Sorry it took so long to update but even though its summer I've been busy. Now the story is coming to a close and I have a new story I'm working on. MarioPawns and I are working on a Mario fic that shows some truth of Mushroom Kingdom Romance. Chapter 1 has been posted and this note is almost over so you can read the story you clicked on in the last page.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts, 1,2, and bbs are not owned by SonicBlade or anyone else on fanfiction.

p.s: 358/2 days is coming Sept. 29, 2009 to all you gamers.

Chapter 15: Bonding Memories

Ventus looked down at his little brother, still in each others embrace. It's been ten years since he died, then years since he had been able to hold his little brother in his arms. The thing he missed most though was Sora's bright smile. The smile that could brighten any darkness.

At that moment Sora looked up at him and gave him that special smile. And just as Ventus thought the darkness which surrounded them seemed to melt away. They smiled at each other as the two faded into the light of their most valued memories.

The brothers finally brought there hug to an end and slowly, reluctantly, released each other. They glanced around their surroundings and noticed they were on the island once more. Ven looked down at Sora (even though he was only a few inches taller) when he felt a tug on his sleeve.

Sora tried to put a serious look on his face, but the look of joy could still be sensed, and said "You've got a lot of explaining to do." Ven knew this was coming; Sora always needed to know what was going on in his big brothers life. He was like that since they were little. Ven remembered Sora asking an endless amount of questions until he knew enough to join his brother wherever they went. In fact unless Riku was there Sora would stick to him like glue, but he didn't mind. He thought it was sweet and cute how Sora wanted to be brave and challenge himself to be like him.

They walked over to the dock and took a seat at the end to look out toward the ocean. "You said" Sora began "that we were in Kingdom Hearts before…right?" Ven continued to look out at the genital waves of the ocean. "I did." he answered. "Then why are we…?" Sora asked more confused than ever. "Do you know exactly what lies beyond the door to Kingdom Hearts?" Ventus asked his little brother.

Sora though about it for a moment before answering. "Well Ansem clamed it was a place where the most powerful heartless are supposed to be, but when I opened it for the first time it was light that came out. After that nothing but darkness was left when I got close enough to look inside it." Ven gave a small laugh and explained to Sora. "Truthfully, Sora, Kingdom Hearts is neither light nor dark. It's both and neither at the same time." Sora looked up at him even more confused than before. "To make it easier beyond the door is what ever the one who opens it believes it is. You believe that all hearts are made of light at sometime; therefore, for you Kingdom Hearts appeared in the form of light. It turned dark because those around you carried pieces of darkness inside there hearts. It might not have shown but didn't Riku become part of the dark for sometime?" Sora's expression changed to a sad one and he turned his head toward his lap at the memory.

"That might be true but he beat it!" Sora protested. "He's still my best friend, no matter what happens. I mean he only wanted to…save…Kairi." Sora declared. "Either way he let darkness in. I know Riku and I know he would never do something that stupid without a reason to." Ven defended.

Sora let out a deep sigh and turned to his brother with apologetic eyes. "I know, sorry. Its just Riku is my best friend and the past is the past." Ven placed a hand on the others shoulder and continued to face the sea. "I know. I guess in your blood to defend a friend." Ven smiled.

"Huh?" Sora asked. "I used to have a couple of friends that remind me of Kairi and Riku." Sora was surprised to hear this piece of information. After his brother left the island he had forgotten all about him and didn't know about these friends. "Like Kairi…and Riku?" Ven turned to face his brother with a sad smile.

"Their names are Terra and Aqua. Aqua was almost like my Kairi." Sora gave his full attention to the mention of Kairi's name. He really missed her. Ventus continued "She was strong, both willfully and battle wise. She never accepted defeat and encouraged the rest of us to keep going on." Sora thought to himself 'that does sound like Kairi'.

"As for Terra, I think I was the first person to ever give him a real chance. You see, Sora, like Riku he was used by the darkness." Sora's eyes widened in surprise when that came out. "I remember when we first met. He was ready to attack someone until I intervened. After that our friendship grew over time. We got closer, I even told him about the island, you, our family. Sora the three of us were the key wielders at the time." Sora could keep his surprise in any longer. "You were a key wielder!?" Ven couldn't help but laugh at the face Sora showed.

His pure blue eyes were as wide as possible; his mouth was hanging open enough to see down his throat. "Yeah, you know the old saying, there must always be three?" Sora got is face back to normal and nodded yes.

"I remember hearing somewhere that there must be light, dark, and betwixt." Sora informed. "That's right. Terra was the darkness…and Aqua was the light." Sora thought about his brother's words for a moment. "Wait a minute…that means you where…" Ven flashed a smile his way. "Yep, I was in between." he declared proudly. "I was able to use light and dark powers. But even so it was my heart that was needed to open the door. I still don't get why it wasn't Aqua's." Ven sat there puzzled until Sora spoke. "Maybe it was your connection to me." he suggested.

"Huh? How do you figure that?" he asked. "Well think about it. I'm the key of the light; I had to get it from somewhere." Sora stated proudly. Ven gave him an amused look and laughed at the compliment. "That makes as much sense as anything here." he replied.

The two stared out at the setting sun as the color of the sky faded from a soft blue to fiery reds and oranges. They watched the sun set below the horizon and the only light was that of the bright full moon and few stars that appeared in the sky.

"So this is what Kingdom Hearts really is?" Sora spoke softly. He said it more to himself than to Ven. "What our hearts desire most from our memories." Sora continued. "Yeah." Ven replied silently.

"He's back!" the shouted simultaneously. Sora looked toward his brother, sorrow in both their eyes. They gave each other one final hug and Sora slowly faded back into the real world.

He opened his sleepy eyes and looked straight up at the ceiling. To his unwanted surprise, he was greeted by two evil, yellow eyes. He felt the mans' boney hand slip around his forearm and roughly pull his to his feet in one tug. "Come." he said in his fowl voice. "It is time." Sora was dragged by his arm out of the cave and he looked toward the sky. One, and only one, thing was running through his head.

'I'll see you soon…Ven"

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What do ya think? I kinda slacked off a bit and if there are any mistakes I apologize. Tell me where they are and I'll try to change them.

Not much to say right now so Later!