Chapter 168: The Threat
Sora grunted in annoyance, trying his hardest to finish off this Tentaclaw. His magic was running low, otherwise he'd just blast it with Fire a few times. So, hack and slash it was.
He thought he was doing alright, when Roxas came over and slashed through the Tentaclaw. It died almost instantly.
Sora lowered his Keyblade, glaring at Roxas. Then his eyes went wide. Roxas had two Keyblades. That black one he'd been wielding, and then that white blade which Sora's had turned into when he'd let Roxas borrow it.
Sora checked. It wasn't his blade. He was still holding that.
He looked up at Roxas. "Since when can you—"
"Not now!" Roxas interrupted. "Later. Right now we need to finish thing off!"
Sora sighed. He wanted to know where Roxas had gotten the second Keyblade. And he wanted to know why Roxas had stopped with that shiny light attack he'd been doing earlier. It had looked pretty effective. Sora couldn't fathom why Roxas would've stopped using it.
Oh well. It didn't matter. He was just supposed to finish of the Tentaclaws. Roxas was going to deal with the rest.
Sora gripped his Keyblade with both hands, aiming it at the nearest Tentaclaw. He had enough magic for at least one blast of fire.
"Wait!" Roxas shouted, nearly knocking the Keyblade out of his hands with his haste.
Sora groaned and pulled his Keyblade out of Roxas's reach.
"What?"
"I have an idea," Roxas said. "You can do Curative magic, right?"
Sora raised his eyebrows. Curative? What kind of word was—oh. It probably meant…
"Like, Cure?" He nodded. "Yeah…"
Of course he could do Cure. Nothing special like Cura or strong like Curaga, but a simple Cure wasn't out of his reach.
"Then save your magic for that," Roxas ordered. "I can do a desperation attack that should finish this thing off. But I need to get pretty low on health to activate it, and it won't do anyone any good if I die right after starting it." He laughed, like he was making a joke of some sort.
Sora didn't find it nearly as funny.
"So, you want me to Cure you, then?" he asked.
"Yeah. But only after I start it."
Sora sighed. "How will I know—"
"It'll be obvious," Roxas assured him.
Sora rolled his eyes. Like that was really helpful.
It wasn't.
"What do I do after I've Cured you?" Sora asked, as Roxas headed over to attack one of the two remaining Tentaclaws.
"Help me out, of course!" Roxas called, grinning as he swiped through the Tentaclaw with his blades.
It wasn't fair.
Why did Roxas get two blades?
Why can't I—
Sora tried to summon a second blade to him—maybe it'd work, it's not like he'd ever tried before. None came. His head was pounding. His heart was pounding.
Why do I feel so sick?
"Are you going to help or what?" Roxas called. He was pounding on the Tentaclaw, one blade after the other, never stopping. Sora didn't see how he could help, but he went over to the other Tentaclaw. Might as well wear it down for Roxas.
It isn't fair.
He'd only dealt maybe three blows to the Tentaclaw before Roxas had destroyed the other one. Sora gritted his teeth, trying to ignore his pounding ears and racing heart. So what? Roxas was better than him? He'd probably been doing this for longer.
It was nothing, really.
Really.
One of Roxas's blades came flying over, slicing through the Tentaclaw with such force Sora was surprised it didn't break in half. Roxas was running after his Keyblade, and caught it as it came boomeranging back to him.
Sora tried not to think too much about it, and continued hacking away at the Tentaclaw. To his surprise, Roxas had gone off to engage the Leechgrave instead of helping him destroy the Tentaclaw.
Probably to get ready for that desperation attack… Sora thought.
Of course, if he wasn't low enough on health, then he wouldn't be able to use it.
It's a double-edged sword.
Like the darkness.
Useful, but potentially deadly.
Sora shook his head. The pounding was growing stronger. And now there was a buzzing in his ears. He wanted it to stop. He wanted it to—
The Tentaclaw died, all of a sudden, and the Leechgrave collapsed.
"Now, Sora!" Roxas called.
Not even thinking about it, Sora cast Cure and directed it at Roxas.
Roxas was attacking the Leechgrave furiously, light exploding from his blades with every hit. Sora ran over, prepared to help, but the light Roxas was sending out was practically blinding, and it made the buzzing in his ears even worse. Taking another step seemed impossible. He felt like he'd collapse.
He summoned his strength and sent a blast of Fire at the Leechgrave. It seemed to do something. He tossed his Keyblade at instead, like Yuffie'd taught him too. It hit its mark, but it certainly didn't do as much damage as what Roxas was doing.
Roxas had jumped into the air, blades pressed together, burning with light. Light rained from the sky, crashing down on the Leechgrave. Sora leapt back, before any of the attack could hit him.
All this light's making me dizzy…
Finally, Roxas dropped from the sky. His feet hit the ground, then his blades, then his knees. He looked ready to pass out. But the Leechgrave was dead, and it disappeared in a burst of light. Sora staggered towards Roxas. He should probably help him…
He's probably fine.
Look at the way he killed that thing. …it was a Heartless, right?
Roxas pushed himself up, eyes fixing themselves on Sora. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a hi-potion. "Here," he said, pushing it into Sora's free hand. Sora stared down at it in shock.
"Talk about déjà vu," he muttered.
He's obviously fine.
Roxas chuckled, pulling out a hi-potion for himself.
"You looked a little shaky, that's all." He laughed. "Not that that was too hard, was it?"
He never has trouble with the Heartless. One swipe of his Keyblade and they're dead.
Sora uncorked the bottle with his teeth. He was still gripping his Keyblade tightly. He couldn't let go of it. He didn't want to let go of it. He poured the hi-potion down his throat.
Why was I here again?
His head was still pounding. Was he shaking? No? He felt like he was.
Why was I—?
His eyes fixed on Roxas.
Get rid of the threat to the Heartless.
Sora's chest felt like it was on fire. He could hardly think with how hard his pounding. What was going on? He felt sick.
The shattering of glass just barely broke through the buzzing in his ears.
He blinked a few times, trying to clear his head and figure out what had just happened. Roxas was staring at him, eyes wide with shock. He didn't look scared. Just surprised. Angry.
Sora looked at his hand. Was it shaking? But there was something sticky on his fingers—
Roxas's hi-potion!
He'd knocked it out of Roxas's hands…
And now he was raising his Keyblade…
I feel sick.
Roxas is shout…ing but I can't… hear him…
It's all… a buzz…
It's all…
He felt his arm swing down to strike Roxas, and it all went black.
xxx
The scene was all too familiar. White walls. White floor. White ceiling that was way out of their reach. They were sitting in one of the empty rooms somewhere on the… Twelfth floor? He couldn't remember. But they were sitting on one of the higher platforms, right on the edge, feet dangling off the side.
Him, and…
Namine.
But… that wasn't—
"Riku, why do you…?" she trailed off. Her voice was kind enough, but she said his name like there was something wrong with it, and she wouldn't look at him either. He tried to ignore these things, just like he always did. It's not like she was really, honestly, ever much happy. Not even around him.
Why are we here again?
Oh, yeah. We snuck away. Someone will come looking for us soon…
"Why do I what?" he asked, gently.
She shrugged, hopelessly. "Do… this. For me."
"Because I promised I'd protect you," he replied, simply. "Promised to… make you smile."
Right…
Oh, my heart feels heavy.
There was more to the promise than that. He knew that. Maybe she did, too. But… no, it was stupid.
I was so stupid.
"Of course," she whispered, voice catching as she turned away. Her hair fell to cover her face. She was shaking slightly.
His heart wrenched.
She's done this before…
But… why would she be crying now?
Gently, he reached out and brushed her hair aside. Sure enough, those were tears in her eyes. He bit his lip, but slowly wiped her tears away. She shuddered under his touch, and he quickly pulled his hand back, fingers balling into a fist.
Idiot.
"Did I- did I do something wrong?" he stammered.
She didn't reply. She just got to her feet and walked a few paces away from him. "I'm going back," she said. Her voice was shaking. "The Organization's going to be upset—"
"So?" he laughed, relaxing a little—I shouldn't have—"They aren't going to hurt you."
"They'll hurt you!" The desperation in her voice hurt. The fact she didn't even turn to look at him even more so.
He rose to his feet, shrugging, blowing it all off. "I don't care. They can punish me all they want. I'm not going to stop spending time with you." He grinned at her, slightly annoyed, but only slightly. She was only worried about him, after all. How could he be annoyed at that?
"But I've seen what Larxene does to you," she whispered. "Doesn't that hurt?"
Like hell.
"Well, yeah…" he replied, slowly. "But I'll put up with it."
She was silent for quite some time, trembling. He had a feeling it wasn't with fear…
Finally, she turned to him, furious tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why?" she demanded. "Why, Riku? Why?"
No. No please. Anything but this.
"Well, because…" he began, but trailed off. It was stupid. He couldn't say it. He couldn't…
Could he?
"I'm going," she muttered. She turned and started off, clearly not going to wait for him.
He grimaced, glancing down at his feet.
Could he really?
Don't!
"Because…" he whispered, quietly, to himself.
Don't do it! Please!
Please don't make me go through this again!
Then, in determination, he looked up. His eyes fixed on her retreating form. It was time. Time he told her.
Please…
"Because I love you!" he called.
She stopped then, going rigid. Her entire body was shaking. His stomach churned. He'd misstepped, hadn't he? He must've. Slowly, though, he moved until he was closer to her, reaching out and grabbing her hand.
"I do," he said. "I love you, Namine."
"Riku!"
Namine!
That- that was-
That felt like… when… our minds were connected—
No!
"Namine please, you have to get out of here!"
I don't want you seeing this.
"Riku, I-"
"Go!"
Ohh… I hope she didn't see… I hope she didn't see…
"I'm sorry," Namine—Not Namine. Her.—whispered, shaking her head slowly. "I'm so sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" he asked, dread filling him.
She pulled her hand away and turned around again, though she stepped out of his reach. She looked at him, but didn't meet his eye. "None of this is real," she said. "N- none of it!"
"What are you talking about!?"
You know what she's talking about, idiot.
Her beautiful blue eyes were stained with sorrow. Her face was painted with guilt. His heart tore. He didn't like that look. He hated that look. He wanted to fix it. Make it better. He wanted to—
"You don't love me."
"What?" he choked.
"I'm sorry," she repeated. "But you have the right to know. This, all of this, isn't real. You don't love me. You never have—"
If only that were true…
"Namine, what are you saying!?" he screamed. "Of course it's real! I love you. How is that—"
"Riku, don't listen to what your heart is telling you!"
It's only telling me lies… I know…
I don't need to hear you finish it.
Tears started forming in his eyes. He cursed himself. He couldn't cry in front of her. He wouldn't—
But that didn't stop the tears from falling.
And it only gets worse.
"There you two are!"
Hello, Larxene… right on cue…
"Riku, listen to me, it's—"
Larxene looked between the two of them, trying to gauge the situation. She looked amused, but he knew better. He was in for a world of hurt, regardless of her mood.
But that's alright. At least it will hurt less than the rest of this…
"Oh, dear, what's happened?" Larxene asked, giggling. She went over to Namine—don't touch her!—and grabbed her by the shoulder. Namine didn't move, frozen in fear.
"You didn't go and tell him the truth, did you?"
"I-"
"But look at his face!"
Get away from me.
Larxene took a step forward and grabbed him by the chin, forcing him to look up at her, sharply. He shoved her hand away and jumped back. She only grinned.
"You did tell him!" Larxene returned her attention to Namine. "What in the worlds possessed you to do that?"
"Leave her alone!"
The words left his throat in a growl. He knew this routine all too well.
"Aww, and he's still trying to protect you! How sweet!" Larxene giggled, but she turned her attention on Namine again. All traces of excitement left her face. She was angry now. Namine flinched.
"Still, you weren't supposed to tell him the truth," Larxene said, all amusement gone from her voice. "We're going to have to make forget this, you know."
"I know," Namine stammered. "I- I'll take care of that right now—"
"Ah, wait! Not quite yet!" The smile returned to Larxene's face, and she summoned her knives. "There still is the matter of punishment, for helping you sneak off—"
"No, please!" Namine shouted, grabbing Larxene's arm, as if that would stop her.
Don't you dare!
"You- you're going to make me erase the memory from his mind, anyway!" Namine continued. "Why- why can't you just—"
"Please," Larxene scoffed, shaking her off. "It's not like you actually care."
She summoned a bolt of lightning to her. Riku turned away, bracing himself.
Just throw the lightning already. Get this over with. Before she—
"Don't!" Namine shouted, throwing herself in front of Larxene.
Please… Namine…
He looked up, shocked. Why was she still trying to protect him? She knew how this was going to end. And she'd already broken his heart once—
He wished she'd stop toying with him.
She didn't love him. That was the reason for all this, nothing more. She'd just made it all up—all this about lies and him not loving her. She'd made it all up to avoid telling him she didn't feel the same.
And she didn't need to protect him!
"What are you waiting for, Larxene?" he called, pushing Namine out of the way.
Let's get this over with.
"Riku, don't—"
Despite the tears that were still pouring down the cheeks and the awful pain that was building in his chest, he smiled. "Don't worry about me, Namine," he told her. "I'll be alright."
Of course, that was a lie.
He certainly didn't feel alright, about ten seconds later, when the lightning struck. He was thrown back, landing roughly on the ground. And that was what it took to break the dam. The tears and the screams poured out of him like a flood, and he lay there, curled in a sobbing heap, as lightning bolt after lightning bolt struck.
The hurt in his heart was much worse than the pain in his body.
"You may have hurt me, Namine," he choked, when Larxene paused. "But I don't care. I don't. I could never- never hate you for it."
He doubted that she actually heard him.
He was pretty sure that she'd left once Larxene had started throwing lightning at him.
"I will still protect you. And I will always love you."