Chapter 39

“I’m no one. Only a dweller of the darkness.” He gently brushed Kairi away and tried again to escape. “Sora, come over here,” Kairi pleaded. “Say something to him.” Mystified, Sora approached Riku. “Here—you’ll understand.” Kairi took Sora’s hand and joined it with Riku’s. “Close your eyes.” He did as she said, and in the darkness, he could feel the warmth of their hands. An image floated up behind his closed eyes… Riku. It was him. “…Riku…” Sora looked up, holding tight to his friend’s hand. “It’s Riku… Riku is here.” He knew that it was Riku’s hand he clasped. It was bigger than the one he’d held a thousand times before, but in his heart, Sora felt it. A knot of something he could barely define swelled in his chest. Clinging to that hand, to Riku’s hand, Sora fell to his knees. “I was looking for you…!” Tears spilled over and flowed down his cheeks as he pressed Riku’s hand against his face. How long had he been searching? How badly had he wanted to see Riku, to talk to him again? And Riku was here. Here at last. I found you. Finally. I missed you. I’ve missed you for so long… They’d been separated on Destiny Island, then they ended up fighting, and then they’d gone through that door together from opposite sides…and he’d been searching, searching for Riku all the while. “C’mon, Sora,” Riku chided him lightly. “Keep it together.” He looked up, his sight blurred with tears, into the face that wasn’t Riku’s. It was Ansem’s—no, Xehanort’s face. But there was no doubt. He felt Riku’s presence through their clasped hands. “I looked everywhere for you…!” Riku stared down at Sora, still kneeling, still clutching his hand. “I didn’t want you to find me.” Stung, Sora lowered his eyes again. “But it was him helpin’ us all along, wasn’t it?” Goofy said cheerfully. Baffled, Donald cocked his head. “Quack?!” “Y’know, all those clues we kept findin’. The photo and the sea-salt ice cream… I bet it was Riku.” Goofy watched him for a reaction. The photo, the ice cream… And that probably wasn’t all, Sora thought. I felt Riku in the Land of Dragons and in the Beast’s castle. I could feel him all along. But I was never sure of it. For so long, I didn’t know if he was alive, if I’d get to see him again. “I was starting to worry you guys would never catch on,” Riku said with a touch of amusement. “Even with all my hints, it was still you three, after all…” “What’s that s’posed to mean?!” Donald protested. Sora got to his feet and blurted, “But why didn’t you let me know you were okay?!” Riku averted his eyes, unable to meet the demanding stare Sora fixed on him. “…I told you. I didn’t want you to see me. Not…like this.” He looked down at his open hands. “I fought Ansem’s—or Xehanort’s darkness when it invaded my heart. And I won. But to use the power of that darkness, I had to become him myself…” “Does that mean you can’t change back?” Kairi asked cautiously. “This fight isn’t over yet,” said Riku. “Until it is, I still need the power of darkness.” “Then let’s finish it!” Sora’s voice was full of determination. He flashed a smile at his friend in a different form. “You’re still Riku, no matter what.” It doesn’t matter what he looks like. Riku is okay. I’m so glad he’s okay. And I found him again. More tears were welling up in his eyes. Trying not to let Riku notice, he turned to Donald and Goofy. “So, how ’bout it? Are we ready for one last rumble together? The king’s waiting!” “Yeah!” Donald agreed a bit louder than necessary. “Let’s get going!” “…Thank goodness,” Naminé murmured weakly, her hand at her chest. It was getting hard to breathe. Her right hand looked hazy. Naminé stood high above Sora and the others from where King Mickey and Ansem the Wise had just been. Sora and Riku had found each other. With those two fighting side by side, there was nothing to be afraid of. “I wonder if Roxas really managed to find his way back into Sora…” She turned to Pluto beside her, staring up at her with what could only be worry. When a Nobody meets their somebody…that Nobody will disappear. But not really—they just go back to the place they belong. Axel must have returned somewhere when he disappeared. I hope…I hope Roxas is there, too. But it was an impossible wish. Pluto whined anxiously at her. “It’s okay. I’m not afraid.” She knelt down and hugged Pluto tight. I think…there’s still something I have to do. Then Naminé walked away.