Wow… this unowned piece of writing took so much longer than it should have… I hope my readers don't mob me for the wait.
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We started in. (in… out… whatever. We had to go out to go in, ok XP) Tifa met up with us, in the hall. She had her arms folded, with a scathing look on her face. Riku grinned sheepishly, waving to her. "Er… hi, Tifa."
"I told you this would happen."
"Yes, but I have good news."
Her eyes narrowed. "What?"
Riku pulled down the sleeve on his right arm, "The stitches are still intact."
Kairi smacked herself in the face, trying to hide her laughter. Tifa, however, didn't seem to be amused, or even satisfied by this response. I, on the other hand, didn't even try to hide my laughter… even if I didn't really get it.
xXx
We all met up in the library for the king to explain, mostly for my benefit, what all was going on with Riku. Ok everyone but Tifa and Aeris. When he'd finished I was more amazed that I wasn't surprised. It made sense. Riku had told me one time that he felt out of place with us. Not with us really, as much as in the light, I guess.
He said there were actually times when he felt comforted by the darkness.
I glanced over at him to see that he actually seemed to be embarrassed about this. His head was down, staring at an odd ring on his hand. Wait… where'd that come from? "Riku?"
His eyes shifted up toward me.
"Where'd you get that?"
He sighed. "I don't really know. I think my guardian gave it to me."
The king continued on about all the reasons why we should stop this from happening.
"But I don't understand." His eyes narrowed, in an almost sorrowful manner. "Why would she just give me this and leave?... Why isn't she here now?"
"Are you insane?"
I jumped from the suddenly subtle interruption. It was Vincent. He was standing over in the corner, his arms folded over his chest.
The king eyed him skeptically. "Am I what?"
"You can't keep something like that locked up."
"Well, we certainly can't let it out."
"That power is going to find its way out one way or another. Your only options are to help it, or let it force its way out. If you do, not only could everything here be destroyed, but possibly Riku as well. Is that what you want?"
The king, surprisingly, seemed agitated. "These are Angels, Vincent. Not Demons."
A slight narrowing in the man's eyes, was the only change I saw in his expression. "Then why are you afraid?"
The king bit his lip, seemingly backed into a corner.
Vincent sighed. "Angels… demons… they're all the same as far as I'm concerned."
"Yes, well, this doesn't concern you."
Vincent closed his eyes briefly. "Hmm, accepted. May I ask why it is you feel the need to suppress this power? Is it because you feel like it should be, or does Riku actually want this?"
Riku perked up, with hearing his name.
"Frankly, I'm amazed you even told him the truth."
"He wasn't going to."
All eyes shot to Riku, no one else having heard him say anything since we had gotten there.
"Were you, your majesty?" It was the first time I had ever seen Riku look to the king with an almost anger.
The king looked completely dumbfounded. "What makes you say that?"
Riku sighed, lowering his head back to the ring. "Just admit it. If I hadn't overheard anything then I wouldn't have known. Would I?"
"…… Well… I…er-" The king shuffled his feet, blushing slightly.
I glanced over to Riku. "Do you want this?"
He stared at me, fiddling with the ring. "I'm not completely sure… but some of the thing's Xemnero said made too much sense." He sighed, looking up at Vincent. "Either way, it looks like I don't have a choice. Whether I want it or not… I'll have to except this."
The king gasped, "What!?"
Vincent nodded. "Whenever you decide, I can help you."
"Yea. Last time someone said that, I was almost killed."
"I can't assure you won't be. That's up to you. If all goes well, you won't have to worry about it."
Donald fumed, jumping in rage at Vincent. "THIS IS NOT YOUR CALL!! YOU CAN'T MAKE THE DECISIONS AROUND HERE!!"
Goofy grabbed his arms. "Donald, calm down."
"Have it your way, but it's not your call either." He pushed off of the wall, and swept from the room.
Steam was nearly spewing from Donald's ears. "Who does he think he is? How can he talk to the king like that?"
Cid laughed. "Yea, Vincent has a tendency of being too honest. You'd do good to listen to him though. He knows about this stuff."
xXx
The war between Cid and Donald raged on. (Donald really dragging Cid into the rage)
Somewhere in the midst of all this, Riku had managed to sneak out without even my noticing. I slid out, to look for him, not feeling up to listening to those two anymore, now joined by others.
Riku had probably gotten sick of it as well. Which may be why he left.
I ran up the stairs, finding his appointed 'room', but didn't see any trace of him. "Alright, Riku… where are you?"
xXx
Getting lost in this stupid castle a few hundred times, I found a door that was rather difficult to open. I discovered why when I stepped out to an enormous wind swirling around me.
I was apparently on the castle roof.
I walked around the small room, the doorway was on, to find Riku sitting between two spires along the castle wall, his feet propped up on the one in front of him. He had a frighteningly stern look in his eyes, focused on the sky. The harsh winds whipped his hair and cloths dangerously behind him. I froze, against the wall, wanting to approach him, but he didn't seem quite in the mod for it.
"It's alright, Sora. Come on out."
Well, that solved one problem, but how'd he know I was there. Ok… I'll admit I'm not the stealthiest person out there.
I moved out, walking closer. "You looked like you wanted to be alone. I didn't want to disturb your train of thought."
He sighed, moving his feet for me to sit down. "Doesn't make a difference. No matter how much I think about this I don't think I could be ready." Riku tucked his legs in, his head falling. "I've always been able to maintain both light and darkness. I knew where the light came from… but I always thought my darkness came from my own weakness. When I couldn't resist it." He glanced down into his hands as if holding one in each. "Maybe I should fight it. If I don't then I'll lose the light I fought so hard to protect." His voice fell into a nearly inaudible whisper. "I'll lose you. Problem is… if I don't-" He brought a hand to his heart. "Then this pain will never go away."
I turned to him, with hearing this. "You're in pain?
He sighed. "Sometimes more than others. It almost like a compressed fire… that at times fades… but won't burn out. I started feeling it some time ago, but I never thought about what it was."
"But, Riku, if it hurts, then maybe you should just give in to it."
"I'm not giving into something just because it's hurting me. You should know that, Sora."
"Yea, but… what about what Vincent said? It's gonna get out anyway. It just seems like it's better that it's your choice, rather than have it forced. At least, this way, you'll know when it happens, right? Besides, you won't lose the light. You'll still, technically, be in the light. Plus you have us. Me, Kairi, and all the others."
Riku just smiled, shaking his head. "Sora, I'm pretty sure I'll have to leave. What then?"
"Well, like I said, you'll still have us. We'll always be in each other's hearts. So no matter where you are, how far apart we are, you'll always have that light with you. Ha ha just like we'll always have a little bit of darkness, because of you, I guess."
Riku laughed. "That would make sense, I suppose. And who knows… this whole 'prince' thing may be fun."
"Yea, maybe." I stood, kneeling to him. "And I can be your loyal knight, my liege."
Riku laughed at me again, folding his arms. "Nah. I think court jester suits you better."
"Hey." I straightened up, pouting. "Yea, well… just because something's true doesn't mean you have to point it out."
Riku threw his arms around me, pulling me into him, his head falling down to my shoulder. I hadn't even seen him get up, let alone come closer. "Riku?"
He felt so warm, I almost didn't want him to let go. My face flushed, under the embrace. I hugged him back, causing him to pull me tighter. "I'm gonna miss you, Sora."
Oh, what the hell. I was too used to Riku to mind being so close to him. Plus… it was frickin cold up here. "Me too, Riku, but at least this time… I'll know you're safe. I won't have to worry about you being all alone, in the darkness."
I felt his arms adjust around me, a hand falling to the back of my neck. "Sora?" He remained silent for a moment, maybe trying to find the right words. Then stepped back, shaking his head. "Never mind."
No, Riku." I grabbed his arms. "Don't do that. What did you wanna say?"
It was obvious he wanted to tell me something important, but was a bit awkward about it. Problem is, it was rather difficult to get Riku to say anything once he's decided against it. On the other hand… he could be a major pain. Riku also had a habit of crypting his words, where he could tell me something, without me really getting it.
Riku's hand, still on the back of my neck, moved to the side. The other resting on my shoulder. "I just want you to promise something, Sora."
"Why am I blushing?"
"Don't lose your light."
"What?"
"You've always been so innocent. So pure. I just don't want you to change."
I was gonna mention that I wasn't really that 'innocent', but something in his eyes told me not to. He looked so sad.
"Riku?"
"Just promise that you won't allow yourself to be tainted, like I was. I want your purity to always shine as brilliantly as it does now."
This time, it was my idea to hold him. I wanted to make that sadness go away, as I pulled him closer. "I promise, Riku."
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AN: must… resist… urge… for … yaoi…. Dammit. I did so much editing from the original plot, I hope it synced up right. And i couldn't get away fromthe whole "in your heart" thing... lol this is KH and it's inevitable
