Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, nor the characters. Ownership belongs to Squaresoft/Square Enix and Disney. I only own this fic.

A/N: Not a healthy number of reviews, but I can manage. Oh, yeah. Does anyone have any info on the new Heartless in Final Mix? If you do I'd appreciate it if you could tell me.

            Anyway, thanks to Nenya and Leann-Chan for the nice reviews. At least I know that this is actually being read.

            Okay, on with the fic!

Explanations and Discoveries

            As the sun sets, most get settled in for a good night's rest, except for three beings. They have gathered enough wood for the night and have made a small camp fire in the clearing that was found in the middle of the forest. The three were positioned around the source of light and warmth, talking about various things.

            Sora was seated on a log, currently staring at the flames. Irvine was leaning on a boulder, reloading his rifle. Zell, on the other hand, was shadowboxing, while still managing to keep up a conversation.

            "So, what are these Gardens you say you come from?" Sora asked.

            "Well, they're kind of like military academies…" started Irvine.

            "Kinneas, they are military academies." Zell corrected.

            "Anyway! As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." the sharpshooter continued, glaring at the blonde. "They're military academies where the students have reagular education and are trained for combat situations."

            "Balamb Garden has a special combat unit, called SeeD, where cadets need to pass certain exams to get appointed to it." added Zell. "Those who pass the tests are called SeeD's."

            "And you two are SeeD's?"

            "Just Zell, here." said Irvine. "SeeD is a unit of Balamb Garden only."

            "Now, you seem to know a lot about those things you call Heartless." Zell stated. "What I want to know is why you know so much."

            "Well, I don't know how to put it simply, but the best explanation as to why I know about them is that I've encountered lots throughout my journey." explained the Keybearer. "Being given the Keyblade, I was sent on a quest to lock passageways that Heartless can come through in any world I stumble upon…"

            "Wait," Irvine said. "Keyblade…?"

            "Oh, this." Sora replied, summoning the Kingdom model.

            Irvine nodded as a sign to continue.

            "Right, so, to lock the passageways is to simply look for a 'Keyhole' that is hidden in all worlds." the teen continued. "Actually, I wouldn't have known much if my friends hadn't explained it to me, or if I didn't read Ansem's Report…oh, yeah!"

            Irvine and Zell jumped at the boy's sudden exclamation. Sora was searching his pockets, looking for something. After a moment, he pulled out a small notebook from his vest.

            "Here," he said, handing it to Irvine. "It'll explain most of what you need to know."

            "We'll see." the sharpshooter commented. "But can you explain why they suddenly have a human-like form? I mean, when I first saw them they looked like bugs."

            "The Shadows, at least." stated Sora. "For some reason, they seem a lot more powerful than when I battled them. I don't know about the other Heartless."

            "So, other than a Shadow, how are we supposed to tell if something's a Heartless?" Zell asked, going back to shadowboxing.

            "Other than the glowing yellow eyes, you should see this symbol," the teen replied, etching the Heartless crest on the ground. "either on their clothes or on their chests."

            "Well that settles things for know." said Irvine, yawning. "Who'll take the first watch?"

            "I'll do it." Zell volunteered. "I don't feel much like sleeping yet."

            "Obviously." the other commented, tipping his hat forward to cover his eyes.

            Soon, the deep, even breathing of the sharpshooter indicated that he was fast asleep. Zell halted his drill and sat down on a stump. It was then that he noticed that his newest companion, who was across him, was still gazing into the depths of the fire.

            "Hey, Sora." he called, making the boy jump. "You can sleep, you know. I said I'm taking first watch."

            "Nah, can't sleep." the youth replied. "Besides, I just got up from unconsciousness that lasted for…I don't know how long, so I'll just sleep when it comes to me."

            A short moment of silence fell upon them before a thought came to Sora.

            "Hey," he started. "how do you two get around?"

            "Walking?" Zell humored.

            "Very funny." Sora retorted sarcastically. "I mean how do you get around worlds?"

            "We don't." the blonde replied. "Basically we've been stuck on this one. Nine years at least."

            "So you don't have any means of transportation?"

            "No. Do you?"

            "I used to. But I don't know if there's one here, or if ther're materials that I can work on.."

            "You mean if you can find the right stuff you can get out of this joint?"

            Sora nodded, he learnt how to make a gummi ship thanks to Chip and Dale.

            "Then you've got yourself some travel buddies!" Zell exclaimed, grinning. "Looks like you're gonna be stuck with us for a while."

            "Do I have a choice?"

            Both laughed at the remark. The liveliness of the moment didn't last though. Another moment of silence descended upon them. Zell squirmed in his seat, not used to the lack of activity.

            "Man, how can Squall put up with this kind of thing?" he mumbled softly after five minutes.

            Though it was a mere whisper, Sora heard it, his eyes widening slightly at a single word he heard in the sentence.

            'Squall?' he thought. 'Where did I hear that name before?'

            He tried to rack his memory to remember where he heard the name before, but it only caused a wave of fatigue to crash into him. He let out a loud yawn as his eyelids began to droop.

            "I see sleep's coming to you." chuckled Zell. "Go on, get some shut eye."

            Sora nodded and slid down on the ground, using the log he was previously sitting on as a headrest, the thought of the name being familiar still running in his head. As he slipped of to unconsciousness, he dreamt of a scene that occurred when he was yet to know that he was the Keyblade Master.

            ~*~*~Sora's Dream~*~*~

            "I'm so glad you're okay, Kairi."

            "Kairi? Who are you talking about? I'm the great ninja Yuffie."

            A flash obscured Sora's vision for a moment, then the image of Kairi disappeared and was replaced by none other that Yuffie. The cheery ninja turned to someone standing in the shadows.

            "I think you might've overdone it, Squall."

            Sora then saw the man who guided him throughout his journey step out of the shadows and correct Yuffie.

            "That's Leon."

            ~*~*~End Dream~*~*~

            Sora jolted up, awake from the discovery that came to him in his sleep. Glancing around, he saw Zell stomping out the remains of the campfire, while Irvine was collecting fruit from a nearby tree.

            "Well, it's about time!" said Irvine, who tossed him an apple. "We've been trying to wake you up for half an hour now."

            "Well I slept late." he complained.

            "Got that right." Zell agreed, covering the ashes with earth. "But now that you're awake, we can get moving."

            "Huh?"

            "You said that if you can find the right stuff you can get us out of here, so, like I said before, you're stuck with us!"

            "I saw a sign that said a town's two miles away when I was gathering fruit." Irvine informed. "Let's head there first."

            "How are we sure that sign's not misleading?" Sora asked.

            "Because it looks like it's been put up only yesterday."

            Having no alternative route, Zell and Sora finally let the sharpshooter led the way to the direction the sign pointed. At first, their conversation consisted of the topic of the Heartless, but the Keybearer quickly remembered his dream.

            "Zell?" he piped up.

            "Yep?" the martial artist replied.

            "Last night, you mentioned something like Squall, right?" the youth inquired, the name passing through his lips like a new word.

            Zell and Irvine paused at the name and turned to look at the teen.

            "Yeah…" said the blonde.

            "He was a friend of ours." Irvine explained. "We got separated when the Heartless attacked our world."

            "Look, can we drop this?" asked Zell.

            Sora was startled at the statement, but kept calm.

            "Squall was Zell's best friend." Irvine whispered to Sora. "They were pretty close considering on how Zell could get the lone wolf, as some people called Squall, to open up. You know, they were more like brothers now that I think about it."

            "Okay, we can drop the subject. But can I ask you something first?" Sora asked, knowing that his information will cheer both men up.

            Both nodded, Zell a little hesitantly.

            "Does Squall have brown hair, grayish-blue eyes, pale skin, a single earring on his left ear, and scar on his face that starts on the right side of his forehead and ends under the corner of his left eye?" he asked, managing to say all that in one breath.

            His companions were in shock that he was able to accurately describe the stoic Gunblade wielder's facial features down to the scar.

            "How…h-how do you know?" Zell countered.

            "Because I've met him." Sora replied.

            "Do you have proof?" Irvine asked.

            Sora said nothing but held out the Lionheart Keychain given to him by Leon.

A/N: Another semi-cliffhanger! ^_^ I think it's the only way to get reviews. Please R+R, I need the encouragement! Well, 'till next time.