Finally! Chapter 3 is up and ready for action! Thanks to all my reviewers, I really appreciate it.

Chapter 3

(Riku POV)

Sora stepped forward, opening the doors. A bright light spilled from them, dazzling us all. I felt Jessica press her face into my chest to hide her eyes and I placed an arm protectively around her, my other arm shielding my eyes from that blinding light. After spending so much time in the darkness, investing all my energy into getting stronger so that I could again, I had turned away from the light.

"Come on Riku! Jessica! Let's do this!" I heard Sora yell. The light hadn't faded and squinting against it I saw everyone - Sora, Donald, Goofy, Kairi, and the King - run into it, fearless. I hesitated, bitting my lower lip. Could I do this? Could I stand the light, after all the darkness I had been through and embraced with open arms for so long? I felt Jessica leave my side, rushing forward after them, stopping right on the brink of the door and the light beyond it. The light fell against her, illuminating her face. She looked happy but determined in her own special way I couldn't decribe. She held out a hand to me, beckoning for me to go to her and take it in mine, to take her hand so she could lead me through that light I feared above all else.

"Riku, it's okay. You can do this Riku, I know you can. You're so much stronger now than I ever could dream of being in my life. And I'll go with you this time, you don't have to go through this door alone, not this time." She said softly, but I hung on every word that fell from her lips, drinking them in like a sunflower would a sweet summer rain after a drought. I knew we had to hurry, that Sora and the others needed our help in this battle against the twilight, but somehow all I could do was stare at her, my angel.

I finally nodded, taking her hand. She smiled at me, squeezing my hand gently before we ran head first into that light, together. The light cleared before us, and we saw we where in a strange city. The other were grouped in front of us, looking around. The ground began to shake and I stumbled, almost knocking Jessica to the ground.

"Run quickly, back through the doors before it's too late!" I yelled, pushing Jessica toward them. We ran back to the doors in a panic, an other earthquake sending me sprawling to the ground. Sora helped me to my feet as we continued to run back for the doors. Sora, Donald, Goofy and I were a little bit behind the others seeing as I had held them up when I had fallen. Kairi, Jessica, and the King made it through the door as they began to shut. Jessica turned as the closed to look at me, throwing herself against them as they shut tight, calling out my name.

"Come on guys, we can take Xemnas on our own!" Sora shouted, running forward, keyblade in hand. I nodded, ready to fight. At least Jessica's safe with the King and Kairi, I though happily, cathcing up with Sora and the others as we rushed into battle.

(End POV)

(Jessica POV)

"Run quickly, back through the doors before it's too late!" Riku yelled, pushing me in the small of the back. I stumbled, nearly falling on my face but Riku grabbed my arm, continuing to push me back towards the doors. I ran forward, thinking he was rght behind me still. I sighed as the doors began to close, seeing as we had all made it through in time, but then Kairi yelled and pointed back through the door behind me over my sholder, so I turned to look. My heart fell, plummetting down in a spiral through the void inside me. Riku and the others weren't going to make it in time. Running back to the doors I fell against them after they had already closed and it was too late, crying out Riku's name.

"What do we do now?" Kairi asked, her voice rembling slightly. I looked back at her, confused. The Kairi I knew back from the islands was never scared and she certainly never asked anyone else what to do.

"We need to get off this tower for a start. This isn't a very defencible position. The King said quickly, running for the stairs, Kairi following her, but I didn't budge.

"Jessica, what's wrong?" Kairi asked me, taking my arm to pull me behind her as she used to. Back on the island when we were children, she had led me everywhere when I wasn't already being dragged around after Riku on one of his adventures, and I never stopped her because she was stronger than me. The only difference was, that I was the stronger one now. I pulled my arm out of her grip as hot tears welled up behind my eyes. "Come on! The King said -"

"I heard him Kairi, I'm not going. You go on without me." I said, cutting across her. She looked taken aback, and I smiled gently. "Go on, the King's not going to wait forever. I'll stay and wait for the others on my own."

"But why?' The King asked, angry with me for questioning his judgement. "We aren't safe here!"

"Then take Kairi and go, my minds made up though your Highness and you can't change that. I'm waiting here for Riku." I said, sitting down on the edge of the railing that ran around the top of the tower. "I just got him back your Highness, I'm not about to waste one minute I could be spending with him again."

"I understand what you mean." Kairi said slowly, plopping down next to me and taking my hand in both of hers. "I feel the same way about my Sora. You're right."

"Are you staying here then too?" The King asked, groaning when Kairi nodded. "I guess I better stay with you then to protect you until they get back."

"No, you two should go where it's safe, I'll be fine on my own." I said. I pleaded with them, but they shook their heads deafly. Their minds were made up as well it seemed.

"i'm staying with you, my best friend." Kairi said sweetly, patting my hand. I realized then just how much I had missed her when she had gone back to the island without me and Sora. She had been like a sister to me, and I had lost her. I blinked furiously, fighting with the tears that had sprung up suddenly in my eyes. "Go ahead and cry Jessica, I am already." I looked up into her face, smiling at the tears that were falling thick and fast down her face. These are happy tears, I smiled, tears of my own finally falling down my face. It's okay for these tears to come out.

"Look the doors!" The king shouted suddenly, pointing. There was no need for the yelling or to point, as soon as the doors had budged me and Kairi had both looked around, hoping to see the ones we loved. Sora, Donald, and Goofy staggered out, exhausted but looking pleased. I paniced when I didn't see Riku with them at first, but he came soon after, struggling to shut the doors behind him. I ran to him to help, and together we shut the doors.

When it was closed, Riku practically collapsed on me, slumping forwards to lean against me, breathing heavily. He closed his eyes, his long silver hair falling in front of his face as he shook. I wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling his towards me. He smiled at me, but his eyes stayed closed.

"Riku, what's wrong?" I asked, still examining his face. His eyes opened to look down into mine. "Well?"

"I'm fine darling, just a little tired." Riku said as we walked back to the others where they stood celebrating. "I'll be fine once I get some rest."

"You can rest all you want, once we go home." I said happily, skipping back to the others. I felt Riku pull aways as I said 'home' but then Kairi pulled me into a tight hug before I could look around at Riku. Something was wrong with him, I could tell.

(End POV)

(Riku POV)

Home. My angel of light had said 'once we go home.' It was terrifying and thrilling all at once in a way. Home was the only other thing I had wanted besides finding my sweet love again. And yet the thought of Destiny Islands terrified me. How could I go back? How could everything go back to the way it was before I had let the darkness inside me? I had given up my home, castinf it aside n my quest for power. My home, my friends, even the only one I had ever loved - Jessica. I pushed her aside in my thirst for the darkness that had slowy consumed me until there had been nothing left. Nothing left but the light Jessica had imparted in my heart. Jessica was my light, but could even her bright light overcome the darkness inside of me?

"Riku, what's going on?" Sora asked quietly, staring up into my face. He was still so innocent, after all he had been through in search of Kairi, he was still the same old Sora, concerned about a friend he cared about.

"What's worng, do you really have to ask? How am I gonna face everyone Sora? I gave in to the darkness, after all I've done." I said, finally snapping, giving in to the mixed emotions bottled up inside of me. He looked shocked to see me like this, to hear me snap at him for the first time ever in his life. I looked instead at Jessica where she stood with Kairi, smiling broadly. "How can I ever face her?"

"Like this!" Sora said, pullinf one of his hillarious faces. I couldn;t help but laugh at him, he looked like the biggest dork. He smiled, nodding his head. "That'll work for everyond back o the island. As far as Jessica's concerned, you don't have to worry."

"Why not?" I asked, confused. Sora just continued to smile up at me, explaining in a low whisper.

"She loves you Riku, she really does. Just like I love Kairi." Sora said simply, punching he in the sholder weakly. "That's not going to change just because you made a few mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time that we wished we could undo. She still loves you, even after all the chaos and drama. Stop worrying about her and start being thankful already! Go show her you love her!"

"Maybe you're right Sora." I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks."

"Wait a minute! How are we going to get out of here?" Donald shouted above everyone. We all looked around at each other, unsure of what to say.

"I know, I'll create a portal." I said, raising my hand in from of me, palm running up and down in front of my face. Nothing happened. I dropped my hand, confused. "I can't do it anymore, what happened?"

"I think I get it!" The King said. stepping forward. "Your darkness has left you Riku. You don't belong to the darkness anymore Riku, you're free."

"No." I said simply, turning to Jessica instead. I picked her up, one hand under her knees, the other behind her back holding her up tenderly so she could lay her head on my chest, and she did, wrapping her arms around my torso. "I belong to something much more beautiful and kind. I never want to be free from it."

"Oh don't worry about that Riku." Jessica said, running a single finger down the side of my face tenderly, a trail of fire left where ever she touched me. "I'll never let you go again."

"Good." I smiled, kissing her all the way down the right side of her face until I got to her mouth, kissing her there as I had wished for so long. I had longed for her, to hold her tightly in my amrs and feel her hold me just as tighly back, to feel her beautifully soft lips under mine, to feel her arms around my neck pulling me closer to her than I had ever imaged I could be or that she would want me to be. All my dearest wishes had been fufilled by this glorious angel I had pressed against my chest, still supporting her, holding her above the ground.

She wasn't going to let me have everything my way though, her hands slipping from around my neck. I growled my dissapointment into her mouth. Her hands slid up my neck and into my hair as she grabbed handfulls of it, pulling my head farther down to hers. I moaned into her again, kissing her harder. A moment later she pulled away, breathing hard, laying her head back on my chest as my head spun. I smiled at her, setting her back down on her feet. I laughed to my self when she swayed, knees still weak from my kiss.

"Hey look! A portal!" Kairi shouted, pointing to the other side of the tower away from us. We ran to it, stopping in front of it. A blonde girl appeared, smiling at us. "Hurry on through you guys before it shuts. Thank you Namine."

Jessica and I watched as Namine, Sora, Kairi, and Roxas talked, the two nobodys eventually dissapearing back into their original selves. I could tell Jessica was confused, but there was no time for questions. I took her hand in mine, swearing to myself that this time I would go with her, even if it led to the ends of the earth. She wasn't going to be alone ever again, not if I could help it. We never got throught the portal though. It closed right behind Kairi, shutting out Sora, Jessica, and me. We stood there on top of the tower, unsure what we could do or how we could ever get home now. We all shot forward suddenly, falling to the ground as the tower shook violently. The tower was collapsing beneath us, and there was nothing we could do. As the tower tipped on one side, I saw my oppertunity, there by the base of the tower was a flyer, a platform attached to one side. I jumped off the tumbling tower, Sora shouting after me, Jessica screaming in fear as I fell. Graabing the handles of the bike as I fell passed it, I swung myself onto the bike, speeding back towhere the others were still fighting to stop themselves from falling. Sora jumped a once, landing on the platform so Jessica could slid on behing me. But she didn't jump.

There you are, chapter 3 is done for. What will happen to Jessica? Find out n chapter 4! Coming soon