Chapter 24: One Door Closes, Another Opens
Riza left her two companions behind to fight this last battle alone. She cared about them, she didn't want to see them hurt. Within fifteen minutes, she made it down the stairs and was welcomed be a door, lighted by an over head light. The keybearer noticed a large lock on the door. She drew her Keyblade and unlocked the door. The door swung open and inside was a dojo setting.
"If you would be so kind to remove your shoes before you enter, I would most grateful," Zakiasu had his back tot he door and didn't even turn to see who it was; he knew it was the keybearer. "I was beginning to worry that you turned tail and left, Mistress of the Key."
Riza removed her shoes and stood proudly, "I will never turn and run in the face of my opponent."
Zakiasu turned around and he was holding a sheathed sword. He drew the blade to reveal its true length, a five-foot straight sword shined in the bright oil-lamp light. "That's good to hear. Let's see if you can back up those words." Riza stood, her blade at the ready as Zakiasu tossed the scabbard to the side. Riza charged as soon as the scabbard was tossed. The two locked blades, each pushing, hoping the other will falter. Riza tilted her blade so Zakiasu's blade grinded against her and threw him off-balance. Zakiasu's blade easily cut through the floor boards. Zakiasu dislodged his blade and saw Riza at the other end of the dojo. "Do you really think keeping a distance between us will help you?"
"No," Riza got behind him, and swung her Keyblade.
Zakiasu appeared to her side, "You're only striking at air!" His blade came down with speed and power, enough to knock Riza back when she dodged the blade itself. Riza back flipped to the wall, setting her gaze on her enemy. Riza jumped off the wall and sped toward Zakiasu, their blades once again colliding. with the momentum she gained from her push off the wall, she knocked him back a bit. They held their stances, blades pressed against each other, neither moving. Zakiasu disappeared without warning, Riza's blade crashing into the ground. Zakiasu flickered all around Riza's smaller body. "You can't hit, what you can't see!" Riza closed her eyes and in her mind's eye she saw Zakiasu moving all around her. She struck out with the speed of a viper, her blade catching him in the shoulder. Time seemed to slow as his blood fell to the polished floor. His right arm twitched slightly. he reached up with his left arm and gripped the Keyblade. It cut his hand as he gripped the blade tightly, his face portraying no signs of pain. He pulled the blade out of the shallow wound.
He let go once it was freed from his flesh. He backed away slowly and lifted his right arm, the blade coming over his head. Faster than she could blink, he was gone. She readied her self for an attack, but he was too quick. She was kneed in the gut from the front, punched in the face from the side, struck in the back for the head, sent into the air then kicked to the ground.
She lied on the ground, Keyblade in a loose grip. She opened her eyes and saw the blindfold of Zakiasu staring back at her. "Done already?"
"Hardly," she got up as Zakiasu backed away. She stood and looked defiant. She spit blood from her mouth at Zakiasu's feet, wiping away the rest. She charged, her blade raised, glowing blue, "Rage of the Vulpes!" Riza disappeared and attacked, Zakiasu deflected the first attacks but was soon overwhelmed by her speed and the randomness of her strikes. Fishing of her attack, she kicked him in the face, sending him tumbling over himself than slamming into a wooden wall, cracking the wood. Little puddles of blood began to form from the fluid dripping out of his slash marks. He pushed himself on all fours facing the floor. He stood after a few seconds. Then rushed Riza, pushing her into a wall. Her Keyblade fell during the shove, disappearing. He held her up against the wall by the collar of her grey shirt. He stuck his blade into the ground, "That can't be good for the blade," she said jokingly. He let go of her collar and pressed his forearm into her throat. With his right hand his creates four little rings of light around Riza's wrists and ankles. Her legs wer ebought together and the rings connected, forming shackles, her wrists were stretched from her body, her body looked like a 'T'. Zakiasu created a rope of light, which held Riza by the handcuffs and suspened her a foot off of the ground.
"I'll make this slow and painful, Keybearer of Light," Zakiasu drew up his blade.
Riza spat in his face, "You think I'll let you win like this?"
Zakiasu let the bloody spit fall down his face, "I know your spirit won't, but your body can't do a thing about it!" He thrust the blade through her left shoulder, the sword going all the way through and then through the wall. Riza's eyes went wide and her mouth hung open, unable to scream, gasps escaped her open jaw. The pain was too much. He drew out the blade slowly, prolonging the pain, he brought up the blood soaked blade to Riza's face.
That's...That's my blood. I can't believe...That I'm going to...No! I won't! Not yet! Not Yet! Zakaisu brought the blade back, Riza's eyes set in determination, and struck Riza in the head with the butt end of the hilt. Riza's eyes didn't falter, they burned with rage and power staring up at the pale face of her foe. The blood from her head wound dribbled down her face, over the bridge of her nose and to the floor. Zakiasu pulled away slowly. Riza, as quick as a cornered animal, lashed out. She drew her feet up, and double kick the light user in the chest, sending him back. "I'm ending this!" Riza drew up her strength and began to pull away at her cuffs and shackles. The light began to shake and bolts of energy shot out.
"Fool! They can't be broken! You force them apart like that, they'll explode!" Zakiasu warned, but Riza' screaming drowned him out. As she forced apart the cuffs and shackles, she could feel the power her family was blessed with run through her veins. The shackles and cuffs began to crack under the pressure. With one final pull, Riza broke the shackles and cuffs, causing the explosion Zakiasu mentioned. A bright light then the dojo shook, the entire castle shook with the release of the power.
As the light faded, Zakiasu looked up, the dojo was in ruins. Smoke filled the place, visiabilitly was next to nothing. He felt for the keybearer's presence, but it was too late. The Keyblade was through his left chest, he was stabbed in the front. He didn't need to look down, he was blindfolded. "So you survived the blast? Amazing. But this isn't over. Not over by a long shot keybearer!" In a flash of light Zakiasu was gone. The smoke cleared and Riza stood as if the Keyblade was still in Zakiasu. Riza stood and dismissed her bloody blade. She walked toward the doorway, the door was blown off it's hinges, she entered in and left up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, half an hour later, she opened the door and closed it. She summoned Pegasus and had him fly her to the tower's top room. There she saw Josh and Charlie trying to wake the princes and her brother.
Ren. Josh. Charlie. Pegasus landed and the cousins looked up to see Riza dismount. They rushed to her and Charlie was the first to embrace the ninja.
"You bitch!" She cried into Riza's silver hair. Riza chuckled a bit, "Don't ever run off like that again and fight by yourself!" Charlie held Riza tight, not bothered by the blood from the ninja's wounds soaking her clothes. Riza lifted her right arm, her good arm, and wrapped it around Charlie's waist. Josh came over and looked at Riza once Charlie let her go. The warrior quickly wiped away her tears, but Riza already saw them.
"I see your in one piece. But your wounds. Look at them!" Riza looked down at her left shoulder and touched it lightly, she winced slightly. Blood was on her index and middle finger when she pulled away her hand.
"Can you fix me up, Josh?" Riza asked with a small smile. Josh sighed.
"I'll try. I'm not good with healing magic and I can only do a little. I'll stop the bleeding then fix up you head. I can heal that completely. Charlie, when I get done with her head, dress her shoulder wound," Josh ordered, Charlie just nodded. The monarchs came over and stared at Riza. Riza met their gaze, then bowed her head.
"I'm glad you two are alright. Sorry for the wait, Sire, Mi'Lady," Riza said formally.
"Keyblader of Light, we must thank you. We are in your debt for rescuing us," King Hearte replied.
"Anything you want, name it. We will grant your wish if it is within our power," Queen Hearte added.
"Thank you, but All I request is that you stay hidden. This war is not over yet," Riza requested.
"Of course."
"Thank you," she bowed. The queen nodded.
"There," Josh stopped the bleeding on Riza's shoulder wound and began to address the head wound. "How did you get this?"
"He it me with the butt end of his sword. I was tied up with his light cuffs and shackles. Then I broke free and there was this big explosion." The four others got a good look at Riza, her clothes were dirty and torn in varous places. Then she looked down at her clothes, "Oh boy! Mi'Lady, can I ask of another favor? If you can, can you fix my clothes?"
The Queen laughed, "Such a humble request. Of course, leave that to me," she lifted her hands and Riza was enveloped in a white light. As the light subsided, her clothes were as good as new. She even got new shoes to match her old ones, as they were destroyed in the explosion.
"Thank you," she bowed. The queen nodded.
"That must have been what we felt not too long ago. So you were in the middle of the explosion?" Charlie said in more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah, I guess you can say that," Riza laughed. She looked down with her eyes, seeing as Josh was working on her head wound. "I was wondering."
"What it is?" Charlie looked at her.
"If you guys would help me out in the last fight?"
"Of course!" Charlie exclaimed.
"Do you even have to ask?" Josh said.
"I just don't want you guys to think me as...weak," Riza spat out the last word.
"Riza, honey, we would never think you as 'weak'. You the freakin' keybearer for crying out loud!" Charlie said, putting a hand on Riza's right shoulder.
Riza smiled and blushed, "Thanks."
The King looked behind him, "Hey, someone's moving back here!" Riza looked up and Josh stood, patting her on the head. He finsihed with her wound. She stood and leaned on Charlie. Josh walked over to see Ren was starting to wake up.
"Hey there, sleepyhead," Josh joked. Ren sat up rubbing his head.
"What the hell happened?"
"You were kidnapped by the enemy. It sucks, I know," Charlie said teasingly.
Ren growled. "Did we win yet?"
Riza shook her head, "Not yet. Charlie, let's dress my wound before Zakiasu strikes." Charlie helped Riza over to a corner and helped the girl.
"Fill me in," Ren stated, and Josh told him what he knew and what he could only guess at. They would have to wait to get the full story from Riza. Ten minutes later, the girls joined back up with the group and planned out their strategy.
"So what now? Wait till he shows himself?" Charlie said impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest. She's been on the sidelines too long for her liking.
"Yeah, but I don't think we'll have to wait-" Riza was cut off when the moon began to pulse. They all looked up and saw Zakiasu hovering in front of the moon.
"Kingdom Hearts! Open yourself to me so I can find a heart to call my own!" Zakiasu called to the heart-shaped moon.
"You won't win Zakiasu!" Riza yelled.
"You'll fall today!" Josh called.
"My sword will bathe in your blood, bastard!" Charlie roared.
"The Brave Lion will carve our victory in your hide!" Ren bellowed.
Zakiasu turned toward the group, "So the Lion Prince has awaken from his slumber. Even your strength won't be enough. Witht eh my power and the power of the still sleeping princes," he turned back to Kingdom Hearts, "Open your doors to me, Kingdom Hearts!" Behind the group, the sleeping princes glowed as did Zakiasu. In a flash he was gone. The light from the princes gone as well.
In front of them, a transparent pathway appeared and gigantic white doors appeared. "Is that...?" Riza whispered.
"Kingdom Hearts..." Josh finished.
The King walked toward Riza, looking at the giant double doors, "There lies the last fight. Will you find victory within or be lost to the dark abyss?" He turned to Riza. "The choice is your's, Keyblade Mistress."
"What choice? I say we fight to the end! Let's give Zakiasu Hell!" Riza yelled. The group cheered along with her.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Charlie asked the group.
Ren, Charlie, and Josh ran up the path. Riza looked around and saw two swords. "Hey! Sesshomaru's swords! Hold on." Riza gripped the swords, but found that one of them wouldn't let her grip it. Riza turned to the monarchs, "Stay here. Where it's safe. Come out, Shippou!" The fox demon came out. "Shippou I want you to guard the monarchs and hold on to Sesshomaru's swords. I know a great demon like yourself can handle such a task," she winked.
"You can count on me, Riza! By why do you want me to hold onto Sesshomaru's swords?" Shippou saluted then asked.
"I promised him that I would bring them back. Yeha, he's an enemy, but he was manipulated. He deserves at least his swords back." Shippou nodded. "Good. See you when we win!" Riza joined the group. "This is it. Let's go out with a bang!" Riza raised her Keyblade, unlocking the doors. Inside lied a small city.
"Welcome, doomed souls. It seems your hearts have lead you to your destruction. i guess it would be wise not to be too loyal to your heart. I'll remember that when I get my heart," Zakiasu summoned a building and hurled it at the group.
"I got this!" Charile called, "Heaven's Swift Judgement!" She disappeared and sliced through the building, clearing a path. Thr group hurried toward Zakiasu. The perched villain summoned Heartless, which the heroes quickly destroyed. Zakiasu hurled more building at them but it proved futile.
The gang reached the building which he was waiting on top of. Riza and Ren jumped and ran up the building's face as Josh summoned Mr.Bubbles which he and Charlie rode upon. Josh and Charlie went ahead and Josh started chanting a spell. When he made it over the building's edge, he released the spell, "Anima Death Chains!" Four sets of bloody chains wrapped them selves around the villainous light user. Charlie jumped off Mr. Bubbles back and launched her Frozen Dragon Breath technique, freezing the chains and part of Zakiasu. Ren and Riza appeared right after.
Ren leaped high, "Midnight Slash!" The dark blue beam raced toward Zakiasu.
"Shinobi Slam!" Riza slammed her Keyblade into the Midnight Slash and crashed into Zakiasu. Smoke rose and visibility was naught. The smoke cleared and only Riza stood. The chains were destroyed and the ice was shattered. But no body of Zakiasu. He was floating several yards above their heads.
"Mr. Bubbles, dismissed." The shark disappeared in a burst of bubbles.
"Purifying Light!" Zakiasu fired a ball of light at the group.
"Got it! Rebound Blade!" Riza's Keyblade connected with the ball and hurled it back at Zakiasu.
"Hmph," He drew his long blade and sliced the ball in two while it was still sheathed.
"Enough!" He lifted his hand and snapped. The warriors disappeared and reappeared in a dojo, much larger than the one Riza fought Zakiasu for the second time.
He appeared soon after the warriors, "How many to do you have?" Riza questioned.
"Enough to get by. Now, who wants to die first?" Zakiasu drew his blade partially, only a quarter of the blade showing.
Ren growled and charged first, his blade reversed and in his left hand. He covered the distance quickly, bringing his blade across. Zakiasu, as fast as lighting, drew his sword and used the sheath to stop the blade. Zakiasu turned and brought his blade around. Ren opened a portal and slipped through just before Zakiasu could strike him. Above Zakiasu, the portal reopened. Ren fell through, bringing his blade down strong. The blades clashed. Zakaisu tipped his sword to let Ren slide off. As soon as Ren hit the ground he was gone, replaced by his sister. The sudden change in energy threw Zakiasu off. Riza launched her attack, going into a berserker, tapping into the Rage of the Vulpes technique. Zakiasu, with only freshly healed wounds did his best to not be sliced by the attack. He noticed that Riza's attacks were a fraction slower than before. Possibly the wound to her left shoulder could cause a small change. Riza locked blades with him, then soon disappeared.
"Wind Scar!" Charlie swung her blade and the energy of the Wind Scar bellowed forth. Still holding onto his sheath, Zakiasu blocked the attack, although it was pushing him back. "One's not good enough. How about a second helping! Wind Scar!" Charlie launched another Wind Scar. The energy crashed through the sheath. As the smoke cleared. Zakiasu was no where in sight.
"Behind you," his calm voice was behind Charlie. Charlie froze, all confidence gone. Zakiasu grabbed her by the back of her vest collar and turned her to face him. His blade was next to him, in the ground. Riza raced to her comrade, Josh prepared a spell and Ren oepned a portal. "You are all fools to think that I can be defeated with a simple technique as the Wind Scar," He thrust his fist into her gut, then threw the limp body across the room, her blade dropping.
Ren appeared behind the evil fighter, swinging his blade furiously. Zakiasu easily dodged the slow sluggish swings. He picked up his blade and deflected the Night Steel and kicked Ren in the stomach. He picked up Ren up and threw him near Charlie. Josh launched his attack, Anima Death Chains.
"This again? Sage of Hearte, you have limited knowledge of spells."
"Not over yet. Shiva Icy Kiss!" The cold wind bellowed forth, freezing the bottom the chains completely and the entire bottom half of Zakiasu. Riza rushed Zakiasu with her Ninja Rush. Zakiasu smirked.
"Light Burst!" The place erupted in light, Riza halted and Josh was stunned. Zakiasu broke free of his binds and took out Josh. When the light subsided, Riza stood with her arm over her eyes and Zakiasu in front of her.
"So you wanted to finish this with just me?" Riza smirked. "I'm flattered," she took a defensive stance.
"I wanted to finish you first so your friends can watch you fail and lose all hope of defeating an omnipotent being such as myself."
"Don't you think you are just a bit full of yourself?"
Zakiasu disregarded that remark, "When I destroy every known world and create my own, I'll build a statue of you, keybearer, then destroy it. Just like I'll destroy you now!" Zakiasu flickered out of sight. Riza stood ready. Zakiasu appeared to her left side, charging toward her. Riza brought up her Keyblade and blocked the attack. She jumped back and took her stance for the Kitsune Claw.
"Kitsune Claw: Rapid Slash!" Riza's body transformed and launched herself at the being of light. The claws came at rapid fire, slashing at Zakiasu. He could do little against the sudden onslaught. Ren woke from his unconsciousness to see Zakiasu fighting with a nine-tailed fox.
Riza? She was able use Maikeru's favorite technique? Amazing! Ren watched his sister fight.
Zakiasu stepped out of reached of a claw swipe and found himself against a wall. He brought his blade in front of him, pointing toward the fox. With new found energy, Riza let loose a second attack. In a growl voice, Riza howled, "Kitsune Claw: Steel Breaker!" The fox was gone and a second later, Zakiasu's five-foot long blade was broke in four, five counting the hilt that remained in his grasp.
"Impossible, I couldn't follow your movements!" Zakisu gasped. He threw his destroyed weapon at the fox, which easily flicked it away with one of it's glorious tails. The fox returned to its human form.
"Give up, Zakiasu. I can end this in one move!"
"Not likely. I'll come back. You can't destroy light!"
"No, but I can destory you! Kitsune Claw: Final Strike!" Riza ran toward the frozen Zakiasu, changing back to her fox form. The claw shot forth and slashed through Zakiasu. Leaving his body bleeding as it hit the floor. The wounds fatal, he will soon bleed to death.
"Fool," came a low voice. "You can't destroy me so long my item will stay intact."
Riza returned to her normal form. "No, Zakiasu. You are the fool. Your blindfold is the item that connects the element of light to your body," She aimed her Keyblade at his head, "Ember Buster!" The fireball shot from the Keyblade, burning away his blindfold instantly. By now, Charlie, Josh, and Ren, have gotten up and hobbled over to where Riza stood. Riza handed Josh the box, "Josh set the box down." The weak mage did so. Riza aimed the Keyblade at Pandora's Box, "May the ten elements that were set free return to their prison within Pandora's Box!" The Keyblade glowed, the box taking on the same hue. The wooden box opened, the ten elements, all glowing a balls of light, flew into the box. Riza counted nine, and turned around to see Zakisu's body fading away. A ball of white light flew out and flew into the box. The box shut and the Keyblade locked the small wooden safe. "Ren, can you get us out of here and near the gummi ship?" Riza asked her brother.
"Certianly." He opened a portal. Josh went to pick up the box and put it under his arm. Ren opened a portal to the tower where the princes and the monarchs were. The group watched as the princes began to glow. Ren looked back and pointed to the door. I was slightly ajar.
"Should we throw Pandora's Box in then close it?" Riza asked.
"No. I'll keep it. I want to study this device that held so much wonder with generations," Josh answered. Everyone looked at him. "I won't open it! I know what happened. Don't worry. I'll be fine with it."
"Well, whatever you do with that box, we have to close that door," Hercules spoke up.
"You're right," Riza raised her Keyblade and the doors began to close by themselves. "Keyblade! Lock Kingdom Hearts!" The Keyblade followed those orders and closed the giant white double doors. The doors disappeared and the moon began to shrink out of existence.
"Let's get out of here!" Charlie shouted.
"Leave it to me!" Ren called, opening another portal. The monarchs left first then Josh, then Riza, after seeing the princes blinking out, followed by Pegasus. She leapt through followed by Ren and Shippou.
The group quickly left the crumbling castle. Outside the castle, were the gummi lied, the giant doors appeared. Riza summoned her Keyblade and pointed it to the double doors. The locking beam shot out and locked the two doors. The group piled into the gummi ship as the world began to quake. Within the soaring gummi, Riza looked back at the falling castle and the moon was shrinking out of existence, the world was breaking apart when the gummi left the atmosphere. Amazed that she fought the majority of the evil that took her life away, probably no more than two months ago. It seems longer.
Two months? That's it? She turned around in her seat and looked toward the cockpit. Soon, I'll be home and this will be a memory. Something I can tell the villagers and they can tell their children, and generations to come on how Ukaizr Riza saved the universe! I'll go down in history like my ancestor. This is great! "Hey Josh. Tell me when we get to my place."
"OK, but we got to stop at Sunset Suburbia first. The twins have to send everyone back to their worlds."
"Oh, ok. Well, I'm going to catch some shut eye before we arrive!" And Riza left within her little room, sleeping away the hours that it took to get to Sunset Suburbia.
The visit was short. Riza's group thanks the twins for their help, while everyone else thanked Riza's group for saving them. Riza told Shippou when he got back to tell InuYasha if she ever got a chance to visit him, that he better be stronger. Shippou nodded and left through the portal with Sesshomaru's swords.
With tearful good-byes, Riza' crew headed out, to Riza's world, Village of the Spirits.
TBC
It's all over. All that's left is to head home.