Eyes
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Kingdom Hearts, otherwise we'd see lots of RikuxSora goodness!
Warning: May contain shounen ai (boy/boy love) in the chapter. Please ignore if you are offended. Thank you!
---
A light so bright it cannot be hidden
Breaks through the silence and revives in this world
Upon the violently shaking parched earth,
We stake our lives as sparks collide
Just one more time -
Let a miracle happen
Give me the strength to take back the page in my memories I lost in the past...
A heart that believes can pierce through the darkness
I search for the place where my soul slumbers
With a sharp glint burning in my unblinking eyes
These two hearts of light and dark -
Now move toward the future, reflected in crystal
With eyes that glow red
Bidding farewell to the days when we licked each other's wounds,
We silently stand up-- Overlap, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
---
He couldn't remember the last time he was this happy. Ever since Riku offered his hand on Destiny islands, something bittersweet always happened. With the heartless around, it was hard to find peace anywhere. If you weren't careful, the darkness would swallow you up the moment you let your guard down.
That was probably why he considered these few moments with Riku paradise.
The two were comfortably lying on the bed, wrapped in each others' arms and watching the fire crackle. Nothing could possibly ruin the moment-
Belle crashed in with a horrific expression on her face, blatantly ignoring the boys' current position.
"Sora! Destiny Islands are being attacked! You have to come quick!"
She quickly grabbed his arm and yanked him off the bed, alternately pulling Riku off as well.
"Wh-wha? Wait, Belle-"
"There's no time, Sora! Kairi needs help! You have to get there right away!"
And before anyone could get a word in, Belle dragged Sora out the door.
The Unknown grumbled as he regained what dignity was left. Did they really have to attack now?
Did it have to be Destiny Islands?
His nightmares, they weren't just figments of his imagination, were they? He hoped not. The look in Sora's eyes in that dream…it terrified him. They were so lifeless, so blank that it seemed the very essence was taken out of him.
Riku shuddered. He had a bad feeling about this…
---
"Why didn't you go with them?" The dark haired one asked the mouse at his side while gazing at the ocean. His accomplish shrugged, pulling up his hood over his round ears.
"I don't think I have the heart to meet them again."
"You mean your friends?"
Mickey nodded.
"And Sora."
"That's understandable."
The permanent moon hung over the sky and reflected the water over the cove. Patterns covered the coral walls, giving it a sorrowful beauty. Mizu seemed to be indifferent to the sight, but the King was awed.
"What is this place?" Mickey asked. Mizu smiled oddly, creating a portal to Destiny Islands.
"Is this the answer you've been looking for?" He retorted, lazily watching the scene as Ansem stepped in. "This is the world in its true form."
Something clicked in the back of Mickey's mind, and it all became clear. Everything…
"Maybe our journey meant nothing after all."
---
Kairi ran as fast as she could, praying not to be noticed by Raos. It didn't matter where she went; there wasn't enough time to go back to the main island. She needed some place to hide.
Hiding places weren't very popular on this island.
The princess finally spotted a decent hiding spot-the secret passageway to the cove. She jumped and latched onto the rocky surface, and pulled herself up. She quickly closed the latch shut and sighed.
"Kairi!"
She jumped from the sudden call, hitting her head on the blunt roof. Kishi smiled at her, regardless of the angered expression on her face.
"What are you doing here?!" She harshly whispered to the three troublemakers.
"Are you really a princess, Miss Kairi?" Kaze cried. Kairi covered his mouth lightly, signaling to quiet down.
"I told you it's dangerous! How are you going to get home?"
"Our boat is at the cove! Come on, Kairi!"
---
It was time.
Kokoro said goodbye to his Keyblades one last time as he dismissed them. He took every opportunity to enjoy life as it was. Humans didn't realize how lucky they were to have the gift of life.
It would've been nice to see Destiny Islands just once.
Sighing from his pessimistic thoughts, he entered Riku's room where the other Non-existent one sat.
Riku blinked at him, noticing both the somber mood and the resemblance to his boyfriend.
"You do look like Sora."
To that comment, Kokoro smiled the slightest and flipped his hood up.
"You have your sight back."
The tension thickened as they both knew what would come next. Sometimes the price of being a Non-existent one was paid with the most important ideal.
Kokoro handed the Oath Keeper and the Oblivion to Riku.
"The moment Sora sets foot on Destiny Islands,"
"I cease to exist."
---
Sora stood in front of the portal, trying to settle the uneasiness fluttering in his stomach. Only the hope of seeing his island again gave him the slightest comfort, and even then…
"Where's Riku?" He asked, ignoring Donald's grimace.
"Right here." The affronted one declared, entering the balcony. Sora gave him an uneasy grin.
"Are you coming with me?"
Riku smiled and took his hand, intertwining his fingers with Sora.
"We'll go together."
They passed through, and it reminded Sora of the first time he encountered the heartless. It was like sinking through water; you felt heavy and light at the same time. When he opened his eyes, the vision of Destiny Islands filled his senses.
The moon hung overhead, illuminating everything its delicate rays could touch. The rushing waves of the ocean greeted his ears, flooding his nose with the smell of the beach. The thrill of being home hit him as he smiled.
But something was horribly off.
He immediately noticed Riku's absence. He looked around, but the cloaked boy was nowhere to be seen. Instead, little shells glowed an ethereal light all around the area. He picked one up, examining it in his palm.
"Thalassa shells?"
And suddenly a horrible pang in his head throbbed. He knelt onto the beach floor, not registering the grains that rubbed against his skin. Disconnected thoughts weaved in and out, showing him things and not revealing at the same time. They swirled faster and faster, entwining his mind in overload.
A gasp escaped him as the pain crashed to a stop. It all made sense now.
"Kairi!" He rasped and recovered from the dizziness.
"I'm afraid the princess of heart is no more." A twisted and familiar voice stated. Sora leapt to his feet and spun around.
A red clad man stood, eyeing him with arrogance and mockery. It didn't mattered what he looked like at either way, because the sickening air that followed him reeked of destruction and rottenness. No, this man needed no appearance.
"Ansem!" Sora growled in sheer anger. His wrecked island, his loss of friends, this whole stupid journey was his fault! It took all his willpower not to lunge at him then and there.
"Tell me," He smirked. The bastard knew it positively drove him crazy whenever he taunted. 'You've seen your island destroyed twice now. How does it feel to be homeless?"
"You don't understand! The darkness will destroy everything if it were to take over! Look at yourself…"
And the taunting ceased. Ansem summoned his own twisted creation, Darkside. But the creature wasn't the same as Sora remembered it.
Messy, bloody vines wrapped around Ansem and pulled its master into the recess of its body.
---
"How did everybody enjoy their little vacation?" Mizu grinned, receiving mixed remarks.
"Call this a vacation again and I'll kill you." Raos muttered. Vacation his ass…
The four Unknowns were reunited again, bunched in the small hut on the tropical paradise. The cozy shelter held the view of the battle between Sora and Ansem. To Riku, it was torture.
No matter who the victor was, the outcome was the same.
Mizu planned to have both sides of light and dark extinguished…
"Can't we help him?" Riku sounded almost pleading, causing everyone to look at him.
"No." Raos flatly answered. Mickey rested a hand over his arm.
"I know how you feel, but we can't interfere."
---
Sora panted, blocking the slashing whips as best he could with the Ultima Weapon. The thorns on the vines lashed at him and scratched his skin. Ansem was in this warped mass somewhere, making Darkside even more lethal than necessary.
He leapt to the side, dodging the fist in the process. Vines cracked to the ground, spewing sand into the air. The Key-bearer coughed and squinted his eyes. He couldn't see…
Pain registered as he hit the ground from the blow. The vine writhed on his back, digging the briars deep in his flesh. He screamed in agony and gripped the sand beneath him. In a desperate move, he ripped away from the thorns as he rolled on his back and slashed the appendage apart with the Keyblade. The sand in his wounds burned, but he ignored the sensation and continued.
If this kept up, he wouldn't survive.
Darkside's fist slammed down again, leaving an imprint on the beach. Against his body's complaints, Sora raced and jumped up onto the hand, dodging the vines that threatened to rip him apart. The beast rose its hand, but the Keyblade Master had already reached its neck. It turned its head to the side, peering at Sora with crimson eyes.
Sora impaled the Keyblade right through the monster's forehead.
It thrashed about, ripping Sora from its shoulder and hurling him across the beach and into the rocks. Darkside jerked the weapon from its head and dropped it to the ground. The Ultima Weapon disappeared in a flash and came to its unconscious master.
With a loud wail, Darkside panted and hung its head low. Madness accumulated in its aching mind, its bloody eyes trailed to the broken form of Sora. It traveled to the key-bearer, unraveling its dangerous whips and reaching towards him. The thorns buried within the boy and he snapped awake. Before he had the time to cry out, the vile monster pounded him against the wall, tearing away the whips that held him. Sora slid to the ground, blood trailing the path.
Riku couldn't take it anymore.
"Sora! SORA!" He cried, ripping away from the others at an undeterminable speed. He jumped down the platforms, not caring about the splinters in his hands. He was crazy to stay as he was, just watching on the sidelines. If he lost Sora, there would be nothing left for him…
He knelt in front of the boy, gripping onto the other's hand for support and comfort, terrified at how much blood he lost. Sora opened his eyes and smiled, despite the situation.
"Hey…" The boy murmured. Riku ran his hand through Sora's hair gently, wincing when he felt the blood on his hands.
"Oh gods, Sora, look at you-"
Sora silenced him with a chaste kiss, placing something in between their grasped hands. Riku let go and looked at the charm. It was a small crystal paopu with a silver chain connected to one of the leaves.
"It's been yours for a while, " He smiled, closing his eyes. "But I was waiting to give it to you…"
No…wake up! Sora…!Sora's grip relaxed but Riku still held on. Shock ran through his body as he stared wide-eyed at the motionless boy. This couldn't possibly be happening!
"No, Sora!" He cried, nearly borderline hysterical. He grabbed the brunette's shoulders and shook him. "Wake up! Sora, you have to wake up!"
Sora remained lifeless as Riku tightly hugged him, ignoring the blood that seeped from the boy's wounds. The tears he'd been trying to hold in broke free as he wrenched his eyes shut, refusing to believe it.
"I love you, Sora…you can't…" He whispered. Sorrow turned into rage and fury, as the teardrops suddenly stopped. He gently let go, setting him to lean against the stone wall. The ocean waves picked up, as if sensing the Unknown's turmoil. The intensity of his eyes were like liquid fire and numbing ice at the same time.
His inhuman eyes met those of the dark crimson eyes of Darkside. Nothing was in his vision, not the rest of the Non-existent ones that circled the horrid creature, not the small boat that rowed in the ocean, just the pathetic creature that dared to challenge him.
"We have come for you, my liege." He spat in a deadly calm voice. Riku stood and summoned the Keyblade, switching the keychains from the Oblivion to the precious paopu crystal. The blade instantly morphed, unfolding pearly wings at the hilt, mixing the onyx color with a pale ghostly blue. A crown spiked at the end and chains wrapped around the whole weapon. It was an odd sight, seeing the Unknown with such a magnificent weapon that opposed and completed him at the same time.
"You are the source of all heartless."
---
Kairi wished it all to end.
She sat in her boat, witnessing everything with her own eyes. Her friends…she was so happy to see them, but not like this. The horrible events that passed here today was beyond cruelty. She waited so long…
She cried with all her heart and soul for her best friends. She cried fully for all the pain the journey had caused. The princess was so sorry for everything she did…
The night became dark again, as the Thalassa shells died down.
---
Next Chapter Preview…
It didn't sound like him anymore…"Do you realize now, Ansem?" Sora blankly declared. Those soulless eyes matched with the monster's own. Riku felt so confused, half empty inside. Was this really Sora?
"But you have no more purpose here." He continued. A rough sound came from the dark one's mouthless head, vibrating the very air around them.
"And you do?"
"I…" He paused, closing his eyes. He opened them again, this time filled with emotion. "I have people I can't leave behind."
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A/N: I can't believe I did that! I'm so horrible…forgive me Sora! I'm so sorrrrrrryyyy!!!!! And thanks Soap Buddies! I'm starting to think no one's reading this at all, but you've given me hope! And no, sorry, but I'm just making it up, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want it to be real after this chapter anyway. I'm sorry Sora!! (bawls) Stay tuned-the next chapter is the last!