OPEN POST: Riku - Kingdom Hearts

[dawnroad]

[Permanently open post for all your Riku needs! Leave a prompt/opener/image/ooc comment with your ideas, or comment with your character and I'll post an opener instead.

Also feel free to specify a canon point; I'm happy to play Riku from any point in his character development.]

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[dawnroad]

It was curiosity that compelled Riku to explore Radiant Garden's castle. He'd known it best back when it was the darkness-infested ruin of Hollow Bastion, where he'd lived and conspired with Maleficent. It had come a long way since then, and while the world was still being repaired, it already felt like a different place entirely. Another step away from the past -- including his own dark past -- into something brighter.

And who knew? Maybe there were still clues to be uncovered here about Xehanort.

Riku turned a corner of the corridors in time to see some books crash to the ground, and a figure stoop to grab them. Without thinking, he immediately hurried over, stooping to help the man. "Let me get those--" But as he looked up to hand the books over and looked at who he was actually speaking to, he froze.

Zexion.

...Except this wasn't Zexion at all; this man possessed none of the foul scent of darkness that had clung to his Nobody. This was the real deal.

Realising he was staring, he shoved the books back into Ienzo's arms with a gruff, "Here," and moved to stand. He had no idea how Ienzo would react to him, or what he should even say, so he'd give the former Nobody a chance to collect himself first.

[throwingthebook]

When he'd first heard the voice, Ienzo's first reaction--or nonreaction, as the case might be--was to completely freeze up. A survival instinct. An animal caught in a bright light. The color drained from his face, his eyes widening to their limit. He knew that face, knew that voice...the memory of a hand at his neck, that smirking face as his remaining essence was drained and everything went dark...

Then Riku shoves something at him, and he doesn't see it as the two books he had just dropped. Ienzo screams, the spell broken, and he recoils from it so suddenly he loses his balance and falls backwards onto the floor, shaking.

It's not him. It can't be that...that thing, it's dead. It's dead. Isn't it?

He's suddenly aware that he is breathing too fast, too hard, and he forces himself to look away, to shut his eyes and pretend that Riku isn't there in favor of getting the hyperventilation under control. "Don't..." is all he can manage. Don't come out of nowhere and do that. Don't look at me. Don't kill me. It's hard to tell by his tone of voice which he meant to say.

[dawnroad]

The scream and blind panic both startle Riku, so much so that he backs off to give Ienzo some space. What is he so afraid of? Sure, Riku had defeated him back then, but Zexion had escaped. Was it his mastery of darkness he'd displayed back then that frightened him... or something else?

"Hey," he says, spreading his arms, slowly, to show he's unarmed. No weapons, no darkness, nothing. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not here to fight anyone."

[throwingthebook]

He takes another deep breath, just as shaky as the rest of him. "I know. I..." Ienzo sighs, crawling onto his knees and gathering his books to his chest, staring at the floor as he stands up, hair hanging low over his face. Twenty years old, and he's still hiding like he did as a child... Then again, how much time has he really had to be human? Half his life he's been Zexion.

"...It's just... Castle Oblivion. Your replica..."

He trails off, trying not to think too hard on it again. Not just the fear, but the guilt of what they did, of what he did, leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

[dawnroad]

Riku lowers his arms, relaxing a little when he sees Ienzo start to calm down.

"He's..." Dead? Can a replica really die? Riku believed it, and believed his heart went to the same place all hearts go. But he can't quite bring himself to say the word, not when it leaves him with similar feelings of sadness and guilt he has when he thinks of everything he did to Roxas.

"Not long after I fought you, he came after me," he says, finally. "I defeated him."

[throwingthebook]

Ienzo clutches his books slightly tighter.

"After I fled from you, he killed me."

It's a declaration. A confirmation not just for Riku but for himself. "Killed my Nobody, I should say." He shook his head. "I'm...not entirely the same person as Zexion, but... I share his memories. There's a kind of discrepancy there, I'm sure, but... It might as well have happened to me, as you just observed."

[dawnroad]

Riku nods solemnly. He'd figured something must have happened to Zexion, after his scent had vanished from the castle so quickly. "For what it's worth, Castle Oblivion is ancient history to me. I'm not interested in holding any grudges."

With the latest revelations, they were all victims of the same root cause. And though Ienzo might have the same memories and the same face, Riku can notice the differences, just as Lea is so much like Axel and yet not. When they're not the same, it's easier to forgive.

Besides, how could he expect forgiveness for himself, if he didn't extend it to others?

"So... Let's start over. What should I call you, now that you're you again?"

[throwingthebook]

He looked up at Riku through his bangs, relaxing slightly as he straightened. If Riku was willing to forgive him, even after everything he'd done...

"Ienzo." He'll never get tired of how good it feels to voice his true name again. But as for his conscience... "And...I still feel that I owe you an apology. I said some very cruel things to you, and used your own memories against you. I may not have had a heart, but I knew what I was doing was wrong. I'm sorry."

Even if Riku had already forgiven him, he needed to say it. Needed to use his words, precious as they were.

[dawnroad]

"It's okay," Riku shook his head. "For better or for worse, you knew my weaknesses, and my fight with you forced me to overcome them. I'd been afraid of the darkness, but I couldn't face the light either... so I embraced both, and became stronger than ever."

Riku holds out his hand, and Way to the Dawn appeared. Of course, Naminé played a large role in his newfound conviction to walk the middle road, so much of the credit was with her, but it was still proof that all his experiences in that castle helped him become a better, stronger person. Zexion's machinations included.

He lowers his Keyblade, and it disappears from his hand again. "And now, I'm done dwelling on the past. All I want to do is work together with everyone, so we can put an end to all this."