( Song: "100 years- five for fighting." OR " Passion After the battle -Utada Hikaru OR Final Distance- Utada Hikaru" or something beautifully sad. Take your pick.)

Epilogue

Photo Album/ A Promise kept

If life could have been any more precious, she believed it would break with ease. For it was already perfect in every way possible.

Endless dreams bonding together with reality creating a world bred by magic.

Her world.

A whole life passed by leaving countless memories in its wake. So those memories could be revisited over and over. She revisited them often. To make sure that they had been real. That what had passed had not been just another dream.

Memories. Kept alive in a single stilled image.

Snapshots.

A single Island. Cut away from the rest of the world where she would spend her time with friends; there faces now shrouded, hidden from her as her memory strained to find the details which slipped away from her with each passing day.

But she still smiled.

A messy dorm room. Books and school papers spread out amongst the compact space complete with a rickety wooden bunk bed hidden beneath messy sheets and layers of clothing. The room which she spent years of her life in studying photography. An interest she had taken up two years before she decided to go to college and take the course as her major. The ability to capture the beauty of something and hold onto it for an eternity had captured her in its spell and held on boldly. For years she wandered from world snapping pictures and displaying them earning a name for herself. Most of these pictures she sold, but some she kept for herself; to precious to give to somebody else. To beautiful to only exist in her memory.

A romance.

One to forbidden to pass by.

An old friend she could never forget back from the past to spark her fantasy. She never meant for it to happen but a heart can only go without love for so long. She could no longer ignore the ache and not even photographs and memories could satisfy it.

Emerald eyes. Eyes from her childhood swallowing her in there endless sea. Hidden secrets she had never noticed before enrapturing her without hesitation.

"This is wrong…" she had said feeling guilt give her heart a terrible squeeze.

A gentle hand cupped her chin directing her eyes to stare deep into his. "No its not… I'm sure he wouldn't of wanted it any other way." his hand squeezed hers tightly. "Don't break your promise. Don't let him hold you back."

A world of beauty. Endless summer nights spent carefree and open to any possibilities. Tears of learning, of acceptance. An autumn sprinkled in passion spilling into winter only to lead back to the beginning. An endless cycle.

A life so changed.

A white gown. So stunning all the stars and worlds in the sky couldn't add up to its beauty.

A warm summers day, an exchange of vows fallowed by a kiss so passionate time seemed to stop if only for a single moment.

Familiar faces. All smiling at her as she walked away a married woman. A new chapter in her life beginning while the other chapter closed. She had smiled a lot that day and what made it even more memorable was that she had meant it with every inch of her soul.

She watched as the years went by; not one ever being a waste in her eyes. She was learning the ways of the world. The delights and trials which came with everyday life. The duties of marriage and the rules of play. A love which forever continued to blossom without any shame or regret which led to even more possibilities she soon found herself open up too. One which she took with care.

The beauty of being a mother. A child. A new soul forever favored in her heart which she was prepared to care for even if it meant giving certain freedoms away in return. It was all worth it.

A year later two more came, unexpected but not unwanted. It was nothing but another challenge in her life. Something she took to heart and poured her soul into every day with a smile.

Making it even more perfect.

A trial of years filled with laughter and tears. Birthdays, holidays, Christmas, vacations, kisses before bedtime, being called 'mommy' morning, noon, and night. A simple, overly used name which she clung to with joy loving every minute of it. Younger years leading into school, field trips, homework, report cards, football, marching band, prom, graduation. She watched unblinking as her life flashed her by, becoming to wrapped up within it to notice. Her kids grown, old enough to experience the same joys and trials she had experienced and missed deeply. Weddings, baby showers, grandchildren….

It was surreal…it was tiring.

Yet, if she had the chance to go back and do it again….

……she would have.

A family photo.

Faces of the people who shaped her life smiling back at her. Once childish faces grown and changed as they held up there kids so that they could be captured by the camera's magic and hold the moment for an eternity. Her own face stared back, old and worn with age yet still full of love and energy.

But as the days grew shorter, not even she could argue that her life was slowly coming to an end.

And as she lay in bed, placing the family photo back in her picture album amongst the array of others, her frail hand brushed against the last picture tucked within the corner of the last page.

The image of a young boy with spiky brown hair and azure blue eyes. His back partially turned toward her as he looked over his shoulder directly at the camera with a clueless expression and a blue Popsicle sticking out of the corner of his mouth.

A warm smile cracked her lips and she ran her finger over the old, worn, photo delicately.

"I remember you…" she whispered feeling the heavy weight of the crown necklace draped around her neck shift slightly as she spoke. "Even after all this time I could never forget."

With a heavy sigh she lowered the album against her chest, to weak to hold it up a second longer. A slight breeze ruffled against her white hair as she folded her hands over the crown pendant letting her body relax into her comforter.

"I kept my promise Sora…" she smiled happily but with sadness at the edge of her words. " I'll be look for you… my story hear has ended."

The stillness in the air stirred as her body went limp. She let her eyes close feeling the darkness press in comfortably upon her, taking her away from the world.

Taking her to the one person who she had missed all her life.

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As soon as Riku pulled into the driveway of his home, he knew something had happened. There were cars, three which belonged to his kids, all lined up along the sidewalk in front of his home. Ever single light was lit up inside shining brightly like a chandelier causing shadows to loom across the lawn which he ran across as fast as his weak limbs could carry him. He was old, he had to admit. But in better condition then most of the men his age.

He hesitated before he opened up the door, not knowing exactly what awaited him inside. The wind rustled his hair wildly around his face making him blink and heave a loud sigh.

Slowly he opened the door.

The next few minutes were a blur as people rushed to his side, all talking at once and hugging him with tears streaming down there faces. His three kids, now grown and with families of there own, were the first to reach him desperate for support.

" It's mom, Lia drove by and seen the light on and stopped to check on her!"

" She didn't wake up Dad!"

" I called 911 but Sota said no to-"

" Because she's gone Kira, she doesn't need a doctor, nothing was wrong with her!"

"Dad, moms gone…"

Riku stared at them deeply, watching as they argued and explained to him what had happened acting no different then they had when they were twelve. Carefully he pulled the three close to him as they began to cry, dropping the argument and letting themselves be comforted by there father.

After everyone was settled down, Riku slipped away from the family room and slowly made his way up the stairs to the bedroom keeping his gaze locked on the floor in front of him. Carefully he opened up the bedroom listening to the familiar creak as it was swung forward on it hinges and looked up into the contents of the room.

It was still. Everything left undisturbed and in tact just as it had been in the morning. Kairi's body lay quietly in her bed, the covers draped around her and a large photo album which she had kept close to her over the last four years was clasped to her chest, a warm smile planted on her face.

Riku walked over to the side of the bed, staring sadly at his wife's body so peaceful and still as the roar of the waves echoed from outside. He gently placed his hand on hers rubbing his fingertips against her cold skin lovingly feeling tears brim at the corners of his eyes.

"… I should of known your story would end before mine." he smiled sadly letting his tears fall freely down his cheeks. " I always… had a feeling. Ever since you found that picture, you've been waiting. Waiting to see him again."

Riku lets his eyes dwindle on the crown necklace hanging limply around Kairi's before directing his gaze out the window where the stars sparkled and shined as if calling out to him.

Riku let the smile on his lips widen, giving the sky a gentle nod of understanding.

"Take care of her for me… Sora."

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For awhile there was nothing. An empty darkness where everything was numb and inexistent. A world in between where she was no longer real, no longer solid but more like the outline of an image still left on a paper after being erased. It was frightening yet peaceful making her mind whirl on waves of confusion as she was taken away from life and swept away into something completely different.

"Kairi……"

A heavy warmth began to overtake her bringing feeling back into her soul. Bright, endless, light began to push back the empty darkness taking bits of herself away which had changed her over the years. It was like time had suddenly reversed itself in a split second turning Kairi's hair back to its rich, soft, brown and her skin back to its creamy white from her younger years. She held her hands out in front of her, spinning around and looking herself over.

She was eighteen again.

" Kairi…"

She looked up, her bright eyes searching desperately for the owner of the voice. On either side of her was light, to blinding to stare at for no more then a few seconds. Her heart beat heavily in her chest screaming to pour its contents which had been held back for what felt like a lifetime to the one and only person who would understand.

Then suddenly through the endless rays of light, he came.

A tall, slender, boy with spiky chestnut hair which hung messily over his azure blue eyes. A face, childish yet mature free from scars and wounds which had littered his body in the past. A grin spread quickly across his lips as he seen her, eyes sparkling with excitement. His white, pure, wings spread out from his back unable to keep still from his joy.

Kairi couldn't bring herself to speak. Sora's image began to blur as tears crowded her eyes spilling down her cheeks in disbelief. Her whole body was shaking, unable to control herself as years of dreams and memories were put to rest no longer needed to keep her heart from breaking.

Suddenly Sora stopped several feet from her, letting his own tears rush free from his eyes as they stood staring at each other in silence, neither one able to bring themselves to move afraid that if they took another step they'd wake up from just another dream.

" I've been waiting for you Kairi…" Sora smiled, his voice light and soothing to her ears. " Just like I promised."

Kairi's lip quivered, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. " I knew you would…" she sniffed smiling up at him with all the joy in the world dancing in her eyes. " I never doubted you for a second Sora!"

Without another word she flung herself onto Sora feeling his arms close around her tightly as she cried hysterically never wanting to let go of him even for a second. He rubbed his hand against her back soothingly burying his face in her hair and letting his tears flow freely feeling as if he would burst from happiness.

"I love you Kairi." he whispered folding his wings around her gently.

"I love you too Sora." she smiled closing her eyes and letting herself be taken in by the moment hoping it would last forever.

"And we'll be together… always."

Kairi looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Promise?"

Sora gave a small laugh taking the opportunity to press his lips against Kairi's drawing her into a deep kiss like he had on that fateful night which was now nothing but a shadow in the past destined to be forgotten. Kairi kissed back in reply, feeling the warm texture of his lips rub against hers causing tingles to run up and down her spine. It was a wonderful feeling, almost indescribable lasting for what felt like hours before they pulled apart; smiling lovingly at each other as they prepared to move on to there next life. Where only the two of them, the Keybearer and the Princess, existed forever bound.

"I Promise."

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Me:………………

Sora:………………..

Riku:…………………..

Me: ITS OVER! DONE! YES! AFTER THREE YEARS ITS FINALLY FINISHED!

Sora: Took you long enough.

Me: Sorry for the long wait for the epilogue. I went on vacation and I had to rewrite it several times because I couldn't get it right and I kept finding more things to add in to tie up some loose ends.

I promised myself I would write some notes to explain a few things about the story, so here it goes:

- I didn't write anything about The King, Donald, Goofy, Leon, and Yuffie in the Epilogue because I wanted the reader to figure out what happened to them afterward themselves since it wasn't that important and it was also drawing away from the climax of the epilogue.

- I had this ending planned out for a year and didn't realize it was so hard to write when I got to it. But it turned out the way I wanted it to in the end.

- This story was based on me theories for Kingdom Hearts two. Now that Kingdom hearts two is out, it's been hard for me to continue this cause many of my theories were wrong. That's why updates have been slow.

- Twilight Town is actually the World That Never was fused with the Clock Tower in Twilight Town in the game. This was a theory.

- Roxanne was based off of my theory as Larxenne from Organization 13. I ended up liking Roxanne's character so I gave her a bigger role, I hate Larxenne in the game though. To me they have no connection.

- The structure of the Town Square is based off of the Twilight Skyscraper in The World That Never Was in Kingdom Hearts 2 but is modified and bigger ( I hated how small the space was in the game.)

- I got a lot of my ideas from Evanescence songs such as 'Going Under' and ' Taking over me.'

Those are about the key things I wanted to point out. Oh, and also that I am the only one out of the fabulous three ( ChaosDreamer, me, and DigitalDreamer) who finished there sequel. Digi's not going to continue her story "Broken Rainbow" but I suggest if you read Wishes "Flickering Lights" that you start sending messages to bug her to update because I can't get her to motivate anymore. that's going to be my new goal from now on. Lol.

I will be writing a few one shots, some humor, some yaoi which is going to be a whole new challenge for me. I have a lot of stuff planned out but as for a future novel, we'll have to see because I'm going to be extremely busy this fall and winter and I don't want to start something I wont finish.

So until then, I bid you farewell. Much thanks to those who took there time to read this and even more thanks to those who reviewed and those I've inspired. I've really grown with this story since 'Gifts of Darkness' and also 'Jingles Belles' which I am very fond of.

Keep your eyes peeled and there might be a new Halloween story if I find a spare moment.

Last but not least, SEND REVIEWS! If you have been reading this and not reviewed, not even once which I know there are many of you, SEND ONE! For the love of Riku and Sora send! It will make me happy!

Sora: (pulls her away) Time to go, you've talked for too long.

Riku: (fallows) Waayyy too long.

Oh fine, Bye everyone! Thank you for reading!