After Max ate her apple and took some rest, she fought Heartless again and sensed the power Eri was talking about. It was growing inside of her, but she didn't know what it was. She shrugged it off and carried on fighting.

It was sunset and Maximum was about to go home, but then she noticed the imposter walking into the desert. "What is he doing?" Max asked in a whisper.

Then she had this sudden urge to follow him. She sensed that it could be dangerous out there and now it's time for her to save him if he's in trouble. Riku's already saved her twice, but Max spared his life when she was about to kill him.

The red haired nobody put her hood on and quietly followed him. Riku didn't look back, but he knew that she was following him, that was what he wanted her to do so.

They got outside this cave that looked like a tiger's head; the Cave of Wonders. When she looked up at it she felt something like she's seen it and been in it before. She snapped out of her thoughts and saw the silver haired imposter enter the cave.

She followed him and it felt like an hour that was until he was nowhere to be seen. She stopped walking and looked around her. He wasn't there anymore. 'Where could he have gone?' Max thought and Riku smirked at this. He shot a blast at her and she just about dodged it. The red haired nobody looked up to see Riku with a surprised look.

"You look surprised to see me." He said sarcastically and she growled at this.

"You jerk, why did you trick me?" Maximum asked through her teeth.

"So that I can defeat you." He charged at her and swung his Keyblade at her. She counter attacked and they fought each other. Shr used all kinds of magic as well as darkness. "You wield darkness?" Riku asked and she smirked.

"Yes, I do."

"You shouldn't get too close to the darkness, or else…" He trailed off and thought about how he was.

"I have my light. It will always be with me, guide me back to safety." She stated proudly. After a few minutes she was getting tired and he stopped using his Keyblade. Max and Riku were both panting for air and he walked closer to her and she gulped.

"Now, either give up, or I'll have to finish you off with my own hands." Riku muttered and when he took another step towards her, he tripped. It was as if it was slow motion. The silver haired fell onto Max and she was pushed back against the wall. His hands were on her shoulders and then she finally realised what was going on.

His lips were on hers. Those soft lips, which were even softer than Roxas'. It was like Roxas' lips were cotton but Riku's was silk. Her eyes widened when she realised something again; this was her…first kiss. She always wanted it to be with Roxas, not the imposter. She saw a memory.

"Mai, what's gonna-?"

"Shh..." She smiled and lifted her head up, looking at him. She cupped his cheek and wiped the tears with her thumb. He sadly smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. He leaned in and she leaned in as well. Her pink lips met his lips and their eyes closed.

She didn't even think of kissing back because she was frozen like a statue. After a few minutes, Riku pulled away and she snapped back to reality. She gripped her fist until it started trembling. Max grinded her teeth together and she was boiling with fury.

"Maximum, I…" Just as he was about to continue, she slapped him. He felt her nails scratching his cheek and it burned like fire.

"You bastard! How could you?!" She yelled with tears brimming in her eyes. "How could you steal my first kiss you selfish jerk?!"

"Maximum, it was an accident I swear." Riku said.

"I bet you're doing this to lure me in! You're disgusting!" He growled at this and grabbed her wrists tightly. He pushed her to the wall and she felt his nails sinking into her wrists. The tears fell down her cheeks and it was very painful.

"Look, Maximum, I told you it was only an accident. I tripped and fell onto you. End of story." She wasn't finished with him yet though.

"Well, didn't you have the damn respect to pull away when you had the chance? You just kept your lips on mine!" He kept quiet for a few seconds until he spoke again.

"Oh yeah? Well why didn't you pull away?" He asked.

"I was in a state of shock for your information; I couldn't move or do anything. That's what happens when someone kisses you unexpectedly especially for the first time."

"I DIDN'T KISS YOU, I TRIPPED AND LANDED ONTO YOU! THERE'S A DIFFERENCE YOU KNOW!" Riku shouted and his grip on her wrists.

"You're hurting me!" Maximum cried.

"Oh, am I?" Riku asked sarcastically.

"My…wrists!" She whispered and he realised what he was doing to her. Immediately, he let go of her wrists.

Then suddenly there was like an earthquake in the Cave. "Come on, let's get out of here." Riku said and she nodded at this.

He was running and she ran behind him. She was starting to get tired and the pain of her wounds kicked in at the wrong time. She felt like someone was sawing her legs and knew she had blisters on her feet. She fell to the ground and panted as the tears fell down her cheeks. Riku took his blindfold off and turned to Maximum. "Maximum!" He exclaimed and she looked up at him.

"Go ahead, I'll be fine." He watched her as she tried to get up but couldn't. He couldn't just stand there; he needed to help her no matter what. He walked up to her and held out his hand. She looked at it and sighed as she took it. The silver haired boy pulled her up.

"Do you want me to hold you?" She shook her head at this.

"I can run." She mumbled and he nodded.

"Come on." They ran as quickly as they could towards the exit and finally got out. She let go of his hand and he sighed with relief.

"We did it. We got out of there, M!" Then he realised what he said. When he turned around, Riku saw her fall and ran to her.

He kneeled down and caught her. Her eyes were barely open and her breathing came out short. Riku fumbled in his pocket and took out a small potion. "Open your mouth and drink this, it will replenish your health." She parted her lips and he poured the potion into her mouth. She swallowed and she felt a bit better.

"Are you okay?" Riku asked and she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a pair of cyan eyes. They were so familiar. She blinked and fluttered her eyelashes.

"Yes, I am." She noticed the scratch on his cheek and remembered when she slapped him. Maximum touched his cheek. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have slapped you." She apologised and he shook his head.

"You don't have to apologise, I deserved it."

"No, I deserved it more than you did." She said and Riku shook his head.

"Let's just forget about it." He mumbled and didn't seem in the mood. He avoided looking in her eyes.

"Why don't you look into my eyes?" She asked innocently and he sighed at this.

"I don't deserve to. You have the same eyes as her." He mumbled and she frowned at this.

"I know that you're talking about my 'apparent' persona. I'm not her." She stated. A tear fell down Riku's cheek and she wiped it. "Did I make you cry?" She asked and he smirked at this.

"Technically, you did." She giggled at this.

"Ha, you big softie." Max slapped his shoulder lightly. He looked into her eyes; they were emerald green just like Mai's.

"At some point in our lives, we have to get emotional and take things seriously." She smiled at this and nodded.

"Yeah you're right. Uhhhhh, can you…?" Her cheeks were pink and Riku realised what she meant.

"Oh, sorry." The silver haired teen let go of her and stood up. He raised his hand for her and pulled the nobody up.

"Woah." She was about to fall back but he wrapped his arms around her waist. She held onto his muscular shoulders.

"Careful." He mumbled with a small smile. She giggled with pink cheeks.

"I'm so clumsy."

"Yeah, like her." She looked up into his eyes and they stared into each other's eyes.

But then it was only Roxas' face that made her realise what was going to happen. She pushed him away and turned around. He stared at her and she looked at the ground as she gripped onto the part of her coat where her non-existent heart was.

"Um, I…have to go." Maximum mumbled and he nodded.

"Oh, okay." She raised her hand and opened a Corridor of Darkness. She turned to him and smiled.

"Thank you, for everything." It was as if Max turned into Mai. The red haired teen grinned and waved at Riku.

"Hey Riku!" She giggled and the silver haired boy blushed at this. Max turned into herself again through Riku's eyes. The red haired nobody faced the portal and she was about to leave until Riku called out a name.

"Mai." By instinct, she stopped and turned around. Then she realised what she did. Her eyes widened and she gulped.

'Why did I…?' She thought and stared at him. Then after a moment, Max turned around and left. 'Mai…' She thought of the name.

"She's still in there." Riku mumbled.

"I see..." Riku turned around to see Jonathan. "That's what Mai's like..."

"She's the exact same as Max." He sighed at this.

"Sure..."