Asura: After much deliberation, I have decided to make an alternate ending for this story. Don't be so amazed. I've put a lot of thought into this and have read my reviews for this story over and over, and I realize that a lot of people weren't happy with the ending of this story. So, for the hell of it, I'm going make an alternate ending. Yay!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, nor do I even own my sanity. Now that that's been clarified… Let's get on with it!

Alternate Ending: The Ashes of Time

By: Asura Mori

Three months had passed since he'd last been on this island, but to Riku it seemed it had been an eternity. Everything had changed, even the sea and the sand seemed different to him, more pure and brighter than ever before. He couldn't stare at anything too long without his eyes hurting, but for some reason he couldn't stop looking out to the sea. The sea was what had started this whole adventure, this whole affair with "other worlds," but now, it was finally over... or was it?

He looked away from the sea, his aquamarine eyes closed in silent thought. Was it all really over? That kind of thinking had led to the last event with Ansem, drawing him back into the world of darkness. He opened his eyes, glaring out at the sea. He knew it wasn't the sea's fault, but still, he needed something to blame, something to make him feel more... satisfied with what he'd done. But nothing could soothe the ache in his heart, the one that occasionally called out to a man who was only a dream now.

Why do you insist that it was only a dream, Riku? He heard his voice often now, sometimes even a caress or two, but when he would turn, there would only be the wind. He turned now, knowing he was only hurting himself even more. But that's half the fun, Riku. You never know what might happen. His eyes widened as they fixated on the ghostly image of the man.

"Stay where you belong, Ansem." Riku whispered, his heart breaking and tears forming in his eyes, "Stay in my memories and let me be." You called me and so, I remain, not yet dead, but yet... not alive. What do you want, Riku, my dear slave? "I take no pleasure in your death, nor in the fact that I am the one who had to kill you. Leave me in peace, wraith." Riku looked away from the silver-haired man, trying not to look into those golden orbs. He didn't need to fall into that trap again, let alone put himself in that position again.

But, you can't forget. You can't forget all those nights we spent together, me warming your bed. Riku could hear Ansem chuckling and turned to regard the dead man's ghost, his eyes searching for the truth in that golden gaze. "You knew that I wouldn't stay with you." Riku said sadly, his eyes level with Ansem's, "You knew that I could never return your love, and yet you still tried... why? Did you really...?"

Ansem looked at him, his eyes kind for once. Whether you choose to deceive yourself is your own choice, my Riku. But... Ansem shook his head, a sad smile on his face. You can never change what is fact. I did truly love you... but now... you will never truly know that. Riku watched as the older man's image faded away, but he could tell that Ansem was still there. "No... I can't forget... nor can I deny you... So what am I supposed to do?" Riku screamed into the fading sunlight, "Am I supposed to allow you to haunt my every waking thought? Am I supposed to accept that you're finally gone? That I can finally, truly, live my life? I can't accept that!"

What you want isn't always what you get, Riku. You can't change the fact that I love you, or that you, somewhere deep in your heart, also love me. But... we could rectify that situation. Ansem was whispering now, his cool touch flitting across Riku's bear mid-drift. Riku shivered, leaning into the touch as he felt Ansem's mouth against his ear. But that was impossible... Ansem was dead... wasn't he?

I don't have to be dead, Riku. You could bring me back and we could be one again. We could learn to love each other... we could even become lovers. No master... no slave... Equal lovers... All you have to do... is want me to come back. Riku didn't answer, only walked away from the man, his eyes focusing on the sea. "As long as I want you back..." He turned to regard Ansem, his eyes lacking any and all emotion. Ansem nodded, a small smirk on his face.

Riku smiled and shook his head, his eyes laughing at Ansem silently. "What kind of fool do you think I am?" Riku's eyes hardened, making the ghostly man step back. "Get out of my head and go back to where you came from, Ansem. Stay in the Hell you created for yourself. I will not drown along side you." Riku whispered, his eyes brimming with tears, "Fade into the darkness you covet so much. I choose to be without you, even though you hold a piece of my heart. Leave me, incubus, for I will not relinquish my soul to you."

Ansem only smiled at Riku as his body started to fade away. As you wish, Riku. But remember, I will be waiting for you, for when you call for me again. I will wait for you... in Hell.

Riku sat on the ground hard as Ansem disappeared completely, wrapping his arms around himself as he started to cry. No, he couldn't go into the darkness again, or else he would never come out again. The tears rolled down his face, but he refused to voice his sadness, instead allowing his body to shudder with every dry sob.

"Riku..." he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder, but didn't lift his head. He wiped the tears away before looking at his guest. He cracked a smile at his friend, his eyes still red. "Hey... don't ever ask me to fake your death again... Sora."

Sora smiled down at his friend, extending his hand out to Riku. "Come on." he grinned, "Kairi's waiting for us back home." Riku stood without his friend's help, scoffing, "I could care less." Sora smiled at his friend and grabbed Riku's hand. "Did you finally make peace with him?" Sora asked, gripping Riku's hand tightly. Riku looked down at their enclosed hands, then smiled. "Yeah... he's finally gone. I can finally rest." Sora grinned wickedly as his friend.

"Not just yet." Riku laughed, tearing his hand away from Sora's and running ahead. "Who said we were going to do that? You'll have to catch me first." Riku laughed again before dashing down to the docks, with Sora chasing after him.

One Year Later…

Riku stared out at the same ocean as before, his aquamarine eyes glowing in the fading light. Next to him stood Sora, their hands clasped tightly together. Both had gotten taller, though Riku know towered over the brunette, but neither really seemed to care. A lot had happened in the last year, though it had mostly consisted of the extermination of the last of the Heartless and Nobodies. And now, finally, it was all over.

Finally, they could resume their lives.

Sora glanced over at his companion, who was regarding the sea with quiet interest. He couldn't help but wonder if Riku was thinking of Ansem right this minute. The thought invoked his jealousy, though he did well to hide it…

"Riku, what are you thinking about?" Or not. Riku turned to look at his lover, a half-smile on his lips. "The sea. It's changed so much since the last time I was here." He closed his eyes, that weird half-smile still on his face. "The feeling of regret and guilt that used to permeate from here has all but faded."

"Regret? Riku?" Sora was confused, but that was okay. Riku patted the brunette's head affectionately, his aquamarine eyes shining with amusement. "It's all right, Sora. There is no place within my heart for that man anymore. He is finally gone." Then his tone turned teasing, "Why, are you jealous? Of a dead man?"

"Of course not!" Sora pouted prettily, making Riku laugh. The brunette was so easy to tease. He pulled his friend close, feeling Sora melt against him easily. Really, the Keyblade Master was exactly like a cat sometimes! So easy to please, unlike others he knew. "Sora, you do know I love only you now, right?" He whispered, holding the other male tightly.

Sora nodded against the silver-haired male's chest, tickling Riku's chin with his spiky hair. "I know that Riku, but… sometimes it feels like you're going to go away again. Like something is trying to take you away from me." He confided, feeling suddenly shy. Riku glanced down at the brunette, his face unreadable. Then he relaxed, letting out a small laugh. "Go away again? Why would I? I'm happy here, with you."

The Keyblade Master snuggled up against Riku, though his thoughts were still troubled. Even though he felt reassured by Riku's statement, the feeling still remained that something was about to happen… something that would take Riku away from him…

0-0-0-0-0-0

Their love-making that night was quick and had no feeling in it. Riku seemed distracted, not really paying attention to what he was doing. More than once Sora whimpered in pain, breaking the silver-haired male out of his trance for a little while, but then he would slowly revert back to his dazed state.

Finally Sora got tired of it. "Riku, what's wrong? You've been silent all night." Riku blinked, coming out of his trance once again. "What?" Then he sighed. "I'm sorry Sora. I'm just… distracted. A lot's been going on lately and it seems like we've been running around exterminating Heartless and Nobodies for the majority of our lives. I just can't believe that we got them all… and that our job is now over…"

Sora blinked, then looked at Riku with an odd expression. "That's what's bugging you? The lack of a job? Riku," here he grabbed Riku's chin, forcing the other male to look at him, "we're finally done. We can resume our normal lives and continue on as we should have. Never again will we have to watch our backs at night, waiting for some Heartless to sneak up and attack us. Like you said earlier, we are finally free."

Riku smiled, his eyes sad. "But that won't stop the nightmares, nor will it bring back all the people who were lost during that time period. You know they haunt me, as if they blame me for their deaths. As well they should. At one point I was the one who brought about their demises. Why shouldn't they haunt me?"

But Sora wouldn't hear of it. "No. You've done your job, atoned for what you did. Out of all of us, you had the heaviest cross to bear. You accepted the darkness, cast it aside, and then took it up again to help your friends. You fought from the inside to help us all. You have done enough. Let your ghosts rest in piece."

The silver-haired teen smiled serenely, ruffling his younger lover's spiky hair. "Your heart is kind, Sora. And so pure…" He kissed the brunette's head and laid his head on Sora's shoulder, the smile still on his face. "Even with the whole world against me, I know that you will always be there to catch me when I fall… I swear, sometimes you're just too good for me."

"Riku…" Sora hugged his boyfriend to him, tears streaming down his face for no reason that he could name. He held his friend and lover, wishing only that he could take away all of the older teen's pain.

And that's when he knew… it wasn't a person that was taking Riku away from him. It was guilt. Guilt was tearing away at the silver-haired teen's soul, forcing him further and further away from Sora. He held his dearest friend close, muttering softly into Riku's soft mane of silver. "It was never your fault, Riku… never…"

"… So please… don't leave me…ever again… please… Riku."

The (Alternate) End…

Asura: (sighs) It seems like I can't come up with nothing but sad endings these days. But at least Riku and Sora are together in this one. As we all know, the two of them together can fix anything, so I have no doubts as to how their relationship will proceed from here. Unfortunately, this is where the story ends. If you want a happy ending, then you'll have to insert it yourself. :D (Which many of you could probably do a better job at that than I.)

So, I will leave the ending up to your interpretation. That way, we all have a little fun with it. My personally belief: Riku stops blaming himself for everything that happened and him and Sora resume their lives… as friends and lovers. :D Thank you all for reading this story and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did writing it.

Thank you all.

-Asura Mori