For You I Would: Chapter Two: I Write Sins Not Tragedies

by Mira Ruskin

Notes: Ok, I know this is significantly shorter than Chapter One, and I'm sorie. I hate short chapters, but Chapter Two was giving me a lot of problems. i kept running into plot holes, things didn't match up, and I needed so much more dialogue. My computer then hiccuped and decided it was too good for so that caused even more issues. This is also one of the last chapters I wrote, because I was at a writer's block. The way Riku accepts the darkness is, well, rather neglected in the KH plotline. So, I had to deal with what little I had. Still, enjoy.

Najilia opened her eyes. Her head hurt. She rested her hand on her temple. She looked around. No where could she see Riku. Then she remembered. He had opened the door, and the cavern had been flooded with darkness. She hadn't been able to find him, and had soon blacked out. Now she didn't know where he was, or where she herself for that matter.

"We did end up in different places," She whimpered. Her lip quivered. She wanted to burst into tears. She screamed in fright when a hand placed a firm grasp on her shoulder.

Riku stood up. He had to find Najilia. Suddenly, a wave of excitement washed over him as he surveyed his surroundings. He was in some sort of large room. It was slightly dark, and chilly inside. He knew this wasn't a part of Destiny Islands. He was in a new world. He looked around as a chill ran down his spine. "Naj?" He called, only answered by his own voice's echo. His happiness faded away. He was in a new world, but he was in it alone.

Najilia was spun around, and found herself face to chest with a tall man. He was wearing a long, black cloak with the hood drawn up. She could barely see the grin on his face. "Hello, Najilia," He said. His voice was smooth, low, and menacing. It sent shivers up and down her spine. "Do not be afraid, I mean you no harm," the man said. Just his presence made the hair stand up on the back of Naj's neck.

Riku knew standing here being mad at himself would do nothing. He turned and raced down the hallway. He rounded a corner, and was slammed backwards. He hit the wall, and slid to a sitting position. He looked up to see who had shoved him. A tall woman, clad in black and violet stood before him. She held a long staff with a mesmerizing green orb resting on top. She walked over to Riku, as he stood up.

"Who are you?" He shouted angrily, clenching his fists. The woman laughed, and stepped even closer. Her face was long and bony, as was the hand she rested on his cheek.

"My dear boy, my name is not important. But if you must know, it is Maleficent. Please, let's skip the formalities and get right down to business. Riku, I need your help."

"I have to find my friends. Get somebody else!" Riku snapped, then realized he hadn't told her his name. He went to ask her, but she placed a finger over her lips, indicating for him to be quiet.

"I know many things about you, Riku. Much more than your name, in fact," Her expression changed. Her smile melted into a sympathetic frown, "I also know how hard it must be for you to have been forgotten by your friends," She said, faking sorrow.

Riku frowned, that couldn't be right. His friends would never forget him. Sora was his best friend. Kairi was like his little sister. And Naj, she couldn't. He loved Naj. He refused to believe this Maleficent. There was something about her, something he didn't like.

Najilia tried to free herself from the man's grasp. His grip only tightened. She glared at him, which made him smile. He chuckled to himself.

"You have a lot of anger toward me. Why?" He asked.

"Because. You're keeping me from finding Riku."

"Ah, I see. I can help you get to him, if you'd like," the man, said, lessening his grip on her shoulder. Naj's eyes widened. She nodded quickly, "Please, sir!" she begged. The strange man laughed again, but nodded in agreement, "But only on one condition, Najilia." Naj cocked her head to the side, much like a cat does when curious.

Maleficent turned, and walked down the hall. Riku stared at her, puzzled. She turned, and beckoned for him to follow. He caught up with her, and they walked side by side.

"Even Najilia has moved on," Maleficent said, resuming their conversation.

"No! You're lying!" Riku snapped.

"Anger is a good feeling, is it not? It makes us powerful. You should learn that. Here, I'll show you your friends."

Maleficent had led him to a large mirror in the shape of a heart. She waved her staff over it, and the image became distorted. Instead of Riku looking at himself, he could now see Sora laughing with some seemingly newly acquired friends.

"Show me Najilia," Riku growled, not wanting to believe this witch.

She laughed, "Are you sure you could handle knowing the truth, or would you rather just let yourself believe she still thinks of you?"

Riku stared at Maleficent, anger in his teal eyes. "Show me." Anything to see his Naj. He had to know if she was ok. Maleficent waved her staff over the mirror again, and the image warped from Sora to Najilia. A tall man in a black cloak was handing her a weapon. She took it with a smile, and practiced slashing the air with it.

"She's distracted, you see? She no longer thinks of you."

Riku's emotional pain was obvious. His gaze was at the floor, as he swallowed back tears. His sorrow was soon transmuted into anger, much to Maleficent's approval. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"You've entered a new world, Riku. You're going to need guidance."

Najilia felt the weight of the blade in her hand. "The Soul Blade," She murmured. She didn't know how she knew it's name, but she did. The blade was a demon's wing, black with silver veins. The handle and hilt were a charcoal gray, and protected her knuckles from any attacks.

"That blade is a mix of two epic weapons. The Keyblade and the Soul Eater combine to make the Soul Blade. It belongs to you," Said the man. Najilia looked at the chain dangling from the handle. It was a soft silver, with a lightning bolt charm fastened to the end.

"Who's got those other ones?" Najilia asked, running her finger slowly along the blade of her new weapon.

"Sora has the Keyblade, and the Soul Eater belongs to Riku," The man said. Najilia looked up at him, "Can I see him yet?" The man shook his head, "First you must accept the darkness."

Najilia looked up. She looked at the man. "How?" She asked, "How am I supposed to do that?" He sighed, and spoke, "Just relax. Close your eyes and feel the power the darkness offers. It will try to take grasp of your heart, let it." Najilia just looked at him for a moment. Then, she took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

"You're sure this is the only way to get to Riku?" Naj asked, apprehension evident in her voice. The man nodded, "Just like Riku surely has, you must accept the darkness. Let it fill you with power," he explained. In truth, he cared nothing of Najilia or Riku. They were mere pawns to help him obtain Kingdom Hearts. He chuckled to himself. Soon, he would be whole. Najilia foolishly agreed.

Najilia began to feel cold. Chills ran up and down her spine. She found herself holding her arms out, as if waiting for embrace. The coldness traveled up her legs, over her stomach and to her chest. She gasped slightly, everything was so cold. it felt just like it had when her and Riku had opened the door.
Najil started shivering. Suddenly she opened her eyes. Surrounding her was a dark aura. She became rather frightened, and heard herself whimper. "Can you feel it, Najilia?" The cloaked man asked, interested. Najilia nodded. She could feel something.
Najil closed her eyes again. Her breath fell short, and everything ached. She went to speak, to tell the man that she didn't think it was working. She found her voice gone. The cloaked man just reassured her, "Najilia. Feel it. Let...it...in..." He said slowly. Najilia did as she was told. She mouthed a name, his name. Riku. She blacked out, and fell into the cloaked man's arms.

Riku slapped Maleficent's hand away, "I don't want your guidance! I want to find Najilia, and I don't need your help!" He snapped at her. He clenched his fist. Suddenly, it began to glow. He gasped and jumped slightly when a weapon manifested itself in his palm. The Soul Eater rested, cradled in his fingers.

Maleficent's eyebrow arched, "You see what your anger has brought you? Keep filling your heart with rage, and certainly you can achieve much higher things." With that, Maleficent turned away.

Riku inspected his new weapon, glad the witch had left him. The sooner he could explore, the sooner he may find Najilia. His blade had a thin handle. It was rather light. The hilt held a teal eye. The blade itself was a black and crimson demon wing. The tips seemed deadly sharp, and Riku felt compelled to touch it. The sharp prick of the blade, and the blood that trickled down his finger brought him back to reality.

Riku had to find Najilia. He licked the blood from his finger, and set off on his way. His eyes held determination. Fear was not an emotion he would accept easily now, not when something so important was hanging in the balance. He would do anything for Najilia, anything.