Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh, Final Fantasy, or Kingdom Hearts.

Note (2/02/2019): Since I couldn't bring myself to delete this story even though it's been on hiatus for about 6 years now -and because I've been getting into a huge Kingdom Hearts mood since KH3 has finally released- after skimming through the first few chapters I've decided to revamp this story one last time. I love the idea of it and the OC I made for this story so it seems like a shame to leave it like this. I know I already wrote all this before, but I didn't want to go through deleting this story and reposting the same content so I'll be replacing some of the first chapters with a slightly revised version and then I'll delete the rest to replace with new content. Not sure if anyone following this story will be notified but I'm hoping this will work out. At any rate, its time to breathe new life into this story that already has a good start in my opinion though some major changes are going to be made. Hope you like it!

Prologue: Between a Dream and a Memory

One heart, begotten of two.

A soul eclipsed, the two made one.

Existing between a dream and a memory,

Therein lies a forgotten place...

Standing with his back against the twilight, he waits for you,

Casting a long pale shadow behind him.

And what is a shadow, but the silhouette of a memory?

What is a dream, but an effort to reach for that which the heart knows it has lost?

Whether his story is of things once lost or yet to be found,

A precious truth hangs in the balance between the two.

And only you, hold the True Key...

That night, everything changed.

Something was coming that would change their lives forever, especially that of Yuri Shibuya, their 27th Demon King. Because it was his long awaited truth that would unravel everything they thought they knew; about the two worlds to which he belonged, connected by the remnants of a broken passage; and about Yuri himself, who held the key to opening a brand new door and one that would unlock the truth buried deep within that has remained hidden until now. And once Yuri discovered this truth, he would be able to meet someone very dear to him, someone who is also searching for those answers...

Yuri's dream started out with him sitting calmly on his throne; his fingers gently folded beneath his chin, almost looking as though he were sound asleep. But Yuri wasn't alone. All of his closest and dearest friends stood assembled in the hall before his throne. Countless people whose lives he had touched and changed. Cherished friends and allies that Yuri made after becoming the 27th Demon King of this world, all smiling warmly up at him.

All of them that is, except for the person that mattered to Yuri the most.

Suddenly, his jet black eyes snapped open in alarm. And in a single fluent motion he lept up from his throne and rushed forward; running as if he was chasing after something. Each movement Yuri made appeared as if in slow motion as everything behind him faded into a bright white light.

Then Yuri ran as fast as he could until he could finally see the image of Conrad's back walking away from him in the distance, clad in the familiar uniform of Big Shimaron. Desperate to catch up to his Godfather, who was walking straight into the darkness that now consuming everything in front of them, Yuri ran even harder and faster than before to catch up to him. The only sound that he could hear was the sound of his own footsteps striking stone and the frantic pulsing beat of his heart. And soon Yuri realized he was no longer inside Covenant Castle and ground to a halt, staring around in confusion, only to find himself now standing in the hall leading up to the central chamber inside the Tomb of the Great One...

And when Yuri finally looked back in front of him and opened the two large doors leading inside, he saw Conrad standing in front of the four Forbidden Boxes, his back still turned to him. Relieved to see that Conrad had stopped trying to get away from him, Yuri continued moving towards him at a dead run, his hand outstretched to take hold of his and bring Conrad back into the light again; the place where they belonged.

Afraid that he was about to lose Conrad to the darkness, Yuri called his name once he was about halfway down the hall. Hearing the sound of Yuri's familiar voice Conrad began to turn around to face him. As Conrad turned, glancing back at him with the edge of those once kind brown eyes, Yuri's expression unexpectedly hardened into one of fury. And Yuri found that he was no longer running, but charging at him.

Yuri then motioned to his side, as if unsheathing a sword, to find Morgif's true form already held firmly between his hands. A wild cry tore from Yuri's lips as he raised his sword in a wide arch above him and continued to charge. It wasn't until that moment when Conrad turned fully to face the oncoming attack that Yuri realized why he was doing so. For once Conrad turned around completely, Yuri was met by the gloating sneer of an Originator-possessed Great One standing in his place. His entire body writhed in thick black-purple smoke and an aura of sheer, fathomless, unadulterated darkness.

The Great One then offered his hand to Yuri in a very welcoming manner even as Yuri shouted at him angrily, and struck at him with Morgif's blade. Yuri was astonished though when instead of meeting the dark force he was expecting, the sound of two swords clashing in mid-strike reached his ears. He was no longer face to face with the Great One anymore, but King Saralegui instead. And not only that, but Morgif suddenly reverted to his normal shape and form again.

He was shocked to see the same type of darkness swirling behind Sara's eyes too. Yuri could see it so clearly, all of those roiling emotions blackening his heart. The loneliness from being abandoned by his own mother and ignored by his father; about his desperate need for acknowledgment; about the raw destructive power that he so longed for and craved to possess; and most of all, Yuri could see the deep aching guilt eating away at him.

Their swords locked for a moment until with a flick of their wrists they wrenched their blades apart, staring at one another with unfocused eyes, panting. Soon after a black wind obscured them both and Yuri now stood alone out on the hill just in front of the castle gates. His eyes gazing upwards at Janis floating above him, who, like the Great One, was also covered completely by a seething mantle of pure darkness...

A scream of agony tore from Janis's mouth and he tossed his head around wildly, lashing out with whips of sharpened darkness. Then a black wind bellowed forth and utterly consumed everything just like before, even the sound of his mournful cry. Everything faded to black and Yuri was now all alone in the silence.

But in his hand, replacing Morgif, glowed a soft glittering light that was somehow keeping the darkness around him at bay. It was a warm familiar light that Yuri protectively held close to his chest. He could even feel the faint flicker of a heartbeat pulsing through his fingers coming from the light itself. The heartbeat was soft and weak at first, but its presence was reassuring nevertheless.

Closing his eyes Yuri thought about all of his friends, Sara included, in search of comfort. And as he did, the light in his hands grew in strength and warmth. Encouraged by this powerful feeling burning deep inside of his heart, Yuri held it even closer as powerful beams of light began to sift through his fingers to slice through the rest of the surrounding darkness.

When the light grew to an unbearable intensity, Yuri was forced to let go of it. And once Yuri could finally open his eyes, he was looking up into a twilit sky; laying on his back on a beach somewhere. The cool waves lapped against his feet while Yuri rested calmly on the sand, laying hand in hand with two other people.

One of them was definitely Julia, and the other person was...

Before Yuri could so much as turn to glance at the other person beside him, he sank into the sand and his surroundings shattered as if now made of glass. And in each shard Yuri passed he saw pieces of his own memories. He saw so many of the life-changing events starting from the moment he set foot in this world. Including all the faces of those Yuri had met since that day that each held a special place in his heart. However, reflected in some of the shards were places and people Yuri had never seen before. Not in either world; not the world where Yuri was born, nor the world where he now ruled as a King where his soul was originally from. And yet, because of the familiar pang he felt in his chest when he saw them, Yuri knew that somehow these were all also a part of him too.

Yuri's eyes fluttered closed just when he felt the sensation of his body becoming lighter as he began floating down onto a solid surface rising up to meet him. Though it wasn't until after his feet were firmly planted that Yuri dared to open his eyes again. And what he saw was both very surprising and mystifying to see...

He was standing on a large stain-glass pillar suspended alone in the darkness. The most astonishing thing about it was that it was decorated with a strikingly detailed depiction of himself on the surface. Portrayed in the multi-colored glass was Yuri, half sitting with his eyes closed serenely across most of the surface, one hand resting across his slightly bend knee while he held Morgif loosely in his left hand. Water was swirling up around his legs and completely over his ankles. And lastly, in the smaller circles positioned around Yuri's head, were smaller portraits of Gunter, Wolfram, Gwendal, Conrad, and Julia.

Where am I...?Yuri asked himself, baffled by this whole dream.

A place of new beginnings and forgotten truths. Answered a soft voice from somewhere above him.

Yuri paused. Who are you? Are you the one that brought me here to this strange place...?

No, I haven't. And you should already know this place very well, Yuri, deep down in your heart of hearts because it only exists inside of your heart. But, it would seem you have forgotten... The voice replied simply.

Forgotten? About what? Yuri asked innocently.

The voice fell silent, and then an oily blackness covered the entire pillar, consuming it, and with nothing left to stand on anymore Yuri began falling further and further down into the depths of darkness once more. And the further down Yuri sank, the darker his vision became. And before long his mind was slowly overcome by a wave of sleep so powerful that he couldn't resist it. Soon, his eyes fluttered completely closed again and the light above him faded away, now entirely beyond Yuri's reach...

You have forgotten the truth about why you are here and who you really are, the voice explained finally, breaking the silence. And now, you must find it again, you must find your light within the darkness before it's too late to save either of you.

Wait, what's that supposed to mean...? Yuri asked weakly, struggling to stay awake. Either of you? Who are you talking about?

With such kindness and warmth, the voice answered fondly. Only you can save him, your other self. The person one who, thanks to you, was given a second chance to see that his sacrifice so long ago was not in vain. He needs you, Yuri, to show him the way…

Unable to stay awake any longer, Yuri only managed to ask one last question. The way...where?

Yuri never heard the reply, but the owner of the voice smiled and answered, The way home.