A/N: Welcome, welcome. No, I am not abandoning AD'sC or Cache! I just feel safe enough in my upload position, if you will, right now to finally, FINALLY upload (two) new fanfics. I have four main fanfiction I am working on: a DMC one, a KH one, a NnT one and a Bleach one.

Please note! I have seven chapters in total complete for this fanfic! I will upload more for this (and my NnT fic) only if genuine interest is given to it! It's a process, you see. I need to give myself time between uploading chapters of my fics. I think I can wait, if need be...

Like with A Devil's Cacophony, this fanfic is a result of me simply trying to get these general ideas out of my head. Similarly, the chapters don't have a specific timeline, though some might take place after or before another. These chapters are all non-linear, in other words, and are previews of an entire KH project I am working on that you can call TWTNS.

Themes in the series are of locks, keys, keyrings, dreams, and destiny.

There will be conversation/explanations in what will be called LOADING... chapters. More info in the first LOADING... chapter.

Only the original elements and characters belong to me.

Demo 1
My Fears, My Lies

With a start, Riku's eyes snapped open, turquoise meeting the darker, true blue of a cloudless sky. A soft gasp slipped past his lips, though he didn't know why. The familiar feel of the sand below his body registered to him, as well as the soft ocean breeze, the smells of the beachside. It would have been easy to lose himself in the familiar comfort, if not for the last image that made its way to the forefront of his mind.

All at once, he popped upright, head turning to his right to meet the scene from his memory. Sora was lying upon the sand as he had been, but was unconscious. This alarmed him, not just because his best friend was attacked by that black figure, but because another if not the same black figure sat not too far away upon the ledge, looking at them.

"There is no waking Sora," the figure said to him, the masculine voice carrying well despite its slight monotone.

"...What...did you do to him?" he demanded, moving onto his feet, though he was unsteady. There was a throbbing in his head, and he had to take his time to stand.

The figure's head slightly turned away, a soft, irritated sound strangely akin to a snarl emitting from them. "I did nothing. I got here not too long ago. You were both out when I arrived," the person continued. There was...something about their voice that rubbed Riku the wrong way...

He softly exhaled, closing his eyes from the pain budding in his head. Placing a hand on his forehead, he lowered back to the sand.

Watching him, the figure moved off the ledge and began to approach. "...Yeah. It hit me pretty hard...getting those memories back..."

"What...memor..." Trailing off, Riku went quiet as his mind brought said memories to the front of his mind. He went still, eyes wide in shock, as all of what happened during a time so foreign and yet so familiar replayed in his mind's eye.

Keyblades...

...Kingdom Hearts...

The Organization...

Kairi.

Darkness...

...Maleficent...

He closed his eyes again.

The unknown person was closer, now, and looking over Sora. The brunet was supine, arms at his sides, in a most unnatural way. "...Got everything back, then, Riku?" they asked.

"Who...who are you...?" There would be a time to try to figure out what it all meant, but Riku felt that it was not that time. Yet. He looked up, an eye open to stare at the person.

Their hood, though not the same as the figure that had attacked Sora, allowed him to see just a bit of the lower part of their face. Pale, veiny skin was visible, as well as almost silvery-purple lips. "...Someone from the Darkness," they murmured, moving away from Sora, and away from Riku as well. "...Someone who...does not know if they should be...or should not."

"Show yourself," Riku said, finally managing to stand onto his feet. The initial hostility he felt towards the unknown figure had strangely subsided, as if he knew who the person was. It was as they were a magnet and he was trying to connect to them. "...I...know you...don't I?"

"So you sense it, as well. Though...I doubt you remember that far back..." The figure shook their head, and then motioned to Sora with a wave. "He is unconscious, from what I can tell, but I would not take my word for it. Whomever hit him did it with something I have never come into contact with, which is...hard to believe, considering all the places I have visited...all the things I have seen..." they conversed.

The distraction worked, and Riku looked back at his friend. The last memory he had was of Sora being attacked by a...taller, and somehow more menacing figure, now that he recalled it. The details of how, however, were blurry. He just remembered being enraged, and...attacking that figure. Then everything went black.

"...You were watching us?" he asked softly.

Another hand wave, this one dismissive. "No. Unless you mean watching over you. Then yes. After I failed to awaken you two, I merely stayed."

"Thank you..." The words left Riku's mouth before he was aware. This brought him back to the figure's identity, but wisely let it go for the moment. He came to Sora's side, lowering beside him, and sighed. "...You were right, Sora. I remember everything, now...even Kairi," he murmured, his tone somber with regret. Why didn't he...remember...sooner...?

He then took the time to think about this for a moment. Why was it that he "remembered" anything at all? The past...year...happened...didn't it? But it conflicted harshly with his memories of his..."current" life, the one he lived blissfully unaware with until just moments ago. As Sora had said, it was as if he remembered two lives, but both were his. Both were as real as the other. The only difference was he was currently living one of them.

...Both figures, however...He looked up at the one observing him as he observed back. They were new to both memories.

"...You said 'getting those memories back'..." he said to them. "Do you mean to say you have memories of two lives, too?"

With crossed arms, the figure looked away again. Perhaps that was something they didn't intend to have said aloud. Taking this moment of silence to his advantage, Riku studied them.

The coat they wore was drastically different from the Black Coats Organization XIII was so known for wearing. Those were uniform, pristine and yet served their purpose to make their wearers enigmatic. This one worn by the figure was...ragged, with a frayed hem and ripped in several places. It was...more like a cloak than a coat, now that he studied it, and seemed comprised of a single large black cloth with a hood that was also frayed at the edges. Their loose, baggy pants were also rather tattered, and they walked barefoot on the sand.

Their most defining feature was that their pale skin was visible. Not just some of their face...but their arms. They were sickly pale, with near-purple veins visible under the surface of their heavily scarred, burned flesh. A pale, black figure...

"Two lives...no," they finally answered, a sort of growl in their voice. "More like...recollections of lies and a pathetic sham of an existence in one set of memories...and the other set...a series of unfortunate events that make the pathetic sham of an existence greatly desired in exchange."

Something about the way the person was speaking was irritatingly familiar to Riku...and not in a good way. Yet still, he sensed no need to be hostile or even concerned for his and Sora's well-being in their presence. It was more reactionary thought than instinct telling him to do so.

He frowned. "Which one is the present...existence?" he carefully asked.

For another moment, the figure was still. Letting out a soft, resigned scoff, they then turned back to him. "You tell me," they challenged, reaching up to lower their hood, "...if you can even tell who I was."

The face that stared out between long silver bangs was shockingly familiar...yet...hauntingly unfamiliar. Piercing turquoise eyes with slanted, cat-like pupils stared between the locks, into his very soul, and there was no mistaking it, despite the horrible changes.

"...You're..." he breathed, equal turquoise eyes wide with shock and horror, "that...replica."

Hands out, the sickly twin gave a dark, twisted smirk. "That replica. Indeed, Riku, I am that replica from Castle Oblivion. The one created by Vexen of Organization XIII, the Chilly Academic." Hands dropping dramatically, he leaned forward and asked, "So then. Any thoughts about my changes in this dark, new existence?"

There was little to say, and Riku stared upon the prominent veins that bulged around the unnaturally glowing eyes with morbid fascination. Despite the pale, veiny skin, the cat-like pupils, discolored lips, and shoulder-length, unkempt hair, it was his replica. The last thing he recalled of his replica was him fading away...with the hopes to join with his own being, one day. And he had hoped that for him, too. But...this..."...What...happened to you...?" he asked, shockingly earnest in his inquiry. And it showed, he was sure, in his voice and upon his face.

Eyes narrowing, his twin replied, "You would never guess it. You would not understand. But considering I just recalled it as well..." He looked away yet again, raising his hood to cover his hair, but not his face. "...It is unimportant, Riku. Never you mind. It will...all be revealed in due time—"

These words seemed to be the last tip Riku needed. "It was her...wasn't it?" he interrupted without thinking. "...You even speak like her."

Both twins were deathly silent the moment the words left his mouth. The difference was Riku stood with clenched hands and a locked jaw, whereas his former replica stood with wide eyes, a horrified expression and a mouth still open in the motion of forming words.

Slowly, his mouth closed, causing teeth to clench as the pale twin stared off at nothing. Upon his face, his expression worsened, looking more haunted and terrified as the seconds passed. He then slowly turned his head to look at Riku with that very expression, but this time with unsaid acknowledgement to the spoken words.

Upon seeing that face, cold, shivering dread passed through Riku's body. "...How long?" he almost whispered.

"...Fourteen years," came the monotone response. "...Fourteen...long...years."

Immediately, though for reasons he couldn't put into words, Riku began to approach, but the long swaying hair stopped him.

"I...When I...recalled those other memories...it gave me just enough willpower to leave. I came here...to look for you. So easily, I found you..." His haunted expression worsened, his gaze staring past Riku as his thoughts overcame him. "When she realizes I am no longer there...I do not know...if I have the strength to resist her when she calls me back."

"You can. You will," Riku encouraged, taking a few steps forward. He only stopped because his twin was moving away.

The pale twin's head lowered, and he briefly closed his eyes. "...Ease your worries for me, right now, Riku. All of that is...inevitable. If I ever get the chance...I shall tell you of my story, now that I remember it." He slowly approached, but hesitantly. "...Instead, we should worry about Sora..." he said, evasive.

Riku understood. Without a doubt, his former replica was traumatized. He so dearly wanted to know the details of exactly why he was in such a condition, but it wasn't his place. "...You can at least tell me your name," he said, moving back towards Sora with hesitance in his own steps. "...Do you remember it?" he added softly, not meaning to offend.

The twin glanced up at him, and then watched him lower to lift Sora into his arms. A small, contented smile spread upon his lips. Looking from the unconscious brunet to Riku, he murmured, "...Sekai. My name is Sekai."