Summary: In a world destroyed by the Heartless, Sora enlists in the military to fight the every growing enemy. Between the mental and physical battles, Sora struggles to survive. As secrets are unearthed, Sora realizes he's in serious trouble. RikuXSora AxelXRoxas M for later chapters.

Author's Note: The end of this chapter contains a trigger. Welp, I'm terrible at trying to keep up with anything! Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's! Hope you enjoy this slightly-longer-than-normal chapter. Thanks for staying all this time!

Chapter Six

Xemnas frowned at the unconscious Nobody on the bed. Axel stood straighter as Xemnas whipped his head to him.

"You're lucky he's not dead, otherwise I would be sending you to the afterlife as well. Keep an eye on him. I have a guest waiting for me." Xemnas left Axel frozen in the room.

Hours passed as Axel stared at Roxas. He watched across the room as the blonde's chest moved up and down with a frown.

I could have protected him. I shouldn't have let him fight as much against them...

Roxas' eyes slowly opened as Axel flew to his side.

"Roxas? How are you feeling? You gave me quite a scare there!"

With a look around the room, Roxas sat up. He gave a light punch to Axel's arm. "We don't feel anything, remember?" he chuckled. Axel rolled his eyes and filled Roxas in on what had happened.

"Let's train, Axel. I need to get stronger," Roxas begged as he shifted his feet to the floor. Axel shook his head and pushed his friend back onto the bed.

"No way. You were injured. I'm not taking any chances. We'll train another day."

Shaking his head, Roxas moved the sheets away to reveal his side was normal. As Axel's eyes looked him over, shock flew in his head.

How? There's no way...That Keyblade wound should have taken ages to heal...

"Alright, let's go!" Roxas said with a smirk, but a hand grabbed his wrist. Roxas turned around and saw Axel shaking his head.

"You should be wounded...I don't care. You're still going to rest. If anything were to happen to you right now..."

Roxas pulled his wrist out of Axel's grip. Anger surfaced, much to his own surprise. "I got it! Master Xemnas would kill you. If you won't train with me, I'll find someone else." A huff left his lips as he continued out of his room.

Wide-eyed, Axel watched his friend leave. "No, you idiot...I would be sad." He put a hand up to his chin and looked at his feet.

That was weird...That wasn't Roxas...

Roxas groaned as he paced the empty halls. Why had he gotten so upset? He felt upset that he had lashed out on his partner. His head had been pounding all day. He kept getting weird images.

Footsteps echoed through the hall. Roxas turned to see an older male walking with Master Xemnas.

That's the guy from the cell. Looks like our plan worked.

"Roxas, you're up."

Xemnas paused and walked over to the youngest Nobody. He patted him on the shoulder and grinned.

"Roxas, meet Xehanort. You helped keep everyone distracted while he escaped."

A shiver crept through Roxas. The man radiated negative energy.

I wonder why he was in jail...

"Xehanort, you'll have to excuse Roxas. He's still waking up."

The two walked away and continued to talk.

"He gave you a bad vibe too, Rox?" Axel appeared from the shadows, eyes watching the two turn the corner.

"Axel? I'm sorry about earlier. I just don't want to be weak. I caused you to almost get hurt yourself."

Axel rolled his emerald eyes.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not supposed to feel anything anyway. Be more careful. Got it memorized?" he said with a smirk.

Roxas laughed and walked to his bedroom, finally content.

XxXxX

Sora scowled as he left the medical facility. A week had passed since they had returned. He was sick of being told what to do while having needles shoved in his body. No one had bothered to visit him the entire time he was there. Dr. Leon was unable to determine any of the problems. He was asked to stay for another day, but forced his way through the door. Irritability flowed through him.

He walked out of the deserted building and towards the mess hall. No Riku, but instead saw Kairi and Seifer kissing. There was a time when they had laughed around and kissed.

When was the last time I was actually happy?

Profanity left his lips as he turned the corner and saw Riku training against one of the fake Heartless. Sora summoned his Keyblade and threw it with such force, the fake Heartless disappeared. Riku spun around and moved his disheveled silver hair.

"Glad to see you're finally out. Did the doctor find anything?" muttered Riku as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

Sora shook his head as he summoned his blade back into his hand. "Nothing. All those tests and nothing happened. Thanks for all the visits you made."

You know he was probably busy. Don't get angry.

Riku frowned and made his own Keyblade disappear. He sat down on a nearby bench with a sigh.

"The General just sent news earlier this week that...we're not getting another team. He wants us in a new squad of our own. We're doing recon missions. With the emergence of Nobodies and those two cloaked guys, things have gotten complicated. They need someone that knows the battlefield well. Because you have the uncanny knack for staying alive, he's making you go with me as well."

Sora looked away as frustration spread in him. "Why? Why can't we get at least more people? When do we leave?"

"About a month. The General received some information from another squad. The more people we have, the easier we are to see. The General knows you activated Master Form. He wants you proficient by that time. We start training tomorrow."

Sora grit his teeth, images of his past team floating in his head. "I didn't graduate at the top of my class. I got thrown into your squad with the asshole that fucking beat me in the practical. Watched everyone die. Almost died myself. Lost the only one left of this planet that loved me...to a guy that used to beat the shit out of all the weaker cadets. Saw Isa. Oh, I also have something completely wrong with me and no one knows what to do about it! You haven't visited me once and now you expect me to go with you to run recon?" His voice continued to get louder. Riku stiffened.

He's getting upset already.

"That's the life of a soldier. You knew that going in. Calm down, please," he said softly.

"I thought I'd at least have an appropriate squad size. Jesus, Riku. We always learn about teamwork in the classes. Well, teamwork is the reason Isa beat me. I played my weakest position for the sake of the others and this is where I end up! I end up on the one squad nobody wants to be on! I would have much rather done patrol, but no. Of course my ex, who got the highest practical score, was placed on the safe team."

Riku sighed and turned away.

"I requested to have you on my squad," he whispered.

"ARE YOU SHITTING ME!? Why!?"

"You valued your team more than yourself. I saw you choose the most hated position and tried to protect them. A team that fights often always needs that." Riku stared at Sora's feet. He could feel Sora's rage.

If you wouldn't have requested him, he could be so happy right now. How does it feel knowing that you royally fucked this kid for the rest of his life?

"A TEAM? OR YOU? YOU ARE A REAL PIECE OF-"

Before Sora could continue, Riku got to his feet.

"Sora, please do not make me ask you again. Calm down."

The young soldier grit his teeth as he clenched his fist. The anger kept coming. He didn't know why and couldn't stop it. "Fuck you! You don't even care about the only person who hasn't died yet."

Sora summoned his Keyblade and dashed towards his superior. Riku summoned his in time to block Sora's attack. Riku watched the inhuman speed as he dodged or blocked the attacks. Once Sora almost slashed his neck, Riku grimaced. He had used most of his self-control during Sora's outbreak. He could feel a twitch in his wrist.

Enough is enough. He's going to get someone killed if this keeps up.

With a sigh, he focused his energy and waited until Sora swung again. He deflected the attack and hit the Keyblade out of Sora's hand. As it flew in the air, Riku shoved Sora to the ground and kept his blade pointed at his neck. He let the anger leave his body and turned to look Sora in the eyes for the first time since he showed up and saw the mysterious gold hue. Sora locked his eyes as the gold faded away. Tears filled his eyes as he could see the dark rims around his superior's eyes.

Riku removed his blade and allowed Sora to stand. "You will go to the sleeping quarters and calm down," he commanded.

Sora glanced at Riku's wristbands. "Ri-I mean Major...Your wrists..." he said as he walked towards him. Riku backed away, never taking his eyes off the brunet. Blood trickled down from the left wrist band.

"That was a command," he stated.

Sora hung his head as he went back to the barracks. Riku relaxed and continued his training. He only stopped once the sun disappeared.

You're just tiring yourself, Riku. I could help you get a good night's sleep.

"Shut up," he whispered as he made his way back to his room. When he opened the door, he saw Sora sitting against the wall with his head hung. Riku walked past him and went straight to the bathroom. He peeled the wristbands away with a grimace and put them in the water-filled sink to soak.

Don't be upset because you had to act like his superior. You're so fucked up, he's not going to go after you. Even if he did, would you really want him to be a part of your life? You would just be asking me to take him away.

Gritting his teeth, Riku poured the sterilizer on his cuts. He grabbed the bottle of pain relievers in the cabinet and took a few.

You should get some sleep. Your dreams are wonderful.

Riku exhaled as he bandaged his wrist. He opened the bathroom door to see Sora standing in front of him.

"You can have the bed tonight, Sora. Get some sleep. We'll resume training tomorrow."

"Major Riku, why? When's the last time you slept?"

The Major scoffed and leaned in the doorway. Folding his arms, he let out a sigh. He knew Sora was going to keep pestering him until he got an answer.

Are you going to lie to him and tell him you just got back from a mission? Take the easy way out. Or will you tell him that I'm the reason you haven't slept much? How you were too ashamed to let him see you like this?

"Sora, while we are friends, I am also your commanding officer. Please just go get some sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow."

Oh, I see. You are just avoiding it. Too scared to tell him that I escaped and will come for you. Or perhaps you are scared of him. Of what you suspect is happening and how he'll die...just like the rest of them. You have no idea how to save him.

Sora narrowed his eyes. He could tell Riku had not heard a word he just said.

"Riku, I am really sorry about what I said earlier. I don't even know why I said those things. I just feel so angry all the time and I don't know why."

The older officer stared at Sora. The voice was done for now. He breathed a sigh of relief and straightened his body.

"You tried to kill me, Sora. You could be incarcerated or even executed for that. You need to control your anger."

The shorter male tilted his head in confusion. "Kill you? You're the one who pointed his Keyblade at me! I...said things I shouldn't have. I deserved to be hit."

He doesn't remember? This isn't good. His eyes tell me his being truthful.

Riku's eyes darted to the shelf next to the bed. Will Sora notice it's missing?

"We'll talk about this later, Sora. I need to do something before I sleep."

Sora hung his head and walked to the bed. He flung himself on it and rolled to face the wall. Riku waited until he was asleep to find the contraband Sora had been hiding. He had gone through Sora's items to see if something had been setting him off.

Curious that you took the book, 'Nobodies'.

Riku had read the book once before when he was a cadet. His instincts told him, this would help him find his answer. Going in the other room, he lit a candle and began to read again.

Sora woke to see Riku lying on the floor by the bed asleep. A grin spread across his face.

At least he's asleep.

He quietly got out of the bed and put the cover over Riku. When he closed the door to the room, a rumble came from his stomach.

"Must be time to get food," he whispered. After putting on his uniform, he walked out of the barracks and headed to the mess hall. He had almost missed breakfast, but managed to fly through the doors in time.

He inhaled the food on his tray and sat, satisfaction on his face. When he looked around, a small smile crossed his face. It was the first meal he had eaten in a while. After putting the empty tray on the cart, he went outside and walked around. Kairi and Seifer stood together laughing. For a split second he felt sadness.

"Why do you do this to yourself?"

Sora turned around to see his leader leaning against a bench. He turned back to his ex and watched them. Without looking at Riku, he softly said, "I'm okay with them."

Riku raised an eyebrow and turned to the couple.

"I had time to think last night before you came back. While she was a wonderful friend for a while, this relationship wouldn't have worked. I realize that now. I've seen quite a bit now. Things she wouldn't understand. It would have been incredibly frustrating trying to make her understand everything. There's no way she could handle me now. I wouldn't want to leave her behind anyway. My chances of dying just keep going up. Ever since our team...the first mission...I haven't slept well."

His hands brushed against the bottle in his pocket. Half of the pills were gone. They would need to be refilled soon.

Riku patted Sora's shoulder and beckoned for him to follow.

"I'm proud of you, Sora."

With a scoff, Sora turned and looked at the soldiers around him. "For what? The only things I really feel anymore are fear, anger, and tired."

"That's a good thing. It means you're not dead. Sora, it'll only get harder from here, but I will do my best to try to keep you alive."

The two began to walk towards a training field.

"Don't. It'll only get you hurt or killed."

When the two approached the large dirt area, they summoned their Keyblades. Just as Sora was about to assume Valor form, Riku stopped him.

"Not yet. We will fight with no extra energy."

The two began to spar. The clinks echoed through the air as Riku continued to talk.

"Sora, I want to be honest with you," he said as he blocked a swing from his underling. The brunet blocked Riku's counterattack with a grunt and nodded for Riku to continue.

"You asked when I last slept. My...step-father escaped. "

Sora stopped and let down his blade long enough for Riku to get a hit in. "What?"

Riku nodded and motioned for Sora to continue. "When we got back, I found out he had escaped. I didn't come visit you, because I was...not myself. I was a mess. I'm sorry, Sora. I should have been a better leader and visited you," he said as Sora managed to get through the defenses and cut Riku's cheek.

"Don't worry about it. I was just tired of getting poked with test needles. I would have rather been with...I would have rather been training. I was bored just laying there all day," he huffed as he jumped up to miss a kick.

"I also want you to know that I begged the General to transfer you earlier this week." Sora said nothing, causing Riku to fill in the awkward silence.

"I am against having you in the field in harm's way again. You've been through enough and are still suffering."

Sora grit his teeth and shoved Riku to the ground.

"Why? And you're not? You've been through much more. We're in this together whether you like it or not. I will find your dad and make sure he goes back to jail...or kill him on the spot."

He allowed Riku to stand, who continued attacking him. He smirked at his underling.

"Also...your anger management sucks. You will need to get that under control better if you want to continue working with me," he said as he knocked Sora's blade out of his hand.

"Fair enough," Sora muttered as he watched Riku dismiss his Keyblade. They continued until it was dinner time. Sora was ready to plop on the ground and sleep there. He couldn't believe Riku still had stamina.

"We will train our Master Forms next. We leave in three weeks," he said as he turned to the barracks, sweat covering his body. He smiled to himself and called the end to their training.

Thank you, Sora. You cleared my mind.

Sora watched him disappear around the building and grinned.

I see, Riku. That training was for you...not for me.

XxXxX

Axel and Roxas waited near their own gates. Intel had it that their targets would be approaching soon. Axel was cleaning his weapons when he sensed them approaching.

"About time. Ready, Rox?"

Roxas put his hood over his face with a smirk. He summoned his Keyblades and ran deeper into the trees. Axel followed. Excitement always filled him when he was about to fight.

"Capture them alive. Both are of value to us."

"What a pain," whispered Axel as he watched the two targets talk. The chosen one killed everything he ran into. When Axel looked at the older male, he could see him watching the brunet with cautious eyes.

He's gotten stronger. He's taking everything down without breaking a sweat.

Axel summoned the Nobodies.

"Sora, we must be getting close," Riku stated looking at the sky. It had been two days since they left and knew it would be around this time if the intel was right. Not a whole lot of trouble had found them until now.

The two soldiers wiped out the Nobodies as Axel continued summoning some in front and behind. The plan was working. He was slowly separating the two. Once Axel deemed it safe to proceed, he nodded to the hidden Roxas. Roxas appeared in front of Sora through a portal he had learned to summon.

"You again!? What do you want with us?! Why do you want to kill me so bad?" Sora yelled as he summoned two Keyblades. He saw Riku finishing off the remaining Nobodies.

"Catch me and I'll tell you," Roxas said smugly.

Sora grit his teeth as he ran after Roxas, who had taken off.

"Sora, no!" Riku yelled, before the redhead jumped in front of him.

"Sorry, can't let you pass."

Axel backed away and threw up a wall of fire as he chased after the other two. Riku cursed to himself as the flames blocked his way.

"Dammit, Sora!" he said, panic in his voice.

His hands gripped his weapon as he looked around. Cloaked figures had surrounded him, weapons drawn.

Okay, Riku. Calm down. You can do this.

Focusing his energy on his speed, he began to weave in and out of the figures. It didn't take long to realize they weren't even real. Riku jerked his head as a new person jumped from a nearby tree.

"It's been a long time," the cold voice said.

Riku froze long enough for two new cloaked figures to grab him. They bound his hands behind his back with a chain of darkness. Riku struggled against the darkness but found the fear distracting his ability to move well.

"Well, isn't this a familiar sight," Xehanort expressed as he opened a portal of darkness. The cloaked figures forced Riku through, leaving no trace.

Axel flew threw the trees keeping an eye on his partner.

I don't know what this boy is completely capable of. If he turns into what I saw last time, Roxas could get hurt.

He stopped as he heard the clangs of weapons. Upon running further he saw the two battling. The chosen one was moving much faster, but Roxas stood his ground. Axel joined his friend and realized the target was fighting them off without a struggle.

"They already took your friend. I wonder if they'll let him live or if they'll use him. I'm told Xehanort is very excited to see him after so many years," whispered Roxas.

"Try to get him angry. He can't control the darkness within him yet."

"I bet your dead team meant nothing to you. You left their dead bodies to rot. Your protector isn't here this time to save you. Did he abandon you to die like everyone else? Perhaps your body will join theirs."

"Shut up!" Sora yelled as his attacks accelerated.

Roxas could see the boy's eyes were now almost gold. Once Roxas had begun egging him on, the anger radiated off of the soldier with every word spoken. A flurry of Keyblades swiped through the air at both of the Nobodies. Roxas continued to say things that Master Xemnas told him to antagonize the boy.

"You do know they sent you out here to die. You're broken. Your leader left you to die too. He was definitely strong enough to follow. If he would have trained you better, you would have been able to defeat us last time. "

The words kept going as Sora tried to block them out.

"I SAID SHUT UP!" His eyes were completely gold as he remembered his dead team. He remembered Riku specifically saving him, but no one else. Why hadn't anyone else been able to do the recon missions? Why hadn't they been assigned teammates? The General never gave them a long time to recover. Their building was basically a shack.

A cold grin forced itself onto Sora's face as he threw one of his Keyblades at Axel. The distraction proved well as Sora forced Roxas against a tree.

"That is enough," came the deep voice of their leader. Both of the Nobodies looked up to see their master holding Sora's partner. Sora grinned as he glared at Xemnas. A cold voice spoke from the soldier.

"Master Xemnas. Nice to see you again," Sora said as he continued to hold Roxas against a tree.

"I had thought I saw you make an appearance in this boy," he said as Riku tried to unbind the dark chains that held him. "I guess this boy is not needed then since you are here now."

"He means nothing to me. I suppose this one is yours? He fights well." Sora jerked his head to Roxas, who was lost.

"Snap out of it Sora! I know you are in there."

Riku gritted his teeth as Xemnas pulled him closer. He smiled at the young male and opened a portal.

"Please do not hurt my Nobodies. They are very valuable to me. Come."

Sora shrugged and dropped Roxas and walked after Xemnas. Axel helped Roxas up and watched him enter the portal with a bad gut feeling.

XxXxX

Sora's eyes fluttered open. He saw bars in front of him as he realized he couldn't move much. His hands were bound to the wall.

"Where am I and how did I get here? I don't remember...anythi-"

Screams echoed through the cold white walls.

Riku?

Sora tried to squirm to see further, but was unable as his body was somewhat numb. Footsteps were coming his way.

What are they sliding?

As Xehanort passed by the cell, he sent a nasty grin Sora's way. Sora looked at the bloody bundle being dragged and froze.

"What did you do to him!? Riku!" he yelled as he heard Xehanort throw Riku into the cell next to him. Xehanort made his way back and stopped in front of Sora. He chuckled before answering, "Making sure I pay him back for years of leaving me in that cesspool. Don't worry, he's not dead. Though, I'm sure he wished he was. Master Xemnas will be happy your up. He'll want to talk to Vanitas again." Leaving Sora and Riku alone in the prison, he whistled a merry tune.

"Riku!" he yelled as he continued to try to wiggle his wrists free. No luck. He could hear Riku shifting slightly.

"Sora...don't listen to him. Control...your...emotions..."

"What? What's going on?"

No movement in the cell next to him.

Riku must have passed out.

Hours passed before more footsteps approached. Sora looked up from his boots to see Xemnas standing at his cell. Xehanort had wallked by and dragged Riku back out of his cell.

"What do you want?" demanded Sora. His jaw stiffened as Xemnas approached. Xemnas unlatched Sora from the wall and bound his hands behind his back. He forced the soldier to follow into a room with a two-way mirror. Riku and Xehanort were on the other side. Riku sat, bound, in a chair. His head hung as far as it would go, hair covering his face.

"Call Vanitas, Sora."

"Who? What?"

Master Xemnas gave a coy grin. "I see...you have no idea. Your the vessel I created to help an old friend survive."

"I-I don't follow," Sora said as he kept glancing back at Riku.

"Actually I had Roxas, the blond boy you met, created to house Vanitas. However, something looks like it went wrong and he wound up in you instead."

Sora said nothing. He had no idea what was happening. A vessel?

"Haven't you wondered why your memories don't always add up or why you get angry easily?" Xemnas began to pace around the small room.

"Yes, but I just thought it was just me not...adjusting well," Sora admitted. The man was right. There were many things he couldn't remember. His anger had only been shoved aside, but it was always there.

"That is because my friend, Vanitas, is inside you. So, I will only ask once more. Please let me talk to him."

"I don't know how to do that? I didn't even realize..."

"You had your chance," Xemnas cleared his throat and gave two taps on the glass.

Xehanort walked towards Riku. His mouth moved, but Sora was unable to hear the words. Riku's head jerked up, fear in his eyes. Sora could see he was begging "no".

"I don't know how to call him! Please, tell me how! Don't hurt him!" Sora said looking at the Nobody leader. Xemnas said nothing, but looked back through the mirror. Xehanort had a large needle in his hand and stabbed it into Riku's leg. Sora could hear the screams.

"Stop it!" he begged as he watched Riku try to get out of the chair. Xehanort said something, then punched Riku in the gut.

"What did you inject in him!?" Sora yelled as he tried to find a way to summon Vanitas.

I didn't even know he was fucking in there!? How do I even get him to appear?

"Just a little serum we made. The only drawback is that it does feel like fire when making its way through the body. It's just something to keep him awake. You should know he hates sleeping anyway."

Tears hit Sora's eyes as the screams continued. Xehanort had made cuts all over his body. After what felt like hours, Riku gave up screaming. He felt the rage build.

I'm sorry, Riku. I hope you forgive me for taking so long to figure it out.

"Master Xemnas, would it kill you to unbind me?" Sora looked up with the cold, gold eyes.

"There you are. Don't worry. I found a way to get you out."

"Good. Please try not to kill the kid when you do. I have a couple things to say to him when I get a physical body again."

Xemnas nodded and walked out of the room with Vanitas. He walked to the next room and spoke to Xehanort for a couple minutes.

Riku watched numbly as Xehanort removed Riku's clothes.

"Congratulations on helping us get Vanitas to come back. How about I give you a little present?"

Riku closed his eyes, holding the tears back. He wasn't sure if his body hurt more than his spirit.

I'm sorry I couldn't be strong enough, Sora.

End Note: Be sure to review! It always makes me want to write more when I read them. I hope I sorta made up for making you wait so long. I apologize. :( See you next chapter!