I wanted to update as soon as I can. I really appreciate the reviews. I cannot stress this enough, your reviews pushes me to continue, inspires me. All of you reviewing out there do not know the impact you all have on me. Thank you so so very much. You have my deepest gratitude.

Song inspiration: Hero - skillet (Legion of doom remix]

ATTENTION: LINKS TO CHARACTER CONCEPT ART CAN BE FOUND ON MY PROFILE. NOT ALL ARE UP THERE SO LOOK PERIODICALLY! AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THEM IN THE REVIEWS OR IN A PRIVATE MESSAGE!

CHAPTER DEDICATION[S] - All of my reviewers for this story. This one is for you guys!

Kairi:

The horrifying monster was easy to defeat. This new profound courage and strength tingled through my finger tips as I grip my foreign weapon. I jump back and land firmly on my feet. The beast falls to his front and fades away into the atmosphere. I look around, waiting for something to happen.

"Hello..?!" I scream into the endless void.

Grandma would have been proud.

A peachy voice spoke behind me. I turn and see my younger self. She smiles and reaches her hand out to me. I tilt my head and I feel the urge to say something but nothing escapes me.

I lent out my free hand and gently met with the smooth, soft hand of hers. Suddenly, a white light forms around her and outlines my body as well. I look around, disoriented.

Thank you...

She softly lets out with a tear going down her eye and then she vanishes into bright particles. The outline around me grows thicker and then fades away. A tear falls from my eye, identical to the one that had fallen from hers. I release my grip on my keyblade and it vanishes into the same particles she had.

I put my hand to my chest and smile despite the great sorrow that consumed my heart.

"You're welcome..." I sniffle with a feeling of accomplishment that I avenged my homeland.

"Kairi..." A voice breaks me out of my cogitations. I promptly lift my head and look around.

"Vanitas...?!" I shout.

"Kairi, please wake up!" Vanitas' voice fades in and out. I twirl around trying to find the source. I begin to run despite the fact that I knew it would lead to nowhere.

"I couldn't stop thinking about how this could have been my fault!"

I stop running and listen to his words.

"Stricken with fear that maybe, just maybe my own demons found their way to you because I've done nothing about them!"

This sounds like Vanitas...but it doesn't sound like Vanitas..

"I thought of that man..hurting you... I...I wouldn't able to forgive myself...!"

His words echo into this desolate place. It rang in my ears and still, I could not believe what he had said. A deafening noise came behind me and I turn to see something opening.

The light was so bright, I had to shield my eyes. Upon adjusting my eyes, I see Vanitas over my bed and I was lying lifelessly. I walk closer to the picture. I watch as Vanitas gripped my hand, staring at me. He sat back on his chair and looked down, my hand still remaining in his. His expression astounds me. I push forward to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me.

Tears were rolling down Vanitas' face as he silently sobbed. In the empty room, with the sun setting in, reflecting upon the windows, Vanitas was crying. I touched the image of his face, wishing he could feel my hand upon his face.

My heart yearned to ease his pain, I wanted to wake up and reassure him that I was okay. This feeling...I've never felt this before. I put my hand to my chest, it was beating at an irregular pace.

I turn and shout.

"Wake up, damn it!" I turn my eyes above me.

"KAIRI, WAKE UP!"

"Ah!" I violently shake awake, jumping up from my bed. My pillow look around the room and it was empty. Not a glimmer of light entered the room with the curtains shielding the windows. I calm my breathing and take it all in. The door to my room is closed. I tilt my head in confusion. A doctor would never shut this door in my condition.

My legs were numb from lack of use. I tremble my feet to the floor. I took a look at myself and realize I was in the thin patient's clothing, only the necklace Aerith gave me remained on my body. I run to the dresser in my room and find my cloths nicely folded. What a relief. Quickly, I put on my outfit and shoes.

My heart was pounding with excitement to see Vanitas. Maybe this time, he will truly smile.

I rush to the door and pause.

Wait...I had only thought about seeing Vanitas just now and not the others...Not even Sora.

This thought made me question myself.

Why did I only think of Vanitas...?

A deep, horrendous scream broke me out of my cogitations. I hesitate to open the door.

What could be happening to that man...?

I felt a intimidated but then I remembered something. I looked down to my hand and wonder,

Was it all a dream..?

The desire for my keyblade entered my head and it summons within my grasp. My eyes widen.

Could this mean...?

Quickly, I slam open the doors and took two steps out of the room before freezing. My jaw drops and I could not gasp for air. The entire facility is stained with blood, guts and dead bodies.

I could not move, tremble or scream.

Was I still stuck within a dream...?

I hear crunching of bones and the haunting noise of blood splatting. I run around the counter and see a few heartless eating from the hole in a man. I scream and jump back. They look at me with their piercing golden eyes, making me their next target.

"This can't be real!" I said trembling backwards, shaking my head. The heartless jumps on the counter, preying on me in packs. They would all jump at once, my instincts told me. I thought of being a victim like the man over there and lifted my weapon. My eyes focuses on each, my face scowling at them.

The moment they moved I slash down and as one of them splattered, I quickly threw my weapon to the left, killing the 2nd one. I tumble forward, avoiding the 3rd one behind me. I roll on the floor and land on my feet with one hand on the floor helping me keep my balance.

I scream and viciously destroy the last one. I left my keyblade in his remains as I waited to catch my breath. With my mind off guard, I feel something coming towards me. In fear, I spin around but it was too late, the heartless was face to face with me. This one was much bigger. Everything went about in slow motion, I could not scream nor react in time.

But in the blink of an eye a large bang was heard and the heartless flew against the wall. I fall to my butt and catch my breath. Sweat trickles down my face and my head is spinning.

"Are you alright?" A familiar voice said. I look up and see Ms. Shalua, a large revolver in her hand and without her lab coat. My mind wouldn't believe it was her. But I searched for her metal arm, and it was there as clear as day and this time, completely revealed.

"Ms..." I finally let out. She puts her gun in the latch on her thigh and holds out her hand.

"Come on, we need to get out of here." I grasp her hand and stand up. Shalua looks down the hall, her face grimacing.

"What are you doing here, Ms. Shalua?"

Sora:

The town was in chaos and Vanitas was nowhere to be found. Kairi's safety also rests upon my mind, but now, I need to save those in front of me. Namine and I are back to back against this battlefield that once was Twilight Town. I focus on the ice blue staff in her heads.

-[FlashBack]-

Things had gotten bad from worst in a matter of minutes after we had left the library. My instincts told me that something was wrong and Namine also seemed alarmed which confused me. After witnessing a few deaths, we were ambushed by heartless.

I threw my arm up putting Namine behind me.

"I'll protect you." I said to her. Namine was silent and didn't express any type of fear.

I hesitated to send for my keyblade. What would she think of me? Would she be afraid of me and runaway?

The several heartless marched forward and there was no time to think.

"Use your keyblade!" Her voice rang in my ear, throwing me off. I turn to her and said,

"How do you-" Namine throws a shower of ice at them, killing most of them. I stared at her in shock. She threw off her sweater, revealing her skinny strapped dress and her pale arms.

She threw her hands above her and a beautifully designed staff fell upon her palms. Gripping it, she threw down and preparing for battle. My mind could not comprehend what had just happened. She looked at me sternly and reminded me,

"Sora, your keyblade!"

-[Flashback End]-

We've fought endlessly like this ever since. For the first time, I actually question who the girl beside me was.

Kairi:

Shalua and I have fought our way through the hospital. Finally, we had made it out and started down the road. The night was approaching and everything had already fallen silent.

"Had the people been evacuated?" I question Shalua but she does not respond. A sudden urge to look down came over me. Hanging out of the shadows, was a hand with a familiar ring. My heart drops into my stomach. I shake my head as I turn. I slowly walk forward and turn into the staircase behind the wall leading to her house.

Selphie...

My hands begin to shake at the sight of her. She was laying face down in a pool of her own blood. I fall to my knees, resting upon her blood. Slowly, I reach out for her. My mouth remains open as I turn her over. Blood stained her cheek and trails of dry tears scarred her face. Her orange dress, drenched in red and there was a gaping hole in her body.

My hand floats above her mortal wound and my throat begins to burn. I clench my hand into a fist and press her head against my chest, hugging her.

The tears fell and but my voice refused to come out.

"Kairi, watch out!" Shalua screams from afar.

"Selphie!" I scream in agony towards the sky as the tears flows from my eyes.

The heartless were above me and I had no care in the world. Suddenly, a weapon hit all three of them and spun around back, almost like a boomerang. I turn to the left and see a muscular man before me, catching his weapon as he lands on his feet. He walks up to me, out of the shadows, revealing his face and his weapon.

A keyblade...

I made my eyes up the weapon and gazing up the man's body.

Shalua runs beside him and pauses. The man stares down at me with his crystal blue eyes.

My eyes widen at the sight of his face.

It can't be...

I wanna hear some thoughts about who this man is!

Don't forget the concept art links in my bio and leave a review!

Vankai FOREVER! 3