All That's Left [Alpha Draft] - Pt 40;

[keybearer]

Chapter 40: All Alone

“I can’t believe this! Doesn’t he realize how reckless he’s being? He’s not even thinking straight, and he should know better by now!”

She’d been at it for a while, hands balled up, breathing heavy, eyes stinging but fortunately not tearing up. She tore across the room, squeezing her eyes shut. She could feel each beat of her heart pounding one by one. One moment, heat welled up inside her, then dipped to frigid cold. What was Kairi supposed to do about this? How was she supposed to feel? He’d just… left. He meant well, but he still left… And after everything had been going so well. After they’d sealed Keyholes, uncovered secrets, gained armor and Gliders and started formal training.

But they knew. The Organization knew this whole time. Nothing was secret, so was their progress all for nothing? Had they come this far in vain? Really, it was no wonder Riku fled. She didn’t hate him for it. She could never hate him, especially now. Her fingers curled around her necklace, and she tried slowing her breathing. It was gonna be okay. It was fine. They could figure this out. She already promised that they’d try. It was okay. This wasn’t over.

So why? Why hadn’t she done more?

Stopping her in her tracks, Goofy placed a hand against her back. At the same time, Donald smacked his staff into the floor, shouting incomprehensible curses.

“And doesn’t he know how dangerous it is? What if the Organization wanted this the whole time? Besides, we all know how careless he gets on his own!”

Across the room, Yen Sid rose from his desk, clearing his throat before speaking. “Be that as it may, Donald, we mustn’t act rashly. True, Riku’s departure was born of fear, but just as it’s likely that the Organization anticipated this, I have no doubt that this…” He gestured to the others. “Is yet another outcome they had expected.”

“Well, whaddaya expect?” Donald’s feathery face looked more like a wad of crumpled paper than anything, and he rattled his fists as he spoke. “We don’t even know where he is right now! And while we’re here yapping, what’s stopping the Organization from cornering him?”

“Nothing. However, I believe it is in our best interest to remain composed. After all, there is no guarantee that Riku is in any immediate danger.”

“And even if he is,” said Kairi, “I’m sure he can take care of himself.” She said it mostly for her own reassurance, as it was tough enough to avoid jumping to those same unfortunate conclusions. It happened too fast, and while it was far from rational, stress had a tendency to leave the mind wandering. Still, she stepped back, dropping into a conveniently placed chair and smoothing her hair.

Goofy, in the mean time, straightened his hat and tugged at his collar. Gulping, he looked down at his folded hands and gave a little moan. “Gawrsh, so what do ya think we oughta do, Yen Sid?”

“Hmm…” He began stroking his beard, eyes half-lidded. “I suspect whatever guidance I offer will ultimately prove irrelevant. At this very moment, I am certain you all wish to find your missing friend… However, I ask that you all think carefully before proceeding.”

“Bah, can’t you track him with your magic?” said Donald.

“I could try, but even if you were to find him, there is no guarantee that he would return. From what you have told me, it seems Riku is in a very delicate position. Moreover, you still have your duties to the worlds to consider…”

“Right…” If Kairi were a ghost, she would’ve phased right through the chair. As it was, she merely slumped over, as if her bones had turned to rubber. “I guess we should keep looking for new worlds… I mean, we did it before. For a whole year… And Riku did this for us, so…”

The door thunked shut, and a voice called from behind. “Kairi, it’s okay if you’re upset.”

She jumped up from her chair, whirling around. “But, Aqua, this is too important to—”

She moved closer, setting one hand on the back of the chair and another over her chest. “Yes, our duties are important, but that doesn’t make your feelings any less significant.”

She looked away. “But isn’t it selfish? Right now, all I want to do is track him down, drag him back here, and give him the biggest lecture of his life!”

“And how do you think I felt when Ven left our home behind? Or when I learned that Terra may have wandered close to the darkness? I’ve been in your position, Kairi, and there is no shame in it. After all, the heart’s hardly ever logical.”

“Hardly? Try never.” She let out a breathless laugh. “Sometimes it’s so difficult, too. Like, I shouldn’t be mad at Riku for what he did. And it’s not like I hate him for it, but…” She shut her eyes for a moment, exhaling lightly. What was she supposed to say? That she didn’t want him to leave her side ever again? That she was fed up of having to hunt down missing friends? That she didn’t care if the Organization spied on them, as long as they were all together?

All of these rang true. Even now, she could remember all those nights at the mansion, staring at the empty space where Riku once slept, looking in the grass for notes from Sora, and the emptiness of watching the sunset without either friend by her side. For as awful and as devastating as the darkness was, some small, sliver of selfish thought sighed in relief when their journey continued all that time ago because, for as much as she longed for the waves, the soothing breeze, and the laughter that the island brought, it just wasn’t home without those two goofballs by her side.

Especially now that she’d…

Well. That didn’t matter right now.

“It’s just so tiring, you know? We already spent so much time tracking down Sora, then Xion went missing, and now this! And to top it all off, all the progress we’ve made might’ve been for nothing!”

A shadow shifted from the right. Someone’s knuckles rapped against her upper arm, and when she opened her eyes, a note hovered before her. ‘C’mon, Kairi! This isn’t like you.’

“Yes it is. Sora, I might put on a brave face, but I worry way more than I let on.”

His pen pierced the page, and he froze up. Ink trickled in a wiggly line. ‘Yeah, but you always bounce back! That’s part of what makes you so great.’

“Hee. Of course you’d say that.” She gave him a playful nudge. “And believe me, I don’t want to stay in this slump.”

‘Well, would it help if I told you I’m gonna track Riku down?’ He rubbed the tip of his nose with one claw, grinning.

“We both will,” said Aqua, and soon Donald chimed in.

“Yeah! Let’s all join up. Then he’ll have to listen to us!”

Somehow, in spite of Donald’s enthusiasm, Sora slumped over and puffed up his cheeks. He twirled his pen, then jotted another message. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, guys. If we gang up on Riku, that’s gonna be way too much pressure for him!’

“That’s sound reasonin’ if you ask me,” said Goofy. “Why, I betcha Riku’s already feelin’ a whole mountain’s worth a stress right now! And no offense, Donald, but ya ain’t always the best at encouragement.”

“Hey! You take that back!”

Before Donald’s temper could burst, Aqua slid between him and Goofy. “Now, this is no time to start bickering.” Though Donald grumbled, he made no further protests. “At any rate, I’d still like to speak with him myself, but…” She looked to Sora. “Do you think I’d be too imposing?”

‘Maybe a little.’ He scratched his cheek and gave a one-shouldered shrug. ‘Right now, I think it’d be best if we kept things small scale. Just me, and Kairi if she’s up for it.’

A wave of relief washed over her, and she tipped her chin up, both hands on her hips. “Well, I did say I’d give him a lecture...” Of course, that wouldn’t be her first impulse; knowing Riku, it’d only make things worse.

x.x.x

Any other night, the tender glow of the scattered lampposts would’ve eased the hurricane brewing inside Riku. Any other night, the flickering signs and twinkling stars would’ve brought a smile to his face. In many ways, Traverse Town brought feelings of nostalgia. He still remembered waking to a face full of slobber and a panting pup, still remembered the rush of energy and excitement that surged through him the moment he left that alley behind, the moment he realized he’d escaped his island home and breached the outside world.

The dancing flames atop melting candlesticks seemed to wave as he trudged down the cobblestone path. A moogle carrying a handful of balloons offered a tiny smile. He limply lifted his hand, but lacked the heart to wave back. Chatter sailed through the air around him, words blurred together as if crammed in a blender. Off to the side, a fox clad in a green, short-sleeved top and brown khakis manned a stand labeled ‘Pawpsicles,’ joined by a tinier fox in an elephant suit. On a regular day, Riku might’ve laughed at the sight and approached the duo for some samples.

Today was not that day.

In the nearby restaurant, a Dalmatian, a tiny Chihuahua, a bandanna-clad terrier, and small, white dog gathered together with a deck of cards. A slender woman with brown hair and a yellow dress jotted down notes as she looked from the dogs to the fox vendor. The old man beside her adjusted his explorer’s hat and cheered at the sight, shouting words like ‘exquisite’ and ‘extraordinary.’ If that wasn’t odd enough, some blonde girl wearing a devil horn headband pranced around with a disembodied unicorn head, while a boy in a red hoodie trudged behind with a little sigh. He seemed resigned to whatever antics the other two had in store.

What was Riku thinking? If the Organization was tracking him, then they could trail him to Traverse Town, use the people as bait, make a scene… He shivered and kept his head low, muttering soft apologies as he wedged his way through the masses. But then, where else could he go? No matter the world, the fact remained that he was under constant watch. His every step, his every word… If he continued seeking new worlds, they’d know. If he stayed put, they’d know. If he tried retaliating, they’d know. If he gave up, they’d know!

Briefly, he stopped. A little yellow blanket had toddled up to him, holding up a photograph of a red-haired boy with big, round glasses.

“Excuse me, mister, but have you seen the Master?”

“Sorry, kid.” He shook his head and stepped aside. “Just keep looking, all right? He’s gotta be somewhere.” Hollow encouragement at best; what that little blanket failed to realize was that Riku’s own actions likely caused his world’s downfall. The same could be said for the toaster, the lamp, the vacuum, and the radio that huddled behind him.

They’d fit right into Wonderland, if they weren’t so modern.

Eventually, he stopped near one of the mailboxes, digging into his pocket and pulling out the photograph of him, Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Kairi all gathered at the train station. A smile appeared and disappeared within a millisecond. He could go back. He could find his friends. After everything that’d transpired in Metroville and Nomanisan, their company would be a welcome distraction. Maybe by now, the town was back to normal and the glitches wiped from existence. Maybe it’d be safe, if only for a few moments…

But no. He wouldn’t endanger them. Not after a year filled with bugs and existential crises.

Right now, he needed space. He needed time. He needed to clear his head, so he could decide how to proceed. To that end, he turned around and took one step up the stairs, yet as he moved, a light tingle ran down his spine. Footsteps thumped closer. He gripped the handrail, and his jaw locked shut.

“Hey, don’t I know you?”

He nearly toppled forward, fumbling the photograph. Though Pence probably meant well, the sound of his voice impaled Riku straight through the chest. His face turned white. His eyes dilated. No, no, no. Not now! Not here. He couldn’t… They weren’t…

His grip tightened on the rail. His eyes shut so tight they almost stung. He couldn’t bring himself to look; it was a different Pence. He wouldn’t recognize Riku. It was best to keep things short and simple, lest he forget that fact. “Uh, maybe you’ve got the wrong guy. I’ve never—”

“Huh, now that you mention it, he does look familiar.” And now Hayner, too? Riku’s knees bent as if he was about to sprint. How tempting it was to just run away. Too bad his feet stuck to the ground like glue.

Inching closer, Hayner spoke again. “Yeah, aren’t you that guy who was always hanging with Kairi? I was starting to wonder what’d happened to you.”

“I…” He needed an excuse, quick. “I was out of town for a while.” Hopefully that would satisfy them. Hopefully they would leave, even if some small, selfish part of him yearned to turn around, to meet them head-on, to pretend they were the friends he’d shared that year with.

They weren’t, so he remained in place. Unfortunately, his words led to further questioning.

“Huh, so you missed the big attack?”

“I… Yeah, I did.” Each beat of his heart grew faster. The empty air seemed to coil around him, threatening to crush him flat, then Olette chimed in, and it felt as though invisible walls smashed him from all directions.

“That’s a relief!” Her words were bright and bubbly, and he heard the light clapping of her palms pressing together. “It was such a disaster, and I’d never want anyone else to live through it.”

“No kidding!” said Pence. “I mean, swarms of monsters are cool in the movies, but up close? Nooo thank you.”

“Exactly! It was… well, I don’t think words can really describe what I felt back then, but I almost thought we wouldn’t make it!”

“Yeah…” Hayner’s voice lowered, devoid of the light, casual tone from before. “But, uh. It’s not like we blame Kairi or the others for what happened. That girl’s got some serious guts, and we would’ve been Heartless chow without ‘em!”

Despite the subject, Pence let out a little laugh. “Wow, Hayner! Since when are you so humble?”

“Hey! I’m totally humble. Besides, it’s not like I couldn’t take ‘em—”

Olette giggled. “Um, Hayner? You do realize that’s the exact opposite of humility, right?”

“Please! I was just about to say that I’ve got limits, and it’s not like I’m a magic, Key-slinging warrior.”

Finally, Riku managed to pry his feet from the stairs. He made it one step before muttering, “I’m sorry.” He had to go. Now. Any longer, and he’d get second thoughts. Any longer, and they might notice. All it’d take was one look over his shoulder for them to see the picture in his grasp.

“Why are you apologizing?” said Olette. “You had nothing to do with it!”

His hand flew from the rail, balled up, then struck the metal so hard it made a loud CLANG. Words burst forth in an explosion with little thought. “I had everything to do with it!” He huffed and puffed each breath through clenched teeth. His eyes stung, and a bubbling sensation swelled deep inside him. Still, further words escaped him. “The whole reason they attacked the town was to force me out of hiding!”

“But you said—”

“Look, I’ve gotta go!” At last, Riku tore up those steps, wound past the Accessory Shop, and slammed his way through the doors to the Second District. His surroundings a blur, he blazed down the path, past the hotel, past the shops, straight toward the clock tower before him. He pried the door open and lunged into the Gizmo Shop, the lull of the clockwork echoing all around.

Once inside, he fell against a brick wall. He stared at the ceiling, sweat creeping down his cheeks. Though he’d stopped moving, his heart hammered away, while he gasped for air. It was rude to ditch them. Hasty, even. They meant well. They didn’t know better. He knew that, but it was too soon. It was too much!

The Organization probably saw it all. The way he froze, the way he avoided eye contact, the way he struggled to flee until that last moment. Chances were, they’d pick up on all those tells and try using them against him. They’d wage a psychological war, now that he’d left his friends behind. At least, that’s what Ansem would do. Granted, Ansem was gone. Good riddance, too. At a time like this, when he’d hit rock bottom, the last thing he needed was extra salt in the gaping wound.

Here, he was alone. In place of the murmurs and crowds, giant gears spun round and round. The ticks and tocks bounced off the walls in a constant rhythm. Bright golds and purples and pinks gave the chamber a cheery feeling that clashed with the hurricane brewing within him; still, that contrast allowed him to lose himself in his surroundings. For a few moments, he sat down, tipped his head back, shut his eyes, and let the sounds wash over him like ocean waves.

Yet, amidst the scents of oil and steel, the smell of burnt soil trailed down the hall. Dull thumps interrupted the clockwork’s cadence. A deep, baritone voice rang from across the floor.

“Are you certain this is wise?”

Riku’s eyes flew open, and he sprung to his feet. His Keyblade appeared the moment he spotted the towering, hooded figure before him. “Xemnas!”

“Indeed…” He chuckled. “It has been quite some time since our last meeting.”

“Yeah? Well, it should’ve stayed that way!” He raised his weapon, daring to move closer. Despite Riku’s aggression, Xemnas remained motionless.

“You seem distraught. What a shame…”

“Like you care about how I feel!”

Xemnas folded his arms, raising his chin ever so slightly. The shadows from his hood made his expression difficult to read. “Rage is a dangerous emotion, Riku. True, it carries tremendous force, yet for all its power, it blinds. It clouds one’s judgment, leaving them utterly vulnerable.” He stretched his arm out, palm forward. Tiny red sparks flickered at his fingertips, then vanished. “Your present state speaks volumes. You are afraid. Conflicted. At this very moment, you likely wish to channel your frustrations at me and strike me down…”

“You think?” He growled his words, Keyblade trembling. It’d be so easy to strike. So easy to let his emotions wrest control, even if doing so was reckless. On paper, this was the ideal situation. The Organization’s superior stood before him.

But that was the problem. In lieu of lesser Nobodies, or even lower ranking members, Xemnas trailed him. Xemnas cornered him. Their leader, their most powerful member stood before him, and thanks to his own stubbornness, Riku lacked the support of his friends. No Donald, no Goofy, no Kairi, just him, worn from the battle, constricted by a slithering, snarling dread that threatened to suffocate him in its coils. Why was he here? What did he have to gain?

Why…?

Slivers of black smoke twisted around his Keyblade’s tip, but Xemnas didn’t even flinch.

“Well, even if you managed to defeat me, you would not defeat the rest of us. Moreover, you would be squandering this opportunity…”

Riku bristled. Every single muscle in his face ached as they wrinkled and pinched together. “What, an opportunity for you to gloat?”

“And why would I gloat over your abysmal state? You are acting irrationally. In fact…” He took one step closer. “If you were to attack, I guarantee that I would overpower you.”

“Hey, don’t get cocky, Xemnas! I’m a lot stronger than I was during our last fight.” Granted, he was alone, and though he feigned a smirk, he could feel his legs beginning to shake. Without the aid of his friends, would he even stand a chance? Attacking Xemnas was foolish, all right, and he was hardly in the best state of mind. Still, what was he supposed to do? Drop his guard altogether?

“Ah, but Riku, that fight was merely a test. Do you honestly believe I would use my full strength when I merely sought data for your Replica?”

“…No.” Because his intent wasn’t to kill, let alone actually harm him. Who knew what Xemnas could do in a real fight? For now, Riku lowered his Keyblade, though he continued staring the Nobody down. “Look, what do you want from me?”

“A more pertinent question is what you hope to accomplish.” Xemnas spread his arms, gesturing at their surroundings. “Do you think that this is the solution? Do you truly believe you are making a difference?”

Riku cringed, grasping at Kairi’s charm with his free hand. “Of course. Now that I’m on my own, you can’t spy on the others anymore. I’ve wiped the trail clean—”

“But for how long, Riku? You can’t honestly believe that they will accept your choice.” He turned the other way, though he continued watching from over his shoulder. “By isolating yourself, you have only hurt them.”

“But they have to understand!” It was for the best. As long as the Organization continued tracking him, his presence posed a huge risk. “I didn’t do this because I wanted to; I did it because I had to.”

“No, you did so out of fear.”

Though Riku tried to snap back, all he managed was a tiny grunt. He looked away, perhaps foolishly, because though he could deny it all he wished, his fear remained clear as day.

Thus, Xemnas took the silence as an opportunity to continue. “Instead of listening, instead of waiting and accepting their aid, you turned your back on those you cherish…”

“Stop!”

He refused, and though his face remained concealed, a smile unfurled along Xemnas’ lips. “I understand, though. After all, students do take after their teachers…”

Riku’s eyes popped wide open, then immediately narrowed. He made a sound like a cough crossed with a gasp, glowering at the Nobody. “Are you calling Aqua a coward?”

Laughter followed. “You assume too much…”

“Oh yeah? Well, it’s not like I had a Master before her!” Maybe, if fate had been kind, he would have. Maybe, if he hadn’t taken so long, he would’ve found the one who promised to guide him, learned the proper way to wield a Keyblade, and never doomed the worlds.

But that was wishful thinking at best, with zero bearing on the present.

Initially, Xemnas remained silent. Too bad it didn’t last. “And yet, you wield a Keyblade. Ergo, someone must have granted you the power…” Another step. “I wonder what they would think, now that you’re cowering in a corner. How would they feel, knowing that the boy they chose is such a selfish, short-sighted child?”

“You call this selfish?!” He slapped his hand over his chest, back bent, feet spread apart and teeth bared. “Do you really think I wanted to run? I was finally together with Sora and Kairi. I finally got a Master to show me the way…”

“And you cast them all aside, disregarding their skills and their wits. You acted under the pretense that you were their champion, when in reality you chose a coward’s solution… and one that is far from foolproof.”

One, two, he continued his approach. Riku held his weapon in a vice grip. How tempting it was to launch an attack, just to shut Xemnas up.

“What would you do if I attempted to capture you? What would you do if I intended to kill you? Would you flee again to some distant world without consulting the ones you love?”

Riku’s blood froze, stiffening his entire body. “Hey… that’s a moot point. You’re not gonna kill me.” And what benefit would capturing him bring when he could escape through a corridor? Moreover, he’d be taking Riku straight into enemy territory, allowing him a chance to learn about the Organization’s stronghold. Maybe even uncover its secrets.

“But that does not make you invincible.” Orange sparks lit Xemnas’ fingertips. A burst of heat exploded between them. Rock shards smashed into the floor, pelting Riku’s skin. He skidded backwards, wailing as he hit the wall. Xemnas remained in place, looking down at Riku as the hobbled upright once more.

“You see, Riku, I do not need to kill you. If I so desired, I could beat you to the brink of exhaustion. It would be… remarkably simple.” The air buzzed. A bright blue orb swelled in his palm. He drew his arm back, and Riku leaned to the side, ready to roll away. When Xemnas thrust palm forward, Riku immediately tumbled aside, but Xemnas crushed the orb in his grasp and lowered his arm once more. “But it’s clear that it is unnecessary; you are doing more than enough damage to yourself.”

“So why are you even here?” He needed answers. Real answers.

“Do you expect your enemies to reveal their every motive?”

Riku clamped his jaw tight, bristling, and spoke through clenched teeth. “No, but…”

“How… disappointing. Yes, I suspect that if he were here right now, he would be overcome with shame…”

“Who are you talking about?!”

“Who indeed…” He reached for his hood, slowly, almost tauntingly. His fingers curled around the edges. Riku couldn’t look away. As he peeled his hood back, strands of silver hair began to appear. His bangs framed the sides of his face, reaching past his chin. Small spiky tufts gathered at the middle and along the sides of his head, while the rest of his hair hung over his shoulders and down to his shoulder blades.

Tanned skin, yellow eyes, and a wicked smirk left him with a dizzying nausea. The air seemed to thicken. The walls drew closer. In the subsequent silence, each tick of the clocks sounded off like a bomb. The room became a glacier. The bright colors blurred and dulled. For a split-second, the skin paled. The eyes turned blue. The hair darkened to brown, slightly shorter…

Tick, tock…

Terra had lost control of his body to Xehanort. Ansem was Xehanort’s Heartless. Ansem…

A N S E M

E M N A S

X E M N A S…

“N…No.” It came out in a whimper. Riku’s arm flew up. Black smoke gathered around his free hand. He charged, shouting, “No!”

A blocky barrier flashed into his path. Too caught in the moment, Riku struck it head on. The impact left stars dancing before his eyes, and he staggered back. Xemnas’ expression remained as calm as ever.

Tick tock…

“Are you alarmed by my appearance?” Another step. “It’s quite peculiar… Some time ago, Sora asked if I knew anyone by the name of Terra.” One, two more. “I can’t imagine why…”

“Because you’re…” He ripped his focus off of Xemnas, staring at a nearby gear.

Tick…

“I’m what, exactly?”

“You’re… Xehanort, aren’t you?” His voice was soft. Strained. The words fell to the floor, shattering like glass. Just saying the name made Riku shudder.

Xemnas spread his arms again, his laughter devoid of all warmth. “I am Xemnas, Superior of the Organization. However, if that is what you wish to call me, then by all means, do what you will. In the end, it changes nothing…”

Tick, tock…

The closer he moved, the further Riku retreated.

“Still, if you wish to prove yourself… if you believe there is someone you must save, then by all means, try again.”

Riku smashed the floor. The entire room shivered. Spikes gushed up from beneath the floor, splitting tiles and exposing stone. Xemnas flickered away, and Riku’s vision flooded with the color red. At the last second, he dived into a corridor, reappearing across the room. A smoldering black smear stained the wall behind where he once stood. Xemnas looked him in the eye, and Riku immediately turned around.

“Let him go!” A futile cry. Of course it’d take more than that. Of course, but what could he even do? Aqua couldn’t save Terra back then, and she was a trained Master. She knew what she was doing.

“Intriguing. So you believe I am responsible for whatever became of this… Terra.” He paused. “And yet you still refuse to put forth your full strength…”

Tick…

“I just…” His head jerked from side to side, and he spun on a heel, holding his Keyblade level with Xemnas’ chest. “Look, if you’re trying to psych me out, it’s not gonna work.”

“Then what will you do? Will you face the present circumstances or will you turn tail and run? Here, there is no need for me to monitor you from afar, so will you wait, hoping to stall for time, while your friends pick up the pieces?” His lips perked, his smile wry. “Will you starve yourself in your desperation to remain solitary and safe? Will you forsake the worlds you knowingly endangered simply because we could pursue you and because we could use their inhabitants as cannon fodder?”

“I…”

“Just a moment ago, you seemed so intent on fighting back. I almost saw a spark of your former courage… and now it has faded away.” He tucked his hands behind his back, turning his back once more. “Xiruk spent months evading us, but he never surrendered. Sora continued to visit the castle well after we uncovered his presence. He chose to fight me despite being battered, bruised, and teetering on the brink of exhaustion…”

Tock…

Riku couldn’t bring himself to respond.

“But you couldn’t face three strangers simply because they resembled old friends… Moreover, you refuse to look me in the eye because my appearance apparently rings familiar, and that terrifies you.” The moment Riku blinked, Xemnas loomed in front of him, just a few yards away. “You’re normally so much more capable, yet now you’re acting aimlessly.”

Tick…

Despite the Keyblade aimed at his chest, Xemnas dared to step closer. His footsteps rang silent. Indeed, the only sounds reverberating off the walls were the dull ticks of the surrounding clockwork. Yet, somehow, the slow, taunting beats of Riku’s heart echoed in his mind, each one an explosion. Despite his attempts to maintain his composure, his weapon trembled.

How long had he stood against the wall?

One, two more footsteps, and Xemnas finally stopped.

“I wonder who you think you are protecting…”

He hovered close. Too close. Riku could barely breathe. Xemnas’ hands remained empty. He made no further strikes. He just watched. Stared. Leered, unwavering in focus.

Then, just as Riku pressed a hand to the wall, just as he summoned threads of darkness, and just as Riku blinked…

He vanished, abandoning Riku within an endless labyrinth of clockwork.

He lost track of the time he spent staring at the empty space around him, lost track of how many times he rounded corners, searching for even the faintest trace of his enemy. Ultimately, those searches yielded nothing but more machinery.

Heh…

The Kingdom Key broke into tiny beads of light, scattering around him. No point in fighting now. Xemnas left. He was finally alone… but what would it accomplish? Though he hated to admit it, Xemnas had a point. Staying here, locked in a clock tower would do little. Every wall had long since sprouted eyes and ears. If he remained here, worn and wary, they’d know, but the same held true for any actions he’d take.

Returning to his friends risked the Organization leeching more intelligence. Isolating himself left him vulnerable and increased the odds that he’d wind up overwhelmed. In theory, any one of the Organization’s members could find him as he slept, scoop him up, and drag him away. They could batter and bruise him, leaving him a broken, bloodied mess or, forgoing violence, continue popping up whenever he let his guard drop and retaliating with taunts and trickery. Iron bars surrounded him no matter what path he chose.

Nothing was secret. Nothing was safe. Was this an exercise in futility?

Even if it was, he couldn’t afford to sit still. He couldn’t afford to stew in his uncertainties. Couldn’t afford to let Sora catch up, and there was no doubt that he’d seek Riku out. No doubt that he’d find him if Riku didn’t press on, and even if he didn’t, Riku couldn’t stay in this tower forever, much less in Traverse Town.

Somehow, some way, he’d find a solution, but he needed time. Time to process everything, from the Organization’s method of surveillance, to Xemnas’ words, to his identity and beyond. Time to seal more Keyholes, time to let his friends construct a plan. He wasn’t a coward! He wasn’t weak.

He’d keep repeating it to himself if necessary.

Dragging his feet, Riku abandoned the Gizmo Shop. He looked to the stars, launching his Keyblade into the air. It flashed and shifted. The moment his Glider took form, he lunged on top and took to the sky, passing over rooftops, blazing over the First District.

Amidst the distant crowd, two figures caught his eye. A shadowy figure tapped the shoulder of a red-haired girl. Both gawked at Riku. His heart nearly burst from his chest, while his teeth dug into his lower lip. His Glider lurched forward, doubling in speed, but Kairi had already blasted off, clinging to her Glider’s handlebar while Sora latched onto its wings.

“Riku, slow down! We just want to talk!”

He refused to look back, and his Glider continued accelerating. “I can’t! I’m not gonna put you guys in danger again.” Hesitating, he looked back for half a second. “Besides, Xemnas was here, so I’ve gotta keep moving.”

Are you serious?! Sora pounded the top of the Glider, shadows rising from his shoulders. If Xemnas is following you, then that proves we should stick together!

“No.” Still accelerating, he tipped his Glider back, ascending further. “It proves that I’m the bait!”

Bait to distract them. Bait to keep them off task. If they focused on him, they’d accomplish nothing. Worse, they could wind up wrapped up in whatever sick plan Xemnas had in store. But they wouldn’t listen. He could already predict what they’d say. They were safer together! They could work as a team. They’d come too far to part ways all over again.

It’d be so easy to turn back. If they’d stood by his side, he’d have been able to face Xemnas without flinching. Without retreating. Without fear…

A corridor began swelling up ahead. He’d already made his choice. It wasn’t forever. They’d see each other again, but until he found a way to end the Organization’s constant watch, they were better off apart. Thus, Riku rocketed toward the portal, ready to pass into the depths of space. He slapped his pauldron, slipped into his armor, but just as he prepared to breach the corridor, something slammed into his back.

His Glider tumbled forward. He fell head-first into the dark. The corridor closed. Meteors, rings, and floating debris stretched into the distance. He continued tumbling toward an asteroid belt, but reared back at the last second and jerked to the right. Laser fire from Heartless ships rained down on him, deflected by a surprise flash of wind.

He didn’t cast that Aero spell.

Zooming away from the burning barrage, Riku stole a glance over his shoulder, where Sora continued clinging. He would’ve said something were it not for the projectiles assaulting them from behind. Blackness twirled around them, and they flickered away from the asteroids, the ships, and even those pesky rings.

Unfortunately, despite whisking Riku through a surprise portal, Sora failed to account for the colossal, wooden ship soaring into their path. Worse, the momentum propelled the duo closer and closer. Though Riku tried swerving away, the ship advanced too fast. They were like a fly by comparison, a miniscule blip on the radar.

Before either one of them could open another corridor, they slammed into the hard, wooden bow.

TO BE CONTINUED