Fourth in the rewritten.
Two hours later, the group met outside their dorms, heading into the forest so that they could avoid Yuki and Zero. They didn't want to risk being sent back to their dorms now that the sun had set.
"So where do you think the Keyhole will be?" Kairi asked.
"I have no idea. I'm not a genius at this or anything," Sora sighed. "We'll just scope out the Moon Dormitory and get a list of possible places it might be. Then tomorrow we'll investigate them further. If we don't find anything, we move to our own dorm."
"And if we have nothing there?" Riku asked.
"Um…I haven't gotten that far," Sora admitted with a blush.
Riku ruffled his hair. "Whatever. But we can branch out in the Moon Dormitory. They aren't there right now."
"Good idea. I'll take the West Wing. Riku can take the East Wing and Kairi can take the North Wing. Meet back here in one hour," Sora ordered.
Kairi nodded and took off towards the North Wind but Riku lingered.
"Sora…" he trailed off, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Yes, Riku?" Sora asked, having a feeling he knew what Riku was going to ask.
"I…can I come with you?" he asked quietly.
"Um…sure…but why?" Sora asked as they began walking towards the West Wing.
"I don't feel safe," Riku admitted. "But…um…god this sounds weird…you feel…safe."
Sora smiled gently. "I understand Riku. Come on."
They walked up the steps into the dorm, slipping into the darkened halls soundlessly. It was true. Being around Sora felt safe. He felt protected even though he had always considered himself the stronger of the two when it came to fighting Heartless. He didn't mean that kind of safe. Physically, he knew he could handle the Heartless and Nobodies easily but it was the darkness and emptiness that they represented that put him on edge and struck fear in every inch of his heart.
"Riku…" Sora said softly, turning to look at him. "Are you okay?"
Riku laughed bitterly. "Of course not. I'm so screwed up right now. The darkness…it's calling me…all the time."
Sora shook his head, slipping his hand through Riku's and squeezing. "Don't worry. I won't let it get to you."
Riku stared down at their interlocked hands, unsure of what to think about the situation. Sora's hand was warm and soft while his was cold and calloused. They were so different. Sora was light while he was dark. Sora was happy while he was sad. Sora was perfect while he was the world's biggest screw up.
"Stop feeling so bad, Riku. Don't worry about anything," Sora said softly, gently tugging Riku into a walk again.
Slowly, they checked all the rooms they came across, nothing particularly standing out to them as a possible Keyhole. Until they reached Kaname's room that is. They could tell it was his by the gold nameplate that was stuck to the oak door.
"Of course he has a nameplate," Riku muttered.
Sora tried the door knob, not surprised to realize it was locked. So instead he just summoned his keyblade, tapping it once before opening the door and leading Riku inside. The room was in perfect condition with black lace window curtains to block out any light that might filter in. The bed was huge and covered with a black comforter with a red canopy and the carpet was plush and soft.
"He must be rich or something," Riku said as they slowly began sifting through the things on his desk and running their hands along the walls for anything suspicious.
"Who knows? Let's just hurry up and get back to Kairi. You know she isn't as strong as us and-"
A high pitched wail suddenly pierced the air, echoing down the hallway and into the room. Without hesitating, the two Keyblade wielders were dashing down the hallway towards the sound. The hallway led to the Main Hall where Kairi was surrounded by four Large Bodies and ten Neoshadows.
"Kairi!" Sora shouted, racing towards her and cutting through a Large Body from behind.
Kairi glanced at him in relief, quickly fighting off a Neoshadow while Riku attacked the remaining three Large Bodies. In no time, they had destroyed the Heartless.
"Sorry guys. I just can't handle them by myself," she said sheepishly.
"Stop apologizing. It's fine," Riku said.
"So it was you. What are you three doing in the Moon Dormitory?" Zero demanded as he stepped into the main hall, gun out.
"Shit," Riku hissed.
"Um…" Sora trailed off, unable to come up with a good excuse.
Kairi made a mental note to the fact that Zero's eyes were no longer crimson but a lilac color.
"I think you three should come with me to see the Headmaster," Zero said quietly, eyes narrowed. "It would be unfortunate for you to resist."
"Oh shut up," Riku ordered. "Stop acting so tough."
Sora's eyes widened when he saw a Neoshadow rising out of the ground behind Zero, drawing back an arm to slice at him. But before anyone could warn him, it attacked, slicing through his back and sending him sprawling across the ground. Zero quickly rolled onto his back despite the wounds now there and fired off three quick shots, scrambling to his feet when he saw that once again, his bullets did no damage at all.
Riku decided then that he would help. He leapt away from the others, ramming his blade deep into the Neoshadow and killing it almost instantly. Without looking at Zero even once, he walked back to Sora and Kairi.
"Why didn't you help me in the first place?" Zero hissed, shrugging out of his jacket as blood continued to drip from his wound.
"Zero…why are you bleeding?" Kaname asked as he entered the hall behind Zero.
His eyes were the deep color of bloodlust as the blood washed onto the marble floors.
"I was attacked by those weird things. Think of drinking from me and die," Zero hissed.
"As if. Get out of here. I will punish these three accordingly seeing as how they are in my dorm," Kaname told him.
Zero's eyes narrowed but he hurried out of the room and back outside nonetheless.
"Now, you three. What are you doing snooping around in the Moon Dormitory?" Kaname asked, slowly walking towards them, an animal stalking its prey.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that," Sora said, expression serious.
"I think you can," Kaname told him, suddenly vanishing and reappearing behind Kairi, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him, fangs hovering inches from her neck.
"Let her go," Riku ordered dangerously.
"Tell me what I want to know," Kaname countered.
"Ask the Headmaster," Sora said, eyeing his fangs nervously.
Kaname pulled back. "I suppose I could do that. If I'm not satisfied with my answer I'm finding you."
"Fine. Just leave us alone," Sora said.
Kaname pushed Kairi forward and Sora quickly caught her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She hid her face in his shoulder, unable to look at Kaname as she quaked in fear from what had just taken place.
Riku quickly led them away and back towards their dorm. As they walked, Sora never removed his arms from Kairi and Riku felt an emotion bubbling up within him. But he had no idea what it was…and then he did. Jealousy. But…he was jealous of Sora, right? He wanted to hold Kairi…right? Not Sora. He did not want to hold Sora. Of course not. Because he was not gay.
After dropping Kairi off at her dorm they headed back for their own. As they walked, Riku spoke up.
"Sora…are you in love with Kairi?"
Sora looked at him startled. "What? No. Of course not. She's my best friend. Nothing more."
Riku nodded.
"What brought that on?" Sora asked curiously, opening their dorm room door.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it," Riku said quickly.
Sora shrugged before slipping into the bathroom to get read ready for bed. Riku flopped down on his bed, rolling on his back to stare up at the ceiling. He was so totally screwed.