L&DH: Hello and welcome! We have a special installment today, folks!

Salem: Oh, why? Is somebody getting pied?

L&DH: *deadpans* Is baked goods all you ever think about?

Salem: *pulls out a piece of pie* What can I say? I like pie!

L&DH: *sighs* Anyway, you know how it goes. I only own this story and the OCs. Enjoy!

"Kairi!" Sora shouted. "Tegan! Angelique! Hey, Vanitas! Where are you?!"

Riku sighed. "Relax Sora. I'm sure they're fine."

"Yeah, but where are they?" The brunette was very close to panicking. So far he hadn't seen any of the girls or Vanitas. Along with Riku and Salem, Sora had been scouring the woods where they had landed after a passing meteor knocked the group off course and into a random world's atmosphere. After waking up, sore and dazed, in an unfamiliar forest the boys had discovered that their group had been spilt in half.

"VANNI!"

Riku and Sora jumped as Salem's voice came screeching from the trees above them. After getting over their near heart-attacks, the two watched Salem move from tree to tree, appearing in one tree then another in the blink of an eye. His purple hair could be seen glancing this way and that as he scouted. When he found nothing, the teen frowned as he suddenly appeared on the ground next to Sora.

"How do you keep doing that?" Sora asked. Salem ignored the question and looked around with curious eyes.

"Weeeeell then," he pouted. "I can only assume Vanitas isn't in the area if that didn't work. Usually if I call him that he's always there to beat me up. He must be with the girls." Salem shoved his hands into his pockets and smiled. "That's good then. Two Keywielders, one Anima, and a Dream Witch. They'll be fine!"

Salem started walking off in some general direction, leaving Sora and Riku staring.

"Well?" He didn't even stop or turn around. "Come on dudes. Let's go find out where we are!"

Riku exchanged a glance with his best friend and sighed. Trudging after Salem, he dragged him back by the hood of his sweatshirt.

"I swear Salem; you have no sense of direction. There's a town over that way!" He pointed in the opposite direction of where Salem had been walking. Salem looked wide-eyed in the direction that he was pointing and laughed.

"Well whaddaya know, you're right Mr. Master." He started walking. "Let's go then!"

While the three made their way to the town, Salem noticed that Sora was still looking slightly worried. The mage smirked, knowing that he was worried about his precious Princess.

"Chill out, kid." He slapped Sora on the back. "Kairi is a big girl and she can take care of herself. And if that doesn't reassure you, Vanni-boy, Tegan, and Angie are probably with her. I don't know about Teg and Angie, but Vanitas is plenty strong. He'll look out for them."

Riku looked ahead. "You sure about that? I'm still not so sure that I trust him. I mean, he was Xehanort's apprentice."

Salem laughed heartily and stared up at the sky.

"That's true." He mused. "But you just need to get to know him better. In all honesty, it's not his fault. And I don't think he really knows what its like to get along with other people. From what it seems, he really hasn't had any up til now. Friends, I mean." Sora quirked an eyebrow.

"Really, but what about you? Aren't you his friend?"

"I've known him the longest out of all of us." Salem sighed. "We were both in the Organization; me as a prisoner and Van as a member. I consider Vanitas my friend, but I don't know how he feels. He didn't seem too happy about the idea when we first met."

Salem thought back to that very faithful day.

*Flashback, 11 years ago*

"Now Salem, there've been reports of weird monsters roaming around town. If you see them, don't egg them on, you hear? Keep yourself outta trouble kiddo."

Salem had been trying his best to heed his father's warning. But as a rambunctious, curious six year old, it isn't easy. He liked to mess around, even if that meant getting into trouble sometimes.

"It's too bad Ienzo is sick." Salem muttered. "Now I don't have anyone to eat ice cream with today…" A mischievous smirk found its way onto the six-year old's face. "Well, I'm sure he wouldn't want me to miss out! Ienzo would want me to eat his ice cream for him!"

The boy rushed off to the ice cream shop and got a hold of two of his favorite flavor pops: Sea-salt ice cream. At first he though it was a weird combo, but after trying it, Salem couldn't get enough.

No sooner had he set foot back inside the castle gates, frozen treats tucked away in his backpack, Salem heard some sort of commotion. It sounded like someone was fighting.

Huh, I wonder if Lea and Isa are trying to sneak in again, he thought. Grinning at the chance to see those two get thrown out, Salem crept around the corner. But what he saw wasn't Lea and Isa.

In the courtyard a girl with blue hair was fighting off some weird blue creatures. Some of them looked like bugs, but others were enormous. And for some reason, a big mouse in black and gray clothing was fighting with the girl. Both of their weapons looked like giant keys too.

"Ahh!"

Salem whirled around. Down the steps and saw a young girl, about his age with red hair, being cornered by more monsters. Salem gasped. It was Kairi! He and Ienzo would play with her sometimes in the gardens around the castle.

Looking around, Salem spied some rocks and scooped them up. He rushed down and ran in front of Kairi.

"Salem!" the redhead shouted.

"Kairi, go hide! Quick!"

Salem hurled one of his rocks at the nearest monster. It hit the creature square in the head and sent it flying into a wall, where it dissolved into mist. The other creatures hissed and charged at Salem. He kept throwing his rocks until there were none left, and then resorted to using some magic he had picked up from reading one of Merlin's books.

"Blizzard!"

A wave of cold wind and ice shot out from Salem's hands, freezing the monsters in place before he finished them off with a Thunder spell. Salem looked around, seeing that they were all gone.

"Thanks Salem." Kairi said as she came out from her hiding place. Salem nodded and smiled.

"It's okay. You're my friend, right? What would Ienzo and I do if you got hurt?"

Kairi nodded and began to bound up the steps.

"Hey, where you going?"

"To check on the nice lay who was trying to help me too! I need to see if she is okay!"

Salem watched the redhead race up the stairs and then frowned. Where did those things come from? And for that matter, what were those creatures anyway?

All these questions rolled around in Salem's overactive brain when he heard someone moaning. Fearful that Kairi had gotten hurt, Salem rushed to where he heard the noises. But once again, he was wrong.

Instead of Kairi was an older boy in a really strange black and red suit. He was on his hands and knees as he clutched one gloved hand to his chest and breathed heavily. A weird helmet made of black glass rested by his other hand. The boy's ink-black hair, much like Salem's, spiked up in different directions.

"Hey! Are you alright?" Salem rushed over and knelt down beside the teen. The mysterious stranger's head shot up and eyes of a strange, gold color glared at him.

"What do you want?" he hissed. "Get lost, runt!"

Salem glared back. "My name isn't 'runt'! It's Salem Kurokami! And all I did was ask if you were alright!"

The boy continued to stare at him with narrowed eyes. "What does it matter to you?"

This made Salem tilt his head, making his own black hair fall partially in his face. He didn't know what the boy meant by that. Maybe he was just mad because he was hurt? Salem held out his hands.

"Heal."

A green glow surrounded the boy and his breathing slowed down. The boy leaned slowly on his heels and eyed the small boy with suspicion.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because…" Salem blinked. "You were in pain. Why wouldn't I?" Salem frowned as the boy laughed dryly.

"Stupid kid. Don't you know not to help out the bad guys?"

"You…Don't look like a bad guy." Salem knelt in front of the boy and peered closely at his face. One eyebrow lifted when the teen scowled.

"You're dumber than you look, kid. Haven't you ever seen a villain before? I would think that I look the part."

Salem shook his head. "No. You don't seem like a bad guy. You just look…" Salem tapped his chin while looking for the right word. "…Cold?"

The boy's eyes narrowed and his scowl deepened. "What are you talking about?"

"Um, maybe that's not the right word but your eyes are pretty cold-looking." The small boy pointed to the golden eyes. "My mom told me once that eyes are a window to the soul. And yours look kind of empty and lonely, like…Hey. Do you have any friends?"

The teen was taken aback, shoulders hunching and eyes widening more. What was with this kid and random questions?

"I…Don't need any." He said slowly.

"Everybody needs friends." Salem argued. "They help us see who we are…What's you name?"

"What's with you and the random questions, kid?" the boy hesitated. "…Vanitas. Now will you leave me alone?"

Instead, Salem jumped up and reached into his backpack. Pulling out the ice cream bars, he shoved one into the older boy's hand. Holding his own up, he closed his eyes and struck a pose.

"Van…Vani…Vanitas! There we go!" he smiled. "We are now friends!" As he took a large chomp out of his ice cream, Vanitas' eyes popped.

"What the hell!" he shouted. "I said I don't NEED any friends!"

"Too late." Salem replied in a grave voice. "Our hearts have been connected. I just made it so."

"…You are one freak of a kid, you know that runt?"

Salem shrugged. "I've been called worse. Besides, having friends makes a person complete and eliminates loneliness! I don't like people looking lonely." Opening his eyes, Salem stuck out his ice cream and pointed it in Vanitas' face. "We are now friends. So if you ever need help, I will be there! I swear on the Light!"

Vanitas snorted in disgust. "Yeah sure. Light, he says…"

"Hey! What have you got against Light?" Salem snapped.

Vanitas leaned back and stared at the small boy with contempt.

"I don't have any Light. It's just as pointless as the idea of having friends. It all just makes you weak. And I am not weak!" He said forcefully, as if he were trying to prove something.

Salem frowned and copied the older boy's posture. "Boy are you wrong! Light and friendship, they make us strong! But, if you don't have any Light, then…" He was cut off by a large hand pushing down on his head, ruffling his hair. Looking up, he saw then dark-haired teen on his feet and staring with half-lidded eyes.

"Look, kid. You keep saying that to yourself, but it's wasted on someone like me. Trust me. You might as well save it for someone who cares."

Vanitas walked away, helmet in one hand and licking the ice cream pop in the other. A big portal of swirling black mist appeared in front of him.

"You're wrong!" Salem called. "Next time we meet, Vanni-boy, you'll see! I'll have lots of friends and I'll prove how strong it makes you!" He could hear the boy chuckle.

"Sure you will. Let's hope for your sake that day never comes…Salem Kurokami." And with that, the teen departed in the Dark Corridor, not knowing that he would encounter the young child again in the future.

Salem sighed. "Boy was that an odd day."

Riku peered at Salem curiously. "So did you prove it?"

Salem frowned and looked at the snow covered ground. Did he prove it when he reunited with Vanitas? No. As much as he hated to admit it, Salem was still reeling from the sudden betrayal of everyone he grew up with. Ienzo, Dilan, Aeleus, Even, Lea, Isa, Myde, and…His father…

"No, Riku." He said quietly. "I lost sight of my Light and became a totally different person…"

Salem furrowed his eyes as another old memory flashed back.

*Flashback, 4 years ago*

Salem coughed up blood as he crashed into the wall of his cell, his head smashing painfully into the cement. His energy completely drained, he slumped down and clutched his chest.

"You know, you really ought to consider how you talk to me, brat." A female voice sneered. Looking up, Salem glared at the Nobody in front of him, Larxene. His only response was to spit blood in her direction.

"Why you little!" The Savage Nymph rushed up and slammed him into the wall again and pressed a knife up against his throat.

"Do it." He spat. "Just get it over with and do us all a favor."

He thought for sure that Larxene would do it this time, too. With all the taunting and insults that had been flying, he had actually been hoping for it. He saw a manic glint in her green eyes before a voice snapped behind her.

"Larxene! Enough!"

The blonde dropped her knife and Salem and backed up slowly. A furry-filled scowl graced her face as she turned to see who had interrupted her would-be murder.

Salem looked up weakly. Outside of his cell, two figures stood and peered inside. One was tall, with long silver hair and odd, orange-gold eyes. He wore a black coat like Larxene, but Salem knew that he was the leader, the oh-so mysterious Xemnas.

"Oh, so now you decide to grace me with your presence, oh mighty Jackass." Salem croaked. His gagged as Larxene sent another kick into his stomach.

"Come on, Superior." She begged. "Just let me finish this punk off already!"

"Larxene, you have a mission to attend to. Go now." The Superior commanded.

Grudgingly, the female left and the Nobody leader stepped inside. Salem glared from his spot on the ground and noticed the other figure step in as well. This figure didn't wear the coat of the Organization. But Salem was sure he had seen him somewhere before.

The mysterious person was another teen, but he had more muscle than Salem. He wore an odd black suit with gloves. The teen's hair was an inky black and his eyes were a cold golden color.

Salem's mind whirled through the pain-induced haze as he recognized Vanitas. How was this even possible? It had been so many years from that day, but he looked exactly the same. What was going on?

"This is the punk then." Vanitas asked blankly. Salem noticed how one of his eyebrows tilted up, giving a slightly confused look to his face. Did Vanitas recognize him? No, it's been around ten years since that day. How could he? Beside Vanitas, Xemnas nodded solemnly.

"Indeed. While we have tried many a time to convince him, Salem remains adamant in his position. So we do our best to help him change his mind…"

This made Salem snap in cold fury. Mustering what little strength he had left, Salem rushed up and tried to attack Xemnas with a wild shout. He never even got close.

Vanitas summoned a Keyblade in a flash and slammed it into Salem. The force behind the strike sent him hurtling back into the wall for the hundredth time today, causing the wall to crack. As Salem slowly lost consciousness, he saw Vanitas hovering over him, staring.

His vision went dark with the image of those golden eyes flashing with recognition. He remembered him.

"Salem." Sora waved a hand in front of the boy's face. "Are you alright?"

Salem blinked and shook his head. He hadn't realized it, but in remembering that incident, he had stopped moving completely. He gave Sora an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, man. I guess I'm just going down memory lane…"

Sora nodded and the two caught up with Riku. As the three walked into a dull and dreary town, Salem couldn't help but think.

Vanitas and I, we are comrades, but we aren't linked by our Light. It's the Shadows of our hearts…

Salem: *mouth full of pie* So that's what you meant.

L&DH: Yeah, more back story for you! This is kind of a thing in this ark, actually.

Salem: *frowns* You are a terrible girl, you know that?

L&DH: *waves him off* Yeah, yeah, heard worse before. Anyway, how did you guys like this chapter? Leave us a comment in the box below!

Salem: Especially you lovely ladies! It would mean so much to me, you know.

L&DH: Uh, yeah….

Salem: Later!