Okay…I started this during school outta boredom but since I'm only in my comp class for near an hour, I can't finish it there. So I'm starting over at home.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Square Enix and Disney. Kinno belongs to me and Aurora belongs to Aurora. Carbuncle belongs to Square Enix as a summon in various Final Fantasies

A/N: Yea. Riku might be a little OOC. But remember, this is his sister he's talking to.

Italics thoughts

/blah/ heartless talking

Chapter 4: Reunion and Telling

Kinno's POV

As my mind slowly drifts back to consciousness, the first thing I feel is a burning pain. Mostly centered around my chest. I struggle to remember all that's happened and in my half conscious state, it takes a while. It takes until the burning pain begins to numb for me to remember. The dream of the destruction of the islands…the dream coming true…Falling into darkness and coming out unscathed than finding out I was picked to attack the keyblade wielder…Failing miserably... My thoughts stop there on their own as my nonexistent heart suddenly cries bitter tears. Riku had sacrificed himself I knew it and I didn't even need to be told. Though changed by many things over the years, the only thing that never has is his will to keep me safe and protected at all times. Never meant to be smothering, he did it out of fear of me dying again… I knew it and accepted it, never getting on his case about it. But this time…This time I fear it will be the end of us both. Emptiness settles in my chest where my heart used to be as I fight back the bitter tears my body wants to shed since, without meaning to, I pushed my brother into working for Malifcent. Guilt sweeps through me seconds after the bitterness does and it's only than do I realize someone is in the room with me…

Normal POV

Sparkling dark blue eyes suddenly widen in happiness as he notices the girl under him move a little, guilt followed rapidly by confusion flicking across her pale face. He smiles brightly as piercing green eyes slowly blink open and gaze up at him, mirroring the confusion on her face.

"You're awake!" He says with excitement.

He notices the girl's eyes widen in shock before she launches herself at him, hugging him tightly.

"Sora! You made it off!" She says with happiness.

Sora smiles and hugs the girl back before gently holding her at arm's length.

"I was so worried about you Kinno. When you vanished like that…"

Kinno blushes a bit before looking around the room she's in. Very different from the grand room at Hollow Bastion, it's mostly…green. Green wallpaper, green bedding, even green curtains.

"Kinno…what happened to your arm?" Sora asks with worry, seeing the deep gash that marred her right arm.

A constant reminder of my failure.

"I don't…want to talk about it…" Kinno mumbles quietly and Sora instantly backs off.

"Here." He says suddenly.

Kinno looks up and her piercing eyes brighten as Sora holds out her necklace. She reaches up and as soon as her hand closes around the star, the emerald burst blazes with light, recognizing her. She puts it around her neck and lets it rest against her chest. The light dies down, going back to its normal faint glow and Kinno smiles, looking up just in time to catch Sora yawn.

"Go to sleep Sora. I'm sure you've had a rough time."

"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

Kinno nods and Sora smiles before going into the room next door. Kinno, however, stays awake for another half an hour, her hand playing over the wound.

My failure…Maybe the one time I could help my brother…And instead I condemn him…

Tortured thoughts go through Kinno's mind, plaguing her until she falls into an uneasy sleep. In her dreams, played out in her mind's eye, she sees what she thinks her guilt will take her, not knowing the path she sees, will come to pass later.

Dream

Kinno's POV

I find myself back at Hollow Bastion, standing in the laboratory and watching in silence from the raised platform. I gaze in disinterest to the rug below, not caring much for it. That is, until my twin is dragged in. He's kicking, struggling violently, against the grip of two Invisibles. They throw him in the middle of the rug and leave. He raises his head, glaring hatefully at something past me and I turn around to see the evil witch Malifcent, standing a foot behind me. I ignore her, for now, and turn my attention back to Riku. All along his arms are bruises, as if something's punched him recently. Along his left shoulder I can see a burn from fire magic and my chest burns in anger as I look at Malifcent.

"You still seek to disobey me?" The witch asks coldly of Riku.

Riku glares defiantly at her and I cheer silent approval. Malifcent narrows her eyes in anger and raises her staff. A column of fire appears around Riku and his pain filled screams echo in my head as I watch in horror. What I couldn't tell from the dream, when this happens, Riku's being protected so he's not getting hit with the full blast. But I don't see any of it. All's I hear are his screams. They tear at me, killing me more. Never…not once have I heard him scream like that. As the attack finally stops, he collapses to the floor, burned and unconscious. I scream, letting out all my guilt, my pain, and my sadness.

End Dream

Normal POV

"Kinno! Wake up!"

Kinno's piercing eyes snap open and she's meet with the worried gaze of her twin.

"Oh God! Riku!" She hugs him as tightly as she can, fear eating her.

"Kinno, what's wrong?" He asks, hugging her back and just holding her.

"You…You can't disobey Malifcent!" Kinno says, moving back.

Riku's eyes darken in hatred as he shakes his head a little.

"I have to…I have to make sure you stay alright…"

"She'll hurt you!" Kinno says right after he says that and Riku blinks.

"Hurt me how?"

Kinno shifts uncomfortably where she's sitting on the bed.

"Kinno…Tell me…"

Kinno slowly lifts her gaze to look at him.

"She abuses you…hitting you…burning you…just for disobeying…"

Riku looks down a little than looks up again just in time to catch the guilt that flickers across Kinno's face again. He sighs quietly, knowing it was coming, and gently brings Kinno closer to him, holding her close.

"Don't feel guilty for what I've chosen."

"But you did it to save me!" Kinno protests.

"And I would have done it had it been Sora or Aurora…"

Kinno pulls away from Riku, looking at him.

"You've been making sacrifices for me since we were kids. You always took more abuse, just to make sure I didn't fall ill. You even got me a gift the day I was dying. And what do I give you in return? The ONE time I can help, actively, help you, I get you condemned. You're working for an evil witch that probably hates both of our guts without ANY good reason. What kind of a sister am I if I put my brother through all of that shit…?"

Riku listens silently, letting her get out what he knows she needs to, to keep her from snapping on someone else. When she finishes, he gently holds her close, hugging her tightly as she lies across his lap and in his arms.

"Everything I've done, I've done out of love. You're my sister and I love you. All these sacrifices you've said I've done. I've done out of free will. I was never pushed to do any of these things. And if we got a chance to start over, back when we started getting abused, I would do nothing differently. As for working with Malifcent, would you believe me if I said that had perks? I can world hop now as well as giving you different kinds of potions should you need it. Plus I have this cool sword now."

Riku smiles a little to hear Kinno chuckle against him.

"That still doesn't answer my last question…"

Riku gently kneels over and kisses the top of her head.

"You're the kind of sister that always thinks of others. Their health, their problems. And never of herself. You're the selfless protector, Kinno. Not once, when we were younger, did I hear you complain during the abuse we got…You were always more worried about me. Even if you were sick…And like I said, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat…"

Riku smiles a little again to feel Kinno relax against him before both suddenly jump as the door flies open and someone falls through. Kinno looks over as the figure pushes it's self up and reveals it's self to be none other than Aurora. The girl pushes herself up and blushes as she smiles sheepishly.

"Hello." She greets.

Riku gently lets Kinno go as the girl gets up and goes over to Aurora. The girl shifts uncomfortably, afraid she's in trouble for eavesdropping before Kinno grins widely and hugs her tightly. Aurora blinks before hugging back and smiling a bit.

"At least everyone did make it out safely. That's a relief." Riku says, getting up from the bed as well.

Kinno nods agreement, stepping back from Aurora.

"Though not uninjured." Aurora says quietly.

"It doesn't hurt." Kinno protests and just to prove her point, stretches her right arm and moves it to show it doesn't hurt her at all.

Riku suddenly looks over to the door connecting the two rooms and moves back near the door to the balcony as it slowly opens to reveal a sleepy eyed Sora. Kinno waves to the younger boy than sees out of the corner of her eye, Riku vanish from site. A wave of sadness and anguish go through her, remembering who he's working for before shrugging it off as best she can, which isn't much. Kinno, Aurora, and Sora start talking with each other about little things until Sora suggests going exploring. Aurora, already knowing the town though she won't say how, declines. Kinno is all for it and both her and Sora run out of the hotel and into the second district. Running through the district proves to be great medicine for Kinno though in the back of her mind, she can't forget all that's happened.

Kinno's POV

Going through the first two districts of this town were amazing. New sites to see, new people to meet, new places to go had me entranced for a while. We stopped in this store that had three little ducks as inn keepers. They were so cute! I couldn't help think that as we talked to them. For this new fight with the heartless, I had to have a weapon. The ducks were very nice in saying I can borrow a sword, as long as I either returned it or paid for it later. Just between us, I NEVER got around to doing it, EVER. Hope their not mad…Anyway, we continue our exploration of the districts, going into places we can without getting run out until, near the edge of the second district, we come to the Dalmatians home. We go in and though neither of us have had experience with dogs (The closest I've come is Carbuncle. My memory of him is fuzzy but I do remember him being a small creature), we're astounded to find only two adult dogs. We ask questions and from their reactions, we find out what happened. From the business with the heartless, their puppies have gone missing. That calmed my excitement. We left, a bit subdued now, and head to the third district.

Normal POV

"You guys are asking for trouble, aren't you?" Aurora's voice sounds as they head into the district.

"We just want to look." Is Sora's childish answer as he and Kinno go down the stairs into the plaza.

Both jump as columns of rock come up in all of the exits. Riku appears at the top of the staircase, watching the two children, a deep sadness in his piercing eyes.

Riku's POV

In truth, I had hoped they wouldn't come here. I had heard from Malificent that she was planning to test the strength of Sora and his keyblade. And after getting Kinno tied into it as well, she wanted to trust her strength. I didn't want them to come, but I knew it had to be done and my own heart ached in pain and sadness. I walk over to the railing and watch the battle between my best friend and twin against the army of heartless. They win easily and Kinno goes around, collecting the money. I hear her comments about the sword being lended to her and am relieved about that. The relief quickly turns to horror as the Guard Armor comes. The ground shaking upon his arrival, neither Kinno nor Sora hesitates to jump and attack him. All three of us had sparred together very often, every since Sora came to the islands and more so after Kinno died to help strengthen her body and endurance. I knew how both of them fought. Sora was more a combo hitting, hitting more than once in a string of attacks while Kinno was more acrobatic. Often times, to confuse her opponents, she would add flips and cartwheels to her attacks. She was so good at it, she rarely got hit. Not to say she never did. And today was one of those days. I visibly flinch as, in the middle of one of her cartwheels, the Guard Armor swings his arms around and claws deep into Kinno's already cut open arm. She falls to her side but quickly gets back up, backing up against the wall as blood drips from the new wound. My mind swings back to just earlier that same day, when Kinno first got the large cut. Her last chance to save my life had almost cost her, her arm but she didn't complain…She had wanted to save me and watching the blood drip from her arm as she leans against the wall, reminds me of her feeling of guilt in being unable to do that, the guilt that I felt as well, in getting her heart stolen. I watch as Sora keeps fighting, succeeding in making the Guard Armor fall to pieces before running over to Kinno. In the sudden silence, I hear the words they exchange.

"Do you want to stop?" Sora asks quietly, checking over her injury.

Kinno's answering words make shame and sadness flow through me again as I watch them.

"No…Your all alone…You need the help…" Kinno answers, her voice cracking slightly in pain.

In my mind, I can hear her voice saying the unspoken words.

And to prove to Malificent, I can get my brother's life back…

I could see it in her posture since I couldn't see her eyes. I hear metal clanking and look up as the Guard Armor puts itself back together and goes to attack the two again. I wanted to shout a warning, but I wasn't supposed to be here and if I did, I would give myself away to those who were not supposed to know I still lived. The one person being Sora. Again I flinch as Sora's back gets racked open from the claws and he falls against Kinno at the sudden attack. I hear her call out his name in fear as his blood drips to the ground, mingling with hers that's already there. Rapid footsteps catch my attention and I turn to see Aurora running down the stairs, intent on trying to get through the barrier. I appear in front of her, stopping her and shaking my head.

"This is their fight. They have to prove something." I tell her, gesturing to the fight, able to be seen through cracks in the columns.

"But their both hurt!" Aurora protests.

I say nothing, letting her watch the fight as I do as well. Both have gotten back into fighting stances, but Sora is shaking from the pull on his back and Kinno's grip is slippery on her sword hilt. I can tell that by the way she keeps flexing her fingers on the hilt, trying to get a better grip. Aurora moves past me to look through the barricade to watch them.

"Don't attempt to help them." I tell her, a slightly hard tone entering my voice.

The sounds of metal on metal can be heard as they start attacking again and Aurora watches them before looking at me, an accusing look entering her eyes.

"How can you stand there and watch while your sister's out there hurt?" Aurora asks me in a cold tone.

Her voice causes me to flinch again, narrowing my eyes a bit to her anger.

"She's fighting against something within herself that cannot be fought against for very long. Should she win now, even with her injuries, her freedom can last a little longer." I reply in a bitter and sad tone.

Aurora says nothing in response. She goes back up the stairs and I follow, wanting to watch the battle from a better view to make sure neither is killed. I notice it a few seconds before Aurora does. Their attacks are getting slower and more sluggish and I quickly realize…They won't be able to keep it up for much longer.

"Something's wrong…Their moving too slow." Aurora says in worry.

"Blood loss most likely." I answer with the same worry.

They deliver one more strong attack and the Guard Armor finally dissolves. My heart jumps, seeing the heart left behind before plummeting in sadness. This was it…The process was to begin and I could only watch as my sister's body slowly died because of the inner turmoil she would go through. I bow my head before stepping back and vanishing.

Kinno's POV

That was probably one of the most exhausting fights I have ever been in. Guard Armor was a heartless I never wanted to fight again. The barricade around us explodes and Aurora runs over to us as we collapse wearily to the ground.

"Are you guys okay?...Stupid question." Aurora says as she runs over.

I don't even answer as a small piece, less than a fourth of it, breaks off and drifts over to me. I gently brush my fingertips against the smooth surface and it glows, drifting closer. It goes into me and I sigh deeply as it settles back in its place. Neither Sora nor Aurora questions it and for it I'm glad. I don't think I could explain what's going on, since in truth, I didn't know the full story either.

Normal POV

After getting Kinno and Sora to the hotel and getting their wounds looked at, Aurora is on the roof, looking out over the second district. Riku appears over her, causing her to jump. He laughs a little, moving back. The two end up talking a little bit before Aurora posses the question Riku had been avoiding.

"Why did you let the darkness take you?"

"It was a way to get off the island." Riku answers nonchalantly though his eyes suggest otherwise.

"So was the door. And it didn't require you to give up a part of yourself to the darkness."

Riku flinches, his gaze roaming to where Kinno's sleeping.

"That's why I kept yelling for you to stop at the islands. But I didn't want to get close to the darkness."

"The darkness wouldn't have taken you. It only takes those who open themselves up." Riku says knowingly.

"You know the only reason Kinno did was because you promised to be there with her and she trusts you with her life. And no I didn't pry…Sora just talks in his sleep, loudly."

"And because of that trust, she has to pay double to price of accepting the darkness." Riku says in anger, rubbing his arm in the same place Kinno's gash is on her arm, remembering all that's happened.

The two talk more before Aurora goes back inside, leaving Riku alone. After calming Kinno down from a nightmare she has, he vanishes, getting called back to Hollow Bastion.

Chapter 5: Kinno's First Transformation

Since the fight with Guard Armor, a week and a half has passed. After healing from the injuries received in the battle, the three have left Traverse Town and have gone to Deep Forest. Though Kinno now has another heart fragment and a new pet, the adventures they went through were not the most fun. Now in Wonderland, Kinno sits on a lily pad, coming from one of the tree branches hanging overhead. She swings her legs back and forth, thinking about what's happened recently. She's found, with the spell over her from Malifcent, that she can perfectly understand any heartless they come across. Most desire to take the hearts of those working against their master. But one…one didn't have that wish. He didn't understand what his family meant and Kinno had saved him from enduring pain from his kin. After talking with it more, she found out it was a baby and didn't know how to steal hearts, nor would he even if he could. So Kinno had adopted him. At first, Aurora had been unhappy with her decision, distancing herself from both the heartless and Kinno. After a chance encounter with Kinno, the half heartless had learned her friend's reluctance on getting to know the baby. After seeing her family and home destroyed, Aurora had hated all heartless. It had only been made worse by the fact her brother had been separated from her at a young age. Kinno quickly jumped on the fact Sora wasn't from the Islands and trying to lighten Aurora's depressed heart, had assured the girl that Sora hadn't grown up alone. After finding him, the twins had taken it upon themselves to raise him and help him learn, even though they were just a year older. But Kinno's somewhat excitement had faded into her own depression. The baby heartless, by the name of Shadow, had warned Kinno the real reason he was so intent on getting Aurora to be his friend. Her constant gloominess made her an easy target and after meeting her, Shadow had wanted to protect her from his kin. Kinno learned on the way to Wonderland he had succeeded. After that, Aurora had let Shadow be around her, had even been let to ride on her head as he often did Kinno, without being shunned just because he was a heartless. Kinno was still depressed though. Aurora's hatred of the heartless has scared Kinno into keeping away from Aurora, afraid of her reaction should she transform.

So she sits on the lily pad, watching the forest below her feet, keeping herself away from Sora and Aurora. She watches them walk under her, talking back and forth and just enjoying the scenery. Though depressed, Kinno too was enjoying the open air. She still remembered from her years of abuse, the feeling of being blinded and trapped someplace where her air was quickly running out. It had seeped into her until she hated being in enclosed places. She tolerated it, but if she stayed too long and the feeling got so bad, she'd be panicky and desperate to leave. Thankfully no where she's been has had that feeling to her yet. An off-key melody of a song touches her ears and she glances up, looking further into the forest. Shadow is purring his song, the same one he's been singing since he was adopted, and trying to jump onto the mushrooms leading to the treetops, just having fun in his own way. Her rapid thoughts get interrupted as she feels a shift in her mind, picking up on someone else's feelings. She stands up and whirls in a flash, not recognizing it until she sees it. Her once dull eyes suddenly widen in shock and happiness, seeing a familiar face. She runs over and hugs him tightly; happy to see her dream hasn't yet come true. Though he is bruised, he hasn't yet been burned and she smiles a bit around her worry.

"You look worse for the wear."

"Yea…I ran into a little bit of trouble. But you dropped something."

Kinno looks confused as Riku holds his hand out. Lying on his palm is a gold glass star with sapphires, rubies, and an emerald in it. A broken chain dangles from his hand and Kinno gasps, shocked to see he got it and also happy, her fragmented heart suddenly flooding with love. She gently takes it, her finger tips gently brushing over it as a small smile passes her lips. She gently puts it on and the chain magically heals so it's resting against her chest again. The emerald burst glows brightly before fading and she looks up, frowning to see Riku's more than usual serious face.

"I've come to tell you something important."

"That's all you can do since your being forced to work for Malificent." Kinno says bitterly.

"It pertains to you." Riku counters

"It's what I've been sensing isn't it?" Kinno asks, nervousness gripping her hard.

Riku nods a bit and Kinno visibly cringes, looking away.

No heart fragments…my limit will break while I'm here and I know I will not like the consequences…

Riku gently brings Kinno's head up so she can look at him and she meets his gaze steadily.

"Just stay strong alright? If you feel anything different with you, get away from them."

"How will it go away?" Kinno asks in a serious voice.

"I'll help. I may work for Malificent now, but I can still rebel."

Riku looks a little relieved to hear Kinno laugh a little bit.

"I'm sorry I'm the reason you're doing this…" Kinno says quietly and Riku hushes her gently.

"I'm not going to turn my back on you. If working for Malficient keeps you alive, than fine I'll do it."

"But you have to be in hiding! Sora doesn't even know you're alive!" Kinno counters, her emotions running taunt and threatening to consume her.

"I know. But Kinno listen, you need to calm down. You don't have very much of your heart left and the time is wearing down quickly."

"How will I know…?"

"Believe me. You'll know."

Kinno looks away, looking to Shadow who's still trying to jump up onto the mushroom, still having fun and not paying attention to anything else.

"Does knowing the heartless emotions and understand what they say tell my time is almost up?"

"I think that's just a perk of being half heartless…"

Kinno's nervousness returns as she remembers one last question she needs to ask.

"Where will I hide when this starts?"

Riku smiles a little and gently takes her hand. Just minutes later, their back again and Kinno nods a little bit, knowing the small glade is the perfect place to go. Riku tells Kinno he has to go and vanishes from site. Kinno frowns, depression going through her again before she tries to shrug it off and turns, jumping off the lily pad. She lands next to Aurora, who frowns a bit, looking around worriedly.

"You got to help me find Sora. He disappeared."

"Alright." Kinno says happily to hide her sadness.

"So what were you and Riku talking about?" Aurora asks.

"An adventure." Kinno answers nonchalantly, knowing Aurora was listening in.

"Right." Aurora answers and Kinno rolls her eyes a little.

They walk off and enter the Bizarre Room, almost tripping over Sora in the process. Both girls stay close to the boy, feeling disoriented.

"Where are we?" Kinno asks, looking around and feeling dizzy.

Aurora leaves just moments later but before the other two can follow, heartless start swarming around them. Kinno flinches a bit, the continuous chanting of the heartless giving her a headache. She tries to block it out, forming her sword to help Sora fight against the heartless.

Kinno's POV

Fighting the heartless was a good way for me to get out the stress of what had happened recently. But that also caused the time limit to break faster. As soon as we were done battling, it started. Something inside my literally snapped and than I was hit with execrating pain. I double over, crying out in pain as I fall to my knees. Pain flows through my body and I slowly lift my head up to look up at Sora who looks at me horrified. My already torn heart shatters completely as I remember what I think Aurora's actions will be when she sees this. So I end up fleeing like a coward. As soon as the first heartless ability is activated, I use it teleport to the glade. I scream out my pain as loud as I can as claws form on my fingers and scales form along my shoulders. The pain fades a little and I think it's over. But it isn't. The pain suddenly intensifies as small black wings rip from my back, directly between my shoulder blades. The wings grow a bit until they reach just a little bit past my shoulders. The pain fades away as I lean over, breathing heavily. My wings drape over me, blood dripping from the tips of the feathers in my wings.

/Kinno…/ A quiet voice chirps.

Shadow…

"Go away!" I hiss in anger, startled at my own voice.

/But…Your friend's are worried about you…/ The quiet voice chirps again.

"Go away! I'm hideous! Neither human nor heartless! I'm a monster! They won't want to be near me!" I cry.

Normal POV

Shadow moves closer to where Kinno's huddled up, curled up as tight as she can be with dry blood caked onto her form. He chirps for a few minutes and finally coaxes Kinno to come out into the open. She scoots forward a little bit before kneeling in the middle of the clearing, her head bowed and her wings lying against her back. Her cloths have been torn from her transformation and her yellow eyes are closed against her pain of what's happened to her.

/They won't hate you…/ Shadow chirps.

Kinno's head jerks up, her bloodstained silver hair falling to lie against her back.

"How can you say that!"

/They won't…/

"I'm an abomination! I have no real form! I walk in no world!" Kinno cries, doubling over and digging her claws into her shoulders.

The claws tear straight through the sensitive scales on her shoulders and blood streaks down her arms.

/Stop that! I tell you they won't hate you/ Shadow chirps loudly, alarmed and confused by Kinno's sudden mood swing.

Kinno just growls in answer, looking to her claws before moving them as though to do it again, this time to her wings.

/I'm telling them/ Shadow suddenly threatens.

"No!"

Shadow vanishes and Kinno follows, trying to stop her heartless friend from telling the others what's come over her.

Kinno's POV

Shadow had threatened to tell the others of my transformation and the harm I had done to myself in my despair. They wouldn't understand him, but I had to stop him anyway. We appear near the entrance to the Wonderland forest and I hover on my small wings, trying to get used to having them since I have a feeling this won't be the last time I'm in this form. They tire quickly and I land, growling at Shadow who just moves his antennae a bit. Before I even turn I know who it is. The heartless instincts of stealing the purest and most vulnerable heart kick in and I'm sent almost staggering by that all consuming power. After many years of being separated from her brother and seeing everything she knew destroyed, Aurora's heart had no time to recover from learning Sora had survived and had grown up healthy and very much cared for. Add that onto the fact she's worried about me, which I could sense as well, and you have a very distraught half heartless. My yellow eyes meet her worried dark red for a split second before I quickly turn away and teleport back to the glade. I collapse to my knees and slam my fists against the ground, tears falling from my cheeks in a heavy glow as my battered body shakes. Already weak from the abuse of my childhood, I couldn't take the abilities and senses the heartless had. The heartless had an all consuming lust to steal hearts. It was bred into them from birth and though I was half heartless, not born as one, I still felt that lust. Even away from them as I was I still felt it, but I fought it, not wanting to turn them to share my fate. I cry out all my tears and finally just curl up on the ground, fighting my hardest to ignore everything I'm sensing and feeling. After only two minutes, I feel a gentle hand on my back, between my wings. I react savagely, springing up and turning, slashing at whoever it is.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't get away sooner. I almost got caught as it is I meant to come sooner, before the transformation, but I failed." I hear Riku's voice apologize.

The haze in my mind clears but than the instinct hits home stronger since Riku's standing only three feet from me. I feel his sadness at his perceived failure of helping me and my hands clench as I stiffen.

"Just hurt Riku…Before I lose self control and attack you…" I hiss through clenched teeth.

Riku holds out a small fragment of my heart and it comes over to me without me needing to touch it this time. It vanishes into me and instantly I feel the heartless form go back into dormancy. I slowly transform back and collapse to the floor.

Riku's POV

The effect had been instantaneous and I catch Kinno as she falls to the floor, unconscious from being restored. The wounds on her shoulders had healed instantly with the transformation back, but the sadness I carried remained. Kinno had harmed herself in her despair and I had failed to protect her. I hold her close to me, resting my head on hers and kissing her hair.

I'm sorry Kinno…For failing to help you…I knew this would be hard for you…And as soon as you agreed…I vowed to help you in anyway I could…But I have failed…I'm sorry…

I gently pick her up in my arms, noticing she's lighter than normal before teleporting away. I appear in the forest again and am quickly confronted with Aurora who looks worried.

"Is she okay?" Aurora asks instantly.

"She fell unconscious after she transformed back. I tried to get here sooner, but I couldn't do it." I say sadly, looking away from her.

"It's not your fault. I wasn't there when it happened either." Aurora says, trying to cheer me up, but it's not working.

"I was trying to prevent it from happening, but Malifcent kept me from leaving. I think she's beginning to suspect something." I say guilt still there.

"Like I said, stop worrying."

I notice Aurora messing with something around her neck, but say nothing of it, sadness and guilt still going through me.

My thoughts are divided suddenly as Kinno stirs against me. Surprised to find she's awakened so quickly, I gently set her down as she wakes fully, blinking a few times.

"Kinno! You're awake!" Aurora says with the same amount of surprise.

I notice Kinno looking between us, her own guilt and personal demons flooding through her usually impassive piercing eyes and mentally shake my head.

If we survive this…Kinno's going to need a lot of help to over come this…And I will be there every step of the way…

I notice Kinno start suddenly and look at Aurora to see a smile on her lips, directed at Kinno, probably happy to see she's awake. But all the same, I'm startled myself. Aurora had never once smiled when she was on the Island and I find myself blushing just faintly even though it's not directed at me. I quickly get over it though and look to Kinno who meets my gaze, clearly happy to see me but knowing I have info to give her, most likely something she won't like.

"I wish I didn't have to tell you this…But the magic holding you isn't strong this time. You have to get to the next world quickly and get your heart back."

Before your time limit breaks again…

I send the silent message through my eyes to her. I can tell she knows from the sudden flash of terror I see flicker across her eyes before she nods a bit.

"Sora's waiting Kinno. He was really worried about you." Aurora pipes up.

I smile inwardly to see her blush faintly and on an impulse, I hug her tightly, pulling her close to me.

"Don't despair and be strong. I won't be back for a while…" I whisper in her ear.

She hugs back, moving her head against the side of mine. She was nuzzling me, a habit she had picked up from our childhood. And she only did it when she was afraid and knew she wouldn't have my support for a while. It was rare, so when she did it, between us, it was special and I took it as such as I gently kiss the side of her head as she moves away from me again. I slowly vanish, one last message going through my eyes as I disappear from my twin's line of site.

I'm sorry Kinno…