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The sky was dark, for it had been raining. The clouds were mourning the loss of a friend who sacrificed to get his friends back.
He wanted them all to return home together… Actually the sacrifice that he made helped him save everyone, so when he overused the power once more, he couldn't return.
So it was raining.
The day before, it was sunny. The skies were bright and the birds in the sky were happy. Everyone was singing and was glad it was finally over. They all were safe.
The boy who saved them all told one of his two friends, “I'm going to disappear. Tell him, I'm sorry.”
He knew the price of what he did must be paid. But he was unable to tell his other friend.
So she cried. And his other friend, the one who would sacrifice his life for knew nothing until the moment he disappeared.
He shouted his name as the moments went by.
The clouds were dark and the rain poured. Their friend was no more. His body and heart was in another reality— the unreality where magic refuses to exist and it's nothing like anyone has seen before.
So when Sora woke up, he was in the place where bodies and hearts perished.
Well, he thought so.
It was night and he was so alone. “Helloooo?!” He did the only thing he could think of and shouted.
It was then a man called back. Sora was glad. When the person came his way, however, it was one he didn't expect.
At first he thought he was looking at Riku, but he realized it was the one from that Video Game Yozora.
“You're Yozora!” He realized, despite being good looking and reminding him of Riku.
“How do you know my name?” Anyone would ask in a situation of someone you probably never met before, knowing your name. “I don't usually look like this. My form has been stolen, so how do you recognize me?”
But Sora didn't answer yet. He gave out his own name, “It's a long story, but I'm Sora—”
“You're Sora?” The man interrupted. He furrowed his eyebrows, “Why do you look like that? Is that the form they reduced you to?”
Sora didn't quite understand the man’s words. “I always look like this?”
He shook his head, “I'm supposed to save Sora. Time to end this.”
He widened his eyes, “Wait! How is this saving me?” Still Sora pressed on and fought with his keyblade.
Yozora was strong. He even managed to rip his keyblade from out of his hand. How was it that he was able to do that?
But somehow… Sora managed to continue fighting, never getting up.
That was when Yozora froze. Cold ice struck his body and he became immobile.
Then Sora too, whited out.
The man— Yozora was in his car, “I failed again. I must save Sora. I won't fail her.”
~~~
An entire year passed and Riku was getting desperate. Ever since his best friend's disappearance, he had been having strange dreams of a city. All around he feels like he's being watched. But also he sees Sora.
However, he's gotten no clue on where his best friend might be.
Riku slumped down.
The Radiant Garden restoration committee even tried going through Sora's data from the computer, but still nothing.
That's when she appeared.
The Fairy Godmother.
She appeared and told Riku to follow his dreams. For it was his dreams that showed him the truth.
In a foreign city, with buildings all around, there Sora was. It was up to him to save him
The final world— some might call it, was the place bodies and hearts cling on. There was a star whose own name she had forgotten. Her body was no more, but someone came to her and told her to believe.
However, she knew of where Sora could be found. After his helpful words, she was going to help those who were his friends, find him.
Kairi shook her head, “I want to go but I want to train more.” She told Riku. That way she won't need to be saved like before. This time she will be training with Master Aqua and find out who she truly is. What her past holds for her.
Riku closed his eyes, “May my Heart be my guiding Key.” Then he dove in.
~~~
When Sora awoke, it had been some time. He was sleeping on a couch in what looked like an apartment. He looked around and that was when he met her.
“You've been sleeping for seven days,” she confessed.
Who knows how long it has been since he last saw Kairi and the others.
Time flows differently.
But still something dangerous was going on and lately monsters have been appearing.
Strelitzia told him after he realized there were several blanks in his memory.
He was now on a mission to recover those holes in his memory so he can get back where he came from and restore the peace in this reality.
Thankfully he wasn't alone and she also suffered from amnesia, but like him she could wield a keyblade.
So the two formed a duo and traveled around just like that. Sora told her everything he remembered and Strelitzia told him all about the Quadratum.
But that's the beginning of the story and for some it was the end….
•~•~•
“Day LXV. At least I think it's been. I didn't think it was going to be easy, nothing works that way for me. Everything, I have to work for and then when things get better something happens. I was blinded by my own insecurities and tried to hurt the one person that was always there for me— my precious best friend. He gets caught in the organization’s plan and goes to sleep to rework his memories.
And I have to work so my sleeping friend wakes up.
His nobody and that replica… I couldn't hate them. They were real people too. They were hurting just like me. So I gave the replica a choice, I guess I got reminded of Sora by them. Xion wanted to stay with their friends.
I had to wait. Wait for them to make the decision as for the last one who remained I let darkness take over. It was the only way I knew at the time. And every day I wondered if it could be prevented. Would another way be better?
Again nothing comes easy for me.
I couldn't face my friend, no matter what. After what I did, I couldn't. Even with all these complicated feelings that I buried deep inside me, I believed it wasn't for me to let them out. I just wanted to explore all of the worlds with Sora by my side. It's what I always wanted.
Then Kairi came into the picture and she wanted to go with us too.
Darkness still held a grip over my heart, nothing came easy for me.
I had to be tested, but it was Sora who truly didn't make it. I work so hard to be on the same level as him, finally we could be together exploring the worlds.
But nothing comes easy.
I worry about him too much as he does the same. He had to regain his power and strength.
I was stronger now in darkness. Nothing ever came easy so why did I feel that way. But it was because of Sora, I had remembered the promise to protect my precious somebody.
Nothing came easy, I thought when I faced Aqua in the dark realm. Then when everything seemed hopeless, my light— Sora appeared.
Nothing ever came easy for us, I thought once more as everyone seemed to be gone. His face, so upset and I couldn't let him reach the same fate. I'd always protect him and his smile.
So I protected him even if it's the last thing I'll ever do. I had to protect him…”
He said those words out loud, it kept him going if he reminded himself of the cause.
Everywhere Riku went, he searched.
But he was still being watched — just like in his dreams.
Everywhere he went this person faced him.
“You again!” Riku glared at the figure before him. He looks too eerily similar as if he was a replica of him. “Get out of my way!
However it was different.
“This has nothing to do with you. I'm trying to save my friend.” The man spoke coldly. His eyes held two different shades, one fire red as the other was ocean blue.
“I'm looking for someone too, but you're watching and following every move I make, I don't trust you.” Riku gripped on his keyblade, “You're trying to stop me.”
“You know something.” He narrowed his eyes.
“I'm trying to find my precious best friend, Sora! Sora has this bright smile and just makes friends with everyone.” Riku looked down, “...went missing a year before I arrived and it's been sixty-five days since then.”
Yozora stared at Riku, “What did you say? Sora? I'M looking for sora. I'm supposed to save Sora! Who are you?”
Riku clenched his fist, “I knew it! You're on the wrong side. How are you supposed to save Sora?” Yozora's words angered Riku, “It was my dreams that led me here to save my friend! How could you possibly even know Sora!”
Sora was everything to Riku. His person, his goals, and everything led him back to Sora. He… He loved him, something he never ever told another soul.
Yozora shook his head, “I should be asking you that. How do you know Sora?” Two people wanted to help their precious person.
Riku aimed his keyblade.
Yozora prepared to fight.
Only one of them could save Sora.
“Because I love Sora.” Riku was determined and told the words that meant everything.
Yozora gripped his weapon, but Riku wasn't done. “I love him so much I wouldn't even know where to begin.”
~•~•~
“Hello Sir!” A bright grin across the counter met with theirs, “How can I help you?”
The person looked up and sighed, “Chicken tenders and a Sprite.”
He grinned and handed the food to him soon afterwards, “Alright! Have a good day!”
A voice called from the back, “Hey, ‘ra! You're pretty good at this. After everything we've found relating to our past, this is a good way to earn money on the side.
Sora closed his eyes.
He remembered everything or at least he thought he did until there were things that didn't add up.
Why did he want to explore other worlds?
How did his island go to darkness?
Who was on the wrong side?
Who was he searching for so much?
Who did he grow up with?
Who was it that sacrificed themselves for him?
Who was it that took his exam with?
Who was so precious to him, that best friend?
It wasn't Kairi.
There was someone else, but he couldn't bring to mind their face or name.
Whenever he thought about this person he felt so happy and warm. He wanted to be with this person so much.
He remembered their clothes and whenever he tried to picture a memory this person was there. However, whenever he tried to look at them, a blurred whiteness appeared over their face.
He had no idea if this person was a girl or boy, what hair this person wore, the color of their eyes, but Sora knew they were precious to him.
Strelitzia said it was love, how he described this person he had no memory of. She said she also had a similar feeling for another. Strelitzia recalled having a brother, fighting involving Keyblades, and that was it.
Sora loved this person. And he would get some answers if he found this individual.
Suddenly his heart started beating rapidly. He wasn't sure why.
A person came in with interesting features.
He wore a jacket that was too similar to the person from his own memory. The clothes were from his latest adventure. Mickey wore something quite similar. But above all, his hair was silver.
Pieces of his memory came back, but the person's face was still blank. However, now he could see the person’s hair was silver.
The person came up to order.
“Hello! What can I get for you today?” Sora remained with his bright atmosphere as customer service asks for.
The person across from him said nothing in regards to food but only stated, “Interesting… You do not remember?”
~•~•~
Some time before Yozora and Riku were clashing through the streets and even on the rooftops. “Wait he?! Sora is not a boy!” Yozora gripped his gun.
What was this person talking about?
“Of course he is! I've known him since I was very little!” Riku took that chance to side swept and avoid the attack, Yozora took the chance to shoot at.
“Eh?” Yozora paused, “But I've known Sora for a long time until that thing… It took her away from me! The Gigas!”
He remembered watching as she slipped away from his grasp. They've been fighting for so long and he had to get her back.
“The who?” Riku questioned, still striking Yozora with Braveheart. “He came to this reality because he abused the power of awakening — not because of the Gigas!”
Riku held his keyblade up to his throat, it didn't help that Yozora looked eerily similar to his own appearance. It's like someone stole parts of him and Sora. Then those parts formed Yozora.
“So that's why that person called himself Sora and was using her name. It could be possible he wasn't someone trying to trick me, but his actual name is Sora— Even though when I tried to battle them, your Sora still won.”
“You were trying to fight Sora?” Riku's eyes narrowed, “He could've gotten hurt!”
“Well he's strong and defeated me.” Yozora put his hands in the air in surrender. “It seems there has been a misunderstanding. I had no idea there would have been two Soras. The kid was strong, he managed to win against me after all.”
Riku didn't move, “Sora’s not just some kid! He's sixtee— well probably seventeen by now.” Riku looked down when he said this, Again your time has been lost…. “You're looking for a girl?”
Yozora nodded, “She has dark brown hair.”
The same color as Sora's, Riku thought. “Her eyes are Purple, if you see her tell me.”
“Who says we're working together? You find your Sora and I'll find mine. I don't really trust you.” Riku released his Braveheart and began walking the opposite direction.
“I've seen the Sora you're looking for more recently than you! I can help.” Yozora stood there, standing to the side.
Riku sighed, “Fine.”
~~~
So there Yozora was in the fast food joint. Riku was searching outside while he decided to look inside for a bit.
He wasn't sure how Riku would react to no memory.
Though it seemed Sora recognized him. Maybe it was from that battle.
“Look, I'm not trying to fight you.” He raised his arms. “I… I thought you were a trap okay, so that's why I fought you.”
He wasn't good at saying sorry or apologizing in general.
In fact, since they were working together, Riku made him promise that if they met again that he would apologize.
“Umm… Are we close friends?” Sora's eyebrows furrowed. Sora stared at him as if he was trying so hard to think.
His memories were still off.
He felt like he knew this person. However he also didn't understand the strange feeling.
Was he his precious someone?
The person walked outside. “Hey wait!” Sora shouted and then proceeded to leave his post. He followed the man outside.
Yozora raised his eyebrows in amusement, he followed him out here, Riku will be glad he is alright.
He wanted to face him and tell him his name was Riku, but that wouldn't be true in the slightest. However, he was jealous of what they had and that here was the person Riku had been searching for.
So where was his?
Riku turned around and widened his eyes at the person behind Yozora. Not giving him another second, he ran up to Sora. “Sora!” He smiles softly. “You're alright… I'm…. I'm glad.”
He was crying.
Light tears came from his eyes as he said this.
Sora, who had lost several memories, felt his heartbeat pulsing harder than ever. His head hurt like he should know this person.
He felt more precious than anyone before.
Was it… him?
Sora finally glanced at his face and the pieces finally fit together.
A male— Riku, his best friend.
That was his most precious person and above all, the one who he loves.
Sora nodded and Riku smiled softly.
Come on Sora, I thought you were better than that?
To protect my precious friends…
When we grow up, let's get off this island. We'll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff.
If two people share one their destinies become intertwined.
We can't let fear stop us, I'm not afraid of the darkness!
But Sora, I thought you liked games. Or are you too cool now that you have the keyblade.
Come on Sora, together we can do it
Have you forgotten? I'll tell you why. Cause I'm not a total sap like you.
If the world is made of light and darkness, we'll be the darkness.
To tell you the truth Sora, I was jealous of you.
Sora, don't chase the dreams. They'll lead you nowhere, just to an abyss you'll never be able to wake up from
Pull it together, Sora! We haven't lost them
Sora, I believe in you.
“I… I remember!” He exclaimed before saying his name, “Riku! I love you!”
And before he could even think nor even process Sora's words he was kissed by none other than his precious friend.
Riku finally closed his own eyes and smiled into the kiss he gave.
Yozora stood there watching the scene.
~~~
It wasn't before too long, Sora had gotten all of his memories back. He remembered everything. And came with that was a sacrifice. As soon as that came to him, he hugged Riku, pressing his face close to his shirt.
“Don't ever try to sacrifice yourself for me again!” Sora frowned, feeling terrible about the thing. It might have been the two of them, but still he couldn't bear to see that.
Among other things, Riku and Sora both knew where Yozora's friend was.
It was the final world.
There they led him and upon arriving he was able to let her body and lingering spirit become one once again. “So this is your friend who told you to believe?” She said once arriving.
She then faced Yozora and smiled, “I'm back!” There with her dark hair she faced him.
And everything was how it should be.
Strelitzia came back with them and met a familiar pink haired man who recognized her immediately. He— once a nobody who lost his memories of his true goal of finding his sister, was relieved to at least see her again.
Yozora was with the Star whose Name they didn't know, but it turned out she shared the same name as Riku's precious friend.
Sora's memories had returned and was now with Riku.
And finally, Strelitzia was with her brother, Lauriam.
They came back in an exciting manner, everyone came to greet them. Even Kairi who stood there looked stronger than ever, “Sora! Riku! You're back!”
The girl who always was left behind was now moving forward, even if they weren't always with her.
She trained with Aqua and found something that she didn't know how to accept. She was from Radiant Garden— a world she has been to several times now, but she was unaware until now.
However, being a princess of heart, she had only light. And because of that she was taken from a young age and sent to Destiny Islands on that meteor shower.
Unless they are restored, only when traveling worlds in that specific manner does a meteor shower happen.
Because only moments before was their promise that would shape their lives forever — a necklace was given with the belief to always protect.
For it wasn't the ending but the mere beginning for Sora and Riku.