'I never wanted this to happen,' Riku thought as the darkness surrounded him. He closed his eyes tightly, holding Kairi close. She was frightened; she never traveled through the darkness before. It was the only way Riku knew how to travel without a ship. He had opened the door in the secret place, Kairi had been too close and then they darkness took him and took Kairi as well.

'But I want to look for Sora too. I can help,'

'No. You have no power or fighting skill. You wouldn't be of any help.'

'Riku, please. I can learn. Look!'

'They're just sparks. You're not even close to learning a thunder spell.'

'I can learn!'

'Kairi, no. This could be dangerous. I have no time to train you in magic and you don't know how to use a weapon, let alone own one.'

'Let me go with you.'

'I can't. . . .'

'Riku. . . . The darkness. . . .'

Kairi shuddered and hid her face against Riku. He looked down at her, wondering what she was thinking. He had never been frightened of the darkness; it always seemed to call to him. Kairi, though, had a pure heart which was something the darkness and Heartless alike loved. If it wasn't for Riku, Kairi would be gone once more and there would be no reason for him to find Sora.

"I'm scared." Kairi whispered. The sound of her voice made the shadows recoil. In a way it was frightened of her. "Where are we, Riku?"

Riku glanced around. He could barley make out markings upon closed doors. "A place beyond the worlds. From here, we can go anywhere we need to. All we have to do is choose a door."

Kairi raised her head, slowly peering into the darkness. She saw nothing. "How can you see? Your eyes are healed; you can't see in this darkness."

"Some things never seem to leave you." Riku whispered. None of his senses seemed to change. He heard and sensed everything. Even in the darkness he could hear the Heartless in the distance; they sensed Kairi and they were coming. "Sometimes it's a good thing."

Riku held out his hand, letting the Keyblade appear. He felt Kairi stiffen and cling to him in fear. She knew something was going to happen. There was a strange chill in the air and the hair on the back of Kairi's neck stood on end. Her fingers dug into Riku's shirt as she buried her face into his shoulder.

The sounds of the Heartless grew louder; their clicking and strange way of talking to each other. Riku understood that nonsense, hearing what they wanted. They wanted Kairi, the one that got away. In a way, they wanted Riku as well; he was their leader, their guide to the other worlds. He had the power to take them any where and if he wished, he could.

"Don't let them get me." Kairi whispered, seeming to understand the Heartless.

"They won't get to you. Not with me around. We need to choose a door, Kairi." Riku said; panic was slowly inching its way into his voice. He forced them both to turn in the darkness, gazing intently at each door. There was nothing. He couldn't read anything from the doors. Riku had a feeling that if he opened the wrong door something would happen.

Kairi lifted her head for a moment and looked through the darkness. Something caught her, a small glow emanating from one of the unseen doors. She cocked her head to one side, squinting. The light slowly turned into distinct shapes; a pink moon, star, and sun. It seemed inviting and seemed to call to her for a moment. Something beyond that door was comforting but it needed aid.

"There." Kairi said, pointing towards the door.

Riku turned quickly and looked at the light. He breathed in deeply. "I can sense the Heartless there, faintly."

"There are good feelings but someone needs help." Kairi replied. She held onto Riku's arm. "It's the only place we can go."

Riku didn't reply, but he knew Kairi was right. It was the only door that was giving off any type of feeling and the Heartless were drawing closer. He had to protect Kairi; it was his fault he was there.

"Hold on." Riku said. He pointed the Keyblade at the door and narrowed his eyes. The light suddenly shot towards the keys, encasing it with a large blast of white light. "Let's see if this'll work." Riku said, bringing Kairi closer to him. Kairi let out a scream of surprise as the light slowly encased them both. Riku turned the Keyblade sharply and the sound of the door unlocking echoed through the darkness.

Kairi's eyes widened as the door slowly opened. The light grew brighter and soon she and Riku were hiding their eyes. She felt his arms wrap around her and she wondered what was going to happen to them. Then Riku was gone and she was left floating in the mixture of dark and light. For a moment Kairi thought that she would be lost in the darkness between the worlds, but soon the light encased her and she was forced to close her eyes. All she could hear was Riku's voice calling for her and the feeling of rushing wind whip past her body.

Forcing her eyes open, Kairi saw the ground above her and the sky below. She screamed, closing her eyes once more and hoping this was nothing but a dream. She heard Riku's voice yell out the words to wind spell and soon she felt her body stop. Kairi opened her eyes, only to find that she was slowly floating down to Riku's out stretched hands. She took them and clung to him with fear.

"Where are we?" Kairi whispered, looking around. They were surrounded by houses and the sun shined on them happily. Kairi felt a strange peace fall over her as she studied the inviting trees and the soft sounds of birds singing. "This place is beautiful, Riku! Isn't it?"

Riku nodded and looked around. He couldn't sense the Heartless anymore. He smiled to himself; they were safe for now. "I think we should look around and see who needs our help."

"Okay." Kairi replied with a soft smile. She followed Riku, watching as the Keyblade disappeared. "Riku?"

"Huh?" Riku replied glancing at Kairi.

"Do you think we'd be able to find me some type of weapon?" Kairi asked, fidgeting her bracelet. She smiled happily, masking her nervous look. "It would be good if I had something to defend myself with."

Riku shrugged. "Why not? If we have time, I can teach you some basic moves."

"Sakura!" a voice suddenly called out.

"Riku!" Kairi cried, but it was too late.

**********

Taigan woke with a start. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face, strands of his silver hair sticking to his skin. His heart beat wildly in his chest as he stared into the misty moon light. He looked beside him and his breath caught in his throat. Sora slept soundlessly, his auburn hair tangled around his face.

Images flashed through Taigan's mind as he slowly slid off the bed. He saw Riku and Kairi, floating through the darkness. He had the Oblivion; the Keyblade Sukai was supposed to have. Taigan shuddered for a moment as the image of the light taking Kairi and Riku into another world. They were moving too fast; the quest wasn't supposed to start so soon.

Closing his eyes Taigan threw his hand into the air and suddenly the Oathekeeper Keyblade appeared in his grasp. He turned sharply and looked at Sora; he was still sleeping. Taigan had the urge to run; to leave Sora behind and not drag him into this. He knew what Sora had been through; the pain, the loss, and so much more. He had been through the same thing.

'What should I do,' Taigan thought desperately. He watched Sora sleep and smiled to himself. He saw him as an innocent; someone that could do no wrong. Taigan knew that what he had done to Sora couldn't be taken back and that he played with the boy's emotions, but there were feelings about him that Taigan had only felt towards Sukai. In a way, though, he knew that it wasn't wrong, however he couldn't begin to explain that to Sora without everything coming to an end.

With a sigh Taigan placed the Keyblade on a bedside table and slowly crawled onto the bed. He sat beside Sora's sleeping form and watched him. He smiled to himself; he knew that the boy had emotions for his friend, for himself even. Only in those instances the night before was he able to confess them. Taigan knew that what ever would happen he had to protect Sora so he could see his friends, and so that he, too, can find his own.

Sora stirred and rolled over, the sheets entangling themselves around him. Taigan reached out and let his fingers trail lightly over his soft face. They both missed their friends; Sora missing Riku more than Kairi and Taigan wanting only to find Sukai before anyone else did. In a way, they needed each other; they were substitutes for the actual person but Taigan saw it differently.

With a sudden gasp Sora's eyes flew open. He clawed franticly at the bed and sat up, seeming to fall into Taigan's arms instinctively. His heart raced within his chest and he closed his for a moment. Taigan held Sora for a moment, his own heart racing as Sora wrapped his arms around him in return. The two held each other in silence, both wondering what the other was thinking.

"Are you okay?" Taigan whispered, slowly pulling away.

Sora gave a curt nod. He raised his eyes and paused as they came to Taigan's. "It was just a bad dream." His eyes began to wander once more and suddenly came across the Keyblade. Sora's breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened. "Is that. . . ."

"Yes." Taigan whispered. He sighed and watched as Sora crawled over his legs to get to the weapon. "I found it. I had a feeling it belonged to you."

"Where was it?" Sora whispered, swinging the weapon around, slowly remembering how to use it.

Taigan looked at his hands. He wanted to tell him the truth, but couldn't. "On the beach, earlier today when I was with Betsuri. We saw it tangled in a mass of seaweeds. It looks like it got here long before you did."

Sora nodded and let the weapon disappear. "I lost it in a battle; I don't know how though. Than I lost myself when the. . . . When my opponents cast a spell over me and my friends. I don't know what happened to them."

With a smile Taigan slid off the bed and stood in front of Sora. He placed a hand on his shoulder and stared into his eyes. "What would you say if I told you we can leave this world?"

"You have to be joking?" Sora breathed, his eyes growing wider.

Taigan shook his head with a smile. "Betsuri found a door in the woods; near the area we found your weapon. She read its power and could only figure out that it lead somewhere. Maybe another world."

Sora's eyes sparkled with joy. "If we can get to another world we can go look for Riku and Kairi." He paused for a moment and turned his eyes away. With a new smile Sora looked back at Taigan. "We can even look for your friend. It's the least I can do since you're agreeing to help me."

"Thank you." Taigan whispered. He let his hand drop from Sora's shoulder. "Well, I think we should get ready, don't you?"

"No." Sora said. He suddenly grabbed Taigan and hugged him tightly. Tears were slowly forming is his eyes. "Not yet."

Taigan froze as he felt Sora kiss his neck. "Wh-why not?" he asked, rather surprised at Sora's sudden burst of emotions.

Sora looked up into Taigan's eyes and smiled softly. "Let's wait until morning. We need our rest."

"Well," Taigan said with a nervous laugh and a smile. "for a second there I had feeling you had something else on your mind." Sora blushed and turned away quickly. Taigan snickered and wrapped his arms around the boy's waist. "I never said that was a bad thing, now did I?" he asked, planting a kiss on Sora's neck.

"I. . . . I, uh. . . ." Sora stammered, unable to find words.

Taigan took Sora by the hand and lead him to the bed. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hold you to any thing." he whispered. The two climbed into the bed and held each other, Sora hiding his face against Taigan's neck. Soon both were asleep, Taigan's arms wrapped around Sora and the younger boy dreaming of his friend.