We're getting closer to the end I believe.

Naminé: How much more do you have to go?

I dunno a few more chapters I think. Give or take events. I own nothing.

Sora and Kairi each stood with Riku between them holding his hand. The sky was overcast and there was a light mist to accommodate the mood of the day. Selphie stood on the other side of Kairi wiping her eyes between sniffles, her mother patting her shoulder in comfort though it did little good. The small area in the Destiny Memorial Cemetery was occupied by a group dressed in black surrounding a casket with red roses on top, the priest reciting his blessing of departure.

When all was silent accept for the soft sobbing and sniffles Riku stepped towards the casket with Sora and Kairi at his side. His friends put white roses upon the red ones, Riku put on a sweet pea flower. He knew it was his grandmother's favorite, and it meant goodbye in the sweetest way.

Sora looked at Riku seeing his friend's silent tears, unable to help but remember a few days ago before this funeral.

Sora woke up to an overcast sky and he scowled, he thought the clouds from the night before would have been gone already! But he got up and got ready for the day, ate some cereal for breakfast, grabbed his raincoat just in case and headed for Riku's house. Upon getting there he saw his friend's father coming out of the house.

"Go on in. Riku asks I'll be back tonight." He said leaving the door open for the boy.

There was something about the man that made Sora look at him like he was a stranger. He seemed… somber. Like the day after his wife had left. He was sober, but his eyes looked irritated and he looked tired. The brunette wondered what happened as he stepped into the house. "Riku! Where are you?" he called from the living room.

He heard footsteps from overhead then coming down the hall. He looked and saw a very disheveled Riku leaning against the wall looking far worse than his father had. Riku blinked as if trying to clear his sight "Hey Sora." he said distantly.

"Riku what's wrong. You look terrible. Didn't you get any sleep last night?" Sora asked walking up to the older teen.

Riku tried to answer but his voice cracked and he coughed a little. He tried to speak again but nothing was coming out as his throat tightened around his vocal cords. Sighing heavily he took Sora's hand and led him up to the attic bedroom his grandmother used. He hesitated to open the door but he finally did and waved Sora inside.

Confused Sora stepped in and looked around until his eyes rested on the bed where a white sheet covered a figure and he gasped. Riku pulled him back out by his wrist, closed the door, and walked them to his room. They sat on the bed; Riku was now holding Sora's hand desperately as he explained the event of the night before.

"I came home and changed for bed, I had no sense something was wrong. I was about to go to sleep but I saw her light on, so I went to see if she was awake. She was in her chair, I thought she was sleeping. I… I tried to wake her up… But she wouldn't wake up. She… she died while I was gone…" Riku began crying again and Sora immediately embraced his friend.

"Riku… I'm so sorry. It's not your fault, you didn't know." Sora whispered in a soothing manner. But the tone of his voice betrayed him as he began crying too, crying for the pain of his best friend. "Do you want me to call Kairi and tell her to come over?" he asked.

Unable to say anything Riku nodded against Sora's shoulder. Sora stood them up allowing the depressed silverette to lean on him as he led them back to the living room, sitting Riku on the couch he picked up the phone to call their friend who was at the house not five minutes after she received the news. They spent a few hours on the couch crying together, Riku taking great comfort in his friend's presence.

"Thanks you guys, I really need that." The silverette murmured.

Kairi wiped her own eyes then his, giving him a soft smile, "Of course Riku, we're always here for you in times like this. You don't have to suffer alone." She stood up "I'm gonna find us some painkillers for our headaches then I'm making us something to eat." She first went to the bathroom for the pills then to the kitchen for the water. She gave the glass to Riku along with two pills having already taken some herself.

Once the water was downed she took the glass back and went to the kitchen to make them some food like she said she would. Riku looked to see Sora asleep on his shoulder so he situated them so that the brunette's head was resting on his lap and he held his hand. The company of his friends helped to ease the pain he felt from his heart being torn up the way it had been when he found his grandmother dead the night before.

Sora blinked back more tears and rested his head against Riku's arm feeling the grasp on his hand tighten slightly. The mourners watched sadly as the casket was lowered into the ground, and when the tenants began to bury it they began to leave.

"Riku honey." So named looked to see Lee Mei "Are you going to be alright dear?" she asked in a motherly tone.

He nodded slowly, "I think so. Thanks for being here for me today, it helps."

"Of course. I talked to your father, he said if you'd like you can spend tonight with Sora and me. It's up to you though if you want to take the offer. We just want to be there for you."

"I'd like that, thank you."

"Hey Riku." Wakka called making his way to the silverette with Lulu, Tidus, and Selphie following "Hope you'll be alright ya."

"Losing your grandmother when you least expected it, it must really hurt." Selphie said hugging the silverette.

"My old man's having everyone at the café, free food and drinks. You game?" Tidus asked.

Riku smiled, small but genuine, "Yeah, we'll go."

Tidus smiled back, "I'll go let him know then. See you guys in a bit!" he took off to find Jecht.

"Riku are you sure you want to be around everyone still?" Sora asked.

Riku looked at his friend with that smile still on his face, "I can handle it fine. Besides, you and Kairi will be there and you guys have been my strength forever. I'll be fine."

Sora smiled at the response, it was hard not to believe Riku when he spoke with such confidence.

"Let's go then. I'm actually getting hungry!" Kairi said with a smile.

Nodding in agreement the boys followed their female friend to the café, Sora sticking closer to Riku than usual the whole step of the way never releasing his hand. Not that Riku minded, for so many reasons he was comfortable with the contact, it brought him a sense of peace. And as they walked down the street it didn't rouse any suspicion from any who may have seen them because Kairi was hanging onto his arm too. And given the fact that there were a bunch of people dressed in black heading to the same place from the same place, no one asked questions.

Sora, Riku, and Kairi sat at a table by a window, each had an ice tea and a plate of pasta in front of them. Around them people were talking and laughing quietly, trying to lift the mood of the day from everyone's shoulders. The radio was playing loud enough for everyone to hear, but quiet enough no one had to raise their voices, and Riku heard a familiar tune on a guitar playing. He remembered he heard it back when he was a kid after his mother left, it played on the radio that night while he was trying to fall asleep. When the lyrics began he couldn't help but sing along.

"Ate mo naku hitori samayoi arukitsuzuketa

Kasuka na toiki wo tada shiroku somete

Utsuri kawari yuku kisetsu no sono hakanasa ni

Wake mo naku namida ga koboreta

"Ima mo aishite iru...""

When the chorus came Sora sang with him, loud and strong.

"Furitsuzuku kanashimi wa masshiro na yuki ni kawaru

Zutto sora wo miageteta

Kono karada ga kieru mae ni ima negai ga todoku no nara

Mou ichido tsuyoku dakishimete"

Wakari aenakute nandomo kizutsukete ita

Sonna toki demo itsumo yasashikute

Fui ni watasareta yubiwa ni kizamarete ita

Futari no yakusoku wa kanawanai mama ni

"Ima mo oboete iru..."

This time Kairi joined in.

"Toozakaru omoide wa itsu made mo mabushi sugite

Motto soba ni itakatta

Mou nidoto aenai kedo itsumo soba de sasaete kureta

Anata dake wa kawaranai de ite

Saigo ni miseta namida ga kisenakute"

Kairi and Sora stopped to let Riku sing on his own.

"Kono shiroi yukitachi to issho ni kiete shimatte mo

Anata no kokoro no naka ni zutto saite itai kara"

Then they started singing together again, three friends combining their voices into one expressing their shared pain and love.

"Yorisotte dakiatta nukumori wa wasurenai de ne

Chigau dareka wo aishite mo

Saigo ni kiita anata no koe wo kono mama zutto hanasanai mama

Fukaku nemuri ni ochitai

Furitsuzuku kanashimi wa masshiro na yuki ni kawaru

Zutto sora wo miageteta

Kono karada ga kieru mae ni ima negai ga todoku no nara

Mou ichido tsuyoku dakishimete

Mou ichido tsuyoku dakishimete"

The whole room was quiet as the song came to a close. It wasn't until the last note ended that they became aware of the silence and looked around to see everyone staring at them in awe.

"Were we singing out loud?" Kairi asked sheepishly.

"That was fantastic!" Lee Mei exclaimed.

Sora smiled with a small blush, "Aw Momma, you don't mean that."

Riku chuckled a little shaking his head, "Sora get used to it. Were doing it again next week."

The brunette pouted, "Did you have to remind me?"

Kairi pushed him playfully, "Oh get over it Sora! It's not like you haven't done worse things in front of people."

"Ixnay on the ithday party- bay." Sora murmured.

"So if that's how you guys sound singing someone else's songs, I can't wait to hear you sing the songs you came up with!" Jecht commented.

"You just wait Dad! Their singing is gonna send the Islands in a riot!" Tidus cheered.

"Totally!" Selphie agreed.

"At least it isn't you, kid. You'd make our ears bleed." Jecht teased.

"Love ya too, Pop." Tidus scowled.

"I never said that." Jecht responded making everyone laugh.

Riku stood up getting ready to leave, "I'm gonna go home. I'll see you at your place tonight Sora." he tousled his friend's spiky hair.

Kairi stood up to hug him, "See you later Riku. And if you need to talk don't be afraid to let me know okay." She kissed his cheek before letting him go.

"Thanks." He responded.

Sora watched as Riku walked out, receiving hugs and assuring touches on his shoulder as he passed everyone until he was outside and headed home. He couldn't help the deep pain in his heart, "You know Kairi, he needs us now more than ever."

The redhead nodded in agreement, "He does." A thought popped into her head and she mentally smirked "Especially you, Sora."

The boy blinked "Me? Why me? You're his friend too." He said.

"Yeah, but you're his best friend. You've known him forever so he trusts you more with stuff like this. How much has he told you that he hasn't told me in all the time we've all known each other? Honestly?" Kairi asked.

Sora made a silent "oh". Kairi was completely right in her logic, but he had an uneasy feeling in his stomach about what she said. It felt like a bunch of butterflies fluttering about and doing flips like no tomorrow.

X_X_X_X_X

As Riku was walking down the street to his house he couldn't help but feel a little lighter despite what had happened over the weekend, maybe it was his friends. He supposed if he thought about it, his grandmother lived a good life to the fullest. She was quite adventurous in her time, and any adventures she couldn't go on she heard from Riku and his friends. She listened when he was sad and comforted him; she filled in the position of his mother when he needed that kind of advice. She had done a lot for him and he helped to take care of her in return, yet he couldn't be grateful to her enough.

"Hello Riku." A sickeningly sweet voice said from ahead of him.

He looked and saw Del, great. "What do you want Del? It's not a good time for me." He said.

"The Paopu Festival's next week. Go with me." She demanded her voice still in that tone that could make a person hurl.

"I told you already I can't, I'm gonna be on a stage all day. Do yourself a favor and stop trying." He said walking past her.

"Stop right now or I'll tell everyone about that kiss between you and Sora at Kairi's party." Del threatened.

Riku turned back to face her, unfazed, "Go ahead, and tell about the other eight people who did the same damn thing. It was Kairi Del, no one's gonna blame me or Sora because she takes a game and makes rules like that." He turned to start walking again.

Del ran out in front of him "Look, you may have my brother and his lackeys scared shitless of you but I'm not. So watch yourself." She growled.

"You are gonna be the reason I will resort to hitting women. Get the fuck out of my face you little bitch." He pushed past her.

"Do you think I'll be afraid of you hitting me? As if you had the guts!" she ran up next to him "And what if I told everyone you happened to be in love with your best friend?" she whispered.

Riku rolled his eyes, but his heart began pounding, "You'd love for that to be true. You'd just love a reason to torment me and Sora, to torment anyone!" he stopped walking and glared at her "You are a real prissy bitch with some nerve to come up to me and start threatening me and other people. In case you haven't noticed I just came from my grandmother's funeral. I don't need you and your damn spoiled brat attitude making today any worse for me! You're going to end up alone."

With that he started walking off again. He knew he was harsh but he knew he was right, everyone thought that about her if they could help it. Besides it wasn't a good day for him to deal with her anyway, he felt the need to vent. He got to his house and went in, slamming the door behind him.

"Don't slam the damn door!" he father yelled from the couch.

"Shut up!" He shouted back.

The man stood up immediately, "Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?"

"I don't want to deal with you right now! I don't want to deal with anything!" Riku yelled storming down the hall.

"Get your ass back here! Just where the hell do you think you're going?" his father followed after him.

Riku walked up the stairs to the attic, forgetting that its former occupant was no longer there in his rage. When he opened the door and found the room empty of life he felt tears stinging his eyes again; today was an emotional rollercoaster. When he felt a hand on his shoulder he quickly shoved it off "Get the fuck off me!" he cried and ran back down stairs and out the house headed for the beach.

An hour later he found himself on the Paopu Island staring back at the mainland he'd just come from. The sound of the ocean waves hitting the shore did little to calm his nerves and he had been crying again, he would need a double dose of pain killers when he got back.

He heard someone walking up behind him. Turning he expected to see Sora or Kairi, but they weren't who he saw at all. Who he saw was a man taller than him without a doubt, long silver hair falling midway down his thighs with bangs framing his pale face reaching to his chest. Cat-like glowing blue-green eyes looked at him with curiosity and concern, a black wing curling against him to his right while two more stuck out from under his long black trench coat by his feet.

Riku stood up from where he sat slowly as he watched the stranger, unable to help the intimidation he felt because of this strange man, but he would summon his Keyblade if he needed to.

"Why are you suffering?" the man asked.

"Who are you?" Riku responded.

The man blinked at the question but nodded his head with a silent "oh", "Right, not ideal to talk to a stranger without introduction. My name is Sephiroth." (A/N: Bet you weren't expecting that!) "May I ask your name now?"

The younger silverette looked the man up and down, studying him, wondering if it was a good idea to answer the question. Sora had told him about this man, how he tormented a friend the brunette had made on his journey. Riku couldn't help but be baffled by how much the man looked like him, he even wondered if it were possible for him to be Sephiroth's son. Probably not. But still.

"My name's Riku." He finally answered.

"Nice to meet you Riku. Now, will you tell me why you suffer?" Sephiroth asked again.

Riku sat down again facing the mainland across the water, "How would you feel if you lost the only one who ever treated you like you were their family no matter what the past?"

Sephiroth came to kneel beside him, "What do you mean?"

Sighing Riku answered sadly, "Over the weekend while I was out with a couple of friends my grandmother passed away. We had the funeral today."

"I see. And what you said about treating you like family not matter the past?"

"When I was a kid my mother left. My father turned into a bastard over it, she was the only one I could count on to help me get through it, besides my friends."

Riku didn't understand, why was he telling this man all this? He didn't have to say anything yet he was talking to him like they've known each other forever, like he could help. How could this man help? Sora described him as a madman, a nightmare! Yet… Riku couldn't help but tell him, around this person he felt like everything would be alright.

"There's more to it, isn't there?" Sephiroth asked.

Riku nodded, "Unfortunately. I've been having trouble with this girl who's just out to ruin Sora's life in some way just to get to me. She's a real bitch."

"Sora? You're friends with the Keyblade wielder?" the older male asked in interest, though his voice was monotone.

Riku summoned his Keyblade, Way to the Dawn "He isn't the only one. But yes, he's my best friend. There's a problem with that though." Riku said dismissing the weapon again.

Sephiroth blinked, "How can something be wrong with a friendship? At least you have one."

The younger silverette sighed, "That's just it, I don't want it to be just a friendship. I want it to be more, far more. I'm in love with Sora, but he loves Kairi, our other friend."

For the first time in he didn't know how long, a different expression took over Sephiroth's face, an expression of pity and understanding, and he acted on it. He brought an arm around the boy beside him and brought him closer so that Riku's head was against his collarbone "You may have a better chance at love than I do." He whispered.

"What do you mean?" Riku asked looking up at him.

"There was someone I was never meant to have, yet I pursued him relentlessly until he finally defeated me. He was never able to before. You could say the light he used against my darkness had the strength of a lion." Sephiroth explained. (A/N: Who knows who I'm talking about?)

Riku was silent for a moment, contemplating what he was told "Are you saying I should tell Sora how I feel?" he asked.

"At least try."

"Why do you care? I'm nothing to you." Riku said.

"I don't know myself, but I feel like I'm connected to you somehow." Sephiroth stood up releasing Riku and the boy looked at him "Think about what I said, it just might work out." He said before disappearing in a veil of black feathers.

"Riku!" so named looked to the bridge and saw Sora running towards him "Riku are you alright? He didn't hurt you did he?" he cried.

"Sora I'm fine, really. He just wanted to talk. What are you doing here anyway?" Riku asked.

Sora took a breath to calm himself, "Your dad called my mom asking if we'd seen you since you ran out of your house so suddenly, we've been looking for you everywhere. Roxas finally suggested I look here and I saw you with Sephiroth."

Riku looked down a little ashamed, "Sorry I worried all of you. Really Sora I'm fine, he didn't do anything to try and hurt me I swear."

Sora took Riku's face in both his hands and made the older boy look at him. They stared each other in the eye for a moment, Sora trying to find any trace of lie but found none. He let Riku's face go and took his hand, "Come on, let's get back and tell everyone you're alright. I won't say anything about Sephiroth."

Riku squeezed Sora's hand, "Thanks Sor. And thanks for being there for me." He received a smile from his friend.

X_X_X_X_X

Riku had just finished changing from the black clothes he wore to the funeral to his outfit of blue jeans, a black zip up vest, and a white jacket vest over it. He picked up the backpack that had his pajamas and a change of clothes for the next day along with a few toiletries and headed for the front door.

"Going to Sora's now?" his father asked.

"Yeah, I'll be back tomorrow." Riku answered.

As he was about to open the door he felt a hand on his shoulder, he was turned around and brought into an embrace… By his father… He couldn't remember the last time he was held by the man since his mother left.

"I'm sorry… for turning my back on you. I know I've been a terrible father, especially when you needed me the most. I'm sorry."

Riku stood there silent in shock. This man… had just asked for forgiveness for leaving him alone all his life. He wanted to scream, tell the man it was too late… But he couldn't bring himself to. Besides, this was all Riku wanted, to know his father still cared for him.

He finally returned the embrace and squeezed a little, telling his father he forgave him. He pulled back with a small smile on his face nodding and he left the house, feeling better than he had in a long time.

X_X_X_X_X

It was dark that night, moonlight being the only light to illuminate Sora's bedroom as he sat on the bed with Riku beside him, they were just talking about pretty much anything. Their childhood, their adventures, anything to pass the time as they weren't quite sleepy yet. Lee Mei was gone visiting some friends overnight so they had the house to themselves, still they were quiet in the darkness.

"So you really went through all that for me? So I would wake up?" Sora asked.

"Yeah. The worlds needed you, and I missed you something awful anyway. Besides if you stayed asleep who would give me a good match in spars?" Riku said ruffling his friend's hair.

Sora laughed and batted the hand away then things were silent between them again. Finally Sora broke it, "You know I wonder what it'd be like if Roxas had his own body to live in, his own heart. I wonder if Momma would let him live with us, it's be cool to have a brother!"

Riku faked hurt, "And what have I been to you? Just a best friend?"

Sora laughed, "Come on, you know what I mean. I wouldn't survive normal life without you anyway." Sora went silent in thought "You're actually at a higher level then friend to me, but I don't know what that label would be."

Riku smiled and tousled his hair again "You'll figure it out." He yawned and he laid down suddenly feeling sleepy.

"You're not leaving me alone are you?" Sora joked.

"You'll live…" Riku sighed before he was lost in slumber.

Sora stared at him for a while noticing everything he noticed the first time that night he slept over at Riku's. Thinking too much or not, he just couldn't deny that he thought Riku was a beautiful being. Feeling tired himself he laid beside the silverette letting their fingers intertwine.

He woke up again after he didn't know how long and Riku was over him, a smirk on his face that didn't seem to fit quite right. It was different from his usual smirk, and his eyes, they were completely green. He opened his mouth to say something but his lips wouldn't move.

"Finally awake Roxas?" Riku asked in a teasing tone.

Sora blinked and his mouth finally moved, but the words that came out weren't what he wanted, "Axel? Is that really you?" Axel?

The smirked morphed into a smile of relief and Riku's eyes filled with tears, "Yeah. Long time no see." Riku eased his body down so that he was completely laying on Sora, his arms around the brunette's body "I've missed you so much Roxas. You don't know how long, how much I wanted to tell you I was here!" he said, voice cracking.

Sora's arms wrapped around Riku's body and tears collected in his eyes too, "I missed you too Axel. Gods I missed you. I'm so sorry for leaving that night, I'm sorry for leaving you. I love you Axel, I love you so much."

Axel shushed him looking at him again "It's alright Roxy, I don't blame you." He said running his hands through the brown spikes that he wished were blonde.

"How are you here?" Roxas asked through Sora.

"Thank Riku, he found me in the darkness and allowed me to use him to see you, so I could be with you. I think it'd be much easier for us if Sora would wake up and see the Riku loves him like I love you." Axel explained through Riku.

In his mind's eyes Sora blinked, he couldn't believe what he heard! Riku loves him? Riku loves him? Now he felt confused, about everything.

"Axel I've missed you so much. Now that you're here with me I want you, I need you! So badly." Roxas said.

Riku bit his lip, "In their bodies Roxas? Is that a good idea?"

Roxas lifted his head up and kissed Axel hard and passionately "I don't care right now!" he said against his lips.

Soon enough the other was returning the kiss, his hands were wondering, running down Sora's sides and thighs and back up sensually, drawing moans from the brunette's throat that signaled Roxas's pleasure. Sora's hands found their way under Riku's shirt and his fingers ran over the skin, he moaned again as Riku moved from his mouth to this throat, kissing, licking and sucking. In his mind Sora was screaming for this to be a dream.

"Please Axel, take me." Roxas pleaded.

Axel laughed "Typical Roxy, always impatient." He said and moved to removed the younger's shirt while the same was done to him.

Kisses rained down on the younger's throat and chest making him feel like a fire was spreading through his body, making him feel pleasure. Inside Sora was freaking out, wondering why his body was reacting this way. As a matter of fact he wondered why the hell Axel and Roxas were using their bodies to be together! Yet he felt like this was something he wanted to experience himself, with his body as his… With Riku as himself. Why he didn't understand.

X_X_X_X_X

Sora woke up to sunlight hitting his face. He just laid there just staring out his window replaying all that he wished he could've blocked out from the night before but at the same time wanted to experience again as himself. Axel and Roxas had… done that with his and Riku's bodies… Sora felt sticky and dirty, and surprisingly happy for some reason even though he felt some pain. He shook the thought and sat up. Looking around he saw that Riku was gone.

Oh sh*t!

Sora: Axel! Roxas! I'll kill you!

I think I should get Aerith. Anyways, sorry about the tease there. But I'm not at the level yet so, yeah.

Riku: Ironic, you read it but won't write it.

I'd like to see you do it.

Well the song was Last Song by Gackt-sama. I looked up the lyrics in English and thought, "Totally fits the chapter!" so I used it.

Aw, Sephiroth knows how to comfort~!

Sephiroth: You will fall into the shadows.

Don't Dissidia me bitch!