:AN: Urm… Sorry if every chapter from now on is kind of… Bad. Beginning of a story, wonderful; end of a story, fabulous; but oh the middle… ah, it sucks. Damn you middle, damn you! Anyway, if it gets really awful, just don't read it until, like, I say it's getting better. Heh, not that it's really that good, but whatever you want… Whatever you want.

Sin's Remorse
Chapter eleven

She sat in a dark room on what seemed like a sort of random overhang above another large space. There were two large staircases that spread down both sides of the room that lead up to where she sat. There were two large, wooden doors behind her that lead down another corridor. This castle was large and intricate. If you didn't pay attention it would seem that the halls would shift and the rooms would rearrange themselves. There would no longer be a staircase where you last saw one and those doors that lead to that secret room you loved to visit would be completely vanished the next day you went to find them. That's why you always had to be on guard in this place, always ready for something to be there in the dark, where you couldn't see in the light. There were certain reasons to be highly afraid of it, the darkness. For here, it was your enemy. It was your enemy.

"Riku?" she questioned softly, her blonde hair spilling in front of her eyes as she looked down. A dark figure appeared behind her within seconds. He stood still as she brought her gaze up, keeping her back to him. "Have you seen Sora?" She asked lightly as she played with her sleeves. Riku sighed.

"Would you like me to get him for you?" he questioned in reply.

"No you loon, I asked if you've seen him," spoke Mira. She sighed gravely. "Oh, never mind. What's the point?" she said as she looked up at the darkened ceiling. It was quite a tall ceiling, though hard to see. It rose up a good fifty feet or so, curving in as it went, eventually reaching one exact point.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked as he approached her and slowly sat beside her, dangling his feet off the edge of the overhang.

"What's your problem, Riku? I thought I sucked all of the compassion out of you…" spoke Mira in her usually blank tone.

"…Um," Riku thought lightly. "You did, but… There's nothing that says I can't care about you, right? Because you're practically just darkness too." Riku replied.

"Oh shove it, Riku. You know I don't like having these conversations," she said carelessly. She randomly swung her legs back and forth, thinking of what twisted thing she could do next. "You know. I don't understand him, Riku, that little friend of yours."

"Neither do I… But… I did once, right?" He questioned. Mira nodded slowly.

"Yes, you two were quite close as I recall. But you were different, the two of you. You were." She said lightly. "You know, you got it easy in this place. Real easy. It's almost sad what he had to go through…"

"Hmm…" Riku agreed, nodding his head slowly. "Do you know what he saw?" he questioned lightly. Mira shook her head and sighed.

"I haven't the slightest clue," she replied emotionlessly. "But… It had to have been something pretty awful even for him. He'd seen death before, he'd known sorrow, but…" Mira spoke in a low voice. She fell silent and took a short breath.

"I still don't understand… What was so different about him?" Riku questioned. "I mean, like…" he trailed off, not knowing how to put his thoughts into words. Mira sat still and looked over at Riku, not able to see him through the darkness that forever coated her vision.

"I still don't know… I'd never seen anything like it. Usually, if you get someone young enough, innocent enough, they'd see enough here to taint them. This place is full of death, full of sin. They'd walk into the wrong room, find a forgotten memory. But Sora… No. It was like his heart was immune to darkness, so immune that everything he experienced here was a thousand times worse than any normal person…" spoke Mira. "Does that make sense?" Riku looked over at her, just as well blinded by the seething shadows as she was.

"Not… really," he replied lightly. Mira shrugged.

"Um… well, you know how darkness works, right?" Mira questioned. "It sucks you in and slowly attacks you, forcing you to relive every painful memory you'd ever experienced in your life. Only, the pain and emotions are multiplied. If you're heart is weak than the pain is weak. It's like the opposite of what you'd think it would be. The darkness, in order to take one's innocence, takes the tainted areas of the heart, the painful memories of one's past, and ignites them. You only think about these memories, right? And if your heart is weak than the darkness doesn't have to work as hard to drain this innocence. All you're left with is the painful recollections, the tainted memories. Eventually, like you, you forget these ones. One's heart can only live so long in sorrow. And so, you forget how to feel. You forget what it's like to feel pain because it's all you know," Mira spoke slowly. She ran her fingers along the ground, silently studying the deep engravements. "But… If you're heart is strong and purely innocent, than the darkness must use great force to take over. But darkness is like a drug; it takes over, sometimes too fast. If there is not enough tainted memories for one to remember, say there's one or two, but they're strong, than the darkness will try and take over these memories too quickly, and it's too powerful. It's a slow process; memories slip away gradually, exceedingly gradually. But, in Sora's case, he was forgetting too much too soon and the darkness was taking over that poor boy's soul. But this really isn't too uncommon… It's been seen before. The thing about Sora was that no matter what we did, the darkness didn't stop, and he couldn't handle it. I mean, it's hard I suppose… But not fatal. It was the force that nearly killed him. There was something in his past… some memory that seemed to be too much for even him to handle. And that's almost unimaginable." Mira explained.

"Like… what, was it something like death? I've heard if someone you really care abo-" Riku began, but Mira cut him off.

"No, no! It was much stronger than death, much stronger." Mira exclaimed. Riku stared in blank confusion. "Riku, do you know what the most powerful force in the world is?" Mira questioned.

"Darkness?" he asked in reply. Mira sighed loudly.

"Connections. The connection between two people can be so great that not even darkness can destroy it. I don't really know how to explain it; because it's something I know little about. But Sora had a connection with someone… he had created a bond. But something about him coming here… something about that connection must have gone wrong. You see, if you forget about a person that you are obviously connected to, or if you are separated from them fatefully, than something terrible happens. Something so terrible that I couldn't begin to think of what it might be…" Mira trailed off. "And that's what was happening, that connection was wearing away because Sora was forgetting. His being here wasn't much help either, because he couldn't leave. He made a promise you know…" she trailed off.

"Huh? Oh… You mean, to Kairi, right?" Riku questioned softly. Mira nodded.

"Yes. And that was who he was connected to… that girl. And he promised her that he'd be back someday. Their connection relied on that single promise, but you know once you find this place you can't ever leave. He had no way to get back to her, thus breaking his promise and loosing the connection." Mira spoke. "And that's what was killing him, because he knew it… He knew he had broken his promise, but the only way to keep it was for her to come here. He was too good, to pure to let that happen. So he stuck it out, he let her fade into his memories."

"Wait… how-how come he didn't die? What did you do?" Riku asked urgently. Mira laughed lightly and smiled.

"Well, Kairi, right? Apparently he couldn't forget her, an overriding force… We didn't really save him, I mean; he's still going to die… We just slowed the process down," she spoke quietly.

"But… Hmm." Riku thought lightly. "But Kairi's here now… so… their "connection", isn't it kind of fixed?" he asked. Mira shrugged.

"Well… A broken connection is hard to mend, almost impossible. I-I just don't think it's something that can be done now… it's been too long." She spoke.

"Oh…" Riku sighed as he leaned his head down to the pitch-black floor far beneath his dangling feet. Mira silently swung her legs back and forth as she sat in ceaseless content. "Soooo… what about her, um… Kairi, then? What's her deal?" Riku questioned. Mira perked her head up suddenly.

"Oh, yeeees. The pitiful one. Well… she's kind of like Sora, only her heart is more tainted. But the thing about the connection stands true. She was dying anyway, before she got here… It's almost sad as well, her case. If she had only stayed where she was, she would have lived a much longer life, though I'm not saying it wouldn't be a life full of pain and such. The absence of Sora would have undoubtedly killed her. But, she found him, therefore her life will now be longer than it would have been, except… except she found him here. Now Sora still feels for her, but he has been pulled so far into the darkness that I wouldn't give him much longer before it's time for his final requesty there," Mira smiled happily. "Yet… Ka-Katie, ah… Kairi, she's in slightly the same position Sora was in when he got here three years ago. The darkness is taking over her at an unimaginable rate and she'll surely die. Unless-" Mira cut herself off.

"Unless what?" Riku questioned. "Sora does to her what you did to him?" Riku questioned softly. Mira grinned and nodded.

"Exactly."

Riku fell silent for a moment and then brought his finger to his chin in thought. "What did you do to him… anyway?"

"Umm…" Mira thought quietly as she laughed lightly. "He was never quite the same after that… was he?" she questioned.

"You're not going to tell me?" Riku asked in disappointment. Mira snorted.

"Heh. I think you already know," she spoke. Riku eyed her in sudden disbelief. Sure, he had thought about how to taint ones heart in a simple and convenient way that didn't involve death, but he was sure he wasn't thinking of the same way Mira had done it. She was too proficient to do… 'that'. Riku eyed her with a wide grin. "Well? What'd you expect! It was either that, or kill him. Come on, Riku. Honestly tell me that you cannot think of a better way to sinfully taint a virgin heart," Mira laughed. She shrugged and bit her lip as Riku snorted lightly. "I couldn't let him die, Riku…" she grinned.

"Some compassion, eh?" he questioned. Mira gasped.

"Compassion? Heck no… No way in hell!" Mira exclaimed as her eyes went wide. Riku laughed again. "Listen, Riku… If I had let him die… Who knows what would have happened to that girl, Kairi?"

"Nothing… Connections are strong, Mira, but they can't write fate. She wouldn't have died, a piece of her, maybe, but she would have lived, no doubt." Spoke Riku. Mira eyed him curiously.

"Hmm… Since when do you know so much about that, Riku?" Mira asked intently.

"I may be blind… But I'm not a fool. I've lost all of my memories, Mira, but I haven't lost my mind," he grinned. "And connections… connections are something I know a little about."

"Since when?" Mira asked in a high voice. He frowned.

"Since just now, actually…" he replied ponderously. Mira sighed lightly.

"Enlighten me, Riku," she replied slyly. Riku smirked.

"You were right when you said that it's nearly impossible to mend a broken connection, especially one as worn as theirs. But my friend, it does lie within the realm of possibility," Riku smiled. He laughed lightly as he clasped his hands together. "But I wouldn't expect anything from the two of them, there are circumstances at work here beyond our control…"

"What do you mean… The darkness?" Mira questioned.

"It weakens the bonds of their hearts even more, yes. Making it almost completely impos-"

"Almost. But- how could they-?" Mira spoke lightly.

"I'm not entirely sure… but you needn't worry. If it's true what you said, about Sora being close to his demise… and if he's still anything like he ever was, nothing should happen. Their bond should stay broken and their short lives shall carry on." Riku assured. Mira nodded.

"… That is well… But…" Mira began. "But, what would happen if the girl was to die… If Sora disobeys again and refuses to, ah… You know, 'taint her'?" Mira questioned with a snort. Riku sat in thought.

"Well, I would think that Sora would die as well… I mean, it is his fate… And the pain she left behind, you said it is the only tainted memory he knows- ah, knew… correct?" Riku questioned. Mira nodded slowly. "He would die, in time… if not days." Riku replied.

"And what if the girl lives… if Sora does what he has been told. What if she lives and Sora dies. For if she lives, she shall surely live for another good two years… would she die with him?" Mira questioned Riku. Riku sat in ponderous thought. She sighed. "Oh, never mind it, Riku. I know the answer, I am simply testing your intelligence," she spoke. Riku gave a questioning gaze. They both sat in darkened silence for a few moments as Mira swung her legs back and forth.

"She's strong… She'd live. Somehow, I think she'd live." Mira stated lightly. "For awhile, at least."

"What makes you say that?" Riku questioned lightly. Mira sighed.

"She's been here for nearly a week… She's been asleep half the time, but it's in sleep the darkness is more able to spread and grow… It's bizarre," stated Mira flatly. Riku sighed lightly.

"How's it so strange?" he asked. Mira took a deep breath and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Any normal person… Anyone who is not like Sora… would surely be dead by now. Why, with the force of such pure darkness that is consuming her, I'm surprised she didn't die the first moment she met this place," Mira trailed on.

"What do you mean?" Riku questioned lightly. Mira smiled.

"… She's far more vulnerable than he was because she has already been submitted to four years of her own destined sorrow… You know, his leaving and all. She was already so close to death… Four years of suffering… Though softer suffering than what Sora had to go through, but still suffering nonetheless," Mira spoke. She sighed. "What I'm trying to say is that either her heart is undeniably stronger than any I have ever seen before… Or, because of their strange connection… I think…" Mira paused for a moment and furrowed her brow slightly. "… I think that he keeps her strong."

Riku looked over at Mira, even though he couldn't see her. It sounded so unbelievable… so ridiculously twisted that somehow, he knew she was right. Even a broken connection surly must still be good for something.

Kairi and Sora had always had some sort of connection… some kind of strange bond that no one could ever entirely figure out. It was true. Even in his death Kairi would survive because Sora's will for her to live was still so strong that it hurt. But there was one thing that they were missing… Sora was forgetting. He was losing his memories, the ones of his past, the ones of Kairi. Soon, he would forget about the promise he made, the only tie he still had to their bond. He'd eventually forget how to love… Death cannot break the bond that two people can share if the connection is strong enough, but our memories are the key to that connection. If we lose the key, than what is the bond but eternally broken? Gone… Forever.

:AN: (clears throat). Ahhhh… Yeeeeeees, there's some stuff in there. Some… There was some stuff that, if you understood it, I am eternally sorry that you understood, I was trying not be blatantly obvious about 'stuff'… Like, not really 'PG' kind of stuff… I'm the type of person who is very… ah… immature…about certain "things"… Yet I write about them... Well... think- OH never mind! If you don't know what I mean and don't recall reading anything that may have 'suggested' things that aren't entirely… ah… good, than that is very good for you and I am sorry you had to read it in this Author's note. Deathly sorry. If you are lost and confused and didn't get anything out of that last chapter hint hint… nvm… then I suggest one of three things: Go read it again, stop reading this story because it sucks, or tell me this chapter sucks and forcefully beat me down with a stick until I rewrite it. Oh, one more thing you can do… You can send me a message asking me any questions you had about this eerily confusing chapter that really does not need to be in this story at all, because who likes understanding things? It's only a very important chapter that foreshadows nearly EVEYTHING that is to come at the longly anticipated end to this awfully bad story. Thank you. OR you can forget about it and pretend you never read this altogether…

Disclaimer: I was lost and confused when I wrote this…

HEY! Oh no! I forgot to put a disclaimer on this story… eeeek! (Goes to jail)

. . . . See yahs in chappie twelve! … w-o-w