Kyrie (c) Me

Kingdom Hearts characters/some of the story (c) Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts

Bonded Soul

Chapter 22

Kyrie gave a small sigh as she walked around the ship, for the fiftieth time that day. It had been a while since Sora, Donald, and Goofy went to Atlantica, and she was bored as hell. She sighed and plopped down on a chair, slumping into it.

"So bored…" she thought as she gave a soft sigh. She was silent for a few moments before an idea popped into her head, making her smile.

"I know, I can use my keyblade to get to some dry land, and I could maybe sketch a drawing or two. Then, I'll just use my keyblade to get back! But first…" she walked over to the sleeping quarters, opened the door, walked in, and quickly grabbed a piece of paper from Donald's bed. Using the wall as a desk, she grabbed her pen and began to write.

Taking a nap. I locked the door so I wouldn't be disturbed. I'll be up around dinner.

Lots of love,

Kyrie

Smiling to herself, she opened the door and posted the note before locking the door. With that, she summoned her white kingdom key and pointed it at the wall across from her.

"Take me to nearby dry land." she commanded. The keyblade emitted a flash of light, and a light corridor opened for her. Grabbing her backpack, she walked through.

-Atlantica, Seashore-

Kyrie exited out of the light corridor and was surprised at what she saw. She was on a beach, and there was a castle and town a little bit further down from the beach. She smiled a bit at this.

"Well, I didn't expect it to be this close, but that's okay. At least I'm not under the water anymore." sighing in relief, she found a large boulder to sit on as she pulled out her art utensils and her sketchbook. She began to sketch, many images and ideas coming into her head before she finally settled on one. It was more of a dream, really.

But it was something she wished more than anything else in the world.

While she was doing this, however, a familiar face spotted her as they looked for a place to write their music. The person was surprised at her appearance, but decided to keep quiet as they watched her do her work.

Once she was done, she looked down at the drawing and smiled.

"This looks…" she didn't know what to say. The picture was of her, Axel, Roxas, Xion, Demyx, Xigbar, Namine, Kairi, Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they played on the beach in the Destiny Islands. Demyx and Xigbar were the furthest away, one strumming his sitar and the other watching the group with a smirk on his face.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy were splashing in the water. Roxas, Xion, Kairi, and Namine were walking along the beach, picking up Thalasha seashells and other types of shells. Axel and herself were sitting nearby in the shade of the palm trees, looking at the others with her sitting between his legs, his arms wrapped around her shoulders while her arms came up vertically, wrapping around his. Everyone was smiling…

But this made her frown sadly. It was only a little dream, a dream that would never come true. Xion and Roxas were gone, and she didn't know if Axel, Demyx, and Xigbar would live through this venture.

"But what can I do? How can I get them to join our side? I don't want to lose them…" she thought sadly as she stared at the drawing. Suddenly, a hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Wow Kyrie, this looks great! But how come I'm all the way in the back?" gasping loudly, she jumped ten feet into the air before turning around, and heaving a sigh of relief. It was only Demyx, who was carrying his sitar as he stared at her curiously, eyebrow raised. After a moment, she glared at him and pulled out her notebook, putting her art utensils and sketchbook away as she did so.

Demyx, you jerk! You scared me!

The melodious nocturne backed up a few steps, raising his arms in self-defense.

"Whoa, okay, okay! Jeez Kyrie, I'm sorry if I scared you. I was actually surprised, I haven't seen you since Olympus Coliseum, when you disappeared on me." he explained. She was silent for a few moments before nodding, forgiving him for now. He quickly took the spot next to her and began strumming his sitar.

"So what happened back there, anyways? Why'd you disappear on me?" he asked. She began writing, telling him of what happened between her kidnapping at Olympus Coliseum and their current situation here at Atlantica. He nodded as he read her words, looking surprised at some points.

"Okay, so that explains a lot of things. And here I thought you just went and ditched me." he joked. She giggled silently before writing more.

So Demyx, why are you here? I didn't think the organization ventured to worlds like this, where there's a ton of water but very little land.

"Oh, that's easy. I come here to either practice with my water clones or write music. This place has a calming feel to it, so it helps with my creativity." he answered. She rolled her eyes a little, it was so much like him. The two were silent for a moment as he began to strum a calming tune, before he looked at her.

"So what's with Axel, lately? All he's been doing is going into the Dark city and coming back, like something's bothering him. You got any ideas?" he asked. She was silent before shrugging her shoulders and writing.

I haven't the slightest clue. Ever since he came to see me at Beast's Castle, he's been avoiding me. I think. I haven't seen him since then.

He nodded, not really pleased with her answer.

"So you don't know anything?" he asked. She shook her head, as far as she knew, she didn't know what made Axel act so strange when he left back at Beast's castle. He sighed.

"Okay, I'll try and ask him myself. That is, if he doesn't fry me." he spoke, making her giggle silently at the thought. After that, the two continued on as they told each other what they had been up to lately, with him doing all of the talking and her doing all of the writing. Demyx cracked jokes every now and again, making her laugh silently as he did so.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was sunset. She looked at the horizon where the sun made the water glimmer, before standing up. Demyx looked up, giving her a frown.

"You have to go?" he asked. She nodded, and he sighed.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you later. Be careful, okay? Because Axel would be devastated if something were to happen to you." the response made her blush, and she quickly summoned her keyblade and used it to get back to the ship. Demyx stared at the place where she had once been, before giving a soft sigh. He may be a lazy, cowardly nobody, but he wasn't an idiot. He could see things, like the change with Axel and Kyrie's relationship. He knew that they were more than just friends, but the two were so dense that it made Roxas' somebody, Sora, look smart.

Everyone who knew them could see that they were very close, closer than normal friends should be. Even Xemnas picked it up, and the guy was about as emotionless as a doll. But he didn't know what to call the bond that the two shared, because is wasn't a sibling bond like he had with her, and it wasn't a parental bond like Xigbar had with her. "Friends" didn't seem to fit, because they were closer than that. So what do you call people who are more than just friends?

-Back at the Gummi Ship-

Kyrie stepped out of the portal, finding herself back in the sleeping quarters again. She could hear muffled talking, and knew that Sora and the others were back. Smiling, she unlocked the door and stepped out, surprised to see the boys slumped in their chairs. She raised her eyebrows at them, before approaching the closest one to her, Sora.

Are you guys okay? You look…worn out.

"Nah, we're fine…really." he answered, but she didn't believe him. Rolling her eyes, she walked over to the steering wheel and took charge, making Donald sit in her usual seat as she started the ship. Once she got the ship in the air, they took off. Taking a quick glance behind her, she smiled when she spotted the three passed out in their chairs, snoring loudly.

"It's the least I can do. They never get a moment's rest…"

-Meanwhile, Hollow Bastion-

All was quiet as a woman with green skin dressed in black paced, walking around a dilapidated room, her partner watching her closely, but was more worried about his own hide than hers. They were currently in an equally dilapidated castle, surrounded by a sea of heartless that were drawn to the castle's darkness.

"Hmph, that wretched keyblade bearer has trifled with me for the last time!" she growled, slamming the bottom of her staff into the ground, creating an indentation. Her companion jumped at this.

"I'm s-sorry Maleficent, those punks stopped me just when I had the-"

"Enough, Pete!" she snapped, glaring at him. Pete jumped in fright, covering his head with his hands as he prepared himself to face her wrath. But she calmed after a moment, puzzling him as he lowered his arms.

"But no matter. The girl…she can be quite useful for our cause. Pete," he stiffened at his name. "Next time you should happen to catch sight of them, bring her to me. Use any means necessary, but do not harm her. We need her safe and unharmed if we're to accomplish our goal."

"An' what goal would that be?" Pete asked, confused. She gave him a sinister smirk, making him tremble from the crown of his head to the back of his heels.

"Why, to make Kingdom Hearts my dominion, of course." she answered. This made him quiet for a moment, before he looked at her again.

"So why's she so important? What makes her so special?" he asked. She glared murderously at him, making him duck and cover his head again.

"How many times must I explain this, she is the Princess of Light! The very essence of the door to light, which lies dormant inside Kingdom Hearts!" she exclaimed. He nodded frantically before she continued.

"Once she is within our grasp, we can use her to force open Kingdom Hearts, and lead us to the true power that lies deep inside it. Then we can conquer the worlds using my darkness, combined with its power!" she finished. He was silent again, before asking something that bothered him.

"But Maleficent, if there's a princess o' light, ain't there a princess or prince o' darkness? Y'know, someone who's the opposite of her?" he asked. She was silent before stroking her crow that rested on her shoulder.

"There is, but sadly, the Prince of Darkness is far out of our reach. After all, he's…"

For those who guessed Demyx...you get a cookie! *hands over a digital cookie* Although I was surprised that a few of you said Roxas, as well as Luxord. And...Uh-oh. Maleficent and Pete are up to no good again! Oh well...next chapter we'll meet an awesome pirate who can kick ass and still joke around. I bet you all know who it is...

Anyways, please read and review!