Written for my girlfriend. She has become a HUGE Vanitas/Riku fan…Oh Birth By Sleep, the things you start.
Context: This takes place immediately after Riku's loosing battle with Roxas. Vanitas is alive because after he was defeated by Ventus (and Aqua) what was left of him lingered in the space between worlds until he was able to find a heart strong enough to inhabit in order to recover. This is why Riku, who used to be the purest and strongest heart in all the worlds, was so easily corrupted and tainted.
On to the story.
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Perched on the apex of the dark tower, balanced precariously on the rim of its glowing crown, the shadow watches the scene unfolding below him. Half enshrouded in darkness a figure dances below him, surrounded by an ever growing and all encompassing darkness blacker than the Dark City they reside in. The one below moves gracefully, moving through the thick throngs of black snarling creatures with an air of nonchalance so natural it appears beautiful, even though not moments before he'd taken park in a battle so fierce with another so bright he made the shadow's eyes burn.. The bright onw had left the half dark one broken and weak. The one perched above growls low, head bowed in a way that seems almost prayerful. A hunger, full of longing and pain, builds low in his distended stomach, so full of self loathing and jealous rage that it bubbles up from the depths of his body and burns his throat. The one below, half covered by the darkness, yet so vivid and bright still moves, slower now as the horde of foul creatures closes around him.
The shadow roars, hatred and desperation spewing forth from his mouth like thick molten rock from the broken earth. With a grace like and unlike the one below the shadow falls from the tower, wind passing through and around his dark form as he drops down to the hard earth below. The horde twists and grunts, running and thrashing towards him as he continues his descent, their previous chase forgotten in favour of fresh meat. The creatures stumble over themselves racing towards him with such fervor that they forget themselves and trample their weaker brethren in their hurry to get to him. The shadow lands in the centre of the beastly mass, upright and calm as if the fall had been only from a few feet. Without pause he rushes towards the snarling pack, teeth bared in a monstrous snarl. Quickly, as if the dark creatures are insects he tears into them. The massive horde dwindles, the shadow's ferocity forcing what few of the dark creatures left to retreat.
Hesitantly the half dark one approaches him, holding his left arm to his side so tightly the shadow feared it would be damaged more. Gently the half dark one releases his arm, letting it hang limply at his side, a cascade of silver covers what little of his face can be seen and the shadow's hand twitches, wanting to push it away its golden eyes gleam with want. The one with silver hair raises his good arm and extends his hand towards the shadow, happiness and fear battle for dominance in his mind. The shadow can tell the other believes him to be someone else, a look of recollection and repressed joy lights his face. The dark one watches the other for a moment, then snarls and departs. The other still holds light, a light the shadow has long since lost, a light the shadow no longer hopes to have, and he wishes to leave it behind.
The next day Riku leaves the Dark City, continuing on his search for Sora, the strange men who so closely resembled his love already forgotten.