Alas! It has been a very long time since I've written fanfiction. I'm quite nervous about writing this, actually. This fanfic actually started out as an online roleplay and gradually it became quite entertaining and very good. I decided that it was time for it to become a fanfiction, though a lot of it may not exactly be like the actual roleplay, but you won't be able to tell now will you?

Secondly, may I add that this was actually started back in December, WAY before any new information about the now-not-as-mysterious-anymore Birth by Sleep trailer featured in KH2, so nothing pertaining to the new games will be in the fanfiction, so I guess this shall be considered AU. But it is still enjoyable nonetheless!

Kingdom Hearts: The Mind of the Tainted

Prologue

It was a clam and chilly night in the world known as Traverse Town. The world almost always a calm place, but then there were certainly plenty of times when it wasn't. This particular night was definitely one of them...

Roaming around the town was an enigmatic figure who lurked within the shadows; not daring to enter the lighted aread which was due to the many lampposts. It was as if this person didn't want to be seen at all. Not that there would be anyone to see anyway on account of not a single soul in the second district. However, this figure thought otherwise. Perhaps they were looking for someone or something?

Suddenly, the figure stopped and let out a small sigh as they finally stepped into the light. A weapon was held in the man's right hand. It was a weapon that almost any creature - living or non - knew of. It was a Keyblade. The weapon was quickly dismissed by its wielder, who looked awfully frustrated about something. He closed his eyes as if he was desperately trying to pinpoint something distant, but to no avail.

After whispering a small curse, he regained his composure, and with a small chuckle, he said, "I can hear it whispering, but I cannot find its body. I know that you're around here somewhere. I will find you eventually."

His lips curled into a sinister smirk as he ran a hand through his unruly, auburn hair, before making his way through the district once more.

"Wow. It hasn't changed one bit," a familiar, spiky-haired young man stated just as the large doors opened to reveal the town.

Once he and the other two standing by him had entered the middle of the plaza, he came to an abrupt stop and gazed around with his cerulean orbs before turning to his two comrades.

"Wouldn't you agree, Riku?" he added.

The tallest of the group - Riku - nodded. "I figured it hadn't, Sora" he replied in his typical, unenthused tone.

The girl had turned to Sora with a questioning look on her face. "So, where do we start exactly?"

Sora made a clicking sound, thinking. He soon replied, "Well, I don't think he's around here. Let's check out the second and third districts. This should be a breeze!"

The auburn haired girl giggled softly. "Now don't get too cocky like Riku, Sora," she teased.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Riku asked, raising a brow in confusion.

Kairi sighed. "Nothing, nothing."

The silver haired teen rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's just find who we're supposed to be looking for so we can head back to the castle. The sooner we get to the bottom of this whole mess the better."

The trio nodded to one another before sprinting off into the second district.

Akira...

"What do you want?"

Akira...

"Please, just leave me alone..."

AKIRA!

"No!" Startled, she jolted awake, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. "No..." she breathed out, gazing at the surroundings in front of her. This didn't seem right. Not at all.

"This... this isn't my room," she mumbled.

She wasn't laying against a wall in what seemed to be an alleyway. The expression on the young woman's face was proof that she was incredibly confused as to what was happening. Several questions began running swiftly through her mind, trying to put the pieces together, but nothing was coming to her, and she panicked.

'Everything's fine. You're fine.'

The girl jumped in fright. "Who's there?" she called out, but nothing answered. That was odd. She could have sworn that she had heard someone speaking to her.

'Don't be afraid. You're safe, but not for long. You need to leave this place if you want to live any longer. Stand up.'

She complied. However, she still was as confused as could be. She slowly began to standing, her knees buckling a bit, until she regained her balance. She let out a small groan. Her whole entire body was sore. It almost felt as if every single bone in her body was broken and she didn't even understand why.

Once she was completely standing without the support of the wall, she ran a hand through her long, raven colored hair, and as she did so, she felt a rather large bump. She looked at her hand, revealing blood. "Oh-" She never finished her sentence. Instead, she gazed up, feeling a dark presence near.

'You're fine. Hurry!'

The voice startled her once again and without thinking she began running as fast as she could away from the alleyway. Where she was headed, she didn't quite know, but she hoped wherever her feet were taking her somewhere safe.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. However, there are OCs that belong to me and veritasthetruth.

Please, read and review. I would really appreciate constructive criticism.