Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or anything Disney.
Chapter 11 –
He had half wondered if Riku would somehow try to avoid him. Considering that all three of their beds were squashed together, in retrospect it was a stupid idea. Instead when Riku came to bed, for once he had pulled Sora closer instead of squirming to Sora's bed. Kairi mumbled in protest when Sora flailed and brushed her back as she slept. He froze and glared at the boy holding him. Aqua eyes were closed to amused slits and Sora huffed as he was brought closer. Considering how badly their earlier confrontation had gone, Sora was wondering just what Riku thought he was doing – but he wasn't going to protest.
Sora wasn't as mad as he had wanted Riku to briefly think. He just didn't want to worry him. Roxas snorted and murmured, 'I know it's not just about worrying them now. You know Riku will just be hurt you didn't tell him. The longer you wait the more he will worry. He's Riku – he won't have a bad reaction. Just explain it to him.'
'I... Roxas, how can I? How can I explain what's going on when I don't even know. Even if I tell him, he'll have questions – ones I can't answer. It would be better if both him and Kairi think nothing is wrong. We just won't use up that much energy again. It won't happen.'He rested his head on Riku's head when a hand slid into his hair. If his boyfriend was going to act affectionate when he needed comfort – even if Riku didn't know that – then he would forget about what had just happened. They didn't need words between them right now, not when Sora knew there still had to be as many thoughts going through Riku's head as his own. Though he hoped they were on a different subject.
'It happens when you use your forms for too long and too often as well,' Roxas pointed out softly. 'Except for Final Form.'
'Final Form takes too much energy – I need to draw on others for that. Not just so I don't tire myself out like with the other three – I more need energy for Final. And your cooperation. Even then it's tiring.'
'But it keeps Anti away for longer, doesn't it? I noticed, after the fight in The World That Never Was. And I looked through your memories. Final Form helps – because you're right. You do need me for Final Form – because Final Form shoves your own darkness farther away, and you need your whole self to do that.' Sora ground his teeth at Roxas's words and fisted one hand in Riku's clothing. Another hand came on top of his, smoothing out his fists and another hand tugged gently at his hair, in a clear sign to lean back and look up at him.
He did slowly, trying to look calmer than he really was – but Riku wasn't buying it. His friend's eyes were narrowed. He briefly looked away, sighing slightly as he loosened his hand from the plain white shirt Sora had worn to bed. Absently he smoothed the material and reminded himself they needed to get Riku's regular clothes fixed from where Yaxent's chain had dug into his shoulder. He reached up to touch the spot where the wound would have been if it hadn't been healed away. It was chilling sometimes to think they could do that – they could make the physical wounds disappear, and make it so they showed nothing for their efforts. Few things scarred after a Potion or magic had been applied to them.
'There's a scar over your heart,' Roxas murmured. Sora smiled faintly in the darkness. Of course there was – that was when Roxas had been made, when he had fallen into darkness. That was when he had given up himself for his friend to be whole.
There was another, rougher tug at his hair and he glanced up, removing his hand from Riku's shoulder. There was clear worry and annoyance this time. He stretched out and kissed Riku's lips lightly. "Go to sleep. You can ask in the morning."
That seemed to satisfy him and Sora curled up slightly again, putting his head back against Riku's chest. He pushed the guilt away, and felt the slight anger radiating from Roxas. He had said Riku could ask – it didn't mean he would answer.
The new world was not what Sora expected. He wasn't sure what he should have expected – but the nearest place on the world the gummi ship could transport them to was on a beach. Sora looked from the beach in front of him and then turned his head toward the trees and plants he could see – and the city beyond.
"Um, guys... does that ocean just stop?" Kairi asked and Sora turned back to look at the ocean and squinted.
"It must just be an optical illusion," Riku scoffed. Sora stared at the water. It definitely smelled like salt water – but Kairi was right. It did seem to just... stop. But he wasn't going to contradict Riku right then. They were all in a good mood and Riku hadn't yet asked him any questions he wanted to avoid – it all worked out.
Instead of touching on the disappearing ocean debate he glanced back at the city. "Why don't we go there?"
"Do you think it will have answers?" Kairi asked curiously. Sora had to shrug helplessly. This was just how they had always done it.
"We might find some clues. Even if we don't, we'll probably find a way to open a new path eventually." He made a move toward the jungle-like plants, eyes glancing ahead. There were bound to be Heartless before long. There always were. His eyes swept over the rocks as he picked a path toward the city. There were weird runes on some of them and he slowed to look at them carefully.
And both of his friends passed him, hurrying toward the city. He cocked his head at them. "Rushing won't help any."
Riku frowned over his shoulder at him. Sora looked back calmly as he wandered after them. The silver-haired boy's eyes narrowed. "The faster we get to the city the faster we can get out of here and the closer we are to getting the Islands back."
"And the easier it will be to walk into a trap," Sora pointed out. Both of them stopped and stared at him, Kairi's face worried and Riku with a scowl. He sighed. "Just walk normally, okay? Besides, we're strangers. People are going to see us eventually and we'll probably have a better reception if we aren't running."
He continued walking, ignoring the frowns of his friends briefly. Kairi had never traveled a world he hadn't been to, and Riku seemed to always either been unconcerned about his reception or hiding. They had to trust him on this – he had walked into traps before because none of them were watching where they were going. Neverland had been a big one – even if it had been one organized by Riku.
His two friends settled into walking beside him, one on either side and he had a sudden sense of deja vu. How many times had he, Goofy, and Donald walked liked this? His heart ached briefly, missing his friends – but if it came down to who he would rather have by his side, it had to be Riku and Kairi. Then at least he would always know if they were safe or not.
"What's above the city?" Kairi asked after they had been walking a minute. Sora blinked and followed her gaze upward. It was too far to tell, but the best Sora could guess is that there were rocks surrounding some great light. He eyed it warily.
"It might be dangerous," Riku said, also eyeing it.
'I don't think so. It doesn't feel wrong. It feels like... Light.' Roxas murmured and Sora nodded his agreement. He looked at it and he didn't feel wrong – but more like the hearts of parents were shining over the city, protecting it.
He cleared his throat. "I don't think it's dark. Maybe dangerous if we were going to do something to the city. But it just feels..."
"Warm," Kairi finished for him and he glanced at her in surprise. She smiled, her face flushing slightly and he grinned back, relaxing. It wasn't just him then. He wondered why – if it was their Nobodies that were sensitive, or they themselves.
"If you says so," Riku muttered dubiously. "But anything that big and glowing is bound to cause problems. I would wager half my munny that if there's any trouble on this world, it's centered aroundthat."
"Probably. Big shiny things usually cause problems eventually," Sora agreed. He wasn't going to argue with Riku about that – everyone wanted power of some kind, and that was definitely powerful.
As if to fill the lull in that had fallen in the conversation, Heartless began to appear. There was an almost instant shift, Sora and Riku stepping forward as Kairi stayed put, her hands glowing. Sora glanced at Riku as there were two flashes of light from him and was surprised to see that golden, flowery Keyblade once again in his hand before it was handed off to Kairi. It always sent Roxas into puzzled thoughts – he was just glad that Kairi had something better than those daggers. The Keyblade was stronger, and could be called back.
He was forced to pay attention to his own attack when a Morning Star Heartless began to spin. He blocked the spins and counterattacked, wishing and wanting to have two Keyblades so as not to give it opportunity to hit back. And, for just a brief moment, Oblivion flashed in his left hand as he used just his right for a backswing. It had happened in the Underworld, and he hadn't been sure – but this time it stayed for a few swings and Sora whooped in joy as the Morning Star was destroyed and he shifted toward a new enemy. The next second it was gone, and he could feel Roxas's puzzlement alongside his.
He didn't have time to consider why two Keyblades would appear and stay for Roxas but only now began to appear for him without using the magic of his clothes. There were Heartless to kill.
More than half of the Heartless were gone and none of them had been injured badly when Sora caught Kairi suddenly holding the Keyblade sideways in front of her, and the blade glowed white. There had been a new spell – that had to be it. He ducked under the swing of a Neoshadow and watched in fascination as a circle of white appeared around three of the smaller Heartless. They were engulfed in light – and then gone when it faded away. He turned to congratulate her – and a Keyblade swung into his vision, destroying a Heartless about to pounce.
"Compliment her later. Fight now," Riku said, smirking when Sora blushed. There was a flash of black and green and then another Heartless was destroyed. Sora made a face at him – and then, feeling competitive, called Thundaga, destroying the Heartless that were left,
When Riku blinked and looked at him, he grinned smugly before turning to Kairi. "Was that you're new spell? It was great! Why haven't you used it before?"
Kairi giggled at his enthusiasm and replied, "I'm still slow at calling it up, and it's more useful when their are a few small ones or just one enemy if I want to do the most damage."
Sora was about to ask more questions when Kairi's eyes focused behind him and she tilted her head, her eyes widening. "Riku, what's that?"
He turned around to face his boyfriend – and received his first good look of the new Keyblade. It wasn't a complicated design, like Ultima. The hilt was leaf-green, and just like the wings had handles to either side. From there the blade extended, a mix of black and silver wrapped together. Sora wasn't surprised at the colors – until he saw the thorns. There was a large one, and then a smaller one just below it, giving it more of a key shape than it would have had otherwise. And the thorns were blood red. Sora's eyes darted to his own hand, where the metal he had shaped the stem and leaves part of the keychain from had bit into his fingers.
"Oh this?" Riku was smiling, a small gentle smile as his eyes found Sora's. he couldn't help it – he blushed as Riku smiled right at him. Despite Kairi's presence it felt more intimate than any of their kisses or exploratory touches. He felt more connection to Riku right then than he ever could have felt from simple touching. Riku continued, his eyes still on Sora, "Sora gave me a present last night. I decided it was called Slender Thorn."
Sora blinked at the name, just glad that the words "red" or "blood" weren't included. It was a very thin Keyblade, so the name was still appropriate. He flushed even more under Kairi's startled gaze. "It just seemed right. I... We should be moving on."
He ran ahead, just enough so he could hide his suddenly burning cheeks. He could hear Kairi beginning to giggle and Riku's warm chuckles and as he stared at the ground, he grinned as well. It was embarrassing to try to explain how his heart had guided him and he knew he would have to eventually. They would both want to try... But at least they were all happy. That was what mattered.
Entering the city they received many stares. They stared right back – and Sora was amused to note that for once it was he and Kairi that stood out the most. Riku's light hair wasn't that odd in this city, or his bright eyes, though no one had quite the same shade. Of course, Sora was biased and had studied those eyes from up close and seen them from sleepy and happy to angry and violent.
People stared at them. In fact, everywhere they went people stared in surprise and flashes of fear and confusion. He caught the term "from the surface" a few times and frowned, glancing at his friends. Kairi had sidled closer to them as a few stares became hostile while they walked, and Riku's shoulders were tense. He wasn't sure either of them had heard.
"Sometimes what they says sounds like gibberish," Kairi confessed suddenly. Sora blinked and out of the corner of his eyes watched Riku's reaction. The silver-haired boy seemed just as confused as he was.
'The Keyblades... But why only sometimes?' Roxas sounded frustrated, but Sora was more focused on the first part. "Riku, hand her the flowery Keyblade. I think it might help."
He saw Riku's eyes light up in understanding and soon, much to the added tension in the people watching and following them, he had handed her the golden Keyblade. She looked at it, her eyes widening. "I... can hear them now"
Then she scowled at him. "It's not a flowery Keyblade."
"What's its name, then?" Sora asked, curiosity brightening his eyes.
Her brow furrowed and she stared at it. They were approaching the center of the city, and a set of stairs leading to a large building and she absently walked up with them as she stared at it in consternation. "I don't know yet. I should, but... I just don't."
"Huh," Sora said, mulling over it. It was definitely weird, the way it was her Keyblade – it just seemed like it definitely was – yet Riku had it. But it wasn't important enough to think about now.
"Why are we climbing these stairs?" Riku asked suddenly, stopping with his feet on two different steps. Sora paused as well, and Kairi followed his example.
It only took him a moment to come up with the answer. "The people in charge are up here."
He resumed their trek upward, but a hand on his shoulder made him pause and he stared curiously at Riku. The boy was scowling and asked, "How do you know?"
Sora raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. He would have thought Riku would know the answer already. "There's a bunch of stairs leading to a building in the center of the city. Where else would they be?"
Riku matched his face with an incredulous one of his own. "You just assume this? On other worlds too? How did you survive?"
"Very well, actually," Sora retorted, a bit miffed. They had done well! And most of the time he hadn't had to ask, they had always had a local guide. He had helped many worlds, saved the whole universe once, and gathered a bunch of super great skills. Of course he had survived. Besides, he never would have given up when Riku and Kairi were still out there and alive, Or if they were dead – then he would have needed to get revenge.
"Uh-huh.Right. Let me try something." Riku pivoted around and pointed to one of the closest people. They were holding spears defensively and one stiffened as he pointed. "You! Are your leaders up here?"
"Yes," The man answered automatically – only to be scolded by his comrades.
Riku turned back around. "See? That wasn't so hard?"
Sora turned his back and stomped p the stairs. He had been right – so why did it matter if he hadn't asked for directions? It had still been the right way to go. He heard Kairi chirp a collective "Thank you!" to the people following them and then both of his friends were clambering up the stairs after him.
They were only a few steps from the top when the familiar dark portals could be seen farther ahead – and the Heartless were heading away from them. He didn't even need to glimpse at the others to know what to do. He bounded up the stairs ahead of them, the stone under his feet flying by in a gray blur. There were two people, mainly, that the Heartless were after and Sora narrowed his eyes, took another few steps, and feel into a crouch for a brief moment. He pushed off and was heading up and forward, and then spinning and gliding over them to twist and land in front of the two presumed leaders just before the first Heartless reached them. "Get back!"
"Who are you?" A woman's voice asked in a tone that was more like a demand. He decided to ignore it for now in favor of sending Ultima into the pack. There were people in masks beginning to join the fight as Riku and Kairi joined up, but their spears did little damage against the Heartless.
"Stay out of this fight," he heard Riku snapped as he smacked a pack of Heartless off of one young looking warrior that had quickly gone down. "They'll take your heart if you try to fight them."
Sora raised Ultima up and Thundaga came crashing down, giving him a moment to sweep his eyes over the whole battlefield. There were a lot of Heartless. He needed more magic for this, more power if he wanted all of the people trying to help fight to live. He felt Roxas begin to protest but he was already focusing. The bright flash of light sent the Heartless back a moment and then he stood there, all in blue as he raced through the Heartless, shooting those closest and launching spell after spell at those farther away.
He skated over to Kairi for a moment when she stumbled. Firaga took care of those surrounding them and he quickly administered a Potion. "Don't worry, they're almost gone."
"I don't think the ones in the middle are fazed by magic," She called after him and he looked sharply to the Heartless standing there. Were there new Heartless as well? He thought that no one knew how to make the Emblem Heartless anymore. But then again, there had been plenty of new ones during his last journey and he didn't know if the Organization would have bother. Then again, they needed the hearts from the created Heartless.
"I can take care of them," Riku yelled. "If you two take care of the others."
"Sure!" Sora shouted and skated to the other side of the battle to station himself closest to the targets once again. There was somebody behind this, and it would be easier to find them to stop all further attacks – or at least most of them - but Sora was all about going for the immediate threat first. The other one would wait.
He transformed back into his normal clothes just as Riku was dealing with the last of the magic-immune Heartless. He struck a leftover Neoshadow and waited as Kairi and Riku headed over, and for some of the guards to come closer. Observing those in range, he cast a quick Curaga, grinning at the shocked reactions before spinning about and extending his hand to the young man and woman staring at him. "Sorry about that. I'm Sora. Who're you?"
Behind him, he could have sworn he heard Riku's hitting his own forehead with the palm of his hand and Kairi patting his back. He didn't see why they would be reacting that way. He did this all the time.
"Do you think it's safe for Kairi to be separated from us?" Sora asked as he curiously examined the room they had been given. "It's just, it's dangerous here."
"It's always dangerous. Don't worry about it, she's just across the hall and she can hold off most attacks until we get there." Despite Riku's assurances, Sora glanced over and could see from the way Riku's narrow eyed gaze flicked to the door and the hall beyond it that he wasn't so calm himself on them being separated. "It's just polite, not to object."
Sora raised an eyebrow at that. Riku didn't usually care much about polite. Which meant there was another reason for them being in the same room, separate from Kairi. He paused, stared at the one bed in the room, and then glanced over to the silver-haired boy now leaning over to look out their window. For a moment, he thought of saying something and seeing Riku blush. His eyes flicked to the door that was open just a tiny bit. Carefully, he nudged it closed. It didn't even click as it shut. That was much better.
He crossed the space between them and leaned out the open window curiously, grinning as he heard Riku's sharp intake of breath. "I'm not going to fall."
"You say that every time," Riku answered, and his voice sounded strained. "I'm not having you die the day before you turn seventeen."
"Oh, I'll just have to wait until tomorrow to die then," Sora said carelessly, leaning just a bit farther. Instantly there was a hand fisted in the material on his back. "You wouldn't let me fall when I'm right beside you, now would you?"
'You're awful, Sora,' Roxas accused, sounding amused.
'Keeps him from brooding, now doesn't it?' Sora shot back. Which wasn't quite the purpose and they both knew it, but Sora was still grinning when Riku yanked him back and jerked him around to stare angrily into blue eyes.
"You're never dying on my watch," Riku snapped, his voice tense and filled with more hurt than Sora had meant. He sighed and put a hand on Riku's arm loosely, his thumb rubbing on the skin above his elbow, trying to get him to calm down and loosen his angry grip. Obviously even joking about death wasn't allowed if he wanted a happy, mentally stable boyfriend.
He brushed hair away from Riku's face with his free hand and leaned up. "I know. One of the many reasons."
He left the ending implied and the hand that had been on Riku's arm was then on his shirt, jerking him down just a bit to meet Sora's lips. There was no sound of protest and he snaked an arm out to the edge of the window, bracing them both – unlike him, Riku didn't have a safety net if he forgot how close to the window they were.
There were insistent hands fiddling with zippers of his shirt and Riku's kiss had desperate tones. If Sora had been in a talking mood he would have pointed out to the other boy it was his own fault for being mad for so long and forcing their sessions short with too much thinking.
His mouth found Riku's neck shortly and he grinned at the other boy's groan and pulled back a little. "Shush. We'll have guards in here wondering what's going on."
There was a gleam in Riku's eyes as he looked past Sora for a moment. "Cloth can do a lot to muffle sound."
Sora didn't need to look behind him to know Riku's eyes were on the bed. He very much wanted to just go with it – but he knew exactly where that would put them, and he was a little wiser than he had been right after his sixteenth birthday. And a little cleverer. "We're in a battle zone."
He could see Riku's frustration, clear in his eyes. "We're always going to be in a battle zone from now on when we're alone."
Yet, despite that, Riku was pulling away, knowing he was right. They weren't going to be able to go much past their present stage while they were in danger. Sora grimaced, but shrugged. "Sorry."
"No. I just..." Riku ground his teeth. "It's your birthday tomorrow."
Sora took a moment to digest that and then raised an eyebrow in incredulous surprise. "Riku. I don't want sex for my birthday."
"Why not?" Riku's eyes were wide in astonishment. Sora almost laughed and bit his cheek hard, for once controlling his impulsive nature. Laughing right now would only make Riku angry.
He struggled to find the words, absently brushing one hand through Riku's hair as he searched aqua eyes. "It's not... I don't want your first time – our first time – to be specifically on one date."
He was shifting a little, uncomfortable with the topic, and so was Riku. They never really talked about their relationship. They didn't need to and even Sora, who knew more of the physical side but far less of the emotional was confused now as to what he meant. "There's no rush."
Except there really was sometimes. Sora did want Riku – badly. And that made him pull back more than any battle zone. He didn't want it to just be because Riku felt it would be a good birthday gift. He wanted it to be natural, not forced. But for once Sora was having a hard time putting things into words. Both of them understood actions more than words.
'You could give him a blowjob. His clothes are easier to undo and put back on than yours,' Roxas suggested dryly. Sora choked, suddenly unable to meet Riku's eyes as he blushed crimson. If his Nobody had a boy, he would have strangled him.
A day and hundreds of Heartless later, Sora was sitting on a beach, looking wistfully out into the water. Queen Kida and Milo had thanked them once again for their help, but he still saw the way they whispered when they thought he didn't watch. He knew what they wondered. They had appeared around the same time that the Heartless problem became so bad. Sometimes, he wondered to. Was their enemy somehow following them and sending more Heartless wherever they were?
"Happy Birthday Sora!" Kairi danced up and grinned down at him. He smiled back, and saw her frown. "Are you alright?"
"Sorry. Just thinking too much. Kinda wondering if the enemy is somehow following us. I mean, it wouldn't be too hard, right?" Sora shrugged, knowing she wouldn't know any better than he did.
She shrugged in answer and sat down beside him, fiddling with a box in her hand. Her eyes kept darting to him – and then suddenly she began to giggle as she stared at his neck. "I see Riku already wished you Happy Birthday today."
"Kairi," He whined, slapping a hand to his neck where he knew there was a mark. A moment later as he tried to control his blush he said mischievously, "You should see his neck."
They stared at each other, both of them blushing now. He began to chuckle first and then she started to giggle again and soon both of them were laughing warmly, perfectly at ease. Neither was particularly surprised when an amused voice asked, "So, having fun without me?"
Sora glanced up as Riku jumped down from a pile of rocks that he had climbed on top of – probably for the express purpose of watching over them. Smiling, he swiped out at the boy's legs, Ultima appearing in his grasp. The silver haired boy fell and he took the opportunity to pounce and give him an enthusiastic kiss. "Hi."
Riku stared at him blankly and he heard Kairi's giggles intensify as the boy made an incoherent noise in his throat. His grin softened into a wide smile and he leaned down, his knees slipping to either side of Riku's hips. He kissed him softly, and felt Riku relax into it, deepening it quickly. This time when he pulled back to hover over him, Riku had an eyebrow raised quizzically. "Any reason for that?"
'"Because you're oh-so-irresistible and handsome, Riku. I just had to jump you." Self-control is your friend, Sora.' Sora ignored the commentary at the back of his mind after practically throwing his exasperation at Roxas. "No reason. I just thought I could have just as much fun if I was on top of you."
"I'm pretty sure you can have more fun like that," Kairi said and Sora blinked and looked sideways to see she was on her stomach, her chin propped up on one hand. "Don't mind me. Just wondering what kind of present Riku gave you."
Sora groaned and blushed bright red. He didn't need to look to know Riku's cheeks were tinted pink as well, especially when the taller boy sat up and pushed him away. "I didn't know you had the mind of a pervert, Kairi."
"You're room is right across from mine, and you were not quiet, Riku," Kairi commented pointedly. Sora choked and opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, and then finally just decided he was better off not saying anything until his face was less red.
Riku didn't have that problem. "We weren't having sex!"
Kairi tilted her head, and now she was blushing. "Really? Um, then what...?"
'This is your fault,' Sora told Roxas accusingly.
'No one told you to take the suggestion,' Roxas shot back, sounding almost bored. 'I didn't really think you would.'
Sora ignored the flash of darker feelings from Roxas that were a bit like jealousy and a bit like resignation and mostly the same things both of them pretended weren't there. He focused on Kairi who was looking at both he and Riku – and he knew Riku wasn't going to answer. He just blushed brighter when her eyes landed on him.
"Hey, is that for me?" He asked suddenly, his eyes flicking to the box in her hand. It was a good distraction, as both of his friends also focused on the box. Kairi blushed and held it out to him. He took it gingerly, turning it over in his hand. For once he was careful with the wrapping paper, his slim finger smoothing out the creases and pulling gently at the tape. It was wrapped tightly and neatly, and better than Riku had done on his smaller presents, which had been half-heartedly, wrapped and stuffed in a bag.
Inside was a chain necklace. He could feel the magic hovering at his fingertips as he pulled it up to reflect sunlight into the water. Kairi explained, "The man I bought it from said it was good luck. Even if it really isn't, the sentiment can't hurt."
Sora smiled brightly. "Your good luck charms work Kairi, so if you think it'll work it probably does."
Kairi smiled shyly back at him and he glanced down at the chain. There were strange ruins put in, obviously the careful work of hours, if not days or weeks. It would be tighter on his neck than the crown necklace. He unclasped it and brought it around his neck, fumbling to put it on when he couldn't see it. There was a disdainful snort and then gentle fingers pushed his awkward ones away. "I'll do it. You'll ruin her gift if you don't stop fumbling."
He rolled his eyes, but didn't dispute Riku's statement. Kairi cleared her throat and he glanced back at her. "So what did Riku get you?"
"I went shopping at Land of the Dragons. There were some interesting things there. Some powerful protection items." Riku's fingers brushed over his neck and he could have sworn that the boy was leaning forward more than he had to.
"He bought me a book too. Elemental spells, mostly. I'm thinking I might try to see if I can learn an earth spell." He was excited about that – he wasn't much for reading, but it was better than he thought, and he could always ask Donald or Merlin for help later if he had problems. Most magic he had just picked up on his own from watching and feeling it around him. It couldn't be too hard to learn from a book.
Kairi looked faintly surprised. "That's it? I mean... Well, you two are together but that doesn't seem like it would be anything different than usual."
Riku shifted away from him and he met the taller boy's amused eyes. "You're better at explaining these things."
Sora rolled his eyes. More like Riku just didn't want to explain anything too mushy. He thought about it for a moment, but it wasn't a hard answer. "Why should there be changes? We're still best friends. We're just more as well."
"I got him a skateboard, too," Riku offered, grinning at Sora's wide eyes. "I was going to give it to you later, when there was somewhere better to use it."
"I can use a skateboard anywhere!" Sora boasted and twisted around to move closer and stare at him pleadingly. "Where is it?"
"Later, Sora," Riku said, looking amused. He was about to push a bit more – but then relented. He owed Riku a bit of time to give him apresent when he was keeping a secret. He caught the brief flash of surprise – and disappointment. Riku had expected him to force the issue. He grinned a bit smugly to himself. They did like riling each other up.
"I still don't get it. It just seems... unromantic," Kairi muttered. Sora stared at her, and could feel Riku doing the same.
Finally, he could only try and explain it once more. "Kairi, we're boys."
Both of his friends stared at him. He shrugged uncomfortably – and then Kairi giggled and Riku smirked and cocked his head toward Kairi. "He has a point. We don't get into that sappy stuff."
'Says the boy who thought sex would be a good present,' Roxas snorted. Sora snickered – but was quickly cut off when, in the distance, there was a roar. Quickly following that were screams and all three sprang to their feet and swiveled to face the city. There, floating beneath the crystal, were three giant Heartless. They reminded him of a spider – if said spider's head was on a neck and had giant wings.
The flowery Keyblade exchanged hands, and Ultima's familiar weight was soon in his hands. The three looked at each other in silent resignation before bolting toward the battlefield.
Master Form wore off just as the Heartless he had chosen to fight faded into dark and left behind a giant pink heart, floating upward. Tiredly, he took a potion. He had gone into Valor first, but that form had faded before he had worn down the Heartless. He was tired – but he needed to move. Kairi needed his help.
He turned and for a moment was torn. Both of his friends were having problems – they didn't have his advantage of forms. But he was sure Riku would wear his Heartless down soon, and join him in helping Kairi. He turned and sprinted toward Kairi. The girl had her Keyblade held up defensively as the large spider shaped Heartless dove down toward her.
Sora joined her, sliding in to hold Ultima up above her Keyblade and together they managed to deflect it away. Kairi fell to one knee, panting. "Sora..."
"I know. They're strong." His eyes slid worriedly over to her before he smiled brightly. "But we're stronger."
'Or we will be,' He thought grimly, and felt Roxas stir uneasily.'Don't worry. I'll wait awhile before trying another form – it takes up more energy without people helping and I need that energy. I just wish I could go Final.'
'So do I,' Roxas replied earnestly. Sora helped Kairi up as the Heartless recovered and flew up, farther than either of them could see. Sora tensed, ready for it to come from anywhere – except from behind.
It had landed somewhere behind them and instead of flying had used its eight legs to bear down on them with amazing speed. Sora spun to face it – but was thrown back. He tumbled down a flight of stairs before he caught himself, one hand catching a step and pushing him up to flip and land on his feet. His eyes snapped upward, his determined spark turning to frantic worry as he saw one thin, sharp leg slash at Kairi. The girl crumpled and he lost sight of her.
He needed more power. He dashed upward, frantically reaching for the power that his outfit gave him. He needed Master Form. He couldn't let his friends get hurt anymore. Riku wasn't done yet, Kairi was down – if she weren't defenseless he would have been less desperate. She was getting better at taking care of herself.
He grasped the power that came to him, focusing on master form. There was a flash of light – that quickly turned to darkness. 'Shit. Sora!'
Roxas tried, but it was no use. There were no coherent thoughts in Sora's mind now. As the light faded away the Sora that crouched there was oozing with darkness. Glimmering yellow eyes flashed from one Keybearer to the next, and then to the Heartless. There was the Keys, the allies, the non-prey. Everything else was fair game – and the ones made of darkness needed to be gotten rid of. They were harming what was his.
In a flash of darkness Sora galloped in front of the one wielding the gold key and struck upward into and through the heartless. His claws ripped it asunder, carving into the darkness until he could feel the heart it had taken. With a swift swipe of his claws, he had released it, and the Heartless was gone. He flipped and landed on his feet in a crouch, silent as his yellow eyes turned to stare at the next Heartless as it disappeared. The one with the darker Key had finished it off. The male turned toward him and he tilted his head inquisitively. Instinct told him to look for more threats to his people, yet the other protector was staring at him instead.
It didn't matter. Sora bounded around them, looking for more darkness, more things to fight and tear. It was his purpose. Something pale haired and humanoid stuck some weapon in him. More of them were coming. This was a new threat. Claws and darkness tore into the first. They made different cries, and instead of darkness there was red liquid. This struck a distant part of Sora as wrong, but they were a threat, and he needed to kill them.
There was a flash of the darker Key and he spun, a strange keening cry issuing as the Key hit him. And then it came again, and Sora dropped to the stone and knew no more.
End Chapter Eleven.
I actually almost wanted to switch formats a bit for anti form and make it more stream of consciousness but decided against it. Anyway, review please! Feedback is always welcome and if you have questions I will probably answer them if you're signed it because it has that nice reply button then. Next chapter Kairi focus, and the question of where and who those big Heartless came from. Also, for those who have never seen the movie/couldn't guess, they're in Atlantis from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.