Cross Worlds (Hiatus)

Chapter 41: "The Lookalike"

Artemis' expression doesn't change as she looks at all the files she has on the present Riku, as well as the Riku Fumiya (Riku Fantasy) of the past. Chiyako walks into her room, followed by the lead healer of the resistance, the same girl that healed Riku when he first arrived. "What can you tell me about him?"

"What I can tell you is that I've never seen anything like him before..." Chiyako muttere, her eyes glowing red for a moment. The entire time she and Riku fought, she was gathering data on him. Not just the way he fought, but data on his body as well.

"What do you mean..?" Artemis cocks an eyebrow.

"Based on all the information we've collected through observing him..." Chiyako glances at the healer. "Go ahead, Liena."

Liena steps forward and uploads the data she's gathered onto Artemis' portable device, several holograms forming above her over the documents Artemis is looking at. "His blood type, bodily structure, his DNA, all of it points to Riku Reality being the same exact person as our Riku Fumiya, leader."

"But how is something like that even possible? Human beings can't produce two different kinds of magic, it's just not physically possible. I'd suggest body swapping, since our lookalike Riku could probably actually do that with his magic type. However, as you stated yourself Artemis, he awakened his magic the day Gina and Haruto's parents were killed, just as the two of them did."

"...I don't know. I really don't know." Artemis stares at the two nearly identical photos of both Rikus, not realizing that the two bodies do indeed belong to the same person.

"...I may be speaking out of turn here, but I genuinely believe that Riku Reality is a good human being." Liena states bluntly. "Perhaps if you would talk to him and earn his trust, rather than..." Liena isn't able to finish her statement when she meets Artemis' eyes.

"Rather than what?" Artemis asks with a blank expression.

"Rather than have one of your comrade's test him under your orders, and have him killed if he were to fail." Chiyako states without an ounce of fear in his voice. "I do understand your intentions, Artemis, truly I do. However, I trust that young man. Lookalike or not, he is a good person. So rather than go about finding out who he is and what his secrets are like this, perhaps try simply asking him yourself."

Artemis narrows her eyes sadly and looks back to the photos. "I just want to know where he went..."

"I know of your feelings for our past leader, but you cannot let that sway you. Riku Reality is a member of our resistance and is now the eighth ranked Teikoki. He is working hard to earn your trust. So treat him with some respect, as a leader should. After all, he was willing to take quite a few risks for you when he was fighting me. So why not take a risk yourself and try believing in him?" Chiyako turns away and walks toward the door. "Come Liena."

Liena stands there for a moment and grips her staff. "We all put our faith in you, Artemis. We trust you as our leader. But if you do something like this again, I won't just hop on board as easily as I did before. Our leader is supposed to be honest and kind to our comrades... If you continue to treat Riku like this, I'm not going to just sit by and watch. That's a promise."

Artemis is silent for a moment before closing the documents, then she sighs. "I'm sorry for asking you both to go so far for me. I won't ask ever again. It's clear we're not going to learn anything like this...so even if I wanted to continue, it's pointless." She turns to them both and smiles sadly. "I'll do my best to be the leader you both believe in."

The two young women smile before leaving her quarters, leaving Artemis alone. Artemis' smile fades and she sighs rather heavily. "How did you manage to do this for so long, Riku?" She clenches her fists at her sides. "I miss you so much... Why did you have to leave us?" She isn't able to stop the tears that spill down her cheeks as her lips begin to quiver. "I don't know how much longer I can do this..."

>>>>>>>>>>

Riku dashes around the blank, white training room, avoiding ice and crystal spikes alike, deflecting a few with his wrist blades. "If all you two can do is attack from afar, you won't get far in a real fight!" Without warning, Riku uses his power to reposition himself right in front of Gina and Haruto, ready to strike them both down with his practice weapons.

However, he's pleasantly surprised when he sees the two mischievous looks on their faces. Both of them create pillars on the ground out of their respective elements, sending Riku flying back as they slam into his chest and gut. Riku grunts and quickly jumps back a few times as he lands on the ground. "Cheap shot!"

"That's what you get for underestimating us." Haruto chuckles as a circle of ice spikes form around him, each one the same size and shape.

"If we beat you, does this mean we get to become the Teikoki?" Gina giggles, doing the same as Haruto with her crystals, and their circles combine and circle around them both.

"You'd have to beat me on your own for that. Don't get cocky now." Riku swings both his blades at the two and dashes toward them, sending a thin wave of his magic at the two and deleting their elemental spikes entirely. Before they can react, he has his blades at their throats. "You still can't even beat me together." Riku grins.

"Your magic power is so unfair." Haruto says with his hands up in the air.

"I think it suits him." Gina states with a smile on her face.

"They're all getting a lot better, huh?" Chiyako asks as she walks up next to Sumira, who's been watching the three of them train since the start.

"Indeed. I admire Riku's willpower. It's only been three days since your 'test' and he's already training again like it never happened." Sumira mutters.

"Ahhh, my body yearns to see such stamina in other activities~" Chiyako coos.

"You couldn't feel anything even if he did accept your invitation." Sumira chuckles.

"It is quite fun to imagine though. My body would certainly get some energy out of it, which would also be nice." Chiyako sighs softly and leans on the railing. "So, what sort of test are you going to give him?"

"Just a normal fight. Unlike the rest of you, I don't hold any grave suspicions toward him. Even if I did, he got three Teikoki to trust and vouch for him in less than a week, and now he's ranked eighth." Sumira says as she watches the three banter. "I still remember the look on his face when he first arrived. That's not the type of face someone with ill intentions for us would make."

"You make a fair point... You did see his face closer than any of us, that's for sure. Aside from Artemis of course." Which only makes Chiyako question Artemis' intentions even more. The only other person who knows about the assignment Artemis gave her is Liena. Everyone else believes Chiyako did the "test" of her own accord.

Sumira lays her eyes on Riku and watches him closely. "If there is one thing I wish for in our fight, I'd like to push him to his absolute limit."

"I don't think you have to worry much there." Chiyako smiles playfully. "You're even stronger than me after all. You'll give him quite a bit of trouble, but beware, he's been honing that ability of his. You're going to have a lot of trouble yourself."

"I'd have it no other way." Sumira smiles with confidence and her eyes light up with a hint of excitement. She detests fighting to say the least. She only fights when she absolutely must. However, when it comes to a duel between comrades, family, or friends, she can't help but get excited. It's the only time she doesn't have to worry about fighting to the death with her opponents, and she can use her skills without having to cause unnecessary bloodshed.

"I love how you try to hide your love for battle. It's oh so obvious Sumira. I remember the way you lit up when Raichi challenged you to a fight. Even when he beat you, you were still smiling." Chiyako smiles at the memory.

"And I'll be no different if Riku does the same. Especially if he gives it his all." Sumira's eyes glow a faint golden hue for a moment, but it quickly fades just as fast. "I'd best prepare, it won't be long before he challenges me now, will it?"