Author Note: Well here goes nothing! My first Fanfic written in FIVE YEARS. I was inspired by the game...or should I say obsessed, lol. Love Letters and Constructive Criticism are welcome.
Disclaimer: I know I don't own them, but they invited me to come and hang out on the beach with them. () Disney and Square Enix are some lucky mo-fos! I always give them back when I'm done!
Chapter Two: Home Is Where the Heart Is
Sora, Kairi, Riku, Donald, Goofy and King Mickey arrived at a small house just outside the town, on a hill overlooking the other islands. Sora took a deep breath as he paused at the foot of the walkway to his house. Kairi gave his hand a squeeze and released it, signaling him to make his way to the door. Everyone following behind him, he knocked on the door. The door opened and a woman in her late thirties with the familiar light-brown hair tied back in a braid, and cool blue eyes, stood breathless, staring at her son.
"Hi, Mom...I'm home," Sora smiled. Tears welled in her eyes. She choked back a sob, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth, "Sora! My baby boy! My god, how I prayed for you to come home!" She cried and held him tight. "I missed you too, mom..." he whispered, trying to soothe his mother. "But I'm okay. I'm in one piece…see?" Sora pulled away slightly to gesture 'voila'. His mother wiped her eyes and looked up at all of his friends standing behind him. She smiled at them all. "Well come in everyone and rest, you're all welcome our home."
They all sat around the kitchen area, and had a cup fresh mango juice. The taste of it made Sora's taste buds dance, he had forgotten how good his mom's homegrown mangos were. "Well, it's nice to see you again, Riku...Kairi..." She glanced over at the newcomers, "My name is Misa. It's nice to meet you..."
"Donald Duck."
"Goofy."
"Mickey Mouse."
"He's the King of Disney Castle, you know!" exclaimed Donald proudly. Misa did a double take at Mickey, "A King in my house? I am truly honored." The King shook his head, "Misa, I am the one honored...to work with your son and make our worlds a more peaceful place to live. He's got a lot of love and courage that he could only have been given by those who love him." Sora blushed and shrugged as he looked around at his friends, and then to Kairi. The King continued, "That's why the keyblade chose him."
Misa put her hand to her head in disbelief of what she was hearing, "All this information is a bit much to digest all at once. Right now I am just amazed that my son is all grown up and here at home safe. I am still not ready to hear about the dangers he faced. So let's eat... Sora, you may invite your friends from the town if you wish...Sora?"
Everyone turned and looked at him. Sora had zoned out, lost in Kairi's aura. When they had sat down at the table together, she had held his hand under the table. "Huh? Oh...yeah, sure...ummm...I'll let Tidus, Wakka, Selphie know." Everyone started to chuckle at the two pairs of blushing cheeks. Sora and Kairi looked at each other and joined in the laughter. It all felt so comfortable. It wasn't surprising to anyone that Sora and Kairi were blossoming together. Misa smiled at them both and gave them a wink.
There was playful knock at the front door. Misa opened the door to three curious faces peering in. "SORA! RIKU!" Two male voices boomed. Tidus and Wakka flew through the doorway towards their two long-lost buddies. Selphie traipsed in behind them with a satisfied look on her face.
The knocks at the door didn't cease. Riku was talking with Misa when there came a voice from behind him. "So I hear you've found the other worlds you were always looking for." A tall man with short spiky silver hair and a beard stood in the doorway with a familiar smirk on his face.
"Dad!" Riku hastened over to his father and hugged him. His father was quite taken aback considering he hadn't gotten a hug from his son since he was a young child. He returned the hug and looked at his son, now almost a man himself. "I'm glad that you came back all right."
"Aiji, don't be a stranger!" Misa smiled at Riku's father, "Come and eat with us." Sora observed the whole situation transpire. Riku giving away hugs? He's definitely a changed man...wait a sec…Did my mom just WINK at Riku's Dad?
Sora got up and excused himself from all the hustle and bustle that was his homecoming, and went upstairs to his old room. It smelled like it had been closed up the whole time he was gone. He looked at the floor next to his bed. There lay his old wooden sword. He picked it up and held it. This is a far cry from a keyblade. He chuckled as he put it back down, and went over to his window. He raised the shade and looked out upon the water. His last view out that window was one of chaos and darkness...now the waters glimmered with celestial reflections.
Sora went back downstairs to find Aiji popping a bottle of champagne. Misa announced "We're going have a toast for our young men, returned home safely to us."
"Mom, you never let us have champagne before!" Sora thought his Mom was crazy. "But you were a lot younger then. You're all sixteen now, and it's a truly special occasion," she replied. Sora went and stood with Riku and Kairi. They each took a glass and raised them as Aiji gave a toast, "Cheers to our young heroes, and their friends!"
"Cheers!" The gathering saluted in unison. Sora had a brilliant idea to take the party outside. "Hey Mickey, I mean, your majesty, sorry...hehe...do you think it'd be possible to whip up a quick bonfire out in the back yard?" The King gave a smile and a nod, "I think that'd be Donald's specialty." Donald took out his staff and everyone paused. "What?" said the mage, "You all look like you've never seen a magical staff before!" When people started shaking their heads, Donald got up and headed to the door. "Follow me! I'll show you how it's done!"
Everyone went outside, champagne in hand, except Sora, Riku and Kairi. Sora turned to Riku, "Did you happen to notice our parents being unusually friendly to each other?" "I dunno," he replied, "but they have known each other as long as we have. I think you're imagining things." Kairi shrugged and said, "Maybe it's the champagne...I don't know about you, but the bubbles are tickling my nose and I'm feeling a tad warm." She let out a giggle and took Sora by the hand. "Let's go outside where it's a bit cooler." Sora blushed as he got dragged, shooting Riku a goofy look. Riku followed behind shaking his head and laughing.
In the yard, there was a pile of wood with Donald standing in front it. With a wave of his staff, the wood began to blaze. "Oooh" and "Ahhh" could be heard coming from the enraptured crowd. They stayed and exchanged stories of "While you were gone" and "While I was journeying" around the warmth of the campfire late into the evening.
It was nearly Midnight and Wakka, Tidus and Selphie had left with most of the other friends from town. Mickey, Donald and Goofy were offered rooms in the Island Inn for free by the manager who had been at the party that night. Kairi's family and Riku's father were letting them hang out for the night. Misa came over to the trio, still sitting by the smoldering embers left from the fire. "I am heading to bed...it's getting late. Stay up as long as you like, just don't wake the neighbors. Goodnight." Misa headed back inside.
