Disclaimer: Characters/Locations are property of Square and/or Disney. I own nothing.

Break The Chains That Bind Us

Chapter Seven

As he arrived at the station, Kaze felt his frustration growing. He'd encountered even more of those 'Nobodies' on his way there, and now… Now, the train was missing, meaning he was going to have to waste time waiting for it.

"Come on already!"

A sleek silver form bounced off one of the support pillars nearby. Risking a glance behind him, Kaze could see more of them gathering. Something big was going on, and whatever it was, it was important enough for the Organization to send out an entire multitude of those things.

Glowing lights finally appeared ahead, signalling that the vehicle was pulling into the station. He piled through the doors before it had even grinded to a complete stop.

Moving through the empty carriages, Kaze headed to the front, hoping he could figure out how to get it to take him to his destination.

The floor rocked beneath him as it started up again on it's own.

With no other choice but to see where it took him, Kaze sank into one of the nearest seats, sighing heavily. Everything had gone so… wrong, ever since learning the truth from Namine. He'd never expected to find himself breaking into the Organization's main residence alone.

The trip there was a surprisingly short one. It disturbed him to see just how close they had always been located to his home.

The doors peeled back and Kaze stepped off, almost walking straight into a blast of magic. He jerked aside and glanced sharply to the side to see where the attack had come from and found himself staring at the angry face of a duck. His gaze shifted to its equally strange companion standing alongside it.

He knew them, had seen their faces before in flashes of Sora's memories, but it was the person standing over near the doors, that led into the large mansion he had arrived at, that surprised Kaze the most. Sora's childhood friend, and one who had appeared in collages of images in his dreams from the very start.

Their presence, while providing quite a shock, at least told him one thing. If he was looking for Sora, he was in the right place.

Cautiously wandering over to the older boy, he paused in front of him. "…Riku?"

"You're the one that we were watching, the one I mistook for Sora. I hope Axel didn't go too hard on you."

"Axel?" The one he'd encountered back at the Clock Tower? "You're working with them?"

"No. Definitely not."

"You're wearing the same clothes…"

Riku regarded him carefully before replying. "You're more one of them than I am."

Kaze glared at him. "I've got nothing to do with those people!"

"But you are like them. You might be considered special, but you're still a NEO. I can tell. Your auras are the same."

A NEO… Namine had called him the same thing. So, the Organization members were the same as him…

The news wasn't very welcoming. He closed his eyes tightly before yelling, "I'm not like them!"

Riku wisely decided against commenting any further.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kaze addressed him more calmly. "Where's Sora?"

Riku jerked a thumb to the building behind him. "He went inside."

"And you're not helping him? What are you doing out here?"

"We're on guard duty. Axel's brilliant idea."

Kaze shook his head slowly. "Guarding what?"

"The train…" Seeing the blank stare, he added, "Don't ask. If you want to see Sora, go ahead." Stepping aside, Riku gestured to the doors.

Shooting one last look at the three of Sora's friends, Kaze slipped inside. The large hall he stepped into was void of any signs of life. He took in his surroundings, noting the two doors, one on the ground floor in front of him, and one above. Stairs ran up to a balcony overhead.

"So far, so good," He muttered. He'd expected a little more resistance, and yet he'd managed to simply walk straight into their own home. If it could even be considered a home…

Now all he had to do was locate Sora.

Selecting the bottom door, Kaze entered it, emerging into a slim corridor lined with doors on either side. He followed the path, calling one Keyblade into his hand to be on guard. Rounding a corner, he almost walked straight into one of the cloaked forms of an Organization member.

Recognizing them as the one from his previous encounter, he summoned the second Keyblade, and then froze as his gaze wandered past to the boy standing behind.

"…Sora?"

From the confused expression on his face, the other boy clearly didn't understand why he was standing opposite someone with Keyblades that looked like him.

Kaze had argued, desperate to get him to leave with him, but Sora was determined to stay, mentioning something about looking for a Keyhole. Kaze's efforts had been interrupted by the arrival of a second Organization member, and it was there he had made the decision to let Sora leave. He watched the one person he had spent so long wanting to meet walk away with one of those he considered the enemy. Promising himself he'd find him again soon, he focused on his current problem.

There was still another rather annoyed Organization member that he was going to have to deal with first.

Kaze emerged from the library, debating on conducting a search around the castle for some new clothes to replace his somewhat singed ones. As he stepped out into the entrance hall, movement near the main doors caught his attention. Someone was opening them, heading outside, and from the spiky brown hair, he knew exactly who it was.

"Sora?" He started after him, heading down the stairs to the ground floor and hurrying to exit the castle himself. "Sora!"

The other boy had stopped outside, but he didn't turn around as Kaze approached him. "What are you doing?"

"I'll go there myself if I have to."

"I take it Riku won't be joining us?"

"No." Sora shook his head slowly before continuing to walk away. "Riku won't be coming."

Kaze followed him, remaining silent. Obviously things with Riku hadn't gone quite so well. It wasn't any surprise that Sora felt he had to do this alone if his own friend had turned down his request to go with him to their home. He should have known that Riku wasn't exactly reliable, he regretted suggesting they come back for him. "Then, I guess it's just you and me…"

Sora glanced back at him over his shoulder. "You don't have to come. This is my home, I can take care of it myself."

"You know I like tagging along." Kaze flashed him a reassuring smile. "It's because it's your home that I want to come."

Slowing, Sora nodded. "Maybe I should have told everyone before leaving…"

"They'll figure out where we went. We'll be back before they know it anyway."

"We still have one more Door left after this one…"

"But this is the big one, right?"

"I think so." Sora grinned lightly. "Maybe you'll get your party this time."

The train came into view ahead of them, reminding Kaze of something that he'd being meaning to ask. "How exactly are we going to get there?"

"I assume the train will work. It took us all those other worlds, right? Why would mine by any different?"

Boarding it, Kaze couldn't help letting out a sigh. They really needed to decorate these things, he was getting tired of seeing the same interior so often lately. "Does your Island even have a station, Sora?"

"…No."

This was going to be… fun. Kaze hoped they would be dropped off somewhere close to where they wanted to go. The trains seemed to either pull into a world's station, or drop them off randomly if there wasn't one available. They at least hadn't encountered any problems in getting to their destination using them so far.

Both Keyblade Masters moved to settle into window seats opposite each other as the vehicle pulled away from Hollow Bastion once more. Leaning back, Kaze closed his eyes, letting his thoughts wander. Maybe when this was done with, they could go back to his home too. It had been so long since he'd last seen everyone. He still remembered his promise to Olette before he'd walked away from them; that he'd come back one day and he'd bring Sora with him too.

He still had every intention of keeping it.

As for right now, it was going to be interesting to see Sora's home for real. He had so many memories from that place, even though he hadn't ever set foot there. It was the one location that had haunted so many of his dreams all that time ago.

He half slept in an attempt to pass the time. It was only sometime later when he felt a hand tapping his shoulder softly, causing him to stir.

"We're there," Sora announced, the excitement in his voice clear.

Kaze sat up, looking out the window. The train had seemed to pull up at the edge of a small town; he could make out tiled roofs jutting out from amongst various bushes and trees. The landscape was painted a blazing orange by the setting sun. "This is your home?"

"That's right. This is the main island, where I live." Sora grabbed him by his arm dragging him to his feet and towards the doors.

"Alright Sora, I'm coming!"

As they parted, Sora let go, stepping outside and pausing, looking around.

They'd stepped out on a narrow patch of beach, waves were gently lapping at the sand to their side. The area seemed to be hidden behind a dense section of bushes with a worn dirt path winding between them, disappearing around a corner.

"That leads into town," Sora informed him, noticing where he was looking.

Kaze immediately started towards it, but stopped as Sora told him to wait. "Don't we want to head into town?"

"Not yet." Sora turned around, pointing across the ocean, to a mass in the distance. "We should head there first. That's where the Door will be."

Kaze shielded his eyes against the glow of the sun, squinting to see that the mass across from them was another island. "But, don't you want to see everyone?"

Sora smiled weakly. "I do, but I think we should take care of what we came here for first. I just want to make sure everything is alright…"

He hadn't outright said it, but Kaze knew he meant that he wanted to check that Number Two wasn't here waiting for them. He nodded and fell into step alongside Sora as he began moving along the edge of the breaking waves, heading further down the beach. "How do you know the Door will be there?"

"I think I already know where it is. I've seen it before…It was always here, and I never realized." Sora glanced around, searching for something, before wandering over to a clump of overgrown shrubs and tearing some of them away with his hands. After a few moments work, he began pulling something out.

Kaze joined him, lending his assitance. Two tiny wooden boats were stashed away there. "What are these for?"

"We used them to get across. Me, Riku and Kairi… " Sora frowned as they moved them to the edge of the water. "One of them is missing."

Following Sora's instructions, they both used the miniature rafts to cross over the patch of sea between them and the opposite island. Kaze really didn't feel safe using the wooden structure, but if they'd worked for Sora and his friends so often, he figured he'd better not complain. Still, the rocking and amount of water that seemed to be leaking into his boat really wasn't very reassuring. He was grateful when they finally reached the other side and his feet were planted firmly on solid ground again.

Groaning, he doubled over. "Sora, I think I'm sea sick. Isn't there a better way to go back?"

Sora however, wasn't listening. Looking up, Kaze could see why. Standing further down the beach, looking out across the ocean was the figure of a young girl, one that he recognized, though there were noticeable differences compared to when he had saw her in his dreams; longer hair, and different clothes, but it was unmistakably her.

Sora had taken a few tentative steps towards her, before she slowly turned around, staring in their direction. For a brief moment neither of them moved, then she was running, throwing her arms around Sora as she reached him, with such force that she almost knocked him to the ground.

Kaze lingered back to keep from interfering, while at the back of his mind a nagging question formed; Was anyone back at his own home missing him that much?

Kairi pulled back, looking at him through teary violet eyes. Sora wasn't quite sure what to say; a "Hi Kairi" really didn't feel right.

She solved the problem for him. "I waited every day, Sora. I knew you'd come back. They all kept saying that you wouldn't, but you promised…" Her head titled to the side, examining him more closely. "You are really back, aren't you?"

He nodded firmly, almost trying to persuade himself that he was back as well as her. "I'm sorry that I kept you waiting so long…"

Two arms wrapped gently around him once more in response. "Please don't leave me again."

The words pained Sora to hear. He still had to seal one more Door after this, he couldn't stay, and he couldn't take her with him, could he?

As she withdrew, he reached a hand into his pocket retrieving his most prized item; the good luck charm she had given him. "I kept it safe."

Taking hold of it, she seemed about to say something in reply, but hesitated as her gaze drifted past him to Kaze standing behind.

Realizing that there was probably something else that Kairi was wondering about, Sora quickly spoke before she could ask, "Riku isn't here, but he's fine…" How was he supposed to tell her that he hadn't wanted to come? He couldn't do that to her, but he wasn't going to lie either. Maybe it'd be better if he just didn't give her the chance to ask exactly where Riku was. "He said that he'll see you soon." He stepped aside, gesturing behind him. "And this is Kaze."

She blinked slowly as her eyes drifted from one of them to the other. "He's a Keyblade Master too," Sora offered. Explaining the rest of it was going to be a little harder…

Kaze gave her a friendly grin. "I've been looking forward to meeting you in person."

The comment only appeared to confuse Kairi more. "You two…"

"…Look like each other?"

"It's a little complicated, but we'll explain later," Sora assured her. "There's something here that we need to take care of first, then I'll tell you everything." He'd have rather gone back into town with her where he could fill her in on all that had happened since they were separated, but he couldn't relax until he got this out of the way.

She finally managed to stop glancing between them both and faced Sora. "There's something here?"

"There's a Door that I need to open here." He paused. There was really only one place in his mind where it could be. The same Door that had been there all along, the same one that had he seen open as his world was swallowed by the darkness. Had that been a result of the Door been forcibly opened by someone, or something, that shouldn't have, that night? If he was the one that was supposed to open it…

"I think it's the one in our secret place." Sora started walking forward, heading for the corner where the small cave was hidden. He didn't get far before he stopped, realizing that not only was Kaze following him, but Kairi too. "Kairi, I need you to wait here for a moment…"

"You're just opening it, right?"

Sora exchanged a quick glance with Kaze before responding. "It might be a bit more difficult than that…" Should he tell her that there might be a crazy cloaked guy intent on killing them waiting there? "It shouldn't take long, but I need you to stay here. Please?"

"He might not even be here Sora," Kaze interrupted. "She'll be safe outside. We can check if it's clear and if he's there, one of us can shout for her to run."

"If who is there?"

Sora rolled his eyes at Kaze. She probably wouldn't be very willing to stay put now she knew something was wrong. "Then I'll go in first."

"Wait!" He turned around to face Kairi as she forced a weak smile. "Just… be careful."

Nodding, he summoned the Keyblade and headed into the cave. He could sense Kaze moving directly behind him, but he didn't turn to look, keeping his eyes on the area in front of him, expecting to see the familiar black form in front of them.

The area was empty. Everything was silent; the only sound was that of his own heavy breathing. He hadn't even realized how tense he had been, but as Sora walked further into the vacant space, he felt himself relaxing.

He heard Kaze calling to Kairi, informing her that it was clear, and a moment later, she joined them.

"I guess he knew better than to mess with us this time!" Kaze was smirking, but Sora could tell that he wasn't quite so certain of that. Something had to be wrong, why wasn't he here? Didn't he want to stop them?

"Let's just open it…" The sooner the job was done, the better.

Fixing his attention on the Door, Sora was surprised to see it had changed from the last time that he had seen it. The difference was only a small one, but noticeable. The once plain Door was now adorned with a large golden Keyhole of it's own that hadn't been there before.

At least he knew what to do with this one.

You are the one who will open the door to the light.

Levelling his arm, he held the Keyblade out in front of him. The solid white ray of light streamed out from the tip of the object and flowed to the Keyhole.

A crippling pain shot through Sora's chest the moment the light connected with it. The radiant glow from the Keyblade faded as quickly as it had appeared, severing the contact between it and the Door.

The agony inside of him didn't stop, it only grew stronger, and as he cried out, the weapon slipped from his grasp.

Something was aching inside of him, and he didn't understand why.

He heard someone shouting his name, and then he felt himself falling backwards before everything around him grew dark with shadows.

Kaze felt his body locking up as he watched.

"Sora isn't complete anymore. He's not a whole."

He felt himself go numb as he saw Sora reeling in pain, crying out.

"The two of you shouldn't both be here."

A biting coldness spread through his body as he looked on helplessly, watching Kairi running to the other boy's side, calling his name.

"Sora, he's got a very important task that he still needs to complete. As he is now though, I'm not sure if he can…"

He didn't move, even as he saw his other half hit the floor.

"When that times come…It won't be easy for either of you."

He felt his body shaking, as he started backing away, the knot in his stomach growing.

"Especially you."

He wasn't feeling Sora's pain. It was something that was only meant for Sora to feel, and Kaze understood why. He wasn't meant to be here, Sora was supposed to seal this Door on his own.

He was the one that had caused Sora to feel that pain. Because of him, Sora couldn't complete the task that he was destined to do.

One hand was unconsciously brought to press against his chest.

"You're… not really supposed to exist."

Note's: This has been ready for a while, but I had to keep editing it. I wanted the last section to be perfect. And hopefully this upload worked...

Slightly shorter chapter than the rest, but I think that's because the flashback section isn't as long.

This will probably be the last update until after the New Year now, I'm sorry for leaving it where it is, but I really doubt I can get another update done in time. I'll try, but, no promises…

Have a nice Christmas everyone!