Disclaimer: not mine

Last scene has been edited

Chapter 11

Kairi woke feeling very warm, the familiar tropical breeze washing over her but that wasn't the only cause. No, sometime during the night they'd shifted positions and she'd ended up in the middle. It felt…good, rather hot considering she was fully dressed except her shoes, but safe. She opened her eyes to find Riku's silvery hair in front of her, her arm around his waist, that meant it was Sora who was pressed close to her back…very close. She felt her face warm as she realised he was wearing a lot less clothing than her and exactly what she was feeling pressing against her. Okay, that was different, but it wasn't like he was awake or anything…was he? She shifted slightly but Sora remained still, definitely still asleep.

She closed her eyes, she still felt safe and mostly comfortable and the sun was barely rising, she could get some more sleep.

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Aranea peered into the bedroom, relieved to see the three still asleep in bed. She'd feared it had been a dream, or that they would have left with the sunrise, but they were still there. She stood, watching them for what felt like hours, before making her way downstairs. She knew they weren't staying, but she would at least make sure they left with full stomachs.

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Sora watched his Mom about the kitchen like she had so many times in his memory. She was cooking them breakfast, keeping busy, knowing they had to leave. She put a plate of eggs aside and he stepped up to carry it to the table.

She started but then smiled. "Good morning Sora."

"Good morning Mom," he smiled at her. He held still as she walked up to him, letting her brush her fingers through his hair.

She leant up and kissed his cheek before going back to the stove. "Are you the first one up for a change?"

"I don't need a lot of sleep anymore," he admitted, not sure exactly how much Kairi had told her about what a Nobody was.

"You mean you actually get things done during the day?" She asked, and he found himself smiling at her teasing him.

"Hey, I always get things done, I went to school," he shrugged.

She paused, and then turned to face him again, the last of the food ready. "Are you ever going to come back home?" she asked.

"We have to stop the Organisation," Sora answered.

Even with two Keyblade wielders and Riku's powers…but he had seen the others in action and even with their numbers depleted, they would not go down easily. Demyx was the weakest of the bunch and Sora kind of didn't want to fight him, he thought if given a chance the blond might just vanish to go play his music in peace. But Saïx? Xigbar? They would be trouble. Luxord would be very tricky to beat. And if he could still feel fear, he'd be terrified to face Xemnas. The odds were good that not all of them would make it, maybe none of them.

"And then?" she pushed.

"Mom…how can I? I'm too different."

"You're still my son," she put her hands on his shoulders, "and I will always love you, no matter what," she promised. "If…if there's no way to fix this then we can come up with a lie, Kairi mentioned a brain injury last night and that could do it."

"You'd really want me here, like this," he didn't understand. How could she be so accepting?

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Riku paused on the stairs, listening, wishing she could get through to Sora. He hated that Sora expected them to all be better off without him, at least he'd stopped calling himself dead. Sometimes he just wanted to shake him but then at times he would be almost like the old Sora and he could let himself forget. Sora had gotten a lot better at acting and it hurt when he remembered that was what it was, except those flickers kept giving him hope that one day, it wouldn't be an act, that Sora's eye would be warm with emotion again.

He leant against the wall, reaching for Kairi when she came down, holding her as they listened to Ms Aranea try to make Sora understand. They went quiet and he let go of Kairi so they could join them. He sat opposite Sora, stretching his leg out to be in contact with Sora even as Kairi kept up a steady, cheerful, stream of chatter.

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Sora held Riku's hand, Kairi on his other side, supporting him. They stood outside of Riku's home, looking in at the kids playing on the floor. There was no sign of his Mom but she was probably at work. So who was looking after them? Noct was too little to be left in charge, wasn't he? If Sora had just turned sixteen then he was…oh, he would be twelve, so maybe he was old enough. And there he was, he'd grown a lot since they'd left. And he had help, Sora recognised the blond beside him, carrying a tray of drinks, Prompto.

"Do you want to go in?" He asked, seeing the look on Riku's face, but Riku shook his head.

"They're okay, let's go."

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Kairi was relieved to leave the Corridor and see Hollow Bastion. She stripped the coat off; they may protect them from the Darkness but it felt creepy to her. Riku and Sora didn't seem to feel it so maybe it was a Princess thing? It looked very different to when she'd last seen it, there was an actual town and not just a crazy castle. The other two got out of their coats and they headed into town, hoping to spot one of the gang they knew.

"I can feel a lot of magic that way," Sora pointed out so they turned away from the market, figuring Merlin would be the source.

Of course that was when a mix of Heartless and Nobodies appeared, Sora not even hesitating to throw himself into the fight, bare-handed. Riku summoned Soul Eater and she quickly called her Keyblade, Destiny's Embrace. The three of them handled the fight easily, Sora and Riku fought together like they always had, covering each other, and Riku also covered her, Sora having a little more difficulty adjusting to fighting in their trio. White dots converged on the area, moving under the enemy, and blowing them up, that was handy.

"What's going on?" Riku asked.

"That's the town's defence mechanism," a familiar voice called down, and Kairi looked up to see Yuffie on a ledge above them.

"Yuffie!" Kairi waved at her and Yuffie leapt down, looking between Sora and Riku.

"Hey, Kairi!"

Kairi moved in and hugged her, making Yuffie laugh but she hugged back. "I've missed you."

"So who are your friends?"

"Yuffie, this is Riku, he helped me seal the Door to Darkness," she quickly explained, not wanting her to think he was still a threat.

"Hello Yuffie," Sora spoke up.

"Do I know…you?" Yuffie frowned, staring at him. She looked at Kairi and Riku and then at Sora, shaking her head slightly.

"It's me," Sora murmured.

"Sora?" Yuffie asked to Kairi's relief.

"It's him Yuffie, promise," Kairi reached for his hand, Riku having shifted closer to him too. "Are the others here?"

"Everybody's working on stuff over at Merlin's house. C'mon!" She took off and they rushed after her, finding themselves in front of an odd-looking house.

Sora hesitated, and Kairi squeezed his hand. He glanced at her and she smiled, she knew they would accept him. They had all been so upset when they found out he was dead, seeing him alive even if he was different would surely cheer them all up. She walked inside, her boys just behind her.

"Meet the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee!" Yuffie announced, everyone in the room turning to face them.

"We missed you!" Aerith called happily to her, and Kairi grinned back.

"I knew it," Leon stepped forward, looking both boys over carefully.

"Knew what?" She asked.

"A while back, everyone suddenly remembered you, all at the same time."

"You...remembered? Wait! Does that mean you forgot about us!?" She demanded in shock, glancing back at Riku and Sora.

"A side effect of what Naminé did and the process to restore your memory," Sora answered.

"And you are?" Leon asked, then glanced at Riku. "I'm assuming you're Riku."

Riku nodded, standing straight but also more relaxed than he often did, obviously not wanting to appear at all threatening.

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He turned to stare out at the stars, pondering all Mickey had told him. He had known the young Keyblade wielder had perished, the stars had screamed in despair as his Heart fell into Darkness, becoming a Heartless. Perhaps he should have expected the boy to be strong enough to become a Nobody able to retain human form and thought. But he never would have imagined those memories would be strong enough to make it leave its own kind to protect Sora's friends. And how could it wield two Keyblades?

He would summon all three, perhaps it would have more information on the Organisation and its goals than it had mentioned to Mickey.

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Leon eyed the silver haired teen, there was no sign of the behaviour that had upset Sora so much, no sign of his being possessed either. He glanced at Aerith who nodded, she didn't feel anything strange about him, and Kairi was one of the Princesses of Heart so she'd sense anything off too, wouldn't she?

His eyes moved to the other male, wondering who he was. Had they found another friend from home? And yet, there was something almost familiar about him….or he was seeing this because it felt wrong for Sora to not be with them after all he'd done to try and save them. The blond stepped forward, meeting his eyes, and Leon almost shivered at the emptiness of the blue, but the colour…

"Hi Leon," the boy greeted as if they knew each other.

That wasn't possible, he wasn't Sora, Sora was dead, and he didn't know anyone else with that kind of hair. Well…except Cloud and he was far too young to be the merc. Plus Cloud had popped in once since they'd reclaimed Hollow Bastion before vanishing again. He'd done that a lot since their home had fallen, he'd show up for a bit and then vanish again, unable to stay still.

"Oh my, this is most peculiar, most peculiar indeed," Merlin mumbled, moving passed him to approach the stranger.

"Merlin?" What was so interesting about the new kid?

"What has happened to you dear boy?" Merlin asked the kid, so he knew him.

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"You don't know?" Sora asked, at least Merlin seemed to recognise him.

"Oh, you died, that's obvious, but this…I've never seen before! At least…well, not like you."

"Merlin?" Aerith asked, gentler than Leon had earlier.

Sora kept still as Merlin circled him, feeling his magic brush against him.

"You poor boy, I am so sorry Sora," Merlin murmured, and Sora couldn't hold his gaze, looking away.

Then Riku was there, wrapping an arm around his waist, pulling Sora back against his chest.

"Sora?" Leon sounded wary and confused, and Sora looked over at him, seeing the suspicion.

"They'll come at you out of nowhere. And they'll keep on coming at you, as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade. That's what you told me in Traverse Town," Sora told the man.

"But how…is it really you Sora?" Aerith asked, taking a step forward. "How are you alive?"

"I'm a Nobody," he offered.

"What's a Nobody?" Cid demanded.

"Sora…Sora did die. He stabbed himself with the Keyblade to free my Heart but he also freed his own so…" Kairi hesitated.

"I became a Heartless," Sora finished for her. He met Leon's eyes and explained how a Nobody formed, seeing the horrified expressions. It was probably good he couldn't feel anything when he saw them.

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For once, Riku was relieved to be back in the Old Mansion, to get away from the stress of meeting the people he had once stared at in envy and hate, thinking Sora had replaced them with the group. He glanced at Kairi, seeing she looked as tired as he felt. He wasn't surprised when she simply followed them into their room, the three of them stripping down before tumbling into bed, Sora in the middle.

He was asleep practically the instant his head hit the pillow, curled against Sora's back.

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Mickey landed easily behind the Mansion, smiling as he heard Donald and Goofy bickering as they finished setting up the sleeping quarters. Chip and Dale had gone all out in preparing the ship for the three and it showed. It was bigger than the ship Donald and Goofy had left Disney Castle in after he had left and had a lot more of a homey feel to it. they'd even gone with an Island theme to remind the teens of home. He hoped they liked it, it was officially their ship after all, to keep even once the fighting was done.

He was worried about Sora, between DiZ and now Master Yen Sid's reaction to his condition…they would need a way to keep on the move if anything happened and the ship would be safer than the Corridors, plus it would serve as a home base. He didn't know if the Cornerstone would react to the Darkness in Sora and Riku, if it didn't then he would give them Sanctuary should it come to that, Naminé too for all her help. He knew Minnie would love them all and it would be nice to have some younger people around.

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He woke slowly, body feeling heavy, hissing in discomfort as light blinded him.

"It's alright, you're safe," a familiar voice called to him as the light dimmed.

He blinked his eyes open, staring up at her...at Naminé. How? He turned his head; he wasn't in the Realm of Darkness anymore? "Naminé?"

She smiled at him, taking his hand. "You're in the Old Mansion in Twilight Town. Sora, Kairi, and…Riku are in a room down the hall. Sora found you and brought you here, you were about to die," she explained gently.

Why? Sora…Roxas…he was a Nobody, why would he save him?

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Demyx sprawled on the couch, strumming his Sitar. The place really was empty now, not that he missed any of them, especially Larxene. Well…maybe he missed the kid a little, he'd been interesting since he'd started being less of a Zombie. And Axel…he was different since coming back from Castle Oblivion alone.

He sighed, letting his head fall back. What were they even doing anymore? Without a Keyblade to free Hearts to complete their Kingdom Hearts they were stuck. Even that Princess wasn't out killing Heartless and the Imposter had vanished. He was so bored and he hated work.

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DiZ shook his head at the sight of Riku and Kairi holding the Nobody between them, all three asleep on the bed. Why couldn't they see the truth? He left the room, hearing soft voices from the room the Replica had been placed in, so it was awake at last. So many beings within the mansion that should not exist and he could do nothing, because he needed Kairi and Riku to deal with his old Apprentices. Keeping the Nobodies and Replica around was asking to be stabbed in the back at the worst possible moment but they refused to see it, even Mickey had been taken in by them. What should he do?

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Kairi stared at the ship on the grass, it had to be at least twice the size of the old one!

"Mickey…" Riku looked at the King who was grinning at them.

"It's yours to keep!" he announced, shocking her and Riku.

"Really? Even after we deal with the Organisation?" She asked, and the King nodded.

"Of course." He glanced at Sora, and she got it.

Mickey wanted them to have somewhere that Sora could be safe from anyone wanting to destroy all Nobodies. If they had to go on the run, they'd have a mobile base to live in. it made sense even if it was a little depressing to think about.

"Well, go on!" Mickey waved them, on and they rushed over to the ship to explore.

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Naminé smiled as she led him into the room where everyone was gathered, feeling his grip tighten on her hand. "Everyone, this is Toshi," she introduced him by the name he'd chosen when she'd found a book of names in the library.

Riku blinked but then nodded, offering a small smile to his look alike. "Hungry?" he waved a hand at the spread of food.

"That's it?" Toshi asked warily.

"Well, yeah. You could have come with us at Castle Oblivion. We might look almost the same, but we're not the same person," Riku told him.

She'd known that was how he felt, but Toshi had been sceptical. She'd seen so many of Sora's memories due to being linked to him, the same with Kairi, so in some ways it felt shocking that he wasn't up on his feet to hug Toshi and grin. She wished there was something she could do for him but her power lay in memory, she could not give him back his Heart.

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Kairi stretched and then rolled to her side, watching Sora sleep. He looked so peaceful, innocent. The physical changes weren't jarring at all anymore, this was Sora, lighter hair, and all. No, the only thing she missed was his bright smile and laugh. Yes, he laughed sometimes but no matter how good he was getting at faking emotion, there was something hollow in his laughter. She wanted their Sora back, the goofy teen with a Heart of gold.

She didn't love him any less for how he was now, she knew Riku didn't either. She just wished so much he could love them back. Yes, there was an occasional flicker of something, but would it ever be more than that? Would he live the rest of his life unable to truly feel? And…how long did Nobodies live? She'd asked Merlin when Sora had been distracted and he had admitted that Heartless didn't die of old age or anything, was it the same for Nobodies? Or did they age and live a normalish lifespan since they were created form the physical body left behind?

Sora shifted, eyes opening slowly, and then he smiled at her. "Morning."

"Morning," she smiled back, leaning in for a kiss, and Sora kissed her back, arm moving to rest over her waist. Kissing him, she could almost forget how he had changed.

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Xemnas stared up at his still incomplete Kingdom Hearts. They had to find the Princess and 'encourage' her to continue Roxas' work. It was the only way with the boy destroyed. Why had she not continued the fight? He was relatively sure the Imposter was young Riku but he had vanished as well, dead? Or was he with her? Too much was going wrong and they needed to refill their ranks somehow.

If they found Riku, perhaps he could take Roxas' place. It would not be too difficult to ensure his Heart was freed. And he already existed partially in the Darkness, he would be a powerful Nobody. And he was the original wielder of the Keyblade between the three, perhaps it would return to him, Roxas had proved Nobodies could wield the blade after all.

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He gasped, coughing, heart pounding in his chest. He remembered the feeling of weakness…the crushing impact of a Keyblade…pain…he struggled to slow his breathing, to open his eyes. What had happened? Where was he?

TBC…

The Replica's new name is from the poll I did for Blood Key, it was the runner up.