Disclaimer:

I own nothing but my OC(s). Everything else belongs to either Square Enix or Disney.

KINGDOM HEARTS: Of Days and Memories

Floor II

Disquieting

The lean one in the black coat chuckled at her scathing look. "What? Miss me already?"

Ari glowered, standing straight and letting her pulse even out from the room prior. "Shut up. Where is he?"

He pulled away from the pillar he was leaning against, taking long languid strides up the girl. "My my, watch that tongue pretty girl. I'm a good humored man, but not everyone will take to that sharp mouth you've got yourself, there."

She shrugged off the hand he brushed over her shoulder, turning with him as he circled her. "I won't ask again. Where are they?"

He shrugged. "Onwards. Down memory lane. A place you won't find, for all your pieces are still there, are they not?"

"Memory…lane." She faltered, eyes quick to look away and more so back to the stranger. "If he's moved on, then what am I doing wasting my time here with scum like you?"

She took to a run, up the stairs and through the hallway. Even so, she could still hear him call out to her in the lower hall she abandoned behind.

"Recklessly you pursue what cannot be obtained. His memories do not correlate with yours. When will you learn, kid?"

"Not here, either…" She sighed, slowing to a walk as she passed through the upper hall. "Dammit boys…learn to wait up."

She shook her head, trotting up the shallow steps and pulling the card from her pockets. "Well, I can only move forward." Eyes switching from the card to the double doors, she bit her cheek again.

'And then we're leaving this place. They're after Sora. I surmised that much. But why, and for what…it can't be good.'

And then, an icy chill ran down her spine like winter rain, resonating with the click of the unlocking doors.

'They want his Keyblade, and not mine…why…?'

A quick glance behind her, and she vanished past the doors, tugging them shut behind her. "I need to be quicker."

~.:*:.~

"You seem pretty intrigued by this Sora kid."

"Are you telling me you're not, Larxene?"

"Haven't decided yet… I think what intrigues me more, is what you see in him."

"…There was a time he became a Heartless. And if one becomes a Heartless-"

"'They lose their minds and their feelings'… They're consumed by Darkness."

"Right. But not Sora. He held onto his feelings, even as a Heartless. And there's only one other man who's been able to do just that."

"It's the strength of his heart… That's what interests you. Why the Keyblade chose Sora's heart."

"…To unlock the mysteries of the heart. Isn't that the Organization's mission?"

She laughed.

~.:*:~

Floor V

She stood at the front of another set of doors. "The fifth floor…" she held the card tightly to her chest. "Still no sign of any of them."

Her voice echoed, the same thing permeating and rebounding between columns and walls. And it was there, she felt isolation and loneliness completely envelope her. The arm not containing the hand with the card wrapped around her waist, fingers fisting into the cloth of her worn down sleeveless hoody.

'Kori…Yuffie…' Two names of two faces she'd give anything to see. 'Vanille and Lulu…I…guys, I could use the company.'

She shook her head violently, hair flying askew. There was no point in wishing for something that couldn't happen. With the same arm, she reached up and sifted her fingers through her hair, pushing the strands aside as her hardened gaze zeroed in on the off-white doors.

Becoming routine, she flicked her hand out, and the doors reacted to the card. Clicks and grinding, and the shimmer indicating whatever barrier keeping her out was broken. She only made one step, however, when something drew her back. She whirled around, looking down the corridor from where she'd already traversed.

'Something…someone's here…'

Something both alien and achingly familiar. Bright beaches, cool nights, and dripping shadows…

She hadn't sensed it in a while. And only then, for a brief period of time.

Ari had to wonder.

'Riku…?'

~.:*:.~

"…Don't I even warrant a 'hello', Lexaeus?"

"…"

"What is going on here, Zexion? I demand an explanation."

"Nice to see you, too, Vexen… It's such a shame. The Organization used to be the rope that bound us together, once upon a time."

"You are only Number VI! How dare you-"

"Let it go Vexen."

"…"

"Zexion, tell us. What did you detect?"

"…Visitors. I picked up two scents in the castle's lowest basement. One of them was…Maleficent."

"Don't be absurd. The witch is gone. She cannot return from the Realm of Darkness of her own volition."

"If you would let me finish… The scent belonged not to the real Maleficent, but to a very convincing double."

"…Go on."

"But I truly cannot say much beyond that since the double is no more. Our other 'visitor' saw to that."

"…And who is it?"

"I do not know for sure…but the scent was quite similar to that of the Superior's."

"And yet, not exactly the same, was it? This…truly piques my curiosity."

"Now the question at hand- what to do?"

"…We will wait. See what develops."

~.:*:.~

Author's Endnote:

Short I know. But I did warn this wouldn't be linear. Next chapter should begin to bring some better details and content. (Also as a head's up- Castle Oblivion and it's arch have been completed in this series! Currently writing out the remainder of Days as we speak!)

Much love from me,

~ AoZ