Kingdom hearts

Acceptance

Rememberance

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Chapter one

Darkness and friendship

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The road was barren and dark. The night seemed to fall from the very heavens themselves. Riku looked up. The gate to kingdom hearts had been shut. He had survived castle oblivion yet the darkness in his heart had led him back to the world beyond the door... another world with no light. Mickey had gone off to search for a way out but this place felt like it was locked up from reality itself. The road was dark and barren, there was no real path leading him foward. The sky was always stormy. There was never a hint of light. All this place was was black grass and stormy sky. The only light was the dark moon which shone above them. And even that radiated darkness. Riku scowled. Ansem had led him here. If only he was with someone. Mickey left him to find a way out... was that even possible? A way to escape from this prison? Riku held his dark keyblade steady. There were countless heartless swarmin through the fields. At first Riku had fought them. Fought without end. But there was no end to the chain of dark life which radiated within this place. Eventually he had fallen to the ground and given up, waiting to die. But nothing came. Because he was one with darkness as well the heartless could not see him as a threat, he was one of them. As much as he hated that thought, Riku was glad that he didn't have to fight anymore. Without food he could not think clearly, maybe that was why darkness was clouding his every thought. When he thought of Sora and Kairi, there was a light which allowed him to think clearly. This was all that kept him sane. Without them he would have fallen prey to the mist around him long ago. The mist of Ansem. Ansem, which threatened to destroy him. He would never accept Ansem. Never. Even if he died fighting the darkness within him. Darkness... it was his closest friend in this place and his worst enemy. He would take the path to twilight... to dawn. Between light and dark. He could survive this place. No problem. At least he was hoping...

In the distance shone a light. He had not seen a light for so long... ignoring his aching feet Riku rushed foward, sprinting past the towering heartless to the shape on the horizon. Soon it became clear that it was a girl. Namine... here? From castle oblivion... without hesitation he ran up to her.

"Namine!"
Namine turned and looked at him.

"Riku? You remembered my name, how sweet."

"Namine what is going on here why are you here in the darkness? How?" Riku asked, the dark mist flowing down his hair.

"Riku... I am part of this. This is our hearts... we share the same fate, to be clouded in darkness." Namine responded, smiling sadly.

"Don't talk like that! Light surrounds you you're not at all like me!" Riku responded angrily. She could never know what he faced.

"Ansem is part of both of us, Riku. This light... it is always just beyond my reach. Ansem... he was devouring you. Your soul. So I... welcomed him in. To mine. He is in both of ours now... he stole my memory as well. My family, home... all I remember is you and Sora."

"Are you crazy? Ansem is mine to fight alone, Namine, get him out of your heart! I turned on my friends, I deserve this fate! You've done nothing to be covered in darkness like this." Riku responded desperately. The clouds thickened and the mist surrounded them both, Ansems presence was clearly there.

"I welcomed him in for you, it was the least I could do. After almost destroying Sora..." Namine responded quietely.

"That is the past Namine! It is over now fill yourself with light and leave this place right now!"

"You betraying your friends is in the past too, Riku. It is my choice to share this fate... I want to walk the path of dawn with you!" Namine said, her eyes shining. Riku looked at her silently.

"Namine... are you sure? Share my fate?"

"My fate, Riku. Our fate." Riku smiled at this and touched her shoulder.

"Namine... thank you. I will protect you. I promise." Namine smiled and a tear fell from her cheek.

"Riku, promises are all I have been giving lately. It is the only thing I have. I promise to stay by you no matter what." Riku looked over at the heartless which were examining them as she said this.

"Namine, you don't even know me, how-"

"I want to know you Riku! I want to be friends! I'm tired of being alone... I would rather walk by your side through darkness... then be alone in light." Namine said, grabbing his hand and placing a card in it. "This is our promise, Riku. A piece of my heart in a card. You will never forget me as long as you hold this." Riku took it and looked at it.

"You need all of your heart, Namine."

"I still have my heart. I just... share it with you now." Namine said, smiling. The light around them grew, thickening and spreading across the field, clearing the dark mist away from them. Neither one of them noticed this as they stared at each others eyes and smiled.

"How touching." A voice came from out of nowhere and the light vanished.

"What?" Riku said, looking around.

"Ansem... I hear him too. Riku, I won't let you face him alone."

"Face me? Keep your nose where it belongs girl, I am filled with you and you are filled of me, you would not want me to crush you."

"Ansem, show yourself!" Riku said, fire in his eyes. The darkness thickened and Ansem stepped foward.