*
The night I left home…was a night of fate.
*
In a flash Riku was up and I was sprawled across the bed. He kicked the swarm of Heartless with such force that they fell back into the closet, which he promptly slammed shut. He stood there, breathing heavily, his back against the door.
"You'd better get out of here."
He was always playing the hero, wasn't he? I could only smile. I casually came to my feet and adjusted my hair. Then I inspected my nails, which were looking very nice, actually.
"What're you doing?" he demanded with a mixture of confusion and anger—his emotion was plentiful, whatever category it fit. "Kairi, they're—"
Pools of black shadow moved out beneath his feet. The beings took form and stared hatefully at the young man who had just assaulted them.
Riku bent down into a battle ready position. It was a mistake; the door flung open and he was thrown to the floor. He flipped over and was on his feet once more, but blood dribbled from his lip. He had borne the brunt of the fall with his chin, I realized, and his teeth must have been forced into his upper lip.
Emerging from the closet was a pair of Defenders waving their shields. They faced Riku and me and began casting fire and ice spells.
Riku hurried so that he was standing in front of me. It was too late for him to tell me to get out, as our new foes were taking their places in front of the window and the door. Shadows and a few Darkballs poured from the closet.
"There's too many," I heard my companion mutter with agitation. "Damn it." He turned his face to the right and, without meeting my eyes, remorsefully said, "I don't know if I can protect you this time, Kairi."
"You don't have to," I replied cockily. I put out my hand and summoned the Keyblade, which came at once. "I can take care of myself."
Riku didn't move; I figured he was paralyzed by the shock of seeing the weapon, or maybe the shock of seeing it in my hands. "You still have it—but have you learned to use it? Kairi, be careful with that thing—"
I didn't feel like listening to him any longer. It was time to show off the training Sora had given me. Riku the judo master was nothing compared to me now that I possessed the only effective weapon against Heartless.
I dove into battle immediately, leaping up to take down the hovering Darkballs. Two of them were dispensed with. I took to the air again, lifting my weapon over my head. I stabbed the remaining Darkball and finished my flight by slamming one foot into the closet door to slam it shut.
"Guard it," I ordered, pointing.
Riku said nothing, only stared at me and took the assigned post, standing as he had before after locking the door.
I readjusted my grip on the Oathkeeper's handle and charged the Defender near the window. I ran right, then slung my body down low and dodged to the left. The back of the creature was exposed and I smacked it one, two, three times. It turned, the ugly face of the shield threatening to crush my nose. I tumbled backward before such a tragedy could occur.
I fell into a pile of eager Shadows. Their greedy hands reached at my chest, no doubt aiming for the heart inside. I beheaded one with a powerful swing of my blade. I was angry now. How dare they try to steal my heart!
"Damn—you—!" was my declaration of battle. From my place on the floor I was able to slay half a dozen more Shadows. They were nothing to me, now; only worth one hit each if I aimed correctly. My strength and agility were perhaps twenty times what they had been at the time my first true battle.
The power delighted me. I was stronger than anyone. Riku, for all his judo training, for all his muscles, could never hope to match me. He did not possess the legendary weapon that meant guaranteed success over the Heartless. Speaking of those Heartless…they were nothing!
I somersaulted beneath the shield of the approaching Defender and sprang up behind its back. I sank the Oathkeeper deep into the creature's flesh and twisted hard, hearing with some satisfaction a long moan of pain and despair. How dare it threaten to disfigure me with that stupid shield! I let it fade slowly from the world, and trampled on its almost lifeless body on my way to take down the remaining Heartless.
However, Riku was in my way. His eyes were serious when they met mine, although I did not wish for the event to occur. He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.
"Kairi."
I scowled, pulled back, and held the Keyblade before my face. No one was going to interfere with my victory. My words were a churning growl from deep within my throat.
"Let me through."
"No."
I glared at him defiantly.
"Something's the matter with you." He paused before slowly extending his hand. "Give me the Keyblade."
Shocked, I let out a cry. I grasped the Oathkeeper tighter. "It's mine," I said as my emotions threatened to overflow. Were those tears hiding just behind my eyelids? Oh, angry tears they were—of course! Perhaps hurt tears as well…
Riku continued holding out his arm patiently.
"No!" I pulled the handle of Keyblade toward my chest. My heart had claimed the Keyblade, and my heart would keep it for me. It had chosen me, not Riku!
The young man swallowed. I saw beads of sweat trickling down his muscular neck. He was scared of me, intimidated by the wonderful fighter I had become. I grinned in triumph, but wasn't allowed to wear the smile for long.
The Keyblade dematerialized from my hand. I screamed. It reappeared in a cloud of glimmering light between the two of us—exactly between us. It hovered in the air.
"No…" I sobbed. If I didn't have the Keyblade, Sora wouldn't train me anymore. Losing the Keyblade…it meant losing Sora!
The blade seemed in conflict with itself. For tense seconds it floated toward Riku, but then came back towards me. I must have been hallucinating, but I swear, for the briefest instant, I saw Riku surrounded by a visibly blue aura. The sight disappeared after I blinked once, so I promptly disregarded it.
Trembling, I reached out both arms. I needed the Keyblade. Without it, I wouldn't be able to fulfill my promise. I wouldn't be able to save Sora!
The weapon again came closer to me. But, at that moment, Riku let out a cry and fell. His shirt fell away from his back and the exposed skin was practically scorched. I realized the remaining enemy, the Heartless called Defender, had sent a fire spell his way. Riku's grimacing face was indication enough of the great pain he was feeling, although he was strong enough to keep any tears or further screams from escaping.
I reached out and grabbed the Keyblade. It was all mine now. I felt I almost owed the monster a thank you, but I disposed of it instead; Heartless were Heartless, after all.
I stood still for a moment, deciding what to do next. Heartless renewed their pounding at the closet door. A second wave would undoubtedly break through soon. I knew they were stalking me, the Keyblade master. Had Sora not complained of their relentless efforts to claim his life?
I looked at Riku and found myself pitying him. Something, something that was very small now, cried out. A tiny bit of me was sorrowful, a tiny bit of me hurt for my fallen friend. But a more powerful voice said it was his own fault, that he never should have tried to take the Keyblade from me… If he suffered now, it was his own doing. He was a tool I had used for my own gratification, and now it was as if he was all used up.
No, what am I thinking? the small part screamed from deep within me. This was Riku, my practically lifelong friend, a person who was there for me no matter how badly I ever treated him. This was someone I loved!
The boy is nothing. He is weak. He chases after you blindly, knowing you cannot return his love. Leave him now so he will not suffer any longer, futilely pursuing your affections. He is not, after all, the one who would open the door. He is not the one you came to this world for.
The voice was right. I hadn't come to Japan for Riku. I had hardly thought of him during my solitude on Destiny Islands. I had pined for Sora during that year of separation. I had endured hardships in Japan for Sora, and for Sora only. Not for Riku, who was a fool to look after me when he knew I couldn't love him back.
"Kairi," Riku moaned weakly from the floor. "Please…give up the Keyblade… Something…happened to…to it…"
I stood over him. He was in too much pain to do anything now. He was powerless. Soon enough, Riku would pass out and I would no longer have to hear his horrible pleas. I could never give up the Keyblade. It was the only way I could get Sora back.
"…behind the Door…at Kingdom Hearts…"
The thunderous sounds from the closet were growing in frequency. If I stayed, another round of battle was sure to begin. Riku would not be able to protect himself—he would probably die. I was surprised to find I didn't want him to die. Even if he annoyed the greater part of me by saying there was something wrong with the Keyblade, the other bit of me did not want a world without Riku.
"I've gotta go," I said as I stared at the Keyblade. "The Heartless are after me. If I stay, you and Mom will be in danger."
He had already lost consciousness, though, so he couldn't respond. I shrugged. He would live. Someone would find him eventually, and he would be all right. I knew I could not afford to linger much longer, so I dismissed the Keyblade. Riku's wallet was lying on the bedside table, so I helped myself to several large bills. I ran for the window, pushing myself through it and taking the fire escape to the street below.
Thick clouds covered the sky, darkening the entire city. Nature threatened to rain, so people hurried to their houses or roared down the main road nearby. No one paid me much notice, and I was glad.
I walked for some time before the rain started. I was near the school then. The sudden icy sheets drowned me instantly, and my hair and clothes were glued to my skin. I hurried to find a place of shelter.
I ended up at the station. It was surprisingly vacant, so there was no trouble in finding a lonely bench to occupy and think alone for a while. I reached deep into the pockets of the jeans and retrieved the damp contents. I had several thousand yen, my train pass, and, for some reason, the happiness charm Riku had given me at the New Year's celebration. I massaged the embroidery between my fingers.
I had gotten so terribly distracted lately. Sora had been gone, and I had been so upset that I had prohibited him from entering my thoughts. Almost losing the Keyblade brought back my motivation. I could trust no one anymore, not even Riku. Aeris, Squall, and the rest of them had chosen to forfeit any faith I might have had in them when they covered up the truth about Aiko.
Speaking of Aiko, where was her photo? I searched madly. No…! I had left it in the apartment. I couldn't risk returning there now and drawing the Heartless to where Mom slept. I cursed myself for being so careless about the picture, but I had to let it go—at least until everything with the Heartless was resolved. My fingers felt lonely without the photograph to touch, so I squeezed the charm within my palm once more.
Where was there for me to go, now? I could not go home, I could not go to school…
It was then I heard the announcement over the loudspeaker, that a train bound for Tokyo would soon be leaving from the third platform. I felt drawn there for some reason. Something inside told me that Tokyo would be a perfect place to escape the Heartless. It was such a huge place—the largest metropolitan area in the entire world—and no one would be able to find me. Perhaps I could even lose myself there.
***