The Chasers: The Key to Memories Past

[Reno]

There were some chuckles by the end of the next memory - except Roxas who was huffing. How could Axel NOT tell it wasn't him? Their hearts were connected for Kingdom Hearts' sake!

Before much more could be said there was sudden a myriad of color. Red, white, silver, blue, green and gold all hit the gem at the same time, the prism seeming to light up like a rainbow before the scene was shown.


"You're wrong! I know now, without a doubt Kingdom Hearts... is light!" Sora yelled, as he hovered in the sky, Tinkerbell's magic sparkling under his feet. Donald and Goofy flew by his side just as the pristine white doors of an unimaginable height opened and light shined through hitting a dark-skinned man with yellow eyes.
"No... So.... light.... But why?!" Ansem uttered just as his form burst into light - and when it faded he was gone.

Sora frowned before he glanced at his two friends, sharing a nod with them and together they flew down from the empty space they were in down to the white beach-light sand Kingdom Hearts stood on. They were quick to land and run to the open doors. "Come on!" Sora said as his hands slammed onto one of the doors and started to push. Donald and Goofy went to the other, the duck pressing his back against it while the large dog tried to push it closed like sora.

But the dog got curious, glancing inside and his eyes widened. "Whoa!!"
"Stop staring and keep pushing!" Ordered Donald irritably... before he took a peek as well. "Huh?!" Inside was, despite Sora's claim, was full of darkness - light shining behind but seemed blocked by the large nests of darkness that were familiar to them.
"The heartless!!" The caricatures cried loudly. Darksides to be specific. And they were started to climb our of their nest to the door's opening.
"Huuuurrrry!!" Donald cried and flailed, re-doubling his efforts. But nothing was budging.
Sora started to slump against the door. "I can't-"
"Don't give up!" Came a young voice as a gloved hand curled around the door. The youthful Riku appeared by the side of the door, his aquamarine eyes determined. "Come on Sora! Together we can do it!"
Sora took a breath than nodded. "Okay!" And then he started to push again while Riku, using both hands, started to pull, his teeth grit. The door slowly started to slide...

But behind them the sound of the darksides were coming closer... and closer...
"It's hopeless!!" Donald cried his hands over his face. Just as he did though the sounds of battle and heartless dissipating could be heard. The duck and dog glanced in curiously just as a figure bathed in light jumped atop one of the nests. Only his outline could be seen but that was enough for the two who knew their unique young king.
"You're majesty!"

The mouse lifted a shining keyblade, calling, "Now Sora, let's close this door for good!" It was an order.
"Hurry close it!" Donald called.
"But... But Riku and the king!" The brunette said, hesitating.
"Don't worry. There will always be a door to the Light." The mouse responded, his voice seeming to echo.

"Sora... You can trust King Mickey." Goofy said kindly, smiling to his scared and confused friend.
Riku suddenly let go of the door and looked back, his eyes narrowing. "Hurry, they're coming!" There was no time to thing it over - there was no time to argue.
"Donald... Goofy... thank you." Mickey said softly. The duck and dog seemed a bit overcome with emotion, smiling even as tears welled up in their eyes and they pushed their door closed.

Sora grit his teeth and started to push more, the door starting to slide.
Riku looked back and he smiled. "Take care of her."
The brunette hesitated and looked up at his friend, his face conflicted before he nodded with as confidant and a determined expression as he could... and he pushed the door until it was closed, Riku and Mickey shut inside. As the doors met, the seam lit up with light. Sora bowed his head for a moment before he grit his teeth and jumped back landing several feet away. Kingdom Key - the key of the master - appeared in his hands. He lifted it to the sky and was bathed in light.

Inside, they say King Mickey holding up his own blade, also glowing. The doors started to shine all over with light until it like Asem was overtaken... and disappeared.

The three warriors left behind stood on their small island in the middle of darkness, still looking up towards were the doors were supposed to be, solemn gazes on their faces.
"Riku..." The young brunette whispered, a far-away gaze coming to his eyes as if he were thinking of something long ago. His eyes shut and he looked towards the ground, sighing softly - but a noise behind him made him look up and over his shoulder.

In the distance on another piece of land - this own with brown sand... was Kairi, looking as lost as could be. "Wha...?" The brunette shook his head before running across the white sand towards her.
Behind him, Donald was close to following - maybe to stop him - but Goofy reached out and grabbed his shoulder, stopping him. Both of their gazes turned even sadder as Light started to shine behind them.

"Kairi!!"
The red-head looked up, her eyes widening. "Sora!"
The brunette stopped in front of her just as the two pieces of lands shook. Kairi yelped, but the brunette reached out and caught her arm, helping her stay on her feet... even as the land started to break away.
If Sora just jumped... he could be with her.

But he did not.
"Kairi - you remember what you said to me before? I'm always with you too." Sora started to speak quickly as they got further away, the arms stretching across the gap. "I'll come back to you! I promise!"
The girl stretched out as far as she could, hesitating for a moment before she called back, "I know you will!" And there hands broke apart.

The gap started to widen between them, the two looking at each other across the way. "Kairi!" Sora called.
The red-head sighed and bowed her head... just as snow started to fall. Her eyes widened and she looked up - snow falling all around her. But the large flakes were a soft yellow color, bright like thousands of fireflies floating from heaven. Behind her, beautiful exotic trees started to erupt - until the island of Destiny was formed and a beautiful sea started fill the gap.
Sora... had given up the chance to go home.

The brunette straightened and held out his hands, smiling as a few lights collected in his hands. He looked back towards Kairi who was looking around in wonder and called out: "Hey! See you soon!" Just as blue light started to wrap around his land and and Kairi disappeared from sight. He sighed softly, looking sad again -

"Sora!" The brunette glanced back, seeing his two friends hurrying over - both looking surprised that he had stayed. He smiled about to speak... when the lights around them exploded and flew upwards. The brunette blinked and looked around and then looked up, watching the lights fly through the sky. "Whoa!" They were like... shooting stars... but as they flew through the sky some of them stopped in mid-flight... and became a star.
"Wow..." Donald whispered.
"A-yuck! It's amazing!" Goofy replied ecstatically.
"We... brought back all the lost worlds..." Sora murmured breathlessly. Then hope seemed to shine in his eyes once more and he smiled brightly. There was no doubt what he was thinking right then. If he had been able to accomplish this - than he could bring back Riku too. "We brought back all the worlds!" He repeated this time joyously and he held his hands up and gave a cheer. "WHOO!!! WE DID IT!!!"
Goofy and Donald started to laugh and cheer too and the three - like true goofballs - started to hug and hop and and skip and dance as above them the sky was lit with light.

There was a flash and then a new scene was revealed. It was night at the town usually bathed in orange and two boys were yelling the smaller blonde with burly haired grunting as he was held up by his collar, the scarred blonde yanking his fist back, intention clear.
"Look." Came Fuujin's voice as she pointed to the sky, making her leader hesitate and Hayner's eyes open tentatively.
Seifer looked up... and then the blonde slipped from his grasp as he saw shooting stars light up the sky. "What the hell?"
Hayner stumbled back on his butt and looked up too. "H-Huh? Whoa!"
"Wow it's so pretty!" Came Olette's voice.
"Wow... ya know?" Rai said softly.
Pence lifted his camera to the sky and started to take pictures rapidly. "This is so awesome!"
"Nice." Came the one-eyed girl's judgment.

And then the six kids were simply silent and staring up at the sky, watching in wonder both hidden and shown as shooting stars birthed worlds.


Another scene came up.
"Axel! Roxas! Come look at this!" The two in the hall paused before glancing towards the nearby balcony where Demyx was standing nearly leaning completely off of the railing and looking up. "It's amazing!!"
The two Nobodies shared a glance before joining the blonde outside and looking up. Roxas blinked and then he smiled. "A meteor shower?"
"I got to go tell the others!!" Demyx cried before he sped past them, leaving them alone on the balcony.

"Wow... it's so pretty..." Axel said.
The blonde rolled his eyes, grinning. "You're just saying that because they're on fire!"
"Hey-!" Axel was about to argue as he looked down, but was struck silently by the look on Roxas' face. It was full of light and joy, his eyes so bright... it was hard to remember he had no heart. "What's that look for?"
Roxas just shrugged, still smiling. "I dunno I'm just... I feel so... happy."
Axel blinked slowly before looking away... but as if it was contagious a small smile grew on his lips as well.

The scene faded - only for another to show up.
Glowing green eyes looked at the sky, eyes wide with wonder and fear as he looked out the window of a large mansion house. "Loz! Looooz!!"
There was stomping of large feet as a bulky ran from the next room over to the young child with silver hair. "What is it Kadaj?"
"Look!!" The boy pointed out towards the sky. "The stars are falling! We should run!"
The short-haired man blinked as he looked outside. And then he laughed. "They're called shooting stars Kadaj."
"That's an ominous name!" The boy said as he grabbed onto his brother's pant leg like a child would do. "They could shoot us!"
The man blinked before shaking his head. "They are not actually stars. They're little meteors, like Comet materia. They burn up when they hit atmosphere. They're just something to look at."
"...Oh..." The boy pulled away with a bit of a blush, looking embarrassed. "So... they won't hurt us?"
"Nah - but even it they do come down here me and Yazoo can slice 'em like chop suey for you." He pat the boy on the back. "Just watch em - someone like you actually might find enjoyment out of it." He pulled away and walked off.
The very young Kadaj blinked and watched him before turned back to the window, eyes reflecting the lights as they flew in the night.
And - so shocking it nearly gave heart attacks to everyone watching - he smiled.

The scene faded and another appeared.
Ven was jumping from branch to branch in the trees of the forest, his hand swiping out for a night squirrel. "Give me back my compass you little thief!"
A little round metal piece in it's hands, the squirrel chattered and jumped three branches away even as Ven only jumped one.
"IT'S NOT EVEN EDIBLE!" He whined.
"Give it up Ven." Terra called as he poked the fire, as Ven chased the squirrel in a circle around their camp sight. Aqua was chomping down on a piece of burnt meat close by.

"No I've almost go-" The blonde started to cry - and then his voice cut off so suddenly it worried the other two. They looked up seeing the blonde frozen on a branch and looking up through the trees, jaw falling open.
"...Ven? Aqua called worriedly.
The blonde suddenly took off like a shot through the trees.
"VEN!" The two keybladers called as they jumped up and took off after him, Terra charged like a bull with enough force to snap down branches while Aqua just followed in the path he was clearing.
"What's wrong?!" Terra yelled.
"HURRY!" The blonde responded back, his speed and light-footedness making it easy for him to move effortlessly through the forest.

They two were confused as they looked up and as they started to thin the two saw just faintly through the trees... something flying in the sky.

Ven reached the end of the forest and jumped from the last branch, wind whipping around him as he took to the sky. Seconds later, Terra and Aqua broke through and spotted their friend as Ven flew with the stars.

The two paused at the edge and looked up with wide eyes.
"...This...is amazing..." Aqua whispered.
"It can't be..." Terra uttered softly spotting the meteors turning into stars.
The blonde laughed with joy, turning and twisting in his flight to see it all. "The worlds! The worlds are returning!!"

"How did this happen?" Terra asked softly but Aqua just grinned, elbowing the other playfully.
"Who cares?!" She said with a happy tone. "Our homes are back!!" And she too took off, running across the grass as Ven flew above both of them joyously celebrating.

Terra continued to hesitate as he watched the sky, his eyes silent before they zeroed in on one star in particular and watched it stop and light up the sky with the others. Even as the rest continued to fly, he kept his eyes on that star.
"Come on Terra!"
"Join the party you cranky ass!"

The brunette's gaze strayed and he saw Ven having left the sky doing a strange... victory dance with Aqua? The two kept glancing over at him expectantly.
He watched them silently before he smiled. "All right." He murmured to himself, before he ran across the field to them and joined them in their silly fun. Because tonight was truly a night to remember.

[Rikugurl]

Axel smiled when he saw him and Roxas look out the window. His blond lover had said that phrase to him almost as many times as he said 'Got it memorized?'
What ever happened to that phrase anyway?
He scratched him head before shaking it, seeing a very festive looking Ven FLYING around like a....total nerd. Obviously it was before they had the darkness injected into them.

Namine smiled too as she saw the stars shine. She wished that she could of seen that. It was so... pretty and...warming.

"Oh!" Olette giggled as she clapped a bit. She remembered that like it was yesterday. Not knowing quite what it as back than, it held a whole new meaning now. Sora really did so much...and Riku too! Everyone had made such a difference and she was glad that she could talk Seifer into joining the Chasers. She was always good at talking him into and OUT of things.

Gunnar's head tilted a bit. Kadaj...was around back then? The idea of his real age was falling further and further away.

The gem suddenly lit up with the colors of a family... but the screen showed an office that was very empty except for one man.


"I know...but I can't baby. I'm sorry... we can celebrate it tomorrow but I NEED to get these files ready by the end of the night."
A redhead man sighed as he tapped his pen against the desk, his bony shoulder full of phone. "I love you too...ok....bye-bye."
The man sighed again as he took the phone and hung it up before leaning back in the big chair.

Green eyes glanced at the calendar that was next to him on the wall, the camera changing to show it. There was a birthday cake sticker on one of the days. February 8.
It was Axel's birthday.
Well....actually Axel had no idea when his birthday way...especially back then before he met Reno.

February was the second month of the year. The number between one and three... which was Roxas's number. So he wanted to be right in the middle. Axel...was rather.... number oriented.

He sighed again before leaning forward and started to write.

The scene changed, obviously time passed as a door to a nice home was open and a tall man walked in with a nice coat and scarf on. Some snow was on his shoulder that he dusted off before walking in and hanging up his things.
The fireplace was crackling as some toys were stacked neatly in the corner, Xio's bed being empty and the house silent.

Axel sighed once more as he placed some things on the coffee table and looked around. No cake or gifts or even a note. The look in the man's eyes was sad, as if he was letting someone down. He was... the two he loved were excited to see Axel on his birthday... but he had been gone all day.
Slowly the lanky man walked up the stairs and down the nightlight glowing hallway towards him room.

He reached out for the doorknob slowly before hesitating, looking around. Roxas was probably sitting up in bed with a huge frown on his face and crossing his arms.
A soft sigh was admitted before he took the knob and turned it, slowly opening the door only for his narrow eyes to open wide.

The camera slowly turned to show the bedroom inside. A soft glow from a lamp on the nightstand was lighting the room. On the bed was a sleeping blonde man, his arms wrapped around a sleeping toddler and at the edge of the bed, a sleeping lion. On the nightstand next to the lamp was a small cake that still have some lit candles and in the boy's chubby fingers, an envelope.

A smile ran over Axel's face as he slowly came in and shut the door silently. Not quietly enough for Xio, seeing that his head picked right up and his tail started to wag as Axel came closer. Axel reached out and pet the loyal pet on the head, receiving some licks on his wrist before he pulled away. The man moved, slowly taking the envelope from Roxel's little fingers and slowly opened it.

The camera slowly changed to show the card, seeing that it was hand made. Some squiggly drawing of Axel was on the cover, making the redhead smile softly before opening it up to see a very messy message inside.

Daddy
I'm just little
But I love you
BIG

Happy Birthday from Daddy and Me and Lion!
Roxel and Roxas and

The smile on Axel's face grew more as he saw a paw print stamped next to the names. Slowly he placed his card down by the cake and gently blew out the candle before turning to his sleeping family again. A loving stroke of his thumb ran across Roxel's forehead before Axel kissed it before he leaned over more, placing another one on Roxas's.
"I love you guys..."


The memory faded and before anyone could say anything or react, the gem started to glow bright again, making everyone cover their eyes once more as Axel's platform was overcome by light.

Usual narrow, green eyes widened as the light came over him, his hand moving in a way to block how bright it became. A soft gasp escaped his lips as he saw an even brighter light suddenly form in front of him. Hesitantly, he slowly reached out for it, the warmth it gave off made it easy to touch. Fingers wrapped around it, bring the ball of light closer to his chest. This warmth...he knew this warmth. It was the kind of warmth that he felt when he was with his family... It felt complete and...loving. Everything that he ever wanted.

His family was his light.

A soft smile ran over his feature before it turned into a frown, feeling a sudden coldness in the air.
The red hair by his ear shifted as a cold breath seemed to speak into it.
"Do you wish to continue... to see the memories you hold deep in your heart? Ones that will compensate the blood on your hands?"

Green eyes narrowed and the man looked back, but there was nothing. Who was that....?
Axel looked away, holding the light even closer now, his eyes closing. "No.... nothing can compensate what I did. I already...moved on and accepted it."

The light in his hand suddenly faded and outside in the room, the keyblade outline started to shine a bit brighter than before as the light around Axel's pillar faded and stairs appeared once more. Everyone looked up at the tall redhead but he was looking at something else. The pillars that held his husband...and his son.

Roxel's eyes watered as he looked out at his redhead of a father.
"Daddy..."

[Reno]

Roxas watched silently as the next memory played, the remembrance to him only slightly vague. Their jobs as mayors of Delshad always created problems when it came to special dates. They'd even missed Christmas once or twice because of it. That was why he desperately wanted to leave it especially after they 'had' Roxel.

He had just gotten plain sick and tired of not being with his family.

As he watched the memory play though - the sides he hadn't seen because he had been with Roxel and Xio - his eyes softened and a smile fluttered across his face. The card was - naturally - Roxel's idea. He had been so pissy at Axel that night he almost didn't WANT to give him anything. But thanks to their son... the cake and card had been waiting for them.

The blonde's eyes squinted as the light took over the stand his husband was on but his heart felt calm. He knew the other was in no danger. At least he though so... until a small chill shook him that he didn't quite understand.

As the light faded and revealed the red-head safe and sound he sighed in relief. And when his eyes met the green emerald of the man he pledged to spend his life with, his heart still skipped a beat. "Oh Ax..." In his heart he always knew what his lover's light was...

He need not say it but he did anyways. The words were eternal. "Love you Axel."

There was a pause over the trial like there had been with Sameal's - a break somewhat. Happy yips broke the silence as an ecstatic baby moomba raced across the floor, the little body of Jax tackling the red-head's legs for attention he solely missed. He was family too!

Luckily he was such a small thing or poor Axel would of been sent spiraling off his pedestal.

[Rikugurl]

Axel smiled as he looked back at Roxas. "I love you too, baby..." Before any other sappy words could be shared, Axel's eyes widened as he was suddenly pounced. "WHOA! Hahahaha!" He laughed, stumbling a bit on the stairs before reaching down and picking up the baby moomba. "Yes Jax, you're a part of the family too." He laughed some more as the baby licked him and nuzzled his new family member's little mane before heading down the rest of the steps.

Two light had been found and it wasn't too hard so far. A chill still seemed to run down the old man's spine as he remembered the cold voice in his ear. There was something definitely evil watching them.

When he passed Lucina and Samael, he stopped and grinned. "Congrats!"
Sammy just blushed and rubbed the back of his neck as Axel walked over to Seifer and Olette.
Green eyes looked at the gem and then at his family once more. Could someone have the same light? Would Roxas's light be him and Roxel too?

Only one way to find out.

Olette smiled softly as she saw the scene. She knew that her light would of probably been the same. She was...really proud of her little family. Well....it wasn't so little anymore but... she and Seifer had raised two very great people and she only hoped that they were happy being raised by them.

Thoughts again were interrupted when the gem started to shine once more, making everyone look to see another memory from the leader's wife.


"Cry baby! Cry baby! Look at the cry baby!"
Echoes of kids could be heard even before the screen showed a picture of some teenagers circling around, laughing and pointing at someone.

In the middle was a silverette teen girl who was rubbing her eye, sniffling as she tried not to look at the kids ganging up on her.
"Leave me a-alone!" She called out but she choked and started to cry again.
"What a baby! Get out of here! You're making the rest of us look bad!" A girl called before she picked up a nearby rock and suddenly chucked it at the silverette, hitting her right in the head.

"OUCH!" Fuu cried as she gripped her head and fell on her butt. More tears fell from her eye but instead of sobbing, she growled and looked up at the girl.
"Oh? Now you're being tough? Guess I'll have to throw more!"
The girl picked up another rock, the others around her cheering some and before she could throw it though, she seemed to freeze.

"Whoa... what's with her eye?" Another kid pointed out at Fuu. The camera turned to the girl again, her red eye seeming to glow.
"Ha! She cried so much that her eye became radioactivAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" The girl with the rock suddenly shook and the rock fell from her hand as she collapsed on the ground. "AAAAAAAAAAAAH!! IT HURTS! IT HUUUUUUUURTS!"

The kids around the girl gasped and jumped back, watching her as she held onto her stomach and started to roll around. "IT HURTS! EVERYTHING HURTS!" The other kids started to panic as they heard the screams of the tough girl and some looked back at Fuu whose eye was still glowing.
"She must be a witch or something! Throw rocks!"
"YEA!"
The teens all started to pick up rocks but before any could, the glowing red eye was on them.

"AAAHH!!" Some fell before rocks could be thrown as other felt no pain but--
"I CAN'T SEE!" Rocks were thrown aimlessly as the rest put their hands in front of their faces in panic.

The scene slowly faded as a new one slowly came into focus as if water running down a window was cleaning the lens.

"Fujin..."
A woman's voice made the camera focus inside the window, the sound of rain beating down could be heard in the background.
"What did you do?"
"I don't....know....I just got really angry and....I....just wanted her to feel....how much pain she put me through.... and that's when....everything happened."
"You didn't get up and hit anyone?"
"No! I'd never do that..."
"Didn't I tell you to only use your majick on the wind? Remember I told you that when you were feeling down, to use the wind to make the chimes play?"
"Yea but... I...."

Tears started to run down the girl's cheek as she looked down at the floor.
"Fuu... if this is a new majick that you can't contain..." The woman sighed and looked away. "I'm going to have to pull you from the orphanage completely and..."
"I won't have a place to go!? I'll be homeless!?" The silverette sobbed even more, her face buried in her hands.
"Fujin... I'm so sorry..."

There was silence. Only the sound of Fuu's muffled cry could be heard.
Slowly she lifted her head and sniffed, slowly looking out the window and into the camera.
"Seifer and Raijin are going to leave for boot camp tomorrow..."

[Reno]

There were some chuckles at Jax's cute antics and a irritated flick of the tail from Moxley. What a pet! But things were going well so far... two lights found, six to go.

Lucina chuckled as Axel congratulated them, her arms hugging Sammy closer as she said a shy thank you. Now if only HER dad could be that happy for her.

The small pause was over in the area after that, a green light overtaking the gem as a new memory showed.

Eyes turned dark somewhat as the less than pleasant memory started to show. Aqua shut her eyes, sighing softly and shaking her head. She had of course known all this - their had been more than one reason why Fuu had followed Seifer and Raijin's path...

Her fingers clenched into fists. Those bastard kids...

The green was wrapped over in gold.


Breakers smashed, tables were overthrown, alarms were blaring and human screams reverberated in the Room of Echoes as dark figures with glowing yellow eyes filled the room. Dark Mako green eyes searched the room wildly, the slim but strong figure crouching atop one of the many human-sized tubes filled with glowing mako. As his eyes raked the scene, the camera followed, showing the assistants falling to the mercy of heartless claws - gasping screams being cut off as glowing hearts were torn from chests. Soon there was no one left but the darkness.

His sight caught onto a pale grey figure being walked all over by the lifestealers, a pale arm outstretched, limp fingers cradling an empty syringe, liquid darkness still clinging to the tip of the needle. Out of the bodies chest the heartless seemed to be climbing. It was obvious what had caused the darkness outbreak. Even from the distance the grinning features of Hojo could still be made out.

Green eyes narrowed but scratches on glass made his head snap around and looked directly down seeing all the Lifestealers were starting the move as one force... to him.

He was the only being left alive with a heart.

The silverette frowned before drawing his sword slamming it into the glass underneath his feet. The glass shattered instantly, and Mako burst out slamming into the many dark creatures. Like it was acid, the creatures burned into nothingness the minute they touched it. Kadaj fell from his perch as the glass gave under him, landing in a crouch, giving a wince as shards dug deep into his skin and the antiseptic of lifestream burned his skin.

He breathed out slowly but didn't pause for long. He was up and running down the hall in an instant, passing the lifestealers who had managed to not get hit by the Mako stream.

There was a flash, and the silverette was seen again running on the top of a long staircase that wound down in two directions in an old-fashioned way, his breath a bit choppy. He paused glancing at his surroundings, seeing the dark creatures flying all over before he looked down to the ground level. Standing in the doorways were two familiar silverette men - but what was peculiar about them... was that the heartless were walking right past them as if they did not even exist.

"How...?" Kadaj uttered softly but he was cut off as Yazoo raised his gun towards him.

BANG!

The younger barely had time to flinch - but his body did not jerk or even respond as the bullet harmlessly passed over his shoulder. He glanced back - seeing the wisps of a lifestealer fading away.
"Come brother!" Yazoo snapped urgently. "We must get to the mountains!" The long-haired man did not wait as he turned and ran out the doors. Gunshots started to ring.

Kadaj blinked, confusion clear on his face, but as more dark creatures started to surround him he was quick to run forward, jumping atop the railing and leaping the the air. His double-bladed sword swung in the air and with a twang hit the chain of a chandelier. It fell to the floor, crushing more heartless under it while the silverette continued to sail, landing beside the short-haired Loz. The two shared a glance but said nothing as they ran outside and after the third, the large burly man helping the younger to keep the heartless away while Yazoo cleared a path ahead.

Another white flash and the three were seen once more racing inside of a familiar structure. A Mako Reactor. The metal of this reactor was badly rusted and the machinery within had obvious not been tended too for many years as wires were cut and electricity was freely sparking. The three passed several rows of pods.

The three raced through a doorway that up above was titled Jenova. Within everything was a soft green - it easily seen why; Mako was pooling in underneath like some comical pool in a backyard. A metal bridge lead up to a second level with large pod that had been broken into as nothing was left inside. Every so often the structure seem to shake, making the metal creak and the Mako ripple. everyone watching knew it was the entire small world - it was coming apart.

Kadaj looked around then glanced back seeing heartless climbing up the steps towards them. "We are at a dead end brothers." He uttered calmly.

"Ah, not quite. Loz, take Kadaj from here. I will join you shortly." Yazoo said as he turned and walking off screen, the echos of the gun easily heard.

Kadaj watched his older brother but as Loz started to pace away and towards the edge he was quick to follow. "Where is there left to go?" He asked, confused.

"He had a theory." Loz said, his voice emphasizing the pronoun. "Yazoo informed you - of the days when Gaia was still one?" A nod. "He guessed that since the world still has Lifestream that is moving and sustaining this world it must still be sustaining the rest of Gaia in an unreachable space. Many samples have proven that the Lifestream is bringing foreign articles to this world - crystals from Mideel, soils from Midgar. The indications are there - though nothing large than a blade of grass had ever reached this planet."

A silverette eyebrow arched but the tense look on his face indicated he was beginning to understand the implications. "Meaning?"
"If we travel through the Lifestream we might reach another piece of Gaia."
"....No." Was the plain answer.
Loz glanced at him sharply. "Brother this is no time to be human. Death is a possibility - it is a certainty if we do not try it."

The silverette stubbornly shook his head again.
"Do you wish to lose yourself? All that you are?"
The younger hesitated. "...No."
"Than protect your heart. Jump."
"How do I not know this is not another betrayal?"

Loz looked at him sharply, and than there was a small smile. "You do not trust me still. I suppose that is an... adequate response." He glanced over the edge than nodded as if coming to a decision. "Very well. I will jump first."
"Wai- Loz!" The younger's green eyes widened, his hand reaching out - but it was too late as the elder had already jumped. The slighter was quick to step to the edge and look over, his wide eyes watching as the man fell into the pool below with a loud splash.

Those who knew Kadaj well knew that the silverette's power was immense and his body able - had he of jumped after the man in a specific way and used his blade to catch him on the wall he could of saved the elder man. The look in his eyes though - the phobia of the lifestream - made it clear why he was unable to.

The gunshots stopped and footsteps started to echo.

Kadaj looked over his shoulder, eyes widening some more just as Yazoo collided with him, arms wrapping around him tightly to stop him from struggled as the were flung over the edge.

There was another splash and all was green than black.

In the darkness there was a long stretch of silence when it was abruptly overtaken by the sound of labored breathes and violent coughs. The scene started to lighten, revealing the silverette crouching on a metal floor of another reactor - this one quickly recognized by Gunnar. It was the same one he had fallen in long ago.

Kadaj's body was shaking, his lidded cat-like eyes glowing brightly as liquid Mako dripped from his clothes, hair and trembling lips. He weakly laid his head out on the cool metal ground shutting his eyes as he tried to gain his breath.

As he started to calm, he heard a shifting and slowly raised his head seeing Yazoo leaning up against a wall, head arched and eyes shut, the glow from his eyes apparent under his lashes. The youngest's eyes wandered some, seeing Loz further off laying on the ground, eyes shut.

The silverette shook his head, laying his head back onto the ground and mumbled softly, "Last to wake up like always."
Because he was not looking he did not see the frown mar his other sibling's face. "...Look again brother."

Kadaj's head jerked up as he looked up, meeting Yazoo's eyes before he slowly looked back towards Loz, eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the man. Something... eerie about him. He was just so...

Still.

Mako eyes went wide and before he knew it, the youngest clone was on his feet and fell to his brother's side, knees clacking as they met metal. "Brother?" He asked, voice loud in the silent area. There was no response - no twitch of the body, no opening of the eyes.

Not even a sigh of breath.
"Brother!" Kadaj snapped, his hand falling the the man's wrist. His eyes narrowed in concentration and quickly left the expanse of skin and fell over his neck. No motion. The hand lifted, pausing over the nose and mouth but there was no flutter of air either.

In a futile last attempt... the smaller man lowered his head to the other's left breast and shut his eyes, looking intently for a heartbeat.

Nothing.

Yazoo stood from the wall, walking over to the two. Kadaj slowly raised his head, his hair falling over his face to his his expression. "He's dead."
"Yes. We had been aware of that risk as the Lifestream is more concentrated here. It is a fatality any clone is subjected to it given too high a dose." The older reported as if he were explaining how it rained. "His body simply failed him."
"He's... dead."
Yazoo turned his head towards the other. "I believe we have already ascertained that fact."

A gloved hand reached out, grabbing onto the other's wrist as Kadaj looked up. The expression on his face was twisted, eyes wet as liquid dripped from his face. His voice was choked as he spoke. "Loz is dead brother!"

Yazoo looked down at him silently, his face apathetic as he did not respond. Realizing he was not going to speak again, a soft sob broke through his lips as he let go of the other's arm, arms curling around his middle. Kadaj hunched over himself, forehead resting against his dead brother's ribs. "I hurt..."

There was a soft sigh over him. "You are grieving and you are sad. That is the typical human reaction to loss."
The crying silverette hissed back. "Well I do like it! Why? Why was I born with a heart?!" The green eyes squeezed shut, teeth clenched. "If Loz had it... he could of made it..."
Another soft sigh as the elder turned his back on the other, declining to answer. "I will go explore the area. When you are finished, search for me." There were soft footsteps as the man left his brother to mourn alone.

The scene turned dark, the silverette's sobs echoing in the room before they were cut out. The reactor was revealed again. Some time had passed - no telling how much - but Kadaj had moved so his back was again the wall, legs outstretched and nearly touching Loz's motionless head. His body was limp and his face was expressionless but his green eyes, rimmed with red, were dark, the glow almost completely gone as it was overshadowed by a deep emotion. He too almost appeared dead if it weren't for the soft rise and fall for his chest.

Then his eyes flickered suddenly towards the dead body, the skin a pale white-grey like Hojo's had been. He sighed softly, as if coming to a decision and he pulled off from the ground and stepped over to his brother's side. He leaned over arms curling under the other's still body before he slowly lifted him, carrying his over to the edge of the reactor where the Mako's glow illuminated them.

He lowered him slowly into the pool, not even flinching as his own arms got wet. He watched slightly as his brother's body fell into the Lifestream and like the lifestealer's his body was eaten away, turning into Lifestream as well. He stood there silently for what seemed to be an eternity before he finally turned and walked from the room.

The scene faded away.


There was a thick silence in the room, many of the Chasers finding it hard to respond. Most of them hadn't even know... Kadaj was capable of such deep feelings.

Tensai bit his lip, his heart hurting from the scene. He knew how hard it was to lose family. How much it hurt and how much it kept hurting. How there wasn't a day you didn't wake up and wonder 'What if?' He never thought he'd have this in common with Kadaj of all people.

He turned his head towards the elder. The silverette was silent but his head was lowered so his hair hid him from sight, arms curled around his middle like they had been in the memory. He did not shake or shudder but even still Tensai caught something that made his orange eyes widen. Illuminated by the sandy light, a droplet of water, slowly running down the other's chin. "Kadaj!"

"...I will be fine. Leave me be." The silverette simply whispered.

Tensai's fingers clenched at his side, his own eyes starting to water sympathetically. He was obviously not fine! But Kadaj... Kadaj had always been alone. He had had to deal with every emotion by himself - having no one there to comfort him through the bad ones and no one to share the good ones with. There had not even been a hug or a caring 'It'll be okay' when he had lost someone so important to him.

It was no wonder... he rejected them and his emotions so often. The world had told him, again and again, that having them was useless. His heart. His emotions. It all just pointed to destruction and pain.

No one... had stepped in and told him that was wrong. That having a heart was a wonderful thing! There had been no one there who cared about him enough... to say those words.

But now there was.

Tensai's eyes darted desperately towards Gunnar, his eyes beseeching for the other to do something. Did he understand ANY of this?!

[Rikugurl]

Olette bit her lip as she watched the girl cry. She would of never guessed that someone so...strong and quiet would cry so much as a child. She supposed it was all a front... that she had adapted into her real personality. If it wasn't for Aqua...would Fuu still be alone and...

A soft sigh was admitted as she looked down, her hand rubbing Seifer's slightly. She kind of felt guilty... how she just kind of took Seifer away. She had no idea and if she did then...
She couldn't kid herself either. She loved Seifer...and wanted to be with him. It sounded selfish but... there was no way she would give him up for him to be with someone else. She was just glad... it worked out in the end. She had Seifer in who she had two beautiful children with, still happily married and still very much in love... and now Fuu had Aqua who were also happily married, in love and now... with a child of their own, even if they hardly were able to raise him.

That wasn't true either.
Terra and Ven were their leaders...and Tensai all together was the Chaser's baby. Everyone took care of him like his was their own son. Same as Lucina and Gunnar.

All of her memories made her want to go back to Twilight Town and just adopt the whole orphanage... but she knew there was some hunk of a man that would rain on her idea there.

The next scene made everyone look again.
Kadaj.
So much was learned from these memories, much like Sammy. No one knew the real background behind these two and unfortunately, important facts were learned about Samael but his trial was so short, it still felt like they hardly knew much about him.
Kadaj on the other hand...it was nothing but a sad upbringing... to a man who hardly let down his defenses... and now it was so easy to understand why.

The whole room indeed fell silent as they realized that the man they had never met when visiting Midgar wasn't there because... he had died. Why the man who had all the muscles and more emotions than said Yazoo didn't survive was a question on some people's minds. Something else must of happened to Yazoo as well. He didn't seem like the man that was shown now when they visited him at the Weapons shop. He was still indeed cold and distant but his speech had changed into something more human.

That too could be a front he plays to blend in with his human surrounding.
The fact that he doesn't have a heart shocked many as well. How was he...living? Something that had to do with the Mako?

As the questions were piling up, the memory faded.
The voices rang out loudly in the silent room but the eyes of another closed... and tears fell down a cheek.
When eyes were felt, he knew it wasn't those of the one that he... loved.
Mako eyes slowly opened, water encased around them before a deep sigh was admitted.

Namine gasped as she heard the sound of footsteps and looked over, seeing Gunnar slowly walk towards the pillar that held the silverette. Was he really going to expose...?

Stairs slowly formed as the young man passed his sister and new found lover, not a word spoken to either of them as he continued to the pillar and slowly ascended the stairs.
Olette pulled Seifer closer as well as she watched her son carefully, wondering what in the world he was doing.

When Gunnar reached the top he stopped, his hands in fists as he looked down. Everyone watched the man intently, their eyes widening as he suddenly put his palms on the force field around the silverette. It didn't shock him back nor seem to know he was even there. What happened next... was unexpected and made everyone cry out.
"GUNNAR!?"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
"BE CAREFUL!"

Gunnar pressed his hand hard on the field, his mako eyes suddenly glowing as he clenched his teeth. The force started to shift, trying to prevent what Gunnar was trying to do but the man's strength and... willpower made his hand push through the field until it came through the other side. He pushed his hands in more, his fingers reaching out until he felt the cold skin he knew so well.

Fingers slowly ran down the other's hand until he felt the other's fingers and slowly wrapped his own around them.

The gem however started to react and everyone's gaze quickly went to it. Unlike the flowing memories it had played before, the memories on the screen seemed to be jumbled and incomplete, like something was interfering.
It showed a small boy falling towards a very familiar Mako reactor, his fall jerking quickly as a hand wrapped around his ankle.
Static and then another scene. A man falling, his fingers gripping into the wet soil that couldn't hold his weight. A hand shot down, wrapping around his wrist to stop his fall in another jerk.

The scene switches to many others. Conversations, angry growls and everyday activities. Blades flying and jokes being shared.

Fingers held the other's tightly and the screen showed static again before showing a scene that made everyone's eyes widen.


The room had the glow of the night lights that both ships shared. A soft panting escaped two sets of wet lips as a motion found rhythm under a sheet. Bare shoulder blades poked out through liquid silver hair, looking as if it was melting from the sweat slowly rolling off its tips onto the wet skin.
"A-AAUH..! C-COMING!"
The motion started to jerk more before loud cries filled the room, the said silverette arching his back and neck as glowing green eyes looking up at the ceiling and the slowly down back towards the bed.

The camera slowly moved around the back of the silverette to show exactly what he was looking at.
Below him on the bed was the said brunette, hair in his face and sticking to the sides. Lidded Mako eyes slowly opening more and focusing on another pair, glowing as well.
A sweaty hand slowly reached up, pushing away the wet long hair of the one above him as a soft, loving smile ran over his features.
"I love---


you..." Mako eyes closed as he pressed his head against the force field as the screen blacked out.

"I know I've been a jerk...a real asshole." The brunette started, not caring that his secret was out now. "And I'm sorry. You don't deserve that. You don't deserve any of this. And don't blame your heart on this. You're heart is a figure of speech. It's just a muscular organ that is responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels. Your emotions... are who you are... how you feel... You care because you want to... and there is nothing wrong with that. It's alright to be sad...to morn, to get angry, to be pissed. It's alright to be happy and to feel breathless when someone does something special for you."

Green eyes slowly opened as he slowly glanced at the other. "But there's one emotion that you shouldn't feel. That's...being scared...or lonely because, no matter what... I'll always be here for you." Fingers slowly rubbed the soft skin of the other's before he continued. "And even if I'm human and not invincible... there is a feeling that is called hope. They say it's a weakness but... I wouldn't want to be alive if I had no hope."

There was silence before another sigh escaped. "I'm sorry if I pushed you or made you feel something that you don't understand. I just... want to you to know that your emotions are safe with me... no matter what they are... and I want to help you feel them all and understand them... because the really good ones...feel... really good." Water slowly built up in the brunette's eyes before they closed, some of it leaking down his cheek. "I just want you to be... happy and to fill the gaps... in your 'heart'. No one will beat you down because... I'll be there... to protect you...until our last breath."

[Reno]

Even after all this time... it still hurt.

He could not fathom it. A pain like this - after all he had done in his life since then why had it not dulled? He had not had Loz around for decades... why did his heart still react as if he had seen him yesterday? Was that the magic of this trial? But he had not felt any old feelings for any other memory...

It must be his heart once more. If he could of just ripped it out... given it away...

He drew a soft breath as hot tears continued to fall, his fingers digging into his skin. The silence around him was thick and disturbing, it almost made him want to stop breathing it was so overwhelming.

And then... there were footsteps. Loud and heavy, with a spongy clank to them - boots with rubber soles, large feet. Gunnar. Coming closer. Up stairs... the stairs behind him.

What was he....?

The clash and screeching of magical energy made his head shoot up and a green eye peering through silver strands over his shoulder, arms falling from his stomach more from shock than anything. Yells erupted all around them but he discarded them simply watching speechlessly as powerful fingers RIPPED into the sand barrier.

What was he doing?! Did he WANT to jeopardize the mission?

He opened his mouth about to tell the other to cease his foolishness but then warm fingers were suddenly around his own, and the pain that was still pulsing was overtaken by something else he still wasn't entirely sure of anymore. Some kind of... warmth.

The pedestal under him started to glow and they both turned there heads as memories started to play. Memories of them. The day they met. They day he saved him on Lincintia. Missions they had. Days of 'laziness' and moments of anger. Sparring matches.

He swallowed some, fingers curling around the other's automatically when they started to squeeze tightly. The final memory made his body warm some and his lips part in wonder. He'd always known what Gunnar looked like... but never himself.

Together... they made a complete whole.

"I love- you..."

The Mako eyes looked away from the empty screen towards the brunette holding his fingers, his pupils dilating once more at the audition of those words. Like before he knew not what to do with them - and like before Gunnar continued on.

But unlike there last talk this had a different tone - and by the end of it he was unsure how to react. "Gunnar...?"

His first instinct - his reasoning - was to claim Gunnar as a liar. There is no way the brunette could tell the future - could guarantee to protect him or to always be there for him. There was not even a complete certainty that he could 'have' his emotions... or make him happy.

But his second instinct - his emotions - stopped him. Because something terrible occurred, making his heart stop for a few moments. The barrier around them shivered and then they both felt it; a powerful force rippled down the barrier and slammed into Gunnar with the blunt force and their hands came apart. The brunette was thrown from the stairs and to the ground. "Gunnar!!" The silverette called running to the edge of the platform his hands pressing against the barrier. The energy around it was much stronger this time, the sands within growing so strong it was started to make the area around him difficult to see and a whistle started up, making it hard to hear. It was only a slight consolation when he faintly heard the other Almasy's cry their kin's name, Lucina, Olette and Seifer all hurrying towards the fallen man. He saw Gunnar slowly sitting up - apparently fine but looking up towards him. He saw his mouth opening lips moving to form the syllables of his name but he could no longer hear him.

And then he could no longer see him.

What was happening? His glowing eyes looked around in a panic, his heartbeat quickening. Kadaj looked around himself in every direction but there was nothing... No give in the barrier, no sound to be heard, no sights to see...

Was he... even in the room anymore?

His hands reached for his blade and he drew it quickly - but to his confusion the double blades were gone. It was nothing but a hilt and guard. He stared at it silently, his heart going wild in his chest and his nerves sparking so violently he started to shake. He dropped the hilt, hearing it clatter uselessly to the ground. The whistling started to increase in such frequency his hands came up and covered his ears, finding it unbearable.

"But there's one emotion that you shouldn't feel. That's...being scared...or lonely because, no matter what... I'll always be here for you."

"Gunnar?" He called softly, unable to hear even himself. "Gunnar!!" He called again and again until his ears could pick up his voice.

There was no answer.

Outside of Kadaj's pedestal a havoc was being wrecked as a loud whistle start to sing in the air - but unlike for Kadaj it was not deafening.
Gunnar having recovered from his nasty fall, was already on his feet and back on the stairs, fists pounding into the sand barrier that was shielding their silverette member from sight and yelling his name again and again.
"Gunnar that's not helping!" Lucina was crying.
"Get down from there!" Seifer was stomping after the brunette, trying to yank him back down the stairs.

The other Chasers - especially those caught on their own pedestals - were in a panic afraid for him. Afraid for themseleves.

"Everyone calm the fuck down!" Aqua was yelling but there was little control.
"Don't worry were going to be fine!" Roxas called to Roxel who was starting to shake - and to his husband who was starting to freak out.
Moxley was barking loudly, Jax was yipping up a storm.
Tensai kept looking towards his mothers to Kadaj's pedestal, legs shaking some. No this couldn't happen! "Mom! What's going on?!!?!" He called to them.

The whistle got worse and worse some of the Chasers making pained noises as their hands covered their ears - but suddenly something broke through all of this.

A voice.


"GUNNAR!!!!"


Then there was a green light that shot across the floor and slammed into the gem so hard the magical energy made a loud clanging noise. And then the whistle stopped.

And a memory showed on screen.

Kadaj slowly lifted his head seeing nothing but sand surrounding him - but the words of the memory came through loud and clear.


The area was dark except for a persistent green glow that seemed to permeate all of Kadaj's memories. The soft purring of machinery made it easily known it was a familiar reactor the scene was taking place in.

The silverette was perched silently on a dusty table, staring blankly towards the pool of Mako across the way even as he polished his blade. For Tensai it was like a light switching on, his eyes widening in realization. That was why Kadaj had been in that reactor when Gunnar had fallen - that was why he always wandered off towards there when they landed on Midgar for any reason!

He was just like Terra! Doing something so utterly out of place for someone of his kind - he was visiting a grave site!

"I knew I'd find you here."
Kadaj sighed softly, turning his head to his left. The camera panned showing a slightly younger Gunnar standing there. "Again and again you return to a site that once was nearly fatal to you. Why?"
"I was looking for you." The brunette said, swallowing nervously as he walked over. He seemed to eye the blade suspiciously - but unlike when he was a young child it no longer struck him with fear.

"Foolishness." The silverette murmured, a smirk touching his lips. "Do you wish to take another fall?"
"No!" The brunette snapped, a little irritated but he slowly stepped closer to the other once more. "I... came to thank you. For... saving my life."
The silverette raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"....Why'd you do it?"
The elder tilted his head pondering the question. "It... appeared to be the right thing to do." There was another footstep and the blade was swung. Gunnar jumped back quickly, the metal miraculously missing him. "You have said your words. Leave."

Rather than listening to him, Gunnar paced to a wall a little away, leaning back on the wall. "Whenever I came here before you were always here. You just wouldn't let me see you then. Why?"
Green eyes narrowed over the blade, seeming surprised by the others intuition. Or annoyed. "I simply did not wish to talk."
"So what made today special?"

There was a pause, then the blade was lowered and a soft sigh admitted. "I... simply required company lately. My brother is misplaced at current - looking for our mother once more - and there are few humans I feel worthy to pay attention to as many here are... scum."
"You were... lonely?"
"I am... always alone." He said. "I am different from most therefore there are few who wish to spend time with me."
"Well I'm sure your brother will return!"
"Mm... He is not... good company." Kadaj smirked again, showing off sharp teeth, but his eyes were dark.
Not knowing what to saw Gunnar looked away towards the Mako pool frowning some.

It wasn't long before he broke the silence. "Why are you always here?"
The silverette leaned back some waving a hand. "I am greeting."
"Greeting? Greeting what?"
"That is none of your business." He said before pushing off from the table and walking towards a doorway.

"Hey wait!" The male teen pushed off from the wall. "You didn't even tell me your name!"
The tall, lanky man paused and slowly glanced back. "What use would that information be to you?"
"Does EVERYthing have to have a reason?"
The man's lips pursed slightly. "....It is Kadaj."

"Kadaj..." The brunette repeated the foreign name before smiling. "I'm Gunnar."
The other blinked slowly before he nodded and started to walk away again. Again he was halted.
"Hey Kadaj? If... well you know maybe..." The younger hesitated, thinking of his words. "If you ever want some permanent company... you could join the Chasers. There's a lot of people and you'd be a real help to us too."

"And search for 'keyblades'? It does not concern me." The other looked away, missing the downtrodden look on Gunnar's face.
"Well... if you ever change your mind... we always land in sector 3." The other said softly, before leaving the way he had come.

The silverette stood there for a few moments more, surrounded by nothing but the whir of machines once more. He crossed his arms and tilted his head.

The memory faded but a new one appeared. There were two ships docked on a dusty, dirty world, the smog so thick it hung over the world like a dirty blanket. Somewhere far off, two men - both red-heads, were talking and laughing loudly making obscene gestures while two blondes, one in a wheelchair, watched them with bored expressions.

Chasing a moomba were two children - one with black hair another with red and blonde. "Hurry Ten! Xio's getting awaaaaaay!"

Bonnie sighed as she split some cards, handing some to Namine. "Bloody blokes."
"Ah they aren't so bad!" The strawberry blonde chirped as she rearranged her cards.

"Fucking hell!" Yelled an irate brunette as he stomped down the bridge. "Are we fucking ready to leave yet, bitch?!"
"Fuck off were working as fast as we can!" Another blonde, this one with a nasty scar on his shoulder growled. Beside him a young boy with purple eyes was handing over tools as he was asked for them.
"Don't you talk to me like that bitch!"

"Ugh," Aqua rolled her eyes as she drank a cup of some liquid. Possibly tea. "They're giving me a headache."
"They never seemed to breathe between fights, do they?" Olette said.
"Annoying." Fuujin agreed in between them.
The bluette and brunette both shot the silverette a confused, almost horrified, look.
A smile spread across her lips and Fuu laughed. "You should see your expressions right now!"
"Ah Fuu!" the ladies complained.

"Come on Gunnar!" Lucina called back as she walked onto their ship carrying a crate of things behind her father.
The brunette, now older, sighed softly as he stood beside many crates of things - supplies no doubt. "Why am I doing all the work?" He bent down, his hands reaching out to grab another - but pale hands reached there first so instead his tanner ones landed over them.

Gunnar blinked slowly in confusion then looked up slowly, coming face to face with a silver-haired male.
"May I assist?" Kadaj asked.
The other's jaw dropped open. "W-What... what are you doing here?"
"...I was not under the awareness the invitation had an expiration date."
"But... but that was years ago!"
An eyebrow arched. "Shall... I leave?"
"Wha... no, no!!" The other straightened. "I meant what I said! You're welcome to join."

Kadaj looked at the other silently before nodding and started to lift the crate effortlessly. "Where shall I place this?"
"Uh, up in the storage room." Gunnar said, pointing at Balder. "It's past the pilot's room and to your left. My sister can help if you get lost. I'll go tell Terra to issue you a number and stuff."
The silverette nodded again and started to walk up the ramp.

Gunnar watched him for a few moments before he swallowed and called softly - but he knew the other would here. "Kadaj?" He waited until the other turned around, and then he smiled. "I'm.... glad your here." With that said, the brunette quickly hurried away towards Terra who was still shouting with his lover.

"...Glad...?" Kadaj watched him go silently, and his lips twitched before a small and rare smile touched his lips.
"I... am glad too. Gunnar."


The memory faded... and before a word could be uttered, light encased Kadaj's pedetal.

The silverette within shut his eyes tightly, but the light still burned his eyelids red. The light curled around him like a snake and warmth wrapped around his thin frame making him feel as if he were walking upon the sun. His eyes opened just in time to watch the rays form a ball. He reached out and took it.

The feeling was not unfamiliar to him. He recognized it...

From every kiss. Every brush of the fingers. Every soft-spoken word against his ear. Every embrace. Every caress. Every thrust and every climax.

It was the warmth he felt when Gunnar was near.
His 'light'... was Gunnar?
He looked at the ball, seeing the brunette mirrored in the orb.

... It was so obvious. Of course it was Gunnar.

A chill surrounded him interrupting his musings as a voice seemed to echo within his mind.
"Do you wish to continue? To further dive into your memories of Mother? To not fail another brother?"

Kadaj glanced around, seeing no sight of the speaker. Yet, despite all the signs, he did what he always did. He answered with logic and truth. "Yes. I wish not to fail Yazoo as well."

A dark laugh suddenly echoed in his ears as cold wrapped around his whole body like ice. The light in his hands could not stand up to it and it shattered, shards falling to the ground.

Outside, the keyhole glowed even more as another light was given to it, becoming a little more complete. The light around the pedestal of earth faded slowly, revealing Kadaj once more.

The silverette blinked in confusion as he slowly looked around, seeing a circle of relieved faces all staring at him.

[Rikugurl]

Mako eyes stared straight into the other's, the look on his face making him ready to hear a blunt truth from the other but before anything was said, something horribly powerful seemed to shoot into him and threw the brunette off the stairs and into the wall.
"AAAAAAAHH!"
Sammy's eyes widened as he saw the act automatically letting go of Lucina so she could rush to her brother's aid.

"GUNNAR!" Olette cried as she too started to rush for her son, her husband on her heels. The three family members circled around Gunnar, helping him up but the brunette made it seem like he needed none as he got up himself and pushed through them, racing back up the stairs.
"Gunnar! Stop!" Olette cried up to her son as he started to pound on the force.

"KADAJ! KADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAJ!!" Gunnar slammed his fist into the force, feeling a strong energy pushing him back every time he did. "KADAJ! PLEASE ANSWER ME!" He cried, though in the back of his head he was cursing at himself. He had blamed Roxel for probably being the one to fuck up this mission...but what was happening now? Had he, himself, killed the Chasers for being...so....

"HOLY SHIT! WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" Axel gripped onto his hair in defeat but he blinked when he heard his lover, slowly look back and swallowing. Roxel caught his breath as well, his knees slowly stop shaking. His dad was the keyblade master... he knew if something horrible was going to happen....right?

"KADA---"
His eyes widened as he heard his name and gasped, slowly moving away, though his hands were still pressed up against the field. Mako eyes reacted and he quickly glanced at the screen, seeing a very old memory showing. One... he had almost forgotten.
Everyone had tried to stop him from going up to that reactor... but he never listened. He would go...and see no one except for shadows upon shadows. Never did he see any sign of the silverette who had saved him.

The rest of the Chaser's thought of him more of someone the boy should of stayed away from... but... he just had to thank him. Even if he was scary... he still saved his life when he now knew that people were usually so kind.
He remembered that he promised himself that that day would be the last that he looked for the man. If he didn't find him... he had obviously moved on somewhere else and finding him in the large planet would be almost impossible. He too had learned that if someone wants to never be found, they usually did a good job at it.

But... Kadaj was there...

A soft smile ran over his features as he watched the memories play on the screen. Had he been... so lonely...or was it something else?
He would learn later on, he supposed.
A sudden light however made him back away down the stairs and into his mother's arms as they watched the pillar turn to the light that they all knew so well.

Kadaj had...found his light?

Gunnar's eyes widened as he looked at the pillar, realizing just what was Kadaj's light.
It was...him....
"Kadaj..." The voice rolled off his lips as he closed his eyes, a soft smile running over his features. He slowly started to feel warmth... but then again, a coldness took over the room.

The sound of something shatter however made everyone jerk, especially Sammy whose purple eyes narrowed at the pillar of light. His glowing eyes slowly moved to look at the keyhole that was being formed, the addition to it being unsteady unlike the last two. It was brighter in some areas than others... as if something was.... broken.
He didn't like the look of things... but nothing seemed to be out of place except for one thing.

The light around the pillar started to fade and the stairs started to glow like the two before him. However, unlike the first two, the earth barrier didn't completely stop... but only became weaker as if Kadaj had a choice to stay... or not.

Namine swallowed as she saw the very dull sand continue to swirl around the silverette before she heard something sizzle behind her. Slowly she looked back, only to gasp at the wings that blocked them from the room where the Divine sat. Some black feathers had fallen from the wings and as they hit the ground, they seemed to turn into a black acid that made a line under the threshold.

"B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-bonnie...?"
"Oi?"
"I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I got a bad f-f-f-feeling a-about this..."
"Don't bite your arm off, nanny. We're almost done... at least I hope we are before I go barmy."

Outside the room, where the Divine stood waiting, the statue over the 'door' started to shift, chips slowly falling from the area of its eyes.
The hinges of the statue's jaw started to crumble, making it lower and a black smoke started to bellow out of it as white eyes flickered from inside its head until it adjusted. Black pupils focused on the large dragon through the thick smoke.

On a whole other planet, under the beautiful sky of a galaxy, under the crystal clear waters that reflected the bouts of light, was a blue phoenix made of water. Three of the balls of light on this world had disappeared, finding their place in the universe. It was a good sign... until one shattered.

The phoenix's wings seem to droop as its head lowered.
"Oh no."

[Reno]

Everyone squinted as the overbearing light seemed to warm the room – it seemed that after each completion of the trial, the light got stronger.

But no one missed the breath of cold air that made goosebumps rise along the skin. That, sadly, was not a surprise either. If the light was getting stronger, then subsequently so would the darkness attempting to steer them wrong would be as well.

As the light faded, the silverette was revealed filled the Chasers with relief. Everything was okay…


Or at least they thought so. But what was concerning was the shield. Why… was it still up?

Moxley started to whimper and shift uneasily, glancing nervously around before lowering on his stomach. He barked now and again as the sizzling sound coming from the door – that was a bad sign!

Outside, the dragon’s head rose from the ground and her eyes narrowed towards the black statue, growling softly. She knew the minute those humans walked into her palace one of them was bound to screw up. The third wing on her left side curled up as if injured – but Kongol’s choice?
There was nothing to be done now, it was in motion.

“What’s going on?” Tensai’s voice whispered, voice echoing across the room. His fingers of his right hand twitched at his side, feeling the cry of Faber. The other keybladers all seemed somewhat uneasy as well – and naturally Axel and Fuujin felt the disturbance as well.

Roxas’ eyes narrowed and he glanced towards the keyhole that was forming, seeing what Sammy had. The broken pieces in the light as if some went missing. Was… Kadaj’s not complete? Did he have two lights? Or did he screw up?
Or… did Gunnar’s interference cause it?

Kadaj seemed just as curious as the others at his predicament, glancing around slowly at the paper-thin barrier when a gleam of silver caught his eye. He looked down, eyebrows twitching in confusion as he spotted his double-bladed sword… completely intact?

He slowly lent down fingers curling around the hilt. As he did so however, his silver hair slipped from his shoulder and fanned across his face. Unseen by them all the very tips of three strands broke from the locks, tapping so very gently against the barrier. That was all it needed as the structure suddenly came down like a falling star and ceased to exist. The cracks in the wall slowly stopped broken pieces of the keyhole were slowly filled in.

The silverette stood up and glanced around his surroundings once more as he sheathed his sword, quirking an eyebrow. How had that occurred? It must have been just a temporary disturbance.

But what of that inquiry...?

He heard a shifting behind him and glanced back, seeing the Almasy family there - but he didn't care for any but one of them. Ah, that was correct, Gunnar was still waiting for a response. He knew he couldn't give him one next week... or even a few years from then like he had when he was asked to join - humans were just too impatient.

...Maybe he kind of liked that though about him. Some decisions were easier to make quickly.

He slowly descended the stairs, hearing a soft growl echo from the father of the bunch. He did not approve of them - naturally.
"Daddy!" Luci hissed disapprovingly and grabbed his arm, yanking him back. Even the mother was giving the scarred man a dissatisfied look.

He didn't pay attention to this - nor the curious looks given to him from the other in the room as he jumped topics (didn't he care they nearly destroyed the mission?!). All he was paying attention to was Gunnar, almost shyly stepping away from his mother's arms to walk closer to him until they were but a foot about.

"You appear alright." The man said softly, but his voice carried easily. "That is good." The other started to open his mouth to respond but Kadaj waved a hand, cutting him off. "Let me attempt this first Gunnar..."

He crossed his arms, seeming to ponder his thoughts before sighing. "I know what you want from me. The words are simple enough to say - but Gunnar you know I detest lying. I know what it is like to be lied too... quite often as you witnessed. I loathe the pain it causes." He adverted his eyes some more from embarrassment than anything.

"I am well aware how important love is. It is probably the most important emotion any being with a heart can have and I would like nothing more than to feel it. But I am so... uncertain about myself and my heart that I do not really know if I am capable of such feeling and even if I were there is no one to point it out and tell me that is what it is because as I have watched among this group-" He glanced around seeing the many Chasers around the circle staring at him or glancing at one another. Mainly he spotted Aqua and Fuujin, Roxas and Axel, Olette and Seifer, and Luci and Sammy. There were of course Terra and Ven and Sora and Riku on everyone's minds as he spoke these words. "Love is unique."

He looked at Gunnar once more, the look in his eyes conflicted but serious. "I know if I were incorrect and were to lie, it would hurt you immensely and that is the last outcome I want. That is why - even though the future is uncertain and events unpredictable - I wish for you to wait. Until I discover the answer."

He hesitated again then his lips quirked in a very faint smile. "I do realize this though. You are my light Gunnar. That means you are irreplaceable to me - more so than Mother or my brothers. I can live without them, it is not the same equation for you. I want you at my side." He bowed his head and murmured softly. "I don't know if that is enough, but it is all I can give right now."

[Rikugurl]

Olette blinked as she watched the man descend the stairs and a soft pull from her son. She slowly let him go before narrowing her eyes at her husband, seeing her daughter pulling him back.

She had to wonder...why she never picked up on... them. She was a mother for goodness sake! She should of been able to tell that her own SON had a...lover....so to speak. More so, did the Gen 2 even know about this?
As for herself, she was... a little uneasy. She was hoping for LOTS of grandchildren and if Gunnar was gay then... Lucina had better want lots of kids! Though... Riku and Sora adopted... Unfortunately, her son wasn't as good around kids like Sora or Ven...and Kadaj...well....

She shook her head and smiled, taking her husband's arm so that Lucina wouldn't have to struggle.
As the Almasy family was learning about a family member, the rest of the Chaser's were eying the sizzling on the floor. Something about this wasn't right... and even if nothing horrible happened now... was the trial still a success? The phoenix never told them that if they messed up, everything was going to come crashing down right there and then.

Green eyes narrowed before they looked back at the pillar where the silverette once stood, watching the scene.
Roxel too felt Bond of Flame at his fingertips as he looked at the winged blockage. Something unnerving ran through him and even if he hated being a keyblader and a Chaser... he couldn't shake off the feeling that this mission wouldn't be over after the trials. Slowly he looked at Aqua, their leader, only to see her looking at the scene of Kadaj and Gunnar.

A soft growl came from the teens lips before he sighed, looking away and glancing at Tensai. He could care less about Gunnar and his boyfriend.... thing. He called HIM a spoiled brat! Look who was talking.
"Ten-chan... I just want to go home..." He spoke softly for his friend on the next pillar.


Mako eyes became soft as the boots slowly brought the young man closer to the silverette... and not much distance was left between them before he halted. Their matching eye color stared into one another before the silverette spoke up. A soft nod was given to confirm the silverette's statement. He wasn't hurt by the fall... but that wasn't any concern of his anymore. "Ka---"

His eyes widened as a hand stopped him and he closed his mouth. He looked down slightly as Kadaj started to speak. It was much like the talk last night in the room. The glowing eyes slowly closed and a few nods were given in understanding.
However--

"You are my light Gunnar."

A gasp came from the man's lips as he looked up, his eyes widening as he looked into the silverette's.
A soft smile ran over his lips as he listened to the rest, his tanner hand slowly reaching out and once again taking the other's fingers and curling his own around them.
"Don't worry Kadaj..." He said softly as he smiled, slowly pulling the pale hand up and brushing his lips against the skin softly. "Just knowing... you'll be by my side forever... is more than I could ever ask for..."

Quickly, he reached out for the other's waist and pulled him close so that their bodies were touching. The hand that held Kadaj's went up to around his neck as he wrapped his arm around the thing waist. Their foreheads touched and their noses rubbed slightly. "I'll wait forever for you..." He whispered softly before leaning in and---


Outside the room, the echoes of the conversation from the other room bounced about like whispers.

"---you are irreplaceable to me ---- I want you at my side."
"Just knowing you'll be by my side forever is more than I could ever ask for. I'll wait forever for you."

The cold, white eyes moved and more chips fell as the expression on the statue seemed to be in pain, a hiss coming from the black smoke.
"Do you hear them....my Divine? Foolish...children..."
The statue's jaw seemed to open more, more chips of stone falling onto the feathers and floor as more black smoke poured from its mouth. The smoke traveled down instead of up and seemed to seep through the feathers into the next room.

Namine wrapped her arms around her body as she shook, a freezing cold air surrounding her. It was the same coldness that she felt when Rant or Rave was close by. Her eyes widened as she suddenly heard Bonnie's teeth chatter. "Y-you feel it too...?"

Before the pirate could answer, the gem started to react and instead of a light shining, the gem started to look as if it was burning as black smoke started to steam off it.
Even so, the screen started to move that made everyone quickly watch.
The haunting realization that this memory was from no one in this room... hit them real quick.


The world was dark, the sky a black as the storm continued beating down on the hand built houses. Fire blazed as metal sparked being hit with large hammers. Men sweating as they labored over their benches, crafting hilts of swords. Women busy washing animal skin to be made into clothing.
The ends of feathers were dipped into bottles of ink as fire flickered for lighting. Maps were created and strategies written.

The land outside was muddy and vast, the rain coming down harsh on tents positioned around the hills and forests.
The camera seemed to speed through all the short scenes and suddenly flew through the forest, missing dark trees and branches, following a path that was easily scene but yet hidden at the same time.

If one wasn't watching closely, they would of missed the little house completely. It was camouflaged by the trees and rocks around it, looking as if it was a part of the dreary scenery.
Soft glows came from the small windows and the wooden door was opened, revealing the inside.
Shrunken heads, bubbling unnatural colored water in pots, dead animals hanging from ropes, large pins, scattered beads, old books that held no names, large tarantulas crawling over said objects and the sound of crows squawking was seen as the camera seemed to walk through the small home until it came to another chamber.

Chains rattled as the door creaked over, finally revealing a figure that was turned away from the camera, leaning over an old table, dusk counting up inches as a black feather was quick to write on a small piece of paper. The feather was left in a small jar of ink as the figure folded the paper and cut a piece of twine with a sharp knife.

The figures arm suddenly expanded out and a crow, larger than the others around the house, flapped its wings and quickly flew to perch on the arm. A leg was rose and the paper was attached with the twine. The crow hopped up the figure's arm to its shoulder as the figure moved to a large window.
The shutters were opened to reveal the nasty storm and a cliff looking over the vast land.

Another flap and a caw sent the crow flying into the storm and swooped down from the cliff towards a row of men down below.

"About face! CHARGE!!"
A young man called rain slammed down onto his armor, pointing at hay soldiers. The rows of men turned and quickly charged towards their targets, shoving their swords into the hay, making fibers blow all over and stick into the mud below.
A caw could be heard over the rumbles of the storm above, making the young man look up, his dark purple hair sticking hard to his face as a crow came swooping down towards him.

His arm extended out and the bird landed. Its leg rose once more and the man took off his gloves, slowly taking the message from the twine and opening it. The words were instantly speared from the rain but it could still be read.

Don't put your life in someone's hands thats bound to steal it away .

K .

Eyebrows frowned before the man slowly looked towards the cliff, the crow cawing out once more. Behind the man, another figure stood proud... her face however holding a wicked glare out towards him. Her own purple hair was sticking out from her dragon looking helmet as she growled silently.


The rain slowly started to wash the scene back into darkness and the smoke around the gem seemed to fade.

[Reno]

Tensai sighed as he stood on his pedestal, his eyes darting away from Gunnar and Kadaj. There relationship hadn't really been THAT much of a secret. Well... at least they were going to be okay now though.

But... where the rest of them? He spared an uneasy glance towards the gem, frowning unhappily. This was... getting dangerous. What if... they didn't even make it out of here?

The voice of his best friend interrupted his thoughts and he looked over at his scared friend. The black-haired teen smiled to his friend. "Don't worry." He soothed quietly. "We'll be done soon Xel!" Already three were done - there were only five more!

Even though he was quiet, it wasn't hard to hear him in this room. Roxas' eyes strayed from the keyhole to his son and nephew sighing softly at their conversation, wishing nothing more than for this all to be over.

Across the way - being witnessed intensely (and angrily by one man) by the small yet still complete and growing family - were Kadaj and Gunnar. It was really a rather... heartwarming moment.

Lucina rolled her eyes some as the two got all cutesy, but her eyes strayed to Sammy, smiling to him. Well, she supposed that this trial was becoming a blessing though. She had finally managed to admit her feelings for Sammy, and Gunnar and Kadaj were finally figuring each other out. She really should be counting how lucky they all were.

Seifer meanwhile had his narrow eyes on Kadaj. His son was gay - how the hell did he not see that coming?! He glanced at Olette, seeing the surprise on her face as well. How had he kept this from them?! Damn it, it was all Terra and Ven's fault! If they weren't already dead...

His angry eyes darted to the pedestal were a blonde stood than to the corner of the room were a nervous red-head was consoling a baby lion. No it was definitely their fault - they were too fucking sappy for their own good!

And another question that kept nagging him - WHY Kadaj of all people?! He could of had Namine or Bonnie but nooo he wanted Kadaj who was god knows how many years older and had how many mental issues?! What the fuck sense did that make?!

Kadaj himself was a little preoccupied as he concentrated silently on Gunnar. His responses to his words. Half way though his final words, he heart the man's heartbeat skipping and than speeding up silently. It calmed him quickly - it had been a good thing to say then.

He was further assured of this fact when he felt a hand curled within his own, automatically slipping his fingers inbetween the others. they had done it so many times it was just instinct now - but he still liked the contact. He was tugged closer, warmth spreading across his body and he looked into the others glowing eyes listening to his words and enjoyed the touches.

"I'll wait forever for you..." His eyes widened just a fraction, but they quickly slipped closed as the other lent over, feeling warm lips brushing his own -

But it was quickly broken when their enhanced ears got two noises that were out of place. One was a faint yet ferocious growl just outside the door - the dragon; the other was a sharp sparking and sizzling like a wildfire in a forest. He caught concern in Gunnar's eyes before their contact broke and they glanced around - quickly finding the source of the sizzling just in time to see a memory jump onto screen.


It was a short memory yet one no one knew or really understood. By the end of it, everyone was left with more questions than answers. That memory had come from none of them - it was as if the gem had become... corrupted.

Almost everyone in the room felt a forbidding sense fall over them - something was wrong.

"What's going on?" Roxas was the first to whisper, his fingers curling as if he were attempting to draw out the keyblades. His blue eyes glanced out towards the keyhole again seeing nothing had been disturbed. So what was this feeling?

Aqua frowned as the memory passed away, having no answer to her fellow teammate's question. Not one she was certain of at least. Yet that armor...

She pushed the thoughts aside and her accusing gaze turned towards Kadaj and Gunnar. Whatever was going on one of them was to blame. Before she could inquire to the two about what EXACTLY it was that happened a silver and white light hit the gem.

The next memory made the room even colder.


"Stop! STOP!!" Came horrible screams.
There was soft frantic panting as little feet rushed down the hall, the eyes on the pudgy face wide and full of fear. "Mom?!" He slid to a halt as a door at the very end of the hall where a few screams and growls were echoing. Suddenly the former was cut off, the noise of gurgling all that was left. "MOM!"

The young boy started to pound his fists on the door, screaming for his mother over and over. There was a sudden click, making the boy pause. His short arms reached up, grabbing the knob with just the tips of his fingers. It took some time but he managed to turn it and shove open the door.

The sight within was gruesome. The room - a bedroom - had splashes of scarlet everywhere. The walls were splattered, the bedsheets had flecks, there were even a few hand prints against the stone dresser as if someone had attempted to stop their fall. The figure who had done this was slim and curvy, obviously female. She lay at odd angles on the ground as crimson pooled under her and spread along the tile. She would of been easy to mistake as dead had it not been for her desperate, labored breaths.

The boy was horrified, tears spilling down his cheeks. "MOMMY!!" His short legs carried him across the floor, and his shoes splashed in the blood as he quickly reached her side. Like any child would, he gripped onto his mother's shirt and started to shake her not caring as her blood stained his hands. "Mom! Mom!!!"

A shadow spread across the ground, distracted him with hope and his eyes turned, looking towards his right where its origin was coming from. Standing precariously on the window sill as if getting ready to leap was a bulkier figure his body nearly taking up the small space. His hands, at his sides, were grotesque things as they appeared less like a humans and more like bat claws, long and sharp and dropping with red.

All this the little boy did not immediately grasp or care for. All he saw... was his father. "Daddy... daddy help.... mommy's hurt!"

The large man's head turned, one fierce red eye gleaming over his shoulder and peering at the boy. And then a wicked smile grew upon the man's face revealing sharp teeth... before he stepped forward and out of the window.
"DADDY?!!?" Cried the confused and terrified young son his muscles tense as if he was about to run over to the window but a hand weakly curling around his wrist halted his attempt. "Mom?" He whispered, looking back towards the fallen woman.

Her eyes were open, the blue irises dilated from pain and struggled to concentrate on her son's face. Past her trembling lips came her pained plea: "Terra.... go... get help... hurry..."

Unlike most boys, Terra was quick to listen. He was on his feet and out of his house within moments, his young voice screaming into the desert. "HELP! SOMEONE HELP!!!"

The scene slowly faded away, but quickly returned with a new one. This was of the same young Terra sitting at a small plastic table in the corner of a room, biting his lip as he drew on a piece of paper. Beside him was a blanket indicating he must of been spending much time in that area.

The boy sighed, setting down his yellow crayon only to pick up a blue one slowly started to color in the top. It was a messy picture really, down by a shaky and uncertain hand but obviously done with some sort of love. The top he was shading was of course the sky - clear as Atteris had little to no clouds. There was a small sun in the corner of one edge, yellow of course. Below the sky was brown - obviously the desert. Little blobs had been built atop the land with squares, rectangles and circles on them, meant to be buildings.

He stopped coloring the sky and picked up a red crayon his hand pausing to the center of the picture. There was another blob - much shorter than the rest and structured almost triangularly.

A misplaced voice jumped into the memory. "Whats that mommy?"
"That? That's the sand fountain. It's the centerpiece of Atteris and represents strength."

On the top of the triangle was a small stick figure with brown hair and blue eyes and a big silly smile on his face. At the edge was another person, also having brown hair though much longer and blue eyes but was tall and her thin line-like arms were up above her head, reaching for the one on the 'fountain'.

The boy licked his lips and slowly started to draw a red shape in one of the woman figures hands. It was a familiar figure, easily made by two loops that met in a sharp point on the bottom.

More displaced voices. "Whats that shape mommy?"
"It's called a 'heart'."
"But mommy hearts are ovals!"
A soft laugh. "It's another kind of heart. It represents 'love'."
"Oh! Like what we feel. But then why is it red?"
"Cause red is my favorite color!"
A pause then, "So that's why you blood bonded with daddy. Mommy if I made my eyes red would you blood bond with me too?"
Giggling. "Oh Terra!"

The young boy had just finished coloring in the red heart when another shadow fell over him. He looked up, his wide blue eyes spotting a tall unfamiliar man with a bored gaze on his face. "Come." He ordered, before turning and walking away.

Terra blinked but snatched up his drawing and ran after the other, having to dash just to keep up with the others strides. "Where are we going?"
"Your mother had asked for you."
"Mom?!" The boy smiled hugging his picture to his chest. "I haven't seen her in forever!"
"Simply three days." The man said rolling his eyes before he hesitated at a door, pushing it open. He used his foot to push Terra inside.

The room within was dim, yet despite the walls being grey inside of white and the lack of equipment, everyone recognized the signs of a hospital room. On the bed lay a panting woman, bandages covering many parts of her body that was not covered by a sheet. She was hooked up only to a heart monitor, the beeps irregular and weak.

"Mommy!" Terra said as enthusiastic as ever, running the rest of the way on his own to her bedside, large eyes looking up at her. When he did not immediately get a response, he called again. "Mom!"

Blue eyes fluttered open weakly, the head slowly turned and gazing down at the small child at her bedside. Her face muscles were tense in pain and her eyes blurry from agony. Even still, at the sight of her son it seemed Ida forgot her pain, smiling ever so faintly. "Ter...ra."

The young boy grinned a small hand reaching up and touching her elbow. "Hi mom! I've been waiting a real real long time for you! They gave me icky food and water, it was even dirtier than ours! And they made me stay in the corner like a bad boy." He frowned, leaning forward like he was sharing a great personal secret. "But I didn't do anything wrong I promise!" His eyes lighted up again. "But thats okay now we can go home right?"

The woman blinked slowly a few times, her breathing slow and loud. she swallowed weakly, obviously struggling to understand her boy. "No..." She finally gasped desperately. "No son... we're not... going home."

Terra's face became sad. "But I like our home..." He looked down then back up and smiled again. "Well that's okay! We'll go somewhere even better! We can live in the fountain! It'll be a vacation!"
"Honey..." Ida sighed slowly her eyes fluttering closed. She laid there silently for a few moments, just breathing softly, her body shaking on the bed and her heartbeat getting even lighter.

When her eyes opened again she turned her gaze to her expectant and hopeful son. She took a deep breath, mustering her strength. "Terra... listen to me... You must understand this. I am not coming back with you at all. I have to go away. And you'll be going with some other people and they'll take care of you."

Even on his young five-year old face they could see how the words broke the boy's young heart. "But... but why mommy? Don't you want me anymore?"
"Of course I do... I love you..." Her voice lowered to that of only a bare whisper as the color in her eyes started to fade. "Terra you need to be a good boy now. You'll do that won't you?"
The boy looked up at her, baffled and hurt still, and he pulled the picture away from his chest, holding it up to her as if he was the one at the bottom of the fountain, offering his heart up to her. "But mommy! I drew you a picture!"
The woman only smiled weakly and shut her eyes, uttering a soft breath before her chest stopped lifting and the beeping stopped, turning into one long sound. Terra did not seem to realize the significance of this. "Mommy... my picture, see it?" He started to stand on his tip-toes, trying to lift it to her face.

The doctor at the edge of the room, seemingly unaffected by the whole sad scene, sighed as he walked over, his hand gripping Terra' collar and tugging him away. "Come on."

Terra stumbled and started to struggle. "But my mommy needs to see the picture!!" He cried.
"Your mother isn't coming back. She's dead."
Disturbingly, these words were not met with any confusion at all. Terra's eyes went wide as tears started to rush down his cheeks, the pictures getting crumpled in his small fists as his hands were clenched. "No... NO! MOMMY! MOM!!!" His struggled became fierce but the doctor effortlessly lifted him and held him in a strong grip, dragging him out of the room.

Terra's wide eyes continued to stray to his dead mother, and his screams continued to echo even as the door started to swing shut, "MOOOOOTHER!!!!"

Beyond his notice, the picture fell from his fingers and fluttered past the closing door, getting locked inside with the unseeing woman the camera slowly running over the drawing once more now torn, crumpled and stained by tears.

[Rikugurl]

The scene faded but just as it did on the picture... the scene came back, the picture still the same...though straighten out a bit with water stains and dirt. It was also now behind a glass.
In a picture frame.
Next to it... was some flowers that many of the Chasers knew so well. They were Terra's favorite.
They were light blue hydrangeas and they were covering an old plate that had some old carvings in them. For those watching, one would think of a small shrine.

That was exactly what it was.

"Daddy... do you think dad will like it?" Orange eyes looked up through unruly black hair. The baby fat around his cheeks made anyone watching want to pinch them.
Above the boy was a taller man.... not really tall...but to him he was. Blonde locks shifted as blue eyes looked down at the boy and a smile was given. "I hope so, Ten." He said as he reached down and pulled the boy up and rested him on his hip before leaving the room.

The scene faded but the voice of the little boy carried.
"Hey daddy?"
"Yea?"
"What did you write on the bottom?"
"Oh... In memory of Ida Tellus."
"Who's that?"
"Your grandma."
"YAY! Another grandma! Can we go visit her?"
There was a soft chuckle as the voices faded out more. "You just did, Ten."

The scene seemed to stay in the darkness, though the scene didn't fade.
Instead, lights were pressed on and the bedroom of Terra and Ven's lit up dimly for nighttime lighting.

A blonde yawned as he walked in, rubbing his abs from under his shirt before he stopped dead. His blue eyes widened as he saw a familiar man turned away, looking at the nightstand that had the new shrine on it.
Ven swallowed and slowly looked away before leaning on the wall. "Why are you in here in the dark...?"
"Why did you do this...?"

Ventus frowned and the room was in silence once more before he pushed off the wall and slowly walked to the bed, sitting down next to his husband... or mate. Either or.
"Because... I found that picture in your secret drawer. I wanted to---"
"Why the fuck are you snooping through my things?" A growl was admitted and fangs showed. Ven held his ground though as he growled back. "Because we're equals and whatever is yours is mine and vise verse so get the fuck over it."

There was more silence before Terra looked away and Ven sighed. "As I was saying... I was looking for the ring you used that night because I just wanted to take another look... and found that picture there. I know you're hurting to... be with your mom Terra. These first few months with Tensai has been hard... and I can see it so don't you fucking deny it."
He slowly looked at the shrine and sighed again. "The flowers remind you of her eyes....don't they? How the blue contrasted with her pale skin. Those are the only flowers you've been obsessed with with keeping alive..."

A hand was slowly placed on the other's shoulders. "You want to ask her for guidance... with raising Tensai... and you're so far from her grave. I wanted to make you something where you can ask her anything at anytime."
Water slowly started to form in the blonde's eyes but those viewers who knew the connection with the paopu fruit knew that these tears were actually Terra's.

"Terra.... she saw your picture...and she loved it."
The brunette's strong shoulders seem to move before he leaned into the blonde, his face burying into his chest as muffled sobs could be heard. Ven leaned over the taller and sighed, his fingers running through the soft brown hair. "Terra...."

The two suddenly jerked as the sound of the door opened and Ven looked back to see the cute chubby boy walking in with his pajamas on. "Tensai? What are you doing here?" He watched the little boy walk around the bed and towards them. He remembered that Tensai always had a strong feeling about making someone feel better but... had he felt it from that far away?

Terra pulled away and rubbed his eyes, sighing a bit as he looked down at Ten.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
The boy looked at both his fathers and shook his head before doing grabby hands at Terra. The brunette blinked and glanced at his husband, only to get a blonde eyebrow raised at him. He sighed and slowly leaned down, pulling the boy up to his lap.
As Tensai got comfortable, he smiled happily.
"Nope! I just wanted to visit grandma again!"

Ven's eyes widened but a soft smile ran over his lips as he slowly looked at Terra who too seemed to be shocked.
The small family sat there in silence, looking at the small shrine before the boy slowly looked back at Terra.
"Hey dad?"
"Y-yea?" Terra shuddered a bit as he looked down at the boy.
"You're a really good drawer."
Ven couldn't help but chuckle before leaning into Terra, his face nuzzling the other's. "I have to agree with, Ten." The two noses touched and their lips met softly.

Below them, the little boy could only smile widely as he watched his fathers kiss.

[Reno]

As the scene faded away the watchers were filled with some mixed feelings. Tensai just looked down at his glowing pillar, smiling faintly. Even after all those year, his dad still missed grandma...

Did it ever get easier?

Another choreography of lights hit the gem from all angles - blue, silver, white, purple and green.


The scene that jumped on screen was a heart-warming one and easily recognized. Lights decorated large windows and wreathes were delicately nailed into walls. Red and Green streamers wrapped down stair railings and spiraling from the ceiling. In the largest room of the house - a very familiar house - was a large tree overly decorated with popcorn strings (that had many pieces missing thanks to hungry children), gingerbread men with their heads bitten off, candy canes that suspiciously were only near the top of the tree, ornaments left untouched, and a large, gleaming star at the top.

The green beauty was illuminated softly by a jumping fire in the corner of the room and making shadows run far along the ground. Figures bustled to and fro in the house, most crowded into the living room but there were some chatter and clanging going on within the kitchen, and laughing children running around. Every face was familiar.

Roxas in the kitchen with Riku, the two carefully carving a turkey while Carina stirred up some punch and Bryna decorated a cake.
Axel resting in the living room, seemingly engaged in a conversation with Ven and Terra and from the words able to be heard it seemed he was inquiring about Midgar.
Little Tensai still a baby dozing away in his grandfather Sirocco's hands as the man sat back in a recliner while Kairi sat close by, talking with him softly.
Tidus and Seifer surprisingly also were in a conversation too, but their looks were competitive and their talk about children's sports. Olette and Aqua were watching them from a distance, making teasing (or in the latter's case scathing) remarks.
Roxel and Namine snooping around the tree while their father's weren't looking, snatching treats when they could and hurrying away as if it were a scavenger hunt.
Lucina sitting beside the resting Xio near the fire, running a brush through her hair. Invidia, close by, was already well-groomed most likely by the silverette in the kitchen. Ribbons - one red and one green - were already tied in her hair. Sora's work no doubt. Maxie, meanwhile was huffing in the corner, looking as if she didn't care about any of them at all.
Not far away from them, Fuujin had a hand on Gunnar's shoulder while she spoke with Saix, the boy wiggling in her grip as he looked towards the kitchen where the food was starting to be set out.

Yes all was peaceful...


Until rock music started to blast from outside.
♪WHEEEEEEEEN YOU WALK AWAY♪
Every human in the room jumped out of the skin and all the animals hurried to their feet, fur rising.

It wasn't until Saix and Riku charged outside that the others didn't come to their senses and quickly followed.

The camera followed the brigade out the door, revealing quite a sight. Sora was doing a maniacal jig in the snow while Demyx rocked out hard on his sitar, the two screaming at the top of their lungs like they were doing a bad hard rock record.
♪YOU DON'T HEAR ME SAAAAY
PLEAAAASE OH BABY
DON'T GOOOO!!♪

Riku's bright eyes were properly as wide as they could go as he hurried out onto the front lawn, arms waving. "Sora! SORA!!!"

The music came to a screeching halt and the brunette stopped dancing, blinking innocently at his husband. "What?"
"What are you doing?!"
"Uh... singing with Demyx?"
"Well stop!"
"But Riku you're supposed to sing around the yuletide!"
"It's not even festive." Roxas droned, rolling his eyes. "Stop making a racket you idiots, you sound terrible." Some of the others started to turn and go back inside. Most of them didn't notice how Sora hurried back to Demyx, murmuring something to him quickly and waving his hands for emphasis.

Many of them DID stop though when a jolly, light tune began.
"♪I don't want a lot for Christmas...♪" Demyx started to sing, grinning cheekily to Sai.
♪"There is just on thing I neeed~♪" Sora continued, giving a wink to Riku.
"♪I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree♪" The blonde started to dance with his sitar.
"I just want you for my own!" Sora danced back to back with him, a grin on his face. "More than you could ever knooow~"
"Make me wish come truuuuuuue!" The two sang together before they each pointed to their respective lovers. "All I want for Christmas is youuuuu!"

The song faded off the two looking hopeful. Riku and Saix just raised their eyebrows, expressions dull. The others started to go back inside once more.
"Oh you two are no fun!" Demyx stomped his foot.
Saix sighed softly, shaking his head. "You two are being silly."
"Are not!"
Behind him Sora pouted and fell on his butt, making a design in the snow with his fingers while the lovers from Dragoon had a spat. He hummed softly before his face brightened like he had a great idea, his hand digging in the snow but did so so no one could see what he was up to.

He than stood, looking towards his lover who was starting to turn back for the door and walked after him. "Oh Riiiiku~"
The silverette looked over his shoulder. "What Sor-ah!" The man cried in surprised as he was tugged down to his husband's small height and suddenly brought into a passionate kiss. The man blinked a few times, before he hummed and shut his eyes starting to return the favor...

That was until Sora shoved his fingers up the back of Riku's shirt, hand full of snow.
"AHHHH SORA!!!" The man cried as he broke away.
Sora burst into laughter, skipping back from his lover as he started to do his own little 'dance' trying to get the icy substance out of his shirt. "Oh man you should see the look on you-" Aquamarine eyes glared at him. "face...? Uh... Riku?"
"Oh... you're going to get it now." The man said as he started shoveling up snow in his hands.
A nervous chuckle. "Uh Riku... wait... uh Ri - no! NO!!" The brunette squealed as he turned and ran as his lover charged after. "NOOOOOOOO- ACK!" The snowball hit him in the back of the head and Sora went falling in the snow, laughing all the while. He sat up quickly grabbing handfuls of the ice and flinging it towards the other, doing about as little damage as a kitten. "Stay back!"
"I don't think so!" Riku said as he tackled the brunette back on his back. The two laughed as the wrestled in the snow.

Saix and Demyx looked back and watched them for a few moments, before shaking their heads, Sai grabbing the blonde's wrist and leading him back inside, the blue-haired male murmuring softly about getting the other warm.

[Rikugurl]

Laughter started to fill the room again as they watched the next memory. The memory from before seemed to escape some of them as they realized that nothing bad was going to happen... yet.
Fuu shook her head as she glanced at Aqua. Her brother-in-law really needed to lighten up. He seemed to have more faith when he was younger.

Roxel's eyes widened as he saw the scene and started to laugh as well. Not so much because of the scene itself but because he remembered Axel complaining that he wasn't able to join the fight in the snow and Roxel had no idea what he was talking about for the longest time. Now he knew!

Namine giggled as she watched her younger self. Those gingerbread cookies that Sora made were always the best! She couldn't resist them! Besides... Roxel egged her on!
Bonnie just looked down at the giggling woman and rolled her eyes as she looked away, crossing her arms as her ears twitched. She still never understood Christmas every well.

Olette looked up at her husband and smiled softly to him before slowly leading him away from the spot they were standing to the one closer to the other Chasers... including the pouting Axel and the jealous Jax.
TWO MOOMBAS!? WHO WERE THEY!?

Gunnar watched his parents leave his and Kadaj's side, also noting that Luci slowly made her way back to Sammy, their hands joining and blushes being shared. He, however, didn't move, enjoying the warmth that Kadaj gave to him as he held him close.

Another light shot out to the gem and telling just by the beginning... it wasn't going to be a happy one.


"I love him... why... why did this have to happen?"
The voice of Sora could be heard as the scene slowly came into focus... on a world that was in destruction. Houses were crushed into one another, the ocean waves washing over sentimental items, taking them from the shore and into its own depths.
People were carefully walking through the rubble that once called home, children crying as they searched for their toys.

"I dunno Rox - if it were me I'd just break to pieces. I don't know what I'd do if i lost Riku like that. I can't imagine how it must feel."
The waves continued to move, some planks floating back and forth against the sands that they use to be built on.

The camera showed off the mainland towards a small island that too seemed to be in shambles.
An old tree and the rocks that the tree house was built on was in shambles, the branches broken in places that were vital to keep the home standing.
It was too dangerous to even think of climbing back up there...let alone to live.

Slowly the camera moved around the island, showing that the wooden walls that had so much effort put into them were also down, man made bridges crashes into the ocean below and boats crashed into the rocks near the shore.

On a smaller, littler island was a figure whose shirt was off. Black tattoos circled around his pale skin. Pale silver hair blew in the breeze, the sound of his many earrings being heard as his necklace padded on his chest softly.
"I deserve to be branded - after what happened I deserve everything i got... and i don't deserve you. It's my fault what happened to you I-"
"Oh wait a god damn second! You're fault?! Please Riku don't be so fucking proud. I have darkness in my heart too Riku - no matter who I am! Sure your soul... it might have helped tip me over the edge but it's NOT YOUR FAULT! I followed you willingly... And i helped you do some bad things... We knew the risks, Riku and we took them and we messed up but we're fixing it! Forgive yourself Riku - it's not your fault all odds were against you... we'll make it better."

A sigh brushed from the man's lips as he closed his eyes. Slowly he knelt down and between his legs, the viewers could see the beginning of a young tree.

[Reno]

Tensai couldn't help but grin as well at the scene - not only because of his dads silly antics but because of his grand dad too! He had, like Sora and Riku, hardly gotten to know Sirocco before he passed. But despite the qualms he seemed to have with his sons and their choices of partners, he could easily see how much of a caring, loving father he must of been.

He... wished he could of known him better.

Roxas rolled his eyes at the memory, glancing at Axel - snorting at the pout he saw etched on the man's face. They saw snow EVERY year for several years and played it it dozens of times! And he was STILL whining about the ONE time ("One?! You liar!" His inner Axel barked) he didn't let him? How did he get such a kid for a husband?

Aqua, like Fuujin, was thinking something similar. Her brother was such a sourpuss sometimes, wasn't he? Sometimes she wondered how Demyx - or even how SHE - put up with him at times!

Seifer huffed unhappily as he was led away, sparing a glare for Kadaj, who ignored him while he leaned against HIS son, and Sammy, who didn't notice as he got all cuddly with HIS daughter. How could Olette not see how WRONG this was?!

All thoughts at current were set aside however as another light hit the gem and Sora's sorrow-filled voice made all their hearts fall and the sight of the broken Destiny left them nervous.


As Riku fell to his knees, silently looking down at the small tree footsteps lightly crunching on sound could be heard. The silverette seemed to make no immediate indication of his visitor, continuing to look at the leaves starting to grow on the baby branches in a pattern rare but familiar to many who had experienced the magic of the paopu.

Feet stopped beside Riku's form before there was a soft sigh and a young, weary man sat down next to the other. "Told you we only needed the seed." Sora whispered softly, his fingers reaching out and delicately brushing along one long leaf. "Pretty soon we'll be eating paopu again." He smiled cheerily, looking up at his lover without even a flinch at the ugly tattoos - but when Riku did not even look up it fell and he sighed looking away and out towards the ocean spotting the mainland.

"God... it's all my fault..."
"Shut the fuck up Ven, you did what you had to!"
"I killed him Terra and for how he's acting, I might as well of killed Sora too!"
Blue eyes darkened as he saw, even from this distance, the many bonfires lit on the other side, people struggling to keep themseleves warm and fed while the destruction wrought was still slowly being repaired. Sora sighed, his eyes shutting as his shoulders slumped as if he were carrying far too heavy a weight upon his back.

"Amelia was so sad today. She lost the swirly shell she found on the field trip to our island. She kept crying about how now her mommy didn't have her special gift." The brunette murmured softly despite the fact he had been given no invitation to talk. "I wish I could just make it all better..."