Roxas and Sora waited on the steps of the train station, they'd been here since Hayner and the others had all gone home.

Sora was still upset; Roxas reached over and punched his shoulder playfully.

"Stop worrying, we'll work things out."

Sora nodded, he looked up as he saw Riku approaching. He stood up and walked towards him.

"What are you doing here?" Riku asked dubiously.

"I wanted to talk."

"I don't have time. Go hang out with your friends."

Roxas glared at Riku. "Stop being a jerk, Sora's been thinking about you and the others these past two years nonstop. He sleeps with that thing that Kairi made for him, doesn't that show he cares?"

Riku smirked, "how sweet."

Roxas opened his mouth to reply, "hey you!"

The three of them turned to see who'd called; Larxene and Zexion walked towards them, both looked murderous.

Zexion glowered at Riku. "You think you can hurt Larxene and just walk away like that? You're mine."

Riku scowled. "I don't have time to beat you again, go hit your head against a wall if you need to vent."

Larxene smiled coldly. "Oh no, I'm going to pay you back for that kick, you'll like what I have in mind. It'll be fun."

Sora stepped between the pair and Riku. "Go home you two, this is just stupid."

Riku put a hand on Sora's shoulder, pushing him to one side. "Its okay, this could be interesting."

"Oh it will be." Larxene purred.

They didn't wait for him to respond, both came at him and Riku fell back under their barrage of kicks and punches. Sora tried to join but Roxas stopped him, he wasn't going to let Sora get hurt because Riku wanted to be tough. Besides Riku was holding his own, Zexion already had a split lip.

Then Zexion managed to grab a hold of Riku from behind, allowing Larxene to punch him repeatedly in the stomach, Riku rammed his head backwards into Zexion before delivering a kick to the side of Larxene's head. Both of them staggered away, and Larxene even toppled over, leaving Riku standing over them.

"Stop wasting my time, this wasn't even amusing."

He turned to leave, leaving the pair to lick their wounds yet again. Sora and Roxas followed after him.

"Riku—"

"Not now Sora, I have something I need to take care of. Make your excuses later."

Roxas grabbed his hand and forced it open, looking at the ticket Riku was holding. He stalked over to the ticket master and bought two tickets, handing one to Sora.

Riku eyed them. "What are you doing?"

"Coming with you," Roxas spat.

Riku and Roxas glared at one another for a moment before Riku shrugged. "Suit yourself."

They followed him into the station, the train arrived shortly thereafter and the three of them boarded it. They didn't talk, and Riku sat as far away from Sora and Roxas as possible.

"The Tower," intoned the speaker on the train as they pulled to a stop. Roxas looked out at their stop. There wasn't so much a station as a platform; he had no idea where they were.

"You two still going to follow me?" Riku asked.

Roxas nodded, joined by Sora.

Riku sighed and stepped off the train, Sora grabbed Roxas.

"What are we doing here?"

"You want to talk to him right? He may be a jerk but I'm not letting him just walk off without you having a chance."

Sora managed a smile. "Thanks."

"What are brothers for?"

The train pulled away, leaving the three of them alone. Riku began walking off, Roxas and Sora followed him. They eventually saw their destination. A stone spire that reached up towards the sky, towering about the surrounding countryside and gazing over the sea below.

"I never knew this was here." Roxas murmured.

"Most people don't." Riku stated.

"Riku I—"

"Not now Sora, we'll talk later."

Sora's face darkened, but he kept quiet as they approached the massive wood door at the tower's base. Riku knocked and the door swung open silently. They entered, despite the narrow appearance of the exterior, it was remarkably roomy inside. The door closed behind them, a heavy bolt locking into place. Roxas and Sora both jumped at the sound, but Riku began ascending the winding stair and they hurried to catch up. The stair seemed to continue forever, they finally came to another door which Riku pushed open. The room beyond was brightly lit, and all kinds of odd devices lay neatly around it, behind an ornately carved desk stood a man with a blue robe and a balding gray head. His back was to him and he was staring at a chalk board upon which chalk was moving back and forth across the board by itself.

Sora and Roxas both stared, dumbstruck at the dancing chalk as it glided back and forth about the board, finally the man shook his head and waved his hand, the board became blank and the chalk began again.

"I've told His Majesty time and again that I will not have anything to do with His experiments. It is a fool's errand and if He insists on undertaking them He shall find no help from me!"

Riku bowed his head. "Master Yen Sid, this is different."

The man, Yen Sid, turned towards the trio, his eyebrows raised skeptically as he stroked his long flowing beard "Indeed."

Sora was struck by the man before them, not only was he massive, towering over all three of the boys, but his eyes were piercing, seeming to stare into the very depths of his heart when their gaze fell upon him.

A smile slowly crept across Yen Sid's face as he gazed at Sora and Roxas. "Five stars aligned, five hearts beating in time, five keys to unlock the light, five blades to combat the dark."

All three looked at him in bewilderment; he shook his head and waved his hand. A letter flew from Riku's pocket and alighted in his hand.

His eyes scanned the paper before he nodded, his smile growing. "Most excellent, I'm glad that His Majesty has seen reason. The heart is not something to be tampered with so lightly. Grave consequences can result."

The letter folded itself and he placed it on his desk, sitting down he took out a massive feather pen and began to scribble on a second piece of paper. When he finished he placed it in an envelope and sealed it with wax. He waved his hand and the letter flew at Riku, who snatched it out of the air and placed it in his pocket.

"Tell the King that I approve of his decision, and should He require assistance disposing of the experiments I will gladly offer my counsel on how best to do so."

He stood, stretching with a mighty yawn. "Now, I am hungry, as I assume you and your friends must be young messenger. Come."

He led them out a second door and down another spiraling staircase, Sora and Roxas exchanged glances. There couldn't be another stairway, the tower was too narrow.

"What's going on?" Roxas murmured.

"I have no idea." Sora replied, "but it's kinda cool don't you think?"

"If you say so," Roxas didn't exactly consider buildings that didn't adhere to the laws of physics as 'cool' but at least Sora seemed to be feeling better.

They came to another door, Yen Sid opened it and they were greeted by circular table littered with platters of food. There were four chairs arranged around the table, Yen Sid took a seat in a lavishly adorned padded chair while the three boys sat in smaller though equally comfortable chairs around the table.

"Please, eat your fill. I assure you there is more than enough."

Yen Sid didn't wait on them, their drinks seemed to never empty, and when they desired a particular dish it seemed to simply appear within their reach. Even Riku seemed thrown off by this where he'd been very nonchalant about the rest of the building. The nature of their meal seemed to make him uneasy. Sora delighted in trying to confuse the dishes, trying to think up combinations of different plates in an attempt to cause some kind of collision. When this proved impossible he tried to out drink his cup, again with little success. His failure in both these cases didn't stop him from continuing to attempt ways to mess things up.

"This is incredible!" He declared.

Yen Sid smiled indulgently. "You remind me of a pupil I once had. He had a most annoying habit of…" he considered, stroking his beard thoughtfully; "being overly zealous in his attempts to find ways to outsmart my home. And he went on to be our King, fate it would seem has a sense of humor."

Sora smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

Yen Sid waved his hand dismissively. "Curiosity and the desire to experiment should never be stifled. It is what drives our very nature after all. Our hearts can be driven by the most simple of things."

He looked at Riku, his eyes shimmering. "So, have you had any interesting dreams lately my young messenger?"

Riku suddenly tensed, he looked down at his food and began wolfing it down, he started choking and coughing just as rapidly.

Yen Sid chuckled and turned back to Sora and Roxas. "And what of you gentlemen, anything curious occur in your dreams?"

They exchanged glances, feeling uneasy under Yen Sid's steady gaze.

"No, nothing unusual," Sora said uncertainly.

Yen Sid sighed, "ah well, its no matter, I'm sure you'll have yours sooner or later."

Riku coughed again, looking between Yen Sid and Sora before he spoke incredulously.

"Someone who forgets his friends couldn't possibly be a bearer."

Sora's eyes dropped, he made no reply as Riku glared at him.

Yen Sid snorted, eyeing Riku like he might an annoying insect. "Oh, and do you know so much the nature of such things? Should I resign my post and turn my resources over to you?" His eyes narrowed and his smile turned cruel. "Don't forget, you nearly lost yourself."

Riku's face flushed and he looked away from Yen Sid's gaze, who seemed satisfied by this result, Roxas and Sora looked at each other yet again, wondering about the meaning of what the two had said.

"Riku, what are you talking about?"

"Nothing Sora, its nothing, just eat so you can get out of here already and stop following me around."

Yen Sid clicked his tongue admonishingly. "No, that won't do. You see, it is already late and I'm afraid the train does not run to my home at this time."

Roxas groaned. "Oh god, mom's going to kill us."

Yen Sid chuckled and waved his worries aside. "I have made your parents aware of your whereabouts. When you are finished take the door there," he nodded to a door that hadn't been there a moment before. "There are three bedrooms prepared for you."

Riku sighed. "You're just showing off now Master Yen Sid."

Yen Sid merely smiled as he picked himself up and moved away from the table. "I am simply being hospitable. I will see to it that you all have tickets for the ride back to town in the morning." He eyed Sora and Roxas particularly. "Gentlemen, have a most pleasant night, sweet dreams."

Roxas couldn't help but feel uneasy under Yen Sid's gaze; he wished that he and Sora were sitting closer. He always felt better knowing his cousin was at his side.

"Riku?"

Riku turned away from the door he'd been about to open. "What?"

"I never forgot about you, Kairi, or Namine."

Riku sighed, rolling his eyes. "You didn't come to find us did you?"

"Neither did you, so stop saying it's my fault when you are just as much to blame."

Riku blinked in surprise, a smile gathering on his lips. "Maybe all the time away hasn't been so bad for you. I think that's the first time you've stood up to me."

Sora smiled sheepishly. "You still mad at me?"

"Yes, but I think I'll see what you do next before I pass judgment."

"Jerk," Sora grumbled.

"Grow up, good night Sora."

"Good night Riku."