Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

    The week he was born was loud. That's what stood out the most. No infant should ever have to be brought into a word so loud, so chaotic. They shouldn't have to be subjected to the cruelties of the world so soon. The child knew that, too. If his cries were anything to be judged by, the babe seemed to be born with the knowledge that he'd been dealt an unfair hand. As it was, though, there was little he could do about it but wriggle about his basket, voicing his complaints in a shrill scream any time someone was close enough to hear him.

    "Shhh, Riku, shhh." Soft hands reached down to scoop up the boy, a smile touching the lips of the woman's otherwise nervous expression. Riku cooed at her, easily pacified once she cradled him in the crook of her arm. The noises from outside the walls intensified, Spartans rushing around in a state of panic. Searching. Whispers of "demon" and "One Wing" filtered in between the woodwork, the woman barely able to hear over the shouts of soldiers. But that couldn't be right, could it? That description could never compare to the man she had met nine months ago. Although she supposed she never really thought he was human; he was too charming for that, too cunning and beautiful. But to think, if what her kinsmen said was true then that would mean her little Riku...

    All speculation over her son was brought to an abrupt halt when the door to the little shack she cowered in was flung open and a dark haired man hurried inside. "Fang, it's time to go! If we don't leave now, it'll will be too late to get out of the city without getting caught!"

    His voice was an urgent whisper, more urgent than she could ever remember from her brother. It wasn't like Noctis Caelum to show fear. He was always so calm and calculating. It made the tremble in his voice all the more frightening.

    "Where do you expect us to go, Noctis?"  The sharpness in her retort was enough to stir Riku from his peace, and she paused in her outburst to soothe him into silence once again. "He's only three days old, he won't survive more than a month trekking across the country with a mob at our heels!"

    "If we stay here any longer, neither of you will survive to see the sun rise tomorrow!"

    Fang bristled at his words, casting her gaze elsewhere, anywhere but at the harsh truth in Noctis' eyes. She looked around at the room they were in, soaking in what could very well be the last day in the city. Light shown through the rafters above their heads, slipping in between the cracks of the rotting wood. An abandoned barn was hardly an ideal place for one's last night at home. But at least it had been safe, safer than anywhere else she could have fled to when the nursemaid had caught sight of her baby's tell-tale silver hair that first night.

    "Fine." Was all that was said, the woman leaving no room to change her mind as she rose from her crouched position beside the hay. "Give me a moment while I grab his things." Not that there was much to her name. Not that they had any time to spare or anything to plan. Fang paused once, peaking around the shredded curtains of the window if only to take a moment for herself; one last moment to look at the city she'd been born and raised in, never having even left its borders. Collecting her cloak and the small amount of food they had left, Noctis ushered her out the door.

    They were close enough to the edge of town. So long as they could make it past the last few houses on the outskirts, they would be home free. They only had to mingle with the villagers for a few moments in between here and the safety the forest had to offer. Slipping from house to house, hoods drawn and Riku tucked safely under the folds of fabric, they were practically to the tree line when Fang stopped in her tracks looking forlornly towards a small cottage, and Noctis nearly tripping over her heals.

    "What? What is it now?" he hissed.

    "Vanille."

    "What??"

    "I have to go back for Vanille! She can help us, Noctis."  Seeing his disbelieving expression, Fang pressed on. "Please. I don't know how to raise a baby by myself, you know that. And you know as well as I do that having a midwife with us is Riku's best chance of making it to Athens."

    Noctis sighed, pushing his bangs away from his face in frustration with his sister logic. But he wasn't sure he cared enough to risk it. He held nothing against his nephew, but Fang was his responsibility. Not that squirming, crying, little half-breed (if the rumors about the lad's father proved to be true). "Stay here then. I'll go get her."

    "No. She'll be too scared if you go. But she'll listen to me. Here." She thrust Riku into Noctis' arms. "Just take him and keep him safe until I get back. I won't be more than five minutes, I promise."

    "But-!"

    "Shh. You'll wake him again." Fang bent down, delivering a kiss to her son's forehead and then doing the same to her brother's cheek. She pulled Noctis' cloak around them both and stepped back. "Five minutes. Then you have permission to march in after me."

    He didn't like it. Not at all. But before he could tell her so, Fang was rushing across the field to her midwife's home. He could only crouch in the shadows, waiting for her to return.

    The house looked the same as last time she'd been there. Nothing had physically changed despite her whole life having been flipped upside down. Even the flowers on the table had been left alone and were drooping sorrowfully in their vase.

    "Vanille?" She had to be here. "Vanille." There was nowhere for her to have gone. Much like herself, Vanille had little to no family to speak of. That's how her and Fang had grown so close as children. They understood what each other had lost.

    "Fang?" Fang whipped around at the voice, sighing with relief to see her old friend standing in the kitchen door.

    "Vanille, thank the gods you're okay." She began to close the space between them. "Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy, but come with me. Noctis and I are leaving for Athens and you should come. We can find a safe city that isn't as superstitious as this one and make a new life."

    Vanille could only stare, looking horrified. She shook her head, her pink pigtails swishing, and tears beginning to brim in her eyes. "Fang, I'm so sorry. I-... I can't... You shouldn't have come back here!"

    A crease marred Fang's brow. "What are you talking about? Of course you can! I know it's scary but if we leave now we can have an actual chance and-"
    "I'm afraid neither of you will be going anywhere." A large calloused hand reached out, weighing down heavily on Vanille's shoulder as a gruff man appeared from behind the kitchen door. Tears were streaming freely down Vanille's cheeks now and her whole body trembling.

    Fang stumbled back half a step, looking between the two. What was the captain of the guard doing in her friend's home? Vanille would never tell a soldier anything about her and her or Riku. Would she?

    "Fang... Just give him the baby. That's all they want. Just give him the baby and we won't have to leave, everything can go back to the way it was before... before Sephiroth..." The girl broke off a sob, unable to bear looking her best friend in the eye. She wouldn't admit to having been jealous of him. No, not about how he had monopolized Fang's attention, and certainly not about how they had looked at each other when they thought she wasn't looking. She'd never say something like that out loud.

    "Listen to your friend, girl. Just hand over that little... mongrel son of yours and we can make this all go away."

    Fang trembled at the obvious lie in his voice and the glint that flashed through his eyes. No this would never be over. The only thing left to do was run. Make it back to Noctis and Riku and head for the hills like Noctis had wanted. But the captain was too quick. She hadn't made it halfway to the front door before she felt his weight press into her back and slam her against the wall

    Noctis looked skyward again, checking the suns position for the millionth time it had felt like. Five minutes were up. She should have been back by now. He was going in after her whether she liked it or not. Just as he turned to leave his shadowy shelter, the horn sounded. Peaking around the corner, all he could do was watch as a small group of soldiers down the street converged on the house, answering their commanding officer's call. The door to the midwife's little cottage was kicked open and his sister... his sister was drug in to the streets.

    The man pressed himself against a tree, his breathing coming in labored gulps, like he couldn't possibly get enough air. Calm down, he tried to tell himself. He'd get her back. Hide the kid, fight off some guards, come back to collect him, and run like the demons of the Underworld were nipping at their heels.

    But there were more people shouting now, and when he looked back he could see the townsfolk poking their heads out windows and emerging from their respective homes. They shook their fists and threw rocks, demanding blood for the curse that Fang had inevitably placed on the town by consorting with the likes of demons. His own neighbors calling for the death of a girl they had watched grow up.

    Time slowed down when the captain reached for the sword on his belt.

    Everything glowed too bright when he hoisted it over his head, looking down at Fang on her knees with a sneer.

    The crowd finally hushed for the first time in three days, the first time since that old hag had ran screaming from the midwife's house in the middle of the night spouting nonsense about a baby with silver hair.

    Nonsense is what Noctis had first thought anyway.

    He didn't even remember screaming. He'd remember later how his throat had hurt with the force of it, how the people had looked at him when he'd revealed his hiding place. He'd remember how the sand had greedily soaked up his sister's blood, as if sending it straight to the god of Death himself. He'd remember how Riku had woken with a start and begun to cry again, and how only then did he break from his trance and begin to run, desperately hanging onto the last piece of his sister he'd ever have. After that he would remember very little about his escape into the forest with an infant who had been the cause of so much destruction in his arms.

    After that he'd make sure never to let his family out of his sight.

    No, he'd never make that mistake again.

    Riku tumbled head over heels down the hillside, leaving a trail through the wild flowers that he crushed as he passed. Giddy with laughter, he scrambled to his feet at the bottom, looking up at the girl who nervously fidgeted at the top.

    "Nami, come on! It's fun, I promise! It doesn't even hurt."

    "Liar!" The blonde girl clutched at the skirt of her white chiton, pursing her lips in a pout and sticking out her tongue. "You scrapped your arm last time, remember? It even bled too!"

    Riku smirked, tossing his arms behind his head and turning his back on her. "Well that's fine then. I guess I'll just have to go without you," he taunted. "Go on and run back to your daddy if you can't handle playing with the big kids."

    Namine's face went cherry from anger, her cheeks puffing out like she was holding her breath. "Riku, you big dummy! Just watch me!" With that she threw herself at the flowers, rolling on her side all the way to the bottom, and leaving a carnage of flowers in her wake. When she finally came to a stop, she was out of breath, weeds in her hair, her now dirty skirts splayed out around her. Riku laughed at the sight, bending down to pluck a daisy lodged behind her ear.

    "You see? That wasn't so bad, right?" The boy lent out a hand to help her up, which Namine accepted. Once she had dusted herself off, however, she raised her little seven-year-old fist and struck Riku hard in the shoulder.

    "Ow!"

    "Don't you ever make me do that again, Riku Caelum! Or... or else!"

    Despite it's questionable standing, Riku still grimaced at the threat. Really, the younger girl could make his life miserable with little more than a word to his uncle about what they had been up to that afternoon.

    Seeing that she had struck a nerve in her friend, Namine smiled triumphantly. "Now are you going to tell me where we're going or not?"

    "Alright, alright. Jeez Nami, you don't have to be sore about it." Riku grumbled with a frown, kicking at the bluebells by his feet. His sour mood change in a second though, and his face lit up with excitement. "Come on, it's this way!"

    Namine followed at his heals, both of their bare feet slapping the earth as Riku led the way through the meadow. It was at the edge where he came to a sudden halt, holding out his arm to stop the girl behind him. "There. Look down."

    Namine creeped up to the edge of the weeds and peered over. There the ground plunged in a sudden drop that was almost hidden in the tall grass. Fifteen feet below laid a large expanse of geenland, littered with half rusted armor and weapons. Several patches of land were bald, like at one point there had been something that grew there, but had long since been burned away without enough time to replenish itself.

    "Woooow," the girl gaped, awe struck. "What happened? How long do ya think this has been here?"

    "Dunno. But it looks like there was a mighty battle!" Riku picked up a long stick, swinging around his head dramatically. "With soldiers and-", he broke off, tripping on an overgrown root and falling backwards onto his bum. "A-and Hero's..." he finished.

    Namine shook her head in exasperation at her friend's expense. "Riku, how many time's your uncle gotta tell you to stop fantasizing about wars and Hero's? He told ya they weren't real. You think if there were people running around with impossible strength, we mighta noticed one by now?"

    "Ah, come off it, Nami. Uncle Noctis doesn't know nothing about Hero's, so how's he gonna know if the stories are true?" Riku didn't allow her time to answer before he started to scurry over the edge of the cliff. "Come on, Namine. I wanna see up close!"

    The girl started to clutch at her skirts again. "R-riku, wait. Are you sure it's okay for us to do that? I think we can see it perfectly fine right here!"

    Riku poked his head back up, using a protruding root to hold up his weight. His seafoam green eyes narrowed. "Namine, what's the point of having snuck all the way out here it we weren't even gonna take a look? I'm going. If you're scared, you can stay up here by yourself."

    "Riku... Riku wait!" But no amount of calling was going to stop him from scrambling towards the ground. As the wind picked up, her cries were lost in the sound of an incoming storm anyway, so Riku forged onward. Only a few short yards away, a crude blade had been plunged into the dirt.

    Riku thought he could hear Namine shouting at him not to touch it, but he let her words roll off of his shoulders. She wasn't down here to tell him not to. It took effort on his part to rip the sword from it's resting place. He had to use all the strength his ten-year-old arms had to offer, but finally it was free. He raced back to the base of the cliff side and hoisted his prize above his head for his friend to see. "Namine, look!"

    "That's great Ri." Her tone held more trepidation than she tried to let on. "Now will you please put it down and get back up here so we can go? It's gonna rain soon!"

    You should have lissstened to the girl, little one. This is my graveyard. Mine. Riku's head whipped around at the unfamiliar voice. It came almost like a whisper, low and throaty like Noctis had sounded last winter when he'd gotten sick. But there was no one. "Who's there?"

    "Riku? What are you doing?" Namine's voice sounded very distant for being so close.

    "Namine? Did you say that?"

    "Say what?" The wind gusted, blowing her hair in front of her face. "Come on, Riku, I don't like this game anymore!"

    Well, well. What do we have here? Something dark began to swirl around the tip of the sword in Riku's hand. He shrieked and dropped it to the ground, it almost immediately being encompassed in a dark fog.

    Do you like playing Hero, little boy? Tssssssk. Don't you know better than that? Hero's don't exist for people like ussss. Riku staggered against the cliff, looking wildly for whatever could have a voice like that. Seeing nothing, he began scaling the wall, the same way he had gotten down.

    It was only a few more feet to the top when the chill racing up his spine made Riku freeze. I ssssee. Poooor little darkling. Ssso confussed. You don't even know what you are, do you? If it's power you want, I'd be happy to obliggge. There's no greater ssstrength than what I can teach you. You'd be greater than any Hero of legend you've ever heard about!

    Barely able to move, Riku glanced over his left shoulder, silver hair billowing around his rosy cheeks. His blood pounded in his ears when he came face to face with it.

    It's ebony eyes looked to be staring straight into him, seeing everything; reading his thoughts. Scales encasing its slender body were so dark, even the sun's light wasn't reflecting back at him. It coiled around a root, jaws open so wide they seemed to detach, and fangs dripping with black. Just hold still, now!

    "Riku!" A large hand suddenly gripped Riku by the collar and hauled him over the edge an instant before those powerful jaws snapped closed where Riku had previously been hanging. The boy suddenly found himself staring into the stormy eyes of his uncle, angry as Riku had ever seen them. "What do you think you're doing here?" Noctis punctuated every word by giving both of Riku's shoulders a shake.

    "I... I-i... There was a sword, a-and... The snake!"

    Noctis sighed, raising one hand to cup his nephew's cheek when the tears started to spill from the boy's sea green eyes. He got to his feet and reached out for both Riku's and Namine's hands.

    Riku sniffled and looked around the legs of his uncle as the man started to guide them back the way they came. "Nami, didn't you hear it?!"

    Namine shyed into Noctis' leg, clutching his hand with both of hers. The wild, frightened look in Riku's eyes was something she had never seen before. "Hear what, Ri?"

    "Come on, you two." Noctis interrupted. "Let's get back home. Namine, you are to say nothing of this to your father, do you understand?"

    The girl nodded. "Yessir. I understand..."

    Noctis turned his gaze back to the boy on his right. "Riku, you know better than to go running off like that. And to come this far from home... What if someone had seen you??"

    Riku rubbed at his nose, nodding. "Yessir. I-i'm sorry Noctis."

    Noctis pulled the boy's head into his side, affectionately ruffling his hair. He sighed. "Never mind now. Let's hurry back to the cottage before this rain starts to pick up, or Namine's father will have my head."

    A chorus of "yesssir"'s followed them home

    "Riku, hold still. Do you want to look presentable or don't you?" Riku fidgeted under his uncle's heavy hand. For what it was worth, Noctis had done a decent job of taming Riku's long and unruly hair, but the young man in front of him was not making it easy. "I told you not to go ridding in the forest today, didn't I?" He wielded the brush like a weapon, attacking a tangle in the silver locks like it was his natural born enemy. "But when have you ever listened to reason?"

    "I just needed some time to think, Noctis." Riku reached for the brush, snatching it away and attending to his hair himself. Instead, Noctis went to work straightening Riku's clothes.

    Becoming annoyed, Riku waved him off. "Stop it! You're going to drive me crazy with all your fussing. I'm not a child anymore."

    Noctis stood back and crossed his arms over his chest. "It's important you make a good impression today, Riku. You don't want your bride thinking she's marrying a wild animal, do you?"

    Riku shrank under the man's gaze, putting more attention into his hair than was strictly necessary. "I don't know if this is such a good idea, Uncle... I don't know anything about society, and I've never even been into the town. How do you know this girl you found won't run screaming the second she sees... this?" He held out a strand of his hair to emphasize his point.

    Noctis sighed and sat on the stool across from his nephew. "I was going to wait until later to surprise you, but now seems like as good a time as any for you to know. You don't need to worry about such things. Namine never cared about your hair before, I can't imagine she'll begin to care now."

    Riku's eyes widened. "Namine? You mean... Namine from when I was little?? But I haven't seen or heard from her since we were children. I thought her family left town."

    Noctis merely nodded, interrupting for the boy could start firing hundred questions. "They did, but I heard a month ago from the blacksmith that they're back. Apparently the girl's mother passed away a year ago from the fever and they are now moving back closer to home."

    The boy was silent, absorbing this information. Namine and her family had been the only people he was permitted to talk to growing up. Noctis had kept them so far from the city that there was no one else nearby to associate with anyway. Still, he couldn't see her dad allowing someone like him into their family. "Her father knows I'm not good enough for her... Why would he agree to this? I have nothing to offer him." They couldn't even host the wedding in his own home or travel to the temple to offer sacrifices to the gods, as were customary. If some city folk caught sight of him walking into their place of worship, they'd think the end of the world was looming over their heads.

    "Prompto and I are old friends, we were able to reach an agreement. And he doesn't believe in nonsense like demons and curses. That's why I chose her." He reached out and placed a hand on Riku's knee. "...I just want you to be happy, Ri. You know that right?"

    Riku nodded, forcing a nervous smile. "Yeah. I know, Noctis."

    "Good. Let's get going then." His uncle flashed him a smirk. "Don't want to be late to your own wedding, do you?

    The journey to the Argentum manor was a long one. It felt like hours but that was probably the rising anticipation on Riku's part. Throughout the ride he bounced his legs, repeatedly adjusted his himation over his shoulder, and drummed his fingers on seat of the chariot that had been sent to fetch them. He was beginning to think he understood Noctis' urgency from earlier, but now that they were actually en route the man look annoyingly calm, like there wasn't a care in the world. Riku could only suspect that it was all a rouse for his sake. One of them ought to look like they weren't falling apart with worry.

    Upon arrival, the two men were guided into the backyard, if one could call it that. Despite the Argentum family's supposed wealth, their new property was hardly more than a few acres. The backyard was really more of an overzealous garden than anything. Despite this, a place had been arranged for the new couple to kneel right in front of a small shrine for Hera. It would have to do.

    Riku made his way forward at Noctis' urging, ignoring the stares of Namine's family members, and knelt in the grass before the shrine. Never had he seen so many people before. Namine had siblings and cousins, grandparents, and her father, all keeping their gazes trained on him. Her father was the worst, looking at him with a threat in his eyes; a silent warning to the man he would be offering his only daughter to. Riku had to keep his gaze downcast in order to maintain breathing at an acceptable level. Or at all for that matter. These people would definitely not consider fainting at the alter "acceptable behavior".

    Someone was speaking now he was pretty sure. It was hard to differentiate anything from the roaring in his ears. Was that snickering? He thought so. But was it a person, or a shadow, or his own insecurities laughing in his face, he couldn't tell. It all stopped anyway when she walked through the door.

    She was dressed similarly to himself, a himation wrap clasped snug over her dress. The biggest difference was that her face was covered, veiled from sight, but Riku knew it was her. There was no mistaking the grace in her steps for anyone else. She knelt beside him but refused to look up to see her groom. An Athens priest was taking, this time he was sure of it, but he could go on about rituals and sacrifices for the rest of his days and Riku may never have even glanced his way.

    Warily reaching out, Riku tried to catch his brides attention by touching her hand. "It's good to see you again, Nami." His voice was hardly more than a whisper, and went unnoticed amongst the crowd. Namine on the other hand, recoiled like she'd been bitten, looking up at her familiar suitor for the first time with horror in her eyes, barely visible under the veil.

    "Riku?" SHe whispered. "...No. It can't be you. It can't be..."

    Not encouraging first words after a near decade apart. Trying not to seem disheartened, Riku pressed on. "It's okay. We can make this work. I promise."

    "Erhm."

    When Noctis made a sound like that, it sounded annoyed; when Prompto did it, it sounded like a predatory cat preparing to tear your limbs off. Namine made no move like she had heard him, and Riku had to commend her for it. She was either brave in the face of danger or incredibly foolish.

    "Namine, Riku. There will be time for catching up later," Prompto said.

    Namine jumped to her feet, blue eyes brimming with fear. "I can't. I can't do this." She didn't run from the garden exactly. There were too many people in the way, and few places for her to go. There was also the matter of her dress catching on the thistles of the rose bush, tearing it. In her attempt to detach herself, something wrapped in a rag tumbled to the ground, hidden on her person. But she didn't let that stop her from fleeing the gardens, no, she was gone before anyone could think to grab her.

    Riku wasn't sure what to do. Was this something normal to happen at weddings, for women to run from their grooms in despair? Was she getting cold feet? Did she even have a desire to get married today? A gleaming reflection caught him in the eyes and he found himself tracing it back to the bundle she had left behind, a sliver of its contents exposed to the sun.

    Noctis' familiar grip was suddenly under his elbow, pulling him up from the grass. "Riku, are you even listening to me!"

    Riku's eyes snapped back to attention and he looked to his uncle expectantly.

    "Go after her, boy." Nocits repeated, pushing him in the direction she had ran. Riku stood agape. Prompto was already looking, and she clearly had no desire to see him today, so what good would that do? But he obliged if for nothing more than to please his uncle.

    He snatched her parcel from under the roses and left in search. She would probably want it back, whatever it was, and maybe by returning it he could provide them with an opportunity to talk.

    The first place he looked for was the chariot he and his uncle had arrived in. A stable hand would have been sent to retrieve it and if he still knew anything about his old friend, it was her love for animals. That coupled with her need to escape this place made the barn an obvious choice.

    Sure enough, he found her cooing to one of the horses, trying to coax one into letting her saddle him. But she was an unfamiliar face. Only the stable hands ever came to prepare them for a ride. The stallion she held by the reins stomped his feet and shook his mane, like he was trying to shake off the anxiety.

    "No, no, no, don't do that, please. Just hold still a moment." Namine's veil had been ripped from her face and was lying in the mud by her feet, her platinum blonde hair loose from it's braid. "Fine!" Losing the battle with her ride, she tossed the saddle to the ground with a thud and rose a leg to try and scale the beast bareback.

    "Namine, wait!" She paused at Riku's voice, skin losing all it's color. Riku took the opportunity to steal the reins from her horse and hold him steady.

    "Please wait. I know this isn't what you wanted, really. But I think we could make the best of it!" He tried to smile, tried to soothe her. "Come on, there are worse things than marrying your best friend, right?"

    It was that smile that caught her off guard. It wasn't the same one that she used to know; it had lost most of its childish cockiness. She shook her head, clenching her eyes closed. "I'm so sorry Riku. I am. But I can't stay here with you. There's... there's someone else. I have to go."

    Riku was dumbfounded, so he could only nod. She must have taken it as a sign of agreement because she again tried unsuccessfully to claim her mount.

    "Wait." Riku touched her arm again and pulled the bundle from his clothes, offering it out to her. "You dropped this earlier."

    "Get that thing away from me!" Namine swatted it from his hand, hurling it towards the ground. This time it's protective wrapping was ripped away with a flourish and a dagger bounced off of the dirt.

    For a few seconds, the two could both only stare. It was Riku who broke the silence, hurt etched into his sharp features. "Namine? What were you going to do with that?" Anyone else and it wouldn't have even needed asking, but not her. Namine had always had such a gentle spirit, she'd never hurt anyone in her life.

    The girl broke into a sob, clutching at her hair. "It wasn't supposed to be you, okay! It was supposed to be a stranger! He never said it was going to be you..."

    "Who never said?? Someone sent you to kill me?" This was outrageous. He could count the people he'd met in his life on one hand. There was no one who knew him well enough to want him dead.

    That's where you're wrong, boy. I know you better than you know yourself.

    Riku clamped his hands over his ears, nearly dizzy with the loudness of it. Unlike all those years ago, Namine did the same thing, clearly able to hear the words where the first time she had not. But who could ignore a voice so akin to thunder it barely sounded like words at all?

    Riku shot an accusing glare at Namine. "What did you do?! Who did you talk to?!"

    The girl could only sob, pressing her face into her horse's side. "I'm sorry, Riku. I'm so sorry... He promised me if I did this, he'd make sure I was free from marriage!"

    And you should know better than to break a deal with me, girl!

    Riku's stomach plummeted when he saw the familiar black fog rising. This time it had nothing to latch onto. It simply swirled in the center of the room, growing to the size of a person. Knowing the something was unquestionably wrong, the horses began to stomp their feet, kicking against their pens, and searching for escape. A gale blew though the barn, blowing the fog away and a man emerged from the smoke.

    Riku gasped, feeling lightheaded. Never before had he heard of another with hair like his. The silver coloring was usually reserved for things of legend and nightmares. In every tale, death followed anyone who dared wear it. He'd been told that demons looked like this but Noctis had assured him that no such creatures existed. And yet here this man stood, tall with dark brown skin, dressed in black, with a piercing amber gaze and long silver hair.

    Namine almost immediately fell to her knees. "Lord Hades, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. If I'd know who my fiance was, I would have never come to you."

    Hades. For some reason that made sense. Of course the Master of Death would have those traits.

    The man stepped forward and struck the girl with the back of his hand, silencing her. She fell to her side with a cry and clutched her cheek.

    "Stupid, insolent little brat. I don't care for your excuses."

    His voice seemed more human now, however with it he brought clouds in the sky and a darkness that shouldn't have been for being only noon.

    Namine quivered, her sobbing having dwindled down no a soft whimper, but that didn't stop Hades' rampage. He reached out, his shadow mimicking his movement. He didn't touch her again but for reasons Riku couldn't explain, the shadow wrapped its fingers around her throat and threw he up against the wall.

    "If you refuse to fulfill our contract, I'll just have to take you instead."

    Namine gaped for air, clutching at the shadowy hand around her throat, but her hands passed harmlessly through.

    "Well!" Hades demanded. "What is it going to be?"

    Barely able to speak, Namine let her arms fall to her sides and narrowed her eyes. "...I-i.... I... refuse...." she rasped.

    Hades snarled and his shadow tightened its grip. "Very well."

    "Wait!" For a moment Riku wasn't sure if it had even been him that called out. Seeing the Lord of Death look his way, he decided that it couldn't have come from anyone else and pressed on. "You wanted me you said? Fine! Kill me and let her go!" After all, he had nothing in his life to lose. Except Noctis, but maybe with him gone, his uncle could finally have a real life again, instead of being trapped in the woods for the rest of his days like a hermit.

    Hades immediately dropped his prisoner and strode over to Riku. If he had thought Namine was graceful, this man made her look like a stumbling fawn. He glided the distance between them and stopped only inches from Riku's nose.

    "You would give up your life for this little traitor? She was going to kill you, you know. Murder you in your sleep."

    "S-she wasn't," Riku stammered. "Namine would never do that to me. She was my friend."

    Hades snorted. "Fine. A trade. You for her?" When Riku nodded, unable to speak, the man grabbed him by the collar. "You have to say it! Out loud."

    Riku's voice trembled as he spoke. He could faintly hear Namine calling to him, telling him not to do it. But like all those years ago she sounded distant. "I, Riku Caelum, trade my life for Namine Argentum's."

    A grin split Hades face. One like Riku had never seen before.

    "Agreed," he purred.

    A thunder clap made Riku's ears ring, it was so close. That wretched fog had begun to swirl again and Lord Hades gripped Riku by the shoulder, dragging him towards it. Riku didn't struggle, nor did he help with the process. He could hear Namine crying clearly now, tears streaming down her face.

    He offered her one of his most compassionate smiles. "Tell my uncle I'm sorry. Tell him I love him!"

    He never did hear her reply. The edge of his vision began to blur and darkness swarmed before his eyes. The last thing he saw was her reaching out a hand to stop him, but of course, that would have been impossible

    Riku wasn't sure where he was. For a while - at least he thought it was a while, he couldn't sense time passing either - he couldn't even remember his name. What was the last thing that had happened? Come on, think.

    Nothing. Blankness.

    Try to look around. Maybe get a grip on your surroundings.

    Dark.

    Were his eyes even open? He tried to reach up to touch his face, but couldn't move his arms. Or could he? Was his arm still attached? He couldn't feel it. Couldn't be sure.

    The longer he waited, the more his frustration began to build. But that was good right? Even frustration was better than this awful, numbing, emptiness. The more frustrated he got, the more his memories started to piece back together, like stitching up a hole in his mind.

    He was Riku. It was his wedding day. He'd tried to rescue Namine. He was dead. Probably. The last conclusion was a little bit fuzzy, was this really what death was supposed to feel like? He'd thought he have to be ferried across the river Styx to reach the Underworld first. After that, who was to say what it was supposed to look like. Maybe by entering with Lord Hades, he'd forgoed his ferry ride and went straight for the gold.

    After enough time passed (it had to have passed by now, right?) he was fairly certain he could move. But what was the point? He couldn't go anywhere. All around him was that awful black nothing. But with movement came the voice again.

    Good. You're awake.

    If this is what you could call awake, he supposed so.

    The voice, no Hades, chuckled. Funny. You think you're clever, don't you?

    Clearly not, he was eternally trapped in this hellhole, and it was of his own doing, how clever could he be?

    True. But don't worry about such things, I would have had you eventually. I've been waiting a very long time to get my hands on you.

    What was Hades going on about?

    Don't you know, Riku? That uncle of yours has become quite the successful little demon hunter since carting you around. The darkness in your heart attracts all kinds of unsavory creatures, doesn't it? I would have preferred a pure-blood, myself, but I don't have jurisdiction over their kind. A half-breed will have to do. You're just barely human enough to be under my rein once you died.

    Once he died? So Hades hadn't killed him yet?

    I'm not going to kill you, fool. Then I'd have to go through all kinds of trouble to bring you back. As it is, that girl's incompetence actually made my job a lot easier. And don't call me Hades. Only human scum used those names for us. From now on, I am Lord Xemnas, you understand?

    Xemnas. Sure, whatever. Did it matter?

    Pain suddenly lanced through his body like a hot iron, making Riku scream. And he was pretty sure he heard it out loud. Something under him was glowing, an eerie dark symbol that was the only thing he could see in this realm.

    "Yes, Lord Xemnas". Say it!

    "Y-yes, Lord Xemnas..." Riku groaned, still trembling from pain.

    Very good. Continue being obedient like that and we can make this brief.

    Brief? Make what brief? Just exactly what was Lord Xemnas planning to-?

    Coherent thought was quickly silenced when the symbol under his body glowed even brighter. There was screaming but it was too loud to possibly be him. It was still dark, but now he noticed that the fog from before was tangible; cold and heavy like water. And now he knew that Xemnas had almost definitely lied to him. The shadowy substance was ripping him to shreds.

    He was surely going to die.