Wow...not getting as much reviews per chapter as I used to. How depressing...*flops head on desk*

Axel: Oh crap. *calls out* Hey, Author's depressed again! Someone get her something!

Sora: Aw...don't be sad! *hugs*

Me: Aw...you're so cute, Sora! *hugs back*

Kyrie (c) Me

Kingdom Hearts characters, plot, ect. (c) Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts

Bonded Soul

Chapter 48

"Phew…that was quick." Kyrie thought as she landed on her feet, after dealing a fatal blow to a sniper as it passed. Turning, she spotted Sora and Mulan running to her as Donald and Goofy dealt with the last one, the group coming out of the fight completely unharmed.

"Guess it wasn't Riku." Goofy spoke as they regrouped, directing his attention to Sora. The boy nodded sadly as Mulan looked at the doors to the emperor's chamber uneasily.

"Sorry, Sora. I can't stay. I'm worried about Shang!" she explained. Sora jerked his head up and looked at her before he nodded.

"Oh! Right!" he exclaimed as the group turned their attention to the large double doors. Without further ado, they walked in and spotted Shang as he stood next to the Emperor, who was sitting on his throne as calm as can be.

"How can he be so calm? Oh, right, he doesn't know about the heartless yet." Kyrie thought as Mulan took a bow, before looking at the two men anxiously.

"Your Excellency! Shang! Something terrible has happened! We saw a huge monster fly out of the mountains and toward the city!" she exclaimed as she told them of the incoming danger.

"We know." Shang spoke, startling the group.

"A man dressed in black came to me and explained of the danger." the Emperor explained. Sora cocked his head to the side.

"What was his name?"

"He didn't offer his name. Although he was rather rude." The Emperor answered. At this, Sora smiled broadly.

"Rude? … Then it WAS Riku!" he exclaimed happily. Kyrie was silent, she didn't know much about Riku, except that he was a childhood friend of Sora's.

"But if it is Riku…why is he wearing a black cloak? To spy on the organization?" she thought as she crossed her arms. Before another word could be said, the palace began to shake, throwing the group around as Mulan turned towards the door.

"I'll check outside." She spoke as she started towards the door, before being pulled back by Kyrie. She looked at the older woman in worry, before Sora and the others joined her.

"We're coming too." He said adamantly. Mulan nodded before Shang took a step forward, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Mulan!" he spoke as he reached out to her. But she turned to him, making it clear that she wasn't going to let him stop her from going outside.

"Shang- guard the Emperor! I'll be fine with them!" Sora and Kyrie nodded in agreement as they turned to the captain.

"Th-that's right!" Sora stammered. The Emperor nodded in agreement as he folded his arms, looking at the group calmly and confidently.

"Indeed. That is true: We need not worry while you protect us." He spoke, confidence clear in his tone. Donald quickly grabbed onto Sora and Mulan's arms before pointing to the door.

"Hurry!" he cried. They nodded and ran out, with Goofy, Donald, and Kyrie following close behind. But when they tried to open the doors to the palace courtyard, the large heartless appeared, trying to stick its large head through the door. Mulan hesitated for a moment, before Sora and Kyrie placed their hands on her arms, assuring her. She smiled and nodded as the group summoned their weapons, chasing the large heartless into the courtyard. That's when all hell broke loose.

The heartless dove in at them, making them dodge before Sora ran after it, jumping and clinging to its tail. Donald, Goofy, and Mulan followed suit, with Kyrie just missing the tail as it took off by inches. She landed on the ground with a heavy thud, the wind knocked out of her and her keyblades flying out of her grasp as she did so.

"Ow…damn heartless…" she thought with a groan as she sat up, grabbing her keyblades as she watched Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Mulan deal the heartless heavy blows from atop its back. But it suddenly spun, throwing Donald, Goofy, and Mulan off but Sora still managed to hold on. Helping the others to their feet, the four began to run as it flew at them, trying to tackle them and send them flying. It twisted its body again for the second time, this time flinging Sora off its back and into the air as it shot up.

"Sora!" Kyrie thought in alarm as he hit the ground, before running to his aid. He groaned loudly as she helped him to his feet, before looking at her.

"Thanks." he said gratefully before the two jumped, just avoiding another tackle by the heartless. The fight seemed to go one forever as the gang dodged lightning attacks, wind gusts, bombs, and whatever else the heartless had thrown at them. And just when it seemed like it would never end, the heartless gave out a defeated cry as it hovered in the air for a moment, before falling. Unfortunately, Mulan was just under it, making the group turn and look at her in horror. In that instant, Shang appeared, and ran in.

"Mulan!" he cried as he ran to her, covering her body with his own as he held her protectively. Thankfully, the heartless dissipated before it could touch them, causing the group to sigh in relief as the two got to their feet. The held hands for a moment, looking at each other with a strange look Kyrie had never seen before. She blinked at them owlishly.

"Why are they looking at each other like that? Was there something we miss?" she thought as she stared. The couple noticed the group looking at them and released their hands, blushing and chuckling in embarrassment. But Kyrie still continued to stare at them, something about the way they were looking at each other bugged her.

"What was that look? And why do I feel…jealous?"

-Later, in the throne room-

"Once again, you have served China well. It would please me to reward you. What is it that you wish?" the Emperor spoke as he stared at the group. Kyrie smiled when she heard Goofy's stomach growl, Donald hum as he thought about treasure, and Sora silent as he thought about his wish.

"Well…You say a guy in black came to see you. What did he say?" Sora asked. The Emperor raised his eyebrow at him.

"That is all you request?" he asked, surprised. Sora nodded. "Yes." Kyrie almost laughed at the disappointed look on Donald and Goofy's faces.

"They'll never change." she thought with a smile as the Emperor continued.

"Dragons have crossed our land and left a great web of paths. These dragons wield much power, and they are the source of many gifts to both man and nature. But it would seem someone of evil intent disturbed one of our dragons, and transformed it into what you call a Heartless. It is my belief that this young man came to warn me of that danger. Then, I could alert and prepare my troops." He explained. The group nodded as Sora cocked his head to the side.

"Did you?" he asked. The Emperor smiled and shook his head. "I was about to, but he told me the situation had changed." he answered. At this, Shang stepped in.

"He said three 'wise guys' and a white-haired girl had arrived, and they would take care of things." He explained. Sora thought about this for a moment, before he smiled.

"That's gotta be Riku!" he exclaimed. Kyrie was silent as Goofy and Donald spoke up, lost in thought.

"If that was him…that means he's working for DiZ. But I can't tell Sora that, for one, I don't even know where DiZ is. Maybe I should let myself be kidnapped by Riku, so I can lead Sora and the others to him and DiZ. But then again-" Kyrie thought as she crossed her arms. Suddenly the Emperor spoke again, turning his attention to Mulan.

"Now then, Fa Mulan. Do you have a request?" at this, the girl jumped.

"I'd like Shang…I-I mean… well…The Captain…" she spoke timidly, twiddling her fingers. The Emperor nodded as he leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say. "Yes, yes, my dear. What is it?"

"Could the Captain have a vacation, please?" she asked. Shang jumped at this, staring at her with a blush on his face as the Emperor chuckled, standing up as he did so.

"I hardly expected such humble requests. In this case, I'm afraid I must refuse. Captain Li's responsibility is to protect the Emperor. And yet, Mulan…Would you like to serve alongside him and protect me?" he spoke, making the two people in question turn and stare at him in surprise.

"What?"

"Two reeds together are stronger than one. But the choice is yours alone." He continued. The girl was silent for a moment before nodding, clasping her hands together as she bowed.

"Thank you, your Excellency!" she exclaimed. The Emperor nodded as the group began to laugh, seeing how red Shang's face was, as well as Sora's who was rubbing his finger under his nose. With that the group left, saying one last farewell to the couple and the Emperor as they headed off towards the Gummi ship.

-Later, Gummi Ship-

Everyone sighed in relief as they got on the Gummi ship, especially Kyrie who had actually missed traveling by ship than by corridor. But once she got on, she could tell something was up. Donald was staring at her suspiciously, as well as Sora. She raised her eyebrows at the two, confused by their looks.

"Kyrie, we have to talk." Sora spoke suddenly, his voice unnaturally stern. She nodded as she sat down, the three taking the seats across from hers. They stared at her for a long moment, before Sora spoke up.

"Okay, what happened back at Hollow Bastion? How did you end up at the Land of Dragons, and what happened to Axel?" He questioned, crossing his arms as he stared at her suspiciously. She looked down at her hands for a moment, before pulling her notebook out of her backpack.

Honestly, I can't remember. I know Axel took me there and healed me, but that's it.

Donald immediately stomped his foot at this, his suspicious glare not once leaving her face.

"Is that the truth, or are you lyin'?" he asked. She looked at them in confusion before Goofy explained.

"Ya see, back in Hollow Bastion, that Saix feller was tellin' us about how you were lyin' to us all along and that you were workin' for the organization." he explained. She stared at them with wide eyes before Sora cleared his throat.

"So is what he said true? Are you working for the Organization?" he asked. The girl was silent for a few minutes, before writing in her notebook.

Look, there's something you need to understand. But this is going to be a long story, do you mind?

"No, go right ahead. We're listenin'." Goofy answered. She nodded and began her story. She told them everything from when she first woke up blank in Twilight town, to when she was sent to spy on Sora and the others. She told them about how she befriended Axel and a few other members, not daring to mention Xion or Roxas, and about everything that happened when she was still with the organization.

As all of this was going on, Sora, Donald, and Goofy stared at her in disbelief, shocked that she had such a past with them. Once she was done, Sora and Donald jumped to their feet.

"So you were working for them all along? You lied to us!" he accused, pointing his finger at her. Donald nodded in agreement.

"Yeah!" Kyrie quickly shook her head as she wrote more.

Sora, you don't understand! I never wanted to spy on you, and after I was tossed out, I didn't do what I was supposed to.

But Sora and Donald didn't believe her.

"Really? Then how come you protected Demyx back in Hollow Bastion? Or why you were so friendly with that guy back in the Land of Dragons? How can we trust you?" he exclaimed. Kyrie looked down in fear and shame. She was ashamed of lying to Sora and the others, but at the same time, she was afraid that they were going to kick her off the ship and leave her behind. She had grown fond of the three through their adventures, and saw them as close friends, like Roxas, Xion, and Axel. But after Xion faded away and Roxas disappeared, she grew a fear of losing the people she cared about. And now, thanks to her deceit, they were going to leave her, too.

But while all of this was going on, Goofy was lost in thought, which was surprising for the bipedal dog. He had watched her expressions the entire time as she wrote her story, and could clearly see that she was being honest and sincere about everything.

"Gawrsh Sora, just listen for a minute. Kyrie says she didn't wanna spy on us, and I think she's tellin' the truth." he spoke, startling the three. Sora and Donald turned to him in disbelief as he continued.

"Think 'bout it for a moment. Sora, if Kairi or Riku's life was bein' held hostage by the Organization, wouldn't you do anything to keep 'em safe?" he asked, turning to Sora. The boy was silent before he turned to Donald.

"And Donald, what if they had Daisy? Wouldn't you do the same thing?" he asked. The duck was silent before giving a snort, agreeing with Goofy's statement.

"And ever since Kyrie's been with us, she's never tried to hurt us or do anythin' that would put us in danger. She's always been helpful, and always looked out for us. Would someone who's workin' for the organization do anything like that?" he asked. Sora and Donald were silent as he got to his feet and walked over, looking at the girl as he felt down beside her.

"Kyrie, we understand what it's like to have someone we care about in danger, an' we understand why you lied. But now that we know everythin', can we put the past behind us and promise not to lie anymore?" he asked, looking at the girl as she stared at him in both shock and confusion. Her eyes began to well up with tears as she wrote more in her notebook.

You mean…you're letting me stay? Even after everything that's happened?

"Why, of course we are! You're our friend, an' friends stick together!" he answered, smiling. At this, Sora nodded. After thinking about everything the four had been through on this adventure, he could see that all along she was their friend, and that she had never done anything to put them in danger. She was like a sister to him, and he wanted to help her out of this.

"Yeah, you've been there for us when we were in trouble, now it's time that we stick with you. Sure, we may not know what it's like to lose our memories and find out that the people who took us in turned out to be the bad guys, but it doesn't mean we should judge you because of it." he explained as he placed a hand on her shoulder. But Donald was still hesitant as he stared at her, before giving a frustrated sigh.

"Oh phooey. I guess we can let you stay…but I'm warnin' ya! If you do anything that puts Sora or Goofy in danger, you're out!" he berated. She was silent for a moment before looking at the notebook in her palms, her hands shaking.

"They actually…they're actually letting me stay, even after everything that's happened. …Why? Why are they letting me stay?" she thought as her eyes began to well with tears.

"Kyrie? You okay?" Sora asked as he looked at her. But without warning, she began to cry, dropping her notebook as she buried her face into her hands, crying silently. This startled the three before Sora and Goofy smiled sympathetically, reaching out and placing their hands on the girl's shoulders as she cried in relief.

"Hey, it's okay, don't cry. Everything's gonna be okay now."

Okay. Definitely got kinda dramatic at the end, but who cares?

Axel: Probably the few people who are actually reading your story and reviewing.

Me:...Don't bring that up...*headdesk*

Xigbar: But he does have a-

Roxas: *covers their mouths and turns to the audience* Look guys, just read and review! And leave lots of reviews! So we can keep the story going, okay?

Demyx: You said it, Rox!