Destinies Intertwined (a Kingdom Hearts Riku X Oc fanfic)

Chapter eighteen: Treasures

"Riku!" Rachel cried.

Xigbar caught him right before he hit the ground. "Change of plans. The old coot realized we don't need a backup vessel. But he's comin' back with me. The kid's just interfered way too much."

"What does that-- No!"

"Oh, yes. 'Bout time we got rid of him."

He dragged Riku through a Corridor of Darkness, and Rachel jumped in after him just as it disappeared.

"Hey, wait--" Axel pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great. Guess it's back to the Gummi Ship to search for both of them now." He sighed, and hurried off.

Riku forced himself to his feet, summoning Braveheart.

"Man," Said Xigbar, leaning against the mountainside with an amused expression. "You sure are a trooper."

They were up on a cliff, though he wasn't sure where. "Afraid it ends right here, though." "Hey!" Called a familiar voice. "R-Rachel... How did she...?" 

Rachel summoned her Keyblade and charged them, but another member of the Organization appeared from behind, distracting her. She battled the hooded figure, and while he watched, Riku suddenly felt overcome with fatigue.

He felt his body hit the dirt, though he barely remembered falling.

Riku dug into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around the broken seashell, slowly pulling it out to look at it.

Xigbar knelt and snatched it out of his hand.

"Wait, what are you--" Riku rolled over onto his stomach, watching as he inspected it, shrugged and threw it over his shoulder with a smug smirk, right off of the cliff.

"No!"

"What's it mean to you? You won't be here much longer, anyway."

Head spinning and throbbing, he whispered Rachel's name... before he closed his eyes, out cold.

Rachel battled Luxord, having removed his hood. He stopped suddenly.

"It seems Riku has drawn his final card. You may go to him."

"What...? What do you mean he drew his--"

The cards fell, and Luxord disappeared.

"No, no, no..." She ran and defended her friend. "Stay back!" She warned. With a single slash, Xigbar collapsed. Rachel knelt and rolled Riku onto his back, lifting him and pulling him into her arms. He was limp and unmoving in her tender hold.

"Come on..." She whispered. "Pull it together, please..."

"Rachel!" A voice called. Sora ran up to her, his face going slightly pale at the sight of Riku. 

"What do you think we should do?" Rachel asked.

"I... don't know."

Silence hung over them, and then Xigbar sat up. "Why, you little twerps."

"What'd you do to Riku!?" Sora demanded.

"Nothing," Xigbar responded with a smirk-- one that made Rachel more angry with him for some reason. "Fighting for that long takes it out of you, that's all."

She pointed her Keyblade at him, but he disappeared before she could say anything.

"I'll go get Axel," said Sora.

"...Right. Thank you."

He ran off. and she turned her attention back to her friend, clinging to the fragile hope that he would be okay.