Author's Notes: What are the odds! This chapter has exactly 999 words. It's 666 upside-down! HAAA! ...Sorry. Had a bit of an Omen moment somehow. Still amused how everyone made such a big deal about the 666 thing. Truly entertaining.

Not much to say here. Short, build-up, and...a peek inside a pedophile...?

Chapter 20

"Justice Defined"

The four of them—Tidus, Sora, Roxas, and Riku—got off the bus at their neighborhood promptly at four to go their separate ways.

And, what a surprise, Ansem was there to pick up Riku.

The very moment Ansem began scanning the four boys up and down, eating them up like pieces of meat in his mind, Sora picked up on it. Now that he knew what Ansem was doing to Riku, there was no doubt in his mind now why Ansem's stare had felt so invasive before. He was probably stripping them all in his head. What a sick bastard.

And all Riku did was hang his head submissively, glaring at them all under his hair. He was already back into the mode Ansem wanted him in. Sora could figure this, and he was certain Tidus knew it.

"Did you have a nice day at school, Riku?"

Riku just shrugged. Ansem didn't press the issue.

"So, shall we go pick up your things at Sora's?"

Sora looked at Tidus. "So I guess I'll see you guys later?"

"Yeah. Remember, study. Mr. Slyver's giving a quiz next class, and you popped in a few weeks late."

Sora groaned. "I still don't think that's fair."

Tidus shrugged. "He doesn't feel the same way you do."

"Later, losers!" Roxas cackled, kicking down his skateboard and rolling away. Likely heading for the skate park. Tidus looked at Riku.

"I'll see you at school, 'kay?"

"Mmm." Riku grunted. Tidus took that as a yes and scootched. Once he was gone, it was just Sora, Riku, and Ansem. And Ansem smiled at Sora.

"So, are you Riku's new friend?"

Sora shrugged. "I guess so. We haven't really known each other long."

"He's a Country Boy," Riku grumbled. Ansem just chuckled.

"Well, Sora, mind showing us to your house so Riku can pick up his things?"

Sora shook his head, smiling. "Not at all!" But as he turned around, his teeth clenched and he tightened his grip on the strap of his school bag. But he kept his voice cheery. "Follow me."

Amusing.

Truly, it was very amusing.

He was such an adorable actor. But, nevertheless, a poor one. He hadn't missed the flash of hate in his eyes, and he could see that the pretty little thing's knuckles were white as marble. Ansem's mind was struck with thoughts of what he could put those hands to use for, and then he turned and looked at Riku—ah, yes, Riku. You were surprisingly easy to break, he thought. Perhaps your father already did some of the breaking for me, hmmm? Yes, your mother, the divorce, being disowned… Ansem smiled at him. Riku broke eye contact. Your spirit was already worn when I found you…and what a lucky little find you are.

But. Back to Sora. As Ansem followed behind him, Riku doggedly at his side (what a good boy he was), the wheels in his head cranked.

He wasn't stupid.

That boy knew something.

Sora opened up the door, and dropped his bag by the steps. "Mom, I'm home!"

"Oh, great, you can come do the dishes!"

"In a minute, Mom. Riku's picking up his stuff."

"Oh, that's right, he's going home today—Sora, who's this?" Lisa asked, walking into the room. Sora glanced back at Ansem, who smiled at his mother and took the initiative to step up with his hand outstretched.

"My name is Ansem Atercor. I'm Riku's foster father."

"Ah, so you're the one who's raising him!" Lisa shook his hand. "I'm Lisa, I'm Sora's mother."

Riku disappeared upstairs as Ansem proceeded to charm yet another neighbor into thinking he was the perfect resident. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Misses Tilmitt."

"You know, at first, I thought Riku was a little strange, but he's not so bad." Lisa mentioned. "He was on perfect behavior the whole time—he even helped with some of Sora's chores. He's so nice."

"Is that right?" Ansem looked up the stairs. "Did Riku really do all that? Most of the time he just sleeps, as far as I know."

Sora glared at Ansem out of the corner of his eye, but then he looked away. Probably because you tire him out so much, his mind hissed. Don't worry, Riku. On Friday, this'll all be over in a matter of minutes.

He could still clearly remember the plan. Tidus wanted Sora to take his (that is, Tidus') camera and infiltrate Ansem's house, climbing the ladder into Riku's room to get in. This was, of course, flying by the fact that Riku would let them in. ("I assume he'll be too beat to go to school," Tidus had said.) If they couldn't get in that way, Tidus said they could use the back door. All the houses on this street had one. That was a flaw in the houses on this cul-de-sac, was that they were all relatively identical in structure. Cookie-Cutters.

So Sora had the job of going in, searching the house, while Roxas guarded outside by the window and Tidus kept watch by the door, as well as helping with the search. It all seemed perfect enough. Ansem would supposedly be working—they had all day Friday to catch this bastard.

Riku was downstairs with his sleeping bag, pillow and duffel bag in a matter of minutes. Once he was, Ansem nodded his head and shook hands with Lisa, and then bid goodbye to Sora. Sora smiled at him and said, "Have a nice day," but inside he still hated the fucker. He and Riku exchanged smiles, and then they both were gone.

Sora watched them go with his lips pursed thin.

This was wrong, and it had to be righted.

Riku was too good to be treated like this—how could Ansem hurt such a handsome guy?

"By the way, Sora, Kairi called. You might want to phone her back sometime tonight."

"Oh, sure. Thanks, Mom. I'll do that."

But Sora had been so riddled with anger and uneasy thoughts that he never called back.

Author's Notes: He's obviously not thinking about Kairi.

Thanks for the review, guys, let's keep up with the love! (My muse needs inspiration...)