Me: (runs in panting) I am SO sorry everyone! Please forgive me! I had tons of homework and exams…

Ken: (notices something behind Merielle) Um… Merielle…

Me: And then there was that stupid writer's curse…

Ken: (backs away) Merielle…

Me: Geez… I really need to get my priorities straight! I hope you guys aren't too mad—

Ken: Merielle!

Me: What?

Ken: … (points behind her)

Me: (turns around, and sees a huge mob of angry readers) !…OH, SH—(The rest is muffled by the trampling of the angry readers)

Ken: um… Merielle does not own Kingdom Hearts. But she will own a huge life insurance bill after this… (walks away quietly)


Destiny's Punishment

Chapter 19—Explanations

"His…what?" Kotoro's words echoed throughout the room as the four stared at him in disbelief. Yasuko just smiled,

"I guess the mouse didn't tell you, did he? Heh, he always did like to keep secrets to himself." The unknown's gaze turned to Mickey, who lowered his head.

"I didn't want them to have this burden, Yasuko," replied Mickey.

"Well, it's about time they know." Yasuko turned to the four, his insane smile sickening them. "Kotoro, do you remember that day when the Heartless invaded your world? The day when Kaitsu received his Keyblade and was sent to Kingdom Hearts?"

Kotoro didn't reply, but just nodded as the memory replayed in his mind.


"What do we do? There's too many of them!"

There were Heartless everywhere, cornering the two boys in the room. Piercing yellow eyes looked upon them, ready to attack. Kotoro's defense shield began to wear down and the Heartless began to approach them. At last, the shield flickered away. One shadow Heartless took this opportunity and leapt at Kaitsu, its claws shooting into the younger boy's chest.

Suddenly a light shot out of Kaitsu's chest, throwing back the shadow, and engulfed the room. When the blinding light faded away, there was a strange key-shaped weapon in the boy's hand.

"W-What is this?" he muttered. Suddenly a large beam out of nowhere shot at the Heartless, instantly killing them. The two looked up and saw a hooded figure standing in the doorway.

"Who are you?" Kotoro stood in front of Kaitsu in defense.

"Don't worry. I am not against you," said the unknown. "My name is Ronin."

"Why are you here?" asked Kaitsu.

"I am here for you two. That weapon in your hand--" He pointed to the key-shaped weapon, "—is a Keyblade. It is a weapon meant to protect or destroy other worlds. In your case, it is to protect Kingdom Hearts. It is difficult to explain, but you are now officially the Keeper of Kingdom Hearts. Your duty is to protect it from the forces of Darkness."

Kaitsu blinked, the explanation sinking in. "So… where is 'Kingdom Hearts?'"

"Come with me, and I'll show you," replied Ronin, extending his hand out to them. The brothers didn't even think twice about the circumstances as they took Ronin's hand, and they disappeared in a flash of light.


"What does that have to do with you?" asked Kotoro, looking back up at Yasuko.

"Everything," he replied. "Don't you remember the Heartless that attacked Kaitsu before the Keyblade appeared in his hand?"

"Yeah, so?"

"…You really are dense, aren't you?" sighed Yasuko. "Alright then, I'll tell you what happened after you two disappeared…"


The Heartless crawled out from under the rubble and examined the area, but found no one in sight. It looked down at the tiny crystal shard in its hands. If a Heartless had a mouth, this one would have been grinning like mad.

It quickly ran a few feet away from the remains of the town. Looking around, it grabbed a stick and began scratching in something around the shard. After a few minutes, the shadow threw the stick aside and looked at the symbol it had now carved in. It placed the shard in the center of the encryption and stepped back as the shard, along with the symbol, began to glow.

Soon enough, a dark cloud engulfed the shard and began to grow into the shape of a human. Two red eyes appeared in the smoke, causing the Heartless to jump back. The figure stepped out of the smoke, revealing a young boy wearing a cloak. Red eyes were the only thing visible from underneath the hood. He looked down upon the Heartless.

"Are you one who awakened me?"

The Heartless nodded, jumping up and down. The boy knelt down and petted its head. The shadow purred happily, content to know its work was at last completed. The boy stopped petting it, and the shadow looked up…

only to have a dagger stabbed into it.

The shadow screeched in pain as it slowly disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Smirking, the boy stood back up, examining the land around him. He walked forward, not at all taking notice to the plants that instantly withered below his feet as he moved past them. He looked up at the night sky, a menacing grin and glowing eyes visible from underneath the hood.

"It begins now…"


"Maybe if you had taken better care of your brother, I might not have been born," finished Yasuko. He watched as Kotoro's expression turned to confusion and fear.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you see? If you had jumped in to save him, instead of just standing there, maybe none of this would have happened." Yasuko pointed an accusing finger at Kotoro. "It's all your fault."

"No it isn't…"

"Because of you I exist."

"No! Shut up!"

"Because of you, your brother is suffering."

"Shut up!" In a wave of fury, Kotoro charged at Yasuko and slashed at him with his claws. Yasuko was quick enough to evade the attack and jumped back. Kotoro attacked again, but missed once more. After awhile, Yasuko sent a wave of dark energy at Kotoro, sending him back a few feet.

"I think that's enough time for you to vent your anger," mocked Yasuko. Kotoro growled and jumped at him once more. And just like before, Yasuko sent him flying back to the ground.

"Kotoro, stop this right now!" shouted Mickey.

"He's right, you're not strong enough," said Kairi. Kotoro stood back up and glared at Yasuko.

"They're right Kotoro. You should stop wasting your energy. You are weak after all…" As soon as the words escaped, Kotoro charged at Yasuko in flying fury. Yasuko jumped to the side as Kotoro skidded past and stopped. They stood still for what seemed to be forever. Suddenly a thin red line appeared over Yasuko's cheek. He reached up and touched the cut as small drops of blood fell.

'Impossible…' thought Yasuko, eyes darting back up at Kotoro. 'I had my shield up the entire time. He couldn't have broken through…'

"Don't get too proud of this," hissed Yasuko. A portal opened behind him as he walked into it. Not satisfied with just that one hit, Kotoro lunged at him again, but not in time. The portal closed before he could reach it.

They stood in silence for a few minutes before Kotoro turned towards Mickey.

"Why didn't you tell us this?"

"As I've said before, I didn't want you to have this burden--"

"Burden! I just found out that that freak spawned from my brother! This anything but a burden! And it's all my fault!"

"Don't listen to what that jerk told you," remarked Kairi.

"But he's right. Kaitsu's suffering right now and it's my fault…" Kotoro began walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" asked Riku.

"I'm going to keep searching," replied Kotoro.

"But we've already searched every floor," replied Sora.

"I don't care. Kaitsu has to be somewhere in this messed up place." He made to open the door before Mickey spoke up.

"I'm sorry for not telling you this sooner."

"Yeah, well, it's too late to apologize now." Kotoro opened the door and walked off, leaving the others behind.


"Guardians!"

A portal appeared as Sanyu, Tamorei, and Nori climbed out from it and knelt down in front of Yasuko.

"You called, sir?" spoke Sanyu.

"Which one of you did it?"

"What?"

"Don't act dumb with me! Somebody destroyed my shield!" hissed Yasuko, who was now really ticked off. "Seeing as you three are the only ones who know how to renew and destroy the shield…"

"You think we did it?" finished Tamorei.

"We'd never do that to you, especially during a battle. We swear," said Nori.

"Then who…" Yasuko trailed off and looked up at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought. "…Sanyu?"

"Yes?"

"Where is Kaitsu?"

"He's in the tower, sir. Why do you ask?"

Yasuko said nothing but continued to stare at the ceiling. He narrowed his eyes and said,

"Someone else is up there with him…"


'I hate this job. I hate this job. I. Hate. It,' thought Takari… who was currently hanging out of the tower window. He had walked in disguised as a squirrel and had an… unfortunate meeting with Kaitsu again. This time he was close to being stabbed by the Keyblade.

'Geez, that boy seriously hates squirrels…' Takari managed to get a good grip on the window by now, and began climbing back in. Before he fell in, he managed to transform back into a squirrel again.

"…Who's there?"

Squirrel Takari looked up and saw Kaitsu sitting in a corner. Glowing red eyes darted down and looked at the squirrel.

"You again…" He narrowed his eyes as the squirrel waved sheepishly. "I thought I told you to never come back here."

The squirrel paid no attention to this and scuttled closer. Kaitsu summoned his Keyblade, glaring down at the squirrel.

"Don't come any closer."

The squirrel just chittered and came up to his feet and looked up at the boy, taking notice of his red eyes. 'This is bad…'

Before the squirrel could scuttle back out, Kaitsu's Keyblade came crashing down on it, barely missing it by a few inches. The squirrel jumped back and ran towards the window. Kaitsu stood up and pulled out his Keyblade from the ground.

"I'll make sure you don't come back here," muttered Kaitsu. The squirrel reached the window and looked back, only to see whirl of metal hurling towards him.

Clang.

"…What is going on here?"

Kaitsu froze and looked towards the door, seeing Yasuko standing there.

"Nothing. I was just taking care of… a problem."

Yasuko nodded. "Have you seen anyone else in this room?"

"…No, sir."

"Alright then." Yasuko turned and walked back out. Kaitsu sighed and looked back at where the squirrel was…

…and jumped back screaming.

"You… you little… brat…" muttered Takari, crouching on the window sill. Blood was dripping from his left arm.

"…Takari?" muttered Kaitsu, recognizing the ticked off boy.

"Yeah, it's me," Takari grinned at him. Suddenly Kaitsu pulled out the Keyblade and pointed it straight at Takari.

"Get out."

Before he could react, Kaitsu shot a fire spell straight at Takari. He jumped back, his foot slipping on the edge of the window.

"Ah!" Takari managed to grab the side of the window before falling. Looking down, he saw several trees. The fall would be pretty painful…

He looked back up at Kaitsu, who pointed the Keyblade at him again.

"I don't want any of you to come near this place. I've already suffered enough."

"Kaitsu, you don't understand! We're trying to help you!"

"I don't need help." He aimed and shot another fireball at Takari, causing him to let go. He watched as the guardian fell down several feet into the forest below. A smile spread across his face,

"One down, four more to go…"


Me: Done! Geez, writer's block is seriously not good. On another note… Adelphia's being really annoying to me right now, and now I'm not able to see my e-mail. Hopefully I'll get this fixed and answer your review replies as soon as possible!

Takari: you killed me!

Me: Don't jump to conclusions!

Takari: but… I fell… and…

Me: As I've said before, don't jump to conclusions.

Takari: …

Me: Anywho, please read and review. I'll be updating more often now since my writer's block is gone. Ja!

Merielle