One Change - A KH "What If?" (DISCONTINUED/MOVED)

kh2(14)

Riku leapt back, sliding on the grass.

Ikrux approached him, offering his hand.

Riku took it and was pulled up.

"You're strong for someone so tiny." He teased.

Ikrux scowled. "I am not tiny!" He argued.

Riku still found it weird that whenever Ikrux spoke, he was hearing his old voice from a year ago.

Only, from what Riku could remember, his voice wasn't as soft as Ikrux's.

"Wanna go again?" He asked.

Ikrux's eyes gleamed. "You bet!"

Riku went back into his spot and position, summoning Way to the Dawn.

Ikrux summoned his weapon too.

It confused Riku. If he could wield a keyblade, then why couldn't Ikrux wield one?

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that when Ikrux had been.. created? that Riku didn't have a keyblade yet.

"Hey! Are you gonna keep staring off into space, or are you gonna attack?"

Ikrux's squeak of a shout broke into Riku's thoughts, and he had to hold back a smile.

He could tell with the way that Roxas was watching him that there was something about Ikrux, he just couldn't tell what.

Riku outa ask Roxas about it later.

"Heyy!" Ikrux shouted again.

Riku shook his head, as if it would clear his thoughts, and then repositioned himself back into his stance.

He nodded at Ikrux, to show that he was ready.

Ikrux charged at him, and then leapt.

He slashed downward, knocking Riku to the ground.

Hm.

Riku grabbed the handle of his keyblade, and moved into Ikrux's shadow.

The smaller boy gasped, and Riku knocked him down.

Ikrux threw a Corridor of Darkness over himself before he hit the ground, and vanished from sight.

Riku landed lightly on the grass and took a glance around.

The wind whistled past his ears, and he heard panting from behind him.

When he turned around, Ikrux whacked him from below, not only nailing him in the jaw, but also sending him tumbling across the grass and stone.

Riku groaned when he landed and held his mouth, dropping his keyblade.

When it disappeared in a flash, Ikrux and Kairi ran over.

The pain made Riku's eyes water, and he tensed.

When he looked up, he saw Ikrux with a guilt-ridden expression.

"Riku, are you okay?" He asked. "I'm so sorry, I hadn't meant to hit you that hard, and-"

Riku raised his hand to stop him, which only made Ikrux gasp and run away.

When Riku looked down at his palm, he realized that there was blood on it.

Shoot..

Kairi knelt down next to Riku, a mix of worry and thoughtfulness on her gaze.

Riku weakly smiled at her, and swallowed the metallic taste in his mouth.

Kairi stood up and brought her keyblade into her hand.

What's she...?

Kairi waved her keyblade in the air, shakily saying, "heal."

Riku's body untensed, and he fell back out of relief.

Kairi held a smile when her keyblade disappeared. "Are you okay now?" She asked hesitantly.

"Y-"

Riku's throat clogged up and he let out a silent cough.

His eyes widened.

Have I lost the ability to talk?

Kairi seemed to have gotten the message.

She smiled, though from the way her eyes were sparkling, she was holding back tears.

When she went to speak, another voice interrupted.

"What the heck happened out here?"

Riku looked up and away from Kairi to see Roxas walking over.

And he looked the exact opposite of happy.

Roxas looked down at him, a mixture of anger and confusion on his face.

"Mind explaining why Ikrux came to me, in tears, claiming he hurt you?"

Riku glanced at Kairi for help.

Kairi bit her lip, and then said, "you saw their spar, right?" Roxas confirmed her words with a nod. "Ikrux hit Riku too hard, and his mouth was bleeding."

Roxas's gaze softened. He looked down at Riku apologetically. "Sorry." He mumbled.

"And he lost his voice."

That made Roxas's head snap up and return to Kairi.

"You're kidding." He said with disbelief.

Kairi's head shook.

When Roxas looked down, Riku was surprised to see sadness glazing his eyes.

"Let's just hope that it's temporary." The golden-haired boy mumbled.

Riku nodded.

Just when Kairi pulled him up, the sound of grass shuffling made his head turn.

Ikrux had come back and was eyeing the floor.

Riku approached him and went to touch his arm, which made the smaller boy flinch.

"I-is it true that you-" Ikrux sniffled.

He looked up at Riku with tears shining in his eyes, and said rather loudly, "I'm sorry!"

Riku smiled warmly at him and hugged him. Ikrux immediately returned the hug, extremely tight.

The gesture made Riku laugh silently, and then let go.

Ikrux gave him a small smile.

When Riku looked to Roxas, he noticed that Roxas had an almost dark look in his eyes.

But it faded, and was replaced with friendliness.

Guess I'd better ask him that question tomorrow.