EDITED 6/26/2010

Author's Comments: This is the official sequel to The Kismet Scribe, taking place some time after The Letter. Heads up: it's a multi-chapter story. (Hopefully it won't turn out as long as its predecessor, though.) Updates may or may not be consistent, but I'll try my best. Please enjoy!

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

You don't need to possess a heart to know how to manipulate it. *

Where are they?

My bare feet pound against the dirt roads, kicking up small clouds of dust around my ankles as I whirl around wildly. Strands of my hair wrap around the corners of my mouth, partially sucked in by the gallons of air I'm trying to inhale to clear away the panic constricting my lungs. A tiny voice in the back of my mind makes a note to cut it the next chance I find.

Where are they?

All the buildings blend with each other into streaks of color as I dash down another street and weave amidst the town's inhabitants, none of whom are any of the three teens I'm searching for.

WHERE ARE THEY?

"I…Imani?"

My eyes fly open so quickly they nearly pop out of their sockets. Before me stands a girl with reddish purple hair tied loosely in a ponytail, the sleeves of her school uniform rolled back and her arms wrapped around a few textbooks.

One tendril of the panic grasping my thundering heart relinquishes, but the remaining coil even tighter.

"He's here," I whisper, falling to my knees. "He's here…"

"Who?" The girl instantly kneels down beside me. "Who's here?"

Sobs rack my chest as my shaking hands magnetically reach up to grasp my head. "He…he…"

A single thick red bullet rockets straight through its face as it chimes for the eighth time. The bells ring chaotically upon impact, crying out in anguish as brick and glass explode into dust.

"Ima—Imani, calm down," she instructs, grasping my quivering shoulders firmly. "Who's here?"

Golden eyes glow manically.

Instinctively my fingers curl into my scalp as if they can scrape away the horrid memory replaying over and over in my mind. A wordless loud moan slithers past my lips.

"I owe you my deepest gratitude."

No matter how loudly I moan, I can't drown out the deep, smooth voice.

"You have written well, Kismet Scribe."

He sighs, his lanky arms akimbo as he shakes his head. "He's gone. I've been searching with Zexion for at least an hour. Even if he is still here he's bound to lie low for a few days. You can come back now."

The bed sinks a little as someone—Kairi—sits down and watches me quietly. Behind her, a boy with brown spiky hair takes a seat at a nearby chair while another boy with long silver hair leans against the window. What's going on? all three ask silently. You freaked us out big time.

I don't want to relive the memory again. I don't want to explain what happened. I don't want to see the image of a group of kids my age watching in horror at the sight. I can't bear to watch Olette cry and cover her face with her hands as she turns away.

"The clock tower was destroyed this morning," I finally murmur, fisting the sheets. "He destroyed it."

The air becomes tense and the three go rigid. "Who?" Sora asks.

I breathe deeply, willing the oncoming shudder to go away. "Xemnas."

None of them gasp in shock or even flinch at the name. There had always been the possibility that this day would come. We just never really thought too deeply into what might happen when the day arrived.

Riku crosses his arms. "He has his heart now?"

Wide-eyed, I stare up at my bedroom ceiling, the thumps so loud and powerful that I find my own heart adjusting its pace to beat in time. B-BMP.

My hands slither up to hide my face. "He has such a strong heartbeat. None of the other former Nobodies' heartbeats were as intense when they first returned. I would've gone to meet him, but…"

A cool hand gently takes hold of my wrist and pulls one of my hands down. "But what?"

B-BMP B-BMP B-BMP B-BMP—

"Imani?" the crinkled voice in the receiver calls distantly. "Are you still there? Imani?"

I sigh, turning my head into the pillow. "But I was afraid."

"Keep...Keep an eye on him...b-but don't approach him. I'll be watching what goes on."

"You aren't coming?"

The first wave of panic washes over me, drenching me through and leaving me gasping for breath. "Remind Axel that he still hasn't remastered his control over his chakram before he launches himself against Xemnas."

"So you left to come here?"

"To warn you three." I hoist myself into a sitting position, finally garnering up the courage to look each friend in the eyes. "Xemnas seems to be planning something else...and whatever it is can't be good."

Jade eyes narrow. "Like what?"

I hang up and throw the phone aside, snatching my jacket and curling my free fingers into my barely-convulsing chest and racing out the door, down the stairs, and into the streets. Immediately a strange pull tugs me backwards in the direction of the crumbling clock tower. I keep running for the sandlot, studying a memory of Roxas summoning up a Dark Corridor to block out the image of rubble raining down onto the courtyard in front of the train station.

"I don't know," I lie, fighting the urge to roll around my tongue against the disgusting aftertaste.

"You don't know?"

"I'm not a mind-reader."

"We have to stop him before he starts anything," Sora decides, leaping off his seat. "Is he still in Twilight Town?"

The squeaky gates give way to his gentle push and he strides inside, the tall grass swaying to his steps as he nears the front doors of the mansion.

"Yes," I answer reluctantly.

"Alright then." Sora offers a smile and a hand to me. "We should get going."

I stare at his calloused outstretched palm for a moment before shaking my head. "You three won't be going anywhere."

His positive grin dims. "What do you mean? We have to go find Xemnas."

"I just told you where Xemnas is."

"Yeah, so—"

"You three have to stay here, away from him," I swallow thickly, steeling myself for their reactions, "or, at the very least, stay away from me."

"W-What?"

"You have no idea how powerful he is now that he has a heart," I insist, flinching at the quiver in my voice. "The moment he came into being this morning he was capable of wielding his ethereal blades with the same dexterity he had when you defeated him. It's taken days—weeks, maybe—for the others to call and handle their weapons at a basic level."

"Then we don't have to brace ourselves for unexpected attacks," Sora reasons. "We've fought him before, Imani."

Despite my concern, an exasperated sigh escapes my lips. "I know you have, but that's not the point. Xemnas hasn't tapped into his heart's power to fuel his strength yet. Once he learns how, he'll be even more formidable."

The brunet's shoulders sag. "But…"

"What does that have to do with us staying away from you?" Riku demands. "If we want to defeat Xemnas, we're going to need everyone's strength, including yours."

"Where are you?"

My heart pulsates irregularly and steals a silent gasp from my lungs. B-bmp…b…bmp…

"Imani? Is something wrong?"

His lips curve into a smirk. "Where are you, hm?"

I tear my attention away from my heart and snatch Kairi's wrist, dragging her to her bedroom door. "All of you need to get away as quickly as possible. Go see the king and then go to Hollow Bastion. You need to tell everyone of Xemnas' return."

"B-But Imani—"

"Don't forget to track down Lexaeus and Xaldin while you're in Hollow Bastion." I turn back to drag Riku and Sora to the door. "After that, go to Atlantica and find Demyx—"

"Imani, wait—"

"Axel and Zexion already know since they're in Twilight Town—"

"Wait, Imani—"

"There's no time to wait!" I cry. "He's coming here! You need to leave!"

With a frustrated groan, Riku reaches out to me. "Well, then, you're coming with us."

"Perhaps I should wonder where they are…"

I step away from his grasp and hold out a hand to my right. A faint shockwave ripples through my arm all the way to my fingertips and the space in front of my hand warps and morphs until an elongated shadow rises from the ground. "Get out of here now. Axel knows where everyone else is."

"Ima—"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Riku's voice calling my name echoes in my ears as I disappear into the shadowy corridor.

Author's Afterthought: What do you think? Please leave a review! Thanks for reading!