Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the other Anime/Disney worlds

Chapter Eighteen

Redemption

Riku looked over at his wife and smiled, yesterday and last night had been magical. He had dreamed of marrying her and having her to himself and now that he did he didn't want to let her go. He just wanted to spend their honeymoon in the confines of their room on some remote island, but he had promised to help Leiv. 'Amaranth,' he called out to her.

She turned from the window and looked at her husband, 'Morning.'

He saw the soft blush on her cheeks and couldn't stop his smile from growing bigger. 'How are you feeling?'

Her blush deepened, 'I am fine,' she muttered and looked away from him still embarrassed.

Riku filled the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her, 'You don't have to be embarrassed, what happened is very natural.'

'I know,' she felt her face on fire and lifted her head up to look at him.

'I love you,' he whispered before lowering his lips to meet hers.

Amaranth returned his soft kiss and smiled as he pulled away, 'I love you too.'

'Good, because I don't want you to get any ideas on our trip.'

She looked at him puzzled for a moment and then nodded her head, 'I should warn you the same, I am a jealous person.'

'No getting kidnapped either,' he held her tighter against him, 'I don't think that I can take being separated from you again.'

'I promise to try my hardest,' she stated.

'Do you know where we are going first?'

She nodded, 'Ulrike gave me the holy water from the shine in Shin Makoku, so we won't have to go there. So our first stop is Gaia to retrieve the tear of a Phoenix. After that Okayama, there is a scientist there that controls three magical gems who's essence we need to extract and last but not least the Land of Fire there is an old friend there that knows the Slug Princess, she is said to be able to summon a huge slug who's slime has healing properties.'

'It sounds like we will be having an adventure and should I be concerned about your old friend?'

'No, he's too old for me to be interested in,' she didn't need to let Riku know that he was also an old pervert that liked peeking in on women for his Icha Icha book series.

'Good,' he kissed her forehead, 'do you want to wait and go have breakfast with the family or head out after we get ready?'

'I think they would understand if we sneaked away,' she blushed as she thought of the conclusion that they would summon. 'I don't think that I could take Philippe crying or my parents' look of disappointment at leaving so soon after just arriving. Plus, knowing how protective Hina is she'll probably decide to tag along.'

'Okay,' he agreed with her, but didn't want to let her go so that they could get ready.

'Riku.'

'Hmm,' she rested her head on his chest.

'What's going to happen afterwards?'

'What do you mean?'

'Once our adventure is over?'

'I don't know, but as long as we are together it doesn't matter what happens next.'

'Right,' she lifted her head to beam up at him. 'Lets get ready before someone comes looking for us.'

'Okay,' he kissed her one last time before reluctantly pulling away.

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KH1.5: The Sanctification Elixir

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Levi was going crazy, being confined to the small tower room with only the shadow maid as his companion was maddening. The only other person that came to visit him was his sister and their visits usually didn't go over real well, especially when she reminded him that his time was running out and still no sign of Amaranth. If she didn't arrive then his death was certain and as much as he was willing to accept it he was afraid. What would happen to him after he passed? If there was something beyond death, would his fortune be sour and find himself in a hell without salvation? No, he couldn't let his thoughts vary to the unimaginable. Amaranth promised that she would save him and keep his brother's final wish. Yet the night was almost over and tomorrow at noon he would be burned at the stake. He's sister said that it was not her wish that such a cruel fate be bestowed on him, but it was requested by the Counsel and she had no choice but to accept. 'I am going to burn,' he cringed at the thought.

-Burn,- Levi looked up at the image of his brother, -do you have little faith in her?-

'What are you doing here? Are you here to visit me one last time before my demise?'

Rikhard walked around the small inclosed space with a cot in the corner and a bucket as his chamber pot. -I am here, because this is what you wished.-

'Why would I want to see you,' Levi shook his head in protest.

-Because you feel guilt and remorse for my death.- Rikhard stopped before his withered brother and frowned. -Even punishing yourself by not eating doesn't seem to bring your death much closer.-

'Don't touch me,' Levi backed away further into the wall.

-Do you think that this is what the real me wants?-

'I deserve it and she hasn't returned,' he cried.

-Right,- Rikhard stood up and looked down at Levi's pathetic form. -How the mighty do fall.-

'You helped them take away my power,' Levi accused, but it came out as a whisper.

-You knew that it would happen. For evil never wins and never gets a second chance,- Rikhard materialized a chair and sat down before his brother.

'Lies.'

-Is it? For I am a figment of your imagination and your words are mine,- Rikhard said in disdain. -So what I say is true to you.-

'But you asked if I have given up?'

-Haven't you?-

'I…have.'

-Your death is but hours away and your salvation is nowhere in sight.-

'I,' he didn't know what to say.

-You should enjoy your last night and sleep,- Rikhard offered as he looked out the small window.

'No,' he protested for when he opened his eyes his death would be there.

-You are a pathetic excuse for an existence,- Rikhard sighed. -To imagine that I once looked up to you.-

'Stop,' Levi protested for this cruel man before him was not his brother.

-It is the truth and that is why you summoned me here.-

'I wanted to see my kind and loving brother, not you an abomination.'

-Really, because you are what created me. You see me as you see fit and even if you want to see your kind and loving brother, you can't because he is dead. He sacrificed himself to save you a pathetic soul that didn't, doesn't, deserve such merit.-

'No!'

-Yes,- there was a dark gleam of truth in his black hues.

'I am worth saving.'

-If that is what will make you sleep, then believe it. Believe that the person you killed, who's magic you stole and kidnapped will save you. For you are a bigger fool then your brother ever imagined.-

'No, no, no,' Levi protested as his mind continued to play games with him and torment him to its delight. 'She'll save me, she will, won't she?'

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'Ow,' Amaranth protested as she fell back on her behind, her legs giving up on her.

'You okay,' Riku reached down to help her up.

'Yeah, just a little bit dizzy,' she took her husband's hand.

'You have to be more careful with your magic,' he chided.

'They said that I would be fine,' she remembered the bluenette and pinkette telling her that she would need to be more cautious know then before.

'Yeah, well it's not just you, you have to worry about,' Riku's hand went to her belly.

'We don't have time,' she protested his touch, for she realized that in the two months they had been away she had gained some weight, which was understandable but still made her self-conscious of his touch. 'We have to get this to Levi before it's too late.'

'Fine,' he waited for her to open the cabin door so that they could arrive to Seelie without their presence being noticed.

Amaranth looked up at the bell tower in the center of town were they had everything set up for the public execution of Levi, 'We only have twenty minutes,' she whispered as she pulled her white hood up.

'Then we should get you to the castle quickly,' Riku grabbed her up in his arms bridal style. 'Hold on, Princess.'

She wrapped her arms around his neck and he took off for high ground until they were flying over roof tops towards the castle. 'I think we are more noticeable then you think,' Amaranth whispered as they bound over the castle walls and landed on soft plush grass.

'Not as much as your friend,' Riku turned her attention to one on the castle high towers.

'He must be there,' Amaranth was about to take off when Riku grabbed her arm.

'Remember not to us too much of your magic.'

'This would be a lot easier if Hina hadn't decided to come and watch Levi's execution,' Amaranth mumbled for if Hina caught wind of her plan she would stop her.

'You can't blame her,' Riku protested, 'plus if you hadn't talked me into your plan we wouldn't be here in the first place.'

'I know,' she frowned.

'Hey,' Riku lifted her chin up and looked into emerald hues, 'I am not upset and I know that you have a good reason for doing this and saving him. So go, before it is too late.'

'Thanks,' she gave him a peck on the lips before she disappeared and reappeared before the shadow dragon.

'Who goes there,' the dragon asked as she noticed the white hooded figure.

'It is I,' Amaranth looked up at the dragon, who seemed confused until she recognized her aura.

'Princess,' she turned to her shadow maid form. 'You must hurry the guards will be here soon.'

'Okay, go to the square and find Riku,' she told her friend.

'But the guards?'

'We won't be long,' she reassured her.

'As you desire,' she walked forward into the shadows and disappeared.

'I wish I could do that,' she marveled at the idea of being able to walk through the shadow world.

To be continued...