I'm looking for someone.


Hades promised to help.

I tried to exploit the power of darkness, but it backfired.

I fell into darkness, and I couldn't find the light.

You'll find it.

I'm searching too.

For your light?

Don't lose sight of it.

-Trying -

I am really,

Trying very hard-

Breathing hard and long breathes, Roxas rushed around the bend and down the dark street, the lights above him flickering as shadows followed his every step. Some of the shadows were desolate things, and others were monsters waiting to destroy. Drawing his keyblade, Roxas continued on, ignoring the small fry.

The castle was on fire. Screams were erupting all around, flames dashing the sky. Pieces of the nothing material that made the castle began to crack and fall into the long abyss below, as Roxas made his way hurriedly up the bridge.

It was not a dream. It was a terrible reality.

"Axel!"

The boy skidded to a halt, looking to his right.

Demyx was stumbling down the hall, clutching his right arm as black 'blood' soaked him. His right eye was drenched, blood dripping in torrents down to the floor. He limped towards Roxas as soon as he saw him.

"Roxas!" The boy rushed up to Demyx, who began to fall. Roxas caught him, confused and concerned.

"What happened?" He whispered, looking down the hall as if they might be ambushed.

"This – hack – this guy, he, he just came outta nowhere, and – and me and Yuffie were with Axel, just playing, when the door opened and we were ambushed.

He knocked Yuffie out like she was nothing, and he came after me and Axel. I got away – but, but – I"

"Axel" Roxas whispered, concerned and enraged. How dare any fool attack the Organization XIII?

Grimacing, Roxas lifted the bleeding number nine up and let him rest on his shoulder. "I was with Namine and Riku when the wave came. Did you see it?"

Demyx nodded with a pained grimace. "Yeah – but it passed the castle. We weren't affected here."

"Wanna bet our attacker had something to do with that wave?" Roxas muttered as they began walking. Demyx cracked a small smile.

Sirens were screeching everywhere, and nobodies of all levels were rushing about. Two samurai sped by Demyx and Roxas, and a small troop of dancers bowed in respect before rushing on.

"Come on, let's find the superior." Roxas told his friend as they entered the Hall of Empty Melodies and moved on.

Demyx hacked into his glove, seemingly miserable and in terrible pain. Whoever had attacked was strong. Shuffling on, Roxas let his ears strain for any sound. He caught the sound of footsteps.

"Who's there?"

Only the sirens made noise, as Demyx and Roxas stood very still. Footsteps continued to head towards them.

A shrieking whistle broke their silence as a large weapon shot down on them. Grimacing, Roxas took firm hold of Demyx's shoulders and rolled out of the way, rolling off of the platform and underneath it as he took hold of the edge.

"What are you doing?" Demyx murmured.

Above them, the weapon exploded into a thousand colors and the hall was obliterated. Roxas shrieked as the shrapnel ripped his gloved hand apart. Sadly, Demyx gave his friend an empathetic look.

Footsteps were heard. A man came to stand above the two.

He was drenched in a black liquid Roxas had come to know as the blood of a nobody. His eyes were dark, empty, and an intimidating blue. Roxas glared at his opponent, and deftly swung his legs over the edge to propel both himself and Demyx back onto the platform.

Setting Demyx down, Roxas drew his blades again.

"You'll pay" He muttered.

The two stood facing one another, one with eyes glowering and hateful, the other with eyes dead and cold. It was hard to tell which the nobody was.

Seething, Roxas crossed his swords and propelled into the air, and as he came towards the man, his opponent drew a powerful gun.

Every laser like shot that came at him, Roxas defended against with great skill. His opponent was sharp and fast – as soon as his shots were fired, he sped towards Roxas, holding a sharp knife in his free hand. Again, Roxas defended well, also landing some blows on his opponent.

Swinging about in a full 360, Roxas slammed the edge of his keyblade into the man's skull, a blow that should've killed him. Roxas glared down at the man as he trembled on the floor and slowly began to stand again.

Though his face did not betray him, Roxas wondered how the hell a human could've survived such a blow. As the man stood, the nobody could tell that the entire left side of his face was now covered in red blood – his own blood.

Shaking slightly, not in fear, but perhaps because his body was on overdrive, the man attacked again. Roxas parried, jumped back, and flipped over his opponent to drive him away from Demyx.

The two were at each other's necks, swiftly closing the gap between one another with each shot and stroke. Both landed powerful hits, as the man pierced Roxas precisely between his ribs with the knife. Jumping back, Roxas freed himself, and frowned as his own black blood dripped to the floor.

"Not human" The man whispered quietly, with no tone of voice. He was like a robot, or a heartless thing. "Most certainly not"

Roxas seethed, his hands shaking and his grip on his keyblades very tight. Looking up to his opponent through his soft ginger hair, his eyes welled with tears. These tears were not pure, for they were tainted black.

"So what if we're not human?" He growled. "All we ask is to be left in peace! To be free to live in our castle, away from the rest of the universe! We bother no one!"

The room began to tremble. The air around Roxas sparkled with energy and his eyes grew wide and strong.

"So what if we're nothing?" He whispered, his tears falling to the floor and mixing with his blood. Both were black. "At least we're more than you are!"

The man before Roxas seemed to want to cry too. But maybe he couldn't. At least for a moment he couldn't, before his eyes weltered just a bit. Roxas was surprised.

"You're right," The man muttered, standing again in a battle pose.

"You are more than I'll ever be."

Grimacing in anger and strength, Roxas gave a battle cry as the energy around him cracked and sparkled. He charged his opponent, his heartbeat thumping loud in his ears.

The heart of a warrior is born.

01010101001

There's something about this musty place...


It reminds me of the secret place back home.

Where we used to scribble on the walls.


Remember?

It was a dream.

Or maybe it wasn't. He wasn't supposed to be dreaming, not at an important time like this.

He was walking down this long white path, and – wow! Was he dressed like a prince? With a long flowing cape of gold, and a crown a top his head?

There was a bright light ahead, and his form was drowning in it. If he kept walking, he'd disappear. But that was okay, since this was a dream?

Right?

Sora! Sora, wake up!

With a gasp and a shudder, Sora awoke from his strange dream. He was shivering all over, clasping his arms. Beside him, Rikku and Paine were crouched, looking at him with concern.

"Glad you're awake" Rikku chimed happily, before standing and looking serious. It was odd to see the girl so serious looking.

"I'm glad too" Sora whispered quietly. Then, as he stood, he looked around, his hand over his eyes. "Where's Yuna?"

The two beside him grew grimly quiet.

"Asleep" Paine muttered. "She won't wake up." Sora sighed tiredly.

"That's all right though" Rikku smiled. "She can't be hurt by reality while she's asleep, right?" She looked to the group.

Paine sighed. "Sometimes, dreams are more dangerous." The three grew deathly quiet.

"So… where are we?" Sora murmured.

"I don't know, so don't ask me!" Rikku muttered, crossing her arms like a little girl. Sora shook his head and walked past them, out into the darkness. "Where are you going?" Rikku asked, surprised. She chased after the boy, and Paine followed after. The three began to run.

"I'm gonna find out what happened, and I'm gonna set it right!" Sora cheered.

All of a sudden, the darkness around them became light.

What?

You'd rather fight me?


Over a puppet that has no heart?


Heart or no heart, at least he still has a conscience.

Before the three now stood a large castle, glowing in light, yet old and desolate, and it looked like no one had lived there for a while. It stood on the edge of a long fall, and was very odd looking. Sora scratched his head as his two friends looked it over.

"Why does this place seem familiar?" He muttered. Paine and Rikku looked to him.

"You were here before?" Rikku asked. Sora shrugged.

"I … can't remember" He pouted, really confused. Paine smirked as his silly look.

"Well, let's give this place a look-see" Rikku grinned, running up to it. Sora and Paine shared a quick look before shrugging, and running up to the doors.

As Paine and Rikku came to the doorway, Sora began to slow down. There was… something he was missing. Looking deep in thought, Sora clenched his fist. He was so confused!

… To find is to lose, and to lose is to find.

Sora shook his head. Where had that come from?

"Come on, Sora!" Rikku called as Paine pulled the door open. The two rushed inside, and with a sigh, Sora followed after.

He had a bad feeling about this…

01010101001

So many places I want to see.


I know I'll get there someday.


I'll find a way somehow.


I'm sure of it.

Hello

Do you remember me?

I suppose after all we went through, I don't think you could forget me

(But maybe you did)

Maybe you blocked out the memories

You did go through a lot

But do you remember me?

(I know, I was suppose to fade away)

But Auron's still here

And Tidus, too

And so am I

I did not fade away

Do you have faith in me?

Do you have the Fayth?

Yuna tried to open her eyes and look at the person who was speaking to her.

A young boy sat before her, cross legged. He wore a blue hood over his head, covering his eyes, and his skin was a dark tan. He was faded around the edges – like a ghost with a corporal form. It was easy to recognize the being she knew so well.

"The Fayth" She whispered.

The boy nodded. "You remember me. I knew you would."

Groaning, Yuna sat up. Her head throbbed painfully as she looked about.

"Where am I?"

The boy chuckled quietly before answering. "Don't you know? You're dreaming."

The world around her looked faded around the edges – blurred. Just like the young Fayth before her. As she stood, Yuna smiled at the realization of where she was – the beautiful sea side city of Luca, on her home world, Spira.

Sighing softly, Yuna looked down to the Fayth beside her. "This was the place where Auron became my guardian. I hadn't seen him for ten years before that. I was so happy, so honored – I didn't know that he was…" Yuna sighed but did not finish her sentence.

Quietly and shyly with a curious grin growing on her face, Yuna giggled. "I can't believe it – I'm home. Dream or not, here I am." She whispered to herself. But the sight of a black feather on the ground shook her happiness.

The girl bent down to it, holding it tightly. "A feather…" She remembered the sight of the blood on the walls.

"Is Tidu here, sir?" Yuna quietly asked the Fayth.

The glowing child nodded. "He's waiting for you. And he's not hurt. He's different now."

Yuna looked surprised. "Different?" The Fayth nodded. Slowly, it raised its hand to point. Looking back, Yuna saw the boy was pointing to the Luca Dome.

She spun back to thank the Fayth, but it was already gone.

With a smile and a sigh, Yuna turned and ran through the empty streets of Luca.

Last time I was here…

Her footsteps echoed against the stone as she breathed a bit harder, leaping over the walls and dashing around corners.

Wakka and Tidus were playing Blitzball, fighting against the Goers for the Championship!

As she came closer to the Dome, she dove into the player locker rooms, as the halls were a much faster route to the Dome itself. She quickly passed the room that the Besaid Aurochs had once used to plan their counter attack on the Goers.

How many years has it been? It seems like yesterday, almost.

Light flooded through the doors as she opened them, and she dashed into the Dome. Leaping over benches and dodging the handrails, Yuna headed up towards the royalty box – the place were she could see a black form sitting.

I wonder how Wakka and Lulu are doing with the baby.

Yuna was almost there. Rushing up the stair case, she slammed the door against the wall as she opened it, and disappeared into the box.

I'm sure their okay. We were all okay in the end. Even me.

Collapsing, Yuna coughed and hacked as her lungs heaved tiredly. Though she was exhausted, the girl immediately stood tall. This made her dizzy, and she began to fall. Two strong arms caught her. With a groan, Yuna let her head rest against his chest, sweat pouring down her body.

"Yuna" a small voice whispered.

Leaning away from the man, Yuna looked down up in wonder.

Balancing on the wall around the box stood Tidu. His eyes were a brilliant white and gold, sparkling and shining with a magnificent light. Two dark, strong wings erupted from his shoulder blades, and his hands bore claws, his mouth fangs, and his ears were amazingly long and pointed. Yuna was awed by the boy's dark beauty, even though the child seemed ashamed.

"I'm sorry" He whispered.

Yuna shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry for." She walked over to him as he came down and stood on the floor. Yuna gently lifted his head to look at her. By looking in his eyes, she could see the strange blend of the green eyes of a child of Jenova, the spiral eyes of an Al Bhed, and the bright, unnatural gold.

Yuna turned to look behind her. The man who had caught her was stoically turning to leave.

"Sephiroth" Yuna called. "Thank you. But… where are you going?"

The man was silent for a moment. Then, he looked over his shoulder to her.

"I have no time for petty dreams."

With that, he was gone.

0100101010

I'll be here.

Why?

I'll be waiting… here

For what?

I'll be waiting… for you

so…

If you come here… you'll find me.

I promise.

The elevator doors slid open.

"Be quiet" Rinoa mouthed silently, looking over her shoulder to whoever was exiting the elevator.

It was a strange looking creature. Dark and foreboding, yet without a true form, floating through the dust and mist, chained to its duty and eyeless, the creature lived in a dark abyss. Leon was mesmerized by its desperate beauty, and its ugly loneliness.

"What is it?" Leon whispered. Rinoa covered his mouth with her hand.

The creature looked back and forth, before floating down the stairs. Mist followed its step, and it gave a low wail. Slowly, it disappeared outside. When its hand touched the glass door, the glass turned to ice and shattered.

Once it was gone, Rinoa stood, dragging Leon along. The two rushed into the elevator and Rinoa pushed the button for the top level.

Suddenly, the creature burst through the door, shrieking and crying as it sped with inhumane power towards the two.

"Close the door!" Rinoa shrieked in fear, and Leon slammed the button. Not a moment too soon, the doors closed. Leon and Rinoa both fell to the ground in relief.

"What was that?" Leon repeated.

"Self Pity" Rinoa muttered, looking to the elevator door. "It follows me around a lot."

Leon looked on Rinoa with awe and sadness. How much had changed since they'd last seen each other? By this time, Leon was sure that the Rinoa before him was the one he'd been searching for.

The elevator slid to a stop.

"Where are we going?" Leon murmured. Rinoa smiled and stood, extending her hand to him.

"You'll see."

The doors slid open and the two of them were bathed in light.

It was a field of flowers. The two walked out into the yellow daisies and the tall grass. Looking back, Leon saw the elevator was still there.

"This is the place" Rinoa whispered quietly with a serene sigh. "The place you and I…"

Leon nodded. "Yeah" He breathed quietly. "I remember"

If you come here… you'll find me.

Slowly Leon stepped out into the field. Steadily he sauntered through the grass, letting it tickle his ankles. Smiling he gave a small laugh and let himself fall into the flowers.

Rinoa walked over and stood over him, looking down with a small smile.

"Why did you run away?" Leon whispered.

Silence came as the wind caressed the plants. Leon patiently awaited an answer.

Something wet fell down on his cheek. Rubbing it away, Leon sat up and watched as Rinoa cried. "Rinoa?"

She sighed and wiped the tears away, her carefree smile returning.

"Let's see each other as adults, okay?" She said, kneeling down to him. "Just this once?"

Leon blinked in surprise. "Just this… once?"

As if she were talking to a small child, Rinoa shook her head sincerely. "Leon… I don't think we'll ever see each other again… after this."

His eyes went wide. To have finally found her, only to lose her again… "Why?" He angrily murmured, his fist clenching the grass below them. His own eyes burned with hot tears, but he easily wiped them away.

Rinoa stood tall. Closing her eyes, she ignored Leon's question and began to change.

She grew taller, and her body more slender and curved. Her childish form became the work of art that was the body of a woman. Immediately though, her hands flew to the hood around her neck and she threw it over her head. Leon found this strange behavior curious.

With a sigh, he looked out to the flowers. Quickly his own eyes closed and he too changed. His boyish stature was replaced with a masculine form, his eyes becoming darker, and the skin on his face bearing a scar.

He stood to full height in his glorious beauty, the man Squall Leonhart, leader of the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee.

He felt Rinoa's eyes on him, scanning him. They had not seen each other since their teenage years, during the war time. Leon's hand twitched.

Rinoa looked away, her hood hiding her eyes. Gently, Leon forced her to look back at him, his strong hand under her chin.

"Where did you go?" He muttered. "What happened after the war?"

Rinoa's eyes could easily be seen; they were not the carefree eyes they had been. These eyes were afraid.

"Squall, I…"

"Rinoa" Leon whispered. "What are you hiding on your face?"

The woman did not say a word.

01010101010

ANOTHER CHAPTER FINISHED!!

Ya kno, it took me long enough, but I now know my other project.

Ya see, I will have another part to this story, but it will be much more laid back, less DRAMA, ULTIMATE BATTLE, HIYA! kinda stuff.

I love writing about Org XIII.

And I have decided I am rather talented at writing about evil organizations. I've been web surfing, and I have found my next project…

AKATSUKI!

Yes, the evil org of Naruto is now in my sights, in the line of fire, and they are totally unprepared for the massive insanity that is… SULHADAHNE'S STRANGE MIND. But… it will be fun. It will be nasty. And… it will be… Tobi.

YAY!!!!! NARUTO FANS REJOICE!!!

And um… that project will take a while. So, if you wanna know more bouts it, message me.

CHILL! SULHADAHNE