I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters.

Advice

Tyler pulled his jacket on and stared at his reflection. He was surprised by much his change of outfit had felt natural. It had gone from jeans and a plain teeshirt, to shorts and a teeshirt, and now to a pair of loose cargo pants, a tight black sleeveless shirt and light waterproof jacket. It was tactical, relatively comfortable, and completely different from what he'd like if things had never changed in his life. If not for the heartless.

"What are you doing Tyler?" he mumbled. "Why are you here? You saw the heartless. Is there even a chance she's alive?"

"A small one, yes," Fang said, leaning against the door frame.

"Hey," Tyler smiled. "I didn't hear you come in."

"I'm not going to lie, Alice, and probably Sarah too, are most likely gone," Fang said. "There's no one who's ever lasted more than a day with the heartless without having their heart stolen. We're most likely chasing ghosts."

"Why are you telling me this?" Tyler asked.

"Because you need to have a reason in order to fight the heartless," Fang said. "Wanting to save your niece is an excellent reason, and it's what our goal is going to stay. But you're not a fool or a child. You know what we'll probably find. So you need a new reason. Are you really only here to find Alice? Or does it have something to do with our pink-haired friend?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tyler asked.

Fang snorted in amusement. "I saw you at the resort. Both of you. You were the only one who could get her to socialize. You can't honestly tell me that you haven't though about it at least once. I know you thought about it with me and Vanille."

"I-I didn't-"

"Relax," Fang laughed. "I'm well aware that me and Vanille both wear...less than decent outfits. It's natural that you think about it. But what about Lightning?"

"I..." Tyler trailed off, turning away from Fang.

She remained silent as he stared at his reflection again. One hand gripped the opposite elbow as he sighed. Tears formed in his eyes and fell instantly. Fang let the door close, stepping inside.

"I was supposed to protect her," Tyler said, struggling to keep in control. "I was supposed to look after her."

Fang pulled him into a hug. Tyler resting his forehead on her shoulder, wrapping his arms around himself. "It's alright. We won't stop until we find her."

"What do I do?" Tyler asked.

"Just have faith," Fang said. "We'll find her."

"Not that," Tyler said. "My reason to fight them. What do I do?"

Fang sighed, shaking her head slowly. "Keep her safe. No matter what we face, and no matter what happens, keep her safe. That should be enough."

"What if that wasn't what I meant?" Tyler asked.

"I see," Fang grinned, pushing Tyler up. "In that case, good luck. I've never seen her show any interest in anybody, male or female, in a romantic, or even vaguely sexual, way. But she's definitely more open around you. Maybe you've got a chance."

"I see," Tyler nodded. "I doubt it. But maybe."

"Well, for the time being, we have a world to search for you current and future family," Fang grinned.

Tyler snorted, pushing her on the shoulder and they walked to the bridge. As they arrived, Lightning glanced at them before turning back to her weapon, which she was cleaning. Tyler walked to the window and stopped, staring at the darkness before them. He looked down to find one of his hands holding the other elbow. He released it, setting his hands on the railing and sighing quietly.

"We'll find her," Lightning said from behind him.

"I know," Tyler said. "How we find her is what worries me."

Lightning nodded, sighing. She stepped up beside him, leaning on the railing. "Sarah's been gone for six months today. I lost faith in finding her alive after the first week. I know she's gone. But I can't give her a funeral without a body."

Tyler heard her voice waver for a moment and wrapped his arms around her. She turned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"When I first found you, I thought we could stop the same thing from happening to Alice," Lightning said.

"And after she was taken, you were just trying to keep me positive, right?" Tyler asked.

"I'm sorry."

It was barely a whisper, yet he could feel the vulnerability in her voice.

"Don't be," Tyler smiled. "Maybe Sarah escaped and saved Alice."

Lightning smiled, stepping back and nodding. She smiled up at him for a moment before looking out at the darkness again, turning to lean on the railing, Tyler doing the same.

"Who's coming on this one?" Lightning asked after a moment.

"You and Vanille," Tyler said.

Lightning grinned. "You really do surround yourself with girls, don't you?"

Tyler blushed but snorted in amusement. "Not my intention. But hey, I'm game."

Lightning punched him in the shoulder, laughing. Tyler smiled, watching as a world drifted into view. It looked a lot like Earth, only with the famous clock tower in London extended from one side, and a red, three-mast clipper ship on the other, that half being entirely water.

"So are we starting in the city or the ocean?" Tyler asked.

"Ocean," their pilot said.

"Are you ever going to show your face?" Tyler asked. "Or tell us your name?"

"No," he grunted.

"Fair enough," Tyler shrugged.

A few minutes later, light enveloped Tyler, Lightning, and Vanille.

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