A/N: Ok Chapter Six! I hope you all aren't mad about the late update, I'm been going out with friends and getting inspiration from other fan-fics. I have some recommendations if anyone wants an interesting thing to read. One would be 'We're In This Together' by Reyaa a SoraxRiku and AxelxRoxas LeonxCloud ZexyXDemyx and some more. It was also a good use of Disney songs lol. It truly was a good read despite its length...trust me, its long. Though I got through it with three days of non-stop reading. lol. Leave a comment to her if you like it, I think a fanfic that thought out dissevers it. Much love for sticking with me through this fic! - Love, D. A. Ashiuchi

Not The Same
Chapter Six: Anxiety For A New Beginning

Tired blue eyes scanned the white room, looking but not seeing as the brunette's mind lost itself in senseless thought. After deciding that they'd work together to restore the fallen Nobodies, Riku had suggested they sleep before going anywhere; insisting that if Sora didn't sleep now, he wouldn't sleep when this journey officially started.

It had also been Riku's idea to call in some reinforcements.

Through the connector in the Highwind, Goofy and Donald were able to inform the King of the stuff he missed. It was confusing to all four members of the party to see the King surprised at getting connected to Sora and Riku but they put that behind them to ask later. King Mickey had told them that he was planning on coming to The World That Never Was to begin with; Mickey also said that some help would come in handy, so Sora got in touch with the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee and requested some assistance. In the end, due to some invading heartless, only Leon, Cloud, and Areith were able to be sent. This being stated, The King was to pick them up on his way here.

"You know you won't get anywhere pacing like that."

Riku's light, sleepy voice made Sora smile through his worry. At some point during the night, Sora was kind of hoping that Riku would awaken and rid him of this uneasiness and anxiety that was stubbornly residing in his insides, but never would he purposefully shake his lover awake. The both needed their sleep while they had the chance to get it.

"I can't help this feeling, Ri'. It's like something in me will not let me rest until I have what it wants." Sora let out a heavy sigh as he felt the strong arms he loved to be in, wrap around his middle, pulling him back into solid warmth that was now a familiar haven. "I think I know what it is, but knowing won't help get rid of it. You said you've met Axel before, right? Maybe you can say something to get Roxas to calm down."

Riku's breath fanned over the back of his neck and he closed his eyes in pleasure. He was conscious of Donald and Goofy asleep at the bottom of the steps that lead to the they place where they'd fought the final battle but right at that moment he didn't care.

"I can't say what I don't know, but if it makes Roxas feel better, I know of a way he could have his own body."

The words took merely seconds to register, but once they had Sora pulled away from the arms with a gasp; looking curiously at Riku. "How?" he breathed.

For Riku's part, he was hesitant to say. He knew without any doubt that Sora would do anything for other's happiness; this is why he didn't really want to give Sora the ideas in his mind. It was also a fact that what Riku had planned, was the only way. Also meeting Axel and once meeting Roxas, Riku felt as if he should grant them some joy in a miserable life as well.

"Sora, Roxas came to have a body of his own when you became a heartless. If it were to happen again, he would come into being once more." Before Sora could speak, Riku held up a hand, stopping the protest where it stood. Not meeting his love's eyes, he continued. "Last time you became a heartless Kairi was able to save you, because she is the one that held your heart. She was the one that could recognize you. If you should become one now; wouldn't it be I that would have the power to save you?"

The question was like asking if Sora loved him, Riku knew that and he waited for the answer. He could not even breathe as he quietly waited for the brunette's answer.

A slow, but strong smile began to spread over Sora's features. This was enough of an answer to comfort Riku into breathing again.

"That's right!" Sora exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his sleeping friends. When Riku looked panicky at the two still animals and let out a sigh of relief, Sora smiled sheepishly and lowered his voice. "That's right! So we can give Roxas a body of his own again, but what are we going to do about his heart. He and I share that." It was at this that Sora frowned slightly as if the whole plan had fallen apart.

Riku merely smirked back at him, confusing the hell out of him.

"That, my love, is where Axel comes in."

When the look of question did not leave his love's face, Riku sighed and began a full on explanation. "Axel is a nobody who doesn't have his other. That means that when we find his heart, it will be all his. He is also the one that holds Roxas' heart, like you hold mine. Because of this, Axel could choose to share half of his heart with Roxas. It would connect them, and since the heart isn't rightfully his, it would keep Roxas in a solid body."

"But-" Sora paused in thought again, still slightly confused. "Roxas is part of me. Wouldn't his absence be like…a hole in my own heart?"

At the question, a blush dusted Riku's pale cheeks a sight Sora had never had the chance to see a lot of.

"That is where you and I come in. Like Axel would share half his heart with Roxas, I guess it would be you and me sharing half of my heart. If you said yes of course, but it would also mean that you'd have to remain by my side. No one else would be able to hold your heart again."

It seemed to hit Sora now that Riku had explained, just what Riku was asking of him. Of them. This would be the closest Sora would probably ever get to a normal marriage when he was the Keyblade Master; that and the fact that Riku was offering him 'forever'. It was more than normal marriages got; he had the opportunity to share hearts with the one he loved. They would quite literally be keeping each other alive.

Quickly, before Riku could go back on his words, Sora rushed forward partly throwing himself into the unsuspecting strong arms.

"We'll be sharing a heart, Riku. We will 'have' to remain a part of each other's lives even after the both of us die, this will go beyond sharing a simple Paopu to fulfill some Island Legends. You know that's what you just offered me, right?"

Riku shook his head as his arms remained steady around his love. He had thought this through, of course he know what he was offering. The silvernette didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but he decided he'd answer Sora's question. With a nod, he felt familiar lips slip right to his own. Sora was kissing him. Was this a 'yes' or a 'no'?

He guessed that he could stand to find out later, at the moment, he drowned in the kiss.

Breathing through their nose, both Riku and Sora fell into the feeling of pleasure that having this closeness to the one they loved brought. It was quickly overwhelming common sense and even the instincts need to continue. For a few seconds they forgot to breathe through their noses and ended up having to pull away.

Panting and flushed, both boys stared only at one another, as if all they could see was the other's eyes; all they could hear was the other's breathing, and all they could feel was the other's presence. It was Sora who broke the vocal silence.

"Will you really let me share my heart with you?" even if it wasn't a definite thing, the feelings of having Sora ask that was a great and welcomed pleasure for Riku.

"Yeah. You have always held my heart before, for me to hold yours now would work as proof to me that this love I've always had for you is mutual." Tingles of joy and pain ran through Sora at his partner's words. Saying this was a profession of love; something they silently agreed would not be said often in fear of it one day becoming a lie, and a reminder to Sora that though he had always been in Riku's heart, Riku had come second in his at one point.

"Well, believe it. You hold my heart now Riku, and unlike with Kairi, that won't change for as long as I have you by my side. I want to share my heart with you, and have you become the darkness to my light." It was double grins that met Sora's words. Wide ones showing teeth an all, something, again, Riku didn't do often enough.

They had set a plan and even if it held danger for Sora, Riku knew that even if it hadn't been his idea; Sora would have done anything to bring his other happiness. The worry Riku cared though, would remain hidden until it was gone, that was for sure.

Sora let out a yawn as his mind now seemed to calm at Riku's greatly-thought-about plan. It had shocked him that Riku had suggested it at first; after all, it put Sora in a lot of danger. But it also made him feel giddy and hyper. For Riku to even think up of something with only a slight chance of working, must have meant that Riku believed in Sora's love and believed in Sora's power. Many people have underestimated him all his life, but this silver haired male trusted enough in all that Sora was to believe that they'd make it through alright. The thought made Sora giggle.

"What?" asked Riku, sort of confused about why the brunette had burst into giggles. He couldn't keep the smile off this face though, he just loved to put that look on Sora's face.

"I-It's not l-like you Ri'!" Sora breathed between light laughs, keeping his volume down as to not wake the other members of their party. "Looks like even though you've been wondering in the darkness too long, you can think positive."

Those words brought the same memory to both of them.

The end of the last battle.

The giddiness subsided to a calm chime on the back of his mind. It seems that Roxas was also pleased with the plan; even if the blond nobody had no way to tell Sora that, he sure as hell felt it.

"Just go to sleep, Sor. We still have about three hours of sleep if we start now." Riku smiled silently as he held out his hand for Sora to take. When the brunette had, he walked them both back down the stairs to the last floor and brought them down to settle in besides the giant animals.

Sora's back pressed surely into Riku's chest as they lay on their sides. One of the silvernette's arms was tucked under their heads, using it as a pillow; Riku using his hand while Sora hogged the rest of his arm. The other was thrown tightly over Sora's waist; their legs seeming to want to tangle themselves together. If not for the different shoes and pants, one wouldn't know who's leg was who's.

"Goodnight, Sor. Make sure you get at least some sleep this time." Riku's voice whispered into his ear from behind him. It made him shiver pleasantly and smile as he closed his eyes.

"You too, Ri'." He answered in his calm content voice.

~~~SXR~~~

"Are you sure we should wake them? I believe they need this time."

A sweet voice, one he recognized, seemed to cut into Sora's drowning sleepiness. He could clearly feel the warmth behind him, meaning he was still with Riku.

"Don't go all soft now, Miss. Kindness. You were the one who forced Blondie and I to come and help."

Ok, that voice was rougher and slightly less emotional, but definitely familiar. It made Sora frown in thought as this mind came back to him. When he slowly shifted to open a single blue eye he gasped.

"Sora has done a lot for us already. This…is all we can do to pay him back."

Standing at the door to the Organization XIII's grave room were three people he thought he wouldn't get to see so soon. The arm around his waist was barely able to restrain him for bolting up. In the end, when he'd tried, the arm just held tighter and mumbles were heard from behind him. Cloud, Aerith, and Leon had yet to notice that he was awake, so he turned in the arms of his love to face their owner.

He planted a slow kiss on the darkness wielder's chin, waiting for some reaction. When he got none, he moved to the lips, placing a slightly harder kiss there. He pulled back to wait again, smiling softly when he got the other to flutter his eyes.

It seemed that Riku was coming to, but just for the hell of it, Sora pressed his lips firmly to his love's; pulling back before the other had the chance to deepen it.

It was one of those rare, soft, and loving smiles that Sora possessed that Riku was met with when his blue-green eyes finally drifted open. He could not help but smile and sigh contently. It was that sigh that brought the other's attentions to the two.

"I hope you know, Sor, that now that I've tasted the joys of waking up to your smile, I'm going to want to see it every morning till we die." Sora giggled just slightly.

"If you're up…don't waste time."

Cloud's voice made both him and Riku look up and while he smiled, Riku scowled. When both were on their feet, Aerith came forward pulling the young brunette into a comfortable and kind hug. Even if Sora couldn't see Riku, he knew that his boyfriend was scowling and more than a little jealous. He however, hadn't seen Aerith in a long time, so he hugged back.

Once they had pulled apart, he took Aerith's and presented her to Riku.

"Aerith, this is the boy I'd been looking for. This is my heart, Riku." He turned to Riku, presenting Aerith to him. "Riku, this is a close friend I've met in my journey, Aerith. She has been the one healing my wounds whenever it was convenient for her."

It shocked Riku that Sora had introduced him to a friend as 'my heart'. It made him warm and it killed the feelings of jealousy he'd previously had toward this woman. Her genuine smile of happiness for Sora's happiness had also helped.

He was surprised again when the kind brown haired woman stepped forward and pulled him into a hug, just as she had Sora.

"I've heard a lot about you from Sora. You are really special to him, and while he's searched for you, you suffered didn't you?" The words of the woman still holding him made Riku shudder. How could she see that? She didn't know what he'd been through, she didn't know anything.

From behind the woman's shoulder, Riku caught a smile on his lover's face, telling him he shouldn't say those things out loud. "Aerith has always been caring. Every time I told her about you she would smile fondly and say: 'Your friends are always closer to you than you can see, Sora. He could be the one leading you way.' In the end, she was right, right Riku?"

The silver haired keyblade wielder looked down at the woman in his arms catching an eyeful of a new type of smile that melted his resentment for her earlier statement. Bright green eyes glistened as she pulled back.

"And the silent guys who followed me here are Leon and Cloud." She gently smiled, stepping back to stand between the two she had introduced, pointing at the one with the correct name. Riku just nodded, not particularly liking the feeling of vulnerability that the woman Aerith had left within him. He received answering nods before a much more welcomed voice called his name.

"Riku!" The King cheered as he rushed forward, much like he had when Riku and Sora had dropped into Destiny Island for the last time. Riku held his arms open as a reflex now.

When the mouse slammed into him he picked the small King up with no effort, giving him a hug before setting him down. "It's great to see you again, Your Majesty."

The King made a face but smiled seconds later.

"Now what have I told you! We're friends now, Riku! You don't have to call me that!"

A smile, wide but gentle, bloomed through Riku's face as he stared at the one person who stayed by his side through all he's been through. It was true, he had said before that they were friends; he didn't need to refer to The King as a King. "Fine then. It's good to you, Mickey."

Smiles ranged from everyone's faces, even Goofy and Donald when they had been awoken by Sora. Once every member of the party was conscious again though, smiling faces turned serious.

"Now if I know Riku, he has a plan. Will we be able to hear it out?" Mickey spoke with a glint in his eyes and a secret smile, knowing that Riku was used to doing things on his own despite the fact that he didn't have to. That secret smile was shared with Sora as Riku had the grace to blush before clearing his throat.

"We are going to turn Sora into a heartless again."