Chapter 17

"Do you think we got him this time?" Sora Asked, "The darkness can never fully be destroyed, you know." Squall Replied, "Why don't we ask Riku? HE should know!"

Marina said VERY loudly, Riku turned away, "Marina! Stop shooting off you big Hippo MOUTH!" Eurasia scolded, "Yeah, it's like they say, You can pick your friends & you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your family!" "..." Riku remained silent at Sora's remark "Can I pick my friend's nose?" Euraisia said pointing at Leanna's face "no…" Hakeya said gritting her teeth in frustration, "Look, I've known you my entire life Riku; you're not a bad person, so stop acting as if it's the end of the world!" Riku looked at Sora oddly, "You want me to act like I never found out? I'm not human Sora! I can't ignore that!" "Riku! I've tried to be a strong, independent woman & although helping a chauvinistic, egotistical, blind sighted, idiot, like you, is COMPLETLEY against my standards…" She paused "NO ONE INHUMAN COULD FEEL AS MUCH AS YOU DO!" she bellowed, everyone gasped "Did Hakeya Tokai-LeonHart Actually CARE for someone else?" "Shut up Eurasia!" Hakeya glowered at Euraisia, "Re-Really?" Riku whispered "Yes…Look, you guys I think its time we go home, or find a hotel or

Something…." Hakeya said softly, still blushing. They start toward the ship; Sora jumped on Squall's back, "Oh Daddy! Can we go to the candy store! Ooh ooh! & then a PARADE?" Sora said…Twitching…. "Sure, Son we can do ALL those things!...when I can shell out the cash for all that crap…Squall whispered to Hakeya, smiling, She laughed slightly. They were right in front of their parking place when Riku cried out

"Wh-WHAT THE HELL! URGH!" & fell to the ground, clutching his stomach, "Riku! What's the matter!" Hakeya knelt by his side, "It feels like nails! UGH!" He fell forward, "Riku? RIKU!" everyone gathered around him, he stumbled to his feet,

Threw back his head & let out a screech as 2 massive, Black, wings tore through his skin & spread out valiantly tearing his shirt to pieces. "What the hell?" Squall whispered, "You're definitely my dad…"

Hakeya Sighed "They-re calling me…." Riku said with a dual sound in his voice,

A pair of heartless antenna were protruding from his head, his eyes glow neon yellow,

& he lets out another Heartless cry. He begins to flap his wings furiously,

"WHAT IS HE DOING?" Marina screamed, holding on for dear life, "HE'S TRYING TO KNOCK US OFF THE PILLAR!" Hakeya yelled back, "RIKU! STOP! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T SERVE YOUR FATHER LIKE SOME DARK, MINDLESS, SERVANT!" Hakeya yelled "What?" Riku was starting to understand, He ceased his wing flapping, "You said you wouldn't go back to being a servant of darkness, an entity of slavery. You trust your friends right?" Hakeya called to him, "Was that not the truth?"

"I-I…" Riku's chest began to glow, "What's happening?" Euraisia cried "I think his heart's been renewed!" Hakeya said happily. Riku sank to his knees & sobbed

"Riku…" Hakeya ran over to him, "I think we should go now, come on lets get that blood cleaned off." She soothed, Squalled glared at Riku "I'm watchin' you! If you so much as come close to deflowering my baby girl, I'll skin you alive!" "SHUT UP POPS! He doesn't need this now." She looked down at Riku, tears coursed over the dried blood on his face, "My hands are…too bloodstained to hold you Hakeya…" His words muffled by his hands cupped over his face. "Shut up Riku! My hands have blood on them too!" Riku smiled halfheartedly at her comment, "Yes but I deserve that, you deserve someone better…" He felt the painful, collision of Hakeya's fist, "If you ever talk like that again so help me Riku, I will beat the sense back into you!" He gazed into her eyes, sadly, wondering if he even deserved her, well she seemed to believe so he thought, Might as well roll with it or get hit again…

"What? What's happening?" Hakeya cried as she & everyone else began to fade,

"We're being sent home!" Sora yelped "But why is Squall fading?" "My true place is at Wings of Praise with my students & my daughters." Squall said grasping both Hakeya & Aerith's hands. "Hey! What about your son?" Sora whined "Well, you'll be sent to Destiny Island…Son…" Sora smiles at his father & they finally fully vanish