Well, due to the lack of response, I think I'll cut this story short. I had a much larger story arc planned, but as I said before, I really don't know what to expect. This fic has a ton of readers, the big majority doesn't voice their opinions at all, which saddens me. Perhaps in the future I'll use the ideas I had in mind. I do apologize for the delay, but I've been having a ton of work to do lately plus my personal life isn't going all that well, which sorta explains it.

Expect 4 or 5 more chapters, that's as far as I'll go with this.

Virgofox28: My brother from another mother. I appreciate the review. I'm not proof-reading the chapters due to the lack of time to do it. I apologize. *brofist*

Without further delay, here's the 7th chapter.

Chapter 7. Arrivals

Sora

My head is all fuzzy from that dream, though I suppose waking up so fast and almost falling from the bed must have something to do with it. Wait... I'm on a bed? When did I get here? While my eyes were still adjusting to the sudden brightness, I still managed to take in my surroundings. My room was spacious, a table with four chairs around it on the middle. The windows were opened, the curtains gently moving according to the breeze that was coming in. My bed was bigger than the one in my own room, so I suppose I was taken here in a hurry or to be taken care of, perhaps. My friends were nowhere to be seen and judging by the light, it was almost the end of the day. Wait... Wasn't I supposed to... Oh, the sparring with Riku... And that strange feeling of unbound anger and unlimited power. Oh god, did I hurt him?!

Just as I was about to crawl my way out of bed to look for him, the door to my room bursts open with a teary Kairi standing in the doorway, her hands covering her mouth. Judging by her reaction, it must have been bad.

"Hey, Kairi, wh—" she cut me off, pouncing me, making the wood from the bed creak from stress, the mattress bouncing, her arms around me, hugging me tightly and crying a little, taking shaky breaths every now and then. After a while, she spoke.

"Don't you dare scare me like that again!" she said, looking up to me with her pretty face all red, tears falling down. Man, you just can't say no to that.

"It's ok, Kairi. I promise I'll never do that again."I managed to smile, wiping her falling tears from her cheeks. "Where's Riku? I gotta talk to him." I asked, looking around. I helped Kairi get on her feet and off the bed, she fixed the sheets and I was now sitting down on the bed. She was about to answer when Riku showed up, panting, Goofy and Donald following soon after.

"Speak of the devil." Kairi said, chuckling. Riku looked somewhat reliefed, but he had this tense aura to him, like he was about to jump in on a fight. Goofy and Donald looked worried, but Riku wouldn't let them through the door, his arm blocking them. He turned around and said.

"Give us some privacy, both of you, we'll continue our... conversation... later." I couldn't see his face, but I swear he was being hostile towards the other two. What happened while I was asleep?

"Ahyuk, we want to see if Sora is okay, Riku!" Goofy said, looking over Riku's shoulder and fixing his gaze on me. I smiled a little and waved, but I still felt somewhat sad because of their unusual behavior on the last couple of months. Betrayed, even. I really didn't want to explain anything to them, a headache creeping at the corners of my mind just by thinking about it. First, Riku and Kairi deserved some answers, even if I felt like I didn't really have them.

"I... reckon you three need some... alone time, right?" Goofy said, still looking at me. Was he expecting me to say it was okay for them to come in? Well, too bad. I could barely stand up, much less endure the sad and worried looks on their faces. They have been avoiding me for so long, it wouldn't hurt to wait a little more.

"Yes, Goofy, thank you." I said, my smile unwavering despite the tight feeling on my chest. Donald began to protest but, as usual when he's angry, he doesn't make much sense. Riku ignored him and closed the door, locking it behind him. Sighing, he turned around, one of his hands massaging his temples and the other on his hips.

"Alright, Sora, mind explaining what happened?" He said, fixing his gaze on me. His tone wasn't accusatory nor questioning, he was just curious and worried, it seemed. He was a good friend, after all. Kairi shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her hands behind her back and nervously looking at me. Oh man, it must have been pretty bad.

"Uhm... About the fight, right?" My hands were tightly holding the sheets covering my lower body. I was afraid to tell them the truth.

"Yes, the fight." Riku said, his tone giving nothing away. "And how you suddently got a crazy power up and broke two of my ribs." My eyes went wide and I looked at him. He looked fine, maybe he used a Curaga spell. But healing wasn't his specialty, by far, so it must have took him a while. How long was I out? I don't remember hurting him, much less breaking his bones. Kairi gasped, taken back by the sudden revelation. So she didn't know too. Looking down in shame, my knuckles white from my hold over the sheets, I tried my best to explain.

"Look, Riku..." I looked up and found his eyes, wanting for answers but not judgmental, inciting me to proceed. Sighing, I continued. "I felt angry, okay? Really, really angry. After feeling like this for so long, I didn't know what to do. It's like I forgot how it is to be at ease. To relax and let loose, enjoy the breeze, you know?" I flopped back down the bed, giving up on sitting down. My head was starting to spin, trying to make sense of all the thoughts that I had to voice. "I think that it somehow affected the keyblade too... Or maybe not. When ... "it"... happened, all I felt was anger, like nothing else existed, and power. So much power, Riku. It felt like I could do anything. Past that, everything goes blank, except..." Remembering the dream, my head really started to spin around. It was making me feel sick.

"Except what?" Riku said, sitting down on the bed and putting his hand on my forehead. It was comforting and it helped with the nausea. It would be unfair if I didn't tell him, and Kairi, the rest of it. She, too, sat down on the other side of the bed and looked at me.

"You can tell us anything, Sora, we're your friends." She hit the nail there. We were friends. Best friends. We had each others back and I felt like it was only expected that I felt so comfortable around them. I realized there was no need for secrets here.

"Except for my dream." I closed my eyes, because it felt like I wouldn't be able to look at them while I told them everything, every detail I could remember. It wasn't fear of rejection, I just felt comfortable that way. "I was made of some sort of darkness, falling in an abyss. I had no memory of who I was or how I ended up there, until a voice called to me."

"The keyblade?" Riku asked from my side. Judging by the shift in the sheets, Kairi and him were now laying down next to me, just like when we were little. I could feel their warmth and it made me feel safe.

"No. It was something else. I really don't know what or how it got there, but it feels like it was always a part of me. Like something I ignored for so long I forgot it was there. He looked like a heartless, but he had my eyes. Blue eyes. When I tried questioning him for answers, he played around with me."

"So you had a fight with this thing? In your dream?" Kairi asked, her voice expressing her worry. Perhaps she knew what those dreams meant for keyblade wielders, being one herself for a time, not to mention also a Princess of Heart.

"It wasn't much of a fight. He was fast and I could barely keep up. He just toyed with me, poking my shoulder and my forehead. Once I asked him who he was and what was he doing there, in my dream, he looked... sad, almost. Then he said something about how good it felt to be back. To be home." I opened my eyes again and I noticed by the orange light coming in from the open window, the day was over and the servants would being preparing dinner. Soon, the smell of delicious dishes being prepared would fill the air. Time seemed to fly while I shared my thoughts. I glanced sideways, watching Riku's reaction to my story.

"Hmm..." He was thinking, one hand on his chin and the other behind his head in a comfortable position while he laid down. Looking the other way, I saw Kairi staring back at me, her eyes curious. Maybe she had a hunch, like she always did.

"Something on your mind, Kairi?" I asked her, poking her nose. She chuckled, waving her hand in front of her face to keep me from doing it again.

"I was thinking... The thing said it was good to be 'home', right?"

"Yeah, it said 'feels good to be home' or something. Why?" Where was she going with this? Her eyes lit up, her hand now resting on her chin like Riku. However, she was interrupted before she could say anything, much to her displeasure.

"What she wants to say, Sora, is that by he...or she... or it saying it's good to be home, it implies that it was there to begin with." Riku said, glancing sideways.

"Smartass" Kairi said, showing her tongue. Riku chuckled and continued.

"It implies that whatever darkness this is, you were born with it or at least it manifested itself in you a long time ago, only to be pushed back." Riku finished. Wow, I didn't think about that. But... what does that mean? I'm not a dark person and the only source of my power is the keyblade. I could feel it's warmth resonating near my heart, agreeing with me. Then it hit me, a cold sensation, the direct opposite of the keyblade manifested itself at the borders of my heart. Instinctively, I placed my hand over my chest. The keyblade overcame that sensation quickly, leaving only it's presence near my heart. That was weird.

"I... see..." I said, unsure of what to think. Kairi seemed to have an idea, at least I thought, our conversation being interrupted by Donald opening the door. Riku glared his way and got up the bed, his fists clenched beside him.

"Listen here, duck, I told you to give us some privacy. We are discussing matters that no longer have anything to do with you." He said, pointing a finger at him. All of this scene seemed so strange to me. How did we go from friends, brothers in arms and companions to enemies? It doesn't fit. Donald wasn't impressed or at least he didn't show. His wings crossed in front of him, he responded.

"I came here by the order of the King. Otherwise, I would've left you to whatever it is you're doing." He said, unimpressed by Riku's attitude. "He has returned and wishes to speak to Sora. Alone." At the sound of that, Kairi shot up and was making her way to the door, most likely to shut it on Donald's face. I got up and held her hand, her eyes staring back at mine. Donald was being polite. Too polite.

"It's ok, you guys." I looked at them with a small smile on my face. "I'll be back before you know it!" It was a fake smile and they knew it. I'm scared to know the truth. Was I becoming the enemy I fought for so long? The darkness? A heartless? If Mickey came back, he would've answers, he promised us before he left. I would hear them and then decide what to make of all this. Even though it pains me, I had to do it alone. It was my problem, my... darkness. I noticed I was dressed in pijamas, I made my way to the dresser and found my clothes there. Changing in the bathroom, I washed my face and made my way out of the room, being watched by Kairi and Riku. As I was about to leave and follow Donald, Riku held my hand.

"You can always count on us." He said, his hands slightly tight over mine. Kairi also shook her head and gave me a thumbs up with a smile of her own. Sheesh, I have really good friends, don't I?

"I know, dummy." I said, flicking a finger on his forehead and quickly leaving the room, laughing at his protests and attempts to follow me for payback being foiled by Kairi holding him back. I owe her one for that save.

Glancing foward, I saw Donald walking down the hallway and towards the library, an unusual place to meet Mickey, as he always held his audiences in the throne room. I felt like I should ask him about everything, his and Goofy's behaviour the last couple of months, but I didn't. I guess they'll explain themselves when they think the time is right. Doesn't mean I have to like it, though. The walk was silent for most of the way, sometimes a servant or two passed by carrying dishes toward the dining hall, the smell of freshly made food filling the castle. Judging by it, it would be a delicious dinner. As we approached the doors that led to the library, Donald glanced back.

"Look, Sora... About what's happening... I just wanted you to know it's not what it looks like." The duck said, opening the doors and gesturing me to go in. "We're still your friends. Always will be." He finished. I quietly made my way in, thinking about the meaning of his words. As Donald closed the door behind me, I had a chance to take in the details of the library, as I didn't really go here except to fetch Kairi for dinner or something. It had big shelves with all sorts of books in the most different fields of expertise lined up and organized. Small magical torches replaced the regular ones, I'm sure it was to prevent possible fire hazards. Along the corridors, chairs and tables with their own little magical candles were free for anyone to use. I got snapped back to reality by a tall man with long silver hair, broad shoulders and a slim figure standing near one of those said tables, glancing down a book that happened to be there, uninterested. And it wasn't Riku.

"What are you doing here... Sephiroth?" I blurted out, summoning the keyblade and into my battle stance. He wouldn't catch me by surprise this time. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes giving nothing away except his boredom. Did he really think I wasn't a match for him? Was he planning on attacking the castle? It didn't suit him at all. He never looked for a fight, he was the type that waited for the fight to come to him, only to ultimately crush his opponents. He chuckled, his deep voice echoing throughout the corridors of the library.

"I'm not here as an enemy, child. I'm here as a guest of your king." He moved side ways, mentioning me to look behind him. Mickey was there, tapping one of his fingers on the table, nervously. "You can think of me as... an advisor, of sorts." He chuckled once more. It sent chills down my spine. The king didn't look so amuzed by his presence as Sephiroth made it out to be. He was the only one laughing.

"All in due time, Sephiroth. If you may, I wish to speak to Sora in private." He glanced at me, moving a chair and mentioning for me to sit down. I complied, watching all of Sephiroths movements closely, looking for any signs of hostility. So far, he was relaxed. Too relaxed. Watching my every move, he began humming, one of his hands over his chin in a pensative manner.

"I will obey this time, King. However, I must say that I feel... something else inside him besides the keyblade." Was he... talking about the heartless inside me? How could he know? Mickey sighed, saying nothing and motioning for the other man to leave the room. Sephiroth took his leave and when he closed the door behind me, the King sat down and looked at me, his fingers crossed together on top of the table.

"Okay, Sora, I think I owe you some answers. Ask anything you want and I promise I'll do my best to answer."

Oh boy, where to begin?

~~##~~

Kairi

As soon as Sora left the room, my chest tightened and I felt cold. He was so... confused and lost. But he still trusted us, enough to tell us so many things personal to him, like this weird dream he had. Riku was sitting down on a fancy chair across the room, quietly tapping his fingers or placing one of his hands on his chin. He does that when he's deep in thought, it's kind of cute, to be honest. But right now, all it did was annoy me.

"Oh, spill it out already!" I said, crossing my arms in front of me. If I didn't act tough a little bit, he would end up humming to himself all day long. He snapped out of it, a little surprised, losing his composure for a moment, quickly regaining it and grinning, scratching the back of his head.

"Sorry, I did it again, didn't I?" Smiling, he looked at me. "It's just that... what Sora is going through seems a lot like what I did when the darkness, you know... chose me. I bet he's feels cold from time to time." Riku clenched his fists in front of him, his elbows resting on his knees and his head down. "But it doesn't make sense. Sora is a keyblade wielder, a damn good one, and his heart is pure. He is... I don't know to put it..."

"Pure light." I said. He looked up to me, raising his head.

"Yeah..." He looked down again, slowly opening his palms. I could see he summoned two little orbs of darkness which were floating around in little circles on top of his hands, sometimes zig-zaging through his fingers. "It's not easy to handle the darkness. It took me a while to understand it's nature, even more to master it." The orbs vanished, Riku looking up. "I wish he doesn't have to go through the same, Kairi."

"I know, I don't want him to suffer just as much as you do. But... He's strong, Riku. If he has to go through it, he'll do it and come out unscathed, I'm sure of it!" I couldn't help but smile. He was too much of a hard headed dummy to listen to anyone, much less to the darkness. Riku gave me his signature grin, standing up and going to the door.

"Yeah, and we'll be there for him if he needs us." He said, looking my way over his shoulder. It saddened me to see him leaving so soon, but I guess he needed time to think. He enjoyed being alone just as much as he did being around me and Sora, I couldn't hold him here just because I had doubts of my own.

"We will." I gave him a thumbs up and watched him smile and leave, closing the door behind him. I waited for a while, attentive to the sound of his footsteps. When they finally stopped. I grinned and spinned on my heels, arms open wide.

"Now... Time to practice some more!" I said to myself, with no reason in particular.

I summoned my keyblade and immediatly began casting the spells I've been reading about in the Library, carefuly aiming them as not to damage anything. Most projecticles flew for a while before disappearing, giving me plenty of room in case I had bad aim. For the last couple of mounths, I've been practicing all kinds of magics in secrecy. I even managed to bring out the keyblade whenever I wanted now, instead of only in situations of life and death like before. It would be a big surprise to the boys when they find out! I shot another Firaga spell, smilling to myself as it flew and dissapeared, followed by a small scale Gravity spell. It was too much fun!

~~##~~

Riku

I could feel a dark presence inside the castle. It was powerful and dense, which left me with only one person in mind. Sephiroth is here, for some reason. Things looked peaceful enough for now, but what if it was about to change? I have to find him, fast. When I gained some distance from the room Kairi was in, I began sprinting down the hallway and in the direction I felt his presence coming from. It was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon him. He was... strangely calm, leaning over the balcony and staring out a window that gave view to the gardens. I stood there, analyzing what was this bizarre scene in front of me. It didn't suit him at all, to be this defenseless. His eyes lazily trailed sideways, spotting me.

"Are you going to stare for how long, boy?" He said in a bored tone. It really irritated me how he always seemed to underestimate us. Summoning Soul Eater, I pointed it's sharp end to him and glared.

"Why are you here? You better start explaining." He gathered himself, standing upright in his usual prideful manner.

"What if I don't? Will you force me?" He was staring back, smirking, waiting for a challenge. If he wanted one, I would give him one.

"It'll be my pleasure to wipe that smile off your face." I dashed foward, meeting his blade. As we stared off one another, darkness began engulfing our bodies. His own was manifested in his black wing, while mine circled around me protectively. I won't back down. I'll protect this castle, Sora and Kairi even if it kills me.

So, shorter parts for Riku and Kairi since Sora's chapter is almost 2.900 words long or something. I don't like writing big chapters so I'm leaving the multiple cliffhangers for you people to hate. Also, this is the first chapter to go over 4000 words. Yay.

Review, yadda yadda. At this point, I'm really not expecting it anymore.

See you next time.