Riku wasn't sure how he had gotten there. Standing atop a skyscraper in a world that was never meant to exist, rain pelting against his back as thunder rolled through the clouds. Despite the fabric over his eyes, he could see the world below hazed over with black. Alleyways led to the courtyard he stood over, where Heartless poked out their heads from the teeming pools of darkness, the glow of their yellow eyes being the only thing that set them apart from the pure blackness around them. Even hundreds of feet below, he could feel their darkness. He could feel the pull, the enticing whispers, and the way his heart lurched to give in and free the power he kept locked away.

The rain soaked into his coat, chilling him to the bone. He shivered and wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from what was about to come. Roxas would soon be there… and no matter what happened, things would never be the same.

"How many times do I have to beat you?" Roxas yelled over the storm.

Riku struggled to breathe, his hand clenched over his chest as his knees hit the pavement. He could see his reflection in the pool of rainwater and the single drop of blood dripping down the side of his face before rippling through the reflected image. He couldn't keep doing this.

"You've left me with no other choice." Riku grimaced, struggling to get the words out as he forced himself to stand, staggering forward.

"What?"

"I have to release the power in my heart—" The words echoed in Riku's heart as he spoke, lifting his hand to remove the sash over his eyes. "—the dark power that I've been holding back."

The black fabric fell away and for a moment, Riku was able to see the world. The way golden moonlight peeked through the clouds, cascading over the alleyways. The neon shining against the buildings, reflecting off the rain pooled on the ground. And the way Roxas' head tilted in confusion, almost reminding him of—

"Even…" Riku took in a sharp breath. "If it changes me forever."

The Darkness pulsed inside him, celebrating, cheering its newfound freedom. It was almost pleasant at first— a trickle of tingles spreading through his chest— until it clenched down on his heart. Riku cried out, Darkness erupting around him and lifting him off the ground. Needles pricked at his skin, his muscles, his bones, transforming him into something he detested. Something he fought against for so long… But there was no turning back.

The pain subsided, settling into a dull throbbing in the pit of his heart. It was overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline coursing through him, a raw power he cursed to admit he had missed. A hot breath tickled the back of his neck and he looked over his shoulder, seeing a creature he had nearly forgotten about. Ansem's Guardian.

He didn't have the chance to take it in as the darkness around him melted away and he was once again met with Roxas' sharpened glare. Riku stared back, arms crossing in the way he had seen Ansem do during their countless battles. It was time to end it.

Without even needing to say the spell aloud, Riku disappeared from sight. Roxas gasped, eyes going wide before Riku reappeared mere inches in front of him. Riku only had to think what he wanted to happen before Guardian obeyed. Its black arm swung forward, capturing Roxas in a single swipe. Roxas yelled, struggling against its grasp as he was lifted up. Riku could feel the struggle, the panic rising in Roxas' chest, yet he only tightened Guardian's grip. Then Roxas went limp, his Keyblades falling to the ground, bursting into crystals of light.

"I have accepted it," Riku muttered, hearing his new, deepened voice for the first time as he swallowed the lump of disgust in his throat.

He hadn't accepted it. He hated it. But he would push through for the sake of setting things right. As Guardian put Roxas' unconscious body on the ground, Riku looked away, ordering it to disappear.

Riku leaned back against the rooftop of the mansion, gazing out at the golden sunset that painted over Twilight Town. It was a breathtaking sight, one he was well used to seeing, though he wasn't particularly admiring it. His mind endlessly replayed Roxas going limp in his— Guardian's, grasp.

"Guardian," he whispered, trying to make sense of it.

On command, Guardian appeared in front of him, silent and awaiting order. Riku blinked, not expecting it to actually show up, but as he stared at it, he couldn't bring himself to send it away. His eyes followed the tattered bandages wrapped around its chest, until landing on its covered mouth. Its teeth were bared, its mouth hardly able to open as labored breaths vibrated the bindings.

It was different from the other Heartless. Bound to a single person, submissive. And now he was its new owner, as if it were some kind of pet.

Lifting his gaze, Riku realized it was staring back at him. Its yellow eyes seemed to bore into him and Riku couldn't shake the feeling that it was judging. Guilt pooled in his gut, the image of using Guardian to suffocate Roxas flashing through his mind.

Averting his gaze, he scoffed, "What are you looking at?"

The words sounded wrong in Ansem's baritone voice, only reminding him what a child he was as Guardian vanished in a wisp of smoke.

A barrage of lightning pierced through the Heartless. Bursts of darkness clouded the field, while glowing orbs scattered across the rocky terrain. Riku ran ahead, his blade emanating a purple aura before he swiped at the oncoming horde. The purple glow sparked into a flickering wave of dark flame that spread across the field, sizzling through the shadows and leaving nothing but smoke in its wake.

Riku stood tall, breath short as he watched the Heartless dissipate around him. He hadn't expected to run into so many in Hollow Bastion, but he was prepared to fight more as inky pools spread across the ground.

He readied Soul Eater, watching the creatures climb out. Yellow eyes glowered at him, claws clicking together and blackened teeth bared. Riku narrowed his gaze, his grip tightening around the hilt of his blade.

Then out of the corner of his eye he noticed a claymore barreling towards him. A dark shield was fruitlessly summoned, shattering upon impact. Riku flew backwards, hitting a cliffside that forced all the breath out of his chest. He crumpled to the ground, vision blurring as he looked up and saw a group of Nobodies appearing to challenge the Heartless. The claymore that had dealt the blow dissolved in a golden light, returning to the grasp of a Berserker that had its sights set on Riku.

Riku grimaced, attempting to stand before the world spun around him and he faltered against the cliffside. He rummaged through his pocket, struggling to find a potion as the Berserker began to charge. Riku gave up his search and readied Soul Eater, despite his swaying balance. The Berserker leapt into the air, disappearing in a golden light, Riku's eyes danced over the sky, anticipating it reappearing over him.

He didn't have to wait long as a flicker of magic appeared overhead. Riku raised Soul Eater, but stopped short when Guardian materialized in front of him. It caught the Beserker's claymore midswing, clenching its hand and splintering the weapon to pieces. The Berserker slammed its arm against the Guardian, but bounced back from the impact before its helmet was grabbed by Guardian and crushed. Riku's eyes went wide, watching the Berserker fizzle away, leaving nothing but ash and orbs in its place.

Guardian looked over its shoulder at Riku, their eyes meeting. Riku couldn't look away. Had it come on its own to protect him?

Riku should have said something. He felt the urge in his gut, but he pushed it away, focusing back on the battle. He could feel his strength returning and raised Soul Eater, summoning a healing spell that shimmered around him. With a rejuvenated breath he rushed past Guardian, sensing it following his lead.

A watercolor array of pastels painted the sky and the parapets of the castle as the dawn of a new day peeked over the horizon. Riku sat along the edge of a cliffside, feet dangling over the side while he looked over the vast chasm that led to Hollow Bastion. Hours had gone by since the battle had ended, yet Riku's body was still sore and clouded with exhaustion.

He leaned forward with a heavy breath, running his hands over his face. Snapshots of the endless fighting played through his mind, each one reminding him of what Guardian had done. He peeked up from his hands, gazing out at the sunrise as the pastels melded into blue. The mere idea of the Guardian protecting him without an order made no sense to him. It only protected Ansem when it was ordered, never moving or reacting unless it was forced. The same way it was forced to grab Roxas…

Why then, would it choose to protect him?

As if sensing his thoughts, Guardian appeared in front of him. Riku wasn't surprised to see it, but hadn't expected the warmth of having someone else there beside him. He looked up, meeting his gaze with Guardian's. It stared back, its eyes different from before. There was no resentment or judgement, it felt…understanding.

"I'm imagining things," Riku muttered to himself, pushing his hair back as he blew out a breath. "But…" His gaze flitted away for a moment, searching for words. "I never said… thanks, for before." The words felt strange coming out. The fact that he was thanking a Heartless wasn't lost on him, but somehow he needed to express the sentiment regardless.

The Guardian remained still at first, the way Riku had expected it to. But then it nodded its head and Riku felt dread coming up his throat as the image of it crushing Roxas flashed through his mind. It really could make decisions for itself.

Questions flooded Riku's mind. Regrets, curiosity, pity, they swirled around, making him dizzy. He looked away, willing Guardian to disappear, but it instead went to his side, gazing out at the morning glow silhouetting the castle town.

Riku glanced up at it from the corner of his eye, but didn't say anything. Deep down, he appreciated the companionship.

He summoned Guardian a lot more often after that.

"I'll open a path!" Riku put up his hand, willing a Dark Corridor to form.

His friends stood around him, finally reunited and ready to head back home after all this time. All he needed to do was form their way. But then… nothing happened. There was no spark, no rush of darkness.

"What…?" Riku looked at his hand.

"You don't belong in the Dark Realm anymore, Riku," Mickey reminded him.

The concept should have comforted him, and in a way it did. The others continued to talk, and Riku numbly listened. He had regained his body, his abilities, but with it, he lost his connection to the darkness… to Guardian. That stung more than he had anticipated it would.

In the last several weeks, they had become something of a team, if he could call it that. They never shared a conversation, though Riku had confided in it on a few lonely nights. It was a Heartless, something Riku had fought against countless times, yet there was a connection there. One he wasn't sure he could ever explain to anyone without sounding insane.

"C'mon!" Donald's yell cut through his reminiscing.

He looked over his shoulder, seeing everyone going through another Corridor. A soft smile formed as he knew it had been Namine's doing. Another connection he would be hard pressed to explain. Perhaps his understanding of beings without hearts could use some reevaluation. He would have ample time for that once they made it back home.

Placing a hand over his heart, his smile grew and he whispered under his breath, "Thanks Guardian… for everything."

**Author's Note: Thank you so much for taking the time to read! This is one of the fics I wrote for the Riku Zine: The Things That Matter. Guardian is one of those characters that has always intrigued me and it was fun diving into its connection with Riku in KH2.**