Many thanks to my reviewers! I'm so glad no one has done a fanfic on the Riku Replica yet (I wouldn't know since I don't spend too much time reading), I didn't want to be accused of copying anyone! Is it true that he really does have a name? Wow... Wish I knew that earlier... Oh well. Forgive me, Rurouni Saiyan, if I pretend as though I don't know. It's just to make things less complicated... Thanks anyway!

Oh, and one more thing. For the scenes that do appear in the game, I've used some of the actual script. I try not to take too much, but you understand that sometimes it's unavoidable. Geez, I talk too much...

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts/ Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Resemblance to any other fanfic is purely coincidental. So no one try to sue me or anything of the sort!

Day 1:

There was something about that place that could make anyone's skin crawl. It was that creepy. Maybe it was the mechanical hum of the lab machinery, or maybe it was the hostile aura that the entire room gave off... I don't know.

Whatever the case, in comparison to the other floors of Castle Oblivion, from which I have never left, Vexen's lab was ridiculously shabby. It lacked the cool hostility that the rest of the castle's interior design displayed so well, though judging from its owner, there was little surprise.

But since I was being just brought into consciousness, I didn't know it, or anything else for that matter, at that time.

The details are hazy, and I don't care for them particularly (the 'now' is so much more important), but I can still recall many strange sights reaching my eyes as I opened them. Everything was new and unusual. I was really just like a curious young child as I peered about, despite my grown body.

I lay quietly on a flat surface, the metal cool and smooth through the fabric of my suit. I blinked in the darkness. There were no lights on, but somehow I could see through that darkness and my eyes eagerly explored the new environment.

Tentatively, I stretched my legs and hopped to the ground, wobbling for a moment. Thankfully, I already knew the basics of human knowledge like walking and speech. But other than that, my mind was blank, containing no memories. There were no doting parents to greet me.

In fact, there was no one around.

I strolled about, genuinely enjoying the feel of the abstract 'life'. Running my gloved fingers over the machinery of all odd shapes and sizes, I knew nothing of their use. So, in this darkness I remained, playing with my 'toys'. But like everything else, this moment of peace wasn't lasting.

A portion of the wall abruptly slid open to reveal a wide doorway. I gasped in surprise as I was temporarily blinded by the glare. I shielded my eyes from the light, as I used my free hand to grope the table for support.

With an excited(?)shout, the person who had opened the door entered the lab in a hurry, his quick footsteps sounding on the floor. Either unaware of the pain the sudden exposure gave me or uncaring, he flicked a single switch close by, causing rows and rows of bright light bulbs to go on.

By this one action, I became acutely aware that he would never become one of my favorite people. I wasn't wrong.

My opinion of him didn't improve... The sound that reached my ears next was a high, queer one, which I later identified as Vexen's laugh. And let me tell you, it was one of the scariest things you could ever hear, no lie.

"So you're finally awake! Wonderful!" He said in glee, as his cruel mouth curved into a sinister smile. Even then, I could sense auras - friendly and otherwise. Vexen's was not the former. I pulled further away.

His smile quickly turned to a frown. Scowling at me, he demanded, "What are you doing? Stop cowering away like an idiot."

Let me have a moment here to rant. Stupid, idiotic fool! He's blind and unfeeling to so much that I almost pity him. He has never treated others as equals. I knew of his pride, however unjustified. Somehow, his incredibly warped thinking made him believe that he was above everyone. Sorry to have to burst his bubble.

"You're the idiot!" I retorted coldly as I casually stood up from the rather dusty floor and brushed the dirt from my clothes. Such remarkable first words, don't you think? 'You're the idiot...'

Vexen was clearly taken aback. "I see... I'm impressed that you can understand me at all, let alone speak." He mused out loud, his shock having given way to interest. He slowly walked around me, my gaze pinned onto him for every single second, distrustfully.

"I do believe that this project was a success!" He remarked finally.

Without another glance at me, Vexen went to a large computer screen and typed something onto it. The keyboard went 'clatter-clatter' for minutes after as I stood, waiting. Finally, I got impatient, not to mentioned utterly insulted. "Who are you?" I asked sharply.

The scientist's fingers halted and he turned back, smiling unkindly. "I don't see what good it'll do, but it's just as well that you should know your creator's name. Be grateful that I- and my adept use of science- have given you a life. I'm Vexen."

"Vexen, huh? I suppose it does suits someone as sneaky as you." I smirked instinctively, much to his annoyance. I really didn't care what he was called, only about who I was and if I was the same as him. Even back then, I could tell that I wanted to belong. "And what is mine?"

"Yours?" His eyebrows raised in a moment of genuine surprise, as though it was the strangest things that anyone had ever said to him. "Yours?" He repeated dumbly.

I scowled angrily and my fists clenched as he chuckled. I suspected that he was ridiculing me because of my apparent ignorance. Vexen shook his head, long dirty blond hair waving from side to side, "Perhaps I should be more specific."

"What?"

Vexen folded his arms over his chest and stared at me disdainfully. "You are a clone, artificially made here in my lab. You may have the body of a fifteen-year old, but in reality, you've barely lived three days. The original from which I obtained your data was called Riku, so I suppose if you really wanted a name, you could be Riku Two." He was smirking again.

I was not happy. Not in the least amused either. But I was able to keep shockingly cool as I gave my head an arrogant toss. "No thanks. I'll be my own person, even if I'm not the original."

Vexen gave another one of his high laughs, and said incredulously, "You really think it's that simple?" I gave him the evil eye. "Then let me tell you something- you'll never be anything other than a fake, a copy, until the other one is gone."

"I don't have to listen to you."

"Oh, yes you do," Vexen said, mockingly. "I know how much you like to be the best, so it's a pity that you'll never beat Riku. After all, he's the real one, isn't he? You can't possibly hope to beat him."

I clenched my fists and took a menacing step towards him in my anger. "I can and I will! Just watch me!" I wasn't sure of that at all, but as I always have, I said it only to avoid being underestimated.

Smiling nastily, Vexen replied as though I had somehow fallen into one of his traps. "Then it's perfect. So happens that Riku is right here in Castle Oblivion. How nice for you. Of course, I'm sure you'll return unsuccessful..."

"Whatever. I don't care what you think."

"Tsk. Such manners." Vexen chided. I shot him a look that dared him to provoke me further. One more crack about my behavior... He didn't take the bait. "You are my experiment, you know."

"Yeah, well, I hate to break this to you, Vexen, but I don't intend to sit around like one of your drones and take dumb orders. Clone or not, I've got my own mind." He only shrugged indifferently in response.

I continued, almost amicably, "Besides, I really don't care about your stupid science fair projects as long as they're what made me what I am now." Told you that I cared the most about what was going on in the present. I existed, and that was all I was concerned with.

That said, I turned and made a show of casually strolling out the door though I really didn't have a clue of where I was going. It was all about being cool and collected.

Typical macho behavior. But I guess that's just how I am, isn't it? One of those personality flaws that are nearly impossible to change. I've tried... once.

It so happened that I did find Riku. Looking at and speaking to him was more disturbing that I had initially thought. Just think- it's like talking to your mirror, except one that's wearing different clothes and sporting an attitude.

Can't say I'm any better though, obnoxious personality all said and accounted for. I knew that I wasn't the typical sweet and nice small town guy, far from it. And, I couldn't have been more proud of it.

Making a long and uninteresting story short, I challenged him. I hadn't expected the famous Soul Eater to appear in my hand as we prepared for battle, but it did anyway. Thinking back, that too, was probably fake... How fitting.

I wasn't too bothered about it though. Call it instinct, but suddenly, it occurred to me that I was actually quite a master at swordplay.

Unfortunately, as it turned out, so was Riku.

Vexen had told me that Riku had turned away the darkness that I was more than willing to embrace since I had no memories of bad experiences when toying with the dark powers. I thought that they would make me stronger than he was since I foolishly assumed that we were equally matched with swords. I had expected a stalemate, if not a victory, but certainly not what it turned out to be.

That one incident was definitely one of the most painful defeats I have ever suffered. I was thrilled to be exchanging blows with him, a worthy opponent, having just discovered my skill. But it took no longer than a few minutes that I found myself on the floor, beaten. I looked down at the glassy tiles beneath me, staring in shock at my reflection.

My eyes unknowingly traveled to his reflection, standing triumphantly above me. It felt as though my pride had been crushed right into the dirt and then stomped on. A kind winner, Riku was not.

"I thought you were going to wipe the floor with me, fake," he said with a playful grin that looked positively maliciously to me. Ohhh... He just had to rub it in, did he?He was just so full of himself!

As much as I resent admitting to it, his words cut into my soul, right where it would hurt the most. Only then did I know that I wanted- no, needed- to truly beat him. It was all a matter of proving that I wasn't inferior as he and Vexen seemed to think.

I can't remember exactly what I said, but I'm sure that it was an arrogantstatement somewhere along the lines of challenging him again. Oh yeah, I said that I was still new and that I would beat him the next time.

Ah... The naiveté of youth. Or stupidity, whichever.

Riku, the cold hearted punk,said something about not letting me live and as he advanced on me, I knew that he was making a big mistake. Come on, closer... Closer, I though, silently urging him to fall right into my trap. When he was about to strike me with what might have been the finishing blow, I blasted him backward with a surge of my dark powers.

It was all too sweet to watch his expression as he landed several meters away; the perfect blend of anger and humiliation. I almost forgot that he had beaten me in our match.

I laughed loudly as I walked up to him. "It's nice to have dark powers on my side! How could you be scared of something so thrilling? You're missing out." I said, smirking. Riku growled at me, and I grinned innocently.

"Shut up!" He shouted. Yeah, right, as if I would listen to him.

"So the coward is playing the tough guy. That's cute," I taunted mercilessly. "See you next time, Real Thing. Try not to miss me." In a second, a furious Riku was up and ready to go again, but I had enough for one day.

Real Thing... Yeah, I started to call him that in my mind after that. And the opposite of real is...

I dashed towards the exit. I heard him call me back, something about a coward, but I ignored him and went right on my way. I was going to make running away a one-time affair, but... Just goes to show that no one can predict the future.

Even now, I still can't fully understand how Riku defeated me that day. Perhaps the dark powers have always been within him, dormant but there nonetheless. Maybe he had a greater purpose that his drive was stronger, or maybe it was simply his being the 'better' one.

My lack of memories didn't bother me, but later I came to suspect that the reason I lost was because, unlike Riku, I had nothing to strengthen me. He had the memories of his friends behind him, while I had nothing but an empty darkness. If you think about that way, it's pretty obvious which one of us had the advantage.

But there's something else that really maddens me. They just don't get it, do they? Replica isn't the same as fake. Please, the way they drill it into my mind going 'fake fake fake' you would've thought they would know that the message was delivered.

Later on when I returned to the lab reluctantly, Vexen was happy to crow about my defeat. Honestly, that man is insufferable! Though it was still a sore subject with me, I bore his nonsense well. It was so embarrassing to have lost to a weakling like Riku that I didn't even argue with him.

Plus, I believed that I would surpass Riku soon. How could someone be strong without first accepting the darkness and harnessing it for their own?

Vexen was talking again, "... Wouldn't you like to fight another hero?"

"You mean that Sora kid?" I asked. I had little interest in weaklings like him. Still, a little practice wouldn't hurt."He's in the castle, I hear. Want me to take care of him?"

"Nothing's definite, but yes, it may have to come to that. I intend to make good use of you." Vexen told me with a sinister grin.

What was that I said in reply again? Right... "No worries. Sora's just another person to crush on the way to Riku."

"Arrogant, aren't we?"

"Come on, Vexen. I mean the kid has got what? A duck and a dog for friends?" I laughed. "I think I can handle it." He rolled his eyes in reply.

And that's how heartless I was without any memories. I was a kid given powers and a sword- no morals whatsoever. At that point, even though I didn't know it, I guess I was truly Vexen's to control.

To think that all this time I had thought that I was free to act entirely off my own free will. I'm so annoyed to finally realize it... How I hate being wrong...

Note: No offense meant to Donald Duck or Goofy!