The creature turned to face Riku and only now did the youth realize just how big he was. He towered over him, at least eight feet tall, and his chest was almost as wide as Riku's full arm-span.

"You...set me free..." the creature rumbled, confusion in his deep blue eyes.

Does everyone here have blue eyes? Riku wondered. Intense ember eyes flashed to mind and he shivered mentally, trying to shake the image.

"Six again someone defenseless isn't very fair," Riku replied.

The creature bowed his head regally. "I am in your debt..."

"Riku," the silver-haired youth supplied. "What's your name?"

"Beast is fine."

Riku studied him, but the blue-eyes brooked no further questions or arguments. "All right. I don't suppose you know the way through the Labyrinth, Beast?"

Beast shook his head, his mane almost shimmering from the act. "I do not. However, to repay my debt, I will help you as best as I can."

"Thanks, we could probably use your help."

"We?" Beast looked genuinely perplexed and Riku searched for Cloud, only to find that the Labyrinth had changed yet again and the swordsman was nowhere to be found.

"I really hate it when it changes like that," Riku muttered, then louder, "forget about it."

Beast nodded, albeit a little uncertainly, and Riku focused on what he was going to do next. His eye fell on a door framed by climbing ivy. The doorknob was shaped into a comical face, the knob itself serving as a nose.

"Now that's a funny looking thing," Riku commented, bending down somewhat to examine it. He was only mildly surprised when the doorknob shot him a grumpy look.

"It's very rude to make such comments right before a person's face," it said haughtily.

"Would you rather I make them behind your back?" Riku retorted, putting his hands on his hips.

"And out of earshot, go away," the knob snapped back.

"All right then, I'll go through the door," Riku said and reached for the knob to turn it. However, it wouldn't turn.

"Ow! Unhand me ruffian!"

"Well, why won't you open?" Riku growled, letting go in disgust.

"Because I'm locked, obviously," the knob retorted smugly. Riku rolled his eyes.

"Would you like some help?" Beast inquired, leaning over Riku's shoulder. Riku pinched the bridge of his nose to stop the oncoming headache and nodded. Beast nodded himself and strode past the frustrated youth. Taking a deep breath, Beast dug his claws into the wood of the door, and with a large grunt, he wrenched the door out of the wall.

"This is outrageous!" the knob sputtered before Beast tossed the door aside where it landed in the bushes with a solid thud.

"Thank you," Riku said, the weariness and gratitude quite obvious his voice.

"My pleasure," Beast replied, sweeping a bow and motioning for Riku to take the lead, which he did. Beyond the door was a close-knit jungle that had a dirt path winding through hit. The two companions started down the path.

"Why are you trying to solve the Labyrinth?" Beast inquired after a while.

"Because Ansem's got my friend, Sora, and I'm going to rescue him."

"I see. You were very close, I take it?"

"Are," Riku corrected, almost fiercely. "At least...I hope we are...he keeps spending time with Kairi now..."

Beast made a rumbling noise, almost like an aha. "Then...you are jealous of Kairi."

"...yes," Riku admitted, pushing a stray twig out of his way. "I mean, she is my friend, and I do like her, but Sora was mine first! And I don't want that pervy king anywhere near him!" he shouted suddenly.

Beast moved a bit away from him and Riku sighed.

"Sorry."

"It's all right. How much further is this jungle, do you think?" Beast asked, looking around edgily.

"I don't know, why?"

"I just don't like this place," Beast growled, eyes moving rapidly through the foliage.

"I admit it's kind of creepy, but I don't think we have anything to worry about," Riku said, turning to flash a smile at his companion. Beast snorted in disbelief, then jerked to a stop, grunting in surprise. A black tendril was wrapped around Beast's ankle, pulling him toward a growing black pool of whatever it was. It was as black as ink, with no highlights at all and seemed to be the same consistency as the joke slime you'd find in a vending machine.

"Beast!"

"Riku, go!" Beast ordered, fighting as more tendrils shot up and wrapped around him.

"But-"

"It'll get you too!" Beast snarled.

Riku knew he was right, so he nodded and with no more hesitation, Riku turned and sprinted as fast as he could deeper into the jungle. When at last if felt as if his lungs would burst, he stopped and sagged to the ground.

It's not fair. Anytime I meet someone to help me, they get taken away! Fear for Sora, anger at Ansem and frustration with himself flooded the youth until he felt like screaming. What was stopping him from screaming? Nothing. So Riku threw his head back and gave vent to the powerful emotions within him.