Chasing The Truth

By FlikFreak

Chapter Forty-One: Beyond the Door


"Where they all comin' from, yo?" Beat wheezed as he wiped some blood off of his chin.

Joshua folded his arms, one hand lightly gripping his phone and staring out of the door as though he were a guard. "That seems to be it for this wave," he replied. "I don't think we'll see any more for a while, so let's rest while we can."

Shiki gave a sigh and collapsed onto one of the couches in Dead God's Pad. "There are so many…I haven't seen that big a crowd since we fought all those heartless when Xsoh was trying to take over the game."

"It won't end until Neku comes back, will it?" Rhyme asked.

He owed her an answer, at the very least. "…no. Not until Neku returns."

Hanekoma emerged from the invisible door to the path leading to the Room of Reckoning. "The majority of the citizens are somewhere safe," he announced. "The Reapers are having a hard time trying to reach everyone through all of the music, though. It's like Shibuya's gone haywire."

"I'm not surprised," Joshua muttered. "For Shibuya to act up like this, maybe it really has happened."

All heads snapped up. "What happened?" Shiki inquired.

"I'm not sure why," Joshua began, "But Shibuya seems to have chosen Neku as its catalyst."

"Cat-a-what?" Beat echoed, clueless as ever as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Shiki's eyes widened in concern. "What do you mean, 'catalyst'?" she asked, her hand-gestures mimicked by Mr. Mew who stood on the floor next to her.

Joshua glared at the roof as though it were the cause of all his problems. "What I'm saying is that the keyblade that Neku now wields ties him directly to Shibuya. The city's music has been fluctuating because of Neku's actions. His sorrow, joy, anger, rage and fear are all mirrored here. You could almost say that Neku's the Composer right now. He just doesn't know about any of it. The connection is…difficult to explain, but it's there, and it's powerful."

"So if we protect this place," Rhyme began, "We're also…?"

"That's right," Joshua replied, nodding. "That's why I asked you all to stay here while Neku went with the others."

Shiki stood. "Then we'd better do whatever we can to keep Shibuya safe from the Nobodies."

"I still don't get it," Beat mumbled as he, too, stood to his feet, "But I do get one thing. Anyone who messes wit' Neku messes wit' me."

Rhyme nodded. "I'm going to do what I can, too. Even if it's not much, it's still for Neku's sake."


Neku couldn't stand seeing his friends stare at the sky in horror like that. Riku's eyes were narrow in contempt, Sora's were wide in terror and his jaw hung open in horrified awe. Kairi stood still, her face riddled with both concern and fear. Neku himself didn't know what to think; this storm not only looked more harsh than the ones Jaxuk summoned, but he could feel the world around him wailing in pain, sending out a desperate plea for help that came in the form of the heaviness in the air and the crying winds and the music that was on the verge of distortion. Somewhere in the song Neku barely picked up was a note of familiarity…one that he somehow knew wasn't a good one. He gripped the pin from Josh in his pocket. What's going on? Why can't anyone tell me anything?!

"The heartless can't be here," Sora said in a near-whimper. "What's happening? Why are we going through this again?!"

"We can worry about that later," Riku replied. "First, we need to find out what to do!"

Neku Sakuraba.

The voice. Again. Neku tightened his grip on Music of Shibuya. "Where are you?!" He cried. "Let me help you!"

Kairi turned to him. "Neku? Who are you talking to?"

We cannot reach you where you are. Come closer.

"I know that," Neku grumbled. "But where…"

The cave. He had heard the voice so clearly in the cave.

In Sora's secret place.

Neku tore down the beach, his friends following him after a few cries of protest. When Neku knelt down to crawl through the roots, however, he felt Sora's gloved hand grasp his ankle. "Let go!" he screamed.

"Don't go in there!" Sora begged. "If you go in there, you'll-"

But the keyblade master's words went unheeded and Neku felt a surge of urgency and power within him. Almost losing control of his temper – or his mind, it didn't matter at that point – Neku gave a low growl and jerked his foot away. "I said let go!"

"What the…Neku, what's-"

After shoving his way under the roots and away from Sora's protests, Neku staggered to his feet and raced down the stone hallway to the secret place. As expected, the wooden door was still there. He halted, placing one hand on his knee and panting. Music of Shibuya remained in his hand. "I'm here," he muttered. "You're here, too, right?"

Come closer, Neku Sakuraba.

As though on instinct, Neku began to step forward toward the wooden, knob-less door at the back of the cave. The voice…was it really coming from past that thing?

Come closer.

It was. Neku began to step forward when the sound of footsteps caught his attention. He turned around dispassionately, his eyes blank and his face devoid of emotion.

Sora screeched to a halt. "Neku…?"

"It's coming from in here, Sora," Neku replied. "From your secret place."

The brunette shook his head. "I don't understand…"

He could try to explain, at least. "It wants us to help. I don't care what you do; I'm going to do what I can."

Riku and Kairi, whom had entered as the conversation began, gave Neku looks of concern. "What are you talking about?" Kairi asked.

Neku began to answer when a low whirring from behind him caught his attention. He spun around just in time to see the door fly open. There was barely time to make out what was beyond it when several tendrils of light lashed out, wrapping around his ankles and wrists and dragging him in faster than he could blink. Neku let out an ear-piercing cry of shock, and the door slammed shut behind him.


Sora could only stare in shock as Neku vanished right before their eyes. Riku was probably gawking wider; he was the only one responsible for opening the door previously. Kairi simply stared in astonishment.

"What…just happened?" Riku finally managed to say.

"I don't know," Sora replied. "Something…something reached out from behind the door and drew him in. What's past that door anyway?"

Kairi bit her lip. She knew; Sora could tell. In spite of this, something kept her from speaking. Riku gave her a sidelong glance. "Should we follow him?"

Sora puffed up his chest in hopes of looking brave. "I know I am. I don't care what's past that door; Neku needs our help."

"But it's dangerous," Kairi protested quietly. "There's too much for a person to handle in there, and you could be poisoned…"

Riku's face turned suspicious. "So you do know what's in there."

Now that he mentions it, Sora thought, This was the last place I saw her on that day. Did she find out what was in there?

Kairi nodded hesitantly. "It's hard to explain, but…if we went in there, then there's no telling what would happen to us, or if we even come out at all."

"And last time that door opened," Riku pointed out, "The island was…well, you remember."

Sora crossed his arms. "I'm not scared. You can stay out here if you want. I'm going after Neku."

Riku gave Sora a look that could have melted candle wax. "Don't be stupid. Listen to Kairi; you'll be killed."

"I'm not afraid of that," Sora shot back. "You know what they say in Shibuya? Trust your partner. Neku was my partner in the UG, but even after that he was more than just a partner to me. I owe him more than just my life. I'm going in, and you're not stopping me."

"Oh, geez," Riku grumbled. "For some reason, I saw this coming."

Kairi smiled. "Well, if Neku means that much to you, then I'm coming, too."

With a defeated sigh, Riku shrugged. "I guess I'm along for the ride. You said so yourself; if you hadn't won that Reaper's Game, we'd be gone along with you."

Sora blinked. "I thought you said-"

"We were your entry fee, Sora," Riku reminded him. "We owe him just as much as you do, remember?"

With a quiet chuckle, Sora turned back to the door. "…thanks, guys. Now, let's go get Neku!"


The sensation of floating, flying, falling and drowning all mixed into one was the strangest thing Neku had ever experienced, and yet he wasn't concerned that he wasn't breathing. In fact, he felt rather peaceful here. His eyes refused to open, but he didn't mind. He could rest here forever.

That might be a wise decision, given how much you have endured to this point.

…yeah. It would probably be best if he went to sleep right about now. He never realized until now how exhausted he was. But what would happen to the worlds if Jaxuk succeeded in whatever he was planning? What would happen if he failed? He had to wake up.

Your body is weary from all you have endured, Neku Sakuraba, but your heart perseveres.

The voice was so clear now…like someone speaking right next to him. It was a powerful voice, but it comforted him…just like the warmth from earlier. Where was he? Why was he here? He tried to open his mouth to ask the question, but he was so exhausted.

Don't be afraid. Open your eyes.

With a dragging effort, Neku did so. He found himself in a strange void, white mist flowing over what appeared to be the ground. There were shades of pink appearing here and there, like clouds in the black. It was a strange place that he couldn't quite recognize, yet it felt so incredibly familiar.

Neku made a hesitant step forward, his footstep echoing softly. He took another step. And another. "Is anyone here?" He called.

We are pleased to see you safe.

"If by safe you mean in one piece, then yeah." Neku crossed his arms. "Just what exactly is going on? Where are the others?"

They are hesitant to follow, but they will be with you soon.

"Heh, a straight answer for once. Mind telling me who you are?"

We are Kingdom Hearts.

Neku froze. "Wh…how?"

From the moment Sora met you, we came in contact with your heart. Even when temporarily entrusted with the keyblade, you were able to wield it because your heart is strong enough to do so.

It was startling to learn whom he was speaking to, but Neku still felt at peace…like he was incapable of fear, even though he knew deep down he felt it. But the voice had told him not to be afraid, so he stood. "But who exactly are you?"

We are the worlds you traverse. We are the people you meet. With every heart that is born and for every heart that returns to us, our power and knowledge grows. Because of this, many seek to use our power for their gain, but even those with the purest of intentions must be kept away. That is why we must be protected, but even our protectors can only handle but the smallest of fragments of our power.

"Just a fragment?" Neku protested. "If you need to be protected so badly, isn't a fragment kind of…I don't know…less than necessary?"

A mortal such as yourself can only handle so much without breaking.

Neku crossed his arms. "First you ask for my help, now you're putting me down?" he demanded, somewhat angry. "If you ask me, you're just being stingy."

The answer to Neku's statement came in the form of the worst pressure he'd ever been under. It was as though the music he normally heard with the keyblade's power had been turned up beyond maximum volume, and it weighed him down. Every memory that had ever happened – not only to Neku, but to people he knew and didn't know alike – flowed through his mind, flashing for a brief moment. Every spell, technique, discovery, teaching, belief, moral, and fact that ever existed went through his mind in what felt like fragments but were actually the entire thing staying in place for only a split second before being shoved aside by a new incomer. More and more of the memories and knowledge and power came in until Neku felt like he was being crushed on all sides. His heart pounded desperately against his ribcage, begging for freedom and screaming in alarm. He felt so strong he began to ache, so full of knowledge he couldn't think, he had such wonderful memory he couldn't recall anything. The list went on. Just as Neku felt he was about to reach his limit, everything withdrew, and he found himself gasping for breath, almost certain that there was blood dripping out of the corner of his mouth.

That couldn't have been more than just a tiny fragment, he reasoned as he attempted to push himself up, only to fail and sink lower. After a few seconds, he collapsed, his breathing labored. It's impossible…

Our power is far beyond mortal comprehension. Anyone whom even attempts to handle more than the smallest of pieces dooms himself to insanity, weakness and death all at once. That is why our power must be protected.

Neku rolled over onto his back, his chest heaving. "I get your point," he said in between breaths. "But why am I here?"

While this has not been the first time that a defiler has entered our realm, Jaxuk is still as much of a threat as Xemnas was, if not more.

"And you want me to find him for you and get rid of him?" Neku replied. "Is that it?"

Yes.

Figures. "How can I trust you? For all I know, you could just be some other voice in my head claiming to be Kingdom Hearts. Ven spoke to me telepathically all the time."

We are familiar with Ventus. Twelve years ago, he bore a keyblade as well, with his companions Aqua and Terra.

"That's not enough proof for me," Neku retorted.

The void around him shifted into the Room of Reckoning. Beat and Shiki stood isolated at one end of the room, while Joshua and another familiar face stood in the center.

Neku started. "That's…"

The image of himself was slouched over in defeat. There were tears dripping off of his face. Then, with grim determination, he looked up and held a gun aimed directly for Joshua. Seconds passed by like hours…and his aim faltered. His anger lifted away to sadness and guilt-ridden defeat. Joshua, however, had that same look on his face. His finger tightened on the trigger of his own firearm…

"Stop," Neku muttered. "I don't want to see this."

The gunshot fired, and the other Neku fell to the ground, gazing at a smirking Joshua with a look of dumbfounded confusion. His eyes began to close for one last time when a familiar chuckle caused them to open again.

The image faded, leaving him in the void again. Neku clenched his fists. "You did that, didn't you?"

You need not be frightened. It was only an illusion, created from your memory.

"But how…?"

We are the source of all hearts, whether they are those of worlds like Shibuya…or people, such as yourself. This connection allows us to do such things.

Neku stared downward. "Fine, you win. I believe you. But what do you want me to do? I can't exactly make an appointment to go ask Jaxuk to get out of here. I don't even know where to go."

Jaxuk makes for our innermost sanctum, and no doubt seeks to defile it. The path there is riddled with hostile memories. Only those that endure these trials may enter. Of course, you will not be alone.

"I won't?" Neku said. "But I'm the only one here."

There is no time to lose. The path is longer than it seems, and Jaxuk started down it long before you did. You must hurry, Neku Sakuraba.

Neku nodded. "Alright. I'm going."

A door appeared in a subtle flash. Neku reached for the handle, but the door opened on its own, spilling forth an enormous amount of white light. It was impossible to see what was on the other side. With a deep breath and a silent prayer for luck, Neku entered.