Well i finally got the time and motivation to post up a new chapter ^_^. And the better news is.. is that this is the last chapter of the haunted Mansion! I couldn't help but feel I had this part going on for so long. But don't worry.. I'll be placing new worlds, especially one that has been requested. Hope you enjoy this last chapter of part 3 ^_^.

Chapter 9:

SORA POV:

We quickly made our way down the main staircase. It took us a while to find our way there, this mansion was like a labyrinth in itself. I don't know what was wrong with Riku, but it seemed he sensed something which Kairi and I couldn't sense ourselves. If it was darkness, we should be able to feel it coming as well, unless Riku was more connected with it. Eventually, we finally made our way to the main entrance. Just as we approached the door, a transparent figure materialized.

"Leaving so soon?" asked Ramsey, rather curtly.

"You can't keep us here!" snapped Riku.

"Oh you think so?"

"What's wrong Riku?" I asked. I had a nagging feeling that something was bothering him.

"I have a bad feeling," Riku replied solemnly. "I've felt like someone has been watching us, following, since we've found Kairi." I looked at Kairi. She had a worried look on her face. Suddenly, a voice sound behind us, a chuckle. I whipped around at the sound.

"You have a strong perception," he sounded amused. The voice was sharp, but deep, it didn't hide the sound of evil cleverness. The owner of the voice was hiding in the darkness of the hallway underneath the clock. He slowly stepped out. His hair was flat, short, and nearly as spiky as mine, jet black, with bright amber eyes.

"The name's Nox," he introduced proudly, "And I can't allow you to leave."

"Why not?" I demanded.

"Well, until we get what we need from you, you can't leave. Although you have the power to leave whenever you want, but that would be rather hard if I fought all three of you." This guy was cocky. He surely wasn't going to let us leave.

"Who are you working for?"

"Whoever said I was working for someone?" Nox laughed, messing with us.

"We don't have time for this! What do you want?" Riku demanded.

"Ok fine. I'll tell you," Nox gave in and crossed his arms across his chest. "I need that girl"-points at Kairi-"to come with me."

"Wha-what do you want with me?" Kairi asked, more perplexed than scared.

"Well you see, we're just gathering the Princesses of Heart. It's really not hard to do if you just cooperate with me," Nox shrugged with careless ease.

"I'm not going with you," Kairi replied bravely.

"Now you see, if you refuse, I'll have to take you by force," Nox stepped forward. As he did, we all summoned our keyblades. Nox seemed taken aback but our fierceness. Really, what did he expect?

"We won't let you take Kairi!" I said defensively.

"Now I guess I have no choice," Nox reached to his side and pulled out a long sword from the side of his criss-cross belt, a katana. I never noticed it before. "You see, if I can't bring her by force, then we-"

"Now now brother" said a quieter voice, "Don't tell them too much." Nox lowered his katana. Another person, almost as tall as Nox with a hoodie on, appeared. His face was clouded by the hood.

"I wasn't going too," replied Nox annoyed.

"Sure you weren't." Nox seemed to glare at his "brother".

"I was just going to warn them about the last option." "WHAT!"

"Stop wasting our time brother. Let's just get this over with," the other urged impatiently.

"Wait!" I said, "What's the last option?"

"Well, if you really want to know," shrugged the hooded figure. "If we can't bring her back," he paused for a moment, "then we will kill her on the spot."

KAIRI POV:

I stood in my spot, shocked. A quick glance at Sora and Riku showed their shock as well, but I'm sure that just made them even more protective over me.

"Hey I don't like the idea either, since she is such a pretty little thing," Nox admitted, "But orders are orders, right Max?" The hooded man nodded. Shortly afterwards, a knife was flying towards me. I had little time to react but deflected the knife before it got too close to my chest. Practicing with Sora and Riku paid off quite a bit.

Suddenly, multiple Heartless appeared. I saw Riku dodge them all, heading towards Nox and Max while Sora and I had the Heartless. These Heartless weren't hard at all to defeat, they were the really basic kinds of Heartless, but they just kept coming. This was most likely to drain our energy so that the enemy could have an advantage to fight us. What a cowardly tactic. I managed to get to a clearing and Sora went to help Riku, who was parrying and returning knives being thrown at him. Where did Max store all these knives? That was the time when Nox disappeared. I searched frantically for him. Nox could be anywhere, waiting to strike.

"This is taking way too long," a voice complained impatiently behind me. I spun around, adrenaline kicking in. He swung at me first from above as I guarded myself from his attack. I pushed back his attack and sent a horizontal strike. Nox jumped back, dodging my attack, then charged at me. I parried his stabbing attack and moved back. Then he disappeared again. This guy was really fast.

"Behind you," then a chuckle. I whirled back and guarded just in time from a vertical attack coming from below. He must've thought I wouldn't notice the sword from below. I didn't but I did notice the sword wasn't directly above me. I got pushed backwards and hit the wooden staircase railing, a small cry escaping my lips. I slid down and felt a sharp, pulsating pain along the middle and upper part of my back, mostly on my spine. I stumble as I try to get up, pain slicing up my spine. I could see Nox in the middle of the room. Then he ran rapidly towards me, his body a blur. In just a few seconds, Nox was in front of me, slowly raising his katana, a sadistic look embossed on his face.

"Buh-bye Princess," I closed my eyes, waiting for the extremely sharp edges to slice me up. Instead, I heard a loud CLANG! I opened my eyes shocked, vision blurry from the force I had my eyes closed, and all I saw was Nox stumbling back. Then, I saw a spinning keyblade return to its owner, Sora. He used strike raid to parry Nox's attack.

"Why you little-" said Nox furious. He charged at Sora. As Sora readied himself, Max came between them.

"We have to go!"

"What!" Nox said in raging disbelief, as if he was actually enjoying himself, "Why!"

"The wind has changed. Master Gracey is coming. He doesn't know about this, our help from Ramsey. He will be suspicious," warned Max. This time, Max's hood was down. He looked almost like Nox, maybe a more narrow face, with long black hair to his neck, and had grey eyes.

"Fine," Nox said reluctantly. " See you later." He waved off. It was like he didn't care anymore. I noticed when those two left, they went through Corridors of Darkness. Soon after, Master Gracey appeared.

"Whatever happened here?" He asked, surprised to see me sitting on the floor and in pain.

"She tripped and fell down the staircase," Riku came up with quickly.

"Ah I see," Master Gracey replied, "Are you alright my dear?"

"Yes I am," I replied though my back was still sore. I tried to put an innocent smile as if this really was an accident and giggled. "Hehe clumsy me."

'This isn't a matter to be laughing about Miss. Can you stand?" He asked sincerely. I think I had nearly forgotten I was sitting at the foot of the staircase.

"I'm sure I can," I replied as I hoisted myself up using the railing. Pain pinched multiple parts of my back, but I tried not to let it show. I held myself on the railing and smiled back at Master Gracey. "See, I'm fine."

Master Gracey smiled back. "It's good to hear that." Then he turned slowly, ready to leave.

"Sir," It was ramsey's old and husky voice. We all turned and watched him. I think we all forgot his presence while we were fighting. "The children wish to return to their homes."

"Very well, you may now go now that the storm has subsided."

"Thank you for your hospitality," I said, but he had already left the hall.

"Why are you letting us go?" Riku asked Ramsey.

"Would you rather stay? Besides you were leaving before I stopped you. I have no reason to now. But be warned, you will be seeing them again." Then Ramsey disappeared in a blue wisp of smoke.

"Let's go," Sora said. As I walked, my back was very sore with every step I took. Nox was very strong. I tried stretching my back. It felt relaxing, but some sharp pain accompanying it.

"Don't strain yourself," king Mickey said, "Just relax.'

"How do I do that while walking?"

"Uhmm… maybe you can ride my back," Sora suggested with a nervous smile to my reply. I really didn't know what to say. He is willing to do that? "You wouldn't be doing anything to hurt your back evn more."

"Alright. Are you sure you're ok with this?"

Sora helped me onto his back without answering. I guess it's a yes. He carried me the whole way to the Gummi Ship. I felt the muscles and nerves in my back begin to release.

"Thank you, for protecting me Sora." He glanced a little my way and I noticed his mouth curve up into a smile. As we continued towards the ship, a warm feeling gradually grew inside my chest. I rested my head on his shoulder and neck, my own smile showing. I have felt this before several times, but this time was different. It was the best feeling ever.

NARRATION:

Two figures walked into a world, filled completely with darkness. They walked on, following a floating torch, eventually walking into a room filled with torchlight. In the middle of the room was a throne, pointy with spires, and in it sat a man covered in the dark shadows cast by objects light by the torches. The two people with him now were Nox and Max.

"You don't have the Princess with you," the mysterious man stated in a deep, hoarse tone. Nox just hung back, not out of fear however, leaving his brother Max to do the talking.

"No Master Xior, please forgive us."

"No need for apologies," the man named Xior said, rather compassionately. "I didn't expect you to bring her right away. She does have several allies."

"Master wouldn't it be faster to kill the Princesses we have now and deal with the others later," asked Nox skeptically.

"Tru, but wouldn't it also be easier and faster to just capture them all and kill them rather than apprehend them individually? Besides, they will be useful dead or alive. Don't bring it up again." Xior glared at Nox and his eyes turned a glowing bright red. Nox looked away, that way he wouldn't feel weak and threatened. Then Xior's eyes returned its color to a dark brown.

"What do you want us to do with the last Princess?" asked Nox, breaking the silence.

'Do what I've always been telling you. Bring her to me, or kill her on the spot. If you have to have Axa confront them." Nox and Max looked at him slightly surprised that Xior would suggest letting Axa accompany them.

"Very well sir," Max replied, sounding indifferent. Nox simply nodded.

"Before you leave though," Master Xior called to them as they turned to leave, "If you fail to bring her here or kill her, just remember she will come to us eventually. We will rid of her in any way possible."

Well, there you have it! ^_^ Stay tuned for the next chapter.. Where will our trio go? Keep in mind there may be some old worlds too but very few I believe. See you all in the next chapter ^_^.