Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters that are mentioned. I do own Daymeion, Hikari, and Celest.
Author Notes: Just to not confuse everyone the time line of the story has jumped to five years into the future. Making Hikari and Riku 20, Sora and Kairi 19, and Daymeion 23. (Odd yes but will make sense later)
Legend: "word" = Speaking
'word' = Thinking
= Change in POV
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When A New Door Opens A New Story Begins
Chapter 4: Awakenings and Strange Meetings
Five years. It has been five years since I came back here to this island and I spent those years all alone waiting for Sora to fulfill his promise to come back to me. At first when I woke up in the secret place I thought that everything was just a horrible dream and nothing more. But of course realization kicked in when I went outside to tell Sora and Riku about it to find out that they have disappeared from the island. Yes, I remember that day clearly.
:: FLASHBACK::
Slowly my eyes opened and I found myself back in the secret place. I put my hand on my head, "Boy do I have one large head ache. What weird dream."
I looked around and wondering what happened. I walked outside to find Sora and Riku to see what they were up to. When I got outside I saw Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka talking then suddenly look up at me with strange looks of sadness mixed with pity. "Um hey what's up? Have you seen Sora and Riku anywhere?" They looked at each other and then Selphie came up to me and said, "Kairi don't you remember? Sora and Riku were lost in that storm last night." "Storm?" I questioned and then I realized that the dream I had wasn't a dream after all. I shook my head my eyes were full of tears as I remembered exactly what had happened. "Kairi I'm sorry I . . ." Selphie tried to comfort me but I didn't want it so I ran off back into the secret place. I think that she tried to follow me but Wakka stopped her from doing so.
Back in the secret place I was sitting against a rock crying with no signs of stopping. I looked up and saw the picture of Sora and me that we drew when we were little but now it's somewhat different then last time I saw it. I got up to get a closer look and gasped for I saw in front of me was Sora scribbling a picture of a hand holding a paopu fruit. I was going to touch his shoulder when he turned around and smiled at me then disappeared. I giggled as a few tears escaped down my cheeks and knelt down grabbing a rock and began to draw the same thing that Sora drew on the other side of the picture. I smiled at what I did and went outside and found out that it was night. I walked to the dock and took another look at the sky and whispered, "Sora you better keep your promise."
:: END FLASHBACK::
I smiled at the memory, 'I have surly changed a lot since then.' I thought as I recalled that a few days I began to train myself so I would get stronger just in case it happens again. This time around I am not going to play the damsel in distress. Yes, when that time comes I will fight.
I got up from my island, okay it was Riku's island but as of late I claimed it as my own, walked down the bridge and went through the shack then walked down the beach towards the dock.
Walking down the beach I began to think about things that I normally don't even consider or want to think about, like was this truly over or is there more to it then that. My mind said yes but my heart kept on saying no I sighed and looked up at the sky. My eyes widened and I gasped for what I saw was a star beginning to fall out of the night sky. I shook my head and looked looked back up at the sky again to find that I wasn't seeing things. Finally I found my voice, "What?!"
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I ran out of the main hall and onto the balcony and saw that Neo Sephero was crumbling and the Heartless were everywhere, "I don't understand I thought they were destroyed five years ago by the Keyblade Master!" I ran back in looking for Daymeion hoping that he can give me the answer that I seek.
I ended up finding him in the entrance hall fighting off the Heartless. So I drew out my StarBlade and joined him in the fight. "Daymeion what's going on? I thought these things were gone for good." One of the Heartless tried to sneak up behind me but I noticed it in the last second and destroyed it in one sweep. Daymeion jump back to the right of me "Well Hikari it seems that someone has opened the door to their world again." I looked at him, "But why now after all these years?" He took a quick glance at me and answered, "I don't know Hikari. I really don't know."
The fight lasted for an hour but it wasn't in our favor. They were coming more rapidly through the door over whelming us. "It's no use we have to get out of here." Daymeion said and grabbed my arm and pulled me out into the main hall. "Where are we going Daymeion?" I asked as we ran up the stairs that lead to the tower where the seeing stone was being kept. "We're heading for the tower there is something inside that will help you escape this dying world," he answered never turning his head to look at me. So I decided not to ask anymore questions until we get to wherever my brother is leading me to.
It took us a good ten minutes to get to the tower. After we ran in my brother shut the door and barricades it with a bunch of logs that were use for the fireplace. He turned back to me, "That won't hold them off for long. We better hurry Hikari."
"With what you still haven't told me what's in here that will give us a way to escape," I asked while looking around trying to find that particular object.
Daymeion walked up and passed me to a curtain that was a few feet away. He pulled it back revealing the Keyhole to this wold. My eyes widened and I gasped at the site because I never knew that the Keyhole was here in the castle tower. "How?" was the only thing that I could say. Daymeion smiled at my reaction to this little discovery, "I found this five years ago when you went off into the world of darkness to try to save that young man."
I couldn't say anything about this until I finally got out of the state of shock, "So how will the Keyhole help?" Daymeion smirked and replied, "Well you can channel your hearts power through the Keyhole to travel to another world before it's to late." I looked at him with untrusting eyes, 'I know he is my brother but something about all of this doesn't seem right. I mean it seems he has been planning this all along."
Then all of a sudden there was a loud bang against the door and the logs were beginning to break. "Hikari, we can't wait any longer go!", said Dameion as he was staring to walk towards me. "But what about. . ." I wasn't able to finish my sentence since he pushed me back and I fell against the Keyhole. It began to glow and the Heartless that were outside finally broke the door down. Daymeion turned and drew out his sword and charged at them. "Daymeion!!" I cried before I was blinded by the light and darkness.
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I just stood there watching as Hikari vanish out of this world. I turned to the Heartless; "You fulfilled your purpose now leave here at once." The Heartless heeded my command and disappeared.
"Is everything going according to plan?" said a voice behind me. "Yes, My Lord. Now only time will tell." I could hear my master smirk slightly, "Good. Now on to the task at hand, the Light Keyblade has already chosen its master. Also I hear from my other followers that a strange young woman was seen in Twilight Town recently fighting against some of the N.E.O. Shadow Heartless that I created." Just then I could swear that someone else was in the room with us but when I turned to look I couldn't see a thing. I guess my master could sense it to and he also looked into that direction with a slight smile. I looked at him curiously then asked, "So what about the Dark Keyblade has that chosen its master yet." He looked back at me and answered, "No that Keyblade hasn't gone to it master yet because he has been unconscious for five years now." My eyes widened, "You mean it's. . ." "Yes the one who is destined to become the Dark Keyblade Master is Riku and he will awaken as soon as the Bear of the Light arrives in the world he is now in. Now I must take my leave. Farewell," and with that he left.
As soon as he left I ran towards the window to see if someone was really out there or not. I gazed left and right but no one could be seen but there were black and white feathers floating around. I guess it was from a few birds but something tells me it was something else.
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"Riku." I heard someone call. "Riku it's time to awaken, your true destiny is about to unfold."
As if obeying the voice I slowly opened my eyes, "What happen?" I got up out of the bed I was in and looked around the room. I walked up to a mirror and gasped. What I saw before me was a refection of my self only a few years older and I still had that black blindfold from that girl on. 'This is strange how can I see if I have a blindfold on?' I thought as I remembered what happened after Kingdom Hearts was sealed or at least I thought it was.
"Oh I see you finally awaken," said an elderly voice that came from behind me. I turned towards the owner, which was an old woman and asked, "Where am I and how long have I been asleep?" She looked at me and replied, "Well you are in Twilight Town and you have been asleep for five years today." I was shocked by her answer, 'Five years! Well I guess I know why I look older but it doesn't explain why I can still see even though I am wearing a blindfold.' "How did I get into this room?" I asked her. "My husband and son found you lying unconscious near the clock tower by the train station. They brought you back here so that you can recover and we have been taking care of you since then." I nodded my head and replied, "I see. Well then thank you for your kindness but I must be going now." I turn to leave but stopped when I heard her say, "Wait, before you go please I want you to have this." She hands me some new clothes, "I think these are your size." I looked at her and asked her one final question, "Why are you helping me? You don't even know who I am." She sighed, "I know that. It's just that you remind me of my son who lost his heart five months ago to the Heartless." I gasped, 'The Heartless! I thought Sora, King Mickey, and I got rid of them.' I looked back at the woman and softly smiled; "Thank you again um..." "Mrs. Hale" spoke the woman and smiled. "My name is Riku. It's a pleasure meeting you Mrs. Hale." I told her. "It's nice to meet you to Riku." and with that she left the room so that I can change my clothes.
Slowly and carefully I took off my old clothes. It was really hard to get my shirt off without causing pain because of the wound in my chest that was caused by Ansem when I prevented him from hurting Kairi. I shuddered at the memory and then was relived at the thought that he was gone for good.
After I changed I went back to the mirror to see how I looked. I wore a black sleeveless shirt, dark blue denim pants with a silver chain belt, and boots that had a slight heal on them. I nodded with satisfaction and sat back down on the bed and put on gloves similar to my old ones and then took out a box that was in the pocket of my old pants. I opened it and took out a heart pendent attached to a long metal chain. This once belong to my father he gave it to me on my fifteenth birthday he said that he felt that I should have it now instead of waiting until I turn eighteen. I smiled and placed the chain around my neck and went down stairs.
As I got to the bottom Mrs. Hale got up from her chair and walk up to me. She walked around me and said, "Oh good it fits you just fine." I nodded and began to walk out the door. "Wait. . ." yelled Mrs. Hale "You can't go outside like that its pouring rain. Here take this as well." she hands me a grey overcoat with a hood. I nodded in thanks and left to explore this strange new place.
'Mrs. Hale was right it is pouring rain outside,' I thought as I put my hood up. I stepped out into the deserted street and was amazed by my surroundings. It was some kind of city with tall buildings that had neon lights and large TV screens decorating them. After I got a good look at the area I began to walk down the street hoping to find a way back home to Destiny Islands.
After I was walking around Twilight Town I began to feel that the whole idea of me finding a way home was hopeless. I sighed and looked to the sky, "This is hopeless. Maybe I should just stay here I mean Sora and Kairi are probably better off with out me any way." "That's not true."
I spun around to find a young woman who looked to me around my age lying unconscious on the street curb. I quickly walked up and knelt down next to her, 'Who is she and why does she look so familiar to me?' I reached out and removed a few strands of auburn colored hair away from her face. She became startled by the gesture. "Don't be afraid. I not going to hurt you," I calmly told the sleeping woman.
"You won't but I will!" spoke a harsh sounding voice coming from behind me.
I turned around and found a hooded man stand there. "Who are you?" I asked in a demanding tone. The man smirked, "That's none of your business. Now I will spare your life if you hand over the woman to me." I look down at her then back up to the man and replied, "If you want her you will have to go through me." I stood up and approached him showing no fear. The strange man seemed agitated at my remark, "It seems that you misunderstood me. Hand her over or else!" "Or else what," I smirked slightly. He drew a long sword out, "Or else I will kill you."
The hooded man sprang forth to strike but I evaded it with ease. I looked around for something to use as a weapon but as my luck would have it there wasn't anything useful. I look down in disappointment but I quickly dodged to the left just barely avoiding the man's long slender blade. Each time he'd attacked I dodged it with ease which surprised me a bit and also cause me to suspect that I'm not his real target in this little life or death match. I didn't dwell too much on this concept because I was more focused on what was going on in the present moment.
"You should just stand still so that your death won't be so painful," he taunted and a glare was the only response he got out of me. Again he charged at me but this time I decided to duck under his blade and knock him down into the ground. The man somehow anticipated my move and before I knew it his sword was force into my right shoulder and sending me into the ground as well. I quickly got up and ran a few feet away from him still holding onto my now bleeding shoulder, 'Damn I almost had him.' I watched him as he got up and extended his hand, "TAKE THIS!" he cried out as two red balls of energy appeared. One immediately went towards me but after I barely dodged it I noticed that the other one was heading straight towards the woman I was trying to protect, 'No I refuse to let down another person like in the past.' Quickly I ran in front of her and shielded her from the attack. It hit me dead on but for some odd reason I was able to block it with this strange black light that appeared in my hands. With this strange dark light I deflected the attack right back at him. He was hit dead on and fell crying out in pain.
I was breathing heavily as I watch my opponent slowly get up off the ground. He glared at me then his gaze went to the object in my hand. "You?!" he gasped, "You're the Dark Keyblade Master?!" 'Dark Keyblade Master?' I thought questionably and looked at the object that was somehow in my hand. If I wasn't wearing this blindfold you could see the complete shock in my eyes for what I hold in my hand was a Keyblade but, it was different from the one I had taken from Sora back in Hollow Bastion. The hilt was the form of black wings that shaped into a heart and the color of it was black with red and silver in certain areas on the hilt and the blade. 'How could I still be considered a Keyblade Master after everything I've done in the past.'
"So my master was right," he spoke disturbing my current thought, "You would reveal yourself once that wretch came here." I looked at him with a puzzling look, "What are you talking about?" "Oh so you don't know who you really are. Interesting. Well too bad I can't tell you the truth I have to find my next target and capture her before she messes up my master's plans again. Farewell." He told me and then a black mist began to surround us.
When the mist faded he was gone, "Who was that and more importantly who is his master?" I sighed and walked back over to the woman I was protecting. Carefully I picked her up and carried her back to Mrs. Hale's house so that I can take care of her current injuries and find out why she looks so familiar to me.
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"Hikari, It's time for you to awaken and realize your fate." spoke a voice in my mind. Then a few minutes later my eyes opened and saw that I was no longer in the room where the seeing stone was kept in instead I was in a place that looked so foreign to me, "How did I get here?""It was Riku who found you unconscious in the streets and brought you here to my home," answered an elderly voice.
Quickly I turned around and saw an elder woman standing in the doorframe. "I'm glade to see that you are awake. Riku and I began to feel that you would never wake up again." 'Riku? Is that what she just said,' I thought then asked, "How long have I been asleep?" "For about three days," she answered. "Three days huh? Wait a minute what happened to my world?!" "Oh dear it seems the Heartless took over your world too," she said sympathetically. At this my heart sank, 'So it really has started again. If that's so then how did the Heartless escape and what happened to the Keyblade Master?'
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and I looked up at the woman smiling, "My name is Hikari. Um. . . Thank you for taking care of me." She smiled back, "It was no trouble but you really should say it to Riku instead of me. Oh I'm Mrs. Hale so you know." I just nodded then she said, "Well since you are awake I'm going to get Riku. He really wants to speak with you." "Oh really?" I replied. "Yes. He will be here in a minute," with that she left the room.
As soon as Mrs. Hale left I turned towards the window and became completely lost in my thoughts, 'Riku that was the name of that boy I saved five years ago. It couldn't be the same person could it?' I sighed and whispered; "I wonder what's going to happen now." "You know I was wondering about that same exact thing," I heard someone say from behind me.
I immediately turned around and saw a young man about my age. He had silver hair that went down to his shoulders also a blindfold covered his eyes. "Tell me what is your name?" was his first question. I didn't answer instead I backed away and went up against the wall. "Who wants to know?" I asked shakily. The blinded man just sighed and approached me saying, "My name is Riku. I'm Sorry I didn't mean to frighten you." Then he sat down on the bed only a foot away from me. "I'm not afraid." I told him in a strong tone of voice so I can show that I wasn't afraid of him even though I was a little. Riku just chuckled at my attempt and in response I just glared at him, "Well if you want to know I'm Hikari." "Hikari," he said my name like he heard it before. "Yeah so um thank you for saving me." I whispered. "No problem but I wonder how did you get there," asked Riku. I shrugged, "I not exactly sure. One minute I was fighting against the Heartless then the next thing I knew I was here. I really don't know what happened." "I see," he nodded and leaned closer to me. I could feel his gaze pierce through me even though he had a blindfold on, "So Riku are you from around here?" "No," he sighed, "I am from a place called Destiny Islands." "Destiny Islands?" I asked curiously. He nodded and told me his tale.
I listened and became fascinated by it but I also felt sad it was the kind of tale that you would love to hear if it was only imaginary and not real.
"So now you are going to go look for your friends Sora and Kairi right," I asked after he finished. "Yes that's right," Riku answered. "And you have no idea how you got here?" was my next question. "Yes and I am going to find that girl and ask her why she helped me, a person who betrayed their friends despite all the lies."
I bit my lip because I am the girl who helped him over come the darkness within him. I don't know why I didn't want to tell him then but I guess maybe because I didn't want to explain my reason for you see I don't exactly understand why I went out and risked everything to save him in the first place.
After a few minutes I noticed that he was staring at me, "What's wrong?" "Nothing it's just that you look so familiar to me." I stiffened at his response, "How can you..." "See. I'm not sure," Riku interrupted, "It's been like that since I woke up after five years of being unconscious." I didn't say anything then and neither did he we just sat there in silence.
Soon that silence was disrupted when we both heard a scream form the elderly woman, Mrs. Hale. Riku jumped up and ran down stair and I follow him.
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'That was Mrs. Hale!' I thought as I ran off leaving Hikari behind.
When I got down stairs I couldn't help but gasp in both surprise and fear at the site before me. The room was in disarray and upon further inspection it seems that a struggle took place. "Mrs. Hale," I called. "Riku?" came a faint whisper behind me. I spun around and found her sitting in an up right position gasping for air and in an instant I was right by the old woman's side, "What happened?"
"The Heartless came here with a strange man. He. . . he wanted to know if you and Hikari are in this house. I told him that you both weren't but, he was not satisfied with my answer. He began to search the house. When he was about to go up stairs I stopped him. The man told me to move but I refused so he ordered the Heartless to attack me. He never went up the stairs though which puzzled me instead he looked out the window, gazing at a few black and white feathers as they were floating around. He smiled and whispered something I could not hear. After that he left," explained Mrs. Hale weakly.
"What did this man look like," I asked half knowing who it might be but I was surprisingly wrong by her description. From what she told me it was a man clad in red and his face was partly covered up. Only his mouth and one eye was showing.
'So he isn't the same man I met before. If it isn't him then who could it be,' I thought then noticed that Mrs. Hale began to cough and blood slid down from the corner of her mouth. I gasped, "We better get take care your injuries." But before I could cast a Curaga Spell she stopped me, "It's no use Ri...Riku. It's all right I've excepted that fact it's time for me to leave and join my husband and son. At least I got to see you when you woken up...." Mrs. Hale took her last breath and passed on to see her family on the other side.
At that moment, hearing the kind old woman take her last breath of air, something inside of me shattered. As I held her body I couldn't help but feel guilty at the fact that she died because someone was after Hikari and me. As I knelt there in deep thought I noticed that Mrs. Hale's body disappeared from my arms. Now I stared at an empty spot on the floor and that is how I felt inside empty, angry, and helpless.
In one irrational move I slammed my fist into the ground muttering, "Why is it that anyone that I've known ends up getting hurt because of me?!"
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I couldn't believe or understand anything that I heard and saw in that room, 'How could this of happened and who would do this?' I sighed silently and whispered a quiet prayer for the kind old woman."Why is it that anyone that I've known ends up getting hurt because of me?!"
At the sound and tone of Riku's voice I looked up and saw how he reacted to all of this. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him from what I saw from his past it seams that he has causes a lot of pain and trouble for a lot of people. Feeling that I should go up and comfort him I began to walk towards to where he crouched.
As I lay my hand on his shoulder for comfort Riku immediately stood up and faced me. Startled, I fell back a step not saying a word.
"I going to find the one who caused this. Hikari I want you to stay here," said Riku finally breaking the silence.
"No way I'm going with! I also want to find him too and don't say that I that I have nothing to do with this. I saw everything I know that guy is after me too I won't let you go alone Riku." I argued.
He looked at me sighing, "Alright but please be careful I don't want you to get hurt."
I blushed and told him that I can take care of myself. Then we both left the house in search of the one who caused the death of Mrs. Hale.
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We have been walking around for an hour at least and there was no sign of that man Mrs. Hale described to me before she passed away. Walking up the stairs in one of the buildings I couldn't help but feel that something or someone was following us. My guess I could be the hooded man from three days ago or the one we are looking for."Now why did we come up here?" asked Hikari as soon as we arrived at the rooftop of the building. "Because this is the best place to view the entire city. Hopefully this will make our search a lot easier," I answered looking over the edge, black and white feathers floating around me.
Down below I saw a hooded figure. My instincts told me it was the man I fought earlier. But then it looked up and asked me something, in voice that can cut through the wind, that completely caught me off guard.
"Where's Sora?"
Author Note: Well I wonder who this could be and why would they want to know where Sora is? Did something happen to him? Keep reviewing and these and many more questions will be answered. Seeya Lady Stardust2