A\N: FAYE BAE I'VE MISSED YOU! I'm happy you could make it! You've always been there to hype me up and support me through my writing, from 10 years ago to now! Just know I appreciate everything about you and our friendship!

For any other writers out there, if you want a proper writing program (not notepad) that's free and you can enjoy pictures or themes in the background as you write, I recommend FocusWriter. It runs off of donations (though it isn't required). I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this story and being able to change my background picture at any moment to help me think of things, or to simply admire it!

Chapter inspired by "Let Me Through" by CG5, Dolvondo

Riku Vailen

Wolf Shifter. Male. Human age of 20.

5 Days ago

"I can't let him run free, Seifer. He's going to kill people. Why don't you people understand that?"

Riku had slammed his hands down on the desk that his Elder sat at, earning an icy look at his actions. It seemed as if they were never going to get it, almost like he was speaking another language altogether. It was the same song and dance, two and a half years after his incident in the woods, and they still believed all he has to do was make some sort of special connection with his wolf. There was, and it was pure rage and alpha emotions. Every time the wolf tried to step up, Riku had to push himself further and go higher. But there were too many limitations and close calls that tested his resolve.

"Keep trying. There's a wall separating you two and you need to figure out what it is, and quickly," replied Seifer, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't think I need to explain what happens if you can't. Your animal is strong, but there's a reason it exists inside of you."

"I am standing here telling you and Xehanort to lock me up, take me out of society, and you still believe this situation can be resolved with some sort of half baked meditation. Why don't you just wait here, let me go grab some fine china and have tea with my wolf. I'll let you know the results, because fuck the safety of everyone else," the shifter snapped.

Riku turned and began walking away from his Elder, but his senses picked up on a movement as soon as he had. The shifter planted his feet firmly as he spun and lifted his arms in the air as he blocked the incoming strike from Seifer. Riku grunted at the strength at he strength it took to hold him back. The older man wasn't as swift, but he had more brute strength due to having a lion counterpart.

"That, right there, is the reason why we refuse to give up. He still lends you his strengths despite your constant feud." Catching the younger man off guard with his comment, he reached around the younger man's defense. Grabbing the front of Riku's shirt, he swung him around and kicked out, landing the attack right into his chest and sending him backward into the wall of the classroom. "You're too focused on saving yourself. Quit being selfish."

Riku pushed himself off of the wall, gritting his teeth as anger rose in him. But it wasn't just his own. He felt the wolf probing his defenses, testing if he could break out and turn the other shifter into a mangled mess. Riku couldn't let that happen. He already felt the white hot pain shooting through his limbs, the itchy feeling spreading across his skin and the cold sweat coating his body as the wolf began fighting the blockade the silverette had put up. Before the wolf had a chance to further push those boundaries, he shot his Elder one last look before he bolted out of the door.

His feet carried him through the empty foyer as he grappled for control with the animal residing inside. Sidetracked by this, Riku wasn't aware of the pair walking through the east wing. The collision rocked his senses as he fell to the ground, the efforts of holding the wolf at bay cracking ever so slightly. He turned his aquamarine eyes to the guy he had ran into, easily jumping to his feet as his anger took another step higher.

"Watch where the hell you're going," he snapped.

"You're the one who ran into me!" The brunette was quick to his feet. Riku could sense the emotions rolling off of him like an open book, but there was something else that commanded his attention as well as the wolf's interest. Something different and malevolent. Riku felt he wolf's interest shift and took the opportunity to help redirect it, stepping closer to the vampire.

"You wanna go, fucking bloodsucker?"

"God damn mutt."

Namine interrupted, fixing Riku with a look and a threat. He didn't hesitate to continue further down the hall to his room. Once inside, he closed the door and took a deep breath, relieved as the pressure of his change had dissipated. It was getting much harder to fight the battle. Before long, he was going to end up losing. People would be in danger. He had to find another way.

4 Days Ago

Against everything he had heard about the girl, he had sought her out. Despite the number of witches within the Academy, only three of them had the skills and power to be able to help him, and only one of them would have the resolve to actually do it. Going to Kairi wouldn't have gotten him anything but doe eyes and pity. Being the healer type, she more than likely didn't have the heart to go through with any of his plans. Namine was clearly out of the equation, regardless of any of her skills. Xion, the dark witch, was the only option left.

Riku stepped into the room as he briefly glanced at her. He knew he was going to regret this later down the road, but it needed to be done, no matter the cost. And that cost looked like it was going to get a lot steeper from the uncomfortable smile she was throwing his way. Xion looked the part as an innocent girl, but she was far from it. She wasn't necessarily a bad person. She just wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty to achieve her goals.

"Riku, Riku, Riku," she chanted, closing the door and flipping the lock. "I didn't think I would get the time of day from the school's favorite broody wolf."

"I'm not broody," he said flatly as she ran a hand along his left arm.

"Are you kidding? You have next to no friends, everyone knows you, yet you remain one of the most mysterious men in the Academy. Girls would die at your feet and a lot of the guys are in turmoil because they can't get nearly enough recognition to their name," she said, taking a seat on her bed. Dark blue irises regarded the shifter.

"I need restraints, Xion. You're the only one able of creating any capable to hold someone back from shifting."

"I see." Xion stood from her seat, tapping her chin in thought as she practically glided back toward Riku. "Well, I can obviously do it. And I'm feeling a little generous, so I'll throw in something a little extra to help with that big bad wolf of yours, yeah? All you have to do now is seal the deal."

Xion held out her hand, a smirk playing on her lips. Riku didn't like the feel of it, but took her hand against every instinct screaming at him not to. Before he could retract his hand, the girl had tightened her grip and pulled him down. Her lips covered his, soft and persistent, as she snaked her other hand behind his neck. He felt a nip at his bottom lip in hopes of him giving way for a deeper kiss, but he refused. In fact, he didn't respond to her at all. Only when her fingers went to fumble with the zipper of his sleeveless jacket did he swat her hands away and step back from the shorter girl. He gave her a sharp look, as if warning her to try anything more.

"Just get it done," he growled before taking up residence in the corner of the room. Xion sighed and went to work. After nearly thirty minutes, she approached him with a set of ebony restraints. Spikes adorned the inside of the metal and, upon closer inspection, he noted a shimmer of enchantment. "What magic did you use?"

"A submission enchantment. It'll help to over power the wolf from forcing a change." Xion paused, hesitation dancing in her eyes. "It will hurt if you use these, Riku. Because the enchantment won't necessarily work with just skin contact. It has to be in your system for it to take hold. The spikes are there to help with that part."

"Thanks." Riku took the restraints from her and turned to leave, but stopped when she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I won't rat you out, I promise."

"Please be careful with these."

Several minutes later, Riku found himself wrestling a particular dragon down the hall and into his room. Luckily for him, it was just after dinner and he was alone. That in itself was rare enough, seeing as he was always seen over the shoulders of Roxas when given the chance. Throwing the lock and leaning against the door, he motioned a hand toward an empty spot on his wall.

"I need you to attach those to the wall," he stated bluntly, earning a sharp look from the redhead.

"And you think I can? Why don't you just bolt it on there instead?" he snapped. Axel placed a hand on his hip as he waited for his answer, but his eyes wandered over to the restraints curiously. "You got some kind of kink, don't you? Is that why you're always skulking around?"

"It's not a kink, dumbass. It isn't any of your business. Besides, you are the only one with fire stronger than typical magic," supplied Riku sharply. He ran his hands through his silver hair at his building frustration with the dragon. "Basically, I need you to rebuild the wall around the ends of the chains. Can you do that or not?"

"Sure. Just requires a little finesse."

Axel crouched next to the wall, bracing himself with one hand as he leaned close. The shifter watched closely, seeing a faint glow start from underneath the dragon's shirt and flow into his throat until a shimmering heat erupted from his mouth. Almost instantly, the wall began to give way and the flame worked nearly a foot into the wall, giving Axel the opportunity to place one of the chains inside of the hole. He did this again in two other areas before he expelled more heat at a higher degree, melting the stone in place. Riku made his way over to the dragon and gave an experimental tug on the chains and gave a satisfied hum of approval.

"Thanks. I owe you one. Now get out." Axel glowered at him before making his way to the door and unlocked it, waving a hand lazily in the air. "Oh, and Axel? Don't tell anybody or I'll hunt you down myself and rip your throat out."

"Good luck with that, dog."

3 Days Ago

It felt like a hangover. From the aches, pains and nausea in his body from the muddled and confused feeling in his head. He didn't remember getting drunk. With a groan, Riku gingerly lifted his hands to his head and pressed his palms over his eyes. The scent of the room invaded his nose. It was sterile, picking up traces of cleaning fluids that made his head hurt worse.

His memory slowly came back to him as he laid there and Riku huffed out a breath. The chains had helped him, but at what cost? Xion had warned him to be careful. She had even warned him of the pain it would cause, but mere words wasn't enough to prepare anyone for that sort of pain. But the wolf's presence had been strong and sudden, giving him a small window of time to even get himself in the shackles.

A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered the spikes driving into his skin. A minor injury, honestly. It was the magic seeping into his veins that had caused him to scream out. He had heard the pleading whine of his wolf ringing in his head as Riku had grabbed at the collar around his neck, but he refused to take it off. If this was the pain he had to endure to hold back the malicious intents inside of him, then it would have to be worth it.

However, he knew nothing afterward. His mind was drawing a blank up until he had woken in the infirmary. Riku sat up with a grimace just as quiet sound reached his ears. Dropping his hands, the shifter looked up toward the curtain and saw Namine peek her head inside. Relief passed over her face as she welcomed herself in and sat at the end of the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Cut the pleasantries. What do you want?" he asked, his voice hoarse and rough. The smaller girl's soft features fell as she looked down into her lap, wringing her fingers together as she thought for a moment.

"Ephemer is unconscious. We can't get him to wake up," she said. Riku shook his head, drawing out the sigh that escaped from his lips. "Aerith has tried as much as she can for right now. But he was found with serious injuries. He had blunt force trauma to the head and his shoulder was nearly shredded to the bone. The Headmaster asked me to question people."

"So you think I did it? Are you crazy, Namine?!" he shouted. He ignored the sharp pain in his head as he turned sharply at the girl, letting the anger roll off of him.

"I'm not saying you did it. I'm merely here to check on you and ask what you were doing last night. I was the one that found you passed out in your room. When you didn't answer, I checked your door. You forgot to lock it, for once," she retorted, fingers clenching into fists. "Whatever it was that you were using, it was killing you, Riku. You lost blood. And the magic was basically choking the life out-"

"I couldn't have done it, Namine. I was...preoccupied most of the afternoon and night. As you can tell. And even if I did, do you think he would have left that guy with just a shredded shoulder and blunt force trauma? It doesn't add up, so I'd appreciate it if you and Xehanort left me alone."

Namine stood, registering the information and nodding her head quickly.

"I'm sorry, Riku. We just have to question everyone who could have possibly done it. With you being a shifter, it isn't highly unlikely. But I understand what you mean. With your level of control, your shifting would have been too slow to inflict the two different types of injuries. I'll mark you off of the list, but we really should talk about what you're doing to yourself."

"No." He answered her curtly before untangling the sheet from his body and standing. Although he was grateful she had found him and helped him, he was already tired of her company. Riku made his way toward the bathroom, but even then she followed him.

"What you're doing isn't only hurting you, but your wolf. You need to stop asking Xion for those restraints. We can find a less scarring method to help you," she said desperately as he slipped into the bathroom, attempting to ignore his words. "Let us help you, Riku. You aren't even working with us!"

The shifter leaned on the sink, looking at himself in the small mirror in front of him. His eyes went to the scabbed wounds on his neck. They were ugly and red, with a rash adorning his skin like paint from the metal as he had struggled. Whatever the cost. He dipped his head and splashed cool water on his face, dried it off, and headed back out the door.

He still ignored the girl who watched him with pleading eyes as he picked up his sleeveless vest. Namine reached out a hand to stop him, but he only gave her a sharp glare in passing as he slid the garment on over his black tank top and zipped it up. Once he neared the door, Riku picked up on a familiar scent. Two, actually. And where those twins were, a certain vampire wasn't far behind.

As if on cue, the brunette had appeared as a small sound came from his friend. Their eyes locked on each other, aquamarine against cerulean. A pull began at the back of his mind, but not one he was expecting. The wolf was there, but it was curious, interested. For once, it wasn't fighting him. But Riku was still furious with the recent events and shoved the wolf down.

"Get out of my way," the shifter growled, staring down the vampire.

"Make me, mutt," the brunette shot back. Riku noticed how the muscles had shifted underneath the fitted tee, as if Sora was expecting the shifter to physically retaliate. He was tempted to.

"You really don't want to test my limits."

"How do you even know what they are? You can't even face your own problems!" Riku reacted instinctively as his hand shot out and grabbed the front of Sora's shirt, pulling him close enough that he could feel the heat of his breath roll back off of the boy's face.

"Why do you even care?!" he growled in a low voice. A few seconds passed with no answer. But Riku saw the thoughts registering on his face, saw the emotions as clear as day in the deep blue depths of his eyes. He flitted his gaze down as a frown started on Sora's mouth. The same pull from before came back sharper, resembling a slap to the back of his head, but the quiet voice of the vampire's friend broke the silence of the room.

Riku regarded the younger blonde before turning his attention back to Sora, releasing his shirt but not moving away. Perhaps he had a point. A little bit of rivalry and a victory would squash whatever it was that continued to rub him the wrong way about the vampire. He would prove that he was better, even if it meant that he could only use half of his powers. He felt a genuine smirk grow, something he hadn't done or felt in a long time.

"I say game on."

Current

Every bone in his body was screaming at him as he fought back at the wolf. His body was battling to physically change, but he was at constant war in his mind, refusing to yield and turn over control. He had been asked too many times in his life why he fought so hard, that all he had to do was accept the wolf and accept the fact that they were one in the same. But they didn't know this wolf like he did. It was vicious and feral, a pure savage of an animal that viewed every person as his prey. An alpha wolf in every sense. What this wolf imagined wasn't a fate he was willing to let happen to anyone.

Riku eyed the spiked restraints attached to the wall of his room. Unease washed over him, remembering how he had gotten to the infirmary in the first place. The side effects were nasty, but it had done the trick and put the wolf back in his kennel, allowing him a small reprieve. But the damned canine was more persistent than ever this year. Almost frantic about it.

Three years prior he had walked in here with his head on his shoulders, a plan in his mind and determination to win over his wolf and shifting abilities. But as the years had progressed, the more he fought for control over his wolf, it was becoming harder to fight the changes. It wasn't as if he refused it existed. He had let it out a number of times, under contained circumstances and a watchful eye. But there was something more to this wolf than others were believing. A shifter was made up of two halves, one human and one animal. The two were supposed to coexist, learning how to live and accept each other from a young age. Instead, Riku and his wolf were two alpha forces fighting each other each step of the way.

The problem was, were they the right steps? Was the path he was taking really the only way to win control of his powers? He hadn't stopped to think of the alternative choices he could have taken, only what had to be done to ease his own pain.

Yet, despite the waves of agony crashing through his body, Riku caught himself thinking of the new vampire that he had ran into a few days prior. Not only had he sensed something else within him when his anger sprang to life, Riku doubted the guy even realized it. If it wasn't for his wolf counterpart, he wouldn't have picked up on the subtle change of atmosphere that had been surrounding the vampire.

Grunting in pain, the silverette hunched over on his bed. "F-fuck..." he muttered through a wave of bone-altering agony. But as his thoughts lingered on the blue hue of the boy's eyes and the frown that had been on his mouth just a couple of days ago, he felt the pain ease ever so slightly. A single thought hit him swiftly as he felt himself begin to breath easier. He realized he didn't even know the kid's name.