3 – Taking a Risk

Kieon looked up at the sky for a moment and thought about the consequences of solving the mysteries that seem to be surrounding the two half-breed girls. Akane, the cat-girl, who seemed to be getting consumed by the dark something within her; and Kitsuko, the fox-girl, who was barely able to escape the grip of her beastly guardian once again.

Kieon and Kitsuko were outside, and Kitsuko was leaning on the wall of the Accessory Shop, almost regaining consciousness. Kieon was relieved that she was better, but they still had the problem of going to another world. Kieon thought about Squall. She did rely on him save Kitsuko, but she was still rather reluctant to like someone who didn't get along with her best friend.

Kitsuko awoke, kind of in a panic, thinking that Squall was still around. When she noticed that he was indeed gone, she turned to Akane. "Akane? Are you awake?"

Akane had a horrible dream the whole time, involving the heartless and good magic of her…But when she finally heard Kieon's voice, she shot right up, with a few beads of sweat on her face. She wiped them off, and looked around.. "What happened?" she asked.

Kieon explained, "Don't worry, Kitsuko is back to normal...For now at least. Squall came and stopped her…"

Kitsuko looked a little depressed. "I'm sorry...for what I did. At least it didn't go too far..." The shopkeeper guy had run away a while ago. "It's just so hard for me...But I know you can understand. In a way, I guess we're similar. I have both light and darkness within me, and it looks like you do, too.."

"Okay, I'm glad you're back to normal.. and yeah, I can sort of understand in a way.." Akane said, still recovering a bit.. Hearing everyone's voice, Aiko came running out of the shop!

"Hi Aiko!" Akane said when she saw Aiko, and she petted her when she came near enough.

"Are you alright, Akane?" Aiko asked, as she received a petting.

"Yeah.. For now at least.." Akane replied.

Kieon hopped onto Kitsuko's head. Kitsuko, eager to get to other worlds, asked Akane, "Are you well enough to go search around right now? We have to be careful, because we might run into some heartless..."

"Yeah, I'll be okay," Akane said as she stood up, with Aiko now on her head. "We'll just have to fly there, so the heartless can't catch up to us."

Kieon suddenly recalled something. "I heard that Cid went to Merlin's place the other day…Maybe we should search there?"

Kitsuko felt doubtful. "I wonder if that guy can really help us...What do you think, Akane?"

Akane replied, "Since I never saw that guy, in the first place.. I wouldn't know.."

Kitsuko sighed as she looked over at the large doors in the First District, the ones that led out of the world. Kieon asked her, "What are you thinking...?"

Kitsuko quietly replied, "The Twilight Chimera is my guardian. It is required to help me. Our life-forces are bound together...Maybe there is a way." She took a step forward, toward the doors, her mind filled with thought...

Akane quickly followed Kitsuko, "What's wrong?" she asked.

Akane wanted to leave the first district, and leave her thoughts about the 'good' and 'evil' of her there..

Kitsuko closed her eyes and tried to focus her energy. She was trying to talk to her guardian..."Please...Help us. I will repay you some other way, I promise..." The vaguely dragon-shaped pendant on the chain necklace began to glow again, but this time in a light purple color. Kitsuko began walking to the doors.

Akane followed Kitsuko. She didn't know what Kitsuko was doing, but she didn't want to get left behind. Akane didn't notice Aiko's shaking as she continued following Kitsuko.

Kitsuko stood in front of the large doors. With her eyes closed, she whispered something and in a flash of light, the spirit of the necklace was released.

It was dragon-like, and had phoenix feathers covering part of its legs. It had an extremely long tail, and its head was covered by an armor-shell-like 'helmet', except for its lower jaw. Its eyes glowed blue..and the most distinctive part of the chimera was its wings - the left wing was a black demon wing, and the right was a white angel wing...

Kitsuko was still focusing, to keep it under control, and said "Akane, let's get on its back. Don't worry, this time it is under control.."

"Okay," Akane said, not knowing what had happened to Kitsuko the last time, because she had passed out.

Aiko started shaking even harder and very nervously, almost whispering, she managed to stutter, "A--Are you s--sure?" She wasn't sure where her fear of snakes came from, maybe instinct or something she didn't remember..She didn't know.

Kitsuko knew this was dangerous, but she trusted her guardian. Kieon was still on her head, not very worried, although she noticed how scared Aiko was. She yelled to him, "It's alright. It only eats humans." Then she thought, "Whops...Maybe that wasn't so reassuring.." Kitsuko had already sat on the chimera, and the large doors were opening...

Akane wasn't so sure, but decided that she could trust Kitsuko, so she got on the chimera. "Okay, lets go then.." Akane said as she kept Aiko from jumping off of her head.

"Here we go..!" said Kitsuko, as the chimera leapt into space with a powerful flap of its wings. A white-colored aura covered them, protecting them from the heartless ships and other obstacles. The aura, of course, even let them breathe easily even though they were in space. Kitsuko constantly muttered to the chimera, trying to guide it to take them to Hollow Bastion.

Akane held on to the chimera while they departed into space, and Aiko did the same. Akane looked at the scenery, in awe. She had never been out of Traverse Town, at least from what she remembered..

Kieon was almost enjoying the trilling ride, but Kitsuko was very concentrated with guiding the chimera. They were going very fast, as the power of the chimera was incredible. It swiftly maneuvered through the heartless and obstacles, not even bothering to fight the heartless at all. Any heartless that came in the way of its lengthy tail, however, were instantly destroyed. They would reach Hollow Bastion in no time. Slowly, the space around them got darker as they came closer to their destination.

Akane held on tighter, as they went faster. She was still in awe of her surroundings.. She didn't know when they would reach Hollow Bastion, but she hoped it would be soon.

Finally, they arrived at Hollow Bastion. They landed on the floating stones in the Rising Falls area. The chimera was in a mild mood, maybe because of its defeat in Traverse Town. It went back into spirit form and returned to the necklace. However, the trip and the strain of controlling the chimera made Kitsuko dizzy...She staggered, and fell to the ground.

"Hey! Are you alright?" Akane asked as she sat down beside Kitsuko. Aiko sat beside Akane, still a little freaked out by the ride there.

Kieon hopped off of Kitsuko's head and said, "I'm afraid she'll need to rest for a while again..."

Kitsuko, breathing heavily, tried to get up. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just a little tired. But we can get going."

She looked up at the sky, and then at the Castle in the distance. It felt like she had seen this place before, but she's not sure how. Her memories are foggy...

"Okay," Akane said as she stood up, and Aiko jumped onto her head. She looked to the castle, and somehow..she recognized it from somewhere. She didn't remember being there but she remembered seeing it from afar, like this... She decided it was only deja vu, and ignored the thought..

end of chapter three – taking a risk