Prism Hearts 

 Chapter 16Addicted to You

 by Amazoness Duo

 amazonessduo@hotmail.com

 “Come stop your crying,

 It will be all right.Just take my hand,Hold it tight.I will protect

 you from all around you.I will be here,

 Don't you cry.For one so small,You seem so strong.My arms will hold

 you,Keep you safe and warm.This bond between us can't be broken.I

 will be here,Don't you cry.Cause you'll be in my heart.Yes, you'll be

 in my heart.From this day on, 

 Now and forevermore...”

 

 

 Chaos. A surreal picture out of the mind of a disturbed artist.

 Reality on the very brink. This was the sight that greeted Kairi upon

 entering the doorway. This was the road to Kingdom Hearts, to the

 very heart of the universe. It was where all hearts were born. And

 here she was at the very edge of reality, where all the was existed

 in some cataclysmic dance. Roads traveled high overhead, twisting and

 turning this way and that. Upside down palaces hung in the distant

 sky. An ocean seemed to lay peacefully some distance to her right,

 climbing vertically into the heavens. So this was the End of the

 World. The road to Kingdom Hearts. 

 

 Steeling herself, Kairi clutched the tiny key around her neck. Riku

 was at the end of this road. And somehow she knew that Sora was

 somewhere close by, too. She needed to move forward. They needed her.

 This time, she was all alone. There was no one to back her up or to

 save her if she got in trouble. The absence of Yuffie and Relm hung

 heavily on her, as if something were missing. But too many had

 already been hurt because of her. It was time for her to end this.

 Once and for all. Images of Yuna and Rikku came unbidden to her mind

 and she had to force back the thoughts before she lost the will to go

 forward. 

 

 “I know you're stronger than that, Kairi,” Riku's voice called to

 her. 

 

 “Remember what you said? I'll always be with you, too,” Sora's voice

 carried on the wind. 

 

 A small smile crossed Kairi's lips. The brunette nodded, blinking

 tearfilled eyes open. “I'm coming. Just wait a little longer.” Here

 she was, finally nearing the end of her journey. It seemed like a

 lifetime ago when she had picked up the Keyblade and left to find the

 ones she loved. But now it was almost over. 

 

 “I'll never get anywhere just standing here,” the princess whispered

 to herself. She could almost hear Riku sighing exasperatedly, joking

 about how lazy she and Sora were. Thoughts of Sora and Riku spun in

 her heart, her driving focus. They were the strength in her heart.

 Letting go of the key handing from her neck, Kairi ran down the path

 towards the end of the dream. 

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 “Got ya!” Sora cried out. His hand struck out as he tried to grab

 hold of Hikari. The darkly clad brunette giggled and barely brushed

 past him yet again. She danced playfully out of range, her dark

 violet eyes shimmering as she watched him. Both were breathing

 heavily. 

 

 He moved to the right. She leaned to the left. Grabbing for her, the

 princess skittered out of the way once more. In their makeshift

 playground, Sora never took his eyes off of Hikari. Since they had

 played like this, so much time had passed. But now it felt like they

 were back on the Destiny Islands, playing their days away. All of his

 thoughts and worries were far in the background. All that mattered

 was their game and the mix of emotions it sent rushing through him.

 For the time being, all of the darkness that had tried to swallow him

 up in his battle against the Heartless was forgotten, replaced only

 with the sweet feeling of their chase. 

 

 Even in the princess's mind, the end was far from her thoughts. Only

 the vaguest hint of the unshed tears in her heart tainted her

 otherwise playful thoughts. This was something she had never done

 before. And yet, because of Kairi, it was her fondest memory. The

 memories of a much crueler version of being chased by cruel, hateful

 classmates because she was different was pushed to the furthest

 depths of her memory. Now there was only Sora and their game. 

 

 His heart was so pure. In her world of coldness and jagged shadows,

 being near him was like snuggling next to a fire on a frigid day. The

 days since he'd come to her in this palace at the End of the World,

 they had spent talking and playing. Memories from her life as Kairi

 flooded back with each moment she was with him. It made it all the

 more bittersweet. But in a way, that made it even better. She was

 just happy to be able to spend this time with him.So lost in thought

 was Hikari that she didn't get out in the way in time when Sora

 lunged at her. The spikey haired boy wrapped his arm around her,

 momentum carrying them both forward. The two of them landed in a heap

 on the grass, Sora on top of Hikari. The flowers around them pushed

 off of their stalks, soaring into the air as a multitude of different

 colored butterflies.

 

 Hikari gazed up at the boy over her, watching as the butterflies

 swirled up over his head into the treetops. So beautiful. Reaching

 out, she let her fingers gently stroke his cheek. She giggled softly

 when she saw his faint blush spreading over his cheek. How cute. Her

 fingers continued onward, playing with his spikey hair. She had... or

 had Kairi?... always wondered who would kiss her first. Riku or Sora.

 Too bad she had never had the chance to find out. But this was

 certainly nice enough. She shifted under him, feeling the Keyblade

 Master fall further against her. Very, very nice indeed. No wonder

 she... Kairi?... loved him. Sora swallowed as he felt Hikari's soft

 caress on his cheek. The beautiful princess smiled sweetly up at him,

 her violet eyes drawing him in, deeper and deeper down the rabbit

 hole until he wasn't sure that he'd ever get out. Or that he ever

 wanted to. If he could just stay like this... No, he couldn't. He

 still needed to find Riku. It wasn't right until they were all

 together again. But in the meantime...

 Hikari leaned forward, her lips brushing Sora's softly. This time,

 Sora was more ready for the kiss. Lips melted together as Hikari

 continued to brush her fingers through Sora's hair. Despite the

 universes vastness and entirity, sometimes a single moment seemed to

 take precedence, glowing and taking up all that was. Hikari closed

 her eyes, kissing again, wishing she could freeze this moment forever

 but knowing all too well it would have to end. And so it did with the

 arrival of the message she had been awaiting. Noticing Sephiroth's

 arrival at the edge of the clearing they were in, Hikari slowly, ever

 so slowly, pulled her lips away from Sora's. Sora merely looked down

 at her, puzzled and still fuzzy from their kiss. She smiled up at him.

 

 “She's here, your highness,” Sephiroth announced.

 

 “She is?” Hikari shook her head to clear her own warm, love warped

 thoughts. She should have felt her arrival. She had been so lost in

 the moment with Sora that she had ignored it. Sephiroth simply

 nodded. Looking back up at Sora, she gazed into his eyes. “We have to

 hurry. The locks are gone now. We can open Kingdom Hearts.”

 

 A moment passed before Sora could fully understand the implications

 of what Hikari had told him. The wait was now over. Kingdom Hearts

 could be opened. It was only a matter of time now. Riku would be back

 with them soon. “That's great!” He pushed back, sitting on the grass. 

 The princess pushed herself up to face the spikey haired boy, her

 haunting eyes still holding his own. The story was almost over. And

 yet... She didn't quite want to let go. Not yet. Her eyes shimmered

 with tears that brimmed but that she held back by force of will. She

 wouldn't let him see her cry. Not now. Not when she was so close.

 “You're everything I've ever wanted. Or half of everything I've ever

 wanted. The darkness and the light. Sora, you were my light. Riku was

 my darkness. I loved the light for the hope it always held out to me,

 no matter how far away it seemed. And I loved the darkness for the

 comfort it gave me and how close it was. The two of you kept me

 afloat when I'd all but lost hope. Thank you.” Before he could ask

 her what she meant, she got to her feet, smoothing out her black

 dress and hurrying to follow Sephiroth. “We have to get to Kingdom

 Hearts to open the door, Sora. It's almost over.”Sora nodded, a

 little confused by what Hikari had said. But at the same time, he was

 thrilled that he could be that important to her. Soon enough,

 everything would be complete again. 'Hold on just a little longer,

 Riku.'

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 The path seemed to decay the further and further Kairi went. It was

 as if reality was having more and more difficulty holding itself

 together. The pathway was much twistier now. Trees were nearly bent

 over. Land seemed to have curled up into itself. Here and there,

 Kairi could see gardeners sheers frozen in the process of pruning

 with no one to guide them or a twisted bike with no owner. There was

 a sword in the side of a blackened, gnarled tree she passed. Origami

 birds sat up in the branches of another tree. It felt as if they were

 watching her. On the side of the path was a blackboard. Rather than

 use chalk, someone had carved into it cruelly. 'The bearer of the

 Keyblade came and saved all that was.' Right under it, it went on in

 an alternate path. 'The bearer of the Keyblade came and brought ruin

 to all.' Both legends of the Keyblade. But which was true? It hardly

 mattered. She was here to put things right. She continued on her

 maddening path. Kairi stopped suddenly, her eyes fixing ahead of her.

 The dirt by her feet rose in a cloud and then stayed that way,

 forgetting the cause and effect of settling back down once again. It

 was her school, wasn't it? Only, it looked distorted, as if it wasn't

 entirely there. The fountain in front was empty, cracked. Books

 floated in midair, as if their owners had up and left them hanging. A

 cold pit formed in her stomach. Her memories of her other life were

 still distant, but she knew that she didn't have any good memories of

 this place. And yet there it was, waiting for her at the End of the

 World. “Surprised, Mademoiselle Kairi?”

 

 “Harle!” Kairi turned to find the harlequin watching her, sitting on

 a curved pillar that hadn't been there when she last looked. In fact,

 the entire direction she had come looked rewritten. The princess

 looked back the way she had come, the path having disappeared

 completely. Everything was different now. There were cliffs where

 there had been none before, a wasteland instead of a grassland path.

 “Silly girl. Zere is no going back. Only going forward now. It iz

 your Fate, after all. You have been meant to come here all along.”

 Harle hopped down from the tree, sauntering over to Kairi. “Oh, how I

 have missed such a pretty face brightening up moi's day.” She grinned

 as Kairi took a step back in embarrassment.Shaking off her

 embarrassment, Kairi faced Harle. “What's going on here? Why is this

 here? Isn't this the End of the World? This can't be what Sora went

 through to get here.”Laughing, the harlequin shook her head, bells

 jingling along with her laughter. “Of course not. Zis iz your path,

 not his. Zere are infinitely many ways to reach Kingdom Hearts just

 as zere are infinitely many hearts themselves.”Turning back to the

 surreal school awaiting her, the brunette thought over Harle's words.

 “So I have to make my own path to Kingdom Hearts? My own version of

 the End of the World?”“It iz a path zat has been in your heart all

 along, Mademoiselle Kairi. Waiting for you. Waiting for ze day zat

 you would travel down it,” Harle explained. 

 

 “So...” Kairi took a deep breath. “If this path is different because

 of me, how much of this is real?”

 

 Harle laughed again, placing her hands on her hips. “Still you ask

 about zis realitie? Have you learned not'ing on your journey,

 Mademoiselle Kairi?” 

 

 The harlequin disappeared, fading away. A tap on Kairi's shoulder

 nearly sent the already tightly wound girl jumping. Harle grinned at

 Kairi's surprise, now standing behind her. “Realitie and dreams all

 simply exist. Side by side. They are what you make of them. Izn't zat

 what life iz? All of our realities intermixing together? It happens

 everyday. What you see isn't necessarily what he sees. And what she

 sees is again different. And so on and so on, throughout it

 all.”Kairi nodded slowly, sighing. She had to let go of that worry.

 In the end, it wasn't important. “It really doesn't matter what's

 real, does it? I'm starting to wonder if 'real' even

 exists.”Grinning, Harle walked around Kairi. “Now you are catching

 on. Forget about zis 'real'. Simply follow your heart. Your heart and

 its connection to other hearts is much, much more important than

 whatever world you see around it.” Her expression turned more serious

 as she continued inspecting Kairi. “So you have made your

 decision?”“Of course she has,” another voice broke in. A young blonde

 girl in a patient's uniform stood on the edge of the fountain. “She

 wouldn't be here otherwise.”“So you've decided to come and see as

 well, Aya?” Harle asked wryly, raising an eyebrow. 

 

 “What happens here affects everything. Not only the Dragon God are

 interested in how it all plays out, you know,” the little girl

 argued. Once again, the scope of what was going on was drapped in

 Kairi's lap. This wasn't just about her search for Riku and Sora. It

 involved all that was. All those many different worlds. All her

 friends. Everyone she had met and so many more. And if she couldn't

 close the door, it could all be consumed by the Heartless. She had to

 hurry. “Thanks, both of you.” She nodded to both women before walking

 through the large doors of the school. 

 

 “I hope, for all our sakes, zat you are right about her,” Harle said

 softly, watching Kairi's retreating form.“She's very strong at heart.

 In the end, that's all we could ask for,” Aya replied. “I have faith

 in her.”“Yes, but the one she must face iz also strong at heart. If

 she fails, zere will be no escape from the Heartless,” Harle said

 grimly. “It will be as if God herself has died and left the entirety

 of existence to fall apart at the seams.”

 

 Aya smiled softly. “Then lets hope she doesn't fail. I don't intend

 on being away from Maya for an eternity.”

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 Truth be told, Kairi hadn't come to a decision. Not as such, anyway.

 She still didn't know which world she belonged in. The one with her

 mother, Hollow Bastion, or the Destiny Islands. The gateway between

 worlds would close once she shut the doorway that had let the

 Heartless grow from her own original world. She missed her mother

 back in that sometimes cruel world. She missed her father and the

 kingdom of Hollow Bastion. She missed Riku and Sora and their

 carefree days on the Destiny Islands. The answer should be obvious,

 but she couldn't get herself to decide which. That gnawed at her as

 she went further into the lifeless school.The school looked mostly

 the same as she could remember it except for small details.

 Everything was curved sinisterly, misshapen. In some places, trees

 grew indoors. One of the classrooms seemed to lead into a crashed

 airship. It was all an amalgam of different realities along with a

 dreamlike quality. Or more accurately, a nightmare. 

 

 The icey pit in her stomach wouldn't go away. Everywhere she looked,

 people may have been missing, but their shadows remained. Menacing,

 hateful. She felt like a scared little girl again, memories of the

 lonely, terrified feelings she had had spreading through her veins.

 She could hear laughter behind the locked doors, mocking and cruel. 

 

 Clenching and unclenching her fists, the princess continued forward.

 She nearly stepped on a crumpled piece of paper on the ground.

 Hesitantly, she picked it up, already knowing it was a bad idea. It

 was the birthday party invitation her mother had made for her to hand

 out to her classmates so many years ago. Her mother had spent all

 night drawing each seperate invitation. Tears stung at Kairi's eyes

 as she remembered. Remembered how thrilled she'd been that her

 wonderful mother would make her such beautiful party invitations.

 Remembered how embarrassed she'd been when everyone had laughed at

 'Princess Hikari'. Wasn't she too old for that sort of thing, they

 had asked? Remembered the shame and regret and anger and pain as she

 cried. She couldn't tell her mother what they did. She couldn't tell

 her mother that she had felt so ashamed as they'd called her princess

 and mocked her over and over again. Princess. What her mother called

 her. 'My beautiful princess Hikari.'Tears streaked down Kairi's

 cheeks as she leaned heavily against the lockers. “Mom... I miss

 you...” she whispered, clutching the crumpled invitation to her

 chest. Her body shook slightly as she sobbed. Bittersweet memories.

 Crafted of both darkness and light. They filled her existence. “I

 miss you, too,” the voice in Kairi's head whispered. 

 

 “Mom?!” Kairi looked around quickly, her breath catching. She

 blinked away her tears rapidly, wiping a wristband over her eyes.

 “Mom, is that you?”“Kairi... I used to call you that when you were

 little. I didn't know you'd use that nickname for yourself. And you

 always were my princess,” the voice answered. For once, Kairi didn't

 mistake it's familiarity. 

 

 “Mom... Where are you?” Kairi asked, a knot forming in her throat.

 “I'm at home, Hikari. Just like I've always been. Waiting for

 you.”“But... I'm... I'm dying..” Kairi said at last, fresh tears

 slipping forth. “... I know. But I'm your mother. I can't just let

 you go. I have to try. Even if I can't do much. I wanted to be here

 to lead you back home,” the voice whispered. “Mom...” Kairi placed

 her face in her hands, suddenly feeling very, very weak. She felt

 dizzy. The locker felt cold against her clammy skin. Slowly, the

 princess slid down the locker. Everything looked so blurry. She was

 having trouble focussing. “..mom...?” she tried to ask, frightened.

 The word barely came out as a whisper. It felt so hard to do

 anything. Everything felt so heavy. She felt so tired. She tried to

 raise a hand to try to pull herself up, but it hardly moved. Blood

 stained her wristbands, dripping to the floor beneath her. 'No!!!'

 Kairi screamed in her mind. 'Not now! I'm not ready to go yet! Just a

 little longer! I can't die now. Not now!!' “Hikari... Please open

 your eyes, Hikari. Please. Mommy's right here.” A sob punctuated her

 mother's pause. “Please, Hikari. Don't leave me. Don't go away, baby.

 Please don't go.” Her mother held onto her dying form brushing her

 hair with shakey, panicked hands. “Please...”

 

 Slam!Kairi looked up suddenly, the noise from the locker over head

 startling her. Looking back down, everything was back to normal. The

 blood was gone. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. She was alone in

 the distorted school hallway. “Mom?” No answer. “Damn it.” Kairi

 sighed, standing up. At least she had more time. But how much more?

 She was dying. She had to make her decision soon. Would she try to

 wake up in the world where she was dying in her mother's arms? Or

 would she sever her ties with that world and remain on the Destiny

 Islands? She was running out of time. Slam!Kairi turned her attention

 back to the strange noise. It was coming from a locker. Her locker.

 She remembered that much. But what was coming from it. Almost drawn

 to it, she reached forward, her heart pounding as she did. Before her

 fingers could touch it, the locker flew open. Small creatures piled

 out, falling into a heap on the floor. Kairi stepped back, rady to

 draw her Keyblade. But they were all the plushies she had made back

 home. Her mother had taught her how to sew. Her mother had made all

 of her costumes, and Kairi had sewn together plushies of different

 characters. And Riku and Sora. Bending over to examine the plushies,

 Kairi was disturbed to find all of them had the Heartless symbol sewn

 onto them. Whatever it meant, she knew she was getting close. A

 rustling noise sounded behind her. Kairi froze. Another. And another.

 She felt as if she were being watched. The brunette turned slowly.

 Her eyes fell upon a strange Heartless where a shadow had been a

 moment before. And then another. And another. The shadows of the

 students were becoming misshapen Heartless versions of the students

 she had gone to school with. All of them watched her with malevolent

 yellow eyes. Her heart froze for just a second. Standing up, she

 pulled up the Keyblade. How many of them were there? Could she get

 through them all? She had to. No matter what.“Kairi, hurry. You need

 to reach the Doorway to the Light. I'll hold them off.” The cloaked

 boy stood in the hallway in the midst of the Heartless. He slowly

 pulled out his two demon wing shaped swords, seeming to know

 precisely where everyone was even under his blindfold. Kairi stared

 for a moment, trying to decide if she should leave him alone to face

 the growing number of Heartless. “Go! Now!!” he yelled, magic

 surrounding him as he prepared for the oncoming Heartless. 

 

 “Thank you,” Kairi said in return. With a last look back to the

 cloaked boy, she ran. 

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 The hallway got more and more shadowed, turning sharp corners as it

 went along. Everytime Kairi would look back, the path she had just

 walked had changed entirely. Forward was the only way she could go or

 she knew she'd be forever lost. It was as if she was being led

 forward, the ground behind her shifting as soon as she had moved over

 it. It had to be leading her somewhere. She only hoped it was leading

 her towards her goal. And suddenly, it ended. The cracked, broken

 ground beneath her feet ended directly in front of her, leading into

 a deep chasm. Frustrated, the princess turned back the way she had

 come. But there was no way back. Directly behind her was only a wall.

 There was no way back and no way forward. “This can't be happening. I

 don't have time for this. There has to be a way out of here. Please

 hang on, Riku and mom.” Gazing around the small corridor she was in,

 Kairi couldn't see anything to use to get past. There were no

 handholds to climb along the wall over the chasm. And there was no

 way back. So there was just... The princess listened closely.

 Footsteps? But they sounded so close. In the same corridor she was

 in. But where? Listening intently, she could tell it was coming from

 right in front of her. Over the chasm? It sounded as if someone was

 walking directly in front of her, right over the chasm. She looked

 down and saw something aside from the deep drop. Dusty footprints

 marred the air, as if someone had stepped on something invisible and

 left their footprints behind. Kairi's eyes followed the footprints.

 She heard another footstep and saw another form several feet ahead in

 the air. And another.Taking a deep breath, Kairi scooted close to the

 edge. Maybe there was an invisible walkway. She had to hurry. And

 this looked like the only way. Taking a tentative step forward, Kairi

 was overjoyed to feel something solid, if invisible, under her foot.

 She slowly took another step, careful to follow the dusty footprints.

 Good. There was a path. She just hoped it would lead to Kingdom

 Hearts. How long did it go on into the darkness? She took her next

 step, placing her foot right over the dusty footprint. And fell right

 through. Too shocked to utter a proper scream, Kairi

 plumetted.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 And so she fell like a shooting star, dropping through the air

 towards the world below. The sun shown off of the beautiful ocean

 waves. She could feel the Keyblade inside of her heart. It was deep

 inside of her, nearly unlocking her heart. The water rose up and

 enveloped her. 

 

 Water surrounded her, encompassing. She was too weak to swim, her

 journey having been so very long. It felt like a lifetime had gone

 by. Her mind felt so far. Was she going to drown? Here in this

 tranquil ocean? No... They needed her. But she was so weak... It was

 hard to move. 

 

 Thankfully, someone had dove in after her. Arms grabbed onto her,

 dragging the dazed princess out and onto the beach. She slowly caught

 her breath, gazing up at the side of the person as she lay there,

 unable to get herself to move. Slowly, a face looked down at her. She

 smiled faintly as she understood. Her own face. It was time. She was

 too exhausted, too weak. She was dying. But she could keep going for

 her. The other Kairi sat up, staring at her in shock. “What?” So many

 thoughts were rushing behind those violet eyes, thoughts that Kairi

 could remember for they had once been her own. Thoughts about whether

 or not this was a dream and just who she was.Finally noticing the

 handle of the Keyblade sticking out of her chest, the shocked Kairi

 took hold of the handle.

 

 “It will be okay, Kairi. I’ll always be with you. There’s nothing to

 be afraid of. You just have to reach out and take my hand.” Riku

 stood over Kairi, telling her this. Kairi smiled up at him. He was

 always there, right beside her. She understood that now, too. The

 other Kairi stared, still in awe. “Riku... I...” She reached out for

 his hand, but he was already gone. “Riku...” She looked back down at

 Kairi, her hand still on the grip of the Keyblade. “Find them,” Kairi

 whispered to her confused self. “They need you. They can’t do it

 alone.”

 

 The confused Kairi slowly nodded. “We should be together. We need

 each other.”Smiling softly, Kairi closed her eyes. She could finally

 rest. This version of her would take care of it. She would help Sora

 and Riku. It wasn't over yet. She could feel the other her take a

 firm grip on the handle, pulling it out, not unlocking her heart. She

 could feel everything shift as she was engulfed by sparkles, leaving

 the other Kairi alone with the Keyblade. 

 

 “Open the door,” a voice whispered in the lone Kairi's head. Who was

 it? She couldn’t quite tell. Looking up, she could see a lone door

 standing on the beach, apparently leading to nowhere. It had a large

 keyhole on it. It almost seemed to beckon her. Kairi slowly stood up.

 If she stayed 

 here, her friends might be in danger. She knew they could

 handle anything if they were all together again. Sora and Riku were

 both lost out there. Maybe she could find them. She would find them.

 Wherever they were. 

 

 Stepping forward, the young princess used the large, 

 unwieldy key to unlock the door awaiting her. As the door slowly

 opened, she knew there would be no turning back. This was it. But her

 choice was simple. She had to find them. Anything could have happened

 to them out there, lost on any one of countless worlds. Without a

 glance back, Kairi plunged through the door. 

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 Standing before Kingdom Hearts, watching the stars swirl about it,

 Hikari took Sora's hand. It was beautiful. It was, after all, the

 very heart of existence itself. Sephiroth stood behind them, as

 always keeping an eye on the princess he had sworn to protect. She

 could feel it. It was almost time. Her heart pounded. Soon... Just a

 little longer. Kairi had almost reached it. “Don't worry, Riku. We're

 coming.” Sora promised, one gloved hand on the huge Doorway to the

 Light. Nodding, Hikari squeezed Sora's other hand. “It's almost

 over.” There. She could feel it. Kairi was ready. “Now. It's time,

 Sora.” Letting go of his hand, she stepped back from the boy. He was

 the Keyblade Master. It was up to him to unlock the Doorway to the

 Light. Of course, the Doorway needed two keys to open. The other key

 was being inserted right now.Holding up the Keyblade, Sora pointed it

 at the door, letting it's light pulse forth. Turning the Keyblade, he

 unlocked the door. Now they'd all be together. He was already with

 Hikari. Now they'd have Riku. And the Light would end the Heartless

 once and for all. Hikari watched as the light started to spill forth.

 “The Light. It's beautiful,” she whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 Kairi stepped out of the strange doorway, trying to piece her

 thoughts together. She'd just been on the Destiny Islands beach

 again. But she'd been there at the point in time when her journey had

 begun. But which one had she been? The one lying on the beach with

 the Keyblade in her heart? Or the one who had taken the Keyblade to

 start her journey? Both, it seemed. She could remember her entire

 journey. So now she had reached it's end. 

 

 It had led her full circle. She was back in her room. Shooting stars

 flew past her window. Her plushies sat in a comfortable pile on her

 bed. Turning in a slow circle, she took in her room again. All of her

 video games she had played countless times, sharing in the adventures

 of heroes and villians. Her pictures of the Destiny Islands lined the

 walls. Costumes were probably hanging in her closet. And yet, this

 wasn't home. She could feel it. “This is Kingdom Hearts.” And she

 knew it was. Like Harle had said, her journey through the End of the

 World had been different from Sora's. And much like their journey had

 been different, so was their version of Kingdom Hearts. Kairi's was

 the one doorway that had remained locked for her this whole time.

 She'd been so close to Kingdom Hearts everytime she'd revisited this

 room. The princess turned her attention to the locked door in her

 room. She swallowed. She was finally here. Through chaos and tragedy

 she had come, but she had made her way there all the same. This time

 the locks on Kingdom Hearts were gone. She could unlock the doorway

 and see Riku. But then what? What would become of Riku? He was dead

 and was only clinging to this world to see her one last time. And

 what of her? She was dying as well, her mother begging her to go back

 to another world. She didn't know. But she couldn't stop now. “Riku?”

 Kairi asked, walking to the doorway. “Kairi!” Riku's voice filtered

 through the door. 

 

 The brunette could hear him hurry to the other side of the door,

 placing his hand on it. She placed her own hand where she imagined

 his to be. “I'm here, Riku. I'm finally here. To set you free.” She

 licked her dry lips, closing her eyes.

 

 “I always believed in you, Kairi. I knew I'd see you again.” Riku

 rested his head against the door, smiling faintly. No matter what had

 gotten in her way, Kairi had triumphed. She had made her way to

 Kingdom Hearts. To him. He knew she was strong. Now he knew just how

 strong.  

 

 “Riku...” Kairi whispered. There was so much she needed to tell him.

 But not through a door. Not anymore. She had finally reached him. Her

 journey had come to a close. She had reached her treasure. Stepping

 back, she pulled up the Keyblade. At that very same moment, Sora was

 unlocking the door as well. Kairi could feel him almost as if he were

 there with her. She smiled. They were all together again. Together,

 she and Sora unlocked the Doorway to the light. Slowly, ever so

 slowly, the locked door in Kairi's room opened, light shining forth

 behind it. The light blinded Kairi for a moment. When she could focus

 again, the door had regained it's splendor. It was no longer the door

 in her room, but the gigantic double doors of Kingdom Hearts. Her

 heart soared as she saw Riku's silouhette in the light. “Riku!” And

 someone else was beside her. She wasn't alone anymore. Turning to the

 side, she saw Sora, holding out his Keyblade just as she was holding

 out hers. “Sora!” They were together again. All three of them. The

 light spilled over her, warming her. She laughed. It was over. They

 were all together again. This is what she had wanted, what she had

 always dreamed of. “Kairi?” Sora looked over, astonished to see Kairi

 opening the door with him. She was wearing her old outfit from the

 Destiny Islands rather than her black princess's dress. And she

 seemed so surprised to see him. His eyes slowly went behind Kairi.

 Hikari grinned, standing behind Kairi like a shadow. Sephiroth stood

 watch further behind them. And then, all hell broke loose. The Light

 began to dim. Shadows began growing in intensity, growing larger and

 more menacing. The shadows shot into the Doorway, going deep into the

 core of the Light, into the very heart of the universe. The light

 grew dimmer. Bigger, monstrous shadows grew in the Doorway to the

 Light, obscuring out the light. “No!!!” Sora yelled, loss and

 frustration robbing him of the joy he'd held just seconds earlier.

 “Damn it! Kingdom Hearts is Light!!” But it was too late. The shadows

 kept growing. The Heartless were poisoning the Light of the universe

 at the heart of the Galaxy. Kairi could only stare. She had come to

 end the Heartless. She had come to save everyone. But that was gone

 now. Soon, everything would be. “No...” she whispered, broken.

 “No...” Shaking her head, the princess tried to understand. “But...

 The Light...”“Beware, Kairi,” her voice came from behind. “The closer

 you get to the Light, the greater your shadow becomes.” Kairi slowly

 turned to face herself, Princess Hikari grinning in her black dress.

 “Who are you?” “I'm your shadow,” Princess Hikari explained. “The

 Doorway to the Darkness is shut. The Heartless are dying out because

 of that. But you had to come and stop them. You unleashed the Light.

 Which would have killed the Heartless. If not for one tiny detail.

 You're my light. So I'm the darkness. With you directly in the Light,

 I'm more powerful than I could ever be in the darkness. Thanks to

 you, I've resurrected the dying Heartless. They'll consume the Heart

 of the Universe and start anew. We'll make the Doorway to the Light

 into a new Doorway to the Darkness.”“Hikari!!” Sora cried out,

 betrayed. How could she have done this? How could she have sacrificed

 everything to the darkness? Hikari shook her head a little sadly.

 “Thank you, Sora. For everything. I know why Kairi loves you. She

 loves you because I loved you. Just like Riku. That's why she was

 willing to suffer so much to get him back.” She looked into his eyes,

 her own torn with pain and torment. “I'm glad I got to spend this

 last bit of time together. It's bittersweet, but I think that makes

 it an even better note to go out on. I got to see one of the things

 that meant the most to me.” She looked back towards the darkening

 Doorway to the Light. “But now it's time for the dream to end. From

 Darkness we all come, and to darkness we will return.”Kairi shook her

 head, her heart feeling as if it were being shred to pieces. All of

 her work for nothing. Everyone would be consumed by the Heartless.

 She couldn't save anyone after all. “Who are you? You can't do this.

 You can't! I was going to save everything!” Hikari shook her head

 sadly. “You don't get it, do you? I'm two people. Just like you. I'm

 Princess Hikari, daughter of Ansem, the ruler of Hollow Bastion. When

 my father was overcome by the Heartless, I followed him. I was

 worried about him and I knew his research was driving him mad. My

 personal guard, Sephiroth, came with me. We reached the Doorway to

 the Darkness where my father had become one of them. I joined soon

 after. But I realized there was a problem with my father. We all have

 darkness in our heart. But we also have light. He didn't understand

 that. So when I gave myself to the Heartless, I got rid of the light

 in my heart. That was you, Kairi. I sent away the light in my heart

 to find the Keyblade Master so I could keep track of him, whoever he

 may be and to keep you away so that there would be no chance of the

 light ruining me as it did my father.” 

 

 Clenching her fists, she grew bitter. “And then there's another me.

 A me who grew up with only her mother. A lonely girl who never quite

 fit in. Who was always teased and a bit away from everyone. Like I

 never really belonged in that world. So I spent all my time in

 fantasy worlds, watching movies and playing video games. And I spent

 a lot of time in one fantasy world in particular. On an island where

 I had lots of friends and I was beautiful and two boys adored me.

 Sound familiar, Kairi?” Kairi felt the Keyblade drop from her hands.

 This... This was wrong... “Don't.... Please...” She knew about the

 two realities, but now this girl... “But it was only a fantasy. I

 could never really be on that island. I could never really be

 beautiful with lots of friends and the boys I loved.” Hikari laughed,

 an anguished sound. “I couldn't be with the boys I loved because they

 were only make believe. My real life was pointless and my fantasy

 life was just that, a fantasy. So I finally decided I wanted neither.

 So one night, I took my mother's shears and I slit my wrists so I

 could finally escape the pain and the longing for that which I'd

 never have.”Kairi held her head, trying to force it all away. “Then

 why are you doing this? Why can't you live here with them? Why can't

 you stay with mom? Why... Why?”Hikari glared at Kairi. “You are

 pathetic. No wonder I got rid of you. You always did make me

 indecisive. I was always so wishy washy when I had you inside of me.

 I won't live in a fantasy world. What's the point if none of it is

 real? And I won't live in a real life that's nothing but tears and

 pain. I'm going to die. And I'm going to tear down this fantasy world

 with me. I'm finally going to get my rest. I am the queen of the

 Heartless now, Kairi. I've set loose the horrors of the real world

 here and I'm going to use them to tear it apart. It's all just a

 lie.” She shook her head. “But you still don't understand. Kairi, I'm

 the real Hikari. I'm both Princess Hikari and Hikari in the real

 world. You're just a part of me. A sliver. And illusion. You're the

 small light in my heart that I sent away. You aren't real. Just as

 light is only an illusion, so are you.” Hikari reached forward,

 placing her hand over Kairi's heart. All of a sudden, Kairi couldn't

 breath. She gasped panfully, her body blurring and disipating. She

 shook, but couldn't move as Hikari went about dispelling the illusion

 that she was. It couldn't be... No... She could feel herself fading

 quickly. Riku... Sora... She had only wanted to be with them, to save

 them. Her mother... Soon it would all be gone. Just like her. Arms

 wrapped around Kairi tightly, trying to force her back into being.

 “Kairi, you have to fight it,” Riku told her, holding on as tightly

 as he could. “You have to believe. I know it's hard. But hold on.

 Please.” Hikari frowned as the dead boy tried to bolster her other

 self. It didn't matter. She was growing in power as the seconds

 ticked by, as the darkness grew. Within just a few moments, she'd be

 strong enough to dispell Kairi offhand. A swift blow knocked her hand

 away from Kairi. “Stay away from her!” Sora practically growled,

 holding the Keyblade towards her. Pain erupted in Hikari's heart

 again. Even the boys she loved were turning against her. Even if they

 were only figments of her imagination, it still hurt unbearably.

 “Sora...” Sephiroth gripped his sword. Remembering his earlier battle

 with Sora, this would be rather simple. The boy didn't even have back

 up this time. Pulling up the Masamune, the SOLDIER started towards

 the boy.“Don't, Sephiroth.” The cloaked boy watched Sephiroth through

 his blindfold. “King Ansem. How nice of you to join us,” Sephiroth

 bowed. Smiling faintly, he nodded towards Hikari. “I'm sorry to

 inform you, but I am Princess Hikari's royal guard. My loyaltly lies

 to her and her alone.”“Don't try and stop me, father. I'm ending this

 tonight. Everything will die,” Hikari said, not deigning her father

 worth a glance. Her pained eyes remained fixed on Sora. She'd known

 that he wouldn't follow her plan, but it hurt nonetheless. But he was

 only a dream, she told herself. That helped fill her resolve. It

 would all be over soon enough.Kairi leaned heavily against Sora,

 Riku's ghostly arms still around her. “Ansem?” So Ansem had survived.

 No wonder he looked so much like Riku. He was still in Riku's body.

 Then... That was her father.

 

 “Don't do this, Hikari. I let my curiosity overwhelm me. I let the

 Heartless consume me. Don't let them do the same to you. There is

 light in our hearts. Darkness isn't the only thing our hearts are

 born from,” Ansem pleaded.Hikari laughed. “I know that, father.

 That's why I sent my light far, far away. The Light gave me the power

 to destroy it all. Darkness is reality. Light is dreams. It's fragile

 and full of lies. So I'll put an end to all of it.” Raising her hand,

 the darkness in the Doorway to the Light pulsed. Shadows spilled out,

 engulfing all. In moments, there was nothing but darkness.

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 Harle and Aya watched as Darkness began spilling out, Heartless

 growing everywhere. The Darkness was overtaking all in it's path. It

 was enough to wash over all the universe. Harle shook her head.

 “Surely she has damned us all.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 She sailed about in a sea of darkness. It was everywhere, and yet it

 felt like nowhere at all. It imprisoned her in it's painfilled

 memories of the past, lacing her with cold wracking sobs and blazing

 hot desperation. She had failed. Because of her, everything had

 ceased to be. Now there was only darkness. No dreams. No love. No

 Light. And this is all it would ever be. Because of her. 'Even in

 darkness... There will always be light...' Her grandmother had told

 her that, hadn't she? No, it was her mother. She had come home

 crying. Her mother had come in and smoothed down her hair and had

 told her that. 'Just... take my hand...'

 

 But what could she do? It was too late. It was all over. If she

 hadn't been blinded, if she hadn't been so stupid, maybe she wouldn't

 have forfeited everything.'Kairi, please...'So she could only float

 in the darkness, curled up into a ball, broken and lonely. Always so

 lonely. It wasn't so different from hiding in the bathroom at school

 crying, was it?'Kairi... reach out... take my hand...'

 

 But... But there was light, wasn't there? Even in the very deepest

 darkness. Because... without light, there could be no such thing as

 darkness. And without darkness, there could be no light. Kairi

 reached out for Riku's hand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

 “Kairi...” Riku knelt near her, watching the weary girl slowly push

 herself up. “Are you okay?”“Riku!” Kairi tried to hug him, but he

 shook his head. He was only a spirit. Ansem had his body. She

 couldn't hold him. She placed her hands on her knees in an attempt to

 keep from trying to touch him. She nodded slowly. “I'm... I'm okay.” 

 

 “Good.” Riku smiled softly. 

 

 “Where's Sora? And Ansem? And...” Kairi looked away. Hikari was her,

 wasn't she? So this really was her fault.Riku shook his head. “I

 don't know. I followed you into the darkness. You managed to fight it

 off. I think Hikari and Sephiroth went into the Doorway to the Light.

 I don't know where the others went.” 

 

 “Thanks, Riku.” Kairi slowly looked back up at him. The silver

 haired boy gazed back into her eyes with his dazzling aquamarine

 gems. The princess smiled weakly. “I missed you so much.”“I missed

 you, too, Kairi. I wanted to see you one last time. I'm glad I got

 to.” Now that Riku could see Kairi, he could at last pass on. As long

 as he knew she was all right. 

 

 “No!!” Kairi blinked back tearfully. “I need you! This isn't the

 last time! You're coming with me,” she demanded.“You don't need me,

 Kairi. You made your way here without my help. You're stronger than

 you know.” Riku smiled, placing his hand over her cheek. He wished he

 could feel it. Just one last time. “Maybe I should ask you to take

 care of Sora for me instead of the other way around.”“I do need you!”

 Kairi insisted. “I never would have gotten here without you. You were

 with me every step of the way.” Tears spilled freely down her cheeks.

 “I don't want to be without you, Riku. I love you. Don't go.”

 

 The last part nearly broke Riku's resolve. She loved him? How could

 he leave her? But he didn't have a choice. But... at least he knew

 that. He'd be able to hold that with him when he passed on to the

 other side. “Kairi, I love you, too. I always have. I'd stay with you

 always if I could. Always and forever.”Kairi finally noticed the dark

 haired girl behind Riku. The girl who had called herself Sophie.

 Death incarnate. She had come to collect Riku. “No...” She looked up

 pleadingly, but the angel of death shook her head simply. This was

 her job. “Riku...” Tears blurred her vision as she watched him stand

 up. “I won't let you go. I won't!” She pushed herself to her feet,

 reaching out for him. “Just...” She licked her broken lips, trying to

 see him through her tears. “Just take my hand. And it will be all...”

 Her voice broke, her throat painful now. “And it'll be all right.

 Just take my hand...” She held it out, her hand shaking. “Because...

 Because we'll always be together. Always. I believe that Riku.

 Please, please believe in that with me. Always....” Sophie placed her

 hand on Riku's shoulder. He looked back at the angel of death and

 then to Kairi. He was dead. Sophie was going to take him away. But

 Kairi wouldn't let go. She had a terribly strong will. “I told you

 that you're stronger than you know.” Riku smiled at Kairi, taking her

 hand. In a flash of light he was gone. Kairi closed her eyes, placing

 her hands over her heart. Riku was gone, and yet, she didn't feel

 alone. She felt... She felt as if he were close by. With her.

 'Because you aren't alone,' his voice said in her head. “Riku!”

 Kairi's eyes lit up as she opened them.Riku's heart... When her heart

 had been separated from her body, she had ended up in Sora's body.

 Now Riku was without a body, but she had taken him into her own. He

 hadn't left. She let out a deep breath, relieved. Sophie turned away

 from her, walking back into the darkness. “You're running out of

 time. Hurry. I have to collect you next, you know.” With that, Death

 herself was gone.Kairi nodded. “Let's go, Riku. To end this.”