Oh gosh, we're back in Hollow Bastion. Great...

Kyrie (c) Me

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

Kingdom Hearts

Bonded Soul

Chapter 40

Kyrie was silent as she stared out the Gummi ship's widows, lost in thought with her chin resting against her hand. The recent revelation had sent her into a whirl, and she had no idea what to think.

Axel was the person who kidnapped Kairi. But what she couldn't understand was why. Why would Axel kidnap Kairi?

"Axel…what are you planning?" she thought with a sigh. She glanced over at Sora as he sat, slumped in his seat. After getting back on the ship, he sighed and talked about how Kairi was gone again. Looking at Donald and Goofy for an explanation, they had explained how one year ago, they had traveled the worlds looking for Kairi, Riku, and the King. They only found Kairi, and after sending her safely home, they continued their search for Riku and the King.

"I feel bad for him. He finally had her home safe and sound, only to have her in danger again." she thought, staring at him. Then she looked out the window once more.

"I hope she's safe. I know Axel, he would never hurt her."

-Later, Hollow Bastion-

The group sighed in relief as they walked through Hollow Bastion, glad to be back after so long. But that relief was shattered immediately as four soldiers ran out in front of them, before disappearing into the darkness. The group jumped back, startled.

"Do you think…" Sora asked, looking at them. Goofy nodded.

"Looks like there's more Heartless now." He pointed out. The group nodded in agreement, worry clear on their faces as they stared at each other.

"But why is there more heartless? Are maybe…Pete and Maleficent here, too?" she thought as she looked around. For the moment, they couldn't see any other heartless, but one can never be too careful. Especially with beings like the heartless.

"Let's go check in with everyone." Sora suggested. With that, the group continued on through the marketplace, checking out a few stands along the way. Once they passed Scrooge McDuck's ice cream, they ran into a familiar blonde head as he stared out into the borough, his back to them.

"Huh? Who's that?" Kyrie thought, staring at the man curiously. Sora gasped, making her turn to him as he looked at the man in front of him.

"Oh, Cloud!" he gasped. She turned her attention back to the man as he nodded once, acknowledging their presence. Donald looked at the man curiously before crossing his arms.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked. Cloud was silent for a moment, before mumbling to himself.

"I'll get him. This time we settle it. Me, and the one who embodies all the darkness in me." Kyrie deadpanned at this.

"That didn't answer his question." she thought, staring at him. Donald sighed, Cloud hasn't changed, personality-wise. Appearance however…

"I thought you looked kinda different, Cloud." He pointed out. Cloud was silent, before continuing.

"If I do, it's his fault." He replied. Sora looked at him in confusion.

"Whose?" he asked.

"Sephiroth. Tell me if you see him."

"Okay. What's he look like?"

"Silver hair. Carries a long sword." Kyrie deadpanned again, before tugging on a lock of her snow-white hair.

"Jeez, his descriptions suck! If anyone had silver hair, you wouldn't be able to tell if it was the right guy or not!" she thought, looking at the lock before brushing it back over her shoulder. Sora agreed, despite the horrible description.

"Sure. Well, be seeing you, Cloud." But Cloud quickly turned to them, stopping them in their tracks. He took one look at Kyrie and looked away immediately, wincing like he had someone shine a light in his eyes, before turning his attention back to Sora. This made her stare at him.

"Huh? What was that for?" she thought as she stared, insulted by the action. He acted like she was some disgusting creature who had appeared to make his life a living hell. But he ignored her glare, and continued talking.

"Be careful. He messes with your head, makes you think darkness is the only way." He warned. The group nodded, taking his warning to heart as a female voice spoke up.

"Is something wrong?" turning, they spotted Aerith as she stood there, staring at him in worry. She quickly walked past them, standing in front of Cloud as he looked at her.

"It's nothing." He answered. But she simply leaned forward, staring at him in scrutiny and making him lean back. "I don't want you involved."

"You mean you don't want me there when you go away again?" she asked, leaning back. He paused for a moment.

"I just…Listen, even if I go far away, I'll come back." He answered.

"Do you mean it?" she asked. He looked away for a moment, hesitant.

"Yeah."

"See? You don't look so sure. Well, okay, I understand. Go… get things settled." This time, he looked her in the eye, confusion clear on his face.

"Huh?"

"No matter how far away you are… once you find your light… I'm sure it will lead you back here again. Right?" she explained. He nodded reluctantly.

"I suppose."

"So I'll stay here… and I'll cheer for you… Okay, Cloud?" the blonde nodded, a small smile appearing on his lips.

"Okay." And with that, he walked away. The group stood there silently as they watched him go, before Aerith sighed.

"Wonder if he'll be okay." Sora looked at the young woman, before nodding.

"He'll be fine. I'm sure there's some light in him somewhere." This brightened her expression as Kyrie walked forward, pulling out her notebook and pen.

Sora's right. I can sense it, a light deep inside of him. He'll be okay.

This was true. During the entire conversation about Sephiroth corrupting his heart, she could somehow feel light coming from him. It was weak, but it was still enough to stop his heart from being consumed.

"You're right."

-Later, at Merlin's-

The group walked into the wizard's house to find Cid at the computer as usual, with Yuffie at his side. He turned and looked at them, a smirk on his face.

"Hey, fellas… you're just in time. Got some good news for ya, so get yourselves over to Leon's." he spoke. Sora cocked his head to the side like a puppy.

"What kind of news?"

"We found the computer Ansem was using!" Yuffie exclaimed. This made the group jump, Kyrie in particular. She knew that name all too well, it was the name of her grandfather. At least, from what she could remember of the dreams.

"Yep. Should be able to get all kinds of info on the Heartless and the Organization." Cid continued.

"And maybe something on the dark realm, too? It looks like that's where Riku and Kairi are." Sora asked. Donald nodded.

"And the King." He added. The group continued to talk as Kyrie stared off into space, lost in her own thoughts.

"If we can find out more about the heartless and the organization, maybe we can find out more about where my grandfather is. Maybe…we can find out more about me, too." she thought.

"Kyrie, aren't you going to follow them? They're leaving you behind!" Yuffie suddenly called, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looked around, realizing that Sora, Donald, and Goofy were gone. Looking at Yuffie and Cid, she nodded as she ran after them.

"I really need to stop thinking so much!" she thought as she ran, trying to catch up to the three. But when she got to the Bailey, the three were nowhere to be found. Looking around helplessly, she began to wander as she tried to find her way again.

"Princess, you must go outside to the valley where crystals surround you. Your friend will be there soon, but he'll be in dire need of help. He is being chased, and has been gravely injured in the process." she stopped and looked around, she knew this voice!

"Oh…it's you again. The disembodied voice…"

"Yes, it is I. But now is not the time to dawdle, you must open your eyes and face the dangers that threaten to consume the lives of those you care about."

"Open my…eyes?"

"Yes. Open your eyes."

She didn't know when she had closed her eyes, but she quickly opened them and gasped. Two dusks were in front of her, staring at her impatiently.

"Follow them. They will lead you to where you want to go." the voice commanded. She nodded and they began to slither off, with her following right behind them. They traveled for awhile, the girl looking around in awe and wonder as they passed huge rock formations that looked like they were made out of crystal, before they finally got to a huge basin.

"This is the place, I think." Kyrie thought as she looked around. It seemed to fit the description the voice had given her, but then again they passed numerous places where there were huge rock formations. Turning, she realized that the dusks were gone.

"Well, this is the place, all right. Otherwise, the dusks wouldn't have ditched me." she thought with a sigh. But before she could dwell anymore on the subject, she heard the sound of a dark corridor opening behind her.

"K…Kyrie?"

Mwahahahaha...yes, the cliffhanger returns! *laughs evilly*

Axel: Damn you and your stupid cliffhangers! When are me and Kyrie gonna get some action, huh? *wiggles eyebrows suggestively*

Me: Soon, Axel! So shut up and sit back down! You're dirtying the minds of the innocent children!

Demyx: Just ignore these guys and review, because if you don't the author might not post the next chapter.