Okay... I FINALLY got this chapter finished... I'm starting to get this feeling that the chapter lengths for this story are always under 2000 words. TT_TT It sucks. Anyways, I got a new laptop for Christmas, and as you all might have guessed, one of the first things I did was find the writing system thing. I found it indeed, and I was immediately transferring my files and writing like the wind! XD So, this chapter finally got finished. Even though I like this story, though, it's starting to go downhill... in my mind, anyways... *sigh* Anyone got ideas for chapter 3? XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, though I'm glad I don't 'cause it wouldn't be as great of a game if I did...

Chapter 2: Invasion

I woke up the next morning to rays of sunlight hitting my face. I frowned, knowing I had closed the curtains last night. I threw the covers aside, dragging myself out of bed. My body felt strangely heavy as I trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen. I held a hand up to my head, feeling a headache coming on.

"Good morning, Riku." My mom said, looking up from making breakfast. She took a glance at me and said softly, "You're not dressed yet?"

"Huh?" I said, giving her a confused look and sitting down at the table.

"You're usually dressed when you come down. Is something wrong?" She asked, turning off the stove and reaching for some plates, though she was having some trouble balancing them both in one hand with a somewhat loose grip.

I stood and grabbed them for her, placing them on the counter next to the stove and returning to my seat. "Thanks... but I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little out of it, that's all."

"What's wrong, sweetie?" My mom asked gently, putting a plate of food in front of me, a fork following soon after.

I sighed. "I've got a headache... and I feel especially slow-moving. I should have gotten more sleep." I scooped some eggs into my mouth, and after I chewed and swallowed, asked, "By the way, did you open my curtains this morning? I remember closing them last night."

My mother gave me a strange look as she sat across from me at the table. "Riku, you didn't close your curtains. When I walked into your room this morning, they were open. Didn't you have them open before you went to bed, too?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I remember closing them... unless that was a dream..." I don't remember exactly what happened last night, but every time I try to think about it, I get this foreboding feeling.

It's strange.

My mom worriedly held a hand up to my forehead. "Do you want to stay home from school today and catch up on rest?"

I shook my head and finished the rest of my breakfast, saying, "It's fine, mom. I'll be okay- plus, I have a test in math today. I can't miss that." I smiled at her, standing and putting my plate in the sink.

She smiled weakly back at me, sighing. "If you say so. But, if something happens, don't hesitate to-"

"Mom." I said, cutting her off. "I'll be fine, I promise."

With a final sigh, my mom said, "Well, you're as stubborn as ever. Fine, go to school, but come back safe, okay?"

"I will, mom." I said, kissing her forehead and heading back upstairs to get dressed.

The moment I stepped into my room, I felt a draft sweep by me. I ignored it, though something tugged at me from the back of my mind. What was it, a dream? A memory? I shook my head, deciding to ignore it, as I shuffled over to my closet. I yawned as I sifted through my clothes, picking out one of the many identical school uniforms. I pulled it out and laid out on the bed, then turned, heading towards the bathroom for a shower.

When I got to the bathroom, I took a glance at myself in the mirror. What I saw shocked me. Instead of their normal viridian, my eye color had changed to a malevolent amber- the same as Ansem's eyes.

Before I knew it, I was rushing down the stairs and back into the kitchen.

"Mom!" I called in a panic, rushing over to her and clamping my hands down on her shoulders. "What color are my eyes? I need to know!"

"They're the same as they've always been, Riku," She responded, her voice shaking slightly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I slowly released her shoulders, backing away and holding a hand up to my head. "At the moment, I'm not so sure..." I turned and started for the stairs before she could reply, saying over my shoulder, "I'm going to go get ready."

I didn't hear her reply as I reached the top of the stairs. I headed straight for the bathroom. I avoided looking in the mirror again and quickly undressed, turning the water on. I waited impatiently for the water to warm up before I hopped in.

It was only about ten minutes before I stepped out again, soaking wet, my hair dripping. Still avoiding the mirror, I grabbed a towel and hastily started drying myself so I could get out of the pressing, humid air. I rubbed my feet down so I wouldn't track water through the house before wrapping a towel around myself and proceeding out of the bathroom to my bedroom.

As I started to attempt drying my hair, I dared a glance at my clock. It read 6 AM. I only had fifteen minutes before I needed to leave... I sighed, shaking my hair out when it felt somewhat dry and pulling on my clothes in a haste. After I was fully dressed, I scanned my room, making sure everything I needed for school was here, because of course all of my materials were strewn around my room.

Books, paper, pencils, binder, calculator, pencil sharpener, folders... I found everything I needed except for my backpack. I scanned my room once more, coming up with nothing, before I started shifting things around. My blue plaid tie dangled from my neck as I sifted through a small pile of clothes on my bed. I really need to hang these up...

Suddenly, I felt chills run down my spine. I froze, not wanting to turn around. For some reason, I had this tugging in the back of my head, as if something like this had happened before...

There was a deep chuckle from behind me that made me tense dangerously. Something in me made me swerve around, and what I saw shocked me beyond words.

Standing there, holding my backpack, was Ansem. This seems so familiar...

"Do you not remember, Riku?" Ansem said tauntingly, waving my backpack around, "Don't you remember last night?"

I shook my head, holding a hand up to it when a headache started to form. "No... What are you doing here?"

Ansem tossed my backpack back and forth between his hands. "Watching. Listening. Observing." He smirked, tossing my bag into the air and catching it.

I raised and eyebrow, then shook my head and demanded, holding my hand out, "My backpack- give it."

Ansem shook his head, tossing my backpack between his hands once more. "I need to talk to you, Riku," He said, shooting me a glare, "And this seemed like the only way to get it done."

"Ansem," I said, clenching my fist, "Give me my backpack."

The Seeker of Darkness only shook his head again and continued throwing my bag around. "I will not leave until I have the information I need."

"I don't care about your information." I said, glancing over my shoulder at my clock. 6:07... That's less than ten minutes... "I need my backpack."

"You're a stubborn brat, you know that? You never changed..." Ansem trailed, though he still held my backpack with him.

"Riku!" I heard my mom call from downstairs, "Sora is here!"

Panic washed over me as Sora called, "If you're not down in the next minute, I'm coming up!"

I cursed mentally and hissed, glaring at Ansem, "My backpack. Now."

Ansem shook his head once more and balanced my bag on his hand. "I don't want to have to do this the hard way."

"Give me my backpack!" I almost yelled, hearing Sora ascend the stairs.

Ansem sighed, shaking his head. He tossed my backpack on my bed, and gave me one last glare before he disappeared.

I stood in place for a second, wondering why he gave in so easily. Sighing and shaking my head, though, I quickly tossed the thought from my mind and started for the bed, going to get my backpack.

I didn't take two steps before an image of Ansem surged before me and an intense headache came over me. I dropped to my knees, clenching my fist against my head. "What..." I muttered, struggling to still try for my backpack.

A deep voice- Ansem's voice- rang through my head. You wouldn't willingly give me information, much less talk to me, so I'm taking it by force.

"You're mind-probing me?" I said, frustration clear in my voice.

Yes, that's as crude as it gets. Ansem said casually.

"Don't fish through my thoughts!" I hissed, snatching my backpack from my bed and forcing myself to stand. A wave of dizziness sprouted from the motion but I ignored it. "Get out of my head, Ansem." I managed to get out before I swung my bedroom door open. If only that could truly be the final word.

Sora was standing there, his hand in the knocking position. "You took a little longer than usual." He cracked a smile and stepped out of the way so I could exit my room.

I scoffed in return, shooting back, "You're just early."

I tried my best to not show how shaken I was. Ansem invaded my mind...

...and I can't do anything about it.

"Eh, sure." Sora laughed, strolling down the stairs. "You just don't want to accept the fact that you were late for once."

I forced a laugh in return. "Maybe."

Before we left the house, I pecked my mom on the cheek, saying, "Bye. Love you."

She smiled and pulled me into a hug, saying in my ear, "Love you too." She let me go and clapped her hands together. "Good luck on your math tests, you guys!"

Sora groaned. "Ugh, don't remind me..."

I laughed, and using my hand to cover my mouth, I pretended to whisper to my mom, "I heard he hates tests."

She giggled as Sora exclaimed, huffing, "Don't talk about me like I'm not here!"

I laughed again and gave my mom one last hug before Sora and I departed, heading for the bus stop.

As we walked, I felt my thoughts wander... Ansem was in my mind.

Great...

This is such a great test-taking strategy.

Well... that's it... Heh, I told you guys (if you didn't see, it's on my profile) that this chapter would be weirdly written... I was just feeling "out of it" the whole time I was writing it. Nee... but, hope you enjoyed anyways, and review! :D