Kay, this is a lil bit after the end of the last chapter...guys, I've really appreciated the reviews you guys have put in ;D Thanks so much!! And I will continue to write this :) I'm so not done yet.

Disclaimers: I don't own KH or KH2. I don't own any songs in this chapter, though I would love to.


My eyes are red and swollen from crying, and the red-haired demon who comes and checks on me from time to time doesn't care. Doesn't care that I don't deserve this punishment. Doesn't care that I don't even know how I angered him.

There it is again. The tap-tap of boots on the cold white floor in the hall. He's come to make sure I'm still okay, that I don't need anything, blah blah blah. I know the real reason he makes these visits. It's to make sure he can gloat as much as possible. Even if I did need something, I'm sure he wouldn't bring it to me. A key in the doorknob makes that clink sound, and the door handle turns. The first thing I always see is his gloved hand. I think he's paranoid, thinking that I'm hiding behind the door waiting to hit him over the head with something. Not that it's not a good idea...I just couldn't do it.

"Oohh Kaaairiii...!" The demon's voice floats through the doorway. I stand unsteadily, backing myself into a corner, sitting down again. I don't want him to find me, especially if that's what he wants. "Kairi? Oh, Kairi, won't you come out and play?" he says mockingly.

He enters the room, dressed in the black cloak, hood down, as always. Of course, I stand out, being the only bit of color in the otherwise white room. He spots me immediately. As he walks toward me, that prowling lope that at once is so powerful and graceful and so dangerous and predatory, I cower down, ducking my head. The room is small, and he reaches me in a matter of seconds. Without saying another word, he grabs my write and pulls me to my feet. It hurts so bad, and I stand along with my wrist to avoid the pain. He smirks at me, seeing my grimace.

"Kairi, we're going out for a bit." he intones, not even caring to keep the gloating pleasure out of his voice. I raise my head to look him in the face, my voice timid as I query, "Where are we going?" He puts a gloved finger under my chin, lifting my head and turning it from side to side, as if he were looking at an animal's face. With a pleased smirk, he lets my head droop, and lifts his hand again, I thought to run a hand through his hair. The slap was as painful as was unexpected. My head fully snaps to the side with the force. His face becomes a mask of stone, and he lifts my head again, staring into my eyes.

His eyes are cold now, devoid of any warmth or human compassion. I wonder often if such a being could even be human; could even be in posession of a heart. "Do. Not. Ask. Questions. You will go with me wherever I wish to go, and you will do whatever I want you to do. Is that clearly understood, Kairi?" When I nod my aqcuiesce, he grins. I turn my head to the side when he grabs my wrist and begins to lead me toward the door.

At the door, he stops and turns around. He smirks again, and plants a small kiss upon my forehead. My eyes widen in shock and my cheeks flush with anger. When he sees the anger in my gaze, his own eyes become steely and I can see an identical spark of fury at my reaction. He then stops, and his eyes widen. He turns around and runs out the door, slamming it and consequently locking it behind him and before me.

I sigh, then I myself turn around and am confronted by a frightening image in my mirror. I catch a glimpse of a girl much younger-looking than I would have ever thought myself to look. Much more fragile looking too, as well as scared and haunted. I mean, really. I don't blame myself for thinking it was someone else before I hid my face. It's been just over a week since I was taken away from my home.

I throw myself down on the pure white bed and sob. As the tears flow freely down my cheeks, I wonder how one man can be so capable of such different levels of emotion. Maybe it's not emotion, but merely going through the motions. I put a hand to my cheek, and I can still feel the spot where he slapped me. It burns with the shame of my captivity. If I were anything like any of my friends, I would have found a way out by now.

I hear voices in the hallway, not the one I ususally hear, but two or three. One of them is Axel's. One of them may or not be...what was that boy's name? Oh, yes. Demyx. And someone else. The third voice sounds older, more powerful.

I think they're arguing. Axel seems to be trying to persuade them to leave... But why would they be here? Unless...they've come to take me away with them. No. No, no, no, no, no, NO! I refuse to go away! At least here I know where I am, and I know who I'm with, and I have some idea of what I can expect from him. I refuse to leave. I know Axel wouldn't let them take me without a fight.

The doorknob twists, and stops. I can hear the voices still, but nothing is distinct. They are still arguing...I would assume Axel is trying to get them away from my room. Then again...I could be wrong. The doorknob moves again, and I train my eyes on it as I move backwards, to where I can see through my mirror is my closet. I inch my way toward the door, trying to make no sound. As the knob twists again, I make my final move and shut the closet door behind me. The lights are off, and I just now realize how afraid I am of the dark. My heartrate rises dramatically, and my breathing gets fast and shallow. Not now...Please not now. If there was ever a time not to have a panic attack, this would be it! I think to myself.

I can hear the door open. Three sets of footsteps enter the room, move around. I remember something...Something that Axel told me when I must have been about half-conscious.

Now, Kairi. Remember this. There's a secret compartment in the closet wall that I want you to use if this room is ever searched. Got it memorized? A nod from myself, or it must have been, for him to leave it alone. Good. Now, you'll definately know when the time comes to use this...

I fumble around in the dark, feeling for a break in the paint. I finally find it, and my fingernails are just long enough to dig in under the lid of the door and open it. I climb inside, trying not to think of all the things that could be sharing a home in here in the dark. I must have gotten in just in the nick of time, too, because I hear the closet door open. The light flicks on, and a voice calls out, "For the love of the worlds, Axel, where are you hiding her?!" I assume the room must have passed the test, for a short time later, all three persons leave the room, leaving the closet light on.

I re-enter the room with new appreciation for the light. As I take a seat in my chair, the doorknob twists again, and I tense to run into the closet. My instincts tell me, however, that this must be Axel returning. Sure enough, the door opens and there he is. This time, however, he doesn't 'test the air' with his gloved hand. When he sees my at the desk, his handsome face contorts into a smirk, and he closes the space between us in two strides. He takes ahold of my shoulder and pulls me to my feet and out the door. As we journey, he speaks, and when he speaks, his hand on my shoulder clenches tightly, and I grimace from the pain. "Well, Kairi-girl, you may have passed that test, but rest assured, Princess, that there are many more to be had."

And with that, the darkness descends over us, and I am lost.

Holy. Frickin. Crap. Sorry this chapter took so long :( Bad bad things have been happening right now. Mostly I've just been really distracted... There are probably a few of you who may read this who have heard about this...But here goes.

On September 5, 2009, a small private airplane crashed just minutes after takeoff in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The passengers were: Stephen, Dana, Laura, and Christina Lester, as well as Dr. Kenneth Veteto. All five passengers were killed. Laura was my friend, and I played volleyball with her all summer and for the month that we were in school. Christina was a grade beneath me, and I've known her practically all the years I've attended my school. Mr. and Mrs. Lester were amazing people and I know that though we miss them here on earth, they are rejoicing with Jesus right now. However, Dr. and Mrs. Lester left behind two older children, Sarah and Matthew Lester, as well as a third grade nephew and his terminally ill mother. I'd like anyone who is willing to be praying for Sarah and Matt. Most of you who read this won't pay attention, and many of you who do won't pray for the remaining children, but I'd like to know if you are. If you read this, payed attention to it, and are praying, please send me a message via Fanfiction or over email at .net

Thanks, I heart you guys 3
-DoD-