Fire Emblem Hearts

Chapter 9

Themis II

xxx(Themis)xxx

Kazuki had to admit, he never thought he would be surrounded by so many rich folks. Normally, he would have been excited at the prospect of exploring a new city. However, due to his fox traits, a lot of people were giving him wayward looks. It didn't help that he could hear everything they were saying about him clear as day. Regardless, he tried to keep his hopes up, but he could feel his outer shell start breaking a bit. Thankfully, the path that lead to Maribelle's home lead away from the main streets of Themis.

Maribelle had remained mostly silent, pondering what he had told her. They had been discussing various things, among them his reason for being in Themis. She didn't truly believe anything bad was going to happen. She was confident in the guard her father hired. After all, no one would dare attack Themis under their watch. Even so, she still had reservations about the whole thing. She tried not to let her worry reflect on her face. If the duchess was worried, the people would worry and that never ended well.

Kazuki's eyes scanned his surroundings, in search for signs of Heartless. He hadn't spotted any black orbs, thankfully. The last thing he needed was another Demon Tide on his hands. Especially now that he had no backup. He knew Maribelle could defend herself and watch his back, but he didn't want to risk battling something like that. He paused for a moment, glancing at a fancy suit that was on display in a nearby shop. It looked to be made from the finest silk around Ylisse. It was a rich black color, with fancy lapels bearing small white embroidery. It had matching slacks, as well as an equally silky blue tie. He smiled a bit, imagining himself in an outfit that fancy.

"Man...these people truly do live on the lap of luxury. That thing looks more expensive than my entire game collection back home. Oh Tetris, how I miss thee," he thought, frowning when he thought of his games.

"Oh wow! I didn't know they let animals walk around Themis!" someone said, causing the boy to jolt a bit in surprise. His ears stood up, twitching a bit at the comment.

"I know right? They should cut his tail off and make it into a pelt, that's all kitsune are worth for these days," a woman added. Kazuki balled his fists in anger, about to say something when he felt a tug on his shirt.

"Come along, don't let those comments bother you dear," Maribelle said. She had noticed the young man had stopped in front of a store, and had gone to retrieve him. She managed to hear what those two had said about him, and was considering jabbing them with her parasol.

Kazuki said nothing as he turned around, rising his hood over his head. Once he made sure his ears were covered, he continued following after the pink clad noble.

"How can people be so hurtful? Don't they understand those words can really mess with people?" he said, almost absentmindedly as he walked. Maribelle glanced at the boy, twirling her parasol slightly.

"Evidently, those people are unaware of the effects of their comments. It tends to happen to those that aren't well educated. They believe that just because they live in wealth, that they are above those inferior to them. In this instance though, it's due to your race."

"Are kitsune really that bad in Ylisse?" Kazuki asked, quirking a brow as he met the young woman's gaze.

"They are more of a nuisance than anything else. You see, kitsune are rather secretive. They often times make villages far from society. However, there are those mongrels who hunt them down for their fur. As such, kitsune have developed a...certain hatred toward humans. Most are youths who wish to get back at the ones who wronged them. So they ended up becoming bandits, assassins, vagrants and thieves."

"So they just assume I'm a thief, because the others are thieves too? Fabulous," the kitsune said, rolling his eyes.

"It isn't your fault dear. Not all kitsune are thieves, however most of them are. That leads them to being universally seen as such. Kitsune fur is quite expensive as well, due to its rarity. If I were you, I'd watch out. Someone may seek your death in the near future." Maribelle said calmly.

"Tch...I never had to deal with this shit back home,"

"You know, it is improper to use vulgar terms in the presence of a lady," the noblewoman said, glaring at the kitsune.

"S-sorry, I uh...grew up in an area where swearing was normal."

"Hmm...tell me, what's your home like? Where exactly do you hail from?" she asked curiously. The kitsune swallowed hard.

"Uh...well I come from Hoshido, hehe."

"Yes, I am quite aware of that darling. I mean, what area of Hoshido are you from?"

"Ugh...shit what do I say? I mean I did say I was from Shibuya. I guess I'll have to go with that," the boy thought to himself. "Gods, I hate lying to people. Stupid world order!"

Maribelle watched the kitsune curiously, he hadn't replied her question. In fact it looked as if he was deep in thought about something. This made her a bit doubtful. She had been thinking a lot on their first meeting, he had been acting a bit off. When she had asked him to point to his home country, it looked as if he had picked one at random. However, it also seemed as if he knew a lot about Hoshido. He had described the sakura trees that grew in abundance around the country. He also seemed to be somewhat aware of King Sumeragi's death. She did believe he was just making it up as he went along. She opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by the young man.

"I come from a small village, called Shibuya. I'm not exactly supposed to speak of it. The village elders forbade people from sharing its location. I'm not exactly sure why, it wasn't explained to us. However, now that I see fox fur is valuable, I believe that's the reason why."

"I see...so I take it you grew up in a place without humans?" Maribelle probed, hoping to catch him in a lie.

"Not really, there were a few human families among us. They were really kind, and seem to be friends with the elders. I believe they were intermediaries. In case poachers came to the village...at least that's what I think." he carefully replied. He gauged her reaction, hoping the woman had bought it. Thankfully, it seemed as she did.

"Hmm, I suppose that makes sense. I did notice something the last time we met. It seems as if you aren't following your instincts. Kitsune are normally very energetic. They're also adept hunters, have good senses and usually rely on them in battle. You lack a certain...je ne se qois, it's hard to describe,"

"Wow...French exists here?"

"I'm sorry, what was that?" the noblewoman asked, causing the boy to clear his throat.

"I mean, well let me just come out at say it. I never learned how to fight. I know you are supposed to be in tune with your senses, but we're a peaceful community. I uh...wasn't exactly taught how to hunt, or gather actually." the kitsune said, rubbing his neck.

"Oh? I had assumed your parents taught you how."

Kazuki felt a frown tugging on his lips. His ears flattened under his hood as he started to think about his parents. That is, until he realized they were absent from his memory. He didn't recall any family members now that he thought about it. He was sure, up until he appeared in Ylisse, he was living with someone. However, he was always alone. He closed his eyes, trying his hardest to think of his home back in Japan.

He didn't...all he saw was a beautiful log cabin. Rather than tile, all he saw was hardwood flooring. He saw giant trees growing around the house. Freshly cut grass, beautiful blooming flowers. Sakura petals floating across the wind. The lapping waves of the nearby lake. The image of the house suddenly changed, to a raging forest fire. The house was ablaze, towering black smoke and smoldering ash rising into the air. He could see people frantically trying to put it out, others screaming. In the middle of it all was a young boy, on his knees staring at the burning cabin, crying out for his parents.

"Are you alright dear?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine." Kazuki said softly, meeting Maribelle's gaze. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pink handkerchief, holding it out to him.

"You're crying...I don't think tears mean you are fine," she replied. His hand instinctively went to his face, his cheeks were moist with tears. He shakily took the handkerchief, softly thanking his friend.

"My parents...I think they died in a forest fire." he said, after a moment of silence. Maribelle's gaze hardened a bit, her lips pressed into a thin line. "It's all hazy but, I think some hunters left a fire burning. The forest caught flame, and everything went ablaze...I was...six. That's probably why I'm not like other kitsune. They get training by their parents, and I...well I guess you could say I'm an orphan,"

"My apologies dear, perhaps we shouldn't speak of this matter anymore. I was heartless in thinking I could pry into your life, please forgive me," Maribelle said, bowing apologetically. Kazuki sighed, shaking his head.

"There's nothing to forgive Mari, you've done nothing wrong."

"Mari? I thought you were going to call me Belle?"

"I was, but I think Mari sounds better. Unless you want me to call you Bella instead," he asked, chuckling slightly.

"That name sounds horrid, Mari will do just fine." the blonde replied. Kazuki chuckled, handing the handkerchief back to her.

"Hmm...you know, Bella means beautiful in another language. I forget which one. I believe it's a fitting name for a beautiful girl." he said with a wink, turning up the path. Maribelle remained silent, not exactly knowing how to react to what he had said. Perhaps the young man wasn't as much of a lowborn as she had first expected him to be.

xxx

"Wow, this place is huge."

Kazuki had finally arrived at Maribelle's home, the Duke's manor. It was a big four story building. It reminded him a bit of Ylisstol's palace, though at a smaller scale. Unlike the other buildings in Themis, this one was build entirely out of limestone. It had five giant watch towers, the fifth and largest one being in the central building. It had a large garden, which was being tended by a few gardeners. The main road leading to the front entrance was paved in stone, oil lamps lining up either side. A large fountain sat right before the entrance. A beautiful stone structure, with a statue in the likeness of a horse. As he took in his surroundings, he was vaguely aware of the people looking at him. He lowered his gaze a bit, spotting some of the gardeners looking in his direction.

"Am I seriously that entertaining to watch? Sheesh, it's as if they've never seen a kitsune before," he thought, an annoyed look on his face.

"Fretting over what people think of you again? Worry not darling, they aren't judging you. They are mostly curious as to who you are, the staff here aren't like the ones in town." Maribelle said, hoping to reassure the boy.

"Forgive me if I struggle to take your word for it. Whatever the case, you have a cushy pad Mari. Looks like a place a movie star would live in," he said, his interest in the mansion having returned.

"Cushy pad? Movie star? It seems we truly do have to refine your speech. Come along, if you are going to be in Themis then we'll need to get you settled in. At least until you resolve these heartless matters."

"Crap, I said too much again. Still she does make a point...since I arrived here, I haven't run into a single heartless. Is this gonna be a repeat of Belrose and Gardenia? Just another town where nothing of interest happens?"

He placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quickening a bit. That choking feeling had returned, and he felt like his body was screaming at him. It felt almost exactly as he did when he was in the Realm of Darkness. As if there was an imminent danger about to attack him, like it would come from any direction at any given time. He took a deep breath, in hopes of calming himself. Thankfully, he hadn't outwardly shown his worry. He was sure people would give him even more odd looks, especially if he began behaving nervously.

Maribelle silently greeted the doorman, who held the door open for her. The two Shepherds stepped into the foyer of the mansion, where the blonde handed one of the maids her parasol. Kazuki took his surroundings in for a bit, admiring the architecture. The biggest attraction was the chandelier that hung above the entrance. It wasn't as big as the one he had seen in Ylisstol's palace, but it was still just as grand. And most likely very expensive.

"Mistress Maribelle, how was your walk in town?" a posh sounding voice asked. Kazuki's gaze shifted to the sharply dressed man that had appeared in the room. He wasn't much taller than the kitsune, and looked much older, most likely in his fifties. He wore a pressed black suit, matching slacks and shoes.

"It was quite lovely, thank you for asking. Ah yes, Kazuki dear, this here is Martin. He happens to be my father's personal servant. He manages everything in the mansion. Martin, this is Kazuki, one of the Shepherds' new recruits."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance sir," Kazuki said, as politely as he could. The man looked him over with a scrutinizing gaze, the expression on his face softening a bit.

"Likewise, I am always elated to meet the young mistress' friends. Though I am quite surprise, I was not expecting you to bring a young man home with you. Your father is going to start making assumptions."

"Worry not, I shall explain things to him in due time. Kazuki here is in Themis for...business. It's rather hard to explain, but he shall be staying with us for the foreseeable future. At least until the Shepherds return to the capitol. If you could prepare one of the guest rooms for him, that would be much appreciated." Maribelle said, earning a nod from the man.

"I shall have one prepared posthaste. Before I leave, I should inform you, one of the Duke's acquaintances is here." he said. Maribelle's look soured a bit, but she quickly recomposed herself.

"Who is it, if you don't mind my asking?"

"That would be Marquees Francois and his young son, Baron Alberto. It seems they've come here for...more personal reasons, regarding your marital status." the butler said. Kazuki's brows furrowed a bit. Maribelle spoke before he could cut in.

"Very well, I shall keep an eye out for them. You may go about your duties Martin. Thank you."

"Of course Mistress. Should you need anything, just let me or anyone else know. The same goes for you, Master Kazuki. While you are here, you shall be treated to anything you need, all you need to do is ask." the man said with a bow. He was gone before Kazuki could reply.

"Um...I don't think I wanna trouble him with my needs," he said softly. Maribelle giggled, shaking her head.

"Never you fret dear, Martin is the best of the best. He has been with my father since his youth. In fact, he was once a soldier alongside my father. He fought in the war between Plegia and Ylisse fifteen years ago. When the war ended, Martin traded his spear in for a suit, and decided to become my father's servant. A bond like the one they share is truly had to forge."

"I see...that's nice," the kitsune said, his eyes drifting towards the doors he had seen the butler head too.

"A bond huh? I wonder what it's like to have someone like that in your life. Someone you'd be willing to give your life too...Sabishii, Akira...did we ever had a bond like that in the past?"

"Come now Kazuki, we haven't the time for you to drift off into your own head. I do not wish to see Baron Alberto, so let us head to the library. We can catch up on your lessons, and see if that absentminded head of yours absorbed anything that I left." Maribelle said, heading toward the stairs. Kazuki caught up, following close behind.

"I'm not that absentminded you know, I was just thinking about what you said. You know, that your dad and Martin have a solid bond. I was wondering if maybe I could forge one of those too."

"I do believe you'll forge one of your very own soon. You are a soldier in Exalt Emmeryn's army. Not only that, you are a Shepherd! Never you forget, the comrades that fight beside you, are also your closest friends and family." she replied. Kazuki smiled a bit, his tail wagging slightly with happiness.

xxx

"The first exalt of Ylisse was the Hero-King Marth. With the aid of the divine sword, Falchion, crafted from the fang of the Goddess Naga, he was able to defeat the foul beast Grima. Upon his defeat, the world was saved from chaos." Kazuki said, finishing the paragraph he had been given. Maribelle gave him a nod, a proud smile on her face.

"Excellent, you've come far in the last few weeks. I am quite impressed, I would have thought you'd take my lessons and shove them aside, but this is a pleasant surprise. With practice, you should be able to read more articulated works."

"More articulated than the entire History of Ylisse?" the boy asked, gesturing to the leather bound book that sat before him. She brushed his comment off with her hand.

"I mean, you'll be able to read novels and the like. I am quite certain you'd like to delve into some of our works correct? There are quite a lot of well written novels out there. I don't particularly read any, I find fairy-tales to be quite the waste of time," she admitted. He tilted his head a bit, a confused look on his face.

"You don't like reading books? Then what do you like to read?"

"Laws of course! Has Lissa shared with you my dreams for the future?" she asked. The boy shook his head. "I see...well if you must know, I wish to be a magistrate in the near future. To that end, I use all of my available time to study the fair laws of our land. However, due to more personal matters, as well as the attacks from Plegia, I've been unable to keep to my studies."

"That sucks. I know what it's like to be unable to do anything with your spare time. Whenever I wasn't working, I was in school. And whenever I wasn't in school, I was resting. My schedule was quite busy," Kazuki said.

"You are a scholar? My I wasn't aware."

"Oh uh...yeah. I don't have a university education mind you. Just the basics, math, science, history, that kind of stuff. Yet for some reason, some things are becoming a bit blurred for me. Maybe I cracked my head open along with my ribs, hehe." the kitsune replied. Maribelle pursed her lips, but said nothing.

"Kazuki, would you humor me for a bit? I've got some questions that I hope you can answer."

"Sure, ask away." he said, glancing back down at the history book. Now that he could understand the language a bit, he wanted to absorb all of the information he could.

"What exactly are the requirements for getting a keyblade?"

"Can't answer that...I don't exactly know. I just got one randomly, I guess I was just worthy of one. Miriel gave me a book on keyblades, which I am currently studying. I should be able to answer your questions later," he replied firmly.

"I see, I was lead to believe you knew more about it than you lead on. You are just as clueless as the others, aren't you?" she asked, lips pressed together firmly. The boy sighed, ears flattening a bit.

"Sort of...I know what I know, because I have to know it...if that makes sense. It's weird...what I know about the keyblade is all muscle memory. The more I trained with Frederick and Chrom, the more refined I got. When I woke up under that tree, I didn't know jack about sword fighting. But I've eased into it, almost as if I was formally trained by someone." he said, glancing at the table. He remained silent for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts.

"There's...there's this voice. It's a guiding voice...a girl, she sounds so...sweet and kind. I can hear my own voice speaking as well. It's as if she's telling me what to do. I learned recently, that I'm not supposed to use my keyblade to unlock people's hearts. That if I do, they could be lost to the darkness forever. Whenever I hear her voice, my heart beats super fast! But I don't know who she is...or what she's even talking about half the time," he said, finishing his thought. Maribelle said nothing, reaching for the nearby tea kettle. She looked inside, frowning when she realized they had drank all their tea.

"Forgive me if I say this but, could it be you have some undiagnosed disorder? Maybe you are just imagining this voice,"

"I thought it was my imagination too Maribelle. But there's no doubt about it, whoever that voice belonged too...it was someone important to me. My mind forgot, but my heart didn't, it never forgets. That voice...it's a memory that my heart wants me to remember. Because it knows, that I have a dangerous weapon. One that can be abused by the darkness," he replied, quickly dismissing her thought.

"Aha! I knew I would find you eventually my sweet! You cannot hide from me forever!"

Kazuki jolted at the voice, rapidly turning in his seat. He glanced toward the entrance, seeing a young man walking toward them. He was around the same age as Kazuki, perhaps a couple years older than him. He was wearing a fancy red shirt, with long sleeves and orange buttons. He was wearing a white cravat, which bore a golden pin to it, matching white slacks and black boots. Around his shoulder, he wore a decorative sash. He had a rather smug look on his face, Kazuki also noticed his light peach hair was slicked back with more gel than Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.

Judging by Maribelle's shift in heartbeat and breathing, Kazuki could tell she didn't like this man. He tried to listen to other subtle changes in her demeanor. Her body language had changed, rather than relaxed, now it was firm. The expression on her face remained neutral, but he could see the loathing in her eyes. If looks could kill, this man would already be dead, and yet he was none the wiser.

"Good day, Baron Alberto." she said politely. The man chuckled as he stopped before them.

"Yes, good day to you too my sweet! I must say, whenever I come to your manor, I always get lost. I had to look in virtually every room to find you."

"I precisely picked the library because I knew you'd never venture within. It seems I may have chosen poorly." Maribelle replied, causing Kazuki to snort. Alberto looked at him, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"So...this is the animal the maids were talking about? When they said you brought a fox home with you, I wasn't expecting a vagrant. Have you now shame Maribelle? Consorting with this...barbarian?"

Kazuki remained silent, not knowing what to say. Instead he just crossed his arms, quirking a brow slightly as he awaited Maribelle's response. The little time he had spent with her was enough for him to see how witty she could be. She already hated this man, he just wanted to see what it was like to anger her.

"My apologies, you mentioned seeing an animal in here. However there's only one animal in the vicinity, and he's standing before me." she replied. Kazuki was expecting the man to snap at her, but he instead laughed it off.

"I see your sense of humor is still intact. However I came to discuss some serious matters. Dog if you could leave us alone, I'd be very much obliged,"

"Listen here you smarmy prick, I am not a dog. I will not have you insult me like I'm a common mongrel. My name is Kazuki, and I expect you to use it from now on. Unless you want to swallow your own teeth," the kitsune snapped angrily. Alberto shook his head, raising his arms slightly.

"And this is why we mustn't congregate with the lowborn my dear. Look at how this sad excuse of a being referred to me. I didn't know cur could be so uncivilized,"

"Apologies then dear, however you did irk him. He is a member of the Shepherds, and my personal guest. He has all rights to be here, as I am currently giving him a lesson. He isn't from our fair nation and requested that I help him adjust. Now if you would be so kind as to make yourself scarce, I would appreciate it," the blonde woman said.

"I'm afraid that isn't possible. You see my father, the Marquis, is here to negotiate your hand. Since you are to be my wife, I wish to spend time with you. That means the dogs have to go outside where they belong," Alberto replied, not taking his eyes away from Kazuki.

"I thought I made myself clear the last time. I will not be wed to someone such as yourself. You do not have the makings of a good man, nor do you treat women kindly. You only wish to marry me because my social and political status. I do not have time nor patience to deal with someone like you. Now remove yourself from my presence or I will be forced to remove you myself," Maribelle said, quickly rising to her feet. She grabbed a hold of her parasol, her hand tightening around it.

"That isn't true at all my love, I wish to marry her for your beauty. You are one of the most eligible women in Themis. A pairing between us would be absolutely divine! Just imagine our children."

"Any child that comes from your loins is bound to be nothing but a stubborn ass. A pompous one too, I'd be caught dead in the water if I had to marry the likes of you. Come Kazuki, the air in this room is foul. We shall study elsewhere," the blonde woman said, quickly gathering her materials. Kazuki shrugged, grabbing the history books and his pads, quickly placing them in his backpack. As he turned to follow Maribelle, Alberto grabbed his arm, squeezing his wrist tightly.

"Excuse me, who do you think you are? How dare you think you could steal my fiancee from me?" he snapped angrily. Kazuki jerked his wrist out of the man's grip, glaring right into his eyes.

"I don't think what Maribelle said to you did a lick of good. So allow me to paraphrase what she said. She doesn't want to be with you!" he exclaimed, pausing to calm himself.

"Out of my way cur, this is between me and my future wife. I expect you to be gone from my presence at your earliest convenience." Alberto said angrily. Kazuki quirked a brow, placing a hand on his hip.

"I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request," he said. The baron looked at him, confusion clear on his face. Kazuki leaned in, a smirk on his face. "It means no."

Alberto grit his teeth angrily, raising his hand. He threw a punch at the kitsune, who ducked his head to the side, easily avoiding the hit. Alberto only grew angrier, throwing a second and a third swing, only for the young man to dodge them. He stepped back, a mischievous smirk on his face. His ears stood straight, as he listened to his opponent for the most subtle of movements.

"Who taught you how to fight? Don't you know you're supposed to actually hit the person you are fighting?"

"Why you!"

"Alberto that is enough! I have grown far too annoyed with your presence in my home. I will ask you once more to leave peacefully, or else I'll call someone to escort you out!" Maribelle snapped, causing the man to visibly cringe. Even Kazuki shivered a bit, he had never seen her as angry as she was. Alberto was about to say something, but remained silent.

"My apologies, I have behaved quite arrogantly haven't I? I wasn't considering your feelings at all was I my love?"

"No, you were not. And I am not your love, so please cease referring to me as such. I have politely declined twice, do not ask me a third time, or we will have an issue," she said. Alberto nodded, fixing his suit a bit.

"Indeed...while I do not exactly agree with the presence of unruly cur being near you, I will respect your wishes."

"Fucking asshole, piece of shit," Kazuki mumbled, clenching his teeth. He swore one of his fangs almost pierced his tongue. Maribelle gave the man a leveled gaze, her face completely neutral. She gave the man a nod.

"Excellent...I have no issue conversing with you as acquaintances. However do not assume that I will marry you, because your father holds a high rank in the Ylissian Court. I shall be wed to someone of my choosing," she said, in a haughty tone. Kazuki smiled inwardly.

"Yeah, you tell him Maribelle! Arranged marriages are bullshit anyways!"

"Whatever the case, I'm sure you will eventually see things my way. You will come to your senses soon, so for now I shall keep speaking with you as a friend. However, I do advise that you stop speaking with the lowborn filth. It is unbecoming of you," Alberto said, earning a glare from Kazuki. He slung his pack over his shoulder, walking toward the doors.

"I don't have time to be insulted, catch ya later Mari. It's just...since I'm a dog and all, I wouldn't want to hang around this uncultured moon-calf. I feel like I'd be insulting him with my mere presence." he said.

"What? What was that?" the baron snapped, glaring at the kitsune. He just gave him a smirk, leaving the library, all while Maribelle held back a giggle.

xxx

"What an unbearable twat," the boy mumbled as he entered his bedroom.

Martin had told one of the maids earlier where his room would be. It was a lavish looking room. It was far bigger than the one he had been given at the barracks in Ylisstol. The bedding was entirely of silk, and the mattress itself was made from the finest material. He had never seen a bed with a canopy before, but he felt like it was a bit much. All of the furniture was made of the finest wood in Ylisse. It truly was the most luxurious guest room he had seen. He didn't even want to know what Maribelle's room looked like.

He set his backpack down, taking a seat at the nearby desk. It had been awhile since he had been by himself. He really felt bad about leaving Maribelle on her own with Alberto. But he didn't want to be around that blueblood. One thing he had learned about this world, was that he had to be careful with how he interacted with people. Especially now that he was a Shepherd. His actions didn't reflect on him, but his fellow soldiers as well. He didn't want to embarrass Maribelle or Chrom. He had a duty to uphold now.

"It's crazy how fast things moved since I arrived here. It's already been two months. I've come a long way, but I've got a lot left to learn." he said softly to himself. He reached into his pack for his phone, which he turned on. Thankfully, his solar charger still worked, so he had a fully functioning cellphone.

Sadly, he couldn't call anyone on it. He thought that maybe if he used his magic, he could get a call out to Sabishii. But that was a false hope. At the very least, he had been using it to document everything in his life. Especially the things that mysterious voice told him. He had jotted down every single conversation he heard in his mind, all of the scenes he often times saw in his mind's eye. He always wondered what the girl looked like, and why she sounded sad in some of the recent memories. She seemed upbeat and peppy in some. As far as he knew, this girl was in a relationship with whoever she was talking too. It was odd, since she had said his name multiple times. He sighed, setting the device down.

"This is all so insane. What is going on with me? First I have that odd dream, then I get transported into this world. I find out that Japan and Earth were destroyed by the darkness. And now I feel like my entire life up until this point was a lie...why? What don't I understand about this?" he thought, hoping to find an answer.

He shook his head, withdrawing his book on keyblades from his bag. He had been reading it extensively, to see if he could find anything that stuck out to him. He flipped to the page he had left off on, which was talking about the Starlight Keyblade. It had been one that had interested him quite a bit. Mostly because he remembered seeing someone with that kind of keyblade. His eyes hovered on the words at the bottom of the page.

"The Starlight Keyblade is often times granted to brand new keyblade wielders. Those that have the power to wield one. As such, it is one of the most common blades in existence. However, these blades are special. Those that can resonate with their keyblade, may be able to unlock its final form. The Shooting Starlight, the strongest version of this weapon."

"Shooting Starlight huh? Why do I feel like I know that keyblade?" he mumbled.

"Whoa, Akira your keyblade is different now!"

"Mhmm...I was fighting a powerful heartless earlier today. I thought all hope was lost, that this was it for me. But my heart guided me out of that battle. I believed in my friends, and I got a surge of strength! It caused it to change forms."

"Congratulations man...just last week, Sabishii's Divine Rose bloomed, and your Starlight evolved. Wonder when Divewing will change forms?"

"I can't wait to see that Kazuki. Your keyblade is an odd one, only a few wielders have a Divewing like yours. Probably because you have the inherent ability to summon friends to then field. I wish I could do that...anyway, I gotta jet. Master Invi is waiting for me to report back, see ya later man!"

"Voices again? I wonder if I'll ever see this in my mind. That was me...I recognize my own voice but...was that Akira? I don't even remember his voice or what he even looks like." he said softly, glancing down at the book in his lap.

"The Starlight keyblade can evolve, and so can the Divine Rose...are those your keyblades then? Sabishii and Akira? I don't understand...why did the keyblade choose me? All it does is attract heartless to me...people have died because of me." he said, clenching his hand tightly. He sighed, deciding to put those thoughts away for the moment. Grabbing a hold of his book, he decided to continue where he had left.

He continued reading the book for a bit longer, but the budding feeling in his mind kept bothering him. He decided to put the book away, not wanting to waste anymore time. Now that the sun had fully set, he figured it was close to dinner time. He took off his cloak and folded it, leaving it on his bed. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror as he walked, noticing the length of his hair. He brushed a hand through it, smiling a bit.

"I never let my hair grow this much back home. These damn ears make me look like an anime girl. Ugh...no wonder people make fun of me." he said, rolling his eyes. He jolted a bit when he heard a knock on the door.

"Master Kazuki, it is time for dinner." a feminine voice called out.

He reached for the door handle and opened it, being greeted by one of the many maids. He didn't know her name but she seemed like a nice girl. He gave her a smile.

"Hello, thanks for reminding me. I likely would have forgotten if you hadn't come to get me." he said.

"Martin has assigned me to be your personal maid. While you stay here as Mistress Maribelle's guest, I shall take care of your needs. My name is Jasmine, it's a pleasure to meet you Master Kazuki," the young woman said with a bow. The boy perked a up a bit, a look of embarrassment on his face.

"Oh, you don't have to bow to me, or call me master. Just Kazuki is fine,"

"I apologize, I refer to all guests by master or mistress. I cannot drop all formalities. Now follow me toward the dining room," she said, gesturing for him to follow. Kazuki closed the door, following after the young woman.

She remained silent as they walked, ignoring all attempts to make conversation. It was a bit of an awkward silence, so he tried to focus on his surroundings. When that failed, he subtly glanced back at his guide.

Jasmine was wearing a rather nice outfit, though it reminded him of the typical maid get up. A long sleeved black dress, with a long knee length skirt. She was wearing a frilled white apron, along with a matching bonnet. She also wore powder white leggings, and matching gloves. Oddly enough, she was wearing black heeled boots. Her long violet hair was tied up into a single ponytail, which swished to and fro as she walked. Her face was emotionless, and bore little make up, her vibrant violet eyes focused on the path ahead of her. That is until she felt his gaze on her. She subtly looked at him, almost glaring into his own eyes.

"Is something the matter?"

"N-no." he said softly, quickly averting his gaze.

"Jeez...that gaze of hers was so icy...why do I get the feeling she's hiding a knife somewhere?" he thought to himself. His ears wiggled slightly as he walked, focusing on her breathing and heart rate. Everything seemed normal at least. It didn't take them long to reach the dining room. It was quite grand, featuring a very long table with over a hundred chairs. It reminded him of the one in the Richie Rich movie. The chandelier above the table was fully lit, giving the room a nice candlelit ambiance. Jasmine continued walking forward, leading him toward the table, gesturing to one of the seats.

"Here you are, dinner will be served momentarily."

"Huh...wait, why am I all the way over here? Maribelle is at the other side of the table." the boy said, his eyes shifting toward the pink clad noblewoman, who was sitting across from Baron Alberto. She had an annoyed look on her face, and he could tell she was close to beating him with her parasol.

"It was a personal request from Marquees Francois. He does not want his son to be near lowborn filth such as yourself. His words, not mine. I shall return with your meal soon," Jasmine said with a bow, swiftly taking her leave. Kazuki sighed as he sat down. He was 12 seats away from Maribelle, she hadn't even noticed he was there. He could faintly hear her conversation with Alberto, but he decided to tune it out.

"This is fantastic, I might as well eat in the goddamn kitchen with the servants at this rate. Do people of high society seriously treat kitsune like this? What a disgusting social class." he thought, grinding his teeth.

"You know, you shouldn't let what what people say bother you so much, Kazuki." a feminine voice said.

"Well it's hard not too. Especially when you are the only kitsune in Daybreak Town. Everyone looks at me like I'm weird, especially now that I'm your apprentice. If my world wasn't so far away, I'd go back to it and never return!" a male voice snapped back. The girl sighed.

"Now now, don't let what people say get to you. I sound like a broken record saying this. It doesn't matter at all. I chose you to be my apprentice, because of your merit. Because I know you have what it takes, our personal relationship has nothing to do with anything. If they think we're not meant to be, then let them think that. Besides who are they to question a Keyblade Master?"

"Whoa there Ava, no need to get all pissy now." the boy said jokingly.

"I only get this way because of you, you know. I just hate seeing you angry. Whatever, have you mastered your special skill yet?"

"I'm working on it. It's not every day you can use the light of others to help you out you know. Still, having a skill like Phantom Blade is quite useful. Maybe one day I'll call your keyblade to my hand!" the boy said jokingly.

"Maybe...or maybe you'll forge one of your own. Then you wouldn't have to use that generic Divewing like all the others. Anyway, it's getting late...we should go back to our homes. We have a long training session tomorrow."

"Master Kazuki, is everything to your liking?"

"Huh?" the boy said, glancing to his right. He noticed Jasmine standing beside him. It was then that he noticed the scent wafting from his dinner. His eyes darted back to his plate, seeing the biggest sirloin steak he had ever seen resting on it. It was accompanied by steamed vegetables.

"You've been staring at it for the last minute. I wasn't sure if you didn't like it. I was certain all kitsune loved meat."

"No no, that isn't it. I was just lost in thought, hehe...thank you Jasmine, I appreciate it." the boy said. He grabbed a hold his napkin and unfolded it, placing it on his lap. He pressed his hands together, bowing his head slightly.

"Itadakimasu."

With his prayer down, he grabbed a hold of his knife and started cutting up the meat. All the while, Jasmine looked on with curiosity.

"This is amazing, did you prepare it yourself?" the boy asked, once he had swallowed his food.

"Indeed, Martin informed me about your arrival. Once I figured out you were a kitsune, I looked through some of our meat based recipes. I'm glad you like it. If you require anything else, do tell me. I'll be nearby." she said politely.

"Well at least she treats me like a human being. Then again, she's a servant, she's most likely ordered to treat me nicely. Whatever the case, this steak is good!" he thought, as he continued to enjoy his meal. He didn't even notice the nasty glare Baron Alberto was giving him.

A/N: Hello everyone, here's the rewritten Chapter 9. By rewritten, I mean I changed the last 8 pages into something else. I really didn't like the direction it was taking, and I was working on a different idea all together. Due to that, I had to rewrite chapter 10 over 5 times until I finally got something that worked. So how everything pans out will be a bit different, though Kazuki's run in with Nobodies will most likely happen, just a bit differently then what I had planned.

So, I do hope you like what I did with the ending of this chapter. As soon as I finish Chapter 10, I will post it. I've decided to do something entirely different with that Ringblade Orb that Kazuki got. But you'll have to wait to see what that is haha. See ya all later!

Kazuki's Skills:

[Attack Skills]:

Sparkstrike: 1 hit lightning infused strike.

Strike Raid: 4 hit throwing combo [Judgment]: Strike Raid finishing move. Kazuki repeatedly strikes the target, finishing off the combo with diagonal slash.

{Magic Skills}

Elfire

Elthunder

Elblizzard

Elwind

Elruin (Light Magic)

(Other Skills):

Slapshot

Guard/Parry

Aerial Recovery

Zantetsuken

Counterguard

Guard Break

{Buffs/Debuffs} N/A for now

[Summon Charms]:

Ringblade Orb: Summons a Powerful Ally to the field. Must be mounted to the keyblade for it to work. Contract is necessary for the Ally to be summoned. {Being Reworked}

[Limit Breaks]:

Pride of the Exalt (Kazuki/Robin/Chrom) Robin begins the attack with a lightning spell. Chrom and Kazuki take turns slashing at the enemy. Robin follows with an Elwind attack. Kazuki ends the combo by taking Falchion, and unleashing a dual combo. He stabs his keyblade through the enemy and slices their head off with Falchion in quick succession.