Authors Note – Not much to say… so… just read and review.

Disclaimer – I don't own Kingdom Heats.


When Amarantha left Riku slammed his fist into the end table. "Damn it!" He muttered angrily. He tilted his head forward so that his hair fell over his face. "I won't let you take her away from me! You might be stronger then me, but I'm fighting for something far greater then you could ever comprehend!" Riku spoke to the Organization, he spoke to the Heartless, and he spoke to the darkness its self.

Biting his lip Riku stood back up and lit a fire in the fireplace. He dragged the chair in front of it and just sat there, staring into the flames, all comprehension of time lost. It was only when he caught himself falling asleep in the chair that he put out the fire and laid in bed, falling to sleep soon after his head hit the pillow.


"We need to try and figure out what the Organization is up to." Riku said softly to Amarantha.

It was morning, just after dawn. Kairi and Sora were standing side by side, waiting for what ever was to happen, they knew they didn't fit in with everything going on, and Kairi was starting to feel she was just being a nuisance.

Amarantha nodded. "What do you propose we do?" She asked, just as quietly.

"Split up, search the town for anything that could be of use. We'll meet back here at noon." Riku said.

"What do we do with them?" Amarantha asked, meaning Sora and Kairi.

"They can search too."

"They won't know what to look for."

"So, that will keep them busy while we search." Riku turned to Sora and Kairi. "I need you two to go around town, don't draw attention to yourselves, but keep an ear out for anything to do with the Organization."

Kairi and Sora nodded in unison then they both hurried off, thinking they were helping.

Riku turned back to Amarantha, she was looking at him, her hood drawn, as always, and black leather gloves over her hands.

"Be careful." Riku said.

Amarantha nodded, once, then walked away, getting straight to work. She walked in the shadows, trying not to draw unwanted attention. It proved to be a bit difficult, Organization members were feared and hated everywhere, and they rather stood out in a crowd. People kept casting Amarantha evil looks when they thought she wasn't looking, for no one had the guts to do it to her face. With a mental sigh Amarantha kept walking, pausing under open windows, listening to conversations. She kept at it for a few hours, then she entered a large pub, if there was to be any information of use it would be there.

Pushing to door open Amarantha walked in, instantly everything went quiet, everyone looking at her. Amarantha walked through the center of the room, her leather creaking and her boots clunking on the hard wood floor. Finding an empty table in a dark corner Amarantha sat down, crossing her legs under the table. Now that she was settled down people started to talk again, but in lowered voices, the presence of an Organization member left everyone shaken, fearing they'd get a knife in the throat if they said something offensive… it had happened on more then one occasion.

"Can I get you anything?"

Amarantha glanced at the barkeep that had walked up to her table. He gulped and rang his hands together. Amarantha waved him away silently, she wasn't a drinker, and she wasn't going to let alcohol dull her mind. The barkeep bowed and hurriedly walked away, relieved he didn't have to serve her. Amarantha locked her fingers together and settle down to listen to everyone. It was a while before she heard anything important. Two men in the center of the room had their heads together, whispering.

"You see that bloke over there? From Organization XIII obviously. I wonder if he's part of the patrol that was sent out last night."

"What patrol?"

"Last night I heard someone talking outside, I kept my window open. Well I got up to see who it was, and I saw a big group of those Organization guys standing around. One of em' had flame red hair, no lie! He was tellin' the other to search for somethin'. I heard him mention something about clouds... I know one thing for sure, I'd hate to be the person that had what every they were lookin' for, the red haired looked rather demented."

"Shit!" Amarantha stood up quickly, practically knocking down the chair she had been sitting in.

Quickly leaving the pub Amarantha ran down the street, her coat flapping around her. People stopped and watched her as she ran, anyone who didn't get out of her way quick enough were shoved to the side or pushed to the ground.

Hearing someone running his way Riku glanced up and saw Amarantha, practically flying down the street. As she passed he ran beside her, there was clearly something wrong.

"What is it?" Riku asked as they ran.

"Axel was here last night, along with others from the Organization! They were searching for us!" Amarantha paused in her talking for breath. "They know about Cloud."

"Damn it." Riku muttered, picking up the pace, he had a feeling they would be to late.