Where I'll Return
Part 3: Riku's Resolve
A Kingdom Hearts Fanfic
By Shiva
Pairings: Riku x Sora
Rating: R to NC-17
Warnings: Yaoi, shounen-ai, lime, lemon, AU-ish
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts belongs to Squaresoft, Disney, Sony, Tetsuya Nomura, the guys in the animation department that do the really cool CG effects, and a partridge in a pear tree.
NOTES: Once again, my favorite review is from Uzumaki! I have a special response to her review at the end, so do take a look once you've read the fic. If you haven't read her fic, Stygian Solace, go read it now, or you're not a true Riku/Sora fan!
Cloud is in this part. He doesn't have a very big scene, but still I had a hard time writing him because to me, he's way different from FF7 Cloud... but I think I did okay, at least I hope. ^^;
Once again to refresh your memory:
// and \\ signifies the beginning and end of a flashback.
An asterisk (*) signifies thoughts.
_ at the beginning and end of a word is to emphasize it.
Happy reading!
=||=
Riku looked out of the Invincible's panoramic window, amazed by what he saw. Gaia was HUGE. To think that one world could be this big... it was incredible.
"Feeling overwhelmed?" Kuja asked him.
"I've never seen anything like it," Riku admitted.
"Yes, it is quite vast. However I don't know if you're going to be able to act the happy tourist or not, depending on how the doll feels."
"Will you stop calling him that already?" Riku snapped.
"Oh, don't take it so personally. You really are a jealous one, aren't you?" Kuja teased.
"Look, can we get serious for a minute? Now that we're here, we should take Sora to a doctor," Riku said.
"That won't be necessary. I assure you we will have all the provisions needed to care for him, so don't worry," Kuja assured him.
"But..."
"You should lay low for the time being, Riku. Especially considering..."
"But you said that they wouldn't find us here."
"They won't, I just don't favor being around lots of people. I also doubt you'll be able to find your way around Gaia without getting lost, especially since you have no idea where to go, do you? Sora will be fine in my palace, trust me. Or do you doubt your own ability to care for him?"
Riku stiffened. "Fine, but if he's not better within a few days, we're taking him to a doctor. Understand?"
"Hn, I guess I can agree to that. But your presence alone seems to have calmed him," Kuja said.
Riku looked down at the one he loved, realizing Kuja was right. He did seem more relaxed now than he had been lying in that bed.
"Anyway, let's get going, shall we? Since you've got your hands full, I'll carry the girl."
Riku looked at him levelly. "You better not do anything to her."
Kuja gave an exasperated sigh. "Will you relax already? What's it going to take to convince you I'm on your side? No harm will come to anyone, I swear it to you."
Riku studied him for a moment, then simply nodded. Kuja had not broken any of his promises so far, but Riku wouldn't be so defensive if the man would stop acting like a stuck-up prick for more than two minutes.
Kuja had gone into the cabin to retrieve Kairi, then called for Riku to follow him to the transport pod. Within moments, they were standing inside what he assumed to be Kuja's palace, and Riku took in his surroundings and blinked.
It was... interesting, to say the least. While Hollow Bastion had been quite a sight, this place had a different feel and beauty to it. There were many statues of gargoyles, angels and seraphims, and brightly polished gold ornaments and chandeliers hanging from the high vaulted ceilings. There were large glass-stained windows everywhere he looked, and it seemed more like a sanctuary than a palace. Still, this place was quiet and the settings quite extravagant, and he had no doubt that Sora would rest quite comfortably here.
"Nice place," Riku remarked quietly.
"Why, thank you. I trust you're impressed?"
Riku shrugged. "Doesn't matter, so long as Sora will be comfortable here."
"He will, I assure you. Now, where are those two stupid clowns?" Kuja said, irritated that his servants were nowhere in sight. "Zorn! Thorn!"
As if on cue, a group of people entered the room, two of whom were extremely short, and a few other weird-looking ones wearing pointy hats.
"Master! It is good to have you back!"
"Master! Good to have you back, it is!"
Riku frowned at the two strange... well, he didn't know what to call them. They were two midgets dressed up like court jesters. He also had no idea what to make of the guys with the pointy hats, he just assumed they were all Kuja's servants.
"Right, right, I get the idea. Are the accommodations for my guests in order?" Kuja asked them.
"Yes Master, two guest rooms, ready to go!"
"The Black Mages cleaned the rooms thoroughly, they did."
"Good. This is Riku," Kuja said, pointing at the green eyed boy. "He will be taking care of his sick friend you see there, and they will remain here until the boy fully recovers. Give him anything he requires. This girl is in a comatose state and is to rest and not be bothered. Understand?"
"Yes, Master!" Zorn and Thorn chimed, while the black mages nodded.
"Good, now go see about getting some dinner served. Riku, follow me. One of you black mages, come with us and lead us to the rooms that have been prepared," Kuja ordered. They walked further inside the palace, and again Riku stared at the place in awe. More statues, more windows like in the last room.
"Kuja, if this place is underground, how is it you have so many windows?" Riku asked him.
"This palace is built on the inside of a mountain. It's also surrounded by pools of quicksand, guarded by Mist monsters," Kuja told him.
"Mist monsters?"
"Remember when I told you Gaia already had its fair share of monsters? Those would be Mist monsters. It's hard to go anywhere without bumping into one, and no two Mist monsters are the same. Sometimes you can run away and avoid them but other times you won't be so lucky."
"Why do I get the feeling you have more to do with that than you're letting on?" Riku said, glaring at him.
"You're accusing _moi_? I'm hurt, Riku-chan."
Riku rolled his eyes, taking note to pulverize Kuja the next time he called him Riku-chan.
They climbed a long, transparent staircase that almost looked like it was made out of light, and went down a corridor, until they reached two sets of double doors.
"I'll put the girl in here to rest. I promise you she'll be safe and undisturbed," Kuja said. As the black mage opened the door, Kuja addressed him. "Let Riku into the other room, and bring him a medicine chest and some towels."
"Yes, sir." The mage left and Kuja made sure Kairi was safe in the bed before heading next door.
Riku had already put Sora under the covers, who was still sleeping but his breathing became heavy and he appeared to be sweating.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Riku-chan, but you'd better strip him. Those clothes look awfully thick and it can't be helping his fever."
Riku glared at him. "Don't call me Riku-chan."
Kuja laughed, that familiar smirk appearing on his face. "Anyway, do make yourself comfortable. Through that other doorway is the bathing room, which I am sure you will find to your liking. I could have prepared a third guest room but I figured you'd want some quality time with lover boy here. The bed certainly is big enough," he added with a sneer.
"How thoughtful of you," Riku snorted as he began to peel Sora's clothing off. He tried not to stare at Sora's slender body as he stripped the boy down to a pair of white boxers, but then gave in to the temptation. Gods, Sora was so beautiful, even in his ill state. Now that he had Sora with him again, he would not let him go, ever. He'd die before he was separated from the one he loved again.
"He really is cute," Kuja purred, and Riku fumed, realizing that he too was enjoying the view. He covered Sora's mostly naked form with a sheet and threw Kuja a death glare.
"Don't you dare get any ideas, you bastard, or I'll kill you slowly," Riku promised, his eyes narrowing.
"Ooh, so protective! Really, is that any way to talk to the person who is so generously opening his grand home to you? You should learn to be more appreciative," Kuja taunted.
Riku was about to snap back at him when the black mage from before came back into the room with the items Kuja requested. Kuja instructed him to place everything on the table, and dismissed him.
"Let me show you the potions, we don't want you to go giving him the wrong ones." Kuja opened the chest and removed a few bottles. "This one is a Vaccine potion, it will help with his fever. Let him rest for now, but when he's conscious enough, try to make him drink at least half of it. The other bottles are Hi-potions, not so different from the ones you've probably seen. Concentrate on breaking his fever first, then give him these. If you need more, just put your hand on that blue orb in the corner, and you will talk to one of my servants. Think you can handle it, or should I have a servant help you?"
"Don't bother, I can do it," Riku said, examining the bottles closely.
"Fine. I'll see about having some food sent up. I doubt he will wake up anytime soon so I'll just tell them to send enough for one."
"Thanks... I guess."
"Hn. Don't mention it. Just make sure you hold up your end of the deal. As soon as he's well, we look for the Keyhole and lock it."
"Sora will have no problem with your request. When I went into the hotel and told him I was taking him, he said he couldn't go, that he needed to seal the Keyholes. He'll probably be ecstatic."
Kuja smiled. "Good, then. Remember to use that orb if you need anything. I have some work to do in my study, so enjoy your quality time with the little doll."
Riku glared at him as he left.
=||=
"Kidnapped?"
Cloud had a surprised look on his face, while Hercules and Phil weren't nearly as good at containing their shock.
"How did this happen!?" Hercules asked.
"And right before the tournament, too! Who in Zeus' name did this?" Phil said.
"It was Riku, a friend of Sora's. I really don't think Sora's in any danger, but we do need to find him," Goofy said.
"Why did he take him?" Cloud asked quietly.
"Because he's crazy, that's why!" Donald spat.
"Donald!" Goofy scolded.
"Why don't you think he's in danger?" Cloud asked Goofy.
"Well, ya see... Sora got sick, and he was out of it for two days and not getting better. Riku found out, and figured we weren't taking care of him properly, so he took Sora away thinking he'd do a better job, I guess," Goofy told him.
"Yeah, and we _also_ think that he's been siding with the Heartless! Can't forget that little detail!" Donald snapped.
"Well, I still think Sora's gonna be okay. And you heard what Merlin said, we don't have to worry."
"THINK, Goofy! Didn't you hear what Riku said when he left with him? Even if we do find them we're gonna have to fight him to get Sora back, and who knows what that'll lead to?" Donald said.
"Sure sounds like he went to a lot of trouble to take the kid. And you say this guy was a friend of his? Rather protective of the squirt, ain't he?" Phil remarked.
"Ha! Obsessed is more like it!" Donald amended.
"We'll keep an eye out for the kid. Don't worry," Hercules told them.
Meanwhile, Cloud was deep in thought. Sora, missing. If the kid really was the true Keyblade Master, this didn't bode well for the future. He didn't want to admit it, but he really liked the kid. He had lots of potential, and after fighting him, he knew that Sora would be able to hold his own. Idly, he wondered if this "Riku" was the person Sora said he'd been looking for.
Cloud spoke quietly. "Did Sora find what he was looking for? His light, I mean."
Donald and Goofy blinked at the question.
"Well, Sora was looking for two friends, and Riku was one of them. I don't think he's found the other yet, but Riku practically said he knew where she was. So he could be with both of them now, but... we don't know for sure," Goofy told him.
Saying nothing to this, Cloud only looked upwards. *You'd better not forget what I told you, Sora. If you've found your light, don't you dare lose sight of it.*
=||=
As soon as Kuja left, Riku set to work. Sora was still in a deep sleep, so he decided to wait until later to make him take the medicine. He took the towels into the bathroom to dampen them, surprised to see a large tub that could fit five adults easily, and a shower stall that could probably fit just as many. When Kuja had said "palace" he wasn't kidding.
Returning to the bedroom, he put a smaller towel on Sora's forehead, and one of the larger ones across his chest. Looking down, he noticed Sora's boxer shorts were damp with sweat, and he contemplated on if he should take them off or not.
Riku gulped. He knew he would be sleeping in the same bed as Sora, and if Sora was... naked, right there next to him... dear gods, he didn't know if he'd be able to control himself. The thought of it drove him crazy.
Still... he doubted those damp boxers felt comfortable. Giving in, he carefully removed them, trying to keep his eyes averted. But his control didn't last, and he found himself staring at Sora's naked form. *You really are beautiful, Sora.* Riku thought, studying every muscle, every curve of that petite frame, trying to drink in as much of Sora as he could without touching him; which was getting harder to do by the second.
And worse yet, Riku felt his body beginning to respond in an almost uncomfortable way, making him clench his teeth in frustration. He had wanted Sora for so long, and here the boy was, naked and bare before him like some kind of forbidden fruit he longed to taste.
A knock on the door halted his fantasies, and he quickly covered the lower half of Sora's body with the sheet before telling his visitor to come in. It was another of Kuja's black mage servants, bringing him his dinner. The servant also brought some books and other reading material on Gaia, compliments from Kuja. After setting everything on the table, Riku excused him, glad he now had something else to focus on and get his mind off of... other things.
When Riku uncovered the lids to the dinner plates, he realized just how hungry he was when he saw all the food. It was some kind of meat dish with steamed potatoes on the side, some bread rolls and a large slice of cake. Before eating, he checked once more to make sure Sora was resting comfortably, and then dug into his meal. Since leaving home he'd tried all sorts of different foods, one thing he didn't miss was having to eat fish constantly.
After finishing his food, he went to replace the wet cloths he left on Sora's body, wiping his brow and face.
"Hnn..."
"Sora? Sora, are you awake?"
Sora's eyes opened just slightly, trying to take in the surroundings. His blurry vision could make out a familiar pair of green eyes looking at him intently.
"Ri...ku...?"
"I'm here, Sora. You're safe now. Do you think you can sit up for me?"
"I..."
Riku noticed the boy was still extremely groggy. "I'll help you. I need you to drink a little bit of this medicine for me, okay?" Riku reached for the bottle of Vaccine potion and opened it, then supported Sora's back as he lifted him off the bed.
"Open up," he said as he brought the bottle to Sora's lips. Sora seemed to obey despite his confused state, and Riku tilted the bottle to let its contents slide down Sora's throat. The medicine made the boy cough and gag slightly.
"It's okay, Sora. Try to drink a little more."
Riku managed to get Sora to drink half of the bottle like Kuja had told him to, and lay him back down on the bed. "Good boy. Just take it easy, okay?"
Riku stood up to take the potion back to the medicine chest, when a hand flew out to grasp his arm.
"Riku, don't go. I'm sorry. Don't go..."
Hearing the pain in Sora's voice, Riku grasped his friend's hand and leaned down to embrace him, whispering in his ear.
"It's okay, Sora, I'm here. I'm right here. Everything's going to be fine now."
The tensing in Sora's body seemed to cease, and the he relaxed, curling up closer to Riku as if his friend's presence was the only thing that could give him peace. Riku tightened his embrace on Sora, stroking his fingers through brown hair as he soothed his friend back to sleep.
Riku was happy, just being able to hold Sora like this. He so desperately wanted to tell Sora how much he loved him, but at the same time, he wanted to keep quiet, because he was terrified that Sora would be disgusted by his feelings. Or, if by some miracle he returned them, Kairi might be hurt. He knew Kairi always liked Sora better than him, and true, sometimes Riku was jealous of the girl and the way Sora sometimes doted on her; but she was still his friend and he didn't want to hurt her.
But his love for Sora had been bottled up for too long, and now it was spurting out uncontrollably and knew he just had to confess to the younger boy.
At that moment, looking down at Sora and seeing how peacefully the boy slept in his embrace, Riku decided. Once Sora was better, he'd tell him his feelings, he would keep Sora by his side and this time, and he would surely kill anyone who tried to separate them again.
*And if that does happen,* Riku thought, *then heaven help whoever gets in my way.*
END PART 3.
Wee! Another chapter done! Thanks, once again, to my wonderful beta reader, Lost Angel. Hurry up with my 3x4 fic, my birthday was 3 months ago! =p
A response to Uzumaki's review:
Another fun chapter. ^^ Wee, Riku took Sora! That was so sweet. Poor Sora, thrashing around on his bed... ^^ Riku will make him feel all better. *cough* In more ways than one, I hope.
Mwahahaha. Patience is a virtue, yes?
Kuja is practically flawless in your representation of him. T'would be fun if you had him wandering around with his tail showing. Aw... How cute. Kinky appendage. Mwahaha. Oh. That's an interesting concept. Kuja and Riku.
O_O Now, that is definitely an interesting suggestion about Kuja's tail. I will have to take that into consideration. *getting ideas already* But if Kuja tried to pounce Riku, at least in THIS fic, chances are Riku would beat him to a bloody pulp. O_o
I always did like Merlin, the crazy old coot. Your characterization of him is wonderful! Like an Albus Dumbledore, almost, but without the randomness-osity.
Hehe, I haven't watched "The Sword in the Stone" in years, so I wrote Merlin based on what I could remember, and I do rather like how he came out myself.
Well-written again, and it seems that you're manipulating your audience in exactly the right way. Yay for fast updates! I'm envious yet again.
Am I being manipulative? Moi? Oh, great, now I'm turning into Kuja. I'm having way too much fun writing him. And really, I'm honored to be envied by you, Uzumaki! Your fic was one of the first KH stories I read, I really love it, by the way! ^_^
Everyone else, please review, pretty, pretty, pretty please???
