His face inches closer to mine, his breath in my face, his hand sliding across my shoulder to my neck. I can't move. I can't speak. I can't take my eyes from the yellow ones burning into mine – not that there was anything else to look at in the darkness. His thumb presses against the base of my neck, his fingers gripping the back of it. His hands are cold and clammy, raising goose bumps on my sweaty skin. "Don't leave me alone."

A ghostly white hand grips Xehanort's neck from behind – a second one grips his upper arm, just below his shoulder.

"I told you," Riku says, teal eyes glistening at me from behind Xehanort. He tears the heartless' arm from his shoulder, dark purple liquid gushing from it, vines recoiling themselves back beneath his tan skin. "If he touches you, I'm ripping his arms out of his sockets. I told you." He starts to toss the arm aside, but as he lets go mid-air, the vines extend and latch onto his wrist. They crawl up his arm so quickly it's only a moment before it's completely covered. His expression is cynical, unsurprised – and now we stand on the shores of Destiny Islands.

"I have accepted it," Riku mutters. The black vines begin wrapping over his torso, legs and other arm. All I can do is stand still and stare at his aquamarine eyes, praying they don't change their color. Finally, the vines crawl up his neck, sliding up towards his eye.

I finally step forward, my hand lifting to his cheek. "Don't leave me alone."

I sat up in bed and gripped the sheets, sweaty and scared. I scanned my black room for eyes – any eyes – and didn't feel any better when I didn't see them. My chest was heaving with each breath and my head felt light. Maybe I'm just dehydrated.

It was two in the morning at least, the moon shining through the windows of the hall as I wandered down to the kitchen. I felt along the lumps on my face – they were barely there anymore.

"What do you think you're doing?" I scoffed.

"Consuming you."

I ran my hand through my hair as I stepped onto the tile, chills running up my spine as my bare feet hit the cool wood. I held my glass beneath the faucet and turned on the tap, the sudden rush of noise scaring me so badly that the glass fell into the sink and shattered.

"Miyuki… After what happened today… Are you sure you don't want to go—"

I stood up. "Don't make me hit you," I growled.

His expression was collected, steady. "I am just seeing if you haven't been rattled by what's happened."

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and turned away from the sink, sitting down at the table. I rested my elbows on it and laid my face in my hands. I need to get a grip. My heart was pounding in my ears, my latest dream replaying itself in my head over and over.

What's wrong with me? Why am I so freaked out? Orlando's going to be alright, I think. And Naminé is back to doing what she needs to. And Riku and I are doing what we need to. So what am I afraid of?

"And you scold me on the importance of sleeping patterns," scoffed a voice from the doorway.

I looked over and stood up immediately at what I saw – bright gold eyes were staring cooly at me beneath tan eyelids. After a frozen moment of holding my breath and praying I was stronger in the kitchen than in the corridor, I realized that he wasn't moving. His arms were folded behind his back, his expression was placid, factual, and long grey hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, several rebel strands framing his face.

"DiZ? You… You decided to lose the turban-fail?" I stammered.

"Excuse me?"

"Your scarf is gone."

"Yes, it is. I wasn't aware anyone was still up and about. Had I known, I'd have thought twice aout removing it."

I shrugged. "I don't care."

"Obviously." He shot a meaningful look at my chair I'd knocked over while I'd jumped up, and I gave him the once-over. The scarves, the belts, and the cape was gone, leaving nothing but that odd black robe. Adjusting to the fact that he was not the mental rapist, but the moody, obsessive scientist I knew and tolerated, was a little difficult. "I've interrupted. I'll leave you."

"No, it's fine. I just… I thought you'd still be hungover." I turned my chair upright and sat in it as he filled his own glass of water.

"Well, I'm not quite my usual self, but I can function." He sat down across from me and we stared at each other; I was thinking too hard about how to bring up the mysterious Aoki to really notice that being stared at intently might make him feel awkward. "You have something to say?" he asked, his expression still calm.

…May as well dive right in. "Who's Aoki?"

The expression shifted to discomfort. "How do you know that name?"

"You called me Aoki when we fought this evening."

His eyebrows knit. "I recall speaking with you. I apologize for my demeanor. However, I don't recall calling you anything other than—"

"You told me to stop rocking the boat. You said I'd ruin everything, then you called me Aoki."

"Stop saying that."

"What, Aoki?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He shifted uncomfortably, staring at the wall. "I… It's a long story. It would bore you immensely."

"I like long stories. Even if it is boring, I need to sleep, anyway."

He threw me a look that might have been amused, if he hadn't been so ill at ease. He sighed, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms, staring at his lap. "Aoki was… a friend."

"Close friend?"

A smile crept onto his face. "I should hope so," he snorted, "I was going to…" The smile faded. "Yes, we were close."

"What happened with her?" I asked quietly.

"She never liked my studying darkness. She would scold me about it constantly, though I told her time and time again that my discoveries would save us, build up our world…" His voice became low and breathy, his eyes dancing from one spot to the other across his lap. "I didn't have time to tell her that I'd ceased my studies before darkness… overwhelmed us."

I swallowed. "I'm so sorry."

"No, I am sorry." He brought his eyes up to mine – at first glance, he looked calm, but when I really looked, I saw tears collecting in the corner of his eyes. "I have begun something cruel and ugly and merciless. I cannot reverse it."

We stared at each other for a long moment, my mind blank. He took a last sip of water, stood up, and headed for the door.

"D-DiZ?" I stammered, standing up carefully.

He paused, barely looking at me over his shoulder. "Yes?"

"Aoki… She'd forgive you," I said.

Another pause, and he walked out without a word.

I set his glass next to the sink and walked out to the foyer, hearing his door shut as I wandered up the steps and into my room. I laid down and shut my eyes, trying to shut out all the agony that was at the front of my mind.

I stand on the bridge on Destiny Islands, staring at Riku, Sora and Kairi in front of me as they sat on the tree, watching the sunset.

"So nothing's changed, huh?" Sora says cheerily.

"Nope," Kairi says.

"Guess not," Riku says, his tone as happy as Sora's.

A pang of loneliness hit me like a blow to the ribs. "Nothing?" I mutter. I walk down to the shore, rubbing the back of my neck. I intend to go get ice cream on my own. "If nothing's changed, that's fine," I tell myself. The moment I step into the water, my surroundings change. I'm stepping into the ice cream parlor, scanning for my Dad's face. I know he's here. He's always here. He's always in reach when I'm dreaming.

But I can't see him.

"Chocolate cone, right?" a girl from behind the counter smiles at me – I recognize her as Aoki.

"No, we like sea-salt." A warm arm wraps around my shoulders, silver hair brushing against my neck. "And bacon."

My eyes open to the smell and I look over to see Riku sitting on the edge of the bed holding two plates full of food. I sat up and stared at him warily, still half-asleep. "Why are you in my room when it's still dark?"

"It's not like I'm not wearing clothes."

I stared at him a minute. "Why does your mind go there every time we talk?"

"Eat your food. I know you're hungry."

"How?" I asked, sounding thoroughly disgusted.

"I walked in and you were talking about chocolate ice cream."

"Doesn't mean I'm hungry."

"Eat it," he commanded, waving the plate in my face.

"Why did you bring me breakfast?"

"What, does it smell bad?"

"No, it smells fine, I just—"

"Then take the plate."

I took the plate, glaring at him. "What gives, Riku?" I demanded.

"We're taking a day off today."

"What?" My eyes narrowed at him. "We just heard last night that the Organization knows Roxas isn't—"

"I spoke to DiZ this morning. He has an idea of their next step, and he said he wants to handle it. Not that he can if he has to, but that he will because he wants to."

I recalled what he'd said early this morning. "I have started something cruel… I cannot reverse it." No wonder he wants to do something more. "But… 'taking a day off'…"

"You're not getting out of this."

"But are you sure…? It's not like we don't need all hands on deck, you know what I mean? Better safe than—"

"Are you going to make this difficult, or let me make you feel better?"

I stared at him a moment. My tone was sarcastic when I finally spoke. "What makes you think I don't feel—?"

"Shut up and eat your bacon."

After finishing breakfast, I stumbled into the bathroom to change while Riku stood in my bedroom talked to me through the door.

"What time is it, anyway?" I asked, tugging off my shirt.

"Oh, six-thirty or so."

"Six-thirty?" I paused as I pulled on my tank top. "In the morning?"

"No."

"What?"

"Yes, it's six-thirty in the morning! Why would I let you sleep all day?"

"Depends what you had planned for tonight," I remarked.

"Now whose mind is 'going there'?"

"Speaking of plans…" I opened the door and shoved my sleep-clothes into his arms, walking over to the chair where my hoodie laid. "What day-off-activities did you plan that require being awake at six-thirty in the morning?"

"Knocking off a liquor store, pulling a bank job."

"Oh, the usual." I shrugged, nodding.

He smiled and chucked the clothes onto the bed, walking towards me and taking my hand. "Ready to go, then?"

"Just lemme grab my sack with the big dollar sign on it…" I turned as if to look for this sack in my dresser, but he was tugging me out the door and I wasn't that determined to mess with him just yet.

We walked down the steps, warm sunlight just beginning to pour over the horizon and into the foyer. His hand slid from my arm as he held the door open for me, walking a little ways behind me as we exited the courtyard.

"It's turning to autumn," I said, smiling a little and turning to face him, walking backwards.

"Feels good," he said.

I could see goosebumps prickling on his skin. "You cold?"

"Nah." I stared at him incredulously. "Well, I expected it to be warmer out, but when the sun comes up, I'll be fine."

"You sure you don't wanna go grab your jacket?"

"I need to spend some time away from that uniform," he grumbled, his expression going a little dark.

I made a face of mock-sorrow. "It just wants your love, R—" I stumbled backwards and before I could catch myself, my bum collided with a knobby tree root.

"You okay?" Riku snickered, offering a hand to help me up.

"I tripped on a root."

"I noticed."

"Root here meaning antichrist."

"You tripped on an antichrist?"

"In this day and age?" I took his hand, wobbling to my feet and glaring at the demon root. "They're everywhere."

"Well it's a good thing I'm here to protect you," he remarked.

"Oh yes." I gave him a sarcastic smile. "What would I do without you?"

He held my hand up as if it was an example. "You'd still be sitting with the antichrist." He dropped it and walked on through the woods, me following behind and squinting at him.

You guys... with your reviews... AUGH. It makes me so happy. X3 You guys are awesome, thank you so much for reaching this point in the story!