Whoo! Long time no see (though hopefully not too long). I decided after much debate to continue the Bound by Magic series via new story. Why? Well, even though there will be some Riku/Sora in it, it's not based on the pair - this is based on Roxas and his experience with 'life'. That and thinking of him as 'just a nobody' break my heart wibble So he gets his own piece! Yay!
DisclaimerKingdom Hearts and all of its characters are property of SquareEnix/Disney. NOT MINE D:
Comments: Ansem's thoughts are -dashed italics- and Cloud has his usual //double slashed italics//. I'm going to try and remember who has one and list them at the start of each chapter to make things less confusing (especially if there's thought-speak like the last chapter ;;)
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Cloud knew something like this would happen - Riku was too impulsive. The boy threw himself into it like he did everything he felt passionately about - full-bodied with no room for error or quitting. He could plan things out all he wanted but it never went according to plan.
Though the healing potion had done its part in helping Riku heal Cloud had forced the boy to take a Sleeping Drought - it would put him out until his body finished healing on its own what the potion had not. It took two demands, several threats and some pleading but Riku finally took the mug after Cloud promised ("Swear on the life of that bloody beast," Riku had demanded, eyes flashing as if daring him to protest) to help get Sora. The blond waited until the silver-haired teen had swallowed the mix and fell off to sleep, head falling against his pillow before stepping out of their home to get some fresh air.
The black stallion looked up from where it had been munching on sweet grass, snorting in Cloud's direction before turning back to its meal. The blond chuckled, moving to give the great beast a firm pat on the neck. "Nice to see you again, to-" His sentence was cut short when a flash, something like lighting but much too bright and deadly silent, flickered in the distance. Blue eyes narrowed into slits as he looked through the trees, trying to see the source of the light. Their hideout was deep in the woods and guarded with magical wards and boundaries - had anyone been in the area he would have known. The chattering of the birds and other creatures of the forests fell silent and even the black steed looked up, body poised and ears flicked in the direction Cloud was looking.
//Whatever it is, it came from town.// An uneasy feeling curled in the pit of Cloud's stomach and he absently patted at the horse's neck, reaching up to scratch behind its ear. //That man back there - could it have been?…//
Slowly, the forest came to life again as a robin hesitantly called out to its mate, followed by the shifting of branches as a squirrel made off with its find. The feeling of unease didn't leave the blond, even when his steed resumed eating, body language relaxed.
//I have a feeling we are already too late.//
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The evening sky was dark and grey, heavy rain clouds hanging low as if weighed down with their load. Villagers locked themselves in their houses, doors bolted and shudders set as if hoping to keep the dreary atmosphere at bay. Not a stray cat nor hen was seen out in the dusty streets, giving the town an air of abandonment.
In a lone, stone structure set apart from the town near the mayor's home a fire clung to life, it's embers crackling in protest at being left to die on its own. The room was quickly loosing its warmth, stone walls cooling as the last bit of life left the fireplace. Nothing moved within the structure for several long moments, the air thick with the scent of smoke, incense and drying blood, the only bit of light being a pale grey-white of skylight peeking in from partial crack in the room's only door.
Finally, after a short lifetime, a lone dark form moved in the semi-darkness, groaning. The sound of shifting cloth against stone echoed throughout the room as Ansem shifted onto his knees from the ground, chair knocked askew. The man's golden eyes seemed to glow as they flickered around, fixing on the other still form tied down to the bed. Licking his lips he tried to speak, breaking into a coughing fit instead.
-The light - it was blinding. What happened?- Swallowing what moisture he had left in his mouth Ansem tried again, voice breaking half-way through and shaky. "S - Sora?"
There was no response from the still figure and Ansem struggled onto his knees, body still pulsing with re-awakened power. It had been years since he's attempted anything stronger than a fire-lighting spell and to try one as powerful as the one he had without practice was foolish, to say the least. He was lucky to be conscious. "Sora? Answer me," he demanded, though it came out more as a plea. He was leaning over the bed now, trembling hands reaching over to where the boy's arms had been tied and working on loosening the knots.
Again, no response. The strip of light from the slightly cracked door ran up and across the still boy's body, starting from his left knee and going on across his hips, stomach and chest before seeming to step up to Sora's chin and nose. As Ansem looked he could see the normally bright blue eyes were dull an dark, eyes hooded and unresponsive to a hand waving before them. Confusion and annoyance was building in the mayor and he scowled as the boy continued to lay as he was even after he untied his arms and ankles.
"Sora, this is not amusing." Moving a hand to the boy's shoulder Ansem gave a hard shake, trying to snap Sora out of it. "You should know that those feelings weren't real - you were hexed. I know it's much like losing a loved one but that's nothing to sulk about.
Nothing.
The confusion and annoyance he was feeling were shifting, becoming anxiety and fear, rising quickly to his feet to open the boy's eyes wide with a tanned finger. Sora's eyes were dilated wide, far too wide - there was no blue along the edge of the endless black. He was breathing, thank goodness - but not the deep, even breathes of a content sleep. The same finger had to move to his nose to even detect it and an ear pressed to Sora's chest to make sure of a heartbeat. There was - just faintly so.
-This…this is impossible..- Slowly rising to his feet Ansem reached for the bed's sheet which had been pushed aside for the ritual, using a free hand to carefully lower Sora's arms to his sides before wrapping him up in it. -I did everything perfectly! The brew, the incantation - it isn't so hard as is to have enough life-force to put into it. The only thing that could have gone wrong is--
The mayor stopped abruptly at that, bent over the prone form of his ex-wife's son with an expression of etched into his features. "Unless he wasn't hexed," he whispered into the room, feeling sickly and faint from moving around so much but too stubborn to give in again. Not until he was finished. "He wasn't hexed. Damnit!"
It was wrong. So horribly twisted that the white-haired male found himself barking out a laugh before slapping a hand over his face, covering his eyes and nose as he took a deep breath through his mouth. He had been sure the boy was sent by him, the only other person left alive who knew who he really was - the only other wizard powerful and mad enough to seek him out for fun. -My damn paranoia - I've split the boy in two because I'd forgotten what it was like to be in love. Foolish man.-
Once the room stopped spinning and he'd calmed enough to see straight Ansem lowered the hand covering his eyes, moving the arm under the back of Sora's head carefully as they other found the back of the boy's knees. With a heave Sora was lifted, older man stumbling backwards and nearly falling against the fallen chair before catching his balance again.
Looking down at the unconscious form in his arms Ansem felt a wave of guilt along with despair. -My promise..-
Ansem lowered his head, chapped lips pressing against the cool skin of Sora's forehead in a light kiss.
-I will make things right again - forgive me, Sonya.-
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And so! The next chapter will be up soon (maybe even by/before next week:O!!) and the story shall begin again! Well - a new story shall begin. I'm still banging out details in my head and know how I want it to just - just need a kick in the bum to get it started right. So! Questions? Comments? Crit? Give it all here! I'm doing the smart(er) thing and typing in Works rather than WordPad so there should be little to no mistakes! Whoot for upgrading! 3
Thank you , to those who have been following Bound by Magic from the beginning (and newcomers, welcome!)! I hope it meets and exceeds your expectations