Angel sat on the soft green grass in the field of flowers where Howl had wandered around when he was a boy. The door of the castle led to here, as well as to the town of Ingary and the waste by just a twist of a dial to a certain color. Sophie showed them this place, saying that it was a nice place to just relax and enjoy life.

Angel and Riku met Sophie the next morning after their arrival. She was a woman who looked to be in her early sixties with silver hair that was tied in a long braid. She was kind and welcomed them with open arms, pitying Riku because he was also cursed like herself. Angel didn't understand how Sophie was cursed until Riku said, "She's a young woman, about our age…"

"What are you talking about?" Angel had asked. "She looks to be about sixty."

"I can see her true appearance," Riku told her. "The blindfold allows me to see past her curse and at her aura, to who she really is. But the curse is lifting off of her… it's weakening."

So now here Angel sat with Riku lying on the grass beside her. She removed her coat and soaked in the warm sunlight. The light reflected off of her hair, causing it to have a soft bronze glow. She looked up from where she was playing with the grass around her to where Riku was laying on her left.

She could tell that his eyes were closed, just by how relaxed his body was. His pale skin was like marble in the sunlight and seemed to glow as well as his silvery hair. His sleeveless black shirt was unzipped and was open over his incandescent, finely sculpted chest which rose and fell with his steady breathing. The muscles of his arms were perfectly toned and his face had never looked so relaxed as he basked in the warm sunlight. One arm was folded under his head while the other, the one close to Angel, lay at his side. Hesitantly, so she wouldn't startle him, Angel reached over and stroked the back of his hand with her fingertips. She was amazed at how satin smooth his skin was, but also how cool it had become, almost like it was a smooth stone. Wasn't it just a couple or so weeks ago that she touched his skin while he been in that sleep and felt how warm it was?

Angel felt his eyes on her and she looked up to see his head turned towards her, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth. She smiled back at him and inched closer to him, looking back down as she started to trace the contours of his forearm with her fingers. She heard him sigh and she paused, looking up at him. "You don't mind, do you?" she asked.

Riku shook his head and said, "No, you wouldn't believe how good that feels." She saw his eye lids close under the blindfold and watched as he relaxed even more with another sigh.

Angel trailed her hand lightly over the muscles of his arm, tracing the bluish lines of the veins inside the crease of his elbow. She slowly worked her way back to his hand and then slipped her hand into his. His grip tightened around her hand, gentle but iron-strong. She looked up at him and saw that he was looking at her again. She smiled and squeezed his hand gently. "You'll be okay, don't worry," she said to him. "We'll lift the curse."

Riku smiled and said, "I know… in fact, I'm not exactly bothered by it now as I was before."

Angel tilted her head slightly and asked, "Really, how come?"

Riku propped himself up with his right arm, his left hand still in Angel's. "Because," he said, "I know that I can fight it and also, I have you. You're my light, so as long as I have you, the darkness can't take me over completely. Plus, this just proves that Xehanort is desperate to get rid of me quickly, so we know that he is afraid of us."

Angel nodded and said, "Probably, but we still can't underestimate him."

"I know, but that doesn't mean that he's not underestimating us. If he thinks that this curse will take me out, then he's sadly mistaken."

"But…" Angel paused, looking down at their hands. How could she ask this?"

"But…"

"What if… what if the curse does take you? What should I do then?"

Riku looked at her, his face set in a serious expression. "If the curse does take me, and Xehanort has my heart and control over me… I want you to kill me."

"What?!" Angel exclaimed, her grip in Riku's tightening.

He nodded and said, "I want you to, Angel. It would be the only way to free me from him. If I'm dead, he can't really take my heart. I know you're the only one strong enough. Please Angel; promise me that you will, if it comes to that."

Angel brought Riku's hand to her face and buried her face into his palm. "I don't know if I can… Riku, I don't know if I could kill you…"

"You will have to… it won't be me, just remember that."

Angel looked at Riku and slowly nodded. Riku smiled softly and sat up in front of her. He moved close to her and stroked the side of her face with his free hand before pulling her head close to his for a kiss. It was simple but chaste, and it filled Angel's heart with warmth. When he pulled away, he smiled again and ran his hand through her hair. "I love you Angel… you know that, right?"

Angel smiled and nodded. "I know… I love you too."

Riku smiled again and stood up, pulling Angel to her feet as well. He held her hand in his and they started to walk back towards the tiny shack that had the door that led back to the castle. As they walked, Angel couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. She stopped and looked back the way they came. Riku stopped as well and looked at her, frowning slightly. "Angel?"

"I feel like there's someone watching us, but there's no one here," she told him in a soft voice. She looked at Riku and frowned. "Can't you feel it?"

Riku shook his head and said, "No, I don't feel anything unusual… it might just be your imagination, with everything that is going on."

"I don't think so, Riku," she said, shaking her head.

Riku frowned and looked back towards the way they came. "Well, we'll just be careful then, if there is someone around…"

Angel nodded and the two of them continued back towards the door to the castle. But the feeling didn't leave Angel until they entered the castle and Riku shut the door behind her. She went up the stairs and came up to a very unpleasant smell. She covered her nose with a hand and saw the Witch of the Waste smoking a cigar that was letting off a vile smelling smoke. "What is that?" she exclaimed, staring at the witch.

The witch didn't reply, but continued to smoke the cigar, a content and happy look on her face. Angel just wrinkled her nose and went to the hearth to talk with Calcifer… but was shocked to only see smoking wood and a few small embers. Huh... what's wrong with Calcifer? But before she could voice her concern, there was a clicking of the dial on the door turning and Angel looked around to see Markl and Sophie coming up the steps.

Markl ran up to Angel and said, "Angel, you just missed the strange lady who tried to make Sophie leave!"

Riku looked at Sophie, who was chuckling slightly. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Sophie smiled at Riku and ran her hands over her dress to smooth it out. "Yes, I'm quite alright," she told Riku. "It was only my mother, stopping by for a visit."

"Your mom?" Angel asked, surprised. "But wouldn't she notice that you're a little… umm… old?"

Sophie laughed and said, "She knew about the curse, so she was a little surprised. But she seemed happy to see me, so I'm glad that she stopped by."

Angel nodded and then looked at the hearth minus Calcifer. "Sophie," she said, a frown beginning to cross her features. "Something is wrong with Calcifer…"

Sophie frowned and walked over to the hearth. "Odd…" she muttered. "Well, we'll wait a bit and see if he pops up again."

Angel nodded, but she glanced at Riku, worried about the situation. With Howl now gone and Calcifer seemingly out of commission, this left the castle in danger. Completely open to heartless and soulless...

Riku sat beside Angel at the table, watching as Sophie tried to get Calcifer lit again. But all she was doing was blowing smoke and ash into the air. He sat on one of the stuffed chairs while Angel sat at his feet, her back resting against his lower legs. He was gently running his fingers through her hair and she had her head resting against his knees. Beside them, Markl and the witch were sitting at the couch, Markl holding a newspaper while the witch was still smoking the smelly cigar.

"I can't seem to get Calcifer to get lit…" Sophie muttered. She then turned to the witch and scowled. "Must you smoke that in the house?"

"Don't deny an old witch her pleasures…" was all the witch said.

Riku snorted and shook his head. Below him, Angel sneezed.

Sophie shook her head and then looked at Markl. "Markl, can you open a window?"

"Yeah…" Angel grumbled, shooting the witch a look. "This place needs to be aired out a little."

Markl nodded and stood up to run to the window. The witch gave a small smile and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you… Suliman's men are out there and Calcifer isn't at his full strength…"

Riku shot forward as Markl opened the window and he immediately felt the darkness begin to seep into the house. "Sophie…"

Sophie called out to Markl and started towards him…

…as the entire house shook violently, throwing Riku, Angel and Sophie to the floor. Angel squawked as Riku fell on her and he quickly rolled to his feet. He called Way to the Dawn into his hands and turned to help Angel to her feet. "You feel them?" he asked her.

Angel looked at him and nodded. "I can feel them…" she said softly. "They are all over the place."

Riku nodded as Sophie scrambled to her feet and ran to the window, slamming it shut. She and Markl then ran to the door and Sophie threw it open. Riku followed, Angel right behind him, and the four of them stepped outside and realized that the town was being bombed.

Sophie looked at Markl and said, "I'll check the shop, you get inside." She then looked at Riku and Angel and the first thing he noticed was that Sophie's aura seemed to be changing; she was getting younger. "The two of you make sure nothing gets inside. I'll be right back."

Angel and Riku nodded and Sophie ran to the shop. Riku spun around as he felt the heartless and soulless begin to rise from the ground of the courtyard. He lifted his Keyblade and sensed Angel call forth hers and the two of them attacked as one. The heartless and soulless were only lesser beings, but there were a lot of them. By the time Sophie returned, a young woman the same age as them except with starlight colored hair, the heartless and soulless were pushing Riku and Angel back towards the wall.

"Suliman's men are coming this way!" Sophie cried.

"And we have a heartless and soulless problem…" Angel moaned. "There's too many, Riku…"

Riku growled and held Way to the Dawn high, preparing to strike again, when he sensed something coming upon them from above… very fast. He looked up and his eyes widened when he saw a bomb coming towards them. He raised a hand, hoping that he could blast it away with Dark Aura, but then he saw a streak of blue-black.

"Howl, no!" Sophie cried.

Angel gripped Riku and Riku pulled Angel and Sophie towards the wall. He braced himself against the wall, the two women between his body and the wall, as the bomb and Howl impacted the ground, Howl holding the bomb back. Although the bomb didn't go off, it sent rocks and debris all over the place and Riku winced as rock glanced off of his back. The heartless and soulless were thrown all over the place.

Once everything settled, Riku slowly pulled away and Sophie ran to Howl with a cry. Riku looked over at the wizard and saw that he was covered with blue black feathers and had the wings and claws of a bird. Angel gripped Riku's arm and looked up at him. "Riku," she said softly, "that presence is back…"

Riku frowned and looked up and around. How come Angel could feel it and not him?

"Riku, those creatures are coming," Howl said. "We have to get inside."

Riku looked at Howl and said, "There's someone here," he said, "someone who's been following us."

"We have to find them," Angel said.

Howl nodded and said, "Come inside, real quick."

Riku nodded and, taking Angel's hand and holding his Keyblade with the other, the two of them hurried inside the house, Howl carrying Sophie behind him. The door slammed shut behind the wizard and the four of them gathered before the hearth. As Markl ran to Sophie, Howl held a claw over the smoking logs.

"Calcifer," Howl said as he seemed to pull Calcifer from the logs, "you hang in there, now." In moments, Calcifer returned, coughing up a puff of smoke. Howl then turned to the witch as Calcifer wailed, "Howl, she fed me something gross… I'm gonna be sick."

Riku turned to Calcifer and said, "Calcifer, me and Angel have to find someone that she's been sensing. They may be the cause of the heartless and soulless here. Can you hold the fort?"

Calcifer groaned and said, "I can, don't worry about me. Just meet us back in the waste and get out of the city before you blow up."

"Don't worry, we plan to," Angel said.

"Riku, Angel…" Howl said. The two teens looked to the wizard as he said, "Be careful, the both of you. There is more than the soulless and heartless out there that can cause you harm."

Riku nodded and he looked at Angel. "Let's go," he said.

Angel ran towards the door, her Keyblade in hand and Riku followed her. The two of them ran outside and through the shop towards the street, encountering heartless and soulless along the way. They ran down the flaming street, cutting down their enemies as they went. When they reached what Riku believed had once been the town square, Angel stopped and said, "They're here…"

Riku spun around, still unable to sense what Angel could and called out, "Who ever is out there, show yourself!"

At first, all they could hear was the crackling of flames and the sounds of bombs from up above. Then he heard the sounds of laughter behind him; not just one, but two. They spun around and came face to face with two hooded figures, a man and a woman, wearing the black coats of the Soulless. "Good work finding us," the woman said in a cold voice.

"You did it quicker than we thought," the man said.

"Who are you?" Angel asked angrily, holding Way to the Night up and ready.

"Why Angel," the woman said, fake sorrow in her voice, "you don't recognize us?"

"Some person you are," the man said haughtily, "to forget your own friends…"

Way to the Night clattered to the cobblestone street as Angel stared at the two figures in shock. "It can't be…"

Riku looked at Angel and then back to the Soulless as they lowered their hoods. The man had short black hair and the woman had boyishly short brown hair. "Angel," he asked. "Who are they?"

Angel just continued to stare in shock, but she managed to force out: "Oz? Sarah?"