Assassination

Cuchulain stood vigilant in the first district, sitting on the steps of the town entry. His trident, the Gae Bulga lay nestled on his shoulder. With his head bowed down, he could observe passersby without them noticing that he were gazing at them. It was then that he heard a familiar rumble which could only be the sound of rockets from a gummi ship. He stood up and ran to the main gates and before him, the mighty Leviathan landed and took port. Cuchulain stood to where the airlock doors were located and waited for his comrades to come out.

"Could it be that they've come back?" he thought. The doors opened and from the darkness of its hull, Mickey and Donald came out. Cuchulain ran to greet them. "I see you guys made it back safely."

"Good to be back." Mickey replied. "How is everything here?"

"We haven't had any incidences with the Imperials ever since you left. I think we scared them off for good. Too bad though. I never got to fight the Imperials."-

"That's because you were asleep throughout that entire ordeal!" Donald uttered. Mickey whacked his friend at the back of the head.

"Shut up…" Mickey whispered.

"So all of you managed to fulfill your mission without suffering one casualty?" Cuchulain asked.

"Well, not exactly."-

"What do you mean?"-

Cuchulain then looked up to see Goofy and Riku carrying Sora.

"Hey Cuchulain." said Goofy.

"What happened?" asked the Hound.

"Sora's been severely injured." Riku replied. "Is Goten here?"

"Goten? No he isn't. He's still in Oceansburg with Sneer and Lu Xun. Why do you ask?"-

"Damn. We need some senzu beans for Sora."-

"I'll tell the others that you've arrived. We'll set Sora up in the hotel in the second district. Come hurry."-

The party walked to where the Hotel was. Sora having very little energy could only make one baby step at a time. The walk from the main gate to the hotel in the second district was not a far distance. But for a young man in pain and who had lost a lot of blood and almost unconscious, it was a long walk. They eventually made it to the hotel and placed Sora in the red room. Riku laid his friend on his bed. Night fell and the lights from the alleyway peered through the window, creating a shadowy contrast on Sora's face. Goofy lit the lamps in the room, creating a descent yet dim amount of light.

Leon and Yuffie accompanied Cuchulain where Sora lay.

"Is Sora alright?" asked Yuffie.

"He's slightly unconscious and he's lost a lot of blood." Riku said. "Just give him some time to rest."

"I wired Goten." Leon stated. "He says that he's on his way right now."

"What about the senzu beans?"-

"He says that the senzu beans won't be ready for another day, or so. But he says that once their ready, they'll be delivered to us."-

"Is Goten bringing it here?"-

"No. His dad, Goku, is going to deliver the beans here. Goten will arrive here within the next hour, or so."-

"Here you go, Riku." said Mickey, handing him a bowl of water with a damp cloth.

"Thanks Mickey." Riku replied. He dampened the sponge and wiped the dirt and sweat from Sora's face. The young man gasped suddenly as if he had held his breath. Sora opened his eyes slightly and gazed up at Riku.

"R…Riku?" Sora uttered. He tried to sit up, but Riku gently forced him down again.

"Lay still, Sora. You must rest your body. You've been through a lot."-

"Where am I?" Sora's half opened eyes gazed about the room.

"You're in the red room in the Traverse Town hotel in the second district."-

"We'll leave you two alone." Cuchulain uttered, shooing the others out of the room. He closed the door behind him, leaving Riku alone with his young friend.

"I thought you weren't going to make it." Riku said.

"I felt myself passing away." Sora whispered. "I could feel myself slip away." Sora tried to lift his head but it collapsed on the pillow again. Sora's eyes closed again and the young key bearer was once again asleep. Riku stroked his forehead and smiled.

"You rest Sora. I guarantee that you'll feel better in a few hours." Riku exited the room and closed the door behind him. He sat in the green room where Mickey, Donald, and Goofy were sitting.

"Is Sora gonna be alright?" asked Mickey.

"He's fine." Riku stated. "All he needs right now is some good rest."

"Gawrsh." Goofy said. "I didn't think Sora would make it through all that."

"Ah phooey!" Donald said. "I know Sora and he isn't the type to give up so easily."

"That's true." Riku added. "Sora will never give up so long as breath still enters and exits his lungs." It was then that Riku felt a strange presence from far away. He suddenly turned cold in the face and he gazed out the window.

"Are you OK, Riku?" asked Goofy.

"I'm alright. I just thought I felt something."-

An hour passed swiftly and without notice, Riku and his comrades still remained vigilant over the red room where Sora slept soundly.

"Sora really must be tired." Mickey said. "Not surprising though."

"He'll be alright." Donald assured him. "Just let him be." It was then that Donald noticed that Riku still had that cold stare on his face. "Riku? Are you sure you're alright?"

"I have this strange feeling that someone is out there?" Riku uttered. "An eerie presence. A threatening presence."

"It must be your imagination."-

"If it was, this feeling of fear that I have wouldn't be lasting this long."-

Suddenly, Cuchulain came into the room and presented himself before the team.

"Hey guys." he began. "Goten has arrived. His cruiser is just about to land."

"Come on, Riku." said Mickey. "Let's go meet him."

"But what about Sora?" Riku asked. "I can't just leave him alone."

"Don't worry about him." said Donald. "Nothing will happen to Sora." The three joined with Cuchulain and rushed out of the room. Riku gazed at the door leading to the red room, where a slumbering Sora lay defenseless and weak. Riku shook his head. "Maybe Donald's right. Maybe I'm being a little paranoid." He walked out of the green room and into the hall. He exited the hotel and looked about to see if there was anyone there. The lights illuminated the walkways revealing that there was no one walking about in the second district besides him. Riku continued to walk towards the gates leading to the first district, but he stopped as his conscious nagged him to stay.

"What if something were to happen?" Riku thought to himself. "If something were to happen to Sora I wouldn't be able to reach him in time. Or am I so stressed by the passed events that I can't even determine the difference between a real threat and my own imagination?" Instead of meeting with the others who went to greet Goten, Riku wandered about in the second district, keeping watch.

At the same time, Sora awoke from a deep sleep. He staggered to sit up and moved the end of the bed. He dangled his feet over the edge and laid them firmly on the floor. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His eyes were still half shut. Grasping the bandaged wound on his abdomen, he hoped to comfort the pain. Not a sharp pain, but one that seemed to throb heavily.

"What I had to get myself into." he uttered to himself.

"Aw. Poor baby." A voice suddenly whispered. Sora looked up to see a young lady standing in front of the door leading to the green room. "Does it hurt?"

"Who are you?" Sora asked.

"Why I'm the answer to all your prayers." The young lady replied. "I've come to comfort you. You are so alone in this big room, on such a big bed." She approached Sora. Sora slightly backed off onto the mattress again. The young lady just stopped at the foot of the bed. "You're name is Sora right?"

"How did you know that?"-

"I overheard your friends talking." She gazed down at the wounds inflicted on him that had been mended. "Oh, you have been hurt. Did those nasty people hurt you?" She began to climb on the bed and neared Sora. She came up and stroked her hand on his abdomen. "Don't worry I'll make it better."

"Miss," Sora uttered, "I don't know how to react to that. You don't need to be so close to me."

"But why not? You're so handsome and so hot." She continued to close the distance between her and Sora. "So young too."

"Please Miss. I don't even know who you are."

Meanwhile, at the main gate, Cuchulain, Leon, and the others watched as Goten's ship touched down and made port. Immediately after it had settled, the airlock doors automatically opened and Goten rushed out.

"It's good to see you again, Goten." Mickey said. But Goten seemed to be in a hurry.

"Sora! Riku! Where are they!" Goten asked.

"They're at the hotel in the second district." Donald implied. He looked around. "I guess Riku decided not to follow us."

"Why do you ask?" asked Leon. Goten didn't utter a word further. Instead, he rushed to the second district with all possible speed.

"Goten!" said Yuffie. "Yo, Goten come back!"

"Why is he in such a hurry?" asked Goofy.

"And what's with that worried look in his face?" Mickey added.

"I don't know, but it must be concerning Riku and Sora." Cuchulain said.

"Well, come on." Leon implied. "Let's follow him."

The company was on Goten's heels, still wondering why Goten looked grief stricken.

In the meantime, Sora was still confronted by the young woman, who now stood over him. He rested on his elbows and the young woman began rubbing her hand on his chest. She then forced him down on the bed and straddled him across his stomach.

"Please Miss. Don't do this." Sora pleaded. "I don't even know who you are."

"Shhh." She said, looking straight down on him. She tightened her legs over him and pinned both of Sora's hands down. "I just want to see you up close. You have such beautiful blue eyes."

"Miss! Tell me what is it that you want from me! What do you expect me to do!" Suddenly another figure appeared over him, opposite the girl. It was a young man who looked down on him.

"All we want you to do, Sora," the young man said, "is die!"

He suddenly threw one of the heavy pillows on Sora's face. Sora realized what was happening now, but it was too late. There was a violent struggle between the three. The young man wrapped the pillow over Sora's head while the young woman kept his arms pinned. Sora thrashed about violently, his legs kicking in the air, and muffled cries bellowing from beneath the cloth.

At the same time, Riku awaited for the others to return. He sat quietly on the wall of the walkway, just outside the hotel when Goten suddenly burst through the doors. Riku stood up automatically.

"Goten." He said. Goten rushed to him, the others behind him. "What's the matter?"

"Danger!" Goten shouted. "You and Sora are in grave danger!"

"What do you mean?"-

"There are two assassins who have come to kill you and Sora! They're here in Traverse Town!" Goten looked about. "Where's Sora?"

Riku, stricken with fear, rushed into the hotel with Goten and the others flowing him close behind.

Sora slowly suffocated as the young man added more pressure to the pillow. Sora's cries became louder and his legs thrashed about more violently then ever. He tired to raise his arms, but the young woman kept them pinned.

"He's a real fighter." the young man said.

"He was so cute too." the young lade added. "How is he in his thrashing?"

"Oh you should see those legs kick."-

"It's not his thrashing limbs I'm worried about." Letting go of Sora's left, she reached back and began rubbing her hand up and down his crotch. Sora cried out.

"Stop!" he cried. "Someone help me!"

"Ain't no one gonna help you now!" the young man chuckled.

"Yeah." The young woman said, still rubbing her hand on Sora's crotch. "Just keep thrashing. I like it."

But suddenly, there was a bang on the door, which scared the two.

"Open up!" shouted Riku from the other side.

"What!" said the young man. "But how!"

"They knew we were here?" the young lady added. She turned to the young man. "Let's finish this and go!" As the pounding on the door became louder and more threatening, the young man pressed the pillow down on Sora's face. Sora thrashed about violently for only a few more seconds before they stuck up for a brief moment and fell dead to the bed mattress. His struggle died down and Sora stopped moving. But as he ceased to move, the doors burst open and there stood Goten, Riku, and Cuchulain.

Cuchulain thrust the Gae Bulga and struck the young woman in the back. The prongs of the spear pierced through her back and exited out her chest. She slumped backwards and died. The young man tried to escape, but Goten unsheathed his sword and threw it at the young man. The sword cut the young man on the left shoulder and stuck into the wall.

"This ain't over!" the young man bellowed and crashed through the window. Landing on the ground, he fled into the darkness of the alleyway. Goten and Cuchulain went to see where he had gone, but there was no sign.

Meanwhile, Riku jumped onto the bed and took the pillow off Sora's head. Sora's eyes were closed and his breathing stopped. Riku held his friend in his arms.

"Sora!" he cried. "Wake up! Please wake up!"

Sora suddenly began coughing violently, taking deep breathes at the same time. He panicked, not knowing where he was until he saw Riku staring down at him. Sora's eyes filled with tears and he wept into Riku's coat. Riku held his friend tightly against him.

"It's alright, Sora." he said. "It's alright."

Later having enough strength to walk, Sora joined Riku and the others to observe the dead corpse of the woman.

"Stifle Asphyxia." Goten uttered.

"Is she the one you tried to warn us about?" Riku asked.

"She and her brother Smother were the ones alright. That is why they are called the Asphyxia Twins, because they specialize in silent killing in strangulation, or suffocation."-

"But why would they intend to kill their victims in such a barbaric fashion?" asked Leon.

"The reason why is because they find pleasure in torturing their victims." Goten turned to Sora. "Tell me Sora. What did they do to you?"

"Well, this young girl attempted to seduce me." Sora began. "She crawled on top of me and pinned me down. Suddenly, her brother forced a pillow onto my head and tried to suffocate me. I could feel myself dying. I couldn't breathe and tried for fight them off, but this girl pinned my arms down. But suddenly, she let go of my left arm and I could suddenly feel her hand rubbing itself up and down my crotch. But violation of my private parts was the last thing on my mind. I felt myself die and I just went limp, not able to move. I could feel a sinking feeling in my body as if I were very heavy and seemed to pass away."

"To further emphasize on the question why the Asphyxia Twins did what they did and do what they do is because they also engage in asphyxiating sodomy."

"What does that mean?"-

"They are sexually aroused by inflicting pain on their victims through strangulation, or suffocation. They enjoy the sight of someone thrashing about violently."-

"What kind of sick minded individuals are these two?" Leon asked.

"Sick minded and the best silent assassins known in our universe. They can kill their victim and suddenly vanish without a trace. No one was able to catch them in the act, or prevent any of their murders until now. Thanks to an anonymous source, we managed to catch them and stop an attempted assassination."

"So I guess it's only Smother that's left." Mickey asked.

"Alone, they were not much of a threat. They aren't physically strong enough to tackle a job alone. It was when they were together that they proved to be a deadly combination."-

"So I guess Smother is just like one of those bullies." Riku uttered. "He's alone for the first time in his life and he's afraid."

"So, I guess the ordeal is over then." Sora added.

However, they didn't realize that Smother Asphyxia was watching them from the door leading to the alleyway.

"This isn't over." Smother said. "I'll kill you and Sora next time, Riku. This time, I'll kill you for vengeance. You killed my sister and now I'll take your lives."

"Quite a bold statement." A voice suddenly uttered from behind him. Smother turned to see a familiar face looking at him.

"General Ameba."-

"You failed to carry out your mission, I see." The General uttered.

"They killed my sister!"-

"Aw, that's too bad."-

"Don't worry. I'll take my revenge by killing both those key bearers."-

"I'm sorry to hear that." Ameba suddenly uttered. Smother stood puzzled.

"Why do you say that? And what brings you here anyway, Sir?"-

"I came to tell you that your part in this is over."-

"What do you mean by that?" Ameba smiled and placed his hand on Smother's shoulder.

"I hope you won't take this personally." Ameba suddenly revealed a bayonet from beneath his sleeve and thrust it into Smother's gut. The boy gasped as he felt the bayonet enter is body. Ameba released him, forcing the young man to fall dying. The blood seeped from the open wound and Smother could only look up at his employer.

"But why…?" he uttered. "Why did…you do this?"

"I found out," Ameba explained, "That Riku and Sora are worth more to me alive. By sparing their lives, I would be able to gain my lordship if I were to capture them alive. But had you killed even one of them, my promotion to lord would have once again been denied and that is something which I cannot have. Thus, you must pay the price for attempting to kill them."-

"But that's…what you hired us…to do…" blood now began to seep from his mouth.

"The situation has changed my boy. You are irrelevant now."-

Smother tried to crawl away, but Ameba slowly followed behind him. Ameba saw that Smother had dropped his famous death cord, which he used to strangle his victims. He picked it up and knelt behind Smother.

"You seem to enjoy seeing your victims gasp and choke when you kill them." Ameba then wrapped the chord around the young man's throat. "Let's see how you enjoy your own medicine."

Smother tried to cry out, but Ameba only tightened the chord around his throat. Finally, with all his might, the young man cried out for help as best he could.

His cry didn't go unnoticed though. Riku and the others heard the death cry as clear as a bell.

"Did you hear that?" Riku asked.

"Sure did." Yuffie added. "It came from the alleyway whatever it was."

The party rushed to the gates leading to the alleyway. Opening the doors, they gazed upon a trail of blood. Tracing it, they stumbled upon the body of Smother Asphyxia.

"Smother Asphyxia." Goten uttered.

"Is he dead?" asked Riku, as they bent over the body. They observed a red streak around his throat.

"So," Leon uttered, "a victim of his own pleasure."

It was suddenly that Smother gasped and sat up. The party was stunned to see this. But Riku wasn't afraid and grabbed Smother by the collar.

"Oh! You're still alive!" he said angrily. "You should have stayed dead! Now, you have me to contend with!"

"Riku…don't" Sora uttered as he hobbled to Smother. Smother looked into the eyes of the young man whom he and his sister tried to desperately murder. "What happened?"

Smother looked at his hands, which were covered in his own blood.

"Useless…" he uttered. "Useless…and bloody."

"You better tell us what happened!" said Riku, violently shaking the assassin.

"He…betrayed us…He betrayed us"-

"Who?" Sora asked. But before he could utter a syllable, a dagger flew from out of nowhere and pierced his chest. The party looked about to see where the dagger came from.

"Spread out!" Leon ordered. "Find the assailant!" Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Leon, and Cuchulain spread out to search the area where the knife came from.

Smother coughed violently and the blood seeped from the sides of his mouth. He grasped onto Sora's shoulder and gazed into the key bearer's eyes.

"Sorry…" he uttered. A solitary tear rolled down his face before Smother fell dead to the ground. Sora placed his hand over the assassin's eyes and closed them.

"It's alright." Sora uttered. Sora stood up and gazed into the starry night. He noticed Goten and the others scouring the rooftops, looking for the assassin.

"Why would the Empire wish to kill their best assassins?" Yuffie asked.

"I don't know." Riku added. "Whoever it is, they don't want the word to get out that an attempt on Sora's life was made."

"I can't stay here." Sora uttered.

"What are you talking about, Sora?"-

Suddenly Sora collapsed, but Riku and Yuffie managed to catch him before he fell to the ground. Sweat began to drip from the key bearer's forehead.

"Sora." Riku uttered. He gazed at Yuffie. "He's still weak from his bout with General Kai."

"Let's get him back into the hotel." Yuffie said. "Let's get him into the green room this time."

"Right."

The two picked up the weary warrior and took him back into the hotel.

The night grew colder and the pursuit of Smother's assassin was called off. The KH team reassembled at the green room. Cuchulain and Leon walked about in the hallway, watching for anyone suspicious. Goten and Yuffie stood vigilant on the balcony of the green room. At the same time, Goofy, Mickey, Donald, and Riku stood watch over their dying friend. Riku dabbed a wet cloth over his friend's forehead, wiping the sweat away.

"I've never seen Sora so weak." Mickey uttered.

"He's been through a lot." Riku replied. "Goten! How much longer till your dad gets here with those senzu beans?"

"He should be here within the hour." Goten replied. "I know my dad. He's never come too late before."

"How's Sora holding out?" asked Yuffie.

"He's doing pretty well right now. Just needs some sleep."-

"I know. He's been through a lot."-

Just then, they heard Cuchulain shouting from the hallway.

"Riku!" he cried. "Someone's coming!"

Riku ran out, leaving the others to watch over Sora. He joined Cuchulain and Leon in the hallway.

"What's going on?" asked Riku.

"Someone's approaching from the alleyway leading to the third district." Riku looked out to see a form approaching from the shadows. Riku walked out of the hotel to meet the figure. He stood on the walkway just outside the hotel and waited for the figure to come closer.

"Are you Riku?" the figure asked.

"Yes!" Riku replied. "Are you…?" But as the figure drew nearer, Riku immediately recognized who it was.

"Arakis!" he shouted. The figure looked around.

"Arakis! Where!" But he realized that Riku had drawn his sword and was rushing towards him. "Hey, wait a minute! Wait a minute!"

Riku chased the figure about the courtyard with his sword held over his head.

"You won't get away, Arakis!" Riku roared.

"I'm not Arakis!" the figure pleaded. "Put down the sword!"

"You can't fool me!"-

"Riku! Wait!" Goten suddenly shouted from the walkway.

"But Arakis…!"-

"That's not Arakis, Riku." Goten flew down to the courtyard and sided alongside Riku. "That's my father, Son Goku."

"Son Goku?"-

"Yes!" the figure said. "It's Goku." Goku approached the two, slightly leery about how to approach.

"But how can that be?" Riku asked.

"I forgot to mention this to you," Goten explained, "but Lord Arakis and my father are exact look alikes."

"But how's that possible?"-

"Simple. My dad and I are descendents of Lord Arakis."-

"You are?"-

"That's what explains the strong striking resemblance between my dad and Arakis."-

"Hard to believe?" Goku added. "I wouldn't blame you. We just found that out only recently."

"You get it, Riku?" Goten asked.

"I understand." Riku said. He approached Goku and stretched out his hand. "Sorry for what happened."

"Water under the bridge." Goku chuckled, grasping at Riku's hand. "You're not the first to mistaken me for Arakis. But believe me, we have nothing in common, he and I. And just for that, I come bearing gifts." He took out a bag of senzu beans and gave it to Riku. "Here's what you requested, Riku."

"Thank you." Riku replied, accepting the bag from Goku. They rushed back to the room where Sora lay. Riku took out one of the senzu beans and, holding Sora's head up, he nudged the bean at his lips. "Sora. Here's a senzu bean."

"A bean." Sora uttered. He opened his mouth and Riku placed the bean on his tongue. Sora slowly chewed the bean. Everyone watched with anxious eyes, hoping that the bean would work its magic as it did before. As soon as Sora had swallowed it, his eyes widely opened and he stood up in the bed. "I feel better."

"That's great." Riku uttered. Everyone cheered, knowing that the young key bearer would be alright after all.

"Thanks, Riku."-

"Don't thank me, Sora. You should thank Goku."-

"Goku?"-

Goku lurched his way forward. Sora gazed into his eyes.

"I see you've fully recovered." Goku chuckled.

"Thank you…" Sora uttered.

"No trouble at all."-

Soon after, Sora was dressing himself in a new outfit. Riku leaned next to the door, his arms folded in front of him.

"Why is it that Goku looks like Arakis?" Sora asked.

"He and Arakis are distantly related." Riku replied. "Arakis is in fact Goku's ancestor."

"Just how old is Arakis?"-

"Who knows. But if he's called Goku's ancestor, he must really be ancient."-

"No wonder he's held such high esteem within the Empire." Sora put a new white shirt on and tucked it into his black jeans.

"If I had my way, I'd like to meet Lord Arakis and fight him. That would save us a whole lot of trouble."-

Sora suddenly remembered his duel with the might Death Lord. He remembered just how powerful he was.

"He's stronger than you think, Riku." Sora uttered.

"How do you know?" Riku asked.

"Well, I…" Sora stuttered, not wanting to reveal the details of the duel he had against Arakis. How could he look at Riku and say that he had the chance to fight Arakis and end their search for Kairi sooner, but failed? He knew by revealing such an event, Riku would never forgive him. Sora immediately came up with an alternative explanation. "It was just how Goten and the others were describing his strength."

"Arakis can't be that powerful can he?"-

"Being a threat to the universe, I say he holds a lot of energy to be a greater threat than either you, or I can comprehend."-

"Well, when I get the chance to fight him, I will. And I'll win."-

"Oh Riku. If you only knew." Sora thought to himself.

"Hey guys!" Goku called. "Come here!"

"What is it, dad?" Goten asked. The others gathered around him.

"Is it something important?" Leon asked.

"I forgot to mention it before." Goku said.

"Well what is it?" Sora asked.

"Does it have something to do with the Empire?" Riku added.

"Not really." Goku explained. "It has more to do with the Alliance. Sneer said that he'll be sending a regiment of Alliance soldiers here to fortify a refuge for the refugees."

"We'll be receiving refugees?" Cuchulain asked.

"That's right. And we need everyone in town to help look after these people."-

"Very well." Leon stated. "We'll set up tents in the courtyards of the three districts."

"I'll see if anyone is willing to provide shelter for any of the refugees." Yuffie added.

"What about medical supplies?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah." Donald added. "You can't give aid without medical supplies and food?"

"Provisions will be coming with the regiment of soldiers." Goku explained. "We just have to be ready to accept the refugees."

"Where are the refugees coming from?" Sora asked.

"Everywhere."-

"How many?"-

"From what Sneer was telling me, a lot. At least three thousand."-

"Three thousand refugees?" Riku said, astonished.

"That's right." Goku rushed out the door.

"Where're you going, Goku?" Goofy asked.

"I have to return to Oceansburg and meet with Sneer." Goku explained. "He wants me to report back to him as soon as I gave the message and the senzu beans to you guys." He placed his middle and index finger to his forehead and prepared to deploy instant transmission. But as he walked outside the hotel, he suddenly felt an evil presence lurking about in the darkness.

"What's up, Goku?" Riku asked as he and the others rushed out.

"Someone is here." Goku uttered. "An evil power."

"Yeah." Goten replied. "And I'll give you a guess who it is."

"What are they talking about?" Mickey asked.

"You can search me." Donald replied. "I don't see anyone out there."

"They have the ability to sense the energy accumulating from the enemy." Riku uttered. "Every warrior develops this instinct."

"By the sense I'm feeling," Sora said, "It's definitely a familiar trait."

"You couldn't be more right than that!" a voice hollered up. The party looked up to see a shadowy figure standing upon the rooftop of the outlet building.

"There he is!" Cuchulain pointed out.

The figure descended to the courtyard. When his face was illuminated by the lamps of the second district, the party reacted in a hostile manner. Lord Drako Arakis of the Dark Empire had come before them.

"Arakis." Sora uttered.

"What are you doing here, Arakis!" Goku said.

"I just wanted to see how my prized opponents were doing." said Arakis. "I didn't want any of them to meet their fates prematurely. What surprises me though is what someone like you is doing here, Kakarrot."

"I needed to help these guys."-

"Just like you, Kakarrot. Always playing the compassionate hero. However, the efforts you take will be in vain. You can't be everywhere at once. Stray but a little from your objective and you would have lost a great deal of time and effort on a lost cause. Just by standing here conversing with the members of the KH group is costing you. As we speak, the Dark Empire is taking over other dimensional realms. Hundreds are on the verge of falling beneath our might."-

"But what's the Empire if I take out the leaders!"-

"And what chance do you think you have against me?"-

Goku sneered and jumped to confront Arakis. He stood ready to fight.

"I believe my chances are fair enough." Goku said. "You wish to fight me! Then I gladly accept your challenge!"-

"I would love to fight you, Kakarrot." Arakis chuckled. "However, you're just not worth my time right now."

"What's the matter, Arakis! Do I scare you!"-

"Please, Kakarrot. Can't you think of something more original?"-

"Hey!" Sora shouted. "Arakis!"

Arakis glared up at Sora, a slight smirk on his face.

"And what is it that you want, key bearer?" Arakis asked.

"Were you the one who killed Smother Asphyxia!"-

"The Asphyxia Twins were here?"-

"Don't play dumb with us!" Riku shouted. "We know that you sent those two assassins to kill Sora!"

"Why would I want to do that? I have no intention of killing you. Unless it was in a fight."-

"Well either way, both of them are dead!" Riku jumped aside Goku and drew his blade from the sheath. He presented the sharpened steel before Arakis. "And since we're on the subject, I know that you're the one who knows where my friend Kairi is! Tell me! Where is she!"

"For you own sake, sheath your sword." Arakis uttered. "If you value your life that is."

"You're the only one who knows where Kairi is and I intend to get that information from you. Even if I have to beat it out of you!"-

"Fighting you as you are now would not be worth my time, Riku. You wouldn't stand a chance against me."-

"We'll just see about that." But just then, Goku placed his hand on Riku's shoulder. "Goku?"

"Your fight is with me, Arakis!" Goku stated. "No one else! We still have an old score to settle!"

"Still haven't forgiven me for what I did you your son, Gohan and your granddaughter, Pan eh, Kakarrot?" Arakis chuckled. "Well if you wish to fight me, then go ahead, but it won't be here. I don't intend to fight you with my full strength. And I know how you hate to engage in a fight where your opponent is not taking the fight seriously and not use their full strength." Arakis turned his back towards the two. He suddenly glanced back at Sora, staring at him with he smirking eyes. He then turned his back on the party again and began to hover into the air. "Till the next time we meet, my friends. Next time, you may not be as lucky as you have been in this night."

With that, Arakis vanished into the night sky, leaving the party standing in the cool night breeze.

"Next time, Arakis." Riku uttered to himself. "It'll be you that won't be so lucky."