Chapter 7

Riku sighed, "We haven't gotten anywhere with this. We're no closer to finding Kairi and she's leaving us hints that I don't understand. I got one but what about the other? 'A fight to the death. There will be one in the end.' What does it mean?"

Sora shrugged, "I don't know. I just want to find Kairi."

"Ah, two lost boys looking for their poor lost girlfriend."

Riku turned, "You two again?"

"You seem so pleased to see us," the boy said.

"We know her name but what's yours?" Sora asked.

"That doesn't matter because you won't live long enough for it to be of any use," Xikari promised.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Riku summoned his Keyblade.

Xikari laughed, "How do you know I won't keep it?" she leaped forward.

Sora leaped to help Riku but was blocked by an impassable wall of wind. He glared at the boy. He stood straight and his hand was pointed palm out with his fingers pointing the sky. Sora growled, "Fine. I'll deal with you then." He summoned his Keyblade.

The boy nodded, "That was the intention. I guess we get to see whose better."

"Right," Sora rolled his eyes. Before he knew what was happening he was lifted off his feet by a gust of wind. The boy was there instantly. He slammed Sora down into the ground. Sora cried out in pain. He landed on him and flipped backwards. Mickey Mouse was there and he leaped forward. The boy cried out in surprise. He managed to defend against the mouse's attacks but he couldn't retaliate and was being driven from Sora. Sora climbed to his feet. The wall of wind had died. He leaped to Riku's aid. Riku had also been getting beat up. She was fast and precise. Her movements were unpredictable at best. Together they started to beat her. She cursed under her breath, "Time to go!" She opened a corridor of darkness, "See you two boys later." She waved and disappeared. The boy followed with a nod to Sora.

"Those two are odd," Riku commented, "She taunts and he's silent."

"Mostly, he seems more respectful," Sora nodded, "He holds us in high regard."

"But why would he?" Riku turned to Mickey, "What do you think?"

"I don't know what to think," Mickey shrugged.

Riku growled, "Man. We've only got two clues. They aren't much to go off of."

"C'mon. We'll be alright," Sora smiled.

"Those two are a part of the Organization and they're ruthless. I got sliced and you got landed on," Riku muttered.

"Now who's thinking too much?" Sora asked playfully.

"Alright, alright, you win," Riku chuckled and shook his head.

"C'mon, we haven't finished checking out Destiny Islands."

Riku followed his friend around the islands. He couldn't help but worry. Kairi was nowhere to be found. They had searched four worlds and not found her. She didn't know a lot of the worlds out there and what if she had been killed. Or worse what if Xehanort was looking to collect the Princesses of Heart again. Riku shook his head. She's not completely helpless. She'll be fine. She's a good magic user and I'm sure she can learn on her own how to use the Keyblade. Sora did and he's alright at it. She never participated in our little spars though. She only ever watched. What now?

"Riku, come look," Sora held up a folded piece of paper.

"A new clue?" Riku raced up to him and ripped it out of his hand.

"Whoa!" Sora pulled his hand back, "Don't rip my hand off."

"Sorry," Riku apologized distractedly, "This one says 'Seven hearts. Seven princesses. Seven of us but only one can unlock Kingdom Hearts."

"Wait I thought all the princesses were needed in order to unlock Kingdom Hearts," Sora glanced at Riku, obviously expecting an answer.

"I don't know," Riku shrugged.

"Riku! Sora!"

The two boys exchanged shocked glances. They turned, "Kairi!"

Kairi smiled, "How are you? I see you've found me, or I've found you."

"I—why'd you leave?" Riku asked.

"I wanted to help," Kairi smiled, "Here. I've got something for you."

"What?" Sora asked.

Kairi handed them a rolled set of papers, "I have it in writing." She smiled, "See ya around!" she jogged away.

"Kairi!" Riku called after her.

"Wait!" Sora tore after her.

Kairi looked over her shoulder, "Don't follow me. You won't survive." She turned around a corner. By the time the boys rounded the same corner she was gone.

"Kairi," Sora sighed.

"You look so dejected," Riku teased.

Sora flopped onto the ground, "We came all this way to find her and she runs off again."

"Maybe we can't find her," Riku looked at the horizon. "Maybe we just have to wait for her the way she's waited for us. She's trying to help us and instead of helping her we're running around looking for her. She can take care of herself."

Sora nodded, "Yeah!" He climbed back to his feet, "Let's go get the Organization!" We've stopped them before and we can do it again!"

"There's the Sora I know," Riku smirked, "All he needed was a little pick me up." Kairi's changed. I can see it. She's different now. What happened to her while we were separated? What will happen to us? Will we change? I doubt Sora will. He never does. Our home has been destroyed and he's been dead before and he hasn't changed a bit. Well, except he's more mature now. He knows when it's okay to try and be funny. Otherwise he hasn't changed at all. I've changed, definitely but what about Kairi?

"Hey, you coming?" Sora asked, "We're going to the gummi ship to look these papers over."

Riku nodded quickly, "Yeah. I'm coming." What does she have in writing?

Sora opened the papers, "Whoa, it's a complete layout of the castle on the World That Never Was. How did she get this?"

Riku shrugged. He lifted up another piece of paper, "The Seventh Princess of Heart?" he pulled it closer to him and read it aloud, "There are seven princesses…blah, blah, blah. We know all of this already. 'The seventh princess has the power to absorb the power in the hearts of the others thereby unlocking Kingdom Hearts. That princess is the girl called Kairi. She has power beyond her imagination and…" He trailed off.

"Well?" Sora asked.

"Unlocking said power can be deadly if done in the wrong way," Riku finished. He felt sick.

"Has Kairi unlocked it yet?" Sora asked after staring at him for a moment.

Riku swallowed the bile rising in his throat, "If she has that means she did it right. If she hasn't let's hope nothing goes wrong when she does."

Sora swallowed, "Uh-oh."