OMS. I am SOOOOO sorry I haven't posted this sooner! Not gonna lie, I completely lost track of time. I blame summer vacation. So please don't hate me!
How about I give you a really really good chapter to make up for it? Lots of action goin' on here- So grab the popcorn! ~KunoichiBlade

Disclaimer: KH belongs to Nomura... (for now)

Ch 9: A Confrontation

Manami roamed the halls of the tower, allowing her thoughts to wander. She was thrilled Master Eraqus was giving her a second chance and couldn't ask for anything more.

Shouting interrupted Manami's thoughts. Angry shouting at that. Manami listened carefully and followed the racket to its source.

She found herself standing outside Master Eraqus' office, muffled yelling creeping through the door that was slightly ajar.

Concerned for her master, Manami silently stepped towards the door and peaked inside. She caught a glimpse of Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort standing across from one another in the middle of an intense argument. Eraqus was on the other side of the room facing Manami while Xehanort was closer to the door with his back turned.

"Don't you realize how dangerous that is?!" shouted Master Eraqus taking a half step towards Xehanort. "The Darkness is not something to be taken lightly!"

"It is not something to be afraid of!" retaliated Master Xehanort, stepping forward himself. "If we can understand it, we will be able to control it!"

"Understand it? Understand it?!" Eraqus walked over to Xehanort. "There is nothing to understand! It is evil and corrupted, it should not be tampered with!"

Xehanort waved his hand at Master Eraqus. "Then why are you so set on destroying it?!"

Eraqus scowled at Xehanort. "I'm not trying to destroy it, I'm trying to put it in its place!"

Xehanort placed his hands behind his back and asked, "And where might that be?"

"In the Realm of Darkness!" Eraqus responded angrily walking back towards his desk. "Where it belongs. That's why it's called that!"

Xehanort shook his head. Manami couldn't see his face, but the step back that Master Eraqus took set off alarms in her head.

"You fool!" Xehanort exclaimed, "There needs to be a proper balance of Light and Darkness. In its present state, the Light is far too prominent! I am simply trying to even the playing field."

As Xehanort paused, Manami's view of Master Eraqus was blocked when Xehanort moved forward.

"And the best way to even the playing field, is to level it with another Keyblade War." he said in a low tone.

A disturbing silence settled between the two. But, the last time there was a Keyblade War-, thought Manami, everything was covered in darkness and it was what tore the worlds apart!

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Manami felt a chill run down her spine from Master Eraqus cold words.

"It doesn't matter if you will let me or not," Xehanort continued, "it's only a matter of time."

The two Keyblade Masters stepped out of Manami's view. She leaned her ear against the opening in the door.

*shing!*

Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. That sound. There was only one thing that made that sound.

*shing!*

There it was again. No. she thought. They wouldn't.

Manami opened the door a bit more to see it if was true.

And it was.

Master Xehanort and Master Eraqus had summoned their Keyblades.

Manami's eyes widened. Why would they pull their Keyblades on one another?!

Manami didn't have time to think. Before she knew it, Master Xehanort had lunged at Master Eraqus and the door slammed shut. Wait- THE DOOR SHUT. Manami grabbed the door handle and jiggled. Locked. She was locked out.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Xehanort summoned his Keyblade. He had enough of this mindless argument.

Eraqus summoned his Keyblade in retaliation, the silver box joints and copper rods glinting in the light.

The two Keyblade Masters glared at each other, neither moving an inch.

Suddenly, Xehanort lunged at Eraqus.

Eraqus swung his Keyblade up in defense and the "E" shaped teeth of Eraqus' blade locked with the spikey curved teeth of Xehanort's. Xehanort narrowed his eyes and Eraqus snarled at him.

Eraqus shoved his Keyblade forward, knocking Xehanort a few steps back. He held up Master's Defense, ready to block again. Even with mal-intentions, Xehanort was still his friend.

But Xehanort had a different opinion. Nothing was going to stand in his way of recreating the Keyblade War. Xehanort crouched and lunged at Eraqus once again, sliding his Keyblade this time along the shaft of Eraqus'. One of the curved spikes at the end caught Eraqus' left cheek, leaving a jagged cut.

Blood dripped down his neck as Eraqus leaned in and flipped Xehanort over his shoulder, where he landed on Eraqus' desk. Xehanort jumped upright and jammed his Keyblade down, this time cutting Eraqus vertically down his right eye.

Eraqus shouted in pain as he backed away a few paces, covering his injured eye. Squinting with his left, Eraqus managed to block another of Xehanort's attacks that sent them back closer to the door.

"Don't do this!" Eraqus shouted, "Don't abandoned all that we've worked for!"

Xehanort laughed and yelled back, "My work has only just begun!"

Grabbing his Keyblade, Eraqus swung over his head only to be stuck in another lock with Xehanort. Eraqus' eyes widened when Xehanort grinned evilly. Smokey black tendrils began to rise around them; Xehanort grinned even more wickedly and his yellow eyes burned with malice.

Eraqus shoved backwards, getting out of the lock before charging again. Xehanort side-stepped the attack and deflected the Keyblade. He took a swing towards Eraqus, the black tendrils swirling around him. Eraqus dodge rolled out of the way and knocked Xehanort forward with a heavy swing of his Keyblade.

Xehanort landed on one knee and skidded to the corner of the room by the window. Eraqus placed a hand over his right eye again and lowered his Keyblade.

"Please," he pleaded, "don't do this Xehanort."

Yellow eyes met grey; Xehanort broke contact first when he looked down as he stood up. Without a word, a Corridor of Darkness appeared behind him. Eraqus gasped, so it was true. He staggered forward but it was too late. Squinting through his good eye, Eraqus saw Xehanort walk through the Corridor and it disappeared into nothingness.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Outside, panic rose in Manami as she heard the clash of the Keyblades behind the door.

"Master Eraqus! Master Eraqus, let me in!" Manami shouted. "Master Eraqus!" She continued to struggle against the door. Kicking, punching, ramming into it with her shoulder. Nothing worked and the fight continued without her.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh—"

Manami froze in place. That was Master Eraqus that had cried out. It sounded like he was injured.

"MASTER ERAQUS!" Manami screamed. Tears were forming at the corner of her eyes. I can't reach him, she thought. I have to get in- I have to help him!

Manami could hear a bit of shouting behind the door but couldn't make out what was said. She took a few step back and charged the door. WHAM! It hardly left a dent. Manami could still hear the fight going on inside the office.

UGH. If only I had my damn Keyblade! she swore in her mind. It wasn't often Manami swore, but she didn't care at the moment.

Suddenly, everything fell silent. Manami stood still and listened closely. She couldn't hear a thing.

Oh no.

FIN

O_O That was intense, if I do say so myself. This is just speculation on how Eraqus got his scars; we know that its from Xehanort but we don't know the specifics. Have any theories of your own? Comment them below! Until next time ~KB

I know that we're 9 chapters in and anything Naruto has yet to be mentioned and you're probably thinking "Uhhh, where is it?!"... I am truly sorry for this, I did not plan on it taking this long in the least bit. But I PROMISE that it will happen in the next couple of chapters. Thank you for staying with me this long, I appreciate it *inserts heart icon*