Disclaimer: El videojuego de Kingdom Hearts 2 no es mio. Song lyrics belong to Underoath.

Chapter 6- 3 days remaining

"Can you feel your heart beat racing? Can you taste the fear in your sweat?"

Sora was currently sitting in a recording studio inside Oblivion Records Co. A producer was at his side, fiddling with switches and knobs, sometimes frowning and shaking his head and other times smiling and nodding as if he'd just discovered the secret of life.

"You've done this wrong it's too far gone and your sheets tell of regret."

Sora was staring at his sketchpad, concentrating intensely on the picture he was doing of Riku to keep from dwelling on the other picture he'd drawn the day before. Other members of the band had been in and out all day long and currently Demyx was sitting at his side, watching him draw in fascination. He'd already made several thousand comments on how realistic it looked and made Sora promise to draw one of the blonde guitarist later.

"I admit that I'm just a fool for you, I'm just a fool for you." The music picked up and Riku let out a throaty scream into the mic, making Sora jump a mile. Demyx laughed at the brunet who was too busy trying to get over the shock to care. He'd been to enough of Riku's shows to expect that, but the simple fact that his vocal cords could accomplish such a feat never ceased to amaze Sora. The producer frowned and shook his head, leaning forward and pressing a button. Riku stopped when he saw the motion.

"Too much?" he asked, pulling his headphones off, his voice returning to the deep supple sound Sora was so used to.

"Just a bit. Take it down a notch."

"We have to be able to understand you, Riku!" Demyx yelled. Riku flipped him the bird and pulled the headphones back on, getting right back to work. This last statement, however, intrigued Sora, and he turned to look at the guitarist.

"Wait a sec…you're telling me that you actually understand what he's saying when he does that?" Demyx nodded. "When he does it, right, yes." Sora looked at his husband, separated from them by thick glass, eyes closed and crooning into the mike.

"There are a lot of your songs that I can't understand a word he says. I merely refer to that," he indicated the singing, which had just picked up again, "As inaudible screaming." Demyx laughed and shook his head.

"I'll translate for you." Just as he said this, however, Riku started to sing again, rather then scream.

"Tonight's your last chance to do exactly what you want to." Demyx swore good-naturedly.

"Aw, we missed it. Give him a sec; it'll come back again." The producer seemed amused by their conversation. He spared them a glance, though he was obviously torn between focusing on his job or their conversation. Eventually, his desire to not get fired took over and he focused his attention wholly on the singer and the thousands of knobs in front of him.

"And this could be my night this is what makes me feel alive."

"Oh…here it comes!" The screaming erupted again and Demyx began translating. By the time he'd gotten through the whole song, Sora was amazed at Demyx's ability to decipher the screams. The producer nodded and hit the button again.

"That was great, Riku," he praised. "Take a break and then we'll start on the next one." Riku exited the room; catching the bottle of water Demyx threw him and taking a long drink.

"What were you two laughing about out here, anyway?" he asked.

"Nothing." Sora tried to save face but Demyx blew his cover by reiterating the entire story. By the end, Riku was laughing as well.

"It takes a trained ear and many years of practice. Riku sucked down two bottles of water and then had to go to the bathroom. When he got back, he was all but forced back into the room behind the glass.

"Start singing," the producer demanded. Riku did as he was told, not looking very happy about it. Almost as soon as he started singing, Sora's phone rang. According to the caller ID it was Cloud. He flipped the phone open, turning away from the glass as if prying eyes were everywhere. He left the room, ignoring Demyx's inquiries.

"Hey Cloud, what's up?" he greeted as he entered the busy hallway.

"Reno agreed to see you…but he says he's only free today at noon."

Sora sucked in a sharp breath. "Noon? Cloud, it's eleven thirty!"

"I know. Worse part is, I'm at work right now, so I can't go with you. Dammit, I know he's just doing this to be an annoying prick."

"Well, where do I go?" He was actually a bit relieved that Cloud couldn't go. He wanted to avoid explaining as long as he could.

"You don't need to know. Leon will be there to pick you up in fifteen." Sora rolled his eyes, wondering vaguely if Cloud realized he was baby-sitting his younger cousin.

"That's not necessary…"

"It is, Sora. If you're not with Leon, you don't go."

Sora let out an exasperated sigh, knowing he couldn't win.

"All right fine…but I'm not at home. I'm at Oblivion Records."

"I'll let Leon know." The phone went dead. Sora rolled his eyes and snapped the phone shut, shoving it in his pocket. Would it kill the man to say goodbye? He made his way back inside, ripping a blank page from his sketchbook and writing as he went. By the time he'd actually managed to enter the recording room-not exactly an easy feat when your hands are full-his message had been written.

There's something I need to do. I'll see you at home.

He pushed the paper against the glass and waited until Riku looked at him. His singing didn't cease, but he nodded to show that he understood. Sora said his goodbyes to the producer and Demyx and then made his way toward the front of the record company.

He stood against the wall amongst several smokers as he waited. That really brought him back

Sora took a deep breath as he pushed his way outside. The concert had been crazy and stifling and loud. The band wasn't one he'd have gone to see by his own choice, but Tidus had practically forced him. The band had been pretty good, but Sora hadn't really been able to understand a word the singer was saying. Somewhere along the way, Tidus and Wakka had disappeared into the mosh pit and Sora hadn't seen them since. Considering the arena was still so full with hopeful fans, Sora figured it would be easier to find them outside, not to mention his cell phone didn't get service inside. No one was outside except for a deviously attractive silver-haired male maybe a year or two older then Sora himself. He was leaning back against the wall smoking a cigarette with apparently deep interest. For lack of something better to do, Sora leaned against the wall next to him, looking hopefully at the door as if that might make his friends appear. They'd taken Tidus' car, so without him Sora was without a ride home.

"Hey," the silver-haired guy greeted before letting a stream of smoke escape his lips. He held out a package of cigarettes to Sora as an offering, but the brunet shook his head.

"No thanks. I don't smoke." He nodded and slipped the package back in his pocket.

"I should quit," he sighed as if it were a far off dream.

They were quiet again until he dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his boot.

"Are you waiting for someone?" he asked, obviously noting Sora eyeing the door.

"Uh…yeah. My friends dragged me here and then ditched me." He laughed. "Not a big fan of the band, then?" he asked. Sora shrugged. "They were pretty good. I don't know, it's not really my thing. I couldn't understand a word, so I guess that's a point against them." His current companion let out a deep laugh and shook his head.

"To each their own opinion, I guess."

"You like them a lot?" Sora asked, wondering if he might have offended the stranger. It wasn't like it was much of a big deal, considering he'd most likely never see him again, but he'd still rather not leave a bad impression on someone that beautiful. Maybe it was a stupid reason, but he didn't really care.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. You might say I've devoted my life to the band." Sora wondered if he was serious. Could any fan actually be so devoted to a band? Sora jumped as his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. The text message almost made him want to scream.

'Tidus' arm was pulled from the socket. Took him to the hospital. Find a ride. –Wakka'

Instead, he let out a loud groan and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

"Something wrong?"

Sora shook his head. "One of my friends got hurt in the mosh pit. He's in the hospital and now I don't have a ride home."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I could give you a ride home. After all, it is sort of my fault."

Sora frowned. "How do you figure?"

He blinked as if he hadn't really thought of that himself before answering. "Well, I sort of started the mosh pit. It's the least I could do."

Sora thought about it for a long moment before nodding slowly. Maybe taking a ride from a complete and total stranger was a stupid idea, but he didn't seem like a threat. Even if he was, Sora was more then capable of taking care of himself.

"Well…yeah. That'd be great. Thanks a lot. I'm Sora, by the way."

The silver-haired male pulled his keys from his pocket and jerked his head to the left.

"My car is this way. I'm Riku." Sora followed after him, shoving his hands into his pocket as he went. Riku drove a red Jeep, which was parked just behind the arena. He must have gotten there very early to get such a close spot.

The ride back to Sora's apartment was quiet but for the hushed hum of the radio and Sora giving directions. When they came to a stop in front of his apartment, Sora was almost glad to escape the car. The silence hadn't really been awkward, but he'd been almost wishing Riku would say something. He undid his seatbelt and was reaching for the handle when Riku leaned over and grabbed his arm. He turned to look at him questioningly, dropping his hand from the door.

"What's the matter?" he asked. Riku shot him a sexy smirk before his hand snatched up and grabbed the collar of his shirt. Sora let out a gasp as he was pulled forward almost roughly. He did let out a gasp when Riku's lips met his in a rough kiss. Still, he didn't mind returning the kiss. After a few minutes, though, his primary head caught up with his secondary head. He pulled away, gasping for breath.

"You know, I don't usually do this," he muttered.

"Good," Riku grinned. "That means I'm special." He captured Sora's lips for one more quick kiss, leaving the brunet blinking in confusion.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I couldn't resist you. You're too damn cute," Riku said simply. His arm was captured by Riku's hand and a number was scrawled across his wrist.

"Call me sometime, all right?"

A familiar black truck pulled up in front of the studio. Sora let out a sigh of relief and let himself into the truck, practically having to heave himself in due to the truck's less than accommodating nature to anyone of short stature. As soon as he got the door closed, Leon ripped off into traffic, leaving Sora to wonder if he would live through the car ride.

--

A/N: Ha. My Word dictionary doesn't believe me when I tell it that "mosh" is actually a word. If you had any sort of fanciful feeling toward this piece of work, let me know by pushing the purple (blue?) button in the bottom left corner.