Riku: Once again I am here to bring you all the chapter! Hika is fine and all (just a tad lazy and busy still). But we have you a new chapter!

Chapter 17

The train left the station in Twilight Town, heading out, not further into the city, but onto a special path out of the world. As it traveled along, three people watched it until it was out of sight. From up on Sunset Hill, Namine stood near Axel, and Riku, who had his hood up for the time being.

Soon Axel stretched his arms and let out a sigh. "Guess that's that."

Riku hummed softly. "Let's go then."

"Go where?" Axel asked. It's not like we have homes to return to. We don't exist, remember?"

Namine gripped her sketchbook tightly. "Yes, it's true. We may not have homes. But there is someplace I want to go... And someone I want to see…"

Looking down at her drawings, she stared at her latest work which was of Sora and Roxas. The two were holding hands even though she knew that was a reality that could never happen.

"Same here," Axel agreed before turning to Riku. "So, you think you might let us go? I know you're here to get rid of us, but…"

Namine shuddered. "DiZ wants to get rid of me?"

Riku sighed slowly before he gave an answer. "I have no intentions of getting rid of either of you. That's not how I wish to do things. So I ask you two to go."

"Are you sure about this? I know DiZ probably wouldn't be too happy about that," Axel replied.

"I'll do what I can to explain it to him so he won't be suspicious," Riku replied.

"And then what? You'll just stick around and do as he says?" Axel asked.

Riku shrugged. "I'll do what I can. Mainly I want to watch out for Sora. But before you go, I do need to thank you both. I owe you."

"For what?" Namine asked.

"Yeah, I'm a bit confused. Like, maybe I understand why you would own Namine after help she has given, but me? We barely know each other," Axel replied.

"Castle Oblivion. If it wasn't for you," Riku said as he turned his head towards Axel. "Then Namine wouldn't have been able to escape."

Axel chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, guess you got a point. But no need to owe me anything. I don't need to keep track of that stuff."

Axel then owned up a dark corridor and moved towards it. Namine breathed in, clutching her sketchbook tightly in her arms.

Her eyes drifted back to Riku after that. "Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? With your… um, memories?" Namine asked as her voice grew quiet.

Riku knew what she was referring to too. She was trying to not let Axel catch on to what hidden secrets Riku had. Ever since his old memories had awakened things were starting to get easier. He was still having moments where his opinions and thoughts clashed, but from the help of Terra/Aced he was getting better at working through it.

Still, he felt lost at times, digging back into the olden days. Everyday he seemed to remember more and more. He would wake up to more memories, feeling as fresh as when they first happened.

Aced said that was probably expected, but he couldn't be too sure as he had been trapped within that Heartless for all those years. Regardless he was still going to help guide him.

With a sigh, Riku finally gave his answer. "I'll be fine, Namine. Trust in me. If something happens, I will handle it."

"If you say so. Thank you," Namine said before she stood up.

Riku watched her leave with Axel, and once the portal closed he sighed, sitting down on one of the benches. He lowered his head and stared at the ground for the longest time until he heard the familiar voice echoing in his head.

'A bit nervous?' Terra asked.

"To be on my own?" Riku asked aloud since no one else was nearby. "No. Not that. Just dealing with this… the Ansem stuff and our other stuff. When are we going to have time to talk about it properly?"

'Don't know, but I'm sure we can figure out something once this is all done, right?'

"That's what I'm hoping for. But we need to keep an eye on Sora. Even if he was once Ephemer, he is still a clueless goof," Riku said, chuckling softly. "Someone has to keep him in check."

'So you're ready to head out?'

"As ready as I can be," Riku said.

With a flick of his wrist he summoned his own portal and stepped through it, ready to head out to watch Sora on his journey. He did his best to keep to the shadows, trying not to come too close into view for Sora. As far as he could see, Sora was doing what he normally did, going about his mission and taking care of any Heartless that he did encounter.

Eventually Riku tried to invest himself more than just watching from the sidelines. The Organization was still moving with their plans, and a lot of it was going on in the background where Sora wouldn't notice. So with that, Riku started to try and sneak around a bit closer, trying to help out as best as he could.

When he had finished informing the Emperor, he headed out back to his normal waiting within the shadows. He sighed quiet, trying to recover from moments before the visit to the Emperor when he had his encounter with Sora.

'Are you sure it was safe to do that? Don't you worry that Sora may start to wonder why you are in an Organization cloak?' Terra asked.

"He'll probably ponder it, but knowing Sora, he will focus more on the fact that I'm okay," Riku answered.

Terra hummed softly. 'Always finding the silver lining, doesn't he?'

"Even when he was Ephemer, he did the same. Always trying to be positive even when given a tough situation. It was why he was good and helping people," Riku said as he reflected on old memories.

'If we are contemplating that again," Aced started to say, "Should we consider again who else may be out there? The other Foretellers? Or union members?'

"Don't know. There's still much to consider. We already know ourselves as well as Ephemer and Lauriam. Ventus too. Though, the more I think, do you recall the faces that were on my platform? Your image was a mix of you as Aced but also as Terra. Then there was Ava…"

'Ah yes. I don't think we ever discussed that. She was the only one to also have half a revealed face,' Aced answered.

"It's Kairi's face," Riku answered. "I didn't think too hard before, but I'm sure that it's her."

'So your friend Kairi is Ava.'

Ira laughed softly. "It makes sense. Ava always was looking out for the others. One of the kindest hearts we ever knew. Kairi is the same."

'But now she is a Princess of Light in this lifetime. A rather unique change,' Aced added. 'Do you wish to talk to her? See what she may know?'

Riku shook his head. "Not now. She's safe back on the Islands. The last thing I need to do is worry her with what I've done."

'Ira..'

"No. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about what I did this time, in this life. A lot of my actions weren't favorable. I don't know if she's ready to talk to me yet."

'There is only one way you can find out.'

"After this… once we are finished with the Organization, then I'll try. Okay?"

'Okay. Let's just try and stay out of sight. Sora should be here soon,' Terra said.

"Right. Let's go."