Okay so to those who are curious as to why I space out sentences and such, I try to make it easier for readers to read because I assume most of you are reading it desktop wise. I just feel as If its harder read when its all blocked as paragraphs with such a long screen. I'm fine reading paragraphs in books and essays etc. but you know what I mean?

I'm also addressing that there's a good chance that characters will be out of character for most of the story. This is because I've set these characters in this world assuming they've been born and raised in the conditions that I have set for them, thus how they act will reflect how their surroundings have raised them. Just saying this before some bitch starts to bug me about "Oh they're so out of character! You're a terrible writer!" blah, blah, blah, yeah I get it bitch.

There's a part of me that instinctually REAAAAALLLY wants to ship Sora and Riku so they may have these moments where you just want them to just get on with it and fucking shag or something like any normal healthy fangirl. I am so sorry. I don't mean it. I'm trying to make this relationship platonic and brotherly.

A short but thankful to my first reviewer Star-Shaped-X. Thank you for reviewing so quickly. I was very impressed and happy at the traffic that this story has received and its only been out a day. Chapters will not be updated this quickly for future reference. I'm going to start aiming for every Saturday. ...No promises... don't quote me on that. -

As always, please tell me my mistakes so that I may fix them. Without further adieu, I give you...

Chapter 1 The Art of Battle

Passage one - Sora -

It was said that a goddess would be born in the year of the fire-horse within our clan. She would take up the Heavenly Sword and destroy the darkness in our world. But instead, I was born from my mothers dying body. My people wept.

5 days ago

Sora ran. The cold ache of the winter bit into his cheeks viciously but there was nothing he could do but run. Run as arrows flew into the sky and slaughtered members of his clan.

He could see the red crimson essence of life spill onto the pure white snow, hear the death cries of men as they fell before him in the name of hat god damned sword.

Sora clenched his teeth and bit his tongue. It was then that suddenly and arrow whizzed passed his neck, barely licking his flesh. He stumbled but was quickly caught into strong arms. "Keep running!" He wiggled himself out of those arms and kept up his pace.

He glanced over at the person who had caught him but didnt spare him thanks. Riku was fine with this as he grabbed Sora's wrist and kept them running." Sora's ears could pick up the distant call to run towards the fort. His eyes widened. If they ran to the fort then that would lead Xemnas' army right towards the Heavenly Sword! Sora whipped his head in Squall's direction. Sora just kept on running.

In the distance there sits a tall fort made from the wood of the Forest of Bo'hane. It is messily crafted but quite stable. Green eyes glare out into the snow that reflects the ray's of the bright setting sun. Hands run through red spiked hair pulled back by a long white headband. Axel sighs and leans against the gate.

He's soon joined with Roxas who strikes up much needed conversation before they hear a deep and loud call.

"OPEN THE GATES!"

Axel and Roxas turn and watch as scouts run through the opening gates. It is with foreboding sense that Axel notes that a quarter of the scouts that had left two days before are no there among them. A crowd gathers around the clan leader Squall.

Sora ran through the gates and slowed down to a slow trot before stopping and turning a fierce and harsh glare at Squall. "We'll be trapped in here like a bunch of rats!" "Even rats become tigers when attacked." "And tigers make great trophies when skinned," Sora sneers with venom. He received a deadly glare that would cause most war hardened men's blood to run cold. "Enough Sora! Climb the walls and keep watch."

Sora's gaze lingered a moment before he turned. "Yes… father." Squall glared harshly at the head of brown spikes before he called out orders while Sora gracefully launched himself up the ladders and up the wall. He ran over towards the edge and peered over.

With great surprise, Sora called out, "They're scaling the walls!" Sora jumped back and withdrew two swords from the small of his back as men began to climb over the walls. He licked his chapped lips and leapt into the air. Not a life was spared in his path.

On the lower level Riku withdrew a large sword from his back as men jumped from the tops of the walls onto the lowest level. Riku's fierce turquoise eyes frightened something deep within his foe's as he slayed all in his way. Heads flew, blood spattered and people went flying. As he kicked and slammed his sword into the chest of his enemy he turned his head. He ducked and watched as a man was launched over him, his head smashing violently into the wall behind. Riku turned again in the direction the person had been hurdled and he saw Sora.

Sora had been his friend for as long as Riku would like to remember and although the brunette was gifted with a kind, generous and brave heart, there was something absolutely breath taking in the way Sora's eyes glowed with determination and how blood could spatter him and not mar him in any way but in fact, make him all the deadlier to look at. The graceful way his body shifted as he buried his blades into the bodies of his foes, launching them into the air and smashing their skulls in.

Riku flinched and winced as Sora's leg connected with a man's skull and pushing him face first into the unforgiving splintered floor. The brunette then used both his feet to snap the mans neck. The silverette pulled away from the scene and continued his own fight.

When Sora had finally made it to the lower level, he fought with his clansmen and quickly the wave was slaughtered and dead. A moment of peace passed across the warriors though it would be short lived. Sora felt a large hand fall onto his shoulder. He turned and saw Squall giving him a stoic look, his eyes unreadable. He nodded before he let go and walked away. Sora looked at the brick floor, his eyes glazing over. Squall had always been Sora's tutor first and father second.

Sora's accursed birth and the death of his mother were very hard for him. Sora had always feared that a part of Squall would never forgive him for it. But the brunette didn't have time to feel sorrow. Riku placed his own hand on Sora's shoulder and the two exchanged a nod.

"Another wave approaches!"

Sora stepped away from the warm hand and pulled out his weapons again and was ready for battle once again. As more men scaled the walls, all that came in Sora's path fell before him as if worshiping him with their death. Day soon became night but the battle was far from over, even if hundreds of men littered the ground.

There was silence as the clan huddled together around the leader, waiting for their next course of action. As Sora stood next to Squall, he was very aware of the hateful stares directed towards him. This was normal and he no longer squirmed under their gaze as they so wished.

"We all know why this is happening." 'a brave soul,' Sora inwardly sneered.

Riku stepped in front of him and glared at the soul who came up and said something. "Now is not the time," someone said. "We can't afford to fight amongst ourselves" Much to Riku's surprise, Squall said something next that caused the silver haired one to glare spitefully. "Let him speak." "We all know who brought this curse upon the clan." Sora pushed his way passed Riku and grabbed the mans throat. "I am not a curse! I am-" Sora could feel the man's pulse under his tightening grip before they were both thrown back.

"Enough!" Squall glared at both Sora and the clansmen. "This war is one person's doing but that is not Sora. It is Xemnas'!" Suddenly there was a cracking sound. all sound and movement stopped. There was a small sigh in the air, a whisper on the winter breath. "Assassins." Squall turned to Riku. "Approaching from the forest. Take bow in arms and climb the tree's. Kill all you see. Sora. Go with him and kill those who escape and come towards the fort." Both nodded and left swiftly

Riku sat crouched behind some branches in the tree. He glanced up at a higher branch and his eyes locked with cerulean blue ones. Riku nodded and Sora crouched further behind his own branches, ready to jump down in case Riku missed a few of his targets.

He turned back and glared into the lilac snow and the black tree's. he squinted and pulled the string on his bow, the arrow ready to fly. He let go. A distant scream of pain echoed before dying out suddenly, alerting of his sudden death.

It was then that Riku proceeded to do what he was best at. As men began to duck and try to file in, all began to die, one by one with sickening cracks, muffled screams and one even was nailed grotesquely to a tree. "Were sitting ducks!" He could hear a soft chuckle above him but paid it no mind.

Riku pulled back the string and let the arrow go. He cursed as the man ducked and ran through the gate leading to the fort. "Play time," was softly whispered and he could see the white of Sora's clothes flutter as he dropped from his hiding spot and landed on the snow without a sound. He then vanished from sight.

Riku continued on, killing one by one but as they came in groups, he had to pull out more arrows, shoot three to four at a time but they became to fast and kept getting through. He wasn't concerned though. Not at all. He shot once more and then stood.

He stayed where he stood for a while and waited, making sure no more would come. When he saw none he turned and jumped down and began to make his way towards where he could hear the clanking of metal and the sound of bones being crushed.

Sora had placed himself in a small area and was easily fending off Xemnas' hired assassins as they stupidly came at him all at once. He watched as every single movement of Sora's was conducted with grace. If he had anything to compare it to, he might figure Sora's movements were like those of those dancers his mother used to talk about before she had died.

He grew sad a moment but he shot his grief down, not letting it surface. Riku then placed his foot on the trunk of a tree and launched himself up and onto its branches He took out his bow and aided Sora, both quickly disposing of the assassins that had escaped Riku's bow previously.

Sora dropped his blades onto the ground and grinned up at Riku, his eyes now bright. Riku leapt down from his tree and walked quickly over to the brunette. They clasped hands and Riku couldn't help but return Sora's friendly smile. He laughed slightly.

"I see that you're getting out of touch with that bow mister. Look at how many men I had to kill!" Riku grinned back and pulled the other into a strong hug. "Ugh. Its not too bad. Remember when I first started out" Sora pulled back and laughed. They pulled away and became aware of their surroundings.

Two sets of eyes scanned around before Riku let his arm fall onto Sora's shoulder and pulling him into his side. His deep voice then hollered out into the silence of the night, "You may collect the bodies of your men and give them a dignified burial!" It was then that he pulled Sora towards the fort, the two of them setting a leisurely pace that matched identically. The crunching of snow was comforting. To Riku, this was comfortable. He side glanced at Sora.

This was safe.

So~ What did you guys think? I'm watching you all. Im watching the traffic. Reviews make the story go on~ So please~ Review!