Title: The Permanence of a Memory
Chapter 2: Blood Bath
Game: Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children
Author: Kat-chan8806
---
Time flies while riding on the back of a motorcycle. Before he knew it, Riku was almost asleep. The scenery whizzed by and his mind drifted lazily. Kadaj occasionally glanced back to check on his new friend. He wasn't accustomed to having passengers, but he was glad for the company.
After what seemed like hours, they reached an obstacle in their path. Literally. Kadaj brought the motorcycle to a stop and called back at Riku to wake up. The two got off the motorcycle and found themselves face-to-face with a small group of teenagers, two girls and four boys. They seemed to be arguing about something, but at the sight of Riku and Kadaj, the small group stopped their debate and walked forward.
"That's a shiny motorcycle ya got there, mister," one of the boys said with a smirk. At this, the boy's companions stepped out in an attempt to surround Riku, Kadaj, and the motorcycle.
"Yeah, what's your point?" Riku was more than a little annoyed that these people had interrupted his joyride.
"We're gunna take it off your hands for ya," one of the girls replied and she walked closer to the motorcycle.
"Back away, little girl. I don't want to have to fight you and your friends." Kadaj placed a hand on his sword's hilt.
"You're outnumbered. Just give it up."
"Back away!" Riku took out his dark blade and glared threateningly at the group.
In a matter of seconds, the road was dyed with blood. Three of the group had sprung upon Riku while the other three jumped Kadaj. Riku reacted by bringing his blade up and through a boy's left arm. As the boy was pierced, he produced a knife from his pocket with his other arm and stuck it in Riku's left shoulder. Riku slashed at the boy's face, but one of the girls jumped in the way and blocked the blade with her weapon: a metal pole. In the few seconds it took for Riku to realize what happened, the girl slammed his head with the pole, and as soon as he hit the ground, the other kid, a boy, wrapped a chain around Riku's neck and attempted to snap his throat. Riku grasped the chain with his free hand and managed to get his head out of the way, then turned and slung the blade across the boy's chest, causing him to fall in a spurt of blood. Riku had little time to enjoy this small victory, because the girl and the other boy both jumped at him. He turned just in time to dodge their attacks. Riku, who was very angry by now, slashed the girl's pole in two and slung his blade at the boy, cutting off his hand. The next moment, the boy's body was lying beside his severed hand with a gash through his heart and the girl was backing away from Riku with a missing arm. In seconds, Riku had deprived her of breath.
After finishing off these three troublemakers, Riku glanced over at Kadaj to see him locked sword-to-sword with the remaining girl. One of the last two boys of the group was hunched in a bloody mess at Kadaj's feet while the other boy was examining a few gashes on his arms and legs. Riku took a moment to breathe and clenched his teeth in pain from the wound in his left shoulder. His head had started to trickle blood where the pole had connected with his skull. In this state, Riku watched Kadaj pull back his sword and in the same movement, turn and swing it at the unsuspecting and injured boy. In the time it took for the boy's skull to be cleaved, Kadaj had already turned back and locked swords with the girl once more. The girl was surprised by this display, and dropped her guard just long enough to give Kadaj time to pierce her heart. But in a dying attempt to overcome her foe, the girl flung herself and her sword at Kadaj, piercing his chest. She died along with her companions, and the fight was over.
Riku went to Kadaj and helped him to his feet. Riku led Kadaj to the side of the bloody road and laid him on his back in the grass. "Be still. I've gotta see how bad you're hurt."
Kadaj looked up at Riku. Riku was examining the chest wound. "Is it serious?"
"You'll be okay. She missed your heart."
At hearing this, Kadaj sat up. "It seems we have no fatal injuries. Perhaps we should simply rest tonight."
Riku agreed, and they tended their wounds. That night was spent cleaning the blood from their clothes and laughing about the battle they had just won.
"You are quite the fighter, Riku," Kadaj commented with a slight grin.
Riku simply responded, "Only because of my equally skilled friend."
