Minor POV change this time. You'll figure it out. I have faith in you.

I've got a feeling this one will be pretty long. Well, at least, long as far as my chapters go.

Once again, I own EXACTLY ONE character in this fanfic, which is Bruixe. Only Lauren has permission to use her. Everything else belongs to Square Enix. Dangit. I want Riku…

Oh, and when Bruixe goes into the realm of nothingness, I meant it to be like the place where the final boss of KH2 is. You know, where it's all white and grey and nothing-y.

Anyway, enjoy.

For the third time in his life, he was floating.

The first time had been in darkness, the comforting sleep of the dark. A voice had called to him, waking him from slumber, and he had gained a great power.

The second time was in the light, a radiance so great he'ds thought he would die. But Namine had come to him, as Kairi…

Kairi… Sora…

Bruixe…

The names echoed dimly through his memory, like a far-off voice.

This time – floating – was different. Time seemed to slow… he couldn't move, not even to open his eyes. He didn't even want to. He just wanted to rest… to float here, in the nothingness, where it was peaceful.

Was this what it was like to fade?

The nothingness dragged at his body… he was so tired…

"Riku!" Bruixe yelled desperately.

Her exhaustion from the battle was gone, replace by pure panic. "Riku!" she cried again.

Ansem the Wise's words echoed through her mind: Any heart captured by the Chasers would dwell in the realm of nothingness for eternity.

"No," she whispered. Nothing could release hearts from the realm of nothingness, because Xehanort was dead, and only he had known how.

Thinking about her father jarred her memory.

"I couldn't let those Council fools disrupt my work," answered Xehanort. "Hmph. Executing me isn't enough. Even in death, my legacy must continue. And who better to carry it on than my darling daughter?"

"Shut up," Bruixe growled. "I'll never do anything for you."

Xehanort laughed again. "You won't be able to resist," he told her softly. You crave power. The power to conquer your demons… the power to repair your shattered past… the power to undo your dark deeds…" His yellow eyes gleamed with anticipation. "You can have all this, and more. Take up my blade, Bruixe."

He held out a hand, and his Keyblade formed in his grip. He stabbed it into the sand; its black-and-silver hilt sparkled in the starlight.

"Take it," he said. "And with it, take your destiny into your own hands. Are you strong enough? I give you my strength, daughter."

Then he was gone. Bruixe looked around wildly, but suddenly iron aroms froxe her in place. One white-gloved hand held her jaw clamped shut; the other pinned her arms to her sides.

"So that you will continue my legacy," Xehanort's voice whispered in her ear. Tendrils of ice seemed to flow through his fingers into Bruixe's body. She struggled to escape, but her strength failed her, and she knew no more.

"Xehanort!" Bruixe screamed.

And then her father was there, as she knew he would be, the same smirk etched upon his features, the same demonic glint in his yellow eyes. She leveled Fallen Angel at his throat.

"You called, dear one?" Xehanort said.

"How do I get into the realm of nothingness?" Bruixe demanded.

Xehanort's smile widened. "I thought you'd never ask."

He was at her side without appearing to have moved; siezing her sword arm, he forced Fallen Angel through the air. A portal appeared, nothing more than a gash in reality, the very edges of the worlds rent asunder.

"Welcome to your empire, daughter," Xehanort whispered, and then Bruixe was falling through the portal.

Inside the realm of of nothingness, the endless expanses of chaos seemed to flow around her, disturbed by her presence. Light seemed to emanate from apparently nowhere, bathing everything in a too-harsh, eerie glow.

It was creepy, but Bruixe didn't think being here was torture like Ansem had written – just unsettling. Maybe it doesn't affect me because I don't have a heart, she thought grimly.

"Riku?" she called, and her voice fell surprisingly flat, dead in the non-air. How did my father find anyone in here? she wondered, then held up Fallen Angel again, an idea forming.

The tip of the blade glowed, and a beam of light shot through the nothingness, illuminating a patch of whitish-grey floor. In the light sprawled a familiar-looking figure clad in silver armor.

"Riku!" Bruixe's face was flooded with relief as she rushed to his side, dropping to her knees, turning him face-up with some difficulty.

His eyes were closed as if sleeping, his face unearthly pale; his skin was cool to the touch. "Riku, wake up," she whispered. He was not dead, could not be, she would not believe it – and then she saw his chest rise and fall, minutely, but at least he was breathing. "Please wake up," she repeated, but nothing happened.

Cursing, she ripped Fallen Angel through the air to open another protal, hauling Riku's limp form through. She blinked in the fading sunset of the Eternal Kingdom, relieved to be once more in a place that made sense.

No sooner had the portal closed behind them than Riku's eyes flickered. Bruixe was at his side in an instant, cradling his head in her lap.

Riku opened his eyes fully, and Bruixe took comfort in their piercing blue-green. "Hey there," she said softly.

He blinked, smiling to himself as if having a good dream. "Hey," he said hoarsely. His brow furrowed in pain. "What's wrong?" Bruixe asked uncertainly.

He shook his head minutely and croaked, "Shoulder."

"I'll go get help," Bruixe offered, but Riku shook his head again.

"'S not that bad," he said. "Stay."

"Masochist," Bruixe muttered, but he was already out again, breathing evened in sleep. She unbuckled his shoulder plates, pushing the sleeve of his vest off his arm; a nasty gash spread across his shoulder and arm. He'd been right – it wasn't deep, only long, but Bruixe dressed it with Kairi's spare bandages anyway, thankful that the healer had thought to send them off with medical supplies.

She unbuckled the rest of his armor as well as her own, letting the metal plates fall to the ground. She realized her leg was still bleeding, and dressed that too.

When Riku opened his eyes again, he looked fully awake. He tried to sit up, but fell back against her legs. "Easy," she told him.

"What happened?" Riku asked.

Bruixe shook her head, not trusting herself to answer fully without her voice cracking. "Chaser," she replied. "I was worried about you."

"Sorry," he said automatically.

"Don't be," she told him. "You saved me."

"I did?"

Bruixe smiled. "Some savior," she joked feebly. "Can't even remember what he did."

He closed his eyes. "My body feels heavy."

"You were in the realm of nothingness," she said. "That's probably why.

"You found me?" Riku asked.

She nodded silently.

"But the nothingness didn't affect you."

"Because I'm a Nobody," Bruixe said softly. "I belong there."

Riku sat up suddenly, all traces of weariness apparently gone, and gripped her roughly by the shoulders. "I don't believe that," he told her fiercely. "You don't belong there. You have a place somewhere, even if you don't know it. You can be somebody. You can be you. Nobody or not."

His face softened, and Bruixe saw the sincerity in his eyes. "I want to be somebody," she whispered. "But I don't know how."

"Bruixe," he sighed, shaking his head. "You just don't get it, do you."

Then his lips were on hers, moving with a gentleness she wouldn't have expected. Caught by surprise, she gradually relaxed, winding her arms around him, pulling him closer, burying herself in his warmth. Riku cradled her face in his hands, drawing back to look into her silver eyes before kissing her again.

"I've been thinking," Riku said.

"Mm. Dangerous," Bruixe murmured.

The stars were beginning to appear in the sky over the mountains, bathing the Eternal Kingdom in soft light. Bruixe lay with her head on Riku's chest, wrapped in his good arm, gazing up at the evening sky.

Riku laughed. "About what you said before – not knowing where you belong."

She didn't reply, only tilted her head to look at him. He wore a peaceful expression, his face taking on a childlike, innocent appearance as he looked at the stars.

"I mean, I didn't know…" he went on. "Well, if you wanted…" It was the first time Bruixe had ever heard him lost for words, and she stifled a grin. "I was thinking… you could always come back with me – with us, to the island. After we find your heart, I mean."

Bruixe laced her fingers through his, then whispered, "I'd like that."

"Really?" he said excitedly before he could stop himself, and Bruixe laughed.

"It's not as if I have anywhere else to go, kid," she told him.

"Kid?" Riku repeated. "I'm older than you."

"Doubtful," she disagreed. "How old are you? Twelve?"

"Oh, funny," he said, feigning hurt. "Sixteen."

"Nope, I win. Seventeen."

"Dang," he sighed. "Thought I had you there.

"Go for the older women, why don't you," Bruixe teased.

He laughed again, grinning Bruixe's favorite boyish smile.

"I'm confused," Bruixe admitted when his laughter had subsided.

"About what?" Riku wanted to know.

"Well…" She wasn't really sure how to say this. "When I'm with you… I laugh – a lot – and I feel happy. But sometimes sad, too, even angry… feelings I shouldn't have without a heart. Feelings that came back when I met you. If I'm a Nobody – I know, I know, it doesn't matter," she added hastily – "If I'm a Nobody, how can I feel those things? Maybe my heart's closer than I thought."

"Maybe," he murmured, bringing her hand to his lips. "Who knows? When we find your heart, we'll figure it out."

"I guess so," she sighed.

Riku sat up and leaned over her, his face barely an inch from her own. "A little impatient?" he asked, voice seductively low.

"Is that bad?" Bruixe replied breathlessly.

"Maybe not," he amended, and bent down to kiss her again.

Bruixe woke in the morning to find Sora gazing accusingly down at her and Riku. She elbowed Riku in the side, and he blinked groggily. "Oh, shit," he cursed.

"Having fun?" Sora mocked.

"Yes," Riku answered, rolling over and curling both arms around Bruixe, sending shivers down her spine. "Go away."

Kairi giggled. Sora crossed his arms. "Well, I guess that's good, because we were going to leave without you. But I guess you have better things to do than come home. Well, you just enjoy yourself. Kairi and I are leaving." He grabbed Kairi's hand and the two of them started back for the city.

"Later," Riku muttered. Bruixe laughed and shoved him off her playfully. "C'mon," she said. "Your island, remember? Aqua's key, finding hearts, any of this ring a bell?"

"Vaguely," he replied. "Hey! Kairi had that key…"

Then he seemed to think better of it. "Let's wait till we get home," he decided. "Rest up a bit. After all, we just fought a freaking war."

"Home," Bruixe repeated softly, letting the word roll off her tongue. "Yeah. Home…"

Riku pulled her to her feet. "Home for all of us," he told her.