Destiny woke to someone stroking her fur in almost the wrong places.

"If you don't stop petting me I'm going to hurt you," she growled softly against his neck.

His wandering fingers didn't stop. Her head came up and realized he was still asleep. Sora didn't move much in his sleep. His one hand was pillowed underneath his cheek and the other was draped across her front leg. Looking down a snake was slowly moving towards Sora. She realized it was a snake that could seriously harm her Master if bitten. Raising her head slowly she angled herself to calculate the strike so she didn't hit Sora and the snake didn't have a chance to bite her Master. Seeing her moment she lunged forward and grabbed the snake by the neck and crushed it in her jaws. It's squirmed and fought until it went limp in her jaws. Finally needing to get rid of it before it made her sick, she got up and spit it out. She went to the pool outside the cave and waded into the shallow water and began to drink and spit out the water to clear her mouth. With a heavy sigh she laid down in the cold water.

"Destiny?" she heard her Master call.

She rose and hauled herself out of the water and shook herself spraying water everywhere. Her fur was still wet and dripped on the ground. Her ears were laid back. She stood strong on the edge of the platform. Sora came out of the cave stretching the man was fully clothed once again with her cape draped around him to lock in warmth. He saw Destiny looking out over the beach and frowned.

"You okay Destiny?"

"We begin training today."

"Are you sure your up for it?"

She turned her eyes upon her Master. He saw the fire in her eyes.

"I guess so. So what are we going to learn first."

"Hand-to-hand or sword, which ever you wish to do first."

"I have some experience in sword."

Destiny snorted at his admission.

"You have some skill, but had Cloud and Leon had the intent to kill you when you battled them they would have massacred you."

"You don't have to rub in that they're better than me."

Destiny heard the hurt in his voice. Sighing she moved forward and nudged his chest with her nose. He shoved her away. The youkai snorted at his attempts to push her away. "Why are you always trying to prove that you and others are better at things that I am?"

"I'm not trying to prove anything, Sora."

He moved away from her. Once her cape hit the floor it vanished. The Keyblade wielder turned and ran. Destiny gave him a second head start before she leapt after him. She tackled him and they rolled on the sand until she had him pinned. Without thinking she shifted into her humanoid form. His hands were pinned up above his head and she was sitting on his stomach. Her tail flicked back and forth.

"Listen to me," she began. "You're the most important person in my life and I'll do anything to protect you even if that means driving to the point where you hate me so you'll train to prove me wrong. So you'll train to be the best."

She let his hands go but made to move away from him but Sora moved up and knocked her backwards. The youkai didn't fight against him knowing that she could seriously hurt her Master.

"You constantly worry about hurting me," Sora whispered softly against her neck.

"Sora," she whispered softly. "You can't do this. You need to start your training."

He moved back so he could look into her eyes. Leaning forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips before rising and holding out his hand to her. She took it and they rose.

"So hand-to-hand or sword," she said in a business like manner. "You have enough skill in sword for the moment because the keyblades are able to counter balance what you don't know naturally, but will once I'm through with you."

"Then I guess hand-to-hand to start off with."

Destiny nodded. She got into a fighting stance. He mirrored her stance.

"First lesson find a comfortable stance, don't just mirror me. Most of my fighting skills are a combination of what martial arts I know and my own style."

"That's awesome."

"Sora?"

"Hm?" he asked softly.

"Why did you swim from the main land out here?"

He was taken aback and he got out of his fighting stance and looked at her with those cute innocent eyes. Destiny knew her heart was melting at this sight but she couldn't afford to get gushy about this.

"You were hurting and I couldn't let it drag out."

She shook her head. The youkai figured it was something sentimental and sappy like that. His heart was as deep as the ocean and he was willing to welcome in those he considered his friends. In the end she was afraid that kind heart would get him into trouble. Look at what happened with Kairi. He ended up sacrificing his heart and becoming a heartless to make sure she was okay. Hence creating Roxas and ending up fighting again to get her and Riku back. Destiny didn't understand humans in the least. She understood her animal instincts to protect your mate and pack but beyond that human emotions complicated things.

With a heavy sigh she regained her fighting stance. Her eyes returned to their neutral look. Sora took the first move with a quick leap at her but Destiny counter and ended up throwing him down on the sand. A loud 'omph' escaped his throat as he landed on the sand.

"Sora never be the one to make the first move," she said quietly. "If you get to anxious to fight you'll get yourself hurt that much faster."

Sora rose and dusted himself off. Without warning he was slammed into from behind. He rolled over and began to fight against the jaws that were snapping at his face. Reaching up he yanked on her ears to keep the snapping jaws from his face. She yelped in pain. Sora didn't let go knowing she was testing him. He kicked upwards and kicked her in the chest. She only grunted in response considering she couldn't move without him yanking on her ear. He let her ear go and moved out from underneath her. She sat there trying to rub her ear. Sora felt bad and moved forward and rubbed the abused ear. A soft whine escaped her.

"Why do you keep fighting how you feel about me?" Sora asked softly.

"Sora you're human and you can't understand the concept of forever. If was to take you now as my mate then you'd have to watch your family die around you."

"Forever?"

"Yes, forever."

"Maybe I want forever with you."

"Sora you're still young."

"Time won't change how I feel about you now."

"Sora it always does."

She turned her back on him. He had to get serious or he wasn't going to last long against her enemy.

"Just because they hurt you before doesn't mean that I will. I want someone that can love me for who I am."

"Sora Kairi was a fool. She missed her chance to have something special."

Sora sighed heavily as he began to walk down the beach. His head was bent down. Destiny paced up beside him in her humanoid form.

"You'll never be ready for them when they come."

"Then you'll just have to stick around and protect me won't you?"

Sora gave her that heartwarming smile making her smile in return. She nodded her head before moving ahead of him. She threw a playful 'come and get me' look over her shoulder as she took off down the beach. Sora laughed and moved to follow her. Something slammed into his side from the left causing the him to yelp in shock and in pain. Before he realized it he was underneath what looked like a large wolf. Reaching up he yanked as hard as he could on the wolf's ear causing it to howl in pain. He kicked out trying dislodge the bigger animal. Before he realized what was happening Destiny slammed into the wolf's side and they began to fight. After awhile both collapsed. Only one rose though. Sora breathed a sigh of relief as Destiny rose unsteadily to her feet. Her legs wobbled a bit before buckling. The teen rushed to her side and began to rub behind her ears.

"You keep getting hurt for me."

"What can I say?"

He sighed softly as he sat there stroking her fur.