(A/N): Aaaaaand after a long break (that was not a break at all, let me tell you, work has me grabbed by the balls) I'm finally uploading something else! Sorry if it's not from the other fic, but writter's block and stress can do a number with my imagination, but I got fresh ideas for this fic, in this fandom, after getting, at last, everything done in the BBS game, and also gaining a beta!

Awsome beta for this fic: Kog6943

If you like Kingdom Hearts and Naruto, check his crossover, really good one, it's on top of that crossover fandom, so it's not hard to find, it's called 'Twilight key', and I'm happy for having him as my beta.

Second chapter of what will, probably, be a long yourney, even if Shinzo looks like messing everything up even from now, believe me, it has a lot to exploit plot wise, mixing everything in every game during this timeframe.

Any doubts or anything you can't understand, and/or looks quite dubious here in the explanations, don't doubt to leave a review and send me a PM, I will patiently answer your questions, when I have time to (full time work and all that real-world crap)

Cookies for those who can catch the pattern in the chapter titles, and another for those who can tell every real-world refference Shinzo makes in this chapter.

Warning!: Mayor spoilers for the BBS game here, some crazy theories that can actually fit in the KH explanations, mayor madness on the OC (maybe a bit of SI there, hehehe) and lots of references to other random stuff.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything mentioned here, besides the plot, If I did I would be on a house in Malibu drinking an apple Martini, not working on a rainy day T.T

ON WITH THE STORY! :D


"When life becomes a play and I don't know the role I cast, it's all wrong, but I cannot escape before the curtain call..."

Larger than life – Sonata Arctica (Pariah's Child)


Chapter 2: The Promised Beginning

Last time we left our heroes... hehehe, always wished to say that.

My introduction to the -once-radiant-garden-now-hollow-bastion gang was... ehhh... how to say it...

'Not as bad as it could have potentially been' will work for now.


Flashback

The reaction I got after my cheery, good natured and loud greeting was an elbow to the gut, my body thrown to the floor, a knee on my back, a gun blade pointed to my face, and... Something poking at my-

Wait, isn't it Yuffie who's on top of me right now?

Oh, never mind, it was just some sort of pointy ninja weapon, because discovering that kind of... secrets this way would be awwwwwkward.

"Guys, wait! He's with us! He's a friend!"

Took you long enough buddy, the time you needed to react was enough for them to gut me if they wished to, but this is a K-rated game too, and if anything, these only scar you mentally, not show you an ounce of blood.

"Yup! A-hyuck, he's our buddy Shinzo."

Goofy, Mon ami, this time I'll ignore the fact that you sounded quite happy to see me in this position because your words are helping, and because you're... well, goofy.

Donald squawked something I couldn't understand from my current position, but it sounded supportive, and I could see from the corner of my eyes both Sora and Goofy nodding.

"You see? Even feathered liver is on my side-"

"Hey!"

"So, could you please remove your body from my back? That thing poking my thigh is getting more and more uncomfortable... and awkward."

Yuffie jumped from my back as if realizing I was AIDs given form while making faces; Squall just sighed and removed his sword, and I could swear that sigh sounded like him rubbing his temples, if that makes any sense.

As I rose to my feet their expressions came to my line of sight, and even if I had tried to stop it, the laugh would have come out anyway.

Donald was shaking his head in annoyance, Goofy was blushing and scratching his neck awkwardly, Yuffie along with Aerith were blushing too, but while the ninja was giving me a dark glare, the brunette was giggling with a hand over her mouth.

Leon looked like he would rather be dealing with heartless than here, and Cid had a wide grin on his face.

"I like your style kiddo, the name's Cid."

And then, innocent Sora made his voice known.

"Hey, hey, why did Yuffie react like that?"

Cue the massive sweat drop.

"That, Sora, is something only the grownups can understand. Sucks to have been sleeping for so long, right? C'mon, show me you're a grown up."

His grownup reaction was to pout, cross his arms, and give me a glare.

"You seem to know them very well... mind sharing the story?" I was slightly startled by the question from our stoic swordsman friend.

"You don't look like the kind of people who enjoy stories."

"Looks can be deceiving, don't you think?"

What the hell Squall? You DO look like the kind of people who hates to sit and listen stories! Such is the charm of emo people.

If there's something that irks me more that kicked puppies and kittens, or lag in on-line games, THAT is emo people.

I mean, come on! I've got more than enough shit in my life to be all 'Ohhh, look at me, I'm darker than fucking Batman' but here I am, and then come these guys all 'A car popped my soccer ball, life has no more meaning' bleh.

Well, Squall had me trapped in a glaring contest for the last five minutes and my eyes are starting to water, and the guy won't leave me alone, it seems.

Better throw him a bone before-

"We met him on the world we woke up in!"

That was Sora, for those who were wondering, and I can work with what he just said, not what I had in mind, but useful anyway.

"Actually, I've known them for a while. Some time after they were done with that prima donna of a heartless that called itself Ansem, to be exact, but unfortunately the same reason that sent them to sleep made them forget about that, so meh."

"And you joined them, because..."

Damn you Squall Lionheart, damn you.

"Because he's also a keyblade wielder, right Shinzo?"

"Yeah, yeah, absolutely." Because of course I'm also a- Wait, what?

"Prove it."

Damn it Sora! And damn you too Squall, again! Why you have to go all elder brother with Sora? Can't you see I'm as harmless as a boy scout? Well, maybe like an armed boy scout, but my point stands!

Time to pull a Deus ex Machina to save my ass, and then make sure it is Sora who needs to have his ass saved.

"You sure you want to see it? It may surprise you guys, especially you three..."

"Don't worry" reassured Sora "We're friends, no matter what."

Yeah, sure, say the same when there's no keyblade and you look like a liar... Well, this is supposed to be my dream, so I should have control over it, right?

Just rise your hand Shinzo, breath deep, in, out, calm down, and reach for that tiny thing beating inside your chest, that should-

Click

What the-!

"Darkness!"

No shit, Sherlock. Instead of the flashy flash that signaled Kingdom Key appearing, something cloudy and stormy formed in my hand, and a handle appeared there, so doing the obvious thing I grasped it and the thing took solid form.

And the winner is...

"Void Gear? I remembered you more... void, but glad to see you here."

"Shinzo…?"

"Yeah?"

"That's your keyblade?"

"Well, I summoned one and this one popped up, so make your guess... -sigh- But first let me guess, even if you know I won't harm any if you - no, I won't Leon, you can lower your fancy weapon now - a part of you feels scared and angry seeing Void Gear here. Am I wrong?"

"You... no... How you know?"

"It was the same the first time you saw it, and it took some time - and lots of bad jokes - to make you comfortable around it. Now, after all the research I've done there might be an explanation..."

"Then tell me why."

"Nope."

"Why?"

"Because you're not ready."

"Why?"

"Because first you need to remember some stuff."

"Why?"

"Because it is important for this to work correctly."

"Why?"

"Sora, you're becoming annoying."

"... Why?"

I was about to hit him in the head with Void Gear - What? You expected me to be all amazed and worried I'm wielding Vanitas' weapon? Pfff, you should know better.

I needed a keyblade; this one appeared; now I'm a happy camper. End of the story.

Anyway, as I was about to smack Sora, something caught my attention. He was smirking smugly, and the others were chuckling, any worry about my keyblade gone for the moment from their heads... with the exception of Squall, who was still giving me the evil eye.

Fine, fine, I'll admit I'm a tiny itty bitty curious about how I ended with Void Gear, but not enough to make big fuzz out of it.

Happy now?

"If you ask 'Why' one more time, I'll remind you of how overpowered evil weapons are."

That shut him up.

"So... Are you a wielder of darkness?" That was Aerith, and unlike a certain emo guy, she sounded more curious than wary.

Ever sweet Aerith, too bad I can't tell yet who killed you in the other game…It was either Sephiroth (with the sword that compensates for something else, if you know what I mean), or Cloud (who thought you were already dead and killed you in a waaay crueler way than being impaled by a two-meter-long sword).

Believe me, since both characters appear in this game, if I knew... hehehe... an armed boy scout indeed, always eager to help...

"I can wield darkness as good as anyone in this room could" Or at least I hope so, if you catch my point. "As for why Void Gear is my keyblade... I would rather keep that to myself for the moment."

First let me find out that myself and then I can tell you.

"I don't think it's-"

"I'm sure everyone here can understand your reservation on that topic, right?"

There was a round of nods in the room, except for a certain someone all can recognize now, I'm sure, but if not then take a guess, I'll even give you a clue.

He has no gun and no blade, but yet he does!

If you answered Cloud, you deserve to be sucked into 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and become its female protagonist.

"Especially Leon" Aerith continued after spotting said man, still smiling pleasantly "Right?"

"Ehhh... I don't-"

"Right?" There! Can you see the small strain on her smile, and the bead of sweat rolling down from Squall's forehead? I knew the 'I'm emo cuz' I've lost everything' facade was just to mask his sulking at being whipped by Aerith.

I still don't like him.

"Sure..." I'm sure not even Sora bought that, but Aerith seemed pleased by the answer, and after that she turned to us again while rummaging for something in her pockets.

"I'm sorry there's not one for you Shinzo, but we weren't aware Sora had another friend, so you'll have to wait for yours" And then she pulled out the 'Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee' official membership cards for Sora, Donald and Goofy.

"You didn't know I existed until I slammed that door, why would you give me one of those cards?"

"Well, you're friends with these three-"

"Hey! These three have names ya' know, Yuffie."

"Yah, yah, whatever. The thing is, if you're good enough to be their friend, you're good enough to be ours, right Squall?"

"It's Leon..." He replied more tired than angry, surely not being used to being the center of attention. "Can you th... four meet me at the Bailey? There's something I want to show you." And not even waiting for an answer, he walked past us and out of the house.

Prick.

"Hey guys, how can you deal with happiness incarnate over there?" Yuffie snorted and Aerith giggled, Cid just mumbled something like 'with a lot of patience'.

Seeing no more reason to keep it out, I wished Void Gear to leave and it did, quite practical if you ask me, and headed to the door, just in time for a cloud of smoke to explode in my face, someone else besides me choking with it.

By the sound of the coughs - old - I would say Merlin has arrived... man, how old is this guy? He was already old when Aqua, Terra and Ventus visited Radiant Garden, in this same exact house, and that was like 12 years ago!

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry for that, Sora. I wasn't aware-"

"Ehhh, I'm over here Merlin."

"Then, who's this young man we have here?"

"The name's Shinzo, old man. Don't waste it."

"Old man? Youngster, let me tell you I'm just over a hundred and fifty years, the prime for us wizards!"

"'Just'? What, you helped Ansem the Wise build Radiant Garden? No wonder you were around when the other trio came around here."

"Sorry I'm not following you, but what are you babbling about boy?"

Hehehe, oops? For an old man he sure has good ears, but thankfully I was just mumbling to myself, so the others should not have been able to hear it.

"Ah? Never mind, just thinking out loud."

The wizard just gave a quizzical look for some seconds, then turned to Sora and started to pester him about his magic as if nothing happened. In the end, I was dragged along with Sora in front of the wizard, who waved his wand in at us while muttering something under his beard, and then I felt, for a second or two, how Eskimos would feel naked in the middle of the ice.

Guess now I can cast blizzard.

"I've given you the basic knowledge of the blizzard spell, how you apply it or how you improve it is now up to you."

"Boys, isn't Mr. Sunshine waiting for ya'?"

Yup, that was Cid.

End Flashback


And so we are, at the moment, running through the streets, making our way to the Bailey... when this place used to look nice I think this way led to the fountain court? Or was it to the main square? This place has really gone down the sewer... Hehe, you get it? Because it was water everywhere before... Ok, never mind.

After getting up to the Bailey and spotting Squall on that box-like room, Sora and Co. ran to catch up with him, while I lingered back and got there at my own pace, thinking about what to do now. If memory serves me well, then not long after Sora reaches Squall, good ol' Xemny and the band of the ridiculous six would pop up, introduce us to some their lesser Nobody friends, and do the 'sarcastic evil guy' routine, then Xigbar - Way cooler name than Braig in my opinion - would start messing with poor Sora's head.

Well, who tells the kid to make a 24-hour open hotel out of his heart?

"Hey, Shinzo, come look at this!"

Talk about the devil and ye' shall be rewarded. Well, I ran the meager four meters separating us and looked out through the 'window' he was pointing at, jaw slack I must add.

That earned an elevated eyebrow from me, and since I can't recall this part of the game clearly, well, let's see what's behind curtain number one.

"Holy sweet ghost of Michael Jackson! Please, tell me that's just a combination of terrible sewerage system management and deep hate for Maleficent, because I would rather deal with a case of intoxication for bad disposal of wastes and dark water than dealing with so many heartless at once."

At least for now...

Remember the battle against a thousand heartless in the game? Well, those heartless had looked as harmless as kittens compared to the real deal here... The shadows gathering around what once was Maleficent's castle indeed looked more like a mass of dark water with lots of shiny yellow orbs everywhere.

The sight is... intimidating, to say the least, besides of anti-hygienic.

Squall started talking again, but I was far gone at the moment to mind him, thinking... Void Gear is a strong weapon, no doubt about it - You were awarded with it after dealing with half an hour of Vanitas' lingering spirit antics, namely annoying after images and lots... LOTS of insta-kills, so it HAD to be good - but the trick is that a weapon is as good as its wielder. I'm no slouch when it comes to fighting with a weapon, - Where I live either you fight or you die, that simple – but I know that you don't exactly go swinging a sword, an odd one at that, left and right.

I would have continued my reverie if not for something slamming my side and sending me tumbling to the floor, shortly followed by a loud clang!

"Wake up kid, I'm no babysitter."

That was Squall all right, and by how he sounded he's either pissed off that I was not listening at him or- nope, just holding back a Samurai that would have, most likely, sent me to the Game Over screen had he not saved me. Damn, I was really distracted back there; I even missed Xemny's greeting and the nobodies spawning.

Not gonna happen again.

Without much thought, or options, I summoned Void Gear and grabbed the handle in a reverse grip, like I do with a dagger, and without caring about poses or stances jumped into the fight, quite literally, making a Dusk disappear with a downward slash, helped by the fall.

Void Gear is, surprisingly for its length and bulk, as light as my usual daggers, and that really helped my situation here, 'cuz it made it easier to deal with the annoyingly flexible Dusks and ridiculously fast slashes of the Samurai, and even if I wasn't left unscratched - Dusks arms and legs are sharp, and their heads are hard - it was going better than expected.

How the hell Sora manages to block all those strikes with just a hand beats me... Videogame logic for the win I guess.

After a couple more evil minions were gone, I chanced a glance to the others and saw that Squall was quite fine on his own, Sora on the other hand...

"Watch out!"

I was moving even before my brain really worked out the information. A Samurai had sneaked its way behind Sora while he was trying to hit an especially squirrelly Dusk, already preparing its blades for what would be a nasty combo on Sora's exposed back.

Those blades looked sharper than the Dusks arms or legs, I could tell.

Somehow, when I noticed what I had done, I was already in midair between the Samurai and Sora, receiving a nasty and deep gash, with one blade, in the arm that was holding Void Gear, which in turn was blocking the second blade.

Damn it Sora; look at what you made me do.

Not a second later, as I landed heavily on my good arm, Squall was making that Samurai disappear with a blast of fire, and Sora turned to see me with an expression you would only find in a soap opera.

The next second the brunette was by my side helping me up, and when I turned to thank him...

"Damn it, Sora!"

With whatever strength I had left in my arm I swung the keyblade towards his face, stopping it just in time to make a thin cut on his cheek, letting a single drop of blood fall from it...

And vanish the Dusk that was about to impale him with its arms.

Just in time, too, for my arm to go limp and fall by my side, releasing Void Gear and making it fall to the floor, clattering once before disappearing.

Oh, also, the amount of blood coming out of the wound in my arm is not healthy... I'm actually feeling a bit dizzy...

"Tell me, does this hurt?"

"Ugh, damn, that hurt Squall."

"Good, it has not gone numb. Give him a potion Sora, if you have any. We need to stop the bleeding."

"Y-yeah, here, drink this." And he shoved the bottle into my mouth... still corked.

"Sora... the cork..."

"Oh, yeah... hehehe, sorry... now drink it. Donald!"

Man, the kid's a mess, it's a miracle his hand's not shaking by how nervous he- oh, never mind.

"Sora! Are you- Shinzo?"

"Yeah... that's... my name, don't... waste it."

"Shut up, the potion has stopped most of the bleeding and the tourniquet I've applied with your sleeve is also helping, but the injury is still an ugly one, you shouldn't be making jokes. Donald, can you help him?"

"I-I'm dry of magic from the fight... what happened?"

"He got injured protecting Sora. You have another potion?"

"I-I think-"

"Sora! Another potion, yes or no?!"

"Yes! Yes... here Shinzo... sorry, if I wasn't distracted-"

"Don't worry" I said, finishing the potion "You got my back more than enough times for me to willingly jump between you and enemy fire, it's only fair" And thanks to those potions I feel good enough to, at least, stand up, but when I tried to do so Squall and Sora stopped me.

"Don't move, the bleeding has stopped but the wound is still open, so it can start bleeding again if you move too much. Donald?"

"I think I can now... Heal!"

And warmth enveloped me, making me feel better, even if not at hundred percent, and nobody stopped me from standing up this time.

Now to see how bad-

"Maaaaan, I loved this hoodie! Now it's ruined and has blood all over it! Those stains are a pain to clean."

"It's good to know you have your priorities clear." Squall said with humor, HUMOR! Can you believe it? "What about the scar?"

"Not enough magic to make a full healing, sorry."

"Meh, not the first, not the last, we're cool... Now, if you could fix my hoodie that would be great."

"B-but Shinzo! It's huge!" That was worried Sora, and I'm starting to dislike worried Sora. But indeed, the scar is quite long, from a bit under the shoulder all the way down to the elbow. In my opinion, it's not that bad, and even quite cool from a certain perspective.

Kudos for a good job out of a half-done one, Donald.

"Sora, calm down. You may not remember it, but I really, really, owed you that" Even if not for the reasons you may be thinking about. "I'm fine, nothing worse than a wounded pride, and I can live with that... Now, if you really feel that bad, then find a way to fix my hoodie and we're fine, ok?"

He only got to nod because whatever he was about to say was cut by none other than our favorite villain... Gru! No, wait... Xemny!

"Such a touching moment, it almost made me shed a tear." A chorus of chuckles followed and we all ran outside to meet the organization in all their hooded glory... Or at least the remaining ones.

No wait, there's Axel without his hood... Man, the guy works fast. Well, time to pull those skillz that will award me an Oscar one of these days. Leonardo Di Caprio and his five nominations can kiss my ass.

"Axel! You're with them? You double-faced bastard!" And to add some effect to the scene I summoned Void Gear as I spoke, just for good measure... And to gauge the reaction of three vessels within our hooded public.

"Ouch, talk about overkill. Nice to see you again kiddo, I get you'll no longer miss me?"

"Shinzo? Who-"

"Hmmm... that keyblade... such a marvelous weapon... is it in capable hands?"

Oh, you're talking about Void Gear? Maaaayyybeeee, but for the moment you'll have to content yourself with being mind fucked by yours truly.

"That voice... master?" Everyone stiffened, of that I'm sure "Nah, you're not that old coot. Then you must me his little side-project. Tell me, how did 'protecting your friends' go? Well, even if you can still call them like that in your current situation, booo-hooo. Would they even still be calling you their friend?"

"Don't you dare talk about Ven or Aqua like that, Vanitas!"

Oh ho ho! What have we got here? Was that Terra's voice? But the moment's gone and Xemny takes a step backwards and brings a hand to his - I guess - mouth, remember, hood's up, then snarled and escaped through a corridor of darkness.

And the crowd goes wild with how that play went!

No, actually there's a stunned silence while everyone tries to wrap their heads around what just happened.

"Well." Xigbar broke the silence "Look at what you did, nice going kid" And then he also went away, followed close behind by the rest of the organization.

Axel gaped at me for some more seconds before grinning widely and giving me a salute, also vanishing through a corridor.

"That could have gone sooooo wrong... I feel proud of myself."

"Could you please start explaining kid? Because the show you just played right here didn't gave me the appearance of you being our ally."

"Sure, sure, but first I must be sure you trust me, no matter what."

"You do realize I'm asking because you treated the enemy... No, you called their leader master?"

"And that redhead too, you're friends with him?"

Oh Donald, I love you too buddy.

"I trust him."

"You do? I mean, of course you do Sora, because all that was to make it easier for me to help you, ya' know."

"I fail to see how that works."

"Ahhh, if you want to know, you know the deal. Trust is quite important for me, you see."

"Well, if Sora believes in him, then I do too. We're a team, and that's what a team do, A-hyuck."

"-Sigh- Goofy's right. Besides, Sora is a good judge of character so I'll also believe in him."

"Thanks guys, that means a lot to me. Now how about you Mr. Leon?"

"... Against my best judgment I'll also trust in you, just because I trust in them."

I turned to the guy that made the miracle possible, ready to suggest going to Merlin's house, but then I saw in his eyes that he was still dubious, and looked at my scar every now and then as if it told him I was worth his trust.

So he was guilt tripped? Well... I can't say it's unexpected, but it still... hurts...

"Everyone sit down; this may take some time."

"Why don't we go to Merlin's?"

"Too tired, I could use the rest. Besides, I'm sure there are still people here who weren't wholly truthful, so better clear this up once and for all."

Sora noticed the glare in his direction, avoided my eyes and sit in the floor, along with Donald and Goofy, while Squall just leaned his gun blade, and himself, on a nearby wall, crossing his arms and closing his eyes.

"First, that redhead is Axel. Yeah, he's a nobody and everything, BUT he's on our side, and is a... spy, you could say, inside the organization."

"How are you certain of that? He may also be lying to you."

"Because I have the knowledge and means to bring back a couple of friends of his. That's why I'm sure of it."

"But Master Yen Sid-"

"I don't care what that guy said!... -sigh- Sorry Sora, I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

Wow, that trust thing really did a number on me... well, I've also always thought that Yen Sid was an ass.

"If this Yen Sid is who I think he is, then I wouldn't be surprised if he catalogues everything in black and white and be done with it. Even ten years ago, when all this started, he did nothing when his fellow Master was struck down, and the friendship of their students was so heavily damaged... You two should know what I'm talking about."

That last one was directed to Donald and Goofy.

"Huh? Why should we? I don't-"

"Eh, Donald? Don't 'cha remember that about ten years ago the king-"

"Shhhh! The king told us not to talk about that with anyone!"

Donald, if you're gonna scold someone whispering, then make sure first you're actually whispering.

"Not to talk about what?" The animated duo cringed at the slightly betrayed voice of Sora... It's not nice, is it? "Didn't you tell me not to hide anything from each other?"

"Sora, we-"

"Don't think they don't trust you Sora, they're just too loyal to their king to even consider disobeying a petition from him, made more as a friend than as their ruler." Both nodded, looking downcast and sorry "Luckily I'm not."

"Wha- You can't!"

"Donald, you may be my friend and everything, but let me make one thing clear... again. I value trust and friendship, true friendship, above all else, and if it means the safety of my friends I would strike a deal with Master Xehanort himself if necessary."

Really, I would.

"This information, even if not the same as yours, is directly related and it will help us now in dealing with Organization XIII."

When I turned to Sora, he was eyeing me like I was about to pounce at Donald and have lunch.

"Ten years ago Darkness manifested in different worlds, similar in how it happened a year ago, but instead of heartless these creatures were called 'the unversed'. And unlike them, they were worried only in causing mischief and chaos instead of consuming a world's heart. There are also, almost nonexistent, reports about a world called 'Land of Departure', where keyblade wielders were trained to become Masters, but look as much as you like it seems that world either never existed, or vanished from existence, because I couldn't find it anywhere... But the curious thing is that a certain file mentioned a perfect balance between light and darkness in that world, and the only other world that had a similar nature was, ironically, Castle Oblivion."

"Do you think-?"

"I'm not saying anything; besides I'm getting side tracked from the main topic here. Several worlds, a couple that you have visited before, Sora, talk about three friends that wielded strange weapons called keyblades, who helped deal with problems that troubled them at the time, either caused by the Unversed or by their own villains, each on different times, but looking for each other. Their names were Aqua, Terra and Ventus, or just Ven. But before that, there are also tidbits of information in other worlds about a 'Ventus' under the wing of one Master Xehanort."

"You keep speaking of this Master Xehanort as if talking of a disease. Who is he?"

Ah, Squall, I thought you were sleeping.

"About that... The last three Masters trained in the old ways, by who, I couldn't find, were Eraqus, Yen Sid... and Xehanort. A seeker, some places say, traveled the worlds looking for information of legends, of a war for the greatest light of all, in which light and darkness clashed to call forth its guardian, for he who conquered it would wield the very heart of the world, everything in it, and its power."

"Kingdom Hearts..."

"It is said that the seeker grew of age and power, but realized that his time would not be eternal, and that all the power and knowledge he accumulated would be lost when his time was up, so he retook the mantle of a Master, and took an apprentice with great promise that was saw even less times than his master, but held a high respect for him. Ventus."

Now I summoned Void Gear.

"As you heard before, this lil' boy is called Void Gear, and was once wielded by a guy called Vanitas, better known as 'The Masked Boy'. When I first gained the ability to wield it, I also got... memories, I guess, from Vanitas. At first I could not make head or tails of it, and then I lost many of them in Castle Oblivion, I'm sure, because there are big holes where I'm sure once was a complete picture, but with what I learned during your time sleeping the bits still there now make sense... The unversed were Vanitas' negative emotions given form, and he spread them in the worlds to lure Ventus out of Land of Departure, to make him stronger, all by orders of his master."

"Let me guess, Xehanort was his master."

"Yup! Right on the nail Leon."

"Wait, I'm getting lost here. Wasn't Ventus apprentice of Xehanort too? Then how did he end up in the Land of Departure? And who was his master then? And why would they wish him to become stronger?"

"I don't know the how, just that Ven ended under Eraqus' care and then became friends with his other two students, Terra and Aqua... And now that I think about it, it's funny how similar you are with how people in other worlds describe Ventus, but I digress. They wished him to become stronger because if he could fight against Vanitas on equal ground, given the strength of their respective light and darkness, and a link between them I can't remember, the x-blade would be forged... the 'guardian' of Kingdom Hearts, and the Keyblade war for Kingdom Hearts would start, light trying to protect it, and darkness out to consume it... All so the bastard could see what happened afterwards."

"I can see part of the picture, but... you said Xehanort was old, but you called the leader of the Nobodies 'Master', trying to make him think you Vanitas, and his voice was young... but that moment he called you Vanitas... and you said... how?"

Brain explosion much, Squall? Your face right now could be used as definition for meltdown, really, all wide-eyed and mouth open, but I share the feeling, realizing your main villain for two games was actually two parts of a possessed good guy.

Damn you, Square Enix and Disney for mind fucks like that one.

"I thought he didn't manage it, but after Ansem I was suspicious, and now he confirmed it. Xehanort wished to see the end of the keyblade war no matter what, but he knew he was too old to reach the day, so he found a way to cheat death... Sora here can give a firsthand testimony of how well a keyblade can release hearts. But what is usually unknown is that when either light or darkness are really strong in a heart, it can use the light or darkness of other one as a vessel, and depending on how strong it is, it can simply lay dormant within, or overpower it and take absolute control."

Cue the massive gasp.

"The old coot forced the darkness in Terra to grow so much it could match his own, even if for totally opposite reasons, so he could use it to possess him and live on... And it seemed he managed it, but now... apparently Terra still struggles within the Nobody now that most of the darkness is gone with the Heartless."

"So much harm done... just because he was curious?"

I know, Squall. Makes you want to bash his face on a hot frying pan.

"Now, Donald, Goofy, could you please tell me what happened with Aqua and Ventus?"

"Gwarsh Shinzo, I really would, bit 'ya hafta 'nderstand the king-"

"It's no use now, Goofy. He knows more than us, and that information will really help us. sigh The king brought back Aqua and Ven to Master Yen Sid's tower after the fight, but Ven was sleeping and wouldn't wake up."

"Yeah, 'n Master Yen Sid said that Ven's heart was lost, so he had ta sleep until he got it back, then Aqua said she would take him somewhere safe 'n then would look for Terra. After that, she left and I'm not sure I remember anything else."

"Because there was nothing else, you big palooka. That was the last time we saw them."

I couldn't stop the smile that came to my face, the chance of, for once, doing something good for someone else fueling it, and dream or not it would, at least, dull a bit the ache…

"So, there's still hope…" And turning to Sora, "And you, my friend, are the link to all…"

"What do you mean?"

"Not yet, remember? 'Tis a heavy burden, the one of knowledge, but I'm sure in due time you'll be ready for it, and I'll be there with you to help shoulder it. Deal?"

I extended my hand to him, and for a moment Sora looked hesitant to shake it, but then his face lit up and nodded, shaking my hand eagerly.

"Deal. I trust you will."

On a side Squall chuckled, CHUCKLED! D'awwww, we're thawing his frozen heart.

"That's a lot to take in, thanks for sharing the information Shinzo." I just waved my hand "Let's head back to the house, that scar still looks like it can be looked at and I'm sure Aerith will gladly do so."

And with that, he shouldered his gun blade and started walking back, Donald and Goofy right behind him, lost in their own little world deep in thought and surely digesting the bomb I dropped them, all that 'possessed Terra' stuff.

Thank the light they bought everything I said, or were too shocked by the facts to the point that that they didn't noticed when I pulled most of the 'information' out of my ass to make my cover work and fit the real facts.

And now here's Sora.

"Hey, Shinzo… I wanted to-"

"Save it, Sora. Yeah, it hurt that you said you trusted me out of guiltiness, but I won't hold that on you. Even if you said we were a team and all that, I'm still a stranger to you guys, so it's natural there's not that bond that allows total trust… Like I said, trust is really important to me and I would do anything for those who have mine, so I hope that from now on I can win yours."

Too bad I can only recall one person that ever entered in that category, and I indeed gave everything for the bastard…

"Shinzo…"

"For the umpteenth time, yeah, that's my name, don't was- oofff!"

Did he just… hug-tackled me? What the hell! WHAT TO DO?! Do I hug him back? Wouldn't that be weird? B-but he did it first! W-why would he- Well, now he released me, and looks like a tomato.

"S-sorry, I d-didn't… it's just that… all you said, you sounded so sad… so lonely…"

Even in the safety of my dreams I can't let that go, can I?

"-Sigh- Don't worry, you caught me off guard, that's all… Thanks, I needed one of those… I think." I wouldn't be surprised if I'm blushing right now. 'Tis the power of awkwardness, so we are in need of the manly finisher to this sappy moment, the always trusty punch in the arm.

"Buddies?"

Aaaand he punched me back… in the injured arm… ouch.

"Buddies."

"Hey, watch it! That arm is still sore!"

"Sorry, you fine?" That smirk tells me you're not sorry, at all… At least yet.

"Yeah, just pain I can deal with, I'll survive… You on the other hand…" Input the menacing crack of knuckles, as I assume the 'I'm gonna punch you' position.

Cue Sora's frightened smile and loud gulp.

"W-what are you thinking?"

"Oh, nothing," I took a step forward, making Sora take on backwards. "just that soon you'll know how sore I am… look, I'm in a good mood, so I'll give you a head start of five."

"H-head start of f-five?"

"Four, three, two-"

"Leoooooooooon!"

"Run my little prey, run! Mwaaaahahahaha!"

Man, that punch hurt, if I just had my- wait… hold on a second there… I've been slashed, injured, I've bled and felt the blood loss, and now I've got a nice scar, which itches and hurts a bit… and I'm still dreaming?

It's just a very, very detailed dream… right?

… Right?