Dedicated to my Friend. Thank God I have the means to write. I love 'im more than oxygen.
A/N: A big THANK YOU to my reviewers. You guys really make my day. This was only a teeny weeny bit late. I hope you don't mind. I did as much as I could. Oh! But Fall Break is coming up so be looking forward to a chapter sooner.
Those of you that like the artwork, there's a new picture up: Why We Love Nevaeh. It's on my homepage. By the way, I'm thinking this story is going to be longer than 40 chapters. Just so ya know.
tennisdesi91: I hope the length of the fight is to your liking. I agree with you 100 percent. Riku and Nevaeh go so well together...they should be called peanut butter and jelly.
GTA Guy: Can you imagine Axel trying to remember Aerith's 'phone number'? XD
Michelle-Chan: Oh-me, oh-my-gosh! I am so in love with Riku and Nevaeh fluff. That makes it so hard since they aren't going to be together for so long! AND I WOULD LOVE TO DO AN INTERVIEW! How cool is that? I feel so special. MWAH! Much love, mi amiga. My socks are officially rocked.
Wing: THUD...bladder sloshing, teeth chattering. Can you say: Ron Stoppable? From Downhill. :D
Childhood Aspirations: Now you'll finally be able to see what happens to Riku, Nevaeh, Sora, and Kairi! Happy day! I'm so sorry this took forever. I have a bad habit of studying for these test...tsk. XD This chapter's for you!
And you...and you and you and you!
Jak4: Sora and Kairi separate and get back together. They separate and get back together. I should magic the two of them back to back, huh? Mucho Riku and Nevaeh stuffs up ahead!
StarryMelody: Wow. That would be so funny if Riku bit Heaven. That would mean that he's wanted to bite her since the first day they met. XD I think Nevaeh'd bite him back. And hard. Oh, mercy, that wouldn't be pretty would it? Get the anti-bacterial! Stat!
inuhoono: ME MUCHO...love-o...Nevaeh and Riku fluff! (Can't wait for chap. 4!)
Crystallynne: Your review sounded like Nevaeh: Write on. Or face my wrath! XD Brilliant!
mysteryyoungster: Lottsa action. Enjoy in plenty!
i AM the Random Idiot: Riku and Nevaeh fluff PWNS face. No! PWNS the universe! Too bad they PWN each other. XD
hikari-aozora: You know who I feel sorry for? The guys who have to put up with our crying! I bet they get so confused, poor dears. Is she sad? Angry? Happy? AHHH! I'm so with you: DEATH TO ALGEBRA!
SoraLuvsKairi4Ever: Now that I think about it...I can't believe I was going to let this stay a one-shot! I would never have come outta my shell if it hadn't been for you and the rest of the reviewers. So you have my deepest thanks. I SO owe you one.
Heart: When you read this chapter, you'll see Sarmiento laughing. That's how I end up when I read your reviews. :D
RoseZephyr: I have no idea where I came up with the idea to have Nevaeh call Riku 'Mr. Riku'. My muse must have been working overtime. 'Cause I'm in love with it, too! At one point in the story, I was plannin' on getting rid of the phrase. Gasp! But, then I noticed, it's just not Nevaeh without her pleasantries. I'm looking forward to another one of your reviews! Happy reading!
greatestauthorever: Never underestimate an angry woman with a sword. XD Nevaeh rocks all out. Enjoy the chapter! I added in as much action as I could for now.
Aiko Moonchild: There is lots of Riku and Nevaeh interaction in this chappy. :D So you can forget your Biology homework (in the time you read this) and have a ball! Hurray for breaks!
Don't Make Me Blue: I love the 'ducky' thing! But I already told you that. XD Once I reach a thousand reviews, I'm going to do something really special for you. I don't know what yet, but I'll think of something! You've made my day. For seriousness!
Itsy-Evil-Spiders: How dare I update Riku and Nevaeh fluff! Hehe. Shame on me. Alas, I cannot help myself with those two. But I like being a hopeless romantic. It's the best! You rock, Itsy!
destiny's crossroads: OOOO, love the story you're working on. It's driving me nuts! Hehe, and you deserve one HUGE kudos for mentioning Nevaeh's present. I can't think of a prize now...but something will come to me. (Can't wait for your update!)
moonstrife: Your menacing glare has killed my business! No! Really! It's true. I have fall break. I'm FREEEEE!
Anime-17: Coffee is soooo good. I like the smell more than the taste. But if I get a huge wiff in the morning, I'm wired. S'like I've had a cup. XD If I outdid myself last time, I hope I do it again. ;)
kingdomhearts lover120: This update only took a week and a half. :D Enjoy, my nice-as-all-get-out reviewer! Enjoy!
Jade Rhade: Lemme just say...I LOVE your reviews! Don't worry about them being too long – I have a blast reading and replying. :) I'm so excited that you mentioned Tarsus! EEE! That's so wicked awesome! You can ask me anything you want about Kingdom Hearts. I'm not an expert, but I'll do my very best. I think the best way to describe the addicting nature of Riku and Nevaeh is...caffeine!
Lady Kara: Let's just smack all the boys! That'll make us feel much better. XD (Smacks Sarmiento)
cracker-jacks000: OH, I enjoy your reviews so much! I'm beyond glad that you decided to read my story. Do you have a thing with reading fluff over and over again? ME TOO! HA! Great minds read alike. ;) Alas, I left out the SxK kissing this chapter...but I promise you I'll make up for it. You'll read what's going to take place between them 50 times! XD Me too!
MegaFlameHedge: Axel is one sweet character. He's so funny and so...my brother. O.O
Jini: I nearly wet myself thinking of Axel trying to remember that long number. HAHA! That's so awesome! I'm sorry I made you think the Riku and Nevaeh fluff was going to be in this chapter. Wah...I'll have to make it up to you somehow. But, in the meantime, enjoy the chapter! When I heard how excited you were about my sequel, I jumped up and down, just screaming away. :D My brother stared at me like I'd lost my mind. Hehe!
LilyflowerJamesprongs: Pete can be so inspiring! XD I love the lil' guy in this chapter. He makes me laugh like nobody's business. Good luck with your updates! And enjoy.
mOOnlite-dUSk: OOO, dear. I don't have any SxK fluff this time around. But once we get further into this 'level', there's going to be some MAJOR oh-my-gosh-kiss-me-now kinda goings on. XD Mickey will be back!!!
xxx.guitarpunk.xxx: I'm so glad you reviewed! I'm stoked to hear how much you love my story. And, actually, you spurred me on to finish this bit before the weekend. Ya hear that, everyone? MAJOR KUDOS to guitarpunk. I appreciate the boost. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I will never own Kingdom Hearts. But I do own this story. And, lemme tell ya, that's a major honor in of itself. Thanks everyone, for making this such an experience.
ooo
Three basic thoughts dashed through Sora's mind. Only three. It's hard to think straight when you shove yourself into the deadly tracks of mortal peril. First was what might deter a cyclone of water. Seeing as several ideas came to surface (all of which guaranteed his survival), he allowed that concern to fall away. Second was convincing himself that Ursula was really gone. Not all that hard to do...so he was sure his friends were safe. The third and last worry (ironically, the most important now) was self-preservation. Not from the storm, but from Kairi. She was going to kill him.
All this registered in a single moment and Sora sighed. Whatever happened to taking breaks every now and again? Despite whining on the inside, his outer appearance was giddied. The Keyblade Master had just been kissed, after all. Maybe that's why his power surged. Maybe Kairi was the reason. Yeah...she was his reason.
Before Sora lost himself, he bowed his head and steepled his fingers, drawing all attention to the space in-between his palms. A ribbon of air seeped through the microscopic ridges in his hand and ballooned itself into a small ball. Once the pocket of wind buffeted against the heel of his hand, he pulled at the element with his pointer and thumb until it was the size he desired. Proud of his Aero technique, Sora slipped inside the shield...just as the remaining part of the ship turned into merboy skewers.
Since he didn't want to be a fish-cabob, the Keyblade Master dodged out of the way. His spell was having enough trouble fighting off the typhoon, as it was. If it weren't for the near misses, the dizzying ride would have been a blast. But something else suddenly had his undivided attention. Something in a black cloak. Something he couldn't avoid, either.
Once he collided with whoever-it-was, knocking the both of them to the ocean floor, the storm ceased to be and left everything in a heavy fog of churned sand. That didn't suit Sora at all now that he knew an Organization member was present. He doubted that he'd be attacked, what with the recent events involving Larxene, but...just on the safe side...Oathkeeper appeared in his right hand.
The silhouette of a man pushed himself into a more comfortable, floating position, coughing the seaweed out of his mouth. The mane of dark hair that floated in all directions was a dead giveaway. No matter what form Marluxia took, there would always be long hair. And plenty of it.
Sora took the hint, but stayed silent. What's he doing here?
What do you think? Roxas answered. The Organization's still doing the Master's bidding. I guess he was trying to convince Triton to join forces and bad-mouth us. Just like Demyx.
Yeah. Look where that got him.
"What power," Marluxia mumbled, batting the grains off his shoulders. "Shame, really."
Sora was hooked. He knew he was being baited to say something, but he was hopelessly curious. Maybe it was his fishy instinct. "Why's that, Marluxia?" It had been his Nobody name. He stuck with it, just as the others had.
"Shame that it's going to be wasted." The Organization member materialized before Sora as the water settled. He didn't look anything like he had...there was always something familiar about the eyes, though. What caught the Key Bearer's attention were the man's legs. They were present. Either he cared nothing about protecting world order or he had other varieties of magic that made it possible to breathe under the sea. Probably both. "He wants no part in this war of ours."
Sora frowned. "You spoke for me?"
"I thought I'd save you a little time," Marluxia taunted. "He's not very happy with you."
"And that's why you were in Triton's cyclone?" Sora pointed at the mess of hair that looked as if it had been through one of Wakka's hair experiments. Or a swirlie. "Because he's mad at me?"
Marluxia shrugged off the comment. "Just a misunderstanding." He glared at his opponent through a pair of heavy-lidded eyes. "I wouldn't go see him if I were you."
It was Sora's turn to act like he didn't care. He crossed his arms and tucked his chin to his chest to muffle a snort. "And I should listen to what you say, because?"
"Suit yourself." Marluxia opened a portal to the Realm of Darkness and stepped inside. "When you fail. Not if, but when. Go find Triton's daughter. That should fix everything for you."
Sora's expression softened as the threshold of shadows dissipated into nothingness. "Tell Larxene thanks, will ya?"
ooo
Riku and Nevaeh would have leapt nimbly back to the ground to assess the situation...if they'd both jumped from their perch at the same time. Or in the same direction. The result was embarrassing...okay. More than embarrassing.
It was sad.
Thrown off from his counterbalance, Riku slipped and fell. As did the mass of upheaved land. Nevaeh made an attempt to stop the reaction, but all she ended up with was a handful of leaves. Pitiful. Shockingly enough, the Heartless was the one to break their fall. Though they were now in it's death grip...upside down...with Tony laughing...no matter. They'd battle this thing to kingdom come as soon as they set a few things in order.
"We're going to have to communicate to defeat this octopus."
Nevaeh hummed. "It's a squid, Mr. Riku. It has six legs, not eight." She cocked one of her eyebrows in the form of a challenge. Like he could see her. "There. We've communicated."
"Without insults!" Riku scolded. He tried to scope out the enemy, but Nevaeh's long, white hair was in the way. "I can't see."
"And?" She teased. Her antagonistic picking received no response so she relayed what her partner wanted. "Six legs. One Heartless. One Tony. The Heartless isn't a problem. It's slow. Hasn't even worked on really attacking us yet. Unless you call trying to squeeze us to death an attack," Nevaeh purred. "So far, I'd say we have thirty seconds until or ribs collapse and puncture our lungs."
The way she said this – in such a flippant way – was unnerving. It was like she'd been threatened like this before. Probably had, Riku reminded himself.
"We have several options," she continued. "But the most important thing now is getting free and picking off the Heartless' defense."
"Right."
Riku dug his fingers into the monster's rubbery leg, setting the slime ablaze. Before he knew it, the two of them were speeding toward the ground, head first. With the extra weight (and Nevaeh wanting to do something completely opposite) it was lucky they didn't end up like a two-headed ostrich. The both of them caught themselves in a handstand at the last second, peeved beyond reason.
When Nevaeh's blue skirt fell in front of her face...that's when it turned ugly. She made to tear the fabric aside, but shifting her weight the way she did wasn't the smartest thing to do. Especially since she was attached to someone against her will. At first, it was just a subtle tilt. Then Nevaeh found herself facing the dirt.
"Get up!" she snapped. "GET UP!"
Riku tried to sit erect, but Nevaeh's back bent the wrong way.
"OW! NO! Lay down! Lay down!"
He did what she asked. He'd never heard her say 'ow' before.
Tony was having a field day. In stitches, he supported himself against a tree, watering it with his tears. "'Veah...how could you side with such a loser?"
Riku turned his head and ended up resting his cheek against Heaven's. He would have retreated if it had been in his mindset, but other things (such as pummeling Sarmiento) overrode any hormonal problems. Besides that...the Heartless' tentacles were on their way. His bones wouldn't be able to take any more constriction. "Tuck your knees. I'm going to carry you."
"If anyone's going to be doing any carrying, it'll be me toting you around," Nevaeh said breathlessly. Because she was in need of air.
"Stop being so proud. I'll owe you."
Nevaeh thought this over. Her cheek bunched against his and Riku just knew that she was smiling. Wickedly. "Anything I ask?"
I'm going to regret this. "Yes."
"Alright, Mr. Riku."
With that, Nevaeh slid her legs under her chest. Riku rolled out of the way the moment the Heartless approached and shoved himself to his feet. It only took a moment to get used to the weight difference so, taking a quick look around, he sprinted beneath the squid. Too bad he didn't know that was where the mouth was.
The Heartless bowed to scoop up a mouthful of Key Bearers.
"Mr. Riku!" Nevaeh screamed. She reached behind her and snatched a handful of his hair, wanting to steer him. "What are you-"
Riku's Keyblade came into view. Right into the Heartless' mouth. Angled and shoved into place so soundly, the creature couldn't snap its jaws together. Riku didn't stop to admire his work (though...he was very aware of Nevaeh's gawking). Instead, he moved aside as two of the six limbs worked at removing the obstruction. When he was sure he was far enough away, Riku turned so Nevaeh could see, held out his hand, and recalled his sword to its original place: at his side.
As the sound of the squid's roar filled his ears, the Keyblade Master contained a smirk.
"You knew it'd bite it's-"
"Maybe they should be called the Brainless, instead."
Nevaeh blinked. Then howled with laughter. It was so foreign, Riku wasn't sure it was her at all. What he said hadn't been that funny. It was like she'd never heard a joke before, however dry it happened to be. She'd probably forgotten what one was.
And...
She snorted.
But he'd save that knowledge for later.
"Three down, three to go," Riku mumbled.
ooo
Sora swam his way through the spiny remains of Ursula's domain, glad that there wasn't any 'unfortunate souls' in the long abandoned garden for Kairi to see. He found Donald, Goofy, and the Princess resting near the mouth of the Witch's cave. And when he saw the state the latter was in...wringing her hands, unable to sit still...he began to doubt, once again, that this life was right for her. He didn't think she should have to wait. Of course not! But she shouldn't have to go through the pain involved with loving him.
Don't be stupid.
Sora replied, And Naminé's taking this well, is she?
Not exactly. But they'll either worry with us or worry without us.
Point made.
"Hey guys," Sora greeted with a wave.
Kairi looked up from her fiddling. She was in his arms before he could say another word (thankfully not choking him), which was just fine. Sora thrived for Kairi's power. And, simply, her. He could feel influence wash over him and seep into his very veins, setting his heart to pace. If only his uncertainties would swab away like this.
His Princess looked him over, making sure there wasn't a single hair out of place. She even felt of his forehead.
"I'm fine." Sora assured her with a smile. "I've been through much worse."
And that was definitely the wrong thing to say.
"Worse?" Kairi's eyes widened. Then she just looked angry. "What do you mean by worse?"
Donald slid his finger across his throat and shook his head.
"Uh..." Sora stalled. "I didn't say worse. I said...first."
"You've been though much, first?"
"Yeah. I mean." Sora searched every possible nook and cranny for some sort of inspiration. Unfortunately, it was too dark in the channel to really tell anything apart from rock, rock, and more rock. "I've been through so much before hand, I knew exactly what to do." Sora's teeth were hurting, his grin was so fake.
"Oh," Kairi mouthed, buying every word. He hoped. "Like the Sea Witch?"
Sora nodded and, in an array of bubbles, he exclaimed, "Brain over brawn!" His over-motivated flex made Kairi laugh.
Goofy paddled his way out of the cave. "We better talk to King Triton 'fore another one of them tornaders attacks us."
"Right behind you Goofy!" Donald followed, rubbing his upper arms. "This place gives me goosebumps."
"Don't ya mean duckbumps?"
ooo
Riku dodged out of the way as a monstrous tentacle came crashing down next to him. The tremor that ran beneath his feet was enough to set his teeth to rattle. Hunched as he was, Nevaeh had free reign to sink her blade into the monster's translucent skin. Right up to the hilt...all the way to the ground, pinning its leg there to stay.
"Up you get," Heaven giggled.
Amazing...she wasn't scared in the least. This was fun to her, Riku realized. But he had to admit: he enjoyed battle, too.
Just as another gelatin limb headed their way, Riku leapt forward in a bent sprint, arms held out to the side for balance. It was slippery going, but with his power added to Nevaeh's it was more like being propelled than running. He had to jump over the Heartless' arms that tried to sweep him away, but this was deftly done. And, like she promised, his partner protected his back with spells of time and shielding.
Riku was able to snatch a glance at Sarmiento. He took great pleasure at the disgusted look on Tony's face. Even in a bind, against frightful peril, Nevaeh and he were a force to be reckoned with. Riku slid to a stop at the crest of the Heartless' head. "Ready?"
"Always, Mr. Riku." Nevaeh recalled her sword.
Together, they sent their Keyblades home through the temples of the Heartless' squishy cranium. It's remaining arm (the only one that hadn't been burnt, bitten, or Stopped) flailed in anger before the monster melted away into a bundle of sparkling hearts.
Nevaeh squeaked and grasped at a few. They all slipped through her fingers. "Blast it, Tony!" she cried, allowing her arms to fall to her sides. "You used us!"
Sarmiento shrugged. "What can I sayz? I needed a laugh and dah hearts needed releasin'." He dusted off his breeches. "Now, if youze two excuse me, I gots a Nobody to find." Tony turned to leave, tipping his hat.
Riku drew up to his full height. "COWARD!"
Sarmiento halted. He didn't turn around, but his voice was very clear. "What did youze call me?"
"I said you're a coward," Riku repeated. "Show your mettle and fight me!"
Tony turned around. "I don't sees any profits in it for me." His violet eyes danced. "Unless youze willin' to make a wager, bodyguard."
Riku quelled his fury and paused to think on this. The idea of a wager didn't sound promising. Even if he won, who's to say that Sarmiento's word wouldn't be broken? Riku seriously doubted that he could trust this boy. Even if he had been a Key Bearer once upon a time. Not everyone was going to end up like Nevaeh. Even she was a few munny short of a-
"Well, Mr. Riku?" Nevaeh asked. "You don't really have anything to gamble."
Tony laughed. "'Veah, don't be silly! Bodyguard's got somethin' I want."
"What? His good looks?"
Riku balked at this. Since Nevaeh felt it, she scoffed at him.
"Please, Mr. Riku. I'm not blind!"
Tony interrupted them. "What I want, 'Veah, is you."
Nevaeh's back became rigid. As well as quite warm. In all the activity they'd been doing before, she'd barely worked up a sweat. Either it was a blush or she was growing furious again. For Tony's sake (and who would worry about that?), it had better be flushing. Riku, on the other hand, wasn't happy at all about the temperature change. For reasons unknown.
"What, pray tell, do you want me for?"
"Mastah doesn't realize you're alive. He'd love tah be in the know. 'Sides..." Tony sauntered over. "Can't stand seein' a 'notha guy bein' your partnah."
"Jealous, Tony?" Nevaeh cooed. "I'm terribly sorry, but women aren't possessions anymore. Just because Mr. Riku, here, has something you don't, doesn't mean you can have me." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, hitting Riku in the face with her locks. (He spat a few out of his mouth.) "I'd rather never see my friends again." Nevaeh giggled at her broadened vocabulary.
Sarmiento hunkered down. "That can be arranged..."
ooo
Kairi watched as modeled coral piece after modeled coral piece flew out of King Triton's throne room, glad she'd taken Sora's advice about not accompanying him inside. Donald was the first to succumb to the Sea King's ranting. He buried himself under the sand to where only a few suckers of his tentacles were visible. That and a tuft of ruffled feathers. Goofy sucked himself into his shell. For good reason.
"I'LL HAVE NO MORE TALK OF KEY BEARERS, THE MASTERY, WAR, OR ANY SUCH NONSENSE! I WON'T SUBJECT MY DAUGHTERS TO ANY OF THIS, NO MATTER THE STAKES! I CAN DEFEND MY KINGDOM ALONE!"
A funnel of bubbles exploded through the palace doors, swinging them wide open. Kairi shrunk away in awe. Though afraid, she took to mind what Triton was saying. She could understand where he was coming from...and it was true that he was doing very well defending his domain. But the problem was his shortsightedness. What would happen if Mickey failed? Atlantica wouldn't be able to go against the Mastery on their own.
Sora, water-swept, hurried out in the open and shut the doors behind him with a clang. Breathing deeply, he wiped his brow. Though it was pretty much impossible to sweat under water, King Triton had that effect on people. "He's not ready to listen," Sora explained.
"What did I tell you, yahoos?" Pete crab-walked into their presence, teetering from his huge head. "Why doesn't anybody listen to me?"
Donald unearthed himself. "Maybe it's 'cause you're a bad guy!"
Pete pointed a robust claw at him. "I'll have you know, dolt, that there're shades of grey!"
Sora grinned. "Sure, Pete. Greeey."
"That's The Pete-"
"Do you know where Ariel is?"
"Maybe I do and maybe I don't." He turned to leave with his nose in the air.
"Aw," Sora bent down in front of Pete, cutting him off. "C'mon!" He folded his hands and shook them desperately. "Pretty please?"
"NO!"
Kairi had an epiphany while she viewed the exchange. Before Sora could get on his knees and beg (if he had knees), she scooped Pete's head into her arms and cradled him against her armor. Though his little legs worked to escape, they were much too small to make any sort of difference. "Oh, Sora, leave him alone." She rocked Pete back and forth. "Don't interrogate the poor thing."
Sora looked up at her from the ocean floor, confused. "Huh?"
Kairi held Pete out at arms length via his chubby cheeks and squealed girlishly. "Why, look at 'im! Aren't you adorable?"
Pete smiled through his puckered lips in spite of himself. "My momma always said I was a looker!"
Kairi hugged him again. "Why, you're just a slave to that mean, ol' witch, aren't you?"
Sora sought out Donald and Goofy for clarification, but he only received shrugs in response. If he wasn't so bewildered, he would have been scared out of his mind. This...baby talk.
Pete sniffed. "I don't get dental or nuttin'!" he cried.
"No dental?" Kairi fussed. "And you're such a brave warrior, too! There's no telling all you've been through today."
"Yeah!" Pete blew his nose in his claw, his pupils growing larger and larger by the second. Bottom lip quivering, he expounded, "First I was turned into a crab! Then some red-headed mermaid at the dock slapped me 'cause I was braggin' about my plan to take over Triton's throne! And then-"
Sora perked up at once. He took Kairi by the hand and shot skyward so quickly that Pete spun out of the Princess' grasp. He landed in a heap outside the palace doors.
"Thanks, The Pete!" Sora called.
"Wait...gah! YOU GET BACK HERE!" Pete demanded. "I'm not through with my story!"
ooo
Riku felt the magnetic pull of the Gravity spell lose its force. It was amazing to him that someone could manipulate the magic into doing something like sticking two people together instead of pinning them to the ground. Nevaeh may have confidence that he was the better swordsman, but going up against a Key Bearer with that much potential...not pretty.
"If I can't have yaz," Sarmiento growled at Nevaeh. "Then nobody can." His noted Keyblade disappeared, replaced with a very sharp, very black, very deadly Chaser claw.
At first, Riku wasn't sure what to make of this. What could one talon do? To Nevaeh, no less. She'd deflect the attack without even trying, more than likely. So why threaten them with such a thing? Wouldn't a Heartless attached be much more formidable?
Heaven seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "Tsk, tsk, Tony. What has become of you?"
Sarmiento ignored her. Instead of saying a bit to convince the ex-Mastery pawn otherwise, his actions spoke louder than anything he could have possibly tried to explain. He grabbed Nevaeh's wrist, breaking his spell over both herself and Riku in the process, and nicked it.
Even so, Nevaeh kept up her chortling. Until a deep blackness tinged the edges of her flesh wound...
It was then that Riku registered what had happened. His steely eyes widened in fear as Nevaeh sank to the ground, her blue dress belling around her buckled knees. The disease in her arm spread little by little...to her forearm...to her elbow. Her breath faltered and she collapsed, shivering from shock.
Riku's chest tightened. His muscles burned with lactic acid, though he hadn't moved. Not yet. Such an anger as he'd scarcely known built inside of him. And he was prepared to unleash it. Allow it to sick itself upon Sarmiento. The one that had just taken Nevaeh's existence away in less than a second. With something so small.
She'd been poisoned. Now lifeless.
Like Sora...
Riku forgot all about his Keyblade. And what he did next made him lie awake for nights to come, wondering how in the world he'd accomplished such a thing. He didn't attack with magic...or with any type of complicated combos...but with his fists. The one thing that rang loud in his mind was how an action resulted in another. What Nevaeh'd taught him. Well, he wasn't going to let Sarmiento have any leverage in this battle. His punches would effect in retaliation...unless he didn't give his enemy the chance.
In all actuality, Tony was too surprised to perform a counter. Riku's jabs, uppercuts, and downright brutal assaults were anything but a laughing matter. Before he knew it, Sarmiento was down for the count, K.O.ed next to one of the saplings in the grove.
Riku cracked his knuckles, just daring Tony to try and move. When there was no reaction, he walked to Nevaeh's side. She was just lying there...mumbling something incomprehensible...he didn't know what to do. But he didn't have to.
She stirred. Lifting her head to stare at him, Nevaeh said, "I..." She turned away, embarrassed. It was an effort to say: "I need your help." She removed her hurt arm and showed him the area the claw had scratched her pale skin. Her forearm, from her fingertips to her shoulder, was frozen in a wafer-thin block of ice. "So the darkness won't spread." The girl was unable to move, now. Better to go overboard with the Blizzard spell than to become...
Riku made a grab for her wrist, but she stopped him.
"Don't you think this is for the best, Mr. Riku?" Nevaeh wondered aloud. Her lips quivered from the cold. "This way, I'm no burden."
The only thing Riku could think to say was: "Shut up, Heaven." He took a hold of her. A firm hold. And brought her arm up to his mouth. It went against every single code of poison-handling known to man, but he really didn't care at the moment. He'd failed Sora. He wasn't going to fail her.
"NO!" Nevaeh hissed weakly. The ice from her spell was working on her system and she was slowly falling asleep. Her eyelids drooped. "You'd make yourself sick to save me?"
"I would."
She stared at him. "You're an idiot." Then she nodded off.
Riku couldn't help but feel a bit foolish. What if he ended up spreading the disease to himself? Let alone not saving Heaven. He couldn't let her down. His guard had foolishly dropped at the sight of Sarmiento's plot to destroy one of the very few...friends...he had. He wasn't going to let something as silly as this get in his way now. Riku's mouth hovered over the abrasion. He certainly was about to do something moronic, but a movement in Nevaeh's arm stopped him.
The few blackened veins collected near his face, drawing closer to his presence...whichever way he happened to turn. Riku grew suspicious of the enigma. He had a gut feeling that he knew what was causing this, but he didn't think about it. If he didn't think about it...then it wasn't true. Though it was hard to ignore, being in front of him as it was.
"Ansem," he bit. Not wanting to linger, Riku cupped his hand around Nevaeh's cut and watched.
Her veins slowly began to clear. Easily so. The thick, black lines retreated to her wrist and into Riku's palm. Once the metallic, lumpy substance ravaged his hand, he threw the dark liquid to the ground...which melted away from the amount of acerbic toxin. Riku raked his palm over his pants. Just to make sure. He didn't feel anything at all. No change in the color of his skin. Nothing. Perhaps the virus only transferred through the bloodstream.
But, more importantly...Nevaeh was acceptable to the disease. What did it mean? Leon and the other Committee members had come into contact with Chaser talons. What was the answer?
Riku set a section of the ground ablaze as he worked the puzzle. Nevaeh, warmed by the fire, slowly came out of her forced unconsciousness, still muttering about how he was lacking in intelligence.
"Are you alright?" Riku asked.
Nevaeh was too busy melting the ice from her shoulder to respond. Not because she was being rude. But because she didn't know what to say. This was the second time that he'd saved her life on account of her mistakes. And she was ashamed of herself. At the same time...thrilled! This was proof that Riku felt the same way about her as she felt about him. An annoyance, but a friend. A FRIEND! Maybe it would be shrewd to practice being nice.
Maybe.
"You're not poisoned?" Nevaeh asked. "I shall have to destroy you if you are."
Riku shook his head and lied through his teeth. "It doesn't seem to effect me." He didn't want anyone...and he meant anyone...figuring out that he could operate the Heartless virus. He, himself, wanted to forget it ever happened.
Nevaeh cast an aggravated glance at Tony. She didn't press the subject. "Shall I dispose of him, Mr. Riku?"
"No."
"No?"
"No. The good guys don't...dispose...of the bad guys."
Nevaeh looked pathetically put out. She leaned forward, her bright eyes pleading with him. "Are you sure?"
Riku backpedaled away. "Yes."
"Very well," was her wistful sigh. "Being on the side of virtue and light has its price, I suppose."
ooo
A/N: I know I promised fluff 'n all, but this chapter went by a lot slower than I first thought. You see, I was expecting to be a chapter past this. XD I guess I added more action that I thought...anyway, your fluff is going to come! I PROMISE! A huge, fluffy ordeal is about to pop up in the next chapter or the chapter after next (depending). You'll stagger:D Or something. I couldn't say squeal because guys are reading this, too. They don't squeal. Maybe gasp...anyway, I'm rambling.
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Riku wanted to laugh. But that would only make Nevaeh angry. Or encourage her. At any rate, either result wasn't a good thing. So he grunted. That always seemed to work. "No. First, that's stealing. Second, there's no way I'm letting you drive. And third-"
Nevaeh smiled coyly at him from her seat. "I didn't steal it. I borrowed it...without permission." She hastily added, "I'll bring it right back."
"Heaven-"
"Besides," she continued. "This is the perfect opportunity to do the things I missed out on as a child. That or can't remember." Nevaeh patted the buggy cushion sweetly. "Now teach me to drive or I'll box your ears."
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God bless!