Riku slowly opens his eyes, almost afraid of what he'll see. But once he does he notices only one thing; he's not alone. The creature stands off to the side watching him. Riku dares to sit up, although slowly at first. He can feel the sting in his neck even though when he touches it he finds no wounds. Drawing up to his feet, Riku glares at the creature and the venomous yellow eyes that stare him down.

The very presence unnerves him. He doesn't want to admit how much he's reminded of Vincent but he can't help it. However, that's where the familiarity stops – skin deep. The feeling that comes off this being in waves is far different, to the point where Riku summons Way to Dawn once more. This time he plans to catch the Vampire off guard.

"Who are you?"

The man turns toward Riku fully, stepping closer until they're only an arm's length apart. The tattered ends of the ebony cloak trail the ground even as the Vampire lifts his arm out from under it's protection. But Riku won't have it. Before those slender fingers dare to touch him, he jumps back and draws his Keyblade up into a fighting stance.

Even while Riku's calm, battle facade takes over. He can't stop the inevitable sinking feeling that takes place inside as the dark haired man calls for what looks to be a black cylindrical object. It's tiny for only a moment before it takes on the form of a scythe as black as the night. He points it straight at Riku with not so much as a glint in his eyes.

"I know he's your keeper. Take me to him or suffer. It matters not if your a Keyblade Master – none shall stand in my way."

Riku has to blink and try not to be surprised. Surely it's not the first time a voice has invaded his mind. The only difference is this being isn't trying to possess him. No, he wants him dead. Riku mentally shakes the shock away and tightens his grip on Way to Dawn. "I know better than that and I won't be taking you anywhere."

The Vampire moves faster than Riku can even comprehend. The next thing he knows is the scythe has transformed into a cutlass and the tip is pressing against his temple. Only a small bit of pressure is applied to get the point across. One Riku chooses to ignore.

"How about now?"

Smirking, Riku can feel the adrenaline surging through his veins. This is what he's good at, slinking out of the worst possible situations. He's at least grateful Sora did run, it makes this so much easier. "It's a shame, you don't know me at all."

Riku pulls back only for a moment, just enough to get the blade away from his face. The second he's clear of it, he lunges forward. In his other hand he takes a deep breath. He calls for his own darkness and allows it to feast on his fury of the moment. As the Vampire recalls the cutlass, it takes the shape of a shield to block Riku's attack.

"Ah!" Riku yells as the magic surges from his fingers tips.

Three balls of blue and black fire home in on the Vampire and slam into the shield. It sends the creature skidding back several feet. The smoke of the attack is blinding and that's what Riku counts on. Since he can't see through it, he's sure his opponent can't either. Taking the opportunity to run, he darts off in the direction of Vincent. Even from so far away he can feel his presence.

Riku is careful to keep to the shadows as he moves through the lesser part of the Islands. He doesn't want to raise any alarms. The people don't know about the Keyblade or what it entails, so a Vampire is certainly not going to be any better for them to discover. Grateful for the boost in speed, he makes it to the towering house in a matter of minutes.

He reaches to turn the knob only to find it locked. It makes fear become more noticeable in the back of his mind as he taps softly on the door. Before he can even pull his hand away, there's the sound of a click. Riku takes a deep breath as he opens the door only to have it freeze in his throat. The foreboding presence is close and it takes all of his will not to just run straight into the house.

Especially as he stops dead the second he crosses the threshold. Standing near the couch is Vincent with an ornate, three-barreled gun pointed straight at Riku. His crimson eyes don't dare give anything away as he holds it level. It's then that Riku realizes that Vincent has been waiting for quite awhile. Even his outfit is changed; away from formal and to something more casual. Yet still able to perfectly blend into the darkness with his black pants and shirt.

The only true difference is the added belt that rests diagonally over his hips. Attached to it are several packs of which Riku can only assume are ammunition for the deadly weapon staring him down. The thought of it reminds him of his own still clutched in his hand; he hadn't even realized he had kept it out. Riku dismisses it, as if to show Vincent he means no harm.

However, Riku quickly notices that those crimson eyes glare straight over the top of his head. "I figured you'd come to get me, Chaos."

"You've gone against the contract."

"All I did was help someone."

A shiver passes up Riku's spine as a hand falls onto his shoulder just before that pitch black scythe circles around him – threatening to behead him but not residing dangerously close. It's the hand on his shoulder that slinks upward to grab a fistful of his short, white tresses. "A man that has sealed your fate as well as everyone else."

"I won't be tricked again."

"That will come at a price."

But Vincent doesn't so much as flinch. Her merely lets his gaze fall down to Riku, who watches every move he makes. The former can only hope the young man knows what to do. Otherwise this won't be easy. Vincent tightens his finger on the trigger slowly, as if to give Riku more incentive. Just as Vincent lets the explosion process through the gun, Riku is already moving.

Despite the pain that courses through his head, he drops to his knees. The first bullet sails into Chaos' shoulder, forcing his grip to loosen on Riku. The latter pulls away and rolls toward Vincent under the lowering scythe. He springs up onto his feet as the second and third bullet slam into Chaos' chest. The recoil makes him stumble just for a moment – one that Vincent desperately takes advantage of.

He grabs Riku's wrist and yanks him towards the stairs. Pushing Riku into the first open room, he slams the door the second he's inside as well. Riku, however, is already moving straight for the window directly across from them. He slings it open and begins to crawl out only to hesitate. The initial thought that passes through him is this is stupid, he could hurt himself.

But Vincent won't stand for his old human thoughts daring to interject in their escape. He rushes over to Riku and pushes at him. Riku can barely blink by the time he's hit the ground, as if he were a cat leaping from a tree branch. Nothing hurts whatsoever and he's reminded that he could have done that on his own as Vincent lands beside him.

"Move." he mutters and urges Riku to get going.

Riku starts running and he immediately begins to head in a direction he hasn't been in since Vincent turned him. The latter merely follows and that alone is enough to surprise Riku. Not that he dares to question why he's the one in lead. He merely runs and doesn't dare to stop. They go through the back yards of residences and along the vacant streets where they can't be seen. The zigzag path they make should surely confuse anything trailing them, but even so Riku doesn't stop until he's just within sight of the small apartment building.

It's rather nice despite itself. Surely that's one reason why Sora would live here. That and his Mother has known the owner for quite some time. Since he won't be traveling with Riku and decided to stay in Destiny Islands for some time, this became his new home.

Vincent falls into step behind him as they start towards the front doors. "Where are we?"

"Sora's place."

The glare that passes his way is something Riku can only not look at. "That.. Chaos found me when I was with Sora. I just want to make sure he's safe."

Onlookers standing outside the building eye their appearance. Rather, Vincent's. He's more than a suspicious character with his holster pistol and packed laden belt. Riku avoids their eyes in an effort to simply avoid confrontation. He doesn't need anyone bolstering about demanding who his friend is. Riku enters the building first with Vincent right behind him. He moves straight to the desk where an elderly man sits with a book in his hands.

At the sight of Riku, he smiles big. "Riku! I haven't seen you in a while. How are you?"

He's thankful that the old man has his glasses on the table instead. All he has to do is simply dodge unnecessary questions. "Good. I'm here to see Sora but he said he lost his extra key."

"Oh don't even fret." The old man swivels in his chair and opens a draw in the wall. He returns with a small silver key in hand. The man stands and places it into Riku's extended hand. A smile laces the man's lips. "Just tell Sora to bring it back when he's made a copy."

"Thank you."

After a nod and a smile in return, Riku turns away with the key in hand. He moves straight for the far right hallway. The second we're out of earshot, he can feel Vincent's eyes on him. "Why were you with Sora?"

Riku flashes narrowed eyes up at him as they reach the stairs, "He's my friend."

"Was your friend."

Taking the first step up, Riku halts. "You can't erase bonds even if one of the people involved forgets."

Vincent hesitates to follow even after Riku is storming up the stairs. He knows what the younger man said is true. But only because he can recall it from the memories he had seen upon turning the youth. They're painful and far too sad for his liking. To which he promptly hurries after Riku in an effort to get away from the thoughts. He catches up with Riku as the latter is unlocking the door to Sora's apartment.

Just before Riku opens the door he glances over his shoulder, "I expect some answers."

Then he sends the door slowly swinging open. The both expect to see Sora or to hear him at least. But as the two Vampire stride into the room and close the door they're welcomed with nothing but silence. Vincent's boots scoff to a stop beside Riku. "Where is he?"

Riku shakes his head, "He just hasn't made it back yet." He moves straight for the worn, gray couch and plops down on the end closest to Vincent. The room has little decoration but it does have nicknacks scattered about here and there. Souvenirs from Sora's many adventures. Riku glances over to Vincent, "Well?"

"What happened?"

A sigh ghosts over Riku's lips as he sinks into the soft cushions. "Sora found me and after I passed out he took me back to my old house. When I went to leave Chaos was there. Before I could do anything he bit me."

Vincent seems to mull over that as he strides over to the couch. Once he's taken a seat beside Riku he lowers his gaze to the floor. Everything about him is tense and guarded, making Riku only gaze at him. "That creature is what created Rufus, Reno and I. As well as many others."

"Then why couldn't he find you himself? Why tail me?"

"I don't know."

"Alright, why does he look like you."

Vincent lowers his head, letting it lean on an upraised palm. His elbows press against his legs as he sits there. "When my world fell to darkness, I was near death along with many others. All I could think about was revenge. So I signed that creature's contract." Fingers tighten around the strands between them. "I gave him a vessel – a form to mimic – so he could escape the darkness in exchange for a way out."

He's heard a reason like this from another man. One who's life ended tragically. Riku sits up and places a hand on the couch. That's as far as it goes, retracting it at the last second. "What do you plan to do now?

"It's my sin and now I've set him free by breaking our contract the second I changed you."

"You knew."

Vincent lifts his head, hands idling as his blank crimson gaze meets with Riku's angered ones. Riku rises to his feet, "You knew what was." The statement is so solid and sound that Vincent stays silent, not daring to say a word. "Why? Why did you do it?"

He gives a gentle shake of his head. "You were suffering."

"And now everyone else will!"

"I'll stop him so be quiet."

Riku thinks for a moment. He has the Keyblade and his magic. He's trained for combat and now has the ripe abilities of a Vampire on his side. He should be able to handle himself. That only leaves Vincent. "Have you drank today?" A perplexed expression is his response. Riku rolls his eyes, "Blood. Doesn't drinking it make you stronger?"

"Yes it does. Even more so if that person is human."

Pushing up the jacket's sleeve on his left arm, Riku holds it out toward Vincent. "Then hurry up. We don't have much time."

"It's useless," Vincent counters as he pushes Riku's arm away.

But this only makes him more determined. Riku huffs just before he shoves at Vincent's shoulders. The latter sits back against the cushion as Riku plops down into his lap. He holds his arm up with his wrist exposed. "It's only useless if you don't try."

He can't deny the logic and at first Riku half expects to be shoved off. Instead, an arm encircles around his waist as if to hold him steady. Vincent's right hand places into Riku's left, cupping around it as he sits up. Leaning his face down to the cool skin, he hesitates only for a moment.

Riku braces himself for the pain but it never comes. There's only the feeling of lips against his skin as the warm blood glides over it and into Vincent's mouth. Clutching his fingers around Vincent's, he has to press his lips together to stop a noise from leaving him. It's completely different from when Chaos had dared to drink his blood. This time it has his body feeling as though it's on fire and there's nothing that can put it out – not that he wants that.

Not even realizing he's breathing heavy, Riku is thankful for the arm holding him still. Fingers clutch at his side and he can't stop from wanting them to touch him more. The euphoria of it all has his mind blank. He only knows one thing as Vincent pulls away. The warm tongue glides over his wrist as his body begins to heal the small wounds already.

Their eyes lock and Riku can't resist the pull. He leans his face closer, tilting it down just as Vincent looks up. He captures the dark-haired man's lips in a sultry kiss. One that has their lips meshing again and again in search of more. Riku's free hand grabs at Vincent's shoulder, fingers digging into the material and skin beneath as they kiss again.

It's needy and has no purpose. But there's a comfort in the feeling of their lips together. The feeling of two dark beings being able to find solace in one another. That even though his dark side is blacker than black, there's someone that thought he was worth helping without knowing anything.

Riku clutches so desperately at this that he doesn't even notice the footfalls nor the opening of the door until his ears catch onto a familiar voice. A hitched breath followed by a whisper, "R- Riku?" just before the door bounces off the wall.