Omoidasu ba haruka haruka
Mirai wa doko made mo kagayaiteta
Kirei na aozora no shita de
Bokura wa sukoshi dake obieteita

Natsukashii iro ni
Mado ga somaru

(If I recall, far far away
The future was shining on everywhere
Beneath the beautiful blue sky
We were just a little afraid

The window will be tinted
A nostalgic color

wonk uoy naht noitceffa erom deen I

There were four of them, four of them different, four of them the same. Four with different scars and different choices, fighting for four different reasons, these four stood side by side, for perhaps the first, for perhaps the last time.

A child given a weapon she did not want to receive, stumbling into the arms of a fire she did not know she could feel.

A young adult, frozen like ice, melted by a different train of thought, letting go of the past and holding on to the idea of a future, a young adult who was a strong warrior.

A girl with a wavering heart and a loud, outspoken voice, finding she enjoys being silent only when she can hear the sounds of his ocean waves.

A wife, holding a life inside, holding to a love that was breaking and spreading away, a love she desperately needed to be alive.

Sora looked to them as they walked in the room, one by one, somehow having been led there, through a dream or a thought. They arrived with one purpose, the same purpose, and it drove him to tears.

"Xigbar" Paine whispered, awe struck and shocked, slowly slipping out of her stupor as she stumbled toward the man who was trapped within a container. Her hands warmed the frosted container, as her lips trembled and pressed against the glass.

Sora watched in disbelief and terrible sadness as each acknowledged the one they cared for the most.

"Oh, Vexen!" Rushing forward with a hand holding tight to her large stomach, Ariel fell to her knees against the glass, sobbing as she pulled herself up against it. Her hand pressed hard against the glass, almost as if she wished to break it, to shatter anything that came between her and her husband. Sora's eyes darted down to Ariel's protruding stomach. She was very close to the end of pregnancy, and should she go into labor…

The last voice awoke Sora from his thoughts.

"Axel!"

Aisu cried as she ran at Axel's container, trying to spread her short arms around the canister, trying to reach him. Slowly as she sobbed she began sliding down to her knees. Sora stepped up behind her, pressing a hand into the small of her back. Aisu looked up in surprise, sniffling.

"Sora?" She whispered. He sighed, letting his head rest against the glass.

Behind them, a young girl stepped forward, and back, and to the side, in circles, unsure of where to go, or what to say. Her eyes darted about, as she shivered, clutched her arms, bit her lower lip. A number caught her eye; a number on an empty canister.

"Nine?" Yuffie whispered. Eyes falling to the floor, she moaned a bit, scared, and confused.

Slowly, her eyes drifted towards the window. A faraway look in her eye, she dry heaved quietly as her head fell.

"Demyx…"

The floating woman, naked, and mystic, looked back to Sora.

Sora turned to her, still holding his sister. She smiled, nodded at him, her smile growing to a grin.

"My name is Victoria. Promise me… you won't forget?" Sora blinked, a bit confused.

"Y – Yeah. I won't forget."

She looked back out to the window, to a spot on the horizon where blue light was rising, floating, and growing. Pointing, she turned to Sora. "That's where you need to be" She whispered. "Just follow the voice that's singing, and you'll be there."

Closing his eyes, Sora let his ears focus on the song that he could hear faintly. "… Yuna?" He grinned slightly, opening his eyes. Aisu blinked up at him, sadly. He tightened his grip on her, and then let go, giving his sister a kiss on the forehead.

"I love you." He ran past her, turning back to look at her, and Paine, Yuffie, and Ariel, all of whom looked lost, hurt, or even angry. "Don't worry; I'll come back, I promise."

Yuffie leapt to her feet. "You'd better!" She cried, her voice wavering. The others turned to her, surprised. Biting back tears, she continued. "It was hard – living without you. Back when we forgot you."

Sora remembered it had been just after his awakening. "But why did you forget me?" He whispered quietly to himself. Only Victoria heard.

"Go" She murmured, urging him on. "I'll be right behind you, okay?"

Unsure, Sora nodded, looking suddenly like a frightened child as he placed his foot on the window sill and looked out to the bright light, his eyes dark and faraway.

Victoria's eyes wandered around his face. "You're so young. You're so exhausted. What's to keep you from falling asleep? Aren't the least bit tired?" Sora looked up at her, eyes wide. "This was shoved at you. Aren't you angry? The least bit afraid?"

Sora's gaze fell towards his feet, but just before he leapt from the window and flew off, following Yuna's voice, he whispered a quiet, well thought out response.

"Kairi"

And that was all he had to say.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Sighing, Victoria watched the boy fade away, as the song's lyrics met her ears. Smiling, she softly repeated them to herself, letting their meaning sink in, letting the melody float around her heart.

"If I recall, far, far away,

The future was shining on everywhere,

Beneath the beautiful blue sky,

We were slumbering forever"

…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Tidu's smile grew into a wide, childish grin.

"It's working, Yuna, keep singing!"

Her voice was not the least bit tired, and the song and its lyrics seem to flow effortlessly, though she'd never heard or even heard of the song before. Something about it seemed to fit, the lyrics, and the beat, they seemed to fit the situation somehow.

The person I liked long ago

I heard will bear a child in winter

What were decided since long ago?

I sometimes would want to doubt them

The ones I could never forget

Would the New Year's card have photographs attached?

What to us could not be done?

I will think very fondly of them

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Namine's eyes snapped open. Sitting up, she gasped, looking to the girl beside her.

"Kairi!" She called, shaking her friend's shoulder. The red head stirred in her slumber. "Kairi!"

"Namine? What is it?" Kairi mumbled tiredly, wiping her eyes as she sat up.

"You have to go" Namine whispered, tightening her grip on Kairi's shoulder. Kairi's eyes grew, in realization, and confusion, as she looked up to her friend. Namine's eyes were sad, yet strong, with tears growing in the corners as she fought them back.

"Namine…"

"Just go" She whispered. "He needs you."

"I won't leave you!"

Chuckling, Namine nodded. "Of course you won't. But you have to go. It's – it'll be okay. I know, somehow, everything – it'll – it'll all be okay, all right?" She smiled, her face taking on a desperate, sad beauty, as she fought the tears with all her might, and her eyes shone with love and happiness.

"But…" Kairi murmured, setting her hand on Namine's open palm. "We are One. One can't be without the other."

Namine's free hand moved from Kairi's shoulder to cover her hand. "We'll have to be. It'll be hard, and every day, when I wake up, there won't be a day I don't think of you. But we have to be strong." Laughing a bit, she smiled widely, and a tear escaped her eye. "If we won't be, who will?"

Kairi's head fell, her red hair covering her eyes. Slowly, her other hand covered Namine's.

"We'll be strong" She murmured, looking into Namine's ocean colored eyes. "I know we will be"

Namine nodded, the tears flowing freely. "Yes" She answered. "Of course, we will!"

Sobbing, she let her forehead rest on Kairi's shoulder, and the red head placed her hands around her. Though she fought them, silently Kairi cried, as Namine let the tears fall as well.

Wiping them away, Namine sat up. "Now, go. And don't look back, okay? You – you might not like… what you see."

Kairi nodded, standing from the bench. Shoulders squared, fists clenched, she looked up at the snowy sky, lip trembling.

"Take this" Namine muttered, standing, holding out her hands as her head fell.

In awe, Kairi watched numbly as Namine slipped her sketch book into Kairi's trembling hands.

"Now go" Namine whispered.

Kairi gawked silently at the treasure she held in her hands, and held it tightly to her chest.

I love you as I love myself

Gasping for breath, Kairi rushed towards the edge, and just as she leapt over it, legs tucked, holding the sketchbook tight.

Namine had turned away, trying to keep from breaking, holding back her lip, her body rigid.

I love you for you are myself

But as Kairi fell into the mist and fog below, Namine gasped and spun around, racing to the edge, she screamed.

Now I must go

"Don't ever forget me!"

You'll always be a part of me

Tears streaming down her face, Kairi plummeted into the fog and snow, falling further than the ground, leaving the snowy land and falling through a star streaked sky.

The snow that had been floating around her slowly faded into rain, drenching her as she fell. The girl made sure to protect the notebook in her hands, as her eyes fell to the earth.

"No fair, sky" She whispered. "I'm the one who wants to cry."

(line borrowed from Fullmetal Alchemist, which Roxas your soxas!)

It was raining by the time Sora came within a mile of the blue light, and the boy was breathing hard and rushing ahead. Above, a light flickered behind the clouds, like a star. It was shooting down toward the earth, a bright white thing.

Letting his eyes trail it, Sora raced forward, toward Yuna, and toward the bright falling star.

"Yuna" Tidu whispered. "It's over. It's here."

Gasping for breath, the woman fell to her knees, placing her trembling hands on the ground. She was tired and sweating, and absolutely thrilled.

"That song was beautiful. What was it?" She whispered. Tidu bent down to see her eyes, feathers floating behind him.

"It's called Passion" He smiled. "I'm glad you liked it."

Grinning, Yuna attempted to stand. She stumbled, yet caught herself, standing tall. "The door is coming" Tidu whispered, standing beside her. "Are you ready?"

The woman turned to look down to him. "Ready… for what, exactly?"

Solemnly, Tidu turned to look forward, dark and serious. "Ready for anything"

Nodding, Yuna stepped forward, staring intently as rain began pelting them. Lightning flashed through the sky, and she held a hand above her eyes.

"I wonder" She whispered. "I wonder who is asleep and who's alive."

"Who will live" Tidu muttered as a thundering roar ruptured the air. "And who will die"

Before their very eyes, rising from the rigid, dank ground, as mist formed and the earth quake, and the sky lit and rain fell, a metal form began rising slowly into the air. Sora slid to a halt yards away, watching in awe as the gothic, rusted thing came into view, large and overbearing, unchained.

As the rain pelted it, it seemed to shine, turning a crystalline blue, and little whispers of words and songs seem to echo in the empty metal, keeping it alive. Gasping, Sora looked to Yuna, and stepped up to her.

"What is that?"

Behind them, at the base of the cliff, the star landed. Blinded, Kairi stood, looking here and there, clutching the note book to her chest. When she turned to her left, she gasped, catching the sight of Sora and Yuna, with Tidu behind them.

"Sora" She whispered, preparing to run to him. She paused at the sight of the gate rising above them, towering in the sky, lighting, and thunder announcing its presence.

… someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open.


And true light will return.


So, listen, child.


Even in the deepest darkness,


There will always be a light to guide you.

Believe in the light and the darkness will never defeat you.


Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away.

Do you understand, Kairi?

Rumbling and shaking, as the gate rose, two metal poles on either side of it rose above, and slanted outwards, attached by chains to the gate itself. Yuna gawked, backing up slightly as she shielded her eyes. The gate gave off a faint, eerie fluorescent light.

Wiping her hair out of her eyes, Kairi grinned at the realization of what the Gate to Midnight must be.

But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open.


And true light will return.

Do you understand, Kairi?

"Sora!" Kairi called, running up to him. Catching her voice, Sora spun around, eyes wide and watched as she raced up the hill, running into his arms. The boy caught her, hands on her shoulders, concerned and happy.

"Kairi! You're okay?" She nodded as he examined her face, taking her in.

Looking up to Yuna, Kairi smiled. "You okay?"

Yuna nodded, tired but satisfied. "I'm okay."

The three looked to Tidu. "And you're all right, right Tidu?" Sora grinned.

Smiling, Tidu gave them a wave and nodded. "Better than ever"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Opening her eyes, Victoria smiled. "They're together again. You're brother's fine"

Sighing in relief, Aisu nodded, somewhat satisfied. Concerned, Victoria looked back into the room.

Yuffie was curled into a ball, leaning against the back wall. Paine stood in a dark corner, brooding and thoughtful. Sitting beneath the canister that held her husband, Ariel sat with a faraway look in her tired eyes.

Victoria sighed, looking back at Aisu.

"Come on" She whispered, taking hold of the girl's hand. Leading her back to the canister that held Axel, Victoria lifted her hand.

"Be free" Victoria murmured. "Be free from my father's bonds"

And before their eyes, his eyelids fluttered, and sea green eyes met blue ones as Aisu gasped in relief.

"He's okay!"

"They're all okay – just asleep"

Yuffie leapt to her feet, grinning as Axel slipped sleepily from the glass, stumbled, very much out of it. Paine sat up a bit, eyes wide, but Ariel did not move, simply looked up, and smiled.

Smiling, Victoria took hold of the sleepy red head. "I'm afraid he's the only one in any condition to awaken – the others are terribly injured."

"Axel" Aisu muttered, taking hold of his gloved hand. It twitched as his eyes slowly opened.

"You care for him, don't you?" Victoria whispered. Aisu looked away, and with a chuckle, Victoria smiled wide, letting Axel go. He stumbled, blinking away sleep with a groan.

"A – what? Sora?"

Aisu laughed. "No, but close enough"

A slow grin came to his face when he recognized the voice. "Not you again, I thought I got rid of you on that island" Aisu elbowed him, and he laughed.

Paine smirked, standing and walking over. Yuffie bounded after, looking down at Ariel with a concerned smile. She smiled and nodded in return.

"Roxas needs your help, Axel" Victoria interrupted them somberly. Axel immediately silenced, perking his ears.

"Roxas?" Victoria nodded.

He's at the castle, with Demyx, Zexion, Saix, and two ninja from a world nearby. Demyx and Saix are out of the fight, but Roxas is still attempting to fight an intruder – the ninja and Zexion are helping him. But he needs you."

Axel's eyes faded, thinking back, thinking ahead, and drifting.

YOu arEtHeOne – - Who will sAVe the Prince

Growling, Axel pushed himself up off of Aisu's shoulder. "Axel?"

"I've gotta go help. Don't worry I'll be fine." The girls watched him back away.

Paine lifted her sword into a battle stance. "I can help"

Axel shook his head. "Stay here, in case another psycho shows up. Don't worry me and Roxas and take whatever moron tried to kill us." With a grin and a cocky salute, Axel faded away into a portal of darkness.

The girls all stood silent for a moment as the portal lifted and he was gone. Yuffie fell back to the floor, next to Ariel. Picking up her sword, Paine walked back to her corner, leaving Aisu standing, feet pointed in, head down, hands trembling.

"Axel…"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The gate came down and with a thundering rumble, it cease to move, silent as the grave as the rain splattered against it. Sora gazed up at it, his hands on Kairi's shoulders.

"Sora?" Kairi whispered.

He didn't answer; his eyes were resting intently on the gate.

"What do we do?" He whispered. "How do we fix this?"

"We have to find the Door to Light"

Everyone gasped, perked up, jumping to look at the person who had spoken. Sora gawked, looking her over. "Victoria! What do you mean?"

The girl was now clothed, yet still ethereally glowing, floating like a ghost, eyes like stars and skin like the sun, hair fluttering as if it were in water. "To fix this. We have to open the Door to Light."

Sora and Kairi shared a look. "Where is it?" Kairi whispered.

Victoria nodded towards the door. "You know best of all. The door to innermost darkness will open, and the great light will return. Right, Princess?"

Kairi seemed lost in thought, nodding absentmindedly. Sora noticed, concerned, tightening his grip on her hand.

"Where's Riku?" Yuna asked. Kairi looked up to her and answered.

"Asleep" She whispered. "I saw him in a tower with…" Her voice trailed off. "Namine"

Victoria walked over past them, towards Tidu. The two, ethereal science creation, and magical mix up with glowing black wings stared each other down.

"Do you know the way to the Door to Light?" Victoria whispered, looking the boy's wings over.

"No. I don't. I knew the way here. But I don't know anything about light, really."

Smiling serenely, Victoria tilted her head. "Me, neither."

The two looked back to Sora and Kairi, who were standing next to Yuna. Then they shared a look.

"I suppose it's up to them, huh?" Tidu whispered, picking a feather off his shoulder. Victoria caught it as it floated in the wind, smiling at it in her hand.

"Yeah, it is" She blew it away into the air, smiling.

Sora watched it fly.

In an instant, the air changed, and the feather was sliced in half. Tidu's eyes grew wide, glancing around. Kairi, Sora, and Yuna were confused, taking battle stances, and Victoria screeched in terror.

"Run!"

Sora saw it just when she did, and without a thought, he shoved the girls aside, and the two watched him in surprise. It was almost slow motion as the spear followed its path through the air, towards the spots where they'd been standing, where Sora now floated in the air, having shoved them away.

"Sora!" Kairi gasped, leaning back towards him, stretching her hand.

His mouth flickered into a smile, and time jumped back to normal and the sickening thwack of skin and metal meeting one another resonated through the air, and Sora's eyes dilated, his smile fading only a bit as he was suddenly propelled backward by the spears motion through his chest.

"Sora!" Kairi screeched, leaping up and running toward him as he sat crumpled in a bloody heap. Yuna leapt up and raced after, as Tidu stood in shock.

Victoria turned towards the direction the spear had come from, anger and rage racing through her eyes.

"CRIVE!"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

0…0

Sulhadahne is scared by what she just wrote. She is not sure how she was motivated to be so emo.

Anyway, that was a rather long chap, and I think I'll write more tomorrow. I actually like this one, even though some of the Kairi and Namine scene was a little… lesbo. But they aren't lesbo! So stop being sick, fan boys. Silly fan boys.

I can't believe the story is almost over.

I can't believe the story is almost over.

I can't believe the story is almost over.

Still unable to believe it's almost over,

SULHADAHNE

PS, PLEASE REVIEW!!