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Twisted Sentiments
Chapter Four- A Threefold Path
RIKU
Riku wasn't scared.
Sure, he was cold. And dirty. And feeling rather stupid at the moment. And somewhat wet. But not scared. Never scared.
The waves were particularly intense tonight but he was used to them, no matter the velocity. They just lapped against his feet, freezing them in place. Riku tried to keep his teeth from chattering and wrapped his chest in his arms but the cold of the water, combined with the chill of the night, only served to make his efforts futile. He settled for sitting next to the rocky outcrop where he and Sora ended their days, tucking his knees inside his arms. It wasn't particularly comfortable but spending the night at an offshore island wouldn't necessarily be one.
Besides, it wasn't his entire fault. This was all Sora's fault. He had been the one to dare Riku into spending a night in the small island after all. Not only that but he also threatened to tell his mom about the time he sneaked inside Mr. Wallace's house and played with his guns! That idiot would always make him do the stupidest of things. He knew that Riku wouldn't be able to pass up a challenge like that. Come on, how hard was it to stay one night here? He had been to the island before, plenty of times and that never bothered him. He'd spent nights in other people's houses before and he didn't feel scared. How can this be any different?
For one thing, it was a heck of a lot colder. There was no light beyond the pale moon far, far away. The once cool winds were now frigid. Riku now wished he had worn more than just his customary shirt. Maybe he should have brought a flashlight as well. There was practically nowhere where he could settle down, except for the Secret Place. And that was something he wasn't just going to do. He didn't need the relative safety of that dark, dank cave.
After all, he wasn't scared.
Riku shifted his legs a bit, trying to make himself comfortable. If he was going to spend the night here, he might as well try to make sure his legs don't fall asleep. Maybe if slept now then it would be easier. He'd just wake up and it'll all be over soon. He tried to close his eyes and just drift off to sleep but the incessant waves and the footsteps above him- wait what? Footsteps?
All vestiges of sleep disappearing, Riku tried to get up as quietly as he can. He could hear someone pacing at the plateau right behind him. If only he could reach up and just peek over the surface! Who else could be here, late at night when no one else was around? Clearly, they were hoping to not run into the locals at any point. But they weren't counting on one boy to just be here to see what they didn't want others to see.
Having found no way to peek over, Riku knew the only alternative was to swim around and go up the ladder. That would just mean….swimming through the cold waves.
But did he have any other choice? He never mentioned it to anyone but most days, when he was just looking out of the ocean, he would find himself questioning why of all the worlds he was born in, it had to be this. Why was he stuck in these islands when he could be out there exploring new worlds and meeting new people? Those kind of things a four-year old boy shouldn't be thinking about but ever since his mom told him the story of that man who managed to get out of their little world, now all he could think of was just setting off to do the same. He just had to get stronger, he knew it!
So this could be his chance! Who knows who could be up there? Maybe it's someone from another world! Maybe it's more than one person! All Riku knew was that nothing like this has happened before. Any break from the monotony would be welcome at this point.
So, despite the biting cold already snapping against his ankles, Riku took a deep breath and waded down the waist-high water. Sure enough, the water proceeded to climb up his clothes like a particularly frigid serpent. Riku bit back the moan that he was about to let out, not wanting to give away his position. The waves tried to push him back to the sanctity of the beach but Riku pressed on, determined to know and see for himself. The water crept up higher and higher until it was nearly up to his chin. Riku silently paddled and swam, clinging on to the rocky outcrop until he found the ladder he was looking for.
At this point, the darkness was becoming just that bit stronger. Riku had to blindly reach out for a second before his wet fingers grasped the firm wood of the ladder. Riku waited for a wave to try and engulf him before lifting up his legs as well and ascending the ladder. Hopefully the restless sea would cover up any sound he made.
Riku slowly climbed up the ladder's rungs. He struggled to keep his breathing from becoming louder thanks to the cold. It was becoming too much but finally, he spotted the top. Riku slowly held his head up and spied at the top of the rocky platform.
There was a man there, or at least what Riku could tell was a man. He looked so indistinct in the gloom of the night, his black coat acting as effective camouflage in the shadows. The man's back was turned towards Riku so he couldn't see what the man looked like, though the hood on his head didn't help at all. He was carrying a white bundle that Riku couldn't see as well. He could hear the tinkle of beads and chains as well. The man figure thing walked over to the tree where Riku and Sora spent many a day just staring in the sun and deposited the bundle on it.
Riku could barely contain his anticipation. He had never seen anyone clad in this kind of attire before. Why the man would be here in the dead of the night if he didn't want to be seen or his action witnessed, Riku wanted to know. This was the exact thing that he had always been waiting for, something to break the cycle, to shake things up a bit. The cold water and the soaking clothes on his back were of little consequence to Riku. Now he no longer regretted having taken this bet from Sora.
Who was this man?
"A prison like world. Filled with nothing."
The voice coming from the man was not what Riku expected. It was a deep, rumbling bass tone that sent shivers down his spine that he knew did not come from the water now dripping off him. The man exuded an aura of menace that made just being near him an exhausting experience, even after the light swimming Riku had done. This was not a man to be trifled with. This was someone that must be treated carefully or at least avoided.
"What an appropriate place for you."
The man suddenly turned around and Riku had to quickly duck down to hide himself underneath the rock. He tried valiantly to keep his frantic breathing to a stop. He could hear slow, steady pacing that suddenly stopped along with the rustle of clothing and something metal clunk against the air. Riku took a deep breath, like he was about to take a plunge and willed himself to raise his head and peek over once more.
The hooded, cloaked man was now hunched over the bundle he had left behind. Riku could now see feet coming from the white sheet. So that was a person? What was even weirder was that the person lying on the tree, cloaked in white, was raising a giant metal object in the air. The old man in the coat gasped in excitement as the object began emitting a bright light into the sky. "The Keyblade!" he called out.
Key…Blade?
Before Riku could even process the word, the light show was over. The metal key in the person's hands disappeared in a flash of light and the hand went limp once more. The hooded man walked over to the unconscious person and picked him up once more. Riku had to duck down again to avoid being spotted. He heard something shift, something that chilled him to the bones once more. He looked up again but there was no one there anymore. Nothing but the trees and the wind.
The next day, his dad would find him curled up underneath the branch where the key to other worlds had imprinted itself in his mind. Riku never told anyone what he saw, even as he could barely remember the exact details. That was something just for him.
TSTSTSTSTSTS
The shadows were everywhere.
Riku felt a large weight in him disappear as he returned to consciousness. He blinked only to feel small little obstructions on his head. Sand was covering his face and hair. Groaning, he tried to brush them off only to feel wracking pains shoot across his arm. He hissed in pain, clutching his arm with the other one. Soon the pain subsided and Riku felt a certain weariness clamp him in place. Sighing, he decided to just lie there and try to get his wits in shape.
What had happened? His mind tried to reply what had happened before he lost consciousness. For the moment, all he got were flashes of fire and pain. His Keyblade flashed in different intervals in his memories. The blade's grip was so worn into his hands that he could feel the grooves it made just on the palm of his aching right hand. He felt all the energy in him gone, depleted in that final, frantic fight. One final attack involving a gigantic plume of darkness incinerating the rest of those ghouls. The horde of – whatever those things were didn't seem to have an end. No matter how many he sent back to the darkness, two more came to take its place. At that point, he decided to take a leaf from Axel's book and try to buy some time for himself. In retrospect, not a very good idea. Riku tried to smile only to wince in pain.
There was no point in continuing to lie down in this rocky surface wherever he was. He had to get up soon, even if lying down was preferable compared to the pain that would happen should he try to get up. He had better things to do than reminisce and slowly die in this middle of nowhere. Slowly, he tried to hold his head up only for white-hot pain to lance through his veins. He gritted his teeth in response and lifted his head higher, trying to ignore the hideous screaming of his muscles. He tried to prop up his chest by using the elbow and managed to ascend even further.
"Come on," Riku hissed through the pain. "You can do better than this." He tried to make his legs move and succeeded in making his right leg twitch a bit. "I said better than this." He rasped loudly and, with a grunt of effort, he got his leg to move up and point his knee upwards. He sighed, muttering, "That's a start."
He had never felt this wrecked physically in his life. Riku could not feel anything beyond the little explosions of pain that are now littering his entire body. His insides felt like they've been carved up and scrambled nonstop for days. He couldn't see anything, could not open his eyes due to the sudden heaviness of his eyelids. There was a pounding headache currently barreling through his forehead at a rapid pace. He tried to run his temples only for a sudden shock of pain to lance through his right arm again. Thwarted once more, he elected to stay where he was for the moment.
Finally, he took a deep breath. Riku shifted his weight and rolled to his left, over the uninjured arm. Trying not to cry out from the effort, Riku heaved until he found his chest against the rocky ground. He finally opened his eyes and found himself looking at grey rock. Not the best place to take a nap, he thought. He used his left hand to push against the rock. His legs started moving and took grip of the rock as Riku managed to stand up. His knees felt wobbly and rickety but Riku took another deep breath and managed to steady himself. That breath just nearly escaped him once he took in his surroundings.
Well, more like the lack of surroundings. All Riku could see around him were endless, shifting shadows, ebbing and flowing like one gigantic floating sea. There was nothing recognizable he could see in the darkness, only the small, rocky path he was standing on. From time to time, Riku thought he saw glowing yellow eyes peering in through the murk only to disappear once more. The path in front of him stretched on for as far as he could see. He gingerly turned around and suddenly cradled his right hand with the other, surprised by yet another twist of pain. The road behind him was as endless as the one in front of him. There was literally nothing else.
Riku couldn't even say anything. Even the pain was going away, replaced by numbing shock. This wasn't the home that he had depleted all his energy and strength defending. This was just another path in the endless darkness. Was this what happened to the islands? Had it been reduced once more into the dregs of being? No, not with those Heartless wannabes. They wouldn't be able to shred through the heart of a world like a true-born Heartless can. That would mean they were sent there merely to ransack their home, not destroy it utterly. For some reason, that realization made him queasy. He had tried to wipe them all out but clearly there was enough of them to go around. What those red monsters had was strength in numbers and that was the only reason they had managed to overwhelm him.
What was he thinking? Staying back to cover the girls? Was that really necessary? For all he knew, they might have been attacked by more of those creatures as soon as they had left him, making his supposed sacrifice worthless. That was the most idiotically suicidal thing he had done in a while. What, did he think he was just going to wash away all he did by throwing his life away? At least he got lucky. Just a couple dozen bruises and aches, all of his strength and energy gone and now he was stuck in this path in the middle of nowhere. If he had died, what would those other two have to say to him? Knowing Kairi, she'd probably try to resurrect him only to kill him again just so she could say that she did it herself.
No, Riku wouldn't just let his friends not get the opportunity to tear him a new one. Destiny Islands, no matter how ravaged it might be, always survived through the worst the darkness threw at it. If the people in it had kept their wits together, they probably escaped through the gummi ships. He knew they'd be able to escape but that wasn't what concerned Riku the most. He needed to know that Kairi managed to get away, that he wasn't stuck here for nothing. Kairi may pretend to be doing fine but they both know that she wasn't taking this as well as she can. He needed to find a way out of here, to set things right and not let Sora down. Not again.
Ignoring the screaming of his muscles, Riku trudged forward, one foot at a time. The path ahead of him was long and didn't seem to end but Riku continued to move forward, heaving his legs through the pain as best as he can. He held on to his right arm in an attempt to keep it from throbbing. On and on, he walked with only the clack of his footsteps and the eyes for company. He did not concern himself with what could be lurking around here, only on keeping to the path, forcing himself to walk further even as his mind craved rest.
Riku couldn't tell how long he had spent walking. The path didn't seem to have a concrete end and only went on forever. The Realm of Darkness, if that was where he was, stretched on for eternity, as big as it needed to be to match the Realm of Light. He could scour these never-ending stretches of shadows and never find a way out. As much as he hated the parasite of Xehanort's Heartless in his heart, he could deny that the power it gave him had been more than useful in the past. The encoder had cleansed him of all traces from that monster, taking with it some of Riku's own abilities, namely the ability to create a portal through the Corridors of Darkness. Doubtless, it would be more convenient but having discarded the black coat, Riku knew very well the dangers of exposing his heart to the darkness.
So he was alone. Walking down probably one of the many paths through the darkness. Was he fated to wander here alone, without hope of rescue, left as fodder to the Heartless? Would he be trapped here, forever unable to know the ultimate fate of his friends and his home? No, he refused for that to end. Riku gritted his teeth in frustration and walked even harder, his pace quickening as the he got used to the pain. It was barely a hindrance to him anymore. To hell if he was going to let himself mope in the darkness! He had done enough moping to last eternity. Even if he had to fight his way out of here, even in his weakened state, he was more than willing to oblige anyone he got in his way. He will not quietly lay down and admit defeat.
Riku was going to fight on even if it kills him.
You're not him.
Riku whirled around at the sound of the voice behind him. He forced his right hand to rise through the pain and summoned Way to the Dawn with a grunt of pain. Anyone he encountered in this realm was suspect. Any being that could access this dark, inhospitable place could not very well be an ally, unless someone had come for him. Even so, Riku kept his guard up. He could not see anything through the gloom and shadow. All he knew was that the voice came from behind him and it did not sound pleased.
The shadows he was looking at suddenly began to contract and pulse. Riku tried to keep himself together as every sense in his mind told him to run like hell, as far away from here as possible. With a horrible realization, he recognized the scent as the source of undiluted power that had brought him to his knees in the islands. It did not need an ostentatious display of power for Riku could feel it deep within his very bones. He felt a sinking feeling within his stomach. He could very well lose his life right here.
The darkness gathered in one spot as the shadows flowed and formed into a ball of black. Riku kept his Keyblade up, waiting for something to break out. He could not keep his eyes off it. The orb held something malevolent, something eldritch and chaotic that he feared that whenever it comes out, it will overwhelm him. Riku could only hope to survive.
I am not going to die here!
Finally, the orb stopped moving. The shadows comprising it began to slide off like oil, leaking over the rocky path and into the primordial darkness. Slowly, the orb shrank until all that remained was a small, humanoid figure, just as tall as Riku. The darkness over it disappeared in wisps of smoke and what Riku saw was something he did not expect in a million years.
It was a slight, demonic figure. A black and white menace, bleached of all color, what struck Riku was the horrific familiarity of it all. The tight armor it wore was all too familiar. He could almost unconsciously feel the tendrils of darkness creeping over his skin once more and he gritted his teeth, watching the humanoid darkness land on its feet. Every detail, from the torn skirt to the contours of its chest, all of it screamed with the power of darkness. Instead of a face, the monster looked at him behind the pitiless stare of a black helmet, emblazoned by a symbol he did not recognize. He could see no eyes but Riku could feel their pitiless glare.
You are far too weak…..too afraid of the dark….
"What did you say?" Riku shot angrily, eyes fixed on the seal that would serve as the monster's face. Who was this thing to presume all that from him? He had enough "You are weak in the dark!" speeches from the Seeker of Darkness. Did this soldier of the dark think he had anything new that Riku hasn't heard of before? He was just another maniac too full of the darkness to think straight. He might kill Riku here with his weakened state but Riku will just have to make sure he'd do a hard job of it.
You are not the one who awakened me. That person has far more strength than you!
"You don't have anything new," Riku replied with a disappointed sigh. He held up his Keyblade with newfound strength, staring at the black and white monster with disdain. "You're just another wretch that's too drunk in the darkness to think clearly. You're not as special as you think!" He tried to wave his Keyblade at the armored monster and sent a hail of dark fireballs careening towards it.
The Dark Soldier just stood there and took it all, disappearing in a haze of smoke. When it emerged, it looked no worse for wear. Riku gritted his teeth and took a running start towards the Soldier and tried to run it through with the blade. The Soldier merely sidestepped and grabbed Riku's arm, twisting it and making Riku scream in pain, dropping Way to the Dawn. The Soldier kicked the Keyblade away, forcing Riku to drop back to his knees from the sheer pain. He tried to break free from the monster's vice-like grip only to hurt his arm even more.
You do not have the strength to destroy me. Why persist?
"Because I have to." Riku spat out. His left hand began to glow and burn as Riku pressed it against the Soldier's helmet. "And I will!" The palm of his hand exploded as a fireball that Riku conjured detonated upon impact with the Soldier's head. The explosion sent the two of them flying in opposite directions. Riku landed on the ground hard, knocking the wind out of him and making his body explode in excruciating pain. He tried to get up but his body refused, even as he was gasping for breath.
Riku heard the hard footsteps of the Soldier come close to him and tried to get his legs to move. "Come on, get up!" he rasped desperately, willing his body to move. He managed to get on his feet only for the Soldier's hand to grab him by the neck. "No!" He choked out, trying to free himself from the monster's grip with his own hands.
You….you know him!
"What?" Riku tried to speak only for the Soldier to tighten his grip, sealing off any chance of Riku talking.
You will lead me to him. Maybe, along the way, you'll become stronger but I very much doubt that.
Riku could not speak, could not move as the fight in him died out. His vision began to darken and disappear as his strength slowly faded. All he could see was the faceless emblem on the Soldier's helmet, mocking him for his weakness. All too fitting that the one who let his friends down the most would find his end here in the darkness. Finally, all the pain was gone. The only thing left inside him was oblivion.
TSTSTSTSTSTS
KAIRI
Spring was Kairi's favorite time of the year.
There was just no other time in the year where the flowers were in such riotous bloom. The gardens around her home were filled with flowers of different kinds and the gardeners always like to spice things up by adding new kinds ever year. They never paid attention to the little redhead poking through the rows and rows of color and perfume. Kairi wondered every now and then why she was allowed to take whatever flower she wanted but she knew better than to question it. If they don't mind, then she shouldn't mind.
Besides, all these flowers look so pretty that she can't help but have them to herself. There were those yellow ones, those really cool blue ones and oh, those red and black ones were new this year. Kairi couldn't help but coo over them, stroking their shiny petals as she knelt on the dirt. They felt so new, so beautiful. It was almost a shame to take them out of the ground where they belong but Kairi knew she was just bringing them to a better place.
"Don't worry," she whispered conspiringly, like it was a big secret. "It'll only take a few minutes then you can come back home with me. You'll love it there!"Carefully, she wrapped her fingers around the base of the flower. By now, the soil was felt like second nature to her. Slowly, she pried the big, red-and-black flower from the ground, the roots emerging from the ground. Kairi carefully dusted off the soil from her new acquisition and smiled. This would be a great addition to her garden.
Kairi's earliest memories were of flowers. She didn't know how old she was but the first thing she can ever remember was the fragrant smell of those beautiful plants in abundance. She could remember the swirl of colors and hues, the gentle breeze of the wind as they carried over nature's perfume. It was all a blur of color but that was her memory at her most vivid. She never wanted to stop seeing such beauty. All she wanted was to look at the flowers all day and just bask in their perfection. Their garden at home was just the start. Kairi wanted to fill the house with flowers, with color. She didn't want to see all the grey and boring colors. She wanted to see everything else.
She never paid much attention to the town she lived in. Sure, it was nice but what was she comparing it to? She hasn't been anywhere else and will most likely never go anywhere else but why would she want to? She's got everything she could ever want here. It was safe, cozy, all her friends and family were here and all the flowers she could ever want. Why would she need to go anywhere else?
This was her home.
Kairi counted the flowers in her hand. Five new additions today! That was better than yesterday where all she got where those three yellow sunflowers that crinkled up and dried so quickly that Kairi didn't even notice until they're dead which wasn't completely her fault, she was busy watering the other plants so they wouldn't die. Well, this time she won't let these ones die. She doesn't want her garden to be full of brown, ugly plants. Or worse, to recycle them. Sure, her grandma tells her that they go on to do something better but she just can't stand seeing something so beautiful wither and die away. It's just not right!
Seeing as she's taken all the flowers she needed, Kairi decided to head on back home. Instead of walking towards the town, she walked up towards the gigantic castle. For quite some time, she and her grandmother had been staying within the grounds of the huge castle where the important people lived. She didn't know why they couldn't stay in the place where that red-haired woman used to live but her grandma had insisted. Plus, Mr. Ansem was so nice letting them stay in one of the rooms. He even let her have her own garden plot within the grounds where she can plant all sorts of different flowers and plants. Right now, all she got were these flowers she picked up in the public gardens. That big guy, Mr. Aeleus, he promised to help her work on the garden soon. They're gonna help so many plants grow into large rainbows of color. Kairi was getting shivers just imagining the end result.
Living in the castle was quite a change from the pokey cottage she used to live in. Kairi had never seen so much space. She had tried to explore the place and count all the rooms in her first week there and she had gotten lost somewhere in the basement laboratories. If it wasn't for the quiet boy who also lives there, no one would've found her and she'd be stuck there. Kairi was still trying to get used to living in such a large place. She'd already memorized the floor where she lives, the floor reserved for residents. Some places she's not allowed in unless given permission like the studies or the other bedrooms. The grounds though were her dominion. They were just so big and expansive.
She would never get used to living like a royal. When grandma had promised her that she'd get her own room, it was already exciting enough but to find that her room was as big as their old living room. There were servants that acknowledged her and do what she wanted to a certain extent. There were officials and important people always streaming into the front doors, people Kairi would watch from a distance. There were the intricate lifts, designed by Mr. Ansem himself where she spent some afternoons just riding up and down. The entire breadth and scale of the castle was just overwhelming for a young girl like her. Why they deserved to live in such luxury Kairi didn't know yet. She made a mental note to ask her grandma once she finished planting these flowers.
Kairi was so concentrated on her thoughts that she didn't pay attention to where she was going. Suddenly, she collided against something tall and tough. The impact sent her reeling and she fell on her butt as the person she hit grunted in pain. "Ow!" She cried out from the sudden pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry, are you okay?" A male voice softly asked. "I really should have been paying attention." Kairi mumbled something unintelligible as she felt rough hands help her up back to a standing position. "There you go, I hope I didn't ruin that pretty face, did I?"
"No sir." Kairi mumbled, not wanting to look the man in the eye. It had been her fault for accidentally hitting him. She should be paying more attention next time. It was quite rude of her to be just running into people like that! What would Mr. Ansem say? What would her grandma say at such behavior?
Well, she should apologize. That would be the best thing for her to do and save some dignity as well. She swallowed and looked at the man in the eye, gasping a little in recognition. The man was one of Mr. Ansem's students who also live in the castle. He was wearing the lab coats that the others wear. His elaborate silver hair shone in the sunlight, in contrast to his tanned skin. His face was lit up by a small, gentle smile aimed at Kairi, making her insides feel all warm and fuzzy.
"Um, I'm sorry for running in to you, sir." Kairi started timidly. She tried to look into his face only to blush in embarrassment.
"Please, call me Xehanort." The man, Xehanort, said amiably. "No harm done. I wasn't paying attention myself. You're the girl living with us right? What's your name again?"
"Kairi, si- Mr. Xehanort, sir."
Xehanort laughed brusquely at Kairi's small mistake. "We'll have to work on that. Come on; let me take you back to the castle. It's the least I can do."
"Um, okay!" Kairi smiled brightly at the suggestion. She walked with the nice scientist towards the castle. Of all the other scientists and apprentices she had met, Xehanort had been one of the quieter ones, only matched by that other boy. He wasn't as screechy as the old guy or as cold and detached as the other two who keep hanging out near the gate or the really loose, flippant pirate guy who almost always slacks off or looks like slacking off whenever Kairi sees him. Xehanort only keeps to himself, either with his books or with his writing, which is certainly a lot. He also spends a lot of time with Mr. Ansem but Kairi never knows what they talk about since they never tell her what they actually do. Which is just as well since she's not that interested, unlike that other boy.
Actually, Kairi was a bit confused that Mr. Xehanort would be talking to her right now. Since when was he ever interested in her? Grandma always told her to just not get in the way of the students. They're always up to some important experiments or lessons or whatever important adult stuff that she wasn't privy too. Even the quiet boy, which is just weird. Should he be concerned with all that adulty stuff at his age? Kairi couldn't make heard or tails of what they talk about every now and then so how can he? Maybe he's just smarter than her?
But anyway, Mr. Xehanort had been silent on the way towards the castle. Kairi decided not to break the silence and just regarded the flowers in her hand. They were truly beautiful and she hoped she can grow flowers like that someday. Maybe not now, since she's just a little girl but hopefully in the future.
"Yo, Xehanort!" A voice called out behind them. The pair turned to find Braig, the guy with the eye patch, ambling along behind them, waving at the two. "Whatcha doing with the girl?"
Kairi bristled slightly at her not even being named but Xehanort replied coolly, "I was just talking to her. Is that a crime?"
"Just pointing it out." Braig shrugged as he walked past them towards the castle. He stopped and looked at Xehanort in the eye. "Seems a bit early, don't you think?"
"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." Xehanort replied brusquely, all the geniality drained from his voice. It unnerved Kairi to hear these two talk about her in her presence. She wanted to interject but could not find any words.
"Seriously?" Braig shot Kairi a quizzical look as comprehension dawned on his face. "Well, when you stop playing hard to get, maybe we'll talk about it later in the labs when you're done playing with the little ones."
"Actually, I was just about to join you and Even myself." Xehanort said. "I had assumed you'd be too busy horsing around in town annoying the locals."
"As if!" Braig scoffed. "Only ones worth horsing around with are those two poor suckers. Those boys wouldn't know cunning if it walked up to them and gave them a noogie." He laughed at his comment and directed to the castle. "You coming or what?"
"Soon."
"Well then hurry up!' Braig smirked at Kairi and said, "Be a good girl now!" as he suddenly shimmered and disappeared from sight.
"Wow!" Kairi gasped, taken by surprise. "I didn't know Mr. Braig could do that!"
"He's always looking for an excuse to show that off." Xehanort commented dryly. "I'm surprised you haven't seen it." He sighed and rubbed the temple of his head in annoyance. "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to leave you to get to the labs on time. You'll be fine walking on your own?"
"Sure!" Kairi replied. "I'm used to doing that."
"Good. I wouldn't want to cause any concern from you." With that, Xehanort walked briskly, leaving Kairi behind.
Kairi looked on at the retreating figure in wonder. She sure lived with the oddest of people. She kept looking until the figure of Xehanort was just a blot in the distance until she realized that the flowers in her hand were wilting and she ran after him towards the castle.
TSTSTSTSTSTS
"Where are we going?"
It was the third time Kairi had asked the same question after following her hooded captor into the Corridor of Darkness. Naturally, like the last two times, the hooded girl failed to answer. Instead, she just walked on ahead, obviously expecting Kairi to keep up with her demented pace. From the way the girl walks, or rather mildly sprints, she could easily outrun an entire marathon should she get going. Already weary from the previous battle, Kairi had to use her last reserves just to catch up with the girl. It didn't help that she was lugging Destiny's Embrace with her. The Keyblade was still quite light for a hunk of mystical metal but just carrying it for a prolonged time would be wearying.
They were walking down a path. A long, wearying path that didn't seem to have an end. Kairi had never gone down such a path before. The last time she used a portal into the Corridors of Darkness, she had to go through murk and shadow to emerge in any destination. This was altogether more mysterious. For one thing, it was not dark at all. Everything around them was a translucent blue, ever shifting and evolving. They were walking on a green see-through path that stretched on for miles. Kairi could see symbols float in lines around her but they were unrecognizable emblems. She could feel an eerie sense of peace fall on her, a contrast to the clash and frenzy of the home she just left behind.
A home she had barely defended.
Kairi didn't want to burden herself anymore. All she wanted was peace once again. What had happened? Haven't they done enough, suffered through enough hardships? They had gone through lifetimes of pain and misery, not just the three of them but their home and the homes of many out there as well. So much was lost to the darkness that there looked like no hope of anyone recovering. By some miracle, life went on and the worlds were at peace again. Is it so selfish to wish for such things to stay like that just for a bit more? Is it selfish to just want more?
But there was no point in dwelling on that, on the whys and wherefores. Kairi could spend a lifetime jotting up what she wanted and what she didn't want but nothing will change if she didn't make it so. It was foolish, childish even to believe such peace could last. No one could ever truly eradicate the evil that only wants to hoard, consume and destroy all that is good in the world. All anyone could ever hope to do is stem the tides and hope for a better tomorrow. The Organization may be gone, Xehanort's Heartless may finally be erased but Kairi knew that there will always be another tyrant, another madman who would seek to twist reality to his or her whims.
She shouldn't have been so surprised. Whoever was leading the darkness this time, and Kairi had a hunch just who this particular sorceress was, they obviously could not let the home of the fabled Keyblade Wielders unnoticed. Not to mention a Princess of Heart. Kairi realized with a sickening feeling in her stomach that the special nature of her heart will forever make her a target of interest for anyone seeking the power of Kingdom Hearts. Being a Keyblade Wielder as well only piled on the responsibilities and the potential threats. They would forever be hunted down simply because they are potential threats or assets. No matter how Kairi wanted an end to it, she can't change who she was.
And now, because of that, she was now back in the sanctified role of captive. She was yet again a princess that needed saving by a dashing hero. It galled her that she was once again reduced to the role of an object of interest, only fit to be used or rescued. Maybe that's why Sora just left her behind. If all she was good at was being captured and generally being a liability to him, then he was fully justified in leaving her behind for her own good. She wouldn't want to get in his way anymore than she had already done so in the past.
But they had overestimated the nerve of the enemy this time. Why did they think that home was enough to protect them? Did they assume that the endless ocean would be enough to deter the darkness? That didn't stop them the first time. Why should they stop now? They certainly won't think that mere water would be a barrier to them. Sora thought he was leaving her in good hands when in actuality they had just capitalized on his absence and had attacked with swift prejudice. Even Riku was overwhelmed though Kairi couldn't blame him.
Kairi suddenly stopped still. Why had she not thought about Riku? Why had she been content to moan about her lot in life when her friend could be dead right now? She didn't know what had happened with that plume of dark fire or what had caused it. Things must have degenerated to the point where Riku was forced to use such power. Why had she succumbed so easily to this hooded girl's intimidation? She should have fought more! She shouldn't have just easily given up! While she was stuck here with this unknown captor of hers, her friend could be dying out there or worse.
The hooded girl stopped walking and looked back at the shell-shocked Kairi. "What's wrong now?" She asked. Her monotone voice jolted Kairi back to reality. She let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding in. Kairi felt her body shake and she clutched herself to try and stem it, dropping Destiny's Embrace in the process. Everything around her felt numb and muted. She could not hear or feel anything beyond the frantic beating of her heart. Her mind was blank, wiped clean of all except for her last vision of Riku's smile, or Sora's reassurance. Kairi just froze.
Suddenly, a fist connected against her face.
The force of the blow reconnected Kairi with reality. "Ow!" She yelled in pain, feeling the side of her cheek. "What was that for?"
"For ruining our pace." The hooded girl replied calmly, rubbing her gloved hand. "I don't need you slowing us down when we've barely covered enough ground."
"Why are you in a rush?" Kairi said, still rubbing her face gingerly. She stood up hesitantly before scooping up her Keyblade from the ground. "Is your boss going to penalize you if you don't deliver me to her on time?"
"What are you saying?" For once, Kairi caught a tiny hint of emotion in the girl's voice. Unfortunately, it was one of annoyance. The mysterious girl sighed and asked, "Where do you think I'm taking you?"
"To your boss Maleficent, of course."
"As if," The girl said coldly. Kairi was taken aback by the sudden hostility. "I have different orders."
"Well if you're not going to take me to Maleficent, then where are you taking me?"
"As far away from her as possible." The girl turned her back to Kairi and continued. "I am to hide you from her until the time is right. Now are you going to come along or are we going to waste more time with your questions, princess?"
That did it. Kairi was tired. She was exhausted, cold, frightened and alone but most of all, Kairi was at the end of her patience. She had it with this mysterious girl hiding away in the shadows of her hood and her oh-so mysterious 'orders'. She had had it with the whole bloody lot of them. Why do they think she doesn't deserve answers? Why can't they justs top treating her like the princess she never wanted to be?
"No." Kairi answered, fear giving away to anger. "No, I'm not going to just accept that. How can you think I can trust you if you don't trust me the same way? What makes you think I'm just going to follow you around and believe all that you say if you won't even allow me to know anything?"
"I don't have to answer that." The girl tried to edge away but Kairi grabbed on to her by her sleeve and glared at her. "What do you want?"
"A reason to trust you." Kairi said. "You come into my home, attack me and kidnap me away from my friends and family and now you're saying you're working for the good guys? I'm not prepared to just trust you like that."
"Well what do you want from me?" The girl was now quiet. Her head was bowed down, almost ashamed though Kairi couldn't see what she should be ashamed for. "What reason could I possibly give you that would make you trust me?"
Kairi became silent. She never expected this, to be honest. She had expected to be brought to Maleficent wherein she will expense in the usual declarative threats while Kairi will rot in a cell yet again, waiting for someone to save her. Now this mystery girl is claiming to be helping her all along? No, Kairi can't just accept that. This hooded nonentity may be her only way out of this twilight realm but Kairi can't possibly imagining cooperating with her just for that.
"A name."
The hooded girl visibly recoiled just at the mention of the word. "That won't work." She said flatly. "I don't have one."
"That can't be right." Kairi scoffed. There was no point arguing that. "Okay, your face then."
"What makes you think seeing my face would make you trust me more?"
"I'd rather see someone's eyes than see them hidden underneath a hood." Kairi let go of the girl's sleeve and crossed her arms and stared defiantly at the hooded girl. A long pause emerged between the two of them. Kairi thought the girl was having a massive internal debate raging in her mind. If only she could see her face! Kairi had always thought herself to be good at reading people through their body language, even more so with their faces. Their faces were like peepholes into their minds, showing just enough to gauge what kind of person they are. Some, Sora especially, have windows where they just throw open their personalities and let others deal with it. Others, like Riku, would put on a facade and not show his insecurities until it was too late.
Finally, the girl reached up and held on to the edges of her hood in a death grip. Slowly, she pulled her hood down, the darkness fading away from her face. Kairi saw short, pixie-length black hair framing a young, heart-shaped face. Striking amber eyes looked at her with apprehension and suspicion. In the back of Kairi's mind, she registered how young this girl actually was, even if she hadn't noticed that she barely came up to Kairi's height. However, what struck Kairi the most was how familiar this girl was. It was like looking into a mirror and seeing her past self. In fact, this girl looked too much like Kairi to be a complete coincidence. There were differences, deliberate errors that seem to have been made to differentiate the two of them, like the raven hair and the eerie yellow eyes.
"Happy?" The girl had turned around now, as if ashamed of anyone seeing her face. "We've wasted enough time as it is. We need to keep moving if we want to put more space between us and them." And without further ado, she began walking again in that same damnable pace she had been walking in since the beginning.
Kairi sighed and jogged just to catch up. At least it was a start. Still, there is no possible way her likeness was a complete coincidence. Who was this girl? And why is she helping her? Kairi very much doubted she'd be getting those answers anytime soon. But she could still try, at the very least.
She wasn't going to give up. Not now.
TSTSTSTSTSTS
SORA
Who am I?
He's leaving you behind
I'm me! Nobody else!
You've been hanging around in the darkness too long
Just…put an end to me
Gone forever
My Keyblade is not a sham!
It happens to all of us when we're scared.
Someone's gotta break that loser in
Nothing really matters anymore
I've decided I have to go back
to where I belong
There's a light that never goes out!
So is this all for your friends' sake?
I feel like I'm forgetting something important.
My friends are my power
And I'm theirs!
TSTSTSTSTSTS
Sora woke up in a cold sweat.
More dreams. More nonsense sentences. When were these going to end? When will he get answers? Sora tried to rub out the confusion throbbing in his head only to awaken a horrific headache. He groaned and tried to get up only to meet some resistance. He found that he was covered with a heavy blanket and, with a weary sigh, pulled the blanket off before standing up on unsteady legs.
Sora couldn't see anything well. All he could tell is that he was in a darkened room and the blinds were closed shut. He tried to orient his senses only for his vision to suddenly blur. "Whoah." He murmured, trying to grope blindly for the exit. He succeeded only in bumping his nose against the wall several times. Finally, after several more seconds of flailing, Sora's fingers managed to find a light switch. Without hesitation, he flipped it on only to suddenly regret it as the light blared from all sides, blinding him.
"Ack!" Sora had to cover his eyes before he got used to the light. Finally, the bright whiteness of it all receded and Sora got a good look at his surroundings. It looked like a particularly small and pokey inn room. The walls and floor were all paneled wood. There was a closet and a door that presumably lead to the bathroom. It wasn't terribly fancy but it wasn't half bad either. Sora also noticed that someone had clad him in some rather embarrassing blue pajamas adorned with pictures of moogles. Not wanting to think about who could've dressed him while he was asleep, Sora ambled over to the closet and found the clothes Flora, Fauna and Merryweather had given to him neatly folded on the bottom. Quickly, he changed back into his adventuring clothes, leaving the jammies in the closet.
Now, where was he?
The King had mentioned heading for Radiant Garden, which was a logical choice. Where else could the denizens of Disney castle relocate for the moment? Twilight Town was a bit too small and out of the way. Traverse Town no longer existed since the worlds were restored back to their original forms. Only the still-recovering world of Radiant Garden would be big enough to house a destroyed world's denizens until they can find a way home. But Sora had no clue as to where he was at the moment. His friends couldn't have just left him in some random place now, could they? They probably just figured he needed a rest from the battle they had left.
Again, Sora felt the world sway round him. He steadied himself and sat down at the foot of the bed, clutching his forehead at the now subsiding headache. Man, he felt tired. He wanted to just sink back on the nice comfy bed for another day or so. The past few days have been nothing but sleepless nights punctuated by endless looping dreams that don't make sense. And yesterday…..
Sora could still feel the adrenaline of battle coursing through his veins. Yesterday had been a slog, a seemingly never-ending parade of madness. There were times, whether on the wall or running for his life in the corridors or even earlier on, trapped within the Hall of the Cornerstone that Sora believed there would be no end to this. The war that had happened here in Radiant Garden seemed like child's play compared to the madness in the castle. Here, they were backed up by friends and allies, fighting together in a common cause against a force of evil. They were brought together and fought together, side-by-side.
The sheer hopelessness of Disney Castle had been quite different. There, it felt like they were being swept back, defeated and there was nothing they could do to stop it. Defeat was something Sora seldom experienced but those experiences were soul crushing and were often the worst moments of his life. This was just another to add to the pile. Being in the middle of an event yet being unable to change anything of it was the worst he had ever felt. He had remembered the destruction of his home, seeing Kairi's lifeless shell of a body, the cruel taunting of the Organization; all of it was stabs in his heart.
He'd have to do better than that. He'd have to be stronger than before if they were to outlast this storm. The enemy had never been known to play fair but this was different. This time there was no holding back. They had regrouped, stronger than before and Sora knew they would have to match up to that strength if they have any chance of surviving. Maleficent sure had been busy this past year. What had they been doing? Lounging around, preparing for nothing while their enemy just grows in strength? They should have realized that just because they defeated one or two or a couple of tyrants don't mean they would be no more. There's always one more and they will never be able to fully eradicate evil. All they can do is fight back one battle after another.
Sora sighed wistfully and flopped back on the bed. "Wish you were here guys." He murmured, thinking of his home's warm sun, of the gentle waves, the laughter of the people and Kairi's smile. He hoped they were still safe in the islands. They didn't deserve to be dragged back here into chaos and possible death. They deserve to have a little bit more peace to themselves, even just a little bit. They don't need any more nonsense like this in their lives, especially Kairi. Sora would do anything to keep them safe and sound back in the islands, even if it kills him.
Still, he wished he was with them right now.
So much fighting.
Sora stood up in an instant at the sound of the voice, the Kingdom Key appearing into his hand. "Who's there?" He called out.
Aren't you tired of it all? Tired of the all the endless battles?
Show yourself!" Sora shouted in frustration. The tip of the Kingdom Key began to glow in power as if to threaten the shadows mocking him. Was he finally going mad? No, the voice was too real, too eerie, and too familiar. Sora felt like he was trapped in a bad dream that he couldn't escape. He was getting sick and tired and all of this was just too much.
I see. Even now you still understand nothing
Sora actually laughed in disbelief once he heard that statement. "Don't think I don't know what this is about." He replied calmly, letting his Keyblade disappear. He couldn't tell who the voice was but it couldn't very well be who he was thinking about. The man was dead, both halves of him. Sora had seen the two die with his own eyes. This was just some trick to push him over the edge. If this is the best Maleficent could, then her imagination was severely lacking.
"You think you can psyche me out with a bunch of mysterious phrases and random words," Sora said, his frustration bleeding away to his normal, defiant self. "But that's nothing new. Why don't you try something original for once?"
The voice actually chuckled in deep, menacing tones. As you wish, Keyblade Wielder. But make no mistake, the coming war will not be kind to you. The worlds have seen so much chaos that it is fast becoming the way of life. This upcoming struggle may very well be the worst but will the people pay attention?
"I disagree." Sora said. "I think most people just want to be in peace."
We shall see then, Keyblade Master.
"I hope so."
Sora suddenly heard the pounding of footsteps from outside the door. A young woman clad in black burst into the room, her hands coiled into fists. "Sora, you okay?"
"Tifa!" Sora cried out in surprise. The two hugged briefly before pulling away. "What are you doing here?"
"This is where I live." Tifa replied. "No one was using the guest room so I offered it to the King for you to rest in."
"Wait, this is your house?" Sora asked. After Tifa nodded an affirmative, Sora asked again. "So where's the King? And Donald and Goofy?"
"They're downstairs, waiting for you." Tifa's face became concerned at seeing Sora's somewhat haggard state. "Will you be fine? You can keep resting if you want to. The meeting can wait."
"No, I'm done resting." Sora replied. "Lead the way."
Tifa gave him a concerned look and walked out of the door. Just as he was about to follow her, Sora stopped and stared back into the room. That sense of foreboding the voice had carried with it had never left him in its disappearance. Sora felt dread wash over his body, sending shivers down his spine. Was he right to disregard what the voice had warned him? He can't continue to spit in the face of danger and doom. This was war now and they can't afford to be flippant.
All he can do is strive and survive.
Bleh.
Poor Sora got the short stick in terms of characterization and all that is my fault. I just wanted to finish this chapter before school rears it's ugly head tomorrow.
Oh yeah.
I know I've not exactly been regular when it comes to updates but expect them to get even more sporadic now that schooltiem is back, oh joy. So don't expect an update real soon.
Anyway, please leave your thoughts as always.
EDIT GET: Replaced Destiny's Place with the English translation, Destiny's Embrace. I'm anal about detail like that.