Chapter 8- An Unexpected Meeting
"Riku? RIKU!" Naminé cried out in alarm, the echoes of where a heart may reside seemed to pound against her ribcage, as the silver haired boy fell unconsciously against her. "Oh no, no. What happened to you? What do I do?" Her arms were wrapped around his waist, attempting to hold his much larger self upward, and his head lay heavily against her shoulder. She could feel something wet, warm and sticky against the side of his coat on her arm, and her eyes widened. "Okay, think Naminé... think..." She awkwardly lifted his deadweight body as carefully as she could and laid him gently onto the floor of her room.
Looking down at her arm, she realized the wet substance was blood, and it was seeping out of his side, smeared all down her arm and slowly staining the floor red. Panic flooded her from the inside out. She had seen Riku injured many times from missions he'd went on for DiZ but never this bad, and he'd never passed out from wounds. He'd crashed from exhaustion, but nothing like this. Naminé had studied up on healing magic when she'd first seen Riku come collapsing, wounded limbs and in pain, into her room from the first more dangerous mission DiZ had sent him on. He had insisted that it was just a scratch, and from then on, Naminé had convicted herself to studying healing magic as it did most of the work, but she'd never had to deal with a wound so severe, and if he was left hanging any longer, he'd lose too much blood.
"I'm sorry, Riku. I need to see the wound, and I know you're not awake, but unless I can see it, I don't know if I'll be able to help you," Naminé apologized, knowing Riku most likely couldn' hear her. She unzipped his coat to his waist down and carefully slipped his arms out of the sleeves. Underneath his coat were his normal clothing that he might wear on a day to day basis, which Naminé had never seen before, and was surprised at just how Riku the style was. She couldn't help but think that she'd like to see him in just that outfit sometime, but knew it would never happen. After all, he wore this coat to keep himself from being detected by his darkness, and to protect his slumbering best friend. She carefully unzipped the black shirt underneath his vest and slid his arms out of the arm holes.
Naminé couldn't help but blush over how refined and carefully chiseled his body was for being only a 16 year old boy, and wondered why she'd have such silly thoughts; girlish, teen thoughts, as Kairi would have called them, but it was hard not to admire how nicely he looked bare-chested. For one so young, he had a very good physique, with thick, muscled arms and a defined torso. "Stop it, Naminé," she gently scolded herself, feeling embarrassed, and tore her eyes away as she carefully rolled Riku onto his side and pushed back the leather coat. She gasped, violet-blue eyes widening as her view fell on the massive gash, deep and lacerated into his side.
"Oh, Riku... what did they do to you?" Naminé murmured as she ran her fingertips gently over his bleeding flesh, not even bothered by his blood getting on her. She peered at his bare back and noticed the slashes and scratches across it as well. They weren't as deep as the laceration in his side, but still looked inflamed, angry and painful, almost as if something had attacked him from behind. "I really hope this helps you," the little blonde girl sighed as a soft, glowing green light began flowing from her hands. It twisted out in an almost vine-like pattern and wrapped itself around Riku's wounds, glowing and shimmering with magic as the healing process began to take affect.
Naminé watched anxiously, working carefully as the magic of her spell slowly began closing up the lacerations in his side and on his back, and she let out a breath as the redness had began to dissipate into a light pink, leaving only a trace of a scar on his side and the wounds from his back completely disappeared, with not even a hint of scarring. "Thank goodness," Naminé sighed as she lowered her hands to her sides, feeling somewhat drained from using so much magic at once. Riku moaned softly, and mumbled something incoherently as Naminé pulled his clothes back on. She was surprised that his clothing seem to magically repair itself and conceal his everyday clothing he wore underneath the coat, and wondered absentmindedly how that could be possible.
"It's okay," she soothed him, wondering if despite the fact that he was unconscious, he could hear her. "I'm just gonna get you dressed again so you don't get cold," she told him softly. She zipped up his coat and then the urge to run a hand over his forehead took over, and Naminé wondered how that was possible as well. Not caring to try and decipher the reason why, she followed her urge, and brushed back some of Riku's silvery violet bangs and realized for the first time that he was wearing a black blindfold. She had been so preoccupied with caring for his wounds so he wouldn't bleed to death, that she never even realized it. "Why on earth is he wearing this?" She thought out loud, but ignored it as her hand brushed across his clammy forehead. "Oh, Riku... what is DiZ making you do?" She carefully laid his sleeping head on her lap and continued to stroke his forehead.
Naminé pondered with herself for a moment, wondering why she was getting these sorts of feelings if, like DiZ said, she didn't have a heart. She was probably just remembering how Kairi may have felt about Riku, but her feelings seemed to be immensely different. Naminé delved into her memories, Kairi's memories, closing her eyes and leaning back against the wall. Kairi never felt this way about Riku, but she did about Sora.
To Kairi, Riku was that special, big brother-type figure whom she loved and looked up to and cared for a great deal, but the types of feelings Naminé were having for Riku were not the same as Kairi's feelings. However, the feelings Kairi had for Sora were almost identical to the ones Naminé had been finding herself slowly developing for this blindfolded boy in her lap. "I don't understand," Naminé sighed in frustration as she peered down at Riku's sleeping face. Originally, Naminé had thought she had those feelings for Sora like Kairi had, but it had turned out they were just shadows of Kairi's feelings.
The feelings Naminé were currently having for Riku seemed more real and not that of a shadow of emotions felt through her other. "If I don't have a heart, then why do I feel this way?" She could feel a swooping sensation in her chest, and Naminé placed one hand against her empty chest, feeling the remnants of a beating heart that almost ached with a sensation she didn't understand. She ran her hand softly down the side of Riku's face. "This is how Kairi feels about Sora, I think, and this is how I feel about you, even if I'm not allowed to feel, I can't help myself."
Riku, sleeping soundly now, his chest rising and falling slowly with each deep breath of sleep, nestled his face unknowingly into Naminé's hand, almost as if his subconscious self was seeking comfort from the little, blonde Nobody. Naminé laid one arm across his chest, cupping his shoulder with one hand, doing her best to hold him to her continued to stroke his smooth skin, carefully fingering the soft folds of his blindfold at times, and the boy slept on. She felt truly at ease and content, being so close to him, and wondered if Riku were awake, would he feel the same?
"I don't care what DiZ says," Naminé said softly to herself, feeling determined. "I can't help that I feel this way, even if I'm not allowed to or I can't, I do. Riku, you make me feel like I have a heart," she told him, gazing down at his face and she could feel traces of a smile turning up the sides of her lips. "And that's okay with me." Naminé smiled now, full on, and wondered if this was what happiness felt like, and then leaned her head back once more against the wall, feeling herself slowly beginning to drift off into much needed sleep, and here, she knew she could sleep comfortably with Riku in her arms.
Riku awoke with a start, and opened his eyes underneath the dark cloth over his face. He could see from the brightness that seemed to seep through his blindfold that he was inside Naminé's vibrant, white room. He realized his head was laying against something soft, and inclined his head upward. His eyes found Naminé's face, sleeping peacefully and tranquil, just above his. Riku realized he was laying in the girl's lap, and felt his heart leap into his chest. He could feel a blush creeping up on his cheeks. He was laying Naminé's lap? Riku wondered how he had even managed to get there or even back to her room for that matter? "What... happened? How did I get back here?" he murmured softly, voicing his thoughts. He placed his hand against his forehead, and closed his eyes aquamarine eyes behind the blindfold, attempting to remember what had happened prior to this.
I was in Hallow Bastion, and then I was ambushed by Nobodies... Oh! My wound! Riku's eyes flew open underneath his blindfold, and he quickly put his hand against his side. "What happened to my wound? Did Naminé heal me? Riku sat up very slowly and carefully, so as not to awaken his slumbering companion and rose to his feet. He walked across the room and sat down in the chair at the end of the long, white table in Naminé's room, trying to gather his thoughts.
That's right... I was outnumbered and one had stabbed me in the side. It was pretty bad too, but now I don't even feel pain. Is this Naminé's doing? Even my back feels better. Okay, so think, Riku... what happened in Hallow Bastion? Oh! That's right! I saw the Organization. I should probably report that to DiZ soon. He'll be wondering what I found out. It wasn't much of anything, really. I couldn't even hear what was said, but maybe just the fact that the Nobodies had grown in numbers and the Organization was there is enough information for DiZ...
Riku was so lost in his own thoughts that his head jerked up when he heard the chair across from him scrape the floor, startling him. He had been so focused on what would happen and what he'd say to DiZ, that he never even heard Naminé wake up. She slowly approached him, her small hands folded up to her chest. "I'm happy to see that you're awake," Naminé said, and Riku could hear the relief in her voice. "Are you feeling better?" She brought one of her hands down to gently rest against his arm, that concerned and caring look showing in her eyes, and Riku felt something in his heart shift. He couldn't remember the last time anyone was genuinely concerned for him like this. It had been months since Mickey had departed and he was left alone.
"Yeah, I am. Was it you that took care of me?" Riku questioned, feeling a blush creeping up onto his cheeks, and wishing his blindfold would cover his whole face, so Naminé couldn't see his reddening face. She tilted her head to the side and nodded it once, closing her eyes and then opening them once more to stare into his blindfolded face. "Ah, thanks. It was pretty bad out there," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "The Nobodies are starting to grow in numbers, and they're not just Dusks anymore. They're getting bigger and more powerful. I was completely ambushed by both them and numerous Heartless. It was just a huge mass of black and grey. They got the upper hand on me," Riku sighed and ran a hand through his thick, silvery violet locks.
"The important thing is that you're alright," Naminé added on, pointing her finger upward and wiggling it back and forth. "Even though you got hurt, you still came back alive and you're still here for Sora and...," Namine paused, as the words for me faded on the tip of her tongue. "Well, you're still here to help protect him. That's what matters more than anything."
"I don't know," Riku sighed, shaking his head back and forth, doubt filling his heart. "DiZ was right. I tried to use my dark powers in battle, but there were just so many out there. I could only take out some on my own. Even though I summoned the dark power from within me, I still got hurt." Can a guy from the darkness like me even be fit to protect someone filled with light the way that Sora is, the way that Naminé is? I couldn't protect Kairi... I couldn't save her. What makes me think I can save Naminé and Sora? Riku thought bitterly to himself.
"I better report to DiZ, let him know what happened, or he might end up being pretty ticked off at me, if this report itself doesn't get him riled first," Riku said sadly as he rose from his seat, the feet of the chair making a scraping sound across the floor as he stood. He made to turn away from Naminé when he felt her small hand grasp his arm once more. He turned to look down at the petite blonde who's lovely face was filled with genuine worry for him yet again.
Riku half-chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll be okay, Naminé. I have to go. We'll talk more soon, okay?" Naminé let go of his arm, dropping her hands to her sides and watched Riku's back as he walked across the room. He stopped and peered over his shoulder, a blush rising to his cheeks. "Thanks for taking care of me," he told the girl with a shy smile. He then turned, made his way to the door and disappeared on the other side of it. A dreadful sensation rose up inside of her as she watched him leave the room. She had a feeling she might not see him again for a little while.
Riku sighed as he began making his way down the long corridor, toward the library, assuming DiZ was most likely down in the basement sitting in front of his many computer screens. He was dreading approaching the man and telling him what happened, but he decided to sugarcoat the fact that he had been hurt, and the fact that he'd had to use his dark abilities. Perhaps that would make this meeting with him go a little easier, but he did have more appreciation for DiZ since he'd helped Riku come to understand what his darkness was doing to him, along with the ability to help hide the truth in his eyes. Riku absentmindedly lifted a hand to touch his blindfold. "Here goes nothing," he spoke under his breath and made his way into the computer room.
"Riku!" a familiar voice burst out as the boy stepped into the room and he whirled around toward the source of the voice. Running toward Riku was someone he hadn't seen in months, and he couldn't help but let a smile break across his face. Mickey! Riku stooped down on one knee as a the little King made his way toward the boy and jumped up into his arms, giving him a big hug. "It's so good to see you again, Riku! I'm sorry I was away for so long!" Mickey apologized as Riku sat him down.
"It's alright, Your Majesty. I understand you had important things to take care of being a King and all," Riku replied, a trace of happiness he hadn't heard in so long could be detected in his voice.
"Look at how you've grown!" Mickey mused, as Riku rose to his full height. "Last time I saw you, you were quite a few inches shorter! And you've changed too. Something is different about you," Mickey said thoughtfully folding a small arm across his chest and resting his elbow on top of his forearm, finger to his mouth.
Riku felt a rush of shame rise up inside of him, and was truly happy that he had a blindfold covering his eyes. "Yeah. Some things happened, but don't worry," Riku added trying to sound enthusiastic. "I'm going to be just fine."
DiZ, who had been focused on his numerous computer monitors the entire time, cleared out his throat and turned his chair around to face Riku and King Mickey. "I apologize for breaking up this little reunion, but Riku? I believe you have a report to make? Did you find out anything in Hallow Bastion?"
"Uh, w-well," Riku began stammering, and he took a deep breath to compose himself. Just lie to him... He doesn't need to know you were hurt out there or that you used any of your dark powers... "I wasn't able to gather much beyond the fact that the numbers of Nobodies are beginning to increase. They're not just Dusks anymore either. They're taking on larger and more powerful forms by the handful, if not more. The Heartless are still running amuck as well. I'm pretty sure the Organization does have something to do with this, because I did see two men in black coats, but I couldn't identify them. They had their hoods pulled up, and their voices were too far away for me to be able to hear them. I made a run for it as soon as they disappeared, and I saw I'd be outnumbered by Nobodies," Riku explained.
DiZ closed his eye one, nodding his head. "So, the Organization is definitely planning something. That much we know, but the question is what and why?" the bandaged man voiced his thoughts out loud, rubbing his chin with a thumb. "Whatever it might be, it could be pertaining to the new information I have currently discovered."
Riku folded his arms across his chest. "What information?" Mickey stood side by side with Riku, staring up at DiZ just as intently.
"It pertains to the Perfect Replica of Sora's Nobody that I told you about just recently. Do you remember?" DiZ questioned, his amber eye staring hard into Riku's blindfolded face. Riku nodded and DiZ continued. "Her name is Xion, and from what I can tell, it looks like she is on the move. I have been doing my best to track her, but she's traveling through worlds performing missions and tasks for the Organization. The last place she was currently headed for was The Beast's Castle. It will take some travel through a few worlds to reach it, but I'm sure you can handle it?" DiZ inquired, raising from his chair and placing his hands behind his back.
"I understand," Riku stated with a firm nod, and Mickey beside him nodded his head as well, looking sharply at DiZ.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to accompany Riku. There are some things I'd like to look into myself, and Riku and me. We're connected, you see? If you need help finding out information about this Xion girl, then we will find it for you together!" Mickey clenched a small fist at his side, and Riku could see the determination in the small King's face.
A warm feeling billowed in Riku's chest, and he couldn't help but feel appreciative that Mickey wanted to be alongside him once more, but Riku wasn't so sure if he really wanted the king there. The idea of it also unsettled him, and it wasn't a matter of not liking the idea of him tagging along for the trip, but rather Riku was fighting and struggling with his darkness, as well as with the shadow of Ansem. The last thing the silver haired teen wanted to do was worry the King, nor for the King to see a side of him that Riku never wanted him to see. Riku started to open his mouth to say something but was interrupted by DiZ.
"Indeed, Mickey. You may accompany young Riku, and as soon as you two have gathered enough information, report back to me as soon as you possibly can," the bandaged man ordered, and he turned his back toward them once more, staring at his computer screen.
"Alright then, Riku! Let's go! DiZ said Xion was headed toward the Beast's Castle. We'll have to go through Hallow Bastion to get there. Perhaps we should start our search there, and if we don't find her, we'll go straight to The Beast's Castle," the King explained as he and Riku walked out of the computer room, heading toward the entrance of the mansion.
"I was just in Hallow Bastion, Mickey. We have to be very careful and we're going to have to try and avoid those Nobodies as much as possible. If the Organization finds out we're there, they'll either get Xion out of the line of fire or stage a coup, and that would be really bad. We can't let the Organization take over," Riku explained, his tone flat. "So we need to try and sneak through as best we can without being detected."
"Well, these coats we're wearing should help with some of that," Mickey told him enthusiastically. "Don't worry so much, Riku. As long as we're together, we can make it through anything."
Riku shook his silvery-violet head back and forth, bemused. "Fair enough," he replied, a slight laugh resounding in his voice. It was obvious that the King wasn't going to give up on him anytime soon, and so Riku chose to accept that, even though deep down, he was still worried what this journey might bring.
The days rolled slowly by as Riku and the King traveled in between the worlds of Twilight Town and Hallow Bastion on foot. He wasn't about to make the King travel through a dark corridor into the next world. The King was someone filled with light, and Riku feared tainting the King by having him do so. He himself even worried that his darkness could taint the King as well, so Riku did his best to keep his distance and not use his dark powers whenever he and Mickey were thrust into battle, or would sneak and use them if he and Mickey might become separated during battle as sometimes he'd need to.
The urges to use his darkness were growing ever stronger and the scent of Ansem drawing ever nearer. Riku could feel him somewhere in the depths of his heart, and would find himself waking almost violently almost every single night, plagued by nightmares of the grey haired Heartless; nightmares from subconscious fears that manifested themselves into dreams and nightmares of the past when the Seeker of Darkness had stolen his body, which would leave Riku exhausted and fearful to fall back to sleep, almost like a small child, and sometimes he'd long to be back on the Destiny Islands asleep in his own bed or would long for the touch and comfort of a parent, but that was neither here nor there anymore.
One particular night when Riku had began to doze off, only to be swarmed by the nightmares of his past, and after hours of tossing and turning, afraid to go back to sleep, he decided to get up and take a walk to clear his head. Mickey was sleeping heavily, and Riku didn't want to disturb him, but also didn't want to go too far, so he made sure he was careful about how far he walked and so he wouldn't get himself lost. He'd walked maybe ten feet away from the sleeping King when he heard it loud, clear and deriding.
"Riku... Riku...?"
"Huh!?" Riku gasped, whirling around to see if anyone was following him, a chill creeping down his spine as the familiarity of the voice filled his senses. He was close. Much too close.
"Pitiful boy. You long to go back home to the Islands that you threw away to the darkness almost a year ago. What honestly makes you believe that your parents and your friends would even want to see you again? I can see your mind, Riku and how much you long for your parents to help soothe you from your nightmares. You brought this all on yourself by giving in to the darkness. You gave up having the rest of your childhood when you gave your heart to the darkness, to me. You are no longer entitled to the comfort a parent or friend might offer."
"Shut up," Riku muttered, trying hard to drown out the man's pestilent tones. "You know nothing."
"Oh don't I? I know more than you would think, Riku," the voice of Ansem resounded louder than ever, and before the teen boy knew it, a swirling cloud of whispy, swirling darkness was appearing in front of him, and slowly took on the form of the man that he loathed more than anything with all of his heart, which had began slamming against his chest in anxiety. The familiar shape of his hair, almost as it were horned, falling to the middle of his back, the long, black and orange coat flapping in the night breeze, he stood tall and menacing. His amber eyes glistened dangerously, a malicious smile sat on his lips, and his arms were folded across his chest as he stared down at Riku. It was Ansem; Seeker of Darkness. Xehanort's Heartless.
"What the...! How did you get here! You don't exist!" Riku began taking steps backward, slowly, too shocked to try and run, and he stumbled, trying to move away from the Seeker of Darkness who was drawing ever nearer now.
The man slowly began walking toward Riku, his hand outstretched. "I came from within your heart after all, Riku. You've been thinking about me, and the darkness that I command from inside of you, and because of that I was able to manifest myself from your heart. You called for me. You summoned me here."
"I did not call for you," Riku spat angrily. "If I had called for you, that'd be something entirely different. I never wanted to see your disgusting face for as long as I exist. Your smell, the way you look, your eyes, the mere presence of you sickens me. It makes me want to throw up," the blindfolded boy snarled.
The Seeker of Darkness just laughed jeeringly. "Oh, Riku. Why do you continue to lie to yourself? You need darkness, just as much as you need me. I know what you have been doing. Why would you lie to DiZ about using your dark powers? Why would you try and hide the truth from that meddlesome King that you rely on your dark abilities to fight?"
"Tch!" Riku scoffed and clenched his fists down at his sides. "I haven't lied to DiZ or anyone about using my dark powers because nobody has asked me. I don't even use them that much. I only use them when I need to. I shouldn't have to go around blabbing my life story to everyone!"
Ansem threw his head back laughing openly once more. "You're a foolish child. Did you not think that DiZ and the King could see right through you? You say you did not lie to DiZ, but you did not tell him the truth either."
Riku growled. "It was my choice whether to tell DiZ or not what I did while in battle, and I don't think he needs to know every single detail of how I fight. What matters is the information I gather for him." Riku could feel himself beginning to waver. Perhaps Ansem was right. Perhaps he did need the darkness in order to fight and stay alive? Maybe he couldn't do anything without the darkness, as much as he hated it. He may not have a choice anymore. If his darkness were to take over him, it could change him forever, and then who would make sure Sora woke up? DiZ would be so disappointed in him. Feeling his rage building up once more, Riku summoned Soul Eater, and the sword materalized in his right hand as he readied an attack position. "I don't need darkness! It won't defeat me!"
"Oh is it a fight you want?" Ansem questioned the boy, as his body began levitating from the ground. "You should stop lying to yourself and to others, Riku. As much as you don't want it, darkness sleeps within your heart and it always will. After all this time you still don't want to accept your darkness. You're still afraid of it."
Riku couldn't stand it anymore. Just the sound of Ansem's voice was enough to send him over the edge and his presence did nothing but further aggravate and infuriate him. Riku shouted out a battle cry, readying Soul Eater and began running for Ansem. He took a leap, raising his sword to lunge at him and slice the tip of Soul Eater through the Seeker of Darkness' throat when out of nowhere he found the man had teleported to right in front of him and was grabbing him by throat. He lifted Riku up off of the ground, holding him high above his head, his gloved fingers squeezing tight around the boy's throat, and Riku's eyes widened under his blindfold. Soul Eater fell from his hand, clattering to the ground as he raised his own hands, clawing and grabbing at the man's hold on him. He didn't understand how something that manifested like this had so much strength over him. Riku struggled for breath.
"It's because of you, you stupid boy. Your heart and your darkness are what brought me here. This is your own strength, your own darkness that you're fighting against, and what you could be if you would just submit to me once more and fully give in to your dark side! You are absolutely nothing without your darkness, and you can do nothing without your darkness." Ansem told him, his face close to Riku's and Riku averted his head as best he could with the man's hand wrapped around his throat.
"YOU LET HIM GO!" a voice yelled from behind Ansem. Riku had gone limp, feeling himself drifting away, willingly ready to just let Ansem take his life if that's what he wanted. He was nothing but a creature of the dark after all, and not someone who should surround himself with Sora, Kairi, Naminé, or his friends and family back home on the islands. The Seeker of Darkness was right. "RIKU!" He heard King Mickey's voice shouting and before he knew it, he was being thrown to the ground by Ansem. He went sailing across the air a few feet before slamming hard into the grassland.
Riku just laid there, bringing a hand up to rub his throat, gasping hard for breath, seeing stars behind the blackness of his blindfold. His head was throbbing as he took in gulpfuls of air and he lifted his head enough to see that King Mickey was clutching his now materialized keyblade, Star Seeker, glowing with a powerful light and he took a flying jump toward the monster of a man, swinging it viciously, the light trailing in it's wake. Ansem dematerialized, disappearing with a lingering scent of darkness and something rotten, and the sounds of his cruel, cold laughter echoed through the night air.
The silver haired teen didn't move. He continued to just lay on the ground, his chest heaving as he panted for breath, and he could hear the running footsteps of Mickey drawing near to him. He felt Mickey lay his hand on top of his head. "Riku? Are you alright? Can you sit up?"
Riku placed his hands under him and pushed himself up, tucking his knees up under himself so he was on his hands and knees. Then he rolled over to sit back on his haunches, one of his free hands rubbing at his throat. "I'm sorry, Mickey. I had no idea that would happen," Riku apologized, his voice shaking and tight. "This journey is becoming more dangerous than I thought it would. I'm a danger to you, Mickey. My darkness is-,"
"You're wrong, Riku"! Mickey burst out, interrupting the boy and surprising him. "Your darkness is your darkness! It's a part of you and you use it the way you see fit. It doesn't mean that you're a creature of the dark. You forget, Riku. You exist between both light and darkness. With as deep and vast as your darkness may be, you can stare into it as fully as possible and there is still light in there."
Riku lowered his head, shaking it back and forth, his body still trembling from the impact of him being thrown to the ground, his throat aching from the grip Ansem had had on it and aching with something else. He swallowed hard. "I don't know anymore, Mickey. He's still there. I can still feel him. He's still close. I didn't even call for him. He just appeared. If he does that again... if I manage to bring him out again... What if he comes back and he's near Naminé or even Sora? What would I do then? If either of them got hurt, it would be my fault. This is something I can't control anymore, and I need to find a way to do it. It's getting too hard, Mickey." Riku's voice cracked, and he balled his fists up, pushing them into the ground at his sides, his jaw clenching.
"But you're not alone, Riku," the little King told his friend sounding sad. He walked up to Riku and took the boy's face in his hands, much like a father would his son. "I'm right here with ya. Remember? We're connected, you and me. We're close pals, and there's something real strong that binds us to each other. I'm always right here for ya. Just like Sora will be, Kairi is and now Naminé is."
Riku sighed as Mickey let go of his face and his turned his head away, unable to face the King anymore, because for a second time in a matter of days, he felt like he was going to burst into tears yet again. Riku couldn't help but laugh to himself at how silly he was being. What the hell is wrong with me lately? Heh, I'm getting to be as bad as Sora. He and Tidus were the two biggest crybabies on the island. I always used to tease them so much about it. If only they could see me now. Something inside of him squeezed his heart painfully, and he realized just how much he missed all of his took a shuddering breath and light out a sigh, attempting hard to compose himsef. He turned his blindfolded face upward toward the sky, keeping his eyes closed tight underneath the blindfold.
"Riku?" Mickey's voice came next to him sounding concerned but gentle. "It's alright. I told you this back in Castle Oblivion. I know it was almost a year ago, but don't forget, that even somewhere in the darkness, there's always a little bit of light. You have light within your darkness. Never forget that."
Riku lowered his head to look down at the King, and he smiled a small smile. "I haven't forgotten. Thanks, Your Majesty. I'll be alright. Ansem just got me riled. I really don't understand how he got here myself. I just know that I don't want to be a danger to anybody at all."
The small King nodded his mousey-eared head firmly, his eyes sharp. "I understand, Riku. Just don't forget that you have friends who care and want to help you through this. You don't have to do everything on your own." Mickey suppressed a yawn behind his hand. "If you're okay now, I think I'm going to get a little bit more shut-eye."
At those words Riku felt a twinge of guilt touch him. He couldn't worry the King anymore like this. Mickey should be focusing on other things rather than worrying about him. Riku faked a small laugh. "Don't worry about me. I'll be just fine. You get some rest." I'm sorry, Mickey... Mickey smiled with a nod and lay back down in the soft grass, and within moments, the King was fast asleep once more. The silver haired boy sighed and lay down in the grass near Mickey, and felt himself soon drifting off into sleep. No sooner had he closed his eyes, the terrible, familiar voice was back, haunting his dreams. He could see the island, he could see Sora and Kairi running, and he could hear the voice of Ansem telling him the door would soon open. He could see his island slowly being destroyed by darkness. Riku could see Sora running for him, yelling out his best friend's name.
Sora... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...
"Riku!" Someone called his name, vigorously shaking his upper body awake. Riku thought for a moment that it was Sora and woke with a start. "It seems like you've been having these nightmares a lot. Are you okay?"
The person that had awoken him, the one in the black coat giving him the anxious looks wasn't Sora, much to Riku's dismay. It was King Mickey. The moon above shone strands of light onto the grassland surrounding them, and the night air was still and chilly. Everything came flooding back to him as he blearily took in the King's expression.
Riku gave the King an awkward smile. "Oh, right. I'm really sorry, Mickey, for making you worry." He didn't want to tell the King he had been dreaming of his home, of the Destiny Islands and of the storm and the darkness destroying his dear home, taking his friends away.
"It seems that Ansem really is still corrupting your heart and mind Riku," Mickey stated in sad affirmation, and Riku's heart dropped into his stomach.
"It seems so. I don't think he'll ever let go," he sighed in defeated agreement, and looked down at the grassy field underneath him. Even Mickey's encouraging pep talk earlier didn't keep the nightmares away. Riku had known that already, since he and the King had left Castle Oblivion. Ansem was never far. He was still plagued by the same nightmares nearly every single night. However different the dream may have began, it always ended the same.
Mickey and DiZ say I exist between light and darkness... What about the world of dreams? I wonder is it anything like the Darkness of Between?Like Ansem, I don't know for certain if it is real, or manifests with the same intentions.And the dream itself. Ansem is still really inside of me, isn't he? He seems to know that the darkness is still there. It makes me want to despair in the reality that I'm confronted by. As Mickey said though, a light can be found even from the deepest darkness. Can the same hold true for me?
"Can you sleep properly now?" Mickey lowered his hood, looking worriedly into Riku's face.
"Of course I can. I'll be fine. It was just a bad dream after all. We all have them, don't we?" Riku asked, attempting to sound confident and he smiled at the King, who still looked wary and somewhat skeptical.
"Oh, really?" Mickey inquired, folding his small arms across his chest and raising an eyebrow at the boy.
Riku shook his head and laughed. "I see how it is. Contrary to what I expected, it looks like you're not giving me any credit here." He grinned at the King, hoping that a smile could hide his sadness.
As if lured by the contagiousness of laughter and smiling, Mickey shook his head and chuckled. "Whew! I expected you to say something like that since I can't really help with your dreams. However, I had hoped that you could rely on me to help when you're awake, at least."
"Don't say that. I'm sorry, Mickey. You know I do rely on you," Riku sighed and slumped his shoulders slightly feeling downcast more than ever, and Mickey's words didn't help. They only succeeded in making him feel worse.
Mickey tilted his head, looking confused. "Eh? What's to apologize for? In any case it's not like anything bad has happened, so there's no need for it."
It wasn't a bad thing? REALLY? My darkness summoned Ansem here! I put us both in danger because of it. How is that seriously not a bad thing? Riku thought angrily to himself, but couldn't bring himself to say the words to the King, knowing that Mickey would have a comforting reply that he just did not deserve.
"The Darkness inside of you has called to me." Ansem's words echoed in Riku's mind. A shiver passed over Riku's shoulders at the sudden arrival of the voice. Luckily, Mickey didn't notice this. He seemed to be getting droopy-eyed again. We're Darkness... We are the same ... You are me.
No! I am NOT you! Riku wanted to shout out and... but no. I will not cry.I know that in my heart, there is darkness.So I've decided to let us live with the darkness.I can't lose myself to the darkness inside of me. I can't let go of Sora, Kairi, Naminé and all my other friends. I can't. I need them... But do they need me?
"Riku?" Mickey spoke his name, jerking Riku from his silent train of thought.
"Sorry. I didn't say anything, Mickey. I think I'm gonna sleep a little more now." Riku gave the king a stiff smile.
Mickey lay back down once more beside Riku, his eyes fluttering closed. Riku wondered to himself if Mickey had been doing too much with how tired and easily he seemed to lapse into sleep.
"Follow me, Riku..."
Riku couldn't hardly take it anymore, nor could he stand to be near Mickey much longer either. He couldn't handle worrying the King any more than he already had.
If I stay near anyone that is so filled with light for much longer, I'm sure to fracture their heart... I can't do that. I have to fight Ansem... Alone... Only I can. I can't risk getting anyone hurt because of me. All right.I have to believe that light will never abandon me.The light will reach even the deepest of my darkness.I have my friends who are thinking of me, and that's good enough.I will not lose, but I have to do this on my own. I can't put them through this anymore.
Riku stared a little at Mickey who began to breathe in a gentle rhythm of deep sleep.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I can't stay with you anymore. I'll go find Xion on my own. I'll conquer the darkness within me, and when I come back, I'll have reached the road to dawn, but until then, I will walk the path to twilight. It will eventually lead me to the way to dawn. This battle is mine alone." Riku turned away from the slumbering King and took his steps quietly until he was a good distance away from him, and summoned the dark portal. "If I can find Xion and bring her back to Sora, then maybe it will help rid me of some of this darkness inside of me, and maybe... it'll ease the pain of guilt in my own heart." And without a glance back, Riku stepped through the portal, ready to begin his search for Xion.