Hey, guys. Sorry it took me a long time to update. First, there were my finals and my term paper. Second, my computer reformatted itself without telling me because it just wanted to. And I had been hoping to update somewhere since last week but couldn't due to a lot of schoolwork. So, I know the last chapter was kind of crappy and all but I hope that this chapter would be different and make up for that cheesy output from last time. Hehe. Are you ready for this? Okay then. Have a happy reading as always.
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Narration: Sora's counter has been reduced to a one and any hit from any of his opponents will certainly finish him off. He struggles to keep up with his fatigue but to no avail as their relentless barrage of attacks prove too much for him. As he takes a deep breath and finally comes to terms on how the battle will end, the door to the room opens revealing a hooded figure. Who could this be? Was Axel really eliminated? Or is it now time that Riku and Sora finally meet face to face? And if so, can Sora stop Riku from believing the lies that the Nobodies have been feeding him or will they both be doomed to stay in the Realm of Dreams forever?
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Sora gapes in awe as the hooded figure enters the room. The four Nobodies disperse their weapons and turn to face him.
"Didn't I tell you guys that Sora is mine alone to kill?" The figure puts his hood down, revealing locks of silver hair and an angry expression on his face. Marluxia responds by dispelling the "doom counter" above Sora's head with a simple wave of his hand and slightly bows to Riku although he does it hesitantly.
"Oh, we're sorry, Riku. But look at the bright side, we already wore him out for you," Larxene says halfheartedly as she points at the exhausted Sora. "Now, you can just slash his throat with that sword-like thingy of yours."
Riku glowers at Larxene who halfheartedly replies with a "Sorry" after Zexion nudges her. The silver-haired boy passes by the Nobodies and goes over in front of Sora who is still on his knees because of exhaustion. He touches the brunette's face and brushes off some blood off Sora's cheek.
"You never change, do you Sora?" He looks at the brown-haired boy with a cold unflinching stare. "You always wanted to be the hero when you're actually nowhere near to being one."
"What are you talking about, Riku?" Sora is confused by his friend's statement. "How can you say such a thing? We're friends, right?"
Riku just looks at Sora with the same icy glare. "Remember when I said 'Because I wasn't a total sap like you'? I guess I meant it… after all this time, you would just let those moments be something of no importance to you? Am I just a practice dummy? Do I look like a practice dummy for dating to you?"
"What are you talking about, Riku? I never…" Sora is cut off from his sentence as a Cure card is thrown at him by Larxene. Doubtful at first if this is a trick, he gives Larxene a questioning look. The Nobody simply ignores this and continues to stand beside Marluxia to watch both keyblade-wielders.
Along with Marluxia and Larxene, Demyx and Zexion also observe the brewing argument between Riku and Sora, occasionally smirking at how perfectly their plans are proceeding.
"Listen to me, Riku! I got here as fast as I can to save you."
"Save me? Don't you mean save yourself? Besides, the only possible reason why you want to get out of here so quickly is to leave me here so you can go and see Kairi in the real world. You never loved me and it was only her who really mattered in your life."
"That's not true, Riku," Sora protests.
Riku takes out a locket and shows it to Sora. "How does this show that you don't care about me? If you really did love me, you wouldn't leave such a thing behind even if you were fighting for your life… you wouldn't let go of this." He drops the locket on to the floor, causing it to open upon hitting the ground. "Am I just a toy for you, Sora? All those words… were they just words? Nothing more?"
"Riku… listen to me. It's not what you think. Let me explain."
"Why should I, Sora? Why should I listen to you ever again?" He looks down to see the picture in the locket. "Am I not enough?"
Tears start to gather in Sora's eyes. "Riku… please. Please listen to me."
"Pull it together, Sora. You know he's not coming back to your side. I mean, puh-leez… after all you've done to him, you're even more heartless than before." Larxene grins ominously at Sora. "And you didn't even care to look for him in the castle. If you did, you would have found him like an eternity ago."
"And to think that it is us who don't have hearts," Demyx says, adding along to Larxene's insults. "You're pretty cruel too… maybe even more cruel than us."
"Stop it!" Sora screams defensively.
"Aww… does it hurt because it's true?" Larxene says teasingly. She then turns to Riku and says, "See? If he isn't guilty of abandoning you for Kairi, he wouldn't be reacting like this."
Marluxia seconds Larxene's statement. "It's true, Riku. All those words he told you before were meaningless; the gifts, insignificant… they were no more than garbage for you to keep as he didn't want to store them in his place. And in due time, you became one of those garbage as well."
"Riku, the time has come to pass the judgment. Whether you are with us and against Sora or you side with a two-timing treacherous traitor is up to you," Zexion tells Riku. "However… I assume that there's only one answer to this simple question, am I right?"
All four Nobodies grin as Riku nods and his Soul Eater appears on his right hand.
"Sora! Are you up for another challenge?" the silver-haired lad asks the brunette as the former steps into his battle stance.
"Another challenge?" Sora repeats, puzzled.
"Yes… however, this time the loser stays here and never comes back to the real world. So are you up for it?"
"But Riku…" Sora hesitates to fight his friend.
"You have no choice, Sora. Either you fight with me or you die without a struggle."
Sora reluctantly holds his keyblade up and prepares for a fight with Riku. However, the fight does not proceed as Riku puts down Soul Eater, apparently angered.
"Cure yourself, Sora!" Riku demands as Sora is still in his weakened state.
Sora does not respond.
"I said cure yourself! Otherwise, there is no honor in beating you. And I'm not that kind of person who likes to fight with someone who's already down… because I'm not heartless like you."
The brunette continues to gawk at Riku.
"Allow me… lightning!" Larxene interrupts them, firing a lightning bolt at Sora. Like everyone else except Larxene, Riku momentarily taken aback by the blonde woman's sudden attack on Sora. And for a split second, as if acting on instinct alone, he turns around and attempts to hit Larxene with his weapon.
Fortunately for Larxene, she sees it coming and easily avoids all of Riku's swings. "What do you think you're doing? You're siding with him now?" she asks him, quite surprised at his sudden change of actions.
"Sorry… I was a little bit out of my mind for that moment," Riku quickly apologizes and focuses his attention back on Sora who has evaded the lightning as well as used up the Cure card judging by the looks on his face.
"Hmm… it seems that you still retain that little concern for your dear enemy over there," Zexion tells Riku in a warning tone. "I hope you know what you're doing Riku… or else we'll also be forced to eliminate you along with him." The Nobody points at Sora.
"I know what I'm doing," Riku replies in a conceited manner, apparently disregarding what Zexion was trying to convey as his hatred and anger for Sora begins to brew and consume his heart. He then faces Sora with a smug smile on his face. "Are you ready, Sora?"
"But…I don't want to fight you, Riku…" Sora hesitates.
"Fight him, Riku. And if you win, you'll finally feel how it is like not to be bounded by any false commitments or chains of lies by someone as deceitful and fallacious as Sora," Marluxia further provokes Riku into attacking the other keyblade master.
"Hope you put on a great show for us," Demyx adds. "Oh, and don't forget that we're going to be rooting for you!" He chuckles.
"Let the games begin! What are you two waiting for?" Larxene says as she eager to see some melee action. "Oh, and this time, try to hurt each other as much as possible. May the more unfeeling and brutal one win. Oh, wait. Correct that. May the more unfeeling and brutal one stay alive."
"Now, Sora, come at me!" Riku challenges the other boy. "There is no backing down from this fight."
Sora reluctantly faces Riku but then soon agrees to go engage him in combat. "I don't want to hurt you, Riku. But it seems I have no choice."
At once, Larxene reacts by saying, "See, Riku? If Sora really loved you and cared for you, he wouldn't attack you even if it meant his life."
"It's not true!" Sora cries out in defense. He then turns to Riku and says, "Riku, can't you see they're just using you?"
"The truth of the matter, Sora, is that it is you who is trying to take advantage over me," Riku answers angrily. "I have had enough of your empty promises. Nothing you can say to me now will make a difference! You are another one of those selfish, conceited, high-and-mighty and shallow liars."
"Riku, don't!" Sora blocks Riku's attack with his keyblade.
And from a safe distance, all the four remaining Nobodies watch the fight.
"How amusing… now we are only one small step away from the completion of both our revenge on Sora and our comeback to the real world." Marluxia grins evilly.
"But, Marluxia, there's still a lingering scent in the air. And what's very peculiar is that I cannot detect who it is," Zexion informs the pink-haired Nobody. "What's even more puzzling is that it's not Riku's scent."
"Hmm… he cannot win even if he fights against us with Sora and Riku, Zexion. You need not worry. We are much more powerful now as Sora's grip on his memory weakens while our control over them is further amplified to an even greater degree than that of Sora's. Now, all we need to do now is watch and then eliminate the victor."
The Nobodies then smirk as the clash between Sora and Riku rages on.
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So… is this much better? I hope so. Hehe… well, anyways, I finally posted this up so don't strangle me with a jump rope or whatever. Oh and by the way, since 358/2 Days has been released, I now have three characters acting OOC. Please forgive me. I didn't know. Demyx, Axel and Saix are all… OOC'd. So just pardon me. ? I can't tell you because Square Enix might sue me. Hehehe… but I hope you're enjoying every bit of my story. Please review and thanks. Hopefully, the next update will be somewhere next week.