Disclaimer: I don't own KH 2.
Summary of the last chapter:
The Lockblade, a weapon of darkness. Those who try to purify it without Kingdom Hearts have all died. But what if it was the only way to save the worlds? Riku and Mina embark on a journey to do the unthinkable; turn darkness into light. Will they help Sora, or destroy themselves?
Chapter 5: Beastly Welcome
There was only one way for two shadows to travel from world to world together, that was in the darkness. The paths to the worlds that the heartless and Nobodies used were the only reliable way of travel for them. The essences of darkness swirled all around, while the solid walkway that shone white in the black. It felt as if they'd been walking for years, but it couldn't have been more than an hour. Just the lack of variation in the scenery was enough to make you fell hopeless.
"Riku, can we take a break?"
"No, don't you remember? In these paths, you can never stop moving. Unless you want the darkness to consume you completely." Dark pathways were definitely not all they were cracked up to be. You had to forge your own path the first time you linked to a world and keep walking down the chilling road. Afterwards you seemed to move from place to place in seconds, but the first time took forever!
A chill ran up Mina's spine and she glared at him. He was so mean! In her head, she made a mental note to drop ants down his cloak or something else uncomfortable. Maybe trick him into visiting a strip club. The thought almost made her laugh and she didn't really blame Riku for looking at her as if she had an extra head.
However, Minami soon looked away and was ignored Riku in her search for the paths end. He glanced over at her and shook his head. He found himself oddly fond of her company and within the first week, he had adjusted to her being around him. She was stubborn, kind, and strong, but that wasn't what he liked the most. He didn't enjoy looking at perfection, and her flaws made him feel safe. She was a human, not a goddess. She could be wounded, she made mistakes, and she became tired. These tiny pieces of humanity kept Riku grounded; reminding himself that he too was human, not totally lost to the darkness. He had to keep hold of his inner light.
"Hey!" He was disrupted from his musings when he saw her pointing up ahead. He looked and saw a round, black and green sphere that would transport them to their destination: The Beast's Castle. The library inside was vats and filled with knowledge. Perhaps they had books on the Lockblade hidden somewhere?
The both exited the dark trail into a world shrouded in night's spell. Little did the two know that the evening was not the only magic around this castle. The stone walls were made to hide, to defend the inhabitants against strangers seeking entrance. The large towers stood strong, humbling those who looked upon its might. Mina stumbled back looking at the grand structure from the courtyard.
"Ready?" Riku asked, already heading towards the door anyways. Mina muttered something angrily and followed, arms crossed over her chest in a huff. When they reached the door, however, she lost her pouty façade and crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping the Beast was kinder than his name implied. Riku knocked on the door, and stepped back, awaiting an answer. He remembered Beast vividly, and hoped mightily that he did not recognize him. That thought being acknowledged, Riku lifted his hood up over his face to hide it.
However, after a minute of so of waiting, no answer came to the door. Slightly annoyed with the lack of an answer, the silver-haired teen knocked once more at the door, but to no avail. Now he was annoyed. Gathering his strength, he yanked the door open, causing the colossal door to squeak viciously. Mina jumped visibly as Riku shook himself a bit and stepped inside. "Coming?" He asked his companion impatiently. She nodded and followed, letting a low whistle echo around the room.
"Impressive," she commented, looking around in wide-eyed wonder. Indeed, the hall was beautiful, but they weren't here to admire the architecture. Riku nudged her to get her attention and she glared furiously at him. "Meanie."
"Sure, whatever you say. We might as well pick a direction, straight, right, or left?"
He himself looked around at the three options. He himself favored straight ahead, for it seemed the most neutral of the choices. Mina apparently agreed and pointed straight towards the large pair of doors. Riku looked around sighed under his breath when he saw no one approaching. They would just tiptoe in, grab the books and…
The doors began to open in front of them and out walked none other than the Beast himself. He seemed to be immersed in rage and as he turned his eyes upwards and saw the uninvited guests, he lost it. A roar burst from his throat as he charged Minami.
Riku leapt, blindly and without rational thought, in front of the girl, shielding her from the angry prince and saving her life by sacrificing his own. He lay on the floor; his dying words those of hope and a strange calm. Then, Mina fights Beast to the death for vengeance, leading in the tragic demise of both fighters.
Well, at least that's what you'd expect to happen I suppose. But between expected and unexpected, between life and death, separating legend and myth, is reality.
In reality, Riku did not even flinch. Mina had proved herself capable by now and she deserved his respect as a fighting partner. In this decision, he made no mistake, and Mina preformed brilliantly. The purple-haired teen jumped nimbly to the side, allowing the angered Beast to fly head over heel down the stairs. His angry grunt confirmed Riku's suspicions; this was not a good place to be at the moment.
"Let us in the library, now." Beast regained himself and grunted indignantly, offended that this hooded-figure would boss him around. Mina looked at him as if he were bulling out a red cape in front of a bull. In fact, that was as metaphorically correct as you could get in this situation.
"Please! It would really help us a lot!" Mina tried to smooth over Riku's rough demand, but it seemed only to anger their unwilling host further until his pupils became slits.
"Xaldin, leave now! You and your helper!" His words came out a terrible roar that echoed with the anger of a hive of disturbed bees, refusing to leave the humans' ringing ears.
"Xaldin?" Mina was now very confused. Her crimson eyes narrowed and she looked at the furry man, trying to figure out how he came up with that name. Was a member of Organization XIII here? Realization hit her seconds before Beast did.
"Ugh!" She flew through the air like a rag and hit the wall with a 'thud' that made Riku's blood boil. When she fell to the ground, her body did not stir. For a moment, the transformed boy wondered if she were dead-considering the impact it wouldn't surprise him-until he saw her chest rising and falling as she shuddered. She was alive, but in pain.
"Now leave!" Swirling his cape haughtily, the castle owner left to his chambers, satisfied that his abode would soon be down to its normal occupants alone, no intruders at all. Riku watched him leave for only a moment before hurrying to Mina's side. He spoke her name, awaiting a reaction. He expected to be greeted with silence, but a feminine voice behind him spoke.
"Is she okay?" Belle stood there, an almost motherly worry gleaming in her eyes. Riku shook his hooded head along with a shoulder shrug, indicating 'probably not but how the hell am I supposed to know.'
"I saw what happened, bring her and follow me. I'll fix her up in my room." Belle looked at Riku and was pleased to see him nod and carefully lift the girl from the ground. Slowly the Princess of Heart lead him up a set of stairs going the opposite direction of the ones the Beast had taken up to her own room. She instructed Riku to lay her on the bed and he obeyed.
"Now, could you please leave?"
"No." The cold answer was quick, no thought put into it. Yes, Belle was kind-hearted and more than likely harmless, but if someone snuck in while he was gone and hurt either of them, it would be his fault.
"But…" she protested, being cut off by Riku rather quickly.
"I'll keep my back turned." Belle nodded and when she saw only the back of the cloak, she began to examine Mina. She didn't seem bad at first, but once her shirt was removed and the bruises were noticeable, Belle had a good idea of what was wrong. She'd seen this a couple times before growing up, and she'd read about it in medical books.
A few minutes into the exam Riku heard Belle address him. "Sir, I think I've found the problem. A couple of her ribs are cracked from her fall, but once she wakes up, she'll be fine. Just let her rest it for awhile and make sure she doesn't move around very much."
Riku nodded and walked over to Mina, now fully clothes, and picked her up. "Thanks." He left the room, making sure no one was in sight when he left. Just because he was a being of darkness doesn't mean everyone has to know. But sadly there was someone waiting outside Belle's room. A cloaked figure with its hood down to reveal a man with long black hair and rather freakish sideburns. His eyes burned with anger, even though he seemed perfectly calm.
"So, you are the one whom wields the Lockblade?" His voice held no feeling in it at all, no emotion behind it.
"Yes, who are you to care?" Riku felt the body in his arms stir and he gritted his teeth. Who the hell decided she could wake up now? Of course, now he wouldn't have to worry about her well-being quite so much, but it made his lie far more fragile. If Mina needed to protect herself and summoned the weapon the story would be cracked wide open.
"It is customary to offer one's own name before asking another's; but you, a wielder of darkness, has no need for manners I see. Well, if you must know I am Xaldin of Organization XIII, and I-along with other things-must demand that you turn your weapon over to me or die." He crossed his arms, impatience dominating his tone of voice.
"I think not." Well, what a situation he was in now! A lance came for him and he barely dodged it. A yelp came from the form in his arms as her ribs were jostled mercilessly. He glanced down at her and saw her bit her lip in pain as her hands grasped his cloak as if it would magically heal her if she squeezed tight enough. He couldn't fight…he had to run.
"Tell whoever's after the Lockblade they can kiss my ass. I alone can wield such a force of darkness; a power that kills those inept to be in its mere presence." Riku was pleased with how intimidating he sounded. Xaldin seemed to be unsure for only a second, which was all Riku needed. Taking the chance that had been given to him; he disappeared into the pathways of darkness. There was one place that framed in his mind as suitable. A world already linked to darkness so he could access it easily and let Mina heal without interference…
Ah, the suspense must be killing you! Thanks to all my lovely reviewers and please bear with my slow updates. I'm not at my house enough to write fast enough and there's nothing I can do about it, so bear with it. Also, I proudly announce I am so pleased with my recent lack of flames! Thank you!
