Disclaimer – I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
As they watched their leader fall the men holding Riku loosened their grips on him ever so slightly. Riku jerked violently away from them and jumped from the bridge. He ran as fast as he could to the bottom of the building. The falling form of Amarantha spurring him to speeds greater then he had ever imagined. The only thing Riku could think about was catching her, he had to, she saved his life, he would never be able to repay her. Holding out his arms Riku positioned himself so that he was directly under Amarantha. When she landed in his arms he fell to the ground roughly, she was a dead weight.
"Amarantha!" Riku cried, shaking her slightly, trying to wake her up. "Amarantha! Please, stay with me!"
Seeing no response Riku cried out loudly, his tears thick and heavy. He cradled her body close to his, rocking back and forth as he sobbed, his head resting on hers. He was so caught up in his grief that he didn't notice the other Organization members gathering around the fallen Axel, nor did he notice the many town citizens that were coming out of their homes, trying to figure out what all the commotion was about. Once they saw all the Organization members only the very brave stayed out to watch.
Riku's sobs slowed, when he pulled his head away from Amarantha some of his hair and his cheek were stained with blood, Amarantha's blood. Riku stood slowly, holding Amarantha in his arms as if she weighed nothing. His face set in a deep frown Riku started to walk away from the scene, away from the dead Axel, away from the confused under men, away from it all. He walked tall and strong, Amarantha's limp body held close to him. As he walked by people shook their heads in sympathy, some even covered their mouths at the sight of Amarantha's grievous wounds. Riku took no notice to any of it. He set his eyes straight forward, not even glancing to the side. He walked on until he reached the door in the back alley.
He kicked the door open and walked in, his body dripping from the rain. He entered his room and softly laid Amarantha down on his bed, straightening her so that she looked like she was merely sleeping. If it weren't for the still bleeding gashes across her face Riku would have thought she was sleeping. He pulled off his blindfold to look at her better, and he almost wished he hadn't. It took all of his will to keep from crying again.
Just then Cloud entered the room, he saw Riku but not Amarantha.
"What happened?" Cloud asked, seeing the look of grief on Riku's face.
Riku didn't answer his question. "I need a bowel of warm water and some cloths." His voice was thick and raspy from crying.
It was then that Cloud saw Amarantha. "God." He muttered, seeing the blood leaking onto the bed sheets.
Cloud left the room at a run, and soon he was back, a large bowel in his hands and a stack of cloth. He set them down on the floor, the end table had been destroyed earlier. He watched in silence as Riku wet a cloth and softly started to clean Amarantha's wounds, soaking up the blood and changing to a clean cloth. Riku worked with quiet determination, not saying a word and not taking his mind off the task he was performing. Cloud was watching Amarantha's chest, looking to see if it rose from the intake of breath, he couldn't see anything. Walking over Cloud took Amarantha's wrist in his hand and felt for a pulse. He sadly shook his head and laid her hand back down next to her. He then turned to Riku, who was wringing the access water from a new cloth. Placing a hand on Riku's shoulder Cloud spoke softly.
"I'm sorry Riku, if there's anything I can do for you, just ask." With that Cloud left the room, closing the door behind him.
Riku didn't seem to hear Cloud, he continued on with his work. When he had the wounds clean and bandaged he drew up a chair next to the bed and sat down. Taking Amarantha's hand in his own he laid his head down on the bed, her hand under his forehead. He sobbed himself into a deep sleep, a sleep of shock.
