Bait, Chapter 19
"So you're saying XIGBAR was the one that stabbed him?" Lea asked incredulously.
"I think so, he was the one with the scars, right?" Sora replied.
The entire group had congregated in Riku's room to discuss the events of the past month, and what it may spell for them in the coming months. They were all seated in chairs or against the wall of the room, with the exception of Sora, Riku, and Kairi, who were seated on the edge of Riku's bed. They had just brought up the events of the rescue and Xigbar's unexpected ambush of Riku, Yen Sid, and Kairi.
"Yes, but... It doesn't make sense. The intel Riku gathered all those months ago claim that he specialized in shooting weapons. Knives were more Xaldin's specialty."
"From what the Replica told me, that knife had been a prototype of Xigbars. Claimed he wanted a weapon that would subdue his opponents. He said Xigbar was bragging about it when he murdered him." The rest of the group stared at Riku in disbelief.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Sora asked, laying a hand on the older boy's forehead. "How can you be talking to a dead person?"
Riku brushed Sora's hand aside. "I'm fine!" He said in mild annoyance. "Just hear me out. I can talk with the Replica because... he's here right now." Riku pointed to his heart. "He took refuge in my heart after he was murdered, and we've been able to communicate telepathically for several days now. I thought it was a dream at first, but I can hear him in the waking world as well. I'm not hallucinating!" He added when he saw Sora's still unconvinced face. "Don't ask me how I know it's him, I just do!"
"I believe you, but this phenomenon is quite unusual..." Yen Sid said. "Mind you, I've only heard tell of very few puppet replicas in my whole experience, but, from what my sources told me, two of them returned to their original being when they passed, fusing with the being's soul and not living on as a separate entity. They never spoke to their beings or gave any inkling they lived on. But this one... He seems to have taken on his own personality. Its like he lived long enough to develop his own unique and separate identity. He has a soul of his own now and is now possessing you rather than returning to you."
"If he's possessing him, shouldn't we do something to subdue or extract him? I don't want to see another Ansem incident!" Sora cried in alarm.
"Whatever the case may be, he is still living on in Riku right now." Mickey said. "I don't know what playing host to two souls could do to both of them in the long run, but since the presence is causing neither of them distress, If anything the Replica's presence is giving Riku strength, unlike Ansem, who seemed to eat away at him. I think we should leave that connection alone."
Sora glared at the king, making him quickly interject: " If it does prove to be a malevolent connection, Yen Sid can seal him away."
"Don't I have any say in this manner?" An annoyed Riku asked. "Its my heart that's playing host to the Replica, and I agree with Mickey. Just leave him alone, he gave his word that he wouldn't harm me. I could sense if his soul was corrupted, and i sense none. I daresay his soul is purer than my own!"
I told you not to be so hard on yourself. The replica growled in his head.
Leave it, I'm trying to protect you!
"Very well." Yen Sid sighed. "We need to get back to the matter of the Organization's plan anyway. So, the replica told you Xigbar wanted this knife to subdue his opponents?"
"Yes. Xigbar has been playing traitor ever since the plan to make the false rift had been settled. He thought his own idea would work better, and took the loss in a very immature manner. I don't know what sort of fate awaits that man, but odds are pretty high about them seeking out another vessel. They still target Sora, but the Replica and I had proven to be incompatible. Lea is the human form of a former organization member. They will have no interest in him, even if he now wields the Keyblade. They probably view him as traitorous or weak."
Lea shot Riku a dirty look.
"And the King is too powerful to allow himself to fall into the darkness of the Organization. That leaves Kairi. I don't know if she has become their second target, being a Princess of Light won't matter as they are out to clash with a different type of light now. She needs to be kept safe."
"Well, then we should set things in motion, shouldn't we?" Sora was the one who spoke. Riku smiled at the determination in his face. He knew he would not let anything bad happen to Kairi.
That's the spirit, Sora. Riku thought. I envy your strong will.
End of chapter 19.