Destinies Intertwined (a Kingdom Hearts Riku X Oc fanfic)

Chapter forty-one: Returning The Heart

Riku finally decided to go on a mission with Ryan.

They battled Larxene, but... it didn't go well.

The two of them didn't really have any motivation to fight, and felt emotionally and physically drained. Larxene dealt with them easily.

"What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be at home, crying over your lost love?" She taunted.

Riku ignored her as he got back up and moved to Ryan's side.

"This is my last potion," he said, "make it count."

They got back up and tried again. Riku brought his Keyblade down on Larxene, and his friend cast a spell. It had been his last bit of magic, and he'd already run out of potions to refill.

"This is bad..." he muttered. "this is... really bad. I can't just abandon him. This battle's hard enough as it is."

So he put everything he had into the next few attacks, hoping it would make things go by faster.

And that was when Riku leapt for the finishing blow.

But Larxene jumped out of the way, slashing at him and knocking him through the air-- in slow motion, it seemed.

"No!"

He locked eyes with the young man before landing hard on the ground.

"C'mon... I'm out of magic and potions. I can't help you. Get up...!"

Riku used what little strength he had to release Rachel's heart, and seemed to glow for a moment as the orb escaped his chest.

"Now... she'll be..." He tried to sit up, but pain shot through his whole body. He groned quietly.

Ryan bolted to his side. "Don't move," he warned.

Larxene appeared out of nowhere, arm pulled back and ready to strike...

And then she was knocked back. A Keyblade landed on the other end of the battlefield.

Riku scrambled to his feet, but his legs gave out the second he found sure footing. Ryan walked up beside him, eyes already shining with tears.

That weapon... It was Silver Hero-- he was sure of it.

A girl leapt down from above, picking up her Keyblade and turning to look at the boys. She smiled.

"Rachel..."

Riku murmured the name of the girl he loved, his voice weak but brimming with hope.

Because it was her.

She was alive and they were going to be okay.

He couldn't stand up yet, so he watched from where he knelt as Rachel faced Larxene.

"I'm normally a very nice person. But I can have a deep hatred towards anyone who attacks them. If you hurt those two, I will break your face. And everything else. You stay away from them."

"Kid..."

Ryan felt the tears in his eyes finally begin to slide down his cheeks.

Rachel. His sister. His chaotic, angelic younger sister, so reckless-- so incredibly brave.

If it wasn't still just the two of us in that house, I swear you'd be grounded so fast and for so long.

"Rye, protect Riku. I can finish this." 

"Got it." Ryan nodded. Riku stood, but immediately flopped back down with a heavy thump, saying. "Standing's overrated. And... moving in general." He flinched. 

Larxene jumped aside, and Rachel dodged an attack.

"How are you here right now!? You were totally destroyed!"

Riku bit his tongue and clenched his fists. A hand rested on his shoulder, once again warning him to stay put.

"Simple. Replicas," Rachel explained to Larxene, "My heart survived, and went inside him. A connection can be strong enough to save any heart." 

She turned again. "Thanks, guys."

The silver-haired boy stood back up, slightly hunched. He smiled.

Rachel defeated her opponent and dismissed her Keyblade.

"You two okay?"

"We're fine." Ryan slung Riku's arm over his shoulder as his friend swayed a bit. "Thanks to you."

When they went home and reunited Rachel with the others, it was the happiest any of them had felt in a very long time.