Authors Note: Wow, it's been awhile. But I reread, decided I needed to continue it. So here you go.
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It was disconcerting really, now that he thought about it. Every time he could see something from the corner of his eye, he turned and it disappeared. It looked like someone was stalking him, and yet, he couldn't be sure. That someone seemed to be killing heartless too, but he never waited, just left the munny and whatever else behind for Sora to grab. It was starting to get maddening, to the point where he was ignoring the heartless as they attacked him to try and get a glimpse of his 'friend.'
So why wouldn't he show up? Sora had been standing there now, with a few heartless scratching at his feet, and his friend just wouldn't come. Why was it this time? Finally, he got annoyed enough to smack them with the keyblade, turning and walking out of the square to find Donald and Goofy again.
Of course, he had no idea that his friend was just around the corner, fighting desperately to keep a hold on his heart while it tried to escape from him. As it settled deep within the darkness again, he expelled a gasping breath, trying to tamp down on the pain within. He needed to find his body, and no doubt, it was resting somewhere within Hollow Bastion. He shook his head to clear it a little and stood up, looking around the corner to the now empty area before sighing. He would have to hitch a ride with Sora, somehow, but how to make him go to Hollow Bastion in the first place...?
Logic told him to beg for help, but only in a way he would so that Sora would know it was him, that he was there at Hollow Bastion. At least he hoped that was where he was. He imagined that Kairi must have felt similar, as if having an out of body experience before she was woken up. He staggered after the brunette slowly, feeling lightheaded yet determined.
Somehow, he would make Sora see.
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Sora, on the other hand, had made it back into his hotel room just in time to see a dark spot appear in the middle of the bed, small, smoky tendrils reaching up from the middle. His keyblade was instantly in his hand, though a dumbfounded expression touched his face when the tendrils pulled in on themselves, leaving only a sheet of white paper behind, folded in half, saying simply his name.
Warily, he kept the keyblade out as he moved closer, half expecting it to open and a heartless to pop out of it. But the handwriting was familiar too. In a second, he recognized it. Riku! The keyblade vanished as he snatched up the paper, flipping it open to scan the scrawled text inside.
Sora
I know it's a bit weird finding something from me like this, but I need help. I'm almost certain I'm still in Hollow Bastion, but I have no way of getting out. I'm sorry for everything, and even more sorry that I have to ask you for something on top of it all. But please, get me out and it will be the last thing I ever ask of you.
Riku
He sank down, missing the bed and thumping hard on the floor instead. Riku wasn't even close to him. He was way the fuck back there in that hell that tore them apart to begin with! One hand lifted to yank at his hair to bring him back to the present as he got up. They had to find that keyhole, pronto. Without a break for sleep, he scrambled up to find his two friends, hauling them out once again to follow clues that had frustrated them earlier.
The two of them didn't comment on the newfound determination gripping their young friend, merely lagging along behind him and wondering about the energy he'd tapped into and how they could get hold of it. Though neither of them noticed the shadow lurking along behind them, killing heartless that were ready to snipe them.
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(Forgive me, minna, for skipping things I deem unimportant for the story)
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The hole was sealed after the boss was defeated, and finally it was safe to confront the boy. "WHY did we have to do this all in one night?"
"Because of this!" Sora thrust the note under the duck's bill to let him read it. The reaction was clear when those eyes widened and he nodded. Granted, saving worlds was great, but Sora was too distracted at the moment.
"Let's go then!"
Riku had heard enough, slipping away from them to where he knew there ship was parked. All he needed to do was hide himself somewhere on board.
Which proved to be an easy task. He had no idea that they'd managed to put a bedroom in the ship, and it wasn't long before he was curled up on it as they took off. He'd nearly forgotten what a bed felt like. But he didn't have a chance to enjoy it as the door opened and he phased through it to land underneath.
"Maaa... Riku.. I'm coming." Feet landed in front of the bed before a weight settled on the blankets heavily. Just as suddenly it was gone as Sora gazed around the room. He could smell him, just as tangibly as if he was standing next to him. The perfect blend of spices and pure Riku. "... Riku?" It was quiet for the longest moment before he sighed, laying back down to bury his nose in his sheets. They smelled just like Riku's bed did, before they left the islands. He breathed deeply, berating himself for being an idiot. Of course Riku wasn't here...there was no way, of course.
Under the bed, the black figure lay curled into a ball. He hadn't known that a heartless could cry until now.
TBC
