I opened me eyes, immediately feeling different. My back was still hurting, but I seemed to have full control over myself.

Sitting up, I saw Isa standing in the doorway, a smug look on his face. I raised an eyebrow before realizing why he looked so accomplished. Rage filled my body, and I jumped up. Walking towards him with murder in my eyes, I clenched my hand, aiming at his face. My fist stopped an inch away from his nose, frozen.

My body wouldn't move.

"You bastard," I growled.

"Are you mad at me?" Isa asked, crossing his arms. "Do you hate me?" His piercing yellow eyes stared into mine, making me more angry.

"What do you think?" I said through clenched teeth.

"It won't happen again...as long as you succeed in Xehanort's plan. Then, maybe we'll consider letting you live." Isa turned around, flipping his long, blue hair in my face. I stared daggers at the back of his head until he disappeared.

Letting my arm drop, I looked down at the ground in defeat.

••••

"Vanitas," a voice said, causing my head to snap up. Xemnas was sitting in his chair, glancing down at me with a look on his face.

"Oh, hello, Xemnas," I said.

"So, you let your emotions take control, huh? Your feelings for the girl clouded your vision."

"I guess," I muttered.

"I take it Xehanort has taken control of you now, as well?"

"Yeah."

"Such a shame. I do hope you survive."

"Thanks."

"Oh, you're here, Xemnas," another voice said. I looked up at Isa, hatred in my eyes. My body went stiff again, and he smirked at me.

"Yes. You called?" Xemnas asked, ignoring my growls.

"Xehanort wants you to set the trap." Isa looked down on me, and I glared at him. "Vanitas was supposed to take up the job, but now he's under restraints. He'll still go with you, for he has a part to play. Since his connection with the girl is so strong, we can use that to our advantage."

"Just tell me what to do," I muttered. "I don't need a leash."

"You'll see soon enough," Isa replied. "Go to her, but stay hidden. Xemnas, you know what to do."

"Of course," he said, nodding his head. Xemnas appeared next to me in the center of the room, and I opened a dark portal. We headed into the darkness, not knowing what would be waiting in the other side.

•••••

I looked around, realizing I was in the same computer room as before. Belt Boy was standing at the computer, but he wasn't alone. Akio was staring at the monitor as well, her eyes taking in all the information. Sora and Riku were reading over her shoulder. Lea was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and head down.

"That's all we could find," Belt Boy said once they had finished reading.

"Wow," Akio said, blinking.

"Akio, that's...I mean...I don't even know anymore," Sora mumbled.

"That's a lot of information," Riku commented.

"It doesn't tell me how to control this power, but it does fill in the gaps. A little bit," Akio said, walking away from the computer. She sat down, leaning against the wall next to Lea. He patted her head, but she seemed to be thinking.

I looked around, but Xemnas was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, Akio?" Sora asked, causing her to blink. She looked up at him with a small smile. "Was this the really important thing that kept the King waiting?" Her smile dropped, and she looked down at her hands.

"Uh, well, not exactly," Akio replied. "I think...I think I know where someone from my past is."

"Too bad you won't find him," a deep voice said. I looked up to see that Xemnas had revealed himself, causing everyone to jump in surprise.

"Xemnas?!" Sora exclaimed, no doubt getting reminded of all the bad things he had done. Riku summoned his Keyblade and Belt Boy pulled out a large sword. Akio stood up, staring into his piercing orange eyes, when he gave her a creepy smile.

Ew.

Akio suddenly gasped, stumbling. Lea caught her arm, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Xemnas disappeared from the room, and I felt something in my hand. Looking down, I realized it was a disc.

"Play your part, Vanitas," a voice whispered. Nodding my head, I knew exactly what to do. I've seen this disc before. Walking over to Akio, I opened up her hand and placed the disc in her grasp.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked down at the object in her hand.

"Akio, what is that?" Belt Boy asked, noticing the flat, circular object. Akio stood up straight, walking to the computer. Her eyes scanned the keyboard, looking for something.

"Um....hey, where is the thing where you....?" Akio asked, looking back at the others and holding up the disc. Belt Boy pointed at a slot-thing, and she pushed the disc in it. The screen went black, then started to reboot. Riku walked up behind her, staring at the screen.

"Where did you get that?" he asked. I growled at how close he was, but Akio just shrugged her shoulders.

"Did Xemnas give it to you?" Sora asked, walking up next to them.

"He left after you fainted," Lea chimed in.

"And if he did, how do you know that disc won't corrupt the computer system?" Belt Boy questioned.

"Just, trust me, okay?" Akio said, slightly annoyed. I walked up behind her, knowing exactly what to do. The password bar appeared on the screen, and I leaned in and whispered the answer in her ear. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and the next password screen showed up. This time, it had six bars. I told her what they were, and the words "SYSTEM START" flashed across the screen.

"How did you do that?" Riku asked in surprise as the disc ejected itself.

"I don't really know," Akio replied. I made her snatch the disc, then head towards the steel doors that had suddenly opened. "I'm not doing this!" she yelled, alarm in her voice. I forced her to break out into a sprint, opening a dark portal in front of her.

It opened up to the lower level of the underground lab. Letting go of her, she stopped and stared at the endless line of tubes filled with hearts. They seemed to keep expanding, a bright light at the end.

Akio turned around to see Belt Boy, Lea, Sora, and Riku walking over to her. Belt Boy looked concerned for some reason.

"I think that disc did something," he said, furrowing his eyebrows. He gestured to the platform in front of them that had lit up.

"Yeah. C'mon," Akio commanded, walking down a few steps to the platform. She stood in a certain spot, and the floor slid open. The others gasped in surprise as a ramp appeared, leading down to a dark, winding path. Sora walked next to her, staring down the tunnel.

"Whoa!" he yelled, his voice echoing back at him.

"I had no idea this was here," Belt Boy said, confused. Akio looked back at Lea and Riku, and they gave her a "look."

As in, "Shit. Akio has an idea and wants to go on another adventure."

Yeah, I know the feeling.

Smiling, Akio gave them a wink before heading down the winding path. Sora raced after her, and the others took their time.

"Good job," Xemnas said, appearing behind me. I turned around, nodding my head.

"What was the purpose of this, though?" I asked.

"Someone dear to her heart is lost in the darkness. Down in that room, there's something that should trigger her memory power. She'll be filled with emotion and determination to save her friend, therefore getting her out of the picture."

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"Xehanort no longer has use for her. He just needs to keep her away from the Guardians of Light."

My eyes widened in surprise as I realized what he was saying.

"So, he wants her to enter the Realm of Darkness? And be trapped there?" I asked.

"Precisely."

No.

What have I done?

Xehanort would've killed her if I didn't obey him.

But, her heart isn't strong enough.

She'll die anyways.

Suddenly sick to my stomach, I opened a dark portal.

"I-I have to go," I muttered, staring at the ground.

"Is something wrong, Vanitas?" Xemnas asked. He almost seemed....concerned.

"I just need some time to myself," I said quietly, entering the darkness.