Thank you to TheAkatsukiiscoming and ChibiFrubaGirl for reviewing. You guys made my day!
Notes: Just a warning that this chapter is going to be very morbid and have graphic violence. It's necessary for the plot though. Also sorry for changing the viewpoints around. I separated them with a page break but action scenes are hard to write at least for me anyway.
I'm going to try my best to update at least twice a month and the next chapter is short so is shouldn't be to long now. One more thing, I know I keep referring to COM but I have never actually played the game. I just kind of know the plot a bit, so if I get something wrong please let me know and I'll go back and change it.
Guess I should also say there is going to be spoilers throughout this whole fic. Yep…
Chapter 2: Unexpected
Axel made his way through the soaked and glistening city streets of The World That Never Was, keeping against the high dark walls and to the shadows. It had been raining heavily for the last hour and the cold water was starting to weigh down Axel's black robe, making it very difficult to move in and somehow had even gotten into the redhead's nearly calf high boots, making his legs start to feel abnormally heavy and his toes go numb. Axel shivered slightly, pulling his cloak closer to himself and then proceeded to mentally curse Xemnas for making them wear these irritating clothes.
Axel wondered again, why exactly he was trailing Roxas. They were supposed to be friends in every sense of the word, only nobodies didn't have friends. Something as meaningful as trust and companionship couldn't exist without a heart but the only thing Axel found himself thinking about was a spiky blonde haired boy.
Roxas seemed to grasp the nobodies' concept of friendship much better then Axel did. The blonde was indifferent and cold, sometimes vaguely receptive toward Axel but the moments were far and few in between. Roxas never even bothered to tell Axel so much as goodbye before he left the organization, casting the redhead aside as if he meant nothing. The events that took place only a few hours ago kept repeating in Axel's mind.
The sky that was always dusky ebony in their world, rolled with repressed thunder. Axel had been leaning against a charcoal gray stone wall with his arms tightly crossed. Then Roxas had came, walking down the city street and passing Axel without a word.
"Your mind is made up." Axel said at Roxas's back.
Roxas stopped but did not turn around. "Why did the Keyblade choose me? I have to know."
"You can't turn on the Organization!" Axel nearly shouted. When he spoke, again his voice hitched, coming out faintly desperate. "You get on their bad side and they'll destroy you!"
"No one would miss me. " Roxas said after a short pause, proceeding to walk away without even a glance back.
Axel watched as the closest thing he ever had to a friend left him, reaching out a hand, he longed to go after Roxas even if it was just to shake some sense back into the blonde's head. Instead, Axel let himself slump defeated against the unyielding wall. "That's not true... I would." He said quietly. Roxas was to far away at that point. Axel doubted if the blonde even heard him.
That had been all there was to Roxas's explanation for leaving Organization XIII, to search for answers. He didn't even have a plan or anywhere to start looking, just simply left, hardly seeming to care that he turned traitor, barely shrugging one shoulder in response.
The first time Axel saw Roxas he didn't think much of him. The blonde was small and had the body of a fifteen year old, looked scrawny, almost weak compared to the other organization members. Axel underestimated him and would never make that mistake again. Roxas was a raising prodigy, resilient, intensely brutal, quickly becoming Xemnas's favorite, different in that he couldn't remember his past life, having no one just like Axel and somehow the two of them managed to form an awkward friendship.
Organization XIII needed Roxas. Xemnas realized this. Roxas was invaluable, being the other of the keyblade master and having the ability to wield the legendary keyblades himself, making the possibilities endless. Axel had some vague ideas on what Xemnas really wanted and he knew the organization's white haired leader would not let Roxas go so easily, hunting him down until he was dragged back or ended up dead.
Without fail the organization members would do, Xemnas's bidding even if it meant trying to take back Roxas at the cost of their own lives. After the loss of Marluxia, Larxene, Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion, nearly half of them, in that dammed castle, the others would be looking for someone to blame and except for possibly Demyx, they'd jump at the chance to take out their frustration and wrath on the newly turned traitor, be out for his blood.
Even Axel who helped with the destruction of the others by playing double agent to Sora, had to admit he felt something over the death of Larxene. Axel wasn't quite sure what it was and it was an abstract sensation more then any feeling, but it was still something. He and the only female member of the organization, at one point had maybe shared something akin to a common bond. With everything that had happened, it was becoming easier and easier for Axel to see the organization was starting to fall apart.
Roxas did not have a further need for Organization XIII or so Axel assumed. If Roxas wanted information, the organization would hinder him rather then help him. It was the same thing with Axel, the blonde's feelings for him bordering on the unsettled need for support and mere tolerance. Roxas only wanted to disappear as if he never laid eyes on the organization and now that he actually had removed himself from the picture, he could probably care less about what happened to the chakram user or if they ever saw each other again. That aspect hurt Axel more then he would like to admit.
The organization's main goal was to gain hearts, it was what they all dreamed, lived, and strived for. Axel wondered if maybe this reason was a bit of a scapegoat on Xemnas's part, their leader being indifferent, often lost in his own dream world but at the same time as frigid as ice. He'd done and was capable of horrific things, needed something to rationalize himself with and keep his followers.
Roxas on the other hand was completely unconcerned about a heart, never having the desire for one. It was ironic really that out of all the organization Roxas stood the closest chance to ever obtaining one. The blonde's heart or at least a part of it was still out there somewhere, warm and throbbing inside of Sora. Roxas didn't realize how lucky he was in that his other was still alive. That was the only thing Axel would ever allow himself to be jealous of Roxas for.
Roxas had a chance at life where none of the other organization did. Even if the keyblade wielding nobody didn't care and was more then willing to throw it all away. One fact remained as long as his other continued to breath, Roxas would live. Roxas had hope. When all else failed Roxas would still have Sora.
It took only a few minutes after Roxas left for Axel to realize how alone he would be without the blonde and hastily decided he was going to go after him. He would not abandon the one thing in his life that was worth hanging onto, his friend, the closest thing he had to a heart.
Axel didn't know exactly what he would do or even say once he caught up with Roxas and he seriously doubted he could convince the blonde to go back to the organization with him, although he was willing to try. Axel wanted badly to believe that this whole thing was just a stage Roxas was going through. The blonde would see his juvenile act of rebellion for what it was and follow Axel back with no questions asked.
Axel rolled his eyes at his own thoughts. Yeah… right…
Really, the goals of the organization meant little to Axel. He had to admit he was curious about the whole obtaining a heart thing, wondering what would change if he had a heart, if anything. He'd survived all this time without one and often found himself thinking if he even needed one or wanted one but even though he didn't care, following his friend was still like suicide, he was risking everything. Still there was no regret, wherever Roxas led him, Axel knew at least he wouldn't regret it.
Axel would stay with Roxas for as long as he was able, even if Roxas didn't want him there, even if Roxas did not share Axel's desire for friendship. The chakram user would be by the blonde's side, helping him in anyway he could.
He continued to walk through the shinning streets and hard sheets of rain. "You better appreciate this." Axel muttered, knowing of course Roxas wouldn't but it still felt good to say.
The sudden low chirping of heartless made Axel jerk his head forward. The street just before him looked to be alive as it swarmed with Neoshadows as they crawled over each other, moving together, with hundreds of yellow eyes glowing brightly against the sheer black of the night.
Axel could only think of one reason why so many heartless would appear so randomly and why they would all be heading in the same direction. The keyblade, Axel allowed his face to break out into a grin.
Still out of sight, Axel followed the shadows at a distance. Where there was the keyblade, there was always "Roxas!"
0o0o0o0
Riku didn't know what to expect from The World That Never Was but it wasn't this. As soon as he entered the world, he felt the cold air sink into his skin and run up and down his spine.
Riku felt highly on edge, feeling an unexpected and overwhelming desire to turn back, his hands itching for the security of a weapon he did not have. The acute danger he was about to face, finally hitting home. Riku was in the shadowy world of Organization XIII anything was possible out here. There would be no one to hear him if he cried out or on one to cover for him if he fell. He was completely alone.
He could hear a voice in his head, screaming at him to turn around before it was too late.
Riku placed a gloved hand on a rough nearby wall, hunching over slightly, shoulders shaking as he breathed deeply, swallowing back the feeling of nausea, stilling the all consuming impulse to flee.
Forcing himself to straighten up, he stepped forward. He made a promise not to leave without Roxas and he intended to keep it. He would just find the blonde nobody as fast as capably possible and then get as far away as he could from this hellhole of a world.
This is for Sora he reminded himself. He could hang on, he could do this for Sora.
Heavy rain fell onto the world's rigid city streets from a sky that was featureless and vacant, except for the obscured dark pink outline of a large heart shaped moon. Puddles formed on a ground of twisting concrete, reflecting bright neon lights. The city looked completely gray with a few shades of murky black. Even though, Riku had never been here before he could tell the city had not seen daylight in a long time. The moment he entered it, he could feel instantly with every thread of his soul that it was stuck in a forever state of malicious night.
Riku was surrounded in a thin mist as his heavy leather cloak repelled the raindrops, silver strands of hair sticking to his forehead. He reached up a hand, brushing them aside, letting his fingers trail along the edge of his blindfold, the water weighing it down and quickly making it a hindrance. Pulling it up slightly so he could see better, cold rain instantly met and stung his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he pulled the thick hood of his cloak over his head.
Riku had no idea on where to start looking for Roxas. The world of Organization XIII was hostile, deserted, and he looked to be the only hint of life there was, merely a lone dark figure in an already dead world.
The World That Never Was consisted of a maze of obscure and winding paths with over looming concrete buildings that stretched out to the almost non-existent sky. Riku felt closed in and small in comparison. He decided on a random street, continuing to walk unwaveringly forward.
Riku noticed the buildings had no doors as he made his way further down his chosen path, suppressing the tremor that ran through his body, wondering what happened to this world. What had lived in it before and how did it become like this. He let his thoughts stray to the endless possibilities before, quickly deciding he didn't want to know.
The buildings were lit up with numerous flashy street signs. Riku could hear the continuous low buzzing of them in his ears. The green, white, pink, and red gleaming letters that read 'Bar' and 'Inn' and the dim glow of the heart shaped moon were the only traces of light.
Riku drowned out the sound as DIZ entered his mind. The old man would be warm, safe, and dry, sitting in his cushioned chair in front of his computer screens. Riku felt a bit resentful at being made to carry out the dirty work but knew he was the only one who had any chance of bringing back Roxas.
Howling wind ghosted along Riku's chilled body, making his skin crawl. He had the distinct sensation of being followed, turning his head around, Riku saw nothing, only the same leering street. The silver haired teen was never one to ignore his instincts. They were a large part of why he survived so long but Riku knew how nervous he was and he figured it was his mind playing tricks on him.
He needed to focus on something else before he drove himself insane, lightly closing his eyes, he imagined the only thing that could get him through this. His light, Sora. In spite of everything, a smile came to his lips as he imagined blue eyes, spiky brown hair, and a cheerful grin. If everything played out right, they would be reunited soon. "Stay with me Sora." He mouthed soundlessly.
Riku didn't know how long he walked for or how long he thought of the keyblade master but when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a large plaza that seemed to be the center of all the winding roads, the open space a huge relief compared to being surrounded by the solid forms of buildings.
He squinted, looking forward, to see a colossal skyscraper. He could hardly find the point to where it stopped, as it appeared virtually never-ending, making the other buildings seem insignificant in contrast. There was something recognizable about the skyscraper that made him want to turn away, like he'd seen it before in a dream or fractured memory. DIZ unsuccessfully had tried to map out this world, making charts and outlines. Riku was sure the old man must have mentioned a skyscraper before and for the first time he wished he paid better attention. The tower was haunting but Riku could feel its importance and trying hard to remember a single word formed in his mind, 'memory' although he wasn't sure if it was because of something DIZ said or for a darker reason but somehow Riku knew this was Memory Skyscraper.
It was adorned with several large, blank, and broken T.V. screens on colorless metal frames, that maybe once long ago had been used for advertising and illuminated in front with several soft hued blue, pink, and orange flickering lights. There were bleak windows that shone a brilliant but unnatural yellow and large sheets of dusty glass that ran up and down the skyscraper's entire frame. At the very top, Riku could just barely make out a black and yellow ledge that branched out like a spider's web. If he could get up there he would have a whole view of the city. He felt immensely better at last having a goal in sight, a place to start on what was beginning to seem like a futile search.
Riku walked up pealing off white steps that led to the platform of Memory Skyscraper's entrance, relived to see that the massive tower actually had a door. He wrapped his hand around the carved brass handle, pulling, feeling the door give way but not opening. He tried again, straining himself, pulling harder, this time making it fly outward with a rusty creak.
The aqua-eyed teen barely held back a cough as he breathed in a thick layer of dust. The inside was nothing impressive, brightly lit with yellow light, so intense it burned his eyes even through the blindfold. He could see nothing except for many curving staircases, the tower looking completely barren and untouched, the floor spotted marble with a thin layer of grime, shimmering with yellow light. He didn't even want to think about how the lights still worked.
He wanted back out, the tower giving off a supernatural aura, making him feel even more trapped in here then he did outside. He took a sharp breath, strengthening his resolve, knowing he would have to make it to the top before he could leave this world behind. He would have to find Roxas, choosing a staircase, Riku began the tedious climb to the top.
0o0o0o0
Roxas stepped through a puddle, sending it rippling as he made his way through The World That Never Was. A single raindrop was able to get beyond the hood of Roxas's stiff cloak, striking his cheek and running down to the corner of his mouth in a long iridescent trial. Roxas continued on through a haphazard curving street and ignored it.
The rain was becoming irritating but it was nothing compared to the feeling of anxiety that flowed through the young nobodies' veins. He'd left the organization and broken all the rules, one time allies would now hunt him down. None of it mattered to Roxas. No one would stop him on his search for the truth.
For the first time in his short life, Roxas was choosing his own road, walking his own path. He felt alive, would rather slaughter anyone who stood in his way then have this feeling taken from him. If the organization wanted to chase after him. Let them, he welcomed it.
Roxas wanted a goal, needed something to strive for, would never get that with the organization. Xemnas had given him vague answers but they weren't nearly enough to satisfy him and Roxas only ended up with more questions. All Roxas really knew was that he was a nobody, he didn't have a heart, and he was the other of the mythical and famous keyblade master.
The blonde didn't comprehend exactly why he could wield the keyblades or why he was noticeably more different from the other Organization XIII members. He badly wanted to know why the keyblade had chosen him, if he had a destiny or fate. He desired to understand how he was born, how he came to be in the first place. Why Xemnas struggled death deafeningly to complete Kingdom Heart, when Roxas doubted it was even possible, there had to be something more to Xemnas's goal, something deeper and Roxas no longer wanted to be apart of it.
Roxas wasn't even sure if his questions had answers. Still anything was better then remaining with the organization. He knew there had to be more out there then a meaningless existence he couldn't even call a life. When everything came down to it, Roxas mainly just realized he wanted to see his other.
He had planned on leaving the organization for weeks, slipping away as if he'd never been there and that would be the end of it. He hadn't counted on one thing, Axel, hadn't meant to confront the redhead before he left. It just kind of happened. Roxas didn't think his so-called friend would relate any information about his departure to the rest of the organization but Roxas couldn't be to careful, never really one to believe in trust. Then there was always the possibility Axel would be idiotic enough to chase after him. Roxas wouldn't put it past him.
Roxas was interrupted from his thoughts by a soft cooing, staring intently at the city's dark surroundings, he found himself in an open plaza with hundreds of Neoshadows springing up from the pavement, stumbling over each other tying to get closer to him, soft cooing growing to a steady hum and Roxas could hear the wet squish of tiny feet on the ground.
Roxas summoned the keyblades, preparing for the fight that would follow. The raven colored and almost sinister form of Oblivion appeared in one hand while the crystal and angelic form of Oathkeeper appeared in the other. The keyblades went together nicely and gleamed brightly in the rain, feeling reassured by the familiar weight, Roxas held them defensively out to his sides.
The heartless continued to come, moving sluggishly as they rose from dark puddles. It was as if there was no end to them and soon their deformed bodies and bulging yellow eyes were all Roxas could see. He wondered briefly, why they always targeted him, knowing it had something to do with the keyblades. The heartless were attracted to the keyblade's power and so they were attracted to him, would follow him to the end of the earth, reacting on blind instinct on their search for a heart, and doing anything to get a hold of one even voluntary walk to their own deaths. It was really to bad the heartless didn't realize they were completely wasting their effort on him. He was a nobody for a reason.
There was no warning before the shadows leapt at him, attacking with outstretched claws, but they never had a chance to descend, Roxas meeting them evenly with duel keyblades, sharp metal tearing easily through inky bodies. With only one stroke of a blade, the Neoshadows burst like liquid smoke.
They kept coming and Roxas continued to slay them, moving in a deadly yet elegant dance of spins and kicks as he sliced and cut through anything that came in his path. Roxas was a blur of motion, making Oblivion and Oathkeeper look nearly invisible. Then the blonde felt a warm static like surge of purple light surround the keyblades and repel the heartless even further but it only lasted a few seconds before it diminished and left Roxas breathless.
For every heartless Roxas killed more took its place and he soon found himself in over his head. He was right in the thick of the heartless, so many Roxas barely had room to move. Feeling the strain in his muscles as they burned from overexertion, he gasped in an urgent need to force air back into his lungs. He needed to find a way out of this. All he had to do was get up higher somewhere, off the street.
Roxas risked a glance over his shoulder to see an overly tall skyscraper framed by gleaming lights. The young nobody smirked to himself perfect.
He gathered his energy, jumping high into the air. They leapt after him and he extended his arms out, holding Oblivion and Oathkeeper tightly in each hand, spinning in the air as if he were a pinwheel. The Neoshadows didn't stand a chance as Roxas severed their heads from their shoulders with fatal accuracy, killing more heartless as he rose higher into the air, using them at his advantage to gain more leverage.
Roxas felt the pull of gravity starting to take effect, quickly tossing Oathkeeper high into the air, the keyblade spun upward in a blazing white circle, smashing into the faces of several unprepared heartless before it stopped in mid air, plunging back down to earth. Roxas caught it effortlessly at the exact same moment he landed heavily back on the street, using the momentum from his landing, Roxas flipped forward and with a few twists, he found himself right outside the swarm. He ran the short distance toward the massive tower, knowing without looking back that the shadows would be right at his heels.
Upon reaching the skyscraper, Roxas allowed his gaze to travel up its frame until he was looking at the very top, eyes widening in shock and surprise when he saw a silver haired and blindfolded teen in clothes almost identical to his own standing on the uppermost ledge. Roxas couldn't think of any reason why another person would be out here. It was very difficult to see but Roxas could tell the teen wasn't anyone he knew Roxas seriously doubted the organization was trying to enroll new members.
He was drawn back to the issue at hand by a familiar high pitched chirp, feeling a set of a shadow's dark claws penetrate his leather boot and dig into the skin of his ankle, Roxas pushed his thoughts away before he brought the hilt of a keyblade down onto the shadow's head. Now was not the time to think about it.
0o0o0o0
Riku stepped out onto the ledge, never so grateful to be outside the interior of the suffocating tower. He pushed his hood back, wanting to feel the air on his face, freezing rain lashing at his skin as he breathed in the icy air, feeling it burn in his chest, chilling him even further but the feeling was comforting, made him feel alive, and anything was better then being back inside Memory Skyscraper.
Riku had been right he could easily see the entire city from this high up, tops of buildings and blinking lights stretched out infinitely before him. Feeling excitement vibrate in his every nerve at having reached his goal, Riku outstretched his arms, letting his head fall backwards, harsh wind sending his hair whipping into his face.
Riku heard a sudden chime and the swish of metal cutting through air, stepping just to the edge of the platform and looking down, a sea of heartless greeted him, the ground seeming to be made of black bodies and glittering yellow eyes. Riku was struck by a wave of confusion, not understanding what they were all doing down there. For that many shadows to be all present at once there had to be something that they had their attention focused on.
Then Riku saw it. Right in the center of the mass, was the glint of a keyblade. His heart lurched into his throat.
It couldn't be could it?
Riku narrowed his eyes and focused hard. Through his blindfold, he could just make out the unmistakable forms of Oblivion and Oathkeeper as they pulsed with an intense purple energy.
It was… it was the legendary keyblades… but how?
A single figure, was handling the keyblades almost effortlessly, destroying the heartless one after another in a series of graceful and well-practiced attacks.
It had to be…it was Roxas. Riku had done it. He found his target.
Riku felt his heart continue to speed up, a rush of sheer thrill running through his blood. His destiny was in sight. All he had to do was take Roxas down, drag him back to the lab, and he could awaken Sora.
He watched as Roxas continued to massacre the heartless. Then without warning, the young nobody flipped away from the oppressive mob and ran toward the skyscraper. Roxas glanced up, directly at Riku and for a moment, they looked at each other.
Riku allowed a smile to form on his lips, having a feeling he just won the lottery.
0o0o0o0
Roxas put all his concentration into picking up speed, making a running leap for the side of the skyscraper but falling slightly short, his foot hitting the concrete base. He jumped again, forcing himself higher, until he was able to anchor himself to the tower's side, both of his feet firmly coming into contact with steel and thick glass. Then in a close to impossible feat Roxas proceeded to run directly up the side of the building.
Roxas held Oblivion and Oathkeeper out, letting them drag against the tower's frame, orange sparks coming from the keyblade's tips with a grinding sound of metal on metal. The heartless were not put off and perused him, their undersized and stubby limbs sticking easily to the side of the skyscraper. Roxas quickly found he was encircled on every side once again.
He crossed the two keyblades in front of him and keeping his balance on the side of the tower, he slashed fiercely outwards, slicing through a multitude of heartless, scissoring and forcing his way to the top.
It did little good. The shadows were relentless and Roxas was rapidly running out of stamina, could feel himself begin to falter, a very dangerous thing for being so high up. In a last ditch effort to take out as many heartless as he could, Roxas threw Oblivion into the air. The dark weapon flew to the top of the tower in an upward spiral, taking out several more shadows along the way.
0o0o0o0
Riku saw Oblivion sail toward him and braced himself for what he was about to do. Clenching his gloved hands together, Riku took a few steps back from the edge of the platform, biting down hard on his lip and using the slight pain to help him focus, he ran the few feet to ledge and dived off.
Riku was falling fast and head first, reaching out a hand, he felt his fingers come into contact with Oblivion, grasping the handle of the keyblade in a fight fist, he snatched it from the air, all the while the pavement was quickly coming up to meet him.
0o0o0o0
Roxas was confused when Oblivion failed to return to his outstretched hand. He hadn't heard the keyblade hit anything and he would have known if it had fallen back down. Roxas looked up, seeing the cloaked other plummeting to the ground, falling close and adjacent to him, protectively gripping Oblivion. For a second it was virtually like time stood still as they passed each other, even the rain seemed to stop. Roxas was at last able to look into his face. The eyes were covered and it was a brief glimpse but Roxas was unexpectedly overcome with a sickening sense of familiarity, almost as if he should know him.
Roxas made no attempt to stop the blindfolded teen's falling, if he wanted to plunge to his death, it held little concern to Roxas, but out of mild curiosity Roxas continued to watch from the corner of his eye. The blonde was more then stunned and faintly amazed when the stranger twisted out of his lethal fall at the last possible second, landing efficiently on his feet without even stumbling to what should have been a mound of splintered bones and splattered blood.
Reaching his limit, Roxas let himself fall from the side of the building. Not being as risk taking, he dropped to a couple of platforms on the way down. They broke his fall somewhat and he landed soundly on the pavement in much the same way the other had. Roxas stood next to him, fighting to catch his breath, their shoulders practically touching.
Hundreds of heartless encircled them and Roxas found they were quickly being coerced to move back into the center of the mass. Somehow, the two of them ended up back to back. Roxas held Oathkeeper ready and in position while the silver haired teen did the same with Oblivion.
Roxas wasn't even sure how this outsider was able to use a keyblade. As far as Roxas knew, he was the only one who could wield them, well… he and the all so glorious keyblade master he kept hearing about. Whoever this was there was more to him then at first glance. Roxas wondered if maybe he was the fist step in his desperately wanted answers.
"Who are you?" Roxas asked, his voice partially drowned out from the rain, sounding labored.
"None of your concern" The reply was equally breathless.
Roxas didn't question him further, focusing his attention fully on the heartless and waiting for the inevitable attack. Roxas would make him talk after the battle was finished. He could be patient until then.
"Only one of us is going to walk away from here." Roxas heard him say, taking a short pause before he continued. "After we finish these guys off you're coming with me."
Roxas smirked. His voice hardened. "Well see about that."
There wasn't anytime for the conversation to progress. It was in that moment the Neoshadows chose to attack.
The shadows moved in their unique dance, as they leapt at the two of them with razor sharp claws. Roxas clutched Oathkeeper firmly, slaying anything that was foolish enough to get in his way. Making quick work of the heartless, he chanced a brief glimpse over his shoulder to see, his counterpart handling the keyblade expertly with well-polished strikes that were nearly impossibly fast.
Roxas had to admit the help was very convenient. The distressed situation he had found himself in earlier now seemed fluently simple. The thrill of battle didn't last long as the whole horde of Neoshadows were virtually and instantly slaughtered between the two of them.
The atmosphere turned even more serious and deadly as Roxas and the blindfolded teen turned to face each other, the two of them breathing hard, having endless small nicks and scratches. Roxas kept his eyes glued to his face as they circled each other, both trying to gauge each other's strength and to see who would make the first move, as if they were switching off in the roles of predator and prey. Roxas had no doubt in his mind that he would win this but he still felt the sensation of anxiety well in his chest, knowing this would be a good fight.
It was a mutual decision as they both ran at each other, keyblades clashing heavily together with a loud whine of scrapping metal, the stranger lashing at him with attacks that were swift and severely accurate. Between the dense rain and the events of the night, Roxas soon found himself having difficulty making out the series of strikes. The silver haired teen's technique was elegant and strictly flawless, nearly to the point of surpassing the blonde's own, the fight dangerously and quickly going far beyond Roxas's expectations.
Roxas focused on blocking, continuing to watch his enemy closely, waiting for a loss of concentration or a stumble, anything at all. It would just take one mistake, one break in the perfect technique for Roxas to gain the upper hand. There was no question the outsider was skilled but no one could hold out forever and soon with a sense of rising desperation the other teen seemed to give up on his string of attacks, lashing out at Roxas's face.
The change in tactic was all Roxas needed, dodging as he simultaneously thrust upward with his keyblade, aiming to sink Oathkeeper right under his ribcage. The outsider evaded the near fatal blow but it was just barely, and he was forced to jump back, his body jarring awkwardly. Not wasting any time Roxas lashed out again, targeting the other's shoulders in an attempt to force him down onto the pavement.
Roxas was surprised when the blindfolded teen snapped out of the disorientation, ducking away from the strike at the last conceivable second but not being able to avoid it completely. Roxas could feel Oathkeeper tear into his dark robe and skit smoothly across the flesh of his shoulder.
The stranger flipped backwards, the two of them finding themselves distanced from one another by a few feet, both winded, his enemy clutching a bloody and seeping gash on his shoulder. Roxas was beginning to feel light headed, wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up, they needed to end this now.
As if echoing his thoughts, the silver haired teen fixed his grip tightly back on Oblivion and they rushed at each other for the second time. Once again, their powerful keyblades collided. After everything, it came down to pure force, using every ounce of strength they had left to push against the other, struggling to gain the advantage.
Roxas felt his feet sliding backwards on the slick street, his back coming into contact with a hard wall as the other slammed him harshly into it, his neck making a painful popping noise and his breath rushing out of him on impact. The taller frame of the blindfolded teen, pressing him further into the rocky surface, keyblades still locked. Roxas felt his muscles scream in protest and an intense burn in his right wrist but he did not relent his death grip on Oathkeeper, looking into the outsider's face, he caught the smug grin, right before his wrist unnaturally bent backwards and snapped under the heavy pressure of the keyblade.
Roxas was momentarily stunned with the sensation of bones breaking through skin. His vision blurred, overcome with white-hot pain, his arm dropping uselessly to his side, a warm gush of blood flowing from his wrist, dripping down his fingertips, but he did not allow even so much as a wince to cross his features. As a last option, Roxas tried to use his left arm to shield himself and take up the slack, preparing for the other's next blow but he wasn't nearly fast enough and instead of aiming another attack at Roxas with his keyblade, the blindfolded teen kneed the blonde viciously in the stomach.
Roxas hunched over gagging on his own blood, not having time to regain himself before he saw the glint of Oblivion enter his vision, the silver haired teen bringing the hilt of the dark keyblade down onto Roxas's face, his jaw cracking as his head was jerked callously to the side.
Roxas felt himself falling onto the rain soaked street of the city before everything went black.
0o0o0o0
Riku had won. He'd done it. Everything he worked so hard for he'd finally accomplished. He could reawaken his best friend. With Sora by his side, Riku could escape his hellish life. It didn't matter what happened as long as Sora was with him.
The adrenaline rush the battle with Roxas had given him, was quickly wearing off, leaving Riku feeling shaky and completely drained. His robe was ripped in various places and he was bloody. Cold rain was hitting the open laceration on his shoulder, making it numb but also sting badly. Riku ignored it, to overcome with emotion to focus on much of anything at all.
He could never remember feeling so blissful. After a year of separation, he was finally going to be reunited with Sora. In spite of everything that had happened up to this point, Riku was consumed by the joyous feeling, almost having half a mind to scream out his victory to the pouring rain but quickly stilled the desire and settled for a smile instead.
He let Oblivion drop from his hands, not caring for the moment where the dark keyblade ended up and knowing Oathkeeper had to be sprawled out on the street somewhere close by. As soon as Riku was out of this world, he'd be able to reestablish control of Way to the Dawn, being able to summon his own keyblade was something he was definitely looking forward to.
He walked over to Roxas, kneeling down beside him, having the sudden urge to see the nobody's face, wondering if Roxas resembled Sora in anyway.
Riku peeled the hood back and was met with a pale and almost too young looking face. Roxas had tarnished golden blonde hair that spiked up defiantly to one side, his lips an even paler shade of coral. The nobody's features looked almost delicate. Roxas was breathing softly and his eyes were gently closed, as if he were simply sleeping. Riku wanted to see the color of his eyes and debated with pulling an eyelid back but quickly decided against it.
The blonde's face looked unscathed except for a small gash over his eye and a thin trail of blood that was running from his temple and down his cheek. Riku was glad for this. He hadn't meant to be overly cruel, only wanting to do enough damage to allow himself the win.
Riku could see a resemblance to Sora if he concentrated but there were many small differences. Roxas's features were unique. It was almost the same thing when he tried to see Kairi through Naminé, he just couldn't.
He took a hold of Roxas's shoulders, pulling him into a sitting position so he was up off the wet concrete. Securely gripping the nobody's right forearm, Riku swung it over his shoulders, careful to avoid the blood drenched mess of the blonde's broken wrist, placing his other arm around Roxas's waist, Riku rose with him, taking the full brunt of his weight, Roxas's head boneless and rolling against his shoulder
Riku realized just how tired he was when the effort made him gasp for air. Roxas was not surprisingly light and the top of his head didn't even come up to Riku's chin. Even so Riku would have to take the blonde back like this, much too worn out and in too much pain to even attempt carrying him.
Riku shifted Roxas in his arms so the nobody wasn't irritating the wound of his shoulder, focusing his last remaining energy on forming a portal, he scarcely had time to move his hand before he was interrupted with the whine and rush of metal cutting through air, hurtling towards him. The past year of living virtually blind had heightened Riku's other senses, and he was able to hear the object at once, something he could tell that was dangerous and sharp.
He bent his head backwards, instinctively starting the motions of a back flip, attempting to evade, almost making it, but he was exhausted from his brutal fight and he hadn't counted on Roxas's weight, the blonde's arm across his shoulders enough to pull him down.
Riku felt a viciously sharp and jagged edge tear into his lower back. The thing that struck him was smooth, cold, and solid. With out difficulty it dug and cut through his cloak and the skin and muscles of his torso, knocking him forward, making him inadvertently let go of Roxas.
Riku caught himself, even while his body started to intensely convulse, pure agony flaring in his every nerve, making him feel as if he was being burned alive. Blood rushed into his throat and he choked on the metallic taste, as it erupted from his mouth, splattered to the ground. Bright red ran down the corners of his lips, dripped from his chin, streaking his face.
Riku forced himself to stay up right on unsteady and trembling legs. He was in shock, everything happening in less then the blink of an eye, tried to get his mind around the hazy feeling of extreme pain, to focus, to get himself through this.
He looked down at himself, seeing a white point coming out from his stomach, reaching down to touch it, he bit back a scream as black spots threatened to cloud his vision, as his spine felt like it was being snapped in half, his hands coming away shaking with his own blood, pooling and glimmering on his black leather gloves. Whatever the thing was, it was lodged inside of him. He couldn't concentrated like this, he couldn't do anything, much less attempt the portal again. Riku had no choice. He would have to pull it out.
He limped a couple of steps forward and practically collapsed onto the same wall he had forced Roxas against, putting an elbow against it to brace himself, he brought the sleeve of his cloak up to his lips and pushing the material into his mouth, he bit down hard, letting his other arm travel behind his back. The object felt like a metal disk surrounded by large pointed spikes, his fingers trailing down a spike until his hand curled firmly around the object's sharp edge, glove doing little to protect him from the bite of the metal. Riku shut his eyes tightly and in a quick movement pulled ruthlessly outward.
He made a sound through his sleeve that was somewhere between a scream and a whimper, metal slicing through his glove with the strength of the pull and cutting deeply into his hand. Warm liquid heat coated Riku's palm, pouring from the torn material, while the white point slowly retreated from his stomach, shredding his skin and tearing his muscles even further, sending a new gush of blood to flow unrestrained down the front of his cloak, the thing coming free from his torso with a wet ripping echo.
Riku held the object out in front of his face. It was a metal disk colored white and a vivid shade of orange, welded together in an intricate design of metal with large elaborate spikes crafted all around the edges. It gleamed with a metallic shine, soaked in Riku's blood, a chakram.
He was in so much unbridled pain that he hardly perceived the heavy footsteps from behind him and the chakram being taken out of his hands until a hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed. Riku felt himself being yanked backwards, against a wiry body, could feel a puff of warm breath on his cheek and a low whisper in his ear. "Burn baby burn."
The hand instantly let go and with out the added support Riku plummeted backwards, falling onto his back and hitting the concrete hard, his throat closing around a mixture of blood and bile, the foul substance finding its way into his mouth as he turned his head vehemently coughing it out on the street. When he was able to focus again he looked upward through the rain, just making out a lean figure standing over him with vibrant spiky red hair.
The figure took a couple of steps back, glaring at him with heated green eyes but with an unreadable expression of his face. "Maybe, you should think twice next time before you try to walk off with my friend."
Riku didn't reply and the redhead didn't look to expect one, instead refocusing his attention on his blood covered chakram, and raising it to eye level, studying it and grimacing. "Well that's just great. Hey, I know it's not much of a consolation but it's going to take me awhile to get all of this off." The redhead's voice had changed from hard to somewhat amused and seemed completely out of place.
"Who…a-are…y-you." Riku just managed to choke out through the blood in his mouth.
"The name's Axel got it-"
Axel was interrupted as Riku expelled more blood from his lungs with another body-wrenching cough. Looking up, the redhead let his eyes run over Riku's frame, watching the increasing flow of blood for a moment. He frowned, looking faintly repulsed. "Yeah… Never mind, look just hang on a bit and I may be inclined to heal you but I need to…" Axel pointed backwards to where Roxas was lying a few feet away. "Tend to my friend first."
Axel's voice suddenly turned serious and resentful as he pointed a chakram in Riku's general direction. "Don't move. I won't go easy on you again. If you try anything you're dead."
The redhead kept his dark green eyes on Riku as he quickly made his way over to Roxas, placing his hands on the blonde's shoulders, he shook the young nobody almost roughly. "Hey Roxas…Roxas…Roxas!" The blonde remained unresponsive.
"Yeah, I guess that wouldn't work." Axel said to himself. The charkram user then produced a dark violet glass vial of liquid that Riku assumed was a potion.
"No…w-wait…don't." Riku breathed out.
Axel ignored him and placed a finger between the blonde's lips and against his teeth, taking a hold of Roxas's jaw in his other hand, succeeding in prying the blonde's mouth opened.
Riku watched the scene with growing distress, if Roxas woke up Riku knew he was as good as dead. It was almost funny the way he felt on top of the world one moment and all his dreams came crashing down and he was facing death with the next. Riku glanced to his side, seeing Oblivion splayed out across the pavement, he could tell it would be just scarcely in his reach. The opportunity was not one he could afford to pass up, looking quickly to Axel and seeing that the redhead's attention was now focused almost completely on Roxas, Riku kept his eyes trained on the charkram user as he slowly inched his arm painstakingly toward the keyblade.
'Time to wake up sleeping beauty." Axel chanted as he tipped the contents of the vial into Roxas's lips. The potion dripped down the blonde's chin, running down the corners of his mouth but Roxas was able to reflectively swallow a large majority of it. The blonde's numerous cuts, scrapes, and the gash on his head began to heal and the shattered bones of his wrist snapped back in place, the exposed wound closing. Roxas groaned, his eyes twitching rapidly as he came to wakefulness.
Riku's hand was halfway toward the keyblade.
Roxas sat bolt upright, staring blankly at Axel's face and looking very confused, lifting a hand to his temple, Roxas allowed himself a small wince at the steady pounding of his head, blinking a few times before at last recognition flowed over his features.
Axel was about to reach out a hand and ask if Roxas was alright when the blonde gave him a piercing glare. "Axel…the hell…"
Axel sat back slightly, allowing Roxas more room to move. "It's nice to see you too Roxas." He said with a smile even though his voice was just on the borderline of being sarcastic.
Roxas narrowed his eye further, clearly not amused. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. Leave now."
Riku's fingers brushed the edge of Oblivion.
"That's it?" Axel asked feigning hurt. "I risk being turned into a dusk to come track you down and in the rain no less, since you don't seem to realize your little mission here is suicide and all I get is 'Axel the hell, what are you doing here. Leave' you could have at least said hi Axel, it's nice to see you too."
Roxas blinked vacantly for the second time. "So what are you doing here?"
Axel sighed with a frustrated air and pointed in Riku's direction. "Saving your neck obviously."
Roxas allowed his gaze to follow Axel's finger until his eyes landed on Riku. "Oh right him."
The blonde nobody stood up not bothering to brush off his water slick and grimy blood encrusted robe, summoned the keyblades and Oathkeeper immediately appeared in his hand, tossing the white keyblade into the air, Roxas caught it single handed as if were nothing more then a tambourine. All traces of lethargy gone as he walked over to Riku.
Roxas stood by Riku's head and looked down at the silver haired teen's face. If he saw Riku's outstretched arm in the direction of Oblivion, he chose to ignore it. Roxas was once again overcome with a sense of familiarity. Something was burning in the back of the blonde's mind telling him he should recognize the stranger who was a disarray of torn flesh laying out on the city street. Roxas didn't like the feeling. With a thick leather boot, he toed Riku cruelly in the side of his ribs. "Who are you?"
Riku looked up at him but didn't answer.
Roxas felt agitation pool inside of him, putting the point of Oathkeeper directly on Riku's forehead, not even applying enough pressure to graze the skin but all Roxas would have to do was press down and he could crush the silver haired teen's skull. "Answer me!"
Off of Riku's silence, Roxas trailed Oathkeeper down his nose and over his lips until the tip was right over Riku's unprotected and straining throat. "I said answer me! What's your name? How can you use the keyblade? Why do you seem so familiar?!"
"Roxas!" Axel called from a few feet away.
"What!?" Roxas snapped, turning to glance over at Axel, surprised when he saw the chakram user staring carefully at the silver haired teen and looking deep in thought.
"His name, it's Riku." Axel said after a short pause. "He's friends with the keyblade master. I bet that's why he seems familiar to you…and…ahhh…he's working with DIZ I think or that's the last I heard."
Roxas glared. "And you know this how?"
Axel ran a hand through his red spikes looking somewhat uncomfortable. "More things went on at Castle Oblivion then Xemnas wanted you to know" Axel then paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. "And of course our wonderful leader didn't want you there for oblivious reasons. Anyway, Riku was-"
"At the castle you mean?"
"Yeah, he was down in the dungeons. Then you know the story right? With the tyranny and then the whole bloody mess of Vexen creating a replica that I somehow found myself right in the middle of. I never did meet Riku but I was familiar with the replica."
"Oh" Roxas said. "So Riku was the one who killed-"
"Right" Axel finished. "Lexaeus and he defeated Zexion."
Riku listened vaguely as the two spoke over his head. The replica was something that still haunted him and Riku however distantly, wanted to know Axel's part in it but he kept silent, not wanting to draw attention to himself.
Roxas turned back to Riku the tip of Oathkeeper still digging into the silver haired teen's throat. "Is that right? Is your name Riku?" The blonde mocked
Roxas felt a rush of excitement. A year ago, the keyblade master had seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. Everyone knew he was still alive out there somewhere but no one had been able to locate him, knowing he was very close to learning the whereabouts of his other, Roxas couldn't keep the excitement and almost longing out of his voice. "Do you know where Sora is?"
Roxas didn't expect a reply but when he didn't receive one, his frustration grew nonetheless. Maliciously, he bent down and tore the blindfold from Riku's face. Riku reflectively closed his eyes, turning his head away. Riku's eyes didn't lie. He couldn't let Roxas see his eyes.
Roxas threw the torn piece of black cloth heatedly to the side. "Why do you wear that stupid thing anyway?!"
Something slender, cool, and soft skimmed across Riku's cheek and he heard a recognizable chirp by his ear. Riku stiffened, realizing at once that what was grazing his cheek was the antenna of a Neoshadow. He hadn't even heard it approach. The shadow emitted another high-pitched squeak, moving closer until it was pressed up against his neck.
The heartless were already back, continually coming in waves and the shadow meant the second one was already on its way. No doubt, they had sensed the keyblade and quickly came running. The street would soon be swarmed with them. Riku had to get off this world.
Riku was about to brush the shadow off when Roxas brought Oathkeeper down onto its head, its eyes bugging out against Riku's throat and he could hear it screaming inside his ear. He flinched, shutting his eyes tighter, trying his best to block out the sound and turn away from it. The heartless continued to scream and Roxas continued to pitilessly ground its head into the pavement. It soon dematerialized, coating Riku's cheek with black mist.
"If you don't answer me." Roxas said almost sadistically. "I'll walk away and let the heartless have you."
Riku felt panic consume him for a moment before he quickly replaced it with distrust and anger, trying to clear his throat well enough to form speech, the words came out barely audible. "You…re…n-not….ser…ious."
Roxas smirked. "Guess you can speak after all. Want to try me?"
"Roxas!" Riku heard Axel's distant voice. "Stop it. I've had enough of this at the tower. He's not going to talk. I'll help you find the answers alright? Just throw him a potion and lets leave."
"Shove it Axel!" Roxas said without looking up. "You shouldn't have followed me." The blonde then allowed a small laugh to escape his lips. "Besides don't you think it would be ironic, the great Riku defeater of Lexaeus and Zexion and after coming so far, eaten alive by mere shadows!?"
Axel said nothing, casting his eyes aside and falling silent.
Riku wasn't sure how he could have ever thought Roxas resembled Sora. Where Roxas smirked cynically, Sora smiled brightly. Where Roxas was harsh and brutal, Sora was caring and kind. Where Roxas didn't have a heart, Sora had one large enough for the whole universe. Riku's hand was finally able to grasp Oblivion. The silver haired teen tried to speak again but he found he wasn't able to with the building mixture of blood and bile in his mouth. Instead, he mutely mouthed two words. It drew Roxas's attention instantly.
"What?" Roxas asked.
Riku mouthed them again, putting more force behind the words but they still came out jumbled and faint.
"I can't hear you" Roxas scowled, kneeling down on the street so he was leaning over Riku, putting his hands on either side of aqua eyed teen's head, lowering his face so it was right above Riku's lips. "What? Say it again."
Riku lifted his head as best as he was able, breathing deeply through his nose before promptly spitting a mouthful of blood, bile, and thick saliva directly into the blonde's face.
Roxas jumped back, wiping at the substance. In the next moment, Riku forced himself to sit up even though it caused gut wrenching pain. Clutching Oblivion with a death grip, aiming the keyblade at the young nobody's head in a last frantic attack. "Sa…id…fuck you."
Roxas easily dodged the blow even with Riku's blood dripping from his eyes and counterattacked with Oathkeeper. Riku could only watch in horror as Oblivion was knocked away from his grasp and the tip of Oathkeeper descended upon his neck before it skimmed across the soft column of his throat.
There was not much pressure behind the strike. Riku would have been killed instantly if there had been, the cut barely breaking the skin as it spread out on Riku's neck in a thin jagged red line. Still the slice of broken flesh was deadly.
Riku instinctively put a hand to his throat, feeling warm blood spurt out from between his fingers, falling back onto the pavement, red liquid filling his throat and rushing into his mouth. Riku strained his mouth to open as blood pooled from his lips, streamed down his cheeks and chin, dripping onto the road, and quickly being washed away by the still beating rain.
Riku felt the need to cough but he wasn't able to, was scarcely able to breathe, tried to force air into his starving lungs but they didn't seem to want to work, seeing black spots at the edge of his vision, Riku realized he was near death, drowning in his own blood.
Riku for the first time opened his eyes to find the world spinning above his head. The dazzling neon lights of the city all seemed to come together in a single blur of blue, pink, and orange. He wasn't sure what was real anymore, reality was quickly slipping away. It would be easy to let the darkness take him. Riku could feel it calling in a familiar low whisper, chilling, gentle, and alluring all at the same time, but he didn't let himself give in, knowing the darkness was not something to be trusted, he railed against it for everything he was worth as he gasped and choked for each breath of air.
Then there was a face above him that he knew he should recognize but couldn't place, searching for a name, his sluggish mind came up with Roxas. The blonde was looking down at him and directly into his face, allowing their eyes to meet. That was something that was not supposed to happen but Riku couldn't recall why. He only knew Roxas had blue eyes, a clear and intense blue as brilliant as the sky. Even though they were a lighter shade, they were still Sora's eyes.
Riku would have given anything to see his friend then. It was the last thing he ever wanted. Roxas's face became distorted, blonde hair suddenly changing to burnet. The skin tone darkened. Riku could see an enthusiastic grin.
"So have you anything else to say?" Roxas asked from above Riku while wiping the gore from his face with a sleeve. Roxas paused shortly waiting for an answer. "Yeah, I didn't think so."
Roxas turned from Riku and began to walk away, motioning for Axel to follow who was looking a bit sick. "Lets go. He's useless now. I'll find the answers on my own."
Axel looked over to Roxas, meeting his hardened gaze. "Roxas I…we just can't…"
"If you want to stay with him and face the heartless fine." The blonde replied. "But I'm leaving, you can either come with me or not it's your choice."
Axel placed a hand on his chin. "Or we could go for the third option, forget all this madness, and you could follow me back to the organization."
Roxas glared. "I told you-"
"Hey, can't blame a guy for trying. Anyway I was only saying-."
Roxas was quickly losing his patience. "Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah, although I don't know why I should. You obviously snapped or something."
Roxas nodded uncaring, summoning the keyblades, and looking them over he let Oathkeeper and Oblivion vanish into thin air to use again in the near future. Hearing more heartless start to arise from the concrete and the beginning of a steady chirp in the background, Roxas started to concentrate on forming a portal when an inhuman voice interrupted him.
"SSSSsssoooorrrrraaaaa." Both Axel and Roxas turned to look at the silver haired teen on the city street who was trying desperately to form speech.
"That's not my name! Don't call me that!"
"SSSooooorrrrrraaaaaaaa."
Roxas clenched his hand and took a deep breath, trying to clam himself down. The blonde quickly relaxed, staring silently and intensely at Riku as if he was in a trance, feeling something while looking at the mangled body. The sense of familiarity was increasing, leaving Roxas feeling distant guilt and an urge to reach out. They weren't his feelings, were what was left over from his other and Roxas wanted no part in them.
Riku was Sora's friend that was all. The blonde only wanted to know the truth, and Riku had at least some of it. Roxas had been about to turn his back on Riku, disregard the entire situation but maybe Riku could still tell him something, the chance was invaluable and Roxas didn't know if he'd ever get it again. He was so sick of being felt in the dark, of not getting anywhere that he was desperate enough to do anything.
"What is it?" Axel asked.
Roxas stepped forward and lifted a hand in a motion for Axel not to follow. "Stay there a minute. I have an idea."
Roxas walked the short distance over to Riku, sinking down to his knees beside the aqua eyed teen, somewhat sheltering him from the rain.
Riku smiled up at the blonde. "SSSssssoooorrrrraaaaaa."
Roxas noticed with disgust that whenever Riku spoke there was more blood and bile that ran down his mouth and that the silver haired teen was swallowing a large portion of it back down. Roxas strengthened his resolve, gripping the side of Riku's face, fingernails digging into pale skin, and turning his head until their eyes met. "You think I'm Sora. Do I look like him?" Roxas asked in a whisper.
"Dammit Roxas!" The blonde heard Axel call in the background. "What are you trying to prove? Leave him alone. Don't you think you've done enough?"
Roxas raised a hand for silence. "Hang on" he said in a clipped tone without moving from his position over Riku.
"SSSsssooorrrraaaaaaa…yyyooouuuu…ccaaaammmeeee…SSSssssooorrraaaa."
Roxas hunched his shoulders, leaning in closer. He felt himself breathing heavily, tried to make his voice as soft as possible but it still came out rough, his words laced with venom. "I'm not Sora."
Riku looked up at him, clearly puzzled. It was taking every ounce of determination Roxas had for him not to lose his tolerance, gritting his teeth and instead of lashing out, he moved to cover Riku's torn hand that was spread out on the pavement with his own. Roxas wasn't really sure what he was doing. The urge to reach out and protect was growing in intensity and the blonde couldn't repress it completely. He hated Riku for trying to take him away and control his life, hated Riku for making him feel this way but most of all he blamed it on Sora. "But I could care less what you think if you help me."
Roxas wanted to be as far away from the feeling as possible, wanted to jerk away, but he couldn't allow himself to yet, being so close to learning where Sora was, he could feel it. Roxas felt Riku's cold fingers move underneath his palm, a nearly nonexistent fluttering and Roxas wasn't sure if he was trying to resist or grip back.
Roxas roughly shifted his grip on Riku's face, still keeping eye contact, tangling his fingers in Riku's silvery rain and blood soaked hair, pushing the other's head back, inadvertently causing more damage to his throat. "If you think I'm Sora then tell me where I am. Tell me so I can come find you. That's all you have to do. Tell me where."
Roxas could feel Riku's body jerk as the aqua-eyed teen tried in vain to breathe and form words, his voice coming out in a strained gurgle. "Throughhh…wwooddsss..Twi..Twi..lliiigghhhttt…ttoowwnnn…ttthheerree..sss…mmmaaanss…ion…poorrrttalll…inn…bassseeemmeennttt…tooo…laaabb…sleepppiinngg."
Roxas gave a genuine but cruel smile before he harshly and bitterly disentangled himself from Riku and immediately pulled away. Riku's only reaction was a labored and half-choked sob.
Roxas briskly walked back over to Axel who was staring at him as if he'd never seen him before. "I can't believe you just did that."
Roxas shrugged. "I have the information don't I?"
Roxas ignored the increasing number of heartless as he held an arm out to his side. Concentrating, Roxas momentarily produced a ring of swirling black, purple, and blue. "So it looks like we're going to Twilight Town"
Axel was looking back at Riku. "Roxas we just can't leave him-"
"He's basically dead. I doubt potions are going to do much good."
"Yeah, but we can't-"
"It might be better if I end his suffering. Should I finish him off?" Roxas asked in all seriousness.
Axel considered it for a second before sighing, "No, lets just get out of here."
Roxas and Axel stepped into the portal, disappearing in a rush of air and a mist of purple and black. It was if they'd never been there, as if Roxas had never taken part in fight that ended up in carnage.
Riku was alone in The World That Never Was, at the mercy of the city streets, wintry rain, and swirling lights. Maybe it finally was time to give into the darkness that kept pulsing at the back of his mind…because the darkness could save him…right?
Riku realized he was forgetting to breathe and let his eyes fall shut, hearing a coo by his ear and feeling a slight weight on his chest, he forced his eyes to open. They were watery and crusted with blood but he could make out the blurry image of a Neoshadow. It looked like an insect the way it was perched on him, with swelling golden eyes, long antenna, and a body made of ebony black. It was right over his heart and the instinct was overwhelming to jerk it off but Riku was far beyond the point of movement.
The shadow's needle sharp claws slashed through his already torn rode. Another heartless appeared at the silver haired teen's shoulder and the two shadows were soon fighting, making gurgled shrieks as they blindly slashed and ripped each other to shreds, fighting over him, Riku realized.
More heartless came from the pavement and swarmed around the aqua eyed teen's entire body. The victor of the fighting two perched back on his chest and started once more to tear at his cloak. In seconds, Riku's pale skin was visible to the cold night air. There was no warning before he felt the heartless rupture his chest and then meld into his flesh.
Nothing he'd ever went through before could compare to the torment Riku found himself in as the cold mass of the Neoshadow broke through his ribcage, claws sinking into the bloody mess of his pounding heart, tears leaked from the corners of his eyes, mixing with the rain. He opened his mouth to scream from sheer agony but nothing came out.
It was only when the claws sunk deeper, started to tear his heart from his body that any real sound came from behind the scream. It was a muffled and strangled groan that sent the blood in his throat and mouth spilling down his face and onto the concrete but it was all Riku had until the world faded to black, the darkness finally claming him as he became blissfully unaware.
Far away in Twilight Town, in an underground lab, the keyblade master for the first time in a year twitched a finger.