Bait, Chapter 10
The group had decided to land their gummi ship a distance away from the proposed site, where they could split up without drawing suspicion.
"Do you remember this place, Kairi?" Yen Sid whispered to the girl. She looked visibly shaken, memories of the cold room in the dungeon surfacing in painfully vivid quality. She had not been there nearly as long as Riku, but it was still not pleasant.
"Yes."
"I know the memory is painful, but you need to do this, you're the only one who knows the way." Yen Sid gazed intently at her. "Don't be afraid, I'll be with you the whole time."
"I know. Thank you, master..."
"You guys done being all touchy-feely?" An annoyed Lea asked. "We kind of have a mission to begin here..." Sora shot him a dirty look- how brazen did you have to be to speak to Yen Sid like that?
"Ok, you remember what to do... Kairi and I will set out first. Give us a half hour, then go to the battle site."
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It didn't take the rest of the organization long to discover the Riku replica's body in Xigbar's chambers. Naturally, suspicion fell on him- they all know he had a personal vendetta against the replica, and for a rather stupid reason.
Xemnas had ordered his creation to replace Demyx, but unlike Demyx, the replica would not let Xigbar turn him into his new fuck toy. Xigbar had turned into a ticking time bomb of pent up frustration ever since and seemed more unstable than ever. That was saying a lot since Xigbar had always been a sadistic pervert.
Xemnas had ordered them to find Xigbar and have him questioned. Their search for him had been cut short though, as word had got to them that Sora and his companions were waiting to answer their challenge.
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Sora, Lea, Mickey, Donald and Goofy stood in the courtyard in front of the organization's stronghold. The organization had yet to arrive for the proposed battle, but they still had five minutes to meet them.
"You think they're waiting for the exact moment to show up?" Sora asked Lea.
"Its almost a guarantee, they are probably looking for the most intimidating method of arrival right now, considering their egos." Lea replied darkly.
As though in response to Lea's remark, a group of cloaked figures materialized in a circle around them.
"9...10...11 Wait, one of you is missing!" Mickey exclaimed.
"Yes, it seems one of our members has turned on us. He will be found and get what he deserves soon enough, but there were more...pressing matters to attend to right now."
"But he could be anywhere right now! How do you know he's not out trying to sabotage your plan?" Sora screamed at them.
"That doesn't matter any more. We have who we want right here in front of us!"
"You don't mean...oh no!" The faces of the whole group darkened as the realization set in. Then Sora jumped forward with a cry of alarm.
"Riku, Kairi!" He turned and bolted toward where Kairi had gone a short while before, followed closely by the rest of the group trying in vain to get him to stay put.
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"Master, look, one of the doors have a light showing under it, you don't think someone is in there right now?"
"Look, Kairi, But be careful." the old man answered.
She ran toward the room, where a grim sight met her. Riku was in there, sure enough, but something was horribly wrong with him. He was barely conscious, his breathing slow and labored, broken by an occasional short, choking cough. Sometimes he would lift his arm in a feeble attempt to ward off an unseen attack, letting out weak, pleading moans. He was delirious. She ran to his side with a cry of grief.
"Riku! Oh gods, he's burning up! Master, is there anything we can do for him?"
"Not here, but we can tend to him once we get him to the gummi ship." The old man calmly walked to his side and laid a gentle hand on Riku's forehead. Riku stirred, looking at Yen Sid with dim eyes. He muttered something that sounded almost like "Sora..."
"Shhh, save your strength. He's waiting for you, Riku." Yen Sid whispered gently. "But we have to get you out of here first."
"Not so fast..." The unexpected voice made them both jump and turn to investigate.
"Xigbar! Why are you here, shouldn't you be in battle with the rest of the organization right now?"
"Nah, too boring, not when i can be having a little fun with Sora's closest comrades..." He grinned evilly. "I was expecting to just find Riku in here, but to find the brat's master and girlfriend with him only sweetens the deal." He pulled a dagger from his robes and started fiddling with the handle, spinning it between gloved hands.
He had intended to murder Riku while the rest of the organization was off fighting Sora and the others, but the replica got in his way and stole valuable time, he doubted he would be able to finish the brat properly now. He was willing to do anything to slow the forging of the X-blade; though he held part of Xeanhort, he hated the notion of his possessing him fully and having unaltered access to his thoughts and memories. He may have been a nobody, but he had enough shame to know the acts he had committed throughout his time with the Organization were immoral, and he wanted nobody to learn of them and have him turned into a dusk for it.
Though they weren't one of Xeanhort's seven lights like Riku was, seeing Kairi and Yen Sid there with him seemed like a good way to get even with Sora for killing Demyx and humiliating him in a later battle.
"I guess the real question is where do I begin: Sora's best friend..." He pointed the dagger at Riku. "His girlfriend..." He turned it toward Kairi, who's eyes widened. "Or his teacher?" He finally turned the dagger toward Yen Sid, who remained impassive.
"I think I will warm up a bit and take the one who wont fight back." Shoving Kairi and Yen Sid aside, he grabbed Riku and held the dagger to his throat. The boy put up no fight, feeling too weak and sick to care.
"Riku..." Kairi whispered in horror.
"LET THEM GO!" Kairi's eyes got even wider at the voice.
Xigbar turned and grinned evilly at the new opponent.
"SORA!" Kairi cried.
"Well, it seems the brat finally caught on to me. I thought I'd do the organization a favor and...eliminate the competition for them." The blade in his hand flashed menacingly as he pressed it harder into Riku's neck. A small bead of blood rolled off the edge of it. Sora growled a warning at him.
"But I think I have a better idea with him now. So what say you Sora? Wanna play a little game? If you want me to let them go, you have to meet me in combat. And to show you im not playing around..." He plunged the dagger into Riku's body. There was a soft groan from Riku and an awful shunk noise as the blade pierced his flesh.
"NOOO! RIKU!" Sora charged at Xigbar with a shriek of rage.
"Now that's what I had in mind!" Xigbar exclaimed in triumph as he brutally threw Riku against a wall. Sora ran forward and caught him before he hit it. He lifted him into a sitting position and cradled him gently, putting pressure on the wound with his hand, taking care not to nudge the hilt of the dagger. Sora could tell how bad his condition was simply by the pained expression on his face, and he didn't want to cause him any more pain.
"Riku..."
They're going to pay for this...
"Master, get Kairi and Riku out of here!"
"Sora... don't... do this..." Riku pleaded weakly.
"No, Sora!" Kairi cried in desperation.
"I'm going to be fine, you'll see!" Sora gave Riku's hand a reassuring squeeze as he looked at Kairi, flashing her his most encouraging smile, which was hard to do considering how much his heart ached for his friend right now. Yen Sid took Riku from Sora's arms and nodded to Kairi. The three of them left the room, Sora watching their retreat carefully before Xigbar seized Sora by the collar and dragged him into the deepest part of the dungeon. He roughly threw him into the center of the dark cavern.
"There, now that we have a little more space, shall we begin?"
End of Chapter 10