Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is owned by Square Enix, Disney and other people more talented than I

Kingdom Hearts: Twisted Shadows

Chapter One: Mundane Lives

"So when we carry the two over the number, we get……"

The sun was shining through the windows, illuminating the dusty desks and rows of books that populated the classroom. Birds chirped happily, flying with glee throughout the air. The flowers were in bloom, painting the scene in colorful strokes. Treees were in their most vibrant green, alive with life. The shouts and laughter of playing children drifted through the glass. With the sound of the waves overlapping all of this, it was the perfect scene of a peaceful summer day.

Which, Sora told himself grimly, just added to the injustice of being in school.

Today was Tuesday. Only marginally worse than Monday, it lacked the expectation of Thursday, the middle-ness of Wednesday and the absolute thrill of Friday, where the air would buzz with excitement. Sora looked forward to those days. Then there'd be the weekend, which was far too short and always ended up as a blur. Monday looms all too near and the whol wretched cycle begins again.

And this was only his second month back.

This was Destiny Islands Parochial Middle School. A dowdy, out-of-the-way collection of sagging buildings in grimy red brick, it was situated in the part of the Mainland that Sora never paid attention to. He and his friends were always seen at the Town Square or in the Residential Area. Their only brush with education was the primary school, of which Sora only had vague memories of flinging paint. All of the classrooms here have a fine layer of dust covering every inch (When Sora asked his head teacher, Ms. Quistis Trepe, about this, she shrugged and said, "Budget problems can't keep a janitor here for more than two weeks). There's always a bookcase at the back of each room containing the exact same books, none of which seem to have been opened and read since they were put there.

Each classroom in the main building seemed to have been designed of one blueprint that was replicated twenty-times over. Confusingly, there were two second floors, separated by a garden containing a bench and a broken fountain. The garden was flanked by two wings, both containing classrooms. The only other building was the administrative building, a stooped, two-storey building squatting near the entrance. In there were the various administrative buildings and the teacher offices. Students held a yearly contest in which five contestants would try to TP as many teacher offices as possible (Sora was lucky to catch this year's contest and witness the rather unfortunate aftermath).

Sora was in Classroom B-5, resting his head on his hands, trying to concentrate. Classroom B-5 was the domain of Instructor Aki, an aboslute dictator of a teacher. Sporting a severely strict moustache, he does not hesitate to give students demerits for the tiniest of infractions. Just last week, he had given Sora punishment lines for yawning in class, something Sora tries to fight against whenever he attends his class. Strangely, Sora never encounters him outside of class. While he's seen the other teachers, like Miss Cym, out in town, Instructor Aki seemed to exist only in his classroom, only animating into life during a class. If you can call a monotone robot voice 'alive'.

Today was no different. If Sora was paying any attention, he would've noticed that he was doodling pictures of keys. Instead, as with most days, Sora's mind began to wander. The numbers in his thoughts bled away, replaced by memories. Him and Riku, racing along the beach. He and Kairi, looking out into the setting sun, thinking of possibilities. Donald and Goofy, crashing into him at Traverse Town. All of the friends he's made, all of the sights he's seen. His mind raced.

Sora's eyelids slowly drooped. His arms gave out. Without support, his head fell on the table with a loud THUNK!

Instructor Aki stopped his lecture. "Sora!" He shouted.

Sora's eyes opened wide. "Whuha?" He uttered. Immediately, the entire class began giggling loudly. Sora looked around in confusion at the winking faces before settling on Instructor Aki. "Yes sir?" He asked timidly with a sheepish smile.

Instructor Aki crossed his arms and stared at Sora severely. Sora began trying to not look him in the eye. "Did I disturb you, Sora?" He asked sardonically. "Have I interrupted Your Majesty's oh-so important nap?"

Sora stuttered. "B-But sir-"

"I didn't ask for an answer!" Instructor Aki snapped. "You have just interupted today's lesson. As punishment, I'll just have to interrupt your life. I hope you don't have anything planned for the afternoon because you'll be spending it dusting out the room and all the erasers."

The class began laughing again. Sora shyly nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Yes sir," He answered.

Instructor Aki gave an indifferent sniff and, without pause, went back to his lecture, as if Sora's interruption was nothing more than a temporary glitch in today's schedule. Sora started to sigh then caught himself. This was the third punishment he got in the last two weeks. If punishments weren't a regular occurence in this class, he wouldn't have taken it to his stride. At the front, Tidus turns around and shoots him a wink. Sora smiled awkwardly.

This school, with its cloying blandness and dusty corridors, was a far cry from the exotic worlds and incredible adventures of the past. Sora never really thought what he would feel or do once he got back to Destiny Islands. All that time, he was more concerned with finding Riku and Kairi, not to mention fighting the Heartless and Nobodies than beyond all that. The realities of life surprised him. Fighting a thousand Heartless seemed like child's play compared to dividing an algebraic equation with another. Battling the Organization felt easier than trying to write about Destiny Island's first papou fruit grower. Even keeping a ball in the air for thirty minutes is infinitely easier than waking up in an ungodly hour and forcing himself to get up and endure a couple hours of tedium.

Maybe it was his adventures that made him like this. Sora had seen so many different worlds, met different people, experience events that any normal fifteen-year old would normally never come across, it made going to a school seem dull. Boring even.

Stop it, Sora thought. Don't even go there. Would you want to still be searching for Riku and Kairi? Fighting the Heartless? You're home now. You should be happy.

Instead of listening to his head, Sora began flexing his fingers. He could feel the grip of the Keyblade, a familiar sensation. He began wondering what would happen if a giant key would randomly appear in his hand in the middle of class. What kind of punishment could he get for that?

As much as he was tempted to try, Sora knew that he can't afford to lose more free time as it is. The school year's barely begun and he and Riku had a lot to catch up with. Having spent nearly two years battling Heartless and exploring different worlds, it was amazing how much they had missed. A new sport, some undertwater thing called 'blitzball', was the new thing (Sora had barely caught up with Tidus' explanation of the rules). Most of his friends have changed, along with new faces to be found around town.

Their island was unchanged, though. Everything that he had left when the darkness swept Destiny Islands was still there. The treehouse, the tress, the walkways, even the tiny boat they were planning on using. The Secret Place was still there, complete with the scribblings and doodles children have added to it over the years. The door was there, closed. It seemed like that night never happened, as if the door never opened and spilled out its contents. It was surreal, to say the least.

Not many go to the island anymore, especially after that storm. Tidus and Wakka are always busy with their blitzball game and while Kairi often goes with them, she's mostly with Selphie talking about things that just confuses him (Not to mention the many times they look at him and start giggling). So it's just him and Riku. Most of the time they talk while sometimes they practise with their Keyblades, just like their old routine. It's those times that Sora can really relax and forget about past experiences. He and Riku have been doing this since they were six, the only things changing that they were honed by real battle and the fact that they were wielding giant keys.

Riku. His best friend.

No doubt he was having more fun than him right now.

Riku wasn't having fun.

In truth, he was in a most miserable mood.

Inside the gym, Riku was setting on a bench, sopping wet. His hair was in front of his eyes, stuck to his head. No matter how many times he press the towel against his head, it always fills up with more water, water that is overfilling a bucket next to him. He's not the only one on the bench. More stragglers were seated on the bench, some chatting to others animatedly, others in a form of shellshock. It looked like a warzone.

This was just one of the effects of blitzball.

A whistle sounded and players began to emerge from the large tank that dominated the center of the gym. Many were grinning wildly, joshing with other players. One of them was holding the game ball and runs over to Riku. The coach, who's sitting in a large seat overlooking the pool, barks, "Alright, team 5 and 7, you're up!" Other players stood up or dragged themselves up and headed for the pool. The one with the ball, Wakka, seated himself next to Riku.

"Man, that is some game!" He exclaimed, shaking his head wildly. "Hey!" Riku protested, raising his arms in protection. "Stop that!"

"Sorry man," Wakka apologized. "Can't help it." He stretched on his back against the bench. He let his hands fall on his eyes while Riku looked on at the game. He could just make out the players' writhing forms under the water, chasing a ball. If he would squint, he could see their faces awash with glee.

When he had first tried to play blitzball, at the insistence of Tidus and Wakka, he had moved instinctively. It was much like moving through the darkness. On the move, all other senses blanked out by something wrapping around him. It was almost too easy.

Five minutes later, he was coughing for breath next to the pool, his bones shaking heavily. There was one important difference between moving through the darkness and moving through water: you can't breath in it.

"It's like riding a bike!" Tidus had said at the time. "You'll get used to it."

"I never learned how to ride a bike." Riku said before spitting out more water.

This had led him to dreading Tuesday afternoons, something he had shared with Sora through their constant complaining about it, what being stuck in a tyrannical teacher's class (though Riku suspects Sora exagerrates his punishments). He couldn't figure out why this is the only sport they do. Combat and sparring used to be the dominant sport in Destiny Islands, something he and Sora had done obsessively throughout their childhood. It seemed that, after the darkness was sealed away, the people just wanted to rest.

Which was fine with Riku. He had gone through hell and back, fighting the darkness not only in different worlds but also in himself. He had enough of fighting. Time to unwind.

If only there was a better way.

The whistle blew again. Wakka jumped up from his position, spraying Riku with more water. "Agh!" Riku exclaimed. "Relax," Wakka said. "Your team's probably next anyway. A little more water won't hurt." Seeing Riku's annoyance, Wakka began to laugh. "Enjoy yourself! You've been gone for quite a while, Riku. You've become more serious." He gave Riku a big smile then slapped him at the back. "Cheer up! Blitzball's not the worst way to unwind."

"Easy for you to say, you can stay underwater like you're a merman. I can barely last two minutes!"

Wakka only gave Riku an apologetic shrug. "Eh, everyone was to start somewhere. You'll get the hang of it. Uh oh." he said, looking at the coach. "Look's like you're up!"

Groaning, Riku left the towel and dragged himself off the bench, heading towards the pool. Wakka hurries up to him, shouting, "At least it's only five minutes!"

"So..."

"What?"

"What's the deal between you and Sora?"

Kairi rolled her eyes. This is probably the third time today Selphie has mentioned the subject. The girl won't just let it go unless she gets a straightforward answer from her. Kairi had already seen a pattern appear in Selphie's questions. She would always strike at the exact same time she had before, letting Kairi plan her responses, always a variation of a shrug or a brush-off.

They were in the school library at the period that has been designated 'study time'. The local PTA, in a desperate attempt to actually make these students learn, corralled each class to these periods were they would be told to study for exams, despite it being September and exams being more than ten months away. The students called this "Quiet Social Hour" or "Enforced Enclosure."

Kairi was absentmindedly stroking back pages on a book. Next to her, Selphie was busily scribbling on a notebook. Kairi had sneaked a glance on the book but the non-sequitir sentences left her confused. Selphie told her that she had her own code to prevent people from reading what she has written.

"There's nothing going on, Selphie," Kairi said. "We're just good friends."

"Really good friends?"

Kairi sighed and buried her head on the book in front of her. "Will you please drop it? We've gone through this again and again. Me and Sora are just friends. There's nothing going on. Drop it."

"If you say so." Selphie responded in a sing-song voice that indicated no intention of dropping it. She went back to her scribbling, a devious smile plastered on her face. Kairi hoped the girl wouldn't think of something different. She had gotten used to this routine. No need to change it now and actually force her in an uncomfortable position.

It's not that she didn't consider questions like that before. Especially recently, During that long, painful year, there had been a nagging loss, like a hole in her life that was just violently ripped out. Only when she had conversed with that boy (What was his name again? Have to ask Sora about that) that she had an inkling of what was missing.

Sora. Her friend.

Ever since Kairi had come to Destiny Islands, he had been her abiding memory. He had been the first to approach her and see her not as that mysterious weird girl but as a potential friend. They had spent all their time together, growing up, sharing experiences together. The three of them had been inseperable.

So why is she suddenly feeling...weird? Is that even the right word?

First, it was that sensation of numbness in the past year. She had just attributed it to missing Sora, having been such an integral part of her life.

Then there was their last adventure. That wave of exhiliration when she hugged Sora. Kairi was mentally replaying it in her mind now. It felt like a dream now, after being back into normality. That fluttering feeling she felt when she saw Sora for the first time in a year.

Now that feeling was there whenever she saw him. First it would be a smile. That infectious laugh of his. Sora was a guy who could never let anything bring him down. Not fascist teachers, crazed seekers of darkness or an army of Heartless can dampen his mood. Sora was an eternal optimist. No matter how gloomy or bleak the forecast was, he would counter it with a shrug and a smile. He was so adorable when he does that.

If you think he's so adorable, why are you so confused?

Kairi blinked. What do you mean?

It's kinda obvious, don't you think?

Even her brain was getting tangled. Obvious?

Her mental voice sighed. Do I really have to spell it out to you?

Yes!

You. Like. Sora.

Now they were just going in circles. I know that. We've been friends since I can remember.

Another patronising sigh. You really have no idea what we're talking about, do you?

Kairi blushed slightly. Er, no.

Let me reprhase it then. You have feelings for Sora.

Feelings?

Feelings! You feel different about Sora now! You. Love. Him.

Kairi only gave another weary sigh. Not you too! Why is everyone assuming that? Me and Sora are just friends!

Everyone isn't assuming this, everyone is saying it! The only other person who doesn't realize this besides you is Sora.

Oh come on! Kairi insisted. That's not true! I would never fall for Sora, he's just a friend.

Even more sighs from her inner mind. You're still in denial. Don't worry, you'll figure it out. Kairi could feel her imaginary friend leave her head in frustration, leaving her confused.

Twilight hour, between day and night, in Destiny islands is the most evocative and beautiful time to see the place. The setting sun's final rays bathed the Town Square in a sepia hue, making the place look like as picture postcard. Most of the town are milling around here, enjoying the cafes, seeing the shops along with a few tourists. Destiny islands is a small world, its inhabitants related to each other in some way. What few travelers who now venture here after the rupturing of the barriers between worlds were instantly charmed by the world's quaint atmosphere and friendly citizens.

Riku and Kairi were sitting at an outdoor table in the Luca Cafe & Bar. The racous cries of the establishment's nighttime residents were muffled behind the door which was guarded by a large, burly bouncer. Every five minutes, he kept eyeing them suspiciously. Riku would wave back half-heartedly every so often.

"Honestly, it's not like we actually want to go in there," Riku said unconvincingly, toying with a bottle of soda. "I've tasted alcohol and it wasn't that big a deal?"

Kairi raised an eyebrow. "When have you tasted alcohol?"

Riku shrugged. "This pirate world. I mean, that island was practically crawling with rum. I had to try one. 'Course, that fellow with the dreadlocks didn't take too kindly for that. Was raving in my face, asking me what I did with the rum.

"And you drank it all?"

"No," Riku said miserably. "They tasted like watered down lemonade. I just hid them somewhere near the trees, then I went to sleep. Next thing I now, this crazy pirate was jabbing me with his pistol, asking me questions about the rum. Didn't get sleep until a few days later.

"Poor Riku," Kairi said sympathetically. "You always try too hard. Let off some steam."

"I could if I can get in there," Riku muttered darkly. Kairi jumped up from her seat, pointing at Riku and said," Oh, so you do want to go in there! I thought alcohol was too watered for you."

"They have good alcohol in there!" Riku retorted, crossing his arms and frowning at the giggling Kairi. "Not cheap smuggler goods." Kairi only laughed harder, clutching her stomach. "Let's just change the subject." Riku said in exasperation. "Where's Sora?"

Kairi had to breath before she can talk. "I think he's doing a punishment from Instructor Aki."

Riku sighed, something kairi noticed. everyone seemed to be sighing a lot these days. "That's his third one this week. he has got to pay attention in that class. Can't he transfer?"

Kairi shook her head. "No, after a month, you can't change teachers. I remember you trying to get out of P.E. last week."

"It's just blitzball! I wouldn't have a problem if they did something else!" Riku ranted on, drawing out another smile from Kairi. It was like old times, before the madness and the chaos. Riku had taken the longest to adjust back to normality. He had let himself be swallowed up by the darkness and used it for so long. He admitted as much that there would be difficulties. Then again, he was the one who gave up the most for all of them to get back home.

"-idiotic premise anyway. Why would you want to play underwater? It's stupi-"

"Hey guys!" A cheerful voice called out and Sora unceremoniously deposited himself on the last seat. His hair was covered with chalk dust and his face was pale. "Riku going on about blitzball again?" He asked Kairi. She nodded, responding, "Yeah, we're just at the bit where he's telling us how water is bad."

Sora laughed as Riku gave Kairi a venomous look. He turned his glare on Sora, who immediately closed his mout. "That was quick. I thought it normally took you at least an hour and a half to dust out those erasers."

Sora looked sheepish. He rubbed the back of his head and said, "Well.....I was getting bored so," He drifted off.

Kairi gave him a look. "And?"

"I...kinda used the Keyblade."

"What?" Riku demanded. Kairi just looked confused. "How would you use the Keyblade for clapping out erasers? Scrape them with it?"

"Ha ha," Sora remarked. "I just used magic. You know, Aero."

"But Aero is a defensive spell."

"Not on me, idiot! On the erasers." Sora gestured to his hair. "Kinda made a mess. And of the classroom." Riku just shook his head in amusement. "You do realize that Aki's going to tar you next week."

"If I'm lucky. He'll probably sneak up on me and have me sent to a juvenile center or someplace horrific."

"A juvie center wouldn't be that horrific. And now way Aki would think that is horrific enough. He'll probably have you do something menial like paint the gate or something."

Kairi watched the two banter for a minute or so, not bothering to interject. She liked just listening to the two. They had always been trying to better each other, trying to outdo each other in a friendly rivalry. Kairi only watched from the , she watched the rest of the scenery. Three children were playing hopsctoch near the fountain. A black-haired girl was leaning against a wall, looking distantly into the sky. Three elderly men were chatting loudly, their voices blending into the din of the square. It was a perfect scene.

Everything was back together now. The Heartless and Nobodies were gone. Everything was back to normal. They could finally live their lives.

BANG!

A loud explosion suddenly rocketed from the distance. Without warning, a shockwave raced through the square flinging people to the ground. Kairi felt a large force knock her down. All she could see was the ground. She coughed then felt hands grabbing her and hauling her up. "I got you," She heard Sora say.

Back on two feet, Kairi saw that everyone was either on the ground or picking themselves up. Riku and Sora were next to her, surveying the scene. "What just happened?"

Riku frowned and ran towards the center of the square, followed by Sora and Kairi. "I don't know," Riku said. "It felt like an explosion-"

"There!" Sora yelled, pointing at the sky. Riku and Kairi turned.

A massive black tornado was in the sky, seemingly sprouting from one of the islands. It hung over the islands like a looming black vulture. Small figures were flying around it. The skies were darkening, shifting to something more menacing.

"No," whispered Sora.

"This can't be happening," Riku said.

Kairi opened her mouth only to be interrupted by black pools of energy suddenly erupting around them. The darkness dissapitated, revealing strange blue figures. They shifted from side to side, seemingly taunting them. Harsh, coughing noises emanated from them. "Heartless?" Kairi asked. Sora and Riku shifted themselves to attack, waiting for the creatures to move first. Two identical flashes of light and they were holding their weapons. The Keyblades.

"Kairi, get behind us." Sora whispered. He positioned himself and raised his Keyblade, waiting for the first strike.

Inside the small island were the children played was a very special area. It was a cave with a plain door. The door had never opened, no matter how many have tried. There was no doorknob or keyhole. It was more like a piece of wood blocking the way. Soon, not many took notice of it and it slowly became part of the culture of Destiny islands.

Over the years, the children have added to this place. Little scribbled drawings covered the walls of the cave. pictures of people, buildings, animals, anything their imagination can create.

He was looking at them, remembering drawing some of these pictures. They hadn't faded. Not one bit. The chalk seemed to have melded with the stone itself. Every scrap and memory passed into the cave was still there.

He kneels down and inspects the drawings. Then he notices something. A new drawing. Rather, someone's modified a drawing. A boy and a girl's heads were looking at each other, each smiling widely. That was what he remembered. Now someone has drawn them handing each other a paopou fruit, a local symbol of love.

Cute. He smiled wirily. Considering the pair that was depicted on the rock, it was too appropriate.

He stood up and looked at the door. He could feel the currents of darkness shifting behind the door. It was waiting to be unleashed, waiting for that special someone to open the door and let its waiting denizens into a fresh new world. Although this world was already torn apart once. It was a miracle it reformed after Kingdom Hearts was sealed back. The Heartless aren't that picky anyway. He had seen them tear their way through a world for its heart witn relentless tenacity. Whatever they want, they will fight to attain.

And so will he.

The whirling tornado could be heard outside the cave. His Memoriam are already in the town. With any luck, they would lead the wielders of the Keyblade here. Here, where it all started and where it will start to end.

He was patient. He had been patient for years. Now his story can begin and Sora's story could end.

He resisted the urge to smile. There would be plenty of that. All that's left to do is wait. Then his revenge could begin.