Chapter 2-Remembrance
The two boys came out of the alleyway, and Sairu led Sora to a building on the left. Before they went inside, Sora got a look at the layout of the First District. "This place... it's different from my island." Sora said quietly. Sairu then spoke up, "Well, this is your first time in a new world. I was a little thrown about it myself when I came here." The two of them then entered the Accessory Shop, where a blond man in a white shirt, navy trousers and a waistband stood at the counter. He also sported a pair of goggles on top of his head with a toothpick in his mouth.
Sairu went up to the counter and greeted him with a smile, "Hey Cid". "Yo, Sairu. Aren't you supposed to be on duty right now?" he said in a matter-of-fact manner. "Well, if you must know, I found this guy in the alleyway. I think that falls into the category patrolling, don't you think?" Sairu said with a confident smirk on his face. Cid looked ready to yell, but just laughed and said, "Ah, touché." "Hi there, I'm Sora" Sora suddenly said. "Nice to meet ya, I'm Cid, as you already know. So welcome to Traverse Town. If you need anything, just come to me or Sairu." he smiled.
"Sure. Thanks." said Sora, smirking back. They then proceeded to step outside, and Sairu suggested "Sora, want to take a look around town now? No time like the present if you want to find your friends". Sora gave Sairu a nod and a look that said "Sure let's go." The two then approach the doors to the Second District, and as soon as the doors shut behind them, they see a man stumble and fall. Then a pink light suddenly erupts from his chest and a heart floated while the man's body disappeared and the heart was shrouded in darkness that took form as a black creature in armour which disappeared in a swirl of darkness. But then, similar black creatures appeared from the ground.
Sairu quickly drew his sword from its sheath, revealing a piercing white blade to match the hand-guard and brought it to his side. Sora also drew his weapon, which piqued Sairu's interest: a giant skeleton key, that seemed vaguely familiar for some reason, but they didn't have time to ponder as they drew their weapons and started destroying the dark creatures. But there were too many for the two of them.
Sairu then suggested "We can't finish them. We have to retreat. Now!" "Gotcha" Sora replied. And they ran back into the First District but their hopes for a safe retreat were dashed. The same creatures attacked them until they returned to the Accessory Shop, where Cid looked slightly alarmed.
"You boys OK? Them creatures giving you the run-around?" Sairu and Sora could only nod in their exhaustion. Soon, Sairu spoke up "Let's stop here for a while and rest. Give them a chance to back off." "Good idea" Sora huffed. After relaxing for a few minutes, they decided to head out again. As soon as they set foot outside, a voice calls out: "They'll come at you out of nowhere." Sairu suddenly looked stiff and turned around, face to face with his brother, Leon. "Bro? What are you doing here?" Leon ignored him, in favour of Sora, who was looking confused. "And they'll keep coming at you, as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade. But why? Why would it choose a kid like you?" Sora then looked serious and drew the Keyblade again. "Leon, wait. You guys don't need to fight." But his words fell on deaf ears for both of them. He was used to Leon ignoring him at times, but never like this.
Sora then exclaimed to Leon, "What? There's no way you're getting this!" "Alright. Have it your way." Leon replied and drew the gunblade, resting it on his shoulder. Sairu then sighed and gave up: once Leon drew his gunblade, there was no convincing him out of a fight. All the while the two of them were fighting, Sairu was torn between aiding Sora or stopping the fight altogether. Then, without even thinking, Sairu stopped Leon's last attack, though Sora fell unconscious from exhaustion. "Sairu, why'd you stop the fight?" Leon said impassively. "Sora was getting weak from exhaustion without any more attacks from you, as it was. You didn't need to even fight him in the first place." Sairu responded vigorously. Leon gave Sairu a stoic look in his face and withdrew his gunblade just as someone spoke up: "Nice going, guys. You found the key." Then came Yuffie, a girl about the same age as Sairu. Sairu considered her like a sister, like he does with Leon, seeing him as his brother, considering how they practically raised him when he was a kid.
Leon then replied in his usual stoic voice: "I went easy on him. Still, looks like things are worse than we thought. A lot worse. Sairu, seeing as you chose to save him, you carry him back to our hotel room." Sairu shot Leon a dirty look, but did as he was told and mounted Sora on his back. 'Damn,' thought Sairu, 'for a little guy, he sure was heavy; that Keyblade or whatever is weighing him down, I swear'. After walking for what seemed like an hour, they arrived at their hotel room and Sora was placed on the bed, while Leon took the Keyblade and propped it against the wall. After a little while, Sora began to wake up, then looked at Yuffie dazedly, but what completely shocked Sairu was what he called Yuffie: "I'm so glad you're okay, Kairi." That was when Sairu froze with shock. "Kairi? I'm the Great Ninja, Yuffie!" Though Sairu usually laughed at Yuffie's self-imposed title, he was too frozen with shock to do so.
Leon then picked up the Keyblade and it left Leon's hand and returned to Sora. Then he and Yuffie explained the Heartless to Sora, how taking the Keyblade away from Sora temporarily would keep them away, and how they were the dark creatures that attacked him on his island and in the town. Also, they explained how he was chosen by the Keyblade and has to accept his destiny. Sairu, knowing what the Heartless were, drowned out the explanation and was trying to get his head around that name he heard: Kairi. "Sairu? Sairu!" Leon exclaimed. "Huh? Sorry." Sairu smiled rather sheepishly. "What's wrong? You've never spaced out like that before." Sairu looked uncomfortable and he tried to think about how to explain it to Leon. But Leon decided to ask him later and told Yuffie that Aerith should have the other guests with her by now. Suddenly, Heartless materialised in the hotel room and Yuffie fled into the room next door where Aerith was.
Meanwhile, Sairu, Sora and Leon jumped into the alleyway and Leon took off to protect the First District. "You two look for the boss. Forget the small fry!" he said before he left. With that, Sairu suddenly realised the one area they hadn't been to: the Third District. With that, the two boys took off and Sairu guided Sora to the Third District. As the two arrived at the District, an explosion rang out in the quiet and two voices screaming came falling, and landing on top of the two boys. It turned out to be Donald and Goofy, and exclaimed the "key" when they saw Sora holding the Keyblade. But then, walls rose up and Heartless manifested on the top of them, trapping the party of four. The four of them worked well together to defeat the smaller Heartless, and then a giant Heartless appeared, that vaguely resembled a disembodied suit of armour.
This Heartless was a heavy contender, being to detach its hands and feet to attack the four of them of their own will. Sairu was able to provide support with his agile and strong attacks and keeping the other three going with Potions and whatnot. Soon the hands and feet were destroyed, and eventually the head and torso succumbed and faded away.
After the battle, Donald and Goofy explained their mission to the two boys, and how they want Sora to come with him to find their king, while giving Sora the chance to locate his friends as well. Leon and the others also encouraged Sora to go with them, and, seeing Sora's resolve to find his friends, inspired Sairu to speak up. "Donald, Goofy, Sora... Is it possible for me to join you on this quest?" asked Sairu hopefully. Donald and Goofy looked at one another before Donald said, "No. Why should you?" Sairu had been expecting to hear no, and looked about ready to give up but then... "Hey, why can't he come along? He helped us defeat that Heartless and he's my friend. He could help us out a lot." Sora said honestly. Sairu was touched by the fact that Sora called him a friend.
"Sairu, why is it you want to go with them? Is it to do with what Sora said earlier?" Leon asked quizzically. "Yes. Sora, you remember when you woke up and called Yuffie 'Kairi'?" Sairu asked. "Yeah. What's wrong with that?" Sora asked curiously. "Nothing's wrong really. But, you see... I used to know a girl by that name when I was a kid." Sora's jaw almost hit the floor with a look that said "But how?" but beckoned Sairu to continue. "Kairi was one of my best friends, but nine years ago, some things happened and she, I and another friend of ours were separated from each other. Ever since then, I swore that if there was a chance to leave Traverse Town and explore the worlds to find them, I would take it. Please. I may not have another chance to travel the worlds." Sairu explained pleadingly. After a minute or two, Donald sighed and said "Alright, fine. But you both better promise one thing: smile. So, no frowning, no sad faces, alright?" "Yeah, you gotta be funny like us. A-hyuck." Goofy said before being shoved back by Donald. Sora and Sairu looked at each other with a bemused look, but then they pulled off forced and wide grins, which after an awkward moment, got Donald and Goofy clutching their sides in laughter.
After that, they placed their hands together, whilst introducing themselves: "Donald Duck". Name's Goofy". "I'm Sora". "Sairu". "All for one and one for all". Goofy announced with the other three smiling together.
