Hey guys! I know, I promised you that I would have this up a couple years ago, but I'm doing it now, and hopefully it will be a lot better than the previous one.

Disclaimer: I disclaim.

The sun was slowly declining, the sky turning a pink-orange hue. The end was coming upon another uneventful day.

It had been at least three years since Riku and Sora defeated Xemnas and destroyed Kingdom Hearts. It was hard and painful, nothing that the pair want to experience again, although, they don't regret the adventure. After all was said and done, Sora and Riku went back home to Destiny Islands. Though, the quiet life soon got to the pair, and they soon raced back off to live with Cloud, Tifa, Leon, and the rest of the gang. Nothing major has happened ever since, and everyone couldn't be happier.

Except for Riku.

Hollow Bastion, now known as Radiant Garden, was peaceful and quiet as always.

Riku stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked past the marketplace and into the borough. The gray walls just seemed to dampen his mood more before he sulked over to the ledge and looked out over the ruins of the once beautiful castle. His silver hair blew softly in the passing breeze, and his blue-green eyes shimmered in the sunset as his mind went once more into overdrive.

He had been thinking a lot lately. More than he would have liked. He wanted to leave. God, how he wanted to leave so badly. He wanted to go and see more, but more importantly, to get rid of this tug that he had been feeling in his heart. It was overbearing, and he just wanted to curse himself to the high heavens when that tug was felt. Though lately, that tug and pull was getting stronger. To wear or what though, he had no idea.

Sora had reassured him so many times and as much as he wanted to believe him, he still had this lingering doubt in the back of his mind, that Sora was making him more grand of a person than he really was.

His head slumped onto his arm and he sighed roughly in frustration. 'I don't belong in the light. Darkness is still going strong in my heart. But I can't leave. Sora would be upset and it would tear him apart. Plus, I wouldn't be there to protect him if anything were to happen.'

He closed to eyes and shifted to haunch his body more. He honestly didn't know what to do. He had always wanted adventure, a sense of belonging and purpose as well, and now that he had left his utmost trust in Sora, he couldn't break his vow of leaving the other alone like that again.

He was pulled from his own self-wallowing when he heard a faint sound of approaching footsteps, and turned around to be met with a familiar face. He stood back up and turned around, leaning against the wall as he watched the person he was just agonizing over march right up to him. "Sora? What are you doing here?"

Sora went up to him and had a grin plastered to his face. Those large blue eyes seemed to glow as he placed his hands behind his head, leaning to the side as all his weight settled on one leg. "I just thought I'd pay you a visit. You haven't been home for a long time, and I was getting worried."

Riku glanced back at the sunset. Of course he was. That was Sora for you. Always the selfless hero. "You don't have to worry about me."

Sora rolled his eyes and gave Riku a playful punch to the shoulder. "You know I always worry about you. You can never stay out of trouble." He grinned, placing his fists on his hips.

Riku just shook his head and let out a soft chuckle. "You're one to talk." he smirked.

Sora ignored his comment before he wagged his finger in the elder's direction. "Ah, ah! You have to be nice to me! Otherwise I won't tell you who I found!" He smirked.

Riku rose an eyebrow before he chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Alright alright. Who did you find?"

Sora said nothing, just grinned, as he placed his thumb and forefinger in between his lips and whistled loudly.

Riku was surprised by the call, his eyes flickering in the direction that Sora whistled towards, but saw no one. Instead, he heard the pounding of feet as they came barreling towards the pair. He glanced over at Sora's grinning face and could only guess who it was. His train of thought was literally knocked out of him as he was suddenly forced onto the ground, a heavy pressure on his chest and something wet was being slapped against his face.

Riku laughed as he turned his head this way and that, trying to get rid of the slobbery tongue. He heard Sora laughing hysterically beside him which only fueled his own laughter. Riku pushed the large dog off of him and sat up, wiping the slobber from his face. "Where did you find him?"

Sora bent down and patted Pluto's head. "I found him in the alley beside Merlin's house." He was sniffing around as if looking for someone. He also smells, making me think he has been on his own for a while." he laughed.

Riku brushed the dirt from the seat of his pants before crossing his arms over his chest. "Since Pluto's here, I wonder if the King is here too?" Riku wondered, glancing around.

Sora shrugged unknowingly. "I dunno." He stroked Pluto's head a while longer before he gave Riku a side long glance. "Let's go for a walk." He said softly, standing back up straight again.

Riku gave a slight nod before he stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed the brunette out of the borough. The two walked side by side though the marketplace as Pluto sniffed the ground in front of them, barking occasionally as he ran in circles around them.

Sora put his hands behind his head as he walked, not being able to stand the silence anymore. "Hey Riku, when are you coming home?" He asked. He knew this wasn't something that Riku wanted to talk about, but it had to brought up sooner or later.

Riku didn't look at him. "I don't know." He knew where this was going and so he stuck to simple responses. He knew it was aggravate the other, but it was better than him finding about his turmoil.

Sora pouted as he kicked a stone, thinking of a different tactic. "Kairi is worried about you as well." He said.

Riku remained silent. He never did care for Kairi. She was always hanging all over Sora, and it sometimes got on Riku's nerves. Although he would never say that aloud, though he couldn't help the small snort that followed.

Sora released a sigh. "You have to come home some time." He said, becoming impatient. His eyes softened and he looked at the ground, kicking the rock as he walked. "I miss you too." he mumbled.

"I know." He whispered. He wanted to do what Sora wanted, he really did, but he just didn't want to go home quite yet, and it only annoyed him more as those tugs and pulls of his chest were acting up. He reached up to rub the skin over his heard before something caught the corner of his eye. He glanced over into one of the alleyways and his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he caught the glimpse of something slinking into the shadows.

Sora blinked and looked over to where Riku was glaring, but he didn't see anything. "Riku? Is something wrong?" He asked, still trying to see

.

Riku was cut out of his scoping by Sora's voice. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair as he glanced back at him. "It's nothing." He replied, not wanting to alert the boy, but he himself wasn't fooled. He watched Pluto closely as the dog stopped in front of them and sniffed the air.

Sora tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Pluto? What is it boy?" Sora asked before he went over and knelt beside the dog. He stood up after a while and walked a few feet in front of the dog. "I don't see anything." He said shrugging.

Suddenly, a figure rose from the ground, wrapping one arm around Sora's waist and the other held a knife that was pressed against his throat. "What the-" He was cut off though as the blade pressed harder. He growled and itched to wield his Keyblade. He couldn't believe this creep just snuck up on him! Now he was pissed. The wielder leaned down next to Sora's ear. "Try it and I'll strike down your friend. I have others watching who won't hesitate to strike if I command to do so." he whispered in a husky voice. Sora wrinkled his noise at the putrid breath, but did as instructed.

Riku had fallen in a state of shock as the tall stranger held Sora. He cursed and shook himself out of his trance. He drew out his Soul Eater and ran at the cloaked stranger, rage visible in his eyes.

Sora hissed out in pain as a small line of crimson formed where the dagger cut deeper into his neck, the blood dripping slowly down his neck. Riku stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in fear for Sora's life before they turned to fire, pure rage filtering through his body, making him shake.

"Wise choice."

Riku glared at the husky voice and growled. His hands fisted and unfastened around his weapon. He was stuck and it made him angrier. "What do you want with Sora?" He barked. Pluto was growling furiously beside him, but the dog had sense enough to try not to attack.

"Put the weapon away."

Riku scowled, standing there motionless a moment longer before he willed the sword to disappear. He straightened back up, his eyes flickering back and forth between the dark depths of the stranger's hood and Sora's piercing blue eyes. "Let him go!" he demanded.

The stranger shook his head, though only the hood moved to show he did it at all. "We want to see you suffer. You have caused us a lot of grief. We want to give you a taste of your own medicine."

Riku glared, his hands fisted at his side. "Who are you? Who is 'we'?" He barked, wanting to stall as long as he could.

The man merely laughed as darkness took over his and Sora's forms, sending them into a portal. Sora cried out. "RIKU!" He cried, reaching out for the other in desperation.

Riku scrambled towards him with his hand outreached, but they disappeared before Riku got there in time.

Riku stared at the spot before he fell to his knees. No. This couldn't happen! He was supposed to protect him! He couldn't fail him! Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as his fists pounded at the earth. He glared, the sky turning gray and starting a downpour. His eyes were shadowed, giving him a demonic look as sheer determination took him over. He would NOT let them get away with this. Pluto's mournful howl pierced the night as Riku swore he would find Sora and kill the bastard that took him!

So? Hate it? Love it? Improvement from the previous version? I hope so! Anyway, look out soon for the next chapter!