Chapter CXXXV: Divided, The Conflict Upon The Pridelands Part XI
It was now late in the night, the stars were all above everyone as they shone on like diamonds in the sky making everything feel magical above and beyond.
They were all laughing cushioned by the soft green luscious grass around them, after the heartless stampede incident everything had all been relatively quiet. Which was a really good thing because then everyone had been able to relax and have more fun together.
At that moment they all laughed staring up at the stars as they were all making out certain shapes that came to mind. Nozomi laughed as she started pointing out, "hey guys! Guys! Look! Do you see that?"
Kovu enjoying himself laughed as he asked, "yeah what? What do you see this time Nozomi?"
Smiling happily she then told everyone, "that cluster up there! Don't they look like a funny face with a tongue sticking out!"
At this idea Riku looked in the direction Nozomi was pointing to, he squinted hard as he then replied telling her, "I don't see that!"
Blinking as she heard Riku she then told him, "what how can't you! It's right there see!" With that she pointed to it again.
Looking where she was pointing to again Riku squinted again and then told her, "that's not a funny face!"
At this Nozomi asked him getting annoyed, "well if it's not a funny face then what is it then?"
With that Riku told her, "it looks more like a weird bird head to me!"
Annoyed Nozomi turned over and looked to him, "how can you see something like a bird's head! Why-"
But then quickly she could see why Riku could see something different to her, on the ground he was lying upside down to her along with the king next to him and as she saw his light blue eyes looking up to her he seemed completely clueless. Seeing this brought a smile to Nozomi's face and she let out a little giggle.
Seeing her react this way the white lion cub didn't get it as he asked her, "what's up with you now?"
Nozomi shook her head as she smiled and replied,"oh nothing! It's nothing!" With that she lay herself back on the ground again as she said further, "you're so funny snowball!"
To which Riku rolled his eyes not quite getting her, "whatever!"
At this everyone laughed loudly which made Riku blush red with embarrassment as he didn't know what he'd done that was so funny?
Seeing all this good humour going around Jona was smiling softly herself as she said aloud, "well looks like everyone's havin' a good time here huh?"
"Yeah sure looks it!" Cait sith replied as he was now laying on her back, she and him were a little distance away from everyone, they were both a little tired and so had excused themselves from star gazing. So instead they were relaxing on the grass together watching the little frolics between the others.
Soothing down from his laughter the king smiled to Riku and then as he did he noticed something else in the sky and as he did he pointed to it himself, "hey look up there! I've spotted somethin' cute fella's!"
At this Nozomi excited said, "cute! Something cute? Oh where is it! What is it Mickey?!"
Hearing her excited tone the king laughed as he pointed and said, "there it's right there! Anyone spot it?"
While everyone looked around keen to see this cute thing Kiara who'd been quiet up till then turned her head to try and get a better look, as she did she quickly saw it too and broadcasted, "oh yeah I can see it! It's a little baby rabbit right?"
Hearing her get it the king replied to her happy, "yeah that's it there Kiara! Good spottin'!"
The lioness princess laughed happily glad at the comment, Kovu then smiled as he too got it and said, "yeah I see it too!"
However moving her head left and right Nozomi tried desperately to see it too, but,"oh I can't see it! Where is it?"
Kiara hearing her friend having trouble laughed as she told her, "just turn your head a little to the right Nozomi! Then you'll be able to glimpse it! See look at it's fluffy tail!"
At this instruction quickly the white and black striped tiger cub did just that, as she squinted she concentrated hard..."I got it! I see it now!" Feeling really happy seeing it she then added, "wow! It really is cute isn't it?"
Riku having already found the rabbit himself then sighed as he replied, "it's just a rabbit, what's the deal? They're not that great are they?"
Hearing this Nozomi looking to him then said, "Oh?... Are you talking about past experiences there huh?"
To which Riku hearing this jolted inside as he then told her, "don't even go there!"
This in turn made Nozomi smile pleased with herself as the native lions were left confused by this, Mickey in the meanwhile was feeling a little bit awkward as he hoped this wasn't going to turn into another argument!
Kovu though looking back up at the stars himself noticed another particular constellation in the sky and as he did he pointed it to everyone, "hey guys look!"
Mickey hearing the Out Lander asked him, "look at what there Kovu? What've ya spotted?"
To which he then laughed as he said, "I've found some stars that look like two lions killing each other for a scrap of meat!"
At once in moments this killed the whole mood as Riku thought to himself quietly with awkwardness,"well that was utterly morbid!"
Jona though in the distance hearing this giggled as she replied," that kinda reminds me of us last week there, hey Kovu?"
Listening to this suggestion he laughed as he replied, "yeah it does! Doesn't-" however he quickly stopped as he was still a little uncomfortable at having to talk to Jona right now.
Hearing the sudden silence enter the air Nozomi was beginning to feel the awkwardness rising too and so quickly she spoke, "oh... uh? Well... anyway good constellation there Kovu! Um..." but then looking up at the stars again as she saw their twinkling beauty she then let her honest thoughts flow out, "but anyway... the stars are really beautiful aren't they?"
Kiara listening to the honesty in her voice nodded as she smiled just as gently too, "yeah they are... you know me and my father used to do this all the time."
Mickey listening to this replied, "oh really Kiara?"
To which in reply the lioness princess nodded quietly and as she did Nozomi smiled herself as she remembered past memories of her and her master doing this too, she then asked Kiara,"did you find any constellation shapes like we've found today?"
Kiara in reply laughed happily, "oh yeah! We found all kinds of things! But..."
At this pause everyone looked to her and as they did Riku saw a rather serious look had come upon the princess, as he saw it he asked her, "but what?"
Closing her eyes for a moment Kiara continued, "well... my father says that all of the great kings of the past are up there, always watching over us."
Hearing this and looking up to the stars again and seeing them twinkling away Nozomi smiled as she said, "that's a nice a thought..."
Jona though spoke herself as she said, "sounds too iffy to me."
At this Nozomi looked over in the direction the earring wearing lioness was lying and she looked to her with a slightly appalled face. As she did Cait sith spoke her thoughts as he asked her, "why would ya say that Jona lass?"
With that the lioness casually replied, "well think about it? Being gazed at by invisible eyes from above all the time? That kinda thought is gonna give ya a real bad sense of paranoia!"
Riku hearing this felt appalled inside as he replied, "well you certainly know how to make an uplifting story into a real scary one don't you?"
To which Jona told the lion cub, "hey! I'm just sayin' my honest thoughts ya know! Besides what I've said is not really all that bad!"
However Riku rolled his eyes as he begged to differ, but then Kovu spoke up as he asked, "do you think Scar's up there?"
At once everyone looked quietly to him again... for knowing what Scar had done in the past... what was there for any of them to say? Everyone looked to Kovu quietly with saddened eyes. The Out Lander looking to them himself and hearing this sudden silence from everyone didn't say anything as he got up.
Watching him no-one said anything at all, the dark maned lion looked down at the grassy earth not saying anything as past memories were flooding into him, but then looking at him with sad sympathetic eyes, Nozomi spoke, "Kovu?"
Quiet for a moment he said nothing but then finally he did, "he wasn't my father, but he was still a part of me."
Hearing this everyone was quiet again but then suddenly Nozomi got up and quietly she walked over and as she did she sat next to him as she asked, "do you miss him?"
Looking to the tiger cub he sighed as he told her, "yeah... even despite what he did, he helped to raise me and everything."
Nozomi nodded as she told him, "yeah... well that's the thing isn't it? You can't ever stop caring for the person who helped you out so much can you?"
Kovu smiled a little as he told her, "sounds like you're talking from experience there?"
Nozomi looked up to him for a moment before she looked down again as she told him, "well yeah I mean... I am... though I don't know if that person is even alive or dead now?" She then looked up to the stars too as she wondered for a moment... could he master be gazing at her from those very same stars too?
With that there was quiet between them both but then suddenly the others got up and as they did Kiara spoke as she told Kovu, "my father said there was... a darkness inside Scar that he couldn't escape."
Riku nodded then himself in contemplation as he spoke his own thoughts, "I can understand that."
Nozomi hearing this was surprised slightly as she repeated, " a darkness...?"
To which in response he nodded again solemnly.
At once Nozomi questioned, "why? Why would you say that? You mean you were-"
Riku continued, "the darkness inside one can corrupt the heart, if you allow it," then looking up he made a simple summary of what the darkness could be, "jealousy, hatred, greed... just simple negative emotions like that can germinate into a terrifying shadow... which can overwhelm any light that one had."
Hearing this everyone was terribly quiet again... Nozomi wondered then how Riku knew this? Had he suffered from-
"Maybe there's a darkness in me too," Kovu said sadly as he bent his head down.
Though everyone else became silently saddened again, Jona, though she could understand him she could also see what was really happening as her yellow eyes regarded him coldly.
Cait sith though unaware of her gaze spoke to her as he said, "whoa! I never knew that Kovu lad had such issues inside of him!"
At this Jona closed her eyes as a smile appeared on her face as she replied to him, "oh you don't know the half of it!"
Thinking this was an odd thing to say Cait sith asked her curious, "why do ya mean by that Jona lass?"
To which she simply shook her head as she told him, "oh you'll see... you'll definitely see."
Quiet again Cait sith didn't get it still but then he turned again as he watched Mickey speak up as said with a smile to the depressed Outsider lion, "oh Kovu! You're not a bad person! Besides we all know that here! You're our friend you know?"
Looking to the small kangaroo mouse and then to the others who looked to him with worry in their eyes he replied with a small sad smile, "thanks..."
Kiara looking to him felt terrible that Kovu was suffering inside like this... in moments she quickly moved over closer to him and put her head under his chin as she started to purr softly. She wanted the warmth inside her heart to reach him through this gentle action.
Though this surprised everyone immensely and especially Kovu who looked at her with a gentle smile himself, there was no-one there who was going to mock this kind act. For this simple action wasn't just warming Kovu's heart it was also warming everyone else's too.
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In the distance the very king of the Pride Lands observed the events that were transpiring amongst his daughter, the Outlanders and the keybladers from a grassy hill. Though inside he didn't like the way Kovu and Kiara were becoming closer... he knew that wasn't a bad thing either, but with the past and Scar...
These thoughts troubled him immensely, he then looked up at the stars as he asked a question aloud, "father I am lost...Kovu is one of them, Scar's heir," he then darted his eyes down to the ground as his dislike greatly plagued him at this thought. After clearing it away for a brief moment he asked the most important of his internal struggles, "how can I accept him?"
Then for a moment he imagined Sora, Donald and Goofy and as he did he asked, "guys what would you do and say if you were here?"
"Simba?" Distracting him from the stars of his many ancestors he turned and saw his beloved queen and wife Nala.
Seeing that he'd been found out he sighed as she sat herself next to him, he then told her, "I was seeking counsel from the great kings... and some old friends."
Nala then asked him with an almost amused scepticism, "did they help?"
Once again there was a sigh from Simba as he told her looking up to the skies again,"silent as stars, my father would never-"
"Enough Simba!"With that she snuggled her head into him as she told him further, "you want so much to walk the path expected of you," then looking into the distance where she could see her daughter, her new friends and this Outsider she told him further with a smile, "perhaps Kovu does not."
Shocked at this he quickly turned to Kiara as he asked her, "what?! How do you know what-"
But then he quickly he stopped again as he saw that understanding, all knowing smile of his beloved one and as he saw it he heard her speak again, "I can see them down there, just as easily as you can, get to know him and see."
This still left him hugely puzzled inside as he saw her walk away again back in the direction of Pride Rock, with this audible advice that had been given to him he was still filled with uncertainty... but he knew the stars themselves wouldn't give him the answers he needed, so quietly he took his leave to go after Nala as he tried further to sort out the doubts within his heart.
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Continuing to watch on the others as Kiara snuggled into Kovu, Nozomi smiled softly as she thought to herself, 'aww that's so cute!'
It was also clear that Kovu was enjoying the warm touch of the princess, opening his eyes for a moment he looked to his friends and as he saw their gaze upon them both it embarrassed him! But he still continued to smile but then as he turned his gaze he looked beyond them all as one pair of eyes froze him inside.
Jona was gazing at him with cold eyes that shone hauntingly yellow in the darkness as they bore into him, as he looked at her he then imagined his mother, Zira. What would she think of him doing this? And his role was to-!
As the reality of his position kicked in he quickly removed himself from Kiara and as he did everyone looked to him with worry and surprise that Nozomi revealed as she asked, "Kovu what's wrong?"
Looking just as worried herself the princess also asked this, "are you all right? Are you-"
"I'm sorry!" Kovu spoke interrupting her as he looked to them all... how could he tell them all the truth?
Sensing something was wrong Mickey asked, "Kovu?"
With that the Outsider lion looked to them all revealing the struggle that was occurring inside of him, "it's just my whole life I've been trained to-" but looking once more Jona's eyes were upon him. He couldn't speak the dreadful truth there and so turning his head again he finished, "nothing! I gotta go!" With that he turned and started to walk away.
As he did this in moments everyone could definitely sense was terribly wrong, Nozomi asked him, "where are you going to? Don't go alone!"
Mickey spoke himself as well as he told him, "Kovu you don't have to be scared! We won't dislike you! We're all here for you!"
Riku though who'd been quiet up to this point could guess inside what was plaguing him, for he'd seen that this lion had been plagued by something since they'd all met, his suspicions were confirmed as Kiara then spoke worried, "Kovu wait!"
Looking he could see the reluctance again and the bitter regret of not being able to be honest as Kovu looked at Kiara's pleading worried eyes, however as Riku trailed his eyes he saw him looking at Jona again. Was she-
Nozomi then called out worried, "Kovu don't go!"
At once turning again away from the suspicious lioness Riku looked and saw Kovu running into the night and as he did, he realised he had to do something!
Kiara was horribly depressed as he left, what had she done wrong? Nozomi felt just as bad as she asked, "what's wrong with him? Why is he-"
Mickey then spoke his worry himself, "I dunno? He seems to be strugglin' with somethin but what could it-"
"I'll go talk to him!" Riku spoke up determined.
Everyone was surprised at this as Nozomi then asked, "Riku? What're you going to-"
Quickly though not replying he took off as he chased after Kovu leaving everyone completely silenced, what was he going to do?
Still resting on Jona's back having witnessed these events Cait sith spoke his thoughts, "wow! Looks like things are certainly getting, dramatic now eh?"
Jona seeing things progress like this was quiet for a moment but then she simply smiled again almost with a mischievous glee as she replied, "looks like it!"
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Still continuing to run from the others into the darkness, it almost felt to Kovu like he could just run away from his problems too... and the horrible reality of what he was raised to do.
As he continued to run in the distance he then began to hear another set of paws behind him, he didn't want to turn around! If it was Kiara!... He couldn't bear it!
"Kovu!"
Hearing this voice in moments the Outsider lion turned around as he looked and saw with surprise one of the small cubs he'd been training and looking at him he asked, "Riku?"
Seeing that he'd gotten his attention he called out to him again, "Kovu! Stop a moment we need to talk!"
However at once the Outlander lion replied to him refusing as he looked away again, "I've got nothing to talk about with you! Now leave me be!"
Riku though wasn't going to be deterred as he then called out to him again, "I'm not buying that!" However the stubborn Out Lander refused to stop and agitated Riku called out again," what're you running away from!"
Startled Kovu looked back to Riku with widened eyes, he then heard him ask, "what're you hiding from us?!"
In moments seeing he'd been found out Kovu looked forwards again at he looked at the grass under his paws as he ran... then biting his teeth hard he slowed down until he gradually came to a stop.
Seeing him come to a stand still Riku was glad that he'd been able to do that much as he sighed with relief as he started to try and recover himself. Kovu looking at the small white lion cub then asked him, "how long have you known I've been hiding something?"
Getting his breath back gradually Riku looked to Kovu as he walked over to him as he told him, "I've had my suspicions for a while now...I guess ever since the start, when you rescued me and the others... it felt too staged... it was too perfect for you to just come along with Jona at that time."
Hearing the smart and sharp analysis of this little cub, Kovu knew he couldn't underestimate him, well it was no wonder he was the best hunter amongst his trainees! He then smiled his worries almost disappearing as he told the young cub, "well looks like someone's been paying attention to the world around him, huh?"
Riku though keeping his serious air asked him again, "Kovu... what is it you're hiding from everyone?"
Kovu looked to him again as his amusement quickly vanished to be replaced with a sad somber look in his eyes... he was still reluctant to speak... how could he say it?
Seeing this reluctance again Riku sighed as he told him, "Kovu you've already heard from all of us, you can trust us! I haven't told the others my suspicions at all! If you tell me I promise I won't share it... until the time is right, okay?"
Hearing this Kovu looked to Riku as he asked him, "you're willing to-"
"Yes!" He replied to him instantly as he then continued, "I'm willing to keep this a secret for now."
Kovu looking at him and seeing the seriousness in his eyes knew inside his heart that he could trust this cub and knowing Jona wasn't there either... he could speak. So taking a deep breath feeling relief well up within him he told him, "...okay, I'll tell you."
Riku nodded as he became quiet and listened to what Kovu had to say, "the truth is... is that I've been raised to kill Simba and take back the Pride Lands for my brethern in the Outlands."
Once more Riku simply nodded as he would ask his questions later.
Seeing him do this Kovu was calm and continued his explanation, "my mother... Zira she wants me to do in the name of Scar... and I've been assisted by Jona and these other two."
Riku curious asked, "other two?"
Kovu nodded again as he replied, "yeah, Pete... someone who I've been told worked with Scar in the past... and a cheetah."
Curious Riku repeated, "a cheetah?"
Kovu once more nodded as he told him, "yeah...the one you know called Hari."
At once shock and surprise resounded inside him, "Hari!?"
Kovu nodded silently at this as he gazed at Riku's reactions and to see what he would say.
The small cub couldn't believe it! Pete was with Hari and quickly to confirm this he asked Kovu, "and you're saying that she was with Pete... she's working with him?"
Kovu again nodded as he told him, "yeah she actually said herself that he was her accomplice, they're the ones who summoned the heartless those previous times, when I rescued you and during that time in the rock canyon."
Riku hearing this had discovered something incredibly valuable, she was in league with Pete and if she was with him... that meant she was ultimately controlled by Maleficent!
However looking to Kovu and seeing the concern on his face he knew this wasn't the time to obsess. His friends problems were far more then and so finally he told him, "okay I see... are you still intending to carry through with your mission for your Pride?"
It was then that the reluctance returned as Kovu was clearly struggling and Riku spoke his observations which were clear, "you don't want to...do you?"
Hearing his intentions being said so clearly by another shocked Kovu and at first he couldn't answer but after a moment he made his answer, "no I don't... I don't want to kill Simba... because if I do... Kiara will never forgive me and she's the one I never want to hurt like that in anyway... and you guys are friends are my friends now, I don't want to lose anyone to the heartless either."
At this confession Riku was glad he wasn't on Pete's side either felt a pain in his heart as he also thought of the one person he too never wanted to hurt like that... but he continued to listen as Kovu went on, "but... my Pride, my mother, I can't betray them like that! They're relying on me! But I..."
Riku then told him having seen it himself,"you've fallen in love with Kiara haven't you?"
Feeling a shudder within himself Kovu couldn't believe someone else had realised that too! This cub was as sharp as a knife! He almost blushed as he simply nodded unable to speak the emotional words.
At this Riku smiled gently as he told him, "you know it's become really clear in the last few hours... you're much more relaxed then you used to be and way more fun too." He added with a little air of amusement.
Kovu was becoming really embarrassed now but he didn't want to get deep into that subject and instead asked him, "yes okay! I've already admitted that! But... what should I do though? I mean... with all this dependence on me I-"
"You should do as your heart tells you," Riku told him clearly with a straight face.
Hearing this Kovu was silent but this over simple explanation seemed way too easy of a solution to take and so he protested, "what? How's something so cheesy like that supposed to help me out!? What're you-"
Immediately Riku interrupted him as he told him, "sorry, it's not that I'm trying to be cheesy or cliché here... what I'm saying is, is that you should just trust yourself... your heart will hold the answer you need to find inside."
Kovu hearing his words felt a resonance inside himself as he looked at Riku, he then asked him, "sounds like you're talking from experience too."
This in turn made Riku show a small smile as he looked down and replied, "yeah I am... because just like you, " with that he turned to look at Kovu again as he told him, "I had a darkness inside of me as well."
At this the Out Lander lion was surprised as he asked, "you did?"
Riku nodded as he continued, "yeah I did... I didn't trust myself and became swayed by the words of others... jealousy and rage consumed me," but then he smiled brightly as he remembered who'd saved him, "but... the light of my friends brought me back..." he then told Kovu, "and just like them, me and my friends... especially Kiara will light your way... so believe in yourself, okay?"
Hearing these words Kovu felt changed even more somehow inside, but before he could say another word suddenly in the distance, "Kovu!? Riku!?"
Looking quickly both lions saw Nozomi followed by Kiara who were coming quickly their way and as they saw them Riku told Kovu,"don't worry as I've said, I'll keep your secret and in the meantime you put trust into yourself all right?"
To which looking from Riku and back to Kiara as she came running closer to them Kovu nodded to the small cub as he told him with a relaxed smile, "all right, I will... thanks Riku."
In reply he too smiled and watched with Kovu as Nozomi and Kiara came nearer and nearer, as they did looking at the tiger cub he said aloud humoured again, "I wish sometimes I would listen to my own advice more."
Which in turn Kovu made look at him oddly for a moment but then, "guys!"
Nozomi had made it over to them both as she spoke breathing out hard as she told them,"you both had us all worried sick! How could you just both run off like that! Geez!" The tiger cub then collapsed tiredly as she had to catch her breath again and recover.
Kiara not as breathless spoke too, "yeah you both had us all really anxious! Is everything all right?"
Riku then told them both, "everything's fine! We just had a little one on one, it's nothing for either of you to be worried about, right Kovu?"
To which in turn looking at Riku he closed his eyes and smiled as his heart beat and told him what he should do next, "yeah!" He answered then looking to Kiara he spoke again, "Kiara... do you mind if I talk with you for a while?"
Surprised to hear this and seeing the smile that was on his face, Kiara's cheeks warmed as she replied, "um... sure okay? If you wish to."
Which in turn Kovu nodded happyily and then as he started walking over to her, he turned to Riku for a moment as he told him, "thanks."
Smiling in return he told him, "it's no problem."
Glad for this Kovu made it over to Kiara and as he did he told her, "let's go then huh?"
Hearing him say this Kiara nodded relieved that he was better but she wondered what on earth he could have been talking about with Riku? However not wanting this to plague her she replied,"yeah sure okay," then with that both lion and lioness walked away to converse and gaze more upon the beautiful stars in the sky.
Seeing them go Riku smiled gently glad that he'd been able to help somehow but then, "huh? Where'd Kiara and Kovu go?"
Nozomi had got up and had not seen either of them go and was now immensely puzzled.
Seeing the confused look on her face Riku giggled as he told her, "don't worry, they've just gone to have a little talk together."
Hearing this Nozomi asked, "oh?" Then an important question occurred to her, "wait is Kovu okay now?! Is he-"
Riku interrupted her as he told her with a smile, "he's fine now! He's fine! I just had a little word with him... he just had a lot on his mind, trying to get along with everyone in the Pride Lands you know, that kind of thing."
Hearing this Nozomi was quiet for a moment as she asked, "really?"
To which in turn Riku nodded.
Nozomi then collapsed onto the grass again as she breathed out, "wow, what a relief! That was really worrying back there!"
Seeing her do this Riku laughed again and then walking over to her, he lay himself next to her as he asked, "you tired out now huh?"
Nozomi then looking at him and seeing his pale blue eyes paused for a moment as she looked up to the stars and told him, "you got that right!" Looking up at the wonderful sky for a further moment she continued and said, "just so much has happened... it's unbelievable."
Riku looking at her as she stared up at the stars looked at them himself as he replied, "yeah..."
There was then silence between the two of them for a few long moments and as this occurred between them both Nozomi looked to Riku again, as she did and saw his white fur shining in the star light she thought to herself, 'he really does have a lovely colour.'
But then as she regarded him softly, another thought occurred to her and so she asked, "hey Riku?"
Hearing her ask he turned his head and saw her lilac round warm coloured eyes and as he did he asked, "yeah?... What is it?"
Nozomi paused for a moment as she asked, "was that really all that was bothering Kovu? Cause it seemed a little more than that... like that darkness he was talking about."
At this question Riku didn't know how to respond at first but then he knew that he couldn't hide it entirely and so he began, "you got me there... yeah... we were talking about our inner darkness."
"Inner darkness?" Nozomi asked.
Riku nodded as he told her, "yeah... that's right."
Nozomi spoke again, "you having darkness inside you?... you know I can't believe that!"
Hearing this almost surprised Riku as he asked her,"why would you say that?"
Nozomi then told him, "well I mean look at you! You're amazing with the keyblade and you're so mature! I mean you'd be the last person I'd imagine who'd have something like that inside."
This in turn made Riku smile and laugh as he told her, "that's not how I feel inside."
Now Nozomi was the one with surprise as she replied, "what really you don't?"
Riku shook his head as he told her, "no... to be honest with you at times... I've wondered if I've even been worthy enough to wield a keyblade."
At this reply Nozomi told him,"worthy? You're way more than worthy! I mean? Well look at me! I'm a novice! I can't fight half as well as you! I mean you and the king are way better keybladers then I'll ever be!...that I definitely know."
Hearing the honesty in her voice Riku smiled more as he told her, "thanks... but to be honest... there's something I haven't been honest with you about."
Puzzled at this as she looked to him again, Nozomi asked, "honest? Honest about what?"
Riku was quiet for a moment as he felt worried inside about how she'd react, but then he began as he said, "about my past... you see there was a time... I was in darkness."
Quietly shocked at this Nozomi asked, "you were...?"
Nodding at this Riku replied, "yeah... I was for a time in the services of Maleficent...like Pete I was a servant to the darkness and the heartless."
Nozomi couldn't believe it as she breathed out, "no way..."
Riku replied, "yeah way..."
Nozomi didn't know what to think of this? Riku worked for Maleficent? But why? Quickly she asked, "how? Why did you work for her? Were you brainwashed or something or-"
"No," Riku interrupted her as he then told her more, "I was driven by my own jealousy... and rage."
Repeating these words with worry Nozomi asked, "jealousy and rage?"
Riku nodded as he continued looking up to the stars, remembering the past, "yeah... you see I was the one who in the beginning invited the darkness to my world and sent everything into chaos, because I wanted to escape from the prison of my island... I wanted to see the worlds..."
Nozomi was very quiet as she looked to Riku, looking at the sad look on his face she could feel in her heart he was telling the truth... this made her ache inside.
Riku continued on, "Maleficent came across me and taught me how to wield the darkness and control it... and one day I discovered Sora had made other friends and it looked like... he'd forgotten about me and Kairi... it'd felt like he'd betrayed and abandoned us."
Nozomi was quiet still as she continued to look at Riku, she could only begin to imagine how that must have felt... but it was painful inside to think about.
Onward Riku kept going with his story, "I was so angry... I hated Sora for that! Then when I discovered Kairi had lost her heart! I decided that even if I had to sacrifice others in the process with the darkness... I was going to save Kairi alone... these thoughts and the darkness consumed me, letting Xehanort's heart posses and take over me... robbing me of any freedom I had."
Nozomi then spoke, "that's horrible!"
Riku nodded as he replied, "yeah it was... but Sora and the others rescued me and I regained myself eventually, freeing myself from the darkness and Xehanort... but in reality I should never be forgiven or wield the keyblade again for-" Riku stopped though as he heard something drip and looking he saw Nozomi was crying as tears were falling from her eyes as she looked to him.
He was startled into silence as he heard Nozomi speak clearly upset, "you must have been in so much pain!... All alone like that and suffering...I'm so sorry that happened to you! If Maleficent, the darkness and Xehanort hadn't got to you! You wouldn't of...I'm so sorry!"
Seeing someone like this crying for him... Riku didn't know what to think at first... but then feeling his heart throbbing warmly he smiled as he reached a paw across and quietly he wiped her little tear droplets away as he told her, "it's okay... you don't have to say sorry... you haven't done anything wrong."
Nozomi could feel herself blushing at this action as she felt his warm touch but she had to disagree as she began to say, "but-"
Riku shook his head as he told her smiling warmly, "it's okay, I'm just glad that I am here now... and with people like you, Mickey, Cait sith along with Sora and Kairi... you guys being on my side is more than enough," then blushing a little himself he also admitted, "but you know I never imagined anyone besides Sora would actually cry for me."
Which in turn made Nozomi shake her head as she told him, "of course I'd cry for you! You're precious to me!"
Riku blushed tremendously at this and quickly he turned over embarrassed as he told her, "... that's good to know..." then peeking over his shoulder he told her red, "thanks."
Nozomi smiling recovering told him as she got up looking at him, "it's okay... and you know... everyone will always be on your side Riku... we'll always be there to bring you back out of the darkness."
Hearing this from her he replied, "yeah don't worry... I already know that."
Smiling happy again Nozomi was really glad that she'd gotten closer to him, but then thinking about something else she decided to try and ask, "Riku..."
Wondering what she could possibly want to ask now he replied turning over again, "yeah?"
Nozomi then asked him, "can you... can you please tell me now what you've been meaning to tell me? You know since we were in Hercules's world?"
At this question Riku paused... though he'd admitted his past, like Kovu he still didn't want to hurt Nozomi... he said nothing.
Seeing him like this she asked him,"you still can't tell me?"
Riku then looked sad as he replied, "I'm sorry... I just don't know how."
With this Nozomi sighed but then she took a deep breath as she sighed exasperated, "I thought so..." then she watched as Riku turned to look at her apologetically and as he did she spoke again, "I'm gonna do something."
Puzzled Riku asked, "do what? What're you going to do?"
Looking at him seriously Nozomi told him, "I'm gonna give you a deadline! Since you've been honest with me about your past and the darkness and things, I'll wait a little longer for you … but I want you to tell me the whole truth of everything after the Radiant Gardens Carnival... after the celebrations over that one night... you tell me then okay!"
Hearing her say this Riku couldn't believe she was giving him a deadline again... he still felt reluctant inside but he had delayed it for so long and so he told her, "... all right then, you win... I'll tell you at that time... I'll tell you everything."
At this hearing him agree Nozomi was glad but then to double it she asked, "you promise?"
Riku in response after a moment nodded as he told her, "yeah... I promise!"
Nozomi truly glad for this smiled brightly as she quickly lay down next to him again making Riku gasp slightly and as he did she laughed as she told him, "good it's a promise!"
With that she looked up to the stars again really happy... but then another question came to her mind as she asked, "Riku?"
Hearing her questioning tone again he replied, "yeah?"
Nozomi then asked him, "those words Kida said before, 'one day you will be betrayed,' you and Mickey wouldn't do that to me would you?'
In moments quickly Riku snapped as he told her, "what're you talking about? Of course not! Don't be stupid!"
Hearing this Nozomi felt more relief inside and smiled as she was now feeling a little stupid as she said, "...yeah I knew you guys wouldn't do that!" Then looking up she spoke pointing upwards, "oh look at these stars! I can see a whole lot more different shapes here! They're all-"
As she went on though she didn't see Riku's darkened sad expression as he turned himself over again, for how could he possibly tell her the truth about who she was? How could he possibly be say it? That she was nothing! Nothing but a vessel for a frag-
"Hey Riku!" Grabbing his attention and distracting him from his thoughts he turned and saw Nozomi as she was pointing upwards.
Confused he asked her a little annoyed, "what? What is it?"
Nozomi then told him laughing, "that star cluster! Doesn't it look like a dancing hippo with a tutu on?"
Perplexed at this as he heard the idea of this weird image he asked, "what?!"
With that the two of them spent a long time looking at the sky together as they laughed, argued and spoke of many different and fun things as the stars shone gently down upon the lion and tiger cubs.
