..:.CHAPTER FIVE…SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?:..

It took another day for Sora to work up the courage to talk to Riku again. After all, the boy had nearly ripped out his heart! (AN: Don’t you look at the computer screen like I’m an idiot!!) He’d spent the entire morning planning out what he would do, what he would say…

…And now the current crisis: WHAT WOULD HE WEAR??

He decided not to wear his usual outfit that those three fairy-ladies had given him. (AN: WHAT? He can’t wear that EVERY DAY!!) So, what was left? AN ENTIRE CLOSET FULL OF CLOTHES!!

He closed his eyes, grabbing blindly for the first thing his hand touched. Peeking from under his lashes, and sighed. A plain black shirt. Okay…he could deal with that. Sora shut his eyes again, reaching toward the side of the closet with all of his pants.

…AND GRABBED A FRILLLY PINK SKIRT?? WHERE THE HELL HAD HE GOTTEN THAT?? Shuddering, he tossed the skirt over his shoulder, reaching in for a third time. A pair of dark, baggy shorts were dragged out and he began to wonder why his wardrobe looked so emo…

After spiking his hair to perfection and performing all his normal tasks, he headed out to see Riku. As he walked down the street, trying to avoid the blazing sun, he began thinking about Riku. What did he mean in that note, he thought, looking up toward the pale blue sky. It stretched onward for miles, further out than he could ever see. Eyes dropping down to the ground, he barely had time to react as he ran into a large tub of fertilizer next to some old lady’s garden.

“OH-uh, sorry lady!!” he stammered, walking away quickly. I really need to pay more attention…

..:..:..:..:..

Riku lay in bed; the curtains that covered the window were closed shut. An artificial darkness filled the small room, and he sat up, lapis lazuli eyes flitting around the area. Had the morning really come? It felt like just a few moments ago the pale shafts of moonlight had illuminated the evening, casting an eerie glow over the contents of the space.

Sora had been the object of his mind’s attention all night. He wondered what Sora was thinking, what he was doing, and it was starting to drive him insane. “Maybe I should tell Sora about the whole paopu thing…” he mused, scratching his head.

“Hey Sora!” he practiced, smiling as he spoke. “I don’t actually like you! You see, it was all because of the paopu fruit and…” he stopped, realizing how stupid he sounded. “That’ll never work…”

What if I don’t tell him, he thought, peeking out the window. Harsh sunlight blinded his vision and he pulled away, groaning in frustration. That wouldn’t work. It’d be like lying…or withholding information.

“Okay, okay, just think of something else,” he said, voice strained. Like Kairi, for example. Where had she been in the past few days? It was as if she had disappeared…not that Riku cared much. She was always trying to take away his Sor…a.

“DAMN IT!! I have to go tell him!”

And so, Riku once again raced off to Sora’s house, completely unaware that the younger man would not be home.

..:..:..:..:..

Sora pulled out his mp3 player, on the brink of suicidal boredom. A peppy tune filled his ears and he smiled, pale pink lips stretching with satisfaction. He became so enthralled by the tune that he didn’t notice two things:

Riku running right past him, just as oblivious.

The red haired man he had just walked smack dab into.

“Augh, why does this always happen to me??” he moaned, stepping back. “I’m sorry!” he scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, holding out his hand.

The taller teen smiled back, green eyes flashing with amusement. Grabbing Sora’s hand, he shook it, looking back over his shoulder. “Naw, it’s cool.” He replied, laughing.

There was something oddly familiar about him…

“Axel, let’s go!” a blonde, shorthaired man called, paying no attention to Sora. Was that…could it have been…?

“See ya!” Axel waved, winking. Suddenly the two were gone, and Sora was very confused.

“What just happened…?” He mumbled, completely at a loss. He didn’t think he’d ever see Roxas again, let alone Axel.

“The heat must be getting to me…” Shaking himself, he continued onward to Riku’s house.