"I love you," He said, giving me a breathtaking smile.

It was the widest smile I had ever seen, the widest I'd seen in a long time. Even though it was forced, it was still beautiful all the same. It was my Sora's smile.

"I love you too. Always will."

He laughed. It was high and painful. "I love you more." The substance covered his mouth and his eyes widened. I could see his hands sharpening into claws.

I didn't say anything because I knew it was true.

I will never fully deserve Sora's love, but I would spend the rest of my life making up for it. I would earn it all back the right way once I released him, once I destroyed the beast coming between us...

That is if I survive...

I squashed the thought, shaking my head instantly. "No, I'll stay alive. I promise..."

His entire face was black and his eyes had grown a little wider, the pupils disappearing completely into the whites.

I smiled sadly before jumping back, avoiding a swipe to my poor chest. I smirked, ready to put my new plan into action. Let's set the battle stage first before we get serious...

I narrowed my eyes, inhaling sharply in order to supply my body with enough oxygen. I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Catch me if you can!"

With that said, I ran.

Don't Be a Gentleman: Shattered Heart pt. 1

My heart was beating erratically in my chest, pounding against my injured front with the force of a wrecking ball as my feet slammed into the sidewalk with brutal efficiency. It had only been five minutes, but I was already panting and my lungs were bursting.

I groaned, glancing behind for the umpteenth time only to squeal and run faster, which elicited protests from my busted ankle.

Yeah, goading him into a race was probably not the best way to keep his attention, but there was no other option. I wouldn't let anyone else get involved, no one was going to end up like Miss Wilmington.

So, what was my new plan? First, get Sora as far away from the town as possible.

I kept up the pace though my legs screamed for me to stop. Street lights went by in a blur as houses ran into each other, forming one muddled line. The lanes were starting to merge and even the horizon was starting to blend in with the ground. My breaths were coming out ragged, stale wisps of air hitting my face as my sharp footsteps shook the pavement.

Stay focused Kairi! Come on, you need to get to the island! Yes, I had to keep moving forward. If I could just make it to the docks, then I would have an advantage.

Well, maybe not. But at least my conscience wouldn't be getting in the way. Staying in Sora's house was just asking for trouble. Not only would the place have been demolished, but once that was over everyone else in the neighborhood would have been at risk.

Fighting in a secluded area would allow me to unleash my full power without regrets, something I hadn't done in a while. Well, that would be the nice way of putting it. I could just be delaying the inevitable, but there's something about that island...

My focus momentarily took a turn as I felt a claw scrape by my shoulder. Suddenly, my body was up in the air, hands flailing wildly as the tentacle around my stomach tightened. I coughed as it squeezed me. With short breaths, I used my hands to wrestle with the defiant binds, pulling at the purple material. A few seconds went by with me struggling before he released me into the static wind. I landed knees first, setting fire to my legs as the momentum forced me into a roll.

I stopped myself with my elbow, coughing to get an ounce of oxygen back into my aching lungs. "Ack...persistent much?" Wow, my sarcastic-self makes an appearance. I just have the best timing, don't I?

Sora's dark form walked toward me, the crescent smile back on his face.

I sat up, turning my head over to get a clear view of the distance between me and the docks. I rolled over, pressing against the ground in order to push myself up, but I was instantly thwarted by a foot to the face. The sound that escaped from my mouth sounded like a cross between a yelp and a moan.

Tears ran down my cheeks in streams as he pulled my head up, his black fist containing a huge wad of tangled, fiery strands. "Time's up, Kairi." He pronounced my name very slowly, his voice mocking and sharp. Yet, it was also, strangely...elagant?

I shook my head, keeping my mouth clamped shut to prevent more moans.

Black waves of purple smoke rolled off him in waves as he laughed, sinking my chest in a pit of terror. "I honestly expected better. Who would have thought that you would have brought your own demise..."

I coughed, shuddering for a split second. It didn't matter how many insults the bastard spouted, my lips were sealed.

Unfortunately, saying that's one thing. My body betrayed me once again when I felt strands of hair being mercilessly ripped out of my skull. I screamed. Sora made a slight sound of satisfaction. "Better, but still missing something..."

"Y-You won't get aw-way with this..." I mumbled, too exhausted to instill any venom into my response. My chest ached, my ankle was tearing my leg up, sweat saturated me in a filthy mask, my hair scraped my face as hot air flew from my lips only to collide painfully into my face. My throat wheezed for more oxygen and my back was arched, already preparing for more blows to come.

And despite all of this something inside of me was shouting. Get to the Island, go to the Island, Kairi...

I frowned, twisting the thought in my head. What could be so important about going there now?

The thoughts raced through my head in screaming spirals as he roughly picked me up, dragging me over to the edge of the docks.

I made a slight sound of protest when we reached the edge. "What are...you doing?"

He ignored me, pushing me over the edge and keeping my body above the water by clenching my shoulders. I gasp loudly before he submerges me completely, keeping me under.

I struggled and kicked, but his grip was firm and my awkward movements were making it hard for me to hold my breath. My arms soon settled into a languid state as my legs flowed effortlessly with the water. My chest was burning,, but I kept my mouth shut tightly, my eyes closed.

As I stayed under I could feel my mind turn hazy as my lungs threatened to explode. I was just about to open my mouth when he brought me up above the churning waters. I coughed, getting in a single, sore inhale before he pushed me back down.

He's going to make me drown! My arms started flailing all over again as the heat seeped back into my chest at a faster rate than before. Don't panic, don't panic...think, you wanted to get to the docks because...because...

I instantly coughed as he brings me back up, wheezing as sweet oxygen enters through my trembling throat. "Why...why are you...drawing...this out?" I croaked before coughing again.

He shoved me into the water again while I was talking. I gagged, trying hard to shut my mouth though a large chunk of sea water had just entered my stomach. Come on, think, think...

I steeled myself, bringing out my Keyblade from within the water. The next moment he brought me up I wheezed out one word. "Fire."

Flames engulfed both of us, causing him to drop me. With my Keyblade I rose to the surface, muttering out a quick wind spell that sent me sliding across the surface of the water. I sustained the wind spell long enough to reach one of the empty boats, then I did more wind spells to propel myself forward.

So much magic, too much magic... I coughed, fighting the wave of dizziness that threatened to overcome me as I shot wind blasts repeatedly from my Keyblade. Don't look behind you, don't look behind you...only forward.

I blinked, sucking in air. Then I decided to be stubborn, turning my head to see Sora's progress. I immediately whirled back, spouting spells mixed in with swears as my back tensed.

Dear God, he's right there! Only ten feet away!

Darn it! Oh why, by the light, why did I look BACK?

As if my own internal bashing wasn't bad enough, black tentacles were starting to crawl through the cracks in the wood, breaking off the boat's foundation. I yelled, smacking each tentacle with a Keyblade and stepping on some with my feet to ward them off. Every time it seemed like I was making progress another tentacle would latch onto the boat from behind.

Water leaked out from underneath me, soaking my pitiful shoes and pulling the boat to a sluggish stop. Without a second glance at the boat or the menace behind me, I jumped, sailing through bitter wind currents before plummeting into a vast, cold abyss.

I swam with all my might, adrenaline pushing me to the limit as hope stared at me from ahead. The island...almost there...

I kept swimming, my muscles tightening with every stroke, water pushing to escape into my gaping mouth. The water seemed even colder than when Sora had dunked me, all the heat leaching out of my skin with each second.

Keep moving...remember, Sora never gave up on you when he lost his heart. He kept going, even when he had been turned into a heartless...

And Riku...he suffered through the darkness for two years! Surely, you're not going to stop just because of some water or exhaustion, are you?

Get moving! The rants continued in my head, as bitter as the water trying to bring me down.

It didn't matter.

I was going to keep my promise, I was going to be someone my friends could trust again, I was going to be worthy of the Keyblade...

And, like hell on wings, I was going to reach this island, dammit!

So, I pushed and pulled, thrashed and kicked. Every inch, every centimeter towards that beautiful island counted.

Agony mixed with blood...wait, blood?

I glanced around at the water around me. Plops of red surfaced, turning purple in the sea.

Oh no...please don't tell me that's mine... As the thought left, my hands scraped against shifting rocks. I gasped, coughing up water as I stared at the sand in front of me. My gasps formed into sobs, then into weak laughter. "I...I made it..."

"I can see that."

I stopped laughing, lifting my head slowly. "You...you..."

Sora walked up to me, his black body exuding ominous energy. "I'll admit, I was going to drown you at first. But watching you struggle..." His smirk sent shivers down my spine. "There's something really majestic about it."

I struggled to stand, only to collapse when the weight proved to be to much for my twisted ankle. After swimming and running...my body was obviously trying to call it quits.

Sora chuckled. "Really, it's amazing what the body can do with a little adrenaline, eh?"

"S-Shut up!" I growled, forcing myself into a sitting position.

Sora grinned before turning around. "Ah...well, I guess I better wrap this up. It's almost time anyway..."

"T-Time for..." I coughed. "Uhnnn..."

"Your body is shutting down. Just give into it, Kairi." He had gotten a lot closer, holding up my chin.

I spat in his face. "No."

It was unnerving watching his smile grow bigger. He gripped my throat. "As much as I would love to kill you...I just can't."

I grimaced, trying to smile through the pain. "Henhnn...S-Sora's...still..."

"Oh no. He stopped trying a long time ago." He smirked. "Probably realized it wasn't worth it anymore."

I smiled. "No...he...trusts...me."

Sora rolled his eyes. "The human heart is very strange. Very unrational...logic dictates the obvious yet you all strive to do the opposite."

I blinked, tears clouding my eyes. I refused to speak, though it was pretty hard to do it anyway with the way he was squeezing me.

Sora shrugged. "Well, an order is an order. Can't destroy a useless specimen. I gave you the mark anyway."

My eyes widened as a strange portal opened in front of us. It curved upward like a diamond, showing grey city within it's depths.

What's going on? Where is he taking me? I looked at him, trembling.

Sora gave me cheerful grin, a mockery of his former self. "Well, take a good look around. This will be the last time you ever see this place."

His eyes were so dark, so...unfeeling. It hurt to stare, hurt to see that awful blankness in his depths. But I refused to look away, refused to give up.

Because...even surrounded by darkness...I could still see miniscule specks of blue in his orbs.

So, I did the impossible. I brought up trembling arms, crushing him to my chest and kissed his cold, harsh lips.

After a couple minutes of imaginary bliss, he pulled away from me. He was frowning but his eyes were glowing wildly with some unseen emotion.

I smiled weakly. "Thank you...for believing in me." I then used every ounce of strength I had left in me to swing at his chest, right where I had last seen the tentacles escape.

Sora's eyes flashed red and his body shook with violent vibrations. The darkness left him in one swift motion, leaving him standing with his mouth agape and a large chest wound running across his stomach.

The dark tentacles formed into his shape, eyes wider and glowing purple. "You..." The real enemy hissed, body shaking.

I slumped, hitting the sand. I closed my eyes. I'm sorry...I can't...move anymore...

But now...now you're free...

Yep. I know, I've been gone for a long time. Feel free to yell at me, I'll understand...

The reason is sort of in my profile if you really want to know, but right now I'm just really happy to finally post this for you guys.

This chapter was giving me a lot of problems (even though I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it).

Well, let me know what you guys think! It's December, so soon I'll have Christmas break, which means fast updates for you guys.

Well, have a good day!