Author's Note: Extreme lateness in this one. The university somehow managed to give us unexpected events that hindered me from going home over and over again, with the bonus of no internet at the dorm and other unfortunate events. I don't know how this will affect the judging but since I am in no mood to even contemplate the outcome, I just want to say, happy reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts II or Resistance: Fall of Man. They are of their respective owners.

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Golden

Against Nathan Hale

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Brushing away the droplets of the falling water, Roxas looked up.

He had used the fallen tree bark as a shelter for the past few hours and he was getting agitated at how the rain refused to stop its fierce coming. The sound was deafening; the leaves swayed as the raindrops fell over them restlessly. The Keyblade Bearer sighed deeply then took his seat again, watching the rain cloud that seemed like it never moved at all.

How much longer this would go on, he wondered. Not only that the rain was annoying, he couldn't get closer to the volcano by the center of the land since the rain water kind of changed the topography, somehow. But he needed to go there. Something about that place told him he would find the way out of this tournament.

He must get away somehow. There are 'people' waiting for him. 'People'.

No Hearts? Well, he had friends.

Staying here will do nothing, Roxas shook his head. He put on his hood. Perhaps he should just ignore the raindrops. If he waited for the rain to stop, it would take forever. There was not even a flick of sun in the horizon and he knew, the rain was much more stubborn than he. He took a slow, cautious step. When the sky was dark and he could barely see anything beyond the wall of rain and leaves, it wouldn't be good to let his guard down, especially since there are high risk of him being attacked.

He stopped; his right hand slowly opened itself to summon the Oathkeeper. There was a faint killing intent. Perhaps his opponent also trying contemplated whether to attack or not.

The rain showered the canopy, and Roxas could feel the weight of his wet hood.

"OATHKEEPER!"

The Keyblade slashed the rain, spinning between the trees to the place where his opponent presumably at. A flash of a person's body was seen, and Roxas reacted to it, swinging the Oblivion. A gunshot was heard, and Roxas winced when he parried a bullet right in time, halting him from throwing his Keyblade. His opponent was running, taking shades in between the trees, and Roxas ran across him—trying to catch the glimpse of his movement to see an opening for an attack. His opponent was fast though—faster than 'human' or regular Nobody. Perhaps he was almost as fast as his Samurai Nobody, seeing how his opponent dashed among the trees. Plus, he had that accuracy of an Archer.

The Oathkeeper swung back to his hand and as if seeing a cue, he dashed between the tree bark to his opponent. Instead of running, the man he assaulted stopped—an unfamiliar gun in his hand, and he was aiming at Roxas's head. His eyes were golden, and Roxas could feel how sharp they stabbed his body as he aimed.

The gunshot echoed, but the bullets grazed Roxas's face as he jumped at the man, swinging his Oathkeeper. A loud clank echoed when the gun parried his Keyblade. There was the Oblivion coming though, but somehow the man slipped the gun, his other hand wielding a short blade that quickly parried the dark Keyblade. The man spun and in a split second a powerful kick landed on Roxas's solar plexus—sending him crashing to the bushes. The Nobody coughed in pain, gritting his teeth to contain his agony since he heard the gun being raised—loud, steady, deadly.

A bullet dug deep into the soil where Roxas was at, but the Nobody was no longer there. He already jumped to a tree trunk, bending his body with both of his Keyblades in his hands. His breath was running, the fast reaction of his opponent caught him off guard for a moment.

His opponent was standing cautiously a few meters away from him; his gun raised high and was aimed perfectly at his head. He was a tall, sturdy man with shaved head. His golden eyes were as alert as they were when they saw him coming and Roxas knew he had even more attacks up in his sleeves even after his display of fast reaction and speed. It was wise to be in full alert.

"Are you one of those that made this tournament?" Roxas asked suddenly. "If you are, I need to ask you."

"I am not," His voice was deep, curt, steady. Almost emotionless. Roxas gave out a slight exasperated smile and said, "You're in the tournament."

There was no need to reply. The silence was an answer firmer than words.

And he wouldn't back down easily. The golden eyes were hard and determined. The kind that wouldn't get himself killed easily in a lousy little tournament of life and death.

Then that meant it would do them no good to continue chatting. Roxas knew more than anyone how sometimes battle was necessary for one's life.

"Roxas."

At least they both knew the name of someone who would either kill or be killed. The golden eyes wavered a little but there was no emotion on his face as he replied.

"Nathan Hale."

A streak of light suddenly illuminated from Hale's feet and shot right to the air, making the man stepped back. Roxas hurled himself at Hale right on the second the light appeared. He too, had his Samurai speed.

But Hale pushed the trigger despite his imbalance and a bullet dug deep into Roxas's right foot. The pain was stinging, and Roxas found himself being pushed forward by his own speed out of control. Hale had moved faster than he thought, since the next second all the he saw was a fist coming right to his face.

The hit was heavy, Roxas could feel how his nose broke the moment it hit. Before he could regain his consciousness from the shock, another fist came to his stomach with a powerful jab… then a hit, to the side of Roxas's head.

So heavy the last hit was, it sent Roxas flying. The Nobody opened his eyes in pain even as his ears rang loudly because of the last hit, watching how Hale already ran to his place. Three streak of light fell from the sky to block Hale's movement but the man dodged it easily with three dashes and soon had his hand up, catching Roxas's black robe by the chest. He slammed the blonde boy to the tree so hard that it cracked, then raised his blade.

Roxas gritted his teeth, groaning in pain and desperation.

"Hey, let's return to the base!"

He had friends… waiting for him.

"COME ON!"

With some power he didn't know from where, Roxas kicked Hale's chest, causing the man to release his robe. He threw his Oblivion then dashed to Hale in the same second. Hale dodged the first attack, but the Oathkeeper slammed his left side. Blood splattered the forest floor… but instead of a groan of pain, what was heard from Hale was an ominous roar.

The next hit was something that Roxas couldn't foresee. All that he knew, the next second he was already on the forest floor, his left stomach was leaking black liquid and Hale was standing a few meters from him with a look more frightening than just some Heartless. Veins bulged on his pale skin and the golden eyes were not so much as human anymore.

He had succumbed to darkness.

Hale rushed to Roxas's place, opening his mouth that was filled with dozens of sharp canine teeth and Roxas quickly got up on his feet, throwing balls of light to slow him down.

None of his lights hit Hale.

And the man jumped to the Nobody like a leopard. Roxas swung his Oathkeeper—hitting Hale's mouth that received it in a firm crushing bite. But the man's hands were still free and they swung like a whip to Roxas's head.

"LIGHTS!"

Thirteen pillars of light blasted out Roxas's body—repelling Hale away. The blonde boy bent, having both of his hands on his Oathkeeper, then charged forward. Hale was stepping to dodge but four pillars of light appeared on his every side, locking him on his place… and letting him received the full force of powergripped Oathkeeper. A painful groan escaped Hale's throat… and Roxas watched in shock when the wound regenerated itself in an unbelievable speed. Hale would be ready in no time for a counter attack.

But it wouldn't happen.

The Oblivion burst in Roxas's left hand and with no time to even think, the boy swung it hard to Hale's neck.

The regeneration stopped.

Blood burst out, coloring the rain that was still showering the land and splattering over Roxas's face and robe. It felt like an eternity before Hale's body fell to the forest floor and his head went tumbling to a nearby tree root.

The battle had ended.

Roxas stood petrified by his place; his left hand trembling as his Oblivion slowly disappeared and leaving him only with the sensation of slashing through Hale's neck.

Heartless would disappear after such attack… but not with human…

They just… died.

They said Nobodies had no hearts… and this time, somehow Roxas believed that it was somehow true.

He felt… empty.

All that his blue eyes could see was the blood… and the face of that man he had just killed.

It wasn't so much of an end he wished for.

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End

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Author's Note: Alright, I was rushing this. I only have a few hours at home, I was kind of forcing myself to go home. I'm sorry again for the lateness but anyway… thanks for forcing me to write some stories. I need a break from all my stressful university works.

Good luck with your life, everyone!