Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 19

Sora clung to Riku, running a hand through long silver hair with one hand, the other clutching the warm skin of his back. He would have loved Riku even if he was trapped with Ansem's appearance forever but to see him back to himself was amazing. He'd felt their Hearts connect, had felt the Light explode between them, and then he'd felt Riku go limp, collapsing. That had terrified him, especially when Riku had just laid there, not responding for several minutes.

He didn't care if they were trapped there forever so long as they were together, though he knew their other friends would be looking for them. They'd find a way to get them out if they couldn't find their own exit. He leant in to kiss Riku again, enjoying that he was free to do so. He felt Riku smile into the kiss, an expression he had seen too little of in the last few years.

They stood on the shore, just holding each other, but Sora could feel…he pressed closer, Roxas shunting aside as much as he could, but it was building. "Riku," he grimaced as he felt it spike.

"Sora?" Riku looked down at him. "Sora what's wrong?"

"Anti," he panted. "It's building up, we can't…"

"Shh," Riku whispered, hand rubbing his back. "I'm here, I won't let anything happen."

Sora shook his head. "If…if I change here…it'll fuel it." He knew Anti-form hadn't attacked Riku, but that was when he'd been in his Darker form and in the Realm of Light. Who knew what affect the atmosphere would have on him if he changed. He could be uncontrollably violent and hurt Riku.

"It's okay Sora, I'll keep you safe," he promised.

"I don't want…to hurt you," Sora told him.

"You won't Sora, I trust you, no matter the form. Once we're out of here, you'll change back." Riku shifted, sitting down, drawing him down with him.

Sora curled into his lap, and Riku ran his fingers through his hair. He could feel Roxas' guilt but it wasn't his fault, it was Sora's for ever being a Heartless.

"I love you," Riku whispered, kissing the top of his head.

Sora clung to that, to his own love for Riku, using it to push the rage and Darkness back, but it was a losing fight and he knew it. "Ri…help…" he shuddered, clinging tight.

"I'm here Sora," Riku promised, gently nudging his head up, and Sora stared into his eyes, seeing the worry there.

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Riku wasn't all that surprised to find that one of Sora's eyes was unblinking yellow. He should have known that being in the Realm of Darkness would affect Sora but he'd seemed fine since…since gaining that Keychain from Roxas. "I won't leave you," he swore.

"Riku…I…I…ca't…" Sora was shaking, struggling to speak, and Riku pressed a kiss to his forehead.

He lifted his hand, trying to open a Dark Corridor, desperate to get Sora out of there, but all that happened was a few wisps of Darkness gathering before dispelling. Due to his magic being drained or….or because he was himself again? "Sora, try and focus, I need you to work with Roxas, try and open a Corridor out of here, back home. Understand?"

Sora blinked with one eye only, wisps of Darkness curling around him. His arm twitched and then shakily rose but then he whimpered, pressing his head against Riku's chest.

"It's okay, we'll figure it out," he promised.

Riku held on gently as Sora jerked in his arms, not willing to let go and risk Sora taking off once changed. He was forced to close his eyes as a flash of Light surrounded Sora before collapsing into Darkness even as Sora screamed, jerking wildly against him, and then it was over. Riku could feel the changes immediately, but refused to let go even as Sora went rigid.

"Shh, it's okay Sora, it's me, I'm here, you're safe," he whispered, slowly running his fingers through wispy Darkness where Sora's hair was. He heard a soft chittering noise from Sora, felt him sniffing deeply, and Riku reached for his own Darkness. He couldn't activate that strange Darkness suite but he hoped it would keep Sora calmer.

He had hoped to never see Sora in this form again but he would not be scared of him, it was still Sora. He still had his Heart, he was just…overwhelmed. Sora shifted in agitation so Riku kept talking softly to him, stroking his hair and then his back, ignoring the clinging Darkness.

Riku looked up as he felt something, holding tight to Sora as he hissed. "Shh," he whispered, getting up and carefully guiding Sora with him towards a rock, crouching behind it. Sora was becoming very agitated and Riku worked to calm him even as a doorway appeared, Light spilling in and then…

"Sora? Riku?" Mickey called.

"Here," he called, clinging to Sora. "Keep back," he warned. "Easy Sora, it's okay," he tried to calm him down.

"Riku? Is Sora hurt?" Mickey moved around the rock and froze, eyes going wide.

Sora snarled and broke Riku's hold, rushing at Mickey, shocking him since he'd never seen Sora attack anything but Heartless when in Anti-form.

"Mickey don't!" he yelled, seeing him bring his Keyblade up. He lunged for Sora, fingers brushing his arm but it was enough to have Sora spin, backing away, keeping them both in site. "It's Sora, Mickey."

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"Sora?!" he lowered his Keyblade, staring at the Darkness wrapped figure. He looked at Riku and then at the crouched Heartless…it looked like a Neoshadow, just lacking the antennae…no, it seemed a bit more humanoid than even those Heartless.

Somehow, Riku had his own body back which was incredible and an utter relief. But how had Sora become a Heartless? Had they been attacked? He couldn't imagine the horror for Riku…to watch his best friend having his Heart taken. They'd been together…had Sora not attacked Riku for his own Heart? Maybe Riku's own Darkness had confused Sora?

He blinked as Sora hissed and chittered…since when did Heartless do that?

"Just stay back Mickey, let me calm him down," Riku told him.

"Riku…Heartless don't," but Riku cut him off.

"He's not a Heartless, it's a Drive Form," Riku told him firmly. He moved closer, keeping his own body relaxed. "Easy Sora, there's no danger, come here love," he called softly.

Love…oh. Mickey backed off another step, lowering his Keyblade fully but didn't dismiss it, not when they could be attacked while distracted. He watched Riku hold his hand out, palm up, inching closer, and Sora seemed to sniff the air, leaning towards him.

"That's it, you know me," he whispered.

Sora chirped, moving forward on all fours in a crouch, and then Riku's hand was in his hair, petting the shadowy mass. All Mickey could do was watch in awe as Sora relaxed, letting Riku hold him, chirping and…purring? He rubbed his face against Riku who laughed, petting him.

"There you are," Riku smiled.

"Riku?" Mickey whispered.

"It's because of his time as a Heartless. He's still Sora, Mickey, just…running on instinct. He can recognise his name, seems to understand tone. He's not usually violent towards anything but Heartless…but being here maybe…or he could have thought you were threatening him or me," Riku explained. He shifted them back to the rock, leaning against it and holding Sora to his chest. Yes, his behaviour was very animalistic as he purred and pressed against Riku.

"What happened?"

"It's this place, it overwhelmed him and Roxas, they couldn't push it back. Once we're out of here, there'll be nothing to fuel the form and he'll change back."

"Will he follow you through?" Mickey indicated the door, knowing they didn't have a lot of time before it would close.

Riku drew Sora into standing properly, cupping his face between his hands, Sora chirping softly. "Sora, I need you to try and focus. I won't let anything hurt you but I need you to follow me," he said, and Mickey began moving back towards the door, stepping through to help hold it open from the other side.

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"It's okay, just come with me," he urged. Riku began moving towards the door, making sure to keep between it and Sora, hopefully keeping him from paying too much attention to it. "That's it, you're doing great Sora. Just keep focused on me," he kept up the soft encouragement.

Sora began making nervous noises as the Light increased, but Riku stayed calm, drawing him closer to his own body.

"Shh, I've got you," he promised, taking another step, the Light at his back, feeling its warmth, and Sora screeched as the Light hit him, collapsing, writhing briefly and then the Darkness seemed to flow back over his skin and then into his Heart, leaving a very human Sora lying limp on the sand. "Sora!" He called, kneeling down, checking his pulse. He was breathing fine, so Riku scooped him up and dashed through.

"Riku!" He heard Kairi call, but he ignored her as he knelt in the sand, gently laying Sora down, stroking his hand through his hair.

"Sora!" Donald and Goofy yelled, moving in.

"How do you help him after he turns back?" Riku asked, and they both froze for a second.

"Blankets, sleep, warm drinks," Goofy rattled off.

"What's going on?" Kairi demanded, kneeling down beside him, reaching out to touch Sora's cheek, Sora moaning softly, eyelashes fluttering, but he didn't come fully round. "Riku… you're back." She smiled at him.

Riku nodded. "With Sora's help," he smiled softly at him. "His Light brought me back."

Goofy was quickly back with supplies, and Riku gently wrapped Sora in the blankets for warmth, pulling him back into his arms, hoping to share his body heat. To everyone's relief, Sora soon groaned, head moving weakly against Riku's chest.

"Sora? Can you hear me?" he murmured, not wanting to cause him more pain by raising his voice.

"Ri…" his voice was barely audible, but it was a response.

"I'm here, we're safe now, we're back on the Islands."

"Hur…" Sora's eyelashes fluttered and then ever so slowly his eyes opened, not entirely focused, but he was aware.

"You're in pain?" Riku asked in concern, even as Donald offered him a potion to give Sora, but he weakly turned his head slightly. "Sora?" he frowned and then realised. "No Sora, no one's hurt. We're home safe," he promised, seeing Sora flagging. "Just sleep," he kissed his forehead, and Sora's eyes slipped shut,.

"Gawrsh, it's never been this bad before," Goofy wrung his hands.

"Goofy's right, it hasn't been bad at all the last few times, just a little achy and sleepy," Donald agreed.

"Is the ship here?" Riku asked, and Mickey nodded. Riku stood, cradling Sora's sleeping form close, and they led him to the ship where he headed down and got Sora settled on the bunk.

"What happened to him?" Kairi demanded and Riku exchanged a look with Donald and Goofy before they moved to sit and explain to her and Mickey.

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Kairi felt sick…it was all her fault, she'd thought she'd healed him completely but all she'd done was buy him time, if it hadn't been for Naminé and that pod thing… poor Sora…and that he kept transforming when he overdid it with those Drive Forms… "So what caused it to be like this?" she asked.

"Exposure to the Realm of Darkness, he was okay at first but the longer we were there…and I think he used too much energy when he brought me back, even if neither of us realised what was happening till I passed out and changed on him," Riku looked away, and she reached out to take his hand.

"It's not your fault Riku," she assured him, and he finally met her eyes. Seeing him back to himself was amazing and such a relief. How could he have ever come home if Sora hadn't somehow helped him?

"It's not yours either," Riku squeezed her hand and then gently tugged it. She smiled and leant forward, hugging him, feeling him wrap his arms around her. "I missed you. I'm so sorry for all of it."

Kairi hugged him hard, eyes closed against tears at his apology. "It wasn't your fault, you were influenced and controlled. All Sora ever wanted was to save us both, no matter the cost to him." She'd never forget the sight of Sora falling backwards, glowing, and then just gone in little sparkles of Light. When she'd sensed him in that Heartless…she'd been willing to do whatever it took to protect him, even if he wasn't human anymore. "The important thing is that you're both home safe."

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Riku hugged her, listening to her, and he realised she had her own guilt…because Sora had become a Heartless to free her Heart. "Kairi?"

"Yeah?" She asked.

He glanced at the others and Mickey motioned for them to leave them alone, Riku smiling at him in thanks. They needed to talk privately and at the moment Sora didn't need the possible stress. He sat back and Kairi watched him, curious. "I'm sorry if what you saw shocked or upset you, when Sora and I…when we kissed."

"I…I don't get it," she admitted. "You're both boys."

"Yeah, and in other Worlds, that's normal Kairi. I love Sora and he loves me, though I don't know why," he sighed. "It was that love that changed me back Kairi, we were kissing and we said it and this Light just reached out from Sora's Heart to mine, bringing my own Light out and banishing Ansem for good. I still have Darkness in my Heart, but only my own."

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Mickey kept an eye on the two talking, relieved that it seemed to be going well, and he wasn't the one having to tell her which was nice. He was happy for them both, Riku had been so tortured and Sora had been so desperate to find him. He was worried about Sora and his continued transformation into that almost Heartless form, he hoped it truly was linked to the Drive Forms because then they could hopefully tweak the magic and stop it happening.

They should have left by now, it was passed time they return home as well. But they couldn't leave without saying goodbye to Sora. He was also going to send word to Radiant Garden about sending a ship to the Islands, in case of emergency. He knew Cid made Gummi ships that were powered differently, after all it was hard to smile in an emergency. Just because the Organisation was gone, didn't mean trouble would never come looking for them. Maleficent was still out there after all.

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Sora stumbled out of the ship, throwing a hand up to block the sun as he blinked blearily. Where?

"Sora!" Riku called and he turned towards the noise, relaxing as he felt Riku wrap his arms around him, hiding his face in his vest…he'd been bare chested, hadn't he? The glare slowly faded, and Sora straightened up, looking up at Riku, seeing his relief.

"Riku? Where are we? What happened?' he asked and then was silenced by a short, sweet, kiss.

"We're home Sora, we made it," Riku assured him, taking his hand, and Sora looked around in shock as he recognised the Play Island.

He was happy to spot Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey across the beach, fooling around in the surf. They all needed to relax but still…how had they…

"Riku…I…I…ca't…"

Sora gasped as he remembered that…no…he hadn't…had he? "Riku? Why can't I remember coming back here?"

"Anti-form," Riku admitted softly, and Sora stiffened. "It wasn't your fault Sora, it was being there. You weren't violent or anything Sora, you stayed with me. Mickey knows, he found us, and gave us the way home. You changed back as we were leaving so no one else saw."

"I didn't attack Mickey?" he demanded to know, feeling like there was something to do with the King but the memories were elusive, they'd come to him eventually.

Riku kissed him gently. "You lunged, but Mickey thought you were a Heartless and I was in danger. Once he lowered his Keyblade you calmed down."

He'd never lunged at anyone before, at least not that he could remember and no one had said he had…then again no one had aimed a Keyblade at him either. He shifted and Riku somehow knew what he wanted, hugging him close, letting him hide, how had he never realised he was in love with Riku before? His kisses were addictive…just holding hands or hugging was pure heaven.

"We'll deal with this Sora," he promised, and Sora nodded only for his stomach to growl, making Riku laugh. "Let's go grab some food."

"Yeah, sounds good." He didn't want to think about Anti-form anymore.

"Oh, I had a talk with Kairi, explained things about us."

He grinned at not having to do that but then stopped walking, eyes wide.

"Sora?"

"Does this mean that…we have to hide from now on?" he asked, he'd never even thought about it, hadn't really thought about truly coming home to stay. But if things were back to normal, would they be told to stay in their World and just...pretend they knew nothing of what lay beyond?

"We'll figure something out. I am not giving you up. Even if we do have to use that raft and find our own Island. We can't be the first."

Sora nodded, and they joined the others.

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Donald frowned when Kairi brought up their relationship a while after they'd finished eating and they began talking about how to hide it. They might get in trouble? Be separated? No. No way was that happening. A glance at Goofy showed he agreed, they would not let Sora be put through that. He was their friend, half way to being their kid in some ways. He glanced at his King to find him frowning too before he announced that he was going to have a ship sent to them, for emergency use and that yes, anything like that happening counted as an emergency.

"If ya do leave, please at least tell us where you're going."

"Of course Mickey, and thank you," Riku answered, Sora nodding.

"You'll always be welcome with us," Donald told all three of them. That would give them a wonderful home. He knew the Queen had loved Sora when they were there. It'd be a big change for them but they could handle it. and if they couldn't settle there, well, Donald was sure Leon and the gang would welcome them with wide open arms.

Of course, he did hope they were just making plans for the utter worse and everything would be fine. They'd saved the universe twice so now they should get to live their lives in peace, right? What else could go wrong enough to need them?

TBC….

And Donald just jinxed them.

Couldn't finish this part without anti showing up at least once more since the poor thing vanishes after 2 only to be replaced by Rage, and the Realm of Darkness seemed the perfect place. So, should Sora continue to be able to use Roxas' Light abilities, training with them and stuff so that Roxas doesn't have to be right at the surface to help? That would also leave Sora open to learning darker abilities too probably, Roxas being a Nobody influencing him more.

Out of curiosity which to people prefer/think is better -anti from KH2 or Rage from 3?