Chasing Destiny

Chasing Your Destiny

"OW!" you growl, your teeth gritted in pain as Riku runs a hand down the burnt flesh of your waist. It was almost too much to handle, and you were starting to feel a bit faint, even though you were lying down. "Can't we do this later?"

The silver-haired male merely smiles in response from his seated position beside you. He's nice enough to ignore the fact that your rolled-up shirt is exposing your stomach.

"I'm just checking it out, like you did with mine," he replies, and you can feel the collective eye-roll of everyone watching the strange sight atop the castle. "He really did a number on you, huh?"

You shift your head slightly so that you're staring across the roof. Vanitas' body is still lying there, clouding your thoughts with guilt. Why wasn't he disappearing, like Nobodies seemed to do after passing?

"Yeah, he did," you mutter in agreement, glancing back up at Riku.

"You're lucky the burn didn't spread," he continues, folding your shirt back down. "It's probably going to scar, but you'll be okay."

He's smiling, but you can see the sorrow hiding in his aquamarine eyes. His best friend, the one person he's always looking to protect, is off fighting a dangerous battle in an unknown location. You reassuringly pat his hand before sitting up and crawling to your feet.

"Does that hurt?" Axel asks, nodding down to your burn.

"Nah, it feels fantastic," you reply dryly, and he chuckles under his breath.

"How much longer do you think it's gonna take?" Cloud speaks up with a sigh.

He's slumped down against the railing of the platform between a restless Zack and a bored Leon. Yuffie and Xion are playing rock-paper-scissors, Ven, Terra, and Aqua are talking quietly amongst themselves, Noctis is attempting to heal Genesis' frostbitten forearm, and Axel, Riku, and Reno have been looking after your various injuries. It's all just a waiting game at this point, and you can barely contain yourself. You revert back to your previous irritated pacing around the roof, unable to clear your mind of worry for Sora and Roxas. They're God knows where, fighting Xemnas to the death.

"You really need to calm down, [Name]," Leon tells you, and you peer over your shoulder at the brunet.

"You probably shouldn't be walking, with that hip," Genesis adds.

You glance down, grimacing a bit at the caked blood around your hip from the stab wound.

"I'll be fine," you murmur, folding your arms over your chest as you start to pace again.

A soft glow starts to illuminate your path, pale light falling over your body. You glance up at the sky, eyes widening when you realize the dark clouds above are starting to slowly part to reveal what looks like a gigantic, golden moon in the shape of a heart. Within seconds your entire group is standing in a makeshift circle, silently watching the peculiar spectacle.

"Kingdom Hearts," Axel finally mumbles, eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why can we see it?" Yuffie asks softly.

Your gaze is focused like a laser on the sight. Why could you see it? Usually the Heart was hidden from view, concealed in the dark shadows of the world. Or so you had heard from Roxas and Axel. You glance towards the redhead, who has a completely blank expression on his face as he looks up at the sky. Suddenly, a thin crack appears in the center of the heart, and you tilt your head slightly.