The day had faded. The darkness crept up around him and twisted itself around his body, like the tentacles of an unseen monster ready to take its prey. The rain pelted his cloaked skin and pounded the ground around him. It always happened this way. First, the rain and then the destruction began. It never ended. There can never be an end. There will never be an end. Because they go wherever he goes.

Riku walked through the rain slowly, careful not to make too much noise. If he did, they would surely find him. He tried not to think of the Keyblade, for if he did, his heart would be open to them and they would find him.

Riku stopped suddenly in the middle of the street. A strange sound drew his attention to the tops of one of the buildings. Riku stood there listening for the sound again. Nothing. He began to walk again, but this time, he heard a chilling cry of pain. A noise so hideous it would turn God himself into a shivering state. Riku looked where the noise emanated from in the street. The darkness shifted, and through it, Riku saw two yellow eyes peering at him, waiting for him.

That's it. Come at me. bastards.

Riku watched as the creature began to pull itself out of the ground and began to stand.

That's it. Come at me.

Riku's hand began to form into a fist. Riku imagined the weapon in his head. It was the only thing capable of defeating those things. Riku called to it. A light began to gather in his left hand palm.

Now more and more of those creatures began to rise out of the ground. Riku could barely make out their shapes in the rain. He focused on them, acknowleging what was to come. They were disgusting, completely composed from darkness itself. They hungered for the hearts of living things. Their eyes glowed when they found something they liked, and their eyes were burning now.

They slid from the shadows and surrounded him. In Riku's left hand, the gathering light sputtered and took shape. The Keyblade suddenly appeared, and Riku held it tightly in his hand. The creatures' gazes immediately turned to the weapon. They were truly disgusting ; sick with their lust.

Come on. Make your move bastards.

One of the dark creatures leaped at Riku, not thinking, not caring about the doom that awaited it when the Keyblade would melt through its skin and make it nothing more than a memory. Riku effortlessly swung the Keyblade up to meet the falling Heartless. The blade pierced the monster's flesh and the monster cried out loudly in pain before falling to the ground and melting away back into the darkness from whence it came.

Riku turned toward the demons and raised the Keyblade in defense. He had had enough of this. He didn't come here to toy around with the enemy.

"Where's Sora?"

The Heartless stood there with their livid eyes on him.

"Where's Sora?" he asked again, this time more forcefully.

Riku waited for an answer. He knew they could tell him where Sora was, it was the fact that he had to beat it out of them that bothered him. He wished he didn't have to waste his time with these creatures. He wished all this could somehow end, that everything could go back to the way it once was, before the Heartless came. But he was trapped here, unable to return to his peaceful home.

The Heartless began to respond. Their faces were dark and expressionless, but Riku saw that they understood him and knew exactly who he spoke of. They hissed and growled at him, bearing their sharp, dangerous claws. Riku backed against the wall of one of the buildings to which his back was turned, ever keeping his Keyblade raised just in case the enemy decided it wanted to dance. The Keyblade began to vibrate sporadically as a faint, verdant light emanated from it. Riku heard the Heartless's words in his head.

"He holds it...the Keyblade."

"But he is not the one."

"The master could not have escaped so easily."

"This one searches for him. He who belongs behind the darkness."

"He holds the blade...powerful...endless power...strong of heart..."

He searches for the Keyblade Master. The one they call Sora...the source of all Heartless..."

This one's heart is strong just like His...hunger...endless...heart...we must have it..."

As if their minds were linked, they attacked all at once, showing no mercy. They leaped at him, grabbing at his chest, at his heart. They wanted it, but Riku was not about to give it up so easily. The Keyblade Master easily evaded their continuous attacks and quickly sliced through to counter attack. He watched the stricken Heartless writhe upon the floor, their eyes wide, still reaching out for his heart. Riku fended them off back into the street, swinging wildly at the demons. The Heartless surrounded him, taunting and snapping at him.

Though it was certainly not the time to do so, Riku couldn't help thinking about the creatures' words. He couldn't understand what they meant by their words. But no matter. Riku once again focused on the battle at hand, drawing the energy needed to cast a spell. This spell he learned from Ansem while he was under Ansem's control. He hated using the attack again, but he saw that he had no choice. As Riku continued to concentrate, the Heartless grew even more restless, now sensing the energy gather within Riku's heart.

Riku released the energy and a light formed around him. The light spread and seared the Heartless with its energy. Upon touching the spell, the demons grew passive ands silent. This spell allowed Riku to assume control of the creatures he was trying to destroy. The spell took shape and Riku commanded them to return to the darkness whence they came.

He now had very little time to do what he had to. Already they were returning. He could see their features forming in the shadows of the walls once again. Riku looked to the top of the building from where he previously witnessed the strange sound. He threw his right hand out into the air and called, once again, to the darkness. The call was answered and not before long was Riku holding a second Keyblade.

This time...I'll fight, Riku told himself. I won't loose any more worlds to these monsters. If He could do it then so can I. Don't worry, Sora...I'll find you soon. Right after I take care of a little business."

The demons returned. They hungrily lunged at Riku. Riku raised both Keyblades and sliced the monster several times before it fell to the floor and vanished. He then whirled around and took two more who were coming up behind him. Riku turned once more and faced another Heartless. He was about to strike before feeling a sharp pain in his chest. The constricting sensation overwhelming his senses. He heard the Heartless laugh soullessly in his head...