Agrabah

Alleys: The Maze

2 years before Chain of Memories, 1and a half before Kingdom Hearts 1.

A red haired man and a blond haired woman were leaning against a wall. Neither looked like an Agrabean, both being much lighter skin wise and their hair were rare colors for this world. That was mainly because neither was from Agrabah. The woman came from Neverland, the non-Neverland side, which wasn't actually called Neverland, but London (1). The man, to the woman's amusement, came from Wonderland.

Both were dressed in loose clothes, the man in pants and the woman in a skirt cut to her mid-thigh and both had short-sleeved shirts. The woman also had a ragged leather belt which held a few daggers. Basically, your average 'street rat' weapons.

The man, however, had something not normally seen in Agrabah at all. A scythe, which was broken into three parts, but could easily be connected in battle.

Even odder than the man's weapon, however, was the duo's hobbies. The woman, in the rare, yet highly dangerous, thunderstorms would climb to the tallest building that she could get to. And in the 18 years she did that, starting from when she was six, she never was hit by lightning.

The man, on the other hand, was a gardener, which, in Agrabah, is rare. He could be seen in his small garden many hours of the day, pruning and watering. The woman hated that. And yet, despite their differences, the two were a team. They were considered skilled assassins, the woman distracting male targets and the man would kill them from behind.

One thing they refused to do was, as some other equally skilled might do, take money and valuables from their targets. The two agreed that they were paid enough and besides, if they took them, then the orphans would have nothing.

The woman opened her light blue eyes and grinned. "Lai, stormclouds."

The man, Lai, groaned. "You running off again, Nele? I thought you were gonna help me out today. Remember?"

"Whatever." She muttered. He sent her a half-hearted glare. "Fine. But when the lightning starts, I'm off."

"Deal."

These kinds of conversations were what the two spent the majority of their lazing time doing. Without their witty banter, they figured nothing would solve boredom..

The work that Lai had set out for Nele was basically to help him with his garden by, since he didn't trust her with weeding anymore (2), watering some of his…less fragile and valuable plants, meaning his few actual crops. Unfortunately, not many food plants can grow because of the sand and heat, so the blond would always be careful. Lai preferred that.

"Oi, Lai." The man grunted. "First, don't grunt, and two, when're we gonna leave Agrabah? The climate's not good for your plants and there's not enough thunder for me. Neither of us can last here much longer."

The man stood. "And how do you suggest we leave? A gummi ship will visit here every ten years or so, if we're lucky. And besides, we don't have nearly enough munny to get two people to the nearest world, which, if you forgot, seems to be your homeworld."

"I didn't get here by gummi, Lai. I… don't really know HOW I got here. One moment I was sitting on the roof of my house, wishing I could get away from there and then I was covered by this odd darkness… The next moment I was here, in this world. I've tried it a few times, but it didn't always work. It seems that it comes more now, though…. (3)"

The read head nodded. "Odd…. I believe I came in a similar way... Though I didn't create the passageway. I was wandering in the forest, avoiding all tea parties, cards, and cats, and I saw a black hole in one wall. I was uncharacteristically curious so I went through."

"Curiosity killed the cat, you know."

Lai smirked. "Ah, but satisfaction brought it back."

"You….. You…. You weirdo!"

"Only to you, my dear."

"I'm not your anything..." Nele muttered.

The man's smirk grew wider. "Believe what you wish, but you are mine."

She groaned. "Ugh, creepy old pervert…."

"I am not a pervert! And I'm only three years older than you!"

"You never said that you weren't creepy……"

"I'm not creepy either…" He pouted childishly, causing Nele to laugh. And laugh and laugh… Their laughter stopped, though, at the first sound of thunder. "About time it got here! See ya later, Lairuma!" The blonde let out another laugh as the redhead glared at the use of his full name, before jumping out the window in search for a tall building.

The man sighed. That girl made him feel old… "Whether you know it or not, Ranele, I am in your heart…" He stroked the petal of a pale yellow rose, smiling softly. His eyes wandered to the window, to the place where the electric blond disappeared. "And you are mine."

……………………………………

"Pfft, Lai's such a dork. He knows I don't like him like that." Ranele laughed. "I should give him credit, though. He is trying….Speaking of which…." She held out her palm, calling to that same darkness that brought her to Agrabah. Said darkness appeared, swirling hypnotically as she felt herself be pulled towards it.

……………………………………

A shadow smirked, watching the young woman enter the portal. "Perfect." The shadow disappeared into the darkness.

………………………………………

I know it's pretty short but I thought it was a good ending point. More soon.

1. Neverland is also known as London because the entire world is Neverland. Half of it doesn't even know of Neverland.

2. The reason he doesn't trust her with weeding will be in an extra I'll.

3. The more they use the portals, the more the darkness in their heart grows, allowing the portals to come easier.