Author's Notes: Some of the terms you'll see in this next chapter will be very unfamiliar to you. They'll rarely show up again, and when they do, they'll be explained, as other characters go 'Uh...what?'. But otherwise...yay for information in this chapter! 8] Reviews are loved and appreciated!

Disclaimer: -coughs- Kingdom Hearts and The World Ends With You belong to Square Enix. Gundam Wing belongs to Sunrise and Sotsu and Bandai. xxxHolic is owned by CLAMP. Shadows of Africa belongs to Winterfalcon and Mila Farrel of Gaia Online. The Lion King belongs to Disney. Original characters belong to myself, LadyNyoko, novastrike, Isritial, and Grif Rainchild.

royaume coeur: déteignant étoile

By KaidaPoi

Chapter Three: The Key

He'd failed. As a Tarenai, he had failed his pride. The shadow-creatures had overrun them all, despite the fact the Aikanaro'hini was full of fighters. He'd returned from his self-imposed exile too late, and his pride had fallen. Even his mother and father. He'd seen them go under fighting.

And now there was nothing but darkness. His tail had gone numb long ago, and everything else felt STRANGE. His ears weren't right, his paws weren't right, and it felt like his very fur was melting away. Suddenly, the darkness became wet, and then just...broke. He was lying on grass, his sensitive nose and ears assaulted by strange scents and sounds, and rain pounded against his bare skin. Skin? He hadn't had a bare patch of skin save for his scars in seasons! He shivered as he realized it was cold. Two odd, almost ape-like scents approached him, and he opened his eyes ready to fend off the intruders to his space.

The shorter of the two knelt down just out of striking range and held her hand out. "My name is Kaida Moore. Welcome to Refuge." He frowned, and if he'd had fur still, his hackles would have been raised. As it was, he rolled onto his belly and pushed himself onto his...paws? His front paws were strange, looking more like an ape's. And his front legs were shorter than his back, causing him to wobble as he tried figuring out how to rectify the problem. The taller of the two moved over to him, and helped him to stand on his back legs before moving away quickly. The female was lucky...he'd been about to lash out at her. She had no right to touch him!

However, standing like they did was...awkward. He was so used to having four paws to walk on, perfectly balanced and perfectly smart. He wobbled a bit again then steadied himself. He needed to get used to this. Quick. He looked to the female who had helped him stand. She had a look on her face that was both...serious and sympathetic.

"For you to arrive as you have, you must have lost everything." She looked back towards the...odd structure behind her, where two young females waited out of the rain. "Maru, Moro, bring another yukata out. Nothing girly." The two ran into the structure. The young man frowned.

"Who are you?" The words were natural on his tongue...but sounded strange in his ears. They weren't in his natural language. The woman motioned for him to follow her, out of the pouring rain. He did as motioned, simply to avoid becoming even wetter. Already the fur left on top of his head was drenched and his bare skin slicked with water. The shorter of the two females followed after him, conversing quietly with something he could not see. Did she have a demon as well? The taller female looked to him again once they were out of the rain.

"I am Yuuko Ichihara, owner of this shop." She motioned to the structure they'd taken shelter in. "I am known by many as the Time-Space Witch, and I am a granter of wishes." He snorted.

"Then I wish to go home." She sighed and shook her head.

"That is a wish I cannot grant. As I said...you had to have lost everything to end up here. That includes your world." He turned his gaze away from her, growling slightly. He did not need the sympathy in her voice or eyes.

"The best we can do is try to make you comfortable here." The shorter female, Kaida, had spoken. There was no sympathy in her voice...but there was understanding of a sort. "I lost my world too." The two young ones came over to them, carrying an odd pelt with them. At least the color was nice...the same midnight-blue his fur had been. Yuuko smiled slightly.

"If you'd let Maru and Moro help you put it on, it will go faster. Then we can sit and talk. There is much we must discuss, Nyota'angavu." He started as the two younglings began helping him put the false pelt on. He'd never said his name. Was she like the Ele'aine and Ele'aina of the pride, able to See things? Kaida seemed used to it, and smiled slightly at him.

"Yuuko tends to just know things. It's best not to think about how she does." Once he was wrapped in the fake pelt, he was led into another part of the structure...a 'shop', Yuuko had called it. Kaida showed him how to sit in his current form, and Yuuko sat as well, though in a different fashion. Nyota was on edge, uncertain and on guard. For all he knew, this was all some elaborate trap. He looked towards the entrance of the area as a loud, male voice called out. Soon after, he heard a quiet female voice, and the owners of the voices looked into the area. He narrowed his eyes at the male with deep brown head-fur that was far too long. He moved like a Qateth. And the girl next to him...there was something very strange in her nearly-silver eyes, despite the fact she looked like he could break her.

"And thus two more of our players show up. Sit." Yuuko's voice held both amusement and a commanding tone to it. The two newcomers did as told, the delicate looking female taking a seat next to Nyota and the tall male sitting next to Kaida. Nyota scoot a bit away from the delicate female, feeling very uncomfortable around her. She looked to him a few seconds, a little offended, then looked back to Yuuko. "I am Yuuko Ichihara. The four of you are Kaida Moore, Duo Maxwell, Nyota'angavu, and Alais Kibou." She nodded to each in turn. The delicate female seemed startled Yuuko knew her name. Nyota couldn't help but smirk. Nice to know he wasn't alone. "Kaida, will you explain the situation to the newcomers?" Nyota saw pain flicker in Kaida's eyes, but she nodded.

"Of course." She took a deep breath. "Almost a year ago, worlds started getting attacked by creatures called Dépit. No one is entirely sure what they are, but they are deadly and have destroyed more than a few worlds. For some reason, this world has attracted the survivors of the various worlds, and has become a refuge for them...thus the name we call it. About six months ago, the Dépit started attacking this world too. Not in the numbers they'd send to other worlds. It's more like they're testing this place...looking for something." Yuuko took over.

"There is a way to turn the tide of this war. Right now, as it stands, it is only a matter of time before this world falls as well. However, there is a weapon that resides within a rather...unique individual. You could call this weapon-"

"A key." Alais had spoken, her eyes wide. "I've dreamt this. And about the key. A bright light within a darkness." Nyota scoot a little further from her. So she was a seer. Seers always put him a little on edge, despite his respect for them. He didn't like others prying into his past or future. Yuuko laughed, nodding.

"Quite right. And the one who holds this key...is Nyota'angavu." THAT caused Nyota to just stare at the tall female.

"I what?" If this was a joke, he was most certainly NOT amused.