He knows how good Xehanort - in any form - is at sinking his claws into a person's vulnerabilities and doubts, at prying open the cracks of their insecurities and coaxing them to give in to their darker impulses. He hurts and he hurts, he manipulates, and Riku thinks he was only able to retain his stubborn will against the poison Maleficent and Ansem dripped into his ears and heart because he had his whole young life up until then to build up his sense of self.

Vanitas has only had this desert and this despicable old man who regards him like a neglected dog. It's painful to watch. Worse to think that Sora might have been the first and only kindness he'd ever known, until he was taken from them - no, until Sora chose to go, for the sake of who was taken from him.

"Kch!"

There's no getting through without a fight, huh.

Vanitas is slow, made clumsy by pain and exhaustion, but the murderous intent ripples off of him like a heat mirage. He's still dangerous. And hurt, perhaps more badly than it appears. Rather than meet his heavy swing head-on, Riku decides on another tactic. A one-handed backspring sends Riku backing out of the way.

"Vanitas, you don't have to do this!" He's counting on him coming at him again, pressing the attack, and Riku will keep dancing out of the way, trying to wear him down.

"Xehanort's gone, he lost! He's just a nightmare!"