Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters; all credits go to the game!

"Sora, what's going on? We aren't ready yet!"

Kairi tried to keep up with him. Sora looked in concern at Riku, but he looked fine with running.

He turned to Kairi: "I can't explain now, but Yuffie is in danger."
"In danger? How can you know that? She just went out to get her mind straight..."
"Just trust me in this, ok? That man is after Yuffie and I don't want anyone to get hurt anymore!"

They kept running and were almost at the place where Leon was stabbed by that man's keyblade. Sora couldn't help but feel like a toy that was summoned to play a game.
When they finally got there, the space was empty. No Yuffie to be found. They stopped and Riku seemed to be in pain from all the running. Sora hoped that Riku's wounds weren't reopening.

"She should be here... where is she?"
"Sora, are you sure that..."
"Where is she?"

Suddenly, a black portal opened right before them and the old man slowly appeared with Yuffie. His hand was holding her throat and she floated some inches above the ground, struggling and trying to catch her breath. But the old man tightened his grip on her.

You took the bait. I see you brought your friends along. Wrong decision.

With one swing of his free hand, the old man used an invisible force to smack Riku at the nearest wall. Then Kairi was knocked against the other wall in a blink of the eye. It all happened so fast. Sora looked at his friends and saw a drop of blood rolling out of Kairi's mouth.

"Kairi! Are you alright? Talk to me!"

She lifted her head a bit and she looked in pain but answered him nonetheless: "I'm... fine, silly."
"Stay there, ok? I'll take care of him."
"Just... Get him."

Sora turned to the old man. Yuffie passed out and the old man threw her against a rock. His interest for her seemed to be gone now that he had what he wanted.

"Bastard! At least tell me your name before I defeat you!"
"I thought you'd never ask; I'm the great master Xehanort. And I already know who you are, boy. You are Sora, the talented Keyblade wielder, saviour of all the worlds and protector of the keyholes that connect the worlds. And soon... you'll also be my new and last vessel."
"Vessel? Never!"

Sora summoned his keyblade and he felt the black aura crawling through his arm again. Only this time, it didn't hurt at all. It felt good actually.

"Still resisting while your body already succumbs? Too bad..." Xehanort also summoned his keyblade.
"Just shut up and fight!"

Sora started attacking, but Xehanort swiftly dodged all of his attacks. He felt the black aura growing and it gave him strength. But Xehanort was still faster. Suddenly, a black orb hit Sora and restricted his movements. He was bound by a shadow on the ground. Sora saw how Riku tried to lay an attack at Xehanort's back, but Xehanort sent another black orb at Riku. Ropes appeared around him and his face showed a painful emotion. Red spots were starting to show on his clothes, meaning that his wounds were reopened. Xehanort controlled the black ropes around Riku and smiled at Sora.

"Is this your revenge?"

He made a sign with his hands and the ropes around Riku tightened a bit more. Riku didn't scream, but he looked like he was going through hell. Then Xehanort turned his attention to Yuffie. With that force of him, he let her float above the ground and laid her down right in front of Sora who still couldn't move. What would he do now? And why couldn't he move?

"What are you planning? Let them go!"
"Do you remember my deal?" Xehanort summoned his black keyblade and aimed it at Yuffie's heart.
"What? You wouldn't! Don't! She's got nothing to do with this! Let her go!"
"That depends on you. If you accept, I won't hurt her."
"I..."
"Too slow, boy."

Xehanort raised his keyblade and Sora felt adrenaline running through his whole body. What would he tell Leon if Yuffie would get hurt? Leon entrusted him to watch over her! He just wouldn't, no he couldn't let anything happen to her! He needed to be stronger to defeat this guy. He stopped thinking and let that black aura take over control. It went further through his body, forcing his legs to move and he stopped Xehanort's keyblade right on time. He looked in Xehanort's eyes.

"Don't ever try that again! I'm your opponent!"

He charged and fired a fire blast at Xehanort before drawing him in a corner. Their blades hit multiple times and Xehanort started to show the black aura too, but it was much denser than that of Sora.

"You already have it under your control... Impressive."

He attacked so hard that Sora had to back down. Then Xehanort pointed a finger to Kairi who was slightly conscious and she was pulled towards him. As a hostage, Kairi was placed between Xehanort and Sora with Xehanort's keyblade at her neck. It happened so fast and Sora couldn't do anything about it. Those yellow eyes were full of frightening joy when Xehanort smiled at Sora.

"Your precious princess of heart..."

Xehanort let his hand run over Kairi's cheek.

"Don't you touch her!"
"I can do what I want. Well Sora," Xehanort tightened his grip, "Accept the deal and she lives."
"Don't do what he says! I don't know what this deal is, but it can be no good!"

Kairi tried to get away from Xehanort's grip but it was no use.

If she doesn't shut up soon, then she's gone for...

"No, don't! I... I'll.. I'll do what you ask from me, just don't hurt her!"

Sora couldn't do a thing. Riku was tied up, Yuffie passed out and Kairi was in the hands of that despicable man... That man just didn't have any weak spots. Sora really was backed into a corner. What choice did he have?

So, you've finally come to your senses.

"No! Sora, don't! I'll be fine!"

Say that you'll accept the deal and this will all be over.

".. But the deal says that you don't hurt her or any of my friends anymore. Right?"

They'll all be left alone if they don't get in the way.

He turned to Kairi: "Kai, I've got no other choice... I won't let you get hurt because of me..."
"What? Sora you can't mean this! Don't do it! We know that this is dangerous and it's our own choice! Whatever this deal is, it isn't solving anything!"
"I'm so sorry. Don't make it harder than it already is..."

Sora suppressed the feelings that told him this was the wrong decision. He hoped that Kairi could forgive him. He just had no other choice... He didn't want anyone to end up like Leon; his friends were everything to him... So he did what he had never thought he would do. He turned to Xehanort and said: "I accept the deal."

That wasn't that hard, was it? But a deal is always sealed when you shake each other's hand.

Xehanort let Kairi loose but she couldn't move. She was bound by another shadow on the ground just like Sora before. He approached Sora and held his hand forth.

Sora looked at Kairi, who was struggling to move, he looked at Riku who was watching this whole scenery with understanding but fear. Riku would've done the same thing to save them. Then he looked at Xehanort and reached for his hand. When their hands touched, a pain like none before shot through Sora's heart. He tried to let the hand go, but the grip was tight and he couldn't do anything. He screamed and fell on his knees. He couldn't think anymore, his brain hurt like hell, his body burned from the inside and he didn't have any control of his limbs anymore.

He didn't see that Kairi was calling out his name.

He didn't see that Riku tried to get out of his ropes to help him.

Neither that Xigbar had shown up to carry him on his shoulder through a black portal.

He was just falling... and the only thing he saw was darkness.

Yeah... I kind of let him agree the second day already :s but hey, Xehanort has to be frightening, doesn't he?