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Kairi entered the dining hall with a nervous grace. Riku was with her, but the fact did little to calm the Princess of Heart. Her hands shook as she looked at the many guests, all of them jovial, and none of them kind. Maleficent greeted her, and she held the witch's gaze with defiance and indignation.

As she was seated, Kairi looked around for Sora eagerly. Riku smiled and lay a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he knew you were here the moment you stepped foot in the castle.. Give him some time to locate us."

Maleficent smiled devilishly as she watched Sora's Light. The girl had tenacity and spirit, not to mention that she was one of the Princesses of Heart. She was the llink that rooted the Keybearer to his deepest memories, his tether to the Realm of Light, and his true love, though the boy had no idea what the word itself entailed. Such an asset was not to be lost, nor turned aside. Through this girl, the witch knew true control over Sora lay. The closer Sora was to Kairi, the less likely he was going to be prone to rebel in later days. One such as Sora would not be leashed and cowed for long without incentive, no matter the contract.

"I do believe I have a change of plans for our bothersome brat." She remarked to Jafar as Sora scampered as fast as his feet would carry him to his Light.

Kairi flung herself at him and gave him a hug, her joy clearly flowing out of her being with the tears she shed as she clutched her hero's broad shoulders "Sora! Oh Sora you're alright!"

Sora smiled wide, but then shook his head and clutched at his throat. Kairi nodded, her hand stroking his back lovingly "I know I know. You can't speak because they took your voice. But you're alive...unhurt...still you. Aren't you?"

Sora nodded, gathering her in his strong arms and holding her close. His body shook with pure relief. She was safe. That's all that mattered. Everything he'd suffered up to that point was worth this realization...this proof. His love, his Light...was safe. He threw a look to the witch of warning, wich she was expecting, for she laughed at him and waved off his threat.

"Oh relax my pet. I keep my bargains. No harm will come to the girl. At least, as long as you stay...managable."

Sora grit his teeth, the first growl of an actual defiant threat against Maleficent herself in his throat as he pulled Kairi closer to him.

Riku smirked "If he could talk, I think Sora would be saying that regardless of his actions, it's within your best interest to leave Kairi alone."

Jafar made an indignant snort "Why that little-"

"Relax, visier." Maleficent chuckled "The keyblade master makes a fair point. The princess of heart will not be harmed, even after the time of truce has ended, as I do not want to trigger rebellion in my pet."

"Yes, I've been meaning to ask you about that." Riku said thoughtfully, peering into the glass of water that sat in front of him. "You and I, though I hate to bring this up, have an...understanding, do we not?"

Intregued, Maleficent tore her eyes away from Sora and his Light to look at the boy she had once manipulated so easily. But those days were past. She saw in Riku a strength of will and power over the Darkness that the child hadn't had during his first adventure. Riku had grown, and she felt as if he deserved a bit of respect."Yes, in a sense."

"Then tell me straight out. After the three weeks are up, are you going to kill Sora?"

The witch sighed "Well that was the initial plan ;ess of wether you honored the bargain or not, Sora was going to perish eventually. But now I feel my revenge would be sweeter if I keep him as he is for always. Of course your real question is what will happen...to all of you at the end of this, am I correct?"

The boy shrugged "Actually, I figured you'd dispose of me and Sora's Nobody, since technically we pose the most threat to your initial plans. You have to keep Kairi alive for the plain reason that she's a princess of Heart, and therefore valuable to you. Not so with her Nobody. She's of no use to you, so you'd dispose of her too."

"Quite the strategist you've become, dear boy." the witch snickered, "You have grown. I have to admit, you are partially correct. Or would be, if another idea had not sprung to mind the instant I decided to allow Sora to live. On the last day, I shall reveal my plans for you. I truly haven't thought through my new plan yet. Be patient Riku. Your future remains unclear. Suffice it to say...there may be no deaths in store. At least not for those closest to Sora."

"You don't fill me with a ton of confidence." Riku said snidely "If you were hoping to make me uneasy, you definitely still excell at that."

Maleficent gave a cackle "My boy...grown as you are, I do take pleasure in the knowledge that I can, on some level, manipulate your emotions still."

"I bet you do." The boy groaned "And I still fall for it."