Sitting on his perch atop one of the old irrigation pipes, Sora watched with amusement how his friends were searching for him through the town.
Thankfully his current position was high enough that they wouldn't notice him easily.
He had thought quite a lot about the idea, wondering why he didn't felt bad at lying so blatantly to the face of people who cared so much about him, even wondering if the darkness had gotten a hold of his heart - immediately discarding the idea - and came to the conclusion that he was just in the need of vacations.
Now, don't get the wrong idea. He is not, in the slightest, fed up with them… he would still give anything away if it meant their safety - his current physical appearance is enough proof - but now they were safe!
Segaku had more than proved him he was capable of upholding his side of the deal - all the light show back at the keyblade graveyard worked as the perfect demonstration - and he now had to keep his own part of the deal, which - to be honest - now didn't sound like much of a bad idea anymore. These last years have been… hectic for him, to say the least, and forced him to be glued to someone all the time… it got old fast, and he was no longer the kid who enjoyed to be jumping from world to world with his friends anymore.
It was hard to keep the optimistic act all the time, it was heavy after all he was forced to endure, and sometimes he wished he would just be left alone! But he also understood why he was chaperoned all the time - master Xehanort had put his sights on him once, and almost succeeded, so what could assure him it wouldn't happen again? - so he beared with it, smile on his face.
It didn't meant he liked it, still.
So now, with the chance of finally enjoying himself more, free from the worry of when will master Xehanort strike, and able to meet new worlds, friends and potential companions he was sure the guys down in the city could manage without him for a while.
He remained there for some more time, seeing Cloud start talking with random people in the streets, surely asking if they had saw him, when he thought he heard something in the distance… was it music?
Curious, he jumped from the pipe and glided towards the origin of the sound, someone shouting from the street before he heard his name being called… great, now they had spotted him. At least he would have some time before they reached him, since they had to navigate the streets while he could just glide in a straight li- nope, Yuffie took to the rooftops.
And tripped.
'Convenient, and funny' he thought with a smirk as the ninja landed on her feet and he focused on the origin of what now he was sure was music… odd music.
I live my life like there's no tomorrow
And all I've got, I had to steal
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes I'm livin at a place that kills
Runnin' with the devil…
"Maybe you are not used to this genre, but from where I come from this song is a classic… You've got to love Van Halen."
Even before he landed, the voice he had come to know quite well - despite their short interactions - said in a conversational tone, making Sora turn and see-
"Why are you on an organization cloak?"
"This? Nah, the organization guys were just copycats… bad ones at that. This is the cloak of the master of masters."
"Who?"
"The guy who wrote this" he said taking out a book of-
"The book of prophecies!"
"Yup! Well, it was until Xehanort became a goner, now it will just help me keep tabs on you."
"Wha-"
"Here, catch. This will be your keyblade from now on."
Sora caught whatever Segaku tossed him and saw that it was…
"Master Xehanort's keychain! Why are you giving me a dark keyblade!?"
"Oh, shush you. That baby is not a dark keyblade, it's not her fault the last guy who wielded it became an ass. That was the keyblade of the Master of Masters, reason of my current cosplay, passed down from student to student, ever since Luxu down to Xehanort. One of the first keyblades to be forged - if not the first one."
All the while the music kept playing in the background, and Sora had to admit that it had quite an appeal to it.
"You want me to use this keyblade… because you will check me with the book of prophecies?"
"You see… the master of masters was kind of a cheater. See that blue eye on the keychain?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that's his eye."
Sora released the Keychain like it was on fire.
"What! H-his eye! How?"
"Don't ask me, I just know that's his eye, and with it he - somehow - managed to see the future through the keyblade. Now the last prophecy is fulfilled, I think, because the book is full, but the eye is still linked to it- it's easier if you see it. Go on, summon the keyblade."
Now, Sora trusted Segaku, but he was still adamant of the idea of wielding a keyblade he had associated so much time with darkness.
"Oh, come on! It won't possess you, I swear."
With a sigh, the boy picked the keychain and summoned Kingdom Key, replacing its usual keychain with the new one making a dark and stormy cloud surround it immediately, changing it to the huge, dark keyblade he had battled against three days ago.
But somehow it seemed…
"See? It is now a bit clearer, not as dark as it was with the old coot. Told you it was not a dark keyblade… think of this as a keyblade upgrade."
"Ok… this is weird, but not as bad as I thought."
"You'll get used to it, now look" Segaku said opening the book of prophecies on a blank page, and Sora saw that-
And so the keyblade chosen one discovered that his new keyblade would not hinder, but rather help him on this new adventure he would start, on new and exciting worlds beyond the borders he never dared to cross.
The boy was left speechless.
"I made Jarvis link the keyblade to this book, so whatever the eye saw would appear here… the bastard had to make it write like a novel, just to spite me, but oh well."
"H-how… Why…"
"How? I have not the slightest idea, ask Jarvis about that. I just know he was bitching the whole time about how a keyblade was not a keychain, and that eyes don't write. Why? Well, I have a life too, you know? Work and all that stuff, so I can't be with you all the time. This will help us both, me in keeping tabs over you, and you with a brand new, stronger and way cooler keyblade."
"What's its name?"
"You name her, I never knew if the old coot named it, but originally it had no name."
"Hmmm… what about… the peeper?"
"It's your keyblade now, if you wish to say that name to everyone who asks, it's up to you."
Sora just blushed slightly and shook his head.
"Then what about… Future's Shadow?"
"Cool."
Both remained in silence for a while, Sora admiring his new keyblade - a bit surprised he was taking all this in so easily - and Shinzo just listening the music still playing in the background.
It had jumped quite a few times, right now with the Rolling Stones…
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and must have it painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black.
Painting it Black.
"What genre is that?"
"Rock, classic one you could tell… Rolling Stones, again, maybe alien to you but quite famous where I come from."
"Sounds cool."
"I know… I was planning on giving you this later, but oh well, I already gave you a new keyblade, so why not?"
And Segaku introduced Sora to the world of portable music with an Mp3 and earplugs.
"You know how to use this?"
"Yeah… Neku had one like this, so I guess it's the same, right?"
"Yup! Now I'll take my leave because-"
"SORA!"
That was Leon.
"-the babysitter troop is about to arrive. Once you're done with them activate Future's Shadow glider form, she will know where to take you."
"But I don't know how to use it!"
"There he is! Sora!"
And that was Riku.
"Just throw it to the sky, it will do the rest. And don't worry about the keyblade armor, you'll go through a special path so you won't need it… for now."
"Segaku! Wait!" But the god was already gone, leaving him alone with a group of gaping friends, so with a sigh he turned with his best upset face, already thinking about what to tell them, when he noticed a little detail he missed.
Future's Shadow was still on his hand, and everyone was staring at it, mouths agape and eyes disbelieving.
…
Well, crap.
(A/N): I'm back! It took quite some time to upload this, but oh well. Hope you like it, because most likely the next chapter we start the world-traveling part. Like always the aim is to entertain.
If you come from "Wanderer" ignore this part, since most likely you already read this there. If not, then go ahead.
Well, here's a little bonus. It's an idea I've been twirling in my mind for a long time, and I have read the novels, researched the lore and all that stuff, so I'm certain I can pull it nicely, but I would like to know what you think... See ya!
The blond found himself staring dumbly at the sword on his hand, not really paying attention to where his feet were taking him inside the great city, the words of the king still fresh in his mind.
"Yeh have done a great favor, not only for the city an' its people, but fer me too… I can' even star' tae repay yeh, but I hope this can show how grateful I am. See it as a gift, not from a king, but from a friend."
So lost in his thoughts, he found himself in front of a training dummy after a while and decided to give it a try, the demonstration the king gave him still fresh on his mind and him curious if he could, at least, imitate one of the katas.
After half an hour, and the sword flying from his hands one too many times, he decided he couldn't.
"Yeh have drive, I'll give yeh that lad" a gruff voice said approaching, with his brand new sword on hand, and the blond blushed in embarrassment, making the owner of said voice chuckle, before giving the weapon back.
"Yeh're a young, wee lad, strong on yer own right and capable o' givin' a war veteran a run fer his money… but nae blademaster was forged in a day or two. Like the sword, the owner o' the blade have tae remove himself from impurities, and temper himself with patience an' dedication until body and mind are strong and sharp, just like the edge and blade of the sword."
For a moment both locked eyes, and the boy saw the older one get lost in thought, his visage softening, and clouding with tears, but then he shook his head and turned around - after helping him get back on his feet and handing back the sword.
"Yeh have potential, but lack discipline. Ask my brother tae find yeh a teacher. Yeh have potential."
And with that he left.
"Yeh could teach the lad" a voice said from around a corner.
"Nae, I wouldn't make him any good…"
"Yer being too harsh with yerself, what happened with-"
"What happened with him was my fault too!"
The area fell silent after the outburst.
"I met the lad too, and he was a fine one. Kind an' patient like his father, but brave an' direct like yeh."
"He was nottin' like me. If he was then-"
"Arthas took a lot after yeh… but the lad was young an' impulsive. Yeh were his teacher an' friend, but not his father."
"I'm not friend, nor teacher, o' the monster sittin' on top o' Icecrown Citadel"
"Yet yeh were… I know the lad reminds you too much o' him, I know he's just like the prince when he was a boy, and that hurts yeh, just like it hurts Lady Jaina, an' King Varian, but they try tae put the past behind. Arthas died the day he took that cursed blade and left yeh to die, an' yeh can't change that, but there's a fine lad, who needs guides an' friends from what Brann told me, an' yeh have tae face yer ghosts… think about it Muradin."
Silence fell once again between the brothers, but this time it was lighter, until a long exhalation made King Magni smile.
"He better be up before the sun rises tomorrow, or he'll have tae look fer another teacher" and with a grunt the dwarf made his way through Ironforge, back to his quarters.
"Yeh may not know it yet Naruto, but yer presence here seems tae be more than just an' accident."
