A/N: I'm just filling my profile with stories related to Kristen Verne KH Universe, aren't I? Don't worry, this'll definitely be the last one...at least for a long while. This won't be a oneshot though. I'm planning on this one being four to five chapters long, maybe one or two more if I get a dose of inspiration. And much like with Incomprehensible Feelings this story is related to Sasuke Kazekiri, but he's not directly involved. You'll see what I mean.

I also want to thank Kris for her input on one of the conversations in this chapter.

Hachiro, Mariko, and Hanako (c) to Kristen Verne

Yamato (c) to me

Kingdom Hearts (c) to Disney and Square Enix

Orphan Thief

On the streets of Radiant Garden, a couple citizens ran through chasing someone. Unfortunately, the seem to have lost sight of them.

"Where did that thief go!?"

"He got away again. How does he always do that?"

"Ugh! Why are those useless guards never around when you need them?"

"Heck if I know!"

The two then left the area, and when they did, a fifteen-year-old boy in a dark torn cloak stepped out of the shadows, carrying a melon in his arms. After checking to see if the coast was clear, he quickly dashed to his camp. He snuck around until he hopped off a bridge and onto a platform next to a canal of running water. He then quickly ran under the bridge where a large piece of torn cloth cover a hole in the wall. It wasn't much, but it was his home, and lucky for him no one was smart enough to look for him there.

He then removed the hood of his cloak, revealing his messy black hair and blue eyes. He sat down as the sun was setting, pulled out his kitchen knife, and started chopping the melon he stole. He sighed. He's not particularly proud of this lifestyle of thievery, but what choice did he have? No one in town would lift a finger to help him. The royals wouldn't even fund a good orphanage. But after living like this for five years now, he had gotten use to it.

After chopping the melon into edible piece, he started eating as he silently cursed his situation. He despised how this town was being run. The royals clearly didn't put any priority on helping its citizens. The people payed their taxes and helped provide for the kingdom, and got no appreciation for it. Queen Hanako has built a reputation as a ruthless ruler, seeing her subjects as beneath her, the common folk as diseased vermin. And meanwhile, the guard seem more concerned about their lady and her sons than they are of the citizens. Whenever a fight occurs between citizens, they did nothing to defuse the situation, whether because they thought it wasn't worth their time or that it wasn't their job(like the idiots they are), or in some cases they arrest both parties on the spot without hearing the full story, just for making too much of a racket. How petty could they get? It disgusted the boy that this town was being run by idiots who show no respect for civilians. (1)

With how much he despised the royals along with his thieving lifestyle, one would think he'd make for a good contender for an Insurgos rebel. Except the boy actually hated the Insurgos more than he did the royals. Their extreme methods disgusted him. They were willing to hurt innocent folks just to send their message to the royals and strip them of their rule. They didn't care who stood in their way. If they perceived you as helping the royals in some way, you were their enemy. Even if you were neutral in the conflict, they treated you like trash for being a coward. If there was one thing the boy actually agreed with the royals about, it was the Insurgos being nothing but terrorists. However, the biggest reason he hated them of all... they were the reason he was an orphan thief in the first place.

The teenaged boy shook his head, not wanting to think about that. He then look up at the night sky, particularly at the full moon. The moon had always fascinated him. How it lit up the night sky always reminded him of the old 'light within the darkness' saying his father once told him about. And how it changes phases over the course of a month made him associate the moon with change in general. To him, the waxing phases of the moon represent positive change, while the waning phases negative change. If he were to describe the state of Radiant Garden as a phase of the moon, he would describe it as a waning crescent; it had gone that downhill in his opinion.

If he were to describe his own life right now, it would be new moon. Now to him the new moon could be seen in multiple viewpoints. On one hand it could be seen a brand new start on a person's life, while on another hand it could be seen as their utter tragedy, or total darkness. However, being the opposite of a 'full' moon, it could also be associated with emptiness, which is definitely how he felt the most. He had nothing. His losses had left an aching void in his heart. Why he existed, he always asked himself. He felt like a worthless nobody no one would miss. He would've been lying if he said that the thought of ending his own life hadn't crossed his mind at least once. However, he was taught that that was a cowards way out of your hardships, so he quickly discarded that idea. Still, the boy was longing for a purpose in life more than anything, to fill the emptiness in his heart with something worthwhile, for his moon to start its waxing phase. But just what was he suppose to do? He had persevered for so long, hoping that something positive would happen to him, but it wasn't like some random person was going to offer him a big position out of the blue.

After taking a drink of water from his canteen, his attention was caught by a shout from atop the bridge above him.

"I just don't believe it! How could she even think of doing such things!?"

"Hachirou, please calm down."

That name he heard sparked his curiosity. He got up and went around to take a peek at the speakers.

"How can I stay calm when everything I could ever want is being threatened?"

The boy got a good look at them and recognized the man. Blond hair, yellowish eyes, wore glasses; yep, that was Prince Hachirou himself. What was he doing in this part of the city this late at night, and without an armed escort no less? The only person with him was an average-looking, crimson-haired woman.

"Please," the woman said, "I just want our child to be seen as good news."

The prince sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just hard to look at it like that after what she said."

The thief was prompted to look at how the woman was gently rubbing her stomach. He remembered seeing his mother do this same gesture often when she was pregnant with his sibling...a sibling he would never be able to have now, but that was beside the point. He could tell even without their words that this woman was pregnant, and apparently the prince was the father. Now he had not really heard much but about either of Hanako's two sons, but it wasn't uncommon for people to believe she would groom them to be self-righteous snobs like her.

So naturally the boy assumed that the prince was taking advantage of the woman. Just the thought made his blood boil. The woman didn't deserve being with a creep like him. With those thought in his head, he decided to follow those two, planning to steal from the prince as punishment.

However as he was shadowing them, he couldn't help but listen in on their conversation.

"It's just infuriating," Hachirou said. "I mean, it's bad enough that my mother has been trying to coerce me into a relationship with some pompous rich girl just because of her wealth and position. All that 'keeping our bloodline pure' crap! Pfft! What's so pure about some spoiled money grubbers?"

The woman couldn't help but giggle at that last comment. "Well, if you ask me, your mother has a very skewed perception of 'purity'."

"I know! Seriously, what does wealth and power have to do with purity? Shouldn't mutual love be the only thing that matters?" The prince gave a disgruntled groan. "Apparently, NO! You have no idea how much it already angers me to see her treat you like some diseased rat. But what she's demanding of us now is beyond crossing the line. How dare she suggest we abandon our own child! How dare she threatens to take it from us! Not to mention threatening to banish you if you don't leave me! Just what kind of female dog is she anyways!? I have just about had enough of her trying to control my life!"

The thief couldn't help but feel even more disgusted with Hanako. She would actually do all that just for her own twisted sense of 'keeping the bloodline pure'? Judging from the prince's tone, even he was unhappy with this situation.

The woman then grabbed Hachirou's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Please, my love. Getting angry won't help us. Where's the calm and collected man I know and love?"

Hachirou took a deep breath as let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Mariko. I know it's not like me to lose my temper like this. She's just really starting to get on my last nerve. But how can you be so calm about this? I would think you would devastated by what she said."

The woman, Mariko, then put her hand up to her heart. "Don't get me wrong, her words did hurt a lot. But if we don't handle this rationally, it will only make things worst for the both of us." She then smiled lovingly at him. "Beside, I have a feeling the queen won't be able to carry out her threats."

"Maybe not. But my brother has been hearing rumors circulating among the castle staff. Rumors that she would hire people to kidnap you, the baby, or both of you." The prince then balls his fist. "But I will NOT let that happen!" He then pulled his lover into a hug. "No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you. Even if my mother banishes you from this kingdom, she will lose an heir in the process, because I'll be coming with you."

Mariko let out a slight gasp when she heard that. "You...would give up your position...for me?"

Hachirou put his hand on his lover's cheek and smiled lovingly. "Of course I would, Mariko. You and our baby are worth more to me then wealth and power. Whatever the price, I'm willing to pay it. My mother wants me to marry some stuck-up princess. But the only princess I'll ever need is you."

At that moment tears started running down the woman's eyes. "Oh Hachirou!" And with that the too shared a deep loving kiss.

The thief watched the two of them in awe. Their love...seemed to be genuine...even on the prince's side. He couldn't help but wonder if the prince was really willing to go that far for a low class woman. He looked up at the moon in contemplation. Could he have been wrong about him? Was he nothing like the queen? If he were to become their next ruler, could there be hope for this town yet?

His pondering was interrupted when he heard loud shouting. He looked back at the couple to find that two ruffian men had grabbed hold of them.

"Well well," said the headband wearing brunette holding Mariko by her wrist while she's on her knees, "what to we got here, Jacques?"

The white haired man, holding Hachirou with one his arm around the prince's neck and a sword in front of him, chuckled. "Well, Damon, it looks to me like we've got the crowned prince walking then streets at night without an armed escort and instead with a gypsy woman. What a nice surprise!"

"P-please!" begged Hachirou. "W-we don't want trouble!"

"Oh don't be like that Your Highness," Jacques said that last word with such venom. "I mean... who would pass up an opportunity like this!"

The prince's eyes widened. "I...Insurgos!"

Hearing that name made the watching thief's blood boil.

"Got it right the first time." said Jacques "Not that it matters. You royal are gonna pay for contaminating this place with your filth!" He then threw the prince onto the ground and proceeded to stomp and kick him repeatedly. "We've been slandered, ridiculed, and treated like trash for too long." He then lowers his sword to Hachirou's neck. "Well, you are all going to get what you deserve, starting with you!"

"No stop!" shouted Mariko. "He hasn't done anything wrong!"

Damon scoffed. "He has the blood of a tyrant. What other reason do we need?"

"NO! Hachirou is not like Hanako! He's a GOOD MAN!"

"Shut up!" Damon then gives Mariko a hard backhanded slap, dropping her onto the ground. "The words of a mere gypsy means nothing. You lot and the royal would say anything to avoid our wrath." He then unsheathed his sword. "And for kissing up to the royals, you will die as well."

The gypsy shuttered in fear. "P-please! I-I'm with child!" That only seemed to make her attacker grin.

"Are you now? Well, all the more reason then. We can't allow the royal bloodline to continue, can we?"

Just hearing that triggered an intense rage in the spectating thief. These men were willing to kill a pregnant woman and her child.

"N-NO!" shouted Hachirou desperately. "DON'T!"

Jacques stomped the prince again. "Silence! Hey Damon! Take care of her first! Let's make the prince watch as we destroy his offspring!"

"With pleasure." Damon slowly raised his sword.

It was at this moment that the thief could not just stand there anymore. No! the boy thought. NOT AGAIN!

Without a second thought the thief took out his knife, dashed over to Damon from his blindspot, and quickly shoved his knife into the rebel's neck before he knew what hit him. The man dropped his sword on the ground as he choked and suffocated before the knife was removed, after which he fell to the ground, bleeding out and dying. Everyone was stunned at what just happened, Jacques being borderline shocked.

"DAMON!"

The boy stood there, breathing heavily as he looked at the dead man. His knife covered in the man's blood. He had just killed a man. He wasn't prepared for the sudden feeling of dread crawling on his back from this action. He was so fixated on this that he wasn't paying attention to the other rebel.

"YOU BRAT!" Jacques shouted as he forgot all about the prince and turned his attention to the thief. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" He then slashed his sword at the boy, who was unable to react on time and ending up getting swiped in the face, knocking him on the ground and leaving a deep cut across his right cheek.(2)

The boy held his wounded cheek as the pain snapped him back to reality. He saw the man raise his sword again. Not confident that his knife would be able to defend him, he grabbed the dead man's sword and swung it at his attacker. Through sheer luck, the thief managed to cut the rebels arm, effectively disarming him. On impulse, he then leapt off the ground and impaled the sword through his heart. He pulled the sword out as he watched the Insurgos member drop dead.

Dropping the sword in his hand, the thief couldn't help but tremble in anxiety. He killed another man. He held his bleeding cheek in pain as he slowly stepped back from the scene.

The gypsy got up and rushed over to the prince. "Hachirou are you alright!?"

The prince was a little bruised up, but other then that he was alright. "I'm fine, Mariko. Are you okay? He didn't hurt you or the baby too badly, did they?"

"No! I think we're both alright."

Deciding he couldn't stay here anymore, the thief turned tail and ran.

Hachirou noticed the boy fleeing. "Hey, wait!"

But it was too late. The boy leapt over a picket fence, preventing them from following him.

He made it back to his hideout under the bridge, still shook up from happened. He looked at his kitchen knife, soaked in blood. He had just killed two men in one night. He never once imagined that he would end up taking a life, let alone two. It almost made him sick. The cold shiver on his spine wouldn't leave. He tried to get a hold of himself as he used the river to rinse his knife, as well as clean his wound. After dressing his wound with cotton and scotch tape, he decided to look up at the full moon on last time, pondering what tonight's events could mean for him.

Unfortunately, the next day the thief finally got a stroke of bad luck. He was still shaken up by what happened last night and it resulted in him getting sloppy. What's worse was the royal guard actually got involved this time. So he finally got caught.

Right now, he had his hands cuffed behind his back and was being escorted to the castle dungeons. He just walked with them silently, not even trying to resist. He was just looking down, depressed.

"Think we'll be promoted for catching the thief that had been evading capture these last few years?" asked one of the guards.

"I doubt it," his partner answer. "Street thieves aren't exactly high on the queen's concern list."

The first guard sighed. "I swear we don't get payed enough for this stuff."

Soon they happened upon someone: A young man with short combed blond hair, yellowish eyes, and wore a lab coat, was strolling through the hallway with his attention on a clipboard in his hand.

Upon seeing him, the guards immediately stood at attention. "Prince Ansem!"

The younger prince turned his attention to them. "At ease." The guards relaxed in response. "Carry on."

The guards saluted before continuing to escort their prisoner. What none of them noticed however was that Ansem was eyeing that very prisoner as they walked away.

"That boy," Ansem said to himself. "He matches his description."

The thief was now in a cell. He sat on his bed with one knee raise and an arm resting on it.

He sighed at his situation. Oh well, he thought. I suppose this was bound to happen eventually. What else could a lowly thief like me expect?

He looked down in a somber mood. It looked like he finally hit rock bottom. His family was dead, and now his borrowed time of freedom was over. What hope was there left for him? He wasn't sure what was going to happen to him now, but what can he do other than accept whatever fate has in store for him.

He wasn't sure how long he was sitting there. Maybe an hour or two? But soon he heard footsteps approaching. He didn't think much of them. But then those footsteps halted right next to him.

"Is this him?" he heard one voice say.

There was a short pause before another voice answered, "Yes, he's the one." That voice got the boy's attention. He looked to see that standing outside his cell, looking back at him, were the royal twins themselves, Hachirou and Ansem.

After a moment of silent the teenager finally said, "What do you want?"

"A prince can't thank a boy for saving his life?" reply Hachirou.

The boy looked away. "I suppose you could. But I didn't exactly do it for you though."

"All the same, if you hadn't been there, the love of my life and our unborn child would've been dead. And so would I." the elder prince then bowed. "So thank you for saving us."

The boy sighed. "Don't bow to a thief like me. It's unbecoming of a prince."

Hachirou chuckled. "I'll bow to whoever I please."

"Well, I suppose it is rare to see a royal actually show gratitude for a change."

Hachirou sighed. "Yes, I am fully aware that my mother isn't the most charitable person."

"That's an understatement. The citizens do their part to keep this city running. Would it hurt the queen to show a little appreciation?"

"Oh, I agree with you there. The civilians are just as a part of this kingdom as the royals. It's not the rulers that make a kingdom, its the people they watch over. And as such every person should be treated equally, regardless of position. In my personal opinion, a leader should serve his or her followers, not the other way around. If you are not showing them the same respect you expect from them, than what reason do you give them to follow you. That's what Lady Hanako can't get through that thick skull of hers."

The boy then lied down on his bed. "Well good for you for thinking differently then that hag."

"Careful you don't let her know you called her that," said Ansem. "She might sentence you to death on the spot."

"As if that matters anymore. Who would miss a worthless thief like me?"

"A thief, maybe," said Hachirou. "Worthless? Hardly. I mean you saved our lives. To us your a hero. Doesn't that count for something? Which leads me to ask: Why did you do it?"

The boy sighed. "If I'm gonna be brutally honest here, Prince Hachirou, if was just you alone there, I probably would've looked the other way. But...those Insurgos freaks were about to kill a pregnant woman. I wasn't going to let them do that again."

"Again?"

The kid sat back up. "Let me ask you two a question. Does the name Kazekiri ring any bells?"

"Kazekiri?" the younger prince put his hand on his chin. "I've heard of a Kouji Kazekiri. He was a shaman who was killed by the Insurgos five years ago."

"Yeah, and what an undeserved death it was." The boy balled his fists. "All he was trying to do was convince them that violence wasn't the answer, and would only lead to the loss of more innocent lives. He just wanted them to look for a more peaceful solution. He even said he would try to convince the queen to come to a compromise. And what did those ingrates do? They slaughtered him! Slaughtered him for 'kissing up to the royals'! But they didn't stop there! They decided to kill his wife, Rika, as well, not even caring that she was two months pregnant with her second child!" He had tears coming out of his eyes he struggled to keep himself calm. "Those spiteful Insurgos. Nothing but stupid holier-than-thou creeps who are willing to step on over ANYONE to get what they want!" He looked down. "And what did the couple's ten-year-old first born son do? Run away like a spineless coward."

"I take it you're referring to yourself," said Ansem.

"Yes. Yamato Kazekiri, in case you were wondering."

Hachirou looked down in sympathy. "I'm...sorry that happened to you."

"Sure you are. I may be more angry at the Insurgos for what happened, but what did the guards do? I saw them in the vicinity when it happened, and they did absolutely nothing. They didn't even look worried about them. I swear they were practically hoping the rebels would kill them just so they could use their deaths to demonize the Insurgos to the public! Or maybe I'm over thinking it? Heck if I know. All I know is that the royal guard doesn't seem to understand that protecting the citizens is just as important as protecting the royal family. Where is their honor?"

Hachirou sighed again. "Yeah. My mother doesn't exactly enforce the idea of protecting civilians. That's why many in the guard don't concern themselves with them. However, there are a few in the guard that are unhappy with everyone's line of thinking.

"I've been working with them," said Ansem, "trying to change the guard for the better. We both want the guards to have the independence to question their ruler when they don't agree, and to understand that the people are part of the kingdom too. After all, a ruler is only as strong as those who are loyal to them. If enough members of the guard openly disagree with the queen, she won't be able to stop them from doing right they think is right. It's...still a working progress."

The elder brother then got an idea. "Say Yamato, how you like to play a part in changing this kingdom for the better?" That caught the boy off guard. Even Ansem raised an eyebrow. "You know that the guard isn't doing its job right. But say if you were to join the guard, you could become an example of what a guard is supposed to be."

Yamato was stunned at what he heard. "Me? Join the guard? But...why me?"

"Well for one thing, I can't think of a better way to pay you back for saving us. Secondly, you managed to hold your own rather well against those rebels. I think with time and training, you could become one of the guard's finest."

The boy shook his head. "I don't know about that. That was a stroke of luck back there. And beside, that was the first time I killed someone. I'm...uncertain I'll be able to do that again."

"Well, the good guards we know have ways of coping with that, as I'm sure they'll teach you. You'll never know until you try. But the biggest reason of all is...when I look at you, I see a kid who's given up on life, who's lost his way and looking for guidance. You seek a purpose, do you not?"

Yamato look at the prince in awe at how he was able to read him. He paused a bit before answering. "More than anything."

Hachirou smiled. "Then what better purpose than helping to make a kingdom where everyone can prosper. The guard needs to be shown what honor truly is, and what they're suppose to do for the kingdom. And I believe you can help inspire the right mindset."

The thief looked down. "I'll admit, it's a very tempting offer. But there's one big problem. I highly doubt Hanako will be willing to accept a thief like me into the guard. How do you plan to convince her to let me in?"

This time it was the younger brother who answered. "Simple, really. By using one the queen's own laws against her. You see, by rescuing the crowned prince, you put the royal family in your debt. And the law states that all debts must be payed. Even the royal family isn't exempt from this. And in a case like this, a life debt, only you and Hachirou have a say in how that debt is payed, nobody else. The queen will have no choice but to accept."

The elder brother then closed his eyes. "This kingdom needs to change. And we are willing to do all we can to ensure that everyone is happy." He then held his hand out through the cell bars. "Are you?"

Yamato thought for a moment. If he were to accept this offer, he just might be able to make a difference in this world. He could help change this kingdom in a positive way. He could indeed have a new purpose in his life. It just seemed too good to be true. Still... "Before I answer that, I want you to tell me something."

"What is it?"

"I will admit, the reason I was there to save you was because I was following you two. I was under the impression that you were taking advantage of her, so I was planning to rob you as punishment. But...I couldn't help but listen in on your conversation. A conversation that...made me reconsider. And there was one particular statement you said that caught my attention." The boy looked straight at Hachirou. "So I want you to look me in the eyes, and answer this question: Would you really give up your position as prince just to be with her?"

After a brief pause, the elder prince took off his glasses and looked right at the thief. "I would."

During his time as a thief, Yamato trained himself in reading peoples expressions. Faces can say a lot. And the look in Hachirou's eyes told him that he was sincere. That was all he needed to see to know that he was for real. He then stood up and walked over to the cell bar, before proceeding to shake Hachirou's hand. "What do I have to lose?" he said with a smile.

And with that act, the new moon in Yamato's life had changed to a waxing crescent.

A/N: Yep. This story is about Sasuke's father, Yamato. This event was originally described in my Living Legacy story, a oneshot that is actually no longer canon due to the changes made to Kris's KH3 rewrite that I didn't see coming. But I still wanted the backstory I wrote to stay and I finally decided to go into more detail about it.

Also once again, I would like to thank Kris for her input on the conversation between Hachirou and Mariko, as I wasn't sure if I was portraying them accurately.

Footnotes:

(1) I'll admit, I'm not entirely sure if this was how the kingdom was run back in the day in Kris's universe. I could be over-exaggerating a little. But I wanted the reasons for what happens at the end of this chapter to make sense.

(2)This wound, which leaves a scar by the way, was going to be the result of something that happens later, but I thought it'd be more fitting for it to happen here.