Immediately pulling away from Vincent, Riku's eyes lock onto Sora as he stands in the threshold. His bright blue eyes are wide and his entire body seems like it could blow away in the wind. His lips try to form a question but only a huff of air comes out. Not wanting to make it worse, Riku tries to put more distance between him and Vincent. He moves to the end of the couch instead. The wounds on his wrist are already healing, something he vaguely takes note of as he lets his arm hang against his side.

"Sora, where were you?"

"R… I was looking for you!" Sora takes a step forward but he stops when his eyes slip over to Vincent. He swallows hard and tries to keep his focus on Riku. "I should be asking you that! Why are you here?"

The rest of his question is silent but Riku understands. They all do; why is Vincent here as well. Riku moves forward towards Sora, trying to calm him by feeding forth information. "That thing that attacked me followed me. I thought he might come for you. I just wanted to make sure you were safe."

"What was it?"

"The thing that started it all. Now listen to me Sora, I need you to do something for me."

The brunet hurries over to stand right in front of Riku. "What?"

"I need you to go get Kairi and leave. Go straight to Mickey or Yen Sid."

"What about you? Aren't you coming?"

Riku places his hand on Sora's shoulder, smiling down at him. "I'll be right behind you."

They all can feel the presence before they see it, much less hear the footsteps. All any of them know is that suddenly the door slams shut and black fills that small space. The cloak swirls about Chaos' feet as he stabs the stomps the ground with the end of his scythe. It glints in the dimmed lighting and it takes all Riku has to move. He pushes Sora behind him, to which the brunet trips over his own feet and flops down onto the couch. Vincent has already moved and stands behind Riku with his gun aimed between Chaos' eyes.

Vincent glares at him, "You can't harm these two. They're of the light."

The scythe transform into a pistol as he levels it toward Riku. "That matters not to me. You broke our contract." Those bright golden eyes slip over to Sora as he rises to his feet between Riku and Vincent. He grabs at the back of Riku's jacket, tugging on it. "That one would die for you, Riku. It would be rude not to grant him his wish."

Riku narrows his eyes and calls for Way to Dawn, lifting it toward Chaos as well. "I can protect him from you."

"Mere words."

What they all had perceived to be Chaos' shadow seems to move and twitch about his feet. The darkness spikes out towards them, painfully slow. Chaos glances over to Vincent. "The creatures I will unleash are far deadlier than any Heartless or Nobody. You are one of them. Return to my side."

Vincent says nothing, but his eyes remain steeled and his gun poised at the ready. Riku can feel Sora's fingers tighten into the hem of his jacket and he knows this is bad. Fighting in tight quarters is not something he's used to. Not when he has someone on his side that has a disadvantage. He watches the pistol in Chaos' hand droop down toward his level and fire. Although, there's truly no sound at all. But the small, dark bullet soars straight for Riku.

At the last moment, Vincent steps in front of him – taking it deep into torso. While it doesn't seem to be very powerful, the shock waves of pain that it sends through Vincent's body has him dropping to his knees. He drops his gun to the floor to instead grasp at his chest; breathing heavy, eyes pinched shut. The shadows touch Vincent's knees and begin to crawl up his body.

Riku follows him to the ground, "Vincent!" He readies a Cure spell, hoping he remembers how to do this write and that it doesn't cause any additional damage. But he doesn't get the chance to use it. The green glow about his hand fades away almost instantly as Sora tugs him backward. Riku's hand flails, trying to grasp at Vincent; his shirt, hair, shoulder – anything. But it's too late. The puddle of darkness underneath him becomes a portal of its own and begins to drag him down into it. Riku's not even sure if Vincent notices, not with the pain still surging through him.

He tries to pull away from Sora, but the brunet manages to get in front of him. Arms wrap around his middle as Sora presses the side of his face to Riku's. "Riku, stop!"

Eyes widening, Riku finds they move from Vincent's disappearing form to the ever changing weapon in Chaos' grasp. "Sora!" Is all he can get out as he shoves the brunet away.

It's all it takes. Sora slips easily into combat mode. His Kingdom Key springs to life in his hand as he spins around, ricocheting the bullet off his Keyblade. The grin that forms on his face is something Riku hasn't seen since their last battle together. "I've fought guys that are a better shot, you'll have to try harder than that."

"Tch, don't get cocky Sora."

Sora laughs, "I didn't see you blocking it."

"You are nothing more than children that refuse to be ignored."

Riku tightens his fingers around the hilt of his Keyblade, "And you won't take a hint. Now, where did you send Vincent?"

"The likes of you has no authority to question me."

The pistol changes into the form of a long cutlass, one that curves slightly along the length. Riku moves right at that moment. He brushes past Sora before slamming his Keyblade against the sword. The strength Chaos has easily overpowers Riku before the fight even starts. He pushes back just enough to have Riku skidding backwards. But that doesn't mean it ends. Sora springs forward next; swinging his blade in an upward swipe. Chaos blocks and parries, although Sora catches the counter as he's forced onto one knee.

But Riku is already lunging forward again, forcing Chaos to cease his attack and switch to defense once more. This time, Chaos meets the attack with a medium-sized broadsword. The short swing manages to have enough power to make Riku's fingers twitch about his sword. He almost can't keep a grip on it as Chaos flings him backward. Crossing the room in a hair of time, Riku slams against the wall – knocking the air right out of his lungs. Something he still hasn't gotten used to not needing.

Sora retreats immediately with a Cure command at his fingertips. It's not meant to be though. He drops to his knees, straddling Riku's legs. Worried that there's no crimson gaze returned, Sora touches his hand to Riku's shoulder. "Ri-" The magic dies instantly as Sora is pressed up against Riku. He grips tightly at Riku's shoulder as a small scream rips from his throat. This forces Riku to come back to the battle. Especially as the pain digs into him as well – quite literally.

Riku slowly takes it in, almost not able to believe it. Chaos stands closer to them with the shadows lifted about his feet. One in particular, quite larger than the rest, is held up and towards them. Or rather, it pierces straight through Sora's chest and into Riku. Pinned to the wall, Riku can do nothing but try not to let the blood rise up his throat. Every cell of his being hurts even though his regeneration tries to fix him. Sora slumps against him with red coating his lips and his head against Riku's shoulder. "R… Ri- Riku."

Their Keyblades vanish as Chaos has the shadow yank out of them, returning to his side. The darkness spreads out behind him as he begins to fade into it. Riku can only glare as he clutches at Sora. He doesn't need to see the darkness that's pooling around him; he can feel it, smell it. The scent makes him want to gag especially as he sinks into it with Sora on his lap, clinging to him as blood stains their clothes. Even as they vanish beneath the surface, Riku keeps his being steady. "It's- It's okay Sora."

Even as black shrouds them as they fall through it, Riku wills all of his magic to envelope Sora. He does everything he can to staunch the blood flow and heal the wound. He's just not sure if mere magic can fix this with the darkness tinging at the wound. His own is slowly healing but the pain makes his body quake even still as his body begins to mold back together around the hole. Just as he thinks they'll be falling forever the darkness splits.

The pale light of the moon is the first and last thing he sees before he crashes through water. Sora begins to slip from his grasp as the current pulls at him. But Riku refuses to let him go. He clutches onto the brunet's shirt while trying to make his legs move. He can't let it end here. If he does then it's all over and Chaos will win. Riku tightens his lips and blocks out the air, setting into his Vampire instincts of not breathing at all.

Riku wraps an arm around Sora's waist and begins to swim toward the surface. The dark water begins to give way as the glassy surface reflecting the moon's light begins for him to hurry. Not a moment too soon he breaks through and inhales as much air as possible. He lifts Sora up and the brunet sputters, still conscious enough to do at least that. Riku is beyond happy as he begins to paddle them towards the shore – the shore of the island where it all started.

Part of him wonders if Chaos sent them here on purpose. But he doesn't dwell on it long, not while Sora is in need of major healing. The water gives way to sand quicker than he had thought it would. Although grateful nonetheless. He lays Sora down on the sand and brushes the light brown hair from his face. "Sora?"

Lashes flutter against his skin that's growing increasingly pale. They part to give way to blue eyes still as brilliant as the ocean on a sunny day. "R… Ri..."

"Just hold on." Riku kneels beside Sora and holds out his hands, casting more than just one Cure spell. The green slow seems to never fade even as Riku's magic supply dwindles quick. Yet the hole in Sora's chest doesn't seem to be shrinking like it should. Growling, angry at himself for not being able to fix this, Riku prepares another Cure.

But Sora begins to lift a hand. He only makes it halfway before it begins to fall back toward the sand. Just before it does, Riku catches it – grasping the hand in both of his. A cracked smile touches Sora's features, still himself even as death claws at him. "Ri...ku."

He doesn't know why he stills his efforts to save him, perhaps in the back of his mind he knows it's useless. No amount of magic can fix the wound that's taking his best friend away. Instead, he leans down to hover his ear next to Sora's mouth. "What is it?"

"I-" A raspy breath that has chills running over Riku's skin. "-love you."

The exhale makes Riku's blood freeze. He can't breath or speak. He can only slowly sit up and stare down at Sora's now closed eyes. Swallowing past the lump in his throat is impossible. His whole body hurts far more than his own wound that's healing. It makes him hate this – that he's alive and Sora isn't. Riku grits his teeth as his lips tighten together, trying not to let the sound out. But the tears are already rolling down his cheeks by the time his forehead touches Sora's chest. The loud, sorrowful moan that breaks from his lips makes his entire body shake.

Fingers still grasping at Sora's hand, he sobs into the blood-soaked clothes. The water laps up about his knees as he trembles from the violent sobs that roll throughout his body. It's not until the faint sound of vibrating that he dares to lift his head. Red cover his face and bangs, but he pays it no mind. His body falls into auto-pilot in the effort to find the device he knows is on Sora's person. Several pockets later lead him to the small phone; a cheap little thing that miraculously survived the plunge into the ocean.

Riku opens the little flip phone and lifts it to his ear. A sweet, familiar voice reaches out to him. "Geez Sora, it's about time you picked up! We were supposed to meet up, where are you?"

One. Two. Three shaky breaths before he's able to answer. It's just enough to calm his emotions so he can swallow them past the lump in his throat. "Kairi."

"Riku? Is everything okay? You sound-"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Are you talking about disappearing? As long as you're safe-"

"I'm not. And..." He takes a deep breath. He has to steel himself or he'll end up taking more innocent people down with him – all because of one mistake. It wouldn't be the first time. "Neither are you. They got Sora. I'll explain everything when I get back. For now, Sora is – Sora's on the island."

"Riku, you're scaring me. What's happening? Sora is okay right?"

"Sora's dead Kairi." It's hard to say but after it leaves his lips he feels the strength begin to return to him. It's just not the strength he normally harnesses. "I'll send Mickey to get you. Until then stay home and don't go anywhere."

He doesn't say another word. Clicking the phone shut even as she rattles off another question, Riku tries to take a breath. However, it's all in vain. Instead he leans over Sora and kisses his cheek, "I love you too Sora."

Drained in more than one sense, he allows the raw anger build up in his body as he stands. The ferocity for revenge is the only thing that has him turn and walk toward a Corridor of Darkness he summons. He doesn't care if he's properly dressed to fight the darkness nor that he dared to summon a corridor after so long. No, all he wants is Chaos dead at his feet and he doesn't care what it takes.

The corridor closes behind him as he begins the slow walk into a place he's unsure of where he's even going. It's hard to determine where one will end up when using a corridor to go to place never visited before. He keeps faith that he'll be led in the right direction just like he always was in the past. Each and every step takes him deeper into a darkness he has never smelled before.

It's intoxicating to the point he wants to gag and try to get it out of his senses. The darkness only becomes more dense with each step until he's sure he's found the center of it all. He can feel eyes on him as he picks up his pace and moves toward the light in the distance. It reminds him of what Mickey said – that in the deepest darkness there's always light. Even this is no different. He glances about the darkness to catch hints of beady, scarlet eyes that stare at him.

They're vastly different than the Heartless. Those Riku knows he can fight and defeat, after all he has a special weapon to deal with them. But these creatures that lurk around him are minions of Chaos and if they're anything like their creator he wont stand a chance. But that doesn't stop Riku from walking either.

As he gets to the edge of the darkness he notices one thing. The light is a circle of water to which Chaos stands atop. To the back it washes up a small stretch of pale sand where a stone structure swirls upward like a conk shell. A bright light pulsates inside of it and seemingly keeps these Vampires near the water. Not even Vincent stands near it. He keeps to the edge with the water lapping up around the ankles of his boots. Vincent doesn't so much as acknowledge Riku, merely keeps his eyes directed to the creature in the middle of the water.

Rather, on top of the water.

Chaos stands with his cloak flowing about him and dipping into the water, the only thing that breaks through the surface. He takes note of Riku but continues with speaking to those that lurk about the area. "Destroying the Keys will allow us to finally smother this light and escape permanently. We will be swift and sure – to sink the worlds into darkness so we can move freely without harm."

Riku takes a step forward, feet leaving the darkness and touching onto the water's surface. Much to his surprise he doesn't fall through. Instead he can easily walk forward with ripples extending out from each step. This finally draws Chaos' golden eyes to look at him. "I was going to let you live and yet here you are."

"I won't let you destroy the light." Riku summons Way to Dawn and draws it up in a fighting stance. "Darkness is never the problem, it's things like you."

He lets his gaze drift over to Vincent before returning to Chaos. It only makes Chaos chuckle or rather mentally so. "Even your light is too much for him. Turn around or be cut down."

Tightening his grip on his sword, Riku takes a breath to steady himself. "You're wrong and I'll prove it."

He goes to move, to lunge forward and attack that evil being. But he finds he can't. A hand grasps at his wrist and refuses to let him swing his sword. It's then that he glances over to where Vincent had been standing only to see he's gone. Lips ghost over his ears and send shivers down his spine. A gentle whisper, far deadlier than any blade, shatters Riku where he stands.

"I'm sorry."

The sound of a click is the only thing that warns Riku of what's to come. He looks down as fire seemingly explodes throughout his chest. Already able to feel the blood that's seeping from the wound that had just healed. The pain returns tenfold but the ache of betrayal is far worse than any attack. The hand leaves Riku as he begins to fall backwards. Chaos disappears from his view and is replaced by the light streaking through the darkness. Way to Dawn vanishes away as he crashes through the water, sinking lower and lower until there's no light at all for his eyes to focus on.