When All Things Come Back To You

Sora’s thoughts seem far away from him, and are slipping farther away every second. What is Riku doing to him? Why is it affecting him the way it is? Why does this still seem wrong?

Wait, does it really seem wrong though?

Sora tries desperately to order his thoughts, but Riku whispering his name so sweetly in his ear scatters those thoughts to the four winds. Sora cannot fight back the small, helpless whimper of surrender when Riku unzips the top part of his red jumper and slides his hands inside to caress Sora’s chest and ribs. Riku’s tongue traces lightly from his shoulder up to his neck, teasing, learning the taste of him. Sora shivers, tossing his head back to give Riku greater access to his neck, which Riku willingly accepts. He wraps his arms tightly around Sora’s smaller frame and pulls him away from the counter. Sora’s breath comes out in short gasps as Riku kisses his way up to Sora’s ear and nips at it lightly.

“I think I said something about finding you a change of clothes, didn’t I?” He breathes into Sora’s ear.

“Yes…you…you did…” Sora manages to gasp after a long moment. It is taking him forever to gather his thoughts. Riku only makes matters worse, by continuing to talk to Sora and seduce him at the same time.

“I was thinking something black…it’ll bring out those incredible eyes of yours…” Riku gently bathes Sora’s ear with his tongue, causing Sora to shiver and unconsciously press his body against Riku.

“R-Riku…I can’t…” He gasps. “I can’t think…straight…when you do that…” Riku drags one hand down to the small of Sora’s back, the other hand continuing to trace his ribs. What did he just say a minute ago?

Did it matter?

Apparently not to Riku it seems. “Somehow, I think dark colors will suit you best, don’t you?” He pulls away, and Sora sucks in a deep breath, looking lost.

“W-what? I…um…”

Riku only chuckles at him, grabbing his hand and pulling him along after him. “Come on, you goof. Let’s get you that change of clothes I promised.”

What…? Who…how…why did he..? Sora’s thoughts return to him at last, and he is just as confused now as he was with Riku doing all those wonderful things to him. This isn’t fair. Sora tugs on his white, short-sleeved jacket and grudgingly follows Riku through several rooms until he comes to a stop in a large area filled with clothing.

Almost everything is black, and Sora can guess that this is where Riku’s current outfit has come from. He looks around, picking at a few things, frowning.

“Choose anything you like. I’ll waier her here by the door.”

“Um, Riku…” Sora asks, lifting his head to look at the silver haired teen. “I have to admit, I’m a little worried…why is all this stuff here? I mean, if this is a heartless world…”

“I don’t think it is. It has a keyhole after all. A heartless world wouldn’t have a keyhole, would it?”

“I…I don’t know…but this all seems wrong to me…” Sora says, his head beginning to ache again. He rubs his forehead with his right hand. “Maybe we should just go and find your friend and get out of here.”

“Sora, your clothes are ruined. He can wait tilu fiu find a new set.”

“It’s just the shoulder, Riku.”

Riku walks over and pulls Sora’s head up to look at him. “Sora. It’s all right. Just pick something to wear. It’ll be stronger then what you are wearing right now and I’ll feel better if we have to fight again. Okay?”

Sora finds he cannot resist the aqua eyes gazing into his own. “A-alright.” Riku ruffles his hair gently.

“That’s more like my Sora. Now hurry, if you’re so worried about the king.” Riku walks off leaving Sora to pick out a new outfit. Sora watches him go, then turns back to the clothing with an exasperated sigh.

“’Just pick something’, he says. Jeez, everything looks the same.” Sora mutters as he rummages through the racks. He is beginning to get frustrated when he hears Riku’s voice.

“Oi, Sora, what’s taking you so long? You’re worse then a girl at finding some clothes.”

Sora stiffens, bristling at the comment. “Well excuse me!” Sora hisses angrily, turning his back to his friend. “Everything looks the same, I can’t find something I like!”

“If everything looks the same it should be easy to find something, right?” Riku walks back over, a mischievous tone to his voice. Sora gets the feeling that maybe he isn’t entirely safe a second before he is suddenly encircled by a pair of warm arms. Riku maneuvers them both straight toward the back of the room where there are some shirts on a small rack.

“Riku?”

“First things first.” He smiles. “You need a shirt.” He guides Sora’s hands toward a navy blue one with a simple red design on the front, and white trim. It has a shallow v-neck. Riku kisses the area between Sora’s neck and shoulder. Sora’s breath hitches, and he can’t help but lean back into Riku’s embrace.

“I like this one, because nothing will get in the way when I kiss you here-” Riku touches his lips to the side of Sora’s neck, “Or here…” Riku drags his lips down slowly to Sora’s shoulder. Sora swallows.

“W-well…”

“How about it? Do you like it?” Riku asks softly.

“Like…what?” Again, Sora finds he must struggle to think clearly.

“The shirt.”

“Oh, ah…um, yes.”

“Good. Because next you’ll need some pants.”

“Wait…uh, shouldn’t I just get a new jacket? That’s the only thing that was- AAH!” Sora cries out, alarmed. Riku bit him! What the hell?

“I already explained why you need a new outfit.” Riku scolds gently. “Besides, it’ll make things more fun for me.”

More fun? What did he mean by that? Sora didn’t have time to ponder that; Riku walks them over in front of a table with some shorts. He reaches out and plucks a pair off, handing them to Sora.

“These match that shirt perfectly. They aren’t too stylish, but it won’t matter, because…” Riku slides them both down to another table, his groin rubbing against Sora’s backside in the process. Sora’s mouth goes dry, and he blushes furiously, sqing ing to get away. Riku’s arms tighten around him.

“Where are you going? I’m not finished.”

‘Great….’ Sora tho. H. He is in some serious trouble. Not because of the increasing intimacy of Riku’s touches, but because that with each touch he is losing the will to stop his friend should he start to go to far. “Riku…”

“Shh…I’m almost done.” Riku lifts a strange garment from the table, it is like a pair of shorts, but it is clearly for wearing over shorts as it is missing a crotch. Two red pouches attached to yellow belts serve for pockets, and it is decorated with white tubing. For some reason the garments remind him of something, but he brushes it off as his head began to ache again. Riku closes his eyes, rubbing his nose against the back of Sora’s ear.

“Well, what do you think so far?”

“I…it…it’s fine…” Sora prays to any deity that might be listening that the torture would stop. Preferably soon.

“Just fine?” Riku buries his nose into Sora’s hair. “Hmm…I think something is missing…” Riku looks down at Sora’s feet. “No, two something’s are missing.”

“Huh?”

“Those shoes. They have to go.”

Sora twists to look at Riku. “What’s wrong with them?” He asks heatedly, his cheeks a slight pink.

Riku raises a silver eyebrow. “Are you serious? First of all, they’re huge. I mean... I know you have boats for feet, but those shoes are big for even your feet. How can you even walk in them?” He laughs at Sora’s angry glare. “Besides, they don’t even match your new clothes. We’ll pick new ones.”

“But-”

“Do you want me to bite you again?”

Sora falls silent immediately, allowing Riku to guide him over to another rack, this one filled with short-sleeved jackets. He then pulls away from Sora and walks in the opposite direction. Sora calls after him,

“Where are you-?”

“I think that I’m going to pick out your shoes.” The aqua-eyed boy says in a tone that books no argument. Sora cast his friend’s retreating back a withering look and turns back to the rack, flipping through a few of them before deciding on a black one with white trim, yellow decorative buckles and a black hood with a white inside lining. Once satisfied with his choice, he goes off to look for Riku.

He finds the little demon pulling a pair of black and yellow sneaker-like shoes from a large rack. When he goes over to look at him, Riku notes the jacket and grins at him.

“All set?” He asks, eyes sparkling at Sora’s nod. “Good, get changed.”

Sora looks around for a place to change, while Riku eyes him, amused.

“What’s wrong?” He inquires, as Sora continues to look around.

“I’m looking for a place to change.”

“Sora.” Riku rolls his eyes. “There isn’t anyone around except me.”

“Yeah but-!” Sora starts, but catching Riku’s smug expression, he falls silent.

“But?” Riku asks innocently. “What’s wrong?”

Sora’s face grows hot, and he suddenly finds the floor very interesting. “N-nothing!” He says quickly.

“Are you sure?” Riku presses, very amused at the situation.

“I…uh…yeah…” Face flushed, Sora pulls off the white short-sleeved jacket, wincing slightly as he moves his injured shoulder.

“Do you need help?” This time the voice is concerned. Sora shakes his head.

“Nah.” He unzips the red jumper he is wearing and sits down to untie and remove his shoes. Still very aware of Riku’s gaze and blushing like mad, he tugs off his jumper and quickly pulls on his shorts and the decorative black outer garment that went over them. He scoops up his new shirt and moved to put it on, but as soon as he lifts his arms up, a sharp pain through his shoulder made him wince again. Taking a breath, he begins to try again, but strong hands takes the shirt away from him.

“Let me help.” Riku commands softly. He takes Sora’s arms and put them through first before stretching the fabric over his head. After tugging the shirt down, he helps him with his black short-sleeved jacket and sits him down again to pull on his shoes. Sora stares at him mutely through the whole process. After Riku pulls him to his feet by his uninjured limb, Sora stares at the floor, chewing his lip.

“Um, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Riku smiles at Sora and takes his hand. “Let’s get you back to the house so you can rest. You should feel better in the morning.”

“And when is morning again?” Sora rolls his eyes and Riku tosses his hands up at the ceiling in mock exasperation.

“Smart-ass.” He grumbles, pulling Sora from the building.

* * *

Once back at the house, Sora mutters something about wanting to wash up and leaves for the bathroom. Riku sits heavily into a chair in the small dining room and combs his hands through his hair, the day’s events running through his mind.

“No…I suppose you aren’t like me.”

The conversation with Mizu echoes through his mind, troubling him no matter how hard he tries to focus on something else. Why had Mizu approached him? He never did so before; he always avoided any confrontation between them as if his life depended on it. Why now? Is he planning on doing something to bring back Sora’s memories? No, that didn’t make sense. However, Riku is having difficulty believing that the heartless boy came to him to plead for his help alone. No, he has an ace up his sleeve, and is going to use it to try and hurt them both.

“Is something wrong?”

Riku looks up to see Sora in the doorway, clothed in just his shirt and shorts, a blanket draped over his shoulders. He looks slightly tired, but all Riku notices is his eyes, bright and impossibly blue in the soft light of the room. He had been right. Dark colors are perfect on Sora. His eyes stand out more then he thought they would, and Riku feels as if he is drowning. He becomes suddenly aware that he is standing, moving to take Sora in his arms, pressing his lips to the Keyblade master’s. After a moment, Sora pulls back slightly.

“Riku?”

Riku reclaims his friend’s lips with a hunger that can only be described as feral. He backs his love out of the room, the other boy trying to keep from tripping over the blankets that drag onto the ground. They stumble ungracefully into the room, almost knocking over a table that is close to the bed, nearly spilling the Oathkeeper key chain to the floor from where Sora had placed it a few days ago.

Sora loses his fight with the blanket, and they both fall solidly onto the bed, Sora pinned under Riku’s weight. Sora allows it, feeling the desperation in the kiss, the powerful need in it. He wraps his arms about Riku’s waist, trying to keep up with Riku’s frenzied kissing.

After a long while, Riku pulls back to whisper something too soft for Sora to understand, his breath warm on the other teen’s face. Sora gazes into the lazy lidded eyes of his friend.

“Are you alright?”

“I think so.” Riku said honestly.

“Is it Mizu?”

Riku stares at Sora for a moment, before moving to roll off of him. The brunette held on, however, and when Riku rolls, Sora rolls with him, lying on top of him with his hands trapped beneath Riku’s body. He holds Riku’s gaze.

“What did he say to you, Riku?” Sora’s eyes are clear, full of concern. Riku turns his head away.

“I don’t want to worry you, Sora…”

“I’m already worried! I don’t know what he said to upset you like this, but I know it was bad, and I keep thinking…” Sora starts to pull his arms free. “Forget it.”

Riku turns back to Sora. There is no escaping it now. He has to tell him, or live with this shadow over their relationship for the rest of his life. It actually might not be that long, but it would feel like it. He reaches up to take Sora’s face in both his hands.

“Alright Sora.” He felt the other boy turn back to face him, just as he turns his eyes back to the aqua of Riku’s. “Mizu…hinted that things would change when you got your memory back. He asked me to join him…but I wouldn’t.” It isn’t a lie, not really…but it isn’t the whole truth either.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Sora’s voice holds no trace of accusation, and his eyes holds no anger.

“I didn’t want to worry you…I also thought that it might cause you to not trust me… I am afraid that things might not be the same. Sora…I don’t want to lose you…I am so afraid that when you get your memory back, you’ll just want to be friends…or you’ll be disgusted that I feel this way and never want anything to do with me again…”

Sora kisses the area just below Riku’s eyebrows, and looks into his pain filled eyes. “So if I get my memories back, I’ll lose the ones I have now? The ones I made with you?” Sora kisses the bridge of his friend’s nose. “Somehow, I don’t think that will happen.”

“Sora…” Riku breathes the name softly; the emotion involved causing Sora to shiver. “How do you always know what to say? It makes me fall deeper and deeper in love with you…to the point where I can’t find the words to tell you.”

“Then show me.”

Riku rolls over on top of Sora again, looking into the other teen’s eyes. “Sora…you don’t know what you’re telling me to do…”

As a reply, Sora brushes his lips across Riku’s. Riku closes his eyes at the feel of those soft lips against his own.

“I trust you.”

Riku still didn’t believe that Sora knew what he is saying, after all the last time he had even tried to get a little more intimate then kissing, the other boy had cut it short. Still, it is permission to get intimate, whether or not Sora means he is willing to be ravished or not, and Riku isn’t about to pass it up. All that business in the store had left him rather tense and he could use some relief. Of course, he is the one who is the cause all of it, but he didn’t really care at the moment. Riku gives Sora a soft kiss, nibbling on his bottom lip before pulling back to look into his lazy lidded sapphire eyes with a gentle expression.

“I’m going to be very slow and gentle with you Sora.” Riku murmurs, interlacing his fingers of one hand with the fingers of one of Sora’s hands. “Things will not go further then you are comfortable. Just tell me what you like and you don’t like.”

“Okay…” Sora looks slightly dazed when Riku brings his other hand to his lips and kisses the tips of his fingers. Riku smiles and lowers his head to kiss Sora’s lips gently, his heart fluttering when Sora eagerly responds, parting his lips to allow Riku to explore his mouth with his tongue.

Riku keeps the kiss light, massaging his love’s tongue with his own, thinking of all the ways he wants to pleasure the smaller teen, things he had learned while having Ansem in control of his body, and having to hang out in the older man’s head. Sora makes the tiniest sound of contentment, and Riku doesn’t miss it. He pays close attention to every sound, every movement Sora makes, committing to memory everything that pleases his soon to be lover. When he is sure Sora is comfortable, he deepens the kiss, sucking on the brunette’s tongue and lips. Sora’s hands come up to entangle in his hair, and Riku pulls back for air and then moves forward again to nip Sora’s earlobe quickly, analyzing the gasp and the tightening of the hand in his hair.

“Ah…”

Riku smiles, moving his head lower to kiss the soft skin on Sora’s neck. “Nice?”

“Yes…” The words are little more then a sigh. Riku continues his slow exploration of Sora’s neck, the small sounds escaping the sapphire-eyed boy urging him on. Riku trails kisses down Sora’s neck and licks his collarbone. Sora gives a loud gasp and grinds his hips into Riku’s.

“Looks like I found a sensitive area.” Riku says, grinning up at Sora. “Lift your arms above your head for me.”

Curious, Sora does as he is told wincing slightly at the pain in his injured shoulder, and Riku lifts him slightly, sliding his shirt from his body in one swift, fluid movement. Sora blushes lightly, and reaches for Riku’s shirt with slightly trembling hands.

“I…won’t be able to do what you did…” He begins, dropping his eyes shyly. Riku leans forward using one of his hands to guide Sora’s hands to his shirt.

“It’s fine. Do what you’re comfortable with doing.” Riku says gently, smiling down at Sora. He leans in to kiss him as Sora’s hands slide up his shirt and begin to skim the soft skin underneath. His hands are slightly callused from all his sword fighting, but to Riku they feel as good as warm silk. Sora slowly pulls Riku’s shirt up, Riku helping a little to get his arms through. Riku pulls away again to allow Sora to drag the shirt over his head and toss it somewhere. Riku captures his lips again, running a thumb over one of Sora’s nipples, causing the younger boy to grind against him again. Riku grinds back, and Sora arches against him with a pleasure filled gasp.

“Riku…”

“Hmm? What do you want?” Riku drags a lazy hand down Sora’s chest, following the trail with his tongue. Sora shivers, forgetting his previous thought. Riku stops at Sora’s waist, tugging on his belt with his teeth. “Do you want me to keep going?”

“Ohhh…yesora ora moans when Riku pulls his shorts down a little to dip his tongue into his navel. Riku grins to himself and pulls off Sora’s belt, pulling off his shorts and leaving him clad in only his boxers. He scoots back up, lying slightly to the side of Sora’s body, kissing him passionately to distract him from the hand that slid slowly under the waistband of his boxers. Trying to keep up with Riku’s frantic kissing, Sora didn’t notice what his friend was doing until Riku’s fingers brushed over his half aroused member.

“R-Riku!” Sora gasps in sudden panic. Riku ran his tongue over the panicked boy’s lips.

“Shh…” He whispers gently, “Give it a chance first.” He begins to stroke Sora slowly and firmly, and Sora clings to his love tightly, a low moan escaping his throat as he hardens completely. Riku begins kissing Sora again, never changing his pace. Sora whimpers Riku’s name when they brake apart, and Riku can’t resist a teasing grin.

“Do you want more?” He chuckles at Sora’s nod. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand that. You’ll have to tell me.” He didn’t meant to tease like that, but he can’t help it. Sora gives him a helpless look.

“Please Riku…I-I want…”

“Yes?” Riku asks innocently.

“I want more, please Riku!”

Riku kisses Sora again, then pulls his boxers off, settling down between Sora’s thighs. Sora sits up.

“What are you-?”

Riku slid up Sora’s body and kisses him, pushing him back down upon the mattress firmly. “Shh. Close your eyes and just feel.” When Sora complies, Riku moves back down and takes a firm grip on Sora’s hips. His eyes flick back up to see if Sora is still doing what he had told him to do, then he slowly bathed Sora’s member with his tongue.

“AHH!” Sora cries out, his eyes opening and his hips straining to bupwaupward. Riku moves back, grinning devilishly.

“Do you want me to stop?” He knows the question was unfair, just like he knows what Sora’s answer will be.

“No…” Sora moans. “Don’t…don’t stop. Please don’t stop…”

Riku gives a satisfied nod and takes Sora swiftly into his mouth, through with teasing now. He settles quickly into a swift rhythm, alternating between sucking and swirling his tongue around his lover’s member. Sora moans and writhed wantonly under his ministrations, his cries becoming more shrill with each passing second. Riku listens carefully to Sora’s cries of pleasure, slowing down just before Sora reached orgasm. Sora begins making noises of frustration and Riku picks up his pace again, building him up only to bring him down yet again. He did this a few more times, trying to make this last as long as possible. He wants Sora to enjoy himself, despite the fact that he himself needs attention.

Soon, however, his own need causes him to finally let Sora orgasm, and the brunette cums with a loud cry, spilling himself into Riku’s ready mouth. Riku did his best to swallow it all, but it is a bit too much for him and he pulls back, the rest splashing over his face, neck and chest. Riku pulls a blanket off the bed and wipes himself clean before crawling up Sora’s body to gaze at the dazed and happily fulfilled expression on the brunette’s face.

“Aren’t youpy Ipy I didn’t stop?” When Sora nods unashamedly at him, he laughs. He kisses Soriviniving him a taste of his own seed. He gazes wickedly at Sora. “That’s all you.” He whispers. “Aren’t you delicious?” Sora can only blush at that. Riku chuckles and plants a kiss on Sora’s stomach before standing.

“Riku, where-?”

“Just sit tight.” Riku says. “I’m not through yet.” He leaves to go into the bathroom, rummaging through cabinets looking for something, anything he can use as lubrication. He shortly comes across some lubricant, and he puzzles briefly over the fact that whatever he or Sora need seems to exist in this world with no other people. The thought didn’t stay with him long, not with a fully naked Sora waiting in the bedroom. Shrugging his shoulders, he quickly returned to Sora who is regarding him curiously. Riku smiles at him calmingly and slides into the bed next to him.

“Sit up for me.” He says gently, pleased when Sora did so without hesitation. He kisses him lazily, removing the cap from the tube and spreading the slick substance onto his fingers. When Sora deepened the kiss he presses a slippery finger against his entrance, swallowing Sora’s loud gasp. He presses Sora back down onto the bed as he slides his finger in slowly, allowing Sora to adjust to the sensation.

Sora pulls back. “Ah! Riku…” Sora gritted his teeth. Riku kisses his forehead gently.

“Relax. The pain will go away if you relax.” He waits patently until Sora is able to do as he said, ignoring the dull ache between his legs that begs for him to hurry up. When Sora relaxes, Riku inserts a second finger, a little faster this time, massaging gently to coax Sora into calming down. Sora fought to do so; the sensation of Riku’s fingers inside him is not only painful, but also alien and intruding.

Just as he relaxes, Riku’s exploring fingers come across an area that makes Sora see stars. He tosses his head back and screams Riku’s name, clinging to him as if he was going to fall.

“Are you alright?” Riku asks, smiling into Sora’s neck.

“Yes…” Sora says shakily. “Do that again.”

Riku obeys, and Sora arches his back, calling Riku’s name again. Riku teases this spot for a while before withdrawing his fingers and scooting Sora back and kneeling between his legs. He fumbles for the lubrion ion and spreads it over his painfully erect member, squeezing Sora’s renewed erectiontlyntly before pushing his lover’s legs up and positioning himself at his entrance. He gives Sora a reassuring smile.

“This will hurt, but not for long, I promise.” Sora nods at him hesitantly, but does not protest. Riku takes a steadying breath before pushing in slowly. Sora grunts in pain, and Riku stops despite his body’s wishes to thertherwise. He looks questioningly at Sora.

“I’m fine.” He says in a clipped voice. “Keep going.”

“Are you-?”

“Yes.” Sora grunts impatiently.

Riku kisses Sora quickly, licking away the sweat that has appeared on his upper lip. He rubs the small of the other teen’s back, trying to help relieve some of the tension. He continues to slide into Sora’s body, moaning as the brunette’s heat envelops him. Once fully sheathed inside him he releases a long breath, waiting for Sora to adjust, trembling as he fights the need to thrust.

“Sora…” He breathes, “You feel incredible…”

After what seems like an eternity to Riku, Sora relaxes and pushes against him. Riku begins to move slowly, trying to make this last like he had before. He managed to hit that spot that made Sora writhe against him again, and the brunette bites down on Riku’s shoulder, wrapping his legs around Riku’s waist and squeezing him closer to himself.

Riku’s control slips quickly away and he begins to piston against Sora, slamming him into the mattress. Sora murmurs Riku’s name over and over like a mantra, his voice getting louder with each thrust. Riku found Sora’s lips and kisses him madly, his hand slipping between their bodies to take care of Sora’s erection. Sora moans loudly, his mind no longer coherent enough to even cry Riku’s name. A few moments later Riku cums violently, with Sora not far behind him. Riku collapses off to the side so he wouldn’t crush Sora, pulling the other boy with him. Sora kisses Riku again, and Riku sighs, closing his eyes, cuddling his lover closer.

“Thank you…” Riku whispers. “Thank you for giving yourself to me…for letting me go that far with you. Thank you for let me me show you just how much I love you…how close I want to be to you.” He opens his eyes only to drown in an endless sea of sapphire blue.

“Riku…” Sora’s eyes soften. “I…think I love you too… I’m not sure, but…” Riku silences him with a soft kiss.

“It’s okay. You have all the time you need to sort out how you feel. You know how I feel…” Sora blushes at that, “so you don’t have to worry about anything but your own heart. You are worth waiting for, Sora. You’re well worth waiting for.” Riku pulls the covers over them both. Sora snuggles into his chest with a yawn. Riku rubs his back gently, soothing his lover into sleep. When he was sure Sora is safely tucked into dreamland, he presses a kiss into his sweat-dampened hair.

“Actually, you’re more then worth it…”

Koritsu City is still.

Almost as if time itself has stopped. All is quiet, including the silent footsteps of the pale haired heartless known as Mizu. He walks toward the house currently in use by the two Keyblade masters, halting before the steps, amber eyes looking up at the door.

“Koritsu will fall by the hand of its master, and the angel will take flight again.”

As he speaks, a thick fog envelops him and everything in the surrounding area; it creeps into all the buildings, and the house being used by Riku and Sora is no exception. It fills all the rooms, except for the bedroom. Mizu exits the fog and into the room with a graceful stride, closing his eyes and opening them with a pleased smile.

“All that is needed is a small prod in the correct direction…”

Mizu reaches for the small table near the bed, lifting the Oathkeeper key chain from it. He heads toward the bed, his movements as smooth as silk. He gazes at the couple upon the bed, his lips twisting slightly in disgust before smoothing into his normally eerily pleasant expression.

“…To plant the seeds of doubt and despair, watch them take root and bloom into flowers of hate.”

Sora is snuggled against Riku’s chest, his right arm lying palm up on the bed. Mizu passes a hand across Riku face, and drops the Oathkeeper key chain into Sora’s hand. He gently pushes a strand of hair from the brunette’s face.

“Water well…” There is a distant sound of thunder. Lightning flashes, illuminating the room slightly, and the thunder becomes closer.

“…And place into sun…light.” Mizu turns to go, sauntering back into the fog, a cold smile playing about his lips. The fog rolls out quickly, and everything is normal. Riku shifts slightly, pulling Sora closer to him, a troubled look upon his face.

“Pleasant dreams…”

* * *

Riku cracks an eye open. The sun is bright, way too bright.

Wait…sun?

Riku sits up to look around, and his mouth falls open.

He is in a garden of some sort, a flower garden, but there is only one kind of flower. As far as the eye could see there are roses, of many different colors and types, and their fragrance fills the air with a sweet scent that is almost enough to make him ill.

Riku moves to stand, and notices he is sitting on a type of throne made from a rose bush covered in yellow roses. Upon closer inspection he sthatthat the prickly thorns did not hurt him at all, even when he presses down upon them.

“I must be dreaming…”

Riku stands, turning his head around to take in his surroundings, and right before the throne looms a tall structure made entirely of red roses interlaced with thorn apple blossoms. As he approaches it, he sees that it is a cage… and someone is inside it.

Suspended by a large bush of white roses is Sora. He is tangled in it, his eyes closed, the enormous thorns angled in such a way that if he moves he will stab himself no matter how slight the movement. Riku runs along the large cage, looking for a way in, and about halfway around he discovers a door made of thorn apple blossoms, with a single black rose for a handle. Thorns stick out from every which way, but Riku pays them no heed as he grasps the handle and turns it, rushing into the cage. He is dimly aware that the thorns do not hurt him again, but it is not as important as the boy hanging in the white rose bush.

“Sora!”

The only response is a slight twitch of Sora’s lips, as if he is trying to smile. Riku pulls at the bush, but it is as solid as steel and does not budge. He tries to climb up to reach his lover, but a voice stops him, chilling him inside as it freezes his body.

“Do not touch him.”

Riku manages to look up, and standing at the top of the bush holding Sora captive is a black winged angel holding a sword decorated with pink roses. The angel’s red hair flutters in a non-existent breeze as she turns her indigo eyes upon Riku. Riku’s body stumbles back against his will, and he collapses onto the thick carpet of red rose and thorn apple blossom petals.

“Kairi…!”

The angel doesn’t reply, just spreads her inky black wings and takes to the sky, circling the giant white rose bush before landing before it, raising her sword and preparing to strike.

“No-!”

Riku is unsure of why he cried out like he did, he wants Sora freed…didn’t he? The angel slices downward swiftly, cutting the bush down ruthlessly. Instead of collapsing to the ground, the bush dissolves into petals and floats away. Sora falls from the sky and down into the black winged angel’s waiting arms.

“Sora…” The angel whispers softly. The black feathers of her wings began to fall out, being carried away by some strange force that acted like a strong wind, revealing wings as white as falling snow underneath. She wraps her now white wings around Sora, hugging him closer try trying to wake him.

Riku stands up shakily; his body free from whatever spells the angel’s voice had put him under. He takes a step toward the angel and Sora.

The angel turns to him, her eyes angry. Her wings flash back to black briefly, and Riku finds himself being pushed away from them, flying out of the cage by a powerful force. As he flew past the bars of the cage, the thorns scratch him, drawing blood. He hisses in pain just as he slams into his throne of yellow roses, the thorns on it digging painfully into his skin. Riku tries to rise from it, but the roses curl around him, trying to suck him in. He struggles, crying out in pain from the thorns, his efforts fruitless. The garden of roses begin to dissolve into petals, flying away and leaving the area barren and lifeless. Riku sees the angel flying away, Sora safely tucked into her arms. He struggles harder, shouting for them to come back. A large thorn pokes his back, and he squirms to get away from it, but the bush pulls him back into it, forcing it through, and it emerges from his chest, his blood spattering the rosebush, turning the roses red. He looks down at himself, seeing the giant thorn protruding from his chest.

“…Sora…”

A single tear rolls down his cheek and falls into the nothingness that is closing in on him.

* * *

A bright droplet of water collects on a single lotus blossom, falling into a dark sea of nothing.

As it hits a surface of some sort, it makes a chime. Ripples are created; spreading from the spot the droplet fell, creating space.

A second droplet falls, its ripples bringing into focus a large lake, it’s surface as smooth as glass.

Lotus blossoms begin to bloom and a boy that is resting among them opens his eyes.

Sora stands, looking at his surroundings. He is standing on top of a lake the same color of his eyes. Tiny blue flowers flit below the surface like fish swimming in a sea. Sora leaves the lotus blossoms, looking around. There does not seem to be any land nearby.

In the distance is a large tree; its branches seeming to caress the heavens. Vines sway gently in the breeze, the sweet scent of wisterias filling the air. Sora walks over to the tree, reaching out to touch the trunk gently. A flash from below catches his attention, and he looks down to where blue forget-me-nots swim beneath the surface.

The water flashes, and by the trees roots he sees himself locked in a heated battle with a silver haired boy.

“Riku.”

The scene fades, and shortly afterwards he sees another scene, this time one of him sparring with three kids his age. The scene fades again. Sora reaches down to it as it disappears.

“Are these my memories?”

A loud whooshing noise stops him and as he looks up to where the sound is coming just as the vines of the wisteria tree grab him and haul him up into the air. Sora struggles, but the sweet scent of the wisteria flowers begin to sap his will. The vines coil tightly around him, stilling his movement as the scent continues to drain his strength. Peach blossoms begin to bloom on the wisteria vine, and their scent begins to lull Sora into sleep.

“No, Sora. You must fight it.”

Sora looks up weakly. A white winged angel is before him, her concerned face framed by short red hair. She looks at him with indigo eyes, and takes his face in her hands.

“You are being deceived. Don’t let it hold you captive. Break free.”

“What’s holding me captive?” Sora mumbles, trying to fight the effect the wisteria and the peach blossoms have on him.

“Deceit. Don’t let it hold you.”

“I…I can’t…It’s too strong…” This angel seems so very familiar to him…

“The truth is stronger then a lie.”

“What is the truth? What’s the lie? I don’t…”

“What are you supposed to be doing? Are you following your destiny?”

“Destiny…? I’m not…I don’t…I can’t remember anything-” Sora struggles to keep his head up.

“Yes you can. Ask the right question.”

“Question?” Sora’s head droops. “Ugh…so…sleepy…”

The angel flaps her wings sharply, creating a gust of cold air that kills the wisternd pnd peach blossoms. Sora shakes his head as his head begins to clear.

“Thank you…” He looks at the angel with curious eyes. “I…know you don’t I?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t remember your name. Who are you?”

The angel touches his face again, looking at him sadly.

“Kairi.”

The world explodes into a sea of white.

* * *

Sora shot straight up into a sitting position, gasping for breath, trembling all over. He looks over at Riku, then drops his head into his hands and scoots to the end of the bed, falling out of it onto the floor. The events from the past few days wash over him, and he feels sick to his stomach, curling into a tight ball, and taking ragged breaths as his head begins to pound.

“How could…?”

Lightning flashes, thunder crashes and rain pounds against the window violently. Sora climbs to his knees, holding his head in his hands. He struggles to his feet and stumbles into the door, trying to escape, but too ill and filled with shock and horror to operate it properly. He clutches it for a second as a loud sob tears from his throat. He slides down the door into a boneless heap on the floor, his hands in his hair. He remembers.

“Why did you…?”

He remembers everything.