For You I Would: Final Chapter: One More Sad Song

By Mira Ruskin

Notes: A kindle of songs to listen to: Vision of Escaflowne (in French), Shiki No Uta, 1000 Words. Please enjoy. A quote: "Everything is ok in the end. If it's not ok, then it's not the end."

Riku raced through the streets of The World That Never Was. He had to stop Sora from killing anymore Heartless. Sora was oblivious to Organization XIII's plans. The more Heartless Sora killed, the closer the Organization was to obtaining Kingdom Hearts.

Sora was slashing his way through countless creatures. Small hearts rose into the sky. His expression was grim. He was set on saving Kairi. Apparently, the Organization had her somewhere in this world.

"Sora! Stop!" yelled someone from behind. Sora quickly spun around. His eyes widened as he saw Riku catching up to him.

"Riku?" Sora asked. A Heartless lunged at the brown haired boy, and he defensively attacked it. Riku rushed over, and tore the Keyblade from Sora's palm. He threw it as far as he could. Sora looked at him, both angry and confused. They hadn't left each other in the best of spirits.

Saix had been watching. He conjured a group of Berserkers to stall the Heartless. Saix was interested in what Riku had to say. After all, they only needed a handful of hearts more. Saix knew the boys weren't exactly 'buddies' at the current moment, so tempers would flare.

"Riku! What are you doing?" Sora cried, "I've been searching for you for a long time! Don't tell me you're on their side!"

"Riku was hurt by Sora's accusation. He figured his best friend would have more trust in him than that. Riku shook his head, and clenched his fists.

"Thanks for believing in me, Sora," Riku snapped. Now Sora looked hurt. Riku sighed, he had to keep in mind that Sora was doing the same thing for Kairi that Riku would do if Najilia were in Kairi's position.

"I'm sorry Sora, but you've got to listen to me!" Riku pleaded. The Keyblade had warped itself back to Sora's hand. Riku had completely forgotten that it could do that, just as his weapon could. Sora was watching Riku warily now.

"Please, Sora," Riku said, his voice lower. Where was his best friend's trust when he needed it? Sora had always been such a bumbling idiot, he would have trusted Xemnas if Xemnas had asked him to listen. Where had that little boy gone? Had he grown up? Or had he simply grown more stubborn? Sora nodded, letting Riku know that he'd listen. Riku breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," he said, momentarily lowering his head. Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard after all. Raising his head, he continued, "Organization XIII is using the hearts you free with the Keyblade to obtain Kingdom Hearts. The more Heartless you kill, the closer they get."

Sora frowned, trying to make sense of what Riku had said. Riku couldn't believe Sora was being so close-minded. "You're helping them, Sora!" Riku shouted. Sora's surprise was evident. He clenched his teeth and tightened his grip around the Keyblade's hilt.

Saix watched, annoyed. "Riku is becoming more of a pest than he already was. Kill him," he ordered the gunman who had stepped up next to him. Xigbar laughed cruelly. Xigbar looked older than most of the members of Organization XIII, but he was just as agile and nimble as Axel. His weapon of choice was gun arrows. He had been in many fights before, and they were all intense. His missing right eye and jagged scar down his left cheek were evidence of this. He had the same sick mind as Axel. Xigbar loved to talk a lot, and he loved to insult people. He had the accent of a surfer, and acted younger than he was. His graying black hair was pulled into a long, tight ponytail that trailed far down his back.

"I may not have to kill him," Xigbar laughed, "Take a look at Sora's face. He's going to attack him probably." Saix looked down at the boys below. He joined in Xigbar's laughter only to fit in with the moment. The two Nobodies conjured more of their kind to fend off the Heartless, in hopes that Riku and Sora would battle.

"You just want to keep me from Kairi!" Sora suddenly yelled.

"What? No! Sora, I'm serious!" Riku yelled back, bewildered at Sora's antics.

Sora brought the Keyblade in front of him. "First Ansem, now Organization XIII? What next, Riku? Have you been on their side from the start?" Sora yelled. Riku was taken aback. Sora lunged at Riku, giving Saix and Xigbar what they wanted. Riku dodged quickly, summoning the Soul Eater to his palm. He retaliated against Sora, slashing at his with amazing speed. Sora turned, and stopped the Sould Eater with the Keyblade.

They stood there, pushing against each other, staring at each other's face, trying to gauge one another's next move. Riku suddenly broke away, then rushed at Sora again. Sora didn't expect Riku to come back at him that fast, and was knocked off balance.

"Agh!" He cried, hitting the ground. He looked up to Riku, "That's what I thought," he said, his voice low and on the verge of despair. Hurriedly, he pushed himself off the ground. Riku didn't want to kill him, or hurt him at all. After all, Sora was his best friend. Sora had been around when Riku thought he was alone. Sora had his back, but how could he so naïve that at a time like this?

"Sora! You're mindless when it comes to Kairi!" Riku snapped, his voice gruff, almost a growl.

"Shut up!" Sora yelled. His anger was building.

"You're blinded to the truth!"

"I said 'shut up'!"

"You're so damn naïve!"

"Shut up!" Sora screamed. His anger had escalated to a new level. He threw his head back in a furious cry of anguish mixed with rage. Riku covered his eyes with his forearm, when a blinding light burst forth from Sora.

The light destroyed every single Heartless and Nobody around them. Even Saix and Xigbar were impressed. Countless hearts rose into the air, much to the dismay of Riku and the delight of the Organization. "One more," Vexen grinned, as the remaining members had come to watch the fight, "if my calculations are correct."

"Whoa!" Xigbar said, looking down at Sora. Sora was crouching low to the ground. Black waves of darkness billowed from his back. His skin, hair, and clothes were all black as well. His eyes were a pale yellow. He looked just like a Heartless.

Saix grinned again. "Anti-form," he said with appreciation lacing his cool voice. Xigbar looked to Saix, somewhat confused. "Oh," he said, to cover it up. He returned his attention to the battle in the street below. The building they were all standing on gave a wonderful view.

Sora locked his pale yellow gaze onto Riku, whom bore an expression of utter fear. "S-Sora," he stuttered, backing up. He held the Soul Eater defensively.

Sora cocked his head to the side, and then narrowed his beady, yellow eyes. Riku braced himself. This wasn't the Sora he knew. Suddenly Sora lunged at him. Riku couldn't have run away, or even blocked the attack. Sora's speed was amazing.

Sora took hold of Riku. The attacks that ensued were short, incredibly quick, and outright devastating. Riku didn't have the chance to guard whatsoever. Sora kept attacking, over and over. Once he started, there was no stopping him.

The Organization members looked on with interest. "I thought Riku would have seen that coming," Saix sighed. "As if! Sora's such a clever little sneak!" Xigbar chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Glad my bet wasn't on Riku," Luxord chuckled.

Xemnas walked up smoothly. He hadn't been watching the fight, though he knew about it. "Where's Najilia? She should be watching this," he said, a wicked smile parting his lips. "I'll get her," Xigbar said with a grin. He conjured a portal and stepped through it, a little too excited.

Sora was still attacking Riku. Riku's weapon had been knocked away long ago. Finally, Sora paused. Riku dropped, nearly limp, to his hands and knees. He was in bad shape. He knew he wouldn't survive another attack.

"Naj," he heard himself whisper. Sora had returned to his normal state. His eyes were soft and dewy, as if he had just awoken from a deep sleep. His eyes fell on Riku and widened in shock at the severe damage he had done. He swallowed nervously and raised the Keyblade.

"Déjà vu," Sora murmured through tears, preparing for the final blow. He couldn't let his friend suffer like this.

Another black and violet portal appeared. A hooded girl exited first, followed by Xigbar.

"So, Xiggy, what's this surprise you've got for me?" She asked with genuine curiosity, or at least as genuine as it could get coming from a Nobody. Xigbar chuckled, "Just look down there," he advised.

The girl looked down to where Riku struggled to stand, only to collapse again. Her eyes widened and she gasped. She immediately went to jump down to his level from the high building they were on, but Xigbar pulled her back by her hood. It fell from her head, revealing a face hardened with malice she'd never felt before. "Najilia, watch him!" he ordered her.

Najilia stared at him with animosity she had never experienced before. Her Soul Blade appeared in her hand, and Xigbar laughed. "What are you gonna-" Najilia cut him off by quickly dragging her blade down his face, from brow to jaw.

"Now both cheeks match, you sick fuck," she snarled. Xigbar went to hit her, but she grabbed his wrist with one hand, and slapped him across his new wound with the other. He was too shocked to move. She quickly turned around, and saw Sora getting ready to finish Riku off.

Hurriedly, Najilia conjured a large Heartless. Sora jumped back, away from Riku. He began attacking the new opponent, as it advanced on him. Najilia jumped down and raced to Riku's side. This was her fault; it was all her fault. If she had never fallen in love, he wouldn't have searched for her like this. Did she regret it? Of course not, but if it was going to kill him, than she would have rather lived without being able to remember the suffering she caused him. She had reached him quickly, and fell to her knees beside him as he fell onto his side. She cleared his silver hair from his face.

Riku looked up at her as she pulled him into her lap, and helped him sit up. "Naj?" he asked softly in disbelief. She nodded, tears filling her eyes.

"Naj," he smiled now, placing a hand on her cheek to make sure she was real. They heard a cry of anguish and pain, and looked over to its origin. The Heartless Sora had been busy with fell to the ground.

Time seemed to stand still. All noises ceased. Everyone held his or her breath. No one dared to even blink. They all knew what might happen. Riku, Najilia, and Sora stared with fear and anticipation. Organization XIII watched, a trace of what looked like hope on their faces. A small heart rose into the sky. It rose higher and higher, everyone's gaze following it. Everyone's eyes were tipped to the stars.

The small heart floated to the moon, the heart-shaped moon that was none other than Kingdom Hearts. Xemnas' laughter brought them all back to reality. Organization XIII had done it. They had obtained Kingdom Hearts.

"Ahaha! We're whole! No longer soul-less husks of a body!" Xemnas bellowed, arms outstretched to the sky. A bright light washed over everything and everyone. When it cleared, it was as if the Organization was seeing the world through new eyes.

Riku looked at Najilia. She was looking at him. Her eyes held something new, something more. She looked like she did right after he had kissed her. There was a light in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "I'm…I'm real," she whispered, as if saying it aloud would take it away from her. Riku managed a smile through his pain, "I didn't think it was possible, but you're even more beautiful now," He whispered back to her. The love they shared was the only thing on their minds now.

This was not the case with the Organization members. They were all thinking the same thing: mutiny. Immediately, they attacked one another. It was long until only Luxord, Xigbar, and Saix were left. Luxord was the first to go. His cards were no match for Xigbar's guns and Saix's berserk actions. Xigbar then managed to take Saix down, being able to attack from a distance.

Meanwhile, Xemnas had disappeared. Najilia had helped Riku shakily to his feet. He was a little better, but still needed help to stand. Xigbar looked down at them over the top of his gun and smiled to himself. He would have this world, no matter the costs.

Riku looked down into Najilia's eyes, and smiled. "You're warm to the touch," he said, placing a hand on her cheek. Riku pulled her tighter into his arms. He passed his hands over her shoulders in a sweet caress. His hands found their way to the soft skin below her jawline. He held her steady, and kissed her.

It wasn't like their first kiss on Destiny Islands. It was more. It was longing, it was need, it was forceful and rough and everything that both of them wanted. It was the kind of passion that had been there all along, and had only grown with the absence of one another.

Riku was hungry. Hungry for the feel of Naj's sweet vanilla, velvet lips against his own. Hungry for her smooth caramel flesh against his. He wanted to lay her down and prove to her how much he really loved her. Suddenly he felt dizzy, partly from blood loss and partly from his euphoric state of mind.

Najilia broke the kiss. "Don't hurt yourself," she smiled, noting his lack of equilibrium. She helped him regain his balance. Riku stared into her hazel eyes. It felt too good to be true. He couldn't hold her tight enough. He felt that if he lessened his grip, he'd lose her.

Suddenly, a single gunshot was heard. Then, for the second time in his life, everything went in slow motion. Things were out of Riku's hands now. He couldn't control what happened, how it happened, or whom it happened to. With that last thought, Najilia balled up fistfuls of his cloak in her clenched fists. She let out a cry, that was a mix of emotions. Pain was the most evident, but denial followed close behind. She didn't want to be denied of what she had longed for since the day she had seen him back on Destiny Islands.

"Naj?" Riku asked, fear evident in his voice. Naj opened her mouth to speak, but instead of words came a thin trickle of blood. Riku's chest felt wet. He looked down, in shock. This couldn't be real. This wasn't happening. He knew the crimson liquid that was leaking between them to the cold ground was not his. Naj was bleeding out in his arms. His frightened gaze met hers, and her eyes softened. She closed her lips.

"Naj!" Riku cried, "I'll kill him, Naj! I swear!"

Najilia shook her head slowly. She lifted a finger and pressed it gently to Riku's soft and quivering lips, hushing him. Tears fell down his cheeks.

"Just hold me," she whispered, her voice altered by the blood that was intent on rising into her throat. Riku nodded, his lip trembling. He felt his legs become weak, and knew he wouldn't stand much longer. He lowered Najilia and himself to the bloody ground below. He pulled her into his arms as if he were carrying a child.

Xemnas stepped from a portal behind Xigbar and quickly disposed of him with a quick slash of his aerial blades. His expression was, as usual, apathetic. Xigbar cried out in pain. He fell, and despite Najilia, Xemnas was soon the only living member of Organization XIII.

Suddenly, Xemnas felt his back split with a searing pain. His eyes widened, and he fell to his knees. The ground beneath him was slick. He looked down. It was crimson.

"You're whole now. A whole person that bleeds. You'll die easier, and quicker," Sora said from behind him. Xemnas smiled, and this time it wasn't faked. It wasn't rehearsed. It was real. "You're right, a quicker release," he sighed, accepting things as they were. Sora pulled the Keyblade from his back.

"We would-" Xemnas began, but Sora cut him off, "I know!" he snapped, "We would have made a great team!"

Xemnas chuckled, and closed his eyes. At least he had a taste of what freedom was. He had a taste of what being a real, live person was like. Perhaps it was best that it was only a mere taste. If it were anything more, wouldn't it dull? Humans were so pathetic, the way they threw their lives away. Such bad habits they had. The ways they destroyed their body was horrible. Who would want to get rid of such a beautiful creation? Xemnas' thoughts blurred, and he fell forward, laying still next to Xigbar. Najilia was now the last living member of Organization XIII, and it wasn't looking like that was going to last.

Riku felt hot tears roll down his cheeks. He cradled Naj gently in his arms. They were sitting on the ground in an immense puddle of blood. Naj was unusually pale. Her eyes were dull, and she refused to take them off of Riku. Blood still trickled from the corner of her mouth.

She coughed, and winced at the pain that accompanied it. She gasped lightly, her breath ragged and slow due to the blood that had begun to invade her lungs. Breathing had become a hassle.

Riku pulled her closer to his chest. She leaned onto his torn cloak, wanting to feel his skin. She closed her eyes. The pain in her chest had subsided, perhaps from the blood loss that had rendered most of her body numb.

"Najilia," Riku whispered. After a moment, her eyes opened halfway. She did her best to look up at him with eyes that knew their fate, but were afraid to give into it. Not yet at least.

"Naj, why? Why would you give yourself up to the darkness?" Najilia answered with a sorrowful smile that seemingly took all of her energy. She shuddered once, closed her eyes again, and lay still.

"Najilia?" Riku said, his voice high with fear. A roll of thunder crossed the sky, and a crack of lightning lit up her face. The sky was calling to her. She had always loved lightning. She said it was the one thing in nature that could change things so quickly. She loved it when it fractured the night sky, bringing the rainfall with it. Riku let the sky's tears mask his own, and he cried freely.

"No, you wouldn't. Not like this. Naj, you can't die!" A long pause came after Riku's cries. He leaned closer to her face. This wasn't real. This wasn't happening. Those words kept repeating over and over in his head. Finally she parted her lips and spoke. He had to strain to hear her, but her words were clear as a bell.

"For you I would."

Najilia's chest stopped its slow rising and falling. A violet heart rose into the sky; a heart torn between saving herself or the man she loved. Riku's Soul Eater melted away. His cloak dissolved along with it. He was back to his old self, before he had accepted the darkness.

"NO!" Riku screamed in anguish to the sky as rain pelted his face, plastering his hair to his forehead. "Why!" he screamed until his voice was hoarse. He held Najilia close to him, rocking back and forth until her body grew cold. Riku looked into the face he adored. Her eyes were closed, but he knew better than to entertain his hopes with the thought that she was merely resting.

Riku kissed Najilia's forehead. The rain came down harder and faster, and thunder clapped and boomed. Lightning tore through the sky as if it was the last time it would ever have the chance. Najilia was dead, and Riku couldn't believe it. He refused to.

He swore an oath to avenge her. She had saved his life, on multiple occasions. The only reason why he wasn't a Nobody lay lifeless in his arms. She was his rescuer, and now she had left him.

"I love you, Naj." She couldn't hear him now. She was gone. He had wanted to say it to her from the start. They both knew they loved one another, but how often had it been said aloud? It hadn't been. Riku had never had the chance to tell her he loved her. Riku would have his revenge.

He looked over to Xemnas' body. Another cry of rage burst forth from his lungs, seeing that the body he meant to find was no longer there.