A/N: Sorry about the wait. I've been in a major writing funk lately. After what happened in the last chapter, I'm sure you were all probably eager to know what was gonna happen next. Well wait no more.

Forgiveness

KAI: How did this happen? Where did the power of darkness come from? How could I have hurt my own sister? Why did fate have to put me it such a dreadful position in the first place? I asked myself those questions over and over again, unable to come up with an answer.

It's been two days since the incident with Ryu.

The Recruits haven't been able to focus on their training at all. They all were just standing around, looking glum. Even the supervisors, Laguna and Zack were looking down. Merlin and his students were there as well, not fairing much better. Word of the incident had spread to everyone in the vicinity, and it left them all disheartened.

Everyone was silent for a while, until Bartz decided to speak up. "So... any idea how Kai is doing?"

Laguna answered, "I heard he has locked himself in his room, and hasn't come out since. Not even to eat."

"Can't really blame him." Lea sighed. "This whole thing just really stinks, you know. A boy having a meltdown...

"Understatement of the year." Isa interjected, rubbing the x-shaped scar that now dawned his face thanks to Ryu.

"...damage to the facility, a little girl getting hurt, and all because of that high and mighty snob. I mean seriously, what was Ryu's damage anyways? Where heck did he get those insane ideas?"

"No kidding!" Tifa shouted. "I heard that Kai actually requested to be locked in the dungeons! They denied it of course but still! Why is he treating himself like some kind of criminal! This was all Ryu's doing, not his!"

Squall crossed his arms. "If you ask me, that kid should be locked up."

"Squall!" Rinoa snapped. "Can't you at least pretend to be sympathetic?"

"Look, clearly he gets out of control when he's angry." Squall then rubs his own scar, remembering how not too long ago he received it from an outburst of Kai's that was tame compared to what happened in the facility. "I got off easy compared to Ryu. Who's to say he won't fly off the handle and kill an innocent just for looking at him funny."

"I'm inclined to agree." said Isa.

"Way to support a comrade, Isa," Lea grumbled.

"You saw what happened. The power of darkness he used, and the destruction it caused. Ryu claimed that he attained his from someone else, someone whom the guard still hasn't figured out, but Kai apparently got it all on his own. It really makes you wonder if that behavior was the real Kai, and the one we're used to seeing is just a façade."

"Well, the fact that he's beating himself up over this so much proves that he didn't mean to do it." Bartz countered, before sighing. "He really shouldn't blame himself though."

"Kai is quite the troubled boy." Merlin decided to give his two-cents on the circumstances. "He has been through so much pain in his life. Yet he chooses to bury his pain in his heart. But that's not all. He also buries his fear at the thought losing his beloved sister. He strives to become stronger to protect those he cherishes, but that fear runs so deep that it pushes him to be hasty in his quest for power, to the point where becomes an obsession, especially when he gets frustrated every time he struggles with something. And worse yet, he does his best to hide his anger towards those he despises, like Ryu. All his bottled up pain, sadness, fear, and anger, as well as his lust for power; all that are what feed the darkness in his heart, whether he meant it or not. All it took to break the bottle in his heart was one push too far. I admit, I've actually feared this would happen for a while now."

Zack sighed, "If only I had stopped him from running off, this might not have happened."

Laguna patted the new guard's shoulder. "Hey, he did the same thing under my supervision too, so don't blame yourself."

"I'm more worried about poor little Kairi," said Aerith. "That must have been such an ordeal for her."

"I'll say." said Zidane. "Getting kidnapped, having a blade held up to her neck, watching her brother get beaten down, watching the same brother suddenly go ax-crazy, getting her arm broken by him, and watching him brutally beat her kidnapper before sending him into a watery grave. An experience like that could traumatize a kid her age."

"And from what I was told," Laguna chimed in, "she hasn't even tried talking to him. I don't know if it's resentment or fear on her part, but needless to say, those two haven't been helping each other through this."

"They're family; they only have each other now." stated Tifa. "They need to talk to each other. How else are they suppose to find a way to cope with this mess?"

"It's not that easy," said Cloud. While normally a quiet one like Kai, he had something to say and knew he had to say it. "I imagine what happened to them has put thoughts about each other in their heads. Kairi, being a little kid, doesn't know what to make of her brother after what he did. This may have shattered the image of a perfect big brother she had with Kai. And after that violent display, not to mention getting hurt by him, she's probably afraid to even approach him, much less talk to him. And meanwhile, Kai is probably struggling to come to terms with his actions. He just killed someone. Yes, it's part of what he signed up for and he probably knew that, but it's something he shouldn't have had to do yet. No one his age could prepare for that kind of weight on their shoulders. He also discovered a power he didn't know he had. A power that probably disgusts him, especially after seeing what he did with it. And the nail on the coffin, in his blind rage, he hurt the very person he swore he'd protect, the one person he cares about more than anything else. To him, what he did was a crime against everything he stood for, and against his own family. He more than likely believes that his sister will never forgive him, that he doesn't deserve her forgiveness. He's probably afraid to even look at her." The blond then shook his head. "Who knows if they'll ever find the nerve to talk? And even if they did, I'm not sure things will ever be the same between them."

Everyone fell silent as they let those words sink in. None of them could truly argue with those points.

After a moment, Lea turned to the only person in the vicinity who hasn't spoken a single word. "What you think about this, Lightning? You've been awfully quiet."

Lightning had been looking at the sky the whole time. "It's just... I can't help but wonder how things could've been different. I too have a younger sister, one I'd do anything to keep safe. What if it was Serah that Ryu took and not Kairi? What if his grudge was against me and not Kai. Would the same thing have happened to me? Would I have unleashed the power of darkness? Would I have unwittingly hurt my own sister? And if I didn't unleash that darkness, what would've happened then? I just... can't help but wonder." She then sighed. "In the end it was blind luck that the only one who died was the one who started the mess in the first place, the one who wasn't innocent in it all. Kai unleashed a dreadful power that could've killed everyone there, yes. But what would've happened if he hadn't? After all, it was the one thing that caught Ryu off guard, and led to his downfall. Still, I can't help but question why it had to be necessary."

There was another moment of silence.

Laguna sighed. "That's it. I'm going to go speak to Lord Ansem about this. Normally I'd give the kids their space, but seeing how Kai seems to be starving himself right now, I think the bridge between them needs be fixed sooner rather than later."

Merlin nodded. "I agree. Sometimes all it takes is a little push to set someone on the right path."

With that Laguna, left for Ansem's Study.

After hearing everyone's concerns from Laguna, Ansem the Wise decided to take it upon himself to talk to the children.

The Radiant Ruler was shocked when he first heard about what happened in the Purification Facility. On one hand, he couldn't wrap his head around who helped Ryu escape and give him the power of darkness. The investigation on that went cold really fast. But on the more pressing matter, he never would've believed Suzaku's son would be capable of using the power of darkness. Kai had always been such a kind and gentle boy. His only problem was his quiet nature and lack of social skills. However, the more he thought about those simple flaws, added to the pain the boy has had to endure in his life, the more it started to make sense, especially after hearing Merlin's theory. And Ryu's actions only pushed the young swordsman to his breaking point. Not to mention the fact that Ryu gained his power from someone else, while Kai's emerged on its own. It just goes to show that, in the right conditions, darkness can awaken even in the kindest of hearts, which is a very scary thought.

Ansem sighed. It was fear of this kind of situation that drove him to study the workings of the heart. Hoping to discover its secrets, and learn how to prevent a heart from being swallowed by its own darkness. He had half a mind to run some tests on Kai's heart in hopes to help him with this situation. However, he shot down that idea, partially because he's still just a child, but mostly because he feared that any experiment he performs on his heart will backfire them and only make it worse. The creatures he had caught Xehanort experimenting with didn't help either. Ansem just couldn't risk doing that to the son of his old friend.

And now the siblings are not talking to each other at all, and worse Kai hasn't come out of his room in two days, not even to eat or drink. Ansem couldn't let Kai do this to himself any longer. He had to intervene before the kid starved himself to death.

He walked into the kids' apartment, unsurprisingly finding the place feeling rather lifeless. Looking at the kids bedroom doors, he found Kairi's only a crack open, while Kai's was completely shut. Ansem knew the latter was probably locked, but he had a spare key. The ruler set up a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk, hoping to get the boy to eat something, before entering the room.

He found the Kai sit on his bed, staring blankly at the floor. Kai didn't even acknowledge that someone entered the room. Ansem decided to try to get his attention, "Good afternoon, Kai." As expected, the boy didn't answer. "I brought you some milk and cookies." he placed the plate on the desk next to him. Still no response. "You really should eat something, you know. You haven't been out of this room for two days." Silence. He doesn't even move toward the plate.

Ansem sighed. "Why are you doing this to yourself, Kai? At this rate, you'll starve yourself to death." He noticed Kai shift a little when he said that. "Is this your way of punishing yourself for what happened?" The old man could swear he subtly nodded that time. "You really need to stop blaming yourself. The only person you should be blaming is Ryu. He was the one who started all this, kidnapping your sister, and pushing you over the edge. If anything, what you did to him was perfectly justified. People like him... they refuse to listen to reason. He had proven himself to be too much like his father. In the end, he was too dangerous to be left alive."

Something clicked in Ansem's mind the moment those last few words exited his mouth. He even saw Kai lower his head even further. "But you are not like them, Kai. We all know you didn't mean to use that power. We know you didn't mean to hurt Kairi." The boy shook upon hearing that last part. "If nothing else, your actions are ultimately what saved her life. Doesn't that count for something?" No response. Ansem sighed again. Why must this boy be so difficult? "Despite what you might think of yourself... I know for a fact that Kairi still loves you, and she would be sad if you were ever gone."

Deciding to leave him alone to a bit longer, Ansem walked toward the door, but paused when he heard Kai mutter, "She looked at me... like some kind of monster..." The ruler looked back to see the boy covering his face with his palms. It was clear to him that the only one who can get through to him was his sister. Knowing what to do, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Ansem went into Kairi's room, and found the little girl sitting on her bed, looking down sadly and petting her cat on her lap. A cast was wrapped around her right forearm.

Ansem took a deep breath before speaking, "Good afternoon, Kairi."

The girl turned to look at the ruler for a second before looking back down. "G-good afternoon, Uncle Ansem." At least she was actually talking.

Despite seeing the girl's depressed mood, her calling him 'Uncle' never ceased to make the wise man smile. "How are you doing?"

"Okay, I guess." Kairi answered looking at her cast.

Ansem then gently caressed her broken wrist. "Not to worry, you should be having this thing off by tomorrow." Indeed, thanks to magic, broken bones only take a few days to heal. Kairi didn't answer this time. Ansem sighed before speaking again. "I imagine what happened down there must have very scary for you." He noticed her starting to tremble. "Relax, little one. Contrary to some people's beliefs, sometimes just talking about you feelings can help you feel better. So please, tell your dear old Uncle Ansem what's troubling you."

Kairi took a moment before answer. "It was all so terrifying. That... bully... what he was do to everyone... to me... to Kai... and the way he just laughed like he liked it. I mean... why was he hurting us so much? What did we do to him?"

Ansem thought for a moment before answering. "Ryu was a very disturbed boy. He had distasteful beliefs that none of us agreed with. And when we denied those beliefs he took his anger out on everyone he hated. And he hated Kai the most because, in his eyes, your brother embodied everything that went against his twisted beliefs. I just never imagined he would go as far as to kidnap an innocent little girl just to make her big brother suffer, as well as prove his point. Neither you nor Kai did anything... it was Ryu's own selfish pride."

"That wasn't the scariest part though."

"Truly? And what was it that scared you the most?"

Kairi paused as her eyes started to water. "It was my brother," her voice cracked. "That looked on his face... the way he acted... I know I saw him mad before but... this was just too much. He just went crazy. He wrecked so much of the room. He beat that boy so badly." She then grabbed her cast. "And he... broke my arm. And that... dark power... I never saw him like this before. It was like... like he was a different person. He... terrified me!" By now she had started trembling fearfully, her tears beginning to fall. "What... What happened to him? Why was he like that?!" She then began sobbing.

Ansem looked at the poor girl with sympathy. It didn't take long for him to hug her, to which she returned the embrace as she cried into his lab coat. He rubbed her back comfortingly as she slowly but surely began to settle down. As she did the old man started to explain his opinion. "As you may have noticed, your brother hides a lot from everyone, particularly his feelings. I couldn't tell you for sure why he does so. Insecurity? Fear that others will judge or ridicule him? Perhaps he believes that a soldier never shows his feelings, that it is a sign of weakness. Or perhaps he merely doesn't want to burden everyone with his problems. Who can say? Whatever his reason, he chooses to distance himself from others, putting up walls in his hearts. But the biggest feelings he hides are his sorrow, fear, and anger. Sorrow at the loss of most of his family, fear of losing his beloved sister, and anger at those who would dare bring any kind of harm to what's left of his family, be it him or you."

Kairi had stopped trembling and listened to what he had to say.

"But the thing about hiding those feelings is that they build up in the heart over time. Those feelings just keeps growing and growing until eventually it becomes too much to hold back, and one wrong push will unleash all that pent up pain and anger at once." Ansem then lifted the girls chin to look him in the eye. "That... is what happened to your brother, Kairi. Ryu pushed him too far, to his breaking point. Darkness resides is every heart. Some of the things it feeds on are the same feelings your brother keeps hidden. And because of that, the darkness grew very strong in his heart, so much that when Ryu pushed him over the edge, he unintentionally awakened its power, and as result, Kai completely lost control of himself." He once again gently held her broken wrist. "He was so blinded by rage that he couldn't think clearly. He was so focused on making Ryu pay for what he did, that he lost sight of what was important... his own sister's safety."

The radiant ruler then wiped the tears still running down her cheeks. "Please don't be mad at Kai. He couldn't control himself. I'm sure you know in your heart that he didn't mean to become what he did down there. The fact is, he is really beating himself up for what he did. He went as far as requesting to be locked up in the dungeon. Right now he's locked himself in his room, refusing to come out... refusing to even eat. And if he keeps this up... he will starve himself to death."

That last part made Kairi gasp. "No... he can't! Wh-why would he do that!?"

Ansem paused for a moment before saying. "He's punishing himself... a little too extremely, if you ask me. I had tried talking to him earlier. The only thing I could get him to say was... 'she looked at me like some kind of monster.'" Another, lighter, gasp came out of the girl's mouth. "He believes he has failed you. Because he killed in cold blood, used a very dark power, and worst of all hurt you, he believes he is no longer worthy of being your brother. He thinks you are better off without him. Perhaps he even believes that you hate him for what he became." Kairi then froze at that. "Well? Do you hate him for what he did?"

"Of course not!" Kairi blurted out. "I mean... how could I? He's my brother... I... I love him."

"Then you need to let him know. He may think he doesn't deserve it, but the way I see it, your forgiveness is exactly what he needs, the only thing that can possibly pull him back together. You must go and talk to him. You must show him that what happened has not changed how much you care about him. Prove to him that you don't see him as a monster. Let him know how much you still love him." The wise man noticed the girl clutch her heart fearfully. "I know you are afraid after what happened, but I believe he fears himself right now. And for once in both of your lives... it is he who needs you right now."

Kairi sat there for a moment in thought, before she gained a determined look in her eyes. She then hopped off her bed and ran out of the room.

Ansem gain a concerned but hopeful look. "You are his only hope now, Kairi."

Kairi walked into her brother's room, finding him in the same position Ansem saw him in. It pained her to see him like this. She held her heart fearfully before taking a deep breath.

Gathering her courage she finally spoke up. "Um... hey... Big Bro. Are... you okay" The boy didn't even turn to look at her. Concerned, the girl looked over at the untouched plate of cookies and glass of milk. "Uncle Ansem said... you haven't eaten at all..." she walked over to the plate and grabbed a cookie. "You really should eat something... You must be hungry." She held the cookie out to her brother. As usual, no response.

She held herself there for a moment before her eye started watering again. "Why? Why are you doing this to yourself, Kai?" Another short silence before she started sobbing. "I'm so sorry... It's my fault... isn't it?" This seemed to make Kai flinch. "You're starving yourself... because of me! If I hadn't been kidnapped by that creep..."

She was silenced when she felt a firm grip on her shoulder. She looked up to see it was her brother's hand. Looking at him, she could see his teeth clenched, his bangs covered his eyes as he still refused to looked her in the eye. Soon he finally spoke, "Don't... ever... blame yourself for that."

Kairi was stunned for a moment before regaining her courage. "If I can't then you're not allowed to either!" The boy stiffened at that. "Please, brother! It wasn't your fault! Stop punishing yourself! It's over. Everything's gonna be okay."

"Okay? Okay?! I hurt my own sister! How is that okay?!"

The little girl put her little hands on her brother's cheeks. "It's okay because I know you didn't mean it. You weren't yourself. I know you would never hurt me. Maybe I did get hurt, but... you still saved me. Thank you, Big Bro." That last sentence stunned the boy. Kairi then lifted his to make him look at her in the eyes. Thankfully, he put up no resistance. Kairi could see his watery eyes. "Please, you're the only family I have left. I don't wanna lose you too. I don't care what happened. You're still my big brother, Kai. No matter what happens, I'll always love you."

At last, Kai couldn't hold back anymore. The tears in his eye now flowed freely as he began sobbing. He gently pull his little sister into a hug, to which she returned. "I'm sorry, Kairi," he muttered. "I'm so sorry." He kept repeated his apology over and over again.

"It's okay, Kai," Kairi said comfortingly. "I forgive you."

After a moment the two broke the hug and Kairi once again held the cookie up to Kai. This time he accepted it, and ate it.

Ansem stood outside the room, watching the kids' exchange. He sigh in relief at the sight that they seem to have reconciled. "It seems there is still hope for your son yet, Suzaku," he said quietly to himself.

KAI: My sister was so forgiving. It only further convinced me how special she was. All the more reason I couldn't give up now.

Meanwhile:

Xehanort stood in his lab going over the notes for his next experiment one more time.

For a few months now, he had been conducting experiments on the human heart. Many of his test had resulted in his subjects turning into dark creatures with soulless eyes, the Heartless as he's come to call them, for despite the creatures being hearts consumed by darkness, they act as though they have no hearts. His master, Ansem, has seen these abominations and needless to say they horrified the old man and he ordered him to cease them until further notice. But then after a recent visit from a king from another world, he outright forbade him from continuing his experiments. Xehanort, however, was just too invested in his research to stop, and continued behind his back. He wasn't doing this alone though.

"Xehanort." The man turned to his fellow apprentice, Even. "I believe preparations are complete." It was easy for Xehanort to rope Even into his research. All he had to do to was take advantage of his scientific mind's curiosity, seduce his heart with darkness, and before he knew it, experiments became all Even wanted to do, regardless of how inhumane they are.

"Good." Xehanort put down his papers and walked over to his newest test subject. Strapped to a table was an unconscious, one-armed Ryu Kurai. Xehanort's experiments thus far have resulted in the outright transformation into different kinds of Heartless. This time, however, he was aiming for a... different result. "Then let us proceed with Project Reptile."

A/N: And there you have it. I hope it's not too cheesy. So we have a little heart warming moment after the intensity of the last chapter. But as I warned before, things in Radiant Garden are only going to go downhill from here. You'll see what I mean next time when we see a certain renowned hero fall from grace. And no I'm not talking about Kai.

I'll admit, Kairi calling Ansem 'Uncle' was inspired by my good friend Kristen Verne, whose KH universe depicts Ansem as Kairi's great uncle.