I'm keeping this short. I was lazy about this chapter, only because I wanted to set this up to be the greatest monument to the lord and master...me.

I'll never own Kingdom Hearts. Boo.

Enjoy my halfassed-ness.


The Heretic sat on the only chair that had not been destroyed by the Reject. He held his face in his hands, his visible eye glaring at Haji. Ienzo was sitting next to Haji, cross-legged, smiling. He had no idea what either person was thinking about him. Haji looked at the Heretic. He opened his mouth, but closed it quickly. He shivered. The Heretic had motioned for his silence.

Asmuth was sifting through the rubble. He managed to find a few books, and could piece together a few works of art. He was saddened by the fact he had worked so hard to get to the Heretic, and it was destroyed before he even got the chance to learn anything. He shook with his anger, but he wouldn't dare say a thing.

"When will they return?" Haji asked. He was being bold.

"They will return when one is victorious." The Heretic breathed. "Until then, we wait."

"You're going to kill them, aren't you?" Haji said defensively.

The Heretic stood. "I will do no such thing. I have no need to rid this world of them. As for you…"

Haji jumped to his feet. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing." The Heretic answered. "I'm merely stating an opinion based on fact."

Haji growled at him. "What fact?"

The Heretic swept away. "You do not want to come close to me. Every time I step closer, you back away. You circle Ienzo too closely. I haven't seen you leave his side. Not once. I can see your desperation. You reek of it."

Haji closed his mouth.

The Heretic picked up his book. "You are waiting for the Keybarer. As soon as she shows up, you will take her heart. You've done it every single time you've come this far. I expect nothing different this time. But, you're in luck. Roxel has lost his weapon to the Reject."

Asmuth froze. He was behind a bookshelf, so he didn't think that the Heretic knew he could hear them. He trembled. If the Heretic knew what was going to happen the whole time, then he knew that they would not make it to Kingdom Hearts. He was setting them up to fail.

Haji turned away. "I have more self control."

The Heretic whispered something Asmuth couldn't hear. He came out from behind the bookshelf. In his arms, a tattered book. He had an idea of what he had to do. He wore a look of pure determination.

"You have a price," Asmuth said. "I am willing to pay it."

The Heretic didn't look at him. "You are so blind."

"I don't care," Asmuth said. "Haji, what is his price? I know you know."

Haji looked at Ienzo, then to the Heretic. "Nothing."

"What is his price?" Asmuth said, a little louder.

"Nothing."

"HAJI!"

Haji whipped around. He was terrifying. "He wants your heart! You must give up everything! Your heart, your feelings, your freedom!"

Asmuth pursed his lips. "But that's nothing. I can do that."

The Heretic sighed softly. "I don't think you understand. 'Nothing' is not an absence of giving things. What I want is your nonexistence. You must lose your heart, be strong enough to overcome that, and live in a shell for all eternity. I would hardly call that 'nothing'. You have no idea what nothing is."

Asmuth huffed. "I don't care. I'll pay."

The Heretic sat back in his chair. "Fine, then. We will prepare for your death."

Asmuth tensed. But, he knew this was something that the Heretic had not foreseen. This was possibly something that could get them to Kingdom Hearts. And he was willing to do anything to get there.

Ienzo pulled on Haji's coat. "What's going to happen to him?"

Haji looked down. "He's going to sleep for a very long time."

"Will he wake up?"

Haji smiled half-heartedly. "I don't know."


"Roxel?"

Roxel had been walking ahead of Soriku for a long time. He was still suffering from the loss of his weapon. Blaze of Glory had left him so easily. It was like it didn't even want to be with him. He shook with so many different emotions, he couldn't keep himself straight.

Sadness drove him to the edge of depression. His anger ate away at his soul. And his rage gave him the determination he needed to go and do the one thing he knew he had to. He had to kill the Reject.

"Soriku, can you use both your Keyblades?"

Soriku nodded.

"Can I use one?"

Soriku shook her head. "You're not pure of heart."

Roxel looked down. "But, I…"

Soriku patted him. "We can do this. But, I can't let you use the Keyblade. It won't work."

Roxel pushed away from Soriku. It hadn't been so obvious before, but now it was glaring down on him in his time of failure. Even though he could fight, he no longer had a weapon. And he had a friend who was a Keybarer. It was much more evident that he was no longer in control of his own destiny. And that drove a wedge in between him and Soriku.

If it ever came down to it, she was going to be the one to save the day. Not him.

She was going to be the one to save Krystahl. Not him.

And she was going to be the one who was going to get them to Kingdom Hearts. Not him.

"Roxel, look!"

Soriku was pointing into the darkness. They had been milling around for a while, not having any idea where they were, or how they were going to get out. But, a thin road appeared before them. It was winding, heading far out into the distance. Over hills and down valleys.

Roxel puffed his cheat out. "Let's go."

"But, we don't know—"

"The Reject will be there." Roxel said quickly. "I have to find him."

Soriku nodded. "Okay, but you should really arm yourself."

"He took it." Roxel said sourly. "I have no defense."

Soriku sighed as she realized why Roxel had been so cold. She was the only one who had a weapon. She kicked herself for denying him the chance to use a Keyblade. She would have willingly given him Diamond Dust or Gullwing, but she knew as well as he did, that that was an impossibility. She could only lend her support.

"Then, we have work to do," Soriku said.

Roxel took Soriku's hand and raced down the road. He was approaching his destiny. He was scared. He knew that if he wasn't strong enough, he would lose his life, and everything he had worked for would be no more. But he had to take that chance. The Reject left him with so many questions, and he was sure that he would have a chance if he could grab one of the weapons the Reject already had.

Perhaps Arpeggio.

The road was long, but the prison they were trapped in did not seem to have physical laws, nor did it appear to follow any limitations. Roxel and Soriku ran so fast, without losing their breath or slowing down. They traveled such a vast distance without any trouble. Their preoccupied minds did not distract them from their task, as it normally would have.

They were completely untouched by this world.

They shortly came upon a city. It wasn't unlike Twilight Town. It was amber in color, warm in appearance, and lacking in visible townsfolk. The sky was a wistful blue, and the sun was just about to set.

Roxel was immediately suspicious. "Careful."

As they entered the town, night time fell quickly. They looked around, wary of any Heartless that were bound to show up. And, even though he didn't have a weapon, he pushed Soriku behind him.

They arrived at what looked to be a square. It was empty, which was no longer a surprise since not a soul showed itself while Roxel and Soriku made their way through the town.

"There's nobody here," Soriku breathed.

Roxel looked around, "There is always somebody here. It's just a matter of time."

"That's right, Roxel."

Roxel whipped around. He spotted the only other person in the square. He was wearing a black cloak, just like the Reject. Roxel instantly tackled the person, knocking his hood down.

"You!"

The Reject squirmed under Roxel's weight. He looked annoyed that Roxel was crushing him. "Get off me!"

Roxel gasped. He stood up. The Reject's voice was different. Not so deep and condescending. And it lacked the sexual air about it.

"Are you the Reject?"

"No." The boy answered. "You are. I thought we had this discussion already."

Roxel punched him.

"Hitting me is not going to help your cause." The Reject said. "I'm still going to kill you."

Roxel reached back to punch him again. "You lie!"

The Reject frowned. "Listen. Why don't you…leave? As you can see, I'm not in the mood."

"What's wrong with you?"

The Reject sighed and looked behind him at Soriku. "He doesn't take hints to well does he?"

Soriku shook her head and smiled. The red tinge of blush rose to her cheeks. "Sorry, he can be overly suspicious sometimes."

The Reject shrugged. "It's not a problem, but he's gonna get you both killed."

Roxel looked at the Reject, then at Soriku. "I don't understand."

"That hasn't changed," the Reject whispered.

Roxel tackled the Reject again, "Stop messing with me. You let her go, remember?"

The Reject shrugged. "I can't help that she is so madly in love with me. Or you. Who knows anymore?"

"You are purposely being vague." Roxel growled.

The Reject kicked him. "I'm making this painfully clear. Leave…or you die. How hard is that to understand? Am I not being clear? Do I need to kill you?"

"But, you're not the same…You're…"

"Normal?" The Reject offered.

"Yeah."

The Reject relaxed, like he was angry that Roxel did not understand his vagueness.

He sighed. "Okay. I'll try to explain this so even you can understand. I'm you. We are the same…for now. Consider me a mirror image of you. Only better and more put together. We were created to find the hearts of the twelve Organization members."

"Twelve?" Soriku said. "That's not right. There are thirteen."

The Reject looked at her. "Yeah, but Roxas is fine. And Sora is still alive."

"What?"

The Reject sighed again. "I suppose neither one of you talked to Asmuth or Haji that much, did you? He knew. I'm sure you would have noticed Sora skulking around at some point in your ridiculous endeavors. I mean he was everywhere."

Roxel looked at Soriku, then jumped to his feet. "You lie."

The Reject stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants. "Whatever you say, Jack. But, didn't the Births have an unusual interest in you? I mean more than just the killing you thing."

"No."

"Of course not." The Reject said. "Because you're oblivious. Faulty. It seems such a shame that I was coined the nickname. I've done my job."

Roxel tensed. He knew something was wrong. "Where is he?"

The Reject laughed. It sounded haughtier. More like him. "I'll tell you if you play a game with me."

Soriku growled. She was sick of the constant back and forth. The constant vague riddles and answers in the form of questions. She wanted to complete her mission. She didn't have time for games.

Roxel trembled with rage. "I'm sick of this."

The Reject smiled. "I promise to tell you what you want to know if you win. Scout's honor."

Roxel thought for just a moment.

"You don't have much time." The Reject taunted.

"Why are you doing this?"

The Reject snickered. "Because, Blue day is over. Green day is about to begin. Wanna play?"

Roxel looked at Soriku, who nodded. "Let's go."

The Reject clapped his hands together. "Splendid. There are two rules to this game, and only one for this world."

Roxel sucked in a deep breath. This was it. The last time they would ever confront each other. He had to win.

The Reject counted the rules on his fingers. "Rule number one, no touching Soriku. She is not allowed to play."

A cage formed around Soriku. It cut her off from her Keyblades, and she could feel it stinging the edges of her heart.

"Rule number two, no cheating."

Roxel opened his mouth, but closed it quickly. There was no way to cheat if there was only one other rule. But, he had the feeling that this game was much harder than the Reject was letting on.

"As for the world. The only rule is that there are no rules."

The Reject faded. Roxel was utterly alone. No help, no weapon, no hope. How on earth was he going to win this game? He had no idea.

Good luck.

I wanted to set up quite a couple things. I wish I had enough time to explain it, but I might do that next chapter. Sorry that it was so short.

That's it. Gotta go to bed now.

Has a nice day. :)