The Rebirth of Obsession
Chapter One
Author: Ember
Pairings: Riku/Sora, Tidus/Yuna, implied Ansem/Kairi, ect.
Category: Drama/Angst/Romance/Horror/Alternate Universe
Summary: It started out as a simple obsession - and turned into something much darker, much deeper, and much stronger than either thought possible. Vampire!Riku/Sora - AU - Various other pairings.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or the Final Fantasy franchise. It's owned by Disney, and Square Enix, and other rich, power entertainment industry figureheads that I am clearly not apart. If Riku and Sora were mine, believe me, them going at it like bunnies would not be a fangirl's dream, let me tell ya. :D The idea comes from a combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton, and The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. ;;
Thankies go to Fauste, for coming up with the name, and Kuuriku, for hosting it on her site for me! Love you guys!

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Many years ago, three hundred to be exact, a boy by the name of Riku lived. He was brave, and strong, and considered by most to be a very worthwhile fellow. For though his temperament was unbroken and his life carefree, he still had an air about him - one of intentness, of longing. For the boy, though widely loved, was of a poor family, and had not the life which he longed for. So, in his desperation, he set out to become a holy knight of the crown - bent on proving himself. And prove himself he did. There was not a warrior he could not conquer, a monster he could not slay, nor a person who he could not woo.

That is, all but one.

It was that of a boy who lived and worked in the inn of which he stayed. The boy, who's spirit seemed just as unbroken as Riku's, was not as frustrated as the other. He seemed content with his life and with what it had laid before him. He enjoyed his meager tasks of scrubbing and washing and severing; for it was after these chores were done that he could go into the surrounding city and work his mischief.

The first time Riku had followed the boy to the foul excuse for a pub he'd been surprised. For it was in the less than friendly part of town, and he couldn't fathom how the boy (and his slight frame) could defend himself. He was quite quickly proven wrong, however, as the boy jumped into the middle of a fray and all but slaughtered his opponents.

It was then that Riku knew he had found his match; that he had found the perfect person to compliment him in every way. He set about seducing the boy the very next day, which, naturally, proved to be easier said than done. Sora, as was the boy's name, seemed quite adamant in his denial of Riku's advances. He was not out to become a knight's whore, as it were, though he silently admitted Riku's attractiveness. He knew what became of such people, himself being a bastard child of one, and had no intent on becoming something of the same.
Until the night Riku decided he'd had enough of the tired games, and pinned the boy beneath him, stealing his first kiss. It had been raw and heated, devoid of the delicate passion which the kitchen girls always went on about.
It had been enough for Sora's defenses to fall.
And it had been enough for Riku to lose his composure; for the once silent and proud man to give in to his long un-sated desire.
Neither expected love, yet neither complained of it either. It seemed like something heaven had sent them, that inside the world they'd created together…nothing could fade, nothing could tarnish, nothing could ruin.
It was Riku who decided to preserve their love forever. It was Riku who had sought him out.
Ansem. Rumored to be of the undead. Rumored to be older than the queen herself; but only by a few decades.
And Riku had gone to him, had turned willingly, had given in to the darkness.
But Sora refused it; refused to become what Riku had found so easy to become. And their love…shattered, scattered itself to the far ends of the earth.
Riku tried to explain how he'd done it for them; how, despite the withdrawal of the crave for blood, that they could spend eternity as they were. Youthful, strong, and in love.
Sora considered; even warmed up to the idea.
But, again, their chance at forever was destroyed.
Their affair was discovered and Sora was stoned to death; killed for the crime of a love that could not be helped.
Riku, shocked, stunned, and beyond grief, had retreated to his master's side to mourn the death of his lover. Until the day he felt Sora's presence reawaken…and started his search.

---

If you were but with me…to see what a fine mess these mortals have made of this world.
Riku stood a top one building, a long black trench coat whipping about his long, lanky legs. His sterling hair danced in the wind, brushing against his cheeks, tickling the back of his neck. His eyes, neon, electric, reflected the light of the city below. It had been centuries since the man had seen the night so alive; it hummed with energy and life just waiting to be taken. Riku clenched a hand over his heart, and bowed his head.
I feel you in this place Sora…and soon…soon you will be found…

---

"QUICK! This way!"

"Sora! They're catching up!"

"Less talk, more run!"

Sora willed his legs to move faster, trying to ignore the burning pain in his shins that just begged for a rest. His two best friends, Kairi and Yuffie, were hot behind him, both struggling to keep up and panting for breath. They needed a place to hide, and they needed one fast.

"In here," he hissed, grabbing a hold of Kairi's hand and jerking her along behind him. Yuffie followed without question.
Scampering behind the wrought iron gates of the graveyard, Sora dashed behind the largest headstone he could find, his hand slapping over Kairi's mouth to prevent her terrified cry. He knew of the girl's dislike of the dead, but had little choice if they were to outsmart those that were chasing them.
He noted that Yuffie was crouching behind a headstone a few yards away. He nodded at her, and she nodded back. Good. Everyone was okay.

"Spread out guys! Find the little fuck and rip him open."

Sora sucked in a breath. Kairi sent him a look with wide, frantic eyes. He knew better than to remove his hand from her mouth.
He heard footsteps approaching and tensed.

"Kairi," he whispered softly but intensely, "I want you to listen to me, understand? These guys…they're insane. I want you to take Yuffie and get out of here."

The girl gave a muffled sound of protest.

"NO. You can't help; and you two being here would just distract me. You have to go. If something happened to either of you…I don't know what I'd do."

A single tear trailed down her cheek, and Sora leaned foreword to kiss it away.

"Take Yuffie and go to the end of the row, then go out the back way. Do NOT send help."

He shoved her away then, just as Yuffie flew by, grabbing her hand and taking off down the row at a low crouch. Sora waited until he couldn't see them anymore and stood, ready for a fight.
He didn't have to wait too long for one either.
A hand grabbed him about the throat and threw him into the headstone he'd been hiding behind. He let out a grunt as his side impacted on the sharp edge of the stone. He knew, without a doubt, there'd be a bruise there in the morning.

"Found you, you little shit." The owner of said hand caroled, kicking Sora sharply in the stomach. All the air left his body, and Sora gasped for breath.

"Didn't…take you…long."

"You run like a goddamn snail."

"Do you always…have to swear?"

The man kicked Sora again for being smart; "It comes with the job."

Sora wisely didn't reply.
The sound of more approaching stayed their conversation, and it wasn't until the footsteps ceased that Sora dared to open his mouth again. "So the whole gang's here, then?"

"Of course Sora. Just because you are our favorite doesn't mean we can let you go about saying and doing as you please."

"Yeah?"

"Yes," another man, the one that had just spoken, replied, grabbing the boy by the hair and lifting him up, "it's terrible for business."

"FUCK your business," Sora bit out, spitting in the man's face.

The man calmly wiped it away. "I wish you wouldn't be so difficult."

"It's what I do."

"Oh? Well…we must change that then…"

And Sora was dropped roughly to the ground, his back connecting with more hard stone. He hissed, his body already too abused for one night.
He hadn't the time to realize what was going to happen to him until it was far, far too late. He did scream however, as two of the men grabbed his arms and shoulders, pinning him down, a third straddling his hips as he tore at the zipper of his pants.
No…not again…NO!
Their laughter hit his ears like acid; it burned into his mind, a sound that would forever torment him.
He retreated into himself, his face going blank, his limbs limp.
Just do it and get it over with…just do it…DAMNIT! DO IT!

"Hey! Who the fuck are -FUCK!"

Sora snapped back to himself when the weight on his hips vanished, as well as the grip on his shoulders and arms.
He caught sight of the two men who'd been holding him down flying through the air. They landed a few feet away.
Gunshots fired, followed by a manic sort of laugh and a deep voice, "That cannot harm me mortal,"

The man who'd given the order to violate Sora let out a high pitched scream, a moan, and then he was silent.
Sora looked about frantically, terrified that who ever had saved him might come after him next. Cool hands settled on his bare hips, and he jerked his head foreword. A man with long, untamed silver hair was kneeling before him, his electric eyes entrancing Sora despite his agitation.

"Are you unharmed?" he asked.

"Y-y-y-"

Sora couldn't speak.

The man laughed.

"As articulate as ever. Stand."

Sora did as he was told, and the man took great care in helping him, careful not to jar his wounds. Sora was surprised by the gentleness, and when the man helped to pull his pants back on. No one ever treated him like he was something to be cherished and appreciated.
When the man seemed satisfied with his state, he pulled back to eye Sora with scrutiny.

"You're taller than he was."

Sora blinked, taken aback. "Eh?"

But the man just shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We're together again, and that's what's important."

"Excuse me? What ARE you on buddy?"

"Buddy? You've never called me that. I daresay…it's not very flattering."

"I'VE NEVER MET YOU!"

This seemed to upset the man, "That's not funny Sora. Stop it."

"I'm not trying to be funny in the first place! Thanks for saving my life and being so nice to me, but I seriously don't know who the hell you are, or, for that matter, how you know my name!"

"You…you really don't remember?"

"Does it look like I remember?!"

"No, it does not."

---

Kairi yanked her hand free from Yuffie's, falling to her knees as a gasping sob spilled from her lips. Yuffie, confused, turned to reprimand the girl, but one look at her face and she couldn't.

"Kairi…it's what Sora wanted," she began, but the redhead cut her off with a furious shake of her head.

"We shouldn't have left him! He stood up for us, Yuffie, he took care of us!"

"Don't you think I know that?! Don't you think I regret it, too?!"

Yuffie turned away then, trying to hide her own tears.

She was surprised when Kairi's two slim arms slipped around her waist, the girl's head burying into her back. "We have to help him, Yuffie. We HAVE to."

"But what can we do?"

Kairi shook her head. She didn't have an answer.

"I think that's our cue girls."

---

Riku felt the sudden overwhelming need to level the tombstone nearest to him. Why was fate so intent on torturing him? Had he not suffered enough?

"Look…mister…I don't know who you're looking for, but trust me, it's NOT me."

Riku gave a hollow laugh at that, running a hand through his silver locks.

"It cannot be anyone but you, I assure you."

"But we've never met!"

"WE HAVE!" The man spat, his voice hardening. He gripped at Sora's forearms, hard and unforgiving; just this side of bruising.

"Why don't you recognize me Sora, WHY?" he punctuated the question with a rough shake. Sora whimpered.

"Well, hey, this looks like fun. Do you always accost innocent boys in graveyards Rikky-poo?"

Riku's grip on Sora loosened and he let the boy go, uncaring as he feel to ground. He had far, far, bigger problems.

"Ask a stupid question, Rikku."

"Seems to go with his nature, don't you think Paine?"

"Indeed."

"Are you finished?" the silver-headed man ground out, annoyed. The three women leaning casually against a nearby angel statue only shrugged. Riku buried his face in his hands, beyond frustrated. Fate, it seemed, was just not on his side.

"I'm afraid you can't have that boy, Riku."

"I would not take him by force if that's what you're implying."

"It IS what I'm implying."

"Oooh! Go Yunie, go!"

"Rikku…shut up."

"Right-o Dr. P."

The woman in the middle shot the short blonde girl next to her a withering glare. The girl mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key.
Riku groaned.

"Must you three follow me about EVERYWHERE? Can I not live my life in peace?"

"We'd leave you in peace," the tallest of the three, a woman with short, styled brown hair said, loading a gun and leveling it at Riku's chest, "Problem is, you're not living."

"Yuna, guns can't harm me. I thought you'd hunted me long enough to know that."

"THIS gun will hurt you, trust me. Back away from the boy, Riku, and leave him be."

Riku flashed his fangs threateningly, hissing. "Make me."

"Don't make me kill you. I really don't want to."

"I will not let you take him! Not when I've looked for him for so long!"

"Riku…this is different…HE'S different."

"YOU CANNOT HAVE HIM!" Riku roared, diving at the brown-haired woman, intent on ripping her throat out. But she fired her gun, and the bullet lodged in his shoulder, burning into his flesh with a foul odor. Taken by surprise, he stumbled back, giving Paine, the second tallest of the three, time to produce a wooden stake from behind her back.
Out of nowhere a figure tackled her to the ground, sending the thick stake flying from the gray haired woman's grip. Rikku made a dive for it, but Yuna's loud command to leave it be headed her.
Yuna had her gun leveled shakily at the figure's head, who was seated on Paine's midsection. His blue eyes were intent on the woman's face.

"Yuna…" he breathed, and she dropped her gun.

"Tidus."

"Rikku!" Paine grunted, struggling to buck the man's heavy weight from atop her, "Save Sora! Don't let Riku get him!"
The blonde haired girl whirled into action, flipping backwards until she had launched her body over Riku's, putting herself between he and Sora.

"Sorry! He's off the menu for tonight!"

"Move you irritating excuse for a girl!"

"Now that just hurts, Rikky-poo. We've known one another for so long."

"Too long. MOVE!"

Rikku didn't respond to his last request, however, choosing instead to kick the man squarely in the midsection. He stumbled back, growled, and dived at her, ready to kill her and feast upon her essence.
A gunshot fired, hitting Riku square in the back, just to the left of his heart. The blood that he'd so meticulously gathered that night gushed from the wound, and he fell to his knees, weakened.
The man who had pinned Paine to the ground appeared at Riku' side, taking one of his arms and throwing it around his shoulder. With one last look in Yuna's direction, he disappeared from sight.
Yuna fell to her knees, white faced and shaking.
Rikku and Paine had the sense to check on Sora, who was staring at them all with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"Who the hell ARE you guys? And who the hell…what's going on?!"

"Let's just say a very powerful vampire is after you boy," Paine replied, her eyes grave, "and he's less than sane."

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Music: Story of the Year, Sheryl Crow, and Switchfoot.
AN: I would like to state here that the last bit was meant to be confusing. Because now you're confused and want to know more! IT'S MY MASTER PLAN TO KEEP YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE!! MWHAHAHA!!
…
Yes. Quite done now. I was afraid that girl!Rikku and guy!Riku would get confusing…but I think I separated them as characters pretty nicely. n.n;;; Tried to anyway. Any OOCness is being worked on, as I'm still getting my hands wrapped around everyone's characters. Beyond that…I'm done blabbing at you. Please Review! 8D

- Ember