Chapter 18 ~Yen Sid~
Xehanort will soon be returning soon not that both halves of him will be rejoined together in darkness. His Heartless, Ansem, his Heart that was lost; and his Nobody, Xemnas, his body that was left behind.
These boys have their work cut out for them. This journey won't be an easy one like their last ones.
And now they know the dangers of their journey. They know that they may never return. Sora knows that once he releases Ventus' Heart from his, that it may destroy his Heart. But he knows that it is what he must do.
I hope that it isn't so. I hope that they can be successfully separated, with minimal damage.
Good luck Sora, and Riku.
Chapter 19 ~Sora~
So that's why I felt someone out there was sad. It was Ventus, and I let him take refuge in my Heart. I was only four back then when it happened.
Master Yen Sid and The King said that it may be possible that my Heart will shatter when Ventus separates from my body. That I may be lost forever, and we won't be able to coexist together.
I hope that they are wrong, I want to free him, but I don't know how. I have to free him. I am who I am because of him. I can't let him suffer any longer.
But for Kairi's sake, please let me live through this.
Chapter 20 ~Kairi~
"Where am I?" I asked.
"Why you're in Merlin's house. He's a wizard, he's very wise but a bit silly."
I giggled at his remark. Then I saw Merlin and three other faces that I didn't know but seemed familiar. "This is Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid." He turned to face them now. "And this is Kairi." He gestured me so it only seemed appropriate to greet them.
"Nice to meet you." Then Aerith asked me the question that I was surprised Leon didn't ask me earlier.
"So, what world do you come from?"
"Huh? Oh...how did you know I'm not from here."
"Just a guess. You look a bit lost, like you don't know where you are."
"Yes, actually I'm not from this world, I live on Destiny Islands, I don't know exactly how far that is from here in...uh..."
"Radiant Garden." she finished for me.
"Right yes Radiant Garden. Hey, what a pretty name for a city."
"It is isn't it, that is the name it was called a long time ago, this world was full of light and happiness. But then this world was destroyed by darkness, and it was given a new name, Hollow Bastion. Then the world was saved by a young Keyblade wielder, but we still had problems with Heartless. Only recently was it that Sora returned to restore the light in this world. And so it was given back it's original name, Radiant Garden."
"Wow!" The story was amazing. "Wait. Did you say Sora? You all know Sora?"
"Why of course, he is our friend, and he saved us all." She looked at me in amazement. "How do you know him?"
"He's my best friend, he lives on the same islands as me."
"Oh that makes sense." Yuffie joined in the conversation. "Now I remember him mentioning you and his other friend..."
"Riku." I finished.
"Ah, yes that was it, Riku." She paused and then continued. "Yeah, he wouldn't shut up about you two." She winked at me, I could tell that she was a very spunky girl.
"Really?"
"You betcha!"
"So..." Aerith began, "what brings you here so far away from home?"
"Well...I know it sounds weird but, I heard this voice and it told me to follow it, and it led me here. He asked me if I wanted to know who I really am and why I ended up on Destiny Islands."
"What do you mean 'ended up'?" Cid said.
"Well, I wasn't born on the islands you see...one day I just washed up on the shore about ten years ago. Sora found me on the beach, and I can't remember anything from before. The oldest memory that I have is when Sora woke me up and rescued me from drowning in the ocean."
"Wow, that's amazing. Quite a story." Yuffie said eyes wide with astonishment.
"But I don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for exactly, or where to start looking."
"I know you'll find out who you are, you just have to have faith." Aerith said.
"Yeah, I think you're right. I'll do that. Thanks you guys. All of you." I said and turned heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" Merlin said.
I looked over my shoulder, "To find out the truth." and I walked out the door into a world that I didn't remember, but somehow knew.
Chapter 21 ~Selphie~
Where did Kairi go? I wonder where she is.
I know that ever since Sora and Riku came back from...wherever they were, we haven't been hanging out together, but you think she would say something if she was going somewhere.
She's been with Sora and Riku everyday since they returned. And now Tidus tells me that those two left again, without her. Again!
Poor, poor Kairi. Left by them again. I wonder how she's feeling, without Sora by her side. Oh, I can just imagine how she's feeling right now. She must desperately miss him, and want to be with him.
"...Wow. I wish I had a boyfriend like that. One that cares for you, and protects you, and lovesyou, and...and...oh, what am I doing? Dreaming about having a boyfriend. I'll never get a boyfriend. I'm stuck with these bozos on this island. Oh, and look...there comming over now."
"Hey Selphie, what's up." Tidus said with a smile.
"The sky." I said sarcastically.
"Gosh, sorry to bug you while you were...what are you doing?" He had a puzzled look on his face like he couldn't figure out how I was feeling. Men. They don't know how to understand our feelings.
I didn't answer him.
"Oh, I know what she was doing...she was daydreaming about her make-believe boyfriend." Wakka said with a chuckle.
"Shut up!" I said, more defensively than I had intended. "Leave me alone, I can daydream if I want to. So Buzz off!
"Okay, okay. Sorry miss bossy bee, We'll leave you and Mr. Make-believe alone." Wakka said, him and Tidus laughing as they turned and walked away.
"Good one Wakka." Tidus said as they walked away into the distance.
See, this is what I have to live with.
Chapter 22 ~Kairi~
I didn't know exactly where I was planning to go, but I left nonetheless. I wanted to stay at Merlin's house and hear all about Sora's adventure and the time that he had spent here in Radiant Garden, but I felt that it just wasn't my place. I mean, I was a complete stranger to them. I didn't want to be a bother.
So, I continued walking. I ended up somewhere that looked like a marketplace, but there was one thing missing...people.
Where had they all gone, was it closed today. I wonder...
Then suddenly I felt that there was something wrong. There was a reason why there weren't any people, and I had just discovered why everyone had gone.
Heartless.
Chapter 23 ~Riku~
I couldn't believe what The King and Master Yen Sid had just told Sora, a while ago. That he may not return home, and that there's another person's Heart inside of his. And that when they are separated, one of their Hearts could be destroyed in the process.
The thing that bugs me is that he knows that he could die, and he accepted it and said "Well if that's what happens let it be." I didn't think that it was Sora back there. I can't believe he is willing to accept fate like that so suddenly.
What about Kairi? What would happen if Sora was to die? He promised her that he was going to return home...both of us did.
I hope that Sora will survive in the end. For Kairi's sake.
Sora, you have to make it through this last journey, you just have to.
Chapter 24 ~Kairi~
I didn't know what to do. I was so scared. There were maybe a hundred Heartless, surrounding me. I had no weapon. Or so I thought...
I crouched to the ground, waiting for them to cover me, but suddenly there was a bright light, and all of the Heartless went flying backward, away from me.
I looked down and saw a Keyblade in my hands. A Keyblade? I had only used one once, in The Castle That Never Was when I saved Sora. It was the same one. But...how? I didn't understand why I was able to use it, but I didn't care.
I fought the Heartless, destroying every single one. I did it, I actually did it. I destroyed them, by myself. I wasn't useless after all. I could wield a Keyblade; just like Sora and Riku.
I could have gone with them all along. I could defend myself, I could fight. I couldtake care of myself.
And I will.
Chapter 25 ~Tidus~
As me and Wakka walked away, I wondered...why was she so irritable today? I wondered if we had gone to far, teasing her like that. I hope she knew that we were only kidding, we weren't trying to be mean, It just kinda came out that way.
Anyway...Where isKairi? I know that Sora and Riku left for some reason that I don't know, but Kairi was supposed to stay here with us.
Where did she go?
Chapter 26 ~Kairi~
I wonder why I could use the Keyblade is there a specific reason that I can use it? I wonder...
Oh forget it. I don't need to worry about this right at the moment. I need to find out how to off of this world, obviously there is nothing for me to learn about myself here.
"There's a way for you to be able to transport to another world."There was that voice again. Who was it?
"Please tell me." I sounded a bit desperate.
"When you are through searching for clues in a particular world, go through the Corridor that will appear before you."
"But how will it appear, how will the Corridor know when I am through?"
"When you are through with a world, summon it with your Heart, and it will appear."
"Alright." As I said this I turned around and did as I was told. I concentrated for a moment.
I am done here, please let me move on to the next world.
Chapter 27 ~Sora~
I knew what might happen to me, and I knew that my promise to Kairi could involuntarily be broken by fate.
Suddenly I felt a flood of emotions over me...
I felt...sadness, lonliness, helplessness, important, lost, and doomed.
