A/N: Hey guys, I have lots to saya today. Okay, first of all, I forgot to say this is the last chapter so I'll say it now. Riding in cars with strangers is A VERY BAD IDEA. I don't care if you have to walk home seventeen miles in the rain and the person offering a ride is a total sexpot like Riku. Just don't do it. I don't want to be the reason y'all get kidnapped and raped or something. Okay, next order of business. I'm taking my driver's test today, so wish me luck! Thirdly and finally, today is my last day of summer. I start my junior year tomorrow and I really don't intend on failing (though the possibility is high because I'm lazy as hell) so I might not be around so much soon. I'm sorry in advance, but hopefully I'll be able to straighten out my priorities quickly and realize that, of course, fanfiction is infinitely more important then school.

Disclaimer: El videojuego de Kingdom Hearts 2 no es mio.

Chapter 7

"Hey, Leon," Sora greeted. "Sorry about this. My cousin is crazy."

"For good reason, I think. Reno isn't the sort of company you want to keep." Leon said.

Sora rolled his eyes. "You, Reno, and Cloud have been best friends since the third grade. Don't you think that's a bit hypocritical?" Sora demanded. Leon's gray eyes shifted off the road to glance at Sora for a long moment before shifting back.

"That's exactly how we know what we're talking about. I've known Reno for twenty-three years; I know how he operates and how he thinks. Even that doesn't stop him from trying to trip me up every once in a while. Reno is all about looking out for number one. He'll screw you over in any way possible if he can. The only one who's ever been able to rein any control over him is his younger brother. He has a…certain sensitive spot for him."

Sora found this piece of information interesting. Reno had a soft spot…

About twenty minutes later they came to a stop in front of a record store. Sora hopped out while Leon looked for a place to park and made his way inside. A brunette girl sat behind the counter, looking extremely bored. She hardly glanced up from her magazine as Sora approached the counter. He was the tiniest bit amused to see the Organization was on the cover. Riku looked so punked out, it was entertaining to compare it to his normal everyday look. She finally let out a loud sigh as if it was a great hassle to actually do her job. She lowered her magazine just in the slightest, looking at him for a long moment before jerking the magazine back up and then looking at him again.

"Oh my god, you're him, aren't you?" she asked, finally seeming to take interest and slapping the magazine down on the table.

"Um…him. Yes, I'm also referred to as he, you, kid…"

"No," she shook her head impatiently. "You're him." She snatched up the magazine and shoved it at him eagerly. "You're married to Riku Silver, aren't you?" Sora took the magazine and looked at it. It was flipped to a page that had an article about the newly launching tour and there were pictures littered around it of various members of the band. One included a picture of himself and Riku holding hands as they walked down the street. Riku was laughing at something, looking incredibly laid back with his hair in a low ponytail and wearing his glasses. He'd be pissed if he knew they'd printed a picture of him in his glasses.

"Uh…yeah, that's me," he admitted, handing the magazine back to the girl. She suddenly looked a lot more lively and welcoming then she had a moment ago.

"Is Riku here?" she asked, looking around as if he might pop out of a closet.

"Nope." Sora almost grinned at the disappointed look she gave him. "He's in the recording studio."

"Oh." Leon chose that moment to stride through the door and Sora saw her eyes light up again.

"He's gay," Sora informed her. She let out a huff, picking up her magazine and shaking it out as if it had done something to offend her. Leon approached them and she cast him another glance.

"We're here to see Reno."

She rolled her eyes and set the magazine down. She grabbed a key chain off the table and started toward the back row. Leon and Sora exchanged a glance before following after her. At the end of the row was a door. She unlocked it and opened it up.

"Upstairs, third door on the right," she instructed before starting back towards the front. The pair started up the staircase and down to the third door on the right. Leon raised a fist and knocked on it.

"Reno, it's me," he called as he knocked. The door swung open and Sora was shocked to see Axel.

"Oh…hey," he greeted as Leon ushered him forward into the room.

Reno was leaning back in a big chair behind his desk, fingers tented and resting against his lips. Sora couldn't help but think that he looked like a mob boss.

"Sora…what are you doing here?" Axel asked with the slightest frown.

"I'm here to see Reno…what are you doing here?"

"Reno's my brother," Axel explained. Well…that was convenient. Reno leaned forward in his chair.

"Who's this, Ax?"

"Uh…this is Sora. He's Roxas' brother." Reno looked blank. Axel rolled his eyes. "Roxas? You know…he's only been my boyfriend for the past year."

"Oh, right! The short blondie!" Axel rolled his eyes. While this conversation was going on, Leon cast Sora his special annoyed look.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were friends with his brother? Cloud might've let you come alone if he'd known…"

"I didn't know they were brothers!" Sora argued back. The two mini-conversations came to an end almost simultaneously.

"Listen, Reno, I've got to get back to the studio. Be nice to Sora, he's practically family." With these parting words, Axel made his exit.

"All right, Sora." Reno sat back in his chair again. "What can I do for you?"

The woman leaned over the Watching Stone, smiling at the fact that Sora seemed to understand exactly what she'd intended him to do with the image she'd sent him. He was a smart kid, all he needed was a bit of a push.

"Are you interfering again?" She almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of the unexpected voice behind her. He had that same disapproving look on his face, his black spikes seeming to wilt with the expression. She felt the guilt seize her, but it wasn't enough to deter her from her intentions.

"I know you don't agree with me, but I'm doing what I think is right. If you don't want to be an accomplice then you might like to steer clear of me for a while." His eyes softened and he shook his head, coming to sit next to her on the cold granite of the Watching Stone. It really was a beautiful place, the Stone floating in the middle of nothing, surrounded by mist and sparkling lights, far below revealing fields of flowers. A thin layer of mist lay in a chalice in the center of the Stone, now portraying a picture of Sora speaking with a cocky looking redhead.

"You know I could never steer clear of you. I can't exist without you next to me." She smiled sweetly and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

"That's why I'm doing this. Because I love him. I want him to be as happy as he can for as long as he can." He nodded and leaned back on his hands.

"Yeah, I guess I understand. You're a real self sacrificing woman, you know that? Basically a saint." She blushed and shook her head modestly.

"Now, I wouldn't say that." He laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"You know, though, I think you should give a rest on watching them all the time. They deserve their privacy every once in a while, not to mention the fact that your garden has been withering away in your absence." It was this, more then anything, that made her leave the Stone.

Sora settled himself in the chair in front of Reno's desk. The redhead's eyes flashed up and down, studying Sora in interest.

"I don't know what's up with Axel," he sighed finally, shaking his head. "He's become the leader of the lollipop guild." Sora glared at the blatant stab at his height, which caused Reno to laugh. His blue-green eyes flicked up to look at Leon, narrowing just in the slightest.

"Squall," he greeted with a nod. Leon glowered at him, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It's Leon."

"Ah, right. Yeah, of course, I remember. You did switch your name, didn't you? Right about the time you stole my boyfriend right from under my nose!"

"I didn't steal him, Reno! The two of you breaking up was your own damn fault…"

"Um…" Sora spoke up, wondering if the two were going to get in an all out blowout right there.

"And you were so conveniently there to pick him back up, weren't you!"

"Don't blame your failed relationship on me! I didn't make a move until six months after the two of you broke up…"

"You shouldn't have made a move at all! You're my best friend and he's my ex…!"

"You guys!" Sora yelled. They both stopped and turned to stare at the brunet. "You're bickering like a bunch of high school girls." There was a thick moment of silence in which Sora wondered if they were going to team up and turn on him, before Reno grinned. It was surprisingly reminiscent of Axel's.

"Yeah," he sighed. "Shortie's got a point. Strifey's too angsty for me anyway." He held out a hand to Leon, who Sora finally realized was chuckling, and shook it.

"I concede, my friend. You won." He sat back again and looked at Sora seriously. Sora looked curiously at Leon, who shrugged. "We always greet each other that way. It's a joke."

Oh.

"Okay. What is it that you want to know? Usually I wouldn't just offer up the information…but since you're a friend of Axel's…well, I guess I can do you a favor," Reno said thoughtfully.

"Thanks." Sora flipped through his sketchbook and ripped out the picture he'd drawn. He slid it over the desk and Reno picked it up to study it. His eyebrows rose and peered over the top of the paper.

"This is really good, yo," he said. "Did you draw this?"

"Um…yeah."

"It's very realistic. Looks just like him." Sora felt a thrill of excitement. He leaned forward a little bit in anticipation.

"You mean…you know who he is, then?" Reno laughed out loud.

"Of course I do. I know everyone in this city. That's why you're here, isn't it?" Sora nodded.

"Yeah, I thought so. Out of curiosity…why are you looking for him? He's not exactly the kind of guy a cute kid like you should be hanging around with…"

"Cute kid?" Sora spat, finally losing his temper. "I'm twenty-six, dammit!" Reno blinked rapidly before bursting into laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, of course. Twenty-six? Seriously?" Sora pouted, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair.

"Yes. Seriously. Now are you going to tell me who this guy is, or what?" Reno sighed and grinned again.

"He owns a tattoo parlor down on Fifteenth Street. He's a really good artist, probably the best in the city. Some say that he's absolutely crazy, but if you want good art, that's where you go."

"On Fifteenth Street?" Sora clarified. When Reno nodded, he pressed on. "What's the name of the shop?"

"The Inked Heart." At Sora's raised eyebrow, Reno laughed. "Yeah, I know. It's kind of a lame name, but really, he's good. His name is Xemnas Corazon."

--

A/N: Yup…Reno is a mob boss. Not really, but he gives off that image and that's sorta funny, IMO. Yesh, Xemnas is the picture man. But why is he important? Hhhhmmm?