Authors Note - Well, not much to say, so, just enjoy :)
Disclaimer - I don't own Kingdom Hearts
Amarantha sighed deeply and looked around her, a single tear falling down her face. You've already taken everything away from me, why stop now I guess. Amarantha shifted through the ashes with her foot until she saw the black leather of her coat. Bending to pick it up Amarantha shook the ashes off of it; it was still in perfect condition, the magical defenses on it protecting it from the flames. She tossed it over her shoulder and turned back to Riku, who was now just standing up straight, his mouth slightly open as he gritted his teeth against his anger and sadness. Leaving him to pull himself back together Amarantha went over to his bedroom and searched until she found his coat. When she entered the burnt remains of the hallway Riku met her. She silently handed him his coat as she pulled hers on, zipping it up in the front, even though it was a hot day. She found her knee high boots and pulled them on, watching as Riku did the same.
When they were both fully dressed Riku looked at Amarantha sadly, pulling a blindfold out of a pocket of his coat. "I guess its back to the old ways." He muttered.
Amarantha showed no emotion as she nodded once, ever so slightly, her eyes were already returning to their normal deep red. Riku sighed and tied his blindfold on, his eyes ever so slowly reddening. He took a long hard look at Amarantha before he tied it; he didn't want to forget what he fought for… he wouldn't forget. Taking a deep breath Riku set his face into a non emotional mask, the corners of his mouth turned slightly downwards. Amarantha pulled up the hood of her coat, causing her whole face to be cast in shadow. So we come full circle. She thought vaguely.
Side by side Riku and Amarantha walked out of the flame swept house, their strides long and purposeful, and their arms by their sides, faces looking straight forward. The crowd outside the house started to mutter and whisper when they emerged, but they quickly moved out of their way, casting them frightful glances. Riku and Amarantha made their way to the beach, ignoring the fact that people were following far behind, no one wanting to get to close to the two 'children of evil'.
Amarantha stopped about knee deep in the water and turned to Riku. "Are you ready?" She asked, raising her hand out to the side.
Riku was silent a moment then he nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be." He muttered.
Calling on her inner force Amarantha opened a dark portal, to the gasps of the small crowd gathered on the beach. She was just about to step into it when someone yelled.
"Riku, Aran, wait!"
Amarantha turned her head to watch as Kairi ran out into the water, Sora close behind. She had a wild look in her eyes, as if she were filled with fear and sorrow at the same time.
"Don't go!" She said, grabbing onto Riku's coat and tugging it.
Riku looked down at her, or rather, turned his head in her direction; his blindfold did not allow him to see anything. Kairi saw the blindfold and she backed away, her bottom lip starting to quiver.
"You don't have to go back to the way you were! Just forget about it!" This time it was Sora, he was looking at Riku as if he had just stabbed himself in the chest, his eyes wide and confused.
Amarantha glanced back at the portal; it was starting to grow smaller. "Riku, we haven't the time." She said, her voice soft, only for his ears.
Riku nodded and turned his back to his two friends, but once again Kairi grabbed onto his coat.
"Riku! At least take us with you! I wouldn't be able to live knowing you're out there yet not knew what had happened to you!"
Looking at Amarantha Riku silently asked her what she thought. She shrugged and turned away. "It's their death." Was all she said.
"I'm not going to be responsible for you, not again." He said.
Kairi nodded determinedly.
Amarantha looked to see that Riku would follow her, and then she entered the dark portal, a portal that would take her away from Destiny Island, the first place she had come to be happy in.
Once on the other side of the portal Amarantha waited for Riku to come out, she would have to close it behind him. The maker of a dark portal was the only one that could officially close it. He soon came out, stepping onto the cobblestone street silently, his hair waving slightly in the breeze. After him Kairi noisily exited the portal, falling to the ground in a clatter of sounds. Sora was right behind her, landing with a loud thud.
Amarantha rolled her eyes and quickly sealed the portal. "They're going to get us killed if they keep that racket up." Amarantha said in Riku's ear.
Riku sighed and turned to Sora and Kairi. "If you're going to follow us be quiet, we don't want every person in Hollow Bastion knowing we're here."
Kairi blushed and quietly stood up, holding her key chains so that they didn't jingle. "Sorry." She muttered.
Riku turned back to Amarantha and started to walk ahead, Amarantha right next to him. As they walked they spoke softly.
"I doubt he's still here."
"We won't know until we look; besides we need his help."
"What makes you think he'll even help us?"
"He owes me." Riku stated, Amarantha didn't say anything else.
They walked down the middle of the street, the few people that were out casting them frightened glances. No one looked directly at them, they were too afraid. Riku stopped in front of a door at the back of a dark alley, the door was barely visible, it blinded in perfectly to the wall. He tested the lock, it was just as he suspected. Leaning back Riku slammed his shoulder into the door, breaking it in easily.
He walked into a long, dark hallway, one with water on both sides of the narrow walkway. Amarantha was directly behind him, her eyes looking into every shadow, searching for any sign of danger. After a moment of walking Riku reached another door, this one he could see the flicker of fire light under. Gesturing to Amarantha he swung the door open.
Amarantha jumped in front of Riku, her key blade blocking the swift slash of a huge sword. She quickly blocked another set of swift attacks, her body crouched low and lethal. Finally the attacks stopped. Riku smirked and looked the person standing in front of him up and down.
"Nice to see you again, Cloud."
