now. He was happy for the way things turned out but he was guilty for thinking in such a way. It just proved to Riku that his heart would always remain drowning in darkness despite being right beside his light.

That's right. He thought. I have my light right by my side. Why should I drown in depressing thoughts, Sora would probably frown at me if he knew. The thought caused him to smirk, something that wasn't ignored by the brunette in question.

"Hey, what's that look for?"

Aqua eyes turned to suspicious sky ones and Riku chuckled at the look his love possessed at that very moment. A mix between curiosity and suspicion that crunched his eye brows, narrowed his eyes, and pressed his lips. Riku couldn't help but think about how cute that look was on the face of his light. Sora's eyes narrowed farther and the look turned into a familiar pout that just caused Riku to smile wider.

"Oh come on, what's so funny now?" the brunette pushed the silver haired boy backwards, watching with a laugh of his own as Riku fell over the edge of the paopu tree he'd been leaning on, still laughing. "Now I have to know, what's so funny?"

"Your face!" Riku declared, rather childishly from his spot on the sand. His feet were propped up on the slanted trunk of the paopu tree and laughing like a child just added to the picture of old times Sora had been pounding over in his mind. It felt for a moment as if they were ten again having this same conversation standing (or in Riku's case: laying) in the same possessions as before. It's what people would call a 'Déjà vu' feeling.

"Yeah yeah, just keep laughing while yours is still relatively pretty." Sora playfully batted. Feeling light hearted for him was a first after returning.

"Excuse me? 'Relatively pretty' Sora I'm like a freaking 'god'." This was joking, this was familiar ground, and it felt natural to Riku. The fact that it was bring a smile to Sora's eyes was just an added bonus to the pleasure of being able act like this with his best friend again.

"'God' is a bearded old man from the stories I've heard. I'll give you drop-dead sexy but 'god' is just killing you." Sora commented slyly. Laughs rang anew and they rang freely though the island. It was a sound that this place missed dearly in the absence of these two shinning brave boys.

Riku finally found himself sable enough to attempt to get up with a helping hand from Sora, but neither boy found it in themselves to stop laughing. It just felt so good after so long.

"Touché" Riku smiled finally standing from the sand but not letting go of Sora's hand.

"Gawrsh do ya think we're interruptin' something Donald?"

A very familiar voice to both Riku and Sora sounded from the bridge connecting Paopu Island to the rest of the play island. In seconds both boys turned to look in the direction of the person who spoke. They saw before they heard Donald answer.

"I don't know Goofy. You don't think Sora forgot that we were coming do you?" There was sarcasm in the duck's quack-y tone that got a divine grin out of Sora; who instantly rushed forward when his mind processed what his heart already knew. He was embracing his friends in seconds, falling to his knees to reach both duck and dog at the same time.

"Donald! Goofy!" Joy was high in Sora's tone, showing the talking animals just how much they were missed before both of them also called out to Sora, returning the embrace they found themselves in.

"Sora!"

Riku smiled at the picture those knuckle heads painted, still laughing for the earlier release of tension. The one to recognize his approach first was the cheery dog who waved at him with the hand that wasn't hugging Sora.

"Well Hiya Riku! It's nice ta see ya too!" Goofy gave out his signature laugh, getting one from Sora as well. Slowly, they all released one another, now it was Donald's turn to greet Riku though the duck was just riding it off as an everyday thing.

"Hello Riku! Are you ready to go, the King says he wants to see you two before you go off on your adventure?" Donald sounded saddened with the idea that he would get to journey with Sora this time, but Sora just smiled at the duck in answer. The brunette patted Donald's back harshly making the duck stumble forward.

"Don't worry you guys! I'll come and get you every once and a while and we can go fight heartless together! Just because I'm starting a new journey doesn't mean you won't be in it!" Sora reassured them softly; bringing smiles back to everyone.

"That's right! The heartless thingys are still showin' up! That's why King Mickey sent us to see you two! Now let's get going time'a waisten!"

Sora gave a grin to Goofy as he watched them enter the ship, and then glanced at Riku who gave him a smile. Lastly his eyes turned to the sea. This was his final goodbyes and he said them to himself.

"Yeah, let's get going."