Author's note is at the end of the story. For now, continue reading.

"I've told everything that I know. He showed up out of nowhere in a terrible condition. Then he...he was clutching his head in pain, screaming at someone."

Saix didn't buy it, "Kirux doesn't have any memories of anyone. It's impossible."

"Axel's telling the truth!" Roxas said, "We tried to help him, but he stopped us."

Axel crossed his arms. He still didn't understand what had happened not even ten minutes ago. Kirux showed up at the clock tower, just as he had said he would. But he was leaning against the wall, as if he had just fought a few hundred Heartless. He didn't even look at him or Roxas.

Just Xion. He stared entirely at Xion.

Well, at least before he fell on his knees, clutching his head.

Axel remembered what Roxas mentioned earlier, about him and Xion trying to help Kirux. But, for some reason, he resisted. It was as if he wanted to prevent whatever was hurting him from doing any damage on them.

Then, that blast of darkness hit Kirux in the back of the head. He's been out cold ever since.

Saix shook his head ,"Whatever happened to Kirux is not a concern for you three, especially No. XIV. Her disappearance put a thorn in our side that's far too large. We mustn't get so focused on yet another failure."

Saix walked off, leaving Roxas fuming and Axel shaking his head.

"What's his problem?" Roxas said with poorly hidden rage.

"I don't really know sometimes, but we should check up on Kirux and Xion, make sure they're both okay."

The two walked off towards Kirux's room, where Xion was watching him in case he woke up. When the two arrived, they found Xion at Kirux's bedside, who was still sound asleep.

"Anything new?" Axel asked her.

Xion shook her head, "Nothing, aside from a few twitches."

"What do you think is wrong with him?" Roxas asked.

"Bad memories, maybe. I can't really say for sure."

Xion looked over at the two, "Is there anything we can do for him?"

"At the moment, it doesn't look like it. Whatever is wrong with him might be in his head."

"He was yelling at somebody."

"But who?" Roxas asked again, "Is he possessed or something?"

"Possibly," Axel said, "Like I said, I can't tell. I've never seen something like that happen to anybody."

Xion looked back at Kirux, "I hope he's okay. It's rough seeing anybody go through something like this."

...

Those three had no idea what was happening in Kirux's mind.

He couldn't hear or feel anything. It was like he was floating in space. When he opened his eyes, he could see nothing but black.

His feet landed on the "ground" (or lack there of), but there was still nothing around him.

Just a dark, black void.

"Where am I?" He said quietly. Apparently, it wasn't quiet enough.

"This is the inside of your mind. A place devoid of all light." A dark, male voice rang out. Kirux looked around, but there was still nothing around.

"You," he said, "You're the voice that was in my head, back at the clock tower!"

"Correct. I brought you here so we could settle this little dispute."

Dispute. Is that what he's calling it?

"Then come out. Show me who you really are!"

The voice let out a sinister laugh, "As you wish, Kirux."

Suddenly, in front of Kirux, a man appeared out of the darkness. He had dark skin, brown eyes (similar to Kirux), and silver hair. He had a Heartless symbol displayed across his chest.

"Alright. Now, who are you? And why are you inside my head?"

This man smiled, "You do not know? I am Ansem, the seeker of darkness."

Kirux gasped in shock.

Oh no.

Ansem is in MY head?! How?!

"How are you still around?! I thought Riku destroyed you!"

"I told Riku that my shadow will always linger, inside the darkness in his heart. However, the darkness inside his heart took on it's own shape."

"That shape is you, Kirux."

Kirux looked at him angrily.

"So what?! Why does any of this involve me? If you've got unfinished business with Riku, you can settle it with him."

"If only it were that simple. The darkness in his heart no longer resides within him. Therefore, I've got no control over that cowardly boy."

"However, the darkness that used to reside in him," he pointed at Kirux, "Now resides within you, a Nobody that only resides in the shadows of darkness."

Kirux's anger grew.

"I said to Riku that I would return to the realm of light one day. I gave him the darkness in his heart, the darkness that now you control." He started to move towards Kirux. We wasn't walking, he was floating off the "ground."

"And now, I am here to reclaim the darkness I have given away!"

Kirux had had enough, "Shut up!"

He drew his sword, "Nobody or not, I'm still me! The darkness will never control who I am."

"And neither will you, Ansem!"

Ansem's face changed, "You'd be foolish to think you could face me. My powers are well beyond your understanding."

"Oh yeah? Your powers couldn't even beat Sora OR Riku. Trust me, I'm not impressed by your powers."

Ansem was the one that looked angry now, "You can try and fight, boy."

Play: Revenge of Chaos - KH ReCOM

He crossed his arms over his chest, and a dark figure appeared behind him. Also, the scenery changed. They were now standing in a grey area, with purple spikes protruding from the ground around them.

You're insane, you know that? Kirux thought to himself.

He ignored that thought, and ran towards Ansem. He went in to attack, but he dodged with ease. Kirux tried again, and again, and again. But Ansem was too fast he dodged every attack without any effort.

Then, the shadow from behind him swept its arm at Kirux, Kirux just barely jumping over it.

At long last, Kirux managed to get some hits on Ansem. Even though he knew he was doing something to him, Ansem's expression remained the same.

Kirux thought to himself, 'This guy controls darkness with ease. Shouldn't he be putting up more of a fight?'

It was then that Ansem's shadow (which is what Kirux had assumed it was) started hurling these disks towards Kirux. He did manage to swat a few away, but two or three hit him.

And they hit him hard.

But it wasn't over then. Ansem and his shadow then rushed towards him, a purple "shield" enveloping in front of them. Kirux couldn't dodge this one, and he took even more hard hits.

Ansem spoke to him then, "You give up yet?"

Kirux cast a healing spell on himself, saying, "I'm just getting started."

Kirux rushed at Ansem, avoiding the waves of lightning his shadow threw at him. When he reached him, he hit Ansem with two quick strikes, then jumped up and threw his sword at him. Ansem seemed affected by the attack, but not by much.

His shadow swiped at Kirux five more times, but Kirux was fast. He had most of Riku's physical strengths, and agility was one of them. After the fifth attack, Kirux stuck Ansem with two full combos.

Ansem then rushed at Kirux again, but Kirux was again able to avoid the attack. He shot dark fire at him twice, the first Ansem's shadow knocked away, but the second split into smaller parts, and each hit him.

Ansem's shadow started to shake.

Now! I can finish it.

Kirux loaded a ball of energy into his left hand, and fired it at Ansem. It knocked Ansem into the air, which allowed Kirux to fly forward and strike him towards the ground.

Stop: Revenge of Chaos - KH ReCOM

At that point, Ansem had all but given up. His shadow had faded away, leaving only him and Kirux in the area.

"You ignorant child! You don't realize what you have started!"

Kirux scoffed, "If I started it," he lifted his sword again, "Then I'll be the one to finish it!"

He went to strike him again, but Ansem vanished. He was gone.

"What?!" Kirux said, looking around him.

"Where are you, Ansem?! Show yourself!"

He heard Ansem's laugh.

"I will admit, you are skilled. But, I will save the end of this fight for another time."

"I'll be waiting for you in the darkness, Kirux."

Kirux began to feel a weird energy envelop around him, and soon he was getting drowsy.

"No," he said, dropping his sword, "I have to...finish...him."

But Kirux couldn't keep it together. He collapsed to the ground, and his eyes shut.

"Mark my words. Your darkness will be mine someday."

The three were all sitting with frowns on their faces. It had been hours, and Kirux still hadn't woken up.

"Alright," Axel said, standing up, "It's been too long. I think it's time we go and get some rest for ourselves."

Roxas and Xion looked at him in surprise.

"What?" They both said in unison.

"You two heard me. He's not going to get up any time soon. We need to get some rest and check on him tomorrow."

"But, what if he wakes up between now and then?" Roxas said, "He'll have no idea what happened."

"Roxas is right. We have to stay to make sure he knows what's going on."

Axel shook his head, "Trust me, I don't want to leave either. But this has gone on for too long, and nothing has happened. It's time we all go."

Xion looked back at Kirux.

"Then you two go. I'm not leaving until he wakes up."

"Are you sure?" Roxas asked.

"I'm sure."

Roxas wasn't entirely convinced, but he did walk out of the room behind Axel.

Xion stared at Kirux.

I don't know who he is. I swear to that.

But, why do I keep feeling like we've known each other for a long time?

It's some sort of strange feeling that I can't make out.

Xion's thoughts were interrupted, because Kirux was stirring.

...

He slowly opened his eyes.

Kirux was finally awake.

...

Xion smiled, "You're finally awake. Thank goodness. I thought you were a goner."

She ran over to the door, hearing Kirux sit up in his bed.

"Axel! Roxas! Kirux is awake!"

She walked back towards him, just as Axel and Roxas entered the room.

"Well, it's about time. How are you feeling?"

Kirux didn't respond. He only stared blankly at feet.

"You okay? We were all worried about you."

Kirux spoke softly, "You three need to stay away from me."

The three were taken aback. "What? Why?" Roxas asked.

Kirux got up out of his bed, "I'm dangerous. I'm dangerous to all of you."

"What do you mean?" Xion said this time.

"The darkness...inside me. I can't-," he stumbled around his words.

He looked up at them, "I can't let him hurt you. Any of you."

"Who's he?" Axel said.

Kirux hesitated, but replied, "Ansem. The Seeker of Darkness. He's got a grip on the darkness inside of me. While I must have been asleep, I was able to loosen that grip, but he's still lingers."

"One of these days, he will try to take control of me again. And if that does happen...-"

"I'm counting on one of you three to...destroy me."

The trio was in shock, but Xion still spoke up.

"You won't lose. I know that."

Kirux looked at her in surprise.

"You and I don't know each other much, or at all really. But I know that, even though he may have a grip on you, that darkness belongs to you and you alone."

"Yeah," Roxas said, "She's right."

"And if this Ansem does take control of you, we'll be right there to help." Axel said.

Kirux was taken aback by all of that.

All he could do was smile.

"Thanks. Axel, Roxas,"

"Xion."

Now, the entirety of the Sea-Salt trio has now met our Soldier of Darkness. Yay!

Also, first fight between two characters and no Heartless! The first of many.

I apologize that the Kirux vs. Ansem battle was so short, but I assure you it will not be the last. You can count me on that.

I hope you enjoyed. Leave a review!

-Broncozfan623