Nearly the last chapter. I think there'll be one more. Maybe two, but hopefully one long one. I've good news and bad news. The bad news lies within this chapter so you can find that, but the good news is I have changed the ending and I MAY I repeat MAY do a sequel... not sure... but there will be a sorta happy ending... kinda... working on it!!!! there is a lot I have answered so there may be a sequel... or I could leave you wondering. Depends how many people leave me wonderufl reviews!!!!


The Final Breath

Sora leant close to the large white door, he knew it lead to the conference room but he wanted to be certain the power he sensed was Xemnas' and not something else. He inhaled softly and blanched suddenly; he covered his mouth and desperately tried to quell the rising urge to vomit. Riku was at his side in an instant, his hand on the smaller teen's shoulders and held him upright as the brunet began to sway.

"Sora…" He whispered, surprise was one of their ally's and they couldn't risk Xemnas finding them now, even if they would probably still win, "What's wrong…"

"I-I d-don't…" He grunted in pain and fought to keep his stomach contents where they belonged, "There's… something…" His mouth parted as if to yell but the sound caught in his throat and he didn't make a noise. His hands were shaking, "We…d-don't have time…for this…" He allowed a dark bubble to swallow him and he emerged in his anti-form, Riku recognized it from what Sora had described to him.

Sora was completely black, occasionally his skin shone blue in whatever light could penetrate the onyx color, the yellow eyes contrasting against the black sharply. Even his outfit had turned completely black, the skirt tinged blue-purple at the ends but Riku could still make out Sora's expressions even if it was slightly difficult.

The brunet sighed in relief as the pain he'd felt subsided and he could breath easily again. He had no idea where the pain had come from but he didn't let it bother him anymore as he faced the door again, his hand reaching for the handle when suddenly Riku's was on his own, their fingers laid over each other. Sora looked at Riku curiously but the silveret only gave him a soft smile and they both opened the door.

The conference room hadn't changed since Sora had last seen it. Their friends were still forcibly bound to the throne-like white chairs; Namine was slumped against the floor near Marluxia, her hand limp but outstretched towards her boyfriend. Sora looked at her guiltily. It has his fault she was out cold, he'd done just as Saix had asked and thrown her against the floor with all his force which was considerably more than human.

Riku seemed about to go to her, she was the nearest person he had access to, but Sora stopped him, "We can help them later." Riku nodded slowly and followed as Sora led the way to where he could sense Xemnas was hiding.

The silveret really wanted to help their friends first, but Sora seemed to know more about what was going on so he stayed one step behind the other as they approached a blank, white wall. The brunet paused before it and put a finger to his chin, letting out a soft 'hm' noise as he thought. He could sense something beyond the wall, but there was no door. Sora came to a simple conclusion. He lifted his hand and it morphed into a claw again as he dragged one claw down the white stone. A smirk tugged at his lips as the wall melted at his touch, pulling away from his hand and parting, allowing him and Riku entrance.

The elder raised his eyebrows in surprise, he looked at Sora who shrugged innocently, "If you haven't got a door; make one." The small teen replied to his unasked question.

Riku gave an agreeing shrug of one shoulder and then looked into the room Sora had bust into, "Couldn't you have just… opened a portal? Xemnas does it loads." Riku asked, remembering the times the man had just appeared in his cell and nearly given him a heart attack.

Sora grinned sheepishly, "Yeah… but this was more fun." Riku snorted.

They stepped into the dark room, immediately Sora's eyes turned yellow. Riku jumped, in the pitch black, all he could see were Sora's eyes and it was a little bit scary when he wasn't ready for it. His hand brushed Sora's and he laced their fingers together, the glowing eyes turned to him in questioning.

Riku let out a 'heh' as he blushed, "…I can't see in the dark."

The eyes moved as Sora nodded. The brunet gripped the hand in his and looked around; he could feel a trail in the air almost, leading him to where Xemnas was. He sniffed quietly and squinted as the trail he was following seemed to thicken. He pulled Riku sharply, tugging towards the concentrated scent.

His eyes narrowed as he caught a flash of movement, a streak of silver glinting as if it held light as something shot towards them. In one swift movement, Sora gripped the plate of armor on Riku's shoulder, the slash through the metal providing a handhold as he pushed them both away, back towards the other room as Sora tried to escape the path of whatever had charged them; Sora suspected strongly that it was Xemnas. He pushed Riku behind his small frame without a word and glared into the darkness.

"The great 'Superior' of the Children of Light, master of Kingdom Hearts and great warrior of Darkness can do nothing but hide in the shadows and try to beat a Shadow?!" Sora was deliberately taunting the man he couldn't pinpoint, the scent of the man was all over the place and Sora knew that neither of them could see Xemnas. Hoping to level the playing field he continued, "How the mighty have fallen… I wonder if you could face the light?"

Xemnas gave an evil laugh, it echoed off the walls and Sora got a brief image of the room as the sounds reverberated off the walls, a human shape blocked its completion; Sora's eyes turned to the corner of the room the shape was, Xemnas moved again. The air shifted grudgingly and Sora felt Xemnas rush towards them again, but this time Sora sensed what he was holding. Sora cried out and pushed Riku backwards and to the left, straight for the way they had come in. Riku was caught off guard and resisted in shock, Sora persevered with his newfound strength but not quick enough, the odd weapon Xemnas held outstretched to them sliced Sora across the arm.

Sora cried out again and gave Riku one final push and they burst from the darkness back into the white conference room, Riku staggering and Sora falling over as blood seeped from his arm. Riku went to help him when he saw the black shadow armor re-stitching itself and covering up the wound. Riku's eyes shot up to watch as Xemnas emerged from the hidden room.

"You're right, Shadow." The man smirked, "I do not need to exert myself or use clever attacks to overpower you. I made you, and the creation can never surpass the creator!" He ended his sentence with another lunge at Sora.

The knelt teen through his arms up and the Dark Keyblade appeared in his hands, he gritted his teeth as the force with which Xemnas had attacked was bore by the blade and threatened to push him even further to the floor. Riku growled, he summoned the Light Keyblade and ran towards Xemnas. The man leapt back, out of either boy's reach and stared at the blades each held.

"Oblivion and Oathkeeper…" He murmured.

Riku and Sora didn't reply; there was a time for everything but Sora doubted there would ever be a time for Xemnas' babble. The brunet receded into a dark bubble and emerged in his anti-form, his eyes were yellow again and narrowed in contempt at the man before them.

"You are going to fix what you have done to me and my friends!" Sora roared.

"I have done nothing to them, in fact, I think you should be more worried about yourself..." Xemnas sneered. Sora paused and looked at the man in confusion, "You can feel it, can't you? The way your heart runs from the darkness that has claimed you... it rejects you. Your heart turns away in disgust and leaves you in pain..."

Sora blinked as the truth of the words hit him, the pain he felt before he had entered the conference room was because his heart rejected his new body?

Xemnas grinned and shot into the air, hovering above them and out of reach as he laughed down at them, "Shadow of Sora… that is what I called you. I named you thus because what you gave in to was Darkness. You allowed it to swallow you whole. Do you know even why we chose you? Because you are a Light." Xemnas gave a smug and irritating smile down at the now growling Sora, "You were a Light."

"What does that even mean?!" Sora spat.

"It means, my ignorant failure, that you were incapable of being touched or harmed by Darkness, but you even managed to defy that! Riku gave you his heart which was a wise move as it protected it and him from harm, but you were so overcome with grief that you allowed your Anti to emerge and take you over."

Sora froze, "…you mean… I put Riku in d-danger?"

"No. I mean you put everyone in danger." Xemnas snorted in amusement, "These people, "he gestured to the slumped figured in the chairs and Namine on the floor, "They are not only your friends, they swore to protect you and gave you themselves so that they would in turn be safe from the Darkness that birthed them. But you through yourself into Darkness and have now cost them all their lives."

"T-their dead?!" Sora gasped.

"You're lying, you bastard!" Riku yelled.

"Oh no, Keyblade warrior, I speak the truth. You are all linked to Sora and just as you and Roxas suffered pain, so would have everyone else had they been alive long enough." Xemnas readied his blade to dive at Sora, "And now there is nothing you can do but grieve for them!"

Sora wiped his eyes and leapt into the air, his blade aimed for Xemnas heart as he screamed, "I did not kill them! You did it! You took their life and you will pay!"

Riku gritted his teeth and leapt after Sora, their blades matching lunge for lunge, every one of Xemnas'. The clangs and sparks of metal on metal until it formed a set rhythm. Sora would spin, swinging his blade at Xemnas' head which would be deflected with an effortless parry, Riku's blade following for Xemnas' chest would be dodged with another parry and slide. Blocking any blow thrown at them from Xemnas they seemed matched in their strengths.

Down, far below their battle, on the floor crystal blue eyes flickered. Namine opened her eyes.

Sora felt Xemnas weapon catch his leg, he cried out and the man gripped his hair painfully, throwing him back down to the floor. Riku called out his boyfriend's name and dove after him; he caught the hurtling form and took the fall in his knees, bending expertly so he didn't harm himself or Sora. The brunet got out from Riku's hold and stood ready as Xemnas slowly descended to fight them, once more on the ground.

Namine turned her head, she could here fighting and Riku's voice… was Riku okay?

"Still think you stand a chance?" Xemnas sneered. Riku and Sora both gripped the Keyblade's in answer. Xemnas snorted and lifted his strange red weapons that looked like beams of light but cut like knives.

Namine pushed herself to a crouch on shaking arms, her vision slowly returning. Was that Mr.Xemnas?

Sora charged towards the man, his blade slowly curving round to be rebounded, the force of which pushed Sora back and onto the floor. His Keyblade skittered out of his hand, he was about to re-summon it when he saw Xemnas lift his own weapon, ready to impale Sora.

"Sora!" Riku cried, he darted between Xemnas and Sora just as the elder's weapon fell.

"RIKU!" Sora screamed, "RIKU NO!"

Namine blinked, her sight returning to show her Riku throwing himself between Mr.Xemnas and Sora as Mr.Xemnas' thrust his weapon forwards. It went straight into Riku's stomach.

"RIKU!" The blonde girl screamed. First she'd thought he was dead and know he really was, she really was losing her big brother figure and right before her very eyes.

Riku's eyes widened in agony, the Light Keyblade falling from his fingers to the ground, his hands curled around the blade in him as he looked down, a strange look of surprise on his pained face. Xemnas went to pull it, Riku gasped as the blade tore from him and he fell to his knees, his body hitting the floor with a 'thump'. Sora stared in horror at his friend and lover's body

Namine staggered to her feet and gripped the sketchbook she always had in her hands, she pulled it back in her hands and threw it as hard as she could at Xemnas, 'You BASTARD!" She screamed.

Xemnas didn't even get a chance to turn around before the sketchbook connected with his head and he lost focus for a few seconds. Seizing the chance, Sora summoned the Dark Keyblade back to him and lifted Riku's from the floor; he advanced on Xemnas just before the man regained sense of what he was doing again.

In a flurry of movements Sora swung both blades at Xemnas, throwing the man's body left, right and centre as the Keyblade's tore through his clothes and sliced his skin, blood arched out from each slash and sprayed outwards. Sora's eyes narrowed in anger as his attacks increased in ferocity, each digging deep. The brunet leapt backwards and landed beside Riku, who he was glad to see was still conscious and breathing. He paused to take a breath and then joined hands with the hand Riku offeredwith a wince, their fingers laced over the Light Keyblade, the tip of it pointed toward Xemnas who was struggling to stay standing.

Namine watched in awe as a light sprang from the teen's joined hands, it traveled down the length of the blade and shot at Xemnas. It struck him full in the chest, he gasped as he erupted in a flash of blinding light. The blonde girl shielded her eyes and felt her injuries catching up with her, overcome with the urge to sleep she fell to the floor on her hands and knees as the light blocked her vision. Sora let the Keyblade's go and shielded Riku from the harsh light, grunting as he felt his sight being stolen, Riku clung to Sora tightly, his breathing labored and erratic.

It abated after a moment and there was nothing left of Xemnas, just wisps of Dark particles winding there way out of the room and back to wherever they had come from. Sora held Riku tightly in his arms as he brushed silver strands from his lover's sweat-sheened brow, the brunet could see that Riku was struggling to breathe but he couldn't help him. He had once been able to use White Magic, but his entrance to Darkness had disabled that ability. He hadn't anything else either. Namine half-staggered half-crawled over to them, she was exhausted but her fear of losing two of her closest friends was keeping her alive.

"R-Riku…" She whimpered as she saw his profusely weeping wound, 'S-Sora…?" She turned to look at the other but his face was hidden beneath his hair.

He looked up slowly; she bit back the urge to wipe his face as she saw the tears running down his face, "N-Nami…?" He sighed heavily, "Nami… there's something I have to do…" He gently lowered Riku to the ground; it looked as though Riku wanted to say something but lacked the energy as he watched Sora move away.

He stood in the centre of the room and summoned a Keyblade. It was different from the one she'd seen him fighting with. He held it a moment before turning it around so it was pointed at his chest. Namine immediately made a noise of protest; he turned and gave her a half-smile.

"It's okay, Nami. I have to do this. I made this mess and I'll fix it." He gripped the blade tightly and whispered lowly, "I am a big boy; I can do things by myself…"

Namine watched; her mouth agape in horror but her muscles refused to respond as she saw Sora pull the blade into his chest, burying it deep within himself with barely a gasp escaping his lips. She stared in twisted fascination as the Keyblade began to glow, pulling back and re-emerging from Sora's chest with a sickening 'pop' noise. Again, Sora didn't make a sound.

The blade hung in the air poised as it was when Sora had pushed it in as something in Sora's chest began to glow a similar color to the Keyblade. It pulled itself from Sora's ribcage forcefully, this time Sora grunted and hissed as it freed itself. Namine choked as she realized what it was. He was pulling his heart out! She wanted to tell him he was mad, but as she watched, the glowing heart broke into various pieces, each shooting towards someone in the room. One hit Axel, Roxas, Demyx, Zexion and everyone else, even her and Riku were struck by it. She gasped as energy flowed through her and her chest became warm with something unmistakable: Love.

She looked around the room as their friends began to stir, but as she watched, she saw Roxas fade suddenly, with nothing but a white outline and then he was gone.

"R-Rox-" She froze.

Larxene vanished, then Xaldin, Demyx, Axel, Luxord, Xigbar, Marluxia, Laexaus and Zexion. She gasped as each of them disappeared, she turned to Sora who had stopped glowing and was now clutching his chest in pain.

"What's going on, Sora?!" She cried.

He grimaced and opened one eye, a pained smile offered to her, "There going home. Bye, Nami…"

Namine blinked and looked down, she gasped as she saw her legs fading, then she felt herself slipping away, "Sora! Riku! No!" She tried to reach out to them but she was already gone.


Sora hissed in pain and staggered over to Riku who was fully conscious since the piece of Sora's heart had hit him, though his wound was still bleeding badly.

"What have you done, Sora?" Riku asked softly.

He winced as Riku clambered to his feet, "J-Just r-returned a few g-gifts," He would have helped the other if he didn't feel as though he would just end up on the floor as well, "I g-gave b-back everyone's h-hearts…"

Riku took a sharp breath as he rose to a half-stand, one arm wrapped around his stomach in an attempt to hold what blood he had left in, "W-why? W-who says I w-wanted it b-back?" He held a hand out to Sora, pointedly ignoring that it was shaking.

Sora gave the hand a skeptical look but took it, accepting some of Riku's weight in return for the elder taking some of his, "Y-you w-weren't in the b-best of health f-for m-me to ask…" Riku grunted in reply as Sora summoned a dark portal. He looked up at Riku with a pained grin, "Where to?

"Anywhere." Riku gave him a soft kiss on Sora's cheek, mindful of the small cut he had on his tanned cheek.


They emerged from the dark portal shakily; each step they took was together and took a lot of effort on both parts. Sora heaved a breath. Each time he did it seemed to sap more energy than it returned, he looked around, "W-where are w-we…?"

"Y-You m-mean… you d-don't know?" Riku gave him a teasing smirk, happy to ignore the pain his wound gave him, even if only for a moment.

Sora shrugged, "Y-you j-just said a-any… w-where…"

Riku nodded and looked around. He paused and raised an eyebrow, "I know t-this place…" He and Sora walked a bit further in and the silveret looked around more, "… this i-is the b-beach that f-followed m-me… I s-sent m-my letters h-here and I g-got yours here a-also…" He gasped as he moved and accidentally aggravated his wound.

Sora tried to help Riku but the silveret swatted his hand away, "Y-your h-hurt j-just… as m-much…" He took a big gulp of air. Strange how both had suddenly developed an addiction to it, "L-lets… g-go down… t-to the w-water…"

Sora nodded and slowly, agonizingly, they made their way down to the surf. It lapped at their shoes as they sat down on the black sand. Sora lowered himself so he was laying down, the light for the moon low in the sky glinting across his features. Riku watched him a moment appreciatively before joining the other.

They lay like that, the sea washing against their legs and the sand absorbing the blood seeping from them as they curled into each other, their hands linking as they tried to hold on a little longer. Riku pressed feather-light kisses to Sora's face while the other clung to him tightly. Sora began to cry as the reality of it crashed down upon him. He may have entered Darkness and even recently killed two people and effectively killed himself, but he was only young.

"S-Sora…?"

"W-We…are…g-gonna…die…" Sora gasped; his injuries and tears doing nothing to aid his speech.

Riku shuddered a breath. He couldn't reply; he had no reply but the truth and even he wasn't strong enough to give it to him. Instead he pulled Sora flush against him, ignoring his wound as best he could because soon it wouldn't matter. He held the other tightly and whispered into his hair softly, "I love… you… Sora…"

Sora's crying softened and he stopped shaking, "Love… you… R-Ri…Ri…Rikuuu…." The last syllable was drawn out until it melted into the silence of the waves.

Riku felt himself slipping, he looked down at Sora. The brunet's eyes were closed. He wasn't breathing. A lonely tear slipped down his cheek as he pressed a final kiss to Sora's cooling lips and then closed his eyes for the final time.


As you're crying your eyes out, lighting torches and rummaging for pitchforks to kill me with, please bare in mind this is not the end. And if you read my message at the top, there may be a sequel, can't have a sequel without Sora and Riku!! Akaiba xxx

Roxas: WAAAAAH!!!!

Axel: WAAAAAH!!!!

Kairi and Namine: WE WANT SORA AND RIKU!!!!!