Riku blinked, his eyes unfocused. Vision swimming and colors blurry, he searched hurriedly to identify his surroundings. Although he looked around, the darkness surrounding him made it hard to see.
'There's my answer,' he thought. 'The Realm of Darkness.' Everything came rushing back to the silver haired teen. Giving into the darkness, hunting for Kairi, fighting Sora, and eventually being locked in Kingdom Hearts. But hadn't Sora said that Kingdom Hearts was light? There was no light in this place.
As his eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lighting, he finally began to take in his surroundings. Embers of a long dead fire smoldered in front of him. There was some sort of make-shift camp set up. It all seemed so familiar. Slats of deep blue 'light' slanted down, giving the barest illusion that he could see. Lying on the ground in front of him was a teenage girl, blonde hair tied up. She lay there silently, blending in well with the falling shadows. She looked so familiar…
"Riku." Her voice drifted though the haze of his thoughts. He tried to move to her, and succeeded. He felt as though chains bound him. "I can't fight it any more Riku." Her lips did not move, but he heard her voice clearly.
"Z…" He found himself thinking, recognizing her now. "You can't leave me Z." His memories flooded back. He now remembered why he was here.
"The darkness, it's calling me. I'm too weak, Riku." The girl began sinking into the ground, as the shadows spin around her.
"No! You have to fight it!" He cried out, reaching for her hand. "I can't lose you too. I've already lost my home, my friends. I won't let you go Z!" He held her as the shadows wrapped around them both.
"No Riku, it is your fate to get out of here, you have to help Sora. He needs you. I don't belong here. I wasn't meant to exist; I am a mistake." Her last words were very deliberate, he knew they'd had this argument before.
"I won't let you go Z." He said quietly. "You're my light now." A small smile tugged at the girl's lips, and her head fell to the side. Her eyes opened slowly, and Riku noticed how glassy they were. The magenta colored irises were dull and fading back to the red they had been long ago.
"I know Riku. I'll always be with you. Don't worry, we'll meet again." The shadows enveloped her body, pulling her under, and her hand finally slipped from his. Her words echoed hollowly through the still air. "You have my heart now; take care of it for me while I'm gone."
