[13.] Encouragement and Regrets
Title: Encouragement and Regret
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Claim: Cloud/Riku
Theme: [13.] Sacrifice
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 5,009
Summary: Wherein Riku can’t control his mouth, Cloud is worried, and Ansem finally makes his presence known.
Disclaimer: I asked for the rights to Kingdom Hearts, but I was informed I could not have them, so sadly, they still aren’t mine, and I will give them back when I’m finished, if only to borrow them again.
Author’s Note: I am sick. And busy. And when the Christmas season is over, I’m sure I will have the opportunity to write more. Until then, I apologize for taking so long to get these prompts out. I also apologize because I fished an old Harry Potter story off my old hard drive, let my little sister read it again, and she is already demanding more of the twelve chapter serial. Cloud and Riku, however, are still very important to me, so don’t lose hope.
“You’re needed on deck,” said Smee, Captain Hook’s first mate. “The Captain said to tell you someone important has been captured, and there’s another one on the way that he needs your help for.”
“Okay,” said Riku, putting the phone back in his pocket. Suppose he wasn’t calling Cloud now.
Smee nodded and walked out of the room.
Captain Hook was driving Riku insane. This was supposed to be a simple task, getting Kairi back to Hollow Bastion. As far as Riku understood, Captain Hook came upon Kairi in Neverland, and informed Maleficent, who, in turn, informed Riku. It would be tasking to bring Kairi through a dark portal (though he wasn’t sure what the difference between Kairi and the princesses were except Kairi didn’t have her heart), so Captain Hook was to bring them both to Hollow Bastion on his ship. The only thing was that Captain Hook was taking his sweet old time.
Belle was safely taken to Hollow Bastion weeks ago, and the Hercules Cup grew closer. Riku didn’t know how he’d get away from Neverland to see Cloud at this rate, and when he’d told Cloud so last night, Cloud had grown quiet. He felt stressed and tired; the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint Cloud, even if there was a chance he’d run into Sora.
Sora. There was another thing he’d thought about a lot lately. Sora and Cloud’s friend, Leon, who knew about their relationship. Sora, Leon, and Kairi, who was no closer to her heart. There was still one more princess to go, though Maleficent failed to tell him who, and Riku suspected she had no idea. Captain Hook was convinced the seventh princess must be Wendy, a girl in Neverland who took care of Peter Pan and his Lost Boys-the bane of Captain Hook’s existence.
As much as Riku didn’t like Captain Hook, though, he didn’t care much for Peter Pan, either. He was immature, annoying, arrogant, and self-centered-much like Sora was these days. Riku imagined that when Sora finally showed up in Neverland, he and Peter Pan would either get along great or clash horribly. If it was the latter, Riku hoped he was there for it. He was growing insatiably bored, and watching the two of them duke it out and possibly kill each other would not only be a source of great entertainment, but eliminate two of his most recent annoyances.
Not that he wanted Sora dead, but there was a good chance that Sora would take out Peter Pan before Peter ever got a good swing it. Sora would, of course, gloat, but Riku didn’t have to stick around long enough to listen.
Riku figured it was a matter of days before Sora showed up in Neverland. Captain Hook had been beside himself with glee the previous night having successfully gotten his hands on Wendy, who was locked in a room somewhere on the ship. Riku hadn’t paid too much attention to Captain Hook then, more interested in when he’d get the opportunity to call Cloud.
It was his only stability at the moment-the only thing really keeping him grounded. Talking to Cloud forced Riku to really stay focused on the light left in his heart. He needed that now, especially when his heart felt more clouded and blacker by the moment. The last time bringing Belle to Hollow Bastion had been painful-frightening almost. Opening a dark portal made his heart feel tight and weak, his heartbeat dull. Passing through one was worse-his head heavy, thoughts distorted.
That voice had come back-the one from the Secret Place in Destiny Islands-and it dangled the darkness in front of him, fed every angry and negative emotion he felt. If he thought about Sora, the voice would agree with everything he said, and talk about how much better Riku was than Sora. When he thought about Leon, the voice mentioned all insecurities he had about his secrets becoming exposed. Even when he thought about Cloud and tried to cling to the happiness, the voice told him that Cloud didn’t really love him, and was really siding with Sora about the entire situation. When Riku worried about his heart, the voice talked at great length about Riku’s talents and strength of heart. Worst of all, sometimes Riku couldn’t tell which thoughts were his and which ones came from the voice.
Riku wished he could make it shut up.
It was true, though. He wasn’t as arrogant or uncaring as Sora these days. Sora had a good heart, but Riku’s was stronger-he was in the darkness, and he hadn’t fallen victim. Sora would have fallen from grace by now. Sure, the darkness was affecting his heart, but he wasn’t taken, and the Heartless obeyed him. They weren’t about to take his heart any time soon. Riku wouldn’t allow it.
“What’s taking so long?” Maleficent demanded, stepping out of a dark portal. Riku looked away from Kairi to Maleficent. “You should have been back by now.”
“Ask Captain Hook. He’s convinced Wendy is the seventh princess of heart. He thinks he’s doing you a favor,” said Riku. He rolled his eyes. “And you said I couldn’t bring Kairi without transportation because I rely too much on my dark powers.”
“That girl is unnecessary,” said Maleficent. “Tell him to get rid of her and set course for Hollow Bastion immediately.”
She disappeared back into the portal.
Riku sunk his head into his hands. He didn’t know how much more of this he could take.
There was so much more he could be doing with his time.
“But you’re so good at what you do,” said the voice. “Your dark powers far outstretch Maleficent’s.”
He could be with Cloud.
“He doesn’t love you like you want him to. Do you really think he’ll stick around for long?”
He felt his life, his happiness, and his hope slipping away. He looked back at Kairi and sighed, standing to go find Captain Hook.
“I hope you know I’m doing this for you,” he said, pushing the chair in.
Walking out of the door and onto the balcony, Riku glanced around the deck for a sign of the Captain. Maleficent seemed pretty angry, but at least he could be rid of Wendy and Peter Pan. All the better for that. Instead of spotting Captain Hook, however, he spotted a familiar head of pointy brown spikes and Riku smirked. It was odd how just when he wondered when Sora would arrive, there Sora would be as if on cue, coming to play hero. So this was who Captain Hook needed his help to capture.
Riku hoped Sora knew he had no intentions of playing the villain. He was the one helping Kairi, not Sora. He commanded the pirate Heartless to bring Kairi out onto the balcony.
“I didn’t think you’d come, Sora,” said Riku. Sora gasped from the deck and looked up to the balcony. “Good to see you again.”
“Where are Donald and Goofy?”
Riku suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. As if he knew or cared. Riku felt the mean streak and anger fill him again, only this time he couldn’t quite suppress it.
“You’re better than this,” said the voice.
“Are they that important to you? More important than old friends?” said Riku. “Instead of worrying about them, you should be asking about her.”
Riku stepped aside to reveal Kairi and the condition she was in-hollow and empty as ever. Maybe then Sora would realize where his behavior had gotten her. Maybe then Sora would stop thinking about himself for a change or realize that the duck and dog weren’t as important as Kairi. Maybe Sora would realize that Riku was taking care of things that Sora hadn’t bothered to worry about.
“Kairi!” said Sora.
“That’s right. While you were off goofing around, I finally found her.”
Sora ran towards them, but was intercepted by Captain Hook.
“Not so fast,” said Captain Hook. “No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy.”
Pirate Heartless surrounded Sora, their swords drawn. Sora appeared unfazed.
“Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?”
Leave it to Sora to blame Riku when he hadn’t intercepted him from reaching Kairi, but nonetheless, Riku couldn’t argue that he was siding with the Heartless. Riku knew Sora would react this way-he always did. Luckily, Riku had also learned how to play Sora’s game.
“The Heartless obey me now, Sora. Now I have nothing to fear.”
“You’re stupid. Sooner or later, they’ll swallow your heart.”
Riku laughed.
“Not a chance. My heart’s too strong.”
“Riku . . .”
“I’ve picked up a few other tricks as well. Like this, for instance.”
He held out a hand and watched as a Heartless-like Sora rose from the ground, a Heartless he’d created around Neverland before-just a little something he liked to call Anti-Sora.
“Why are you so obsessed with that boy?” said the voice. “You’re better than him, you know?”
Captain Hook looked at Riku expectantly. That’s right; Captain Hook was capturing Sora. Probably planned on taking him to Hollow Bastion for Maleficent, too. Well, Maleficent would be happy to have Sora out of the way if they succeeded-though Riku suspected they wouldn’t. Still, he could indispose of Sora for the time being. He imagined the duck and the dog were in the hold as he noticed Sora stood right above it.
He really couldn’t be bothered with Sora right now. He had Captain Hook to deal with. Besides, Donald and Goofy were really who Sora wanted to see, anyway.
“You can go see your friends, now,” said Riku.
A trap door opened beneath Sora’s feet and Sora dropped through. The Heartless closed the door.
“Let’s get under way, already,” said Riku, looking at Captain Hook. “And keep Sora away from Kairi until we’re ready to land.”
Riku turned around and walked back into the Captain’s room. The Heartless had already taken Kairi to be with Wendy. He heard the words, “scurvy brat,” as he entered and closed the door. Honestly, Riku couldn’t care less what Captain Hook thought of him after all the delays. Riku stood by the wall and fingered the phone in his pocket. Cloud wasn’t going to like it when Riku told him what had happened.
“That’s because he doesn’t love you.”
“Shut up, voice,” Riku muttered.
Now that he was calming, Riku wondered if maybe he hadn’t been a little . . . harsh . . . with Sora. After all, Sora had looked genuinely worried when he saw Kairi-even made to run for her. He hadn’t screamed at Riku-only called him stupid, which Riku supposed he might have been. He had nothing to fear? When he felt fear every day for his heart?
Okay, so maybe he’d been trying to get to Sora, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t make up. Sora could sit in the hold on the Jolly Roger until they got to Hollow Bastion and think about the way he’d been behaving. Sora would be calmed down by then, too, and they could talk this out. They could get Kairi’s heart back together.
“He doesn’t care about you anymore,” said the voice. “You have to dispose of him.”
“I’m not disposing of Sora.”
The door to the Captain’s cabin opened and Captain Hook walked in.
“You could have told me it was Sora you wanted me to throw in the hold,” said Riku.
“There wasn’t time for that,” said Captain Hook.
“Maleficent came by. She said Wendy’s not one of the princesses and we’re to get rid of her before we reach Hollow Bastion.”
“What? So Wendy’s not one of the chosen ones?”
“There are seven, supposedly, and Maleficent says she’s not one of them.” Riku turned away from Captain Hook. “Hoist anchor as soon as possible. Leave all the dead weight behind, including her.”
“After the trouble of capturing her? And why those seven? What is Maleficent planning, anyway?”
Once again, as if Riku knew or cared.
“Who knows? As long as it means getting Kairi’s heart back, I couldn’t care less.”
“You’re wasting your time!” said Captain Hook. Riku almost laughed in his face. Like he cared what Riku did with his time. “The Heartless have devoured that girl’s heart. I’ll stake me other hand it’s lost forever.”
“I will find it now matter what.”
Smee’s voice broke into the room through a large pipe coming out of the floor and against the far wall.
“Uh, Captain . . . The prisoner’s have escaped,” said Smee. Riku turned to look at the pipe, eyes narrowed. There went that plan. “What’s more, Peter Pan is with them.”
Sora worked fast. Riku was almost impressed.
“Blast that Peter Pan,” said Captain Hook. “All right, then! Bring the hostage to me cabin, Smee! Hop to it!”
Captain Hook moved out of the room, and Riku awaited Kairi’s arrival in the cabin.
*
“Hello?”
“Hey,” said Riku.
“Hey, gorgeous. You sound stressed.”
Cloud always had a way of pointing out the obvious.
“Sora’s here. In Neverland.”
“And it’s going disastrous.”
“That’s what I wanted to call you about. I’m . . . You know how Maleficent doesn’t want me bringing Kairi to Hollow Bastion through the dark portals?”
“Right.”
“Well, Sora’s probably about to off Captain Hook sometime soon and then I’m going to be screwed. We had him captured and down in the hold-“
“You captured Sora?”
“Well, Captain Hook did it, but I figured I’d leave him down there to figure some stuff out, and then talk to him about getting Kairi’s heart back when we got to Hollow Bastion, but . . . well, Sora doesn’t seem in the mood for talking.”
“I guess not if you stuck him in the hold.”
“Yeah, well, anyway, I don’t want to lose the chance to take Kairi to Hollow Bastion, so I’m just going to do it, and I wanted to call you and let you know. You know, in case I lose my heart or something doing it. Let you know I love you and all.”
Cloud was silent for a moment.
“Be careful, Riku.”
“You’re so great, you know that?”
“Why’s that?”
“I can tell you want to lecture me.”
“Well, I don’t know if it’s the best idea. You should at least talk to Sora-“
“Cloud, I’m so angry at him right now I’m just going to blow up at him and say things I don’t mean. He’s going to insult me. I’m going to get defensive. It’s going to be a mess and nothing will be accomplished. I can’t control it. I mean, I already told him I can control the Heartless, have nothing to fear because my heart’s too strong to be taken, showed him Kairi, and then opened the trapdoor to the hold. All I really wanted to do was make him see how hard I’m trying to help Kairi, and that I’m not pure evil.”
“You really can’t control yourself,” said Cloud, laughing. “Not the best way to go about it, though.”
“I know that. I messed up. I just . . . I’ll call you if I make it, okay.”
“I still don’t know if you should be so willing to sacrifice your heart.”
“This is for Kairi, not me.”
“That’s why it’s a sacrifice. If it was for you, it’d just be a risk.”
“I would do the same for you, Cloud. Please don’t ask me not to do it for her.”
“I won’t ask you. I would do it for you, too. Just be careful. I still would like you to come to the Hercules Cup, you know, and I would be really upset to lose my boyfriend.”
“I will be. But, hey, I can sneak away from Hollow Bastion better than here, so if I make it-“
“When you make it-“
“I’ll probably get away to come see you in Olympus Coliseum for a few days.”
“I’ll see you soon, then.”
Riku smiled. Cloud was unhappy-the strain in his voice said it all. Still, he didn’t argue. Riku was thankful for the support despite Cloud’s personal feelings on it. He was so perfect. Riku couldn’t wait until this was all over and they could just be together.
“Okay,” said Riku. “I love you. Thank you.”
“You know I love you,” said Cloud. “I just worry for your heart, too.”
“I know.”
“You’re getting lost farther in the darkness. I don’t want you to end up like me, unable to see the light for ages.”
“Won’t happen so long as I have you.”
“I hope you’re right, because I’m not going anywhere. Now go get Kairi back to Hollow Bastion. You can talk to me then.”
“Okay. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Well, after you get away from Maleficent at least.”
“Right.”
“Talk to you soon.”
“You, too.”
Riku pressed end on the phone and watched as the Heartless brought Kairi into the Cabin. He dismissed them, picked her up, and made his way toward the deck, intent on letting Captain Hook know he was leaving. He made it to the balcony door before Sora burst in. Riku stilled. He took a step back away from Sora.
“Riku, wait!” said Sora, holding a hand out as if it would stop him.
Riku took another step back. Sora wasn’t going to get in the way of rescuing Kairi. Not now, not ever. He opened a dark portal beneath his feet and summoned an Anti-Sora. That should keep him busy. Riku disappeared into the portal.
*
There was nothing but darkness, the smell turning his stomach over. Everything around him was black and reeked of the stench. He stumbled, fell to his knees, and panted. His heart pulled tight in his chest; his lungs begged for air. Fog swam around his head, and Riku felt his grip on Kairi loosen.
He tried to conjure an image of Cloud in his head.
If you get through this, you can see him again. Not just talk to him on the phone, but see him, and kiss him, and touch him, and make love with him.
The pressure lessened; Riku stood, and readjusted his grip on Kairi. He took another step toward Hollow Bastion.
Cloud’s counting on you. You can’t let him down like this.
The steps became easier-the passages of darkness easier to navigate. He pictured Cloud the way he’d looked the first time he met him in Hollow Bastion, the way he looked after their first kiss, and the way he looked when he slept or smiled. Riku imagined the sound of his voice and how soft his blond spiky hair really felt.
When he saw anything other than pitch black again, he was in Hollow Bastion, kneeling before Maleficent.
“It was reckless to bring her here without at least using a vessel,” said Maleficent. Riku looked up at her. “Remember, relying too heavily on the dark powers could cost you your heart.”
As if he didn’t already know that.
Riku heard a loud, growling noise-something almost beast-like, and looked questioningly to Maleficent.
“A castaway,” she said. Riku smirked. Belle’s Beast, he imagined. “Though his world perished, his heart did not. When we took the princess from his castle, he apparently followed her here through sheer force of will. But fear not. No harm will come to you. He is no match for your power.”
Riku had just been thinking he understood. He’d do the same for Cloud-follow him through the darkness. Maleficent, however caught him off-guard. He hoped this wasn’t leading to more dark gifts that would eat away further at his heart.
“My power?”
“Yes, the untapped power that lies within you. Now, child, it is time you awakened that power and realized your full potential.”
*
She hadn’t called it a gift and Riku figured it really wasn’t. He looked at the Keyblade on his desk. A Keyblade to unlock people’s hearts. A dark Keyblade. Riku didn’t even know Keyblades could be dark.
He turned the information Maleficent had just told him over in his head. It hadn’t helped that the voice had assisted in the telling. It was even worse that this time, he wasn’t the only one hearing the voice, and now the voice had a name. Maleficent called him Ansem. This was his castle. The books Riku obsessed over in the library on hearts were his. His body, Maleficent said, was sealed up in that big keyhole where Kairi’s heart could be found.
That wasn’t all, either.
Maleficent said Sora didn’t have what it took to save Kairi, even if he was a Keyblade master. His heart wasn’t strong enough to go through the portal. He couldn’t withstand the darkness. In fact, he wasn’t supposed to be a Keyblade master at all.
Riku was the Keyblade master.
Quite honestly, Riku found this all wholly unbelievable until Maleficent and Ansem started to elaborate. Ansem had been locked up in the keyhole and contacted Riku on Destiny Islands not to take over their world, but because he was the Keyblade master, and opening the door would allow Riku to travel to the other worlds he needed to travel to. The Heartless getting in was just because, well, the Heartless were everywhere. The only reason Destiny Islands hadn’t been opened before was because Riku lived there, and the Keyblade master.
Only it had gone wrong. Riku had been too selfish, wanting to see other worlds. Too willing to use the darkness. Too weak in the moment, and the Keyblade had passed to Sora.
Apparently, this ruined everything Ansem intended by trying to retrieve Riku in the first place, because now Sora was running around sealing up the worlds’ keyholes and killing everyone in his path. Not to mention, he just didn’t have what it took.
With Sora growing closer to Hollow Bastion, Ansem said, they had to tell him. Riku had to know, because now he had a new mission.
They were-as they said-waiting for Sora to arrive in Hollow Bastion, biding their time. Riku couldn’t just take the Keyblade. He had to wait for Sora to bring it to them, and then Riku could take back what was rightfully his.
Riku tried to fight it, tell them they were crazy, until they told him that no one but a Keyblade master can take the Keyblade. It just transfers back to its owner, which was why Maleficent or her allies couldn’t take it from Sora. Riku thought back to his meeting with Sora in Traverse Town, and how easily he’d taken the Keyblade from Sora, and it hadn’t disappeared. In fact, he’d actually given it back to him.
Still, they could be lying.
He pulled the phone from his pocket and dialed Cloud’s number.
“You made it,” said Cloud.
“Yeah. I have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
“How much do you know about Keyblades?”
“A bit, why?”
“Do you know if it’s true that no one but a Keyblade master can wield a Keyblade?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, if you aren’t a Keyblade master and you just take the Keyblade from one, will you just not be able to use it, or will it-I don’t know. Disappear from your hands and go back to the Keyblade master.”
“The second one,” said Cloud. “Only a Keyblade master can take the Keyblade. Why?”
Riku swallowed.
“Have you heard of Ansem?”
“Sure. He lived at Maleficent’s castle. Fell to the darkness and then disappeared. Started this whole Heartless mess. Why?”
“I talked to him. He and Maleficent. They’re working together. He’s the one who got me to open the door on the Islands. Said he contacted me because I was the Keyblade master, but . . .”
“What?”
“They told me that I’m the Keyblade master, not Sora. They said my heart was too weak when I opened the door, though. I was too selfish, and too willing to accept the darkness. I was too-I don’t know. Regretful about letting in the Heartless. In that moment of weakness, the Keyblade passed from me to Sora. I thought it sounded like a lot of crap to get me even more at odds with Sora.”
“That’s what it sounds like to me.”
“Only . . . I took the Keyblade.”
“What?”
“No. Not today. Remember when I went to see Sora in Traverse Town?”
“How could I forget? That’s when this feud started in the first place.”
“I told you he freaked out at me because I was holding his precious Keyblade. I took it. It didn’t go back to Sora, not even when he started freaking out because I had it. I gave it back to him.”
Cloud was quiet on the other end.
“You can wield the Keyblade,” he said, at last.
“Right. So it can’t be a load of crap completely if I can wield a Keyblade, but no one but a Keyblade master should be able to. I mean, I don’t trust them, or buy the entire story, but there’s got to be some truth to it, right?”
“You’ve got to be a Keyblade master.”
Riku sighed.
“Right.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t know. On the one hand, I feel like snatching my Keyblade from Sora, laughing in his face, and showing him that just because he had it for a little while, it was never really his. On the other hand . . . I feel kind of bad.”
“Bad?” said Cloud, his voice raising. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess if I hadn’t been so . . . I don’t know. ‘Willing to use the darkness’ and ‘regretful,’ my heart wouldn’t have been weak at the time, the Keyblade would have never passed to Sora, and this entire mess could’ve been avoided. I mean, you said there’s a lot of pressure being a Keyblade master, right? And Sora really isn’t as good at fighting as I am. If he’s this preoccupied just because of stress . . . that’s kind of my fault for not being to handle it, either, right? It shouldn’t be his burden to bear just because I was selfish.”
“You sound like you regret the way you’ve been acting about Sora.”
“Maybe a little.”
“So what’s your course of action?”
“I don’t know. Maleficent and Ansem want me to get the Keyblade from him. They think I’m going to need it when I’m looking for Kairi’s heart, and Sora isn’t going to be able to handle the darkness through that keyhole like I can. I guess that’s because I’ve been around the darkness so much already. So . . . I think I’m going to let the Keyblade choose.”
“Let the Keyblade choose?”
“Yeah. I mean, if I can call it from Sora . . . that means he shouldn’t have it, right? Instead of just . . . I don’t know.” Riku laughed. “Beating him with my little wooden sword and snatching it away.”
On the other end, Cloud snickered. The smile was back in his voice.
“To tell you the truth, I think approached right, even Sora would understand letting the Keyblade choose, especially if it’s to save Kairi’s heart. I don’t think there’s a fairer way to decide who should have it.”
“There’s another thing, though, and you aren’t going to like it. I don’t like it.”
“What’s that?”
“Maleficent and Ansem gave me more dark powers. When I use them now-I don’t know. My clothing transforms into this red and blue outfit and all of my attacks are enhanced, and . . . I don’t know. It’s dark powers.”
“Oh, Riku . . .”
“I know. I don’t like it, either, but I need to make things right, you know? I have to make up all this bad stuff I’ve done to Kairi, and if I have to give myself up for it-Kairi should have her heart back, don’t you think? I don’t think that I could live with myself if I just turned my back on it because I was too worried about my own heart. My selfishness is what got us into this in the first place.”
“I know. Just . . . don’t sacrifice too much.”
“I won’t lose my heart. I found my way back to Hollow Bastion, and it was terrible, but I thought about you, and . . . it worked. I found enough light to keep the darkness away.”
“Let’s hope that continues to work. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
“Listen, Cloud, I told Maleficent and Ansem I need some time alone to think about this whole Keyblade master thing, and that I’d be going away for a few days. You know what that means, right?”
The smile returned to Cloud’s voice.
“When should I come get you?”
“The sooner the better.”
“I’m halfway out the door. Pick you up tomorrow. I’ll call before I land in Hollow Bastion, and then we’ll head back to Olympus Coliseum.”
“When’s the Hercules Cup?”
“Three days. We have enough time. Then you can stay the night, and I’ll take you back to Hollow Bastion the day after.”
“So, that’s like, three days together, right?”
“Right.”
“Are we going to get down and dirty?”
“Depends. Do you want to?”
“I’d like to lose my virginity before I throw myself to darkness, yes.”
Cloud laughed.
“Well when you put it that way, I can’t let you go into the darkness a virgin, can I?”
“I sure hope not.”
“Everything’s going to be okay. You know that, right?”
“No, but I’m glad you have faith in me.”
“No one as determined as you can possibly give in.”
“What if the darkness does take me?”
“You’ll find a way out of it. Just like you did today.”
Riku smiled.
“You have no idea how much I hope you’re right.”
( Prompt Table) for previous installments. 13/100 Completed.
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Claim: Cloud/Riku
Theme: [13.] Sacrifice
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 5,009
Summary: Wherein Riku can’t control his mouth, Cloud is worried, and Ansem finally makes his presence known.
Disclaimer: I asked for the rights to Kingdom Hearts, but I was informed I could not have them, so sadly, they still aren’t mine, and I will give them back when I’m finished, if only to borrow them again.
Author’s Note: I am sick. And busy. And when the Christmas season is over, I’m sure I will have the opportunity to write more. Until then, I apologize for taking so long to get these prompts out. I also apologize because I fished an old Harry Potter story off my old hard drive, let my little sister read it again, and she is already demanding more of the twelve chapter serial. Cloud and Riku, however, are still very important to me, so don’t lose hope.
“You’re needed on deck,” said Smee, Captain Hook’s first mate. “The Captain said to tell you someone important has been captured, and there’s another one on the way that he needs your help for.”
“Okay,” said Riku, putting the phone back in his pocket. Suppose he wasn’t calling Cloud now.
Smee nodded and walked out of the room.
Captain Hook was driving Riku insane. This was supposed to be a simple task, getting Kairi back to Hollow Bastion. As far as Riku understood, Captain Hook came upon Kairi in Neverland, and informed Maleficent, who, in turn, informed Riku. It would be tasking to bring Kairi through a dark portal (though he wasn’t sure what the difference between Kairi and the princesses were except Kairi didn’t have her heart), so Captain Hook was to bring them both to Hollow Bastion on his ship. The only thing was that Captain Hook was taking his sweet old time.
Belle was safely taken to Hollow Bastion weeks ago, and the Hercules Cup grew closer. Riku didn’t know how he’d get away from Neverland to see Cloud at this rate, and when he’d told Cloud so last night, Cloud had grown quiet. He felt stressed and tired; the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint Cloud, even if there was a chance he’d run into Sora.
Sora. There was another thing he’d thought about a lot lately. Sora and Cloud’s friend, Leon, who knew about their relationship. Sora, Leon, and Kairi, who was no closer to her heart. There was still one more princess to go, though Maleficent failed to tell him who, and Riku suspected she had no idea. Captain Hook was convinced the seventh princess must be Wendy, a girl in Neverland who took care of Peter Pan and his Lost Boys-the bane of Captain Hook’s existence.
As much as Riku didn’t like Captain Hook, though, he didn’t care much for Peter Pan, either. He was immature, annoying, arrogant, and self-centered-much like Sora was these days. Riku imagined that when Sora finally showed up in Neverland, he and Peter Pan would either get along great or clash horribly. If it was the latter, Riku hoped he was there for it. He was growing insatiably bored, and watching the two of them duke it out and possibly kill each other would not only be a source of great entertainment, but eliminate two of his most recent annoyances.
Not that he wanted Sora dead, but there was a good chance that Sora would take out Peter Pan before Peter ever got a good swing it. Sora would, of course, gloat, but Riku didn’t have to stick around long enough to listen.
Riku figured it was a matter of days before Sora showed up in Neverland. Captain Hook had been beside himself with glee the previous night having successfully gotten his hands on Wendy, who was locked in a room somewhere on the ship. Riku hadn’t paid too much attention to Captain Hook then, more interested in when he’d get the opportunity to call Cloud.
It was his only stability at the moment-the only thing really keeping him grounded. Talking to Cloud forced Riku to really stay focused on the light left in his heart. He needed that now, especially when his heart felt more clouded and blacker by the moment. The last time bringing Belle to Hollow Bastion had been painful-frightening almost. Opening a dark portal made his heart feel tight and weak, his heartbeat dull. Passing through one was worse-his head heavy, thoughts distorted.
That voice had come back-the one from the Secret Place in Destiny Islands-and it dangled the darkness in front of him, fed every angry and negative emotion he felt. If he thought about Sora, the voice would agree with everything he said, and talk about how much better Riku was than Sora. When he thought about Leon, the voice mentioned all insecurities he had about his secrets becoming exposed. Even when he thought about Cloud and tried to cling to the happiness, the voice told him that Cloud didn’t really love him, and was really siding with Sora about the entire situation. When Riku worried about his heart, the voice talked at great length about Riku’s talents and strength of heart. Worst of all, sometimes Riku couldn’t tell which thoughts were his and which ones came from the voice.
Riku wished he could make it shut up.
It was true, though. He wasn’t as arrogant or uncaring as Sora these days. Sora had a good heart, but Riku’s was stronger-he was in the darkness, and he hadn’t fallen victim. Sora would have fallen from grace by now. Sure, the darkness was affecting his heart, but he wasn’t taken, and the Heartless obeyed him. They weren’t about to take his heart any time soon. Riku wouldn’t allow it.
“What’s taking so long?” Maleficent demanded, stepping out of a dark portal. Riku looked away from Kairi to Maleficent. “You should have been back by now.”
“Ask Captain Hook. He’s convinced Wendy is the seventh princess of heart. He thinks he’s doing you a favor,” said Riku. He rolled his eyes. “And you said I couldn’t bring Kairi without transportation because I rely too much on my dark powers.”
“That girl is unnecessary,” said Maleficent. “Tell him to get rid of her and set course for Hollow Bastion immediately.”
She disappeared back into the portal.
Riku sunk his head into his hands. He didn’t know how much more of this he could take.
There was so much more he could be doing with his time.
“But you’re so good at what you do,” said the voice. “Your dark powers far outstretch Maleficent’s.”
He could be with Cloud.
“He doesn’t love you like you want him to. Do you really think he’ll stick around for long?”
He felt his life, his happiness, and his hope slipping away. He looked back at Kairi and sighed, standing to go find Captain Hook.
“I hope you know I’m doing this for you,” he said, pushing the chair in.
Walking out of the door and onto the balcony, Riku glanced around the deck for a sign of the Captain. Maleficent seemed pretty angry, but at least he could be rid of Wendy and Peter Pan. All the better for that. Instead of spotting Captain Hook, however, he spotted a familiar head of pointy brown spikes and Riku smirked. It was odd how just when he wondered when Sora would arrive, there Sora would be as if on cue, coming to play hero. So this was who Captain Hook needed his help to capture.
Riku hoped Sora knew he had no intentions of playing the villain. He was the one helping Kairi, not Sora. He commanded the pirate Heartless to bring Kairi out onto the balcony.
“I didn’t think you’d come, Sora,” said Riku. Sora gasped from the deck and looked up to the balcony. “Good to see you again.”
“Where are Donald and Goofy?”
Riku suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. As if he knew or cared. Riku felt the mean streak and anger fill him again, only this time he couldn’t quite suppress it.
“You’re better than this,” said the voice.
“Are they that important to you? More important than old friends?” said Riku. “Instead of worrying about them, you should be asking about her.”
Riku stepped aside to reveal Kairi and the condition she was in-hollow and empty as ever. Maybe then Sora would realize where his behavior had gotten her. Maybe then Sora would stop thinking about himself for a change or realize that the duck and dog weren’t as important as Kairi. Maybe Sora would realize that Riku was taking care of things that Sora hadn’t bothered to worry about.
“Kairi!” said Sora.
“That’s right. While you were off goofing around, I finally found her.”
Sora ran towards them, but was intercepted by Captain Hook.
“Not so fast,” said Captain Hook. “No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy.”
Pirate Heartless surrounded Sora, their swords drawn. Sora appeared unfazed.
“Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?”
Leave it to Sora to blame Riku when he hadn’t intercepted him from reaching Kairi, but nonetheless, Riku couldn’t argue that he was siding with the Heartless. Riku knew Sora would react this way-he always did. Luckily, Riku had also learned how to play Sora’s game.
“The Heartless obey me now, Sora. Now I have nothing to fear.”
“You’re stupid. Sooner or later, they’ll swallow your heart.”
Riku laughed.
“Not a chance. My heart’s too strong.”
“Riku . . .”
“I’ve picked up a few other tricks as well. Like this, for instance.”
He held out a hand and watched as a Heartless-like Sora rose from the ground, a Heartless he’d created around Neverland before-just a little something he liked to call Anti-Sora.
“Why are you so obsessed with that boy?” said the voice. “You’re better than him, you know?”
Captain Hook looked at Riku expectantly. That’s right; Captain Hook was capturing Sora. Probably planned on taking him to Hollow Bastion for Maleficent, too. Well, Maleficent would be happy to have Sora out of the way if they succeeded-though Riku suspected they wouldn’t. Still, he could indispose of Sora for the time being. He imagined the duck and the dog were in the hold as he noticed Sora stood right above it.
He really couldn’t be bothered with Sora right now. He had Captain Hook to deal with. Besides, Donald and Goofy were really who Sora wanted to see, anyway.
“You can go see your friends, now,” said Riku.
A trap door opened beneath Sora’s feet and Sora dropped through. The Heartless closed the door.
“Let’s get under way, already,” said Riku, looking at Captain Hook. “And keep Sora away from Kairi until we’re ready to land.”
Riku turned around and walked back into the Captain’s room. The Heartless had already taken Kairi to be with Wendy. He heard the words, “scurvy brat,” as he entered and closed the door. Honestly, Riku couldn’t care less what Captain Hook thought of him after all the delays. Riku stood by the wall and fingered the phone in his pocket. Cloud wasn’t going to like it when Riku told him what had happened.
“That’s because he doesn’t love you.”
“Shut up, voice,” Riku muttered.
Now that he was calming, Riku wondered if maybe he hadn’t been a little . . . harsh . . . with Sora. After all, Sora had looked genuinely worried when he saw Kairi-even made to run for her. He hadn’t screamed at Riku-only called him stupid, which Riku supposed he might have been. He had nothing to fear? When he felt fear every day for his heart?
Okay, so maybe he’d been trying to get to Sora, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t make up. Sora could sit in the hold on the Jolly Roger until they got to Hollow Bastion and think about the way he’d been behaving. Sora would be calmed down by then, too, and they could talk this out. They could get Kairi’s heart back together.
“He doesn’t care about you anymore,” said the voice. “You have to dispose of him.”
“I’m not disposing of Sora.”
The door to the Captain’s cabin opened and Captain Hook walked in.
“You could have told me it was Sora you wanted me to throw in the hold,” said Riku.
“There wasn’t time for that,” said Captain Hook.
“Maleficent came by. She said Wendy’s not one of the princesses and we’re to get rid of her before we reach Hollow Bastion.”
“What? So Wendy’s not one of the chosen ones?”
“There are seven, supposedly, and Maleficent says she’s not one of them.” Riku turned away from Captain Hook. “Hoist anchor as soon as possible. Leave all the dead weight behind, including her.”
“After the trouble of capturing her? And why those seven? What is Maleficent planning, anyway?”
Once again, as if Riku knew or cared.
“Who knows? As long as it means getting Kairi’s heart back, I couldn’t care less.”
“You’re wasting your time!” said Captain Hook. Riku almost laughed in his face. Like he cared what Riku did with his time. “The Heartless have devoured that girl’s heart. I’ll stake me other hand it’s lost forever.”
“I will find it now matter what.”
Smee’s voice broke into the room through a large pipe coming out of the floor and against the far wall.
“Uh, Captain . . . The prisoner’s have escaped,” said Smee. Riku turned to look at the pipe, eyes narrowed. There went that plan. “What’s more, Peter Pan is with them.”
Sora worked fast. Riku was almost impressed.
“Blast that Peter Pan,” said Captain Hook. “All right, then! Bring the hostage to me cabin, Smee! Hop to it!”
Captain Hook moved out of the room, and Riku awaited Kairi’s arrival in the cabin.
*
“Hello?”
“Hey,” said Riku.
“Hey, gorgeous. You sound stressed.”
Cloud always had a way of pointing out the obvious.
“Sora’s here. In Neverland.”
“And it’s going disastrous.”
“That’s what I wanted to call you about. I’m . . . You know how Maleficent doesn’t want me bringing Kairi to Hollow Bastion through the dark portals?”
“Right.”
“Well, Sora’s probably about to off Captain Hook sometime soon and then I’m going to be screwed. We had him captured and down in the hold-“
“You captured Sora?”
“Well, Captain Hook did it, but I figured I’d leave him down there to figure some stuff out, and then talk to him about getting Kairi’s heart back when we got to Hollow Bastion, but . . . well, Sora doesn’t seem in the mood for talking.”
“I guess not if you stuck him in the hold.”
“Yeah, well, anyway, I don’t want to lose the chance to take Kairi to Hollow Bastion, so I’m just going to do it, and I wanted to call you and let you know. You know, in case I lose my heart or something doing it. Let you know I love you and all.”
Cloud was silent for a moment.
“Be careful, Riku.”
“You’re so great, you know that?”
“Why’s that?”
“I can tell you want to lecture me.”
“Well, I don’t know if it’s the best idea. You should at least talk to Sora-“
“Cloud, I’m so angry at him right now I’m just going to blow up at him and say things I don’t mean. He’s going to insult me. I’m going to get defensive. It’s going to be a mess and nothing will be accomplished. I can’t control it. I mean, I already told him I can control the Heartless, have nothing to fear because my heart’s too strong to be taken, showed him Kairi, and then opened the trapdoor to the hold. All I really wanted to do was make him see how hard I’m trying to help Kairi, and that I’m not pure evil.”
“You really can’t control yourself,” said Cloud, laughing. “Not the best way to go about it, though.”
“I know that. I messed up. I just . . . I’ll call you if I make it, okay.”
“I still don’t know if you should be so willing to sacrifice your heart.”
“This is for Kairi, not me.”
“That’s why it’s a sacrifice. If it was for you, it’d just be a risk.”
“I would do the same for you, Cloud. Please don’t ask me not to do it for her.”
“I won’t ask you. I would do it for you, too. Just be careful. I still would like you to come to the Hercules Cup, you know, and I would be really upset to lose my boyfriend.”
“I will be. But, hey, I can sneak away from Hollow Bastion better than here, so if I make it-“
“When you make it-“
“I’ll probably get away to come see you in Olympus Coliseum for a few days.”
“I’ll see you soon, then.”
Riku smiled. Cloud was unhappy-the strain in his voice said it all. Still, he didn’t argue. Riku was thankful for the support despite Cloud’s personal feelings on it. He was so perfect. Riku couldn’t wait until this was all over and they could just be together.
“Okay,” said Riku. “I love you. Thank you.”
“You know I love you,” said Cloud. “I just worry for your heart, too.”
“I know.”
“You’re getting lost farther in the darkness. I don’t want you to end up like me, unable to see the light for ages.”
“Won’t happen so long as I have you.”
“I hope you’re right, because I’m not going anywhere. Now go get Kairi back to Hollow Bastion. You can talk to me then.”
“Okay. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Well, after you get away from Maleficent at least.”
“Right.”
“Talk to you soon.”
“You, too.”
Riku pressed end on the phone and watched as the Heartless brought Kairi into the Cabin. He dismissed them, picked her up, and made his way toward the deck, intent on letting Captain Hook know he was leaving. He made it to the balcony door before Sora burst in. Riku stilled. He took a step back away from Sora.
“Riku, wait!” said Sora, holding a hand out as if it would stop him.
Riku took another step back. Sora wasn’t going to get in the way of rescuing Kairi. Not now, not ever. He opened a dark portal beneath his feet and summoned an Anti-Sora. That should keep him busy. Riku disappeared into the portal.
*
There was nothing but darkness, the smell turning his stomach over. Everything around him was black and reeked of the stench. He stumbled, fell to his knees, and panted. His heart pulled tight in his chest; his lungs begged for air. Fog swam around his head, and Riku felt his grip on Kairi loosen.
He tried to conjure an image of Cloud in his head.
If you get through this, you can see him again. Not just talk to him on the phone, but see him, and kiss him, and touch him, and make love with him.
The pressure lessened; Riku stood, and readjusted his grip on Kairi. He took another step toward Hollow Bastion.
Cloud’s counting on you. You can’t let him down like this.
The steps became easier-the passages of darkness easier to navigate. He pictured Cloud the way he’d looked the first time he met him in Hollow Bastion, the way he looked after their first kiss, and the way he looked when he slept or smiled. Riku imagined the sound of his voice and how soft his blond spiky hair really felt.
When he saw anything other than pitch black again, he was in Hollow Bastion, kneeling before Maleficent.
“It was reckless to bring her here without at least using a vessel,” said Maleficent. Riku looked up at her. “Remember, relying too heavily on the dark powers could cost you your heart.”
As if he didn’t already know that.
Riku heard a loud, growling noise-something almost beast-like, and looked questioningly to Maleficent.
“A castaway,” she said. Riku smirked. Belle’s Beast, he imagined. “Though his world perished, his heart did not. When we took the princess from his castle, he apparently followed her here through sheer force of will. But fear not. No harm will come to you. He is no match for your power.”
Riku had just been thinking he understood. He’d do the same for Cloud-follow him through the darkness. Maleficent, however caught him off-guard. He hoped this wasn’t leading to more dark gifts that would eat away further at his heart.
“My power?”
“Yes, the untapped power that lies within you. Now, child, it is time you awakened that power and realized your full potential.”
*
She hadn’t called it a gift and Riku figured it really wasn’t. He looked at the Keyblade on his desk. A Keyblade to unlock people’s hearts. A dark Keyblade. Riku didn’t even know Keyblades could be dark.
He turned the information Maleficent had just told him over in his head. It hadn’t helped that the voice had assisted in the telling. It was even worse that this time, he wasn’t the only one hearing the voice, and now the voice had a name. Maleficent called him Ansem. This was his castle. The books Riku obsessed over in the library on hearts were his. His body, Maleficent said, was sealed up in that big keyhole where Kairi’s heart could be found.
That wasn’t all, either.
Maleficent said Sora didn’t have what it took to save Kairi, even if he was a Keyblade master. His heart wasn’t strong enough to go through the portal. He couldn’t withstand the darkness. In fact, he wasn’t supposed to be a Keyblade master at all.
Riku was the Keyblade master.
Quite honestly, Riku found this all wholly unbelievable until Maleficent and Ansem started to elaborate. Ansem had been locked up in the keyhole and contacted Riku on Destiny Islands not to take over their world, but because he was the Keyblade master, and opening the door would allow Riku to travel to the other worlds he needed to travel to. The Heartless getting in was just because, well, the Heartless were everywhere. The only reason Destiny Islands hadn’t been opened before was because Riku lived there, and the Keyblade master.
Only it had gone wrong. Riku had been too selfish, wanting to see other worlds. Too willing to use the darkness. Too weak in the moment, and the Keyblade had passed to Sora.
Apparently, this ruined everything Ansem intended by trying to retrieve Riku in the first place, because now Sora was running around sealing up the worlds’ keyholes and killing everyone in his path. Not to mention, he just didn’t have what it took.
With Sora growing closer to Hollow Bastion, Ansem said, they had to tell him. Riku had to know, because now he had a new mission.
They were-as they said-waiting for Sora to arrive in Hollow Bastion, biding their time. Riku couldn’t just take the Keyblade. He had to wait for Sora to bring it to them, and then Riku could take back what was rightfully his.
Riku tried to fight it, tell them they were crazy, until they told him that no one but a Keyblade master can take the Keyblade. It just transfers back to its owner, which was why Maleficent or her allies couldn’t take it from Sora. Riku thought back to his meeting with Sora in Traverse Town, and how easily he’d taken the Keyblade from Sora, and it hadn’t disappeared. In fact, he’d actually given it back to him.
Still, they could be lying.
He pulled the phone from his pocket and dialed Cloud’s number.
“You made it,” said Cloud.
“Yeah. I have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
“How much do you know about Keyblades?”
“A bit, why?”
“Do you know if it’s true that no one but a Keyblade master can wield a Keyblade?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, if you aren’t a Keyblade master and you just take the Keyblade from one, will you just not be able to use it, or will it-I don’t know. Disappear from your hands and go back to the Keyblade master.”
“The second one,” said Cloud. “Only a Keyblade master can take the Keyblade. Why?”
Riku swallowed.
“Have you heard of Ansem?”
“Sure. He lived at Maleficent’s castle. Fell to the darkness and then disappeared. Started this whole Heartless mess. Why?”
“I talked to him. He and Maleficent. They’re working together. He’s the one who got me to open the door on the Islands. Said he contacted me because I was the Keyblade master, but . . .”
“What?”
“They told me that I’m the Keyblade master, not Sora. They said my heart was too weak when I opened the door, though. I was too selfish, and too willing to accept the darkness. I was too-I don’t know. Regretful about letting in the Heartless. In that moment of weakness, the Keyblade passed from me to Sora. I thought it sounded like a lot of crap to get me even more at odds with Sora.”
“That’s what it sounds like to me.”
“Only . . . I took the Keyblade.”
“What?”
“No. Not today. Remember when I went to see Sora in Traverse Town?”
“How could I forget? That’s when this feud started in the first place.”
“I told you he freaked out at me because I was holding his precious Keyblade. I took it. It didn’t go back to Sora, not even when he started freaking out because I had it. I gave it back to him.”
Cloud was quiet on the other end.
“You can wield the Keyblade,” he said, at last.
“Right. So it can’t be a load of crap completely if I can wield a Keyblade, but no one but a Keyblade master should be able to. I mean, I don’t trust them, or buy the entire story, but there’s got to be some truth to it, right?”
“You’ve got to be a Keyblade master.”
Riku sighed.
“Right.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t know. On the one hand, I feel like snatching my Keyblade from Sora, laughing in his face, and showing him that just because he had it for a little while, it was never really his. On the other hand . . . I feel kind of bad.”
“Bad?” said Cloud, his voice raising. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess if I hadn’t been so . . . I don’t know. ‘Willing to use the darkness’ and ‘regretful,’ my heart wouldn’t have been weak at the time, the Keyblade would have never passed to Sora, and this entire mess could’ve been avoided. I mean, you said there’s a lot of pressure being a Keyblade master, right? And Sora really isn’t as good at fighting as I am. If he’s this preoccupied just because of stress . . . that’s kind of my fault for not being to handle it, either, right? It shouldn’t be his burden to bear just because I was selfish.”
“You sound like you regret the way you’ve been acting about Sora.”
“Maybe a little.”
“So what’s your course of action?”
“I don’t know. Maleficent and Ansem want me to get the Keyblade from him. They think I’m going to need it when I’m looking for Kairi’s heart, and Sora isn’t going to be able to handle the darkness through that keyhole like I can. I guess that’s because I’ve been around the darkness so much already. So . . . I think I’m going to let the Keyblade choose.”
“Let the Keyblade choose?”
“Yeah. I mean, if I can call it from Sora . . . that means he shouldn’t have it, right? Instead of just . . . I don’t know.” Riku laughed. “Beating him with my little wooden sword and snatching it away.”
On the other end, Cloud snickered. The smile was back in his voice.
“To tell you the truth, I think approached right, even Sora would understand letting the Keyblade choose, especially if it’s to save Kairi’s heart. I don’t think there’s a fairer way to decide who should have it.”
“There’s another thing, though, and you aren’t going to like it. I don’t like it.”
“What’s that?”
“Maleficent and Ansem gave me more dark powers. When I use them now-I don’t know. My clothing transforms into this red and blue outfit and all of my attacks are enhanced, and . . . I don’t know. It’s dark powers.”
“Oh, Riku . . .”
“I know. I don’t like it, either, but I need to make things right, you know? I have to make up all this bad stuff I’ve done to Kairi, and if I have to give myself up for it-Kairi should have her heart back, don’t you think? I don’t think that I could live with myself if I just turned my back on it because I was too worried about my own heart. My selfishness is what got us into this in the first place.”
“I know. Just . . . don’t sacrifice too much.”
“I won’t lose my heart. I found my way back to Hollow Bastion, and it was terrible, but I thought about you, and . . . it worked. I found enough light to keep the darkness away.”
“Let’s hope that continues to work. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
“Listen, Cloud, I told Maleficent and Ansem I need some time alone to think about this whole Keyblade master thing, and that I’d be going away for a few days. You know what that means, right?”
The smile returned to Cloud’s voice.
“When should I come get you?”
“The sooner the better.”
“I’m halfway out the door. Pick you up tomorrow. I’ll call before I land in Hollow Bastion, and then we’ll head back to Olympus Coliseum.”
“When’s the Hercules Cup?”
“Three days. We have enough time. Then you can stay the night, and I’ll take you back to Hollow Bastion the day after.”
“So, that’s like, three days together, right?”
“Right.”
“Are we going to get down and dirty?”
“Depends. Do you want to?”
“I’d like to lose my virginity before I throw myself to darkness, yes.”
Cloud laughed.
“Well when you put it that way, I can’t let you go into the darkness a virgin, can I?”
“I sure hope not.”
“Everything’s going to be okay. You know that, right?”
“No, but I’m glad you have faith in me.”
“No one as determined as you can possibly give in.”
“What if the darkness does take me?”
“You’ll find a way out of it. Just like you did today.”
Riku smiled.
“You have no idea how much I hope you’re right.”
( Prompt Table) for previous installments. 13/100 Completed.