Disclaimer: Square Enix/Disney owns Kingdom Hearts (characters, series, and concepts). I own, Misu, Ixmus, the guy that appeared in "Memories"'s second vision/flashback, Stolen Scheme & Phantasm, and this story.

Well, we've reached the finale of this story. I honestly enjoyed writing this story and I hope all my viewers did the same reading it. Further further ado, I present to you "Number XV: The Shadows of Hope"'s final chapter.

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Chapter 13: Decision (Epilogue)

When Sora and Roxas returned to their proper state of mind, they were back at Altar of Naught with Kairi, Namine, and Riku. The Key of Destiny returned to his astral state but still could feel the pain from his battle with Ixmus.

Speaking of Ixmus, the poor Nobody was on the floor in front of the group, apparently suffering from his injuries. "How…I came so far only to fail…" Ixmus groaned as he struggled to get back up. Sora examined Ixmus sympathetically. He had lost all of his closest friends and he had a heart to prove his sorrow. But something about him started to irk him. Suddenly, Ixmus was replaced with a signifying mental image of Misu.

….And Sora remembered who it is was.

The keyblade master's eyes widened in disbelief and started to absentmindedly saunter over to Ixmus. "Sora?" Kairi asked as she saw his friend walk over to the enemy. Number XV finally managed to return to his feet only to see Sora right in front of him. "What do you want?" Ixmus interrogated. The cinnomin-haired boy extended his hand to grasp Ixmus's hand, closed his eyes, and started to concentrate something. Everyone looked at Sora quizzically.

Suddenly, in the darkness of Sora's sight, he saw another image of Misu, the same position as Ixmus was in. That confirmed it, Ixmus had something to do with his long-lost sibling. Sora started to break down, "Misu….you're back…" Sora collapsed to his knees and started to sob. "Misu?!" Riku and Kairi exclaimed in unison. Namine covered her mouth and gasped in surprised while Roxas just simply stood there entirely confused. "Uhh…." Ixmus droned in confusion, "Who are you referring to?"

"You, Ixmus!" Sora exclaimed standing back up. "I can just tell. I can feel it, you're Misu!" While Kairi, Roxas, and Ixmus were trying to fathom what is currently transpiring, Riku and Namine had a ton of things flowing through their mind. Misu was the person they saw in that black crystal, Misu had a strong heart and his heart was taken away,….and that heart resembled his. Misu's connection to Sora possibly made it so that Sora could miraculously identify him.

"Why are you referring to me as 'Misu'?" Ixmus questioned. He was creeped out by Sora's allegations and him holding his hand made it even more awkward. "Because, Ixmus," Riku spoke up suddenly, "Your Misu's Nobody." Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Riku. "You mean…" Sora stated, "Misu lost his heart?!" "Not exactly," Riku corrected and then pointed to Ixmus's chest, "He has it."

Ixmus absentmindedly placed a hand on his newly acquired heart, "You mean, this isn't my heart?" "No." Namine spoke. Now, everyone looked at the blonde Nobody. "I saw Xemnas taking away Misu's heart and forced me to trap him somewhere." Namine explained with regret apparent in her voice, "Misu is asleep and is awaiting the return of his heart." "Namine, please show us to him!" Sora exclaimed in request, "I want to see my brother again!"

Namine nodded and created another Corridor of Darkness adjacent to the previous one. "Let's hurry then." She said and walked in. Everyone followed in compliance.

-Elsewhere-

Everyone entered the dark room, the darkness creeping into the nerves of their skins causing them to shiver. The airy yet foul stench tickled their noses and made their faces scrunch up. In the middle of this terrible room was the black crystal that contained the sleeping Misu. "Misu!" Sora exclaimed once again and approached the obsidian crystal with tears still falling from his sapphire eyes. "So this is Misu?" Kairi stated. She was also ecstatic to meet a long-lost friend. "Yes." Namine responded.

Ixmus stayed where the Corridor of Darkness once was. He was eyeing at the crystal prison and the person that laid in it. "So what does this have to do with me?" Ixmus asked. "Ixmus, you have Misu's heart, you need to return it to him." Riku answered, "And because you're his Nobody, you need to get absorbed by him."

"NO WAY!" Ixmus screamed in objection. "I can't let myself go away after all the promises I've had!" "But Ixmus…" Riku said his voice lowering to a quiet state with just those two words. "Listen, Ixmus," Roxas spoke up next, "If you do, you'll be returning to where you belong. It'll be better this way." Ixmus's silver eyes glared at his former best friend, "Easy for you to say…you killed Xion." "You must really like this Xion person, huh?" Roxas said. "Liked her?...I loved her." Ixmus admitted. Roxas looked down. Even though he didn't know this Xion person, if Ixmus's allegation were true, he felt really bad for separating them.

"Ixmus." Namine spoke again breaking the conversation between the two Nobodies. "You have some choices with that heart of yours." She said. "Oh really?" He asked cautiously. "Yes." Namine responded. "What are they?" The Shadows of Hope inquired.

"One, you can keep the heart and roam the earth as yourself. Two, you if truly like your friend Xion, and she is apart of Roxas, you can wait until Sora absorbs Roxas and give the heart to him so that Xion can be reincarnated. Finally, three, you can give the heart to Misu so that he can reawaken."

"He has that many choices?" Kairi asked in disbelief. "Yes. Two of them are obvious. The second choice is complicated. I can reincarnate Xion from Ixmus's memories of her and the heart can personify her body." Namine explained but she then looked down, "But she might suffer amnesia."

Ixmus pondered the three choices given to him, all very beneficial in some way. He could maintain his heart and try to become whole and actually try to exist and separate himself from most Nobodies. Or, he could regain the person that captured his "heart" completely at the possible cost of her amnesia. He deduced her could simply help her regain her memory. Or…he could help out somebody, namely the person he wanted to kill so badly. He could give the heart back to Misu and get absorbed by him. Roxas supposedly says that was "where he belonged". He mentally deliberated on all of these choices, putting aside all viewpoints and perspectives.

Sora approached the thinking Ixmus. "Ixmus…." He spoke catching the Nobody's attention, "Listen…I really want to see my brother again. But…this is your decision and you do have a promise to keep. Don't let me get in the way." Riku and Kairi looked at Sora in shock. Was he actually going to be satisfied even if Ixmus doesn't choose to get absorbed by Misu?

What was this? Was Ixmus actually feeling sympathy toward Sora? Sora, the person that he assumed that murdered his sensei, Zexion? Maybe it was Misu's heart that was making him act this way? He couldn't tell, but he was definitely feeling it.

Number XV then realized something…All the mysteries about him were answered. He possessed a keyblade simply because he was connected to Sora in some way and destiny had chosen to give him one. The emotions he kept experiencing were because he was different from most Nobodies, just like Roxas and Namine and his feelings toward Xion were love (as he admitted a couple minutes ago). All those visions and daydreams occurred because they were something left behind by Misu.

But one question remained…

How was he able to remember Xion while others seemed like they don't?

Regardless, Ixmus finally figured out who he was and why he was here. But, he still had an important decision to make: to get his love back, be whole, or to be given supposed sanctuary.

The Shadows of Hope exchanged glances at Sora and Roxas. "As I've said before, Roxas, who seems like he's going to get absorbed by you Sora, absorbed Xion which means she'll become apart of you." Ixmus said, "So that means…for my promise to be kept, Misu will have to be around you constantly." "Of course!" Sora exclaimed, his mood completely reverting to a opposite state, "We're bros, we'll always stay by each other!" Ixmus nodded, "I see and are you sure? I just want my promise to be kept." Sora placed a reassuring hand on Ixmus's shoulder, "Who am I to break a promise?" He said flashing a smile.

Ixmus couldn't help but smile as well, "Thank you, Sora….And I'm sorry, that goes for you too, Roxas." He apologized wholeheartedly. He now regretted pursuing this fruitless vengeance and desperately desired to make amends. "That's OK." They both responded. "And, Ixmus, I wish for our promise to be rekindled too." Roxas spoke, "I know it was broken when I…uh…left, I guess." Ixmus raised an eyebrow at Roxas's uncertain statement. It was as if he didn't know where he left from. "I guess so." Ixmus responded and then turned to Namine. "OK, Namine, I'll give the heart to Misu." He said. "In doing so, you'll-" "Yes, I know. I'll be absorbed," Number XV interrupted, "But I'm willing to accept destiny."

Namine made a warm smile, "Very well then." She said and turned to the sable crystal. Ixmus stood beside Namine and waited for the inevitable to occur. Suddenly, the clear bud began to spread apart. Ultimately, the ebony containment capsule opened up to reveal the heartless, unconscious Misu. Namine looked at Ixmus and nodded to give the signal. Ixmus also nodded and approached Misu and held his hand to his heart. The light reappeared in his chest. Ixmus took a nervous gulp and started to guide the light out of his chest by forwarding his hand. As his hand inched away from his chest, the light/heart began to follow, eventually making its way out into the open. The Nobody then pushed the heart into its rightful owner in the proper place.

Misu illuminated for a slight second. Then everyone just waited for the results.

It felt like an eternal darkness…

Nowhere to go….Nowhere to run….Nowhere to hide…

And no place to find anyone….

He was lost in darkness….Even when he was safe in his own mind…

But what's this? In the midst of such bleak times, some light appeared…

He had no choice but to follow the light at the end of the tunnel, willing to accept whatever transpires…

Misu, after all this time, felt his conscious returning to him. He felt willful and empowered again. His eyelids finally were able to move slightly. When he did, his vision was blurry but that was an afterthought, he was actually conscious and moving!

Everyone released a communal gasp, each having a different octave reflecting their emotions. Misu rubbed his head and jumped off the platform that was within the capsule. "Where am I?" Misu tiredly asked. "MISU!" A voice exclaimed. Misu was suddenly glomped by someone but stayed on his feet. When Misu's vision finally returned to him, he saw something he had not in months….

His sibling hugging him…

"Sora…?" Misu reacted in disbelief. "Yes, it's me…" Sora responded with his voice full of happy emotions. Misu then embraced his long-lost brother in an emotional display of affection. The scene of two crying siblings embracing moved everyone's hearts. "You know, I really missed you." Misu announced. "I did too…" The siblings finally broken their hug and wiped off their tears.

"Um, Misu, there's someone here that you need to meet." Sora stated and moved out of the way for Misu too see Ixmus. "Misu, Ixmus. Ixmus, Misu." Sora introduced. "Hi." They greeted each other concurrently. "He's your Nobody." Sora added. "My…Nobody?" Misu repeated in query. "He's meant to be absorbed by you." Sora added once more. "Oh, I see." Misu said and then looked at his Nobody. "If that's the case, you ready?" Ixmus stayed quiet for a second as if he was getting second thoughts. However, it was too late for him to turn back now. "Yeah, I am."

Misu and Ixmus prepared themselves for absorption. Namine and Roxas prepared to do the same thing with their respective Somebodies. All three pairs closed their eyes and waited for the eventual amalgamation. Ixmus, Roxas, and Namine suddenly illuminated and dissapitated into light particles. Then they were gone as Sora, Kairi, and Misu illuminated for a split-second. "Well, that's it." Riku declared, "Now let's get out of here, guys."

The reunited friends and family gladly entered the passage.

-LATER-

"We're back."

"We're home."

Sora and Kairi gladly shared a handshake with Sora returning a long-desired gift.

Misu watched the scene in happiness. He knew that Sora always had a crush on Kairi. How? Well, he was family. Of course he would notice that. Even Riku did and they would sometimes discuss about it.

Suddenly, a faint, astral version of Ixmus appeared beside Misu watching the scene himself. Of course, no one, not even Misu himself could see it. In Ixmus's eyes, he could see Roxas and Namine exchanging a friendly handshake.

Sora broke the handshake and managed to get up from the dogpile provided by Donald and Goofy. The cinnamon-haired Keyblade Master then walked over to his brother. As he did, an astral, faint version of Xion appeared beside Sora. Ixmus couldn't believe his eyes, was he delusional? Couldn't be because then Misu would be. Regardless, the former Number XV said to his long-lost friend, "Told you I would keep my promise." "I…never doubted you." Xion responded as she, and in turn Sora, approached Ixmus (and in turn Misu). "I'm glad." Ixmus said with a smile. Suddenly, Roxas appeared on Sora's other side. "Well, we can keep our promise, guys." Roxas said. "Yeah." The two black-haired Nobodies said peppily.

Misu and Sora shared one more brotherly embrace. In turn, Roxas, Xion, and Ixmus shared a lovely three-person group hug.

Darkness separated them…

But, in the end, both light and darkness reunited them…

Now Misu and Ixmus can live on their destinies with the people they cherish ever so dearly.

And keep their promises….Forever.

Final Author Notes

Aaaaaand, that's a warp! ^^ Like I said before, I wholeheartedly enjoyed writing this story. I like to thank all the people who have reviewed and/or read the story. Remember, it's the "Hits" and reviews that keep me motivated to continue writing. Trust me, you'll get the best out of me. Anyway, there will most likely be a sequel to this story and mainly focuses on Misu sometime in the future, so keep looking out for that. Don't forget to check out other stories of mine besides Kingdom Hearts! Ta-ta for now!