Author's Note: So, a couple of months with no updates… Sorry about that. Been distracted by stuff. But here's your update guys, I hope you enjoy it. I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far. Big thanks to Casamora for that very nice review. I'm very glad you like the plot, I really wanted to do something unique. And there are actually quite a few KH stories written from first POV. You just gotta search ;) Anyway, on with the story!

4.

Sora's holding the key in his large hand, looking down it. Aerith and I are looking at it too, curious and happy. But the question remains, how are we gonna find the other ones? There's so many worlds out there, does Yen Sid honestly expect us to grab the Gummy Ship and fly to each one and see if the damn thing glows? Pretty ridiculous, if you ask me, but as dumb as it sounds, I have a feeling that's what's gonna happen.

"So what now?" Sora asks, "Should we take it back to Merlin for safe keeping?"

"No, we should hold onto it so it can find the other keys on its own. But we need to think logically, there are too many worlds out there to just randomly hop around to. Sora, what world had the most 'keys'? Wasn't it Port Royal, the pirate world? You were always on about keys and little coins there…" she smiles a little, pulling a bunch of brown hair behind her ear.

He nods rapidly, "Yeah, they had lots of treasure and stuff there, all in this one, massive pile. Maybe we should check out that world before any of the others and then go from there. Hopefully luck is on our side!"

I palm my forehead. This kid's enthusiasm is poisonous in a good and bad way.

This place is a dump.

A complete and utter dump.

We're at the harbour. I look at the guy who is lying in front of my feet. He's sleeping, and his snores are so goddamn loud. His limbs are spread out everywhere and he keeps muttering something amidst his snores that I don't understand, and I'm not sure I want to understand it. I do know, though, that Sora and Aerith are boarding this giant ship. I also know that the 'Captain' of this ship is making numerous moves on Aerith, and that she doesn't like it, but is just generally ignoring it.

I step over the sleeping guy and also board the ship, feeling the boat move due to the waves. I hurry towards the side and look over at the hypnotic liquid, seeing myself again, as faint as I was before. Bored, I wave at myself, for some reason pleased that I wave back. I then rest my chin on my fist and watch the water pass by, just thinking, because that seems to be all I'm good at right now.

I'm glad that we're on this journey but I wonder if it's really worth it and all, you know? If I come back, what's not to say I'll be chased from here to Atlantica by any remaining Heartless and Nobodies? What's not to say that I'll be killed again by some random person, condemning me and hating me for taking away the heart of their loved one? What's not to say that I'll be happier alive with a heart than dead and lifeless? Can I honestly live after doing everything I've done? I've done enough in my time as a Nobody to suffice for a second life. Do I really want a third?

O-of course I do! Anything but this.

I jump when someone stumbles next to me, grabbing the edge of the rickety boat. I look to see its Aerith, holding the Bond of Flames keychain in one hand, and the wood with the other. She furrows her eyebrows and bends her knees, making it apparent that she's not really enjoying this trip and isn't very stable on the vessel. Unable to help myself, I chuckle and ask, "Seasick, are we?"

"Just a little," she murmurs, but she's loud enough so only I can hear. Smiling, she looks to me, "What're you thinking about?"

"Things," I reply.

"Such as?"

"Just 'things'."

She chuckles and turns, resting her back against the boat. She looks down at the keychain, inspecting it for the umpteenth time, and I wonder why she's so transfixed with the design. The soft wind ruffles her hair and her skirt, "I have a theory about you, Number VIII. You and your weapon are very alike," she holds it close to her and looks up to the glittering night sky, "You both have this hard, spiky outside, but on the inside, you really just want to be held."

"Your theories are strange, woman," I grumble.

Aerith smiles again, looking to me, "Perhaps… but the spikes on both of you are just a layer of defence. For your chakrams, it's to fight. In the centre is the handle. With you, this attitude is a layer of your defence, because inside, you're really broken or something, especially seeing as you don't have a heart. You want to be comforted for your abnormality, for what was ripped from you, I guess."

"Your theories are very strange, woman," I mutter again. A shame that she's kinda right, I guess.

Uneven footsteps get our attention. My head snaps up, and I see the Captain walking towards Aerith again, grinning, "Aerith my dear, you shouldn't stay up here in the cold. Come down to the cabin and have some dinner with Sora and I. Don't want you to catch a cold up here."

"Sure thing, Jack."

"Captain Jack," he remarks, slinging an arm around her and leading her away from the edge, "Captain of the Black Pearl."

She throws me a sympathetic smile and silently asks me to come with her. I abide, turning away from the water's edge, silently glaring daggers at 'Captain' Jack. His attitude is annoying. Then again, I find a lot of people annoying. As we descend the stairs, I hear him muttering something about being a Captain, again, and I think to myself, I'll captain you if you don't shut up.

Watching those guys eat, every time, has made me really hungry. Really goddamn hungry. But no, I have to be a ghost. I can't physically pick up that tasty red apple that they forgot to eat a few hours ago, and shove it down my oesophagus. I can't grab that bottle of ale and chug it down. I have to sit here and look at everything tasty and watch all of the deliciousness taunt me.

I turn away from the tasty treats and walk through the wall on my right, heading into the sleeping area. I've been wandering the ship for a few days now, my feet making the old floorboards creak, occasionally annoying, if not, frightening, the man who is steering the ship. I can definitely say I enjoyed that. Sora explained to him what was going on, but he brushed it off of his shoulders. What I would give to be able to grab his hat and throw it somewhere, just to give him the shits. But now, on our third day in this world, on this ship, Jack steers the boat. I'm hovering by Aerith's side, looking down on her as she sleeps.

Despite the steady snores from Sora, it's pretty peaceful in here. I could sit and watch her sleep for hours. She's half curled up, lying on one side, and her brown hair is a mess all over the place. The blanket is haphazardly thrown over her form, as though she forgot it last minute and was tossing and turning since. Shaking my head with a small smile, I reach down to pull it up to her shoulder, still looking at her sleeping face. Still watching her, I continue to grab around for the blanket, only to look at my hand and then realise I can't actually grab the thing.

I sit beside her on the ground and continue to stare at her, even as daylight streams in through the cracks in the curtain. It's only been a few days now, but I've definitely realised that I've become attached to the woman, if only a little. It's probably only because she heeded my call, though. I can't really think of any other reason. I don't have a heart, so I shouldn't 'feel attached' to her in the first place. It's all bullshit. Complete bullshit.

She slowly opens her green eyes, and they're locked directly on my own. A bite my lip and stand hurriedly, coughing, "Sorry."

She doesn't say anything, even as she throws back the covers and stretches. I turn away from her and go through the first wall I came through, vaguely hearing Jack scream out to us from above deck 'we're here'. I then ascend the stairs, hands in my pockets, and watch as a looming darkness greets me up ahead. I look to Jack, who murmurs to himself something like 'didn't think I'd be back here again'; and I wait for the other two to come, so Sora can lead us to this giant 'treasure pile' that he described to us before.

The keyblade master is now standing beside Aerith, who is standing beside me. Jack stretches, "I'll be here when you come back, Sora."

They nod appreciatively and get off the boat. I follow, now standing on the rocks before the cave's mouth. Sora bolts, his form being swallowed by the darkness of the cave. Aerith reluctantly follows, and I follow after her, eventually swallowed by a different type of darkness that I'm accustomed to. Instead of the darkness in an 'allegiance' term, it's the absence of light.

Absence of light, huh? When did I get so crafty with my words?

I can see Aerith stumbling, "I can't see in here."

Sora hisses, "I can't either. It wasn't this hard before…"

"Looks like you guys could use a hand," I snap my fingers, watching as a large ember starts to burn. The warm colours reach up the walls of the cave, breaking up the black and casting newer shadows. I walk up towards Sora, who knows his way around here, and I say to Aerith, "Tell him to lead. I'll follow. I'll be his torch, for now."

And so she does, and Sora leads us down various pathways, until we come to a corridor that has the sunlight streaming in from above. I put out the fire, realising that for now, it's no longer needed. In the distance, I can see shiny things. They gleam in the sun's light, beckoning the three of us towards the various treasures that they're hiding.

Aerith is looking at Sora's pocket. She's smiling too and points, "The key is glowing! You were right, Sora!"

The youth jumps in joy once he sees the faint light in his pocket. Hurriedly pulling it out, he and Aerith run towards the hoard, watching as the key's light starts to shine a little more, glowing a little, then fading, then coming back and fading again, repeatedly. The closer he gets to the gold sanctuary, the brighter the key glows, indicating that he's getting closer and closer.

I set foot into the area, looking amongst the place in amazement. There's so much shit in here, it's pretty cool. I can't help but feel strange in here, though, like I'm being watched. Like we're all being watched, I guess; and as I pass another large puddle of water and glance in it, I swear for a moment I see Luxord there, standing behind me.

My paranoia proves to be too great. I spin around, half-hoping, half-not-hoping to see him there. He's not there though, thankfully, and I continue on my way, watching the brunettes run this way and that, trying to find the source of the key. Aerith's shoving coins around with her feet, creating quite a large racket. She's grimacing at whatever bones she finds, and hurriedly moves onto the next untouched pile of gold. Sora's the same on the other side of the cave, using the key we have to his advantage.

I pass another puddle and again swear I see Luxord. I don't know why I keep seeing him in here in the reflections behind my own. I guess this is where he was sent to most often, but it's none of my concern. I never liked him to begin with anyway. All I know is, it's irritating. Very irritating. I scuttle closer towards Sora, hoping to take some of that 'happy hyper' energy that he's always putting out to the world for myself, to ease my nerves a little.

I watch as the key glows brighter and brighter, until it starts to sting my eyes. Sora drops to his knees and moves aside various goblets and coins, and amidst the golden wonderland is the silver key we've been looking for. He shouts to Aerith, who immediately moves to his side and watches as he grabs it and holds both of them in the air, triumphant and happy. It's here that I do… feel… happy. One key away now, just one –

"I'll be taking these."

Both keys are swiped from Sora's hands. I knew someone was here, I knew it.

The three of us spin around and set our eyes on a short and stocky person, who kinda looks like a huge – weight wise – version of Goofy. Sora narrows his eyes, and Aerith is just confused. I'm pissed off. Very pissed off, and I watch as the fifteen-year-old steps forward and points at the offender, "Give those back! They're not yours, Pete!"

This… 'Pete' person scoffs and puts his hands on his hips, both keys in his right hand, "And what're you gonna do about it, huh? Nothing! With these keys, and the third one when I get my hands on it, I'll be able to give them to Maleficent, and then she can get all of her fallen allies back and take over the worlds with the Heartless!"

Sora growls, "A stupid quest for man who isn't smart enough to tie his own shoes! You really think Maleficent will keep you at her side once she's got the others back?"

He says nothing and merely puffs his chest out and summons numerous Heartless, all in different shapes and sizes. He then runs out of another entry point to the hoard, and Sora runs after him. He summons the keyblade and slashes at various Heartless that are blocking his path. The Heartless are like defenders for Pete, blocking our pathway. The youth shouts, his voice echoing in the room and down the corridor, "You can't hide forever, Pete! We're gonna catch you!"

Aerith's summoned her staff and is whacking an air pirate Heartless into the wall. No expression crosses her face as she does this, and in one of her hands, I see she's still holding onto the keychain I gave Sora, as though it provided her with some form of comfort. She's following Sora, still attacking, and I'm bringing up the rear, launching various fire spells at the clambering Heartless. I may be a ghost and might not have my chakrams, but I can still help and cast spells.

We're weaving through smaller tunnels, trying to keep up with Pete, who is laughing at the misfortune he bestowed upon us. Spontaneously, I launch a small fireball at him, hoping to hit him and slow him down, but to no avail. It misses and frightens him, causing him to speed up and continue to scurry out of here. All the while, we're following, and being followed.

A rabid dog Heartless runs through me, heading for Aerith. Furrowing my eyebrows, I hurl a fireball at it, watching as it incinerates, yelping in pain. As I turn away, I see her look over her shoulder, either at me or at the Heartless behind us. She hurries on, and I can hear her huff as she stabs a coming shadow Heartless through the stomach with the end of her staff. The pink heart ascends.

…I… I want to grab it… for myself.

The heart vanishes as fast as my thought came. Still running backwards, I continue to launch numerous fireballs at the Heartless, smirking slightly as they burn before me. Suddenly thinking of a way to block them off, if only for now, I raise both hands. My fingers are curled, and I throw my arms out to the side, watching as a giant wall of fire ascends, burning any of those stupid enough to walk into it.

Satisfied with my work, I turn and sprint again, catching up with Sora and Aerith finally, both of whom are closing in on the stupid bastard who stole my fucking keys.

We're running out of the cave now, and only now did I realise that it was easier to get out of the cave because of the sunlight up ahead, as opposed to the sun being at our backs upon entry. Pete runs to the water's edge, realising that he's been cornered. The three of us stop and cautiously approach Pete, hoping to grab the keys before he drops them into the water, which is something I don't want to happen.

He suddenly snickers and snaps his fingers. A purple and black portal appears behind him, and I can see and hear snow behind him, and I can see charred buildings with unusual, slanted tops. He jumps back into the world that he has summoned, and the three of us run after him, hoping to jump through, but the portal closes before we have the chance to get through. It closes, and I can hear the last remnants of his laughter taunting us. Taunting me.

Aerith huffs, "What land was that, Sora?"

He smirks and runs towards the Black Pearl, ignoring Jack's various snide remarks, "The Land of the Dragons. Come on, let's go."

Aerith also moves, but I stand where I am, looking at the portal that was before us. I think hard, trying to summon one of my own, but to no avail. Helpless, I look up and sigh. It's going to take a few days to get back to the harbour, and then we've gotta take the Gummy Ship to the Land of the Dragons and then find this guy. This could take ages.

I look to the ocean, seeing my own reflection stare up at me again. I see Luxord standing behind me too, and this time, I still don't turn around, because I'm so sure he's not there.

"Don't play to his game. Play to yours."

I turn when I hear Luxord's voice, and I see him fading away hurriedly. He was there, all along he was there. But if was here the whole time, why could I not see him, let alone Aerith? Why was his image weaker than mine? Why could I only see it so clearly in the water, as opposed to my own? Why did he show up here instead of in the Castle That Never Was, where I'm sure he died? Why isn't he fighting to fix himself either?

Why does this have to be so hard?