A/N: Last Update!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who read my story, I do appreciate your support. I also want to thank everyone who has reviewed it. Your critiques have helped me in such an immense way. I enjoyed writing this fanfic so much and I hope you enjoyed reading it too. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone too much...anyways, you guys are the coolest!

:D

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I am not the official owner of S.E. or KH. I'm just a fan of the series.

Chapter 33: The Awakening

I wake up in an unfamiliar place. My eyes adjust to the unforgiving light as my consciousness slowly slips back. I take a moment or two to get a good look at my surroundings. It's eerily bright here and all the walls are painted white. The room is furnished with a single bed. Other than that, it's completely vacant.

This strange room makes me feel so isolated and vulnerable. I am tired but not a normal kind of tired. It's the kind of fatigue you get only after you have slept for a great deal of time. Yet, I feel as though I haven't really slept at all. It's as if I've been in some kind of an extended trance. The last thing I remember is talking to Kairi and Riku.

Why am I here?

Where are my friends?

I frantically search the contents of my pockets. The only thing I find is a leather-bound journal. I snap it open and carefully flip through the worn book. It appears to be entirely blank with the exception of a single page. I read the short entry and struggle to decipher the meaning behind it. It says, "Thank Namine."

Namine?

Who is Namine?

Why would I have to thank her?

I stare at the handwriting; I immediately notice that it doesn't belong to me. It's neat and much too perfect. My writing is generally sloppy and quick. This calligraphy looks like it was carefully crafted. There are no cross outs or ink splatters.

Who wrote this?

Did Namine…write this?

I begin to panic, unsure of what to do. I run over to the open door and stare out into an empty hallway. It's quiet, way too quiet. I stumble down the ghostlike hallways until I reach the first floor. There seems to be no other signs of life. It appears that I am on my own.

I push open the main door and it slams with a booming thud behind me. I look ahead and notice a strange winding path surrounded by forests on each side. It's dark outside and I have a weird feeling that I'm being watched or followed.

I have a choice:

Turn back or move forward.

I turn around and stare up in awe at the creepy castle from which I came. Then, I stare down the road as far as I can. I decide to press on rather than to stay. It seems more efficient to fill in the blanks as I go. That way I don't waste precious time searching for things that I may never find. Maybe, I'll even find this "Namine" girl along the way.

She may have the answers that I'm looking for.

She may be the only key to getting home.

I bravely enter into the eerie shadows of nightfall. I trudge through mud and rain, embracing the harsh terrain. Desperately, I search to find my way out of the darkness and into the light.

Epilogue

(Namine's POV)

I'm sitting in a corner of this empty room. It's lonely and cold, I wish he were here with me still. But, I've made my mistakes and I paid the price. I had no choice but to set him free. Rumor has it, true love is about sacrifice. If you really love someone, you'll let them go. If you really care, you'll do what's best for them even when it's difficult or painful. I know I did the right thing and I wish him the best in all that his life has to offer. I can't be with him and the truth is staring to sink in for me. I realize that everything happens for a reason. I know now that I can't fight fate. I tried to do so for the longest time and it turned out to only be a losing battle. I will be fine without him and he'll be better off without me. My wounds run deep but they will heal eventually.

I will learn how to fix myself in time.

I gaze out the window at the pouring rain. I watch him from a distance as he leaves the castle behind. I maneuver myself over to the table and begin to doodle in my sketchbook. This time, I will use my powers for good. I trace the path that leads to Destiny Islands. He'll be able to get home safely with my help. I can be there for him without having to be with him.

I'll be like the wind, unseen but never actually gone.

I'll be his guardian angel from afar.

I'll always protect him.

I'll always love him.

But, I won't ever let him fall again.

I promise.

The End