AN: Wow, it's been awhile everyone. Sorry for the delay, my computer decided to get...ill for a lack of better word. For more details on this, visit my profile. I updated it with those details. Anyway a lot of stuff happened aside from the computer. I also reserved Kingdom Hearts II and I'm so excited! I can't wait till March 28th! Hmm, lets see, what else happened. Oh, my cousin went missing. Yeah, she ditched school and I had to find her. Lucky for me, I can read the mind of a fifteen year old and went to look for her at the mall. She was there and I dragged her ass home so she could get taken care of. Uh, what else? Oh, I developed an unhealthy (accoriding to my brother) obessession with Naruto. I even wrote a story about it. (Yes, I am unshamfully advertsing for it.)

Ryu: Nice of you to come back, now please protect me from Rikku. She's still trying to kill me.

DT: Okay, okay.

(DT sticks Ryu into a room with a bullet/magic proof window. Then she locks the door.)

DT: That'll keep you safe until the end of the chapter.

Ryu: What if she hasn't gotten over it by the end of the chapter?

DT: Hmm, then I guess your dead meat.

Ryu:...

Rikku: Ryu! I'm gonna kill you!

(Rikku shoots magic and an assortment of other weapons at the window.)

DT: Uh, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Ryu: I wish I was as confident.

DT: Anyway, I would like to thank everyone for being paitient with me. Most of all I would like to thank 100-percent-hp-fan, Blu Rose, Faye Leingod,and Hiei's Kage for reviewing and helping me reach 50 reviews. You guys are the best. I made this chapter extra long to make up for the delay. Now on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy X-2. Just Ryu, Karen, Maya, Yuri, and Kai.

Ch 13 Memories

It had been over an hour since Maya and Yuri were dropped off on Mt. Gagazet. They told Yuna and Karen to keep Ryu alive until they came back with help. Yuna nodded as did Karen. At the moment, they were in one of the rooms in Bevelle's temple. Baralai was gracious enough to offer them a place to stay. Yuna had kept Ryu alive with her Curaga while Karen was recovering from using Holy. Yuna looked at her patient. He was still unconcious. When Yuna fist took a look at him, she was taken aback by his condition. I mean he had a hole in his chest!

She even feared that he might not make it, however, Karen's fierce determination gave Yuna the strength needed to keep him alive. She sighed and once again attempted to heal the wound. It was strange that no matter how much she and Karen tried, the wound would not close up. Perhaps Sephiroth did something so he could not be healed. The door to the room opened. Yuna turned to see Tidus walking in. He had two mugs in his hand. He handed Yuna one of the mugs, then he pulled up a chair and sat next to her.

"So, how's he doing?"

Yuna took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat and the warmth seemed to spread all over her. "His condition hasn't changed much. Some of the minor cuts have been healed, but that hole in his chest refuses to close up."

Tidus looked at Ryu's body. "It's a miricle he's held on this long."

"I know. When I fist walked into his room, he looked like he might have already been dead. I don't think Karen and Maya could have handeled it if he was."

"I've been meaning to ask, why do Maya and Karen care about him so much? Do they like him or something?"

Yuna sighed. 'I know he told us not to say anything, but I think he would forgive me if I told Tidus.'

"Believe it or not, they are his sisters."

"Really?" he said in surprise.

Yuna nodded. "But don't tell anyone yet. He asked us to keep it a secret and now I know why."

"Because of what he did." Tidus stated.

"That's right. He probably didn't want them to get involved in his problems."

Tidus sighed. "Well it looks like they can't help but be involved."

Yuna smiled slightly at his comment. He was right. It seemed that no matter what he did, his sisters couldn't help but jump in to help. Like when the hoard of Heartless attacked or when Karen and Yuri went to get him from his fight. Yuna's thoughts then drifted to Rikku. Yuna's smile faded as she though of her cousin. What was going to happen once he recovered? Cid would surely want to have someone else protect his daughter after the revelation of Ryu's past. That had hit them very hard.

"Tidus, have you seen Rikku?"

Tidus took a sip from his mug before starting. "Yeah and she seems to have gotten over her shock. Still, she's pretty down about everything. Paine is with her."

"And Gippal?"

"He's having a talk with Nooj, Baralai and Cid. Baralai's sticking up for Ryu. Looks like they knew each other back then."

"I'm glad someone is."

"What do you make of all this?" Tidus asked his wife.

"Well, I can't say I'm happy that he was the one that gave HOME's location away, but..."

Tidus placed his hand over one of her own. Yuna smiled at him and continued.

"But we have to remember that back then we were devoted to Yevon and it's teachings, some more than others. However, unlike me, he was raised here and had the teachings instilled into him more than I. He told us that he looked up to Auron and wanted to be like him. He probably though that if he became useful to the Maesters that he could some how make Auron proud of him. The Maesters most likely used this and turned him into their tool. It's not like there was someone there to tell him that it was wrong. If anything he was probably praised for it. I won't hold him completely responsible for what he did. I'll even forgive him should he ask for it."

Tidus smiled at his wife. She was always understanding and caring. That's what he loved most about her. He just hoped Rikku could be as understanding as Yuna.

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Paine was sitting in Rikku's temporary room. The young Al Behd was laying in bed curled up into a ball. She hadn't said a word since she yelled at Ryu at Djose. Frankly it was begining to worry her. Ryu was right when he said she prefered Rikku to be hyperactive and cheerful. Still, she knew that someone couldn't always be like that. Even someone like Rikku was bound to be sad every now and then. Even so this did not sit well with her. Whether Rikku knew it or not, she cared about her and Yuna. They were like the sisters she never had. Without them, she might not be the person she is today. With a sigh, she stood up and sat next to Rikku on the bed. She remained silent. After a few moments, she felt the mattress move. She looked over at Rikku. She was now sitting up with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her eyes were red from all the crying she had done.

"Why?" she asked to no one in particular.

Paine though carefully before she answered. "Sometimes, we don't know why we do the things we do. We are a mystery to ourselves."

"That doesn't excuse him from what he did! Didn't he care that many people died!"

"That is something you should ask him yourself."

"I can't face him. Not after what happened."

"Why? What are you afraid of?"

Rikku stayed silent for a few minutes. She shifted herself on the bed so she laid on her stomach. She buried her face into her pillow.

"He might leave..."

"Is that all?" Paine asked. She wanted to know Rikku's true feeling towards the blonde haired swordsman. Hopefully that would get her riled up enough to talk.

Rikku sat up abruptly at Paine's question.

"What do you mean is that all? Do you know what's going to happen once people find out? The Al Bhed are going to want his head! And even if he isn't killed, Pops is gonna make sure I never see him again! I'm going to loose him!"

Tears were running down her face.

Paine was surprised at her outburst, but she was glad to know that Rikku did care about Ryu.

"I though you hated him."

Rikku shook her head and wiped away some of her tears. "I was mad...no I'm still mad at him, but I don't hate him. It was just... at that moment, memories from that day came back to me and I reacted the only way I could. He can't leave because he has a lot of explaining to do! If he thinks he's getting off scotch free from this he's got another thing coming!"

Paine smiled slightly at her friend. "You should let him know that. I'm sure he could use some cheering up."

Paine got up and went to sit back in her chair. "After you hit him, his eyes were so dull...so lifeless. I'm surprised he was able to fight Sephiroth in that condition."

Silence followed her statement.

"How is he?" Rikku asked a bit afraid of what she might hear.

"He's still unconcious. The wound in his chest won't close up no matter how much Yuna and Karen try to heal it."

"Is he going to..." Rikku couldn't bring herself to finish the question. Paine knew what she wanted to ask though.

"I don't know. All we can do is wait for Maya and Yuri to get back with the help they went to get."

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'Where am I?'

Ryu wondered what had happened to him. He remembered he fell from the sky after Sephiroth stabbed his sword through him. Everything else was blank.

'Am I dead or not?'

He wasn't going to get anywhere if he just asked questions to no one. Slowly he opened his eyes. He was mildly surprised to be greeted by darkness. He held his hand up to his face. Again, he was surprised to find that he could see it. Technically he shoudln't be able to see anything no matter how close it was. After all, there was absolutely no light. He continued to float, or was he falling? It was hard to tell. Well, at least he could deduce that he wasn't in the Farplane. He was sure that this was not the place souls were sent. Unless he was sent here because of the sins he commited in his life. If that was the case, then was he really dead? He was brought out of his thoughts as he felt a familiar pull called gravity. He landed gracefully enough on his feet. The spot where he stood was now illuminated by a light. He didn't move as he looked around.

A sob pierced the silence. It echoed around him. He searched around him without moving from his spot. He could not find anyone or anything. A light then shown upon a figure a few feet in front of him. It looked like a small child. It's head was bowed so that it's blonde hair obscured it's face. His eyes widened as he recongized the sobbing figure. Slowly his shaky feet moved forward. The light followed him as he approached the sobbing person. He stood right in front of him.

"Are you really dead Auron?"

Yes, he knew this person well. It was him. He reached out in an attempt to comfort himself, as strange as that sounded, when another voice pierced the darkness.

"Do not cry. Auron was an honorable man and did what had to be done."

Another figure then approached the boy. Ryu gritted his teeth together and clenched his hands. This man, Kinoc, was the one that set him on his path as an assasin.

"Auron said he was gonna come back for me. He said he was gonna help me be great like him." his child self said.

Kinoc put his hand on the childs shoulder. "You still can be great. Auron may not be around to teach you, but I am more than willing to help you on your path to greatness."

His child self looked up at Kinoc with teary eyes.

"Really?"

Kinoc smiled. "Of course, now come, let us begin your training."

Ryu growled and attempted to punch Kinoc, but went right through him. He picked himself off the ground. He turned to glare at the man, but the figures vanish. He took a step forward only to be stopped by a burst of light. He shielded his eyes from the intensity of it. Slowly, he opened his eyes to find the darkness gone. Now, he stood in a forest. Much like the one in Kilika.

"Fight back!"

Ryu snapped his head in the direction of the voice. There was the man he had come to hate. Bynow he had become a Maester. Kinoc was standing behind a pack of Fangs. Ryu remembered this day well. He was supposed to have defeated the pack fiends by himself, however, things didn't go as planned.

The fiends leaped at his nine year old self. Ryu watched as he was driven back, closer and closer to the edge of a cliff. He had managed to swing his sword at one of the fiends, but that left him open for an attack. The Fang drove it's teeth into his arm. Nine year old Ryu dropped his sword and screamed in pain.

Ryu shot a glare at Kinoc who did nothing but watch the scene with a smirk on his face. He shifted his attention back to his younger self. One of the Fangs leaped at Ryu. That caused him to stand on the edge of the cliff. With no where to run, the Fangs went in for the kill. The young Ryu then went flying off the cliff. Seconds later, a blurr flew up into the sky.

This was the day that Ryu discovered he had wings. That would become his gift and his curse. The forest around him became blurred and the scene once again changed. This time however, it did not remain for long. He witnessed his first kill. A man that had spoken against the persecution of the Al Bheds. It shifted again to more people who had fallen by his hand. Why? Because the Maesters commanded it and he carried it out. Finally the scene shifted to that of a few hours in the lobby of Djose Temple. A slap resounded through out the temple.

"HOW COULD YOU! How could you do such a thing! So many people died that day! My friends and family...they all suffered that day! I hate you!"

I hate you. Those three words continued to echo as the scene shattered like a broke mirror.

"Quite upset wasn't she?" a voice asked. "And you have no one to blame but yourself."

Ryu made no attempt to argue with the voice. Why bother? It was right. He was the one who gave away HOME's location. It was his fault she lost friends maybe even family in that attack.. Attack? No, it had been an extermination. He vaugly noticed that the light at his feet began to disappear. It began to be replaced by black tenticles that wrapped themselves around his feet. It began to slowly climb up his legs.

"That's right. Give in to your hopelessness and despair. Let the darkness take you. No one will miss you anyway."

The voice had a point. His friends would be glad they were rid a murderer. His family would get over him anyway. Sure they'd be sad he was gone, but they would easily adjust back to their lives. It's not like he had always been there. Yeah, it would be okay. He would pay for his sins and they no longer had to deal with him. Everyone wins.

-----------------------------

Yuna had screamed in terror as she saw black tenticles wrapping themselves around Ryu's legs. Tidus ran fromthe room to get some help. Seconds later, Tidus returned with Karen and Kai. The others, minus Paine and Rikku, gathered in the room or by the door. Kai and Karen inspected Ryu. Kai cursed under his breath.

"What's happening to him?" Yuna asked concerned.

Kai turned to face them. "Ansem is trying to take him." he said grimly.

"What!" they said alarmed.

"How do we stop him?" Tidus asked urgently.

Kai was about to answer him when someone else beat him to it.

"You don't. He has to repell the darkness with his light." a very familiar voice said.

They all turned towards the door. There was Maya and Yuri with three other people. Two of them they did not recognize, but Karen bore a striking resemblance to the women.while the man reminded them of an older Ryu. More than likely, they were the sibilings parents. However that's not what had them in a stupor. Next to the man was a red cloaked figure that knew all too well.

"A-Auron?" Tidus managed to stutter out.

The ex-Guardian nodded and smiled at them. "It looks like your doing well."

The others made room for their guests to pass. Maya ran over to Ryu and cursed the black tenticles that were working their way up his body. Karen turned to the women she resembled.

"Mom, isn't there anything we can do!"

The women walked over to the bed. She stroked Ryu's cheek fondly. It looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"There's nothing we can do. We can only hope he fights back, but there is one thing I can do..."

She placed her hands over his wound and closed her eyes. A white light seemed to emitt from her and it spread to Ryu's wound. They were amazed that it closed. Yuna was stunned. She and Karen couldn't do it, but this women did it like it was nothing.

"How did you do that?" she asked.

The women smiled. "Everything will be explain later. Oh, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Aerith Strife. I'm Karen, Maya,...and Ryu's mother."

The blonde haired man took this as his cue. "And I am Cloud Strife, their father."

Sure they had suspected it, but the confirmation didn't make it less shocking. Auron shook them out of their shock when he walked over to Ryu's bed side. By then, the black tentacles had spread to his abdomen.

"So, are you really giving up? What happened that made you give up all hope? Ryu, you are much stronger than this. Don't let Ansem win."

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'That voice.' Ryu thought. 'It almost sounded like Auron...but that's impossible. He's dead...'

However the words the voice said held some truth. Ryu was stronger than this. Since when was he a quiter? Not even after the Maester were gone, did he give up on his life. He struggled to find a new place to live. He though he was lucky to have found that bar in Luca. Dirk had given him a chance at bulding a life there with the work he gave him. However, the past wasn't ready to leave him alone. Soon the records keeper in Bevelle contacted him. He wanted a large sum of money to keep Ryu's file a secret. Ryu managed a deal with him. The record keeper would get 100,000 gil if he sold the file to Ryu. Of course all this happened behind Baralai's back. Even he couldn't keep track of what everyone did.

The tentacles were now up to his chest. Was he really going to give in to the darkness? No, he shouldn't, but there was still doubt in his mind. Would his friends be able to forgive him?

------------------------------------------

The Spirans watched in amazement as the tentacles receded back to his abdomen. Auron nodded before speaking to them.

"It seems that he has doubts about fighting the darkness. I believe a little encouragement from those he knows will help him dispell those doubts."

Maya and Karen didn't waste anytime in encouraging their brother.

"Come on Ryu! Don't give in to that scumbag!" Maya shouted.

"We believe in you Ryu! You can get throught this!" Karen also exclaimed.

"Yeah, show him who's boss!" Yuri said as he pumped his fist in the air.

"Your not weak. That much you have shown." Kai added more camly than his friends.

Yuna decided to put in her two cents. "Ryu, you're still needed here. Please fight back!"

Everyone else said words of encouragment for the young swordsmen. Even Cid, who they thought would be the one to wish his death, said a thing or two.

------------------------

Ryu heard the words. He knew who said them. He was glad that they didn't want him to go.

"Yet the one who matters hasn't said a word. Has she?" the voice said.

Again the voice was right. Rikku did not say anything. Maybe she didn't care about him.

"That's right. She doesn't care." the voice added.

Ryu shook his head. He had to stop listening to that voice! His friends and family did not want him gone. He couldn't just give up with out a fight.

The darkness around him was once again replaced by the scene at the temple. Ryu held his head between his hands.

"Stop it!" he finally said as he fell to his knees. He shut his eyes. "Stop using this against me!"

---------------------

The occupants of Ryu's room watched as the tentacles would recede to his legs and then back up to his abdomen. At least, it seemed, he was finally fighting back. They saw his face scrunch up like he was in pain. Although he looked like he was in pain, it relieved them that he was showing some type of reaction. It was better than having him lay motionless. Yuna quickly ran out of the room. Ryu needed one more push and she knew just who to go to for it.

----------------------------

Rikku and Paine where sitting comfortably in silence when Yuna burst in. Paine stood up as did Rikku.

"Come with me!"

"What's wrong?" Paine asked.

"Ryu needs your help!"

That was all they needed for them to get moving to Ryu's room. Once there, they were shocked to see Auron calm as ever. It was like being alive was no big deal to him. Auron motioned for them to approach Ryu's bed. Shaking off the shock , they did so. That's when they noticed the tentacles.

"Ansem is trying to take him." Kai said. "Should he succeed, he will use Ryu's body for whatever purpose he has."

"What can we do?" Rikku asked. It seemed like there wasn't much they could.

"He needs a little support."

Paine and Rikku turned to a man that looked like and older Ryu.

Auron nodded. "Fighting the darkness within one's heart it possibily one of the hardest battles ever. Your fighting the doubts and fears buried deep within the heart. Sometimes, it wins out over the light.Let him know that you're here for him so that he can find the strenght to fight."

The two girls nodded. Paine walked up first. She was hesitant to say anything because she could not find the right words. She was not known to be the cheerleader type.

"Ryu...I'm not really good at this, but you are not weak. You have shown us on more than one occasion that your bravery is borderline reckless and that's not necessarily a bad thing."

Paine finished satsified with her statement. She moved over to let Rikku say something. Said Al Bhed walked closer. She rubbed her arm nervously. What could she say to help him? She though back to what Paine told her earlier.

"I dont' hate you." She began "So just come back...please."

---------------------------------

Ryu's eyes snapped open. He let go of his head and stood up. She didn't hate him. Even after knowing what he did, she didn't hate him. None of them did, otherwise, they would not make an attempt to reach him.

"Don't believe a word they say!" the voice said a bit more panicked. "It's all a lie!"

Ryu glared at the darkness around him. "Shut up! I think the one telling lies is you...Ansem!"

The white haired man appeared in front of him. Ryu smirked at the man.

"So, thought you could drive me to the darkness by using my memories against me. Well you got another thing coming."

With a quick movement, he grabbed Ansem's neck.

"I will not turn to the darkness." he gave his neck a squeeze. "My friends an famiy need me and I'll be damned if I let them down. I'll be damned if I let myself wallow in my self-pity ever agian!"

With that he landed a kick at Ansem's stomach and watched him fade. At that instant a blinding white light dissolved the darkness.

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Everyone in the room held their breath. The dark tentacles had retreated to his feet. Then they suddenly dissappeared.Ryu groaned and blinked several times to let his eyes adjust to the light. At first everything was blurry, but after a few moments he could make out a face. He let himself smile a little.

"Hey...Rikku."

Said girl couldn't keep herself together and proceeded to hug the life out of him. Everyone in the room let out the breath they were holding. Maya and Karen then proceeded to help Rikku hug the life out of their brother.

"I'm glad your okay."

Ryu managed to get the girls to let go so he could see the person addressing him He gawked at the person who spoke to him. He had the right to when that person resembled himself. He noticed the women that stood next to him. The smiling women reminded him of Karen. All this could only mean that these people where his parents.

"Well, he is your son." said a gruff voice.

Ryu though for a moment that he might go into shock. Standing before him was Auron, the Legendary Guardian that was suppose to be dead.

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AN: I bet you weren't expecting that, were you? More will be explained in the next chapter. So if you want more action you will have to wait for at least two more chapters, but after that it will be an all out action packed war against Ansem and Sephiroth! Whoops, maybe I should have kept quite...about the war part.

Rikku:Waaaa, I'm sorry Ryu!

(Rikku cradles Ryu's unconcious body.)

DT: Oh, yeah, Rikku managed to get into the room and beat the living day lights out of Ryu. Now she feels bad and is inconsolable. She'll get over it eventually. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. You should review and tell me just how much you liked it. I'll try to get the next chapter done as soon as I can. Check my profile for updates if you need to know what's going on or send me a message. Either is fine. Later!