Disclaimer: I don't own KH 2.

Summary of the last chapter:

Knowing the tremendous library housed within the Beast's Castle was filled with books, Riku picks this place for a first stop. Things are alright until Beast shows up and mistakes them for Organization XIII. Then, in rage, he throws Mina into a wall, knocking her unconscious. Riku is then invited by Belle to bring Mina into her room. Taking the Princess of Heart up on the invitation, it was discovered Mina had a couple cracked ribs. About to leave with his companion, Riku was confronted by Xaldin, whom has been convinced that Riku is the Lockblade wielder. Escaping before a fight breaks out, Riku now houses Minami in a place he knows they'll both be safe.


Chapter 6: Strange Hints and Ghostly Clues

Twilight Town, it was the perfect choice. Riku found a hotel to check into the minute he arrived and he placed Mina down on the queen-sized bed in the room he bought. No, this was not the virtual creation that he and Diz had been caring for but the actual Twilight Town. So far, however, Riku found no differences or inconsistencies.

"Are you okay?" He asked her, crimson eyes containing an anxious expression she'd never seen in him. Was he worried about her? The question proved interesting to linger over. Of course, Mina was rather worried about her too. On the way here Riku had told her she's cracked a couple ribs and explained what had happened while she'd been unconscious.

"It hurts like hell and I want to smash myself against a brick wall, but it would hurt too much getting off the bed." Riku chuckled at this and produced a bottle of pain killers from under his cloak. Mina stared at him in wonder. "When'd you get those?"

"I grabbed them from Belle's room." Mina looked at him with a scowl and he shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry, I left some munny for her so she could get more." Seeing she was still unsatisfied, he smirked. "Or I suppose I could just give them back-"

"NO!" Mina cried out, reaching for the bottle. As she did her ribcage acted up and she fell backwards. "Damn!" Riku's eyes lit up once more. "Can I have the pills now? Or are you gonna sell them to some drug addict?" She groaned after a moment. Hearing her familiar sarcasm made Riku grin as he opened the pills. Taking two out, he set them on the nightstand and rose.

"I'll get you some water," he muttered, walking over to the sink near the bathroom. Taking a cup from the dispenser he filled it with cool water. Making sure she was unaware of his actions, he slipped a yellow potion into the liquid which turned it an odd rusty color for a moment. As the water became transparent once more he nodded in satisfaction and brought it back to her. Minami nodded gratefully and threw the pills in her mouth, chasing them with a gulp of water. "You'll have to take it easy for a week or so, but with that potion Belle gave me you'll be fine in no time."

Mina almost choked on the last mouthful of water before looking at her companion. "P-potion?"

"Yes, the water has a potion in it Belle slipped to me. It'll speed up your healing process." Of course, Belle said to watch out for the side-effects. Wonder what she meant. "Don't worry," he told her with false confidence, "It's perfectly safe." The relief on Mina's face was barely visible as she let her head fall onto the pillows below.

"Can I sleep now Riku?" She asked, as if he could say no! What was he supposed to do, duct tape her eyes open? Use toothpicks maybe? Yeah, right.

"Of course." Gingerly he pulled the blankets out from under her and laid them on top of her body. He tucked the blankets close to her body, making sure she was covered up snugly. Once this was done he looked around the room for somewhere for him to sleep. There was only one bed, as this was a cheaper room, and no couch. There was a wooden chair, but he wondered if it would support his weight for more than five minutes. Good thing he got a discount.

Looking back at Minami, he saw the Lockblade wielder already fast asleep. Maybe it was cliché, but the peaceful look on her face really did force a smile out of the transformed teen. Like none of the terror or darkness in the world existed, as if life were as peaceful as it had always been. The soft sounds of her breathing were the only noises in the room and Riku felt very protective over her.

Hesitantly, Riku lay down on the side of the bed opposite Mina. It was a good thing he needed no blankets because Mina had cocooned herself in them. You'd never know this was the girl who fought with darkness a wielded a blade of evil. No one would guess this was the sarcastic and sometimes pessimistic girl that was a well-practiced warrior.

By some stroke of luck, Riku came back into reality just to see his hand about to stroke her cheek. Pulling it back quickly he cursed himself. What was he thinking? Riku I swear to hell, you do anything like that again I'll kill you myself! Well that settled that. Feeling cautious and slightly unnerved, Riku turned over so his back was to Mina, whom was blissfully unaware of what Riku had almost done


The sharp pains in her ribs were now a dull throb as Mina woke up. She felt secure wrapped tightly in the sheets of the hotel bed, and the arm around her were great…

Wait, what arm? Turning her head around she noticed the slumbering Riku beside her with an arm around her waist. The blush on her face was priceless, but the fact that she made no attempt to dislodge him astounded even her.

Her eyes traveled to his hooded face. She still remembered what he'd originally looked like. Reaching out a tentative hand, Mina grabbed the hood and pulled it back. Oh Riku, I'll find some way to help you. Maybe purifying the Lockblade will help. Oh God, I hope so! So deep in thought was Mina that she didn't realize his eyes opening rather abruptly. As crimson met yellow, however, realization smashed her and him as well. For a single breath, neither moved. Then Riku quickly withdrew his hand and Mina let his hood fall back down, rolling away.

"Sorry," they both muttered. Mina stood up, ignoring the pain in her ribs and made her way to the bathroom. A nice hot shower to wash away her embarrassment…that sounded nice. Riku watched her go and wondered what he'd been thinking. But then again, if she awoke first, why did she look so content? Had she…

No Riku…no. He heard the bathroom door close and the water start. This would give him some time to contemplate in silence. When this thought crossed his mind he noticed something gleam in the sun. On the bad lay Mina's dog tags. Curiosity getting the better of him, he read each one. As he did his eyebrows came together in confusion. Here was what he read:

Softest lips in a kiss of passion

Memories preserved and neglected

A defender of all its owner possesses

A lover's temperament in blue

What the hell? Riku was puzzled by the sentences and read each one a second, then third time. Even more puzzling then that was what was written at the bottom of each of the four tags. There seemed to be something, but they were worn somehow and he could not make them out. At this time, his thoughts were awoken by a harsh whisper coming form the bathroom.

"Riku!" Mina hissed.

"Yeah?"

"I forgot to grab clothes…" The looks on both faces were priceless. Mina had on the popular I'm-such-a-total-moron look while Riku sported the latest in the Did-I-really-just-hear-that trend. "Could you look away for a second so I can grab them?" Where ever they stayed, Riku always made sure to use the dark portals to transfer a small bag for each of them. Mina's lay beside her bed.

"Sure." He muttered, pulling his hood snug to his face. He heard footsteps lightly on the floor as Mina passed. "Don't walk in front of the window." He cautioned teasingly. A gasp of angered shock proceeded the angry reply.

"I AM wearing a towel! I don't go walking around naked!"

Riku chuckled at her reply. Salty little attitude of hers. "Then why can't I look?" A pillow smacked into the back of his head along with a cry of 'pervert!' Mina's steps tiptoed back into the bathroom and she emerged a minute later, brushing snarls out of her purple hair.

"So, Mina, where'd you find the dog tags?"

"Where'd you find the cloak?"

"I'm serious."

"Me too."

"Fine."

"Huh?" Minami looked up at him with a pout. She was persistent and stubborn and usually got her way, but never this quickly. It took all the fun and glamour out of arguing.

"I found them with the Lockblade."

"Ever read what's written on them?" Mina raised an eyebrow at him and nodded. "What's it all mean?"

"I dunno, I figured they were important so I just put them on. The writing made no sense to me."

"So, you just found these dog tags and put them on. How smart." The sarcasm in his voice seemed like a challenge to Mina.

"For your information, it kept the darkness of the Lockblade under control. In a short amount of time I would have lost control of my senses and killed everyone in sight! It's easier to wield it now, but if I wield it without the dog tags for too long, it could control me." Her eyes looked into his, ferocity lurking there. She had met his challenge and dared him to retaliate. Obviously, he'd upset her…not something he'd wanted to do.

He said nothing, however, and allowed himself to digest this. He heard her mention something about getting some exercise and he just nodded. The more Mina got used to walking now, the less she would hurt later, or so he hoped. He held a hand up in front of his face and sighed. Everyday he reminded himself that this form was the only way to atone for the things he'd done, but it had never been so hard as it was today.

Those dog tags also bugged him, but he'd worry about them later. He still had to get munny to pay the room. But he was lucky Mina said nothing about this mornings episode. Why had he done that? Why hadn't she stopped him? These thoughts buzzed around his head and, next thing he knew, Mina was shaking him.


"Riku, Riku wake up!" Said boy mumbled something as he sat up, looking at the girl who'd woken him. "I found something that might interest you, There's a rumor going around about a ghost train." He looked at her oddly, quite put off that he had fallen asleep so carelessly. What kind of fool was he becoming lately?

"Since when have you been into foolish gossip?" Okay, perhaps a stupid question. In his experience, almost every girl loved rumors and gossip. Why would Mina be different? She was always looking for information on the Lockblade, sure, but what would a ghost train have to do with it? "And since when do you believe in ghosts? Or care about them?"

She put her hands on her hips with frustration, as if the answer was right in front of him. "Because, a certain spiky-haired brunette got on the exact train. And a certain king got off it prior to that. Or, so says a guy named Hayner." Riku sat up.

"Well then, let's get some tickets."

For those who wanted to see a little Riku/Mina, here's a taste. Want more? Than be paitent, for more shall come! In the meantime, I'd like to ask everyone to take a peek at some of my friend's fics. Her name's Demon Slaying Riza and she's an absolute inspiration to me!