A/N: Thank you very much you guys, I'm really glad this story has gotten so many hits! Yay!
A big thanks to Not aGeisha Gurl, ashner, Nameless Dragon, and sorasheart281.
On with the story…
Chapter Eighteen: Pains…
"Kazegami!"
It's too hard to make out the scene, but it feels heartbreaking. I see lips moving, and metal clashing, but I can't see their faces. Dust is kicking up everywhere, and darkness is starting to advance foreword. People are running, their faces in terror, things are popping out of the shadows.
"We've been set up!"
"No, you think!"
It sounds really familiar, but what do I know? I'm not able to move, but I can hear their voices now, it's clear. It's my family, but they sound so distance, and their voices are in pain.
"If we don't make it out alive… I want to say thanks you guys… I love you all."
Why is she saying that? Where are they anyway? All I know is that I'm asleep and they're in my dream. Gekigami collapsed onto the floor, moaning in pain as something tore off some skin from his shoulder.
"If we get turned into a Heartless…"
"One of us has to go back…"
Why are the twins saying that? What do they mean if they get turned into a Heartless? I want to cry for them but I can't feel anything now.
Again everything has gone mute in the dream, and all I can see is a mixture of blood on the ground and Heartless everywhere.
Civilians are on the floor, people are running down the streets. Mothers using their bodies as shields to protect their children from the Heartless
The only thing echoing in my mind was what I told Riku.
I think, given the current situation, happiness won't come that easily…
"Gekigami, run!"
I can't sense him anywhere in my heart, or the others anymore, but I feel something else now. It's not warm or cold, it's just empty now, and nothing's filling this heart now. I feel cold now.
"Keep running, don't look back, Gekigami!"
What's going on with you all, why aren't you home? Where's big brother?
And then, everything faded into the darkness.
I sat up from the bed wincing in pain, my back was still hurting. My vision was a bit blurry, but it came back quickly. I saw a mess of silver hair resting against my bed. 'Riku…' I outstretched my hand to pat his head, but I pulled back and looked at the night stand.
Pink sheets… I looked down at the thing that gave me warmth. He didn't have to do that, but he did. I sighed for a moment and looked outside the window of the room, there were dark clouds looming overhead.
"That's close to the civilian district…" I said to myself. The visions from my dreams came back, and I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.
Conference Room
"It's…" the audio transmission was starting to break up. "Heartless… t-…something... othe-…Gone… I'm-…l…eft." The audio was from Gekigami.
Reeve sat in his chair in disbelief, and Yomigami had bolted out of the room in a frenzy, and so did Sora and Kairi. Video was being replayed by local media stations, but soon the video was lost, and the only thing heard was just the audio.
"They're everywhere!" Yomigami said. The transmission was coming in clear from his end. "Sora, use Magnet! Kairi, use a Thunder spell once they're within range!"
Reeve had sent in reinforcement, that being Leon and the others, they were a bit behind, but still doing their best no less.
"Reeve…" Cid said stepping out of the doorway.
"Prepare the defense units again, Cid." Reeve said still facing the blank screen from the conference room.
Just like that three people had lost their hearts to the Heartless. It pained him more because they had watched him and the others grow up while they were still that age. It was still uncertain of who had called the Heartless to this world again.
Civilian District
Sora jumped onto the back of one of the Behemoths and crushed the horn on its forehead, knocking it out of a short period of time. Yomigami and Kairi attacked it from the ground, and soon it started to fade away.
A couple of winged Heartless were flying about, and some mage like Heartless were casting Cure spells on their comrades. Sora threw his Keyblade at some airborne enemies, and they fell before the might of the weapon.
Kairi blocked an oncoming attacking from overhead, and performed another Thunder spell. Yomigami placed a Reflect spell on him as a Heartless caught him off guard.
Sora performed Thunder Raid, hurling his Keyblade through a group of Heartless, electricity forming around the weapon. Some that survived the attack had electricity surging around their bodies, paralyzing them. Kairi used her Keyblade and performed a similar attack using a strong Fire spell.
Yomigami was using two weapons at this point, slashing through a group that was advancing toward them. He jumped backwards and cut another Heartless in half. Yomigami's eyes scanned the area, there were too many to handle now.
"We got your back!" he turned around noticing the ninja wearing black. She threw her shuriken at an approaching Heartless.
Aerith placed a strong Magnet spell, and Cloud and Leon took down the Heartless that got caught up in the magic charm.
After that Leon and Cloud were back to back, as soon as one Heartless moved forward the two of them jumped forward, attacking Heartless in their direction.
Aerith used another curing ability, and Yuffie covered her back. Sora and Kairi were side to side, getting ready to attack another Behemoth. As Sora was advancing the Behemoth was falling forward, and Gekigami appeared standing on top of its head. Kairi jumped back and placed an Aero spell for Gekigami to land on.
Sora jumped up and used another Thunder Raid attack to fatally hit the giant Heartless. The ninja threw her shuriken, helping Kairi out in the process. Leon moved forward, his weapon hammering down on the group of Heartless around him.
Yomigami ran to his brother's aid, but Gekigami pushed him aside as a mage status Heartless used a Blizzard spell. He asked where their younger sister was at, and Yomigami said he didn't have a clue.
The huge number in Heartless was starting to dwindle, but that still didn't lessen the pain the two brothers were feeling within their hearts. All of them continued to fight attacking them with airborne weapons, casting spells, and using any other means to push them back.
"I'm going to go find her!" Gekigami yelled out jumping over fallen Heartless.
Reeve's house
"Riku, wake up…" Amaterasu said shaking her friend desperately. "Wake up damn it…" she said whispering harshly. She noticed two turquoise eyes look up at her slightly. She stopped shaking him at this point, fearing that his head would snap off if she went further.
"You're awake…" the silver haired teen managed to say rather groggily. "Mornin'…"
Obviously he was still slightly sleepy, you could tell by the drool running down on his cheek.
Something didn't feel right, and it was starting to worry her now. She pulled him up frantically and hurried him out the door, she closed it behind her.
"Where are we-"
"Don't talk, just move!" she said pulling his arm. "Oh…" she paused for a moment. "You've got some drool you might want to get rid of…" she said pointing her friend to the bathroom entrance, and once that was done it was off to go downstairs, and find out what the heck was going on.
Gekigami was standing in the doorway, panting. He looked up noticing Amaterasu walk down the stairs. His heart rose for a moment, and he smiled sadly. The pain in his shoulder was subsiding since he had managed to steal a Hi-Potion from Yuffie when she wasn't looking.
"Geki…" Amaterasu noticed the bloody cloth on her older brother's shoulder.
"Thank the deities you're safe…" he said breathlessly. "You've got to take cover…" he said looking at the two of them. "In…" he breathed in for a moment. "By the area's defense system, you know by the gummi ship area…"
"But…"
"Just go!" Gekigami said sharply. "You're wasting more time." He said having a serious pattern etched into his feature. "Riku, you idiot, if I so much as find a bruise on her, I'm coming after you, got it?"
The boy nodded and grabbed Amaterasu by the hand, walking past the doorway. Gekigami sighed heavily once they were out of sight, and pulled out something from his pants pocket, it was a locket. He held it tightly to his chest, and then placed it back into the pocket from his pants.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered into the air. A ring tone brought him back to reality, and he answered the cell phone that was by the door. "Hello?"
"We're done on this side, Brother…" Yomigami said.
"How'd you know where to find me?"
"Just a guess…" Yomigami said before hanging up.
Gekigami sighed and ran into the kitchen grabbing a washcloth, preparing to clean the wound on his shoulder. 'Aw crap, this is going to hurt really bad…' he said bracing himself for the pain he was going to have to endure.
r i k u
Something was going on, but I just didn't have a clue as to what exactly. I could smell this really familiar scent, but it seemed to be a bit far from here.
Amaterasu was telling me that the best place was to go back to the conference room. I took her word on it, even though Gekigami had told us something differently. At that point I remembered what the scent was.
"Heartless…" I said to myself quietly as we walked down the area. It was pretty quiet now. I looked back at her for a moment. I knew which way the conference room was, so it was my turn to lead her, even though she knew where it was too.
"Something big is going down…" I said softly looking back at her.
"You noticed it too?" she said turning her head back.
At that point I felt the scent get stronger. 'This isn't good, if they find us… Ammi's still in pain, she can't fight like this! OH MY GOD, if Gekigami finds out I'm going to die! AH!' I started running, pulling her along side me this time.
'Calm down…' I thought to myself breathing in for a moment. 'I'm sure everything will be fine…'
"Company at twelve o'clock!" Amaterasu said pointing straight ahead. "Did you jinx us you idiot!?"
"No, I swear I didn't!" I said letting go of her hand. Wait did I just respond to idiot?
She pulled out her Keyblade, One Winged Angel, and jumped in front of me, getting ready to strike dead ahead. 'Is she trying to get herself killed?!' I thought to myself.
"No, she's protecting herself and me…" I said inwardly to myself.
"Riku!"
I turned around and blocked on oncoming attack from my left. I sighed heavily, and looked back at Amaterasu. She was jumping back a bit, and pretty soon we were back to back now.
"There's a lot of them…" she said breathing heavily, I could feel her body press against my back roughly. She wouldn't be able to hold on anymore.
"Yeah, think we can take them all on?" I said looking out of the corner of my eye.
"You're fighting too?" she said, I know for a fact she was smiling.
"I didn't know you were…You'd better not get hurt, or your brother will kill me…" I said looking straight ahead, with my Keyblade in hand.
Amaterasu laughed slightly as the two of us charged straight ahead, slashing wildly at the Heartless in front of us. This time, I really think we're making some progress, in clearing out the Heartless, and in our friendship.
We haven't completely broken the ice, but just scratched the surface of it all, and that's better than nothing. Within a matter of moments the number of the Heartless was reduced to less than half, which is still pretty amazing considering the fact Amaterasu was still in a bit of pain.
I brought up my weapon, and with a quick move to the side I brought down three Heartless. I looked back at Amaterasu. She was using spells rather than going to close quarters. At one point I felt a cold spell zip past me.
"Are you trying to freeze me!?" I yelled hitting two Heartless in the process.
"You'd…" she placed another Fire spell on a Heartless, "better be thankful, I just saved your fat behind!"
Sora and the gang
"We… got… them…" Sora said falling backwards. He stared up at the black clouds that started to form around the area. A gentle green light fell over his body that was a Cure spell. He looked up noticing a worried look on Kairi's face.
"You're arm's bleeding," she said picking up the tired Keyblade wielder.
Yuffie walked over to Yomigami, he was sitting on the ruble of a building lost in the fight. He looked into the distance. His eyes fixed on a spot of a building that was lost because of the damage the Heartless had caused. The civilian district was gone, just like that, and all the hard work the HBRC had put into it seemed all for nothing in his mind.
"Are you okay?" Yuffie asked the oldest Diaz member. He looked at her with his eyes, and went back to scan the ruble. "We're all really upset too…" she said putting her hands behind her back, not really sure of what to say. "Reeve's taking it pretty hard, you guys were like family to us, you know?"
Leon walked over to Yomigami's side and just looked down at the path of destruction the Heartless had left. He had lost friends to the Heartless countless times, and that's what drove him to fight as hard as he could.
"… I don't want Amaterasu to find out…" that's all the oldest brother said.
"I know it's going to be hard on her…" Aerith said overhearing what Yomigami had said. "But she's a strong girl, you know that, and hiding death from her…" she paused as Yomigami stood up and dusted himself off.
"I get you," he said. He looked back at Cloud for a moment who had kept his distance up until this point. "You two take care of each other, okay?" he said teasing the flower maiden and the ex-SOLDIER.
To mask pain with a smile, it was something Yomigami thought he had forgotten to do, but he was wrong. He found himself smiling, even when he knew he was upset, he'd smile to try and make it go away, but he was just lying to himself, probably the others knew, but they smiled at him to try and ease his pain.
Sora and Kairi knew what had happened, and tried to cheer up the ageless teenager. He told them not to worry about him, and they tried their best not to. It was still a hard thing to do, but they respected Yomigami's wish. Gekigami was still alive, but even he must be suffering, having to run away while leaving his siblings to their fate.
"Who do you think is responsible for this…?" Sora asked looking back at the others.
They didn't have an answer this time.
Hollow Bastion ruins
"That just great…" Gabriel said hitting the blocked path with enough force to cause his knuckle to break. "We've finally found this damn place, only to have a lock on it!" he started losing it, yelling out at the sky.
Leana looked down at the ground, as Gabriel continued to scream out in rage. They were so close, and somehow the deities had brought them down again. She looked up at the sky and noticed that it was going to rain soon, the skies were starting to turn almost as black as night.
"Let's head back for now," Leana said trying to get Gabriel to calm down from his little episode. He placed his forehead against the wall and sighed heavily, finally getting some self-control in that body of his. "Sometimes I really wonder if I should've taken you to that shrink…"
Gabriel turned his head slightly to look at her, but he said nothing, disappointment was written all over his face, and his comrade felt the same thing. Their plans were put on hold until they could figure out a way for the Keyblade's 'Chosen One' to somehow get him to open the lock.
"Hey, let's just trick him… Well do that thing…" Gabriel went on rambling on about something that happened back in the Underworld. "We just need somebody…" he said tapping the side of his head with his finger.
"How about that…"
R i k u
"They didn't tell me you were coming over this way…" Reeve said answering the door from the conference room. "Was she like this already?" he asked pointing to Amaterasu, she was sleeping peacefully on the couch.
I couldn't really say if she was, because she had sat down once the fight with the Heartless was over. 'I knew she was going to do something like this…' I looked back at the man with the matching brown goatee, and shrugged my shoulders a bit in response.
"It was her idea to come over here," I said pulling up a chair next to Reeve. "Heartless were by the area we were at, and I think that's when she fell asleep. She's not as light as she looks…" Reeve started to chuckle a bit at this.
"She eats like a bird," Reeve said. I didn't really understand what he just said. "It means she eats her weight in food, or at least a ninth of it anyway… I've seen her eat before. Man does she love food…"
'There's another thing she loves, and apparently you're out of the picture.' The Heartless said coming back into my mind. 'A dead guy and food…'
"You know you're really starting to get on my nerves," I said to the Heartless. "Can you do something else besides taunt me? You know go inhabit another person's body or something?"
"How are the two of you getting along?" Reeve said watching Amaterasu as she was curled up into a little ball.
I moved back in my chair, it was pretty obvious how we were acting now. I looked back at Reeve for a moment and just sighed putting my head down again. Xehanort came back into the picture, and it was enough to make me clench my fist for a moment. I couldn't relax when I felt his name around me.
"I see," Reeve said finally sitting down in his revolving chair. "She didn't tell you from the beginning, did she?" even for an old guy, he was able to figure stuff like this, I'm surprised.
"She won't tell me anything anymore, we don't talk like we use to." Why am I saying this to him? I should be saying this to her but I'm afraid she won't listen. "She loved him a lot, didn't she?" I said my heart was afraid of the reply.
"You want a lie or the honest truth?" Reeve said looking at me for a moment. I opened my mouth slightly, but I quickly closed it. "I'll take that as the truth." He leaned in on his chair, so that his arms could rest against his lap. "She did, more than anything in the world, more than food, which was saying a lot…"
"Okay, okay…" I said shaking my head. "I get it…"
'Are you satisfied now? You know you brought this on yourself, for loving that girl…' the Heartless said playing along with the whole thing.
I knew he would say that, and I felt my heart start to break the chains that held the darkness within, I was afraid I was going to lose control of my sentiments, but I didn't, for now anyway.
"You guys need a vacation or something…" Reeve said, he was joking of course, I really hope he was, because I don't think even that would help our cause. "I'm joking of course."
I looked back and noticed that Amaterasu was starting to wake up. She had looked so peaceful while she was asleep. She sat slightly rubbing her eyes. I'll admit she looked so much like a little kid at that point. Reeve stood up and addressed us into another sort of room, it was smaller than the one we were in before.
The news that came crashing down to both of us, I felt my heart just break in half. The look of pain and sorrow etched into Amaterasu's feature, I couldn't take it. One moment she's asleep, and the next moment she's crying her eyes out and yelling in protest.
"Amaterasu…" I looked back at her, tears refused to stop.
I remembered back to when I first met those three, eating at the dinner table, I thought that for once I might have a somewhat normal life. I thought that maybe I'd have a good time with all of them. I did, but then came this, and things even before that, it just made it all the more unbearable.
"It's not true…" she said looking back at Reeve with saddened smile. "Just say it's a joke, please…" she begged him to take it all back. Amaterasu was sobbing in her chair, the pain from her body was somehow blocked out in her mind.
Reeve stood up, and at that point she just clung to him, sobbing into his blue suit, burying her head there. Her speech was muffled, and Reeve bent down to eye level with her.
"I'm hurting inside too, Amaterasu," he said stroking her hair for a moment. "They knew what they had gotten themselves into, and they were ready to give up their lives if that was the case."
They were given a letter shortly after Sora and Kairi had finished their training, telling them to meet Sora in the civilian district. It had been trap all along, to trick them, and the end result was killing them off. Amaterasu looked down at the ground, and tears were still hitting the wooden floor.
I stood up and looked back at her for a moment. My inside, my world, was thrown into chaos, up was down, and down was up. Pretty soon light would be darkness, and darkness would be light.
She started walking down the room and at this point I couldn't take it anymore. I did the only thing I could do. I wrapped my arms around her, and just held her tight, and to my amazement she didn't pull back from me.
She held on tight to my shirt, and buried her head on my chest, she sobbed even harder than before. I closed my eyes resting my chin on her head, and she held on tighter. My heart was starting to sway around, I could feel it in me, and the last chain holding back the darkness was starting to break away.
Reeve had already left the room, and she still held on tight to me. At that point we ended up sitting on the wooden floors, and she buried her head again in my chest. Her arms were wrapped around me gingerly, and I could hear her still fighting back some sobs that were coming down.
I kissed the top of her head delicately, feeling my insides twist about in pain. I knew she was upset, and I knew she still loved him. But I wanted to be there for her, to comfort her when no one else could, to dry the tears away from her face when she didn't have the strength to do it anymore.
"Amaterasu…" I said whispering softly as I could. "I'm sorry…"
'…But I love you, whether you know it or not. It's not a trick… I know I can't replace him, but I want make you smile again, I want to see you laugh again. I want to comfort you when you cry. I want to hold you and whisper in your ear 'everything is going to be all right'. I wish you could understand how I feel for you.'
Those were the things I wanted to tell her so badly, when I said I was sorry, but I still couldn't bring myself to do that. In my mind it seemed so simple, but putting it to work was hard.
Her dark brown eyes looked up at me with tears surrounding them. I kissed her forehead, smelling that wonderful scent I had missed so much from her shampoo. She pulled away, clearing her throat. She dried her tears with her arm, and turned her back towards me.
"It's not your fault…" she said, her voice sounded weak. She looked back at me sadly. "I don't want to end up hurting you, Riku…"
I felt my body twitch for a moment when she said that, and I looked away from her.
"I just wish, you would tell me what's wrong," her voice was coming back.
"Then, why don't you go first?" I said scooting up closer to her. She looked away. It was obvious her face was hiding pain again. "Amaterasu…"
"Have you ever loved someone so much, it causes you pain?" she shook her head when she said this. "Never mind… We should… Maybe we should go back now…"
At that point my Heartless had disappeared somewhere, and I knew where. The chains from my heart were free, and darkness would soon set in, burying itself deep within my heart.
Her dark brown eyes began to widen, as she saw something.
"Amber… You're eye, it's amber…"
A/N: You know what to do one review please.