Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 17

Riku fought the urge to pull away and run as Kairi reached for his hood but found himself frozen in place as she levelled a familiar glare at him. Would she see only his appearance or would she see passed it to the real him?

"Riku?" she whispered hesitantly, and he looked away in shame. He nearly flinched when she went up on tiptoes, steadying herself with a hand on his shoulder even as she touched his cheek with the other. Obediently he turned back to look at her, seeing sadness in her eyes. "Oh Riku." She…she saw him.

"Kairi," he murmured, remembering to pitch his voice higher, Sora didn't care but with everyone else, well…

"They wanted to use me…we have to find Sora," she almost babbled at him, and he smiled.

"It's okay, we came together, he's waiting for King Mickey to catch up," he quickly assured her, even as part of him wondered…would Sora regret that kiss once he sae Kairi? Had it meant what he thought or had it been a heat of the moment, high emotion, thing?

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"King Mickey!"

He was relieved to hear Sora call his name as he rushed up the stairs, finding the boy waiting with Donald and Goofy. It was so wonderful to see his friends again!

"Your Majesty!" they called together and then he was being squished between the two, Sora laughing at them.

"Isn't Riku with you?" he asked once he was back on his feet.

"He went on ahead to find Kairi and Naminé, he could track them, while we stayed here to wait for you."

"I see."

"Um, do you know…about Riku…"

"His appearance?" he asked, and Sora relaxed.

"Okay, so you know. Didn't want anyone drawing Keyblades or something," Sora shrugged.

Mickey nodded in understanding, it had already happened once, the first time he had seen Riku with 'Ansem's' appearance. "We better catch up then!"

Sora nodded and they began moving deeper into the castle, Mickey surprised when Sora seemed to know exactly where he was going. How? Sora looked at him and seemed to see what he was thinking. "Do you know about Roxas?" he asked softly, and Mickey nodded. "He's here," Sora pressed a hand to his Heart. "He's showing me the way."

That was…amazing and also horrible. He'd thought that when they re-joined, Roxas would cease to exist as a separate being but if he hadn't… what would it be like to be aware while trapped within Sora's Heart?

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"Sora... You've done well."

They looked and saw Saïx on a very elaborate high ledge.

"Where's Kairi?" he demanded, feeling Roxas hatred towards the man above the, making Sora wonder just what had happened between the two, but Roxas stayed quiet so as not to distract him.

"Who knows? I expect she's catching up with her friend from the darkness."

"What do you mean!?" Sora demanded, hoping he meant Riku.

"She doesn't need you anymore," Saïx stared at him with no emotion and it was creepy. And weird, Roxas felt things strongly, he knew Axel had cared for his Nobody…so how could some be so blank? It was almost like some of them somehow had Hearts and others didn't?

"I'm supposed to believe that?" he snapped at the man. He was pretty sure that meant Riku had found her.

"Well, you don't have to... But you can believe this. Organization XIII has no further use for you... Just look there." He pointed to the moon. "Our Kingdom Hearts... Thanks to you, we've collected countless hearts...Can you hear their euphoria? Now, all they need is one more helping from the Keyblade bearer!." Saïx snapped his fingers and hundreds of Shadow Heartless emerged from the walls.

"We gotta fight!" Donald yelled even as Sora focused on sending support to Roxas, feeling his guilt, they'd both enabled the Hearts to be collected because they both used the Keyblade.

"But-Kingdom Hearts!" Sora found himself hesitating, the heart shaped moon wasn't quite complete…but it would be if he fought.

"Sora!"

Sora looked up to see Kairi on another ledge and grinned in relief.

"Sora! It's really you!" She smiled.

"Kairi!" he called back, relieved to see her and then he felt weight slam into his back, burying him in Shadows.

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Kairi gasps, it was her fault, she'd distracted him! It was always her fault. Her hands balled into fists, not this time! "You leave Sora alone!" she yelled, one hand going to where she put the Keychain Naminé had found for her. She took a few steps back and leapt over the railing, off the ledge. She hit the ground running and the Shadows swarmed towards her even as she swung her hand, Light exploding from her grip, forming…a Keyblade. Naminé had been right!

"Sora!" She ducked under some more and they vanished as Riku's blade slashed through them. She grinned at him, feeling exhilarated. "This time...I'LL fight. You know Sora's completely hopeless without us! C'mon, Riku!"

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Riku watched as she ran into the fight, bashing Heartless with the blade, she needed to work on her technique but she wasn't bad. He readied Soul Eater, glancing at the blade, it felt like…it was on the cusp of something…but then shook it off and rushed in.

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"Have you been a good boy?"

"Show yourself!" Sora demanded, Keyblade ready, he doubted whoever it was had taken the Heartless out to help them after all.

Xigbar appeared on the elaborate ledge above them, and Sora knew how he fought, feeling Roxas shift even closer to him, worried. "Oh, it sounds like you haven't. Sora! Roxas!"

The glare Sora shot at him in return was all Roxas, the shade of his eyes shifting slightly.

"You've really put Organization XIII in a pickle. I guess that must be why the Keyblade chose you. But MAN, did it pick a dud this time. You don't look like you're half the hero the others were."

"Are you done rambling?" He demanded coolly. The others? Previous Keyblade wielders? But no…it felt more…personal than just talking about random people in the past, and how would Xigbar have known them. How long did Nobodies live?

"Rambling? As if! All I'm trying to tell you, traitor, is that your time is up!" He threw his hands up and his shooing katars appear. He extended them to his sides and cocked them.

"Here he comes!" Goofy warned.

Xigbar jumped down to the floor where they stood and smirked. "You really shouldn't have betrayed us."

"Bite me," Sora growled…and then blinked, biting back a snicker at the look on Xigbar's face. He felt Roxas shift apologetically but gently beckoned him even closer. If he had a bone to pick with the guy, then Sora had no problem with him helping to deal with him. He felt Roxas' surprise and then joy surge through his Heart and into his body, the tiredness from so much fighting fading some.

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Riku heard the sound of multiple feet on the stairs and turned, ready to fight, but then he relaxed as familiar spikes appeared as Sora ran up the stairs. There was a thin line of drying blood on his cheek, the wound already healed thankfully. He looked a bit tired but otherwise okay.

"Riku," Sora grinned at him, and then looked at her. "Kairi, you were great!"

"Oh?" She turned around and saw them, bashfully flipping her hair.

Sora walked up to her. "You are different, Kairi, but I'm just glad you're here!"

"You and Riku never came home, so I came looking for you," she scolded, and Sora looked away.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

Kairi rushed up and hugged him, and Riku turned away, not wanting to watch. "This is real..."

He didn't see how awkward Sora's return hug was.

"Riku," Sora called, and Riku almost jumped at how close he was, looking down to find him beside him. "Are you okay? You're not hurt?" Sora demanded, looking him over.

"I'm fine Sora," he assured him, and he was, physically. Sora frowned, staring up at him, and then he was tugging at him and Riku couldn't make himself pull away. The second kiss was as much a shock as the first, and he heard Kairi gasp behind them, but Sora's fingers were woven in his hair, keeping him in place. "Sora…" When had he closed his eyes? He opened them, meeting happy blue.

"It's always been you silly," Sora whispered and Riku's heart skipped a beat. Really?

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Kairi watched in shock as Sora kissed Riku and Riku…didn't pull away or stop him. What? They weren't meant to do that, were they? They were both boys! She glanced at the others but they didn't seem surprised or anything. She didn't get it, Sora loved her, didn't he? That was why he was always saving her, she was the Princess and he was her Knight with shining Keyblade.

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"We need to keep moving," Riku straightened and turned, catching sight of Kairi's utterly confused expression.

It wasn't like…oh…her only time off the Islands had been when kidnapped…she hadn't been exposed to other Worlds like they had, hadn't learnt that there was more to love and relationships than what they'd grown up with. Great…he was not giving her that Talk! Even if he did look like an adult, no way. He glanced at Mickey, pleading quietly, and his friend frowned in confusion before looking from them to Kairi, realising. He grimaced but nodded, he'd see to it, maybe Queen Minnie or someone would be asked to explain, so long as he didn't have to, Riku was happy.

"This way," Sora called, darting down a side hall and they followed. He led them through a maze and then paused at a closed door, hesitating, before opening and stepping through.

Riku followed him and was confused to find a very white and empty bedroom. "Sora?"

"This…this is Roxas' room," Sora answered as they joined him.

"Roxas?" Kairi asked softly. "I…I heard from a Roxas, back home. When I couldn't remember you properly. Selphie said I passed out."

Sora nodded. "Roxas is my Nobody," he explained. "He's here now," he touched his Heart, but he's awake."

"That's why you told Xigbar to bite you!" Donald squawked. "That was Roxas."

"Yep," Sora nodded. "Not sure what Roxas' issue with him was but he had fun helping me fight."

Roxas was helping Sora fight now? That made Riku nervous, that he could lose Sora to the Nobody, put he pushed those thoughts away, no way, Sora was too strong. "So why here?"

"We need somewhere to rest for a little," Sora shrugged slightly, wandering around the room. He went to the window seat and reached under, opening a hidden drawer, pulling out a small book. He stared blankly at it for a few moments before nodding and slipping it into a pocket, then he reached back in and drew out a seashell, frowning in confusion, but he kept it too.

"You both alright?" Riku asked, resting a hand on his shoulder, and Sora leant back into him.

"Yeah, just this place…as bad as it is, Roxas does have happy memories of it. Time with Axel and…" he shook his head, and Riku got the feeling someone else was meant to be named as Roxas' friend…the name on the tip of his tongue for a second.

"Come on, try and get some sleep," he sat on the seat and tugged Sora up with him, the smaller teen curling into him.

Riku looked at Kairi and nodded at the bed when he found her watching them. She hesitated but then lay down on it and closed her eyes. Donald and Goofy settled on the floor by the door, acting as guards while the King settled between the bed and window.

He pulled a glove off to run bare fingers through Sora's hair, helping sooth him to sleep. He didn't need as much sleep since changing forms so he would keep watch. They couldn't rest for too long and the sooner they were away from the Castle the better as far as he was concerned. With Axel dead, it had to be hurting Roxas to be back, which in turn would be making Sora hurt.

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DiZ checked over his machine, it was ready. Now all he had to do was make it to the Organisations headquarters and he could put his plan into action. Even if it cost him his life, he would stop what was left of his foolish students. He had to for all of the Worlds sakes. He doubted he would take Xemnas with him, but he hoped to weaken them all at least, enough to make them easy for young Sora to finish off eventually.

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Kairi watched as Sora slept curled up in Riku's lap. That wasn't uncommon, they'd always been close, at least until the last few years when Riku had kind of pushed them both away. He'd still play wrestled and raced and all, but the hugs and laying side by side in the sand all holding hands had become very rare. Why?

She was worried about Sora, Naminé had vanished so did that mean she was back with her? If she was, Kairi couldn't feel it, but Roxas seemed to be having a lot of influence over Sora. He was a Nobody, he didn't have a Heart, did he? He'd been part of this group, how could he be a good person? Would…would Sora change because of him?

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Sora stared at Luxord, feeling Roxas' hesitation, and then he faded back a bit. Sora still had access to the information he'd been feeding him but…Roxas didn't want to be part of the fight. Were they friends? No…not friends, but they weren't enemies either. Sora wished they didn't have to fight, but he wasn't letting him keep the others locked away in those cards!

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Mickey panted and then accepted the potion Riku offered him. That Saïx fellow had not been an easy opponent, they were all injured to various degrees, even Riku. He was worried about Sora though, he'd never seen him fight so…viciously before. Was that Roxas' influence? But Roxas was made from Sora…honestly Heartless and Nobodies were still confusing in a way, especially someone who had become both and then been put back together only to have their Nobody being different enough to be separate within their Heart. Even Kairi was watching Sora closely as he leant against a nearby wall, eyes closed as Donald healed a very nasty cut along his ribs. That had been too close.

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Once Donald moved away, Riku took his place, blocking the others with his body. "Hey," he whispered, and Sora opened his eyes, looking up at him. He hated the tired world weariness in Sora's eyes. "Guessing things were really personal between them?" he offered, and Sora nodded.

"He hated Roxas for stealing Axel's friendship, and….there was something else, but we can't remember."

"It's okay," Riku murmured, pressing a hesitant kiss to his forehead. "He's gone now."

Sora nodded. "Just Xemnas left now," he shuddered slightly.

It had been Xemnas who found and named Roxas. Would the coming fight be as bad as this one? Or had the leader kept his distance? Appeared kind to keep Roxas loyal? Not from the way Sora had reacted. Riku really wished things could have been different when he found Roxas, he wouldn't be surprised if he hated him for being just another person to hurt him.

"We're all here Sora, you won't face him alone," he promised.

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"Sora!" Kairi gasped as he vanished, just like Xemnas. No!

"Sora!" Riku reached out but he was gone. "Where are they?" he asked.

"I don't know," the King shook his head.

"Sora! Where are you?" Kairi moved to the edge, looking down to see if they were on another level.

"Sora, answer me!" Riku half begged, half demanded.

There was a flash of light and a thud and they turned to see Sora sprawled on his stomach on the ground, clothing looking worse than it had.

"Sora!" Riku was at his side in an instant, carefully helping him up, looking for injuries.

"You're okay!" the King smiled in relief.

"Where's Xemnas?" Sora asked, seeming confused. Was he really okay? Kairi hung back, not really sure whether her concern would be welcome or what.

Donald looked around and then stared up at the moon. "What!?"

They all looked up to see Xemnas floating in front of it. How were they meant to reach him there?

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He'd made it! Now he just had to…DiZ frowned, staring up at Kingdom Hearts…no…was he too late? He could see tiny figures at the highest point of the castle and a figure silhouetted by the heart-shaped moon.

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"Hear me, Kingdom Hearts! I will give to you as many hearts as it takes to truly complete you. Mark my words! You can no more be complete without me than I without you. Heed me, Kingdom Hearts! Lend me your power, so that we may be complete! The power to erase the fools that hinder us."

"Xemnas! No!" Mickey yelled.

"Hearts quivering with hatred..."

"Xemnas! Don't!" Sora summoned his Keyblade but he was too far away, even if he glided, he'd never make it that far.

"Hearts burning with rage..."

"You'll never win!" Donald joined in.

"Hearts scarred by envy... That fool Ansem said the heart's true nature was beyond his understanding. But it's not beyond mine! Hearts are the source of all power!" The moon glowed insanely bright and Xemnas disappeared.

"Xemnas! You can't hide from us!" Sora snarled.

"We're not gonna let him get away now!" Mickey agreed.

"Look at that!" Kairi called, pointing as a door appeared.

"What's goin' on?" Goofy asked in confusion as they all looked at the door.

"Kingdom Hearts..." Mickey shrugged slightly.

"Let's go. Xemnas must be inside," Riku pointed out, it was the only option they really had to try.

"The worlds gave us this doorway. They want us to be the guardians of their destiny!" Mickey finally said, and Sora nodded, it made sense to him.

"Once we go through, there's no turning back. It's victory...or oblivion," Riku murmured.

Sora took his hand, squeezing it tightly. No matter which, they'd face it all together. "Let's end this!" Sora, Mickey, and Kairi lifted their Keyblades towards the door.

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DiZ watched as the light of multiple Keyblades lit up the sky briefly. There was nothing he could do now, by the time he reached the top or somewhere with a good enough position, the fight would likely be over. And even if it wasn't, if he used the machine he would risk trapping or killing them all. He would find a place to watch from and if they failed, then he would act.

TBC…

So because they acted earlier, DiZ was not there with his machine in time which means Riku is still in Ansem's form. Also, Riku still Soul Eater, not Way to Dawn, but it is coming.

And yeah, Kairi's confused, figure the Islands are pretty sheltered.