This is definitely my favorite chapter so far. I was initially gonna title the chapter, Fuck You, but decided that was too much. So here it is. I hope you like it. Should get things really started.

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Chapter 4

Get Out

His blood coursed through him like fire, igniting every sensory nerve in his body. His hairs stood on end all over his body and he was silently thankful for his hat. He could hear some distant, almost inaudible rhythm playing somewhere like thousands of enormous drums playing a beat that got faster and faster and faster. He shifted back and forth on his feet to the silent rhythm, his left hand clenching and unclenching in excitement. His right hand gripped the handle of a very sharp, very real sword, black for the most part except for silvered edges.

He felt alive.

"Let's do it then," he whispered, more to himself than to Kairi.

The first Heartless broke free of the crowd and darted forward, large shadowy claw raised above its head, the antennae twitching feverishly beneath. Seifer watched the terrible, sharp digits rise and then fall toward him, glowing yellow eyes staring at his chest, no, at his heart. He took a small step forward and then…

The blade flashed obsidian and cut deftly through the blackened flesh. The Heartless eyes grew wider, dimmed, then exploded, the whole creature evaporating in mid-air, becoming black mist that thinned and disappeared. Seifer stepped down hard with his left leg, his arm swinging back, finishing the arc that had cleaved through the shadow. He felt his shoulder strain and tightened his arm. The sword was heavier than the struggle bat, but it wasn't something he couldn't handle.

"Alright!" He shouted, standing up and glancing around at the Heartless. There were ten or so of them. "Now I told your friend…but maybe you weren't aware…"

An armored Heartless jumped forward, armor making heavy metallic clangs, like pots banging together.

"There ain't nobody…"

The Heartless took a step back and then jumped forward, body spinning like a top.

"That causes trouble in my town!"

Seifer swayed where he stood, ducking out of the way of the oncoming Heartless and lifting the sword up quickly in one smooth motion. He felt the blade hit metal and pass through, entering dark flesh and exiting once more.

Seifer didn't look back to watch the Heartless fade into nothing but turned instead to look out over the crowd in front of him. There were about ten, by the looks of it. Seifer smiled.

"Well if you're just gonna come at me one by one," he said sarcastically. "There's just no way you can win."

A smaller Heartless broke through the ranks, scuttling along the ground, its mouth opening wide to show dark fangs. Seifer nonchalantly stepped to the side and struck down at the creature, thrusting the blade through its skull, right between the twitching antennae.

"And where's your banter? What good is a fight without witty repartee?"

Two Heartless burst forward this time, one clad in armor, the other one small, moving on all fours. They dashed forward, yellow eyes glowing menacingly. The armored one lifted a pitch black hand with long claws. Seifer slid under the attack and jumped over the smaller Heartless, kicking it as he flew through the air. It stumbled forward and caught itself as the armored one turned and came running back.

"When I say if you come one by one it won't be enough," Seifer said irritably. He darted forward, parrying the claw descending upon him and running the Heartless through in a single, practiced motion. "I didn't mean that if you just up your numbers by one it would make any difference!" He whirled around, blade arcing out and downwards to cleave the smaller Heartless in half.

"But if you aren't gonna take me seriously," Seifer spun to a halt, raising the blade and pointing it at the nearest Heartless. "Then I'll bring the fight to you."

His knees bent and in a second he was darting forward, ripping into the armor of the nearest one and pulling the blade free in a second. The black sword bit into black flesh again and again, reducing four Heartless into a fine, dark mist.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. The metallic clang of armor sounded too close. Spinning quickly, he held out his sword, feeling it cut into the dark matter of a small Heartless. He danced in and out, forward, striking a heartless and back again, slipping away from the retaliation that followed. He was untouchable. He was invincible.

He was done.

Seifer blinked and looked around. A fine mist of blackness was slowly thinning, but other than that, the tram common was empty. Suddenly, he felt uneasy, standing there with sword in hand and no enemies in sight. He wanted more. He really wanted to fight. But it was over. He had won. What a rush!

"That was awesome! Ya know?"

Seifer turned to see the large figure of Rai galloping across the Tram common. He had forgotten that they were supposed to meet up at the weapons shop. What had taken the big guy so long?

"You really showed them who the boss around here is, ya know?"

His friend's admiration warmed his still rapidly pumping heart. He really had done a good job. He was glad there had been someone to see it. Speaking of which…

Seifer turned back to the ramp leading in the direction of the weapons shop. Kairi was standing there, looking at him with a blank stare. Seifer smiled, flicking the sword upwards and letting it fall lightly on his shoulder where he balanced it nonchalantly. "How'd you like that one, princess?"

Kairi blinked in surprise and then smiled. "It was good!" She yelled cheerfully, lifting her hand and offering a thumb in recognition.

"Good?" Seifer cocked his head to one side. "That was amazing! I just beat up ten of those things." He wondered if she could comprehend the awesomeness of what had just occurred.

"Well…yeah." Kairi's voice sounded withdrawn, confused. "That's why I said it was good."

Seifer shook his head, chuckling to himself. "Clearly you don't get it." He walked a few steps toward the girl. "I single-handedly defeated a swarm of shadow monsters." He stopped and leaned forward, spreading his arms wide. "How often do you get to see that happen?"

Kairi smiled, but it seemed like an apologetic smile. "Um…" she said slowly. "A lot…actually."

Seifer's jaw dropped.

"Not that it wasn't cool!" Kairi said quickly. "It's just that…you know, after you see it so many times it just…loses its shine."

Seifer couldn't think of anything to say to that.

"I mean, after being around Sora and Riku for so long…and seeing them beat so many of-"

But the rest of her words were lost to Seifer. Sora and Riku. Again. Seifer's jaw clenched and his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. Always, always one step ahead of him. Stealing his thunder, every time. He had just killed a crowd of monsters, and this new girl acts like it's an everyday occurrence.

"Sora fights them…a lot. It's sort of his job."

The words came back to him like a brick to the face. It was an everyday occurrence for her. These people were out there daily, kicking ass and beatin' up monsters, and here he was, proud of taking out ten. What was he thinking?

"-after all." Kairi was still talking. "But it's still…really neat that you won."

"Hey," Seifer said with a low voice.

Kairi looked up with a nervous smile.

"Shut up." The girl looked shocked. "Look…you've obviously been around this kind of thing before." Seifer's voice was gruff and menacing. Rai looked from his friend to Kairi, face creasing with worry. "So here's what I'm wondering." Seifer lifted his head and stared at Kairi.

"Why are these things showing up now?"

Kairi blinked in confusion. "What…do you mean?"

He took a step forward. "You show up, spouting stories about friends from other planets who fight these things and all of a sudden they start showing up."

"I don't know what you're-"

"This town was plenty peaceful just yesterday, so why now? Why is it that as soon as you show up, these monsters start attacking?"

"You think…?"

"It's only logical that you are somehow bringing them here." Seifer's eyes hardened.

"Seifer…calm down, ya know?" Rai's voice was soft and weak.

"I don't know if it's on purpose or if they just follow you, and frankly I don't give a shit."

Kairi's eyes were growing watery from the Seifer's onslaught.

"But the fact is, this is my town and I do my fucking best to keep it safe. I will not have some princess come waltzing in here and causing trouble." Seifer took another step forward and pointed at the girl with his sword. The edge of the blade glinted dangerously.

"I want you out."

Kairi's face reddened furiously. Her eyes grew wide and watery as she stared down the length of the blade toward Seifer. He thought she was responsible for this? That she brought these things here? Hadn't he been the one to request a friendship? And now he was telling her to leave? Not even asking if she was able to leave, but demanding it!

"You…" Kairi said slowly, her voice dark and straining with every emotion she could think of. "You think I'm the one causing this?"

Her words were dangerous, but Seifer wasn't going to take it. "Yes. I do. And I'm the one who protects this town, so I want you to-"

"Would you listen to yourself!" Kairi shrieked. Seifer stopped in shock. Tears were falling from the girl's eyes now as she looked at him. "You don't know anything!" she shouted. "Heartless are formed from the darkness within people's hearts! They don't just follow people around! They are summoned when someone has enough negative emotions to call upon them." She was growing quieter now and she turned her head away, looking down at her feet.

Seifer remained silent.

"Riku was like that," she said softly. "Something about the way things were made him unhappy. But he was strong enough to conquer that darkness and make it submit to him. Me and Sora…we weren't like that." She looked up again, tears flinging out of her eyes and landing without a noise on the black blade that quivered in front of her.

"You know what I think?" She shouted. "I think you're the one summoning them!"

Seifer felt his breath leave him. Slowly, he let the blade drop.

"I think that you're the one around here who isn't happy for some reason!" She stepped forward. "I only just met you but already I can tell you aren't happy here! And it's that darkness that's bringing these monsters, these Heartless here!"

"Now that's just not fair, ya know!" Rai stepped forward, his voice heavy with concern. "Seifer'd never bring those-"

"Rai." Seifer's voice was stern. Rai turned to look at Seifer and then grew quiet, retreating several steps away.

"I don't know what it is, but somehow, darkness is beginning to thrive in your heart and the Heartless want that." Kairi said, her voice softening now and her face turning from anger to concern. "You're drawing them to you."

The Tram Common was silent for a long time. Seifer and Kairi's eyes were locked, Kairi's full of concern, Seifer's dead blank, unreadable. Rai shifted uncomfortably, aware that he was in the middle of something he shouldn't be.

Finally, Seifer sighed heavily.

"So it's my fault?" he said icily.

Kairi squirmed and shook her head. "It isn't your fault…you're just the cause."

Seifer turned and looked down at the sword in his hand. So it was him. It made sense. He wasn't happy here. This place was draining him and keeping him from ever reaching his potential. He grimaced. His mother had been right. If he stuck around this place, he would never grow; never get any stronger. And now, if he stayed, he risked destroying all of Twilight Town.

"So what do I need to do? Huh?" His voice was heavy with cynicism, but Kairi could tell it was forced. "I just need to be happier, right?" Seifer looked up and for an instant Kairi could see the sadness in his eyes. "It can't be that hard to be happy again, can it?"

Although she wanted to say something, Kairi couldn't think of any answer to that.

"I see…" Seifer sighed again, turning to look at a now utterly mortified Rai.

The big teen felt out of place there, he didn't belong in this sort of world, where happiness was a serious matter. He belonged in a place where he could spend the days following Seifer's directions and procrastinating on his summer work.

"Hey, Rai?" Seifer said slowly.

"What is it, Seifer?" Rai asked, although for some reason he felt he already knew the answer.

"I'm…I'm gonna go away for a little while, I think." Seifer said with a smile. "Go traveling or something, you understand, right?"

"Yes sir!" Rai said, but he felt something catch in his throat, making it hard to talk.

"Look," Seifer put his hands on his hips. "I need you to do some things for me while I'm away, alright?"

Rai nodded.

"First of all, Fuu's in charge." Seifer smiled. "God knows what would happen if I made you the leader, right?"

Rai laughed, but it sounded funny.

"So I want you to tell Fuu that, ok?"

Rai nodded again.

"Good. And first thing tomorrow, you two need to make sure to rough up Hayner and his pals, ok? I don't want them thinking that just cause I'm gone for a bit that they can run wild. This is still my town. I want it in peak condition when I get back."

Rai tried to speak but the only thing that came out was a croak. His eyes began to feel wet.

"Alright," Seifer smiled. "Well then, get to it!"

Rai saluted and turned. As he ran, he began crying loudly, his attempts to cover his sadness only adding to the volume. Seifer watched his friend go. He hated to leave him like this, he did. Rai had always been there for him, in his own way. He had really been the sturdiest thing in all of Twilight Town.

"Hey Rai!"

Rai stopped and turned to look back at Seifer.

"One more thing." Seifer yelled, feeling something catch in his throat. "I want you to go to my house sometime today and give my mother a message." Seifer felt the strange sensation in his throat rise but he pushed it back down. His nose felt runny so he wiped it on his wrist.

"Tell her her son said this," Seifer smiled and didn't bother to wipe away the single tear that fell from his eye.

"Rai and Fuu are the best friends a guy can ever have, and that's never gonna change, so fuck you, mom."