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Kingdom Hearts
For Riku's Sake
by Vash
Disclaimer: No one in Kingdom Hearts belongs to me.
Summary: Riku is injured during a Struggle with Sora.

-Chapter 3-

"Morning, Donald," Goofy said, a few days later. He was carrying
an envelope marked with a shooting star. Star Mail was one of the
results of the joining of the worlds. There were others as well.
Some good. Others bad. "Looks like we got a letter from Sora."

"Oh boy!" Donald exclaimed. "Let's see what it says!"

Goofy opened it and read it aloud to his friend.

"Dear Donald and Goofy,

I hope you are both well. Kairi and I are both fine.

I wish I could say the same for Riku, but I'm afraid I
can't.

Hades showed up while we were playing in the Twilight Town
Struggle, and deliberately ran Riku over with his car.

Riku's in the emergency room right now, and we don't know
what the outcome will be. But I fear it won't be a good one.
The wheel of the car was resting on Riku's back, and it was
hard for even Hercules to lift.

I'll let you know more about how Riku is doing once I know
more.

Your friend,
Sora."

"Gawrsh, Donald," Goofy suggested, "it sounds to me like Riku could
use some friends."

"You're right!" Donald agreed. "Lets go pay him a visit."

King Mickey strolled up to them. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Sora's friend got hurt really badly," Goofy told him. "I don't suppose
you could fix him up, could you?"

King Mickey shook his head. "I can't. I'm sorry." He seemed sad for a
moment, then he smiled. "But I can let you two go pay him a visit. That
might cheer him up."

"Thanks, Your Majesty!" Donald saluted smartly. Then he and Goofy headed
off to board the Gummi Ship they'd traveled to so many worlds in with
their best buddy, Sora.

***

The doctor sipped his coffee as he went over Riku's x-rays for what felt
like the hundredth time. He had tried to come up with some way to give
hope to the injured young man.

Riku wasn't an exemplary young man by any stretch of the imagination. A
troubled youth, an ex-delinquent when it came right down to it, he had in
the past two years, worked hard to earn back the love and respect of his
closest friends, and had even made some new ones in the process.

It seemed unfair to the doctor that such a thing could have happened to
Riku, just when he was starting to get back what he could of the childhood
that had been lost during his time of atonement as a warrior.

"Still at it?" Another doctor sat down at the table with him.

The first doctor nodded. "I can't help wonder if we're really doing all
that we can for him."

"Look at the x-ray," the second doctor pointed out. "There is nothing we can
do for him. We have to start preparing him for living in that wheelchair
because that's the only way he's going anywhere for the rest of his life."

***

Sora traded a hug with Donald and Goofy outside the hospital.

"We got your note, and came to see Riku." Goofy told him.

"Let's go!" Sora waved for them to follow as he made his way inside and
went to Riku's room.

Riku looked up at him from the wheelchair in which he was now seated. Once
a proud young warrior who had fought for both good and evil, he now looked
like a scared and lost child, though he had passed into adulthood about two
years ago.

"We heard you were hurt," Goofy explained. "And since we're your best buddies,
we came to see if we could cheer you up."

"That's right!" Donald agreed.

"Can you tell me the doctors have thought of a way to let me walk again?"

"No," Donald shook his head.

"Ah well," Riku shrugged. "So much for cheering me up."

"Aw, Riku, don't be like that," Donald sympathized.

"How am I supposed to be? Should I cheer now that I will never walk again?
I..." He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm not taking this very well. I'd
like to be alone for a bit. Think you could come back later?"

"Sure," Sora gave Riku a friendly hug, then he left with Donald and Goofy.