A/N: Sorry it's been so long, guys! School was gobbling me up and I lost the momentum I had with this fic. BUT here is a new update! Thanks for your patience! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed reading this!

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It was eerie, being on campus Sunday morning. Where Sora was used to seeing throngs of people, there was only a security officer and a few solitary students, hurrying to their destinations to escape the cold. The stillness of the hour was uninterrupted by the usual campus chatter, leaving behind a contemplative silence. Riku's stride was deliberate, already moving towards one of the liberal arts buildings.

Sora lingered near the car. "Uhm, Riku? Yen Sid's office is back there." He pointed in the opposite direction.

Riku paused and turned his head, so that Sora saw his profile. "It's not an office visit." When Sora made no move to catch up, he turned to face him fully.

"He doesn't work in the liberal arts college," Sora offered.

Riku crossed his arms. "He's not paid to work there, you mean. I'm not interested in what he's employed to do, but rather what he does in his spare time. Sora, how well do you know Yen Sid?"

Sora colored. "Not-not really. We only really talk about school and what my goals are."

"Hn. I don't suppose he would brag about his other expertise." He jerked a thumb back towards the cluster of buildings he'd been headed to. "There's an archive in Gladfelter. Several of his speculative works reference the documents housed there." Riku turned and resumed walking, Sora hustling to catch up.

A security guard stationed at the door nodded when Sora flashed his student ID, but Riku was stopped and required to sign in with his driver's license. Sora peeked over his shoulder to see the neatly-written letters of Riku's last name.

"Ko…mainu? What language is that?"

Riku spared him a glance. "Japanese."

Sora trailed him as they made their way to the archive room. "Oh. I didn't realize you were…"

Riku shrugged. "It's a family name. I'm not, exactly."

Sora raised his eyebrows. "Not exactly Japanese," he ticked off a finger, "not exactly human, not a were-lion—"

"Were-lions don't exist, I told you."

"So, what are you, then?"

"Komainu."

"That's your name."

Riku huffed a sigh. "Where do you think the name comes from?"

"Oh."

Riku stopped in front of the door to the archives and looked through the window. "There's a light on."

Sora stopped beside him, taking in the light of the foyer. There was no one visible, but the archive proper was through a second door. "That's a good sign, right?" Sora's eyes turned to the card reader next to the lock. "I wonder if my ID will work here?" He retrieved it from his pocket and slid it through. He was rewarded with a green light and a low beep of acceptance. He turned back to Riku with a grin. "See, what would you have done without me?"

Riku quirked an eyebrow. "I'd get in."

The second door was unlocked, letting them into the dimly lit room without preamble. "Anyway, Riku, what does that mean, Komainu?"

"Lion-dog. A kind of guardian spirit, if you will."

Sora started, surprised by the low voice. "Professor Yen Sid! So you are here."

The man in question stepped from behind a cabinet. "Hello Sora. I wouldn't have expected to see you here." His stern gaze landed on Riku. "You, Komainu, I am surprised I haven't seen sooner."

Aqua eyes met his gaze. "It's Riku."

Yen Sid gave a deferential nod. "Riku, then." He studied Riku for a moment before turning his eyes back to Sora. "Well then, how can I help you, gentlemen?"

Riku crossed his arms. "If you were expecting me, then you must know."

"Of course, of course," he murmured, eyes still on Sora. "And Sora?"

"I'm here to help in any way I can."

A smile appeared above Yen Sid's bushy beard. "Very well. Come, follow me." He strode deeper into the archive room, Sora and Riku at his heels. "I take it, then, Sora, that you are apprised of Riku's nature?"

Sora glanced at Riku, who nodded. "Yeah. At least, I know a little bit. About what he is."

The old man nodded as they reached another door, leading to a work room. He gestured at the chairs ranged around a large table, and took one for himself. Sora and Riku followed suit. "And Riku, are you aware of Sora's nature?"

Sora blinked, mouth falling open; Riku gripped the edge of the table, sending Yen Sid an accusing glare. "You knew?"

Yen Sid spread his hands on the table. "I wasn't sure he would awaken, I admit. The chances of him meeting one of you seemed low."

Sora leaned forward. "What do you mean? Do you know what I am? Why I can do what I did?"

Yen Sid folded his hands together. "What you are, Sora, is a Souhei, a warrior monk. A person whose gifts would balance those of a Komainu. Or should, if used properly." He turned to Riku. "I think you have seen the effects of using those gifts improperly." Riku gave a curt nod. "I don't think I have to tell you, but this issue goes beyond the Komainu. It is only a matter of time before this person craves more than just the power of your race. He must be stopped."

"How do I fight him?" Riku growled.

Yen Sid raised his eyebrows. "Don't you know? You've evaded his control already."

"Me. But what about Terra? What about the rest of them?"

"That's why we're here, Professor! We need help, and Riku says you are that help."

Yen Sid leaned back in his chair. "I can help you locate him. I know his identity. Xehanort. But overcoming him is something I cannot help you with."

"Just tell me what to do."

Yen Sid's eyes swept over the two of them. "Not just you, Riku. Sora's already a part of this. Tell me, when did the two of you first meet?"

"Well, we only started talking about a week ago," Sora supplied. When Yen Sid raised his eyebrows he added, "But we were riding the same train together for a while. At least a month." Sora flicked his eyes to the side.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Think about it Riku. How long ago did you fight out of Xehanort's grasp? How long have you been watching Sora?"

Riku seemed to think this over, and then his eyes widened. "Do you mean—it's because of Sora? But—"

Yen Sid rapped the table with his knuckles. "I think the two of you recognized each other's nature immediately, even if it was only subconsciously. Perhaps your instincts took over. Still, I imagine it was Sora's influence that aided you, however latent his abilities at the time."

Sora's face screwed up in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Riku was the one to answer. "I was…I was under Xehanort's control. Not as deep under as Terra is, but he had me. I wasn't able to fight it until I noticed you."

"Noticed me?" Sora fought a blush at the implication.

Riku shrugged. "Your scent is very distinct."

"You said that before."

"I wasn't lying."

Yen Sid quirked an eyebrow in mild amusement. "Likely something to do with your respective natures."

"So where do we find this Xehanort?" Yen Sid and Riku both looked at Sora, surprised. "What? If he's hurting people, he has to be stopped."
"I said I can help you locate him. I don't know where he is, right now." Yen Sid folded his hands on the table. "I need a little time to gather my resources. Meanwhile, the two of you can use the time to harness the powers between you."

Riku sent him a hard look. "How do we do that?"

Yen Sid stood up. "There is a book that recently came into my possession." He retrieved a leather-bound tome from a table behind him. "A journal by a man named Ansem. In it, there is much insight on the capabilities of Komainu and souhei." He held the book tightly, not offering it to Riku and Sora, and instead fixed them both with a piercing stare. "I do not think I have to tell you not to allow Xehanort to lay his hands on this. Although he may already know of many of its secrets, we cannot be sure whether he knows them all or not."

"Of course." Riku bent in a small bow. "We will take care."

Sora nodded. "You can count on us."

Yen Sid nodded. "Yes. I hope I can." He placed the book on the table between Riku and Sora. He opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by the sound of an upbeat pop song, singing from Sora's pocket.

Sora colored, embarrassed. With all of the recent events, the noise of a cell phone sounded so mundane. It was out of place in this environment. But the ringtone was Kairi's, and ignoring it would only cause more trouble later, so he hit the accept button and put the phone to his ear.

"Hey Kairi, now's not a good time…"

"Sora! Where are you? I've been knocking at your door for twenty minutes now! We were supposed to meet to jog this morning, remember?"

Her voice over the call was loud enough that both Yen Sid and Riku could make out the words; it wasn't anger, exactly, but he'd let her down.
Sora bit his lip, trying to ignore the two men whose eyes were on him, waiting. "Sorry, Kairi, something came up. I had to go see Professor Yen Sid about something, it was an emergency."

"An emergency, Sora? Is everything okay?"

"It's…" Sora trailed off, unable to lie to his friend. "It's being taken care of. Don't worry."

Kairi was quiet on the other end. Softly, so that only Sora could hear: "Alright, Sora. Take care, and keep me posted, okay? Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"Yeah, Kairi. Thanks. I gotta go. Sorry I left you hanging."

"It's fine. Catch me up when you can. Bye, Sora."

"Bye, Kairi." He tapped the call end button and looked up at the others. "Sorry, I didn't—"

"No, no. That reminds me, I will need your numbers, Riku, Sora, for when I do locate Xehanort."

"Of course."

They exchanged contact information, and Yen Sid laid out a few other documents for Riku and Sora to peruse, before he excused himself to his office, leaving them in the archive. He'd given them permission take the book with them, but for the moment, there was an unspoken hesitance at leaving the security of the archive. Instead, they bent over the table, probing the words in front of them for any scrap of information on Komainu and souhei.

Sora's fingers hovered over a folio, eyes tracing a drawing there. It was a lion, stylized with a curling mane, and fierce eyes, something like flames or smoke drifting from each paw, and beside it, a man in robes and bulky armor, the same curl of smoke balled in one hand, held aloft. He read the caption, Souhei and komainu. Legends say the two worked in tandem to protect their territories.

"The wording," Sora murmured, reading further, "it's like reading about pagan gods or something. It's hard to believe komainu are real."

Riku glanced up at him. "I'm real enough. It's souhei that I thought were a legend. But I suppose I should've guessed, with…Xehanort. With what he did. And you, too."

Sora cocked his head, trying to imagine it from Riku's perspective. Sora had just 'awakened,' according to Yen Sid, and even that was still strange to think about. But, "Were you always…did you always know what you are? Or I mean, were you normal, before you became…?"

Riku's eyes flashed, his mouth setting into a thin line. "What do you mean by 'normal,' Sora? Human? Because I've never been human. It's just a form I take."

Sora waved his hands in supplication. "That's not what I meant! I just, it's weird, you know? To me. Not weird. More like, unbelievable. Even if I'm somehow, this souhei," he spread his hands in front of him, studying them, "it's hard to grasp." He curled his hands into fists.

Riku leaned forward, settling his chin on a hand as he regarded Sora. "I suppose it is rather sudden," he said at last. "For me, I am what I always have been, and always will be. Adopting a human form is just a way to exist without conflicts. It's easier. Or it was."

"Is it to hide?"

Riku shrugged. "To blend in."

"Tell me something," Sora mused aloud, "would I have ever seen you like that, if you hadn't been injured? Or would we just be train acquaintances forever?"

Riku lowered his eyes to the table, considering the question. "I think it is like Yen Sid said. An instinctual awareness of each other."

"So," Sora prompted, "is that a yes?"

Riku turned the page of the volume in front of him, focusing on that. "It's not a no."

Sora watched him, lips turning down in a pout. Riku was so hard to read. Had he come to Sora out of necessity only, or did he have some interest in him? Was there meaning behind his advances the night before? Sora pressed a hand to his face, struggling with the exhaustion creeping over him again. So much happening in so little time. He was suddenly desperately wishing he'd been able to keep his promise to Kairi for their jog.

"Sora. Are you finished with that one?"

Sora sighed and looked up. "No, sorry, I got distracted."

"Look, I told you, I don't need your help. If you want, I'll just drive you home. You can forget any of this happened." Riku's expression was neutral.

"No, I want to help. Anyway, if I'm what Yen Sid says I am, then I'm already involved, aren't I?"

"Mm." Riku set the book he'd had aside and picked up another. "There's more here than I expected." He pushed the discarded volume towards Sora. "This one talks about Komainu in the East. In ancient times, and about how they were adopted to watch over shrines. My ancestors, immortalized." He let out a short laugh.

Sora glanced down at the document still in front of him. "This one says Komainu grew stronger with souhei, and vice versa, but not how." He frowned.

Riku pushed out of his chair and moved to read over Sora's shoulder. His fingers hovered over the drawing Sora had been examining earlier.

"This is stylized, but, here," he gestured at the curls of smoke at the komainu's paws and the souhei's hand, "I think that's not just artistic license. I've heard stories, growing up, of souhei and komainu being able to wield magic. I thought they were just myths, but my understanding has shifted."

Sora gave a lop-sided grin. "Good to know I'm not alone there, then."

Sora was surprised when Riku ruffled his hair. "As long as you can keep up." A backward glance showed a small smile on Riku's face. "I'm hungry." He motioned at the documents spread on the table. "Most of these are archived digitally, so we can take a look at them anywhere. Let's put them away and get some food."

"I'm starting to think food is all you think about," Sora muttered, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Riku was already moving to set the folios back on the shelf that Yen Sid h`ad retrieved them from. He glanced back at Sora. "Maybe I just like eating when I'm in your company."

Sora gently closed the book in front of him. "If that's the case, it's your turn to feed me."

"Fair enough." Riku slipped Ansem's journal into his messenger bag while Sora replaced the last book. "I'll order something in. We can take a better look at this," he patted the bag, "after we eat."

"Okay."

It didn't occur to Sora to ask where they were going until after Riku had already pulled into his building's parking lot. He wondered if it even mattered. Maybe it did. Riku might have resources in his apartment that Sora had missed in the small hours of the morning. He had brought his laptop in a case, which was the only contribution he could make on the research end, anyway.

In the hall outside the apartment door, Riku held a hand up, and they paused. Sora watched the way he lowered his eyelids and flared his nose, lifting his head. Catching a scent, Sora realized. He put a questioning hand on Riku's arm. Teal eyes fluttered open.

"Terra was here," he murmured. "But he's not anymore."

"Is it safe?"

Riku shrugged and let them into the apartment. "As safe as anywhere else."

Sora nodded, realizing that if Riku had been able to track him without trouble, the same was probably true for Terra. "Do you think Xehanort has that kind of ability, to track? Or would he just use Terra to do his dirty work?" he wondered.

"I'm sure he can find me without any help. But someone like you? I'm not sure."

Sora voiced what they were both thinking: "Hopefully Ansem's journal will help."

End notes: I took the words Koma-Inu and Souhei and adapted them from the Japanese, however, it's only a superficial resemblance. Most of this lore is coming out of my squishy grey matter.