Chapter 4- Renewed resolve
After the Replica fled, Riku and Sairu sprinted after him, only to discover he was nowhere in sight, yet it was clear Riku didn't know nor cared. "Come out! Show yourself, Fake!" "Fake? Oh no... That's not exactly the right word" a mocking voice echoed, before Ansem appeared from the darkness again, appearing as arrogant as ever. "Not you again" Sairu groaned. "What are you saying? Isn't he just a copy of me?" Riku asked, clearly having not heard Sairu's remark. "More like a model" Ansem corrected. "He is an example of what you should try to be. He accepts the darkness... just like you once couldn't help but accept me. But now you are afraid. Perhaps YOU are the one who is being fake. Fake when you pretend to have no fear" "When have I been afraid of the dark?" Riku asked, confused.
"Inside of the card worlds..." Ansem continued "you grappled desperately with the darkness. Desperation is fear. You fight the darkness because it is what frightens you" "Be quiet!" Riku declared before he lunged at Ansem, only to be repelled like before, yet this time, Riku landed on his feet. "Stubborn boy" Ansem commented, throwing another set of cards to Riku. "Then continue your fight, if you must. Eventually, you will learn. You cannot resist the darkness" Ansem said confidently before disappearing into the darkness yet again.
"Is it just me, or am I getting really annoyed with his preaching for the darkness?" Sairu said, his words dripping with spite. Yet, Riku stood there, staring into space ahead with his sword in one hand and the cards in the other. "Riku? Riku!" Sairu said rather loudly, which caused Riku to snap out of his thoughts. "Sorry. I was just thinking..." Riku said, avoiding eye contact with Sairu as he spoke. "About what?" Sairu asked in a stern voice. "What if... Ansem is right, and I do fear the darkness?" Riku said in a defeated tone of voice. "How can I keep fighting if I only feel afraid of the darkness? What good would my heart be if it's filled with this unbridled sense of fear? Will I ever be able to conquer it?" Riku questioned aloud.
"So you're afraid" Sairu summarised. There was a long pause from the silver-haired youth, before a slight nod of the head was his answer. "Riku, just because you are afraid of the darkness, doesn't mean you have to quit fighting it. If anything, it's because of your fear that you should fight" "What?" Riku asked puzzlingly. "One of the things I learnt growing up was that fear is natural, and is not something to be ashamed of whatsoever. If anything, fear and indecisiveness are signs of a strong heart in their own right. There was a time when I was petrified with fear myself: someone I didn't know at the time would have been struck down by the Heartless and I was afraid the same would happen to me. But that fear gave me the resolve to fight those dangerous creatures. The point is to accept your fears, but not succumb to them. A fighter who succumbs to fear is a hazard to themselves as well as their loved ones. You've dived into darkness, and you have seen what it holds for those who have and who will fall into its depths"
Sairu finished with a smile across his face, while Riku looked on dumbfounded at Sairu's pearl of wisdom. Eventually, Riku regained his composure and responded "Sairu... thanks for that. I guess I needed a pep talk. I never knew you were that deep" he added in a teasing manner. "Heh heh... you're not the first to have said that. I have my moments" Sairu responded, prompting the two to laugh together as if they had known each other all their lives. When the laughter died down, Riku gazed up at the door ahead of them, his renewed resolve burning like fire in his eyes. "You ready?" Riku asked. "You bet" Sairu replied, equally determined to continue, and the two friends proceeded on their way to the next card world.
Meanwhile, deeper within the castle, Zexion stood gazing at the crystal ball device, his mind still reeling from the shock of seeing his dear old friend after so many years. He gazed at the empty sphere before him, his face frozen with the shock and dread of having to meet Sairu again after all this time. He wasn't sure of anything now, but he knew he wasn't the same from when Sairu and him were simple children. How could he face him when he had no heart to feel joy, excitement, or even to cry or bellow in rage and frustration? In few ways, not having a heart was a blessing, but for the most part, it was a curse.
As Zexion stood like a statue, he didn't even register a hand clasping his shoulder firmly, yet somewhat comforting. Yet, he snapped out of his frozen state to turn to face his silent companion, Lexaeus. The look upon the latter's face was baffling: it seemed to be concerned, yet was firm and composed. "Lexaeus" Zexion said emptily. "I understand it is a great deal to take in; seeing the one you once called your best friend again after so long without his company. But, you must remind yourself of our mission, the mission that bound the Organization together in the first place" "The mission... Of course" Zexion said distractedly, as Lexaeus released his grip on his comrade's shoulder and walked away, resuming speaking as he did so.
"Once the Organization's objective has been fulfilled, what we do after that has not been determined as of yet" "What?" Zexion asked curiously. "Once you, I and all of the Organization have regained that which we have yearned for since our founding, you are welcome, undoubtedly, to return to the life you once had. Until then, maintain your focus on the present situation with this goal in mind for the future" Lexaeus explained, turning to face Zexion with the same unreadable expression upon his chiselled features.
Zexion took a moment to process everything that had been said, and realized Lexaeus was right: he couldn't let Sairu find him as he was now, a hollow vessel of the boy he once was, but once he was complete again, he would be able to rekindle his friendship with Sairu. That thought provided a great comfort for the Cloaked Schemer, causing him to unconsciously smile in a rather serene fashion. Lexaeus noticed this, but chose to ignore it, considering it a trick of the light. "Lexaeus... you have my thanks for reminding me that my friendship with him is not out of reach once I have become complete again" he said, attempting to sound grateful, but only to say his words in an empty voice as usual.
"It was necessary to keep you focused on the task at hand. Meanwhile, what are we to do with the neophytes above?" Lexaeus said, changing the subject. "I am unsure of what's occurring on the higher floors, but all I can ascertain is that Vexen has spent a great deal of time above. The Replica left with him, and hasn't been seen since" Zexion summarized. "The best thing to do at this time would be to monitor Riku's progress through the basement floors. We should consider preparations to counter Marluxia's plan, and these involve Riku. If Sairu is uncooperative, we may need to consider... a more permanent solution" At these words, Zexion froze with fear. But it was only a split second before he regained his composure and responded "That is if all other options fail. Frankly, I would prefer to keep him alive". "Why, it appears the Cloaked Schemer has a sense of morality after all" Lexaeus mockingly stated. Zexion simply gave him a dark glare, and turned away in absent disgust. Zexion darkly retorted "It matters not. Riku is our objective, so we will use this time to concoct a scheme around him, Sairu shall be dealt with accordingly in due time".