Phew. I've been working on this chapter for a whole month! I haven't really been writing much lately... Regardless, hope you readers enjoy the update!

Disclaimer-I don't own KH.

onward.

chApter 5

Quietly, very quietly, and hope. Hope that one is not heard when she is sneaking about the castle when she should not be. Saskia did her best to not make a sound. However, luck was not a gift of hers.

"What are you doing?" a hiss, soft. It was barely heard, but it cut through the silence like a knife, and quickly, Saskia whipped around on her toes to face Riku. Her hands lifted, thousands of spells lingering on the tip of her tongue. She gazed harshly at Riku for a long moment before sighing softly.

"Just taking a stroll," Saskia attempted to respond nonchalantly, but Riku obviously saw through her bold faced lie. Saskia usually skirted the truth with her lies. It made it easier to remember, made it more true.

"Under the cover of darkness?" Riku responded, stepping into the moonlight that was pouring through the window. Saskia met his turquoise eyes carefully. She still stood halfway into the darkness outside of the window's light. It was apparent that Riku seemed intrigued by her.

"Is there a better time?" Saskia quipped with a grin. Her teeth flashing in the ill lighting. Riku also appeared to be a little amused by her response though he tried to hide the slight smile.

"If Maleficent catches you," Riku said, a note of warning and precaution in his voice. Saskia frowned slightly, considering his words very carefully. Maleficent rarely cared about what Saskia was up to, but perhaps that was because she was less important. Riku, however, was kept beneath Maleficent's ever careful gaze as if he would betray her if she looked away. Saskia felt she was more likely to back stab Maleficent than Riku, but perhaps she only thought that because she did not know Riku.

"She will not care, I assure you," Saskia said simply. She then turned, quickly, disappearing into the darkness of the hall, and Riku followed.

"So what are you looking for?" he breathed. He had never done something he was not allowed to, by the looks of it. Saskia couldn't help but smile. She was with a goodie two shoes. She couldn't believe her luck.

"Anything, secrets," she whispered back, "Anything that could be used against Maleficent. She's planning something, and I want to know what's what." This, of course, struck Riku like an epiphany. Of course, Maleficent had a plan. There was just something about her that just screamed diabolical. Maybe it was the green skin.

"So we're going in blind?" he asked. Saskia stopped then, and he ran into her back, but she barely reacted. She slowly turned to look over her shoulder, pressing a finger to her lips with a look of warning. Saskia could hear voices in the other room.

"Yes, the princesses..." a voice Saskia did not recognize uttered. What princesses? She kept quiet, waiting for someone else to give out more clues.

"They are falling into our hands, one by one," Maleficent replied. Saskia could hear the sneer in Maleficent's voice. Riku was being good and silent, which Saskia was thankful for. "Speaking of which..." Maleficent began to turn, and in a swift movement, Saskia teleported herself and Riku out of there as fast as she could. Saskia shuddered when they both apparated in her room.

"Princesses!" Saskia gasped in confusion. She didn't remember them being mentioned anywhere in the books she had been devouring with fervour.

"What do you think they were talking about?" Riku asked. Saskia looked over at him, squinting slightly. Then she gave an exasperated sigh.

"I don't even know!" she complained, "...I wish I did." A frustrated pout was painted onto her features as she pondered the newest events carefully.

"I think it might have something to do with Sora," Riku offered suddenly. Saskia turned to him.

"Why?" she immediately asked without much thought. She almost strangled herself when she realized the obviousness of the question. Sora was the keyblade user! Right. She sighed, "Ignore that question..." Riku nodded slightly, but not without an irritating smile on his face. Oh, he was a bit of an arrogant guy then.

"So, then if we find Sora..." Saskia began. It seemed like a light bulb was lit for Riku when Saskia began her elaborative thoughts.

"We find the princesses!" Riku practically jumped with excitement. Saskia grinned at that. Learning things about her brother was never an uninteresting activity.

"Hmmm... but we still don't know their purpose though," Saskia pointed out thoughtfully. Riku sighed, pondering this as well.

"You think there might be something in Maleficent's library?" Riku asked. Saskia eyed him curiously. She wasn't sure of how much he knew about what was even in Maleficent's library.

"Maybe... but there's one problem..."

"What's that?"

"Maleficent can't find either of us reading some potentially dangerous books, right?" Saskia said with a slight smirk and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Which means...?" Riku inquired in slight confusion.

"Find the book, but don't read it," Saskia began, "Then we take it when we know Maleficent isn't going to be watching, OK?" Riku smiled.

"Got it." Saskia was beginning to think that Riku could be of use to her. But to what extent was the question.

Riku was the one who found the book and then rather promptly delivered it to Saskia. It was actually the first in a series of books Riku would begin to pick up until eventually... he handed a book to her but had no recollection as to why he was doing so.

"Ri-riku...?" Saskia looked questioningly into his eyes, finding a strange darkness flickering beneath the teal of his irises. It was then that she noticed the dark taint in his sunshine colored aura. It frightened her a little. It was as if the same taint in Maleficent was infecting Riku as well.

"What's your name again?" he asked Saskia. Saskia was at a loss for a moment, and almost told the truth.

"Sas... Sasuki!" Saskia blurted quickly.

"But doesn't Maleficent-"

"Your name is your essence! Be careful who you tell it to!" Saskia said, attempting to confuse him. She managed to do so. Riku took her words with a grain of salt, however.

"Well, then... Sasuki, I assume you want me to keep this from Maleficent, correct?" Riku asked. Saskia decided if she squinted she could pretend that it was still, indeed, Riku.

"If you want," Saskia responded with a wave of her hand. She thought it better for him to not believe that he had much leverage over her. Riku eyed her curiously and massaged his temples quickly.

"I apologize. I haven't really felt like myself lately," Riku muttered slowly, "So your name... it's Sasuki?"

"Y-yes," Saskia uttered, surprised by the sudden change in his demeanor. She stared at him questioningly, not sure of what she wanted to make of this strange situation.

"That's confusing..." Riku muttered, scratching the back of his head, but he smiled a little. It seemed as if he was happy to know her "real" name. Saskia did not return the smile. She opted instead to disregard the fleeting emotion. What Riku felt should not concern her.

"I'm-" Saskia stopped herself quickly, rethinking her question. She furrowed her eyebrows and let out a quick huff of air. Then she brought her ocean blue eyes to Riku's, "You seem different... Did you find Sora? Or find out something from Maleficent on accident?" Riku paled. Saskia narrowed her eyes, finding this to be a curious reaction. Most likely Saskia had guessed correctly with one of her theories. The best way to find out was for him to answer.

"I'm not. I'm fine," Riku responded stiffly. Saskia was a little surprised. He didn't usually put up walls like that. She was being shut out, and it didn't feel good, but what had she done to make him trust her? Saskia tightened her hands into fists.

"Don't lie," she replied slowly, choosing her words carefully, "You're no good at it." Riku didn't say anything for a long moment, glaring ever so slightly at her. He was irritated with her. Saskia sighed, finding this to be growing troublesome, however, what if he had indeed come across Sora? Even if only a possibility, her curiosity was piqued.

"It's none of your business anyway," Riku said. Saskia jumped slightly at this. It flared up her anger. She clenched her teeth, letting out a low hiss.

"What do you mean it's none of my business!?" she bit harshly, eyes filling with fiery emotions. Riku returned her words with a hard gaze.

"Exactly that," Riku answered, "It. Is. None. Of. Your. Business." Saskia ground her teeth together, digging her nails into her palms.

"If it has to do with Sora then of course it's my business!" Saskia snapped. Then she froze, eyes wide with shock. She had said something that she shouldn't have. Quickly, Saskia shook her head, "No... no, you're right... Ignore what I said." Riku gazed at her with an odd expression. Oh, there was surely an untold truth hidden within her words.

"Hmph. Why should I?" Riku crossed his arms over his chest. A clearly defensive stance. Saskia shifted from foot to foot with her eyebrows furrowed. How could she distract from her rash words? A smile crossed her features. An idea had come to her! Her first step toward Riku was a little unsure, a little nervous. It caused Riku to stiffen as he gazed into Saskia's suddenly fierce eyes. She seemed to be focusing on something. Saskia did not stop advancing, and innately Riku stepped back until he was backed into a wall and had no where to run to.

"Tell me," Saskia said, holding her face close to Riku's. Riku didn't respond, and a sudden "ahem" resounded from behind them. Saskia quickly stepped away from Riku, turning her attention on Maleficent who now stood before them.

"Riku, come with me," Maleficent ordered quickly. She glanced at Saskia with a cold, calculating expression. Maleficent was obviously cooking up something, but what? Saskia was also frightened because of how Maleficent had looked at her. It was truly an alarming expression.

Saskia stared at the book for a long time. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't concentrate on reading, and it was beginning to bother her. She was beginning to feel a little more than frustrated. Saskia stretched in attempt to resettle herself in the chair, but even that wasn't working. Furrowing her eyebrows, she lifted her eyes from the pages as Riku stepped into the aisle that she was camping in. Riku turned to her and his lips opened as if he was going to say something before he finally thought better of it and moved on with his search. Saskia watched him as he methodically went about this before attempting to refocus her attention.

This is weird... She barely registered the fact that she'd even thought that. It was unlike her to feel awkward like this, and the reason was quite obvious to her as a lump developed in her throat. She glared at the pages of her book. They had fought, and it shouldn't have been a big deal since they weren't really even friends, but it did. It really, truly mattered for no logical reason at all, and Saskia wanted to throw her book at Riku's face. It was his fault that she felt so awkward, obviously. He had to be reprimanded for it.

Saskia gripped her book tighter. Ignoring him was the easier tactic, however. So she continued to glare at the book, occasionally sneaking a glance at him. She hoped that she looked good and concentrated, but the continual glances in his direction and the deep frown on her face declared otherwise.

Irritation grasping ahold of her, she tossed the book and it hit him squarely in the side of his head, "Stop being creepy!" Riku reached up to rub the side of his face that was now bestowed with a red mark.

"What?" he asked, clearly confused by this. Saskia continued to frown.

"You're being creepy, you idiot!" she snapped, then as an after thought, added, "Honestly!" It only served to add to Riku's confusion because as far as he could tell he had been minding his own business. He decided girls didn't make sense, and so Riku retreated to a different aisle. Saskia sighed. He was finally gone... and now she could get back to reading.

...except that her book was gone. Riku had taken it with him! That idiot! Saskia stood up and moved quickly toward the only other aisle in the room and glared at Riku with her arms folded over her chest. Seeing her, Riku smirked slightly.

"Need this?" he asked. Saskia's lips moved into a tight frown.

"Yes," she responded. Then riku held it out to her. Moving toward him, she reached to snatch it out of his hand, but he quickly pulled it away. Saskia's irritation heightened.

"Seriously?" she growled. Riku moved the book toward her again, and Saskia quickly reached for it. Riku was faster, and he moved it away again. He held the book over Saskia's head. She jumped, her fingers grazing the edge of it as Riku moved it back out of reach again. Saskia met Riku's eyes with a fierce glare.

"What? Can't you just get it?" Riku suggested as if he had been merely holding it out the entire time.

"You..." Saskia sneered. Riku merely grinned. He was full of himself. Again, he held it out to her and Saskia managed to get a slight grip on the book, thus pulling her body into motion and she slammed into Riku. It was like hitting a wall. Saskia started to pull away, but Riku turned the tables on her, pushing her against the bookcase.

"You could've just found another book," Riku told Saskia. Saskia frowned, the lines of her face contorting in an ugly way.

"I wanted to read that one," she asserted. Riku touched Saskia's face with his free hand, observing her carefully. Saskia stared into his half-circle shaped eyes as he did this, her words completely abandoning her.

"The two of you look just alike..." Riku said slowly. They had the same eyes, same hair, same defiant look. It was an undeniable truth in that moment, "You're his sister, aren't you?" The blunt question took Saskia by surprise, and her lips lost their deep frown. A slight opening formed in her lips as she brought in a breath of air.

"What...?" Saskia barely managed. She suddenly noticed the perfect slope of Riku's nose. It was almost like... a right triangle? Saskia liked to compare things to basic shapes. It was kind of an embarrassing trait.

"Sora's sister. You're Sora's sister, right? That's who you are Sasuki. That's why you look like him," Riku explained quickly. A light had suddenly appeared in his eyes. He was excited by this.

"What!?" Saskia squawked, color rising up into her cheeks. Riku was smart, even if it took him forever to connect dots and notice when someone lied to him. Still, Saskia couldn't believe he had figured it out so soon. It was almost as if the entire world was crumbling around her.

"May... maybe you weren't aware?" Riku asked slowly. He looked a little concerned then. As if he felt obligated to. Do something about that.

"N-no... I know," Saskia stammered, attempting to collect herself. It wasn't really working, much to her dismay.

"You did!? So then...!" Riku stopped himself mid-realization, suddenly looking a bit hurt. He looked away from Saskia, his light colored eyebrows furrowed. Saskia felt her stomach drop. She didn't like that he was making that expression.

"Is Sasuki even your name...?" he asked slowly, hesitantly as if he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer. How much had Saskia lied about? Was she still going to lie about things? What could he do to earn her trust? Saskia's lips formed a tight line as she thought about her next move. If she told the truth, Riku would probably be sadder because she hadn't even trusted with her real name, but if she lied, she'd have to be careful about the truths that she told him because the two would have to overlap eventually. With a pained expression, she realized how much easier it would be to tell the truth, but could she actually do such a thing like always tell the truth? She hadn't done something like that since she was a child, and even then, she still told a thousand lies after Sora "disappeared".

She wanted... Saskia wanted to tell Riku the truth. It should have been an ephemeral feeling of wanting to grow closer to the oddly egotistical boy, but it seemed that it wasn't going to happen at all. Saskia took a deep breath.

"No. It's not," she said weakly. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she couldn't bring herself to look at Riku then. Riku's hand tightened into a fist on the book. He pulled his hand away from Saskia and turned away from her.

"Riku..." Saskia began, opening her mouth. Her heart ached, clenching. It felt like she might die. She reached toward him, but he immediately flinched away from her touch. She had ruined everything.

"I don't have a name," Saskia stumbled over her words as she tried to explain the truth that rested deep within her, "I... I mean, I have the name that my parents gave me at birth, but it's not really a name that belongs to me. It's only been used to hurt me, so I can't be that anymore." Saskia wiped at her face. She hadn't realized when she had begun to cry. Riku didn't say anything.

"Bu-but I couldn't separate myself completely, so I kept parts... The beginning of each part... 'Sas' and 'Dra'," Saskia trembled. Riku finally turned, looking at her with a slight, sad smile.

"Thanks," he said and handed the book to her. Then he left. Saskia fell to the ground. She had destroyed her first and only friendship. The whole that was left in her entire existence was bigger than the one left by Sora. She couldn't begin to comprehend why, but perhaps, it was because Riku had been able to mean more. Friends are different from little brothers. And in the end, Saskia was always alone in her plight.

Thanks for reading! Please drop a review and let me know what you thought.

~Minatu-chan