A/N:

A somewhat late update...sorry! O_o

Next update should be up relatively soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: The Other Side of My Heart

(Sora's POV)

Location: 10th floor

I hate fighting with Riku like this, it's just not right. There has always been a degree of competitiveness between us but this hatred is completely foreign. I'm not sure what has gotten into him and I don't know what to do. I would like to help but helping Riku is quite the challenge. He has never taken kindly to interference, especially when it's coming from me. I fear that our friendship is hanging by a thread that's ready to break at any given moment. I don't want to lose this camaraderie for good.

There has to be an explanation.
There has to be a way to fix this mess.

I stand in the corridor for a while to brainstorm. After some time, I realize that one of the cloaked beings has joined me. I expect it to be someone I already met but to my surprise it's not. This particular man has long blond hair and frigid green eyes. He identifies himself as Vexen. The way he speaks gives me the impression that he is an arrogant know-it-all.

He creepily smiles and begins to converse with me.

"Sora, I've come to collect a debt."

"What debt?"

"Your debt."

"My debt?"

There must be some misunderstanding.
What could I possibly owe this weirdo?

"Yes, I went through a lot of trouble for you."

"What do you mean?"

"I was the one who reunited you with your old friend. I assure you, it was no easy task."

"Riku..."

"Precisely. See, I knew you would eventually get it."

"So, if you're the one who...," I trailed, "IT'S YOUR FAULT HE'S ACTING DIFFERENT!"

"I don't feel like discussing this matter with you any further."

"Why not?"

"It would be unusually cruel to torture you in your final moments."

"I'm not scared of you."

"It's okay to be in denial, little boy."

"Little boy? The name's Sora, get it right."

"Same difference. Let's just get this over with because I'm a very busy man."

Vexen was able to get a few good hits in but he couldn't annihilate me. He clearly underestimated me. I wasn't about to let him win, not when I have obligations to take care of.

He hands me a new card as a parting gift. He tells me that it is different from the others I have received. He claims that it was formed from the memories on the other side of my heart. I don't know what he means but I have a hunch that I'm about to find out.

Whether I want to or not.