EDITED 6/25/2010

Author's Comments: *sigh* Here it is, the last chapter. Gosh...I can't remember when I started writing this. It's come such a long way. I'm sad to see it finish! I really hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please let me know what you thought about it. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, its characters, or its story lines (as noted with an *). I own Imani and Aden.

The darkness screamed louder than I ever imagined my lungs being capable of doing. The noise rang in my ears even after I blacked out. The only way I know what happened is through everyone else's memories. Somehow, someone found me unconscious and carried me out of the castle—out of that world—before the whole place collapsed into itself.

"You just had to be in the uppermost room," Riku complained when I woke up. "I didn't know you were so fond of buildings with so many floors and no elevators."

Everyone knows everything now, like how my darkness created that world and how my light brought us all together and how I subdued my darkness. I had to summarize a lot, though; their confused faces were making me nervous.

"We're just glad you solved everything," Tifa smiled. "It takes a lot of courage to stand up to yourself."

For once, I was very disappointed that I had a dreamless sleep. No one saw what happened to the Organization members. What's more, ever since waking up, I haven't heard any voices in my head other than my own. Neither the light nor the darkness in me have spoken.

"I'm not sure what happens now," I admit to Sora and Riku as we sit outside on Aerith's doorstep and inhale whatever it is she's cooking. "Am I supposed to keep encouraging the Organization members to remember so they can become Somebodies?"

"That's what you want, isn't it?" Riku cocks an eyebrow. "To give them their hearts."

I nod. "You know, I never got around to really hearing your opinions on that. I passed out before I could ask."

"That was after that incident in the graveyard," Sora says.

"Right. So..."

Sora and Riku exchange glances. "Your intentions are good," Riku carefully admits. "You're looking out for both us Somebodies and the Nobodies."

"We're just worried about Xemnas," Sora says. "He might still want to overtake the worlds and stuff. Didn't he say something about making you his incarnate when everything finished?"

"He did," I slowly nod, "but...I think I can handle it now. In fact, I think I've always had power over his wishes for me."

Their eyes widen in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah," I smile, "because I'm the Kismet Scribe. It took a lot, but I've finally accepted it. I'm the past, present, and future. I am the light and the darkness. I am the entity of power. I am the writer who will inscribe all of destiny. I control destiny, including mine...right?"

A smile grows on each of the boys' faces. "Yeah, you're right." Sora nods. "You should be able to choose who you want to be. You're you."

"Right, and I choose to be a friend, not a tool. I've made that clear to all of them, I'm sure. It's up to them whether they accept my friendship or not, and I can't force them to."

"But what if Xemnas...if he becomes a Somebody..." Sora mumbles uncertainly, "what if he tries to take over everything again and reclaim Kingdom Hearts?"

"Then I'll need to convince him otherwise," I avert my gaze, "and...if that happens...I really hope it doesn't, but if it does..."

"We'll be convincing him alongside you," Riku finishes. "You don't even have to ask."

My smile widens and I shake my head in disbelief. Amazing. These friends I have are amazing.

"Sora! Riku! Imani! Dinner's ready!"

Riku gets up and heads inside with Sora. "Try to eat like a human being this time, for everyone's sake."

"What're you saying, Riku?"

"I'm saying you stuff your face like a—"

"I do not! I just really like to eat!"

Laughing under my breath, I heave myself up off the ground, dusting my pants off before turning to follow.

After bidding everyone goodnight, I shut the door and make my way to the bed.

Over dinner (pot roast, bread rolls, steamed vegetables, and sea-salt ice cream) we chatted about random topics like the rising costs of weapons and equipment, how quickly the reconstruction of the bastion has been progressing, and the materia shopkeeper who always seemed to close up shop to take his lunch breaks whenever Yuffie visited. We laughed at Sora's overstuffed face and Donald and Goofy's antics. We compared battle scars (and lack thereof) from the castle. We had a sea-salt ice cream eating contest (which Sora won).

A smile creeps onto my face as I replay the last few hours in my head. We talked about everything not related to my darkness; frankly, there was nothing left to say.

"Are you two heading back to Destiny Islands soon, then?" Leon asks.

Riku and Sora halt their playful banter, sobered looks dimming the light in their eyes. "I guess so, huh?" Riku finally says. "Imani's problem is solved. There isn't any reason to be away from home now, is there?"

"Kairi's still waiting for us, too," Sora adds, turning to the king. "What about you, Your Majesty?"

"The three of us had probably be heading home, too," he shrugs after looking at Goofy and Donald. "The queen is expecting our return."

"And you, Imani?" Aerith asks. "What will you do now?"

I sigh, burying myself under the covers. I'd never thought about what I'd do after everything was finished. Everyone here has a place to return to, so their paths from here on out are no-brainers. No matter how much I miss Aden, I don't think I should return to that other universe...

"You're welcome to stay here for as long as you like," Aerith insists.

"Or at my place!" Tifa chimes in.

I wouldn't mind living with either one of them. I could help with the reconstruction here or work at Tifa's bar.

"You can come live at the castle with us!" Donald shouts.

Goofy gives a funny laugh. "Yeah! You'd love it!"

"The queen would be glad to see you, too." The king smiles.

The queen! I still have to thank her for taking care of me last time.

"There's that empty house by the general store in our neighborhood," Riku thinks aloud. "You could stay there."

"Come stay at Destiny Islands," Sora says. "We've got that list of things to do."

Pillow fights and star-gazing and...

I groan as I slip the pins out of my hair. I want to stay with everyone!

"You can sleep on it," Leon suggests. "Everyone here but Cloud and Yuffie is capable of taking care of you, so you have options."

Cloud grunts while Yuffie bursts in outrage, "I can take care of Imani!"

With one blow I douse the candle's flame.

"Hey Imani. It's...uh...heh, I haven't decided whether to keep my name or not. You know who this is, though, right? Yeah, of course you do. I just wanted to say thanks. Because of you, I finally...I finally have one. It kinda feels weird, but I know I can get used to this. So anyway, I'm at this little inn in a town by the ocean right now. You should come see me sometime—I'll play you a song. You know where I am, right?"

"Imani. Though we did not meet, I've heard from other Organization XIII members of your success at the castle. Your success has allowed many of us to find the incentive to trust you and work towards acquiring our hearts...including myself. I am one of the first, and there are those who are doing their best to remember. However, there is no guarantee that every member will turn to you; I sense a few of us will hold their pride over their desires, but I know we all understand your compromise is not selfish. Thank you."

"Twilight Town. Clock tower. Tomorrow. Come alone. Commit it to memory."

"You'll still be here when I get back tonight, right?"

"Yes, Imani," Riku sighs. "We won't leave until you decide where you want to stay."

"Isn't that a little unreasonable? There are people waiting for you—Kairi, your parents, the queen..."

"What? You want us to leave?"

"N-No, I'm just saying..."

"You should get going," Leon cuts in. "From what I've heard about him, he doesn't seem like the type of person who enjoys waiting."

"Nah, he can wait," Sora waves a hand, "but only if he gets something out of it."

Aerith giggles before hugging me. "Be back by seven, okay? That's when we'll be having dinner. You may invite him to join us, too."

With a nod I head off down the streets to Merlin's.

The wind blows my hair around wildly as I edge around the corner of the tower to that one spot Roxas and his friends would hang out at. Sitting there is a red-haired pony-tailed man staring off into the distance in a dark jacket, jeans, and sneakers. Next to him rest two rectangular packages.

A soft smile tugs at my lips. I did it, Aden. I defied the odds.

The man seems to notice my presence and he glances my way. "Hey J-E-R-K," he drawls. "Way to make a guy wait."

I snort, taking a seat next to him. "I didn't think I'd see you again so soon. Not like this, anyway."

"I'm naturally unpredictable." He shrugs. "You should know that."

"I know," I pick up a package and tear it open, "but knowing everything doesn't mean I can't be surprised. I'm not a mind-reader. You're not the first, are you?"

"Nah. Demyx left before I did."

"Then did Lexaeus leave after you?"

His eyes light up in surprise. "Lexaeus? Huh...I guess so."

We eat our ice cream bars slowly, watching the people of the town go about their business. The sunset casts an orange glow on everything and the trains chug to and from the station below us. I glance at him out of the corner of my eyes. "So...how long have you...you know...had it?"

"A few days."

"What was it like?"

He hums thoughtfully. "I just woke up in the forest outside the town looking like this." He takes a moment to pinch his clothes as he examines them, his ice cream bar held between his teeth. "Was that how you became a Somebody?"

I nod. "I didn't remember being a Nobody, though. It just felt like waking up to a new day. Aden woke me up and made me breakfast because it was my birthday, and I didn't think anything was strange. I really believed it was my birthday."

My skin tingles as he stares at me thoughtfully. "You still miss him, don't you?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"What're you gonna do?"

I shrug. "I don't know yet...I might see Master Yen Sid and talk to him about Aden...but I know I can't go back there."

"Would you have rather remembered being a Nobody than completely forgetting?"

Biting off a piece of ice cream, I roll it around in my mouth as I contemplate the question. "I don't think so. If I knew about everything, then I'd never have had to meet any of you guys. I'd probably have solved everything much sooner."

He snorts. "Yeah, you took your sweet time trying to figure out what you should've done and who you were and what you were and all that. It was a total drag for all of us."

"Well, sorry," I pout.

He laughs—a full, warm laugh lacking a lot of the bite he usually has. "I'm kidding! It was worth the wait. We've got hearts now, right?"

I break out into a smile. "It's strange how destiny works, huh?"

His eyes sparkle. "What's that saying about you? You're the one who's writing it, Kismet Scribe."

It might be the lighting, but his angular face appears more round. From a certain angle, his eyes appear really dark...like chocolate. That smile...

I throw my head back and laugh.

Author's Afterthought: Hooray! Revisions are done! I can't believe I managed to do it in a week. I had fun—hope you enjoyed reading Imani's journey as much as I did revisiting it! So where does Imani go from here? Check out The Moirai Zealot to find out. :) (I will be re-editing that next, though, so look out for the EDITED [date] tags at the top of the chapters.)

Thank you so much for seeing this story through to the end! Please leave a review!