Tobikunai: Kowaii kowaii kowaii! (running in panicked circles)

Cloud: What's wrong with her?

Kansatsu: What isn't? Book report due, science project due, midterms... shall I go on?

Cloud: Ouch. That sucks...

Tobikunai: Kowaii! T.T

Kansatsu: Tobikunai-sama! Snap out of it!

Tobikunai: Butbutbut I have to cram... and I haven't updated this fic in forever and ever and ever...EEEEEE! Kowaii kowaii kowaii!

-Chapter Six-

A massive core of energy lay beyond the door sought by the Heartless. It may be the ultimate goal of the Heartless. But what is that energy? I have devised a hypothesis, based upon my observations of the Heartless.

The Heartless feed on other's hearts, and they yearn for that energy core. That thing beyond the door must be a heart, too--the heart of this world. There is no proof, but, having felt that immense energy, I am certain. That was the heart of the world.

The Heartless are trying to take hearts not only from all living creatures, but from the planet itself. But what do they mean to do with the heart of the world?

---

"All right! Is eveyone here?"

"Mmm-hm."

"Yup!"

"S' far as I know."

"Hm."

"Hey, wait!" Aerith interrupted suddenly, "Kairi-chan!"

It was a wonderful morning, the pale blue sky stretching above the castle in an unending dome, the amiable white clouds making their leisurely way past the Library windows.The sun shone brightly through the thin stained-glass, and little rainbow patterns of light danced on the soft carpet. Squall, Yuffie, Aerith, Cloud and Cid were sitting at a table on the upper level of th Hollow Bastion Library, looking grim and determined.

"Kairi-chan seemed so upset about all of this... Aerith said worriedly, "I suppose its no surprise that she didn't show up, but..."

"No!" Yuffie interruped, "I talked to Kairi just yesterday evening, and she says she's totally coming! She wants to figure out what Ansem-sama's been trying to hide, just like the rest of us..."

"Then, where is she?" Squall asked.

The kunoichi rolled her eyes. "How would I know?"

Aerith sighed. "Yuffie-chan..."

"She doesn't neccessarily need to be here." Cloud pointed out. "Whatever plan we have can certainly proceed without one five-year-old..."

"True." Squall agreed, "All right, here's what we're going to do-"

---

There is no doubt that the Heartless are deeply connected to the people's hearts. Further study may unravel both their motivations and the mysteries shrouding the heart. As a start, I have built a device that artificially creates Heartless.

By recreating the conditions that spawn the Heartless naturally, I should be able to produce them artificially. This device is the culmination of all my research thus far. The machine's test run successfully created a Heartless. This may be a step toward creating a heart from nothing.

The artificially and naturally created Heartless showed nearly identical traits. But the two types remain distinct for the purpose of the experiment. So, I will mark the ones that are created artificially.

---

"The report?" Yuffie echoed.

"Yeah." said Squall. "If Ansem was experimenting on these creatures, he would have left some sort of record of it, ne? Once we have proof, Ansem can't possibly deny it."

"I suppose..." Cloud said, "but still... we don't even know where-"

"No problem." said Squall, "Yuff and I can search the Base Level, the Rising Falls, and the Waterway. Aerith, you and Cloud check the Lift Stops, the High Tower, and the Great Crest. Cid, you search the documents here in the Library.That work for everyone?"

"Sure."

"Awright."

"SQUALLY-KUN! YAY!"

"Yuff..."

"Hmph."

"I'll take that as a yes... okay. Lets go."

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet. A few books tumbled from the shelves, and Aerith, who had just stood up, was knocked to the ground whith a small "Eeep!" of protest.

"The heck?" Yuffie groaned, clutching the edge of the table as thought the ground might launch into another mini-earthquake at any second.

"Something's happening..." Squall said, "Something bad... we need to hurry!"

Without another word, the five ran in their seperate directions, without a glance back, not knowing that they were leaving this room for the last time.

---

Just as people have hearts, so do worlds. The same can be said of stars in the night sky. And deep within each world lies a door to its heart. The Heartless desire those hearts. Born out of darkness in people's hearts, they seek to return to a greater heart. Yes, that's it. The Heartless come from people's hearts, as does the darkness.

Is the core of the world's heart the world of the Heartless? I will pursue the answer there and become all knowing. My path is set. I shall seek out the wielder of the Keyblade, and the princesses.

My body is too frail for such a journey, but I most do this.

I will cast it off and plunge into the depths of darkness.

Tobikunai: Yokatta! Mou... that was hard to write... gomen nasai, minna-sama, for the lack of updates as well as the Ansem Reports scattered all over the chapter...

Kansatsu: Tobikunai-sama, it's official: this chapter is a testament to your laziness.

Tobikunai: Urusei. They're there to-

Kansatsu: Build dramatic tension, suuure. I hear ya.

Tobikunai: Grrrr... wow, this fic is actually reaching its climax... weird... the next chapter will be full to the brim of Heartless, battles, and an appearance of... well... I don't want to ruin it! O tanashimi ni!