(A/N: I just can't do one fic at a time, can I? Ah well... Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Of course I own Kingdom Hearts! I also straightened the Leaning Tower of Pisa and invented popcorn!)
Epidemic
Keyblade wielders all over the worlds are suddenly falling ill to an unknown disease. Symptoms are dizziness, headache, upset stomach, sudden weakness, fever, and excessive sleep. We are not quite sure yet of the cause, but we are working hard to find it and a cure. For now, all the diseased are being quarantined at Merlin's.
Just wanted you to know,
~Mickey M.
Sora folded up the most recent letter from the King as complete silence entered the room. Riku and Kairi stared at him, mouths wide open and fear etched in their faces. When Sora had asked them to come over that morning, they had expected news about Kingdom Hearts or Xehanort or something, not... this. This was much worse. They could fight Xehanort and deal with Kingdom Hearts. A disease, however, especially one they knew nothing about, they couldn't.
Riku closed his mouth and swallowed. "Well..." he began. "That's... new."
"Only Keyblade Wielders? No others?" Kairi questioned.
"As far as I know. That's all I was told. But... if we don't find a cure soon enough, others might be affected as well."
"...Anyone we know?"
Sora bit his lip. "...Ventus, and it's starting to look like Terra too. Aqua is okay for now. Van's been missing since it started."
"Knowing him, he might be the cause of it," Riku muttered.
"I doubt it. It seems a bit out of his league," Kairi pointed out.
"Roxas, Axel, and Xion are all fine," Sora continued. "But Ace, Noah, and Ali are all really sick.
"Not them..." Kairi mumbled, fighting back tears. Ace, Noah, and Ali were three seven year old Keyblade Wielders who lived in Radiant Garden. Kairi had immediately befriended them when they had first met, and Sora had shown them a few Keyblade tricks.
"...That's all I was told so far. But according to the King, there are a lot more."
"So how can we help? We aren't doctors," Riku said.
"The King thinks Van might know something. If we can find him, we might be one step closer to finding the cure."
"So let's go!" Kairi said, standing.
Sora shook his head. "Nuh uh. You're staying here. Me and Riku will go. That way, if the disease is on specific worlds, you'll be safe here."
"But-"
"It's for your own good, Kai," Riku interrupted.
"You always say that. It's not a good enough excuse anymore! Actually, it never was! C'mon, Sora, I can take care of myself! Please?" She gave him a puppy-dog look.
"Weeeell..." He sighed. "Fine. Go and pack up. We'll head off tomorrow."
"Thank you so much, Sora!" she squealed, running over to give him a hug. The brunette blushed and Riku rolled his eyes.
"Meet at the Gummi Ship," he muttered, walking out. Kairi let go and grinned at Sora before following him.
"See ya!"
Once his best friends had gone, Sora slumped on his chair. Recently he had been getting tired more often, even when he wasn't doing anything. He put a hand on his head, then quickly recoiled. He was burning! That explained the headache... Sighing, he stood and got out some fever reducer.
"Sure hope I feel better by tomorrow," he mumbled. He swallowed the pills in one gulp, then checked the clock. "Only three? Huh, strange. It feels like it's midnight, I'm so tired. ...I guess it's nothing a nap can't fix." He started for the stairs to his bedroom, then changed his mind and dragged himself to the couch. Flopping down on the cushions, he was out in the blink of an eye.