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'...' Thinking

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Sora was pacing around his room, deep in thought. After the Radiant Garden's incident it felt as if Sora was being watched. 'Maybe I'm imagining it. There's no reason for them to spy on me, right?' Sora groaned. He was being paranoid and its all Vanitas' fault when he told Sora not to trust anyone.

He couldn't help but feel furious, and he didn't know for which reason? For Riku or Vanitas? Or, everyone giving him secret glances, it was giving him a weird feeling in the inside.

Suddenly a knock interrupted Sora's thoughts, looking at the door he debated if he should open it. He knew who it was already... Riku. He has been trying hard to talk to Sora all day, but Riku was only receiving the cold shoulder.

"I can't let this go on," Sora muttered, he was a forgiving person and Riku was just trying to help. Opening the door, he gasped when Sora saw Riku's wounds on his arms and face. Many cuts and gashes from different sizes were inflicted on him. "Riku?! Are you okay?" Swiftly grabbing him by the wrist and ordered Riku to sit on his bed so Sora can examine him closely.

"What happened?" Sora asked concern, gently placing his hands on Riku's slim cheekbones.

"A mission gone wrong." Riku admitted shortly. Relieved that Sora was talking to him again. Not being able to hear his best friend's voice hurt him, and Sora avoiding him all day crushed Riku.

"Did you use cure?" Riku shook his head.

Sora blinked, eyeing his injuries up close. How can Riku not use cure? Look at him! "What? Why not? Let me cast a-"

"No." Riku interrupted Sora, swatting his hands away. "I don't want cure cast on me. Leave it like this." He requested, averting his eyes from Sora.

"Why...? It hurts to see you like this." Sora was confused. Riku would never get hurt in battle even if it went wrong, he would always find a way to stop the enemy. So, why was today any different? Sora could only think of one thing.

"I deserve this." Riku replied, half-heartedly. Throughout the day Riku couldn't think straight or even focus on anything as he was trying to think of a way to apologize to Sora. The cold shoulder was killing him.

Bingo. The brunette figured, suddenly guilt washed over him as well. He was acting like a rebellious child throwing a tantrum and ignoring everyone. Sora didn't want to act like that; he was just really hurt that Riku betrayed him.

"You don't deserve anything." Sora stated as he narrowed his eyes. "I should be the one apologizing..." His gaze soften, "I'm sorry, Riku, for avoiding you all day. I shouldn't have act like a big baby about it. I'm sorry."

Slowly Riku looked up, "Don't, I deserve it-"

"NO! You don't!" Sora exclaimed, gritting his teeth. Riku was taken aback for a moment then asked, "Were you angry I told everyone?" His eyes pierced through Sora, the room suddenly feeling dark and solemn.

"I was," Sora admitted, "But, you were only doing what was best for me and for that I'm grateful. I'm not mad anymore, Riku. I forgive you," He softly smiled. And just like that, the tension was gone.

Closing his eyes, Riku took let out a sigh, "I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders." And it was the truth. Riku felt better knowing that they were making amends.

"Now can I cast you a cure?" Sora asked, grinning.

Riku wanted to say no still, but in reality he couldn't. Not with Sora grinning brightly at him, he could never say no to a face like that. "Alright."

Casting a cure on Riku, Sora watched as the gashes disappeared instantly. Riku was good as new again, much to Sora's relief. "There, all better."

Riku softly smiled, "Thanks."

It was quiet for a moment before Riku asked a serious question. "What happened in Radiant Garden's?"

"What do you mean? Nothing happened," Sora claimed, huffing. He didn't like the thought of lying but it had to be done. "You don't trust me, Riku?" Sora inquired as he glared at him, a sudden raw emotion boiling up inside him.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy, anger lacing through Sora's tone. Riku was mildly surprised, Sora was never this defensive before and certainly the anger was something new. Riku was merely asking an innocent question, he wasn't interrogating him.

"Of course, I do. What's wrong with you? You're acting very... different," Riku stated. Is Sora still mad at him? They just forgave each other. But, the anger... Sora wouldn't snap at Riku in such an aggressive way.

Sora was taken aback, "I'm fine. It's you who has been acting different! Always going on missions, avoiding me?! You make me feel like a plague every time you do that. I try my hardest to pretend that its nothing and you're simply busy, but its not working. At least not anymore." He scoffed, admitting his inner feelings that he kept for so long inside. A part of him wanted nothing to be said but another part of him wanted to just spill it out.

"What?" Riku frowned, "Sora, I-"

Chuckling, Sora crossed his arms, "Go ahead, make an excuse like always." Suddenly Sora blinked, confused. Where did that come from? It wasn't him, well, Sora said it but it wasn't him. Realizing everything he just said made him feel like an asshole, this was just what he would think and how he really felt. But, it wasn't meant to be spoken. Ever.

"Riku... I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me," Sora apologized, rubbing his arms awkwardly.

Riku remained quiet for a few seconds, not knowing what to say. He was shock and speechless, he felt as if he was stabbed in the heart. Did Sora really feel that way? True, Riku was always busy with missions, but that was only because he was the keyblade master and has a lot of responsibilities. He assumed Sora would understand, but apparently not.

"Well, I'm sorry that saving the worlds is not important to you. I thought you would understand but I guess not," Riku countered, gritting his teeth slightly. Sora was acting childish and it was Riku's turn to be the mature one, then again he was always the mature one.

Deep down Sora was hurt by the comment, he did understand. That's why he wants to get stronger to match with Riku, to help him with saving the worlds so Riku wouldn't have to do it by himself. That was also a reason he wanted to be a keyblade master.

"Why are we even best friends?! After all, Mickey is your best friend since you guys go to missions together," once again Sora slipped out another truth that was supposed to be hidden deep in his mind. What's going on with him?

Riku growled, now he was pissed. He grabbed Sora's shirt-jacket and brought him closer so that their faces were inches away. But, Sora felt indifferent, he wasn't intimidated and he wasn't going to apologize for anything. It was the truth, after all.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, but you better stop saying nonsense, or else." Riku warned as he glared directly at Sora's blue orbs, not once breaking his gaze.

Sora felt Riku's warm breath hitting him, he scowled that his supposed best friend was threatening him. Although, he knew it wasn't true, Riku was bluffing and Sora was going to call out on it.

"You wouldn't lay a finger on me," Sora declared, smirking.

Riku snarled and raised his clenched fist in air; Sora didn't so much as flinch. Not afraid of what was coming to him. Riku paused, his fist not moving an inch, he couldn't do it... Sora was right. Riku would never hurt his best friend for no reason, even if he was being an asshole. At least he thought.

"I'm waiting."

Riku couldn't believe what he was hearing, Sora would never say that. It's as if he was another person? At first Riku assumed Roxas was the one saying this nonsense, but Roxas is locked deep inside Sora's mind. And, he would fight back, not provoke it.

Letting go of Sora, Riku stood up from the bed and left the room, slamming the door in the process. He needed to get away from Sora, or else he would really hurt him if Sora would continue provoking him.

Suddenly Sora's eyes widened, what just happened? He couldn't control what he was saying, he never wished to hurt Riku. "What's happening to me?" he questioned to himself, he fell on his knees at the floor as he gripped his spikes. "What the hell is wrong with me?!"

"Hmm. I see my extra boost is working already," Vanitas said, leaning against the wall. Having a kick seeing Sora suffer as he smirked.

Sora narrowed his eyes, "What did you do to me?!" He demanded, rising from the floor swiftly. "What's happening!?"

"Your inner darkness is coming out. You're welcome." Vanitas popped his knuckles and walked around the room.

"What? I don't have inner darkness," Sora exclaimed as he eyed Vanitas.

"Yeah. Keep telling yourself that. Think about it Sora, I came out from your heart so what does that tell you?" He continued moving around the room, circling around Sora mostly, wanting to see him tremble from his presence.

"That doesn't mean anything!"

"Did you honestly believe that all you were was light? Everyone has darkness in them, no one can escape it, it's something that's just born within you. You can't avoid it. No one is pure, not even the princesses of light. You need darkness to balance the light." Vanitas explained, trying to make Sora believe that what the others told him was half the truth.

Sora gaped, everything Vanitas said made sense. Sora was taught that light was stronger and more powerful than any darkness. But, what if in reality it's just as equal and needed to balance each other? To prevent chaos or something bigger.

"I don't want it then! Take it back," Sora hissed, "I don't need your help."

Vanitas laughed coldheartedly. "Are you stupid? You can't take it back, it's already too late. The darkness is already in your veins pumping through your heart as we speak," he stated.

"Then I don't want anything to do with you, or your training!" Sora marched towards the door, "I'm going to go ask for help to get rid of this-" He was slammed towards the wall with full force as Vanitas held a good grip onto his neck, slightly digging his digits into his tan skin.

"You're not to say a word. We had a deal," Vanitas growled, showing his sharp canine. "Nothing is wrong with having a little darkness. I don't see what the big deal is, you act like someone is out to get you." Well, it wasn't a lie.

Sora tried to pry Vanitas' hand but to no avail, he was twice as strong as Sora. "You don't understand! I don't want to feel the pain Riku felt. I don't want to suffer the same fate. Turning against everyone, watch everyone fear you. I don't want that!" Gasping for air as Vanitas tightened his hold.

Hearing his pleading, Vanitas paused and let go of his hold on Sora. In a way he felt sympathy for the boy, Sora wasn't used to darkness and was terrified by it. As for Vanitas who was raised in darkness and used as a tool for master Xehanort's plan, that was the only thing Vanitas was good at and wanted to excel at.

Sora slid down the wall, coughing and gasping as he regained his breath, letting oxygen coursed through his throat again. Touching his neck to soothe the spot where he was clawed at.

"Just trust me," Vanitas declared, "You'll get what you want and I'll get what I want. Its a win win. But, if you keep whining and complaining you won't succeed. Do as I say and you'll match," his fingers made quotations marks, "against your friend Riku."

Narrowing his eyes Sora hesitated once again. As much as he didn't want any evil or darkness within him, Sora wanted to get stronger; a goal that he so desperately wanted to accomplish and he will do it. At any cost.

"Fine," Sora reluctantly huffed, defeated. Slowly rising up to regain his balance. Why does Vanitas have to be so aggressive?

Vanitas smirked, "Believe me. You'll be stronger than everyone here soon."

Not saying a word Sora averted his gaze, feeling guilty for ever agreeing to this deal. How can he do such a thing? Then again, another part of him was saying "Just do it. You'll beat Riku, after all," Sora knew that his inner darkness would slowly turn him to someone he doesn't want to be.

"I'll make sure you're under control," Vanitas seemed amused as he watched Sora slowly lose himself to his inner turmoil.

Suddenly Sora snapped his head towards him; he looked for a moment different. As if he was in a trance or not fully himself at the moment.

"You-" Sora halted as he gritted his teeth feeling a jolt of pain inflicted in his body. He doesn't know how much time he has with the body, the darkness was preventing him from coming out and as well as harming him. He had to tell Vanitas something before he goes back into Sora's mind.

Vanitas paused, flabbergasted. He senses something different about Sora, the way he looked at him. No way... It couldn't be? Could it?

"I'm going to defeat you..." Sora uttered out, trying his hardest not to wince in pain. The darkness has gotten stronger than he remembered, but that wasn't going to stop him.

"Well, well, well, isn't this a surprise?" Vanitas chuckled cold-heartedly, walking closer to Sora, or should he say the other part of Sora.

"Long time no see, Ventus."

Author's Note... I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'm so sorry that it has been four moths since I updated this story. My deepest apologizes... I have been having writer's block badly with this story. But one night an idea popped into me, and I just typed everything and tada. Since I'm behind I'll get started on the next chapter to make up for it. On other note, Sora now has darkness in his system! What will he do now?

Anyways, if this chapter sounds confusing, or you guys don't understand feel free to ask me so I can explain.

Let me know what you think! And if any ideas please share or make suggestions! I sometimes take them into considerations, if I hadn't already thought of the idea though.

Read and Review Please!... I'll go faster