Bait, Chapter 7

"Relax, kiddo, I can make this enjoyable for you as well..."

The man's touch felt like slime against his bare skin, the sensations were like sparks running across every inch of him, invading his very thoughts. Riku's body twitched with each caress, making Xigbar believe he was actually enjoying the action. He made to undo the boy's belt, but Riku still wasn't being cooperative. He seized him by both wrists, pinning them to the wall. He was convinced the strength of the man's grip had broken his hands. He proceeded to strip the boy from the waist down.

"No, please..."

"Quiet!" He seized Riku by the waist and began to enter him...

"NO!" Riku bolted upright on the futon, drenched in cold sweat and trembling violently. He had this nightmare every night since Xigbar raped him, had been forced to relive the sadistic man's violation of his body. If he hadn't seen the copy of himself propped against the opposite wall, dozing, he would've forgotten that he now had a protector and would be in constant fear that Xigbar would be back to have his way with him again.

He was still in pain despite the Replica's ministrations, every movement sent dull waves of it across his lower body. He rolled up his right pant leg gingerly, wincing as he grazed his calf- though it was no longer broken, a large bruise had formed on Riku's leg where Xigbar struck him. He used his own cold hands to cover the bruise, reducing the swelling and easing the pain a little.

The replica stirred slightly, muttering something inaudible to Riku's ears. Riku pulled his blanket tighter around his body and tried to settle back into sleep, an action that was easier said than done as thoughts began to chase themselves around his head: Memories of Xigbar's twisted violation of him, worries about Sora and the others-were they all safe right now? Most pressing on his mind was curiosity about his now constant companion.

The replica had spent most of his time in the dungeon to insure that Xigbar nor any other organization member would allow him to come to harm, often staying right there in this small room with him. Riku was more than certain this was not the same replica that had antagonized him and Sora in Castle Oblivion almost two years ago, as he had witnessed the death of that replica firsthand. Riku had come to know that he had been created to be Xehanort's 13th vessel, but had ultimately been abandoned as he kept rejecting the fragment of Xehanort's heart, nearly dying in the last attempt when the dark presence fought back and tore away most of his mana and life force as it left his body.

He had been left to himself after that, often being shunned and pushed aside by the organization. He had not even been given an identity, when anyone had to address him they just called him "Fake" or "Replica," since he could not even remember his own name. Any memories he did have were blurry and fragmented, most of them too broken for him to make any sense of. He had only met Riku once before, in an incident they both could remember vividly.

Knowing he would never be able to get to sleep any time soon, Riku sat up and allowed his mind to wander, remembering the replica's tale and point of view on that meeting.

The replica had been sent to the sleeping worlds on a mission to gather data on two Keyblade wielders who currently dwelled there. His mission had somehow led him inside the belly of a great whale, where one of his targets had wound up. He had decided to lure the Keyblade wielder to him by taking an enchanted wooden puppet under his wing.

The plan had worked too well, as he soon encountered a young man bearing a keyblade that suggested it was a dragon's wing joined with a dove's-a young man that looked disturbingly like him.

"Who are you?" he had asked. The replica had lowered his hood in response. The look on Riku's face was unforgettable, his face holding a look of shock, but his eyes told a different tale. The pain of a hundred memories seemed to flash across those brilliant cyan eyes in one instant, pain he suddenly felt as his own. He opened a dark corridor and escaped after that, unable to bear that look any longer.

Riku remembered feeling such pain during that encounter, all those conflicting memories and emotions. It reminded him so much of what he had done on that first adventure so long ago, fueled by rage, lust for power, and the one thing that still tied his heart to light- the desire to revive Kairi. Riku was in love with Kairi then, and though it is not as strong, he still does, but he didn't consider himself worthy then and considers himself less worthy now.

Then there was the memory of the other replica, the poor fool who's mind had been warped into thinking the key to having his own identity was in eliminating him. He had ended that being's life personally, when he could have convinced him that he was already his own unique entity, like Sora did with Roxas.

Then there was this replica who slept on, curled up under the rough but warm fabric of the Organization's cloak. Yes, Riku was convinced this replica was different, merciful, as though he had been crafted from the light within Riku's heart. He wondered if he could save him from the wretched, lonely life the Organization had given him.

End of Chapter 7.