Chapter 3 (1/2)
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In the centre of a dusky room, Zexion stood motionless, arms folded.
Lexaeus appeared. He looked around the room, brows drawn, then drew nearer to Zexion. “What’s happened to Vexen?” he asked.
“He’s finis.h.i.+ng the replica based on Riku’s data,” said Zexion, glancing at Lexaeus. If he brings the replica to completion, then we too have a chance.
“And how is Sora?” came the next in Lexaeus’ string of questions.
“They are inserting things into Sora’s memories using Naminé’s arts. If things continue unchecked, he’ll probably become Marluxia’s puppet. Larxene isn’t someone to be trusted, either.” I know that Marluxia and Larxene are plotting something together. Also, there’s one more man in charge of upstairs Castle Oblivion—
“And Axel. No one knows what that one is thinking,” said Lexaeus, sounding displeased.
“Let’s talk to Vexen after we’ve watched the situation for a little while,” said Zexion in a soft tone, finally looking at Lexaeus. Vexen’s number is higher than ours. Our numbers aren’t directly related to our strength or position, but still, he’s simply been our senior ever since we met. And that is from our relations.h.i.+p when we were our real selves—when there were the names Even, Aeleus, and Ienzo.
Perhaps that relations.h.i.+p is broken, or even unreasonable. Because as long as that person is the first Organisation member, we are bound by the world.
“He hates Marluxia. It will get troublesome,” said Lexaeus, looking away from Zexion.
Zexion smiled slightly, and looked down. “And that’s why. Vexen can take care of the trouble instead of us.”
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The world on the other side of the door was familiar. Riku walked with slow steps over the slightly rolling deck. Before he knew it, the presence of darkness surrounding his body had lessened, and he’d returned to his original form.
“The power of darkness…,” murmured Riku, and he looked up. The moon drifted overhead. The sound of waves—he was on Captain Hook’s s.h.i.+p.
In that little cabin, he had spent the whole time watching Kairi’s face, which had been unmoving as if in sleep.
The moonlight shone on Riku’s hair, making it glow silver. The hair around his face blew in the ocean breeze. Riku slowly climbed the stairs from the deck to the bridge. From there, he could look out over everything.
“—Sora…,” Riku murmured. The name of a friend who shouldn’t be there.
At the end of his gaze lay no one.
Riku clenched his fists and closed his eyes. Sora’s figure floated before him. He was standing there, shouting up at Riku, who stood on the bridge.
I also—wanted to see you, Riku.
I wonder why I felt so unhappy hearing that, back then.
“Kairi—”
Riku turned and looked at the base of the mast. Kairi’s still sleeping form floated up, like a vision.
Without her heart—she wasn’t Kairi. That’s why I wanted to bring it back to her. But—I wasn’t able to. That’s all I thought about, and then here, I controlled the Heartless and tried to kill Sora. There was no reason for Sora to have wanted to meet me, a person like that…
“Heh heh…,” came a sudden laugh. Riku turned around.
“Who’s there!?”
The shadow at his feet flickered and danced as it rose up to stand before him.
“Hahah—”
The shadow sliced at Riku.
“….urgh!” That’s right—here, I controlled Sora’s shadow, and made it fight him. His own pitch-black shadow—
What stood there looked just like his old, darkness-manipulating self. The moment he swung the Soul Eater down on the shadow, a dark aura surrounded Riku.
“Ahahahahahaha!” The shadow laughed at Riku, wrapped in darkness, and disappeared.
“So it’s really—no good?”
Riku stared at his own hand, wrapped in darkness. The moon looked down at him.
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In the centre of a dusky room, he was watching a large crystal ball. In it, Riku could be seen staring at his own hand.
“What do you think? He’s scared of the dark,” Vexen whispered to him.
It was impossible to gauge his feelings from his facial expression.
“You’re different. You know that, right? You aren’t afraid of the dark.” He nodded quietly at Vexen’s words. “Go. Take in the power of darkness. And then, defeat him!”
He nodded at Vexen’s words once more, and left the room.
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Riku continued through the s.h.i.+p as it bobbed on the waves.
The only things that have been showing up are Heartless—And Heartless that I once controlled, at that. The illusions of Sora and Kairi that I saw on the bridge—the people I really want to meet—I can’t. Is there nothing but existences of darkness in the worlds in my memories? –Is that because I’m an existence of darkness?
That’s.
Riku cut down a Heartless with the Soul Eater.
It feels like every time I fight, the smell of darkness wrapped around my body gets stronger.
“Why—why?!”
The more I try to escape from darkness, the stronger the smell of darkness becomes.
Riku stood still in the little hold that faced the Captain’s cabin.
There’s no way Kairi will be happy if you’re hurting people, even if you get her heart back!
The words Sora had yelled in this room seemed to echo in Riku’s ears.
The retribution for those sins—? This is. This is the punishment for gaining the power of darkness to get back Kairi’s heart, is it?
I believe, Riku.
The light won’t abandon you, no way.
Even if you’re in the depths of darkness, the light will reach you!
Those words the King told me—right now, I just can’t believe in them. No one is here by my side—not even the King. What can I do—to make the darkness disappear from my body?
Riku ran down the stairs, going back out onto the deck.
The night wind feels good. It feels good, like not having to think about anything. The breeze that comes from the ocean is a bit like the one at Destiny Island, it feels nice.
But—
“What’s wrong, brat. Where’s your usual pep,” a voice suddenly echoed.
Riku lifted his face at the sound. Standing there was Hook—Maleficent’s crony, and the captain of this s.h.i.+p.
“So you’ve finally showed up. I guess if I defeat you then I can leave this place?” Riku gripped the Soul Eater.
“Ho—You’d point your blade at a former mate?” Hook laughed.
That laugh is horribly dark compared to the Hook I remember.
“If you go on pointing your blade at all your friends, then in the end you’ll be all alone.”
“You’re not my friend!” spat Riku, and he leapt forwards.
Hook stopped the Soul Eater with his hook. “We were once mates though, weren’t we? You belong to the darkness, just like me.”
“You’re wrong!”
“Why would you tell such a lie?” Hook sent Riku flying.
“I’m not lying! I only joined you guys so I could save Kairi.”
“Your goal is of no consequence; you were one of us. Are you to betray your friends like that?”
“Shut up! Silence!” Hook—and Maleficent, they were never supposed to be my friends. My only friends are Sora and the others!
“You should. You’ll strengthen the power of your darkness, doing things like that—Riku.”
“That’s not strengthening!” Riku stood up, and readied the Soul Eater once more.
“Then see your own form!”
At Hooks words, Riku looked around. The smell of darkness is getting stronger again…!
“No matter how far you go, you cannot escape the darkness,” said Hook, pursuing Riku with his sword.
“You’re wrong—!”
Perhaps trying to shake off the aura surrounding himself, Riku swing the Soul Eater about.
“Submit to the power of darkness, Riku!”
“Silence—!!”
Riku dealt a single blow, and Hook’s figure faded away.
“I don’t need the power of darkness…,” muttered Riku, energy drained, letting the Soul Eater drop.
Why… this… Even though I don’t want or need the power of darkness. Even though the darkness isn’t my friend. Bit by bit, I’m losing the ability to believe in myself. The true form I’m searching for… is this it? Without the power of darkness, am I unable to ever beat anyone? Do I have to give up, and let my body submit to the power of darkness?
Riku saw a small door in the corner of the deck.
I even feel like—I don’t want to know the truth.
The truth about myself—
Believe, Riku.
He could hear the King’s voice from somewhere.
“Believe what?” Riku muttered at the King, who he couldn’t see anywhere. I don’t get it.
Even in the deepest darkness, there is definitely light.
Riku shook his head. “I don’t understand…”
I even feel like, the more I fight the darkness inside me, the stronger it becomes…
It’s scary.
I’m scared. I’m scared of myself. I’m scared of the darkness inside myself. I can’t believe in myself.
Believe, Riku.
He heard the King’s voice once more. His voice is powerful, and kind… I still can’t believe in myself right now, but I feel like I can believe if the King says so.
“…I understand, your Majesty,” Riku murmured, and then put one foot forwards.
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