Authors Note: Nearly fell behind on the update I promised because Tiscali was being annoying on Friday, and they said I wouldn't have internet back till Tuesday. Turns out they lied. Nonetheless, here is the chapter.

Chapter 5: Dead Man Walking

Destiny Islands – 7:00am

The rising sun failed to wake Sora. In fact, he seemed to sleep even more. His curtains were shut tight, however, so it wouldn't be thought that it affected him. He was for some reason unable to sleep until the sun began to rise, possibly an effect of what he had become now. Riku, rather than sleep in his own room, slept in Sora's room, sat beside the room, Keyblade in hand. Leon also stayed in Sora's house, evading sleep, while Tidus had been sent back to his own house to sleep.

Riku slowly opened his eyes, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the lack of light in the room. As the area came into focus, he looked around to make sure no-one was there, and then turned around to see Sora asleep. He shook Sora to try to get him up, but he couldn't seem to stir him. It was like Sora was unconscious.

"I guess vampires really do sleep in the daytime." Leon uttered as he stepped through the open door.

"Yeah. If Sora was ever thinking of trying to stop the daytime naps, he can throw that out the window now." Riku said. Both he and Leon managed a forced smile, but couldn't hide their true emotions. They were thinking about what was gonna happen now. How would Sora be now he was a vampire? Would Kairi still love him? And more importantly, would he ever be able to change back?

"So… what are we gonna do about Kairi?" The question that Riku was trying to block out. He couldn't bear facing Kairi about the situation. How was he gonna explain it to her? 'Sorry Kairi, Sora's become a Vampire.'? He knew he would have to face her eventually.

"I'll deal with it." He muttered, loud enough so Leon could hear. He walked downstairs and picked up the phone, and dialled Kairi's number.

"Hello, this is Kairi…"

"Hi, Kairi, it's Riku."

"Oh, hi, Riku! What's up?"

"Err, nothing much… Listen, I need you to come down to my house, something happened last night. Something bad."

"What do you mean? Sora's not hurt, is he?"

"Not exactly…"

"What's that mean?"

"Look, just come here as fast as you can."

"Riku, please explain. You're making me worried."

"Just come here and I'll explain!" Riku was getting tedious.

"Okay geeze, no need to shout." And with that, she hung up.

"Damn." Thought Riku. He totally screwed that phone call up. She was probably pissed off at him for being rude for no apparent reason, but she needed to be here for Sora right now, not getting agitated over the phone.

"I gather that went bad." Leon said as he walked to the kitchen.

"Shut up." Riku was annoyed, not at Kairi, but himself, for multiple reasons. Why did Sora have to be the one that got attacked? Why wasn't it him? Why? He deserved it more than Sora. Sora had done absolutely nothing wrong, had he?

No, of course not. It was because he was the Keybearer. And he was always the saviour. He beat the Heartless, and the Nobodies. Riku only helped against the Nobodies, and didn't do a thing to stop the Heartless. He felt like the bad apple in the bunch.

"I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. Sora and Kairi care about you. Don't think you're the bad guy, because you're not. If you pull out now, because you're thinking you're holding him back, then he'll lose hope. You and Kairi are his hope. That's why he's always so happy, because he's got friends like you, like US."

"Thanks, Leon." He smiled back at Leon, who was also smiling.

"Oh, would ya listen to me? I'm becoming the motivational speaker here." He put his hand on his face, with his little finger slightly bent down, like he always did, and he and Riku laughed slightly.

"I guess this time; it's my turn to protect someone."

"Yeah, maybe it is."

A knock on the door interrupted their talk. Riku went to get it. It was Tidus, and Kairi.

"Alright, I'm here, now what's the problem?"

"…Come upstairs." Riku directed her up to Sora's room and opened the door. There, lying on the bed, still fast asleep, was Sora. But when Kairi entered, he began to stir. He slowly lifted his head and switched on the bedside light (though he didn't really need it as he had improved eyesight and hearing, he didn't know this yet), and looked at Kairi. She gasped at his new eye colour, and was even more shocked when she saw him smile. His fangs stood out like a sore thumb.

"What… happened to you…?" Sora's smile disappeared slowly, as he knew she was afraid of him. But he knew wrong, because she suddenly ran to him and hugged him. "Sora… What's happened to you?"

"I… think I'm a vampire…" Sora was kicking himself mentally. That did not come out right.

"Oh, Sora…" Kairi was weeping. She was always depressed when her friends were ill or otherwise in trouble.

The group spent the next half an hour explaining what had happened last night, and another quarter-hour keeping her calm.

"This is so weird… Vampires were just Sora and Riku's way of frightening me when we were kids at Halloween. But this is real… vampires do exist. And Sora has bee turned into one. At least now I know why the curtains are tightly shut."

"Riku…" Sora muttered softly.

"Yes, Sora?" Riku answered.

"Go to the store and get us all some drinks."

Everyone except Riku and Sora laughed.

"You heard the kid, Riku. Go get beverages." Leon said, with a smirk on his face.

Riku willed his Keyblade to disappear, and took off.

'Well, even if he's different on the outside, he's still Sora…' Riku thought to himself as he walked to the store. When he got there, though, it was shut.

"Damn it. Walked all the way out here for nothing." But something caught Riku's attention. No-one was out on the street. It was deserted. He took a step back, realising it was a trap, but it was too late. A large figure in a red coat came crashing down, sword out, poising to strike. But Riku got lucky and jumped out of the way, almost getting hit. He immediately drew his keyblade and got in the attacking position.

Upon closer inspection of the man, he was about a head taller than Riku, and his red coat came down to his feet, nearly touching the ground. A few black stripes were located on his coat, no particular order to their placement, but they looked like they had been sewed on. His trousers were a tight fit, with several attachments held to them by many belt buckles. Under his coat, he wore a black vest with no sleeves, but like the trousers, it had several item pockets attached to it, but with proper attachment wraps. He also had 2 gun holsters, but Riku couldn't identify the guns that were holstered.

"Who are you? Are you the one that attacked Sora?"

"I see you are quick to make accusations, Riku. No. I was not the one who attacked your friend."

"Then who are you?"

"I am… no-one of importance. But rest assured; a great evil is rising. As time passes, you will realise that Sora becoming a vampire was a blessing in disguise."

"You call not being able to go out in the sun a blessing? I should strike you down for that remark!"

"Well, looks like you know less than I expected."

"Huh?"

"We are not the vampires that you read about in them childish fairytales. We are the real thing. How do you think I'm standing out here, broad daylight, with absolutely no protection except for normal clothing and a big red coat?"

"…" Riku was taken aback by this. He was so sure that vampires would die in the face of the sun, but then again, it WAS a fairytale…

"You have much to learn, Riku." He had seriousness in his voice now. "As does your friend."

"What do you know?"

"Everything I am supposed to know. I am not your enemy, Riku. Lower your Keyblade." Riku did as he was told.

"Then why did you swing at me?"

"I had to be sure it was you."

"By studying my evasion technique?"

"Keybearers have unique evasion skills. For all I know, that could have been a fake, but I realise now it is the true 'Way To Dawn' Keyblade." Riku was still amazed that this guy knew so much. He didn't look like your typical genius.

"Then if you are here to help us… help us."

"And that I will, as I have many things to tell you and your friends. But let's leave this place first. We are open to attack."

"From whom?"

"Anyone. The enemy has put a price on both you and Sora." Riku got angry at this. They couldn't leave Sora or him alone for 5 seconds without causing trouble.

"Why?"

"All in good time, Riku. Patience. For now, let's retreat to your house."

"On one condition."

"What?"

"Sheathe your weapon." He did as he was told. "You raise your weapon against Sora, I'll kill you."

"Squall might, but you won't."

"Huh?" The mention of Leon's real name came as a shock to Riku. How did he know so much about them?

"His weapon is made of silver. Vampires are weak against it. Your keyblade contains no trace of silver whatsoever."

"Point taken."

"Now are we gonna stand here all day? Don't worry about the beverages your friends sent you out here to get, I have some, including one Sora will need."

"What is it?"

"What else? Blood." That last word sent a shiver down Riku's spine. He knew Sora was a vampire now, but he had forgotten that vampires require a constant supply of blood. This was troublesome…

Who was this guy anyway?

And why would he want to help? In Riku's mind, surely all vampires were evil bloodsuckers?

End Chapter

Authors Note: So there is the new chapter for you, next one coming real soon…

P.S. The mystery guy is NOT Alucard from Hellsing. I am thinking of using him later on, though.