User blog:Evnyofdeath/Darkness and Light

Chapter 1 - Starting Point
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

“Shut up.........”

A young man rolled over in his bed and tried to hit the snooze button on his alarm clock. Unfortunately however, he instead rolled of the bed and fell face fist on the floor. Pushing himself up of the ground, the boy then rolled over and looked at the ceiling.

“Why do I have to get up so early today?”

There was a loud knock on bedroom door and the boy sat up.

“Yami, its time for school, Hikari is waiting for you outside.”

“Wha...............”

Looking at him one could almost see the gears turning in his head.

“That means that today is..............CRAP! ITS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!”

Yami jumped up and ran to the closet. He grabbed his favorite shirt, a gray button up one, and threw it on as fast as he could. He then pulled down a pair of dark gray pants. He ran to the mirror in his room, and tried to comb his unruly red hair for a minute before giving up. He pushed his bangs to the side revealing his dark blue eyes before running downstairs as fast as he could. When he got to the front door, he ran his fingers through his hair knowing what his friend would say. He reached for the door knob and slowly opened the door.

“Hikari? You ready?”

There was a girl his age on the door step. She has light brown hair that extended just past her shoulders, and green eyes. She was wearing a shirt sleeveless shirt, and a light gray skirt. Over he shoulder was a beige bag which Yami noticed was full of school supplies.

“Crap! I forgot my backpack! Be right back!”

Yami ran to the living room, and grabbed the missing item before rushing back to the door.

“Forget anything else?” The girl taunted him.

Before replying Yami took a moment to think.

“''What could I have forgotten? Is she just messing with me? Or did I really forget something?”''

“Your pendant you idiot.”

Immediately Yami's hand reached to his neck. It was true, his pendant was missing. He felt a brief moment of panic before Hikari held out her hand. In it, his pendant.

“You forgot it yesterday.”

“Ummmmm.....thanks..........”

Yami took the pendant and hung it around his neck. It was in the shape of a crescent moon, and in the middle of it there was a dark purple gem imbedded.

“Lets get going, don't want to be late.” Yami stated.

“True.....Oh, yeah, Yami?”

“Hm?”

“You need to buy a comb.”

“Not funny.”

Chapter 2 - Duo
"Yami! Wait up!"

Yami turned to see Hikari running towards him. When the school bell had rung saying that the day was over, he had rushed out as quickly as he could, completely forgetting about Hikari in the process. Yami slowed down to let the girl catch up, but didn't completely stop.

"Your so slow Hikari." Yami teased her.

"I am not! Your just to fast." Hikari defended herself.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Lets get going already."

The two friends started walking to the beach like they did almost everyday. After all, that was the place they had first met. Thinking back to that Yami didn't look where he was going and crashed into a person walking in the opposite direction. Stepping backwards Yami tried to apologize, but the person had already disappeared.

"Who was that?" Yami wondered.

"I think its the new girl. I saw her a few times today."

Yami nodded and the two continued on their way to the beach, however it wasn't long before Hikari's cellphone began to ring. Pausing for a moment she fished it out of her bag and answered.

"Yes?"

Yami watched as Hikari got more and more flustered by whatever her friend was saying and couldn't help but laugh at her embarrassed face when she was done. Regaining his composure, Yami tilted his head to the side and looked at her.

"Soooo...what did so and so say about this and that?"

"Yami! Her name is Marrisa! And...er...well...sh-she asked i-if..."

"If...?"

"Sh-she wanted to know if w-we'd...b-because we're always together sh-she w-wanted to know if w-we..."

Yami just stared stupidly at his friend waiting for her to finish her statement. Pulling out his own phone he looked at the time and realized he was going to be late for his training.

"Hikari, I'm sorry but I gotta go!"

"Huh? Oh right, your step dad is training you in swordplay. Well, good luck."

With that Yami turned around and began running as fast as he could to his house. After about 10 minutes he made it and ran to the backyard. His step father was sitting on a tree stump and when he saw the boy, stood up and threw him a wooden sword.

Hikari sat on the curb blushing profusely. She couldn't help but think back to what her friend had said over the phone.

"Tell me! Have you and Yami done it yet!"

"Wh-what! What makes you think that!"

"Well, you two are ALWAYS together."

"We've been friends since we were little kids, of course we'd be together!"

"Do people at school really think that Yami and I..." Hikari didn't want to finish the question.

Instead, she pulled her phone out again, and after checking the time, began walking to her own house. Part way she passed a couple holding hands and blushed again, her thoughts returning to Yami. Shaking her head to get rid of said thoughts, she quickened her pace to get home faster. When she got there, she was greeted by her older brother, Richard.

"So, how was your day 'Princess'?"

"Don't call me that!"

Her brother was a tall lean person. He had medium length black hair, however it was tied into a small pony tail. He also had bright blue eyes, which was rather uncommon in their family. The two of them walked into the house and their mother intercepted them.

"Hikari, how was your day?" She asked. "Oh, and by the way, your father said that if he ever catches you doing inappropriate things with Yami you'll both be in trouble."

Hikari felt like screaming, but instead kept her cool. She knew her mother was just teasing her, but after what Marrisa had said she couldn't help but feel rather uncomfortable. Running up the stairs Hikari walked into her room and dropped face down on her bed. Rolling over so that she was facing the ceiling, she dug in her bag and pulled out her phone. Flipping it open she tried to get in contact with Yami, but couldn't.

"Hes probably still practicing..."

Putting her phone away she got up and walked over to her desk, and pulled out a photo of her and Yami when they were 10. Yami was still getting over the shock of his mother's death, and she had tried to cheer him up by getting him a present, and gave him a chain necklace. He had liked it and she had been able to convince him to take a photo with her. Smiling she placed the photo down and started on her homework. About an hour later her mother yelled that dinner was ready.

"Coming!"

"Dad! I'm going for a walk, I'll be back soon!"

Yami walked out the door and started aimlessly wandering aimlessly. By the time he realized where he was he was already at the beach. Looking around he walked over to the waterline and sat down. He heard someone walking up behind him, but didn't bother to turn his head. Whoever it was sat down next to him, so he glanced to the side and saw it was the same girl from before. She had long black hair and gray eyes. She was wearing a black tank top and black shorts. She in addition had a distinctly tomboyish appearance to her.

"Who're you?" Yami asked her.

"Tamashii."

"What are you doing here?"

"I saw you and wanted to say hi. I remember running into you earlier today."

"Well, I gotta go. Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Sure."

Yami stood up and started walking away when his cell phone rang. Pulling it out he saw it was Hikari and answered.

"Hey Hikari. What did you wanna talk about?"

When Hikari told him about what her friend had said earlier that day his face turned bright red and he almost dropped the phone.

"W-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-what! They think just because we hang out a lot we do stuff like THAT! W-well I gotta get going. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Hanging up Yami flushed even redder when he certain thoughts entered his head. Shaking himself Yami started running home.

Chapter 3 - Darkness
Several months had passed since Yami met Tamashii on the beach, and the girl eventually became friends with him and Hikari. She had a very spontaneous personality, and would bounce from one thing to another in a matter of moments.

"Come on you two, lets hurry up!"

"Slow down Tamashii!" Yami yelled at her.

He and Hikari picked up their pace, and ran towards the girl. When the caught up to her, she immediately turned and ran towards the beach. Sighing Yami started running again, however he noticed Hikari was staying behind. She had never been the most physically active person, so she was probably already tired. When he got to the beach however, Tamashii was gone.

"Hey! Where are you! Tamashii!" Yami called out. "Damn, she must have run off again."

Yami cast his glance to the ocean, and walked over to the shore. His mother had told him once that she had met his father, his real father, on this beach before she died. He fingered his pendant, which she had given him when he was 9, a year before she died. Suddenly feeling a presence near him, Yami quickly turned around to see a man in a black cloak standing several feet away from him. The man's face was obscured, so Yami couldn't tell who it was, or even see where he was looking, however it was obvious the man was staring at him.

"What?"

When Yami didn't get a reply, he turned and walked away, feeling creeped out by the strange man.

"Hey, Hikari, you still there?" Yami called as he left the beach and rounded the corner.

Sure enough, Hikari was sitting on the sidewalk, exactly where he had left her. Kneeling next to her Yami noticed she was pale, and realized she had fainted. Sighing Yami carefully picked her up and began walking to her house.

"What is Richard gonna say when he sees this? After that incident in the 7th grade where Hikari hugged me, he said that..." Yami trailed of not wanting to actually remember what Hikari's older brother had said.

While he was walking to Hikari's house, he saw Tamashii pacing back and forth.

"Tamashii, you ditched me!"

"Wha? Yami! Hikari! There you are! I don't know what happened, one moment I was on the beach, the next I was here."

She then noticed that Yami was carrying Hikari.

"Did she pass out again? She knows shes not that physically fit, so why does she always wear herself out the way she does?"

"I don't know, but-" Yami was cut off when a large shadow covered the sky.

"What the hell is that?"

"I don't know Tamashii, but it isn't good, we need to get out of here!"

Yami turned to run, but saw his path blocked by several shadowy creatures. Yami Stepped back and hugged Hikari to his chest to try and protect her from the strange beings. Feeling her stir he looked down and saw the girl open her eyes.

"Yami? I passed out again didn't I?"

"Yeah, but thats not the problem now...Tamashii are you okay?"

Yami turned to see the girl staring at several more creatures which were advancing from the other direction. She seemed uncharacteristically afraid of them and collapsed on the ground.

"Damn. I don't know what we're gonna do Hikari."

Yami helped Hikari stand, and the two of them looked each other in the eye for what may be the last time they ever would.

"Hikari...I..."

"Yes?"

"I..."

Yami took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

"Whats that? A light...?"

Said light shot past Yami and landed in Hikari's hands, where it took the form of the strangest weapon the boy had ever seen. It looked vaguely like a key crossed with a long sword. The hand guard was in the form of a pair of angel wings meeting at the tip to form a circle around the hilt. The blade itself was roughly 2 and a half feet long with a slight backwards S-curve, while what could be called the teeth of the key was a gold crescent moon.

"What is that?" Yami asked in disbelief

"I...don't know, but for some reason I feel...different..."

One of the shadows suddenly lept at Hikari, and the girl instinctivly raised her arms. The creature hit the blade of the key and exploded into a black cloud.

"It looks like whatever that thing is its what we need to defeat them. Here, let me have it."

Yami held out his hand, and Hikari gave the weapon to him, however it only remained in his hands for several seconds before disappearing, and reappearing in Hikari's hands.

"Guess your the only one who can use it."

"I...guess so. Yami, I'll do my best to get rid of these things, you take Tamashii and run!"

"I trust you Hikari. Don't die on me."

Yami ran over to Tamashii, and when he couldn't get her to respond, lifted her onto his back, which was easier said than done considering she was taller than him. When she was secure, Yami turned back to see how Hikari was doing, then ran as fast as he could away from that area.

After 15 minutes, Yami had to stop running because he was out of breath. Placing the still traumatized Tamashii on the ground, he sat down to catch his breath, cursing himself for his lack of stamina in such a dire situation. After 5 minutes Yami decided he had rested enough, and turned around to pick up Tamashii.

"Hey, Tamashii, you ready to go?"

What Yami saw shocked him. Tamashii was all but gone. There was a large shadow underneath her and her arm was sticking out of it, her hand franticly trying to grab something. Yami ran over to her and reached out his hand, however just before he could take it, she sank all the way in and the shadow disappeared.

"Tamashii!"

"She can't hear you."

Whipping around Yami saw a woman with long green hair in front of him. She was wearing an over large cloak so Yami couldn't see what her actual body looked like, however she was about as tall as him. He noticed when she walked over to him that she had bright yellow eyes and was surrounded by a faint black aura.

"You won't find the other one either."

"Hikari! What did you do to her!"

"I did nothing. I simply saved her from being 'erased'. However, if you wish to find her, I can help you."

The woman extended her arm and held her hand out to him.

"Join me and be my servant, and you will defiantly see your precious Hikari again."

Yami hesitated. Something about this woman reminded him of the strange man he met on the beach earlier, however she had said she would help him find Hikari.

"Fine."

Yami extended his own hand and took the woman's. Almost immediately he felt a sudden surge as though something was trying to take him over from the inside out. Pulling his hand out of the woman's he grabbed his head in pain.

"Wh-what is this!"

"The Darkness. Let it in, and you will be able to do whatever you want, including search the Worlds for your friends."

"No...no!"

Yami turned and ran away from the woman. He didn't know where he was going, but in the end he turned up at the beach again, the one place he truly felt comfortable. Walking over to the water he sat down and starred at his reflection. After a moment something caught his eye in his reflection. At first he didn't realize what was different, however after a moment it became obvious. His eyes were no longer blue, but a darker shade of the same yellow of the woman's.

"Ah, so you've noticed. Even though you resisted, your predisposition to the Darkness made it impossible for you to resist."

Yami jumped up and turned around to see the woman standing behind him. Suddenly gripped by anger he lunged at her with his fist drawn back, however before he could make contact a black blur shot past him, and he fell to the ground.

"Ah, Sephiroth, nice to see you."

"You need to be more careful. If I hadn't gotten here when I did-"

"Ah, but you did get here. Anyways, will you accept my offer now?"

Yami stood up and saw the woman was extending her hand to him again. Tentatively Yami reached out and took her hand again, and this time didn't fell the surge of power. Instead he felt a strange familiarity, but couldn't place it.

"Good. Now then, let us depart for my humble abode."

The woman released her grip and waved her hand. A foot away from then a large black shadow appeared in the air.

"This is a Corridor of Darkness, with it one can traverse the many Worlds."

The woman walked though, leaving Yami with Sephiroth. When the swordsman walked past him he gave the boy an analytical look.

"You remind me of someone I know."

With that enigmatic statement he walked through the portal himself. After a moment of hesitation Yami stepped through himself.

Awakening
Yami didn't know what had happened. One moment he was walking through the Corridor of Darkness, and the next he was standing in complete darkness. There was a sudden flash of light from below him, and looking down he saw he was falling down to a large stain glass pillar. The background was a light blue, and on the right side of it was a profile image of him. In the image's hand was a large key shaped sword similar to the one Hikari had used, however the design was different. Not only was it solid black, but the hand guard was box shaped instead of being circular, and the blade was straight and appeared to be double edged. On one side of the blade near the tip was a crown like protrusion that would be the teeth of the key. On the left side of the pillar were 4 circles, and each one had a face in it. The one of top had Hikari's, while the one on the bottom had Tamashii's. The one on the right had the Empress of Darkness's face, and the one on the right was solid black, as though something was hiding the image from him.

Yami touched down on the pillar, and tentatively stepped forward. When he reached the far side of the pillar, the end where his head on the image was, he felt a presence behind him. Quickly turning around he saw the cloaked man from the beach.

"Who are you? Where are we?" He asked the man, almost pleadingly.

"..."

The man held out his right hand, and another key shaped sword appeared in it. This one had a rather complex design. The hand guard was in the form of a square, however the bottom was open, and each side had two spikes coming off, and a spike on each corner. The blade was a gray cylinder, and at the top was what looked like and enlarged version of the hand guard, however larger. There three spikes on each side, one on each corner, and two on the top.

"W-wait, what are you doing!"

The man rushed at Yami, and swung his weapon, only missing because Yami ducked down at the last moment. Falling down the boy starred at the cloaked man in fear as he swung his blade down once more. Just when the weapon would have made contact with Yami, he raised his hand almost on instinct and in a swirl of Darkness a sword appeared in his hands. It vaguely resembled the weapon in his image's hand, however it lacked the enclosed hand guard, and the teeth like protrusion on the blade.

"What? How did...?"

Deciding not to question it, Yami swung the blade up, and threw the cloaked man away from him. Standing up, and aimed his own blade at the man, and made a mental note to thank his foster father for drilling him so often in sword play. Running at the man, he pulled his blade back, and thrusted forward in an attempt to stab the man, however he dodged by jumping back, and countered by swinging his weapon upwards. Yami jumped backwards himself to dodge, and quickly transitioned to a leap forward.

"Take this!"

Yami swung his blade as hard as he could, and connected with the man's side, throwing him so hard he flew over the edge of the pillar. Panting at the effort, Yami bent over slightly and put his hands on his knees. Hearing a sudden noise the boy turned around to see the cloaked man standing behind him and tried to raise his weapon to block the coming blow, but was too slow. As the man's sword was about the connect with him, Yami closed his eyes.

"Wake up."

Yami opened his eyes and saw the Empress standing over him. He was lying on the floor, and sat up.

"Glad to see you've come to. The moment we came out of the Corridor you passed out. Sephiroth, help him find his room."

"Fine."

The man grabbed Yami's arm, and hoisted him to his feet, then proceeded to drag him along the halls. Yami saw that they were in some kind of castle, and that all the walls were made of a cold gray stone. At the end of the hall there was a door, and Sephiroth stopped in front of it.

"Here, this is your room."

The man let go of Yami's arm and started walking away. When he was several feet away he turned his head to the side.

"Don't tell the Empress about your Awakening."

"What?"

"That dream you had. Don't tell her about it."

"Why-"

Before Yami could finish the tip of the man's sword was at his throat.

"Don't tell her."

Sephiroth pulled his sword away and sheathed it before walking away. Yami put his hand to his neck to make sure it was still in one piece before walking into his room. It was a very simple room, consisting of a bed, nightstand and a chair. There was enough room for him to make himself comfortable, but not enough for him to feel at home. Sitting on the bed he held out his hand and starred at it, thinking about the dream, or as Sephiroth had called it, the Awakening.

"Ah, to hell with it!"

Giving up Yami lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.

DLDLDLDLDL

Hikari opened her eyes. Her head was groggy, and her body felt like lead. All she remembered was fighting off those strange shadows and the next thing she knew she was laying on the ground. Sitting up she cradled her head and tried to think. Suddenly it came back to her.

She had been fighting off the shadows when they suddenly stopped attacking for no apparent reason. Feeling a presence behind her she turned around and saw a woman with long green hair wearing an overlarge black traveling cloak standing behind her. The woman walked over to her and waved her hand, causing a black portal to appear, and then before she could react the woman threw her through said portal.

"Where...am I?"

Standing up Hikari realized she was in an alley, and started walking out of it. When she reached the end she saw she was in a city, and that that in the distance there was some sort of castle. Walking forward, she suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed on the ground.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Hikari turned her head to see a man with shoulder length brown hair, and wearing a black vest like jacket was standing over her. On the ground next to him was a large sword that vaguely resembled a gun.

"Hey, Cloud, get over here!"

Another man, this one wearing a pair of black pants and a black shirt with only one sleeve on the left side appeared. He had short blonde hair and it was styled in a spiky fashion. He had on his back a large sword that oddly enough was wrapped in bandages.

"Cloud, can you carry her? My hands are full, with this stuff."

"Sure."

Hikari felt herself being lifted up and carried by the man named Cloud. She tried to resist, however she was to weak at the moment to do anything to stop the man. After some time had passed they came to a stop, and then entered a house. Cloud put her down on a couch, and walked away. Sitting up she looked around the house and couldn't find anything strange about it. Getting up she walked over to the door to try and escape.

"I'd suggest otherwise."

Quickly turning around she saw the man with the gun shaped sword looking at her.

"Don't worry, we didn't kidnap you. We're just looking out for you best interest. At the moment the Empress is a bit demanding."

"The Empress?"

"You don't know? Shes the one in charge of this world at the moment. Not that we like it that way. She is trying to take over the Realm of Light with the Heartless, and is doing a pretty good job at it. My names Leon by the way. The blonde is Cloud, and you'll meet the others soon."

"The others?"

"Just a group of us who are trying to kick the Empress out, and make Radiant Garden a peaceful place again."

"Radiant Garden? Is that where we are?" She asked.

Before Leon could answer, the door burst open, and black blur shot in. When the blur stopped moving Hikari realized it was a girl, maybe a few years older than her. She had short black hair with a head band on her forehead, was wearing a faded gray shirt with a black vest over it, and short shorts.

"Whos this?"

Turning to the door Hikari saw another girl. This one looked a bit older than the one in black, and had long brown hair with a pink ribbon in it, and was wearing layered pink and white dresses.

"Ah, Aerith, Yuffie, glad to see your back unharmed. Well, we don't know who she is, Cloud and I found her passed out on the road, and brought her here. What is your name anyways?"

"Hikari..." She answered back.

"Thats a nice name, Hikari." The brown haired one said.

"Thanks..."

"Oh, I'm Aerith."

"Thanks Aerith"

"Okay, its time to eat!" The black haired one, Yuffie exclaimed.

After that, the group filed into a rather large dinning room and sat down at a table. Not long after a man in a white shirt and blue pants with a large orange cloth belt walked in carrying a large tray of food. When he noticed Hikari he turned to Leon.

"New girl?"

"Yeah. Could you get her something?"

"Sure. What do ya want?"

"Um...I don't know...maybe a...sandwich?"

"That all? What kind?"

"Ham."

"Sure thing."

The man walked away and went into another room, probably to the kitchen to make the sandwich. Hikari noticed Yuffie staring at her, and became unnerved.

"W-what?"

"A ham sandwich? You could have asked Cid for anything, and you want a ham sandwich? Why?"

"Well, its our favorite."

"'Our'?" Yuffie asked.

"Mine and Yami-" Hikari's eyes widened.

"Yami...what happened to him!"

Extra 1
As Yami lay and drifted to sleep in the cold castle that was now his home, he couldn't stop his mind from shifting to memories of the past few months. The smallest of smiles crept on his lips as he finally drifted to sleep.

1 Month Ago

"Yami! Hikari! Pick up the pace!"

"We're going as fast as we can Tamashii!"

Yami and the two girls were late for school for the 4th day in a row. Their homeroom teacher had told them if they were late today, they would have a weeks detention. Yami knew that his step parents would be disappointed, especially his step father. He also knew Hikari's parents would probably ban the girl from spending time with him for several days at least. What Tamashii's parents would do was a mystery as the brunette hadn't introduced them yet.

The trio dashed through the front gate, and ran full speed past the secretary, who yelled something that they didn't quite catch at them. As they charged down the hall, some of the stragglers in the hall gave them strange looks, and Yami could have sworn he heard at least one male student wolf whistle as the full figured Tamashii ran by. Just as the bell rang, they burst through the door to their class, and everyone stared at them. Their teacher tsked them, and told them to take their seats.

Yami and Hikari took walked to the left side of the class in the middle row of seats, right next to the window. Tamashii, being a transfer student, sat at the front of the class in front of the teacher. When the class turned back to said staff member, the lesson resumed, and Yami tuned out, staring out the window for the rest of the hour. This continued for the next 2 classes, and then the lunch bell rang. Yami instantly stood up from his science work, and turned to his ginger partner.

"Hey, Layra, you don't mind cleaning up do you?"

"U-um, n-not at all Y-yami." the girl stuttered, her face flushed.

"Thanks!" Yami all but yelled at her as he charged out of the room, racing to meet Hikari and Tamashii at the cafeteria.

When he was roughly half way there, a pair of large built teenagers walked around a corner and smirked at him.

"Well look what we have here? If it isn't little Yami Crown! In a hurry to meet your girlfriends?" The one on the right taunted sarcastically.

Yami merely smirked in response. "Why yes, yes I am."

At the dumbfounded look on the thugs faces, Yami couldn't hold in a laugh, and ran away as fast as he could. It only struck him when he got to the cafeteria what he had said.

"Did I just call Hikari and Tamashii my girlfriends!"

Almost on cue the two walked up from behind him, Tamashii resting her arm on his shoulder.

"What was that?" She asked him.

"N-nothing."

Yami flashed a smile at Hikari, and noticed her blush slightly. Brushing it off, he started walking towards the cafeteria, with the two trailing behind him. When the walked in, several male students looked at him in envy. Yami had two of the most desired girls in the school as friends, and they didn't like it. Hikair's timidity and shyness combined with her slight build and ever so slightly curvaceous figure put her on the same level as a cheerleader in most students eyes. Tamashii's hyperactivity and spunkyness combined with her rather mature figure did the same. Yami on the other hand was rather low on the popularity ladder, just high enough above the nerds to not be targeted by hazing.

"I'll go get the food." He said over his shoulder as he ran over to the increasingly larger line.

As he waited for his turn to pay, he cast a glace over his shoulder and saw that Tamashii had left Hikari alone for whatever reason, and that the girl was being hit on by a pair of jocks, one of which already had a cheerleader clinging to his arm. Sighing he placed his tray down, and jumped out of line, rushing over to his friends aid. When he got close enough to hear what was being said, his face flushed in both embarrassment and anger.

"Come on! Why not? If you come to my house, we can have some fun! You, me, Alex, and Clair!" As the jock said the last two names he gestured to the two standing behind him. It then hit Yami that they were trying to convince the innocent girl to have a foursome with them.

Angrier than he had ever been, Yami quickly scanned the room, and grabbed a mop before running full speed at the boy. Taking a stance he swung the mop sideways, and slammed it into the back of the jock's knee, which caused him to collapse. The other two turned to him in shock, and then anger.

"You shit!"

The other jock swung his arm, however Yami easily dodged, and thrust the mop upwards, hitting the boy in the jaw, causing his head to snap backwards. While he was dazed, Yami used his full strength to throw him away. He then turned to the cheerleader, and she simply glared at him before casing a lustful glace at Hikari and walking away.

"What did I miss?"

Yami turned and saw Tamashii a few feet away, a questioning look on her face. After a brief explaination, the girl laughed, and punched Yami in the shoulder.

"Ya know, this'll all stop if you get a boyfriend Hikari."

In response, the light haired girl blushed furiously, and stared at the floor. At this, Tamashii's eyes widened, as though a telepathic connection had been established, and she knew something.

"So there IS a boy you like! Who is it!"

Hikari opened her mouth, however before she could answer she was cut off by the bell.

Later that day, after school was out and the trio was walking home, Tamashii asked again.

"So, who is it? Who do ya like!

Yami laughed quietly.

"Whats so funny blue eyes?"

"Tamashii, if you want Hikari to answer that question, you should first. Is there a guy YOU like?"

Instantly the girl's face reddened, and the looked away. Yami raised an eye brow at this reaction. He turned his head away, and caught the brunette stare at him with his peripheral vision.

Several days later, the trio was walking home again, and oddly enough it was Hikari who talked first.

"So….the school dance is in a month….are you guys going?"

"Dunno" Both Yami and Tamashii responded at the same time. Glacing at the girl curiously, he noticed her flush again.

Once more, Hikari spoke up.

"I'm thinking of going…..but only if I'm asked."

"Ah, waiting for Mr. Myster to ask?" Tamashii grinned widely.

"Y-yes."

Yami stared forward quietly.

The next day, as Yami stared intently at the clock, waiting for the lunch bell, he was caught off guard by his partner. Yami glaced at his fellow red head, and saw she was opening and closing her mouth, as if trying to say something. A thought occurred to Yami, and he decided to toy with the girl.

"Wait, don't tell me…your thinking of a way to ask me to ask you to take you to the dance next month?"

The girl's face paled so quickly Yami thought she would faint. She slowly nodded her head, before turning around and running out of the room.

"Wait…what?"

3 weeks later

Yami was staring in the mirror, trying to think of a way to tell Hikari. The two had been close friends for almost 6 years, and just recently he realized he was in love with her.

"Yami! Your gonna be late for school!" His step mother yelled up to him.

Grabbing his stuff, he ran downstairs, out the door, and to school.

1 Week later (The Day the Darkness Appeared)

As he stared at the girl for what would be, or at least he thought it would be, the last time they would ever be able to be together, he opened his mouth to say something.

"Hikari…I love you."

Instead however, after looking in the sky something else came out.

"Is that a…light?"

Chapter 5 - Darkness Draws Near
"Empress, how are things?"

The Empress looked down at the cloaked man before her. To be honest she couldn't stand the fact he was using such a casual tone with her. Who did he think he was?

"Things are progressing smoothly. You can tell your master that he doesn't need to worry about the Realm of Light, its all under control."

The man hunched over as though he was laughing, and pulled his hood back. When the Empress saw his face her eyes widened.

"You!"

DLDLDLDLDL

"Hikari, I don't know how to tell you this, but your home is gone."

Hikari heard that and fear gripped her heart. What had happened to her family? What had happened to Yami? To Tamashii? Looking up at Leon, the one who seemed to be in charge she tried to form the question. Opening her mouth she was quickly cut off by Yuffie.

"So, whose this Yami?"

"Yuffie!" Aerith interjected. "She just found out her home was destroyed."

"Sorry..."

"Its alright. Yami is my friend. I met him when I was 9, and we've been inseparable since. When those shadows appeared...a key appeared in my hands and I was able to fight them off, Yami took our other friend Tamashii and ran. I don't know what happened to them after."

"Wait...a key! You mean a Keyblade!" Leon asked.

"I-I guess."

"So, we've found a Keybearer...we might be able to win this."

Hikari didn't know what she had gotten herself into, but there was a chance that with their help she might be able to find her friends. She would take that gamble.

"I'll help."

DLDLDLDLDL

Yami opened his eyes. He had had a very fitful rest and wanted to explore. Getting up he walked over to the door and slowly opened it. Looking out to see if anyone was there he ventured out into the hall, and started walking towards the other end. When he got about half way down the hall, there was another one intersecting it, and he decided to head down it. At the end was a large circular room with a rather large and orient throne on the far side. Wondering what it was for he walked over to it.

"I see you've found my throne."

Quickly turning around Yami saw the Empress standing behind him.

"I'm sorry, I got bored and wanted to look around."

"Why would I ever get mad at you?"

She walked over to him and placed her hand under his chin, raising his head.

"Now then." She said as she pulled her hand away. "If your going to serve me, you'll need a weapon. Hold out your hand, I'll use my powers to give your Inner Darkness form."

Yami did as he was told, and the Empress waved her own over it. Yami noticed the ring she wore on her middle finger glowed brightly as she did so. When she was done Yami felt as though something had changed inside him, and he didn't particularly like it.

"Now, call on your Darkness, and it will show you its form."

Yami closed his eyes and focused on the new feeling inside of him. When he opened them the same sword he had used in his Awakening was in his hands. Startled Yami lost focus and the blade dissipated.

"Now that your Darkness has been given a form, it will willingly take up said form any time you will it to. Now then, come with me. I want to show you what I rule."

The woman walked towards the middle of the room, and turned to face him.

"Coming?"

"Y-yes."

Yami walked over to where she stood, and she raised her hand. When she did so the center of the floor rose and a hole opened in the ceiling. The floor rose to the hole, and Yami realized that this was some sort of balcony. The woman walked towards the edge, and Yami followed. When they reached it, she waved her had at what lay before them. A large city was at the base of the castle.

"This is Radiant Garden. It used to be a base of the Light, however now it belongs to the Dark Empire. Now then, the reason I'm showing you this is that I want you to go down to the city and find a man named Leon. He is plotting to lead a revolt against me. He won't be able to do much, but even a small victory would shake the foundations of my rule, and threaten the Darkness's hold on the Light. When you find him, I want you to kill him."

"What! Kill him? I won't become a murderer!"

"You have already sworn your allegiance to me. You cannot refuse my commands."

The woman looked him in the eyes, and Yami could have sworn her ring glowed again. For whatever reason he couldn't look away from her eyes, and he felt his consciousness slip for a moment. When he regained his senses, he realized he was standing in the middle of the city.

"How...?"

"Who are you?"

Yami turned to see a man dressed in black with brown hair walking towards him. Strapped to his back was a large sword that looked like a gun.

"Why?"

"Red hair, gray clothes...but your eyes...they're the wrong color. Are you Yami?"

"How do you know my name?"

"So it is you...My name is Leon, we've met your friend Hikari."

The moment he said his name Yami felt his hand move on its own, as though something was controlling it. He raised his arm in front of him, and he felt the Darkness flow towards his hand. The sword formed again, and he felt his body dragged into a fighting stance.

"What the-"

Leon was cut off before he could say anything else when Yami lunged at him. Swinging his sword Yami tried to cut into Leon's arm, however the man managed to dodge, and pulled his sword free.

"Why are you attacking me!"

Yami tried to say something, but for whatever reason couldn't. Leon was able to put some distance before pulling out a large sword shaped like a gun to fight with. Yami tried with all of his might to stop what he was doing, but he had no control over his body. Without his consent he lunged forwards and hacked at the older man, only to be thrown backwards several feet resulting in a crash with a wall. Picking himself off the ground he once again lunged, only to once again be thrown back.

"You use the Darkness! You...your one of the Empress's pawns! I hate to do this, but for the good of my home, I have to destroy you."

The man opened what looked like the gun barrel on the gun part of his sword, and loaded a cartage into it. Clicking it back into place he pulled on the trigger and in a burst of energy the blade of the sword became wrapped in a large blade made of Light. Holding the weapon aloft as though it was weightless Leon ran at Yami and swung his blade. At the last second the boy was able to put up a guard and absorb the brunt of the attack, but he was still thrown to the ground.

"D...dammit..." Yami moaned.

"Now, to end it."

Yami watched as Leon walked over to him and raised his sword overhead to land the finishing blow. Closing his eyes he was ready to except this fate, but once again his body began moving on its own. Picking up his own sword the boy stabbed with it, landing a direct blow on Leon's abdomen. In fact, the only thing that kept the older swordsman from dieing from the blow was the armor he wore under his outfit. Still, the attack did enough damage to cause him to drop his sword and stagger. Still under the control of whatever force was manipulating him Yami stood up and raised his blade over the man. Pulling back he swung forward in an arc that would decapitate the brunnette. Just as the blade was about to connect however, Leon rolled forwards and grabbed his own blade. Spinning around he struck a strong blow on Yami's back, causing him to topple forwards and hit his head on the ground. The impact from the blow causing him to slip into unconsciousness. Just as his vision went black Yami saw a Dark portal open several feet away.

DLDLDLDLDL

"Wake up."

Yami's eyes snapped open. Looking around he realized he was laying on the ground in the Empress's throne room. Standing up he looked around and saw said woman sitting on said throne. She seemed concerned about something and didn't notice him, causing him to wonder who had called out to him.

"Sephiroth, are you sure hes okay?" The green haired woman said with the slightest hint of concern in her voice.

"For the 3rd time the boy will live. Your lucky the other one came out in the wrong place and found him"

"'The other one'?" She asked. Tilting her head to the side she noticed Yami standing. "Oh! Your alright! I was afraid you'd been done in."

"I'm fine. Just a little sore."

"Oh yes, there is someone I'd like to meet."

Another portal opened next to her and the same cloaked man from his Awakening walked out of it. Yami's eyes widened but when he caught Sephiroth's gaze he was able to suppress a proper reaction. The man walked forwards and looked Yami over before walking over to Sephiroth and talking into his ear.

"Yami, this is-" The Empress started but was cut off by the cloaked man.

"I can introduce myself." The man said. His voice was odd, as though it dared you to disobey him. "My name is Blaid. I am...rather high up in the Dark Empire. The Emperor left the conquering of the Realm of Light to the Empress, and I periodically check up on her."

The man promptly turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows.

DLDLDLDLDL

"I don't believe you Leon! The Yami I know would never do that! Your lying!" Hikari cried out.

"I'm telling the truth. He tried to kill me. I would have done the same if that guy hadn't appeared out of nowhere and stopped me. Either way, he is our enemy."

The brown haired girl simply curled up and shook her head. After a few minutes of this she relaxed a little bit and looked up at the older man defiantly.

"I'll see for myself if thats true.

DLDLDLDLDL

Tamashii snapped open her eyes. She felt like she had been asleep for days. Looking around she realized she was in a completely black void and tried to move, only to find some force holding her down. Normally she would have started panicking at the prospect of being trapped here, but for whatever reason she was perfectly calm. Relaxing she was able to slip out of whatever force was holding her and stand in the void. Looking down at herself she saw that she looked unchanged for the most part, however for whatever reason she felt different. Walking forwards she eventually realized that the void she was in was endless, and came to a stop. Looking around she couldn't figure out how to escape.

"What now?" She asked herself. "What do I do? Ask it to let me out?" At this the ghost of a smile formed on her face, however it didn't last. "Fine. Let me out."

For whatever reason the void responded to this, and a black portal (only seeable because it was even blacker than the void) appeared in front of her. Shrugging Tamashii walked into it. Inside she found herself in the exact opposite of where she came from. Now she was in a white void that stretched forever. Sighing she walked forwards several feet before holding her hand out.

"Open."

Once more a black portal opened in front of her. Walking through this one as well she found herself in a large city. Glancing around she couldn't recognize it. Walking forwards however she felt a strange familiarity and stopped in her tracks. Looking to her side she saw a house that look so familiar and yet so different is would have been scary. Furrowing her brow slightly the girl picked up her pace, and took a path she knew well hoping she wasn't right. Unfortunately she was.

"No. How can this be my..." She trailed off.

She was standing on the beach she and her friends always walked to, however it was changed. The sand was a strange gray color and the water was almost black.

Yami's eyes suddenly snapped open from his dream. Sighing he raised his hand, and stared at it. He could still remember what it felt like to hold that sword from his Awakening. He thought that maybe, if he had let the cloaked man strike him down, he could have gone back in time, and told Hikari how he felt.

"Its never that easy."