- Chapter 30 -

Dissention

Twilight Town

The group docked down by the Old Mansion, filing out one by one.

"Well, here we are!" Sora declared as they got off.

"And with that, Sera and I bid you adieu for a while." Lea informed them.

The two walked off, arm-in-arm, as the others watched them go.

"I've never seen him like this before." Kairi said with a giggle.

"So, what should we do?" Sora asked. "Who knows how long they'll be."

"We could look around town." Ven suggested.

"Honestly, I wanna look around the mansion." Sora replied.

"Me too." Kairi agreed.

"Why not split up?" Hikari offered. "We'll look around the city until everyone's ready to go."

Everyone agreed. Sora and Kairi went into the old mansion, while everyone else dispersed into their own groups and went off.

-X-

West descended into the tunnels, followed by Mickey, Riku, and Hikari. They looked around the area.

"This place is kinda dinghy." Hikari remarked.

"Yeah, it is." West said.

"I used to come down here a lot." Riku recalled. "Good way to keep out of sight from most people, especially when I was being hunted by the Organization."

"They were hunting you?" Hikari asked, surprised.

"Well, they didn't know it was him." Mickey explained. "When Sora was asleep, Riku wore the same coat as them and they hunted him as an impostor."

Riku smirked. "Actually, I was witness to the Organization at its finest here. (1)"

West turned to him. "Is that so?"

"Yeah." Riku replied. "Roxas and Axel were chasing me, and suddenly, four other members were surrounding me."

"Gosh..." Hikari let out. "How'd you get away?"

"Simple." Riku answered. "I dodged, and they hit each other."

West and Hikari blinked in surprise.

"...Wow." Hikari said at last. "Sora hyped them up as dangerous threats. That makes them sound kinda like-"

"Bumbling morons?" West offered, getting a nod.

"I think it was on one of their vacation days." Riku explained.

"Bad guys get vacation days?" Hikari questioned.

"Xemnas actually let them have time off?" West added.

"Yeah." said Riku. "Lea said they got two days a year." He chuckled. "But it was still pretty funny."

Hikari began giggling herself, covering her mouth.

"The Organization at its finest." West quipped, snickering.

-X-

Across town, Ven, Aqua, Sï'Lea, and Nixe were getting off the train to the other side of town.

"Here we are." Ven declared. "Sunset Terrace."

The group all looked around in awe.

"It's beautiful." Sï'Lea remarked.

"Yeah." said Ven. "I'd always wanted to come here myself. It's a little weird seeing things through Sora's eyes."

"I'll bet." Nixe agreed.

Ven led them to Sunset Hill, where they observed the setting sun.

"Wow..." Aqua said aloud.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Ven asked.

"It really is." Nixe agreed. "I could sit here forever."

-X-

Back at the mansion, Sora and Kairi looked around Naminé's room, examining all of her drawings.

"Wow..." Kairi said. "She drew so much."

At that moment, the door opened, and Donald, Goofy, and Max entered, all carrying ice cream bars.

"We brought ya some ice cream!" Goofy declared, handing Sora a bar, while Donald gave one to Kairi.

"Thanks, guys!" Sora said with a smile.

"Wow." Max remarked, looking around the room. "This room is pretty."

"It was Naminé's." Kairi explained.

Max looked at the drawings, examining each one.

"She was a good artist." he observed, pointing at one. "Who's the blonde boy? He shows up a lot."

"That's Roxas." Sora replied. "My Nobody."

Max examined them more closely. "It looks like these pictures kinda tell his story."

"They do..." Sora mused.

He picked up one drawing, depicting Roxas running from a slew of Dusks controlled by the Organization, and the memory itself flashed through his head. He stumbled back, shaking his head.

"Sora!" Donald exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah..." Sora replied, rubbing his temples. "Just some of Roxas' memories. He... had a hard life."

"Poor guy..." Kairi said in sympathy.

Sora sat, eating his ice cream.

"One day, we're gonna bring him back." he vowed. "I don't know when or how, but we will."

"And Naminé too." Kairi swore.

-X-

At the clock tower, Lea helped Sera sit down.

"It's a far drop, so be careful." he warned.

"Okay." Sera said. "Lea, can you describe the view to me?"

"Of course." Lea took her hand. "There are hills as far as the eye can see." He traced out the hills with her hand. "And the sun is just behind them. The sky is full of color and clouds. It's a pretty sight."

"Yes..." Sera let out. "I think I can see it in my mind."

She felt Lea slide something into her hand, and smiled. "Let me guess, ice cream."

Lea chuckled. "You know me so well."

"Just like every other date we've been on." Sera mused. "You're lucky you work out with training. You eat too much ice cream."

"Force of habit." Lea confessed.

Then it hit Sera. "This... this is the spot you told me about, isn't it?"

"Yep." said Lea. "Used to come up here every day with Roxas."

"I know you miss him." Sera replied.

"How foolish of you."

Both of them stiffened and turned, seeing Kuro standing there.

"Your friend is gone." he spat. "And you're gonna join him soon."

Lea stood up to face him. "Yeah right, short stuff."

"You should pay more attention to your surroundings." Kuro scoffed.

A Soldier suddenly appeared behind them, reaching for Sera, only for Sera to ignite it with a wave of her hand.

"News flash, pal." she informed him. "I'm blind, not unobservant."

Kuro just rolled his eyes, before kicking Sera off the tower. Lea quickly grabbed her hand and helped her back into solid ground, before whirling on Kuro.

"Why you-!" he let out, before charging Kuro.

The two struggled for a bit, before Lea gained the upper hand, tripping Kuro up and sending him falling off the tower. With that done, he quickly turned his attention to Sera.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking her over.

"I'm fine." Sera assured. "Is he gone?"

"Yeah." Lea replied. "Threw him off the tower."

Suddenly, the whole tower began shaking, nearly knocking them off.

"Crap!" Lea exclaimed. "It's him!"

"Grab my hand!" Sera ordered.

Lea did so, and they both jumped off the tower, Sera emitting jets of flame from her feet to slow their descent. They landed safely, witnessing Kuro slashing at the base of the tower with his axes.

"Stop it!" Sera shouted, blasting him with fire. Kuro staggered forward, before whirling on them with a growl.

"Where's Sora?!" he demanded. "Tell me, or I'll tear this entire town apart!"

"Honestly, he could be anywhere." Lea informed him. "Now leave this town alone! You won't find him by bringing down the clock tower!"

"That's where you're wrong." Kuro retorted with a smirk. "See, Xehanort told me that Sora can't turn his back on people in trouble. Decimate the town, and he'll come running."

"You psycho!" Sera ignited her hand. "We'll stop you!"

Kuro scoffed. "Good luck with that, toots."

-X-

Within the tunnels, Riku's group felt the shaking, and stiffened.

"An earthquake?!" Hikari exclaimed.

"This isn't right." Riku said. "We better get topside."

They hurried to the Station Heights, where they saw Lea and Sera clashing with Kuro, the commotion having drawn a crowd.

"Isn't that Zephyr's traitor?" West asked.

"He's making a scene!" Mickey yelled. "We gotta stop him!"

They ran forward, Kuro noticing their approach.

"You're not who I was looking for." he scowled, before raising his voice as loud as he could. "SORA! Show yourself! Are you gonna come face me... or hide like a coward?!"

"He can't hear you!" Riku shouted. "Just stop!"

Kuro let out a growl. "One way or another, I'm drawing that porcupine-headed brat out!"

He suddenly leaped into the crowd, grabbing a purple-haired little girl with glasses and jerking her forward. He held the terrified girl before him, brandishing an axe menacingly.

"This is your last chance!" Kuro barked. "Bring Sora to me, or this brat dies!"

"Stop it!" Hikari screamed. "She's an innocent little girl!"

"Riku, what do we do?!" West said urgently.

"Find Sora." Riku decided. "Hopefully, this creep will let the girl go then.

"I have a better idea." Sera declared.

She snapped her fingers, and a small fireball fell on the ground. It slid towards Kuro before landing on his foot.

"OW!" Kuro screamed, dropping the girl and hopping around while trying to put out his flaming toes. The girl quickly ran behind Lea, and Kuro scowled, a dark aura surrounding him.

"Okay, fine!" he shouted. "I'll just level this stinking town, building by building, until there's nowhere left for him to hide!"

"You're insane!" West yelled.

Kuro scoffed. "And what are you, freckles?"

"Smarter than you, that's what." West shot back.

"Y'know, I wouldn't normally agree with you..."

Everyone stiffened as Braig appeared.

"But in this case, yeah." he finished.

"You too?!" Mickey exclaimed.

"Relax, I'm not here to fight." Braig told them, looking at Kuro. "I'm here to rein in the attack dog here."

"Are you freaking kidding me?!" Kuro shouted. "I'm doing you a favor! Your boss wants Sora, I'm drawing him out!"

"Ever hear of subtlety?" Braig retorted, pointing to the crowd. "You're causing all this ruckus! Drawing way too much attention!"

"Why do you care?" Kuro demanded.

"Oh, I dunno." Braig deadpanned. " Maybe because making a big commotion makes it much harder to stay off Team Sora's radar, and easier for them to mess with our plan!"

"As long as we get Sora, who gives a crap?!" Kuro spat. "We're gonna rule over these worthless peons soon, anyway!"

Braig draw an Arrowgun and fired a warning shot at Kuro, cutting off his tirade.

"We're done here." the Freeshooter spat. "And we're gonna RTC right now."

Kuro scowled, but realized there was no point in arguing as Braig opened a dark corridor.

"Sorry, kids." Braig said, shoving Kuro in. "See you later."

And with that, he was gone, leaving the group staring after him.

"That was... weird." West let out.

"Like Sora said, the Organization isn't very organized." Hikari mused.

"This time, mostly due to Kuro." Riku remarked.

"We better find Sora and the others." Mickey declared. "If Braig was sent after Kuro, the others might be getting attacked too."

-X-

Back at the mansion, Sora, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy walked down to the main area of the mansion, and froze up to see a person in a black coat standing there.

"Oh, boy..." Sora let out, stiffening.

The figure dropped his hood, revealing himself as Isa.

"Have you seen Kuro around here?" he questioned. "I assume he was looking for you."

Sora raised an eyebrow. "Kuro's here?"

"I'll take that as a no." Isa replied, before smirking. "But why are you here? Looking for hope for a person who should have never existed?"

Sora scowled as Isa went on. "Roxas is gone, Sora. He was never supposed to be here anyway."

"No!" Sora declared. "I don't believe that!"

"Believe it." Isa shot back. "That is the very nature of a Nobody."

"You know as well as I do that Xemnas lied!" Sora yelled. "Nobodies do exist! They can grow hearts like everyone else!"

"Be that as it may, it's time to face the facts." Isa said. "Roxas is a part of you. Should you separate... neither can live while the other survives."

"But Xemnas and Ansem can exist at the same time." Goofy pointed out.

"You're wrong!" Kairi shouted. "Roxas and Naminé are their own people! We'll find a way!"

"Believe what you want." Isa scoffed. "If Kuro isn't here, I'm going."

"Why are you looking for him?" Donald demanded.

"If you must know, he came here against the Master's orders." Isa replied. "He is a loose cannon."

Sora folded his arms behind his head. "Still not a very organized Organization, I see."

"That comment refers to him specifically." Isa retorted, before vanishing.

"If Kuro is looking for me, we need to find him before he does something stupid." Sora insisted, turning to the others.

"Agreed." said Donald.

-X-

At Sunset Hill, Ven and his group stiffened at the feeling of a familiar presence behind them. They turned to face Vanitas, seeing him casually leaning against the fence.

"What are you doing here?" Aqua demanded.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your peace and quiet..." Vanitas began sardonically, "but surely, I'm permitted to pay a visit to my brother?"

Ven raised an eyebrow. "Brother?"

"In essence, isn't that what we are, Venty?" Vanitas asked. "But I'm actually not here for you. See, Kuro ran off here half-cocked, looking for Sora. Against the Master's orders, I should add." He rolled his eyes. "And people think I'm reckless..."

"Can't control your dogs, huh?" Nixe quipped.

"Hey, if it were up to me, he'd be kicked to the curb." Vanitas defended. "That axe-wielding lunatic is too much of a handful, even for me. So, you seen him or not?"

"No, we haven't." Sï'Lea informed him.

"Fine." Vanitas said, turning to go. "And here's a little parting gift."

Multiple Unversed surrounded them as Vanitas calmly walked away.

"Play nice." he quipped with a chuckle as they drew their Keyblade.

In record time, the four killed the Unversed.

"If Kuro's here..." Ven gasped. "We gotta find Sora!"

-X-

They rode the train back to the clock tower, and ran into everyone else upon arrival.

"Isa was at the mansion!" Sora exclaimed. "Kuro's here!"

"He was here." Riku corrected. "Braig took him."

Sora raised an eyebrow. "He did?"

"That lunatic tried to chop down the clock tower and drew a big crowd." Sera explained. "Braig said he was causing too much commotion."

"He even tried to take a kid hostage." Lea added.

Kairi scowled. "That dirty rat!"

"Relax, the kid's okay." Sera assured. "I set his toes on fire."

Sora gave her a thumbs up. "Nice job."

Hikari folded her arms in thought, pursing her lips.

"Kuro seems very unstable." she mused. "Disobeying Xehanort, causing that kinda ruckus... he's gonna pose a problem."

"Even Vanitas wanted him out." Ven added.

"So how'd that wack-a-doo even end up in Zephyr's order to begin with?" Sora questioned.

"Good question." said Riku. "We'll have to ask him next time we see him."

Lea turned to Sera. "Sorry our date got interrupted."

"Don't worry." Sera assured. "We can continue it at home. I miss it anyway."

"Alright. Drinks at Tifa's bar." Lea turned to the others. "I'd invite you guys for a drink, but most of you aren't twenty-one."

"Fine with me." Sora replied. "I had... a bad experience with alcohol in Wutai."

"Oh really?" Riku asked.

"It was hilarious." Hikari giggled. "We'll tell you on the ship. It'll be a great way to kill time."

Sora facepalmed. "Great..."

At the Castle That Never Was, Kuro was being chewed out by Master Xehanort, Ansem and Xemnas flanking him.

"I ordered you to stand by." the elderly Keyblade Master hissed. "You disobeyed."

"I was doing you a favor!" Kuro defended. "You want Sora. Who cares how it happens?"

"You drew too much attention, you fool!" Xehanort snapped. "We operate in the shadows unless absolutely necessary!"

He drew his Keyblade for emphasis. "Do something like that again and you will suffer."

"Alright, fine." Kuro spat, before storming past Vanitas, who had watched the entire spectacle.

"So... remind me again why you brought that idiot in?" he asked.

"He could be useful for a distraction." Xehanort explained. "As well as his knowledge of the Order of Light."

"I see." Vanitas mused with a grin. "Cannon fodder."

"Once his usefulness has ended, we will dispose of him."

Vanitas shrugged. "Works for me."

"It appears that Sora and the others are heading back to Radiant Garden." Ansem piped up. "Shall we put our plan into action?"

Xehanort nodded. "Yes."

They both walked down to the Soundless Prison, followed by Young Xehanort. Xehanort's eyes rested on the small figure curled in the back of the cell.

"Take her to Radiant Garden." he ordered Ansem. "Hold her there until the time is right."

"As you command, Master." Ansem replied.

With that, he entered the cell. The girl sat up, gasping as he approached.

"Please..." she sobbed. "I just wanna go home. Please don't hurt me..."

"Just cooperate, and I won't." Ansem retorted.

He neared the girl, and she made a break for it, trying to squeeze through the bars. Young Xehanort quickly warped in, grabbing her by the hair.

"Did you think you could escape that easily?" he questioned, handing her to Ansem and casting Sleep on her.

"Annoying brat." Ansem spat. "I'll never understand what he sees in her."

With that, he picked the girl up and exited through a dark corridor.

Author's Note:

(1): Taken from the 358/2 Days manga.

Well, sorry for the wait. Got sucked into my Ninja Turtles story.

Next chapter, more trouble ensues at Radiant Garden.

Please R&R. Until next time!