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Riku let out a gasp of shock as the Shadow's claws raked across his chest. Fiery pain ripped through Riku's body as three long scratches opened up on his chest. The boy's eyes widened. Two more of those things were emerging from the shadows.

Sora and Kairi heard Riku's scream from the beach. It sent chills through both of them. Not wasting any time Sora leapt to his feet, wooden sword in hand, and started hobbling at full speed towards the secret place.

"What do I do!?" Kairi called.

"Grab a big stick and come with me!"

Kairi ran around a bit until she came upon a big piece of driftwood. The girl picked it up and ran after Sora.

Riku kicked and punched at his assailants, but his hands and feet went right through the creatures as if they weren't even there. Their sharp little claws raked across his arms, opening his flesh.

"Riku!!"

At the sound of Sora's voice the attack stopped. All three shadow creatures tilted their heads like curious dogs.

"Riku!" Sora called again, panic in his voice.

The Shadows looked at each other and as quickly as they came they were gone again Riku was too shocked to do much. Blood was dripping off the tips of his fingers.

"Riku! Are you ok!?" Kairi asked frantically.

Sora and Kairi rounded the corner soon after. Sora's complexion turned a ghostly white and Kairi screamed. Riku's world went black after that.

--------------------

Sora, his friends, and most of their parents waited anxiously outside the clinic. Sora had slung Riku over his shoulder and ordered Kairi to find Wakka and the others. Even though his ankles were screaming in pain Sora had carried his friend all the way to the docks. Since he was the fastest everything Wakka went ahead of the group to get Riku's dad. Sora put Riku in his boat and rowed all the way home. Riku's father was waiting for them when they reached the main island. The silver-haired boy had regained consciousness before they reached the clinic but he hadn't remembered much of what happened. Now he was inside with his father and the doctor.

"It was some kind of animal I think." Riku told the doctor. "It's kinda dark in the secret place and I was trying to protect my head. I didn't really see what it was."

The doctor nodded and kept sterilizing Riku's wounds.

"You're lucky Riku. If some of these gashes had been any deeper you would be in a much more serious condition."

Riku said nothing.

"Before any of you kids go back to that island my buddies and I are going to check it out." Riku's dad said.

Riku still said nothing but he nodded. Now that Riku's injuries were clean the doctor started wrapping him up in bandages. There were scratches everywhere. The boy's clothes had been barely hanging onto him. There were scratches on his chest, back, arms, legs, and neck. Some were superficial and others were quite deep.

"Here son." Lee took his coat off and helped Riku put it on. He didn't know if the boy's clothes would make it home.

"Thanks." Riku said quietly.

The man nodded and gently ruffled Riku's hair, something he hadn't done in a long time.

"Okay. You're all patched up. Change the dressing every hour for forty eight hours and no showers, baths, or swimming for forty eight hours. After that only change the dressing once a week until the scratches heal."

"Okay doc." Riku nodded.

"Thank-you doctor." Riku's father replied.

Lee helped his son to his feet and they left the clinic.

"Riku!"

Sora hobbled over and practically jumped on Riku, tightening his arms around the boy's neck. Riku tried not to blush. Sora was hugging him...tightly.

And you're just standing there like a dope! Hug him back! Riku's mind ordered. Too late. Sora was already pulling away, his cheeks slightly pink. Crap.

The girls jumped Riku too and he got a kiss on each cheek from Kairi and Selphie.

"Glad to see your ok man." Wakka grinned.

Riku nodded then frowned slightly. There was blood on most of his friends. His blood. Sora's shirt was stained with it, even his shorts had a few splatters on it. There was blood on Kairi's legs and Wakka's shirt and pants too. It hadn't really registered in his mind until now how badly he'd been hurt.

"How do you feel Riku?" Tidus asked.

"I'm ok I guess." Riku replied. "A little sore here and there, but not that bad."

"Come on, son. We should get you home to your mother. She's worried to death."

Riku nodded. "I'll phone you guys tonight, ok?"

His friends nodded. To Riku's surprise his father picked him up and started carrying him home.

"We should get our kids home too." Selphie's mother said, smoothing Selphie's hair. "They've had a tough day."

The parents agreed and each child was led off by their respective parent. Even Wakka's usually extremely busy father had left work to make sure his son was ok. April turned and crouched down.

"Hop on, Sora. You can't walk all the way home."

"You think you can carry me? I'm not a little kid anymore."

April laughed. "You're not that heavy and I'm a tough ol' thing."

"Oh mom. You're not old." Sora laughed.

Still, he very carefully hopped onto his mother's back. He didn't want to crush her if he turned out to be too heavy for her. However April had no problems. She hooked her arms around her son's legs and stood up.

"How's your ankles?" The woman asked as she began to walk.

"Really sore, but I couldn't just leave Riku in that cave."

April nodded. "You did good, Sora. I'm proud of you."

"...Do you think the blood will come out of my shirt?"

"I don't know. I'll see what I can do but I think we may just have to throw your clothes out."

Sora nodded and placed a kiss on the back of his mother's head.

"Did you see anything when you went in the cave?" April asked.

"Nothing. Just Riku. He was half-sitting against the cave wall in a pool of blood."

"Well you were very brave to go to your friend's aid, but you do know that it could have been dangerous right?"

The brunette nodded. "Yes...but it didn't really cross my mind. I was just so scared for Riku."

Sora's mother nodded. "I understand."

"Riku!!"

Mileena was supposed to be on bed rest but nothing was going to stop her from getting up and hugging her son. She hugged the boy tightly, but made sure not to crush him or the baby. Riku couldn't get his arms around his mother fully, her belly was pushing him away.

"Hey. The baby kicked." Riku grinned. "He's kickin' me in the stomach."

Mileena laughed and pulled away, petting Riku's hair. "Not even born yet and he's already possessive of his mommy. I remember when you were little you wouldn't let anyone near me, not even your father."

"Aw mom. I was three years old." Riku blushed.

"How do you feel, Riku?" She asked, still smiling.

"Okay. Sore, but okay. I'll live."

"I'm glad. Will you help me back to bed?"

Riku nodded. "Sure thing."

Gently taking a hold of his mother's arm he led her off.

.....................................
Poor Riku. Now it's his turn to be injured. I'm so mean to the characters X3 R&R Please :)