I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.

Set after Kingdom Hearts II and after Final Fantasy XII; possibly AU as I've ignored some things or twisted them for my purpose. Hmm… game mechanics are not really welcome in my stories – potions and spells are for the game. However, the keyblades posed a bit of a problem for so they are as they are. FFXII RW has been ignored as I haven't played it.

FRIENDS OF MY HEART

THREE

Sora and Riku waited outside while Vaan and Migelo sorted out Penelo. Sora sat watching the people move around Rabanastre concerned with their own things, the sun baking down on the streets. It didn't seem right – there was such grief in little rooms above the store.

"We have to stop this, Riku," said Sora.

"You think this is the work of the Nobodies?" asked Riku.

"I know it is," said Sora. "I feel-"

"In my heart," said Riku and Sora together.

Sora looked up at Riku in surprise.

"The darkness in my heart is stirring, Sora," explained Riku.

Sora sighed.

"I haven't seen any Nobodies; only Heartless," he said.

Riku nodded.

"Those that die are the Heartless…" he didn't finish. He didn't want to say what he truly felt. He didn't want to say which Nobodie.

"This is not like last time," continued Sora coming to his feet. "I think he is trying something else."

"Who?"

Both turned to see Vaan standing behind them. His body was tense and his face drawn with concern but he was also angry. Neither Sora nor Riku knew how long he had been standing there or how much he had heard but obviously enough.

"Do you know who is doing this?" Vaan demanded.

Sora looked at Riku who looked away giving Sora all the confirmation he needed.

"Xemnas."

XXX

Some where on the way to Old Dalan place, Riku disappeared. Sora and Vaan only noticed when they got to Old Dalan's place.

"Where did he go?" muttered Sora looking back the way they had come.

They waited a few minutes but Riku didn't show. Vaan sighed and scratched his head. His temper was frayed and Riku's disappearance had annoyed him greatly but he tried to keep it from showing. He wasn't really angry at Riku, he was upset about Penelo. Did they go back and look for him or talk to Old Dalan first? Vaan was more keen to talk to Old Dalan than he was to go looking for Riku as he and Sora had promised to tell Vaan about Xemnas when they spoke to Old Dalan.

"If he got lost, I'm sure he would go back to Migelo's," said Vaan.

Sora thought about it for a moment before nodding, he wanted to get started on finding out who was responsibly and how to stop the Sleeping Plague. And to save Penelo.

Old Dalan greeted them warmly and smiled knowing as Vaan told him where Sora was from. Vaan swore internally at his stupidity, of course Old Dalan would know such a place didn't exist. He didn't call Vaan on it until the three of them were alone in the room.

"So," he said stroking his pet, "where do you really come from?"

Sora's head snapped toward Vaan.

"You can tell him," shrugged Vaan. He hadn't yet told Old Dalan about Penelo. He wanted to hear what the old man had to say first.

"Destiny Island," said Sora.

"I have not heard of that place," confessed Old Dalan.

"Well, it's not on Ivalice," added Sora.

"Not on Ivalice?" asked Old Dalan with a raised brow.

"I'm not from this world," clarified Sora.

"Ah, a world traveller," said Old Dalan.

"What?" asked Vaan looking at the old man. "What do you know about it?"

"Not much other than it is possible," confessed Old Dalan.

"But you knew such a thing existed," pointed out Vaan.

"I had heard rumours, nothing more. Sora just confirmed it," said Old Dalan.

"So you don't know how I can get back?" asked Sora.

Old Dalan shook his head.

"I thought it was more an idea than a reality," said Old Dalan.

Sora nodded slowly, wondering how he and Riku were going to get back. Would a door open for them? He didn't have time to dwell on it as Vaan pulled back to their present task.

"Have you heard anything else about the plague?"

"Not so much about the plague but things about Archadia," said Old Dalan. "The people of Archadia are worried about their emperor."

"Larsa?" asked Vaan wondering if he, too, was ill.

"Apparently Emperor Larsa has been behaving oddly and Judge Magister Gabranth has left his side," said Old Dalan.

"Basch has done what?" exclaimed Vaan. "Where is he?"

Old Dalan shrugged.

"No one knows," he said. "He just disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

Vaan and Old Dalan looked at Sora.

"Do you have something you want to add?" It wasn't really a question.

"The Heartless…" Sora paused before continuing slowly. "When someone becomes a Heartless, they loose their physical body."

Vaan looked at Old Dalan – people had mentioned friends and family going missing but everyone had assumed they had left in fear of the plague and that they would return when Rabanastre was safe again. But if what Sora said was true…

"I think it would be best if you explained from the beginning," said Old Dalan.

XXX

Riku didn't know where he was, he knew he was in Lowtown but had been wondering aimlessly for some time. He wasn't even exactly sure how he had lost Vaan and Sora – they had been right in front of him. Sure he had stopped to help an older woman who had dropped her caged monkey. While she had been grateful, the little pest had scratched him but Sora and Vaan had waited for him. Now, he had no idea where they were. He stood watching the water fall into the pool for a moment – had he seen the pool when he came down with Sora and Vaan? Was there more than one pool? He was annoyed that he couldn't get his thoughts to coordinate properly. A chill hand suddenly clamped over his mouth and cold steel rested against his throat. He was pulled back several steps into the shadows before the hand was removed.

"Who are you?" The voice was rough and implied little patience with lies.

"Riku."

"What are you doing down here?"

"I… um…" What was he doing down here.

"You've been wondering around aimlessly for some time – who are you waiting for and what are you up to?"

"I... I'm lost," said Riku going for the truth and doubting his ability to lie at the moment.

"Lost?"

"Yes," answered Riku not risking nodding.

"How did you get down here?"

"I was with Vaan and Sora," said Riku.

"Who is Sora?" The voice sounded annoyed at the new name.

"My friend."

The blade was removed and Riku released, he turned and took a couple of steps back.

"I am Basch, I am a friend of Vaan's" said the man.

Riku was surprised by the man's appearance. His voice had lead Riku to believe he was a man of command but he was dressed in discarded clothing and needed a bath and shave.

"How do you know Vaan?" asked Basch clearly suspicious of Riku.

"He- he helped me and Sora get to Dalmas- Rabanastre," stambled Riku with a wince. What an obvious mistake!

Basch's eyes narrowed. He was suspicious of Riku but doubted Riku was who he was looking for but he sensed Riku was also hiding something. He could also tell that the boy was unwell.

A woman's shriek turned their attention to the pool of water. Three Heartless had leapt from the water and were attempting to attack the people as they walked by. Both Riku and Basch sprang into action but Basch's blade passed through the little black creature. He stopped, unsure of what had happened.

"You didn't miss," said Riku as he held out his hand.

Basch stared for a second wondering what he was going to do. He instinctively stepped back when Riku closed his hand around the hilt of a sword. Or at least a sword like weapon. Riku stepped forward and in fluid movements took out two Heartless before they left the water. The last Heartless tried to escape by leaping onto the overhead plumbing but Riku kicked off the side of a pillar and sliced through the Heartless as it flew through the air. Riku landed heavily on his feet, stumbling a bit. He was breathing heavily as he looked around warily.

Basch walked up to Riku.

"That was quite something," he said. "You have skill with a blade."

"I've fought them before," said Riku as he released his blade to nothing.

"You dropped this," said Basch holding out something.

Riku looked down to see a length of black cloth lying across Basch's hand; he swallowed.

Basch saw brief alarm in Riku's eyes but it disappeared quickly.

"That is not mine," he said stepping back and looking with an apprehensive expression.

"Is something the matter?" asked Basch studying Riku.

"I-" started Riku but fell to his knees.

Basch was immediately by his side.

"Are you in pain?" he asked.

Riku opened his mouth to reply but groaned instead as pain started to spread around his body. Wasting no time, Basch picked up Riku and headed toward the nearest gate. Basch knew from the expressions on the faces of the people around him that Riku had caught the plague. Glancing round he saw Vaan and a boy he assumed to be Sora.

"Basch," greeted Vaan with surprise but words failed him when he saw Riku. He stopped walking while Sora took several steps.

"Riku! Is he okay?" asked Sora not noticing the expressions on the faces of Basch and Vaan.

"Sora…" Vaan bit his lip and dawning approached Sora.

"No," he said turning to look at Basch. Seeing confirmation, he dropped his gaze to Riku. He was shivering, hair clung to his damp forehead. His eyes were open and pain filled, his breaths coming in little gasps. He tried to smile to reassure Sora but winced instead.

Sora looked across at Vaan and knew true grief.