Saving 6 Victims of Fate
Riku's breath was caught in his throat for a few seconds before he breathed out. "A request or an order?"
"The latter," Cloud answered.
Riku heaved big sigh. "I don't take orders from anyone anymore."
"Then maybe you should consider it as a request." Vincent altered.
"I don't have any choice in this, do I?" Riku glared at them.
"We can't answer that. Our kind will not have anything to with this," Vincent explained, stoic as Riku had always remembered him.
"Riku, the choice is yours, we're just the messengers. I still have to brief you though." When Riku gave a hesitant nod, Cloud spoke, "A lot has been going on since you left. It's Xehanort…you remember him?"
Riku grunted at the name of his former master. He really didn't want to remember the very man who'd taught him how to kill and embrace the darkness. Xehanort wanted to become whole by taking the liberty of intervening in the other worlds. All of his plans proposed to their Master, the Superior, were forbid.
"Ansem's number one apprentice…what about him?" Riku questioned.
"Since he didn't succeed in convincing Ansem about making them whole, he left; probably at the same time as your departure. Little was known after that, but as far as your people knew, he'd gathered enough Nobody-Vampires to join his scheme. Now they have 12 members, including Master Ansem's former apprentices, as well as Axel and Demyx," Cloud relayed.
"Axel and Demyx too?" Riku asked, having known and used to be closed to the two. "What about Namine? I told Axel to look after her."
Cloud shrugged. "From what I've heard: they said 'It'll be fun, you know? Just doing everything freely without codes or conducts'. As for Namine, she's still with your people; Axel did ask her if she'd be fine on her own and she said yes. She was a worried though; she wanted to see you too."
Riku sighed; at least Namine was still on Ansem's side. Axel and Demyx weren't his worries, they were well capable of looking after their own asses.
"Okay, continue with the Xehanort-topic," Riku beckoned.
"He changed his name to Xemnas, since he was well known as Master Ansem's apprentice, Xehanort. He wished to renew himself." Cloud paused, and Riku could tell the next point would be important. "He wanted to overthrow your current master, Ansem. So then all Nobody-Vampires would live by his rules."
Riku looked bored. "That…I had that feeling years ago."
Cloud and Vincent exchanged glances. No one ever came across the possibility of that, and Riku didn't say anything. He could have warned someone before he left, but he didn't. He was too tired to care for anything anymore.
"With his twelve members, they are planning a scheme to fulfill their wish. They called themselves Organization XIII," Cloud came to the point.
"Organization XIII? Aren't there twelve of them?" Riku questioned again.
"That's the thing, Riku. Xemnas wants you to take the position of Number XIII," Cloud finished.
Silence reigned as Riku's earlier expressionless face turned shocked and when realization set in, he blurted out, "WHAT? ME? He should have known why I left him in the first place. I hated his way of living. I couldn't accept it. What on earth gives him the idea that I would side with him."
"We know that, Riku, and he knows that. But he created you; he is your original master, and therefore, he has power over you. To force you on his side, he could do absolutely anything." Cloud pressed the last word, and felt the slightest piece of guilt that he had caused someone as calm as Riku to shudder.
"You're lucky that we found you first; Xemnas must have sent someone to search for you already too," Vincent added.
Riku's head dropped into his hand as he groaned.
Cloud reached out and grabbed Riku by the shoulder. "You'll be safer with your people in the Realm of Darkness. Moreover, Master Ansem left you with his last wish."
"What do you mean?" Riku brought his face out of his palm. "Where's Master Ansem?"
"He's gone," Cloud answered with a solemn expression, and not waiting for Riku's response, he continued. "Before he suddenly vanished, he'd told us of his speculation that Xemnas is up to something and might be planning to get rid of him. He stated 'If such should happen, find Riku and let him find the Secret Ansem Report in the hands of our trusted friend.'"
"Trusted friend? Who would that be?" Riku brought his hands to his chin.
"That…you have to ask yourself." Cloud pointed out. "After Ansem was betrayed by Xehanort, he couldn't find himself to trust anyone, but you're his exception."
Oceanic eyes widened as he felt the words that came out of his tongue were forced. "Is that a joke? So Master Ansem left and hands off everything to me?"
"Unfortunately, it's not that simple," came Vincent deep voice. "Ansem didn't leave; he was banished, certainly by the hands of Xehanort and his followers. None of your people could feel the connection to him, but they didn't feel him dead either."
"It's like…he was suddenly gone," Cloud added, "But no one knows where he went."
"Realm of Nothingness," Riku trailed off. "It's the only place where there is no existence. You go there; you still live, but you don't exist. That must be the only place Ansem was sent to, given that he's not dead but nowhere to be found."
"How did you know that?" Cloud and Vincent questioned in unison.
"Because I just came from there," Riku said.
Cloud regarded Riku for a long time before he ended the topic, "Anyways, Riku. You have a task that needs to be done. If you decided on that, we'll deliver you back to the Realm of Darkness. If not, then we'll be on our way."
Riku wanted to curse so bad. For a moment there, he was just sitting and watching Sora, then the next, his old, distant kin just appeared and told him his race required him to carry on with his Master's last wish to save their race and probably all the worlds or whatever.
What if he didn't go with them? Then Xemnas would probably find him and place him in the position that he didn't want, which would be worse considering that he at least favored Ansem more than Xehanort. But both were still their own dilemma.
"How much time do I have?" Riku asked, hoping for the good answer.
"We have to leave as soon as possible." Vincent replied.
Bad answer.
"Give me some time." Riku bargained.
"The longer we wait, the higher the risk. Riku, this isn't about your race only. It's about every world. If Organization XIII conquers us all, then they'll conquer the other worlds, including this one here." Cloud pressed.
Riku narrowed his eyes at the two. Cloud and Vincent are Jenova's Vampires. They are kin to Nobody-Vampires, yes, but they never really showed that they do care about anything. Somehow, Riku always knew their interiors were different from their usual cold and uncaring exterior. Even now, they were answering his in-depth and personal questions as if they were one of his kind. They had changed, that much Riku surmised.
Riku would have smiled, if they hadn't come with a bad news. However, still feeling as if something was stuck in his throat, Riku concluded, "One week then."
"Okay," Cloud agreed on the matter before Vincent could say anything. He was sure Riku wouldn't go back on his word.
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"Something's bothering you," Sora said as he peered up at the other's long face which seemed startled at his words. That was when Sora added, "Tell me, I might be able to help." With that said, he pulled back with a wooden sword, tight in his grip.
They were sparring, as usual. Once Sora stepped out of school, Riku appeared out of nowhere, asking Sora to come with him. Sora had dropped into pensive state for a while; his brother's order coming back to him. But upon seeing Riku's face, he thought he could go with 'I didn't go to Riku. Riku came to see me and blah blah blah.'
If Roxas found out, not only would his life be in grave danger, but Riku's as well.
Oh well…As of now, they were sparring.
"It doesn't concern you," Riku replied with impassive air as the tip of his sword brushed past Sora's and hit the boy's shoulder.
"Ouch!" The brunet made a face that displayed that he was hurt both physically and emotionally. He wouldn't give up still; he rushed in and tried to retaliate. "Considering that we are friends, anything that concerns you also concerns…me!" While pressing the last word, Sora charged right in and managed to land a hit on Riku's leg.
Riku fell with a hiss, and Sora was dumbstruck for a good minute. It was obvious to him that Riku was slipping. His movements didn't seem as precise; they were rather rushed and sloppy. Sora knew something really ticked Riku off.
"Tell me, Riku! No use keeping all the bad stuff to yourself," Sora urged again.
"I told you it's none of your concern," the Nobody-Vampire repeated.
"And I told you we're friends. What concerns you concerns-"
"It doesn't concern you!" Riku was aggravated, snapping at the brunet.
Being spoken to in that tone by Riku, Sora was only coerced to get angry. He frowned and huffed while he closed the distance between them. Lifting a hand with a sword up above his head, he glared down at Riku. He made it obvious to which direction he would be landing a blow.
The Nobody-Vampire thought the boy was just bluffing, but this assumption was proven wrong when the hit did come, and kept coming. Sora kept hitting him with that similar pattern and Riku fended it off each time with his sword. They were not sparring anymore. Sora was only hitting him out of sheer anger.
"Argh! Stop it, Sora!" Riku demanded, looking up at the standing boy through the endless swirls of hits. He wondered what Sora was thinking, behaving like a kid. Was he even aware of that?
Sora didn't stop and each blow became harsher and harsher. Despite being scrawny and small, Sora did pack quite a blow.
Until Riku decided that he had enough, the frustration built on the top of his head. He threw his wooden sword away, grabbed Sora's sword, and turned it against the owner by hitting it against his closest part: Sora's outstretched hand.
At the moment, he wasn't thinking straight due to having a lot on mind and he hadn't bothered to hold back his strength.
It was only when Sora cried out and clutched at his right hand did Riku realize what he had done.
At the realization, he cursed, "Shit! Sora!" Throwing aside the sword for a second time; he got up to his feet and tried to catch Sora's hand that'd been hit. Due to pain, Sora curled his left hand over the right one, his form bent forward, cutting Riku's vision to his face and his hand. "Come on, Sora! Let me see!"
The brunet shot up. And when the hands came into Riku's line of vision, he reached for them. But Sora yanked his hands away, stood to the side and hid his injured hand away from Riku's view.
Thinking that the boy got mad at him for the blow, Riku began, "Sora!"
"It doesn't concern you! So don't bother!" The smaller boy shouted while making a face at Riku. It was only then that Riku figured out the real reason behind Sora's behavior. He believed, though, that their causes were different.
"I hurt you. Therefore it concerns me. Now let me see your hand!" The Nobody-Vampire reasoned. Too bad his reasoning didn't work against the boy named Sora.
"No, it's my hand. It doesn't concern you!" The boy shouted and hissed at the pain almost at the same time.
Riku practically growled. He had only one nerve left for the bloody day, and Sora was getting on it. He advanced closer in milliseconds and pulled at Sora's shoulder to make him turn. The smaller boy couldn't do much anymore to protest him. Riku took Sora's right wrist in his and didn't let go when the boy tried to pull back.
Failing to fight against Riku's strength, Sora made a loud whiny noise, readying to say something in protest. But he was cut short when Riku yelled.
"Sora!" It was loud and clear, coming out with a finalized tone which had success in shutting the boy up, leaving only the pout on his tight lips. Riku sighed and lessened his grip when he felt the other had given in. "Look, I'm sorry for whatever I've done to make you angry, okay? Just let me see your wound first. Then you can whine and protest all you want later."
There were some small noises emitted from the brunet.
Would Sora ever give up? No! But Riku chose to ignore it and studied the wound.
Riku found that his wrist wasn't broken. Though the bluish-purple mark began to form; and judging by its color, the bruise would run deep. He looked around restlessly before he put his gaze back on Sora. He blinked at how intensely Sora was studying him. He wondered why, but it wasn't a time for him to ask. First things first: Sora's wrist.
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"There." Riku let go off Sora's hand at last, after he finished nursing it. Then he arranged the medicines and bandages back into the med kit. Good thing they had one here in the tree house. Riku had learned earlier from Sora that Roxas and Wakka put the supplies here just in case.
Sora mumbled a 'thank you', but his expression was far from appreciation.
"I'm sorry…about the hand," Riku apologized as he slid the medical kit back into its pedestrian position.
"So you'd rather hurt me than talking things out," Sora grouched.
Riku's eyebrows furrowed. "Was that your way of telling me to talk things out? Hitting me like that?"
His face remaining turned to the side, Sora huffed again. "I told you and you just didn't get it. You're such a dork."
"Sora." The Nobody-Vampire pressed with a warning tone. "Why don't you get it that there're things that people don't…or even can't come out and just say? Not everyone is like you. And I thought you understood how to respect people's privacy?" Riku didn't want another fight, but he had to be honest.
The brunet spun his head to face the Nobody-Vampire, his face lit with anger. "Sure! Maybe I could let you live alone in your head, like Roxas! So I'll never know what the heck is wrong with you in your own gloomy world. I'm only a stranger to you anyway!"
'Oh, that's why. It's about Roxas too,' Riku realized. Since Sora's own brother closed up on him, he's not able to take it again with another person. It made Riku wondered just how important he was to Sora. And on second thought, he wanted to know if Sora would ever take him for who he was now, even with the bad history attached. So his words slipped out, "Sora…If I'm a man…no, a monster convicted of gravely crime…What would you do?"
When Sora searched Riku's face, the Nobody-Vampire didn't allow his eyes to be seen. Sora fell into pensive state for a while before his answer was presented. "Well, I'd say I have to kick your ass a few times depending on what you've done. Then I'd tell you to never do such a thing again."
Riku glanced at the boy, his face partially revealed to Sora. His hair obscured most part of his face still. "Never do it again doesn't mean I haven't done it before."
Sora narrowed his eyes at how Riku would always contradict him, especially regarding the dark side of his past. It made Sora wondered why Riku had to punish himself so much with that amount of guilt. He was curious as to what Riku had done, but his concern lies more on Riku's feelings. "Done before, doesn't mean you have to keep doing it." He got to his feet and looked at Riku, who was still. "I don't know what you've been through. But…you shouldn't be thinking about the mistakes you've made; think about the mistakes you might make in the future so you might be able to prevent them. That's what Kairi told me."
A smile crossed Riku's features, making Sora feel satisfied, but for only a moment, for it had to come crashing down as Riku said. "That's exactly what I'm concerned about, Sora." Riku paused, drawing a breath. "Remember what YRP told you? About someone who made the world disappear? It was me. They didn't know about my history, I can only assume that they hadn't been born yet at the time."
By then, Riku got himself up as well so he could look Sora square in the face. He wasn't surprise at how the boy's face already changed expression. But it did sting his heart.
"Many…were lost to the darkness on that stormy night, all because of me. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't stop it." Riku finished with solemn mood, then he brought one of his hands up and tucked Sora's strand of hair. "And now I fear that I will destroy this world as well." His hand moved to touch the boy's youthful face which held nothing but stunned expression. "I might destroy you as well. I destroy everything I touch."
When Sora gasped, Riku withdrew his hand and looked away.
Just when Riku thought that Sora was scared by him, Sora just shove his hands on Riku's shoulder and spun him back to face the boy's frowning face. "No, you don't, Riku! You, you…!" And Sora was lost. What could he possibly say to vindicate that Riku wasn't that way? That he wasn't a monster of destruction?
The Nobody-Vampire only smiled and shook his head. "You don't have to say anything. No one can escape the truth."
"But…but!" Sora as well shook his head, far more vehement than Riku. Then he shot up, "But I trust you! And nothing's gonna change that!"
"You really are too easy to confide in someone you don't even know, Sora," Riku repeated what he had once said.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Sora's grip on Riku's shoulder tightened. His blue eyes bored into Riku's green ones. "I know you."
Both of them were surprised into silence by how much they actually believed those words. But neither of them voiced it.
"Look, the darkness wouldn't form unless you will it or you use the dark power, right? Before the time runs out, we'll figure something out. All right?" The brunet tapped his hands on Riku's shoulder lightly.
"Optimistic as always." The Nobody-Vampire found himself smirking again. He was amused as to how a normal boy like Sora could melt the tensed atmosphere as easy.
Upon seeing a smirk grew across Riku's lips, Sora's heart was lifted. In all honesty, he once thought Riku's smirk was irking since he always wore that kind of smile when he made Sora feel small. Later, Sora knew otherwise. Riku's smirk didn't bother him any longer. It only meant that Riku was being Riku he'd always known.
"One more thing about what you've done." Sora looked into the other's eyes and was surprised to see them startle. Still, he continued, "Riku. I can't say I can go easy on that since it's a huge deal-"
The taller one was ready for the upcoming chide.
"-but I'll make sure I'll be there to stop you from doing that next time."
Riku's eyebrow quirked up. It made him wonder again about how Sora could say that, and even with such an air of confidence. Wasn't Sora getting anything at all? Sora was only an island boy who ran around with a wooden sword, living a happy youthful life. What could he possibly do to stop the intense darkness that Riku was carrying?
Riku wished he could believe in that, but he knew he couldn't stay. And he found it hard to tell Sora that he would have to leave soon anyway.
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Days later…
At the secret cave on the small island appeared the figure, clad in black. He looked around the vast space in the dimly lit cave, lingering for a while before feeling the presence of darkness.
Nobody-Vampire's darkness reeked in the air. Unshaped darkness, nevertheless, the darkness. It meant to him that he would be able to find the person he was looking for…here.
It took him months to find this place. There was always some of a Nobody-Vampire's darkness left in almost every other world, but he couldn't distinguish which one belonged to whom. He was informed that his subject held a different darkness. It was tenser and if any Nobody-Vampire willed it, the darkness would take shape to have a life of its own.
For the time being, he didn't care about that. His goal was only to fulfill his master's wish that was failed earlier when they lost their trail with the two former Nobodies who were assigned to find this certain Nobody-Vampire and bring him back whether he wanted it or not, but they never returned.
His eyes caught and followed the trail that led to the outside world. He set his feet out of the cave's area, his eyes narrowed as he brought his gloved hands to shield the sunlight from his eyes. He found himself on the small island, and up across the ocean in short distance laid a small town on a main island.
The figure held out his hand, and a dark oval portal appeared, swirling about. He went through and appeared again somewhere on the main island. Then he set out to follow the trail to that certain darkness.
It took him a while before he had come to the area where the certain darkness lingered last. He looked up and found himself surprised.
The school?
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There was only one person in the school that had darkness lingered about him, but Zexion knew the boy was not a Nobody-Vampire. So the boy wasn't the one he was looking for, but still… He knew it was Riku's darkness. It only meant one thing: Riku must have some sort of association with this boy
Zexion took in the brunet's features as the boy continued a cheerful chat with his friends. He heard the boy's name from his friend's lips, which was all he needed. Prepared conversation was constructed in his mind as he sauntered over to them.
When the boy noticed him standing in the way, he looked up at the taller one and blinked questioningly. Before the boy said anything, he began in polite manners, "May I have a word with you?"
The boy looked at him up and down, and then his mouth parted. Zexion supposed that the boy took in his attire and was now linking him to Riku. He glanced over to his friend as if to request privacy. When Sora nodded to them in reassurance, they gathered themselves away, leaving Sora alone with the stranger.
"You must be Sora," Zexion stated. "I'm Riku's brother, Zexion."
Sora's eyes lit up with interest and he trailed off amiably, "That explained the similarities."
'Naïve,' was Zexion's mental note. He was aware that Sora might take him as Nobody-Vampire since, judging from Riku's conduct; he must have already revealed to the boy that he was one. Zexion read thousands of books and this boy wasn't any different from the open one. Sora didn't care less about the danger of the vampire.
He felt a smile pulled at his lips.
"Riku never told me he has a brother," Sora said.
Zexion remained calm as ever. From the look on the boy's face, which Zexion decided that every expression on it was served direct from his heart, Sora wasn't the least bit suspicious.
"But he never really told me about anything though," Sora added, voice fading into a murmur. It made Zexion arched his eyebrow, noting the boy's brief sullen demeanor. Then Sora perked up again. "Well, you came to visit Riku?" Another pause, then a sudden jump, "Wait! Don't tell me you came to bring him back to somewhere, uh…home?"
"Not quite," the man said, needing no time to think of how to respond since he already planned everything.
"Not…quite?"
From the boy's last question, Zexion heeded that the boy did know something. And before he took any action, he needed to learn more, to draw out concrete information. He suggested, "Want to hear about it? When school's over, meet me at the park."
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"Riku's brother?" Kairi narrowed her eyes as she inclined toward Sora who was beside her desk. They were now in their classroom, waiting for the teacher to show up.
"Yup, you saw the resemblance," Sora grinned, feeling a lot better now that he could bring Riku's topic out to the open with his best friend.
"Resemblance of outer shell, yes. Insides, no," The girl commented.
"Ha ha, I didn't know you could see his bones," Sora opted for a joke at first, then dropped into a serious tone. "Don't tell me you don't trust him too."
"Correct." That was right to the point.
"Why?"
"He's different from Riku."
"How?"
Kairi's eyes rolled upwards, thinking.
"Oh, come on, Kairi! Maybe a talk or two with him would change your mind as it did with Riku?" Sora remarked, the thought of bringing Kairi along to converse with Zexion crossed his mind.
"No! He's really unlike Riku. I didn't trust Riku at first because he was this…dark, gloomy kind that could drag you down!" The redhead hissed in a low tone.
"Eh? Okay, but now you know Riku's not that kind. So…how's Zexion in your opinion?"
"He's like a schemer. Don't you see the look in his eyes?" Kairi's voice dropped into a whisper.
Sora made a face. He folded his arms over his chest, tilting his head up and down, thinking hard. The 'NO' signs were written all over his face.
Unfortunately, the conversation was cut to end when the teacher arrived.
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Sora made it to the park. He couldn't believe himself that he had to do so by avoiding Kairi, but he couldn't help it, Kairi would have made sure to stop him tag along if she knew. Seriously, he thought the girl was worrying too much about nothing. To him, Kairi was becoming like a 2nd Roxas. He didn't want to have to handle a 2nd one since he already had hard times dealing with the first.
The brunet pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind when he spotted Zexion under one of the shady trees. He went in to settle down next to the man and struck up a conversation with a carefree tone, "Have you gone to see Riku?"
"Not yet," the silver-haired man replied as he closed the large book that he'd been reading.
"Oh! I haven't told you; he's at the-"
"-cave on the remote island? Yes, I know that," the man finished. 'This boy really has no sense of awareness.' After the thought, he brought up the opening so he could get right into details. "I just haven't seen him for too long. And since he left that time, the intent was for forever. His…coming back, wasn't expected. Therefore, I'm not sure if he wants to see me, or any of us."
"Oh…yeah," Sora had to agree. 'Riku had been intent on leaving forever.'
"Seems like you know quite a lot about him? Do you mind sharing?" Zexion requested.
"Not at all!"
'Easy.'
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Zexion's earlier confidence was partially gone. As much as he predicted that he could draw everything about Riku from Sora, the boy apparently didn't get into details. One moment, he noticed that the boy was mentally debating with himself whether to tell about how he met Riku or not. At last, the boy's decision was that he wouldn't stretch out the entire story.
All Zexion learned from Sora was that Riku was lonely, gloomy, and snappy at some points but kind, helpful, and a smart-ass, etc, etc, etc. The information was pretty much what Zexion already knew. Except one thing was that Sora took Riku as a friend and it seemed like Riku return the sentiment.
What Zexion wanted to learn from the boy was his relationship with Riku.
"That's as much as I know. Riku never really told me much about him," the statement left Sora with a pout and fidgety hands.
Zexion's eyes shifted to Sora's hand, the boy's only body parts that were moving. "What happened to your hand?"
"Umm, sparring with Riku last time. He hit it too hard by accident, but I was the one who provoked him first. I was too angry with him then." That had caught Zexion's attention, and Sora didn't seem like he was going to stop, which benefited the man. "I felt that he was hiding something from me that bothered him. Later he told me that it was his past, but I just felt that there was something more." Upon seeing the brunet boy fist his hands above his knees, Zexion surmised that Riku strongly meant something to Sora and he could only surmise Riku return that too.
Zexion finally cleared his throat and drew the main subject.
"Riku will be carrying a heavy burden very soon."
As expected, Sora looked more than concerned. Blue eyes set into a worried frown as they locked on Zexion.
"I assume that you know he's a Nobody-Vampire, correct?" Getting a nod from the boy, he continued. "Denizens of light…hate the darkness like us. Still they accept darkness, yet choose to live in the light. They loathe us who teeter on the edge of Nothing. We who were turned away by both light and dark never given a choice." Zexion paused, drew in a breath and resumed, "How do you think we feel?"
"Sad," Sora answered. His mind reeled back to his silver-haired friend.
"We just want to exist and not live under the name of 'Nobody' or abide by the rules of Nobodies. Most of us love to explore the broader horizon, just like Riku. Since we don't need blood to sustain our being, we won't be hurting anyone. Even with the darkness that we carry, why can't we be free…and complete?"
"Yeah, I know what it's like," Sora agreed.
"You do?" Zexion asked, curious. When receiving a nod from the boy, he raised a point. "Why is that? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you look like the type that is loved and happy with your life."
It made Sora rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. "Well, I am happy, but…I've had this ambition since I was little."
His response didn't give Zexion much of an answer, but the man predicted otherwise. "You've gained great influence from Riku. Had you met Riku when you were younger?"
Stopping dead in his tracks, Sora's hand remained at the back of his head. "Umm, I'm not really sure myself. Perhaps?"
"Was that 8 years ago?"
"How'd you know that?"
Something clicked in Zexion's mind; he put a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "There's a rumor flying around that he'd come back temporally 8 years ago. No one knows for sure."
The little off tangent was left at that, and then the conversation rebounded back to the main issue.
"So what's Riku's burden?"
"Riku will be joining our Organization. We'll work to strife for our rights and freedom as Nobody."
"Can I help him in anyway?" Sora bent in a little toward Zexion to emphasize his point.
As calm and collected as Zexion's trait would allow him to be, the Nobody still couldn't help a doubtful expression come across his face. In a second, he comprehended that the boy was new to the outside world. This boy who lived in a small world such as Destiny Islands had no idea what the real thing was like out there. Yet he acted like he could do everything according to his will. But Zexion saw the opportunity in that, and he asked,"You would?"
"Sure! No fair that Nobody-Vampires have to live incomplete." Then Sora's perky expression dropped into a lower tone but still intense when he continued. "And if it's anything I can do to lift the burden off of Riku's shoulders, no matter how small it is, I'll do it."
Another pleased smile grew across Zexion's face. With Sora, he predicted he could finish his task in no time. He nodded to the boy. "Good, we can start by seeking him out first. I need to have a word with him after all." When Sora was about to get up, too eager to help out, Zexion halted the boy. "We don't need to go anywhere. Riku and I are under the same master's bond, we're connected. I'll call to him."
The boy blinked and flopped himself back down and started to get out a question, but when Zexion raised a hand, motioning him to stop so he could concentrate, Sora complied.
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Riku felt an unwelcoming jolt over his senses. He paused in his strides and leaned against the nearby wall. Clutching his hands over his face as a cold sweat began to form. Someone had extended the connection to him, calling him. It wasn't Cloud or Vincent, those two had no connection with him.
The bond of blood was shared by a single master. Riku knew a certain Nobody-Vampire was using the dark telepathy to find him was one on Xemnas' side. After all, Riku was created by Xemnas.
He concentrated and pulled out the direction.
Riku reached the park, eyes studying the surroundings about him. He found only a few people passing by. Somehow, the darkness from a certain spot under one of the huge trees hadn't gotten past him though.
Oceanic eyes narrowed as he mused about the possibility that the Nobody-Vampire on Xemnas' side came looking for him. Even though he was not in favor of wanting to encounter one, he still forced himself to go on, having to make sure that whoever the person was, wouldn't be messing with this world.
He caught sight of a Nobody-Vampire with slate hair. While Riku tried to sort out another vampire's identity from his memory, his heart skipped a beat as he took in the form of another person beside the Nobody. Before he could have done anything, the said unknown vampire met his gaze. Shortly after, he directed a finger towards Riku, causing the boy beside him to look over his shoulder in Riku's direction.
A grin crossed the brunet's features as he called ou. "Riku!"
Why was Sora with another Nobody-vampire? At the moment Riku didn't really need an answer; he needed to get to Sora's side. And so he did.
As in reflection, Sora got himself up from the grassy ground and waved to Riku. "Riku, your brother came to see you!"
'What the?' Riku mused. Upon seeing the boy safe and sound, and even cheerful (when wasn't he not anyway?), Riku intended not to get too ahead of himself. He masked his apprehension as he reached Sora's side then eyed down at the other Nobody-vampire.
"Riku, you never told me you have a brother," Sora started.
Riku kept his eyes on another Nobody and spoke, "That's because I don't."
"What?"
Ignoring Sora's question, Riku stepped closer to the sitting man. His eyes studied the man in closer range and he'd been able to catch on. "I remember you." He paused, looking at the man again. "You're one of Ansem's apprentices…Zexion?"
Zexion let a satisfied smile grow on his face. He got up, dusting off the grass. "What a pleasure that you still remember me. Correct, I'm Zexion. Once Ansem's apprentice, but no longer."
"That means you're with Xemnas now," Riku pointed crossly.
Sora looked between the two, and he caught that there was something about the sides. Zexion told him the difference between Master Xemnas and Master Ansem. But at the time he didn't really care about the complicated subject. The easier question in his head was delivered off instead. "Umm, not your brother?" This time he turned to Zexion since Riku ignored him.
Addressing back to Sora, Zexion said, "We are. By the same Master's blood running in our veins. Riku finds that fact hard to admit."
"I abandoned the belief of being a Nobody-Vampire under the command of the Master a long time ago," Riku declared flatly.
"Oh…but you can't escape it. You know it in your heart that you still are…until the day you die, Riku." Zexion returned.
Riku's eyes flashed but he composed himself. Zexion was right after all. He might be able to escape everything when he was in Realm of Nothingness. Sadly, things didn't work the same way in the real world.
Seeing the dejected expression in the younger Nobody-Vampire's eyes, Zexion sighed. "Leave that. We have more important matters to discuss about. By the way, I assume that Axel and Demyx hadn't yet paid you a visit, yes?" Upon Riku's firm shakes of his head, Zexion sighed. "Can't trust those two to do the job." To Riku's astonishment, Zexion murmured to Sora. "Sora. Would you help me explain to him a little? I think he's a little rebellious against his brother."
"Uh?" Sora exclaimed out of the daze after he had been left out of the conversation for a while.
Riku gaped at Sora. 'What the heck does Sora have to do with this?'
Sora told Riku what Zexion had told him. When Sora's silence marked the end of the short details, Riku decided against himself to bring up the issue of darkness. What would they care? He used to be exactly like them, he knew. Hell, he was told a 1000 times over that not everyone was going to change like him.
Riku was angry. Now Sora knew something about Zexion really ticked Riku off.
"So what do you say? Number XIII?" Zexion asked.
"I'm afraid that I have to decline your offer," Riku grounded out.
Zexion sighed at the answer. With one step, he positioned himself behind Sora. "Is that your final decision?" Zexion asked as he raised one of his hands, lingering his fingers behind Sora's neck. A devious smirk replaced the smile that he'd been wearing all day.
Oceanic green eyes widened at the sight. "You!" Riku cursed. Screw him for not wanting to get too ahead of himself and putting Sora in the safety range beforehand.
That only made Zexion's smirk grow. However, it wasn't long before the brunet made a sudden jump away from his position. Getting out of Zexion's arm's reach, Riku took the opportunity to pull the boy's hand and yanked Sora behind him.
Sora peeked from behind Riku with a doubtful expression. He hadn't been able to grasp much of anything. Somehow, he realized Riku and Zexion hadn't been on good terms. Given that Riku looked ready to punch something when Zexion stood behind him. It made Kairi's words rushed back to him. A slight feeling of insecurity came across, causing him to shift to the safety of his friend instead. He didn't need to think twice about whom to trust when he fell into this kind of situation.
Zexion's expression went blank momentarily before he closed his eyes with a wry smile. Letting his hands slack down to the side, he applauded. "I'm impressed. I didn't expect someone naïve like you to actually notice it." He took a step closer to Riku. "Very well then. You don't have to give me the answer now. Just think about it. You know what I can do and I will do to get you in the position of Number XIII." He spared a glance to Sora at that.
With that said he backed off and stretched one of his hands to the side. The black swirls began to form in an oval shape. Zexion stepped through it and the dark violet swirls was gone into thin air, along with Zexion.
Sora looked on with wide eyes as Riku rushed to the spot where Zexion had disappeared. Too late for Riku to stop him, the Nobody-Vampire could only exhaled a dejected sigh and looked back at Sora.
"What in the world was that?" Came Sora's first question, and Riku knew that wouldn't be the only question.
"I'll answer your questions, but you ought to answer mine first." Riku made his way back to Sora. "Did he do anything to you? Except talking, did he do anything out of peculiar?"
"No…?" Sora answered, unsure.
"Did he touch you?" Riku landed his hand on the smaller boy's shoulder.
"Umm…no?" The boy answered again and squeaked when Riku's hand shifted from the shoulders and groped all over him, starting from his chest to his stomach. "Riku!"
Retreating his hands, Riku let off another sigh of relief. "Looks like you're okay."
"Of course, I'm okay. I told you so-"
"Can't be too sure. Xemnas' 12 followers have different kinds of abilities. We never know which one posts a threat, with eyes unseen." Riku explained as his face scrunched up in frustration. "Damn it, why did he come to you anyway?"
Trying not to flinch away from how angry Riku had gotten, Sora answered. "He came to me at school, introducing himself as your brother. He asked me if we could meet up, I said yes."
Riku's face dropped into his hand. "That…is dangerous. You shouldn't trust people so easily."
"But…" Sora's eyes glared off sideways. "I thought he could tell me more about you-" Riku quirked an eyebrow at that before Sora added. "He did, he also told me that you'll be carrying a heavy burden because you have to take the place of Number XIII and assist your kind and…Master Xemnas? …But you reject them?"
Jaw dropped, Riku hastened to amend what Sora had understood. "Sora, Zexion messed with your head! Xemnas isn't someone you would want to side with. Ansem was right about Nobody-Vampires and that they shouldn't meddle with the affairs of other worlds. All Nobodies should abide by the rules so their darkness won't cause something chaotic as mine once did. Zexion's not supposed to be here…I'm not supposed to be here." Riku's voice dropped somewhere above the whisper at the last one.
Sora went quiet as he digested the information.
The Nobody shook his head. "I spent too much time with you. That's why my darkness lingers on you. Zexion must have used that lead. Dammit, I shouldn't have-"
Sora didn't look happy. Most likely from the unspoken process that should be done to keep him safe. Riku just hated to have Sora involved.
Seeing his friend in thoughtful state, Sora decided to alter the subject. "Umm, so I guess that's how your people disappeared so quickly? Is that some sort of magical teleportation?"
"It's not something you should concern yourself with," Riku said, trying to sound neutral.
"Riku. You're not going to go away, are you?" Anxiousness was thick in Sora's voice.
Riku didn't answer. What could he say? His kind requested him to join them to carry out Ansem's last wish. Zexion forced him to join Organization XIII to overthrow Ansem. Either way, he couldn't be around Sora. At least, the former was more preferable, but in doing that, he couldn't put Sora out of the harm way.
If Riku was that important to them, his decision would lead to either better or worse consequences. What if he declined both and let them go have a war on their own and leave him the hell out of this?
He couldn't be too sure. It had been long ago since he'd last known all of those Nobodies' abilities. From old information stored in his head, Xemnas was once Ansem's apprentice. Theoretically, a student couldn't surpass his Master, in most cases. However, the fact that Ansem the Wise had gone missing and Xemnas was responsible for that had proven otherwise. If Xemnas got to rule the world, it would be chaos.
"Riku. When will you quit living in your head and tell me what exactly is going on?"
Sora's voice broke into his thoughts. Riku eyed the smaller boy when he forced his hands on Riku's shoulders.
"Can't I help?"
The Nobody studied the brunet, his eyes slightly widened at those words. Then he narrowed them until they slid closed. He gave a firm shake of his head. He couldn't let Sora fell into anymore risk, and it backfired on him that he had to stand up with Sora's hurt look.
"Look, Sora. I'll let you know if there's something you can do, okay?" Then Riku had to ignore Sora's expression that clearly showed that the boy found that that promise might never be fulfilled. Riku couldn't blame the boy; he hadn't honestly meant it after all.
"Anyway, you've got to be careful from now on. I'll seek Zexion out and negotiate with him. I'll make sure he won't mess with you." Riku reassured.
"That's not what I'm concerned about," The brunet replied with a hard glare.
Knowing what Sora was implying, Riku answered frustrated. "Your concern is not my concern right now." He paused, and looked anywhere but at the boy. "I'll take you home. You should be safe there. Vampires can't enter anyone's house uninvited." With that, Riku ushered Sora home.
Sora exhaled a long sigh. He never took Riku as someone stubborn; stubborn was his talent, not Riku's, but Riku sure couldn't understand his frigging point. All he could do was just give up for a day. Pushing things more than limit wouldn't be a good idea, given that Riku seemed to have a little patience left. He complied at last.
"Fine."
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By the time they reached Sora's house, Riku could tell that Sora had been aggravated with the silence in the air since their journey home. Riku patted his hand on the smaller boy's back to usher him up the porch. The gesture didn't help much as Sora made no response as he unlocked the door. Before he open it, Riku called off.
"I will not let Zexion harm you. Until I'm completely sure that he wouldn't touch you, you have to be in your house before the sun sets. Nobody-Vampires can't hurt anyone with the presence of the sun. You must also stay away from the place where light can't reach. Keep that in mind." Riku waited until he received a firm nod, making sure the boy had taken his warning to his head. He turned to leave and heard Sora murmured his weak bye.
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Riku sought Zexion out and found the man at the very cave where the door to other worlds was situated. As soon as their eyes met, Riku wasted no time in demanding.
"What are you planning to do?"
"Oh, Riku." The man cooed as he eyed the younger one up and down. "Master Xemnas regards you as a bright one. Don't you already know what's going on from that much Sora had told you?"
Sure Riku already understood the whole situation, he just needed clarification. "Why did you drag Sora into this?"
Zexion smiled, and instead of answering, he questioned, "What is he to you?"
"He's just a passerby," Riku responded airily.
Eyes narrowing, Zexion crossed his arms over his chest. "Is that so? He seemed to know quite a lot more about you than what a passerby would, probably knows you more than you know yourself." He ignored Riku's aggravated expression and resumed, "Moreover, he really cares about you, given that he's so hell-bent to lift any little burden he could off of your shoulders."
"He's. Just. A. Passer. By." Riku repeated, stressing every syllable. "I assume that in coming to invite me for the position of Number XIII, you would have read about my background from Xemnas. It must have stated that I hadn't involved myself with any human since…forever." Riku leveled his hand over his chest. "Humans keep dying while I continued to live. What's the use of being connected to those who would soon perish?"
"Right," responded Zexion, his tone was far from convinced. "Perhaps there's always an exception."
"Damn it. Leave the human out of this," Riku concluded, tiring of the argument.
"So you do care about that boy," Zexion rebounded back to the topic.
"I just don't want anyone who's not involved to be involved," Riku admitted at last.
"Don't you wish to become whole?"
"It doesn't matter to me."
"I see. But keep in mind that you're bound to Master Xemnas, like we, the 12 Nobodies, are. You can't escape from us. Sooner or later, you'll have to walk our path. I'll give you a week while I keep my connection open to you. If you can't come to a good decision, you know you'll learn. Meanwhile, I have to resume my search for Axel and Demyx who initially were responsible in finding you before they disappeared during the assignment. Until then-"
Riku rushed to the man's position, but Zexion was faster.
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