Decision

(Revision)

Here's another revision. Hope you like it.

Yes. I am revising chapters for the sake of my next Memories Of Darkness fic.

Oh yeah, for those of you who don't know. Here's how Hiano and Alirah talk to each other

"Italics" - Each other

"Italics" - In parseltongue

"Italics" - Mentally

Italics - Thinking to themselves

…

Skipping across the shifting slabs floating in an awkward path to Merlin's Hut, Alirah lost herself in sentimental nostalgia. Shivers crawled down her back, bringing an unnerved smirk to form. "The last time she was that cross, Zack and I were demolishing the Colosseum over a petty fight." The Fire Door flew open. Dank, murky air freed her, allowing cool, fresh air to fill her lungs. When the door closed, it felt more like a get out. Aerith glowering emerald eyes driving her away, while begging her to come back. She only scoffed. "Aerith. Still tugging at my guilt strings."

"Well lookie here!" Alirah spun, taken aback by a scruffy older gentleman strolling up to her. "If it ain't pretty Miss Ali."

"Cid?"

"You bet yer skirt wearin' hide." An obscenely long toothpick bounced between his teeth. He ran a hairy palm under his nose, flashing a contorted grin. He clicked his tongue, admiring Alirah with hands to his hips and a shake of his head. "Geeze girl. When you youngins grow up, you sure do sprout. Last time I saw yah," He leveled a hand waist high, "You were so tall, long locks, and the biggest smile on them rosy cheeks I ever did spy." Alirah's chest clenched. She bit her lip to keep herself from falling into the trap. Her blood was boiling. Reminiscing left a sour taste in her mouth. "God you were one of a kind, Ali! With that neat key of yers, and the magic, and how you made Aerith, Zack, and Yuffie feel...normal. And - I swear upon my mom - you were the only one I've seen who could match Cloud and Tifa."

A vein popped in her head. "What does any of this-"

"THEN…" He boomed, silencing her. He wagged a finger, boring a disparaging scowl straight into her forehead "Then I hear the strangest rumor. After - what is it now - two, three years, Little Miss Ali appears out of thin air. The only difference is…" He stormed to her. On their own her legs took three steps back from Cid. He yanked her by the shoulder, "There it is!" Driving strong fingers painfully in the muscles. She winced, squirming in pain. "A chip the size of Hollow Bastion's tuckus on this tiny shoulder! And worst of all," He grabbed her other shoulder, pulling her so close she could see her petrified expression reflecting in his furious orbs, "That chip is driving you to exact some sort of futile revenge! Hurting people YOU care about!" A knee ruptured his abdomen. Air vacated his lungs as he toppled to his knees.

Gold blazed like fire in her eyes, darkening her gorgon stare. "DO NOT STAND THERE AND TALK TO ME ABOUT HURT!" Her screech echoed across the district. Cid coughed, wheezing for air. "In one fell swoop I was hurt! That one act labeled me! No one looked at me the same! Not you! Not Leon! ...Aerith…" Her voice cracked. Sparks ached her chest. "Because I wanted to survive, that Castle turned me into a monster! You say I'm hurting people in my way." She yanked a fistful of Cid's hair. "I'm hurting people who hurt me! And if you get in my way…" Liquid mist coagulated around her neck, forming to a hissing Hiano inches from ripping Cid's face from the bone, "Then yes. I will hurt you. Hell. I'll kill you."

"What will...be left...once this...revenge of yours is...fulfilled?" Cid heaved to speak.

"Nothing." Cid forgot to breathe when his mouth slacked. She was dead serious. "There will be nothing for me. I'm going to die alone, Cid. Drowning in sorrow because I haven't given up on my brother." She let go, letting Cid rest on his hands and knees. "Are you sorry you asked?" Cid wordlessly shook his head. "Why not?"

"Because even if you committed the most unforgiving of acts we'd never let ya be alone." "Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, me, Hell. Even Cloud will be there. We've lost you once. To lose you again would devastate us." Cid declared. Alirah's golden orbs faded to red. She turned on her heels, walking away. She stopped, dumbstruck. Cerulean eyes and silver hair ducked behind the slope wall.

"Riku?"

"I'm sure he'd drop in a coma if you drowned." Cid picked himself up, massaging his pounding stomach. "I see how you look at 'im. How he looks at you. Zack would envy you both." Alirah whirled to him, glaring. Cid already turned on his heels, waving as he walked to the first district. "Enjoy life, Miss Ali. Love doesn't give third chances."

"Lo-WHAT?! CID!" The door closed. Alirah stood gaping with cheeks red as cherries. "OOH THAT MAN! UGH!" She stormed aimlessly up the slope, spouting every curse word in the english language she knew. Snarling Cid was an idiot, that everything was stupid, that she couldn't believe Cid would say she and Riku- "Love. Give me a-" Alirah was a little surprised to see Riku staring into the window of the vacant house in the third district. He seemed lost in troubled thought. Like he has been since they saw Sora in Wonderland. Consumed by Sora, wondering what he was doing while at the same time wanting to pummel him. Having a best friend had to be the most complicated of relationships. Alirah would know. She and Hiano had moments where one wished the other would simply vanish. "Everything alright?" She approached slowly.

Riku didn't stir at her voice. Alirah went beside him. Peering into the house, she discovered why Riku was out of sorts. Sora was conversing with Donald and Goofy, laughing animatedly, and having a grand old time with each other. The best of friends they had become in such a short time. Leaving their old friends to collect dust. To fade into the background. Alirah would never admit it, but she was hurt. A boy they barely knew replaced her in a second. Riku and Kairi were replaced by two.

"I thought these three seemed a bit too friendly. And now I know why. Sora's been making friends while I've been searching for Kairi. If he even cares about her." Alirah was able to relate. The two who claimed to be her friends, aided in her murder attempt. They kept secrets from her, locked her up in the castle, and when it came down to it – sent her to her death. "He didn't even bother to come look for me."

Flashback

"There you guys are!" Sora beamed as Donald and Goofy left the Fire Door. Merlin and Fairy Godmother anxiously excused themselves, heading to the First District in an unnatural rush. Riku raised a brow, inwardly laughing. 'Wonder what she did?' "Where's Alirah?"

"Oh! Um!" Goofy pulled at his collar, sweating up a storm. A lump roughly slithered down his throat. Donald choked, kicking his leg to make an excuse spit out. "She's...uh...talkin' with another friend! They looked like they wanted privacy!" Riku raised a brow. DOnald and Goofy kept looking at Sora's neck strangely. Like they were looking for something.

"I hope you guys had a good talk." Sora smiled that oblivious smile, not even trying to see past their obvious front.

"Trust me, Sora," Donald wheezed, "That is one talk we'll never forget."

"Anyway! I just got a great idea! I was thinking Riku and Alirah should come with us." Sora announced excitedly. Color vacated Goofy and Donald's faces. Theirs hearts plummeted to their stomach and back. Sora looked back to Riku, pleading for the older boy to consider it. "Having you guys around will be fun! And the best part is, we can find Kairi together and go back to the Islands!"

"Travel around the worlds with you?" Riku pretended to think on the offer. "It does sound like fun."

"It will be. And we've got this AWESOME rocket. You guys have got to see it." Riku fought the overwhelming urge to laugh. Those three, Riku, and Alirah trapped in a rocket for hours on end. How long before Alirah left them to rot in space? The thought almost made him crack.

"NO!" Donald boomed suddenly. "They can't come!" Rku furrowed his brow.

"WHY NOT?" Sora bent to his level. Goofy staggered.

"Because I said so!"

"Come on! They're our friends!"

"I don't care! This isn't a field trip! We're on important business!"

"I know that! But-"

"He's gone!" Goofy gasped.

Sora and Donald shot up. Riku vanished in a flash. "Where'd he go?" It actually scared them. When did he leave? "Nice goin'." He rumbled dismally. Donald stamped his foot nervously, keeping an eye out for him and Alirah. "Oh well. At least we know he and Alirah are okay. Who knows?" Riku leaned to a corner, listening as Sora took the disappearance so casually. "Maybe we'll find Kairi soon too."

Flashback end

"Not that I was expecting him to drop to his knees," Riku bit his lip, "But the least he could have done was call for me. I mean…" He flared enraged eyes at Alirah, starling her, "We've been separated - not knowing where either one was - for weeks. You think he'd be more reluctant to see me go."

"Sora seems simple." Alirah replied as tenderly as she could. Riku was in a vulnerable state. Saying the wrong thing could aggravate him further. "Perhaps seeing you once rested fears he held for the long while."

"Or maybe he just never cared."

"Sora is not Donald or Goofy. I don't think he's capable of not caring."

"Your eyes tell you that?" He retorted snidely. Alirah grunted, a little hurt he sneered at her talents. When Riku calmed a small ways, he realized he hurt her. "I'm sorry."

Alirah turned her back to him. "I don't pretend to understand people, Riku. I don't try either." She replied, shrugging the insult off only halfway. "My eyes may reveal the soul, but I do not understand the nature. Just like now. I don't understand why you're furious with me."

"I'm not! I'm not! I didn't mean what I said." He touched her shoulder. She didn't respond. Just kept her head bowed and stared crestfallen. "Please, Ali. I'm sorry. I'm just...I don't know."

"Don't worry. I think the same thing of Donald and Goofy." She could still see their frightened faces. Their legs begging to run. "They only see me as a monster now. It's only natural they'd keep me at arms length."

"Then your paths are set." Riku and Alirah twisted, nearly tripping as they staggered into each others. Maleficent beamed a triumphant smile at them, savoring their frantically beating hearts. "Are you two truly so surprised?" She extended her sights to Sora, Donald, and Goofy. "While you both toiled away in darkness in search of those you lost, they all replaced you with new companions. Companions leagues out of the reach of darkness." She added slyly. Riku and Alirah becoming disheartened brought glee to her. Her grip was fastening. Soon it will be unbreakable. "They are not willing to help you. I am. They would travel instead of lend you, and that Kairi girl aide." Cold green hands cupped their chins. Chills prickled the hairs on the backs of their necks. "Not only have I saved you from being swallowed, I trained you both to control the power dwelling within you. Even now, I have found what you are searching for." She narrowed her eyes, watching closely for their reaction, "I have located Kairi in the darkness."

"You have?!" Riku exclaimed. Alirah was in awe. "Where is she?"

"All in good time, my boy." Maleficent tapped his nose. "Meanwhile, why don't you both collect your thoughts. I will return once you are prepared." She took her leave. "My advice to you both would be to think no more of those fools. I am the only one who can help you find what you long for."

Riku hardly noticed Maleficent disappear through her portal. Hearing Kairi was finally found rang in his mind. Knowing he was going to be reunited with her hopefully soon warmed his heart. Don't sell Alirah short. She was just as happy. But Riku muttering Kairi's name under his breath ruined the mood. Greatly.

"This is great!" Riku cheered, giving Alirah a start. He cupped her hands. "If Maleficent found Kairi, maybe she can find Terra too."

Resounding sadness reforged to bliss, and awe. Alirah hadn't expected him to say something like that. "I...I don't know. Not that it's been the sole purpose of search, but if she could find Terra she would have done it by now."

"She didn't have incentive to search before! Now she does!" Riku rubbed her shoulders to raise her spirits. "I'm sure of this, Alirah. Terra is out there. Waiting for you to find him." He glided the backs of his fingers over her cheek, "And seeing your smiling face will put years of darkness behind him. It does for me." He brought a blush to her cheeks. Terra was waiting. And she would be there with a smile. She smiled and hugged him, enveloped by the warm words. "By the way. How did your meeting go?" The mood suddenly shifted. The dampening mood don't go unnoticed. Riku felt a sudden chill coat his spine. He began to regret asking. "Not what you expected?"

"There was….an unexpected arrival." Alirah shuddered. "I truly had forgotten how terrifying Aerith could be."

Flashback

Lightning surged between Crimson and Emerald. The air grew thick with resentful tension. Wind chime jingled in the tension, quaking like knees in fear. Alirah and Aerith never broke contact. One stone faced disappointment, the other grinning maliciously. Alirah broke the silence with a chuckle.

"And here I thought I would not see you again." Alirah marveled.

"I'm not here for myself, I'm here for Yensid." Aerith declared strongly. "He and I sensed you were on the move. I volunteered to come meet you." She added, knowing Alirah would call Yensid a coward. "This has gone on long enough, Alirah. Yensid and the castle suffer enough at the memory. Do not prolong it further." She demanded, but inside was begging.

"Yensid's fate lies with those inside the Castle. They have made it abundantly clear that they do not trust me!"

"So what? You're going kill all of them in order to put your mind at peace." Aerith scolded.

"Precisely." Alirah admitted. Aerith couldn't hide her shock. "I'll kill anyone who hinders mine or Riku's quest to find those we lost."

"Well if you're keeping Riku around then you can't be as evil as they say." Aerith assumed a hint of prayer in her voice.

"Do not make Riku out as a pet!" She roared shrilly. "I don't keep or dismiss him like a servant! He and I both do as we please, when we please!"

"Then it pleases you both to bring suffering to those around you!"

"At least Riku respects the bond between friends. You all have shown me that you do not."

"So then you'll kill Riku if he proves disloyal?"

Alirah's breath hitched in her throat. "I did not say that."

"Then you do keep him on a leash." She twisted the words.

A vein popped in her head. Aerith. She possessed the uncanny and mindnimbing ability to contort your words so they fit the person you appear to be. "Riku will undoubtedly do the same if I prove disloyal. He's proven it once before." The tip of his sword still tickled her neck. Beads of sweat hung to her brow.

"So then why do you help him?"

Alirah contemplated Aerith's question and answered, "Call it tit for tat. Quid pro quo."

"Meaning...?"

"He needs me just as I need him. We both seek a common goal. And that goal can only be achieved through one person."

"Sora..." She rumbled ominously.

"In order for Riku and I to move about, Sora has to continue on his path." Alirah licked her lips. "The more trouble he causes, the more flustered Maleficent and her cronies become. Making them easier to...retire."

"You're using him?"

"Like a puppet on a string." Alirah danced her fingers. "To ensure this goes on, the choker will keep Donald and Goofy in line." Shadowy mist formed to Sora, revealing a blank spot on the neck where the choker is located. "All I need to do is tighten it and Sora's head will pop like a grape. Donald and Goofy will be left horrified."

"I'm sure Riku wouldn't appreciate this!" Aerith said, posing a threat, "You threatening his best friend's life."

"I told Riku I wouldn't touch Sora. I haven't touched him. And I won't have too, so long as the kid's working in our favor."

Flashback end

"Alirah?" Riku called out, bringing her back to reality. "Alirah? Are you okay?"

Alirah shook the daze, touching her light head. "I...I'm fine." She lied. "I think I'm just tired." FINE? She wasn't fine. She was guilty. And it was killing her. She placed a curse on Sora. All to spite Donald and Goofy. Although Riku's mad at Sora now, she doubted he would forgive her for going back on her word. Riku bowed his head and walked toward the door leading to the second district. She followed after him, remorsefully rubbing her arm.

When they were walking through the middle of the second district, Alirah ran in front of Riku, blocking his path. Glossy red eyes pleading his ear. "What is it?" Riku asked concerned.

"Look, Riku…" Her lips and throat went dry. "I...I cursed Sora." She instinctively flinched.

"WHAT?" He gripped her wrist. She winced in pain.

"I panicked! I was afraid Donald and Goofy would blow our cover! If Sora learns about me, he'll know about you!" For a moment Riku's grip only seemed to tighten. Alirah's wrist felt like it was ready to snap. "And if Maleficent is watching him like we think she is, she'll destroy him, and you and I can forget ever getting rid of her." Suddenly he loosened his grip. Relief cooled the suffocated veins. Riku folded his arms, and stared at her with a disappointed gaze. Staring at him with pleading eyes she explained further, "It's not permanent. The curse has a loop hole. Anytime they go too in depth about me the choker around his neck will appear. It won't kill him. But it will knock him out cold."

Riku became annoyed. He gripped her shoulders painfully hard. Alirah squeaked from the pain. "Point of the matter is, you cursed him! You lied to me!"

"NO–NO! That's not it!" She groaned with discomfort. Riku's eyes were filled with hate. Alirah tried to pull herself away. Riku increased his hold on her. "Riku…stop…it hurts!"

"YOU...LYING-" Riku raised his hand and slapped her across the face. Alirah fell to the ground.

Not being able to stand this, Hiano appeared. His increased his size to that of the basilisk and encircled Alirah, barring Riku a good distance. "RIKU YOU MUST CALM YOURSELF!" The cobra shouted. Riku panted. "You should know she never casts a curse without a way to counteract it. All I need to do is speak the counter spell and the curse will vanish." Riku blinked. "If you would have learned to control your anger you would have understood the situation." Alirah lightly touched the red skin. Hot stings radiated, numbing her cheek. Tears hanging to her disbelieved eyes tugged Riku's heart strings.

Realizing what he did, Riku gaped at his hand. He gazed at it as if there was blood on it. He looked past Hiano, seeing Alirah's terrified expression. "Alirah...I..." He trailed off. Not knowing how to explain himself he approached her. Alirah curled scared. Hiano put his tail tip to Riku's chest. It threatened to plunge into his heart. Riku raised his hands in surrender. He knew better than to anger Hiano. "Hiano, please…."

The snake growled then looked to Alirah, who nodded to him to leave. "Very well." Hiano bowed. He shrank, coiling tightly. One last sharp glare frightened Riku, putting him in his place. Then Hiano slithered into the hotel, allowing them time alone. "Kids."

Riku exhaled in relief. He wiped a considerable sum of sweat from his brow. "He always that scary?"

"No. Sometimes he turns you to stone." Riku froze. "Kidding."

"Oh thank god!" Alirah stood, dusting off her skirt. Riku cleared his throat as he cautiously walked up to her. He stopped when they a foot apart. Alirah was reluctant to meet his gaze. She flashed short glimpses, signaling she waited for him to speak. "Alirah…I'm sorry. It's just…" He shook his head, knowing what he would say will never excuse hitting her, "It hurts knowing that Sora's been making friends while kairi and I were missing."

"You don't have to apologize." She assured him. "I felt the same way seeing Donald and Goofy. Some kid they barely know and they trust him. They've known me for nine years and they never trusted me."

"The curse on Sora…"

"Was meant to inflict the same pain they inflicted on me." She finished regretfully. "Let them see what it feels like to have someone taken and be left helpless to save them." Riku understood her feelings. He wants Sora to feel as he does. But to curse him? Endanger his life? That's...that's not what he wants. Is it? "I'd never intentionally hurt Sora. I just needed Donald and the others to keep their mouths shut."

Riku startled her by bringing her in for a hug. Alirah put her head under his neck. A sense of security warmed her. Riku rested his head on hers. "I trust you. And never again will I hit you." Alirah, for the first time, felt happy. Every time Riku held her she felt this overwhelming bliss. She put her hands on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

"And I don't want to lose you." She took her head back and switched languages. "Hiano, find Sora and remove the curse. But stay out of sight."

"Yes, My Lady."

"What'd you say?"

"I'm having Hiano remove Sora's curse. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Riku put two fingers under her chin. He tilted her face up to his, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah." They wandered to the first district. Now all they had to do was wait for Maleficent. The joy they felt knowing they would see her. Sarcasm at its finest. "So what do we do now?" Alirah whimpered.

"I'll tell you what we're not going to do," Riku declared with a pointed finger, "We're not letting Maleficent have all the fun with Sora."

Alirah could hear his mischievous tone. "I thought you didn't want him hurt."

"I don't. But if he wants to keep goofing around, why not add a little more excitement to his trip." He wriggled his brow.

Alirah sniffed the air. "Is that a plan I smell?" She purred.

"Maybe it is."

"What do you think?" Alirah flashed her grin to the ground behind her.

Hiano emerged out of the blue, slithering to Alirah's waist. "I love it when you two have a plan."

"It's more of a decision." Riku corrected. "Sora's looking for Kairi, and the two with him are looking for some mouse. Why not give them a challenge?"

Hope you liked the revision.

Still remarkably short, but it is a little better.

Next revision is up.