Chapter 52: Farewell Melody

Sora brought his blade crashing down, but his Shadow took a step back, making it miss him, but only barely. The Shadow swung his own blade, hitting Sora on the side, and while Sora was reeling from that blow performed a combo. He followed up the combo with a few bolts of Dark Thundaga, all of which hit. He laughed.

"Shut. Up." Sora hissed, striking.

The Shadow laughed again, side-stepped out of the way, and then casually stuck his foot out, causing Sora to trip as he turned.

Sora fell to his knees, Keyblade falling from his grasp again. He quickly picked it back up, struggling to get his hurting fingers to close properly.

The Shadow grinned, dropped his chains, and slowly clenched his hand into a fist.

Sora gasped, back arching in pain as the darkness suddenly lashed out within his heart. He did his best not to scream, but didn't succeed. The Shadow watched with amusement, as Sora continued to scream. He banished his blade, and casually motioned with his hand, causing a few tendrils of darkness to lash out.

Can't… move… Sora thought in horror, as the dark tendrils slowly snaked their way around him. He couldn't even stop screaming.

"Pathetic!" his Shadow taunted. "Like I said—you're a wimp."

The darkness released him just enough that he fell forward, hand closing around his blade. He ignored the pain.

"Shut up, shut up!" he shouted, running at his Shadow.

Sora brought his blade crashing down—

—through nothing. He glanced around, finding himself back in Aerith's house, everyone staring at him in shock. His blade slowly fell from his hands and to the ground. It vanished after a moment, but he was too busy examining his hand to notice. His fingers were covered in blood, and there were also a few slashes on his wrist.

"Sora!" Aerith gasped, rushing over, examining his hand. Or, starting to, Sora batted her away.

"Cura," he whispered, cursing himself for not thinking of it earlier. His fingers stopped hurting, and slowly stopped bleeding, too. He quickly fished around in his pocket for his star shard and pulled it out.

"I'm leaving," he declared, starting to activate his star shard.

"And what are you doin' that for?" Cid shouted, stopping him. He turned to Cid, slightly shocked. He had expected someone to protest his departure, but he hadn't been expecting Cid.

Though, he would have been more surprised if it had been Yuffie.

He swallowed.

I know exactly why I'm leaving. I don't want my Shadow hurting anyone.

Maybe he hasn't INJURED anyone yet but, whatever that was—Whatever he said to Aerith, to Leon. That HURT them.

And if I stick around, he'll do it some more.

So I'm leaving.

"I don't want—" he began, but for some reason, just couldn't get the rest out.

"Sora," Aerith said sternly. "At least let me see your hand first."

He turned to her, and sighed, but tossed his star shard to his other hand so Aerith could examine his hurt one. She grimaced.

"It got infected with darkness…" she muttered. "I may not be able to do much."

Sora shrugged. "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt much." He was silent for a moment. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Hmm?" Aerith replied, sounding confused.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" he clarified.

"Your Shadow?" Aerith asked, and then laughed. "Oh no, I'm fine."

She sounded fine, and she smiled. But her eyes betrayed her. Her eyes said very plainly that she wasn't fine.

Well… if she doesn't want to talk about it, it's not my place to pry, Sora thought, as she continued tending to his wounds.

Still… I wonder what he did to her. It had to be more than a few stupid taunts…

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Aerith laughed again. "Don't be," she told him, and then muttered a healing spell. Light surrounded Sora's hand, and then his entire arm. What traces of darkness that were still clinging onto him were banished. His burns healed, and the cuts slowly closed, though not entirely.

Aerith raised her eyebrows, slightly surprised. "That worked better than I thought it would," she mused. "Darkness is usually harder to treat."

"Thanks," Sora muttered.

"Are… you sure you want to leave?" Aerith asked.

Sora nodded.

"Why?" Yuffie whined. "We like having you here!"

"Yeah, kid!" Cid agreed. "And you're not that bad in battle, either! Plus, I've never seen someone enjoy my soup so much. You can't leave!"

Sora swallowed. "But I- I don't want-" he paused, frowned, and then swallowed again. "I don't want anyone getting hurt," he said quietly. "I don't want my Shadow hurting anyone else. He's already done enough damage. He'll just do more if I stick around." He clutched his star shard tightly.

"I still don't get what he's talking about," Yuffie muttered, crossing her arms and pouting.

Leon rolled his eyes. He had explained it quite a few times already, and didn't want to explain it again. He turned to Sora. "I'll have to admit, it's nice having someone else around who doesn't complain all the time," he said. "Makes these two easier to deal with."

He nodded over at Cid and Yuffie, who both shouted: "Hey!" at the same time, and then turned to glare at each other.

Sora laughed slightly.

"You sure you want to do this?" Cloud asked. "This isn't your Shadow trying to—"

Sora quickly shook his head. "This is my choice," he said.

Cloud slowly nodded.

"So… you're really leaving?" Aerith asked. Sora nodded again, and smiled. Aerith sighed. "Alright. We won't keep you," she said. "But you better come back sometime, okay? We'll miss you."

"I'll miss you guys, too," Sora said.

Oh gosh, he thought. I'm not going to cry. I can't seriously be crying!

I've only been here a week or so!

And yet here I am, crying at the thought of leaving them.

But… I'm leaving to protect them.

My Shadow's just going to hurt them if I stay here.

THIS is why I don't want to go home. My Shadow would hurt Kairi, too.

Sora sighed, and shook his head, clearing it of those thoughts. He took one last look around the room. Yuffie was still pouting, and Leon was again trying to explain the whole thing concerning Sora's Shadow to her. Cid was examining his mug as if he wanted more to drink, but then glanced up at Sora and grinned. Aerith smiled her soft smile and waved slightly. Cloud didn't do anything but stare at Sora with his intense gaze.

"Bye," Sora whispered, activating his star shard. Everything faded to white.