Days Go By

Roxas glanced around to ensure that nobody else occupied the shower stalls before using his towel to soak up the excess moisture, then looping it back around his waist. “Why can’t we use the showers in our room again?” He asked dryly, glancing at his brother pulling on boxers beneath his own towel, at Riku a few lockers away and pink haired Marluxia just behind him.

“Because nobody wants to smell you in the dorms all rank and gross.” Sora replied calmly, not even looking at Roxas as he pulled on a pair of jeans.

Riku choked before letting out a startled laugh that made both twins regard him with wide eyes. Roxas’ surprise melted into a smirk a moment later however, and he glanced sideways at Sora. “You’re a jerk.”

Sora smiled at him. “But I’m your jerk.” He replied enthusiastically. “What are you up to tonight?”

Roxas shrugged. “Not a clue. Probably just a book and my iPod.” He watched Sora pull out a white buttoned shirt. Instead of a collar it sported a V-neck that showed off a patch of smooth, tanned skin and looped around to a hood around his back. He slid a black vest over the shirt, black fingerless gloves following that. “What are you dressing up for?”

Sora looked pleased as he fastened his crown pendant around his neck. “I have a date. I thought I told you yesterday.”

Roxas could vaguely remember Sora whispering SOMETHING in their lit class the day before, but it was VERY vague. He had dozed off shortly after. “Mmm.” He finally said, opting for a neutral response, knowing Sora would be hurt if he admitted he hadn’t been listening. “So refresh my memory…I’m assuming it’s that Kairi girl you’re always hanging around?”

Sora’s pleasure grew. “Yup! You met her sister Namine…she’s in your art class I think.” Oh yes, Roxas knew Namine. She was probably his only real friend his brothers aside. The quiet artist was extremely talented and Roxas liked her gentle, quiet nature.

“Anyway,” Sora continued, taking Roxas’ silence as a signal to continue. “Riku and I have a double date tonight with them.”

Roxas glanced at Riku. “You’re taking Namine out?”

Riku frowned as he slipped a yellow vest on over his bare chest. “Yes. Something wrong with that, Roxas?”

“No.” Roxas replied coldly. Riku irritated him. He couldn’t figure out why Sora wasted his time on his roommate. “She just doesn’t seem like…your type.”

“My type?” Sora’s eyes went wide as Riku’s frown deepened. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

Roxas crossed his arms over his chest and Sora stepped between them. “Stop it.” He ordered. “Both of you. If you can’t play nice, you can’t play together.”

“Fine by me.” Roxas replied coldly.

“Same.” Riku turned to slip a silver ring back onto his finger.

Sora sighed, looking exasperated and more than a little hurt. Roxas instantly felt bad. He hated upsetting his twin. Sora never held a grudge, but he had an annoying habit of trying to fix whatever was wrong…and that would mean he and Riku might as well be tied together. In fact… “Sorry, Riku.” He instantly amended as visions of Sora handcuffing them filled his mind. “Take care of my brother and you two have fun tonight. Where are you going?”

Riku looked startled, his aquamarine eyes narrowing slightly before he shrugged it off. “We’re catching the movie they’re playing in the cultural hall and having dinner out in the atrium.”

Sora’s eyes sparkled. “We couldn’t get a pass out of the school but that’s okay.” He glanced at himself. “Do I look okay?”

Roxas opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by Riku, whose icy gaze had thawed entirely as he gazed at Sora. His lips twitched and he crossed his arms over his chest, watching Sora try to look over his shoulder to make sure his shirt hung right. “Sora, stop.” Riku stepped up and reached out, fiddling with the hood on his shirt. “There. Now you look great.”

Roxas’ eyes narrowed. There had been nothing wrong with Sora’s hood that he had seen. Riku didn’t even look at him, his eyes riveted on Sora’s face. Sora, for his part, seemed oblivious, excited about the prospect of his date.

Roxas glared at Riku for a moment before shrugging it off and heading down to his own locker, his bare feet padding softly on the tile. Axel and Demyx were waiting, Demyx nearly dressed, Axel lounging beside him and listening to the excited blond talk, his towel dangerously close to falling as it hung loose around his hips. Roxas had to admit…he had never noticed Axel was so ripped before. For the last four days he had been avoiding Axel like the plague.

Axel laughed as Demyx finished up his story and Roxas pulled his boxers out of his locker, slipping them on beneath his towel before allowing the fabric to fall to the bench below.

Axel didn’t bother, pulling his towel down and reaching for his clothes. Roxas could feel his face turn red as he looked away. Axel paused to look at him. “What, Rox? Embarrassed to be seen naked?”

Roxas’ eyes narrowed. “No!” He snapped back coldly. “But you should be.” Silence.

Roxas and Sora took after their mother. Both were afflicted with the genetic code that demanded that they speak first and think after. Though cursed with the same affliction, the twins handled it differently.

Sora commonly spoke before he thought, but because he didn’t have a malicious bone in his body, what he thought usually just ended up humiliating him. His big heart and shining soul made up for anything he could say and he was forgiven instantly if he unwittingly offended.

Roxas was a different story. Like Sora, he had gotten used to his nature early, but unlike Sora, Roxas simply didn’t care. If he offended he never forced anyone to speak to him. It was just…easier that way. It was why his only real friend was Hayner who was as sarcastic as he was if not worse.

Demyx started laughing but stopped as Axel gave him a pointed look, his green eyes blazing. “Tonight, Rox…I’ll prove otherwise.”

Roxas turned red. “Over my dead, rotting corpse.”

“I didn’t know you liked it that way, baby.” Axel replied smoothly, his eyes sparkling wickedly. “And as…tempting…” His eyes, as they moved over him made Roxas hurriedly reach for his pants. “…as that is…” He licked his lips and Roxas scowled. He laughed. “…that wasn’t what I had in mind. You remember you asked me a few days ago to tell you about my friends…and then I never did? Well I’d like you to meet them. Tonight.”

Demyx’s eyes widened. “Axel…maybe that’s not…”

Roxas cut him off as he saw the look on Demyx’s face. He didn’t like the uneasiness there. “I’m in.” He met Axel’s smirk and reached out, snatching up the teen’s pants and chucking them at him. “I’m not afraid of you, Axel.” He hissed and was rewarded by a delighted flash of green eyes. “…and put on some damn pants.”

0 0 0

Sora was nervous…no, he was terrified. He had never asked a girl out before. He hadn’t even expected her to agree. What if he hadn’t dressed right? What if she tried to kiss him? What if she didn’t? Should he try to kiss her? Was that HIS job? Maybe he should only hold her hand? “Sora.”

Sora jumped as Riku’s voice cut through his panicked thoughts. He looked up to meet clear turquoise eyes. “You’ll be fine.” Riku soothed. “It’s just a date.”

“Sure.” Sora replied as brightly as he could manage. Roxas would have heard the forced cheer and would have pounced him to find out what was wrong. Cloud would have noticed and would have smacked him upside the head.

Riku noticed as well but his response was far gentler than either of his brothers’. Sora felt himself flushing as Riku’s arm circled his shoulders. He stepped out of the casual embrace and Riku followed. “You have to calm down, Sora. You’re with me. I’m not going to let anything bad happen, okay?”

Sora didn’t pull away this time. There was more than three inches between their bodies, it was entirely casual. “Right…but Riku…”

Riku rolled his eyes. “What?” He asked patiently.

Sora bit his lip. “What if she expects me to kiss her?”

Riku gave him a strange look and Sora felt his face turn red again. Riku shrugged. “No offense, Sora…but if she expects you to kiss her on the first date, then she expects way more than you’re ready to give her.”

Sora frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?!” He demanded, stung. Did Riku think he was a naïve little kid?

Riku shrugged. “Sora. I’m not saying you’re an average hot blooded teenage male. You like girls right?”

Sora nodded. “Right.”

Riku gave him a dry look. “You’re what…fourteen?”

“Fifteen!” Sora snapped defensively.

Riku laughed. “Fifteen then. Take it from an older, wiser sixteen year old,” Riku ignored Sora’s derisive snort. “you’re not ready. Hell, Sora. I’M not ready. Sex is a big step even if it WASN’T grounds for expulsion around here. What I’m saying is that we don’t kiss on the first date. Ever. Hold her hand, carry her books, whatever…but you don’t kiss for at least two months.”

Sora thought about that for a long moment. “You’re a virgin?”

Riku looked insulted. “Hell yes I’m a virgin!” He yelped, making Sora flush. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Riku went on. “My brother may be a psychopath, but he’s saving himself for Cloud.”

“CLOUD?!” Sora blinked, stunned at Riku. “My Cloud? My BROTHER Cloud?”

Riku laughed. “Hasn’t Cloud ever mentioned him?”

Sora paused as he thought about it. “The STALKER?!” He demanded as the name “Sephiroth” rang a bell in his head. “That’s your brother?”

Riku laughed. “Yeah.” He agreed. “And like I said…he may be crazy but he’s in love…it would be nice to wait like he did.”

Sora studied Riku. “You said it WOULD be nice…did you not wait?”

Riku stiffened. “Not in everything.” He finally said quietly. “I’m still a virgin…but just. Let it go, Sora. Just trust me here.”

Sora shrugged. “Okay.” His arm circled Riku’s shoulders. When the older teen stiffened, Sora tightened his hold. “You look like you need it and it’s less girly than hugging.”

Riku laughed at that. “Trust you, Sora.”

0 0 0

Axel hummed to himself as he approached the blond on the bed across the room from his own, a blindfold in one hand. Roxas looked up from his book and frowned at him the moment that a shadow fell across the pages. “What,” He began pleasantly. “the HELL do you think you’re going to do with that?”

Axel smirked. “I told you. I’m going to take you to meet my friends.”

Roxas scowled at him. “And?”

Axel shrugged. “We’re part of a club of sorts…you have to wear a blindfold. Don’t you trust me?”

Roxas snorted. “No.”

Axel sighed. “Look, Rox. All teasing aside, you either wear it or you don’t go. It’s stupid but it’s the rules for new people. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“I’m not so much worried of physical danger.” Roxas replied, turning the page of his book. Though he stared hard at the pages, his eyes didn’t move and Axel grinned inwardly. He loved the blond’s stubborn nature.

“Then what ARE you worried about?” He asked, genuinely curious and expecting a verbal zinger.

He wasn’t disappointed. “I’m worried that you will try to molest me while blindfolded. You look like you’d get off on that kind of thing.”

Axel sighed softly as he thought about what Roxas WOULD look like naked, blindfolded and tied to his bed. The slender blond had been holding out on him with his baggy clothes and insistence in dressing in the bathroom. Seeing Roxas clad in nothing but a towel…the slender blond had far more to offer than Axel had previously thought. He went from merely cute like his brother to downright edible. He sighed regretfully and saw annoyance flash in Roxas’ eyes. “As tempting as that is, Rox, I can assure you I won’t take advantage of your…vulnerable…” He sighed again as Roxas scowled at him. Damn this boy was fun! “…situation.”

Roxas stared hard at him for a long minute and Axel shrugged. “I’m not going to do anything to you, Rox…and I’m sure as HELL not going to let someone else do anything to you. I LIKE you as my roommate. You should feel honored. I’ve never liked roommates before. I usually chase them away.”

“Peachy.” Roxas drawled sardonically. “I knew you were a psycho.”

Axel laughed even as he slid behind Roxas and looped the blindfold around the boy’s head. Though the blond scowled through the whole thing, he didn’t fight or even flinch as Axel took a moment to run his fingers through the spikes. “Soft.” He murmured, almost too silently for the boy to hear. “Crazy? Rox baby…you have no idea.”

He led Roxas up a flight of stairs, careful to inform the boy of what was coming and ensuring he wouldn’t fall. Axel might be a pain in the ass but he kept his promises, and truth be told, he really DID like Roxas…the blond was funny. “Axel. You’re late.”

Axel shrugged into his robe as Luxord handed it to him. “My recruit was reluctant to be blindfolded. He seemed to think I was going to strip him naked and do naughty things to his cute little form if he couldn’t see me.” Axel laughed wickedly. “Like I have to blindfold him to do naughty things to him.”

Roxas jammed his elbow into Axel’s stomach even as Luxord laughed. “I think maybe this one might be too much even for you, Ax.”

Axel glanced around. Only two other blindfolded people that he could see. “Where are the other recruits?”

“Couldn’t find enough eligible people.” Demyx admitted. “Irvine’s over there in the corner with Larxene…I think she promised him a date with her roommate, Selphie. Gippal is Saix’s contribution…but he doesn’t look too happy to be here.”

Indeed Gippal (his last name, nobody had a clue what the blond’s first name was…and frankly nobody cared), was looking bored. “And…you brought Roxas?!” Demyx demanded.

“Demyx?” Roxas tilted his head. “That sounds like you.”

“It IS me.” Demyx admitted. “Geez, Rox…I didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

Roxas jutted his chin out. “Why not?” He demanded.

Demyx shrugged then seemed to reconsider. “Probably should have.” He admitted. “Has Xem…” He caught Saix glaring at him and sighed. “Has The Superior arrived yet?”

Axel made a face. Not that he was against their nicknames…it was dead useful actually…but it was also a pain when he wasn’t in the mood. “Not a clue. Is he late?”

“I’m not late.” Xemnas’ voice filled the air and all talking stopped. “I was preparing a challenge for our recruits.”

Roxas frowned. “What kind of challenge?” He demanded.

Xemnas glanced at Roxas for a moment. “A trust exercise.”

“Oh goody.” Roxas drawled in reply, making Xaldin snort with amusement.

Xemnas looked out of sorts for a moment before he spoke. “If you join you join for a trial period. The people around you are your friends…or can be if you want them to be.” Axel squirmed. It was as if he was talking directly to Roxas. Axel hadn’t missed the fact that his temperamental roommate was lonely…he just hadn’t known what to do about it.

“We’re like family.” Xemnas continued. “Therefore your sponsors have a certain task to help you perform. You must trust us.”

Axel blinked as Xaldin shoved a paper into his hand. Glancing at it, he stifled a groan. Roxas was going to kill him. “C’mon, Rox.” He ordered. “I’ll take you to the room.”

Roxas stiffened. “No. I want to do it.”

Axel sighed. “Why?”

Roxas hesitated. “Because…you might be an ass…but you won’t take advantage of me.”

Axel went dead still at the boy’s words. Roxas trusted him. He TRUSTED him. At least a little. “Okay.” He murmured. “I’ll take you down. The stairs are over here…your challenge is at the bottom. I’ll walk you down.”

“Deal.” Roxas allowed Axel to put his hands on his slender shoulders as he steered the boy away.

The pool was deserted. Not that Axel expected anything else. The tasks had to be risky as well…because Axel knew that no matter what happened the loyalty would be proved when another member got them out of whatever detention they ended up with. “Up the ladder. It’s about four steps ahead.”

Roxas frowned. “We’re by the pool?”

Axel frowned. “How’d you know?”

Roxas smirked. “Chlorine, Axel. I can smell chlorine and its hotter then hell in here.” He stopped to take off his shoes, his socks going next. It was only when he began to unbutton his pants that Axel felt his mouth go dry.

“Wha…what are you doing?”

Roxas smirked but it was almost a PATIENT smirk. “I’m going to assume I’m going to get wet. I’d rather not drown if it’s all the same to you.”

Axel studied him intently. He was suddenly very keenly aware how little he knew is moody roommate. “I won’t let you drown.”

Roxas straightened, pulling his shirt up over his head. Standing in only his boxers, Roxas was a stunning sight to be seen. Axel found himself glaring at the baggy clothing now lying on the side of the pool. “Believe it or not I know that.” Roxas replied calmly, taking Axel by surprise yet again. “So the ladder…it’s over here?”

Axel paused. “Yeah.” He hesitated. “You don’t have to do this.”

Roxas shrugged. “I know.” Blindly he reached out until his hands met with the rungs of the ladder up to the high dive. Face slightly pale but outwardly calm, he began to climb.

Axel followed closely behind him. “Two more steps and you’ll hit the top.”

“Yeah.” Axel had to admire him, his voice didn’t even shake. “I can feel the way the bar curves up there.” Roxas stopped at the top, his face white. “Now what?”

“Dive.” Axel whispered. “The pool’s beneath you. I’ll walk you to the edge. You have to trust me.”

Roxas hesitated as Axel’s hands found his waist. “If your hand ‘slips’ and you grope me I’ll drown you.”

Axel snorted. “Roxie, you have to stop tempting me to do naughty things or I’ll take you up on your paranoia.”

To his surprise Roxas chuckled as he walked carefully out toward the edge of the board, Axel’s hands on his waist. “Okay.” Roxas whispered. “I’m there.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Axel?”

“Hmm?” Axel found himself highly preoccupied by the slim hips in his hands.

“You can let go now.” When he didn’t instantly respond, Roxas sighed and reached down, pinching the skin between his knuckles. Letting out a soft yelp, Axel yanked his hands back. He could almost SEE Roxas rolling his eyes even as the teen jumped blindfolded into the water below.

0 0 0

Riku had to resist the urge to sigh as he, Sora, Namine and Kairi sat on a blanket in the atrium. This had to be the most awkward dinner he had ever experienced in his life. Nobody was speaking.

More appropriately, nobody IMPORTANT was speaking. Kairi was talking, but Riku had stopped listening after about five minutes, more preoccupied with watching the way Sora turned red with each “casual” brush of her hand against some part of his body. She was smooth, Riku had to admit that, but what she didn’t realize was that she was flustering Sora instead of enticing him.

Namine sat on Riku’s left, sketchbook in one hand. Occasionally she glanced up at him, her violet-blue eyes gentle as she studied him before going back to his drawing. Riku could feel himself blushing each time she looked up at him. He liked her…he had no REASON to like her (she hadn’t said more than two words to him before cracking open the book) but he still did. Losing himself in his own thoughts as the tension between the three silent members of their group thickened, he was startled when the ground beneath him shifted and he found himself rolling on the grass a few feet away. Yelping, he got to his feet and glared at Sora, who was holding the blanket they had been sitting on.

Sora smiled apologetically at him. “Sorry…but you were too far gone to answer when we called you.”

“Lazy bum.” Kairi teased.

Sora reached out and took Riku’s hand, pulling him up onto his feet. For a moment their bodies were pressed flush together, hands linked between their chests. Riku felt his heart begin to hammer against his ribcage and he released Sora quickly. “Thanks.”

Sora smiled at him. “Sure.” He passed the blanket to Kairi to fold then stuck it in the backpack he had brought. “Ready to see the movie?”

“What’s playing?” Namine asked quietly and Riku nearly jumped again. He didn’t remember her actually speaking.

Sora shrugged and hesitantly slipped his hand into Kairi’s, making her face glow with pleasure. “Some scary movie.”

In retrospect, as Riku resigned himself to Namine looking deathly pale as she sat beside him clutching his hand and with Sora nearly in his lap, both arms around Kairi’s waist not for romance (as it was obvious she thought) but out of the fact that things kept jumping OUT at them, he really should have expected it. He had spent nearly five full days with Sora Hikari…he should have known better, should have realized that Sora couldn’t handle a scary movie. He would freak out.

Riku sighed as he looped his free arm around Sora’s waist just as a ghost appeared out of nowhere. Sora didn’t fight the embrace, his eyes wide as saucers as he stared at the screen, Kairi snuggling farther into his arms. Yes…Riku thought bemusedly, pulling Sora against his chest….he really should have expected it.

0 0 0

Roxas shivered in his damp clothing. That was really the problem with moving from the islands…it was far colder on the mainland. The wet blindfold chafed the skin around his eyes and he itched to punch Axel for putting it on in the first place. He refrained from doing it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to.

“Welcome back.” Roxas shivered again as a wave of cool evening air washed over him. “I see you completed your task.”

“No.” Roxas replied sardonically, running a hand through his wet hair. “I like being soaked and freezing for the fun of it.”

The voice laughed. “Axel.”

The word was so casual an order that Roxas jumped when hands clasped his shoulders lightly before sliding up his damp neck and across his cheeks. With a few quick movements the blindfold fell and Roxas was able to see the people in front of him…sort of. He blinked blearily and one by one the shadows came into focus.

They were all cloaked, melting into the darkness of the evening, hoods hiding faces from him. The watched him silently even as Axel’s presence behind him disappeared and he joined their ranks. Roxas did his best not to glare at them, but failed miserably as he felt his face settle into a defiant frown.

“We are the Organization. With you, we will be Organization XIII.” Roxas had to resist the urge to roll his eyes at the melodramatic aspects of the whole thing.

The figure put down his hood and revealed a tanned face that was all planes, tight and insolently beautiful. White hair hung around his face, bangs in flashing amber eyes. “I am Xemnas…The Superior.”

“Xigbar.” The next figure threw off his hood revealing a sardonically amused expression and a patch over one eye. Roxas vaguely recognized him from Struggle Club. “The Freeshooter.”

“Xaldin.” The next voice was no no-nonsense, as was the teen’s face. Black hair hung in dreds down his back, his sideburns growing long, curling slightly as they reached his cheeks. “The Whirlwind Lancer.”

“Vexen.” Roxas recognized the tall teen with long blond hair instantly. He had seen Vexen in the library many times in the last few days. “The Chilly Academic.”

“I’m Lexaeus…The Silent Hero.” Roxas recognized him instantly…the hair sticking up in the back of his head…Hayner’s brother! Lexaeus winked at him before crossing his arms over his chest.

“The Cloaked Schemer.” The slender figure pushed the hood off of his face revealing a shock of blue hair that hung in his eyes and a solemn face. As someone poked him, he rolled his eyes. “Zexion.”

“My name is Saix…” More blue hair, but his was reminiscent of Xemnas’. There was a curious scar like an X slashing across his face. “The Luna Diviner”

Axel was the next and he smirked at Roxas. “You already know me intimately, Rox.” He purred, making the figure next to him (Roxas was almost sure it was Demyx) choke. Roxas threw him the bird and Axel laughed. “I’m The Flurry of Dancing Flames.” Roxas rolled his eyes again. He was well aware of Axel’s affinity for fire.

He had been correct, the person standing next to Axel was Demyx. The blond grinned at him. “Demyx!” He called cheerfully. “The Melodious Nocturne.” His eyes shone. “Glad you’re in.”

Roxas felt his face soften slightly. He liked Demyx. Demyx reminded him keenly of Sora in some ways. EVERYONE liked Demyx. “I’m Luxord.” The next figure was also blond but his hair was nearly white and cut short. He had piercings in each ear and a lazy smile as he stared at Roxas. “The Gambler of Fate.”

Roxas recognized him instantly. “You’re the one who got that Larxene girl on the dueling team into a pink tutu.”

Luxord laughed at that and stroked his chin in acknowledgement. The next figure had to hold the one beside him back. His hood fell off and Marluxia glanced over at him and winked. “I’m the Graceful Assassin.” The name suited him. Roxas had seen the somewhat girly man fight…he was surprisingly strong.

He was not entirely surprised to see Larxene glaring at him with bright blue eyes. He smirked in reply and she sighed, exasperated. “Rematch!”

“You looking to lose again?” Luxord taunted her, a wicked glint in his eyes.

Larxene opened her mouth to snap off a reply but Xemnas cut her off. “Introduce yourself.”

Larxene let out a frustrated huff. “Larxene…The Savage Nymph.” Her name suited her as well. Roxas had sparred against her just the evening before…and had come away from the fight victorious but with a sneaking suspicion that she was a sadist.

Axel threw him a cloak. Relieved to have something to warm him up, Roxas slipped it on and zipped it tightly around him. They all stared at him, eyes glinting expectantly. Roxas licked his lips once, twice. “My name is Roxas…” He bit his lip as he thought fast and met Axel’s taunting green eyes. “…The Key of Destiny.”

0 0 0

Sora was nervous as they reached the entrance to the girl’s dorms. He shuffled his feet and stared down at them before slowly looking up as Riku’s soft murmur filled the air. “I’m glad you came, Namine.” He said quietly and took her hands lightly in his own, pressing them once before releasing them. Namine threw him a soft smile in reply and stopped in the doorway to wait for Kairi.

Sora gulped and glanced over at Kairi. She eyed him expectantly, a half smile on her face, hands clasped behind her back. Sora cleared his throat. “Er…sorry for pouring popcorn down your back.”

Instantly he felt like an idiot but it had been the only thing he could think of to say. At one point in the movie he had jumped as a zombie came out of the shadows and had forgotten that Kairi was practically in his lap. She giggled. “That’s okay Sora.”

Sora licked his lips and nearly panicked when he saw her watching him do it. Oh crud! She expected him to kiss her! He could almost see the expectation in his eyes. His own widened in panic and he felt his heart begin to hammer against his chest. “Um…”

“Sora!” Riku’s sharply amused voice cut into his panic. “Take her hand and say goodbye already so we can go. Tomorrow’s Saturday, we have a four hour practice oh dark early remember? I’d LIKE some beauty sleep.”

“It won’t do you much good.” Sora replied instantly and felt himself blush as Riku threw him a look with raised eyebrows. “Umm…” Awkwardly he took Kairi’s hand. “I had fun.” He said, smiling at her and opting for a squeeze the way Riku had done.

He didn’t get the chance. Kairi released his hand and threw her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. “See you later, Sora.”

Sora stared at her dazedly as she disappeared with her sister in tow, one finger touching his cheek. He only snapped out of it when Riku looped an arm around his neck and dragged him forward. “Sora!”

“Gah!” Sora yelped. “What?!”

Riku riffled his hair but didn’t release him. “I don’t need beauty sleep, right? You are going to PAY for that remark.”

Sora was caught between laughter and Riku’s chest. Relief filled him instantly the moment that the girls were gone and it was back to just being him and Riku. “I meant you’re gorgeous all the time!” He protested.

Riku snorted. “A likely story.” He dragged Sora, protesting, all the way back to their room, pushing him onto his bed. Sora collapsed into his pillows, gasping for breath.

“Riku…” He drew in a long breath and closed his eyes. “…you smell funny.”

Riku pounced him instantly and tickling fingers located every single solitary ticklish spot on his body…and that was a LOT of ticklish spots. “Take it back, Sora.”

They wrestled, they fought, they rolled off of the bed and landed hard on the floor. “Riku!” Riku grabbed both of his wrists and pinned them above his head, out of breath and flushed. Silver hair framed his face and his eyes seemed to GLEAM a warm aquamarine. Sora stared up at him for a long minute as he caught his breath. “You don’t like Namine do you?”

“I don’t dislike her.” Riku replied evenly, studying the boy beneath him. He sat on Sora’s legs.

“Yeah…” Sora licked his lips. “But you don’t LIKE her.” He pressed, unsure of why he cared so much.

“No.” Riku agreed. “She’s nice and I like her well enough…but I don’t want to date her.”

“Did you know that BEFORE you went out with us?” Sora asked, staring up at Riku and feeling himself blush as Riku’s eyes never stopped their wandering over him.

Riku’s gaze met his and the boy seemed to hesitate for a moment before nodding. “…yes.”

Sora frowned. “So why’d you go? You weren’t happy were you?”

Riku shrugged. “I wanted to hang out with you.” He replied lightly. “Why’s that so hard for you to understand?”

Sora opened his mouth but nothing came out. He finally let out a long sigh. “Kairi kissed me.”

Riku looked annoyed. “I know. I told you…”

“I didn’t want her to.” Sora admitted in a rush and Riku’s mouth snapped shut.

Riku studied him. “Do YOU like Kairi?”

“Sure.” Sora replied brightly. “She’s nice.” When Riku only raised one eyebrow, Sora shrugged. “I dunno.” He finally admitted. “I felt weird.”

Riku smirked and slipped off of him, reaching out to help him up. “Well think of it this way…it was only one date. It’s not like you have to marry the girl.”

“Right!” Sora replied brightly. “Only one date! So if things are still weird we don’t have to do it again!” Far more cheerful, Sora slipped out of his clothes and tumbled into bed. He waited until the light had been off for nearly ten minutes to speak. “Hey Riku?”

“Mmmmm…Sora I wasn’t kidding about the beauty sleep thing.” Riku grumbled sleepily.

“Sorry.” Sora replied sheepishly.

The silence stretched. Riku sighed. “Sora, get it out before I go over there and pummel you.”

“Like you could!” Sora snapped back, cupping the back of his head.

“Sora…” Riku growled warningly.

Sora laughed. “Okay okay…” he paused. “…hey…thanks for coming with me. Even though you didn’t like Namine that way.”

He heard Riku roll over and knew that the boy was looking at him. Sora didn’t even glance his way. “I didn’t do it for you.”

Sora shrugged. “Sure.”

Riku sighed, sounding exasperated. The silence stretched. “Hey Sora?”

“Hmm?” Sora stared up at the glow-in-the-dark stars above him on the ceiling. “…You’re welcome.”