Okay, so I know that some people hate it when authors start of a new chapter with apologizing for taking so long. But just so you know, I'm perfectely aware I've used such an awfully long time to update this story and I AM sorry no matter how annoying it is to hear. I'll try to do better next time, okay?

Disclaimer: I still don't own Kingdom Hearts, and by all sense of logic I never will…

Chapter 4: Winning or Losing

Kairi refused to give up. She wouldn't give up the hope that Sora might like her after all. And she couldn't understand why that stupid little voice inside of her was telling her it was in vain. She just wouldn't give up that easily.

Riku seemed to have made a different approach on things too. Kairi was shocked to see him openly flirting with Sora, but he was. He was smiling sweetly and even touching the brunette's lips once, after making him pout because he had teased him. He had casually used one finger to push down Sora's lower lip while laughing. And to Kairi's horror it made Sora blush. But come on, who wouldn't have blushed if someone did that to you, regardless if you were in love with the person or not. Right?

Currently they were watching a movie, all three of them sitting together on the coach, Sora in the middle of course. Without hesitating Kairi rested her body against Sora's, feeling him tense. She waited for him to relax while focusing on the movie as if this were something she did on a regular basis. But he didn't. Maybe he was just really nervous around her because he liked her. Or maybe she just made him uncomfortable. She could feel Riku glaring at her, but she ignored it.

As the minutes passed by, and Sora still didn't seem to relax she started to think she should just sit up again. But how would she do that without it getting even more uncomfortable and weird between them? She decided to not give up yet, but after a few more minutes she really started to feel it was ridiculous as it seemed Sora was shifting away from her. He only moved slightly away, but as he repeated the movement every now and then it was no doubt he was trying to get away from her, shifting closer to Riku.

She yawned and stretched as she sat up to make it seem only natural that she moved away from the boy beside her. But she could still hear Sora's sigh of relief. She tried to just forget about it, but it honestly hurt. This had to mean there was no way that Sora would like her. It was no use trying to tell herself that she just made him nervous since he liked her so much. She really wasn't that conceited.

She had been so stupid. It had really been clear from the point where she tried to kiss Sora that there was no hope for him liking her. She just wouldn't give it up. But now, she really should. And she would.

She turned to look at the two boys beside her. Sora still hadn't moved away from Riku, even though there was a good distance between him and Kairi. It seemed more like he had moved even closer. With a sad smile she turned back to the TV-screen. She really had no idea what was going on in the movie anymore, but it didn't matter, since she wasn't planning to watch the end. It was clear to her what she should do.

She stood up, announcing that she was going to the bathroom, Sora merely nodded, but Riku looked at her with suspicion and something that resembled worry. She sent him a quick smile before exiting the room. Once she entered the hallway she sighed and leaned heavily on the wall behind her.

She was only in the way here. Sora might not realise it, but to her, there was no doubt that he liked his silver haired best friend. It was going to be hard for her to accept it, but she would. As long as Sora and Riku were happy, she would be too. Eventually. Right now she just wanted to go home. And it was probably the best for everyone right now, not only for her. Maybe Sora would understand his feelings if he were alone with Riku and maybe Riku would be able to confess to him. And she wouldn't have to face any of them either. She wasn't sure if she could take it right now. So either way, it was for the best that she left.

The door to the living room opened and Riku entered the hallway. Kairi waited for Sora to follow, but he didn't and Riku closed the door behind him. The two friends just looked at each other for a long time.

"I should leave," Kairi finally whispered. Riku shook his head.

"You don't have to," he began, but she stopped him before he got any further.

"No, but I want to," she said, showing him she had already made up her mind. "I – I need to be alone for awhile, okay?" This time, Riku nodded, and she smiled sadly at him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be," she said at once. She didn't want him to worry. He should think about his own situation with Sora. She really didn't want to ruin it for him by making him feel guilty. And the last thing she wanted right now was sympathy. She refused to break down because of this. "I'll be okay. I promise. And besides, I think you and Sora should talk,"

Riku avoided her gaze this time. Clearly, he was still worried about being turned down too. Even after flirting so bravely with the other boy and seeing him turn down his opponent.

"I think he likes you, Riku," Kairi stated, and Riku slowly looked at her. "But it's an awfully small chance that he likes me," Riku still didn't say anything. "Will you tell him I've left?"

"You're leaving?" Both the teens jumped at their friend's voice. Sora had paused midways through the door as he heard their conversation. "Why?"

Kairi looked at Riku, not sure what to say. But the silver haired boy kept silent, staring at her just as Sora was doing.

"I – It's – It's for the best, Sora. Don't take it the wrong way. I'm sorry," she said finally. All she wanted now was to get out of here, to be alone.

"How? Why? I don't understand," Sora was without doubt confused. Even though the boy wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, she had actually expected that he at least would know why she would want to leave. He had turned her down after all, and there was no way he wasn't aware of it.

"Just – you should talk to Riku," she managed to say, before heading to get her shoes. The two boys just watched her silently as she put them on along with her jacket. She turned before leaving, one hand on the doorknob.

"I'm really sorry, Sora. But it's for the best. I promise," She smiled at him before exiting the house.

XxXxXxxxxxXxXxX

Riku looked at Sora's confused face. He had no idea how to explain this without telling the entire truth, and he really wasn't tempted to do that. Not yet at least.

"Riku, what's going on?" the brunette asked, confusion and worry written all over his face. Riku sighed.

"Well, she's upset," he said, hesitating. "You know she liked you, right? And she kind of figured out that you don't like her like that," That was as far he would go telling the truth. But it was enough. It was everything concerning the current situation. He didn't have to tell the other reason why she wanted to leave the boys alone.

Sora looked down at the floor, looking ashamed. But he didn't say anything. Riku took it as a sign that Kairi was right. Sora wasn't in love with her. But now he seemed upset and guilty because he had hurt the redhead.

"Don't worry, Sora. She'll be all right, she just needs some time alone," he quickly said, knowing it was true. Sora still looked guilty though, but Riku didn't want him to blame himself for it and he knew that Kairi wouldn't like it if he did either. It wasn't his fault what he felt. Just as it wasn't Kairi and Riku's fault that they had both fallen for Sora.

"Do you want me to leave too?" Riku asked, feeling he should, but hoping Sora would say no. However, it was possible the brunette wanted some alone time to think just as Kairi did.

Apparently, he didn't, as he shook his head heavily.

"No, just stay," he said in a low voice and Riku nodded. Silence followed and they just stood there. Riku didn't know what to say or do. He knew that Kairi had wanted him to tell Sora how he felt, but the words just wouldn't escape his lips. He didn't have to do it now. It wasn't that important.

"Do you want to watch the rest of the movie?" he eventually asked, feeling they should do something. Sora agreed and they went back into the living room, sitting down in each their end of the coach as Riku started the movie again where Sora had paused it.

He hadn't really paid too much attention to the film before. He had been too busy thinking about how to make Sora understand he liked him, and sulking over the fact that Kairi was using his Sora as a pillow. But now he could relax more. He didn't need to worry about Sora being charmed by Kairi's flirting and therefore he didn't have to think of a strategy to get Sora to himself either. He felt guilty for a second for the way he had looked at Kairi as his rival, but when he thought about it he quickly remember that she had been thinking the same. He just hoped he hadn't scared Sora by the way he had been behaving.

As they watched the movie in silence, Riku felt his eyelids getting heavy and he heard Sora yawn a couple of times as well. Before he knew it they had both lied down, legs intertwining as they met in the middle of the coach, and fallen asleep.

When Riku awoke again, it was to find the TV-screen in black and white as the movie had ended, probably a long time ago. He moaned as he sat up and grabbed the remote to turn it off. It took him awhile before he noticed the coach was empty beside from himself. He stood up in confusion wondering where the other boy had gone of too. But as he tried to move to look for him, he found him quicker than he had expected. His foot hit something much softer than the floor and he lost his balance, tumbling and falling to the ground, landing on top of a sleeping Sora. Well, he wasn't exactly sleeping anymore.

It was the first time Riku truly understood why the keyblade hadn't chosen him. If he couldn't notice someone lying on the ground right before his nose, he really couldn't have made the best master of the keyblade, as he would need eyes to yield it. But on the other hand, usually Sora was much clumsier than him.

Sora made a cry of pain as the older boy fell on top of him. And then he grew completely silent as he realised the position they were in. Riku, bracing himself from the fall, had ended up with one hand on either side of the keyblade masters head, their faces inches apart.

"Ri-Riku, what are – are you doing?" Sora asked, swallowing hard.

"I fell," Riku grumbled in reply, still not moving. "What were you doing on the floor in the first place?"

"I don't know, I guess I fell too,"

"Without waking up?" Riku snorted, raising one eyebrow.

"Shut up, you're no better yourself, falling on top of me like this!" the brunette exclaimed, actually laughing a bit at their stupid situation, making the other boy laugh with him.

And then they grew silent again, gazing into each others eyes, somehow forgetting the awkwardness of their position.

Riku knew what he wanted to do. What he didn't know was if Sora wanted him to do it. But when he gazed into those sky blue orbs he got the feeling they were asking him to do it. So he just did it, without thinking, so he wouldn't have the time to change his mind again.

As their lips met, it was in a much more insecure way than the first time. That time Riku had been determined to help Sora no matter how nervous he was and he hadn't been scared of being turned down as it was the other boy who had asked him for his help. So that time, the kiss in itself had been without hesitation even though it had been awkward and clumsy at first. This time however, Riku was terrified of being pushed away and therefore, without closing is eyes so he could see Sora's reaction, he just placed his lips over the brunette's without pressing them down at all, waiting for the other to respond.

The first response Sora gave was to hesitantly grip Riku's shoulders, and the silver haired boy's heart raced faster than ever before as he waited for those arms to push him away. Fortunately, they didn't. Instead, Sora held onto him and closed his eyes slowly before pressing his lips carefully against Riku's.

Riku sighed in relief against Sora's mouth. He wasn't going to be turned down. The other had kissed him back. He hoped this meant Sora returned his feelings. What else could it mean?

He started to move his lips against Sora's as he closed his eyes as well, giving into the feeling of Sora's sweet taste once again. He truly hoped this never ended, not caring how impossible it was. Their lips meshed together perfectly, moving tenderly against each other.

Riku really had no idea how long they kept it up, but when they stopped it was only to look at each other for a few seconds before their lips crashed back together, this time without any hesitation or insecurity.

Sora opened his mouth to Riku's tongue and let it invade the wet cavern. Both boys moaned as their tongues met each other and started their battle. Sora suddenly seemed determined to get Riku's tongue back out, but Riku did everything he could to keep it in the others mouth, enjoying the feeling of the keyblade master's tongue pushing against his own.

Sora's arms had wrapped themselves around Riku's body, pressing him close against the others chest, and Riku had tangled a hand in Sora's hair while their tongues battled.

Even while he felt he was running out of breath, Riku didn't want it to end. He wasn't prepared to explain why he had done this, and he was sure Sora was going to ask. But he wasn't much fond of talking anyway. He had changed a lot since his residence in the darkness, and his want for adventure and excitement had pretty much disappeared, along with his carefree attitude. He knew that the darkness had affected him more than he liked to admit. He was much more withdrawn and quiet than he had been before everything happened.

The second reason he didn't want to explain it to Sora was because he was afraid of what the other would say. He knew that it was unlikely that the younger boy would kiss him if he didn't share Riku's feelings, but he still couldn't help but worry that Sora was just confused and did this simply because he didn't know what else to do.

After a few more seconds - or was it minutes? - the boys were forced to break apart for air. They breathed heavily while they stared at each other. Riku's hesitation displayed on Sora's face.

Riku sat up and Sora followed. Neither of them spoke as they tried to catch their breaths, Riku looking at the floor. The next minute passed like that, none of them speaking or looking at each other. Riku was desperately trying to decide how to deal with this the best way, but he just couldn't come up with a smart way to do it, so he ended up saying and doing nothing. In the end, it was Sora who acted. And what he did was the last thing Riku would have thought of, but still, it was something he probably shouldn't be so surprised by either.

Sora simply closed the distance between them once more. As soon as Riku looked up and at his best friend, he felt soft lips brushing his mouth. At first he froze, but as he grasped the situation he understood that this might be the best thing Sora could do right now, even if they had just kissed two times. For every kiss they shared, he grew more secure that Sora returned his feelings, and while kissing he didn't have to worry about talking about the situation. So Riku just closed his eyes and kissed him back.

A/N: Thanks for reading it, and I would love it if you bothered to review. I am actually quite content with how this chapter turned out. The only things I'm a bit worried about are that I made Riku too OC at some parts and that I kind of messed up with the ending. But, oh well, I'm happy I finally managed to write this down…