Kingdom Hearts: System X

By Christine Lennoire

Beta: Bakageta

Summery: "Nobodies that heartless.." and no, I didn't make a grammar error. Hearts are corrupted. Heartless nobodies? Who in the hell is System X? It's from the King... But Ansem... Roxas... Sora... But he's my friend! Kingdom Hearts... Keyblade. They're... smart! They came after me... It's him... They're working together... We have to do something...

a new journey has begun

Chapter Eleven: Wrath of the Hateful Soul

Rath pulled out his strange staff and the blades glimmered in the light. "I won't go easy on you this time!" he lunged forward and caught Riku with one of the blades on the end, digging into his skin slightly before throwing him up against the wall. Kairi took a step in to swing at him, but he leaped over her head and turned around in mid-air, giving her a nice kick in the back.

Sora growled. "Kairi!" There was no response from the girl, as the smoke began to settle. "Riku!" There was a grunt. Riku was still down... "I won't let you get away with hurting my friends!" Sora shouted, fighting one on one with him. Roxas moved quickly to back him up, while Axel, Zexion, and Demyx stayed further back. Axel could still attack, but Demyx was weak – and Zexion wasn't ready to fight again yet, either.

Both Sora and Roxas were able to fight off Rath together, but even the two of them were only equal to his strength. 'He's so strong...' Roxas thought to himself. 'It must have taken so much training to become this way... but why? What does the man hope to achieve? What is he fighting for?' Roxas asked himself. Maybe if he could figure that out, then he could understand what System X was up to...

Pale golden eyes watched Roxas like a hawk. 'Can he tell what I'm thinking?' Roxas asked himself, matching Rath's movements with his eyes. Rath's every movement was filled with strength and hatred. Roxas could barely block him – and he couldn't find an opening in his form to attack him. Sora and Roxas could both attack him at the same time, and he'd stop them both.

Axel watched their movements, and waited until they both attacked at once. When they did – he made his first attack, throwing both of his chakram at Rath's back.

The chakram succeeded in creating a huge gash across Rath's back, and causing him to stumble. A stumble that allowed both Sora and Roxas to move in and attack him. Even then, Rath was scheming. He blocked Sora's attack, but Roxas caught him anyway. Lucky for him, after the first barrage of attacks, he was able to retreat.

"I... will... NOT... lose... to you." He panted and gasped. "Do you have any idea... the PAIN... I have seen? From beyond the door of the Twilight, I have watched the destruction of man! I have seen how all the people I love and cherish NOW will DIE soon... I know each and every detail of their dying moments, although they are here with me now. It is only a matter of time..."

Roxas gasped. 'So that's it... he really does hold a pretty big burden. But it doesn't seem to affect Roxis or Ino in the same way. This... Rath... he is different from them... somehow.' Rath shut his eyes tightly – as if forcing back tears that threatened to spill. "They... made... me... watch it... over... and over... until I... was STRONG!" he shouted angrily, his eyes snapping open.

"Ino and Roxis knew I was weak. I was younger than them, and refused to see the truth. So for days on end, I sat in that room and watched those images flash over and over again in my mind until I couldn't take it anymore – I broke down. And they... built me back up again... different... stronger..." he said, his eyes flashing with unshed tears.

"So I will be strong for them... and I will save the people I love from the death that I know is awaiting them! I will destroy this world! I will break it and build it up again, just as System X has done for me. I will not give up... I will not give in... I am not the same young weakling that I was before... my heart is strong and emotionless, just like it should be!"

Sora gasped. "But it's not. You still care about these people... whoever it is that you are protecting. You are fighting for someone. Deep down inside, you just want to find another way. Ino and Roxis have used you to further their plans, but you are not like them. That's what we want! We want to find a way to save the people we care about, without risking losing whatever time we have left with them!"

Rath looked at them, dumbfounded, and collapsed on the cold hard floor. Thinking he was ready to give up, Sora and Roxas walked towards him, to help him up and ask him to join them.

It would have been a nice plan. But Rath jumped back up – looking livid. "You are messing with my brain! My true friends are here! Roxis and Ino and the others are going to help me and NO ONE is going to stand in our way! Do not use my weakness to try and kill me, because I am strong, and shall not be fooled."

He struck both Roxas and Sora at the same time, and flung them – throwing them right on top of Axel, who he had noted to be the one who injured him before. Zexion and Demyx hurried over to check on their friends. Roxas and Sora were in bad shape. It had been quite a forceful throw and their landing had not been comfortable at all. Sora could barely move; Roxas was unconscious after hitting his head against the wall.

Axel carefully picked them off him and set them down – still able to fight. "What now, guys?" Demyx looked up at Rath with an angry glare in his eyes.

Demyx looked down at his hands, and water began to flow and shape itself in the air. "Now you've done it." Zexion grinned. "We'll show you just how capable we are as your equal opponents!" Zexion said, flexing his arms – ready to use his powers again after being able to rest for a while, and Demyx looked ready to kill.

"Let's do it!" Demyx smirked.

Yay! Another chapter done!

COMING UP NEXT:

Chapter Twelve: Dragons Unleashed: Ultimate Technique?

Please review! I will try to write the next chapter as soon as I can. This time I baked two cakes for my reviewers... one white and one chocolate. So enjoy them in the review lounge as you are reviewing! Thank you.

Christine Lennoire