Chapter 38: Torn into Two

Riku was sat on a bench inside the village, his eyes full of longing. Wondering how both Kairi and Riki were holding, how he wanted to go and find them both. Somehow he was starting to understand, greatly how Sora has been coping over the Mystic Gods trying to tear his family apart.

He looked over to Roxas who was talking to Kumiko over by Yuna's tent, something in his eye seemed different compared to Sora right now, confused him. Roxas was with his special girl again, yet somehow he had a longing too.

Roxas was confusing sometimes, since he joined Sora during the journey at a later time when they were recovering the legendary sphere's from the mystic gods.

"Roxas its been ages.. I am so glad to see you again" Kumiko smiled to him shyly, blushing up.

"Yeah its been a while.." he gave a soft smile back, but his eyes were sad deep down.

Kumiko wondered for a long time, what ran through Roxas' mind. She stroked his face gently, he looked at her sighing.

"Roxas.. Tell me what's bothering you? I want to help you…" she clapped her hands, and smirked.

"Its something you can't change Kumiko, its been hard on me for a long time.. Trying to figure out why these things have happened to me… Ruri pushed me away from her… And she is trying to hurt you and Marina.." he sighed closing his eyes.

Kumiko gave a sad face sighing, noticing he still wasn't over Ruri took a small step back.

"I'm sorry… Roxas, I should have understood better" she took some more steps back, and then rushed away into the jungle.

"Kumiko wait!" he got up, and sighed gritting his teeth.

Crystal saw the whole thing slowly walking towards him.

"You ok Roxas?" she placed her hand onto his back.

"I am not sure to be honest.. Sora's had it quite lucky compared to me, I've tried to fall in love again but.. Its been hard." he looked to Crystal.

She weakly smiled knowing what he meant, she turned looking at Sora and Marina walking back towards the group. Knowing exactly how he felt, they were both the same boat… and yet she wish she knew the true feelings of love.

"We have to keep going, even if its hurting all of us… once we defeat the Mystic Gods members who are still alive.. Plus the Titan girls, maybe things can be at peace" she closed her eyes.

"Really who knows Crystal.." he stood up, walking over to Sora and Riku who were talking.

Crystal watched him walk away, and she looked up at the sky holding her hand towards it. Biting her lip, knowing the worse was going to come.. Deep down inside her empty hearted chest. She closed her eyes.

'Lessa.. I think we should tell them the truth…' she opened her eyes, taking a few steps in a dark calm place.

Lessa opened her eyes, with her long purple flowing hair and her face the same as Crystals.

'Yes.. Because you and I are one in the same.. And you know as much as I do, if Catrina is not saved soon… she will suffer a great fate.' Lessa was on her knees, holding Catrina's pure golden light spirit in her arms.

"Yes the truth.. About the Mystic Gods want to take control of both the halves of light and darkness.." Crystal looked at Catrina's inner light.

'This is all.. Of her light.. What the Mystic Gods removed from her heart… apart from the little inside her still… the Mystic Gods are going to make their move soon Crystal. Please warn the others.' Lessa chanted, standing as Catrina's figure vanished from her arms.

Crystal nodded her head, she opened her eyes again standing where she was when she spoke to Roxas.

"Crystal! Where's Kumiko..? We all need to talk about what we need to do next" Marina walked over to her.

"She went for a walk.. She looked like she needed sometime alone, but you're right we do need to.. I need to tell you the full truth about who I am.. And the Mystic Gods plans" she gave a serious face, clenching her fists.

Kumiko rushed through the trees, tears sliding down her cheeks. She tripped and fell onto her knees near the river. She rubbed her face sighing gently. The tears continued to leak from her eyelids. Sighing deeply and taking in deep breaths.

She calmed down a little, cleaning her face with some of the water. A figure stood on the opposite side, wearing a black cloak watching her with sad eyes. He stepped into the water and held out a blue sword towards her.

Kumiko looked up startled eyes widened, seeing the figure stepping back holding out her wand.

"Are you with the mystic gods too!" she growled and blocked him. She snickered back as this man was quite strong than he looked. She stumbled trying to keep him off her as he suddenly caused a powerful energy attacked to form around them.

He didn't seem to hold back, the energy emitting from his body zapped back and forth from his skin. He swing the sword into her, flying her backwards into the water.

"Ah!" she gritted her teeth, the impact shook her a little. She pushed back, as she watched the figure swing his sword down. She managed to back flip, as the sword hit into the water splashing it everywhere.

"Who are you! Tell me!" she stretched her arms, summoning thousands of bubbles into the air from the water. She stood her ground, she was going to fight back with everything she got if she had to.

"You've definitely grown up a lot, just like the goddess.." he gripped onto his sword tightly. Something about his voice.. Echoed into her memories, of happy times.

'Wait…?' she wondered, taking a step towards him.

"Go back Kumiko.. Before they come after you, I don't want that to happen." he turned away and rushed into the forest.

"Wait! Come back!" she stepped forward, rushing into the forest after him.

She knew it was him, he had been there all along. But why was he wearing the same cloak as the mystic gods. She reached her hand out to try and catch him, but she stopped suddenly and looked up to the sky her eyes widened. One of the path of lights was in the sky shooting directly towards her and it shot straight into her chest.

She cried out in pain gripping her chest, falling down to the ground. Everything going dark.

Crystal stood before everyone knowing what she was about to tell them, might change their opinions on a lot of things.

"From the very start I know the Mystic Gods true motives" she spoke slowly. Marina and Sora stared at her in shock.

"What do they need Catrina for!" Sora yelled at her, clenching his fists.

"Catrina's Keyblade is the final piece to opening the door to light, only her Keyblade can do it… her Keyblade was once wielded by Marina's grandmother" she held onto her chest.

"The Key of Light does make sense to opening it.. But I guess of course without the Princesses of Light, she is a little useless.. And of course they are assuming that she is the final Princess?" Riku pulled Sora back to calm him down. He was clearly losing his temper too easily.

"They of course are using Namine, to remove all her important memories.. Pretty much everything that makes up who she is… she barely is hanging onto existence. Within maybe a few weeks to months.. If we don't hurry she is going to die.."

Marina's eyes widened in shock, her heart trembling at the thought of losing Catrina to this. She gritted her teeth shaking her head.

"I am not going to let that happen! She doesn't deserve this! Its been my fault what happened in the past…. They should face me, not hide behind her like this!" she cried out pressing her hands to her face tightly.

Sora bit his lip walking up behind her, and pulled her close to him trying to hold back his tears.

"They have taken Kairi too.. Which can only mean one thing, she is a Princess of Light aswell.. Those… Bastards!" Riku growled out, walking away from the group.

Sora was stroking Marina's long black hair, his hands rubbed down her back gently. Trying to calm her down, the many thoughts running though his mind confused him.

"You know, I am quite confused right now guys… something Namine told me" he spoked calmly, he clung tighter to Marina. All he wanted to do was take all her worries and fears away.

"Did she show you something of the future…? About Marina's darker side?" she spoke calmly.

Marina pulled back from Sora, turning to glare at Crystal.

'Why… did she have to say that! Now he's going to…' she turned and looked back to Sora.

Sora thought it was just a dream, his eyes gazed down at her with worry now. She continued to hide things away from him. Aching his heart to pieces.

"Marina, why didn't you tell me about those dreams?" he looked at her with, saddened blue eyes.

"I don't have a darker side… what ever those dreams are.. They aren't real! You all know I am not like that!" she cried out, and stepped away from Sora.

Riku shook his head knowing she wasn't seeing the point to Sora's question, taking it completely the wrong way.

"There is something else… you all should know, about who I really am…" she sat down, and looked up at the sky. "Do you all know of someone called Lessa" facing back towards them with a serious face.

"Yes.. She is your true self, if I remember correctly Crystal" Roxas folded his arms, he remembered a long time back from when she was with the Titan girls.

"Yes Roxas, she is not just my true self, she is also.. The heart maker of all hearts. She dwells behind the door to light" she opened her hand. They watched closely as a glowing purple light formed in many ways.

The lights formed into a perfect shape, and the emotion of Crystal's face was completely different. No emotion could compare to the deep sorrow that could he seen inside her blue eyes.

She could feel Lessa's presence a lot more than ever, her empty body could feel her own heart beating inside Lessa. Brightly and warmly as she closed her eyes, trying to sense what the future might hold.

Marina watched Crystal carefully, but then the silence was broken off when they could hear a scream coming from the village.

"That was Kumiko!" Roxas stood up, and was rushing back towards the village.

Marina was about to follow the others, but Sora grabbed her hand stopping her. She looked at him with confusion.

"You haven't told me the full truth yet have you Marina…?" he looked into her eyes sadly.

"How can I always tell you everything Sora?" she sighed looking down to the ground.

He gritted his teeth, and grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him again. He looked at her seriously now, annoyed at the fact she couldn't trust him.

"Tell me the truth Marina, you found out more about your past than you let on.. I am fed up of you having to deal with everything alone!" he pulled his arms around her waist.

She trembled at how demanding he was being, trying to pull away but she couldn't move. She started tear up, and she looked into his eyes.

"If I tell you the truth.. Don't you realise how I will feel, if you judge me about my past!" she buried her face into his chest, crying her heart out.

"Why do assume the worst! You've known me long enough to know I don't care who you are? Your Marina to me, that's all that matters to me! And all I want is to get Catrina back.. And go back home.." his eyes filled up with tears, as he clung onto her tightly.

He pressed her face to his, and connected their mouths into a passionate kiss. Her eyes widened, her heart skipped beats right now. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. How long had it been since she had a moment with him like this? Far too long to count.

She stayed like this kissing him for a long moment, but she finally pulled back and shook her head.

"I think there is something inside me… a real monster, that wants to awaken.. And I think that's connected to the mystic gods plans as well as Catrina being the one needed to open the door to the realm of light" she gripped her necklace.

"That's what I feared, and I have a feeling we are about to find out the truth about their plans…"

Kumiko was lying on a bed insideof Yuna's tent, trembling in pain. She could hear voices inside her talking to her. Roxas held onto her hand sighing sadly worried now to find out what the Mystic Gods will do now. Knowing that another Princess of Light has been found. Roxas stared down at her sadly, and closed his eyes.

Catrina was still tied in her chains, she had given up crying and trying to break free. The only noise she could hear in the room is her own breathing, the girl that looked exactly like her trembled silently in the corner.

After a long period of silence, she could hear footsteps coming to the door of the cell. She slowly lifted her head, her eyes widened surprised to see who it was.

"L-Lentis…" she smiled weakly, slowly moving to try and move over to her.

Lentis looked at her seriously, walking across the wet cold floor towards Catrina's weak fragile form. She could tell Catrina had not a lot of time left to live, how much longer would it be till her heart broke apart.

She looked at Tisha, the huge difference between them both.. As Catrina got weaker the stronger Tisha got, her empty body just containing all the precious memories Catrina was losing.

"Lentis, I-is it true… what he said was a lie.. About finding my parents, wasn't it…. Please tell me the truth…" she sobbed, gripping onto her coat.

"So, you finally caught on.. As much as Namine's power is greatly powerful on you… managed to break away from a terrible fate almost.." she pulled out a key, unlocking Catrina's chains.

"My parents… I want to find them… I've done nearly all you asked, I want to find them Lentis please.." she sobbed. She was pulled to her feet.

Catrina trembled as she stood on her feet, after so long. A huge weight felt was on her shoulders. Lentis walked over towards Tisha unchaining her and grabbed them both.

"Lentis.. Please.. Don't do this! I thought you were my best friend!" Catrina cried out to her.

Lentis hissed when she said that, deep down her heart was full of pain for hurting Catrina like this after being around her for all this time.

"Tough luck on you Catrina, we were never best friends.." she smirked darkly, trying to keep her calm. Knowing if Voltic saw her slip up any further then their plans for all these years were for nothing.

Catrina's eyes widened, a part of her inside suddenly broke. Tears escaped her eyes, as she felt everything inside her was already dead inside. Tisha glared sadly at Catrina, the weak fool. This was all her fault now, they were so close to opening the door to the door.

She dragged them both into the main dark hall, 3 other members in black hoods were standing in the room. Waiting as the centre of the floor glowed cause of these markings carved into the ground.

Namine was on her knees, Kairi was gripping onto her blond hair tightly so she wouldn't move or try to run away. Namine trembled in front of her sketch pad slowly turning and looking at her somebody.

"K-Kairi… please snap out of it…" she winced, but Kairi slammed her onto the floor.

"Sorry Namine… but its high time both Marina and Ruri pay for taking them both away from us… don't you agree?" Kairi smirked darkly, her eyes glowing with hatred down at Namine.

"No… this is wrong… Sora and Roxas wouldn't want this, neither does Riku!" she sniffed and looked up ahead.

Lentis stopped ahead of the markings on the floor, throwing both the girls onto the floor.

Voltic was sitting on his thrown, looking at a silver necklace in his hand with interest remembering something of his past younger years.

'Voltic how can you betray me like this? We're meant to protect the worlds together!'

Her voice always echoed his mind, licking his lips at her final moments before she died.

"Dear little sister… great times, great times…" he whispered to himself.

His demon eyes looked back towards both Catrina and Tisha that were before him, he smirked evilly and stood up from his thrown stepping over towards them.

"Dear little Catrina, my little niece.. We've both worked so hard together these last few months, the progress has been so amazing with your help.. Let me personally thank you" he knelt down in front of her.

Catrina glared at him, and summoned her Keyblade to slash at him. His reflex's were pretty quick. His hand was grabbing onto her elbow, twisting it backwards and if he pushed it further back it probably would break.

"L-Let go.. It hurts!" she screamed out. Tisha pushed herself up weakly looking at her true self the mistakes she has caused.

Tisha glared at Voltic herself now, wondering why he needed her here. She hated Ruri for making such a horrid deal with him. She gave her up to the Mystic Gods and in return she was going to be able to get the pleasure of killing Marina herself.

"Don't worry.. It won't hurt for too long…" he threw Catrina back down onto the floor.

He stepped over to Kairi and Namine, and glanced at Namine.

"You know what's next… awaken her true power Namine…"

Namine glared at him, biting her lip knowing the boys will never forgive her.

Specially for what is to come, she grabbed her sketch pad and pencil closing her eyes and started to draw.

TO BE CONTINUED.