Epidemic
Axel, Roxas, and Xion lived in a small, two-floor townhouse in the middle of Twilight Town. After the rescue escapade, in which Xion and Axel were saved and Roxas revived, the three friends had decided to live together there. It was at this house that Kairi and Riku now stood on the front porch of. Axel had clearly taken control of decorating the door, for flames were painted all over it, and the doorknob was in the shape of a fire symbol. Trying to suppress their smiles, they knocked on the door.
After a moment, the door creaked open, and Axel poked his head out. Seeing who it was, he opened the door more.
"Riku... Kairi... What brings you here?" he asked, surprisingly serious.
"Nothing good, unfortunately," Riku answered.
"...Come on in," he said, allowing them inside. "You could have at least called or something," he added. "We have to restock on ice cream."
"Sorry, it was a little impromptu," Kairi apologized. The living room had a cozy feel to it, with beige walls covered in assorted posters and pictures of the trio, two couches, a large TV, and a red recliner. Axel offered them a seat on one of the sofas, then sat on the recliner.
"So, what's up?" Axel questioned, raising a short eyebrow. "And where's Sora?"
Riku glanced at Kairi. "...Where are Roxas and Xion?"
The pyro scratched the back of his head. "Uh... Upstairs, I think. Why?"
"They might want to hear this too."
"So we came here, hoping that Vanitas had-"
Roxas, who sat next to Xion on the other couch, coughed for what seemed like the billionth time, interrupting the explanation yet again. He was apparently showing some symptoms of the disease, most likely due to his Somebody being ill. Once the coughing fit stopped, the blonde blew his nose in another tissue.
"Sorry..." he mumbled, voice nasally.
"It's fine, Roxas. It's not your fault." Kairi smiled apologetically at him.
"I'm guessing Vanitas didn't visit, huh?" Riku asked Axel.
He shook his head. "Nope. Haven't seen him since Sora helped free everyone. And even then I rarely saw him."
"We know it has to be connected, somehow," Roxas spoke up. "Stuff like this doesn't just happen by chance."
Xion crossed her arms, thinking. "If it's not the Keyblades affecting them..." she began. "...Then maybe... someone's trying to get rid of them. Poison them, or something like that."
"...Yeah," Axel agreed. "Get rid of all the heroes, and you can do what you want."
"But who can control a disease?" Kairi wondered.
"Wish I could..." Roxas muttered. "Be really helpful right now..."
"It couldn't be Xehanort... Even he wouldn't be able to control a virus."
"Seems like matters got a whole lot worse..." Riku observed. "Not only do we have to find a cure, but a source..."
"And I think we all know who might know something about it," Xion said.
"Vanitas."
"We found her in the middle of the hallway, unconscious. She hasn't woken up."
Riku's frown deepened. "Do you know when or how this happened?"
"Unfortunately, no. I'd say we found her a few hours after she collapsed, but I'm not sure. Terra is blaming himself for it, saying she worked too much because of him."
"And Ven?"
"He doesn't know. Hasn't woken up yet. He barely does, now that I think about it..."
"How's Sora?" the silver-haired boy interrupted.
"He's asleep as well. Seems to be in some sort of nightmare. His Keyblade keeps appearing and disappearing, and he's thrashing around. His fever hasn't broken yet either. Doesn't look good."
Riku crossed his arms. "Roxas is getting some symptoms. It looks like a common cold, but..."
"Nothing's a coincidence. It has to be a connection to Sora."
"Xion... had an idea. What if someone's controlling the disease – making only the Keyblade Wielders get sick. That way, when he tried to take over Kingdom Hearts or something, no one could stop him."
"It's possible, I guess... But how someone could control a disease is beyond me."
"It's beyond all of us. We have to find Vanitas. And soon. He knows something..."
"...Meet us back here and we'll discuss it with everyone. Hopefully Aqua will be awake by the time you arrive."
"Alright. Talk to you later, Merlin, Leon." He flipped off the Gummi Ship's communicator, something Cid had installed before they had left, then sighed. Kairi, next to him, bit her lip, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye as she drove.
Axel, Roxas, and Xion, in the seats behind them, exchanged worried glances. If Aqua was out, then who would be next?
