Music suggestions: "Flameheart" by Two Steps from Hell, and "ASAP" (Voice and Choir ver.) by Two Steps from Hell. (They are both on my tumblr under the ch149 tag. Like all music suggestions. All chapters since ch142 have tags on my tumblr. Just so you know.)
Chapter 149: Eight
So what if it's dangerous?
Riku summoned his blade to him as he pounded down the hallways. Excess darkness sparked at his fingertips due to his frustration.
They think I can't handle it?
Do they not know what I deal with almost every frikken day? Do they think I'm not used to danger?
Yeah. Sure. Xemnas is powerful. And?
I bet he'll be a pushover—I've had no trouble fighting anyone in this universe before!
"Riku!"
Riku cast a quick glance over his shoulder and found that Amaryllis had followed him. He groaned and quickened his pace.
"I don't need you!" he called. "And don't think you can stop me!"
He started to form a dark corridor around himself, but paused. The computer on the 13th Floor was corridor-proofed, wasn't it? He swore under his breath and opened a dark corridor in front of him with a flick of his wrist. Amaryllis started to shout something behind him, but Riku didn't hear. He'd already stepped through the dark corridor.
It opened up a few Floors higher—he'd have headed straight to the 13th Floor or even the 12th Floor, but Amaryllis would've been expecting that. Right? He wasn't sure. He didn't care. With another flick of his wrist, he opened up another corridor in front of him—this one should take him another few floors higher.
What is Vexen playing at, anyway? he thought, as he went through this dark corridor. Acting like he cares about me—where did that come from? Since when has he ever cared about me before!?
Riku threw some of the excess darkness that was growing around him to the side, hoping to expel some of it. The satisfaction of it hitting the ground only made matters worse, it seemed. His darkness only grew more eager.
Riku decided to ignore his possible darkness problem, and directed his thoughts to continuing his rant about Vexen.
And why does he think it's so dangerous, anyway?
I bet he's just scared of Xemnas—he seemed pretty worried about the idea of Xemnas Replicating himself, after all.
Well, news flash, Vexen: I'm not scared!
I've never been scared of anything!
That was a lie. He was scared of a few things. But he certainly wasn't scared of Xemnas.
He opened another dark corridor in front of him and walked through. This one let out about three rooms away from the Computer Room—the closest he dared go for fear of running into something that was corridor-proofed. He didn't want to lose momentum.
He could use his anger and the darkness it brought to his advantage.
Because, unlike you, Vexen, I. Fear. Nothing.
The words—had they been spoken aloud—would've left his lips with loathing; carefully articulated with his bitterness. Because wasn't that what Vexen told him? From day one, Vexen had taught him that he had no need for fear. Why should that change now? Why should he not do something because Vexen was afraid?
He pushed his way through the door at the end of this room, and was surprised—and annoyed—to find Amaryllis standing in the next room, waiting for him. He readied his blade, pausing.
"Don't think I'm going to stop just because you're standing in my way," he said.
"I'm not here to stop you," Amaryllis replied. "I'm here to help you."
"I don't need your help!" Riku snapped.
"I'm sure you don't," Amaryllis said. "But, maybe, I need to distract Axel while you go after Xemnas? There's no sense in letting Axel wear you down before you go fight Xemnas."
Riku thought about it for a moment. Amaryllis… did have a point. If he had to fight Axel, and if fighting Axel wasn't easy, then he'd be going into a battle with Xemnas worn out, if not injured. Even with his confidence, Riku knew that this would be a bad idea. He nodded curtly, lowered his blade, and walked past Amaryllis.
"Let's go."
xxx
"How much longer, huh?"
26 looked up, shocked. "Axel! The door!"
Axel'd completely left the doors unguarded to come and check on the not-even-in-first-stages-of-programming Roxas. For the second time. In fifteen minutes. 26 was surprised Xemnas hadn't said anything about it. Though, besides standing there and quietly overseeing this project, Xemnas hadn't really done much else. Not that 26 minded—in fact he'd rather not be disturbed while he was working, and if Xemnas wasn't going to disturb him, he wasn't going to complain.
He just wished Xemnas would do something to make Axel actually do his job.
"Oh, come on, like anyone's actually going to come up here," Axel said, rolling his eyes. "They're all too scared!"
"Hmph. Why don't you tell that to Riku?"
Axel's half-grin fell. "Hmm?"
"He's on his way up here," 26 said. He couldn't help but smile at Axel's discomfort for some reason.
Axel threw up his hands in defeat. "I'm going, I'm going!"
"Don't let them pass," Xemnas said.
The half-grin—perhaps the more appropriate term would be smirk—returned to Axel's face. "What? Do you think I'm stupid?"
He headed out the door.
xxx
Axel was waiting for them, casually leaning against the door frame of the doors that lead to the computer room—doors which were closed, but not locked. Riku grimaced slightly at the sight of Axel—he'd been hoping Axel was distracted—but tried not to let it bother him too much. Hopefully the plan would work and he'd be able to slip past Axel just fine. In fact, the doors were even open a crack…
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Axel called. He didn't do anything else. He just continued to stand there, looking kind of smug.
"Get out of my way!" Riku said, baring his blade. The less fighting he had to do, the better. But he was perfectly prepared to just launch himself at Axel and shove his blade through his gut. That'd end things pretty quick, wouldn't it?
"No, I don't think I can do that," Axel said, pushing himself away from the wall and positioning himself directly in front of the doors. "See, I put a lot of effort into this. I'm not having you ruin it for me. Besides, if you screw things up, I'm going to be in a lot of trouble."
"And why is that?" Amaryllis asked.
"Well—"
"I don't want to hear it!" Riku shouted, charging at Axel. "Now get out of my way!" He leapt into the air, bringing his blade down on Axel. Axel teleported about three feet to the left. Riku's feet touched the ground.
He'd missed Axel.
But Axel was no longer blocking the doors.
Riku straightened and turned towards Axel. No need to tip Axel off to his plan right away. He'd just have to move at exactly the right moment…
Axel summoned his chakrams. Amaryllis swung his scythe at Axel. Axel blocked. Riku darted towards the doors.
He shoved one door open and stepped into the Computer Room—
Something grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. A fist. Xemnas's fist. Riku's eyes went wide in shock, his feet leaving the ground. He only had time to catch the look on Xemnas's face; Xemnas was smirking, eyes glinting. Then Xemnas threw him aside, like he were nothing more than a rag doll.
Riku's blade flew out of his grasp. He tried to grab onto something to stop himself from falling, but he'd already hit the ground. He bashed his head so hard that his vision blurred, then skidded across the ground, stopping only when he hit the opposite wall.
Riku didn't move. He was still processing what happened.
He just—
I didn't even—
NO!
No, there was no way that just happened. No way he wasn't strong enough to take Xemnas. Not now. Not now, when he was so much stronger than he used to be.
Just because he threw me across the room doesn't mean anything. I can take him. I am strong enough to take him.
I have to be strong enough to take him.
He got to his feet and started running. He screamed. Donned dark mode. Summoned his blade back to him.
He wouldn't let himself be too weak to face Xemnas. He would not let it happen.
He was going to fight Xemnas and he was going to win.
Forget Axel. Xemnas. I just need to go after Xemnas. I am strong enough to take him. I'm—
"Oh no you don't!" Axel shouted.
Riku stopped. A wall of fire flared up in front of him, stopping him from getting any closer to the door to the computer room. He turned to face Axel, frustrated, angry, not sure what to do with the emotions raging through him right now.
He decided not to think too much about it and charged up Dark Aura.
Fine, Axel. I'll fight you if I have to. It won't be hard. I'm strong. I'm strong enough. I can take you. It'll be a piece of cake.
So what if Xemnas threw me across the room?
I wasn't paying attention.
He caught me by surprise.
It doesn't mean anything.
It doesn't mean anything.
It was hard to convince himself of that when Axel'd avoided half of the attack. He kept teleporting out of the way.
I am still perfectly capable of taking him. Perfectly- perfectly capable.
With the Dark Aura finished, and Axel for the most part un-damaged, Riku was very rapidly losing confidence. He couldn't remember any time when a Dark Aura hadn't been at least relatively successful. Except, maybe back in the other universe, but- but honestly those memories weren't very clear to him anymore.
No. I am strong enough. I have always been strong.
He threw Dark Firaga at Axel. Axel blocked with ease. Amaryllis moved in to attack Axel.
What are you talking about? a voice in the back of Riku's head whispered, almost laughing. You could never beat Sora. He was always stronger than you. So was Real Thing.
Why is anyone here any different?
Riku quickly shook those thoughts out of his head.
No—
I can do this. I can do this!
He launched himself at Axel, bringing his blade down, but again Axel blocked the attack. Riku growled and back-flipped away from Axel. Axel just laughed, smirking, and then tossed his chakrams at Riku. Riku brought up his blade to block, but the first chakram hit with more force than he was expecting. He staggered, and while caught off balance, the second chakram hit him and knocked him back. He landed roughly on his butt.
"What's your problem, eh Riku?" Axel called. He seemed to be enjoying this. "You seem a bit slower than usual."
Ugh, why am I not strong enough!? Why am I—
Axel threw two flaming chakrams at Riku. Riku rolled out of the way, getting to his feet and then dodging the pillars of fire that Axel sent at him.
Shake it off, Riku, shake it off. It's okay. You were just expecting it to be like Xigbar's bullets. This isn't Xigbar. This is Axel. Swap your mindset. It's alright.
You've got this.
Don't panic.
You're perfectly strong.
Axel and Amaryllis were fighting, now. Amaryllis swung his scythe at Axel, but Axel dodged and retaliated by throwing his chakrams at Amaryllis.
Riku narrowed his eyes, trying to get himself to focus.
C'mon, you can take Axel.
Just need to… do something less predictable.
"Burn, baby!" Axel shouted. Riku looked up, but the large fire attack was directed at Amaryllis, not at him.
What about your darkness? Your weapon. Use that!
Yes, good. Good idea.
He tried to summon darkness to him, but he only managed to summon a little before it fizzled out. He stared at his empty hand, shocked.
What? No. Why isn't it working?
He tried again, but no darkness came.
It was working fine just a few minutes ago!
It was frikken eager, wasn't it?
He took a step backwards, away from the battle (Amaryllis and Axel were still fighting, completely ignoring him for the most part). He bit his lip until it bled, trying to concentrate and pull the darkness to him.
What, am I not strong enough for the darkness, now?
Am I too weak for it, too!?
This was getting really frustrating. He didn't need any more reasons to doubt himself right now.
"Come on," he muttered, trying again to push the darkness that he knew was inside him out so he could channel it. "Come on. Come on!"
Good, there it is!
Finally.
He fueled his frustration—along with his anger and whatever else he was feeling right now—into the attack, gathering darkness, before throwing it all at Axel. Amaryllis flinched away. Axel only barely got out of the way in time, and from the look of things, the darkness still scraped his side. He hissed in pain.
Riku allowed himself a small satisfied smile.
Alright. Good.
Frustration feeds darkness. Darkness is power.
You were perfectly frustrated—perfectly angry—when you came up here.
What were you angry about?
Axel retaliated by summoning a large amount of fire and sending it all at Riku. Riku just threw up his hand, summoning a wave of darkness to shield himself. It absorbed the brunt of the blow, though the force of it still caused Riku to skid backwards a few paces.
Vexen.
That's right.
He thinks I'm not strong enough. Not good enough. That I can't face Xemnas on my own.
And he is wrong!
Riku took a second to move away from the wall. He was close enough to it that if he had to retreat any further he'd be cornered.
He was feeling relatively better now. He summoned more darkness and threw it at Axel. Axel blocked it, but, hey. What could you do?
Vexen's just getting to me. I can't believe I let him get to me!
Of course I'm fine.
Xemnas just caught me off guard, that's all.
It happens to everyone.
I'm perfectly strong.
Riku launched himself into Helm Split. Darkness surrounded him, and he leapt into the air, quickly striking down at Axel one, two, three times. A familiar pattern. Strengthened by his new darkness.
And to make things better, Axel couldn't block the attack and, for some reason, didn't manage to avoid it, either. Riku wasn't complaining.
See?
You're doing just fine.
Axel lunged at him, swinging his chakrams. Riku jumped backwards, easily evading the attack. He rushed forward, slicing past Axel.
"That all you got?" he whispered, grinning.
There was the rhythm he'd fallen out of. He'd found it again. He was doing just fine. Doing just fine.