RIKU

I gently held her in one arm as I pulled back the covers in the bed. I put her in the bed and tucked her in, then pulled the chair up next to it.

I will watch over her until she wakes up. I may not sleep…. But if that's what it takes to make sure she stays safe….. then I'm willing to sacrifice that. But….. her sacrifice is much more deeper than mine. I'm giving up sleep. Whoo-hoo. She gave up her life. That's a much greater sacrifice. I wish I could repay her.

The moon outside was full, and it was shining through the window, at the end of the room. I put my elbows on my knees, brought my hands together and rested my chin on them. Melody looked beautiful even as she slept.

How can I love someone? That just seems impossible. I don't deserve her. I've done horrible things. Even when I try to force my Heart to look away, it pulls her closer to me. I cannot deny that I have feelings for her….. but how deep are they?

Melody had been sleeping for three days. She also had been slipping in and out of consciousness. Sometimes, when she was conscious, she would talk in her sleep. She even hummed a few times. But I, on the other hand, have not slept nor eaten in the past three days. I had hardly left the room unless I absolutely had to. I couldn't just leave her alone, not until I knew, for sure, that she was perfectly fine. We were already a day behind, but Sora wasn't rushed at all. In fact, he offered that we stay here a week or more if she needed it. Donald had been quite impatient on the matter, but he had also been a very good sport about all of this. Everyone has been very helpful in checking up on us, trying to feed me, and also trying to take my shift so I could get some sleep. But I never took any of the offers. No one can understand why I am not sleeping. Melody would've been able to. I need her. She needs me. I have a feeling that….. Even without the Paupou Fruit, our destinies will always be entwined. It has been since we were children. Nothing can stop it now.

AXEL

"It's suppertime and Riku still has not come out of that room. It's been three days!" Sora exclaimed, "He needs some rest."

"And something to eat." Donald agreed.

"Why don't ya' talk to 'im, Sora?" Goofy suggested.

"How about you three just go and eat. I'll stay behind and talk to Riku. I'll meet you guys there in a bit."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Okay."

As they left the house I went to Melody's door and knocked gently, then opened it.

"Hey, Riku."

"Hey." He said in a whisper.

He was still sitting on the same exact position I saw him in four hours ago. Elbows on the knees, hands locked together under the chin.

"How is she doing?" I asked as I closed the door behind me and walked to the right side of the bed.

"She has been slipping in and out of consciousness for the last few hours." Riku said calmly.

I bent over and cleared a few pieces of hair out of her face. Her forehead was extremely warm.

"She has a fever…" I said.

He nodded and then shifted in the chair as if he had suddenly gotten uncomfortable.

"She's fine though. It's just the body trying to rebuilds its strength."

"How do you know?" I asked with interest.

He smiled slightly and brought his hand up to his heart.

"My Heart just knows…. It knows a lot of things that I don't understand."

"You seem to have been listening to it a lot, lately."

"Yeah…ever since Melody had came to our world, its voice seemed to get louder."

"Look… the reason why I came in here was because….. we're all worried about you. You haven't eaten for three days, almost four. Cid said supper is ready…. You need to eat something. I know that you want to stay here with her and all… but you have to eat something…"

"I'm fine…. Really…"

"You haven't slept for three days, either…"

"Trust me….. Three days is nothing."

"I know that you sleep better around Mel… but you really need to sleep, man.."

"How did you know that?"

"I'm not as oblivious as I make myself out to be." I said with a smile.

He smiled in agreement.

"I just….. can't leave her. I have to stay by her side."

"I'll take your shift. Just go eat real quick and then take a shower or something. You still have her blood all over you…"

It was true. A huge bloodstain rested in the area of his chest, stomach, and lap. He also had blood smudge marks on his arms and hands.

"Oh… yeah…." He said wearily.

"If you don't want to leave her….. then at least let me bring you some extra clothes and some supper…"

He nodded reluctantly.

Finally…. He really does look bad.

I was happy I finally talked him into eating, though.

RIKU

As Axel left the room, Mel sighed quietly and turned towards me. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and some was already running down her neck. She laid on her side and her leg moved over a bit.

She seems restless…. Maybe she's having a dream….

MEL

Zexion had all five of them on their knees before us.

"You fools! You are willing to have your Hearts taken away for this girl?!"

Riku looked up with hatred in his eyes.

"If that's what it takes to protect Mel, then yes. I will do anything."

"Very well." Zexion said as he took out the dark blade. "So…. Who's Heart should I take first, Melody? Sora's? Donald's? Maybe….. Axel's??"

Tears fell down my face. I used up all my magic energy. I could barely move. I was drained. I was on my knees beside Zexion. He held me by my neck, slowly choking me. I was so weak I couldn't fight him. His blade slowly moved from person to person as they all kneeled before Zexion and I. Riku had thrown his Keyblade at Zexion's feet and got down on his hands and knees. Riku was saving me from the Fate that has been in my shadow all along. My Heart was going to be taken, but now Riku has put his own Heart on the line along with everyone else.

"Hmm… to make it more…. Interesting… we'll start off with the strongest and less pure one. The one most loved by the dear Princess.." He said with a laugh.

"No…. please.." I pleaded in a whisper.

He laughed and lifted up my chin.

"Having three Keyblade wielders at my feet, along with Axel, and the King's best court members…. I am feeling pretty invincible right now…" Then he leaned in and whispered so quietly, so only I could hear it. "And once this is over with…. I'll still take your Heart."

Tears helplessly ran down my face as he shoved me back. I hit the ground and Zexion aimed the dark blade.

"Yes. I'll start with you." He said with a dark smile.

I watched in horror as Riku looked at me. His expression was full of passion and sadness. He smiled slightly.

"Melody…. I'm sorry. Y-you look so beautiful…..and… I love.."

Zexion stabbed Riku in the heart.

"No…. no…" I whispered.

I whimpered and cried as one by one everyone I cared about had their Hearts stolen. He took care of Axel last and then he came up to me.

"How do you feel now that you've caused everyone grief and the destruction of every world? What was is that you wanted to do before this all began? Help people? Bah! Look at what you have done. Now…. Because of you…. there isn't anyone to stop me after I take your Heart. How boring for me…"

He arched back his arm and stabbed the blade into my Heart. Searing pain hit my chest as I screamed.

RIKU

She whimpered and cried and then her eyes opened slowly.

"Melody…" I whispered.

I jumped out of the chair and crawled onto the bed. She turned and looked at me, her tears falling onto the bed.

"Hey… hey… what's wrong?"

She sat up and fell into my arms crying.

"Everyone will lose their Hearts because of me…" She whispered.

I wrapped my arms around her then sat up against the headboard of the bed. She crawled into my lap like cat and just wept into my chest. I wasn't exactly sure how to react to this…. And I remember always hating it when girls cried on me. I even remember when I reluctantly pulled Mel into my chest when she cried in Destiny Islands. I hated it. Now… now I wish things would always be like this between us. No words…. Just closure. She looked up at me and smiled.

"T-thank you…"

"For what?"

"For everything. You're been the one to be by my side when I needed it."

She sat up and smiled at me. Her eyes traveled to my clothes. A painful expression came.

"Oh." I said as I looked at my shirt.

"Is that all… mine?" She asked.

"Yes…"

"I had a hole in my stomach and you still held me?"

"Y-yes."

She smiled kindly at me, through her eyes I could tell that she was troubled.

"What's wrong?"

She looked up at me thoughtfully.

"I don't feel any different. I don't feel any more Pure than I did before I died."

"Maybe your Heart needed to get rid of the little darkness it had. Dark feelings rest within everyone's hearts; greed, rage, gluttony, envy, jealousy, hatred, and lust.."

"But what about Love? Is that a dark feeling?"

MEL

Riku looked at me as he pulled his right knee up and put his arm across it comfortably. He was thinking about my question. While he was thinking, I pictured him all clean along with his clothes. His hair was perfectly straight, as normal and his eyes were still the beautiful greenish-blue. When I opened them he was looking at me.

"Thank you…. but I don't think you should be doing magic for a couple more days."

"Well…. You really needed it. You looked like crap."

"Gee….thanks."

"But in a good way…"

"How can someone look like crap in a good way??" He asked laughing.

"I don't know, you can just pull it off…."

I blushed at my own comment. Maybe it would have been better to keep my mouth shut.

"T-thanks…. Melody."

The next moment between us was a long awkward silence that might have been better had a howler monkey screamed or something.

"Melody….. to answer your question." Riku finally said, "Love is not a dark feeling. It is the lightest feeling in the Heart. Love is what made you sacrifice yourself. You loved all your friends."

"Yeah…."

"Let me ask you….. how did you not have friends in your old world?"

"Because… in my school if you don't agree with the most popular kid, everyone dismisses you. I had my own opinions about everything. Opinions that no one else agreed with. You see… Earth was full of contradiction and even hate. Not everyone hated…. But there was more hate than love. Everyone at school would avoid me at all costs just because I believe that anything was possible and I believed in things that, to my world, couldn't be possible."

"Like what?"

"Other worlds. Perhaps me being the one to visit them one day."

"Well…. You were had the right to believe in all those things."

"Yeah…. I had the right…. But that right doesn't protect me from the hatred and frowns of other people."

I looked up at Riku as I fidgeted to where I was sitting on my knees.

"Your love and your belief is what has turned you into a Keyblade Wielder. Your Heart grew with every belief you stuck to. I still don't understand why no one wanted to stand by your side and try to believe what you did. You love everything. You just sacrificed yourself for eleven people that you hardly know. You try to love everyone on first sight. That is what has made your Heart so Pure to begin with. That is why your Heart is the only one that had the potential. Your Heart was full almost nothing but love."

"Yeah…." I said as I looked down.

Riku lifted my chin gently, so I would look into his eyes.

"When you entered our world…you looked like a shooting star so… because I saw it first… Sora made me make a wish…do you want to know what I wished for?"

"What?" I asked.

I could feel my Heart beating. I knew his was beating as well. I knew it was true. He is the missing part of my Heart.

"I wished that someone would enter my life and take away the darkness that lied within my Heart. I wished for you… Peaches."

I was stunned and speechless. This all couldn't just be coincidences…could it? I looked down and black bangs fell into my face.

No… no…. he can't fall for me. I can't fall for him. What if my vision comes true? I have to stop that from happening. I can't let him sacrifice himself. I can't let the others do it too. They need to be the ones to protect Kingdom Hearts…

"Mel?" Riku asked.

"Oh… sorry… I zoned out. Yeah….m-maybe I shouldn't have told you that. I haven't even told Sora…"

"No…no. I'm very glad you told me. I was just thinking that…. All this couldn't just be coincidence… could it?"

"I always used to believe in coincidence…. But now I believe this is Fate."

"Riku…." I began as I took his left hand.

He looked down and then his eyes soften. I played with the white guard that covered part of his hand and his wrist; it went to the middle of his forearm. He smiled sweetly at me. His eyes asked me what I wanted to tell him.

"I…. I wish I could tell you what really lies in my Heart…" I said with a sad smile.

"I know…. so do I. I'm afraid of …. What might happen if I were to.."

"Lose me? I know. I was thinking the same about you."

"Melody….. I.. do. I really have fallen in l.."

I quickly put my small hand over his lips.

"Don't say it. Please. It will make it harder to say goodbye." I said with a quivering voice.

"You make it sound like you don't have a chance at all."

"That's because I know I don't. A vision ran through my head while I slept. I won't tell you what it was about…. Only the fact that I cannot let it happen. It won't happen. Even if it costs me everything…"

"Melody…. whatever it you're thinking…. Don't do it.."

I let go of his hand and looked away towards the door. Surprised, I found that he quickly grabbed my wrist to him.

"Melody…. I can't lose you again. I won't make it. You're the light in my Heart. You always have been…"

"It's my responsibility to keep everyone safe. I won't let Zexion take you all away from me.." I whispered.

"Was that what happened?"

"Somewhat…. I won't explain it any further. You can't know…"

"Why not?"

He pulled my closer to him.

"Because…. Then you might… it might actually happen…" I said as I looked into his aqua eyes.

He tucked my hair behind my head and moved inches from my lips. His eyes flicked from mine to my lips. He leaned forward but I turned away and then Axel walked in.

"Whoa… whoa… you both seem better now…" Axel said with a cocky smile.

I looked from Axel back to Riku.

"I am sorry. I do too, though." I whispered.

He nodded as I settled down against him. I couldn't allow myself to fall for him anymore than I already have. Otherwise it really would make it harder to say goodbye. Besides…. I know that if what I have in mind works…. It will be very hard for him anyway. Axel came up to Riku and handed him a bowl of something. It looked like rice from my world.

"Now…. Eat." Axel commanded. "I see that Melody has changed your clothes…. Good you needed it."

"Riku…. How long have you been watching me?" I asked.

He nearly choked on his food.

"He hasn't left the room for three days, Mel. He hasn't eaten nor slept since you died!" Axel accused.

"Oh really?" I asked as I shot Riku a glare.

He just shrugged his shoulders and smiled casually.

"He was really stubborn about it too. He wouldn't let anyone watch you for him, even just long enough for him to take a shower."

Riku took a bite and swallowed.

"Why were you that devoted to me?" I asked.

He shot me a glare that said, 'what do you think??'

"Well…. I think the answer is pretty obvious, Mel. He likes you." Axel said with a grin.

Riku glared at Axel as he continued to eat. I gloomily smiled.

It's more than that. He wants to tell me he loves me. I want to return the favor…. But…I …I can't.

In order to change the subject I asked what sort of substance Riku was eating. Axel's face lit up as he said that Cid called it 'Full Stomach Pot'.

"Oh yes…. I remember reading about that.." I said with a smile.

"It's really good…. Would you like me to go get you some? And anyway… I would also like to tell everyone that you are awake. Maybe we can leave tomorrow midday."

"Sure…" I said with a giggle.

Axel nodded happily and bounced off towards the door and escaped through it.

"Maybe he should have been permanently turned into a gazelle." I giggled.

Riku almost spewed Full Stomach Pot all over me. I laughed and he laughed along with me. Something that just felt right. He should always be with me. It felt so right to have him here.

Don't get used to it Mel.

RIKU

I knew why she was hiding herself from me. She really didn't want to push me away, but she felt like she had to. She's was right. If her Fate actually happened…. It will be hard to say goodbye. It was already hard enough watching her die, but knowing that she was going to be brought back. She looked up at me again with her soft icy blue eyes. She was about to ask me a serious question. Her eyes said it. She began to fiddle with the guard around my left wrist again, something I noticed, she liked to do for some reason.

"Riku……what would you do…if … if I was lost to darkness?" She asked quietly.

"Why would you ask such a question?"

"Because…deep down inside…I know I will lose my Heart. I don't have a choice. It's my Fate, just like your Fate is to watch me fall to darkness…but I am asking you what would you do?"

I looked down, hiding my eyes behind my silver hair.

How should I answer a question like that?

"Melody…honestly? I don't know. I probably will not make it…"

"Yes…yes, you will! I think out of this entire group, you are the strongest…"

"Maybe in endurance and strength of body…but definitely not the Heart.."

"Riku…your Heart is a lot stronger than you give it credit for. You've been through so much in your life. You used to be a somewhat content, adventurous, and yet an innocent adolescence on Destiny Islands. Now… over the years you have become wise for someone your age, you have also grown a bit quiet and you lack your adventurous ego, but you are still Riku. It doesn't matter whether or not you cover your eyes, your face, or change your complete outer appearance… nothing can change who you are. Nothing can change the strength of your Heart. You have to believe me, your Heart is one of the strongest that I have seen."

I was surprised at the intensity of the speech she gave me. Her voice was somewhat high-pitched, but not in an annoying tone. It was very warm and soothing. Her eyes were calm and her expression was soft. I had to force myself to look away. I was afraid that if I didn't… I would try to blurt out my feelings for her again. I do though. I do love her. I know now…that she loves me back. I wrapped my fingers around her small, warm hands and sighed.

I wish I could do and say more than this.

"If you fell to darkness…" I began.

She lifted her head and watched me as I cleared my silver bangs from my face.

"I will seek revenge on Zexion." I said finally, "Then I would probably die with a broken heart."

"Riku…you know revenge with not solve anything…"

"It may not……but it will make me feel better…"

"It will just fill you Heart with anger and pain…"

"Then maybe you shouldn't leave me…"

"Riku…it's Fate. I can't control it."

"Then I don't know what I would do!" I said with frustration, "What answer do you want to hear from me?"

"That you will go back to Destiny Islands with everyone else… and you will move on."

"I can't do that Melody. I won't be able to just let you go."

"Yes! You can! You'll have to. If I do lose my Heart…there is no way I can come back…"

"What happened to the Peaches I knew a few minutes ago? She believed anything was possible!"

"I believe many things are possible…I don't think that there is a way to come back. I am the first person to ever have a Pure Heart."

"Sora came back…"

"He came back because even as a Heartless he had his will to be with Kairi. Heartless is the darkness in people's Hearts. I don't have any darkness."

I began to grow even more frustrated. I didn't like where she was going with this subject. She was basically telling me that she was going to lose her Heart and that I needed to start getting over it now. She acted as if her Heart was already won over by Zexion

"There is a way. There has to be." I whispered.

There was an accidental quiver in my voice. I think she had caught it because she gently laid her head on my chest. I was actually scared, for once. I remember being scared of darkness for a while, but I got over that quickly. I accepted the fact that it was in my Heart. This is a different matter. This wasn't something I could accept. I wasn't going to accept the fact that Melody will be lost forever. I wasn't going to let her go. I was scared that if I let go of her now…she may be gone forever. I was scared that I really was going to lose her again.

"Melody… what if I don't want to let you go?"

"You're going to have to, Riku. If you don't you will never find happiness in life…"

"I think that you are going to be the only happiness out there for me, Peaches. You're the only one for me."

"Riku…please…your starting to make this hard. Please, just promise me that you will go to Destiny Islands when this is all over with. Promise me that you will go back with Sora and Axel. Promise that you will move on."

I didn't want to promise that. I really and honestly believed she was the only person meant for me. There could be no others. No one has ever looked at me the way she does. No one could ever make me feel the way she does. No one could ever be as beautiful as she is. No one is better for me than her, and I don't even deserve her. After I didn't say anything she sat up and looked at me. I looked away, but she lifted my chin towards her and she cleared my hair away.

"Riku……please……please. Promise!" She pleaded in a whisper.

She was on the verge of tears. Why did this promise mean so much to her?

"O-okay." I finally reluctantly said. "I promise. I promise."

"Thank you, Riku."

She curled into my chest and began to whimper.

"I…will… miss…… you." She hummed into my chest.

"Please…don't talk like that." I said as I wrapped my arms around her.

She didn't say anything, but took in a deep sigh.

"Mel?" but still no reply.

She had fallen asleep on me. I gently laid her down and tucked her under the covers, then I laid down next to her. Tears had fallen down her face before she fell asleep and they remained there. I wiped them away… then stroked her face. I heard the door slightly open.

"Mel I have…your…"

"She fell asleep on me." I explained.

"Oh… well…I guess she still is a little weak."

"Yeah… considering she used her magic to change my clothes… stubborn thing."

"Hmph." He scoffed, "Reminds me of someone else I know. Well… Sora, Donald, and Goofy are back and so we're about to go to bed. Are you going to need anything?"

"No…thanks though."

Axel got my empty bowl and closed the door behind him. I stroked her face and then tucked my hands underneath the pillow I was laying my head on. I began to feel myself drift away.

You see Melody? How can I let you go? I need you. I have to have you here right beside me, just to get some sleep………