Welcome to the last chapter of the story. God you guys have been great, and I was nearly crying when I realized this was all over. I hope you enjoy this, and I hope all your answers and needs are fufilled. I mdae sure that everything tied together and made sense to the best of my abilites. The stupid editing didn't work the first time, arg!
Check out my two new stories! Ones a bit more fluffier and .. . less involved and the other is a bit more dark and romantic. So yeah! Check em out... (hint hint hint)
Well, thanks so much for taking the time to read this. I've appreicated every review, really I have. Now on to the ending!
Caller Number Nine
Chapter Twenty Five: Bonded By Love
Sunlight poured into the room on that beautiful Tuesday morning. Rays of reassuring warmth washed onto the two sleeping figures resting on the bed. It was only then when Sora stirred from his sleep, an adorable yawn passing his lips. Blue eyes were greeted with the intense light, but quickly adjusted. The boy's gaze soon fell to the teen resting beside him. Thoughts and memories of last night quickly pounded the brunette's mind. Riku... he was his. Only his. A grin spread across Sora's drowsy face as he laid back down, scooting closer to the sleeping teen, pushing his back against Riku's chest. A sigh of satisfaction passed Sora's lips as rested in a much more comfortable position.
It only took movement to awaken Riku. Emerald eyes flashed open quickly, wondering if someone was trying to hurt him. Distressed eyes soon faltered into calm ones when they saw the brunette tight to his chest. Riku extended his hand from his side to wrap around what he suspected to be Sora's sleeping body. Instead of falling back asleep as planned, Riku felt his hands that were holding Sora close to him, slide into slightly smaller ones. A grin spread across Riku's face as he nuzzled his face into the crone of Sora's neck, making the younger of the pair gasp in surprise.
"Morning, So." Riku whispered, planting a kiss on the boy's neck. Sora blushed intensely from the contact. So this meant they were together? Actually together? Sora blinked a few times as he felt Riku's breath on his neck. He loved this, truly he did, but what would everyone else think? He knew Naminé, Tidus, and Axel knew... and regretfully Kairi, but what about Zexion, Demyx, Olette, and the rest of the world? Did they deserve to know? Or could they just hide it. "Sora, something wrong?" Riku inquired in a murmur, pressing his lips once more to Sora's neck, taunting the skin.
"N-no." Sora answered in a barely audible voice. A wave of desire spread through Sora as he lay there, holding Riku's hand tightly in his. Just maybe the world would not judge them. Just maybe the world would accept them. But why should they? The world had always hated different. And regretfully, up until a few weeks ago, perhaps even a month, so had Sora.
Sora felt Riku's hands slip from his own to move the younger teen. Within moments, Sora was on his side, facing Riku. The blush on Sora's face was obvious, seeing he no longer had any reason to hide it. A grin appeared on Riku's lips as he pushed forward, resting his forehead against Sora's. And something began to bother Sora. Something Riku had said days, or perhaps weeks ago. Did it apply to this? Sora's heart at once ached, and his eyes showed it. Riku cocked his head in surprise and concern.
"What's wrong, seriously?..." Riku was not sure if it was him or something else. The last thing he needed was Sora second-guessing this. He could not handle having to go back to being friends with the other. Not after they came this far.
Sora gazed down at the bed sheets briefly and then finally back at Riku. "What you said... about us not always being friends and everything being conditional... what did you mean? You said for me to figure it out...and I never did. I want to know…can you tell me?" Sora asked worriedly, blue eyes shining with worry. He did not want Riku to just suddenly give up on what they had one day. Sora wanted to stick with this for as long as he possibly could.
"Sora." Riku sighed, rolling his eyes at the timing. At once, Riku placed a quick kiss on the worried boy's lips before explaining, all the while Sora blushed a deep red, (it truly was amazing how much Sora could blush from such an innocent touch) "At that time I knew that I was falling in love with you. I wanted us to be more than friends. So I guess I crept you out by saying that. All I meant was that things change, and sometimes for the better. That's all, Sora." Riku spoke, tilting his head to the right.
"But does that mean that you won't always, care?" Sora asked, heart on the verge of breaking, which really was not needed.
"What about you? Will you always care?" It was not sarcastic, but honest and wanting. Riku looked deeply at the other, wanting an answer before he answered himself. Sora blinked, laughed a bit too himself and sighed.
"I guess you don't remember the note then..." Sora trailed off, hands flexing on the bed sheets nervously.
Riku further cocked his head. "Note? What note?"
Sora's eyes widened with surprise. Had Riku forgotten? "The note, Riku. The one I wrote you after you got mad at me for believing Tidus. I left it on your desk..." Sora stared at Riku for a long moment, full of nerves. "The one where I said I would always care no matter what I did?..."
Riku was now more than ever intrigued. "I never saw it." Riku admitted. That sure explained a lot. Perhaps it would have moved things along if he had actually found the note. Sora blinked a few times before he dared to speak once more.
"I also wrote you another note.., but was too nervous to give it to you. I wrote it after I thought you stood me up at the bonfire." Sora admitted, shoulders falling into a hunch. Blue eyes seemed to hide so much hurt, and it hurt Riku in return. He wanted Sora to feel loved, like he belonged. Perhaps if the other let it all out, they could move on and Sora would be a stronger person.
"Do you have it here?" Riku questioned, hand slipping from his side to rest on Sora's uplifted hip. The brunette turned a dark shade of red as he nodded in response to the question. "Where is it?" Riku further pried, wanting to see the contents. What could Sora have possibly wanted to say to him when they were in that much of a fight? Once more, Sora nodded. Uneasily, the boy reached into his pants pocket and passed the piece of paper to Riku's hand that was on his hip.
"I always carry with me. I guess I was waiting for a good time to give it to you, huh?" Sora laughed nervously, obviously concerned with the contents.
"Heh, yeah." Riku answered, not really sure what to say. Instead, he opened the folded over piece of paper. Once opened, he read aloud. "Riku. I have no idea what has happened to me. I don't know what about you that makes me this mad and cruel. I don't like it, and I guessed I'm scared. And I guess that gives you even more reason to make fun of me and hate me. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't really hate you, just hate the way you treat me. I know you're probably laughing by now, reading this note, but its the truth. I guess its just wishful thinking on my part to actually think that someone could change. Any way, I guess I don't really know what to say. Besides, would it be too difficult to actually smile, just once? A real smile? Well.. whatever... -Sora."
Sora fell silent, staring down. Was Riku mad?
"Sora..." Riku dragged Sora close to him once more. Why hadn't the boy shown him this weeks ago? He would have been his friend, honestly he would have. All this time he had thought Sora had just hated him from the start and it took Riku giving in to make the other have a change of heart. Did he really hurt Sora that bad when they first met? Was he that horrible of a person? Yeah...he was. "I'm sorry I was such an ass to you," Riku mumbled dejectedly.
"It's okay... I shouldn't have fought back." Sora whispered nervously, uncertain what to say. So Riku wasn't mad? That was good.
"No, Sora. You had every right to fight back. And I deserved it." Riku glanced down at the other in his grasp. "God, why was I so stupid?" Riku murmured to himself, trying to make sense of himself.
"Like you said, Riku. Everything is conditional. People change. You changed... for the better. So this means we're together now, huh?" Sora brightly smiled up, so relieved that he had gotten the note and the worry off his chest. A small laugh came from Sora as he leaned upward, gently brushing his lips against Riku's. The brunette pulled back a bit, shy as ever, but Riku followed him, hands falling to wrap around Sora's waist, turning the other over on his back. At once, Riku pinned him to the bed with a smirk.
"Damn right it means we're together." Riku paused briefly. "Come on, So. Don't go all shy on me." Riku answered with a seductive glance, causing Sora's heart to skip a beat. Before Sora had time to answer, lips locked on his own. Riku pressed himself upon the other, making sure to press his hands against the bed so he would not collapse on the other's lithe body.
Sora's hand rose from his side, timidly wrapping around his boyfriend's neck and dragging him closer to deepen the kiss. Sora could have sworn that Riku had smirked into the kiss when he did such. Soft mews of indulgence came from Sora after a few moments of the kiss, making the other ravish the other's lips more fervently.
Sora blushed a dark red when he felt Riku's body against his. It felt so good, and it was hard to ignore the throbbing and pulsing his body was going through. And it only made Sora push forward with his lips, searching for more of this electric feeling, somehow bucking his skinny hips in the process.
And poor Sora hadn't realized the effect that would have on the both of them. Riku moaned into the kiss, one hand raising from the bed to slip around Sora's waist in ecstasy. And that hand, Sora's heart stopped when he felt that very hand move. He would have guessed it to go up his shirt, which Riku usually did in these cases, but instead if moved downward, past the rim of his pants, down and...
"Riku!!" Sora spoke sharply, half in sudden shock and pleasure, and half in fear. Riku smirked once more before he kissed the other again, hand ever so slowly going lower until... "R-r-r-iku!! Oh god... s-stop..." Sora vocalized, hands falling from Riku's chest to grip the sheets.
Stop? Wait.. stop?
Riku stared at the other for a moment, breaking the kiss and withdrawing his hand as requested. Sora's face was a pale color as he looked up nervously up at the other. "Stop?" Riku repeated, voice full of husky lust and compassion. "Stop?" He repeated again, as if he had not heard the other right.
"I..." Sora looked downward, too afraid to answer. In the back of his mind he wanted this, but his recent ordeals had made him a bit skittish to any of this. "I...I'm just not ready...that's all, Riku..." Sora spoke, glancing to the side a bit.
Silence.
And then... Riku's laugh broke through the silence as the other collapsed on top of Sora. Sora's eyes widened in surprise at once and sudden outrage. "W-w-hy are you laughing Riku?" Sora demanded, looking down at the beautiful boy on him.
"Oh god, Sora." Riku spoke between laughs as that smirk remained on his lips. "We weren't going to have sex, geez." The laughs continued as Riku smiled up at him through the chuckles. For some reason Riku was finding this hysterical.
"But...you.." Sora spoke, not understanding this one bit.
"Just because I was doing that didn't mean I was going to strip you of your cute boy innocence. I was just trying to, well, you know." Another laugh came from Riku as he rolled off Sora, instantly taking the boy's hand within his own.
"Oh..." Sora was quite embarrassed by this point, hand slipping from Riku's. So Riku hadn't wanted to go all the way after all. He was slightly disappointed, but more so relieved that Riku didn't want him to subject to him right away. And for that, Sora was beyond thankful.
"I would never do something you didn't want me to do, Sora. I know you are not ready, and I respect that. Hell, I don't even know if I am, I guess." Riku answered, pressing his elbows against the bed as he leaned his chin into his hands.
"Wait.. you..." Sora tilted his head curiously over at Riku.
"No, Sora. I'm still a virgin, geez. You people don't give me enough credit, my god." Riku answered, rolling onto his back, taking Sora's hand again. This time he did not let go, or let the other let go. "If you're wondering, that's the truth. I was waiting for the right person, you know? Why rush into things when you have your whole life?" Riku gave the boy next to him a light smile. "And now that I've found the right person, I know I can wait with peace."
"Riku..." Sora grinned widely at him before nuzzling his face into the other's shoulder. "I'm so glad that you're here." He whispered into the morning air. "So glad."
"Likewise." Riku answered, arm extending from his side to ruffle Sora's hair. "Not to break this moment, which I really don't want to do, but don't you have class in like ten minutes?" Riku inquired, a smirk on his lips. Sora blinked a few times before staring in shock, nodding quickly, and raising up, only to be pulled back down onto the bed as Riku rolled on top of him for the second time that morning.
"I love you, don't ever forget that." He whispered, brushing his lips against the other's. Sora blushed once more, returning the kiss for as long as possible before Riku rolled off and let Sora scurry around the room, getting ready. "See you at lunch." Riku called to him as Sora made his way to the door.
"Same to you." Sora called, blush still obvious on his face as he left.
Riku sat there for a few more minutes before he decided to go back to his own and stop in on old Axel.
xxx
"So, you and Sora are finally together?"
Axel sat on his bed, arms crossed tightly to his chest. Thos reassuring and emerald eyes watched him curiously. It had been so long since he had seen Riku this happy. The silver-haired teen was laying on his bed, smirking up at the ceiling. Last night had been, by far, the best night of his life. And he owed it to Sora for loving him back, and Axel for giving him the courage to pursue what he felt all this time.
"Yeah. Thanks to you." Riku replied, hands lacing together on his chest. "If it hadn't been for you helping me from the very start, I doubt I would have ever figured this out. Sure, there was some bad times." Riku informed, eyes closing with peace. There was still a part of him, the human and humane part, that felt horrible for taking the woman's life. Just thinking about it made him shudder from disgust and fear. But if he had not done it, he knew she was just going to hurt them even more. He could not see Sora hurt anymore... even if killing was extreme.
"No problem. I'm just glad to see you actually appreciate life again. The last time I saw you smile this much was... well never." Axel answered, cocking his head to the side. "So since you two are together, did you-" Axel began with a seductive smirk.
Riku smirked to himself, emerald eyes filling with amusement. "No. I know its too soon, and we're both not ready... I guess. When he is, I'll be. I'll wait forever if that's what it takes to make Sora happy." Riku informed, rubbing his hands together. If someone had told him that he would be putting Sora before his own pleasures at the beginning of this crazy thing, he probably would have laughed insanely at him. Riku always had been a conceited person.
"I guess you really have changed." Axel noted, stunned by his friend's sudden new outlook.
"No, not changed. Just realized a few things I should have a long time ago." The smile remained on Riku's face as he lowered his hands to his side. Said hands ran up and down the bed sheets in a soothing pattern. Now that they were together, he missed Sora even more. Frankly, he could not wait to see the other again. Now that Sora was his.
"Well, I'm glad for you. You should get Cloud and your boss to allow Sora to host the night show with you." Axel suggested with a wide smirk. "So you guys have even more... alone time." Axel added on, emphasizing the words alone. "You know how lonely it gets during those ten in a rows."
Riku found himself laughing with amusement. "Yeah Axel, I know." He grinned, never having felt this at peace with himself. Still, there was still something bothering him. He couldn't place it at that moment, but it wasn't enough to bother him.
"So, just curious and all, when do you think you'll bed him?" Axel inquired, obviously interested in Riku's love life more than he should be. But who could blame Axel? It wasn't everyday that you saw this complicated of a love story between two people, and both being male!
"Geez Axel, talk about blunt." Riku replied, rolling his eyes as he laughed to himself. "Like I said, I'll wait forever if I have to. Waited this long, haven't I?" Riku informed, still not answering Axel's question. "Well, if you must know seeing you are by the most curious damn person in the world, I'd say a few weeks, maybe a month. Once he realizes that I'm here for good." Riku answered.
"So you really think he's your soul mate?" Axel asked, arching an eyebrow with subtle amusement.
"Of course." Riku answered, being completely confident in his answer. "I already promised him that I would always be there." Riku replied, a smile forming on his lips as he spoke about the brunette who had captured his heart. "But you know, its amazing how this all started."
"Yeah, through a radio." Axel replied, laughing to himself at the idea.
"Laugh all you want. I know how stupid that sounds. Two people falling in love over the radio and phone. But it worked. And I guess confessing to Sora at the studio was the best thing I could have done. You know, bring him to the place that we first spoke." Riku explained, staring at the ceiling as he spoke.
"So, you're not one bit scared of the whole... guy and guy relationship?" Axel wondered, cocking his head at his friend with intense interest.
"Not one bit." Riku answered proudly. "If I was, I wouldn't have come this far. I would have given up a long time ago." Riku sighed with amusement and then glanced over to Axel once more. "And how about you? How's your love life going? It seems like ages since we've had one of these heart to heart conversations." And it had been awhile.
"All you guys getting together, it makes me kind of sad. I mean, you and Sora, Tidus and Naminé, Hayner and Kairi, Olette and Demyx, it kind of makes a guy a bit sad." Axel shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at the floor.
"Don't forget Leon and Cloud." Riku interjected, making Axel gaze up in stun.
"Really?" His voice was drenched in shock and utter amusement.
"Yeah, ever since Saturday night." Riku nodded his head as he crossed his arms. "Seems that play did them wonders." Riku smirked and then yawned a bit. "But you never answered my question. Your eyes set on anyone in particular?"
"I don't know. Rather have my eye on that Selphie girl. Crazy ball of fire right there." Axel smirked, making Riku hold his head in memories.
"The girl that wanted to knock the shit out of Sora for liking me?" Riku inquired vaguely, also remembering her for being the clingy one at the ball. Axel gave a nod as he glanced out the window.
"Yeah, her. Oh, Riku. Me and Roxas forgot to tell you after we told Naminé. Roxas is switching here." Axel smirked as Riku shook his head.
"Well, that's great I suppose. Sora has another friend here besides all of us crazy people." Riku smiled at Axel for a long moment.
"Well, not to cut this off but I have class. I'll see you later tonight." Axel swung off his bed, landing on his feet gracefully. The tall red-head made his way across the room, only to stop near the door. Axel twisted his head to the right, sparing a glance to Riku over his shoulder. "What you told me, are you still going through with it?" The question lingered in the air. "You know how crazy it is, but are you?"
"Yeah." Was all Riku answered, smile bright as a light.
"Well then, good for you." And with that Axel left to his class.
"Very good..." Riku spoke to himself, reaching under the bed to pick up an item and set it on his stomach. "Perfect more like it."
xxx
Riku was awoken from his mid-day slumber by a knocking on his door. Ears twitched as he swung himself off the bed and made his way over. Feet clonked against the floor as he did such. Groggily, Riku twisted the doorknob open, half expecting Axel, and half expecting Sora. Or perhaps Naminé. Instead stood a tall and lankly woman. Black hair fell down to her back as piercing green eyes stared at him with amusement. Eyes were heavily outlined in black eyeliner, and wrinkles of time were neatly covered up in make-up. She wore an old-fashioned black dress that seemed like it came out of the movies.
Riku at once froze in spot. This was not...
"You look good." Was all she spoke, that familiar smile creeping onto her lips. Even if it was a compliment, her voice still sounded as chilling as ever. However, it didn't sound as cruel and sinister anymore. No, he sounded at peace and almost friendly, inviting, which was foreign to this woman. Riku blinked a few times, trying to form words on his lips.
"M-mom?..." He stammered, looking directly at her. Had it been five years, or was it eight? Riku didn't really remember anymore, and he didn't care. He figured the last time he would be seeing her was then, and not now. Especially with everything that had happened. A smile of satisfaction passed the woman's face as she stood there, not really wanting to enter.
"I'm glad you remember me, Riku." It seemed like all those years of anger and mutilation had finally taken their toll on the aged woman. "It's good to see that you're actually making something out of yourself." She added in, her own emerald eyes flashing with that motherly tone.
"..." Riku gazed downward, a loss for words. "I want to know... I've wanted to know all these years... why?" He rose his gaze up to her, "I wanted to know all these years. Were you that afraid?... Because I killed Dad?... You know...I.. had to.. I didn't want to...I was afraid... But.. he was going to hurt you... hurt us. I...couldn't let him, so why?.." Riku trailed off, body feeling numb all of a sudden.
"Riku." Her lanky arm extended from her side to reassuringly rest on his shoulder. "I know you meant well at the time, and it seemed the only logical thing to do, and I thank you for that. If it had not been for you that foul man would have taken both of lives that night in his rage. But the reason I filed that against you was so you could forget." She explained, eyes shining with that furtive look.
"So I could forget? M-mom.. how could I forget about that?" He practically whimpered, turning into that small child he once was. It seemed so weird speaking to her after all this time. He knew as well as she that his murder had been for a strong reason and purpose. He also knew that there was easier ways, and at the time, murder seemed the only logical thing. And maybe it was. Even though it haunted him, he had done it to protect them. Just as he did it to protect Sora... he knew she would have killed him eventually if he did not do it first to her. She was just like that. Evil and manipulative to the end.
"Riku, I wanted you to move on with your life. I know that if you stayed with me you would only be reminded of the things you were forced to do. I know I may have been a terrible mother to you, but I just wanted you to know that I had a reason for what I did. I never hated you, son." Her words soothed his soul, making him feel at peace once more.
"...Mom..." Riku spoke, body feeling like years of weight had been lifted. "I..."
"I know, Riku. Xemnas knows as well." Riku's heart fell to the ground. Xemnas, he knew what? She knew what? "Although he may seem like a cold bastard at first, he means well. He knows as well as I do that the death of Sephiroth was not your fault and you only did it in defense. He also knows that you killed that girl to protect yourself, even if it was...a horrible murder. He told me that. He told me he filed it as suicide because he knew you had grown up after all these years and were no longer the ruthless boy you used to be. Even though you could have been put into jail for killing her, Xemnas knew you wouldn't kill without reason. Think of this as your final chance."
"Xemnas... he did that, for me?" Riku spoke, mind trying to wrap around the ideas. "He.."
"If he wanted to do you harm, he would have turned you in when you were younger for killing Sephiroth. He came to me a few nights ago and said 'Maleficent, your son has finally grown up'. And naturally I thought he was a lying imbecile, but once he told me, I had to believe him." Her words were never so kind and reassuring. It made it seem like this fight had finally been won after all these years.
"I didn't kill her just for me, you know." Riku spoke, still feeling bad about this whole thing, and for all the people who had been caught up in this. Some were unfortunate and lost their lives... And even if he had hated that idiot and theft Marluxia, he really didn't deserve to die.
Maleficent arched her eyebrows with curiosity as she noticed a silver band tightly placed on Riku's finger. The woman took Riku's hand within hers, expecting the finger with curiosity. "You're engaged?"
"No." Riku answered, eyes darting downward. "But should be once this night is over." A reassuring look spread across his face as he felt that connection between himself and his mother finally begin anew. How many years he wanted this. And to think that she never really hated him. It made everything seem so much more real and relaxing.
"Who's the lucky girl that has stolen my son's heart away?" Her lips turned into a motherly smirk as she let his hand go. Riku blushed an intense red, not really comfortable with this. However, he realized he really was comfortable with the idea. Why wouldn't he be? He loved him. Loved him to the point of never wanting to let him go. He wasn't ashamed, not one bit.
"His name is Sora." A smirk was on Riku's lips as he spoke.
"His?..." Her voice trailed off, meeting her son's eyes with that subtle look. Oddly, the name sounded familiar to the woman. "Isn't that.. well.. illegal?" Stun was apparant in her voice. And in reality, she really was meeting her son, changed over the years by time, for the first time.
"Well, have I ever done anything that was legal?" Riku answered, nodding his head with that continuous smirk.
"Touché..." She seemed bothered by the idea, but she knew there was no way she was changing the head-strong male's mind. "If that's... what you want.. I won't object." She shrugged, feeling a bit amiss for words. No, she was not happy, but she had no right to step back into his life and dictate it. She had lost that power a long time ago.
"Hey, mom..." Riku stared at her for a long time, "Is Xemnas going to rat me out?..." His voice sounded so worried as he stared at her. "Does he know that Larxene really did drug Sora into killing?" He was so worried...
"Yes, son. And no, he won't tell. As I said, he knows how you have grown and how you've matured. He may be bad at it, but he does care about you. You're his nephew after all." Maleficent spoke, crossing her arms to her chest as he watched Riku.
"He never really acted really uncle-like. Its just he seemed so hell-bent on convicting me of that guy's murder…" Riku grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I suppose at the time you were the only suspect. I'm sure he was just doing his job. But I swear, he has your father in him. Always hiding how he felt, and the rage of a damned bull." Her words were dark and truthful. Riku gave a sheepish nod in agreeance as he sighed once more. It seemed so surreal to be standing here, remembering all this with his mom.
"Heh..." Riku blinked a few times, sparing a glance at the silver ring on his finger. "You just missed Axel, he was here earlier." Riku informed, remembering once he looked down at the doorframe.
"Oh, that ball of amusement. You're still friends with him after all these years?" Her green eyes filled with that same amusement Riku would usually get in his. Amusement almost made their eyes sparkle. A rare trait, really.
"Yea. He's helped me through a lot." And it was the truth. Axel had helped him through more than he could have ever imagined. All fell silent for a long moment as Riku looked to his mother, a smile creeping on his lips. "You know, even though we've had our differences, it's really good to see you..."
"I'm just amazed that you still have enough respect to me to call me mother." Maleficent answered, her hands resting on her hips. "I thought by now you would have erased me from your memory entirely."
"Tried that, didn't work. You can't really forget your mom, even if you try." Riku grinned sheepishly as he yawned.
"That's very true." Her eyes lifted in that dark manor that once could be considered cynical but now showed to be a compliment. "That boy, the one you claim to... love, is it? Do I get the pleasure of meeting him? Or is he not around right now. I am heading back home after I finish this conversation, after all." She explained, looking Riku directly in the eye.
"He's at class." Riku sighed, a bit saddened that his mother was never going to meet the boy who had stolen his heart.
"Well, be sure to pass my humble acceptance to him." She looked at her son, still coming to grips at the idea of his choice in life. As long as he had finally found his happiness after this long and dangerous road. That was all that mattered, after all.
"Can do." Riku answered, still a bit nervous at the idea of what was to come later that night.
"Well, I should be going. As long as I know you're doing well." She spoke, knowing that her welcome was hanging thin. "Be sure to keep in touch, Riku. The address hasn't changed, and won't." Eyes shimmered with not amusement, but that look of love and adoration she rarely showed. Was she ... proud?
"Yeah..." Riku smiled weakly at her as she extended a hand for her son to shake. Riku shook his head, only to encircle her in a long over-due hug. Tears fell from his face in secret. It seemed that everything had slowly begun to fall into place. After all these years he was at peace. He had finally found his happiness. After all these years. "I'll miss you, mom." He spoke, breaking off a bit.
"I know you will." She nodded brisk fully. "I hope everything goes well with you and that...boy." She added on slowly, emerald eyes scanning her son.
"Sora." Riku stated once again, loving the way the boy's name formed on his lips.
"Yes, Sora." With that, she nodded and left the way she came, bringing with her the past, leaving Riku a brighter future. A sloppy grin overcame Riku as he stood there, a smile sprouting from that grin. Had he finally come to peace with his sins? Had he finally found peace? It certainly seemed that way.
And there was only a few more matters to attend to.
xxxx
Riku was leaving Mango after his lunch with Sora and his friends. He was heading back to his dorm to get ready for later that night where he would make everything worthwhile. Emerald eyes filled with satification and hope as he walked. Never before had he been so alive as he was this moment. Tonight he would fully take Sora as his own. Forever, and ever and ever. Riku paused outside the dorm building, having being tapped in the shoulder. The teen glanced over his shoulder to spot the familiar blonde standing there with a gentle smile.
"You and Sora sure looked happy today at lunch." Naminé noted, a warm smile spreading across her face. Those blue eyes that once held so much pain and desire for the one she was looking at were now filled with hope and happiness. It seemed that it took Riku finally being with Sora to make the girl realize how much she cared for Tidus. Was it love? She wasn't sure yet, but she knew it was something. Something she enjoyed immensely.
"Yeah. Getting the burden of loving someone off your chest can do that." Riku grinned, tilting his head to the side. He paused briefly, realizing how rude he must have sounded. Naminé had confessed to him the night of the ball the care she had for him, and here he was throwing it in her face. "I meant.." He trailed off, rubbing his neck a bit nervously.
"Heh, it's okay, Riku. I know what you meant. And I'm really happy you and Sora finally told each other." She grinned, swaying back and forth on her feet. "It makes me realize how perfect you two are for each other.
"Thanks, Nami." Riku answered, nodding his head in agreeance. Yes, he and Sora were perfect, weren't they.
"He's so lucky to have found you." She smiled once more as she breathed gently into the cool November air.
"As am I to ha ve found him." Riku grinned, basking in the glory of actual love. It seemed so perfect, and it really was. It was just amazing how perfect things were turning out. "In fact," Riku fished in his pocket for a small silver band, almost identical to the one he wore. Once retrieving it, he emerged his hand from his pocket with the ring. The teen held the ring up into the light, making it shin in the sunlight. At once, Naminé giggled, realizing what it was the moment she saw it. "I'm giving it to him, tonight. More so a promise ring than anything. You know how difficult these kind of things are nowadays. Never will be officially legal and accepted. But as long as me and Sora think its real, it is." He smirked, observing the ring and the small engraving.
"When did you get it anyhow?" Naminé asked curiously, feeling that Riku had gone to some great lengths to make Sora the happiest person in the world. "Recently?"
"Actually..." Riku looked at it once more as he turned to her, "I got it the moment I realized I loved him," Riku explained, smiling at the ring.
"And that was when?" Naminé wondered, tilting her head. "Last night?"
Riku laughed a bit, shaking his head. "Hell no. I've loved him far longer than that, Namine. I've loved him the moment I kissed him. I knew it was real." He grinned then glanced at Naminé who was a bright red.
"That's adorable, Riku..." She spoke, grinning at him widely. "And so thoughtful." She looked at the ring briefly, spotting an engraving. "Hey, what does that say?" She questioned, looking to it with curiosity. Riku at once shoved the ring back into his pocket with a smug expression.
"Ask Sora tomorrow." Was all he said as he winked at her and head off to his dorm, carrying such a love of Sora with him. It was almost magical.
"That Riku.."
xxx
"Riku! RikuRikuRikuRikuRikuRiku!"
The name was repeated over and over as arms latched out to wrap around the other's neck. Sora came running into Riku's arms the moment he entered the other's dorm. Riku smirked, accepting the long-awaited hug. Now, more than ever, did he feel safe with Sora. He knew that no matter what happened, Xemnas and his mother had his back. And he really should start calling Xemnas, Uncle once in awhile after all he's done.
"I haven't seen you for like four hours!" Sora chimed, brushing his nose against Riku with a wide smirk. Riku rolled his eyes for Sora to pout incredibly cutely. "I know, Riku! I just really missed you!" And Sora meant every last word. He had never been loved by someone, and it felt great. Especially because he knew in his heart Riku really was the one.
"Well then, I guess it would be fair to say I missed you too." Riku answered. The silver-haired teen rose his hand to gently cup Sora's cheek within it. Sora turned a dark shade of red from the contact. "You blush so easily, you know." Riku noted, pushing his forehead against Sora's. Digits gently stroked the other's cheek soothingly, making Sora melt from the touch.
"Soo?" Sora answered, blush increasingly. Riku rolled his eyes before he brushed their lips together, taking Sora's bottom lip within his lip. The older teen let go, only to plant another kiss onto Sora's needy lips. Riku then murmured into the kiss, "So how does it feel to be dating the hottest guy on campus?" Riku smirked before letting his kisses travel down Sora's jaw line.
"Riku!" Sora protested at Riku's comment. "You don't have to be so...egocentric." The last word was more so a gasp than anything. Riku's lips had found a sensitive part of the other's neck. Riku grinned and planted another kiss there, cautiously letting his teeth run against the skin. This caused Sora to emit a soft but encouraging sound. "God I love you so much..." Sora whispered lustfully into the air, hands winding themselves into Riku's hair.
"Prove it." Riku answered, letting his tongue tauntingly trial across the sensitive part of Sora's neck. The boy let out another muffled moan, staring up at his boyfriend with needy eyes and confusion. Riku smirked as he removed himself from the boy's neck to stare at Sora's eyes.
"I can't prove it, Riku. I can say it a thousand times in a row if you want me too, though. I can go hire one of those guys with those planes, you know, that write the stuff in the sky.. or I could ask-" Sora began in a ramble of ideas before he was silenced by Riku nipping at his ear. "Ah.. okay... i'll stop talking now."
"If you really want to prove it," Riku whispered, lips trialing over the ear, "give me your hand." Riku requested, eyes shimmering in the pale light of the dorm room. Sora cautiously did as he was told, lowering his hand from Riku's hair to place it within Riku's. It was then when he felt Riku slip down, as if he was feeling weak or something. Or..
"Ah, Riku! W-what are you doing, you're not going to-" Sora began worriedly, starring at where Riku's head was in location to, well himself. Riku tried his best not to die of laughter on the spot. Oh how naive his boyfriend could be.
"You simply amaze me, Sora." Riku spoke, rolling his eyes as he gave the other's hand a light squeeze. Sora blushed, still confused. If he wasn't going to do that, then what was he doing? Was he tired, or... "I love you, Sora. So much. And I told you that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, right? So I thought, if we both wanted to, well..." Riku began to stumble, face turning a bright red. Before Sora had time to reply, Riku had taken his free hand and placed it over their clasped hands. Sora starred in confusion as Riku slowly slipped something cold onto his left hand. And it felt like...
"..." Sora stared down at the other with sheer amazement and stun.
"I figured that, if you wanted to, we could stay together forever. Make it real, you know? I know that it can never really be 'real' like other people can be, but if we believe it hard enough, it can be real. Oh geez, Sora, what I'm getting at is that I love you and I want you to be with me forever. Oh god Sora, I want you to marry me. Even if its not really marriage.. I want you to know that we share an unbreakable bond." Tears began to fell from Riku's face as he held Sora's trembling hand.
"Riku.. I.." Sora felt tears fall from his also. Was Riku really serious?
"I just thought that since I've found you and all, you being my soul mate, we could make it official. I guess this is more of a promise ring then anything. A promise that we'll be together forever, just you and me. And that's like marriage, right?" A grin spread across Riku's face as his voice cracked. "So is it a yes ... or a no?"
"Oh god Riku," Sora spoke, falling down to his knees and letting his hand slip from Riku's. Riku was stunned at first but then felt Sora's arms tightly wrap around his neck, dragging him into a quick kiss. "Of course it's a yes!" Sora felt happier than ever. Now he had proof, solid proof that Riku would always stay. His promise was now resting on his finger, and it made the boy feel loved.
"R-really?" Riku grinned as he wiped a few tears from Sora's face. Sora nodded quickly as then locked the pair into another kiss. Riku pushed forward, deepening the kiss at once. This was perfect. Pure magic. Riku would have plunged into Sora's mouth but the boy had broken the kiss to stare longingly into Riku's eyes.
"I uh.. well... you know what I said earlier today?" Sora whispered nervously, looking at Riku with an unbreakable love.
"Hm?" Riku asked, now raising to his feet, helping Sora up as well. Once on their feet, Riku pressed a line of kisses down Sora's neck as he spoke. No matter how many times he did this, it never got old. Never got boring. Always felt like the first time.
"About... us... and.." Sora paused, trying his best to forget what he was saying and just moan and mew into the kisses Riku was giving him.
"Hm?" Riku asked once more, hand slipping around Sora's waist.
"I was scared and I guess.." A low moan came from Sora as he felt Riku's hands trialing up his shirt, "I guess... I was scared that you might change your mind in the future and leave me and then you.. you come with this.. and you promise me you'll always be here... and you do all this and.. I guess.. I mean.. if you want to.. I... would be okay if... well..." Sora stammered, body pulsing from the vibes Riku was giving him.
"Are you saying that you want me, Sora?" A smirk formed on Riku's lips as he rose his lips from Sora's neck to stare directly into Sora's eyes.
"Y-y-y-yes... and don't ask me if I'm sure, cause I am. I know I am. And I know I won't regret this in the morning, and I love you so much, so I know this is real so I kno-" Sora began to ramble once more but was cut off.
"Sora." Riku nipped at his ear to silence the other. "Shut up." He spoke, smirking as he felt the other shut up. Riku moved his face to look once more into Sora's eyes. Now, more than ever, did he feel the real meaning of love. "I love you too," He whispered before locking Sora into another kiss. And another. And Another.
And so it stood. An unbreakable bond between two troubled souls. Both having to deal with a painful past. One having killed for protection, the other having painful memories of losing ones dear to him. One afraid to fall in love, one too skeptical to even believe in love anymore. One shy and honest boy, one outspoken and romantic boy. Together they formed what could be the greatest love anyone around them had ever seen. And it was a shame that no one could see this blissful moment.
And on the ring, engraved were the words "I'm Amazed By You Love: Riku" in a small script, around the inside of the ring.
"That's my boy..." She whispered, peering into the cracked door with a smile she hadn't had for the longest time. "That's my Riku..."
Tomorrow would be a great day, tomorrow they would be together forever, and the next day and the next day. And so Sora and Riku would be together for eternity, or however long time allowed them to survive, working side by side down at the studio. Eli and RJ. Sora and Riku. No matter how you worded it, today marked the beginning of the rest of their lives, together.