Author's Note: Wow. It's been ages since I updated this fan fiction. Now that I have lots of ideas again the next chapters should be posted pretty soon. Enjoy.

The Forgotten
Chapter Five : Voices
by Virgo Shadow

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Then, Riku asked the Darkness. "Take me back: I want to see Mother!"

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Aeris Gainsborough. My Mother. Born February the seventh. The most wonderful woman in the world.

"Come here, Riku. Come here." Sephiroth called to Riku from across the hall. A six-year-old Riku moved cautiously over to his Father. Sephiroth was sitting in their living room with a photo album open on his lap. Riku always had to be cautious whenever Sephiroth was acting like this; it meant he's had too much to drink… again. Not that he was much better sober, but…

"That's your Mother, Riku." He sighed. "I don't suppose you remember when she died… But do you remember what I told you? That was the day Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockheart got married. They were her two best friends. We were always having adventures. She would have loved to see you now."

Riku woke up.

Mother?

No. It had been a dream.

He eyes were still sore from crying. He felt rough. His mouth felt like it was full of sand. Riku wanted nothing more than to get into a proper bed and sleep until he could face the day. Or night, rather. Glancing out the window behind him, Riku's Mako green eyes focused on the moon.

And where was Sephiroth…?

Riku wished he has the strength to move.

His thoughts returned to his Mother once again. They often did that, slipped into the present when he wasn't paying attention.

Riku. Then, he heard it. At last, it had found a voice. Despite his body's protests, he pulled himself to his feet.

Quietly he tiptoed down the stairs and out the front door. Where his Father was or even how he was, he didn't care.

Then, Riku ran. He had no idea where he was going. The Darkness was guiding him now.

Just as the sun was beginning to rise, Riku stopped running. He found himself in the cave on Destiny Islands, staring at the door with no handle.

Mother. The word reverberated through his mind, filling his consciousness. What was this…?

Sora and Kairi would be asleep… He reached out into their slumbers, to feel that peace and calmness. How, wonderful.

Riku looked straight up, eyes open and fixed in a gaze looking up into nothingness. The Darkness touched him, felt his inner being, just as it did on the night before.

Forlornly, he sent thoughts out into the Darkness. Thoughts of his differences, his talents. His Father. Yes, even Sephiroth. Then, his thoughts turned to Kairi and Sora. Peace and serenity there. He's supposed it to be wonderful… None of the complications and evil which the others loved oh so much.

There was only one thing which seemed as wonderful as that to Riku. Only one thing which seemed to match the calm of their innocent slumbers.

Mother.

Then, Riku asked the Darkness. "Take me back: I want to see Mother."

The figure cloaked in black remained silent.

"I want to see my Mum." Riku repeated, only louder this time.

"She would've loved to see you now."

"That's what my Father always said… so I was thinking, could we go and see my Mum while she was still alive?"

"I can do anything, Riku." The shadow replied. "It's you I'm more worried about."

"I want to see her." Riku pleaded.

"Your wish is my command." He bowed, and with the most repulsive smile the Shadow had to offer, it reached out and grabbed Riku's arm. Riku cried out in pain as the Darkness surged into his flesh. Making him remember…

"She died so close to him. I wasn't there. No one was." Riku could hear Sephiroth's voice echoing through his mind. "It was a hit and run, she was stabbed in the back. We never found out who killed her. She was dead when the ambulance got there. I only wish there'd been someone there for her."

"I want to be that someone!" Riku screamed. "I don't want Mother to die alone!"

The Darkness was more than happy to oblige.