:::dodges evil glances and bottles that have been thrown at her::: I'm
sorry people. Shadow was going to die no matter what, from the very
beginning of the story. And sorry for this taking so long, many fics to
update. ^_^ but at least this chapter is nice and big. The whole Kingdom
Hearts thing still confuses me (all who have played the game know that they
didn't explain much) so all the theories and stuff are from me. If they
contradict each other, sorry, the story is about Riku, not about the laws
of physics and darkness. Enjoy!
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Riku could feel the cold stone on his forehead. He was on his knees, bent over, as if he was going to throw up. The pain still flared up in him, the feeling of his lover's death. Ansem had relinquished his hold on Riku's body and let the boy be alone for now.
Gliding forward, the dark witch leaned down and spoke softly to the boy who was crying silently on her floor.
"I'm sorry Riku. I know Shadow meant a lot to you."
"Shut up you bitch. You don't know anything." Standing up, Riku's eyes flashed dangerously. Tears were still sitting in them, but he quickly wiped them away, and his face became as cold and hard as the rock beneath his feet. Looking down at himself, Riku realized his fists were clenched and there was a strange green mist around him.
"You have incredible potential Riku. The darkness inside you is powerful."
~She has no idea. A silly little marionette who can sense the strings, but knows nothing of the puppeteer.~
'Are you doing this? This power.'
"Release your inner power Riku. And you will be able to take your revenge on the keyblade master."
Riku looked at the evil old woman, even as he spoke to her master, and the source of all the power that had attracted her to him in the first place.
~This power is ours Riku. From being in this body with you, we have begun to share things. My control and power over the darkness is one of them. You just needed to accept it into your heart, and your rage helped out with that.~
'I-I don't know.'
~What don't you know?~ Ansem sounded confused.
'I don't know if I want to kill Sora, or if you do.'
Riku waited through the long pause, unsure of where Ansem had gone to.
'Ansem!'
~I'm here Riku. I was trying to see into your heart, to know who's desire that is. But....I can't.~
Riku picked up the slight bit of malice in Ansem's voice. Just enough to show that there was more, hidden from where Riku could know of it.
'We need to talk. In person.'
~"Maleficent. Keep your eyes open for Sora. If he comes to the castle, make sure you come and find me."~
Riku exited the woman's strange round chamber and was in the dank castle chapel. Tapping into the darkness, Riku opened up a portal beneath him. It was so different without Shadow. As his feet and legs went into the portal, Riku felt suddenly cold and more alone than ever. Fear gripped at him, the fear that he wouldn't know the way without Shadow.
~It's okay Riku.~ To the frightened boy, the voice was alien but comforting. He was too afraid to realize who the voice belonged to, only that it was something to grab onto as the last inches of himself were sucked into the void.
Closing his green eyes, Riku tried to focus, tried to picture where he was going. The center of the shadow world. He could sense the heartless scurry past him. Shadow was supposed to protect him from them.
"Ah!" Riku cried out as he lost his concentration and began to fall through the endless obsidian. Giving into the depression that had been creeping around his mind all day, Riku lost consciousness.
Silver hair obscured Riku's view as his eyes slowly opened. He could feel the cold ground beneath him and immediately made it a more pleasant temperature. He rolled over and sat up, staring into the black floor, into the eyes of his reflection.
Someone else appeared in the reflection next to him, his long white hair trailing over his shoulder as he leaned over and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I truly am sorry for you Riku. If I had the power, I would bring Shadow back."
Standing up, Riku gave Ansem a cold, calculating stare. Ansem stared back with bright orange eyes, never flinching towards the smaller boy.
"Why couldn't I tell?"
Ansem sighed and began to pace back and forth, looking majestic as his cape spread out behind him and his boots hit the ground, echoing around the world.
"To tell you the truth Riku, I'm not sure."
"You better figure it out then." Riku screamed at him and stood up, fury simmering behind his cool green eyes. At the boy's explosion, Ansem turned calmly towards him and approached.
"Don't take your anger out on me, Riku. I didn't kill Shadow. Right now, I am the only friend you have."
"Lucky me." The boy muttered.
"Hmm." Ansem had suddenly stopped his pacing and stood holding his chin in his hands. His cold orange eyes swept over Riku's body, making the keyblade master suddenly feel uncomfortable.
"Back off." Riku growled out as he walked backwards, his feet barely making a sound on the black ground.
"I just need to see something. Don't be afraid."
Considering the last part of the sentence, Riku was definitely afraid. He turned on his heel and began to run away when the solid floor turned to quick sand. He felt the same cold feeling the darkness always gave off as it climbed up to his knees, holding him in place.
"Tsk tsk. Don't worry, this should tell us our answer." Riku felt a gloved hand come down softly onto his shoulder. He thrashed out at him with his arms, and managed to his in the stomach.
The taller man took a step back from the wild boy, who was trying to claw at the darkness holding him in place. Ansem didn't like the idea that someone in his realm could do damage to him. It upset him.
Riku could practically see the Darkness draining out of Ansem as it reared up from the floor. Snake like tendrils wrapped around Riku's wrists, and held them down at his sides. He tried to control them, try and force them away physically and with his power, but neither had any effect.
"Shhh. Calm down dear boy." Riku felt those hands again, this time on both his shoulders. Ansem leaned down, and slowly his hands began to wrap around Riku's body, across his chest.
"Let go!" Trying to free himself, Riku only managed to incite the darkness to crawl further up his limbs.
Ansem's white gloved hands slid down over Riku's chest, softly searching, almost teasing. As he leaned over, Riku could see part of his tan face a shock of white hair on his shoulder.
"You never had a problem with Shadow getting this close. Only me, huh Riku? I'm hurt."
As the hands continued their slow trek across his chest, Riku began to squirm more and more. But Ansem soon stopped. Wondering if it had something to do with him, Riku looked down at where both of Ansem's hands had halted. It was directly over the left side of his chest.
"Ah. There we are." Ansem's sharp fingers began to press against Riku's flesh and he thrashed harder than ever. The blackness became like steel, holding him perfectly in place as the older man forced his hands through cloth and slowly through skin. The darkness allowed him to, but didn't numb the sensation for Riku.
Feeling the sharp points of his fingers dig into the muscle of his chest, Riku cried out. He could no longer silence himself as he screamed into the empty darkness. There was no Shadow to save him this time.
~Of course not Riku. Your best friend killed him, remember.~
The silver haired head fell onto his chest, his breath hitching in his throat as the hands pushed farther into his chest. Ansem grinned beside his face, and pressed himself closer to the boy. His lips were nearly touching Riku's ear, as his eager orange eyes watched his hands penetrate the boy's flesh.
Riku began to pant, unable to scream, and only feeling the claw-like fingers digging deeper and deeper, straight for his heart. Ansem pressed his chest to Riku's back, and Riku could feel his breath quickening as well.
With one final push, Riku gasped in pain and surprise as he felt Ansem touch his heart. His body went limp and leaned against Ansem's as the pain suddenly subsided. Feeling like a rag doll, Riku suddenly became aware of his own heartbeat. He could feel it pumping slowly through him, and saw Ansem's hands move the slightest bit every time his heart beat.
"Can you feel it?" Ansem's voice was barely a whisper, hissed into Riku's ear. The silver haired boy shook his head. Pushing his head farther over the boy's shoulder, at an awkward angle, Ansem pressed his neck to Riku's. The slow thump of a heartbeat traveled through the noble's neck, and Riku could feel it through the sensitive skin of his neck. Both beats were the same.
"W-Why?" Riku asked.
"Shadow's death. You accepted your anger and hatred, all that is pure in the darkness, and in doing so, you accepted me into your heart." Ansem slowly slid his hands out of Riku's chest, his white gloves smeared with blood. The darkness released their hold of the boy's arms and legs, and a small bit pooled up on his chest, closing up the wound its master had inflicted.
"Why am I not a heartless?"
"Silly boy. Your heart is still with you. I am merely now a part of it." Extending a bloodied hand, Ansem lifted Riku's chin, meeting the boy's icy aqua eyes. "Your body is as much mine as it is yours now."
"What if I don't feel like sharing?" He wrenched his head from the older man's grasp. Expecting him to be angry, Riku was surprised by the far away look that covered Ansem's orange eyes.
"Maleficent is worried. Apparently the keyblade master's ship is approaching Hollow Bastion."
Riku felt the hatred spread within him like a flame. Ansem just smirked and bowed, extended his hand to a dark portal that had opened in front of them. With a soft sigh, the apprentice entered the darkness, his master following close after. They emerged in the library of Hollow Bastion, a place Riku had come to be rather fond of.
Maleficent stood there, her unhappy sneer in place.
"I was wondering where you had gone."
~She can sense something going on. Be sure not to clue her in until it's time.~
'All that matters now is revenge for Shadow.'
~'And retrieving Kairi's heart.'~
"It was no where of importance to you."
Riku walked down the curving staircase and followed through many rooms on his way to the entrance of the castle. Heartless shuddered as he passed, bowing low and scuttling away to hide in the shadows. He knew they sensed their master, residing quietly within the unlikely boy.
Standing on the moving lift, Riku could see the strange waterfall that guarded both entrances into the castle, one by air and one by water. The strange lift landed, and Riku leapt onto a nearby platform.
"Come on guys." A high voice exclaimed, the sound echoing up the falls. Riku smiled and leaned against a stone pillar, hiding from Sora and his foolish friends.
A growl broke into Riku's reverie and he looked up to see a huge creature standing on one of the lower platforms. He was easily ten feet tall, and was pure muscle. A thick brown coat covered him from head to foot, and he gave the appearance of a werewolf. The only thing out of place was the regal purple cape trailing about the enormous beast's neck.
"Amazing." Calling up Ansem from where he hid while in Riku's body, he searched the area and the creature itself. "You managed to come all the way here, from your own world, without a ship or using a portal."
"I have come to save Belle. And I will not leave until she's safe."
~He comes for a princess of hearts. But don't worry, he is weak and should be easy for you.~
~'We have bigger fish to fry.'~
"I'm sorry, but Belle likes it here." Riku smiled evilly as he extended his hand the dragon blade grew from it, forming into the purple and red curves that were it's namesake. The beast let out a snarl and leapt at him, his huge claws extended. Riku somersaulted in midair, striking the creature sharply on the head and sending him to the ground.
"Pathetic."
"Riku!"
Turning towards Sora, Riku felt a sneer fly across his face. Here stood his lover's murderer.
"Stop it Riku, please." Sora stood with the keyblade in hand, the duck and dog flanking him on both sides.
"Hmm, where have I heard that before?" Riku tapped his finger against his chin, in false forgetfulness. Sora faltered, his sword dropping a little before he recovered from the shock.
~Very nice touch. Make him suffer.~
"Oh yeah. That was when the keyblade decided which of it's masters it would go to. But in all honesty, I think it was wrong."
"Masters?" The duck quacked out.
"That's right. Strange isn't it Sora, to have two keyblade masters come from the same little worthless island."
"What are you talking about?" Sora said nervously. Riku held out his hand, and the keyblade dissolved from Sora's.
"What?" He looked down into his empty hands, as the keyblade reemerged in Riku's.
"Sorry Sora. Looks like you were just the messenger." Holding out the keyblade, Riku felt the power course into him. But it was different than the power of the darkness, it was more wild, and uncontrollable. Using the darkness in his other hand, he changed his precious dragon blade, which no longer held any value to the boy.
"Why not play with this instead?" Riku threw the wooden sword at Sora's feet. The brunette looked dejectedly at it.
"How...how could this happen?" He muttered to himself.
"Uh, gawsh Sora. I'm sorry, but, uh, if Riku is the keyblade master now, we have to follow him." Goofy gave an apologetic look, but slowly followed after Riku, who now headed for the lift back to the castle.
"Goodbye Sora." The duck quacked out sadly, and ran to catch up to his long legged friend.
On the lift, Riku first became aware of the two animals following him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Our king told us to find the keyblade master and stay with him. And that's what we're doing." The duck crossed his wings in front of him and stood stubbornly in front of Riku.
~"What king?"~
Riku blinked as he realized that both he and Ansem had controlled his body at the same time. He shivered at the thought.
"Uh, why, King Mickey of course." The dog laughed as if it was the most obvious piece of knowledge ever.
~The rat.~
'Huh? You know who they're talking about?'
~You could say that.~
Getting off of the lift, Riku strode into the castle and began up the stairs to where the library was, and heard the annoying slapping sound of webbed feet on his floor.
"Why are you still here?" He snarled angrily back at them, holding the keyblade menacingly in front of them.
"The king specifically told us not to let the keyblade master out of our sight."
~"You can see your king if you'd like."~
"Really?" Goofy jumped forward and took Riku's hands in his, shaking them up and down so hard that Riku was jerked with them.
'Ansem, what are you playing at?'
~You don't believe me? I know where their king is. I can show them, if you'll allow me.~
'Funny. You didn't ask if I'd 'allow' you to speak through me.'
~I didn't speak through you. We both spoke. I thought you'd come to realize that by now....~
'Fine.'
Riku extended his hands, before realizing he wasn't doing it all. Ansem slipped into control almost without Riku noticing. His body moved, but he did nothing. It was, almost comforting, to be able to sit back and relax.
Ansem let his true dark powers flow directly into Riku's body and the boy could feel it seep into him as well. He felt calm, and cold, no emotions, no feelings. He could still vaguely see through his eyes, but it was becoming hazy, like it was out of focus. His body raised it's arms, and he could see black and red and purple on it.
~What do you think?~
'I would need to see the whole outfit.' Riku replied sleepily. He yawned, or, he thought he yawned. It was hard to tell in the state he was in. The body for sure, did not yawn. Ansem held it high and stately, and gazed down at the Duck standing before him.
~"I know where your king is."~
Everyone took a step back, although Riku was again confused as to whether he really moved.
'What happened to my voice? I sound like I went through puberty again.'
~It must be a strange effect of me being in your body. Don't worry, your voice will be the same when you are in control.~
~'Wonderful.'~
"Do you know where the king is?" The dog stepped forward and got too close to Ansem for comfort.
~"Yes. Don't worry. He is safe."~ The deep voice, with it's soft and sweet overlying tone did little to give the two animals more reason to trust the boy.
"How do we get to him?"
~"Well, you'll have to find the door to the light."~ Sensing an approach, Riku whirled around. Deep in the recesses of his own being, Riku stirred at the familiar presence.
~Here he comes.~
'The idiotic beast is with him. Get rid of it and teach Sora a lesson. You have enough power.'
~Of course I do.~
A small Shadow heartless was called upon and Ansem gave it the appearance of the princess Belle. Placing her directly behind a large door that could easily be slammed shut, Ansem waited for the beast to turn around. When he finally did, his eyes went wide and he whispered the girl's name, but in a poof of smoke she returned to being a helpless heartless. In a rage the creature hurtled through the door, which Ansem quickly slammed shut on him.
Sora spun around, looking at the heavy wooden door that now barred him from Beast, his newest friend. He heard someone approach and turned to see a figure dressed in blacks and purples. For a second, he had no clue who it was, this man who wore the crest of the heartless.
The with a start he recognized the sea hued eyes and silver hair. But Riku's face seemed different somehow. Not his own, not an expression he would wear.
"Riku, what are doing? Why?" Sora took a step forward, hoping to plead with Riku but the other keyblade master stepped back Raising his hand, Sora saw the keyblade appear in it.
~"Because I am it's rightful owner."~ The odd voice proclaimed. Even to the true Riku, the voice was unnerving. And he was in his own body while it was being controlled by another; things would have to be pretty bad to unnerve him at this point.
"But I brought the keyblade here. I fought with it. I sealed the keyholes."
~"And who said you should? Who decided that any of the keyholes needed to be relocked? The heart is a weak thing Sora, you should have learned that lesson long ago."~ Riku's voice became dead and cold as he sneered at the boy across the room from him. Sora looked hurt, but raised his wooden sword in front of him, determined.
"My heart may give in, and sure, it may be weak. But it's more than I need to stop you."
Riku smirked and stepped forward, but the keyblade in his hands suddenly disappeared. The wooden sword he had made and thrown at the boy grew heavier in his hands and became the keyblade.
'What happened?'
~The boy is stronger than I suspected. I'm sure the princess' heart is helping that. Don't worry, we'll take care of him.~
~"We'll see whose heart is stronger."~ Pulling his arm back, Riku gathered the darkness there and created a ball of pure dark energy. Throwing the full weight of his body forward, the energy hurled toward Sora, the pure power of it pushing Riku's body backwards, skidding along the floor.
A sharp metallic sound rang through the chamber and the dark energy attack as flung upwards to the ceiling.
~'What?!?'~
The dog lowered his shield and smiled at Sora.
"Sorry Goofy. I'm sticking with Sora. You'll have to just tell King Mickey I'm sorry when you see him." Sora beamed at his friend and then shifted his gaze to the duck at Riku's side.
Again, everyone around Riku deserted him as the duck waddled over to Sora and stood in front of him with his arms crossed.
"We'll tell him together Goofy."
~"Why is this happening now?"~ Riku muttered, he and Ansem shaking their head, trying to clear their thoughts and separate them from each other's.
'We can still win. Concentrate Riku. It's up to you.' Riku could feel himself regaining control over his body, slowly but surely. His arm moved a bit, and he could twist his head so he could see Sora face on.
Bringing his dark gloved hands together, Riku used Ansem to pour the darkness into his hands, and his own power to form it. A solid, black sword materialized in Riku's hands. It's handle was red, the blade itself black as the dark world the heartless came from. The tip was like a key, but was sharp a thin, a weapon unto itself. Riku grinned evilly at Sora.
~'Now we'll have an even fight.'~
~"Well Sora, I thought you'd like to see my keyblade as well."~ Giving it a test, Riku swung the key back and forth, testing it's weight and the hold he wasn't used to.
"How can you have one too?"
'He's got a point.'
~There are always more than one keyblade master.~
'You know more than you're letting on.'
~Perhaps.~
~"Of course Sora, my keyblade has a few more, interesting, abilities than yours."~
'What abilities? You better clue me in on this soon Ansem.'
~"The ability to unlock people's hearts."~ Riku's body had a strange moment of confusing, not quite controlled by either of the men inside. A half sneer, which slowly faded into confusion, caused the boy in black to look ridiculous for a split second. Sora noticed this, and had never once known Riku to not be in control of his situation, to ever lose his cool.
"Riku...."
~"You will not stop me Sora. My plans will not fail now, after I've come so far."~ Riku felt Ansem take more complete control and he rushed forward, heading directly towards Sora. The younger keyblade master held up the pumpkinhead form of the blade which he held, and blocked Riku's sideswipe. Then the silver haired boy took his hand, which was eerily glowing white and purple and slammed it into the floor.
Goofy, Donald, and Sora were thrown into the air by the blast of darkness which shook the floor like an earthquake. Riku laughed softly and rushed at Sora once again, but was stopped by a thunder spell.
'I hate that duck.'
Turning to Donald, Riku charged and slashed down on his head with the black keyblade. The duck fell down and no longer seemed a threat, so Riku slowly stalked towards Goofy. The dog shook visibly with fear at the site of Riku's bloodthirsty grin as he approached, very slowly. Goofy held his shield up higher and called out to Sora, hoping for some help.
The second he did and let his guard down, Riku rushed forward, slashing at the shield, instead of at the dog himself. His momentum carried him past Goofy, who was in the middle of regaining his balance, and directly to his unprotected back. The dark keyblade slashed across the tall creature's back, and he too fell down, his body too weak to try and heave itself back into the fray.
Riku barely registered the person approaching behind him before he felt a hard strike on one side. His body was thrown across the circular room and slammed against one of the marble columns.
'Ouch.'
~You can't even feel the pain.~
'Yeah, but I know that had to hurt. It made a crunching noise.'
Riku stood up and shook his head to clear it, and barely managed to bring his dark keyblade up to block Sora's attack. Their eyes met, and Sora saw no recognition, no friendly glance, only cold icy eyes.
Pushing with all his strength, Riku forced Sora back and the brunette leapt out of his reach, keeping a safe distance from his dangerous opponent. But he didn't realize just how much more powerful Riku was, now that Ansem was in control of his body. Leaping up into the air, Riku aimed his keyblade directly at Sora and plummeted towards him. The dark power surged into the black and red blade, and as it hit Sora's upheld keyblade, the two ricocheted off each other.
Sora took advantage of the moment and rushed forward, his keyblade slamming Riku directly in the stomach. Ansem screamed out in Riku's mind as the white hot burning of the keyblade scorched across his skin.
'What happened?'
~I cannot touch the keyblade. It can destroy the darkness.~ Riku felt the cold blade in his hand, and the pain of the blow to his stomach and realized that he was controlling his body again.
"Not now." Sora walked directly towards the boy, but his weapon was at his side.
"Get back." Riku sent a wave of darkness through the floor, tearing up the stone as it cracked the floor in two and raced towards Sora. Unable to avoid it, he was flung to the ground, and had to watch as Riku stood and stepped backwards into a portal of darkness which had emerged behind him. But for a moment, just the barest of moments, the eyes had been Riku's again.
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The next update won't be long, cause I just beat this part of the game, so I'm ready to write about it. (I'm playing through again on expert so I don't miss too many of the lines and screw up the order.) Leave a review if you liked it. ^_^ or if you didn't, just as long as you leave a review.
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Riku could feel the cold stone on his forehead. He was on his knees, bent over, as if he was going to throw up. The pain still flared up in him, the feeling of his lover's death. Ansem had relinquished his hold on Riku's body and let the boy be alone for now.
Gliding forward, the dark witch leaned down and spoke softly to the boy who was crying silently on her floor.
"I'm sorry Riku. I know Shadow meant a lot to you."
"Shut up you bitch. You don't know anything." Standing up, Riku's eyes flashed dangerously. Tears were still sitting in them, but he quickly wiped them away, and his face became as cold and hard as the rock beneath his feet. Looking down at himself, Riku realized his fists were clenched and there was a strange green mist around him.
"You have incredible potential Riku. The darkness inside you is powerful."
~She has no idea. A silly little marionette who can sense the strings, but knows nothing of the puppeteer.~
'Are you doing this? This power.'
"Release your inner power Riku. And you will be able to take your revenge on the keyblade master."
Riku looked at the evil old woman, even as he spoke to her master, and the source of all the power that had attracted her to him in the first place.
~This power is ours Riku. From being in this body with you, we have begun to share things. My control and power over the darkness is one of them. You just needed to accept it into your heart, and your rage helped out with that.~
'I-I don't know.'
~What don't you know?~ Ansem sounded confused.
'I don't know if I want to kill Sora, or if you do.'
Riku waited through the long pause, unsure of where Ansem had gone to.
'Ansem!'
~I'm here Riku. I was trying to see into your heart, to know who's desire that is. But....I can't.~
Riku picked up the slight bit of malice in Ansem's voice. Just enough to show that there was more, hidden from where Riku could know of it.
'We need to talk. In person.'
~"Maleficent. Keep your eyes open for Sora. If he comes to the castle, make sure you come and find me."~
Riku exited the woman's strange round chamber and was in the dank castle chapel. Tapping into the darkness, Riku opened up a portal beneath him. It was so different without Shadow. As his feet and legs went into the portal, Riku felt suddenly cold and more alone than ever. Fear gripped at him, the fear that he wouldn't know the way without Shadow.
~It's okay Riku.~ To the frightened boy, the voice was alien but comforting. He was too afraid to realize who the voice belonged to, only that it was something to grab onto as the last inches of himself were sucked into the void.
Closing his green eyes, Riku tried to focus, tried to picture where he was going. The center of the shadow world. He could sense the heartless scurry past him. Shadow was supposed to protect him from them.
"Ah!" Riku cried out as he lost his concentration and began to fall through the endless obsidian. Giving into the depression that had been creeping around his mind all day, Riku lost consciousness.
Silver hair obscured Riku's view as his eyes slowly opened. He could feel the cold ground beneath him and immediately made it a more pleasant temperature. He rolled over and sat up, staring into the black floor, into the eyes of his reflection.
Someone else appeared in the reflection next to him, his long white hair trailing over his shoulder as he leaned over and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I truly am sorry for you Riku. If I had the power, I would bring Shadow back."
Standing up, Riku gave Ansem a cold, calculating stare. Ansem stared back with bright orange eyes, never flinching towards the smaller boy.
"Why couldn't I tell?"
Ansem sighed and began to pace back and forth, looking majestic as his cape spread out behind him and his boots hit the ground, echoing around the world.
"To tell you the truth Riku, I'm not sure."
"You better figure it out then." Riku screamed at him and stood up, fury simmering behind his cool green eyes. At the boy's explosion, Ansem turned calmly towards him and approached.
"Don't take your anger out on me, Riku. I didn't kill Shadow. Right now, I am the only friend you have."
"Lucky me." The boy muttered.
"Hmm." Ansem had suddenly stopped his pacing and stood holding his chin in his hands. His cold orange eyes swept over Riku's body, making the keyblade master suddenly feel uncomfortable.
"Back off." Riku growled out as he walked backwards, his feet barely making a sound on the black ground.
"I just need to see something. Don't be afraid."
Considering the last part of the sentence, Riku was definitely afraid. He turned on his heel and began to run away when the solid floor turned to quick sand. He felt the same cold feeling the darkness always gave off as it climbed up to his knees, holding him in place.
"Tsk tsk. Don't worry, this should tell us our answer." Riku felt a gloved hand come down softly onto his shoulder. He thrashed out at him with his arms, and managed to his in the stomach.
The taller man took a step back from the wild boy, who was trying to claw at the darkness holding him in place. Ansem didn't like the idea that someone in his realm could do damage to him. It upset him.
Riku could practically see the Darkness draining out of Ansem as it reared up from the floor. Snake like tendrils wrapped around Riku's wrists, and held them down at his sides. He tried to control them, try and force them away physically and with his power, but neither had any effect.
"Shhh. Calm down dear boy." Riku felt those hands again, this time on both his shoulders. Ansem leaned down, and slowly his hands began to wrap around Riku's body, across his chest.
"Let go!" Trying to free himself, Riku only managed to incite the darkness to crawl further up his limbs.
Ansem's white gloved hands slid down over Riku's chest, softly searching, almost teasing. As he leaned over, Riku could see part of his tan face a shock of white hair on his shoulder.
"You never had a problem with Shadow getting this close. Only me, huh Riku? I'm hurt."
As the hands continued their slow trek across his chest, Riku began to squirm more and more. But Ansem soon stopped. Wondering if it had something to do with him, Riku looked down at where both of Ansem's hands had halted. It was directly over the left side of his chest.
"Ah. There we are." Ansem's sharp fingers began to press against Riku's flesh and he thrashed harder than ever. The blackness became like steel, holding him perfectly in place as the older man forced his hands through cloth and slowly through skin. The darkness allowed him to, but didn't numb the sensation for Riku.
Feeling the sharp points of his fingers dig into the muscle of his chest, Riku cried out. He could no longer silence himself as he screamed into the empty darkness. There was no Shadow to save him this time.
~Of course not Riku. Your best friend killed him, remember.~
The silver haired head fell onto his chest, his breath hitching in his throat as the hands pushed farther into his chest. Ansem grinned beside his face, and pressed himself closer to the boy. His lips were nearly touching Riku's ear, as his eager orange eyes watched his hands penetrate the boy's flesh.
Riku began to pant, unable to scream, and only feeling the claw-like fingers digging deeper and deeper, straight for his heart. Ansem pressed his chest to Riku's back, and Riku could feel his breath quickening as well.
With one final push, Riku gasped in pain and surprise as he felt Ansem touch his heart. His body went limp and leaned against Ansem's as the pain suddenly subsided. Feeling like a rag doll, Riku suddenly became aware of his own heartbeat. He could feel it pumping slowly through him, and saw Ansem's hands move the slightest bit every time his heart beat.
"Can you feel it?" Ansem's voice was barely a whisper, hissed into Riku's ear. The silver haired boy shook his head. Pushing his head farther over the boy's shoulder, at an awkward angle, Ansem pressed his neck to Riku's. The slow thump of a heartbeat traveled through the noble's neck, and Riku could feel it through the sensitive skin of his neck. Both beats were the same.
"W-Why?" Riku asked.
"Shadow's death. You accepted your anger and hatred, all that is pure in the darkness, and in doing so, you accepted me into your heart." Ansem slowly slid his hands out of Riku's chest, his white gloves smeared with blood. The darkness released their hold of the boy's arms and legs, and a small bit pooled up on his chest, closing up the wound its master had inflicted.
"Why am I not a heartless?"
"Silly boy. Your heart is still with you. I am merely now a part of it." Extending a bloodied hand, Ansem lifted Riku's chin, meeting the boy's icy aqua eyes. "Your body is as much mine as it is yours now."
"What if I don't feel like sharing?" He wrenched his head from the older man's grasp. Expecting him to be angry, Riku was surprised by the far away look that covered Ansem's orange eyes.
"Maleficent is worried. Apparently the keyblade master's ship is approaching Hollow Bastion."
Riku felt the hatred spread within him like a flame. Ansem just smirked and bowed, extended his hand to a dark portal that had opened in front of them. With a soft sigh, the apprentice entered the darkness, his master following close after. They emerged in the library of Hollow Bastion, a place Riku had come to be rather fond of.
Maleficent stood there, her unhappy sneer in place.
"I was wondering where you had gone."
~She can sense something going on. Be sure not to clue her in until it's time.~
'All that matters now is revenge for Shadow.'
~'And retrieving Kairi's heart.'~
"It was no where of importance to you."
Riku walked down the curving staircase and followed through many rooms on his way to the entrance of the castle. Heartless shuddered as he passed, bowing low and scuttling away to hide in the shadows. He knew they sensed their master, residing quietly within the unlikely boy.
Standing on the moving lift, Riku could see the strange waterfall that guarded both entrances into the castle, one by air and one by water. The strange lift landed, and Riku leapt onto a nearby platform.
"Come on guys." A high voice exclaimed, the sound echoing up the falls. Riku smiled and leaned against a stone pillar, hiding from Sora and his foolish friends.
A growl broke into Riku's reverie and he looked up to see a huge creature standing on one of the lower platforms. He was easily ten feet tall, and was pure muscle. A thick brown coat covered him from head to foot, and he gave the appearance of a werewolf. The only thing out of place was the regal purple cape trailing about the enormous beast's neck.
"Amazing." Calling up Ansem from where he hid while in Riku's body, he searched the area and the creature itself. "You managed to come all the way here, from your own world, without a ship or using a portal."
"I have come to save Belle. And I will not leave until she's safe."
~He comes for a princess of hearts. But don't worry, he is weak and should be easy for you.~
~'We have bigger fish to fry.'~
"I'm sorry, but Belle likes it here." Riku smiled evilly as he extended his hand the dragon blade grew from it, forming into the purple and red curves that were it's namesake. The beast let out a snarl and leapt at him, his huge claws extended. Riku somersaulted in midair, striking the creature sharply on the head and sending him to the ground.
"Pathetic."
"Riku!"
Turning towards Sora, Riku felt a sneer fly across his face. Here stood his lover's murderer.
"Stop it Riku, please." Sora stood with the keyblade in hand, the duck and dog flanking him on both sides.
"Hmm, where have I heard that before?" Riku tapped his finger against his chin, in false forgetfulness. Sora faltered, his sword dropping a little before he recovered from the shock.
~Very nice touch. Make him suffer.~
"Oh yeah. That was when the keyblade decided which of it's masters it would go to. But in all honesty, I think it was wrong."
"Masters?" The duck quacked out.
"That's right. Strange isn't it Sora, to have two keyblade masters come from the same little worthless island."
"What are you talking about?" Sora said nervously. Riku held out his hand, and the keyblade dissolved from Sora's.
"What?" He looked down into his empty hands, as the keyblade reemerged in Riku's.
"Sorry Sora. Looks like you were just the messenger." Holding out the keyblade, Riku felt the power course into him. But it was different than the power of the darkness, it was more wild, and uncontrollable. Using the darkness in his other hand, he changed his precious dragon blade, which no longer held any value to the boy.
"Why not play with this instead?" Riku threw the wooden sword at Sora's feet. The brunette looked dejectedly at it.
"How...how could this happen?" He muttered to himself.
"Uh, gawsh Sora. I'm sorry, but, uh, if Riku is the keyblade master now, we have to follow him." Goofy gave an apologetic look, but slowly followed after Riku, who now headed for the lift back to the castle.
"Goodbye Sora." The duck quacked out sadly, and ran to catch up to his long legged friend.
On the lift, Riku first became aware of the two animals following him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Our king told us to find the keyblade master and stay with him. And that's what we're doing." The duck crossed his wings in front of him and stood stubbornly in front of Riku.
~"What king?"~
Riku blinked as he realized that both he and Ansem had controlled his body at the same time. He shivered at the thought.
"Uh, why, King Mickey of course." The dog laughed as if it was the most obvious piece of knowledge ever.
~The rat.~
'Huh? You know who they're talking about?'
~You could say that.~
Getting off of the lift, Riku strode into the castle and began up the stairs to where the library was, and heard the annoying slapping sound of webbed feet on his floor.
"Why are you still here?" He snarled angrily back at them, holding the keyblade menacingly in front of them.
"The king specifically told us not to let the keyblade master out of our sight."
~"You can see your king if you'd like."~
"Really?" Goofy jumped forward and took Riku's hands in his, shaking them up and down so hard that Riku was jerked with them.
'Ansem, what are you playing at?'
~You don't believe me? I know where their king is. I can show them, if you'll allow me.~
'Funny. You didn't ask if I'd 'allow' you to speak through me.'
~I didn't speak through you. We both spoke. I thought you'd come to realize that by now....~
'Fine.'
Riku extended his hands, before realizing he wasn't doing it all. Ansem slipped into control almost without Riku noticing. His body moved, but he did nothing. It was, almost comforting, to be able to sit back and relax.
Ansem let his true dark powers flow directly into Riku's body and the boy could feel it seep into him as well. He felt calm, and cold, no emotions, no feelings. He could still vaguely see through his eyes, but it was becoming hazy, like it was out of focus. His body raised it's arms, and he could see black and red and purple on it.
~What do you think?~
'I would need to see the whole outfit.' Riku replied sleepily. He yawned, or, he thought he yawned. It was hard to tell in the state he was in. The body for sure, did not yawn. Ansem held it high and stately, and gazed down at the Duck standing before him.
~"I know where your king is."~
Everyone took a step back, although Riku was again confused as to whether he really moved.
'What happened to my voice? I sound like I went through puberty again.'
~It must be a strange effect of me being in your body. Don't worry, your voice will be the same when you are in control.~
~'Wonderful.'~
"Do you know where the king is?" The dog stepped forward and got too close to Ansem for comfort.
~"Yes. Don't worry. He is safe."~ The deep voice, with it's soft and sweet overlying tone did little to give the two animals more reason to trust the boy.
"How do we get to him?"
~"Well, you'll have to find the door to the light."~ Sensing an approach, Riku whirled around. Deep in the recesses of his own being, Riku stirred at the familiar presence.
~Here he comes.~
'The idiotic beast is with him. Get rid of it and teach Sora a lesson. You have enough power.'
~Of course I do.~
A small Shadow heartless was called upon and Ansem gave it the appearance of the princess Belle. Placing her directly behind a large door that could easily be slammed shut, Ansem waited for the beast to turn around. When he finally did, his eyes went wide and he whispered the girl's name, but in a poof of smoke she returned to being a helpless heartless. In a rage the creature hurtled through the door, which Ansem quickly slammed shut on him.
Sora spun around, looking at the heavy wooden door that now barred him from Beast, his newest friend. He heard someone approach and turned to see a figure dressed in blacks and purples. For a second, he had no clue who it was, this man who wore the crest of the heartless.
The with a start he recognized the sea hued eyes and silver hair. But Riku's face seemed different somehow. Not his own, not an expression he would wear.
"Riku, what are doing? Why?" Sora took a step forward, hoping to plead with Riku but the other keyblade master stepped back Raising his hand, Sora saw the keyblade appear in it.
~"Because I am it's rightful owner."~ The odd voice proclaimed. Even to the true Riku, the voice was unnerving. And he was in his own body while it was being controlled by another; things would have to be pretty bad to unnerve him at this point.
"But I brought the keyblade here. I fought with it. I sealed the keyholes."
~"And who said you should? Who decided that any of the keyholes needed to be relocked? The heart is a weak thing Sora, you should have learned that lesson long ago."~ Riku's voice became dead and cold as he sneered at the boy across the room from him. Sora looked hurt, but raised his wooden sword in front of him, determined.
"My heart may give in, and sure, it may be weak. But it's more than I need to stop you."
Riku smirked and stepped forward, but the keyblade in his hands suddenly disappeared. The wooden sword he had made and thrown at the boy grew heavier in his hands and became the keyblade.
'What happened?'
~The boy is stronger than I suspected. I'm sure the princess' heart is helping that. Don't worry, we'll take care of him.~
~"We'll see whose heart is stronger."~ Pulling his arm back, Riku gathered the darkness there and created a ball of pure dark energy. Throwing the full weight of his body forward, the energy hurled toward Sora, the pure power of it pushing Riku's body backwards, skidding along the floor.
A sharp metallic sound rang through the chamber and the dark energy attack as flung upwards to the ceiling.
~'What?!?'~
The dog lowered his shield and smiled at Sora.
"Sorry Goofy. I'm sticking with Sora. You'll have to just tell King Mickey I'm sorry when you see him." Sora beamed at his friend and then shifted his gaze to the duck at Riku's side.
Again, everyone around Riku deserted him as the duck waddled over to Sora and stood in front of him with his arms crossed.
"We'll tell him together Goofy."
~"Why is this happening now?"~ Riku muttered, he and Ansem shaking their head, trying to clear their thoughts and separate them from each other's.
'We can still win. Concentrate Riku. It's up to you.' Riku could feel himself regaining control over his body, slowly but surely. His arm moved a bit, and he could twist his head so he could see Sora face on.
Bringing his dark gloved hands together, Riku used Ansem to pour the darkness into his hands, and his own power to form it. A solid, black sword materialized in Riku's hands. It's handle was red, the blade itself black as the dark world the heartless came from. The tip was like a key, but was sharp a thin, a weapon unto itself. Riku grinned evilly at Sora.
~'Now we'll have an even fight.'~
~"Well Sora, I thought you'd like to see my keyblade as well."~ Giving it a test, Riku swung the key back and forth, testing it's weight and the hold he wasn't used to.
"How can you have one too?"
'He's got a point.'
~There are always more than one keyblade master.~
'You know more than you're letting on.'
~Perhaps.~
~"Of course Sora, my keyblade has a few more, interesting, abilities than yours."~
'What abilities? You better clue me in on this soon Ansem.'
~"The ability to unlock people's hearts."~ Riku's body had a strange moment of confusing, not quite controlled by either of the men inside. A half sneer, which slowly faded into confusion, caused the boy in black to look ridiculous for a split second. Sora noticed this, and had never once known Riku to not be in control of his situation, to ever lose his cool.
"Riku...."
~"You will not stop me Sora. My plans will not fail now, after I've come so far."~ Riku felt Ansem take more complete control and he rushed forward, heading directly towards Sora. The younger keyblade master held up the pumpkinhead form of the blade which he held, and blocked Riku's sideswipe. Then the silver haired boy took his hand, which was eerily glowing white and purple and slammed it into the floor.
Goofy, Donald, and Sora were thrown into the air by the blast of darkness which shook the floor like an earthquake. Riku laughed softly and rushed at Sora once again, but was stopped by a thunder spell.
'I hate that duck.'
Turning to Donald, Riku charged and slashed down on his head with the black keyblade. The duck fell down and no longer seemed a threat, so Riku slowly stalked towards Goofy. The dog shook visibly with fear at the site of Riku's bloodthirsty grin as he approached, very slowly. Goofy held his shield up higher and called out to Sora, hoping for some help.
The second he did and let his guard down, Riku rushed forward, slashing at the shield, instead of at the dog himself. His momentum carried him past Goofy, who was in the middle of regaining his balance, and directly to his unprotected back. The dark keyblade slashed across the tall creature's back, and he too fell down, his body too weak to try and heave itself back into the fray.
Riku barely registered the person approaching behind him before he felt a hard strike on one side. His body was thrown across the circular room and slammed against one of the marble columns.
'Ouch.'
~You can't even feel the pain.~
'Yeah, but I know that had to hurt. It made a crunching noise.'
Riku stood up and shook his head to clear it, and barely managed to bring his dark keyblade up to block Sora's attack. Their eyes met, and Sora saw no recognition, no friendly glance, only cold icy eyes.
Pushing with all his strength, Riku forced Sora back and the brunette leapt out of his reach, keeping a safe distance from his dangerous opponent. But he didn't realize just how much more powerful Riku was, now that Ansem was in control of his body. Leaping up into the air, Riku aimed his keyblade directly at Sora and plummeted towards him. The dark power surged into the black and red blade, and as it hit Sora's upheld keyblade, the two ricocheted off each other.
Sora took advantage of the moment and rushed forward, his keyblade slamming Riku directly in the stomach. Ansem screamed out in Riku's mind as the white hot burning of the keyblade scorched across his skin.
'What happened?'
~I cannot touch the keyblade. It can destroy the darkness.~ Riku felt the cold blade in his hand, and the pain of the blow to his stomach and realized that he was controlling his body again.
"Not now." Sora walked directly towards the boy, but his weapon was at his side.
"Get back." Riku sent a wave of darkness through the floor, tearing up the stone as it cracked the floor in two and raced towards Sora. Unable to avoid it, he was flung to the ground, and had to watch as Riku stood and stepped backwards into a portal of darkness which had emerged behind him. But for a moment, just the barest of moments, the eyes had been Riku's again.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next update won't be long, cause I just beat this part of the game, so I'm ready to write about it. (I'm playing through again on expert so I don't miss too many of the lines and screw up the order.) Leave a review if you liked it. ^_^ or if you didn't, just as long as you leave a review.