Kingdom Heart III: The Reawakening
Ch. 4: Radiant Garden: Scattered Memories
By: CRAZY-demented-WRITER-girl
Hey Kenji, wake up," Amaya said.
"Huh..." Kenji muttered as he woke up. He almost did a double take when he saw the massive planet floating in front of them. "How long was I asleep?"
"Just about twenty hours," Amaya replied, stifling a laugh.
"So what is this place?"
"Radiant Garden."
"Do you think that we will find anymore Keyblade Masters here?"
"Maybe. We'll never know until we look."
"Alright. Let's check it out."
Kenji and Amaya stepped onto the teleportation pad that was right behind the seats and disappeared in a flash of light. Kenji looked around in surprise as they reappeared in the Marketplace of Radiant Garden. It looked like an old timey village with its many outdoor shops and services.
"Let's look around some. Maybe we'll find more Keybladers," Kenji offered.
"Yeah."
As they looked around, Kenji was reminded of Twilight Town. Why had he left? Because he had a responsibility. Why hadn't he just stayed with his friends? Because he had to fight the darkness. Would he defeat the darkness? Yes. He had to. It was his responsibility as a Keyblade weilder. Kenji was brought back to reality as something struck him in the chest.
The Keyblade appeared in its trademark flash and Kenji got ready. He slashed through a Bookmaster then turned around and thrust his Keyblade through two Armored Knights. Amaya blocked as a Soldier Heartless charged at her. Her Keblade started to glow red and it unleashed fire blasts at the tiny Heartless.
Kenji fell to the ground as a Morning Star hit him. He cried out as a Soldier Heartless plunged its claws into his side. Kenji felt his arm burn as an Armored Knight cut him. He struggled as the Heartless piled up on him. His ears were suddenly filled with the sound of Heartless exploding and the weight was gone too.
Suddenly, Kenji was lifted from the ground, his cerulean eyes meeting stormy grey ones. Kenji winced as memories flashed before him.
"They'll come at you out of nowhere. "
"Who are you?"
"And they'll keep on coming as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade. But why? Why woud it choose a kid like you?"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nevermind. Now let's see that Keyblade."
"What? There's no way you're getting this!"
"Alright, then have it your way."
- - -
"I think that you might have overdone it, Squall."
"That's Leon."
"The Keyblade."
"Yeah, we had to get it away from you to shake off those creatures. It turns out that's how they were tracking you."
"It was the only way to conceal your heart from them. But it won't work for long. Still, hard to believe that you, of all people you are the chosen one. Well, I supposed beggars can't be choosers."
"Why don't you start making some sense! What's going on here?"
- - -
Sooner or later, the Heartless will find you. You'd best prepare yourself."
"Prepare myself?"
"To fight for your life. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready."
"Yuffie, let's join Aerith. She should be there by now with the other visitors."
"Leon!"
- - -
We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other."
"Le...Leon?" Kenji gasped. The older man only stared at Kenji, not believing what he was hearing.
"How do you know my name?" Leon asked, his voice rough.
"I don't know..." Kenji trailed off.
"Excuse me! A little help over here!" Kenji turned back around to see Amaya surrounded by Soldier Heartless. He charged at them, and they disappeared in one slash of his Keyblade.
"Are you okay?" Kenji asked.
"Yeah."
"How did you do that?" Kenji and Amaya turned around to face Leon.
"What do you mean?" Amaya asked.
"The Keyblade..." Leon muttered more to himself than them.
"Yeah, are you a Keyblade weilder too?"
"Wha-No. I'm not," Leon replied. He put a hand on his head as if trying to clear his thoughts, then looked back at Kenji. I remember the last time I saw him. He had been about fifteen at the time. It was right before he left to go fight Xemnas. I never got to say goodbye.
"Sora?" Leon asked.
"Um...Excuse me?" Kenji murmured.
"Sora..."
"No. My name is Kenji and this is Amaya. We're here looking for more Keyblade weilders."
"Keyblade? Now I remember..."
"Kenji, are sure this guy isn't crazy?" Amaya whispered in Kenji's ear. He just shrugged and looked back at Leon.
"So your the new Keyblade Master," Leon stated.
"Um...Yeah. I guess I am. Amaya is one too."
"I see. So there are more than one."
"Yeah. Do you know if any are here?"
"I think that we need to talk," Leon said, his hand on his head agian.
Leon turned and headed out of the Marketplace. Kenji and Amaya reluctantly followed. They went down some stone stairs and stopped at an old house. They followed Leon inside and was amazed to see the massive computer. Everything else was ordinary: the bookshelf, table, the chairs, the bed. No one else was there except the three of them.
"So," Leon started, turning around, "you guys are Keyblade weilders, right?"
"Yeah. I think we clarified that earlier," Amaya scoffed.
"I knew something was up," he said, his hand on his head. Agian.
"What do you mean something's up?" Amaya asked impatiently.
"The Heartless are back, and so are the Keyblades."
"What are talking about? Who are you anyways?" Amaya asked. She was starting to get pissed.
"My name is Leon, and I know about the Keyblades."
"So."
"Your both Keyblade weilders, right?"
"You already asked that," Amaya said through clenched teeth.
"So is she." Leon pointed. Kenji's eyes shifted to blonde-haired girl resting on the bed. Kenji could see her thin frame beneath the covers move as she inhaled and exhaled. Kenji's hand flew up to his head as a headache split through his brain.
"Whoa!"
"Hehe. "
Give me a break, Kairi."
"Sora, you lazy bum. I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here."
"No, this huge black thing swallowed me up! I couldn't breathe, I couldn't-OW!"
"Are you still dreaming?"
"It wasn't a dream! Or was it? I don't know. What was that place? So bizarre."
- - -
"Sora, let's take the raft and go. Just the two of us!"
"Huh?"
"Just kidding!"
"What's gotten into you? I think that you're the one that's changed, Kairi."
- - -
"I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great."
"Wha-?" Kenji opened his eyes and looked up. Leon helped him up and Kenji dusted himself off.
"What happened?" Leon asked.
"I don't know. I keep on seeing these weird visions."
"What did you see?" Amaya asked.
"This girl. She...She said that her name was Kairi."
"Kairi..."
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Leon turned his head and saw the girl sitting up in the bed. Her blonde bangs were plastered to her head with sweat and she was breathing hard.
"Tori!" Leon ran over to the bed and kneeled down to the girl's level. "Tori, are you ok? What happened?"
"I had another nightmare," she replied meekly.
"Oh. What?"
"I saw Heartless everywhere. They were surrounding me and...and mama and daddy." Kenji and Amaya stood back and watched tears streamed down her face. Leon pulled her closer.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Leon tightened his grip on Tori. Kenji and Amaya held onto each other. When the shaking finally stopped, they looked up and noticed that they were close together. They pulled away quickly, both faces turning red.
"C'mon. We need to check things out in town," Leon said, his grip loosening. Turning to Tori, he added, "Stay here."
"No! I'm tired of sitting around. I'm ready to fight," she exclaimed. Kenji was surprised by her sudden change in personality. Leon smiled and nodded.
They headed out of the house and were confronted by a sea of Heartless making their way toward them. The Keyblades appeared. In Tori's hands, Purity and Oathkeeper appeared.(AN: I think Purity is the name of Kairi's Keyblade. Not sure.) With Keyblades in hand, they charged at the Heartless.
AN: Sorry if this chap. was a little boring, but it sets the stage for future chapters. I would appreciate if you reveiw.
