Chapter 22: Deep Anxiety

"Kairi!" Riku exclaimed, relieved, shocked, and slightly embarrassed.

"Riku!" Kairi said, sounding just as shocked, relieved, and embarrassed.

"Sorry," Riku muttered, the dark corridor closing behind him. "Namine opened the corridor for me… She could have warned me where-" he trailed off, biting his tongue. "Anyways, it's good to see you!"

"Yeah," Kairi said slowly.

A slightly awkward silence passed. Riku scratched the back of his neck. Kairi just sat there.

"Riku…" Kairi whispered after a moment, turning to stare at the ground. "I think we have a problem…"

"Hmm?" he asked. "About what?"

"Sora…"

Riku raised his eyebrows, suddenly curious. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "What about Sora?"

Kairi nervously fingered a strand of her hair. "I'm getting really worried about him…"

Riku sighed. He knew she was talking about the darkness Sora was throwing himself into. He rubbed his head; this wasn't a subject he liked talking about. But Kairi was probably the most worried out of all of them, and he scolded himself for not thinking about that before now. "I know… he's throwing himself into darkness…"

Kairi shuddered slightly at that, and Riku winced. He probably could have worded that better.

"You've dealt with the darkness, Riku," Kairi said after a moment. "Do you think he'll be alright?"

Riku shook his head, laughing slightly. "I don't know. Sora tried to ask a similar question. But the thing is, you can't compare us. I'm just a replica, I didn't choose the darkness, I was created this way. Sora's chosen the darkness, though, and-" Riku shrugged, indicating that he was clueless on this matter.

Kairi sighed. She had hoped that Riku would be able to show her that there was some other way. But it was pretty clear. Sora was deep in a darkness that he probably wouldn't be able to escape. She quickly wiped away the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes.

Riku watched her sadly, feeling worse by the second. "I'm sure Sora will be able to find his way," he said quickly, trying to cheer her up. "It might just take him some time… You can't give up on him."

"I know," Kairi muttered. "Namine keeps telling me the same thing."

Riku laughed. "Same here."

Kairi smiled at him for a second, and then turned away. "It's not just that…" she said quietly. "I've overheard what they've been planning, too…"

"And what would that be?" Riku asked, a small pang of guilt piercing through him. He felt slightly insensitive about pressing her on this, but the information was probably important.

"I don't know… Maleficent was talking about something called Kingdom Hearts… and a Keyhole…" she shrugged. "I didn't catch all of it. I wasn't really paying attention. But apparently Kingdom Hearts will allow her to rule the worlds."

Riku shuddered. "That doesn't sound pleasant…"

Kairi shook her head.

"How does Sora fit into all of this?"

"Something about a Keyblade…"

Riku nodded. He understood that. If there was a Keyhole, the Keyblade would most likely be needed. He groaned, shaking his head. "Sora is such an-" he paused, and then looked up at Kairi. "Do you mind if I call him an idiot?"

She said nothing, but the look in her eyes told him that she'd rather he didn't.

"Well, he's being really stupid at the moment," Riku laughed. "Maleficent's probably just going to dispose of him once she no longer needs him." He shook his head. "Don't ask how I know that," he muttered. He didn't know why he did. But it was that same little thing at the back of his mind that had recognized the name "Ansem" and "Hollow Bastion" that was telling him this. And it sounded right.

"I'm really scared, Riku," Kairi said. "I just-"

Everything was a blur. He heard Kairi scream, and then next thing Riku knew, he was against the wall. And an extremely angry Sora was holding him there. He gasped, as Sora's grip in his shoulder was really tight.

"Sora!" Kairi gasped. "What are you doing!"

If Sora heard her, he didn't show it. He continued to glare at Riku. "Why are you here?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"I was just talking to Kairi," Riku said slowly, trying to remain calm.

"You're trying to get in the way!" Sora accused.

"Am not!" Riku replied, anger growing by the second.

Sora wouldn't listen to reason. He was barely listening at all.

"Let go of me!" Riku gasped, but Sora's grip only tightened. Angry, and as annoyed as heck, Riku shifted into dark mode and shot Dark Firaga. Sora went flying, and Kairi gasped. An odd sense of déjà vu went through Riku, but he ignored it. He was too busy watching Sora, whose form flickered and changed, and an aura of darkness surrounded him.

Riku gasped as Sora struggled to his feet. Sora just-

He wasn't given time to finish that thought, for at that moment Sora leaned back and shot Dark Firaga at him. Kairi gasped again, and Riku quickly rolled out of the way. "Sora!" he gasped, shocked. Anger flared up inside him. Sora had just- had just-

Just gone into dark mode and shot Dark Firaga at me, his mind was telling him, but he didn't quite want to admit it.

He glanced over at Kairi, and then quickly rushed forward and shoved Sora out into the hall. Kairi watched the two in horror. Riku jumped back, and then pulled out his blade and ran to strike. Sora back-flipped, yes, back-flipped out of the way. He paused, and then turned to look at Riku, eyes cold.

"Riku," he said quietly, summoning his own blade. "If you're going to get in my way, then that makes you my enemy, too."

Riku swallowed, but resumed his fighting stance. His eyes darted over to Kairi and he closed his eyes for a second. So sorry, Kairi, you didn't need to see this, he thought, and then opened his eyes, focusing on Sora.

Kairi screamed and turned away as the two rushed into battle.