A/N: OK, so obviously I didn't get this story finished before August 27th… Gr… Blast it all! But, I am working feverishly to get you guys some amazing final chapters… I know a lot of you were disappointed with the last chapter, but as I told some of you in my review replies… Just wait. Think of that as the "calm before the storm" so to speak (which actually was the inspiration for the chapter name of this chap!!)… It was really just setting things up for this and the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoy!!!
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The Storm
"So the only question now, Fuck-up, is what do we do with Blondie?"
The words came from somewhere inside of him, though he couldn't place the exact spot of his mind where they originated. They ricocheted in his head, filling his ears with their melodic foreboding quality. Deep in the depths of his mind they rang, coming from somewhere and nowhere all at once… but where? Not that it really mattered… Because in the great big scheme of things it all came down to this: Sora, lost in a sea of darkness, drowning in the thick blackness surrounding him… And all along, after everything that had happened and everything that he knew was still yet to come, all he could think about was how badly he wished it was his Keyblade that was pressing on Tetsu's Adam's apple, threatening to decapitate him with just a flick of the wrist...
So, despite his sufferings and trials, despite the uncertainty and fear for what lie ahead, and despite the fact that his heart had finally collapsed under darkness' pull… Sora answered the question in the only way he could think of…
"He's mine!" he bellowed into the dark oblivion surrounding him, his words resonating around him.
He felt his own lips tug into a slight grin as the voice answered, "I thought you might say that…"
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The sun's rays gleamed off the black blade of the Keyblade of Hearts as it remained motionless above the Shadow's head, the light glaring into Tetsu's eyes momentarily. Suddenly, dark clouds began to rapidly materialize that blocked out the sun's rays and an unnatural darkness began to settle all around the Coliseum. The sun buried behind thick black clouds and the arena shrouded in darkness… only one pair of yellow eyes shinning through it. Thunder rumbled from somewhere inside the darkness and an eerie wind swirled the sands of the battle arena in little whirlwinds around the Shadow's feet. Tetsu watched with wide eyes as lightening suddenly struck the end of the Keyblade of Hearts, sending a bolt of electricity coursing down the long black blade and crashing through the Shadow's body in waves of energy.
The arena bystanders that had yet to flee the stands all gasp in unison as the lightening slowly began to morph and change him. Dark violet accents appeared all over his clothing as the blackness that had seeped into his skin slowly began to swirl around his arms and legs in smoky tendrils, revealing human flesh beneath them. Yellow eyes flashed brilliant blue briefly before the irises turn completely black, while the blackness that had been shrouding Sora's face lifted from his skin and ignited into black and violet flames that swirled down his body, dancing threateningly with the smoke already trailing down his limbs. Jet black spikes hung in his equally black eyes as the winds swirling at his feet intensified, carrying his body into the air so that he floated forebodingly several inches from the arena sands.
Tetsu, unable to move from sheer fright, stood motionless… a shudder running down his spine as two black eyes fixated on him in a menacing glare.
Sora grinned menacingly as he gripped the dark Keyblade in his left hand while summoning Oathkeeper in a flash of light in his right hand. He glanced at the Thalassa shell charm hanging from Oathkeeper briefly before gripping the star-shaped talisman, "That will never do…" he hissed as he ripped the charm from the hilt of his weapon and hurled it across the arena. The Oathkeeper charm hit the sands, throwing up a small cloud of dust as it collided with the floor.
Sora closed his eyes as he channeled the flames and smoke that swirled around him into the Kingdom Key that he now held tightly in his right hand. As black and violet flames met with cold steel, the Keyblade lit up and morphed with the fire and smoke, creating an entirely new Keyblade. The blade extended and curved so that it looked like one elongated solidified black and purple flame. The hilt melded with the Sora's hand, making the Keyblade look more like an extension of his own arm rather than a separate weapon. Flames danced along the entire weapon seamlessly with the ones that swirled around his arm. Energy surged from the Keyblade in intense waves that coursed through Sora's entire body, filling him with raw power.
"You're mine!" he growled as he turned his attention back toward the brown eyed blond that was still speechless and unable to move. In a blur of black and violet, Sora raced across the arena to where Tetsu's sword had landed, the blade still coated in Kairi's drying blood. "You're going to need this!" he yelled as he hurled the blade across the battle grounds with such force that Tetsu barely had enough time to recover from his stupor and roll out of the weapon's path before it embedded into the wall behind him.
At least three inches of the weapon buried into the wooden railing that surrounded the battle arena, and it took all Tetsu's strength to pull the blade from it. Sora stood watching with cold black eyes, amused at Tetsu's efforts to retrieve his sword. Once it was finally released, Tetsu took a low fighting stance, swinging his sword nimbly at his side.
"Now, it's over!" Sora yelled as he raced across the arena, the blades of his weapons leaving a trail of dust behind him as they kicked up the sand. He leaped into the air, drawing both Keyblades skillfully out in front of him, leading his attack. He struck Tetsu once across the chest with the Keyblade of Hearts while using his newest weapon to knock the blonde's feet out from under him.
Tetsu landed on his back with a thud, crimson-stained dust settling in the air around him like a cloud. He rolled to one side, narrowly escaping the blade of Sora's weapons as he lashed out at him over and over again. "Is that the best you've got?!" Tetsu screamed as he jumped to his feet, swinging his sword like a madman.
Sora used the Keyblade of Hearts to block each attack with a newfound quickness that he had not realized he possessed. With ease, he continued to block the sword with the dark Keyblade while he used his other weapon against Tetsu, bringing it around in front of him to strike Tetsu where he was most vulnerable as he continued to swing his sword at Sora.
Tetsu ignored the pain shooting through his limbs as he clumsily tried to block Sora's attacks. But Sora was too quick, too strong, and too powerful… Tetsu grimaced as each hit collided with him, ripping flesh from bone. Blood spewed from the open wounds, covering him in a scarlet veil that soaked into the sands below him in sticky streams. As his sword was knocked from his hand, he collapsed into the wooden planks behind him, using the wall as support while he mustered the strength to stand.
Sora grinned as his black and violet blade rendered Tetsu weaponless… his silver sword swirling through the air and finally disappearing into the sands on the opposite side of the arena.
"What the hell is your deal?!" Tetsu screamed, a curtain of crimson obscuring his view of the black glare fixated on him. "Don't tell me that you're still upset about that fucking redhead Kairi… No chick is worth this much trouble! She's not even that cute!!"
Sora stood his ground steadfastly, both weapons crossed out in front of him, but his face softened ever so slightly at the mention of Kairi's name. Kairi… My Light…
Suddenly, Sora recalled his first battle with his Shadow on the gummi ship and Kairi's pleas played out in his mind… "Sora, that's not you!! That's not who you are!! Please!"
He blinked a few times, trying to clear his head. But that only served to open his eyes to what was in front of him…
Tetsu huddled against the wooden wall, clutching his side as blood soaked through his clothes and beaded down his skin. Weaponless and broken… panting and trying to catch his breath… the bruises still vivid under his blond bangs from their first 'disagreement'…
Sora, wild and blood-thirsty, clutching his weapons with white knuckles as his foe's blood dripped from their blades… Two black Keyblades, dark Keyblades, with raw and untamed power that surged through him and filled him with their energy… Smoke and fire obscuring his skin, protecting his flesh in an armor of darkness… And of course, the Shadow's presence in his heart, sending waves of adrenaline and strength to course through his veins and fill him with darkness…
What the hell am I doing? He thought as he slightly lowered his weapons, his eyes softening. Kairi wouldn't want this… I don't want this…
"Fuck dude…" Tetsu mumbled to himself, "So not worth it… I should have told that bitch to fuck off…"
Sora seemed too lost in his own thoughts to hear Tetsu's reaction. He took one last glance at Tetsu, confusion and resolve set in his expression. He set his jaw, as if he had made an important decision and slowly brought his weapons down to his side before dismissing them in a cloud of darkness.
""Fuck you man," Tetsu growled, "This is bullshit… consider you and your team eliminated from the tournament!" He glared at Sora before turning and limping towards the arena gates to find medical attention.
Sora watched him limp away, his expression emotionless and silent, before turning and going after Tetsu...
One swing of Sora's black and violet Keyblade, and Tetsu was knocked to the blood-stained ground unconscious, bright red blood oozing from the fresh gash along his temple. Sora glared at Tetsu's still body as medics came rushing out onto the arena. While they started their recover efforts at saving Tetsu's life, Sora smirked as he turned back towards the arena gates. "Now, that was worth being eliminated from the tournament…"
Smoke and fire still swirled around him menacingly as one ray from the sun pierced the black clouds that still fogged the sky above him. The ray settled on the arena sands, and a glimmer of light caught Sora's eyes as he neared the exit.
He looked towards the shimmer and glided over to where it sat in the sands before settling back down on the ground and bending down to pick it up. The Oathkeeper charm felt heavy in his hand, despite the large crack that now ran through the shell that had knocked off one of the points. A profound guilt began to weigh through Sora as he looked on the precious talisman that he had carried so close to his heart for so long.
He stood back up, the sun's ray cascading down on him like a beacon, the smoke and flames contrasting sharply against its bright light. He gripped the Oathkeeper charm tightly as his face pained into a determined expression and a new battle began to ignite inside of him…
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A fog surrounded her… A haze… A veil of unconsciousness threatening to pull her into its depths, lulling her into an unnatural sleep. But she fought… Fought against the darkness surrounding her and the fog of uncertainty that flowed through her. Sora needed her, that she was sure of… This was not over yet.
"Kairi?"
From somewhere in the haze she heard her name being called by a familiar friendly voice. And she ran towards it with all her might, hoping, wishing that just maybe she could escape the weariness and fatigue that was slowing her down. Her muscles ached with exhaustion and her brain clouded with confusion, but she continued to stumble through the void…
Until suddenly, an air of reassurance settled around her and she felt her muscles strengthening. Her pace intensified and her mind cleared until she was running, sprinting towards the voice that was still calling her name.
A light… A pale glow shown through the fog and she could barely make out the outline of a pair of familiar aquamarine eyes pleading with her… "Kairi! Please… wake up!"
She shrugged the last bit of fatigue that was still clinging to her and crashed through the veil of bleakness… Because Sora needed her and this was not over yet…
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"Hey! I think she's waking up!"
"What?! Are you sure?... Kairi? Kairi, can you hear me??"
"Hey! You two! Step back… give the patient some room!"
"Kai, it's Riku and Shai. We're right here. We're not leaving you!"
"Kairi, you've got to wake up… Sora's in trouble."
Sora's in trouble… As Shai's words sunk into Kairi's head and formulated in her brain, her eyes fluttered open. She clutched the side of her head and groaned as she tried to sit up. "Sora…."
Riku and Shai's expressions immediately conveyed their delight in Kairi's awakening. "Kai!" Riku exclaimed eagerly as he helped her to sit on the side of the gurney, "You're okay! We were worried sick."
Kairi still felt a little foggy and dizzy, and she clutched her head as she tried to get her bearings.
"Are you okay? How do you feel?" Shai asked worriedly.
Kairi ignored Shai's questions and once she felt clear, she looked to her silver-haired friend, determination and worry set in her brow… "Riku… where's Sora?"
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A/N: So, hopefully this will satisfy what you all wanted Sora to do to Tetsu. Rip him to shreds, right? Or was it rip him to pieces?? Hm… Well… either way I think he got what he deserved. Coming within an inch of his life and he's still a jerk! What a dumbass… lol
Oh, and I hope that Sora's "drive form" satisfied Thisismypennameok… I know you said you liked the form he learned from Merlin better, but I told you I have a plan didn't I? lol