Okay, new chapter, just as requested.

Chapter 3: Illusions and Darkness

Sora sat up, rubbing his eyes. He was still sore, but for the moment it was dulled. He felt himself being pushed back down and blinked as he saw the form of Riku grinning at him.

"Riku..." Sora said in a whisper. Everything came back to him in a rush. The bedroom, to passing out. And even the... Sora shivered at the thought of what his father had done this time.

"Sora?"

"Yeah?" Sora immediately answered back, Riku's voice pulling him out of his sudden daze.

"I know you don't want to tell me what happened... But, when you are... I'll be here for you." Riku sat down on the bed giving Sora a sheepish grin as Sora gave him a warm smile.

Riku ruffled Sora's hair and sat down in a chair by the bed.

"So you better get well soon..." Riku smirked. "Other wise, I might have to drag you to the island myself."

Sora's smile only grew. "Thanks Riku."

He layed back in the bed, giving a light sigh. He hadn't even felt the pain when he was talking with Riku, now he could feel it steadily coming back. Sora closed his eyes and winced as he felt a sudden jolt through his system.

Riku began to panic as Sora began to glow a dark purple. Riku stood up looking at Sora with wide eyes. 'What's going on?'

Riku frowned getting a determined look as he reached towards Sora's arm, Sora's body steadly becoming a brighter purple.

Riku gasped as someone grabbed his wrist and and jerked him back into his chair. He glared at their back. 'Get away from Sora!' He growled in his head as he jumped back up swinging at the black form.

They turned around and grabbed Riku's fist pointing to Sora. Sora wasn't glowing anymore and he looked like he was sleeping at peace.

Riku looked the guy up and down before jerking his fist back. They were cloaked in black and you couldn't see there face.

"Who are you?" Riku asked, glaring at him with mistrust.

The cloaked figure reached for there hood, hestitating a moment, but removed it none the less. It was a kid, just as old as Sora, and he had spiky hair too, only a bit more wild and untaimed than Sora's.

He extended his gloved hand and smiled. "I'm Daisuke Niwa... It's a pleasure to meet you."

Riku raised a brow and took 'Daisuke's' hand shaking it a bit, then releasing. "It's Riku."

Daisuke nodded. "I'm sorry for the intrusion Riku, but your dear friend was about to be swallowed by darkness; and you along with him."

Riku looked at him confused for a moment, then he frowned looking at Sora. "Darkness... Tried to swallow you?" Riku thought alowd.

Daisuke placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yes... But that doesn't matter now. He's save and still in the light... Remember that."

Riku looked to him, a frown still present. "You're not from around here are you?"

Daisuke shook head. "No... But I am now."

Riku raised a brow as Daisuke turned and walked out of the hospital.

Riku let out a sigh and fell back into the chair. "Just what was that darkness that Daiuske was talking about... And why do they want you?" Riku laughed. "Why am I talking to you... You're asleep."

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his mind wander; And before he knew it... He was asleep.

He opened his eyes darkness all around him. He frowned and took a step. He shielded his eyes as the dark ground burst open, turning into doves and flying away. He looked at the new floor below him. It was Sora. He was holding a weird weapon... Keyblade. That word suddenly came to mind as the walked across the small glass floor. There were others. Him and Kairi and two others that he didn't recognize.

"This is who things are supposed to turn out."

Riku whipped around to see a guy clothed in the same attire as Daisuke, only he was much taller than him. He was even taller than RIku.

"...But, the darkness is trying to change fate... Trying to swallow Sora in darkness."

"Why! Why Sora!" Riku frowned, he wanted answers.

"You know nothing... One that knows nothing, understands nothing."

"I don't want to hear your lies... Just tell me... Why does the darkness want Sora?"

You could feel the guy grin under the shadows of his hood, Riku shivered and took a step back. He wasn't going to like this and he knew it.

"Because you refused it... By refusing the darkness you sealed Sora's fate... You are of light and he is now of darkness."

"What! But why does it have to be like that!" Riku never got his question answered. The floor began to rumble and it broke. The cloaked figure disappeared in a swirl of darkness just as Riku fell. Riku reached to grab something, anything. He felt a hand take his and help him up. He smiled to Kairi who was laughing at his drenched form. He was on the island. He watched as Kairi gasped. He looked up to see himself falling, still. Riku's eyes went wide as he felt himself falling. He could see Kairi reaching for him in vain. Riku closed his eyes as he felt himself float down and slowly land on his feet. The floor was different. It was Destiny Island in the background. He ran his finger across it. Kairi had her eyes closed and her hands clapped together in a silent prayer. Beside her was Sora, cloaked in black and a blindfold over his eyes. He was wielding a black version of the keyblade that he'd seen earlier. And beside Sora was himself, and he was wielding the 'light' version of the keyblade.

Riku frowned at the glass. "Sora doesn't belong in darkness! And you can't have him! Do you hear me! You can't have him!" Riku sighed catching is breath.

There was a small flash and a shield appeared to his left. Another flash and there was a sword in front of him. He blinked and there was a last flash reveling a staff. He looked at the staff and the shield and shook his head before grabbing the sword. He swung it once, smirking. 'Lighter than it looks.'

He stiffened and turned around just in time to see darkness swallow the middle of the floor and black things began to pour out of it. They bore yellow eyes and they sent shivers down Riku's spine. He frowned and placed the sword in front of him. There was no way that he could defeat all of them. He ran and slashed through two of them, suprised at how weak they really were. Riku smirked, with a whole new boost of confidence.

"Bring it on." Riku ran slashing through several more. The rest of them took a step back and sank down into the floor disappearing. Riku sighed let the sword hit the ground. 'There really was too many.'

The darkness in the floor, began to grow and expand. Riku tightened his grip on the sword and stepped back to the edge. "No where to go."

The darkness spread under him and he began to sink. Riku twisted desperately trying to get away. He sank into the darkness, falling again. Always falling.

Riku bolted up as he felt himself land on something soft. 'Sand.' He whipped around confused. "I'm back on the island."

Riku took a step back as the water began to pull back from the sand and form a wave. Riku's eyes went wide as he spotted Sora at the foot of the wave. Sora turned around smiling warmly as he extended his hand to Riku. Riku ran for him, getting only feet away from Sora when the wave crashed back down. Riku desperately tried to fight the current and grab Sora's outstretched hand. He got further and further. Riku's lungs ached as his gave up and burst through the surface of the water, taking deep breaths. It was dark. The opposite of the island. He took an unsteady step onto the black sand and looked around.

"Where am I now?" A laugh emited from behind RIku making him whip around.

"The darkness of course."

Riku glared at the figure. "I thought you said I was of light! So why am I here!"

The figure clapped. "You may understand now, but it is still so little."

"Then tell me... Tell me what I need to know!" Riku looked at him determined as the cloaked figure walked towards him. The figure stopped, only a foot seperating them.

"You will open the door key bearer... The door to Kingdom Hearts."

Riku opened his mouth to speak, but the figure open palmed his chest sending him into a portal of twisting darkness.

Riku opened his eyes, feeling his body being shook.

"Riku! Riku wake up!"

Riku yawned and looked at Sora, who was grinning at him. Riku jumped up realizing that Sora wasn't in bed. He picked Sora up bridal style and placed him right back on the bed. Sora pouted and stuck his tounge out at him. "I could of done it myself."

"Says you... Your arm's still messed up remember?"

Sora scratched his head sheepishly. "I guess it just doesn't hurt now."

Riku laughed. "Just don't try to walk out of here without your shirt either."

Sora blinked and looked down, his eyes went wide and covered himself with his blankets.

Riku shook his head, his smile still present. "Don't worry Sora, I've seen you with less clothes, no need to hide it."

Sora's cheeks began to stain red with embarassment.

Riku stood up and walked for the door.

"Where are you going?"

Riku gave a lazy wave behind him. "I'm getting some food... I can't stay with you all the time."

Riku quietly closed the door. "I just can't let you see me like this." Riku muttered under his breath as he turned away from the door and walked away.

Daisuke stepped out of the corner of the hallway smiling at Riku's back as he got further and further away. Daisuke walked over to Sora's door and glanced once more at Riku then stepped in.

He watched as Sora slipped a tight black shirt over his bandages, suprisingly, hidding them well. He blinked at Daisuke then scratched his head.

"Um... Hi?"

Daisuke laughed, he really did remind him of himself... Well, his old self. "I'm Daisuke Niwa... I just moved here and Riku told me you were in the hospital, so I thought I'd come and see if you were alright."

Sora grinned believing the lie. "Well, you didn't have to do that... I'm fine."

Daisuke pointed to his arm. "But you're still bandaged."

Sora shrugged. "They just haven't taken it off me yet... I'm healed, but they won't believe it."

Sora jumped off the bed and tore the wrappings off his arm. He flexed it and pointed to it. "See, no cuts or anything."

Sora grabbed the tail of the wrappings under his shirt and pulled, somehow managing to get it off in one tug. Sora tossed the bandages onto the bed and smirked.

"So how about we get out of here and go do something."

Daisuke nodded. "Sure, but won't Riku be worried."

Sora shrugged. "He'll live..." Sora grabbed Daisuke's wrist and began to grag him out of the room. "Now let's have some fun!"

Daisuke grinned and they both ran out the door side by side.

"This way!" Daisuke went right, going the opposite of Riku.

"But it's a dead end!" Sora exclaimed as he began to slow down.

"Not for us!" Daisuke grabbed Sora's wrist and snapped his fingers. The wall became eclipsed in darkness. Sora's eyes went wide as he looked at Daisuke who was still grinning.

"Come on!" Daisuke sped up going straight into the darkness, dragging Sora along with him.

Sora glanced about, light colors and white was all about them. Random letters, symbols, it looked pretty impressive, but where were they?

"Come on Sora, the door's over here!" Sora stopped gawking and turned to Daisuke who was already on the other side of the place.

Sora nodded and ran to him. He stopped short when shadows began to take form with yellow eyes.

"Daisuke! What are these!" Daisuke didn't look phased.

"There heartless... Tell them to let you pass, they'll listen to you."

Sora looked at Daisuke confused then to the heartless gattering around him. Sora took a deep breath and spoke. "Let me pass."

The heartless keep looking at him and Sora was starting to believe that they weren't going to listen to him, but they began to part, leaving him a path straight to Daisuke.

"Told you." Daisuke grinned as Sora looked at him glaring.

"You could of warned me about them sooner." Sora huffed, as he crossed his arms and kicked at the swirling portal of black and green.

"It wouldn't of been as much fun." Sora stuck his tounge out at Daisuke. Daisuke just laughed and playfully shoved him into the portal; walking in after him.

Riku walked into the hospital room to see the girl from before sitting on Sora's bed, grinning at him.

Riku sat the tray of food down in his chair then grabbed her by the collar of the black cloak she was now wearing.

"Where's Sora!" Riku growled.

Her grin seemed to grow. "He's in the darkness now."

Another chapter, another cliff hanger, and another day of dodging near death experiences... Isn't life fun?