The ship sailed smoothly over the water. Near the horizon, Chiaki could see an island. The first island was covered in lush jungle trees and one giant jungle tree in the center that stood above all the other tress.
"We're going to try that island first, if that's okay" Hajime said.
"That's fine" Chiaki said in her usual slow robotic voice.
"I'm sure we'll find a piece of your heart there" Hajime said.
...
The two docked on the island beach and hopped off. Chiaki looked at the foreboding jungle and the crystal blue water. When she felt the sand it felt so soft yet rough at the same time.
"Are you ready?" Hajime asked.
"Yes" Chiaki said.
The two walked into the jungle to find it was surprisingly quiet. Everywhere they looked, they couldn't find a single animal or insect.
"That's odd" Hajime said," usually the jungle is supposed to be full of sound".
"Why would it have sound?" Chiaki asked.
"Because the exotic birds that live here are always making sounds to communicate with each other" Hajime explained.
"I didn't know that" Chiaki said.
"I wonder if your heart fragment would be somewhere significant like that giant tree" Hajime said.
Chiaki nodded.
"Then let's head towards it" Hajime said.
...
Together the two walked until Chiaki heard a rustle in the trees above. She looked up, but nothing was there. When she looked back ahead she saw a person standing in the way. Not just any person either, it was Nanami. Chiaki turned to Hajime to see his face full of shock.
"There you are" Nanami smiled," I've been looking all over for you, Hajime".
Despite the illogicalness of nanamis appearance before her nobody, Hajime didn't appear to be questioning her presence.
"Nanami, is that really you?" Hajime asked.
"Yes" Nanami said," come closer and see for yourself".
Hajime obeyed nanamis command without a second of hesitation.
"Nanami I'm so glad you're here" Hajime said.
As Hajime walked closer to Nanami, Chiaki noticed something peculiar. Nanami, despite her physical presence, didn't have a shadow. Following this observation, Chiaki realized the trap. The second after her realization, Hajime had reached Nanami. From the above trees, a reptilian tongue shot out and hit Hajime in the chest. When the tongue tried to pull back Hajime dreamed in agony.
"It's trying to steal my heart" Hajime managed to say before his heart was ripped out.
Chiaki watched until she felt something in her right hand. She looked down to see she had a rose quartz keyblade. Without hesitation or thought, Chiaki raced towards the tongue and sliced it off with her keyblade. Hajimes heart escaped, but could not return to his body thanks to Izuru taking over.
"It seems we have found the cause of the jungles silence" Izuru said.
Following Izurus statement, Nanami disappeared and a giant beast fell down from the above tree branches. The beast was a giant monotone chameleon with a rainbow tail. Its face was hidden behind a black mask and it had a black heart symbol on its chest.
"This is a hopeless, born from the despair in someones heart" Izuru said," if it continues to exists, it will seek out and steal more hearts".
This beast was clearly a threat, so Chiaki had no choice, but to fight it. Fortunately, her body had remembered and held onto nanamis keyblade skills. Chiaki watched as the chameleon swept the dirt up from the ground, with its tail, creating a dust cloud. When the dust settled, the chameleon hopeless was gone. Chiaki looked around until she saw a large shadow on the ground. She recognized it was the chameleon hopeless and proceed to hit the area above the shadow. When her keyblade hit something it revealed the invisible chameleon. Chiaki continued hitting it until it fainted. Then chiakis keyblade glowed and moved towards the chameleons heart emblem. A beam of light shot out and shined onto the heart emblem causing the chameleon to become paralyzed. Static surrounded the hopelesses body before bursting into a cloud of black smoke. From the smoke rose several hearts the hopeless had stolen. One particular heart floated towards Chiaki before entering her keyblade.
"A heart that hides its true face into order to be loved was bound to fall to despair" Izuru said," was its true self really that bad?"
Chiaki looked down at her keyblade. Then the two walked to the giant tree followed by Hajimes heart.
...
When they walked to the giant trees base, they found a small shrine carved into the trees giant trunk. On the shrine pedestal was a fragment of nanamis heart. For a fragment, it glowed softly brighter than the any other heart chiaki had seen. Chiaki stepped forward causing the heart fragment to float back to its original body. When the heart fragment entered her chest, Chiaki felt a fuzzy warmth. Following the fragments entry, Chiaki was overcome with sleepiness before passing out.
...
"Mom when can I go see the other worlds?"
'Maybe when you're older'
"But why not now?"
'Because you are still too young and inexperienced'
" okay"
'I know, why don't you see if you can get me a piece of fruit from one of the trees in the garden'
"But they're so tall"
'I'm sure you'll find a way to get them'
"Alright, I'll do it"
'That's my girl'
...
When chiaki woke up, she was back on the boat. She looked over to see Hajime steering the boat.
"Hajime?" Chiaki asked.
"Oh Chiaki you're awake" Hajime said," how are you feeling?"
"Confident" Chiaki said
"That's great" Hajime smiled," thanks for saving my heart"
"Of course" Chiaki said.
"I'll stop the boat for now so we can eat" Hajime said.
"Is there any sea salt icecream?" Chiaki asked.
"Sorry, but I don't" Hajime said," is curry okay?"
"Yes" Chiaki agreed.
...
That night in the remote location, Junko waited again. She stared down at one of nanamis heart fragments. Once again mukuro came in with her report.
"For once you're early" Junko said.
" I have bad news" mukuro said," one of the hopeless beast was defeated".
"So just check on its Nobody and I'll infect them with despair till they become a hopeless again" Junko said.
"I already checked, but none of them have their hearts" mukuro said.
"Now I see" Junko said," very well you're excused"
"Are you sure?" Mukuro asked.
"Yes, now leave before I change my mind" Junko said.
"Thank you" mukuro said before leaving.
Once mukuro left, Junko looked down at the heart fragment. The fragment glowed as bright as the moon. Junko, tempted by the heart fragments light, tried to pick it up only for the light to burn her hand.
"If only I could hold your heart" Junko said," but I'm sure I will hold it in the future".
To be continued...
A/N For visual reference as to what the keyblades and hopeless look like, you can search danganhearts24 on Tumblr.
