RikkuFF10- OK, next chapter. Thanks for the reviews…new reviewer, Sycogerl64! Thanks man! Read and enjoy…that's all I have to say.

Cloud- Wow, what a first. She hardly has anything to say.

RikkuFF10- hey, it's not everyday I get inspired to write…and after that you don't know what to say!

Cloud- grins- Yeah, whatever. Read and enjoy. * Shrugs * I can't think of anything, ok ?!

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~ Kairi ~

Kairi woke up with a hand on her head. She had woken up hazily a few times before, but every time she tried to hang onto her consciousness, she was too weak from her pain, and sank back below the darkness. This time though, she could just grasp hold of reality and broke herself free from the tight grip of sleep.

'Where am I? Ow, it hurts to think…but when I ran out before…to save the paopu tree! Hey…but that must have been…ages ago? I can't…Sora…Riku…' Kairi's thoughts whispered in her mind softly, her energy diminishing with every confused thought. She sat up, looking at the torn fabric of her skirt, and the cold black marble she was lying on. The air around her was a transparent black, so that she could hardly see a metre from herself. She kept her hand on her head, and shakily stood up.

'Don't even try, little girl. There's no point. You might as well save your energy…there's no way you're getting out of here ANYWAY. You're a prisoner…or shall I say bait? You're friends are much too loyal… one reason why I say having friends is a load of rubbish! You just get into trouble! MWAHAHAHAHAH!!!'

The cold laughter rang through Kairi's head, causing her to wince in pain.

'STOP! STOP IT! IT HURTS…YOU'RE WRONG! WHERE AM I? GET ME OUTTA HERE! NOW!'

'Haahahaha… hurts, does it? Well it's meant to hurt! You can't do anything about it! Just wait…if you want your friends, your wish will be fulfilled soon enough…sooner than you think. So quiet down, girl, or you'll wish you never lived!'

A cold blast of wind blew Kairi off her feet, and she crashed down onto the ground, the darkness swallowing up again…

The cold voice now laughed softly, and whispered 'She doesn't know, but she's in the heart of the void. There's nothing she can do to get out of here… but her friends don't know that…' The darkness swirled around the Kairi, embedding her in the formation of a black heart.

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While Kairi lay motionless in the heart of the void, her friends were busy preparing themselves to save her and Sora. They were buy gathering essential needs, and with Aeris on the team as well, they had one advantage- she was an expert on the dark arts, and knew possibly everything there was to know about the healing of a curse- this was definitely going to be useful later on. But when Aeris was asked about this rare knowledge of hers, she was pretty secretive.

Riku- 'Hey Aeris, I don't get it…you said you worked on that holiday vacation resort thing, right? Then how didya know about the dark arts and stuff? Wouldn't really be in your field, right?'

Aeris- fidgeting with her long hair- ' Well…I guess I always thought there was going to be some day when all this will come in useful…at first I thought it's just wishful thinking, but who knows what can happen? I mean, look at this! Finally a chance for me to use my knowledge. You never know…see?' Aeris winked at Riku, shrugging off all the suspicion that lingered towards her mysterious interest.

Their 'great plan' was to join Sora in the darkness that had swallowed him- in the same way he got in. But as Tidus said, it was going to be hard to keep them all together. Kairi and Riku didn't end up together, so how could all five of them end up in the same place?

Wakka- 'Well, we could always tie ourselves together with rope- I know, that's not the smartest idea, but it is all we've got. We'll probably get pretty hurt after the dark void thingy blows us away…so we better bring some potions and healing balm along with us…as long as those don't get blown away…'

Riku-' Remember that voice I told you about? Well, I know that it's got Sora… and I can betcha that it knows where Kairi is, too. Who knows, maybe they ended up together…that'll make the job easier…'

Selphie- 'Yeah whatever. Come on, let's just prepare. No point speculating on what's going to happen when there's no way we could know anyway… so lighten up! We'll do what we can… and whatever happens, we gotta be prepared. So bring your weapons, and let's go and save Sora and Kairi. Boy, will I be glad when this thing finishes…'

Tidus, Riku, Aeris and Wakka- 'Yes ma'am!'

Selphie- grinning widely- 'I knew someday I'll be a captain!'

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~

They wait for the night, all trying to relax for what's to come. But little do they know, that peculiar voice has got something up its sleeves… it's got them right where it wants them.

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RikkuFF10- so… how was it? Weird chapter…sorta like an in-between chapter. But yeah. Please review and tell me bout it. Once again, thanks for that idea. Or else I just dunno what could have happened… heeheheh… I dun wanna think about it.

Cloud- yeah, who knows? I dunno bout you, but I know what getups she gets in her head…

RikkuFF10- Hey, what's THAT supposed to mean?

Cloud- running away- NOTHIIIIINNNGGG!!!!!!!!

RikkuFF10- grrr- Hmm, someday I'll teach him to talk about my head…

Cloud- from far far away- yeah…especially when there's no brain in that head!

RikkuFF10- WHY YOU LITTLE…(strangles Cloud around the neck)

Cloud- drawing out the Ultima Weapon- Hey! Chill! I was kidding! –puts back weapon-

RikkuFF10- sweating- hehehe….i knew that….yeah!

Cloud- snorts –yeah, whatever.