CHAPTER 4 Of Fayth

"Karu?! Selphie?! Where are you?" she calls out. She opens her eyes and finds herself lying on a black floor, surrounded by black walls, black ceilings, black, well, everything. Kairi brings her hand to her head which is pounding. she nods slightly, then climbs to her feet, slowly. she looks around, yet see's nothing.

"Kairi!" Kairi's head flies in the direction n front of her. "S-sora?" she takes a step forward, and suddenly, as it had came, the darkness disappears, and Kairi finds herself standing n a large, beautiful castle. The only thing that is not beautiful about it is that people are running about, screaming for help. Frightened, Kairi stumbles backwards, she almot runs into someone.

"Im sorry I..." before Kairi can finish, a figure darts through her. "Ey?" Kairi watches the madness, curious, but also worried. "Kairi!" she turns her head, towards a staircase, leading to a corridor. Kairi begins to run towards it, people scattering through her body and soul as she went. Overwhelmed with joy, fear, and delight, Kairi hurries to the voice she is sure she knows. At the final stair, she pushes through the door. A tall man, in a long red coat, he has blonde hair, now stands by the door. Kairi looks at the figure with a feeling of familiarity. Children run about the room. The man smiles. A little boy, brown hair, comes running to the man, followed by a girl with long brown hair. "Ansem!" the boy whispers.

"What?" Kairi mouths. The holographic boy pulls on the man, known as Ansem's, coat. "Please sir, what should we do?" pipes the little girl. An older boy, with blonde hair, heads over. He is sucking on a candy kane. "Lord Ansem, I will take them..." Ansem bends down, his smile fades. "I am sorry to say, that if you go now, you will never see your families again..." his voice sounds fierce. The older boy nods. "I wish to forget..."

Ansem nods. "When it ends, all will be a memory. There is nothing I can do..." The older boy pushes the two younger children's shoulders. "And, the little ones?" Ansem points into the darkness, that is soon unfolded with light. Kairi see's the two from before, the brunette's, one in a pink and white flowered dress, the other in a leather coat. Near them stands a boy, about the same age, with blonde, spikey hair.

Two small girls, one with short dark hair, the other auburn, mid shoulder length, a white dress with purple lining. Kairi felt as though she had seen this child before. "Leave the child, her mother wouldn't forgive me, if she if she were to... Nevermind, just go!"

The oldest boy runs to the kids "Cid!" shouts the small girl, holding up a ninja star. Kairi jumps at the name. "Lets go! C'mon now, no questions!" he takes the smaller girl by the hand, then places a hand on the girl in pinks shoulder. "I'm sorry Aerith, but it hasta be this way..." He whisper.

"Aerith?" Kairi whispers in disbelief. "Our friends... then this must be..?"

"Kairi!" A Voice came from the side.

She looked up, it wasnt his voice, like she had heard earlier. Cid nodded to the small girl with auburn hair, she smiles and runs to Ansem the Wise. "Hehehe! Where's mommy?!" She cries out in joy. Kairi walks towards the two in disbelief, as the shadows of the other children disappear. She kneels down to hear better. "Kairi..." Ansem whispers. "This is no time for games..." The young girl, jumps up and runs out of the room. "NO!!" Ansem shouts, chasing after her. Kairi stands up and hurries after the two, but the door disappears, as does the rest of the room. Kairi finds herself in a small bedroom. The little girl jumping on the large bed, holding a moogle doll in her hand. Ansem enters the room now. Outside, sounds are heard… Horrifying cries for help.. but there was no hope.

People screaming for help in terror.. It gave Kairi shivers. The small girl stops. "Why is this happening to us?" she whispers. Ansem holds out his arms and she climbs into them. he lightly kisses her forhead. Kairi blinks, and when her eyes open again, she is standing outside, the castle is visible from a far way away.

"Hollow Bastion?!" Kairi takes a step backwards, and bumps into a giant pod. She turns around, to see the small girl, asleep in Ansem's hands, he gently places her into the pod, and shuts the door. Tears fall from his eyes. This was the same man they had met, two years ago, when they reach the World that Never Was… Kairi glances back at the castle to see that it is burning, things are falling, screams are still being heard. The pod takes off. A noise draws Kairi's attention back to Ansem, as he looks straight in her direction… Straight into her eyes, as if he could actually see her.

"Ansem..." Kairi whispers, not knowing whether she should pity, or hate. Her head falls to her chest.

"Kairi..." that voice again. It was him this time! She knew it! It had to be…. Kairi looked up, and now, she wasn't surrounded by darkness, she found herself… in light. But the light disolved and became somethng Kairi didnt recognize. "Twilight..." Came a voice.

"Riku?" Kairi breaths.

She looks around, through the stained glass and fog, but saw nothing. Glimmers of light shine through, as Kairi examines the place she stands in. she looks ahead of her, into the distance, and see's someone.

"Sora?!" Kairi cries.

"Kairi?" He calls back. She runs towards him, full speeded. She cries tears of joy, and when he finally reaches him, she stops. She is unsure of what the right thing to do is. She focuses her eyes on her shoes.

"Kairi... I thought you'd never come..." Kairi felt his hand touch her shoulder. Softly. She could feel his breath approaching her. The other hand slowly reaches for her fingers, and pull her hand to him. She looks up, scared, timid, shy, delicate, but mostly, terrified. He moved the hand from her shoulder and grabbed the back of her head, he pulls her into his chest in an embrace. But she didn't feel his warmth… Kairi shivers.

"Isnt this what you want?" a chilling voice falls over Kairi, it isnt her's or Sora's, or anyone she knows. This had been the second voice in one day… the first had been kind, soft, sweet… anf familiar… but this one…She lifts her head from Sora's body quickly, and realizes the darkness around her. She panics.

"…N-No… No!" She squirms, but it is tight on her legs. She looks into Sora's eyes, they black, dark as night. She closes her eyes, fearfully, and tries to pull away. The illusion that was Sora disappears and becomes darkness itself. Kairi screams as it wraps itself around her body. She couldn't breath. It was so tight. Sora was gone, and all that remained was darkness… She gasps for breath.

A shout is heard, and Kairi feels loose again. She begins to fall away from the darkness, eyes shut with tears. When she opens them…and glances to where she had been moments before, she sees a sea of darkness… and a monster that had been her best friend, but what she notices best, is the figure that freed her. As she falls, it crosses her.

"R-Riku?" She whispers.

Kairi reaches for Riku, but he is in the distance, like a memory, just fading away. She lands softly in a bed of flowers. She feels funny, and quickly sits up. Looking down at herself, she sees she is wearing a long, white, strapless dress. Roses, Dandilions, Lily's, daisy's, all kinds of flowers surround her. "Where is this place...?" She brings her fingers to her lips, realizing there is a red mark on her arm. "Heh?" She hears a noise behind her and quickly turns. She sees a light brown lock of hair sticking from the ground. Kairi, seemingly relieved, scoots her body towards it.

"Sora..." She smiles brightly. He was okay… "Come on you lazy bum, wake up, wake up!"

She pushes the boy's body, yet he doesnt move…

Kairi lifts his head with her arms, but then pauses. She drops it with the realization that her hands are now covered in blood. For a moment, she can not do anything, but stare, horrified.., She screams, and throws herself back. She falls on her back into the flowers, sobbing tears from her eyes. Dark clouds suddenly fill the sky. A dark figure stands near them… She could see him watching their every moves… "Who--?" Before she can finish her though, the figure darts at Kairi. She closes her eyes and throws her arms out in front of her. She screams, but the attack never comes. Another figure blocks the other. There is another dark man, fighting the figure. When the darkened figure takes a stab at the newer one, he falls...

The figure seemed to fall in slow motion. He turned himself towards Kairi, and she could visibly see his face. Tears glimmer in her eyes. "Riku..." She breathes. He falls right above her, hitting her body with grace. Lying on top of her, she feels his heart, slowing….His arms lay out aside Kairi. He has sorrow in his eyes. His face slowly joins Kairi's on the ground,

Lying together, with each other, close enough to feel his final breathes…. "Kairi... I... Couldnt…I tried to save you……I--failed……I l-- " With a single breath, he lies his head down on Kairi's shoulder and moans, as his heart stops...

Kairi lays there… motionless… what could she do? She began to cry as the dark figured turns….. It comes towards her. She remains silent, prepared for the worse… then feels everything fading again.

Kairi's eyes shoot open and she throws herself up fast, colliding into the arms of Karu, who had been at her side. She throws her arms around him and begins to cry. She shakes fiercly, and her body seems cold. She holds him tightly, afraid to let go.

(A bit darker, and longer… . Hope you enjoyed. )