Title: The Lost One

Pairing: SoraxRiku (that's it for now)

Warnings: Violence, flashbacks

AN: I know technically Roxas has Oblivion, but I gave it to Sora in this one. It's funny, I was listening to Jamie Cullum while writing the fight scenes. If you don't know how that it, he is like the quietest singer in the world.

Chapter 4

Sora sat up in his dark room. It was just past midnight, and everyone was asleep. He slowly got out of bed and crept toward the door. The darkened hallway was thickly carpeted, so his feet didn't give him away. Finally, he reached the dusty door that housed the so-called Oracle. A soft whisper came.

"Sora..."

He jumped and glanced frantically around. There was no one there. He gulped and turned back to the door. He inhaled sharply. Holding his breath, he opened the door. It creaked loudly, making him wince. He flattened himself against the wall, waiting for someone to come running, demanding to know what he was doing. But it was silent. He stepped into the room. Approaching it carefully as one might approach a nuclear bomb, Sora walked toward the box. The paint was peeling, giving a non-threatening vibe. So why did he still feel so nervous? Licking his lips anxiously, he cast one look towards the door. He half-hoped someone would stop him. Taking a deep breath, he opened the lid.

Instantly, a wind started to blow. He screwed his eyes shut, feeling the floor shift underneath him. Then, his feet lifted off the ground. Voices were whispering, growing louder, their words indistinct. Just as he was about to scream, Sora was set on the ground. Breathing harshly, he opened his eyes slowly. Sora blinked, confused.

He was in a forest, green trees towering over him. A dull sun shined grey light, giving the scene a melancholy feeling. Suddenly, a noise came behind him. A pure snow white stag emerged from the thicket, regarding him with silver eyes. There was a moment of silence, with neither making a move nor 

sound. Then, the stag turned and dashed off into the forest. Sora, not knowing why, ran off after it. The animal was fast, leading him on a winding chase past trees and flowers. The brunet rounded a corner, but stopped. The stag had disappeared. He sat down on a rock, feeling unnaturally dejected. He glanced up, taking in his surroundings. He was by a small lake, blue water gently lapping against a beach. Apart from him, there was no evidence of any other life. Not knowing what to do, Sora went by the shore of the water and studied his reflection.

"Sora..." He jumped up, looking around. It was that same voice. He called back.

"Who are you?"

"Do you not know?" The voice was musical and sad, distinctly female.

"I'm sorry, I don't." It was strange, this place had no echo. His voice was absorbed in the emptiness.

"Then I cannot answer your questions." Sora started. How did she...?

"Wait! Please I have to know. Who am I?" He cried out desperately. The voice answered,

"You will have to find that out for yourself." The brunet felt distress building up.

"Please! Help me."

"Goodbye." Before he could do anything, Sora was going through the whirlwind again. He landed on the dirty floor of the room, head down. He looked up, frightened by a loud hacking noise. Feeling something trickling down his face, Sora wiped at his cheeks. His fingers came back wet. It was only then that he realized he was crying.

Riku, for the fifth time that morning, walked by Sora's door. It was mid-morning and the other boy had not gotten up yet. Leon had told him to let Sora sleep in. Riku agrred, but got the feeling Leon knew more to the story then he did. Finally, on his sixth try the door opened. Riku raised an eyebrow. Sora looked like hell, he had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was even messier than usual. Speaking of his eyes, they were red-rimmed, like he had been crying.

"Sora..." But the younger boy shot him a look that clearly said, 'I don't want to talk about it.' He changed what he was about to say. "Leon wants to start training you to fight today. If you're not up to it though..." Sora interrupted.

"I'm fine, really." He smiled, not as brightly as he usually did, but a smile none-the-less. "Of course, I have never been in a real fight in my life." Riku raised a eyebrow again.

"What about that guy whose jaw you broke?" Sora shook his head.

"He was overconfident." Riku rolled his jade eyes. Call him cocky, but when he did something amazing like that, he wanted recognition.

"You want me to have this?" Sora's voice was incredulous. Axel exchanged an amused look with Roxas.

"Yes. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?" The blonde's voice was quiet, but polite. Sora shot him a look.

"It's just...it's so..." He stumbled over his words. The weapon he had been given was oddly shaped, like a key. The blade was razor-sharp though. Sora's bloody finger testified to that. The steel was meticulously clean, not a speck of dirt or rust lay on it. Axel grinned at him.

"I know, hey?" The redhead lazily twirled his own weapon, a circular piece of metal with sharp, shiny blades a little less than one foot sticking out. He said it was called a chakram. "Its name is Oblivion. Roxie over here has two." Roxas glared at him, annoyed with the nickname. They had been fighting over it for centuries. Sora gripped the sword in his hands. The weight was perfect. Slowly he swung it around, feeling a weird tingle when he did. Axel nodded.

"Feel's right, doesn't it. You may not remember anything from your past life, but you do. You learned to fight, and did it well. After all, you had to protect the priestess of the goddess." Riku and Roxas both smacked him on the head, giving him twin looks of death.

"You're not supposed to tell him anything like that, you idiot." Sora shot Roxas a suspicious look.

"Tell me what?" The blond gave him a sad look.

"You have to find that out on your own. We have..."

"Rules, I know." The brunet supplied. "It's so frustrating to have people look up to you for something you don't even remember happening. Or even know if it's true!" He turned away, taking a slow breath. The three teens shot him guilty looks that he didn't see, but he felt. Riku's soft voice came,

"I know it's hard, but be patient. People have gone insane when unlocking too many memories at once. What good will it do you?" Sora turned around with a fake smile plastered on his face. If there was one thing he hated, it was pity. "Let's forget about that. Can you show me how to use this thing?" Axel smirked.

"Of course." Without warning, he swung his chakram at Sora's head. Without even thinking, Sora raised his weapon and blocked the shot. The weapons clanged. He thrust the blade at Axel, amazed that he somehow knew that to do. He surged forward, making Axel back up. The redhead tried to get Sora to turn, but the brunet was having none of it. He blocked the weapon and, with shaking arms, forced Axel to his knees. The redhead sighed, signalling he had given up. Sora stepped back, feeling amazed at what had just happened. He was expecting Axel to be mad, to declare that he had cheated. But the redhead looked up with an expression of such painful hope that Sora had to turn away.

"I have no doubts about who you are no." His voice was soft, unlike his earlier brashness. "It's really you."

Sora's days took on a comfortable routine that was overshadowed by his worry for his family and friends. His mom and dad were probably frantic now, wondering where he went. And Tidus...All the 

energy that came with his worry went into learning to fight. He took turns fighting with Axel, Roxas, and Riku. He lost most of the time, but learned a lot in the process. Sora was amazed to learn that they were all at least a thousand years old. The brunet didn't really see anyone else who was there. It was explained that most of the members of the group went out on scouting missions during the day and returned at night. He would spend his spare time either in the kitchen with Lexaeus, who would feed him delicious concoctions, or with Leon looking at pictures that meant nothing to him. Despite his lack of memory, Leon never got angry. He explained that it was meant to be a painfully slow progress.

One evening, Sora had a strange dream.

The stag from the oracle thrashed in a trap, the thin metal teeth biting into the flesh. It bellowed in pain, eyes desperate. Over the noise, Sora heard a pained voice.

"Need help. Please...help me." In the dream, the eyes bored into Sora. "SORA!! PLEASE HELP!!"

The brunet sat up, eyes wide. Moving as if possessed, he grabbed his sword. He ran to the oracle's door, feeling panicky. When he got there, he froze. A huge dog was there, snuffling. Two more were behind it. Yellow eyes focused on him, a snarling following. It lunged at Sora, jaws open, ready to rip into him. The sense of fear he had with the troll had disappeared. Coolly, he raised Oblivion. He stabbed the blade right through the dog's mouth. The blade appeared through the top of the head. A loud whine followed, then the dog fell over dead. The others shifted, as if nervous. Then they took off, the distant sound of breaking glass answering how the expected to get away. Axel came charging up the stairs, eyes widening when he saw the carcass.

"WOAH!" Riku appeared suddenly, pulling Sora away. All traces of braveness were gone; he paled at the stench of blood. Roxas, who had come up with Axel, pulled the blade out of the monster's head. Sora pulled away from Riku, feeling distressed. Getting the message, the silver haired boy led Sora to the garden. The brunet vomited, shaking. Riku rubbed his back soothingly, murmuring soft words of comfort. The crying boy sat down on the ground, wiping at his mouth with a grimace of disgust.

"I bet you never reacted like that," he said dully. Riku shook his head.

"The first battle I was in, I couldn't eat for days afterwards. It's nothing to be ashamed about." Sora leaned against Riku, nodding.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of." A cold, sarcastic voice filled the garden. Both boys spun around. A man stood there, long silver hair glinting in the moonlight. Green eyes that were both cruel and hard focused on them. The man had a small smirk, as if something amusing occurred to him. Riku stiffened.

"Sephiroth." The man laughed softly.

"Hello, Riku." He shifted his gaze to Sora. "Is this the so called chosen one?" Riku didn't move. "I see." Unseen to Riku and Sora, a glowing ball formed in the palm of Sephiroth's hand. "Well, let me offer my congratulations to the boy." With that, he threw the light at Sora. It hit Sora in the chest, driving him back. He slumped to the ground, eyes closed.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Riku charged Sephiroth. The older man caught the boy's wrists, subduing him.

"Tsk, tsk Riku. Such language. You betrayed me, so you're in no position to be calling me names." He shoved the boy back. "You'll come back." With that, he disappeared in a flash of dark light. Riku rushed to Sora's side. He lifted the brunet boy up, shaking him slightly. Sora's blue eyes snapped open. Instantly he started to cry. Riku shushed him, trying to help him up. Sora started to whisper. One phrase started to repeat itself. Riku stopped, staring down at Sora.

"What was that?" Sora inhaled.

"I remember. I remember everything."

Epic ending. It's so cliche, I know. But bare with me. As always, review please!!