The Darkness in My Heart

Distant Dreams and Memories

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or "Simple and Clean," and neither does Selphie. That's good because if she did, it would be full of very weird things and embarrassing situations for Riku, Sora, and Kairi because she is such a romanticist.

Author's Crazy Talk:

Thanks to all of the people who have read my story so far! This chapter is dedicated to Inumaru 12 and Teddy-the-Bear. Your support really means a lot to me. So, as I promised, here is the next chapter. I decided to make this chapter really long, all because of you great readers. I also found that listening to "Simple and Clean" while reading it adds a cool effect. I discovered that while I was proofreading and I felt the urge to listen to it. There are a few surprises, especially at the end, and some mysterious characters will show up. But to find out, you'll have to read on! So, enough talk, on with the show!

Sora had been walking for an hour nonstop, and by now, he was exhausted. He was further away from the darkness, but he needed rest. Picking a spot to sleep, he took off his jacket (so he was only wearing an undershirt and his shorts) to form a makeshift pillow.

Lying down, he examined the small mirror that was now in his pocket. The edges of the mirror were covered in fairies and flowers. The handle had a strange creature that he recognized as a griffin from a book he had once read back on the island on a rainy day. He turned it around, and on the back was a giant circle with two smaller circles on top. He recognized it as the symbol of the King.

Now, Sora had a problem. He wanted to see his friends, but he wasn't sure who he wanted to see more. Kairi was his crush, but Riku was his best friend since as far back as he could remember. Sora finally decided on seeing Riku first. He concentrated his mind on Riku, recalling his memories of them together.

Flashback

It's Sora's ninth birthday. Riku, Kairi, Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie are all gathered around Sora. He had gotten many wonderful presents, but there was one present he was looking forward to. It was Riku's, and the very last present left to open. It was a long box, covered in blue wrapping paper, with purple bow on top. Greedily, Sora lunged for the blue package, only to have it yanked away at the last the last second.

"Gosh, Sora. What's the rush?" Riku said, in a teasing voice.

"Rikuuuuuuu," Sora whined as his lips formed a pout.

"Fine, Sora, here you go," Riku said, laughing at how ridiculous Sora looked when pouting. Sora ripped at the paper, throwing it on the ground.

Opening the box, the young boy was stunned with happiness, as he saw what Riku had given him for his birthday.

"It's a … it's a wooden sword!" Sora exclaimed, excitement and gratitude in his voice.

"Well maybe now you can keep up with me, hmmmm?" Riku teased, enjoying antagonizing his friend.

"Hey!" Sora yelled as he leaped at the laughing, silver – haired boy.

End Flashback

The mirror started to glow a bright green, and when he looked into the small glass screen, he saw Riku.

The older boy was in the cave that he had once discovered with Sora. There were scribbles on the walls, memories from the past years that they had experienced together. Riku couldn't help but blame himself for what had happened to Sora.

"I should have gone to look for him. I should have made sure that he was okay. This is my fault! If I hadn't been so wrapped up in Kairi, I would have noticed him leave the island. I made a promise to him, and I broke it! I should have been there," Riku half cried and yelled, blue – green eyes over bright as he punched the wall with his fist. Leaning against the door in the cave, he felt a slight rumble behind it.

"What the-," he exclaimed, as a mysterious voice called out to him in a barely audible whisper.

"The door mustn't open yet. So much to do … so little time." After that, the door stopped rumbling.

"Okay, that was weird," Riku said suspiciously, as Tidus came running in with his sparring stick.

"Hey, Riku. I thought that I might find you in here. You want to spar with me? It might take your mind off of ... you know what." Looking at Riku's confused and puzzled look, he added, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Sure, I'll spar with you, but not for too long, because it is almost my turn to trade shifts with Kairi for watching Sora." Plastering on a fake smile, he said, "Better not cry when I beat you!" But deep down, you could tell there was a storm raging in his heart made of guilt and blame.

As the image faded, the green light dimmed until it was dark. Sora was to stunned to speak, after witnessing how Riku felt. It wasn't his fault that this had happened to him. Somehow, he had to get a message to his guilt ridden friend, telling him that he wasn't to blame.

Resolving to think about it later, he tried to recall a memory of him and Kairi.

Flashback

Sora and Kairi are in Sora's brand new boat, out at sea. They can see the beautiful island from afar, and the weather is perfect. Riku would have gone, but Tidus and Wakka invited (more like taunted) Riku to a tournament to see who the better Blitzball player was.

They had been floating for sometime, when Sora finally broke the uncomfortable silence.

"I bet Wakka and Tidus are getting their butts kicked," Sora said, unsure of what to say.

"Yeah," Kairi said, transfixed by the water.

"Kairi?"

"Yeah?" Kairi replied, broken of her stupor.

"Do you ever wonder if there is more out there? I mean, like, other worlds?"

"Actually, I do. I mean, we can't be the only people on this world, in this universe. Hey, Sora! Promise me that someday, somehow, we will go on adventures together, just like the people in the storybooks."

They had brought Kairi's radio, and on it was playing "Simple and Clean" by Utada Hikaru.

When you walk away,

You don't hear me say please,

Oh baby, don't go.

Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel, tonight.

Its hard, to let it go.

"Oh, I love this song!" Kairi turned it up and started singing along to it.

You're giving me, too many things,

Lately, you're all I need.

You smiled at me, and said,

Don't get me wrong, I love you.

But does that mean I have to meet your father?

When we are older you will understand,

What I meant when I said "No,

I don't think life is quite that simple."

"From now on, this will be our song," Kairi said, while snuggling up next to Sora.

"Um, okay," Sora said, his cheeks rosier than usual as he put an arm around her shoulder.

When you walk away,

You don't hear me say …

End Flashback

The small mirror glowed blue, and an image started to form on the screen. It showed Kairi sleeping fitfully, in a chair next to Sora's bed, where he seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Then the image started to fade away, and another took its place.

Kairi was in a dark, cold room. The smell of salty water and moldy wood hung heavy in the air. The air was musty, and difficult to breathe in. She could barely see her hand in front of her face much less an exit, because there was no source of light in the room.

She somehow felt empty, but she didn't know why. It was like a part of her was missing, but she couldn't say what.

The room was mostly quiet, but … was that sobbing? She strained to move, but soon realized that she couldn't. She tried and tried, but it was in vain. Distraught, she desperately tried to move some part of her, but she couldn't.

Finally, she gave up on trying. After awhile, she heard talking outside of the walls, and she listened intently, trying to hear every word that was said.

"… So, you have the boy?" a strong female voice asked.

'Boy? What boy?' Kairi asked herself, after figuring out that she couldn't speak either.

"Yes, I have the Keyblade Master," said a young male voice. It sounded oddly familiar …

"Good. Now be a good boy and bring him to me. Then, go get the girl."

"Do we have to do this? It feels dishonest, and I'll be betraying his trust. Are you sure that this is the only way to get Kairi's heart back?" asked the boy.

'Wait! Is that what's missing? My heart? Is that why I feel so empty inside?' Kairi thought.

"Positive," said the woman.

"But … he will be okay, right? I don't want him to get hurt!"

"Sure he will," said the lady in sly voice. "Now, go get the girl, before I change my mind."

"Yes ma'am," said the boy, before opening the door to the room Kairi was in. She looked to the best of her ability, and was disappointed to see that the boy was a hooded figure, and that she couldn't see his face or hair. He had a broad muscular chest, and strong arms. But still … that voice … that figure … it just seems so familiar …

He picked her up and carried her to the door, ignoring the pleas of the other girls in the room. From what she could see, there were six of them, all of them looking like they had once been regal, but now their dresses were mussed, and their hair was unkempt and messy.

"Be quiet!" the boy ordered the girls, and immediately they all fell silent. He left the room, locking it tightly behind him. Silently, he carried her across the room.

"Put her on the bed next to his," the lady said.

"Yes, master," he said, as he carried her over to the bed. As he set her down, her head rolled towards the other bed and the boy knocked out upon it. Looking at the boy set on top of the next bed, she was shocked to see that it was none other than …

A/N:
I could end it here and leave it as a cliffie … Nah, I'm way too nice to do that! Besides, I know a few kids at school who might hurt me … well, back to the story!
"Sora!" Kairi screamed as she sat up, waking from the light slumber that she had fallen into on the chair by Sora's bed. Scrambling to her feet she immediately looked at Sora. He was still asleep, in the safety of his covers. Kairi sunk to her knees, sobbing on Sora's bed, soaking the sheets in the process.

The next thing she knew, two comforting arms were around her, squeezing her tightly in a warm embrace.

"Shhhh, don't cry, Kairi, my darling," said a comforting voice in her ear. "Everything is going to be okay." She looked up into his face, and gazed for a while in his eyes. Seeing all of the affection for her in them, she knew what he had said was true.

"I believe you," she whispered as she buried her face in his shoulder, knowing that for now, she was safe in his arms.

Author's Crazy Talk:

Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. If your wondering who the hooded figure is … well you will just have to wait. Who's the mysterious boy that is hugging Kairi? Is it Riku? Or somebody else … (maybe Tidus or Wakka?) And what promise did Riku make to Sora? If you want me to update soon, click on the little button right there, on the bottom left. Remember the more reviews I get, the more inspired I am to write. So, only praise or constructive criticism because I will remove any anonymous reviews that are mean, unless you leave an email address. Tell me about any mistakes you may find, and I will fix them. I know this is a little off topic, but if you like quizzes, go to our bio page and click on to our homepage. It is really great if you like anime pictures. Review please! Ja Ne!

P.S. : I am really excited, because my school got out on Thursday! Now I will be able to work on this fic for awhile so now the chapters will be really long! I have nothing better to do this summer anyways, so keep reading!