"Mari?" Kairi asked. The girl nodded.

"Come with me. I'll take you there." She smiled. With a content grin, Namine took Mari's hand without asking where "there" was, but Kairi was hesitant. When Namine took hold of Mari's hand, she held tight to Kairi's as well, and soon all was bathed in light.

THE TRUTH BEHIND DREAMS

Here's a little bit from the sequel!

"Once she's born, what shall we name her?" Vexen whispered questioningly to his wife who sat cradled in his arms.

Ariel smiled contently. "I know just the name."

"Vex."

Blindly, Kairi stumbled through the bright light. It was astonishing, and she couldn't even look up with her eyes shut. But as soon as it began, it ended.

Squinting, Kairi saw Namine beside her, the guns she'd "borrowed" from Yuna at her side. The bag on Kairi's waist hung low, and was Yuffie's, and she remembered its place there incase she would need it here.

Looking around, the girls saw a huge church room, with dingy walls and stained glass that was old, cracked, and shattered. Light poured through, but it seemed dull. As if the light was fake.

At the end of the walk way, at the front of the church was a boy, kneeling down on the stairs and staring at the huge mosaic ahead of him. Touched by curiosity, Kairi ran ahead, and Namine sauntered behind.

"Hello?" Kairi murmured, looking at the boy. From behind, the boy had sandy blonde hair that barely tickled his chin and looked sort of like Roxas' without the flare. He wore a black sleeveless shirt and jeans, and when he turned…

Kairi gasped. The young teen before her had tanned skin and a handsome complexion, and one of his eyes was green, while the other was blue.

Just like Yuna's.

"This is my friend." Mari began smiling. "His name is Tidu."

That's when Kairi remembered.

"Do you have someone special, Yuna?" Kairi asked, looking out to the stars. Yuna was in her small form, buzzing around Kairi's head. The red head followed her with her eyes.

"No. I use too, though." Kairi smiled.

"Who was he?"

Sighing contently, Yuna grew and sat down next to Kairi, looking down with a serene smile.

"He was named Tidus. He was… a friend to me when I had very little to hold on to. But in the end, he… went away. He…" She brushed some of the hair out of her eyes. "He was a dream. Like Auron and the others. But he wasn't a human turned into a dream. Just a living dream. And he had to leave in the end."

Kairi winced sadly. "I'm so sorry." Yuna chuckled.

"It's okay. I know that in the end…" She sighed. "Tidus was happy."

"Tidu? Or Tidus?" Kairi whispered. The boy stood.

"Tidu." He spoke. His voice was deep, but also light and airy; like Yuna's.

"Tsuki sent you here to us, didn't she?" Mari pleaded. "Did you come to help Tsuki?" Namine and Kairi shared a glance before both nodded.

"The Dream Catcher sent us." They said. Mari gasped happily.

"Mother's come for us?" Tidu's smile seem to light up the world. It seemed he didn't smile often for he acted awkwardly.

"How do we get you out of here?" Namine questioned.

Mari smirked. "This way!"

Mari ran up to Namine and took hold of her hand, leading her up the stars and towards the mosaic. Tidu extended his hand to Kairi.

"Coming?" Riku grinned.

Kairi shook her head. "Coming?" Tidu asked.

Nodding, Kairi ran ahead without taking Tidu's hand, as tempting as it had been.

Why did she see Riku's face in his eyes?

Mari reached up and stroked the mosaic.

"We can't open it. You can." Mari nodded to the girls. Kairi walked up to Namine. The blonde raised her hand and rested it on the mosaic, and with a nod, Kairi did the same.

The door shone and disappeared in a flash of light, a pathway was opened. It was a dark stairway. When Mari laid eyes on it, she sighed in happiness.

"We're free!" She grinned to Tidu. With a light heart, the boy nodded.

"Finally free." He whispered. "Free of the darkness."

"Free." Riku sighed. He was free of the darkness!

Kairi looked back and examined Tidu's eyes. He looked so sad.

Without another thought, Kairi turned and strode up the stairway, eager to be home.

The stairway was utterly silent. The echoing of the four's footsteps was eerie, but Kairi didn't notice. She was absorbed in thought.

Namine, too, was silently wondering; wondering about the future battle. Now the true end of this fight was coming.

Afterwards?

The organization would be free. Namine could live her own life with her own heart. Oh the chances; the opportunities! The fact she could live her own life made Namine's heart –yes, heart – soar!

The world was at her fingertips now.

Tidu and Mari were lost in thoughts as well.

We're free Mari said to Tidu in his thoughts.

I know Tidu smiled. I know.

We're free.

When the light finally came from the stairway, Kairi, in the lead, blocked her eyes and ran ahead. She was ready to be home, if only to prepare to leave again…

As the others came up behind her, Kairi gasped.

The area they were in… was the End of Worlds.

"We are we?" Mari whispered, standing closer to Tidu. He stepped ahead of her.

The heartless faded away, and Kairi tried to stand. Stumbling, the Ansem Riku steadied her, and then gave her the keyblade.

"This time, I'll fight."

Wincing, Kairi turned away.

"I guess this place came back when the heartless began destroying worlds again." Namine whispered. Kairi sighed.

"We have to get out of here." She muttered. Namine took hold of her hand.

"Let the princess of darkness lead the way through the night." Namine chimed.

Stepping forward the world melted away as the four stepped through Namine's dark portal.

And then, there it was;

Radiant Garden.

And just ahead of them, Riku and Sora were fighting Demyx and Yuna, with Ariel pitching in and Roxas just laughing at the sight of the five slinging mud. Kairi's heart lifted highly. Her gaze rested on Riku as she comtemplated. The six didn't notice the newcomers.

"It's good to be home." Namine laughed as Sora fell face first. Kairi joined in and laughed as she jogged up to Sora, who didn't notice her till the last second as he sat up. Gasping in happiness, Sora kneeled still as Kairi wiped a bit of mud of his eyebrow.

"It is good to be home." She sighed.

Hinode smirked.

The room was dark, but she could see just fine. I mean, she was the sun, correct? Sauntering forward elegantly, the woman stepped up to a railing.

Far below was the dark city that encircled her castle – once Xemnas', now hers.

With a chuckle, she examined her newly furnished city. Curiosity as to how Xemnas would love her decorations flowed through her mind.

The city was beautiful. And so, she gave it a name.

Death Valley.

Roxas leapt up, running across the mud and sliding with a scream to Namine's feet. Even though he was now covered in mud, he leapt up and berated Namine immediately.

"What the hell was that? Just up and run? You could've brought us along or told us or something!" Roxas fumed. Namine giggled.

"You sound like an angry lover!" She teased. Roxas shut up and went red.

Everyone cracked up, even Xemnas, watching from his balcony above. He watched in wonderment as Roxas acted sigh, and Namine acted knowingly. It was a simple fact; the two were falling for each other. For some reason, a twang of pain came from Xemnas' heart.

Was he jealous?

Later in the night, after a serious lecture from Leon and Yuffie and the introduction of Tidu and Mari, Kairi approached Namine in the library.

"Um, Namine?" Kairi began shyly. The blonde turned.

"Yes?" She had known this was coming; Kairi had been nervous all day.

Walking up the red head collapsed into a chair with a sigh.

"I need to talk to you." Namine gently sat on the chair across from Kairi. Waiting silently, Kairi built up her courage.

"Tidu makes me nervous. I don't know why… but I always think he's Riku in my mind, and it's driving me nuts! I don't even know this guy, but I don't like this feeling. And he looks a lot like…"

"Yuna?" Namine finished. Kairi nodded.

"You noticed?" Namine sighed in reply.

"He's done nothing wrong, but I believe there is something he doesn't know about in his past. Also, as for the Riku connection… perhaps there is something in his eyes you've seen in Riku's… a personality trait or something that reminds you of Riku. That you will have to solve on your own. And be careful… he may be nice, but the demons of his past might not be." Kairi agreed.

"Let's just hope Yuna doesn't notice the likeness he has to her old flame." Kairi whispered.

At the door, Rikku listened.

Sora yawned to the night sky. He was too excited to sleep; tomorrow would be the day.

"Hey."

Behind him, Riku walked up. He leapt up and sat on the railing like Sora was, and the two watched the stars.

"You ready?" Riku asked. Sora nodded eagerly. "You know that this will change everything? Organization XIII will be back. We'll have to go for the door to light. Everything will be different."

"Like returning to school after summer break." Sora whispered. Riku just looked to the stars.

"What will happen?" Riku wondered. Sora smile.

"Whatever does happen… we'll be ready." He encouraged. Riku nodded.

"Yeah… we will."

Behind them, at the door, Xemnas listened.

Everything was piling up in his head. And tomorrow would be the judgement day. Would he stay? Would he go? What will occur? Will darkness fade, and light flourish? Will light diminish and darkness escape?

Xemnas glared at the thousands of stars above. They only reminded him of the truth.

The light was fading.