Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts does not belong to me, it's the property of Square Enix and Disney. No money has or will exchange hands. It was written purely for entertainment value.

Authors Note: Re-edited version, September 2014. Please comment/review, it really is much appreciated when people do!

"So this is chapter 9. This is the first to be written without any help or guidance from my Beta as this part of the story plan was never really discussed and until the final few it'll be just me, the end and the plans for the final chapters had been discussed and I still have the notes. Reviews, comments or constructive criticism will therefore be very much appreciated. My thanks to anyone who's still reading and once again for your kind words. There are minor spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen the trailers for Birth by Sleep in this chapter and there may well be more for the plot of that game as this story progresses." Late 2010, possibly early 2011


Chapter 9

Sora had been surprised to find his tickets ordered and paid for when he arrived at the ticket desk. Kairi had gone straight ahead to the platform with Donald and Goofy and he realised that this was the first moment he'd been alone since waking up.

There was still so much he couldn't remember, such a void in his mind but at the same time he felt as though this was a good thing. It was as he was walking up the steps towards his friends that he finally thought to check the Journal, Jimmeny had laughed when he'd asked, saying that no one would have thought to change that but they had both been surprised to find one simple note.

"Thank Naminé?"

"Kairi did say she was helping to put you back together after something bad happened." Jimmeny suggested, tucking the journal away again.

"Can you add something to it?" Sora asked, smiling when Kairi came into view, she was showing Donald and Goofy her Keyblade and Sora made a mental note to ask her if it had a name later.

"Sure Sora, what would you like me to write?" He had the small book out again and his pen ready and poised.

"Can you add 'Thank Kairi and Riku' too?" There was the sound of a pen scratching onto paper for a few seconds then the sound of a book snapping shut.

"All done."

"Thanks." Sora felt something settle within him the closer he got to the rest of his friends. Kairi dismissed her Keyblade in a flash of light and folded her hands together behind her back, a nervous smile on her face before she released her hand to brush her hair behind her ear.

"We should get going, the train is probably going to leave soon," Sora told her, Donald and Goofy agreeing and heading towards the train, making their way inside. Sora and Kairi following them afterwards.

"He Guys! Wait up!" Kairi turned to see Olette and the boys running up the steps and coming onto the platforms. Olette had her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "We wanted to see you off."

"Thanks guys," Sora told them, touched by the effort they were making.

"You'll have to come back someday, when you find your friend - we'll show you around properly," Hayner said.

"Thank you." Seemed the only thing Sora could think of to say, he rubbed his hands on his notably too short clothes and shook Hayner's hand, doing the same with Pence as Kairi and Olette hugged.

Sora and Kairi eventually stepped foot on the train, having realised that it wasn't likely to leave until they were on board and Kairi leaned into Sora's warmth as they sat down and felt the train pull them along.

She had been touched by their new friends arrival at the station and slightly overwhelmed by the events of the last few days. At some point Sora slipped his arm around her shoulders and she felt herself drift off, knowing this would probably be her last chance for a while to do so.


Naminé had stood in the entrance hall with Riku on an enchanted stretcher at her side. The King was in the sitting room to their right and she could hear a fire crackling in the background. The castle was huge, the stone a dark grey with carvings along the walls and pillars lining the main entrance way leading to the staircase. It was a beautiful but unusual design to have the pillars with exits to rooms leading off of the semi circles either side of them. The staircase was lined with a vibrant red carpet which lead to both the east and west sides of the castle. She could only guess at what lay in the room directly at he top of the stairs but didn't think it mattered.

From what she had seen of this castle from the outside this place was huge and it would be easy enough to hide them within the many rooms and grounds of this place. There was some safety in the solitude, as long as it was properly arranged, but she wondered what exactly the King was organising with this castle's Master. So far there had been no other sign of life but sensibility told her that a large number of people would be needed to maintain a castle this grand.

She looked to Riku at her side, dressed for all the world like a normal teenager again and for a moment she felt a pang of loss for the cardigan he had bought for her. The very steady rise and fall of his chest surprised as much as it comforted her, she had expected him to have changed - not inwardly but outwardly, she knew he had let the Darkness claim him and yet he looked just like himself, all be it wearing the same black cloth over his face.

"Maybe you're finally winning against the Darkness, I saw your Keyblade, I know you lost it towards the end but it was there shining against the Darkness. I saw it all Riku and I don't know how to say thank you properly." He didn't stir and never expected him to. Instead she very slowly and carefully brought her hand to rest on top of his, She flinched almost as soon as she had though, Naminé hadn't expected him to be so cold… so much colder than she was. But it didn't stop her for long and she once again placed her small hand with his.

Finally the sounds of an agreement being finalised reached her and footsteps started to echo around the large hall. Naminé turned, looking to the King and the figure approaching. She'd seen far too much in her short existence to ask about the large cloak wearing being that approached. She could see his teeth bared and noticed absently that although he wore trousers and a cloak he still walked on all fours. She also realised that she knew him, just not in this place.

"Naminé, this is The Beast and this is his Castle," King Mickey told her.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Naminé told him with a rare smile and a curtsey, her free hand pulling out the small skirt on her dress as she did.

"I do not understand." He looked taken aback and she noticed that he growled when he spoke, unsurprising really but it somehow confused her.

"I know Sora and I know you stood with him as his ally in Hollow Bastion."

It was his turn to bow and she couldn't see the way King Mickey regarded her, like something had finally slipped into place.

"You are most welcome here, I will lead you to your room and instruct my servants to show you around, The King tells me that you will need to be careful and I will make sure you are well protected and looked after here." He paused, eyes briefly drifting to Riku's unconscious form. "I ask only that you do not enter the West Wing. The servants will be sure to point it out to you but I thought it best to mention it."

"Alright, that sounds fine. I do not know how to thank you but I shall try not to make either of us a burden here and I shall care for Riku as much as I can."

She couldn't be sure but Naminé thought she'd caught a small smile on the Beast's face.

"Belle will be more than happy to help you and I know she will want to show you the Library here. I will ask her to visit after you have settled in." It was the first time he had mentioned her and Naminé considered that maybe he wanted to make sure they were trustworthy enough to tell them about his most important and vital member of his household.

"Thank you." And once again she curtseyed.

"I will be leaving you here, I have had some things taken to your room already, things I thought you might need and a couple of items Axel and Roxas left behind for you. Good luck Naminé, if you ever need to talk to me I believe you know how to reach me." He looked at her as he spoke, trying to look as encouraging as he could. He was beginning to realised one of the links between Naminé, Sora, Riku and Kairi and it made him more certain that leaving her in this place was the right thing to do.

"Thank you your Majesty. I will contact you as soon as Riku wakes up."

"Alright, Thank you both of you and hopefully I'll see you again soon." He exited to the Gummi ship and Naminé, The Beast and Riku were left alone.

"The King has told me that if any of your friends arrive here I am to keep you both a secret, I have made sure that Belle and everyone else here knows." he started to lead the way, the stretcher moving Riku along with her walking, hand still with his at his side.

"I'm grateful for your hospitality and if there is anything we can do to help we will."

"There is no need to thank me, it's the least I can do. Sora helped me to find Belle again…. and I understand your situation, enough to offer you Sanctuary." He lead them up the staircase, turing to see Naminé smile at him before leading them through the castle.


"Wow," Roxas exclaimed as he set foot in the library. "Xemnas's library has nothing on this place." Strong light beamed through the windows on the other side of the room. It looked warm and oddly cosy, there was a table underneath the staircase leading to the second level which seemed like it would make the perfect work station until late in the evening when the light wained. He had a feeling there would be more area's like that dotted all around the place and he couldn't help but hope for a comfortable sofa or two as well.

Axel had gone to hide their Organisation Cloaks in the room they had chosen and Roxas had to admit he'd been surprised at Axel's insistence that this be their destination and also at how well kept parts of the castle were. They had only been here for missions before and never to wander around the former living quarters.

He had considered that since Hollow Bastion's Restoration and the surrounding area's returning that maybe that had repaired the Castle, after all he hadn't come here until after Sora restored the worlds.

There was certainly plenty to read, although he had a feeling he should ignore the larger volumes for now. He made his way in, running his hand along one of the shelves trying to find something of interest, in the end he picked one of the oldest books, more out of interest than anything else and wandered up the stairs.

He found a large table and wooden chair set up over looking the lower floor, there were more bookshelves up here and what looked like hidden links to the rest of the castle but he paid it no mind, pulling out the chair and seating himself down.

It was unusual that no dust covered the library or any of the furnishings and even the desk lamp worked, here time seemed to have stood still. Like the Library had avoided the destruction of the worlds and preserved its self. For that he was grateful, it seemed a pretty good place to lie low.

As he opened the book he heard the lower Library doors open.

"Roxas?" Axel called and Roxas half wanted to tell him to keep his voice down, which didn't really make any sense given they were the only ones there.

"I'm up here," he replied, trying to decipher the language on the front page. He didn't recognise it but it seemed to be different from the rest of the book so he continued on.

Axel had jogged up the stairs and quickly arrived at the table, leaning against the bookshelf next to it.

"What're you reading?" he asked, moving his hand through the air to watch the dust motes move around him.

"I'm not sure, so far it seems to be a charter of political history of some place called Radiant Garden," he told him, flicking through the book before realising he wouldn't gain any enjoyment from it and closed it with a gentle thud on the table.

Axel smiled a little sadly and Roxas eyed him questioningly.

"Rox, This is Radiant Garden… or at least what's left of it." Axel wasn't looking at him.

"How do you know that?" Roxas spoke carefully, not wanting to sound too harsh, he was after all, genuinely surprised that he knew such a thing. Axel never seemed to pay much - if any -attention to history and had never said anything on any of their previous missions in this place.

Axel met Roxas' gaze and although he clearly didn't want to talk about it he did anyway, there was no longer any point in keeping secrets, they hadn't really gotten him very far in the past.

"I was from here… Lea was from here…. Me and Saix were from here." Better to get everything out in the open, the currently pretty silent and nervous open. Roxas just sat there, watching him for what felt like at lot longer than it must have been.

Eventually Roxas exhaled and although he very much wanted to turn back around and collapse on the back of his chair he didn't, he knew that it would most likely be taken the wrong way and he didn't really want Axel storming off and setting fire to the Heartless that lived here before he could explain himself.

"I...I um." Seemed to be the best he could manage though.

"Yeah." Axel shifted then stood properly and for a moment Roxas really did think he would leave... but he didn't. Instead he came to sit on the table, at a slight slant so he could still see Roxas. He half wanted to hold his hand but couldn't bring himself to reach over, didn't want to admit that he needed the comfort.

"Saix?" It seemed such a foreign concept, the guy seemed to be the epitome of a being without a heart, it was so hard to imagine him with one.

"His name was Isa and well… he was different back then… we used to sneak into the castle or try…" Axel stopped with a deep sigh and tried to focus his attention on the books or the windows or the view over the rest of the library.

Roxas wasn't exactly sure what to do, only that acting on instinct had worked so far and shuffling the chair closer and placing his hand on Axel's shoulder seemed to be the best idea.

Axel didn't respond immediately but the tension slipped from his shoulders and he seemed much more relaxed all of a sudden.

"We grew up together, he was, at least for a while my best friend… we had toy weapons and we'd spend time roaming the town, messing up, play fighting." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes to draw peace from Roxas' touch. "But things changed, Saix got too involved and I trusted him enough to follow him. I hated him once but now I can't do much more than resent him."

"Axel," Roxas spoke softly, standing to almost be eye level with him, which, given Axels impressive height even when seated meant Roxas was almost on this tip toes. He rested his head against the mass of red hair in front of him and pressed kisses into his neck. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't have anything to do with it."

"It doesn't mean I can't be sorry that you had to go through that… you've told me about Lea before but you never told me where you were from or who you knew… I didn't mean…"

"To upset me? Roxas you can't." He gestured towards his chest, he knew Roxas was watching the gesture from where his head rested on his shoulder.

"Spare me the no heart crap, that doesn't change anything. Memories have their own way of hurting. You know that." He could feel a slight tremor running through Axel's upper arms and he knew without looking his hands were pressing down hard on the table.

"It was how it all started really, it's kinda hard to be part of something that destroyed your home world… I don't remember everything… but I know that this library was and will still be filled with information on the Heartless, the Keyblade Wars and even some of Xemnas' early research." The shaking stopped and he seemed to be getting himself back together, the change of subject seemed to be helping.

"When he was Ansem?" Roxas asked, concentrating on rubbing his hand up and down Axel's bare arm and still nuzzling into his neck.

"Yeah… it's pretty hazy… or I've tried to block it out, I'm not sure which anymore." Silence passed between them again and it was then that Axel considered something. "You know that's why we're here don't you?"

Blue eyes met green when Roxas stood back down again, sliding his hand to take hold of Axel's and it took just a few moments for him to understand exactly what Axel had been saying.

"The Library, The Keyblade Wars, Ansems research… we're here for me?" It was such a shock compared to the rest of their conversation that it was his turn to take a couple of minutes to replay everything in his head.

Axel nodded. "I don't remember much but I know that Radiant Garden had strong links with other worlds and a wealth of knowledge… if we're going to find information to explain everything there's a good chance it's here."

"But why? If being here makes you uncomfortable." He felt strong lanky hands return his firm hold of his hand.

"It's not so bad up here, the Castle Rooms in this Area were always pretty peaceful and welcoming so I don't mind so much… but really I just wanted to come here so we could try and find your answers." He had honestly thought Roxas would have worked it out by now but with so many other things on his mind he reasoned that he was probably a little distracted.

"I swear I'm going to find some way to make this up to you."

"You all ready are," Axel told him, slipping down from the table and pulling Roxas along with him, very pointedly not letting go even when Roxas nearly collided with the bookshelf as Axel lead them back down the stairs.

"Where are we going?" he asked as he was lead further into the downstairs areas, to an alcove with let another table. "Axel?"

"There should be something around her-ah." There was a sharp tug on his hand and the next thing Axel knew he'd been turned around and familiar blue eyes were right in front of him, warm lips pressed against his and feet nudging his backwards until they both came to a stop when shelving met floor.

Axel smiled allowing Roxas to deepen their kiss and with the hand that wasn't entangled he pulled Roxas as close to him as he could, not caring or really noticing the shelves and books pressing into his back.


"Sora! Kairi!" Goofy shook them both awake as the train stopped. Sora awoke with a yawn and a shake of his head, hair seamlessly falling back into it's slightly longer but still spiky style. His free arm stretched upwards as Kairi started to stir next to him, wrinkling her noise when she sat up to a face full of brown spikes.

"The Train has stopped - we have to hurry," Donald called from the doorway.

Kairi wondered if that was an educated guess or just a way to hurry them along. Her nap had done her the world of good and it had now occurred to her, as nervous butterflies filled her stomach that this was the first step in getting back to Riku. Kairi was under no illusion that this was going to be easy but just by being part of it, being by Sora's side finding their missing friend and whatever else was thrown at them they'd face together.

Kairi stood quickly with a brush down of her dress and followed Goofy and Donal off the train, Sora right behind her. The soft thud onto the ground behind her was unmistakably Sora alighting from the train.

"Where are we?" She asked with a whisper of surprise.

It appeared as though they were almost on an island in the sky, trees that Kairi didn't recognise that at best looked like her christmas tree back home lined most of the edge of the island. The sky was dark with gently swirling clouds until it met the sunset coloured horizon and in front of them stood a tower with windows in a rising diagonal pattern around the structure. A moon and star emblem were marked onto each of the two main doors.

"I don't know," Sora admitted as they made their way to the small set of steps leading to the large wooden doors. A familiar chime rang through the air and stopped him in his tracks. Kairi was stood with her back to him Keyblade in hand and he realised at once why.

"Sora, Heartless!" she called, also brining Donald and Goofy to attention.

"Right!" Sora replied, Keyblade already in hand and leaping towards the nearest Heartless. he saw Kairi swipe her Keyblade through the creature closest to her then turned his attention towards the Heartless in front of him, Donald and Goofy were doing the same. He was beginning to realise that he would have to try and curb his protective instinct towards her, she could handle her self as well as the rest of them could.