Confrontations

A/N: I do not own Sora and company they belong to Disney and Square Enix. Enjoy everyone!

"Does it matter where we went?" Koori asked casually at the glaring Sora and Roxas.

The two younger boys scowled at the girl and then softened their features, "No, it was just odd you two weren't here."

"We went out for fresh air is all" Riku responded and pushed the boys aside and walked back into the house.

Sora turned his attention to the now silent Koori, "He's not okay is he?"

"Far from it Sora, far from it" Koori sighed sadly, "He's afraid that in the end we're all going to leave him. It doesn't matter what I tell him he's scared deep down."

"Riku…" Sora sighed sadly, "I'll go talk to him! After all…soon he'll be my brother.."

Roxas sighed and grabbed Sora by his hood, "Sora think about it…. If you go in there now and upset him things could get bad. Just give it a little bit of time before you go rushing in there."

Sora looked down defeated but nodded in understanding and followed Roxas back inside of the house. Koori thought for a moment and then turned on her heel and decided to head towards Kairi's house to see her and Namine. As much as she enjoyed spending time around the guys, a little bit of girl time never hurt either. Feeling the wind play with her hair she turned around and looked at the only curtained window on the second story of the house. Feeling her heart ache she continued towards Kairi and Namine's in hopes of finding some comfort.

Meanwhile Riku moved the curtain back from his window enough to notice that Koori was leaving. Sighing softly he returned to his desk and started to search around for a pen or something to write with. Part of him hoped that if he started to write down about the nightmares, maybe they would stop for the time being. Pulling out a notebook he started to focus on everything he had seen, mostly everything he was starting to fear. With a shaking hand he started writing down the most recent waves of nightmares involving Xehanort and his multiple clones.

'Riku' a voice called deep from within his heart.

Riku felt his blood run cold, "Go away"

'Don't you want answers though? Answers to what your fate shall become?' the voice responded again.

"I have nothing more to say to you" the teen responded coldy.

'You may not, but I have much more to say to you. Embrace the darkness, after all it is a gift from your dear father' the voice taunted.

Riku suddenly clutched his chest as he felt an immense pain starting to course through his whole body. Slowly he could feel the darkness trying to seep its way through his body. Trembling he started to reach for the door hoping that Sora was close by. Before he could even reach the handle he felt a hand grab his and pull it away from the doorknob. Looking up he was greeted by the yellow eyes of Xehanort's Heartless. Feeling despair starting to crawl up his body he felt his eyes start to get heavy. Before despair could claim him something latched onto Xehanort and bit fiercely. Riku watched in awe as a shadow emerged and attacked the heartless with no remorse. Taking the chance he quickly rushed out the door and leaned against the wall trembling.

"Riku!" Sora quickly rushed to his side, "What's wrong?"

"X-Xehanort…" Riku shakily responded, "H-He's after me…. I..I almost got lost to him, but a heartless…saved me?"

Roxas looked at the shaken teen wide eyed, "A heartless?"

"A shadow" Riku responded, "It was a shadow, but why would it help me..?"

Sora thought for a moment, "Maybe someone's trying to protect you…Let's go see the girls maybe Namine would know something."

Roxas nodded, "Sounds like a good idea. Come on Riku you'll be safe with us."

The silver haired teen nodded and followed the burnette and blonde back out into the warm Saturday afternoon. He was at a loss on why a heartless would even try and protect him, and none the less attempt to fight against another when it knew it wouldn't be able to win. Holding his head he followed the two younger keyblade wielders to Kairi's home. It was a small well kept house that Kairi shared with her grandmother and now Namine as well. The three boys found the girls sitting out in the backyard talking about something. Namine was sitting in a garden chair drawing something that she kept hidden from the other two. Kairi sat to the left of her and seemed to be deeply engaged in a conversation with Koori. The third however was resting under the shade of the only tree in the backyard, and looked as troubled as her male counterpart.

"Oh hey guys" Kairi turned and looked at them, "What's wrong?"

Roxas was the first to speak, "Namine is there anything that would cause a heartless to protect someone?"

"A heartless to protect someone?" Namine looked puzzled, "I haven't really heard of them doing that before, in fact it's unheard of."

"Oh" Sora looked down defeated, "Well that's not very helpful at all"

"Why do you ask?" Namine looked up from her drawing intrigued.

Riku looked down, "One ended up saving me."

The girls looked in awe at the revelation the teen shared, even Koori seemed to looked surprised. Riku noticing the look in her eyes sat down in front of her, there was just something in her eyes that pointed to she may know something.

"Well?" He asked her.

The girl looked away almost guilty, "Ever since I can remember I've always had two heartless following me around. A shadow with a collar on it with a music note, and an off colored wyvern. All I remember is that my brother had somehow called them forth, I guess in an effort to protect me. I figured after the whole Xemnas mess they would have disappeared."

"Why didn't you mention that sooner?" Sora looked almost hurt, "We are you're friends right?"

The girl nodded, "I'm sorry…"

"Your brother used them to protect you, right?" Namine smiled gently, "That must mean that you're using them to protect Riku now."

The entire group grew silent as they thought about it. Riku seemed to be lost in thought, but if it were true then he would have felt a sense of relief. Perhaps the two heartless were now there to protect him from Xehanort until they could find a way to rid themselves of him once and for all. Feeling a faint smile start to form he pulled the still guilt ridden girl into a hug, something that wasn't like him at all. Sora just watched in awe and then turned to Kairi and Namine, feeling his cheeks warm up slightly. Roxas taking notice nudged the now almost red Sora towards the two girls, though he pushed a little too hard. Everyone watched as Sora and fallen on top of Namine, and their lips touch one another.

"Way to go Roxas" Koori snickered at the now flustered blonde.

Roxas turned and looked at her, "Shut up!"

Kairi smiled and clasped her hands together, "How sweet!"

Sora and Namine pulled apart both beat red and looking away from one another sheepishly. Kairi still smiling helped pull them both up and hugged them both, "About time you two!"

"I t-thought you liked Sora" Namine seemed flustered.

Kari smiled softly and clasped their hands together, "I do, but more like a brother. That kind of love is the strongest there is."

"Kari…" Sora smiled faintly.

"Alright hate to break up the love fest…" Roxas looked down, "But don't we have other things we need to take care of?"

Riku nodded getting up, "If Xehanort is trying to make a comeback then we have to be ready."

Everyone nodded in understanding, but the rest of the day was spent hanging around the beach and enjoying the sun. Koori and Riku watched intently from the papou tree as Sora, Roxas, Namine, and Kairi chased one another around the beach. The day had started out rough, but towards the end of it things were ending on a better note for everyone.

-End-