Riku

Riku is the best friend of Sora, the main character of Kingdom Hearts. His name means 'land'. He is voiced by David Gallagher in the English versions and by Mamoru Miyano.

Kingdom Hearts
As revealed in Kingdom Hearts, Riku's story begins a number of years before the fateful night on Destiny Islands. One fateful night, there is a meteor shower and a mysterious girl, who would later become best friends with Riku and Sora appears on the islands. The next day, Riku and Sora go to the secret place. Sora finds it fascinating, but soon decides to take his leave. However, Riku catches sight of an enigmatic door. From this day on Riku became obsessed with finding out what lies beyond his tiny world. When he met Kairi, his fate was sealed.

When the first game begins, Riku appears as a cool and collected 15-year old, a year above his best friends Sora and Kairi, living on the Destiny Islands. The three spend their days constructing a raft and gathering supplies, so that one day they can set out and find other world. Also, Sora and Riku share a rivalry, competing over who is stronger in battle as well as over Kairi's affections, among other things. All three of them, as well as the other children that live in the archipelago, spend most of their time on the smallest island, acting as their own personal playground.

However, things take a drastic turn on the night before their journey. Riku, likely unable to leave the islands without knowing the truth, opens the door in the secret place and the Heartless, beings of darkness, invade the islands, seeking out the world's heart. Riku and Kairi are already on the play island, and Sora quickly follows. Sora finds Riku first, and asks about Kairi's whereabouts. Riku is not too concerned, as he says that Kairi is "coming with (them)", to other worlds, and that there is no turning back once they leave. It is evident that Riku has been seduced by the darkness, and it begins to surround him and Sora. Sora, however, refuses the darkness, but nonetheless tries to reach Riku. He fails, and Riku vanishes into the darkness, while Sora gains the Keyblade back on the island.

Riku eventually ends up in Hollow Bastion, separated from his friends. However, Maleficent arrives and offers him sanctuary.

Though Riku is provided a place to stay, Maleficent begins corrupting his mind, convincing him that Sora has replaced him and Kairi with Donald and Goofy. She claims that the only way to save Kairi, who has lost her heart to the darkness, is to go with her and her band of Disney villains, while abandoning Sora. After reuniting with Sora in Traverse Town, Riku agrees with Maleficent and goes with her.

As the days progress, Riku becomes increasingly dark, and gains a weapon called the Soul Eater, as well as gaining some dark powers.

With his mind corrupted, Riku again meets Sora in Monstro, intending to use Pinnochio to help him find out a way to save Kairi's heart. However, Pinnochio ends up captured by a giant Heartless called the Parasite Cage, forcing Sora and Riku to work together. But even so, Sora and Riku end up becoming enemies, though only Riku truly thinks so.

Riku later appears at Neverland, traveling on Captain Hook's, where Kairi's body is held. Riku also happens to gain the power to control the Heartless, granted to him by Maleficent. He then goes to Sora, revealing Kairi to him, and blaming him for not taking more action. Sora argues that Riku is being foolish, for staying with the Heartless too long will only lead to his downfall. Riku shrugs Sora's claims off, believing his heart to be too strong for the Heartless. He proceeds to form Anti-Sora, a dark reflection of Sora formed from his shadow, to demonstrate the powers of darkness granted to him. He then makes his leave, but not before instructing Captain Hook that the captured Wendy is not a Princess of Heart. Riku takes Kairi and recklessly returns to Maleficent's castle without a vessel, a foolish act that strains even his powerful heart. While he is drained from the trip, Maleficent unlocks the last of Riku's power and the boy is plunged into the darkness of his heart.

At Hollow Bastion, Riku faces off against the Beast. Though Beast is valiant, Riku defeats and wounds the Beast with ease. But before Beast is eliminated, Sora intervenes. This time, however, Riku does something shocking: he calls the Keyblade from Sora and to his own hands. Riku explains that the Keyblade had never chosen Sora--he was only a temporary recipient, and Riku is the real chosen one. Riku then tosses Sora a wooden toy sword mockingly, and leaves, Donald and Goofy going with him as per King Mickey's orders, though regretfully.

Though Sora is significantly weakened, he makes his way to the foyer of the castle, with the help of Beast. Riku, having taken on a new appearance with the increasing strength of his dark powers, tells him to quit, but Sora refuses to leave without Kairi. Riku tells Sora that the darkness will consume him, but Sora claims that the darkness can never touch his heart. But Riku intends to prove his side of the argument, and launches an orb of darkness at Sora. However, Goofy intervenes and blocks the attack, and he and Donald return to Sora. Sora proclaims that his heart is strong thanks to all his friends. The bond between Sora and his friends empowers his heart while Riku's careless decision to attack his friend simultaneously weakens his and the Keyblade, always drawn to the strongest purest heart, returns to Sora. The two then fight, but Riku is driven off.

Riku doesn't understand why the Keyblade went to Sora, but a mysterious figure, who appeared to Sora at the beginning of the game, explains that Sora's heart became stronger than Riku's, allowing him to regain the Keyblade. However, though Riku lost that battle, the mysterious figure tells Riku that he can grow even stronger, if he submits to the darkness. Riku does so, but ends up possessed by Xehanort's Heartless, claiming to be Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.

Xehanort's Heartless then arrives to Maleficent, who has just been defeated by Sora. In his possession is a new, dark Keyblade created with six of the seven princesses of heart. But unlike Sora's Keyblade, this Keyblade possesses the ability to unlock a person's heart, and demonstrates by piercing Maleficent's, allowing the immense darkness that is attracted to her to overtake her heart, transforming her into a giant dragon.

Later, Xehanort's Heartless waits for Sora at the location of Hollow Bastion's keyhole. Kairi's body also rests nearby. Sora confronts him, though he is separated from Donald and Goofy. Xehanort's Heartless reveals to Sora that Kairi's heart has been in Sora's heart all along, and that she is the seventh princess of heart required to unlock the way to Kingdom Hearts. And in order to release her heart, he intends to go through Sora's. But Sora is not willing, and fights back. His strength drives off Xehanort's Heartless, who leaves behind the dark Keyblade. Sora then sacrifices himself by impaling himself with the Keyblade, restoring Kairi. However, with Sora gone, Kairi is left with Donald and Goofy, who are not powerful enough to confront Xehanort's Heartless. At this point, Xehanort's Heartless has taken on his own appearance while still occupying Riku's body. Before Xehanort's Heartless can attack though, Riku appears, using the last of his strength to hold Xehanort's Heartless back. Kairi and the others then make their escape. Xehanort's Heartless is not deterred, and simply heads towards Kingdom Hearts.

Riku's heart is also driven out of his body, leaving Xehanort's Heartless to completely take control. However, as Riku heads towards Kingdom Hearts, he ends up meeting King Mickey, who has gained the Keyblade of the Realm of Darkness



A newly restored Sora and Donald and Goofy then make their way to the End of the World, confronting Xehanort's Heartless and defeating him at the Door to Darkness. Riku is then restored, and appears on the other side of the Door to Darkness, aiding Sora in closing it, but unable to cross it, as only pure darkness can go back and forth through the door. In addition, their efforts to close the door aren't making progress, while countless Heartless are waiting to enter the Realm of Light. But King Mickey wards them off, and with his Keyblade and Sora's, they are able to seal the door. But before it is closed, Riku tells Sora to take care of Kairi.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Riku eventually wakes in a place of nothingness and as a dark card presents itself. A disembodied voice tells him that he is in a state of "sleep" and he is protected from the dangers of the outside world. And if he takes the card, he will take his first step towards the truth, but he won't be protected anymore if it is more then he can handle. Riku confidently takes it. He wakes up in what is supposedly Hollow Bastion, but the Voice tells him that what he sees is from his memories (similar to what Sora is going through). Riku asks if he will meet the people from his memories too, but all the voice says is "ordinarily...yes.". He makes his way to the bedroom he was given by Maleficent while he was allied with her. The Voice drly comments on how he cast away his home and friends, but at least he was given a nice room.

Riku finally angrily asks where the people from his memories are, but the Voice only tells him if he is sure he wants to see them. The Voice reminds Riku that he cast away all his loved ones in the pursuit of darkness, and he eventually threw that away too. The Voice says the only thing his heart knows is throwing things away, and that is why he's all alone in the castle. The Voice tells him the only thing he couldn't shake off was the darkness, and when Riku says he threw that away too, The Voice asks "Ha ha ha...Did you really now?"

Riku finally meets someone: Maleficent. She tells him that his heart is steeped in darkness, and he can only meet people like him, people of darkness. She tells him to be grateful: if not for the darkness, he would be completely alone. Riku tells her that there was a time he wanted darkness, but all he did was empty himself. If he meets more people of darkness, he'll take them out one by one. Maleficent then reminds him to take himself out last then, and they fight.

Riku leaves Hollow Bastion, only to see that he is in Castle Oblivion. and the Voice asks him why he rejects the darkness. Suddenly the voice changes and tells him that he must accept darkness if he is to become his slave again. The source of the Voice supposedly introduces himself: "Ansem", in truth being Xehanort's Heartless. He commands Riku to bow to him and become his host just like before. However, a small light appears to help Riku, the first friend to reveal himself: King Mickey. He tells him that the light will never give up on him, but he has to believe. Rejuvenated, Riku and Ansem fight. Giving up for the moment, Ansem tells him that it's useless to resist, chasing the light will not distance him from the dark. He gives him more cards crafted from his memory and enhances his dark powers, and says whether or not he uses them is up to him.

Riku continues up through the basements of Castle Oblivion, noticing a strange scent. He realizes that he has the ability to detect the "smell" of darkness. King Mickey also appears, but only as a projection, for he is still in the Realm of Darkness. Meanwhile, as Riku travels through the lower levels of Castle Oblivion, Sora ascends the upper floors, being manipulated by Marluxia, a member of the mysterious Organization XIII and the lord of Castle Oblivion. But three other Organization members, Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion work to counter Marluxia by using the dark-wielding Riku against the light-wielding Sora.

To further the trio's goals, Vexen independently appears before Riku and Riku wonders if Vexen is with Xehanort's Heartless. But Vexen cryptically responds that he is not allied with the "Ansem" Riku has come to known. Riku angrily tells him that he is still his enemy for making the castle so full of darkness and they fight. Vexen gives up, but tells him that he got the "data" he needed anyway. Later on, Riku meets himself-- a "Riku Replica". The replica tells him that they are exactly the same, the only difference is that the replica "isn't afraid of anything" as he uses the darkness that Riku is terrified of. The two fight, and Riku wins, though he is incapable of finishing off the replica. The replica wonders how Riku can be terrified of something so thrilling as darkness and says that the next time they fight, he won't be so lucky.

Soon, Xehanort's Heartless appears again and tells him that the replica is more of a model, a model of what Riku should be. He accepts the darkness just like he should. Riku tells him that he isn't afraid of darkness, but Ansem says otherwise, Riku fights the darkness because he's afraid of it. Laughing, He allows him to continue.

Passing through much of the castle (the bulk of Sora's story is complete, and Larxene and Vexen are dead) Riku finds Lexaeus and, like the others, tells him that he should accept the darkness again, because if he doesn't, his journey will end here. The two fight, and Riku barely finishes the mighty brute. As a last move, Lexaeus covers the room in darkness as "Ansem" moves in to take his heart. Mickey saves him again and manages to bring him out.

Riku comes closer to the ground level, just as Marluxia's scheme fails and Sora finishes him off. Riku senses Marluxia's defeat, and Zexion quickly arrives on the scene to explain it. But he also reveals that Sora is the one who did the deed, much to Riku's surprise. Zexion quickly asks if Riku is capable of seeing Sora, for Riku shouldered the darkness for so long, and Xehanort's Heartless still resides in his heart. Riku tries to resist Zexion's comments, but Zexion ultimately gives him a world card...of Destiny Islands. Riku enters.

There, Riku meets all of his friends, but they are all silent and they eventually disappear, even Kairi. Zexion throws all of Riku's fears at him at once, telling him he's responsible for causing them to disappear, and that he belongs to the darkness now. He finally transforms an illusion of him into a Darkside Heartless, telling him this is what he has becom. Riku beats back the Heartless as Zexion disguises himself as Sora. He tells him that it's finally time to face the light.

Riku sinks into the light as he begins fade, but Kairi appears and tells him that he can't. Light can't beat him, neither can darkness, so he should accept both, then he won't be afraid anymore. He awakens his dark power again, admitting that it's a part of him and not evil, beating back Zexion. He disappears, but is quickly killed by the Riku Replica with Axel.

Riku nearly makes it to the main floor as Xehanort's Heartless appears to control him, but King Mickey beats him back again and finally appears for real. Riku is relieved at finally having a real friend with him. Mickey explains that he found a card which showed him Riku's heart and he followed it back to him. Riku uses the card, and ends up in Twilight Town. Xehanort's Heartless appears again, but Riku tells him that he's not "Ansem", because his scent is not darkness--it is something else. Riku also sees that this man is the Voice that presented itself at the beginning of his journey. The Voice finally introduces himself as DiZ. Riku asks him what he really wants from him, and DiZ tells him he wants him to choose between Light and Darkness, because he lies in-between. The decision will be decided with Naminé, who Riku looks for. However, the Riku Replica finds him first, and powers up. The replica intends to kill Riku in order to become real, but fails. However, Riku comforts him by saying that the replica's heart will go to the same place as the real one's, before the replica vanishes out of existence.

Riku meets up with Naminé. who is with Sora in his memory cell. She explains everything that has happened. She tells him that Xehanort's Heartless is still in his heart and will soon overpower him. Before that happens, she offers to lock the darkness inside him, but he will sleep and lose his memories of the darkness. Riku tells her that, on the island, Sora would always leave him with all the work but he can't tell him off if he is sleeping. He rejects her offer and says he'd rather defeat Xehanort's Heartless once and for all. Naminé says that was the answer she was hoping for, because the only one who can make a difference is him. Riku departs, but not before seeing that Naminé was the "Kairi" who had appeared to him earlier. Riku then meets DiZ, who gives him a card that will draw out Ansem. Riku says that if he fails, Mickey must destroy him because Ansem will possess him. King Mickey refuses because he promised he would always help him, and Riku concedes to the king's desire.

Riku faces Ansem for one final battle alone. Ansem asks why he still refuses him if he accepts darkness now, but Riku merely says "you really just stink". They fight and the last of Xehanort's Heartless is destroyed, but not before he says a part of him is still in Riku, and he shall return.

Riku and Mickey wait at the front entrance. Riku tells him that he can't go home yet as "Ansem's" shadow still lingers in him, but Mickey says the darkness is a part of him. Darkness is not all bad, because Riku has a chosen a road he never thought of before, one of both Light AND Darkness. They leave, taking Organization cloaks to use as disguises, and DiZ appears for one final question: if he shall take the "road to light" or the "road to darkness". Riku chooses neither, he'll take the middle road, "The Road to Dawn".

Kingdom Hearts II: Roxas' story
Riku and King Mickey eventually make it out of the plains and separate. By a certain point, Riku dons a blindfold, for "his eyes couldn't lie" about his darkness. He allies himself with DiZ, as they have a common goal: to help Sora awaken (though Riku finds his memories of Sora fading, being a side-effect of Naminé's toying with Sora's memories). Riku wants no part in DiZ's revenge. Nonetheless, DiZ asks Riku to kidnap Roxas, the Nobody of Sora, who has been having trouble regaining his memories. If he and Roxas join, Sora should be able to reawaken.

Riku enters the Realm of Darkness, and corners Roxas in The World That Never Was, but loses. Riku then realizes if he is to win in the Realm of Darkness, he must submerse himself in the same darkness. Riku then confronts Roxas one more time, and unleashes his darkness, taking on the form of Xehanort's Heartless as a side effect. Riku defeats Roxas, and returns him to DiZ's base underneath the abandoned mansion in Twilight Town, introducing himself as Ansem.

Roxas' memory is erased by DiZ and he is placed into a digital Twilight Town, to live out his days until the time comes for him to meet Sora. Meanwhile, Riku watches over Roxas, periodically entering the town in order to keep Roxas ignorant to the truth, including keeping Naminé from saying anything important to Roxas. He also takes some keepsakes of Roxas' during some of his visits.

Eventually, when the time comes for Roxas, Riku makes sure to protect the Nobodies from flooding the town. Soon, the goal Riku had been searching for is finally reached: Roxas joins with Sora.



Kingdom Hearts II: Sora's Story
Riku, after Roxas joins with Sora, comes into contact with King Mickey. Riku begs King Mickey not to reveal his whereabouts and condition to Sora, and the King reluctantly agrees. He then leaves the King the digital versions of Olette's munny pouch and Roxas' crystal orb that he had pilfered from Roxas earlier.

Later, a renegade member of Organization XIII, Axel, and the best friend of Roxas, tries to kidnap Kairi in an attempt to use her to turn Sora into a Heartless. However, Riku rescues Kairi, and takes her to Twilight Town, where she meets Hayner, Pence, and Olette, but never reveals his identity. However, Axel again appears, but another member of Organization XIII, Saїx, manages to kidnap Kairi, with the intent to use her to fuel Sora's rage.

At the battle for Hollow Bastion, Sora, Donald, and Goofy end up in an empty realm, where Riku arrives. He says nothing to them, and only leaves the trio a box that contains sea-salt ice cream and a picture of Roxas, Hayner, Pence, and Olette in front of the haunted mansion.

Riku also arrives at the Land of Dragons, trying to warn the Emperor of a Heartless dragon that Xigbar created. But he ends up meeting Sora, and Sora attacks him, thinking Riku to be an Organization member. However, Sora sees that Riku is wielding the Soul Eater, and begins to suspect Riku's identity. But Riku still goes ahead with his mission, and warns the Emperor (but had to defeat Captain Shang in order to do so). When Sora talks to the Emperor, the wise ruler's description of the man further cemented Sora's idea that the man he fought was Riku.

Riku later appears in the World That Never Was, after Naminé rescues Kairi. The two are faced against Saїx, but Riku quickly comes to the rescue, his Soul Eater having now transformed into a Keyblade called The Way to the Dawn. Naminé calls Riku by name, and disappears. Kairi, excited to see Riku, removes his hood, but is met with the face of Xehanort's Heartless. She takes it in stride, seeing the true Riku underneath his current form.

Kairi later is attacked by Heartless on her way to see Sora, being saved by Riku. He then gives Kairi a mysterious Keyblade so that she may fight. And after Sora defeats Xigbar, he and Kairi reunite. Riku tries to take his leave, but Kairi stops him. She then reveals Riku's identity, and with some concentration, Sora also sees Riku underneath his dark appearance, and is overjoyed. Riku explains that he did not want to be found, thanks to his appearance, and tried to covertly leave Sora several clues for him to follow--the ice cream and photo, instead. Still, he and the others make their way up the castle, defeating the remaining Organization members save for Xemnas.

Near the top, Riku reunites with King Mickey and DiZ, his true name being Ansem the Wise, who is using a machine to try and encode Kingdom Hearts into data. Xemnas also arrives, and he and Ansem the Wise trade bitter words. The machine then explodes, unable to handle Kingdom Hearts, killing Ansem the Wise while causing countless hearts Xemnas had collected into Kingdom Hearts to rain down on the world, becoming Heartless. The explosion also restores Riku to his original form, though he is still remorseful. After some encouragement, Riku transcends the rest of the castle, abandoning his cloak and blindfold. He and the others also encounter Maleficent and Pete, who decide to hold off the hordes of Heartless that are overtaking the castle, but only so that they will eventually take the castle for their own.

Riku and the others then confront Xemnas, refusing his demand to gather more hearts. Xemnas then removes Sora from the area, fighting him one and one, with everyone else calling out to him. When Sora returns, they see that Xemnas has already reached Kingdom Hearts, and disappears into it. A door, constructed by the will of the worlds, appears, and the three wielders of the Keyblade open it up and follow Xemnas. After a tough battle, Naminé appears again, opening up a corridor of darkness that leads to Destiny Islands, as Riku can no longer use them. However, Xemnas attacks, riding on a gigantic robotic dragon, and separates Sora and Riku from the others. After an exhausting battle, the duo vanquish Xemnas, and end up in the Realm of Darkness. Having the time to finally talk, the two reconcile with each other. Riku then comes across a letter in a bottle, written by Kairi, and gives it to Sora, believing him to be the proper recipient. Sora then manages to open the Door to Light, as King Mickey predicted, and the two return home, reuniting with their friends.

Some time later, Sora, Riku, and Kairi recieve a letter from the King. The contents are a mystery.