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
Neki's Special Line © Wild Arms 3
All rights reserved.
Light: I warn you now. It's a long chapter.
Rainy: Yeah it is! This chapter is The Riku/Sora fight, the Reni/Neki fight, the Sora/Kairi talk, and the rest of Hollow Bastion!
Light: Yeah, and most of it is angsty.
Rainy: The rest?
Light: -snort- I had to have my fun.
Rainy: Right. Have at it then.
Light: And have at it I will! –flies off-
Chapter 10
Cold.
Like her home world in winter. Like Ansem's eyes looking through Riku's. Like Reni's glare at the body she had no control over. She could go on and on with similes to the sensation—or lack there of—going through her body. Summed up nicely:
She felt cold.
She tried to draw a breath, but found herself incapable of doing so. In a panic, she tried to flail her arms. That resulted in more panic on her part. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't see anything. She was nothing but a shadow in the back of her own mind. She choked back a non-existing sob, and let the imaginary tear run down the face that wasn't really there.
Cold.
Trying to take back what was hers, she closed her unreal eyes. Opening up her heart, she felt for a familiar presence. Somewhere. Anywhere. Someone. Anyone. But found nothing. The darkness controlling her gathered itself up, crushing her under its weight, knocking the breath that she couldn't draw from the lungs that weren't there.
Consuming her, the darkness. Taking all that she was, and making it theirs. They had no right to take her life. Her freedom. Her willpower. But it did. And the Neki that was, became no more. She was gone with the darkness, pulled into the eternal slumber.
Cold.
Dark.
Nothing.
- - - - -
Face to face.
A fallen angel.
A weary fighter.
The final battle.
It was the End.
And it had begun.
Reni stared into the empty abyss of Neki's brown orbs. Slipping her bow off her shoulder, she knocked an arrow, "Neki. You will pay for your insubordination. Following your heart or not, I will crush any traitors." Neki said nothing, but summoned her dual bladed staff. The challenge had been accepted.
A flicker of emotion flashed crossed Neki's face. Pain, sadness, regret. They filled the eyes, brimmed them with tears, but left without a second thought.
Pulling apart the staff, Neki swung one side, then the other, "If it's a nightmare you seek," she began walking forward at an even pace, "Then a nightmare you'll get." Reni pulled her arrow taut against her cheek, "One that never ends, and one you cannot wake from." Her pace quickened.
"Rot in my endless nightmare!"
Reni fired.
Neki charged.
The End began.
- - - - -
"Kairi!" Sora's voice was strained, tears threatened to fall as he held her lifeless form in his arms, "Kairi, please! Open your eyes…Please…"
"It's no use."
Blue eyes glanced up to meet cyan ones, "What?"
"That girl has lost her heart."
Again Sora asked, "What? You! You're not Riku."
Instead of answering, the Riku that wasn't Riku stood up, "The Keyhole cannot be completed so long as the last Princess of Heart sleeps." He leapt down from the ledge he previously sat on and landed without a sound.
"The Princess? Kairi's a princess?!" Sora looked bewildered at Kairi's body, as if it would give him the answers he desired.
"Yes. And without her power, the keyhole will remain incomplete," he brandished the sword he held, "It is time she awakened."
Sora glared up at the form, "Whoever you are, let Riku go! Give him back his heart!"
The Riku who was not Riku smiled deviously, "But first, you must give the Princess back hers." Again he brandished the sword, pointing it at Sora with that chilling grin. Sora felt a sharp pain speed through his heart, almost like someone was tugging at his heart. He let out a grunt, and staggered, falling to his knees
Donald let out a worried cry from next to him, "Sora!"
"What's—"
"Don't you see yet?" The Riku shouted at him, "The Princess's heart is responding!" He started down the steps toward the fallen boy, "It has been there all along. Kairi's heart rests within you!"
Riku stood at the end of the stairs leading to the Keyhole, "Kairi's…Kairi's inside me?" Sora laughed to himself. If Neki were with them, she'd have a few choice words to say about that…But she was fighting Reni…Sora felt another sharp pain. Kairi missed her too.
"I know all that there is to know."
"Tell me: Who are you?"
Another wicked grin plastered itself on Riku's face, "It is I. Ansem—Seeker of the Darkness" He spread his hands wide, walking forward towards Sora yet again. In anger, Donald charged at him, but was easily knocked outside the area, and most likely unconscious, "So. I shall release you now Princess. Use your power to complete the Keyhole and lead me into Everlasting Darkness!" He lifted the blade, bringing it down with a might swing.
"SORA!"
Instinctively, Sora reacted, stopping the deadly arc before it could complete its course. The malice in his eyes bled through into his voice, "Forget it!" Pushing Riku's blade away from him he retorted, "There's no way your taking Kairi's heart!"
Riku glared, and charged at him, "We shall see."
- - - - -
The sound of swords clashing startled Reni mid-jump. She could see that Sora and Riku had begun their fight as well. Landing, she leapt backwards to narrowly avoid Neki's blade making contact with her throat. She ran at a wall, pushing herself up and over Neki, and fired a handful of arrows. Most of them Neki dodged, but some were able to abrade her.
Neki didn't slow her pace, throwing one side of her staff so that the chain hooked around the younger girl's ankle, causing her to slam into the ground. Next, she pulled her towards herself, managing to get a good gnash in Reni's arm.
She freed herself easily enough and fired off three arrows. Two missed, but one lodged itself in Neki's shoulder. The older girl turned and growled, snapping the two halves together and charging at her. Reni back flipped onto a higher ledge, trying to get enough distance to fire another round. Twirling the staff into a better position, Neki front flipped onto the ledge as well, following Reni's movement with way too much ease.
In an attempt to give herself the upper hand, Reni cast Graviga at Neki's feet, keeping her grounded to the small ledge. She shot off two arrows, both landing in the back of her thigh. Surprisingly, Neki screamed in pain, glaring at the smaller form from her spot. Neki countered by casting Thundaga, sending a stunning shock through Reni's system.
Neki, now freed, charged at Reni, knocking her off her feet, and hitting her head against the floor. Neki pulled her fist back, ready to punch the girl she had pinned to the ground. Reni shook her head to clear it and was able to free herself enough so that she could roll out from under Neki, switching their positions, and punching her square in the nose. Neki brought her knee up into Reni's stomach, sending the air flying from her lungs.
The two rolled away from each other and again readied their weapons, circling the other like a hawk.
Reni smiled cruelly, "I don't think we've ever gotten this bloody before." Neki answered by pulling out the arrows lodged in her thigh and tossing them to the ground.
"Come."
"With pleasure."
- - - - -
Riku charged at the brunette, hell bent on stabbing him through and through. Sora blocked it easily enough, throwing him back a good few paces. Sora attacked, Riku blocked, they'd repeat. They did manage to get a good few shots in every hit or so, making the battle less redundant.
Landing a critical blow to the silver haired teen's gut, Sora laid out a barrage while he was down, then leapt back and struck once more. As he was going back for a third round, Riku got up and nicked Sora's abdomen, causing Sora to wince and hiss in pain.
It was a lot easier with wooden swords, Sora mused as he avoided Riku's attacks long enough to heal with a Hi Potion, where the worst you could get was a splinter in the worst of places. Going at him, Sora managed to catch Riku off guard, allowing him to get a good stab to the stomach. Riku gasped in pain as Sora twisted the Keyblade, then pulled it out in an upward manner, making an arc on Riku's abdomen. Leaping back, Sora landed another combo attack, knocking Riku back against the wall. Catching his breath as Riku fell to the ground, Sora shook his Keyblade free of as much blood as he could, then made a steady march forward.
Riku made a shaky stand. Readying his own blade, Riku leveled his gaze with Sora's, "You are stronger than I had expected." He healed himself quickly, "But no matter. I will finish you here and now."
"You couldn't kill a shadow with your heart," Sora ground out as he got into position, "No more playing around!" They circled each other until Sora was against the wall.
They charged.
Each hit.
Then they waited.
Sora panted in exhaustion. He was barely able to turn around to see the condition of Riku. It seems Riku had the same problem. They stared, steely-eyed, at the other. He managed to turn all the way around before falling to his knees, "Riku…"
Riku finished turning around and faced Sora, blood dripping down his face from the head wound inflicted by the wall. He started to say something, his mouth open, trying to form words, but blood gushed out instead.
"Riku…I…"
Black wisps rose from the floor, winding their way around the contours of Riku's body. Wrapping themselves around his legs, arms and torso, the darkness began to take him away.
For the last time.
Sora was up in an instant, but an instant too late. By the time he was halfway there, Riku was already faded and gone, but his Keyblade remained. He picked it up, mulling over his options. Save Kairi, or save the world. Well that was the easiest question in a long time. Walking over to Kairi, he mumbled, "A Keyblade that unlocks hearts…"
"Sora!" Donald cried out in warning. Goofy stood nearby. He comforted them with his trademark smile, then slammed the blade into his heart. A single sentence, a lone name, drifted out on his last breath, "Forgive me, Neki…"
Right before the darkness that he fought became his sweet embrace, he heard something.
A scream.
Then nothing.
Falling…Falling… into darkness…
- - - - -
The kick Reni delivered to Neki's stomach sent her flying up against the wall. The sound of bone cracking was received with a shiver from the younger girl. Walking over, Reni glanced above. Riku being taken by the darkness greeted her sight. When she reached Neki, her bow was already strung with an arrow aimed at the heart.
Her face was smeared with blood and sweat. But something else was there as well. Not waiting another second for Neki to heal, she fired the arrow, wincing at the resounding thunk as it hit its mark. She opened her tightly closed eyes to the fear stricken face of Neki, not the empty one of before.
"Neki?!" Her mind raced, trying to find a reason for the sudden change. Why would she go from evil to normal like that? Reni found her eyes flying upwards to where Riku and Sora had been fighting.
And then she knew.
She had been controlled by the darkness. By Ansem.
"Shit."
Blood trickled down from the corner of her mouth as she tried to speak, "Re…" she coughed up a bloody mess, "I…I'm…So…" Another fit of coughs, followed by a haggard breath, "Sorry…I'm sorry."
"Neki!" Tears she didn't know she had fell down her face, "Don't! Don't talk…You have to—" A choked sob came from her throat, "You have to…"
"I'm dead."
Her head came up, tears flying onto Neki's face, mixing with her own, "No! I can…I can save you…! I just need… Someone! Aerith!" Reni began to ramble, sobbing uncontrollably as Neki brought her hand to wipe at the tears on her cheeks. Shaking her head as best she could, Neki smiled.
"No, Reni…" She drew a jagged breath, "I'm gone…Please…" She seemed to be having trouble finishing her sentence, though whether of her wound, or of the tears escaping down her face, Reni couldn't decided, "Take care…Of Sora…And Kairi…Sweet Beaver…" A forced laugh, "You are all they have left."
Reni forced a smile, knowing it was Neki's dying wish, "I'll try not to kill her for him. Besides, I know so much about Sora it's going on stalker!" The two exchanged a light laugh. Reni's hand found Neki's, still on her cheek, "Don't leave me alone again…"
Neki continued to smile, even as the light in her eyes began to disperse, and the darkness began to take her, similar to how it had taken Riku.
"No!"
"Reni."
"NO! You can't leave me!" Reni tightened her grip on the disappearing hand.
"Sister, I love you."
"NEKI!"
Reni collapsed into a heap on the empty spot where her dearest person had been. The tears came in full force.
Neki was gone.
And Reni had been the one to kill her.
"NEKI!!!" Reni clawed at the space, trying desperately to call her heart back into the world. But nothing happened. Neki was finally gone. Dead, as she had wished it not five minutes before. But she did not rejoice, as she thought she would. Instead,
She screamed.
- - - - -
"Sora!" Kairi leapt up and tried to catch the falling and fading body of the boy she loved, sadly getting there a moment too late. She held the position, staring at the empty space, not noticing a trudging form climbing the steps, "Sora…Is he really…? No! I won't let him go!"
"Kairi!"
She turned to face the voice and found Reni staring back. She ran for the red head, grabbing onto her arm, "Where's Sora?"
"I don't know! He just…vanished!" Reni glanced about, her eyes settling on Donald's and Goofy's.
"We have to get you out of here."
"We have to find Sora!"
"We have to open the Keyhole."
The two females turned to the form of a rather abnormally tanned man, silver cascading hair, and golden feline eyes.
"I thought I'd input my idea."
Reni leveled him with a glare, "I don't take requests!"
The man Reni guessed to be Ansem started to take a step toward them. They, in turn, took a step back. Then a glowing form appeared in front of him, arms spread, as if holding him back.
"You!" Ansem yelled, "You are supposed to be with the darkness!"
"No…You won't use me for this!" As the figure began to clear, Kairi and Reni exchanged looks, "I won't let you hurt my friends!"
"RIKU!"
The head rose, his eyes sweeping around the room, "Reni! Get Kairi out of here!" Reni nodded and pulled on Kairi's arm, pulling her down the opposite stairs as a swarm of Heartless appeared behind them. Shoving her down the steps she yelled orders at Goofy to get Kairi to the gummy ship.
"If I'm not back in five minutes, leave without me!"
"But Reni—"
"GO!"
Donald and Goofy could only nod.
She turned to face the glowing figure of her brother. The Heartless flew past her without a second look, and she was left alone.
"Please. Give Riku back his body!" Reni cried, stepping forward.
"Reni!"
Ansem laughed, struggling against Riku's fading hold, "That is impossible. He willingly gave it to me. Too bad your friend was not as cooperative."
As if remembering for the first time, Riku looked around the room again, searching for the long blonde hair of his beloved, "Neki?" He turned to face Reni, "Where is she?!"
"Riku I—"
"WHERE IS SHE?!?"
"I'm sorry!" Reni turned away, fleeing down the stairs as fast as her legs would take her. She couldn't tell him the truth. What she had done. The horrible truth of what she had done to someone they loved.
She had killed Neki.
She couldn't tell him that.
- - - - -
"Sora?"
The little Shadow cocked its head, the antennas wiggling as it did so.
Kairi bent down to it. For some reason, the little creature just seemed…So familiar. It didn't feel cold like the others. It felt…
Warm.
"Sora?" She asked again. And again it cocked its head, "Oh it is you!" She gasped and stood up, opening her arms protectively toward the other Heartless, "Don't worry! Sora, this time I'll protect you." The Heartless began to swarm, climbing on top of each other to try and get a better view of their prey. She screamed and they all toppled down on her, covering the Sora Heartless with her body, closing her eyes tight. A bright light flashed, illuminating the room.
A soft voice whispered into her ear, tickling the hairs and sending a shiver down her spine, "Thank you, Kairi."
"Sora!" Kairi said in wonder, her eyes open.
"Sora's back!" Goofy cheered.
"Sora!!" Donald cried in glee.
"Sora?!" Reni went flying over the banister, "I'll ask later. Let's get out of here!"
The five fled through the castle at a break neck speed. Kairi surprisingly knew her way around well enough, much the same way Reni did. She didn't waste time to ponder this, and instead, took the lead next to Kairi and Sora, jumping head first over the first few moving boulders. Rolling to a stop, she looked up and nodded at Kairi. The red head nodded back, then took a running leap, coming to a stop at the boulder above Reni's. Sora, Donald, and Goofy followed behind her.
They continued this pace until they reached the save point. Sora went in first, then Goofy and Donald. Reni looked back up at the castle. It was like something from a demonic fairytale. The way it twisted up to the sky. The Heartless emblem built into the structure. Just looking at it sent a chill through her.
Kairi looked up at it too, feeling the same as Reni, "Its strangely familiar though, isn't it?" Reni shook her head at the notion, "No?"
"No Kai…This is not my home. There's no way this disgusting place could be my beautiful home." Reni turned to look at the save point, "Come on. We better go before they get worried." Kairi nodded and followed the example Sora had showed her. When Kairi was gone, the blonde faced the castle again, "What have we done?" She brushed at the tears and she too, disappeared into the save point.
What have we done to deserve this pain?
- - - - -
"Reni!" Sora ran up to the girl, patches on his face, and looking thoroughly beat, "Have you seen Kairi?"
Reni blinked and looked blearily up from the bed she was laying on, "Does it look like I would have seen Kairi? I've been asleep all day!" Sora smiled sheepishly, so Reni sighed and let it go, "If you ask me, I'd say she'd be in Leon's little hideout. The place underneath Merlin's." Sora nodded his thanks and was off. Sighing again, the blonde pushed herself into a sitting position, much to Aerith's despair.
"Will you for one second actually try to let yourself heal?!" Shaking her head, the brunette woman made her way over, positioning herself on the edge of the bed. She opened her green eyes, fixing them on the now fidgeting Reni, "Who did this? I know it couldn't have been a Heartless. The attacks were too precise."
Reni looked out toward the window, "Would you hate me if I killed someone?"
"What?!"
Reni continued to stare, or rather, avoid the woman's curious gaze, "Would you?"
Aerith thought over the question, "If they deserved it, no."
"What if it was only from your perspective that you thought they deserved it? What if they weren't actually doing the bad things of their own accord?" Reni was about to continue with more 'What if's' when Leon entered the room.
"How's our little annoying soldier doing?"
"Squall, would you hate me if I killed someone?"
Leon, like Aerith, sputtered for a moment, "What?!?"
"Would you?"
Squall was different from Aerith. He immediately got a certain vibe from the question that told him the killing had already happened, "Who was it?"
Reni looked over at the male, studying him hard and long. Gauging that he knew the truth behind her so-called 'metaphorical' question, she let herself breakdown and cry, "Neki…"
A gasp and a crash came from the doorway. The three looked up to see Yuffie standing there, with what was a pan of brownies coating the floor, "You killed Neki?! Why?!?" She rushed forward, grabbing the young girl by the collar, "Why would you do that to her?!"
"Yuffie!!"
"Yuffie stop it!"
"She was evil."
Silence filled the room like instant cheese from a can.
((-gigglesnortlaugh- Sorry!!! I've always wanted to use that…))
Suffocating silence ensued. Open mouths and wide eyes stared at Reni, waiting for her to continue. She fiddled with the blanket, her focus back to the window.
"She was under the control of Ansem and Maleficent. She was under oath to do as they told her. She betrayed us." Reni paused, "No…She just betrayed my illusion of a perfect sister…" The tears that had began to fall littered the bed, falling faster then she could control, "I killed her because I was mad at her and couldn't control myself…I'm a monster!" Falling into a heap on the bed, she felt three, warm, reassuring hands touch her back.
"Reni…" Yuffie cooed, "Oh you poor thing…" She wrapped the younger girl up in a hug, rocking her back and forth as Aerith walked to the kitchen to make tea. 'To calm her down…' she mumbled as she worked. Leon stood, leaning against the wall. He too, found what was seemingly so interesting with the window.
After the tea was finished, Reni explained all that had happened while at Hollow Bastion. The three adults listened, nodding every once in a while, or sometimes shaking their heads, but they didn't interrupt her with questions. When she was finished, Aerith stood, looking out the window to the streets of Tranverse Town. Leon sat limp in his chair, staring contently at his feet. Yuffie spoke first.
"What will you do?"
"I'll find a way…Sora was able to come back, so Neki will be able to also! Her heart is stronger than all of ours. Combined even!" Despite Reni's obvious exaggeration, it was true. Even at a young age, Neki always had a strong heart.
Squall leaned forward, "Look. If you're anything now, like you were back then, I'm sure you'll not only think up a plan to get Neki back, but a plan to get Riku back, but also bring the untimely end to everyone everywhere." Yuffie and Aerith exchanged looks and giggled. Reni sat rather blank-faced on the bed.
"Say what now?"
The brunette smiled, shaking his head. Standing up, he whacked Reni on the back of the head like parents do, "Just eat something and rest up, okay?"
Reni stared, "DID YOU JUST WHACK ME?!?"
Yuffie stood as well, a huge grin plastered to her face, "It's good to have you back."
"What? WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE CONFUSING ME?!?"
Aerith just smiled and stood, walking over to the kitchen, "Chocolate chip cake work fine for you?" Squall scowled, "Or maybe some spaghetti?"
"SKETTI!"
- - - - -
Sora let out a sigh as he trudged his way through the water back to Kairi, who was busy murmuring about there really being a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Oh…" Sora shook his shoes to free some water from his shoes, "You're grandma's story, right?" The red head turned to give him a surprised look.
"That's right," she smiled, "We were together."
The brunette took a few steps towards her, "You know what's funny? I looked everywhere for you…But you were with me all along! We're finally together again!" He plastered on a determined look, "Now it's time to get Riku back."
Kairi looked crestfallen, "You think it'll ever be the same?"
He shook his head, "Can't say I do. After all the things we've seen and done…We'll try though!"
"But Riku… His…"
"Remember when I turned into a Heartless? You saved me!" Sora glanced down at his hands, flexing them as he remembered himself that cold feeling as he fell through the darkness, "I was lost there…In the darkness. I couldn't find my way. As I fell…I began to forget things. Who I was, who my friends were…But then," he looked up into Kairi's eyes, "I heard a voice; your voice! And it brought me back."
Kairi smiled, leaning her head to the side, "I didn't want to forget about you, Sora…I couldn't."
Sora grinned back, then turned and gave a hearty arm pump, "That's it!"
Startled, Kairi asked, "What's it?"
"Our hearts are connected, and the light from our hearts broke through the darkness! That light…That's what saved me. I'm sure of it," he again faced Kairi, "No matter how deep the darkness, a light shines within…" A smile was brought to his face, "I guess it's not just a fairy tale after all!"
Grinning, Kairi clapped her hands together, "Then let's go!"
"Ooooh no! There is no way you're going with!"
Kairi pouted, "And why not?"
"You'll get in my way!" Sora cried in the normal boy fashion, turning away to cross his arms.
"Awww… Come on! We've gotten this far by sticking together!"
Sora gave her a look, "We got this far because I didn't have to worry about you while I was fighting."
"That's not fair! What about Reni?!" Sora turned and spread his arms out.
"Reni got this far because she can fight! No matter how annoying the girl is…" Sora crossed his arms again, "Look. We won't have to be apart because our hearts keep us together! Don't worry!"
Kairi seemed to think about it for a moment, then reached into her pocket, "Fine, but you have to take this and keep it with you at all times!" Sora looked down at the trinket, "It's my lucky charm. Bu sure to bring it back to me!" Her hands were on her hips, and she gave him a playful scowl.
Nodding, "Okay I will."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Don't forget. Wherever you go, I'm with you too."
Smiling, he gave the girl a tight hug, "I won't."
- - - - -
"Have you told them?"
Squall's question brought the blonde out of her quiet reverie. The group of Hollow Bastions stood at the world gate, waiting for the Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Reni was mostly free of bandages, though a few remained on some of the deeper cuts. She had borrowed some clothes from Yuffie, since hers had been ruined by all the blood.
Tugging at the tight fitting tan capris, she answered quietly, "No…"
Yuffie looked down at her, "Do you plan to?" Reni shook her head.
"I'm sure they already know." After that was said, she began fiddling with the jacket that covered her magenta colored tank top, zipping it up and down. Kicking at the ground with her tennis shoes, she continued, "It doesn't matter though. What's done is done. I'll fix it, and everything will go back to how it was before."
Aerith sighed, "If you insist…But please be more careful."
Everyone, including Reni, gave Aerith a look that clearly said, "Oh give me a break!"
"I'm just saying. You know how I worry!"
Reni smiled and nodded, wrapping her arms around her in a hug, "I'll try to be careful. For you."
Hugging her back, Aerith grinned, "That's all I ask."
They broke apart when Sora came running up with Goofy and Donald in tow, "Sorry we took so long! Kairi was taking forever in saying good-bye." He came to a stop in front of Reni, "Would you do the honors?" The three adults and two animals shared a confused look.
"Keep the snogging for AFTER we save the world," Reni said with a hand on her hip. The two glared for a moment, before breaking into grins and hugging.
Sora whispered into her ear, "We'll save them both."
They broke apart and Reni smiled, "I know."
Turning to face the gate, Sora and Reni linked arms, thrusting their free arms into the air to give a hearty yell, "TO HOLLOW BASTION TO KICK ANSEM BUTT!!!"
- - - - -
"You know Sora," Reni mulled as the climbed the stairs into the room with the Keyhole, "When we save Riku and Neki…We're going to have to stick forks in our eyes from the fluff." Sora looked back at her with a frown.
"I brought spoons…But I think it'll still work." Reni nodded.
"I'm sure those will be fine…"
Donald and Goofy, walking a bit behind the blonde, exchanged worried glances.
Sora slowed down to walk next to Reni, "What if she cries? You know she can be a crier…"
She nodded, patting her pockets, "I've got the tissues." Playfully nudging his side she added, "Brought some for you too!" She grinned cheekily and ran forward to avoid his swat at her head, "What?! You know you can be a bit of one too!"
"Shut up Reni! Who asked you!"
The two laughed and began to walk side by side again, stopping once they realized that they'd reached the Keyhole.
Sora gave Reni a look, "After you."
"Oh I couldn't! Ladies first you know."
Sora glared, "Well in that case…"
Reni grinned, "After Donald!"
"HEY!" Goofy hid his smile behind his hand while Donald glared, "Am I the only one who seems to realize how serious the situation is?" The three wilted quickly, causing Donald to regret his words, "I said serious, not sad!"
Reni perked up, punching Sora on the arm, "Right! Come on Mr. Key Bearer! Lead us in to 'everlasting darkness'!" Sora grinned at her tone, noticing she was mocking Ansem.
"Well of course! I would be honored to be your guide on this trip into 'everlasting darkness'," snorting at his own tone of voice, Sora clasped hands with Reni, who held fast onto Goofy, who looked expectantly at Donald.
Sighing, he replied, "If I have to…"
Together the four walked confidently into the Keyhole, and into the heart of darkness.
- - - - -
Neki sighed and drummed her fingers against her face. Ever since…What's-her-name killed her, she had been in a permanent free fall. At first it was amusing, she squealed, giggled, and even pretended to swim in it. However, after…God knows how long… it had become more of a nuisance.
"If I'm going to become a Heartless, why don't I just do it already?!" She huffed angrily, and looked down at her lap, seeing as she was sitting with her legs crossed as she fell. In her lap was a small trinket, a necklace to be exact. A simple chain with a simple cross attached to it. From her mystery killer, "Oh, right…"
She still had to smack some sense into the girl who owned this.
"Honestly. Who goes around killing people without saying something cool before they do it?" Neki scoffed and turned her head, "No style. No style at all…"
- - - - -
"ACHOO!"
Sora jumped back, then up, "Now is NOT the time to be getting sick, stupid!"
Reni ran back some, then threw a potion to Donald, "I'm not! Someone must be talking about me!" Sora managed to roll his eyes while keeping balance on the Behemoth's head, then hit the horn, which they found to be the weak point, quite a few times. He landed on his butt after being thrown off, and Reni fought down the urge to point and laugh.
Donald squawked and ran away from the Behemoth's front limb as it came crashing down considerably close to his head, "WORRY ABOUT IT LATER!"
Huffing, she fired a few arrows, most of which missed the horn completely, "Tch…" She glanced to her side, where she saw an unconscious Goofy, "Crap. Sora!" When she had his attention, she yelled, "I need a Potion!" He looked pained, and yelled that he didn't have anymore. Just as he did, Donald was thrown back behind Reni, knocked out as well.
"Isn't that just dandy."
"Sora!" Launching herself at him, she got him out of the way, but took a considerable amount of damage to her already weakened abdomen. Coughing up some blood, she rolled away before she could take another hit. Pushing herself onto her heels, she let out a breath. From the pain she was feeling, Reni could honestly say it might be one of her last.
Sora got up and rushed to her, pulling her up and away from the burly beast, "You okay?"
Nodding, she lied, "Yeah, he just hit a spot. That's all." He believed her and ran for the Heartless again, leaving her to fall to the ground. I can't take much more of this…My stamina is at an all time low, and the heavy wounds from Neki are starting to open up again… She narrowed her eyes and hissed as a wave of pain crashed on her. If only we had a potion…Or some elixirs, because I'm wiped out on MP too…
She stood, grabbing her bow off the ground and knocked a few arrows, "Here goes!" Running around the edge of Behemoth's physical range, she fired off arrows, making sure at least one managed to hit. When she had enough MP, she ran for it, intending to hit him with a Firaga.
Sora blinked as the beast reared up onto his hind legs, watching in astonishment as the thing rose taller than it was before. Reni pulled up to a stop next to him, tugging at his sleeve, "Stupid, run!!" His eyes widened and he took her advice, noticing before it was too late that Reni was not next to him. He turned back towards her and it seemed as if everything was going in slow motion.
He saw her eyes go wide, her chest heaving with obvious signs of over exertion on her somewhat bloody face. Sweat running down her bare arms, Yuffie's jacket discarded somewhere in the area. He saw the legs come down, lower and lower until Reni was completely encased in the shadow. He saw her lips move to form a single word, "Shit."
And the world came crashing down, "RENI!" Skidding to a stop, he could only stare at the mass of blood that surrounded the area, Reni's body turned at angles he didn't know possible. He knew not even Riku would think him weak for blanching at the sight, his mouth covered and tears falling quickly down his cheeks, "Oh my god…"
Then it hit him. His teary blue eyes flew to the still unconscious bodies of Donald and Goofy. Skirting the bloody mass of our sweet girl. He closed his eyes, falling onto the ground and scooting backwards until he felt a barrier stopping him.
He was alone.
Never had he once really fought alone like he was now.
He always had somebody there.
Now there was no one.
Dear god, he never felt so dead in his life.
"Neki…" he hiccupped, "I need you…"
He saw in his mind exactly how she would look if he had ever said that. He could hear her words… Silly boy…She would say, You're supposed to be tougher than this! What will you do when I'm not there?
"You'll never leave me…" he answered and looked up into the glowing eyes of the Heartless. It didn't move an inch, relishing in its victory he supposed. It didn't matter. He closed his eyes and saw her eyes roll, I will not always be around. She'd glance over to where he knew Reni would be standing, sharing with each other a look he never understood, "But Neki…"
She'd stop him there, a playful grin gracing her lips, her hand would be on her hip, and in an almost scolding tone she would say…
"How many times have I told you not to need me?"
His eyes flew open, but were blocked by the image of brown eyes staring back at him. The face moved back to reveal a cheeky grin, and a mass of blonde hair, bangs covering one of the eyes in typical fashion.
"Neki?!"
"Oi! I'm here too!"
"RENI?!"
Neki scowled, "Hey…How come you yell louder for her, huh? That ain't cool…" She raised an eyebrow, "Gimme one reason why I shouldn't smack you."
Sora could only grin like a mad man and pull the older girl into a bear hug, "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!"
Reni smiled and stood back as the siblings were reunited. Suddenly, Sora pulled back and exclaimed, "The Heartless!"
Grinning, the younger blonde rubbed her nose, "Neki killed it, no sweat!" The brunette gave his sister a look, who responded with a shrug.
"And Goofy and Donald?"
"Healed and sleeping peacefully!"
Sora nodded, and then noticed that they were in fact laying not to far off, sleeping as Neki had said. His focus turned to Reni, "Didn't you die?" His eyes scanned the ground, and found the scarlet indent where Reni's mutilated body had been not moments before.
Scratching her cheek, she nodded, "I was…I think. Things are a little fuzzy." Laughing nervously, she looked at Neki, fully expecting her to explain things crystal clear.
Neki cocked a brow in Riku fashion and sighed, "She wasn't exactly dead yet." The look the two gave her made her sigh again and continue to explain, "I was floating in the darkness. I had forgotten everything, but I hadn't become a Heartless yet. Honestly, I didn't know why. Just when I thought I was about to, I heard Sora calling to me, and I began to rise up instead of falling down." She paused to make sure they were following, "On my way up, I felt Reni's presence and latched onto it. At the time, I didn't remember who it was, but I just knew that I didn't want to let it go. Then I went through a bright light."
Sora nodded, "Sort of what happened with me and Kairi."
Neki nodded, "Yeah," Standing and stretching her arms, she finished, "When I opened my eyes, I was here, and there was a Heartless charging at you, so I killed it. Then I saw Reni, and healed her immediately with Curaga. You'd be surprised what you can heal with it!"
The young teen fixed her with a look, "Even dead people?"
The older sister gave him a knowing smile, "I told you. She wasn't dead when I found her. I'm sure she was after it happened, but when I found her she was barely alive." Standing as well, he rolled his shoulders.
"Well. Let's get this Keyhole sealed up."
- - - - -
"We may never meet again—"
"SQUALL!!"
"NEKI!"
"YUFFIE!!!"
"NEKI?!"
"AERITH!"
"Why do I bother…"
"Honestly, I don't know."
After the initial shock was over, and a simple explanation was given, Squall decided to begin his speech again.
"We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other."
"Because honestly, who could forget cute faces like these?" At that, Yuffie, Aerith, Neki, and Reni all crowded together and gave the two males and animals cutesy grins. Sora snorted, while Squall could only shake his head and roll his eyes.
"But really," Aerith murmured, sobering the mood, "Our hearts are connected. We'll always be with each other."
Yuffie smirked and placed a hand to her hip, pointing at Sora, "I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!" Sora growled, feigning irritation. Neki laughed, and Reni had to laugh also. Yuffie snorted a suppressed giggle, and Aerith tittered, covering her smile with a hand. Even Squall gave a small chuckle, looking to Neki with a grin.
"Dude." Everyone turned to face Reni, "HE GRINS FOR YOU TOO?!?!? Am I unloved or something?!?" Everyone gave a laugh, but Squall just shrugged.
"You have to admit. Neki's laugh is contagious." Reni just huffed, muttering half-angrily about emo men and permanent scowls.
Holding said girl in a half hug, Yuffie asked, "But how? Last time we checked Neki was…Well, wasn't with us anymore," Reni looked away, rubbing her arm, "Sora?"
He shrugged and smiled at his adopted sister, "All I remember was Reni getting smashed by the Behemoth—"
"WHAT?!" The three adults chorused.
"Let me finish!" He sighed and gave the three a glare, "She got smashed, and Donald and Goofy were down and out…I was all by myself, with no one to help me…I wanted with all my heart to have Neki around…Because I knew she'd protect me." He gave her a grin, "She always told me that I needed to be strong enough so that I could protect her someday. I thought of that…and the next thing I knew, there she was!"
"It was that big heart of yours!" Neki said as she punched his arm. He laughed, fully expecting the next question.
"And Reni?"
Briskly walking in the opposite direction, Sora shouted, "ASK NEKI!"
"YOU LITTLE BRAT!!!"
Squall gave another chuckle, "No need to explain that Yuffie." The ninja gave him a strangled look, "Reni came back with Neki obviously. If either gets even the slightest whiff of the other, they latch onto it and will go to the edge of the worlds to find the other." During this, Reni and Neki had clasped hands, giving each other grins.
"Of course! We're sisters, and we love each other."
Sora, not knowing the full extent on the matter, blurt out, "You and Riku tie the not already?"
The last thing he saw was a brilliantly red Neki trying to charge him as the four Hollow Bastions held her back.
- - - - -
(Light A/N: Riku and Voice humor here. I always loved Voice. An idea I had for Neki is also being brought in also. But don't worry. I'm making it as UN-Mary Sue-ish as I can.)
Riku groaned, rubbing his neck gingerly as he pulled himself off the floor, "What in the world?"
You're alone?
Surely he'd be feeling that in the morning, he thought as he whipped around in search of the voice.
Save you some whiplash. You can't see me. Yet.
"Yet?"
There's supposed to be another.
Riku glared furiously at the ground, seeing as he had no face to do so to, "There's no one else." Glancing at the sky, he couldn't help but raise his voice, "What about my friends? Are they okay?!" The voice was silent for a moment.
Why are you asking me?
Now if Riku had a body that went with this voice, he would do one of three things:
Beat the crap out of it.
Beat the crap out of it.
Or wring it's neck and yell at it to tell him what he wanted to know.
Which he was leaning to at the moment is anyone's guess.
"Just…Tell me."
Look into your heart for the answer.
Riku suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and instead, closed them. Hand over his heart, he searched through the darkness for any sign of his friends. He felt Sora first. How could anyone miss all that exuberant energy? The way it bounced about like Sora when he's had three of Neki's chocolate milkshakes.
Next he felt Reni. His lips twitched as he was filled with the warmth that had always washed over him around her. Riku could feel her smile, her sunny and bright disposition always making things seemed better than they were.
Last he felt Neki. Her energy was like the ocean. Beautiful and strong, with a variety of emotions lingering beneath the surface. Always leaving him with a sense of awe and feeling smaller than he was.
You see?
"I do."
Now, the other…
Feeling his brow twitch, he had to ask, "What other?!" The voice seemed to refuse to answer, "I'm talking to you!" Figuring he wouldn't get anymore from the mysterious voice, he contently sat down, prepared to wait eternity if he had to. After a few minutes, he heard – or rather, felt – what he assumed to be a sigh emitted from the voice.
You must not dawdle any longer.
Riku was about to question on where he was supposed to go when he noticed the winding trail that suddenly laid in front of him. Without further ado, he started what he understood to be a long trek to god knows where, "I do expect an answer from you."
Figured as much…
- - - - -
"So now what?" Neki asked Cid in disgusted amusement, as she was currently watching him pick his ear with his pinkie.
"We have to go after Ansem obviously," said Reni as she watched Sora pace back and forth across the room, "What do you reckon he's thinking about?"
Neki shrugged and turned from Cid to face her younger counterpart, "That'd be anyone's guess. I mean – who's to say he's thinking at all? Is it even possible?"
"I can hear you!"
Neki smirked at the sound of her brother's voice and looked from Reni to see Sora with his arms crossed, "What of it?" He scowled and resumed his pacing. Standing, she hugged herself and followed the brunette back and forth through the room, "Sora." He stopped at his name, "The Princess's can't hold the darkness back any longer. I know you're worried about losing us as soon as we're all back together, but it's just a risk you're going to have to take." Fixing him with a look, she dropped her voice, "Be a man and make a decision already."
Sora emitted a low growl, then spun on his heels to face Donald and Goofy, "Ready?"
"As we'll ever be," was the chorused reply.
He nodded, then faced Neki with his hand out stretched. Donald and Goofy were already at the entrance, with Reni not far behind. Neki's eyebrows rose high up on her forehead, "What?"
His voice low, Sora murmured, "Remember when we were ten and I went through a stage where I always had to hold your hand?" She smiled at the light blush staining his face.
"I remember. You cried every time I had to go to the bathroom and you insisted in sleeping in the same bed," said Neki, not so quietly. Reni looked back with a confused stare, but when Neki offered no answer, she continued to stand next to Goofy. Sora's blush had increased from cherry petal, to a cherry itself.
"Well…" he grumbled as he tried to gain composure, "Will you hold my hand?" She squinted her eyes and he added quickly, "For old time's sake."
After moments of contemplation, a brilliant smile lighted Neki's features, "Of course!" Lacing their fingers, the two joined their group. She felt Sora tighten his grip, and then they stepped through.
- - - - -
"So will you really not tell me who this other person is supposed to be? I have a long trip ahead of me, and lots of time to spare." Riku glanced about the black void, waiting for something to happen.
There are beings.
Riku suppressed his angry sigh when the voice said nothing more for a few minutes, "What about it?"
Beings called the Consumed.
His eyes unfocused, and he tripped over his feet, "C-consumed you say? Interesting…" It tried to make it sound as if that's all he wanted to know, but the voice persisted.
The Consumed give themselves fully to the darkness; heart, soul, and mind.
Riku knew what would be said next before the voice even got to it, "I'm one of the Consumed." He could tell by the silence that he was right, "And the other?"
The Untouched. Pure beings that seem to have the ability to repel the Heartless.
Again, he had an idea of who it was, "Kairi?" The voice didn't answer, but he had the inkling that he had guessed wrong so he tried again. "Or is it Reni?" The voice remained silent. Taking a gulp of air, he managed to get out, "Neki?"
The last Untouched has perished.
He coughed on his spit, "What?!"
And yet, perhaps not.
Riku stared wide eyed at the long path before him, his thoughts racing. Feeling again for Neki's presence, he let out a sigh of relief when her energy lulled him into a sense of security.
This girl…
Feeling his eye twitched, he let the dangerous malice leek into his voice, "What of her?"
We shall see.
- - - - -
"It's like a holding cell for all the worlds!" cried Donald in astonishment. Neki stuck her head into one, and pulled it out sopping wet.
"Atlantica," Neki grinned and ran to another.
"Where are we supposed to go?" Sora looked around searching for Reni, "Reni?" He did another sweep, "Neki?"
"SORA!" came the chorus from in front of him. Peering behind the glowing light, he found Reni and Neki standing next to a pillar of light that was a different color than the green ones around him, "Go through the Deep Jungle one!" He took off, Goofy and Donald in tow, and fought his way quickly through Deep Jungle until he found himself in front of Reni in half swing.
"CHEESE SAUCE!" cried Reni as she leapt back, glaring at Neki and Donald, both of whom where doubled over in laughter, "Not funny!"
"So funny!" snickered Donald, while Neki patted her good-naturedly on the back.
Taking a deep breath, Reni flicked her wrist in the direction of the glowing pillar of light, "Anyway, this is the one we take."
"How do you know," questioned Goofy as he meandered over to stand next to Sora.
Neki grinned and touched her finger to her nose, "I have a feeling."
"That and when you look in it you can't see anything," drawled Reni. As Sora did so, Neki whacked Reni's head with a scowl.
"Then…" Goofy looked amongst the group, "In we go?"
Neki looked from Donald to Goofy, then to Sora's back as his face was still submerged into the pillar. Grinning, she locked eyes with Goofy, "Why yes," she then nudged Sora's butt with her foot, making him lose his balance and fall in with a scream that sounded somewhat like "OMGGRAVITY". Smiling, she stated simply, "In we go."
Jumping in after him – in order – was Reni, with a cry of "I'LL SAVE YOU VIA DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID!" then Goofy hunched over as he laughed at Reni's expression, Donald making an ungodly sound that was most likely a war cry, and finally Neki, screaming "VIVA LA RESISTANCE!!!" Plugging her nose and shutting her eyes tight.
Once they caught up to the free falling brunette, Reni insisted that they hold hands in a circle like those professional skydivers, "Now we're cookin'!"
"Ooo! I want duck!" came Neki gay reply as Donald tried and failed to 'swim' away from her.
"We shouldn't have done this!" cried a worried Sora, "We aren't going anywhere!! We aren't—"
"We're on the ground."
Sora opened his closed eyes to see the group standing before him. Reni with her hand on his shoulder, Neki not too far back, looking around for something, Donald rubbing his belly and eyeing Neki, and Goofy looking at Sora with concern.
They stood in an empty space devoid of anything save a ornate looking door. He couldn't tell how big the room was, seeing as the darkness seemed to swallow them up past a certain point.
Reni followed his gaze to the door, "It's like it's emitting light...Keeping us safe." Sora nodded absently and approached it with a dazed expression. He'd seen this before…
Be careful.
Sora pivoted, "Did you say something?" The people behind him all gave amused looks.
"Nope," said Donald, moving to stand behind him.
"Strange…That voice seems so familiar." He faced the door again, hands finding the handles.
Beyond, there is no light to protect you.
Glancing at Neki, he squinted in confusion at what he saw. Was it him, or was the darkness bending to get away from her?
But don't worry, don't be afraid. Your heart is the mightiest weapon of them all.
"Here we go," gulped Reni, holding fast to Goofy's arm.
Remember…You are the one that will open the door to the light.
- - - - -
Riku huffed, "Isn't there a faster way? I can't take much more of this!"
We must hurry. They will be arriving soon.
Blinking, he figured the voice must mean Sora, Reni, Neki and their animal friends, "I see." He stopped and stretched his legs, making sure the muscles were nice and loose, "Well in that case," Arching his back, he took up a running stance, "I better hurry."
- - - - -
"It's the island!" cried Sora. Reni screamed in glee and flitted about, skipping in circles through the sand. Neki was content to stare at the smaller island that held the paopu tree.
Although, before he could smile, an all too familiar voice drifted to their ears, "This world has been connected."
All five began to look about wildly, trying to find him first.
"Tied to the darkness…"
"Where are you?!" shouted Reni, "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"There is so much to learn. You understand so little."
"YOU!" Neki turned to stare at Sora, visibly confused, "From before…In the secret cave…With the door to this world!"
It was if time stood still, Neki's mind raced at a million thoughts a second. Searching through her memory to find the door of which he spoke…Ever so slowly, pieces began to fall into place, ending with Neki screaming, "HIDE AND SEEK!"
Reni stopped in her searching to stare, "What?"
Facing the other two islanders, Neki explained, "Remember when we were playing hide and seek not long after Reni and I first arrived?" Sora nodded, "I looked for people in the cave! There was a giant keyhole on it, and when I tried to open it, I managed to get it open a smidge!" Sora's eyes would have popped out of their sockets had they not been attached.
"YOU OPENED THE DOOR?"
"But I shut it before any of the darkness could seep through! But…"
Reni finished off the sentence, "You gave them the free be, so they wanted to have the whole plate."
"Basically yeah."
As if something had wanted them to shut up, Goofy cried in alarm, "The ocean's turned black!"
They three pivoted to face the ocean, and finally found what they were looking for, "Ansem!"
"A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing."
As the ground cracked, fell and rose to give way to a distorted version of the beach, five pairs of eyes glared at the back of Riku.
Riku, who was no longer Riku.
"Take a look at this tiny place. To the heart seeking freedom, this island is a prison surrounded by water."
Neki's eyes took on a pained look, and Sora couldn't help but know what she was thinking, Didn't he like what was here?
"And so this boy sought to escape from his prison. He sought a way to cross to other worlds." Riku's form began to melt, the features becoming puddles on the sand, leaving the looming figure of Ansem. His head slightly turned, and a smirk evident on his lips, he finished, "And he opened his heart to darkness."
Neki was at him in a second, blade pressed to his throat, "TAKE THAT BACK!" Ansem's smile didn't falter, and Neki watched him, but didn't protest as he raised his hand and pushed the weapon away from him.
"You're angered."
"Because it's your fault!"
"You're angered because you know I speak the truth." The words died in her throat, "You fight me simply as a scapegoat so as not to ruin the perfect image you have made for the boy."
She began taking steps back, gripping the two halves tightly, "You're wrong." His eyebrows flew to the top of his head, "I fight you because it is your fault." Her head rose to reveal fierce determination flicking through her eyes, "You are the reason they're dead."
Reni had made her way to stand my Neki's side. The other males remained behind, in awe at what was occurring, "It was your curiosity that ended our world." Sora blinked.
"And you know what they say about curiosity," ground out Neki.
Reni knocked an arrow, "It killed the cat."
- - - - -
"You're a—"
"Yes."
"And a—"
"Yup."
"Of a—"
"Sure am."
"Well I'll be damned."
- - - - -
As the Keyblade came down on Ansem's arm, Neki swung one half of her staff to knock Ansem off his feet. Reni ran not far behind firing arrows whenever there was an opening. When the man fell, Goofy took a mighty swing and landed a good hit to the stomach. The males moved back as Ansem stood to his full height, only to be kicked in the head by the nimble blonde.
Donald cast Cura, then ran in the opposite direction of Reni as the both directed Firaga attacks at Ansem. Sora and Neki made the follow up action, by leaping through the smoke to land direct hits before leaping back out of range. Ansem charged at Sora, who began to run towards Goofy, "Can't catch me!" he taunted, then jumped over the kneeling Reni, who leaned back onto her hands to get a perfect shot where it counted.
Turning at the sound of three males groaning in unison, Neki leapt up and brought the back of her foot down onto Ansem's back, causing him to fall to the ground. The two girls ran out of range, and each drank a Potion, huffing at the exertion, "I can't take much more," said a worn out Reni. Neki clutched her side and looked to Sora.
"We have to hurry and finish this."
"RIKU!" called Sora.
Ansem pulled himself into a crouching position, also holding his side, "Don't bother. Your voice can no longer reach him where he is." Neki growled and started forward, but was stopped by Goofy's hand on her shoulder, "His heart has returned to darkness."
"Sora! Finish it!"
"All words begin in darkness, and so will they end." Sora whipped around at Reni's scream, and found her and Donald clutching onto the ground for dear life as it began to crumble, leaving behind and empty void, "The heart is no different. Darkness spouts within it, grows and consumes it. Only a heart that is void of any darkness can open Kingdom Hearts."
"SORA!" Neki had joined the group that had fallen, Goofy trying desperately to bring them back up only to fall in himself.
"I have collected them all, and have opened the door. The door," Sora felt himself falling into the darkness, letting out an empty yell, he found himself face to face with a gigantic ship, Ansem sitting at it's head, "TO KINGDOM HEARTS!"
As he and everyone fought against the darkness that began to try to swallow them up, Sora began to yell back, "You're wrong!"
"Am I? Kingdom Hearts; FILL ME WITH THE POWER OF DARKNESS!" Ansem screeched to a beautiful and tall white door standing on a lone platform.
"You're wrong!" chorused everyone, with Sora taking over, "That's not the heart's true essence at all!"
Neki took over, "The heart may be weak, and sometimes it may even give in."
Reni followed up, "But we've learned, that deep down, there's a light that never goes out!"
The three stood tall, the darkness fleeing from their limbs as a bright light began to fill the space, "KINGDOM HEARTS IS LIGHT!" As if at its name, the light shot forward, leaving Ansem stunned.
"Wha—?!" Neki squinted, but her eyes never left his fading form, "Light? But why?" His figure began to disperse into the air, leaving a final sentence, "So warm…"
Everyone looked around, just realizing that they were standing on a pathway to the door, "I know that…that's what really lies in the heart," Sora glanced to his sister and Reni, "I know it."
Neki didn't look back at him, and began walking towards the door. Reni nodded and said quickly, "Let's get it closed up, no?"
Donald and Goofy put on grim looks and said together, "All right."
As the four pushed on it, Neki peered inside, letting out a gasp, "Holy—"
Donald interrupted with a gasp of his own, "Look at all the Heartless!"
"No! That's not it!" Reni gave a curious look and peered inside as well, "OH MY—"
Goofy looked in and cried in glee, "THE KING!"
Both girls huffed, "NO! It's—"
As they were about to say it, gloved hands found their way onto the door frame – from the inside, "Riku!" Cried Sora, letting go for a moment.
"Let's get this door closed up!"
"Wait!" he turned to Neki, pleased and yet saddened to see her, "Let me in there!" For a mere second, she had thought he was going to cry.
"You can't come with me this time."
Anger flashed across her face and in her voice, "Why not?!"
The other figure spoke, "Because you have your own task." The girls blinked, registering the voice.
"King Mickey!"
He beckoned her in, and with a slight glare at Riku, she slipped in, running to his side, "What is it? What do I have to do?" He lowered his voice and whispered something into her ear. Riku watched from the door, and noted grumpily that she whimpered at whatever she was supposed to do, "And only I can?" He nodded, "Alone?" another nod.
"I hate to put you through this after what you'd been through, but since you are the last Untouched…"
She couldn't stop herself. Her head fell to the mouse's shoulder and she hiccupped, her hand over her mouth, "But we just found each other!" His gloved hand rubbed her back reassuringly, murmuring in her ear that he knew, and that he was sorry. Irked, Riku stalked over and pried the hand off of Neki.
"Don't touch her."
Mickey could only stare up at Riku knowingly. It was the last time they would see each other until god knows when. Moving towards the door, he addressed Reni, "Have you been good?"
Reni looked at the two through the door, "Been growing up." She heard him chuckle, "Why can't I go with her?" She looked down to see his eyes filled with sadness.
"It's much too dangerous for anyone else."
"Then what can I do?"
"Pray she'll return safely."
Riku cradled her head to his chest, "Neki…"
"I don't want to be alone."
He looked down at her sniffing and wiping at her tears, "I don't want to leave you either."
She glared at him, "We were supposed to go back to the island and get me another stick! We may never do that! We may never see each other again. And that's all you can say to me? Is that you do want to, but you will anyway?!"
"We don't have a choice!"
"WE DO TOO!" she lowered her voice again once the other group resumed they're own conversation, "I can't take this. I lost you once. I can't do that again."
Riku shook his head, "You never lost me."
"I lost you to the darkness."
He didn't have a response.
"What was so bad about the island Riku? What? There was me, and Reni, Sora and Kairi. That was all I ever needed! If none of this had ever happened, and we had stayed on the island forever, I wouldn't have cared. So why did you?"
He didn't speak, and instead opted to mulling over the questions, "I wanted to know more about you. Where you had come from, things like that."
She pulled herself from his embrace, "You could have asked me. I would have told you anything."
The word struck his heart and caused him to look away. He had know that she would have, but just telling him wouldn't have been enough. He wanted to understand what she was telling him. He wanted to be able to picture the places and people along side her, not his own versions. He wanted something special that they could share. A memory that only they remembered.
"I was stupid."
"You were."
"Will things ever be the same?"
She faltered, looking over her shoulder at him, "I don't know Riku…I honestly don't know." Standing, she brushed off the dirt from her pants, and the tears from her eyes, "We'll just have to have faith, won't we?" She began walking back to the door, her hand brushing Mickey's shoulder as a sign of forgiveness.
"Let's shut this door!" Reni shouted. Everyone nodded, and began pushing. Reni and Neki on the outside, Donald and Goofy in the middle, and Sora pushing at the center.
"Sora," he looked up at his name to find Riku, no longer pulling, "Do one thing for me." As the space got smaller and smaller, Sora nodded, "Take care of them."
Right before it shut completely, Sora shouted, "I PROMISE!" As it shut, he leapt back, thrusting the Keyblade into the hair, letting the tip light up, before bringing it down to hear the resounding click that told them their job was done.
"Sora!"
He pivoted around, and found Kairi not too far off, waving at him, "Kairi!" Without looking back, he ran for the red head, failing to notice that Reni had begun to drift away, waving to Neki Goofy and Donald, "How in the world did you…?"
Kairi shrugged, "I don't know. One minute Yuffie is showing me how to flip people with Leon and the next I was he-AH!"
At her cry, Sora's hand found hers, keeping her steady. He looked down to find the ground separating. On his side was snow, on hers – sand.
"Kairi, remember what you said? I'm always with you too. I'll come back to you," he leaned forward trying to preserve the contact, "I promise!"
"I know you will!!" Their fingers slipped, leaving Kairi on the platform by herself as it headed downwards. She watched in awe as the scenery of the island burst from the ground, the sea filling the space before her, and Sora faded into a massive swirl of lights. Her eyes flew to the sky as thousands of stars filled the inky sky, "The worlds…They're returning."
Calling her name, he wished with all his heart that he could be standing next to her. When she couldn't see him anymore, she found herself inside the secret cave, glancing around at the artwork. Her eyes rested on a particular one, and she let out a gasp to find it changed.
Starting back at her was the drawing that she and Sora had done when Reni and Neki had first come to the island. She fell to her knees and fingered the drawings, traveling down the wall and stopping at the paopu fruit that obviously Sora had draw leading to her mouth. She giggled and let a tear roll down her cheek as she imagined him hiding it from her. Not too far off from that was familiar writing.
Neki's loopy script left a message next to her head, "If only he had the guts to do it in person." Below that was Reni's chicken scratch, "Yeah, but they don't need paopu, do they?"
She couldn't help the grin that she felt encompassed her face.
- - - - -
Sora turned, "Where's Neki?"
Reni rubbed her arm, missing one of her arm bands, and instead sporting a red checkered one, "She left already."
"Without saying goodbye?" His eyes conveyed the hurt he felt at that.
"She said you'd make it harder for her to leave, so she left while you were talking to Kairi," even Donald looked gloomy. Goofy stood next to Reni, patting her head.
Reni looked at the brunette, "She said she has her job, Riku has his job, and we have ours."
Goofy piped up, "And that we should do our best…"
He nodded, and the four looked around, "But where are we supposed to go?"
Donald pointed to behind Sora. Turning, he found a trail leading to the sun. They nodded to each other, then headed out.
"But how are we supposed to find that there, Door to the Light?"
"FRED!!!"
"That's not a Fred," shouted Donald, "That's Pluto!"
"DOORKNOBS!!!"
Chasing after said dog, Sora could hear the voice resounding through his head.
"HEY!!!"
Remember Sora…
"FRED COME BACK!"
"PLUTO!!!"
You are the one who with open the door to the light.
End
Light: That was…
Rainy: Long…
Light: Took forever…
Rainy: Lots of blocks…
Light: But we're done!
Rainy: Yeah! At 18 pages too!
Light: ALRIGHT!
Rainy: Now we have to figure out a title for CoM…
Light: Dang it.
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