Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy. They rightfully belong to Square Enix.

Chapter 17-Cursed

The trio of Cloud, Riku and Tifa arrived back at Radiant Garden in Merlin's home. Cid was the first to noticed them coming through the door.

"Aye, welcome back. Took you guys long enough to return. Heartless' have been spotted in the area, there aren't a lot, so Leon and Yuffie went to go take care of them," Cid stated, observing the trio. "Hey, how come it's only the three of ya? Where did that girl go?"

Cloud eyes landed on the younger teen next to him and then back at the blond man. "Sora took her away from us."

"Why didn't you guys stop him? Let a lone, go find her?" There was a no reply to Cid's question and the older man sighed. He turned around and began typing on the computer. "Why must I do everything for you guys? You people are so lucky to have me around. Without me, none of you guys would have invented a scanner device to track Sora."

"A scanner device?" Tifa cocked an eyebrow and walked over the computer. "You're telling me this can help us find Sora and Kairi?"

Cid nodded and continued typing. "That's right! It probably won't let us find Kairi, but wherever Sora is, she should be with him. I also created a map on here to find where the heartless are attacking. You see here," Cid pointed to the screen. "The green circles that are at Radiant Garden indicates us that there are a minority of heartless here, in other words no a whole lot. However, over at the Land of Dragons and Olympus Coliseum, the circles are read yellow which means there are a medium size of heartless there. I doubt it would stay yellow for long because if it reads red, then that means the worlds are in danger."

"Great thinking Cid," Cloud applauded him.

"So, what color have you encoded Sora then, Cid?" Riku asked.

"Blue," the older male simply replied. "There's no blue on the screen which means Sora isn't at any of these worlds."

'If Sora isn't no where to be find then Kairi isn't no where to be find either,' Riku thought while sighing to himself. He was still down about losing Kairi to Sora. He was having thoughts that Sora was doing bad things to Kairi. He wanted to find her, even if it means going solo.

Riku suddenly stormed his way to the front door, which cause the others to see what he was doing.

"Where the hell are you going Riku?" Cloud asked, his brows furrowing.

"I'm going to find Kairi! Standing here and doing nothing will get us no where. Who knows what Sora is doing to her!"

"Don't be an idiot Riku!" Cloud sternly said. "We'll go find Kairi together, but its not the right time to go. We need a plan. You heard what Cid said, Sora can't be find on the map yet."

"Look I don't need your guys help alright! For all I know that map could be wrong and Sora could be the one terrorizing the other worlds as we speak! I'm going alone whether you like or not!" Riku yelled, glaring blond swordsman, who's been giving him heat since they've met.

Just as Riku put his hand on the knob, it started to twist and the door opened. Coming inside the house was Leon and Yuffie. They were coming back from fighting the few heartless that invaded Radiant Garden.

"Yo peeps!" Yuffie happily greeted. "We're back!"

"Yuffie your alright!"

Yuffie nodded at her raven haired friend and looked around the room. Everyone didn't look so happy in her eyes. "Okay, whats with long faces guys? What happened?"

"Riku wants to go find Kairi and Cloud is not allowing him to go," Cid explained to her.

"Kairi? But we have Kairi with us," Leon said and he stepped aside from the door to let someone in. Sure enough, the red-haired teen came through the door smiling and unharmed.

"Hey guys," Kairi waved.

Cloud, Riku and Tifa were confused. Just a while ago, Kairi was kidnapped by Sora at Twilight Town and now she was here. She was also looking happy as if nothing happened to her. Too happy in Riku's opinion. He was starting to wonder what happened between the two, her and Sora.

"Kai-Kairi where did Sora take you?" Riku asked while he ran up to her. "Where is he by the way?"

"Wait a minute? How did she get here in the first place?" Cloud asked Leon and Yuffie.

Leon shrugged. "You can say she found us while we fought the heartless. She told us that the Door to Light brought her back here."

Even with his question answer, Cloud and the rest of them were still very confused. They still wanted to know where Sora was. Hopefully they'll find out soon.

"Hey you guys, I think we all should get some rest for tomorrow," Tifa suggested.

"Agree." Cloud nodded and then looked at the map on the computer screen. The two worlds, Land of Dragons and Olympus Coliseum, were still covered in yellow circles. Cloud had a feeling that those two worlds will be red soon in no time. "Tomorrow we head to these two worlds. We'll discuss the plans later. As for now let get some rest."

All nodded and began leaving Merlin's house.

As Kairi and Riku left the house, she grabbed Riku's hand and lend him to the Bailey. When they arrived, Riku was dumbfounded on why she brought them here. "Why did you bring us here Kairi?"

Kairi went over the ledge of the Bailey and gazed at the sun that was setting. For a moment she just stared at the sun while it was setting, then she finally spoke. And what she said was unexpected to Riku. "We can't be together no more Riku..."

Riku's eyes widened in shock. What Kairi said made his heart explode in pieces. He couldn't believe what he just heard.

What?

Kairi finally turned around and looked at him. Her expression was emotionless. Riku couldn't describe the way she was looking at him. It was just...plain. It was as if she was dead on the inside and the outside was taking the effect.

"I made a mistake. We both did actually. I did have feeling for you Riku, but I realize I've regret what I've done to you and Sora. I was blinded on how much Sora really cared about me. Not only he proved his friendship for me and you, but he proved he loved me more than a friend. There was something that I did like about you Riku, I was drawn by your mysterious acts and I couldn't deny it. However, I found out something...you've changed. Not on the outside, not in the inside either, but in your heart. Your not the same anymore. You try to cover it up, but I can feel it. I can feel your aura lingering over...towards the darkside."

The sliver-haired teen was still speechless. He didn't know what she was talking about because he was still stunned on what she said before.

Then Kairi pulled out the chain crowd that Sora gave to her and held it. "This...this proves me he hasn't change at all. His heart is still light and he will return. I promised that I'll wait for him-"

Suddenly Riku grabbed Kairi by her throat and slammed her head on the brick wall. His eyes began slowly changing colors from green to red. The power from before began building up inside of him and it started to show on the outside. The aura surrounding him was dark, his muscles were starting grow, causing his grip around Kairi's neck tightening, making her face turned red and breathing air to be a problem.

"I should kill you now you little bitch," He sneered venomously, gripping on her neck tighter. "What did he say to you? TELL ME!"

"....."

"What was that?! I can't hear you because someone is choking very loudly!" Riku laughed.

As Kairi was getting choked, her eyes starting to glow a bright green and her voice was changing."That's right Riku. Let your anger feed into the darkness. Come back us..."

"SHUT UP!!!"

"Come back to us...back to where you belong. You belong to us..."

"NO I DON'T!!!"

"Don't hide it...Give in to the darkness!"

"NOOOO!!!" Riku shouted tossing Kairi onto the ground and then running away.

Kairi laid on the ground gasping for air.

Riku didn't know where he was running to but he didn't care at moment. He couldn't believe he was hearing. All he can hear here is darkness echoing in his head. Someone was trying to get to him. Someone was trying to get him back in the darkness but thats not his fate anymore. Right?

Riku finally stopped at the Heartless Castle at the dark depths. Memories of what happened before flashed through his mind.

"Can't you feel it. Can't you feel the darkness raiding your mind, heart, your soul? Why can't you accept it? LOOK AT IT!"

"No! That's not me no more! I don't like the darkness anymore!" Riku felt his head spinning and was beginning to feel like light-headed. Next thing he knows, he collapsed to the ground and darkness loomed over him.

Flashback

"So this is destiny Island huh?" A girl asked with dark raven-haired and dark blue eyes. She was wearing an organization XIII uniform. She glanced up towards the person sitting next to her on the log.

"Yeah, pretty isn't it?"

"Yep, I wished I lived here. It's so-what's the word...bright!"

"Too bright in my opinion."

"So, is that why you have your eyes blindfolded, Riku?"

Riku gave a slight nod. "One of those reasons perhaps."

"I see. So, Riku?"

"Yes Xion?"

"What's love?"

The question caught Riku by surprise. He wondered why Xion would ask a question like that. Nonetheless, if she wanted to know, he'll have to tell her. "Well, I don't know how to tell you what's love since everyone has there own opinion about it."

"I want to here yours then," she smiled.

Riku blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, love is...something your heart responds to in a good way. If your heart likes whatever it responds to, then I guess you say it is love."

"Does human feel love too?

Riku nodded. "Of course."

"Really?" Xion smiled. "I may not have a heart but if I did...I'll probably love you."

Riku blushed again and quickly turned his head before Xion could notice.

Riku ran through the hallways of The Castle That Never Was, searching for Xion. He called her a name numerous times but still got no response.

"Xion! Are you up here-"

"AHHH" Xion's voice shrieked.

"Xion!" Riku shouted running up towards the tower. When he arrived at the top of the castle, he immediately stopped. The scene he was witnessing was horrible. There laid Xion on the ground fading into the darkness. There was also someone in a red and black suit towering over her and pointing an odd shape keyblade at Riku.

Summoning his Soul Eater keyblade, he yelled. "What did you do to her? Tell me or I'll kill you!"

"...All Organization members have a fate. A fate to fade away. Unfortunately, she has to go like the rest of them..."

Riku growled. "What is your fate then? WHAT IS YOUR FATE?!" Riku suddenly charged towards the unknown figure. When he went to hit him, the figure vanished. "Come back here!"

"R-Riku..."

Riku turned around almost forgetting about Xion. He saw how very close she was from leaving him. He bend down to his knees and held her. "Don't leave Xion. Please stay with me. You have to stay Xion. I will not let you fade away to darkness."

Xion smiled softly then she coughed.

"Xion..."

"It's okay Riku. I'll be alright. It's like the man said, we all must suffer the same fate."

"Your different though Xion. I don't see you as an Organization member. I see you as you. You don't have to accept it."

Xion shook her head. "I must. I don't have a enough time but I would like to ask you...one more question Riku?"

"What? What is it? I'll answer anything."

Xion faintly smiled. "...Do you...love me?"

"Ye-" Before he could say it, she Xion was gone, his hands held nothing. She was gone and he couldn't believe it. Why must this always happen to Riku? Why must everything he loves leave him? Is he cures to live alone forever.

Riku slowly removed his blindfold, his hair covering his eyes, which were slowly changing red.

His eyes couldn't lie

Riku slowly lifted himself up from the ground after he collapsed. When he got up, he saw a dark feather laying on the ground. He picked up and after examining it for a while, he slipped it into his pocket.

"Maybe I am cursed..."

Nine pages and I'm done for this chapter. Mainly on Riku. This story has many connections with mostly every character and it will be revealed soon. Probably not in this story, but in a possible sequel.

Anyway, read and review.

peace