Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 17

His heart was pounding in his chest as he ran through Twilight Town, Riku hot on his heels. He needed to get him away from everyone where they could talk in private. Talk…or fight, please just talk. He made it into the woods and was hesitating on how close to the mansion to go.

"Stop!" Riku yelled, and so Sora did. He turned to see Riku watching him warily, Soul Eater in hand. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"You know who," Sora answered softly, he'd recognise his voice, wouldn't he? He studied Riku, getting his first really good look at him. His hair was so long now, the wind moving it about, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What are you talking about?" Riku sounded confused, even as he brushed his hair back, and that made Sora pause, why didn't he recognise him? Surely his voice hadn't changed that much?

Sora raised his hands, showing he was unarmed, but he knew that wouldn't mean much to Riku thanks to magic. Slowly, he pushed his hood down, watching as Riku froze, eyes wide as he stared at him.

"It's you…" Riku breathed, taking a half step back, dropping Soul Eater which vanished, and that hurt but he couldn't blame him. "But…you were dead…so cold…"

Sora swallowed as he realised what Riku was talking about. But…he'd seen him awake, what was going on? "I'm not dead," he promised softly. "I'm right here, I've been looking everywhere for you. I've gotten close a few times but then you'd leave before I could reach you. I've missed you so much Riku," he held his hands out, empty, not daring to approach when Riku looked so skittish.

"Riku?" Riku asked with wide eyes. "Is…is that my name?"

Sora's Heart sank into his boots. "Don't…don't you remember?" he asked shakily, and Riku shook his head. "Oh Riku," he whispered, taking a step towards him, and Riku shifted back. "I won't hurt you," he promised. "Please Riku."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He stared at him…it was really him, the boy from his dreams…his eyes as blue as the sky and the stone he carried. He looked…thinner, his hair a bit longer and messier, but it was really him. Maybe older? He didn't really know what aging was for, he'd been told Nobodies didn't age because they didn't really exist, that the Organisation would do something to make him grow if needed. But the boy was a person so he'd grow without needing that.

"I'm not dead," he promised softly. "I'm right here, I've been looking everywhere for you. I've gotten close a few times but then you'd leave before I could reach you. I've missed you so much Riku," he held his hands out, empty, but Kirux stared at him, Riku?

"Riku?" he asked with wide eyes. "Is…is that my name?" Was that his old name, his name when he was a person? Riku…it was similar….reordered letter with an added x…was that a fluke? Or…had Xemnas known all along who he'd once been?

The boy's expression went sad. "Don't…don't you remember?" he asked shakily, and Kirux shook his head. "Oh Riku," he whispered, taking a step towards him, and Kirux instinctively shifted back. "I won't hurt you," he promised. "Please Riku."

Could he trust him? He'd thought he could trust Axel but he'd lied to him, kept secrets. But this boy…he was a Somebody…his eyes full of pain and hope, his hand held out to him… "Who are you?" he whispered.

"Sora," the boy answered, sounding pained. "It's me Riku, Sora."

"Sora," he tried the name and it came so naturally.

Before he realised it, he was reaching out for his hand, moving closer, but he froze when he realised it. What was he doing? The hope was more obvious in Sora's expression now, and Kirux took another step towards him, unable to stop himself. Had he been the Imposter…because he was looking for him? Their gloved fingers brushed and he shivered, feeling something strange. Slender fingers entwined with his own even as Sora stepped closer, looking him almost right in the eyes.

Sora swallowed but offered a shaky smile, his other hand slowly rising, and Kirux stood still, curious but also nervous…or at least he thought that's what he should feel if he had a Heart, but he didn't so it couldn't be real. Gloved fingers brushed his cheek and then moved back to stroke through his hair.

"I thought you were gone forever," Sora whispered. "I didn't know about Nobodies and you died, then your Heartless was destroyed…I thought I'd lost you forever."

He'd known academically that he'd died as a Somebody to be split apart into a Nobody and Heartless but to hear it from someone who had apparently seen it…made it more real somehow. And he hadn't known his Heartless was gone, was that why his memory was gone? "Why can't I remember?"

"I don't know," Sora admitted. "Whatever it takes, I'll help you Riku, anything you need."

"Why?" he didn't understand.

The Organisation had said they'd help him, protect him, give him a new Heart, but it'd all been a lie. Why should he trust Sora?

Sora smiled at him and then soft, warm, lips were pressed against his. He gasped at the familiar sensation, except there was warmth when they'd been cold in his dream. His arms came up without him consciously moving, wrapping around Sora to hold him close. Kissing…they were kissing.

He gasped and staggered away, hand pressed to his lips, staring at Sora with wide eyes. His legs buckled and he gripped his head as pain exploded behind his eyes.

"Riku!"

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora knew it was risky to have his blindfold off for so long, but his joy at seeing Riku was holding the Darkness back. No wonder Riku hadn't tried to look for him or Kairi…he didn't remember them, anything by the sound of it. What had they told him about himself? Anything? It didn't sound like it if he hadn't even known his own name.

Some part of Riku recognised him, Sora knew it, he'd moved without thinking to take his hand after all. He could tell Riku was struggling, so unsure, and it hurt to see. It was shocking to find he didn't look up to Riku anywhere near as much as he used to, they were only an inch or two apart in height. He'd grown…and Riku hadn't. He hadn't changed except his hair was way too long, he looked skinnier too. If a Nobody was made from a dead body…did that mean he couldn't grow? Would he feel like he was dead if their skin touched? Sora had hardly been trying to touch the Nobodies he'd fought over the last almost year so he had no way of knowing.

It didn't matter, Riku needed more than words could give him. His kiss had broken the curse on Sora…he had to try. So he pressed his lips to Riku's, relieved to find they weren't cold, no they were soft and warm, parting in a near silent gasp. Sora felt arms wrap around him, pulling him closer and he lifted his own to Riku's shoulders, not risking embracing him in case it made him feel trapped.

Riku suddenly gasped again, loudly, and staggered away, a hand pressed to his lips, staring at Sora with wide eyes. Sora was confused but then Riku's legs buckled and he gripped his head seeming to be in agony.

"Riku!" Sora yelled in alarm, moving to support him, kneeling in front of him, carefully holding him. He cast Cure to be safe, rubbing Riku's back through his coat. "It's okay, you're okay, just breath," he whispered.

He felt Riku trembling and hated not knowing what was happening or how to help him. Riku slumped against him, head resting on his shoulder, and Sora just kept talking softly to him.

Riku finally raised his head, pulling back enough to look at him and Sora froze at the look in Riku's eyes. Riku lifted his hand to touch Sora's face, tracing the tear tracks. "Sora…" Riku whispered. "I…I know you."

Sora swallowed. "Really?"

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku nodded, understanding why he asked. "When you were six, you bet Tidus you could eat more watermelons than he could, you ended up throwing up but you won," he whispered. He remembered! He knew who he had been.

All because Sora kissed…True Love's Kiss! He'd broken the curse on Sora, could Sora's kiss have restored his memories? But…Riku couldn't feel love, not without a Heart, so why had it worked?

"I was looking for you…" he whispered as he realised it.

"What?" Sora asked.

"When I first woke up, I was wandering the Worlds, looking for something but I didn't know what. It was you; I knew you were in danger and I had to get to you. Ansem!" Riku studied Sora and then he saw it, the yellow streaks in normally blue eyes. "Your eyes…"

Sora flinched, looking away, and then he lifted a piece of black cloth, from his coat?, and wrapped it around his eyes. A blindfold. "Ansem's gone," Sora told him. "He took over my body completely, sending my Heart into the Realm of Darkness. When Kairi defeated him, I got my body back and I helped her and the King seal the Door to keep the Worlds safe. I fought Ansem again later and defeated him, he's gone but…he's left his mark."

Riku found himself stroking messy brown spikes. It was Sora, not Ansem, it had to be. He remembered the odd dual voice he'd had before when possessed, the smirk and coldness, nothing like Sora. "The blindfold?"

"You know the saying eyes are window to the soul?" Sora asked, and he nodded before he thought about it, not like Sora could see him. "Eyes don't lie," Sora shifted slightly, "not when it comes to Darkness. The blindfold helps contain it, keeps it manageable. I can do without it for a little, but it's safer to keep it on. I'm not blind, I can even fight with it on."

"How?" he asked, stunned. Ansem was gone but he still haunted Sora, it wasn't right.

Sora smiled, tracing his face, and Riku automatically leant into his touch. Sora grimaced and then moved, taking off his coat, revealing new clothes under it, including fingerless gloves. He reached out again, and Riku's eyes fell shut as warm, sword calloused, fingers touched his face.

"It's not normal vision but somehow I can see, it's just all shadowy shades of grey. I had to see you with my own eyes though, not like this."

"This is my fault," Riku swallowed. He knew it was, he didn't feel guilty but he remembered feeling that when he'd realised what was happening to Sora. "There has to be a way to fix this."

Sora shook his head, "I can manage, and having you back is a big help. I feel…Lighter than I have since being cursed. I love you Riku."

He looked away. "Sora…I…"

"I know," he whispered, and Riku dared to glance at him. "Nobodies don't have Hearts, right?"

He nodded, relieved Sora already knew and he didn't have to explain that. "I love you, I remember it," he promised. For the first time in a while, he really wanted a Heart, to be able to feel it again.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Even if you were a Dusk, I'd still love you Riku," Sora promised, laughing when Riku gave him a disbelieving look. "I will always love you. True Love, remember?" he smiled, and Riku nodded slowly.

"I'm not…that different to them Sora. I look human, but I'm not. I don't even feel hunger, only sleep because I want to…I…there was a fight, it went badly, and I changed," Riku struggled to explain.

Changed…Sora frowned before feeling sick, scared for Riku. "More like them?" he asked softly, and Riku nodded, looking ashamed. For someone who couldn't feel he was very expressive. Strangely, it was easier to see Riku, to see detail despite the greyness. Because of what they were to each other?

"Oh Riku," he pulled Riku into another hug, not reacting when he realised Riku was smelling him. He'd noticed Nobodies seemed to have different senses so it wasn't surprising that Riku's were different too. "It'll be okay, we'll figure it out." Somehow.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ven frowned, where was Sora? He should have been back by now. Had something happened? He glanced at Kairi and then the machine, it had moved another two percent, DiZ estimated another month if the rate stayed steady. It would be good to have it over, Sora needed her back, and then they could work out what to do next, beyond retrieving Riku from the Organisation.

Wait…was that why Sora was late? Had he finally found him? No point getting his hopes up, he could have run into trouble or just be stuck hiding somewhere so that he wouldn't be seen, that had happened before. He had to admit, the Corridors were a handy travel method, pity you needed Darkness to use them. He knew he had some, his Heart had healed from having Vanitas ripped out of him after all and he wasn't one of the Princesses of Heart after all, but it wasn't enough to let him open one.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku pulled back enough to unzip and then shrug out of his own coat, not wanting to wear it anymore, he wasn't part of the Organisation anymore, he never should have been. He knew that now that he could remember. He still wore the clothing he'd woken as a Nobody in underneath, dark blue pants, yellow t-shirt, boots, and a purplish-blue jacket with a yellow stripe on the seams going down his sides and then over his shoulders.

Sora was looking him over and then he smiled at him. "I like it," he announced. "Though you'll need gloves to protect your hands in a fight."

"In grey?" he asked, and Sora shrugged, lifting the blindfold briefly. Though he agreed with the gloves idea, maybe fingerless like Sora's, to let him touch things because touching Sora and feeling it himself felt…nice.

"Yep, it suits you."

Riku ran his hands over the soft yet sturdy material of Sora's dark red jacket. He boots were black with some red highlights, his pants were black like his gloves, and his t-shirt was white. Sora was wearing pants, he never wore pants, always shorts. Then again, other Worlds weren't as warm as where they grew up. Sora wasn't the goofy kid he'd been, he'd grown up, and Riku…hadn't. But Sora had kissed him, returned his memory, so he still loved him. He hadn't turned to Kairi…Kairi, where was she?

"Sora, is Kairi alright?"

"She's here," Sora assured him, but there was something in his expression. "Have you heard of Castle Oblivion?" he asked softly, and Riku jolted.

"How do you…Axel and I went there following a report that the Imposter was sighted there."

That made Sora frown. "I haven't been back there, not since fighting the Organisation. I met Axel there, he probably suspected I was the Imposter. He was the one that gave me the hope you were still around, hinted you were with them."

"Why were you even there? Was that when everyone there died?" Riku asked, confused, and Sora nodded.

"Come on, we can walk and talk," Sora stood, offering him a hand up, and Riku let him pull him up. Sora grabbed both of their coats, shoving them into his magical pocket, handy. Sora didn't let go of his hand and he didn't pull away.

"So, after you…died," Sora began and Riku listened as he explained everything that happened.

How he'd ended up in the Realm of Darkness, how Riku's Heartless had found him, protected him, given its 'life' to protect him. Sora helping Kairi close the Door then her and the King Sealing it. Sora had summoned a Keyblade! If either of them should, of course it was Sora. How the man named DiZ had managed to pull Sora out and he'd ended up in the Castle, facing off against various members, having a Replica of him made…he could have sworn his Heart sank as Sora told him of finding Kairi the way he had. Finding out that Sora had been sheltering and healing someone else's Heart…that wasn't surprising, he had such a big Heart. And…he remembered that night, Sora crying for seemingly no reason and weeks before that, meeting the man on the beach and he'd had a Keyblade, Riku knew that now.

They reached the mansion he'd fought around but never been inside and watched as Sora unlocked the doors, going inside. It was a wreck, but maybe that was intentional to help disguise their presence if anyone thought to look in through a window?

"Why have you brought that thing here?" an unfamiliar voice demanded.

Riku turned to see a man dressed strangely, most of his face covered.

"I brought Riku," Sora answered firmly, his grip on Riku's hand tightening, and Riku squeezed back automatically.

"That is a Nobody, Sora. I thought you understood what they are. It is a danger to everyone here."

"Riku, this is DiZ, DiZ this is Riku. He was only with the Organisation because he had amnesia. He remembers who he is now and he's left them. He won't endanger us."

"Sora's right," a new voice said and then a ten who could be Sora's brother was on the landing above. He simply dropped over the railing to land on the ground, smiling at him. "It's good to finally meet you Riku," he offered his hand, and Riku took it.

"You're Ventus?" he asked, and the blond nodded, hands behind his head…like Sora. That was kind of strange. Sora had used that pose before Ventus…maybe they were really related?

"You had amnesia too, huh?" Ventus asked him, and Riku nodded.

"I knew nothing but then after a while I suddenly knew what trees and grass were, things like that, but nothing about myself. Axel used to call me a zombie," Riku explained.

"Huh…I wonder…"

"Ven?" Sora asked curiously.

"Could the sudden knowledge correspond with when his Heartless was destroyed? They don't usually have memories but his did."

Was that possible? "But then why didn't I remember who I was?"

Ventus shrugged. "No idea, it's only a theory. Did you get anything else?"

"Dreams…linked to Sora," all of them had related to Sora which he supposed made sense.

"He's pretty hard to forget," Ventus grinned at him, and Riku nodded. "Want me to air out another room or will you two be sharing?"

Sora glanced at him, and Riku hesitated, Sora knew what he was but did he understand everything that meant? Sora squeezed his hand and Riku nodded.

"I'll get it set up, you two go see Kairi," Ventus told them before leaping up, skipping the stairs completely.

"This way," Sora led him upstairs the normal way, down the opposite hall and into a library. He touched a statue and the floor faded to reveal very modern stairs. "We've got a whole lap setup under here, don't ask me to run any of it."

Riku snickered but nodded. He remembered computer classes and the nearly blown-up lab room well now. it was stark, cold…a lot like both Organisation castles, and he found himself tensing up. Sora's thumb stroked over the back of his hand as they walked and he began to relax again. They came to a doo and Sora input a code to get inside. Riku froze as he stared at the large pod and the girl floating within.

"She's okay," Sora promised. "The Organisation was running experiments on memory. Marluxia, the one in charge, wanted to use Kairi to take over the Organisation. When we found her, she'd beaten Marluxia but…it was too late, her memory was gone. Ven said she was a lot like he was when he first arrived at the Land of Departure…which is what Castle Oblivion used to be. His body was hidden there by Aqua, she did something to keep him safe and it turned their home into that place. But Kairi's memory is recovering. Another month if things stay stable and she'll be able to wake up."

Riku blinked, realising he was no right in front of the pod, he hadn't realised he was moving closer. He carefully put his hand against the clear front. "She looks peaceful."

"We don't know if she can hear us, but Ven and I talk to her to let her know she's not alone. You can talk to her too."

Riku nodded but didn't really know what to say. "Hi Kairi. I'm…alive, sort of. Sora found me, helped me get my memory back so I remember you now. Guess he's helped us both with that. Wake up soon."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kirux had vanished and Axel hoped the kid was okay. Xemnas was not happy, they had lost the closest they had to a Keyblade wielder, though he didn't have one. Whatever Soul Eater was it was close, though Dark. They'd been sent to search every World Kirux had ever been too but there was no sign of him anywhere. Well, that wasn't strictly true, when Axel had investigated Twilight Town there'd been whispers of two black coated individuals, one with silver hair, running through the town. He hoped Sora could handle the fact his best friend didn't know him anymore. Kirux would be safer with them than him, but things were worse than ever without him there.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora woke up, but stayed still, hearing movement. "Riku?" he called softly, and the noise stopped. He sat up and even in the dark, he could see Riku at the window seat, half turned towards him.

"Sorry," he murmured, and Sora got out of bed, walking over to him.

"Can't sleep?" he asked gently, leaning against him. Riku shrugged slightly and Sora leant in to kiss him softly.

"I didn't mean to wake you," Riku offered, one arm wrapping around Sora's waist.

"It's okay, I don't sleep so well anymore, not since…" not since the curse.

Riku pulled him in close and Sora let him, laying his head on Riku's shoulder. The curtains kept the light of the never-ending sunset out, leaving them in quiet darkness, Sora letting his vision fade. He felt Riku brush a hand over his hair and then he moved it to his back, rubbing up and down slowly. Sora sighed, leaning more and more into Riku.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku glanced down, unsurprised to find Sora had fallen asleep. He very carefully shifted Sora so he was fully in his lap to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. He couldn't believe the trust Sora had in him, not after he'd let Maleficent train him to use the Darkness and now he wasn't even human, he was a Nobody! And yet Sora hadn't shown a second of hesitance. He'd never understood why the others wanted Hearts and now he wanted his own back, he wanted to feel the things he remembered feeling for Sora…for Kairi, his family.

He had the answers he'd left the Organisation to find, he knew where he belonged now. But…Axel had hinted at his existence to Sora, maybe…they were really friends? Had he been too quick to blame him?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ven smiled and quietly closed the door again, heading to his own room. He could feel the Light regaining ground in Sora's Heart, heading back to a better balance and all because of Riku's presence. He might not have a Heart anymore, but Ventus wasn't so convinced he couldn't feel anything, not after seeing how tender he was with Sora, his 'brother's fast asleep in Riku's arms.

He hoped Mickey accepted Riku's presence better than DiZ had. He'd been keeping a very close eye on the man from now on, not that he hadn't been watching him before, it was part of why he stayed. Mickey had even agreed to keep his wakening from Master Yen Sid for now. as far as Ven was concerned, he, like Sora, had no Master. Master Eraqus had nearly killed him, the less said about Xehanort the better, and he wasn't willing to answer to Yen Sid, not with how quick he'd been to judge the one time they'd met. If he had to call someone Master, it'd probably be Mickey.

He just hoped Kairi woke up before Sora kill DiZ or the Organisation found them.

TBC….

Felt bad about the cliff-hanger so here you go, one reunion and memory return.