Blade
of Light: Desire For All That Is Lost
Date started: 7.12.06
Date finished: 7.16.06
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but Roxas's maniacal plot! YAY ME!
Authors note:
Hmm…well I decided to learn how to play the acoustic version of Simple and Clean on my guitar, but sadly I never really finished learning how to play guitar. So it didn't turn out so well. But it's such a pretty and sad song that I was inspired to write the next chapter, lucky you! Before I start, I just want to say thank you thank you thank you to everyone who left me a super awesome comment on chapter 8 because that chapter drove me insane, so I really appreciate everyone's feed back. Also thank you to everyone who reads this story and who has commented in the past, it means a lot. So, please enjoy and review!
"I feel like…I'm floating," Sora thought his eyes closed, "Where am I?"
Sora opened his eyes and looked up to see a cloudless azure sky. Standing up, he realized that he was in the ocean. He scanned the horizon and saw an island with a sparkling white beach that made way to tree covered hills. As he started wading towards the shore, he could see that there were tree houses and wooden walkways built in and around the trees. He could also see a smaller island connected to the larger one by a bridge.
"This place…" he whispered as he made it to the beach, "I feel like I've been here before."
"Sora!" A voice yelled from behind him.
Sora turned to see a small boy with silver hair running down the beach.
"Riku?" Sora muttered with disbelief.
"Sora! Hey Sora, wait up!"
Sora looked down just in time to see a smaller version of himself running right into him.
"Wha-?" he managed to say before he was knocked over.
"Hey misters watch where you're going!" The small brown haired boy said, picking himself up and dusting the sand off his clothes.
"Oh, I'm uh, sorry. I didn't see you coming," Sora said staring mesmerized at the younger version of himself.
"Finally," the silver haired boy said as he caught up with the younger Sora, "I thought you'd never stop." The silver haired boy noticed the older Sora and peered down at him with an interested look on his face, "Hey who's this?"
"I'm uh…Cloud," Sora said, staring up at the two boys nervously, "Cloud Strife, who are you?"
"I'm Sora!" Said the brown haired one proudly, "And this is my best friend Riku."
"How's it going?" The silver haired boy asked.
Sora looked at the boys, "how could this be happening? Is this a dream?" he wondered, "Is this my memory playing tricks on me? Or is it real? or not?"
"Hey mister? Are you ok?"
Sora was pulled out of his thoughts, and turned to see the younger Riku looking at him with a concerned look.
"What? Oh, I…I'm fine…." Sora was startled at how the younger version of Riku seemed to really care about him.
"Riku, hurry, Kairi's waiting at the cove!" The younger Sora, said pulling on Riku's arm.
"Are you sure you're ok mister?" Riku asked, still looking concerned.
"Yeah…" Sora said, "You boy's better go meet your friend, I'm sure she doesn't like to be kept waiting."
The two boys turned and started to walk towards the cove.
"Wait," Sora called to the boys.
"Yeah mister Cloud?" Riku said turning around.
"I know that we just met, but could you promise me something?"
"I guess," the younger Sora said, giving Sora a skeptical look.
"Promise me that you'll always be friends, no mater what happens. Promise me that you'll always be there for each other, ok?"
"That's a silly thing to make us promise," the younger Sora said, walking over to Sora and plopping down in front of him. "Why wouldn't we always be friends?"
"Just…say that you will ok?"
The younger Riku came over and sat next to the younger Sora.
"Of course we will, right Sora?"
"Right!" The younger Sora gave Sora a curious look, "Do you have a best friend mister Cloud?"
"I…I don't know anymore." Sora said, looking at the ground so the two younger boys wouldn't see the tears that started to form in his eyes.
"Sora, Riku!"
Sora looked up to see a young red headed girl whom he recognized to be his sister, coming down the beach towards them.
"Kairi!" the younger Sora said, standing up.
As the two boys got up and ran towards the red headed girl, the younger Sora turned around and waved back at Sora, "Bye mister Cloud!"
Sora waved back, holding back tears as he watched the boys disappear down the beach. Getting up, he dusted the sand off his clothes, and took a look around. The island was totally deserted, "Everyone must have gone home for the day," he thought, shielding his eyes from the setting sun. Sora walked to the edge of the water, and stared out over the ocean.
"Will things ever be like that again?" he wondered, closing his eyes, "Will I ever see Riku again? And what about that weird blindfolded boy, who was he? I don't know why, but I'm almost afraid to find out. For some reason he reminded me of Riku, but Riku would never hurt me like that…would he?"
Sora opened his eyes to see the blindfolded boy standing in front of him, horrified, he tried to take a step backward, but found that he was standing on the edge of a precipice. He looked back towards the blindfolded boy to see a giant wave towering over him. The blindfolded boy reached up and pulled off the blindfold to reveal two stunning blue eyes, Riku's eyes.
"No…" Sora said, aghast, "No, he can't be Riku, it can't be true."
The giant wave had reached them, and crashed down upon them like a building. Sora managed to not fall off the edge, but was knocked back and started to lose his balance. The water was swirling around him, threatening to push him off the edge.
"Riku!" Sora screamed to the other boy, "Riku, please help me!"
The blindfolded boy only smirked back at Sora, and reached out his hand to him. Sora struggled towards the boy, reaching out his hand. Finally he felt the blindfolded boys hand grasp his. Suddenly he was at the edge of the precipice again, teetering on the edge, the blindfolded boy the only keeping him from falling. And then the blindfolded boy let go, and Sora was falling, deeper and deeper into darkness.
Sora woke up in a room filled with sunlight; he tried to sit up but realized that he couldn't feel his body. Panicking he tried desperately to move any part of his body but only succeeded in wigging his leg a little. He felt something move at the end of his bed, looking down he saw that Kairi was resting her head on his legs.
"Kairi," he managed to croak out.
His sister lifted her head groggily and rubbed her eyes, "Sora?" Turning to look at him, her face suddenly lit up. "Sora! Thank god, I thought you would never wake up." She got up and came to sit next to him.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, pushing back the hair from his eyes.
"Not much of anything right now," he said closing his eyes again. "Kairi, I can't feel my body."
"Oh Sora…" Kairi looked at him with a frightened look, "Let me go get Tifa, I'll be right back…"
"Wait, Kairi, I had this dream…or a memory…I don't know what it was."
"What happened in it?" Kairi asked, still looking frightened.
"I was back home, on Destiny Islands, or at least I think I was. I…I saw all of us, as kids."
"You and me and Riku?"
"Yes, I actually got knocked over by myself. It was so weird, it was like I was watching a memory play out but at the same time I was part of it. And then I saw the blindfolded boy…"
"He's the one who showed up with Roxas, isn't he?"
"Yeah…wait how do you know about Roxas?"
"Donald and Goofy told me, he's the one who did this to you, right?"
"Mostly, but the blindfolded boy, he stopped Roxas from killing me."
"Yeah, and then he turned around and almost killed you. It's not exactly helping you out if you ask me."
Yeah, but…in my dream or memory, or what ever it was, he was Riku."
"That's just your mind playing tricks on you Sora…it couldn't have been Riku."
"I wish I could believe that, but when I saw him with Roxas, there was something about him that seemed so familiar…"
"Sora, I'm sure that it was just your mind's way of dealing with the physical damage you took. I'm going to go get Tifa," Kairi said starting to get up.
"Don't bother, I heard you two talking and decided to come and check up on Sora. How are you feeling?" Tifa, walked into the room carrying a large tray of food.
"I can't feel anything, my body is completely numb. Am I going to be ok?" Sora asked with a panicked expression.
"Yes, you're going to be fine. Your body is still in shock but in a few hours you should regain feeling in you body." Tifa set the tray down on the bedside table and looked down at Sora, "Although, I'm sure that when you do you'll wish that you hadn't."
"Oh and why is that?" Sora asked, confused.
"Well, from where I'm standing you look like one big giant bruise. I don't think there's a part of you that isn't black and blue."
Sora heard Kairi giggle at this, "Hey, its not funny! I almost got killed!"
"Oh, Sora, I know that you almost got killed but you should have a look at yourself. Most of you is covered in bandages, and what's not covered is purple and green."
"I still don't see how that's funny."
"Ok enough you two, Kairi, why don't we leave Sora to rest. You can come help me and Yuffie gather information on The World the Never Was, Cid was able to restore Ansem's computer."
Kairi rolled her eyes, but got up from the bed, "Oh, that just sounds like oodles of fun."
"Hey, what about me?" Sora asked, "I'm hungry."
"So, I brought you some food, eat it." Tifa said.
"But I can't move!" Said Sora, becoming pouty, "How am I supposed to rest if I can't eat a wholesome meal?"
"The food is to motivate you, the more you try to move your body, the more you'll bring it out of shock. Its obviously worked for your mouth."
"Hey…what happened to rest? Hel-lo! I'm injured, I need R and R!"
"You don't have time for R and R, do you not remember WHY you're in this state? You don't have time to lie around; you've got to get better now! The Organization is getting stronger as we speak, especially with their new addition. You need to be ready to fight!" Tifa turned and started to walk out to door.
"Feel better Sora," Kairi said, patting Sora on the head, "I'll be back later, ok?"
"Ok..." Sora said.
Sora laid his head back on the pillow and pouted as Tifa and Kairi left the room. Feeling his stomach rumble, he looked at the tray of food with a forlorn look on his face.
"Aww man, this bites," Sora thought as he tried to will his body to move towards the tray.
"Ugh...why do I have to come down stairs for dinner?" Sora winced as he stood up from the bed. Throwing his arm over Kairi's shoulder, he pulled himself into a standing position.
"Tifa insisted that you get out of bed, besides, I think Leon wants to have a word with you." Kairi said as she helped her brother to the door and down the stairs.
"Hey, look who it is," Cid exclaimed as Sora and Kairi entered the kitchen, "Looking good kid, how'd ya feel?"
"I wish my body was still numb," Sora said, as Kairi helped him to a seat at the kitchen table.
"Haha, well now we can begin your healing process."
"I don't like the sound of that," Sora said, trying to get comfortable in the wooden chair.
The front door opened and everyone turned to see Leon and Cloud burst into the kitchen.
"Good, everyone's here," Leon said, brushing the hair out of his eyes, "We've got a situation."
"What kind of situation?" Cid asked looking worried.
"The Organization seems to have hacked into the computer system, they've completely taken over the security system and are trying to hack into the core as we speak." Cloud gasped trying to catch his breath.
"Computer system? Security? Core?" Sora asked giving Cloud a confused look.
"You look like hell," Cloud said, giving Sora a sympathetic look.
"Oh thank you, I was going for the "I just got the shit beaten out of me" look, but I guess I just pull of the "looking like hell" look better. And you didn't answer my question."
"Oh right, sorry," Cloud said giving Sora a sheepish look, "We discovered Ansem's computer and found that we can control the town's security system with it. It also contains all of Ansem's research, which is very important."
"The town's security system? Why is that important?"
"The system is programed to destroy the Heartless and recently we have programmed it to destroy the Nobodies too, but if they control the system they can reprogram it to destroy whoever they want it to. It's madness out there."
"And why is the core so important to you if they already took over the security system?"
"Because there is a world with in the computer, the core is the worlds heart. If they get the core, they will have won another world's heart, thus making them stronger. They are getting two worlds for the price of one this way. They get Space Paranoids, and Radiant Garden."
"Radiant Garden?"
"It's the real name of this world, turns out that Hallow Bastion is just the name of the castle. But enough explanation, we have to act now, otherwise the worlds known as Radiant Garden and Space Paranoids will be lost. It seems that the Organization is not interested in taking over the worlds, but destroying them."
"Well then what are we waiting for?" Cid asked, standing up and grabbing his spear, "Lets kick some ass!"
"No..." Sora said.
"No? But Sora!" Cloud said, getting angry.
"No, I will go alone."
"You? But you can barley move!" Yuffie protested.
"Where are Donald and Goofy?"
"Disney Castle, why? Sora you can't do this, your in no condition to fight. Please let us take care of this." pleaded Yuffie.
"Call them, have them warp here and meet us at the castle." Sora said, carefully pulling himself to his feet.
"This is not time to act the hero Sora," Leon said, glaring at Sora, "If you go out there and get killed, then all hope is lost. Do you realize that?"
"I know, but this is my battle. They took Riku from me," Sora looked down as tears came to his eyes, "And then they turned him against me. I won't stop until I rescue Riku, I won't give into death."
Leon sighed and leaned against the wall, "So that blindfolded boy was Riku, from what Donald and Goofy told us about him, I assumed he was, but I didn't think that the Organization would be as bold as to turn him into their minion."
"But Sora, how do you know that he is Riku? It was just a dream," Kairi said quietly.
"It was to real to be a dream, Roxas is messing with me I know it. Besides I know in my heart that it's true, just like my other dream. For whatever reason, Roxas is trying to get to me, and he's using Riku to do it. I won't let him mess with MY Riku anymore, I won't let him get my heart."
Sora slowly started walking towards the door, obviously in pain. As he reached the door, he felt someone slip his arm around their neck and sustain some of his weight. Looking down he saw Kairi's red head.
"Kairi?"
"Your never going to make it to that castle in time if you walk that slow."
"But, its--"
"Too dangerous, right? Well I don't care anymore, you need help and I'm gong to help you."
Sora smiled at his sister, "We'll go together."
Kairi nodded and shifted Sora's arm so she could take more of his weight, "We'll go together."
"You wanted to see me lord Xemnas?"
Xemnas looked up to see Roxas standing in the doorway of his study, "Yes I've read your report on your little visit to the End of the World."
"Oh, and?"
"You have done well Roxas, I was skeptical at first when you asked to test the boy, but you were right. He has completely turned his back on that key brat."
"Well sir, you see, about that, he has mostly surrendered himself to the darkness, but there's still a part of him thats holding back. He stopped me from killing the key bearer, he was hesitant to obey orders to use his dark energy on him. I think that it would be wise to not assign him missions regarding the key bearer for a while."
"Ha, of course you could commend him on for stopping you from ruining the plan. Think Roxas, if you had killed the key bearer at this time, how all of our planning, all of our hard work, would have been for nothing. We have not collected enough hearts yet, the power of Kingdom Hearts is not yet strong enough. You could say that he saved us."
"I believe that this is true, but if you had seen the way he stopped me sir. He didn't just grab me and force me to stop, he got between me and the key bearer, he protected the key bearer. Something must be done sir."
"Hmm...we shall keep him around here for a while. Give him some time to think, but we must be careful that he doesn't allow himself to see the light in his own heart. We must make him feel so betrayed, so angry, that he can't see through the darkness."
"Yes sir, I agree. Don't worry, I will talk to him," Roxas started to walk out of the study, but turned and smiled at Xemnas, "I have a plan."
Riku was standing at the window deep in thought when he heard someone knock on the door.
"Its open," he called annoyed at being interrupted.
"Well well, if it isn't my favorite person."
Riku turned to see Roxas standing in the doorway, smirking. Riku gave him a cold look, and turned back to the window.
"What your not happy to see me?" Roxas asked walking toward him, with a mock pout, "I'm hurt Riku, I take you to see your beloved Sora, and now you won't even talk to me."
Roxas wrapped his arms around Riku's waist from behind and pulled Riku close to him. "Why so angry Riku? Are you lonely in this big room all by yourself?" He whispered in his ear.
Riku glared at Roxas and pulled away from him, "Don't touch me, just leave me alone."
"Aw, don't be like that Riku, I just wanted to talk, thats all." Roxas said coyly.
"So talk, what do you want to know?" Riku asked, sitting down on the bed.
"We'll I just wanted to know why you saved that heartless back stabber. I mean, he pretty much betrayed your friendship and left you to rot in that dungeon."
Riku looked down, "Don't...don't bring him up."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." Roxas said, sitting close to Riku on the bed and slipping his arm around his waist, "Its just, it's hard for me to watch you battle with your emotions like this. You need to let go Riku, move on, he obviously has."
"But...why? Why was he there at The End of the World?"
"He was probably on some errand for the king, you know how much he loves him. He would do ANYTHING for that stupid mouse."
"But what if he was looking for me? What if he hasn't forgotten about me?"
Roxas tutted and drew Riku closer, "Riku, it pains me to see you living in false hope. Sora has long since forgotten about you my silver haired gem. When he was still living in Twilight Town he never shut up about the king. It was always 'King Mickey this' and 'King Mickey that'. But did he ever talk about you? No, he never mentioned anyone by the name of Riku."
"He...he really has forgotten about me, hasn't he?" Riku said, resting his head in his hands.
"I'm afraid so pet," Roxas said, gently stroking Riku's hair. "But don't despair you still have me and the Organization. We care about you Riku, even if that ungrateful brat doesn't."
Riku looked up at Roxas with tears in his eyes, "You do?"
"Of course we do, me especially," Roxas said, taking Riku's chin in his hand and brought his face towards his, "I find my self quite...drawn to you." Roxas whispered as he leaned into Riku and kissed him.
Blabbing:
Shock! Horror! Shattered images! That Roxas is a tricksy one I must say, seducing Riku like that. Poor Sora, he's so utterly helpless right now. The Space Paranoids are next (most likely), once again thank you to everyone who left a fabulous review! They make all the work worth it, so review like crazy!