Oh gosh...only two more chapters... Oh! And for this chapter, I suggest listening to "Sanctuary: After the Battle" for the mood of this chapter.

Kyrie (c) Me

Kingdom Hearts (c) Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts

Bonded Soul

Chapter 78

"Sora! Riku!" Kairi exclaimed as she stared into the void of Betwixt and Between, trying to find any sign of them. Axel swore under his breath before reaching out and taking her arm.

"C'mon, if we stay still for too long, the darkness will overtake us." he urged. She turned to him and nodded, and the two ran to catch up to the others. They soon found the others standing in the center of Betwixt and Between, waiting for them. But when they realized that Sora and Riku weren't behind them, they gasped.

"Hey, where's the kid?" Xigbar asked. Axel growled.

"The corridor closed before they could get in. But I think someone closed it on purpose." he answered. Donald gasped.

"Then we hafta save them!" he exclaimed. Demyx nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but first, we better get out of here. We wanna get to the Destiny Islands, right?" he asked. Kairi nodded and with that, he opened another corridor.

"Then c'mon, let's go!"

-Destiny Islands-

The group exited the corridor and found themselves on the island where the children often played, spotting the main island in the distance. Kairi turned to Demyx, Xigbar, and Axel.

"Can you guys open a corridor for Sora and Riku to come back?" she asked. Axel nodded as he knelt down, holding Kyrie in one arm and holding the other out. But, like with Riku, a corridor didn't appear. "Huh? Why isn't it working?"

"Maybe 'cuz you're like Riku, now. You don't belong in the dark realm anymore." Demyx suggested. "Here, let me give it a try." he held out his hand, and a corridor did appear. But it was gone in a matter of moments, making the melodious nocturne blink in confusion.

"Huh? What happened?"

"We can't open a dark corridor in a place that doesn't exist." Xigbar spoke. The group stared at him. "You mean…"

"Yeah. Looks like Sora and Riku can't come back, and we can't get to them." Kairi gasped at this and shook her head in disbelief.

"No! Sora and Riku will come back, I know they will!" she exclaimed. Xigbar sighed and crossed his arms, turning his gaze to the sunset.

"I hope you're right, kid." he answered. The group was silent as they stared out into the sunset, the feelings of worry and helplessness hanging in the air before a voice sighed softly.

"Sora…Riku…" Axel gasped as he looked down in surprise. Kyrie was mumbling in her sleep, her face contorted in confusion as she slept. "They're w-waiting…the distant shore… where d-darkness… sleeps. The water…is as d-dark as the s-sky…"

"Kyrie?" he asked as he stared down at her, confused by her words. But her face softened as she drifted back into slumber, making the others look at each other in confusion.

"The distant shore where darkness sleeps?" Donald asked.

"Where the water is as dark as the sky?" Goofy added. Demyx scratched his head at this.

"Where's a place like that?"

-Kyrie's subconscious-

"Kyrie…"

"Kyrie…"

Who…is calling me? I'm so tired…

"Kyrie, awake my child. You are needed." I opened my eyes to find myself floating in the darkness, everything was black. I looked around in confusion, I had no idea where I was.

"H-hello? Is a-anyone t-there?" I called. I heard a familiar voice laugh softly and turned, to see the yukata woman standing a few feet away from me.

"This one is right here, my dear. I know that right now, you are very weak, and this one is sorry for that. If it weren't for our bond with our dear friend, I am sure you wouldn't be as weakened as you are." I was silent, who was this "friend" she spoke of? Was it…maybe…Kingdom Hearts?

"But, young Sora and Riku have been trapped in the darkness by Xemnas. You and this one must open the door to light and allow them to pass through, if we ever want to see them again." I gasped.

"Sora and Riku are…trapped?" I exclaimed. She nodded.

"Yes. Now come, this one has picked up on the light in their hearts. We're going to find them." she explained as she held her hand out to me. I stared at it for a moment, before reaching out and taking it. She smiled at me and the surroundings began to distort, changing into something else. In a moment's notice, we were standing on a beach. The sky was midnight black, the ocean just as dark. But out in the distance, a white sun shown down on the darkened sea.

"End of the road?" I heard a familiar voice ask. I turned to see Sora and Riku walking onto the beach, Sora supporting the taller boy who had numerous wounds on him.

"Yep." Sora answered as he stared out into the distance. I smiled.

"Sora! Riku!" I cried. But they didn't hear me as Riku turned to Sora. "Put me down. I can walk." the boy agreed and released him, stumbling a bit as he did so. Then Sora proceeded to walk closer to the water, allowing it to brush against his shoes.

"They cannot see nor hear us. We are nothing but ghosts to them." the woman spoke. I nodded and watched the two, feeling the sorrow build up inside my heart as I gazed around the beach.

"You know…maybe the darkness has gotten me, too." Sora spoke as he gazed out into the ocean. A loud thump behind him made him and I turn, to spot Riku lying in the sand. Sora gasped. "Riku!"

"His wounds are terrible. The poor boy." the woman murmured softly. I nodded in agreement, feeling a lump in my throat as Sora ran over to him. He helped him sit up before Riku turned to him. "This world is perfect for me. If this is what the world really is… just this, then maybe I should fade back into darkness."

"Riku…"

"If the world is made of light and darkness… We'll be the darkness." Sora was silent for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. The other side… the realm of light is safe now. Kairi, the King, and the others are there."

"That's what I mean." he added. I felt the lump in my throat tighten as the woman sighed. "Willing to live in the darkness so the light would be safe…this one couldn't be any more proud of two wonderful boys who were chosen by the very weapon of this one's design. They are true keyblade wielders, in their own right." she spoke, placing a hand over her heart. I watched as Sora helped Riku get closer to the water, before the two sat down and began to talk.

"Can we… open t-the d-door… for t-them?"

"No, not yet. The only way to open the door to light for them is for one of their hearts to resonate with someone from the realm of light. In other words, their heart must resonate with the person they cherish most in the world. Like the one between you and the one called Axel." she explained. I turned to her.

"But h-how… can we… get t-their hearts… to r-resonate? How-"

"The thing that will allow Sora's heart to resonate with the one he loves has just brushed against his foot." she answered. I looked to where Riku and Sora were sitting, Riku lifting up a bottle with a piece of paper in it. He opened the bottle and read the letter.

"Sora?"

"Hm?"

"I think it's for you." he explained as he handed the note to the boy. Sora blinked at it in confusion before taking the note from his hand as he began to read it out loud. The woman turned to me, holding out her hand.

"Now it is time for us to open the door to light. Are you ready?" I nodded.

"I'm ready." I answered as I took her hand, feeling something build inside of me as a white aura began to form around our bodies. I could feel Sora and Kairi's hearts resonating, yes, this is it. The hearts of two people chosen by the keyblade. Their light…so pure… the pure and gentle love in their hearts.

"Thinking of you, wherever you are.

We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend.

Now I will step forward to realize this wish.

And who knows: Starting a new journey may not be so hard or maybe it has already begun.

There are many worlds, but they share the same sky-

one sky, one destiny."

And in an instant, the energy left our bodies and shot forward, opening a door in light a few feet in front of them. Riku gasped.

"Light."

"The door to light…" Sora added breathlessly. He quickly got to his feet, holding out his other hand to Riku. "We'll go together." Riku stared at his hand for a moment before nodding.

"Yeah." and with that, the two stepped into the door. The woman turned to me as the scenery began to fade away, a soft smile on her lips. "Well done, Kyrie. Well done."

And with that, everything faded away.

-Destiny Islands-

"Sora…Riku…" Kairi mumbled softly as she stood on the beach, her gaze on the sunset. The others stared on silently behind her, not daring to say a word. Axel scowled, looking at Kyrie.

"C'mon Sora, Roxas, Riku. C'mon." he thought. In that moment, Kyrie began to stir in his arms, causing him to gasp as he brushed the hair away from her face.

"Kyrie?"

"They're coming… Sora and Riku…the d-door to light…" she spoke as she began to wake, the events of her subconscious temporarily replacing the reality. He blinked at her, causing the others to look over at her words.

"Sora and Riku are coming? When? How?" Demyx asked. Before she could answer, Kairi gasped.

"Look!" the group turned and watched as two balls of light shot down from the sky, hitting the water and causing an enormous splash. This roused Kyrie completely as she blinked, confused by the splash. All was silent for a few tense moments, before two familiar heads shot up from the water. Kairi smiled as she began to wave.

"Sora! Riku!" she called. The two turned to her and smiled as they began to swim towards shore. Everyone watched in stunned amazement as they reached the shallow water, Sora grinning like an idiot as they did so. Immediately Donald, Goofy, and the King rushed into the water, Donald and Goofy tackling Sora while King Mickey leaped onto Riku. Donald and Goofy had tears in their eyes as they hugged Sora tightly, glad to see the boy again. Xigbar smirked.

"Well I'll be, they made it back." he spoke as he and Demyx approached the group. Axel nodded as he helped Kyrie to her feet, steadying her as she stumbled. Kairi smiled as she approached Sora, who was still being hugged by Donald and Goofy. The boy looked up at her, smiling brightly as he reached into his pocket. For a moment, Sora and Kairi's appearance had changed, making Kyrie blink. In their place was Roxas and Namine, who were smiling at each other brightly. In a moment's notice, they were gone, leaving Sora and Kairi in their places.

"Roxas and Namine are their Nobodies." a voice whispered in her mind. She nodded in understanding, finally knowing what had become of her two friends. Sora stared at the charm for a moment, before looking up at her.

"W-We're back." he stammered. She nodded and grinned, holding her hand out to him.

"You're home." she added. With that, he clasped her hand, the Wayfinder clasped between their hands. Everyone smiled at this, before Demyx and Xigbar walked over and began to ruffle the boy's hair, making him gasp as he tried to make them stop. Axel looked down at her.

"Wanna go over?" at this, she nodded.

"Yes." he nodded as he helped her over, watching as Sora finally got Demyx and Xigbar to stop, getting to his feet as he did so. He smirked.

"Hey, Sora!" he called. Sora looked over and grinned, waving at the two. "Hey, guys!" he called. Kyrie smiled, the two finally reaching the group as they pestered the two boys with questions. She gave him a hug and ruffled his hair playfully as Riku came over with the King beside him.

"Sora, how'd you get back?"

"Did you use a corridor?"

"C'mon, tell us!" The two boys looked at each other, before looking back at them.

"Well, uh…we were sitting on a beach in the realm of darkness, when all of a sudden, the door to light appeared. We walked through…and ended up here. I don't know how, but-"

"It was…b-because your hearts…resonated. Yours, and Kairi's. It was…because of t-that, that…the d-door was…able to open." Kyrie answered as she pulled away from Axel, staring into the sunset. The group blinked at her in confusion as she continued.

"K-Kairi…you're right. All worlds…share the same… sky. They are…f-forever c-connected…like our…hearts. One sky…one destiny." she continued. Sora and Riku blinked at her.

"Huh? How do you know-"

"T-the lady…in the s-silver y-yukata. She…told me." she answered. She turned to them and smiled, before realizing that someone was missing. She began looking around, walking this way and that as she searched. Demyx blinked.

"Uh, Kyrie?"

"W-where…is he? W-where…is g…grandfather…?" she asked as she searched. The group went dead silent, she didn't know about Ansem's death?

"Of course she wouldn't. She was unconscious." Axel thought grimly as she continued to search. She turned to them, seeing the sad looks on their faces. She looked to Axel.

"W-where is he…Axel? Where…is m-my g-grandfather?" she asked again, like a small child. He was silent before stepping forward, wrapping his arms around her as he held her close. She blinked in confusion before he began.

"I'm sorry Kyrie, but…he's gone. I'm so sorry." he whispered as he held her tightly. She was silent for a few minutes, too shocked to speak. After a few moments, she pulled away and took a few steps away from them, making Axel grimace.

"Kyrie…?"

"It's…okay. It's okay." she whispered softly, keeping her gaze on the ground. "W-we were…able to stop…Xemnas. L-like grandfather…wanted. It's…okay." she continued. She turned to them and gave them a small smile. This made Axel wince, the smile was…like a mask. A façade.

"Kyrie…"

-Later on that Night-

After all was said and done, the King, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto left, bidding the group farewell and receiving one last hug from Sora, Kairi, and Kyrie. The group promised to check on them often, and the King even told them to stop by the castle sometime. Once they were gone, the group began discussing another important matter.

Where would the Nobodies be able to stay?

After much debating, it was decided that for the moment, they would stay inside the large tree house until they could buy a place to live. After bringing them pillows and blankets to use for the night, the three teens headed home to see their families after so long. Demyx sighed as he leaned against the wall of the tree house, exhausted.

"Well, time to hit the hay. Night, guys." he yawned as he turned off the lamp, enshrouding the room in darkness. Xigbar and Axel mumbled a "goodnight" back to the melodious nocturne as they curled up in their blankets, ready to drift off into sleep. Axel looked over to where Kyrie was, only to see that she was huddled against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees as she held them to her chest. The girl had been quiet ever since hearing the news about her grandfather's death, saying a word here or there when someone would ask a question. He held his head up with one arm as he stared at her, her white hair the only thing we could see through the darkness.

"Kyrie? You wanna come over here? If you need a blanket-"

"No. M'fine." she answered, her voice muffled. But he wasn't buying it.

"C'mon, it's not good to sleep like that. Islands get cold at night, c'mere." he persisted. After a few minutes, she stood, quietly walking over to him and curling up next to him, allowing him to drape the blankets they shared over her. He laid down, pulling her closer to his chest as he did so.

"Better?"

"Mm-hm." she answered. All was quiet after that, but after a little while, Axel could feel her shoulders shake under his arm. He looked down, surprised to see that she was shaking. Moonlight was pouring in through the open door, and he could see the tracks of tears on her cheeks glimmer in the faint light.

"Kyrie? What's wrong?" he whispered softly as he placed a hand on her cheek, brushing away the tears with his thumb. She bit her lip, allowing a few more tears to escape before answering.

"I…I c-couldn't…cry. Not…in front of t-them…" she choked. He softened his gaze as she continued. "T-t-they were…so h-happy…I didn't want to…to ruin it. It…w-would've been…selfish o-of m-me…" she continued, choking back a sob as the tears he wiped away flowed even more. He leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead, making her look up in confusion as he stared down at her sympathetically.

"Kyrie…no one would've thought any different of you if you had cried. Sure, we would have been sad too, but that's how friendship works. When friends are sad, we're sad and do everything we can to comfort each other. You have every right to cry. Don't think you're being selfish." he explained softly. She bit her lip as tears built up in her eyes, making him pull her closer so that her head rested against his chest. A soft creaking from behind them told Axel that Demyx and Xigbar were awake, but he didn't care.

"Go on, let it all out. It's okay. It's okay to let yourself be sad. I'm here, and I'm not gonna think any less of you. Got it memorized?" he whispered. At this, she couldn't hold it in any longer. Burying her face against his chest, she cried as her body shook, him holding her tightly all the while.

"I…I n-never g-got to…to tell him! I n-never g-got to…to ask him! I…I…!" she sobbed. Axel nodded as he shushed her, holding her tightly as he began rubbing soothing circles on her back. If he had thought her silent tears were bad, they were nothing compared to the loud sobs she was showing now. Each sob she let out was like a knife in his newfound heart. He leaned down, brushing away her tears with his thumbs as he pressed his lips roughly against hers, pulling her as close as he could, trying everything he could to comfort her.

I watch you

Fast asleep

All I fear means nothing

In you and I there's a new land

Angels in flight

A sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah

Where fears and lies melt away

Music can tie

What's left of me, what's left of me now.

Everything around them was quiet for awhile as she cried, but soon she was sound asleep, his soothing murmurs and the sound of his heartbeat lulling her into the darkness of sleep.

Yes, I am awful. I made this so bittersweet. Anyways, all that's left is the next chapter and the epilouge, which leads into part three of this series, "Sanctioned Souls".

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