Chapter Thirteen: Destructor

"Organization XIII paid us a little visit." Yuffie explained.

"I kind of figured that. Luxord was just here." Riku responded. "What were they doing here?"

Riku turned to look at Sora who had remained silent. His eyes were downcast and he as staring at the ground. Anger and sorrow clouded his eyes. Riku knew how hard it was for Sora. He had lost Kairi twice, not knowing where she was or if she was OK, and yet Riku knew the whole time, but never told because he hadn't been himself at the time.

"They stole some computer data. Oh yeah, Leon, we need your help with one of the messages you sent us, and with our secrity system." Yuffie turned around and headed back inside. Leon followed.

Riku hadn't turned around and asked Sora, "You coming?"

"She's close by, Riku." Sora muttered.

"Huh?" Riku asked, confused.

"Kairi's close, I can sense her." Sora explained, looking up. "And you promised I could look for her, and that's what I plan to do!"

Sora turned away from Riku and began to run away from him and back towards the Bailey. He could feel Kairi's fear. Sora heard Riku call him back, but he did not listen. There was no way he would let Riku stop him from rescuing Kairi this time, not on his life! He turned and raced up the stairs and headed towards the entrance.

Riku was racing after Sora, his foot steps matching Sora's pace, but he could not catch up. "Sora! Stop, please don't go!"

Sora shook his head as he ran, unable to reply. He felt the same sensation he had felt last time. But this time it was much stronger. He felt his body go numb and he slowly began to stop. Sora's whole being screamed against it, but his Dark Form ignored it all. It enveloped him as he tried to fight it, but his fight was usless.

He kept seeing flashes of Kairi in his mind as they darkness enveloped him. He came to a complete halt, and so did Riku from a distance.

Sora's eyes slowly changed color. They went from blue to a cloudy yellow-mixed color, making them bright. His fingernails turned to claws and his heart became dark. His dark Keyblade appeared in his hand and he turned around to face Riku, his eyes slits.

Riku's Dark Keyblade appeared in his hand as he saw Sora's look. He backed away carefully. "Riku…" Sora's voice was harsh as the word escaped his lips. "Are you prepared for death?"

"You're not killing me!" Riku snarled, raising his Keyblade using both ahnds, he took battle stance.

"Guess again," Sora dashed forward, his own Keyblade held out with both hands, sideways. "My Destructor and I have our share of murderous thoughts towards you, you know."

"Your friend, Riku, the traitor, is about to die if you must know." Xemnas stated, turning around to look at Kairi, his black robes swishing on the marble floor.

"What? How? Why?" Kairi gasped, leaning towards Xemnas with shock and fear for her friend's life.

Xemnas smiled and laughed, "Trust Sora all you want, but you can't stop him from killing Riku. And when that happens…Well you know." Xemnas grinned and then laughed as Kairi fell to the ground, feeling useless.

"Please, don't let Riku die. Please!" Kairi begged Xemnas. She was on her handds and kness begging Xemnas, crying now. There was doubt in her mind Xemnas would not lie about his plans, because he'd be trickign himself. This was for real, Sora was in his Dark Form about to kill Riku.

Xemnas glanced down at her and spoke, "You can shut up any moment now. I'm not helping Riku because it will stop my plan."

"Please!" Kairi begged, "Even you can't be that creul!"

"I'm sorry, but I can." Xemnas stated, turning away from Kairi who was staring at the ground, sobbing.

With Xemnas's back turned, Kairi looked up and looked out the window. Just as her eyes caught sight of all the darkness, she saw a pale figure standing on the white and black floor. Beside the pale figure, wa sanother figure, both were ghost-like and Kairi could see through them.

"Namine…Roxas!" Kairi whispered, her voice choked.

"We can help you out of here Kairi. We won't stand for Xemnas to let Riku die. You are the only one who can stop Sora now, Kairi." Roxas said.

Xemnas turned around, "What?" he snarled, seeing only Kairi there. He was stepping towards her when he came to an invisble barrier.

Sora struck out at Riku with his blade, by Riku deflected it and retaliated with a powerful blow to the side. Sora nimbly dodged it and rushed back in, swinging his sword one way, then another. Riku jumped out of range and pointed his sword at Sora and used his Dark Aura. The blasts hit Sora, throwing him back and forcing him to stop for a second.

When Sora looked back up at Riku, he lifted his Destructor to level it with Riku and growled, "Prepare to die!" a blast of dark energy shot from the Destructor, like his fire magic, but it encircled Riku, almost like Xemnas's laser shot. The circles of dark energy shot towards Riku, hitting him from all directions.

"Uh!" Riku grunted as he tried to escape, but was unable to until it was over. He bent over for breath and looked back up to find that Sora wasn't there. Quick as lightning, he raised his hand and yelled, "Dark Shield!" A flash of purple and black appeared in over Riku, blocking Sora's attack.

Riku turned from Sora and rushed towards Merlin's house, fleeing from Sora's power. It would be the end of him before long! He gripped the edge of the stone wall and leapt down it, landing on the steps below.

"Running away?" Sora said, leaping in front of Riku. "I don't think so." The Destructor slammed into Riku, knocking him into the wall. He gasped at the impact as the breath was stolen from him.

Riku lifted his Way to Dawn up and whispered, "Forgive me, Sora." Riku rushed Sora and swung out with such furiousity, that the blow smashed into Sor's shoulder. There was a crack and then Sora stumbled backwards. For once, Riku noticed, the Dark Sora actually felt the pain that was given to him.

The Destructer fell to the stone steps and clattered down them as Sora looked at his disfigured shoulder. Riku knew that he had just dislocated it. Putting it back in place would hurt, but Riku had done what he had to to save himself, and his friend.

Just as Riku thought it was over, Sora looked at him. His eyes were not clouded, but clear. Riku now saw the true depths of Sora's anger and despite his wound, Sora easily put it back in place without even a flinch. "It's not over."