rlm@0: Prism Hearts 
rlm@0: Chapter 15 Primal Eyes
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'And if I don't make it, Know that I've loved you all along...'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Dear diary,I know it's been a while since I've written, but we've
rlm@0: been so busy with the island festival and the weird stuff going on.
rlm@0: But we can't let that stuff keep us down. I'm sure Kairi, Sora, Riku,
rlm@0: and Tidus will all show up just fine like Kairi did the last time. We
rlm@0: just have to keep waiting. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: On the good side of things, the festival went really well! Booyaka!
rlm@0: Yuna's dancing lessons paid off. It was great to dance with Quisty
rlm@0: like that all night long. She looked sooooo pretty! She was wearing
rlm@0: this beautiful pink dress and with her cute glasses perched on her
rlm@0: nose and the moonlight and... I feel faint just thinking about it. It
rlm@0: was the perfect remedy for all the freaky stuff happening. I could
rlm@0: tell Quisty was still preoccupied for a bit, but by the end of the
rlm@0: night I got her mind off of it. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying
rlm@0: themselves. Irvine kept trying to get me to dance with him all night,
rlm@0: but I didn't want to let go of Quisty for an instant. I didn't want
rlm@0: someone else snatching her for a dance while I was off. I guess Lulu
rlm@0: finally did ask Wakka because I saw them dancing a little later on.
rlm@0: Seifer was on the dock, staring off at the stars, so I guess he
rlm@0: didn't feel like dancing. Poor Seifer. It's fun! Maybe he could use
rlm@0: some lessons from Yuna, too. Speaking of Yuna, even she was dancing
rlm@0: later on. She was with that catgirl I almost accidentally drowned
rlm@0: when she first showed up. I'm sorry, Rikku! I thought you were a
rlm@0: fiend. My mistake! But she's made Yuna smile a whole lot, so I'm
rlm@0: really glad she came. Even if she's a kitty, I think Yuna likes her.
rlm@0: Maybe I should give her a paopu fruit for a present. They could eat
rlm@0: it together at the sunset or something. I bet that would make Yuna
rlm@0: happy! I know it made me happy to do that with Quisty. Now we'll be
rlm@0: able to be together forever. Poor Kairi. I hope she can eventually
rlm@0: share it with the one she loves. If she can ever decide. Well,
rlm@0: there's no rule against sharing it with two people. At least, I don't
rlm@0: think so. Maybe I'll ask Quisty later. She knows all sorts of things. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuna's on the beach now. I guess she decided to come out and watch
rlm@0: the ocean, too. It's a kind of blue gray instead of the pretty blue
rlm@0: green it usually is. And the storm clouds make it all look a little
rlm@0: menacing. I'm almost a little afraid of it. The ocean's always been
rlm@0: our friend, but now it seems so cold and distant. But Yuna doesn't
rlm@0: seem to mind. She walked right into the water. I had my feet in
rlm@0: earlier, but it was too cold to keep them there. I wonder if she's
rlm@0: tired or something. I called to her a few times, but she doesn't seem
rlm@0: to hear me. Maybe she just doesn't feel like talking right now.
rlm@0: Ohhhh... She must be practicing her dancing. She's twirling around in
rlm@0: the water now. I couldn't do that in cold water like that. But she
rlm@0: doesn't seem to mind. It's almost like the water's responding to her,
rlm@0: swishing around her. Actually, it looks like the water's getting
rlm@0: darker near her. Not right around her. But kinda further off. It's
rlm@0: like a shadow is moving across the water. Or in the
rlm@0: water...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: Breaking off her diary entry, Selphie stood up on the dock. Her
rlm@0: heart pounded in her stomach. It wasn't a shadow on the water. It was
rlm@0: under the water. And it was heading towards the Destiny Islands.
rlm@0: “Yuna!! Get out of the water!” But Yuna didn't hear her. She kept
rlm@0: dancing, the water now whirling about her as if by magic. Green eyes
rlm@0: went from the girl in the water to the approaching shape. The shape
rlm@0: broke off. Selphie breathed a momentary sigh of relief. Her respite
rlm@0: was shortlived. The shape was heading towards the main island where
rlm@0: the village was, where the elders were. Her parents... Her heart
rlm@0: dropped into her stomach, covered in ice. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Selphie didn't have the strength to do anything but stare for a long
rlm@0: moment as she saw the huge tidal wave ripping towards the island she
rlm@0: was on. Blurs of blackish gray things tore out of the water, flying
rlm@0: in an erratic path towards the different islands. They missiles
rlm@0: looked like the scales of some ancient and hideous beast. Several
rlm@0: slammed into the beach around her, sending up plumes of sand. Another
rlm@0: zipped past overhead, and for a moment Selphie thought it was going
rlm@0: to hit her. It missed by a head or two and crashed into the dock
rlm@0: behind her. Wood splintered and cracked and she was thrown to the
rlm@0: wooden planks beneath her.Dizzy and still in shock from the
rlm@0: suddenness of her world plunging into madness, Selphie wiped at the
rlm@0: water that dripped down her forehead. Wincing at the pain that shot
rlm@0: through her head, she pulled her hand away, momentarily puzzled by
rlm@0: the blood on her fingers. She had hit the planks harder than she
rlm@0: thought. A chittering behind her quickly drew her attention from the
rlm@0: blood dribbling down her face. Turning about, the brunette almost
rlm@0: fell again. She couldn't focus and the sudden motion made her feel
rlm@0: sick. What she saw made her freeze where she stood, bare feet pressed
rlm@0: against water soaked wood. The missile/scale thing she saw earlier
rlm@0: had been some sort of beast. It crawled out of the wrecked portion of
rlm@0: the pier where it had landed, chittering crazily as it watched her.
rlm@0: It had a strange not quite heart symbol on it, black with a red X
rlm@0: through it. Like the Heartless that had already destroyed their
rlm@0: island once before. But this wasn't a tiny shadow creature. It was an
rlm@0: angry monster. Selphie was only dimly aware of the nunchuks at her
rlm@0: side. She was too weak to fight it. She was going to die. The Destiny
rlm@0: Islands were being torn asunder. In those seconds before it could
rlm@0: strike, her mind clung to the things that were important to her. Her
rlm@0: friends, the islands, her parents, Quistis. For one brief moment, she
rlm@0: wasn't there. She was back on the beach the night before, dancing
rlm@0: with the girl she loved. 'Quisty, we'll be together forever, won't
rlm@0: we?' 'I never want to grow up,' she had told Sora. And it was true.
rlm@0: She wanted to stay here, playing, loving, forever. Now the dream was
rlm@0: cruelly falling apart. The creature rushed forward, claw raised to
rlm@0: cut her in half. Before Selphie could precede the Destiny Islands to
rlm@0: the Graveyard of Dreams, the tidal wave finally crashed into her. The
rlm@0: world spun end over end and darkness claimed her. Somewhere in the
rlm@0: darkness, she could hear Yuna singing. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:  The beach was totalled. Trees were ripped up from the ground and
rlm@0: lay scattered across the island. The houses and huts they had built
rlm@0: were shattered like an angry child's playthings. The pier was broken
rlm@0: and lay like so much debris thrown about the beach. The tranquil
rlm@0: serenity of the Destiny Islands had been replaced with a malevolent
rlm@0: chaos, a hateful, destructive force. It was as if a jealous angel
rlm@0: banished to hell had come back to make paradise bleed. This was the
rlm@0: scene Rikku found herself looking at, staring out across the
rlm@0: devestated island. And in the midst of it all, Yuna danced. The waves
rlm@0: broke before hitting her, passing harmlessly around the blue and
rlm@0: green eyed brunette. Despite the horror that lay around her, Yuna
rlm@0: didn't seem to notice at all, dancing early in the waves. Shadows
rlm@0: pulsed and coalesced around her. “Yuna!” she called, but she got no
rlm@0: answer. The girl continued dancing, singing softly. Had she cracked?
rlm@0: Was she welcoming the madness that had already claimed Tidus and some
rlm@0: of her other friends? The only sound outside of the crashing of the
rlm@0: waves was the sound of Rikku's paws crunching against the sand as she
rlm@0: ran to Yuna. She had been taking a catnap and had awakened to
rlm@0: something crashing into the island. In the confusion, she had tried
rlm@0: to find Yuna. She had to make sure she was okay. Now she'd found the
rlm@0: other girl, and her heart thundered, forcing her to go faster than
rlm@0: she ever had as a human. Reaching Yuna, the thief nearly pounced on
rlm@0: her. “Yuna!!” But Yuna continued to ignore her, dancing and singing
rlm@0: as the waves and ground shook around them. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The shockwave almost threw Rikku back into the crashing waves. Her
rlm@0: ears perked at the sound. Something big had just happened. Her spiral
rlm@0: green eyes searched for the source of something that huge. Missiles?
rlm@0: Some type of giant cannon? There. Her eyes stopped on the onrushing
rlm@0: tidal wave. It was coming from the main island where the village was
rlm@0: located. It was gone. Where there had been an island, there was now
rlm@0: nothing more than jagged rocks and a swelling wave. And the barest
rlm@0: hint of an ugly, giant creature that disappeared beneath the water
rlm@0: just as quickly as she had seen it. Gone. It was completely gone. And
rlm@0: with the way the water surged, it was heading straight towards them. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Yuna!!” But the girl continued to ignore Rikku. The former Radical
rlm@0: Dreamer clutched Yuna's dress, yanking her forward. If they didn't
rlm@0: get moving, the huge wave heading towards the beach would slam into
rlm@0: them. And after that, the creature would be there. Rikku didn't know
rlm@0: if they could escape the beast a second time, but she had to try.
rlm@0: First things first. They had to get away from that wave. Rikku
rlm@0: slapped Yuna as hard as she could. Guilt blossomed in her gut as she
rlm@0: did, but she had to get through to her somehow. Dragging Yuna away
rlm@0: wouldn't get them far enough from the wave. Yuna slumped in her grasp
rlm@0: after the slap. She would have fallen into the water if Rikku hadn't
rlm@0: been holding onto her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Slowly, green and blue eyes blinked, looking up at the catgirl.
rlm@0: “Rikku?” the quiet girl asked dreamily. Her vision slowly focussed on
rlm@0: Rikku. She looked scared and tense. Yuna smiled her, trying to calm
rlm@0: her. She reached forward, stroking the thief's furry cheek. “Don't be
rlm@0: afraid, Rikku. It's almost over.”Rikku stared in shock for a second,
rlm@0: but shook it off. If she froze, they were both dead. She bodily
rlm@0: dragged Yuna towards the shore. “We need to move, Yunie. Something
rlm@0: very bad is coming this way. We need to run. Fast.” Turning from the
rlm@0: other girl, ignoring the wet fur that stuck to her legs, Rikku began
rlm@0: to run towards the beach. Yuna's sudden halt nearly yanked her back.
rlm@0: The thief whirled around, her heart pounding like an alarm. They were
rlm@0: running out of time. They needed to get away. The fact that there was
rlm@0: no place to run to didn't matter so much as moving. Now. “Rikku, it's
rlm@0: okay. No one will ever hurt anymore. No one will ever leave us again.
rlm@0: We'll all be together. Forever.” Yuna smiled brighter this time,
rlm@0: opening her arms to show what she meant. “Your sister won't leave you
rlm@0: again. We won't have to mourn our parents. We'll never have to leave
rlm@0: each other.” The human girl wrapped her arms around Rikku. “I don't
rlm@0: want you to leave, Rikku. We can always be together now. Always.”
rlm@0: Leaning forward, she kissed the stunned Rikku softly, holding onto
rlm@0: her. 'Move. If you don't move, you'll die. She'll die. It will be
rlm@0: over. Move. Move now!!' Rikku's mind screamed at her. The direness of
rlm@0: the situation helped push off the hipnotic spell that Yuna's lips
rlm@0: cast on her. Clutching Yuna hard enough that her claws dug into her
rlm@0: shoulders, spiral green eyes stared deep into Yuna's blue and green
rlm@0: eyes. “Yuna, I promised I'd protect you no matter what. And I'm going
rlm@0: to do that. We have to run. I'm not going to leave you. Just please,
rlm@0: run. Run!!” Rikku pleaded, fear and frustration mixing inside of her.
rlm@0: Slowly, achingly slowly, Yuna nodded. She seemed a little surprised,
rlm@0: almost afraid of the mix of emotions inside of Rikku. She meekly
rlm@0: followed along as Rikku ran, her heart thundering as she knew they
rlm@0: probably wouldn't make it. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Selphie! You're alive!” Quistis pulled the half-conscious brunette
rlm@0: tightly against herself. She knew she should let her rest, but she
rlm@0: was too relieved to see that her green eyed girl was alive. Her
rlm@0: glasses slipped down her nose as she clung to Selphie. How close had
rlm@0: she been to losing her? The girl had nearly been buried under planks
rlm@0: from the destroyed pier and had almost drowned from being pinned
rlm@0: under while the tidal wave had swept over her. “Oh, Selphie...” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Using all of her strength to push herself back to consciousness,
rlm@0: Selphie hung limply in Quistis's arms. Burying her head weakly
rlm@0: against the blonde's shoulder, Selphie closed her eyes. She was
rlm@0: alive. With Quistis. Maybe... Maybe things would be okay. No. No
rlm@0: maybes. She had to believe it. There could be no other option other
rlm@0: than things being okay. “Quisty,” she whispered. Blinking tear
rlm@0: streaked eyes, Quistis held Selphie close. Her eyes narrowed as she
rlm@0: tried to focus on the blurry figure moving towards them. It looked
rlm@0: like the figure was moving on top of the water, walking as if on
rlm@0: land. Pushing her glasses up, she saw that she was right. A boy in a
rlm@0: black raincoat was walking on the water, right up to the beach.
rlm@0: Standing up with Selphie, she gripped her whip, keeping a weary eye
rlm@0: on him. After all that had happened, she wasn't about to trust
rlm@0: anything. “Who are you?” she called out. Selphie steadied herself
rlm@0: against the blonde, turning to see who Quistis was talking to.The
rlm@0: hooded boy didn't deign her question worth an answer. Instead, he
rlm@0: turned to look out to see. “She'll be here soon. It's almost done. I
rlm@0: wonder what she'll choose.” Turning to the two girls, he addressed
rlm@0: them. “Sin is coming. You can't stop it. Get away from the
rlm@0: beach.”Shaking her head as much as her weak body would allow, Selphie
rlm@0: refused. “Those scale creatures are on the island.”The boy nodded.
rlm@0: “But you can fight them. And you can try to live until she gets here.
rlm@0: She's the only one who can stop this.” He turned to face the oncoming
rlm@0: waves. “Hurry.”Without another word, Quistis and Selphie tried to get
rlm@0: as far from the beach as they could.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Running. Running and running. Selphie's bare feet hurt from all the
rlm@0: running. She nearly slipped on a slippery rock as they ran near a
rlm@0: small waterfall. But even after all the running, she knew that they
rlm@0: were on a relatively small island. There was only so much room to
rlm@0: run. Only so much room to hide before it found them, caught up with
rlm@0: them. They couldn't run forever. What would they do when it finally
rlm@0: did catch them? How could they stop this nightmare? She just wanted
rlm@0: to wake up, safe and sound in Quistis's arms, the blonde asleep with
rlm@0: a book slumped on her chest. “My diary!” Selphie's green eyes
rlm@0: widened. It had been on the pier. Now it was probably lost forever.
rlm@0: Her shoulders slumped. She had the sinking feeling that she could
rlm@0: very easily lose everything. “If...” Quistis cut herself off, biting
rlm@0: her lip before continuing. “When we get out of this, I'll get you a
rlm@0: new diary. And we'll make plenty of happy memories for you to write
rlm@0: in it,” she promised. Selphie new that Quistis was trying to make her
rlm@0: feel better, that she was just as scared as she was, but that made it
rlm@0: even sweeter. She smiled faintly, gazing at the blonde girl. “Thanks,
rlm@0: Quisty. I'll make sure...” Before Selphie could continue, one of the
rlm@0: Heartless Sinscales crashed down in front of them. It chittered its
rlm@0: bloodthirsty cry, looking between the two girls. As it got ready to
rlm@0: pounce forward, Quistis took a step forward, her whip lashing out at
rlm@0: it. The creature shrieked as the whip hit it again and again. It was
rlm@0: soon joined by Selphie's nunchuks, cracking against the creature.
rlm@0: Lunging forward, it's claws tried to tear into Selphie. The brunette
rlm@0: hopped back, just missing getting slashed by the razor sharp claws.
rlm@0: The beast got ready to lunge again, but Quistis's whip wrapped around
rlm@0: it's leg, yanking it back. Selphie took the opportunity to hit it as
rlm@0: hard as she could. Finally, the Heartless fell at their feet. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Turning to Quistis, Selphie opened her mouth, but Quistis's eyes
rlm@0: widened. Selphie could swear she saw the reflection of the beast in
rlm@0: Quistis's eyes, but she couldn't move. It was too fast. But so was
rlm@0: Quistis. The blonde shoved herself in front of Selphie at the same
rlm@0: time as the creature came swiping forward. It's claw crashed into
rlm@0: Quistis's side, sending her rolling into the water. Selphie was dimly
rlm@0: aware that she had screamed. Her green eyes followed Quistis's
rlm@0: crumpled form slumped on the ground. In her panic, Selphie couldn't
rlm@0: even tell if the other girl was breathing. The beast. She had to
rlm@0: protect Quistis. She couldn't let it hurt the girl she loved. But
rlm@0: wasn't she already too late for that? Quashing the thought, panic and
rlm@0: fear and loathing and sadness welled in her heart, flooding it. The
rlm@0: brunette ran to the crumpled girl ready to fight off the creature as
rlm@0: best she could. The Heartless chittered madly, turning to the two of
rlm@0: them again. It almost seemed to be laughing. It wanted their hearts.
rlm@0: It would feast upon them, devour them whole. How delicious. It
rlm@0: advanced on the stupid girl standing her ground and the injured girl
rlm@0: who wouldn't even fight back. “Selphie...” Quistis said weakly. It
rlm@0: took an extreme effort to focus through the pain. It enveloped her
rlm@0: side like a hot iron, burning deeply into her mind. She clutched her
rlm@0: side tightly, feeling the blood pool and drip around her fingertips.
rlm@0: 'Get up!' her mind screamed at her. She had to draw the creature away
rlm@0: so Selphie could run. “Run, Selphie. Go... Get out of here.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “No! I'm not leaving you, Quisty.” Tears streamed down Selphie's
rlm@0: cheeks, but she never took her eyes away from the Heartless that had
rlm@0: tried to kill her girlfriend. “We ate a paopu fruit together. We'll
rlm@0: stay together forever. We promised. I'm not leaving you. Ever.”
rlm@0: Selphie jumped forward, her nunchuk cracking against the amorpheous
rlm@0: face of the creature. It chittered in pain or anger and got ready to
rlm@0: pounce upon the girl and tear her apart. The girl continued to hit it
rlm@0: in a rage. The girl was already hurt and her anger was blinding her.
rlm@0: In just a moment, it would be able to...But Selphie wasn't the only
rlm@0: one blinded by the situation. Selphie watched as the Heartless fell
rlm@0: in two halves. So focussed had it been on its prey that it hadn't
rlm@0: seen the trenchcoated boy behind it. “Seifer!” Selphie cried out,
rlm@0: shocked to see the blond boy. She quickly turned her attention back
rlm@0: to Quistis, running to the other girl. Her heart pounded in a frenzy
rlm@0: as she saw the blood dripping down her side. The cut seemed to be
rlm@0: pretty deep in the girl's side. She needed some healing magic quick.
rlm@0: “We need to get you to Yuna. She can help.” If they hurried. But she
rlm@0: couldn't bring herself to say that part. Quistis couldn't die. She
rlm@0: wouldn't let her. Selphie swallowed the burning pain in her throat.
rlm@0: If Seifer was alive, Yuna could be alive, too. She'd been right on
rlm@0: the beach. Maybe she was somewhere on the island. If they could find
rlm@0: her, they could save Quistis. “You don't really expect your loyal
rlm@0: fans to desert you, do you, Miss Trepe?” Seifer asked, grinning. Even
rlm@0: if the situation were dire, he still liked teasing Quistis. He saw it
rlm@0: as bad form to give that up, even in the heat of battle. You had to
rlm@0: stay true to the bitter end, after all. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Quistis laughed softly as Selphie helped her up. She tried to stand
rlm@0: on her own, not wanting to worry Selphie too much, but she found that
rlm@0: she couldn't stand on her own. That bothered her greatly. She tried
rlm@0: not to let it show. “I never knew you were a loyal fan, Seifer.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Surely you jest, Miss Trepe. Who isn't?” Winking, Seifer walked
rlm@0: over to the two girls. He could see how bad the injury was, but the
rlm@0: look Quistis gave him let him know not to say anything about it.
rlm@0: Giving a nearly imperceptible nod, her turned to look around the
rlm@0: clearing. Quistis was a strong girl. Probably the strongest he knew,
rlm@0: despite all the worries and self-doubts she carried. Selphie was a
rlm@0: lucky girl. And he'd be damned if he'd let Quistis die now. “The main
rlm@0: island is gone. Whatever hit it seems to be headed here. But for some
rlm@0: reason, it hasn't destroyed this island yet. It's like those fiends
rlm@0: are searching for something.” He let that sink in for a minute. He
rlm@0: knew what it meant. Their parents were all dead. Their homes were
rlm@0: destroyed. And the only reason they were alive was because of
rlm@0: something hidden on the island they were on. Quistis went numb at
rlm@0: Seifer's words. Destroyed? It was all gone. Even if they could stop
rlm@0: all this, how much could they salvage? Would their islands survive
rlm@0: the strain? They had already lost so much. “Mom... Dad...?” Selphie
rlm@0: felt her knees go weak. Only the knowledge that she couldn't drop
rlm@0: Quistis kept her standing up straight. It felt like yet another blade
rlm@0: had punctured her heart. Quistis was hurt, maybe dying her family was
rlm@0: dead her home was being crushed. Everything she held dear was a tiny
rlm@0: piece of sand, falling through her fingers no matter how hard she
rlm@0: tried to hold on. She swallowed painfully, fighting back tears. She
rlm@0: swallowed again and again, trying to keep the tears at bay. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “We need to regroup. We have a better chance together than alone.
rlm@0: Quistis, you always were a good leader. You can help them figure out
rlm@0: what to do. Remember, we don't have much time. When they find what
rlm@0: they're looking for, they'll destory this island, too.” Seifer turned
rlm@0: his back to them, hefting up his blade. “'Them'? Seifer, you're
rlm@0: coming, too, right?” Quistis asked. She already knew the answer, but
rlm@0: she prayed that she was wrong. Hadn't enough people been hurt
rlm@0: already? Hadn't they already lost enough? Why did there need to be
rlm@0: anymore sacrifices? She watched him hopefully, clinging to the tiny
rlm@0: shred of hope that he'd merely said it wrong. His stature never
rlm@0: wavered. He looked just as cocky and sure of himself as ever, despite
rlm@0: the fact that they may never see him again.“I never was the group
rlm@0: type. You know that, Quistis. I just manage to cause problems.
rlm@0: Besides, there are three of those creatures lurking in the bushes
rlm@0: behind us. I figured I'd try to hone my skills on them. If I'm ever
rlm@0: going to be a Sorceress's Knight, I have to be the best.” Shooting a
rlm@0: look over his shoulder the blond boy grinned. Turning back, he pulled
rlm@0: up the blade and got ready.“.... Thank you, Seifer,” Quistis said at
rlm@0: last, watching the boy wave them off nonchalantly. He was buying them
rlm@0: time. She doubted even he could fight three of those things. But she
rlm@0: and Selphie were both injured. He was sacrificing himself for them.
rlm@0: She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay and fight, but there was
rlm@0: nothing they could do. “Anytime, Quistis. Now get going. You need to
rlm@0: get that scratch patched up. You keep her safe, Selphie,” Seifer
rlm@0: said, not turning to face them, still watching the movement in the
rlm@0: shadows.Selphie nodded. “I will. Be careful Seifer. Come back as soon
rlm@0: as you can.” Could he really take on all three of them? Did he have a
rlm@0: plan? He had to. Right? Now wasn't the time to think about it.
rlm@0: Quistis was bleeding badly. They had to find Yuna. Her white magic
rlm@0: could fix Quistis. Selphie held onto the blonde girl and hurried as
rlm@0: quickly as she could. The bushes rustled behind her. Seifer's blade
rlm@0: slashed through the air behind them. Quistis winced in pain. Selphie
rlm@0: pushed herself to go faster, praying she wouldn't be too late.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Rikku shivered, her fur still wet, as she and Yuna crawled into a
rlm@0: hidden cave. There were drawings on the walls, making the cave look
rlm@0: like a hiding place for children. At the end of the cave was a
rlm@0: strange door. Rikku tried the knob, but it was locked. Why would
rlm@0: there be a door in a cave? Where did it lead to?Yuna recognized the
rlm@0: drawings. They were of Sora, Kairi, and Riku. This must be the
rlm@0: 'Special Place' that Sora and Riku had spoken of. How strange that
rlm@0: she'd end up in the place that was so important to her three lost
rlm@0: friends. But it had felt like she had been called there. When Rikku
rlm@0: had asked where they could go to get away, she had immediately
rlm@0: answered here. Now that she was closer, it felt like the strange door
rlm@0: at the end of the cave was calling directly to her, reverberating off
rlm@0: the walls. 'Open the door and let everything end...' she could almost
rlm@0: hear. “Yunie!” Rikku called for the third time. Her other three calls
rlm@0: had illicited no response. Yuna seemed to be deep in thought. The
rlm@0: normally quiet, shy girl seemed even more introspective. But now was
rlm@0: definitely not the time. “Yuna!” Walking over, Rikku placed her hands
rlm@0: on Yuna's shoulders, finally getting her attention. What was wrong
rlm@0: with the brunette? It was like Yuna wasn't seeing the same horrible
rlm@0: things that she was. They had barely escaped the tidal wave and that
rlm@0: thing... Sin had risen out of the water just moments later. At least
rlm@0: they had a momentary respite from the chaos outside. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Turning to face the catgirl, Yuna giggled softly, her hand going to
rlm@0: her mouth. The thief was a bedraggled mess. Her fur clung to her and
rlm@0: her ears kept twitching to try and get dry. “You're so cute, Rikku.”
rlm@0: She said softly, wrapping her arms around the catgirl's shoulders.
rlm@0: She gazed deeply into those spiral green eyes, feeling as if she were
rlm@0: falling into them. “I don't know if I'd have the strength to go
rlm@0: through all of this without you, Rikku. I'd be too scared. But with
rlm@0: you by my side, it's all right. I'm not afraid to die if I'm with
rlm@0: you.” Leaning forward to kiss Rikku, she was perplexed when Rikku
rlm@0: moved her head to the side. She kissed the wet, furry cheek anyway.
rlm@0: “Yunie, what are you talking about? What's going on?” Rikku was
rlm@0: starting to get seriously worried about the girl holding onto her.
rlm@0: Yuna had an almost manic gleam in her blue and green eyes. “We aren't
rlm@0: going to die. I'll protect you, Yunie. Always. I swear.” She looked
rlm@0: back into those slightly frightening eyes, trying to make Yuna see
rlm@0: the truth in her words.“Rikku...” Yuna stroked the thief's cheek,
rlm@0: resting against her. Rikku's heart was thundering against her. The
rlm@0: poor kitty. “There's nothing to be scared of. I know that now. There
rlm@0: will never be anything to be afraid of again. I finally understand. I
rlm@0: wasn't afraid of death. I was afraid of life. Of being left behind.
rlm@0: Of watching those I loved die. Of being left alone. Of being hurt and
rlm@0: broken. Of watching people suffer. I always wanted to give people
rlm@0: hope, but what good can hope do if you can't stave off death? As long
rlm@0: as there is life, there will be suffering and torment. Our only peace
rlm@0: is in death. My father died. But I'm the one who suffered. The living
rlm@0: suffer. Not the dead.” Reality came crashing down around Rikku's
rlm@0: head. The world around her was falling apart. The girl she loved was
rlm@0: verging on suicidal. And she had no idea how to save any of it. Her
rlm@0: strength drained as powerlessness bled her dry. “I would have been
rlm@0: too afraid to do this on my own. Without you, I would have been too
rlm@0: afraid of death. But if I can be with you, I'll have no fear.” Yuna
rlm@0: took Rikku's paw, kissing it softly. “I love you. We'll always be
rlm@0: together. Life won't be able to keep us apart.”“No...” Rikku argued
rlm@0: softly, shaking her head. “No!” She held Yuna's shoulders as tightly
rlm@0: as she could, scratching deep into the brunette, but Yuna didn't even
rlm@0: seem to notice. Tiny splotches of red grew under Rikku's claws.
rlm@0: “Yunie, we can still get out of here. There has to be a way. I'll
rlm@0: save you. Somehow.” Yuna smiled again, her lips brushing against
rlm@0: Rikku's. “You don't understand. Sin is coming. All I have to do is
rlm@0: open the doorway. Then Sin will destroy all life. All suffering. All
rlm@0: pain. We'll all be together.” Tears spilt down her cheeks as she
rlm@0: gazed at Rikku. “It's finally over.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Fire!” Flames licked at one of Sin's many Heartless creatures as a
rlm@0: girl in black raised her hand. A blitzball slammed into it, knocking
rlm@0: it over. “Thunder!” the girl cried out again. Lightening struck the
rlm@0: beast. It jerked spasmodically until it finally stopped, fading back
rlm@0: into harmless shadows. “They just keep coming, Lu,” the boy said,
rlm@0: breathing hard. Her looked around worriedly, waiting for more of the
rlm@0: strange beasts to jump out at them.“Then we must keep fighting them,”
rlm@0: Lulu responded calmly. Turning towards the path leading up to them,
rlm@0: her braids swishing behind her, she spotted Selphie supporting a very
rlm@0: pale Quistis. Blood soaked the side of the blonde's dress. Whatever
rlm@0: hope she had held onto dwindled rapidly. How could they possibly
rlm@0: survive this? How many were already dead?“Lulu! Wakka!” Selphie
rlm@0: called excitedly. There were people still out there. That relief
rlm@0: spread through her quickly. Good. Now if they could only find a place
rlm@0: to get to that they could protect. And of course, get Quistis healed
rlm@0: as swiftly as possible. Her eyes scanned about for Yuna, but she
rlm@0: couldn't find the other girl. “Where's Yuna? Where's everyone
rlm@0: else?”“Just me an' Lu as far as I know. Haven't seen anybody else
rlm@0: till you showed up. Good thing ya did. We couldn't hold out much
rlm@0: longer on our... Owww!” He looked over at Lulu. The black haired girl
rlm@0: scowled at him. She'd pinched him very sharply. What was that all
rlm@0: about? Didn't they have enough to deal with without her doing things
rlm@0: like that? Her eyes were moving around oddly. He raised an eyebrow.
rlm@0: Lulu sighed deliberately and leaned closer. “They're injured, Wakka.
rlm@0: Quistis is probably dying. We're going to have to protect them. So
rlm@0: don't say stupid things like that.”Wakka nodded, understanding. That
rlm@0: meant that they'd have to keep an eye on the two injured girls. Which
rlm@0: meant... They were worse off than they were before. His hopes
rlm@0: thoroughly shattered, he felt his shoulders slump. It didn't seem
rlm@0: like any of them were getting out of this. “No Yuna?” Selphie asked
rlm@0: again, her green eyes wide in disbelief. She had come all this way to
rlm@0: find a healer to save Quistis. But Yuna wasn't here. Lulu was a mage,
rlm@0: but she only knew black magic, nothing that could save Quistis. They
rlm@0: had travelled all that way for nothing? Quistis had become very quiet
rlm@0: just a few minutes ago. The blonde was breathing irregularly, slumped
rlm@0: heavily against Selphie's side. She needed help. And there was
rlm@0: nothing Selphie could do. Tears threatened to wash away whatever
rlm@0: grasp she still held on her sanity. She was going to lose Quistis...
rlm@0: “So you children are still fighting?” a voice asked from the trail
rlm@0: above them. They all turned to the voice. It was impossible for
rlm@0: anyone to have gotten ahead of them, though. Someone would need to
rlm@0: fly to be able to get to the path above them without going right
rlm@0: through them. Elder Seymour smiled as he approached them. “Elder
rlm@0: Seymour!” Wakka said excitedly.“Elder Seymour, we're very glad to see
rlm@0: you,” Lulu confessed. The elder simply smiled, looking about at them
rlm@0: all. He walked to Selphie, watching her green eyes light up at his
rlm@0: presence. There was hope again.“Seymour! You're alive!” If Seymour
rlm@0: was alive, then Quistis was saved. Seymour was a powerful mage, the
rlm@0: most powerful on the Destiny Islands. He could heal Quistis. Selphie
rlm@0: dragged the semi-conscious girl over to the elder, the thought that
rlm@0: the girl she loved wouldn't die after all soothing her body and soul.
rlm@0: “Quisty is hurt. You have to heal her.” She laid the blonde out on
rlm@0: the ground, being very careful not to hurt her anymore than she had
rlm@0: been. Reaching out, she gently stroked the other girl's cheek. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Quistis smiled weakly, looking up at Selphie with unfocussed eyes.
rlm@0: It took all of her strength to keep from passing out. But she knew
rlm@0: that if she did, she'd never wake up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hmm...” Seymour surveyed the injured girl, kneeling down and
rlm@0: checking her wounds. Quistis hissed in pain as he touched the wound.
rlm@0: He got up, looking down at the girl. “It's a very serious wound.
rlm@0: She's lost a lot of blood.” Selphie nodded, holding onto Quistis's
rlm@0: hand. “So you can heal her, right, Elder Seymour?”The man nodded.
rlm@0: “Yes, I could. But I'm not going to.” He paused for a moment, letting
rlm@0: that sink in. Selphie looked up slowly, looking lost and confused. He
rlm@0: smiled down at her. “Why?” Selphie asked quietly, obviously in shock
rlm@0: over his answer.“Because very shortly, you'll all be dead anyway.
rlm@0: Healing her would only prolong it. Sin will destroy this island. And
rlm@0: after that, Sin will destory all life. Healing her would be cruel. It
rlm@0: would only keep her alive in order that she may die,” Seymour
rlm@0: explained. “No...” Selphie shook her head. “It... No, it isn't like
rlm@0: that. We can still try. We can stop it. We have to. You have to save
rlm@0: Quisty! Please!” Tears burst down her cheeks, spilling down her chin.
rlm@0: “You have to!” Clutching the blonde's hand, Selphie held it tightly
rlm@0: to her heart. “I'm afraid I have to do no such thing. But I will help
rlm@0: you. I am the last surviving elder of the Destiny Islands, so you are
rlm@0: all my children. I will send you along with her on her journey. Then
rlm@0: you won't have to part for even the short time it takes for you to
rlm@0: join her after she dies.” He smiled at the girls, raising his hand as
rlm@0: he summoned his magic. Wakka and Lulu got in front of Selphie, both
rlm@0: ready to fight him. He simply laughed. “You sweet, innocent children.
rlm@0: Soon you will never know the pain of life. Goodbye.” Summoning all of
rlm@0: the magic at his disposal, he got ready to hurry along the four of
rlm@0: them to death's sweet embrace. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A gunshot fired out. Pain erupted in Seymour's side. He stumbled
rlm@0: forward. Yes, life was pain. All life. Which is why it had to be...
rlm@0: Another shot. And another. The world swayed around him as he turned
rlm@0: to face his attackers. Four men and one woman in black suits were all
rlm@0: holding guns, pointing at him. Several other people were with them as
rlm@0: well. He could see one of the island children with them, Kairi, the
rlm@0: girl who had washed up on the Destiny Islands shore years ago. But
rlm@0: this couldn't be happening. This.. This was not how it was supposed
rlm@0: to work out. He tried to summon his magic, but it was weak in the
rlm@0: pain-wracked state he found himself. Kairi ran up to him, shoving the
rlm@0: Keyblade into his chest. She turned it swiftly, unlocking his heart.
rlm@0: He stumbled back, clutching his heart. Inside, he could feel the
rlm@0: darkness moving about. The darkness he had allowed Sephiroth to place
rlm@0: inside of him. Because it would give him power. The power to realize
rlm@0: his dream. To bring an end to life. He grinned as he realized that
rlm@0: would happen soon enough.“Something's wrong...” Kairi took several
rlm@0: steps back. “If he's the one who called Sin here, then he has to be
rlm@0: the Keyhole. But this isn't like any other Keyhole I've unlocked.
rlm@0: There's supposed to be light.” The princess had the feeling that
rlm@0: something had gone terribly wrong. “That's because I'm not the
rlm@0: Keyhole, Kairi.” Seymour laughed softly, his body changing,
rlm@0: transformed by the darkness that had grown in his heart. “But
rlm@0: Sephiroth did give me the power to find out who was. And it turns out
rlm@0: we had the same goals all along. It all ends here. We will bring this
rlm@0: world to an end. We will destroy the vicious cycle of life and death.
rlm@0: We will give peace to all.” By now he looked only vaguely human,
rlm@0: floating in the air like some strange ancient being. “Princess! Get
rlm@0: back!” The Turks immediately surrounded the Princess, protecting her
rlm@0: from the being that had once been Seymour. They began firing at him
rlm@0: as he summoned his magic. Elena led Kairi back to the others before
rlm@0: returning to face Seymour. Cloud looked at Squall. The two nodded at
rlm@0: each other before running after the Turks, swords brandished. Aerith
rlm@0: and Rinoa herded Selphie, Quistis, Lulu, and Wakka away from the
rlm@0: battle.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi turned to her friends, feeling bittersweet about their
rlm@0: reunion. Because of her, they were hurting, dying. Because she had
rlm@0: left the door open for the Heartless to come upon this world. Her
rlm@0: beautiful Destiny Islands were crumbling. She had to unlock the
rlm@0: Keyhole before it was too late. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Please! You have to help Quisty!” Selphie pleaded, tears streaming
rlm@0: down her cheeks. “She's dying...” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'Dear God, what have I done?' Kairi watched in horror as Selphie
rlm@0: held tightly onto a limp Quistis. He inability to entirely give up
rlm@0: her past life had caused so much pain. Riku was dead. Sora was lost.
rlm@0: The Destiny Islands were being torn apart. Her friends were
rlm@0: suffering. All because of her. Her fingers tightened around the
rlm@0: Keyblade. This had to end. “It will be okay,” Aerith said soothingly
rlm@0: to Selphie. Smiling, the flower girl brushed some of Selphie's tears
rlm@0: away before placing her hands over Quistis. White blue light flashed
rlm@0: around the blonde girl, spreading through her. Quistis blinked
rlm@0: weakly, gazing up. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Selphie broke down, holding onto Quistis as tightly as she could.
rlm@0: “Quisty!!” She cried against the blonde girl, her trembling fingers
rlm@0: clenching onto the torn fabric of Quistis's dress. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Quistis held her as well as she could. Her entire body felt so weak.
rlm@0: But the pain was gone. She was alive. Somehow. She closed her eyes,
rlm@0: feeling Selphie's arms around her. “That isn't like you, Kairi,” a
rlm@0: voice said behind her. Kairi turned to see Riku leaning against a
rlm@0: tree, his arms crossed. His head was lowered and his eyes were
rlm@0: closed. “You can't keep blaming yourself. You have to follow your
rlm@0: heart. Wherever that leads you. Sometimes that doesn't turn out the
rlm@0: way you want it to. But what matters is that you try. That you follow
rlm@0: it through to the end.” He looked up, opening his eyes. “Yes, bad
rlm@0: things happened. Yes, people are getting hurt. But you're trying to
rlm@0: stop that. There's no blame there, Kairi. Yes, this starts with you.
rlm@0: But you aren't at fault for that.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi nodded slightly, feeling a little better. “Yeah... You're
rlm@0: right. Thanks, Riku.” She smiled up at him, blinking her tear filled
rlm@0: eyes. She knew he was far away. But he was still right there with
rlm@0: her. “Just like I couldn't blame you for anything that happened when
rlm@0: you were working with the Heartless. Because you were just following
rlm@0: your heart. Trying to save me.”Riku smiled, walking up to Kairi. He
rlm@0: brushed her cheek with the back of his gloved hand. “Just follow your
rlm@0: heart, Kairi. Always follow your heart.” Closing her eyes, Kairi
rlm@0: could almost feel his gloved fingers on his cheek. Slowly, the
rlm@0: feeling faded away. Opening her eyes took a long time. She knew he
rlm@0: wouldn't be there when she looked again. Sure enough, he was gone.
rlm@0: But that was all right. She placed her hand on her cheek where his
rlm@0: hand had rested. He was right. She couldn't keep blaming herself. She
rlm@0: had to go and stop it. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “If you're looking for the Keyhole, I know where she is,” a voice
rlm@0: said near the trees.Kairi spotted the cloaked, blindfolded boy
rlm@0: seemingly watching her. Nodding, she gripped her Keyblade and
rlm@0: followed him. Fighting against Seymour wouldn't stop Sin from
rlm@0: destroying everything. And she couldn't help those fighting him as it
rlm@0: is. But she could stop Sin before it was too late. A hand grabbed
rlm@0: Kairi's shoulder before she could fade away from the group and follow
rlm@0: the boy. “I'm going with you. You might need help. If anything
rlm@0: happens, I can handle it.” Yuffie winked at her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'm going, too, then,” Relm added, stepping up behind
rlm@0: Yuffie.Smiling, Kairi nodded. “Thanks, you two. I appreciate it.”
rlm@0: Looking back at the boy, she began to follow him. There wasn't much
rlm@0: time left.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The cloaked boy led the way to Riku and Sora's secret place. Even
rlm@0: amidst the chaos, it had escaped unscathed. Memories flooded back to
rlm@0: Kairi as she looked around the cave. She smiled faintly at the
rlm@0: pictures Sora and Riku had drawn on the walls, some of them of her.
rlm@0: There. Near the strange doorway at the end of the cave that shouldn't
rlm@0: be there. Yuna stood there along with Rikku.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Rikku!” Surprise took Yuffie off guard as she saw her younger
rlm@0: sister at the back of the cave. So she was alive after all. Yuffie
rlm@0: had thought she'd run off when Rikku had been changed into a kitten.
rlm@0: And then when they'd found out she was the kitten on Opassa beach,
rlm@0: they'd been scattered to different worlds. “You're okay!” Yuffie
rlm@0: hadn't realized just how worried she'd been about her sister's fate
rlm@0: until now. She ran to the catgirl, trying to make sure she was okay.
rlm@0: She'd always been there to protect the younger girl before. Now she
rlm@0: was worried about what might have happened while she'd been away.
rlm@0: “Yuffie!” Rikku clutched onto the ninja girl, her heart lifting. Her
rlm@0: big sister was here. Everything would be fine now. They'd fix
rlm@0: whatever was going on. Yuna would be just fine and they'd be able to
rlm@0: go see all the many worlds out there together. Relm stayed back at
rlm@0: the sisterly reunion. It was nice to see Yuffie as obviously happy as
rlm@0: she was right now. The ninja usually hid behind her sarcasm and
rlm@0: bravado. Seeing this was beautiful to the artist.Kairi looked at Yuna
rlm@0: and then back at the hooded boy. The boy nodded. Kairi shook her
rlm@0: head, her heart slipping. “No. I can't.” Up till now, she hadn't
rlm@0: known any of the Keyholes. Kuja and Kefka had tried to hurt her.
rlm@0: Ultimecia had tried to trap her in a dreamworld. This was her friend.
rlm@0: How could she unlock the Keyhole in her heart if it meant she would
rlm@0: die? Yuna was one of the sweetest girls she knew, always trying to
rlm@0: help the other islanders. Could such a quiet, helpful girl really be
rlm@0: the Keyhole? The reason that Sin was here? Taking a step forward,
rlm@0: Kairi's mind spun as it tried to find an answer. She had to unlock
rlm@0: the Keyhole. But she couldn't hurt Yuna. “Yuna, you have to stop
rlm@0: this. You can't destory the Destiny Islands.”Shaking her head, Yuna
rlm@0: watched Kairi approach. “I have to. I can't stop now. Kairi, don't
rlm@0: you miss them? Riku and Sora? You've gone through so much pain and
rlm@0: hardship. Don't you understand? I can end that. Right now. I can save
rlm@0: everyone.” Her eyes lit up beautifully. “I can stop all of the
rlm@0: suffering. Once and for all. We can all be together with the ones we
rlm@0: love.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Even if we're far apart, we're always together. They're still with
rlm@0: me even now.” Kairi shook her head. “I know everyone suffers. But I
rlm@0: think there's more than that. It isn't all pain. It isn't all
rlm@0: suffering. There are beautiful moments, too. No matter how bad things
rlm@0: are, there are still shining lights here and there if you know where
rlm@0: to find them.” 'Like my mother. Even if I was lonely in my other
rlm@0: life, I still had my mother.' 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Swallowing, Yuna fought back the tears that glistened in her eyes.
rlm@0: “I know that. But everything you hold dear is eventually taken from
rlm@0: you. Everyone you love will one day die. Everything that matters will
rlm@0: wither.” “But that's life. Life is pain. But life is love. Life is
rlm@0: fleeting. But it's darness and light. Together. And if it hurts,
rlm@0: we'll appreciate the things we love even more when we can be with
rlm@0: them again when it's over,” Kairi pleaded. 'Don't make me face you,
rlm@0: Yuna. I don't want to hurt anyone else. Please.'Yuna shook her head,
rlm@0: closing her eyes tightly. “You of all people should understand,
rlm@0: Kairi. You understood about giving up your life so that you could be
rlm@0: free. You escaped. I'm just trying to give everyone that
rlm@0: freedom.”“But that's the problem! I couldn't completely give up on my
rlm@0: life, no matter how much I tried. That's why the Heartless are here.
rlm@0: That's why I'm still stuck between worlds. Some people aren't ready
rlm@0: to give up their lives yet. Some people have more they want to do
rlm@0: before they move on,” Kairi explained, almost to Yuna. Rikku stood
rlm@0: with Yuffie, watching the two of them. The hooded boy was behind her
rlm@0: while Relm waited near the entrance to the cave. “What about the
rlm@0: people who weren't asked if they were ready?! What about the people
rlm@0: who had so much more to do but never got to? What about those of us
rlm@0: forced to live who never wanted to face that pain and suffering in
rlm@0: everyone's heart?” Shaking, Yuna's tears fell down to her feet. Pain
rlm@0: and loss and confusion cut at her heart like a rabid beast. “Yunie,
rlm@0: please. We can work this out. I'll be with you. No matter what. I'll
rlm@0: be there with you. We can handle whatever pain there is. I promise.”
rlm@0: Rikku pulled away from Yuffie, stepping towards Yuna. “I love you.
rlm@0: I'll always be with you.” Yuffie watched, her surprise growing. Her
rlm@0: little sister had fallen in love while she was gone? With this girl
rlm@0: who was trying to end everything? Now what was she supposed to
rlm@0: do?“I'm sorry, Rikku. I have to. I was the one who called Sin all
rlm@0: along. I just didn't understand. But Sin came to end all of this pain
rlm@0: and suffering. I have to save everyone. I don't want anyone to ever
rlm@0: hurt again. If we keep living, I might lose you. One of us might die.
rlm@0: Any number of things could happen. But it won't get the chance. I
rlm@0: love you, too. I won't let anything take you away from me. I won't
rlm@0: let this world hurt either of us. Any of us. Ever again.” The cave
rlm@0: shook as Sin crashed along the island, its inhuman howl reaching them
rlm@0: even in the depths of the cave. “Life will end. We'll finally be
rlm@0: free.” She smiled as she reached the door behind her, pulling it
rlm@0: open. Darkness spilled out from beyond the doorway. “With the doorway
rlm@0: open, Sin can read all the worlds. It can break the chains of life.”
rlm@0: The caves shook harder, sending most of them sprawling. Sin was
rlm@0: coming.“No!!” Kairi cried out. They were running out of time. Sin now
rlm@0: had what it wanted. A way out. A way to get to everything. A way to
rlm@0: kill all existence. Kairi lunged forward right as Yuna turned. The
rlm@0: Keyblade plunged deep into her chest. For the time being, Kairi had
rlm@0: to force her doubts away. But that was made nearly impossible by the
rlm@0: way Yuna looked back at her, serene. The blue and green eyed girl was
rlm@0: happy, unafraid of what was to come. 'You of all people should
rlm@0: understand, Kairi,' her voice whispered in the princess's head. Kairi
rlm@0: hesitated. There wasn't time. “I'm so sorry...” she got out before
rlm@0: turning the Keyblade. The shaking stopped immediately. Light flooded
rlm@0: the cave as the Keyhole was unlocked.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She was everywhere and she was nowhere. Who was she? Kairi. Or was
rlm@0: it Hikari? A princess. Or was she an island girl? Or maybe a lonely
rlm@0: student living with her mother? She was all of these things. And she
rlm@0: was none of these things. There was brilliant light. And there was
rlm@0: endless darkness. They swirled and mixed and carressed in an endless
rlm@0: dance. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You have unlocked the light in the heart of Suffering,” the
rlm@0: everpresent voice said. It sounded so very familiar. She couldn't
rlm@0: quite place it or where it was coming from. 
rlm@0: “Life is filled with so much pain. The one's you love are taken from
rlm@0: you so very quickly. In death, there is freedom. There is an end to
rlm@0: pain. I only wanted to end everyone's suffering. I wanted to save
rlm@0: everyone. I wanted that pain that always lives in your heart to
rlm@0: finally disappear forever. I wanted to be with my father again.
rlm@0: And... I fell in love with Rikku. But I was so scared that I would
rlm@0: lose her just like I lost my father. But now, I guess I'll finally
rlm@0: escape the pain of life. Now I'm finally free. I'll wait for Rikku as
rlm@0: long as it takes. I'll finally see my father again. Thank you, Kairi.
rlm@0: I hope you find what you're looking for.”Kairi would have closed her
rlm@0: eyes if she had eyes to close in this world of light and darkness.
rlm@0: She would have swallowed back the pain in her heart if she could only
rlm@0: swallow. But the emotions, the pain and the sorrow, were acutely
rlm@0: real. “I hope so, too. I'm sorry, Yuna. I'm so sorry.” 
rlm@0: As Yuna's heart departed to join the Lifestream, the Farplane, Kairi
rlm@0: was left behind by the light, like an unwanted child. It disappeared,
rlm@0: leaving her feeling cold and out of place in the small, dark cave. 
rlm@0: “Where's Yunie?” Rikku asked, horrified to see only Kairi return
rlm@0: from the light. “What happened to Yunie?” She glanced at the other
rlm@0: faces, finally stopping on her sister's. Yuffie couldn't meet her
rlm@0: gaze. Cold realization crept through her, nearly stopping her heart.
rlm@0: “So... Yunie... Yunie is...” She couldn't get herself to say it.
rlm@0: Tears splashed down her cheeks, her body going cold. Yuna was gone.
rlm@0: She had failed to protect her. All her promises had been for naught.
rlm@0: “Why!? Why did she have to die? I met her, I promised I'd keep her
rlm@0: safe always, and she had to die for that?” Her body shook, her vision
rlm@0: blurring as tears fell faster than she could blink them away. Her
rlm@0: eyes locked on Kairi. “You killed her! She wanted to save everyone
rlm@0: and you killed her! She only wanted to make everyone happy!” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi looked away from Rikku, ashamed. Yuffie said nothing. What
rlm@0: could she possibly say to help her sister? The girl she loved was
rlm@0: dead now. And there was nothing she could do. Rikku's heart
rlm@0: shattered. She didn't even have a body to hold. It was as if Yuna had
rlm@0: never been. She would never get to see that smile again. She would
rlm@0: never be able to hear her giggle, to feel her lips. It was all gone,
rlm@0: as quickly as the wind. And that girl, the girl who had helped her as
rlm@0: a kitten, she was the cause of it. If it weren't for her, she'd be
rlm@0: with Yuna now. By a cruel twist of fate, Rikku had shown up first on
rlm@0: the island and had fallen in love with the beautiful brunette. But
rlm@0: almost as if she were a harbinger of fate, the girl she had travelled
rlm@0: with, the Keyblade Mistress had followed her. Kairi had shown up and
rlm@0: taked away Rikku's most precious treasure. She had taken away
rlm@0: everything. Firey rage and ice cold sorrow tore at her mangled heart,
rlm@0: shredding it into bloody pieces. 'I'll protect you, Yunie. I'll
rlm@0: always be with you,' she had promised. And she had failed. All
rlm@0: because of her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Rikku ran forward, moving with tremendous speed. Her fist raised
rlm@0: into the air, the razor sharp blades on her glove glinting in the dim
rlm@0: light. Kairi stared in shock, her lavender eyes wide as she realized
rlm@0: she was going to die. Yuffie could only watch, too stunned by the
rlm@0: suddenness of it all to leap to anyone's aid. Kairi would die. Rikku
rlm@0: may have failed to save Yuna, but she would take revenge for her
rlm@0: death. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And with a flash of steel, it was done. Kairi shook, her heart
rlm@0: pounding in her chest. Her vision still burned with images of bared
rlm@0: fangs, a glint of blades, and hatefilled eyes. She had broken Rikku,
rlm@0: stolen the one thing most important to her. And in return, she was to
rlm@0: forfeit her life. But that hadn't happened. At least, she didn't
rlm@0: think so. So what had happened. She looked around, finally spotting
rlm@0: Rikku on the floor in front of her. Blood lay in a pool around her.
rlm@0: The catgirl was dead. The cloaked boy had jumped in the way, stabbing
rlm@0: Rikku before she could reach Kairi. And now she was dead. Kairi's
rlm@0: knees gave out and she stumbled back, away from the body. “Rikku!!”
rlm@0: Yuffie screamed, running to Rikku's side. But it was too late.
rlm@0: Turning the catgirl over, Rikku looked blankly up at the roof with
rlm@0: dim green eyes. The light in them was gone. She didn't move an inch.
rlm@0: “Rikku...” It hardly seemed fair. How could her little sister die
rlm@0: like that? How could she have let this happen? How could her sister
rlm@0: die in her quest for Kingdom Hearts? But she was. The girl she had
rlm@0: practically raised since they were both little. The girl who had
rlm@0: always looked up to her. And now she was gone. Yuffie cradled her
rlm@0: body, crying against the blood soaked fur. Darkness and light
rlm@0: continued their dance, as another casualty lay senselessly on the
rlm@0: floor. In a way, Kairi had been responsible for both deaths. And yet,
rlm@0: was there another way? You didn't get second chances. You couldn't go
rlm@0: back and redo things until you did them right. Things merely fell as
rlm@0: they may in front of you. And because of her, both girls were now
rlm@0: dead. Yuffie held onto Rikku, torn and crying. Relm could only try to
rlm@0: offer what support she could. A hand rested on her shoulder. She
rlm@0: turned to see Sora looking at her sympathetically. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “It'll be okay, Kairi. Somehow,” he said, squeezing her shoulder. He
rlm@0: faded as she got to her feet. 
rlm@0: “You're running out of time. You have to hurry,” the cloaked boy
rlm@0: said, pointing towards the doorway leading into darkness. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi nodded. She had come this far. She couldn't give up now. She
rlm@0: owed it to the people who had died, to those who still wanted to
rlm@0: live. Taking one last look at Yuffie and Relm, she started for the
rlm@0: door. She had hurt enough people. She didn't want anyone else to get
rlm@0: hurt because of her. This was her fight. She would finish it on her
rlm@0: own.
rlm@0: