- Chapter 19 -

Kuro's Warning

Author's Note:

To my guest reviewer, I apologize if it did seem a bit rushed, but I had to power through a crap-ton of writer's block to get the last chapter out as it is; also, your review came off as pretty condescending. The reason Aqua wasn't too surprised at Sï'Lea's aged appearance is because she already knew from Ansem that twelve years had passed, so of course Sï'Lea wouldn't be a teenager forever. As for the rest, I have one thing to say: this is my story. If you have any issues with how I write or what I write, the back button's right there.

However, there will be some more action and suspense to come, so stay tuned.

The World That Never Was, The Castle

Kuro replaced his coat, Xemnas' Ethereal Blades having already cauterized the wounds on his chest. Master Xehanort, Braig, and another figure in a black coat, the hood drawn up to hide his face, stood before him.

"What is your command, Master Xehanort?" Kuro asked. Xehanort stroked his beard in thought.

"With Aqua having been rescued, Sora and his cohorts will most likely make their way to Castle Oblivion to revive Ventus once their business in Radiant Garden is concluded," the rogue Master said. "Before they leave, I want you to go to Radiant Garden and run some interference."

Braig raised an eyebrow. "Isn't bringing Ven back what you want them to do?"

Xehanort smirked. "Yes, but we can't make it too easy."

Kuro nodded, and then summoned a corridor of darkness.

"Wait," the third man said. Kuro turned to him, and the man dropped his hood to reveal a young man who bore a resemblance to Young Xehanort, only with shorter hair. The man, Terra-Xehanort, gave a dark smile.

"When you see Aqua, tell her Terra sends his regards." he said.

Kuro smirked at that and entered the dark corridor.

Radiant Garden, The Castle

The group, plus Ansem, entered the room which once contained the Heartless Manufactory that Xehanort used to overthrow and destroy Radiant Garden, now under construction; Sora made a mental note to ask Leon and the others what for.

Ansem pressed a button on the entryway, and a section of the floor retracted to reveal a stairway, which spiraled down so far the group couldn't see the bottom.

West looked down and covered her mouth. "Anyone else feel dizzy?" Riku shrugged his shoulders.

Max looked down himself. "Are you sure this just leads to this Chamber of Repose you mentioned, Ansem?" she asked. "If we go down there and there's a red guy with horns and a pitchfork, I'm out."

The gang cracked up laughing at that. Even Ansem managed a chuckle or two.

"Well, let's get going," said Aqua. With that, the group began the walk downwards; it was indeed very long and tiring.

After what felt like hours, the group finally reached the bottom, and stood before a set of double doors with a keypad on the wall next to it.

"This will just take a minute," Ansem said as he typed a thirteen-digit code (1) into the pad. After a moment, the pad beeped, and the doors opened up to reveal a large room composed of silver metal, adorned with pictures of chains and Nobody emblems, with a throne in the center. But it was what was on the far end of the room, in front of the throne, that caught the group's attention: Aqua's armor and Keyblade.

Aqua smiled as she approached them. "Hello, old friend," she said softly as she held out her hand. Almost immediately, Rainfell jumped into her hand, and her armor formed into an orb of light that was absorbed into the armor on Aqua's sleeves. She turned to Ansem and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for keeping them safe."

Ansem gave a small smile. "You're quite welcome, Master Aqua."

Radiant Garden, The Castle

When the gang and Ansem returned to the study, they were quite surprised to see Zephyr and Tiger among the group. Tiger immediately scampered over to West, who smiled down at the Chirithy before patting his head.

"So, you must be Aqua," Zephyr said to Aqua. "Nice to finally meet you."

"Uh, okay," Aqua said, confused. "And you are?"

"This is Zephyr," Hikari explained. "He helped us before. But I don't know what he's doing here now."

Zephyr turned to Sora. "I came here to warn you," he said. "My superiors think there's a traitor in the Order."

"A traitor?" Mickey asked. "Do you have any idea who it might be?"

Zephyr's face darkened. "Yeah. His name's Kuro."

"Did someone say my name?"

The group jumped slightly, and turned to see a corridor of darkness open in the doorway that led to the computer room. From the corridor came none other than Kuro (2) himself.

Riku recoiled when he saw the X-shaped scar on Kuro's bare chest. "That mark!"

"The Recusant's Sigil!" Sora said, recalling that the Seeker of Darkness had marked him with that same sigil in the Sleeping Worlds.

Zephyr growled as he spotted the scar. "I knew it!" he yelled, pointing an accusing finger at the scarred man. "Kuro, you dirty traitor!"

Kuro wagged his finger in a tsk-tsk gesture. "First of all, I resent being called dirty."

Zephyr summoned his swords, with the others drawing their own weapons. "Why would you betray us?!" Zephyr demanded. "Your own brethren?!"

Kuro laughed condescendingly. "Brethren?" he retorted. "Like I told Xehanort, it's better to be at the right hand of the devil than in his path. As long as I serve him, I'll have a place in his new world order."

Zephyr shook his head, not taking his eyes off of Kuro for a second. "I never trusted you anyway," he said. "I always knew that a guy who would choose two battle axes for weapons and name them Havoc and Malice was trouble."

"Havoc and Malice?" Kuro replied. "You mean these?"

He spread his hands, and the aforementioned battle axes appeared in his hands. Havoc, the one in his right hand, was red with silver lining on the blade, while Malice, the one in his left hand, was silver with red lining.

The others quickly drew their weapons, and Kuro smirked.

"If I was here to actually fight, you'd be able to tell by the fact that you'd already be dead," he said sarcastically. "So play nice, kiddies."

Zephyr rolled his eyes before pointing Crimson Blaze at Kuro. "Oh, please, Kuro," he said flatly. "You can make all these idle threats, but I know you're nothing but a smack-talking jerk."

Kuro glared at him. "Smack-talking?" he growled. "Is this smack-talking?!"

He charged at Zephyr and swung Malice in a horizontal swipe-

-only to be blocked by Sora's Keyblade, the young Destiny Islander glaring at the axe-wielder.

"That's enough!" Sora shouted as he shoved Kuro back. Kuro shook with rage, a dark aura forming around him, with darkness flooding the scars on his chest and turning them black.

"You really wanna know why I left the Order, Zephyr?!" he demanded, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Because I'm sick and tired of always having to be second fiddle to a punk like you! I never got anywhere in life working for the Order! You and all of those other idiots did nothing but hold me back!"

Kuro let out a furious growl as he started jumping up and down, stamping his feet in a childish rage (3). The others just looked on and shook their heads.

"Oh, my God," Kyra said in disgust as Kuro stopped jumping. "Are you four?" Kuro ignored her as he composed himself.

"That's why I sold my heart to Xehanort," he said. "With him, I'll get the power I always wanted. I'll have a place in his new world."

Sï'Lea looked at him. "Do you really think you mean anything to Xehanort?" she asked. "You're nothing but his pawn. A tool to be used until he doesn't need you anymore."

Kuro ignored her before turning to Sora and Kairi. "Xehanort also has quite an interest in you two," he said. "You'll stop a lot of bloodshed if you just come with me and do as the Master commands. You know you can't take him. You know you can't stop him."

"We don't know anything like that!" Sora yelled, stepping in front of Kairi protectively. "I stopped the Seeker of Darkness from opening Kingdom Hearts. I put an end to Organization XIII. And so help me, I'll stop Xehanort myself. I'll put an end to him, and make sure the χ-blade never comes to be again!"

Kuro chuckled and shook his head. "My condolences for your stupidity," he said matter-of-factly, only to get hit in the chest with a Dark Firaga from Riku and knocked flat on his back.

Riku was calm, but clearly furious, as he walked over to Kuro and pinned him down underfoot, pointing Way to the Dawn at his throat.

"You don't touch Sora and Kairi," he hissed in a low and dangerous tone. "You don't touch anybody. Now, I think it's about time you leave Radiant Garden and never come back."

Kuro glared at him as Riku removed his foot. He looked at the assembled group, then opened a corridor of darkness behind him.

"This isn't over, kid," he said. "We'll meet again, and I won't go easy on you next time."

He made his way over to the dark corridor, and stopped right in front of it before turning to look at Aqua.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, smirking at Aqua. "Terra sends his regards."

Aqua's jaw dropped, an expression of horror on his face that was shared on Sï'Lea's. "W-what?" she whispered.

Kuro shrugged as he turned and walked into the dark corridor.

"Wait!" West and Hikari both shouted as they ran forward, weapons at the ready. Unfortunately, Kuro was gone before they reached him.

Riku turned to Zephyr. "Care to explain?" he asked. Zephyr sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Kuro was a member of the Order of Light," he confessed. "He was a good fighter, had a good mission record, but he could never handle the fact that I always managed to beat him in a fight, and that I was technically his superior even though I was younger. Frankly, I sensed there was something... off about him since the day we met. When we found evidence there was a traitor, I knew deep down that it was him."

"He said that 'Terra sends his regards.'" Leon said thoughtfully. "Who's Terra?"

"One of my closest friends," Aqua said sadly. "He lost his heart to Xehanort twelve years ago."

Aqua and Mickey, alternating between them, proceeded to explain to Ansem, his apprentices, and the Committee what happened to Terra twelve years ago, how he had been possessed by Xehanort, and how Aqua sacrificed herself to stop him from falling into darkness. When the story was finished, Aqua, surprising everyone, knelt down on the ground before Ansem, her hands clasped as if she were begging.

"I'm so sorry, Master Ansem," she said, her voice heavy with regret. "Everything that happened to Radiant Garden eleven years ago is my fault. I let Xehanort get away with Terra's body, and it's because of that that he was able to use you and your apprentices for his plans and destroy this world. If you can't find it in yourself to forgive me, I understand."

A few long moments passed, the tension heavy in the air. Finally, Ansem said, "Rise."

Aqua stood, and Ansem continued, "There's nothing to forgive. Radiant Garden is back and restored to its former glory, and besides that, you are not to blame."

"He's right, Aqua," West said. "Like we told you on the Gummi Ship, nothing Xehanort did over the years is your fault. There's no possible way you could have known what was gonna happen."

The others nodded in agreement, and Aqua brightened.

"You're right," she said. "Well, now that Ansem is back where he belongs and I have my armor and Keyblade back, let's go to Castle Oblivion and wake Ven up."

Even cut in at that moment. "Ven?" Who is this Ven?"

"His full name is Ventus," Sï'Lea replied. "Aqua was the one who created Castle Oblivion. She did so specifically to keep Ven's body safe."

Ienzo put a hand on his chin in thought. "If my hunch is correct, Ventus is the secret hidden within the Chamber of Waking, isn't he?"

Aqua raised an eyebrow. "Yes, but how do you know about the Chamber of Waking?"

"Xemnas somehow knew about it," Lea cut in. "Back when I was Axel, he sent me on more than one outing to find the Chamber. I never did."

Aqua smirked. "That's because only I can find it, let alone open it."

Sora turned to Leon and the Committee. "Well, we should get going," he said. "By the way, before I forget, I saw the construction being done on the Heartless Manufactory. What are you changing it into?"

Cid chuckled. "Thought you'd never ask," he said. "We're converting it into a Gummi Hangar. Should be done soon."

"Good to know," said Hikari. "That machine caused nothing but trouble."

Riku turned to the Radiant Garden residents. "If you guys get any updates on what Maleficent and Xehanort are up to, let us know."

As Sora's team filed out of the room, the Committee, Kyra, Rusty, and Zephyr did the same, leaving only Ansem, Even, Ienzo, and Sasuke alone in the study. Sasuke turned to Ansem.

"Sir, that red-headed girl," he said. "There's no mistaking it. She's Kaname and Rimi's daughter."

The apprentices gasped, and Ansem smiled.

"I knew it from the minute I saw her, Sasuke," he said. "But she doesn't seem to remember us. That's why I haven't said anything."

"Understandable," Even said thoughtfully. "She was only five when this world fell to darkness."

Ienzo tilted his head thoughtfully. "The question on my mind is how she survived."

The Lanes Between

As the group zipped away from the world on the Highwind, Riku, who was at the pilot's seat, turned to Aqua.

"I know where Castle Oblivion is, so I can get us there," he said. "Let's just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Meanwhile, Sora and Kairi were seated on one of the couches. Sora turned to Kairi. Ever since they had left Radiant Garden, she had been thoughtful and quiet.

"Kairi, what's up?" he asked. Kairi sighed and brushed her bangs out of her face.

"Ever since I saw Ansem the Wise and that Sasuke guy, I can't help but think I know them from somewhere," she said. "But I just can't remember."

"Well, maybe you did know them," Nixe said. "You did tell us that you were born in Radiant Garden. You spent the first five years of your life there."

Kairi nodded. "Yeah, but I just can't stop thinking there's more to it."

The World That Never Was, The Castle

Deep within the castle, in Roxas' former room, Vanitas laid comatose, a body without a heart. Xehanort stood over him, keeping a vigil.

Suddenly, without warning, Vanitas' leg spasmed before going still again. Xehanort smirked. Vanitas' reaction was proof that Ventus' heart was nearing its old vessel.

It was just a matter of time.

Author's Note:

(1): A reference to the games' apparent obsession with the number thirteen. Organization XIII, how Sora was called "Combatant 13" in The Grid during Kingdom Hearts 3D, the thirteen darknesses, etc.

(2): Named him for narrative purposes, 'cause it's not necessary to describe his whole appearance in every chapter he appears.

(3): For better visualization, imagine the temper tantrum Zant throws in the pre-boss cutscene in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Kuro's weapons are inspired by axes of the same name from Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, also called Havoc and Malice

If you guys are curious about how Ansem, Sasuke, and his apprentices know Kairi, and who Kaname and Rimi are, you can either wait patiently for it to be revealed... or you can check out Kristen Verne's stories Kingdom Hearts 3: Final Stand and Their Lives Before, as well as YamiChaos27's one-shot A Warrior's Last Stand.

Next chapter, we'll have Ven's return. Also, you may have noticed Zephyr didn't leave Radiant Garden this chapter. I have plans for that; you'll see what.

Please R&R. Until next time...