Kingdom Hearts was sealed by Sora… the master of the Keyblade. He had saved the worlds… They all owed him everything. The life of their people, the disappearance of the heartless… everything. Though… as anyone knows who was there when Sora closed the door… he couldn't do it alone. King Mickey helped him lock the door with a Keyblade of his own. And none could forget Riku. Locking himself within Kingdom Hearts… just to save his friend.

But the question everyone asks… is why was he there? Why didn't he leave the darkness when he could? When the doors opened couldn't he have escaped…? No one truly knows… but him. The glory may have gone to Sora, but what was Riku's excuse for joining the heartless. Was he really the bad guy? Was he the only one?

You may have once thought that Sora's story meant so much more then anyone elses...

But that's a lie… he never could be the hero he was… without Riku's sacrifices… what sacrifices you ask me? Why ask me? When you listen, to his story. The story that holds the truth. The truth of why Sora got to where he was. And why Riku stayed where he was. This is…

Riku's Story

Riku yawned as he woke up. 5 am. Why couldn't he be like other people and sleep until 8? Well… anyone but Sora… he usually slept till around noon. Riku got up and threw on his usual clothes. "Dad, I'm going to Destiny Island." Riku called out to him as he walked toward the door. "Fine, but make sure you don't come back whining, if it'd dark and cold. Remember the darkness is our friend." Riku's dad called to him.

Riku rolled his eyes and laughed. "No problem dad." The boy called as he got into his row-boat. His dad was a little on the weird side. He was a scientist, researching how being in the dark builds a person's character. Or something like that. Riku never paid much attention to what kind of job his dad was stuck with.

It took a little more then an hour to get to Destiny Islands. Riku lived the farthest away. It was the edge of their world. At least that's what he thought. He lived by a waterfall that just kept falling and falling. No one had ever seen the bottom, and anyone who fell never got back up.

That's why he was a little worried about the raft. But there was no problem there. He was working on a special engine that would hopefully help them fly. It was made out of a bendy materiel. It felt kinda like gummy worms. "Hey Riku." Wakka called to him. Wakka was the only one who beat him there. Ever. "Hey Wakka." He replied getting out of his boat, at the same time grabbing his wooden sword.

"So when do ya think everyone else is gonna get here?" Wakka asked Riku with a smile. "Hmm… Kairi told me she'd be here around… 6:30. Selphie always comes with Kairi." Riku told his friend. "Well Tidus follows Selphie around like a love-sick puppy, so he should be here about 5 minutes later." Wakka said with a laugh. "I figured those two would eventually fall for each other." Riku said with that all knowing look.

"Really? Now my question is when are you and Kairi gonna hook up?" Wakka asked him. Riku turned toward him with a disgusted look on his face. "She's more of my little sister you idiot!" Riku told him playfully smacking him in the back of the head. "Plus Sora likes her so much, it'd be just funny if someone else asked her out." Riku said laughing. Then his icy blue eyes became brighter.

"Hey you know what…" Riku started. "You've got that look." Wakka said pointing at him. "What look?" "The one that says I have an evil plan." "You know me to well." Riku said with a evil smile. "Now here's what we're gonna do…" Riku slowly laid out a plan. "Sora's gonna hate you for this." "Only if she says yes."

Around 10 am that day

"Hey, your finally here Sora!" Kairi called to him from the beach. Yet again Sora was late. Sora gave her that big mouthed grin, as usual. When he walked over, her took a seat next to Kairi. Riku and Wakka were no where in sight. Selphie was humming a showtune while making a flower ring, while Tidus basically drooled all over the sand while watching her.

"Hey guys." Riku commented walking over, as he sat next to Sora. "Hey Riku." Sora said in an I-wish-I-was-asleep-voice. "Hey Riku." Kairi said in that bubbly voice that she always used. "Do you know where Wakka is?" She asked him pretending not to really care what his answer was.

"So…" Riku said as he yawned. And then threw some sand in Sora's hair. "HEY!" Sora yelled picking some sand up and throwing it at Riku. That was Wakka's signal. Wakka ran across the beach. "Hey Kairi." He said as he took Sora's spot and sat next to her. "Hey, that was my seat!" Sora whined. "Get another one." Wakka told him sticking his tongue out at him.

Sora huffed for a minute before sitting beside Riku. "So Kairi you know how at school there's gonna be a spring fling." Wakka started. "Yes…" Kairi replied with a small blush on her face. Sora's head shot up. I wanted to ask her to that dance! Sora thought starting to panic. "Do you wanna go with me?" "YES!" Kairi yelled throwing her arms around Wakka's neck. "WHAT?!?" Sora yelled now, panicing to the farthest level possible.

"I'm dreaming…" He began mumbling to himself over and over. At that moment everyone but Sora burst into laughing. "He fell for it!" Kairi said giggling like a mad man. Wakka had fallen over laughing. "Riku… this is… why… you're the… best… person to… talk to… about a… prank! …Great idea!!!" Wakka said in between fits of laughter.

Sora's face turned bright red. "I'm gonna kill you Riku!!" Sora yelled as he began to chase after Riku.

Later

Riku was walking along the board stairs on the tree, when he noticed Sora snoozing on the beach. "What a bum…" Riku mumbled. That's when Riku noticed Kairi running over to Sora. Riku shook his head. "Am I the only one working?" He jumped down and walked toward them. "You know your just as much a bum, as he is." Riku told Kairi as he rolled his eyes. "Thanks for noticing." She told him playfully as they both went back to work. Riku walked into the secret chamber, that they had all drawn on. "Hello." A voice commented from the shadows. "You will know soon enough." The voice told him. "I have a warning for you, the moment you join the darkness… your friends lifes will be endangered. Tell not our leader of you Keyblade… When you join us… I will teach of the Keyblades power. But you must not let HER see it. Nor him. Not ever the one who destroyed my homeworld."

"What are you talking about?" "You will know, but remember do not let Sora know of it, nor the one who helps you. You are the key… the key to saving us all…" The voice said. "I will see you soon… very soon…" The voice then stopped. "Wait! Get back here!" Riku yelled, more confused then ever. "How'd it know?" He asked himself. A gust of magic appeared and in his hand was a Keyblade.

The Keyblade was silver and looked as though it had been made of flames. It melded with his hand, as though they were they same creature. "How'd it know?" He asked again. "Riku, it's getting dark!" "Did you get all the supplies?" Riku asked Sora. "Yep." Sora told him with a sheepish grin.

"Hey Sora come here." Riku told him, as he jumped on the small island, that had the small stars on it. Then he grabbed one and handed it to Sora. "What?" Sora asked. "It combines the fate of the two who eat out of it. Their destinies combined forever." "So?" "Try it. I know you want to." Riku said as he began running off. "Hey!" Sora yelled as he threw the fruit into the oceans waves.

Next day

Sora, Riku, and Kairi had finished collecting everything for the raft. They were going to leave that night. "Don't forget. We're leaving at dark." Riku called to them as they left. He was going to stay and protect the raft, and try to attach the engine he had made. He still hadn't told them about the engine. Or that voice.

They'd probably think he was crazy anyway.

darkness falls

"What's going on?" Riku yelled. He had seen Kairi being dragged by some little shadows into the secret place. He was about to follow her when her heard it again. "no it's an illusion…" a voice hissed within the shadows that had begun to show up. "Riku, what's going on?" Sora called to him. "Come on Sora. We have to go. Into the darkness. Don't be afraid." Riku told him as he began to sink into the dark puddle-ish thing.

"Where's Kairi?" Sora yelled as he ran off looking for her. "Sora no!" Riku tried calling out. Before he slipped into the darkness. It was at that moment he felt hands grab him from the darkness, wrapping them selves about his waist. And then he felt them tugging on him, until… suddenly… light hit his face.

End of Chapter 1

Sorry to cliff ya all! But I had no choice! Chapter 2 will be coming out as soon as possible. And the more reviews I get the sooner as soon as possible comes. Go ahead and send me some flames if you didn't like it. Don't worry, it's winter. They'll keep me warm!! Anyway, this story is inspired by the fact that Riku is not appreciated. And don't forget, this is also a romance, so I'll add some one special for our poor dear Riku. I know that what they said in the game wasn't quite right but, hey, I was close wasn't I?

So anyway, since this is me… (Reioko for those who don't know) I'm holding yet another contest. This will include Kingdom Hearts guys, and that's all. If their not in the Kingdom Hearts game, then they will not be included. I will add the people as they appear in my story. And don't worry fan girls, Cloud will be in my story no matter what!

Who's the best male character in Kingdome Hearts all together…

RIKU

Sora

Wakka

Tidus

This is all the guys's so far so see ya later!

Hugs and kisses,

Reioko

Ps. I just got Kingdom Hears Chain of Memories. It's awesome! I give it 5 stars/2 thumbs up and suggest you buy it ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!