Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.
"Wait… you can't get in?!" Saïx asked. "Xemnas… it's already sunset… the kids are still in there… the radios aren't working for them..."
"We'll think of-" Xemnas was cut off as Xaldin literally rammed into the door, trying to break it down, only to stagger back. "Xaldin?"
"It's no use… I can't get it open." Xaldin said. "Anyone got a chainsaw?"
"I get the feeling that won't work we even tried shooting around the handles and they left no damage." Xigbar said.
Xemnas sighed. "We need to trust that they have this handled." he said, putting his arms around his husband.
"Saïx? Someone! Can you hear me?" came a voice.
"Whoa! Whoa! Radio!" Xigbar went to the equipment. "Wait… whose voice is that?"
"Wait a sec… Marluxia!" Saïx ran to the radio and responded. "Marluxia, is that you?"
"Saïx? Am I glad to hear you!"
"Marluxia, what's going on? Where is everyone?" Saïx asked. "Is Sora okay? Is my baby okay?"
"That's the problem..." Marluxia admitted. "He's not alone, though. Riku and Sora went through a door; for some reason I couldn't follow. And I'm a freaking ghost!"
"And the others?" Xemnas asked, joining his husband.
"Something's up… it's like we're all on different planes; the others didn't hear Sora and Riku and they just now realized they've been separated. Hell, they can't even hear the radio while I'm talking to you." Marluxia explained. "Good, they found the door Sora and Riku went through; maybe they could follow them, but… I'm worried."
"Just keep an eye on them, okay?" Xemnas requested. "Try to help how you can. I know the others can't see you, but try to help. Marluxia? Marluxia?!"
"Bzzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzzzt!"
"Dimensional planes..." Xemnas whispered.
"They must be constantly shifting, which is why the radios worked off and on and Marluxia could get through to us." Saïx said. "Marluxia, if you can hear me, listen well. Try different radios at times. The planes are shifting and it could be disrupting everything inside. Okay? Try using different radios!" He sighed when there was more static. "Our baby boy, Xemnas… our sweet little baby..."
"He'll be fine. He's with Riku; he's not alone." Xemnas assured, hugging his husband. "Even if he had no one with him in person… he has everyone in his heart… he's never alone. He even has us."
"Right… right..." Saïx whispered.
"This is the heart door… did they go through." Zexion asked, feeling the door and trying to open it. "It's locked… If they went through it, how? Was it unlocked in another plane? Okay, now that's sounding more like time crap…"
"Let me try something." Axel said, making everyone scoot away. He backed up and rammed at the door, bouncing off of it. "Oh… ow..." He sat down. "That hurt."
"You have no muscle mass to back it up." Zexion sighed. "Riku would have been better." He sighed. "We don't even know if they came this way… or why they split up."
"They told you they found it but you didn't hear them." Marluxia said, though he went unheard. "Dammit! What do I do now? How do I help them?" He then looked at Kairi. "Psychometry! Yes! You may be able to see it if I get you to touch the door." He nodded and positioned himself near the redheaded female. "Okay, let's hope I got enough energy for this." He gave a good shove, making Kairi squeal in surprise as she smacked into the door. "Oops. A little too hard."
"What was… a ghost maybe?" Kairi asked, putting her hands against the door to brace herself and push away. She then went quiet, her mind going over what she saw… seeing it through Sora's eyes. She then pulled away. "They did go through… and he called out to us to tell us they found it… but… we didn't hear them..."
"Yes! It worked!" Marluxia cheered.
"Oh no… they must have ended up on a different plane than us." Demyx whined.
"We need to find a way to follow them, right?" Xion asked.
"Thinking… thinking..." Zexion mumbled, going into thought. "I don't know yet… but… we'll come up with something. Maybe find another clue..."
"Finding something is better than just sitting and waiting." Axel said, getting back to his feet. He then pounded on the door. "Sora! Riku! If you can hear us! Stay safe! We'll find a way to get to you!" he shouted. "I hope they heard that… Do you think Marluxia followed them?"
"No… I can't get past it." Marluxia sighed, trying again, even trying the handle. The others saw the jiggling of the doorknob and jumped back. "You can see it… but..."
"I think Marluxia's with us… and for some reason he can't get past the door." Naminé said.
"Then we need to find another way." Zexion admitted.
"No need to be scared… I'm with you, Sora, I'm here. Our friends are fine, too." Riku assured as they walked down a hall that seemed too long to have to have really been there. They then came to a stop, seeing a door with the six shelves on it. "This is it?"
"This is it." Sora nodded and put everything on the shelves. "Six… strange keys. And one actual key." He took in a deep breath before putting the key in and unlocking the door, making it vanish. "Oh no, the toy!"
"Don't worry, I'll get you a new one." Riku assured. "Or maybe we'll find it again. Right now..." He looked to see only darkness ahead. "Let's go."
"Yeah." Sora went with Riku through the door. A long, dark tunnel. Too long, really, but in this mansion where nothing made sense, it made complete sense. They then reached a set of double doors, just like the front door. Riku reached and opened them, stepping through with Sora. "Wait a sec… we're back in the foyer?" Sora asked.
"Okay, I swear there was a game teaser like this." Riku said, looking around. He then stopped, seeing various shadows. "Um… Sora?"
"It's okay, they won't hurt us." Sora assured. "They're those lost to this place." He then stopped when he saw Demyx walk past them. "Demyx!" he called, running to him, pulling Riku along, and going to touch the blonde's back. He stopped when his hand phased through him. "Riku!" he cried. "Demyx, he's..."
"Wait, wait… this morning before we came, you said that Ventus told you that no one died on the first night, right?" Riku asked, to which Sora nodded. "Okay, maybe we're just in different planes… like why they didn't seem to hear us about the door."
"Oh… right." Sora nodded and let out a sigh of relief. "Don't worry, Demyx, we'll help you soon."
"Is that a fact?" Sora and Riku looked up when they heard a voice. There, they saw and elderly man. He smirked and descended down the stairs, his aged appearance disappearing, revealing a more youthful look. The younger version of Xehanort. "Welcome home, Sora."
"This place isn't his home." Riku said, pushing Sora behind him.
"Oh, but it is. He is tied to this place, whether he likes it or not. My lovely great-grandson." Xehanort chuckled as he neared them. "We may not be blood, but the moment you were born… you were mine." He reached out. "It's not lonely here, Sora. No one will judge you for the gifts you have… the power you hold."
"No, but it's dark and scary!" Sora snapped, running off with Riku; surprisingly Xehanort didn't seem to pursue them. Yet.
"I was expecting an old guy who was scary beyond all reason; he just… reversed his age or something!" Riku said. "How do we even stop him?"
"I really don't know." Sora admitted. He then came to a stop in a room clearly used for galas and parties. On one side was even an extravagant fireplace. "I don't even know how to beat his Darkness with my Light… it still doesn't make sense to me."
"Yeah… same here." Riku sighed a bit. He then looked and jumped when he saw Roxas. No. Ventus. "Huh? Am I… supposed to be seeing a ghost."
"I don't know..." Sora said, going over. "Ventus?" he asked.
"Xehanort's trying to get you… your Light is fading, Sora." Ventus said.
"But… I… how do I make it better? How do I stop Xehanort?" Sora asked.
"Your friends are your power… use them to help the Light… as for stopping Xehanort… I don't know." Ventus sighed as he disappeared.
"My friends are my power..." he mumbled, trying to comprehend that.
"Power… power… power!" Riku snapped his finger. "You can amplify what Xehanort's doing, but you're not doing willingly; it's more subconsciously. And Naminé drew on your power to amplify her own, that's how we found the door." He smiled. "What if we amplify the other ghosts, increase their light? Help them see the light more. Shine enough light in all directions, shadows can't really be cast."
"This is why I started crushing on you. You're just so smart and clever." Sora said.
"When did good looking hit your opinion?" Riku inquired.
"That same year after I saw you at the pool with how well toned your muscles were and how amazing you looked." Sora admitted.
"I can live with that." Riku chuckled.
Heyo, lovelies!
Oh hey, looks like Sora started crushing on Riku for how smart he was, not for his good looks. At first, at least. Hey, that's a good reason to love someone, right? Though let's be honest, Sora's definitely not complaining about Riku's looks.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next. Until next time.
~chibi