A/N: For those of you who sent in reviews and haven't gotten a reply yet, I'm really sorry. I've been busy, bu I promise you I will reply soon. Things have just doubled up on me considering I just got a job at the library (from where I post all the time) and I just bought Chain of Memories and that has been...distracting me. So, again, I'm really sorry for the delay and all that, but I'm doing the best I can considering the circumstances.

Disclaimer: El videojuego de Kingdom Hearts 2 no es mio. The song 'Dancing Through Sunday' belongs to AFI. I don't own Olive Garden either. That would be fucking awesome tho…I'd totally gorge myself on the breadsticks…yummy.

Chapter 11- 12 hours remaining

"Aw, shit, that isn't right…Axel, play something. Anything." The redhead nodded, obediently plucking at the strings of his bass, playing a familiar tune. The guy working the soundboard frowned and shook his head, fiddling with different knobs.

The time being one thirty, they'd been hanging around the Hollow Bastion Arena for a good five hours, basically getting everything ready. Right now they were running a sound check, something they'd undoubtedly have to do three or more times before the show that night.

"Um…let's see if that helps…Riku, check the mic." Riku obediently started singing, but the bass was too loud to hear him. The sound guy cussed and began playing with the knobs again, until he finally threw his hands up in exasperation.

"This isn't going to work. Why don't you just…play a song and I'll work on it while you do that?" he suggested. They nodded easily, picking up their respective instruments. Demyx started with a quick riff, which led up to Riku singing and the rest of the band joining in. Riku's voice could be heard above them, but just barely. It was slowly gaining volume, though, as the sound guy worked his magic.

"When you join me in this dance, this dance of misery. Cradled in imposs-impossibility. Swooning, I am swept away…"

His voice disappeared under the music for a minute and the sound guy cursed, working to fix it.

"Start to bleed!" his voice came back in.

Demyx and Axel sang into their mics. "Oh we dance through misery!"

Riku chimed back in. "and we dance on and we dance on!"

"Oh we dance through misery!"

"Trapped in the arms of misery, oh!"

Sora leaned back in his seat, glancing sideways at Roxas, whose eyes were glazed over as if he wasn't really there. Sora also had thousands of thoughts careening through his mind. The most prominent, though lay in what had happened the night before. It wasn't supposed to happen that way. They weren't supposed to have been arrested. Originally, they hadn't been caught and everything had been okay. So why had it been different last night? Were things changing because Sora was changing them himself? He wasn't supposed to have gotten a tattoo and he most certainly wasn't supposed to have found out about Xemnas. He was a completely different person now then he had been a year ago, and somehow that was affecting the outcome of things. That gave him hope. Maybe Riku wouldn't die this time because of that. There had to be a reason Sora had been sent back, and if it wasn't to save Riku, he didn't know what it was.

He was snapped from his thoughts by a hand snatching his wrist up. He blinked in surprise, looking at his brother in curiosity.

"When the hell did you get this?" he asked, staring accusingly at the tattoo.

"Um…two days ago?" Sora said uncertainly. Why did Roxas care, it was his skin. He snorted and rolled his eyes.

"You're a dork, Sora."

"Yeah, I know," he sighed, throwing his hand up to his heart as if this were tragic news.

They watched the stage now, seeing that the band had finished their sound check and were now acting like idiots on the stage. Riku was crooning a tune into the mic and Marluxia and Naminé were creating a beat for it as Demyx and Axel tangoed across the stage dramatically.

"They're all idiots," Roxas sighed affectionately.

"It sorta makes you worry about them being on the road together with no one to keep them in line. They even bring out the worst in Naminé," Sora murmured in agreement. When his stomach rumbled he decided enough was enough and he set off toward the stage. As he was only a few rows from the front, it didn't take long. He came to a stop right in front of Riku, staring up at his husband who continued to sing, not noticing him. Axel dipped Demyx so low that his hair brushed the ground and Sora spoke up.

"Hey Ax, Roxas says to tell you that he's extremely horny and he needs your help." The redhead instantly dropped Demyx and hopped off the stage in a fluid motion. Demyx sat on the ground, rubbing the back of his head and pouting as Riku and Marluxia burst into laughter.

"He did not say that!" Naminé insisted with a faint blush, staring at Sora as if begging him to tell her so.

"No, he didn't. I don't really think it matters, though." He gestured over his shoulder and turned to look himself, where, surely enough, their friends had become AkuRoku, the nickname they'd applied to the two whenever it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

"Why, out of curiosity, did you get them started?" Marluxia asked. "We won't be able to get them apart for at least an hour now.

"Precisely," Sora grinned. "You've all been working since eight this morning and with Axel out of commission for at least an hour, how much work can you possibly get done without him?" A wicked grin was splitting across Riku's face now as well.

"You're a genius, So."

"I know. I can come up with many nefarious plots when I'm hungry enough. On that note…Riku, lets go get something to eat."

Riku obediently jumped off the stage and started down the center aisle, taking Sora's hand. As they passed AkuRoku, Riku tugged a lock of Axel's hair.

"Don't have sex in the dressing room. I don't want to think about what might be on that couch later," he instructed.

Sora giggled. "I don't know if they'll even make it out of the room, Ri. Maybe you can make that some sort of contest at the show tonight. Whoever can guess where Axel and Roxas had sex gets to come backstage," he teased.

"Yeah, I'm sure that would go over well." Riku rolled his eyes and pushed through the back door heading toward where his car was parked.

"Sora?" Riku said questioningly after they had driven in silence for a good twenty minutes.

"Hmm, what?" he asked, tearing his eyes away from the window to look at his husband.

"Are you all right? You seem a bit distant…"

"I'm fine, Ri. Just thinking…"

"Oh…well, I was just making sure. You know, because I wasn't sure whether or not you were mad."

Sora blinked in confusion. "Mad? About what?"

Riku shrugged, his eyes never leaving the road, suddenly the picture perfect image of a driver. Either there was a cop around or Riku was avoiding looking at him. Something told Sora it was probably the latter.

"Well…you know…that I won't be here for our anniversary." Realization suddenly hit Sora like a brick to the face. Their anniversary…their anniversary! That was it! That was the answer.

"You always said if we could make it through the first year we could make it forever," he whispered, letting the shock soak through him. Riku had died five days before their one-year anniversary…and Sora had been sent back five days before Riku was to die. He was…completing their year. He wasn't there to save Riku; he was there so they could make it through a year together, signifying their ability to make it together forever. It made sense.

"Sora?"

He snapped back to attention, trying to fight back the pure emotion of finally figuring out what he was there for.

"No, Ri, I'm not mad. I know you love me whether we are together or not. I know you have to work, I understand.

"Are you sure?" Riku asked uncertainly, pulling into the parking lot of an Olive Garden.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Don't worry about it, really."

"Sora?"

"Yeah, Ri?"

He looked at his husband, who was looking completely and totally serious.

"I know that I'm not really…all that emotional or anything most of the time…but you know I love you, right?" Sora was confused. Where had this come from?

"I know Riku. I love you too." He grinned and nodded. "Good. That's good. Come on, let's go eat."

Sora got out of the car in confusion, following Riku into the restaurant.

(this is a page break, just in case I forget to add it. XD)

They'd been approached by no less then twenty people since the time they'd first sat down. Sora could see that even Riku was getting slightly annoyed, but he had a part to play, and play it he did. Sora ate quietly, nibbling a breadstick as he watched the newest conquest. The girl was probably about sixteen and she was practically salivating as she spoke to Riku and informed him about how amazing the band was.

"I'm, like, in love with your voice!" she gushed.

"Um…thank you?" Riku said, obviously wondering how one replied to such a statement. If Sora had to hear her voice one more time, it was likely he'd drive his salad fork through his own ears, and that probably wouldn't fare too well for his life. He dropped his fork back on his plate and stood.

"I'll be right back, Ri," he sighed, making his way away from the table before Riku could reply. In the bathroom, he splashed his face with water and tried to calm down. Part of Riku's job was being nice to the fans and Sora knew he really did enjoy talking to them. He was just being selfish. Riku didn't belong to him, he belonged to the world. He knew that, but it was starting to bug him that he couldn't get a moment alone with his husband, even when it was less then eleven hours until his potential death. If Riku knew, would he act the same way he was now? Sora wouldn't tell him, of course, but the curiosity stayed nonetheless. How would Riku react to his impending doom? He'd probably think Sora had been dreaming again.

…Damn. Less then eleven hours to think of a plan. Telling the police wouldn't work because Sora had no proof to confirm his "suspicions" and the damn police usually didn't act until someone was already dead. (A/N: No offense to any police or family of police. I know that they are an important part of our society and we owe them a great debt for putting their lives on the line for us. Sora, however, doesn't.)

There was no way that he could convince Riku to miss the show. He could try stalling after the show, but Xemnas would likely wait around as long as it took. He could throw a fit about the fans…he could insist that Riku leave them alone…but that would most likely just piss him off rather then having any good effects… He could make Riku wait in the studio and pull the car around…but that was still too risky. Shit…shit. He had no idea what to do. What could he do? Why would Xemnas want to kill Riku if he was so obsessed? It didn't really make sense.

He started back toward the table, coming to complete stop as the scene before him unfolded. Xemnas was there, standing inches in front of Riku, who was also on his feet looking livid. This was another one of those things that had never happened.

"Get the hell out of here, Xemnas!" Riku snarled.

"Oh, Riku, is that any way to treat your family?"

"You're no family of mine," he hissed angrily. "I have a fucking restraining order on you…"

"Language, Riku. There are young children around," he taunted softly. A waitress approached them, looking nervous.

"Excuse me, sir," she addressed Xemnas. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"I'll leave when I'm good and ready. I'd like to finish speaking to my cousin."

Riku looked ready to hit someone and Xemnas looked completely calm and unruffled. His fingers drifted across the edge of the tablecloth as he stared daringly into Riku's eyes.

"I've come to inform you that I give up, Riku," he said. "I've decided that you're not worth my trouble…however, I did meet the most delightful young man just the other day." Sora felt his heart seize up just for a moment as Riku's eyes widened and flashed over to look at Sora.

"He had the most captivating blue eyes…and I've decided that he will be mine." His voice had lowered to a whisper, so low that only Sora, Riku, and the waitress could hear, though the entire restaurant had gone silent and was watching the ordeal in interest. "His heart belongs to another, though…but worry not. I shall…dispose of the problem."

With that, he left the restaurant. They stood there in silence for a long time until the patrons slowly returned to their meals. Sora was almost hyperventilating. Xemnas wanted to kill Riku because of Sora. Riku was in the way…oh god. If Riku died that night, he could never forgive himself. Because if Riku died…it would, without a doubt, be all Sora's fault.

--

A/N: O.0 Yup…so there you have it. I don't really know what to say about this chapter because I'm extremely tired right now. Man, I have the biggest craving for Olive Garden now…10 reviews, blah-di-blah.