Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Kingdom Hearts characters.
A/N: First FanFic I'ever ever written. Please, be rough. Also, I didn't want to just spill all kinds of background detail so things are kind of vague still. My apologies if that irritates anyone.
"What's next on the list?"
A red-head pipes up from the back of the black jeep, shuffling through papers as she glances at the other members in the car.
"Well, there's the Bowman House." A petite blond offers; looking to make sure she has everyone's attention before continuing, "The family supposedly died in an unknown manner. People have suggested typhoid or some other disease, but others' believed that they were attacked due to a mysterious dark spot found at the top of the stairs, which has reportedly given sensitive visitors unpleasant feelings…"
"What do you think, Rox?" The girl leans forward to hand the blond male in the passenger seat the paper.
"Looks good, but it says that visitors aren't welcome at night." The male frowns, turning the paper over.
"Oh, yeah, like that's ever stopped us before." The red-head scoffs, rolling her eyes as she laughs.
"That's true, but I don't really feel like getting arrested tonight, Kairi. " The driver, a platinum blond male, snorts while glancing back at the red-head who deflates at the rejection.
"Well, what about the Tannerwood Inn?" The blonde female tries again, "While no one has ever died in the Inn, it's reported that those who've drowned in the river nearby, including a mother and her child, inhabit the inn. There are numerous hauntings and it—"
"Sounds bogus, Nam. Hey, Riku, weren't we supposed to meet up with some of your friends for this shit?" Roxas interjects, sinking into his seat as exhaustion from chasing nonexistent ghosts and violating numerous laws overcomes him.
"Yeah, they said they were going to find some haunted places of their own." The driver's tone sounds more agitated than excited, smirking when Roxas seems to give him a look of empathy. "Hey, Namine, do me a favor and find out where Demyx is?"
Namine sighs, barely catching the phone that's tossed at her. After dialing the number, she cradles it in her shoulder as she helps Kairi sort through papers.
"Hey, Demyx? Oh, Zexion? When do you guys want to meet up and where? Oh, really! That's awesome! What's the address?" The blond scrambles for a pen, jotting down the address with a smile plastered on her face as her red-head companion practically bounces in her seat. "Alright, see you then."
When she hangs up she hands Roxas the address, "Here, put this in the GPS. Zexion says they found an abandoned hospital not too far from here."
Seeing the irritated expressions of the two men, Namine sighs, "Look, this will be the last one, okay? Then we can go back to the hotel, have a couple of beers, and call it a night, alright?" The blonde reasons while looking over to Kairi for help.
"Yeah, plus, we need to meet up with your friends anyway, right? No better way to get acquainted then some good old fashioned ghost hunting." The red-head jests, batting her eye-lashes at Riku in the rear-view mirror. Riku sighs, briefly putting his hands up in defeat.
Roxas chuckles at the driver, "You give in way too easy, Riku."
"Is this it?"
Roxas presses his face to the glass attempting to get a better view. Unfortunately, all he sees is darkness and a big iron gate, "Yeah that locked gate looks pretty uninviting." He jests, sighing as he slips his hands into his coat pockets.
"What'd you expect?" Riku quirks a brow, putting the car in 'park' before dialing Demyx's number.
"Did you see that?"
"See what, Kairi?"
"I-I'm not sure. I think there's someone out there."
The red-head presses her face to the glass, trying to make out any figures in the dark. When she sees something move she jumps, causing Namine to let out a yelp as well.
"It's probably just Demyx." Riku reasons while bringing the phone to his ear.
"Or a cop." Roxas grumbles, looking displeased as he glances out his own window, "I think Kairi's right, though. It looks like there's someone out there." The blond narrows his eyes, concentrating on the unmoving shadows when he's suddenly startled by two large hands slamming against the window, followed by piecing grin eyes and a shit eating grin.
"What the fuck Axel?" Riku yells, closing the phone as he glares at the red-head male who lets out a hearty laugh as he walks over to the driver-side window.
"Aye, sorry blondie, didn't mean to scare you." The lanky man comments, gesturing to a still-shocked Roxas before turning his green eyes onto Riku, "Demyx and Zexion are bickering back at the van. Hope you don't mind but I also invited Sora."
"You did what?" Riku glares at the red-head, but is ignored as Axel choses to lean a bit more into the car to see everyone else, "I recognize Riku and Namine, but who are you two?"
"Good manners, Ax." Namine shakes her head, pointing to the girl next to her, "That's Kairi, y'know, Riku's new girlfriend? Oh, and the guy you scared the piss out of is Roxas."
Axel smirks at the two, chuckling when Roxas gives him a half-hearted wave, "Well, nice to meet the two of you. Heard a lot about you, Kairi." He snickers, glancing at Riku before walking away from the Jeep to inspect the gate.
"Yeah, it's a real pleasure. " Roxas remarks with sarcasm, getting out of the Jeep to stretch his legs.
Namine, who recognizes the glare Kairi is giving Riku, clears her throat, "Uh, well, I'll go make sure that Zexion hasn't strangled Demyx, okay?" Before Riku can convince her to stay, she slips out of the Jeep and starts walking up the dirt road.
"Why would he invite Sora?" Kairi begins, climbing up to the passenger seat, "I thought everything was settled with that?"
"It is, Kairi. Axel is an asshole, alright? It's not a big deal. Just drop it, okay?" The male snarls as he glares at the red-head next to him. Without waiting for a reply, he climbs out of the Jeep and slams the door behind him, leaving his startled girlfriend to ponder the event.
"So, how exactly do you plan to get past the big padlock?" Roxas teases, joining Axel at his side as they both examine the large and towering gate.
"We cut the lock." Axel shrugs, running his fingers over the engraved designs on the gate, "Demyx has bolt cutters in his jeep." He remarks, moving past Roxas to go get the supplies from Demyx's van, leaving Roxas to guard the gate.
The blond frowns, feeling anxious despite being in viewing distance of Riku's jeep. Ignoring his growing fear he glances back at the gate with an uneasy feeling, trying to see the hospital past the rows of trees.
"Demyx, you got the bolt cutters?" Axel asks while taking a bag from a still fuming Zexion and slinging it over his shoulder.
"Yeah, it's right here." A mullhawked blonde hands the tool over before rolling his eyes at the brunette male that sticks a hand-held camera in his face.
"So, Demyx, tell the audience what it's like to be denied sex for two months in a row."
"Not now, Sora." Demyx pouts, glancing at his boyfriend who is intent on ignoring him.
"Come on, Sora. You're going to make it worse." Namine giggles, pulling the brunette away as she hands him a bag, "Is all this equipment necessary? I mean, we've just been using flashlights to investigate."
"Well, it's a big place. There's no way we'll be able to cover it all so it'd be nice to set up some cameras." Zexion finally speaks, shutting the hatch to the van as he crosses his arms over his chest.
"Plus, Axel and I got some…party favors if this turns out to be a bust." Demyx smirks, locking the van as the group walks back to Riku's jeep.
"Party favors?" Namine frowns, looking between Axel and Demyx for an explanation.
"He means booze and pot." Sora chirps, focusing his camera on Zexion, "Which is why Zexion is pissed." He snickers when he receives a middle finger from Zexion, turning the camera off for the mean time as they catch up to Riku.
"Guess you two haven't killed each other." Riku smirks, taking a bag from Namine before patting Zexion on the back and putting an arm around Demyx's shoulders, "Could've told me Sora was going to be here." He whispers angrily, making sure the brunette male can't hear him.
"Thought it would've been a nice surprise." The mullhawked man snickers before looking at Riku seriously, "Look, I didn't know Axel invited him, but what's the problem?"
The conversation is dismissed as Kairi comes into sight. The red-head promptly introduces herself to Riku's friends, smiling awkwardly at Sora as she joins Riku's side.
"So this is the girl you've been talking about?" Demyx questions while looking between Kairi and Riku with a quirked brow, "She's a lot prettier than you let on, Riku."
"That she is." The brunette male smirks, snickering under his breath as Namine jabs him in the side with her elbow.
Kairi frowns, ignoring Sora as she follows after Riku.
By the time they reach the gate, Roxas is poking around his crumbled pack of cigarettes with a look of displeasure. The blond practically jumps when the other members of the group show up. He watches Axel cut the chain to the gate with a frown. He swallows hard and crosses his arms over his chest. With the chain broken, Axel gives the rusted gate a gentle push open. The gate groans, stuttering slightly as the hinges force themselves awake.
"The building should be right up the road." Demyx grins, sounding a bit too excited for someone breaking and entering.
"Why couldn't we take the van again?" The only brunette in the group whines, shifting the weight of the bag on his shoulder as he looks at nearby members.
"Supposedly the road thins out and makes it inaccessible to vehicles." Zexion offers, frowning as he looks at the path and forest ahead of them.
"Seems kind of inconvenient for a former hospital, doesn't it?" Roxas rolls his eyes, taking the moment to introduce himself to the other members of the group before helping Sora with some of the camera equipment. "What's all this stuff exactly?"
"Video equipment, EMF Meter, EVP equipment, thermometers, flashlights, motion sensors. The works, really. " Zexion replies, looking rather proud of his collection.
"So….nerd stuff, right?" Namine giggles as she pats a pouting Zexion on the back.
"Yeah, nerd stuff. Can we get going now?" Zexion sighs, pushing past the other members as he starts hiking up the winding dirt road. Axel is quick to follow after, turning on a flashlight as they make their way through the woods and up to the abandoned hospital.