Chapter Eight

One year later

Sora crouched down and kept a good eye on his surroundings. He was pretty much playing hide and seak with the others. If he could hold out long enough he would get to choose dinner tonight. He was always caught early on but this time he kept moving and hiding his foot steps. Sora turned around when he saw a shimmering light. He blinked when he saw Aqua.

"It's been a long time…since I last saw you Aqua…" he said softly as he kept looking around.

"It's time Sora…" she said quietly as she looked him in the eyes. "The battle will soon begin…remember…Sora….help…us…" As she talked her voice slowly faded and so did she.

"Sora? Was that Aqua?" he heard the voice say above him. He looked up as Roxas jumped down. "What did she say?"

"She said that I had to rememeber. That that battle was going to begin. She wanted help." Sora stood up with Roxas's help then started heading back.

"Well good news is that you were last to be found. Dinner is your choice tonight," Roxas said trying to cheer Sora up. Sora just nodded slightly as he stared at the ground. Roxas looked up as Riku walked over. He gave a confused look to Roxas, who just shrugged.

"Sora?" he asked as he bent down so he could see Sora's face. "What's up?"

"Aqua…" he said quietly

"What did that woman say to get you up depressed?"

"I'm not depressed. She said we're going to be fighting soon. And I have to remember…" Sora trailed off then sighed. "I don't know how to remember…"

"Sora give it time," Roxas said as he smiled. "I started remembering things. I can remember up to right before my death. A few people are still a bit hazy but I'm just letting it go. It comes when it wants to and it's exciting…sometimes…"

"It's not good. I know," Sora said as they walked up to Demyx.

"What's going on? Already found them? So how did Sora do?" the blond spikey haired boy asked.

"He's doing better." Roxas said as he looked over at Axel.

"Last one found this time," Sora said slowly then sighed.

"What's worng. You should be happy. You're getting better at hiding yourself. Now if we could only get your magic under control."

"Hey! Not my fault! I got angry…the table suffered for it…" he said then shrugged. "And I saw Aqua…" Demyx gave him a sad look before shaking it off.

"I was told that you could see her sometimes…"

"Yeah…"

"What did she say to you?"

"The fight is going to start soon," Sora said then looked at the sky. "I have to remember…I don't want to go into this blind…" Riku took Sora's hand and smiled.

"How about we relax for the rest of the day? Want to go out? If I remember we'll be starting school?" Riku said then turned to Demyx.

"Yes," Demyx said then shook his head. "It will be a school for others that have magic abilities too so you don't have to worry too much about having to hide your abilities. The classes you'll be enrolled in will be focus on controlling your magic and some will also be helping your fighting too. You have to be careful to not let people know-" Demyx started then stopped suddenly.

"Yeah yeah," Roxas said trying to cover it up. "We get it. Come on Axel." Roxas took Axel's hand then started walking. Sora gave Demyx a confused look. He didn't fully understand.

"Did you know Aqua?" Riku asked before Sora could say anything. Demyx looked sad again then got a far away look in his eys.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said before he turned and walked away.

"Thanks…" Riku said then shook his head. "Well now what do you want to do? Want to go swimming? Want to have a picnic? You're choice." Sora tapped his chin before tilting his head.

"I want to….remember things," he said then sighed. Riku sighed then wrapped an arm around Sora.

"Picnic it is," he said then let him go. He pat Sora's head then pushed him lightly. "Go to our spot. I'll meet you there." Sora frowned then started walking. He walked through the woods until he got to the open field of flowers. He slowly moved to the middle of the field then sat down.

He was there for five minutes passed but Riku still wasn't coming. He laid down then looked around. He blinked when he saw something shimmering. A tall black haired man appeared. Sora sat up and looked at him. "Who are you?" he asked as he tilted his head.

"My name is Zack," he said as he slowly moved next to Sora then sat down. "I've wanted to meet you for the longest time now Sora. I've missed you."

"I'm sorry. I don't remember you…" Sora said but he only shook his head.

"That doesn't matter. Aqua said things are starting to move now. I'm here to get you rolling. I am not allowed to tell you what happened but I can get your mind going by just showing you me." He laughed then leaned back.

"You're weird! And a bit full of yourself I think," Sora said then started laughing with him.

"You're a good kid Sora. I want you to always remember that okay? No matter what happens here on out none of this is your fault. Sora, you're the best thing that happened to me and Aqua. We were always happy to be with you and we're sorry we left you like your mother. I'm sorry that you've had to be with those disgusting people…"

"You knew me as a kid?" Sora asked as he gave him an amazed look. "I have absolutely no memories with you and Aqua in it. But everyone else remembers you. I think Roxas knows everything…I don't even remember much about my mother…"

"I'm sorry for that Sora," Zack said then stood up. "Riku is being distracted by Demyx. How about you catch him before he finishes and go out? Go out to the store or the movies. I think maybe the movies. That's what you want to do." Zack reached out then lightly pat Sora's back before disappearing.

Sora blinked then headed back in. He found Demyx walking away as Riku walked into the kitchen. He ran up to Riku then hugged his back. "You're taking too long."

"Sorry. Demyx distracted me. I'm sorry I took so long."

"Can we go out instead of a picnic?"

"What did you want to do?"

"Maybe walk around town and look for a movies?"

"There is a movie theater in town. I can take you if you'd like." Sora nodded then smiled. "Movies it is then." Riku lead Sora out of the house then started walking down the long drive way. "We can just walk. It's a nice day. Plus this is good for training." Sora just nodded.

There wasn't too many people in town today. It was nice for the two. They held hands as they walked down the street. Sora and Riku were chatting and laughing. They walked to a store to get some snacks to bring into the movies. Sora was waiting outside by an ally way, waiting for Riku to come out of the bathroom. He heard something clatter in the ally way. He turned quickly and looked down. He froze. A small baby girl was crawling around. She looked to be only a year old. She had messy dirty brown hair and had cuts and bruises all over her body. She looked at Sora then started crying. She saw him as a possible savior. He ducked into the ally and quickly scooped her up. She stunk to high heaven.

"What is a baby doing here?!" he asked himself then walked out of the ally as Riku walked out. "Riku!"

"What the hell? Where the hell did you get a baby from?" Riku froze up for a second before he pushed past it.

"We have to help her. We're taking her home!" He went to start walking away but stopped and blinked when Riku walked back into the store. He waited for Riku. Riku was out in less then five minutes with diapers, wipes, bottles and formula. "Riku…"

"We're going to help her," he said with a smile then walked into the bathroom with Sora. They changed the young girls diaper and after they made a bottle for her. "We're giving her formula now but within a week she'll be eating baby food."

"Why?"

"Babies at her age are starting to be introduced to real food. As I do not know when the last time she ate was this will be the easiest for her." The girl was drinking as fast as she could. Sora pulled away to get her to take a few breaths. The walk home was difficult because after she was finished she wanted more. She screamed and cried up until she threw up all over Sora. Sora then started whining as they walked. Riku took her so Sora could take his shirt off. For some reason Sora didn't want to let her go. He felt almost protective of her.

"She's asleep," Sora said softly then smiled up at Riku. "I can't believe she was in the ally. She's got so many cut's and bruises… We have to clean her up…"

"And she's really thin too. Weighs nothing like a year old child should…"

"How do you know she's a year old?"

"I'm guessing. She can hold a bottle on her own and hold herself up when you hold her. We'll see if she can crawl or walk. That will help us gauge where she is. Since we don't know her parents and we wont know her exact age." Sora nodded then suddenly felt light headed. Riku helped steady him. "Sora?"

"I don't feel that good any more…" Sora said then leaned heavily on Riku.

"Lets go to your room. Then you can lay down," Riku said then helped Sora to his room. He helped Sora into bed then gently took the girl. Sora looked hurt but as soon as he sat down on the bed he couldn't focus anymore. He laid down then slowly lost consciousness.

"Riku," Roxas said as he walked in. "You…found her?" Roxas reached out to touch her but quickly pulled his hand back. "She looks sick…"

"Sora's going to be very protective once he remembers how she died…he's going to be a mess. I'm pretty sure he will be once he wakes up. I don't know what happened to little Angel but she isn't good. We'll have to take her a doctor while Sora's out and get her cleaned up. I'm going to take her. Stay with him okay?"

"Yeah. Let me just take care of Axel first…" Riku rolled his eyes then went to his room to give her a bath.

"Angel!" Sora laughed as he picked the baby up. "Who is my baby girl?" The happy baby girl squealed as she was picked up. She giggled and made some baby sounds before she looked at the door. She smiled as she looked at Riku.

"She's doing better," Riku said as he walked over to Sora. He kissed the small girls forehead then smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. I'm drinking and eating without too much difficulty. Thanks for saving us."

"I'm sorry you were in there for so long. I'm sorry that everything happened to you that happened."

"I'm not. Now I have this beautiful baby."

"I don't know why she wasn't a full pregnancy. It was half the time."

"I don't know either but at least she's healthy." Sora smiled then pushed Riku slightly. "Her name is Angel. Because of her my life is good. Nothing can bring me down."\

"I'm glad your better," Riku said then gently kissed Sora. Sora kissed back then smiled into the kiss when the girl in his arms wiggled and giggled. He leaned against Riku and just smiled down at her.

The happy scene turned into a dark one in a matter of moments. Blood was everywhere and he was in a lot of pain. He stumbled into a wall as he desperately looked for the baby girl he had been holding moments later. "Angel! Where are you?!" he yelled as he continued to desperately look for her. Pain shot through his heart knowing she wasn't with him. "Please…"

"Dad…" a weak wheezing sound was heard close by. He ran over to her and bent down.

"Shit….shit shit shit!" he cried as he gently lifted her up. "A-Angel…" He cried harder as a smile formed on her face.

"Don't…don't cry dad…it's okay. This was going to happen no matter what…my time with you this time was rushed but it was a good time. I love you….and…I will love you next time…even more…"

"Boo whoo," a voice said before kicking Sora, knocking him back into a wall.

"Run….run….Run dad!" She screamed before the other man picked up his foot then stomped it down on her head crushing it.

"NO!" Sora screamed as Riku ran over.

"ANGEL!" he screamed then glared at the other man. "YOUR GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!"

Sora screamed as he sat up. He panted hard as he looked around wildly. "A-Angel…" he breathed out then looked on the bed. He didn't find her. He panicked and quickly went to get up but felt light headed and stumbled to the floor. He panted softly as tried to get his bearings. Once he could, he stood up then opened the door. He ran into a body and was knocked back.

"Sora? I told Roxas to stay with you," Riku said then growled as he looked down the hall to see Roxas walking down. He glared at him then blinked when he felt the child in his arms taken from him. He looked down and saw Sora clinging to her. He was sitting down with her pulled up to his chest. His knees protecting her back and the rest of him the front. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he rocked back and forth. Riku knelt down then smiled softly.

"Sora. It was just a dream. She's fine. The doctors I took her too said she was a little malnourished and besides some scrapes and bruises, she's going to be fine with food and water." Sora flinched away when his shoulder was touched.

"Why must…..why must I see how everyone dies? Why is it death first then happy memories…."

"That's just how the mind works. It's much easier to remember something painful first before the happy memories follow." Sora choked on a sob.

"It was so sad…"

"I know," he leaned down then lightly kissed Sora. "She's fine now though and will be for a good while. Till she's all grown up and happy like us." Riku gently took her then laid her down in a crib he acquired. He lightly covered her before going back over to Sora. "Come on. Lets sit on the bed and talk?" He turned to Roxas before speaking again. "Go back to Axel," he said with a dark tone to his voice. "He seemed to be more important then your brother who's braking down." Roxas looked hurt.

"I did come right back. When Sora didn't wake up when you put the crib in here I left. I thought he'd be a sleep for a while like me…"

"You woke up when someone died. You woke up every single time crying over someones death. You didn't see half of what Sora did. He saw every body. Every last person in our party." His voice was low and Sora was doing his best to not pay attention. Sora quickly got up and ran over to the crib when he heard soft cries.

"A-Angel…" he whispered softly before picking her up and rocking her gently. Tears slid down his cheeks as he cried softly. "S-shh…"

"Riku I'm…"

"Just leave Roxas. Now!" Roxas ran out of the room and back to his.

"Riku…" he said softly as he turned to him. Angel slowly dozed back off with a smile on her face.

"Sora," he said closing the door. Sora laid her down again before walking over to him. He sniffled then pulled Riku down for a kiss.

"If I see everyones…will I see yours next…? And Roxas?"

"I'm sorry Sora," he said then kissed him again. "You're the only one that sees their own death. I don't know how I die and even if Roxas thinks he knows he doesn't. You're the one that harbors all the death. It's the thing with Kingdom Hearts. Where there is light there is dark."

"Kingdom Hearts…?" Sora said slowly.

"Fuck you didn't know about that yet. Shit…Sora."

"I know…it's inside…" Sora's body went ridged before he just fell over.

Another short chapter but it's okay cause there will be another one shortly. I needed to end it here because it only makes sense for what happens in the next chapter. :3 R&R Reviews brighten my day! :D