Note to all my friends on kh2 .net: I actually came up with this character (Rykashi) before i started using her name as my username...so Rykashi isn't modeled after me in any way.

Chapter Two: Enter Rykashi

When he awoke and the massive headache subsided, Kuja peered into the world around him. The raindrowps slid from his cloak but trickled and fell upon to skin left uncovered on his face. With each tiny clink of water apon the chain hanging from his neck he became more aware of this new place the had landed in. His pale hands rested in cool crystal collections or rainwater that gave a clear view of the red-brown stone underneith it. Street lamps gave off a vibrant glow slicing through the navy blue of the night sky. Window lights and illuminated signs accentuated the brilliance.

Every muscle in his body protested against him as he lifted himself off the cold brick street. Weak as he was, he could still walk at a slow pace. The downpour was beginning to chill him, and his new life would be of no use to him is he allowed himself to fall so ill he would not be abel to find Zidane. His brother, Zidane, who he must find to end his suffering. He deducted for himself from the signs he passed as he limped through the street, that this new world must be called Traverse Town...or something of the like. Finally, after trudging through standing water for a substantial length of time, Kuja found the specific sign he was looking for. "Inn" his voice was cracked and horse. It hadn't occured to him that he truly had no idea how long he had been lying there unconcious. The nearby stairway looked so slick it glistened the reflection of the inn sign's light, and as he looked harder, something else...a shadow....

He detected another sound besides the rain's soft melodic patter...footsteps? If they were, they were quiet ones. A feeling overwhelmed him...he was definately not alone. Two clangs of metal perked his ears in just enough time for him to turn and dodge two blows aimed at his head. An enigma, clad in a royal blue cloak not unlike his own held two glistening weapons, each shaped as a key of some sort.

'Keyblades...' he thought to himself.

Kuja had heard stories of the key-weilders, but never had he ever dreamed they actually existed. The first shone so bright it must have been forged of light itself, while the other threatened to pull him into its impending black. The mysterious figure swung at him again. Kuja dodged it again, unfortunately falling onto the slick, unforgiving stone. He tried to stumble to his feet, knowing now that the only chance he had of keeping his life was to run. 'I'm not going to let it end this way. I won't let it take me again...' a searing pain in his side brought all thought and conciousness to an abrupt halt.

She should have turned her back and walked away, but her curiousity had other plans for her destiny. He was still breathing, this she could tell. Good, she hadn't killed him, she had not meant to really hurt him anyway. There had been rumors of a heartless shell, wearing a similar black cloak, so she attacked without question. It wasn't untill he had fallen that she noticed he was unarmed. Down beside him, one knee soaking in the puddle he lay in, she pulled he hood partially off of his face, letting his long hair spill. 'Silver hair...is it possible? Could it be you?....No...it's not possible...he killed you!'

"Finish Him." The smooth, deep voice of her traveling companion slid through her ears. 'I cant' she wanted to tell him, but she knew she couldn't say that.

"I dont kill for pleasure" was her only monotone response.

"Pleasure? No...don't you remember? He was the one who killed your brother!"

"No...It's not him" she replied again flatly. 'He is my brother' her mind said to her. Silence hung in the air for a brief moment untill he companion's voice tore it down like a curtian.

"Are you sure?" She nodded, and to his surprise he chuckled deeply at her.

"You are going soft, Rykashi...I have no need for you, if this is the case. I shall be leaving you now" And with that he was gone.

"Fine with me, Sephiroth...I will deal with darkness no longer..."

Putting her Keyblades away, she lifted the unconcious young man and carried him to the inn, where, out of respect for the wounded, she slept on the floor for the night.