J enova

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Destiny Islands

Present Day

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The wind blew through the bangs of Sora's head, but the chills that should have been going down his spine were no existent, there was too much on the teenagers mind, too much to think about, about what had happened. His whereabouts and his surrounds were just barely on the boys mind, and he was thankful that there wasn't as much traffic on the road that there should have been as it gave him more time to be left alone.

Sora didn't register the small portion of people pointing and snickering on the state of his vehicle, which was covered in scratches, dents and key marks all over it, Hie could feel the pain of a headache sitting behind his eyes, and every moment that he stopped at a set of lights, Sora would rub his eyes, as if trying to get rid of the headache that way, which would only cause him relief for but a few moments before that pain would return. It was much worse then anything that he had felt over the past few months, indeed Sora could not recall that he had experienced a pain like this ever.

Sora's mind broke away through thinking about the pain as he looked around, and found that he had reached his street. Leaving his bike at the side of his street, he pushed himself off and violently ripped his jacket zipper down. As he burst opened the door, Sora slammed it shut before he threw his jacket down on the ground. He made his way up to his room, and again opened and slammed the door shut for the pleasure of no one but himself.

Sora held his hand to his head as the voice echoed throughout his head, in words that Sora could not understand, not from lack of knowledge, but merely because the pain in his head was more important then what was happening. Sora closed his eyes, he felt himself becoming sick as he held his hand to the wall, breathing coming heavily to the boy.

To think that morning he had felt fine, happy even, it was wrong that he could drop from that happiness so quickly, to be now so angry, hatred pulsing through his veins. Sora's thoughts came to Seifer. Why had he done it? What had Sora ever done to the boy to cause Seifer to do this? Any explanation was fruitless, as Sora raised his fist and slammed it against the wall, knowing exactly how hard he would have to punch the wall to put a hole it in, and aiming just a little under that.

Sora breathed heavy, not moving his arm as he just left it there against the wall. A smile formed on his face, and he moved it again, punching the wall for the second time, again somehow knowing what force would break it and giving it a little less force then that. He felt good to take his anger out on the wall, and continued to do it, as he did he found himself thinking of Seifer, and soon he wasn't aiming at the wall, but aiming at Seifer, again and again, before he gave one final punch and managed to out his hand through the wall.

He breathed out for a second, before he began to laugh, as if he found the fact that he had just damaged his wall funny. Sora pulled his arm out of the hole, bits of dust coming out with him as he looked at his hand, seeing that it was completely fine once again. Sora could not feel any pain, and this caused him to laugh once again, and he shook his head and said out loud, "I should have killed him when I had the chance,"

"...then why didn't you?"

Sora's eyes widened as he head the voice, but he froze. Something was different, the voice was usually inside his head, echoing throughout. But for the first time, the voice was now outside of his head, entering through his ears. He could hear the voice, it's cold cool sound echoing not through his head, but through his room.

Sora felt the temperature of the room drop as he felt a presence in his room. The feeling that Sora got when he realized that he wasn't the only one in his room. Sora felt his hands clamming up as he slowly began to turn around, and as he turned his head, looking straight up, his back hit the wall as his eyes widened.

Standing before him was a teenager, a teenager that looked exactly like him; same height, same build, same spiky hair that he had, but he was different in a few key aspects. For one, instead of the chocolate brown colour that Sora had, his hair was pitch black. His eyes were gold instead of the cerulean that Sora had, and his skin colour, instead of being tanned, was completely pale. Sora noticed that he was dressed exactly like Sora, even wearing the same biker jacket that he had been previously wearing with one key difference. Instead of the white shirt, it was now the same colour of his hair, black.

Sora was too frozen to let out a scream, and too curious to call for help. Sora shook his head, wondering whether he was dreaming or not, but before he could ask a question, the mysterious teenager said, "Well...this escalated quicker then I thought,"

"...are you real?" Sora managed to choke out, and the teenager smirked as he responded, the same voice as Sora though calm, cool and bone-chilling, "What do you think?"

Very slowly, Sora pushed himself off of the wall, finding his feet and trying to recall how to move, Sora took a few steps before he was facing this copy of himself, before he reached out with his hand, trying to touch the arm of the boy. But his hand passed through the boys arm as Sora looked up, the teenager smirking.

"Are you a ghost?" Sora asked, and the boy let out a sharp laugh as he said, "Try again,"

Sora stayed still for a moment, before he slowly said again, "A hallucination?" And the boy raised his hands as he slowly began to clap, echoing throughout the room as he said, "You're not as stupid you look Sora,"

Sora waited for but a moment, looking at the gold eyes as he asked the question that had been burning in his mind since the figure had appeared, "Who are you?"

The figure returned the stare into Sora's eyes as he said, "You don't know who I am? I'm a psychological hallucination manifesting in your mind Sora, I don't have a name...but you can call me the name I was given so long ago...you can call me...Vanitas,"

Sora gasped as he reached for his head, feeling the sweat pouring down his forhead. Closing his eyes and opening again, he watched as his voice personified looked at him with a smirk on his face. Sora coughed as he said, "The name you were given?"

Vanitas looked at Sora as he said, "...You don't remember do you?" and Sora looked back at Vanitas, shaking his head. Vanitas could not help but let out a small laugh as he looked at Sora, saying as he did, "How funny it is the human brain, all this information locked in corridors never to be accessed again..."

"This cannot be real," Sora coughed as he placed his hand on the bed, taking deep breaths, and Vanitas looked at him, stating as he did, "The perception that reality is normal and simple is never the case Sora, once you learn that, you'll be such a happier person...like you were happy taking your anger out on Seifer, or-"

"Stop," Sora muttered as he felt himself about to be sick, he kept his mouth close as his clammy hands reached for a tissue box on his head, wiping his head again and again as he looked up at Vanitas, making sure only words were going to come out of his mouth and not something else, he said, "Why are you here?"

"You mean why am i not just a small voice in your head Sora?" Vanitas smirked at the boy, and Sora looked down as he nodded his head, "I've been here ever since you were able to think Sora, growing throughout your entire body, laying dormant until you needed someone to tell you what to do, I'm that dark sense in you that tells you too attack, to harm...like when you were harming Seifer,"

Sora felt the sickness coming again, his thoughts returning back to lunch time, where he had almost punched Seifer, and again to a few moments ago when he had put his hand through the wall. Sora remembered the smile that had spread on his lips, the laughter that had echoed out, and his eyes widened as he placed his hands to his mouth, saying as he did, "That was you?"

"Of course it was, someone like you couldn't do that, you needed someone to take control, and thats what i did," Sora felt himself sweating as he jumped from his bed, backing towards the door, but froze as Vanitas continued to talk, his hands not able to reach the doorknob, "You could never do what i suggested, although you came close Sora, I was almost proud of you, but you just couldn't do it...so I had to take over,"

"You're the devil, i'm possessed aren't I," Sora felt the shaking all throughout his body as Vanitas let out a sharp bone-chilling laugh, saying as he did, "I'm the closest thing to a devil there is Sora, and there's no way you can get rid of me,"

Sora could feel the presence getting stronger, as he tried to shake the pain that was developing throughout his body away. As he felt the anger swelling up, he thought of everything that had happened, he thought of Seifer and what he had done, but then he thought of someone else. He thought of Kairi, how much she had tried, he thought of Riku, his best friend, and even began to think of others, like Axel, like Xion, like Namine and even Roxas.

And for the first time, Sora looked Vanitas with a determination in his face, shaking his head, "No, i'll never let you surface again, never, i'll meditate harder then ever, i'll defeat you,"

At this statement, Vanitas let out a laugh, that made Sora cower for just a moment, before he looked back at the boy, "Thats cute, You think that some deep breathing exercises and thinking of something else will actually work? Don't you get it Sora, i'm apart of you, just like your anger of Seifer, your passion for Xion...your love for Kairi, those are all you...i push them further then most, but they begin in your mind Sora,"

Vanitas stood over the boy, who was now laying on the floor with his back to the wall, Sora could feel heat from his body increase as his breathing became heavier, Sora kept his head down as Vanitas whispered into his ear, "No matter what you think, or do...you know there is no way you can get rid of me, I'm your conscience, your wrong, I'm your devil Sora...and you have no Angel,"

Sora shook his head, muttering 'not true' over and over again, as he felt hot tears escape his face and land on the ground, his thoughts turned to despair just as quickly as he had tried to comfort himself, his arms around him, he felt himself alone, noise, sight, everything was shut off as he felt more tears drop again and again, until he felt someone touch his shoulder.

Sora looked up to see an older blonde haired man looking towards him, his bright blue eyes piercing through his as Sora looked away, trying to stop the tears from falling. As he looked around, there was no sign of Vanitas, only of Cloud as he wrapped his arms around his son, saying, "It's ok Sora, it's ok son,"

"I failed dad, i let it get to me," Sora sobbed into his fathers shoulder, and although he felt Cloud sitting next to his with his arms around him, he felt more alone then he ever had before, like there was no one around that could understand, he hated that he could not truly talk to someone about what was going on, Sora didn't know anyone else with his condition, but he wished, oh how he wished that there was someone that could tell him how to cope.

After a few moments, Sora felt his father looking at him, and Sora forced his head to look up into the bright orbs that was his fathers eyes, as Cloud said, "Sora Strife, let me tell you something that has been true since the day i adopted you almost 5 years ago now, you could never disappoint me...ever,"

Sora took a few gulps as he cleared the tears from his eyes, saying as he did, "You're bike dad, i'm so sorry, and the school, and the wall, i'm-"

"You're still here Sora, not being dragged to a police station, it's ok, i'll cover the cost, and i'll talk to your Principal, see if we cannot knock a few days off that suspension, I'm just happy your safe," Cloud smiled as he kissed his son's forehead.

"...I knocked a kid out dad, someone whose been bullying me, and his friend...the one whose been giving me real trouble...i had him against the locker, and all i wanted was punch him until he was dead...i wanted to kill him...what is wrong with me dad?" But his father shook his head as he said, "You're a tiny bit different Sora, but you still have a loving warm side that i see each and every day, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you, and if i was in you're place i would have done the same thing...and if i ever see the kids dad i might have a few words to him about raising a child,"

Sora let out a weak wet chuckle as he looked at Cloud, and Cloud looked down at his son with a smile on his face, saying, "I'm really glad you're a Strife, they have a lot to live up to, and i think you're doing a fine job in doing so," and both father and son let out a laugh as the doorbell sounded, causing Sora to jump and Cloud to look out, saying as he did, "Don't worry, i'll see who it is," and Cloud slowly got up as he quietly managed to walk towards the door of his bedroom and was soon walking down the stairs.

Sora made his way towards the window, trying to find out who was at the door, but with the positioning of his window, it was impossible to see who was at the door. He heard someone bound up the stairs, and Sora turned around, hurriedly trying to wipe away any of the tears that were still on his face, but sighed in relief as Cloud re-entered the room, saying as he did, "Sora, theres a young lady waiting downstairs for you, i'm not sure whether you're ready to see her though?"

"What does she look like?" Sora asked, and Cloud thought for a moment before he said, "Auburn hair, violet eyes, worried look on her face,"

"Kairi," said Sora as Cloud rose an eyebrow, "Trouble?" but Sora shook his head as he said, "Just give me a few moments,"

Cloud smiled as he nodded his head, as Sora changed the tear-stained white t-shirt to a maroon dress-shirt that was in his cupboard. Sora quietly made his way from his bedroom to the bathroom, where he cleaned himself up a bit, ran a comb through his hair and made sure that his eyes had returned to a normal looking colour instead of the puffy red they had been previously. Nodding his head, Sora had to take a few breaths as he walked out, where he noticed that Cloud had placed his jacket at the top end of the banister. Putting it on, and giving himself a few more seconds, Sora slowly began to make his way down the stairs.

As he walked into the living room, he saw Kairi sitting in one of the chairs, her bag sitting next to her and a worried look on her face. Sora let out a small cough as he dug his hands into his pockets, and Kairi looked up, "Sora," She said softly as she ran up and gave the boy a hug. Sora returned the hug as he whispered, "Hey Kai,"

"I was so worried after you just took off, i can't believe what's happened," Kairi released Sora after several seconds, and Sora bent his head down, "I'm sorry Kairi, i was so upset after what had happened that I-" but Kairi shook her head as she said, "No, you don't need to apologize at all, it was a little scary but it's ok,"

Sora nodded his head as he walked over to the sofa and sat down, Kairi following suit as she said, "You really think it was Seifer that did it Sora?" and Sora nodded his head, saying as he did, "Who else? I don't have a problem with anyone else, the school has a policy on security, I don't see who else it could have been,"

"Shame we can't do a CSI investigation, we might get the proof then," and Sora could not help but let out a small laugh, followed by Kairi, and the two teenagers laughed for about a minute before they died down, and Sora realized something as he turned to Kairi, "How did you know where i live,"

"Riku," Kairi smiled, and Sora smirked as he said, "Did he use his SEED location programing or did he remember from the last time he was here," and Kairi could not help but let out a small laugh as she sighed, before she remembered something, and reached for her bag, saying as she did, "Oh, before i forget..." Kairi grasped onto an item and pulled it up, revealing Sora's helmet.

Sora's eyes widened as he slowly reached over, looking at the helmet in awe as Kairi said, "When you left, i grabbed it and got Riku to drop me off after school...I'm really glad that you didn't accidentally wrap yourself round a tree, else you would have killed yourself," and Sora let out a small smile as he said, "Thank you Kairi," and both the teenagers embraced, a little longer then Sora had anticipated, though Sora didn't mind as he enjoyed the smell of Poupu in her hair.

A small cough caused both the teenagers to break apart, and Sora looked up too see Cloud leaning against the wall that connected the kitchen with the living room, staring at the two with a coffee in his hands and a smug look on his face. Kairi instantly went bright red as Sora gave the man a glare as he thought to himself This cannot get any worse, but Cloud could not help but sip his coffee as he said, "Didn't mean to interrupt you but i thought you might like to know there's someone waiting for you," and he pointed to behind the two.

Sora and Kairi both slowly turned around, and only grew redder as they say Riku, Axel, Namine, Xion and Roxas all looking from the window, Riku with a huge grin on his face, Axel with his thumbs up, Namine with a small smile on her face, Xion looking at the two with a look that would have made anyone think that the two just had sex, and Roxas looking indifferent.

Sora and Kairi both slapped their hands to their heads as they slowly got up, Kairi grabbing her bag and Sora sarcastically thanking Cloud for shutting the curtains. As Sora opened the door, Sora gestured for Kairi to go out first, and Kairi thanked him quietly as they both made their way out of the house.

Riku went right up to Sora and hugged him, saying as he did, "It's alright brother, we're here for you," and Sora clapped him on the back as he said, "Thanks for that Riku," and moved onto Axel, who looked at him with kindness as he shook the mans hand and complemented him for the strong punch he had given Rai, as Kairi walked up to Riku.

"Well, that looked like some hug to me," He winked, and Kairi merely rolled her eyes with a small smile on her face as she looked towards Axel and Sora, the former which was now in a headlock for his earlier comment about not being able to leave school grounds during free periods. Once he had hugged Xion and Namine, both who said they were glad that he was alright, he reached Roxas.

Both stood staring at the other, and Roxas let out a deep breath as he said, "It was out of line what Seifer did, I hope you're alright," and he held out his hand. Sora was not sure what he should do, as the last time they had made any contact Sora had gotten pain in his arm, but he shook his head as he grasped the boys hand, and both of them felt nothing as Roxas nodded his head, Sora retracting it as he said, "Thanks Roxas,"

"So, how long are you away from school?" Riku asked, and Sora muttered that he was gone for a week, the reactions were mixed, from Xion saying she would have to go back to skipping math lessons, to Axel who thought that Sora was a lucky bastard for being able to miss a week of school, to which Sora merely rolled his eyes and said, "Alright Axe, whatever you say,"

As everyone began laughing at Axel, they heard a car beeping its horn. At first they thought it was a driver who thought they were being noisy in a quite neighborhood, but Roxas' eyes widened as the car pulled up in front of the house, and Riku instantly recognized the car.

"Hey Roxas, isn't that your mother," and Roxas slowly nodded his head as the door opened, and the woman got out of the car.

Sora could not believe that that was Roxas mother, the woman looked in her late 30's, and was extremely beautiful. Her brunette hair had been tired up and was loosely hanging behind her back, her green eyes were as bright as anything, and she was dressed in a black dress skirt, red blouse and wearing a white lab coat. As she began to walk up, she yelled out, "Roxas honey, what are you doing here," In a voice that Sora swore that he had heard before, it sounded exactly like the announcement voice both from the Ferry Sora had boarded to Mirage Arena, as well as the Struggle announcer they had been too. But it couldn't be...could it?

Roxas face-palmed himself as he said, "Mum, you really know how to embarrass me, you know that," and Roxas' mother grinned as she said, "Yes i know, thats my job as a mother dear," and she looked up as she said "Hi guys,"

"Hey Dr. Gainsborough," the all chimed, but she waved her hand at them, "Do you see a hospital anywhere? call me Aerith please," as she grinned at all of them, before she stopped at Sora and raised her eyebrow, "but you don't look familiar at all, and between you and me that is saying something,"

"Sora ma'am, nice to meet you," Sora extended his arm, and Aerith grinned as she introduced herself, "Dr. Aerith Gainsborough, Twilight General, pleasure's all mine, new here?"

"Two months," Sora smiled, and she 'ahh'ed', saying, "Well that explains it, i've known these kids all their life, seeing as most of them come to me when they're sick or unwell,"

"Wouldn't know anything about that, i've got a pretty good Immune system," Sora laughed, and Aerith smiled as she said, "So what are you all doing out here? I was on my way to pick Roxas up when i noticed him standing here with you lot,"

But before Roxas could say anything, a call came from Sora's house, "Sora! have you seen my sword? i was sure that i left it in the garage," and Cloud walked out from his house to the gathering of teenagers, before he stopped when he noticed Aerith standing there, "Oh, hello there...who are you?"

Sora looked at Cloud who was starring at Aerith with a weird smile on her face, and then turned to Aerith who had the same expression on her face, "Dr. Gainsborough-I mean, Aerith...pleasure to meet you," and she extended her hand nervously as Cloud took a moment before he grasped it, saying in an equally nervous manner, "Cloud...pleasure as well,"

The teenagers looked from one to the other, realizing what was going on right there, all took two steps back as they watched what was going on, "So, new here huh?" Aerith let out a small grin, and Cloud nodded his head as he placed his hands in his pockets, saying as he did, "Yeah, and you're a Doctor, right?" and Aerith nodded her head in response.

"Well, i think i need a physical doctor, you wouldn't know where i could get one," Aerith couldn't help but giggle at the comment, and Sora could not help but almost feel sick. Was his father trying to flirt with Aerith?

"Well, I can always give you one, but first you'll have to show me that sword collection some time," and this comment caused the group to swap to Aerith with eyes widened, and Roxas slapped himself on the head once again as the same thought went through all of their minds; had Aerith just made a sexual pun? No, she was talking about the swords that Cloud had been talking about earlier, they were sure of it.

"I could show you right now," Cloud smiled, and this was the final straw.

"Gee, we need to get home now don't we mum, get ready for tonight don't we, that Doctor thing," Roxas yelled, and he grabbed his mother as he dragged her towards the car, as she managed to yell out, "It was lovely to meet you Cloud!"

"Likewise," Cloud called out, and in a matter of seconds Roxas had thrown his mother into the car, and she was soon driving her son who was ushering her down the street, and out of sight.

Silence was throughout the area, as Kairi looked towards Riku before saying, "I think it's time you took me home Riku," and Riku looked at her for a moment wondering what she was talking about, before she nudged him in the ribs, taking away the air in his stomach as he coughed, "Yeah, time to go guys,"

Kairi smiled as Sora let out a cough that sounded like a laugh, as Kairi gave Sora a hug, stating that she would come visit him as soon as possible. As she waved, Sora watched as she lead Riku towards his car, where both got in and out of sight.

Sora returned to Xion, Axel and Namine, as Xion managed to get off the phone as she said, "You know Sora, i'm glad that you have that strength, something about you standing up to the bully just makes you even more sexy," and she winked as she looked to her right, and Sora looked down the street as she noticed a Limousine making its way towards the house. Sora's eyes widened as he watched the Limo stop, and a man get out, dressed as a stereotypical butler as he said, "Miss Wise's lift back home," In a Posh Spiran accent, and Sora looked to her.

"What the hell is this?" Sora asked, and Xion just smiled as she leaned against Sora, saying as she did, "Another time Sora," and Pecked him on the cheek as she turned to Axel and Namine, "You guys want a lift?" and the two looked at each other before nodding their heads, saying their goodbye's to Sora, before they got in the vehicle, and before Sora knew it they were away.

Sora sniffed as he turned to his father, who was still looking at the same place he had said goodbye to Aerith. Sora waited for a few moments, before he realized that Cloud was in his own little world. Shaking his head, Sora slapped his dad on the back and Cloud jumped a little as he said, "Pleasure was all..." But stopped when he looked around and noticed that she was no longer there.

Sora could not help but laugh at his father as he said, "Smooth Mr. Strife," and he turned around and made his way back into the house, Cloud sighing as he turned around and followed his son, closing the door on the cold air as the light left the end of a very long, disturbing and interesting day.

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Wow, doesn't it feel so good when you update within a day? gotta say its a bloody fantastic feeling xD so, looks like things are escalating fairly quickly now, and with the voice now having a name, i can tell you know that things are about to get very very fantastic. I'll also say that we are about to learn a lot more about Sora's past, which i am super excited to write xD

A short thank you to those who got in early to review, which are Lion5589, DestinyKeyblader28, khheroxasoray, bond of frost and Keyblades of Oblivion. Again you guys are just the greatest and i enjoy reading all of your reviews :)

well, i'm off for the night, expect an update with any luck throughout the week, enjoy and stay safe :)

Jared Someone.