Chapter 6:

Owen's POV...

We went back to the island, planning out on what to do. It is unknown on where Ralph had gone off to, so we don't know where to start. So I called HQ for more info.

"HQ come in," I spoke to the person in the small screen of my PDA. "Is that you, Crystal?"

"Yes it is," she replied. "Gina's here too. Wanna say hello?"

I nodded with a smile. "Okay." The camera shifted a bit to the right and now another girl was on the screen with Crystal. "Hey Gina! How're ya?"

She smiled brightly. "I'm doing good! Oh Owen, I missed you!"

"Friends of yours?" I heard Aqua ask over my shoulder.

I laughed and fixed the PDA to show the both of us to them. "Hey guys, I got someone I want you to meet."

Their eyes widened as they stared at Aqua. "Oh...my..."

"I know, right?"

They both squealed, startling the girl beside me. "AQUA!"

Yeah, they both love Aqua. In a fangirl type of way. Nothing more, nothing less...

Crystal Leigh and Gina Buffro. I met them during the course of my training in the Academy. They're a lively pair.

"Oh, Aqua! It's so nice to meet you! I'm Crystal Leigh!"

"And I'm Gina Buffro!"

She smiled. "Nice to meet you both. I guess you both know me as well."

Quit pushing each other out of the way, though. You can talk with her as much as you want.

I cleared my throat. "Anyway, Aqua's gonna be with me on this mission as my partner. The Director's orders. So if she has any questions I can't answer, please fill in the blanks for me."

They both giggled. "Fill in the blanks?"

"Can't think of a better term. Anyway, just answer questions I can't answer."

"Got it," Gina said with a nod.

"Leave it to us," Crystal added.

I smiled and nodded. "Thanks, guys." I looked at Aqua. "Get more acquainted with the two girls first. I gotta look around for any clues."

"You sure you don't need any help?"

"I'll be fine. Besides, it's not often you learn about fans you never even knew existed. You're a celebrity to them."

She giggled. "A celebrity?"

"Yup! So please, if not for them then for me, can you give them the privilege of talking to their number one idol?"

She smiled. "Okay. Though you don't really need to go that far. I'd be happy to meet any of your friends!"

"Thanks, Aqua."

"Take your time!" the other two chimed in unison.

I rolled my eyes and walked away.


Aqua's POV...

I looked back at the small screen. "So, you two have known Owen for a long time?"

The girl named Crystal nodded. "Yeppers! Ever since the academy!"

Yeppers? "You guys really amaze me. I still can't believe this is all a video game."

"Are you alright with it, though? Knowing your entire world is a game?" the girl named Gina asked.

I shrugged. "Well, I was in quite a shock at first. But it can't be helped, I guess. That's the reality of it."

"More like the fantasy of it."

We all shared a laugh. "Anyway, I am so grateful of Owen. He got me out of that horrible place."

"You mean the ROD?" I nodded. "Yeah. You really never deserved to be there in the first place. It's a good thing Owen was there."

"Owen's a pretty good guy," Crystal said with a smile. "He's always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. Friend or foe."

I quirked a brow. "Foe?"

"Guess I wasn't very clear on that. If his enemy is on the verge of destruction or a life and death situation, he would do anything to save that guy no matter what. He's...just that kind of guy."

"He...saves his enemies?"

"He hopes that it would change them and have them repent for their sins or whatever. Owen's a kind-hearted person. Maybe too kind-hearted."

I giggled. "Who can be too kind-hearted'?"

Gina smiled and shrugged. "Owen. See, he's so nice that people tend to take advantage of his kindness."

"Take his former academy classmates for example," Crystal said. "They had pretended to be his friends just because he had a lot of money on him. They would be nice to him, ask him to pay for their games and stuff. And by the end of the day, he wouldn't have enough money for a ride home!"

I cringed. "Ouch. And, how far did he live from the academy?"

"It takes bout a half hour to get to his place if he had a ride. Walking home, it would take about two hours."

Gina sighed. "That's why I worry about him a lot. He can't tell how a person really is until he meets their ugly side."

"Though whether or not he sees how that person really is, he still sees hope in changing that person for the better." She then looked at me with a serious and pleading face. "Aqua, please take care of him. He's been through a lot in his life. With his mother dying and all, I dunno if he can take much more loss and betrayal."

Betrayal?

"You need not to worry. I'm not one to turn on my friends." I looked away. "And after what you've told me about him, I can't bear to see him hurt. Heck, even if you didn't tell me all of this I wouldn't even dream of hurting him! I've witnessed his kindness first-hand and with everything you've told me just now, it made me respect him even more..."

"You two seem to be getting along pretty well."

I nodded. "Yes. We only had just met yesterday, yet it seems I can be myself around him. He really makes me comfortable."

Crystal beamed. "That's Owen for ya!"

I giggled. "Yeah. And he's kept me quite warm last night!"

...

...

...

"...eh?" they both said in unison.

"He's kept me quite warm when we were asleep last night. It was raining and he let me share his body heat with him. Though I was the one who initiated it, he agreed to it." They were both silent. I got a little worried. "Uh...what?"

"Did you guys hug?" the blond asked.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Was he gentle?" the brunette asked.

I blinked twice. "Excuse me?"

Crystal slapped the other girl. "Don't ask things in such a manner!"

"Ow! What? I'm just wondering if he held her too tight or something!"

"Now, you know Owen isn't like that."

"I know! But even Owen could make mistakes!"

"How could Owen make mistakes?"

"He let frickin' Ralph Salgado get into the Kingdom Hearts world!"

"He didn't let him in! He was trying to stay alive while Ralph slipped into the portal!"

These guys are in their own little world...


Owen's POV...

I rubbed my temples and paced around the dock. If Ralph really is attempting to fiddle with the original KH world and other worlds, then how is he doing this? New recruits are supposed to be only Level 5 and they're fairly weak!

There's no way he could be doing this. Perhaps...

Perhaps he's getting help. But from who?

I went over a palm tree and knocked on it once. I held my hand up and caught a coconut. I knocked it on my forehead and cracked it open.

I held the two halves and looked at them. "Two halves of a coconut means it isn't whole. Put them together..." And I did. "...and you get a whole coconut."

I sat down and sighed. "Okay, that didn't help much." I dropped the two halves and began to ponder some more. "One person cannot handle something this big alone. There has to be someone lending him a hand."

And if so, it has to be someone from the organization we're in. And it needs to be someone with powerful abilities. Level 1 +.

I grunted and kicked the sand. "I gotta find him." I ran a hand through my head. "But where do I start?"

"Owen!" I turned to see Aqua running to me.

I stood up, brushing the sand off my pants. "What's up?"

She handed me the PDA. "Crystal and Gina found something. They said they sensed a portal being opened to the world of Atlantica. It could be that Ralph guy."

I put away my PDA and smiled. "Good work. Remind me to thank them later."

She nodded. "Right. So like, what is the world of Atlantica?"

My jaw dropped. "You don't know?"

She shook her head. "I thought you knew. You played the...'game'."

"Never finished it since it wasn't translated into the language my country is familiar with." I sighed and held up my hand. "Ka!"

A portal opened. We both stepped in front of it.

"Will this portal bring us to Atlantica?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. All I have to do is think of the world I want to go to and yell out the command to open up the portal." I turned to her. "You ready?"

"Yeah."

I then turned to the portal, taking her hand in mine. "Okay. You're gonna have to hold onto me though. We might end up in separate places in the world."

"I don't mind."

I felt my cheeks get warm. "Alright. Let's go!"

We jumped into the portal, our hands locked tight together...


Atlantica...

I opened my eyes and looked around. There were walls with elegant designs that had been used by corals and seashells.

And one thing I had surely noticed...we were underwater.

I looked down at myself. I was shirtless and my legs were replaced with a long mermaid tail. Cool.

I chuckled. "Haven't gone to this world, yet. I was kinda curious as to what it was like to be a merman." I turned to Aqua. "Anyway, how do you..."

As I trailed off, I stared at her. Like myself, she was shirtless and had the same tail. Her chest was barely covered by a bikini top made of scallop shells.

I could now see her skin perfectly. Despite her face being a little pink in the cheeks, her tummy was really white. Her entire body was white.

The curves of her body really made my jaw drop. She really has developed for the ten years of being in the ROD. Oh boy...

I hope my nose doesn't bleed. It may attract sharks...

She tilted her head to the side. "What?"

I ripped my gaze away and blushed. "Nothing."

"Geez, this thing is too small. It barely covers my chest."

Give me a break!

"Owen, can you help me with this?"

I sighed. I guess it's better to fix it so that the situation wouldn't go out of control.

I turned to her. "Fine, I'll he-"

BOING!

"Ah, it fell off," she muttered.

I wish I could drown right now! Please, give me the inability to breath underwater!

I shut my eyes. "Cover your chest! I'll tie the strap from behind!"

"Okay. Why are you covering your eyes, though?"

Ugh. "From where I'm from, you're not supposed to look at a girl's bare chest without her consent."

"Oh. Well, I don't mind if you look."

...

...

...

$%?

"...And why wouldn't you mind?"

"I dunno. It's not a big deal, really. I see your chest, so I guess it's fair if you see mine."

I grunted. "Well, it's different in the real world. We have morals and rules that need to be exercised." I paused for a moment. "Which a lot of us don't even follow."

"Owen, come on, this is the human body in it's...almost true form if you don't count the tail." I felt her hand grip mine. "Open your eyes."

I shook my head. "No! I'm sorry, but I should respect the privacy of all women! It's in my nature!"

"But you said that if the girl wouldn't mind then you can do otherwise, did you not?" I nodded. "Well, I don't mind. Besides, I really need help in fixing this thing. Once it's on, it'll be covered. That's what you want, right?"

I sighed and slowly opened my eyes. Her breasts were shown, clear as day. They were mid-sized, firm, untouched...

If only i had a mirror, or I wouldn't be staring at my own reflection, but a tomato. Heck, perhaps not even that!

Aqua then looked away, her cheeks becoming red. "For some reason, I feel embarrassed now that you're looking."

"See?"

"But..." She looked back at me, her smile coming back. "...again, I don't mind. Now, will you help me?"

I nodded and swam behind her. I took hold of the straps and began to tie them.

"Tell me if it's too tight."

"Mm."

After finally tying it into a ribbon, she turned around and grinned. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Thanks for the help."

"You're welcome."

This is starting to make less and less sense. So I'll just go on with the mission...

I looked around and sighed. "Now, what could he possibly be doing here?" The more I thought, the more irritated I felt. I just couldn't figure what he would want with this world? I looked back at Aqua. "What do you...think..."

I trailed off as I saw her swimming around happily. She giggled and squealed as she did a few loops and spins. She seems to be enjoying herself.

Even though she's no longer eighteen, she seems to still be acting even younger than that! And yet, I don't really mind. If anything I'm actually glad!

I'm glad and all that she's finally found happiness after getting out of the ROD. Seriously, I am. But we're in the middle of a mission, so I gotta snap her out of it...

"Aqua?"

She stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

"You sure are enjoying yourself."

Her cheeks went red. "Yeah, sorry."

I waved my hand at her. "No need to apologize. It's just...we're in the middle of a mission. And we don't know if any Heartless or Ralph would pop out. So it'd be best to stay on guard."

She nodded. "Right."

"As long as you understand. And..." I groaned and looked away. "...your chest is way too distracting!"

I heard her scoff. "Seriously, what's so wrong about my chest? They're just two round parts of my body with small buds-"

"I'm begging you, stop." I began to swim forward. "Come on, let's investigate."

"Right."


A few hours later...

I took out my gun and pointed it at my head. "Bang..."

"Calm down, Owen," my companion said softly. "We'll find something."

Oh we did. A few dozen aquatic Heartless and a really pissed-off ruler of Atlantica. It wasn't totally unexpected that we'd run into him.

But of course, we haven't met each other yet so he doesn't know a thing about us. Plus I heard he could get really paranoid and make quick judgments about people he doesn't know.

We were chased out of his palace, apparently. But really, he should be grateful that we fended off the Heartless for him and his kingdom. But do we get a thanks?

Nope, we get the boot!

"We should keep investigating this world, " I muttered. I holstered my gun and ran a hand through my hair, feeling how wavy it is under water. "It is crucial that we make sure he's no longer here. And if he was here, we should find any clues to what his purpose here was and where he's headed next."

"But we searched every corner of this reef and found nothing but Heartless. Perhaps he was never here to begin with."

I looked around. Come to think of it, this was a pretty small world when I played the game myself. It wouldn't take long for us to check just about every single part of this world.

Plus, we never got to do much free roam in this area. There couldn't possibly be any place that we have missed. And we sure as hell can't go back into the throne room!

"Maybe you're right," I said, holding my arm up to make another portal. "Let's move on."

"Wait," she suddenly muttered. I turned to her and saw a troubled look on her face. "Sorry, it's just..."

I smiled at her. "As soon as this is all over, we can come back here."

Her face suddenly lit up like a light. "Really?"

"Of course! You seem to be having fun as a mermaid, so I guess I should let you come back here every now and then!" I put a hand on her shoulder. "After we finish this troublesome ordeal, let's visit the places you enjoyed the most."

Suddenly, yet expected, she threw herself at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I could only laugh at her gesture and hug her back.

I didn't know why, but I just wanted to see her happy. And seeing her happy...made me happy. It's strange, but I don't mind.

I'm really fond of her now. But...

...

...

...

...I just wish she weren't half naked and hugging me! Okay, maybe not half-naked but I could still feel her almost-bare breasts pressing hardly on my chest!

My cheeks burned almost instantly and I quickly pulled away. "L-let's go!"


Minutes later...

We walked out of the portal, regaining our original forms. I was relieved. I thought my nose was gonna bleed if she stayed in that form any longer.

I looked at the setting around us. Greek-style statues, vases, cartoon-y clouds...

Oh shit, we're in Olympus Coliseum!

"You look surprised," Aqua said.

I nodded. "I am. I was supposed to transport us to Disney Castle, but it seems we were brought here." I looked down at my hand. "Maybe...it's happening again..."

"What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. Since we're here, let's look around. We might be able to find something here."

Her face showed concerned. I just know she's gonna persist. She's just that kind of person...

"Owen, don't keep secrets."

I waved my hand at her. "Don't worry. I'm probably wrong anyway."

"Actually, you're dead accurate!" a voice from behind said, causing us to turn. Ralph stood before us, aiming his gun at the both of us. "Looks like your senses are acting up again, Owen!"

I clenched my fists. "Ralph, give up! You can't keep running!"

He snickered. "Avoiding the subject, huh? Are you seriously gonna keep it a secret from your little friend?"

"What's he talking about?" she asked.

"Don't listen to him," I muttered.

"Dear Aqua, there's something you should know about Owen!" Ralph laughed. "You see, there's a reason why even if he's not in the highest level in the organization he's topped all of the higher-ups."

"Stop it, Ralph!"

"There's something locked inside of him, deep within his heart. A monster, a DEVIL if you would prefer! A devil that grows an enormous amount of darkness and plagues his body and soul everyday!"

"What?" she whispered, shock obviously present in her voice.

"..."

He moved a step closer. "Being drawn to a certain area filled with even the slightest amount of darkness, that's the first stage of losing control right? But I'm pretty sure you're well enough past that stage already." He held out his free hand and muttered a silent incantation, causing my whole body to writhe in pain. The pain was so immense that my legs couldn't even support my body anymore. I fell on my knees, my hand on my chest and my breathing ragged. I could hear his sadistic chuckle fill the air. "Yes! That's it! You're already at that stage! If you were to suddenly bleed then you wouldn't be able to contain it!"

I heard the gun cock, the weapon obviously aimed at me. I looked up, still struggling to fight the pain. My eyes shot daggers at him.

"Why are you doing this?" I grunted.

"Because someone wants to fight the monster within you, Owen. Someone whom you have long forgotten. But seeing you in this state now, I could care less of keeping you alive! This is just too good!" Suddenly, Aqua stepped in front of me, her arms raised sideways. She was shielding me. He smirked. "How loyal. But how can you continue to defend him after learning what he really is?"

She shook her head. "He's not a monster. And even if what you say is true I know he doesn't want this."

"Really? If you ask me darkness is the key to ultimate power! I'm sure he's been tempted a lot to use it!"

"Giving into the darkness is tempting, but if he's had this for a long time, I'm sure he's been fighting it. No matter what's inside him he's still the same boy who came to my aid and others! His heart is light surrounded by darkness! A light that not even darkness can engulf!"

For just a moment, the pain had numbed a bit as she said those words. My heart began to race even more as I took in all the things she said.

Did she really mean that? Even after knowing what's inside me she's still willing to be with me?

Ralph scoffed and aimed the gun at her. "How foolish. I thought you were smarter. I'll do you a huge favor and save you the misery you will gain by being with him." He pulled the hammer down. "Die."

Time seemed to have slowed down as I saw his finger pulling the trigger. Panic filled my mind and I quickly pushed the pain back and shot up from the ground. I pulled her by the arm and slid in front of her.

BANG!

Then...everything went black...


Aqua's POV...

It all happened too fast. One moment I was shielding Owen from Ralph then before I knew it our roles switched. And a loud bang briefly echoed.

The once tight grip on my hand let go, a hard thud being heard before I knew what had happened.

He took the bullet...

My eyes widened and my heartbeat quickened. "Owen!" I quickly knelt down and took him in my arms, looking at his now emotionless face. His eyes were closed and his mouth open. A small hole in the middle of his forehead bled blood, answering my fears. "No..."

"Hmph, didn't think he'd actually do it. I guess it's true after all!"

I didn't even look up, what's more hear a single word he said. I could feel my eyes stinging a bit as I stared at a now lifeless Owen. I was on the verge of tears.

"I knew it! He is in love with you!"

Now that grabbed my attention. I looked up at him, tears threatening to flow out. I couldn't even keep a straight glare.

"What are you talking about?" I managed to say.

He smirked. "Even if you're just a video game character he found you rather appealing. I knew it was admiration at first, but he began to see you as more than just a fictitious character! He was falling for you!" He laughed loudly. "It's just too sad! How pathetic, this guy! Giving up his life for someone who doesn't even exist!"

I felt my anger boil, then my cheeks becoming wet. My feelings came pouring out along with the tears. This guy is taking humor in this boy's feelings and tragedy.

"What do you have against Owen? He doesn't deserve this! He's been hurting for so many years and yet you people continue to treat him like dirt! And now, you take his life!" I gently laid him down on the ground and summoned my Keyblade. "You're scum!"

He laughed maniacally. "Oh. My. Frickin'. GOD! Don't tell me you've fallen for him too?"

My whole being froze. That's not true. That can't be true!

I've known him for only a couple of days, how could I possibly be...

...wait...

I did say that I was comfortable with him around. And I also said that I could trust him with my life despite only knowing each other for such a short time. Plus I've been awfully clingy to him.

Could it be? Could I really have fallen for him? Even if we've only just met the other day?

Love at first sight...?

"I...I don't..."

He laughed even harder. "No way! This is just too fucked up!" He aimed his weapon at me. "Now I really need to put you out of your misery! You sad, pathetic bitch!"

He pulled the trigger and I immediately jumped out of the way. The bullet merely grazed my cheek. I landed a good distance away from him.

I held my Keyblade at the ready. "There are a lot of words you're using that I'm not familiar with, but I do know that I'm not the one who's pathetic. It's you!"

"Whatever, I'm just happy that I've finally gotten rid of that worthless piece of shit!"

This guy...he's definitely the worst!

"I should put you out of your misery," I muttered.

He aimed the weapon at me again. "Come and try!"


To be continued...