Darkness

Sora lay awake, staring at the black ceiling and listening to the pitter patter of rain drops on the window over his bed. He mulled over his thoughts, replaying the past two years in his mind's eye: the darkness enveloping his home; his battle to find Kairi and Riku; defeating Xeanort's heartless; waking up after a year long coma; continuing his search for Riku; discovering the existence of nobodies and the return of the heartless; Organization XIII kidnapping Kairi; destruction of the Organization; and ultimately defeating Xemnas, the Nobody of Xeanort. The screenplay of his adventures had been all he could focus on since returning to Destiny Islands six months ago. Kairi was his only escape from them; however, she frequently worried about his sufferings, and he found it very difficult to divulge the darker parts of his adventure with her.

Although the past few hours were a blur, it was true what he had told her on the beach earlier. He really had done it all for her, and given the chance he would do it again. The thought of her smile was the only thing that kept him going on so many cold and lonely nights in the strange exotic worlds along his journey…

-----------FLASHBACK---------

The streets of Hollow Bastion were unusually quiet as he sat on the roof top, looking out over the city. Unable to sleep, as usual, he had decided get some fresh air. The full moon was beautiful as it hung in the violet sky, illuminating the city in a pale glow. It was his first time back to Hallow Bastion since learning of Kairi's kidnapping; they had stopped in to restock on some supplies and return some of the lost pages of Pooh's Storybook. He was physically exhausted, and the sleepless nights and endless fighting was taking its toll on him. He sighed as he thought about her. Where was she? Was she safe? Would he see her again? He ached to see her, to touch her, to feel her soft warmth against his skin, to hear her laugh, her voice. If only he could see her smile… Her smile. Just thinking about it caused his lips to tug into a slight grin. He smiled as he clutched the thalassa shell charm in his pocket, as he headed back to camp.

----------END FLASHBACK----------

Yet, here he was, engrossed in something he couldn't explain. Riku was the one he had found solace in when it came to the dark matters of the heart. After all, who would know better about such shadowed secrets? But then Riku left them to go 'find himself', whatever the hell that meant. "Dammit Riku! I search for you and Kairi for two years, and after we finally reunite, you have to leave. How could you be so damn selfish!" Without Riku around, Sora had kept his emotions regarding darkness bottled up inside of him since their return. He knew it wasn't smart, for he could feel the darkness growing in his heart. He recently found himself unable to control his actions when he was faced with dark memories or emotions, as if he were outside his body watching himself react. Emotions he tried his hardest to keep hidden from Kairi, ashamed that she might be mortified at their existence: guilt, shame, anger, envy…lust.

He sighed heavily as he sat up in bed, breathing in the darkness of the room. It was almost comforting. In the dimly lit room no one could see how his heart was wrenched in pain, no one could see the tears that his eyes were constantly threatening to shed, and no one could see what had become of the infamous Keyblade Master. Quietly, and without his brain telling him to do so, Sora slipped out of bed, unsure of what his actions would result in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cold air burned her throat and lungs as she raced down the beach. Her feet sank in the loose sand underneath her, threatening to drag her under; but they wouldn't keep her from her objective: Sora. He stood motionless at the shoreline in front of her, his back turned toward her as he stared out at the black horizon. "Sora!" her cries were lost in the nothingness surrounding her. He turned to face her and what she saw stole the air from her lungs, forcing a silent yelp from her throat. He was dressed in a long black cloak and a hood covered his head, casting long shadows over his face. The only feature she could make out were the glowing yellow eyes staring daggers at her.

"Sora!" she shot up in bed, cold sweat dripping across her skin. A sharp pain pierced her heart, and she clutched her chest in agony. "Sora…" she forced through clenched teeth. She bit her bottom lip, tasting the familiar copper as she inadvertently drew blood. She winced as she forced herself through the motions of climbing out of the bed and throwing on the clothes nearest her. She shoved her feet into a pair of sneakers and lowered herself expertly out her bedroom window, as she had done many times before...

----------FLASHBACK-------

Sora awoke to the sound of fingers impatiently tapping on the window pane over his bed. He rubbed the sleep out of eyes and pulled open the window. "Kairi? Is that you?"

"Yeah," the young girl crawled through window as he reflexively scooted over in the bed, making room for her.

"Did you have another bad dream about your parents?" he asked as he sleepily lifted the blankets for her.

"Yeah," she replied softly, tears in her eyes, as she curled up under the blankets.

"Don't worry Kai. I'm here." He whispered softly as he instinctively pulled her into him, tucking the blankets around her. "I'm always here." He assured her and he wrapped her in his arms as she wet his pillow with her tears.

-----------END FLASHBACK--------

As she lowered herself to the ground, the cold night air chilled the drying sweat on her skin, causing tiny bumps to form over her entire body. The night was black around her, and dark billowing clouds overhead shrouded any attempt from the moon to light the tropical island. Cold rain drops pelted her face as she broke into a run towards the docks. She passed the street leading to Sora's house, knowing that she would not find him there. Her suspicions were confirmed when she reached her boat and found his gone.

In the ten minute row to their tiny island, the storm had grown. The rain was now coming down in sheets and the wind blew hard, causing white-capped waves to pound the sides of her little boat. She rowed against the waves and wind, determination creased in her brow. The only illumination was provided at increasing intervals as white hot bolts of lightening danced in the black sky above her. Piercing roars of thunder boomed in her ears as she neared the shoreline. She dove from the boat and ran hard against the knee-deep current, towards the beach. Scanning the shore, she looked for any silhouette that might prove to be Sora. Her heart sank as she found the beach empty.

The wind howled in her ears as the storm continued to intensify. Her heart still ached for Sora, making it hard to breath; however, she knew that she must find shelter if she had any hope of surviving the night. She broke in a run towards the "Secret Place".

As she neared the entrance, the ache in her chest deepened. She pulled back the blanket of vines and crawled through the narrow entrance. The warm air of the cavern whipped through her hair, and she closed her eyes as she breathed in the familiar scent of moss and dampness. She and Sora had found this secluded place on accident almost ten years ago…

-----------FLASHBACK--------

"Kairi! Come here! You've got to see this!" Sora ran to his young friend, excitement in his eyes. He grabbed her hand and pulled her across the beach, yelling incomprehensibly.

"Sora! Where are we going?!" Kairi tripped in the loose sand as she giggled.

"Look!" He exclaimed triumphantly as he pulled back a curtain of vines, revealing an entrance to a long winding cave in the side of the rock face.

Kairi's eyes opened wide in excitement. "Wow! A cave!" Kairi squealed as she grabbed Sora's hand, "Come on! Let's go inside!" and she easily ducked into the entrance pulling Sora behind her. "It's so warm…" she observed softly as she entered the large room at the end of the tunnel.

"Yeah," Sora agreed as he walked along the walls, tracing his fingers across the slippery rocks. "Hey Kai…I think this might be the center of the island…"

"Hey, yeah! Maybe that's why it's so warm in here." Kairi concurred. "Sora?"

"Hmmm…"

"Let's keep this place a secret. Let's make it our 'Secret Place'!" Kairi exclaimed.

"Okay Kairi!" Sora laughed. The two children picked up a few loose rocks and carved each other's faces into one of the rock walls, forever making the cave their own.

-----------END FLASHBACK--------

They had shared so many memories in that cave, carving out other scenes and paintings into the stony walls along the years. Yet, tonight the cavern's atmosphere was thick with a sense of something Kairi had not encountered since being lost without her heart: sinister darkness. She made her way along the cavern walls, slowly entering the room where she had spent countless hours praying for her friends' safe return.

The room was black, and as the lightening continued streaking the sky outside, it lit the cave in an eerie starkness via the small hole in the ceiling. She gasped when the first streak illuminated the room, revealing Sora's outline standing in front of the plain wooden door at the far end of the room…the door that had started their adventure over two years ago. He had one palm on the door, and he leaned against it, his head bowed low as if he were in deep thought.

She opened her mouth to speak his name, but found that the words would not come. Her breath was cut short, and the air felt thin as it entered her lungs. She took a few steps towards him, but he did not move. His breath was deep and even as he stood motionless, still leaning against the door. She reached out a tentative hand as she struggled to fill her lungs with the thinning air. She forced a few more steps, and was finally standing right beside him. She again attempted to speak his name, but the effort took more energy than she anticipated and she collapsed against the cave wall in front him, gasping for breath. Another bolt of lightening streaked the sky overhead, as she stared in horror at the black smoky liquid that was pooling at Sora's feet and inching its way up his body in long thin cords. Tears pooled in her eyes and stained her cheeks as she leaned against the cave wall, mustering the strength to speak. "S-S-Sora!" Her voice was meek and emaciated, but it managed to reach his ears and he raised his head to face her in response.

Another streak of illumination…his eyes were closed and he looked almost peaceful as he spoke in a voice not his own, "You shouldn't be here." His voice was loud and deep and it echoed off the rocky walls around her. She could do nothing but lean against the wall for support and stare at him, tears streaming down her face. The cave was dark around them and she could feel the pressure of the darkness surrounding her. The intense pain in her chest was almost unbearable as she stared in disbelieve.

Suddenly, Sora opened his eyes, exposing a piercing glowing yellow glare. Another lightening bolt revealed that he was completely shrouded in blackness and it trailed off his body in long smoky tendrils. He took a step towards her, his angry yellow stare sending chills over her wet skin. She cowered against the wall and shut her eyes tightly; the stabbing pain in her heart was too much to bear when she looked at him. Despite the warm air pooling around her, the stench of his hot breath on her face sent waves of shivers coursing through her body. Whatever this thing was, she was sure it was not Sora.

A sharp agonizing scream roared through the cave and Kairi shot open her eyes to see Sora collapsed on his knees in front of her, leaning back over his feet and clutching his chest. She instantly knelt down beside him, but she could not muster the breath needed to speak. As she grabbed his shoulders, his eyes shot open again, but this time they were their normal ocean blue color. "Kairi… run…" he moaned through clenched teeth. Another blood-curdling scream escaped his lips as he dug his fingers into his chest, ripping through the black smoky shell of darkness. She watched in horror as he struggled to pull the darkness from his body.

Slowly she felt her breath returning to her, and she strained to form her words. "S-Sora!" She heaved air in and out of her burning lungs, as a new-found strength generated new resolve. "Sora! I'm here! I won't leave you!"

He continued fighting the darkness that was invading his heart and body, screaming in pain and determination. He could barely make out Kairi's voice among the turbulence surrounding him. However, her encouraging words faintly met his ears; and with them, he found strength and new hope. He would not let what had become of him hurt her! Not here! Not now! In one final burst of adrenaline, he roared in determination and pulled the shroud of darkness from his bare chest. Instantly, his eyes flashed blue before rolling back in his head and the black fog melted from his limbs. He collapsed to the cave floor in a heap of sweat and tears and his body shook uncontrollably as the sinister air around him dissipated. The last stimuli he registered as he slipped into unconsciousness were the long slender arms cradling his head and Kairi's soothing voice, as her warm tears wet his face. "I won't leave you, I won't leave you, I won't le…"