"Strange," Kurai mused aloud, its voice echoing in the dim cabin. "When I first attempted to possess him at the beach, I was rejected. I thought it was because there was no darkness in his heart, but there is—yet he still resists. It's as though he's adapting to the darkness, learning to reject foreign influence." Kurai paused for a moment, then dismissed the thought. "This is no time to indulge curiosity. I need to get started."
Pushing aside the mystery, Kurai set about its task. Dark miasma swirled around the cabin, thickening and weaving itself into a protective barrier. The darkness served to conceal Helios and shield him from any prying eyes or wandering Heartless. The realm of darkness was ever-watchful, and leaving Helios vulnerable while he healed was too great a risk.
Days passed. Helios remained unconscious, his body slowly recovering from the wound left by the Darkside. The deep gash across his side gradually closed, leaving a dark scar as a testament to the battle. During this time, Kurai never left his side, its presence both a guardian and a reminder of the dark pact they shared. The miasma continued to swirl, creating an impenetrable barrier between them and the encroaching dangers of the Realm of Darkness.
At last, after many nights, Helios stirred. His eyelids fluttered open, and he groaned softly, one hand instinctively moving to touch his side. The wound was healed, but the memory of the pain remained vivid. As he sat up, the events leading up to his collapse played in his mind, fragmented but slowly piecing themselves back together.
Kurai, sensing his awakening, approached him. "Helios, you're awake. Good. We've wasted enough time here. It's time to move."
Helios, still groggy, blinked and groaned. "Yeah... I feel better, but I need to rest a bit more before we continue," he said, his voice hoarse.
After a brief moment of rest, Helios pushed himself up from the bed, his strength slowly returning. His memories, though still jumbled, began to align. Fragmented pieces of his past life—memories of both worlds—fell into place, as if the fog in his mind was lifting.
He stood on unsteady feet, turning to face Kurai, a new clarity in his gaze. "Kurai, I remember now."
Kurai's gaze fixed on him, curiosity flickering in its dark aura. "And what exactly do you remember?"
Helios took a deep breath, meeting Kurai's gaze with a calm expression. "I remember my old world and that I promised to help you, but I won't open Kingdom Hearts for you."
Kurai's energy darkened. "And why not? You could bring your parents back. With Kingdom Hearts, you could become like a god—reshape everything as you wish."
Helios clenched his fists. "I won't open Kingdom Hearts because I'm realistic. I've seen what happens to people who try to go against Sora and his friends. They have the power of plot armor and friendship on their side. As for me, all I have is you and I have no desire to end up on the losing side. No matter how much I want my parents back I don't see a way to achieve this goal."
Kurai's cold voice was laced with hints of disinterest and disdain. "So you would rather sacrifice your parents for your own survival? Forfeit the power of Kingdom Hearts? Cower before an enemy that is not here. Pathetic."
Helios shook his head, his resolve hardening. "It's not that simple. I can't beat Sora—he's protected by plot armor, and he has the power of friendship on his side. Besides, forging the χ-blade requires a war between 13 darknesses and 7 lights. It's too risky, and the odds of succeeding are basically zero."
Kurai's aura shifted, disappointment rippling through it. "Then what do you propose, Helios? If you refuse to open Kingdom Hearts, how do you plan to repay the help I've given you? How do you intend to justify your existence to me?"
Helios met Kurai's gaze, his determination unwavering. "I do owe you for everything you've done. You've taught me how to use my darkness. You've saved me more times than I can count, and for that, I'm grateful. But opening Kingdom Hearts isn't the only way to repay you."
Kurai remained silent, its energy flickering but slowly sharpening as it waited for Helios to continue.
Helios took a deep breath. "Here's my proposal: instead of risking everything to forge the χ-blade and open Kingdom Hearts, let's help you find a new body and heart to inhabit. A vessel that isn't tied to the creator you despise. One that can wield both light and darkness, free from fate and the rules of this universe."
Kurai tilted its head, its energy humming with intrigue. "A new body and heart, you say? And what purpose would that serve? Why would I desire to return to a state I willingly abandoned?"
Helios smiled, sensing that Kurai was considering his idea. "Your formless state makes you powerful, yes, but it also limits you. Look at the fate of the 13 true darknesses—they were either sealed or destroyed. If you take on a new form, one that blends both light and dark, you could defy the fate waiting for you. You'd be something entirely new, unpredictable."
Kurai floated closer, its aura now pulsing with curiosity. "Defy fate… by embracing both light and darkness? You believe this would free me from the destiny awaiting the true darknesses?"
Helios nodded, his smile growing. "Yes. If we try to go down the path of Kingdom Hearts, we'll eventually lose. But by taking an unexpected route, by choosing to become something neither light nor dark, we could change everything. You could break free from the cycle of defeat that awaits the others. And who knows? Maybe it will give us both a better chance at survival. And… I do still want to bring my parents back, but on our terms."
Kurai remained silent, contemplating the weight of Helios's words. The idea of defying fate, of forging a new path, appealed to the lingering fragments of its former self—the part that desired freedom, not servitude to a predestined end. "Very well, Helios. I will consider this proposal. If this path holds the potential to alter my fate, I am willing to explore it. But first, how do you intend to begin this process?"
Helios grinned. "First, we need to escape this realm and return to the Realm of Light. And for that, I need a Keyblade. Once we're out, I'll explain the rest of my plan."
Kurai's gaze flickered with a faint glow of interest. "A Keyblade, you say? Then we must find one. But be warned, Helios—should this plan of yours fail, I will not hesitate to kill you."
Helios chuckled softly. "Fair enough, Kurai. But let's make sure it doesn't come to that."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Helios and Kurai prepared to leave the cabin and set out on the next phase of their journey. The path ahead was treacherous, filled with danger and uncertainty, but they would face it together—two unlikely allies, bound by darkness and an unorthodox plan to defy the destiny waiting for them.