Chapter 8--Always and Forever

A/N: Blah. Nothing to say here. Move along.

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"I don't believe this," Axel exclaimed. "Three Keyblade masters?"

"There could even be more," Mizu pointed out, though she was nodding in confirmation. "I don't know how long the Keyblade has been around, or if there were other Masters before these, or if there are others out there who can wield it. There's just so much about the Keyblade that we don't know, it's impossible to say anything for sure."

Axel's eyes grew distant, and he muttered something to himself; something that sounded like a name. Mizu didn't know the man all that well, but she had long ago become adept at reading body language, and she could tell that Axel had something on his mind that was troubling him. She pushed off from where she was leaning against the wall and gently rested a hand on his arm, looking up into his eyes.

"Who's Roxas?" she asked softly.

Axel's eyes focused on her, and for a moment, it was almost as if he wanted to just spill everything to her, but he got control of himself and pulled away.

"I don't have time to explain," he said. "C'mon, we've got work to do."

"Got it," Mizu said, deciding that she'd hound Axel to spill the beans later. "Plans, boss?"

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"Something," Riku said absently, "tastes kind of funny. . . What is it? It's so familiar. . ."

Riku paused a moment, assessing the taste, trying to identify it. When he had it, he felt his spirits sink a little into despair.

"Darkness," he said, his throat tight. "The taste of darkness."

He closed his eyes tightly, as though he could squeeze the memories and the darkness out through them if he tried hard enough.

"What's happened to me. . . The darkness even seeps into my senses."

"Don't you worry, Riku," Mickey said, and Riku's eyes snapped open.

"Your Majesty!" Riku exclaimed as an image of the King manifested itself in front of him.

"What happened to you?" Riku asked, moving closer to his friend. "You're all. . . fuzzy."

"I can only send a little bit of my power here," Mickey admitted. "But I have a request."

"A request?" Riku echoed, not knowing if he should be worried or flattered. "From Your Majesty?"

"Riku," Mickey said, his voice taking on a commanding tone, and Riku found himself taking this "request" to heart, "don't let go of yourself just because darkness has a hold on you. Fight the darkness inside you! It won't be easy. . . But don't forget! Even in the darkest darkness, there's always a little light."

"Light," Riku repeated softly, knowing Mickey was right, and somehow unable to believe it at the same time, "within darkness?"

"You and I have seen it," Mickey reminded him gently. "The far-off, welcoming light inside the door to darkness. . . The light of Kingdom Hearts, Riku - it'll show you the way. Please don't give up. Believe in the light. That's all I ask."

"Okay," Riku said, agreeing to the request only half-heartedly. "I'll try my best."

"Yer best my arse!" Mizu said, glomping Riku from behind. "Don't worry, Mick, if he strays, I'll set 'im right!"

"I'll just bet you will," Mickey said, torn between exasperation and laughter. "And I'll try to find a way to reach you. Both of you. I'll come, I promise."

Mickey held out his hand to Riku, who somehow managed to move his own to accept it even though Mizu was still quite firmly latched around the upper half of his body. But right when he should have felt Mickey's hand in his own, he passed right through, and Riku blinked in surprise.

"You're," he exclaimed, slightly stunned, "an illusion? My hand passes right through you."

"Duh," Mizu muttered, her breath tickling Riku's ear. "I coulda told you that."

"But we shook hands," Mickey pointed out, either ignoring Mizu or unable to hear her, "in our hearts. We're connected, you and me."

"Yeah," Riku admitted, his spirits lifting again. "I guess so."

Mickey smiled at him, then gave Mizu a significant glance before he disappeared.

"I'll get movin' in a minute, slave master," Mizu grumbled, staring at the spot Mickey had been standing in. Kissing Riku on the cheek, she let go and allowed herself to slide to the ground. "You gotta shrink one of these days. It's an Olympic event just tryin' to kiss you!"

"Where have you been?" Riku asked, slightly hurt that she hadn't reappeared before this.

"Catchin' up on gossip," Mizu admitted. Riku gave her a look, one eyebrow quirked up and a disbelieving expression on his face, and she sighed. "Rik', I can't tell you. It would compromise the mission."

"What mission?" Riku demanded. "Why can't you tell me? Where have you been?"

"To answer your questions in order," Mizu said, crossing her arms stubbornly and glaring up at him, "the mission Mickey put me on; because it would make the mission harder than absolutelly necessary, maybe even impossible; and I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"I already answered that one, Riku," Mizu replied. "Look, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything about it. I shouldn't have even spilled as much as I have!"

"You haven't told me anything!" Riku protested angrilly. He was getting a little tired of how he was always the last one to learn anything where Mizu was involved.

"I told you that I was on it and that Mickey's the one who put me on it," Mizu retorted, a hint of anger coloring her voice as well. "That's more info than my opponents need at the moment, thanks! I'm having a hard enough time as it is, without the rest of them finding out what the hell it is I'm up to! And you demanding to know isn't helping any. I want to tell you, but I can't! Let's just leave it at that, alright?"

Riku sighed and gently grabbed her by the shoulders, looking straight into her sea-green eyes.

"At least life with you's never boring," he said, gently laying his forehead on hers.

"I know," Mizu agreed gaily, standing on tip-toe to kiss him on the nose. "Don't worry, it'll get even more exciting down the road."

"I'm doomed," Riku said melodramatically, but he couldn't avoid a teasing grin after saying it. "You're gonna drive me nuts, did you know that?"

"Short drive," Mizu pointed out, stealing a kiss again. "And this is gonna drive you even further towards the brink, but I gotta dash. Just came by to check up on ya and let you know I'm still alive."

"You mean there's a chance you won't be?" Riku asked, immediatelly concerned.

"The sarcasm just bounced right offa ya, didn't it?"

Riku tried to hold back a laugh, but it came out anyway as a snort, and he kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Come back to me," he said, earning a grin from Mizu that was only slightly playful.

"Always and forever," she promised, hugging him quickly before running off.