Yeah, it's been a few days. Sorry. I just took a little break from writing, that's all. I'm back now, and that's all that matters.
With that being said, let's continue.
"Have you made any progress on obtaining Kirux's heart?"
"Of course. He's just as vulnerable to the darkness as ever. In no time, I'll have control over his heart."
"You speak with too much confidence. Do not underestimate him. If he's braved the darkness inside a person's heart, he is not to be taken lightly. Do not count out the girl, as well."
"Relax, I've got everything under control. I'll take his heart, and deal with the girl if she gets in the way."
"And then, our plan can be put in to motion."
"Indeed."
Play: At Dusk, I Will Think of You... - KH 358/2 Days
Xion's feet dangled over the edge, taking in the sunset.
It was great to finally get to sit up on the clock tower again.
It felt like so long ago, since the last time she was up here.
Sure, she got to look at the sunset on the island, inside Sora's heart, plenty. But, it didn't feel the same.
Something about the clock tower just got her attention.
...
"There you are. I've been looking all over town for you."
Xion turned back, and found Kirux standing there.
"I could say the same for you." She said to him, as he sat down next to her.
"Didn't you go through the same portal as me, once you left?"
"I did. It's strange we didn't end up in the same place."
He smiled, "But no matter. At least we found each other."
...
Xion did anything but smile.
Her mind was still on what that DiZ guy had said earlier.
...
"You both turn from the truth because your hearts are weak."
Your hearts...
...
Kirux noticed her, "Is something wrong?"
Xion didn't answer initially, "Xion, what's the matter?"
"It's...what that guy said. 'You both turn from the truth because your hearts are weak.'"
"Kirux, did we have hearts the whole time? Did the Organization lie, and tell us we didn't?"
She put up a hand to her chest, "It feels...odd knowing that I actually have a heart, when I've been told that I never did."
...
"Well, apparently we were able to grow our own hearts."
"But how? You can't just grow a heart out of nowhere...I think."
She sighed, "There's just so much I don't know that I feel like I should."
"Xion," he said, "It was that connection we have that enabled us to grow our own hearts."
"I don't really understand how, but there's no doubting that it was a major factor."
"So you're saying, if the two of us had never met, we never would have grown our own hearts?"
...
Kirux shrugged, "Who knows? I can't even begin to try and think what things would be like."
"Why's that?"
"Well," he stuttered, "It would mean...that I'd never find the one person I care about most."
...
Xion smiled, "There you go again with the sweetness."
He shoved her shoulder slightly, "Oh, like you're any better."
"You make it too obvious!"
"Shut up!"
They both laughed.
...
...
...
They sat in silence for a while.
She was still smiling from that last conversation.
She gave him a hard time about how he talked about her.
But, all it did was make her feel that much closer to him.
...
"This feels...odd." She said out of nowhere.
"What does that mean?"
"Just the two of us, up here. It doesn't feel the same without Roxas and Axel."
Kirux looked down, "Yeah, it's different. Too different."
"Do you ever think about how things could have been different?"
"All the time. It's...pretty much all I thought about while you were gone."
"Like, what would everything be like if...I never did the things I was told to?"
...
"Kirux, don't-,"
"I'm serious, Xion. If you think about it, it's my fault that all of this has happened."
"I'm the one who tore the group apart, just so I...didn't have to lose you." he said.
He shook his head, "I dove into Sora's heart, defeated Vanitas, and got you out. Not once did I even think about Roxas or Axel."
...
Xion didn't know what to say. Kirux continued to look down at his feet.
"Kirux, you can't do that to yourself."
"But it's true. I did...all of that for my own selfish reasons."
"That is the truth, and I have to live with that now."
...
"You can't say that."
He shook his head. Xion wanted to say something to him, but she couldn't think of anything.
Because he was right, and deep down, she knew that.
Kirux was the one who had messed everything up, and they both knew it.
Xion just didn't want that to eat away at Kirux, because that would only make things worse.
...
Kirux went to stand up, "DiZ and the others are probably going to be looking for us. We'd better get out of here."
Xion knew what he was doing.
"No. Kirux, wait." She said, but he ignored her.
When he started to walk away, she stood up.
"Wait!" She said, grabbing his arm.
...
...
...
Her grip on his arm remained as he turned around.
"Kirux, I know that this is hurting you. But, you constantly letting it affect you like this isn't going to help."
She began to move closer to him, slowly, "You can't just hold it in and grieve over it forever. Because if you do that, it's only going to hurt you more."
They were only inches apart when she stopped, "And when something hurts you, it hurts me too."
He didn't respond.
Then, he smiled, "And you say I make it too obvious."
She punched him lightly, "Fine. I guess I'll stop being nice to you from now on."
He laughed, "No, you won't."
...
He hugged her, "Thank you."
She hugged him back, and the two of them stayed like that for the rest of their time up on that tower.
Stop: At Dusk, I Will Think of You... - KH 358/2 Days
Three Days Later...
Namine was sitting in the same room she was always in, in the same chair.
She sat there, examining all of the pictures on the walls.
She had lost count on how many she had actually drawn. Most of them were of Sora and his memories, but there were some up that were focused more on Roxas.
...
And then there was the one she had of Kirux, inside the realm of darkness.
"Maybe," she said to herself, "This is how things are supposed to be."
Kirux had abandoned them three days ago. He ran off into the unknown with that girl.
Xion, she thought was her name. The girl that Kirux had told her about, before he dove in.
Whenever she looked at that one picture, she would think about the two of them.
...
'Is that the fate they are heading towards? Will the two of them really become trapped inside the realm of darkness?'
...
Namine knew if that was true, there was nothing she could do about it.
She may have control over memories, but that, she had no power over.
"I guess...if they still have each other, they'd be okay with it."
...
That was when the dark portal appeared on the other side of the room. A hooded figure walked through.
Namine knew who it was, even before they removed their hood.
"It's good to see you again, Kirux."
"Likewise."
"How are you and Xion?"
"Fine. The Organization hasn't found us yet, and I've given up thinking DiZ is still looking for us."
She nodded, "Yes. He never was."
"We got lucky. What you did didn't affect Sora, and his awakening is soon."
Kirux thought for a second, "It's tomorrow, isn't it?"
"How did you know?"
"Not important."
...
"You really need to leave soon. DiZ will find out you're here if you stay for too long."
"I'm aware. I just need to give you a message."
"What is it?"
...
"This is the last time you're going to see my face, Namine. So, I'm here to say goodbye."
...
'The last time? But why?'
...
"Why do you say that?"
"By the time our paths cross again, I'm sure something would have happened to my being. Whether I've fallen into darkness, or I was destroyed."
"I just know that I'm not going to be there once Sora wakes up or when he wins his fight against the Organization."
...
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just know, Namine. I can sense it, which is why I am saying goodbye."
A portal appeared behind him, "Thank you for everything you've done for me, Namine. You're one of the few people I can actually call my friend."
He smiled, "Goodbye."
He put his hood back on, and walked into the portal behind him.
The portal shut, and Kirux was gone.
...
...
...
The door opened, and Riku walked in.
"I heard voices. Who was here?"
"Kirux. You just missed him."
"Did he want anything?"
She shook her head, "No. He just wanted to say something to me."
"He said that he's not going to be here once Sora wakes up, and...said goodbye."
"However, he doesn't seem upset by it. He seemed...content with what's going to happen to him.
Her eyes went back to the drawing.
...
'It's got to be her. He's confident that if the two of them are together, they'll be okay.'
...
"Wow," Riku said, "He's full of surprises."
"Be honest with me, Riku. Did you like Kirux? He was your other half, after all."
Riku crossed his arms, "Yeah, I liked him. He was a nice guy."
"And...I'm glad he did what he did, somewhat."
Namine was confused, "Huh?"
"Well, I'm happy that he actually listened to and followed his heart."
He smiled, "He's pretty much my opposite in that way, and...I kind of envy him for it."
Kirux was standing at the bottom of the clock tower, his arms folded across his chest.
"What's taking so long? She should be here by now."
...
Over the last few days, him and Xion stayed apart for as long as possible during the day. They couldn't risk them both being attacked by the Organization.
They'd normally meet each other at the clock tower everyday, but Xion was late this time.
...
Kirux thought about going to look for her, but something happened.
Something he wished he'd never have to see.
Play: Night of Fate - KH1
The sky turned dark out of nowhere. The wind picked up tremendously, which made his hood fly off.
"What-," he said, before somebody popped up in front of him.
...
Ansem appeared before him.
...
'No. Not now.'
...
"We finally meet again face to face." Ansem said.
"What are you doing here?!"
"I'm fulfilling what I said I'd do from the very beginning."
Ansem waved his hand, and a dark circle formed around the two of them. Two Heartless flew at Kirux from both sides, too fast for him to dodge.
...
They grabbed onto him, holding him down on his knees. Kirux struggled to break free.
Ansem smiled, "Don't try and struggle. Actually, you should thank me from keeping them from destroying you."
"What...do you want from me?!" Kirux yelled.
Ansem walked towards him, "Don't be foolish, boy. You know exactly what I'm after."
...
He stood before Kirux, as the Heartless continued to strangle him.
"At long last, your darkness will belong to me. You will finally fulfill your true purpose."
...
He brought his hand up. The Heartless let Kirux go, but he was too weak to stand himself back up.
"You will become my vessel!"
He brought his hand back down, towards Kirux.
...
A green glow came from Kirux. He struggled, trying to fight him off.
"No," he said, "I will never...answer to you."
It was no use. He couldn't fight him off.
He slowly felt his consciousness fade away.
His vision went black.
...
...
...
'Xion. I'm sorry.'
'You were right. I'm not strong enough to face this alone.'
...
...
...
Ansem's true form faded away, leaving only Kirux's empty shell.
Darkness enveloped him, and when it went away, he wasn't the same.
His hair was silver now, and when his eyes opened, they were orange.
She was in the Sandlot, about to head back to the clock tower when it happened.
When it did, she was beyond stunned.
"What is happening?" She said, as the wind picked up.
...
Heartless popped up out of the ground, around her.
She summoned her Keyblade, watching as more Heartless surrounded her.
She ran towards them, swiping away one Heartless after another.
...
'I've got to get to the clock tower, see if Kirux is okay.'
...
She dealt with the rest of the Heartless in the area, then ran towards the clock tower. As she ran up the hill, Heartless continued to appear.
She would just swat them away and kept on running.
One massive Shadow appeared in front of her, blocking her path. But, she simply jumped up, and struck it one time from above. The Heartless disintegrated, and she continued.
Stop: Night of Fate - KH1
When she reached the plaza, she saw him standing there.
Kirux was there, not moving.
"Kirux!" She said, running up to him.
...
...
...
Once Xion got closer, she realized something was wrong.
His hair. It was...silver.
"Kirux?"
...
No response.
...
She moved closer to him, "Kirux? What happened?"
...
He finally opened his eyes, and when he did, she gasped.
His eyes were orange, not brown.
...
'No. No no no.'
'This can't be happening.'
...
He reached out for her, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her up.
She struggled to get free from his grip.
"Who...am I?" She heard him say.
...
'That voice. It's not his.'
'This can't be Kirux. It just can't be.'
...
"Kirux..." she said, "Fight it! Please!"
Play: Dismiss - KH Birth By Sleep
He dropped her, reaching for his head.
When his hands lowered, he spoke again.
"Kirux has been extinguished. Smothered by the darkness within him!"
His sword appeared in his hand, and he swung it down towards her. She jumped back, in complete shock.
...
'This has got to be Ansem, the one who tried to take over him before.'
...
"Tell me. Who are you?" She yelled.
"It is I, Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. And I have finally taken what is rightfully mine."
...
Her face scrunched up in anger.
Then she heard his voice.
...
"Xion. Listen to me."
"Kirux? Is that you?"
"Yes. I don't have a lot of time to explain. You've got to help me defeat Ansem."
"What happened to you?"
"Don't worry, I'm okay. He might have control on the outside, but I'm fighting him on the inside."
"You were right, Xion. I can't fight him alone, and you're the only one who can help me."
"Just tell me what to do. I'll do it."
"All you have to do is hold him off so I can take care of him in here. Then, you can finish it."
"I'll tell you how once I've defeated him in here."
"Xion, please be careful."
"I will. See you soon, Kirux."
Her Keyblade appeared in her hand.
She looked at Ansem in anger, "Anybody that hurts my friends has to deal with me."
"Let my friend go!"
...
She ran at him, swinging her Keyblade downward. Ansem disappeared, and Xion found him floating downwards behind her.
"Fool. Do you really think you can defeat me?"
She stood her ground. Ansem wasn't going to convince her to give up.
Kirux had saved her. Now, it was her turn to save him.
...
"Have it your way." Ansem said, raising his sword up.
...
They ran at one another their blades colliding. Xion struggled a little to hold him back, but was able to throw Ansem off of her.
...
'I can do this. I can save him.'
...
She ran at him again.
Pause: Dismiss - KH Birth By Sleep
Note: I said pause. We'll come back to it later.
They were both standing in the dark void, just like the first time they had met face to face.
...
"You gave up oh so easily on the outside."
"You didn't even manage to put up a fight. What makes you think you can do it now?"
...
"This is still my heart. You think you can just come in and take over?"
"No, it doesn't work like that."
...
"What hope do you possibly think you might have? I've taken your body already, and your heart has already succumbed to the darkness that I command."
"So why? Why do you insist on continuing to resist?"
...
Kirux shook his head, "You just don't get it, Ansem."
"You may have taken my body and my heart, but you've forgotten one very important factor. And that's her."
"No matter what you do to me, I know that my heart will always live."
"You see, her and I are connected. But that connection doesn't just go to our feelings, it goes to our hearts."
"I know now, that if either one of us is lost, we can just find ourselves inside the other. We'll always be apart of one another, no matter what."
...
...
...
Kirux put his hand out, "My fight begins here."
His Keyblade appeared, "And now."
"I'm going to take back my heart and my body, then return to Xion's side."
Ansem began to grow angry, "You? Alone?"
"I'm not alone. I never am. She's always with me, and I'm always with her."
He put his hand up to his chest, "And with the two of us together,"
He raised his Keyblade, "We're unstoppable. Not even your darkness can stop us."
...
"You can try." Ansem said, crossing his arms.
Play: L'Eminenza Oscura I - KH 3D Dream Drop Distance
The area they were standing on disappeared, and the area went from black to purple.
The dark figure from before appeared behind Ansem.
Kirux floated across from him, his hand clutching his Keyblade tightly.
...
He floated towards Ansem, attempting to strike him. Ansem simply floated backwards, where his shadow began throwing disks at him again.
'He never learned how to do anything new. Wow.'
Kirux deflected them away, then went at Ansem again. He was able to get a few hits in, but Ansem's shadow retaliated, and sent him flying back.
Ansem then went on to rush at Kirux again and again. Kirux wasn't able to recover from the first attack, so he just kept getting hit.
"Accept the darkness." Ansem said, as Kirux cast a healing spell.
He shook his head, and flew towards him again. He dodged a punch by the shadow, and struck Ansem once.
That hit did a lot more than Kirux expected, because a platform appeared underneath him.
'About time.' He thought to himself, but his thoughts were interrupted by Ansem's attack. He managed to dodge it, but just barely.
"You cannot protect anything." He taunted, which only prompted Kirux to do what he did next.
...
A burst of energy came from Kirux, and his Keyblade was enveloped in a white glow.
"Try and keep up!" He said, grabbing his blade with both hands.
He swung at Ansem, who was unable to take in what Kirux had just done. He hit him with four powerful hits, before swinging his blade downward. On the last swing, the blade had grown even larger and longer.
Kirux knew that he could finish it then.
"It's over!" He yelled at him, putting his blade up in the air. He twirled it around in his hand, hitting Ansem multiple times, before he swung and hit the ground, creating a shockwave of light.
...
...
...
Ansem's shadow disappeared, and they both stood there, panting.
"Insolent brat!" Ansem yelled, launching a massive ball of darkness at him.
Kirux blocked it, although struggling. He was able to make the ball disperse, however.
"Ansem!" He yelled, running at him. He gripped his blade in both hands, and swung at Ansem hard.
Stop: L'Eminenza Oscura I - KH 3D Dream Drop Distance
"This is...the end." He said.
Ansem struggled to speak, "No. This is...hardly...the end."
Kirux turned around, Ansem doing the same.
"Your darkness...I gave it...all of it, to you."
He reached for Kirux, "Your heart...will be ours."
...
Kirux put his Keyblade up in front of him.
"My heart belongs to me."
...
Ansem faded away, for the last time.
Kirux smiled, looking at his Keyblade, "I owe it all to you, Xion."
...
The area faded away, and Kirux fell into the void.
Resume: Dismiss - KH Birth By Sleep
Xion's fight with Ansem was pretty uneventful. All they ever did was try to strike one another, only for their attacks to constantly parry.
However, Xion's last one had connected, sending Ansem flying.
...
She was hanging down a lot more heavily.
"Kirux, I can't go for much longer."
...
She then saw a glow of light coming from Ansem.
"Stop...fighting back!" He yelled.
...
"Xion, I've got it."
"Kirux!"
"I've taken care of Ansem on the inside, now you have to set my body free."
"How do I do that?"
"Use your Keyblade. The light will dispel Ansem."
"But, wouldn't that destroy you?"
"No. I'll be fine. Please Xion. You have to do this."
...
She saw Ansem go still. He struggled, but he couldn't move.
"I'm holding him down. Now Xion!"
...
She put her Keyblade forward, light coming from the end.
Ansem shook his head, "No!"
The light shot towards him, and struck him in the chest.
...
Her Keyblade faded away, "Kirux? Did it work?"
She saw his hair fade back to brown, his eyes as well.
"Thank...you, Xion." He said softly.
"Kirux..."
...
A pool of darkness appeared on the ground, behind him.
"Kirux, no!"
He fell backwards, into that pool of darkness.
...
...
...
'No. I'm not losing him.'
She ran over, and dove into the pool, after him.
...
The sky went back to normal, and the pool disappeared.
Stop: Dismiss - KH Birth By Sleep
"I guess my summer vacation is..."
"...over."
...
He stood there, before Sora's pod.
How about that? You like it? Leave a review if you enjoyed.
Thanks for the wait.
-Broncozfan623