The Keyblade of the Fox 5
Riku found Destiny curled up around Sora. Something within him was enraged at the sight as if the beast had harmed his best friend. Without thinking Riku marched forward and grabbed the fox demon's ear and tried to pull her head back away from Sora. What he didn't count on was the fact that she was awake as soon as he started moving in the house. Nor did he count on the fact that the fox was faster than him. Her teeth clamped down on his arm. Blood dripped from his arm in a gushing wave. Sora came awake when the blood splashed on him.
"Wha…"
"Sora get your fox off of my arm."
"Destiny…" he said in a groggy manner.
She glared at her Master. Riku was still holding onto her ear with a vengeance. It only made her clamp down harder on his arm. Some of the feeling was leaving his arm due to blood loss. "Riku let go of her ear, and she'll let you go."
"How can you trust a demon?"
He let go of her ear anyway. Destiny let go of him and got up before spitting the blood out of her mouth as if it were something foul. Then her dark gaze came up and met Riku's own dark gaze. They clashed light thunder in a rolling valley.
"You know the difference between you and me, Riku" she growled, "It is the fact that I accept my darkness for what it is."
"What is that suppose to mean?" he snapped.
"Well simply put in kids' terms," she taunted. "I am not afraid of what I am and therefore can control my darkness unlike you. Because my darkness it apart of who I am."
Riku drew his Keyblade and got into a fighting stance as if to attack the demon. Blood still trickled down his arm. She looked at him for a moment before turning her back on him. Riku bristled and leapt for the demon. To his shock his blade clanged against a familiar blade. It was the Kingdom Key. Sora was looking at him with a look that Riku couldn't even begin to describe.
"Don't even think about it Riku. You had that coming for yanking on her ears."
"Why are you defending her? She's nothing but a slave."
Destiny whipped around and slammed the silver haired teen down. His Keyblade went sliding across the floor. Her claws were digging into Riku's shoulders. The teen didn't even get a chance to recall the blade before her teeth were dangerously close to his face. Her bloody muzzle glaring down at him.
"Listen here boy, I'm older than you by a few hundred years, and never call me a slave."
He was about ready to speak, but Sora was tugging gently on the ruff of her neck. There was concern in his eyes for the demon. Riku saw no such concern to that degree in his eyes.
"Destiny he isn't worth it. Enough blood has been shed."
She moved back off of Riku. Her teeth were still bared. The fox demon remained stock still knowing that the slightest movements could set her off on the silver haired teen again. Thankfully Sora was going to defuse the situation. "Riku leave the room and have Kairi look at those wounds."
The silver haired teen left the room. Before Sora could say anything to Destiny about her display he felt her rough textured tongue against his cheek. The teen couldn't help but laugh at how dog like she was being. She licked his skin until it was tinted red and free of Riku's blood. Sora ran his fingers through her thick fur. The demon looked so sad.
"What is it Destiny?"
"I over reacted but my ears are sensitive."
Sora reached up and gently stroked her ears trying to sooth the hurt. Destiny leaned into the touch. A soft rumble came from her chest. "Collar me," Destiny said softly as she leaned into the touch.
"What?"
"Put something around my neck that will stop me from being bad again."
He was confused by this new Destiny. Looking around his room he saw an old bandanna laying on his dresser. Moving towards it he picked up and examined it. Smiling he moved forward and tied the red bandanna around her neck. The red bandana had his symbol surrounded by flames. Something happened when the bandana settled around her neck. Flames blasted out around her. Sora jumped backwards to avoid flames. Once they settled down her eyes were now different. They were calmer and flames surrounded her ankles, but she still remained black with the white places. She shook herself bodily.
"Something wrong Sora?" she asked softly.
He moved forward and reached towards the flames. They were warm but didn't burn him. He ran his fingers back through the flames and they flickered and danced. Her black fur had a slight red sheen to it. Destiny thought something along the lines on how her Master was easily amused.
"What the?"
"In your power is that of fire."
"And?"
"It's because of your Valor form I can obtain the flames of courage."
Destiny shook herself and strong embers floated around them almost like fireflies. Sora laughed softly at the display. He reached out to touch the flames again but something happened. His clothes changed to their Valor form. Sora was entirely confused. He normally could only attain the true Valor form when Goofy was around.
"Destiny…"
"Our energies are merging but have you noticed the pattern is different."
Sora looked at himself in a mirror. Instead of the spear heads on his shorts they turned into intricate flames. The Keyblade wielder was impressed. Majority of the outfit had remained the same except for those flames on the shorts.
"Destiny how are they merging?"
"As Riku stated, you are the Master and I the slave. If you so wished it you could draw on my energy to get you through a battle."
Sora was seriously confused. It was like the battle before with Goofy and Donald. He didn't want to have to fight again but if the King summoned him then he would have to answer the call.
"Does this mean there is another enemy coming?"
"The King believes so, but he is not for sure."
"Is that what you were doing in the Underworld?"
"Something like that?"
Sora sat down as the Valor form vanished and he didn't feel the slightest bit drained. He leaned against the now laying down Destiny. He leaned back and sighed in content.
"You make the best leaning post and pillow."
Destiny didn't answer him. He looked over and noticed her eyes were their normal color again and the flames were gone. Her tail flipped up and down. The fox had her head resting on her front outstretched paws. "Does that take a lot out of you?"
She closed her eyes and opened them again. Sora ran his fingers through her neck ruff, and then worked his fingers through the fur up to the base of her ears. Her eyes closed easily. A gentle rumble echoed through her chest. Sora laughed and suddenly felt a little tired.
"Destiny why can I sleep better knowing you're here?"
'We are connected and some part of you knows that I will not hurt you.'
"Hm," he mumbled sleepily.
Sora was thinking how he could get use to falling asleep to the gentle purrs of the fox demon next to him. There was something about the big fox demon that set the Keyblade wielder at ease, a sense of familiarity and a sense of belonging.
'Sora, you're different and I will defend you with my life.'
Sora smiled as he fell into a peaceful sleep.
A few hours later
Sora came awake and stretched. Destiny had her head up and her ears perked forward. Her eyes were narrowed and her attention elsewhere.
"Something wrong Destiny?"
"Heartless again."
The Keyblade wielder took a moment to comprehend what the demoness was saying. His mind was still foggy from the best sleep he had in a long time.
"Heartless?" Sora asked sleepily.
"Yes," Destiny said as she rose causing the boy to wake up even more.
Sora landed with a dull thud on his back staring up at the ceiling. He rolled over and got to his feet. The fox was standing there gesturing with her head to get on her back.
"What in here?"
"Yes, now we don't have time."
The teen hauled himself up on the fox's back. The fox moved forward and nudged the window open with her nose. She snorted before planning out what she was about to do.
"You're not serious are you?"
Destiny backed up a bit and bunched her muscles as she prepared to lunge forward. Within a few strides both of them were sailing out the window and heading towards the ground. With cat-like grace the fox demon landed on all fours on the ground. Sora only felt the light thud of her hitting the ground. She settled easily once she landed. Her ears flicked forward and her head up ready to do battle. Sora slid off her back and summoned the Sleeping Lion.
"Riku! Kairi!" Sora yelled.
The two came running with their keyblades in hand. The group began to fight the heartless without hesitancy. Hearts left the decimated body and floated towards the sky to go back to Kingdom Hearts. Sora crashed to the ground out of breath. The others sat down beside him as Destiny stood looking around and scenting the air.
"This is serious and we need to go see that King," Sora stated matter-of-factly.
The two teens nodded in agreement.
"Sora and I will go to Hollow Bastion and you and Riku will travel to the King," Destiny said quietly.
"Why should we listen to you?" Riku demanded.
"I have to speak with Leon and Cloud before I make a move. Riku you and Kairi need to learn what you need to from the King."
The silver haired teen nodded in a grudging agreement. They rose up and went towards where the Gummi ship was parked ready for them to go. Sora waited until they were gone before turning to Destiny.
"How are we going to get to Hollow Bastion?"
Destiny looked at him and gestured for him to get on her back. He smirked and hauled himself up on the fox's back. With a quick pivot the pair started sprinting. A dark portal formed ahead and she leapt into it.
"I didn't know that you could create a dark portal," Sora said in awe.
"That's what I meant when I told Riku when I can control my darkness. Dark portals are part of the dark power I hold."
"You're full of surprises Dest," Sora said with a laugh.
"Dest?" she asked curiously.
"Can I call you that?"
"You can call me what ever you want."
Her strides were long and even as they passed through the darkness. The wind not even making a stirring at their passing.
"How do you know where you're going?"
"Scent."
"You've been to Hollow Bastion?"
"Yes, when you were there."
Sora tried to figure out that one. The darkness swirled around them like a lingering mist. When Sora saw the light again they were standing at the familiar gates of Hollow Bastion. Sora recognized the Bailey and smiled. The fox demon had done it. With ease he slid off her back and looked around.
"Let's go see the others."
Destiny agreed with a curt nod and followed her Master to the Burrow.
