Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Threads of Fate though I did buy the games from the store. But the initial creation of the game was all Disney and Squaresoft.

AnimeFan: Hey, I like the feedback I got in my reviews this time!! ^-^And two people have asked for my picture I drew of grown-up Riku and Sora! Yeah!! Sorry for those who didn't think my rant in the last chapter was necessary and thumbs-up to those who loved it! We peoples have to stand up for ourselves. Now, for all your entertainment I've wrote this short guide that I call, You know when you've played to much Kingdom Hearts and watched Disney when...

1) You go out and buy the Disney Mania CD with fifteen songs from Disney shows resung by artist like Usher and Baha Men.
2) You search the internet and find over eighteen second-by-second screen shots of Riku in the opening scene of Kingdom Hearts.
3) You take those second-by-second screen shots and save them in a file in order of what comes before what, then put them on your desktop and set it so that the desktop background changes every five seconds.
4) You sit there for hours and watch your desktop as those second-by-second screen shots are switched in order ever five seconds, playing a movie on the background of your computer!!!
5) You find watching your homemade movie of Riku in the opening of the game is boring without sound so you pop in that Disney Mania CD and listen to it while watching your Riku computer movie!!!! ^-^

Ok, so let's see what your score is...

...If you did one through two, you're a normal Kingdom Hearts fan.

...If you did one through four, you're an everyday Kingdom Hearts fan with an obsession for Riku and Under the Sea sung by A*TEENS.

...If you did all five of those things, you're a totally obsessed fan who squeals at the very sight of Riku and grooves to the smooth tunes of Colors of the Wind and Hakuna Matata!! Give yourself a pat on the back and hold your head up high!!

AnimeFan: Ok, so how many of you only did one to two of those things!? Let's look at my score... ohhhhh....typical. I got all five things. lol. Actually, I got the idea for the survey there from what I did. I couldn't help it!! When I found those eighteen second-by-second screen shots of Riku in the opening scene I just had to make a movie for my computer desktop!!! And I just had to get the Disney Mania CD cause the thing I love Disney for is the songs in their shows!!! ^-^ I know...I'm pathetic... -__-' Oh well. lol.

P.S. Don't hurt yourselves people, trying to figure out the meaning of the name of the last chapter. I thought naming the chapter, Kanga-Rue, was cute and I couldn't think of a better one anyway. As you see, it has nothing to do with Kanga from Winnie the Pooh. So just don't think that much about it. And, does anyone know about a show called Disney's Tiki Room? There's a song on this CD from that show...but I've never heard of the show before. Oh well. Also, Mint and Rue have already been through the whole Dewprism relic quest and are now grown teenagers. Now, on to the chapter! ^-^

###############################################################

Chapter 7 -- Minty Fresh with a Twist


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stupid people...soon I'll get my goal...WORLD DOMINATION!!...
Why is that so important...to you?...my love is all I have to offer...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riku walked quietly across the room, carrying a tied up Kairi in his arms and placing her down on an alter set in the middle of the atelier. Kneeling, he checked to make sure the ropes that bound her were good and tight before standing back up and turning to look at Maleficant, Sephiroth, and Mint. Good work Riku. I am sure everything is set.Riku nodded towards the woman, Yes, Sora won't know what hit him. Maleficant nodded then turned to Sephiroth, Let us go now. Riku blinked and looked at the two in surprise, What!! You're going...where to? Aren't you going to stay and make sure everything works out!? The two adults stopped and turned to look back at them. Maleficant smiled in her sickily sweet way and placed a hand on his head, I trust the two of you will take care of everything, but there is something...or rather someone...we must get.

Riku narrowed his eyes at them suspiciously but nodded. He and Mint stood quietly watching as both Maleficant and Sephiroth left. Then Mint crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently, Well, this is all nice and dandy...but what about me!!! What about me getting what I want! WORLD DOMINATION BABY! That's all that matters...I disserve it after all, I mean, why did Rue get his wish and I didn't!! Oh! Riku sighed and walked over to sit down on a box, Don't worry, Mint. You heard Maleficant...You'll get what you disserve once this is all over, but Sora must be dealt with first before he destroys this whole world.The red-haired princess huffed and flicked her hair behind her stubbornly.

Why are you doing this Riku!! Maleficant is bad news!! She's the evil one, not me and Sora!! Riku jumped to his feet and turned to glare over at Kairi, Shut up, you!!! If anyone is the evil one here it's you! I've known him longer than you, Sora was mine...!Mint looked from one to the other and decided not to say anything, just watch. Kairi puffed up and stuck her tongue out childishly at the white-haired boy, What do you hope to gain from helping Maleficant! You're just going to make Sora hate you even more!! Riku fumed and grabbed Kairi by her ropes, pulling the girl close enough so she could clearly hear each word he hissed out, I'm going to stop Sora and free him from the evil that's taken him. The evil I know you put in him! Don't mess with me, Kairi! I'm sick of being pushed around, ignored, and left behind!!!! With that he roughly shoved her back and turned, storming outside of the atelier to do whatever his part of the trap for Sora was.

Mint smiled in amusement and watched the whole thing before turning to look at Kairi, He's got Gullable written all over him. He'd better be careful or he's going to get hurt. Kairi laughed and glared in the opposite direction of Mint, He's an idiot, that's what. A gay idiot and a waste of mother nature's good earth. Frowning, Mint walked over and unceremoniously stuffed a handkerchief of hers into Kairi's mouth, And you've got Jealous Bitch written ALL over you. Smiling happily at her work, Mint walked up the stairs to take her place for attack.

@@@@@~~~~~~~~~~~(Carona Forest, Stairs to Atelier)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@

Sora sighed and turned his head to stare behind him at Donald, Would you quit counting the steps! You're just making us even more tired by doing that! Donald scowled and ignored him, continueing to count as the 1,349th step passed them. Rue smiled good-naturedly, hiding the worry inside of him. She had always counted the steps to this atelier...even when they had all memorized how many steps there were.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Carona Forest, Magician's Atelier)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After many more steps and several threats made about throwing a certain duck over the edge of the floating staircase Sora, Rue, and Donald finally stepped onto the floating platform that supported the Magician's Atelier. "There...that's the magician's atelier...at least, the only one I know of here in Carona Forest," Rue wheezed out, pointing to the small hut in the middle of the island. Sora gasped a few more times for breath before straitening up to look at the hut, "What nut of a magician would build such a simple structure so damn high up!!!" Rue shrugged and walked towards the atelier, Sora and Donald jogging to catch up to him. Once at the door, Rue and Donald entered but a movement from the side of the hut grabbed Sora's attention. "Huh? Ri-Riku?" Stepping back, the brunette looked around but couldn't see anything out of place. It must of just been a trick of the light. Shaking his head, Sora stepped forward and entered the hut.

"Eeeeyaaa!!!!!" Sora unsheithed the Keyblade and ran up next to Rue and Donald. Two red-haired girls stood in front of them, one was a tied up Kairi and the other he didn't recognize. The unknown redhead laughed semi-evilly and held a ring up to Kairi's face, "Move and the girl get's it!" Sora was slightly skeptical about this threat and started forward only to be held back by Rue. The white-haired warrior took a step towards the girl and offered his hand to her, "Mint...please let her go and come over here." The girl, Mint, wacked his hand aside and scowled, "Why should I!? I never thought you the kind to help evil Rue!! Then again, you ARE one of Valan's dolls!" Rue winced at the comment but reached out his hand once more, determined to get the girl to take it. Sora frowned and figure that this was the 'special someone' Rue had mentioned. But then, why did she say Rue was helping evil? "Quit it, Rue! That boy you're with is evil...and besides, I want world domination! I'm sick of you always getting everything you want and I don't even though I sacrifice as much as you!"

"What do you mean, evil!? I'm not evil...I came here to find my friends that were kidnapped!" Sora gestured towards Kairi and put his Keyblade away. Mint stared at him skeptically and brushed her hair out of her face. Rue took this moment of distraction to grab her hand in a firm hold, "Mint...please! Sora's not evil...he really did come to find two of his friends! Mint, come back to Carona with us and we'll work together to find another relic." Mint attempted to break his hold and wacked him on the head when she couldn't, "Never! That's all I need is for you to help me then take the wish before I do!" Rue sighed, still refusing to let go, "Mint...please, we've all been so worried about you. After you disappeared I've been doing everything I could to find where you'd run off to. Mint...please, I don't know what I'd do if you were to get killed." Mint's face softened and she stared at him in disbelief, "Everyone, you've been worried? About...me?" He nodded and smiled warmly, "Please Mint. Do you really think I'd help someone if they were evil?"

Sora sighed gratefully as Mint let Kairi go and hugged Rue before pushing him onto the ground with a scowl. He and Donald walked over and untied Kairi's bonds. She rubbed her hands where the ropes had cut into her wrists, then pulled the handkerchief out of her mouth, "Sora! It's Riku...he's-" "Riku! Of course, he's got to be around here somewhere!" Turning, the brunette ran outside, ignoring Mint and Kairi's cries. Outside, Sora stopped as he saw Riku standing right there near the edge of the platform, his backed turned to the blue-eyed boy. Reaching out, he smiled in relief at seeing his best friend unharmed, "Riku! You're ok!" As he took a step more towards the other boy a loud cry split through the air. Both boys whirled around to look over in the direction of the sound. Donald came running out just as a giant, hawklike heartless swooped down and attempted to snatch Riku up. The white-haired boy dodged quickly and drew his sword, readying to defend himself against the beast, "A Hawkniff!?"

The Hawkniff twisted its neck, narrowing its eyes on him, beforing making a sharp turn in the air and diving down at Riku again. This time, Sora jumped on top of the bird's back as Riku deflected the attack with his sword. With another screech, it flew high into the air and did a backflip in an attempt to dislodge Sora from its back. He held on though and as it straightened out to dive back down at Riku he brought the Keyblade hard against the creatures head, a sickening crack with a scream piercing the air as the bird's fragile bone skull cracked. The two came crashing down and Riku dodged, driving his sword into the bird's neck at the same time Donald cast a thunder spell.

Sora gasped as he saw the spell miss and hit Riku instead, sending the older boy flying across the platform and skidding towards the edge. Jumping off the mosters back, Sora ran and grabbed feebly at air as Riku's hand disappeared over the edge along with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Carona City, In Front of the Church)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh Mint, we're all so glad that you're ok!" Elena's mother, Mira, smiled at Mint while Rue just hung back against the stone railing. They were all hanging around outside Carona Church as Mint was hugged and welcomed back with happy faces from Mira, Elena, Klaus, and the others. Rue smiled and looked over at Sora who was leaning against the rail as well, trying his best to not cry openenly, "It's ok, Sora. I'm sure Riku survived somehow, after all, there are a lot of bushes, trees, and water in the forest that he could of easily fallen into to break his fall." Wiping his eyes, Sora smiled and nodded towards his newest friend, "Yeah, you're right. I think we'll go look for him after we rest." Kairi, who had been speaking to Mint, frowned and walked timidly over to the brunette. Sora looked up curiously as she kicked at the ground nervously, "I know...this may sound like me trying to turn you against Riku...but I'm not. Riku...he's working with Maleficant and Sephiroth."

"Kairi, that's not in any way funny," Sora frowned. Mint puffed up and walked over to stand in front of him, "She's telling the truth...in a way. Maleficant and Sephiroth are menipulating him somehow. He thinks you're the evil one and that you're the one controlling the Heartless." Sora blinked and stared from one girl to the other. Rue sighed and straightened his hat thinking that these two evil people were doing a good job making Sora look like the bad guy here. "Hey!! I didn't know the Church door had a key!" Everyone turned from their conversations to look curiously at Elena. Sora pushed himself off of the railing, glad for the interuption, and walked over to examine the door. Sure enough, there was a fairly big keyhole on the wooden door. He got the Keyblade out and held it steady as a bright beam of light came from it and shot into the keyhole.

Click...

@@@@@~~~~~~~~~(Hallow Bastein)~~~~~~~~~~~@@@@@

Riku coughed as he walked down the green carpeted halls of Maleficant's big castle. He was tired, bruised, cut, and limping from the fight with the Hawkniff. Plus, the trap for Sora had failed all thanks to Mint turning against them to join the dark side. Groaning, he pushed the door to the main throne room open and limped in, smiling lightly as he spotted Sephiroth waiting for him. The older man frowned as he saw the reck Riku was in and lead the boy over to sit down on some cushions, "Things didn't go so well I take it." Riku shook his head and relaxed thankfully into the soft pillows. Taking out a bottle, Sephiroth made him drink the potion. It did its work, immediately healing up his wounds though not all of them. "Well, there's always next time...as long as you never give into the darkness." Riku blinked and stared at the other white-haired man, "What did you say?"

Sephiroth looked up and smiled at him, "I said...never give into the darkness. I'd better be going now. Stay here and wait for Maleficant...she wants to speak with you." Riku watched dumbfounded as Sephiroth stood and walked out of the room without so much as a second look back. What he had said...never give into the darkness...that was the same thing his mother had said before she had... Riku winced as the memory came back to him with full force, "...mother..."

~~~~~~~~
"Mom...Mom!! Where are you!!"

The white-haired boy ran across the beach near his sea-side home, searching for his mother. Everything was so quiet, there was no chirping of the birds and even the ocean was as still as glass. The only sound was his footsteps in the water as he swirved around the corner and froze in horror. He watched as a black shadow blurred by his mother before disappearing back into the foliage. His mom seemed to waver where she stood before collasping into the sand.

"MOTHER!!!!!"

Shaking, he lifted her head onto his lap and shook her roughly, tears staining his eyes and cheeks. After a while, she struggled and opened her eyes, smiling sweetly, "Oh...Riku...I'm sorry." He smiled through the tears, "Mom...hold on. I'll go get the doctor." She shook her head and raised her hand up to wipe the tears away, "That won't help...I'm afraid...nothing can help me for now...Here, Riku...take my locket...wear it and never lose it..." He obediently took his mother's heart locket from around her neck and put it on. She smiled and squeezed his hand.

"Riku, remember...never give into the darkness...embrace the light...and your heart will heal all."

"Yes, mother."

~~~~~~~~

"
Mom...I need you." Riku curled up in the cushions, squeezing his shirt where his mother's heart locket was hidden.

################################################################

AnimeFan: Wahh!! More sadness for Riku, now we know some more about Riku's past. ^-^ Once again, another beautiful chapter with good old humor and action. To our favorite Threads of Fate character, Mint, YOU GO GIRL!!! Lol, she really told Kairi off! ^-^ Yes, this fic isn't pure yaoi, there is other pairings such as my all-time favorite Rue/Mint pairing! ^-^ Guess what I learned from one of my reviewers...the name Kairi means seperation. Interesting...hmm... Can anyone guess what is going on between Sephiroth and Riku? Here's a hint to keep you off the wrong track, they are NOT lovers in this fic. I promise to get the next chapter up soon!