Fabricated Affections {RepliRikuXVanitas/KH FanFiction}

Chapter 3: The Traitor

Replica Riku grabbed onto the strangers hand just before he was swallowed whole. With great effort he managed to yank the boy from the pit and both of them collapsed onto the ground as Riku used his full body weight to finish the task. The stranger began coughing violently as he flipped to his hands and knees, wheezing out air in an attempt to regain his breathing. Riku was left scrambling to his feet, grabbing the halved blade as he steadied himself.

"You need to get up!" Riku snapped, his eyes wide as Dark Side began to shift.

Drenched in black in an outfit similar to his own, the stranger hissed the uneven air from his lungs as he pushed himself to his feet. Riku looked to him and noticed a helmet or mask hiding his true identity. Riku wouldn't be able to tell if this guy was alright or if would even be fit to fight. With clenched teeth Riku focused his attention back to their common enemy.

"I'll distract him a moment you need to get your Keyblade." Riku informed the other.

The stranger coughed again and pounded a fist against his chest. "Yeah yeah."

Riku scoffed. They wouldn't be able to survive this battle if this guy was going to be miserable.

With an irritated sigh, Riku charged towards the colossal of a Heartless. He twisted his body to give himself more momentum as he threw a beam of darkness at his foe, watching it pierce the enemy's arm. As Dark Sides attention was officially on Riku, he saw the other guy from the corner of his eye dart for his blade. Riku just narrowly missed Dark Side slamming it's fist towards him. He jumped back just as it's fist came into contact with the ground, a portal forming and weaker Heartless emerging from it. Riku scowled at the newcomers and was quick to position himself in preparation for the attack.

He fended off the lesser Heartless, his eyes zipping towards the stranger who finally had his hands on his blade. To Riku's surprise he had lept into the air and slashed his blade across his midline, a shockwave of Darkness emitting from the sharper edge. Riku was quick on his own feet, jumping on the air to avoid the wave as it trickled across their battlefield and eliminating all lesser Heartless in its path.

As Riku landed he could feel the ground shake beneath his feet, causing him to bend his knees in an attempt to maintain balance. He saw Dark Side was caught in the crossfire, it's entire collosal body falling on its back. Riku shot a glare towards the stranger he saved.

"A warning would have been nice!" He snapped.

There was a scoff beneath the helmet. "You take the left I'll take the right. We'll cross this thing out."

Riku knew what he was demanding. Together, the two of them began on their respective sides and simultaneously they slashed their blades (or lack thereof) at their enemy. With such strength from the alleged humans Dark Side had been defeated, it's body slowly withering away to nothing.

Riku let out a breath as his chest was aching. Without assistance he wasn't guaranteed survival, especially with only half a Keyblade. Riku brushed some hair from his face as the stranger could be heard nearby, his footsteps drawing near.

"I don't think I would have survived without your help." Riku began to turn towards his helper. "It's dangerous down-"

Riku fell silent as the very tip of a very dangerous weapon was pointed straight at his throat. When Riku gulped he felt the blade tap his neck giving him an idea just how close he was to death.

"You are my target." The boy in the mask began. "And you will come with me."

Riku slowly held his hands up, dropping his lack of Keyblade. The sand softened the sound it would have made. "H-Hey now. We helped each other, didn't we? Aren't we allies?"

"Only because you are my target." The traitor growled. "I couldn't risk you dying and failing my mission."

Riku's chest tightened. This guy was falling into Darkness, being swallowed by the very thing he wielded. Riku saved him from that horrid fate, they teamed up to defeat the Heartless and now there he was... Standing there with a Keyblade to Riku's throat. Riku breathed in deeply and leaned back just a smidge to avoid hurting himself. The other didn't seem to notice the slight movement, allowing Riku the slightest amount of wiggle room to maintain a steady breath.

"Well... I don't really want to be stuck here, so prisoner or not I don't think I'll be defying your orders."

Riku smirked a satisfied smirk towards the other, who would have been scowling if it wasn't for the mask. Riku would have to plan some great escape later as for now he was stuck with this stranger as he was his easiest way out of the Dark Realm.

"Don't get cocky." The stranger huffed. "Where I'm taking you isn't that pleasant either."

Riku began to relax only momentarily until the sounds of creaking filled his ears. His eyes shifted, noticing shadows moving in the Dark was that surrounded them. The stranger seemed to notice it as well, his threatening position instantly retreating as his attention was drawn to the sounds. With the Keyblade now removed from his neck Riku finally snapped his body around just in time to see several pairs of glowing yellow eyes staring through the shadows.

Riku took a step back in fear. "Dude! If you're going to kidnap me do it now!"

Several Dark Sides appeared now, one in front, one behind, one to his left and one to his right... All surrounding the two men like prey. Riku knelt down and grasped his blade quickly, positioning himself into his preferred fighting stance as his eyes widened.

"Uh hello?! Dude?!" Riku turned to look at the other in desperation. "Time to go!"

Riku was frantic and yet the other seemed calm. He could feel his gaze on his skin as the helmet faced right to him, making Riku's muscles clench.

"Say it." A threat.

"Say what?!" Riku cried out.

The Heartless began to close in, their footsteps pounding against the sand like an earthquake.

"Say you're my prisoner."

Riku was baffled. "Seriously?! There's no time to-"

"Say it!"

Riku let out an exasperated sigh as he angrily stomped towards his kidnapper. "Yes I'm your prisoner okay?! Whatever you say! We need to go!"

Riku felt a gust of wind leak through his hair. Peeking over his shoulder he realized several of them had withdrawn their fists and were preparing to pound the earth like the last one in order to summon more straggler Heartless. Riku let out a fearful gasp and his legs stepped back a few tense steps.

"Todaloo."

As Riku looked to the stranger when he spoke, he felt the ground give way beneath his feet. Riku plunged into Darkness without another warning.