Chapter 10. So yeah, enjoy.

Wandering the Darkness

Chapter 10

Rivalry in the Ring

Artemis stepped into the ring pulled out his bow and docked his arrow aiming for Sora's head. The announcer started the match and Artemis launched the arrow and Sora blocked it. Artemis then fired 5 arrows in quick succession. Sora jumped left and threw his Keyblade straight for Artemis who drew his katana to deflect it. Before Sora could summon it back, Artemis fired another arrow straight at Sora and as Sora leapt left again, Artemis learnt and fired to the left and got Sora in the forearm. It only slashed his arm but it still rendered him helpless. Sora summoned his Keyblade but just as he did, Artemis had his katana at Sora's neck.

"Did you really think you stood a chance?"

"I believe I still have." Sora swung around towards Artemis's hand and elbowed him in the back. Sora then stood up and swung at him with the Keyblade. He was knocked down with katana out of his hand. Sora walked over to him Keyblade ready but Artemis had enough time to ready his bow and arrow. He aimed it straight for Sora's heart at point blank. Sora started to back off allowing Artemis to regain himself.

"You've put up a good fight Sora," said Artemis. "I thought you'd be much easier to fight than this. But this is where it ends." Artemis pulled the bow back even further. From a few feet away, Artemis fired. Sora almost immediately tried to deflect it but the arrow went past it and into his shoulder plunging straight through. The arrow flew through and landed on the ground behind Sora. Horror had struck Sora's face, and he collapsed.

"Ha! No one is a match for me," cried Artemis. He was cheering so loudly that he failed to see Sora stand up again who was struggling. Artemis turned around and he froze in shock. "Wha…What just happened?"

"I honestly don't know," said Sora. "Ugh, I've had enough." Sora drew his keyblade and smacked Artemis in the stomach knocking him down.

"Alright, alright I give in," Artemis said. "No competition is worth winning if your enemy has magic shoulders."

"Yeah I guess." Sora walked over to Artemis and helped him up.

"Huh. Why did you help me up?" Artemis asked.

"We're fighters, not enemies," Sora smiled. Artemis smiled too and stepped out of the arena with Sora.

"So you are fighting that girl over there," said Artemis. "Kairi wasn't it?"

"Yeah, she's actually my girlfriend," smiled Sora.

"She what? Your going to fight your girlfriend?"

"Yeah? So?"

"That's a bit messed up man."

"Well how about you worry about that somewhere else. Actually do you mind doing a small favour for me?"

"Yeah, sure. Why not?"

"Well my friend went up into the chapel before but hasn't come back down. We think something may have happened to him."

"Yeah I'll go and do that," Artemis smiled. "Good luck." Artemis ran off towards the chapel and slipped through the wooden door.

"Ok, show time," said Sora as he made his way towards Kairi. She was sat on the side examining her Springs Despair. As Sora sat down, she rested the weapon on her lap and looked Sora in the eye.

"Just because you're my boyfriend, doesn't mean I'm going easy on you," she taunted playfully.

"Pity cause I was going to go easy on you, but if your gonna play like that…" Sora laughed.

"Hey now wait…" Kairi started before she was interrupted.

"Ladies and gentlemen. We are about to start the final match," said the announcer. "Could the competitors please make their way to the arena?"

"Ok here we go," said Sora.

"Ready for the test Sora?" Kairi asked.

"Who said this was a test?" Sora laughed as he stepped into the arena.

"I did when I said I wanted to see if you'd improved," Kairi yelled. "Jeese."

Once Kairi stepped into the arena and readied herself, the match began. Sora made the first move by running straight forwards, not even trying to run at full pace. He swung the Keyblade round. He was shocked when Kairi jumped over the blade and span the weapon straight into his head. Sora was knocked backwards with a bruise on his cheek.

"Damn," Sora complained. He decided not to hold back and attack Kairi like she attacked him. He ran in and took a swing. Kairi jumped back to avoid it but Sora continued to spin and got her in the ribs with the Keyblades hilt. This brought Kairi to the floor in pain. Sora brought the Keyblade up to smash down but Kairi retaliated with a rugby tackle into his stomach. She then brought her weapon behind her and applied a reverse grip. This allowed her to swipe across Sora's stomach causing him to stagger backwards. Sora regained himself and threw the Keyblade. Kairi just avoided it and ran forwards. Sora swung his arm back and then forwards as if stabbing. At the right second, he summoned the Keyblade which then hit Kairi at full pelt into her diaphragm. Having no weapon in Sora's had allowed him to apply speed into the attack therefore making the attack twice as hard. Kairi, winded, collapsed onto the floor and tried to catch her breath. Sora however dropped his weapon in front of her. He then crouched down to her level

"That proves I've improved," he whispered. He stood up and called to the announcer. "I resign. Kairi wins."

"What!" She was in shock. Sora walked off, summoned his Keyblade then sheathed it away into non-being. "Sora you can't do that!" Kairi caught her breath and ran after him.

After a few seconds, Kairi managed to catch up to Sora.

"What the hell was that?" she yelled. "I can't believe you just forfeited."

"I only forfeited because I'd proven to you I had gotten better," he said. "I didn't need to do you more harm. Kairi stopped and Sora continued to walk towards the chapel.

"You did that… for me?" Sora stopped where he was, a few feet from Kairi.

"Yeah sure. Why wouldn't I? I could see you were in pain so I had no reason to continue."

"That's… That's so… (She sighed into a giggle) That's very sweet of you Sora." She walked over to him and embraced him planting a kiss on his lips. Sora could feel the warmth of her on him. They broke apart after a few seconds. And started to stroll hand in hand.

"So where to now?" she asked.

"Well I sent that boy Artemis into the chapel, see if he could find Riku," Sora explained. "I haven't heard from him since the start of the match."

"So we're going into the chapel ourselves? Ok sounds good." Kairi walked up to the door and pushed it open and slipped inside. Sora soon followed looking behind him to make sure no one followed them. He closed the door and looked up at the high ceiling.

"This is going to take a while," said Sora.

"I'm going up this tower. Why don't you go up the other one," said Kairi. She ran off towards the left tower while Sora just laughed and started to make his way to the right tower. He started to make his way up the stairs when he heard a creaking. A couple of flights up, the stairs below him collapsed.

"Bloody hell. Guess there's only one way to go now."

A few minutes had passed and Sora had got half way up the tower when he could hear shouting.

"You want me to do what?" It was Artemis. He must have climbed the right hand tower too. Riku therefore must be in the other tower. "You're crazy I'll get myself killed." Sora rushed up the tower to see Artemis leaning on the edge shouting at the other tower. "I was sent to find you even after you called me a girl. And now you want me to get myself killed."

"Whats wrong Artemis?" Sora said causing Artemis to almost fall off the edge.

"Jeese Sora, now you're trying to kill me," Artemis complained. "Your friend is getting me to use my bow and arrow to send over a rope which he then wants me to shimmy over. He said that the stairs collapsed on this side. Must have been excess weight."

"Umm Artemis, how do you think I got up here." A few seconds had passed when Artemis grew bright red.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," said Artemis. "Well I guess we do have no choice but to do what he says. But I'm no good at long range at this sort of distance."

"Aren't you an archer?"

"Well yeah but even an archer has its flaws. Could you find some really long rope while I prep my bow?"

"Ok sure." Sora ran off around the bells looking for rope while Artemis got his bow out and changed the wire. Sora eventually found some rope behind one of the bells and took it over to Artemis.

"Thanks." Artemis took the rope and tied it to the end of one of his larger arrows. Sora stood at the edge looking over at the other side. He could see Riku who for some reason was on fire yet unharmed. Next to him was a shorter man. He couldn't see who it was but decided to leave it till he got to the end. He then saw Kairi rushing up the other stairs and even heard her scream. She must have seen Riku on fire and panicked. "Done." Artemis said. "Right, here goes." He readied himself at the edge and fired the special arrow. Just like Artemis said, he wasn't too good at long distance and the arrow fell short. He pulled the rope in and tried again. He shot again, this time managing to hit one of the pillars, Kairi caught the arrow as it started to fall down and tied it around the pillar. Sora took the other end and tied it to their pillar. He then pulled the rope up making sure it was taught.

"Ready?" Sora said. Artemis nodded and watched Sora grab the rope and swing his legs around it facing towards Riku. He started to shimmy across stopping every now and then to wipe the sweat off his palms. About 2 meters across, Artemis joined him. He too grabbed the rope and swung his legs up. The rope started to wobble and Sora lost his footing. He heard Kairi yelp from the other side but he knew she would be fine. Sora just hooked his legs back up and continued to shimmy.

"How ya coping Artemis?" Sora asked.

"Ngh, I'll be fine, just keep going," Artemis yelled. Sora nodded and continued to move.

About halfway across Sora spoke again. "Nearly there Artemis."

"Yeah ok," he replied.

"Just keep your eyes open. The heartless aren't gonna let us off easily." Just as if he had summoned them, Gold Ringers appeared around them making a loud clanging. "Me and my big mouth," Sora sighed. He refocused and drew his Keyblade. As Artemis needed both hands for his bow and arrow he was forced to use his Katana. Sora dropped his legs and hung on using his left hand with Keyblade in his right. Artemis swung his body down and swung upside down. A Gold Ringer swooped down towards Sora who then managed to hit it back. 2 Gold Ringers then went after Artemis who only just managed to hold on. Sora then realised the bulk of enemies seemed to be going after Artemis so he sheathed his Keyblade and climbed around Artemis to protect him.

Artemis! Go!" Sora yelled.

"Ok." Artemis and Sora knew very well he wasn't too skilled with his Katana. "I'll get to the other side and use my bow and arrow. Artemis sheathed his Katana, regained himself and started to shimmy across. As Sora attacked the heartless he heard a yell. A Gold Ringer had hit Artemis who had lost his grip and started to fall.

"No!" Sora, thinking quickly, slashed through the rope and started to swing through the air. He heard Kairi scream while Riku just yelled.

"Sora!"

Sora had timed it right and caught Artemis in mid flight. He then swung around and allowed himself to be cushioned by his back. He was severally hurt but managed to keep his grip on the rope and the Keyblade with Artemis under his arm. To make things worse, the heartless started to cast Fire and Artemis had been knocked out due to the impact to the wall. Fortunately, the magic was missing them but it was still damaging the wall heavily. Sora had no choice but to flee. He was too far from the roof below which had lots of gargoyles holding sharp, rock weapons. Sora adjusted Artemis onto his back and started to carry him up. The Gold Ringers then grew closer to them. Fire balls flew at Sora only just missing. They were thankfully close enough to the building so that the others could attack them. Springs Despair was being flung out at them while Riku launched fireballs. Sora almost reached the top when one of the Gold Ringed got through the defences and shot a Fire attack. It hit the rope above them, igniting it. Sora hurried as fast as he could up to the fire and grabbed above it just as the rest fell. He couldn't hold on anymore. Artemis was slipping and he was holding onto a piece of rope with one hand.

"Fine. You win," Sora sighed. Sora let go of the rope and started to fall to his death. Was this the end?

Ooh cliff hanger. Chapter 11 will hopefully be done soon. Oh and good news, Organization High is now redone as much as needed. You'll find it under the name Re: Organization High. Now I know there aren't changes in chapters 6 onwards and that is because it didn't need changing. The first 5 did because they were in first person and let me tell any beginner fan-fictionists, choose either first or third person and stick with it. Anyway, please review. It would mean a lot to me. Thank you for reading and I'll see you next chapter.