Rhiannion: So... you're all actually still reading? Good... I'll try and post at least 3 chapters a week... this is due to change with impending jobs and surgery... but I will do my best!

Chapter 4—Good Son

Riku pulled his long silver hair back over his shoulder and gently dipped a cup into the soup Kairi had made. Months had passed in the place, too many months to count. The air outside was blustery as he could firmly attest to. He sat the plate down at the table and closed his eyes. He had been waiting… and waiting for the damn keyblade master but he never came. If only he could find the keyblade master, teach them the secret art…

For the first time in six months Riku thought about his family. In all that had happened he didn't even stop to wonder what was happening to Destiny Islands or to his parents. He gritted his teeth and stared down at his cooling soup.

"I've always been a bad son." He closed his eyes and rested his head in his hand.

"You aren't a bad son." He looked up at Sora who smiled at him fondly. "Some dads… just don't learn to appreciate their sons."

"Only you could say something like that and make me believe it. Maybe it's because of how much you believe it." The silver haired boy smiled indulgently at his best friend. "You're still an idiot."

"Jeez… way to make a guy feel special." Sora murmured and then he sobered. "Something has got to happen soon Riku. We've been here over six months. The patrols are losing people; the fighting is getting worse—"

"The barrier is holding Sora. That's all that matters." Riku stated firmly as he lifted the soup bowl to his mouth before he drank the mixture.

"Some bright side." Sora rolled his eyes. "I want to join the barrier patrol. I want to help."

"Why?" Riku cocked his head at him.

"We're warriors. We should help!"

"Sora! Riku! Come with me to the front lines!" Hayner yelled staring at them wide-eyed from where he clutched the door.

"What is it?"

"Heartless have invaded!"

"But how!" Riku dropped the bowl.

"This strange guy in black let them in." He sucked in a deep breath. "He said it was to draw out the keyblade master."

"Where!" Sora asked frantically.

"On the south end."

"That's where Kairi is!" Sora stood up and took off running. He had no weapon but he figured he could fight with a stick…or something.

The three boys took off as fast as they could run for the far end of their safe haven, the first district.

Kairi shoved the hair out of her eyes and glared at the beings before her. She was trapped behind three men, barely armed trying to hold the black creatures back as they brandished their claws. Most of the creatures sported claws, some swords or shields. They were all terrifying. She growled, if there was one thing that Kairi Geffan hated most, it was feeling helpless. She shoved the man out of the way and began to walk forward. Half way there she threw out her arm and long silver and black keyblade appeared in her arm.

The wielder of Oblivion.

"Stay away!" She yelled swinging in a wide arch and killing many of the creatures. The people around her stared in confusion as the creatures surrounded her. "RUN!"

They people did as she said swiftly though she knew they felt a twinge of guilt at abandoning her, weapon or no. She wasn't as well trained as she could have been or should have been. She wasn't sure how long she could hold them off… but they had raised the alarm twenty minutes ago. They would be here soon.

"KAIRI!" She looked up to see Sora and the others as gasped as she was caught by a long arm of a large, fat heartless and flung into a wall.

"I'm all right!" She called, not realizing that one was closing in on her with the intent to steal her strong heart.

Sora ran and dashed in front of her. He flung his hand forward and a large keyblade appeared in his hand much the same as it had appeared in Riku and Kairi's hand. It's gleamed with intent and shined brightly. Riku stared with widened eyes.

The master of the keyblade, the wielder of Sleeping Lion—the keyblade of Raine Loire.

Riku stared with wide bright eyes. How was it possible? How could it be here? Here of all places… the Sleeping Lion… he'd only ever seen pictures of it. He jumped as he felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder and turned to see Leon, the son of their leader Laguna Loire.

"It's as I suspected." He whispered.

"But… but how would you know?" He turned to look at him. "I'm from the Shiren-Kagi family and I never even suspected—"

"My Mother… was the last wielder… When Adel broke the Kingdom Key, my father forged he Sleeping Lion for her." He whispered as his gunmetal eyes focused on Sora who swung the keyblade with focus and intent destroying the few heartless left. "The keyblade wielder has been found."

"You're wrong." Riku murmured.

"Oh?"

"There is a Trinity this time. Kairi, Sora and I." Riku looked over at him looking for a reaction.

"Darkness, the road and then… light." Leon sighed and then spoke louder. "You all should come with me." He turned and began to walk.

"But…" Sora gestured to the bodies lying on the ground.

"There is nothing we can do. They'll disappear after a while and turn into nobodies… There's nothing we can do to stop it." The older man admitted. "And I also have a man that would like to meet you… All three of you."

"What about me?" Hayner asked after he finally got over his shock of seeing Kairi fighting so… ferociously.

"You can come as well. You may yet be important." He turned and headed towards Radiant Café.

"Shouldn't we head towards your home? Wouldn't that be more private?" Sora asked as he recognized the way.

"My father is organizing a new mode of defense for the town. Also, Merlin had wanted to speak to us about his latest conversations with Yen Sid and the King." The taller man sighed. "At least we have hope now."

"This is great news!" Laguna spoke with shinning eyes. "And you Riku… are of the Shiren family… you know the secret teachings?"

"I do." Riku stated firmly as he tried not to shake his head in confusion. This guy, this friendly, fatherly man was related to… Leon? He didn't think it was possible.

"Good, good." He paused and closed his eyes. "I'll be sure and inform the king of this… Leon will be your guide."

"We don't need a guide." Kairi stated. "We don't need to endanger anyone else."

"The Shiren teach, the Kagi guide." Riku stated looking at her. "The balance of this is important."

Kairi nodded but then sighed softly. "I wield the Oblivion."

"I wield the Way to Dawn."

"And I wield the Sleeping Lion." Sora spoke and then paused. "That was the former master's blade right."

"Yes." Laguna looked melancholy all of the sudden. "My wife was the first to wield the Sleeping Lion."

"Oh." Sora sighed deeply realizing that he'd touched a sore spot. "But… but what are we supposed to do."

"…stop Ansem." Sora looked over at Leon, sky to gunmetal. "It's the only way to survive."

"The only way?" Sora nodded and then looked up with a bright grin. "We'll do all that we can."