Author's Note: Just like to start out by saying how sorry I am this was late! I've been really sick all day and so tried my best to finish it, and before that I got the update date wrong…just like to give a random thanks to TLSoulDude, for always reminding me to update :)

On a side note I added a new KH movie to Youtube (username: RoxasKairi)

Disclamier: Don't own Kingdom Hearts baby.

Chapter 9

Saved and Sacrificed

The reason the two Keybladers hadn't run into Maleficent was because she was at Radiant Garden, looking for a certain princess. Said Princess was currently in the Market Place of Radiant Garden, sitting on the roof of Scrooge McDuck's ice cream store. She was supposedly 'watching' his current ice cream while he went to pick up another order of stock.

Yeah, if watching means eating, I'm all set. Kairi thought, licking her ice cream while staring at the almost cloudless sky. A frown settle on her face as she thought of Sora and Riku, wondering what they were doing and if they were alright. Leon still refused to tell her anything, saying that when they came back, they could tell her.

The frown deepened on Kairi's face as she heard a sound behind her. Seeing how she was on the roof she found it unusual, but she turned around hopefully, thinking Sora was trying to surprise her.

Instead of a shriek of happiness that her friends were back, a shriek of terror escaped her lips, before her vision went black.


When Kairi opened her eyes she saw she was in a cage - hanging far from the ground. (A/N: Was in Kh2...)

She ran to the bars and grabbed them, wishing she could just pull them off. Tears formed in her eyes but she shook her head, forcing them to disappear.

"No!" She screamed, to no one in particular. "LET-ME-OUT!" She kicked the bars on each syllable.

"Damn you, Maleficent…" The red-head muttered as she slid to the ground.


Sora jumped afoot in the air, feeling a vibration come from somewhere in his pocket. Still seething and slightly hoping it was Riku trying to talk to him, Sora pulled out his communicator, only to see Leon's face looking back at him.

"Oh, hi Leon." The brunette mumbled.

"Sora! We got trouble - Maleficent was here and she took Kairi." Leon said in a sharp tone.

"What?" Sora raised an eyebrow. "Kairi wasn't in Radiant Garden. She's at Destiny Islands, in a coma." His heart was starting to race now.

"Kairi isn't in Radiant Garden - not anymore. She came here looking for you two just as you left, but Maleficent has her and -"

"And she's probably here!" Sora finished the sentence.

"Right. I've already told Riku." Leon gave a slight glare. "So you two quit fighting like an old married couple and find her!"

Sora scowled as his communicator went black. He shook his head slightly, knowing Leon was right - at least about the not fighting and finding Kairi part.

Sora took a breath to come himself and looked around, debating which direction to go in. "Okay, typical bad-guy kidnapping good-guy scenario is they throw them in the dungeons…right?" He asked to seemingly know one. "And dungeons are usually in the basement…so I guess my best bet would be down."

Sora pocketed his communicator and took off towards the lower levels, just as, a few corridors away, Riku was talking to himself about the same thing.

"If dungeons are normally on lower levels, then Sora's probably going to head down there without really thinking. So I guess I should head up, jut in case they are up there…"

Riku pocketed his own communicator and took off for the upper-levels.


Sora jogged down a flight of steps, taking two at a time. He skidded to a halt as he gazed in awe at the room. There were cages hanging from the walls, and stretch of ground extended between the two rows. The stretch of white, shiny tile was just wide enough for a car to drive on, though Sora doubted there were any cars down here.

The brunette looked around curiously, taking a cautious step. The floor seemed to be waxed recently, but he didn't slip and his shoes didn't squeak, so he took a few more cautious steps. His ears perked up as he heard something - it sounded like snuffling. The Keyblade Wielder paused as he listened, recognizing the sound as crying.

Not wanting to make a noise in case it wasn't Kairi, Sora snuck forward, his muscles tense for battle. He peered into the first cage on his left once he reached it, but it was empty.

Sora paused as he tried to figure out which cage the sound was coming from - it was defiantly his left.

Once again keeping his body ready for battle, Sora walked forwards, peering into the huge cages. The sound got closer after he had passed about four cages on his left, and he started to run towards it, stopping suddenly in front of a certain cage.

The girl in the cage had her knees drawn up to her face, and her body was shaking gently with sobs.

"Kairi!"

Kairi looked up suddenly and gasped, before running to the bars.

"Sora! You-your really here!" She said, surprise and happiness mixed in her voice.

"Of course!" Sora gave her his trademark grin. "Now we just gotta figure out how to get you out of there…"

There was at least an eight foot difference between Sora and the cage. He looked around, trying to figure out what he could use to get her out.

"Aha!" Sora said triumphantly, before disappearing form Kairi's view.

"Sora?" Kairi asked, slightly worried as she strained to see where he went. It only took a second for him to reappear, carrying a long metal pole.

"Where'd you get that?" Kairi asked, surprised.

"One of the cages is on the ground all busted up." Sora said simply. "It's one of the bars."

The brunette placed it on the ground and slid it across to the cage.

"Wa-wa-wa-wait." Kairi said, not stuttering but stern. "You want me to walk across that tiny little bar?"

"C'mon Kai," Sora said soothingly. "I know you can do it!"

"Your just saying that because you don't have to do it." Kairi mumbled.

"Well if you'd rather stay in the cage.." Sora teased.

Kairi gave a loud sigh and Sora called his Keyblade. He pointed it to the lock, and the cage door swung open with a slight creek.

"Ok, adjust it on your side, and I'll keep it steady here." Sora crouched down and held the pole tightly. "Ready?"

"No…" Kairi muttered, placing a single foot on the bar and testing it. She put all her weight on the one foot, testing her balance, before putting it back down.

"What if I fall, Sora?" Kairi asked with anxiety. "It's a long way down…"

"So don't look down." Sora said. "Just…keep your eyes on me."

Kairi sighed. "Well, at least the pole's wide enough for my foot." Her eyes locked with Sora's and she took the first step on the pole, away form the cage. Her arms were spread, trying to keep her balance. He lifted her right foot and slowly placed it in front of her left.

'There you go," Sora said. "Your doing it…"

Kairi took six more careful, slow steps. She was only three steps away from Sora, almost jumping length. Anxious to get to the other side, she took a slightly quicker step - and caught her right toes on her left heel.

"Kairi!" Sora shouted as Kairi shrieked. Sora quickly let go of the pole in time to just barely catch Kairi and pull her away from the edge.

Kairi took several quick shaky breaths before Sora embraced her tighter in a hug. Kairi, still slightly shook up, hugged Sora back in a bone crushing way. The two stood there, both embracing each other.


Riku, unlike Sora, had his Way To The Dawn Keyblade out, ready for battle. After climbing several floors, he finally heard a voice. Clutching the hilt of his Keyblade, he peered out from behind the corner to see Maleficent, pacing around the room and muttering to herself. Riku felt anger come over him as he stared at the witch who had caused so much trouble. He took a step into the room, causing Maleficent to turn and jump slightly, as if she hadn't expected anyone.

"I know what your up to." Riku said with a glare - he was ready to take her on if he had to.

"What do you mean?" Maleficent snarled, not even bothering to say hello.

"I know you planted those files so Sora would find them - so he would be convinced he had to kill himself so the Heartless would leave Kairi." Riku said, his eyes and tone as cold as ice.

Maleficent let out a cackle. "My dear boy, I thought you were so much smarter then that." She continued to laugh for a minute before continuing. Riku continued to hold his blade steady at his side.

"You have no idea how wrong you are, little boy." She snarled slightly. "To make my plan complete, I need the Keyblade master…I also need that wretched Princess and the Heartless inside of her." She paused and realized something. "You were in my files…my things, weren't you." She didn't say it like a question. "You'll pay for that!"

She snarled and raised her hand, just as Sora walked into the room with a steely expression, followed by Kairi.

"Wait...if I sacrifice myself, Kairi will not only live...but your plans will be foiled, too?"

Sora said, then looked between Maleficent and Riku before turning to Kairi.

"Kai…" He said softly - Maleficent seemed to have momentarily forgotten about how mad she was, in spite of the Keyblade Master showing up. Kairi started shaking her head violently.

"Sora don't be reckless!" Kairi said, fighting to hold back tears.

Sora looked at Kairi, heartbreak in his eyes. The Keyblader placed his hands on the princesses shoulders, then pulled her towards him as he leaned in to catch her lips.

Kairi's eyes widened slightly before she shut them, still fighting back the tears as Sora held her close. Kairi felt like it was just getting started and never had to end, but Sora pulled back abruptly and looked at Riku.

"Take care of her." He said before whispering softly,

"I'm sorry, Kairi."

Before anyone could react, Sora called his Keyblade and thrust it into his heart. Kairi gave a sharp gasp and clutched her heart in pain as she felt the Heartless die, and as she felt the pain from Sora - her secret love.

Kairi fell to her knees in pain, watching as Sora slowly fell backwards and disappeared in a flurry of lights. Through the lights Kairi could see Riku battling Maleficent, and just before the last light faded, Kairi passed out.

Author's Note: Ha bet you didn't see that coming! Lol I love being the author. No, this isn't the last chapter. And Yes, the next chapter will be the last, unless I decide to a) make a sequel and post it or b) add the sequel onto this story. So review and tell me what you think!