Disclaimer: not mine

There's a new pairing here beyond Mickey/Minnie but it's not major characters.

Chapter 3

Vanitas sat against the wall on the thin mattress, able to feel the floor through it. He held Sora against his chest, his brother limp though his breathing sounded better to Vanitas. He held the cup against Sora's lips, carefully tipping the broth into his mouth. Sora had started swallowing on his own and that had to be a good sign, right?

And then he froze as Sora's eyes fluttered open, glassy, but open!

"Sora?" he called, but the other didn't respond, staring vaguely. "You'll be alright," he tried to comfort him. What did he know about comfort? Only what he'd seen from others and what little he'd managed during Sora's memory sleep. Surely anyone else would be able to do a better job? Well…okay maybe not that creep Saïx or Xehanort, but pretty much anyone else.

Sora remained silent, staring through him and…that wasn't unsettling at all. He carefully moved, shifting Sora so he was more upright, and his head flopped back, Vanitas quickly moving to support his head. Okay, so not really awake? He wished he knew more about healing, what if he'd done something wrong? He finished feeding Sora the broth and then used a damp cloth to wipe his skin down before getting him back under the sheets and the thicker blanket he'd appropriated from Sora's old boss. The man hadn't dared say anything when Vanitas had taken several things to help him care for Sora, he wasn't sure if it was the red eyes or very obvious threats of violence and didn't really care.

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Riku stuck to the edges of the ballroom, feeling strange in the formal clothing he'd been fitted for, though it wasn't anywhere near as bad as what a lot of others were wearing. Aqua looked very strange in a formal gown but it didn't seem to bother her. Terra didn't seem to mind his getup either but Ventus was forever tugging at his collar. He'd spotted Kairi in a pretty purple dress earlier, knew Sora would have blushed seeing her in it.

There were people from several different Worlds visiting for Mickey and Minnie's Wedding Anniversary, all dressed in their finest. Riku found it felt…stuffy. It was hot, so he slipped out onto the balcony, leaning on the rail and staring out at the gardens.

His hands tightened on the stone, breathing shaky, feeling his knees threatening to buckle. No, he was fine, he could do this, he was fine.

"Riku?" Mickey called his name, and Riku felt himself drop. "Riku!"

He curled tight, struggling to breath, not here…not…

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Mickey had been unsurprised to notice Riku slipping out onto the balcony. After everything, he wasn't used to large crowds and fancy parties. But something felt…off, so he followed to check on him. He smiled when he saw Riku studying the gardens in the dark, knowing he had better night vision than normal and so could see them. But then he noticed Riku's breathing change, saw his hands grip tighter.

"Riku?" he called out in concern, and then Riku collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, head thumping on marble tiles. "Riku!" he yelled in alarm, turning and motioning to the nearest guard to get Minnie and Aqua.

He then rushed to kneel beside the teen who curled into a ball, gasping for air. "Riku? Come on, look at me, you need to breathe."

"Mickey?" Aqua called, and then she was on Riku's other side, Terra with her.

Terra carefully helped uncurl Riku a bit, enough to see how pale he was as he gasped, eyes rolling back. "What is this?" he asked, and Aqua frowned.

Mickey looked at Minnie as she joined them, taking her offered hand.

"Poison maybe?" Aqua murmured, casting Esuna, but nothing changed. "Riku, did you eat or drink anything different?" she asked, but he didn't respond. She carefully pulled back one eyelid and then gasped in horror.

Mickey stared in shock at red streaked cyan. That…that wasn't good. He hesitated, but then decided it had to be done. "Get his shirt off and look at his back."

"Mickey?" Terra asked but he was manoeuvring Riku.

"I really hope I'm wrong," he answered, because if he was right…

"I'll keep everyone away," Minnie murmured, and he kissed her in thanks.

Terra and Aqua got Riku stripped to the waist and Mickey stared at what used to be a very faint mark in peach and pink, it'd blended mostly into his skin. Now it was darkening towards purple, the lines becoming more jagged.

"What is this?" Aqua stared at the mark.

"The sign of a Spirit Dream Eater…becoming a Nightmare," Mickey answered, feeling sick.

Master Yen Sid had been concerned when Riku collapsed at Sora's death and…he'd been right. "Riku, you need to fight it," he called gently, taking a larger hand in his, remembering when they'd first met, how much smaller Riku's hands were then. What would happen to Riku if he became a Nightmare? Would anything of the young man remain? "Hold on to us, we're here, you're not alone." And then he felt Riku's fingers tighten around his, he could hear him!

That was good…but what could they do to stop what was happening? What happened to Dream Eaters when their Dreamer died?

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Ienzo pulled back, panting, had he heard…? "Demyx, someone's coming," he murmured.

The only reason to come to the lab at night was for an emergency, they both knew it. Demyx stepped back reluctantly, smirking, and Ienzo sighed but ran a hand through his hair, knowing it was a mess since Demyx liked running his hands through it. Even didn't approve, Demyx was still a Nobody, but Ienzo didn't care. Even back in the Organisation, Demyx had been so emotional, he had a Heart even if it wasn't fully formed. The only risk would have been the piece of Xehanort within it, but the gold had faded from his eyes within days of the old man's death. Demyx could leave any time he wanted, he still had his powers, but he chose to stay with Ienzo.

Demyx moved to grab the medical kits to set up while Ienzo began setting out the monitoring equipment, both assuming someone had been injured in town, too badly for Aerith to handle alone.

So, it was a shock for Terra to rush in, a familiar from in his arms. Terra never came, staying away because they made him uncomfortable or because he thought he'd make them uncomfortable? Either way, it meant they hadn't really seen him much. And…he didn't look too much like the Xehanort who'd been an apprentice.

"Put him on the table. Do you know what happened?" Ienzo called out as he grabbed the scanners, moving them into place as Riku was placed on the table, the teen immediately curling into a ball. Hearing his breathing he grimaced. "Demyx, oxygen," he didn't need to say more, Demyx appearing to press the mask to Riku's face.

Riku was half naked but the pants weren't what he wore for combat, they were far too fancy, as were the shoes. No sign of open wounds on his torso, arms, or head at least. The monitors were attached, Terra and Demyx moving Riku as needed, the teen whimpering. Even in Castle Oblivion…all they'd put him through and he'd never made such a noise.

"Is it an injury?" he pushed, even as he reached to remove Riku's shoes and then his pants, slipping a gown onto him.

"Look at his back," the King answered as he entered, expression bleak. That…wasn't good.

Terra obligingly moved Riku to reveal his back and Ienzo's eyes widened to see the mark on his skin…one that was ever so slowly shifting and changing.

"What is this?" Ienzo asked, moving to better see it. Definitely not a tattoo, not that Riku seemed the type to get one, at least one so large. He could perhaps see him getting something small in memorial of Sora, but not something like this.

"Riku became Sora's Dream Eater during their Master Exam, the smooth mark in pale colours is the sign of a Spirit Dream Eater. Roxas wasn't the only one to go down when Sora died, Riku did too, he just recovered, or so we thought. The opposite of a Spirit…is a Nightmare," King Mickey explained.

"Okay…that does not sound good," Demyx looked at Riku, frowning.

"It isn't. Nightmares eat dreams and plant nightmares, pulling their victims deeper and deeper into an abyssal Nightmare. But Riku is also human, so we can't be sure what it will do to him."

"Demyx, wake Master Ansem and Even." He didn't want to, they'd had a busy day, but he honestly knew nothing about Dream Eaters or how to stop one becoming a Nightmare. "Riku has an immunity to Darkness, is that not helping?" he asked as he moved to draw blood, the more tests he had already running when they arrived the better.

"It's probably why he's lasted this long," King Mickey admitted.

It had been what, two weeks since they had received word of Sora's demise, and likely they hadn't been among the first informed, so perhaps up to three weeks since he had actually passed. If Riku's immunity could only hold this off that long, that was not good.

Thankfully, the other two arrived then.

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Lea looked up, eyes widening as he saw Riku lying on the bed being wheeled into the room. There was an oxygen mask over his face, monitors and lines all over him. He stood from Roxas' bedside and moved to see what was going on. They'd moved Roxas into this room because he was in for the long haul. He'd woken that once but that was it, despite Even saying it was a good sign. So, the only reason for Riku to be brought back there…

Damn it, they had low enough numbers to cover the attacks as it was. Now it looked like they were down another.

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Empty…nothingness…cold…so cold…noise…voice?...warmth…needed…want…

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Vanitas carefully shifted Sora back under the covers now that he was all washed up. He'd never have imagined caring for someone in Sora's condition, having the patience for it or even wanting to. But Sora was his brother, Sora had saved him and Ventus without hesitation. His younger self hadn't had a decade within Sora's Heart, otherwise he never would have tried forcefully pulling Ventus from within Sora.

Sora would open his eyes now and then, with no pattern, but there was no awareness. He talked to Sora, something he wasn't used to, but he'd broken into what passed as a hospital to look for more information on how to ensure Sora didn't die on him. He didn't have access to any of the equipment he'd read about but he was not risking Sora to the medical facilities of this World. Saying they had a bad track record was an understatement, like saying Xehanort was a little interested in Kingdom Hearts.

Sora looked skinnier, had become paler, but he couldn't exactly give him solid food since he couldn't chew. And the daylight of this World wouldn't give anyone a tan. The black veins from the infection were still there, no longer spreading, but leaving their mark on his body. Was that what was keeping him under? It couldn't be the Darkness he'd used to stop it, Sora had been exposed to Vanitas' Darkness most of his life even if he hadn't been aware of it, not to mention he'd spent small amounts of time in the Realm of Darkness over the years, as well as almost being made a Vessel. So the infection was all he could think of, had it reached his mind or Heart without Vanitas realising?

And then someone pounded on the door and he snarled. He'd dealt with the 'landlord' once already. Apparently, he was a slow learner.

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Kairi held Riku's hand in hers, wishing he would squeeze it or something, but he was sedated. She wished she'd been told when he collapsed, but they hadn't wanted to alarm the guests and she could understand that. She'd been shown an image of the changing mark on his back and she was terrified. She'd lost Sora, she couldn't lose Riku too. Master Yen Sid had no ideas, no one did, except to basically put him into a coma. Not sleep, they couldn't risk him falling into Dreams, but closer to the state she'd been in without her Heart, or that Maleficent had placed Princess Aurora in.

She leant in, hoping he could hear her since he hadn't been put under that deeply yet. "You keep fighting Riku, I can't lose you too. Sora would hate himself if he knew what his dying did to you and you don't want that either."

To her surprise, she felt his fingers twitch slightly, had he heard her?

And then Even was there, plunging a syringe into the IV set into Riku's arm and she could feel the subtle shift as his hand went utterly limp in hers. "He's under," Even announced, looking up at the monitors.

Kairi looked up to see all of the readings becoming steady, Riku's eyes no longer moving behind closed lids. She gently brushed her fingers through his hair, biting her lip, fighting the urge to cry. She'd now lost them both, sure everyone would try, but they were already struggling as it was. Who would have time to find a way to save Riku? More likely, he'd remain unconscious for the rest of his life to keep him from becoming a Nightmare.

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Warmth…soft…something warm, swallowing, he was swallowing something…what? He struggled to think, to remember…anything.

"…need…wake…Sora."

Sora…was he Sora…? He…he didn't…and then he was staring up into red.

"Time…broth…try…"

Moving, he was moving.

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Vanitas watched as empty blue eyes opened slowly, talking softly to Sora as he prepared to feed him his broth. It had become so routine now, he could care for Sora without needing to really pay attention. He got his brother settled against him and began slowly tipping the warm, thick, fluid into his mouth.

But something seemed…different, he just didn't know what. And then he shifted only to freeze, had…had Sora's eyes tracked him?

"Sora? Can you hear me?" he asked, and slowly the teen blinked. "You were badly injured but you're healing," he explained, not sure if Sora was able to understand and not wanting to remind him what he'd done.

And then Sora choked on the broth, coughing, and Vanitas forced him fully upright, tipping him forward slightly to try and keep him from breathing it in.

"Nnggg…"

"Sorry," he said as if Sora had managed to speak. But he'd made a deliberate noise, that was the most reaction since he'd stabbed himself.

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Ventus ducked under the attack, spinning around, Keyblade dancing around him. Not far off to his left a blast of fire hit another group of Heartless, Lea cutting lose. With Roxas out of commission, Ventus usually volunteered as Lea's partner where possible. Someone had to keep the fiery redhead focused and he was one of the best at it, likely due to how much he looked like Roxas…or Roxas looked like him. Xion tried, but she was too quiet. Isa and Lea, despite repairing their friendship, did not work well in the field together. Plus, Isa didn't have a Keyblade so it was better he help out with security on Worlds like Radiant Garden.

And then he stumbled, Lea lunging to cover him, even as Ventus blinked, shaking his head. That…that was impossible and yet…for just a second, he could have sworn he felt…Vanitas?

"Ven?"

"I'm fine, sorry," he answered, sending a small tornado of wind to break up a gathering group.

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"V….a…."

Vanitas looked up to see Sora lying against the pillows, as still as ever, but no…he was definitely tracking Vanitas as he moved about, prepping his limited medical supplies. Had…had that been an attempt at his name? if it was, then it was the most awareness he'd shown. He grabbed the bowl of water and moved to kneel beside his brother.

"You're getting better," Vanitas told him, relieved. He was not meant to be a long-term carer! "I'm not going to hurt you Sora," he promised. "I need to check your injuries now," he explained.

Sora blinked at him, not speaking, but there seemed to be a spark in his eyes that had been missing since the attack.

Vanitas went to work, carefully moving him to undo the bandages wrapped around his chest. "I think we can leave the bandages off now, so long as you don't put too much stress on it," he murmured, running careful fingers over the wound. It wasn't a scar, not yet, but it seemed mostly sealed now. And since Sora seemed unable or unwilling to move yet, he doubted he'd be stressing the still healing wound.

He then moved to check the small scar at the base of his throat, it had healed fully, finally. It wasn't really noticeable except for the black veins that spread from it. He could definitely leave it uncovered. So, he picked up the cloth and began carefully washing Sora, able to feel him watching him as he did.

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Demyx checked on the two patients, grimacing at the sight of all the equipment around Riku's body, all of it meant to keep him deeply unconscious and hopefully human. Roxas at least only had stuff to keep him hydrated and fed.

He felt bad for the kid, what he'd gone through with the Organisation and then to be brought back to fight again. He'd just started getting a life only to be dragged down by Sora's death. Demyx…didn't blame Sora for his own demise, he should have withdrawn from the fight but he'd gotten sick of being underestimated and had chosen to fight through. Then he wakes up human only to have Xemnas rip his Heart out again. Seriously, how had they not thought he'd turn traitor? Then again, he'd had part of the old man's Heart in him, if he hadn't been benched, he never would have gotten away with helping Ve…Even. Ugh, the whole new names things was kind of a pain after so long using the old ones.

He'd gotten used to it with Ienzo fast, he hated the flash of pain it caused him when he messed up and called up Zexion or even Zex. Ending up in a relationship with him had been a surprise but it was a good one. Ienzo needed someone to pull him out of his research and Demyx, he needed to be needed, to have someone to ground him. He knew the others were wary of him because he was still technically a Nobody, but Ienzo had done the tests himself. Demyx was the proud owner of a tiny, growing, Heart. Maybe it wasn't his original, but what difference did it really make? Not like he remembered anything from the first time human and the only memories he had of the second were being killed, again. Made him wonder why he hadn't been a zombie like Roxas when he first became a Nobody, though he was glad he hadn't been.

And Ienzo trusted him to do the basic checks on the two, to make sure the machines were running and the kids were stable. No one had ever really trusted him so much.

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He was Sora and Vanitas was looking after him. Things were less foggy and confusing now but he still couldn't move, could barely get out a few sounds. Vanitas…how was he there? He'd died, hadn't he? And his eyes had been gold, not red, but the voice was the same, softer though most of the time. He could barely feel it when he moved him, tending his wounds, keeping him clean, feeding him. He thought it should be embarrassing, but there was nothing…he felt nothing.

What was wrong with him? How had he been hurt? He couldn't remember what had happened but the main area seemed to be his chest. Though every time Vanitas touched the base of his throat, he'd feel a touch of freezing cold. He didn't like it.

And sure enough, Vanitas touched it, sending the shock of ice through his body, muscles contracting even as he gasped. "Nnnnoo."

"Sora?" Vanitas leant over him.

He'd…he'd gotten a word out. "Cccc…"

Vanitas frowned but Sora couldn't get anything else out. "Cold?" he asked after a few moments, but Sora couldn't say or do anything. "Okay, that's…probably not good," he muttered. "I don't know if you remember what happened, but you were cornered and lost the fight. You decided to kill yourself, put a knife through your chest right before I manifested. I killed them but one got passed me in the mess and managed to make a wound just under your throat. I didn't notice it for a few days but it didn't heal even when I used Cure magic."

Vanitas could still use magic?! Well, it'd been Sora who broke the rules, not him, so why would he lose it too? Why would he appear near Sora and not Ventus?

"I found your old boss, wouldn't suggest trying to get your job back. I didn't kill him but we look enough alike," Vanitas shrugged. "Sora…you were infected."

That was impossible. He was still him, wasn't he? But… should be panicking or something, right? Was this how it started?

"Hey, Sora breathe." Vanitas was suddenly speaking in his ear and Sora realised he was being held, warmth seeping into his body from the other. "That's it, you're okay. That stuff might not be Darkness like we're used to, but it's still a type of it. I managed to stop the spread and then burned it out of you. It's left some physical marks but it's not spreading."

"Now you just have to concentrate on getting better. I don't trust the medical places here and there's no way you're in any condition to risk trying to take you through a Corridor. I suck at healing magic, honestly, the fact I managed to heal you even a little is incredible. I've been going off stolen books and pamphlets on what to do for you, and a lot of it I can't without machines and medicine."

Okay, that made sense. But the idea there might be a way home, once he was healed, that should be exciting. Was it the infection or…Vanitas said he'd burnt it out, what if he'd burnt more than just it? If he couldn't feel, then why go back? It wouldn't hurt him but it would hurt everyone else. Not like he had a Keyblade or magic anymore so maybe Vanitas could just leave him somewhere he could disappear like San Fransokyo. It had a big population, one he could easily blend into without anyone ever finding him, but it was a lot safer then here too. And the others could just get on with their lives, Vanitas included, there was no way he actually wanted to be stuck looking after him, right? But then why stay? Why save him?

TBC…