Yup, so I'm having tons of fun editing and rewriting this story, so much fun. I look over it and see how much fun I had writing this, I can see it. But you guys don't know what it looks like before I publish it, so you wouldn't (I change a lot) you would, if you had read it before. (I had it published it before, it was called The Light, but Berserk Wolf was the only one who read it.) So, yeah, it's all your fault.

I hope you all are enjoying it anyways!

4: Crescent Caprice

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I opened my eyes slowly, a million thoughts pelting me all at the same time. I was in my bedroom, and it was light out, I must have slept all through the night. I pushed my covers back, I didn't remember pulling them up over me….strange. I slid off the bed slowly, finding the feeling back my legs. I took it gently, still thinking. My hair fell down at either side of my face, dark brown curtains of soft hair blocking out the rest of the world. I let my bottom fall down on the floor next, and the floor gave out a loud, thump! As I let myself fall down into my feet. I wrapped my arms around my curled up legs, trying to hold myself together.

What did that dream mean? Why was Riku there? Was he the one in the darkness? Ugh. I'm so confused. And why does my head hurt so badly?

I closed my eyes, trying to regain lost thoughts ---descent thoughts I would need to recover--- just as a knock came at the door. At this point in time, I didn't really care what the person thought of my most likely tangled up hair and blood-shot eyes, I just wanted to horrible knocking to end. Each knock seemed to throw out another beam of loud noise through my throbbing skull.

"Yes?" I said through clenched teeth. Something stabbed unkindly into my brain, then swirled the knife around so that most of the inside of it was tortured slowly. I felt like screaming out at the pain. But I was used to this pain; I had grown up with it, part of my life. Dumb sun, bet it didn't have to go through with this. I mean, it's like I'm the one going through all the suffering for the sun. Who knew the sun had anguish to go through anyway? I didn't….

The visitor opened the door slowly; as if afraid I might spring up and attack them. I just held my self together, trying to look normal as I got to my feet. I was still dressed in the clothes I had been wearing from yesterday, so I probably didn't look that healthy. I quickly tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, patting the rest down. A deeper gentler voice---than I had expected----sounded as icy eyes were laid upon my unkempt appearance. "Wow, you look horrible. Are you alright?"

Though his face expressed unhidden concern for me, I couldn't hear it in his tone. I growled low in my throat. "What would you possibly like Riku?" He unexpectedly chuckled at me, a certain playful and annoying expression flitting across his face as if saying---"I would like you, Chihiro." And don't accuse me of liking him; his mood practically yelled that at me. I sighed, folding my arms and waiting for him to continue. He mocked my position before going on, his own smugness catching something inside me. Ugh why does my head hurt so much?

"Okay, so to be blunt, I was wondering if that was really you in my dream last night," He admitted. Wow, even I didn't think guys could even be this forward.

"Yes, it was." I sighed again. These sighs were coming more naturally now.

He pondered this for a second, putting his thumb and forefinger to his chin. "Okay, then. So I owe you by thanks."

"You owe me a lot more…" I mumbled so inaudibly there is no way he heard it. But I perked up and pretended to be happy, "No! It's my job! You didn't need me anyways, I was a guide. I didn't do anything." Riku looked at me bizarrely, a weird look in his eyes as I could almost feel them skirting around my hard ambiance. "Okay then, I'll just go," the hand that had been at his chin pointed to the way he was going, like reminding himself which way that was. When he was gone, I collapsed on my bed again, the feeling in my head indescribable…no wait, I can describe it.

It was like five obese dwarfs running around in there, whether or not you understand my analogy.

I sat there for a moment thinking about the dream. Was Riku chasing me or the light? Did he think I was the light? Well I am sort of; it's just kind of strange. I got off the bed, and walked over to the door. I stepped outside into the morning air; even though I was inside I could still smell the fresh air coming in through the colonnade's pillars. How did they keep the rain out?

I walked down the hallway full of bedroom doors, each door having its own sort of air about it. The end of the hallway quickly came, returning me to the colonnade, into the pale light. I kept on walking; I wanted to see the cornerstone of light. I went through the grand doors and into the Audience Hall. "ECHO!" I yelled as I entered the giant hall. I started to run towards the stairs that led down, the urge and need to see it deepening as I drew closer to my destination. I darted down the stairs and into a pure white room, careful not to trip down the stairs as the entrance came nearer. My eyes widened the light. I sat down right in front of the big stone, staring into its great light. I could almost feel an electric current coming from it, like we were connected in more places than just sight. But that's cheesy, connected to a stone of light? Come on….

"You know this stone very well don't you?" I heard a voice behind me, making me jump.

"Riku! What are you doing here?" It slipped out involuntarily; I bit my tongue inside my mouth.

"Um…..I live here."

I smiled uncomfortably. "I know, I just kind of wondered why you chose this time to come here." I felt lame. Cheesecake. This guy was really starting to get on my nerves. And now he was freaking me out of my wits! Goodness, I hope I don't die from a heart attack next time he sneaks up on me!

Riku nodded. His atmosphere seemed very sad. "Riku, I hate to butt in…….but is something wrong?" I asked him, I regretted saying that too. But it was my nature to ask such things. Riku stepped forward and sat down next to me. "I guess. It's just that before I found the light….I didn't really like this place. But now that I found it…..it's like I've never seen it before." I kept quiet; if Riku wanted to talk I was here. "Chihiro?" Riku asked turning his head to look at me.

"Yes?" I turned to the Cornerstone. "That bracelet you have…….the one with the charms……..since you have my charm……does that mean you went into the dark realm when I got hurt?" I kept still for a moment wondering if I should tell him.

"Yes." I said plainly.

"Did you say something to me…in there?" I jolted upright.

He heard me?! "Um…..yes….I was probably talking to my self though." I turned my head all the way around, my cheeks felt hot. Riku knew I was lying. He raised an eye brow. "Oh…so you threaten yourself?"

"Of course I do! Don't you?" Riku shook his head, starting to laugh heartily. I sighed again, turning back to him as my face felt better. Why had I been blushing? "I was getting mad at myself for not getting there sooner that one time. I was cursing myself for all the horrible things I'd done that day. It hadn't been a good ay on the field."

Riku then sat upright and all signs of laugh left his face. I turned my vision back to the cornerstone, thinking of all those things I had said to him. I hadn't liked him then either. "If you're so awesome, why don't you heal yourself? Huh? I'll kill you later…."

"Did you ever threaten yourself when Sora or Kairi got hurt?" Riku asked, he must be a brave and daring person. "Well…no." I said in defeat. Riku smiled a bit, I didn't see it though, I didn't dare look at his face. "So why did threaten yourself while healing me?" I paused, trying to think of a good explanation without lying. Several explanations ran through my mind they all stunk, what would I say? Wait think to yourself Chihiro, why would you threaten yourself in the first place?

"Well, I didn't exactly like going down there. So I took my time. And that one time-----the time when I was threatening myself of course---- I had taken too much time off, and you had gotten really hurt. Don't you remember? All those monsters attacked you at once…and you had a broken leg…and um…..a broken…wrist and stuff. Many potions and magick bandages I used on you that time." Dumb. I've hear better lies than that. He could easily backfire that against you later.

Before anything else could be said, some one's excited voice came ringing down into the room.

"Chihiro! Chihiro! Where are you?" It was…….Sora? "I'm down here!" I called, standing up. I didn't look at Riku, but he was still sitting on the ground staring at the cornerstone. "Chihiro!" Sora came running down the stairs, looking very relieved to find me at last. "Chihiro, King Mickey wants to speak to you," He said, looking from Riku to me and back again.

"See you later Riku," I said, bounding up the stairs and into the audience hall. I ran across the huge hall, looking at all the maids putting up decorations for the ball. Oh yeah the ball is tomorrow! I exited the hall bursting into the colonnade; I kept on running until I got to Mickey's study door. Once I caught my breath, I knocked on the door. "Yes? Chihiro? Come in."

I opened the door just enough for me to get through. "Sora said you wanted to see me?" I asked, coming to stand in front of Mickey's desk. "Someone wants to see you, come forth Axel." My eyes widened, I knew Axel wasn't bad but why did he want to see me?

"Chihiro." Axel said stepping forward.

"I'll leave you two to talk." Mickey said getting up to leave.

"No its okay." Axel said. "I just wanted to deliver something." Axel motioned for me to put my hand out; he put a crescent shaped necklace in my hand. "Its Orichalum plus," Axel then walked past me and out the door. I turned to run after him, opening the study doors to see Axel walking across the colonnade. "Axel, wait!"

He stopped. "What does it do?!" I yelled across the long, pillared hallway. Finally I caught up with him. "Axel you have to tell me." I said between desperate attempts for air. "You can contact me with it, and I can contact you. Bad times are coming, I'll give you updates." Not waiting for a reply Axel walked away.

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If you got through that massive chapter, any thoughts you might have left?