Kingdom of Chaos

Chapter 8: Deep Dive

Author: Sketchy Sunshine of OSTOCOM

Rating: PG-13, just to be on the safe side

Author's Notes: Three guesses what this chapter is about. And the first two don't count.

See chapter one for summary, disclaimer and other goodness. Otherwise, here's chapter eight! XD

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Riku materialized into a rain-filled gale. He landed sharply on his feet, ignoring the wind and water that pelted his body. He knew the storm would not impair his vision…he could see perfectly.

He used his nose and ears to map out his new location. He knew he had teleported somewhere high, probably to the top of a building. Below he could feel more buildings, the street, the alleys—all abandoned. The air was full of the scent of wet electricity…dangerous and powerful.

He sniffed the air again, pushing aside the overwhelming smell of rain for what he was truly seeking. There's a power here…I know it. He couldn't detect the king's presence, or Ansem's. There was a surrounding darkness swelling from just beneath the cobblestone. It was nothing as potent as Axel, Larxene or any of their kind. But there was something else…a far-off scent that felt closer. Something so natural, so familiar…

Sora…I smell Sora!

Riku leaned over the edge of the platform, his heart racing. He could smell Sora in the square below, apparently alone. At the same time, he sensed the rising darkness below finally surface, surrounding the entire square in its purposeful malice.

Toshi turned from Riku back to the street before him. From the ground emerged a tall, black Heartless…then another, and another, until a small army of Heartless surrounded him on all sides. Toshi summoned two Keyblades into his hands, daring his opponents to make the first move. He knew exactly why these Heartless were here.

Toshi looked back up at Riku. Even across the distance, through the rain and dark and blindfold, Toshi could feel his eyes…and hear his voice.

"Where's Sora?"

Riku felt something in his mind snap. He had heard the presence below perfectly, despite the howling rain. It smells like Sora…but it's not him. It's different somehow, almost darker.

"Who are you?" Riku called down to the presence below.

Toshi smiled at the sound of Riku's voice. "I'm a friend."

The darkness drew his attention away again. The Heartless crept closer, staring with a mixture of adoration and hatred at the Keyblades. Toshi held them ready, watching the Heartless before him as he tracked the movements of those behind.

One shadow dared to move, its feet making no noise against the puddles and stones. Toshi swung one of the Keyblades with ease. The Heartless contacted with the point of the blade, and dissolved into nothing. At this, the other Heartless moved to attack. They came first cautiously, circling around and seeking a weakness. Then they charged with full ferocity, claws bared and eyes blazing. Toshi took out each one as they approached, his gaze always fixed on the silver-haired boy above.

He leapt from platform to platform as the Heartless pressed their attack from all sides, even from overhead. For each one he killed, three more appeared to replace it. He landed at the entrance to the hotel, and glanced back. The Heartless were everywhere now: they climbed from the ground, the alley, the walls, all closing in on him. Within moments, a legion of leering Shadows barred any possible escape from the square.

Riku watched the massacre below without his eyes. He could feel the power in this new presence, and more importantly, the power in the weapons they wielded. "How did you get those Keyblades?" he called down, his voice somewhere between hopeful and fearful.

"Help me take these guys down, and I'll tell you everything," came the reply.

Toshi risked a glance back up, and caught Riku's smile. Without any words, they knew what to do.

Riku stepped to the edge of the skyscraper as Toshi bounded across the steps below him. Holding both Keyblades at his sides, Toshi sprinted up the side of the building. The rain pounded into his face and skidded across his billowing coat, but he remained focused on his target. As Toshi ran into the storm, Riku stepped off the edge, and dove into the void.

The Heartless began to appear in waves, as if sensing this impending meeting of their enemies. They crawled from blackened pools in the walls, only to be sliced into dust by the Keyblades. Toshi increased speed, watching for the moment when he and Riku would cross paths.

"Here!"

With a sudden thrust, Toshi flung one of the Keyblades, and sent the heavy black weapon spinning into the gale. Riku caught it as he fell, and twisted his head to catch a sightless glimpse of the face they belonged to…

It's Sora's eyes.

The ground came rushing upon him fast and fierce, its surface crowded by teeming Heartless. He sensed his fall's end, and lightly touched down on the hotel steps before hitting the street. All around was the stench of mindless darkness…and in his hand was a Keyblade. It feels so familiar…

As Riku descended, Toshi reached the top of the building, and flipped into a landing on the roof. Waiting for him was another mass of Heartless, but they were of little concern. He turned to see Riku land safely, holding the Keyblade with delicate reverence. It's just as I thought.

Riku smelled the Heartless surrounding him, and planned his attack in his head. He knew it would ultimately cost him the Keyblade…but the persistent scent of Sora told him it would not be lost.

He concentrated all of his power into the huge iron key, willing the darkness within him to emerge and take shape. The Heartless sensed it and backed away…but it was too late.

Riku unleashed Dark Aura upon the Heartless hordes, using the power of the Keyblade to increase its range. A pulse of energy radiated from him, driving back everything in the area…the sound, the rain and the Heartless. All those caught in its path dissolved on contact. The city rippled with darkness, growing stronger the further it traveled. Toshi mentally shielded himself as it flowed up the side of the building and across the roof. He felt the force of it hammer his body, and obliterate the Heartless that surrounded him.

Riku's fingers trembled as he held the Keyblade, feeling its power begin to disperse. As if knowing and despising that it was being used for darkness, the Keyblade dematerialized from Riku's hands. The Dark Aura ended abruptly, and with it the pelting rain.

Both hooded figures stood for a moment, watching, unsure that they were now alone. But the rain had ceased, leaving nothing but soft splatters from the winding gutters. Riku breathed a sigh of satisfaction at his work. The aftertaste of darkness left him both content and disturbed.

He gazed upwards, focusing on the figure at the top of the building. "Come down here."

Toshi released the Keyblades, and they disappeared at his command. He slowly descended down the side of the building, allowing himself to breathe easier now. The stray rain followed him down slow and steady. He landed on the street, and faced Riku with a grin.

"I knew you could take all of them out by yourself," Toshi nodded, and looked at Riku quizzically. "What's with the blindfold?"

Riku sniffed the presence before him again, unable to believe that it wasn't Sora…and yet the differences were still there. "It helps me to see," he replied.

"Why not just use the hood?" Toshi asked, pulling back his own. "That's what they're there for."

"I'm just more used to it." Riku scanned the square again to ensure himself that they were alone. "Now who are you, and how do you know Sora? You don't…" he hesitated. "You don't smell like one of them."

"My name is Toshi. And no, I am not a part of the Organization," he answered. "But I am looking for someone…and I suspect you are, too."

"I am," Riku said dully. In his journey to the city and fight with the Heartless, he had almost forgotten about the king.

Toshi brushed some of the water out of his hair. "Listen, Riku. The Organization is planning something…soon, they'll all rendezvous once again. There's someone behind them, 'the Superior,' that I can't get any information on. I can't take them all on by myself."

"Let me guess…you need my help."

Toshi detected the distance in Riku's voice. "And you don't want to give it?"

"The last person asking for my help was also wearing a robe like that," Riku said lowly. "And they got me separated from the king."

"Well…what does your nose tell you?"

Riku let out a breath slowly. "That you're Sora. And yet you're not him."

Toshi laughed quietly. Riku heard something familiar in it. "We want the same thing, Riku. I need to find Sora…and you do, too. Sora will lead us to the people we're looking for."

"Then what do you propose?"

"We work together…" Toshi met his blindfolded gaze. "Starting now."

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Yay, we're done for now! XD (goes back to watch Deep Dive trailer again and drool.) Next chapter is written, and will be up soon…I need to catch up on actual educational assignments first. Meh.

Check it, I'm doing fanart-ish-type things for this fic here: http : lynxgriffin . deviantart . com (spaces added so that the addy wouldn't be deleted.)