literature

Moonlight Naga Chapter 6

Deviation Actions

CameoAmalthea's avatar
Published:
2.8K Views

Literature Text

Naga healed faster than most creatures, and Sephiroth had been put in the best of hands possible. However, these facts were little comfort to Riku. He stayed at Sephiroth's bedside a good deal of the time, even though he shared it with Kadaj and his brothers and suffered their glares. Kadaj had a problem with Riku, and the attitude of the three was if one had a problem with someone, they all had a problem with them.

Not that this worried Riku much. Even though he knew they'd probably love the chance to pummel him, things wouldn't go beyond dirty looks. After Riku and Kadaj's last fight, they'd been sternly reminded that fighting amongst the naga was forbidden. They were of the same tribe, which meant that even if they didn't like each other, they were bound by the ties of brotherhood that came with being one of the pack.

Besides, no matter what he and the triplets thought of each other, they could agree that they wanted to be there for Sephiroth.  To the point that Sephiroth was getting annoyed with it all, and told his brothers to get back to their mentors and their duties, and simply told Riku to "Get out!"

It hurt, because Riku knew he deserved it. It was his fault this had happened because he'd let Sora go.  

So, when word went out that all the capable naga who could be spared were going to track Sora down, Riku was eager to join them. However, Xemnas told him, in no uncertain terms, that he was not going.

"For you, this is personal. We are going to locate the boy for now, and that's all. If you find him, I do not trust you not to engage him," he informed Riku, "So you will be among those of our number to stay here."

That was like salt in an open wound. Yes, Riku wanted to find Sora, find him and hurt him, kill him, which would make following orders not to engage him difficult, but he'd never done anything to earn this distrust. "This isn't fair."

"This is my word on the matter." That was the end of it.

So everyone else was trusted to go. Even Demyx, who wasn't even a fighter! He was a minstrel, for crying out loud! Saix, who was much more likely to go off the handle and attack! Axel, who kept a freaking human as a pet! Honestly, they trusted him to hunt a human down? Everyone was allowed to go, even Sephiroth's blood brothers, but Riku was kept out of it.

Riku hissed and stormed off, going to get his sparring weapon of choice, a staff, and vent his anger by going through rapid fire motions. He ended up breaking it against a tree_ before sinking down in a heap, tears in his eyes. Riku did not cry over being left behind, or breaking a staff he really liked, but over the secret fear that filled his heart. What if they knew?

What if they all knew, just by looking at him that he was weak, that he was as good as a traitor; that it was his fault Sephiroth was hurt because he couldn't do what instinct and training told him to do.  At the very least, Riku suspected Sephiroth knew. Maybe he never wanted to look at him again and when he was well he'd tell him to find another mentor, or to just get out of the village because he was moving to have him banished.

He wiped away the moisture forming around his eyes. He did not cry! He was a naga and a warrior, not some child.

It was then he realized what he had to do. Like an adult, he'd go to Sephiroth, and tell him the truth. Throw himself on whatever mercy Sephiroth had.

So it was with a heavy heart that Riku made his way Sephiroth's home. He hesitated outside the door, unsure whether to knock or just forget the whole thing. The young naga didn't even know what he going to say. The last time he'd seen Sephiroth had been when he'd thrown Riku and the triplets out, so Riku had a feeling Sephiroth wouldn't be glad to see him in the first place. Then after he confessed….what would he do?

Images of being called a traitor and eaten or impaled on a very large sword flashed through his mind. Though, just a look or a word of disgust would be worse, and far more likely.

Riku gulped, and knocked, before fixing his eyes on the ground.

A moment passed, and then he heard Sephiroth call, "Come in."

Right, he probably didn't want to get up to open the door, Riku reasoned. So, he had to go in, but once more he hesitated. It only lasted a moment because keeping Sephiroth waiting wouldn't be wise. It was too late to back out; he had to do what he came here to do.

He slithered inside, and softly said "Hey, how are you feeling?" The silver naga was lounging on his bed, looking annoyed or, possibly, just in pain; most likely a mixture of both.

Sephiroth returned Riku's greeting with something between a sigh and growl, before at last speaking, "Riku…" The look he got from Sephiroth told Riku that his elder most likely was in no mood for a visit. "I am in pain. My left arm is useless. A fact that makes me useless as a warrior. That is not a state that I abide well! However, you already know this. So I assume that is not why you're here."

Riku fidgeted slightly, "No, sir, it isn't."

"Then, what is it?" Sephiroth questioned, as he sat up, face barely twitching in pain from the movement, which Riku knew must have terrible.

He also knew it was his fault Sephiroth was in pain, and the only way he'd be able to deal with the guilt of that was to come clean. Riku looked at the ground again, unable to meet Sephiroth's gaze as he spoke. "There's…something I need to tell you…about what happened…about Sora."

"What is it? Is it that you let Sora escape and he took that opportunity to stab me? Is that what you want to tell me?"

Riku looked up, eyes wide with shock, Sephiroth had cut straight to the heart of the matter. He'd probably known all along. "I'm sorry." Riku managed to say quietly. "Sora…Sora was my…my friend. I just…I…I'm sorry."

Sephiroth's gaze narrowed as Riku said that word: friend. His teeth clenched, but he managed to speak after a moment. "Riku...." he began, before pausing to take a short breath to control his anger. "Humans are never friends. You should have known better than to trust a human! You knew well that our laws dictate humans are to be killed on sight."

"I was a nagaling when I met him," said Riku, "I didn't understand then and-"

"Silence!" he snapped, "and save your excuses. I didn't think I had such a fool for an apprentice." He sighed again, tone softening, "What's done is done, and hopefully you have learned. However, to ensure you understand completely, I think, my apprentice, it is time you learn a very important lesson. One that Zack never learned. But perhaps for you things will be more fortunate, because this time I am not too late."

Riku's eyes widened in confusion. "What?"

"There are very few, who know the exact details of Zack's death. In fact, until recently, it was I alone who bore the burden of the truth. I told Axel in the spring, after the festival, not to ease my burden but to warn him, to teach him, as I will now teach you. Come with me," Sephiroth instructed, as he stood and slithered to the door.

Riku moved to open it for him, and then followed along at his side. He was confused, but dared not question his mentor. So they went along in silence, out of the village, passed the outlaying stables, and beyond towards the caves set into a hill some distance away.

This was the place of remembrance. For naga did not bury their dead, but cremated them, giving their ashes to the wind and rivers. Then, in a cave north of the village, they built shrines to honor those who were gone, and feel close to them again.
Some shrines were outside the caves themselves, others were inside. At the entrance they passed the shrine to Jenova, Sephiroth's mother. It was covered in flowers and offerings, probably left by one of the triplet's or all of them, although Riku doubted Sephiroth left anything. He didn't seem the type to bring flowers for the dead.

The caves were not dark, but rather twilit by the sun pouring in from the mouth. Riku could see well enough to make out the various shrines. They stopped in front of the one to Zack, marked with his name, and his sword, which sat upon it, glorious even in the dim light.

"I do not come here enough," said Sephiroth, kneeling with his head bowed. Riku followed suit. "However, it is important to come, to be reminded. I will never forget Zack. I loved him, and was a truly unforgettable person. Nor will I forget why he is gone."

"A human killed him," Riku supplied.

"Not just any human," said Sephiroth, "a human who he considered his friend."

Riku looked at Sephiroth, his words sinking in. "His friend?"

"Yes. You see, one day Zack was out hunting, as always by himself, and he came across a human. Any other naga would have eaten the human and be done with it, but not Zack. He was....special." Sephiroth paused, smiling faintly for a moment, but then the look was gone, replaced by a blank expression. "Zack befriended the human. This human was the one called Cloud, the blond I fought in the clearing, and was so close to finishing when that whelp-oh but no matter, I'll get him soon enough, if things go according to plan. I soon found out about this friendship, but Zack assured me that there was nothing to worry about..." He paused, and closed his eyes for a long moment. When he spoke again, his voice was different, pained. "So I did nothing. I didn't want Zack to get in trouble with any of the elders, so I held my tongue. I should have said something, or done something to stop Zack." Again he fell silent, this time for so long Riku wondered if he would continue at all. At last he spoke. "I kept Zack's secret, and even made excuses for him when he slipped off to meet his friend. This went on for a while, until....until." He swallowed, and then took a breath. "I was out hunting, when I found them, Zack was mortally wounded, and Cloud still had the bloody knife in his hand. I attacked, but Zack was my priority, as soon as I could get near enough, I picked him up and raced back to the village. I tried to save him. I really did. But I just couldn't get him back to the village fast enough..." A single tear slipped down Sephiroth's pale cheek before the warrior wiped it away.

Riku didn't know what to say. Poor Zack, and poor Sephiroth, finding his lover dying in the murderer's arms. How could Cloud have done that to him, Zack had been…wonderful, to everyone. Zack had been friends with that human and he'd killed him for it. It was horrible. Really though, was Sora any different? "We'll kill him!" Riku swore. "He'll pay for what he did to Zack, and I'll fix my mistake. Sora won't live through our next meeting, I swear."

"Riku," said Sephiroth gently "I do appreciate the enthusiasm, but Sora isn't going to die so soon. I know you want to prove yourself-"

"More than anything! I'm not a traitor!" Riku swore. "I was stupid before, but I won't make same mistake again. I just… I hope you can forgive and trust me again."
"Oh, do not worry so. Riku, you will have many chances to show your merit and blot out this little incident, but-"

"Wait," Riku interrupted as a new fear seeped into him "Does…does Xemnas know what I did?" If Sephiroth did, then maybe their alpha did as well.

Sephiroth burst out laughing, "If he knew, do you think you would still be alive?" he replied simply. "He has less tolerance for traitors than I do. Although, I do forgive you for letting that boy go. You are young and you made a very grave error, but as your mentor, I must expect mistakes, and help you to learn from them. Which, I trust, I have."

"Yes, sir," said Riku sincerely. "But... I still don't understand one thing. If he doesn't know then why didn't he let me go after Sora with the others?"

Sephiroth smirked. "He believed that you wouldn't be able to control your rage at the human for what he did to your master," he replied simply. "Besides, Xemnas knows you, Riku. You might have put your own goals over our orders, rushed in without thinking things through. Especially when your emotions were running high. Any apprentice would have been overcome with anger in your situation. Just now you were swearing you'd kill Sora the next chance you got, but we need him alive."

Riku's eyes darkened, "Xemnas was right. Why aren't we going to kill him as soon as we find him?"

"He'll die, don't worry, but for now he will be useful to us. Can you really not see the use of having Cloud's little protégé?"

"Bait," Riku surmised. "Hell, seeing it that way, I could bring him back alive. Your plan's smart."

Sephiroth chuckled. "Of course my plan is good! But he'll be more than simply bait. At Saix's suggestion, we are going crush the spirits of the humans on the battlefield by killing Sora right in front of them. First, we'll destroy their hearts, and then the rest of them." He said with a smirk, "Brilliant, isn't it?"

Riku was silent for a moment. The image of Sora's throat being slit flashed through his mind, and made him feel slightly sick. No, though, he could feel nothing for that human. Sora had betrayed him, hadn't he? And he was the pupil of the murderer who killed Zack. "Yes, sir, it is." He said at last, and then a smile crossed his face. "Perfect, revenge at long last."

Just as Riku finished speaking, a tremor suddenly shook the cave. As the cave shook the sword on Zack's tomb fell toward them. Riku quickly darted out of the way, just in time to avoid being struck. His heart pounding from surprise, the young naga shivered. The whole cave felt colder now.

Suddenly, Riku wasn't very comfortable with being in the cave at all.  All of the stone markers seemed to cast dark shadows. "Maybe... we should go?" he suggested, and then added, so he didn't seem cowardly, "It's getting late, and we'll want to be there if anyone returns with news, right?"

"Yes," Sephiroth agreed, "And perhaps a conversation such as this_ is best not discussed in a place set aside to honor the dead."  He moved forward, picking up the sword and returning it to its place on Zack's tomb. Then, he turned, slithering toward the entrance of the cave. "Come along, Riku."

Riku followed, with only a glance backward at Zack's tomb. Wouldn't Zack's spirit be pleased to know he would be avenged? Riku shrugged, and once more slithered out into the sunlight.

As they made their way back toward the village, they passed Axel's farm at a distance. His human servant was herding the chocobo into the barn for the night. Riku stared at him a moment, and couldn't help but be reminded of Sora.

"Sephiroth?" he asked, "If humans are as treacherous as you say, why are we keeping one around like that?" He gestured towards the direction of Axel's farm.
Sephiroth turned and looked a moment, before continuing on. "Axel found him during the raid on Cloud's village five years ago, our attempt to avenge Zack. The boy was useful to Axel at the time, and since has made a good slave, I suppose. Axel has grown attached to his pet, but he keeps it under careful watch, for the most part. Still, you do raise a good point. I think that boy may have outlived his use, and we probably should get rid of him soon. I'll have him dealt with soon enough. Not until we have Sora, though. It is better to focus on one matter at time."

A chill went through Riku. Dealt with? Roxas, Axel's pet, was going to be killed most likely, and it was his fault. That didn't feel right. He didn't know what he meant by what he said or why he said anything, but Axel's slave was hadn't done anything to deserve being killed. Then again, prey never deserved to be killed, but that was how life worked. Besides, maybe the mistake wasn't killing him now, but letting him live this long. Yeah, he shouldn't have been allowed to survive the raid on the village, so killing him was just setting things to how they should be.

That rationalization didn't make Riku feel much better, but he didn't dare argue with Sephiroth.

When they reached the village, they found that Demyx and Saix had returned. They were in the village square, speaking with Xemnas.

"We found him!" Demyx exclaimed happily. "We have ascertained Sora's location just like you wanted, and left him alive too!"

Saix sighed, slightly annoyed, and then spoke. "Yes, he's been sent to a village at the base of Mt. Zama. However, he wanders in the woods. It would be easy to drive him further away from the village and then capture him without having to deal with many others."

"Excellent," said Sephiroth, "Once everyone returns, we'll plan how many, and who to send to collect the boy."

"It's a day's journey," said Saix, "and we'll have to lay in wait for him, a small group is best, perhaps only a pair. It shouldn't be too hard to subdue one boy. I'll gladly volunteer for the mission."

"And, I'll go ahead and say now that I would be the wrong guy to send, so, please don't pick me,"  Demyx added, which won him glares from everyone present.
"Demyx," said Xemnas, "please just go and don't embarrass yourself and us with your presence any longer."

Demyx hung his head in shame, "Yes, alpha, sir."  He said sheepishly, before slithering off.

"All right," said Sephiroth, "You shall go Saix, and-"

"Me," said Riku. "Let me be the one to go."

Xemnas shook his head, "Riku, I'm afraid I do not think you'd be the best choice. Perhaps Marluxia, my little brother; he is one of our finest hunters."

Sephiroth nodded. "It's settled then. We'll let them have tomorrow to plan, and then they'll leave at dawn the following day."

Riku nodded, showing no emotion outwardly, but inside he was screaming. Sephiroth said he'd forgiven him. He understood the plan; he knew why it was important to take Sora alive. Why were they treating him like an idiot? Why didn't anyone think he was capable?

Oh, he'd prove that he was, and give Sora the payback he deserved all at once. They were leaving the day after tomorrow. Riku would slip away this very night_ and lay in wait for Sora while they were still planning. He'd make Sephiroth proud, and no one would doubt his ability or his loyalty ever again.
  
As for Sora, Riku would bring him back, one way or another. Then there would be battle to prepare for, and an execution to enjoy.
And Sephiroth gives Riku his come to the dark side speech, well not really, but effect is similar.
© 2009 - 2024 CameoAmalthea
Comments15
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
DR4WNOUT's avatar
Oh god. I hope Roxas runs away or gets saved at the last minute by Axel. And Sora, I hope he and Riku get things sorted out and become friends again.... unless of course you're evil, and everyone dies. then I actually might hate you. XD Jks. But I WILL be upset. I hope everything works out. How's "Passing On" coming?