Fabricated Affections {RepliRikuXVanitas/KH FanFiction}

Chapter 7: The Injuries

Riku turned the page of the book, his eyes scanning each and every word. He had learned a lot from just the single book he got around to reading and he slowly began to understand his possible purpose. The books contained almost unlimited knowledge on the Keyblade Wars, discussing the battle for light and what occured during that time. Riku was in awe, understanding there was so much more to life than simply attempting to eliminate the original Riku. His interest was peaked, all his focus on the book.

"All that for this x-blade..." Riku muttered to himself and he turned a page. He was intrigued in the history behind the x-blade. He was only on one book of several Vanitas dropped off, but it seemed as if this blade and it's origins were unknown. He had several more books to go and hoped that he would receive some answers. After all... What was he doing in the prison? What did Xehanort want with him? The x-blade held ultimate power, the perfect motivation for the Keyblade Master.

Riku turned the next page and continued reading, scanning the words carefully. He needed to savor this bit of entertainment for as long as possible-

The door to the prison room flung open. Riku was startled by the sudden action as the door slammed into the wall so hard that cracks showed. Riku tossed his book to the side, completely losing his page as he snapped his head towards the boisterous sound.

"What-?!"

To Riku's dismay Vanitas was the one who kicked open the door and he came stumbling inside. Riku jumped to his feet as he immediately noticed something was wrong. Despite the boys red body suit, there was red in places irrelevant to his clothing. Riku heard heavy breathing from under that helmet, breathing so loud it all but echoed through the room. Riku grasped the handles to the bars and pushed himself as close to Vanitas as possible, while Vanitas himself began leaning against the wall. His chest was heaving, a shaking hand holding yet another bowl of that soup.

Riku squeezed his arm through the bars with an outstretched hand towards Vanitas. "Let me help you."

"Shut. Up." Vanitas wheezed. Seeing Riku's hand he slapped the bowl into it, spilling part of its contents meanwhile.

Riku felt the warmth of the food seep into his gloves, but ignored the sensation as he instead settled the bowl onto the floor. As the bowl rested on the ground, Vanitas slumped to the ground too as he used the wall to slowly descend. Riku knelt on his knees and once again stuck his arm through the bars, reaching for the other with outstretched fingertips. He wasn't able to grab him despite his efforts, but Riku kept trying. He pressed his entire body against the cold metal and attempted to come into any sort of contact the best he could.

"Come closer." Riku commanded. "Let me help."

Vanitas coughed, and to Riku's dismay  he saw the blood begining to trickle and stain the metal flooring. There were wounds littering the boys body, bits of skin shown from slashes through his clothes and blood staining anything it touched. Riku clenched his teeth together and the desperation in his chest rose. The more he reached the worse the pain in his wrists increased as the chains that bound him to the cell strained against his will.

"Vanitas... Get in here." Riku pleaded. He didn't understand why he was so determined to help the one who imprisoned him, but seeing Vanitas in such a state caused him panic. The amount of blood loss... His wheezing... He needed help.

There was only silence between them for a moment, the only sound was Vanitas' gasping breaths. After some time he finally admitted, "I-I can't."

"Yes you can." Riku argued. "Just use a corridor and get in here. I can't reach you like this."

Riku noticed all of Vanitas' muscles tensing, a weak and quivering hand removing itself from his wounded side as he rested his palm against the floor. Just as commanded by Riku, he manifested a corridor beneath him and plunged inside. Riku withdrew his arms from the bars and stood, understanding exactly what Vanitas was doing. The other side of the portal appeared from the ceiling as Vanitas calculated the teleportation to encourage the least amount of movement, and a moment later Vanitas fell from above. Riku held out his arms and caught him, the metal chains clanging loudly from the impact.