Day 235
He'd held out hope for a few days that the person watching him might be friendly, and maybe even be able to help him. Now he thought it was more likely that they were the one sending the Heartless. They wore the same cloak as Organisation XIII, which really should have been a dead giveaway that they weren't going to be helpful. He hadn't heard their voice, but he'd heard them laughing at him. He suspected it was a man beneath the hood.
Their mannerisms reminded him a little of Xigbar - particularly the mocking applause and waving - but he didn't think it was him. The laugh wasn't the same, and something else was different about them... he was sure this wasn't Xigbar. He half wished it was though, at least then he would know it was possible for other people to get here from his world.
He'd seen the figure almost every day since their first encounter. During the day he would catch glimpses of them walking around corners in the streets, or see their reflection in windows, only to turn and find nothing. At night the hooded figure watched as he struggled against the growing numbers of Heartless. They would watch with an air of mild amusement, as though curious, but not overly concerned with the outcome of the fights.
For the first few days, they ignored his pleas to just wait and talk to him. Then they would simply laugh and disappear when he began yelling at them to show their face, demanding to know why they were following him and want the hell they wanted. Sora would call out to him, yell at him in desperation and anger, and try to get close enough to talk. But nothing.
Eight days after his first appearance, Sora finally heard the man speak.
Tonight it was Demon Towers, the most vicious Heartless he had encountered so far. It would be strenuous enough to take down one by himself, let alone the two that rose above him. He saw the man standing on a building close by, watching as usual with his hands clasped behind his back. Sora didn't bother calling out to him this time, he knew he'd get no response and the Demon Towers were advancing.
By the time he finished off the first one, he was shaking, legs and arms burning and covered in cuts. The fury was bubbling up.
He knew he wouldn't make it out of this unscathed without Rage, but the last time he had done it had scared him. He didn't want to do it, but the anger was still rising, pushing at his skin, begging him to let it surface. He tried to push it down, but he was already at the end of his rope. He didn't know how much longer he could fight.
The tower poured down towards him, and he snapped.
Darkness engulfed him so quickly he didn't realise what was happening until it was too late. His skin burned from it, and he revelled in its fire. As he emerged from the dark orb he lunged forward at the Heartless, throwing them back with his Keyblade, feeling their bodies break beneath it, and clawing at them as he ran along the back of the snake-like column.
"That's the way Sora, use that anger, it's what makes you strong."
The voice was so calm, so jovial. He almost sounded encouraging. But beneath it lurked something cold.
Sora's head snapped up and he snarled at the figure, a horrible inhuman sound he didn't know he could make. He began clawing his way up the side of the building, hurling his blade towards the man and phasing in and out of the air as he dashed towards him. The man deflected the blade with a pitch black barrier, and when it faded he was nowhere to be seen.
Sora leapt onto the roof and crouched down, twisting back and forth, searching for the man. But he was gone, and the Heartless weren't done with him yet. As he summoned his Keyblade back the remaining Demon Tower burst upwards from beneath his feet, throwing him high into the air. They were nothing against Rage.
He dived and tore through them, ripping them apart with his teeth and his claws and his blade. With each one that fell, he felt his strength grow, and soon the last one was gone.
But Rage wouldn't release him.
No. No this is wrong.
It was happening again, the darkness wasn't fading. It was boring through his skin, dissolving it like acid. But the hatred felt so good. He felt himself crumbling away under its power.
Please no, not again
He had to stop it before it was too late, before he lost himself completely. He dropped to his hands and knees, digging his claws into the roof and closing his red eyes, trying desperately to focus.
This isn't me, I'm not myself right now
Yes, you are Sora.
A voice came from inside his head. Was it that man? No, the voice was different and painfully familiar... It sounded like Vanitus. It sounded like him.
This isn't me, I have to get out
Come on Sora, just stay here with me, just think how much easier things would be.
His friends, he had to think of them and calm the fury. He'd promised he would make it back. He pictured them, Donald and Goofy standing by his side against anything. Ven and Roxas, the closest thing he had to brothers. Naminè and Xion, who had both sacrificed so much to help when he needed them. Mickey, Aqua, Axel, and Terra, the other guardians of light who had fought beside him.
Typical. Well if you want to see them that badly, open your eyes.
Liar!
He wouldn't fall for that, he wouldn't let him tease him with hope. He thought of Riku, Kairi, and building a raft.
That wasn't a request.
He realised who the voice belonged to now, as Rage dragged his eyes open.
He found himself face to face with his friends. All the people he had thought of, standing before him. Their eyes were pupilless and dead, and they shimmered as though not quite fully formed. He knew they weren't really there, but they looked so real...
He wanted to scream but wasn't in control of his own mouth anymore. He felt bloodlust rising inside him. He needed to cut them, he needed to tear them apart.
No... I won't let you
He wanted nothing more than to charge at them and find out what their flesh felt like beneath his claws.
I won't do this!
He heard a snarl that wasn't his own coming from his mouth. His body trembled as Rage tried to attack and he fought against him. He wouldn't give in to this, he wouldn't let himself do this.
He didn't even realise he was doing it, it had become such a habit by now. He reached into his pocket and felt for the charm, clawed hand shaking as Rage struggled against him. As he grasped it the shells of the Wayfinder seared his palm, as though he was touching something much colder than ice. He heard Rage screaming in pain inside his head as he thought of their names and clung to the charm. He thought it might burn through his hand.
The visions of his friends dissolved and he felt the darkness suddenly melt from his skin. He collapsed onto the roof, gasping for air. He'd done it. He'd gotten free.
But only just.
"Aw come on Sora, you're killing me here!"
The man's voice came from right above him. Sora had closed his eyes while he fought against himself, and as he reopened them he saw large black boots and the tail of a leather coat. The man stood barely a foot from his face. But his energy was spent, Rage had sucked it all away, and he didn't have the strength to look up at the hooded stranger's face. The man sighed. "Well, fingers crossed for next time."
He turned and Sora watched him stride away, gloved hands clasped behind his back. His vision was growing blurry. The man and the world around him soon faded away.
Day 236
He came to several hours later at sunrise. He dragged himself to his feet and stumbled towards a door on the rooftop, that lead to a stairwell to the lower floors. As he closed the door behind him he collapsed against the wall at the top of the stairs. He slid to the floor, too tired to find somewhere comfier to lie down.
As he sat and let his aching muscles rest one question stuck in Sora's mind. How had the man known his name?