Kingdom Hearts chapter 9

Goodbye

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Riku and Namine held hands, running up the steps of the Hollow Bastion. Riku ran up to the door, but was thrown back. Namine caught him, looking confused. After a moment, a dark vortex appeared in front of them, blocking the door.

"Namine! Stay back!" Riku yelled, gripping the dark metal of his Keyblade. A black arm and hand shot out, grabbing Riku firmly. Riku felt like his bones were being crushed. With a swift motion, he swung his keyblade angrily and hit the hand, causing it to let go in pain. Riku gasped for air. The towering dark heartless stepped out of the vortex, the one Ansem controlled. So that proved it. Ansem was alive. Riku grinned and leaped up, gripping the dark beings head, twirling himself around and landing on one of the arms. Mercilessly he hacked away at the beings neck, causing it to writhe in pain and throw him off. Riku landed hard on the stone steps, breaking through and falling to the water below. Namine looked on in fear as the giant heartless punched the ground, causing minion heartless to come out and attack. Namine clenched her fists and looked down at Riku, who was frantically trying to find his way back up. She looked towards the door and screamed as the withered Black Hand grabbed her, throwing her into the portal. Riku leaped back up onto the steps, looking over at the portal. "Namine…" Angrily he rushed at the being. "Damn you! Give her back!" He yelled, his keyblade gleaming in the damp air. Droplets of water fell to the ground from his wet clothing as he ran forward, gritting his teeth.

"We'll handle this! GO!" A voice said from behind him. Riku turned to see Cloud flying forward, sword raised. He sliced into the heartless, causing it to fall against the door. The portal was closing. Cloud flew back and grabbed Riku, flying towards the portal and tossing him in.

"We've assisted him. Now we must find Ansem." Cloud said in a calm voice.

"No." Leon replied. "We need Yuffie first. She's further in the castle. Let's go." Cloud nodded and hacked mercilessly at the heartless, causing it to vanish. Without another word, Leon and Cloud opened the door and ran in.

Riku awoke on a cold slate floor, and he cursed as he felt that he had been thrown from a tower onto a slab of marble- his entire body ached. With effort, he stood up. There he was. Ansem. Riku cursed as he saw Namine by the gray haired mans side. The room around them was like a shrine. And Ansem sat on the throne.

"Riku! Don't fight him! He's too strong!" Namine yelled, tears in her eyes.

"Silence, girl." Ansem commanded, picking her up and throwing her against the wall like a rag doll. Namine winced in pain and fell to the ground below as Rikus eyes widened.

"You bastard! Leave her alone!" Riku yelled, running towards Namine. He was almost by her side when he was blasted back by a ball of dark light.

"She has a pure soul. If I can taint it, she will become a wonderful apprentice. But first… she must die." Ansem said, grinning and pointing at Namine. Namines still body glowed as her spirit began to rise.

"Riku…. I…" Namine spoke, trying to get her last words out before she met her end. "I love you." Riku ran towards Namine again, this time hitting away the ball of darkness Ansem had shot with his keyblade. He reached her side and tears fell onto her cheeks as he held her tightly.

"Don't do this to me Namine. I… I love you too. But I want to spend our entire lives together… it can't end like this." Riku whispered through choked sobs.

"Riku… thank you for showing me what love is… I will never forget it…" Riku put a finger to her lips.

"I won't let you die. I'll get you back even if you leave me." Riku said, smiling. Namine just looked at him lovingly.

"I will always watch over you… so don't be sad…" She was interrupted by soft lips against hers. Tears ran Rikus cheeks, but he didn't say a word. He just kissed her as she smiled and the last warmth faded from her body.

Riku stood up. Ansem snarled and rose into the air.

"Boy, you corrupted her soul. Filled it with love. I have no use for her now. Lose, and she'll burn in hell forever."

Riku smiled.

"Not gonna happen."

"Die, little boy!" Ansem yelled, the room around them turning black. Wails of pain filled the air and specters gathered. "The tormented souls shall be our audience. Let's go." Riku tried to ignore the noise as he stepped forward.

"Don't give up." The voice of Mickey hung in the air, clear as a bell. Riku gasped in pain as wings sprouted from his back and a fairy dust surrounded his body. What the hell… Riku thought, blinking. Before he could make sense of what was happening, Ansem charged. Riku felt his body move to the side before he told it to, an instant reflex. He looked over at Namines body and winced. She had left him once before, it wouldn't happen again! Darkness surrounded Rikus wings as they faded from white to pitch black, spikes appearing at the end of them. Riku held up his keyblade, it looked different. It was larger; an angelic tip with black mini-wings. He smiled. Now was the time. Now was Ansems time to pay. Riku flew forward, his eyes glowing. But Ansem merely laughed, spinning as his entire form began to shine with brilliance. His skin hardened all over his body; his eyes glazed over. His arms twisted and pulled themselves in, growing black claws the size of swords on the ends. Riku stopped in midair to watch in horror as Ansems body chipped apart, black spikes shooting out of his shoulders. His eyes vanished and the skin from his neck up melted away to form a new look, a formless face. No eyes, no nose, no nothing. Riku grimaced and spun his weapon, preparing himself. A piece of Ansems leg chipped off. Immediately a black tentacle took its place, shooting out of the hole. Another piece chipped off, and another tentacle took its place. Soon his entire lower form was nothing but millions of long, spiraling black horrors. Tentacles had replaced his legs in an instant, spreading endlessly through the air. Bloody stubs shot out of Ansems back, firing in many directions. Soon Riku realized what they were as crystal scales appeared atop them and spread outward and down, connecting to each other as endless wings formed in every direction. There were at least twenty crystal wings, spanning to each corner of the room. Golden horns protruded from the beings head, and the tentacles wrapped themselves together and pulled in, creating twisted legs. Ansems chest was now fully gone, a gaping hole. The air seemed still as spikes appeared around the hole, closing inward until they clamped together at the center, covering the gap. Namine was out cold. Dead, if you looked at it in scientific terms. But Riku knew that Ansem held her soul. When that was back, his love would rise again. The wings bent and the ends pointed at Riku, the tips seeming like many black specks across the room from his perspective. This being was at least ten feet tall… but the room was vast, enough space for them both to move freely and fly for at least seven seconds before reaching the tormented souls which surrounded them. The wings, however, reached every corner. They alone would prove difficult to deal with. As Riku thought this, the room expanded and vanished. They were atop a tower, the night sky overhead. Riku wasted no time and flapped his wings, boosting himself out Ansems firing range. The wings followed him, the tips like flying daggers. Riku flew under one wing, watching its metal like end skim his hair. Another came from the side and Riku spun, barely dodging as he let himself drop. One after another, the wings closed in on him, surrounding him no matter where he went. Ansem was soaring towards him, the wings flying around like metal cords. They were surprisingly thin; making it easy to command them like flying snakes. Riku closed his eyes and felt a barrier appear. Namine… she was helping him. Her soul alone was fighting against Ansems grasp. Riku felt new strength as he wielded his keyblade, pointing it forward as he plummeted towards a wing below him. With three swift sweeps, he cut away at the wing. No use. They seemed like titanium rods, unbreakable. Riku felt himself sweating as the barrier faded; he didn't have much defense left. Yet a moment later his eyes lit up, a smile appearing upon his lips. Riku reached down and grabbed a wing, flying in one direction with it. Soon he came to a clock tower, wrapping the wing around one of the hands. He tied it tightly, and went for another wing. Ansem had not noticed this; each of his wings seemed to have a life of their own. In a matter of minutes, Riku had nine wings tied to the long hand. Tilting his head to the side, Riku saw another clock tower. Insane… Riku thought. Two clock towers? What city has two clock towers next to each other? Shrugging it off, Riku grabbed another wing and flew for the opposite tower, dodging the homing wings with grace as Ansem desperately tried to swat the stupid fly that lay before him. It was nothing to him. He was a god now. The ruler of Kingdom Hearts. Ansem concentrated and shot a wing at Rikus leg, hitting its mark and wrapping around. Riku cursed and pulled at it, flapping his wings and trying to fly away. A beam of light shot out from the darkness and cut the wing off. Ansem looked on as his eyes opened for the first time, finally adjusting to his body. His eyes were the same as before, cold and ruthless. The stupid girl was more persistent then he thought; her soul alone was aiding his foe. He could devour her soul, but then he would lose his power. Lost in thought, Ansem didn't notice the beam curve and hit Rikus keyblade, making it glow white. Riku felt power rushing through him and he dived down, cutting off wing after wing. Ansem screeched in pain and shot at Riku, sending a tentacle from his leg into his mouth. Riku coughed and shot back, spinning out of control and hitting the tower. A trail of blood ran down his lips. Luckily the tentacle had only nicked his gums; he did not have any vital injuries. Riku saw a loose wing hanging from the clock tower, one he had tied as well as one he had cut off. The stubs on Ansem flew wildly through the air, bleeding black blood as the remaining pieces of the wings turned black, each crystal scale being soaked in the sticky liquid. Riku looked on at the wing and untied it, holding it like a whip. Skillfully he flew past Ansem, his angelic wings whitening. At the last moment he turned and let the whip loose, hitting Ansems leg and causing it to wrap around. Riku felt a new power inside him and he let loose a searing flame from his hand, burning the whip and causing fire to run down until it hit Ansems leg. As soon as it hit the leg, the beast ignited. Ansem cried out in pain as the fire engulfed him, draining him of his life energy. He has beaten.

I am a god… Ansem thought. How could I be defeated by… a mere… mortal… Ansem looked on in pain at a blue light exiting his body. Her soul… he released her soul… taking away my power…Ansem realized, his vision blinded by fire as his face chipped away and the rest of his body turned to ashes. Ansem was dead. Riku watched on in hope as the soul shot down, entering Namines body. Riku flapped his wings and soared down to her, holding her in his arms as his power finally faded and he returned to his normal self. "Namine…" Riku said slowly, almost afraid to speak the words lest she not hear them. Namines body shone a bright blue, and her eyes opened. Smiling, she placed a glowing hand on Rikus cheek and a tear of happiness slid down her own. They were together. Nothing to stop them. Twice she had conquered death; twice she was able to be with Riku again. They were lost in their own world as they gazed into each others eyes. Silently, without saying a word, Riku placed his lips upon hers. Namine smiled and returned the kiss. It was finally over.