This chapter dedicated to my betas: Dai-chan and Ariel. You guys have done great! Sorry for lack of updates! And no, we're not done yet!
A/N:
Zract: Heyya peeps! As you can see, I have changed my name of XxX Chains XxX to that of Zract!
Jin: Again?
Zract: Hey! This is only the second time (that I can remember) that I changed me name!
Jin: Yeah, yeah… whatever.
Zil: What's with you? I mean; we finally get to start of with you this time. I thought you'd be overjoyed?
Jin: I am… buuut…
Tsukasa: But what, dear?
Zract: -starts crying- We're just about done with this fic!
Zil: I thought you'd be happy to finish this fic and start a new one.
Zract: I kinda am… but I've had so much fun writing this thing. I mean, and I've got so many reviews, made so many friends and fans from it… and… and…-sniff- it's almost over! WAAAAAAAAH!
Jin: -covers ears- Exactly.
Zract: Truthfully, I hate to see such things ends. I'm always sad when something like a good story comes to an end, happy or sad. And… this fic's almost a year old, too. It's kinda crazy, I mean, I've never kept something going on for so long. –wipes away tears- well… here's the chapter. Sorry for the wait, everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own KH or any of the Disney Characters. I own a Goofy Hat from Disneyland now and Gorillaz CDs! That's enough for me! XD –sings- City's breakin' down on a camel's back, they just have to go 'cause they don't know whack…
Ohhhhh… how much this chapter has been edited and twisted away from the original part of this game… Ohhhh…-wails into the night-
Chapter 15
Fingers treaded into the ground, cold grains of sand slipping between them. He could feel the cold air swirling around him, the soft sand, the bitter feeling of being utterly alone, but he was half afraid to look up. Jin wasn't sure if he'd like what he'd see next.
But, curiosity racking his mind for answers caused him to raise himself up on his arms, his eyes studying the ground at his knees. His long green hair hung in around him, no longer in its simple braid. No… the band had long since snapped somewhere…
He moaned, sitting back so he was resting on his legs. He scrubbed at his face, trying to remember, trying to recall where he was and what had happened.
Bright blue eyes flashed into his mind, staring at him in frozen shock.
'Sora?'
It all came rushing back.
The fight in Hollow Bastion, how Sora had become angry, how Riku had lunged at Sora –keen on slicing his lover in half…
… and plunged the Keyblade into Jin, instead.
He could remember Sora's eyes, staring at him, frozen in shock as he died, right there.
Rage filled him.
He wanted nothing more than to beat the arrogant silver-haired Keyblade master bloody. But, most of all, he wanted to protect Sora! That little brat had been so keen on winning Sora's heart, and he had almost killed the brunet!
Though… he couldn't protect Sora.
The boy was probably alone, or following Riku and the princess, miserable without anyone to love him. Thinking about how Jin could have abandoned him… How he hated him… Hated Jin for not being able to protect him. For being so weak.
A wave of emotion overcame him like no other and he threw himself at the closest thing, pounding on it with his fist repeatedly.
"Stupid… stupid…" He cursed, his movement slowing. His shoulders shook, emotions crashing against him. Never had he felt such emotions all at once… crashing within him like stones Sora had thrown at Riku and Kairi's picture.
'Dammit!' It had been Jin who had carved that there, under Ansem's orders to anger the boy! He felt tears burn at his eyes, but he didn't wipe them away. If this was his punishment for being weak and stupid, he may as well look it… 'I deserve it… and more some.'.
"I couldn't protect you!" Jin screamed. "I… I broke my promise I made to you..." His ragged breathing slowed to puffs of air. He rested his forehead against whatever was in front of him, his burning skin instantly cooled at the"I'm sorry…"
Opening his eyes, he was greeted by a bright white object in front of him.
'Wha-?' Backing away, Jin looked up at the tall doors in front of him. It stood, looming over his seemingly shorter form, seeming to taunt his size. What little light around him made the door glow, the colorful glass at the top shining with valiant colors.
His breath caught in his throat.
'No…' he shook his head, staring, both eyes wide, at the door to Darkness.
"Kingdom Hearts."
OoOoOSora stared at his reflection in the room mirror, focused on the golden eye. What was once a beautiful, bright, ocean-blue was now a haunting golden color, almost orange.
He jumped when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist, but calmed when they pulled him close gently.
"Sora… are you okay?" Riku muttered, watching Sora's expression in the mirror.
The brunet closed his eyes, not wanting Riku -–or himself, as a matter-of-fact -- to see the eye.
He sighed. "I'm fine. Just… tired. It's been a long journey."
Riku knew that Sora wasn't talking about the trip to Kingdom Hearts, but everything that had happened since they had left Destiny Islands. Sora couldn't call it a journey… no… Riku's adventures had been fun (in some ways); Sora's had been a nightmare. And he had yet to awaken just yet…
"Sora… you can't hide anything from me anymore…" Riku muttered, turning the boy around, through Sora's refused to look him in the eye and buried his face in Riku's chest. Riku chuckled and grabbed Sora's neck, kissing him lightly.
But… even for a split second, Sora could see green hair around him… gold and purple depths looking into his own…
"Besides," Riku chuckled, "you always were a terrible liar."
He could feel Sora smile against him and couldn't help but grin wider.
Riku pulled Sora's chin up, making the boy look at him. "Sora… look me in the eye and tell me what's wrong." He demanded.
Sora averted his eyes, but a quick shake of Riku's hand and Sora's blue eyes were again focused upon Riku's aqua depths.
"I… I've been thinking…" Sora started, unsure of how to put it. "About… Jin." He hung his head, this time Riku's hand didn't lift his face to his, and Sora could tell the taller was brooding about what he had just said.
So he continued.
"I mean… before… before everything turned for the worst… he was always there for me…" He assured, trying to show his lover that the teen hadn't been all-bad –-to him at least. "But… when Halloween Town happened… and then Hollow Bastion… I didn't know what to think. Who to love…"
"Sora-"
But Sora spoke louder, telling Riku he wasn't finished by overriding his voice.
"When Jin…" Sora tried to swallow the enormous lump that had lodged itself in his throat, but it only seemed to worsen. "… d-died… I was so angry. Ansem tricked me and then told me that Jin is another part of him… I… I… I didn't believe it at first, but then… he showed me how he 'made' Jin."
Riku stared down at the spiky mop of hair beneath his head, not knowing what to say.
"I… I know Jin isn't all bad. He's the part of Ansem before he gave into the darkness." Sora explained; his arms wrapped loosely around Riku's shoulders tightening when he felt the former start to pull away.
"I know he's still alive, I can feel it. Somehow… I know." Sora's voice was barely below a whisper, but even the soft hum of the gummi ship engine didn't drown out his words. "I just want to see him. One more time."
OoOoOJin couldn't help but stare at the tower doors, his breath caught in his throat.
But… how had he managed to make it here? All Heartless went to Oblivion…
Or… did they?
Jin moved along the large door he was leaning against, resting gloved hands on the edges and –taking a deep breath- peered inside.
He felt almost like darkness would flood his body, or something terrible would leap at him from within, but there was nothing but a long dirt road.
Was that it?
Was that all there was to the legendary Kingdom Hearts? A simple road?
He stood taller, drawing to his full height and walked in, looking for any signs of movement. He was about ten feet from the door before a ripple of a movement caught his eye. The dirt road ahead of him faded, giving way to what looked like dirt mounds, Heartless moving within it.
"Is this were the Heartless come from? Kingdom Hearts?" Jin asked himself, never expecting an answer.
"Well… yes."
He whirled about, facing his majesty, King Mickey.
OoOoO
The gummi ship landed within the next ten minutes, and Sora made sure he had what he needed and walked down to the haul with the others, standing by a silent Riku.
Sora could tell Riku was brooding just by the way his arms were crossed, his eyes focused ahead of him, but never focusing on what was in front of him.
The moment they stepped off the ship, Sora felt his body give a jolt, like when climbing the stairs and thinking there were was another step in front of you, only to let your foot fall to the ground in a shock.
"What was that…? Hey, Riku, where are…"
As he turned around, he was greeted by the site of the white sands, the never-ending water, and the looming green foliage.
"I-Is this…"
'No… it couldn't be…'He turned back around, and was met with the mouth of cave. Its dark opening seemed to draw him in and out, like steady breathing. The vines hanging down from the bushes above it swayed it the cave's breathing, but Sora felt so gush of air as they shifted.
Slowly, warily, he ducked down and crawled through the narrow cave.
Nothing was out of place. No rock, nor sand. He could see the footprints in the sand from not to long ago. They were too small to be anyone else's… but… they were the size of his old yellow shoes. He continued forward, his right hand steadying himself as he ventured further.
Through the cold stone, he could feel what felt like a pulse. Soft, and barely noticeable, but there all the same.
It became stronger the deeper he treaded. He felt his fingers tingle from the sensation, like a feather brushing over the pads of his fingers.
At last, he reached the room where childish carvings adorned the smooth stone.
His blue eyes scanned the room, looking for something anything that would be out of place.
Nothing.
The only thing he could account for, would be the strumming heartbeat.
The brunet could see the prints still in the sand from where he had sat, throwing rocks at the picture of Kairi and Riku; the rocks he had yet to throw still resting in the sand.
It barely caught his eye, but, upon stepping closer, Sora found where Jin had stood that same day. There were only two footprints in the sand, and they led nowhere else. Innocently marked in the sand.
As he reached the door at the end of the cavern, he could feel the steady heartbeat stop. He slowly turned around, preparing for the worst…
Sora could almost feel his own heart stop as quickly as the cave's had.
There, standing at center of the room, face hidden by his black hood; stood Jin.
OoOoO"Sora? Sora!" Riku searched about cavern, searching for any sign of the brunet. 'You've gone and lost 'im again…' His mind teased.
'Shut up! I will find him. I won't loose him again!' Riku snarled.
Before Goofy or Donald could raise a hand to their already angry friend, Riku leapt from ledge he stood on and down into the chasm, toward the faint purple light at the bottom.
The animals followed, slowly gliding down after the determined master. The best they could do when Riku was like this was to stand –preferably—behind him.
End ChapterZract: I know I explained how Sora stepped off the ship like Lemony Snicket, but that was really the only way too describe it… the shame… Okay… I guess since I finished this chapter, I can tell you all why it took so long and why it's so short.
Jin: Please do, we wish to know why it took so freakin' long for you to write just ONE SHORT CHAPTER!
Zract: Well… you see… At the beginning of summer, I had posted that I'd be able to write more… Well, I 11 reasons I couldn't because…
1. Writer's block was being a bitch
2. I left for Florida
3. When I came back, I caught up with my friends for a bit (whom I missed dearly)
4. Then left for Nevada; had to delete every trace of yaoi/shonen-ai on this computer; hide Eerie Queerie and Gravitation books because my mom would find it since she wasn't going with us. (She found my books… but she's kept a close eye on the books I buy now… -sigh- I'm playing with fire)
5. Came back and did some more catching up with my friends.
6. Left for Maine
7. Started school (Nooooooooooooooooooooo!) Although… it hasn't been too awfully bad since I get to hang with my friends at lunch…
8. Homework is wiping the floor with my ass. TTTT
9. I wanted to post something to show you I'm not dead!
10. I was sucked into the world of Jak 2, that my brother got for his birthday and I hogged. Heheheh…
11. My computer was being a bitch… (AGAIN). And I was unable to access the Internet for a week.
Come back summer vacation! I miss you!
AFF reviewsGwen: Sa'right. Not to many were… "fond" of Jin in the beginning 'cause of that… Stupid-head. (-points at Jin-) anyways……… -glomps you- YAY! Zract likey da cookies!
Molly: Actually… it's almost over. Maybe 1 or 2 more chapters, but I'm still not sure… -sniff- I'll miss answering these wonderful reviews! TTTT
LeVeL27Guitar: I'm sorry! I've been kinda busy so I've haven't been able to read to many fics as of later! Very sorry!
Fire: Haha… I thought some of these chapies were too… cute… actually, but this ones returning to the angst. YAY angst! XD
MoonlightShadow: Of course. I WILL finish this fic. Even if the homework kills me and I die, I will finish it! XD
Brit: Well… I started writing in 6th( is now in 9th) and just kept at it. Take your time and thing about what to you want to say then put it into big words so people will think your smart! XD In otherwords, just keep practicing. 'M not tellin' what's gonna happen, you'll just have to wait… heheheh…
Sango45165: Yesssss, masssssterrrrr! XD
SchizoIori: Sorry it took so long… hey, hey! Can you update the Naruto fic! Pleeeeeeeeeeease! I hope you have/had fun on your trip!
Rin-chan: Slender eyebrows for rising! XD Hahaha… I got a kick outta that when I read it… hehe… So funny. If you need to see the picture, go to my profile on AFF and go to my homepage, go to the fanart section, you can see a pic of Jin.
foxhound: I have no idea what's going on except… COOKIES! PLUSHIES! -Dives in- Zract loves you moochos now! XD
senko09: Yes… I know, I'm a slow updater, but I update now! That good right? RIGHT:D
Kitten: You get more! Hope you like this short chapie!
FF reviewsZap Cannon: Haha… Jin appreciated your……… support. –Holds up picture of Riku and Sora kissing- Now, I must deflate his ego…
PlzNsertSN: So'kay… Jin's back. Now you don't kill Zract! YAY! .; I got kicked outta church cause I pissed of the pastor/owner's wife… and I terrorized the children telling them if they didn't believe in God, their mommies and daddies would disown them… Little shits… Yeah… I hate kids.
I'm a dirty girl: -grins- I know… -goes off to chuckle evily-
HeartlessAngel: Sorry… I have 2 betas already. . And a third in waiting if ever needed. Sorry! But, I promise to finish this, so don't worry.
crystal-chan: Favs? I'm honored! If you haven't heard from me, it's because hotmail blocks most e-mails… try again and e-mail me at yahoo (same address, just yahoo . com) Thanks for all the compliments, it's reviews like these that I LOVE reading. They really do help! XD
LilxDarkxAngel: I update! XD Weeee!
… (w/friend): So'kay. You could just get your own e-mails secretly. Yahoo or hotmail… I know you guys are probably over your sickness and all, but either way, I hope you got better soon! XD Hahah… your poor friend, well, I hope she… uh, figures that out. .;
Yuki Kimagure: You… you didn't review? What in the name of yaoi-ness caused you to NOT do that! Grrr… Oh well, at least you reviewed this time. XD I would enjoy receiving art, it will be mentioned and posted on my site, and also, a chapter will be dedicated to you. Write on… haha… I get it! Right on! XD (Jin: Only a fool like you would think it's a joke…)
DancingMistress: I updated again! Wh00ts for Zract! XD
no name: This time it wasn't just weeks… sorry! I read some of your work, I just can't remember if I reviewed or not… I remember reading Full Metal Alchemist yaoi fanfics though… it draws a blank… Hmmmm……
Elly Yuki: I would have sounded better if I said finally in there, huh? –wallows in self pity- I'm such a dumbass…
Shadow Kat: Okay… just don't yell at meh! TTTT I do it, I do it!
XiaoBai: -starts kicking Ansem as well- Yup… Ansem's gonna be coming back for some stardom in the next chapie… -sigh-
cabbagehobbit: Forever would be grand… if my sanity could hold on that long. (Jin: Which it can't)
Misha: Hehehhhh… not anymore… hehehehehehhhhhhh…
Minerva Teller of tales: -bows- Still honored! I answered the other as well… please post another chapter for Naruto smexy-ness… -puppy eyes-
Rezuna Kitsune of Ice: -squeals and hugs you again- Friend! XD Zract love Rezuna even moochos more now! XD
Falcon Zanbandia of Nightmares: Um… my e-mail's screwed up, if I haven't replied, then try again and I will check my Inbox everyday I can (which is almost everyday) to see if you've e-mailed. If you can send it soon, I can dedicate the next chapter to you and the other artists.
Nefeshara D.J. : It's supposed to kinda swing on and off and to the side of the original really. It wasn't supposed to be completely different… just thought I'd point that out. .;
The Plushie Bandit: Noooooo! My plushie! Plushie Bandit no get Zract's plushies! I told Whitney by the way… I'm surprised by those you meet on the web. You in OK, too? I swear… it's so cool to meet others on the web. She needs to introduce us sometime if you live nearby. By the way, any idea why Whit-Whit's been so… out of it lately?
Ju Neko: -bows- Sank yooooouuuuu my friend! XD
xenialshadow: 'Tatoes! Zract wants 'tatoes!
Yoshihara Daisuke: DAI-CHAN! Hope you enjoyed beta-ing this chapie!
LilAznSp0nge: -holds up iron pole- Me kill Ansem until he dies! ROAR!
kittykatzx93: -squeals- So many reviews! XD
Skya Mana: So many fics to read, but which holds the plot that reaches into your mind to arouse the darkness within? THIS ONE OF COURSE! XD
Anonymous: Okay… I posted. But it was late because my inspiration flew out the window of the airplane.
ARandomKid: I diiiiiiid! Don't yell at meeeeeh! –sniffles-
DestinyKitsune: Yeah, I had WordPad 'cause MicrosoftWord shut down, and Pad didn't have spell check. Sorry… I'll go back and fix it later when I have time to get off my lazy ass. Yes… Sora… such a whore… so much fun and cringing when writing that… -blinks at Sora and Jin portrait- Where'd that thing come from? I wonder…
starryskydragon: -sways as well- updated, updated… weeee!
Goldensong: Thanks. I'm glad I could finally update. I swear… school was hell.
End ReviewsZract: -twiddles thumbs- I'm sorry it took so long, and I loved reading the reviews that came, but I couldn't write this out when I had a slab of writer's block encasing my head.
Jin: Other words, it would have come out even worse than this.
Zract: I do have to say that if I don't update or something, then there's no reason to tell me you're tired of waiting. I know you want to read it and all… but I'm only human. I am not a super-Jesus or somethin'!
Jin: You want scare the churches by dressing up like Jesus and acting like Michelle Jackson, don't you?
Zract: Haha… the Christians'll get a kick outta that… It's Jesus… MICHELLE-JACKSON-STYLE! XD –thrust hips while arms are out to sides-
Jin: By the way, besides vacationing time, what else have you been up to?
Zract: Well… doing a mountain of homework (-shakes fist at homework- I WIIILLLL FINEEEEEEEEESSHHH YOOOOUUU!), catching up on what I've been slacking on 'round the house (-shakes fist at pile of junk- I WIIILLLLL CLEEEEEEEEEEEAN YOOOOOOUUU!) and hanging with friends. (-hugs- I MISSSSSED YOUUUU!)
Thank you everyone for the cookies, you are all loved by moi! XD