Kingdom Hearts chapter 5

False Friend

The sand beneath their feet was cool. Riku smiled, it almost seemed like he was home once again. Even with the darkness brimming in his heart, the fact that Namine was there comforted him and kept him calm as Ansem struggled to return. "Namine?" Riku asked softly.

"Yes?" She responded, looking up at him.

"The fact that darkness is within me… doesn't scare you, does it?"

"Why would it?" She replied tenderly. "I took part of your burden, remember? We both know what it is like." Riku nodded as he led her through the island, towards the tree house. The floorboards still creaked as they climbed the stairs, just as it always had. Could he really be home? Riku chased that thought away. He wouldn't get his hopes up. The sun shined brightly overhead, and the coconuts hung from the palm trees, although Riku knew they had a tendency to fall- they weren't exactly glued on. They both climbed the ladder, and entered the small room. Instantly Riku gasped. Sora stood in front of him. There was a coy smile on his face. Riku gripped his keyblade; somehow he knew it wasn't the boy he grew up with. He radiated a presence of wrongness, as if he was cursed to be on the earth at all. Namine sensed something wrong too. She stepped back, but gasped as darkness enshrouded her. "NAMINE!" He yelled, turning towards her.

"What's wrong, Riku?" Sora asked.

"Shut up, who are you?" Riku responded, looking over his shoulder.

"But Riku, what do you mean?" Sora asked innocently. Did whatever was behind this take him as a fool? Riku gritted his teeth. Sora grabbed him and turned him around as Namine saw her vision of Riku be obscured by darkness and a tear rolling down her cheek. Her body was being pulled up by something. Looking behind her, she gasped. A ghost-like Riku was holding her, pulling her through the ceiling. She kicked and tried to talk, but her voice was gone. Soon, all she saw was darkness.

"Who the hell are you? Namine, are you ok-"Riku asked, spinning around. His eyes widened as he saw Namines feet go through the ceiling. "Monster!" Riku yelled, lunging at the false Sora. "Give her back!"

"Never. Her presence makes our control of the darkness weaken. We can't have that." Sora answered happily, almost in his normal Sora carefree voice, dodging Rikus attack. Silently he hovered out of the room and landed on the sand, by the crystal clear water. Riku clenched his fist and leapt off the floorboard, falling and landing on the sand as well. He got up and ran without hesitation towards his foe, brandishing his keyblade as the sun shone on it and made the dark metal sparkle. Sora took out a golden keyblade as well, smiling his big goofy smile. Riku sliced at him, and Sora countered by blocking it and rolling on the sand away from him. His movements… just like Soras… Riku thought, rolling towards him as well and slicing into the sand with his blade, barely missing Sora as the imposter held up his keyblade and smiled. "COURAGE!" Sora yelled, light emanating from him. Instantly a giant shadow was called, the exact shadow Ansem used to protect himself… Riku recognized it perfectly. Ansems guardian, protecting Sora? What more evidence did he need that this was not his friend?

"Give her back!" Riku yelled, slicing at the guardian. It easily guarded, its cold eyes fixed on him. Riku stepped back and held still as Sora sent his guardian to attack; the coldness buried itself in his heart as he felt pain throughout his entire self. He winced, but waited it out until the darkness vanished. Now was his chance. He ran at Sora full force and stabbed the keyblade straight at Soras heart. Sora leapt back, smiling.

A dark black shadow filled the sky as two yellow eyes made themselves visible. It was the giant heartless which had been sent after Sora a countless number of times. And now it was after him. Riku grimaced. The island was beginning to show its true form. The giant heartless threw its fist down at the ground as Sora perched atop his shoulder. Riku leapt onto the arm and ran up the body, about to leap up and tear through his real opponent. But as he began to push off to jump, the heartless pulled its arm back, knocking Riku to the ground. Riku fell on his back, wincing. Opening his eyes, he saw minion heartless swarming over him. He pushed off and swung his keyblade around, killing them all in a sweep. Sora merely laughed.

"Kairi is waiting, Riku. But she is mine." In response to this Riku leapt onto the arm as the heartless began to throw it down again, but jumped as soon as it forced its fist at the ground. Riku landed on the head and stabbed the keyblade into it angrily, slicing away at it as it writhed in pain. "Give Namine and Kairi back, you monster!" Riku yelled, pushing off of the head as he struck Sora in the chest. Sora winced but still merely hovered in the air, no longer smiling.

"Give in, boy! What resistance do you have now that Namine is no longer by your side?"

"The fact that I even met her!" Riku responded, stabbing the keyblade into Soras chest. The giant heartless vanished as Sora fell to the ground, vanishing in black smoke. Rikus eyes widened. Where the giant heartless had been lay Namine, unconscious. There were keyblade marks in her head.

"NAMINE!" Riku yelled, rushing to her side.

"Riku… I'm so glad I could meet you…" Namine said, smiling. Blood seeped down her hair.

"Don't die! I can't lose you! You're all I have left now!" Riku responded, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"It's… ok. I was able to walk by your side…"

"Namine! I've never felt like this before, never this sad and caring…"

"You have a kind heart, Riku. Don't waste it. You're not all darkness…" Namine said, the breath leaving her. Riku knelt there, his cheeks stained with tears. He didn't know how long he sobbed, but he felt like he had lost his only hope. But he somehow knew it wasn't over. They had more to do. They had their whole life… and he would spend it with her.

With this, Rikus eyes grew serious. The wind blew against his hair as he raised his head.

"I won't let you die." Rikus side shone. The card which Namine had given him was glowing bright. It engulfed them both as Namines eyes slowly opened. Rikus eyes brightened, his tears continuing.

"Is this… heaven?" Namine said aloud, sitting up. "Riku?"

"Namine… you're… ok…" Riku said breathlessly. Instantly he held tightly onto her, sobbing.

"Riku… I heard your voice. You said we had our whole life ahead of us… and I realized you were right." Namine said, stroking his hair tenderly. "It's ok. We're still alive. BOTH of us. And… Riku…" Namine said, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you."

Riku nodded, his happiness seeming to be infinite.

"Namine, you're alright… you're alive, you're really alive!" Namine smiled happily and nodded, continuing to hold him.

"Yes I am, Riku. I was ready to give up. But something kept me here. It was you. Your words, your feelings… I felt it all. And I couldn't leave that. I couldn't leave you." With that, the wounds on her head healed, and there was no trace of scars.

They stood still, time seeming non existent. Neither one said a word. The cool ocean of the destiny islands swept up near them, and his own home returned for an instant. Then it was gone. Everything around them faded into nothingness as a crystal floor appeared below them. Riku looked up. They were in a chapel. The cool destiny islands were gone, and this place was their reward. Riku almost scowled, but saw that Namine had not noticed the change. She was sleeping soundly in his arms, smiling. Riku had never seen her sleep. She was heavenly. Wherever this was did not matter anymore. He would never let her go again. They shared the darkness. They shared the burden. Their hearts were one.