Chapter 227: 200 chapters?

Kairi beat her fists against the wind barrier she'd been trapped in, scowling furiously. This was ridiculous. She wasn't bait and more importantly the wind was loud and obnoxious and her hair was whipping around to hit her in the face regardless of how many times she pushed it away. She couldn't hear Sora, either, and could hardly hear the man who was holding her captive. She felt like she had to yell at the top of her lungs to be heard, and her throat was already growing a little sore because of it.

And then to make things worse…

The man reached through the wind barrier—it didn't even affect him—and grabbed her by the chin. A blatant disregard for her personal space, treating her like an object—Kairi wouldn't stand for it.

Granted, it was more reflex than anything else when she shoved him away and the light exploded from her to keep him back. If she'd meant to throw the light, it wouldn't have thrown her back as far as it did. Her back hit the opposite end of the wind cage—it wasn't very large so she hadn't been thrown far, but the force was enough to knock the air from her lungs.

Kairi blinked to restore her vision, and it cleared just enough for her to see the man wave his hand in dismissal. Then cold and darkness enveloped her. She nearly cried out in panic, but then she felt a hand around her wrist.

It was a touch that felt like Sora.

And even though she knew Sora was nowhere near enough her to be saving her, the familiarity of the touch calmed her enough to keep her from screaming.

The darkness faded. Kairi barely got a good look of where it had left her when the world dissolved around her. The sight of everything twisting in front of her made her nauseous. Thankfully, it all slowed and in no time, solidifying into the shapes and colors of the Islands—of home.

For a second she thought she was alone. If anyone had brought her here, she certainly couldn't see them. But then the pressure left her wrist, and she heard the sound of sand shifting beneath weight, and then a voice:

"That was me."

Oh.

"Good to see you again, Mr. Invisi-guy," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. "Well, not see you, but."

He chuckled. It seemed… empty.

She did her best to look him in the face.

"Thank you," she told him.

He was probably busy with a million other things, and yet he'd taken the time to save her? That was awfully sweet of him. And he hadn't necessarily had to—though she was grateful. More than grateful.

"You're welcome," he said.

Kairi cleared her throat. Now came the awkward part. "Well, uh, thanks for saving me and all, I like I said… But you gotta take me back!"

"What!? No!"

He sounded quite angry. Kairi frowned, taken aback.

"Why… not?"

"Just- just because!"

"Why are you being so—" she started to yell at him. To chew him out. But… instead she trailed off, eyes widening as she got a better feel for the boy in front of her. Sensing darkness—and with it, light—was an ability she'd only acquired recently, when she'd started traveling with Tifa.

And this boy… felt…

…like a lot of darkness.

It made her stomach churn, just a little, made her skin itch and her hairs stand on end. Just like when Riku'd been throwing darkness around against Demyx.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

He shook his head—she couldn't see it, but she could feel it. Feel the darkness that was him shift in a head-shaking motion. "There isn't time," he said. "I have to go."

She shot a hand out and grabbed him by the arm. She couldn't see it, but her aim was perfect.

"Go where?" she asked. She twisted his arm a little, enough not to hurt—much—but enough to let him know she meant business and didn't plan on letting go anytime soon.

"This is between me and Sora," he growled, shifting a little. She could feel the heat of his breath on her face. "Now let me go."

"Between you and Sora?" she repeated, and she almost scoffed. She also ignored his request to be let go. "Since when do you know Sora?"

"You don't want me to answer that."

"Yes I do!"

He growled. "KAIRI!" he shouted—she could practically feel the anger radiating off him. "Let go of me!"

"Let me come with you," she pleaded.

"NO!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's dangerous!" the boy replied.

"Oh ho! It's 'dangerous'!" Kairi rolled her eyes and her neck with them. "I'm not taking any of that crap. I have come so far and I've finally caught up with Sora and I'll be damned if you make me stay here while you go 'save him'." She didn't bother attempting to look the boy in the eye, but she looked at him as sincerely as possible. "Just let me come with you."

"I don't want you there!" the boy screamed in response.

"Why not?" Kairi asked, evenly. "Why can't I come, really?"

"KAIRI PLEASE I JUST NEED TO DO THIS ALONE!"

"Tell me why."

He didn't answer, he just grabbed her arm with his hand. A pain shot through her, and she yelped and let go of his wrist. He'd burned her with darkness. She didn't waste time scolding or yelling at him, though—she didn't even bother with a healing spell. She could feel the energy shift around him, and she threw herself at her before he could vanish completely.

He was taking her with him, one way or another.

xxx

Sora watched Xaldin fade, and let out a deep breath. He banished his blade. Ran a hand through his hair… largely just because it'd been blown well out of place. Xaldin's element was wind, and Sora's skin still stung from being buffeted by it. He was kind of glad he'd lost his necklace, in hindsight—having that beat against his skin would've been painful.

Now… where'd Kairi get sent? he wondered.

If only he knew how to get back to the surveillance room…

…was that the sound of two bodies hitting the floor?

And the sound of his Shadow yelling?

Kairi laughing triumphantly?

Sora turned around. Sure enough, that was his Shadow and Kairi. He was quite relieved to see Kairi, and, to an extent, his Shadow. Wait. What? No. The more important question here was why Kairi had his Shadow pinned to the ground and where had they even come from?

"Uhm," Sora began.

"GET OFF ME!" his Shadow roared, throwing Kairi off of him. She hit the ground and skidded in Sora's direction, until they were about two or so feet apart.

Kairi groaned, pushing herself up on her elbows. "Sorry!" she snapped. "I just wasn't getting left beh—" She stopped short as she straightened further and her eyes met Sora's. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Fine," he said. He felt okay. Maybe a little tired. But after a battle like that it was no surprise. Xaldin hadn't gone down easily. Sora'd won by the skin of his teeth.

"Are you sure—" Kairi started to say, but she didn't get the chance.

"ENOUGH!" Sora's Shadow screamed, jumping to his feet. He cloaked himself in so much darkness that it made the air hard to breathe. Kairi scrambled away from him, and Sora shielded his eyes, at least until the initial burst of darkness passed.

"You really think I didn't want you coming because it was 'dangerous'?" Sora's Shadow spat, but despite the anger in his voice he was laughing. He reached down to grab Kairi by the chin.

She yelped in pain, and Sora took a step forward. Unlike with Xaldin, she wasn't trying to fight back. Her eyes darted between Sora and his Shadow, her lips barely stammering:

"You- You're— He looks like—!"

"I didn't want you coming because I wanted to spare what friendship we had," Sora's Shadow hissed, his face dangerously close to Kairi's. "I'd remain just some guy you spent some time getting to know, that friend you couldn't even properly see…!"

Kairi cried out in pain again, as Sora's Shadow pulled her face closer to his, with it pulling her body just slightly off the ground. Sora hesitated on lunging forward to save her. He wanted to hear what his Shadow had to say—he and Kairi knew each other? It really was more than just his Shadow spying on her?

"You'd remember me fondly… But now you can see me, can't you?" Sora's Shadow laughed. It was… Desperate. Broken. "Know who I am? That's right." He threw her to the ground, gestured angrily at Sora. "I'm his Shadow and this is where I strangle the life out of him—and trust me, princess, it'll be too violent for your pretty little eyes to handle."

"I trusted you!" Kairi cried, pushing herself up. She sounded very upset. Sora started to run to her—to keep her from attacking his Shadow. Something was wrong.

What we're seeing isn't what's going on, Kairi! he wanted to scream, but couldn't articulate the thought into sounds that would leave his mouth.

The threat had been empty. There was nothing but despair in his Shadow's heart—no malice, no anger, and the laughter he was putting up was a thin veil. Their hearts were connected, and Sora could feel all of this and more.

Sora'd hardly gotten two steps when his Shadow jumped away from Kairi. He threw his head back, and a language Sora couldn't understand left his lips. Or, could he understand that…?

Before he could think the words over, they'd faded, and a wolf stepped into the room. One second it hadn't been there, and then suddenly it was. Sora's eyes widened in shock. He'd seen that wolf before. It was the one that had gotten him away from Maleficent! And… the one who'd followed him around for nearly a week…

And it was… his Shadow's?

"Take her away—to the Islands!" Sora's Shadow commanded. He sent an apologetic look at the wolf, then turned his attention to Kairi. He tried to glare, but it came out as a grimace. "I'll- I'll be nice," he said. "Spare you this once. Interfere again and I won't."

The wolf tackled Kairi, and they were both gone in a blink. Sora stared at the spot where they'd been for a second—since when had his Shadow had a pet wolf? And if it really was his, why had he sent it to follow Sora around for so long? Had it really been doing all that on his Shadow's orders?

But… more importantly…

Kairi. His Shadow had hurt Kairi.

"What- what the heck was that?" Sora demanded, turning to his Shadow. His anger came to an abrupt halt when he saw his Shadow.

His Shadow was on the ground. Heaving, panting for air as he bent over his knees and clutched his head.

"I'm- I'm sorry," he gasped. "I- I had to- had to get rid of her- I had to… couldn't- couldn't let her…"

"Why not?" Sora couldn't help the words from being bitter. "Didn't want to make her watch?"

His Shadow's head snapped up to glare at him. "You'll thank me later!" he shouted, but then he squeezed his eyes shut and slumped over again, curling in on himself. His next words came out in chokes and gasps: "Because what's- what's gonna happen next- it isn't- it- it's not gonna be some epic battle. But- but let her think it is. Go home her- her hero. Her hero who overcame his absolutely- absolutely violent and disgusting and despicable darkness."

Sora's eyes narrowed, but his heart churned in his chest.

His Shadow slowly looked up at him. His yellow and tearstained eyes met Sora's blue ones. He was shuddering all over.

"Don't let her know the truth," he hissed.

"What?" Sora whispered.

None of this was making sense. Why shouldn't they be fighting? Why was his Shadow acting like this?

…what was going to happen next?

Sora's Shadow pushed himself to his feet, shaking the whole way. His shoulders slumped with exhaustion, and his movements were slow—weary.

"What happens… next…" he said, swallowed. "Stays between you- between you and me." His voice cracked at every other word, and tears streaked his cheeks. "What happens- what happens next…"

He closed his eyes, reached out, summoned his blade.

"It's shameful, and no one needs to know."

Sora stared, jaw slack. He was terrified of the words his Shadow would say next. He didn't want to hear them. He didn't want to face this moment. Not this moment, where his Shadow was crying. Not this moment, where his heart was in his throat and his fingers were numb.

Anything but this moment.

Because then his Shadow turned his blade around, offering the hilt to Sora. He opened his eyes, opened his mouth:

"Kill me."