Note to Disclaimers: I do not and never will own Kingdom Hearts or anyone else except Cyra so please don't sure me. This is for entertainment only, not profits.
Author's Note: Hello again people! Here I am again, this time with the 13th chapter of my story! Um…it's getting a little more complicated now, the story plot that is so…stay with me, if you can or if you want to! Anyway…nothing more to say here so bye! Please R&R!
Thoughts of Zephyr
"Aerith, Cloud, I can't believe that was all I needed to do to fly!" Cyra shouted gleefully as she skipped in front of them. She was beyond joyful and was ready to move mountains, which of course she couldn't ACTUALLY do, but she liked to think in such a big way. Behind her, lagging slightly for privacy, Cloud and Aerith were walking hand in hand, a smile the size of a crescent moon spread across her beautiful features. Cyra sensed this from ahead but did not care to ask any questions, for she was quite content in her personal jubilation about her discovery. She decided to resign herself to ignoring their lovey-dovey behavior, if even for a fraction of a second, because she was too self-absorbed in her mind. "Does anyone want some food? Or am I the only one who is hungry around this joint?" Everyone nodded.
She was quite glad, to the point of complete undiluted happiness, to oblige them, Aerith and Cloud, in their preliminaries at the tournament. Still, she wished to eat nonetheless. She had gone mere inches from the world entrance, having gestured to Phil her departure, when suddenly the doors to the docking bay where the Gummi ships lay burst open. Cyra cowered before the large oak doors as she shielded her face from the sandy wind that swept the area. Cloud and Aerith fell back from behind her crouched form as Cloud covered Aerith with his mahogany cape as debris showered them from above. When it all died down Cyra arose from the sandy ground with her hands still intertwined in apprehension, as a figure emerged from the shadows, platinum-silver hair falling in sharp spiky waves. Cyra felt her heart leap with happiness at this view but her smile turned to a frown as she realized his eyes were yellow-red; glowing intensely like his eyes had before when inside his hotel room.
She let out a shriek as he grabbed for her but dodged his groping grasp and flew into the air. She was levitating high above him, making sure he was in her line of vision while she balled her hands into fists at her sides, cautious and waiting for him to show the slightest movement. She knew he was no longer the Riku she came to know on the island. "Who might you be and who or what have you come for?" She asked steadily in her most authoritative voice. "I see this as trespassing and disturbing a quiet establishment. Is there a reason as to why you've come here, sir?" She expected a snide remark, an eye roll or even an arrogant gesture. What she did not expect was his next action. He opened his mouth wide and released a sadistic, malicious cackle as he doubled over in mid-air, rising ever so slowly and closer to the princess as she hovered above Aerith and Cloud. Cyra didn't notice. "Do you have a qualm with me sir? Or are you just shy?" She knew her deliberate provoking could do harm.
At this comment Riku stopped laughing, menacing eyes peering into her ruby spheres, and he simply raised a finger; everything around them went black. "Shy? Why, princess, you above all people should know just how shy I am!" He crossed his arms over his chest while he observed her for any sign of fear, which she did not give away whether she was or wasn't. She promptly glared at him with an indifferent expression on her olive complexioned face as they continued to stare at each other, unmoving in their positions. The deafening silence could have and would have reigned for ions, both of them knew, but Riku saw it fit to change the subject. "I have come to ask, or more of demand, for your collaboration, for it is your calling, your fate and your destiny." He drifted closer to her, mere inches away now, and reached out to touch her arm.
As if struck by a razor sharp needle Cyra recoiled back from him as though burned as well. "No, I don't want to become part of the darkness temporarily or permanently! Can't you fight it Riku?" She shouted, which only angered him more. "Listen to me, you have to-"
"The darkness within you will no longer be suppressed by falsities hand fed by your pathetic step-father who was too weak for the darkness…nor the father of your birth who was foolish enough to marry an Entity of Light." Riku surveyed her expression, satisfied to see that it was filled with fear and horror and resentment. "Come, now, and we shall see fit to your proper state of mind and proper state of being. You have been living a lie, dear princess." Without a warning his hands shot out and grabbed her arms, his grip tight as he dragged her into a firm embrace. Cyra only shuddered in despair and anger as his words sunk into her soul. She felt tears burn her eyelids as he continued to speak to her phrases that were all too familiar and caused her temper to flare. "You will come…you know you cannot fight it…cannot fight me…or your feelings." Cyra suddenly went rigid as he kissed her temple ever so gently. "I haven't forgotten. No matter what I was or have become, I will never forget that which you have given freely to me without consequence."
"Then I wish you would forget," Cyra scowled at his words though they touched her deeply. She could feel that his intentions were true, his feelings, because she herself knew that even in the darkness that she was still capable of her true feelings. 'I just wish it wasn't this way.'
"Come," Riku whispered. "It is time."
"What?" Cyra was alarmed as they started to fade. Aerith, Cloud and the coliseum reappeared. She reached out to them in a panicked, frantic waving as she cried out. "Wait! Aerith, Cloud, somebody! Please-"
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"Kairi, honey, please just eat this!" Yuffie shouts from outside my door.
I ignore her as I see her push the tray through the dog door of Anastasia's room in an attempt to feed me. It has been almost a whole week since Riku fell completely to the darkness and left us. It has been almost a week since I've felt ANY comforting presence, even Sora's. My body feels void of emotions as I turn over in the flannel bed sheets, twisting them around my limbs as I bury myself deeper into the warmth of the covers. Bitterness begins to swell in my gut as I chance a small glance out the window and see Selphie and Tidus locked in a sweet embrace, a lover's embrace. 'When did that happen?' I groan in anguish as I fall back into the sheets and shove the pillow over my head to block out the sun and hopefully the image of my two other friends. I want to be angry with them, jealous of them, but all I can feel is sorrow for myself at the loss of both my best friends, neither of which is of any use to me now. Sora's coma has worsened over the week I was indisposed, according to Anastasia, and she says he might recover-if he ever awakens-with amnesia. But the chances of him recovering with full memories and strength are none to one million. My mind swirls as I recall the information, the depressing information and I grunt into the mattress.
"Kairi, you're still alive right?" Leon asks.
"Shut up you twit! OF COURSE she's still alive. She just isn't feeling all that great. But I suppose you wouldn't understand that since you're emotionally constipated!" Yuffie shouts at him. "Oh…forget it! Get a clue Sherlock, or just get lost!"
"Excuse me…" Leon trails. "Whatever."
"Is THAT the extent of your vocabulary?" Yuffie pursues their argument at his nonchalant comment. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"
I hear their voices fade as I sit up and hastily open the curtain, hoping with all hopes that my two other friends have gone. I let out a sigh of relief when I notice that they are and the balcony stands alone in the frosty chilled snow. Sluggishly, to the point where I believe I will keel over, I manage to stand with wobbly legs and walk carefully over to Anastasia's bureau for some clothes to wear in the chilly weather. I find my heart aching to be back on Destiny Island, my body no exception, too. As I slide a thick wool-knitted sweater over my head I suddenly feel nostalgia enshroud my mind as the icy air nips at my skin. I narrow my eyes in contempt as I see Leon following Yuffie now instead of vice-versa, which is something new to me. For a brief moment a smile creeps over my lips at their antics; but when I realize what my actions are, I strip the wretched smile off my face and roughly throw wool articles from the dresser drawers. My mind reels as I look out the window for a second time just in time to catch a glimpse of what appears a person, bathed in golden light, walk by. There is no doubt in my mind that it is Sora but I fear of hopes too high and shoot the idea down before it has time to settle in my weary mind. I allow my one shred of hope to dissolve into nothingness, not wishing to be comforted by anyone let alone Sora's ever presently wandering spirit.
"Spirit my ass…" I mutter as I shove my dirty laundry into a basket by the bedside. "I just want to leave this place." I throw the door open in annoyance before making my way down the empty hallway to the kitchen where I hear voices drift through the closed door. I put my ear to the surface and listen intently.
"What can we do?" Yuffie asks softly.
"I cannot say much except that I have written more recent reports on the odd behavior of the heartless, not to mention the new types of heartless, which I am sure you've seen by now. As you know, they do not come out as often as the other heartless did. They are smarter, swifter, stronger, and they calculate their attacks slowly." Ansem replies in an indifferent tone. "But, if I may say, you two-Yuffie and Leon is it?-have been attacked by the class E heartless, the ones who are the strongest and most similar to humans. These particular heartless are of a special class, the only of their class-there are ten of them-who plan their attacks and prey only on a particular group of persons."
"And they are…?" Leon asks curiously.
"They are those of the light, and those who help the bearers of the light." Ansem responds.
"Oh," Leon answers flatly.
"I must say though that these creatures are the least of you're concerns. You're weariness should lie with the Prince of Darkness. I myself cannot say where you're friend went and what his next move is. What I do know is what he wants to do."
"And what is that?" Selphie inquires.
"He wants to finish what I started but had not the power to control or complete. He will destroy us all if the Light bearer does not awaken." Ansem's voice drops to an almost inaudible level. "And I am afraid your keyblade master is worsening by the minute. I am no professional doctor, more of a sorcerer I believe; but I know when someone is going to die…and your keyblade master is reaching that point soon. Or…haven't you seen his spirit…wandering about?"
"What?" Everyone's voice is surprised, but I don't flinch at this. I only wince when I listen longer.
"Well, when people are about to leave this realm, they go about their business, trying to finish whatever was left undone before they went into their comatose state, in a spirit form. They are almost real though, to the touch, in this form and often seem…ethereal. It seems that you're friend, Sora, is doing just that. I could sense him the moment I arrived here, but it was only this morning that I actually saw him wander past the room where you're Princess of Heart was sleeping. He seems lost, as though he needs to find something and/or someone and tell someone something. Has she…spoken to him or seen him? She could easily spot him with her power."
"Well," Yuffie's voice is timid. "We haven't talked to her since the…Riku incident. She's ignoring every attempt we make and she doesn't eat. We…haven't heard anything about this from her. Well, I haven't. Has…anyone else?"
"No." Everyone's response is low and guilty.
"I suggest someone try and reason with her, talk to her, as soon as possible." Ansem's voice cuts through me like a knife. "If she is not made aware of Sora's condition, her light will flicker, slowly no doubt, but it will flicker all the same. Then, when she is made aware of the full truth she will no longer wish to bear the light and fate she's been given. She'll fall into darkness and it will consume her. If this happens," Ansem looks towards the door where I've been peeking through. "They will both die. Sora will first, then, Kairi will next whether or not she fights the evil forces behind this. A prophecy is a prophecy, and there are always two. She must decide which she will follow. It is either Light or Darkness."
I jerk back and the door flaps wildly as I turn to run down the hallway towards the Gummi ship that Selphie and Tidus brought to Anastasia's. I bolt up the stairs to the entry hatch, not caring whether I slip on the snowy surface. I only have one thing in mind right now: Sora. 'It can't be true,' I scream to myself mentally. 'Neither of us can die! We have to finish our journey!' I rush towards the bunker where we'd left Sora before we arrived only to find it empty. I grab the sheets frantically, screaming out into the air around me, as I see no sign of struggle. Hot, salty tears flood my eyes and roll down my cheeks as I hug the sheets, still fresh with his scent, to my chest as my body racks with uncontrollable sobs. "Sora, where are you?" I ask between choked sobs. "WHERE ARE YOU SORA? COME OUT AND STOP FAKING THIS!"
"He can't hear you, you know."
My head jerks up so quickly that I barely miss hitting the top of the bed and causing a harmful injury to my head. "Who…but…what do you mean?"
"He's gone far from this realm." The voice replies.
"So…then…it's true? Everything he said has happened." I state more than ask as I drop the material from my hands where it lands with a soft thump on the floor. "But…now…we will lose. Without him…I…I can't keep going either. His light…I need his light!" I shout angrily.
"What's done is done Kairi, Princess of Heart. You, as the purest, must continue your journey. You must accept this occurrence for what it is and deliver this world, like many others, to freedom.
"What is it exactly?" I question icily. "Tell me, oh leader of us Princesses."
Our leader, clad in an elegant gown of the richest gold, emerges from the shadows of the bleak room. Belle looks utterly depressed at the news. "I am sorry Kairi, but I cannot say. I am only here to collect a princess. We," she gestures to the other princesses, "will be leaving as soon as we have taken the Princess Anastasia. I am afraid I can tell you no more except this: He has found your sister and they are now one, and a very dangerous one at that. You must be strong and not, under any circumstances, give into the darkness."
I feel my blood boil at her request. "Well, excuse me for being so anal about this incident! I believe I just lost the FUCKING love of my life and YOU'RE telling me NOT to be upset AND requesting that I carry on?" Belle looks calm but bothered by my words, yet she nods. I become extremely infuriated. "AS IF I WOULD JUST AGREE! I BETTER HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS BELLE!"
"You do not." She turns away, briefly; then, turns back to me and replies in an equally incensed tone. "You must find your sister right away. There can be no time for petty stops. If so, they must be small and absolutely necessary."
I give her a look filled with so much animosity that she is taken aback for a minute; but she regains her confidence and bids me farewell, quickly at that. As soon as she is gone I fall back onto the bed, sinking into the mattress. That is when I feel it. The contours of the mattress are stiff and there is no sign of life or a sign that Sora has been here; t he mattress surface is flat and cold. 'He's been gone for some time now,' I realize. With a defeated sigh, and standing very unwillingly, I make my way towards the pilot's hatch to investigate the controls. 'I should just take off,' I rant in my mind. 'I am of no use anymore. Not now with Sora gone. But,' I look towards the dark sky where the clouds are thick and foggy. 'Something tells me I must keep going…and after all, Belle is right. I should not dwell on my self-pity. I have…responsibilities to deal with.' I release yet another heavy sigh as I nod my head, a small, weak smile gracing my lips. "Well, then, so be it. I will fight until I, Kairi of Curpiona, have freed all the worlds from the darkness. That…I accept as my destiny."
With a withering stare towards the entrance hatch, I stand silently and head back towards the house. Just as I am about to exit I see seven figures walking up towards me. I see my regular crew but now see Dimitri coming as well. Curiosity spreads through me like wildfire as I wait for them to acknowledge my presence. Dimitri is the first to notice. "Hello Princess Kairi. I had wasn't sure about you being a princess, even when that Riku fellow mentioned it-seemed he was crazy-but Yuffie here tells me you are." I nod softly as they clamber into the warm hold and ignore his statement about Riku being crazy. He holds out his hand and I take it gingerly. "I am only here to see you off, especially with Anastasia gone, well, I'll have plenty of time to accomplish all the extra things I haven't done lately." I smile. "Well, it was nice to meet you all. I hope you'll keep me updated. Have a safe trip!" He gives one last friendly wave as Yuffie fires up the engine, with a small shout from Cid, and Dimitri disappears all together.
Once we're off in space, I slide against the window as Selphie and Tidus fade into the shadows of the deck below me. I stare out the window aimlessly; searching for something I know is not there. I give a furtive glance at the bunker where Sora was resting and feel my heartbeat slow as I push the current memory of my lover to the back of my mind. 'Get through this Kairi, and then it will be ok,' I tell myself repeatedly. I look back from the bunker to the endless abyss in front of me, now dark with stars littering the ebony sky. 'No it won't,' I frown as tears course down my cheeks. 'It never will be the same again.'
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"What are we going to do?"
"Do I look like I know?" Cloud Strife snapped at the one-winged angel.
"Where's is Ansem?" Aerith asked curiously as she rubbed Cloud's tense shoulders, unknowing of the hurt flowing through her murderer's body at the sight. She stopped, tapping her chin thoughtfully, and leaned completely on her left hip as she gazed at the ceiling. "Hm…he said he'd be back soon…he might know what to do…no?"
Sephiroth rolled his eyes as he stood from his chair, allowing the wood to scrape the stone floor as he went to the bar, ignoring her comment. He could not bear the sight in front of him. Aerith didn't look disturbed in the least, her chin still resting on her delicate digit as she prodded her mind for a solution to their situation. Neither Cloud nor Sephiroth moved as she suddenly jumped wildly into the air, braid swinging back and forth, and bolted towards the doorway of the quaint café. She paid no attention when they did not move to follow. Instead she continued running until she was past the accessory shop into the second district of the world known as Traverse Town. She greeted people quickly as she ran past the bustling crowded area into the Dalmatian House. Perdita jumped up and licked her furiously as she tried to tear her way past into the doorways that lead to the Third district, which was abandoned even after they'd sealed Kingdom Hearts. Once she'd managed to escape the dogs' furious but caring licks she rushed to the door marked with a flame and strange symbols. 'Merlin's house,' She thought. 'I can't believe no one else thought about it before!'
Carefully, she hopped on moving stone after moving stone towards the house, deciding she should conserve her energy and magical power lest she need it sometime later on in their journey. She was glad that Sephiroth and Ansem were on their side, especially since they knew so much more about the heartless than she and Cloud, well, maybe not Cloud. Once inside the house, which was falling apart with bricks missing from the doorway, Aerith bombarded the elderly magician with questions. "Can't you do anything to help us Merlin?" She looked distressed after hours of interrogating the haggard but jolly wizard. "We are stumped right now. What with Cyra gone-"
"Cyra?" The magician's beard twitched as he flipped through the pages of his book. "The Princess of…Darkness, is it? She's gone?" Aerith nodded. "Well, we are definitely stumped then. If she has not yet been converted there is still hope."
"But if she has been converted to the other side, taken by the darkness…then," Aerith paused dramatically, which was normal for her. "We are all doomed, correct?"
Merlin laughed heartily. "You, above all people, my dear, should know that there is always hope." Aerith raised an eyebrow. "Now, then, you and your friends have work to do."
The flower girl bowed thankfully to him before she fled the little house to the First District; intent on sharing the new information she'd learned of from the wise magician. As she walked, her mind drifted to her situation involving Cloud and Sephiroth. 'It's strange,' she realized. Whatever the differences between them-there seemed to be only one-Aerith knew she could not deal with them now. The fate of the Universe was in the hands of two 18 year-old girls, both who had no concrete memory of their past, nor did either have a grip on reality. She thought her last mental statement was a bit harsh but decided to let it go, as it was not even important to their destinies. 'Or is it?' Aerith found herself looking into it more than she willed to let on but decided that it was not her place to say anything for she herself had rejected her own destiny and duties that accompanied it. 'With good reason,' Aerith convinced herself harshly. 'What I did was to protect the ones I love and have come to love, like Cloud and Kairi and the others.'
When she arrived back at the quaint café she found Cloud hanging over the side of the bar, Sephiroth next to him, both speaking in hushed whispers as they occasionally took small sips from their glasses. This scene puzzled Aerith, for only moments ago they had been trying to rip each other apart because of some antagonistic relationship they'd always had; she did not know the reason. Of course she was clueless to the fact that she was still, as before, the cause of their tyranny towards each other. With a profuse rolling of her eyes Aerith made her way towards the two intoxicated males at the bar. "Give me a shot," She asked quietly. Both drunken males turned to look at her. "Come to think of it," She looked at the bartender. "Make that a double shot and a beer, please." The bartender arched his eyebrows. Aerith shot him a displeased look. "Dammit, just do it before I have to knock your lights out. Serve it."
He nodded quickly and shoved the two clear, small shot glasses filled with tequila at the chestnut-haired beauty along with a bottle of their finest beer. "It's on the house, ma'am." Aerith felt a chuckle rise in her throat. "If you need anything else, let me know."
"Now that," She smiled, "was customer satisfaction." She swiveled in her chair to face Sephiroth and Cloud. "What?"
"Definitely hanging out with Strife for too long." Sephiroth mused blandly.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Cloud became defensive, which, to Aerith, looked rather silly in his drunken stupor.
"Oh shut it, both of you," Aerith snapped as she took a long swig of her beer. They gazed at her in disbelief. "What? You act like a woman can't drink. Big stupid lugs." She muttered as she doused her wrist with salt, downed one of her shots and stuck a lemon in her mouth. The burning sensation coursed through her throat and cooled when she took a sip of her beer. Cloud snatched it away before she could reach for it again, which caused Aerith's eyes blaze, but she let it go and glared her contempt as Sephiroth released a low chuckle. "God, can't I have any fun can I? Well," she slumped against the bar, "not without you two bothering me."
"Well, with your PERFECT record, you aren't allowed to become intoxicated." Sephiroth replied.
"And I suppose you are?" She spat back. Cloud had fallen from his stool and was snoozing peacefully on the Spanish tiled floor beneath them.
"Are you kidding ancient?" Sephiroth roared, his emerald eyes flashing wildly. "They had assumed I'd done everything wrong on the earth. Does it matter now?" She grumbled incoherently. "Well, now that your significant other is indisposed, speak of what you have found out."
Aerith proceeded to whimper as she glanced at her lover on the floor. "I still can't believe I was sworn to secrecy from him." She winced when Sephiroth snorted very uncharacteristically. "Won't he find out anyway since you are still one person?" The effects of the alcohol were beginning to sink in. Sephiroth shook his head. "Oh, right. You aren't connected mentally." She slapped herself to keep the alcohol from controlling her actions incase Cloud awakened sometime soon. "Ok, just…help me take him to the house."
"I wouldn't even touch him if you begged me with your life and everyone else's sole existence." He mused as he gulped his drink. "Drag him or leave him. We have business to take care of."
"Jerk," she muttered.
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She walked carefully over to the large, translucent window in front of her, inspecting it silently as she acknowledged the shuffling of feet behind her. She ignored Riku as he hustled about the darkened room not bothering to request the light from anywhere. Cyra felt her skin chill at the thought of hanging in limbo with the Prince of Darkness longer than she anticipated, even if she did love him. "I wanted to say," She began but stopped abruptly when she realized he wasn't listening. Despite this mishap Cyra decided to carry on her conversation even if he didn't listen; she needed to let it out before she fell to the inevitable darkness. "I wanted to say that I don't wish to do this. If I fall sooner than I wish, or at all for that matter, I want to say I will perish with the darkness. I am binding myself to it and wish to die with it if we do not succeed…even though I love you."
At this statement Riku spun around, his cool demeanor gone as he stared at her, eyes wide and looking particularly perturbing as they were already an unusual color. She took a momentary step back, frightened by his sudden action. In one swift movement Riku had crossed the distance between them and taken a rough hold of her shoulders. "Say it isn't true…" he whispered. When she did not answer, his face contorted hideously. "SAY IT ISN'T TRUE!"
"I cannot lie!" She shouted back as tears threatened to fall from her ruby eyes; she would not break in front of him. "Accept it and leave me be until it is time for me to be taken!"
"I cannot take you if there is purity in your heart! Love is purity!" Riku yelled back, his eyes furious as he glared at her. "Say you hate me, tell me you wish me to die!" She realized he cared nothing for her feelings and was merely protesting to further his plan to reap destruction upon the earth. She shook her head. This caused Riku to become angrier than before and he shoved her away, the ability to kill her in his hands. But something stopped him as he shoved her only hard enough to cause her to stumble. Suddenly she saw his temper drop at an almost alarming rate and he looked away.
She dared to ask him a question. "What is the matter?"
"The truth is," he started quietly, "that neither of you, as of now, possesses the darkness to transform completely. I could have killed you, but he will not allow me to right now, for he still loves you." Riku's voice changed eerily to one she'd never heard before. "But, just as your father did before, I will conquer his heart and darkness will overpower him once again. Your heart is no longer protected as of now, and I will conquer yours as well once you realize what he really is and has become over the years." He turned to her, eyes now intensely red-yellow. "I am darkness, and have always been. He is a mere puppet just as Cloud Strife was years before."
Cyra felt her body tense as he walked around her, circling her like a vulture, inspecting her as though she was fresh meat. She didn't like his gaze one bit but knew she was in his world without the ability to control herself as the darkness ruled, and she was in it's presence. "Can you stop that?" She asked though her bones were rattling inside their skin. Riku stopped momentarily as his eyes change from an intensely red-yellow to a slight green. She knew he was saner for now. "Well, what next? I can't take away the purity I possess…why don't you let me go?" He bellowed out laughter. "Well, it was worth a try." She muttered as she swore her way past him into the nothingness that surrounded them.
"Come my princess, we journey to conquer our first world together." He took her arm and they were gone.
"Ugh," Cyra grumbled.
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"What world is this now?" I ask. "They have all had such strange names lately."
"Seems this is China," Yuffie mouths to Leon. "Anyone ever been HERE before?"
"No," everyone answers dumbfounded.
"Well, why don't we dock and check it out like last time?" Selphie suggest helpfully.
"We'll join you."
"CLOUD, AERITH!" Yuffie jumps them as they walk towards us.
Everyone is rejoicing as they smile at us but our expressions falter as we see Sephiroth rejoin us as well. I throw him a death look before we hear a swishing noise and Ansem rejoins us too. "Well, I take it everyone is present and accounted for, correct?" Ansem asks as he glances around. "Yes," He hesitates slightly and I know it is because of Sora's absence. "Everyone…is here. We should get going or the Riku will conquer a planet and capture the princess. Land on this place called China. It has been charted well by my partner and I."
"Right," I agree hastily. "So…what princess are we here for then, since you've already explored this place?"
"We are here to save the Princess Fa Mulan, a recent addition to the keyhole spectrum." Ansem replies as Cid knocks Yuffie towards Leon and lands the gummi ship on his own. Once we have exited the ship-gladly at that-we stand around stupidly, our eyes taking in the scenery before us. It is much different than Russia. "According to Belle, she could not make it here in time to save both the Princess Ariel and the Princess Fa Mulan, so she sent us here to save this world's princess while she went to Atlantica with the others. Now, follow me, we know the way."
I nod as we all fall into step behind the former leader of darkness. The scenery is beautiful: fields of luscious green, healthy grass blanket the rolling hills and splendorous plains before us. Everything is fresh with life; trees are blossoming with new buds and leaves. Even the sun is high in the sky, its golden rays bathing us in warmth, comforting warmth, as we trek down the surprisingly deserted road. It is then, when I have finished staring at the empty marketplace full of goods, that I realize how silent it is, how eerie the silence itself is. I turn to Yuffie who seem to have the same reaction as me despite the fact that she is trying to act calmly about it. Donald and Goofy are glancing around as though they know something is happening that no one, not even Ansem, can see. Suddenly, as we turn the bend on one particularly dusty, abandoned, trashed road, a figure leaps out at us. Donald and Goofy run forward as the others, myself included, fall back in shock. Ansem and Sephiroth spring back up as the figure stops a few yards away. I see no armor but do take in the image of a sword, a sharp sword that glints in the sunlight above us. I cower away slightly even though my katanas are still connected to my ever-present hip belt. I forget, too, that there are warriors all around us-momentarily.
"Come, now," Ansem starts as the person points the sword in front of him or herself. "Is that any way to treat us newcomers?"
"Newcomers?" The voice chuckles. It is a woman. "Humph. The last newcomers who arrived here destroyed more than half my town before we could drive them away. I will not trust you so easily. Now…who sent you? I am not alone in protecting this city, though I do not wish to kill you; but I will do what is necessary to save my town from anymore harm."
Sephiroth rolls his eyes. "We are messengers of the Princesses of Heart. We have come looking for a Fa Mulan."
"I am Fa Mulan. But I do not know of any Princesses of Heart." The woman known as Mulan throw her hair back as she grips her sword tightly, making her way towards us ever so slowly and cautiously. "Tell me, what proof do I have to believe you are telling the truth? May I see a Princess of Heart now?"
Before I know what is happening, Sephiroth has shoved me forward to the woman who has stopped walking and is taking a defensive position. The woman is semi-tall with long jet-black hair falling just below her shoulders. Her eyes are catlike, slanted and are colored the deepest, darkest black I have ever seen. Her skin is pale but her lips are cherry blossom pink. She wears a typical cultural garb of red, purple and blue with a white slip dress, while small flat black shoes cover her feet. I think it similar to a kimono. Still, her eyes reflect the nature of a warrior and I wonder where her armor is. Her look is piercing as her eyes sweep quickly over my fallen form at her feet. I see her gaze settle at my left hip. 'Oh no,' I think, berating myself. 'I forgot about my weapons!' Sephiroth looks nonchalant as she finishes inspecting me. "Well, she is our princess of heart."
"Princesses do not carry swords." She frowns maliciously. "I knew this was a trick, but no matter. I shall deal with you, foe!" I cry out as she brings her sword down to my head, barely missing its razor sharp blade as I roll away successfully. I jump to my feet quickly as I grab my katanas and hold them out in front of me. She stops, momentarily, and rests her sword at her hip while a smirk light up her face. "Are you going to fight me stranger?" I nod carefully. She smiles again. "Well, we'll see what kind of a warrior you prove to be."
I smack myself, mentally beating myself up at accepting her challenge. 'You are not experienced enough Kairi,' I think. I feel my body shaking, the katanas quivering in my grasp as she resumes her fighting stance. I feel my courage diminish instantly as she runs at me so fast I don't even have time to register where she is until I feel a stinging sensation on my arm. 'Ouch,' I think as I jump away and glance at my arm, briefly, watching the blood oozing cut. She appears expectant. "Can't we talk about this Fa Mulan? I am not your enemy! I am a princess just like yourself!"
"I am no Princess!" She shouts, offended by my statement. She charges at me and I gasp as she strikes me, time after time, hit after hit making contact with my pale skin. I can feel the cuts stinging and the crimson liquid overflowing from the wounds. I suddenly drop to floor before her, not willing to hurt her. "Don't ever call me a princess again. I am not one and I never will be one. Now, I will finish you and your friends."
I feel my temper flare at her statement, despite the fact that I am losing so much blood. I stand, warily, and grip my katanas in front of me, steadily, too. My anger gets the best of me and I stare her straight in the eyes as a feeling I have never known before, a dark, evil feeling, wells up inside the pit of my stomach. I scowl at her in contempt. "Listen Bitch," I begin and laugh at her look. "I came here to rescue you so either you come quietly or," I lick the blood oozing of my shoulder, the blood smearing all over my cherry pink lips. "I will take you by force. Now if I were you, I'd choose the latter."
Her eyes bulge obviously and she frowns. "Never, you filthy monster!" With a war cry we both lunge at each other, swords slashing and blood flying everywhere. She is too fast for me, too strong for me, too smart for me. But I feel an incredible power fill my body and as we stand in the midst of staring bodies, our weapons pushing against one another, I release an animal-like growl and push her off. She stumbles backwards, surprise written across her features; I pounce her as she lies on the blood stained dirt road. I laugh sadistically as I hold the katana blade at her neck, hissing like a cat as she trembles beneath my deadly weapon. I feel her inhale deeply, which cause the blade to cut her ever so slightly, and trickles of her life's essence flow from the slash across her throat. I give her a look that says to give it up as I smirk at her. But the look she gives back is hideously fearless as she smiles nastily at me. "It seems like you have won this battle, monster," She glares at me. "But I will prevail in the end."
"How so?" I ask, my pride egging me to know why she says such a statement when her life is in my hands.
"I will prevail for I have the purer heart, Kairi of Curpiona." She grins sadistically.
At her words I throw myself off of her. The feeling of hatred I felt while fighting her vanishes into thin air and I cower behind my weapons as she stands, face softening as she smiles genuinely at me. "How do you…know who…I am?" She looks about to speak when I suddenly fall to the floor and clutch my head in anguish. "NO! NO, IT CAN'T BE TRUE! SAY IT WAS A LIE BELLE! NO, NO, NO!" I shout repeatedly at no one in particular beside the non-present princess of heart leader. I feel someone touch my shoulder and look into the eyes of Mulan. She embraces me sadly. "It's true then, isn't Mulan? What Belle said…it was all true? I am being taken as well, aren't I? Just like Cyra…I am being possessed. But why me? I am the purest! No dark blood runs through my veins!"
"No, that isn't true Kairi." Mulan whispers. "Dark blood, or blood of evil run through everyone's veins. But just as the evil blood does this, so does the purest blood. I am afraid this isn't a good sign though." She bites her lip as I stare at her.
"What do you mean?" I sniffle and hiccup at the same time as she helps me stand as I am frail and weak after our battle, not to mention the strain the darkness put on my powers and body; she pushes me to who picks me up in his arms. "I don't…understand all this."
"It is simple, really." Mulan shoulders her sword and beckons for us to follow. "Come, there is much more to this then Belle made you aware of, I am guessing."
As we follow her into the wrecked house, I can't help but wonder what she means. We pass her front doors, which are falling off their hinges, and various Chinese tapestries or what I think are tapestries, hanging along the walls. We go past her kitchen, which still seems to be intact, towards her bedroom where I can see she has made a makeshift bed. And I can see that excluding the fact of the damage done to her house; it was still a nice house when it stood. Finally we stop in her room at a small table. She motions for Leon to lie me on the bed and cover me before I catch a cold or worse. Once we are all settled, she lights a small candle as night settles over us. Her eyes suddenly look very wary and her posture droops as she lets out a long sigh. "Kairi," she looks straight at me from my sitting position under the cover. "You do know why the Prince of Darkness took your sister, right?" I nod. "Well, I am afraid that there is more to the reason aside from what you know."
"What? But how can that be?" I ask in puzzlement. "I thought we already knew everything."
"I am not saying you were given false information," Mulan states. "I am merely saying that you were not told ALL the information. You see, in order for Cyra to be taken by the darkness and used as she was meant to in the plan and scheme of darkness overpowering light, well, she has to be completely consumed by dark, evil thoughts and feelings. Now if she has even one of the purest emotions still living inside her heart in any way, she cannot be taken until the glow from the emotion is extinguished." I nod in slow understanding.
"So you're saying she is still partly pure, yes?" Yuffie questions curiously.
"Yes," Mulan replies as she shifts her position on her pillow. "She is still in love, pure true love, with the Prince of Darkness himself. Now, it is for that reason that she has caused her fate to shift towards you. You, Kairi of Curpiona, have lost something dear to you. The Key bearer has left you and even though you chose the correct path and prophecy to follow, you are straying from that path. If you stray too far, as you have just now, you will be consumed and the, truly, all will be lost."
I gape in horror as they all stare me dead in the eye. I stutter mindlessly. "But I didn't know…I can't…I won't go the wrong way."
"We should certainly hope so." Mulan says. "But I cannot wager on your integrity or dedication as you have swayed before this as well." I want to yell at her but another voice interrupts us.
"Hello Kairi."
^TBC...
(Ok, so there it was for you, ok peoples? I hope you liked it or thought it interesting! But hey, if you didn't, what can I do? Anyway, if you have any ideas for me then feel free to let me know, ok? Um…sorry for those of you who don't like it. Well, please R&R and constructive criticism is welcome but NO flames cause that is rude! Thank you everyone who has and hasn't reviewed! Freakin aye, at least you read it!)
+DarkKairi+