Me: Sorry for the lack of updates! Curse school…and writer's block. This chapter was hard to write because—(covers mouth) …I better not ruin it for you guys, hehe…

Kaitsu: …

Me: …Kaitsu's still giving me the silent treatment (sweadrop)

Takari: Merielle does not own Kingdom Hearts. How many more times do I have to say this?


Destiny's Punishment

Chapter 17—Betrayal

"Kotoro, what's wrong?" asked Kairi. They were half-way through the spiral staircase when Kotoro stopped.

"I've got a bad feeling…" he muttered.

"That's weird. I feel the same way too," said Sora.

"Me too," nodded Riku.

"I don't think this is a coincidence," said Mickey gravely.

"We'd better hurry," said Kotoro, now running up the stairs, the other followed quickly behind him. They finally reached a large black door at the top of the stairs. Silver words were engraved into the door.

"It's a different language," said Riku, trying to read the strange symbols. Kotoro instinctively put his clawed hand over the words, reading the words aloud.

"Yebond iths orod si het mecharb fo het Krad Noe… Noly het megs fo het Krad Ugradians nac peno htis orod…"

"What does it mean?" asked Sora.

"I know this language…"

"What?"

"When we were kids, we used to use this language all the time for riddles and games," explained Kotoro. He narrowed his eyes, trying to translate the words aloud.

"'Beyond this door… is the chamber of… the Dark One? …Only the gems of… the Dark Guardians… can open this door…'" It was then that Kotoro noticed four small holes under the words. Pulling out the gems, he placed them one by one into the holes. Once they were in, they stepped back as a faint light surrounded the door. Slowly it opened, its hinges creaking from no use, revealing a dark circular room. The fire of the torches made the room look even more sinister. Their eyes fell upon a figure standing in the center of the room.

"…Kaitsu?" gasped Kotoro, a smile appearing on his face. Mickey frowned slightly.

'Something's not right…' he thought.

Kotoro walked forward and stopped a few feet before Kaitsu, smiling as though Christmas came early. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"…Yeah, right."

Kotoro blinked as Kaitsu looked up at him and saw his eyes for the first time since they came in. Instead of a calm blue, they were blood red, burning with pure hatred.

"You never cared about me. All you wanted was just some little lackey to follow you around, listening to everything you say," muttered Kaitsu.

"What're you talking about? We nearly risked our lives to save you!"

"The only life that needs to be saved right now… is yours."

Kotoro jumped back as Kaitsu's Keyblade shot into the ground where he once stood. Pulling it out, he stood once more, glaring at the older boy who was now staring disbelief.

"Kaitsu, what's the matter with you?!"

"Nothing's the matter with me, dear brother," said Kaitsu, smiling menacingly.

"So that's it then…" The two turned to Mickey, who had just discovered the truth. He looked up at Kaitsu, a hint of anger in his voice. "I never thought you'd sink so low as to giving up the light, Kaitsu…"

Realization dawned on the others and they stood there, appalled. Kotoro stared at Kaitsu in terror. His dream actually did come true. Kaitsu just smiled and started… laughing. Kotoro blinked. He was laughing! His younger brother had just joined the Darkness, tried to stab him, and now he was laughing about it?!

"As much as I would love to continue talking, we should probably end this," said Kaitsu, a sinister smile on his face as he summoned his Keyblade once more.

Before any of them could react, he swung the Keyblade at them in Strike Raid. Goofy pulled out his shield and managed to deflect it before it hit anyone. Kaitsu smirked, glancing to each of them before deciding his first target. Suddenly he disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

"Where'd he go?" exclaimed Donald. Everyone looked around, weapons in hand, but couldn't find him anywhere. Kotoro's ears perked up as he heard a faint creak above them. He looked up at the chandelier above them, but nothing was there. Another creak came from it… and another. Kotoro narrowed his eyes, seeing something glinting between the chains. It was a small dagger, locked between the links. Another creak sounded and the links around the dagger loosened, the chandelier stooping down an inch. He looked down at Donald and Goofy, who were standing right underneath the chandelier. Realization hit him and he shouted,

"Look out!!!"

It was too late. The chains broke and the chandelier fell down upon the two. The others fell to the ground, shielding themselves from the shards and dust that burst throughout the room. The ground shook, then stopped a second later. They stood up and looked at the broken chandelier that impaled itself into the ground. A shield stained with blood was lying beside it, a hand extended beside it from underneath the chandelier.

It took about a minute for the sudden incident to sink in. Donald and Goofy were dead. In just five seconds, they were killed, and they couldn't do anything to save them.

"My god…" muttered Kairi, trying her best to hide her tears. Mickey lowered his head in grief while the others just stared in horror at the sight. A small, cold laughter was heard and they turned around to find Kaitsu standing there once more.

"I think I might have overdone it. What a pity," he said.

"You'll pay for this!" shouted Sora. He summoned his Keyblade and charged at Kaitsu without a moment's hesitation. Kaitsu blocked the attack with his own Keyblade, and, with quick speed, he slammed the hilt of the blade into the brunette's stomach. Sora grunted, doubling over at the sudden impact. Kaitsu took this moment and raised his Keyblade over his head, ready to strike.

"Kaitsu stop!"

Kaitsu blinked and looked up at Kotoro, who had grabbed his Keyblade before it could strike. The younger boy's eyes narrowed.

"Let go, otherwise I'll kill you too."

"Go ahead."

A dead silence filled the room. Kaitsu blinked, his glare fading away as the words sunk in. No hint of fear showed in Kotoro's face as he glared at Kaitsu. Was he actually willing to die?

'What are you waiting for? Kill him.' The cold voice of his Master echoed in Kaitsu's head. He didn't move, but continued staring in disbelief at Kotoro.

"Well? Aren't you going to kill me?" asked Kotoro, noticing his brother's expression. A faint trace of blue was beginning to show in the younger one's eyes.

'Kill him already!'

'I…I can't.' Kaitsu took a step back, but a sharp pain pounded in his head.

'Kill him!!'

'No!'

'Kill him! NOW!'

Out of rage, Kaitsu raised his Keyblade and brought it down at Kotoro. The older boy dodged it and jumped back as Kaitsu attacked him once more, only to have his attack deflected. Kotoro continued to defend himself as Kaitsu blindly slashed at him. Seeing a weak spot, Kaitsu slammed the flat end of the Keyblade into Kotoro's stomach. A sharp pain shot through Kotoro's stomach and he doubled over. His wound from Nori had reopened again. Kaitsu didn't hesitate and raised the Keyblade over Kotoro. The older boy winced, prepared for the blow…

…But it never came.

Kotoro opened his eyes and looked above him. Kaitsu still stood there, holding the Keyblade over his head.

'KILL HIM YOU FOOL!'

His hand was shaking and a struggling expression was on his face. The pain in his head was getting worse by the second. Kotoro blinked, wondering why he was hesitating.

Suddenly the Keyblade disappeared from Kaitsu's hand as the boy took a step back. "This isn't over yet…" He muttered before disappearing through a portal. The four ran to Kotoro and helped him back up.

"Cura," whispered Kairi. A green aura surrounded the gash and the pain subsided, but the wound still remained open. They stood their in silence for a few minutes, mourning over the loss of their two friends.

"I don't believe this…" muttered Kotoro. Feelings of guilt, hate, anger, and betrayal washed over him. His own brother had just killed Donald and Goofy and tried to kill him too!

"Kotoro, show me Kaitsu's Balance Sphere," said Mickey. Kotoro blinked but pulled out the orb anyway. Everyone's spirits dropped once they saw what color it was.

The orb was pure black.

"It's too late now," muttered Sora.

"No, it isn't," responded Mickey. The four looked at him confused. "Take a closer look at the orb."

Confused, they looked at the orb once more and noticed something that they didn't see before. Right in the middle of the orb was a small faint glimmer of light.

"What is it?" asked Kairi.

"The darkness in the orb represents Kaitsu as he is now. The small glow shows Kaitsu before he gave in," explained Mickey.

"So that means… that the old Kaitsu is still inside of him?" asked Kotoro. Mickey nodded.

"Exactly, but it's now asleep deep within. We just have to figure out a way to awaken his light before the darkness takes total control…"

They pondered over it for a few seconds. Kotoro closed his eyes, picturing that struggling look on Kaitsu's face when he told him to kill him. A thought struck his head at that moment, and he smiled.

"I think I know a way to get Kaitsu back."


Me: whew! I finally finished it! Now you know why I had writer's block on this. It was so hard to write the scene where they finally get to Kaitsu and have to fight him.

Kaitsu: …

Me: oh, come on! You're still upset?!

Kaitsu: … (glare)

Ken: Apparently, he is…

Me: oh well… He'll have to speak eventually… right?

Kaitsu: … (holds up Keyblade threateningly)

Me: …uh-oh…

Takari: While Merielle is getting threatened by Kaitsu, read this review replies…

Ninja Mage- Horribly maim? (scoots away slowly) …Hmm… The unknown seems to be getting a lot of negative responses… (reads reviews) Oh well, let him get flamed! Hehehe…

Kai- Well, yes, that's how I wanted it to go! I just love horrible twists in the stories! …And, who knows? Kaitsu might become good again… …or not… (evil laugh)

The Keyblade Master- Yes, school is so evil. I have this stupid science project I have to work on too. (sad sigh) I didn't want Nori to die in the story, so, why not? Let him live! XD

Mikol- Kill me?! Gosh, some people are starting to not like me for this… Hmm, well, Nori and the others are going to pay the deed back… Well, you'll see in the next chapters!

Sai-ryo Aura Feana- Don't you dare poke Kaitsu! (huggles him) He's mine! XD Anywho… Yeah, poor little Kaitsu. Everyone seems sad that he's evil now, but everyone's happy that Nori and the others live too.

Me: Oh, and here's a little info on the next few chapters! ((Contains some spoilers!))

Nori and the others are revived, and figure out a way to pay Kotoro back. Kaitsu gets punished for not killing Kotoro. Ronin and the Light Guardians try to save Kaitsu. Everyone finds out a horrible secret about the Dark Unknown.

Me: hehehe… This'll leave you hanging for a while.

Kaitsu: …

Me: okay, now he's scaring me… Anywho, read and review!

Merielle