KZD: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or anything Naruto related. Yeah late update. Personal problems and what not.
Speech: "Normal"
"Normal/Human thinking."
"Kyuubi talking."
"Kyuubi thinking."
"Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill."
"Kyuubi, could you please be quiet for five minutes? Your giving me a migraine." Ever since they left Master Yen Sid and took off in the gummi ship the fox wouldn't stop repeating the same word over and over. Aqua knew it had to with something about that Madara person.
Currently it was just her and the two boys flying over to Radiant Garden. The three, more humanoid like animals, decided to split up from them as they would try to uncover some more information about demons and find the possible hiding places of the bijuu. Without Donald around Riku had taken it upon himself to fly the ship to its destination.
"So do you want to talk about it or am I going to have to buy a pair of ear plugs?"
"Madara shouldn't be alive! No one from the elemental nations should be." He roared.
"I you were able to escape then maybe others could of as well. Remember what Yen Sid said, that there's a chance that the other bijuu escaped."
"Please I got lucky. If we never crossed paths I would already be dead. Besides I couldn't careless about the others, it's not like any of us our friends just because were strongest demons in existence. I had to fight them all for my title as King of the Bijuu."
"Hey Aqua, why is your keyblade in Radiant Garden?" Sora piped out. He had been arguing with Riku about letting him drive the ship and had apparently given up and taken a seat beside the older women. His presence was a bit of relief now she had someone else to talk to ignore the fox's growling.
"I left my keyblade and armor there a long time ago. The reason I was in the realm of darkness was because I was trying to save a friend. Only one of us could be save so I sacrificed myself and used my keyblade to help him and burdened what would have been his fate."
"You really had it ruff. I can only imagine how you survived in the dark realm for so long." Aqua gave him a small smile and laugh.
"Well I did have some help." She extended her hand and the Masters Keeper appeared in a flash of light.
"I thought you said you didn't have your keyblade."
"Well no. This is my masters and without my own I can't unlock my full potential."
"Is that why you nearly died twice and I had to save your ass twice?"
"Twice? I don't remember your helping me two times, you barely helped my out at all except with that one heartless." She only earned a snort from the demonic entity.
"Then tell me exactly who do you think was the one who kept healing you so that you didn't loose to much blood or the one who kept scaring the little pests off in the first place." Before Aqua could retort Riku called out from the drivers seat.
"We'll be landing in five minutes guys. Do you have any idea where your keyblade is."
"It's somewhere inside of the castle."
"Anything clearer then that. You do realize the place is huge right." She had to give a small laugh at the silver haired teens frustration.
"I haven't been in the castle myself so it might take a while to find it but it's there."
"Good to know."
"Come on Riku lighten up. It shouldn't take to long if we can get the Restoration Committee to help out."
"Restoration Committee? I don't remember there being a Restoration Committee when I visited Radiant Garden." Both of the boys flinched slightly at her comment.
"Err... Aqua, when was the last time you visited Radiant Garden exactly?" The blue hared women looked at him curiously wondering what he was nervous about.
"Depends. How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Lets see then if we first met when you were about four then it would be about twelve years or so." She said with a small smile before it quickly disappeared from a fast realization.
"When did I turn twenty-nine!" The fox laughed like a mad man when she found out her true age.
"Ha! Your old."
"Please leave me alone. I just don't understand why I still look seventeen."
"How many times do I have to say it. Time flows differently in the dark realm. Your body may be currently seventeen human years but technically speaking you're twenty-nine."
"So then what exactly happened during my absence would Radiant Garden need a restoration committee?" She wanted to quickly erase the thought of her true age out her mind and decided to go back to integrating the boys.
"I think it might be better if you found out instead. We're here anyways." Riku said as he prepared to land the ship in the city of light.
"What the heck happened here! Why is the whole pace in ruins?" Aqua couldn't believe it. The once beautiful city of light was in complete reconstruction. There were cranes everywhere to carry large material to develop new buildings. And the worlds castle looked like a complete wreak compared to the glorious structure from when she first visited
"Actually it isn't as bad as it use to be a few years ago." Sora said as they walked towards the main shopping area.
"That doesn't answer my question Sora."
"Heartless. Lots and lots of heartless." Riku simply explained. This only made the female keybearer feel worse.
As they passed the small shops Aqua continued to look around at the semi-broken buildings and the people either running there stores or doing a fixing project. They all seemed happy enough but deep down she still felt guilty about, in her absence, the heartless had ransacked the place.
"Do not feel shame for something you could not stop. Without destruction there can not be peace. The same with light and darkness. If the people seem content then there is truly nothing to blame." She was surprised by the fox's words echoing in her head, but a small smile came upon her lips with some relief from the demons words.
"Thank you Kyuubi. A little strange coming from you from all people but nice."
"Don't get use to it." The demon sneered. "I sensed you were in distress and I simply quelled it. You shouldn't be distracted by such pitiful feelings. Just remind me later to take a bar of soap to my tongue later. The taste of nice is disgusting to me."
The fox broke the mental connection, and Aqua gave a small laugh. Sure he will admit at anytime that he was evil entity but he did have good intentions whether they were selfish or not.
While following Sora, the small group passed a street corner to a small district that seemed vaguely familiar to Aqua. While walking a small shadow streaked across the ground, and she caught it by the corner of her eye. Ready to take it out she was surprised to see it be destroyed by a small laser beam that shot out from the ground.
"What in the worlds?"
"Oh that? It's the towns defense mechanism. It helps keep the heartless population under control." Sora said with his cheerful smile before walking off towards another corner. "Come on this way, Everyone should be over at Merlin's house."
Aqua waited a few minutes watching the small laser move across the stone ground when a thought cross her mind.
"Well there goes our jobs as keybearers."
"Don't we all get replaced by something better eventually." Aqua was about to question the fox but was called to hurry up by one of the boys and decided to let it go.
"Sora! So you finally decided to visit." When the trio opened the door a black blur rushed past and had gripped the spiky haired brunet in a bone crushing hug.
"It's good to see you to Yuffie but…I…Can't breath…"
"Woops, sorry about that." The black haired ninja immediately let go of the boy who let out a gasp of relief.
"So what are you doing here and who are your friends?"
"This is Riku and Aqua, we actual here ask for some help."
"Wait a minute." A ruff voice called out. A man with blond hair walked up close to Riku with a suspicious gaze.
"Hey back off old man."
"Wait I remember you, you're the one who went nuts with darkness a few years back."
"I wasn't exactly myself."
"Don't worry Cid, Riku's on our side."
"Sure the boy is. So what do you want anyway?" Sora gave a small nod towards Aqua and she explained.
"A long time ago I left my keyblade and armor here, and I have reason to believe that is somewhere inside the castle."
"Wait your a keyblade master? Cool!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"Good Kami, what his that horrible noise? It puts Naruto's screams to shame." Kyuubi said with irritation as he awoken from his short nap.
"Anyways, we were wondering if you and the others can help us search the castle for Aqua's missing keyblade."
"Sure thing. Everyone else is over at the castle showing Ansem all the changes that have been made and are helping him settle down. We should be able to find you keyblade no problem. Lets get going."
"You guys go on ahead, I gotta stay here and fix out a few bugs in the defense system."
"Alright later Cid."
"So why did you leave your keyblade here in the first place?"
"It's a long story." The group of four were already past the bailey and were just about near the entrance to the castle. Yuffie decided to walk in the back with Aqua and talk with her. The blue haired women had to admit it was nice to talk to another girl since she was surrounded by males most of her life.
But the petite ninja was well, a bit on the hyper side. Kyuubi had been muttering silently curses about how he shouldn't have to deal with ninja's any longer and how all shinobies should burn.
"That's alright you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Yuffie could tell her question was on sensitive side by looking at how Aqua eyes suddenly went to the ground.
The group came up to the gate and were about to enter when the guard stop them while holding his axe sword out.
"Stop there! State your business." He had a large built and wore a uniform. His hair was pulled back and his piecing blue eyes showed no fear. Riku recognized him and went on the defensive ready to attack the giant man if he decided to pick a fight.
"Calm down Aeleus. We're just here to see Leon and others is all. Now let us threw." Yuffie said. Aeleus narrowed his eyes at the group before he turned his head to stare down at the two smaller boys.
"You two are Sora and Riku right?"
"And your Lexaeus." Riku responded his body tense.
"I use to be. But I have gained my heart back and no intention on fighting either with you. Please proceed." He removed his ax from the path and they entered the gates.
"Riku, who was he?"
"You're not the only one who defeated organization members. He was Lexaeus, he gave me some trouble along with his partner Zexion but I was able to put them both down. This was during your sleep."
"Looks like Yen Sid wasn't kidding when he said that some of the organization members regaining back their hearts."
"Lets just hope they're more like Lexaeus and mean no harm."
"Right."
While the two keybearers had their talk Aqua looked around the many corridors of the interior of the castle looking for any sign of her keyblade or armor. But she only saw blown up parts of walls with rusty leaking pipes. Even though she never been inside the castle before but she was pretty sure this wasn't what it was suppose to look like.
A loud rumbling brought everyone out what ever daydreaming they had or conversation.
"What was that?"
"It sound like its coming from the study. Lets Go!"
As they went to the study the noise got louder, and the sound of metal clashing was heard. When they got inside the study it still looked like a mess since the last time Sora had visited it, but the aggressive sounds weren't coming from there. A loud groan of pain echoed out as another explosion ranged.
"That was Leon!" Yuffie exclaimed as she took off towards the Heartless Manufactory with everyone in tow.
"Wow never noticed that before…" The group stared down a deep hole that was in the ground of the heartless factory with a long spiral stair case that led into its dark abyss. And the culprit of the sounds.
"What's ever down there we better be ready for it." Riku said before summoning Way to Dawn to his side. Sora and Aqua did the same as they summoned there keyblades as well, and Yuffie, pulling out a couple of shuriken.
They slowly made there way down the staircase and the banging sounds got louder. As they got closer to the bottom Aqua felt her heart tug as she felt a familiar presence as they got closer. She let her defense drop as she became more curious the on edge.
"Are they down here?"
"Well hurry up and find out already. I'm growing impatient."
When they got to the hall entrance, they were surprised at what they saw. Leon was on the ground clutching his shoulder painfully as blood leaked out from under the sleeve of his leather jacket while his gun blade laid beside him. Aerith was knelt next to trying her best to help with Leon's wound but was struggling slightly because the damage done to him wasn't ordinary.
Tifa was over by the opposite end holding a door back as sounds were heard from the other side. Ansem was near her along with a salt haired man that wore white uniform similar to the one that Ansem was now wearing and they spoke.
"I swear Master Ansem, I know nothing of the sort."
"That's quite alright Ienzo. I have a feeling Xehanort wanted to keep this place secret for a reason."
"No shit." Leon choked out as he shuddered when another wave of pain shot threw his shoulder.
"Leon, try to conserver your strength.' Aerith said gently.
"Hey Squall what the hell happened to you." The warrior have a glare to the black haired ninja who gave a large grin.
"It's Leon and you now it. I really don't now what to say about what happened though. Ienzo over there found a program in the computer and hacked open with Tron's help. Next thing we now it this new area opened up. When we got to the room over there this…I guess you could call it armor, it just suddenly came to life attacked us."
Aqua's eyes widen at the mans words. Her armor was defiantly here. She was just shocked that its now suddenly alive and attacking people.
"Aqua." Sora looked over to her with knowing look and she gave a nod in response. She walked over to Leon with the Masters Keeper and cast curaga on him before walking over to the door where Tifa was.
"You can let go of the door now we'll handle it from here." Sora said to the long haired brunette.
"Are you sure about that Sora?" She looked to her side and noticed Aqua next to her. "Who are you?
"The owner of the possessed armor. You can stop holding the door shut now."
"Go right on ahead then." The women steeped aside to let the others inside.
Aqua was quiet surprised by the interior of the room. It looked identical to the one she left Ven in back on her own destroyed world. This worried her slightly. What if someone knew the secret of castle oblivion and Ven's body wasn't there anymore? She had to get her armor and investigate right away. The sound of metal crackling ranged out. Speak of the devil.
The blue, feminine armor clanked over to the three keybearers with keyblade drawn.
"So that's your armor. Think Riku and I can get something like that."
"You both will, as long as I can get mine under control."
A hollow sound ranged out from the lingering sentiment. It raised Stormfall and pointed it at its true master.
"Master….abandon…"
"I never abandoned you. I just need to lend your strength someone else."
"Hopeless effort…You did not listen…Everything in vain." Aqua frowned at the hunk of metal in front of her. It was obvious it no longer trusted her hearts judgment. Deep down she knew she shouldn't of saved Terra knowing he wasn't himself, but she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"My efforts to save my friends have not been in vain. Now," She extended her free hand to the armor that refuse to budge, "join back with me and let us be whole again."
The armor refused to move as it stood staring at its master's jester. The hollow sound came out from it once more and it raised its keyblade over its owners heart and a small light appeared from the tip of the blade.
"Prove that you may wield me once more." The keyblade turned and the light from the blade flooded the room, and the cries for the blue keyblade master went unheard.
"Oi, wake up before I bite you!"
"Just five more minutes."
"Alright hope you had your tetanus shots already."
Aqua's eyes snapped open as she quickly sat up word and grab a certain kitsune by his rabbit like ears before he could clam his jaws around her expose leg.
"Well that got you up pretty quick." Kyuubi said with that devilish smirk of his.
"Kyuubi what are you…wait a minute." The keyblade master was starting to gain her bearings as she looked at her surroundings. At first she though she was back in the Realm of Darkness and everything had just been a cruel dream. But she didn't get that constant fore boarding at death at every corner. Quiet the opposite actually.
Standing up she unconsciously hug smallish fox close to her like if he was a stuffed animal. The little demon struggled in Aqua's hold but soon gave up when she stated scratch the back of his ear. He mentally kicked himself when he stated to purr.
Just by looking down, the keyblade master knew exactly where the two of them were. The two were on a stain glass mural. Aqua herself was painted asleep near the outer ring with her normal keyblade at her side. To the side were four circles with three of them filled with other portrait.
The three that had portraits were of three males. There was one of an older man with a scar on his left cheek. The other two were of two younger ones. One blond the other brunet. The last was just empty space near the blonds picture.
"We're in my heart." She looked down at the animal that was in her arms and held him up so he was eye level with her. "Why are you in here?" All she got in response was a grumpy growl from the demon.
A whirlwind of noise swept threw the area and from behind the suit of armor appeared.
"Judgment…Prove that you may wield and be master once more." Aqua loosened her hold on the small fox demon who took the opportunity to hitch a ride on her left shoulder. She slowly turned to the armor before shaking her head.
"Fine then, if this is the only way to get you back." She summoned Masters keeper to her side in her normal fighting stance and the metal suit copied her movements with Stormfall. From his perch Kyuubi's sharp eyes noticed that the movements were made in the exact same time of each other.
"Watch it its going to be one of those mirror fights."
"Let me guess, anyway I move or attack it will be copied."
"Precisely. The only way your going to win is if you can overpower it." Aqua smiled slightly.
"See you can be nice when you want to."
"Stupid fool, it is in my best interest that you live." The blunette was about to scold the fox but had to jump back to avoid getting slashed by her own keyblade when the armor had teleported in front of her.
"Oh, did I forget to mention that if you wait to long the enemy will attack without you having to make a move." She let out an aggravated sigh. The demon was becoming a bigger hassle then what he was worth.
Aqua got back into her fighting stance and so did the Lingering Sentiment. She took a step to her right and the armor made one to its left. The fox was right. Any movement she made would be copied. She was going to have to be faster and stronger to basically beat herself.
She charged forward and clashed blades with her enemy. Both struggled with each other with there strength being equal. The armor broke the stalemate and slashed downward but only made contact with the ground as Aqua jumped back. At the tip of her keyblade, fire stated to materialize and dance around.
The keyblade master shot a quick round of triple figra but so did the armor. All of the fire balls met with each other head on into a enormous eruption of flying embers. The women set of a reflect spell to ward of the sparks from her and the fox, who could of care less about receiving any kind of fire damage.
From the flames the armor appeared with fire with the flames coating it and smashed Stormfall into the barrier. Before it could break, Aqua counted the armor by shattering her make shift shield and pushing it back on the armor and forcing it back intern.
"So much for speed and strength." Aqua said with a huff. Kyuubi chuckled deeply next to her ear, and Aqua shivered from the sound.
"You humans really are pitiful. None of you can do anything without the help of others."
"Well I don't see you doing anything!" She snapped at the fox who only continued his dark laughing.
"That's because all you have to do is simply ask. Just say the words lend me your power and I'll help you." The demon kings grin grew as he spoke.
It was a trick. A very tempting trick that much she knew for sure. There was no way that she was going to ask help from the conniving demon riding on her shoulder. She continued to fight on never answering the fox.
Both Aqua and her enraged armor both shot many magic spells at each other and dashed around the small arena. It wasn't long until the keyblade master entered her tier two command style Ghost Drive. The only problem was that so did the armor.
Both teleported and took quick strikes at each other with mirage images of them left behind from the speed of the attacks. One false move with the powerful command active could cause serious damage for either opponent
Aqua's eyes darted back and forth as she watched the armor move making sure not to mistake it for one of the mirages being created. But unlike the armor she was stating to grow weary and her command style was starting to fade.
"To your right." The blunette was able to get the Masters Keeper up in time to block a swing.
"Do you see everything?" She said with a minor growl in her voice.
"You shouldn't be paying attention to me."
"What th-" Kyuubi jumped off Aqua's shoulder as she was whacked from the back of the head with Rainstorm and set forward towards the ground near the center of the arena.
The Lingering Sentiment disappeared and reappeared as it stabbed the ground near Aqua with light spears into a circle. When the circle enclosed the spears exploded brightened the Station of Awakening.
The light dimmed and Aqua was on one knee using the keyblade as a support to lean on. She coughed and blood splattered on to the ground and trickled down her lips. And right next to the small puddle of blood was the Kyuubi.
"As a matter of fact I can see everything. And I see you dieing." He only received a pained moan in response. The demon chuckled at her weakened state.
"My offer still stands Vixen, just say the words. Don't worry there is no possession required." That psychotic grin never left his face.
From behind the armor walked towards them the metal clanking with each step.
"Why did the light hurt you? Have you weaken? Has the darkness taken over your heart?"
Aqua struggled to stand as the on thing that use to protect her was about to kill her approached.
"No. I haven't sunk so low to let the darkness in. I refuse to give up. I will reclaim you and I will save my friends as they are the ones that five me my power." She struggled with each word. She didn't even have the strength to cast a cure spell on herself. She looked down at the fox who wasn't even paying any attention to her anymore but the red liquid on the ground that he was hungrily looking at.
"A meaningless effort. Rest forever now my master." It walked right past the fox who showed seemingly little interest. The Lingering Sentiment raised Stormfall above its master head.
"Kyuubi." The kitsunes ears perked as he heard his title come from the blue haired woman's lips.
"Lend me your power."
A metallic sound rang out. The blow that would of ended her never came as she was able to guard herself with the Masters Keeper. That was glowing a dangerous red.
The aura curled its way down the keyblades hilt and crawled onto to Aqua's hand and then to the rest of her body.
"The burning again." She didn't know why but this time it felt like little needles were jabbing at her skin then the soothing feeling she felt the last time Kyuubi had used his power on her. But even so, she could feel it also healing her at the same. It was strange.
Her heart was racing as the demons power fueled her. Minor changes started to happen, but she never noticed her nails turning into claws or her once crystalline blue eyes turned to a similar shade of crimson of the foxes.
It didn't take much. Just a small push and the armor was sent back skidding on the floor. It recovered quickly and tired to find its master to no avail. Only the smiling demon with his glowing red eyes and wicked smile who sat in the empty circle.
The Lingering Sentiment couldn't keep up with its master. Aqua was moving at a speed that could rival even Ventus. She slashed in hacked at her armor and would partially disappeared before it could react. She even used commands that she wouldn't normally use and this time the armor couldn't mirror her.
Dashing quickly, Aqua used sonic blade to stun the armor getting multiple hits in. The keyblade combusted into flames and she tossed it at the living piece of metal three times, calling the blade back with each throw.
The armor was completely ignited in the flames but still moved forward. Its status had little effect but it was moving slower from he damaged it had received. From the other side Aqua glared at the armor and a grin similar to Kyuubi's appeared on her blackened lips.
The armor got rid of the status effect with an esune spell and went back to following Aqua's movements. They pointed each others keyblade at each other and Kyuubi calmly walked back over to Aqua and jumped right back on to her shoulder.
"Do it! Finish the damned thing off." He growled into her ear. She tried to resist the fox's words, but the power. It wanted to see the armor in pieces of scarp metal. Influencing her own normally calm and compassionate mindset to one that wanted to see others suffer and bloodshed.
A different kind of flame appeared on the Masters Keeper. It had a darker shade of crimson and moved with a will of its own. The other had summoned its own fire to its keyblade but unlike Aqua's it was normal.
"Destroy it!"
"Kitsune Firaga!" A grand fireball erupted from the keyblade. It easily consumed the others normal firaga spell and showed no sign of stopping. There was no place for the armor to run as the ball of fire quickly multiplied in size and soon devoured the entire stage.
The station of awaking was covered in scorch marks and smoke simmered of the glass floor creating a thick fog. A loud laugh rumbled out from the mist and it was lifted.
"Now that's what I call destruction! Chaos at its finest. Not bad at all." Kyuubi bellowed as he jumped down from his perch.
Aqua breathed heavily. The keyblade disappeared as she clutched her chest to stop the rapid beating heart. As it went back to its normal pace her features went back to normal and with one more deep breath her eyes turned back to their original blue shade.
"What was that? What did you do?" She looked down at the demon who had a crooked grin on his muzzle.
"Isn't it obvious? You asked for power and I simply loaned it to you."
"No there was something else. I had no control of any of my senses. What is your power exactly." The fox hummed in though. He's never actually had to explain how his power works before.
"In any case it's like a double edge sword." He began, "It heals and protects the user from harm, but it feeds off the madness and hatred of a person until it completely consumes them until they are lost in there own insanity. Not to mention the healing is dangerous itself because it is constant and can and will damage the bodies cells causing a shorter life span."
Aqua found this information disturbing. The fox continued to smile.
"What's wrong, do you want more of it? My chakra is fairly addicting after all."
Her body stiffened at the offer. It was addicting. Even if it was a small amount the rush from it was more then enough to want more. She had all of the power she could possibly want in the worlds. She could even save her friends from there fate with it.
Aqua shook her head. What was she thinking? What ever Kyuubi's power was it was even worse the darkness, and the risk defiantly outweighed the befits. She would save them with her own strength and not throw her life away to a demon.
"Never. Again." She wanted to make that very clear to the fox who twitched his nose at her.
Foots were heard as the armor appeared from the cleared fog. There were many dents and burnt marks around its paint. Once it got back to its master it knelt down and offered Stormfall back to the blue haired women.
"You have earned back my trust. You are Master once more."
Aqua wanted to abject to the armor for giving the blade back. She wasn't herself when she won the fight.
"Do not hesitate my Master. You proved that you are willing to give up anything for what matters most to you. Your friends. Even at the loss of your humanity."
She was tentative still when she grabbed the blade. Aqua smiled as she raise it above her head. Her keyblade was back where it belonged. She could feel her old strength return to her. The armor stated to glow brightly before it disappeared. The back of Aqua's arms stated to glow and in a small burst of light her old shoulder guards appeared. The keyblade master was complete.
"What are you going to do now?"
"First things first, I have to wake Ventus up."
"Which is…" Aqua sighed at the fox and pointed to one of the portraits.
"The blond one."
"Then you better get a move on. The faster you find your friends the faster I can get a body and be rid of this nightmare."
Aqua knelt down to the kitsune who had his back turned to her. She reached out and pat the top of his head tussling his fur.
"Thank you Kyuubi."
"Get the hell out of here already." When he turned around she was gone and he let out a sigh of his own. "Humans." He spat.
He padded over to where the empty circle and curled into a ball. Ever since he sealed himself in that women wayfinder this is where he resided. He assumed it was because it was strongly connected to her heart. He had to admit it was better then being locked in a cage located in a sewer or worse when he was bound and chained to his own chakra.
He shivered. He still had occasional dreams of Kushina's chakra chains impaling into his skin and manipulating his movements. That one women had completely ruined torture for him by traumatizing him with it.
He let out a huff and some smoke appeared. Those thoughts were far away now. The Elemental nations were destroyed and his fate now laid with a single keybearer.
"Her will is strong. She'll be harder to break then expected." He soon drifted into a deep slumber.
KZD: Long chapter is long. I'll try to update sooner. As always R&R