AN: Thank you for the Kudos on AO3! This chapter takes us through KH2, while doing my best to not rehash it too much. At Kairi, Riku, and Sora's reunion I was doing too much verbatim and had to completely revamp it to move on towards the end. Forgive me for my pacing, but we've all played through KH2 at this point hopefully, so here we are, as the Disney Worlds themselves just aren't a focus in this story. Please R&R!

We are growing ever stronger/The more we die
The enemy will never take us/Will never take us alive
Sometimes it's with our eyes closed/That we find our sight
Sometimes it's in the darkness/We see the light
-The Wedding, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
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The better part of a year passed.

Riku was still missing, and Aeros had started forgetting Sora had ever existed.

It was hard to keep track of, the days where the memory of his son's smile was vivid in his mind… and then two weeks had passed without wondering about him once.

But he knew he had a son. It might've gotten dodgy at times, but the deep ache of loneliness brought his memory back.

Ruki and Vale forgot after what would have been Sora's fifteenth birthday.

It wasn't until one late afternoon during the beginning of sunset that something began to change.

The Library door opened, and Selphie carefully guided Kairi into a nearby seat. Her top seemed a little dusty, as if she'd suddenly fallen.

Aeros's eyes narrowed in concern as Selphie looked up to him, "Oh! Mister Aeros, would it be ok if I left Kairi here for a bit? She suddenly just… fell over and I'm worried something's wrong!"

Kairi looked at her friend with a tired smile, "I'm ok Selphie. It's like I said… I think I started to remember something...or… someone."

Her friend looked down at her distressed before Aeros stood slowly, "It's alright Selphie. I'll look after Kairi. You run to the store and get her a drink and a little something to eat."

The green eyed girl looked between the two of them before nodding, quickly exiting the Library as Aeros sat across the table from the red haired girl.

Kairi fidgeted nervously in embarrassment, "It's not a big deal…"

Aeros relaxed his features and gave her a gentle smile, "Why don't you tell me what happened, if you don't mind."

Kairi glanced up at him, shock on her face before it twisted in confusion. She looked down to her lap before glancing up at him once more and nodding, "Selphie and I were walking home from school… talking about why I wouldn't return from the Play Island when I heard a voice." She paused to see his reaction, and after a moment continued, "It was the voice of a boy I didn't know. The name he called, it wasn't mine… but his words pierced through my mind and caused shooting pain. He called the girl's name, for... Naminé again and asked 'What's happening to me?' I told him that wasn't my name."

She shifted, glancing at him once more as he nodded for her to continue, "I then told him my name… and when he heard it, he said he Knew me. 'You're that girl He likes.' And when I asked him who that person was, he told me his name was Roxas instead. I begged him again what the name of that boy was, and suddenly a different voice cut through. The voice was different, but it seemed so familiar and asked in surprised annoyance, 'You don't remember my name? Thanks a lot!' I was shocked as he continued, 'O-kay, I guess I can give you a hint. Starts with an "S"!' Then, I woke up on the ground."

Kairi took a deep breath as she sighed, concern and sadness in equal measure on her face.

Aeros watched her carefully, "What happened to Roxas?"

Kairi blinked before furrowing her brows, "I… I don't know. After that second voice finished speaking.. I suddenly remembered, and ran towards the beach. I… had written a letter. I hoped that someday, somehow He'd be able to read it, so I put it in a bottle, and sent it on its way… and then, I said his name."

Aeros nodded, "Do you...still remember?"

Kairi looked down at her lap, taking her time before looking up at him strangely, as if she suddenly had begun to remember him in a more familiar manner, "So..ra."

Aeros couldn't help the emotion that breathed out of him as he ducked his head and nodded. Tears threatened to build in his eyes as he smiled grievously, "Yes. His name is Sora."

And that blond boy he'd glimpsed in Twilight Town. That must have been… Roxas. It felt… right.

Kairi studied him and almost began to speak as Selphie burst through the front door, a bag of snacks in hand as she quickly shoved a sports drink at her, "Here!" She was panting heavily.

Kairi flinched from the bottle but took it, smiling at her friend, "Thanks."

She turned as Aeros stood, immediately turning away as he went to recollect his whirling emotions. Selphie tilted her head before looking at Kairi again. The red head abruptly stood, "Are you-!"

Aeros paused and partially turned his head towards her, not wanting her to see his face.

She brought her hand to her chest and grabbed her tie, "Are you… Sora's father?"

He turned his head to face forward, away from the two girls as he nodded solemnly, before walking away from them. He let himself into the book return elevator before falling against the wall and staring at the ceiling, tears falling down his face as he grit his teeth.

The small blonde haired girl in his Dream, the one he wondered had ever happened, so small and frightened.

Naminé… thank you.

Sora wasn't entirely sure of what to make of it all.

He'd woken up from a long Sleep, his Memory fuzzy as he zeroed in on Donald and Goofy as they excitedly regrouped. His clothes were too tight, even though it seemed like they'd fit just fine yesterday... and then his voice.

No one seemed to notice or pay it any mind, but the way his voice had changed freaked him out.

He wouldn't let it get to him. It was his, it simply was something he'd have to get used to.

A small wave of comfort seemed to pass through him and sleepily squeeze his shoulder, a gesture that should have been comforting if someone had actually been there.

Sadness had begun to weigh on his chest as he met Pence, Hayner, and Olette. Waving goodbye to them as the Magical Train took them far away from Twilight Town.

The Worlds had so many kind people.

Sora met Master Yen Sid, and the three Good Fairies gave him new clothes that held a special Power. The Master gave him a new Keychain as a gift as well as their trusty Gummi Ship.

The Nobodies, or Organization Xlll, introduced themselves in Hollow Bastion. Taunting him with words of scorn, and the name Roxas. The one member who'd been hit by the defense system and juggled in the air for a moment before leaving had been the only bright spot of that meeting.

They began to travel the Worlds, just as they had before with a new goal in mind: Stop Organization Xlll. Some Worlds were familiar, while most were brand new. All the same, Sora cherished every meeting, and lamented every goodbye as the Lanes were reopened.

He needed to find Riku, since last he knew he had been left behind the Door to Kingdom Hearts.

Kairi was safe on the Islands…

Or at least.

She had been.

Finding out Kairi had been taken by Axel, and then kidnapped again would have made him angrier… if Axel dying in front of him hadn't set a deep and heavy sorrow in his chest to the point of bursting.

As he made his way into The World That Never Was, that sorrow turned into a slow burning rage with each Heartless and Nobody he slew.

And then he'd been pulled into his Heart Station, fighting for his life against a hooded Stranger.

He'd felt achingly familiar, and incredibly sad despite his rage.

You make a good Other.

Resignation.

Sora sighed as he gripped his chest, before moving onwards as his desire to save Kairi compelled him forward.

His meeting with the blue haired member, Saix, only caused him misery as he showed off the bloated Kingdom Hearts. Summoning a hoard of Shadows to force him to bring it to its completion.

"Sora!"

He looked up, "Kairi!?"

"I won't let them hurt you!"

She had jumped and then disappeared on the floor above them as he had to return his attention to the swarming Shadows. He fought against the droves set against him as exhaustion set in. He'd been fighting for so long.

Suddenly, a bolt of purple landed near him, followed by multiple shots that were sent out, destroying the Heartless and Nobodies around him.

"Have you been a good boy?"

"What's it to you!? Show yourself!"

Xigbar laughed as he stepped forward, "Oh, it sounds like you haven't. Sora! Roxas!"

Sora looked to Donald and Goofy, "Roxas? Did he just call me Roxas?" The duck nodded as they turned their attention back to their enemy.

"You've really put Organization Xlll in a pickle. I guess that must be why the Keyblade chose you. But, man did it pick a dud this time. You don't look like you're half the heroes the others were."

Sora scowled, "Are you done rambling?"

Xigbar almost rolled his eyes as he shrugged his shoulders in boredom, "Rambling? As if. All I'm trying to tell you, traitor, is that your time is up!"

Xigbar summoned his sniper bows and jumped down from where he'd been standing. They fought long and hard until finally, Xigbar collapsed and clenched his hand.

Sora huffed, "Why did you call me Roxas?"

Xigbar chuckled tiredly as he glared up at the teen in front of him, "Wouldn't you like to know." His body faded away into nothing as Donald grabbed Sora's attention.

The quickly fading sniper chuckled to himself as he wearily made his way down the great halls of the pathetic Castle they'd called Home for so many years.

He wasn't sad to leave.

Luxu grinned as he thought of the small little crux he'd be leaving in Xemnas's plans. Nothing big, just... strangely convenient for the final showdown against his Dragon.

Sora might have been a dud, but he was still useful.

He stumbled, coughing with a groan as excitement spurred him on. He'd finally regain his body and the next phase of their plan would start… but first.

He reached an outer path of the castle as he looked down at the glowing outer circlet. It would be the perfect place to hide this little… present.

A gift for Ava's pathetic son.

He connected his rifle's at their hilt, lazily tossing them as they began to glow and transform.

Something akin to an airbike, emblazoned with the Nobody symbol dropped heavily onto the curving pathway. Slumping to the side as it awaited a driver and a passenger for its secondary platform.

Luxu chuckled as he began to fade away into recompletion, "Looks like my job here is done… Don't disappoint me, Sora."

His companions looked up, "Sora! It's Kairi!"

They turned and Sora clenched his hands in determination as he saw her struggle, "Kairi, we're on our way!" He ran forward, quickly going through the maze that was the Castle as worry clenched his stomach. Please be alright!

Finally, they made it to the place where she was fighting and immediately began to mow down the offensive Heartless. Eventually, the last of the group was destroyed and he waited a breath before turning, falling out of his battle stance.

Donald exclaimed, "Kairi! You were great!"

She turned to him in surprise, "Oh?" She looked Sora in the eyes and gasped, flipping her hair as she smiled and did a victory pose.

Sora silently moved forward, Kairi meeting him as he began to speak, "You are different Kairi, but I'm just glad you're here!"

Kairi smiled uneasily, not entirely sure what he meant by that, considering how much he'd changed as well but shrugged. "You and Riku never came home, so I came looking for you!"

Sora's face fell, and he looked away guiltily, "I know… I'm sorry-!" Kairi hugged him, the image of Aeros's distressed face flashing through her mind as jubilation ran through her at finally being reunited with her childhood friend. "This is real…" Her eyes burned as she held back tears.

Sora tensed in shock, before gingerly hugging her back, understanding she needed a more physical comfort than just simply seeing him.

Riku opened a Dark Portal behind him, deciding it was time to go so that Sora wouldn't notice him and his distorted features.

He just wasn't that lucky.

Sora pulled away from Kairi while keeping a firm hand on her shoulder as he heard Riku move, confusion in his voice, "Wait, Ansem. -I mean, Xehanort's Heartless… I never thought for a second I'd ever see you again." He fully turned and released Kairi as she watched sadly, "Just thinking of all the things you did makes me really mad. But…" His head dropped before he looked up once more with a smile, "You saved Kairi, right? I have to be grateful for that. ...Thanks."

Riku began to walk away as Kairi surged forward and latched onto his arm, stopping him in his tracks as she pleaded, "Riku! Don't go!"

Riku stared down at her in stoic frustration as Donald, Goofy, and Sora were shocked, "Kairi, what did you just say!?"

Kairi looked back to Sora sadly, "Riku."

Riku grit his teeth as he bit out, "I'm no one. Just a castaway from the Darkness."

Kairi felt a deep sadness as she turned to Sora once more pleading, "Sora, come here! Say something to him."

Sora couldn't help but feel utterly confused before walking over, Kairi's insistence being too strange to ignore. He looked to her as she grabbed his hand and placed his and Ansem's together, sandwiched between her own, "Here, you'll understand." Kairi looked to him, "Close your eyes."

Sora looked up at Ansem in slight wonder as he then bowed his head and closed his eyes, allowing his Heart to reach out to the man whose hand he held. Ever so slowly, the frustrated expression of Riku came to his mind's eye. His body was different than he remembered, but without a doubt it was him.

He opened his eyes to the annoyed visage of Ansem's Heartless as warmth pooled in his eyes, relief sending him to his knees as he gripped his friend's hand, "Riku… It's Riku! Riku's here..." He held back a shuddered gasp from the swell of emotion, "I looked for you!" Tears began to fall down his cheeks as Ansem-no, Riku turned to him.

Riku's familiar voice responded in comfort, "C'mon Sora. You've gotta pull it together."

Sora shook his head in rebellion as he looked up at his now found friend, "I looked everywhere for you!"

They exchanged words, Riku explaining why he had chosen to do things the way he had as Sora couldn't help the feeling of frustration that was welling up in his chest. They came to the resolution to complete their battle, to fight against Xemnas and end his plans once and for all. Sora finally learned that Roxas was his Nobody, remembering just what event had caused him to turn into a Heartless and how Roxas had come to be.

They fought, defeating Saix, Luxord, and finally, after finally meeting Roxas and Naminé, the leader himself Xemnas.

And then, Sora and Riku were trapped in the Realm of Darkness.