You ever get those ideas that hit you out of nowhere? The ideas where, when they come, don't leave you alone until you actually do something about them?

This came from one of those ideas...then proceeded to beat it into the ground so I would focus on it first.

Originally, I was thinking of a Birth by Sleep AU. While thinking on that, this one popped up. It's pretty straightforward, but I don't think I've ever seen it done before. Basically, Riku gets the Keyblade on the islands like he's supposed to.

Obviously, this is going to change things. How much, though, remains to be seen. Also, Sora is still going to be pivotal to the story. Perhaps, after this chapter, you'll see why. I just couldn't leave him out, you know? I enjoy his character, and don't think Kingdom Hearts would be quite the same without him.

Anyway, I'll go ahead and let you read now. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but this plot idea.

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Chapter 1

The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction...

Is this the power you seek?

Yes.

Your path is set.

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His mother had always said that he was too curious for his own good. That- he remembered her telling him -was fine so long as you also exercised restraint. Or at least good judgment.

He was pretty sure that if she were here right now, he would be in so much trouble.

Riku stepped back from the darkness spreading from the door like ink- quickly and consuming everything it touched. Even as he mentally scolded himself to giving into the desire to see what had been beyond the door in the secret place, part of him noted that he was both horrified and fascinated. Horrified, since this couldn't possibly be good, and fascinated because...well, he didn't really know why.

Child...Lovely child...

He jerked, then took another step back for good measure. The voice was a hushed whisper, reaching his ears in a soft caress, but still managing to make him shiver in discomfort.

Thank you, for opening the door...The door to your world...

So there were other worlds! He'd always assumed, of course, but it was one thing hoping and another hearing confirmation. This was amazing! He knew all those years weren't-

'Focus, Riku,' he chastised, forcing himself back to the situation at hand. 'This isn't the time to get distracted.'

That would prove more difficult than he thought. Especially when the voice started to speak again. He looked around warily. Where was it coming from anyway?

Sweet child...You long to travel to other worlds, yes? You can. You can...

Despite himself, he found his interest peaked. Unconsciously, he lowered his guard.

"How?"

Give in. Accept the darkness...

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Sora could clearly remember ever instance where he had been scared. Not the scared by Riku jumping out at him from a bush, either, but truly, heart-stoppingly terrified.

Tonight blew all those other times away.

Storms, he could handle. They didn't happen all that often, but he was confident in his ability to deal with them. This wasn't a regular storm, though. Some instinctive sense within him was telling him that this was something much, much worse. Something that had the ability to hurt...to destroy...

'Please let them be okay.'

At first, his concern had been just for the raft. They'd spent so long on it for their work to go to waste like this. The longer he spent outside, however, the less it became an issue. Then, once he learned that both Riku and Kairi had also come to the island, it was banished completely. He had to find them. Fast.

Luck seemed to be on his side tonight, since he quickly spotted Riku on the small island with the paopu tree. Kairi was probably with him- he couldn't really tell in this darkness. Grinning, he started making his way over, so focused on the flash of silver in front of him, that he almost missed the shift of something beneath him. He was barely able to move out of the way, though it cost him his footing.

'Wha-...What is that?'

It might have been cute, if it didn't make his heart race with fear. Something about it was making him anxious and uneasy. Yet...

It was familiar, somehow...Like something he'd seen in a dream.

He shook his head. Not wanting to find out first hand if his feelings had any merit behind them, he quickly got up and ran. He could deal with all of this later. Right now, he had to get to his friends.

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Darkness was a curious thing, Riku decided. It made everything inside him squirm- almost as if he'd been plunged into icy water -and yet he found himself drawn by it all the same. He knew he should be worried by the fact that he wasn't more concerned about what was happening around him, but he just couldn't dredge up the will to care...

The darkness was soothing...calling to him with pleasant murmurings...

"Where's Kairi? I thought she was with you!"

Who...was that? They sounded familiar...Whoever they were, they probably didn't know what was happening. Not like he did.

"The door has opened..."

"What?"

Sora. That was it. He was Sora. His friend.

Suddenly much more excited, he turned to face him. "The door has opened, Sora! Now we can go to the outside world!"

Sora didn't take this news quite like he expected. He seemed...upset. Why, though? Wasn't this what they'd always wanted? For the two of them to set sail and have an adventure?

"What are you talking about? We've gotta find Kairi!"

Kairi. He'd forgotten Kairi. He felt a stab of guilt. How could he have forgotten her?

Hoping to cover this up, he quickly replied. "Kairi's coming with us!" It didn't help. Sora must have sensed something was off, because he was frowning now. He continued. Perhaps if he explained, Sora would understand. "Once we step through, we might not be able to come back. We may never see our parents again. There's no turning back."

There really wasn't...A small part of his mind told him he should be feeling sad about that. It was quickly overcome by building excitement. "But this may be our only chance! We can't let fear stop us!" He could convince Sora to join him, he knew it. "I'm not afraid of the darkness!"

This was it, he could feel it. He held out his hand in invitation, unaware of what was pooling beneath him.

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This wasn't right.

"Riku..."

No, he wasn't Riku- at least, not entirely. Something was wrong with him. He'd bet anything it had to do with that darkness around him. That cold, consuming darkness...He shivered, but tried his best to ignore it. Riku needed his help right now, even if he didn't realize it himself.

And there was no way he'd leave his friends hanging.

Spurred into motion by the upward climb of the darkness on Riku, he rushed forward, intent on at least pulling him away from it. He quickly found himself stuck in place, however, and couldn't pull himself free. He leaned forward and reached his hand out. If he could just reach him...

The darkness formed a wall between their hands. Sora scowled. Fine, if it was going to be stubborn, then so was he.

"Riku!" He called, hoping- praying -that he could hear him. "Snap out of it! This isn't like you!" No response. That wasn't going to stop him, though. "We'll find other ways to travel the worlds! Just not this way!"

"...How are you so sure?"

Yes! Riku was still there. "Because we'd be together! Riku, I still don't know where Kairi is! How do you know she'd come with us if she's not here?"

A flash of doubt.

Sora saw it and pressed his advantage. "Help me find her, Riku," he pleaded. "I don't want to go anywhere until I know she's with us. Please."

Silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of the harsh winds that he hadn't realized were blowing. He could see the struggle in Riku's expression. In his eyes. He was fighting something tooth and nail, and he shuddered to think of what it could be.

Finally, Riku opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment, the darkness engulfed them both.

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Riku didn't know whether to laugh or gag. It seemed split in half was the mentality of the time- or at least it had been ever since he opened that stupid door. He was cursing that decision now. He'd never been more torn in his life.

Part of him was urging him to accept the darkness around him. To bring it into himself and gain powers he'd never even dreamed of. That was the part that was laughing.

The other was telling him to reject it. That it would only bring suffering if he seeked it and screaming at him to listen to Sora and get the heck out of there. This part was gagging- probably at being surrounded.

He didn't know what to do.

A startled cry broke into his thoughts, quickly followed by a pained one. He couldn't see anything, but he knew the voice. Sora. Panic and anger settled into him. Sora was getting hurt while he was arguing with himself. Hadn't he promised himself to keep them safe? Where was that dedication now?

'No more!' he thought, fists clenching. 'I will protect them!'

He knew where his path was now. Where it had always been...

With his friends.

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Light washed over him. Warm, welcoming light that had him weeping tears of relief as the darkness receded.

"...Sora?"

He looked up, and wept even more. Riku was standing there. The Riku he knew and not that strange, unnerving figure that was him but wasn't. He didn't even realize he was laughing until Riku kneeled down beside him, brows furrowing in concern.

"You snapped, didn't you?"

This only had him laughing harder- which probably didn't help convince his friend otherwise. It was just such a Riku response that he couldn't help but laugh. It was the only way to express the sheer joy he was feeling at having him back to normal.

Then, he started coughing.

"Sora!"

Pain. Deep pain that burned- yet froze and ached in his chest. Riku made a move as if to help, but quickly looked up and cursed. Sora considered himself lucky, since his glove was stained in a suspicious looking red now, and he was pretty sure Riku wouldn't like that. Looking up himself, Sora saw more of those ant things with the creepy yellow eyes.

'I really don't like those things...' he thought drowsily.

"Stay with me, Sora," he heard Riku say. Was...that panic in his voice...? It couldn't be. Not Riku.

"Why not?" he grumbled in response. "'M tired."

It was kind of weird, now that he thought of it. Why was he so tired? Talking to Riku couldn't have taken so much out of him...

"Just stay awake, okay? Please."

"Fine," he relented. He supposed it was the least he could do, after Riku listened to his earlier request.

"Thanks...Just stay there, okay? I'll be right back."

More than anything, he wanted to nod in agreement. The part of his mind that was aware of the situation, however, didn't like that one bit. He almost lost Riku once, he wasn't going to risk it again.

"No," he said with a weak shake of his head. "We go together."

"You're injured."

Injured...?

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Riku would have shaken his head when Sora blinked owlishly and looked down at himself- if it hadn't meant he was so out of it that he didn't know he was slowly bleeding out. He winced when Sora slowly prodded one of the deep gashes on his chest with a dazed, but curious finger.

He quickly slapped it away. "Don't touch it! It'll get infected."

"...Are you...calling me a germ?"

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but just barely. He had to remind himself that Sora wasn't thinking clearly right now. Still, a part of him was grateful he was being so stupid. It helped to keep his mind off of how bad it really was.

How badly Sora had gotten hurt because of him.

"So...are we going...or what?"

He focused in again to see Sora getting up with some difficulty and glared. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Moving."

"Sora," he sighed with exasperation. He was worried enough as it was. Couldn't he just make things easier and stay put?

"Riku."

"Stay here."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Kairi...We...have to...find her."

"Not like that you're not."

He was kind of surprised at the glare Sora gave him. The younger boy seemed to dredge up some of his remaining strength and straightened.

"There's no time!" he rasped, before swaying in place. When it passed, he grinned weakly, as if getting a sudden idea. "'Sides, you wouldn't leave me here alone, w-...with those things, would you?"

He wanted to, especially after that last falter in speech, but he knew Sora had a point.

...Why did he choose now to start talking sense?

"Fine," he bit out unintentionally. "Just stay close and let me deal with these things."

"Sure." He blinked slowly. "Hey...where'd you...get that funny sword?"

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Riku looked down and to look at the strange key/sword gripped tightly in his hand. Sora hadn't noticed it before, but it was probably what he'd used to beat those weird monsters.

Cool.

"Can...I see it?"

"Looking for Kairi, remember?"

He just didn't want to let go of it...

"Okay...Later then."

Riku smiled a bit. "Sure." Like most of his smiles, however, it was gone soon enough. "Let's go."

Sora nodded, and the two of them set off. It was difficult. The short energy boost he'd used while arguing with Riku had left him exhausted. His wound was acting up more than ever now, pulsing in pain to the beat of his heart. Idly, he wondered how bad it really was. He'd only registered it slightly, after all.

You'll be okay. I've got it covered.

He started, and narrowly avoided losing his balance.

"Sora?"

He stared at Riku for a moment before shaking his head. He must be hearing things, or maybe Riku himself had said that, and he just imagined the voice sounding different.

"I'm fine."

The look he was given told him Riku didn't believe him. Oh well, he couldn't win everything today. So, he just kept walking forward, forcing his friend to keep going or be separated. Riku didn't say anything more, but his lips were drawn tightly together. Sora knew that once this whole thing was over, a long talk/lecture awaited him.

Riku could be such a mother hen sometimes...

"Sora, look."

Riku was pointing at the entrance to the secret spot, but what had just been a whole in the wall was now an elaborate white door. His heart skipped a beat when he laid eyes on it. He could feel something within calling out to him.

Kairi.

He surged forward.

"Sora, what are you doing?"

"Kairi's in there!"

"What? How do you know?"

He didn't answer. In all honesty, he didn't know if he could. He had no idea how he knew she was there, but he did. That was all he needed. Riku cursed and rushed forward, passing him by enough to get rid of the monsters coming their way.

"I hope you're right," was all he said.

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Riku watched Sora stumble along, and did his best to resist either helping him along or knocking him out. Both were options he didn't really want to deal with right now, considering he had his hands full as it was. There was also the worry for Kairi eating away at him from inside. If Sora was telling the truth and she was in there-

Well, there wasn't any time to lose.

So he pushed his concern and fear away, storing it with everything else that was on his mind- like what this weird key was-

Keyblade...

He blew out an irritated breath at the whisper in his mind. It had happened when he'd first gotten it too. Like it was insisting he accept the name. It wasn't anything like the voice of darkness had been, and he wasn't sure if he preferred it or not. Still, he supposed he'd trust it for the time being. If it hadn't been for him getting it, who knew what would be happening to him and Sora right now. Especially Sora.

'Not the time to think about that,' he growled mentally. There would be time to figure everything out later...hopefully.

He brought himself back to the situation when they reached the door. Sora struggled with it for a few moments before getting it open. At that point, he placed a hand on Sora's shoulder.

"I'll watch your back, just let me know if anything's in front of you, okay?"

Sora nodded, and the two of them cautiously stepped in, unsure of what they would find...

"Kairi!" he heard Sora cry.

His heart leapt into his throat as he looked over Sora's shoulder. So she was safe-...no. No she wasn't. He could tell by the look on her face as she turned around to look at them. Pained and sad and lonely- yet terribly empty at the same time. That wasn't the Kairi he knew...what was going on?

"Sora..."

He squashed down a burst of jealousy. He supposed he deserved to be ignored. He got the terrible feeling that Kairi was this way because of that door. That stupid door that he had opened. Still, a voice was hissing in his mind, telling him that even if this wasn't so, she would always have eyes for Sora. Only for him...

Kairi reached out for Sora with that blank expression he already knew he hated...

Then the door exploded.

He barely had time to brace himself against the gale of darkness that burst forward and lifted Kairi off her feet toward them. He watched Sora open his arms to catch her and quickly did the same- Sora wouldn't be able to support her as he was. It would have to fall to him to steady them.

But then Kairi vanished and his heart stopped.

No. No, no, no. This wasn't happening. Kairi was just somewhere else. Waiting for them. All they had to do was go back out and look for her. He refused to believe she was gone all because of a stupid mistake.

His stupid mistake.

He grunted when Sora crashed into him- had it only been a few seconds? -and felt his footing slip. That was all it took for them to be forced out of the small cave and into-

No. This was too much.

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The islands were gone...

Kairi was gone...

The islands were gone...

Kairi was gone...

The islands were gone...

Kairi was gone...

These two thoughts were all that swirled in his mind. Nothing else seemed to register. Their home, their beautiful, peaceful home was gone. All that was left was a sad scrap of land surrounded by darkness.

"Woah!"

He felt an arm go around him and dazedly realized that Riku was now supporting him.

"Don't pass out on me now, Sora. Come on."

Yea. Don't give up now.

A helpless little moan escaped him. Riku was right. He'd snapped. He was going crazy. He was hearing some stupid voice in his head like they say people do when they go nuts.

Gee, thanks.

"Sora? Y-" Riku broke off with a curse. A pretty nasty one at that. Looking up, Sora saw why.

It was a demon. That was the best description he had for the creature that towered over them. It was the sort of thing that came from nightmares and that little kids were afraid would come out from under the bed.

This was too much.

"Sora, stay here."

He agreed this time. He'd be useless here, and they both knew it. Besides, where could Riku go when everything looked like this? So, he watched as Riku ran forward with that weird key thing and proceeded to try and hack it's hand off...or something like that.

'Doesn't look like it's doing much good.'

You're telling me. Terra would have obliterated that thing already.

Sora made a face. Terra? That was a little elaborate for a voice in his head...

I'm not a-

The voice sighed.

You know what, I'll explain later. When you're not delirious from blood loss and are more likely to believe me.

What made him think he'd believe him even when he was thinking clearly?

I heard that.

Great, now even his thoughts weren't private- and he was thinking of the voice like another person, wasn't he? Great.

Hey, you're the one who lent me his heart.

Wait. What?

Later. Looks like there's more important things to deal with right now.

'Huh?'

Hold on, Sora.

Sora wasn't usually one to curse- if ever -but he sure was tempted when everything started being sucked up.

"Sora!"

Riku was a few feet away, struggling to make his way over.

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Riku was exhausted.

His whole body was protesting his movements, and he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep for a week. But he couldn't. Not when Sora was counting on him.

'Is he really, though?' he asked himself as he stopped to catch his breath.

During that whole fight, Sora hadn't moved an inch, which was weird because that monster had launched all sorts of attacks. He would know. Maybe it was just luck. Sora always was ridiculously lucky...Something told him that wasn't quite right, though. Then there was the slight glow he could have sworn he saw out of the corner of his eyes at times.

His eyes widened when he saw a tree- a fucking tree -heading for Sora.

A still dazed and unaware Sora.

"Look out!"

His eyes met ocean blue for an instant before he saw them explode with pain and slide shut.

"No!"

With the loss of consciousness, came the loss of Sora's grip. Ignoring everything else, Riku pushed himself off the ground after him. It was dangerous, and scared him out of his mind to do it, but he was not going to just let him go. Fighting the nausea that settled in his stomach from nerves and the motion of going round in high-speed circles, he raced toward his friend. The one that was still with him.

'Just a little more...'

It seemed all the luck had gone to Sora today, for as soon as his fingers brushed his friend's hand, they reached the ball of darkness hovering in the sky. A strange feeling flooded him for an instant, and then, he fell unconscious.

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The power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A shield to repel all...

Is this the power you seek?

Yea.

Your path is set.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo ~Chapter End

Few things to say for this chapter.

One: this is NOT a yaoi. Sora and Riku will be FRIENDS throughout this whole thing. The closest they'll ever get is like brothers. I don't have anything against it, but I couldn't write it even if you paid me. Too awkward for me. When things are awkward, they come out bad.

The same stands for other popular yaoi pairings. AkuRoku, for example.

Two: Yes, Sora's crazy voice is exactly who you're thinking of. Why they're able to talk will be explained...just not in this chapter.

Three: Like stated at the start, Sora is still important. It'll just be in a different way. Hope you like what I have in mind.

and Four: This chapter switched perspectives a lot. This won't always be the case. I just felt it was appropriate for the chapter. Keep that in mind so you won't be surprised if you see something different.

That's all I can think of for now. Let me know what you guys thought. Until next time and take care!