Chapter Fifteen: Gulf

Sora hurried down the dock into the darkness. The fourteen-year-old was searching for Kairi and Riku, his two friends, desperate to find them. Shadows were amassing on the little play island, and he was afraid for their raft.

As he slowed down, little bug-like shadows rose up in a circle around him, effectively trapping him. He had tried killing them with his wooden sword, but it had simply gone straight through. Now he was afraid, and something in his heart quaked with fear, but also a faint bit of strength. Like it was telling Sora, We can do this.

He looked around at the ring of shadows, and suddenly heard another voice.

We sent the Dive to the Heart, and it went to you! Now we see why. Our Strong Heart has fallen to shadows. But you, we don't think you are what we need. Not a Strong Heart… The Voice then hesitated, seeming confused. We sense within you power you should not possess. Familiar power… We shall gift you this.

Sora's wooden sword glowed, and shifted in his hand. A long silver-and-gold key rested loosely in his grip now. He stared at it in wonder.

Do not be afraid. You possess the strongest weapon in the world…

"What…?" Sora whispered, shaken.

Keyblade… Defeat the heartless shadows! Remember… You are the one who will open the door to the light…

Sora, with movements familiar from endless times of sparring with Riku, leapt at the shadows. Heartless, they were called? He was happy to see the Keyblade destroying them, leaving things shaped like hearts behind to drift away into the sky. With renewed vigor, and an instinct he didn't know he had, he raced to find his friends, killing Heartless all the way.

When he reached the tiny island where he and Riku often sat, he saw the silver-headed boy standing there, back turned.

"Riku!"

Riku turned around, looking far from his normal self. There was something in his eyes that seemed almost evil. "The door has opened."

"What are you talking about? Riku!"

Riku ignored him, continuing, "Come with me, Sora! This is our chance, to see if there really are other worlds out there!" He held out a hand, adding in a whisper, "Don't be afraid of the dark."

The Voice erupted. Do not go, Keyblader! He gives in to the darkness!

Sora ignored it, reaching for Riku, if only to pull him from the abyss he was slowly sinking into. But the darkness flared, and Sora missed his hand, only able to stare in horror as Riku vanished. He fell to his knees, before looking up suddenly.

"Kairi!"

Sprinting into the secret place, he was relieved to see her standing, facing the odd door in the wall. But something was wrong. She turned to him, his name coming from her in a weak moan, before the door flew open and sent her flying towards him.

"No!" Sora threw his arms wide to catch his friend, but she vanished, as if passing right through him. Sora turned, running out of the cave as more darkness poured from the now-open door.

The world-heart! the Voice lamented. Again, Sora ignored it. It didn't make sense at the moment anyway. He dashed back out to the main area of the island, stopping in terror as a gigantic Heartless rose from the sand. He had seen it before, in his dream.

Dive to the Heart. The feeling was there again, like someone looking after him. Sora could imagine someone smiling, as it continued, We can defeat this. No bigger than in the dream. And we have the Keyblade. What is there to stop us?

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Mwahahahahaha! Hope you all enjoy one of the only Sora-centric chapters I'm doing! This is not really Sora's story. We know Sora's story. So this will be for the lesser known tales. "Another Side, Another Story" and all that...

Just as a warning to you all: When I reach everybody's favorite red and blond-haired bishies, AKA Axel and Roxas, there WILL be shounen-ai. Yes? If you do not like this, I'm sorry. Ignore it, stop reading, I don't care. Or you can join me and my friends in celebrating the ONLY pairing close to being labled canon. SoraxKairi? Hinted. RikuxSora? Subtley hinted. RoxasxNamine? Possible. AkuRoku? Practically hurled into your face. Come on, people! NO ONE is that close, unless... And all the beautifully mushy "He made me feel like I had a heart" stuff. Shounen-ai to the ninth degree! (must stop tirade...)

Anyway, I just don't want flames saying "You suck Axel's not gay you stupid moron". Flames will be given to Axel to use with his chakrams, which will then be thrown at you. Thanks!

Hugs from a true AkuRoku fangirl,
Li