A/N: Welcome to the third chapter of 'Padlock and Locksmith!' we'll finally be moving on with the long awaited plot of the story, thank God. This is my least favorite chapter, and I think it sucks most definitely. So sorry. I still don't own Kingdom Hearts, not that you care anyway…
Review response:
Xeora: Alright, here it is! Please don't unleash your almighty wrath upon my slow and incompetent self! Did you know you're the first person to review that I don't know? I'd dedicate this chapter to you, but as I said in my author's note, I really hate this one.
And BTW Boggiepop reborn, you won't like this chapter either, but for a completely different reason then the weak character interaction and dialogue.
THIS HAS YAOI/SHOUNEN AI, WHICH MEANS IT CONTAINS MALE/MALE RELATIONSIPS! IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS THEN DON'T READ IT, CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO FLAME ME IF YOU'RE TOO BLIND TO READ THIS WARNING!
"Sora?" Riku breathed, trying to take in the person before him. The now present Keyblade master blinked as he was addressed, then grinned widely at the speaker.
"Riku!" He exclaimed and rushed over to meet his friend. They met halfway and embraced tightly. Both stumbled with the impact before regaining their footing. The two only broke apart when they noticed their awkward position and self-consciously, though very reluctantly, released one another. Riku felt like he was floating, the fact that Sora, his Sora, was right there before him made the youth feel weightless.
The silver haired teen finally gathered enough of his wits to notice the drastically altered appearance of the Keyblade master. "God Sora! You look so different!" He exclaimed. Sora blinked again then grinned sheepishly. It was true; the brunet did look far different then when Riku last saw him. Gone were the bright colors and boyish style; in its place was something far more… mature. He was dressed in stark colors: matching white shirt and pants with black trim and jagged black designs parading over their surface. His hair too had changed, though it was still as spiky as ever, and for the most part was it's normal cinnamon color. However, the pinnacle of every spike was dyed black. He had grown in the time apart and now stood about the same height as Riku. He did still wear the crown necklace and the chain at his hip. His bright yellow shoes as well, were still on his feet.
Sora laughed though, and replied after a moment: "You don't look so bad yourself Riku." The silver-hair boy blushed at his friend's straightforward and altogether out of character comment, though Riku had indeed changed his appearance as well. His hair was exactly the same, albeit a little longer then before and his eyes were the same sky blue. His clothing consisted of a loose, 3/4 sleeved, sapphire colored shirt, black pants and boots, and in place of his short gloves was a pair that covered his whole hand and most of his forearm, almost like gauntlets.
"Thanks." He said, as he blushed a little more. Meanwhile the rest of the group didn't know what to make of this unexpected development.
"I can't believe it." Cloud whispered. "He really has returned!" Leon, involuntarily speechless for once in his life, could only nod at the blonde's statement.
"I'm so glad!" Aeris said sighing in relief.
"Weird kid finally found his way back?" Cid wondered aloud. The only one who was not at a loss for words was Yuffie, though she was ecstatic at Sora's return, as always she had something to complain about.
"Why didn't they kiss!" She fumed. "They have been separated for over two years for pity's sake! Oh, that's right dammit! They're still freaking ignorant!"
"Calm down brat. I'm sure they'll figure it out in their own damn time. They don't need you blurting it out for the world to hear." Cid admonished gruffly. Yuffie proceeded to fume silently.
Riku meantime, was having trouble gripping reality. "I keep thinking I'm suddenly going to wake up and you won't be standing there." He whispered smiling slightly.
Sora grinned and punched his arm lightly. "Sorry, you can't get rid of me that quickly or easily. You're stuck with me for life!" The Key master's silver haired friend blushed happily at this bold statement. It was then that Sora happened to notice the rest of the crowd in front of the item shop.
"Is that everyone…?" Sora asked peeking over Riku's shoulder.
"Yeah, come on! Their probably anxious to see you!" The two teens bounded over to the assembled group. Sora, once he'd reached everyone, bowed deeply, his right arm straight out gripping the Keyblade.
"Miss me?" He asked flashing a cocky grin.
"Not much." Cid replied matching the boy's expression. Yuffie had already forgotten her earlier issues and glomped the poor brunet.
"ImissedyouImissedyouImissedyou!" She cried happily as Sora turned blue from lack of air. Riku came to his love interest's rescue and gently pried her off. Both Cloud and Leon clapped him on the back, hard, causing him to stumble forward and it was Riku again who helped him. The blonde swordsman had an enthusiastic smile while Leon's face remained stony though his eyes shown with the same joy everyone else felt.
"'Bout time you hauled your smiley ass back here!" Cloud joked.
"'Bout time you hauled your spiky ass outta the coliseum! I think you drove Phil insane!" Sora countered. Everyone gasped.
"Sora cursed? Sora? Cursing? What happened to you man? Change much!" Yuffie said, her mouth hanging open.
"You have no idea!" The Key wielder said rolling his eyes. "I've been from one side of this universe to the other and back again! I've seen and learned things that you wouldn't believe!"
"Your Keyblade seems to be testament to that." Leon pointed out. "I've never seen anything like that before."
"This?" Sora questioned and swung the giant Key in an arc through the air. "Alright then, everyone, I'd like to introduce you to the Shadow Banisher!" Yuffie made a sound of respect.
"I don't recall a damn Keyblade named 'Shadow Banisher' before." Cid complained. "I thought I was pretty damn well-versed in that area too!"
Sora, to everyone's surprise smirked, though it wasn't as surprising as his answer. "Of course you haven't. I'm Banisher's creator."
"C-creator?" Cloud stuttered incredulously. "You can create Key-chains? How?"
"Using light and darkness of course." Sora responded evenly.
"You've been meddling with the powers of darkness? But why?" Riku demanded his voice a mixture of anger and sadness. "I would think you of all people would know that nothing good can ever come of that!"
The Key-master sighed. "You think I don't know that? I've learned things about the history of the Keyblade, this very same Keyblade mind you, that would make your skin crawl and your hair stand on end!" He answered at the startled group, his voice rising. "Since I'm feeling so generous right now I'll give you a tiny bit of what I learned. To be the Keyblade master is to be the master of the balance between the light and the darkness. To wield the blade to it's fullest potential, I have to screw around with the powers of shadow! It's my job!"
"Ooh, nice one Key-boy." A voice in Sora's head said in an amused tone. Back off darkness obsessed. Sora thought back bitterly at Ansem's intrusion. Go play with Eclipse, I'm sure he'd appreciate your attention more. An affirmative feeling was all he got in reply.
"Sora?" Riku began addressing the now-seething youth. "I'm sorry, we didn't know that it was like that…"
The brunet cut him off curtly. "I know Riku… and I'm sorry too. I suppose the stress is finally catching up to me." He put his free hand on Riku's shoulder, making the silver-haired boy's heart pound wildly. "I know you're just worried, but I'll be able to take care of myself…" He winked "…for once in my life." Riku blushed slightly.
"You've been taking care of yourself for over two years Sora!" Riku protested.
"Yeah!" Donald quacked out. "I don't know how you survived without us!" Sora plastered a fake smile on his face, as the thoughts ran through his head. I just hope they never find out I haven't been alone all this time. I don't know what I'd do if Riku found out I've been bound to Ansem, the very man who possessed him and controlled his body and mind.
Riku, the one in question however, did happen to notice that Sora's smile, while successfully fooling the others, didn't get past him. I'll have to make sure to ask him about that later. If he's using a false smile then something's got to be up.
"I don't know how I survived either." Sora replied to Donald.
"How'd you get here anyway?" Yuffie asked suddenly.
"By Gummi ship. How else would I have made it here?" Sora responded curiously.
"So the second Gummi was yer's?" Cid asked, interested.
"Well… No exactly." Sora drew out uncertainly. Oh no Cid! He said jokingly in his thoughts It actually belongs to my crazy friend Ansem!
"Aw, you admit I'm your friend?" He heard echo in his mind.
Shut it stupid. I thought you were going to screw Eclipse. Sora bit back mentally.
"We're getting ready." Ansem replied smugly. "I suggest that you take a nap when we do this because you just might catch some of the overtones. Need I remind you of the one time?"
Hell no! Sora shivered, horrified. He heard Ansem chuckle through the link.
"Get back to reality Key-boy, your pilot friend is waiting for an answer." He reminded.
"What do mean, 'not exactly'?" Cid asked.
"It kinda-sorta belongs to a friend of mine." He responded carefully.
"Do I know 'em?" The aged man asked, curious.
How am I supposed to answer this? The Key-master wondered. "Um, once again, kinda-sorta." Cid gave him look that said to elaborate. "Uh, you know of the person, but I'd rather not say who it was."
Cid nodded, accepting the answer, while Riku was growing more suspicious by the second. Sora's definitely hiding something. The silver-haired teen concluded. I have the feeling that whoever it is he knows is the reason he's been gone so long. Then, a horrible thought came to the youth, unbidden. What if… What if Sora's involved with this person! I'd die if he were in love with someone else! He may never care for me the way I do for him, but if he… Riku couldn't even think about it. His throat was closing at the mere ghost of the suggestion.
"Hey Riku? Are you Okay? You look kinda like you're being strangled." Yuffie spoke curiously.
The silver-haired you man shook his head to clear it and as a negative response. "It's nothing, I'm fine." The ninja nodded uncertainly. Sora stretched and feigned a yawn.
"I know it's early but I've been awake for over twenty four hours and I'm worn out. I don't suppose there's a place where I could crash for the day and night and we could catch up tomorrow morning?"
Leon nodded. "The couch folds out. We can set that up for you if you'd like, and get something more permanent for you tomorrow." He paused "That is, if you are indeed planning on staying?"
Riku swallowed nervously and looked to his friend who seemed to be thinking deeply. Sora was however, asking Ansem about it.
Are we staying? What should I tell them? The feeling he got from Ansem's side was impatience.
"We'll be staying for a while, we know for a fact that the Heartless aren't finished with this place yet, so we might as well stay. Now leave me alone!"
Jeez, have mood swings much? Sora bit back before returning to reality. "I assume I'm staying for a little while, but I'm not exactly sure how long." The teenager told Leon, who nodded in response.
"Alright then Keyblade master. Please walk this way." He turned on his heel and strode off in the opposite direction with Sora following closely. The others raced to catch up and Riku fell into place at Sora's side. His heart beat a little faster when his friend turned and smiled at him, and the silver-haired youth resisted the urge to grasp the brunet's hand.
Unknown to the two teens, their thoughts mirrored one another's as they made thee way to the house in third district. No matter what fate may have in store for me now, at least he'll be by my side.
A/N: And thus ends the third chapter of 'Padlock and Locksmith'! I'm so proud of myself despite the fact that I hated almost every sentence of this chapter! I went on a major writing binge and managed to get this chapter done in relatively little time considering I'm the world's biggest procrastinator. No really, ask my friends. Anyhow, since this story's progressing nicely, I just want to warn you guys that this might very well be running for longer then I expected. A whole lot longer. You see the plot bunnies pulled a major counter attack on my mild case of writer's block and now I can't stop thinking of ideas! So just a warning, if you think things are strange now, they're going to get much stranger, but hopefully that's a good thing. Well, time will tell won't it?