To Absent Friends
By: Jeannie
Rating: T
Warnings; violence, slight AU, angst, slash, Oc, and it's kinda a crossover.
Spoilers; Some Avnet Children, FFVII, KH, KH2
Summery; Mickey finds information about a dangerous new enemy, Riku is stolen in the dead of night and a group of survivors find out that there was more to their friends' deaths.
It was yet another hot and balmy night on Destiny Islands and Kari lay in her bed unable to sleep, King Mickey's letter worrying her. Since Sora and Riku had found it, a sense of foreboding had overcome both boys. Sora, naturally, tried to hide it with jokes and goofy faces when anyone was watching, but Kairi could see the troubled look that would cross his face as soon as he thought no one was looking.
Riku, on the other hand, had become withdrawn, almost furtive. This bothered Kairi a lot. Although the darkness had been purged from Riku's heart, she couldn't help but wonder if it would return again. Both Kairi and Sora had asked Riku what had made him chose that path in the first place, but the silver-haired youth wouldn't answer.
With a sigh of frustration, Kairi pounded her fist into the mattress and got up. Sleep was obviously not gong to come to her any time soon and just laying here was driving her crazy. so the redhead reluctantly got up and made her way to the book shelf.
Outside, a flash of silver hair caught Kairi's eye, and she peered out the window. Outside, someone was walking around the bushes of Riku's house wearing a long dark coat. At first, Kairi thought it was her friend but then she got a closer look. The figure's hair was shorter than Riku's and was much coarser looking. Also, unless her friend had had a massive growth spurt in the last five hours it was unlikely that Riku was the one lurking about outside.
When the unknown figure turned around, Kairi instinctively shrunk away from the window. Eerie green eyes that almost seemed to glow swept over where she had stood.
Kairi shrunk back into her room suddenly very afraid, her floral Keyblade appearing in her hand. Despite the power radiating from the weapon, Kairi couldn't help but feel that if the man below were to try to attack she would be in trouble.
The silver-haired man took a few steps towards Kari's house when suddenly the front door to Riku's house opened with a bang. Two men, both dressed black coats with silver hair came running out. The taller one, who had closely cropped silver hair and was carrying a sheet wrapped bundle over one of his shoulders went up to the one Kari had momentarily mistaken for her friend. They exchanged words while the shorter one, with long flowing hair produced a glowing green orb from his coat and aimed it at the open door way. Kairi gasped as suddenly a fire ignited in the house and the longhaired assailant went to join his two companions as they disappeared into the shadows.
For a moment, Kari stood where she was unable to move. Terror raced through Kairi's veins as she wondered if Riku was still in the house and if he'd be able to get out. She franticly looked up and down the street for any sign of
"Mom, Dad!" Kairi shouted as she pounded on door to her parent's room. "Wake up there's a fire next door." She called out desperately renewing the pounding.
Two figures walked with an almost forced casualness through the streets of Edge. While admittedly there wasn't much crime in this particular neighborhood, the strangers still felt eyes on them. This wasn't too uncommon, for many still recognized the uniform of Shinra's infamous Turks.
"Eh, looks like we're here partner." The lanky redhead said loudly to his bald companion who kept shifting uncomfortably. Reno had a fake plastic grin on his face and his cheerful laughter was forced.
The second Turk simply looked at the sign of the Seventh Heaven with an unreadable expression on his face. "Let's get this over with." Rude said to Reno, his shoulders stiffening as he entered through the doors of the bar.
"Tch, such rudeness, yo!" Reno said half-playfully pouting. "I won't forgive this easily." The redhead said as they made their way through the small crowd of drinkers scattered throughout the bar. A quick scan of the room revealed that the bartender was currently not there.
"Not until I buy the first round, that is." Rude said lightly, leading them to a pair of empty stools at the far end of the bar. Reno let out a laugh, a real one this time. After so many years of being friends, Rude and Reno knew each other completely.
"I wonder how she's going to take it." Rude said glancing at the open doorway behind the bar. Reno let out an exasperated sigh, and shook his head muttering something that sounded a lot like "lovesick fool' under his breath.
"Donno. It's such a pain in the ass, yo." Reno replied bitterly. Running a hand irritably through his unruly crimson bangs.
"It's like fate hates us." Rude commented as he watched Tifa Lockhart emerge from the doorway with an unopened bottle of liquor in one hand and some glasses in another. She placed the bottle and glasses on the bar and began mixing some drinks.
"Nah, it just likes to play with us, yo." Reno answered dismissively, tapping the cardboard coaster impatiently on the counter. Rude saw Tifa glance over to where they sat and surprise flash briefly across her face before giving them a brief nod.
"Why don't you ask her out?" Reno asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject. From behind his sunglasses, Rude glared at his friend. His crush on Tifa had been the subject of a lot of jokes, unsoliced advice and discussion from the redhead. As much as Rude liked Reno, he didn't think that Reno truly knew much about women and what they wanted.
"It's been a while, what do I owe the pleasure?" Tifa asked as she walked up to the two Turks. Both Rude and Reno could hear the hint of suspicion in her voice as well as see the sharpness in her smile. They shared a brief glance before Reno ran a hand through his unruly bangs.
"I wish I could say this was a social call, yo." Reno said breaking the tense silence. "But somehow I doubt you'd want us hanging around." Tifa frowned but didn't say anything.
"I can't talk right now, but if you want to come back after bar time." Tifa suggested as she noticed a customer waiving her over.
"Don't be silly, yo." Reno added playfully "There's nothing else to do around here at this hour. We'll stay here and keep you company." Tifa just rolled her eyes and then went back to serving her customers while Reno and Rude sat back and watched the people in the bar.
"There's another reason for me not to." Rude said once they were alone.
"What are you talking about?" Reno said looking confused.
"You didn't see it?" Rude said gesturing to his hand, more specifically his ring finger. Reno stared dumbly for a minute then his mouth formed an 'o' of surprise.
"Tch, and we have to deliver the bad news that Kadaj is back." Reno muttered darkly. "We're not going to survive this." He added gloomily, Rude nodding in assent.
TBC
A/N: Revision finished, I hope this is better.