-Chapter 5-
-Radiant Garden-
Goofy was the first to get up; he was hurting all over. He gasped when he saw his friends down and ran over to them.
"Donald! Sora!", he shook them awake.
Eventually everyone was standing up. Sora was quiet and didn't look at anyone.
"What did he mean...?", he asked quietly, "'Am I the me...I think I am...?'"
Donald looked concerned and Goofy put his hand on Sora's shoulder.
"Sora...", he said, "No matter who ya are. You're still you..."
Everyone was quiet. Finally a little light bulb turned on in Goofy's head.
"I know!", he yelled, "Let's go back to Destiny Island! Sora will feel more like himself if he goes home."
Donald nodded, "And after ya feel better, we can keep lookin' for Heartless."
Sora straightened up and nodded, "Yeah, thanks guys. Sorry for holding us up."
"No need to apologize", laughed Goofy, "What are friends for?"
Sora, Donald, and Goofy boarded the Gummi Ship and headed to Sora's home world.
-
-
A small island came into view. A wooded boardwalk stood were the sand met the blue sea. Beyond the boardwalk were tall tropical trees with wooded houses built in them, all joined together by latters and bridges. A logo appears with an tropical island much like this one in the background.
~Destiny Island~
The three emerged on the beach. Sora looked around for any of his old friends. He didn't want to keep Donald and Goofy waiting so he planned to meet with his friends, chat a little, and head back out. The first people to come to mind were Riku and Kairi but after searching around and in every treehouse on the small island, he was unsuccessful. He sighed, sat down on the boardwalk, and looked out at the ocean. Donald and Goofy stood next to him.
"Guess they're both in town on the mainland.", he said, "If I go there, I'll never be able to leave..."
A ball hit Sora in the back of the head. The thing was heavy and hurt like heck.
Sora rubbed the back of his head and turned around glaring, "What was that for?!"
A young muscular Hawaiian-looking man smiled and caught the ball, "Sora! Long time no see, ya."
Sora looked at him oddly, "Do I...know you?"
Donald nudged Sora, "Isn't he Wakka? One of your friends?"
Sora scratched his head, "Wakka? Why doesn't that name seem familiar?"
Wakka's smile disappeared, "You know, Wakka. Me and you used to play Blitzball together, ya? Man, I gotta stop hitting people in the head with my ball; your brain's messed up now."
"Oh yeah, sorry Wakka. I know you!", he smiled weakly. In truth he didn't remember a thing but he didn't want to hurt Wakka's feelings.
Suddenly a young man appeared behind Sora holding a wooden sword, "There you are...Sora."
He swung his sword at Sora's head and forced him to draw his keyblade and block.
Sora's looked over the guy: he was thin, had short blond hair, and wore shorts and an unbuttoned jacket.
"Um, hi! Good to see you...", again Sora had no idea who he was.
Goofy coughed, "*cough*Titus*cough*"
"Right, Titus.", Sora sweated.
Titus looked at him oddly, "Hey Sora? You okay?"
Sora looked down at the ground. He had no idea. Apparently these two were his friends but he was sure he never met them. Then he heard a snicker that was familiar.
"Just as I thought. Your friends are they?"
Nexus appeared on the sand next to Sora, Donald, Goofy, Wakka, and Titus. He faced Sora and singled him out.
"I wanted you to come to me after you found your true power but that's going to take ages; you don't even know who you are!"
Nexus grabbed Sora by the neck, lifted him up, and threw him about a yard away from the others. Donald and Goofy gasped and ran to Sora only for Nexus to send them flying with an energy ball. A barrier surround Nexus and Sora.
"Keep your hands off of him!", Titus charged at Nexus with his wooden sword.
Fortunately he was in the barrier's radius when it formed. Nexus pulled the sword from his hand, shattered it, and elbowed Titus in the stomach. Titus fell over in pain. Wakka ran into a treehouse, and came back out holding a large blue translucent sword.
"Titus! Catch, ya!", he threw the sword over and into the barrier.
Titus got up, jumped and caught the sword by the hilt before landing in a fighting stance.
/Notice: Donald and Goofy left the party
/Notice: Titus joined the party
/Notice: Beat Nexus!
A Corridor opened behind Nexus and black and white humanoid Heartless with long think arms came out. Sora and Titus charged at the Heartless and began beating it. The Heartless spun around and struck Sora and Titus with it's powerful arms and sent them both flying.
They both landed on their feet and ran back to the Heartless, being sure to dodge its spinning attack.
/Reaction: Swordplay
Sora ran around the Heartless, slicing and whacking it with his keyblade eight times before thrusting it into the ground and jumping into the air, using its hilt as leverage.
/Reaction: Blitz Ace
Titus pulled a Blitzball from behind his back and kicked it up to Sora. Sora than kicked the ball right into the Heartless's face. The Heartless vanished and its crystal-looking heart ascended into the air. Sora and Titus then went for Nexus, beating and slashing him with their weapons.
Before the fight was even over, Nexus blasted Titus away with an energy ball and knocked Sora to the ground. He aimed the palm of his hand which was glowing with a bring aura down at Sora. Sora's body felt heavy and he couldn't get up. His keyblade vanished from his hand.
"What...did you do to me...? I can't move...", he suddenly felt out of breath. It was like his strength just left.
Nexus dropped the barriers and turned to Titus, Wakka, Donald, and Goofy, still holding Sora down.
"Let's show your 'friends' who you really are...", Nexus sneered.
Sora's body started changing; his brown hair turned white and his blue eyes turned red. A tattoo of the kanji for the number three seemed to burn itself onto his cheek. Finally he felt enough strength return to him to allow him to get up. He looked down to see that he was wearing a black and blue jumpsuit similar to the one Riku wore when the darkness consumed him. He gasped and glared at Nexus.
"What the hell is this? Who are you?!", he yelled.
Nexus laughed, "You seem to have your own personality. The real Sora would never talk like that. Like I said before, my name is Nexus. If you need to know more, I work for Organization XIII. I am number 14..."
Donald and Goofy's eyes widened, "That's impossible!", yelled Goffy.
"There can't be 14 members in Organization -13-!", said Donald.
Nexus just chuckled, "Believe what you will... Now enough about me. Let's talk about you..."
He circled around the young man who just a minute earlier thought he was Sora.
"Your real name is Nexus Clone Number Three, or NC3 for short. As your name suggests, you are a clone of me. But not a perfect copy; you are my dark counterpart..."
"Dark counterpart?", said NC3 confused, "But I fight with the light."
Nexus shook his head, "When are you going to figure it out? You are not Sora! Sora was just a guise and your head is filled with fake memories. Take a look."
A dark aura surrounded NC3. It was darkness flowing from him. Everyone else gasped. Donald and Goofy ran over to the boy they though was their friend.
"So you fight for the darkness?", Donald glared, "You betrayed us!"
"Donald!", said Goofy, "Sora, I mean, Nectar Cologne 3, I mean-um, you know had no idea what was happenin'. And you know what? I think that guy's the real bad guy here!"
"Foolish creatures of light...you have no idea who the real enemy is..."
Nexus summoned a Corridor of Darkness underneath NC3, Donald, and Goofy and they slowly felt themselves being pulled down.
NC3 spoke quietly, "I'm sorry everyone. I made you all think I was your friend. Wakka, Titus...Donald, Goofy... I hope your real friend is okay..."
The Corridor disappeared and they were gone. Titus bared his teeth and Wakka had to hold him back.
"I don't care who either of you are! Why did you do that to him? You bastard!"
"Relax...", Nexus didn't face him, "There is no point in killing him. As for you..."
Nexus drew his keyblade and started toward Wakka and Titus. Just then, a dark fire ball hit Nexus in the shoulder and he stumbled. Riku was standing on the beach.
"Leave them...", he walked over to them and opened a Dark Corridor, "Titus, Wakka, get inside. There are people over there that will keep you safe."
They both nodded and headed inside.
"Okay, Riku", said Wakka, "We trust you, ya."
The Corridor of Darkness closed and Riku glared at Nexus drawing his
"You can do whatever you want with that little clone of yours but stay away from my island..."
NC3 found himself in a grassy field next to a tall red Japanese-style building along with Donald and Goofy but said nothing. Donald was avoiding him to and crossed his arms. Goofy spoke up.
"Donald, it's not Sor-I mean, Nex-I mean NC3's fault.", he said, "That Nexus guy tricked all of us. If anything, NC's the real victim."
Donald didn't say anything and neither did NC3. Just then, they all smelled something delicious. The scent hit Goofy's nose and he floated off the ground and toward the smell. Donald smiled and followed. The three walked into a Japanese-style town with stalls and outdoor eating areas. NC3 looked around and saw the place was totally deserted; he didn't like it.
"Guys, I think we shouldn't be here..."
Donald and Goofy ran over to the source of the smell: a stall serving roasted pig, seafood, rice, and a large variety of other foods.
"Oh boy, oh boy!", cried Donald helping himself.
"Gawrsh, you gotta try this stuff, NC!"
NC3 shook his head, "This could be a trap. Or you guys are going to get us kicked out."
They kept eating and NC sighed. He turned around and walked away down the street. A little ways down he saw a large building that looked like an Asian hotel. There was a bridge leading to it and he started to cross. Just then he sensed someone behind him. A young man with short black hair wearing light blue robes glared at him seriously.
"Who are you? You don't belong here!", he said.
Suddenly the sky grew dark and lanterns along the streets started to glow.
The man clenched his teeth, "They're coming; They know you're here. Run, I'll distract them..."
NC looked at him oddly but the young man pushed him away from the bridge. He shrugged and ran back to where he left Goofy and Donald.
When he got there though, Donald and Goofy were gone and two pigs wearing their clothes were in their place. NC looked at them wide eyed.
"Donald? Goofy? What happened to you two?", he cried.
A large shadowy spirit came out from within the food stall and started whipping the two defenseless pigs with a large fly swatter. NC glared.
"Keep your hands off them!", he yelled.
He tried to summon his keyblade but it wouldn't come. He tried a few more times before he noticed the spirits were taking Donald and Goofy away.
NC gritted his teeth, "I'm coming back for you guys. Hold on!"
He wasn't sure what he was looking for. He ran down the streets of the small Asian town. Everywhere shadowy shapeless spirits came out of doors. As he approached a shore he saw a river boat full of spirits wearing colorful robes and masks. Still defenseless he hid behind a small house near the shore. He was out of breath and felt like his energy was being drained. He crouched down to catch his breath then looked at his hands and gasped.
"What the hell?!", he exclaimed, "I'm...see-through?"
Indeed he was growing more and more transparent; like a ghost. Just then, the man from before walked over to NC from behind. He pulled a small bean from his pocket and handed it to him.
"Here, eat this. Humans need to eat in this world or they'll disappear..."
NC looked at the bean suspiciously.
"Don't worry, it wont turn you into a pig.", he said sarcastically.
NC put the bean in his mouth and ate it. Gradually his energy returned to him and his body became opaque again. He got up and looked at the guy.
"You seem to know a lot about this world. Where are my friends?", he asked, "They ate that food back there and turned into pigs."
"That's what happens to people who steal food in this world. You can't see them now but you will."
NC sighed, "You better not be referring to breakfast..."
Just then, the boy looked up. A strange giant bird was flying high overhead.
"Yubaba...", he said flatly.
He then grabbed NC's hand and walked back into the city, pulling him along.
"Hey, let go!", NC yelled, "What the hell are you doing?"
The boy ran to the building he had met him in front of and brought him to the side where nobody could see them.
"Okay, listen. There is a way to save your friends.", he said quietly, "Talk to Yubaba; she's the witch who owns this bath-house."
"A bath-house?", NC looked at him with raised eyebrows, "The witch owns a giant bath-house in the middle of a city of ghosts?"
"We are not ghosts; we are spirits.", he said with narrow eyes, "Gods if you will. And Yubaba is very powerful. She's the one who's power turned your friends into pigs..."
NC's eyes widened and he nodded, "Okay, I got you."
"Good, now...", the boy placed him palm on NC's head and NC started seeing visions, "You need to ask Yubaba to give you a job. It will be tough work but after a while you'll be able to leave with your friends. Take the outside stairs to the very bottom of the house. There you will meet Kamaji, the boiler man. Tell him you wish to speak to Yubaba."
He took his hand off and NC's vision returned to normal, "That's a lot to take in. Okay, thanks...um..."
NC realized he never learned the boy's name. Just then a giant frog ran over to them.
"Master Haku, there you are!", he yelled, "Yubaba wants to see you."
The boy who's name was apparently Haku sighed, "I know...it's about my 'mission', right?"
He walked away with the frog without looking at NC. NC, not sure what to say found the top of the stairs and began to descend. The wooden staircase was long; really long. And didn't even have a railing. NC could look down the stairs and see train tracks about a hundred feet below. Just then a step beneath him snapped and broke and he got off just in time. Swallowing he quickly climbed down the rest of the steps.
Once down, he saw a door on the side of the building. He opened it and went inside. It was very warm inside and there were pipes running up the ceilings and the walls. Down a hall, was a wide square pit the size of the room facing a huge boiler. On the other side of the pit, a large bald old mustached man sat at a podium. He wore a black long sleeved suit and round sunglasses. The oddest thing of all about him was that he seemed to have multiple long arms. All of them were turning large cranks, pulling tickets down from the ceiling, or grabbing various herbs from wall-long cabinets.
NC coughed and spoke up hesitantly, "Hey, you must be Kamaji. I was told by someone to ask you about a job."
The old man's eyebrows slanted and he faced NC, "Go away! I don't need any help here."
With one hand he motioned to the pit; NC didn't see them coming in but countless small round black creatures with huge eyes were scurrying around and picking up bricks of coal to throw into a large furnace heating the giant boiler.
"This boiler room is full of soot", he said, "I just cast a spell and I have all the workers I need. There's no room for you. Be gone!"
NC sighed and started to leave. At his feet a single soot sprite was trying to lift a large lump off coal. It succeeded but the weight of the coal was too much and smashed the little sprite. NC winced, then bent over and picked up the lump of coal. A small black smudge was where the soot sprite used to be. Just then the sprite puffed back up and ran into a mouse-sized hole in the wall.
NC looked at the lump of coal in his hand and shrugged. He looked at the furnace on the other side of the room and threw the coal into it. All the other soot sprites stared at NC wide eyed and then in unison...the dropped the lumps of coal they were carrying on their heads and squeaked helplessly. NC sighed and Kamaji glared at them all.
"Get back to work you useless balls of soot!", he then turned to NC, "Don't go around stealing other people's work! If they stop working the spell wears off and they turn back into soot."
Just then, a sliding door in the wall opened and a young woman walked into the room. She had long black hair, wore a kimono, and was carrying a basket full of what seemed to be round pieces of multicolored candies.
She grounded, "Are you fighting again, Kamaji?"
She began tossing the candies at the soot sprites who gathered around squeaking happily.
"This boy is looking for a job...", said Kamaji, still working, "Can you take him to see Yubaba? He's a tough boy, I think he can handle it."
The woman's eyes widened then she glared at Kamaji, dumping the basket.
"No way!", she said, "I'm not risking my neck."
Kamaji handed her what appeared to be a charred lizard, "I'll give you this, Rin."
Rin looked at it suspiciously before snatching it, "Gimme that! Come on, little boy; Let's go..."
NC got out of the pit and walked up to her, "Excuse me?!"
She didn't look at him as she walked out through the door she came in.
"And thank the boiler man, you dope.", she called back, "He's really risking his neck for you..."
NC sighed. He was really starting to like this girl.
"Yeah, thanks, Mr. Boilerman!"
-
Rin brought NC up an employee elevator and onto a floor overlooking dozens of public bath areas. All sorts of multicolored ogres and creatures were relaxing in round bathtubs and indoor hot-springs. He could even see a family of large rounds ducks cramming into a small tub looking like rubber bath toys.
Finally they came to another elevator and NC rode it alone to the top floor. When he reached the top and the doors opened he found himself facing a long narrow hallway. What's more, the hallway broke into two other hallways on each side every ten feet.
"How am I going to find Yubaba's office?", he sighed, "This is like a maze..."
After walking for a few seconds and turning corners he heard an echoing voice. It sounded like an old woman's.
"Come in..."
His eyes widened and he looked around quickly.
"I said...COME IN!"
An invisible hand grabbed his collar and pulled him swiftly down the hall. He zoomed around corners and finally crashed through a pair of double doors and into a warm office. He fell to the floor on a large dark red carpet. Three green disembodied, bald, and mustached heads rolled over to NC and bounced around him.
NC looked up and saw the old lady. She was huge; a little taller than NC but had the proportions of a midget. She eyed him, smirking slightly.
"So what I heard was true... Three outsiders found their ways into the city of kami...", she spoke calmly, "Your two little friends were caught stealing food laid out for the gods, and they got what they deserved."
NC swallowed. He didn't like this lady. He decided to speak up.
"Please...can you give me a job here?", he asked hesitantly.
Yubaba quickly got up and walked up to him, "Why would I hire a selfish brat like you?! Do you think I give jobs to every lousy punk who walks in here?!
She vanished and NC stood up defensively wondering where she went. She then appeared right behind him and gripped his neck, digging her fingers into his skin. He winced in pain. He felt completely helpless and now he couldn't even summon his keyblade.
Yubaba whispered into his ear, "Or...maybe I'll give you the toughest job I have, and work you down to your very last breath..."
She vanished again and appeared next to her desk. She then grabbed a paper and tossed it to NC along with a pen.
"Sign here...", she said ominously.
NC quickly regained his senses and leaned the paper against the floor. He just finished scribbling his name before an invisible force snatched the paper from him. It feel into Yubaba's hands and she looked it over.
"So your name's Nexus Clone the 3rd?", she sneered, "What a pathetic name. Let me relieve you off it..."
She held her hand over his hand writing and as if by magic, the letters peeled off the paper and ascended into her palm.
"From now on your name is Xen", she said. She pronounced it as 'Zine'.
Just then someone else entered the room. It was Haku, the boy from before.
"You called me?", he asked emotionlessly.
"Yes...", said Yubaba, "Take the boy to the sales floor and get him to work."
"Yes, ma'am.", he replied, "His name?"
NC looked up, "It's Ne-I mean...Xen."
Haku nodded, "Come Xen..."
He lead him back to the elevator and down to the first floor. From there they headed to an 'employees only' room. As they entered Xen saw a group of women and oversized frogs glaring at a little girl.
"Who is she?", he asked, "And why are they-"
"Don't talk to me.", Haku said seriously, "And you will refer to me as 'Master Haku'..."
Xen looked at him oddly, "What's gotten into you...?"
They noticed the woman from before, Rin, walk over to the girl. Haku faced her.
"Rin, take Xen with you too.", he comanded.
Rin looked indigent, "Why are you always making me do the baby sitting? You owe me big, Haku!"
She grabbed both Xen and the little girl's hands and pulled them out of the room. They went to a dressing room and Rin looked through some drawers for a uniform for Xen. She finally pulled something out and handed it to Xen before turning to the little girl.
"Sen, go to the woman's changing room next door.", she said, "I'll be right there."
The girl, Sen, nodded and ran out the door. Rin dug out from a drawer another article of clothing that must have been the pants. Xen spoke up.
"Rin...?", he asked, "That little girl, Sen. Who is she? Why were the other workers treating her like that?"
Rin sighed, "Because she's a human... She's like you; her parents stole from the spirits and now Sen's working for Yubaba in hopes she can save them."
Xen's eyes widened, "Y-you know about my friends? Where are they?"
Rin grabbed his shoulders, "I don't know where they are. Only Yubaba does. All the spirits know about them and Sen's parents."
Xen sighed and looked down. Rin handed him the clothes and started to leave the room.
"It's too late to start work now; the bathhouse is closing. Get changed and meet me and Sen outside. We'll go and get some dinner."
She left and Xen started to get changed. His outfit was a light blue kimono identical to Haku's.
"At least I'm not in that ugly Heartless suit anymore...", he thought.
He later joined Rin and Sen for dinner; it was plain rice with a little chicken. It was still okay...and edible. Xen started thinking about Haku again. Why was he being such a jerk in the elevator? As if Sen could read his mind she looked up at Rin.
"Rin?", she asked, "There aren't two Haku's are there?"
Rin looked at her as if she just said something insane.
"Two Haku's?! I can barely stand one."
The next morning while Xen was sleeping on the floor, Haku quietly came into the room and bent over him.
"Come to the bridge in an hour... I'll show you where your friends are..."
Before Xen could sit up, Haku was gone. Xen got up and went outside. Haku wasn't going to be there for and hour but Xen couldn't wait.
He did wait though, for at least half and hour. Suddenly his stomach rumbled.
"Damn...", he thought aloud, "I didn't grab anything to eat before I left. And that rice last night was hardly anything..."
A tall thin ghost appeared in front of Xen all of a sudden. He was mostly black and had a round white mask over his face. Xen fell over shocked.
"What the hell?!", he starred wide-eyed, "What-who are you? Look I'm sorry about the food; me and my friends had a fight and then they were just being pigs-I mean before you guys turned them into pigs!"
The ghost just floated there, facing him with it's emotionless mask with round empty eyes. Suddenly Xen's stomach groaned again. The ghost made a light grunting sound and pointed at Xen's chest. Xen looked down and shook his head.
"N-no, I'm okay, really. Just waiting to meet someone."
The ghost floated across the bridge and into the city. Xen sighed with partial relief. Just then, the ghost floated back this time carrying something.
Xen started panicking again, "No really, I'm just waiting for a friend. I'll go back inside and get to work in a minute!"
The ghost flew very close to Xen holding what appeared to be a round wooden box. It slowly opened the lid of the box to reveal...four round white steaming meat buns. Xen's eyes widened and his tension loosened as he looked at them. He then slowly looked up into the ghost's eyes...or mask.
"I-I can have one?", he guessed hesitantly.
The ghost only nodded and grunted lightly. Xen carefully reached in a took one. It was very hot as if it had just came off of the steamer but Xen was too hungry.
He bit it and was instantly filled with warmth. It was the best thing he had eaten in...well, he couldn't remember. Since all his memories were fake, for all he knew he was 'created' yesterday and hadn't eaten for his entire short life.
He finished the meat bun and the ghost nudged the box closer and grunted again. Xen shook his head.
"No thanks", he said, "That one was great. Thank you!"
The ghost sighed sadly and began to fade. As it did, the box of meat buns started to fall. Xen caught the bow and looked around.
"Where did he go...?", he asked nobody in particular.
"I'm right here..."
The voice belonged to Haku and he was standing on the other side of the bridge. Sen was with him. Xen smiled and walked across the bridge towards them.
"Hey guys!", he held out the box, "Want one?"
"Where did you get these...?", Haku took one, looked at it and bit it, "Hmm... pork buns..."
Xen's eyes widened, "Pork?! Oh my gosh; Donald and Goofy!"
Haku laughed; a real genuine laugh, "Yubaba wouldn't let prisoners be cooked."
He handed one to Sen who started eating it. Xen sighed with relief.
Haku lead Sen and Xen to a barn a little ways away from the bathhouse. Inside were pigs in every wooden stall. Xen though of how many greedy yet unfortunate people were being held in this barn.
Sen and Haku looked into one stall. Apparently her parents were in there, though right now they just looked like ordinary pigs.
Next Haku brought Xen to a pen where a small white pig wearing a sailor hat and a fat black pig wearing a tall green hat were sleeping.
"Remember them well...", said Haku.
Xen's eyes narrowed, "Like I'll ever forget those two..."
As soon as Xen got back he went right to work. He mopped many floors and and cleaned many bathtubs. Just as he was washing one huge tub Rin called to him.
"Xen! There's a guest who needs the big tub right away!"
Xen looked up and saw what looked like a huge pile of black tar looming over her and moving his way.
"Are you kidding me?!"
/Notice: Wash the slime spirit!
Xen rolled out of the way as the large spirit climbed into the round tub. He ran over to the wall to avoid getting knocked aside.
/ Reaction: Open
Xen pounded the wall and a large wooden pipe fell out over the tup. A rope hung from the end of the pipe. He jumped for it.
/ Reaction: Pull
Xen grabbed the rope and hung from it. There was a loud clunking sound and then tons of hot water poured onto the spirit. But it was still not over. Xen noticed a thick pole stuck in the spirit's side. He ran to it, and with all his strength, pulled it out. The muck exploded everywhere and Xen started to fall just as a large aqueous hand grabbed him and steadied him.
He found himself face to face with what looked like a giant sea serpent wearing a brown wooden mask. The spirit spoke in a deep voice.
"Well done..."
The spirit dropped something into Xen's hands before rising up and flying away. Xen looked down at his hands and saw a green orb.
/ Notice: Obtained Totoro summon. Call forth Totoro, the guardian of the forest.
-
Meanwhile, Sen was dumping a bucket of water outside when she saw the spirit with the white mask. It was raining outside and the spirit looked cold and alone. She held the backdoor open for him and silently he went inside.
Xen, Haku, and Sen eventually met up for dinner. The whole time Sen kept looking at Haku from the corner of her eye.
Haku glanced back, "Is something the matter...Sen?"
She quickly looked away, "I know why you act mean sometimes... Yubaba is controlling you; she took your real name just like mine..."
Xen looked at her oddly, "She controls us by taking away our names?"
Haku nodded, "So you figured it out."
"But I just realized something else. Haku, when I was really little I fell into a river and almost drowned. I was rescued by someone. I didn't see who though.", she spoke quietly, "The name of the river was the Kohakunushi river. I think that it was you!"
Suddenly Haku's eyes widened and and a white aura surrounded him.
"You did it...Chihiro.", he smiled at her, "I remember everything now. My real name is Nigiyahami Kohakunushi. I remember you falling into my river and dropping your little shoe."
Sen, or Chihiro smiled and hugged him, "I knew you were good!"
Xen needed a second to take this all in. Suddenly there was a loud crash inside followed by screaming. Xen, Chihiro, and Kohaku ran inside to see Rin running toward them.
"Sen!", she grabbed her hands, "There is a large monster in the bathhouse and he's demanding to see you! Did you let and strangers in here?"
Chihiro gasped, "That ghost with the mask... But it was raining and..."
"That ghost was a monster named No-Face! Now he's eating all of our food -and- the staff!", Rin looked furious and panicked at the same time.
Xen walked past Rin, "Chihiro was looking out for the well being of the spirits. Don't pin the blame on her."
Kohaku looked at him, "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to have a look at this 'monster'...", Xen ran unarmed towards the direction Rin came from and Kohaku ran after him.
/ Notice: Kohakunushi joined the party. Kohakunushi learned a new ability: Kohaku River Spirit.
When Xen got there he gasped. It was the ghost from before but huge and fat. And he appeared to have frog legs. No-Face looked at Xen. Just then, a corridor of darkness appeared and Nexus walked out.
"Hello...Xen.", he smirked, "Nice new name you chose. Are you trying to be me now?"
He summoned a handful of smoke that form the letters 'N-E-X-U-S' then a few vanished leaving 'N-E-X'...'Xen'...
Xen gritted his teeth, "I am not you. Nor am I a tool of the darkness!"
Nexus smiled, "You are me...Or part of me... And in the end, darkness is your only weapon."
Before he left he threw a small frog-like Heartless at No-Face who swallowed it. In seconds, No-Face started growing bigger and a red Heartless insignia appeared on his large round chest.
/ Notice: Defeat No-Face's Heartless...
No-Face roared and charge at Xen who rolled out of the way. With no keyblade, Xen really was defenseless. Suddenly Xen held still and winced as a powerful force started to build in his heart. A keyblade appeared in his left hand. It was black and it's teeth vaguely resembled a sun.
"The Darkness Sun...", Xen thought.
He charged at the corrupted spirit and began bombarding it with his new weapon. No-Face reacted by spewing corrosive sludge at him. Kohaku drew a spell card and cast shields around them.
Kohaku used his newfound ability to transform into a white dragon with light green scales. He flew around No-Face and whipped him from every direction.
/ Reaction: Take a Ride
Xen jumped onto Kohaku's back and and pummeled No-Face with his keyblade as they flew by.
/ Reaction: Medicine Time
Xen jumped down from Kohaku and threw around pill into No-Face's mouth. The transformed ghost coughed and spewed sludge as he ran out of control. Finally Xen delivered the final blow and the Heartless was down.
With the Heartless gone, No-Face began to shrink to normal. He coughed up the staff members and was his harmless self in no time. Everyone cheered and were chanting Xen and Haku's names. Then Yubaba herself came downstairs.
"Xen, Haku! What is going on down here?", she yelled.
A costumer ran over to them, "Xen and Haku saved us! If it wasn't for them, the monster would have eaten us all!"
Yubaba looked shocked then looked down, her eyes narrowed, "You have saved our staff and our customers. I guess we owe you a reward..."
Kohaku looked at her seriously, "Release Xen and his friends, and Chihiro and her parents."
Yubaba stared at him wide-eyed, "Haku? How dare you-?"
"My name is Kohakunushi. I'm just asking you release the mortals. I though you hated the smell of them anyways."
Yubaba sneered, "Fine. Release the prisoners... But you are still mine, Kohakunushi."
"Fare enough...", he bowed.
Outside, Donald and Goofy were back to their old selves and reunited with Xen.
Xen looked around, "Hey, where's Chihiro?"
"She already left and has been reunited with her parents.", Kohaku appeared from nowhere.
"Haku?", asked Goofy, "Are ya really be okay here with Yubaba?"
"Of course.", he said reassuring, "I remembered who I am. As long as I know that, Yubaba cannot control me. Thanks for protecting us, Xen. It's all thanks to that weapon of yours."
Xen looked at his new keyblade and sighed, "I was reluctant to use it. It was our only protection at the time...but I can't let the darkness consume me."
Kohaku placed a hand on Xen's shoulder, "Never forget who you are, and you won't loose control."
Xen smirked, "Guess the darkness is just an old lady in the end."
They all shared a quick laugh before parting ways. As they walked, Donald looked up at Xen.
"Hey!", he asked, "Why'd that Haku guy call you 'Xen'? I thought Yubaba gave you that name?"
Xen thought for a moment. He really had no name to begin with.
"I am...a part of Nexus. I've accepted this...", he said, "But I'm everything he is not."
He remembered when Nexus was messing around with the letters in his name.
"Xen...", he thought, "Xen...us. I am Xenus. The other side of Nexus."
Then he thought about Donald and Goofy, Wakka and Titus, and Kohaku and Chihiro.
"I can't let him hurt other people while he's looking for me. If it's a fight with me he wants, he'll get one."
"We'll go with ya!", said Goofy, "What else are friends for?"
"No...", said Xenus without looking at him, "I'm not Sora and I'm not a fan of that 'all for one' stuff... This is between me and Nexus. I can't protect anyone whole my own ship is being sunk..."
Doable looked at Goofy who nodded back, "We understand. But we're still gonna help you on the way."
"Okay, thank you...", Xenus looked up at the red building from where they came and started off
-
End of Chapter 5...
Coming up next: Xenus, Donald, and Goofy meet up with an old friend who takes them to Master Yen Sid's tower telling them to stay away from Nexus. While waiting for Yen Sid's news, Xenus along with King Mickey are thrown into a fabricated world, Disney Wasteland. Will they escape in time to attend Yen Sid's meeting?
But first, Aqua follows Maleficent, Pete, and Mortimer's trail to her former home, Castle Oblivion, and finds shocking news about our hero's arch-rival, Nexus.
Thank you for reading chapter 5 of Kingdom Hearts 2 1/2: The Link of Light and Darkness.