KH2 Search of the Legendary Keyblades Chapter 2, a kingdom hearts fanfic

KH2- Search of the Legendary Keyblades.

Chapter 2 part a The Beginning

By Aer_seph4eva

Disclaimer.......

Kingdom Hearts doesn't belong to me, no matter how hard I dream or wish. If it did, Riku would wear black leather trousers instead of his blue stocky ones and Cloud, Squall, Yuffie, Cid, Aerith and Sephiroth would have played on your team instead of Goofy and Donald.

Happy Xmas, and New Year!

Hey everyone! I've updated ^_^ , and I think that most of you will enjoy this section as I have placed a balanced amount of setting for all the main characters featured in this story. It may seem a little confusing in certain areas. But all will be explained.

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Sora forcefully slammed his bed to the side where a small box lay in wait. He lunged towards the box and pulled the lid off in desperation, half ripping the cardboard in the process. His eyes brightened immediately as he saw the familiar insignia upon the envelope which bore the king's symbol.

"Got it!" Sora said with satisfaction as he stuffed the letter in the pocket of his shorts, while his eyes trailed across his room for any other last minute supplies he could grab. Rushing over towards his wardrobe, he quickly opened the doors and pulled out his favourite pair of black, baggy jeans and jacket combination and quickly adorned them, ignoring the fact that he was still wearing his shorts underneath, and that his torso was still dirty from sleeping on the sand.

'I need to hurry....' Sora thought to himself as he sped around the room, slipping his black and yellow boots on his feet, and pulling his heavy crown necklace over his head. He then turned around quickly and picked up a few of his leftover rations of food and items, stuffing his pockets to the full with potions, ethers and elixirs.

His eyes turned towards his bureau and he had to pause a moment as he rummaged through his drawers and plucked out all his collected key rings, not forgetting to pick up 'Oathkeeper', Kairi's favourite crystal flower, another vow that he promised himself to fulfil.

"This'll have to do," Sora commented to himself, as he gave a quick scan of his room for any extra items that could be of use. His eyes then fell upon his treasured shrine and the array of colours and images which had became the main focus of the room, and more precisely his most recent photograph of his friends in a group photo.

His fingers crossed the faces of his friends and noting their beaming faces and their beach clothes, which bared one of the most happy memories Sora had on the Destiny Islands. Even Riku was uncharacteristically smiling and that was one of the main reasons why the photograph had became one of the brunette's favourites. "Riku..."

Sora picked up the photograph and quickly stuffed it inside his jacket pocket before dashing outside the house, knowing that his friends were outside and they needed his help. His eyes flicked to the left at the sound of a sudden crash, and he felt the entire ground tremble but luckily, he managed to keep standing. Turning his eyes up to the sky, his couldn't help but give out a cursed cry of surprise as a harbinger of doom floated up in the sky. Tendrils of liquid metal seemed to seep from the core as thousands of shards of black ice seemed to fall from its centre.

Sora's eyes narrowed. "No... that's not ice....that's......Heartless." And to the brunette's horror and amazement, he watched as the dark shapes materialised into demons that he had crossed paths with before, while others seemed shockingly different, looking much more deadly. It was an apocalyptic downpour from the sky and it was all heading towards the island.

"Oh......my......." Blue eyes dilated in horror as the heartless seemed to spiral towards the centre of his vision and ploughed into the earth with a gigantic thud, creating an aftershock of tremors. The waves tossed and threw in their own wild fury, as if they held the awareness of what was going to happen but had no way to help. An explosion behind him knocked the brunette off his feet as he turned around to see shards of rubble and fire in the once recent area his wooden house once stood. He couldn't help but curse as he saw the heartless scurry over the destruction, there masses huddled into one form. One could have assumed that the shadow demons were a flowing river of black death, plaguing and destroying everything and anyone that stood in their path. Sora stumbled to his feet as he saw their glowing eyes turn towards him, antennae raised for the kill. He was about to turn and run, if it weren't for the sudden slashing sound of wind above him. And in sudden reflex, the brunette forced his body to the ground, ignoring the pain of the air being pushed out of his lungs as a sudden swipe of a sharp blade slashed at the empty space where his head was once held a mere few seconds ago. A few coppery strands fell to the floor beside him and the brunette rose his head just in time to see a Heartless which held the form of a man, fly past him before descending upon the sand, a few feet away from where he laid.

"Shiiiiiiit......" Sora then suddenly realised that at just the right appropriate time managed to dive out of harms way as a heartless resembling the features of the mighty 'Invincible', dived down towards him, blade raised to strike the final deadly blow. The brunette couldn't help but gulp as a pair of luminous yellow eyes raised up slowly to meet his, his face bearing no form of emotion as it rose it's sword up above its head, attempting to rectify his previous miss as it launched yet another slash towards the black clad male. Sora scrambled to his feet, kicking up sand in the process, in a attempt to blind the Heartless. The brunette, not looking back sprinted across the sand, meandering and turning his direction so that the Heartless would find difficulty catching up to him. Seeing the Paopu island in his sight where he had left Donald and Goofy, Sora felt the relief on his face slipping at the sudden feeling of deja vu which ran through him, of a time when he was much younger and more inexperienced in the time of danger. The beginning when everything and everyone around him lost their simplicity and innocence within the heat of change. He shook the thought away as he tripped upon a wooden platform, further injuring his damaged leg in the process. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet in determination, knowing that if he headed to the seaside shack, he would only be a few less obstacles closer into getting back to his friends. He couldn't help but feel elated as he opened up the wooden door and slammed it shut, taking a deep breath of exhaustion as he let himself have a moment to breathe.

'It's really happening. The Heartless are here...' Sora didn't know whether or not to be frightened out of his wits, or excited at the chance that fate had managed to give him yet again. The brunette bowed his head down to stare at the trickle of blood that had made a slow wet path from his knee down to his calf. The traces of sand which marred his leg from his earlier fall. He wouldn't have believed that his situation was real if he didn't feel the obvious stinging of pain which was screaming from his wound. Sora gave a small squeal of elation as he slammed his head against the wall, ignoring the scrapes, and the discomfort the position gave him. No pain mattered to him at that moment. Even if he was struck down by Cloud and Leon's attacks, he knew he wouldn't have flinched a muscle.

"Riku......Kairi. I can now fulfil your promises...." Sora whispered out to the heavens, praying that his two dearest friends were still waiting for him and believing in him.

His head suddenly rose at the remembrance of his other friends who were more than likely needing his help and his heart tugged at the danger and urgency of his position. Adrenaline seemed to pump through his veins as he started up the steps, trying to think past the idea of the Heartless which were waiting to greet him, and the lack of defence he possessed without a Keyblade to hand. Without waiting for a time to inhale a breath, Sora flew the door open, his eyes darting to and fro for the sign of an ambush. But there wasn't one. In fact there were no Heartless scurrying across the bridge. The brunette's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he placed his footing onto the ramp, eyeing the Heartless which scurried far below on the sand, unaware of his position above them. Hearing a shrill cry sounding from the island Sora rose his head to the direction of the sound.

It was then that he saw it. It was the Heartless of all nightmares. The very Heartless who plunged its mighty claws deep into the ground and could manipulate, mutilate, and manifest an army of shadow Heartless within a few seconds. And that Heartless...that Heartless was attacking his island......'his' island...... Sora couldn't help but let out a nervous chuckle of uncertainty as he took another step forward. It wasn't as if he was afraid. It was that the feeling of deja vu was becoming all too apparent for him. It was like being trapped in the past and reliving his greatest nightmare. The air even tasted the same, it's tension bearing down upon his shoulders. Its darkness trying to penetrate through his skin, chill his body, and freeze his soul. He shuddered despite feeling no cold, as he jogged towards the inevitable, bile rising in his throat at the sudden choking his emotion of belated fear. In his darkest hours, he had dreamt of this moment, where the mighty king of the Heartless returned to seek revenge. It was written in the hands of time that the Keyblade wielder was meant to be Riku, but fate had placed its dirty hands into the game of life and pulled the strings. Changing scenes, adding pain where happiness once stood, destroying bindings of friendship and tying it to loss and misery, for their own perverse and sadistic amusement. He knew he wasn't meant to be the Keyblade wielder, and now he was plunging into the mighty claws of battle, with no aid to help him except his will to survive, and the courage and determination to win.

The closer he got, the figures of his friends grew more apparent as their cries wailed through the air, sparks of fire seemed to dance from the mage's fingers as offence spell after offence spell was delivered upon the enemy before being paused with a defence spell. It was Goofy who noticed Sora first over the heat of battle, as his head turned towards his smaller companion whose eyes darted to the brunette before conjuring up a defence barrier spell, letting the power of Aeroga summon itself around the Keyblade fighter and heighten his will to survive. It's revitalising power tightened his crumbling defences of both the mind and, more importantly his heart.

Sora rolled out to the side, past the mighty fist which missed his form by a few yards. The brunette then meandered across the puddles of dark liquid which was seeping from the hole within the demon's chest which seemed like a childishly mishap with a heart shaped cookie cutter. The brunette had to give a small smirk at the thought as he slipped himself into defence mode, charging himself to the Heartless creature and defending his friends just in time. But Sora was unaware of the Heartless' speed, and in a moment, the brunette saw the demon dodge out of the way of his charge leaving him no chance to slow as he all but somersaulted off the edge, a heavy splash indicating his fall in the water.

"Sora!" Goofy cried out in horror catching his shield as it sailed in midair, jumping clumsily over the Heartless' foot and leaning off the edge of the island, relieved to see that his friend was okay. Sora all the while spluttered out water from his mouth as he swam to the outcrop of land which protruded from the island, where a ladder was tied for easier access.

"You're alright pal?" Goofy questioned in concern, looking the brunette over, noting the dripping bangs and the water which rose to the height of the teen's armpits. Sora ignored the canine, knowing that there was no time for a friendly reunion, as he reached for the ladder. They were still in a battle for goodness sakes....

Sora pushed back his surprised canine friend as he got to the top rung. "Yes Goofy, but we still have troubles on our hands."

"But it is gonna be a synch now since we have got our Keyblade master back!" Goofy exclaimed, reaching out a hand for the brunette.

Sora shrugged off the hand and the compliment. "Yeah. And what is the use of a Keyblade master with no Keyblade?" the brunette stated sarcastically, still keeping an eye out for Donald, who was still fighting the towering Heartless above them.

The dog blinked. "Huh?"

"I can't use my Keyblade Goofy. I haven't been able to since Ansem's last fight." Sora snapped, feeling guilty soon after. After all, how would Goofy know if he never told anyone.

"But.....Can't you do your summon-ma-thingy and get in in your hand?" Goofy questioned, scratching his head before yelping in surprise as a foot stomped just beside the side of his face. Sora couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"I wish it was that simple." he answered shortly as he pulled himself on the island, eyes narrowing at the lack of ideas that were running through his head.

"Then what are we going to do Sora?"

"I....I don't. kn...." Sora was unable to finish his last sentence as he heard Donald's guttural cry ring out across the air. "Watch out!"

Goofy and Sora both rose their heads instantaneously in time to see the Heartless' eyes glaring towards the two fighters, its hands fisted high above its head as if it were about to strike.

"Please Sora. try to summon your Keyblade." the canine pleaded, his eyes wide and hopeful, that the brunette couldn't help but feel guilt at his weakness.

"But I can't." Sora groaned, keeping his attention upon the Heartless standing above them, aware of his position.

"Please...."

"I don't know how..." Sora whispered to himself with regret, bowing his head down and waiting for the inevitable.

"Do what you used to."

"When I used to think of it, it would appear into my hand."

"Then think of your friends. Think of who you are fighting for. The Heartless are your enemy. Think about what they have taken from you, the problems they have caused."

Sora rose his head at Goofy's final words. "Riku..."

It then happened without thought. In those few seconds.... Goofy couldn't help but marvel at the light which danced in the brunette's fingertips as he chanted to himself with his eyes closed. It was as if Tinkerbell's had shined her fairy dust into the Sora's gloved fingers, and instilled her magic into them.

"Come on Sora. Try harder." Goofy pressed on, glimpsing for a second, a key materialising into the brunette's hands, before flicking in and out of sight. Perspiration glinted on the brunette's forehead as he tightened his fists to a point where his taut knuckles became white. It felt as if he was playing tug of war with another occupant who wished to use the Keyblade as desperately as he. But there was no-one who needed the Keyblade as much as he did right now. It was a matter of life or death... For Love or Loss. Sora couldn't help but utter a cry of surprise as an electric buzz passed through him and to his awe, in his hands lay the prize of his struggles. Coated in gold and silver, and bearing the symbol of the crown and the King, Sora felt the rush of relief and remembrance flowing through him as he eyed and felt the weight of the weapon between his hands. He had done it. He had once again gained possession of the Keyblade. The Kingdom Key. Ignoring Goofy's face of surprise, Sora pulled out the first random keychain from his pocket and clipped it to the base of the weapon, watching in remembrance as the blade transformed and solidified in both weight and strength, leaving a loose chain, resembling a yellow chicken dangling from the hilt of the blade.

"Cloud's keychain. Chocobo blade." Sora tested out the weapon in midair, feeling the power in his swing and the range of kata the blade could sustain and follow.

"Goofy, pull back Donald. I'm going in..." Sora commanded as he gave a small nod towards his canine companion before dashing towards the fateful match between one of his greatest nightmares. Sora's eyes narrowed at the damage his friend had sustained and he couldn't help but feel a wave of anger rush through him as Donald was still within the Heartless' line of sight.

"Hey Heartless. Yeah you. Forget him. Focus on me. It is me you want. Hey look. See my Keyblade! I'm gonna ram this right in your 'head' if you don't pay attention to me!" Sora gloated and snarled, watching the black, almost snake like tendrils twitch to the challenge. The Heartless abruptly turned in offence and this was the cue that Goofy needed as he helped aid his wounded friend towards the edge of the island, and to the safer area where he and Sora were once positioned. Sora was pleased with the damage that Donald had managed to create upon the Heartless, eyeing the smouldering burns from spells of thunder and fire smoking various areas upon the demon's body.

"I need to get rid of those hands." Sora thought to himself as he rolled out of the way of a fist which slammed against the ground.

"Too slow." Sora taunted as he rose his Keyblade and slammed it down deeply into the foot of the Heartless, who howled in surprise and tried to kick out in defence.

Sora couldn't believe how easy it was to hack and hack against the hand which twisted and turned in an attempt to attack him. It surely felt more difficult the last time he battled him. 'Perhaps my heart was not nearly as strong then.' Sora thought as he continued to relentlessly hack away at the limb which was lacking fingers and thumbs to even be called a hand.

The Heartless then decided to raise its hand up in defence but was unaware as Sora managed to cast a Firaga spell just in time so that the hand burst into flame, igniting the appendage with a deadly glow. It was a comical sight, as Goody Donald and Sora couldn't help but gape with amusement as the Heartless flailed its hand in the air, before diving it deep into the water below. This was all Sora needed as the arch of the demon's leg and back gave the Keyblade wielder a path to cross. Sora leapt upon the calf before dashing across the Heartless' back as Goofy and Donald watched in amazement as they watched as the Keyblade fighter sprinted across the wide expanse of the demon's back, leaping past its shoulder blade. The brunette landed upon the Heartless' neck who was still unaware of the presence upon him as he dowsed his burnt hand in the sea. Sora raised his blade high in the air with a deft swing, bringing the blade far above his head.

"Fighters of the past give me your power. Riku, give me your strength to do this." Sora chanted in his mind, his eyes falling shut as he guided all of his willpower into completing the kata he had not done for so long.

'Ars Arcanum.'

Wave upon wave of power surged within the blade as Sora dealt a merciless onslaught of attacks upon the neck of the Heartless, He was oblivious of the time, when his feet had propelled themselves off the Heartless and left him poised within the air. And then what seemed like eternity, Sora slammed his blade back down as a mass of energy exploded against the Heartless' skin, the fatal attack causing bubbles to rise across the obsidian skin, breaking through the hard exterior and into the fragile frame of the demon's spinal column.

The Heartless screeched in agony as he tossed and turned its head. Inky black liquid pooled down the demon's back and torso as it launched itself off the platform and into the water below. Sora could only take in a deep breath of air as lost his balance and fell into the water, hearing the cries of alarm of his friends above.

Kicking his legs to break the surface of the water, the brunette whipped his head to the form of the Heartless who was lying face down in the water, looking as good as dead. Wiping drenched bangs from his vision, Sora was turning towards the shore when the impossible happened. It came without instant as the sea waves oscillated to incomparable lengths, pulling Sora further out to shore. The brunette alarmed for his safety couldn't help but cough up a mass of salty sea water, which stung against his cut lip, his arms trying to keep him above sea level as he was pull further out, and no matter how hard he slammed his arms against the water, he could get no closer to the shore. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw the Heartless shift within the water and he couldn't help but gasp in shock as two bleary eyes, fuelled by golden fire turn towards him, wet tendrils splayed across his forehead as a shaky black hand rose upwards.

' A meaningless effort.......'

'It is too late......'

"??????" Alarm bells rung into the brunette's head as his eyes followed the direction of the clawed hand upwards, to the unforgettable ball of energy in the sky. Sora's mouth dropped in realisation, his mouth unable to create any form of logical thought as the darkness from the sky descended downwards towards the Paopu island.

It was if the Heartless knew that it couldn't win so it decided to play the last trump card it had. Absolute detonation of the island. The Heartless' form glowed once and then twice, and Sora swore he felt the temperature rise within the water, in the air, beating upon his skin.

Sky hued eyes stared upwards into the amber ones, devoid of emotion, yet he didn't know why, but he swore he could see a trace of a smile creep across the face of the fallen demon. Energy crackled between the Heartless' fingertips and it was then that Sora realised what was about to happen. Then with wide eyes of horror, the brunette turned to send a warning out to his friends. For them to protect themselves. For them to get off the island while they still could. But he was too late. As the Heartless let out a mighty shriek, Sora could only shield his eyes as he felt burning falling from sky. Black fire burned within his loins, stripping his skin, exposing wounds as liquid-fire seeped inside. It felt painful. Oh so painful to bear...It then felt like he was being compressed, his eyes closed tightly with the glitter of pained tears, as the mass of energy from the sky pushed deeper upon his battered form that he was unable to feel his nerves. His senses felt too weak to hear the sounds of his friends, losing even the ability to breathe.

'So this is the end. This is what death feels like.....I'm sorry everyone. Donald....Goofy.... Kairi.....Riku....So sorry.......so weak.....'

And as hazed blue eyes closed in what felt like the last time.....

Another star dimmed out of the sky....

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Aeris rose her head fearfully as she turned the next corner, sighting the luminous letters that were printed across the many buildings which passed her on the second district. Her breath hitched, knowing that there was a dark figure still following her from behind and she began to wonder whether it would be a better idea to take the long route round again or to go directly back to the house. A growl behind her stopped her thoughts from being processed and Aeris turned her head around slowly, as piercing green eyes glared at her within the darkness.

"Are you trying to lead me around in circles?" Although his voice held no emotion which could be identified as anger, Aeris couldn't help but shiver at the sound, which reassured her mind yet again that the man behind her was not a figment of her imagination, but as real as the cut on her neck. Her hand rose to meet the thin mar which felt rather disconcerting with how she couldn't feel the pain but could clearly see the damage as her hand retracted her own life liquid trickling through her fingers.

"I...there are fewer Heartless in this area." Aeris lied weakly, unable to face the swordsman who merely grunted in response.

"What would it matter? No Heartless would dare try to harm me," Sephiroth replied with a smirk before frowning darkly as a familiar looking fountain met his vision.

"And you would know that..." he finished harshly, Mako eyes fiercely glaring in the direction of the brunette, who couldn't help but turn her head away with the scrutiny.

".........."

Aeris swore she heard the crack of bones as the swordsman moved his jaw and she couldn't help but cringe in response."Take me to Sora now......"

"..........I..will...." She answered feebly, wringing her fingers against her staff, watching the muscles in her hands constrict and relax as if it was the most fascinating sight in the world. Twitching a lip up in distaste, and flicking his hair off his shoulder, Sephiroth's pose expressed an irritation which made even Ansem appear less intimidating to the eye.

"Then stop stalling. You are only holding back the inevitable...." he shot back, eyes glinting with the promise of a massacre if Aeris did not do as he wished. The swordsman watched the girl tremble with fear as she began to walk to the right of the alleyway before turning suddenly around and walking back in the direction of where they once walked. Keeping a tight-lipped face, Sephiroth strode on behind her, following her up the stairs and past various vacant fashion stores and through a pair of double doors which was labelled 'The First District' in an almost illegible scripture.

Taking account of the his surroundings for any form of a trap, he watched out of the corner of his eye as Aeris slowly drew the doors open with great exertion, that he pitied her to the point where he pushed her out of the way and pushed the door almost of its hinges. His fiercely attuned eyes searched through at the new area, processing the roads and the formation of the buildings in his mind before pushing Aeris back in the lead, relieved to know that at least the girl wasn't leading him around in circles. Following her down a set of stairs of the left, Sephiroth noted with interest a weapons shop on his right and to his left an oddly shaped house which resembled a toy shop, layered in a range of disgustingly bright and cheerful colours which went against the morbid aura the town seemed to possess. He first thought that was their destination when he saw Aeris walk in that direction before she turned a sudden right and went down another set of stairs. Keeping in tow with the girls agonizingly slow pace gave Sephiroth the time to administer his fragmented thoughts into plans bearing clarity for the inevitable reunion with a certain brown haired, Keyblade Master of Light. Aeris kept her head down all the while, chewing her lip lightly as she watched cobblestone after cobblestone cross her vision. She knew that she couldn't stall any longer and that she was running out of areas to traverse. All she needed to do was go left, through the other pair of double doors and she would be in the Third District. The other door towards to the north of her was useless as it was the exit to the town where a vortex led out to the other worlds.

'Hey wait a minute.' Aeris' eyes widened with a sudden idea.

'I don't think this is going to work but....could I trick Sephiroth into going through the other door?'

A glimpse behind her at the battle forged swordsman gave her little courage, but regardless of her doubts she passed the door on the far left and continued to move forward, Sephiroth still following her from behind.

'Surely no-one could survive being in space with no form of teleportation to a Gummi.....and if there is a chance that Sephiroth can be defeated....I must try.....regardless of my fate.......'

"............It's through this door..." Aeris said quietly, fearful that if she spoke any louder, Sephiroth would hear her lie. She pointed towards a rather elaborate door that the swordsman noted that he did not recall seeing on his earlier travel around the town. The swordsman's form turned sharply, eyes narrowing towards the direction of the girl's chosen path.

"?" Sephiroth rose an eyebrow in doubt and turned towards the girl.

Aeris uncomfortably rocked on the back of her heels, trying to appear as non threatening and innocent as possible, which was a hard task to accomplish when she believed that it was morally wrong to lie, since you would be only fooling yourself, and no greater good would be able to come out of it, other than dishonour.

"What are you waiting for? An invitation?" Sephiroth commented sarcastically, storming past the alarmed brunette as he rubbed his hand against a golden plaque, which had fortunately for Aeris, been rubbed away due to life's struggles.

Aeris remained glued in her position as she watched the swordsman take unneeded scrutiny towards the door, which held the secret of defeating the dark angel.

When sea green eyes turned her way, she swore that he knew what she was trying to plan. The silver haired warrior watched Aeris out of the corner of his eye as he noted the distance she had between him. "What are you standing there for. Get over here!" Sephiroth all but commanded with a low growl causing Aeris to squeak yet comply to his wishes.

"You first Cetra..." Sephiroth offered with unnatural sweetness as he grabbed the girl's arm and pressed her form between his and the door. Aeris gulped, shaking with fear. She was so close to defeating this monster and all that stood in the way was her cowardice of pushing the door open and pulling Sephiroth in with her.

"U...uh....O...Ok...kay...." the brunette stammered, biting her lip as her hands quite literally shook as she placed them on the door handle, the only barrier that stood between the endless abyss to the outside worlds.

"Stupid girl...." the swordsman muttered, moving the girl out of the way, before pushing the door open.

"What the.......!" Eyes then suddenly became aware of a spiral helix behind the door, and before he realised what was glaring dangerously in front of him, Aeris grabbed his leather braces and pulled him forcefully backwards, catching the general's psyche off balance. A swift kick to the shin was all the girl needed to propel the swordsman forward towards the core of the darkness. A ghost of a smile crossed the girl's lips before being instantly wiped off as a gloved hand launched out and grabbed the girls waist, using her as an anchor as he struggled to keep his balance against the strong current of the abyss.

"Le...Let go!" Aeris cried out in alarm, scratching and biting against the swordsman who refused to relent, his fingers digging deeper into her skin.

Aeris struggled within his grip, her arms chilled within the temperature of space as Sephiroth snarled with fury as he kept one hand held tightly against the door while the tips of his feet were held locked against the edge of the ground, refusing to budge.

"You wench. You knew this all along didn't you!" Sephiroth exclaimed in anger, feelings his muscles tighten in alarm as a torrent of black wisps of energy threatened to tear his limbs from his form. Aeris screamed and tossed her head to the side, tears spilling from her eyes as the strain of the darkness pulled against her torn muscles. The high blood pressure ever rising from her arteries, caused old wounds to spill over, screaming and weeping all the while to be relieved from such an agony.

"Let go of me!"

Sephiroth threw his head back and laughed, his grip tightening against the girl's waist that it was almost bruising with the tension.

"I don't think so. You're going to suffer as much as I will. The only difference is that I know I will be able to survive the darkness. As for you...You. Will. Die."

"No. Let go. Let go!"

"Then pull me out."

There were times in ones life where fate gave the person the choice to find out who they really were. Were they the heroes that were relied on in a crisis, or were they to become the hated cowards who shied away against the glory of honour, feared the idea of altruism and the chance of self harm and sacrifice for another...? In those few horrified moments of Aeris' life, the girl knew who she was. As if she were possessed by a stronger force, the brunette twisted herself in the iron-like grips, gritting her teeth against the onslaught of the gravity tugging her towards her darkness. Her attention of all other living things was lost as she looked into eyes of aquamarine, the hue of dark and vengeful auras within the very windows of the corrupted angel's soul. Was it such a great cosmic joke to grant the most beautiful and enchanting eyes upon the darkest and most vindictive monster ever to grace the universe? One who could never understand the meaning of life and beauty, the art of creation of aspired from rebirth and the nature of gods gift of hope? No, he was constructed in the fires of battle, understanding only death and cruelty. Where his life was forged from the beginning of life's downward spiral of disaster, and that the only form of revival and the cleansing of his world was through revenge, murder and sweet oblivion. But why did such an evil bear the curse of beauty? If one who was given one fine treat from the Gods, then there must have been other traces of hope within him. Something which could unbind such a tortured, beautiful angel from the clutches of his dark symphony of life, that Hades had made this poor silver haired puppeteer to play.

The movement was impulse yet she couldn't truly identify if it was the best course of action, or if it were for her own selfish needs. But one moment, she held her eyes locked up with the most enigmatic man from her dreams, and then the next moment, she felt herself crush her lips against the devil's sharp ones, oblivious to his cry of surprise, only to the slackening of his grip.

She tried to hold her thoughts back, realising how easy it would be to let go of life troubles if she only focussed upon the one soul task. As a slow hand parted from her waist and started to move upwards from her midriff before tracing across her ribcage and into the slip of her dress where her buttons had been lost, she suddenly pressed her hands against Sephiroth's chest and pushed. And with a cry of surprise, Sephiroth lost his grip upon the door, his feet slipping off the platform.

Emerald eyes dilated in their own horror, before narrowing darkly and with a sudden turn of events, and in that sudden fatal moment, where all time stopped, the swordsman grabbed the girl's braid eliciting a scream out of her, as she too lost her balance and collided into his chest.

"You're mine little wench. The darkness is far too good a death for you. When I am through with you, you will beg for the Heartless to claim your dead soul....."

And in those last few moments where she knew she was reaching the final chapter of her life, she saw was a pair of shimmering blue eyes and a slackened jaw of horror. A red cape tossing fiercely in the wind as a figure ran closer, his arm drawn out as her name rang from his shocked lips.

That was the last thing she heard as 'his' gigantic hands tightened around her neck, and pulled her into the depths of the darkness, away from her only form of light.

Cloud could only stare in horror, tears threatening to streak his face, as the girl he had only recently found after all the years of searching, was gone before he had managed to register Aeris as his reality...

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Peace. Utter solitude were what all souls wished to gain from life. And death. A never ending slumber where there was no strife, no bitter or petty worries. No decisions of right and wrong, and no worries of others. How easy it was to fall asleep underneath a sky which predestined emptiness like that of its colour. Empty barren lands, dark and unwelcome, yet eerily comforting to a soul seeking eternal repose.

That was what Riku had decided to become. After walking such great distances over lands which had no form or any sign of life, the lost warrior fell to his knees, and in steady breaths accounted his faith. It just felt so good to finally have a rest after all of the time he had. His life had always been like a battlefield where he had to always strike up a mask, a facade to others to show his strength, the limitless power and courage. But it was he who felt the most vulnerable in the dire times of need.

He couldn't remember the time when his eyes had fallen shut. Silver sparkles trickled down his face in relieved tears. It felt so nice, to not worry about what the others must have thought of him. Were they thinking that he was a hero, or just a selfish, ignorant creature? He didn't really care too much now, from the realisation that he only cared about one person's opinion on him, and he knew that in his heart that his rival...no his guardian angel was waiting for him within the gates of the light.

A soft smile broke across his lip as he felt his mind switch off and fall into slumber. That was, before he heard a high screech of his name which echoed within the atmosphere and the patter of running against the floor. Being in no mood to open an eyelids to what he believed was a figment of his imagination. Riku feigned sleep, as he heard the figure stop above from where he lay.

He heard another cry of his name which caused him to roll over to the other side.

"Go away...stupid dream.." Riku mumbled, wishing he had something to hand which he could toss out to get rid of the hallucinations within his mind.

"No.....go away........" Riku mumbled, swatting away the annoying hand that was tugging at his shoulder, and preventing him from falling into a pleasant slumber.

'Hey wait a minute. A hand?'

Blue eyes shot open immediately with surprise as they followed the white gloved hand to that of a dark figure that looked unnaturally familiar.

"Who...who are you?" Riku groaned, wiping the sleep from his eyes and sitting himself up. It felt like an millennia since he had properly talked to another and he was still unsure whether he was dreaming or not. But at the very moment he did not seem to care, more curious to the fact on who dared to awaken me.

"You don't remember me?"

Riku's eyes darkened in confusion, swirls of aquamarine blending within his iris' as his brain jolted himself with sudden realisation of the figure standing in front of him and he was none to pleased with the realisation either.

His eyes narrowed sharply. "What do you want....... Mickey?" he questioned in irritation surprised he remembered the rodent's name and more than peeved off at the fact that he was awakened from his dream that he wanted to have of his light.

"Riku! You wouldn't believe what I have found?"

"What is it 'this' time Mickey?" The teen rolled his eyes in annoyance at the last time he heard that line from the Kings mouth and the earlier journeys within the last three years in searching for the door to the light. All that ever gave him was a head-ache, sore feet and extra battle scars that he didn't need to have attained if the mouse had left him alone.

"I think I have found.....no, I know I have found a way out of here this time!" The King declared, turning towards his pocket and reaching out a rolled up note and passing it over to the teen.

"Oh really?" Riku forced himself to smile despite himself, sitting himself up as he looked up at the mouse adorned in only red shorts and accepted the item. Taking note of the red string securing the scroll together and the gold trim of the tassels, Riku untied the string carelessly before unfolding the paper which lay out in front of him.

'Ugh....What is this? I don't understand any of this...?'

Teal cat like eyes rose upwards to meet the King's in an almost mocking gesture. "So what does it say?"

"You don't understand it either!" Mickey exclaimed with exaggerated surprise, his ears dropping a little as he sat beside the silver haired figure.

Riku rose a mocking eyebrow. "So this was your great plan then?" he joked with amusement staring down at the scrawl across the page, having no idea of what messages the letter had inside. His eyes crossed what he believed where the key messages which was written in bold italic but he couldn't decipher the words.

"Hey wait a minute, where did you find this Mickey?" Riku questioned turning his gaze up to the mouse.

Mickey scratched his nose in thought. "I found a pedestal about 5 miles East away with strange symbols which looked like trees upon it."

Riku chewed the side of his mouth thoughtfully, looking down at the note in his lap, trying to search for any form of recognition within the jumbled black inked font. His face dipped lower as his hand crossed each horizontal path before freezing in place, as he stared openly at the word which he swore he remembered seeing.

'But where.' Riku searched his mind across his travels. 'I knew I saw this after I met Sora for the first time in that old fashioned town. Was it in Ansem's library or that place where that stupid God Hades lived?' Aquamarine eyes narrowed in concentration, clenching a gloved fist to his forehead in an attempt to clear his mind of irrelevant thoughts.

Mickey saw Riku's tension etched across the frown of the teen's eyebrows, bearing a pensive look which looked familiar to a image that the King remembered seeing perhaps in another time or place. He shook his head to rid the memory, more interested what the boy knew on their escape. "What name. What do you know Riku?"

Riku rubbed his temple, the name was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't understand why he felt hesitant to speak it. As if he wasn't meant to know this information or perhaps it was merely from his mind.

"I know I have seen that name before. But where?"

Riku concentrated again, trying to summon up the image of the place, but all that could come to mind was a sandy beach and crashing waves which was a memory from Destiny Islands and the sight of his mother and father standing upon the peer, staring upwards to the sky with pride. And in the sky he swore he saw the figure of..... The memory faded before he could comprehend the sight. Cursing deeply to himself with his inability to concentrate, Riku sighed deeply and gave a half hearted shrug of dismissal of his thoughts.

"I guess it doesn't matter. We have no way of getting to that world again..."

"But...... I can't read that writing! Come on Riku what did you discover?"

The silver haired teen sighed again, staring down at the word and the nine letters which stood out more than the rest of the words on the page.

"................It's pointless...it's probably wrong or something...."

Mickey's ear twitched at the sound of despondency creeping into Riku's voice, and he couldn't help but feel alarmed at the boy's attitude. He knew with past knowledge that the only way to survive the Kingdom of Hearts was to have a strong heart and a belief of survival, and Mickey knew for certain that if he did not help the teen, he may become fully lost to the darkness forever.

"Don't say that! It may be a vital clue!" Mickey exclaimed cheerfully, tapping Riku's shoulder trying to lighten the boy's mood. Riku frowned at the contact, jerking slightly away with the unwelcome touch, although he couldn't help but feel somewhat proud with the thought, that someone wanted his help.

".....Fine." Riku grunted, pointing down at the word, remembering soon after that he did the action that Mickey could not read it. "Does the name Sep...hi...roth or something ring any bells?" the teen questioned, studying the black letters as if they held a great secret that he needed to solve. "I think I saw it somewhere before, but it is probably just a popular name or something..." Riku continued, raising his head to seek the rodent's reaction of findings.

Mickey gaped with surprise before falling silent.

"Se.....Seph...Se....Him?"

Riku rose an elegant silver eyebrow in interest. "You know who he is?"

The King was about to nod before pausing. He did not know who this Sephiroth was. Did he?

Riku shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. But when I visited some world, I think I passed that name on a bulletin board, or something........Do you know him Mickey?.."

Mickey fidgeted with his tail, trying to digest what he heard, feeling unwilling to believe the information found, and what it surely meant. "............I believe he was once known for being one of the most greatest fighters of this universe." the mouse stated honestly, sitting beside the teen non too gracefully, eyeing the boy beside him with particular interest, to eyes and the silver hair which had not changed in length after three long years of darkness.

'I knew it. Oh why do I have to be always right with these things.' Mickey cursed himself, turning his head quickly away with embarrassment when Riku found him looking at his face longer than he necessarily needed to.

Riku's lips curled up in amusement, believing that he had intimidated the mouse. "Oh really, so why don't I know who he is?" the teen asked after a moment, turning his attention back to the question at hand. Mickey sighed regretfully, knowing that the truth had to come out soon. Whether it was no or later, it was bound to come out. "You wouldn't know of Sephiroth because the Planet he lived on was one of first to be corrupted by the darkness. People learned to fear him, and within the Time of the Change, people lost memory of his name."

Riku rose his head up in curiosity. "Time of the Change?"

"....I've said too much." Mickey admitted quietly to himself, leaping to his feet and turning his back to Riku, who frowned and watched as the mouse paced in small strides alongside him.

"Mickey, what aren't you telling me," the teen questioned after a moment, positioning himself so that he was sitting cross-legged upon the ground, his attention solely upon the King.

Mickey scratched the back of his head lightly, pausing mid step in response to Riku's hard gaze.".........eh hehe heh. I don't know nothing really..."

The teen continued to stare at the King, some of his earlier annoyance with the rodent creeping onto him. "Spit it out mouse. I don't need a weapon to hurt you!" Riku warned, his voice bearing slight humour, yet Mickey did not want to risk his chances.

"Eeep! Please don't!" Mickey cried out in alarm, raising his large hands in front of him, to protect himself. After feeling nothing come at him after a few seconds, the mouse peeled back his fingers to sight Riku staring at him in bemusement, although he held a slight frown upon his face. "Eeep! It started during the meteor shower..........." Mickey began, settling himself back onto the floor as he knew that what he was about to say was going to take quite some time, and knew that where-ever he said it, he wasn't on safe grounds to do so.

"Go on.." Riku pressed on, watching in curiosity as a bead of sweat dribbled down the mouse's brow.

"um...eh......" Mickey scratched the back of his head mumbling quietly to himself that even Riku couldn't decipher the words.

"What was that?" Riku questioned, placing a teasing hand against his ear. "I can't hear you."

Mickey rose his voice from half audible to almost a whisper. "They.......They're listening...."

Riku shuffled forward, bending his head down to catch onto the few words. "Who?"

"I cannot say for I do not know myself. All I know they are out there." Mickey said sadly, although his eyes darted around the room, as if expecting someone or even something to leap out of a corner.

Riku rubbed the side of his temple, feeling somewhat annoyed how the mouse kept on pausing when he obviously held a very important secret. "Ugh. How can you know that they are out there then?" the teen quipped, gesturing to his surroundings. After all, living in the same dark quarters for the later part of his teen years had brought him knowledge that the Heartless did not bother you if you did not bother them, and that if you kept away from their nesting areas, you would be lucky not to bump into one of those demons in at least a month or so.

"They have affected the balance." The mouse said too quickly for even Riku to hear.

"Can you repeat that?" Riku asked causing Mickey to falter however he complied.

"The balance?" the teen questioned, the volume of his voice creating an echo within his surroundings, that it caused Mickey to leap to his feet in surprise, fear evident on his face.

"Oh no! Don't shout..." the King cried out in alarm, his figure quaking in fear, and if it weren't for Riku's reflex of grabbing the mouse's knee, Mickey would have ran away.

"Don't even think about it mouse." Riku warned, giving a firm tug for the King to sit back down. Mickey reluctantly did so, rubbing his hands against his knees in an attempt to build up courage.

"By me telling you this. My...our fates will change." Mickey said quietly, his eyes staring out at the nothingness which filled the atmosphere.

Riku pondered upon the mouse's words before shrugging in response. "To tell you the utmost truth, I don't care. Anything is better than staying in this abyss. And besides, you are hiding something that is more than likely linked to my freedom. So what is this about fate, change, and these people who are watching us?"

Mickey stared in awe at the boy's confidence, and the commanding tone which rushed shudders down his spine. Complying to the boy's wishes, Mickey leaned closer to the silver haired teen, giving Riku a start as he moved his mouth towards the his ear. "Sssh. Come over here....There is less of an echo...." Mickey said softly pulling back and leaping to his feet. Still wary of his partner, Riku leapt swiftly to his feet and followed the mouse silently for a few steps in what seemed like circles.

Mickey then suddenly dropped down to the floor and looking left to right, ushered a hand in the teen's direction. Riku couldn't help but roll his eyes in exasperation. There was practically nowhere to hide if there was an ambush, or to see if anyone was eavesdropping. All the atmosphere consisted of were shades of grey and with that thought on mind, Riku began to feel sceptical of how Mickey had suddenly found a scroll when he had searched for 3 years and found practically nothing besides a few new forms of Heartless. Regardless, Riku bent down beside the King and folded his arms across his chest, his eyes staring back down at the golden fabric of his shirt for a moment before raising his head to meet the black ones of the King's.

"Have you ever heard of the myth about The Beginning?"

Riku shook his head silently yet still held a tentative pose.

"Well....Before Life was born, there was a legend of a band of Gods who formed the very stars in the sky, and the planets which surrounded them.... These legendary beings were known as the 'Creat' other wise known as the 'Creators'........ One created Nature......... One bred the Elements of Life and its essentials........ and the most strongest and wisest of them all helped create the first living soul in his own form. As the generations passed, the soul duplicated and created their own timelines and offspring, to the point where there was no more room to live in their paradise created by their Creator's dreams. Their energies then merged together to create the first child of the Gods. Life, who bore the first seeds of Light. But where light was created, darkness shrouded the areas it could not reach. The Creators were not powerful enough to create worlds which were purely made of light, so that was how the Balance was formed in the universe. Life sustained herself through tying its bonds with that of her fathers, and they let her use his strength to create law in each world. But soon Life got lonely, and had problems maintaining control over the darkness and the light. That was when the Creators bore Death, the archetype who became Life's Balance. He controlled the dark of night while she controlled the day. The two became lovers against the wishes of their parents and ran away to have their own freedom. It was then..." Mickey paused as he saw Riku's mouth open in an attempt to speak.

The silver haired teen furrowed his eyebrows. "Excuse me if I heard wrong, but why do you speak as though Life and Death were people?" he asked curiously, not truly understanding the purpose of why he was letting himself listen to the mouse who had always managed to gain an irritate him, due to his unnaturally exaggerated, upbeat personality.

Mickey nodded his head with a small smile. "They were..."

Riku's mouth faltered slightly. "............?"

"Anyway....Those born of Life and Death's coupling were the Sky and the Land. They helped sustained the planet's with there own abilities that were given to them from birth. The Creators grew envious of their children which had been gifted with the powers of the gods. To hide their children from the Creators, Life and Death created Two Keyblades, one to unlock up their world to others and one to lock it, hidden from the Creator's prying eyes, so that their children could live in peace. But before they could summon their power, the Creators found out. Angered by their children's conniving ways, they separated the planet, into thousands of pieces, so that Life, Death, Sky and Land would be forever alone within their own cycle of torment. But although Death and Life never found each other, the Land and Sky did and they created their own worlds in their parent's place. In a sudden bout of outrage, Death killed all the Creators but 'one' who managed to escape to the other worlds. Saddened for the loss of his lover, Death went insane and through the end of his honoured self, he divided the three chambers of his heart into three epitaphs of power. One bearing his Respect For Beauty, one bearing his Love Of Nature, and one who was moulded into the Form Of His Once Pure Self. The rest the darkness inside of him then became the first Heartless, and he was the first who created the epidemic of death, and even rumoured to have been the one who possessed the Keyblade of legendary power."

Riku's eyes gleamed just slightly at the thought of such a tale. "What type of legendary power?" the teen questioned, leaning towards the mouse with interest before catching himself, shaking his head with disgust at the thought he was being so gullible. "That's ridiculous. A fairy tale." Riku spat out soon after, folding his arms with an indignant huff

"But I am not finished." Mickey protested, causing the silver haired teen to pause his rant.

"The Creators were angered with the loss of their children. Their magic had weakened considerably. After living over thousands of millennia, that when they created their next offspring. They were mere vessels, the Unknowns which looked like their originals, clones of themselves but not quite. Although they had the same bodies, they did not have the same soul or heart, nor did they have an interest of anything other than their own selves. Angered and further weakened at their failure in creating the rightful predecessors, the Creators refusing to die, created their final weapon of their inner spirit. A blade which had the ability to lock and unlock the dimensions between the Unknown world and the Real world. To choose the place where their power would be passed down to another, the last living Creator hurled the weapon into the sky and died before he knew whether his blade landed in the Unknown or the Real world, or even if the blade survived the fall.."

Riku raised a sceptical eyebrow. ".............and?"

Mickey looked confused for a moment, dampening the sweat from his brow. "That's the end of the story."

Teal eyes flashed in exasperation. "What does this child's story prove?"

"That someone has got a hold of the Creator's Keyblade and opened up a portal to the other dimensions that are like this one."

"That means nothing to me." Riku grunted out stubbornly turning his head away callously.

"Riku. This means everything." Mickey groaned, like that of a frustrated teacher. "There could be creatures stronger and much more evil than that of the Heartless hidden within other dimensions. They were separated from our world for a reason, but the balance has been affected, and if the blade has been found, then it could create a catastrophe upon the very universe."

Riku, pretended to take some lint from his top which further annoyed the mouse. "And I should care because?" he countered coolly, not really interested in what Mickey had said. Perhaps if someone else had said it, he would have maybe paid attention a little longer. He had done playing the puppet for another a long time ago.

Mickey still couldn't understand the boy's stubbornness. After all he had suffered and sustained, he could somewhat realise Riku's reluctance into dashing off into another adventure when he had not recovered mentally from being locked in the Kingdom Hearts. Even though, he could not comprehend how Riku lacked the optimism in such a dark and dismal world. It was just so odd to have someone having such intelligence, but forgetting about their innocence, and happiness after growing up too fast, taking care of others and so forgetting about his own needs.

"Think about it." Mickey tried to argue back. "Imagine if there was another dimension. Another you or me which was so unlike yourself with maliciousness but appeared the same as to any other. No forget that image. Imagine there was a evil clone of you running around destroying everything good and living as it could not understand its purpose. Imagine if Sora entered that world. Image how such an evil could do to taint someone as innocent and pure as him."

Riku paused his scathing remark, his face becoming gravely ashen at the thought of his friend being in danger due to his cumbersome mistakes. Fighting back the urge to cry out in anger, Riku shot to his feet, ignoring the mouse's squeak of surprise at his sudden actions.

"What do I have to do then?" Riku questioned forcefully, the scroll still held tightly within his hand.

Mickey blinked in bemusement at the sudden change in the teen's demeanour. It was like he had transformed within those few words he said, and he couldn't even remember what they were. "We have to find Death's counterparts." Mickey said after a moment, rising to his feet with less speed than that of the taller male, stretching his legs and arm.

Riku looked clearly confused at the answer. "What?"

"Do you remember when I spoke of three epitaphs which had three lost spirits locked within?" Mickey questioned, his hand pointing to the scroll in Riku's gloved hand.

"Yes," Riku snapped, irritated at the King's patronising tone as if he was an idiot. He was bodiless, not brainless. "But don't forget that we are lost within KH, and we have no bodies to look for them."

The King nodded in agreement. "Yes we are in the very chamber of stolen spirit of hearts which bear no bodies."

Riku jumped on the advantage. "See I told you how can we find these spirits if we have no bodies to look for them............................oh."

Riku turned his head away slightly in embarrassment, his face reddening slightly at the stupidity of his words.

"I get it." 'Stupid.' Riku cursed. 'If everyone who gets trapped within Kingdom Hearts loses their hearts and becomes nothing more than a wilful spirit, then obviously the most likeliest place for these 'death' spirits are somewhere within this dimensional world. Duh Riku....'

"You understand now then..." Mickey answered with a toothy grin.

Riku grunted lightly, cursing the paleness of his skin and the likeliness that his cheeks were flaming. But could a spirit even blush without his shell? Riku idly traced his hand against his cheek and felt the warmth there. Seeing Mickey looking at him so oddly, caused Riku to awaken from his dream, pulling back his hand to his side.

Riku's confuse pout twisted quickly into a dark frown. "But what good shall this do to me?" Riku said sharply, annoyed to be seen in such a moment of weakness, although Mickey seemed not to notice, merely grinning like an overgrown idiot.

"Death once was an ultimate being." Mickey began, reaching his hand out to place upon the scroll in Riku's palm. "I wouldn't even put it past him to be able to send us back to our friends, or even get our real bodies back."

Riku's heart tugged at the thought of such a hope, yet he still held his composure. After all, he was not that weak to get lost within dreams and ideas with no way of accomplishing them. He was mature and rational. Planning all of his tasks meticulously and a grace which made him adored above others. He was not brash enough to run into the fire when there was a danger of fatal consequences.

'What about the raft?'

A cherished thought when he sought out freedom,

regardless of danger and where a small raft

could take them with no destination.

'Ansem.'

His final downfall into darkness, where he hastily decided to convert to the Heartless against his conscience.

'Lately I have been anything other than myself.' Riku mused, tracing his fingers against the ends of the paper, testing its sharpness against gloved hands.

After a moment, Riku rose his head, silvery bangs blocking his vision as he idly played with the scroll. "Mickey, how can you believe this fairytale? You still have no proof that what you are saying is true." Riku breathed softly, closing his eyes for a moment, knowing that he was on the tip's edge of testing the courage of his heart once more, or cowering into the confinements of the darkness for eternal repose.

Mickey thought for a moment upon the teen's words, his hands fumbling behind his back as he pondered. "To tell you the truth." the mouse started slowly, as if unsure of his words. "I do not know myself.. But I 'trust' my heart, and it tells me that I will see my friends again...Do trust yours?"

"My heart?" Riku tasted the word in his mouth, feeling unnaturally at loss for words as he stared down at his chest, his empty hand cupping his left pectoral protectively.

'You yourself should be able to feel their hearts.

How you perceive your friends...
Is dependent on your own heart.'

"A voice once told me, how I sense my friends is dependant on the strength of my heart." Riku answered slowly. "And although I do not trust my own, and probably nobody else's....... I do trust Sora's heart....... He has proven himself to me many times, and to be chosen by the Keyblade...... Even if I never get out of this prison, or I get propelled to another barren world just the same......... I will do all that I can to help those who I care about. I will never let my friends be hurt ever again because of my foolish mistakes."

Mickey stared glassy eyed at Riku, whose aquamarine eyes still looked ever sober. The King couldn't help but feel awed at the power of the teen's words, and the raw emotion that was present in his tone, if not in his features. Riku kept his face calm and composed, while the insides quaked with emotions he tried desperately to control. He didn't know why, but he had a gut feeling that this journey was going to be his final one. That the foreign scripture was giving him the sign to go forward. To move on from the despair of the past, and move to the future. Letting his heart guide him to freedom. Teal eyes locked onto black, and when Mickey was beginning to lose hope, Riku cracked a slight smile, that it took the mouse off surprise. "Fine count me in." Riku answered firmly, holding his arm out in a gesture of agreement. Too excited and shocked at the light shining in the teen's eyes, Mickey quickly grabbed Riku's and squeezed firmly in agreement.

"Great!" Mickey cried out in elation clicking his feet together in one motion that Riku couldn't help but broaden his grin, his heart feeling unusually light.

"Alright. Show me where you found this scroll?" Riku questioned firmly, surprised himself with the tone of his voice that he had not used in over four years of his teen life.

"That would be a good start." Mickey answered playfully, as he got to his feet once again and dusted off his shorts in the process. Riku's attention fell back to the scroll and the only word he could translate.

"Sep..hi...rot gah whatever your name is, are you a clue to the spirit of Death?"

"Alright then. 3. 2. 1. Let's go!" And with a high pitched giggle, Mickey dashed off towards the North leaving the teen wide eyed at the haste departure.

"Hey!" Riku called out in surprise, leaping to his feet and dashing in the direction of his new partner.

Hmmm. Have I confused anyone yet? I just love writing mysterious pieces, where the reader can only interpret the next chapter with the information they have been given in the earlier one. And before you think it, no, Sora isn't dead. As for Sephiroth and Aeris. I'll let you guys wait till the next chapter. What about the hooded Riku? Where has he gone. All will be answered in the next chapters. And Riku, if any of you guessed from this chapter, that was the real Riku with his heart intact (locked in KH) but with no body. That then means that the other Riku in the cloak is obviously ..............You get it don't you now.

A tip for anyone that is confused. In the ending of the KH game, where Ansem is speaking to Sora before he is blasted with light. He quotes

'that all 'dark' hearts are born from Kingdom Hearts, even yours.' (to Sora). If you still don't understand what I am trying to say, get rid of 'dark' from Ansem's quote, and that is the clue of what the purpose of KH is in my fic. Add that to the myth, that Mickey has quoted, and you have been given a hinting of what the fic is about.

Now, here's a little sad treat. I have highlighted words within the mythical speech in bold that are central figures who are in my story. No they won't be original characters. Now if anyone can guess who the characters listed below are, I am willing to give away manga style Riku/Sora or Aer/Seph artwork, hell, any couple within the final fantasy KH genre.

Now here are the list of mystery characters.

LIFE (female)............. (An easy one, .S. A. E. I. R

DEATH

To make it easy the three characters can all be spelt with these letters. (The same letter cannot be used for two characters.)

A. E. E. H. H. I. J. K. M. O. O. P. R. R. S. S. T. U. U. Y

(has split up into three spirits/figures of ultimate power

1)..................... (one has a respect for nature)

2)......................(one for beauty)

3)..................(one bears the same shell as his original self)

(all male)

SKY (an easy one if you can do Japanese translations of the word)

(male).....................

LAND ( the same goes for Land)

(male)....................

The Creators stand for the Creat. Rearrange that and what do you get? Hey it begins with a C, ends with an A. Oh, it has a ETR in the middle.

Well. That is my final clue to those I may have lost with the plot.

Please read and review. For the answers, you can either email me with my address below or just place them within your review.

The next chapter....

Chapter 2- Riku's journey. The trial of the epitaphs- Sephiroth's story.

Ja ne

Aer_seph4eva

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Any questions? Comments? Answers to my riddles?

Email me at.........

Aer_seph4eva@yahoo.co.uk