AN: hey, hey, hey!! I'm ba~ck! Thank you once more for sticking with me! Now, there is only one thing I would like to ask my lovely reviewers. What is that, you ask? There are a million anime series, OVAs, books, games, etc. out there that probably have slipped my mind. In your posts WITH your reviews, not JUST being your review, if there is something you would like to see in here, please feel free to suggest it. I have several on my list already, but adding more things wouldn't hurt. ^^ All the more to add some reader participation, right? Well, if I've done my job and have said more than needed, let me start typing!

Tides of Fire

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter Eight

"What do you make of him?"

"Who?"

"Riku."

Kuja looked up from a paper he was writing on to lift a brow toward the Egyptian. "What about him?"

Yami gave him a pointed look before repeating, "What do you make of him? What are you thoughts on the boy?"

The silver-haired man shrugged. Yami, by now knew that if the other did not want to speak, no answer would come out of him if unless given willingly. Yami sat down, setting a cup before the taller.

"Here, drink this. You have been writing for quite some time. Now would be a good time to take a break. Drink and rest your fingers, friend."

Kuja stared at the cup for a while, a cloth wrapped around it as steam rose off the surface. Sighing and setting down his pen, he picked up the cup and sipped the hot liquid, looking up thankfully at the Egyptian. They stared at each other for a moment, a silent conversation going between them. After a while, Kuja lowered his cup, leaning back in his chair, crossing his legs.

"He's... a puzzle. It is, I'll admit, a surprise. In fact, he reminds me of myself. There's something within him that is out of tune with the rest of his body. Or... his heart, should I say? I don't know how I sense it, but I think he's a little more aware of these events than we are." He paused to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear. "Where I come from, there is magic. This magic is different from others — even the one I sense from you — and mages and summoners and of the like are able to sense within someone who has experienced magic in some way or form. Through this ability we are able to tell what kind of person they are, or what kind of magic they used — good or bad. With this boy... it's hard to sense anything. There scent of a great sorcerer is there, but it feels as if all magic has been abandoned for a while. It's like wearing the same clothes over and over. Once you change your outfit, it feels weird. Same here. It's like he was born with the skills to use magic, and did, but suddenly doesn't use it anymore."

The Pharaoh sipped from his own cup. "The dregs of tea, then?"

Kuja looked up from where he stared at his lap. "The dregs of what?"

Yami shook his head. "Tea. It's a drink from where I come from. Sometimes you put leaves in it to give it a certain flavor. Once you've finished drinking the tea, all you have are the leaves. But even so, all you would need to do to have the tea again is add more boiling water." He tilted his head slightly. "Is this boy's magic like that? From where I come from, magic is nothing new. Perhaps in the modern time, yes, since magic is but a superstition to the people, but in Egypt, it is not. Magic can be helpful and/or dangerous. (It all depends on the user.) I used the magic I knew to win wars and protect my people. We did not know who was good or not. The only way one could tell if the other was evil or their intentions were, was either through experience with evil or through actions, whereas where you are from you can sense things. It did not come as easy for my people when they were killed by the darkness shrouding our planet."

"Could you?"

Brows rose. "Sense the evil? I suppose, to some extent. But not in time to warn others about it, nor save my dearest of friends in modern time."

Kuja lifted his cup to his lips again. Though the other had told him much about his home in Egypt, he had not said much about 'Japan', the home he grown accustom to when he was awakened. Once or twice he had mentioned an 'aibou', but never went into depth about it. Kuja had a feeling that Yami was very close to his friends and 'aibou'.

He was not given the chance to ask, though, when a knock came to the door. "Yes?" he answered.

The door opened to reveal a silver-haired teen. Yami smiled and nodded his greeting to the younger. Kuja, though, let his eyes travel to the large key-shaped object in the boy's hand.

"Welcome back."

The teen nodded as he looked around. "You don't mind if I come in, do you?"

Yami shook his head, gesturing to a chair just opposite of his, also across Kuja's desk. "Not at all. Have a seat." He stopped to notice the key as well. "And if you don't mind my asking, what's that in your hand?"

The teen looked down at the key and smiled at the Pharaoh as he sat down in the wicker chair. "I'll come to that. First off, I know your names, yet I was rude not to tell you mine. I'm Riku." He extended a hand and shook with Yami. Kuja, in return, simple stared at his hand. Riku retreated his hand. "Well, where should I start?"

Yami smiled kindly. "How about where you come from? Perhaps if we know a little more about you, it'll be easier for you to explain to us whatever you want."

Riku nodded slowly. He stared at his lap where the key lay. "I'm from a place called Destiny Islands..."

He told them of how they came to name the islands. He told of Sora, Kairi, Selphie, Tidus and Wakka, and how they came to play together on one island near their home. He told of how he grew up with these five children, and they had all come very close to each other.

"But even so," he said, "the two I am even closer to are Kairi and Sora."

He told of how they did everything together. They rowed home together, walked on the beach together, talked, had small adventures, et cetera.

"But..." His eyes grew dark as he remembered this event. "One adventure led to a wrong turn and sad ending. We were building a raft to sail out to explore more islands, more places, maybe even new worlds. The question on my mind then was 'why did we end up on this particular island? Was there a reason? If not, then we could've ended up somewhere else, right?' So I sought to find out. Though we were kids on a measly island, I poured my heart into building a raft to sail out on to explore the world and even another." Suddenly, a bitter laugh escaped him. "Who know that when I opened my heart, I embraced darkness instead of light? I let the darkness keep me astray and lead me down the wrong path whereas Sora was given the Kingdom Key—" He lifted the key in his hand. "—much different from this keyblade, and righted what I had down wrong. He saved the worlds I helped to destroy."

He spoke of the adventure Sora undergo just to find Kairi and him. He spoke of how he let himself be deceived by Maleficent and fall into her clutches. He told of how he even let Ansem control his body like a puppet, mind only set on being greater than his best friend and proving him wrong.

"In the end, at the doors of Kingdom Hearts, I stood on the inside, helping him close the doors that would end our adventure. I could've helped him on the outside, but no, I wanted time to repent and think about what I had done. What good was I out there if I would only be treated as badly as they once were? I had done too many bad things and destroyed whole worlds to simply walk out on their land again and say I'm sorry. So I sealed myself inside with the King. He promised that everything would be all right in the end, and I half believed him then. How? How could they turn out all right? But then, I remembered Sora. For all that he'd done, he could do more. Of course, he would be the one to make things right. Not me." He paused to grip the handle of his keyblade and swallow. "The last thing I told him, before the doors shut, was... to take care of Kairi. Sora, I knew, could handle more things than I, but Kairi was in a kind of slumber all throughout the journey. She did not experience the pain, the hardships that Sora did, or myself. And because she is dear to me, I asked him to protect her, to watch over her as we always had. First, it was in a brotherly way, to stay close to her and protect her, then it was a little more than friendship, and possibly even love. But after all that I had done, even if it was love, I did not deserve it, especially from her. I did not deserve her friendship, nor Sora's. They were both there for me, even if not physically, and I had pushed them away and let them down. I did not deserve to face them. Sora, I figured, could be in my place and be a much better brother, friend, and maybe lover. I left it to him... He was to go back to her and tell her I would not come back. He would be the shoulder to cry on, the person to hug, the one to say hello and goodbye to. But why would she say goodbye to him for? He would stay with her forever."

Riku stopped to shake his head, a hollow laugh filling the air. Before the other two could say anything, he continued, dark, blank eyes still trained on the black key resting in his lap. "I was wrong. When I told him to go back, to Kairi, he instead left her. While the worlds that have been destroyed, torn apart, disappeared, came together, he was to hop back on that portion of sand and watch with her as their world was rebuilt. But no, he stayed on the land where the doors of Kingdom Hearts once lay, with the mage and knight, the barrier put between worlds pulled up, separating them. Supposedly, people of different worlds could not cross to others. Sora went back to the Castle where he would plan and come up with a way to travel between worlds again."

Vaguely, he told of the second adventure Sora experienced.

"Eventually, he did find me, and I came to learn about what he had done. Eventually, when all evil seemed to have diminished, we went home, together this time. It would seem that all troubles were gone, but Sora remained tense. He was not the innocent boy I grew up anymore. In turn, I was not the same 'brother' I played while growing up with him. We went through a lot, and Kairi experienced much emotional pain while we were gone. How could she explain our absence to the adults? How could she explain that our world was destroyed with only herself, myself, and Sora survived? And how could she say that though they ignored it, their was a kind of gap in their memory since the incident? How could she explain all that happened? She couldn't.

"But... I guess you can say she was given some slack when we returned and made up a lie saying that we actually sailed the raft and forgot to tell others where we went or how long we would be gone. We were scowled, but it was worth it, for it meant that we were home. We did our best to return to normal, but it was hard. Selphie, Tidus and Wakka noticed the change in the three of us, Sora especially when he stupidly accepted challenges and accidentally went a little rough in a fight. Several times he, Kairi and I talked about how he couldn't hide the truth from them for very long, but tried to keep it up. Sora, especially, had a problem in keeping his fighting skills a secret and eventually, they demanded the truth. We told them, of course, but it was a major shock for them. In time, they accepted that they experienced the weirdest form of death ever possible, and we grew close again.

"I stayed away from the rest of them, for I was still uneasy about being around them and having them accept my mistakes so easily. I was wounded deeply in pride as well as in my heart. I changed my wardrobe to express my mourning and wish to stay by myself." He gestured to the loose black pants and black shirt he currently wore. "I used to wear much lighter colors, but not now. ...I keep them in a box under my bed as a reminder of what I was and will never become again. After what happened to me and the others, I cannot simply erase them from my brain. I stayed away from them, but watched as the girls created a play. As their way of easing the tension, they started the production of a play, asking Sora to open the doors and lifting the barriers of the worlds surrounding Kingdom Hearts. They invited others over to help, and the play turned out to be a great hit. After so many months (maybe past a year or two) of sorrow and pain, the play was a sure way to lighten the weight in everyone's heart."

He shook his head, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. After a moment, he reopened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "But... as always, Sora remains tense. He's good at acting now, but after so many years with him, more than the other four, I can recognize the slight movements of his body and tell when he lies or is hiding something from us. I kept an eye on him as much as I could during the day without giving myself away, and around the time of the play he seemed far away. I had the thought of noting this to Kairi, but figured that she would confront Sora and fawn over him. I didn't want her to worry, so I kept my thoughts to myself. Perhaps I was reading too much into it? ...Maybe not. Just after the play, Sora seemed to grow even more distant, as if something terribly important was taking up most of the space in his mind. And... that's when it happened. Not long ago, Sora seemed to disappear. Kairi and I looked for him without drawing attention to us. When she went to his house to see if he was still in bed (which I hope for right now), I searched the island again. I went to the cave that held the door to our world, and was engulfed by a light that poured from the door. The next thing I knew, I was not on my island anymore, but drifting in a white space where there was no top, bottom, beginning or end. A voice spoke to me, distorted and seemingly unreal. As far as I remember, it said to... find something and a girl. Supposedly, she would help me in my unknown journey now, and supposedly, these things I'm supposed to find will help me as well. So far, that's all I know or understand."

He lowered his head to meet the gazes of the other two. "So far, that's my new adventure. Maybe, if I can find at least one of these things, or even the girl, something will start to make sense and I'll know of the greater task as hand. And... perhaps this is my one chance to make everything right." He looked down at the keyblade in his hand and lifted it, the ceiling light shining off it. "This keyblade came from within me... Music and paths... Maybe this keyblade and the clues I have been given will help me start."

Silence followed after the teen's speech, many questions hanging in the air. The one question, though, that stood out from the rest was: "So what do you think? What now?" How could they answer that? Yami and Kuja took their time in processing all the information that the teen had given them, exchanging several glances between them as the teen continued to stare at the weapon in their hand.

Kuja turned his attention to the weapon as well. One thought hovered in his mind: Could such a weak and utterly childish looking thing really save the universe? ...Riku was so much like himself, especially when he spoke of how he felt helpless and felt like everything was his fault, how no one would accept him even after we was given a second chance. Kuja, a full-grown man, experienced great pain. For a child, this teen before him, to experience the same thing, it was sad. And he didn't mind that in a sarcastic way. No, from his heart he meant that he sympathized. If he could help the teen in any way on this journey of his, he would. Maybe... if possible... this could be his journey too, and he can take the chance to make up for what he'd down to the people of Gaea and Terra. He looked up from the keyblade to the silver-haired teen. ...Would Riku let him try? Though he didn't know what to do, he was willing to do anything to make up.

As if sensing the older one's scrutiny, Riku looked up from the keyblade as well and locked gazes with man. And, as if sensing his silent question, he nodded. "If there's help you can offer, I'd love it."

Yami cleared his throat. "But, before any of that, sleep would probably be best. Riku, if you would like, rest in bed. There's an empty room just opposite of this one across the hall. In case nore survivors come (which I hope not, though possible), Kuja and I need to rest up, as well as have more time to take in all this information you have given us."

Riku nodded and got up, glancing out the window to the room to see that the day was coming to a close and he had probably been talking for quite some time. Before exiting the room, he turned to two men. "Thanks to listening."

Yami smiled and nodded. "Not at all, Riku. Sleep well."

Riku nodded. "I'll try."

After the door shut, Yami added a little more to himself, "As will we." He turned to Kuja who stared off at a wall. "That was far more than I bargained for. To think that he has traveled to other worlds and wiped them out of existence... What do you think of this information he has given us?" When the other did not answer, he called to the other. "...Kuja?"

The silver-haired man frowned and looked down at his desk, crossing his arms. After a moment, he lifted his head. "Would it be right to ask him if I can help?"

Yami blinked in moment's surprise. "Why not?"

Kuja shook his head. "I don't know. ...I would like to help him, though. He is too much like me... And I speak not of physical appearance."

Yami nodded, but remained silent. Instead, he stood up. "I think I shall take my own advice and return to me room. Kuja, get some sleep. Otherwise, you will not work well tomorrow. You can confront him in the morning."

Kuja nodded and stood up as well, though very slowly. His mind was still racing with questions and possibilities even as he bid the Egyptian farewell and got ready for bed himself.

As he slid into bed, one thought remained:

Will I be able to do what you have done, brother? Will I be able to do right... after all I have done?

~*~*~*~*~

AN: I've noticed from my inbox that I've been getting reviews from my very first story. ...Wow. I mean, really: talk about "Wow!" Is that because of my mere commenting on that this is a kind of remake of it or something like that? ... Well, whatever. Whether remake or not (which it sorta isn't), I'd like those who have been reading it while waiting for this to update to stop reading the other one if unless you absolutely enjoy it. ^^;; Sorry, but that story is a joke. I can do WAY better now and plan on doing so.

But anywho: Happy V-day all my peoples out there! What did everyone get for the lovely Feb 14th? I got a cuddly bear in my locker! Can you believe it? (Total surprise!) I'm practically gushing over it! cuddles bear #^^# But anyway, to make up for the off schedule, I think you all deserve an early update on this Valentines weekend! ^^ (Well, at least I THINK it's an early update. O.o)