"Saiyoku! Wait up!"

"Aren't you usually the one in the lead? So, are you coming or what?"

"I thought you hated Kairi, so why is it that you seem so anxious to get over there?"

"I'm not. I figured you were and I was just leading the way."

Riku froze, "Uh… you aren't angry at me?"

She slowed to a stop and glanced behind her, "Angry? That's a bit off topic. No, why?"

"You're not? That's not like you. I mean, I— never mind."

Saiyoku laughed, "Alright. Why don't we leave the subject alone? Probably best for both of us."

"Yeah."

"Come on, we need to get to Naught's Approach. We'd better hurry."

"How about a quicker way?" He opened up a Dark Portal and motioned for me to go through it.

"Right… forgot about that."

"Yep, we could've gotten there a lot faster."

"Well then, let's go."

Saiyoku stepped through, but froze immediately after. Riku followed her, and seeing her frozen, grabbed her shoulder.

"Saiyoku?"

"Saiyoku, I need you to do me a favor," Aqua's voice echoed inside her head.

What is it? She thought.

"I need you to give this to Kairi. She needs to have it for the future."

A flash of light went off in her head and she visualized a flowery Keyblade with Aqua holding it out to her. Why? Isn't it yours?

"She created it and gave it to me. She won't remember, but she's the one who needs it now."

Fine.

"Saiyoku? Hey, c'mon, don't blank out on me now."

"Sorry. Aqua just asked me for a favor."

"And that is?"

"I'll explain it later," she said, flicking her hand upward to open another portal. Riku grabbed her hand before she opened it up, "How about I open it? We don't need you opening an upside down portal now, do we?"

"…Fine. Show off," she muttered. With one quick flick of his hand, the gap opened up and they peeked through… appearing right behind Saïx and two Berserkers that were blocking Kairi and Naminè's way.

"You take out the one on the left, and I'll take out the one on the right. Kairi can't know it's us," Riku whispered pointing to the two lesser Nobodies and pulling up his hood.

"Got it," Saiyoku pulled up her hood as well and slid out to the side, creeping up behind her victim. They both drew their Keyblades and brought the blades down on their enemies, striking them down with one blow.

"—this would be where I die of laughter," Saïx held out his arms, but turned when he heard the sound of metal hitting the Nobodies.

"You two… Didn't Roxas take care of you?" He looked at Riku.

Naminè relaxed, "You can take it from here, Riku, Saiyoku," and Kairi looked questioningly at her own Nobody, "Riku! Saiyoku!" Thanks Naminè. That kind of ruined the point of 'Kairi can't know it's us' and our hoods up, Saiyoku thought, mentally smacking her head. She turned to the two of them, but nothing more than that. Riku put away his Keyblade and shot a blast of Dark flame at Saïx, who merely held up his arms in defense and back-flipped toward the wall. But Riku charged and pinned him to the wall by his shoulders. That didn't hold him—he opened up a portal behind him and slid through it, disappearing from Riku and Saiyoku's sight.

"Wait!" Kairi chased after Riku as he began to step through after Saïx, but Saiyoku stepped in between them, narrowing her eyes—an unseen glare to her rival.

"S-Saiyoku?"

Pluto came running up from out of nowhere, backing Riku away from the portal. Saiyoku closed it with a wave of her hand and tried to get Pluto's attention without saying anything, but it wasn't quite working…

While she was busy, Kairi went around her and tried to see Riku by pulling down his hood, "Riku… you're really here…" Saiyoku finally grabbed Pluto and patted his head, sitting down next to him and sticking out her tongue and making a choking noise, "Gack!" She went back to glaring at Kairi while Riku's hood was removed and Kairi gasped when she saw what Riku really looked like.

"R-Riku? What's… what's going on?"

"Well, what do you think, Kairi?" Saiyoku asked, her voice in monotone.

"Saiyoku? That is you, isn't it?"

"Duh. Who else would it be?" She removed her hood and resumed petting Pluto on his head. Kairi looked at Riku; it was obvious she was confused.

"You are Riku, right?"

"Well, Ansem? You wanted to see her so badly! So, go ahead and tell her. Or did we come here for nothing?" Saiyoku egged him on, trying to move the situation forward.

"She would've been taken by Saïx again if we hadn't come here you know."

"Good rid—er, I mean, that's true. But we're also kind of defeating the purpose of coming here originally if you don't TALK TO HER."

"…I know you're Riku. I can tell by the way you talk to Saiyoku and by the way she talks back to you. But why did she call you Ansem? Why do you look like that? Why is it you feel that you don't want anyone to know it's you? And why are you dressed in the Organization uniforms?" Kairi immediately started spouting questions right and left, just adding to Saiyoku's frustration.

"Kairi. Kairi. KAIRI SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!" She groaned when the princess finally stopped speaking and continued, "Too many questions at one time. Slow down."

"I'll explain more when we find Sora."

"Sora's really here? I thought… never mind."

"Yeah, he's really here. We should go and find him before he hurts himself," Riku muttered. Saiyoku grinned, "Back to insulting him I see."

"Shut up."

"Bite me. Anyway, let's get going. If he entered the castle from the bottom, then he should be around the Hall of Empty Melodies by now. Let's just hope he isn't in any trouble."

"Let's go."

They back-tracked through Proof of Existence, where only a few of the tombstone-like doorways were still standing. They entered the doorway that was labeled 'the Freeshooter' which led to a room with two separate stairways that each led to the two upper balconies in the Hall of Empty Melodies.

"You said he's in there, right?"

"Yeah," Saiyoku nodded, "Go up the left stairway and onto the balcony."

"Okay. Thanks, Saiyoku."

"No problem…" she muttered as she watched the red-head run up the stairs and disappear.

"You still don't seem too happy about this."

"Why would I be? I'd much rather leave her here, grab Sora, and go back to Destiny Islands. Then it'd just be the three of us, just like it used to be. Kairi can go back to her world."

"It certainly sounds like you're back to normal and not insane like earlier."

"I never was insane. C'mon, let's go. Kairi's probably already gotten into trouble," she ran up the stairs and looked over the balcony. Kairi was surrounded by Heartless… as usual. She sighed and waved for Riku to hurry up, "I'd go help her if I were you."

"Why do you have to be right?"

"'Cause I always am. Oh, this is what Aqua asked me to do," she said as she summoned the Keyblade she had seen in her head. She handed it to Riku and smiled, "You give it to her."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"Fine."

He jumped over the balcony ledge and picked Kairi up, killing the Heartless just with his Dark Aura. Saiyoku jumped after him, drawing her Keyblade, "Looks like the fun's just beginning."

"Take it," Riku said, handing Kairi the Keyblade. She held it delicately at first, but then gripped it and swung it down, "This time… I'LL fight. You know Sora's completely hopeless without us. C'mon you two!" She ran forward and took out Shadows one by one.

"I think she means he's completely hopeless without US. But, for now, I'll overlook it," Saiyoku ran forward and took out several of the Heartless quickly, Riku following her as usual. Even after taking out the original group, more and more kept coming.

"Agh! Where are all of them coming from!" She screamed as she took out one of the larger ones that had appeared, "Stupid Heartless! How the heck am I even one of you! And if I am, shouldn't you guys like me!" She pierced another one and moved on to the next, ending up next to Riku.

"Maybe it's because you're also a Nobody, remember? They don't like them."

"And maybe it's the same for the Nobodies. I'm a Heartless, so vice versa. Yippee. Why can't I just be one and make these stupid things go away?"

"Because life isn't fair like that."

"Of course it's not."

"Yeah, it never is."

"We wish it was though."

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GUYS BACK FOR! She took out four more Heartless in frustration.

"We've always been here. By the way, nice going with Riku back in Twilight Town. Ha ha."

SHUT UP TERRA! She blushed.

"Yeah, that was unnecessary."

"I don't get to have fun like that often, and besides Ven, you know it was necessary."

GO AWAY! She took out three more.

"How the heck was it necessary?"

"Because we require fun in her mind. Getting stuck in a girl's mind with raging hormones at the time is not exactly my idea of fun."

"We've been through worse."

"No, I think this tops it all."

WOULD YOU TWO GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE! I'M NOT IN THE MOOD!

"Fine. We'll just go back into the depths of your mind and sulk again."

"Sorry for the trouble, Saiyoku."

Ven, I forgive you. Terra? NO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

"In that case, if you ever need me, feel free to ask. Terra might want some action too, so if you don't want him annoying you like this, then I would ask for his help sometimes. Even if he's not your favorite person at the moment. Bye!"

"Those two have the worst timing ever!" Saiyoku muttered, taking out the last of the Shadows. She suddenly realized that there were more than just Kairi and Riku on the balcony with her. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were up there too, putting away their weapons like Kairi. Saiyoku and Riku did the same as the three companions turned around.

"Kairi, you were great!" Donald said, catching her attention. She turned around and giggled, flipping her hair. Saiyoku felt a sudden urge to gag, but resisted… for Riku's sake. The princess and Sora approached each other, both a little hesitant.

"You are different, Kairi, but I'm just glad you're here!"

"You, Riku, and Saiyoku never came home, so I came looking for you."

Saiyoku sighed and muttered to Riku, "Yeah, sure she did. The only reason she's here is thanks to Axel and you."

"You're the one who sent her to Twilight Town. It's partially your fault."

"I fixed your problem in doing that."

"You only made matters worse," he whispered as he opened another Dark Portal behind him.

"Did not. End of subject. Hey, are we leaving already? Aww, I thought we were all going back together."

"I'm leaving. You can stay and go take care of Xemnas. He is using Kingdom Hearts in ways that involve you more than anyone could ever imagine. Your problem. Besides, I don't belong here."

"Don't tell me you're throwing another emo party."

"Shut up," he muttered as he walked toward the dark hole.

"Wait, Ansem!" Sora's voice called out from behind him, making him stop, "I mean, Xehanort's Heartless… I never thought for a second that I'd ever see YOU again. Just thinking about all the things you did makes me really mad. But… But you saved Kairi, right? I have to be grateful for that… Thanks. And… Saiyoku, I never thought I'd see you hanging around Xehanort's Heartless after closing the door with Riku. But I'm glad to see you're doing okay."

Saiyoku smiled and waved her hand to close the portal, "Well, you'd be surprised about a lot of things, Sora. I'll explain it all later."

Riku ignored them and continued to walk forward, determined to get away; but Kairi ran after him, grabbing his arm, "Riku, don't go!"

Saiyoku looked back at Sora and his friends, waiting for their reactions to that sudden truth. They all looked at Kairi like she was crazy, "Kairi, what did you just say?"

She looked back at them, "Riku."

"I'm no one—just a castaway from the Darkness."

Saiyoku smacked her forehead and murmured under her breath, "When, when, when did he become such an emo kid? You idiot…"

"Sora, come here. Say something to him."

He obliged, though obviously confused. Kairi took his hand and took Riku's hand, "Saiyoku, come over here too."

She rolled her eyes and obliged too, letting Kairi take her hand and place it on Riku's and Sora's. She turned to Sora, "Here, you'll understand. Close your eyes." He did, and for a short time, he kept them closed. When he opened them again, he immediately crumpled to the floor, tears pouring from his eyes. Saiyoku removed her hand, as well as Kairi.

"Riku… It's Riku. Riku's here… I looked for you!"

"C'mon, Sora. You've got to pull it together."

"I looked everywhere for you!" He looked up at his best friend. "I didn't want you to find me."

"But it was him that was helpin' us, wasn't it?" Goofy asked Donald.

"Huh?"

"Those clues we kept finding. That musta been Riku."

"With a little help!" Saiyoku added.

"I was starting to worry you guys weren't ever gonna catch on," he said as Sora stood up, "Sora never did pick the brightest friends."

"What do you mean by that!" Donald narrowed his eyes.

"Why didn't you let me know you were okay?" Sora asked.

"I told you. I didn't want to be found. Not like this… I couldn't. I fought with Ansem. With… Xehanort's Heartless—when it invaded my heart, and I won. But to use the power of Darkness, I had to become Ansem myself."

"Why did you let Saiyoku know then?"

"I kinda came along for the ride. I did get stuck behind the door with him, remember? But we've had our fair share of problems too y'know. And there was always a reason we couldn't come see you guys." She explained.

"So… when you became Ansem… does that mean… you can't change back?" Kairi asked.

"This battle isn't over. And until it is, I still need the power of Darkness."

"Then… let's finish it. You're still Riku, no matter what!" Sora said, and everyone nodded in agreement, "So how 'bout it: Think we can handle one last rumble together? The King's waiting!"

"Yeah! Let's get going!" Donald said enthusiastically.

"Sora, you certainly haven't changed. You're still as optimistic as ever," Saiyoku laughed while patting his head. But her smile faded as a sharp ache erupted through her whole body. Her breathing faltered for a second and her heart skipped a beat. She sauntered over to Riku and whispered, "Riku… something's happening to me. I don't know what."

"Relax, everything will be alright. I promise. I'm sure it'll go away eventually."

"I hope you're right."