Riku began coming to in small flashes of consciousness. A white wall. A man in a black cloak dragging his body down a hallway. So when he finally woke up fully, he was completely awake and aware as soon as his eyes were open.

Without wasting a moment he poured dark power into the floor beneath his bound wrists and focused on the mansion back in Twilight Town. Unfortunately for him, the business end of a spear landed inches from where his face lay on the floor. He squirmed away and looked up to see a harsh faced older man with long black hair pulled back into a pony tail. Riku also took in the fact that there were more spears in the floor within an arm's reach of the tall man.

"Wherever you're planning to go, I'll be following you. So maybe you should reconsider," he said, with a deep voice fitting for a man of his build.

Riku let the portal disappear and looked around the purple tinted room he was in. The area was obviously a prison with the bars that sealed off one wall, and the high ceiling and lack of windows. Small triangles in the floor emitted a dim purple glow, but the white glare from the hallway beyond the bars provided most of the light. Riku himself was laying against the far wall with his ankles and wrists bound in chains. He looked down at his ankles and noticed that they were black and thorny, made from darkness and holding him just tight enough to keep him from wriggling himself free.

"Where am I?" He called out as he tried to right himself so he could lean against the wall.

"You are in the World that Never Was." After saying this the man sat down and crossed his legs, leaning against the side wall and keeping his eyes fixed on Riku. His spears were planted in the ground around him like his own prison bars.

"I knew that already," Riku said pouting. He had managed to sit himself up and felt the sore spots in his joints where he had been bent awkwardly while sleeping.

He expected the older man to say something else, introduce himself or make a threat of some kind. But he did nothing. Riku just ignored him for the time being and focused on the chains around his wrists. They were made by a very strong wielder of the dark, but he figured he could still get out.

--All you need is say the word Riku. I'll get you out of this mess you've gotten us into--

/There is no us. This is my body. I am in a mess. You are an annoying disembodied voice that is squatting in my head./

--Calm down, keyblade master. I'm just suggesting you let me use my powers to free us from the castle. You know you'd be able to stop me even if I did try anything suspicious.--

/I don't need your help./

Riku pretended to be looking around the jail, taking in the designs on the floor and trying to see out the bars into the rest of the castle. All the while he manipulated the chains around his ankles and wrists until he managed to widen them enough to slip them off.

Before he could stand all the way up a spear point was pressed against his chest, and two others landed in the wall between his ribs and arms on each side. They wobbled slightly and Riku found himself face to face with the angry looking Nobody again.

"Escape is not possible. It would be a shame to loose a keyblade master, but if we need to we will kill you to keep you from leaving. And if you try and leave using a portal, we'll simply follow you and find your accomplices. So give it up."

He withdrew the spear leveled at Riku's heart and seemed to remove the other two with a wave of his hand. Riku couldn't help but think of Sora. Frozen, helpless, and hidden in the mansion. If he couldn't lose this guy in the pathways between worlds, he'd be handing Sora over on a silver platter.

"Fine. I'll play nice. But no more chaining me up," he said, trying his best to look imposing despite between almost half the man's size.

For the first time the Nobody smiled, which seemed to make him look even angrier than before.

"You're in no position to be making requests, boy." He turned around, walking back to the wall that he seemed to have an affinity for.

Riku summoned the soul eater and took a swing at the man before being smacked down by one of his spears. It had flown out of the ground and slammed into his side, knocking him across the cell.

"That won't work either."

Riku was starting to get very frustrated with this man. This time they squared off, no sneak attacks or hastily designed escape plans. Just Riku and his soul eater against a man three heads taller than him armed with six spears. But he wouldn't back down so easily.

His first attack was a sprint forward, and before swinging his sword to block the first of the man's spears he flung a ball of dark energy at his face. The darkness dissipated before it reached him and with a smirk he knocked the weapon straight out of Riku's hand.

Before he could summon it back he felt his feet pulled off the ground as the man picked him up by his coat. With one hand he pulled back as if he was going to punch his lights out, but his eyes flicked down to Riku's chest and he hesitated.

Riku didn't like being held up like a little child and was struggling and grappling with the man's thick forearms, but to no avail.

"What is that symbol?" He said as he placed Riku back on his feet and began pulling down the zipper on Riku's trench coat. This just made the boy struggle even more though.

"Stop it! Get your fucking hands off of me!"

In his mind the man's hair flashed white and his eyes glowed a soft orange.

--Good to know you still think about me, Riku.--

"If I was going to hurt you, Riku, I would have done it while you were knocked out."

The man finished pulling Riku's coat off of him, and stared down at the symbol on Riku's chest. The silver haired boy had calmed a bit at what the older man had said. Almost as if he was insulted at how Riku reacted.

Looking down Riku realized that he had reverted into the dark outfit he had worn when Ansem first possessed him. The red and black sinews were again stretched over his legs and arms, and the black empty heart with the red outline sitting proudly on his chest.

"Its nothing," As he said this Riku seemed to notice that the man had released him and he backed up, putting some space between them. With a little concentration Riku's regular yellow shirt and blue pants returned. The man just quirked an eyebrow at him.

"You know my name," Riku realized that the man hadn't tried to attack him or restrain him, and so leaned against the wall he was near, his use of his powers having sapped his strength. "Don't you think it would be polite to introduce yourself?"

"My name is Xaldin. I know your name because you took out a small portion of our Organization in Castle Oblivion. Axel reported back to us all about you. Which is why you aren't dead right now."

/Right. Well. That makes sense./

Riku took a deep breath and realized that he could now smell something new and dark approaching outside the cell. It smelled different from this man in front of him, a more corrupted form of the same darkness. But he knew that no one good could have this much darkness hanging about them.

"Xaldin. You're supposed to be guarding the prisoner. Not conversing with him," said the newest arrival, dressed in the same garb as all the others. He had blue hair swept back over his head, and a large scar across his face. Riku had only seen one other person with a scar that bad, and he had been a friend of Sora's in Traverse Town.

"As you can see, he has been trying to escape. I didn't allow him to. That's all that was required of me," Xaldin snarled at the other man as he passed by. And so just as quickly as the new one had arrived, Riku's former jailer left.

After smelling how much darkness was coming off of the man who had apparently taken up his post as warden, Riku knew he wouldn't be escaping any time soon.

"My apologies for my friend," he said, his smile not giving any warmth to his gold eyes. "Xaldin can be quite taciturn when he's in a foul mood. My name is Saix."

To the young prisoner's surprise, Saix extended his hand to him. Riku just looked at the black glove and back at the man's face. It felt fake to him. It showed emotions, but Riku couldn't feel any of those emotions. It was like an animated puppet.

"I'd introduce myself, but you guys all seem to know me already."

Saix just smiled at Riku's childish tone and folded his arms casually over his chest. Just as Xaldin before him, he let his eyes linger on Riku's chest.

/This is getting old fast./

--You can't blame them boy. Your heart is just glowing in this empty world. If I were them I would have gently slipped my hand in--

/Shut up/

--and pulled it out, fresh and hot and powerful.--

"Listen Riku, I'm going to be honest with you. We're keeping you in this cell because we want to offer you a position here in the Organization."

Ignoring the voice in his head, Riku tried to pay attention to what Saix was telling him, but was still disconcerted by the way his eyes would flick down to the area of Riku's heart.

"I thought everyone in the Organization was a Nobody..." Riku trailed off and at the same time backed up against the wall. He tried to summon a portal into the wall, but his energy was sapped. There was nothing left, and certainly not enough for a trip between worlds.

Saix advanced slowly on him, that shadowed smile never faltering.

"Its not that bad Riku. Like getting a needle. It only pinches for a moment. Then you'll be one of us, and you can help us to regain our hearts. And you'll have power to control the Heartless and the Nobodies. You could control everything," he said. By now he had backed Riku into a corner, but the boy wasn't going to go down without a fight and summoned the soul eater.

He placed his other hand over his heart, ready to keep it the way it should be.

Saix saw the weapon and held his hands up, backing up and giving Riku his space back.

"No need for violence. If you don't want the power of a Nobody then thats fine. But I hope you'll at least allow me to ask you a few questions."

Now that there was space between them again Riku sat down and got comfortable, knowing he'd need to get his energy back before he tried any sort of half-baked escape plans. But he kept a very careful eye on the man who leaned against the bars of his cell.

"Why were you trying to kidnap Roxas?"

Riku looked away.

"There has to be a reason. You weren't trying to kill him. Just trying to take him through a portal. Why?"

It could have been his imagination, but Riku thought he heard anger bubbling up in Saix's voice.

"Maybe I was going to hold him ransom?"

Saix didn't seem to think this was funny and looked out the bars, as if anxious to leave this place now. Frankly, Riku would have preferred the other man, the one called Xaldin to come back.

"So, since I won't be allowing myself to be turned into a Nobody, what are your plans for me now?"

Saix snorted and once again looked out the bars, as if he hoped his replacement might be by sooner than scheduled.

"Thats up to the Superior. If he can't think of something maybe we'll just kill you."

/Oh yeah, thats just great./

With little else to say, the two relaxed and were silent for the rest of Saix's shift as guard. Riku took the time to sleep for as much time as he could, trying to let his body heal and replenish his powers. But he did notice when it was the next time for the changing of the guards.

"Axel! You're late at your post."

Riku started a bit from the sudden yell of his cell mate, but looked up and saw a red head with tattooed diamonds under his eyes. He was smiling at how much he had obviously upset Saix and strolled into the jail, letting the other man out before slamming the door shut.

Saix just turned and scowled at the younger Nobody before huffing and leaving Riku's sight.

"Hello again Riku."

"Again?" Riku questioned, trying to keep him talking while he checked himself over. He still didn't have enough power to make an escape from this world. For some reason it was taking him longer than usual to regain his power over the darkness. He just assumed it was something in the nature of the World That Never Was.

"Oh yes. I watched you go through Castle Oblivion. I even lent you a hand a few times, though you never saw me," Axel said, then paused with another grin on his face. "I also knocked you out when you were trying to kidnap Roxas."

Immediately Riku's hand went to his head where there was small lump. Axel just chuckled and looked around the cell, as if trying to decide the best place to take up his post.

"You'll have to forgive me if I don't thank you for that," Riku spat at the other man, seriously considering taking his revenge now, dark powers or not.

"Hey man, you were trying to kidnap Roxas. I just did what anyone would do," he paused, leaning against a wall and smiling secretively at Riku. "I only did what you would have done for Sora."

If Riku had hackles, they would have been rising.

"Of course I can't blame you, after all, Sora's quite an interesting guy. Thought not nearly as interesting as Roxas," Axel said with a flick of his hand. He was baiting Riku, and doing a decent job of it. Parading his knowledge of Riku's feelings toward Sora around like they were nothing.

--Two can play at that game, you know.--

"Oh I know. So when exactly will Roxas be getting his turn in here with me?" now it was Riku's turn to look like the cat that had caught the canary.

Axel's smiled dropped and his face lengthened out, drawing his dark tattoos out along cheeks.

"Do you think we're idiots? You tried to kidnap him. There's no way we're letting him anywhere near you." As Axel finished, both men in the cell turned their heads to the sounds of commotion that were heading down the hall towards them.

"Shut up Demyx. I need to speak to him. And I don't care what the Superior says."

Riku recognized Roxas's voice and stood up, his coat still laying on the ground where he had used it for a blanket during his short nap.

Two Nobodies came into view of his cage, both with bright blue eyes and both that he had seen before. Roxas and the one he now had to assume was named Demyx. They looked to be the youngest of the Organization that he had seen so far. Roxas reached out for the door to the cage, but the boy with the mohawk stopped him.

"Axel, please, help. Tell Roxas he can't go in there. The others will have my hide if they know I let him in there!" He explained quickly, holding onto Roxas like one might a poisonous snake.

"He does have a point, Roxas. Its too dangerous to let you near him right now. Who knows what he might try," Axel reasoned through the bars, looking down at the fierce blond. Riku took the opportunity of Axel being occupied to approach him, and look at Roxas himself. Perhaps he could coax the boy to disobey the others and help him escape.

"What are you afraid of Axel?" Riku practically purred, watching the red head spin around and place himself between Riku and Roxas. Obviously the bars weren't enough in his opinion. "Worried I might tell Roxas something about who he is? Or," here Riku leaned in, not caring if Roxas or the other Nobody heard him, but wanting Axel to know this was for him. "That I might persuade him away from you?"

"See Roxas! That's what I'm talking about. We can't trust that guy," Demyx pleaded, pulling on the other's coat sleeve.

"Everyone else knows about who they were before they became a Nobody. I see no reason that I shouldn't."

Roxas met Riku's eyes again, and had to swallow away the dry feeling in his throat at the predatory look in the other's eyes. He didn't know why, but it definitely looked to him like Riku wanted him for himself. There was something almost longing in the look he gave him. As if Riku's survival hinged on taking Roxas away.

"What about a deal?" Riku said to Axel, though his eyes never left Roxas. "He can stay on the other side of the bars, where he's safe. And in return, I'll talk to him. Or is that not to your liking?"

At this Riku looked up with a challenge in his eyes. Axel seemed to fume even more, but Demyx quickly agree that this seemed to be the solution. But they all agreed that Roxas should only be allowed to speak to Riku when Xaldin or Saix, two of the strongest Organization members were having their turn at guard duty.

So Demyx and Roxas left, though not before Roxas took one last look at Riku, letting his throat get tight and a tingle run through his feet. He would find out why the silver haired boy had such an effect on him.

As soon as the two were out of the hallway Axel spun around and slugged Riku in the jaw. Completely unprepared for such an attack, Riku was flung to the floor and felt the bump on his head smack painfully against the wall. That was two that he now owed Axel.

"Stay the fuck away from Roxas, understand me?"

For the second time that day Riku felt himself hoisted up by hands in his shirt. Those green eyes with the tear like tattoos were much too close for his throbbing head to focus on.

"If you hurt a hair on his head, I swear, you'll beg me to make you a heartless." As if he needed to prove his conviction, he let fire heat up along his fingertips and he pressed them against Riku's chest, causing him to cry out and pull away from the taller man.

"I doubt you'd believe me, but I would never hurt Roxas. Ever."

Now that he was away from the scorching heat of Axel's hand, Riku grinned confidently again.

"Really now Axel, I don't think me hurting Roxas is what you're so worried about."

One straw too many, and the next thing Riku new a chakram added a third lump to his slowly growing collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:dies: I always knew that the chapters where Riku is captured would be tough, but man, I was so scatterbrained while writing this chapter. I apologize for any crazy ramblingness. Sorry.

At least its a decent length. Hehe. Man...I love Riku and Axel fighting over Roxas. And yeah, I know that all Roxas ever does in the game is hate Riku, but if he's Sora and has flashbacks of Sora's memories and stuff, he has to have some latent feelings for Riku. Friendship in cannon, and definitely something more here in my fic.

I'm sure I say this every time, but I'll try and post the next chapter faster than this one. We're gonna be jumping forward in time in big leaps from now on.

Leave a review yo...it makes me write faster.