Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and its wuvable characters do not belong to me sadly. ...what? I'm too tired to come up with a snarky remark today and now I know I hate U-S Airways. Well, at least for right now. -grumbles to self about not getting a seat on the plane with my sister while my parents and grandparents got some and how a whole mess of things are going wrong-

Pairings: AkuRoku, SoraKairiRiku, and...a little one-sided Namixas (Yes, adding a new pairing. I like Namine quite a bit, she's cool and stuffs. )

Side Note: Holy hearts! Almost ten chapters! I'm also going to write Namine in more. I really like typing about her. Also this chapter will focus on what Sora, Riku, and Kairi are doing along with -drum roll- Namine! Enjoy!

Chapter 9

At the stroke of midnight

Sora, Riku, and Kairi had decided to rest the horses in a small rocky area near a river. They were sitting on the rocks now and eating some food that they'd taken from the Destiny Kingdom kitchen. Sora was getting anxious now and wanted to settle the question of how Riku met the King.

"So Riku. You said you were going to tell us the story and we have some time to spend." Sora made a motion with his hand for Riku to start.

"Fine, fine. I guess you guys do deserve an explination after all." Riku said with a chuckle at Sora's impatience and started the story.

As Riku told the story Sora felt that even though it was from Riku's point of view he felt the story unfolding right in front of him and this is how it went over in Sora's mind.

Thunderclouds seemed to storm constantly in the dark city which was lit up with flourescent lights that seemed a bit alien to the other parts of the world. Strange enough was that the once bustling city was now deserted. Now Riku had been to this particular city many times before and never knew it to be so desolate and depressing. The rain then started its decent making Riku decide to find shelter in the city's upper district, near the castle that seemed to hang ominously above the depressing city.

"What happened?" Riku asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know." came a voice from behind him.

"Huh?! Who's there? Show yourself!" Riku shouted summoning Way to Dawn in his hand pointed at the shadows.

"A friend. No need for alarm. My name is Mickey." It was then that King Mickey stepped out from the shadows and underneath the same overhang that Riku was taking shelter in from the rain.

"Riku." the silver haired boy said giving his name in which Mickey nodded. "What are you doing in a place like this Mickey?"

"I should be asking the same of you." Mickey said with a chuckle then answered the boy," I've come to negotiate with DiZ."

"The new King of Oblivion Kingdom?" Riku asked, he was surprised. Why would Mickey be negotiating with the Oblivion Kingdom's King? Unless...

"Yes, I'm Destiny Kingdom's King." Mickey replied to Riku and added," Things are going bad. I don't want anymore fighting and this has been going on pointlessly for more years than we can record. I don't want anymore bloodshed on either side."

Riku nodded then hastily added," I'm sorry Your Majesty, but I think that from what I've seen that DiZ doesn't want to negotiate with anyone."

Mickey scowled a bit at the 'your majesty'. "You don't have to call me 'Your Majesty', Mickey is just fine or if you must use a title please use something else. I mean we are friends now, aren't we? And what exactly do you mean about 'what I've seen'?"

Riku smiled, he was starting to like this guy, king or not. "Yeah I guess we are friends now. As for "what I've seen" apparently you weren't too informed by your spies or whatever you have that they've been even more tempermental towards your kingdom than ever."

"I take it you're not of either Kingdom are you Riku. Loner perhaps? Or one who travels with one of those caravans?" Mickey said hoping to learn a little bit about his newfound friend.

Riku nodded, but said nothing else after that, but something to change the subject. "But, if you have to speak with DiZ-" he was cut off.

"I must." Mickey said firmly then gave a quick apology to Riku as he continued.

"Then I'll accompany you to the castle then. Just in case anything happens, y'know? I don't want a friend of mine to lie dead in the streets when there could've been a chance to help them." Riku said as he noticed the rain lightening up a bit.

"You make it sound as if I have no chance at all." Mickey said sourly before stepping out from underneath the overhang. "If you want to accompany me then lets go." he was very happy to have at least one friend in this dark and desolate place.

As the two walked side-by-side through the rest of the upper district to a place called The Brink of Despair which was a sort of alleyway that lead up towards the castle Mickey was a little suspicious how Riku knew his way around.

"I've been here a few times before." Riku said as if he'd been reading Mickey's mind. "When I was little that is. What about you? You seem to have the look on your face like you know this place or something."

"I do. I came here once before on some spy buisness believe it or not." Mickey explained to Riku," Back when I was a soldier for Destiny Kingdom, or before I became King of it is probably better words." he chuckled a bit. "It was much more..."

"Busy." Riku finished and the King nodded. The two walked then to the edge of an overhang which made way for a great bridge although it was damaged on top a bit and around the steps as if it hadn't been used often. "Well, this is it." Riku said going up the steps with Mickey behind him.

As they crossed the bridge the chasm that the bridge went over seemed a bit ominous as if it could swallow anyone who ventured down there or took a tumble off the bridge. What gave Mickey the shivers at least was the castle itself. Pure white stone, and with a strange symbol different from the Kingdom's old symbol was now etched into the stonework like a mark to show that the castle was under new management.

"Kinda ominous huh?" Mickey commented as they made their way to the gate calling to the guards who were suppose to be on the other side. In the end only one guard answered and opened the gates. Said guard was suprised to see the King of Destiny Kingdom there and a stranger that he almost collapsed in fear at for Riku was a dark sight to see with his keyblade in hand which came without a proper calling from its weilder.

"We've come to ask for an audience with your King," Riku explained formally to the frightened guard who had forgotten to ask why they were there.

"Um...o-o-okay, w-wait h-here," the guard stammered out before dashing back inside the castle without another word.

"Only one guard posted? Why the Destiny Kingdom army could prance in here and practically take this stronghold without a second thought!" Riku said scoffing at the poor placement of guards.

"But we're not here to fight Riku, we're here to talk." Mickey pointed out as the guard returned.

"K-king DiZ will have an audience with y-you." the guard answered. "F-follow m-me."

They left at a very quick pace and the guard didn't relax until Riku made his keyblade disappear. As they walked down the whitewashed halls Riku couldn't help but notice something strange.

Ever since they had come from the gate he'd only seen three people, not counting the guard of course. It had been two other guards and a girl who from the looks of it worked in the kitchen.

"H-here we are." the guard said then pausing a second opened a heavy door to reveal DiZ seated at one end of a short table with a silver haired man standing next to him in a dark black cloak.

As Riku and Mickey stepped inside DiZ motioned for them to take a seat while the guard quickly left the room. Riku and King Mickey hastily sat down as Riku looked around the room. It appeared there was only himself, Mickey, the dark clothed man, DiZ, and- Wait, who is that? Riku thought to himself. There was another man standing on the other side of DiZ. Why hadn't he noticed him there before? His thoughts were interrupted as DiZ started to speak to them.

"So King Mickey of Destiny Kingdom, what did you call an audience with me, of all people, for?" Riku could tell there was arrogance in his voice as he spoke.

"A peace treaty." Mickey said unnerved by DiZ's attitude.

"Peace treaty?" DiZ started to laugh uncontrollably at that. "You're pulling my leg here."

"No I'm serious. I don't want anymore fighting. Its pointless!" Riku was surprised at the volume in Mickey's voice, especially the last statement.

DiZ's chuckles were fading and he finally then said," No deal. You may have forgotten why we're fighting King of Destiny Kingdom, but we haven't. I've gone under research on the subject even, to try and understand our goal much, much more."

"Research?" Mickey questioned," Have you forgotten the last time someone tried to tamper with Kingdom Hearts?"

Riku shivered silently at that mentioning. A few years back there had been someone, who weilded a keyblade, had wanted to fully understand the existence of Kingdom Hearts and how to fully use its power for his own uses which brought a disaster upon both Kingdoms leaving their war aside for a year or two. Riku had been two years old when it had happened. The foolish man had caused Kingdom Hearts to disappear from the skies and cause a huge monster to appear in which could only be described as enormous, all black in color, and vicious. It would destroy anyone or anything in its path searching for something, at least that's what some thought. Others thought that the monster was just going on a rampage and destroying everything because the man commanded it to, in an attempt to take over the world or something.

Riku did not know what he thought on the matter and didn't want to take the time to. The monster was defeated by the warriors of the keyblade from both Kingdoms although it killed the man who had brought it forth and killed off all of the keyblade weilders on the Oblivion Kingdom side and almost on the Destiny Kingdom side. It was a frequently told story in Destiny Kingdom and on the roads warning anyone who had ambitions for Kingdom Hearts and to try and support the fact to end the pointless war that the Oblivion Kingdom seemed to have over it.

"Of course I do," DiZ answered King Mickey," But I'm not that fool who went to Kingdom Hearts itself. I'm talking about the stuff that makes up Kingdom Hearts. I intend to bring it back and use it to teach you and your cowardly kingdom a lesson you won't soon forget!"

Mickey was speechless. " DiZ. If you go tampering with Kingdom Hearts more not only will you bring more suffering, but you'll end up destroying the thing you want most and dooming us all to something that I'm sure is horrible to go through. Please stop your research and end this pointless war with me. Please!"

"Why should I when I've come so far? Just to end this all now? Pfft. You're blind King Mickey, if you can't see that my research will bring forth great opportunities! Sure there were a few little mistakes with some horrible consequences, but I will make them right when my research is done." DiZ said proudly and Mickey was at a loss for words.

When the dark clothed man saw that Mickey had no more to say he then added," I think you should leave now."

"But-!" Mickey was cut off by DiZ.

"That's enough. I want you out of my castle now, dead or alive is how good your efforts are." DiZ said before motioning to the other man who also had silver hair to his right. "Ansem. Take care of these pests with the Heartless. Myself and Xemnas will retire to a more suitable place to speak on the foolish King's words." He got up and the other silver haired man called Xemnas followed him out of the room.

Ansem smiled then at Mickey and Riku who had hurriedly gotten out of their seats, keyblades poised at the ready. "Enough with the small talk. Its time you surrendered your hearts to the darkness!" Snapping his fingers Ansem made at least fifteen small black things appear. Maybe this is what DiZ had meant by "Heartless". Ansem pointed at them and then with a malicious smile said," Take their hearts and send them back to the darkness where they belong!"

The shadowy Heartless then quickly dashed at Riku and the King jumping with their claws extended. Riku lashed out at a Heartless feeling satisfied when the keyblade cut through it and then confused as a bright shiny thing shaped like a...heart? came out of it then disappeared as it was covered in shadows. The same happened to all the other Heartless as Riku and the King finished them off. Now all that was left was Ansem himself who had joined in the fight.

"Lets finish him off together Riku." Mickey said as Riku nodded and both charged the oncoming Ansem. Only a few blows were exchanged before a huge shadowy creature came replacing Ansem's shadow. Taking a few steps back Riku was a bit terrified by it honestly. It was also during that confusing time for Riku that Ansem shot forwards to grab Mickey in which he succeeded.

"Mickey!" Riku shouted before attacking Ansem who was about to drive a spear into Mickey. Throwing Way to Dawn at Ansem it smacked the spear out of Ansem's hand which surprised him a second dropping the King and lashing out with his freehand now grabbing Riku at the point where his shoulder connected to his neck. He applied pressure to it which made Riku wince in pain and let out a muffled cry before summoning Way to Dawn to his hand from the floor, which it had fallen to after it had been thrown at Ansem.

"You're one of a kind, the darkness lives in your heart and feeds on your rage. You'd make a worthy soldier to the darkness." Ansem said with a smile tightening his grip as his arm started to glow a black-purple color, but was interrupted as Way to Dawn carved into Ansem's chest. Both Ansem and Riku fell to the floor and King Mickey went over to Riku who held his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Mickey asked trying to get a look at Riku's shoulder, but Riku was stubborn and wouldn't let him saying it was fine.

Finally Riku gave in to Mickey's proddings. "See? Its fine." he pointed to his shoulder which appeared to be a bit bruised, but none the less alright.

Ansem was on the floor still almost unmoving. He appeared to be dead, but Riku wasn't so sure. Getting up he and Mickey looked at their fallen enemy and when they caught sight of Ansem's tawny golden eyes they backed up a pace. Ansem then started to get up with Way to Dawn still in his chest and it was at that point that flickers of what Riku perceived to be shadows were coming off Ansem's body and making him 'disappear into the darkness' as King Mickey would describe it to Riku later. "I'll be back! I swear it for all to hear, I'll be back to take my vengeance on you Riku, and you Mickey. All of you out there! Kingdom Hearts will be mine!" With his speech finally spoken the man finally was consumed by the shadows as if he were one.

"You think he'll really be back?" Riku asked Mickey who shrugged.

"I don't know. I hope not though. That guy seemed pretty capable of taking out some of my more experienced soldiers with ease. It was only that one off-guard chance that we got that finished him. We were lucky." Mickey said to Riku who was still holding his shoulder.

Just as Riku and Mickey thought they could get out of the castle more of the Heartless appeared in which Mickey disposed of. Seeing as Riku was growing more tired Mickey took over destroying the foul Heartless till they got to the bridge. As they fought their way across it became apparent that DiZ did not care what happened to them anymore. He didn't care if they lived or died, but merely assumed that if they lived he'll kill them later if they got in his way.

Soon they were outside the castle and on the grassy terrain of plainland. "Thanks." Riku said to King Mickey who nodded.

"No problem. It was for a friend." he smiled at Riku who frowned. "What is it?" Mickey's expression changed to worrysome now.

"This is where we part I guess. So its goodbye now." Riku said," You need to go back to your Kingdom while I...well roaming is my thing y'know? I don't think I could ever settle myself in a Kingdom after, well that's just-" his rambling was cut off.

"I understand. Its your own memory and its not goodbye. If we say goodbye it means we won't see each other again. So lets not say goodbye, but I'll be back sometime in the future." Mickey said extending a hand for Riku to take. "If we promise and shake on it then it surely will come true."

Riku smiled and nodded taking Mickey's hand and shaking it. "Call on me if you need anything, and don't be hesitant. No matter what I'll be there for you my friend. Even if it means storming the Oblivion Kingdom and destroying more of those monster things, what were they called? Heartless? Yeah."

"If its what you want then I won't be shy. 'Till next time then Riku?" Mickey asked as they broke their handshake.

" 'Till next time Mickey." Riku said before giving a wave knowing that the King could easily make his way back home safely on his own without Riku's assistance so Riku thought it would be best to just bow out.

Mickey then waved back at his friend and smiled before going his seperate way towards the Destiny Kingdom borderline and his home.

As Riku finished the story Sora and Kairi were spellbound. "That was a great story Riku." Kairi said with a smile before yawning.

"Yeah Riku!" Sora said, he'd liked the story quite a bit actually. "Looks like someone's tired." Sora said poking Kairi's arm in a joking manner.

"Am not!" she protested then smirked with pleasure as Sora's laughter changed into the form of a yawn. "Look who's talking Mr. Big Shot." she poked her own fun at Sora now while Riku added his own laughter to the bunch.

"I guess we're all a bit tired." Riku said yawning himself and laying flat on his back before grabbing one of the saddlebags in which they'd removed from the horses for a makeshift pillow. "Lets get some sleep and continue in the morning."

"That's a good plan." Kairi said with a nod," I'll take first watch then." she concluded clapping her hands together and moving to sit on a rock where she could easily see the horses and the campsite along with a bit of ground around it all.

"Are you sure Kairi?" Sora asked," 'Cause if you're tired then I can take the first watch for you."

"Nope." she replied stubbornly," I'll go to sleep once you or Riku take over the second watch of the night."

Sora seemed unsure of the answer, but finally gave in and got himself situated into his hastily made makeshift bed that was actually just a mat with a blanket and one of the saddlebags for a pillow. "G'night Kai, Riku."

"Goodnight Sora." Kairi answered him. "Goodnight Riku."

"Lets just go to sleep already." Riku answered grumpily. "Goodnight and whatever."

Sora chuckled at Riku's grumpiness before closing his eyes to try and get some rest until it was time for his shift.

For at least an hour Sora just couldn't fall asleep. Maybe it was being in their sworn enemies' territory or maybe it was just the reality of it that was getting to him. Sitting up he sighed and looked over at the rock where Kairi was sitting.

Sora then found her staring at him and he looked down a bit then said," You okay?"

"Yeah." she answered then walked over to him," Can't sleep?"

"Yeah," he breathed out slowly sitting up and scratching the back of his head. "Maybe its the nerves getting to me." Kairi then laughed unexpectedly that Sora was taken by surprise. "What's so funny?" he asked tilting his head to one side in confusion.

"Oh Sora." Kairi managed to get out," Usually the nerves never get you! Out on the battlefield that is, and here you are in a battlefield-like place! It just seemed a bit funny since you and Roxas are usually so calm."

Sora chuckled a bit himself before saying," Yeah, that is sort of funny."

After the two were done laughing they just sat there for a moment or two looking up at the moon. "Sure is pretty." Kairi all of a sudden said closing her eyes a bit.

"What is?" Sora asked looking at her.

"The moon silly!" Kairi said with a smile.

"It sure is." Sora agreed quickly then added," Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid? Of what?" Kairi asked unsure of where Sora was getting at.

"Of being here and stuff." Sora said," I mean, if you had wanted to, you could've stayed behind with Namine and the King."

"And abandon Roxas and get left behind? Not on your life Sora!" Kairi said fiercely before adding," Besides, I'm not afraid of being here."

"You're not? Not even a little bit?" Sora asked, surely Kairi felt a little fear. Right?

She shook her head. "Nope. 'Cause you're here. That's why." She smiled and felt her cheeks heat up and turned away.

Sora smiled and then finally after a minute said," Then I won't disappoint you Kairi. If you're ever in trouble I'll come to help you out. Its a promise!" With his promise made he then gave Kairi a hug from behind in which Kairi gave a note of surprise before hugging back.

"I'll hold you to that promise you know Sora!" she said breaking up the friendly hug with a smile.

"I know you will. If you didn't I'd have to ask who was in front of me and what they did with my friend Kairi." Sora joked and Kairi chuckled a bit before yawning. "Here, why don't you get some rest? I'll take the next shift."

"Thanks Sora. I'll do that. Goodnight." Kairi said before kissing him lightly on the cheek and whispering," Thanks for everything Sora." She then got up from her sitting position and went over to her sleeping mat, blanket and makeshift pillow leaving a stunned Sora still sitting on the rock. Getting comfortable she finally fell asleep and leaving Sora to think on her actions throughout the rest of his shift. Although while she slept she couldn't help, but feel that her dreams were turning from good to bad and quickly.

-x-X-x-

Meanwhile back at the castle there was another person who's sleep was being troubled, but for another reason.

Namine had not been doing much during the time in which she'd heard of her three friends and a newcommer going on a reconassance mission or something in enemy territory. She was bent over with worry, even more so for Roxas than the others. It was true that she might be overreacting just a little bit, but then again her drawings were becoming stranger and stranger as she tried to interpret them.

Sitting up in her bed Namine grabbed the sketchbook that was on her nightstand next to the bed. Flipping through the old drawings she noted each one as they passed by. The one where it showed Sora, Roxas, and Kairi sitting in the garden eating ice cream until Roxas "accidentally" got some in Sora's hair. Another one with Sora and the King's friend Riku in the garden with the moon shining down. Then there was the one with Roxas fighting Axel and getting hurt. Those were the old drawings and now Namine finally got to the first new drawing since Axel fought Roxas and won.

The first new drawing had been confusing her a bit lately. It showed Roxas, but...he was in one of the Commander's dark black coats with Axel and a dirty blond haired man Namine had never seen before.

The second had been one of Sora, Kairi and Riku near a silvery river although to the fact of why Roxas wasn't there had been confusing her a bit until she came up with a possible explination. Maybe Roxas had been kidnapped or something, but then it came to another factor in which stated 'Why would the Commanders want Roxas in the first place?'.

The last new drawing was the most puzzling of all. It showed a person Namine had never seen before although there was a lady in the picture in which Namine had tried to picture as someone she knew, but nothing came to her. In the picture it showed the man giving the lady a basket and from the man's face Namine could tell it was one of desprateness. Also because the lady had her hand on the basket and the position of her shoulder it was visible that she was accepting whatever was in the basket.

As she puzzled over her puzzling drawings she finally had enough. None of this was making any sense at all and she was sick of seeing things and knowing they'd come true, but only to think again that she had no understanding of the matter at all. "This is so frustrating, why do I even have this power anyway? I'm not special or anything." she said sighing with tiredness and frustration combined.

It was then she decided to get some sleep for tomorrow was going to be a long day as usual. She drifted off quickly and it was one strange hell of a dream she had.

First she thought she was floating since there were clouds everywhere, but before she could enjoy the fluffiness of them lightning crackled and she finally realized that these weren't white fluffy clouds, but angry vicious thunderclouds.

It was then she felt herself falling till she hit the ground with a loud thump! Getting up Namine rubbed her shaken head and looked around. She was in a city, that she knew, but not one that she'd ever seen before in her life.

"Hello? Anyone there?" she called out and then felt something fall onto her. Holding out her hand she found that a few rain drops had splashed into her hand. Looking around she finally caught some form of shelter, a castle.

She was just outside it and could easily see a way inside which was a broken down old bridge that looked like it would collapse if she stepped on it. Hastily Namine looked down the bridge as the rain started to fall faster as she had spotted someone.

Someone in a dark black coat was making their way down the bridge and very quickly by the looks of it. "Excuse me!" she called towards the figure not reconignizing it as a Commander.

The Commander didn't even notice her as he headed straight for Namine without a glance. Defensively she put up her hands waiting for the man to knock into her, but to her surprise she merely phased through the Commander. "What the...?" Namine managed to say as she looked behind her to see the Commander walk into the dark city.

"Wait!" she called, but to no avail since the figure had already left earshot. Turning back to the castle she decided that if it really was unstable she'd run across and make it that way. Slowly she stepped onto the bridge and found it surprisingly sturdy. Picking up the pace Namine finally came to the gate and rested a hand on the heavy gate. Surprise was once again on her face as her hand phased through it causing her to stumble through the door and through the one leading to the hallways of the castle before falling down.

"This is too weird." she said picking herself up and walking down the hallway confused as she looked at the doors that passed her which had letters on them, but they were there to represent numbers. Namine read them off carefully and slowly as she walked by them," Two, four, six, nine, ten, eight, thirteen..." she broke off when she got to the door with the letters X-I-I-I printed on them, someone was coming out.

Namine immediately pressed herself to one of the white walls in fear looking downwards at the floor as she caught sight of black boots and right away she knew they belonged to a Commander. Forcing herself to look up her eyes widened in shock and she sputtered out," R-Roxas! What are you doing here? What are you wearing? Roxas? Roxas answer me!" she was now yelling at the blond who wasn't giving any recognition to Namine.

Namine could only watch as Roxas looked once down one end of the hallway and then the next before walking to a room that was labeled V-I-I-I or 8. "Roxas..." she tried, but he walked right through her when she tried to stop him. Roxas without a glance opened the door and walked inside shutting the door quickly behind him. Namine had a bad feeling creeping up her spine uncomfortably and dashed through the door to find Roxas there with Axel, she reconignized him from her drawing of Roxas's fight with him. She could now hear Roxas and Axel speaking to each other.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Roxas said crossing his arms, he was apparently very unhappy.

"There was no need. Besides, after I told you about the Nobodies I thought it would be easy to pick it out that I was one." Axel responded from his place in a chair near his desk unmoved by Roxas's anger.

"Ugh, you're too confusing to figure out Axel! From all the time I've spent here I first think I start to understand you and then you go off and do something to leave me in the dark again." Roxas said heatedly," I don't even know why I bothered."

"Bothered with what?" Axel said standing up now.

"To try to ever be your friend. You keep pushing me away." Roxas said turning his back on Axel now," I'll keep my promise to you, but don't expect anything else."

Axel then came up behind Roxas and gave him a hug from behind pinning Roxas's arms to his sides. Roxas struggled a bit in the grasp until Axel said," I'm sorry Rox. Things are getting even more complicated around here, concerning you and other things. I don't want you to leave and I'm sorry for being such an ass of a friend."

Roxas had stopped struggling then said," Well, I guess it was to be expected since you really are an ass."

"Now there's the Roxy we all know and love," Axel said with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah. Now what did I say about the Roxy thing? And get the hell off me already." Roxas said temper coming back.

"Aw, but I don't want to." Axel said teasingly until Roxas elbowed him in the stomach causing him to let go and back off laughing a bit to ease off the pain of the blow.

"Really now?" Roxas said back with his own teasings. "Well its still late out, but I think I'll go out for a walk. You want to come?"

"Sure Roxie." Axel said gaining himself another hard look before laughing and walking out the door first. Roxas rolled his eyes before walking out after Axel.

Namine was left in the room even more confused than ever. " Nobodies? Roxas and Axel? But I thought Roxas hated Axel..." she rubbed her temples even more confused than ever. All of a sudden it hurt so much that she just collapsed onto the ground.

Finally finding the pressure on her head going away she opened her sky blue eyes and found herself sitting upright in her bed with her sketchbook in front of her and her mirror from her desk facing her. Looking at the mirror she saw horror plastered on her face and then looked quickly to the drawing which showed Axel and Roxas, sitting on a strange clock tower with ice cream.

"What is wrong with me?" she pleadingly said to no one in particular before looking at the clock that was in her room. The hands had just struck together and she then thought that it had been only five minutes before that when she'd first gone to sleep before the nightmare.

The stroke of midnight, why does it feel so ominious all of a sudden? she wondered before feeling herself drift yet again.

-x-X-x-

Author's Note

Kiesha: Welp it seems Ch. 9 is veeeeeeeery long. I have school nuuuuuu! That means I'll be delayed yet again for typing! I also do have that ILA project due. Anyways, if you have suggestions for the fic or pairings you'd like to see come up drop me a review! That is all.