Come on. We can do it together.

But… why? Where… am I?

You fell. The Door to Sunrise caught you. Now, leave the dark depths, and let's give this one more try…

"Good morning, everybody!" Demyx cried cheerfully.

"It's not morning anymore." Saix muttered. Demyx didn't pay him any mind.

"Where have you been?" Luxord asked as Marluxia followed Demyx into the kitchen.

"He came with me to Atlantica." The musician explained, opening the fridge. "Hmm… old… moldy… nasty… old… Do we have anything edible in this kitchen?"

"Ice cream. But it's mine." Larxene seethed. Demyx sighed sadly.

"We need to go shopping." Luxord grumbled, shuffling his cards. He, Larxene, and Mitsuka were playing a card game.

Marluxia sat down across from Larxene and Mitsuka, next to Luxord, making sure to avoid the blonde's gaze. She turned from him completely with a scathing look. Oddly enough, so did Mitsuka.

Marluxia cocked his brow, looking to the child. Rudely, she stuck her tongue out at him, and with a humph, turned away.

"What the hell?" He asked. Then he glared at Larxene. "You."

Larxene stood, followed by Mitsuka, and both stomped away.

Luxord sighed. "So much for cards…"

"I'll play." Demyx chimed, joining him. Saix watched them silently at the other side of the table, writing in some notebook.

"So, what's with you and number 12?" Luxord asked as he began dealing. "It seems Mitsuka's joined the war, on Larxene's side."

"I don't know if you really are gay, but soon you might have to be if ALL the girls hate you!" Demyx laughed. Marluxia punched him in the head.

"It's nothing important." Marluxia growled. The other members didn't drag out the subject.

"I can't believe his nerve!" Larxene shouted angrily. Mitsuka rolled her eyes.

"He's a moron." She told her, and Larxene nodded in agreement.

"Who?" Axel asked, walking by them in the hall.

"You." Both girls chimed, Larxene giving him a rude gesture as he glared and moved on.

"What are you going to do about him?" Mitsuka asked. Larxene looked at her.

"Axel?"

Mitsuka sighed. "No, Marluxia!" Larxene smirked.

"I know. And, I know just how to enact my vengeance…"

SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY IN A DARK PLACE THAT'S REALLY CREEPY

"Why are we here again?"

"Because", Tsuki sighed, rolling her eyes at Hinode. "First of all, according to the note Rinoa left us, she brought Sulhadahne through the gate. Secondly, I heard his voice in my mind, and he needs help. He can't remember who he is."

"Do you know who he is?" Hinode inquired. "And why is he… here of all places?"

It was a dark place, with unnatural light coming dimly from a huge, wrought iron gate just ahead of the two girls. They stood on top of a dark path that was inclined, with the gate at its highest point. Dark, thin purple mist floated down the hill side from the gate, and rusted, thick metal chains ran over and over the gate, wrapping around it many times. Even so, randomly the gate with snap forward, as if something was behind it pushing it open in vain, even though nothing could be seen.

Between the gate and the chains around it were papers. These papers were fluorescent, giving off the only light in the area. The letters glowed, and were of many different languages. They seemed to be part of the gate. The gate itself was slimy, wet, rusted, dark, and altogether evil and creepy.

As an unnatural wind passed by, Tsuki shivered.

"Even I don't like this place. It's The Gate of Midnight. He's behind it." Tsuki closed her eyes, concentrating. "I remember when I heard him, seeing the final moments of his 'life'. He was exposed to Kingdom Hearts, and the light made him fade away. He fell into the Door to Sunrise, but was so dark, he ended up here instead."

"Are you saying that this… thing", Hinode began, motioning to the gate. "Is connected to the Door to Sunrise?" Tsuki nodded.

Suddenly, the gate shivered violently. Both girls turned to it, and Tsuki closed her eyes.

"Come on… you're almost there… you can make it!"

Come on… you're almost there… you can make it!

Can I?

Yes! Go! Go!

The chains on the gate held firm, but Tsuki ran up to it anyhow.

"How will he get through?" Hinode implored.

"We can't open the gate; in fact, we really don't want to. We'll have to reach in and pull him out!" Tsuki answered with determination. Hinode rolled her eyes.

Tsuki stood next to the gate, looking it over. With a grimace, she reached in, dodging the chains.

It was so cold – as if her hand had just gone under water, thick and murky, and Tsuki looked through the gate, but couldn't see her hand! It was bone chilling, stomach turning, altogether sickening – Tsuki would've wrenched her hand out, if she hadn't felt him latch on.

Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning –

You showed me just how to see that nothing is whole and –

Simple and clean is the way –

My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah –

"What is that?" Hinode howled, hearing the music.

"I don't know!" Tsuki responded, breaking into a scream as she began tugging the man out of the gate.

The gate began pulsing and shaking harder as she pulled and pulled.

"His hand!" Hinode cried. Tsuki looked – her arm was completely out, and she could see the man's hand and wrist. It was a dark tan.

She pulled harder, pressing her feet against the gate, and soon she could see up to his shoulder. He had no clothing, but a necklace was around his neck, barely hanging out of the gate. On the necklace was an insignia.

"No." Hinode muttered. "What have we done?"

BRING! BRING! BRING!

Yuffie slammed her alarm clock against the wall and rolled over in bed with a huff.

Great, another day in the life. She sighed and curled into her blanket.

"Hello?" Yuffie cursed when she heard Aerith at the door – the one person she couldn't get mad at.

"Go away. I'm asleep." Aerith chuckled and pushed the door open.

"Come on, Yuffie". She coaxed. "Time to get up." Yuffie ignored her.

With a sigh, Aerith sat on the bed.

"You know, you need to calm down." She told the bundle of blankets. No response. "I know you're mad about what he did –"

"Damn straight!" Yuffie cried, sitting up in bed. Aerith chuckled.

"But he must have had a reason." Aerith told her.

"Yeah." Yuffie mumbled, curling up in the bed. "Right."

Cloud looked over the world before him. A world that would need him for the next year. With a smile, the boy realized Leon had left him in charge just so he wouldn't be able to "run away" again. Shaking his head, Cloud walked out into the world.

"Hey, Cloud!" The blonde turned to see Lexaeus running to him.

"How's Hallow Bastion?" Cloud implored.

"The repairs are going faster than we'd anticipated, but I'd like to ask you some things. Would you mind talking over lunch?"

So, Cloud and Lexaeus bought lunch at a small place and brought their food to a table.

"What's the problem?" Cloud began, direct to the point.

Lexaeus took a bite of his noodles before beginning to explain. "We have many problems, but most of them are in control. We have a bit of a bat infestation, and many unknown chemicals have been spilled all over the labs. Rot has formed here and there, and we're trying to connect the castle to the electricity line, but it's not working so well. But those problems, we can handle."

(Italics is happening in Castle Hallow Bastion as this conversation takes place.)

"What can I do?" Said Cloud.

"Simple". Laxaeus sighed. "Tell me a bit about Sephiroth."

Silver hair flowing behind him, Sephiroth dove down into the castle.

Today he hadn't seen the heavy set man work on the roofing, so he decided to instead come down into the castle.

"The man watches us during the day, with a sort of deadened look. He stared at me the entire first day I worked on the castle roof, and while I didn't mind, I was curious. What could drive him to do this?" Laxaeus wondered.

Cloud's eyes narrowed. "It doesn't make sense."

Stepping around the broken glass of the lab, Sephiroth found only one person located in the room. It was an older man with tan hair and pale skin, the one they call "Vexen". With a sneer, Sephiroth silently walked away.

Suddenly, ice struck the doorway, freezing it shut, and keeping him from leaving.

"What are you doing here?" Vexen asked as Sephiroth stood silently before him.

"Sephiroth cares for no one – he is sadistic and psychotic. I don't see why he would observe you like he is." Cloud murmured to himself.

"Could he have taken some sort of interest in something at the castle?" Lexaeus offered.

"Perhaps…" Cloud sighed.

Sephiroth turned to Vexen. Then, without a word, he spun and leapt out of the window, the glass shattering as he spread his one wing and flew off into the sky.

Vexen sighed, shaking his head.

"Wait a moment."

Bending down, Vexen saw that blood was on the ground near the window – Sephiroth's blood.

"This is good." Vexen chuckled, his inner mad scientist quaking.

Now, we shall move on, returning later, but first, diving down on a chain of islands…

It was nighttime, and the stars were bright and gleaming. The ocean waves crashed against the sand, pushing sea shells up and down and up again. Up on a cliff side overlooking the mighty waves, were green grass and beach side plants growing beside a grave.

This was a simply grave with a small tombstone, and many, many flowers. It read:

KOMYOU YUME

A loving, strong woman

Leaving behind a kind son


May she find true peace

Sitting on the grave was a boy. The boy was hunched over, tears streaming from his face, weak arms holding a bundle of roses. He looked so weak, this boy, who was usually so strong. Shoulders heaving, sobbing, the boy degraded himself.

"While I was off, helping the universe" He growled. "I left you behind! I left you – I let you die alone! I – I'm so s – s – sorry…"

Leaning his forehead on the grave, three came behind him. The first was a girl, who leaned against him and held his arm, and the other a boy, putting his arm around the other boy's. The last girl, a blonde, sighed and placed a cool hand on the crying boy's shoulder, squatting down next to him. There were more children standing behind them.

"This is terrible…" Wakka sighed, watching his friends cry at Yume's grave.

"To think, you come home from such a long journey, to find your home is gone." Selphie mumbled, sniffling.

"Man." Tidus grumbled. "Poor guy…"

Beneath what was at the top of the gravestone was this:

Komyou Yume, cancer fighter, proud mother of Komyou Riku

The next morning, Sora sat up in bed as light poured through his bedroom window. Looking down, he saw Riku sleeping on the floor. Sora's mother had kindly let Riku stay with them, seeing as his mother was the only family he'd had.

Sighing, Sora wondered why so much had happened to Riku. Why had so much happened to all of them? But no matter; now they were on vacation. For a least a little while, they could relax.

"Hey, Riku. Let's go; come on!" Sora spoke, leaping over Riku and then bending down to him. Riku groaned and turned away. "Come on, Riku, my dad comes home today!"

With a sigh, Riku opened his eyes, sitting up. They were red. Sora grimaced, sighing sadly.

"Don't worry." Sora began. Riku looked to him. "She's happier. And who knows; maybe you'll find your dad." Riku laughed pathetically.

"I doubt it." He muttered, but he stood anyway.

The two strode downstairs.

Sora's mother was in the kitchen.

Sora and the gang had arrived only two days ago, to be attacked practically by the locals. Everyone was curious as to what had happened. So, the story began.

When everyone found out about the quest for the universe, almost everyone was skeptical. Luckily, Namine could prove it true, and showed them her abilities and Sora showed them the keyblade.

Sora's mother was thrilled; now, getting to that, let's learn about Sora's mother!

(By the by, Komyou Yume means Heart of Dark Dream)

(Last name first) Yuuchou Seidou (Easy Going Sanctuary) was a hyper, happy, forgetful, kind, dreamy, spastic, crazy woman known as Sora's mother. She loved the boy to death, and was heart broken when the child went missing. Luckily, for the short amount of time she was there, Kairi helped Miss Yuuchou.

Miss Yuuchou had brown hair, long but always tied in a bun, and square glasses, and intelligent look that belied her forgetful, "dumb" personality.

When Seidou first heard Sora was somewhere on the island, she had practically killed the person she'd learned it from by strangling him for information. After learning, she dashed off like a rocket for her boy.

When she found him, Seidou broke into tears, hugging the boy and mumbling incoherently. She then squeezed the life out of both Kairi and Riku, and Namine too even though she had no clue who the girl was. Miss Yuuchou was the first to learn about the adventure, and was so proud of her son she was fit to be tied. She adored Kairi and Riku especially, giving him a back crushing hug after learning about his ordeal in the darkness. Seidou came to adore Namine's quiet personality as well, hugging her too. No one knows why she hugged her, but she did.

Sora's father was a traveling salesman, who was not in when the group arrived. But he was coming today.

"Good morning!" Seidou cheered, rushing up and hugging her son. Sora hugged her back, shaking his head, and Riku laughed a little. Seidou saw him, and her look died a bit, and with a sad moan she gave him a pity hug.

"It'll be okay." She told the boy. Riku smiled with hope. "Now why don't you two boys go get Kairi and Nanime"

"Namine, mom." Sora corrected.

"Yeah, Manine"

"Namine!"

"And have them come over for breakfast!" Seidou finished, oblivious to her destruction of Namine's name. Riku shook his head.

"All right. We'll be back Miss Yuuchou."

"You'd better be!" She cried after them as they ran out the door. "I'm making a really good breakfast for daddy's return!"

Riku looked to Sora with a small laugh.

"Your mom's nuts." He joked. The two laughed, and Riku felt his heart was a little lighter.

Kairi's house was a small bungalow, and Riku and Sora answered with a call down the hall.

"Kairi? Namine?"

The Ranshin household was nucking futs, with cereal all over the counter and toys littering the floor.

"Oh, come back here, Yuuku! Ah, no! Don't touch that, Kitai!"

Ranshin Yuuku (Light Heart Trouble) and Ranshin Kitai (Light Heart Danger) were the two youngest members of the Ranshin family. One was five and the other was three, Yuuku being youngest. Yuuku was the only son still living in the household, and it showed. He wore more make up than he did clothes, seeing as he loved running around naked. Kitai liked drawing – on everything. She was a very curious child. Even though she was five, she couldn't speak anything, and Yuuku, despite his age, could speak perfectly, and translate all of his sister's looks and motions. The two were inseparable and insufferable.

As Yuuku came running down the hall, wearing red lipstick all over his face and nothing but that, Kairi chased after, trying to round up her two crazy siblings. Her only other sibling was away at college – Ranshin Kei, who was working on his third year.

"Good morning, Kairi!" Sora chimed as Kairi grabbed for Yuuku, who was now on top of the family television cabinet.

"Don't 'good morning' me! Get him!" Kairi complained, as Yuuku giggled crazily.

"Another day on Destiny Islands." Riku sighed contently as Sora helped Kairi catch the boy.

NOW we switch back, to the castle...

"Vexen! Is that you?" Lexaeus asked the figure who was hurtling down the stairs.

"YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE IT!" Vexen cried, hurtling down to Lexaeus.

"What is it, number four?" Lexaeus asked, grinning. Vexen was enthralled, and skidded to a stop in front of the Silent Hero.

"Remember when I took blood samples of everyone in Radiant Garden?" Vexen spoke quickly. Lexaeus nodded. "Well, I got a sample of Sephiroth's blood –"

"And you will not believe what I found!"

SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY IN A DARK PLACE THAT'S REALLY CREEPY

(AGAIN)

Hinode backed up as Tsuki screamed, pulling hard on the man's arm. He was almost through, and the music was growing louder, overlapping, singing in many languages. I can tell you that four different songs were being played: 'Hikari', 'Simple and Clean', 'Passion', and 'Sanctuary'.

(For those of you that don't know, Passion is the Japanese theme song for Kingdom Hearts II, and Hikari is the Japanese theme for Kingdom Hearts.)

Quietly,

In you and I

I will open a window

Don't get me wrong, I love you

Stand in the exit way

There's a new land

But does that mean I have to meet your father?

To the people and places I can't see again

"Tsuki!" Hinode cried as all was bathed in unnatural light.

With a grunt, Tsuki was flung back, hitting the ground hard. Hinode, on the ground as well, rolled to look at her sister.

"You okay?" Tsuki asked Hinode. Hinode laughed.

"You?" Tsuki nodded. Sitting up, Tsuki looked across the way.

There he was – the man who'd been calling to her. He was lying on the ground, groaning and rolling over to his side. He was stark naked.

"Ew." The sisters complained. Hinode sobered up.

"You know who you just saved, right?" Hinode asked fervently. Tsuki nodded.

"I saved a desperate man." Hinode groaned angrily.

"You saved a mad man!" She roared. Tsuki looked to her sister sadly. Hinode continued. "You saved someone… just like me. A psycho." Tsuki smiled.

"Come on." She stood, reaching out to take her sister's hand. Rolling her eyes, Hinode stood without help. Tsuki shook her head.

"He needs clothes!" Hinode gagged. Tsuki laughed.

"He needs a second chance." Tsuki corrected.

"And clothes." Hinode grumbled. The two sisters ran back up to the gate, gathering the half conscious man.

"We need to get out of here! This place isn't safe!" Hinode demanded. Tsuki nodded.

"Let's go! We'll take him with us as we look for Sulhadahne and Rinoa!" Tsuki told her sister, using magic to conjure a long wrap, covering the naked man. The two took him by the arms, helping him down the hill.

And so that is how "Ansem" the heartless was freed.