Chapter IV: Old Friends and Loose Ends

"All I'm saying is that your timing is impeccable," Sora said, working his way into traveling clothes. A rust colored shirt and work pants along with a long brown leather coat. As he slipped the coat on he couldn't help think of the Organization, and wondered if he had bought it as some kind of macabre tribute to his old enemies.

"We were tra-" Goofy began, but Donald cut him off.

"What Goofy means is that we've been keeping watch over the worlds for anything suspicious." A twinge in the magician's voice hinted that he didn't expect Sora to believe the ruse.

"You can do better than that, Donald," Sora turned to face his old friends, "just tell me how you knew to come when you did." He paused, then his expression lightened, "after all, you saved our lives, how bad could it be?"

Goofy did not seem overly reassured, "well Sora, the King's been aware of them nobodies resurfacing for some time now. We've been doin' our best to keep tabs on 'em and find out what they're after."

Sora's fists clenched, "And you waited until there was a knife at my throat before you told me about it?" he roared. He looked ready to continue but Kairi laid a light but firm hand on his arm. She motioned towards the young, frightened Naminé.

"You had a family to raise, Sora," Donald said, "the King thought you deserved a little peace."

Sora and Kairi sat down on the bed, hand in hand. Kairi motioned for Naminé to join her and looped a reassuring arm around her daughter. "But trouble found us nonetheless."

Goofy's ears drooped, "I guess we might have been a bit too hopeful."

Kairi was not satisfied, "you're tracking them though, not fighting. Why is that?"

"You know what they say about the enemy of my enemy? Guess the King thought we could use them to our advantage, what with the heartless problem…" Goofy was halfway though his thought before he realized he had dug himself a hole. He clamped a large gloved hand over his mouth.

Sora voice held more despair than anger, "you gambled our lives because you thought those bastards would do your dirty work?" he grimaced and looked at the floor.

Donald's eyes were downcast, "You're our friend Sora. We weren't trying to put you in danger. We just wanted to leave you in peace."

A smile formed at the edge of Sora's mouth. "You guys know you'd be lost without me." He lifted his spare arm and with a burst of light the keyblade materialized. "After all, I can't let you guys have all the fun."

Donald looked ready to jump for joy, "In that case I think the King will want to see you, all of you actually," he gestured to Kairi and Naminé.

"Riku too," Goofy chimed in, "say, where is Riku anyway. I haven't heard from him in ages."

The color drained from the faces of Kairi and Sora, they exchanged uneasy glances and looked down at the confused Naminé.

There was a long silence before Goofy spoke, "you know, I think little Naminé would love to see our gummi ship, what if I gave her a tour while the grownups do their catch'n up?"

Naminé looked up at her mother, who indicated that she was allowed to go. The little girl wasted no time grabbing the king's retainer by the hand and leading him out the door.

Once he was sure they were out of earshot, Donald spoke, "something she shouldn't hear?"

Sora leaned forward, massaging his temples, "Kairi and I haven't spoken to him since Naminé was a month old, I guess it would be six years now."

"Just about," Kairi chimed in.

"He's not well, Donald, we let him stay with us for a while, thought it would help."

Donald was puzzled, "Not well?"

Kairi grimaced, "he started saying things that didn't make sense, shouting at people who weren't there, tearing up furniture, he set a few things on fire…"

"Fire?"

"He said they smelled bad, like grave dirt and brackish water."

"So you abandoned him?"

Sora was furious, he leapt from the bed, blade drawn almost as though he were about to swing, "I had no choice. I wasn't making him any better and I'm not about to let him take a torch to my daughter while she's asleep."

Donald raised his feathery hand-wings, "I'm sorry, Sora, I'm sure you had your reasons. But where is he now?"

Sora sighed and lowered his sword arm, "he could be anywhere by now."

Riku's cabin was as far from being the dwelling of a human being as was possible to imagine. The salt air took its toll on everything; every inch of exposed metal was corroded and covered in a vile, crusty green-white film, the wooden walls and floor were black, rotted and strewn with sand and bits of ash. Riku lay on the floor next to his foul smelling cot, curled up in a small shaft of moonlight picking at the unrecognizable bones of some unfortunate animal that he had caught and eaten. So he lived, more animal than man, fighting sleep for days and weeks at a time. The effect was taxing, and the line between reality, dream and memory grew thinner with every passing day. Thus when he heard the creak of the cabin door and the sound of slow, purposeful footsteps on the floorboards, not enough of him was convinced it was real to react to it. The footsteps stopped a few feet away from where Riku lay. There was a squeak as the intruder sat down on his bed. Riku let out a low groan.

Perhaps noticing Riku for the first time, a voice spoke, "Hiya Riku. Gosh, is this how you're living nowadays?"

Riku recognized the voice in an instant, "you… your Majesty… yes… I knew it… knew you would come looking for me some day," he stumbled over the words, as though he had half forgotten how to speak.

The king's voice was laden with concern, "well gosh Riku, you weren't easy to find. I almost wondered if you didn't want me to find you at all."

Riku shook his head, "no, forgive me, Mickey, I would never…"

Mickey gasped, "Riku, your eyes." As Riku raised his head, the king seemed to have caught a glimpse of the two black pits where his eyes used to be.

Riku raised his hands to his face, his hands hovering around the wound. "Yes, of course. I had to your majesty. They were bad. They were his eyes."

"Gosh Riku," there was a creak as Mickey leaned forward on the bed, "I wish I'd known things had gotten so bad. I'm so sorry."

"He is… my burden to bear; I've done only what I had to do."

"Well you don't have to suffer like this anymore," there was another creak as the king got to his feet. "You can come back to the castle with us, you'll be safe there," the king laughed, "there's no way any darkness will hurt you there."

"I… cant."

"Riku you've sacrificed so much for the worlds. It's about time someone repaid you. But first let's get you fixed up."

There was a surge of energy and a thick fog of nature magic enveloped Riku. He gagged and coughed.

"Don't fight it, Riku. It doesn't work if you fight it."

Riku felt the strange cloud healing his wounds. It took a moment before Riku realized he could see again. The world gradually slid into focus and he could see his benefactor. Mickey's face was shrouded in a black hood, the same cloak he worse when they fought Organization XIII all those years ago. Perhaps it was because of Riku's spot on the floor, but the king seemed taller than he remembered him. A chill crept up his spine.

"You really did look ridiculous, hiding away like an animal. How long did you think it would last?"

There was some terribly wrong about the king's sudden change, "Your majesty?" Riku tried to move but the cloud seemed to have sapped his strength as it mended his body.

"No, Riku, I am not the mouse-king Mickey."

Over the horrid smell of decaying wood and rotted meat came another smell. The stench of grave dirt and brackish water. A crackling, unholy purple black light filled the room, illuminating the face of the black cloaked imposter. "Ansem… it can't be," Riku hissed.

The dark creature laughed, "Oh but it is. You should have known better, Riku. You of all people. You can run, but the darkness will always be faster, you can hide but it will always find you." He reached down and seized Riku by the throat, "you can fight, but you will always lose. "