[Ehh, so here's the next chapter. This one took me awhile. I hope my work paid off and itdoesn't suck. For some reason, it is so much easier to write about Sora and Riku than it is Sora and his dad.
PandoraGirl-Thank you so much once again for your input. You stopped me in my tracks and made me think again!]
He couldn't help but keep looking back as he left Riku's lonely house. He had almost gone to Riku first; his hand had been wrapped around his doorknob when he changed his mind. Besides, Riku was probably mad at him anyways.
The morning was almost over, the sun streaming across the beach. Seagulls and strange assortments of birds stood at the edge of the tide, daintily jabbing the small minnows that got washed up into the sand.
Riku's words seemed to have hit home within Sora. He had to make a decision, but was there any way around choosing between his dad and Riku?
He felt a lump in his throat. He was hoping, praying that Riku would not leave his room to find him gone. It could ruin their relationship for good if Riku thought for a second that Sora had chosen his dad over him.
Grinding his teeth, he started running back to his house. The sooner it took him to get back to Riku's, the better it was.
The sun beat down on his neck and back causing beads of sweat to run down his back and forehead. He was panting long before he reached his house, but he had no time to stop, even for a drink for his parched throat.
He vaulted through the front door, breathing deeply as the cool air welcomed him. He was surprised that the smell of alcohol wasn't present. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that he would be greeted with the putrid stench.
He looked into the living room and dining room and didn't see his dad anywhere. He climbed cautiously up the stairs and towards his dad's room across the hallway.
"Dad?" He knocked quietly on the door. No answer. He knocked again, loudly this time.
"Who's there?" a gruff voice asked.
"I-it's S-Sora," he gasped, surprised to find his voice struggling.
The door swung open and Sora found himself face to face with the grisly man.
"I-I came to apologize about last n-night. B-but…R-Riku and I…" he couldn't believe he was finding it this hard to tell his dad the truth.
His dad growled and Sora noticed his eye was black. He gulped. "H-he wasn't hurting me, d-dad. W-we're kind of…together," he finished. He realized he was shaking again.
"I-I know you've been wanting to…spend more time with me…and I will, I p-promise."
The man shook his head. "That boy is not welcome here."
Sora frowned. His dad bared his teeth and Sora stepped back, fearful for a moment. "That damn kid thought he could mess with me!"
"Dad," Sora started, exasperated. "Look, it was a mistake. He thought you were going to…"
His dad growled and clenched his fists. "I was not myself when I hurt you, son."
Sora felt hot tears roll down his cheeks at the simple one-syllable word. Son.
"I know you weren't. But both you and Riku-" His dad cracked his knuckles at the name. Sora gulped. "Both of you need to stop hating each other and talk it out."
That was something easier said than done. It would take some convincing to get Riku and his dad to settle things in a civilized manner. "Tomorrow, I will come home with Riku, okay?" He said nervously. "Will you be home?"
He looked at him, his unshaven face lined with frustration. "Maybe," he said with finality, shutting the door in Sora's face. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was a start, and that's all he needed to work with. Now all he had to do was get Riku to cooperate.
His legs had not stopped trembling. He couldn't remember the last time he had been in such close proximity to his dad without being hurt.
He still had to get back to Riku's house before he noticed he had gone. Groaning, he left his dad's house without incident. He decided not to tell Riku he had visited unless the boy sensed his missing presence.
The heat was worse as midday approached when he returned to Riku's. The house was still quiet and the kitchen wasn't clean, hopefully meaning that Riku hadn't left the confines of his room. We wiped the sweat off his body with a rag he found in the kitchen, before going upstairs to attend to his second problem.
Apprehensively, Sora tapped on Riku's door. He heard a muffled voice. "Riku?" he paused.
"What?" Came the agitated response.
"C-can I come in?"
For a fleeting second Sora thought that Riku was going to say no, but after a moment or so, he heard his voice again. "Come in."
Sora opened the door slowly, wincing as it creaked on its hinges. Riku was laying facedown on his bed, his head covered by one of his pillows. That explained his muffled voice. Sora went to the edge of the bed, not daring to venture closer until he was sure Riku wouldn't lash out again.
He sat down timidly and fingered the sheets. They sat in silence, Sora listening to Riku's deep breaths. He inched closer, and when Riku still didn't react, he sat right next to him.
Softly, he fingered the smooth silver strands of Riku's hair. "Riku?"
He heard a muffled noise.
"I…I know what I want you to do."
He felt Riku stiffen and turn to face him, his eyes unsettling.
"What else can I possibly do that I haven't already done?" he snapped.
Sora cringed at his angry words. He leaned over Riku, their faces centimeters apart. "I want you to understand," he started.
Riku shifted impatiently under him. "I want you to understand that I love you. I can't make a choice between you and my dad. It's not fair."
Riku nodded slowly, reaching up and stroking Sora's neck. "We, you and I, have to make amends with my dad."
"Sora," Riku sighed. "What good will I do?"
"You can trust my judgment."
"Yeah, well your judgment has been a little impaired recently," he scoffed.
"Riku?"
He looked into his big cerulean eyes. "It's going to be tough. It might take a long time, but promise me you will be there for me."
Riku groaned. "I already have, Sora. I don't understand what exactly you're asking me here-"
Sora planted a deep kiss on his lips, silencing him for the time being. He tugged at his hair, pulling them deeper into the kiss. Sora broke off first, huffing for breath. "You said you loved me. If you love me, you will let go back to my house with me and figure things out with my dad."
Riku sat up abruptly. "Sora," he shook his head desperately, "you're asking me to do something that I can't do."
Sora gave him a pained look. "You have to be there," he stated, climbing into Riku's lap. "Can't you just swallow your pride for a few hours?"
Riku eyed him wearily. "I don't know, Sora. It's not safe. The man's unstable."
"You have to trust me."
Riku rolled his eyes. "A lot of good that did last time."
"Do you trust me?"
Riku stared into his eyes for a long time. "Yes, Sora. I trust you. I just wish you wouldn't ask me to do something as outrageous as this. I don't like this idea of yours," he grumbled.
They sat in silence again, both of them averting each other's eyes. Finally, Sora sighed.
"I'm sorry, Riku."
[I hope you guys liked it. Wasn't my favorite part to write, I must say. But it did surprise you right? After all, who would have thought Sora would have chosen to speak to his dad before he did, Riku? Anyway, I hope you liked it. I'm thinking another yaoi really soon. Review and let me know what you think about this chapter. Hope it wasn't too cheesy.]
