Yuki hated the silence that was between them. It didn't give her enough to focus on to distract herself from her churning stomach. All it did was fill her mind with even more tension. The last floor had been the end of X and Y's story from what they had said while arranging the cards. So that meant next was her turn. Would it be more things she could still hardly remember? Or would she be forced to see only what she knew?

Yuki stopped, glancing up as X and Y came to a stop in front of her. For a moment she questioned why they had stopped. But the confusion disappeared the moment her eyes landed on the door to the next floor.

Aryum grinned down at them, arms crossed. Her golden eyes were filled with a sort of excitement.

"Hello, have you been enjoying your trip down memory lane?" she asked, her lilting voice giving no indication of what they had been through. Things she had to know about. 

"I have so many words for you and none of them are nice," X said, his fist clenching at his sides.

"Well, I'll admit, you lot are putting up more of a fight than I thought you would," Aryum said, leaning forward slightly. She sighed returning to her original posture. "Really thought I would have you in Radiant Gardens."

"You picked the worlds?" Y asked, stepping forward to stand in front of X. She kept her eyes on Aryum with every move the redhead made as she began pacing the landing and stairs.

"Most of them," Aryum confirmed. "See, I'm the one who knows the most about you for mysterious reasons." She paused in her pacing, fanning out her deck of cards. A deck each of them had their own card in. "And they thought I knew best how to torment you. Seems I'm not doing my job quite right."

"Alright, what's next?" X asked, crossing his arms. "This is the first we've seen you since the beginning."

"So, you're giving us that extra card you promised?" Yuki asked. Aryum's smirk grew if that was at all possible. She turned to face Yuki, ignoring the other two.

"Correct your majesty," she said, bowing lowly to Yuki. Yuki narrowed her eyes in a harsh glare as Aryum straightened up. She turned quickly, red hair spinning around her. "I have a present. Tell me, who wants to guess what world it is? What horrible memories will I leave you with?"

"Honestly, I don't think you can pick anything worse than what you've already done," X said, snorting slightly. Y sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"X please don't say that. She's going to make it worse."

Aryum laughed once again, her attention now on the twins.

"Y is right. Really shining the light on this situation aren't you?" she asked, crossing her arms. Y shot Aryum a glare but didn't humor her with any more of an answer.

"Just give us the card," Yuki demanded, stepping forward slightly. Aryum sighed heavily turning her attention back to Yuki. She couldn't fight off the smirk that spread across her face as her gold eyes met Yuki's.

"Well, if you insist," she said. She threw the card at Yuki. Yuki caught it without looking away from Aryum. Glancing down to the card Yuki frowned. Why this world? "I suggest you do that card now. It really does complete the story."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Y asked as she looked over at the card Yuki held. Yuki wasn't sure why she was bothering, there was no way she could see it from where she stood. "And she's gone. Lovely." Y said, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Let's get this over with. We're wasting too much time in this castle," X said, shaking his shoulders as if brushing away something annoying.

"Right," Yuki agreed. She approached the door with the other two behind her. Taking a deep breath she held up the card, waiting for the glow that would open the door.

The door swung open and the trio stepped through. The other side was hot and dry. Wind blew past them, the clinking of metal on metal filling the air. X and Y froze in their tracks as they looked out on the familiar sight. It was the world they had been in when they decided to run away.

The Keyblade Graveyard.

"You had to say something," Y muttered.

"Please feel free to cut out my tongue the next time I say something so stupid," X said, his eyes not moving. Yuki took a breath, taking a few steps forward. She tired her hardest not to focus on the keys around them, no matter how much they seemed to cry out for her attention. There was more to this world. She knew it. Y had said as much on their first visit.

"Come on. There can't be much to do here. The doors probably just on the other side of the crossroads," Yuki said, trying to push past the sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Right." Y's voice sounded so small. Yuki grimaced, taking the first few steps into the graveyard.

She kept her eyes looking forward. They just had to make it to the crossroads. Just to where the three keyblades were stabbed into the ground together. As long as they did that with no complications they would be fine. Aryum couldn't do anything to them. 

Y was the first to stop. Yuki stopped a few paces ahead, turning to look back carefully. X was beside Y, following her gaze out into the keyblades. Yuki turned her head slowly, fighting every part of her that said to just keep moving. 

Standing in the sea of keyblades was a woman. She wore blue and white robes, with a hood up to hide her hair. Her face was completely covered, the lower portion by a white cloth and the upper portion by a twisting silver mask that looked like a snake. She was staring past the keyblades at something none of them could see.

"I don't remember this being a thing," Y said softly.

"Neither do I," X muttered. He was the first to break away, slowly weaving his way through the keyblades as he had the last time they were there. He stopped beside the woman, following her gaze. For a moment Yuki thought he might have seen whatever it was she was looking at. He cleared his throat, looking away. "Master Invi."

"The other unions, are they here?" the woman asked. Her voice was gentle and soft, shaking slightly as she spoke.

"Master, the battle is already over," X said, stepping so he would stand at the edge of the woman's vision. She shook her head, slowly turning to look at him.

"No, we're still standing. It can't be over yet," she said. X sighed slightly.

"Invi,"

"Please tell our Union the battle is about to begin. This is the end," Invi said, cutting him off before he could finish his thought. X hesitated, biting his lip as he glanced towards Yuki and Y. He sighed, nodding his head.

"Yes, Master Invi."

"Thank you, Takiko," Invi said. She turned to look at him before she vanished as all the shadows did. X frowned, staring where Invi had stood not moments before. He shook his head, turning back to Yuki and Y. He met their gazes, lowering his quickly.

"What?" he asked.

Yuki shook her head, trying to erase her slack-jawed expression. Y frowned, her eyebrows furrowing together as X wove his way back to them.

"How did you know that?" Y asked.

"Who's Takiko?" Yuki asked. The name was weirdly familiar to her. Just like many things were. Though this one she couldn't place.

"Honestly, no clue," X said with a shrug. "I knew who she was because of the keyblade she stood beside, though."

"Right, you learned every keyblades master and what happened to them," Y said, nodding slowly as she glanced around at the keys surrounding them. "She was one of the union masters."

"Yeah," X agreed. Yuki could only barely remember what the unions were. Divisions of keyblade wielders led by different masters. "I guess Aryum is really trying to mess with our heads."

"Well, I'll admit. It's kinda working. I have a really weird feeling," Y said, shuddering slightly. She rubbed her shoulders as she glanced around.

"Me too," Yuki agreed, her own eyes wandering. For the briefest moment, she saw something purple. A vivid purple that didn't match even the key handles all around. But when she turned again, the color was gone. All that was there was the empty and forlorn graveyard.

"Let's keep moving," X said. "That was just the start."

X was the first to continue down the long track towards the crossroads. Yuki and Y followed shortly after. Yuki could hardly think as she drew closer and closer to the three keys. What was the point of a long-dead union master and a name none of them knew? Aryum had to be playing some kind of game. But what was it? 

They reached the crossroads, standing at the edge of the path. Yuki frowned, looking at the three keys stabbed into the ground at the center. One was Sora's, the plain key that not only Sora had used, but Roxas and Xion too. Beside Sora's key was one that looked like a wing, and though Yuki couldn't see the teeth she was sure it would look like an angel wing. Like Riku's keyblade. The last was a key not so different from Sora's. The only difference seemed to be the color of the handle and the key had switched, so the key was gold while the handle was silver. The same key the King had fought with.

Yuki didn't have much of an opportunity to think about why these keys were the ones that were there. She was pulled away from the keys by the arrival of the next shadow. Terra stood not far from the three keys, staring at the ground. X sighed heavily, taking a few steps ahead of the group.

"Good start. This is just getting better," X muttered.

"X. You're here," Terra said, slowly looking up.

"Kinda have to be," X said with a shrug. He didn't look away from Terra. His whole body was tensed, like he was ready to dart at a seconds notice. But he didn't move. He didn't dare to move.

"Why? Did you really do all of this because you could?" Terra demanded, his voice rising slightly, turning into a half shout. Y flinched beside Yuki, grabbing onto Yuki's arm as she cowered back.

"No," X said simply, not moving. "Not that it forgives my actions, but I was scared. Xehanort took advantage of that and manipulated me. Just like I did to you. For what it's worth. I'm sorry."

Yuki frowned, watching the shadow for a reaction. X was unmoving, devoid of any type of life. She wasn't even sure if he was saying the truth, it seemed he took too long to come up with the words. Like they were fighting on the way out.

"I knew you were lying," Terra said calmly. X didn't move, though Y's grip tightened on Yuki's arm. "The entire time. I could see all the signs. But I always pretended I couldn't. I wanted to trust you. You had such close ties to people I trusted. And when my other friendships were failing, you pretend to stay by my side. I let that blind me to the truth."

"I'm sorry Terra," X choked out. "I'm so sorry."

Y stepped away from Yuki, gently placing her hand on X's shoulder as the Terra shadow faded. X looked away, looking at the ground as he brushed his hand along the side of his face. There were streak marks down his cheeks, from what Yuki could only guess were tears. He didn't shove Y's hand away, though Yuki was certain he would.

"It's just a shadow," Y reminded him.

"I know. But it doesn't change what we have to do," X said, looking forward again. His eyes locked onto where the Terra shadow had already faded from. "We have to change what was done, even if it means nothing. If I could do it all over, I would help Terra."

Y nodded slowly, looking over her shoulder at Yuki. Yuki tried to force a smile, but it dropped with the sound of more footsteps. Turning toward the sound she saw Aqua approaching them from the right path. X tensed, looking prepared to draw his daggers. Y's face blanched.

"Y. I told you to stay behind," Aqua said firmly, ignoring Yuki and X as she always did. X relaxed, while Y lost what little color she had kept.

"Oh please no," Y muttered.

"You're in danger here," Aqua insisted, stepping forward.

"So are you," Y argued, her voice just as desperate as Aqua's. "I can't just stand back and watch you all die."

"We aren't going to die," Aqua said.

"Trust me, it's close enough," Y snapped.

"Please Y," Aqua said. She looked around them, searching for something. "You need to leave. It's too dangerous here. I don't want to lose you."

"And I don't want to lose you," Y shot back. "I have to do this. X is my responsibility. Just let me do my job."

Yuki blinked a few times. She knew, she knew X and Y had to have a fight. Something had to lead to what she knew was coming. What she knew happened here. But to hear Y say such a thing so easily. Like X wasn't someone she loved. It was beyond strange.

"If you fight your brother you're going to die," Aqua insisted, emphasis on each word.

"No, I won't," Y said, forcing herself to smile. "Promise."

"Y," Aqua began.

"Aqua. You've done so much for me," Y said, cutting off Aqua before she could continue. "Please, I know can handle this. But, I could use your help. Maybe, maybe we can take him on together."

The shadow smiled and nodded before vanishing. Whatever Y had said differently this time was enough to satisfy them. Y sighed, rubbing her arms nervously.

"I am never going to get used to that."

Before Yuki or X were given the chance to reply another shadow appeared. Ventus approached from the left path, looking around the graveyard calmly. His eyes continued to wander as Y took a few steps towards him.

"I remember this place. I didn't like it much then either," Ven said calmly, still not looking at Y.

"What are you talking about Ven?" Y asked.

"Huh?" Ven asked, his attention turning to Y finally. She sucked in a breath seeing his bright blue eyes meet hers. For a moment he looked much older than he was. "Oh, nothing I guess. It's just that feeling I get sometimes. You know, when I'm trying to remember where I came from."

"Right," Y agreed. Ven smiled nervously before looking down at his feet.

"He wants the two of us to fight. Me and Vanitas," he said softly.

"Right. The X-blade," Y said. The name of the true key was bitter on her tongue. She knew it shouldn't have been. It wasn't the fault of the object that so many terrible things had happened. But all the same, it carried a metallic tang as it left her tongue.

"If that happens. You have to stop me, at any cost," Ven said, looking up with a determined look in his eyes.

"I can't," Y said, shaking her head.

"Y, please," Ven said, stepping forward and reaching out for Y. She stepped out of his reach, shaking her head.

"I know I should. But I can't Ven. You're my best friend. I miss you so much, words can't explain. If you were actually gone, I don't think I could manage," Y snapped. She felt tears starting to prickle the back of her eyes. Rubbing at her eyes she shook her head again.

"Sure you could. You're the strongest person I know," Ven said. Y chuckled, the sound hollow to her own ears.

"Because I have you."

She heard shifting behind her. She had almost forgotten X and Yuki were still there. She glanced over to see X and Yuki take a few steps back, still whispering between each other.

"Y, we can't let him win," Ven said as Yuki and X seemed to be out of earshot.

"He won't Ven," Y said, turning to look at him again. "But if I lose you that's the same as losing."

"Is it really?" Ven asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Yes," Y insisted. Tears were again starting to form, but this time she didn't bother to brush them away. "I don't know what I'm supposed to change Ven. I can't just let you go."

"Why not? If Terra or Aqua asked, could you do it to them?" Ven asked. Y looked down, blinking away the tears that blurred her vision.

"Maybe. If it really meant that much to them," she muttered.

"So why am I so different?" Ven asked.

"Because I- I.....I" Y said, her voice fading as the last words left her. Words she never said out loud no matter how often she thought them. She wasn't sure the shadow even heard her. She looked up, surprised to see the shadow smiling.

Ven stepped forward and kissed her cheek lightly, feather-soft. Y felt her face flush as the shadow faded. She rubbed her eyes as X and Yuki rejoined her.

"Was that the last shadow?" Yuki asked, looking to the other two.

"No. We have two more at least," X said calmly. Y nodded, smiling slightly at their choice to ignore what had just happened. She wasn't sure she would be able to say anything about it. Nothing that they didn't already know.

"Yeah, Xehanort and Vanitas," Y agreed. She hadn't spent too much time on them when the battle had happened. Her focus had been pulled away too quickly. She glanced to X, he was frowning, eyebrows furrowed into a deep V. He was thinking about it too.

"Braig was here too, but neither of us really saw him," X admitted. Y frowned and nodded once again.

"Right," Yuki said, not completely understanding who they were talking about. "Think those two will be ones we have to fight?"

"Most definitely," X said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Never been a time we've seen Vanitas and we haven't had to fight him."

"Radiant Gardens," Yuki said without hesitation. X paused for a moment then nodded. Vanitas had done nothing more than confuse them there. Aside from Kiu, he had been the first shadow they met.

"But where are they?" Y asked.

X said nothing, looking up and walking towards the exact center of the crossroads. He stopped just on the other side of the three keyblades, staring down the path right in front of them. It took only seconds for the next shadows to appear. The old man they hadn't seen since Y's first card and Vanitas. 

"The time has come. We must call upon Kingdom Hearts and forge the key," Xehanort said, motioning with one of his hands while the other was behind his hunched back. 

"Yeah, I don't think so," X said, leaning back on his heels. "Memory or not, that ain't flying this time."

"You choose to fight your nature?" Xehanort asked, putting his hand behind his back again. X snorted, looking off to the side as he rolled his eyes.

"Nope. But I know what my nature is far better than you, so I understand the confusion," he said, a mocking edge to his voice as he turned his attention back on Xehanort fully. Xehanort looked past him, eyes landing on Yuki and Y.

To truly bring forth the key we need far more pieces. But I cannot have a pawn stand in the way," he said. He held out his hand, calling a black and grey key to his hand. Though Yuki had never seen it, something about the key was familiar. Maybe it was the bright blue eye resting in the hilt.

"Anyone else unsettled by Vanitas being quiet this whole time?" Yuki asked, her eyes going to the masked boy.

"Guess he reigns in when his Master is around to control him," Y said, rolling her eyes.

"Hn, you wish," Vanitas said, summoning his own keyblade and raising it into his battling position. Xehanort laughed, waving his hand off to the side. Yuki felt her breath catch as a new shadow formed. 

Despite the differences she knew who it was. She was wearing something different, silver and gold rather than what she wore now. Her blonde hair wasn't streaked with black at all, and her eyes were a sweet brown. All the same, it was Y.

"I'm starting to realize why this card took so long for us to get," Yuki muttered, glancing at Y. She had paled greatly in the span of seconds. Losing all the red tinge from what had happened not moments ago.

"That's never happened before. How did he?" Y asked, her words failing her. Xehanort laughed once again.

"Let the battle begin," Xehanort said.

Yuki hardly had time to summon her keyblade before Vanitas was in front of her his keyblade swinging. Yuki jumped back, giving X and Y room to move. From the corner of her eye, she could see Y against Xehanort and X against the shadow version of his sister. That was all she could see before turning her attention back to Vanitas and his wild strikes.

Yuki wasn't sure how long she fought Vanitas. It was never-ending so it seemed. Every move she made he countered, and she knew how to counter his moves before he even made them. She skidded back from him as Xehanort's laughter filled the air.

Y was at Xehanort's feet, unmoving. If it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest Yuki would have feared the worst. X was only a few feet away, tears freely falling down his face as he knelt on the ground, the shadow of Y still on the ground in front of him.

"You foolishly trouble yourself with remorse, Tenebris," Xehanort said, glaring at X from where he stood. He stepped around Y, moving to stand in front of X as the shadow faded. Yuki frowned, looking at X, he hadn't moved, his hand clenching on the ground. "She was nothing but a hindrance. She held back your true powers. Without Lucerna, you would be the one to rule the worlds. Every heart would follow your whim!"

Yuki's head was spinning. She didn't know why, but Xehanort was wrong. He had to be? The names he had said stuck in Yuki's mind. Tenebris and Lucerna. Where had she heard those before?

"And you expect me to follow yours," X said, his voice shaking. His fist clenched even tighter as darkness swirled around him. "Listen, little, pathetic, piece of dirt, under my feet." X slowly got to his feet as he spoke, each word accompanied by a movement. "When this world returns to me, when your heart belongs again to my power. I will crush you. I will torture you, and rip your heart to shreds. I will destroy every, single, piece of your heart."

"Foolish boy. Your eyes are blinded by the light," Xehanort said.

X looked up, and Yuki felt her heart clench seeing his eyes. They weren't purple, instead they were the bright amber gold of Xehanort's own eyes. Looking she saw streaks of silver in his hair as the dark aura around him grew in size, taking up the area surrounding him now. The sky rumbled.

"For all I care, you, and everyone who willingly joins you," X snapped, his shaky voice filled with anger. red electricity sparked off of him, reaching to the sky where the clouds had turned dark. "Can all go to hell!"

The sky rumbled again and the ground shook as the keyblades fell around them. The dark aura around X pulsed, threatening to explode outward. It was suffocating, Yuki couldn't breathe. The area around X seemed to crumble, anything touching his aura falling away into nothing.

Yuki looked between X and Y, her mind racing. She darted, barely reaching Y as the aura around X exploded. She closed her eyes tightly as the darkness took her mind.