Sephiroth's Guide to Love and Deception

Sephiroth’s Guide to Love and Deception

Chapter One: Four Years Later

“You can’t do this to me! ” Sora all but squealed and his mother rolled her eyes as his stepfather sighed for the fifth time that day.

His elder brother shook his head as he continued to pound buttons into his newly bought Nintendo DS, grumbling about Mario not making a pit while his elder sister continued to nod her head to the music that was pounding through her headphones, tapping her foot on the back of their mother’s car seat lightly.

“Sora, we’ve already been through this,” his mother began wearily. “It’s only going to be for the week. And since the London’s have already volunteered and I figured you wouldn’t mind spending a week with your little friend–”

“He’s not my friend! ” Sora snapped and again, his mother gave a weary sigh. “Regardless young man, we’ve already got things arranged with the school so that they may enroll you in our absence with their children, so it will have to be the London’s. And it would just make everything far more simple if you were already staying with them until we return. So whatever little problems you and Riku have been having–”

“Hey! It wasn’t my fault the little brat broke his wrist after ‘accidently’ colliding with the refrigerator!” his older sister, the middle child of three, replied in a loud, defensive voice, clearly still listening to music.

Without taking his eyes off the duel screens, the oldest of the three, Cloud, reached over and snatched the headphones from her head and tossed them on her lap, taking his directional controls again in no time. “Mom wasn’t talking about you,” he replied matter of factly.

Rikku blinked then smirked. “Ooooh. She was talking about Ku.” She turned to look at Sora curiously and made a face. “Geez, you’re still all sore about that Zo? Don’t you think this little lover’s quarrel has gone on for like, waaaay to long? You’re sixteen, not six. Get over it already.”

“Whatever,” Sora grumbled and turned away from her, staring out the window.

It was easy for her to say ‘get over it’. She wasn’t there. She didn’t have to hear every single word he’d spoken to him that day. See all the hatred, all the bitterness that swirled in a pair of mesmerizing aqua painted eyes that he once found himself constantly lost in.

That had been the worst day in Sora’s life, to say the least.

First he’d been late for school (because Rikku forgot to wake him up as she promised) and gotten an detention on the same evening he was suppose to go to a concert with his friends–and to go see his favorite group no less. Then when he got to school, he’d found out he was the only person in the entire class that flunked a very important Algebra test–and math was one of his better subjects. Even Wakka managed it with a low C and he was horrible at all things Math.

Then he’d gotten sick after a science experiment gone wrong– because Tidus just didn’t understand ‘Do NOT Use’ in BIG bold black letters when it was printed on something– and Sora had promptly thrown up on the guy. Though at least Selphie said it served him right.

Then there was the thing that happened on their way to History class. Riku was acting rather odd to him–well he had been for a while but more so lately, so Sora excused himself to the bathroom after Riku kept answering his questions in curt answers.

And he’d met one of his newer friends along the way. A rather cold guy usually but he seemed take some kind of interest in Sora about a two weeks ago. One that Sora had been ignoring rather well up until this point, when said silver haired weirdo pinned Sora to the wall in the hall and thusly, began to molest his lips over and over again until he had to take forcible action to remove him.

And as if the Gods weren’t done with him yet, his so called best friends–both of them–just started giving him the cold shoulder, though Riku more so than Kairi. They won’t speak to him. But Riku wouldn’t even look at him. And Kairi kept giving him ‘accusing’ glares.

And then...it happened. Right at lunch. They were all sitting together, though Riku was still in cold bastard mode and wouldn’t even sit by him like normal. Actually, he’d ignored him the entire lunch. And when he’d had enough, he’d finally called him on it. He didn’t answer at first. But after Sora pushed him, Riku simply looked up at him, staring him directly in the eye and said:

“You’re such a tool.”

And everyone at the table got quiet. Very quiet.

Sora closed his eyes, remembering every movement they’d made, ever word they’d spoken to one another...

He’d stopped eating his food, letting his fork slip from his hand as he continued to stare at Riku.

“What? But Riku–I thought–”

“Why the hell would I ever be interested in you Sora.” So matter of fact. So calm. “Why would I ever care about a little ass like you?”

Sora had been speechless. But Riku wasn’t finished. “I barely want to be seen with you, let alone actually with you. Are you serious? Me? With someone so pathetic, so filthy? I don’t deserve you–no one deserves you Sora. A little slut that will take it from anyone ready and willing to show you just a little bit of attention–is that what it was Sora? I didn’t make my world revolve around you?”

He’d fallen to the floor then, on his knees as Riku simply stood up and walked around the table.

Tears welling in his eyes. Why the hell did he say that him? What had he done to Riku to make him react this way? He’d thought–when Tidus told him Riku wanted...when Riku had taken him into his room that same day...

Riku smirked. “Maybe it’s silver hair. You seem to have a thing for pretty boys with silver hair. Is that it Sora?”

He tried to defend himself. He really did. But it was hard to defend himself when he had no clue what Riku was talking about–or even why. And that’s exactly what he’d said. “R-riku. I don’t u-understand...”

“But I do,” he’d replied simply, his cold eyes glaring down at him hatefully, ignoring all the eyes staring their way, the deafening silence with the exception of their voices. “It’s not very hard Sora–after all, you’ve always been such a submissive little bitch, haven’t you? It can’t be that hard to get you wrapped around the finger, spin pretty lies. Molest your lips whenever the hell they felt like it. To pin you down somewhere and make you squirm, make you beg, and plead like the wonton little whore you are. After all–I was able to do it, right? So why the hell should I be surprised HE could? It’s not like you actually know what hell ‘faithful’ or ‘love’ means. You’re too naive–isn’t that always the excuse?”

He didn’t defend himself. He didn’t even try. He didn’t care anymore why Riku was saying it–just that he was. That his best friend, his first friend. The boy he’d grown to admire so much to even love. That first person he’d given his kiss to. The one he’d given himself to because he thought it mattered–that he mattered to Riku. How he could even fathom such words simply killed Sora.

“Well. Aren’t you going to defend yourself at least? Try to spin a good lie to cover yourself up? Or are you just that damn weak Sora that I can’t have the little shred of respect I might have had left for you.”

Sora ignored his taunt. Instead he’d stood up and simply, ran out of the room, not being able to take it anymore. He’d heard Tidus’ voice instantly calling out to him but he ignored him. He let the tears escape his eyes in a full sob as he reached the double doors and pushing them open–simply ran.

Sora snapped his eyes open, feeling a light sting hit his eyes. It still hurt–even now. And as if that couldn’t have possibly been enough: his mother came home in the middle of the day, not asking or even caring why he, or his siblings and Kairi, who’d finally given up on her silent treatment in favor of consoling him, jobless.

She’d been in tears when she sent Kairi home immediately and told them to pack their bag because they had to rush off to Midgar.

And when they’d gotten there, as they left before their mother, the doctors in the hospital wouldn’t let any of the three in until their mother arrived–and only to be told that the situation was too critical for them to see him after that–only their mother could go in. But his older brother, always the hard head of the three, hadn’t listened. He simply ran inside the room anyway now that he’d gotten the chance to do so.

And not five minutes had gone by before both he and his mother came out of the room, his mother collapsing on the floor in deep sobs, stopping everyone in the hospital as his brother tried to comfort her.

It took a minute longer before his brother could tell him that his father had died.

Sora blinked away the rather horrible memory all together. What a dreadful day that had been.

He looked up at the man driving the small mini van. Ansem. Or as they all lovingly called him ‘DiZ’. He was one of his father’s oldest friends. He was the one that uncovered the truth about his father’s murder that ShinRa tried to write off as an accident.

Some scientist by the name of HoJo–he’d began to use the companies’s funding to experiment on living subjects.

Human subjects.

Secretive experiments that not even his closest co-workers, like his father who was his assistant–knew about. But they’d found out. They all had. And when they confronted HoJo–tried to stop him with his father the lead of it all–he’d simply snapped.

And was killed later by SOLDIERS after a stand off of sorts. But by that time, his father had already died.

Yes...DiZ had found all this out, breaking into ShinRa’s confidential files and after a ‘conversation’, they paid his family with blood money.

After all, can’t have such a big corporation looking bad to it’s investors and the public eye right? Besides...there was still the matter of the second option that his parents wouldn’t speak about–though Rikku was more than happy to explain that option two was ‘saying hello to their little friends’. (She’d been watching Scarface the entire week...) After a all, any company that would write off a man’s death as an accident when it had really been the cause of an insane man’s wrath–and they did have the SOLDIERS after all...

All this had happened in that same single month–before his mother decided to move away from the islands for what should have been for good. Rikku had objected greatly. Even his older brother, Cloud, had given a fight. But not Sora. No...he hadn’t cared. Not when he was still there. Not when he knew how he’d felt about him, how much he’d hated him.

She’d it all to him at the time. ‘I can’t believe Riku’s that kind of jerk, Sora. Be happy Sora, if he’s going to be that way, you’re better off without him. If he really cared, he wouldn’t have reacted that way; he should know you better.’

And it was that one sentence by Kairi that had hurt the most.

‘If he’d really cared...’

“...I promise Sora, whatever is the matter between the two of you, I’m sure it will wash over in a few hours, if not a few days,” his mother continued. She had been talking to him for a while now but he was just tuning her back in. She turned in her seat, smiling back at him while he only stared back bitterly. “You both have been friends for far to long to let some silly agreement stand between it.”

“When you’re just friends, Mom, sure,” Rikku cut in, giving Sora a knowing look. “But when you’re in love and jerk makes you maaaad–”

“I don’t love him, damn it ” Sora snapped angrily at her, his usually happy and calm sapphire eyes clouding up with anger, masking the hurt he felt at the fact that while she was simply taunting and meant nothing by it, it was still true all the same.

Though it had an effect. Rikku stared at him as if he’d grown a third head and sitting back in her seat, silently put her headphones back on.

His mother began to scold him but another voice quickly cut her off.

“Leave him alone already. He’s got every right to hate someone that hurts him if he wants, no matter what they are to him,” Cloud finally cut in, both woman looking over at him. “You’re already forcing him to stay with someone you knows he may not like, it’s not fair that you ask him to simply forget everything as well.”

Sora smiled thankfully at his older brother. He was always sticking up for him, Cloud. He was the only one in his family that understood the toll that argument had taken on him–all the love, all the feelings he’d put into one single person only to be crushed. Even if it hadn’t happened to him himself...Cloud still someone understood.

Without looking up, Cloud reached over and ruffled Sora’s already untamed mane before running a hand through his own blond mess and going back to his game.

Everyone but Sora and his late father had brown hair. And they all had blue eyes–well except Rikku, who’s gift seemed be standing out and being rather unique. She was the only one in the entire family with emerald colored eyes. (Though Cloud said they were blue when she was a baby...).

Sora let his mind drift further on his family. He was the shy, sweet one. ‘Cute’ was what he was always told. And he suppose he was. He had a nack for being ‘adorable’ according to Kairi, though he rather hated to admit it.
Rikku, or ‘Ri’ as they called her, was just plain odd. The girl couldn’t ‘fit in’ if she tried, not that she wanted to. She was loud, cheerful, humourous–easy to get along with. Though she had a tendency to be rather annoying and too playful at times as well as loved standing out in crowd, which she did quite well with her hair alone. (It was wild, spiked strands in some places, braided down with creative beads in others, with a head band stuck someone in the middle for extra ‘flavor’.). And she was always–always–up to something.

And then there was Cloud. When he was younger, he had been so quiet, reserved. Maybe even a little self conscious. But as time went one, despite abandoning his dream of becoming SOILDER, Cloud had become an admiration as an older brother. He was still quite at times, but he was just as playful as Rikku most of time, though not as immature. He’d really loosened up after meeting his new friends, especially Leon. (That guy was as serious as Sephiroth. It was spooky.) Though he was a tad *too* over protective–a result from their father’s death.

He was brought out of his happier thoughts by his mother trying to start another bout with him but after a glance from DiZ, she finally stopped short of arguing the matter any further and turned around in her seat, talking to him so softly that no one could hear.

Sora liked DiZ. He had always been nice, kind, and always treated them as if they were children of his own. He wouldn’t have picked another man for his mother to end up with after their father–even if he was a *tad* bit older. But then again, he was wiser for it, right?

Sora sighed and looked back out the window, letting his mind drift back to him again.

Maybe Riku was right about one thing. He was weak. Or at least, he felt weak–still caring about, still loving someone that didn’t return his feelings. That maybe never did. He remembered all the points Kairi made when she tried to consol him. How odd Riku had been acting for the past two weeks. How unhappy he’d seemed or distant when he was around Sora. How at first she’d thought it was jealousy–after all, he kept confiding in her about his suspicions that Sora was cheating on him with the same boy that’d pinned him to the wall and kissed him.

That maybe it was all just a cover–an excuse for Riku. He wouldn’t have to feel bad for breaking his heart then–because he could always put all the blame on Sora. She’d looked so guilty. She told him they’d both seen the kiss. How angry Riku got and he just stormed off. But that she’d seen Sora push the guy away–punching him across the face for what he’d done, and running away, never noticing her standing there.

And then she’d known how much Riku meant to him–that this all had to be a misunderstanding. And how she’d tried to tell Riku–but he wouldn’t listen. He didn’t care. It had made her cry–she felt like it was all her fault the entire thing had happened and Sora had given her a hug, reassuring her.

He touched the pendant around his neck, still looking out the window. A crown pendent. A gift from Kairi that same day, after they’d finished talking.

Kairi.

She’d always been such a sweet girl since the day they’d met. They were all close–so very close. And she was always there for him when he needed her, not matter what was happening in her life, how she felt.

Always.

She’d never been mean to anyone unless they’d done something to deserve it. And even then, she was rather reluctant. And she rarely spoke in such a harsh way about her friends, espically Riku. They were best friends after all, just like they were all suppose to be...

If she was still living on the islands, then it wouldn’t be so bad if he had to go back. And there was still Tidus and Wakka after all. And even the deranged Selphie (Oh she would be ecstatic to see Rikku again.)

But even that couldn’t cheer Sora up remotely.

He’d still be there. And Sora honestly thought that when they moved away four years ago, he’d never have to see lay an eye on that hurtful bastard again. He clutched the pendant. Let alone, live with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Excuse me.”

“The Strife’s–”

“That’s Madison’s now dear.”

“Oh yes, Madison’s,” Lucinda replied, rolling her eyes at her husband, Xenmas London, correction. “After all this time, they’re finally moving back to the Islands And Sora, Rikku and Cloud? They’re going to be living with us for a week starting tomorrow ”

“Sora? ” Riku snapped, not bothering to hide the fact that the notion completely disturbed him.

“Oh how lovely,” his elder brother replied unimpressed, putting another fork full of spaghetti on his fork before lifting it. “Perhaps we should break out the banners? Call forth the neighbors? Gather invitations for the ball?”

“Oh quiet,” his mother replied matter of factly, pinching his shoulder playfully. “Stop acting like you’re not happy to see Cloud again. I heard you squeal with delight in your room when I told you earlier.

Xenmas looked over the top of his paper with a raised eyebrow at Sephiroth and even Riku managed a look his way and Sephiroth glared at his mother. “I do not ‘squeal with delight’ mother. I simply let out a frustrated snarl of despair.”

“Right,” his mother replied unconvinced pinched him again and he couldn’t help the light smirk that graced his lips before he took in his bite of food.

“Why do they have to come here anyway,” Riku cut in with a calmer tone now, though his expression still seemed troubled.

“Well, it turns out their stepfather got a promotion but he’s got to move to the islands to take it. However, he and Annette have to take care of a little business in Radiate Garden, along with finding a house rather quickly. They also have to pick up their nephew from Twilight Town on the way back–”

“Wait, didn’t they move to Twilight Town,” Sephiroth asked matter of factly, his face devoid of expression as ususal. “Why wouldn’t they simply bring him now. That seems far more intellgent.”

“They’re giving the boy time to get prepared,” his father replied, not looking up as he flipped the page of his news paper. “With Annette’s children, it will be a little easier to get them reenrolled with the school system here as they were previously in it. A simple transfer really. Because he’s never gone to school here, along with other–details–it will take a little more to get the boy transfered. Hence why they have to travel back to Twilight Town. Besides, they didn’t want to be rude to impose the boy on us, though we expressed that we did not mind in the least.”

“Right,” their mother nodded. “And since they won’t be here and the enrollment date is Wednesday, they’ve already called the school and given us permission to do it for them in person. You know: get the sweethearts situated, get their school uniforms, books, the whole lot of it. After all, they’re practically my children anyway,” his mother gushed all three males rolled their eyes. That’s the way she and Sora’s mother were: they saw each other’s children as their own. Not that any of them complained. Though to Riku, it just seemed odd with Sora hating him and all.

While he and Cloud had an associate type relationship–after all, Cloud could be seen more hanging–or being straddled–by his brother on more occasion then not–they had never been really close-friend like. Though if anyone ever messed with Riku (and they wouldn’t usually given that Sephiroth was his older brother and most of the students were terrified of him) he would protect Riku as if he were Sora.

Rikku, or “Ri” as she was called whenever they were both together, he considered a friend. She was unpredictable, wild, and maybe even a little insane–but it was what he loved most about her. She was energetic, like Selphie and always up to something–scheming. And while her taunting and immature nature could be more than annoying at times, he loved her like a sister all the same.

And then there was Sora.

Sora.

He dreamed about that untamed sea of chocolate. Those beautiful deep ocean blue eyes he constantly found himself drowning in. Those soft, full lips he liked to suck softly, slowly, nibble playfully on as he ran his tongue over then playfully. Feeling those smooth, perfectly tanned legs wrap around his waist and pull him down with each hard, symphonic thrust they made...

He wanted to bang his head on the table as he blinked those tender memories away. He’d given that all away with a few simple words. A few very stupid, unthought simple words.

Because of his own stupidity. His own jealous demons. Because of her.

His eyes flashed with anger at the mere thought of her. Kairi...

The little bitch had played her hand well. To this day, neither he or Wakka could ever fully figure out the extent of the damage as he’d never gotten his chance to speak to Sora. But he’d gotten to the core root of the problem thanks to a friend of Wakka’s who had a nack for listening in on conversations.

She’d lied to him from the very beginning. Played on his weaknesses–after all, Kairi would know him well, she was suppose to be his best friend.

She’d used his own jealousy against him–twisted every situation, every single moment to her advantage. Making him believe that Sora was actually interested in that jerk...

“Isn’t it cute how much time they spend together? Aw, look a the way he looks at Sora. Isn’t that sweet? He’s usually so mean to everyone but look a the way he treats Sora–spoils him really ”

“We’re going to have to work together Riku. Didn’t you hear? Sora asked Zexion to work with him on this project.”

A lie. Because Selphie accidently told him later that it was Kairi who pushed Sora into working with Zexion. But he hadn’t known at the time and he’d let Kairi convince him that all the extra time Sora was spending with Zexion out of school–like that their lunch was a date instead of a study session– even though Sora had kept telling him time and time again when he brought the subject up that there was nothing there.

That he already had someone special to his heart even if he wouldn’t say that it was him. Sora was that way–so shy and sweet. And it wasn’t official at the time, not yet. But Tidus had been working diligently on that...after all, it was his fault the two had even slept together. He’d gone and spiked the damn drink during their sleep-over. And Riku just acted on instinct–taking Sora up to his room and...

And then Zexion came into the picture. And by his own stupidity, he’d told Kairi everything–how he felt, what he thought.

And when that day came. When Sora had excused himself to go to the bathroom–Riku could admit, he’d been a little ticked with Sora with all of his own jealousy coursing through him, all the lingering questions and accusations that wouldn’t go away–she’d grabbed him arm and pulled him along, whispering that they should fallow him. He’d felt bad for spying but he wanted to know...he had too–and he thought he’d found out when he say them.

That silver haired son of a bitch had Sora–what he thought was his Sora–pinned by the wrist against the wall, their lips caught in full blown kiss. Riku felt his blood boil on sight and his already out of control fire had the fuel it needed. But Kairi had been there–pretending to be surprised–and he didn’t want to act out in front of her. Not the way he wanted to...so he’d simply stormed off.

He hadn’t listened to Sora’s explanations–hell, he wasn’t even sure Sora tried, he seemed so stunned.. He hadn’t wanted to. He was so hurt–so angry. He just wanted Sora to hurt like he had. He wasn’t thinking. Just acting on pure instinct again.

Just like she knew he would. Just as she wanted.

And it cost him the one thing that had become the most important to him.

Riku stabbed at his food, ignoring the glare he was recieving from his father over his paper and the fact that his mother was still chattering on happily about the arrival.

Sora probably still hated him. He had to. He’d never gotent the chance to explain–to apologize. And then...Sora just left for what seemed for the rest of their lives. He’d hadn’t know where Sora went–but Sora knew where he was. He didn’t call. Or write. Not that Riku had expected him to–but it didn’t stop him from getting a little hope every time the phone rang or checking the mail ever single day for the family ever since the day Sora left.

But in the end, there was nothing.

And he deserved that for what he’d done to Sora. For not trusting him...betraying his trust, his feelings. He cringed everytime he thought of what he said–there was no telling what Sora thought. Let alone, what lies Kairi fed him afterward.

He stabbed his food again darkly. It had taken him a month to get over his anger at Rikku for not letting him in–and he and Kairi hadn’t spoken since their little falling out the day he found out Sora had moved. When he’d confronted her. And she of course, denied everything.

The Great Rift, as Wakka so lovingly called it.

Selphie sided with Kairi, naturally. Wakka, obviously with Riku as he was the one who let Riku in on to the fact that Kairi was involved. And Tidus tried to remain neutral, but in the end, he’d sided with Riku after Selphie displayed her displeasure at not having her boyfriend agree with her every thought, regardless of his own friendships.

And that’s how the groups stayed now: Rikku and the boys still hung out together while Kairi and Selphie had a new group of friends, though they hung mostly together.
The random thought that Sora and Kairi were still keeping in touch made him stab his plate again and finally, his father snatched his paper down and glared at him darkly.

“Your mother just bought the china Riku, so if you don’t want your food, simply don’t eat it. But stop attacking the damn plate.”

Riku blinked up at his father and placing his fork down softly–he knew not to push his father in the same ways he did his mother– he apologized. His father nodded curtly, folding the paper up and placing it by his own plate.

“Sora will be sleeping in your room. Cloud will slumber with you Sephiroth.”

“Must he, I require my own space,” his older brother replied, glaring at their father–who was unfazed. He was the only person that was ever unfazed constantly by the look. After all, he had one of his own...

“We’ve got only one spare room and that’s reserved for Ri. She very well can’t sleep with either one of you boys.”

“Well let him share the spare room with her,” Sephiroth insisted, and Riku only raised an eyebrow. His brother was just being difficult for the sheer fun of it. As ususal. But he wasn’t fooling him. He knew very well he had already run fifty scenarios of what he’d do to Cloud. Alone. In his room. For an entire week. And the blond couldn’t escape this time...

“He’s bunking with you,” his father replied leaving no further room for argument and glared at Sephiroth with challenging eyes. They stared down one another until Sephiroth finally sighed in discontent and began eating again.

“So both of you, clean up your rooms, and get them ready for com-pa-ny ” their mother squealed happily, clapping her hands together as she began to collect the plates from the table, minus Sephiroth’s.

Riku only nodded absently, ignoring both stares he was getting from his father and brother.

Sora.

He was coming back. Back into his life.

Maybe he did hate him. And maybe he did have a right. But that didn’t mean he should have to simply give up on his love for the boy...
~~~~~~~~~~~~

And at the same moment, Sora was murmering soft whimpers in his sleep as he moved against the pillow he’d placed in the window to lay on.

God his lips...so damn intoxicating. Planting feather like kisses along his neck softly. Teasing him. Making him beg as he trailed the tip of his tongue along his earlobe, nibbling on it softly before going back to his neck, sucking, biting. Marking him.

He felt those delicate fingers run lovingly through his untamed mane as he began to suck his bottom lip softly yet firmly before dipping in to taste him. Molest his.

Then Sora recoiled in pain as he felt his hands tighten in his hair, snatching it upward with a hard jerk, a smirk forming over Riku’s face as his once beautiful aqua eyes clouded over with hatred.

“You see?” He replied snatching his head back again and causing Sora to cry out in pain. “Such a wanton little slut. . .”

Sora woke up abprutly, hitting Rikku in the face as he did. This caused the girl to wake up, glaring at him still half asleep. “Sorry,” he replied with a soft smile and she only rolled her eyes, fluffing her pillow before propping back up against Cloud and laying on it, going back to sleep.

Sora sighed and sat back, staring into the darkness of the car.

“Sora.”

He didn’t look up. “I’m sorry. I’m okay. No need to spaz.”

He heard a soft chuckle. “Get some sleep,” Diz nodded slightly, yawning. “You’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”

Sora nodded slightly and laid his head back down on the pillow. Those dreams–ever since that day–they’d always ended like that. Always.

The same hateful, uncaring eyes. The same seething bitterness laced in every syllable. The love was gone–all the feelings were completely gone.

Sora’s eyes fluttered shut. He couldn’t get over him, no matter how he tried. And Sora hated him for it. Hated him for hurting him so deeply–for making him just as weak as Riku told him he was. His heart, his life, his everything had revolved around Riku. And in a way, it still did

His eyes fluttered closed.

Maybe he didn’t truly hate Riku. Even if he had a right to. But that didn’t mean he shouldn’t protect himself from the pain he caused...
~~~~~~~~

And at that very same moment, both boys made their own promises to themselves: one that he wouldn’t let the other control his heart while the other was determined to gain the other’s once again.
~~~~~~~~
Author's Note:
Thanks for reading. See Chibi Sephiroth? ::nods:: Yes. Then please review.