Author's Note: I live! I know, right? It's been a really long time since I've even looked at a fan-fiction site. I'm sure you can all guess from the subject that my current obsession is Kingdom Hearts. That's right, baby – Zoë got a PS2! So now she can die peacefully in her room after playing Kingdom Hearts 2… siiighhhh.

Anywho, this story is my brainchild that I've been thinking about for a long time. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was one of the best games I played on a handheld, and I have to say that I loved the NaminexSora pairing that was happening for a little while. This, my friends, is an alternate ending that I thought up, taking place after Marluxia orders Namine to erase Sora's memory.

p.s. – There are major spoilers for Chain of Memories and some hints at the very little I know about Kingdom Hearts 2. Read at your own risk.

p.p.s. – No matter how hard I wish, I am not Tetsuya Nomura and nor do I own Kingdom Hearts or any of it's characters. All of them are copywritted to Square-Enix.

p.p.p.s - (1/24/06) Added more quotes and memories for length.

Prologue.

He gasped, his head becoming heavy. Wide sapphire eyes gazed blankly into sad, amethyst ones. Her expression has hardly faltered upon the man's order – it had remained grief-stricken as she did what she was told. He could hear his friends behind him, crying his name. As his head sunk into his hands, he swore he saw Marluxia move passed him and towards Donald and Goofy.

"Don't do this, Sora!" Goofy was yelling, before there was a clank of metal meeting metal. He could hardly hear him, the brunette concentrating to hard on the ache inside his head. They were like little feathers in the wind, slipping away just out of his grasp. They lingered there on the edge of his mind for a while, just before another one came to push it out of the way. Behind him, Sora could hear Donald summoning Firega with no avail.

Look as hard as you are able; you'll not find even the smallest glimmer of light. From those dark depths are all hearts born... even yours…

"Please… don't hurt them…" Sora whispered, but his mind was too distracted with the rapidly disappearing memories. His palms pressed harder against his head, but the ache only grew.

You have come this far and still you understand nothing.

He could feel her near him. Through the spaces in his fingers he could see her take a step forward.

So, I shall release you now, Princess. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!

Donald was yelling again as little wisps of air passed through the room. She looked up to see the blossom pedals, flying through the air. Goofy was standing tall, reflecting the attack with his shield. Donald was behind his legs, and began to attack once more as Marluxia's attack stopped.

Forget it! There's no way you're taking Kairi's heart!

Kairi…? Her name… was so…

A puppet that lost its heart to the heartless.

The word slipped from his mind, along with the memory. His breathing became irregular and loud, fear taking hold of him. Still, he refused to regret his actions. He did it to save Donald and Goofy, to save Riku, to save her.

I'm thinking about what to think about.

He threatened to hurt her if she didn't do it, and he couldn't live with himself if anything was to happen to her.

Two words, you guys ain't heroes.

"I'll always have your promise." He whispered, catching her attention. The memories seemed to hang for a while, as if the process had stopped. "I'll never break it."

Right, my friends! There's two of 'em. The loud one is Dona...

"I promise." He finished, his legs collapsing under him. He shuttered, a shiver running down his spine. Everything was disappearing; every memory collected through his lifetime, every person he knew, everything he ever learned. It was all fading… Who was yelling his name?

You know what? Never mind. I'm looking for my friends, Riku and…

"I know." The reply came in a sweet, angelic voice. She kneeled down before him. Through the cracks in his fingers, he could barely make out her face. Her purple eyes were staring at the space between them, sliver tears welling up in them. With gentle hands, she held onto his.

There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance.

The night this all started… It was gone. The keyblade was an empty blank deep inside the boy's mind, as well as the island he loved so dear. Wakka, Selphie, Tidus…

If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one?

"This will be over soon." She was whispering, letting the tear free. Blonde strands fell over her eyes, blocking her puffy eyes from any view. He could hardly hear her, as the last of his memories escaped. His vision blurred and darkened, and the warmth of her hands was leaving him. He was slumping. Someone was crying. Someone was calling his name.

"Sora! No!"

Their destinies become intertwined.

"I'm sorry..."

They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what.

There was nothing...

Riku…

He was already lost.