Unable to keep himself away, Riku looked through the window of the small house in the Third District, watching but unable to hear Sora's conversation with the others in there.

"You see?" said the witch standing behind Riku. "It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, now he values them more than he does you. You're better off without that wretched boy. Now, think no more of him, and come with me. I'll help you find what you're searching for..."

"I guess," Riku sighed, turning away from the house. "It seems like you're the only one I can trust anymore, Maleficent. I just--"

"Get away from him, you bitch!" shouted a voice so ladden with anger that Riku didn't recognize it. He turned to see a lithe, slender figure launch herself from one of the rooftops, drawing a pair of wickedly sharp knives from two sheathes on her belt and aiming a sharp kick at Maleficen't head. Maleficent merely stepped back out of the way, sending her attacker into a barely controlled spin, which set the girl down protectively right in front of Riku, facing the witch.

"Such hatred!" Maleficent exclaimed in genuine surprise. "You harbor such dark emotions for one so young. Tell me, child, what could have invoked such intense loathing in you?"

"Cut the crap, Maleficent, you know full well the answer to that," the girl snarled. If it hadn't been for the blonde braid and unmistakable figure, Riku would never have guessed that this girl was Kage. What Kage said next came out as a barely audible snarl. "Lord knows you've done it enough."

Despite the evidence of his eyes, because of Kage's tone, Riku just had to ask a certain question.

"Kage?" was all he needed to ask. Her eyes flickered back to him for a bief moment, then snapped right back to Maleficent.

"Hey, Riku," she said. Riku sighed, glad for the confirmation. Kage and Maleficent, however, just kept glaring at each other.

"What's going on?" Riku asked.

"I'll tell ya later, Riku," Kage said. "Promise. But right now, I kind of need you to get outta here. Meet me at the Accessory Shop in five minutes, okay?"

"I'm not leaving," Riku stated flatly. "I want to know what's going on with you two."

"Riku, please, stay out of it," Kage said, still glaring daggers at Maleficent. "I don't want you to get involved in this, and I really don't want you to get hurt. I'll keep Maleficent off your back while you scramble, alright?"

"No, it's not alright," Riku snapped. "I trust her, Kage!" Kage finally turned to look at him, lowering her knives to her sides and staring at him in surprise.

"You what?" she asked. Then there was a loud crack as Maleficent slammed Kage in the head with her staff. Kage's knives fell to the ground with a metallic clatter, and Kage fell unconcious into Riku's arms.

"What did you do that for?" Riku demanded.

"She was wild, and unable of controlling her anger," Maleficent explained calmly. "She might have attacked you had I not intervened."

"Kage'd never hurt me," Riku said calmly, gently lowering her to the ground but keeping her head cradled against his chest. "I'm sure whatever grudge she has against you is misplaced. She has amnesia, I don't think she even realised what she was doing."

"Believe what you will," Maleficent said with an unconcerned shrug. "And do as you wish for the time being. I await your return." Maleficent disappeared into the shadows, returning through darkness to her lair.


Truth be told, Maleficent regretted her rash actions against the young girl, yet they were necessary. Riku's trust in her had been lessened, but the price of inaction was too high. Maleficent could sense the power of light flooding through that girl so inappropriatelly named Kage. It was similar to a power the witch had first sensed nine years ago when she had taken Hollow Bastion as her own, and again over a year ago. Now, however, the light was much stronger, forged and tempered into a powerful weapon. The only difference between Kage and the child from Hollow Bastion was the name. The child's name would have one day struck fear in the hearts of all who followed the paths of darkness, but Maleficent was positive that that girl was dead.

Mizu Hikari had died by Maleficent's own hand upon their last meeting.