Just a bit of cuteness. Minor spoilers and some shounen ai that might turn into full blown yaoi later. Sora is sixteen, and Riku is seventeen. Please forgive any errors. It was late when I wrote this. I do not own Kingdom Hearts 2… And don't flame me. –eyes-

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'A Week to Love You'

Chapter One- Monday

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It was one of those normal afternoons, you know? So normal and boring it made me want to cry and wreck some havoc, just so I had something to do. But it was peaceful, I guess… nothing had changed in the few years I was gone. It feels like it's been centuries… But it's only been two years. That's what Kairi told me, but I don't trust her judgment in time anymore.

I never thought I would feel bitter about my best friend's relationship. But I do. I miss all the time Sora and I used to spend together… When Kairi said 'everyday' I thought we all would spend it together. The three of us, like we used to… But I think there's been less of 'us' and more of them.

It feels like I've been here for days, just sitting here, in my usual spot. I leaned casually against the papou tree trunk, crossing my arms over my chest. I was so lost in thought, in my own morbid desires that I didn't hear Kairi run up behind me. She climbed none to gracefully over the bent trunk, panting softly, her hands on her knees. I glanced down, and wordlessly nodded. She didn't catch onto my 'leave me alone' vibes, I guess…Since she grinned…One that rivaled Sora's and I felt my heart tighten just a little.

"Riku!"

"Hm?"

"Sora's sick."

I lifted my brow, sparing her a glance, "And?"

"And I need to go stay with my mother for a week, on the other island… I'll be back next Monday. Will you take care of Sora for me?"

"Separated? Oh my, how will you survive." My voice was as bland as I could make it without sounding angry.

"Riku…" Kairi said in a disapproving tone, putting her hands on her hips. She pouted at me and stomped her foot, "Don't be a jerk! What's wrong with you? You've been this way ever since you and Sora came home."

I opened my lips to speak but quickly shook my head, rolling a hand through my out grown locks, tearing my bangs away from my face for a moment, "I… It's nothing. Go see your mother, I'll take care of Sora."

"Are you sure…?" She was being timid, as if I was some beast ready to attack. In part, I was.

"I just said yes, didn't I?" I said coldly, not bothering to look at her again.

"You're such a jerk!" She said hotly, stomping her foot again, "Whatever, Riku, you've changed." And she left me with those words, in an angry storm.

"You would change too…if you let the darkness into your heart." I said softly, to no one. I sighed lightly and ran a hand through my hair again, moving to stand up on the tree trunk, glancing out to the beautiful sea. I think I missed it more than anything else. I was glad I couldn't see the other island from here…That was on the other side. A stray wind blew, and I inhaled deeply… It was nice to be home… But I almost missed my adventures. I glanced back, to the dock to see Sora… Well, I thought it was Sora. He was wrapped from head to toe in a thick blanket, only his eyes and a tuff of brown hair showing. Kairi was in front of him, hands behind her back, and she was leaning forward just slightly. I couldn't tell, but I think Sora looked wary... Then he sneezed…All over Kairi.

I couldn't help but laugh as she batted his shoulder and gave him a wave as she ran towards the door leading to the other side of the island. I frowned, only because Sora looked miserable. He flopped onto the sands of the beach, laying back and curling to his side. I heard him sneeze again…And I couldn't help it. I jumped from the tree, landing in the waist high water with a splash. I sighed softly, in content as the water sloshed around my legs. I was glad I hadn't worn shoes today…Too bad my black shorts were too big, and now threatened to fall from my hips with the weight of the water. I wished I had my belt…But I really didn't care to much as I walked to the shoreline, shaking a foot absently towards Sora, spraying droplets of water on him. The boy groaned and rolled over, a tanned hand coming from the blankets to shield his eyes. I watched him grin, then…And I knew he would have tackled him, if he hadn't been sick,

"Riku!" His voice was hoarse and crawling as he went into a fit of coughs.

"Shh…" I said softly, soothingly as I knelt beside him, moving his amber colored hair from his forehead to press my slightly damp palm to his skin. Even with the water, he was burning up, "You have a fever. Let's get you inside."

He whined, and I smiled, "Aww, Rikuuuu, why? It's nice outside…"

"And you're sick. Your keeper told me to take care of you, and that's what I'm doing."

"My what?"

I cursed softly and shook my head, smiling for his sake, "Nothing, Sor-kun… Do I have to carry you?"

The brunette blushed softly and shook his head, "No… I can walk…I hope."

I chuckled at his blush. He was so damn cute sometimes, it made me what to profess everything to him. I was in love with my best friend. It was almost disturbing. But…how could I not be? His smile, his innocence, his laugh… He was just so…lovable. But it would never work. He had to be straight since he was with Kairi. She was a very pretty girl…Just not my type. Come to think of it, I don't think any of the girls on the island, or the other was my type. Eden was cute…But she lacked a certain charm. That blue eyed, brown haired, and unnaturally happy charm…

"Riku?"

Sora's soft voice jarred me from my thoughts and I turned to give him a little smile, "Sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a moment."

He grinned at me, "Oh, that's okay. You just looked like you were having an aneurysm." He laughed at me as I rolled my eyes. I moved one arm under his back, and the other under his knees and lifted him easily, ignoring his cry of protest, "RIKU! Put me down! I can walk by myself!"

"You took to long."

"I was talking!"

"You talk to much."

"You're such a bully!"

I glanced to him, to see his bright eyes glowing with mirth. I knew he hadn't meant the comment, and I had to smile as he stuck his tongue out childishly at me, crossing his arms over his chest with much difficulty. The blanket seemed to be giving him some trouble. But when he tried to wriggle out of it, I simply clutched him tighter to my chest,

"You're sick."

"So?" He whined, sneezing into the blankets around his chin.

"That's why."

He just gave me a funny look, like I had grown a second head as I made my way up the beach, "Do you want me to take you to your house, or mine?"

"Riku... My house is on the other side of the island. Wouldn't it be smarter if you took me to yours?"

I rolled my eyes. Of course it would, but hey, I was giving him a choice in the matter, "My house it is then." I lived in the apartment my mother and father and I had stayed in all through my childhood. Though I called it a shack on occasion. I was never there much as a child. Sora had asked me once where my mother and father had gone. I couldn't give him an answer, because I really didn't know. I came home, and they were gone. There was no trace, not even a dusty note. I always wondered if they sailed away to look for me…Or maybe they went to look for a better life. I was glad I had never really become attached to either of them, to tell the truth. It made it easier to stay in their home, and to not think of it as abandonment. But I found it odd that they had left me a lump of munny to take care of myself. And added with what I had gathered during my time away, it was enough to take care of myself. I assumed they thought I was never coming home, but they still left me that. It was odd. It wasn't everyday a kid stepped into blackness and never came back…but it also wasn't every day that shadow puppets destroyed a world. But I pushed this from my mind as I nudged my door open with one foot, being careful not to bang Sora's head on the doorframe as I slipped into the shabby apartment I called it an apartment because I wasn't hermit enough to call it a shack. Directly across from the doorway was a small room, which held my bed and the only bathroom in the place. To the right was a wall, and to the left was the 'kitchen' and 'living room'. But it was still all in one, pretty much. At least I had a bathroom, and running water, and electricity. Sora frowned gently as I moved across the floor, to my room and set him on the bed.

"Why do you still live here?"

"I want to."

Sora frowned harder and sat up, crossing his legs and placing his back against the wall, "But… I've told you that you can stay with me, like you used to do when we were little… Isn't it hard living by yourself?"

I just shrugged absently as I went to the bathroom to find a cool rag to place across the boy's forehead. I almost slipped on the tile, and cursed. I would have to get out of these soggy pants soon. Sora was persistent, and asked the same question again. I sighed as I moved back into the room, placing my hand on his shoulder, maneuvering him to lay back, setting the washcloth on his head, "Because I can tale care of myself. I'm seventeen. I don't want to be a bother. I have enough money, Sora… And I don't want to hog your personal space…or your time with Kairi." I gave him a wistful smile.

"Oh, bullshit!" he cried as he sat up, the rag slipping into his lap.

I was taken aback, since I had never heard the younger boy curse. "Sora…" He didn't let me get in another word,

"Why do you do this? What's wrong? I want it to be like it used to be, I want to be able to hang out…And watch the stars… I want to make up for all the time we missed…" He sniffled…And I wasn't sure it was because of the runny nose, "Riku, I miss you… Kairi… Well, she doesn't compare to you." More sniffles as he rung the rag in his hands, a few drops of water falling onto his blanket. If he cried... I wasn't sure what I would do, "Please don't push us away… Don't push me away. You could…You could never be a bother to me… You're my best friend…" And he started to cry then… And I couldn't help myself.

I crawled onto the bed and gathered the sick boy into my lap, rocking him gently and trying to sooth him with my words. I kept saying I was sorry as I brushed kisses to his feverish skin, not paying attention to the fact that I was finally holding the boy that I loved so close to me. But that didn't matter, all I wanted to do was stop his tears. I wanted to make him stop crying…He was crying because of me. His shoulders shook, and I knew he was releasing all of the pain from his battles, his soul pouring out with each teardrop that fell. He had looked for me for so long…And I had shoved him away like he was a bother. I was stupid, so stupid for being jealous of Kairi…When Sora really did want me around. I curled one hand through his hair, my free hand rubbing his back in comforting circles. I could have stayed like this forever… And it seemed like I did…until all the tears subsided, and I had gotten the blanket and my bed damp from my soggy pants. My shirt was covered in tears, but I really didn't mind.

"Sora, I'm sorry… I didn't realize…"

The boy in my lap gave another sniffle and glanced up slightly, his head nudging my chin. I drew back a little to see him give me a small smile, "It's okay… Please don't leave me, Riku…"

"I won't… I'll never leave you alone again. I was blind… So blind… I should have never—" But I was silenced as Sora lifted a hand to press his fingers against my lips, making my eyes widen. He drew his hand gently up my cheek to brush the bangs from my eyes, and he smiled again, brighter this time,

"Stop apologizing…" He said softly as he drew his hand away. I missed the contact, but I wouldn't complain. I cleared my throat slightly,

"Do you want to go to sleep? You're sick…And you need your rest."

"Will you be here when I wake up?" It was such an innocent question… So soft spoken and childish.

"Of course I will."

He beamed at me as he climbed from my lap, sitting near the pillow, "You're blankets are wet."

"I know," I said as I stood and drew them from the bed. Thankfully the mattress was still dry…And I had a spare comforter, "I'll get you another blanket." I smiled softly to him as I moved to my closet to grab my other blanket. It was a royal blue and fluffy. It was from when I was a kid and I couldn't get rid of it. I turned around to find Sora curled on my pillow, wrapped in his blanket and very much asleep. As carefully as I could, I unwound him from the blanket he clutched so tightly at, tossing it in the pile of damp sheets. He uncurled from his little ball, rolling to one side to face the wall as I threw the comforter over him, tucking it around his back, leaving enough space for him to toss and turn. Before I was done, I placed the rag back against his forehead.

I changed from pants to boxers, and thought idly as I hung the damp items outside to dry, 'I really must love this kid.'

I never left him alone after that. My door is pretty comfortable, I found out.

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Aww! This is only the first in a line of seven chapters. One for each day of the week. It went from sad to fluffy, but It was kawaii all the same.

Ookami: Uber waff.

Shut up. Please Review with any questions you might have.

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-!Phoenix!-