" I have not been entirely truthful with anyone about the true nature of my research. It is not simply into the legends of old. It is concerning something from the legends-the nature of the heart and its connection with a mythical place known as Kingdom Hearts."

" Kingdom Hearts?" Roxas asked. I could tell by the look on his face that he knew something about that.

" Yes. In the legends it was the place that is considered the heart of all worlds and a place of immense power and wisdom. In an attempt to save all worlds from the darkness that was about to be unleashed by an ancient evil, warriors of light sealed Kingdom Hearts."

" Isn't this the legend you told me when I was little?" I asked suddenly, everything sounding familiar now that I was hearing it. In the legend a villain by the name of Xehanort attempted to harness Kingdom Hearts for darkness, flooding the world with creatures deemed as Heartless. Three warriors of light met him in battle at a place called the Keyblade Graveyard. Xehanort was defeated and, in order to stop something like that from every happening again, the three Keyblade masters sealed Kingdom Hearts and the darkness inside of it.

At least that's what the legend was, but I'd never thought it was actually true. I mean it's pretty out there.

" Yes, that's the one. I was doing research into its validity when I came to discover that it was true. Kingdom Hearts exists to this day but is only visible once every few decades when the seal is at its weakest. As I continued trying to learn more about it, I found ancient records by a Keyblade apprentice that had been present the day of the battle. Originally the stories were founded on his testimonies but it was in this journal that he stated the true nature of the seal."

" The masters did not simply dry up the worlds' magick to cast the seal, but they used their very lives as the keys to locking it. However, keys not only lock, but unlock as well."

" What you're saying is that Kingdom Hearts has been sealed as much as it was locked and can be unlocked?" I asked, making sure I was understanding correctly.

" Yes. I discovered the way to unlock the door. It was the pages that held that secret that I burned. It isn't something that should be done. If that door is tampered with the Darkness that was sealed away within Kingdom Hearts will be released and things will be as they were back during the Keyblade War." He stated calmly, hands folded neatly in front of him as he leveled us all with a serious gaze. It could be me but I think he was pointing it more at Roxas than me or Cloud.

" Xemnas is trying to unlock Kingdom Hearts…" Roxas said quietly, looking down at his feet in thought. I wonder what he's thinking about, if this means anything else to him. It wouldn't really surprise me if he's making connection and piecing everything together while we're still all in the dark.

" Anything you want to share about that?" Cloud asked pointedly, probably thinking about the same thing I had been.

He paused, darting a glance up at me and Cloud before turning his attention to my dad. " What do you do to unlock the door?"

" You would need a descendent of the Keyblade Masters to unlock it and they would have to be considerably powerful to do it alone. It would be someone worthy of the Keyblade if it still existed in our world. It also mentions reincarnations but I was unable to discern what about them. I assumed they would have to be reincarnations of the three warriors of light."

Keyblade…could it be that weapon from the virtual room? It would fit the description so does that mean that Roxas and I are descendants? " Roxas…?" I asked quietly, hoping he was thinking the same.

" I know." He replied, not looking at me. It made sense why Xemnas wouldn't kill him now. He needed him. He wasn't sure for what but if he was assigned the Keyblade in that program then he knew he would for something. " I'm not certain, but…Xemnas may have figured out how to unlock it."

" What makes you say that?"

" When Axel and I were…dealing with the Organization, we ran across this room. We didn't have time to really pay attention to it, you know? But I remember seeing strange symbols on the walls and there was a girl and boy lying there. It looked…ritualistic."

" This is not good. There were three warriors and three locks. If what you suspect is correct, two have been undone and we do not know who the last incarnation is nor who the Keyblade wielder would be." As he spoke, my dad stroked his chin in thought, leaning his back against the chair. Roxas shifted slightly beside me. If we both got the Keyblade, then it had to be us. I don't know which of us is the wielder and which is the reincarnation but surely there couldn't be that many other choices right?

" We have to stop him. Now." Roxas said tightly, shifting his weight restlessly.

" And we will as soon as we get a warrant. We're all involved now, Roxas, and that means we can't just go breaking laws this time." Cloud's words made his brother flinch and me scowl. It was true but he didn't really need to be so harsh about it. Roxas didn't comment though I could see him clenching his jaw in order not to. If he really wanted to go, could we really stop him? I don't know but that isn't something I want to test either.

" Please, just let us help you for once, Roxas." I didn't mean to say that out loud. Why did I say that? He's got this betrayed look on his face now. Did he really not expect me to side with Cloud at least a little? Stupid, self-sacrificing, destructive…I couldn't help but sigh.

The conversations didn't go much further than that. As crucial as my dad's information was, there wasn't a whole lot that he had to say. Cloud left about an hour later with a promise from Roxas to not do anything stupid. Riku and Kairi…well I was still trying to explain everything three hours later. It was slow going but eventually they were at least mostly caught up. I didn't tell anyone about the Keyblade being assigned to me and Roxas in the program. That I feel like is very sensitive information that I may or may not regret keeping a secret later.

Suffice to say it was incredibly late when I finally go to sleep that night. Riku and Kairi went home with promises to be cautious and on guard for anything suspicious. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to send them home after involving them like this but Roxas assured me that they would be fine. Once again emphasizing that Xemnas would be waiting for us to bring the fight to him now that his plotting had been revealed. As I finally laid down in my bed, Roxas taking the sleeping bag this time, my mind refused to slow its racing thoughts.

I'm not sure what time I finally fell asleep but once again morning felt like it came way too soon. I could hear someone quietly moving around my room, probably trying to not wake me. Judging by how quietly this person was I'm pretty sure it's Roxas. I was tempted to ignore him and go back to sleep, but a sudden since of urgency made me force my eyes open. " Roxas…?" I asked quietly as my sleep hazed vision cleared to reveal the blonde moving around the still dark room.

" Go back to sleep, Sora." He said softly, his tone calm.

" What are you…" my eyes widened in alarm as I took in his black cloak and the swirling archway of dark energy behind him. " Don't!" I moved to jump out of bed by was jerked painfully to a halt as I realized by wrist was tied to my bed. " Roxas!" I yelled, angry and desperate.

" It's better this way." He said quietly, fastening Oathkeeper and Oblivion to his hip. " You all keep saying to let you help but I can't sit around watching as you and Cloud get more involved and underdo everything I've been doing."

" You can't do this by yourself! You don't have to anymore, we will help you! Please!" Tears pearled at the corners of my eyes as desperation and fear took a painful hold of my throat. Where were my parents? Surely they could hear me yelling! " You're going to get yourself killed! And then what? Do you think that we don't want you just as safe as you want us?!"

He looked away, body facing the portal. " I know you do, but it can't be both ways. Not anymore. I won't let you throw away everything I've done to keep you safe. I'll end this, one way or another, and you, your family, Cloud, everyone will be safe. That's all that matters." He sounded so accepting, like talking about his possible death was fine by him.

" No it isn't! You matter too, you idiot!" My tears fell freely as I tugged roughly on the bindings around my wrist, trying to loosen them with my other hand while not taking my eyes off of Roxas. He took a step into the portal as it began to show signs of fading away. " Roxas! Don't! Stop, please!"

" See you later, Sora." He smiled, accepting the uncertainty of his fate with heartbreaking ease.

" ROXAS!" I finally wretched my hand free and lunged, trying desperately to follow him. I watched helplessly as the portal disappeared in front of me, taking my friend with it, as I crashed to the ground. " No, no, no, no…" This couldn't be happening. It had to be a dream, a nightmare.

Not knowing what else to do, I called Cloud. He would know what to do right? Where he went. He'd have a plan. He had to.

" Sora? Has something happened?"

" Cloud…Roxas is gone."