The Eleventh Hour

By Lynx (of Organization VI)

Rating: Uh, T for Teen, I guess.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or its characters; they belong to Disney and Squeenix, respectively. No money's being made, le cry.

Summary: For Riku, his future was the same as his past.

Notes: Basically, a much more lengthy expansion on a drabble I wrote a month or so back. A lot of the ideas, theories and reasoning I need to credit Rebmakash for, because she's the smart one and thinks up all the cool stuff. I just add a lot of words onto it.

There will be KH2 SPOILERS APLENTY in this fic, so be warned.

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Chapter Nine – THE NINTH HOUR

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TICK

It was finished. Riku had seen it with his own eyes.

He participated a lot less than he thought he had to. He had feared Vexen would need to take all kinds of random samples from him, or prod his mind for information. But Vexen only took limited measurements, seeming to analyze everything from a distance. He barely even had to touch him.

The rest of the time had been spent waiting while Vexen worked. They had very little to contribute beyond cleaning up the laboratory and getting it functioning again. The basements were now the only working section of the entire castle, but remained entirely too cold. Riku suspected Vexen preferred it that way.

On top of the anxiety from waiting, reports were still coming in over the gummi ship intercom of disappearances. Enough people had gone missing from Radiant Garden to stir up the beginnings of panic. A group of men had even threatened to invade the castle, and it was only some fast talking from Aerith and Leon that had gotten them to back down. Even worse, two more worlds had disappeared off the map. Every hour seemed to stretch out and last an eternity.

But Vexen would not be satisfied with a half-finished replica, and he only responded with shouts and thrown objects if one of them interrupted with queries on his progress. So they waited, until several days after first making the request, when Vexen finally came out of his lab willingly. They all jumped to their feet at his approach, and he gave them a satisfied smirk. "It's done."

Without saying a word, all six filed into the laboratory, with Riku leading the way. He stopped in his tracks just barely inside.

It was as if his reflection had stepped out of the mirror and come to life. The replica stood in the center of the room, eyes closed and head bowed slightly as if he were asleep on his feet. Seeing him in the flesh, Riku couldn't help but notice how much Xehanort's similarities came out: the long white hair with parts sticking up, the narrow face, the broad build. The replica was even dressed in some of his spare clothes.

Riku suddenly remembered what it felt like when he'd first seen the original replica, back when he was just fifteen. All the same feelings came rushing back to him in an instant, so thick he thought he'd choke on them: the shock, the anger, the guilt, and the unshakeable sense that something was horribly wrong. Your reflection's not supposed to move and live on its own.

He was so caught up in staring at the other Riku that he didn't even realize the others were with him until Donald spoke up. "Is he even alive?"

Vexen walked around them and stood behind his creation. "He's alive. He'll awake on my command alone. But one he does, I'll have no control over him."

"Gawrsh, he looks just like the real Riku," Goofy commented.

Vexen sounded proud. "He should. He's an exact replica of the real Riku. However, his body, mind and even his heart are completely artificial."

Riku felt Kairi come up beside him. "But he's also supposed to have all of Riku's memories. Does he know that he's not the real one?"

"Well," Vexen looked between the replica and the original as if debating something with himself. "That's up to you to decide."

Sora put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and Riku exhaled slowly. "We'll figure out how to deal with him once we leave," he said with resolution. It didn't sound like Sora was looking forward to it, but Riku was still a little surprised at how readily Sora accepted the whole situation. He felt a little queasy again, and stepped out of the room for a bit of breathing space. Away from the lifelike and lifeless other him.

Sora followed him into the hall. "So all we need to do is find a way to get him to the door Merlin made. He can become Xehanort and we'll fix the time paradox!"

He suddenly whirled on his friend. "Sora, doesn't this bother you? I mean, I know the replica is just a fake person, but he's still a person! And we just created him to take my place. Gave him a life just so we could use it."

Sora didn't answer for a moment, and his shoulders slumped. "I know. I don't want to do this, either. I definitely wish we didn't have to come back here and wake up Vexen. But it's the only way we can fix this mess and not lose you."

He shook his head at the explanation. It would have sounded cruel, but he knew Sora couldn't really feel that way. It was pragmatic, and Riku hated how alike the two ideas really were. "I think I've rubbed off on you too much," he sighed.

"Only in the lengths you'll go for your friends," Sora said with a sad smile.

Riku wasn't sure what to think of that, but decided to take it as a compliment. "Whatever we do, I just don't want the replica to suffer. I don't know what will have to happen to him for him to become Xehanort."

"I think...Kairi, Donald and Goofy and I can just act like he's the real you, and talk him into going to the past. If he thinks he's you, maybe he'll act the same way, too."

He raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Are you sure you can do that?"

Sora didn't seem so sure, but he shrugged regardless. "I can try."

He glanced back into the cold laboratory, where the replica still stood like a broken doll. "Then let's get this done. I don't know how much longer I can stand having another me around."

"Yeah, having one you is enough trouble already!" Sora joked. Riku tried to laugh.

They walked back into the laboratory and prepared to awaken the replica. Of course, this meant that Riku couldn't be present, so he gladly made his exit. Sora, Kairi and the others would take the replica back in the Highwind, while he would follow them back in a smaller, one-man ship. It would be less than half a day before he'd have to come out of 'hiding' and assume the role of Riku again. It won't take long. I'll never even really have to speak with him. It won't be like the last time.

As he ascended the stairs to Castle Oblivion's ground floor, it became harder and harder to convince himself of this. Echoes of the past followed him up the stone steps; shadows of chasing his own shadow. But the memories of those years were being lost in the time paradox, and he wasn't sure how much he really remembered. Did he really fight the replica and win? Did it taunt him with how easily it embraced darkness? Was he ever afraid of it because it was him?

Pieces of myself...I just keep tearing off pieces of myself and throwing them in the dark's path.

He didn't even realize he'd reached the ground floor until Marluxia's overgrown garden caught his eye. He looked back the way he came, and could hear his friends' voices echoing up from the floors below. He knew he had to make himself scarce before the replica appeared, and he marched out the main front door to where the smaller gummi ship was parked. It'll be okay in the end. Sora and Kairi will take care of the hard part. Just don't think too much about it.

But something still wasn't right in his mind. Something in Vexen's smile haunted him and made his skin crawl. It was the same smile he remembered from when he was young. There's something none of us know.

When he reached the gummi ship, it finally occurred to him. If this replica has all my memories, will he remember the things I can't? Will he remember the first replica?

TOCK

He was lost. Lost, and completely alone. The wind was howling in his ears that felt hollow, everything felt hollow. Inside him there was nothing, and he could feel the black winds trying to fill the void inside so that he would never have to feel alone...

Not so alone. Someone or something was chasing him. He didn't know if they were men or monsters, all he knew was that their weapons were sharp and he couldn't move his feet. He needed to run somewhere – an oasis? An ocean. Somewhere where the black wouldn't seep through his pores and into his throat, his lungs.

But then the monsters got him. They grabbed his hair with long, twitchy claws and dragged him down into the sand. He tried to struggle, but their inky flesh just leaked into his. Then he heard their voices, cold and smooth down his spine:

You're nothing.

You're nobody.

A cast-off. An extra. A mistake.

He tried to speak, but the dark was choking out his voice. "No, I'm not! I'm so much more!"

No. You're nothing without us, without this.

Without this, you're just another.

"No, no, I'm more—"

Without you're just another just another just another

-----

"I'm NOT!"

Xehanort lurched forward, and the black dissolved into a soft purple light. The sand was nothing more than soft comforters against his skin. He gasped for breath, taking stock of his surroundings.

The morning sun poured through his bedroom window and filtered through the drapes, eventually landing as warmth on his bed. The bed itself was thick, soft and downy, loaded with too many extra pillows as royal things usually were. His work clothes were folded neatly on a chair by the nightstand. He could hear water babbling in the gardens outside and the steady chime of the clock. Almost eleven.

Just a nightmare. Nothing more.

But the day was already in motion, and he needed to get going. So he tossed aside the covers and chills and set to work putting on the clothes provided for him. They still took a bit of getting used to, but the formality made sense. He glanced in the mirror, and noticed his white hair had been tangled into a mess during sleep. He straightened it long enough to catch his own green eyes in the mirror, and then turned away.

Just as he finished dressing himself, he heard a quick knock on the door. After giving the okay to come in, Ansem entered the bedroom. "Ah, Xehanort. I was wondering if you were up by now."

"I'm anxious to look around the rest of the castle today," he replied.

"Well, I came to tell you that I wouldn't be able to escort you today. I have some affairs with the town committee." Ansem sounded annoyed at the thought. "But after all, you're a grown man, and I'm sure you can look around on your own."

"I'll do that, then," he said. He decided it would be nice for once to just explore without Ansem explaining the extended history of every place they visited. He could make his own observations.

Ansem nodded, his smile warm. "Oh, and one other thing I wanted to ask you in private. I know you've only been with us a short time, but I must say I'm impressed with your improvement after such an experience. I was wondering if you would be interested in becoming my apprentice."

Xehanort's eyes widened. "Apprentice?"

"Yes. I have five young men under my tutelage already, but I could always use more help. And I believe the experiments we're starting will be especially beneficial to you. If you're willing to help, I believe we can recover your lost memories and restore your past."

For the first time since he arrived at Radiant Garden, Xehanort felt truly happy. The feeling warmed him like the sun on his bed, chasing away the blurry afterimages of his nightmares. Here was his chance to know who he really was, to prove his doubts wrong!

"I'd be honored!" He felt like he should say more, but barely got the words out as it was.

Ansem laughed. "I'm glad to hear you say so!" He opened the door again. "We can go over the details later. For now, I must prepare for the meeting."

He couldn't hide the smile any more. "Yes. I shall see you this afternoon!"

------

After a quick breakfast, Xehanort was once again out exploring the castle and surrounding grounds. The castle was busy today, and people bustled about the gardens with all manner of business. He did his best to avoid anything more than simple nods and waves. The last thing he wanted was unnecessary questions ruining his good day.

He first thought he would explore the Great Crest today, but it was too crowded for his tastes, and he didn't appreciate that much sun. So he made his way downward, to the castle's ground level. The Grand Hall, like much of the rest, was crowded with flowers, fountains and shelves of books. A few small computers guarded the doors as well. The computer technology was still a bit new, and hadn't been introduced into the main town yet.

He was so engrossed in his surroundings that he almost tripped over a small body in his path. He stumbled out of the way, only to discover a young girl standing before him. She wore a trim pink dress, and clutched at some stuffed toy, not looking more than three or four years old. Her hair was a deep red, almost wine-colored, and her eyes were an even deeper ocean blue.

She blinked up at him with a toddler's curiosity. "My name's Kairi. What's yours?"

Xehanort felt cheated out of a reply. Suddenly, the promise of the day seemed to be drowned at the bottom of those ocean eyes, and all he could feel was a great and terrible sadness.

It wasn't coming from her, though. Far from it. She seemed different even from the other children he'd seen, as if she was made of light itself. But that light just made all the shadows in him seem all the more dark, just made his faults and imperfections all the more clear. But instead of jealousy or anger, sadness completely overwhelmed him.

I've lost something. She's found it, whatever it is, but I've lost it forever.

He turned around and walked away without even answering her. He could hear her mother calling her back as he walked to the nearest door: the one that led to the lower levels with their sewers and never-used dungeons.

He wasn't even aware of how long or how far he tread. His mind was awash with thoughts, flashes of the red-haired girl that came from the ocean. Is it a memory? Do I know her? Has she known me, and seen me since before I can remember? It was getting colder, and the walls were becoming dank and mossy. It must be a memory. I've seen her before, and yet I haven't! She has what I've lost; she holds the key!

Then he suddenly stopped. He's reached a dead end.

And at the end of the corridor stood a door.

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