Here's chapter forty - six. Thank you caitlinkeitorin for reviewing last chapter!

Chapter Forty - Six: Courage

Gillick walked silently through the night, his amber eyes narrowed. He snorted. Well, at least I don't have to deal with them anymore, he thought. Riun…I'd be better off without that little brat. And Mala was such a freaking coward and crybaby. It's annoying. He closed his eyes briefly. It doesn't matter that I'm not a part of the Silver Fang, either; I can fight the Keybladers in my own way, without being a part of a group. I'm strong on my own.

He'd been going over various arguments to himself periodically after he'd left the Silver Fang camp. But he couldn't ignore the feeling in his heart; it was the same feeling he'd felt after being stripped of his armor. Both of those times, he hadn't been given a choice; at least when he'd defected from the Light Army, it had been his own decision.

"What are you? A wimp?" he growled to himself, eyes flicking open crossly. "You idiot. What's the point of whining about it? Grow up."

He'd been doing that a lot, too, since he'd left.

"You seem troubled, Gillick."

The black - haired boy jumped at the remark, whipping around and reaching up to grab the hilt of his sword, having it half - way out before he saw who had spoken. He snorted, re-sheathing his sword. "What the hell do you want?"

"Is that any way to greet the man who gave you your weapon?" the cloaked man asked, spreading his hands wide.

Gillick supposed he had a point, but was in too fowl a mood to care. "Just answer the question and leave me alone."

The man lowered his hands, his eyes growing sad. "You can't keep doing this, Gillick."

"Doing what?" he snapped, clenching his fists.

"Keep ignoring what you are." At Gillick's wide - eyed expression, the man added, "Yes, Gillick, I know very well what you are."

Gillick felt anger flare intensely inside his heart. "Haven't I had enough grief from that stupid weapon?" he barked. "Why would I want to have anything to do with it?"

"Gillick," the man said sternly.

"No. I don't want to hear anymore." Gillick turned around and stalked away.

The man was before him with a sword to his throat before he could blink. "You need to hear this Gillick, whether you like it or not."

Gillick lifted a foot and kicked him backwards. The man lowered his sword and stumbled a few steps without complaint. "If it's so important for me to use my Keyblade, old man, then why did you give me the sword?"

"My name is Senn," the man informed him, "and I gave you the sword because I thought you were worthy of its power."

"What power?" Gillick snapped, frustrated.

Senn continued on as if he'd never spoken. "The sword would allow me to watch you, and what went on around you."

"So you've been spying on me," the amber - eyed boy observed dryly.

"In a sense," Senn confirmed. Then he shook his head. "But you were never supposed to use the sword as your main weapon forever."

"I'll never use the Keyblade again!" Gillick snapped back at him. "Not ever! I won't be weak enough to; I won't let myself be weak enough to!"

Senn's eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip on his sword. "Do you think this is courage? You damn fool."

The cloaked man suddenly lunged forward. Startled, Gillick just had time to whip his sword out of its sheath to block the blow. However, it quickly became apparent that Senn was much stronger than he was. "Don't forget, I was the original wielder of the weapon you now hold," Senn commented, obviously guessing his thoughts.

"Don't forget you're not the only one who's ever fought before," Gillick hissed through clenched teeth. Seeing that he'd never be able to overpower the man, he changed tactics, dropping instantly into a crouch. Senn, unbalanced, stumbled forward, only to trip over the body of the boy who was still under him. Gillick immediately spun around, still low to the ground, before jumping into the air to bring his sword down on Senn's vulnerable back.

But the man was quickly than he anticipated. He'd rolled over on his back and brought his sword up to counter Gillick's; the boy, still in the air, could do nothing to right himself, and crashed into the ground. Senn lunged forward, dragging his weapon through the soft earth to slice at Gillick. Gillick kicked out his legs, intending to trip the man, but his opponent was able to jump over his strike, dragging his sword up to deliver a powerful overhead blow. Gillick was able to roll to one side just in time to avoid being hit, scrambling to his feet and jerking his sword up in the same instant. The action was enough to parry one of his opponent's strikes. However, Senn continued with relentless attacks, pushing Gillick back with his greater strength, and eventually breaking through the boy's guard. He felt his skin pierced by his opponent's sword, shallow cuts for now, but he knew not for long. I need a new tactic.

Gillick dropped and rolled to one side, quickly returning to his feet and running around Senn in a wide circle. Senn quickly whipped around, trying to keep up, but was unable to. Gillick smirked. He may be stronger, but I'm faster. It was something, at least.

He quickly lunged in, hoping to make a quick blow before getting out of range. However, he'd underestimated his opponent, and Senn was able to block his strike. Scowling, Gillick jumped backwards, continuing his run around to man to try it from another side. For a second time, his strike was blocked. He gritted his teeth in frustration. Great. Even though I'm faster, he's still fast enough to block my blows at this distance. He continued running around the man, amber eyes narrowed. And if I get any closer, I'll be in range of his sword.

Senn obviously saw his dilemma. "Are you ready to give up and talk yet?" he asked him.

"Did you forget? You're the one who attacked me!" Gillick snapped. He took the opportunity to lunge forward, sword drawn back.

Senn lifted his blade to block, but Gillick let his weapon slide along the side of his opponent's, hoping to follow it back to his opponent's hand. He'd almost succeeded, but Senn moved to the side at the last second, sparing himself any injury. "Very good," the man conceded, "but you'll have to do better than that to defeat me."

Gillick's eyes narrowed. Trust me; I will. He gripped the hilt of his weapon with both of his hands and stabbed forward. Senn batted the weapon away easily with his own, quickly dragging it back up to strike at Gillick's face. The boy pulled back quickly, but not quickly enough to avoid being nicked on the cheek. Gillick made another dash forward, anticipating his opponent's attack. When Senn swung a counter blow, Gillick ducked beneath it, then dragged his blade upward beneath his opponent's guard. Now I have you!

But Senn released his blade and fell backwards, avoiding the blow completely. Gillick's eyes widened in shock, before he felt his opponent's foot kick him in the stomach and drive all the air out of him. Before he'd had time to recover, Senn had retrieved his blade and had slashed him across the side of his arm. Gillick couldn't stop the cry of pain and alarm that escaped from his lips as blood flew from the wound. He skittered backwards, keeping low and watching his opponent warily. He felt a sinking feeling inside his heart. What if he's too strong? What if…I can't beat him?

Senn looked at him carefully. "What are you feeling now, Gillick? Are you afraid?"

"No!" Gillick snapped; the last thing he'd admit to was being a coward. He lunged forward to prove it, swinging his sword in a high, wide arc.

Senn ducked below it easily. "You fool." He whipped his sword out, and Gillick hurriedly spun his around to block the strike. Senn continued forward with another. "When you stand shaking before an enemy but refuse to back down, that is courage." He struck his weapon off Gillick's again. "When you feel as if all hope is lost but keep pressing forward, that is courage." His sword clanged off his opponent's for a third time. "When you're terrified beyond all belief but choose to continue fighting, that is courage." He hit with a fourth, finally breaking through Gillick's guard. "Someone who does not know fear cannot know courage!" He slashed his sword down, creating a long but shallow gash across Gillick's chest. "You are more a coward than anyone for not admitting that you are afraid."

Gillick glared up at him, kneeling on the ground with blood dripping from his wound. He reached up his free hand, trying to staunch the flow of blood. It's shallow; I can handle it. An idea for how he could get an opening came into his mind, and he said, "Why are you so bent on courage?"

Senn looked down at him with narrowed eyes. "Because-"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence; Gillick had lunged upward, intending to slash through his opponent. The man, caught off guard, wasn't quick enough to dodge the attack completely, and instead brought his arm low to help block the attack. Gillick's blade cut deep into the flesh of the man's arm and shallowly through part of his side. The black haired boy skidded to a halt behind Senn, remaining low for a few seconds and feeling a flash of triumph. I hit his sword arm; things should go much smoother now.

Then he heard Senn's voice behind him. "So you took advantage of my distraction. Clever." Gillick turned around, intending to press his advantage, only to stare, wide eyed, as Senn put his left hand over his right arm and announced, "Curaga."

"No!" Gillick cried in alarm, quickly hurrying forward to try and stop him. However, the spell had finished before he got there, and Senn was just able to lift his sword in time to block his opponent's blow.

Senn narrowed his eyes. "Don't believe it will be easy to defeat me, young one."

Gillick gritted his teeth and didn't respond.

The two jumped apart, eyeing each other warily. Then Gillick moved, dragging the tip of his blade through the ground. As Senn moved out of the way of the blow he believed to be coming, Gillick flicked his weapon up, sending a spray of grit into the man's eyes. Senn shook his head, rubbing at his eyes to clear them. Gillick took the advantage to lunge forward, his blade singing through the air. Senn moved, attempting to get away from the quick blow, but was unable to completely avoid it; his opponent's sword drew a red line across his left shoulder.

Senn rolled away, coming into a low crouch. "Very clever," he commented. "But do you have what it takes to defeat me?"

"Yes," Gillick responded, panting. But, inwardly, he was not as confident as he sounded; he could feel the wounds he'd already received aching, the one on his chest still dripping. But I could be much worse, he thought grimly. He lunged forward, intending to land another blow.

But Senn heard his approach, and swung his sword out in a large arc just in front of him. Gillick was caught with the blow, blood flying as the man's weapon dragged through skin and fabric. "You don't need to see to fight," Senn commented as Gillick fell to the ground, "though it does make the process easier."

Gillick was shaking. The blood from his new wound flowed out freely with his old, and his vision began to flicker. Damn it, he thought, realizing that he was losing a substantial amount of blood. I have to stop the bleeding, or I'm out. He shakily lifted himself onto his knees, pressing his left hand against the wound in his side.

When Senn spoke again, it was as if his voice came from a distance. "I see no reason to continue this fight; you're beaten. You may manage to find the strength to rise, but you'll be hard pressed to defeat me before you pass out from loss of blood." He paused, and then called out, "Curaga!"

A green light shrouded Gillick, and he felt the pain of his wounds fade as they knitted themselves back together, though he still felt a bit dizzy from blood loss. Gillick looked up at the man, questions unasked glittering in his amber eyes.

Senn was slowly blinking his own eyes open, still having to squint because of the grit that remained in them. "When you're ready to listen, come and find me. The sword will show you the way."

"The sword…?" But Gillick didn't get an explanation; Senn was already walking away.

Senn sheathed his sword and hid it beneath his cloak, his heart heavy as he continued to try and rub the grit from his eyes. Perhaps I was being hypocritical, but you need to understand, Gillick, he commented silently. When it comes to battle, you are nearly fearless. But when it comes to the Keyblade… He shook his head. You are afraid of becoming corrupted, like many other Keybladers you've seen are; you don't believe you're strong enough to overcome its power.

Senn paused, glancing back, his vision still blurry though he was more able to detect shape and color. It's not what we are that decides our fate, but what we choose to do. You seem to fail to realize that.

He turned around, continuing forward. You cannot escape the fact that you are a Keyblader…but being a Keyblader doesn't mean that you have to be corrupted. Gillick…it's time you Awakened.

That's the end of chapter forty - six. Reviews would be awesome, please!