Hi guys!

I'm glad you're enjoying this story.

This is the chapter I was worried about younger kids reading.

Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

Alya and other OCs © to me!

Chapter 2: Choice of Light

Vanitas lay in the quiet house, alone. He wasn't asleep, but his mind roamed, trying to decide certain things.

The main thing on his mind was what he was to do now. He'd always done evil and walked in darkness but, he now had the choice to follow the way of light or darkness. He could do good and help others or go back to his old ways of causing pain.

For some reason, he didn't want to hurt Alya. It was possibly because she had opened up her home to him, when she didn't even know him.

His thoughts were interrupted as a scream echoed through the air. The man leapt to his feet and went and went quickly to the door; he opened it partially and looked out.

The full moon shone bright, illuminated the clearing before the small house and the scene which was taking place. Vanitas could easily see Alya and four burly men.

One man held the woman in his arms as she screamed for him to release her. The other men seemed to be taking off their belts and undoing their pants. Vanitas's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

The tallest and gruffest looking man approached Alya with a sick grin. "Oh come on, don't fight. All the others stopped fighting back a long time ago."

"NO! LET ME GO! HELP!"

"Go ahead, scream," The man reached out and grabbed the woman's dress, "No one's gonna help you… they never do." He pulled and ripped the top of her dress off.

As he reached to tear off the rest of her clothing, Vanitas knew he had to act. To his left hung a dark cloak; he threw the cloak over his shoulders and pulled up the hood before bursting out the door.

The men turned as he ran at them. In the moonlight, his golden eyes glowed, giving him a feral appearance. Vanitas launched dark fire at the man holding Alya, making him drop her. The others backed up as he stood guarding the woman, who knelt on the ground, covering her exposed chest with her arms.

"Wha… what are you!?"

"That is none of your concern," Vanitas growled savagely, "now why don't you get out of here. I really don't want to stain my host's perfect grass with four large red stains." The men stood there for a moment, looking between the woman they wanted to use and the man who stood before them, a dark fire now in his hand. It was only a moment later when they all turned-tail and fled into the woods.

Vanitas watched them go and then turned to Alya. She looked at him, still covering her upper body. "Th… thank you…"

Removing the hood, he nodded to her. "You're welcome…" He then removed the cloak and draped it over her. With that, the man walked back into the house and laid back down to sleep.

Alya drew with cloak about her and watched him go. She stood, smiling gratefully after him. No one had ever defended her from those men before. She made her way back inside, Vanitas lay on the pallet, eyes closed… had he fallen asleep already?

She pulled the cloak closer before speaking softly. "I don't know if you're awake or not, Vanitas, but, you've truly saved me. Every time they've come and… taken advantage of me, I died a little more on the inside. However, you saving me, gave me new hope and strength. So, truly, thank you…" With those words, she went into the other room and closed the door.

Vanitas opened his eyes and sat up. Was this how it felt to do good and help someone else? He could feel this strange joy inside; he, he liked it… it felt right… "What is happening to me?" He allowed a genuine smile to appear on his face, for the first time in his life.

Even though he traversed the darkness, he could still come into the light, and in the light, he would now stay.

That was a pretty intense chapter… short but intense.

Please review!

John 15:13

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."