Disclaimer: I don't own KH…
A/n: This chapter moves really fast. We're getting close to the end now. Thanks so much everyone who reviewed! I can't believe how much support I've gotten for this story!
Sorry for any mistakes, I wrote most of this pretty fast so I could update tonight.
Chapter Nine
Yuffie's stomach flipped as the island dropped away below them. She peered out the window for a moment before jumping up out of her seat and wobbling over to the front of the ship. Glancing back, she could just see Kairi slouched down in a seat in the back, giggling quietly as Sora tried to explain something to her.
"Feeling sick?"
Her gaze shot back down to Riku when she remembered what she was doing. Nodding distantly, she sat down in the seat next to him and watched him steer the gummi ship. He quickly set the autopilot when Destiny Islands had vanished and leaned back in his seat.
"Is that why you didn't want to stay on Destiny Islands?" She whispered, pointing her thumb over her shoulder at the giggling teens in the back. Riku's face fell for a moment. He didn't reply, but reached over and took her hand. He pulled her over onto his lap and sighed.
"It's not like that. They were my best friends and they shut me out for each other. Would you want to live with that?" He said softly in her ear. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
In the back the two teens fell silent. Kairi peeked up over the seats in front of her just in time to see Yuffie be pulled over onto Riku's lap. Leaning back down and smiling widely at the brunette boy beside her, she motioned wildly over the top of the seat.
"They're totally dating!" She mouthed to him as he sat up to see his best friend holding the thin girl to his chest.
"Hmm…" He watched her suspiciously for a moment and Kairi punched his shoulder.
"What is with you? Aren't you happy?" She asked quietly. He shrugged.
"Sure I'm happy, it's just.. Something's weird about Yuffie. I don't like it, it feels dark." He rubbed his shoulder and gave his girlfriend his trademark pout. She threw her arms in the air.
"You've lost it, Sora, I think you're crazy." She muttered.
Riku noticed his two friends watching them and blushed lightly, he'd forgotten they didn't know. He hugged the girl tighter against him and turned his chair so he could see out the windshield better.
"If you guys get hungry there's food in the kitchen." He called back to Kairi and Sora. He heard a scramble and smiled to himself as Kairi yelled at Sora for stepping on her.
"I'm tired." Yuffie sighed. Riku nodded.
"Me too." He stood up with her in his arms and walked slowly down the aisle to the bedroom. Kairi grinned up at him as he walked by.
He pushed the door open and set Yuffie down on a bed. Pulling the covers back so she could scramble under, she smiled up at him happily.
"I'll be in later, I'm gonna explain everything to Sora, maybe he knows how to help you." He stroked her dark hair sadly, knowing what was in store for her. "I can't believe you even want to sleep, I'd be too scared." He forced a laugh.
"I don't care anymore…" She said softly, lowering her gaze. Riku patted her on top of the head and leaned down.
Her eyes slid closed as he kissed her lightly, hesitating for a moment as she leaned in blissfully.
"I'll be right back." He said gently, backing away and closing the door behind him. He leaned against the closed door and sighed.
"You never said anything about having a girlfriend."
He jumped when he realized Kairi was standing right in front of him, leaning in the kitchen doorway. Sora appeared behind her, looking at him with wide blue eyes.
"It's not a big deal." he shrugged, stepping forward.
"Whatever." Kairi muttered as he walked past her to take a seat in the cabin.
"Sora, come here." He motioned the boy over and he sat down next to him.
"You guys need to know exactly what's going on."
xxxxxxx
"No, please, not here…"
Yuffie covered her eyes as she stared out across the marketplace, the burning sun beating down on her from above. It was empty, as far as she could see, not a single person. She shook slightly as she stepped forward, glancing around her in fear.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked loudly, her voice shaking slightly.
The wind howled viciously as it ripped past her, whipping her hair around in her face and nearly knocking her off balance.
'It's time to end this game…'
A grating voice drawled out, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. A shiver crept down her spine and she turned around, staring up at the creature with wide eyes.
It was a good eight feet tall, grey, scaly skin mottled its body. As far as she could tell, it didn't have any visible eyes, and its snake like nostrils flared in excitement when it smelled her fear. Blood seeped from its mouth as drool, and it grinned at her with rows and rows of sharp dagger-like teeth. She could smell the death coming from it and stepped back in horror. Glancing down it's lanky arms, she saw the long claws that had tormented her so many times, bloodstained and dark. It had a long tail, whipping back and forth behind it eagerly, and she noticed the end looked shredded.
"I don't care. Do what you want, I'll just wake up and this nightmare will be over." She said bravely, clenching her fists at her sides. A deep laugh echoed around the marketplace.
'Not this time, little one. This time, you die…'
Her eyes went even wider and she felt a tear roll down her cheek. She spun around and dashed in the opposite direction, leaping over the wall and running across the square. Jumping dangerously down the stairs, she stumbled and fell, rolling several feet when she hit the stone walkway at the bottom. The creature was right behind her and she tore through the neighborhood, dashing around buildings and jumping over ledges.
"I've got to wake up!" She whimpered, panting heavily as the strain of running began to catch up to her.
"Riku!" She screamed as it grabbed her by the hair, flinging her off her feet.
She landed heavily on the pavement and she knew her arm was broken. It bit her broken arm viciously, ripping into the tender flesh and laughing and she screamed in agony.
"Riku!" She shrieked again as the monster threw her up into the air by her mangled arm.
It caught her by a leg when she fell back down and slammed her onto the cobblestone street below. Crying out in pain, she could feel blood matting her hair.
"Riku, help me…" She sobbed.
The creature brought a foot down on her shin and it cracked painfully, causing another shriek of pain from Yuffie.
'You're not having fun, my dear?'
It cackled in her ear and she slapped at it uselessly.
'Riku can't help you now…'
It dragged a claw along the skin of her back, leaving deep gashes in her smooth skin. She whimpered in pain, but her body went limp. The creature flipped her over and her head cracked against the stone again, making stars explode in front of her eyes. It drew a thin line along her cheek and watched the blood seep through the skin. A long tongue flicked out and lapped it up, squealing in excitement.
"Riku…" She gasped, her sight darkening as she felt her body weaken.
xxxxxxx
Sora jumped to his feet, looking around the cabin in near panic. Kairi stared up at him in shock and Riku followed his lead.
"You feel that?" He asked urgently, looking over at Riku. He gave the brunette a confused look.
"Riku!" Yuffie's terrified voice exploded through the silence.
Sora dashed to the bedroom door and threw it open, flicking on the light and staring into the room. Riku shoved in past him and leapt on the bed, grabbing Yuffie's shoulders desperately and pulling her out onto the floor. She was struggling violently against him and shrieking in fear. He shook her gently as Kairi and Sora dashed into the room.
"Yuffie! Wake up! Come on, Yuffie!" He yelled, staring up at his friends in fear when she didn't respond. Kairi held her hands over her mouth in horror.
"What's happening?!" She shrieked, staring at the struggling ninja. She glanced over in time to see the keyblade appear in Sora's hand and he stepped forward with a disgusted look on his face.
"What are you doing?!" Kairi gasped, watching him draw it back and step forward over Yuffie. Riku took the hint and backed away, trusting the brunette.
"I see you." He growled, bringing the keyblade down across Yuffie's chest.
She screamed louder and he swung it back around, slashing it back down and, holding it expertly in one hand, he plunged it deep into her chest. Kairi grabbed Riku's arm as the girl's back arched up into the weapon, her mouth open in a silent scream.
He pulled the keyblade back out and dropped it, kneeling down beside the girl. Riku fell to his knees beside them and grabbed her, cradling her in his arms protectively.
"What the hell just happened?" Kairi cried, running around to stare down at Yuffie's peaceful face.
"She was being possessed by a heartless, a really horrible one." Sora spat angrily.
"How did it get in her?" Kairi asked, touching the girl's forehead gingerly. Sora shrugged.
"My guess is someone was controlling it, I haven't seen a heartless in months." He said as Riku looked up at him sharply.
"Is it gone?" His voice was hushed and shaken, and Kairi put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.
Sora nodded. "I think so, I don't see it anymore."
Riku got to his feet, lifting the unconscious girl with him. He moved across the room and set her back down in her bed.
"Thank you, Sora." He said quietly as the brunette tried to usher Kairi from the room. He looked at his best friend in shock for a moment before his eyes softened.
"It's my job." He flashed a grinned across the room and Riku smiled, watching him close the door as he left them alone.
Riku looked back down at Yuffie's peaceful face. Pulling the blankets up off the floor, he slid in beside her and wrapped an arm around her thin waist. He pressed a kiss against her neck and she sighed.
xxxxxxx
Dim light filtered into the bedroom from the small window, filling the room with a dull glow. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around in confusion. Feeling a weight on her stomach, she looked down and realized Riku lying right beside her. He felt her move and opened his eyes, glancing up sleepily from the pillow as she sat up.
"Are we there yet?" He groaned, brushing the pale hair out of his face. Yuffie stared at him as he smiled at her.
"It's a joke." He mumbled, pulling her back down again. She just gave him a blank look.
"What happened?" She asked shakily, holding a hand to her face. Riku looked up when realization hit him.
"I thought I was going to die, I remember passing out in my dream and that thing said I was going to die." She said, her hand shaking as Riku pulled it down to his chest.
"Sora saved you. He killed it with the keyblade." He whispered. Yuffie stared at him in surprise. She was about to ask more when the door burst open.
"You're not up yet?" Kairi cried, crossing her arms. "We're almost there and Leon already called asking where we were." She waved and walked back out of the room, leaving the door open.
Riku leapt out of the bed, running a hand through his hair. Yuffie sat up and looked around, holding the blankets up around her self-consciously.
"We'd better hurry and find Tifa, she could be in trouble, too." He said, rushing out of the room. Yuffie stared after him and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
Great, that meant getting a talking to from Leon about leaving in the first place. She really wasn't in the mood to see him right now. Sighing heavily, she got up and went into the bathroom to sort herself out.
The ship was just landing when Yuffie wandered out of the bathroom. A jerk to the side caught her off guard and she tumbled into a seat.
"Hey, feeling better?" Kairi smiled down at her and she stared at the red headed girl, nodding slightly. Kairi leaned down and pulled a bag out from under the seat and tossed it at Sora.
The sound of the landing gear hitting the floor of the hangar echoed around them and Riku jumped out of the pilot's seat. He walked over to the seat Yuffie had landed in and offered her a hand.
"You ready?" He asked, helping her to her feet. Without warning, she pulled him into a hug and wrapped her arms around his neck. Kairi watched them happily until Sora shoved her out the door.
End of Chapter Nine