Welcome back to a whole new chapter of No End In Sight! I hope I get some more awesome reviewers... Cough... Cough... Anyway, first I must do the Disclaimer.

:Disclaimer:

Leiko: Welcome back, idiots.
Akana: Eh... heh... You see, we've been working on her people skills... It's a work in progress, but at least we got her to say "welcome"! She usually never says that!
Leiko: Whatever. We don't own any characters here except --
Akana: TARA! Teehee!
Leiko: ... Yeah... Meaning, we don't --
Akana: Own anyone from any of the Final Fantasy games, Disney movies, or Kingdom Hearts itself! Although we really wish we did!
Leiko: ... You're getting on my nerves. Shut up before I kill you.
Akana: You're no fun! 'pouts' Besides, that's violence, and since this is a K+ rated fic, you can't do that to me! 'sticks out tongue'
Leiko: Just remember, we have to do disclaimers in other stories, too. Most of them are T.
Akana: 'gulps'

:End Disclaimer:

Eh... heh... My two selves are fighting... Joy... Anyway, please enjoy the story, and don't hesitate to use that lovely little review button down at the bottom!

Warning: Possible OOC. I'm not sure exactly how Kairi or Sora would react in a situation like this, so I just made something up. Don't kill me! 'hides'

Chapter 2: Return

.:Destiny Islands:.

It's been two years, Kairi thought glumly, staring out over the ocean. She watched the sun as it set beyond the horizon, vaguely remembering a boy she used to know. She looked to her side and, for a moment, she could see him and hear an echo of his voice, responding to something she'd said. "You're the one who's changed, Kairi."

"Maybe..." she whispered with a pained expression. "Sora, don't ever change." She drew her legs up and hugged them close to her.

"I asked the others, but they just say it was all only a dream I had one night. They don't remember anything at all." She spoke as if he were right there, listening, even though she knew he wasn't. "They don't remember anymore, not even Tidus. I ask about who he used to train with, and he asks me what do I mean, he's always trained alone.

"The past two years have been long ones, and even I'm starting to forget. I can hardly remember what you look like anymore. I have to go to the secret place every day just to be sure that you even existed. When I go there, I close my eyes and try to remember you, remember what color your hair was or your eyes, but I can't. I just can't.

"Sometimes I even forget to go to the secret place. Yesterday, I forgot to go, and I forgot your name this morning. I don't want to forget you, but it's so hard... So hard..." She was choking back her tears now. "Sora, I miss you, and sometimes I wonder if you'll ever come back..."

Kairi stood now, still looking across the ocean. A slight breeze ruffled her hair, which she kept at the same length as she always had, just above her shoulders. She stepped onto the beach and walked along, trying desperately to remember something. Something about two boys. One had just walked up and was sitting beside the other. "Sora and Riku," Kairi whispered softly. "I'll race you..."

A moment is all it took. They glanced at each other, and then the two images were off, racing each other. Kairi ran behind, smiling and even laughing a little in spite of her sadness. Only when she passed under the bridge did she remember that it wasn't real. The boys disappeared, and Kairi slowed to a stop, her smile instantly leaving her face as she looked at the sky. It was dark now; the sun had set. She watched the motionless stars, wishing she could see the two boys again. The memory of them had been so vivid. She'd been able to see the color of their hair and eyes, even the clothes they wore. The memory was gone now, though, and she no longer knew what they looked like or what the other boy's name was.

"Did you have silver hair, Sora?" Kairi whispered to the sky. "No, not silver. Yours wasn't silver." She shut her eyes tightly, trying to recall the memory. "Sora, who were you? What were you like? The other boy... Was he friend or enemy? I have so many questions for you, but you aren't around to answer any of them..." She was so wrapped up in trying to remember details of the two that she didn't even notice when she fell backwards onto the sand. She lay there on her back, eyes closed, not moving for the longest time. When she finally did stir it was the middle of the night, and she'd just awoken from a light sleep.

The first thing she did was gasp. A shiver went down her spine as she leapt to her feet, her eyes fixed on the sky where a large red ball had appeared. The amazement and fear she felt rooted her to the spot. She couldn't tear her eyes away. Against her protests, she took a step towards it, her mouth forming two words that three different people had unknowingly all said on a certain night two years ago.

"The raft!"

"Kairi!"

She turned slowly. That voice...! "Sora!" Her heart leapt with joy. He was there. He was really there. This was no dream. This was real. Your hair is brown! she thought with childlike delight.

Sora ran to her and grabbed her hand. "C'mon! We have to get out of here!" he told her in a slightly panicked voice.

"You came back!" Kairi said in surprise, almost as if she hadn't really thought he would. She followed Sora as he led the way to who-knew where.

He turned to grin at her while still running. "Of course," he replied. "I promised, didn't I?"

"I'll come back to you! I promise!"

"I know you will!"

It all came back to Kairi. All of her memories about the island, Riku, Sora, everything. A raft, then a storm. Strange shadows on her island. Then came darkness. A savior, new faces, and explanations from strangers of what'd happened. She'd given Sora something important to her and said she was always with him. He'd left, and they'd met again as the island was reforming. Opposite sides of a great chasm... A shouted promise to return... Her memories were there again, all of them!

Everything came back to her with such force that she would've stopped and perhaps passed out if Sora hadn't been pulling her along. As it were, she only stumbled a bit, blinking and shaking her head vigorously. The memories that'd been stored away for two years were all present once again, and she now remembered Sora and Riku and everyone. She could close her eyes and remember exactly what they looked like and what they were like. Riku was the one with silver hair, not Sora.

"Yeah, you did promise," Kairi answered dumbly. Sora, still grinning, turned back ahead to make sure he could see where they were going.

Suddenly, something jumped on Kairi from behind. She tried to scream, but her voice caught in her throat. She remembered the cold, clammy, empty feeling of the Heartless. She'd encountered them before, and she knew it wasn't good to have one on your back. What it would do to her, she didn't know; the one time a Heartless had tried to get her heart, Sora had come and had, inadvertently, saved her.

When Sora felt the tug on his hand that signaled Kairi had stopped, he knew something was wrong. He turned back around, and his keyblade was in his hand in less than a second. "Kairi, get down!" he commanded. Kairi obliged, throwing herself onto the ground and covering her head with her hands. Sora's keyblade swept easily through the weak Heartless. It was only a Shadow, after all.

He helped her up, and the two continued running. "Where are we going?" Kairi asked. It seemed as though they'd been running for hours, but it'd only been a few minutes.

"The secret place," Sora answered without hesitation.

That place... Kairi thought. That's where... That's where the door is!

They came to the base of the large tree and pushed past the weeds that grew upside down from the top and that covered a hidden entrance. The two ran in, their echoing footsteps and heavy breathing the only sounds in the tunnel. When they got to the main cave, they slowed, and Sora glanced behind them for any signs of pursuit. When there were none, he relaxed, and leaned against the wall.

Kairi stared at him. "Sora," she said after a few minutes' hesitation, "is that really you? Are you really back, or is this just a cruel dream?"

"I'm really here, Kairi," he said, giving her another of his wonderful grins. "And soon Riku's going to be here, too. I'm going to find him and bring him back. Then I'll seal the door again and restore all the worlds back to normal. We'll all be able to come back here and enjoy life like we did before any of it happened!"

Kairi looked at him and felt her eyes brim with tears. "You're actually here," she whispered. "Sora..." She suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're back!"

Sora hugged her back. It was all he could do to keep from breaking down into tears of joy as well. Two years of searching for a way to bring back Riku, two years of searching for a way back home, and he finally knew how to do it. It was just a matter of time before everything was alright. They could resume their old goal of building the raft and visit new places, see new sites. Just because they'd visited other worlds didn't mean that there wasn't more to their own, after all. The best part about it, though, was that he would be with his best friends again. He'd miss all his new friends, of course, but they'd always be in his heart.

Eventually he pulled away. "It's time to go," Sora said, holding onto Kairi's arms. "The others are waiting on the gummy ship, Highwind." Sharing a secret smile about the name, they both looked at the old, worn door that was embedded in the stone. A bright light flashed, and the worn door became a magnificent one. Sora turned the handle, and another blinding flash of light lit the cave as the door opened. When it disappeared, they were gone.

.:Traverse Town:.

Her long, black jacket fluttered around her ankles as she walked. The chains on her baggy, black, silver-lined pants jangled and clinked together. She wore a silver shirt with a black dragon imprinted on the front, and her gloves were black and fingerless. She stood at a height of about 5 feet. Strapped across her back were two special sheaths with two special (and repaired by the "finest blacksmith in Traverse Town") swords. Her black hair fell to the middle of her back, and a pendant on a necklace around her neck glowed brightly. Her red eyes pierced the darkness of the Third District's night, searching, as always, for any signs of return.

It's been two years, Tara thought absently. Two years of loneliness... Two years of waiting for them to come back... I know Merlin would never lie to me, but is it possible that he was mistaken? Is it possible that the Heartless won't come back, and that I missed the only chance to see my family and friends again?

No, she assured herself. No. Merlin isn't mistaken. The Heartless will return, and when they do, I will see everyone again. Remembering the promise made to her, she smiled. I'll even get to meet Sora, the famous Keyblade Master!

Tara stood next to the door of the small house that held so many pleasant memories. She opened the door slightly, and in the gloom she swore she could see the familiar images of her friends. There was Leon standing near the stacked up boxes, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. Yuffie was sitting on the edge of the table swinging her legs as she talked about anything that came to mind. Aerith was also there, sitting at a chair with her hands in her lap and listening politely to Yuffie. Kairi was sitting in another chair, but her gaze was towards the swinging light in the center of the ceiling. Her eyes were glazed over, and she was obviously thinking about Sora. Everyone stopped what they were doing when the door opened, though, and they all looked at Tara.

A gust of wind blew from the outside in. The images faded as the light rattled.

Tara heaved a great sigh and closed the door. It will do no good to daydream, she told herself as she leapt over the edge of the level and landed on the stone below. She scanned the district, looking for even the slightest hint of a Heartless.

What was that? A Shadow?

Yes, a shadow; her own shadow. Not a Heartless.

She gave a small sigh and walked over to the fountain in a corner of the street. She sat down, leaned against it, and closed her eyes. She could at least be grateful for one thing; no one ever came to the Third District. Though the Heartless were gone, the entire section of the city was thought to be haunted. Everyone stayed in the First and Second Districts. Amazing how a few random blasts of fire from a certain hidden person can scare people away...

She was jolted awake from her light nap as the dull sound of the town's large clock permeated the silence. Her eyes opened again, and she silently counted the chimes. It was just a habit of hers that was hard to get out of. 1, 2, 3, she counted.

A fleeting movement somewhere off to the side caught Tara's eye. She turned her head sharply, but if anything had ever been there, it was gone now.

4, 5, 6, she continued. It was automatic now. Once she started, she couldn't stop until the clock did.

The sound of scuttling feet made Tara jerk her head in the opposite way. She caught a brief glimpse of something. She stood, her hands immediately going behind her head to the hilts of her swords.

7, 8, 9, her mind chanted.

She pulled the swords from their sheaths. Her eyes darted to and fro as she searched for any signs of life. Something was there, she knew. Something was hiding. The only question was what?

Chimes ten and eleven echoed throughout Traverse Town and Tara's mind as she counted them. She crouched low to the ground, staying on her guard for her hidden enemy.

"12," she whispered aloud.

It was as though a button had been pressed or a trigger pulled. Shadow Heartless instantly sprang forth from their hiding places and leapt at her. Cursing and smirking at the same time, Tara deftly snapped her wrists and killed the first wave. The rest didn't fall back; they continuously came forth, their numbers only increasing as she cut them down.

She steadily and almost rhythmatically sliced through them. Her motions were fluid, powerful, and efficient. In those two years of loneliness, she had quelled the longing for companionship by training hard. Her skills in fighting had increased dramatically. No enemy could stand against her now, not even an Invisible.

Soon, different types of Heartless came and attacked. First there were the Soldiers, still an easily defeated enemy. Next came the various flying mages: Red Nocturnes, Yellow Operas, Blue Rhapsodies, and Green Requiems. A fat Heartless called a Large Body rose up from the darkness after that, but Tara disposed of it quickly before it could cause too much damage. The Heartless continued to appear, getting stronger and stronger, until there were two Defenders, three Gargoyles, six or seven Darkballs (it was hard to count since they were constantly on the move), two of each of the flying mages, eight Soldiers, and fifteen Shadows. Finally, the numbers ceased, but the army they'd built up was indeed formidable.

Needless to say, Tara was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

The Defenders each cast blizzard spells, but Tara leapt out of range. Two of the Gargoyles flew in to attack with their claws, but they were forced to retreat as gleaming steel flashed in front of them. Tara was forced to keep constantly on the move, hacking away at any opponents that came close. At one point she was forced to throw up her left-hand sword and shout, "Fira!" About six Shadows that were in front of her met with a fiery death. She caught the sword again and had to leap aside as a Red Nocturne shot a fire attack at her.

Tara soon became exhausted. She'd managed to reduce the numbers to one Defender, one Gargoyle, two Darkballs, two Green Requiems, one Yellow Opera, six Soldiers, and three Shadows, but the fight was taking a great toll on her. When once her attacks would've felled three Soldiers at once, she only felled one. The Green Requiems weren't helping any with their healing powers, but they always danced away from her attacks just before she could cut them down. The Gargoyle and Defender were especially annoying, considering that they were strongest.

The Yellow Opera cast a lightning attack, but Tara rolled to the right to avoid it. Unfortunately, a Soldier was there, and it tore at her with its claws. Her jacket was ripped to shreds, but she leapt to her feet and stabbed a sword through the chest of the despicable being. The three Shadows instantly came down upon her back, their claws tearing more than just fabric. With a great cry, she dropped the sword in her left hand and reached back to pluck them off. The Gargoyle swept down upon her, but her eyes flashed angrily. She dropped her other sword, the one in her right hand, and cast a firaga spell at it. It landed on the ground in a heap of flames.

The other Heartless didn't mourn the death of their ally. Two of the Soldiers leapt over their burning companion before it disappeared and attempted to attack her, but she leapt to the side, taking the Shadows on her back with her. This action only served to put her in the way of the Defender, which was only too happy to send a fireball her way. She was forced to dodge that as well as keep away from where the Darkballs sped jerkily back and forth. All the while, the little Green Requiems leered above, sprinkling the healing green light that touched only the Heartless.

Tara fell to her knees. This was too much for her to bear. The Heartless gathered around her, and she knew that they all knew she was on the verge of unconsciousness. She felt the icy cold grip of death close in around her, and she knew it would all be over soon. She collapsed forward onto the ground, the Shadows still mercilessly scraping their claws against her back. Her weary eyes closed, and a single thought came to mind. Mother... Father... I'm sorry...

That was when a voice called out her name. The sound rang in her ears. She knew that voice... Kairi? Could it really be her?

The pressure on her back was soon lifted. The Shadows were gone, and from the commotion around her, it seemed that the rest of the Heartless were being taken care of. She felt a presence by her side and somehow knew it to be Kairi. She let out a small groan of pain as she tried to get up, but a hand pressed gently against her shoulder. "It's alright now, Tara," she said. "Sora, Donald, and Goofy are taking care of it."

Soon, the sounds of battle ceased. She felt herself being lifted from the ground by someone's strong arms. "Donald, can you cure her?" a boy's voice asked.

"Of course I can!" a voice that sounded like a duck's answered. "Cura!"

Tara felt her wounds close up once again. Her strength was returning to her, but she still felt sore. She managed to open her eyes a crack, and she knew she would always remember her first glimpse of her role model, the Keyblade Master.

"Are you okay?" Sora asked anxiously. Kairi was standing next to him, looking worriedly at her. There were two more people, also. One was tall and looked rather like a dog. Another looked like a duck and had to stand on tiptoes just to see her. Tara nodded in response to the question, and everyone smiled in relief. "You should get some rest. That was a pretty bad battle."

"Okay," she muttered absently. She didn't need to be told. She was already halfway there.