A/N: I own nothing of Kingdom Hearts by Square Enix and Disney. All I own is my OC and plot. With all that taken care of, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 11 – Riku's Woes
Lonely.
I was lonely.
For the first time on my journey since Ashley came along, I was alone by myself on an adventure. The other Heartless were gone now, all of Pearl and her mates eradicated by reapers. Sora and the others had left too after Captain Hook had gone overboard, while his second man, Smee was somewhere on the lower parts of the ship I assumed since he wasn't on the deck (where I currently was).
"I hate this," I whimpered lowly, holding my journal closer to me.
Ashley had told me to stay here on the ship and wait for her as she followed Riku, but I was beginning to worry. What if she -
I shook my mind erasing that dark thoughts. My friend was too determined to die so easily. I just know it. She wouldn't go down easy. Yet I was still worried. She didn't know how to open a corridor, and the Hunters would be swarming the area. I had to -
No, I NEED to find her!
My mind was set. There is no turning back or giving up because I needed to find my friend back or else!
Turning toward the plank, I quickly hurried over and hopped up on it, cautiously waiting for the plank to stop going dangerously up and down. Not wanting to fall overboard, I laid down on the plank waiting patiently until the shaking came to a halt. Slowly, getting up, my body trembled as I tried to stand still on the wobbly board.
I grabbed my journal from the plank, hugging it to my body and not letting it go. Exhaling, I raised my antennas into the air, beginning to pick up the dark waves left in the air with my antennas. One darkness held anger and fear: Captain Hook. Another was my fellows' sense of pure death. With last being Smee's darkness that reeks with fear. No sense of Riku's envy and anger darkness anywhere.
"Did it fade away?"
Moving my antennas again as I tried to find his sense one more time. "That could-" Suddenly darkness caught me off guard, feeling Riku's darkness faint, but very strong as well. I found it! Now I could go find Ash! Summoning a corridor, I wasted no time jumping through one side to the other. Here I come -
"Oaf!"
Landing face first on dark and cold, hard floor, I groaned to myself pushing up off the ground to a sitting position. Finally, looking up at my surroundings, I found myself in the room where I encountered Riku, Maleficent, and her evil gang before I had found Ashley. The room was dark lit by candles, yet no one was here or gathered around the roundtable.
Lucky me!
No one was here, which meant I didn't need to worry about being spotted by reapers yet. Scanning the room again, I saw that Ash wasn't here anymore, meaning she was somewhere else.
I hurried out of the room, stopping at the sight of many of my kind: Darkballs floating by, while Defender and Soldiers patrolled the wide, long hall. They were waiting… No, stalking the area guarding it for some reason that I didn't want to know. They - my kind paroling right now - were Hunters like Ash had explained, higher ups like monarchs of our kind and just like Reapers they're merciless.
Looking both ways, I tried to blend in with the darkness the room provided avoiding them. I saw them pass by me at the door, not seeing me at all before they all stopped at the end of the brightly lit end of the hall, which gave me the time to move! Staying close to the dark walls, I moved quietly with Pal in my hands listening to the conversation the Hunters had.
"Geesh…. I can't believe they still exist. You'd think they'd be extinct by now, but nope they're still alive. At least, they make great moving targets to practice our powers on. It's a whole lot more fun," One of them snickered.
"Like look at them begging for their lives, before I kill them. It's so satisfying," Another said, coldly. "Those weak ones are so worthless, even those shadows are one of the worst."
I stopped feeling annoyed and enraged by that statement since we - shadows - are more capable of living longer than them dumb IDIOTS! My free hand balled into a fist, but I keep my cool and pushed my rage aside.
Ashley first, then I'll deal with them punks somehow later.
~ X ~ X ~ X ~
I found myself in a new area after seeing Soldiers and Gargoyles come out of a doorway that read: Lift Shop.
Right away once I entered the room, I could tell this room was lighter than the rest of the castle, with light lavender walls with pillars on them and floors of large purple tiles that made the area look nice. As I examined the area, I could see gold gargoyles statues holding fire on their stands, while a large bowl with blue fire sat in the middle of the room. There were also two double doors one closer to me and another far away leading to other rooms perhaps.
"I guess that's why so many were just in here." I examined the amazing area even more. Walking to one of the closed doors, I stopped in front of them, scanning it from top to bottom. "I wonder where these doors lead to?"
"NICO!"
Her voice catches me off guard, causing me to turn toward the call seeing who it was. Quickly seeing a familiar shadow in a yellow scarf covered in purple flowers, I could see it was Ashley coming from the other door. My antennas sparked up in cheer and glee as I began to rush toward her.
She stopped halfway, but I kept running until I hit her causing us to fall over. I laughed lightly hugging her tightly happy that she was okay and fine. "Ash, I finally found you!"
"Nico, what are you doing!" She shouted lightly. "You're making a scene! Hunters were just lurking here we can't act like this!"
I let go of her, "Oh, sorry I forgot."
In the excitement, I couldn't help, but act more human than I really was. Getting up, I let out an embarrassed laugh, before reaching my hand out to her. Taking my hand, I helped Ashley back to her feet.
Ash brushes herself off, fixing her scarf, then looked around and making sure Hunters weren't near us, before taking my free hand. "Come this way! I found a room you NEED to see!" She announced, guiding me to the door she had just come out of.
As we entered the room, I noticed how roomy it really was even for someone small as Ash and me or tall like Sora. There were two long bookshelves in a corner next to us, full of many books of many dark colors. In front of us, was a desk and chair to the left and on the right a single bed with unmade tan-yellow sheets falling off.
"This is pretty neat, a room alone with nobody to bother you." I was in awe, seeing everything. It was better than my hideout or house in the waterway since it looked peaceful and like a nook away from all danger.
"Fitting for Riku, since this is his bedroom," Ashley informed me.
…..
"Huh!"
I turned to her in shock. Never had I thought this was Riku's room of all people. He never seemed like someone who would live in a place like this, but then again what about him. What about Sora? What about Kairi? This couldn't have been their home. So where are they from!?
"This room is where Riku stays. I followed him here after he finished talking with Maleficent," Ashley says, snapping me from my thoughts. "He didn't see me at all, funny since I was able to be spotted once, yet he didn't turn around."
"Your spying and sneaking skills are getting better."
"If I'm going to be an explorer, I have to be sneaky and sly. You taught me that," Ash says, happily. Suddenly she winked at me, causing my face to become hot.
Suddenly I quickly responded, "A-And, a remarkable one at that could even still my heart."
She giggles lightly, turning away from me as I dawn a very lost look. Hitting myself with Pal, I thought to myself. What in the worlds did I just say!
Moving ahead going toward the bed, Ash started to examine it very seriously. While I, on the other hand, walked toward the desk trying to see what was on it. I set my journal on the floor, next to the desk, then with all my strength, I pulled the chair out enough to get up to the top. I jumped landing on the soft seat cushion, before peering over at the desk to see a large, black leather book open and a lamp sitting near the edge. Getting up on the table, I lift the book closer so I can read the words written.
More fancy writing! I looked at the page annoyed, seeing all the weird wiggly letters on the page. Just like Ashley's writing, I didn't understand a word the book said. Which meant the book was pointed to me!
Slamming the book to the desk, I groan before Ash shouted, "Nico, I found something!"
Looking over toward the bed, I saw Ashley pulling out something from underneath the pillow. Quickly, I hopped off the table grabbing Pal, rushing toward her as she began to see more of the item she was trying to get. I jumped up on the bed coming to help her when with a loud huff, she fell back holding the item: a book.
She got up happily showing me the book to me, then gave me it to look over. The book was exactly like Pal. A black leather-bound book with pure white pages it looked on the inside. Then it hit me!
"This isn't a book! It's a journal!"
"A journal? Wait, then it must belong to Riku," She says happily.
I looked at the journal with hope and fear. Hope, because I could finally find out why Riku acted the way he did; and Fear, because what I learn is something I can never undo once I know it.
Turning toward Ash, who met my eyes, I asked nervously, "S-Sound w-we?"
"Let's do it," She says calmly, taking Riku's journal. Ash sits on the bed, causing me to do it as well. I set my journal to the side, as Ashley opened Riku's journal. She took one end of the journal and I took one end as we turned to the first page….
Entry 01
I had woken up in another world after a figure in a brown robe had summoned a weird portal for me to leave Destiny Islands. When I finally found another person, I also learned that I was in another world called Hollow Bastion, a castle like place where SHE ruled. She guided me through the castle before giving me a room to call my own.
I didn't have much to say, but a million thoughts ran through my mind. Where were Sora and Kairi? Why was I the only one here? More importantly, why was that "caring" woman being so nice to me?
I learned why later that night.
In a big room gathered around a circular table, my finder: Maleficent explained to her associates: Ursula, Hades, Captain Hook, Oogie Boogie, and Jafar. They wanted me to help them find the Princesses of Heart for them, but I gladly denied. I said I wanted to find my friends, not aid in work they wanted me to do.
That quickly changed when I headed back to my room. Stopping in the hallway, Maleficent had stood behind wearing a smirk, then explained that maybe I could find my friends if I looked for the princesses. Wanting to find Sora and Kairi, I agreed. I'm only doing this to find Sora and Kairi, then I'm leaving.
"Okay, but that doesn't explain why he still is working with them now? He found Sora back in Traverse Town. Even more who is that hooded figure?"
"I don't know, but maybe Riku wrote about that person later," Ash answered, turning the page. "Let's just keep reading."
Entry 02
I was sent to Wonderland today after given a sword shaped like a bat wing that I named Soul Eater. My first task was to get Alice, who wasn't that hard to capture, yet while I was kidnapping her as shadow Heartless stood watching me. My first instance was to attack it, but I didn't need to make a scene just in case someone was coming, so I kidnapped Alice and hurried back to Hollow Bastion.
Like I had thought Maleficent was quite happy with me but could tell I was doubting working with her. She told me that I would find my friends in due time, but as the hours ticked locked in my prison of a bedroom I began to wonder if even my friends made it off.
"HE WOULD HAVE KILLED ME!" My voice was loud and annoying realizing that Riku would have killed me in my first world. I hadn't done anything wrong! I was just watching him, which he wanted to end my life for just doing that! What the heck!
"Huh?" She wondered, curiously.
"I was the Heartless Riku saw in Wonderland. If I had done anything or nothing he would have just killed me! Therefore, I hate Reapers, they always want to kill us!"
"Nico," She says annoyed. "Calm down and keep reading, we need to why he still working with Maleficent."
I nodded my head, "Right, sorry."
Ash turns the page.
Entry 03
Running into Sora wasn't great even if I wanted to find him. While I was helping Maleficent, Sora replaced Kairi and me with his new pals, Donald and Goofy. At first, I didn't see that, but with the help from the witch, I saw the clear picture. My best friend had long forgotten about me since while they adventure other worlds Sora didn't think about us at all!
In the end, I felt betrayed but also learned that I was the only one who cared about Kairi. I didn't need Sora or his friends to find her - my ONLY real friend. Yet when I asked Maleficent about Kairi, she told me that maybe she was in the other worlds just like Sora.
Just hold on tight Kairi, I'm coming.
Silently Ash turns the page. I said nothing as I started to feel like I understood Riku more each page we read. He is supposed to be our enemy…. But why… WHY does he feel more like a friend…
Entry 04
I brought Jasmine to her like she asked me to, in return, she told me where to find Kairi like we had agreed upon. Going with Captain Hook, I found Kairi in Neverland in a sleep like condition. Her heart was taken by the Heartless, leaving her in a coma. I tried shaking her, but nothing could wake her. Only her heart could bring her back to life, that was my new mission from here on out.
"He always worked to save Kairi, even if it meant hurting others. She was that important to him," Ash said, sadly.
"Like you are to me," I say lowly, meeting her eyes.
"Y-Yeah," She flushed, looking away from me.
I laugh a little, before reaching over to turn the page. "Let's keep reading."
Entry 05
I ran into a lifeless puppet that acted like it was "real". I thought maybe it could help Kairi, but IT won't obey my command. Even when I told the wooden freak it wasn't real, he still told me he was really deep down. Then I ran the man of the hour, Sora with his loyal, "true" friends. He said I was on the wrong side, which was true and I knew it, but at least my acquaintances helped me find Kairi and now they were helping me find her heart.
I didn't need Sora. I can do this alone.
…. I'm all alone.
"He… he just wanted a friend." My eyes never left the last words Riku wrote, feeling a dreadful emotion inside me. I let go of the book, bowing my head.
"Riku isn't an enemy right now, Nico. He is pain and the darkness is slowly consuming him," Ash answered, closing Riku's journal.
"Then, our mission now is to save him."
"W-WHAT? I didn't mean that!" Ash says, looking at me like I was insane.
"He may be a reaper, but Riku can't become a Heartless and forsake his friends. I could LIVE with myself if Riku went out like this!" I clench my hand into a fist again, before grabbing Pal. "Even if he's not our friend, let's do this for Kairi and Sora's sake!"
"Then let's save him," Ash said, grabbing my free hand.
I open a corridor on top of the bed that would lead to another place in the castle. As we both head towards it with determination, we also stop at the entrance bracing ourselves. We look at each other eye to eye, before nodding in agreement that we were both ready. Ash and I put our hands tightly around one another's.
"Together as a team!" Both of us say, beginning to enter the dark corridor to our new destination.
= Chapter End =