Disclaimer: not mine

You might want to re-read the previous chapters as I have changed the timeline

Was going back over my bookmarked works on AO3, amazing how many fics I bookmarked that I have no memory of ever reading. And sat that the last three pages are just full of deleted fics.

Personal best on the Cherry Flan! Just over 1300. Not the high score the game wants but better than I've managed before. I hate trying to steer Goofy's shield, it's either too sensitive or doesn't move enough, no middle ground.

Chapter 4

Riku watched the two teens do a credible attempt of killing each other, this was training?! Things had never been so violent between him and the others, even when he started losing himself. Only that last fight, before Ansem had possessed him fully, had been anything like what he was watching. How could anyone just sit and watch, train children to fight like that? Then again, it would have been a lot easier to beat Xemnas with that level of training.

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Sakura glanced at the older teen, he was absorbed in watching Sasuke-kun and Naruto. It was like he'd never seen shinobi fight, maybe he hadn't? He was dressed more like a civilian after all. She snuck another look, was Kakashi-sensei that hot under his mask? If only Riku was younger, then again it didn't seem that big an age gap, maybe four years? In a few years that wouldn't seem much of a gap at all…no! How could she ever think of abandoning Sasuke-kun for a stranger? Even a really cute one? But there was no way she could ever think of dating her sensei's son, that would just be too weird.

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Kakashi sat back to let his genin train, keeping an eye on them to make sure they didn't overdo it while also observing Riku's reactions. He was able to track the boys despite the speed they were moving at which was interesting. He'd been cleared by the hospital but was he well enough to see what he could do? The last thing he wanted to do was land the kid back in the hospital.

If any of the kids knew even the basics, he'd pair Riku with them to see how good he was but without knowing his skill level it might be better to test him himself. There would be less chance of someone being injured if he was the one to test Riku…and there was no proof yet beyond his gut that Riku was being honest about his training and lack of knowledge. He'd worked with a few Yamanaka over the years, he could call in a favour…and destroy any chance of trust between them.

He had already reported everything he'd learnt from Riku to the Hokage about his home and what training he'd had.

"Okay, that's enough," he called to Sasuke and Naruto, the two reluctantly stopping. He created three Kage Bunshin, getting their attention, seeing Riku's eyes go wide. "Individual training now." his clones took the kids across the training field to work with them, they all needed a lot of work if they were going to get further than the second part of the exam.

Riku looked at where the three had gone and then back to him, something wary in his eyes. "How?" he asked.

"It's a chakra technique which makes a solid clone, able to take a hit before dispersing," he gave the very basic description.

"Betting that comes in handy a lot." He sounded impressed. "So you use them to train your team and you're staying with me because?"

In answer he pulled out two shinai, tossing one to Riku, not surprised he had the reflexes to easily catch it. He stared down at it in confusion, had he never seen one…ah, he had said wooden swords. "These are shinai, used for practise. I'd like to see how good you are with a sword."

Riku shifted his grip on the hilt, testing it out, seeing how it moved. Kakashi approved of him taking his time to get used to the blade since it was likely different to what he was used to.

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Riku held the shinai, it felt strange to him, so different to the wooden swords they'd used and his Keyblade. It wouldn't move the same way he was used to and he'd also be unable to use magic…even before the fall of the Islands he'd been subconsciously using magic in their spars, so had Sora. It had been why they had been better than the others. He remembered the man who had come so long ago, who had let him touch his Keyblade, and assumed that was when he'd begun using magic for little things without realising. So how had Sora? He hadn't gotten a Keyblade until Riku's had gone to him that night after all.

How long had it been since he'd spared with someone? Not since…those last days back home. He just had to remember this wasn't a real fight and to not summon his Keyblade or use magic. Easy…

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Kakashi studied his stance, not one he'd seen before, but he took his own and then made a careful, telegraphed attack. It seemed Riku was favouring the leg still slightly, he was probably still feeling some muscle pain from the healing. For someone not using chakra he was quick on his feet, his reflexes good. he wouldn't be able to take on a shinobi but against your average bandit he'd do well. He was still favouring the injuries a bit so Kakashi didn't push it but with a bit of training he could be brought up to genin level in at least this.

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Sora curled up on the bunk, arms wrapped around himself as he fought the urge to cry in frustration and fear. They were headed back to Radiant Garden to see if they'd found anything but he'd heard Donald and Goofy talking with Kairi. How could Kairi be so willing to even consider Riku would become lost to the Darkness again? He didn't understand it at all, not when she'd been the one to coax him to see it was Riku back at the castle. What had changed?

"You givin' up?"

Sora blinked, what? Who had said that?

"Come on Sora, after everything he did to get you back."

"Roxas?" he whispered.

"Who else. Get off your butt and find him."

"But huh?"

"How do you always find what you're looking for?" Roxas taunted, and Sora pressed a hand to his chest.

"Follow my Heart." He sat up and wiped his eyes dry. He wasn't giving up, he would find Riku and they would all see that he would never give in again.

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Hiruzen leant back, the orb going dark. That had been interesting to observe. He had suspected that Kakashi would wish to test his sons skills, though most would have let the boy recover for a while longer after being discharged from the hospital. He did not recognise the stances the boy had used as those taught by any of the Villages. The teen was just an ever-growing source of questions.

And already questions were being asked about the boy, partially due to how he had arrived. It had been impossible to keep his existence a secret but he had made sure his orders were clear; other than a discrete Anbu watch, Riku was to be left to Kakashi to deal with unless he proved to be a threat. While he seemed interested in watching Team 7, the image seemed to show it was more curiosity than anything nefarious. Though working out motive and emotion through the crystal wasn't easy.

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Riku sat beneath the tree, watching the three kids. Somehow, the blond was the source of Light wrapped Darkness he'd sensed from the hospital. But how? He…kind of reminded him a bit of Sora with that grin and being loud but Sora's eyes had never been so haunted, no matter how well Naruto hid it. The Darkness didn't seem to be Naruto's but he wasn't possessed or anything. Riku had never seen anything like it.

He honestly wasn't sure what he thought about the three. They were years younger than they'd been when the Islands fell and yet they were training to fight in the military. Even when they'd had a navy, no one was allowed to start training till their late teens. And the few groups he'd seen on other Worlds had all been older too. And it wasn't like they were using blunt weapons; he'd seen the blood on Sasuke's arm when Naruto had landed a hit.

Sakura collapsed beside him and he grabbed one of the waiting water bottles, offering it to her. "Thank you," she smiled tiredly, downing the water.

"You okay?"

"Just gross," she answered with a grimace. "It's too hot to be doing this," she fanned herself.

"Hot?" he'd thought it was nice, especially after the cold of the Realm of Darkness.

She groaned at his question. "How can you not be hot after fighting Kakashi-sensei?"

He shrugged. "This is a nice day back home."

"Where's home, the desert?" she asked curiously.

"No, Destiny Islands. We have two seasons, wet and about this temperature and summer which is a lot hotter," he shrugged. He'd never thought he'd miss the heat or humidity until he'd spent months in Hollow Bastion in a run-down castle. That place had been damp and cold, he'd gotten sick within days of arriving and Maleficent had cured him. Come to think of it…he hadn't really been sick since…which was kind of creepy.

"I've never heard of those Islands." She was frowning now but at least she was breathing more normally. She was fitter than the girls back home but nowhere near what the boys were since they were still going.

He shrugged. "Get the feeling I'm a long way from home."

"So you aren't a shinobi?" she asked carefully, and he shook his head.

"No, we don't have a military, it's not needed. The last pirates were when I was little, before they were beaten I was picking up some sword training and we kept it up for fun over the years. But aren't you guys young to be training as soldiers?"

"We started the Academy when we were six and graduated five months ago."

"But you're not expected to fight or anything, are you?" he asked in concern.

"Of course we are. We are shinobi of Konoha."

Oh…he…he didn't know how to get his head around that. Then again, if the Islands had fallen earlier…if the Keyblade had appeared…would they have been forced to fight for their lives against the Darkness even earlier? But to sign up to fight at six?

"Is it compulsory?" he asked carefully, and she shook her head. That was a relief but…what could make six-year old's sign up for that. Then again…would they have done it at that age thinking it'd be an adventure or something?

He glanced at his Dad; he'd been part of the military for that long? He couldn't imagine that, then again unless they were at war, surely there wouldn't be any fighting? There was so much about this World that was different, that he needed to learn. Not because he was going to stay but because it was necessary to understand his Dad, his family and where he came from. And he could surely visit once he worked out where this World was.

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Mickey put the book down, leaning back in his chair, rubbing at his back. He wasn't getting any younger, it made him glad there was a younger generation of wielders now but he was still years off from fully retiring from the field. He couldn't leave the children to fight alone or abandon old friends. He felt so guilty over Aqua's fate, he hadn't known she had been trapped there until he'd found her and then she'd given her chance of escape to ensure Riku made it to the Door. A pity the boys hadn't found her when they became trapped there but the Realm of Darkness was not small so it wasn't surprising.

And now he had to help find Riku before Sora completely lost it. Every day with no news was having a massive effect on the younger wielder and Mickey was worried about him. He'd been through so much…how much more could one Heart take? He'd literally died to save Kairi and he'd finally gotten the full story out of Donald and Goofy while they'd waited for the boys…including the consequence Sora still lived with, the extra Drive Form that they'd named Anti-form. They'd been so insistent that Sora was still Sora, even though he looked more like a Heartless, and Mickey believed them.

Still, the stress of Riku being missing so soon after their reunion and the fact that despite defeating the Organisation the Heartless and Nobodies were still around on various Worlds…he was honestly more worried about Sora having a breakdown than Riku. Riku would know they would search for him and he would fight to remain alive until they did. The fact that Kairi had listened to Yen Sid's 'concerns' about Riku was just more pressure on Sora.

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Kakashi hadn't heard Riku's discussion with Sakura, but it was obvious something about it had made him uneasy. They walked in silence back to the compound, there was no reason to put the boy through Shunshin unless they had to move at speed. Besides, it let him see more of the Village where he should have grown up. Then again, he'd been in no fit state to raise a child if he'd known of Riku before. Even now he doubted anyone would consider him Father material but…he wanted to know his son, to show him the Village and have him want to stay. He wanted Riku to be what he appeared to be, a mostly civilian boy who'd obviously ben through something traumatic but had wanted to meet him.

It was strange but…he really didn't think Riku was a spy or anything like that. His lack of knowledge was far too genuine, how could he not know how to use chopsticks of all things? Kakashi wished he could remember more of his time with Moira and her Island, to be able to explain how Riku was older than he should be…did it have to do with the shadows in his eyes?

They made it home and Kakashi moved to the kitchen, thankful it had been fully stocked but he wasn't exactly the best of cooks. He tended to eat a lot of takeaway but the medics had been clear, Riku needed proper, healthy, meals to recover. He knew it was more than just not finding food while travelling but he also knew it would take time for the teen to trust him enough to open up. He had scars but thankfully not the kind gained from torture or experimentation so if he had been detained by anyone, it hadn't been as bad as Kakashi knew it could be. Then again, there were methods of torture that didn't leave a mark.

He studied what was on offer and then heard a soft huff from Riku. He glanced at the teen who moved to the cupboards, looking things over before beginning to pull out ingredients.

"You can cook?" he asked in surprise, and his son nodded.

"Mum can't so it was learn, eat every meal at Sora's, or suffer food poisoning," he shrugged. "Might not be anything you know…" he glanced at him, and Kakashi shrugged.

"I can follow instructions and I have excellent chopping skills," he told him. He really didn't think Riku would try to poison him or anything but he thought preparing a meal together would be a good bonding experience, right?

There wasn't much talking as the meal came together, the ingredients basic, likely because they were what Riku recognised. He followed Riku's instructions and then there was nothing to do while the food cooked.

"Are you alright?" he finally asked, Riku looking up at him before looking away, fingers of one hand plucking at his trousers. And…they still hadn't gone shopping to get him things, though his clothes looked pretty good for having been worn a lot, he assumed the hospital had had them cleaned and repaired since they had to have been damaged when Riku was injured.

Riku picked up his cup, sipping the juice before putting it down again. "Sakura…she said that she was six," he shifted, and Kakashi realised what he was getting at.

"That's the standard Academy age," he agreed, but apparently his son was very sharp as cyan eyes narrowed slightly.

"Standard age…so it can start younger."

He nodded, not confirming that he'd been younger.

"Why? How can…how can anyone be alright with training kids to be soldiers?"

He supposed, coming from a place with no kind of or need for a military, their Village structure would seem very strange. They settled down to the meal for the moment, the food was good, different flavours to what he was used to, cooked in different ways. How to explain the Hidden Villages and their system to someone with none of the relevant background knowledge? At least Riku was letting him think over his answers and not pushing. From his shock at seeing the Bunshin, the way he watched shinobi using the rooftops, the kids sparing… how was he meant to explain chakra to someone who appeared to have less knowledge of such things than even a civilian child?

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Riku knew he wasn't being brushed off as they ate quietly, no, his Dad was obviously struggling with how to explain things that were simply part of his society. He wasn't Sora, he could wait quietly…then again so could Sora now, well to a point anyway.

He hoped Sora was okay, back home with Kairi, that the two of them would wait for him there. He didn't want to be the reason they were separated again or thrown into another crazy journey. They deserved to have peace and quiet at home. He figured it was a foolish hope though, he knew Sora too well, he'd insist on looking for him. He'd rather the King look for him, Mickey was an adult while Sora should be at school.

It would be best if he could get himself back but how? He'd lost the ability to use the Dark Corridors when he was returned to his own form. He didn't have access to a ship either, even if he usually did it wouldn't be with him. So how else could he travel?

His Dad got up from the table and motioned for him to follow him through the house. He then went to a shelf and pulled down some books, Riku moving closer to look, glad the translation spell worked on the written and spoken word…or did their Worlds share a language? He could never tell when the spell was doing it for him.

"Do you know what chakra is?" he asked, and Riku shook his head. Unless it was the local name for magic?

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Hiruzen listened as Kakashi reported in on the explanations he'd given his son and their sparring session. Yes, he'd observed via his crystal ball but it was always best to have a report from someone involved. "You believe he is truly ignorant about chakra?" he asked when Kakashi was done, and the younger male nodded.

"I don't think anyone's capable of faking that well," Kakashi admitted. "And his sword style is unlike anything I've seen anywhere."

Hiruzen nodded, he agreed with that, it had been an odd style but it seemed to work for the boy. And Kakashi had a point on anyone being good enough to be able to pretend to know nothing of chakra…but he'd still feel safer if a Yamanaka took a look. After all, there were ways to hide memories. And from the look on Kakashi's face, he knew that too. They needed to know more about where the boy came from, it worried him that Kakashi's own memories of the place were vague but Inoichi had looked him over after Riku's arrival, there was nothing sinister that he could find behind the vagueness. Chakra exhaustion likely accounted for some of it.

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He groaned, shakily trying to push himself up, hearing the echo of Roxas' voice. What…where…Sora…Sora had been leaning over him, looking sad but all he'd wanted to see was his best friend…he should be dead, or whatever it was called for a Nobody. He staggered to his feet, recognising part of the lab in Radiant Garden, and then he spotted Aeleus on the ground as well as Dilan. What was going on? The door opened and Zexion staggered in, dressed in a white lab coat, and clutching his throat. He spotted Vexen lying on the ground behind Zexion…who he'd had the Replica kill ages ago. He turned and then caught a look at himself in the glass, moving closer. The markings under his eyes…they were gone. Was he…human?

TBC…