Chapter 5: My Master

After running from the boy in the mask, Daichi stopped at a world to sort through the memories he was beginning to regain. After a minute he stood up and looked around the world he landed in. He was in front of a very dark and mysterious castle that looked like it was made for some sort of evil witch. At the point this was the only thing in sight, so Daichi decided to start looking around here, and entered the castle.

Enchanted Dominion

When Daichi entered the castle he found strange, pig like creatures holding weapons. When the pigs saw Daichi, they immediately charged at him, and in response, Daichi took out his Keyblade. As the pigs approached, Daichi slashed down on them, and they vanished in green flames. The Pig creatures were numerous, but overall easy to defeat, and it didn't take long for Daichi to clear them all out.

"What kind of world is this?" Daichi wondered as he began heading deeper into the castle.

The farther into the castle Daichi went, the more feeling he had that he should turn around and go back, but he felt he needed to be here for some reason. Every room Daichi entered had more of those pig creature guards around, and each time Daichi fought and defeated them all, then proceeded through the castle.

Finally Daichi came across a room that looked like a Throne Room. He was about to go farther but then he noticed some people coming in from an entrance on the opposite side of the room and Daichi hid behind a corner. He couldn't make out a lot of what they were saying, but he did catch one sentence at the end.

"And remember, Ventus is to be left unharmed, he is a very important piece to this puzzle." As Daichi looked around the corner, he saw the one who spoke was an old man. The one he was talking to had a green sort of complexion to her skin and was dressed in black robes.

"Who are these people?" Daichi asked himself.

Daichi watched the two as they continued the conversation quietly, then after a moment Daichi realized he was subconsciously focusing on the old man, and just as he realized that, images of the man and himself flowed through his head.

"Wh-what..." Daichi said as he realized the images were his lost memories.

Daichi slowly began to understand that the images of him and the old man meant that he knew the man from somewhere, and that perhaps he could help him. But before that he tried to pin a name to the man's face. He searched the memories that were flowing back for the name that belonged to him; then he realized who the man was to him.

This old man was Daichi's former master. For a moment he wasn't sure whether or not it could be true, but he soon realized it had to be true, there was no other explanation. Just then the women in the black vanished in green flames, and Daichi noticed the old man look toward Daichi, and Daichi ducked behind the corner instinctively.

"I know you're there, come on out." The man said, and Daichi did so realizing he had no reason to hide from him in the first place.

"Master?" Daichi spoke the single world, and startled the old man for a moment.

"Who are you, to call me/" The Old man began, but then realized who the person he was speaking to was. "Daichi, is that you?" The man asked.

"Yes, so it's true then, you are my master?" Daichi asked in reply.

"That is correct, but... How is it possible, you vanished all that time ago." The old man wondered.

"I was thrown into the realm of Darkness, it took a long time, but I finally found my way out. Miku and Manami also got out, although I'm not sure where they are right now." Daichi said.

"Miku and Manami! They are alive as well?" The man asked.

"Yes, master, we were separated, and now I'm searching for them. Would you help me?" Daichi asked.

"Help, oh no, I'm afraid I have important business to attend to at the moment."

"Important?" Daichi thought of what he saw in the last world he was in. "Could it have to do with those weird creatures and that boy in the mask?"

"Creatures, you mean you have seen the unversed already?"

"Unversed? Is that what they're called?"

"Yes, and you mentioned a boy in a mask?"

"Right, I encountered and fought him in the Keyblade Graveyard."

"Really, interesting."

"But before we go on, I have lost much of my memory, and it has not returned despite returning to the Realm of Light." Daichi told his master.

"You lost your memory? But you remembered me." The man said, and Daichi shook his head in response.

"I only remember that you are my master, other than that, you are a stranger to me right now. I do not even recall your name."

"My name is Xehanort.

"Xehanort..." Daichi repeated.

"Now let me ask you... does this mean you do not remember anything about the incident in which you disappeared either?"

"That is correct." Daichi answered, and Xehanort grinned.

"Well, that is alright, you probably don't want to remember such a tragic event anyways. The important thing for you right now is that you find Miku and Manami. Finding them is important for you I can tell, and along the way you may restore more of your lost memory." Xehanort told Daichi.

"Of course, master."

"Now as I said I have important business to attend to, so I cannot stay with you, but when you find your friends, come find me again." Xehanort instructed Daichi.

"But wait, I just found you again, how can you think of separating already?" Daichi asked his master.

"It is more important that you can reunite with your friends Daichi, they are closer to you than I am, and after 10 years of you three missing..." Xehanort said and his voice began to trail off to Daichi.

Daichi became transfixed on the words 'after 10 years' thinking that is was impossible for him to have really been trapped in the Realm of Darkness for 10 years.

"Daichi, Daichi!" Xehanort snapped Daichi back to reality. "Is something the matter?"

"Did you just say... that I've been gone for 10 years?" Daichi asked breathlessly.

"Yes, and I am clueless as to how you have not changed in appearance at all in that time."

"10 years... 10 years I was trapped in the realm of darkness, I can't believe it." Daichi felt like he was about to fall over.

"I understand how you feel Daichi. That's why it is so important that you find Miku and Manami, they need to hear this as well if they haven't figured it out already."

"Of course..." Daichi replied, still a little uneasy. "Yes, yes, you're right, I have to find them!" Daichi exclaimed and ran off, leaving his master once again.

Once Daichi got out of the castle, he put on his armor and embarked for another world to try and find Miku and Manami, an all too important task he needed to accomplish now. They needed to know where, or rather when they were.