Last time, the newly created Kurayami, a hybrid of Diamon and Heartless origin, escaped from the lab of Professor Tomoe. The Witches Eugeal and Mimete, along with Nikolai, gave chase to recapture the creature. Kurayami found Sora, Usagi and their friends. Usagi and her friends transformed into the Sailor Senshi and the fight was on. The battle was one sided as Kurayami withstood everything our heroes threw at her.

With Riku and Aiden hurt, as well as Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus, Kurayami turned her evil eyes on Sailor Moon. Sora and Kairi tried to save their friend, but the creature blasted the two Keyblade Wielders with dark magic, taking their heart crystals. Sailor Moon was saved by her beloved Tuxedo Kamen, while everyone else recovered to continue the fight.

But then something completely unexpected happened. Roxas and Naminé showed up. Kurayami decided that she had had enough for now and teleported away. But our heroes troubles were just beginning. 'Nuff said, on with the show!

Chapter 5: Of the Past and Present

"A day," said Namine as she stood up, a grave look on her face, "Sora and Kairi will die in a day unless we recover their heart crystals."

"How can you be so sure?" Sailor Venus asked.

"I'm a witch," said Namine as she smiled, "a good one, but a witch none the less. My magic is mostly memory related, but I've also dabbled in the healing arts from time to time," her expression became serious again, "my magic tells me that Sora and Kairi are fine for the moment, but the longer they're separated from their heart crystals, the weaker their life forces become. By this time tomorrow, they'll be dead."

"No way!" exclaimed Sailor Moon, "we have to find that monster! She has their heart crystals! We've got to get them back!"

"We don't even know where to look for them," said Sailor Mars, "that creature, that Kurayami, she could be anywhere by now."

"But we can still find her," said Sailor Mercury, "my computer gathered a small but clear amount of data on her. Not enough to determine a weakness, but enough so that it can recognize her energy signature. I can create a tracking program that will home in on that signature."

"That's a good start," said Riku, "but I think we should move Sora and Kairi to someplace more comfortable."

"Right," said Aiden, "we can't just leave them here out in the open for the birds to peck on."

"My place is nearby," said Sailor Mars, "there's plenty of room for them there."

"Okay then," said Sailor Moon. With that she and the other Senshi powered down with a flash of their respective colors; white, blue, red, green and orange. When the light cleared, they were back to normal as Usagi, Ami, Rei, Mako and Mina, in their normal clothing.

With a flash of rose petals, Tuxedo Kamen reverted back to his regular appearance as Mamoru Chiba. He had short dark hair and light blue eyes. He wore a black shirt under a green jacket and black pants.

"Are you sure you're alright, Usako?" he asked Usagi, using an obvious term of endearment.

"I'm fine, Mamo-chan," said Usagi, "just shook up a bit. I still can't believe how strong and scary that Diamon was."

"It was also a Heartless," said Aiden.

"Heartless?" Mamoru asked.

"We'll explain when we've gotten Sora and Kairi settled in," said Riku as he and Aiden picked up their friends, whom now were muttering Pink Floyd lyrics.

"And someone else has some explaining to do as well," said Riku as he eyed Roxas and Namine.

"What's there to explain?" Roxas asked, "we came out of Sora and Kairi went they got hit by that dark magic."

"When their heart crystals are returned," said Namine, "we'll return to them as well."

"Okay, I'm lost," said Mina, "what's this about those two," she pointed at Roxas and Namine, "being in those two?" she pointed at Sora and Kairi.

"I want to know that as well," said Mako.

"It's long story," said Riku, "a very long story."

As our heroes carried the oblivious Sora and Kairi out of the lot, little did they know that they were being watched by two young women with their own agenda. Both of them, publicly, were friends of Usagi and her friends, but in secret, they were neutral at best.

"Those four children from another world," said the first woman, tall with short blond hair cut like a boy's and with blue eyes, "they possess incredible power." She was wearing a boy's high school uniform; burgundy jacket with green checkered trousers. This is Haruka Tenoh, a tomboy with a love for fast vehicles and running, who also is gifted with a sense of precognition, able to sense trouble coming on the wind.

"But that creature was stronger," said the other woman. She had light green hair down past her shoulders and green eyes. She wore the girls version of the high school uniform. This is Michiru Kaioh, a girl with a love for swimming, art and the violin. She also has a sense for danger, able to feel the presence of evil on the waters.

"The enemy has changed their tactics," said Hakura, "they've clearly found an ally in the darkness."

"And if they succeed," said Michiru, "if that creature finds the talismans, then this world will fall to the silence and darkness together."

"Not if we find them first," said Hakura, "and we have to do what has to be done."

"What are you thinking right now?" Michiru asked, "that those kids from another world, that one of them may have a talisman?"

"Or that they have all of them," said Hakura, "We won't know for sure unless we get to see their heart crystals."

"But if they do have talismans in them," said Michiru, "then you know what will happen."

"Sacrifices have to be made," said Hakura, "even among heroes. We've tried to tell Sailor Moon that, but she and her friends just won't listen."

"Speaking of the inner Sailor Senshi," said Michiru, "I'm surprised you didn't try to see who they were when they powered down just now."

"Call it professional courtesy," said Hakura, "and you didn't look either."

"I was trying to sense where that creature went," said Michiru, "but it's like it completely vanished."

"I agree," said Hakura, "we won't be able to find it again until it attacks again. Nothing to do but wait." With that the two mysterious women went their own way down the streets of Tokyo.

Two minutes after Hakura and Michiry left, the white minivan screeched to a halt outside the lot. "She was here!" said Eugeal as she used the portable tracking device, "Kurayami was here." she checked the tracking device again, "what…no! I've lost the signal!"

"Maybe the machine is broken," said Mimete.

"The device is working," said Nikolai as he used his dark magic to sense for Kurayami, "it's the creature, she has completely vanished."

"What do we do now?" Mimete asked.

"We keep moving," said Eugeal, "no way can we let Kurayami lose. She could accidentally kill the people who have the talismans before taking their heart crystals. If that happens, then the talismans will be lost forever."

Just then the van's radio chirped. Eugeal grabbed the microphone, "Professor Tomoe."

"Eugeal," said Tomoe, "I've just gone over the data the computers recently received. Kurayami's performance in battle is unlike anything seen from a Diamon. She nearly defeated the Sailor Senshi and the Keyblade Wielders."

"Is that so?" Nikolai asked.

"She also took the heart crystals of two of the Keyblade Wielders," said Tomoe, "and would have taken the others, if she hadn't been interrupted."

"Two of the Keyblade Wielders have been disabled," said an astonished Nikolai, "which ones?"

"That is information I do not have," said Tomoe. "all the data says is that two heart crystals were extracted. I suppose further improvements to the data collecting software can be arranged."

"I hope one of them was Sora," said Nikolai, "and the other either Riku or Kairi."

"Just what are these brats to you?" Eugeal asked.

"Truth be told," said Nikolai, "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting them yet. But I hate them nonetheless. They are the enemies of the darkness and my mistress. But most of all, they are responsible for the misfortune of my comrades."

"Really?" Mimete asked, "what happened?"

"One of my comrades died fighting the Keyblade Wielders," said Nikolai, "another is crippled, and three of my comrades are being punished for failing to destroy them, a fate I will share if I fail to destroy the meddling brats."

"Then let's make sure that your enemies are dead," said Eugeal, "and our enemies as well. Just as soon as we find that delinquent Diamon." With that the van speed off again, barely avoiding sideswiping several nearby cars.

"Remind me to never again get in a vehicle with you behind the wheel," said a nervous Nikolai as the van screeched around a blind corner. "I've seen reckless driving before, but what you're doing is suicide!"

"Flatter will get you nowhere," said Eugeal as she floored the accelerator again.

The home of Rei Hino was at the local Shinto shrine. "This is where you live?" Aiden asked as he, Riku, Roxas and Naminé admired the pleasant scenery of the tree lined stone path to the shrine and large house.

"It's my grandfather's property," said Rei, "and one day it will be mine. My grandpa and Yuichiro are out of town for a few days, so we'll have the place to ourselves."

"Who's Yuichiro?" Naminé asked.

"Her boyfriend," said a teasing Mina.

"We…haven't really dated," said a annoyed and embarrassed Rei, "we just like each other. But enough about me. Let's get Sora and Kairi settled."

She showed our heroes inside, everyone removing their shoes in the foyer. Rei directed Aiden and Riku to a large guest room that had two spare beds. Sora and Kairi, both now mumbling Deep Purple lyrics, were put to bed and tucked in.

"…smoke on the water…" said Sora, "…fire in the sky..."

"…hush, hush, I thought I heard her calling my name…" said Kairi.

"They'll be alright," said Naminé, "but there's no time to waste. We have to find that creature."

"I'm already working on the tracking program," said Ami as she worked at her pocket computer.

"There's nothing we can do but wait for now," said Riku.

"In the meantime," said Aiden, "we could all do with some answers," he looked at Roxas and Namine, "just who the hell are you guys anyway?"

"I'd like to know that to," said Usagi.

"As would I," said Mamoru.

"It's a long story," said Roxas, "and it'd be better if we all sat down, with some snacks."

"Snacks and a place to sit down, I have," said Rei.

"Great," said Roxas, "you wouldn't happen to have some Sea-Salt ice cream here?"

"What kind of ice cream?" Rei asked.

"Never mind," said Roxas. He then had a thought, "someone should stay and watch Sora and Kairi, just in case."

"I'll keep an eye on them," said Mako, "you can fill me in on the details later."

"We'll be right back, Sora, Kairi," said Riku, "hang tight."

A short time later found Riku, Aiden, Roxas, Namine, Usagi, Mamoru, Ami, Rei and Mina in one of the larger sitting rooms of Rei's house. Joining them was Luna the talking cat, whom has acted as advisor and guide for the Sailor Senshi. With her was Artemis, another talking cat who has been Mina's companion, as well as had a relationship with Luna in the past.

"Alright," said Riku, "here's how it is. When a person's heart is consumed by darkness, they become a Heartless. But sometimes, when that person possesses a strong will, part of that person stays alive, albeit without a heart. The part that still lives is called a Nobody."

He then showed everyone Sora's sketchbook, opened to the page that had a drawing of a Dusk-type Nobody.

"I've never seen anything like that," said Artemis.

"Neither have I," said Luna.

"Just how dangerous are Nobodies?" Mamoru asked.

"They're a lot stronger than Heartless," said Riku, "and a lot more intelligent, but they appear in fewer numbers than Heartless."

"But sometimes, a Nobody remembers who they were as a human," said Roxas, "and they retain some semblance of what they looked as a human."

"You do kinda look like Sora," said Mina.

"And you bare a resemblance to Kairi," said Ami to Naminé.

"Almost like sisters," said Rei.

"So you two are the Nobodies of Sora and Kairi," said Mamoru.

"Yes," said Roxas while Namine nodded.

"How'd that happen?" Usagi asked.

"That's what I want to know!" said a slightly exasperated Aiden.

"Remember when we told you about Kairi's heart being inside Sora's?" Riku asked, "Well, in order to free her heart, Sora used a black Keyblade to unlock her heart and his at the same time. Sora became a Heartless for a short time, but Kairi's feelings for him saved him from the darkness.

"But what we didn't know was that when the two hearts were unlocked, two Nobodies were created."

"Us," said Naminé, while Roxas nodded in agreement

"But if you came from Sora and Kairi," said Ami, "how did you appear here now?"

"We went back into Sora and Kairi," said Namine, "and that is a story to tell."

"I share Sora's ability to wield Keyblades," said Roxas, "as well as his strong will. But when I was created, I had no memory whatsoever. I was alone, with no idea of who I was or what I was supposed to do.

"But then I was found by other Nobodies. There were twelve who remembered their lives as humans, and they all desired to be human again. This was Organization XIII, and I was the 13th member.

"My power to use the Keyblade made me an indispensable asset to the Organization, for the leader, Xemnes, he had a plan; collect enough hearts from The Heartless, and use those hearts to create a door to Kingdom Hearts. Xemnes reasoned that in Kingdom Hearts, he would find the power to become human again, regardless to the cost to the rest of the universe.

"They needed me because a Keyblade is the best weapon to release hearts from the darkness and then gather those hearts. At first I went along with it because I had nothing else to do. For nearly a year I fought alongside other Organization members, especially with Axel, whom turned out to be my best friend. Every time we completed a mission to the various world, we'd sit atop the clock tower in Twilight Town and celebrate a job well done with some Sea Salt ice cream.

"For a while it was okay, but then I came to realize that what the Organization was doing was wrong. I rebelled and tried to escape, but something caused me to go back and try to stop the Organization, something that I really can't remember. I went back to fight my former comrades, but instead I ran into Riku."

"I had to fight Roxas," said Riku, "The Organization had tried to manipulate Sora into doing their bidding."

"They used me to make Sora forget his memories of his friends, his journey, and especially his memories of Kairi," said Naminé, "all so they could use Sora to free more Hearts to create Kingdom Hearts. But like Roxas, I came to realize that the Organization was evil. I rebelled and helped Sora get away from the Organization.

"But my magic had done its job; Sora had nearly forgotten everything. In order to heal his mind, and the minds of his friends, they had to sleep for a year."

"But I had Sora's memories locked inside of me," said Roxas, "and I was needed in order for him to wake up. And Riku had to do what had to be done in order for me to go with him to where Sora was."

"I didn't hurt you that much," said Riku.

"Please," said Roxas, "I kicked you ass so much, you had to give in to your inner darkness to take me out."

"Well, that's true," said Riku, "but that's beside the point. Anyway, we eventually got Sora's memories back into him."

"Meaning I had to give up myself," said Roxas, "and merge back with my Somebody. Sora woke up with his memories, and for me, well, let's just say that my summer vacation was over."

"One thing lead to another," said Naminé, "resulting with the defeat of Organization XIII, and me merging with my Somebody, Kairi."

"And we were together," said Roxas as he held Naminé's hand, "just as Sora and Kairi are together."

"Kairi and Sora don't know it," said Naminé, "but we've been there with them, helping them with their relationship and their powers."

"That explains Kairi's healing magic," said Riku, "and Sora being able to use Roxas' fighting style when he fought Sasuke that one time. And how he knows several other types of Heartless that he's never really seen before. I'm surprised that they didn't notice you until now."

"Maybe they just weren't listening right," said Naminé, "Roxas and I have been able to talk to each other, even when Sora and Kairi aren't together."

"So you were in Sora and Kairi all along," said Aiden to Roxas and Naminé, "and now that they 're without their heart crystals…"

"We came out," said Roxas, "I really don't know exactly how it happened, but here we are."

"But that still leaves us with the problem at hand," said Riku, "finding that creature and recovering Sora and Kairi's heart crystals."

"I should have the tracking program finished in a few minutes," said Ami. All the time Riku, Roxas and Naminé have been talking, she had been working on her pocket computer.

"Which leaves us with enough time to ask another question," said Naminé. She looked at Usagi and Mamoru, "having heard everything that Kairi heard, I was wondering about your story, especially about the part of you being lovers in a past life."

"Oh, that," said a slightly embarrassed Usagi, "umm…well, that's a really good question."

"It really is a story worth telling," said Mamoru, "We still don't remember much from our past lives, but as to how Usako and I meet in this life…"

"That I can tell," said Usagi, "it was the same day I also met Luna and became Sailor Moon for the first time, and the day I also met Tuxedo Kamen for the first time, though I didn't know he was Mamo-chan.

"As for Mamo-chan and I…well…that day I flunked a test at school. I knew that my mom would really lose it when I walked home with a 30% grade, so I baled up the test paper and threw it away."

"And it hit me on the head," said Mamoru, "I took it back to Usako and she got really upset.. All I was trying to do was tell her that she should try harder at school."

"But all I could think at the time was how annoying he was," said Usagi, "Mamo-chan and I kept running into each other after that, each time he would say something that really grinded my gears, all the while I was hopelessly falling in love with him, with him as Tuxedo Kamen that is."

"And I was falling in love with her," said Mamoru, "with her as Sailor Moon. You see, I have this sense that tells me whenever she is in trouble, both as Usagi and Sailor Moon, so I was always there to help in one way or another.

"We eventually found out each others secret identities, and then we found out that we were reincarnated; I as Prince Endymion of Earth, and Usako as Princess Serenity of the Moon."

"We've had some rough times since then," said Usagi, "and one time I almost thought we were finished," she smiled and held Mamoru's hand, "but we always pulled through."

"Now that is a love story," said Roxas.

"True," said Naminé, "and it'll get even better. I think I can help with your memories of your past lives."

"You can!" exclaimed an excited Usagi.

"I can try," said Naminé.

"That'd be more than I could hope for," said Mamoru.

"Hope can move mountains," said Naminé, "but I should warn you, this may not work the first time. I'm better at erasing and changing memories than restoring them, so bare with me for a bit." she sat in front of Usagi and Mamoru, borrowing Sora' s sketchpad, "Let's start with what you do remember and go from there." She opened the sketchpad to a fresh page and took up a pencil.

"I don't remember much," said Usagi as Namine drew and Mamoru sitting together, "just bits and pieces. I know that Ami-Chan, Rei-Chan, Mako-chan and Mina-chan were also there as my guardians, and I also remember a bit about my mother, Queen Serenity. I also know that I loved ice skating."

"Even though she's was a total klutz when she tried it for the first time in this life," teased Rei.

Usagi retaliated by sticking her tongue out at Rei, who also stuck her tongue out.

"Can we get back to work here?" Naminé asked as she paused in her drawing to better gage the light in the room, "the more you can tell me, the better."

"Oh, right," said Usagi, "well, I do know that I was curious about Earth, even though my mother said it was forbidden to go there. But I went to Earth to explore, and there I met Endymion…but I can't remember exactly how we met."

"Same with me," said Mamoru, "I know that I met Serenity, and that for the short time we were together we were happy, but nearly everything of that time is a blank."

"That's okay," said Naminé, "we can start from there. Now, just relax and let me to all the work," she put down her pencil, having finished a very good sketch of Usagi and Mamoru. Naminé then placed her hands on the sides of their heads and she closed her eyes. Riku and Aiden could sense a powerful magic being used, a power that came from Naminé and was focused through the sketch

After several minutes Naminé opened her eyes and lowered her arms, "there. Can you remember anything? But don't be disappointed if you can't. I did say that it probably wouldn't work the first time."

"Umm, okay," said Usagi as she closed her eyes in concentration, "err…wait! I…," she opened her eyes, "no, that's not it. I…oh, no, nothing."

"I can't remember anything new either," said Mamoru.

"We can try again," said Naminé, "and as many times as necessary. I want to help you to be happy, and I feel that your memories of your past lives will do just that."

Just then Mako came running into the room, "you have to come and see! It's not good!"

"What happened!" Naminé asked as everyone followed Mako back to the room where Sora and Kairi still lay unmoving.

"That's what's happening!" said Mako as she pointed at Sora's face, where several scars had appeared, "those weren't there when we met today, I swear it!"

"Those definitely weren't there before," said Aiden as he and Riku got a closer look at Sora's face, "but they don't look fresh. Some of them look kinda old."

"Like from over a year ago," said Riku in a grave tone. He then pulled the covers down and looked at Sora's arms, revealing more scars, some of them going back several months."

"Look!" said Mina, "Kairi has scars too!"

True enough, Kairi also had scars on her face and arms, not as many as Sora had, but they were there.

"Everyone turn your backs!" Ami insisted, "except for Naminé."

"What's this about?" Aiden asked as he, Riku, Usagi, Mamoru and everyone else turned around.

"I think they're giving Sora and Kairi some privacy," said Rei.

A few minutes later, Ami told everyone they could turn around again, "We just examined the rest of Sora and Kairi," she looked grave, "it isn't good."

"They're covered in scars from head to toe," said Naminé, "Sora has more than Kairi, a lot more."

"But where did they come from?" Mako asked.

"I think I know," said Riku in a grave tone, "and you're not going to like what I'm thinking."

"I don't like it already," said Aiden, "but tell it anyway."

"I think it has something to do with the loss of their heart crystals," said Riku, "and the scars, they're every wound they've received from battling The Heartless and Nobodies."

"Well if they're just old wounds coming back," said Mina, "then let's just heal them again."

"You keep away from them!" said an irate Rei, "we've all had enough of Nurse Mina."

"More than enough," said Mako.

"A while back we all got sick from a disease being spread by one of our enemies," said Ami to Riku and Aiden, "Mina-chan was the only one still on her feet."

"Mina-chan tried to help us," said Mako, "but you know what they say about the cure being worse than the sickness."

"I wasn't that bad," said Mina in a slightly sheepish tone.

"You dumped boiling hot porridge on my head!" shouted Rei, "after nearly poisoning me!"

"She came close to completely wrecking my room when she came over to help," said Mako.

"Same with my room," said Ami.

"I don't even want to remember what she did with me," said Usagi.

"I said I was sorry, I was only trying to help," said Mina, "then and now."

"Well I appreciate your efforts," said a smiling Riku, earning a blush and shy smile from Mina, "but we got this covered," he pulled out a Mega Potion, "bottoms up, Sora."

"I'll take Kairi," said Aiden as he pulled out a Mega Potion as well.

Sora and Kairi were muttering Pink Floyd lyrics again, "all in all it was just bricks in the wall," said Sora.

"No matter how hard he tried, he could not break free," said Kairi, "and the worms ate into his brain."

Riku and Aiden then made Sora and Kairi drink the Mega Potions, but instead of instantly healing their wounds, a few more scars appeared on their bodies, while the ones already there looked a little worse.

"That should have worked," said Riku, "try another one."

He and Aiden then made Sora and Kairi drink another round of Mega Potions, but the same negative results happened.

"I don't understand," said Aiden, "they should be fully healed by now."

"Let me try something," said Roxas as he summoned Oathkeeper, "I learned a lot from my fellow Nobodies, especially the ways of magic." He then cast Heal on Sora, but it didn't work.

"This is getting really serious," said Naminé, "not only is their life energy fading, but their old wounds are returning as a side effect." She then closed her eyes again and used her magic to scan both Riku and Kairi.

She opened her eyes, a look of desperation on her face, "we have less time than I thought. We have hours before the point of no return."

"I thought you said we had a day before their life energies would run out," said Mina.

"I didn't know this would happen," said Naminé, "their wounds are killing them quicker than the life energy drain," she looked at Sora and Kairi, "Kairi's wounds aren't as bad, but Sora has been fighting the darkness longer than she has. His wounds are killing him quicker than hers are."

"How long?" Mamoru asked gravely.

"Four or five hours at the most," said Naminé, "that's how much time Sora has left."

"Well, that's just peachy," said a shocked Aiden.

The end of chapter 5.

Things are getting serious in the next chapter as our heroes begin tracking down the fiend who has stolen the hearts of their friends. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!