I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

My OCs © to me!

Other OCs © to their respective owners!

Chapter 20: Material Gain

Kairi swung around her new Keyblade, slow and heavy, but it could pack a wallop. She felt the magic in it once more. Releasing it, magic covered her entire being.

Zoraida figured out how to magically link the dress sphere to her weapon, so that when there was a specific surge of magic, such as the magic when the Keyblade changed, the dress sphere activated, and it also turned off when the magic disappeared.

So, when Kairi's keyblade changed, her clothes changed to a black sweater and leggings covered by a deep red coat with a dark red hat and coat front and white accents; her white boots had red accents. Atop her arms and legs, her keyblade changed into a set of gloves and boots over her own; power, strength surged through her limbs. She kicked and punched, feeling the power behind each movement.

Good thing she took those kick boxing lessons in school.

When her keyblade changed again, the gauntlets and boots vanished making a war hammer appear in its place.

This keyblade had one purpose.

Power.

But as it changed back, she saw the cracks in the blade and the chipped off portions.

"What do I do about this?"

Chirithy appeared before her, sighing. "Well, maybe you can send a message to Riku when Shadow gets back. He and Mickey got new keyblades, maybe they saw how it was done. Or maybe Master Aqua knows a way."

"No."

"Why not!?"

The reason…

"I just don't want to. There has to be a way for us to do it. Maybe the answer will come."

"KAIRI!"

"Ow!" Kairi clutched at her ear. "Phinehas? How did you get a comlink?"

"I borrowed one. But that's not the point. I found something! Get your rear over to the castle!"

Chirithy laughed slightly. "Well, looks like you might be right. I still say we should let the others know, but if Minister Phinehas finds something, we won't say anything to Riku and the others."

"Thanks. Phinehas, I'll be there soon."

"Great!"

"Minister."

"Oh hey!" Phinehas grinned. "Chirithy wasn't it? Always a pleasure to see a magical creature like yourself. But, Kairi, I found something. Your keyblade. It can be fixed."

Kairi's heart leapt. "Really!?" She summoned it. "Yozora damaged it yesterday. It's missing pieces now… Please, how do I fix it?"

"Ok, I can't tell you the how exactly. I can tell you what you need to fix it, but where to go or what to exactly do with the materials. No clue."

"Well, it's a start."

Chirithy hopped onto a table. "Can you show us where you found it?"

"Well, it's not just from one text. I found a collection of materials from multiple texts from all different times and locations I compared the materials listed in each one and found the materials that were similar in all accounts. Looks like there are a few base components, but the rest are up to you. Each one will determine the abilities of the weapon."

He laid out a piece of paper. "Those base ingredients, and even some of the other ones aren't cheap, and the only way to get some of them is through the black market which causes a whole other issue as it's technically illegal to buy from there. I might be able to get some though."

Kairi picked up the paper. "I've seen some of these ingredients before. Moogles back home would use this for synthesis."

"Yeah…" Chirithy tapped his chin. "So, all keyblades are made from a base of orichalcum+, orichalcum, and mithril."

"Mithril…" Kairi touched her necklace gently.

"Wow Mommy! It's so pretty!"

"It was mine when I was a little girl. It's made of a very special metal called mithril."

"There are many other materials here. Do you know what they add to the weapon?"

The minister tapped the paper. "Some. I'm checking on all of them, so you can make the best Keyblade possible."

Kairi let out a long sigh. There was at least some good news. And she wouldn't have to look weak in front of her friends…

Yes, it was a stupid and selfish reason to not ask for help.

But she didn't care.

She had a way to do it without looking weak.

"Kairi?" King Hayate walked in, smiling. "Good to see you again."

"Um, it's… nice to see you too."

He seemed to not remember the awkward conversation they had last time she'd seen him. "Would you like to join me, Dylan, Hoshiko, and Phinehas for lunch?"

"Sure…" Maybe with the others around she could get some support against him if he asked her again.

"Great."

They followed the king to the dining room where Hoshiko and Dylan sat. "Oh, good day Kairi."

"Good day." She sat down next to Dylan, who looked as thrilled as always to see the Keyblade wielder.

"I hope you don't mind us talking technical stuff, as this was supposed to be a lunch meeting."

Kairi giggled slightly. "Well, I'll just keep my mouth shut and eat." And that worked just fine as someone set a plate of salad before her. The four others at the table began to talk around her.

"Any word on the bride hunt?"

"No, Yozora isn't interested. And I've had many people, including Kairi, Aegis, and Magia, say we might want to hold back and wait on the marriage until Yozora is ready."

Phinehas nodded. "I actually agree. I mean, the whole thing about keeping the bloodlines of the maiden and champion going is important, but it's not like we're on a time crunch. Well, kinda."

"Kinda?"

"It's not the bloodline of the champion I'm worried about."

Hoshiko bit her lip. "You mean Fitzroy?"

"Yes." Phinehas slowly tapped his fork on the table. "Wasn't there some ancient law when this whole thing got started that said the bloodlines can't mix?" The others nodded. "Thought so. So, Fitz can't continue the bloodline unless we do the thing you've all been putting off since the boy was born."

This, peaked Kairi's interest.

What was this about Fitz?

Dylan let out a long sigh. "I hate to agree. I hoped that we'd put this behind us. We'll have to talk to Fitzroy first… because if he's my son, we won't have an issue, but if he's your son," he pointed at King Hayate, "then we have a problem."

Oh boy.

Kairi shoveled a forkful of salad into her mouth.

This was JUICY.

She wasn't a gossip, but boy this was interesting to hear.

But poor Fitz… did he know about this?

"I'll talk to Fitzroy tonight." Hoshiko said sadly. "Besides this reason, I think it's about time he knew who his father really was(1), if he wishes to know."

Hayate glanced over at Kairi. "Sorry if this is awkward. This topic isn't exactly a secret around the castle. Actually, what do you think about this situation?"

He wanted her opinion?

She had nothing to do with it!

"Please don't tell me you still want me to marry your son! I said no!"

All eyes turn to the king.

"You asked her!?"

"Why did you ask Kairi!?" Phinehas threw up his hands before walking off.

Hayate averted his eyes. "I just… look, Kairi, I didn't mean… today I just wanted your opinion, because you're a smart girl. And, while you may not marry my son, I didn't know if you would end up on my son's triad."

"When this is over, I'm going home. I have a life back there. Why do you want me here so badly?"

"You remind me of my wife… that's all. She was better at talking to people and understanding them than me. I know I shouldn't have pushed or assumed, but I wanted my son to have what I had."

"Tell him that," Phinehas strutted back, "when he gets here."

Hayate paled. "You asked Yozora here?"

"I did."

Thank goodness for Phinehas!

The king kept his mouth shut until the elevator dinged.

"Father!"

There he was.

"Son, there you are…"

Yozora stormed up to the table, flanked by his two friends. "Father! We need to talk!"

Dylan cleared his throat before standing. "We better… go. We can talk to Fitzroy…"

"Yes…" Hoshiko grabbed her husband's arm, the two leaving at a very fast pace.

"I best be going too."

"You're going nowhere, Phinehas!" Hayate snapped. "You got us into this mess. You're not going anywhere." Phinehas sat down slowly, glancing awkwardly at Kairi.

Yozora let out a long sigh. "Father, why do you insist on sticking your nose into my business and pulling others into it! Kairi has nothing to do with this wedding stuff, and I want nothing to do with it too! Why can't you understand that!? Why do you have to interfere in everything?"

"I just want to help."

"Stop! I don't want your help! You just get in the way."

Hayate folded his hands on the table, his face unreadable. "If that's what you wish."

"Good. We're leaving." The prince grabbed Kairi's arm firmly and pulled her away.

The girl barely caught the eyes of the king as they left.

Eyes filled with a deep pain and agony. Agony he didn't wish to show before his son.

"I can't believe this." Magia huffed as they stepped into the elevator. "He won't cut it out."

Kairi leaned against the elevator wall. "He said I reminded him of your mother, Yozora. And he wanted me to be for you what she was for him, either by marrying you or doing either Hoshiko or Phinehas's job in the future."

"Those positions belong to Magia and me. Yozora promised us that when we were in our teens." Aegis drummed his fingers on the glass walls. "I could see why he'd want you though. You seem to have a knack for thinking through things before acting, at least for the most part. However, you do second guess yourself, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I can agree that you would most likely be a good candidate for either a minister or queen."

That… was quite the compliment.

The elevator stopped, but not on the ground floor.

"Why are we coming here?"

"I just felt like it." Yozora opened the doors to a large room that appeared to be a private apartment.

Kairi followed the boys out, looking around the room. Tan colored walls lined with dark bookshelves made the central room feel more like a library than anything else.

"What is this place?"

"My room." Yozora ran his hand along a dusty bookshelf.

Yozora's room? It didn't seem to fit the personality of the young man before her.

"He hasn't lived here sine Frode took up residence." Magia whispered.

Made sense. This place must have fit his original personality. But, why would Yozora want to come here?

He just seemed to stand in the room for a minute, staring at two portraits on the wall. One of his mother. One of his father.

There seemed to be a hook for a third photo beneath theirs, but the frame lay shattered on the ground by Yozora's feet. The photo itself seemed to be nothing more than charred pieces of paper now.

Kairi approached him slowly, seeing his silver eyes shuddering with a deep emotion that she couldn't quite place.

But she could see one thing.

He was in pain.

Deep pain.

"You love your father, don't you?"

"I don't know anymore." He reached down and picked up a charred piece of his own photograph. "I must have long ago, but I don't know if I do anymore." His eyes lingered on the paper before he closed his hand around it. "Let's go."

They walked back toward the elevator, but Yozora stopped, turning to Kairi. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry about my father. He's trying to help, I know that. But…"

"He's just going about it in the wrong way."

"Yes."

"I understand." Kairi smiled softly. "I'm actually used to people doing that. My friend, Axel, actually kidnapped me once because all he wanted was his friend back. An extreme example I know…" She paused. "Do… do you guys just see me as a means to an end? Like, not as a friend but just as a tool to open the doors and then discard when my job is done?"

Aegis and Magia turned toward her.

"Why would we think that?" Magia shook his head. "You're a friend and a valuable asset to our team."

"Honestly," Aegis pushed his glasses up his nose, "you should know us better by now, or are you so full of self-doubt that you're putting it on us?"

They saw her as a friend. Even Aegis?

Yozora looked at her, his silver eye shining. "You're our teammate, and our friend."

Kairi lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

What was the king thinking?

Why was he so eager to help?

As Kairi's eyes closed…

She found herself standing once more in the castle library.

"Why am I here?"

Squeak!

Shadow fluttered down, a piece of paper clutched in one of his talons.

"Shadow! Did Riku get the message?" She pulled the piece of paper from his claws and read it. "He did! And… wait, they can see what I'm doing…"

She grabbed a piece of paper from the library table and scribbled down her response before handing it to the bat. "Take this back to him." She scratched Shadow's fuzzy head before the bat trilled and fluttered off.

"Father!"

Kairi turned. She now noticed King Hayate, a much younger him, sitting in a chair across the room. He looked up from his book. "Yozora, is something wrong?"

A boy rushed past Kairi. He looked… strange. His face looked blurred, with only a single silver eye visible.

"Father, I need some advice. There's this new boy at school. I want to be his friend, but he seems kinda rude. He always says things that make others feel bad, and he doesn't seem to care really. And he counts things all the time. But I still want to be his friend."

"What's his name?"

"Aegis."

Kairi blinked. "What is this?"

"Kairi." Chirithy appeared beside her. "Who were you thinking of when you went to sleep?"

"King Hayate… but I thought I could only see the minds of those beyond the door! He's alive."

Chirithy walked toward the father and son. "I don't know, maybe you do have the chance to see into the minds of those living here while they dream. Because this is a memory of the king's."

A memory. She watched as Hayate spoke with a smile on his face. "Son, you will have to figure out how to talk and make friends with many people when you become king one day. So, why don't you invite Aegis over and I'll show you how I make friends with people who are hard to make friends with. It'll help you."

Little Yozora's visible eye sparkled and Kairi could almost see a wide grin behind the blurred features of his face.

Oh, yes… Yozora's appearance changed when Frode came in. Now the king can't remember what his son looked like as a child.

"Great idea, Father!" Yozora wrapped his arms around the king.

Hayate's face lit up with joy.

The joy of a father helping his son; a son who looked up to and trusted his father.

…

A joy he could no longer find in his current world.

"So that's why." Kairi sat down. "Why he's been trying to hard to help Yozora. And I'm just collateral damage in his fight to win back his son. The son he used to have."

Chirithy shook his head. "It's really sad…"

"Chirithy, do you think we could bring the old Yozora back?"

"I don't know, but we might be able to try. If you remember this dream in the morning."

"Don't worry. I'll remember it."

She had to.

For the king…

For Yozora. Her friend.

"What about Sora?"

"I'm not going to stop looking for him, you know that. But, if I didn't take the time to help a friend in need, Sora would probably be disappointed. He always helped his friends no matter what. Even if it meant he was delayed in other things, he was always there for his friends. Me. Riku. Anyone."

She clutched the necklace around her neck.

"I may never be as strong as him, but I can at least try to act in the same way he would."

But how…

"Chirithy, we need to look into the dreams of Yozora's mother. She knew him before his face changed."

"That's going to be hard, you know nothing about her."

"So what? If I learn what I can, I might be able to connect with her dreams. It's the best chance we have to find the truth."

The dream eater paused for a moment before nodding. "Then lets do it!"

Things are going to start getting crazy from this point on.

I hope you're ready.

Footnotes:

(1) If you want to know if Fitzroy is Dylan's son or Hayate's, I've actually already told you. Hint, it's in a character's name.

VAs:

Young Yozora- Maxim Knight (Prince Desmond, Prince Zandar, Mowgli, David)