AN: Not much to say right now. If you notice something that is just way to wrong or you don't understand it, tell me nicely and I'll work it out.

P.S. Enjoy.

Disclaimer; Don't own any of the characters or settings, if I did I'd be rich and living in Japan.

Summary: Sora did not know what would happen to him when he took hold of Riku's hand, and following him into the darkness. He only knew that something waited for him, he did not know if it was good or bad. But he had Riku with him and that is all he needs. Well and a map.

New Strangers

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They had been discussing the new threat to Spira, when they appeared a few feet away from them. Rikku shrieked and ducked behind Brother and Buddy. While Paine stiffened in to her fighting stance.

Yuna was a little confused and scared herself when the two boys appeared out of no where on the bridge of the Celsius, she let out a small gasp and pressed her hand to her open mouth. This did not look good.

The silver haired boy tensed before moving in front of the other boy who was unconscious on the floor, his arms spread in a feeble attempt to protect the smaller boy. They looked like they came from hell and back. Scratches could be seen all over their bodies, well where the mud wasn't covering them.

She then remembered that out in Spira it was hell, those monsters and the missing people, the numbers increasing too quickly. Her people were beginning to panic and were begging her to do something.

The Faith would not answer any prayers, and the Fair Plain was covered in a shroud of darkness. It was almost like a black hole had come and swallowed it up. The Guado were trying their best to contain it, but that seemed almost too much to wish for.

Leblanc had disappeared, her men and women with her. All that was left in the chateau was a eerie silence that threatened to engulf everything it touched.

Gippal was off with Baralai fighting, while Nooj was searching almost desperately for the crazy blonde sphere hunter. But even that was not working. And Yuna found her self lost, the screams could be heard everywhere they went, only the Thunder Plains held a kind of peace, even if it was death.

Her dreams had taken a terrible turn as well. No longer were they off Shuyin and Leene, or of 'him'. But of a darkness of death. It swept through and took everything dear to her away in a rush of madness.

Yuna's heart felt heavy with despair and worry. She no longer felt her hope lifting her spirits. For the whispers of the Pyreflies spoke of blackness. Blackness that wanted to consume everything in it's path.

She really wished 'he' was here now, he would know what to do, or at least ease the worry in her heart…

But right now wasn't the time to think about the past and one's wishes.

Right now she needed to figure out what was happening and save everyone from unnecessary injury as Paine looked ready to attack first, then ask questions, and the boys didn't look like they could take Paine's 'House of Pain'.

Giggling inside at the little pun, Yuna stepped up to the glaring boy, ignoring Rikku and Brother's cry for her to stay put.

"Umm . . . hello," She started nervously, her hands twisting in front of her white clothed stomach, " I'm Yuna, and this is our airship Celsius. And uhh," She looked back over her shoulder at the others, bitting her bottom lip she looked back to the boy, " These are my friends, Rikku, Paine, Brother, Buddy, and the kid is Shinra." Pointing to each of her friends, not taking her eyes of the boy as she did so.

She didn't trust him enough to turn her back all the way. Though she didn't think he would attack
with a reason. . .

Or so she hoped.

Rikku seeming to get the hint to be friendly, bounced forward in her usual way, "Hi!" She waved and began to move back and forth from one foot to the other her arms drawn up to her body but still moving. It was a sort of habit that Rikku had developed as a child, showing that she was still very nervous and a little frightened.

The boy took a step back, his head turned to Rikku, but his eyes were glued on Paine who had her hand on her sword.

"I'm Riku, and this, " a sad look graced his features for a moment before it became guarded again, "is Sora," his hand gestured down by his hip at the boy behind him at his feet. He looked ill and not much of a threat with his pail completion and pink cheeks. Truthfully… he looked like he was about to reject whatever his stomach was holding…

"Nice to meet you Riku. Uhh . . ." Yuna started, but stopped not knowing where to go next. This wasn't the same as before. The feeling of meeting her other half was not here to guide her as it had the last time. When 'he' arrived, with his story of being from the lost city of Zanarkand.

Just how did one go about asking someone why and how did they get on one's ship without seeming rude or threatening? Of course Paine fixed Yuna's dilemma by doing what she does best, being very blunt and to the point.

"Now that we know who you are, you can tell us how the hell you got here, and what you want with us." The red eyed girl glared at Riku, he glared back eyes just as weary and threatening. Yes, Yuna really
wished 'he' was here, he would maybe tell a joke and break the ice, or . . .

Riku however, broke through her memories of her happier times, his voice a cold anger whipping through her mind.

"I don't know how we got here, all I did was touch a glowing blue ball!" He started to yell at the end, he looked frustrated and more then a little stressed.

The sudden show of anger only proved to make Paine a little tenser and cause Rikku to jump a bit. Brother and Buddy looked about ready to rush in at the boy's sudden fit of anger.

Yuna noticed the poor boy looked tired and ready to fall over. She really needed to get this over with and help the poor boys. It didn't seem like they were here to start trouble.

Riku sighed heavily, exhaustion evident at his next words, "We lost our home, attacked by shadows, and all I did was ask for help," he looked back at this friend, worry was etched deeply over his boyish features, "Some help this is. . ." he muttered, more to himself than to the others around him.

Rikku jumped up and down, looking relieved that everything was working its' self out and they weren't going to be attacked. "Well why didn't you say so? Come on girls our new mission just arrived!" No one argued with the bubbly blonde and Buddy walked up to the two boys, keeping a good foot between them, just to be safe.

"Let's get you down to the cabin, Yuna can look at your wounds there, and you can get some rest too. You look like you need it." Buddy said, resting his dark hand on Riku's tired pale shoulder. The boy sighed and nodded, he looked like a great weight was taken from his shoulders at the goggled man's words.

Rikku jumped over to them, taking Riku's hand in hers she started pulling the boy out of the bridge and to the elevator that would take them down a floor to the cabin. Yuna and Pain followed with Buddy behind them carrying the still unconscious brunet.

Yuna felt a little bit better now that the tension was gone. For now she could forget what was happening out side Celsius, and help these two boys.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Riku was still worried for Sora, looking behind him at the dark man carry his most precious possession. Riku felt he could trust these people. Sora need a safe place to rest, he needed to get better.

He had too.

Rikku the blonde bouncing ball reminded him off Selphie back at Destiny Island. The two would get along really well.

Then he remembered that 'home' was gone, that he would never see it again, it was swallowed by the darkness. Anger and regret filled him, his friends and family were all gone. All that he had left was Sora, and he too seemed to be fading.

Riku wouldn't let that happen, he promised not to let go. He would never let Sora go, the other boy was scarred of being alone.

Riku remembered when he first met the other boy.

He was five, almost six, and Sora was close to his fifth birthday.

They liked each other instantly, playing pirates in front of Sora's home, laughing and wrestling happily under the bright sun. They had so much fun that day, Riku reminded himself, that when it was time for Riku to go home with his mother it seemed that he had only just got there. As his mother took his hand telling him to say good bye, Sora began to cry big wet tears and his face heat up a deep red, "NO! You can't take Riku away!"

Riku's mother stopped in surprise at the little brunet's tears, letting go of Riku's smaller hand. Seeing his chance he ran up to Sora. "Come on, Sora. We're running away!" Grabbing the teary eyed boy's chubby hand, he dragged him out the front door, through the grass of the front lawn, and around the corner.

"Where we going, Riku?" Sora cried behind him, stumbling a little bit every now and then as Riku continued to pull him a long at a faster pace than his shorter legs could carry.

Riku looked back at him, smiling mischievously and laughing, "To my secret spot. No one can ever find us there!"

Sora's bright smile, giving Riku a overly pleased feeling.

He found that he liked making Sora happy.

They kept running for a while, but had to slow down when Sora got a stitch in his side. They started to talk about their favorite foods now that they had more breath to talk with and they weren't so busy 'running away'.

Seeing his house not very far, they started to run again, not wanting their mothers to find them and take Riku away. After reaching his house, they crept into the backyard when they heard Riku's dad talking on the phone and hearing him say Sora's name.

They giggled and shushed each other as they snuck to a large tree, a rope hung from a tree house in the tree's lower and sturdier branches. Once they were up in the tree house Riku pulled out his small toy chest and started to show Sora his favorites, he even let him play with a few.

Just when they started getting into a good game of "Super Hero saving his Trusty Side Kick from the vile claws of the Evil Villain", Riku's dad popped up the side and told the boys to come down. Sora's mother was here to pick him up. Sora started to cry again as they climbed down.

"I don't wanna go!" He cried out as his mother picked him up into her arms, "I wanna stay with Riku!" His childish words brought laughter among the adults. They thought he was too cute for words.

Sora's mother smiled and looked into her son's big bright blue eyes, "Well how about we come over tomorrow, we only live a block away. We could walk here, and you two can play all day!" She said, patting his head and moved some of his hair behind his ear. "What do you think?"

The two boys nodded, but Sora still didn't want to leave Riku. He was afraid that he would leave and not be there the next day. Riku not liking his new friend crying, reassure him, "Don't worry, Sora. I won't leave without you!"

Sora blinked down at him sniffling, he whipped his nose with the back of his wrist, "Promise?"

Riku nodded smiling, "Promise."

Riku never did break that promise, and he didn't plan to anytime soon.

Smiling at the memory of them as younger children, Riku couldn't help but wish that it had stayed as just the two of them. Not that he didn't like Kairi, he just didn't like sharing what was his.

And Sora was his.

Nobody else's.

"What ya thinking about?" The bubbly voice of Rikku pulled at his attention, and away from possessive thoughts of a cute burnet. Looking to the girl, he shrugged and stayed silent, he didn't trust them enough to spill personal secrets.

A black-gloved hand hit the blond girl in the back of the head, " Leave him alone, Rikku. He doesn't need you bothering him," Paine said in her almost inaudible monotone voice, scolding the other girl briefly before looking away and crossing her arms.
Yuna giggled at her friends' antics, Rikku already poking the gray haired girl and demanding how she was bothering Riku. Paine only ignored her, a small smile touching the corners of her mouth.

The elevator let off a soft ring, the small group stepped into the small space, feeling a little more then just cramped. They stood in silence for the short time it took the elevator to move down a floor. The chime of the elevator informing them that they had reached their destination.

Stepping out into the hall, Riku looked back at the slumbering Sora over his shoulder and felt more then a little lost.

Just what was he thinking?

Leaving Sora alone like that in that Inn?

Sora, he could have- no he wouldn't even think it. The thought was just too depressing. But still he needed to be more careful, this place wasn't like his home.

Yuna motioned him up some wooden stairs, the wood creaking at her booted steps. Riku followed, looking around at the different things in the room, not quite what he thought a cabin of an airship would look like.

He sat down and watched as Buddy set Sora down on the bed next to him.

"Look at him first." He said to the short, yet petite, brunet when she stepped up to him. She nodded and turned her attention to the other boy.

Yuna placed her hand on Sora's forehead, murmuring something Riku couldn't quite make out, making a dark blue light to pass over his body from head to toe. When it disappeared, Yuna looked over her shoulder smiling. "He'll do fine. He's only sleeping."

Riku felt relief sweep over him at her words. He was only sleeping, he was going to be okay.

After Yuna had attended to Riku's major cuts and bruises she told him to rest and they would talk more later when he was feeling less tired. There was no arguing with the girl, she was very serious with her job.

Before she left though, he needed to know one thing.

Where the hell they were.

"Could you tell me where we are?" his voice drifted away into the sunlit room. She turned from her place halfway down the stairs and smiled softly a sad look crossing her face briefly before it left.

"Spira. We call it Spira." She left after that.
And Riku wondered, as his eyes closed against his will to keep them open, why the question made her so sad…