KH Hearts of Destiny chapter:8

Kingdom Hearts
Hearts of Destiny Chapter 8: Emotional Meetings


“HA!” Syne slammed papers onto his desk, “Progress is slower than usual…But, I’ll show that
Organization what I can really do…You and you, here!”

“Yes, sir?” Two men cloaked in old black robes saluted.

“Bring the blonde kid here,” Syne ordered, “I have business to discuss with him…”

Within the grey walls, there were tally marks abound. The boys’ Negare side effects have
worsened. Dark flesh had reached up to Zenji’s eyes, Raisuke’s legs had claws and hard
scales, and Kaitou’s arms spiked with steel-like protrusions and even bigger clawed hands.
The two men ordered to retrieve Kaitou pulled him out of the cell. The other two merely
sat in the cage, unknowing and unfeeling. Kaitou never fought and was only dragged to the
leader. The spell had drowned any feeling of hope.

“Hmph…There must be a reason why you’re not producing any memories…” Syne muttered.

“I’d rather suffer this than become a channel of Saiko’s memories. I won’t allow you to—“

“I know. You want to protect her. But from what? A childhood friend? Is that so bad?”

“I don’t know who you really are and I don’t know how you could possibly know Saiko
as a friend, but all I know is you’re looking for her in all the wrong directions.”

“You could be right. It’s all this!” Syne dug the Oracle Point into Kaitou’s left arm, the
spear pulling out all the dark material.

“What are you---!?”

“Sapping dark energy. A new development in my Negare spell.” Syne pulled out the spear,
revealing clear arms, except for the spot in which he stabbed. Blood poured from the
wound, “And the more I use you, the more power I shall attain.”

“Aghhh…” Kaitou winced as he felt the blood rush. It had been some time since he actually
felt pain.

“Haha, interesting isn’t it?” Syne cackled as he wiped his staff free of blood, “Though a
tool may be useful, it must be maintained. Can’t let you die just yet…”

“This…” Kaitou backed away slowly against a wall. He let a hand dangle beside him…
A handle, hilt, cold steel, “…is it…”

“AH?” Syne took his staff up to deflect his slave’s attack. Kaitou took the worn sword
he picked up to his shoulder and took a deft blow to Syne’s side.

“Damn! I forgot to restrain you while I took you energy…No matter.” Syne quickly
healed his side and took his spear above his head, “Take me on!”

“Eh…” Kaitou’s weak arm started to pang with pain, “Sorry…I got things to do!”
With a sharp throw, Kaitou’s sword pierced through Syne’s abdomen and he started
to run toward the escape pods. Syne merely laughed and nonchalantly pulled the sword that
pierced him.

“I’ll give you a headstart, Kaitou. HAHAHA.”

Pulsing was his heart, and he kept running, until Syne’s cronies blocked him. Kaitou
splattered the guards’ eyes with his blood and kicked them down, taking both of their
swords. A myriad of shadowy guards, perhaps unheard of Heartless species, were about.
Only rampage would end them. The blonde artfully slashed them down, one by one, leaping
from wall to platform. ‘ESCAPE PODS’ says a display as he runs. Closer to break from the
dark binds, he thought. He pressed down a switch that was marked ‘OPEN’. A wheeze
and a swish of the glass door that separated him from prison and freedom. Kaitou runs into
the circular hall with about eight pods and dashes toward one. However, he is stopped as slash
of the Oracle Point takes to his shoulder.

“Gahh!” Kaitou stood in his fighting stance, holding up the stolen rapiers, “Don’t mess with me,
you bastard!”

“Just a little game, Kaitou…Now,” Syne held the Oracle Point’s shaft where the spear head
was nearest and pulled out a thin, long blade from the rest of the staff, “Onto the real game.
Furere! Faer!”

“Wha!?” Kaitou saw the apparitions of Raisuke and Zenji at Syne’s side.

“Another little surprise!” Syne held the Oracle Point vertically above his head, “Negare Drive Mode!”

“Raisuke! Zenji!” Kaitou could only see black smoke. As the smoke subsided he could see an adult
Syne, covered in blue and red armor with black dominating around them. The Oracle Point had
become an immense sword, in the same red and blue fashion as his armor, “What the hell is that?”
“Negare Drive, boy,” A mature voice spouted, “Now don’t disappoint me! RAH!”
Kaitou carefully dodge rolled the attack and tried to stab Syne from behind, but of no use. The
armor was far too hard to break with measly swords. Again, Kaitou dodges another slash of Syne’s
blade and tries to strike at his head, but a heavy arm brings Kaitou down. The blonde leaps to his feet
to avert another attack.

“Damn, you’re pretty fast!” Syne laughs as he charges his blade, “Acerbus Revolution!”

The blue and red slices around Syne with a dark aura. Maniacal laughter resonates from the warrior
as he continues his spinning. It is unfortunate for him, however, for Kaitou was smart enough
to duck and crawl underneath the slicing attack. He props himself against the escape pod
and presses the release switch.

“What? HAHA, YOU’LL NEVER ESCA—AHH!? AHHHHH!!!” Syne held his head and
he devolved back to his original form. Zenji and Raisuke laid beside him, free from the dark
symptoms they once had.

“Agh…Raisuke, let’s go…” Zenji muttered, grabbing his friend’s hand.

“Hah, right…” Raisuke answered.

“Hurry up, idiots!” Kaitou laughed, “Before he gets us again!”

Zenji limped to his pod and activated it. Just as Raisuke was about to enter a pod, the Oracle Point’s
spearhead impaled his heart.

“Raisuke!” Zenji cried, banging on the glass door that sheltered him.

“You bastard! You’ll pay!” Kaitou yelled.

“Doubt it…I don’t go down that easily…” Syne muttered as he dragged Raisuke away.

“No!” And they were launched into space and perhaps that was the last they saw of their
companion Raisuke.

The hatch pried open. A cool, familiar voice echoed as Kaitou and Zenji tried to open their eyes.

“Yeah, sure looks like them, huh, Yuffie?”

“Glad they’re alright, Squall.”

“Leon.”

“Right…Hey, where’s that other kid? There was another kid with them, right?”

“Agh!” Zenji pulled himself up, “Raisuke, he…”

“He’s still with the guy that captured us.” Kaitou muttered as he was helped out of his escape pod
by Yuffie.

“You guys were captured?” Yuffie asked.

“The Organization, most likely…” Leon mumbled.

“Whoever took Raisuke and Saiko…I’ll never forgive them!” Zenji yelled with fury.

“Calm down, Zenji, we’ll find them. So you guys landed here?”

“No, we landed back at Traverse Town and found another gummi ship. You guys oughtta stick
with us for the while.” Yuffie suggested.

“You’d help us find our friends, right?” Zenji asked.

“We will after we find the Keyblade Master.” Leon said.

“Say, where are we anyway?” It was only now that Kaitou noticed what kind of world they were in.
So far, only pure desert. Except for the escape pods and a rickety gummi ship a few yards away.

“…” Leon turned away.

“Well, we honestly don’t know,” Yuffie answered, “But Squall did say we aren’t too far from
Traverse Town…What we need is an engine gummi. The one on the ship we found on Traverse
Town is dead.”

“Raisuke…” Zenji pulled out a small gummi from his pocket, “He made this compact gummi
engine. He gave it to me so I’d put it away for him back at home. I guess he pretty much saved us.”

“Yeah. Thanks, Raisuke.” Kaitou sighed as he looked to the hot azure sky. The group proceeded
to the ship…The fallen Gilgamesh. Zenji shuddered as he placed the engine gummi onto the ship.

“So, this is the original Gilgamesh? It’s huge…” Leon commented.

“No kidding!” Yuffie exclaimed as she fixed a hole in the ship.

Kaitou approached Zenji who was busy placing the gummi at the back, “Zenji…”

“Syne will pay for everything he’s done, won’t he, Kaitou?”

“Yeah…We’ll search for the Keyblade Master and fight alongside him!”

Leon crossed his arms as the hatch to the ship began to open, “Like we have any idea where
he could be…”

“We’ll look, then!” Zenji exclaimed with clenched fists.
“Squall, Sora did do the same, so why can’t they?” Yuffie added.
“Hmph. Let’s just go.”

Suddenly like a lightning from clear sky, Kaitou felt a splitting headache and memory pictures
flashed by his very eyes, first of a blond girl smiling happily then of a purple haired
girl that only smiled slightly then it changedto a tropical island beach that one moment was in
beautiful peaceful weather and then the next was cought in a storm with hundred of heartless
invading it. Then Kaitou's vision went back to normal and the headache was gone.

~Just now...what was that? Who's memory was that? But Im not under Synes Negare anymore,
how could I see it? Did his Negare somehow activate a latent ability? Arhg, what am I thinking?
Im probably just going nuts! ~ Kaitou thought to himself and then noticed that his clawed hands was
almost back to normal.~How?!~
~~~
Syne cursed as he threw Raisuke’s lifeless body into the cell that once held the three boys. He
slumped against the wall and dented the floor with a swift punch.

“DAAAMN! I could’ve sworn that I had the upper hand! I always do!”

“Now, now, Syne, don’t whine too much,” Endan, Gen, and Laeus stood before the boy and Syne
got to his feet.

“Master Laeus! How did you—“

“That’s not our current concern. We watched what you’ve been working on,” Gen paced
toward him, “It is…impressive.”

“Ah?” Syne gripped the Oracle Point, “Really? You think so?”

“Yes…An organization such as ours could really use it…” Laeus added.

Another jumped in the ship. He laughed maniacally as he walked into the prison halls.

“Styryx, what is your stupid ass doing here?” Endan snapped.

“Shut up, Endan,” Styryx let down his hood and fanned himself with his hand, “This place reeks
of blood, delicious…So, what I miss while I was have a jolly good time with Hades?”

“An excellent development. Syne has achieved a higher level of his Negare spell.” Gen smirked.

“Really? What did he do, bake a cake with his Negare?”

“No, idiot,” Endan pulled out a strange and scratched-up box. He pressed a switch and a
hologram popped up, replaying Syne’s Negare Drive transformation and his fight with Kaitou.
Styryx merely yawned.

“Oooh, he did that? Clever.” Styryx muttered.

“LIKE YOU COULD DO ANY BETTER!” Syne yelled as he was about to swing the Oracle
Point toward Styryx. Laeus hand gripped the spear.

“Enough, boys,” And with that said, Laeus cast Fire on Styryx, “And you get back to work!”

“Ahhh! Refreshing!” Styryx cackled as he swiped the flames away from his hair.

“Yeah, seriously,” A huge blue blade’s point chinked upon the floor, and Sayo’s eyes fixed upon
the psychotic man, “Or else Laeus will give me YOUR position, High Officer Styryx.”

“That’s the little girl you gave the Neutral Blade to?” Styryx glared, “You gave the sword to that
THING?”

“Calm down, Styryx, Sayo will live up the sword’s potential.”

“She can’t possibly match it!” Styryx chimed.

“SHUT UP.” Syne muttered.

“Yes,” Laeus concurred as he pulled out a piece of paper, “Now, your assignments. Syne, you
continue your developments with Gen. He will assist you. Styryx…You’re staying with me for
awhile—“

“WHAT FOR?” Screamed Styryx.

“SHUT UP!” Endan yelled.

“FIRA!” Syne yelled as a burst of flames shot about.

“Ouch…”

“…Continuing…Endan and Sayo, you two,” Laeus threw a shining black device to Endan’s
hands, “…Continuing…Endan and Sayo, you two,” Laeus threw a shining black device to Endan’s
hands, “Try to defeat the Keyblade master.”

“What? Seriously?” Sayo asked picking up her sword.

“Don’t let us down, hear me?” Laeus said.

“We won’t. Sayo…Let’s go.” And with that, Syne’s visitors left soundlessly, except for Styryx

"Idiots! You´ll ruin mine and my bosses plan if I dont do something!"

~~~~
Silence pervaded in the Dua twins gummi ship. Only the faint voice of Arin could be heard.
In her hands was a weakly glowing orb of light, with an image of Edea.

"So you mean Sakuya has already summoned her guardian spirit Bahamut?" Edea asked the younger
witch.

"Yes...it was amazing! But it was also scary. She had no control over it!"

"Then I was right....she is weak, but she was able to borrow power from you to summon the legendary
Bahamut....That requires a special kind of power...It will make her grow stronger each day and if she
isn’t trained correctly she may harm what she wants to protect.”

"Oh…Anyway, how am I supposed to train her? I can only fight with magic, I doubt that it’ll be enough..."

"But you have someone in your party that can!"

"Eh? Saiko? But I doubt that she would want to take on Sakuya as an apprentice!"

"Try to convince her!"

"Okay...but what kind of power is it?"

"One of light that can take form as two wings..."

" Wings? I wonder if its one of those ancient powers...Do you think it could be that it’s because of the
Keyblade?"

"I don’t doubt that...but I have a theory about that...I can’t say more now I have more work to do..."
And with that last word, the orb disappeared and Arin laid back in her bed thinking about how to
convince Saiko to train Sakuya.
The next morning it was quite a busy morning, and everyone had something to do. Sakuya decided to
take a break from their activities and work on the ship. Upon the deck of the ship she found Saiko
staring out into the field of stars.

"Um...Saiko..."

"Wha-at?”

Sakuya froze for a moment. She observed Saiko’s sword handles were tied to the ends of the red
band she had originally worn on her arm. She forgot what she was supposed to say and brought up
the question as to why she tied her swords to the cloth.
Saiko scoffed, “The cloth made my arm itchy, and I had nowhere else to tie it…” Saiko let her head
down for a moment and then looked to Sakuya strangely.

"Hey, uh…agh...You know, I’ve thought about it. All you did was to try to keep up my hope and spirit...
You’re trying so hard to keep both your own spirit and the other people’s up…Eh…Sorry..." Saiko
gulped nervously at what she just said.

"Ah? You didn’t really need to say sorry." Sakuya gave Saiko a grin.

“And I’m really sorry that I called you a sap after KAILEN KISSED YOUR HAND!” Saiko smirked,
“Maybe it’s destiny~”

“Y-you keep that to yourself! YOU SAW NOTHING!” Sakuya turned her head away.

The dark haired girl leaned backwards onto her bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"Were you close to your brother?"

"Yes, I guess so...Even if we didn’t play so much together and had our separate friends, we were still
friends and had fun together...We were there for each other even if we had our small quarrels...Like
families are supposed be! There is just one thing that I always thought was weird...somehow it was like
I always could hear Sora, that I could feel him...Kairi told me once that she to could feel him just like me...
but now...His voice...it's left me"

"Weirdo....But you’re lucky...You at least have a family..."

"Huh? Don’t you have one Saiko?"

"Pretty sure I did but...I don’t remember a lot from my childhood and most memories are fuzzy...the
closest that I got to a real family were Kaitou, Raisuke, and Zenji..."

"Why haven’t you tried to find your real family?"

"I tried…I had no relatives on New Asten. Heh, it’s like I was an alien or something...eh, I doubt even
more now that I would find them..."

"But you can’t just give up before you have tried!"

"Why is it that you keep trying so hard? No one needs to meet up with anyone’s expectations!" Just when
Saiko said the last word she realized that she had accidentally said too much. With that, she slammed
her hands against her mouth.

"Trying hard? Oh I see...You have talked to Riku..." Sakuya’s happy expression turned gentle
and a bit sad as she sat down. "It’s…It’s because its my only option...if I stop here and just give
up...then everyone will suffer and I can’t stand the thought of that…Like Sora was pushed by Riku,
I was pushed by Sayo and Sora. I may not be at any of their levels, but when it comes down to it you
have to do what you feel is right and there will be a meaning to everything! Woops! Trailed off there a
while! Anyway...I’m just trying my best to follow the road that feels right to my heart...."

"Even if it would lead you into darkness...?" Saiko asked and noticed Sakuya shook a little at the
question.

"Yes I guess so...I just want my beloved ones to be safe from harm and for me to be with them...I
know my heart is selfish but..."

"Pfhh! Safety for others isn’t selfishness.”

"Thanks... Let’s do our best to regain what we lost Sai-tan!"

"What did ya call me?! HONESTLY, WHO DOES THAT!?"

"TRAVERSE TOWN IS RIGHT AHEAD!" Allie and Alex shouted so everyone could hear. And
thankfully, it was right in time to save Sakuya from Saiko’s wrath.

~~~

"How long must we stay here? I’m getting bored!" Sayo complained to her companion as she leaned
against a house wall.

"I’m soon finished, but if you want you can go scouting the area..." Endan told Sayo. As she started to
walk he muttered something about it being good that she left.
A few minutes later the dark shape of Styryx appeared behind Endan and before Endan knew it he was
knocked out...

"Can’t let you ruin our plans Endy..."

~~~
As Sayo walked along the streets of Traverse Town she thought of something that Endan had said earlier.
It was that most of those who lose their worlds end up in Traverse Town. That made her wonder if she
could find Sakuya somewhere in this town. The streets laid deserted in due to heartless running berserk
everywhere, Sayo easily cut them down with her deep blue sword, so they didnt really bother her.
As she reached the end of a narrow path she suddenly spotted the person that was on her mind: Sakuya!
Within the shadows she could see Sakuya walk towards the third district with a load of people following
her. When they had passed her hiding place she stepped out into the light.

"Sakuya?" Sayo questioned in awe.

Sakuya froze for a minute and then turned around while the others just continued to walk a bit. For a
while Sakuya was speechless, but then she threw herself onto Sayo, pulling her cheeks, making sure
she was real.

"Sayo! I was so worried about you! Where have you been?"

"Sakuya, do you know this girl?" Roka asked Sakuya curiously.

"Yes! This is my childhood friend Sayo!"

"You were worried about me?"

"Of course, stupid! You are my best friend, you are important to me!"

"You tried to find me?"

"Yes! I’m also looking for Sora and Kairi and everyone else from our island! And we are trying to stop
the heartless from destroying more worlds!"

"You are fighting the heartless? Don’t tell me you’re chopping them down with your wooden sword…"

"No, with this!" Sakuya summoned up the keyblade with a bright smile.

"You are the Keyblade master?" Sayo was in shock. She clenched her fists and her teeth grinded.

"Yes...Someone must lock the keyholes while Sora is gone!"

"Yeah, you’re doing a great job standing there showing off that oversized key. Come on, we gotta go!"
Saiko cut in but no one took notice. There was suddenly tension in the air.

Sayo suddenly griped Sakuya’s vest and looked deeply into Sakuya’s blue eyes. The blood-red vivacity
in Sayo’s eyes sent fear into Sakuya’s ocean blue eyes.

"Sakuya...they want to kill you!" Sayo felt her free hand reach after the Neutral Blade and she
couldn’t stop it. She released Sakuya from her grip and started to back away.

"But Sayo...What kind of greeting is that!? I don’t really wanna know that I’m being hunted down!”

Without a warning Sayo suddenly lost herself. She was about to dash forth for a strike at Sakuya,
but her feet stood in the same place. She put her blade away and looked at her lifelong friend with
fearful eyes.

"Do’nt try to find me, look out for guys in black and don’t trust anyone!" and with that Sayo ran away,
with a miasma of confusing thoughts in her head.

~Who wants to hurt me?! Why is my body acting so wierd? What the heck is going on?!~
Sakuya stood bewildered, unable to run after her friend due to the surprise of her sudden escape.

"Why did she run from me?....I thought...that when I finally found her..she would go with us and we
would be able to find Sora and the others in a jiffy...Stupid Sayo!"

"Oi Sakuya..." Arin and Roka were immediately prepared to give their new friend some support, but
Saiko merely stood, arms crossed, and an arrogant face.

"Oh no, here we go again..." Saiko said and sighed, “Do we always have to do THIS?”

"Oh well, at least she is OK! I suppose it could be worse!" Sakuyas sudden cheerfulness
surprised the girls so severely that they anime fell onto the ground.

"Hahaha! You really are your brother’s sister, Sakuya! Sora reacted similarly when he met
me after we left Destiny Islands for the first time." Riku smiled confidently.

"Eh...Really?..."The cheerfullness sank in Sakuya’s voice.

"I’m starting to suspect you are bipolar, kid!" Saiko yelled.

"Hey Sai-pou, who are you calling kid, eh? You’re younger than I am!" Sakuya argued.

"Stop it! We need to move on to Merlin!" Allie cut in and they continued to Merlin’s house,
with Saiko and Sakuya continued to give each other angry looks.

Eventually they reached a big portal with a flame painted on it, it had no handles. But Arin knew
what had to be done and with one ball of fire and the door easily swung open, just for the travelers
to discover a small sea cave with a island in the middle of it. An old house was built upon it and the
only way over was to jump on moving rocks, and without any other option they started the difficult
journey over, most of them successfully crossing it. The twins nearly fell and Saiko fell more than
several times.

“JEEZ! YA THINK THIS MARVIN GUY COULD BUILD A BRIDGE!?” Saiko yelled.

"Aw, get over it. Are you sure that he is here? It looks rather abandoned!" said Alex, wholooked
up at the old house.

"Yes I’m sure!" Arin replied and went to the backside of the house. The rest of the group followed her,
and there she knocked. Soon a voice answered to the gang’s surprise. It told them to come in.
Stepping into the house the group was welcomed by a warm candle light and in the middle of the room
two tall figures sat at a table. Then one of them stood up and welcomed the travelers.

"Finally! I have been waiting for you!" the tall man said. He was skinny and tall with a long white beard
and wore a blue robe along with a blue pointy hat.

"You have waited for us? But we don’t even know you!" Saiko protested.

"I’m Merlin, a wizard who can see the future! And you are…Oh, let’s see if I get this right…Saiko,
Roka, Riku, Arin, Sakuya, Allie, Alex and Kailen I presume?"

"You can see into the future?! Then can you see if we will be able to find our beloved ones and stop
the heartless?" Sakuya hopefully asked the tall old man.

"Sorry my friend, but I can’t do that...if I reveal to you too much of the future then it might change the
future for the worse or for the better...it can go both directions and that’s dangerous!"

"Ok, I understand..." Sakuya said a bit disappointed." But then what’s the point of knowing what
kind of future will come if you cant tell others?"

"Eh...hmm...Never thought about that. So, back to business!”

"Oh yeah!" Arin took up the orb that they had found earlier, "Can you break the seal on this?" Merlin
took the orb and looked closer on it.

"Yes...yes, I think I can..." He replied and then started mumbling foreign words and the sphere shone
brighter and brighter. Until Merlin stopped mumbling the old words, then the light died down and
Merlin gave it back to Arin. The young witch activated it, and the sphere showed a hologram, a movie.
A girl with red hair was on the screen, crying and sniveling. Riku and Sakuya recognized her directly
as the comera closed in on her short red hair and purple-blue eyes.

"KAIRI!!!" They both yelled out.

'Please! Someone help us! They have kidnapped Sora and me! They are going to take Sora and do
something to him, but I don’t know what! They might kill us! Goofy and Donald have been frozen and
imprisoned somewhere! Please help us!'
The recording wasn’t the best but the group could make out what Kairi yelled. Then suddenly
someone with a black hood broke in and harshly gripped Kairi and pulled her closer to him.

'What are you doing, witch!'

‘Leave Kairi alone!' Sora suddenly came into the picture throwing himself onto the black hooded man in
attempt of trying to protect Kairi. They fought around the room wildly and then they accidentally hit
something that probably caused the movie to end.

"That wasn’t much info...we don’t even know when it was since it was recorded..." Roka pointed out.

"Damn that Styryx." Kailen swore beneath his breath.

"I guess we are back on square one again...let’s go now guys..." Sakuya said with disappointment but before
they started going the other figure stood up. His garb was similar to Merlin’s, but he had a much rougher
image as to the previous wizard.

"Ye who has now been chosen by the Keyblade, you are the key to reopen the door of light that Sora once
opened. I’ll give ye the gift that he once had." The old man said and a rainbow glowing orb appeared from
his hand and sailed over to Sakuya and then it entered her body. She thought it felt warm and safe as it
entered her body.

"Eh? what is this?!"

"Ye will find out later when it is needed."

"Oh, where is my manners?! I forgot to introduce my colleague to you! Everyone, this is Yensid, a wizard
like me." Merlin said and then swished his wand and 8 small orbs came up from a bag and was handed
out to all on the team.

"These are for all of you, they are special spheres that will help you keep a low profile when you come
to a world. We wouldn’t want to ruin the world order. I'd love to ask you all to stay and drink some
tea with me, but you have much to do and have so little time! You are welcome back any time you
need my help!" the old wizard smiled as he bid farewell to the gang. The group jumped across the rocks
again (or swam for a few people’s cases) and exited the cave.

"That was just odd." Saiko commented as they walked on the Traverse Towns streets, "And what is
with that 'gift' orb?"

"I have no idea but surely it must be important to our mission!" Sakuya replied.

"But why did he gave it to you?” Roka asked, “Couldn’t he not have given it to me or Arin?"

"I think the orb could be related to the Keyblade..." Allie cut in.
Just then they saw another group people walking, Riku recognized some of them and Saiko recognized
the rest.

"KAITOU! ZENJI!" She screamed and when seeing that they saw her and smiles spread on their faces.
She ran up to them but instead of a warm, tearful reunion, she slapped their faces,"Where the heck did
you go of to!? I was worried about you! Hey, where is Raisuke?"

"Sorry Saiko!" they apologized.

"But we got kidnapped by a maniac who tied to make us to his slaves!" Zenji cried out, “And we escaped,
but Raisuke, he—“

"What?!" Saiko could never thought that something could have happened to her friends while she
wasn’t with them.

"Looks like Kaitou found his girlfriend!" Yuffie said as a joke and made Aerith giggle as she appeared
from the second district.

"We are not a couple!" Kaitou and Saiko yelled in unison that almost blew Yuffie away.

"But isn’t that Sora’s best friend, Riku with a gang of girls around him!" Aerith smiled gently.

"Ah…Yeah, Aerith, Leon, Yuffie..." Riku greeted Sora’s other friends.

"Do you have any idea of where Sora has gone off to?"

"No...He and Kairi were captured some time ago..." Riku revealed to them which made the two girls
gasp in surprise.

"Who is he?" Leon pointed on Kailen in his organization robe. Leon clenched a fist as he remembered
the fights with the organization.

"Don’t worry he is with us..."

"Ehmm... Excuse me..." Sakuya tried to break into the conversation. "But, did you really know Sora?"

"Mmmm...Yes." Leon simply answered. " Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering... I’m Sakuya, Sora’s sister."

"Wait! Sora has a sister? I wonder why he never told us..." said Yuffie.

"You probably didn’t ask him...He is very quick to start talking about his friends, but when it comes to
his family he’s really sluggish." Sakuya explained to them.

So, naturally, as there are strangers to some people on each group, everyone greeted each other, Kaitou
looked closer at the blond girl who said she was Sora’s sister and suddenly he got the same vision that he
had had yesterday, it was just a bit slower this time.

"What the heck are you staring at Kaitou?!" Saiko irritatedly questioned Kaitou, “Come on, you have
the worst taste in women!”

"Eh? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I wasn’t looking at HER!"

"Yeah, right, you idiot!"

“Well, aren’t you two the married couple?” Arin giggled.

“OH, WOULD YOU SHUT UP!” Saiko yelled.

After the myriad of yells and conversation, the group retreated back to the hotel to discuss their plan
in finding Sora. As Sakuya was about to enter the doors of the hotel, two figures above the gizmo
shop caught her eye. One was a hooded and the other was redheaded, from what Sakuya could tell.
Her eyes focused on the hooded figure, and she felt a faint, warm connection as she continued to stare.
Suddenly, an alarming cold sensation electrocuted her body and she stepped back quickly. She
looked to where she previously was and there stood a shining knife, with a dark ornate handle.

“What in the!?” She looked up gizmo tower again. Nothing, “What is this?”

“Sakuya are you coming in?” Arin peeked from the door.

“Yeah, just give me a second, Arin.” Arin went back in and Sakuya picked up the dark stiletto. She
felt the same faint warmth as she held the blade. Then it disappeared into the air and a little silver crown-
shaped piece fell to Sakuya’s hands.

“…Sora?” Sakuya whispered, and a sharp edge was suddenly felt as she tried to turn around, “What!?”

“That voice…” The voice behind her muttered, as if in shock. The blade that rested against Sakuya’s
neck shifted away from her and Sakuya ran back and turned around. It was someone in a dark Organization
cloak. Sakuya suddenly summoned her Keyblade and the hooded one held up his blade. And they
began to fight. The dark edge clashed against the Keyblade’s steel and it echoed through the walls
of the hotel.

“GAH, what’s that noise!?” Saiko growled, as she stamped into the hotel hallway.

“Ah…” Kailen quickly emerged from a door and into the hallway. He then darted outside.

“What the hell is that for?” Saiko mumbled as she followed the enigmatic guy.

The blades crossed and they locked, both fighters pushing against each other. Kailen intervened,
as he threw a knife toward the hooded one. The cloaked one let Sakuya’s Keyblade free, caught
the thrown knife, and reversed its direction, to its master. The knife grazed Kailen’s hood off,
revealing his blonde hair and azure eyes, missed Saiko’s face by a few inches, and landed at the
hotel door.

“HOLY CRAP!” Saiko yelled as she stared at the thrown knife, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU
DOING OUT HERE, SAKUYA?! WHAT’S WITH THE KNIFE!?”

“What’s going on!?” Riku yelled as he came out. His eyes were in deep shock, as were Sakuya’s.
The impact of Kailen’s thrown knife had caused the hood of the attacker to fall, unveiling a set of
ocean blue eyes and familiar spiked hair.

“Sora! It was you!” Sakuya cried as she loosened from her fighting stance, “What in the world were
you attacking me for!?”

“That can’t be…Sora…” Riku muttered.

“That’s her brother? I guess the weird hair-do runs in the family…” Saiko grumbled.

“Shut up, you idiot!” Kailen whispered as he took back his knife.

“I wanted to test your strength. We used to duel sometimes when we were on our island, right?” Sora’s
voice echoed with nostalgia, “I’ve been looking all over for you, to be honest. It’s been awhile since
we’ve talked to each other…”

“Really? Looking for me?” Sakuya asked skeptically. She noticed the dullness in his eyes, as if he
had no soul.

“Yeah.” Sora put up a smile, but the dull eyes pervaded. He held up a hand, “It’s good to see you
again, dear sister.”

She neared his hand. Then, she slapped it away. Shock was felt by the bystanders. Ferocity filled
Sakuya’s eyes, so much that tears began to glisten in her eyes, “Sora never worries for my safety!
He knows full well I can manage myself! And he never calls me 'dear sister'! Where is he!? His
Keyblade is in my hands! I want to know where he is! I know you can’t be him, because he would
never attack me!”

“Heh…” He could only exhale.

“And this…” Sakuya pulled out the tattered silver crown, “This was your necklace! This was special
to you!”

“It’s nothing to me. I don’t need silly necklaces to make me happy.” Sora said coldly.

“You don’t remember…” Sakuya stammered and let her tears fall. She closed her eyes for a moment,
unaware of Sora’s movement toward her, blade poised in hand. The three who watched were about to
attack, but a redheaded girl stopped them from intervening.

“Please, don’t attack Sora!” A familiar voice screamed.

“Dammit, Kairi!” Sora yelled as he stopped in his tracks and Sakuya looked up.

“Kairi!” Riku and Sakuya cried together.

“Sakuya! I only want you to come with me!” Sora said firmly as his lifeless eyes glared at her.

“I won’t! I have a duty!” Sakuya retaliated, tightening her grip on her weapon.

“Sora, please, stop…” Kairi begged as she grabbed his arm.

“I would’ve gotten this taken care of! You’re always in the way Kairi!” Sora bellowed. He shook his arm
free from Kairi and stepped a few feet back. A dark vortex appeared behind him, “I’ll get you next time…”

"Pleace Sora....don't go." Sakuya begged silently.

Sakuya approached Kairi who stood in front of the portal vortex after Sora walked through. Kairi promptly
gave her thalassa shells keepsake, “Please, you have to save us…Sora…He might kill us all. I’m
holding him back, but I don’t know for how long I can…” The redhead looked to Kailen, “Please,
you’re our only hope.”

“KAIRI!” Sora howled and she quickly followed him into the vortex. And they disappeared.

“Sora…what happened to you…” Riku sighed.

“I’ll find a way, I promise…Kairi, Sora!” Sakuya yelled, ~I can't tell if you are the same Sora I know,
but I could never replace you...Even if there comes a day when everyone becomes my enimy,
Ill protect you, Ill get you back...somehow...~  

"Sakuya are you, OK?" Arin asked and placed her hand on Sakuya's shoulder. Sakuya hung her
head low, low enough that her bangs covered her tearing blue eyes. She shut her eyes and let the
last of her tears fall. Then, Sakuya lifted her head and opened her eyes, now filled with newfound
determination.

"This time.... I'll fight!" All the confusion, all the sadness, all the doubt was blown away and replaced
by an overwhelming determenation.   

TO BE CONTINUED.....