It's been a couple years since I returned the girl back to Eraqus. He named her Akio, which seemed weird at first, but I've gotten used to it.

Today, Xehanort told me that his plan was working out perfectly, and that he remembers meeting Akio. She had run into him when he had brought Ventus to train under Eraqus, not long after I was created.

He also remembers when he was fused with Terra, and Akio had somehow found her way to Radiant Garden. He tells me that she was looking for her friends, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus.

She had used the darkness in her heart to travel there, and Xehanort thinks that she must've escaped that world before it was overrun with Heartless. So, now I have to go follow her, find out where she went, and bring her back to him.

It still doesn't seem right to force a life onto a child, even if she didn't have a life to begin with. Her future will probably be filled with pain and suffering if she has to follow in Xehanort's footsteps. He's even started to call Akio his daughter, which is creepy on so many levels.

Using my new power, I opened a portal to the past.

This was a few days after Akio ran away from that scientist.

It was pitch black, a few lights from houses on the block and the sea of stars above. I saw a house in front of me, looking just like every other house on the street. All of them one-story, gray bricks, wooden doors, and purple or orange roofs. It was deserted outside. I walked up to the house, guessing this is where Akio was hiding out, when the door suddenly opened in front of me.

I panicked, running to the side of the house to see a young girl sneak out. She hadn't noticed me and quietly closed the door behind her. She shivered, looking back at the house guiltily.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into the night before running off. I followed after her quietly, turning corners and going down random streets until she arrived in the town center. A dark portal opened before her, and started murmuring. Something about a town in the twilight?

Who is she talking to?

Tears started streaming down her face, and she nodded her head before entering the darkness. The portal closed after her, and I opened my own. I walked down the dark tunnel before emerging in a place totally different.

The sky was orange and yellow with fluffy white clouds. The sun was low in the sky. I was standing in an alley way, and Akio was a few feet in front of me. She was looking down a stairway, looking curious, when she suddenly froze. Her eyes widened with fear before she took off running down the staircase.

I followed her to see her climbing a building. We were standing in a sandlot, and she was climbing a brick wall. She jumped through an open window, slamming it shut as soon as she got inside. I stared at the window, realizing too late that she was staring back at me.

She must've noticed me behind her. That must be why she had run off. But how did she know I was following her?

I backed into the shadows, waiting until she left the window. I decided then to let her stay there for a few days. It seems like she's been through enough. Why rush?

******

A few days passed, and I opened a portal into her room. She was sleeping on a bed. I smiled at how peaceful she looked, immediately feeling sorry for her. Who knows when she'd ever be this relaxed again? No time soon after she has to become a vessel.

I reached around her, pulling her into my arms. Her head rested against my chest, and her breath hitched before returning to normal. She actually wrapped her arms around my neck, shifting position so she was comfortable.

I opened a portal back to Castle Oblivion, going to the room with the huge pod. I expected Xehanort to be there, but he was gone. Instead, Isa was in there, being creepy, as usual.

"Vanitas," Isa said with disgust, "where did you get that?"

"Shut up," I replied with a snarl. "Where's Xehanort?" Isa came towards me, his eyes filled with hatred. Honestly, what crawled up this guy's ass?

"He's gone to visit his old home. He summoned me to wait for you and some sort of surprise." Isa reached out to touch Akio, but I stepped back.

"Don't touch her," I spat, the thought of Isa laying a finger on Akio making my blood boil.

"I've seen this person before," he said, some of the venom leaving his tone.

"Great, now leave," I said, turning towards the pod.

"And where do you think you're going to put her? Xehanort wants to start her training immediately." Isa's tone was hard, his eyes staring daggers into my head. "Take her to Destiny Islands." I was about to say something back, but his glare told me enough.

He was in a mood.

I held my tongue, nodded my head, and opened a dark portal. Walking through, the smell of the ocean hit me. Emerging from the shadows, I stepped onto a sandy beach, the sound of the water slapping the shore and seagulls squawking making the atmosphere very calming. The sky was clear, a few clouds in the distance.

Akio stirred in my arms, and one eye opened. She had big, beautiful eyes that were light brown with gray flecks in them. Her eyelashes were long, and her lips formed a slight smile.

"Hello," she whispered. Her voice was sweet, and she reached her hand out. A little finger got closer to my eyes, and she poked the left one. I flinched, and she pulled away, her smile disappearing. "You're real?"

"Yep," I replied, blinking the spots away. Panic flashed across her face, and I quickly spoke. "Don't be afraid, though. I'm not going to hurt you."

"You can put me down," she said. I set her down on the sand on her feet, and she looked up at me. "What's your name?"

"Vanitas," I replied.

"Can you not be so tall?"

"Sure." I crouched down so we were eye-level, and she smiled at me.

"Now you're shorter than me!" Akio exclaimed.

"No, we're the same-," I started before she jumped on my back. "Gah!" I yelled as she wrapped her arms around my neck, almost choking me.

"Piggyback ride!" she yelled. "Please?" Huffing, I grabbed her legs and stood up. She wrapped herself tighter around me, and we walked along the shore. She giggled the whole time, and would scream every time I threatened to drop her in the water.

It was actually kind of nice.

"Vanitas," a voice said, startling me. I turned to see Xehanort standing on a wooden bridge above us. Akio stopped laughing, her grip getting tighter. "Ah, I see you have brought Akio as well. How are you, my daughter?"

Akio whimpered, whispering to herself.

"She's not your daughter," I said. His lips pressed into a thin line before he shrugged his shoulders.

"She doesn't have a father now, so I'll be taking his place."

"What?" Akio asked, her voice still low.

"What do you mean?" I asked, voicing Akio's concern.

"He has perished by the hands of his own student. A shame, truly," Xehanort said without pity.

"I'm guessing you had something to do with it?"

"Now, why would you say that?" Xehanort asked, a wicked smile on his face. "Let's change the subject to something more interesting. Akio, do you know how to fight?"