Kingdom Hearts: The Trials of Light and Dark
A Light in the Rain production
Neki © Light of Heaven and Kitty Fetish
Reni Concept © Kitty Fetish
Reni © Black Rainy
Kingdom Hearts Characters and Concept © Square Enix and Disney
Final Fantasy Characters © Square Enix
All rights reserved.
Light: I GET TO WRITE CLOUD!!!
Rainy: Yes you do!
Light: CLOUD!!! -squeals-
Rainy: Yes…
Light: -evil grin- I shall make him SMILE!!!
Rainy –sweatdrop- Right, you do that. How about starting on the chapter in the meantime.
Light: But…
Rainy: But what?
Light: We haven't made an exceedingly weird and random joke for this authoress' note!
Rainy: So?
Light: IT IS REQUI—
Chapter 4
It was only when he already had Alice locked up in her little pod cage thing that Riku noticed Neki wasn't with him, "Huh?" Starting to leave, he thought of all the places and things she could be doing, "Hiding, picking on Hades, yelling at Ansem, fighting with Maleficent. Yeah, that's probably the one."
But Neki wasn't anywhere in the vicinity on the black and purple clad woman. Nor was she near any of the other villains. Not even her sort of villain best friend, Ursula. Don't ask Riku why Neki hung out with her, for he didn't know. He truly didn't know.
Obviously stumped, he decided to check outside. No where. Then he checked the gardens. No sign of her. Then the library. Not a single trace of the girl seemed to exist! Frustrated that he couldn't even manage to find Neki without resorting to someone's help, he stalked up the stairs to their room. His anger only grew as he neared the top and heard the shower in their room running.
"She was here the whole time!" Yanking open the door, he glared daggers at the bathroom door as he jumped and landed on his bed, causing it to squeak loudly. He shoved his lime green pillow onto his face, then blinked and pulled it back. Green…? When did they get green in their room? Sitting up, he noticed that there where a lot of new colors dictating different sides of the room. On his side there where shades of greens and blues, along with a small amount of yellow. Neki's side sported the usual reds and blues, but dashes of purple here and there. Most of the room was still covered in black, but the colors did make the room seem larger.
Suddenly, the sound of water ceased, and he heard the sounds of Neki drying herself and getting dressed, heating his face just the slightest bit. She emerged from the bathroom, garbed in her regular black spaghetti strap tank top and her red tube top over that, with her dark blue faded jeans and red skater shoes. Her hair was done in the usual fashion tool; left down with a few strands of bangs covering her left eye.
She blinked slowly, not really noticing his existence, and headed to her bed, where she picked up a small notebook and a pencil and a pen. Blinking again, she fixed him with a stare, complete with even more blinking. He was transfixed by that stare, and watched her warily for sudden squeals or glomps.
None of which came.
Instead, Neki switched her gaze to the door and headed out without a word. The back of Riku's neck prickled in that way that told him something was definitely wrong. Standing, he followed her out as she descended the stairs and found her way to the scrying room, where Maleficent and the group huddled, whispering to each other. Riku raised an eyebrow as Neki left that room without even a glare at the GoV and continued her random hike through out the castle, finally stopping as she reached the highest accessible point of the whole place.
Silently, she sat down, opened the notebook, took up the pen, and wrote in quick jerky movements of her wrist. Riku stood behind her, not daring to say anything for fear of breaking the trance that Neki seemed to be in. Leaning over her shoulder carefully, he was able to see what was written.
Reni,
I can't tell you what Wonderland did to my psyche. I can understand that you'd be angry with me for the path I followed, but what other choice did I have? You don't know these people like I do now. If I hadn't agreed, they surely would have killed me on the spot! Agreeing with their terms was the only thing I could do to survive! I'm sure you feel like I abandoned you, and that's partially true, and all my fault.
If this letter finds its way to you, please know that will all my heart, I love you little one.
Forgive me.
Neki
Riku was unnerved, and backed away slowly, feeling as if he had just invaded too far into her privacy. Before she could notice, he fled back the way they came, intent on finding a way to make her forget whatever happened at Wonderland.
He couldn't stand her like this…
He had to fix it…
He had to.
- - - -
"Reni?" A timid warble came from the doorway to her room. She mumbled something under her breath, and pulled her covers further over her head, "Reni…" The voice tried again. Reni recognized it as Donald's voice, but only barely. Her mind was elsewhere, on happy days, on sunny beaches, on weekly picnics, on rafts, on darkness, on nothing. Her mind was on betrayal, on pain, on sadness, on Neki.
"Neki…"
Her mind was on the blood hair, the hazel eyes, the loopy grin, and the cheerful words that was Neki. The hilarious scowl, the comforting hug, the warming words, and the playful glomp that was her best friend. The one constant thing in her life. The one thing that never seemed to change.
That was all over now.
"Reni?" It was Goofy this time. Reni still refused to respond, or more likely, didn't know she was being talked to. She simply continued to murmur to her pillow that the chicken tasted like cheese, the cheese tasted like pork, and the pork tasted like pixie stix, "Reni?" The voice was persistent. It called a few more times before finally giving up.
Her mind was on stupid pranks, cracked up logic, fruitless hunts, and random adventures. On lazy days, eventful afternoons, and sleepless nights. On school projects that ended up looking so colorful you had to wear sunglasses to see it. On rainy days doing random puzzles that were never finished. On cooking projects that left them sleepless for weeks.
All gone.
It was all gone.
"Reni."
This voice was commanding. It was asking her to acknowledge it. It was telling her to. Mechanically, she sat up, the blanket falling in a heap in her lap, and in a raspy tone asked what.
"Get up."
She did as she was told, standing to face the form illuminated in her doorway, wearing not but her pink pajama shorts and a baggy white t-shirt. Her face was streaked with lines from the tears that she had been crying. Her hair was knotted and in dire need of a brushing. Her eyes were empty.
"Reni…"
Reni choked back a sob. He was pitying her. He thought she was weak. He thought that she couldn't help. He was against her. She was against her. They all were against her. They just wanted her out of the way. They didn't care. Nobody cared.
"Are you okay?"
Like you care, she thought scornfully, but sad nothing. Instead she glared and looked away.
"What happened in Wonderland?"
Reni visibly stiffened, which only increased his curiosity.
"Tell me. Did you see anyone?"
What did it matter to him. She promised. But of course she made a promise to a traitor, so she could tell him. Or she couldn't and make him suffer not knowing what was befalling his dear friend and sister. Like she cared. He didn't care. Nobody cared.
"Reni."
"SHUT UP!" she barked, fresh tears flying from her eyes as she ran forward and tackled him to the ground, "SHUT UP SORA! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" She gripped his shirt tighter and pounded him against the ground as hard as she could, "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! JUST SHUT UP! Shut Up! Shut up! Shut up…" Reni sniffed as she gazed down at Sora, who's head was now profusely bleeding. Yet he didn't make any attempt to stop her.
Why didn't he try to stop her? Why was he hugging her? Why was he telling her it would be alright? Why? Why?
"Why?"
"I care."
"Liar!" she hissed as more tears flooded forth, "Liar, liar, liar…"
Sora looked down at Reni, who seemed so small, curled up in a ball in his arms, crying her eyes out. For what reason, he didn't know. But he didn't like it when she cried. It just didn't seem…Right.
"Why would I lie?"
Reni just replied by wetting his shirt with fresh tears, the sobs shaking her body, "I want Neki back. With me. With you. With us. I just want her back…"
Sora gaped at her, not knowing what to say. He rubbed her back as she continued to cry, her moaning the only sound to be heard in the empty gummy ship. Donald and Goofy had left to Traverse Town for supplies for Olympus Coliseum. As her cries turned into hiccups and sniffles, she sat up, rubbing her eyes free of any water.
"We'll get her back."
Reni fixed him with a skeptical look, but nevertheless said, "Promise?" Sora smiled the trademark loopy grin and nodded.
"I promise. Now," Reni raised an eyebrow, "how would you like to come beat up some Heartless with me?"
Reni bobbed her head happily, and smiled, "Yeah!"
"Are you sure?"
Reni nodded.
"Are you REALLY sure?"
Reni nodded again.
"Are you REALLY REALLY—"
Reni jumped up and yelled, "YES! NOW LET'S GO ALREADY!"
Sora laughed and stood, allowing Reni to bandage his head until they could get to Aerith's, Reni apologizing all the while, "I didn't even know you had it in you!" Reni responded with a light laugh.
"Well you know what they say; a person's lowest point is when they are at their strongest."
Sora didn't contradict her. She was living proof of that after all.
"Sora…"
Sora stopped and turned to face her, Donald and Goofy waiting in front of the Hotel for the duo, "What's up?"
"Thanks."
He smiled and held out his hand, "It's what I do."
- - - -
Neki crept silently through the world gate of Olympus Coliseum, not wanting to be seen nor heard. Stealthily, she followed a large crowd of spectators through the gate to the stands, eyeing possible places for her cargo as she went. She sat, inaudibly as she watched a tanned buff-ish man fight a monster, who's name she didn't know. She did know that it belonged to Hades.
After the man, Hercules, won, she filed out with the group, lounging around outside with a small group of teens about her age. She continued looking for places as the group talked about the tough competitor Hercules was supposed to fight tomorrow. Neki knew that it was Cloud. Hades had hired him. Neki had made sure to hid whenever she saw someone with blonde hair. Though she knew that if she saw Cloud, he'd keep it a secret for her. He was always nice like that.
The group was moving again, back towards the stands. Neki's guessed that there was going to be a special fight of some sorts. She didn't know who it was, but she heard from a group of elderly people that they were 'junior heroes'. Neki shrugged and took a spot near the back. It might be a nice fight to keep her mind of what she came to do.
At least she could try…
- - - -
"Junior heroes!" Reni squealed happily, hugging the license close to her chest. Sora smiled and chuckled to himself.
"And just think," he said with his own huge grin, "One day we'll be real heroes!" That was answered with another squeal from Reni and a glare from Phil.
"Are you two even listening to the rules?" the shrimpy goat man growled. Reni pretended to tear up.
"I-I'm so-sorr-sorry! I-I did-idn't mean to m-make you m-m-m-mad!"
Sora suppressed a smirk. He forgot how good of an actress Reni was. She even got Goofy to glare at Phil!
"Sorry!" Phil cried, waving his chubby arms defensively, "Go on in already! Just stop crying!"
"Okay!" Reni piped and led the way through. Sora stopped before Phil, grinning like a mad man.
"She got you good."
"Shut up kid!"
Sora did as he was told and went into the arena for their fight.
- - - -
Neki blinked.
Blonde hair. Pink dress. Blue eyes. Spastic jumping around.
"Oh no."
She rubbed her eyes, to make sure her conscience wasn't playing tricks on her.
No it was Reni alright, because there was Sora.
Neki blinked again.
And a walking dog and duck…
Okay, maybe Riku was right, and she was crazy.
In any event, she had to get out of there before Reni noticed her. Tuna knows what that would cause…
She stood up, excusing herself whenever she bumped into someone's leg, and bolted down the steps as fast as she could without raising any suspicion.
Reni, Sora and Donald were really getting the crowd going, and boosting their egos for that matter, As if Sora's could get any bigger… She laughed lightly, watching her two friends lovingly from the doorway as they fought round after round of Heartless, "They're getting so strong!"
"She has gotten stronger, hasn't she Neki."
Neki stiffened and whipped around, brandishing her fists. Blinking, she registered the tall figure before her, "Cl-Cloud?!"
He raised an eyebrow, and in a mimicking, yet friendly tone, he said back, "Ne-Neki?!" She glared and punched his arms as hard as she could, but wasn't surprised when he didn't even flinch, "Why aren't you in there rooting for her?"
Neki's face took on a pained expression and she lowered her gaze, "I can't. She hates me."
"I find that hard to believe."
Neki looked up at him ludicrously, "I see you're more talkative than usual." Cloud again raised an eyebrow.
"I see you still have a tendency to change topics." She blushed fire red at that and looked away again. She was about to retort when an idea crossed her mind. Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out folded piece of notebook paper with Reni's name written on it.
"Cloud," she looked up at him with pleading eyes, "Can you give this to Reni for me?" He fixed her with a look, which she refused to meet, and sighed.
"You've changed too, haven't you."
It wasn't a question.
"I guess so."
"Fine."
"Thank you."
She moved to doorway once more, just as Reni and Sora were preparing to fight the last boss. Cloud moved beside her, "That's my cue."
"Go easy on her, okay?"
He looked over his shoulder, which she wished he didn't, and gave her a smirk, "You owe me one then." She gave him a half assed smirk in reply.
"If you say so…"
- - - -
Reni grinned in a psycho manner as the fans screamed and chanted the groups names. She looked about the stadium with a crazed look, her eyes settling on a tall blonde with spiky hair, "Oh my tuna…" He walked forward slightly, then stopped, and looked at something over his shoulder. Reni followed his gaze and felt her mouth, and her heart, drop.
Neki was there.
Reni blinked and rubbed her eyes. Neki was still there. Except now she was looking at her. And she looked… Scared? Reni didn't understand, but before she could do much more than call out her name, Cloud entered the arena, and fixed her with a look.
"Long time no see, Reni."
Sora blinked and looked at the two strangely, "Reni, is he from your home world?" Reni didn't even notice that she nodded, she just kept staring at Neki, who continued to stare back with that frightened expression. Neki finally broke the staring contest, as she looked away, obviously pained, but Reni didn't care. She could feel her blood boiling at the thought of that traitor being so close.
Then she remembered something from her home world, and turned to glare at Cloud.
"You smirked for her didn't you."
"No."
Reni rolled her eyes, "Oh, yeah right! You always smirk for her! IT'S NOT FAIR!"
Cloud simply shook his head, and Reni was forced to fight her instinct to stare at the gravity defying spikes as they didn't budge even when he shook his head, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Her eye twitched spastically, "ZEEKY BOOGIE DOOG NEENERS WALLA WALLA BING BANG!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. Sora, Donald, and Goofy all exchanged looks before busting up laughing from the random string of words. Reni puffed out her chest defensively when Cloud didn't even twitch with laughter. As the wheezing trio of boys behind her quieted down, she glared daggers at Cloud, "SEE?!?!?"
She then saw her escape to catch Neki.
"GRRR!!! I'M SO MAD!" Reni screamed and made several random gestures with her hands, "I'll be waiting in the gummy ship if you need me." Reni snuffed her nose up in the hair at Cloud and walked past like a diva, making sure to flip her hair before she was out of sight.
Thank you pissed of Aerith!
Sora blinked, processing the information fully before shouting a little bit too late, "NOW WAIT JUST A DARN MINUTE!"
"Shall we?" Asked Cloud. Sora looked at him, utterly defeated.
Shrugging, Sora got in his battle stance, "Might as well. She's not coming back until after the important battles. Chocolate girl always does this."
And the battle ensued.
- - - -
Neki was waiting in the area outside the lobby with the world gate. A dark portal was opened behind her, and she was constantly blinking. Reni looked at the tousled girl and was almost sympathetic.
"Neki," Reni glared at the older girl with all the anger she had at the moment, conveying it into a message that anyone could read.
Why are you here.
"Reni," Neki replied courteously. Her stare was blank again, but she was still blinking.
A stand-off followed. Neither daring to speak, for fear of losing face. Neither dared to move, for fear of losing ground. Neither dared to look away, for fear of losing heart.
Finally, Neki spoke; quietly, slowly, picking her words carefully, so as not to anger her younger counterpart further, if that was possible at this point, "Cloud. He has something for you. Pick it up while Sora is fighting Hades."
Reni blinked in a moment of surprise, "Hades?"
"The guy with the blue flame hair. He hired Cloud to exterminate Hercules, and also Sora."
She understood then, "So he's one of yours," she stressed the last word, and by Neki's inadvertent flinch, got the desired effect.
"Yes." Neki said in a monotone, "He's one of mine."
Reni looked away, "I better go then. If I have to go get this thing from Cloud."
"By your leave," Neki said formally, as she bowed lowly, obviously surprising Reni. With that, she backed into the dark portal which closed behind her.
"Reni."
Reni turned around to see Cloud standing at the doorway to the lobby, a folded piece of paper in his hand.
"A letter?"
"Yes."
She walked forward and grabbed the letter a little too harshly, opening it up in a hurry and read though it. Then read it again. Then again. Then once more just to make sure it was the bona fide real deal.
It was.
Reni ought back the tears as she became even more confused than before.
…So she's not evil…?
…It's just a front…?
…But how can I be sure…?
…It's not like I can ask her about it…
…Can I…?
…Oh tuna…
…Why me…?
…Why me…?
"Reni."
"What?" She snapped at him.
"I don't know all of what's going on, but I can tell you than Neki still has your best interests at heart. You'll do well to remember that."
With that he was gone.
Left all alone, Reni sat down on the steps near the world gate.
"Why me?"
- - - -
"Neki!"
Neki blinked at the sudden appearance of Riku, "What?"
"Where have you been? Maleficent has finished your new weapon! You need to hurry and get acquainted with it so you won't be useless in battle." He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the scrying room, where Maleficent and the other GoV members, save fore Hades, stood waiting. The witch held a dual bladed staff in her hands. Neki guessed that was for her.
The staff itself was made out of dark chestnut colored oak wood, and the blades, paper thin but dreadfully sharp, were attached with bands of black hills gold. The blades were made of onyx colored metal, most likely steel, with a silver design that mimicked the shape of the blade.
Beautiful and deadly.
How fitting.
Neki stepped forward, and Maleficent held the staff out for Neki to take. It was a foot taller than her with the blades, and upon closer inspection, Neki saw that she could separate the staff into two different sword-like pieces that were connected by a sturdy chain. She blinked, and made eye contact with the witch, "It won't try to kill me will it?" Neki asked skeptically.
Maleficent smiled wickedly, "What use are you to me dead?"
Neki smiled back with more malice, "Good point."
The group dispersed after that, and Neki unsummoned the staff. Riku took up place beside her.
"What?"
"Where did you go?"
"Does it matter to you?" Neki bit. Riku flinched, and looked at her.
"Are you alright?" Neki answered with a glare, "I guess that means no."
"You're an idiot."
Riku raised an eyebrow at her, "What brings this on?"
"It's your damned fault that I'm stuck here, with a bunch of old evil people, and you!" Neki growled, "I should be with Reni, completing my mission as I was sent to do. But you had to go and turn on the charm, and get me so caught up in you that I forgot about what I was supposed to be doing. And know I've lost everything." She twisted away from him, so he couldn't see that she had started to cry, "This is all your fault."
He reached out a hand to comfort her, but flinched again when she recoiled from his touch, "Neki. I'm sorry…But there's nothing more I can do."
"You can help me make Reni understand," Riku watched her back as she shook violently from her sobbing, "I want Reni to know that this isn't my fault…It's not my fault…" She fell to the ground in a heap, "It's not my fault…Not my fault…Not my fault…"
Riku bent down and gathered the delusional girl in his arms, straining just a little to stand up. He opened a portal to their bedroom and stepped through, placing her on his bed. Lumbering in next to her, she snuggled up against his body warmth.
"Not my fault…" she murmured, sleepy from her sob session.
"I know. Neki, god I know. We'll get Beaver back to normal soon. I promise. Then we'll make Reni understand, and the five of us will go home and live together on the island like we did when we were little." He smoothed her hair down, and kissed her still wet cheek, "Everything will be alright."
She mumbled something incoherently and pressed her face deeper into his chest. He smiled sadly, and hugged her tight.
"Please let everything turn out all right…"
- - - -
"Hey Reni!" She snapped her attention and pretended to look around wildly for something, "Reni!" She turned on her heels to face a scowling Sora, a glaring Donald, and a placid Goofy.
"What's up guys?"
"What's up? WHAT'S UP?!?" Sora cried heatedly, "WHERE WERE YOU?!?!?"
Reni blinked and scanned her brain for a legitimate excuse, "Well you see, there was this puppy that I saw on my way to the gummy ship, and it was just OH SO CUTE!!! You know the kind of puppy that just BEGS to be petted and fed? Well it was that kind of puppy. Anyway, I petted it for a little bit, then decided that I just HAD to feed it, so I ran off to find some meat. But then I remembered that someone said it was bad for dogs to eat raw meat, so I had to find someplace to cook it. Then after that, I had to cut it up and put it in a bowl with a little of the juices left in for flavor, and a sprig of parsley on top for finesse! After that I had to wait for it to finish eating because it's only proper to wash a dish after you've used it, so then I did that and petted the puppy some more. Then he left somewhere, and I was looking for him when you guys showed up!" The blonde smiled smugly at the dumbfounded expressions she received.
"You're…joking, right? That CAN'T be true!" Sora said in an astonished tone, with a hint of non-belief mixed in.
"But it IS true! I named him Fred!" Reni countered. Sora continued to stare at the girl as if she was more of an idiot than usual.
Then Goofy made it all worse—for Sora and Donald anyway—by asking, "Why Fred?"
Reni shrugged, "He just looked like a Fred! Sora, why are you smashing your head against the wall? You could go unconscious!"
Sora smacked his head repeatedly against the wall even harder, "That's—THUD—the—WHAM—POINT—BAM!!"
After that he lost consciousness and had to be dragged to the gummy ship…
- - - -
Neki yawned, stretching her arms as high as they would go, "Nice nap!" Grinning, she looked about the room, as if it was all brand new. Sighing, she stood and walked over to the dresser, getting a change of her normal clothes, then went to the bathroom to take a shower and change.
She didn't know what it was about Riku's speech last night, but something about it just made her feel right. Like everything would be okay. She ran a brush through her hair quickly, styling it like usual, and headed down to the scrying room, were Riku was alone. The other villains must not be up yet.
Hugging him around the middle, she whispered into his ear, "Whatever it is you did, thank you."
"It's the least I can do, Neki."
"But it's not yet enough."
Riku turned in her embrace, and wrapped his own arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him, "I figured as much…"
- - - -
Reni paced the length of her room robotically. Sora sat on the bed watching her as she went about. Walk one way, stop, mutter something under breath, walk to other side, stop, more mumbling, repeat. It had been like this for the past hour since they had gotten back on the gummy ship. They were currently headed for Agrabah, and Sora was trying to get Reni to make dinner.
But alas, she was stuck to pacing like a broken record.
"What in the world is wrong with you Reni?" Sora asked, more to himself than to the oblivious girl who continued to pace.
…but Neki is family, and she means the world to me, but on the other hand I can't possible be seen with someone of the dark side, but we've been together so long, but we were supposed to follow the mission no matter what, but she is in love with him, but she should have known better than to get distracted, but even my judgment has been clouded over, but she should have come with me and not Riku, but she did swear loyalty to them, but she swore loyalty to King Mickey first, but…
Ah, Sora, I'm not sure you want to know…Not at all…
End
Light: YOU CUT ME OFF!!!
Me: So?
Rainy: Misse?!? Oo….
Me: What?
Rainy: Nothing…
Light: I SHALL SEEK REVENGE!!! –tackles me-
Me: THE CHOCOLATE! –poofs away-
Light: Now that's just not fair…
Rainy: ANYWAY!
Light: Right! Anyway, that was a VERY angst-y chapter on my part, and I apologize for the lack of humor. –bows- I'm not allowed a large amount of angst or EMO-ness until the final chapters, so have no fear!
Rainy: Thought I'm not sure if we have the EMO/angst cabinet locked up enough to stop you…-stare- You wouldn't happen to have any EMO-ness on you, would you?
Light: -shifty eyed- No…
Rainy: Hand it over.
Light: NEVER!!! IT'S MINE EMO-NESS!!! MIIINEEE!!! –runs in circles insanely-
Rainy: That's it. The EMO-ness has gone to her head. –takes out cell phone- Riku? Get the safety room and the straight jacket ready…She's coming back.
Light: IT'S MIIINEEE!!!
Next chapter's authoress: Black Rainy
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Hope you enjoyed!