For one thing, I've never thought of writing a Horror/Romance story in the first place. And second, I don't know how this will come out; let alone how long it may be.

Warning: Scenes contain violence, gore and the like.

Here we go!

Princess Io


Two: Supernatural Disturbances

Sora…

Sora…

"Uh…"Something hard and edgy was penetrating Sora's forehead. It was throbbing against the tender skin, and he wondered what was pressuring his head. Gaining full conscience, the teenager realized he was face down on hard and uneven earth.

Pushing himself onto his knees, Sora ran a hand through his unruly locks to brush the dirt that had gathered in the crevices. Cleaning himself off, the young boy looked at his surroundings; yet another place that was familiar to him, but instead of Castle Oblivion, it was the shores of Destiny Islands. In fact, it looked to be the day when he and Riku had arrived after fighting Xemnas.

"Sora! Riku!" A distant voice called out.

"That voice…" He thought, approaching it beyond the brush of plant life inhabitants. As the sound had gotten louder, Sora raced toward it in wild abandon.

But, no matter how hard he ran, the farther the destination viewed. Now the voice was quickly drowned out; only the pounding of his heart in a wheezing chest matched the thumps of his feet on the ground.

Quickly, the scene changed again. This time Sora was at The World That Never Was. The dark city welcomed him with a soft symphony of the winds and dark shadows that curled around every corner.

Unnoticed, a keyblade presented itself in a silent entrance in his hand. In seconds' time, nobodies from everywhere had appeared, coming in groups from each place they could possibly come from.

A figure stood above them all, someone in a black cloak.

The shadow was silent, waving his hand in the air to stop the onslaught of white entities. Dark orbs replaced his gloved hands and without hesitation, the figure forced the blackened orbs toward Sora. Before he could speak, Sora swung the keyblade with little effort, the orbs disappearing into thin air.

Soon, the two began fighting, with each swing of the figure's agile hands and Sora's keyblade. Both had missed each other by small inches. Their fight mimicked a dance of dominance, neither showing any signs of weakness or hesitation. Sweat dripped from Sora's brow, but it was continuously ignored.

Rain had followed the fire between the two warriors, like a god had been witnessing their deadly brigade. Condensation escaped the keyblade master's mouth, each breath slowing at an even pace and then racing again.

"Who…are you?" Sora choked, clutching the handle of his keyblade desperately. The booming of the rain prevented more movement and constricted every muscle twitching for freedom. His strength was slowly disappearing, but the young master refused to let his guard down, not even for a split second.

"Someone from the dark…"

"Wait…those words…so familiar." Sora thought, pushing back on his feet, a hand placed on the ground to hold his weak frame balanced. The battle continued further, but something in the air, aside from the harsh falls of rain seemed indifferent.

Finally, a face-off, then a plunge toward one another and the finishing blow. The teenager could feel a searing pain on his left cheek, then lukewarm liquid tracing a visible path along the curve of his face. It dawdled on the arch of his chin, all the way down unto his neck and finally detaching from the soaked skin. As that small drop of human life surged toward its final destination, Sora could feel the same injuries upon his right side, then his left leg.

This was no ordinary keyblade, let alone the same one he had fought against a year ago. An urge began to build up within the cloaked figure, something…primal and unyielding. The figure quickly pivoted around and launched himself toward the teenager again.

"This guy just doesn't—" Sora thought, his sudden thoughts had been curtly cut off as he focused his remaining energy upon guarding the downward slash from above. Suddenly, a wave of vibration began pressing into the young hero from all sides, as if crushing him in an invisible force. He felt suffocation, and fear of being unable to survive this…unknown attack.

As if on cue, black ooze had been created in the ground below him, upon the colorful stained glass and covering the bright atmosphere. The dark essence curled itself around Sora, like vines that were given life. It slowly made its way from his ankles, to his waist, and finally his neck.

The figure pushed back, poised for another devastating strike, patiently waiting for the dark force to restrain his opponent. Horrified, Sora's throat became dry; his body now covered in cold sweat despite the fact the rain had drenched it many a time ago. The masked pursuer pounced off the tips of his toes, sprinting at full speed.

Only seconds later, did the victor remain standing, his blade dripping in black life. Sora's body lay still, soaked in his own blood, and face covered from view. The transformation was complete; the Heartless form that was once sealed away has awakened. Eyes the color of riches had replaced the naïve pools of the endless abyss and the black vine-like figure had taken over its host, creating a new body.

As the body stood, nothing clothed him but the vicious sneer that painted his expression.


Gasping for breath as if he had been strangled without mercy, Sora sprang awake. Sweat coated every inch of skin on his face and neck. Another dream had surfaced…surprisingly more alive and different in nature compared to the first dream the previous night before.

His head was throbbing, like waking up from a deep coma. Sora barely had enough strength to raise his hand and place it on his sweltering forehead; and even doing that was painful. "Take it easy Sora," a voice calmly advised him.

Slowly turning his head to the side, the young 17 year old linked the voice to its rightful owner; Riku. Sora wanted to speak, but his throat felt raspy and dry, his tongue having not tasted a moist substance to emerge from the depths of restraint. He tried lifting his hand again, reaching to a destination unknown.

Riku turned to another direction, silently greeting another presence that Sora couldn't see from his current position. A small, dainty hand reached out and firmly grasped Sora's hand; Kairi had come as well. Her eyes were slightly puffy, she had been crying.

"Sora…" She choked, hiccupping and sniffling. Kairi had taken Riku's seat while he gazed out the window. Placing a trembling hand on Sora's moist cheek, the young woman couldn't help but start crying again.

"Kai…ri…" Sora thought, still attempting to speak. He brought his other hand to cover his best friend's, to comfort her in her time of sorrow. Smiling a small and serene smile, Sora mouthed to Kairi that he was okay and for her to not cry anymore, it was worrying him.

As soon as he had finished, another figure had entered the infirmary…his mother. She was also in dismay, having received a call from the school about an hour and a half ago that her son had fallen unconscious in the middle of Anatomy class and had incurred sever injuries from an unknown source. The case was serious, and he therefore was escorted to a nearby hospital just a few blocks away from Sakurada High.

"Sora! Are you ok baby? I got a call from the nurse earlier that you had passed out in the middle of class! Are you ok? Did anyone else get hurt? How are you feeling?" A load of questions flooded Sora's mind as his mother ranting continuously over the fact that she was worried about her teenage son.

"M…mom…" Sora's throat burned inside, he moved his hand from on top of Kairi's to reach out to Isis. She tightened it in between hers and brought it to her forehead, sobbing and shaking. She had remembered this inner feeling that harbored within her wheezing chest. It was the same feeling when her son had disappeared that one stormy night three long years ago. It returned, but seemed more urgent and desperate.

One last presence had entered the large room, holding a clipboard and clicking the pen to write something on the concealed sheet of paper. "I'm sorry for the scare Mrs. Hakuyo, but I'm coming to the assumption that Sora's condition may be nothing that I've seen before And, I've noticed something else peculiar as well…" The doctor continued, slightly pushing up her small-rimmed glasses.

The tranquil voice belonged to the young 23 year old Aeris Fair, the youngest doctor and physician who worked at Avalanche Hospital. Walking slowly over to Sora, Aeris calmly smiled at the young boy lying on top of the white sheets. "Sora, can you sit up for me?" She asked, setting her clipboard down onto a nearby counter top.

Sora's muscles tightened in pain, but he quickly ignored it and pursued with complying. Riku was quickly at his side, holding his back while Kairi held onto both of his hands for assistance. Isis sat onto another one of the chairs near the wall to keep out of the way. Letting out a breath, Aeris continued. "Now, I need you to take off your shirt so I can examine the marks on your chest and back."

His face grew hot at the kind command he was given, feeling self conscious of Kairi and his mother in the room. But, before he could protest, his body defied his thoughts and began to lift the damp clothing off his aching skin. His chest, back, and lower waist were now fully exposed to the bright light as well as the eyes of his friends and family. But it wasn't his naked innocence that had made everyone shudder, but the imperfections that painted themselves upon his slightly tanned exterior.

Intricate patterns of what looked similar to ink had looked to be carved and curved around Sora's back and chest. They mimicked something that may have transformed into an ancient Bahamut or Phoenix; both symbolic in power, grace, and held an enigmatic persona whenever summoned. His body was now a walking masterpiece, so beautifully dangerous that it truly lived up to the meaning, "If looks could kill."

"Oh my gosh…" Kairi thought, holding her breath and clutching her own two hands together. Riku's eyes widened as they shifted from the outside to Sora's exposed body. Isis couldn't bear to look, much less hold herself from shuddering a loud cry of desperation.

The marks upon his chest felt they were burning, like someone was pressing a match into the pit of his stomach. Aeris tenderly brought her hand up to trace the outline of Sora's blackened tattoo. He cringed in pain and twitched in slight agony. "Hmm…just as I suspected…" The doctor murmured, a small white light emanating from her fingertips.

The light that come from her fingers felt cool to the touch on Sora's scorching skin, but the pain had only temporarily subsided. "How did…? When…?" Sora's broken expression had shone through his pale face.

"These marks…I have only seen once. Looks like what they've been recently named as Mystical Phenomena. They can't exactly be explained, but only appear in certain victims' state of unconsciousness. I'm not sure how else to tell you, but you'll have to stay here over night so that I can run a few tests on you to make sure…" Doctor Fair's voice trailed off, and a sound of the doorknob turned abruptly. Another figure entered the room, one that made Aeris smile with relief.

"Are you Sora Hakuyo?" The deep and masculine voice asked, a smile crossing his lips. It was Dr. Zack Fair, owner of the hospital that Sora resided. Taking off his thin-rimmed glasses and placing them in the breast pocket of his white coat, Zack cleared his throat.

All Sora could do was slightly nod, and waited in suspension for what Zack was going to say.

The remainder of the day dragged on for what seemed like forever. Both doctors explained that Sora's mysterious injuries and newly acquired "tattoo" on his body were complete phenomena. Nevertheless, they suggested for Sora's stay in the hospital to complete further investigation.

--

The soft sound of birds singing was what woke Sora the next early morning. He still felt slight pain everywhere, but could also feel something else. Sitting up with lots of effort and strength, the seventeen year old calmly looked around the small hospital room.

Riku was leaning on the wall next to the window, his head bowed, shoulders slumped forward and arms crossed in a neat fashion. He was obviously still asleep and had never left that same position since the night before. He was evenly breathing without any kind of struggle, except for a small heart thumping noise that reached Sora's ears.

The vibration traveled at a quickened pace, and something strange appeared in place of Riku's natural skin tone; a dark scarlet painting around his arms and over his pant legs. They slithered dangerously around Riku's ankles, thighs, chest, and finally around his throat. Before it had the chance to strangle him, the strange vine like creature vanished as Sora blinked, rubbing his eyes excessively.

After rubbing his eyes for the umpteenth time, Sora looked up again at his best friend. Riku looked at him curiously, cocking his head to the side and trying to look straight. Yawning and cracking his knuckles, Riku scratched underneath his wrinkled shirt on his tone stomach before yawning a second time. "What?" His scratchy voice croaked.

All Sora could do to respond was grin softly and let out a breath he had been holding. "Nothing…" He managed to squeak before abruptly quirking an eyebrow at something else that seemed to grab his attention. Shifting his weight on one of his hands that pressed into his hospital bed, Sora looked over to his side.

Another body lay on the edge of his bed, Kairi. Apparently, she had stayed overnight as well, tending to Sora and quietly watching as he slept until she had fallen into a deep slumber. Out of admiration, Sora carefully grabs Kairi's hand that had perched itself on his lap throughout the night before. This is enough to awaken her, only causing Sora's smile to widen in adoration.

"Morning beautiful…" Sora whispered, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before clearing his throat out of nervousness.

"Morning Sora," Kairi responded, wiping away an excess tear from the side of her cheek.

Huffing an exasperated sigh, Riku impatiently rolled his eyes before making an annoyed gesture. "What's next? Proclamation of love? Sheesh, you two are so ridiculous…" He drifted, imitating the motion of excessively throwing up. As he finished, both teens from the hospital bed look up in union, and blush a bright red before pulling their linked hands away.

A few minutes later, both Zack and Aeris entered the room with breakfast from the hospital Mess Hall. "Good morning Sora, Kairi, Riku." Aeris nodded to each of the teens. As everyone began settling in, Zack interrupted by asking everyone to be quiet.

"Some news has arrived Sora…" His voice drifted before his cerulean irises cast themselves toward the cold tiled floor.

Never had the greatest shock in his life ever occur to the young hero, until this very morning.

"The Awakening…has come." A familiar voice inside Sora's subconscious spoke in a low and depressing tone. It was Roxas; Sora's other half speaking to him with such urgency.

"Awakening…?" Sora thought, a flash coming before his eyes. Images of endless slaughtering, screaming, and other indescribable sights had carved themselves into his psyche. Such illustrations came to be too much to bear, to the point of forcing the young hero to faint.

Non-existent winds formed in the plain room in a whirlwind of dust and turmoil. The winds began whispering words that seemed to have a great affect on everyone's hearing inside the small vicinity. They were agonizing and painful, full of remorse and vengeance. Morbid twists and turns blurred Riku's vision from focusing on Sora, as well as Kairi's.

Out of sheer instinct, Zack was protecting the sound from reaching Aeris' ears by embracing her in order to buy her enough time to shut the irritating noise out. Sparks began to take flight as well from all of the friction the winds and lighting had created.

As if it couldn't get any worse, the black marks that have tattooed themselves upon Sora's upper body had begun to glow an incredible blood red, then shifting back to the enigmatic shade of black like a distress beacon.

Finally, Aeris succeeded in breaking the harmful elements that have bestowed chaos upon herself and her friends in the small proximity of the infirmary. She absorbed the powerful static weather and cast it into the depths of the unknown. The ancient had raised herself in mid-air, and with a simple flick of her fingertips and wrists, a large amount of holy light had blinded everyone and opened their eyes to see the truth.

Chanting a few choice words, Aeris accomplished casting her spell by bringing out her famous Princess Guard and established her finishing move: Great Gospel. That divine power was enough to suppress the evil aura that lingered and instantly vanished. However, the AVALANCHE fighter had sacrificed her mental and physical energy in order to cause the threat to cease.

With chivalrous timing, Zack catches his wife in time before she lands back onto the ground. The white gleam around her body slowly disappears, and the neon evergreen glow that replaced her pupils is gone as well. Her hair is in disarray, due to the amount of control she harbored within her spiritual mind and body.

The whole scene within that small room is now a complete mess; Riku has landed face first on the pearl tile, knocked out from stress and shock. A tiny puddle of blood lay near the silver-haired 18 year old explained that he must have hit his forehead against the floor as he fell. Kairi and Sora, however, were not so lucky.

In fact, Kairi had suffered trauma from the strong influence of the winds had affected her psyche. Sora…was still tattooed with the strange configuration that mimicked the flawless Dragon God's silhouette that made anything tremble in fear.

With great timing, another figure emerged from all the turmoil. He murmured a few choice words before revealing himself after all tension had cleared. He was the all too familiar ex-soldier from ShinRa who was still a mercenary of AVALANCHE, better known as Cloud Strife. "Looks like I'm too late…" He said inquisitively, sheathing his Ultima Weapon and wiping off excess debris from his clothing.

The hospital room now had a large gaping hole from where Cloud had entered and had attracted a lot of attention from the other employees and passing visitors. "It…was…an illusion." Aeris finally panted out, holding a hand to her head.

At this time, Riku had awakened from getting knocked out. The blood that had plastered itself upon his forehead and face had crusted over, leaving a residue of crimson life like broken land on the surface of smooth skin. However, that wasn't what fazed the young man at all. "What…the hell happened?" He said out of utter surprise and pain, his vision blurring in and out of focus.

No one had noticed through the entire ruckus, but…Aeris could sense something was suddenly out of balance. The equilibrium had been somehow dramatically altered, and for the worst. It was then that she realized too late just what that imbalance had identified itself to be…

Sora and Kairi…

Had disappeared…


Kairi's body felt cold, like she had been standing inside of a freezer for an eternity. But, she couldn't help but drift in and out of consciousness because of the fact the temperature was below what she considered normal. The essence surrounding her seemed to be unfeeling, numb and lifeless.

The young woman had landed on her back, and was curled up in a small ball-like form like sleeping in an orb confinement. Her muscles were tight and aching from being in the same position for who knows how long. "Kairi…" A distant voice called out to her desperately, weeping in the inside and with anguish. Kairi opened her eyes at the mysterious calling, craning her neck around to see where the voice had come from.

With enough effort, she was able to sit up, her fit tucked underneath her legs in a half-sitting fashion. Just a few feet from her, Kairi could barely make out another body that had been there not too long before her…unexpected "arrival". Wherever she was…

The body, Kairi had identified was Sora's! But, he portrayed something different from his normal self. Shirtless and evidently vulnerable, the scarlet haired teenager couldn't help but notice the ink tattoo of the king of dragons was still present on his chest.

As she approached Sora's unconscious body, with each passing second her heart began to beat louder with a vibrating and quick pace. Kairi bravely reached out to attempt waking him, but felt hesitant at first. Her arm was still awkwardly in mid-air, her hand shaking uncontrollably.

She gulped nervously and wiped cold sweat that dripped alongside her cheek with her opposite hand. Her hand missed unfortunately, and the small river of anxiety and fallen onto the cold solid ground. In the instant that moisture had come in contact with the dirt floor, Sora's pupils snapped open.

Simultaneously, his hand lashed out in pure instinct and had Kairi's wrist in a vice grip. He began crushing her fragile limb under his power and Kairi could vaguely take notice of faint cracking sounds that belonged to her wrist bones. She yelped in pain and agony, Sora quickly pulling her body toward him.

Her back had forcefully landed against Sora's built upper body, with his hands latching themselves possessively around her lower waist and collarbone. He was cutting off circulation until Kairi's melodious voice reached his sensitive ears.

"Sora!"

Still flush against his burly figure, Kairi barely managed to struggle underneath the confinements of Sora's arms and hands. With wild abandon and a primal approach, Sora began to intimately nuzzle his nose against his best friend's neck, inhaling her distinct scent.

This motion made Kairi freeze up, she was unable to react a certain way to the way Sora was behaving towards her. One minute he's crushing her to pieces, the next he's fondling her like a soft pillow. The hairs on her neck began to stand up from suspension and fear, and her heart began to race even further than prior to this incident.

A lowly growl could be heard, and the keyblade master whispered against Kairi's lower neck. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to scare you." His breath lingered sexily, and it was then that he nipped the tender neck with loving care.

"What has gotten into him?!" Kairi's mind reeled, her expression changing from shock to embarrassment. Her face began to turn red, and her voice had risen above a shriek of anxiety.

"Sora…you're hurting me." She still knew her wrist was the one in critical condition right now. And as she had said her statement of pain, Sora complied and gently let go of her throbbing limb. Instead, he rubbed it gently with his thumb and forefinger before speaking again.

"Kairi…I…thought you died…I was scared…"

After a few long moments, both teenagers sat on the dirt ground, one in the other's lap. Sora's hands however, remained in their current position for fear of Kairi disappearing like a figment of his imagination. The two were sitting there, silently contemplating just what to do next. They didn't know where they were or who to turn to but each other.

Night was falling, and they had to discover where to lay to rest before moving again.

Unfortunately, Sora did know exactly where he and Kairi were standing, rather sitting on at this very moment.

They stood at the grounds of the place beyond the door he had shut years ago. He had sealed it…or so he thought.


A word from the author…

Wowee, this took such a LONG time to complete…Hope you liked the chapter! Stay tuned for the next upcoming installment. I also thank my reviewers, you guys are what inspire to go further with these fics. Thank you!