Reverse Side of Darkness
By: Koorino Megumi
Chapter 36: The Truth Revealed
"Still nothing?" Mickey asked.
Ansem sighed, shaking his head and opening his eyes. "I can't reach her. She's still awake, and she's been up since early this morning."
"The battle must be intense then."
Ansem grimaced, his eyes full of worry. He fixed his gaze on the doorway, looking as if he wanted to remove the barrier they had worked so hard to create. "I don't think I'll try to contact her again. She wouldn't be able to wake up while I was contacting her, even if she were attacked. I think that could be too much of a risk to take, just as it is for the other Keyblade Masters."
Mickey nodded. "That's a good idea." Ansem nodded slightly as well, still staring worriedly at the door, and Mickey added, "She knows how important she is, Ansem. She'll take care of herself."
Ansem finally turned to Mickey then, his face hopeful. "You really think so? That she'd know enough not to do anything too reckless?"
Mickey almost grimaced himself. He'd met her before, and even from just his brief experiences he knew enough about her personality to know reckless was practically her middle name. "You're just going to have to have faith in her."
Ansem sighed again, apparently noticing that Mickey was avoiding giving a real answer to his question. Then his eyes suddenly grew wide, and he stiffened. He closed his eyes and simply stood there, not moving.
"Ansem?" Mickey ventured nervously.
Ansem shook his head slightly, and Mickey snapped his mouth shut, watching as Ansem continued to stand silently, his eyes closed.
They stayed like that for a while, Ansem seemingly frozen in place and Mickey standing still himself, his gaze riveted on the scientist. He had a guess as to what might be happening, and if he were right, then he could understand why Ansem was doing this. It was a good idea, really. Although it did mean revealing that Ansem had noticed what was going on.
Finally Ansem let out a sigh and opened his eyes. "Sorry, Mickey. I didn't want him to see that we've shut ourselves up in here."
Mickey nodded. "I suspected as much. But now he knows that you can tell when he's there."
Ansem frowned, looking down worriedly. "I realize that, but I think it was important this time. If he had seen that we were shut up in the lab, he would have sent the Heartless here specifically."
"That's true."
The two were silent for a moment, both lost in thought. "Ansem?" Mickey finally asked.
"Yes?"
"Did you get any more information from him?"
"He was mostly just angry," Ansem replied thoughtfully, "After all, he couldn't help but realize that I knew he was there and that I was trying to block him."
"So no clues as to how he's controlling the Heartless or if he's somehow connected to Aros?"
Ansem shook his head. "He's been very careful about his own thoughts. I picked up on his plans for the Heartless attack against the King's Castle, but that's the only real information I've managed to get from him. He was probably aware from the beginning that there was a possibility that I would be able to see his thoughts when he looks into mine."
"And you still have no idea what you can do about him?"
Ansem sighed. "If I understood how he was doing this in the first place, how this connection has been forged between us, I might be able to do something about it. But as it is I still can't see how this has happened. I don't understand it at all."
"And I'm guessing you still don't want the Keyblade Masters to know?"
Ansem looked up at Mickey then, shaking his head vigorously. He frowned, biting his lip. "I don't want to hide things from them, but what good could come out of telling them about this? If they knew that he was a part of this, and even worse, that he's trying to use me to spy on them..." He shook his head. "I can't let them find out about this, Mickey. It's the same as it was when I decided not to tell them before. I need the Keyblade Masters to trust me. This isn't my fault, but it would make them not trust me. That's why I can't tell them. I'm not...I'm not trying to deceive them."
Mickey frowned slightly, not saying anything. He and Ansem had had this conversation once before, right before going to the King's Castle. He had thought that Ansem had managed to put this particular worry out of his mind since then, but, considering Ansem's personality, Mickey realized that he shouldn't be surprised that "hiding something" in this manner would be eating at Ansem inside. Not to mention the worries that arose out of the situation itself...
"You don't think I'm...deceiving them, do you?" Ansem asked earnestly.
Mickey shook his head quickly. "You're being prudent. Neither Kairi nor Riku was particularly inclined to trust you, after all. This is for the best."
"For the best..." Ansem nodded slowly, as if trying to affirm it to himself. The worry in his face didn't seem to decrease in the least bit.
"So back to waiting then?" Mickey asked, trying to pull Ansem from his thoughts.
"Hm? Oh yes, I suppose so."
Mickey sighed slightly at Ansem's distracted tone. This new development had given him something to ponder over and worry about. It looked like there wouldn't be much more conversation between the two of them for a while.
Mickey turned a nervous gaze to the door now. Actually, he realized, he should be hoping it stayed quiet for a while. Due to the extensive amount of time Ansem tended to spend in his lab, it was equipped with everything necessary for them to stay there even for a number of days. And if the Heartless got in... Well, they just weren't going to let that happen. They couldn't give the enemy access to all of Ansem's work. They couldn't.
Although, considering the enemy's access to Ansem's mind, Mickey couldn't help but fear that all their precautions would be worthless in the end anyway.
I trust you, Ansem. But what if the enemy does get stronger? What if he discovers how to do something beyond just seeing through your eyes and listening to your thoughts? What would happen then?
Aros stopped short. He had just been hit by a wave of irritation, and, considering that he had been doing nothing but walking down the unchanging golden road for the past couple hours, he doubted it was really his own emotion. What's wrong?
He knew I was there. He tried to block me!
Aros raised an eyebrow at the indignant thoughts. He had suspected that the irritation had to do with the other watching through Ansem's eyes. So, the other did get caught off guard now and again. This was the perfect opportunity for Aros to wave that in his face. I have the darkness now. I thought that was supposed to solve all my problems?
He could almost hear the other sputtering at that remark. It is still advantageous to have a spy on their end.
Aros shrugged, knowing the other would be able to feel the gesture even though he couldn't see it. Now that the wave of irritation was more confined to the feelings of the other, Aros was feeling rather apathetic, and he didn't bother to lash out with his usual anger.
I did find out where Ansem is.
Aros perked up slightly at that, although his response was still strangely emotionless. And?
There was amusement in the voice of the other, although irritation still underlay it. See the advantages of a spy? Ansem has blockaded himself into his laboratory. The mouse king is with him.
Aros didn't bother responding, simply reached out to the Heartless and sent a large group specifically to Ansem's laboratory. Thinks he can hide from me, does he? Well, that'll take care of him.
He could feel the satisfaction of the other, but then he felt it turn to pensiveness. I need to rest.
What!? Aros scowled, but he could feel his fatigue just as plainly as the other could. It was the reason for his strange apathy, for being much less emotional than usual. "But I can't risk someone else getting Sora!" he cried, not realizing that he was doing it out loud until he heard his voice echo strangely around him. He looked up at the swirls of color, wondering exactly what sort of material this area was made up of that it threw sound around like that. Then he realized that the thought had to have come from the other and promptly tried to push it out of his mind.
The other apparently managed to pull his mind from that subject as well, as he immediately went back to trying to persuade Aros to sleep. I can't risk passing out from exhaustion. I'm not as careless as Iraki is.
Aros's eyes flashed. The other had touched a nerve on purpose, but Aros didn't pick up on the manipulation. Fine. I guess I do feel like getting a little sleep.
He could feel the other's grin, but he ignored it and simply sat down in the middle of the road. He took off his jacket and balled it up, trying to make sure no zippers were sticking out on top. Putting it on the ground behind him, he laid his head on his jacket and stared up at the swirls of color. In his mind he ran over plans of how to punish Sora, what to do when he finally could show off Sora's state to the other Keyblade Masters, and exactly what it would feel like to send those four from Crossroads City and each of the other Keyblade Masters into darkness individually.
Except Iraki. He couldn't picture plunging her into darkness.
I'm just too tired to think about it. She's no different from any of the others. I'll force her into the darkness just like the rest of them. And enjoy it, too!
Aros let his mind wander over pleasant thoughts of worlds being plunged into darkness. Of setting billions of people free from the horrors of their lives. Of making everything perfect.
And, finally, after a long and eventful day indeed, Aros fell asleep right in the middle of the path between worlds.
"Riku!" Ronald called, rushing up the hall with Draggy and a group of various other humanoid animals and humans in tow. The robes worn by the group betrayed their occupation as magicians. "Riku, we may have figured out a way to..." Ronald trailed off, stopping short before Iraki and Riku, who was just shutting the door to the room. He was squinting slightly in the light of the hall, but he was sure his eyes would adjust soon. And there was someone else right now who needed his blindfold much more than he did.
Riku couldn't help grinning slightly at the oncoming entourage. "Sorry, Ronald, but there's no need anymore. Kairi brought him back."
The eyes of everyone in the group, including Draggy, suddenly grew very wide, and then excited grins broke out on all the faces.
"So Sora's okay now?" Ronald burst out.
Riku frowned, not sure how much to relay. "He's still in pretty bad shape, but he's back. He and Kairi are resting right now." Riku decided that was saying enough. There was no need for him to explain to Ronald about how weak Sora's heart was right now. And hopefully that weakness wouldn't last for long anyway, although that completely depended on Kairi. But, of course, Riku had great faith in her. Just as long as she doesn't hurt herself. But neither Sora or I would let her do that.
"Great!" Ronald exclaimed.
They stood for a moment looking at each other before Draggy finally spoke up. "Ronald, you should dismiss the magicians and report this to the queen."
"Oh yeah! I was just about to do that." Ronald looked a little sheepish. "Thanks, Riku. If you'll keep an eye on them, someone will check in with you periodically. And wait...you said Kairi's resting?" He frowned at Iraki.
"This is Iraki, another Keyblade Master," Riku stated simply, "She just recently arrived on this world, too. A servant led her to us. It was because of her that Kairi brought Sora back. She found Sora's missing heart." Riku turned to Iraki as he said this and was glad to see a slight smile touch her lips. She seemed so sad and nervous, and Riku couldn't possibly forget that he had a promise to keep.
"Oh. That's great!" Ronald exclaimed, "All right then. Someone will come to check in soon." He frowned slightly, looking a little confused and as if he wanted a better explanation than what Riku had given him, but he seemed to brush off his questions for the moment, turning to the magicians instead. "Dismissed!"
The group immediately dispersed, and then Ronald and Draggy headed off together, presumably going to the Meeting Room to report to the queen.
Riku and Iraki stood in silence for a few moments. Riku looked over at her again, but her head was down now, her eyes locked on the ground. She really did seem very sad.
So she's already depressed about something. I wonder what happened? And...and no one's even told her about Kiru yet. She's probably wondering about him. She needs to know. I should...
Riku opened his mouth to speak but found that the words wouldn't come. Finally it was Iraki who broke the oppressive silence. "Riku?" Her voice was small and nervous, and she kept her gaze riveted on the ground.
Riku tried to swallow the lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat. "Yes?"
"I...well, I see that Kiru gave the White Keyblade to Kairi. And I...I was wondering if you could tell me where he is now. Why...why isn't he with you?" Iraki brought her gaze up then, and at the look in her eyes--desperate hope intermingled with desperate fear--Riku found that it was suddenly hard for him to breathe.
"Iraki...Kiru...he..." Riku couldn't remember ever feeling this tongue-tied in his life. He wanted desperately to look away from Iraki's eyes, but he forced himself not to. He took a deep breath and stated in as level a voice as he could, "Kiru saved Kairi and I both from an army of Heartless. What he did was one of the bravest things I have ever seen in my life. But he was injured badly. Badly enough that his heart stopped and he passed through the mirror with the Heartless. We...don't know what happened to him after that."
Iraki's eyes grew wide. It tore at Riku's heart to watch the multitude of emotions that passed over her face. Shock...disbelief...horror...grief... "No..." Suddenly a flood of tears was pouring down her cheeks. "Are you trying to tell me...are you trying to tell me that Kiru's dead!?" She shook her head violently, crystal tears flying through the air from the movement. "No...no...no! Kiru's not dead!"
"Iraki..."
Iraki looked at Riku, her eyes pleading with him to say something, to tell her it wasn't true, to give her some sort of hope. And then she blinked, staring at him strangely, her eyes filling with desperation. "He can't be dead. You're Kiru. Riku lost his heart, and you look just like Kiru. This is all just a sick joke, right? A new sense of humor? You're...just trying to surprise me, right?"
And Iraki suddenly lunged forward, throwing herself against Riku. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her head against his shirt. "Kiru..."
Riku's eyes widened. He grew rigid, unable to react, and for a terrible moment he wondered if Iraki's mind had snapped at the news.
But then just as abruptly she seemed to come to her senses and recoiled, backing up against the opposite wall, burying her face in her hands. She shook her head violently again. "Riku...sorry...I...I just..." She sunk to her knees, racked by sobs. Her voice came out shrilly now, choked by tears. "He just can't be dead! He can't be! If he's dead, then I..." Her voice grew quiet then, coming out in a frightened puff of breath. "Then I'm nothing..."
Riku's eyes widened as Iraki lowered her hands from her face and brought them down to clutch her chest. Her face contorted as if in physical pain, and her hands tore at her shirt over her heart. Is she...? She can't be... Riku ran over to her, dropping to the ground beside her and reaching out an arm to put around her shoulders. Iraki recoiled violently from it, sliding along the wall away from him. She continued clutching at her chest and bowed her head, her hair now shielding her face from view. Sobs racked her body.
"Iraki..." Riku started nervously. What could he possibly say to her? He didn't even know her, and if she were really...if something were really happening to her heart, if her heart were really hurt somehow, or if...or if she herself were trying to destroy it in her grief... what could he possibly say to her? "Iraki, I promised Kiru that if anything happened to him, I would take care of you. He saved me, first bringing me back from the darkness, then keeping me from losing my heart again in that Heartless attack, and all he wanted in return was for me to take care of you. He just wanted to make sure that you were safe. So...I'll do anything I possibly can for you. Kiru wanted you to be happy and safe. I thought you should know that."
Iraki continued sobbing for a moment, but then she finally turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were already red from her continuous flow of tears, and pain was still visible in her features. "I don't...deserve anything from anyone. Thank you, Riku. But you should just leave me."
"Just leave you!?" Riku cried. He realized that he was no longer thinking about what he was saying, but he couldn't believe that she would say a thing like that, and he couldn't stop himself from reacting. "Just leave you to do what? Fall to the darkness? I've been there, Iraki, and trust me, it's not an experience you want to have! You think you hate yourself now, just wait until you come back after that. And yes, you just might wind up coming back, even if you try to use it as an escape. You're a White Keyblade Master, aren't you? If Kairi's one, then you must be one, too. And even if not, we need your help! You just saved Sora. You saved him! How can you expect me to just leave the person who did that to selfishly throw herself to the darkness!?"
There was silence then aside from Iraki's slight sniffling. Riku hardly even realized that her tears had suddenly stopped. She seemed almost to be frozen in place, staring at him in shock. Her hands were still against her chest, but she was no longer clutching. "Riku..." she breathed. Then her tears came pouring down again, and she threw her arms out, lunging forward and falling against Riku again. She sobbed into his shirt. For an instant he began to stiffen at the contact, but then he wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you, Riku. Thank you..."
"It's okay, Iraki. I'm gonna be here for you. I'll do everything I can. I promise." And Riku held her then like he had held Kairi before. He felt strange doing this; his mind kept wanting to tell him that this was Kairi. No. She might look like her, but she isn't. I'm not doing this because of that. I'm doing this because she's Iraki. I told Kiru that I would take care of her. And I will. I will. I'm not doing this because she looks like Kairi...
"Thank you..." Iraki murmured again, "Thank you..." She let out another sob, and Riku continued to hold her. For a long time, the two stayed that way, leaning against the wall in the deserted hallway, Iraki in Riku's arms, her face buried in his shirt, as her tears continued to fall. But as her sadness poured from her body in waves, the cold feeling in her heart was slowly receding, being replaced by the warmth that Riku was freely giving her.