Finally made it to chapter 7, Saix's number. He's not one of my favorites but I couldn't skip ^^ Man, I'm such a lousy updater...-bows- I am so sorry, I really am. I have no good excuse of slow updates. Darn Black Butler and its amazing episodes...-coughs- Well then, I do believe this chapter will make up from the rubbish that I wrote previously. If not well... I guess that's too bad. I don't know if I should continue, it seems that I really do suck at writing...-sighs- Hope you enjoy.

Aqua had no idea who this young red-haired girl was. Who was she and why in all places, why was she in the Realm of Darkness? Trying to get answers, Aqua followed the redhead swiftly and quietly using the darkness in her advantage. She hated it though. Knowing the darkness so well from all her roaming in the realm but what Aqua despised the most was that she now felt comfortable in the shadows.

As Aqua followed, the girl sometimes murmured to herself. She couldn't catch what the redhead was saying but it seemed that she was speaking to someone else. Aqua got closer, hoping to hear something interesting.. After countless of time trailing after the young girl, Aqu was on the verge of making an appearance to get answers until the redhead stiffened. Then she shook her head. "What is it?" the girl asked. Aqua expected for someone to pop out but instead the girl said, "Are you sure?" Aqua tilted her head. Who is she talking to? She watched the girl close her eyes in deep concentration. There was a pause and then the redhead said, "No, I have to find this Aqua…"

The rest of the sentence faded away, Aqua's eyes widening in astonishment. They're actually searching for me? Did they send her to find me? A warm feeling settled on her chest as her eyes were beginning to water. "I thought they had forgotten all about me…" Aqua whispered. Don't worry, I may be able to keep my promise now.

Suddenly the girl leaped back as a Tentaclaw erupted from where she was previously stood.. Aqua gasped and planned to summon her keyblade but to her shock, the girl summoned her own key. She watched the redhead defeat the creature with a few slashes before landing on her feet again. Aqua was impressed. Once again, the girl was murmuring until more of the creatures erupted from the ground. The girl instantly went to work, finishing them off.

"She's losing fuel," Aqua realized and summoned her keyblade. Carefully,(so she wouldn't be seen)Aqua helped defeat some of them. The girl breathed heavily, obviously tired. For some reason, the redhead now looked awfully familiar . Aqua thought for a moment but stopped when the girl was on the move again.

Aqua followed, still wondering. Have I seen her before? I don't recall seeing her in The Land of Departure, but she seems so familiar. I just can't rem-

The ground shook, snapping Aqua's attention back to her surroundings. "What in the…"she tailed off as she noticed what was going on. The girl's keyblade struck the ground besides Aqua's foot and Aqua watched in horror at the scene that was unfolding in front of her.

The Unversed…

I can't fight like this,

Get that girl to safety!

The memory had rushed back, startling Aqua for a moment. She was the little girl Aqua saved back in Radiant Garden. Aqua planned to do the same again. Just as the swaying coffin opened,Aqua broke into a run leaving the darkness behind

The ghost hand slithered out.

I must save her!

The hand lunged for a killing blow.

Aqua scooped the girl into her arms and leaped out of the way. Almost. Part of her foot was still in range. The hand swiped at it, the blow sending her back. Aqua met the ground, pain sparking behind her eyes, making her lose her grip on the girl. The girl rolled away from Aqua's arms but she was relieved. She's safe… Aqua then tried to stand. Jolts of pain ran up her leg and Aqua cried out. White light shrouded her vision and she clenched her teeth. If her foot was broken, there would be no way to protect the girl.

...

Kairi came to a stop, her shoulder burning. Dirt and rocks had scraped against the fresh scar, making more blood trickle out. Spitting out dirt from her mouth, Kairi stood up slowly wincing each time her shoulder throbbed. What had happened? Just a few seconds ago the ghost-like hand was lunging for her and then someone or something came and saved her.

Kairi looked around until her gaze settled on woman who was trying to get up, face scrunched up in pain. Her own forgotten, Kairi ran toward her. "Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling down. The woman wore a black and blue, high-collared halter top and two pink, intersecting belts over her chest, and black shorts. She also had an odd silver badge. On the woman's arms were white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves. She also wore a small, segmented piece of armor on each of her upper arms and what appeared to be black stockings or socks on her legs which reached about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small area of bare skin on her upper thighs. There were two strips of blue cloth that draped on each side on her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of clothe tied around her waist and with armored boots.. The woman stopped trying to stand up. "I think I only twisted it." Kairi glanced at the blue haired woman's foot. "It doesn't look broken," the princess observed.

The woman was relieved. She was beginning to stand but Kairi stopped her. "It'll be better to be off that foot if it causes pain." Kairi told her and turned to the heartless, "I could take care of it." Well Kairi hoped she could. She casted a cure spell on herself and the lady before yanking Destiny's Embrace from the ground. Kairi planned to go and attack the swaying coffin but a touch on her shoulder stopped her. "If you're planning to hit that coffin, it won't work." The woman instructed. Kairi jumped. "I thought I told you to not be on your injured leg!" The woman chuckled. "I'm not about to let you take down that thing on your own and besides, the spell helped."

Kairi wanted to protest. She could clearly see that the woman was trying hard to not wince at the pain. "OK, oh and also, thanks for saving me."

The woman nodded. "I had to," Kairi guessed that guilt was plastered all over her face because the woman added, "My injury was my fault. If I had reacted sooner, that wouldn't have happened." Kairi wasn't so sure but she didn't disagree.

"I'm Kairi,"

"…Aqua."

Kairi's jaw dropped. "A-Aqua?!" she managed to say. Aqua smiled but was erased when a Tentaclaw erupted from the ground a few feet infront of them. :Lets defeat this thing, shall we?" Aqua asked while summoning her keyblade. Kairi didn't have time to be surprised. "Let's do it."

After hearing Aqua explain to her to defeat the Tentaclaws then go for the giant heartless, the two females separated heading for their targets. It took a lot of force to swing her keyblade correctly due to her shoulder stiffening but Kairi managed to defeat the first one. She glanced at Aqua and saw her foot was giving her a hard time. Kairi bit her lip. She wanted to help Aqua but this was the only way to get the job done faster. And besides, she could take down one of those things with only one slash.

Kairi went to her next target. Destiny's Embrace was getting heavier each time she swung it but she continued to push herself. Panting, Kairi swung at the creature, the impact making her arms tremble.

I must become strong.

She sprinted toward another Tentaclaw.

I'm always the one who has to be saved, risking my friends lives especially Sora's.

She leaped toward it, keyblade high above her head.

Always the damsel in distress; the one people worry about.

Swinging her keyblade, she sliced the creature in half.

I want things to be different.

The Tentaclaw twitched before disintegrating into a puff of smoke.

Not a princess sitting on her throne.

Kairi landed perfectly on her feet, holding Destiny's Embrace firmly.

A warrior who could protect herself and her friends.

After Aqua was done killing the last one, she limped toward Kairi. "Good job, now l-" Aqua started but was interrupted when the Leechgrave began to shake violently. The two females went to their battle stances ready to attack or dodge but the creature simply collapsed. This took Kairi by surprise. "What…happened to it?"

"It seems that we made it dizzy by destroying the Tentaclaws," Aqua replied, "hurry before it gets out of its daze." With that, she quickly limped toward the coffin. It was slightly opened but there was no movement. Fear surrounded Kairi but she followed. Taking a deep breath, the princess attacked getting plenty of combo hits. Aqua was doing the same except for her doing it faster.

Their progress continued until the Leechgrave shuddered and began to stand. "Get out of range!" Aqua ordered while limping away. Kairi obeyed, turning back once to see the hand lunging for her but thankfully, she was out of reach. The princess placed her hand over her heart and sighed.

"That was close," Kairi said. Aqua nodded tiredly, sweat trickling down her forehead. She's pushing herself too hard that her foot is putting her in pain, Kairi thought worriedly. Before she could say something, more Tentaclaws emerged from the ground. Aqua took a step back and her injured foot seemed to crumple. She cried out in pain, stumbling. "Aqua!" Kairi exclaimed while catching Aqua. She pulled her to a nearby rock and tried to make her sit but Aqua was refusing. "I'm fine," the older female started but Kairi cut her off. "No, you're not. If you put more weight on that leg, it'll get worse." She snapped, her voice raised with anger. Aqua was astonished by her outburst. Kairi, realizing that she snapped, immediately lowered her head. "Sorry, I just don't want you to get hurt."

Aqua took a moment to respond. "I should be the one apologizing, I'm the one worrying you. I just don't feel comfortable by letting you do all the work." Kairi took Aqua's hand and squeezed it softly. "Don't worry about me," the princess told her. The last thing I want is putting someone else in danger. Kairi then summoned Destiny's Embrace and charged to the nearest Tentaclaw.

Aqua stared at the young keyblade bearer. "Why did she tell me that? Her voice was so pleading." She whispered watching Kairi defeating the second one. Four more to go, she told herself and glanced at her foot. "If only I could help." But she couldn't.

The coffin then turned to Aqua, catching her attention. The lid opened a bit, releasing several purple balls that catapulted toward her. Just by one glance, Aqua already knew what they were. Poison. She instantly used her reflect shield, the balls bouncing back to the coffin but didn't seem to have much affect though. Instead the flower bud sprouted, spitting out purple dust that was surrounding the area Kairi was in.

Aqua watched in horror when Kairi only stared at the dust curiously. "Kairi, don't touch it! It's poison!" Aqua cried, ready to help if she had to. Hearing Aqua's warning, Kairi took a few steps back. A Tentaclaw that was near her turned toward the dust and sucked some of the poison in. Before Aqua could fully understand what it did, the creature grabbed Kairi. The princess screamed and whipped her keyblade but couldn't land a blow. Without hesitation, Aqua summoned her keyblade and jumped off the rock. Jolts shot up her leg and she shut her eyes. "I must save you. I'm sorry." Aqua murmured and charged.

Kairi managed to pry open the claws and poke out her head. She took a deep breath of fresh air. "It stinks in there," the princess said in disgust while trying to leap free. The Tentaclaw fought back trying to snap its claw-branches together again. Not wanting to be confined in a stinky, cramped space again, Kairi pushed back. "Oh, no you don't." she growled. Kairi glanced at the rock to see if Aqua was alright but it was empty. Kairi began to panic, loosening her grip. The Tentaclaw felt this and snapped its claws shut, trapping Kairi again.

Kairi could only groan and jabbed Destiny's Embrace at the claws. The creature only shuddered. She jabbed again. Almost right after, her feet got sucked in the Tentaclaw's pink mouth. Kairi yelped and tried to wiggle free but the mouth continued. Terror clawed her mind not allowing her to think clearly. She could only squirm uselessly. As it reached her waist, a name popped in Kairi's terror filled mind

She screamed his name.

Also a very late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!