Hello everyone

Hello everyone!! I'm back from my trip to Italy so I can start on my next chapter. Sorry for the wait, you know I don't mean it.

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Xigbar, second in command (or was supposed to be) of the Organization, was standing on the ledge opposite the room of Kairi and Riku. He had always been loyal to Xemnas and done everything that was asked of him. And even though he never once had any treacherous thoughts like so many of us—like me, I still liked him. I was becoming very scared. Sora was going to kill him, and I didn't want him to. Xigbar had told me that he knew we couldn't win this fight and he was willing to accept it. He was going to fight Sora like a loyal member should and accept his fate. I didn't want him to though. He was the last one who understood that we wouldn't be whole—the last one of those who were left.

"Sora!" I whispered.

He looked down at me. "Yes?"

"Don't fight him," I said. I knew I sounded stupid to even say something like that but my bonds with others was taking ahold of my better judgment. Sora just looked at me like I was crazy. "I know I said it was okay that you did, but…" I started. "…I…I can't let you do this to him."

"You're just confused, Raene. I understand you don't want this to happen, but remember, we have to do this," he said.

"No. No. No," I repeated. "You can't!" I grabbed his wrist as he began to stand up. His face contorted as I started squeezing with all my might.

"Raene…" he warned, "I have to do this." And he pulled away.

"No!" I yelled jumping up and summoning my keyblade. "Please!"

He turned and looked at me. I knew he was thinking I wasn't myself, and it was true. "Rae!" called a voice. We all looked up at the Freeshooter. "It's okay, this is between me and the Keyblade's chosen one."

"No…" I whispered softly, more to myself than anyone else. I needed to snap out of it, but one silly emotion wouldn't let go of me.

"It's okay, Rae. Watch the show," he said and snapped his gloved fingers. I small force field hit me and pushed me backwards. I knew he was just bluffing by saying 'watch the show' but still I became enraged and tried to beat my way through the invisible barrier.

At this point Xigbar ignored me and turned his attention to Sora and his friends. King Mickey was gone so it was just the usual trio. "Get down here!" Sora yelled up.

"My, my, Sora…where are your manners?" the Nobody said shaking his head side-to-side. "I thought we taught you to respect your superiors, Roxas."

"Did he just call me 'Roxas'?" Sora asked Donald. The duck nodded. Sora raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"You've really hampered Organization XIII's plans, you know?" Sora looked back at Xigbar. "I guess your success so far is the reason why it chose you. But exactly why, I'm not sure. There are so many others who could do a better job than you. If you were half the hero those before you were, you might have defeated the whole Organization a year ago…when you first encountered the Nobodies. You could have gone right through those traitors to our stronghold and finished us then. But heh…no one's perfect, huh kid?"

Sora obviously didn't know what he was referring to but he didn't care at this point. "Man, do you ever stop talking?" Sora asked.

Xigbar smirked. "Smart elic," he said under his breath. "Just get this through your thick head, traitor… YOU END HERE!" He said.

Sora smirked and summoned a keyblade. Donald and Goofy got out there weapons and got in position. Xigbar summoned his two quick-shot snipers and jumped down. He landed gracefully. He was ready for the fight and Sora was not. He and his friends didn't know what to expect from the master of space. He could float, walk upside-down, and change the battleground to his liking.

I held my breath and didn't let it go until the fight was over.

--

His gloved hand held the gun pointed between Sora's eyes. It began to shake—he couldn't fight anymore. He fell, just barely catching his balance with his other hand. He snickered quietly to himself as he dropped his gun. I looked down at the ground knowing what was about to happen.

"Rae?" He said. I looked up. Sora glanced back and forth between the two of us. "Sorry for everything that's happened to you." His figure began to blur and small black flecks started floating up and away from us.

"Wait!" Sora called. "Why…why did you call me Roxas?"

Xigbar snickered again. "That's the million dollar question, isn't it?" he said. Sora just glared at him. "Rae, you haven't told him yet?" Sora looked at me. Xigbar disappeared from view, his cackling laugh fading away with him. Sora yelled telling him to wait, but it was too late.

Tears began to swell behind my eyes. The barrier vanished and I ran forward and into Sora. He dropped his weapon as he caught me. I pressed my face to his chest as I started pounding my fist against him in a very sad and pathetic way. Tears flowed down my cheeks. "It's not fair," I said, "Nothing's ever fair."

Sora put his hands on my back and patted it softly. He started to say my name but I interrupted him. "I'm never there to save those close to me. They always block me out in their last moments."

I stopped beating his chest. "I don't understand," Sora said in my ear.

"Right before you woke up, Axel got upset about Roxas leaving and he attacked him. I tried to stop the fighting, but Axel surrounded them both with a ring of fire and kept me out. That was right before he had to disappear, so in a way, his last moments. Then when you fought Demyx…he got angry and threw me away. He trapped me with a wall of water. I got to say good-bye but still…why do the people who are closest to me shut me out in their last moments?"

"Axel didn't keep you away when he gave it his all," he said.

I shook my head. "No. But someone that should have cared for me did," I replied looking up at the brunette. He raised his eyebrow. I shook my head again and placed it back against his chest. "Xemnas," I continued, "he was supposed to care for us, for all other Nobodies. But he only ever cared for himself. I was right there! I could have said good-bye to Axel…at least have been there with him a little bit longer, but no! Xemnas, the one who was supposed to be a father to us trapped me and shut me out from the one place I needed to be!"

"It's okay," Sora whispered patting my back again.

"No it's not," I argued. "Xig…Xigbar knew he couldn't defeat you. We all know that the Organization is no match for you. Xigbar just wanted…just wanted to fight you with all he had. He did his best, but…but…" I took a few deep breaths. "But still he knew he couldn't win. Oh Sora, why?" I took a few more breaths, calming down. "Even though he knew what would happen, he didn't even let me in—he pushed me away too."

"Maybe those who did push you away didn't want you to have to think you couldn't do anything. I mean, if it's their fate to disappear, maybe they thought that if you weren't pushed away, you would feel guilty that you wouldn't be able to stop it from happening."

"I feel guilty anyway. And it's probably going to continue happening," I said whipping away the tears on my cheeks with one of my hands. "Just watch. It will happen again, I'll be pushed away."

It was quiet for a while. Finally Sora spoke. "Raene, I can't imagine what you're going through. I'm so sorry for what's happened," he said.

I pulled away. "No. Don't be sorry. It's our fate. I…ever since I found out I was gonna disappear, I was the one to accept it, while others didn't. And now, I'm acting so weak. I keep trying to fight the fact that we can't be saved." I sighed. I tried to smile. "I'm the one who should be sorry, Sora. I'm acting so childish. I'm stronger than this, but emotions are just getting the better of me. I'll try to be stronger from now on."

"It's okay, Raene," he said smiling. I smiled back.

"Raene!" a voice called. We all looked up. Kairi was leaning over the edge. "Sora!"

"Kairi!" we both yelled back. "I got Sora for you, we'll be right up!" I added.

I started heading forward when Sora grabbed my hand. "Why did that guy—Xigbar—call me Roxas?" he asked.

I smiled, "I'm going to tell you both really soon. I already promised to answer a bunch of Kairi's questions too." I pulled my hand free and continued forward. He stood disappointed at the lack of answers he was getting, but soon they followed as I led them through the castle. I wasn't sure where I was going but the hallways only really led you in one direction. Heartless and Nobodies attacked us all the way up to Riku and Kairi, naturally.

When we finally made are way up to the next level of the castle, the Heartless were nearly all defeated—Kairi and Riku did a really good job. We all just stood back as they finished off the last few. When it was over, both summoned away their keyblades. "Kairi, that was amazing!" Donald yelled over.

Kairi turned around and walked over smiling. Riku stayed away. I backed up to let Sora and Kairi have a little space. "Kairi…" Sora said, "I'm so glad to see you."

"When you and Riku never came home I went out to find you," she said.

Sora looked away with a guilty face. "I'm sorry."

Just then Kairi ran into his arms and wrapped her arms around him. "This isn't just a dream, huh?" she said. Sora smiled and placed his hands around her.

Donald, Goofy, and I all smiled shyly at the whole situation. I looked over at Riku, he wasn't watching them; he was turned away. A portal opened in front of him and he stepped closer to it. "Wait." Sora said. If he hadn't said it, I would have. He doesn't need to leave them again—even if he is different. "Ansem! I mean…Xehanort's Heartless…" he took a deep breath and kept a hand on Kairi's shoulder. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. And after all the stuff you did…I just get so angry thinking about it all." Kairi looked at him smiling—she knew it was Riku but he didn't. "I guess I have to be thankful to you though…you helped Kairi, right? Thanks."

Riku took another step forward. I made to move but Kairi beat me to it. She ran forward, grabbed his arm, and hugged it. "Riku, don't go!" she pleaded. "We're all together again!"

Sora's mouth dropped. Donald and Goofy exchanged confused looks. "Kairi, what did you just say?" Sora asked.

Riku sighed. I could see his face now. You could tell he wanted to pull his arm from her grasp and disappear into the black mist. "Riku," Kairi answered turning to Sora.

Riku attempted to pull his arm away but Kairi held on tight and stumbled. "I'm no one," he said in Ansem's voice. "I'm just a castaway of the darkness."

Kairi turned to Sora again. "You have to come here, say something to him," she ordered kindly.

Sora hesitantly walked over. She grabbed his hand and moved her other from Riku's arm to his hand. "You'll understand," she said placing their hands on top of each other. "Just close your eyes, you'll see," she reassured. He obeyed and closed his eyes. I walked over to the three of them. Kairi smiled at me and motioned with her eyes to place my hand on top of theirs. I shook my head and pointed to my head. I could already see him now. Kairi saw right through Ansem's face to the Riku within. And because she could, I could too. He looked a lot like he did when he fought Roxas in the city streets. But now he was even taller—about Axel's height. His hair was a lot like Axel's too—it flowed down his back in loose spikes.

I could see from Sora's face that he saw the real Riku too. He eventually opened his eyes only to see the Ansem Riku again. His face immediately changed from peaceful happiness to sadness. He kept ahold of Riku's hand and dropped to his knees. "Riku…" he said. He repeated his name a few times. "Riku's here." With both of his hands he squeezed Riku's. "I…I looked everywhere for you, Riku…I looked for so long…" he said as tears started trickling down his cheeks.

"C'mon, Sora," said Riku's normal voice, "you've got to pull it together, you're stronger than this."

Sora shook his head. "I looked everywhere, Riku, everywhere!" he whined.

"Don't you understand, I didn't want you to find me," he replied.

Sora's eyes opened. "What?!"

Goofy said something about someone leaving clues for them. "Wasn't that Riku?" he asked.

Sora stood up and Riku pulled his hand free. "I thought you guys would never catch on. I mean…Sora never did pick the brightest friends," Riku said.

"What do you mean by that?!" Donald quacked.

"Why…why didn't you at least let me know you were okay?" Sora asked hurt. "I had no idea where you were or what had happened once we closed the door to Kingdom Hearts."

"I told you; I didn't want to be found," Riku said. He held his hands up in front of his face—they weren't his. His face turned to the same shameful expression he had had when Kairi pulled back his hood earlier. "I fought with the Ansem you know…Xehanort's Heartless. He invaded my heart and I won. But in order for me to use the power of darkness…this is what I had to become." He put his hands back by his side.

"But, Riku…" Kairi said, "does that mean you can't change back?"

"I still need the power of darkness to win this battle—it's not over yet," Riku answered.

"Let's finish it then!" Sora said. "How 'bout it?" He turned around to face Donald and Goofy. The two walked over. We all got in circle. Riku placed his hand on my back briefly and smiled. I smiled back as Sora said, "You're still Riku no matter what."

"Let's go!" Kairi said. She turned and walked towards a doorway to the side. Everyone followed closely behind her. I jumped to the front and led the way. When we came through the doorway, there was a small staircase on the other side. Light poured from the top down the dark, empty shaft. I continued to the lead the way.

When we all reached the top and spread out so as not to be too crowded, we all glanced around quickly. I took a step ahead of the others. "What is this place?" Kairi asked from behind me.

I was afraid to find out the answer.

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Ok, I know—worse place to end a chapter but I had to get this out. I'm so worried I'm losing readers and fans because of my slow updates. But don't worry, the original plan for this chapter would only have been about one page longer and not much would be added to it really, just rambles. Sorry again to end this chapter so lamely. Thanks for reading, hope you all are still there. )

Sarah

Also…any questions still…I need some feedback for the extra chapter at the end. )