The complete version of this story is on Archive of Our Own, under the same username and title, but I'm not planning on updating here frequently (FFN interface is a nightmare...)

Part Three: The Shadow Within

Yen Sid glanced over the page of the battered tome once more. The original text was fragmented and some words were completely illegible, but Ansem the Wise and his apprentices had managed to extract some meaning from the passages, and his eyes passed over the notes he had been given as well.

"So, you believe Sora is this so called child of destiny?"

"Yes. I see no other possibility."

"And that this darkness the book speaks of is one of the 13 original Darknesses?"

"Yes, or maybe more than one. The book speaks of several dark vessels, and I believe in each case these are vessels for said Darknesses."

A long silence passed. A silence heavy with implications.

"A child born in the Isles of Destiny," Yen Sid said slowly. "A child with an innate ability to connect with the hearts of others, and feel what they feel, far beyond the capability of any other. An ability so strong that they will be able to connect to another's heart and become one..."

"Ventus," Ansem stated simply.

"Sora is not the only one who has harboured another's heart before. Kairi held Naminè inside hers, and it appears Terra held Eraqus."

"The case of Ventus and Sora was different. I have told you of the damage we observed in Sora's heart," he gestured to another piece of paper on the desk, that showed the image of Sora's heart they had constructed with the data collected from the scan. "I am certain some of this was caused by Ventus's heart being separated from his. No damage like this was found within Kairi's heart, and to my knowledge, Terra has not experienced any pain similar to the ones Sora has been plagued by, so I doubt there is anything like this present in his."

Those cracks he had observed on the screen had played on his mind ever since he and his apprentices had reconstructed the words of the book. They were the key to this mystery, he was sure of it. "I believe that when the damaged heart of Ventus entered Sora's it may have merged with his in order to heal, needing some kind of support to keep it from fading. Ventus's heart was sleeping, while in every other case, the hearts were simply residing in another's. Whilst in this sleeping state, Ventus was united with Sora."

Yen Sid stayed silent and then moved his gaze to the next page of the book. Ansem took this as a sign of agreement with his theory.

The entirety of the text in this section was still legible, and Yen Sid proceeded to read it aloud.

"On that fated land, a great war shall transpire. Darkness will prevail and the light expire.
However, should the Child of Destiny endure, a future with light will be assured."

"Without Sora, Xehanort would not have been defeated."

Yen Sid nodded. "He had assistance of course, he did not do it alone. But without him, that battle would certainly have been lost." He turned to the next page of the book, to the passage that concerned them above all the others.

"They shall absorb the darkness and rewrite the outcome. Through their sacrifice, the battle of light and dark will be done."

"The battle between light and the true, original, darkness." Ansem lowered his eyes to the book now as well. "Sora said that the man he encountered in Quadratum was intent on having him accept, or absorb, darkness, and the other more recent damage to his heart is yet to be explained."

Yen Sid shut the book and closed his eyes again, placing his hands in his lap as he thought. "I wish I was able to disagree with your deductions... but I cannot."

"Does that mean you agree with me on how we must proceed?"

Yen Sid opened his eyes again, his face unreadable. "If you are correct then Sora may not have told us the full story of his time in that other world. Before any action is taken I must know exactly what transpired."

Ansem nodded. "I will let you know when the preparations have been made."

"Then I will wait until then to speak with him."

Ansem gave another nod and then bowed his head. "Whatever the boy has to say, I hope it proves me wrong."

It was seven months since he'd returned, since he had woken up and found himself home. Seven months of some of the worst, and best, days of his life. Seven months of healing, and learning how to live again.

Things could never be the same after everything that happened. Whether he would ever truly heal, and if the nightmares and those pains in his heart would ever fully pass, he didn't know. But that was OK he thought. They would all be OK.

He would never be the same person he once was. But that was OK as well. Maybe it was even a good thing. He was still himself. Changed, but still himself. Everyone changes as time goes on he realised. After seven months of learning who he was again, he was happy with the person he had found.
Apart from the stain he knew was still there.

It didn't seem to matter how many conversations he and Riku had about their being darkness in everyone's hearts, that it was part of being human, that it wasn't something to be ashamed of or to hate. It didn't make a difference how hard he tried to understand Riku when he talked about his journey and learning to accept that darkness, learning to acknowledge it, feel it, but not fear it. Not try to destroy it or shove it away. Not to hate it. It didn't matter how hard he tried to understand, he just couldn't. He couldn't not hate it.

"I'm not like you though Riku... I can't do that. I don't know if I'm strong enough to do that."

"You're a lot stronger than you think Sora."

But still, he couldn't bring himself to do it. All he wanted to do was bury it for good. Pretend it had never happened. Move on and live without ever having to think of Rage or the man in the coat again.

It was easy to do when so many of his days were good now, and his life had become full of joy again.

Although, now that they all seemed to have fallen into quite a regular routine of daily life at the castle, missions for the masters, and visits in their free time to go see friends in other worlds, Sora did find himself becoming a little restless. This made the summons from Yen Sid an interesting, if rather perplexing, change of pace. The letter was a request for Sora to come to see him the next day, and for him to come alone.

"I'll call you if I think I'll be there a while," he assured Riku as he followed him to the Gummi ship. "I'm sure I'll be back in a few hours though!"

Riku had insisted that he take the ship instead of flying his glider, too concerned about the possibility of a random jolt of chest pain causing him to lose control with no one else there to help him. Sora had eventually relented; the ship was faster anyway. He turned to see him still looking concerned and crossed his arms. "You and Kairi worry too much, I can take care of myself."

"We know, it's just... it's weird he wants you to come alone." Riku was still sceptical about Master Yen Sid's judgement in situations involving Sora. Very sceptical.

After a full 24 hours of Riku and Kairi fretting for him Sora was feeling irritated, and it showed on his face. Sometimes he wondered if they and the others would ever entirely trust him to be independent again. "I'm not a little kid Riku, I'll be fine." He turned abruptly and made to leave, but Riku grabbed his hand before he could get on board.

"Hey, hold up," He smiled at him, even though Sora's eyes were still narrowed in annoyance. "Come here," he opened his arms up, "even though you're annoyed at me, please?"

Sora's face didn't soften, but he gave in quickly. "Fine." Despite his irritation, he was still pleased to have a hug goodbye and mumbled a grumpy "love you" into Riku's chest.

Riku stifled a laugh. "I love you too."

Sora hesitated when they broke apart, then relented and gave him a swift kiss. "I'm still mad at you though!" he called over his shoulder as he boarded the ship.

Riku smiled as he watched him take off, but couldn't dismiss the niggling worry at the back of his mind, that something wasn't quite right.

Sora brought the ship down to rest on the lawn outside the tower and stared up at the haphazardly placed turrets for a while. It was strange being back here. It was the first time he had set foot on this tiny island since his long stay here while he was injured. He wasn't sure if it felt good or bad to see it again after all this time.

Climbing the floating spiral staircase was an eerie experience. The last time he had walked on these stairs he'd been clutching the railing, hoping the dizziness would stay away as he made his way down and outside to Riku's ship, about to travel to a place he wasn't yet aware would become his new home.Things sure have changed since then, he thought to himself, and he was so very glad they had.

When he raised his hand to knock on the study door it swung open before him of its own accord and he found Yen Sid sitting at his desk, hands in his lap and eyes closed. If Sora hadn't seen him sit that same way many times before he might have thought he was asleep. "Hi sir!" He called out and made his way in as Yen Sid opened his eyes. "You wanted to see me?"

"Sora. Thank you for coming."

Sora smiled, wondering if he was here so that Yen Sid could judge whether he was ready to start joining the others on their missions. He was nervous, but excited. The excitement and his smile both waned as the wizard stared at him though. Sora couldn't decipher his expression, and he was silent for just a little too long.

"It has been a while since you returned from Quadratum," he stated simply when he eventually spoke. "I am pleased you have recovered."

"Oh, well, I'm most of the way there I guess!" Sora hooked a foot behind his leg and grinned as he put his hands up behind his head. He felt ill at ease though. He doubted he'd been summoned just to receive well wishes.

"Good." Yen Sid gave a small smile and a nod, but the smile was swiftly replaced with his usual grim frown. "I know it was a difficult time but, unfortunately, I must ask you to tell me about your experience again. And this time, Sora, I need you to tell me the truth, and tell me everything."

"Oh." Sora's stomach twisted and he lowered his hands back to his sides and foot to the floor. He probably should have been expecting this. Yen Sid fixed him with an intense stare and his cheeks flushed at the awkwardness of being caught out in his lie.

"I am sure you had your reasons for not sharing the full story with me, but I am afraid I must now insist you tell me everything. It is of great importance."

Sora gazed down at the floor for a moment, bracing himself, then looked up and returned Yen Sid's stare. "Alright, I understand."

And so he told him the story of his time away. The true story of the man in the black coat, his enemy's quest to turn him into Rage, and the things Rage had forced him to do.

The retired master listened intently to his tale. He spoke only to coax Sora into continuing when he paused several times, trying to take a moment to bring his heart rate back down and stay focussed on the present, not getting lost in the memories or dissociating completely to escape the feeling of having to relive them yet again. He was not allowed a respite once he finished the story, as the questions began. It seemed Yen Sid wanted every possible detail Sora could recollect, particularly those related to Rage, and what the man had said to him each time he turned.

It was a long and draining conversation. Sora felt his phone vibrate more than once in his pocket but didn't think Yen Sid would appreciate him interrupting their meeting. The sooner he answered the questions the sooner he could leave, and he wanted nothing more right then than to leave.

After several hours of what felt like an interrogation, Yen Sid stood up and walked slowly to the large crescent moon-shaped window behind his desk, holding his hands behind his back and staring out into the perpetually starry sky.

"To confirm, this rage spoke to you?"

"Yes..." He'd already answered this question, was Yen Sid seriously going to repeat all his questions again? "Well, sort of, I heard him inside my head."

"And has it spoken to you since?"

"Huh?" Sora was taken aback this time. "No, nothing like that has happened. I haven't changed into Rage form since then."

"But if you were to change Sora, do you believe you would hear it again? Would it be in control again"

"No, I..." he trailed off, frowning down at the ground. "I guess I don't know for sure... but I don't think so. Nothing like that has ever happened in this world, and it was so different there." He raised his head and found Yen Sid's back still turned to him. "I don't think so."

Yen Sid didn't respond immediately and Sora fidgeted nervously with his Wayfinder. He'd taken it out when he explained how he changed back the final two times he was almost trapped in Rage form, and kept a tight grip on it since then. He didn't understand why the wizard seemed so preoccupied all of a sudden. He'd been firing questions at him nonstop before. Why wasn't he saying anything?

"...but I'm never going to use that form again anyway, and I know I can stop myself from changing, I've done that since I got back." There was a long silence as Sora waited for Yen Sid's next question. When it still didn't come Sora began edging around the desk. "Sir?" Still, he received no reply. He walked the rest of the way around the desk to stand next to him, trying to peer around to see his face. "Uhh, Master Yen Sid? Is everything alright?"

The wizard gave a deep sigh and finally turned back, with a morose look on his face. "I am sorry, Sora." He raised a hand, and a wave of drowsiness swept over Sora.

"Huh...?" He stumbled as his eyelids suddenly sagged. Why was he so sleepy? "What's... happening...?"

Yen Sid's next words were muffled and distant. "I am, truly, sorry."

The room was growing foggy. He felt his charm slip from his limp hand.

"Why..."

He was asleep before he hit the floor.

Riku tried calling Sora for the third time that evening, the uncomfortable ball of anxiety in his chest tightening with each ring. "He's still not answering."

"He really should have been back by now..." Kairi said, staring out the lounge window. Maybe he was just being paranoid and overprotective, but Riku couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. That Sora was somehow in distress. Would it be too much to go check on him just because he hadn't called like he had said he would? Thankfully Kairi made the decision for him. "I think we should go make sure everything is all right."

Relieved, he nodded. "Yeah, let's go now."

Kairi hurried to the kitchen where the others were cooking, to let them know where they were going and ask them to call if Sora turned up while they were gone. "Is everything OK?" Ven asked as she made to leave, a look of confused concern on his face.

"I'm sure it is, he probably just forgot to call," she said with a laugh, trying to reassure herself as much as Ven. "We want to go just in case though. We'll be back late probably, see you all in the morning!"

When Kairi joined Riku in the courtyard he had already opened the portal to the Lanes Between. They gave each other a nod, hit the buttons that summoned their armour and gliders, and went to look for Sora.

As they emerged above the grass of the floating island an hour or so later, the first thing they noticed was Riku's Gummi ship parked outside before the tower entrance. That was a good sign. Surely it meant Sora was still here, but then again if he was then why would he not have been returning their calls? Riku peeked in the window, wondering if maybe Sora had simply left his phone behind again, but he didn't see anything or anyone inside.

The tower doors swung open before them, as they made their way into the wizard's home. It took them much longer to reach Yen Sid's study at the top of the tower than normal, with long flights of stairs and more floors in between than they would usually pass through. It was as if the tower itself was unwilling to let them reach the wizard's study, and they became more suspicious with each door they encountered.

When they did eventually come to the familiar final doorway they were surprised to hear no voices from the other side. Riku knocked, then knocked again more loudly as the silence on the other side continued. "What the hell is going on," he growled as he tried the door and the knob wouldn't turn. Kairi quickly summoned her Keyblade and unlocked it, no longer concerned with politeness.

They pushed the door open and found the room empty. "Sora? Sooooraaaa?" Kairi called out, hoping he might hear them from somewhere else on that floor. Riku immediately tried the doors that lead off the room, with no more luck. Each room was empty. Neither Yen Sid nor Sora were anywhere to be seen. Kairi gave him an anxious look. "I'm getting really worried Riku."

"Me too," he took his phone out and tried to call Sora yet again, despite expecting it would be in vain. They both jumped though, as the unmistakable tune of Sora's phone rang out. Kairi dashed around the desk to where the sound was coming from and stopped dead as she reached Yen Sid's tall chair, her face draining of colour as she stared at the ground. "What is it?" Riku asked urgently as he followed her.

"Riku..." she said, voice shaking as she bent down. Riku looked over her head and froze as he saw the two objects in her hands. In one she held Sora's phone, still playing its cheery tune.

In the other was a charm made of glued-together shells, with a small crown at its centre.

Ienzo's heart was racing. "Sir... you can't be serious?"

"You know what is written in the book as well as the rest of us Ienzo."

"But just think of what that could do to him. If that damage really was caused by him changing before then this will damage his heart even further!"

"We are aware of that Ienzo." Master Yen Sid addressed him now, his voice as forceful as Ansem's.

"But- Then why are we even considering this?"

He couldn't fault the logic in their interpretation of the book, this seemed like a valid theory. But that was all it was right now. A theory. There were hundreds of different ways that passage could be read. Hundreds of different possibilities! Yet they seemed so certain. He glanced at Sora lying on the metal chair in the centre of the room, still under the power of the wizard's sleeping spell.

"Because we must," Ansem said simply, following Ienzo's gaze.

"What if we were to scan his heart again instead?" Even interjected. "If we spend more time we will surely be able to confirm that way if he is possessed by one of these thirteen darknesses."

Ansem shook his head. "I am afraid we do not have that option. I wish we did, but a scan like that would take far too long, even if Sora would consent to it."

"And time is of the essence." Yen Sid's tone made it clear he expected this to be the end of the discussion. "I have suppressed the Dream Eater connection between him and Riku as much as I can, but if his friends do discover where he is they will come for him." He turned to Ansem the Wise. "Shall I wake him?"

Ansem gave each of his apprentices a severe, questioning look. Even nodded and, after another quick glance at Sora and a moment's hesitation, so did Ienzo. Their compliance confirmed, Ansem turned back to Yen Sid. "Yes. The manufactory has been restarted so we are ready. Let us begin."

Sora felt confused, groggy, hadn't he just been talking to someone? Why were his eyes closed and so heavy now? He was lying on something hard and cold, his limbs feeling weighed down and stiff. There were vague voices around him, but he couldn't pick them apart.

"...ra?"

His cheek was pressed uncomfortably against whatever smooth surface made up the reclined chair beneath him. He rolled his head sluggishly, prising open his eyes.

"...ra?"

A harsh white light made him squint. There was a face hovering over him, speaking to him.

"Sora? Can you hear me?"

"Ienzo?" He lifted a hand and rubbed his eyes, and when he opened them again found the face staring down at him matched the voice he had recognised. "What are you doing here?" He looked strange. The slightly nervous energy he usually gave off was gone, replaced with tension. He looked pale.

"Well, I..." unsure what to say, he turned, and Sora lifted his head to see what he was looking at. His vision still a little blurry, he wasn't sure exactly what he was looking at yet. He could just make out three figures standing before a bright green square.

"What's... going on?" One of the people stepped forward, and as Sora rubbed his eyes again he recognised Yen Sid. This room definitely wasn't the wizard's tower though. How did he get here? He had been talking to Yen Sid, and then he had waved his hand... He sat bolt upright. "What's going on?" he asked again, voice loud, no longer groggy and mumbled.

"Please remain calm Sora," Yen Sid began. "You are in Radiant Garden." Sora recognised the room now as well, and the two other figures standing before the wide computer monitor, Ansem the Wise and Even. He'd woken up in this cold metal chair before. Last time he had chosen to fall asleep here though, and now alarm bells were ringing in his head.

"I know where I am," he interrupted before Yen Sid went on, getting slowly to his feet. The adrenaline had cleared his head, but his body was still struggling to shake off the effects of sleep. He stared warily at them all. "Why am I here? Why did you knock me out?!"

"I am sorry for bringing you here in this manner Sora, but I could not risk you refusing or contacting anyone."

"Contacting?" Sora slapped at his pockets. "Where's my phone? My charm, what have you done with my charm?!" Just being back in this room would have been enough to make him anxious. Now he was starting to panic.

"Sora please calm yourself."

"Where is my charm?" he demanded loudly.

"It is back at my Tower, along with your phone," Yen Sid assured him. "It is safe, you have my word." He glanced at each of them, just as confused and wary. "I realise this must be a shock for you, and again I apologise for bringing you here in such a manner, but please take a moment to calm yourself. We are all allies here."

He had a point, Sora thought, but right now it didn't feel all that much like that. He tried to do as he was asked though. "OK, but why am I here?"

It was Ansem who answered his question this time. "You are here because we are concerned for you Sora. Master Yen Sid has told us what you experienced in Quadratum, and we need to speak with you about this Rage form, as you call it."

Sora's stomach twisted. "Alright, but I've already told you everything." His eyes flickered to Yen Sid briefly.

"Yes, and it is because of that that we need to speak with you. Sora, we need you to transform into it again."

His mind went blank. Blank, except for a faint roaring beginning to swell in his ears. He shook his head slowly, eyes wide. "No..."

"This is for your, and for others' safety Sora."

"No, no way." His voice was shaking and he took a step back from them.

"Sora-"

"No, listen to me, I CAN'T, I won't let him out again!"

"Sora!" Ansem's voice boomed and echoed around the room. "We cannot in good conscience allow you to leave until we are certain you can control it."

"But- I can't- I can't do that-"

"Please Sora, just hear what we have to say?" It was Ienzo who spoke this time, voice far calmer and kinder than the others. There was frantic desperation in Sora's eyes as he looked at him, needing someone he could trust right now. Ienzo hated that he had to be a part of this, but if Sora didn't cooperate he knew Ansem and Yen Sid would force him. So he held Sora's fearful gaze and gave him what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

The fake smile seemed to be enough to help him. Sora gave him a tiny nod, closed his eyes, and took a few steadying breaths. Then he looked back up at the four adults before him. "Why do you want me to turn into him?"

"Because we need to know if you can control it," Ansem said, his expression unsympathetic and cold. "Now that we know what you did under its influence in Quadratum, you must understand why we are concerned."

"But-"

"As I said before, we cannot let you leave until we are certain Rage will not make you a danger again."

"I know I can stop it though!" he blurted out. "The last time I was fighting the Heartless, it wanted to come out and I stopped him!"

"You have stopped it once Sora, how can you know it won't take over next time?"

"Because I've always been able to stop it, even there I only did it when I was about to die and I had no other choice!"

"And what if that were to happen on this side Sora?"

"Then I wouldn't use it!" The answer came to him easily. Nothing was going to make him call on Rage again. "I'm not going to use it again!"

"What if it was not your life that was at risk?"

"I-" He stopped, voice catching in his throat.

"What if it were the life of someone you care about, Sora?"

Suddenly he wasn't so sure. 'I..."

"Or someone you love?"

He stared back at Ansem, breathing heavily, and then hung his head. "Then I would." A heavy silence filled the room. It pressed at Sora's eardrums. "I've never lost control on this side though," he said quietly. "It was different there."

"And what is to say it won't be different here now?" Yen Sid demanded.

He and Riku had talked about this a hundred times, he was sure it wouldn't happen here. He was sure of it!
But... what if he was wrong. What if Ansem and Yen Sid were right?

"If I do change now though, without my charm, I might not be able to change back."

"Exactly." Ansem seemed to have a rebuttal for everything he said. "If you can't change back by yourself, then you will always be a risk."

"But then if I change now I could be a risk!" he yelled desperately. "What if he came after you four?"

"Preparations have been made for that possibility," Yen Sid assured him. "Trust me when I say we will be able to keep both you and this Rage contained."

Sora stared at him. He felt sick. This couldn't be happening, this had to be another nightmare right? Riku was going to shake him awake any moment, then hold his hand until the dream faded and he no longer had to gasp for air. They couldn't really be asking him to do this.

"Perhaps it is himself he is scared for?" Ansem wondered aloud turning to Master Yen Sid and speaking as though Sora was no longer there.

He was paralysed. Trapped. Heart beating too fast. Any moment now, he was going to wake up. He wasn't going to become Rage again, he couldn't. But what if they were right?

"Perhaps..." Yen Sid agreed, in a voice like knives.

Maybe it was just him he was afraid for. Was he being irresponsible? Selfish? Maybe they were right. He was shaking, tasting acid in his throat. He didn't want to do this.

"You would risk peoples' lives like this? Simply because you're afraid for yourself?"

Sora's body turned cold.

The brutality of the question cut at Ienzo. He was certain that his master knew as well as he did that what he had said wasn't true. That Sora would never knowingly risk harm to others like that. Ansem and Yen Sid knew as well as anyone just how willing Sora was to throw himself away for others. But it seemed that, to them, this willingness was something ripe for exploitation.

"No... I wouldn't," Sora murmured. The molten panic had frozen over in an instant. His choice had become very simple. "Alright, I'll do it."

They must have good reason to manipulate him so cruelly, Even told himself. His master wouldn't be doing this if he wasn't certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was the right course of action. If Ansem was willing to go this far, to exploit the boy's kindness and trust like this, then this must be the only way. He had to trust in his master.

There was silence in the room for several long seconds, and then Sora turned to Yen Sid, knowing he was the only one there who could accomplish what he was going to ask. "If he takes over and I can't stop him though, just... put an end to me."

"Sora, no," Ienzo breathed. Sora ignored him though, staring beseechingly at the wizard who was yet to respond.

"Put an end to him. Please."

He stared back into the boy's eyes. Piercing blue and painfully sincere. Eyes that had seen far more than they should have at such a young age. Yen Sid bowed his head. "You have my word, Sora." The boy didn't need to know he need not have made the request.

Sora took a deep breath, then turned to Ansem. Half a minute ago he had been on the verge of breaking down. Now he felt nothing. His mind was clear. He knew what he had to do. "So, what's the plan?"

Ienzo thought he sounded more like someone who had been asked to run a simple errand, not to knowingly consent to torture and possibly their own demise.

As they explained what he was to do, Sora nodded along. He was listening intently, hanging on their every word, keeping his mind as far away as possible from what was to come. Keeping it away from the churning bile in his stomach. Keeping it away from the thought of everyone waiting at the castle, wondering when he was going to come home. Keeping it away from the memory of the last words he had said to his boyfriend before he left.

"Alright. You'll send in a bunch of Heartless, I fight them, use Rage, control him, change back. Got it."

"Good," Ansem turned to Ienzo. "Please escort Sora to the observation chamber Ienzo, and then we shall begin."

"I... yes sir." He gestured for Sora to follow him, and they made their way out of the room. The two of them walked in silence down the long hallways, their footsteps seeming abnormally loud. Walking alongside him it struck Ienzo how much shorter Sora was than him. He was taller than he had been before he disappeared into that cruel world of Quadratum, and probably only a little shorter than most boys his age, but still small compared to him. So small compared to the two much older men who had asked him into doing this.

When they reached the chamber Ienzo swiped a key card through the reader beside the door, and it slid smoothly open. Sora paused. "Hey, Ienzo?"

"Yes, Sora?"

He looked up at him with one hand raised to his neck, holding on to the silver crown he always wore there. "If things go badly and I don't change back, could you tell Riku I'm sorry? For not saying goodbye again?" Unable to answer, Ienzo nodded mutely, and Sora grinned at him. "Thank you."

Then he turned and walked into the bare white room, smile still on his face. The door slid shut behind him, and the sound of a lock closing echoed through the hallway.

33 and 34 up on Archive of Our Own