Title: Seeking Promise

Rating: M

Pairings: Riku/Sora, Roxas/Axel, brief Sora/Kairi

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, which is good because I'm lazy.

Author's notes: I've been reading an incredible fanfic and now I want to improve my own writing. If my style has changed, that might be why.

I made sure to include more delicious food this time ;)

The rating M is mostly me hedging my bets. Things get a little sexy in this chapter, so the portion that is in bold represents cut content. For the full fanfiction chapter (with lemony freshness), I now have them all uploaded on my livejournal account. It's super easy to navigate. All you have to do is find me under the username khpengooin and click through a couple 18+ prompts for the chapter you want. The whole chapter is there, so you may either read here and switch over to the bold portion there, or read the entire chapter there. The only real difference is that there are no dividers between segments changing POV, time, etc. for this chapter on livejournal. Those changes should still be pretty clear in the writing, regardless.

And as always, thanks so much for readers/reviews/favorites/follows!

Sora swallowed hard and climbed the steps of the stage. He waited for what seemed like an eternity, taking the time to memorize the many faces that lay out before him. When he squinted, he could see Aerith's face in the sun-bleached bleachers. Her grin was wide and her mouth moved as though she were saying, "I'm proud of you".

He felt himself blushing furiously when his eyes fell on Riku, who was sitting beside her. Riku chuckled and shook his head, smiling.

Smug bastard. Stop being such a pussy, Sora. He's your boyfriend. This is just what lovers do…

Sora felt like smacking himself for even thinking about that at a time like this. His face was as red as a cherry now. Thinking about the night that was to follow graduation made him visualize and good God, he refused to accept his diploma with a tent in his pants.

"Sora Gainsboro.." The principal called idly from center stage.

Sora faintly heard his name and stumbled forward, earning a few snickers from his classmates. He managed an awkward smile and approached Mr. Luxord, who muttered a hurried "Congratulations" as he shook Sora's hand and handed him his diploma. Sora hurried off the stage. He grinned the whole time for the sake of Aerith's camera, but inwardly he felt relieved to get the ordeal over with.

The real milestone was still several hours away and to Sora, it couldn't arrive fast enough. After all, he and Riku had waited a year for this.

Mostly, they waited because they felt a year was time enough to know it wasn't just a high school romance. At least, that's the excuse Riku used, which Sora was fine with because he wanted to be eighteen anyway.

And Sora's graduation would be the perfect night to 'celebrate'.

He rubbed his sweaty palms on the lap of golden, slick fabric that was his robe and cursed his school for making him look like an advertisement for McDonalds.

Sora waited impatiently in his seat while they called more names from the stage. Kairi looked over her shoulder at him and waved her diploma happily. He waved his own diploma back and gave her a thumbs up, grinning from ear to ear.

Despite their history, they were still the best of friends.

His attention snapped back to the stage when Selphie's name was called. It was a little odd seeing her now without a belly full of child. Sora hadn't seen her this thin for what seemed like a very long time. He frowned. He would miss how cute she looked and being able to use her belly as a table from time to time.

The administrators grimaced at the bundle of cloth she held in her arms. She had insisted on bringing Zidane to the ceremony against their wishes.

"Sure, he might not remember it but I want everyone I care about to be there!" She spread her arms out wide one day at lunch.

"That way, when I officially become an adult everyone will meet the new me!" She giggled. "Now I'm gonna be the mom and he's the kid. I want Zidane to know that."

Sora smiled softly as he remembered her telling them this. She really is going to be an awesome mom.

Selphie did a little twirl on the stage, her purple robe ruffling around her scrawny legs. She waved Zidanes little arm for the crowd, infecting them with her contagious grin. She swiped her diploma from Mr. Luxord's hand, sticking out her tongue at him.

He grunted and rolled his eyes.

Sora chuckled. Augustus Luxord was not a very humorous man towards his students. He was very professional and liked to stay in his office. The only times Sora could even remember seeing him smile (which was more of a smirk) were when he was chatting up the Chemisty teacher Larxene Parr, who was easily dubbed the school's worst bitch of a teacher. Today, he wore a matching tan jacket and trousers with the lapels of a powder blue dress shirt peeking out at the top. Even on such a momentous day, he was incurably strict and boring.

The rest of the ceremony droned on in a similar fashion. Sora only paid attention again when Tidus was called up. He clapped extra hard when Tidus grinned and gave the hang loose gesture as he accepted his diploma.

It reminded Sora of last year, when Riku gave the audience a very different and less friendly hand gesture.

He sighed. Thinking of Riku's devilish grin made him feel both disappointed and thankful that his chair hadn't been facing the opposite direction.

A year hadn't made him any less of a shy, babbling idiot around his boyfriend.

Boyfriend. I might've laughed at the idea back then.

Back when Riku was still just the bastard of an unattainable crush.

The graduation ended with a resounding cheer and graduates around him stood up and threw their hats into the air.

Sora remained seated and tilted his head as he watched the hats arc high through the air and land with soft plopping noises near his feet.

Graduation had finally passed.

The post-graduation party had Sora looking much more excited. Riku shook his head and watched his boyfriend cram seven croissant-wrapped weenies in his mouth at once. He took off to destroy the plate of chili cheese fries next.

He was going from plate to plate loading up on food; it was no wonder Aerith made enough to feed an army. Riku wondered how he managed to stay so thin.

Every so often Riku would go over and clean off his caked mouth with a napkin, sending the small boy into a blushing frenzy. He didn't really know why, especially since he refrained from cleaning Sora's mouth the way he would have much preferred.

Riku licked his own lips.

But that thought was squelched both by Sora's family members and how Sora was unknowingly spitting food at anyone who so much as dared to talk to him while he gorged.

Riku managed to salvage a slice of Aerith's famous Orange Delight dessert before taking a seat beside Axel, who was also 'babysitting'.

Roxas almost matched Sora's eating habits. Almost.

Axel sighed, "Cute, aren't they?"

Riku smirked, "Yeah, when they're not busy eating like farm animals." He polished off his plate a few minutes later and softened at how the brunette blushed at him from across the room.

He wouldn't admit it, but Sora was even cuter when his squirrel cheeks were full of food.

Sora gulped slowly and stared like a deer in headlights.

Until Kairi blocked him from Riku's view. Riku scowled and stared at his empty plate.

The companion next to him blinked between Riku and Kairi's backside, smirking a little to himself at how much he preferred her back to her front.

"I don't know how you were able to wait so long," Axel winced when he felt a sharp elbow hit his side. He wasn't supposed to know or talk about Riku's plans.

Riku let his hair fall over his eyes. Should probably get a haircut soon.

"It wasn't without difficulty."

Axel nodded, his eyes wide. His attention was now drawn to Roxas and Sora, who'd decided to dance playfully near the boombox, laughing like school girls.

"You're a holy man." Axel practically drooled over the scene playing out before him.

"Not for long," Riku snorted and dropped a set of keys on Axel's lap.

"Remember to be quick about it."

Axel nodded seriously and Riku turned his attention back to the boys dancing in front of them.

Guess they got tired of eating.

As the older parents and relatives started to disperse, the younger graduates stayed over late into the evening. It wasn't until nine at night (after some hidden drinking and several rounds of rigorous DDR matches) that Axel and Aerith cleaned up and sent most of the guests home. Axel gave Riku a bro hug and smiled knowingly before leaving with Roxas.

The last ones in the house were now Riku, Sora, and Aerith.

Sora shouldered his duffle bag and stumbled his way down the stairs with his head down.

Aerith hooked his chin and raised his face to meet her eyes. He shrunk under her motherly grimace and creased brow.

"You have your phone?"

"Yes, mom."

"Your keys?"

"Yeah."

"Your charger?"

"Yes mom."

She quirked an eyebrow, "Do you have them?"

Riku covered his mouth to suppress a laugh when Sora turned the brightest shade of red he'd ever seen.

"MOM!" His voice cracked and he shook his head violently.

It had been a long time since she had "the talk" with her son, but she was sure he not-so-fondly remembered it as much as she did.

"Be safe," she kissed his forehead and ruffled his hair. "Have fun" She winked at Riku, "and behave."

Riku nodded seriously and opened the door.

"Goodbye boys! See you Monday!"

Sora shut the door behind them, leaving Aerith standing alone in the entryway.

She crossed her arms and gripped them tightly, letting herself cry for the first time that day.

"Take care of my son," she whispered.

The drive to Riku's apartment was relatively quiet. The gentle thrum of the motor calmed Sora's nerves and the pounding music that normally filled the car with noise was absent that night.

Sora rolled his window down and leaned against the door, letting the breeze ruffle his already messy spikes.

They were pulling into the lot when Riku started laughing.

Sora turned and tilted his head, "Why are you laughing?"

He turned off the engine, grinned an apology and shrugged.

"You're so serious. And your mom.."

He laughed again, "You do realize this isn't a funeral, right?"

Sora pouted, "Of course I do. It's just…important, you know?"

He took Sora's hand and rubbed it, "It will be, if you stop worrying about it." He tilted his head towards the car door, "C'mon, let's talk inside."

Sora bit at his nails and had a death grip on Riku's hand as he led them up the stairs and unlocked the apartment door. He pushed it open and gestured for Sora to go in first.

Sora covered his mouth to keep himself from gasping.

The only light in the apartment came from the gentle glow of lamplight and tea candles scattered around the countertops and end tables. A trail of white and red rose petals started near the door and led down the small, darkened hallway into a room that glowed, presumably from more candles.

Woah, It's like I stepped right into a cheesy chick-flick. But…It is very pretty..

He wheeled around and looked up at Riku. "Did you do this?"

How?! You were at my house all day!

Riku shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, "I gave Axel my spare key."

And I'm sure it wasn't easy for him to light those before we got here.

He made a mental note to thank his friend later.

Sora tilted his head and slowly followed the path after taking off his shoes.

The bedroom was cleaner than Sora ever remembered it. Riku had cleared all his clothes from the floor and made the bed, which was covered in rose petals. They were a stark contrast to the black comforter and carpet. Normally, it was a very dark room, but there were so many candles that it glowed like polished marble. He squished his toes in the clean carpet and noticed at this point that even the closet had been closed. The smell of vanilla incense perfumed the room and warmed his senses.

"Now if only I could get you to keep it this clean," he grinned.

Riku chuckled from the doorway.

"I think you meant to say: Oh Riku, it's so beautiful! Turn me around and pump me dry right here in the candlelight!" Riku mocked in the girliest voice he could muster before Sora punched his shoulder. They both laughed until a mutual silence fell over them.

Riku was the first to break it by raking his hands over Sora's sides, who started laughing hysterically. He flung his arms around trying to push Riku away, who persisted in tickling him all over.

Then Sora grabbed at Riku's thigh, the only ticklish spot on his body. He grabbed Sora's wrist to stop him, and picked him up by his armpits.

"Now you're gonna get it!"

He growled and roughly tossed the small boy onto the bed, who landed with a soft thud and giggled.

"Riku!"

In moments Riku was hovering over him, wisps of hair tickling his face.

"What exactly am I going to get?"

Riku smirked, "Punishment."

He tickled Sora into a laughing seizure. Rose petals flew everywhere as he thrashed around and laughed. Riku couldn't help but laugh too.

When he was done, Sora was left panting and had red splotches all over his face.

"Okay okay!" He gasped. "You win."

Riku crawled on the bed to straddle Sora's lap. He watched Sora clasp the covers in a claw-grip and smile sheepishly.

*Insert secks here* Don't be shy, I don't judge ;-) Livejournal for lemony freshness.

"You know, we could do this a lot more if you came to live with me," Riku twined their hands together.

"Mmmh, that's not such a bad idea," Sora hummed.

"The whole world needs to know that you're mine now."

Riku laughed, "I don't think you need to worry about that."

"Yeah, I think I should be more worried about being able to walk after this."

Riku smirked, "And getting this mess cleaned up. You're bleeding by the way."

He sighed and nuzzled his face in Riku's chest. "I know but…can we lay like this? Just a little longer."

Riku wrapped his arms around him and buried his face in Sora's messy locks.

"Sure."

I hope you have enjoyed this last hurrah for "Seeking Promise"!

Sorry, I'm not too great at writing lemons. I'm the type to giggle at or find the very mention of body parts funny, so I tried to keep the mood soft by not mentioning the "P" word very much.

Axel did a good job in refraining from burning Riku's apartment down, right? I'd say so.