Disclaimer: not mine
I final beat the final episode for BBS! Very happy, have no beat them all at least once except Chain of Memory which I have given up on completely. It's a hopeless game and whoever came up with that combat system was very mean. Not enjoyable at all and impossible to use.
Chapter 8
Xemnas listened to Axel's report on events at Castle Oblivion…the sole survivor. He had expected Marluxia and his conspirators to be killed but the loss of Vexen, Zexion, and Roxas was not favourable at all. They had lost the Keyblade master and those in charge of the Replica program in one fell swoop. The one Replica they had created had vanished, likely also destroyed as well. Marluxia had killed Roxas, one last blow to the Organisation when he realised he had failed? That was if Axel's report was fully truthful…but the assassin had never failed a mission before.
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Mickey was relieved to see Riku as he bounded up the stairs, Soul Eater ready, but there was a blond boy with him, something off about him. But in his hand…was a Keyblade.
"Mickey?" Riku called his name in shock, and Mickey smiled at him, keeping an eye on the two strangers, curious about how close Riku was standing to the Nobody.
"Hello Riku, who are your friends?" if they had hurt or manipulated him in any way…
"You gave Naminé a good scare," Riku told him, the girl having moved closer to them, seeking protection? Then Riku took the blond boy's hand. "It's Sora, Mickey."
"Sora?!"
"That is a Nobody," DiZ denied, disdain clear in his voice.
Riku's eyes narrowed in a glare, his body language shifting, grip on his blade tightening. "So? He's still Sora."
"Riku," the other boy said, and Riku shook his head.
"No, I won't let anyone hurt you Sora."
Mickey studied the blond, he thought Sora had darker hair than that? He remembered everything Riku had told him about his best friend when they were trapped together and this boy didn't match it. Then again, DiZ had told him about Nobodies, they could have differences in appearance to their Somebody. Riku had been grief stricken by Sora's death, if he found his Nobody, it wasn't surprised that he'd cling to it. he looked into blue eyes, seeing the lack of emotion there, Riku may be clinging to what was left of his friend, but would it…he, stand by Riku?
Sora turned to Riku, even as his Keyblade vanished, putting his hand over Riku's on Soul Eater, pushing it down. "Don't Riku, it's okay. Not like it bothers me."
"That doesn't matter," Riku denied. "You're still you, Heart or no Heart."
Sora reached out with his other hand to cup Riku's cheek, leaning in to press their foreheads together. It was such an…. affectionate move, one he would expect from a full person, not someone missing their Heart.
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DiZ watched the Nobody put on a rather convincing act, but that was all it was. A Nobody had no Heart with which to feel and yet it appeared it was fooling young Riku. The poor boy obviously didn't realise what he was dealing with. Nobodies should not exist, they had no right to exist, and the sooner Riku realised that, the better. After all, should Xemnas find him, the Nobody would turn on Riku and go with him.
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"Where's Kairi?" Mickey asked.
"Downstairs," Riku told the King.
Sora assumed that it was best if he remain quiet, fade into the background. It was obvious the King was wary of him and the man with him seemed to want him gone, probably Naminé too. Riku kept a good grip on his hand, keeping him at his side, and Sora didn't want to leave him anyway.
"Who is he?" Riku asked, indicating the stranger.
"I am DiZ," the man answered. Sora wondered why the man covered so much of his face, hiding his identity.
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Axel found life in the Organisation boring without Sora, there was no secret training, no teaching him, just solo missions. At least Xemnas and Saïx seemed to have bought his lies at least so the kids should be safe, for now.
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Riku stared at the pod and Kairi floating limp within it. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder and he lifted his hand to rest on Sora's.
"We need to go," Sora told him.
Riku nodded, the longer he waited the greater the chance the Organisation would return or…. or Ansem would try and take him over again. "Sora, if…if I lose…"
"You won't," Sora told him firmly, moving closer, and Riku leant against him, smiling when Sora wrapped his arm around his waist.
Riku wished they could stay like that forever, that Kairi was awake…that so much was different. "If I lose, don't let him use me to hurt anyone, please. He'll make sure there's nothing left of me to save but the thought of him using me against you and Kairi," he shuddered, and Sora leant his head against his.
"Riku…" he whispered, and Riku could almost hear the pain he knew Sora would have been showing once.
He twisted around to face Sora, staring into his eyes and for a second he could have sworn he saw a flicker of real emotion, but that was impossible. "Please," he begged. "Don't let him use me again."
Sora stared at him, before slowly nodding. "I won't," he promised, and Riku slumped against him in relief, Sora hugging him close.
It lacked the exuberance he remembered from Sora's hugs but it was still him, just different, and that was all that mattered, no matter what remarks DiZ made. He knew the man was hinting that Sora would go back to the Organisation if Xemnas showed up, but Riku knew it wasn't true. Sora was one of them, even without his Heart and…and Riku wasn't so sure it was gone for good. There had to be a way.
Sora slowly let go and grabbed his Organisation coat, slipping it over Riku's shoulders for him. "You're going to be fine; you can beat him." Sora stepped back and held his hand out, opening a Corridor for them. Neither liked leaving Kairi and Naminé alone with DiZ but Sora had refused to let him go alone.
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Sora watched Riku vanish into the room, wondering who it was who would emerge. Would it be Riku…or Ansem? He had promised to not let Ansem use Riku and he meant it but killing him would be a last option only. He had killed Riku once, he did not want to do it again.
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"Ansem! Where are you? Show yourself!" Riku yelled, hearing the mocking laughter but unable to see him. "Huh?"
"Why in such a hurry? I'll be here at the very heart of Darkness...Watching you plunge into the same Darkness…inside of you," the Heartless taunted him.
Riku took a deep breath, he had to remain calm, he couldn't let it get to him or he'd lose. He continued on, destroying the Heartless that appeared until he entered a large room.
"I smell you, Ansem. Show yourself," he called, able to smell the Darkness coming from him. He briefly wondered if Sora could smell or otherwise sense Darkness like he could now and if he could…did Riku stink of it to him? He focused as Ansem appeared before him.
"I have watched you fight; I know your strength. Your skill with Darkness has grown, it has become more mature. And yet, why... Why do you accept the Darkness…but still refuse me? You know you and I are similar. We both follow where the Darkness leads. Indeed, we are the same, so why? Does some part of your heart still have a fear of the Dark?"
"That's not it. The truth is..." he glared at Ansem, "I just can't stand your foul stench."
"You are a fool. You should know my powers well by now," Ansem gloated, and Riku smirked.
"Yeah, I know. Or did you forget? I used all the power you had to give…and Sora still beat me. I'm not at all impressed with your powers!" he taunted.
"Very well. In that case," Darkness surrounded Ansem, "you shall sink into the abyss!" he released a huge wave of Darkness and Riku tried to fight the pressure given off but failed, finding himself transported to a dark area with only a single white platform.
"Huh?" he looked around warily and then dodged, rolling to the side to find the Guardian waiting for him. Riku took a deep breath, he would win! He forced himself to ignore the taunts Ansem threw out, obviously trying to throw him off balance.
"You know in your Heart that thing will not remain with you, it cannot feel anything. You cling to your memories of the boy, inviting a viper into your midst."
"Shut up!" he snarled. It wasn't true! Sora would never turn on them, emotions or no emotions. He still had his memories, remembered how he felt for them. He focused on his anger, letting it fuel his attacks but not overtake him.
They reappeared back in the castle as Ansem staggered. "Insolent brat!" He fired a Dark energy ball at Riku.
Riku caught it with Soul Eater and slashed it, causing it to dissipate. "Ansem!"
"Huh?"
Riku rushed Ansem and slashed through him. "This is the end!"
"This...is hardly...the end... Your Darkness-I gave it...all to you...My dark shadow...lingers... Someday... Someday... I will return! Maybe…before then…he will take your Heart…make you into nothing…too…" Ansem exploded, releasing a huge cloud of Darkness.
Riku staggered back but couldn't get away, the cloud consuming him. "Sora... Kairi..." he closed his eyes, sinking deeper and deeper, but then a hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling.
"Fight!" Sora demanded, and Riku couldn't deny him.
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Sora fell back, Riku limp in his arms, fingers searching the wrist he was holding to find a pulse. There! He'd done it, Riku had defeated Ansem, Sora had sensed it…but Ansem had almost taken Riku with him. He'd sensed Riku fading, sinking into the Darkness, and hadn't hesitated to dive in after him. Sora sat against the wall, cradling Riku close, he'd almost lost him and for a second he would almost think he had felt actual fear at that.
Thankfully, Riku soon began to stir, gasping as his eyes snapped open.
"Easy, I've got you," he whispered, and Riku focused on him, panting for air.
"Sora," Riku wrapped his arms around his shoulders almost desperately. What had Ansem done to him?
"I'm here," he didn't know what else to say… "You did it, you beat Ansem."
"Don't leave, never leave us," Riku pleaded, clinging tightly to him and Sora held on just as tightly.
"Never by choice," he couldn't lie and say never, Nobodies were not immortal. When Xemnas learned of his survival he would be hunted down and killed…or worse. "I'm yours and Kairi's."
Riku kissed him and Sora responded, not sure why Riku suddenly felt ready for it. Riku shifted in his arms until he was sitting with his legs either side of Sora's, a hand moving into Sora's hair. Oh! That felt good. He ran his hands up and down Riku's back but then he pulled his mouth away from Riku's.
"Riku…wait," he panted. There was something…desperate about Riku, that wasn't right.
"Sora," Riku's voice was almost a whine, his grip tightening.
"No Riku," he shook his head. "Not like this." Sora gentled his touch, trying to make it soothing instead, kissing Riku's cheek. "What did he do to you?"
Riku slumped against him, almost shaking, and Sora held him close. "I…" Riku took a deep breath. "It doesn't matter."
"It does Riku," he murmured, gently separating them enough that he could make eye contact, seeing the torment in Riku's. Riku stared back at him, still seeming desperate. Riku wasn't injured so whatever Ansem had done to cause this wasn't physical, unless it was already healed. "You're safe, Ansem's gone, he can't hurt anyone now."
Riku shook his head, breaking eye contact, and Sora thought it over.
"Did he tell you that I'd leave?" he asked.
Riku nodded. "He said you'd go back to Xemnas, he said…it's not true, it's not," he denied.
"Riku he was trying to get in your head, you know that. I would never willingly go back to the Organisation, I never planned to stay there. I was always coming back to Kairi, if I had known you were alive then I would have come for you too. You and Kairi are home. It's the memories of the two of you that keep me from being like the others," Sora explained. "The closest I get to feeling anything is with you, sometimes I can almost imagine I really can feel something." He leant in and kissed Riku softly, just a press of their lips together really. "It wasn't just that, was it?"
"Can you sense anything of Ansem in me still?" Riku asked.
Sora frowned but pressed his hand gently over Riku's Heart, closing his eyes and using every sense he had, just like he'd been taught. "There's Darkness in you Riku, I think there always will be now. I can't sense any trace of Ansem himself but…it's like an imprint, if you delve too deeply into your Darkness, it could affect you, I don't know how," he admitted.
"You're sure?"
"Positive. Ansem is gone Riku."
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He watched the Nobody as she worked her magic, restoring the three's memories. Riku and the other Nobody had been gone for some time, he hoped nothing had gone wrong. No matter how the boy may insist it was his friend, DiZ would not trust either of the creatures. It would be better once the new Keyblade wielder was awake, then the two wouldn't be needed and could be disposed of, in secret if necessary. At least Mickey remained wary of them, although his old friend was gone to search for more information on the Organisation and where they may be based.
A Corridor opened and the two emerged, Riku looked exhausted, leaning heavily on the Nobody which had an arm around his waist, supporting him. Good, it was done.
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Sora pressed a hand to the pod where Kairi slept, she looked so peaceful.
"You can talk to her if you want," Naminé spoke up, and he looked over at her.
"Can she hear us?"
"Not consciously. If anything, it would be like a dream once she wakes."
Then what was the point? He frowned slightly as he remembered the time one of his classmates was badly hurt, she'd ended up in a coma, and the doctors said to talk to her, that she might hear them and it would comfort her. So maybe talking to Kairi would comfort her?
"Riku is free of Ansem, Kairi. He faced him and defeated him but not before Ansem messed with his head," he kept talking softly.
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Riku sat on top of the wall surrounding the old mansion, watching the sun set. He'd had to get out before he killed DiZ for all his snide comments about Sora. One time he envied Sora his lack of emotions, the comments didn't bother him at all. Not that Sora was even in Twilight Town at the moment, he was off scouting and Riku hated it, if he was seen… but Sora insisted they take turns and Riku couldn't open Corridors. Sora had said he had enough Darkness to do so, had even gotten him one of the Organisation coats for his safety when they went together, but Riku wasn't sure about using that much Darkness.
He heard movement and looked down, smiling at the approaching figure, dropping down from the wall. "Mickey," he smiled at the King who grinned back.
"Riku, are you alright now?" he asked, looking him over. The King had been gone since before he faced Ansem.
"I beat Ansem, Sora said he's totally gone but…there's still Darkness in me."
"Your Darkness belongs to you. Just the same way your Light does. Up till now, I thought darkness was something that should never exist. Then I spent time with you and changed my mind. The road you chose…I didn't know. Light and Dark, back-to-back. With you, I think they might meet in a way nobody's seen before. Wonder where that road leads, I'd like to see myself," the King grinned at him, and Riku stared in shock.
"Hm?"
Mickey held out his hand. "I'd like to walk the road with ya," he offered, and Riku laughed, taking his hand.
"Your Majesty, I'm really flattered... I don't know what to say."
"Gosh, Riku, you know you don't have to call me that now. We're pals."
"Fair enough, Mickey."
"Surprised you're out here alone," Mickey commented, and Riku shrugged.
"It was this or stab DiZ," he admitted. "He just won't quit, even with Sora off World."
"Ah. He has good reason to distrust Nobodies, though he hasn't told me exactly what."
"Do you know him well then?"
"Well, I'm not sure. Gotta feelin' that I've met him...somewhere..." Mickey admitted.
"I don't trust him as far as Jiminy could throw him," Riku admitted. "He wants something. I don't like the idea of all three of us being gone at once, I don't trust him alone with Naminé."
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Sora tossed a pebble, nearly tripping the redhead who spun around, relaxing when he spotted him in the shadows. Axel finished the fight and then wandered over casually, leaning against the wall, checking his chakrams over.
"How're ya doing?" he murmured.
"Fine. Naminé is working on restoring Kairi, Donald and Goofy's memories. Riku defeated the remnants of Ansem within his Heart. And I think the three of us are in a relationship."
"Pardon?" Axel started.
"Kairi kissed me and I kissed her back. Marluxia was right about being able to feel physical pleasure. Riku and I kissed after he beat Ansem. I told them that I felt the same way for both of them when I was a Somebody. Kairi won't remember any of it when she wakes up though, so we'll have to see what happens. They said they don't care that I can't feel now and seem very determined to find a way to get my Heart back."
"Well, Xemnas seems sure Kingdom Hearts could do it, not sure I trust that anymore, if I ever really did. They seem to have bought the story of Marluxia cutting you down while you were fighting Kairi as a last strike against the Organisation he betrayed."
"Good."
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Sora watched Riku sleep for a while before turning to leave, stopping as a hand wrapped around his wrist, sleepy eyes staring blearily at him. Riku rolled over on the bed, the offer obvious and Sora nodded. Riku let go and Sora stripped down before getting in beside him, Riku immediately curling into him, asleep again. Sora wrapped an arm around him, not yet ready to sleep. It felt strange to share a bed…but they had as children during sleepovers. But they had never slept tangled so close. If it gave Riku comfort, he'd spend every night in his bed that they were on the same World. Riku was warm and it felt...nice. He didn't even notice when he fell asleep.
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Xemnas frowned, staring out at Kingdom Hearts, there had been no change which meant neither Roxas nor Kairi was out there destroying Heartless. Another point towards Roxas truly having been destroyed. Naminé had vanished as well from Castle Oblivion so likely she was with Kairi, repairing whatever damage she had done. The delay would be frustrating if he felt such things, but in the end his plan would come to fruition one way or another.
There had been sightings of an imposter, someone who wore the coat but was not one of them. It could be Roxas but surely he would not have been able to avoid using the Keyblade the last several months. Xigbar seemed to think it was Riku, the boy had been at the Castle after all and it seemed a likely possibility. Where had he gotten the coat? Had one been left lying around where anyone could find it?
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Riku ducked under a Large Body, slashing through some Shadows, grimacing when some Dusks formed as well. Nobodies and Heartless, wonderful. They were starting to show up together more and more often. Sora had tried getting information from them on why but the answers hadn't made a lot of sense. He'd offered to call up a few Samurai to see if they knew but Riku had shot that down as too risky since Sora was the only one other than Xemnas who could control them.
He blasted a few with fire before shocking another. It didn't take too much longer to clear the area and Riku moved on. They had Sora's intel on what the Organisation was up to, as well as what Axel had known, but both admitted to being kept in the dark about certain things. No one believed for a second that Xemnas really wanted Kingdom Hearts to give them all Hearts of their own.
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"Your Majesty," Sora bowed slightly to him.
"Mickey, please," he told the boy who nodded and motioned for him to sit. He took the seat opposite him. "How are you?"
"Physically?" Sora asked him. "I'm fine. The Organisation thinks I'm dead so safe enough for the moment too."
"What will happen if they find out?"
"Traitors are hunted down and killed, or worse."
"Worse?" Mickey asked in concern.
"Xemnas would turn me into a Dusk."
Mickey's eyes went wide in shock. What? That was…he'd been learning about Nobodies since meeting DiZ and then them. And was that…he was sure he had sensed a flicker of fear when Sora said that, but how was that possible? "I haven't seen any Nobodies, 'cept…"
"Us," Sora's lips twisted slightly into something between a grimace and smile. "Dusks are low level Nobodies," Sora held his hand out, eyes closed, and the air warped, a creature appearing between them.
Mickey gulped as he took in the sinuous form, there was nothing human in that at all. It approached Sora who patted it on the head and then it sank into the floor. "Do they…remember what they were?"
"No, it is a threat that would take the only thing we have from us, our memories. Dusks have very little intelligence, enough to follow simple orders. They get used for recon and basic courier missions by the Organisation," Sora explained.
"Won't that one tell someone you're alive then?" he asked in concern.
Sora shook his head. "It'll have forgotten by now and…I worked with them a lot, even more than my Samurai."
Huh, so the lower Nobodies held some loyalty to Sora, that could be useful, if they kept it over time. Then again he'd left so when faced with a current member and Sora, surely the current member would override anything Sora did? Still, it was something to consider. He leant back in his chair, just observing Sora who sat still and let him, not fidgeting or anything. He had managed glimpses of Sora on his journey with Donald and Goofy, before he'd entered the Realm of Darkness, although he had never let them know. The boy he had seen then was nothing like the teenager before him now, and not just in appearance. The absence of a Heart explained everything except…the fact that the changes made him look scarily like a missing friend, even the way he fought was similar.
"Riku said you can dual wield now."
Sora nodded and stood, moving away from the furniture and sure enough, a Keyblade appeared in each hand. He'd never imaged such a thing was possible. It was a crazy thought and yet…was it possible? It would explain a lot about Sora.
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Riku smiled when he found Sora already in bed, drowsing. He ached from fighting and was generally worn out. He stripped down, not bothering with putting on sleep clothes, too tired to bother. He just crawled in with Sora, cuddling into him, feeling Sora wrap an arm around him, pressing a sleepy kiss to his cheek.
"Glad yo're ba'k," he slurred, mostly asleep, and Riku smiled. Sora had said he was glad! So close to sleep he wasn't thinking enough to fake it, surely. He felt hope take hold, that Sora could somehow regain his Heart. All the little signs that popped up now and then…maybe by the time Kairi woke up, Sora would be able to say it and mean it.
"Me too," he kissed his lips softly before tucking his head under Sora's chin, letting himself fall asleep, feeling safe in the mansion.
TBC…