Sora goes out with his classmates to fight off the Heartless, the constant darkness seeking to eat the heart of the living and their worlds whole. However, Sora's mind was elsewhere as he thought of the presence of the Heartless, Lich, who he defeated during the Keyblade War to save his friends. Clearly, if the grim reaper exists in the same world as him, then it means Lich might actually be after Sora himself...
Suddenly, he was approached by Homura, Asuka's rival and best friend. The tanned beauty didn't waste her time in the limelight as she brightened up Sora's mood and aided him AND Asuka in their fight against the Heartless, especially one large army of Heartless Toads and Snakes. Sora and Homura took the fight to them as they unsheathed their weapons and destroyed their targets in seconds, leaving Asuka gleefully awestruck at the sight of her friends, standing together in victory.
Kagura Hearts
Chapter 12 ~ Thriving On Killer Instinct
"Not bad, Sora, not bad. You might be a little fun to play with after all." Homura said as she fist-bumped Sora. Sora smiled and said, "Well, you're not getting a rookie for a teammate here. (chuckle)" Asuka then said, "Well-well, if I didn't know any better, I'd say someone's a bit more cheery than I recalled. Found some fun in fighting, did we?" Sora smudging said, "Well, I did specialize in Heartless exterminations in my realm, I don't mean to brag, but I have a mental track-record for the amount of Heartless I've defeated."
Homura then asked, "OK, well what is that number? Humor me, Keyboy, what number would you bet on if you were asked how many you actually-?"
"-About 20 Million."
"THAT IS A LIE!" Homura declared.
Sora laughed and said, "Sorry, sorry. Honestly, I have no clue." Asuka then added, "Perhaps our 'Prince' has some 'Charming' qualities after all. We had a hunch he was more focused on his job than his actions, but who would have guessed he'd have a humorous side too?" Sora then asked, "What do you mean?" Asuka then explained, "I'm just saying, you're cute when you smile."
Sora blushed and chuckled while Homura whispered to Asuka, "Sheesh, you DO know there's a third wheel right? I heard AND saw that, and my diagnosis: you like him already!" Asuka then whispered back, "Quiet, Homura, I do not! I was just joking around with him, that's all. Sora's only with us until our world is saved, so a girl's gotta have her time." Homura then said, "I guess that explains the Halo…"
Homura then went over to Sora and asked, "Hey Sora, since the river area's clean, how's about we check near the shopping district?" Sora looked at Asuka and asked, "Homura's not a Hanzo National Academy student…but are we allowed to work with other ninjas?" Asuka nodded, "Of course, there's no rule that says alliances with Factions is illegal, in fact, Homura is an experienced adventurer, she has a good lay of the land and has been gathering edible plants, meats, and vegetables outside Kabukicho since her faction went into hiding." As Homura smirked proudly from Asuka's explanation, Homura said, "We also work for comfort, so don't be surprised to see a few of us working at a place or three."
Sora then asked, "So I'm guessing Homura's the one to go to about locating special ingredients and food not normally found in the shops nearby?" Asuka nodded, Yup, you're going to meet a LOT of amazing girls here, as amazing as Homura herself. In fact, the others should be in town right now, so let's follow Homura back to Kabukicho." Sora nodded and said to Homura, "We'll follow your lead." Homura then cheered, "(bleep) YEAH, come on, dorks, onward to adventure!" Sora then nervously whispered, "She doesn't ALWAYS swear, does she?" Asuka then whispered back, "Only when she's living in the moment, she's actually at her most fun when she's on an adventure."
The trio walked over to the city's shopping district, where Homura marched, 'Ash Ketchum'-Style, while singing the Ghostbusters theme. Sora started to laugh, making Asuka and Homura look at their friend as he laughed…
Sora cleared his throat and explained, "Sorry, sorry. I know you're having a moment, I just-...I used to goof around like that too, and it's really funny seeing someone else goof around." Homura chuckled and said, "I'm glad you're getting in the spirit, bro. But remember, ONE of us has a Keyblade, and you can't forget why you're here. I can goof off because I don't have a job. But you, dude, YOU have that Halo and that Keyblade for a reason. You have to focus, got it, Sora?"
Sora nodded, making Homura pat him on the shoulder and said, "Badass. OK, now, there are still a few Heartless around here." Sora then asked, "...how do you know?" Homura explained, "Because behind you is a swarm of Fluttering nightmares."
Asuka and Homura slowly pulled out their weapons while Sora turned around and saw them, more than thousands of Fluttering Heartless overhead…
Sora then summoned his Keyblade, preparing for the worst.
"Here they come, girls-...and, um, boy." Homura said. Sora waved, "Don't worry about it, I'd compare you to bros anyway."
The Flutterings screeched and cawed as they flew towards the group, cutting everything in their way…
"-FIRAGA!"
Sora started the battle by enveloping the flying Heartless in a massive ball of flame, destroying a large amount of them in the process! The staggering amount still left resumed the charge, only for Asuka and Homura to run off the building walls and cut them down! Homura then said, "There's a large amount of these things, and they're not very creative with their flying…Asuka, these things are a distraction!"
Asuka then looked back to check on Sora, only to find him suddenly grabbed from behind by a hooded figure! Sora was shocked by the presence of the figure and asked, "A-...a black hood?! You…YOU CAN'T BE FROM ORGANIZATION XIII, COULD YOU?!" The hooded figure responded, "Sorry, nobody goes by THAT group or such a name here, you're about to be taken to a nice, cozy place for a little Chat."
The figure then threw up some powder in Sora's face, who then realized what that powder really was…
"S-sl-...sleeping…pow…der…"
The powder did it's job, knocking Sora unconscious while the hooded figure took him away! Asuka called out Sora's name as she tried to chase the new enemy, only for Homura to say, "Hold it Asuka, this creeper's under the assumption we're too far away to catch him, but whoever he is, he has NO idea the lions den he crawled into." Homura then pulled out her phone and made the following call…
"...Attention Crimson Squad, someone's napped a new ally of ours and Asuka. Let's make this son of a bitch wish he was never born."
On the rooftops, Sora awoke to the glistening light from the sunset. As he opened his eyes, he looked around and saw Fluttering Heartless in the sky. And not just Flutterings, but also Darkball and Possessor Heartless…
"Even when the sun is setting, the night couldn't feel more early…Keyblade Master Sora."
Sora noticed his wrists were tied by ropes, and standing before him was the hooded figure…
Sora then managed to stand up and explain, "...the complements are nice, but seriously, I don't think I've earned my 'Master' title yet. It's complicated, still, I think you should explain yourself first…lady." The hooded figure then laughed and asked, "My-my, what gave me away? I suppose the figure was enough to make my gender clear, but still…why don't YOU explain who I am, dear Homura?"
Sora looked behind him and saw Asuka and Homura, standing in disbelief while looking at the hooded girl…
Homura then looked at Sora and said, "Back-up's on the way…but…(ahem) here, turn around, I'll get those ropes off you." As Homura untied Sora's restraints, he asked, "It's the black hood, isn't it? Homura, you know her." Homura nodded, "Yes…but I had no idea-."
"-That your dear sweet Bean-Sprout fangirl could be so open to corruption? Dear girl, you don't know Yomi at all…(reveal's Yomi's face) DO YOU?!"
The hooded figure threw open her black hood to reveal herself as a blonde-haired girl, with empty-green eyes, and beneath her black coat, was a peculiar outfit that shocked Sora to his core, "The Dark Armor…this girl's wearing the same thing Riku wore while possessed by Ansem!" The girl smirked at Sora and said, "Riku? ANSEM? Now those are new to me, are those the last idiots who were warped by the Darkness? Well I can assure you, handsome, that MY Darkness surpasses theirs!"
Dark Yomi then summoned two Soul Eater blades while attacking Sora and leaving Asuka and Homura to fight more hordes of Fluttering Heartless! Dark Yomi's attack forced the Keybearer to crash through the window of a nearby building, setting the stage for Dark Yomi as she prepared to begin their battle…
"Finally…some 'quality time'..." Dark Yomi taunted.
Sora stood back up, Keyblade in hand, and asked, "...I get that you're after me, but why? Why possess one of their friends? Why is she wearing that armor? And why are you after me?!" Dark Yomi answered, "I guess I chose to possess the girl out of…insurance. I couldn't exactly contact you freely, I needed a way that didn't spoil the surprise! And this body keeps anyone familiar with her at bay, after all, who wants to be haunted by the Dead?"
Dark Yomi then disappeared and in a flash attempted to stab Sora, who caught onto her move too quickly since he remembered Dark Riku pulling the same trick on him back when he was younger and trying to save Kairi in Hollow Bastion.
Sora then used Blitz Slash to swat Dark Yomi to the side, but as she touched the wall, her form vanished in a puff of smoke! He then heard Dark Yomi say, "The Armor you're so intrigued by, doesn't it show a NICE amount of this girl's body? It was also necessary to possess someone who can drive the boys insane with lust, and her appeal goes through the roof…but as for WHY this body is wearing that armor, would you believe me if I said…"
Suddenly, Dark Yomi pulled Sora's coat off while throwing him against a wall, where she prevented him from moving by threatening him with a swift stab through the wall with her blade, near his head…
"-It came with the possession?"
Sora however kicked the girl off and swung his Keyblade against her Soul Eaters, demonstrating a mastery of his swordsmanship that could barely be rivaled!
Sora then knocked one of the Soul Eaters from Dark Yomi's grip and pointed his Keyblade at her neck! He then said, "I guess the Dark Armor is a dead giveaway at this point. Well whoever you are, leave the girl's body…now!" Dark Yomi however licked the Keyblade, making Sora somewhat annoyed by his opponent's questionable nature…
"Dear boy…if I left now, you would NEVER know why I was after you specifically in the first place." Dark Yomi teased. Sora then said, "Honestly, Homura would probably want her friend back more than I want my answers, so I'm going to have to ask for Yomi back, alive and well." Dark Yomi then asked, "-All without understanding the truth? Geez, boy, you need to learn to take what you want before it's too late-."
"I WANT YOMI. You kidnapped an innocent girl and possessed her while turning her into a puppet for your sick mind games! The game's up, and you have a choice. Let her go…or FEEL the Keyblade?"
Dark Yomi sighed and said, "And here, I was willing to let you go to the BASES with this body…unfortunately, you chose to lock it up while releasing the body's TRUE owner! You don't even know her, and yet the real Yomi seems so important to you." Sora then explained, "Asuka and Homura's friends are MY friends too, it's just that simple…now let her go."
Dark Yomi however surprised Sora by touching a pressure point, shocking him as his body became paralyzed…
Dark Yomi then grabbed Sora by the back of his head, and pulled him into her cleavage, then proceeded to look him in the eyes while whispering…
"I came after you…because you and I are the same."
Dark Yomi then gave one last surprise to Sora…
…A gentle kiss on the lips…
Asuka and Homura leapt through the same window and had just witnessed Dark Yomi kissing Sora, until the darkness in Yomi's body materialized into black, pink, and blue smoke, escaping through the broken window while leaving Yomi.
Sora felt his body was back in control, and no sooner did her feel it, than he caught Yomi as she collapsed, unconscious, leaving Sora to wonder…
"This darkness…is the same as me?"
Elsewhere, the brown-haired girl in red and white watched her land from afar until the cloud of darkness poured back into her hand. She licked her hand and said, "...this haloed boy…this Keyblade Heretic…will be mine…"
End of Chapter 12
Next Chapter...
Unlike Ikaruga, one ninja sees her redemption through serving the one she has wronged, and tries to earn Sora's approval to become his maid...