Ikurx - Ch 50

Ikurx
By Kitteh and NeoFox
Rating: PG - 13
Warnings: Language, violence, romance
Pairings: Riku x Sora, Axel x Roxas
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and characters belong to Square Enix and Disney
Summary: After the defeat of Organization XIII, Sora and Riku find happiness in the simplicity of a normal life. A year later King Mickey sends a summons that the fight with the Organization isn't truly done yet. Light. Dark. As long as either exists the battle is never over.
Beta: NeoFox and Kitteh

Chapter 50

The doors to the school's gym slammed open and it was a blessing that no one was occupying the area at the time. If they were they would have thought Roxas rather insane for the way he stormed in with such a serious, not to mention angry, expression crossed over his face. Roxas wouldn't have cared either way though, because Riku's actions prior to coming to the gym had annoyed him enough to want to tear down the entire building, but he couldn't, so he just opted for trying to knock the doors off their hinges and scowled when he didn't succeed.

Roxas only stopped walking when he was in the center of the gym's floor and turned on his heel sharply to face the older boy that had been following him the entire way. He had felt Riku's eyes on his back all the way through the halls and it had added to his frustration. It was like being in the classroom all over again. He didn't say a word and just stared at Riku with narrowed eyes, but did get some satisfaction out of seeing the mark he had left on the other's cheek.

Riku's calm steps stopped as he entered the gym. With a simple gesture the doors slammed shut on their own, locking tightly. All the other doors to the gym did the same. Along all the walls and ceiling a clear barrier materialized only to glimmer into invisibility.

Riku's gaze fell from the walls back to Roxas, his composure like ice unlike Roxas' raging emotions. "No way in, no way out."

Roxas tore his eyes away just long enough to look around. His body felt tense at the sudden caged in area, but there was no turning back now. He was soon turning his attention back on Riku and the rigid stance he had been in relaxed a little as he tried to get a hold of himself. "Fine by me." He spoke the words quietly, but still they echoed in the large gym.

Hands moved up to the torn shirt that Riku had destroyed and soon Roxas was discarding it to the floor. The flimsy uniform shirt would only get in the way since it was no longer buttoned; there was no sense in wearing it during a battle. His tie was quick to follow before he dropped his hands back down to his sides where black flames started to lick at the air around them. Before they became too intense the two blades he had been given came to life in his hands as he continued to stare into Riku's eyes.

The corner of Riku's lips smirked, amused at Roxas' intensity.  He didn't call Way to Dusk yet. Instead he raised a hand to run it over the button of his own lips, giving them an idle lick. "So, where did the fire Heartless scurry off to anyway?" He mocked a glance around as if Axel would show up there and then. "I'm sure he'd like to know whose name you were just whining for while you were just pressed up against lockers."

Roxas' hands tightened at that memory and that familiar tightening in his chest returned, but he pushed it away again. He refused to answer Riku's question and only bit back his own response. "It's because you were toying with me. You were playing around with my emotions and twisting them into something that wasn't meant to be there." He twirled one of the blades he held, feeling as if he were about ready to snap. "And you call Axel manipulative. Quite hypocritical of you, Riku."

Riku's smile was cold. "I didn't make you kiss back. That was all you," his smile grew malicious as he added, "Sora"

Roxas' eyes flashed with obvious anger at that one name he easily despised more then the person standing in front of him. The one label that Riku and others had continued to stamp on him again and again. It was a constant annoyance. Added onto the taunting words Riku spoke, Roxas was done with talking.

Sneakers squeaked against the gym floor as Roxas made a quick dash away from the spot he had been standing in since they entered the gym. He didn't care that Riku hadn't drawn his blade yet. It was Riku's problem, not his. One blade was slammed into the wooden floor inches from Riku as flames trailed down away from the blade to surround the other teen. Roxas didn't wait for the flames to rise very high. The twin blade he held swung around in his other hand to try and make its mark on the other teen as the flames were made to keep Riku at bay.

Roxas' actions were fueled by seething emotion, despite the fiery power behind them it made easy to read. Riku smirked; Roxas' long desired heart was now his weakness.

Riku leapt into the air, it saved him the heat from the surrounding flames below as well as the deadly strike to his person. He used Roxas' outstretch arm as ground to flip over him, adding insult to injury by poking the back of Roxas' head as he landed behind him with ease. Though Riku was quick to move back to avoid Roxas' lash back.

Roxas glared something fierce when his blade hit nothing as he swung backwards. The poke to his head had annoyed him more then Riku's cocky attitude. He twisted around completely to face the other once again and swung both blades beside him, causing the flames to flicker out of existence. "You wanted to fight me, Riku, so fight!" He shouted the words this time and they echoed even louder then his last ones. "Stop fooling around!"

Riku gave a short dry laugh. "It's not my fault you can't hit me." He gave a cocky 'heh'. "Or that you have the raging emotions of a teenage girl." Oh how fun that anger was to stir in Roxas' heart. It was much more fun to stoke the fires with just simple words. Riku shrugged out his hands dramatically as if this were truly such a lost cause. "I guess you handle your keyblades like you do your emotions." Riku grinned from under silver bangs. "Badly."

"You weren't saying that when I kicked your ass before!" Roxas was quick to spit back harshly. After the words left him he kept his gaze narrowed on the boy across from him for a few seconds before he was speaking again. "In fact..." A small grin finally started to come to his own face at his own remembrance. "...you had to be the one person you loath to even defeat me." As soon as the words left him he brought both blades together, connecting them like perfect little puzzle pieces, and watched as black flames gathered at the joined ends before shooting out in a vicious blast towards Riku.

A little harder to dodge. Riku staggered from the leap back he had to make to avoid. He tsked and dusted the sleeves of shirt. "Almost singed my new uniform shirt," he idly muttered as he went to rolling up his sleeves. After, Riku's attention was better on Roxas. "Hmm. Well, if we're getting down to the nitty gritty, you had to borrow a vital part of Sora just to feel." He drummed a rhythm on his own chest with a smirk. "His heart pumps your humanity through your veins, giving you feelings." Riku gave a mocking smile as he rested his hand over his own heart. "It must be truly tearing you up inside to know that no matter how much you deny it, you love me." He raised his hand up to kiss his fingers, blowing it Roxas' way.

Roxas had torn the twin keyblades apart to be by his sides again and scowled at Riku's actions. "You're so full of it. You think I actually love you? Just because I have half of what is rightfully mine?" He scoffed and turned his head to the side, but never his eyes. "I'm not going to believe a word you say. These feelings are mine. I can feel everything I was always meant to feel." Roxas straightened back up, turning his head towards Riku once again. "And I know that I hate you, Riku and I'm going to end this entire thing. I'm going to have my own life without you and without Sora."

Riku narrowed his eyes with a dark smirk. "I can think of far better uses for that cocky little mouth of yours." His smirk grew. "Sora." He reached out a hand towards Roxas and beckoned for the other teen to come hither.

There was that twisting pain in his chest again as Roxas stared at Riku's out stretched hand. His expression fell to something more troubled as the hold he had on his blades loosened from such a tight grip. He was soon walking step by step towards the other teen as the ends of each keyblade moved across the wooden floor. Closer and closer Roxas moved as the emotions inside of him continued to stir around.

As suddenly as Roxas' feet moved they stopped when the teen was but a couple of feet away from Riku. His eyes were hard again, but it was easy to see that he was still battling everything inside of him by the look in his eyes. Without a word spoken he lifted one of his blades to place the sharpened end at Riku's throat, breathing heavily as he tried to get himself under control. "Shut...up..." He swallowed hard, pressing closer with his blade. He lowered his head a bit, having to look up at Riku through his bangs as he spoke his next words. "You....I can't believe Ikurx is really your Nobody. He's not a cold, unfeeling bastard like you. Is this what you both have planned for him? To take him away from whatever life he wants for himself too?" His next words were screamed near Riku's face as he lifted his head back up. "We're not allowed anything, are we?!"

Riku's eyes snapped wide at that, surprised that Roxas would even bring up his Nobody above all things. The comparison to his fragile other, dragging him down to the level of all Nobodies, woke the venomous anger that slept in him like a dark serpent around his heart. His cool eyes were quick to narrow.

"You're not even supposed to exist!" Riku shouted back as his tightened fist drove itself into Roxas' jaw with fierce murderous intention.

The force of the blow sent Roxas back a good few feet and sprawling out on his back. His keyblades both clattered away from his hands and vanished in an instant. A low groan left his lips, but he didn't stay down for long. He pushed himself up on shaking arms and took even longer to stand back up. Blood leaked down from his lip which came from inside his mouth, but all he did was wipe it away. "So what?" Roxas started to speak again as soon as he was steady. "I'm here aren't I? I was born and went through hell just to get to this point in time. You have no clue what it's like not to feel." His eyes narrowed to slits. "To want something so badly you'd do anything to get it." He spit out the excess blood that was in his mouth onto the floor before that cocky smirk came back to his face. "I've talked to Ikurx and after that stunt you pulled I'm sure he isn't too fond of you, am I right? Heh, want to talk about irony now, Riku?"

Riku rubbed his fingers over knuckles that were bruising over from just how hard he'd hit Roxas. He didn't notice the pain as he kept his eyes trained on Roxas. Instead he tightened the fist and cracked the joints against his other hand's palm.

"Looking out for your fellow Nobody?" Riku scoffed. "You're anything but selfless. You scurried and clawed your way to find Ikurx, to use him like a lifeless tool just like your ex-Nobody comrades. Comrades who you betrayed to find your other, I might add."

Riku lowered his hands at his sides as he calmly stepped towards Roxas. "I know what it's like to want something-- need something so badly," his eyes fell heavily lidded as that dark smirk returned, "you'd give every last inch- to acquire your heart's desire." He walked until he was a good few feet beside Roxas facing the other way. "Cyclically, you and I. You want Sora's heart, I need yours and Sora has mine."

Roxas had been on his guard as soon as Riku stepped near him, but still he listened closely. The last part spoken had his gaze narrowing more, and he finally turned his head to study the boy beside him. It wasn't long before his lips twisted up as he snarled a bit and he was looking ahead once more. "You'll both just have to deal with things the way they are."

Roxas took a few steps away from Riku, but still didn't turn around. His fists clenched at his sides and he could feel that familiar anger bubbling up again. "You treat me like I'm such a bad person. Have you tried looking into a mirror lately? You've done far worse things then me lately, Riku. At least I'm trying to make up for my mistakes. All you're doing is digging yourself deeper." He finally turned around and glared at the older boy with vicious blue eyes. "You'll always be a puppet, Riku. Just something for the darkness to have its fun with and the day you killed Kairi made that more then obvious."

Riku hummed absently. "Pot to kettle, Sora." At his own leisure he turned to finally face Roxas. "What can you honestly say you've done to atone for your 'sins'?" He gestured about them. "Is this it? Forgetting those you stepped on to get here. I never claimed to be the better half. No, he's elsewhere." He gave a loose shrug. "Funny you should mention Kairi. Heh, I've made peace with her. At least- a piece of her." Riku reached into his pocket and pulled a piece of folded cardboard. "She drew me this." With ease he tossed it Roxas' way.

Roxas caught the piece of cardboard and eyed it as if it would blow up the moment he touched it. When nothing happened he immediately opened it little by little until the entire thing was unfolded and he could get a good look at the picture. Sketchy lines made up very familiar figures that he guessed were himself and Riku. The tall clock tower that was infamous in Twilight Town settled in the background as the both of them stood in front of it. Even with the charcoal look it still wasn't difficult to make out and Roxas knew in an instant whose masterpiece it was. The white room from long ago pointed to that. For some reason he felt a bit betrayed that Naminé would give such a picture to Riku, but it wasn't his place to say.

The picture was folded back up just as quickly as it was opened and tossed right back to Riku. Roxas narrowed his eyes once again before his gaze fell down to the floor under his sneakers. "I'm doing whatever I can. I know I'm a traitor, but I chose that path. I just want to forget about it. I want to be normal and have a life. If I have to fight to stay here with Axel, then fine." His hands twitched again at his sides and he had to take another deep breath. "That picture will never become a reality..."

"But it has." Riku held the picture up he had caught. "I'm here." He pointed to the taller figure who was himself on the drawing. "And you're here." He pointed at the other drawn figure. "And Twilight Town." He tapped the tower. "We're here too. Heh, funny how that worked out." He neatly folded the picture to put back in his pocket.

Riku regained his composure, but instead of apathy it was more casual. He didn't want to continue their cat and mouse game for the moment. It was getting them no where. "You can't say Sora hasn't respected you, treated you well as his other. You sought him out; you needed him just as much as he needed you. You tested him and found him a worthy other. Together you were perfect." He rested a hand on his own chest. "You're his passion, his energy, determination; a vital part of Sora. You gave him normalcy." Riku's hand fell away as he searched Roxas' expression. "... He loves you, and needs you. And so do I."

Roxas was quick to roll his eyes. It was a simple gesture and caused him to break eye contact with Riku which was something he wanted to do. "Doesn't matter how many times you say it. I still care even less then I did before." His eyes strayed to the score board high up on the wall of the gym. Anything to keep his eyes off Riku. It had only seemed to make him feel worse inside. "Why should I stay dormant while he gets to have the life that I wanted? How is that fair? I was ripped away from everything just so I could watch the two of you be happy and I've come to hate that."

It hadn't been a good idea to remove eyes from Riku, for in a breath the older teen was far too close without the sound of a single footstep. Roxas' chin was quirked up with a knuckle and soon a slow lick to the corner of his mouth came, cleaning the new trickle of blood falling there. "... If you hate it so much, Sora," the whisper was breathed against the corner of Roxas' mouth, "why do you feel so guilty?" A sharp jab spiked under Roxas' ribs, a fist to his gut. Riku leaned nearer to murmur against Roxas' ear. "Why does your heart hurt so much?"

Roxas gasped for breath at the sudden pain and both his hands fell instantly to claw at Riku's arm. He glanced at Riku from the corner of his eyes as he tried to get a hold of himself and spat vicious words back. "I don't feel anything for you. No guilt or hurt. Any guilt I feel is for past actions that happened between me and Axel, and I'm not going to let you twist any of that into something it's not." After the words left him he removed one of his hands, clenching it into a fist to swing it up towards Riku's face.

Riku easily caught the sloppy punch, grasping tight to Roxas' wrist. "I don't need to twist what's true." He placed a soft affectionate kiss on the underside of Roxas' wrist, trailing up to nip hard at the soft underside of his forearm. "I'm twisted enough for the both of us." With his free arm Riku slipped it around Roxas to drag his winded form near, nails clawing down the bare small of his back.

Roxas' breathing quickened at Riku's actions. The inner turmoil he was dealing with started to pound against his chest again as nails raked down tracks that were still healing on his back. His eyes stayed narrowed while he struggled in Riku's strong hold. His free hand rose up to punch hard against the taller boy's chest, gripping tightly to the uniform shirt he wore at the same time, hoping to tear it to make up for what had been done to his own. "Quit trying to molest me, Riku. It's really getting old!"

"Then how come your heart is beating so fast?" Riku gave a throaty chuckle. His hand dragged up higher, he could feel the heated beat through muscle and bone. "How come you're so excited?" His lips touched skin that was unmarked on Roxas' shoulder, trailing to the crook of neck and shoulder. "Masochist" he murmured in a throaty tone against skin before he bit the soft spot fiercely.

Roxas' eyes had snapped open, hearing the one word that had been spoken to him by Axel, now being shot back at him in Riku's husky voice so close to him. He felt twisted in so many different directions and still wanted badly to fight against what Riku was pushing onto him, but the harsh bite to his skin caused a loud sound to leave his lips and his eyes to flutter closed. He had no answers for the one person that was trying so hard to dominate him. He could only cling tightly to the shirt beneath his fingers as he held on.

Riku ran his tongue across the bite mark made deep enough to break the skin. Roxas' weakening fight had him smirking against the wet skin. He attacked the abused skin again with his mouth, nipping up his neck with fierce little bites. Behind Roxas, Riku's hand grasped the back of the other's neck to yank his head back to expose more neck. Riku chuckled low in his throat near Roxas' ear. "You're so easy, Sora."

Roxas couldn't help moaning at each harsh bite given to him by the person he hated. The emotions running wild inside of him wouldn't allow him to keep quiet. Even when his head was yanked back his eyes still stayed closed, but that fierce anger he felt before came back at Riku's words along with the name and his hand that was clenched so tightly in Riku's shirt moved up and around to bury itself in Riku's hair. As soon as he had hold of a few strands he was yanking the other teen back, none too gently, away from his throat and allowed his own breathing to settle before he pulled his own head away from Riku's hand as best he could.

With a snarl, Roxas opened his eyes and leaned in close, moving up on tip-toes since he had pulled Riku's head back so far. He moved in to speak near to the other boy's lips in a harsh whisper. "Wrong again." As soon as the words left him his fingers tightened and he gave a rather rough bite to Riku's bottom lip.

Riku gave a low sound in his throat at the sharp bite. He could taste blood, but it was hard to say if it was Roxas' or his. His hands were quick to bury in Roxas' hair, yanking him forward to roughly cover his mouth with his own. Teeth scraped against lips and gums as the kiss was far from kind. Riku could taste the metallic tang of blood in Roxas' mouth only sweetened by the ice cream the teen was always constantly eating. His retaliation for the bite to his lip was to bite hard the corner of Roxas' lips. Riku licked his own lips after.  "I think each kiss says otherwise."

Roxas let go of Riku's hair after such words. They were like a switch for him and he was quick to pull himself back together. As he licked the corner of his lips and more to be free of each drop of blood that lingered he used his sudden free hand to push at Riku, wanting the other teen away from him as far as could be. "Manipulative asshole. Get the hell away from me!" His other hand slapped Riku's hand away from his hair, annoyed that the other was still touching him. "Quit toying with me and twisting my feelings around. Go slobber all over Sora you sick bastard, and quit calling me by his damn name! I'm not Sora! I was given a name and it's still my name to this day!"

"Name given by a mad man." Riku smoothed a hand through his hair, brushing it over his shoulder. He shrugged. "Though sadly, this time, I didn't mess with your feelings at all. That was all you." He rubbed his lips, licking the bite on his bottom lip after. "And like it or not, you're still a part of Sora." He coolly walked a few steps from Roxas. "But I'm not ‘slobbering’; I believe I'm 'biting'." He turned to give Roxas a wry smirk. "And it didn't sound like you minded in the slightest."

Roxas clenched his teeth rather hard since the grinding could be heard throughout the gym. He could feel the phantom touches as if Riku's lips were still there, lingering on his skin and biting wherever able. It had him looking away from Riku in a quick second to glare at the floor instead as he lifted a hand to rub it along his neck where the worst of the freshest bites lay. "You wanted to fight me. If this is your idea of fighting then you can just get the hell out of here right now, because I'm not leaving with you."

Riku gave a short laugh; seemed he'd stressed Roxas out in the best of ways. His gaze traveled from Roxas up to the score board the shorter teen had been looking at before to avoid looking at Riku. "Fine. Have it your way."

In a breath Riku was up atop the score board. A flash of dark light and Way to Dusk was in his hand to cut the metal bars that kept the score board firmly in place. A powerful kick dislodged it from the ceiling and the wall to fly directly to Roxas.

Roxas' eyes widened as he heard the creaking sounds of the score board falling away. His head snapped up and his breath caught in his throat, but he was quick to act. He had just enough time to call out both keyblades just as the board was inches away from him, lodging both twin blades deep inside to try and stop it from coming in contact with him. Sparks flew instantly all about as the blades imbedded themselves inside and started to destroy while he skidded back on sneakers. The fake data that had created the score board started to flicker in and out around it as it was being ruined, but Roxas ignored it as the angry sparks flew around him and on his person.

Riku pushed off the wall. In the air he twisted round while dark energy gathered round the blade of way to Dusk. Slashing the blade forward the intense dark energy flew forward to Roxas while he was busy with the angrily sparking score board.

Roxas was able to see Riku's actions from over top the board. He had no way of defending himself with his blades buried deep within the hunk of metal, so he tried to use it to his advantage instead. With careful movements he moved the board out a little as he straightened his arms, hoping the brunt of Riku's attack would be caught in his make shift shield, but he was sorely mistaken. With as much damage that had already been taken the attack only ruined the board further until it finally flickered out completely and the remainder of the attack caught Roxas in the chest sending him back more then a few feet.

That had given Riku enough time to land, hitting the ground running. Using the remaining flickering pixels and curling excess of the dark blast as cover Riku rushed Roxas while he was hit. Way to Dawn was whipped out, slashing at Roxas' open middle.

Riku may have been covered, but none of it masked his footsteps on the wooden floor beneath. Roxas tried his best to move out of the way as he heard the other approaching, but he didn't get away in time and the hit meant for his middle hit his shoulder instead as he rolled away. He masked the pain as best he could behind a scowl while he was quick to sit back up, but he didn't stand. His good arm swung out to try and catch Riku's legs with a blade.

There was the loud sound of ripping as Roxas' keyblade snagged into Riku's pants. Despite how Riku had tried to avoid the hit the sharp ends of the keyblade hooked into pants. Riku staggered and yanked his leg free, though the keyblade took a good large patch of the pants with it.

Riku grouched. "Bastard-- now my pants!" He took a good few steps back from Roxas, narrowing his eyes. "No respect for your elders." With a twirl of his blade he charged to swipe at Roxas with his keyblade.

Roxas ignored Riku's spoken words, moving to kneel instead so he could be ready for the attack. He raised both blades and connected them with Riku's own, locking them together tight with Way to Dusk so the dark keyblade could have limited movement. His injured arm shook, but he kept each blade held tight as he locked his gaze with Riku's own. "Go back to the pit of darkness that you crawled out from, Riku."

"I have a better idea." Riku pushed harder on Way to Dusk, using his weight to force it down harder between the twin blades Roxas possessed. He locked eyes with Roxas', holding them there. "Why don't I," from his shadow coiled thin mist at first, then thicker as it curled around his legs and up, "let that pit of darkness crawl back here to me?" The shadow drank into the thin cloth that was Riku's school uniform, warping it as it spread over. The hem of his school shirt grew out with a flair of coat tails as all the rest of his white shirt bled to change to his black coat. The dark trailed up to form dark cloth, hooding Riku's face with shadows though his gleaming icy grin was easily seen.

Through the entire ordeal Roxas couldn't help the shivers that ran through him. The entire gym felt as if it had grown colder with Riku's sudden change along with the darkness that had moved around. He stared at that cruel grin while he tried to keep a steady hold on Riku's blade, but his arm was starting to hurt worse then before. Blood trailed down and dripped onto the wood under him until finally he was forced to let go of the locked hold and jumped back before Riku could swing at him since his own blade was free. Roxas didn't speak on the sudden change in appearance. He only kept a careful eye on Riku while he tried to pull himself together.

"No witty retort? I'm surprised." Riku began to take slow leisurely steps towards Roxas, minding the blood spilt on the floor. "Though I can't say I'm disappointed." As his darkened shadow passed over the droplets, the blood was greedily consumed by the wavering darkness. "So I suppose I'll have to fill the silent void with my own thought provoking words, like: where is this Heartless of yours anyway? Has he found what he's looking for? Or did I kill him before he reached his destination?" Way to Dusk was pointed at Roxas' chest, where his quick beating heart lay underneath. "I mean, how else was I able to get into this program."

The pain in Roxas' arm was forgotten as Riku's last few sentences hit something deeper within him. Even though Way to Dusk was pressed so very near, Roxas still stood straight and tensed up as his eyes widened for only a second before they narrowed on the cloaked figure in front of him. "Liar!" The word was shouted in more of a desperate way then anything harsh. "Y-You knew about this place and everything in it. You know about the program! I'm not stupid, Riku! You didn't...there's no way...." He couldn't finish the sentence at all without his voice breaking and he was forced to swallow hard while he tightened his hold on both blades.

Riku tilted his head to the side. "Sad that I couldn't bring you proof. You know how those Heartless just go poof after you run them through." The tip of Way to Dusk poked hard against Roxas' chest. "Otherwise I would have brought you a memorable piece." He gave a quiet chuckle. "You thought you would have felt something when he passed, didn't you? Like some kind of romantic omniscience, a flash of unbearable sadness in your heart. Heh. But here you were, carrying out your lie, as if the tragedy never happened." Way to Dusk's blade flicked a quick gashed line over the left side of Roxas' chest, another soon to follow intersecting it leaving a bleeding 'X' over Roxas' heart. "Proves how strong your supposed 'love' truly is."

Roxas flinched at the sudden sharp pain that the blade struck across his skin and it had him doubling back a few steps to get some space between himself and Riku. It didn't stop the blood that poured down from the new wound and Roxas forced himself to look down at his chest where the mark was still fresh. The words spoken had his hands shaking. That same familiar ache that he had felt in the dark street before came back and he wanted to do everything in his power to deny what had been said. "Shut up. You're lying, Riku. You're playing dirty." He choked on his words before he could continue. "A-Axel is fine. He'll be back. He doesn't go down easy."

"Delusions; adorable." Riku twirled Way to Dusk in his one hand, watching it with idle amusement. "You can feel it now, can't you? Now that I've pointed it out-- you can feel the loss. He's no longer there. Gone." His free hand fluttered across the air to point. "Back to Kingdom Hearts." He gave a short amused sound.

That last little bit caused Roxas to snap his head back up in an instant. Tears rolled down his cheeks, but for once he ignored them to glare hatefully at Riku for what he dared to say. His mind and heart were in a mess and together it made for a dangerous combination that didn't allow him to think clearly. He just wanted to be rid of Riku once and for all. He didn't want to hear those horrible words spoken any longer.

In a second Roxas was moving forward the bit of space between them with blades raised. He intended to strike a final blow with both keyblades after what he had just been told. He didn't believe any of it, he couldn't, and with two vicious swings he struck out at Riku to hit above and below on the taller boy the moment he neared him.

For Riku watching the rage that cause Roxas to lash out so violently was like perceiving the expected; for him the action was slow and predictable. Riku crossed his arms over turning his palms to face Roxas and in the space between either of them a strong thin dark shield appeared between them. The barrage flickered hard into visibility when Roxas' keyblades smashed into it, seething black fire erupting from the twin keyblades as they pressed hard into the patch work barrier. Riku was pushed back with the force of the impact. There was no point in trying to meet the fierce passion of the heart, especially that heart that lay nestled in Roxas' ribcage; Sora's. It had always beaten him time and time again. So Riku gave up his traction on the scuffed wood flooring of the gym, lifting his booted feet from the ground so they both flew forward.

"... Wasted tears."

The barrier fell to shattered nothing. With nothing to barrage them from each other Riku's Way to Dusk was quick to come between Roxas' keyblades. It was able to cut nothing but the single tear that flew from Roxas' cheek from the many that streamed down; the drop flew in two. Riku forcefully ripped himself from the mess of keyblades they had become; flipping in the air to neatly land perched on the basketball hoop high on the wall.

Roxas' breathing was heavy and he knew he was running on pure adrenaline and nothing else even as he flicked his gaze up to where Riku had landed. He was beyond aggravated with Riku's words and the constant defense that he just couldn't break.

For a while Roxas kept a steady gaze on Riku until he broke it to look towards the bleachers. Without a second thought he was quick to move towards them and took each step two at a time until he was more then halfway up. It was then that he launched his body away and towards the hoop, swinging only one of the twin blades out while an angry sound left him.

Riku leapt off the hoop flipping upside down a moment. He gripped his keyblade with both hands so he could swing hard to cut the metal bars that held the basket ball hoop in its entirety. And like the score board he kicked it free to send it flying towards Roxas.

Unlike last time Roxas was much faster to ready himself. His other blade was quick to move up in a wide arc to slash straight through as flames melted it to aid in the process. The entire hoop split in two before the data fizzled out while Roxas fell back rather hard onto two feet and stumbled with the action. His eyes stayed narrowed on the floor for a few seconds before he raised his head and glance around; on the lookout for the cloaked teen.

"He didn't die quietly," Riku's voice spoke behind Roxas, "if that brings you any solace." His assured steps walked across the lowest of the bleachers. "No, he begged. On his hands and knees he pleaded for mercy. I believe his exact words were 'please, please don't! I just wanted him to be happy. We just wanted a normal life. Please- I love him'." Riku's Axel impersonation abruptly ended with the sick mock of the sound of someone's throat being cut out. He gave a choking death rattle before his gurgling noises turned to cold laughter. "I guess he didn't love you enough." Riku hopped off the bleacher back onto the floor. "Or rather- you didn't love him enough. Or not at all. You are a Nobody after all."

Roxas didn't turn around at all. He kept still, listening and each word said felt like spikes driven straight through him. His vision was blurring worse then before and the sudden adrenaline started to leave him in just a shaking mess. "N-No..." He started to speak quietly and shook his head so fast it was a miracle his neck didn't snap. The tears that dripped from his face fell onto his blades and evaporated as soon as they hit as Roxas forced both to give off the welcoming flames that proved to him Axel was still with him. His eyes stared, entranced, while his mouth moved on its own. "I'm a Somebody now and as soon as I got this heart I made sure to tell Axel how much I love him as many times as I could. Axel..." He choked on the name as the fear gripped at him inside. "A-Axel would never beg like that. Never, no matter what." That fact alone helped Roxas deny everything Riku said, but still the tears fell.

"Of course." Riku's voice spoke directly behind Roxas. "You keep telling yourself that. Maybe it'll change history if you lament it more." A merciless attack slammed violently into Roxas' back; it was his fault for stopping in the middle of a battle.

The attack had Roxas' eyes snapping closed as a pained sound left him. Flames extinguished and blades vanished as his concentration was lost in that one quick moment. He stumbled in his steps as he tried to pull away from Riku, wanting distance between them once again and away from the other's violent actions. His own mind was in too much turmoil after Riku's words to do much else.

But of course Riku wasn't ready to give in, not in the least. He was on Roxas again, now that the smaller teen's blades had disappeared, Way to Dusk cutting into skin, again and again and again. A hard knee slammed into Roxas' ribcage throwing him from the bleachers. While Roxas spun from the attack Riku dealt the final blow. Dark energy gathered at Way to Dusk and exploded fiercely as it was slammed into Roxas sending him hard into the bleachers, spilling down the last few steps.

Riku landed on the last bleacher where Roxas' legs still lay sprawled across while he lay prone on the floor. He stepped one foot over Roxas' legs and from the shadow of hood he gave the prone shambles a once over of cruel satisfaction. The coils of darkness that sifted from Riku's shadow took it on their own to curl around Roxas' legs, slinking around limbs or under clothes like cold vile snakes.

"Heh." Riku hopped off the bleachers to straddle himself over Roxas' middle. "I think you've lost." He spoke much too casually. "There's nothing left for you." He wiped a smear of blood near Roxas' lips before he flicked the dirty red from his fingers. "That had to hurt. All of this much hurt, much too much."

Roxas didn't even have the drive, or the energy, after such vicious attacks to act on the darkness that curled around his ankles and further up. In the back of his mind something told him he should be afraid and fighting it after such a terrifying experience previously, but his body hurt too much and the blood from each gash in skin only had him groaning.

As soon as he heard Riku's voice, Roxas opened his eyes to only mere slits to stare up at the cloaked figure perched on top of him. It made him sick inside to see such a thing and the finger that wiped away the blood which had trickled down had him letting out a pained hiss. "....Hate you..." The words were choked out as best as Roxas could manage.

Riku's hand smoothed around Roxas' cheek. "Love you too." His gloved hand gripped Roxas' shoulder, needing to dig fingers hard into skin to get a good grip since blood made it so slippery. Roughly he forced Roxas onto his stomach; the boy didn't have much energy to fight back. Riku pressed near against Roxas' bare and bloody back. His hand gripped a fist full of blonde hair to yank Roxas' head back, far enough so he'd have to arch his spine. "See." Riku bore his palm forcing Roxas to look at the slick blood there. "You've lost. Fair and square." He gave a hard yank to blonde hair. "This makes you mine." Riku traced a bloody heart on Roxas' bruised cheek "So come," Riku murmured the words huskily in Roxas' ear, "quietly."

Roxas let out quickened breaths through clenched teeth as he tried to ignore the pain in his skull from the force Riku used to yank on his hair. It was just another added annoyance on top of all the other wounds that continued to linger on his body. He kept eyes shut as tight as he could even when those last words were spoken and clawed against the wood under him with his fingers. He knew the deal he made, but he was still stubborn. He refused to live up to his end of the bargain so easily, especially after all the hurtful things that had been said. It just didn't work that way. "I'll never be yours." He hissed out before he closed his teeth tight once more.

Riku's free hand trailed across Roxas' left side where it came to rest over the other's shoulder blade; he could feel the hammering palpitation underneath beneath bone. "I beg to differ." It was so delightfully sweet, sweet and tight, he plunged his hand deep into Roxas' back. But it wasn't flesh, blood and bone he pushed himself into, but that beautiful plain of serenity where the metaphorical 'heart' lay. Riku couldn't help the elated groan that past his lips, such vile ecstasy to be in someone in a far more intimate place than the physical flesh could offer. Riku pressed nearer to Roxas anyway, muffling his groan as he bit hard on Roxas' ear. His gloved hand brushed over the surface of the half crystalline heart. How he could taste the raw anger and fierce emotion through his fingertips, drawing the negative feelings to the surface to leave a black stain with each touch left. Without warning he plunged his fingers into the heart piercing it with more than that, but with his own dark devoted hatred like jagged hooks into its center, forcing his own darkness to steal and snuff out that precious light he loved yet abhorred. Riku made Roxas his.

And through it all Roxas let loose a scream that echoed throughout the gym, but would never be heard further then inside the four walls they were trapped in. A tortured sound that ripped at his throat, but never stopped, even when it started to force his voice to crack. The twisted darkness and intense emotions had his whole body shaking and his nails dug more and more into hard wood to try and escape, but there was no getting away. Each tendril of darkness that had kept his legs in place slipped further and further up, covering every inch of his body as Riku forced that twisted darkness into the heart he had finally gotten.

Every bit of love, light and happiness was slowly being drained away to be replaced by a numbing cold and vicious feelings that belonged to the person that gave them. The pained scream was fading away into nothing and along with it Roxas' head bowed as best it could to be the only thing left that was covered in the inky blackness. It seeped into skin causing the owner's body to tremble with the feeling of chilling cold, but in an instant the shivers stopped and there was nothing as that darkness became one with the body as blonde hair was the last thing to become a deep midnight color. Any and all marks that were not created by the person perched a-top Roxas were wiped away; branded hand prints on wrists the last to go.

The darkened body gave one last shuddering breath. The last warm breath that would ever leave Roxas. There was no more resistance and no more sounds. No more snarky words and no more narrowed gazes. Eyes continued to stay closed even after all had settled and Riku's hand stayed near the corrupted heart.

---

In the black endless dark the Darkness was without mercy, sharing with the unbeating heart of one of its particular searching Heartless what it had now brutally claimed. Axel froze his eyes and mouth agape. His hands shook and all the rest of him convulsed in agony as raw cold seized his chest, boring deep into his still heart. It tore away the fiery warmth that was the element of his being, pouring liquid ice throughout instead.

Axel gripped his chest, clawing at the flesh over his heart. "R-...Ra..." A choked sound raked him as he fell to his knees, but there was no physical ground in the Darkness.

It was lost; what? Everything; where?

Cold, dead, flesh. Axel could feel the stilling of once, passionate, love and life, their heart, in his own.

Another lifeless Heartless was born.

Manic yellow illumination took the colour from Axel's eyes as Roxas' name tore from him in a raw desperate scream.

---

Feet came to an immediate halt as a sudden pain tore through Sora's entire being. An emptiness brought on by something that felt incredibly off. His eyes stung and his body trembled when just seconds ago he had been perfectly fine. It didn't make any sense, but he knew the thundering in his chest wasn't an illusion.

Sora tried to move his feet again so as not to worry the two that were walking behind him. It was better to keep up appearances then have Mickey and Naminé fret over him. Still, he couldn't shake any of what he felt no matter how hard he tried. He felt as if a piece of him had just been broken apart. The short breaths he took did nothing to help ease his sudden panic. He wondered for a second if Riku was alright and considered stopping, but words spoken between the two of them were the only thing that kept him from doing that. He had to be brave. He couldn't let paranoia stop him from finding Ikurx. Everything would be okay. Everything was okay. He believed those words even as the tears tried to fall.

---

The hand yanked itself free from the back of the prone figure. Riku sat back up, his breath ragged. He could feel the perspiration falling from his hairline to cause his silver hair to stick to skin.

A sharp pang captured his chest, causing Riku to flinch hard.

Dark? When had it gotten dark?

Riku pushed back the hood, it was far too hot. His hands fumbled across a strip of cloth and it was then that Riku's heart sped with panic. The blindfold. He pulled it up, flinching when the light hit his poor eyes. It was then that Riku saw the still body underneath him.

"... Oh god."

What had he done-?

Riku yanked the blindfold off and threw it aside. He quickly clambered off the dark body, staring at it dumbly for a moment. It was all so unreal; his mind swam, clouded by the light that was just too bright.

"Roxas!" The 'Nobody's' name left him, finally. He grasped Roxas' shoulder and turned him over with shaking strength. "Roxas? R-Roxas are you okay?" The question felt so stupid when the obvious was so true in plain sight. But panic washed over Riku so intensely; please- no- this wasn't supposed to happen. "R-Roxas, please!"

Despite the desperate pleas, Roxas continued to keep still for longer then he normally would have. The marks and wounds that kept on his person didn't even seem to be bothering the younger teen as much as they had been during the fight. There wasn't even a single twitch of movement from him.

It was after long seconds of silence, only accompanied by Riku's worried breath, eyes finally opened much too slow. The usual intense blue that came from being Sora's other had disappeared and in their place was the glowing yellow that made it all the obvious what Roxas had become, as fully opened eyes turned to look at Riku with none of the malice or spite that used to be present in his gaze.

A shuddering sound exhaled from Riku's lips. "N-no." Riku suddenly couldn't breathe. "No- no, no, no." He shook his head, but it did no good, it wouldn’t undo the horror he'd committed.

He'd never done this before- never taken it this far. There was always something that stopped Riku from taking it to this extreme.

"S- Sora." Riku sat back as his shaking hands rose up but never touched his face. Guilt and shame washed over him as the boy's smiling face flitted in his mind. All those tears and trust. "Oh Sora-- I'm so sorry." This was Kairi all over again. Except it was Sora's heart he violated. The first heart he had now corrupted. Sora's Nobody was his first Heartless made; how disgustingly ironic.

Riku felt nauseous, the bile rising in his throat as he stared into those empty glowing eyes across from him. "Roxas...” His hands fell lifelessly at his sides as all the fight drained from him; there was no fixing this. He had failed. Again. Failed Sora. There would be no forgiveness for this betrayal. "... This is your fault," he whispered hoarsely to the Heartless. But that was such a worthless lie.

At the sound of his name spoken again, Roxas finally moved around. The whispered words didn't seem to bother him all that much. As soon as he sat up from the floor he crawled his way towards Riku to sit, on knees, in front of the one whose own darkness rested within him. He kept his head bowed only a bit and was forced to watch Riku through bangs for a few calm moments until a steady hand reached out to touch the distraught teen.

Riku could feel the cold fingers touch his cheek. The touch startled him since he hadn't expected anything 'gentle' in contact from Roxas, nor such a cold touch on his hot cheeks. The icy touch sent an unnatural chill down his spine and the hurt inside his ribcage tightened.

"Why?" Riku could feel hot ache of tears sting his eyes, but all he could do was stare at the peeking yellow eyes beneath the dark hair. "...W-why did you have to push me, Roxas?"

The question went unanswered; instead Roxas only raised his head so he could gaze at Riku better. The gentle touch that had been given became more as Roxas' fingers moved up and down the other's cheek to try and sooth the person that deep inside he only knew as his master. This was the person that held all control over him, yet at the moment seemed to be upset with him. It was that thought that had Roxas daring to move a little closer into Riku's personal space. Face to face he stared into the other's eyes until finally he spoke barely above a whisper. Words that couldn't be helped after seeing such a pained expression and hearing such words from the other. "I'm yours?"

That had a small choked sound leaving Riku. He shut his eyes, squeezing them tight waiting for the tears to subside. It was so strange to hear that question in Roxas' voice. It sounded so pathetic, like a lost child who knew no more than that they should belong to someone.

To hear such a thing from Roxas was proof enough for Riku to see just how far gone they'd become.

Riku gave a few quick nods before he opened his eyes. Roxas' face was not unlike Sora's a good few days ago. Except Roxas didn't twitch and spasm like Sora had, nor was his voice echoing everywhere but from his mouth. In some twisted way Riku was reminded of the dark Sora he'd created from dark fragments of his own jealousy and longing while long, long ago. His Heartless Sora had been no match for the real thing on Captain Hook's ship; but he had missed that Heartless there after, for reasons he would never tell Sora, even now when they were as close as he wished back then.

With a wet sniff Riku placed either of his hands on Roxas' cheeks to pull the new Heartless' face nearer. He rested their heads against one another before he weakly nuzzled their cheeks together, feeling his hot tears fall down between them. "Yes, you're mine."

The answer seemed to satisfy Roxas along with the actions. He couldn't help the content little purr that escaped him at having his reason for being hold him so near. His hand dropped back down only to cling as tight as it could to Riku's front. It was when one of Riku's stray tears hit his hand that Roxas blinked his eyes at the feeling. That lost feeling came back as he wasn't sure what to do, but turned his head a bit to lick away the stray tears on Riku's cheek.

A small sound escaped Riku. He was reminded of a cat or a puppy; it was so strange, yet comforting in such an odd way. "We can't go back," he quietly spoke up. "... Not like this." He weakly ran a hand through Roxas' now dark hair. He swallowed thickly; it was so different to go from violent to gentle. The extreme left Riku in a lulling daze. "And we can't stay here." Riku continued to pet his fingers through Roxas' hair.

Roxas ducked his head a little so that Riku could run fingers through his hair a little better. It was such a calming action to have done. Still, he paid attention to each word spoken; hanging onto every single word Riku said. So eager to please. "Where?" The one word left him just as quietly as before, questioning what needed to be done.

"... I'm not sure," Riku spoke the words distantly. "Far... far away."  He glanced down at Roxas. Such a dramatic change, he could barely grasp it. He rested his head down atop Roxas' while he continued to run his fingers through the Heartless' hair. Riku shut his eyes tightly again. "... Do you forgive me?" Riku did all he could to keep his voice from shaking. "R-Roxas?"

"Forgive?" Roxas echoed the word softly to himself, running it over and over again in his mind. In all honesty he wasn't sure why Riku would ask him such a thing. All he knew was the here and now. The fingers running through his hair and the face he had woken up to. This was all that mattered. "There's nothing to forgive..." After the words left him his hand held even tighter to Riku while his eyes finally fell shut again.

That was enough for Riku; just to hear that it was alright from Roxas. Without hesitation he reached out and pulled the Heartless closer, doing of all inane things, hugging Roxas near. It was like hugging Sora while he was a Heartless but without the trembling jitters. No, it was more like hugging the Sora he made several years ago. So cold, yet so eager to cling back; the duality of comfort from the darkness, it always left Riku dizzy and confused, feeling as small and needy as if he were really young again. The need to be needed.

Riku needed to know.

"Roxas..." Riku buried his face against dark hair before he continued in a small voice. "... Do you love me?"

Roxas had kept still at first with the sudden embrace. It was a strange thing, but he didn't hate it. He found himself clinging back just as tightly, wanting the same comfort he had gotten earlier with the simple touches through his hair. He buried his face against Riku's shoulder and listened closely to the question asked of him, thinking it over carefully once again. It was much more difficult then the last. Love; it was an emotion that meant caring for someone deeply. It meant devotion and trust. It was the only knowledge that Roxas could pick up on of such a word and it was that which helped him come to a quick decision. "Yes, I do. I love you."

Riku swallowed the sound he wanted to make. This was perverse and wrong, but he couldn't help it. This was something he'd wanted from Roxas a long time. Just to be loved, hell, even liked by Sora's Nobody. It hadn't mattered what he'd done, Roxas had always hated him for loving Sora so. It hadn't been fair. It had hurt so godamn much. But now, Roxas did love him. It had a disturbing relief wash over him.

"Again... say it again," Riku whispered as he couldn't help but cradled the Heartless near.

"I love you." Roxas was quick to speak the words again. Anything to make the one that held him so near and dear, happy. “Love you..." He echoed the words one more time before he started to nuzzle his face against Riku's shoulder. The quiet content sounds that Roxas had given off earlier came forth from his lips once again, muffled, but still clear enough to try and sooth Riku just as much as the other's tight hold was doing for him.

Riku placed a small kiss atop Roxas' head. He wasn't quite sure why he did it, but he did. It was all so wrong. So horribly wrong. But something about the way Roxas clung to him, spoke those words he needed to hear and made that soft unnatural purr, it made everything okay. Somehow.

Riku's very quiet words were muffled against Roxas' hair. "... I love you too."

The press of lips had Roxas opening his eyes once again to look ahead past Riku's shoulder. It had only caused the calming noise to grow louder in the back of his throat, especially when Riku spoke those words so close. Soon, he was pulling back to look into Riku's eyes again, but still keeping his arms wrapped as tight as he could around the other's waist. He wanted Riku to feel the same calm and give back what Riku had given him.

Roxas leaned forward, and with only a cool unneeded breath between them, pressed his lips against the other boy's in only a small hesitant second. Glowing eyes closed and the loud noise ceased that had been coming from Roxas as all his attention had focused on this one action for Riku.

Chaste and sincere, Riku never expected both to exist on Roxas' lips as they touched his. Each kiss had been angry, feral, and least of all endearing. Not like this. This was cold yet kind. Riku's hands drew up to rest on either side of Roxas' cheeks. He let the Heartless kiss him a moment longer before he pulled his head away.

Riku sniffed wetly, petting Roxas' dark cheeks with his thumbs. "You'll stay with me? Never leave?"

Roxas leaned into the touch on one of his cheeks while he gave a quick nod to the new questions he was asked. "Yes, of course. I belong to you and no one else." He turned his head so he was able to give a quick lick to one of Riku's fingers. "I love you. I'll never leave." He was just about to turn his attention back on Riku, but something nearby caught his eyes instead. It forced him to leave Riku's arms so he could crawl over and retrieve it as something in the back of his mind told him it was much too important to stay on the wooden floor.

The thin strip of cloth that Riku had discarded what felt like an eternity ago was soon held in Roxas' hand and the Heartless stared at it for a few seconds with unblinking eyes before he moved to make his way back towards Riku. He settled himself just as comfortably near Riku as he had been before, but seemed a little hesitant with his next movements. Slowly his hands rose up to press the dark cloth over Riku's eyes, but as Roxas did such a thing he leaned forward to nuzzle the other's neck, giving comfort as he tied off the blindfold in place where it belonged.

"... Thank you." The words just tumbled out of Riku in automation. He slowly blinked under the bandana, all the world black to him now. The action had been touching, even if Roxas didn't quite grasp the meaning or significance of the blindfold in its entirety. It meant enough.

Riku sightlessly slipped his arms back around Roxas. It was the same cold texture of dark skin, the feel of Heartless never changed. It brought the same longing for that warm embrace he could remember. Oh god, he missed Sora so much already. But unlike his younger self when he had created the shadow Sora, he didn't know each loving touch and kiss from Sora that he did now.
For now this semblance of his former would have to do. It would have to.

"Let's go." From Riku's shadow a portal was called to the Darkness. It wouldn't matter this time; there was no fear to be had, because Roxas' heart was impurely his now. The dark wouldn't steal what was already its vicariously.

Roxas' head moved up once again to watch the portal behind them grow darker and larger. There was little curiosity in his expression and he turned his gaze back to Riku after a few seconds of silence. "Go?" He continued to speak in that same quiet voice as he searched what was left of Riku's face. "Where?" He questioned the order given after there had been no idea as to where to move to much earlier.

"... Far." Riku whispered. And he rested his head against Roxas' heavily. "... Together."

The portal then swallowed the both of them into the Darkness. The gym was left in its shambles and soon without Riku there to keep it, the barrier surrounding the inner walls fell into dissipation.

It wasn't long before a new portal from the Darkness tore into the fabric of digital existence. From it a certain fire Heartless stepped from it. His glowing eyes were wide around as he took in the abandoned battle field. The scent of blood, sweat, and hatred hit him hard.

Axel's hand rose shaky but it never made it to cover his mouth as his sight went from the flecks of blood to the discarded clothing on the wood flooring. He shambled his steps over, falling to his knees he snatched up the uniform shirt. Tightly he clutched it to his chest, half burying his face against the now cold shirt; oh god, it smelt like Roxas. His eyes fell upon the crumpled tie. The yellow glow faded from back to green eyes and a choked sound escaped him, black tears falling down his pale cheeks obscuring the little markings that Roxas had poked playfully and kissed at least a thousand times over.

The Heartless crumpled against the floor, curling weakly around the shirt in his arms as he pulled the tie in to clutch as well. He was too late. Roxas was gone; Axel could feel it like someone had ripped his precious insides out with rusty hooks on chains. He had promised Roxas he'd be safe, he'd be back before anything could happen.

Empty lies, in a farce world that just wasn't worth living in without it's reason for continued existence.

Axel let out a scream of tortured anguish of two lives of nothing but failed love and try, not caring how deep the sound echoed within the school program.