A/N: Here it is finally after all this waiting: Chapter 11 of FAF!! I'm sorry it took so long you guys I really truly am and I worked really hard on editing this chapter in order to make up for it. This chapter also introduces one of my favorite new things: Flashforwards! In flashforwards we see a brief flash of the future, then back-track to see how our characters got to that point. And yes the flashforwards are within the flashback. Sorry if it's confusing and we will get back to the future eventually! ...someday... Flashforwards are indicated by bold and italics like this. And now...replies!!
Kyo of the COCA: Tilles gives people fake names I think because of his weird hearing...Or maybe there's another reason... So glad you're enjoying and things will be revealed in time--I even made up a reason for why Riku wears the blindfold and we shall approach that in time as well. And...Saisaiji can sneak up on Riku b/c she's a ninja and ninja's are cool like that XD
Neko-nee-chan: Glad to hear you love it! That makes me feel good Ooh cookie! ((runs off with the cookie)) Actually, believe it or not Sora is my favorite KH character. I say 'believe it or not' because Sora's not really a main character in FAF...but that's probably b/c he's safer as a side character...I don't torture side characters as much as the main ones. I mean heck, look at Riku!! Yep, Sora's definitely safer in the background. Hmm a Sora plushie... ((sighs happily))
And now... CHAPTER 11!!
Chapter 11: Underworld Games
The next morning Saisaiji took Axel and Riku to see Old Man Tilles again—this time to ask him about Sru Crucifix. …He also acted as if the previous night's argument with Riku had never happened.
"Ah! Renko, Sauron, Kurasu! Come in, come in!" Tilles greeted, ushering them inside.
"Tilles what happened to your neck?!?" Saisaiji asked in horror.
"Oh this? I got caught in my bed sheets last night." He told them, chuckling at his own mistake. Riku knew Tilles was lying but he didn't feel like creating a scene. "So what can I do for you three today?" The old man questioned.
"We were wondering if you knew anything about an organization called…" Saisaiji began, hesitating and looking to Riku for help.
"Sru Crucifix." Riku finished.
"Hnnn…Sru Crucifix, eh?" Old Man Tilles asked, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room thoughtfully. The trio joined him on the floor anxiously, a bit worried about what his answer might be. "…I don't know what to tell you." The old man answered honestly. "It's a mysterious group that's been hiding in the shadows for years. Its members come and go but their leader's never changed."
"Who is their leader?" Saisaiji pressed.
"…The same being that's been trying to kill Kurasu here."
Riku shuddered involuntarily at the mention of the shadowed figure he'd confronted the previous night. Vaguely he remembered Gyokoshu saying "You're not strong enough to face him yet." (Now I know why…) Riku thought. But that reminded him… "Do you know a 'Gyokoshu'?" Riku asked.
Old Man Tilles' reply? "Eh? Marty? I knew a Marty once…"
"…Never mind…"
-…-
It was the decision to end all decisions. Riku's decision could either save his companions or destroy them.
"Well Riku? What is it? A or B?"
"Choose A Riku!!" Axel shouted over to the teen.
"B is the more logical choice, but that could very well be a trap…be careful Riku." Saisaiji advised him.
Riku gulped. He hated stupid things like this… (Wait…that's it!) "I know the answer." He announced, "It's…"
-Several Hours Earlier-
Seeing as Old Man Tilles had no more information for the trio, Axel and Saisaiji prepared to head out for the next world. Riku, of course, had no choice but to follow. ((A/N: After all, he has nowhere else to go.)) When they were almost out the door Tilles held him behind once again.
"And Kurasu?"
"…Yeah?" Riku asked hesitantly. He didn't really want to continue their conversation from the previous night and was even more nervous that Tilles might bring it up around Axel and Saisaiji. What he got was something completely different.
"Details are key. Keep your eyes on all the details and you'll be fine." Tilles told him.
"Um…sure…." Riku agreed. (That makes no sense. Maybe this old man is just senile…)
"Do not take that off Riku. That's final."
(…Or maybe not.) Either way Riku had no time to ponder Tilles' sanity at the moment—Axel was already conjuring up a dark portal.
"Hurry up man, it's cold out here!" Axel complained.
(The next place we go to better be tropical…I'm sick of hearing him whine.) Riku thought grumpily. After setting up a portal for himself so he could return to the Land of the Dragons in the future; Riku followed his companions into the swirling black vortex.
"Phew! Someone call the paramedics I think something died in here!" Axel whistled.
"Don't be rude Axel, of course something died. This is the underworld." Saisaiji informed him
"Really?" The clueless nobody asked. Riku could sense they were standing on a long, narrow bridge; masses of ghost-like forms swimming around beneath them. Riku could also sense the idiotic flame-head leaning over the edge of the rocky bridge to look at the potentially harmful liquid below that the forms swam in. "Woah, you're right—there's a bunch of dead guys!" Axel exclaimed. "Hey—there's Larxene! HI LARXENE!!" Axel yelled, waving down at the mass.
"Axel, stop teasing the dead." Saisaiji reprimanded.
"Woooooow there's so many of them!" Axel cried out in his excitement.
"…Why do I get the feeling he's ignoring me?" Saisaiji asked Riku.
"It's Axel, what do you expect?" Riku snorted in reply.
"True but…I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually be excited about being here."
"Hey—Marluxia's down there too! HI MARLU—Wait a second…is he holding a rose? Damn—that guy's obsessed with fruit even after he's died?"
"Um Axel…a rose isn't a 'fruit' it's a flower." Riku informed the pyro.
"I…I knew that." Axel lied.
A small giggle caused the three to turn around and spot a girl who looked about 12 standing behind them. When she'd finished laughing at Axel's fib the girl cleared her throat and addressed them in a more professional, serious manner. "So…you've come."
"Er…yeah. Who are you little girl?" Axel questioned.
"I am not little! I'm 12 and I happen to be a great assassin!" The girl protested, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout.
"Riiiiight…a great assassin with pink hair." Axel teased.
"It's not my fault I was born a half-elf." The girl growled, glaring viciously at the pyro.
"Uh-huh, sure, whatever." Axel snorted, rolling his eyes.
"I'm not here to argue with you! In fact—I'm not even here to talk to you. I'm here…for you." She finished firmly, pointing at Riku.
"…For me?" Riku questioned, suddenly suspicious of the seemingly harmless girl.
"That's right…for you Riku…have been chosen as a star in our latest Truth-or-Dare game!" As the girl announced this, a podium about half Riku's height slid out of nowhere to stop in front of him. Two more platforms of the same size dropped down on either side of him from the ceiling and a stood almost as tall as the girl appeared beside her. She promptly climbed on top of this stool, pulling a microphone off the side of it and waiting until a spotlight shone down on her to speak again.
"Welcome everybody to the latest game of Truth-or-Dare! I'm your host Eri Watashi, here to tell you that despite lasts week's bulldozer incident I'm quite alright! Our first star this time is…Riku from Destiny Islands!"
Cheering noises erupted from behind Riku and he sensed a crowd of ghosts in bleacher seats pop up behind him.
"He's a first timer to the game but we're expecting great things from him folks, great things. Next up is InuYasha from the Feudal Era!" ((A/N: © Rumiko Takahashi//InuYasha))
Even more cheers erupted from the crowd as a man with long silver hair and dog ears wearing a long red robe appeared and ran into the podium to Riku's left.
"Whoops—sorry about that! He must've been in the middle of a fight folks!" Eri joked. The crowd laughed at this as the man stood, rubbing the back of his head.
"—The hell?" The inu asked, his eyes widening when he spotted Eri. "Oh hell no! I'm not doing this again, find yourself another guinea pig I'm outta—"
"Now, now, InuYasha: Remember the rules…" Eri warned.
The man growled but stayed put.
"And last but not least we have… Colette from Sylvarant!" ((A/N: © NAMCO//Tales of Symphonia))
A blonde girl dressed in white appeared before the podium to Riku's right. She seemed confused for a moment as she glanced worriedly around the room, but her face relaxed when she spotted Eri. "Oh! Hello again Eri! How are you today?"
"Fine, fine, and you Colette?"
"Good, thank you." The blonde replied, smiling broadly.
"Awesome! Now we can get on with the show! Allow me to explain the rules for our new contestant and any new viewers out there! Contestants will be asked a series of questions which they must try to answer correctly for points. Any contestants who attempt to leave will be shaved, tarred, feathered, and sent to the nearest Chick Fil'A." Although no one seemed to know what a 'Chick Fil'A' was other than Eri the rest of the punishments were self-explanatory. "Other than that there are a bunch of random pointless violations but we won't worry about those until they happen so just try to win the most points and you can get a prize of your choosing!" Eri explained.
"Any prize?" Riku asked.
"Short of immortality or us killing anybody for you, yes."
"Riku, you could ask about Sru Crucifix!" Saisaiji called over to him from the sideline. Riku merely nodded.
"I wonder what being a game show hostess has to do with being an assassin." Axel wondered aloud.
"It's training!" Eri snapped at him.
(In what way?) Riku wondered.
"And now our first question; hit the buzzer if you know the answer." As Eri announced this a red half-circle appeared on each podium. Riku could only assume this was a 'buzzer'. "Question 1: If you were walking down the street and a stranger came up to you and stole your wallet, what would you do? A) Toss a pineapple at him OR B) Kill him ?"
(…What?) Was all the sense Riku could get out of his brain in response to that question. As he was attempting to find some sort of logic in the question or its answers the silver-haired man hit his buzzer, causing a beeping noise.
"Feh. That's easy: B) Kill him." The inu responded confidently.
"ENNHH! WRONG! Man are you an idiot! You'd have the police on you in minutes and then where would your wallet be?!? I mean wow, you had to be a major dumbass to get that question wrong—it was so easy! Stupid, idiot, wrong, wrong, wrongwrong—"
"THAT DOES IT!!" The inu cried, ripping a large sword out of a sheath at his side. "KAZE NO KI—" ((A/N: "Wind Scar" for those of you that watch InuYasha in English.))
"AAH! ILLEGAL USE OF GIANT SWORD!" Eri screeched, "SECURITY!!"
Two men dressed entirely in black raced in and removed InuYasha from the premises before the half-breed could finish his attack. "Whew that was close. You'd think he'd have learned after the last time folks." The audience chuckled at this. "Ok then, on to our next question! A girl or guy who has had a crush on you for a long time comes up to you and confesses. Do you: A) Tell them a goose ate your tube socks OR B) Proceed to do the chicken dance with them?"
Once again Riku was left dumbfounded and speechless while the blonde girl beside him tripped on air. ((A/N: And yes, Colette seriously does this.)) "Oops!" she cried as she knocked over her podium, causing the buzzer to bounce on the floor and go off.
"Colette!" Eri yelled, "That was an illegal use of buzzer but I'll let it go if you give me the right answer."
"Um…Ah…" The girl flustered. She clearly wasn't ready to answer. "Um…A?" She guessed.
"ENNHH! WRONG!! ILLEGAL USE OF BUZZER—SECURITY!!" Eri screamed. The confused blonde girl was hauled off by two more men in black and Eri turned to face the last remaining contestant: Riku. "Well, well…only one left." She commented.
"Well, well—this is very boring." Axel mocked.
"Oh? You want it to be more interesting? Very well." Eri agreed with herself, snapping her fingers in the air. Two large iron cages swooped down from above to pick up Axel and Saisaiji, hoisting the duo into the air in separate cages. They stopped over a long drop into the river of dead people. "One final question. Answer right and your companions will come back here to safety and you get your prize. Answer wrong and they fall into the river where they'll die. Exciting, no?"
"Oh—come on! Do you seriously think this stupid thing'll keep me in?" Axel asked, pulling out a chakram and tossing it at the cage door, which had shut after it scooped them up. When the chakram bounced back Axel let out an "Eep!", dodged the weapon a few times, then finally caught it in the center; releasing a sigh of relief.
"Did I mention they're impenetrable cages?" Eri questioned.
"No…" Axel grumbled, fuming quietly.
"So, Riku…the final question: You're home alone when a burglar comes into your house. You spot him before he takes anything. What do you say? A) Hey man—that's my shiny, pointy thing! OR B) Whatcha' doing in my house? The party's not till 8?"
(But…the answers make no sense! How am I supposed to know how to answer? There's got to be something more to this…) Then Riku remembered what Tilles had said before they'd left the snow town:
"Details are key. Keep your eyes on all the details and you'll be fine."
(Could…he have known about this show?) Riku wondered, (And if so, what details?)
It was the decision to end all decisions. Riku's decision could either save his companions or destroy them.
"Well Riku? What is it? A or B?"
"Choose A Riku!" Axel shouted over to the teen.
"B is the more logical choice, but that could very well be a trap…be careful Riku." Saisaiji advised him.
Riku gulped. He hated stupid things like this. (Wait…that's it!) "I know the answer." He announced, "It's…neither. This is so stupid I can't believe I didn't notice it before but…what's the name of this show? Truth or Dare, right? The questions and answers aren't truth OR dare so…neither."
"…Is that your final answer?" Eri asked.
"Yes." Riku replied firmly.
"…CONGRATULATIONS RIKU!! YOU ARE OUR VERY FIRST WINNER!!"
"First winner?!?" Axel shouted over a cheering crowd of ghouls, "That means this game is rigged!"
"Yes, yes…" Eri conceded, snapping her fingers to bring the cages back down to the bridge. "But I guess now that someone's won we're out of business." She told them, hopping down from her stool. All the game show props disappeared, including the audience and the cages.
Axel raced over and grabbed Riku in an excruciatingly tight bear hug. "Oooh that's my chief! I knew you wouldn't let me fall into that icky, goopy river of dead people!"
"Axel…" Riku growled, "Get off me before I toss you in myself."
Axel immediately released Riku and backed away from him, laughing nervously.
"Congratulations and thank you. Looks like we owe you now." Saisaiji told Riku as she joined them.
"Naw, he still owes us. We've saved his butt at least 5 times now. He's only saved ours twice." Axel boasted.
"Thank you ever so much for reminding me." Riku snarled, glaring daggers at Axel, who scooted away from Riku even further.
"Um…don't you guys wanna know what you won?" Eri interrupted.
"Oh yeah that." Axel replied.
"What do you mean 'Oh yeah that'?!? What do you think I agreed to do that stupid game show for?!?" Riku asked in exasperation.
"…You didn't do it to save us?" Axel asked, pouting.
"Not originally, no. But you had to go and open your big mouth and complain!" Riku snapped.
Saisaiji sighed and turned to Eri, ignoring the unfolding argument. "Can I accept his prize instead?"
"It's against the rules but…they really don't look like they're gonna stop anytime soon, so yeah." Eri agreed.
"…and then you had to take me to that stupid cold world!" Axel was complaining.
"How is that my fault?!? If you didn't want to go then why'd you make the portal in the first place?!?" Riku questioned.
"You threw a snowball at me!"
"What does that have to do with anything?!?"
"Um…if you two could put your argument on hold it'd be nice. We need to get back to your place Axel." Saisaiji interrupted.
"Already?" Axel questioned.
"Finally…" Riku muttered.
Axel formed the portal out while sticking a tongue out at Riku and the trio disappeared through it.
"Sru Crucifix, huh?" Eri asked herself as the portal vanished, "Sounds kinda cool…maybe I'll check it out…."
-…-
Arriving back at Axel's house in Twilight Town Riku inwardly scolded himself for being relieved. (How can I be relieved at coming back to his house?) Riku wondered, glaring at Axel.
"What's that look for?" Axel asked.
"Nothing." Riku replied, moving swiftly through the house to his room.
"…I wonder why he hates me so much." Axel lamented when the teen had shut the door to his room.
"…More like he's trying to understand you." Saisaiji commented quietly.
"What?"
"Nothing."
-…-
Riku sat on the bed in his room, his blindfold unwrapped and placed on the table; his eyes wandering the room. As his eyelids grew heavy Riku quickly shook himself awake again. (No…I don't want to face that guy again…) He thought, his eyes drifting closed despite his inward protests. A room swirled into focus before Riku and he found himself standing in his old outfit again, but this time not in Yun's room or Kuri's…but someone else's. And once again, he was wearing the armsock too. (…Yet another person who doesn't know me yet gets hurt because of me…) Riku thought as he stared at it. But despite his inward protests he couldn't bring himself to take the sock off. (After all, it did save my life…)
Glancing around Riku saw furniture typical of the rooms of his recent dreams—beds, dressers, oddly shaped black boxes, and clothes scattered on the floor in piles.
"And don't forget to be back before dark!" A woman's voice yelled, startling Riku.
"I know mom!" A boy's voice hollered back as he entered the room through a door behind Riku.
Riku spun around, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end upon recognizing the boy. "Shuyin…" Riku growled upon the boy's entry.
The boy froze mid-step, his hand still on the doorknob of the door he'd entered through. It was indeed Shuyin—frozen in place with his mop of brown hair covering his eyes. For a moment Riku thought Shuyin was mad…until the brown-haired teen spoke.
"Wh-Who's there?" He stammered, fear written in his tone.
Riku was so surprised his anger melted instantly. "You…can hear me?"
Shuyin muttered something under his breath, taking a step back as though preparing to run.
"Wait! I…" Riku began, quickly stopping himself. (What the heck am I doing?!? This guy hurt Yun—I can't ask him for help!) Before Riku knew what he was saying the words came pouring out of his mouth in a violent torrent. "I don't know how you can hear me and I don't really care, but if you so much as touch her…I'll kill you."
At this Shuyin's shaking ceased and the tone in his voice became nearly unreadable. "By… 'her'…do you…mean…Yun?" He asked slowly, as if struggling against speaking.
Riku found himself struck speechless as it hit him what he'd said.
"…if you so much as touch her…I'll kill you."
(Why…did I say that?) Riku wondered, placing a confused finger on his lips. (That…came out of nowhere.)
Finally Shuyin looked up, his brown eyes widening as he stared straight at Riku. The fear was clearly written all over his face as he shouted, "Y-Yun is…my girlfriend. I…I won't let you hurt her!"
"What are you talking abo—" Riku began, but he stopped mid-sentence as his argument with Tilles replayed in his head.
"BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT BECAUSE OF ME!!"
(That's right I…I never even thought of that…if I…stay by her side…Yun might…) Looking at Shuyin Riku realized they were about the same age. (But he's probably never killed anyone…and despite the fact that he's terrified of me…he's still standing up to me.)
"I don't need the keyblade. My friends are my power!"
(Just like…Sora did. So I'm…just like Ansem in the end?) Riku asked himself, his fists clenching as he struggled to hold in his emotions. His aching heart pounding in despair, Riku let slip words he never would've uttered in front of Shuyin otherwise. "Can't I protect someone…without hurting them?"
"Shuyin, your friend's here!" the woman Riku'd heard before called.
Shuyin hesitated a moment before turning and shouting over his shoulder "O-Okay mom—be there in a minute!" As he turned back to Riku an odd expression crossed Shuyin's face for a moment. "…Maybe you could…" Shaking his head as if shaking away the thought the brown-haired teen spun and fled the room before Riku had a chance to ask him anything else.
"…Maybe I could…what?" Riku whispered to the air, "…Maybe I should…stop going to see her…it's not like she's real anyway…DAMMIT, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!?"
"Riku? Riku!!"
A firm shaking of Riku's shoulder caused him to bolt awake and he turned in surprise to a pair of emerald eyes.
"Are you okay man? You were yelling in your sleep."
"I'm fine Axel, leave me alone." Riku snapped coldly, averting his eyes from the man's gaze.
"You're sure? That guy from before wasn't after you again, was he?" Axel questioned.
"I said I'm fine, what the hell is your problem?!?"
"I'm allowed to be worried about one of my best friends!!"
Riku immediately recognized the phrase as one Axel had used before—back when Saisaiji had almost died. "…Why…? Why when all I…" Riku choked off, unable to finish his question.
Axel was about to say something when a knock at door interrupted him and Riku realized he was no longer in his room.
"Axel?" A shaky voice called, "Open the door."
"Sai?" Axel asked as he crossed the room to the door, "What's wro—" As soon as he'd opened the door Axel's question was answered. Saisaiji stood on the other side, a knife held to her throat by a man with long, shaggy hair.
The man smiled a crooked grin as he greeted the nobody. "Welcome to Port Royal…Axel."
Sora-san would like one review. Sora-san would also like a Sora plushie, but sadly they do not exist. Reviews, however, do. So...one please?