(The final chapter of Within These Walls has finally arrived! How many of you guessed Xehanort's involvement? This has been a pleasure to me to write and I'm glad so many of you have enjoyed this. Enjoy the last installment!)

"So sorry it had to come down to this." Xehanort crooned, pushing the cold steel against the teen's forehead, "But you know too much. I cannot risk exposure now." Sora let out a terrified whimper, clenching his eyes shut. He stood there shaking, the floor mirroring his terrified trembling and he wondered whether it was him disturbing the floor or a message from the residents. A vicious snarl was the answer to his prayer, Saïx lunging at the assailant and sinking fangs deep into flesh. Sora screamed as the shot rang out, a shock of pain ripping through his cheek. He clapped a hand to it and ducked behind a table watching in horror as the ghostly wolf wrestled the attacker to the floor, blood coating his bristled fur. His eyes darted around the lab, looking for anything to help Saïx.

Xehanort pulled himself to his feet, pointing the gun back at Sora and firing. He ducked behind the lab table, his heart racing in his chest. He could still hear Saïx snarling and the tearing of clothing as the wolf mauled the murderer, Xehanort growling and screaming as the animal tore him apart. Gunshots rang out but the assault continued, the enraged beast shaking of the bullets like flies. Sora jumped to his feet and jumped on Xehanort's back, locking and arm around his throat. Nails scratched at his arm as they stumbled, the house shaking and shuddering, pulling apart the floorboards. Sora grabbed the fingers clawing at him and yanked off Even's ring, letting go as his grip finally gave way and hitting the floor. Xehanort went down as he stepped back, pulling frantically at the leg now trapped between the newly rejoined boards, blood pouring out of the splintered flesh.

Saïx kicked the gun away from Xehanort and lunged at him, Sora's gut wrenching at the crack of the other's ribcage snapping beneath the wolf's massive paws landing on him. Footsteps caught his attention behind him and he whirled around to face Riku, the boy clenching a metal bat in his hand. He gave Sora a meager smile, shaking his head at the other's astounded face.

"Riku..."

"Hey, you didn't really think I'd make you do this alone did you?" Tears flowed down Sora's cheeks as he nodded, stuffing the recovered ring into his pocket.

"Let's end this." A cold wind brushed Sora's hand, pulling him over to the nearby lab table. A cabinet door beneath it shuddered and rattled, Sora tugging on it and snapping the rusted lock. Inside he found a container of gasoline labeled 'lawn mower' covered in cobwebs. Shaking away the spiders he uncapped the lid and ran over to where Xehanort struggled against Riku and Saïx, the man's efforts fading as the pool of blood beneath him thickened.

"Watch out!" he dumped a generous amount on the trapped murderer and pushed the jug into Riku's arms.

"Around the lab?" he asked already starting to pour it around the walls and throw it over everything.

"Yeah, hurry! Leave some for the stairs!" Sora shoved through the supplies until he found a box of matches, pocketing it. Sora met up at the door with Riku then turned to Saïx, his whistle drowned by the gurgled scream of their prisoner as the wolf ripped his throat out, bright crimson coating his muzzle. Riku tugged Sora up the staircase, pausing long enough to let his friend lose his stomach. Saïx kept pace with them, nuzzling Sora's hand in apology for him having to have witnessed that.

They burst from the front door and Sora pulled out of Riku's arms. He withdrew the cryptic poem from his pocket and gave a little smile. They wouldn't be trapped within these walls anymore. Saïx snatched the paper from his hand and nuzzled the box as if demanding he hurry up and light a match. Sora did as told, his hand shaking as he held it out for the wolf to take. Saïx jumped up and licked Sora's cheek, staring into his eyes as if thanking him for everything. Thanking him for finally gracing them with the eternal slumber and freeing their lost souls. Snatching the match the wolf bolted back inside. Sora tore across the lawn and hid behind a tree with Riku, their fingers lacing tightly.

An explosion shook the ground as the flames roared up from the basement, engulfing everything in a blood red glow.

Sirens screamed through roar of the inferno as fire engines from the main settlement raced towards the secluded hill.

Those present on the scene of the blaze that day will forever claim they saw within the depths of the flames the silhouette of a wolf.

--+one week later+--

A soft chill settled itself over the graveyard that night as two teenage lovers strode hand in hand along the rows of stones honoring those whom had passed from this world. Sora withdrew from his pocket a simple diamond band, the moonlight shining off the facets. Riku offered him a small smile, bringing his hand to his lips. They had but one more thing to do before Even and Aeleus could truly rest in peace. One more key to seal their eternal freedom.

They strode off the beaten path to kneel down beneath the branches of a cherry blossom tree where the headstones lay nestled together. Riku let go of Sora's hand, nodding for the other to do what he had to do. Sora dug his fingers into the earth between the tombstones, pushing the ring down under the soil and covering it back up. Not even death could pull them apart.

"Think they've moved on?" Sora asked, leaning into Riku's chest. A cool wind blew into the cemetery, the two boys looking back in instinct. Beneath the moonlight they stood, Aeleus's massive arms wrapped around Even's shoulders. The blond held out his hand and the moonlight glowed around his finger, the ring appearing back where it belonged. A broad smile crossed Aeleus's face and they kissed, wed beneath the moonbeams. Sora couldn't help but smile at them. Riku gathered Sora tightly in his arms, blinking as he reached up to catch something floating in the air. He chuckled when he realized what it was, holding it down for Sora to see.

The edges were slightly charred but the rest had remained intact, the smiling faces of the two lovers staring back at them. At the bottom of the picture two words had been written in an elegant, flowing script: Thank you. Sora looked back up but they were gone as quickly as they'd came. Pocketing the picture he wrapped his arms around Riku's waist and the two boys shared a soft kiss before starting off for home.

"I think they did." Riku whispered. Sora nodded, listening to the soft howl of a wolf echoing over the distance.

"I think they did too."

(And that concludes Within These Walls. Love it? Hate it? Thank you to all the wonderful people who read, favorited, and reviewed this and to all those yet to come. You have all been amazing and made writing this a pleasure for me. Hope you all enjoyed it!)