Chapter I: Life in Shibuya

~Tala's POV~

Hanging out in the shopping district wasn't really what I had planned for the day but my best friend, Yoshiya Kiryu convinced me to come so here I was. Yoshiya didn't like to be called by his real name so everyone calls him Joshua or Josh for short. He was going on about how Neku and the rest were late but I didn't mind. To be honest I really didn't want the others to hang with us. Neku's cool and everything and once upon a time I had a thing for him but that was before Shiki.

Neku would never admit it but he has a certain thing for her and why wouldn't he with her perfect figure where mine was slender and tall as. With her reddish brown hair that came to the middle of her back. Where my hair comes to the end of my back and is a shiny topaz blue. And the way she always dressed and with her pretty brown eyes. My eyes are a sparkling pink and I wear knuckle length black gloves, Black stylish pants with a chain hanging on her left side, black combat boots that zip up on both sides, and a red and black rave t-shirt. But enough of my sad love life. Seeing as how I don't have a love life or a life for that matter.

"Tala are you even listing to me?" I turned my head towards Joshua who was smiling at me with a mischievous gin. Obviously he knew that I wasn't when he added, "Don't tell me you're thinking about HIM again."

"Thinking about who, what are you talking about Josh?" I asked him back, acting like I was oblivious to his question.

"Oh, you know who I'm talking about. But if you don't want to talk about it then we won't seeing as Neku and the others are finally here." Sighing I realized he was right as Beat was standing beside me with his little sister Rhyme. As for Neku he was across from me and I refused to look him in the face as he tried not to ether (long story). Shiki (of course) was right beside him holding her stuffed black cat.

We were all headed to the arcade to hang like usual. Except I didn't really feel like going. It wasn't because today was my fifteenth birthday and it wasn't because Neku was with us or Shiki in fact I was fine with them being into each other. It was something that had happened yesterday after my mother asked what I wanted for my b-day. What happened was so weird that I'm not entirely sure what exactly happened.

But I was standing in the kitchen when this purple black ball like thing flew from my hand. My mom said it was just the light making shadows and it only seemed like it came from my hand but I wasn't so sure. And that night I also had the weirdest dream about darkness trying to swallow me and my home up. But it was a dream after all, nothing more.

"Um, Tala are you alright?" Rhyme asked me. She was so cute and she looked and dressed almost just like her brother.

"Yeah you don't look so good Yo!" Beat told me. Beat always talked like that and at first it was pretty annoying but you learn to get used to it.

"I'm ok guys really just thinking is all."

"Oh really?" Joshua said with a smirk. Oh great here we go already. "You care to elaborate on what you are thinking about?" Sometimes I loved Joshua and other times, times like this I disliked him.

"No not really." Joshua seemed to like my answer as he turned and walked towards me.

"Very well." He told me as he stopped in front of me. It wasn't till then that I realized we had arrived at the arcade. "But you have to close your eyes."

"I have to what? Why?" Ok I will admit I was a bit confused.

"Come on just close your eyes." Doing as Josh said I closed them and let him guide him to wherever it was he was taking me. It felt like hours. Me not being able to see a thing till finally I heard Josh's voice, "Ok now open them."

Opening my eyes I found that it was totally dark until the light flicked on thanks to Neku and I realized that they had all planned me a party. There were paper lanterns, streamers, blue, red, pink and purple lights and tons of balloons. And right in the middle of all the decorations was a huge three layer cake with vanilla frosting. The designs on the cake matched the color of the lights it looked too good to eat.

"So what do you think?" Josh asked me.

"You guys did all this?"

"Yup we all pitched in and rented to place for the day," Shiki said with a smile.

"I did the light's Yo pretty tight right!" Beat said I smiled at him as I went over to hug him, then Rhyme, Shiki, Josh and stopped in front of Neku. I wasn't sure if I should hug, shake hands, slap him on the shoulder or just say a simple thank you to him. Before I could think of what jester to make I heard a big bang outside. At first I thought it was just me till the others ran to the door. All expect for Neku who was staring at me. He was about to say something when Beat made a commit. "Dang Yo I think the party is over. That's wack man!"

Sighing to myself Neku and I ran over to see what all the commotion was about. The weird thing was, for some reason the sky was pitch black. It was just sunny a few minutes ago and now it was as if a hurricane had come out of nowhere. But I knew it wasn't a storm I didn't understand how I knew but I did.

Joshua turned to look at me and the expression on his face told me he knew as well. Joshua was always the smart one in the group and he always seemed to know things the rest of us didn't. But Joshua was a good friend and a reliable one as he told us all to stay inside where it was safe. But I had a gut feeling that we weren't safe at all.

"You sure we are safe in here Yo? It's dark as night out. I say we run for it man." Joshua shook his head no. as he explained what we needed to do.

"Look its extremely dark outside something is going on we need to figure out what's going on first before we act rash."

"Why don't we use the phone, we can call our parents." Rhyme had a good idea till I dialed my house and there was no answer. At first I thought my mom was out until Neku, Beat and Shiki called their homes; no answers.

"Ok no one panic, Rhyme don't panic; Ok NO ONE PANIC YO!"

"Beat snap out of it!" I said as I slapped him in the face. "Look Joshua, Neku, Shiki, Rhyme and Beat thanks for throwing me a party but I have to get home. Something isn't right. We all need to check in on our parents."

"Tala's right," Neku said. It was the first time he talked today. "We'll meet back here after, got it?" we all nodded as we raced out the doors going our own ways except for Beat and Rhyme seeing as they are brother and sister.

The further I ran the more I noticed just how dark it was as I looked up at the blackened sky and for some reason my head felt like it was being busted wide open. I doubled up on the ground holding my head between my hands. I felt like I was going to die.

"Tala what are you doing you need to get up!" My head started to feel a bit better as I opened my eyes to see it was Josh. He held out a hand for me to grab as he pulled me up on my feet. I still felt a little light headed. "Are you ok?"

"Y-yeah I'm fine." I lied.

"Good cause we..." He trailed off as he looked up in the sky. Following his line of sight I saw why he had stopped talking. There was a huge pink-purple black ball in the sky. Without saying another word I ran for home unaware if Joshua was following me or not.

As soon as I made it to my door step I threw open the front door and ran inside yelling for my mom. There was no answer and I was really starting to worry until I heard something in the living room. It was so dark in here that I couldn't see anything. That was until I saw something move. Going towards the darkened figure and putting my hands out in front of me, I was able to touch my mom. I was so happy that I put my arms around her in a hug.

"Awe are you that happy to see me Tala?" An evil raspy man voice came out of my mom's mouth. But as the figure put a dark bull of light in front of me, I let go and realized it was not my mom but some old man with yellow eyes and silver gray hair with a matching goatee. He wore white gloves and had one some kind of black clothes on.

"W-who are you and where is my mother?" I asked the strange man. He gave me the most evil grin that I have ever seen.

"Your mother is here just not in this house or should I say in this world. It's a shame really seeing as how she had some important things to tell you."

"What do you mean?"

"Your memories my dear Tala. Memories that you can't seem to remember. Your mother had the answers but now she is gone." His smile was growing creepier by the minute. I found myself backing up until I hit the wall. "But do not fret I have the answers you seek as well."

"How do you know all this, how do you know me?" I found myself whispering.

"I can tell you all you want to know if you just come with me." Yellow eyes said as he held out his hand for me to take. I was scared so scared I didn't know what to do but in light of all that I found myself walking towards him with my hand stretched out to take his. "That's right come closer my dear and I will show you my Keyblade."

I was just a couple of inches away from him when something or someone knocked me down. My head felt foggy as if I was dreaming. Whoever knocked me down pulled me to my feet as my head felt normal again. I looked at the person who tackled me to see that it was JOSHUA?!

"What the hell Josh I had everything under control!"

"Under control not from where I was standing. You were being pulled in to the darkness!"

"What are you talking about Joshua this guy knows who I am I have to…."

"KEYBLADE!" He said and pointed at Joshua. "I was just gonna show her my Keyblade. It's long and very hard." He winked at me as he said that.

"That's just wrong and nasty!" I said confused. I had no clue what the hell was going on but before I could ask I noticed that it was raining purple dark balls out side and the houses and buildings around were disappearing.

"Well it seems my time is up," He said as a dark portal opened up behind him. "We will meet again!" and with that he was gone. I turned to Joshua but before I could ask him anything little black things with yellow eyes started to pop up everywhere and I was being dragged down through the floor. But it was no longer a floor it was a dark puddle. The last thing I saw was Joshua reaching for me and a blinding light that seemed to go on forever before the world around me went black.

Meanwhile on Destiny Islands….

~Riku's POV~

"Come on Riku, Kairi is waiting!" Sora yelled at me. It was never quite around with Sora that's for sure. Stretching I got out of my bed and got ready for the day. It was weird being back home after everything that had happened. But Sora and Kairi treated me no different as if nothing had ever happened. In some ways I wish they would treat me the way I know I should be treated but if I told Sora that he wouldn't believe it was true.

Smiling to myself I raced after Sora and hopped in a boat to go to the island that we always hung out at. It seemed like it was eons ago that we all wanted to build a raft and see other worlds now that we all had it was different. We knew what was out there. Sure Sora had the better deal, save the world become the hero while I was consumed by darkness but that was the past. Or so I wish I could truly believe that that part of my life was over.

The boat ride from the main island to our island wasn't long and for the most part it was noisy as Sora could never seem to shut up. But I wasn't really listing to him so much as I was looking towards the sky. The path I walk is the path to dawn.

"Hey Riku you ok? You haven't really been yourself here lately, is something wrong?" One question right after the other I found myself smiling, Sora will always be Sora.

"I'm alright. What about you, have you asked Kairi out yet?" I asked my friend as he started to blush.

"What, I, well, I….um…you see…..I…..I'm getting to it ok. Gee Riku you don't have to ask me every day ya know." I laughed at that. I was glad to have a friend like Sora. When we were kids we used to fight over Kairi but in the end she had feelings for Sora. At one time I would have been jealous but after all that has happened I had come to realize they deserve one another. "Come on man Lighten up. Ever since we got back who've kept that distanced look on your face."

"Don't worry I'm ok you should just worry about Kairi." I smiled at my silly friend.

"What you mean by that?"

"He means you're late as usual Sora." Kairi said as she came to greet us. It was the same everyday Sora and Kairi would joke with one another while I had time to think about all that has happened in the past year.

"So Riku, Sora says you've been down lately. You do know that what had happened no one holds it against you and besides that's behind you now. We're all together again." Kairi said to me as she smiled. I was grateful for their concern. But it was ill placed. They may not hold it against me but how can I forgive myself for what I had done.

"Yeah man Kairi's right. We're all together again that's all that matters so cheer up." Sora gave me his goofy smile and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah your right. So what are today's plans Kairi?"

"Hmm nothing really just thought we could spend the day together. It's been forever since we could just be like this." Kairi smiled as the wind blew through her long reddish hair. It was nice being the same spot and yet it brought back memories of a better time. Where Sora and I were always pushing one another to become stronger; better than the other. And then it was also where we had parted. Sora went his way and I went mine.

I went searching for Kairi but she was out of my reach. Sora was the one who was meant to rescue her. Looking at him now, seeing him with that silly grin of his makes me feel warm inside and it also tells me I'm home.

"Hey guys you want to play with me?" I turned my head to see that it was Tidus. He had his wooden stick he uses as a sword. Sora of course had to put his two cents in it.

"Sure I'm game. Just don't cry when I win."

"Ha whatever Sora! Bring it on!"

So here I was watching two friends fight like old times. Kairi on the other hand kept telling Sora to take it easy now that he had the Keyblade but I didn't think he was listing to word she was saying to him. Seeing as how Tidus weapon went flying out of his hands and flew into the water.

"Awe man. Looks like you gotten stronger Sora," Tidus said as he went to retrieve his sword. "But you're still no match for Riku!" At that I had to laugh. Sora had beaten me more than once. Maybe not in a physical way but in other ways.

"Can you believe that guy?! Said I couldn't beat you."

"Hahaha I don't know Sora you probably could if I take it easy on you." I joked. He crossed his arms over his chest as he thought that over before that goofy grin crossed his face.

"Yea you're right." After that Sora hopped back on the tree to watch the sunset. It was like old times, Sora, Kairi and I watching the sunset while they sat on a tree and I stood by it.

After the sun began to set Kairi said that we were to meet here every day no matter what before we headed back to the main island. Sora told Kairi he would race her and she took off before he got to three leaving him in the dust. I laughed as I took my time and walked to the boat but I didn't get far as I heard something. It was a figure in a black cloak like the ones the Organization wore.

"Who are you?" I asked the hooded figure.

"Someone from the darkness."

"What do you want why are you here?" I said as my Keyblade appeared in my hand.

"My my aren't we eager." The figure said. "We both know where you truly belong Riku."

"How do you know my name!?"

"We are no different you and I." He said as he removed his hood. It was a figure from my nightmares, Ansem. "I see that you are not happy to see me. Your story in all this isn't over nor is your friends. For we have something in store for Sora."

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you come with me?"

"No I'll never go with you!" I said as I rushed at him to strike him down. I thought that he was a figure from my mind seeing as I would always wake up and see him there but he was here truly here. And it seemed as if Sora and Kairi couldn't see him or they didn't realize it yet.

"Well I'm sorry to hear that but darkness calls to darkness!" I stopped a few inches from him at those words.

"You saying I called you here?" I asked as he opened a dark portal to leave this world. "Answer Me!" I yelled at him as he left through the portal. It wasn't till then that I heard Sora yell my name. I turned around to see that he was running towards me with his Keyblade out.

"Riku who was that?"

"It's alright Sora he's….." Before I could finish the ground fell before my feet as darkness swallowed me yup. I watched as Sora yelled my name and reached for me but it was too late. The darkness had taken me once again.

TBC….