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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 5-

"Hey, Sora," Riku waved as his best friend walked into
the hospital room with a big grin on his face. "What's
happened? You marry Kairi or something?"

Sora shook his head.

"That's too bad," Riku shrugged. He regretted not being
able to walk over to Sora and hug him.

"What would you say if I told you I knew a way you might
be able to walk again?" Sora inquired.

"I'd say 'come over here so I can slap you'." Riku's face
darkened. "I'm not in the mood to hear your daydreams about
something I can't have."

"It's not a daydream." Sora told him.

"Right," Riku glowered at him. "You have some brilliant
medical knowledge that all the doctors here don't."

"I'm talking about the Encom computer."

"I don't..." Riku stopped dead. "Encom. You mean the
cyberspace city where you met Tron?"

"Exactly. You should be able to acquire full mobility
while you're in there."

"What do you think, doctor?" Riku asked the doctor who had
just walked in. "Would I have full mobility like he says
inside the cyberspace realm of the Encom computer in Ansem's
lab?"

"It is possible," the doctor agreed. "But you should know
that when you come out here to visit your friends, you'll
be back in your wheelchair. This isn't a cure. Only an
alternative."

"When can we start?" Riku wanted to know.

"As soon as you're ready."

***

Riku manouevered his wheelchair to a spot in front of
the digitizer. If Sora's plan worked as well as they
all hoped, he would soon have no need of it.

Kairi and Sora stood on either side of him. They had
decided to go in with him.

The digitizer, obeying the commands typed in early by
Sora, drew the three friends into the cyberspace world
where Tron existed.

Riku frowned, finding himself still in the wheelchair.
"It didn't work." he grumbled.

"Try standing," Sora suggested.

Riku got to his feet, a look of joy and relief on his
face. He moved to hug Sora and nearly fell over.

"It takes a moment to get used to things in here,"
Sora told him. "Like when you get onto a boat for the
first time."

Tron walked up to them. "You must be Riku."

Riku nodded.

"Welcome, my name is Tron." Tron smiled. "Come this way.
I'll show you the space we've prepared for you."

Riku, Sora, and Kairi followed Tron until they arrived
at a structure that like a neon castle, surrounded by a
shimmering moat.

Riku's jaw dropped. "That's for me?!"

Tron nodded. "Of course. You're a User. When I told the
construction programs you were coming to live here, they
wouldn't settle for giving you any less."

"I hope they're not expecting miracles," Riku looked
wistfully at the castle. "I have none to give. I can't be
a god. I don't know how."

"We don't want a god." Tron assured him. "we're happy with
our Users. If you're not happy with the castle, however,
you can change it."

"Me?!" Riku blinked. Had Tron actually just told him to
demolish a castle and put an entirely new building in it's
place by himself.

He started to walk toward it when Tron put a restraining
hand on his shoulder. "Use your mind."

"What do you...?"

"Think of how you want it to look."

The castle vanished and was replaced by a replica of
Riku's favorite spot on Destiny Island.

Riku smiled. "It'll never be as good as the real one.
But its better than nothing."

A moment later, he suddenly called out to them. "Race ya
there!" and dove into the shimmering water.

Sora dove in after him, Kairi and Tron following close
behind.

When they reached the island, Riku took up his customary
place in the crook of the paupau fruit tree. Sora, Kairi,
and Tron joined him.

"We can't stay, Riku," Sora told him after a while. "we
have to get back to our world."

"Promise you'll visit me." Riku pleaded, as he realized
the full consequence of his decision.

"Whenever we can," Sora promised.

"I suppose you'll be married by the next time I see you."

"Riku!" Kairi blushed.

"Well go on, you two," Riku shooed them off, playfully.
"You know I hate long goodbyes."

Sora and Kairi both hugged him, then they dove back into
the water.

When they reached the shoreline, they waved to Riku once
more.

He waved back, and smiled.