Me: Hello my fellow KHs players! It's been awhile. Sorry for keeping you for this long waited update but my recovery from the surgery took longer than I thought. There is not much to talk about it but the surgery went alright and even though my right kidney works at least 10%, there is no stones at the moment.

But there is a new problem: there is a stone on my left now. Not sure how big it is but the doctor is going to deal with it before it turns like my right side (hopefully).

The other reason for the late delay was that I was working on my other stories when I had some strength during my recovery. I am planning to update most all of my stories today (Saturday). The last reason, I had a few difficult times to type this chapter but luckily had a friend to read it and said it was good so let's see what you guys think.

Now…I believe this it for my little tale. Let's see the reviews:
Wishfull-star, NinjaFang1331, XsoraXkeyblade, Guest (Ch.8; #1), digifan303, Sapphrira and MackBlade – thank you for your thoughts so here you go! All of you get a virtual Sea-Salt Ice Cream, enjoy!

Wishfull-star: I'm glad you love the previous chapter and forgive me for the long wait. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well and as for Vanitas… 'smirk' you just have to wait and see as I don't do small spoiler.

NinjaFang1331: 'bow' thank you and I hope you enjoy this one as well

XsoraXkeyblade: Thanks for your support and yes, I'm getting a slight better – no more wheelchair bound…for the time being. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Guest (Ch.8; #1): I believe I did see it but in a picture, not the trailer. I'll look it up some time later or when I remember…enjoy the chapter.

digifan303: Glad you love it and yes, I feel like Vanitas should have his own person cause of his loneliness he suffered and what Xehanort did if you get what I mean. (I'm horrible on explanation.) Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Sapphrira: Hey there once again. Yes, it's been while and glad to know you are alright. At first I wasn't going to add Naminé but…she is part of Kairi so I had to add her and who doesn't love her anyway?

I'm slowly working on KH2 and if you guys had figured it out, Beast Castle is not going to be in mine but a different world.

Yes, I'm alright – back from the realm of darkness! Jk, haha… 'cough' anyway, enjoy the long waited updated.

MackBlade: Glad to hear you're back… 'smirk' oh Ven, looks like you better watch your back now

Ven: why? 'reads the review' (pales) I-I – Sora! Let's go, you need to train some more! 'drags Sora away'

Oh well, looks like you have to wait my reader or have Vanitas do it for you in the next chapter…just as long is not brain damaging. I still need him…for now.

Ven: Ah, come on!

Enjoy the updated chapter my friend. And now, let's start our journey, shall we?

"K-Kairi?!" said Sora. "You…You came from her?"

Naminé nodded, "That's why…That's why I know who you are and your name. I'm…I'm half of her heart that she lost."

"A person losing their heart, becoming a Heartless and leaving a shell of that person in their place," said Vanitas. He tapped his chin, "…You're a Nobody."

"A what?" asked Aqua.

Vanitas frowned, "Don't tell me your old Master didn't tell you what a Nobody is. Typical."

"I take it that Xehanort told you," said Ventus. He crossed his crossed arms, "Care to explain to us what a Nobody is then?"

"He may have mentioned a few things," said Vanitas before sighing. "If someone with a strong heart and will, evil or good, becomes a Heartless, the empty shell they leave behind begins to act with a will of its own."

"So…I'm Kairi's Nobody then," said Naminé.

"Bingo, blondie," said Vanitas. He titled his head, "But…you're different from any Nobodies that Xehanort told me about. I wonder if it's 'cause you came from a Princess of Heart."

"Could be," said Aqua. She looked over at the door, "Let's get going before…"

Suddenly a dark portal appeared before them and came out the mysterious hooded figure.

"Leaving so soon but we're just starting to get to know each other. So why don't you just stick around…some more?"

Ventus and Sora was standing to each other while Sora was holding onto Naminé before the three of them fell onto a dark portal.

"Ven! Sora!" shouted Aqua and Vanitas. The two of them dashed over to where the three were standing before a dark portal appeared under them and fell in.

"The others shall deal with them while we handle the real targets," said the figure before disappearing into a dark portal.

-Castle Oblivion, B9F-

"Heartless here, Heartless there," said Eric, annoyingly. He then collapsed onto the floor, "And I thought closing the Realm of Darkness should have stopped them."

"Welp, it stopped hundreds of other Heartless from coming out but the ones that are still roaming around are the darkness from other people's hearts," explained Mickey.

Eric sighed, "So it's an ending battle of Light and Dark, wonderful!"

"Let's take a break," suggested Mickey. He sat down at the floor, "We do need to recover some strength after fighting that Vexen fella."

"Yea," murmured Eric. He looked down at his hand, "Mickey…can…can you sense the darkness inside me growing?"

Mickey titled his head, "…It's not growing but rather it's feeding your doubts. That's why it feels like its growing. If you're able to control the darkness inside of you, you'll be able to use it."

Eric widened his eyes before looking down at his hands. He sighed, sadly, "The question is, how? How am I able to control something that is trying to control my emotions?"

"Have no emotions at all – ouch! Aqua, you didn't have to hit that hard!"

Eric and Mickey turned around to see Aqua and a boy that looked like Sora but slight older, standing not too far from them.

"Aqua!" shouted Mickey, happily. He dashed over to her, "Glad to know you are alright but where is Sora? Were you able to find Ventus and return his heart?"

"And who is he?" asked Eric. He leaned over at Vanitas, "He sort of looks like Prince Sora but older and…taller? And I thought Prince Sora has brown hair but this guy has black hair."

Mickey looked over before widen his eyes, "Wait a moment! You're that boy who helped Xehanort, ten years ago! What are you doing here?"

Vanitas sighed, "I was Ventus' darkness but when that nitwit Ven went to sleep into Sora's heart, I went along with him. Through time, Sora's pure light changed me and when Ven got back his heart, I was able to become my own person. Got it? I am not explaining it again!"

"Mm…who would have thought this could happen," said Mickey. "What do you think of this, Aqua? Should we trust him?"

"…Ven said we should take him to Master Yen Sid and see what he should say," replied Aqua before sighing. "If Ven had to stop me from fighting him then I believe we can trust him. Even Prince Sora stopped me."

"Well, if Sora believes he's alright than he is! Hey there, the name's Eric, what's yours?"

"…Vanitas, pleasure."

Mickey nodded, "Well that's cleared up, where are Sora and Ventus? What happened?"

"We were ambushed by that hooded figure and got separated. I'm not sure where they were sent to but…I'm sensing something bad is going to happen," replied Aqua, seriously. She looked up and gritted her teeth, "We have to go and find them – quick! That hooded figure is planning something and I have a feeling it has something to do with Prince Sora, Ven and Naminé!"

"Who's Naminé?" asked Eric.

"We'll explain throughout the way, but we better get going," said Vanitas before looking up. He narrowed his eyes, "…I don't trust that bastard either."

Aqua and Mickey blinked their eyes before nodding their heads.

Eric sighed, "What about the break? My legs are killing me!"

Vanitas glared at the young boy before grabbing hold the back of his collar and picked him up. He placed him over his shoulder, "We can't stop, you idiot! Whoever that hooded figure is, is going to hurt my brainless brother and Sora! So I suggest that you stop complaining or I'll shut that whiny mouth of yours, got it?!"

Eric made a face, "Got it…"

'Brother? He…He views Ven as a brother?' thought Aqua before forming a small smile. "Well, I believe there should be a hidden passage somewhere around the fourth floor of the basement. It should let us to the eleventh floor."

"Right, let's go!" said Mickey.

-Castle Oblivion, 8F-

"Well, I have no idea what floor we're in," said Ventus before sitting down at the floor. He looked over at Sora, "So should we go down or up?"

"If we go up, we will know who the mysterious figure is," stated Sora before closing his eyes. "But if we go down, we might find the others and get out of here in one piece."

"I say we go down," voted Naminé.

"I want to know what's going on so up for me," said Ventus.

Sora sighed, "Great, then my vote is the vote breaker…"

"Well then I suggest that you go up. You'll never know what you find up there."

Sora and Ventus got up to see a woman wearing the black coat and gloves, but her black boots has heels. Her bright, blonde hair is slicked back and about jaw-length, with two long strands styled into distinctive antennae-like strands. Her eyes are cyan and she is very slim with an hourglass figure.

Ventus stood in front of Sora and Naminé before summoning his keyblade. He gritted his teeth, "Who are you? Are you in league with that mysterious hooded figure?"

"Aren't you a curious little boy?" She smirked, "Fine, I'll humor you. The name's Larxene."

"Larxene?" murmured Sora. He popped his head from Ven's shoulder, "So…um are in league with that hooded figure? I mean you are wearing the same outfit as what Axel and that hooded figure is wearing."

"You shouldn't be worried about him…yet," said Larxene before calling forth eight Foudre knives, four on each hand. She dashed forward, "You should be worried about is yourselves!"

Sora widened his eyes before quickly casting a barrier around himself, Ventus and Naminé. Larxene's attacks couldn't get through before she started to cast a few thunder spells at them.

"Ven…the barrier wouldn't last much longer," murmured Sora. "We have to think of a way to beat her and maybe get more information from her."

"I know," said Ventus. He bit his lips before looking down at Naminé. "The moment the barrier goes, go behind a pillar and stay there until its safe, understood?"

Naminé nodded, "Just be careful…I'm getting a bad feeling coming from that woman."

"You're not the only one," said Sora, softly. The brunette noticed that the barrier was slowly disappearing and pushed Naminé to the side. "Go, hide!"

Naminé didn't waste time and hid behind a white pillar that was slightly far from where the boys and Larxene was standing at. She had a worried look on her face, 'Good luck…Sora, Ventus.'

Ventus and Sora dodged out from Larxene's slashes when the barrier completely disappeared.

Sora cast Firaga towards Larxene but she quickly cancelled it out with just a slash from her Foudres. She then turned her attention to Ventus who took somewhat an opening but Larxene jumped out of the way and created an enormous thunder tornado.

Ventus cast Aeroga as a barrier while Sora uses Reflega. The brunette's barrier caused some of the thunder to go back to Larxene which made her flinch a bit.

"You're going to pay for that, you brat!" snapped Larxene. She rushed forward to them and slashed upon them none stop before casting a powerful Thundaga to them.

Ventus quickly pushed Sora out of the way before getting hit from the thunder spell.

"Ven!" shouted Sora before wincing. He aimed his keyblade towards him, "Curaga…"

Ventus was panting and exhausted before slowly he was regaining his strength back. He looked over at Sora who was grinning at him. He tiredly nodded his head before the two of them heard mocking laughter.

The two of them saw that Larxene was laughing at them. She smirked, "Come now and here I thought keyblade wielders are supposed to be powerful...I guess not." She shook her head, "Little boys like you need to be taught a lesson about…true strength."

Sora and Ventus had a confused look before hearing Naminé screaming.

They turned to see the hooded figure holding onto Naminé by her shoulders. He chuckled a bit before dropping his hood to reveal a man with feminine features. His hair is shoulder-length and rose pink with ruffles. His eyes are blue and his lips are pale pink.

"Naminé!" shouted Sora and Ventus.

"Let her go!" said Ventus, angrily.

Larxene laughed, "Now you have a reason to go up. Don't make us wait, oh keyblade wielders."

"Wait!" said Sora as he dashed to where the pink hair figure was standing. The brunette was about to swing his keyblade at him before he disappeared along with Naminé. "Damn it!"

Ventus turned around to see that Larxene too disappeared as well. He sighs, "Let's like we have no choice…we have to go up and save Naminé. She is half of what makes Kairi's heart. She needs it back."

Sora nodded before looking at the other side. "What about the others? We don't know where Aqua and Vanitas went to."

Ventus crossed his arms, "If I know Aqua, she'll find a way to reach us. She's the master to Castle Oblivion so she knows all the secrets to this place." That's when he laughed a bit, "I wouldn't be surprised if she found King Mickey and Eric already."

"I guess you're right," murmured Sora. That's when he frowned, "I wonder if you're friend…um Lea? Why is he working with those hooded guys?"

Ventus sighed, "I have no clue…but I am going to find out."

Sora nodded before the two of them continued onward.

-Castle Oblivion, B7F-

Lexaeus panted and silently cursed himself. He gritted his teeth before looking over at Vanitas and Eric who were pointing their weapons at him. "Such…power but yet…you fear from it, boy. What a waste…if only you…were on our side…"

Eric glared, "Don't count on that! And I am not scared!"

Lexaeus closed his eyes as he slowly disappeared into the darkness. 'Forgive me…Zexion…I'm finished. Looks like it's all up to you now.'

Aqua watched as the man they encountered upon entering the floor, faded away. She had a small frown on her face before looking down at her hands. She recalled being trapped in the Realm of Darkness and how it was making her lose hope. If it wasn't for Mickey and Eric staying by her side, she knew that she would have suffered the same fate as Lexaeus in some way.

"Let's get going," said Vanitas which snapped Aqua from her thoughts. "We have a few more floors to reach to the fourth one." He looked over at Aqua, "Are you positive there is a hidden passage that leads to the eleventh floor?"

Aqua nodded, "I'm positive, why do you ask?"

Vanitas made an annoyed face, "Cause…I'm getting a feeling that Ven is about to do something reckless and stupid – and he's dragging Sora along with him!"

Eric widened his eyes, "You don't think they are going to face that hooded figure?"

Mickey sighed, "Knowing Sora…he will do anything to help a friend out even if it's out of his league or break a rule."

"I believe that," murmured Vanitas as he recalls the time when Sora was little and his little crazy adventures at Disney Castle.

"Oh no! I'm not going to allow my best friend's friend to fight on his own with that creep," said Eric before placing his hand over his heart. He then looked over at Vanitas, "Mind if you help me control…these darkness inside me? I don't want to run away from it!"

Vanitas thought for a moment before smirking. "Alright…but you have to listen to me no matter what I say, understand?"

Aqua gave a warning look towards Vanitas but widen her eyes upon hearing Eric agreeing upon the terms. "W-Wait – are you serious?"

Eric sighed, "Look…the only person in this group that knows how to control the darkness is that guy." He pointed over to Vanitas, "And if I want to learn how to control this blasted darkness, then so be it…just please go easy on me."

Vanitas made an annoyed face, "You whine worse than Ven…but fine. I'll go easy on yea."

Eric nodded, "Let's go then! Prince Sora and Ven need our help!"

The others nodded before continuing onward.

-Break Line-

Looks like Sora and Ventus are going to fight the mysterious figure but who is he and what is his motive? What does he plan to do with them and Naminé?

Will Aqua and the others make it in time before Sora and Ventus face him? Find out next in the next update! (Which I hope doesn't take that long) Ciao for now!