Oh the drama of it all!

Riku: Why are you being evil?

Because I can~!

Sora: I still feel violated. *hugging himself*

Roxas: She made us do it!

Axel: We didn't want to use you guys!

I own nothing~!

Once Sora had managed to get himself cleaned up, eat breakfast, and take some painkillers he walked to Kairi's house knowing full well that he would need to pass Riku's house on the way, but he was prepared. Hell he hoped he could talk to his friend, maybe get some answers about what happened the night before. Usually anyone would think that just because your friend sleeps with you against your, and maybe there will the friendship would end, but Sora wasn't willing to let it end like that! He really needed to talk to Riku the most about all this.

He was coming up on Riku's house and he slowed his walk. As he got closer he heard the soft strumming of a guitar and he knew Riku was playing. When he was close enough he saw his friend sitting on the window sill with the instrument in his lap looking like his life had been ripped out from under his feet.

"Riku?" Sora called nervously and the silverette abruptly stopped his strumming.

Their eyes met and they held each other's gazes. Sora saw a swirl of emotions in Riku's eyes, fear, confusion, happiness, sadness, love, and regret. Finally he turned back into his room and closed the window, drawing the curtains closed and Sora felt like he had been punched in the heart. Regardless he walked up to the window and knocked on the glass, "Riku, I know you can hear me! I really want to talk to you! Don't shut me out Riku, please! I can't be mad unless I have a reason! Talk to me!"

He stood there for a few minutes waiting to get some kind of response, but none came. Sighing in defeat Sora turned to leave but was determined to talk to his friend soon; for now though he had to get to Kairi and have a serious talk with her. He just hoped it went well because he was afraid that what he was about to do would get him thrashed horribly.

[Sora I'm so sorry! I know I shouldn't have but Axel was right there in front of me! I let my emotions take over I couldn't help it! I'm so sorry!] Roxas cried.

"Roxas I don't blame you. But I can't help but wonder why Riku kept Axel a secret… Maybe Kairi knows." Sora thought.

[Kairi? Why would she know?]

"I just have a feeling." Sora continued to Kairi's house hoping he would be able to get answers from his friend.

X_X_X_X_X

Kairi sat in her room playing the CD she and her friends had made a few weeks ago once they had their playlist for the festival planned, to get her into the spirit of the upcoming performance. She smiled at her project, headphones. But these headphones were special; she had made them specifically for one of Riku's songs that she herself named Magnet. Each pair was a simple set of headphones to which she had added her own touch, butterfly wings on each muff.

On one pair was aquamarine with a green tint to the coloring, and on the other was a deep electric blue, made to resemble Riku and Sora's eyes. Kairi had congratulated herself on her victory of convincing Sora and Riku to sing Magnet together and she was going to surprise them with the headphones just before that performance.

"Kairi! Sora's here!" she heard her mother call from down stairs.

Hurriedly the redhead put the headphones down and got up, paused her CD, and skipped down to see her friend surprised to see him looking as if he was lost "Hey Sor, what's up?" she said.

"I need to talk to you… Privately." Sora said quietly.

Kairi blinked at his tone, distant and sad. She took his hand and led him to the kitchen. Sitting him at a seat at the island she got them both a drink "Sora what's wrong?" she asked sitting down with her own drink.

The brunette gulped and sighed, "Um I don't think you'll like what I'm about to tell you."

Kairi perked up; in her head she was getting hopeful about what he would tell her and that she could finally drop the act of being the happy girlfriend who got the man of her dreams. "What is it? You can tell me anything." She said taking his hand.

"So uh… If I told you I did something to… betray you… would you kill me?" he asked nervously.

Just to keep up appearance she got a blank look on her face and raised an eyebrow, "Depends on what it is."

Now he was really nervous, she was gonna kill him! "Well…" he gulped again "I… uh… I-I… I slept with Riku last night." He stuttered so quickly Kairi didn't catch it.

She ran the sentence over in her head but still couldn't make anything out… Then Naminé started squealing like crazy.

The blonde Nobody manifested next to Kairi bouncing in place and clapping her hands, "It worked! It worked! It worked!"

"What the hell is she talking about?" Sora asked.

"She apparently got something outta that jumble you spoke." Kairi responded looking at her Nobody like she was someone else.

"He said he slept with Riku last night!" Naminé said.

Roxas manifested himself next to Sora with his arms crossed, "You act as if this is a good thing!"

Finally Kairi started laughing, "Well…"

Sora blinked at her "Well what?" he asked.

Kairi and Naminé glanced at each other "We kinda hoped that would happen?" Naminé offered.

"WHAT!" Sora and Roxas screamed.

"Kairi tell me she's lying about you!" Sora pleaded.

The girl gave a sheepish smile, "Uh… She's telling the truth?" cue face plant to the table "Oh come on Sora! Stop being dramatic!" Kairi scolded.

"But…" he lifted his head to look at her "Do you know what you just told me?" he asked sadly.

The girl gasped and looked guilty, "Yes… I'm sorry Sora."

"Why?" he asked close to tears.

Naminé put a hand on Kairi's shoulder, "There are many reasons. The most important one is because Riku asked her to make you happy."

Sora blinked in confusion, "Riku? What does he have to do with us?"

"He asked me to accept your offer to go out with you because he wanted to see you happy, even if it wasn't with him. Sora, Riku's been in love with you for a long time." Kairi explained.

"Has he?" Sora asked distantly.

Kairi stood up, "Come with me to the Play Island."

In an hour Kairi was tying a boat to the dock of the Play Island then she lead Sora to the secret cave by the waterfall more inland. They came to an open area in the cave where the roof had a hole in it to allow sunlight and the ocean air inside. All over the walls were a bunch of doodles of different things, on the opposite wall was a door without a way to actually open. Next to that door on the wall was a drawing of two smiling faces looking at each other with arms holding out paopu fruits to each other.

"Remember who they are?" Kairi asked.

"It's me and you of course." Sora said going over to the wall to run a hand over the drawing.

"No, it's you and Riku. You told me so. Remember back when we were kids, and I fist found you here?"

Sora thought for a few moments, wondering if what she said was true.

Sora was using a rock to draw on the stone wall of the cave he and Riku had claimed as their secret spot. He finished himself and began another when a small voice startled him.

"What are you doing in here Sora?"

He turned and saw Kairi, "Y-you can't be here! This is mine and Riku's spot!"

"So that's you and him you're drawing on the wall?" Kairi asked coming closer.

"Yeah." Sora answered with a small blush.

Kairi giggled, "You must really like him."

Sora blinked, "Well yeah, he's my best friend."

"Is that why you're drawing yourself giving him a paopu?" Kairi asked sitting beside him.

"I want to share a paopu with him, so that no matter what we're always connected, even if he goes far away." Sora explained.

Kairi giggled again, "That's a nice thought."

The brunette gasped at the memory rush, so many emotions running through him at once "Does… Does that mean… Oh gods. How long have I…? And I was hurting him this whole time! How could I do that to him?" he cried.

"Sora calm down, it'll be alright." Kairi said putting a hand on his shoulder "Just talk to him; tell him how you feel about this."

He shook his head, "I can't, he won't even talk to me!"

"I'll make him then! I've been trying for the longest to get you two together, I'm not about to let it go up in smoke!" Kairi exclaimed.

"Get us together?"

"You may not have known it right away but I did. When you saw it really was Riku in Xehanort's body you cried. And don't say it was because you haven't seen him in so long because it was the same amount of time with you and me too! A girl knows these things Sora." Kairi said.

Sora sighed sadly, "Kai you know he's stubborn. You can't make him do anything. He won't even look at me let alone talk to me!"

Roxas manifested beside Sora looking guilty [That's mine and Axel's fault. Riku woke up this morning knowing exactly what had happened and he got scared. So he left because he didn't want to see you angry with him.] The Nobody explained.

"Sora I'll talk to him. I'll get him to see you so you can work this out. He's not all that stubborn." Kairi said in assurance.

"Trust me he is."

"Well, so am I. Now let's get back, you're gonna go home and rest your body and I'm gonna talk to Riku." She said leading him back out the cave.

When they were back on the mainland Kairi parted with Sora at his house and headed for Riku's with determination burning through her entire body, visible in her eyes. She would get Riku to talk to Sora even if she had to hogtie him.

X_X_X_X_X

Riku was lying on his bed with his back to the ceiling. Axel was next to him running a hand over the pale bare skin as he studied each word. It was such a disappointment and concern to know that when these darkness written words were almost gone, and now they were back stronger than ever, and with more than three of them.

Alone on his right shoulder blade, Torn on his lower back, Tainted on his left side, Fool was written on his lower right side just above Torn at an angle so it looked like it was trying to wrap around him, Traitor was on the back of his right forearm, Weak on the left, Corrupt on the back of his neck, and Puppet stood out boldly going down his spine.

"I'm sorry Riku. I wasn't thinking." Axel said guiltily.

"I don't blame you. You couldn't restrain yourself when he was right there." Riku responded.

"But I've been able to do it before! Now since I wasn't able to this time I completely ruined things between you and Sora!" he let out a sigh "Maybe I shouldn't have taken the deal after all; I've just caused a big mess."

Riku sat up and looked at Axel sternly, "Don't say that. I made the decision on my own and I don't regret it. If anything it's my own fault."

"Then… What will you do about Sora?"

Before Riku could answer his door opened and Kairi was standing there glaring at him "Okay Riku! You and I need to have a serious talk!" she stated.

Riku quickly grabbed the long sleeved shirt he was wearing and put it on, "Now's not a good time."

"The hell it ain't! Sora told me what happened last night!"

"He what?" Axel and Riku exclaimed at the same time.

Kairi stepped further into the room putting her hands on her hips still glaring, "And now you don't want to speak to him? What's wrong with that picture?"

"Kairi please, I don't want to talk about this. I've suffered enough over it, so just leave me alone please." Riku pleaded.

Her expression softening Kairi stepped forward and put a hand on Riku's back jumping when he cried out and he had felt as if his had been burnt.

"Kairi are you alright?" Axel asked concerned.

The girl looked at her hand; it indeed looked as if she had been burned, but the scars faded as if they'd never been there. She looked back up at Riku with concern "Riku what's wrong with you?" she asked in fear.

"Just… Just don't touch my back." He said.

"What's wrong?" she tried to grab his shirt but he flinched away "Riku show me! What's wrong with your back?" Kairi demanded making another grab and succeeding. She lifted up the shirt and saw the words on his back "Oh my… Riku when did this happen? How long have you been keeping this a secret from us?" she asked.

The silverette sighed in defeat, "I don't know when it first happened. But I knew it was happening that day you and Sora went on your date. I had three by then."

"It started that night you called him about Sora asking you out. That was when the first one appeared." Axel explained.

"Why haven't you said anything? We could have gotten help for you! You at least could have told Sora!" Kairi exclaimed.

"And tell him what? That the darkness was trying to take me over again? He'd just love to hear that!" Riku shouted back.

Kairi scowled, "You still should have said something! Riku have you seen your back? It's a reason for us to worry!"

"That's why I didn't want to say anything! If this is how you're taking it imagine Sora's reaction!"

"That doesn't mean you keep it secret regardless!"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

Kairi stared at him "What do you mean it doesn't matter?" she asked.

"I mean it doesn't matter. I'm gonna leave the Islands. I'll stay until the festival, after that I'm leaving." Riku explained.

She shook her head, "You can't, it doesn't have to be like this. We'll find away to help you Riku!"

Riku stood up and gently pushed Kairi out of the room, "No one can help me now." He brought her into a hug "Thank you though Kairi, it means a lot." He said before releasing her and closing the door, locking it.

Kairi was speechless. She walked out of the house and sat on the porch as tears began to run down her cheeks, how was she going to tell Sora? And with the festival next week? She felt helpless; she didn't know if she could convince the silverette to stay. She would get Sora to try but Riku wouldn't even so much as look at the younger boy. She felt like everything around her was going up in flames and smoke, and she was scared.

X_X_X_X_X

Sora was watching the sky changing colors from his window, the vibrant blue submitting to the fiery red-orange of the setting sun. The play Island was being blanketed in shadows and the water was reflecting the light. Usually he loved watching that happen, but because of what had happened with Riku he wasn't so affected by it. He just couldn't help but wonder what was going on between Riku and Kairi while she was talking to him.

Roxas was watching Sora from a place on the floor in the brunette's room, guilt and regret written all over his face. It was his fault; he couldn't control himself when Axel was in front of him and now Sora and Riku's friendship could be ruined, or worse.

Thinking this he began to cry, "I'm sorry Sora."

The brunette jumped at the break in silence but looked at the blonde, shocked to see him crying "Roxas, don't cry or apologize. It wasn't your fault; you haven't seen him for so long. What were you supposed to do?" he said.

The Nobody hiccupped, "I could have held my emotions back… None of this would have happened if I hadn't been so selfish. I knew Riku was in love with you the whole time. Every sign you didn't understand I knew perfectly well. But I didn't say anything because I was afraid of what you would think of him. You guys aren't Axel and me; you had such a good friendship that deserved no end! But look what I did… I'm so sorry Sora." he said sobbing at the last bit.

Sora moved to Roxas's side feeling the pain his Nobody felt. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before reaching to hesitantly wrap his arms around the blonde, his arms settling around the transparent body that was shaking.

They stayed like that even after the sun had completely set; Roxas had long stopped crying and was now just sitting in Sora's arms. He was looking at the carpeted floor when he noticed something strange, a rolled up paper with a black seal in the middle.

"Sora what's that?" he asked pointing it out.

Sora looked at what Roxas was referring to and picked it up. His eyes went wide, "The King's seal?" he unrolled it and read the message, his eyes widening.

Sora, There's something important you should know. You remember my master, Yen Sid. He believes that something is wrong with Riku; he fears the darkness is trying to take him again. We need you to find out why and stop it before it's too late, for both your sakes. King Mickey.

Sora's heart could have stopped. The message was dated a few weeks ago. For all he knew, it may already be too late.

Kinda short this chapter. Next chapter's the Paopu Festival, we'll see what happens.

Quick note: Kairi and Sora never claimed to be official there for they couldn't break up.

I know some of you might think, "Kairi shouldn't have said anything!" but it was necessary for the plot! You'll see what I'm gonna do.

I honestly the drawing is of Riku and Sora, I don't care what anyone else says!