Chapter 21:

The Deal

"She's dying, Riku," Jiro said sadly.

Riku turned around and glared at Jiro, "Do't you ever say that!"

"Riku..." Akina whispered.

"Get out," Riku said through clenched teeth.

Jiro, Akina, and Ryo looked at each other with sad expressions and walked out, but Ryo slowly came back in.

"Didn't I say to get out, Ryo?" Riku asked angrily.

"I know, I know, but I just wanna tell you something. She's not going to die, Jiro is wrong. If you have the faith and her heart is strong enough, she'll survive."

A small smile flashed on Riku's face, "Thanks Ryo I needed that."

"Anytime," and with that, she walked back out.

Riku looked at Zan and held her close, "You'll make it."

xxx

Zan's screams filled the air followed by Ansem's manical laughter, "Stop," she pleaded.

"Give me the sword!" he snapped.

Tears of fell from Zan's eyes as she cluched her head in pain. She didn't have a clue what he was doing her. All she felt was the pain being inflicted upon her, and a strange, dark, feeling trying to embrace her relentlessly. She wished Riku were here, or anybody else. Someone who could save her.

"Riku, help..." she sobbed.

"Your dear brother isn't here to save you now..." Ansem smirked.

Zan completely ignored him as she quietly called for him, "Help..."

xxx

Help...

"Zan?" Riku cried.

I can't breath...I need you

"Hold on Zan. Just hold on," he whispered into the air.

I can't much longer. He's going to kill me...unless...

"Unless what?"

I give him...

Suddenly, Zan gave a scream of pain as her body fell backwards onto the bed. Her white eyes turned back to their usual color, but her skin was still pale and as cold as ice itself. She let out a small breath, "The sword..."

Eternal...

"Zan, what are you---" Riku began to say, but Zan's eyes were no longer open and her body was limp.

Heart...

Riku pulled her back close to him, "Zan...NO! Please, please forgive me..." he cried.

Watch her suffer... a mysterious voice said

Riku looked up, "What?"

Do you want to see her...alive?

"I would do anything," Riku said the the voice.

Even rejoin the darkness?

Riku stared down at Zan's dead body for a moment, "Yes..."

Don't do it Riku!

"Z-zan? Zan is that you?"

Too late, he's already said yes!

"Wait, no I take it back!" Riku yelled.

Too...late

Suddenly, there was a flash a light, a light that practically blinded Riku.

xxx

Akina stared out her window as tears began falling from her face. Jiro was right behind her, and he put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Akina, we better hurry. We need to go to Destiny Island as quickly as possible."

"Not now," Akina sniffled.

"We have to, or he'll kill her..." Jiro said.

Akina sighed, "Ok, let's go. Did you write the letter already?"

Jiro took something out of his jacket pocket, "Yes."

Akina closed her eyes, and a black rip-portal appeared.

"Did you tell Ryo?" she asked before stepping in.

"Yes, I did. She's out looking for him right now."

Akina looked back at the portal and slowly stepped in. Followed by Jiro. The two were on their way to Destiny Islands.

xxx

"STOP!" Zan screamed

Riku slowly opened his eyes, "Wha---what happened?"

He slowly looked around and saw that he was surrounded by darkness, and Zan was standing in front of him, cluching her head and crying in pain, and there was man with a cruel smirk on his face, "It can't be..." Riku whispered.

"Oh but it can and it is," Ansem said with a smirk.

"No...What are you doing to her leave her alone! She's never done anything to you!" Riku snapped,

"But she has what I want and it's as simple as that."

"What is that?" Riku asked.

"He wants the sword..." Zan cried. "But there's no way I'm letting him have it."

"She's stubborn just like you, but I mean no harm, Riku I am just taking back what belongs to me, to my family and sh'es in the way. She won't give it to me willingly, so this is the price she's paying." Ansem laughed.

"What are your intentions with the sword?" Riku asked.

"Like I said, it's my family's sword. It was stolen many years ago, and I just want it back!"

"I don't believe you..." Riku snarled.

Zan looked up at him helplessly, "I don't either, that's why I am not giving it to him...OW!"

"Stop hurting her you jerk!"

"You can't stop me."

"Oh yeah!" Riku drew his sword out, and started to charge at Ansem, but he stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't move.

Ansem laughed, "You agreed to rejoin the darkness. You're under my control now!"

There was a shocked expression on Riku's face, "W-what?"

"No..." Zan whispered.

It's the truth and you can't deny it!" Ansem smirked cruelly. "And you're first task is to kill your sister!"

"You can't make me!" Riku shouted, trying to fight the force that was pulling him towards Zan.

"Yes I can! Unless...she'll give up the sword." Ansem said.

Zan closed her eyes. Hers and possibly her brother's life was at stake right now, but she had the gut feeling that if she handed over the sword then everyone in the entire universe was in danger.

"I will never let you have the sword..." Zan's next words were hard for her to say. "No matter how much pain you put me through...even...even if you were to kill me..." "

"aw but my dear girl, as you are finding out, there are fates much worse than death...like watching the people you love dearly suffering...and not to mention your own suffering..."

"Zan...Give him the sword," Riku said sadly.

Zan looked up at her brother in shock, "What?"

"Give him the sword. Everything will be alright ok? Just do it...Trust me..."

Zan took out her sword, and looked down at it. She bit her lip in thought for a moment. Maybe she just needed to do this, "If I give you the sword, do you promise not to hurt my friends?"

"Yes," Ansem replied.

Zan took a deep breath and she slowly walked over to him. Ansem smirked as he grabbed the sword from her shaking hands, "I promise not to hurt your friends, but your brother is still mine!" he laughed.

"What? You bastard!" Zan shouted.

"Deals are deals. Now I will be taking my leave."

"NO!" Riku and Zan shouted.

It was too late.

There was a blinding flash of light. Zan woke up on the bed, gasping for air. She looked around, and no one was there, "Riku?" she called out.

No anwer.

"Riku?"

Still nothing.

Zan knew it. He wasn't there, but she kept on telling herself he was just kidding around...he was just kidding around...

"Come on out. I know you're in here..." she cried.

Zan...

Don't be afraid...

I will always be with you...

She couldn't take it no more. She broke down crying. Her brother was gone, and it was her fault...

xxx

hidden in the shadows within the room were two shadows that she couldn't see. One smirked, "This is the perfect time to put our plan into action wouldn't you say, Yuri?"

xxxxxxxxxxxx

sorry for the shortness and sorry if ya got confused i had a lot of writers block but forced myself to write oh and sorry if ya don't remember who Yuri is but I kinda just realized I forgot about her so here she is but the question is...what role does she play in this?

tanks to blondie for helping me THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

disclaimer: Still don't own KH and still plotting

R&R!