So, now we'll get to see what happens to Hotaru and Kairi?

NO! MUWAHAHA! Instead, we see Riku's story!

And a million voices cried out in cheer…come one, Kairi's not that bad!

Sorry this took so long. I've been really busy…and depressed about life…and so it goes, lol. I get depressed for a few weeks, then I have a week of cursing myself as I get over myself and need to get shit done and think, why didn't you just do this sooner!

And I'm only a high school senior. I don't know what the heck I'm going to do once I'm actually in college and have to take care of myself and stuff X.X


Riku groaned as he blocked the sun from his eyes. The crunch of the sand beneath his feet annoyed him, and the desert heat beat down upon him mercilessly. How did he once walk around here in that stuffy black Organization coat? He could barely breath, and when he did he felt sand go in his mouth.

Agrabah. By far his least favorite world.

Looking at all the sand still didn't remind him of his home. It was just sand without a beach at the end. A bigger prison tan the sea surrounding the islands; just an endless sea of sand.

Just checking to see if he still missed home.

And of course, the heat and whatnot wasn't what was really bothering him, not really. It was the fact that he was walking around now, not in the shadows of darkness as he usually did, but out in the light, although he still used the darkness (In fact, Yen Sid had seemed to almost encourage it. He had muttered something about there being more to darkness under his breath, and also that he hoped to teach "him" something). Despite Yen Sid's, Mickey's, Sora's, and everyone's approval, he still felt a little guilty every time he used the darkness. You'd think he'd be over it by now—hadn't he dealt with it in Castle Oblivion? But even then, he had been partly just obsessed with power, wanting the strength the darkness gave him back. It wasn't really until later that the guilt and understanding of what he'd really done had truly dawned on him. So, from the shadows, he had watched over Sora and watched over his home, never allowing himself to be part of either world because he didn't deserve it after what he did. He had destroyed his home, tried to kill Sora, nearly helped Ansem flood the world in darkness…and all because he wanted power.

It was something he probably would never really get over.

However, for now, he tried to keep a brave face. And besides, it was probably better not to forget anyway. He wouldn't want to repeat history.

Going through the town, he noticed that the town was pretty busy for once. "Doesn't look like heartless have been through yet," said Mickey. "Yeah," said Riku softly.

"Not yet," whispered a female voice in his ear. He quickly turned and saw an organization member—a girl—about his height. The girl from the islands?

"The keyblade will draw them here. And you will have disrupted the peace yet again. It seems like you can do no right after all, Riku…" she turned and faded into the crowd before Riku or Mickey could get close to her. Riku kept diving past people though, desperately looking for that girl. After just thinking about the darkness, her words had stung him. Mickey, who understood probably better than anyone, chased after him, trying to calm him down.


"Huh. What was she doing here?"

Unbeknownst to Riku and Mickey, three organization members were watching them from the top of a building, two female, and 1 male.

"Just our luck," sighed the one who had just spoken up. "To get here just when Riku and Mickey get here…I suppose we're going to have to fight them…and mess up my hair…"

"It is unusual for her to do anything," said the other female, ignoring the first. "And it seems like she's taking your position of head instigator," she said to the guy. "Riku seems pretty spooked already. This should be a breeze."

"Indeed," said the voice that was unmistakably Zexion's. "It seems Riku is still having issues with his darkness…that could be advantageous."

"Still? I thought he got over that back when he killed you," said the first girl obliviously. Zexion glared, and she quickly shrank. "Anyway, let's try to get to her before anyone catches on. Should something happen, you'll be in position, right Zexion?"

He glared at the other girl as well. "Watch who you're giving orders to," he told her coldly. "What? Don't trust me or something?" said the girl.

"No. I don't trust any of you, and I think it was a mistake to let you into the Organization. Especially you," he said to the oblivious girl, who merely shrank some more. "Another Demyx is hardly what we need." He waved his hands and a corridor of darkness appeared. "I will be in place. And don't you forget yours," he sneered, disappearing into the corridor.

"Is he broken?"

"Broken, a little delusional…whatever. He'll probably be dead soon enough anyway. Let's go."


"Sorry I snapped like that," said Riku. "Don't worry, I understand," said Mickey back cheerfully.

"But now we know the Organization is here…heartless can't be too far behind."

"Hey, you little thief!" Riku turned to one of the stands. A little boy stood there, his eyes and mouth wide open as the angry salesman yelled at him. Riku ran over and took the apple. "I'll buy that," he said, fishing munny (a universal currency) out of his pocket. The salesman looked like he wanted to say more, but merely glared at Riku and the boy and grudgingly took the money. Riku turned and handed the boy the apple. "Here you go, kid. No need to worry about him." The kid smiled silently back.

"Better make that two," said a voice behind Riku. He turned and saw Aladdin walking to him. He paid for another apple and handed it to the boy. "You have a sister, right?" The boy nodded silently, and quickly scampered off.

Aladdin turned to Riku. "Thanks for that. Not many people can really afford to be too charitable these days…huh." Aladdin looked Riku up and down, and then Mickey as he came over. "You guys aren't from around here, are you?"

"Uh…you see…" stammered Riku. A red parrot suddenly flew into Riku's face, cutting him off. "Where do you weirdos come from?" said Iago annoyingly. "Let me guess: you're friends with that annoying bozo Sora?"

"Sora's not a bozo!" said Riku, rushing to his friends defense even though he silently agreed with the parrot. "So, that's a yes?" he said, perching himself on Aladdin's shoulder.

"Yeah. I'm Riku."

"And I'm Mickey!"

"Riku? You must be the friend Sora was always looking for."

"Yeah. He finally found me."

"So, what brings you here to Agrabah?"

Mickey took the lead. "Unfortunately, the heartless. Have there been any here recently?"

Aladdin looked a little nervous. "They haven't really appeared anywhere in town…some people have reported them around the Cave of Wonders, but there haven't really been many. Man, the heartless were just going away…"

"I'm sure it'll still be fine!" said Mickey reassuringly. "We're just looking around is all. Has anything else strange been happening?"

"Well…someone's been after…Jasmine."

"Jasmine?"

"Yeah, these guys in black coats…"

Mickey and Riku exchanged glances. "Organization XIII."

"Between me and Genie, we haven't really had any trouble keeping her safe, though. I noticed those same guys hanging around the cave of wonders too now, come to think about it…"

Riku nodded. "Got it. We'll go look there. Sure Jasmine will be alright?"

Aladdin nodded and smiled. "Definitely."

"Okay." Riku and Mickey turned to go.

"Hm. So, should I fly off and check on Jasmine or something?" asked Iago, sounding annoyed as always.

"Actually, I have a better idea," said Aladdin, his voice deepening. Iago eyed him. "What the—ACK!" Aladdin grabbed Iago, and a cage appeared around him. "What the he—" Aladdin snapped his fingers, and a chain appeared around Iago's mouth. "The more of you guys out of the way, the better," he said coolly. The illusion fell away and Zexion stood, smiling.


Hotaru pulled and struggled against the guards. "Let me go! You can't just take me! I don't see any warrant!"

"Warrant? I'd warrant you're not from around here, are you?" Hotaru turned her head and stared at the floating head of the Cheshire cat.

"Uh…" Hotaru tried not to be too dazed at the cat's wide grin. "The Queen of Hearts rules around here. And her heart is wild." He faded away. Hotaru frowned. "That was strange…" She turned her head the other way, and the cat had appeared there, this time full together. "She has quite the iron fist, you know. People usually cater to her hearts desire."

"I see…" said Hotaru, quickly assessing the situation. "Well, isn't it bad to be talking about her like that in front of her soldiers?"

The Cheshire cat grinned even wider (if that was possible) and disappeared. "She'd have to catch me first…" his voice floated around her. Hotaru frowned. The cat was starting to annoy her.

He reappeared on top of her head. "Besides, these guys aren't the sharpest cards in the deck. And they don't like to make a fuss. They'd rather just stay quiet follow suit."

"Oh boy. Puns."

"Yes, I must admit, I'm usually more creative than puns," he said, shrugging. Then his body disappeared.

"You're crazy," said Hotaru shaking her head.

"Oh, why thank you!" The Cheshire cat continued to disappear, leaving behind only his eyes and wide grin. "But a word of advice: Flattery will get you nowhere! Or will it?" He winked, and laughed as he finally disappeared. Hotaru pondered his words for a moment. Flattery…

The soldiers finally brought her before the queen. The Queen of Hearts looked at Hotaru angrily, and Hotaru immediately saw what the Cheshire Cat had been talking about.

"There's no mistaking it! You did it! You stole my tarts!"

"Tarts?"

"Don't you play dumb!" she yelled angrily. "Off with her head!"

"Wait!" said Hotaru quickly. "Your most…uh…regal majesty."

"Hm?"

"You see, your most beautiful highness, I couldn't have taken your tarts. I've only just arrived in Wonderland when the card soldiers grabbed me. I know that in your haste to do justice, your grace merely wanted to eliminate every possibility, so surely, someone as wise and elegant as you can see the truth in my words?"

The Queen considered her for a moment. "Yes, I am quite wise, aren't I? And beautiful…Well, obviously, someone as polite and smart as you couldn't have stolen them," she said, fluttering her eyes, obviously no longer very interested in Hotaru. "Oh, you're free to go. And you!" she said to a card soldier. "Which one of you idiots brought me the wrong person!"

Hotaru backed away slowly, turned around…and a cloaked figure stood before her. "Where do you think you're off to, Hotaru?"

Hotaru backed up, unsure of what to say. "You know, I was wondering, but that little stunt there definitely proves it. You don't remember a thing, do you?"

"You…you know me?" asked Hotaru. "Please, can you tell me anything?"

She seemed to consider a moment, and then snapped her fingers. Several dusk nobodies surrounded Hotaru. "Huh?"

"I know enough about you to realize you're too dangerous to be left alive."

Hotaru looked at the creatures, all seeming to dance around her, waiting to strike.

"Didn't you wonder? Why the heartless seemed uninterested in you?" asked the cloaked figure. Hotaru tried to make a defiant face at her, but felt anything but. The heartless had secretly been bothering her.

"The heartless are uninterested in you because…you lack something they want." Hotaru's eyes widened. A heart? Is that what she lacked? "What a shame, you don't remember. Especially what happened in the end…" she shook her head. "How do you know me?" asked Hotaru softly, a little afraid of the answer. Why should she know a member of the Organization, the enemy?

"Oh? Well, you see…we're a lot closer than you think, Hotaru. Side-by-side. Some might even call us opposites, although complements would be the better term."

Hotaru eyed her. "What are you saying?"

The figure shook her head. "I can't believe none of this is getting through to you. And this Amnesia thing! You're supposed to be psychic. You really don't remember? What we did? How we discovered the power darkness had to offer?"

"The darkness…we!" said Hotaru, realizing what she said. "Are you saying—?"

"We're connected, you and I, Hotaru," said the girl, "Although you probably wouldn't even recognize me if I took my hood off. Darkness can really change a person."

"You're lying! You're not anything to me!" said Hotaru. "I'd never turn to the darkness!"

"Believe what you will," she replied, shrugging. "It makes no difference to me. Especially since I'm going to kill you now. I hate reminders of the past, and with you forgetting the darkness and all, you could actually become a threat to us, should other memories awaken first."

The girl was about to snap her fingers and give the orders for the dusks to kill her when a fire spell whizzed past her. She turned. "Which one of you is the lousy shot?"

Kairi, Donald, and Goofy all stared her down defiantly. "That was just a warning shot," said Kairi unconvincingly. "Get out of here, Hotaru. We'll take care of these guys."

Hotaru nodded, and ran away past the nobodies.

"Oh boy. Kairi. I've heard so much about you. I probably shouldn't be destroying you just yet…but a little test of power shouldn't hurt." She snapped her fingers, and the nobodies dove at Kairi, Donald, and Goofy.


Hmm…lot's of intrigue here. Just who is this mysterious figure anyway? Well, I'm not telling yet! Lol. I tend to be bad with building up drama and mysteries—I like to just get to the point already. But why does she keep her hood up? That's the real mystery…

And Hotaru! The darkness? What happened to you! (And btw yes again I lied before when I ruled out the possibility of Hotaru having a nobody—it's a very large possibility.)

And I apologize for the puns. I had a teacher who used to use puns a lot. He turned out to be a pedophile and is now in jail. So puns are bad.

And OMG DDD! I wanted to have this finished before that came out :( but that was a stupid, unreachable goal. I didn't want too much from DDD to influence this fanfic...there will be little influences now I suppose, but mostly I'm keeping things the way I intended from the beginning :)

*SPOILER ALERT* So how about Xehanort TIME TRAVELS! WTF NOMURA? The only thing that could possibly make Kingdom Hearts more complicated...although when you really sit down and think about it, it's hardly surprising. I mean, Xehanort is always there with back-up plan after back-up plan, knowing everything about everything and always manipulating everyone from the beginning. Time Travel is really the only possible way...but that isn't going to end up as part of this fanfic. Sailor Pluto simply would never allow time-traveling!