A/N: Sorry for the delay - had a wee bit of writer's block, until I opened it up this morning! Here you go, enjoy! Remember to Review!

Chapter Six - Fading Hope

"Do you even know where you're going?"

Shuffling through a busy market street, Riku and Roxas seemed to be strangers in a strange land with their black cloaks, as the sun beat down on the bright colors everyone seemed to be wearing.

"I think so..." Roxas stammered, glancing around. "Have you noticed-"

"We're the only ones dressed in black?" Growled Riku, trudging forward, dirt swirling around his feet. "Yeah, I guess it is kind of hard not to notice."

"No, not that." The nobody growled stopping suddenly. "Something's not right about this place." Turning to Riku he pulled down his hood, frowning. "Can't you feel it?"

Pulling off his hood and wiping his brow, Riku nodded, his features emotionless. "I noticed it back when we landed here. Speaking of which, why the hell are we even here?"

"Traverse Town isn't what it used to be." Moving forward, Roxas glanced around uneasily. "Something's happened here - and not for the better."

"When has something good happened here?" muttered Riku, following close behind. "Shouldn't we be looking for Kairi and Sora?"

"Riku," Glancing at the cloudless sky, Roxas closed his eyes. "What were you and Sora after when I appeared at that castle?"

"Well," sighing, Riku frowned. "We got a letter from the King back at the island. Something about finding a pendant that would imprision the dark realm. Forever."

"You're sure the King sent that?" Folding his arms across his chest, he nodded.

"Yeah, we were pretty sure. It even had the King's s-"

"Shh!" Hissed Roxas, his eyes snapping open as he motioned behind Riku. "Look!"

Nodding once, Riku turned and gasped in shock.

"It's Y-you!"

---

"Wake up! You!"

Groaning, Kairi felt pain as she tested her limbs, her eyes fluttering.

"Whose there?" she murmured, looking around. Her eyes found the voice's source and she scrowled. "You, again."

"Yep! Its me, Raei." Smirking, Raei crossed her arms, leaning against the wall of the cell.

"Where am I this time?" Asked Kairi, sitting up, frowning as she clutched her stomach.

"This time, well..." Glancing around at the metal bars and cement walls, Raei grinned. "A holding cell."

"Oh." Looking away, Kairi sighed. "Sora...where are you?"

"Sora? You still rambling on about him?" Walking over, Raie frowned. "After that beating, I personally wouldn't be worried about him. He's off to go find some Riku guy. Not that it matters, anyways."

"Riku!" Gasped Kairi, slumping back, her anger building. "Riku will stop him. I know he can!"

"I doubt it."

---

"Sora!" Riku couldn't help but smile, "You're back!"

It seemed like all the crowds had vanished, leaving only Riku, Roxas, and Sora in the open.

"Where have you been, man?" Continued Riku, whilst Roxas stared diligently at Sora, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I thought I lost you when you vanished through that mirror!"

Sora's face remained emotionless as he stared blankly at the duo, then his eyes narrowed in bitter anger. "I'm here to take you whether with force or without."

"What are you talking about?" Chuckled Riku as he started to appoach Sora. "We got to find K-"

Roxas grabbed Riku's cloak, yanking him back. "Don't." he growled through clenched teeth. "Something's wrong."

"But I got to-"

Slash.

Leaping backwards and practically knocking Roxas off his feet, Riku summoned his keyblade falling into a defensive stance. Getting up, Roxas summoned his keyblades and glared.

"What the hell?" snapped Riku, fuming,

"What did you expect, Riku?" Advancing towards Sora, who had gone into a attack stance, Roxas was angry. "You didn't expect this NOT to happen?"

"You mean, we gotta take him down?"

Nodding once, Roxas concentrated on the task at hand. Appoaching Sora in a semi-circle fashion, he dashed forward spinning around and slashing downwards with his blades, leaping back when Sora dodged, countering with a strike towards Roxas's knees. Barely dodging, Roxas growled, leaping back in defense as Sora slashed again.

"A little help?" asked Roxas as he dodged again.

"Gotcha!" Riku dashed forward as Sora aimed another blow at Roxas, when he felt something meet his blade. Gaping, he watched in horror as Sora had summoned another blade, his eyes revealing a void, devoid of all emotions.

"Crap!" snapped Roxas, aiming a wide blow in Sora's direction. "How the hell did he do THAT?"

"Something isn't right here, I can tell you that!"

A/N: Who will win? Hmmm... guess we'll have to wait til the next chapter! >>