A/N: Sorry this took so long. Between reading Brisingr, playing Re: Chain of Memories, and writing this...well, I don't have much time. Blackrogue123, I was thinking of you while I was writing the begining, up until the first ~*~, so I guess I'll dedicate that part to you. Muahahaha.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never will. Though I wouldn't mind working for Disney someday.
Reunions
"This is a trip." Sora muttered as he stared, amazed at Roxas's deep blue eyes. His eyes!
"Tell me about it." the blonde replied. "I never expected to see this view again."
Next to them, Kairi and Naminè were having a similar experience, with more hugging.
"Okay, enough reunion guys." Riku called. "Come help us try to get this Gummi off the ground."
They worked for almost a half and hour, getting nowhere, and eventually they were forced to admit that the good old Gummi ship had died.
"What do you think made this happen?" Sora asked as they sat down next to the deceased airship. Roxas shrugged, looking around.
"It must be this comet." he replied, "It glows orange, and we split right after you crashed."
"Well, whatever the reason," King Mickey said as he walked up. "We're glad to have you and Naminè here. Right guys?" Donald and Goofy nodded enthusiastically, but when everyone turned to Riku, he just shrugged.
"Great to have you back." he said monotonously before turning and walking away.
"Riku!" Kairi called after him. Riku didn't stop. Behind him, he could hear Kairi squealing out rushed apologies. Shaking his head, he kept walking until his friends were out of sight, and then ducked behind a rock. He was being childish, and he knew it. Even Sora would react better then this.
But I'm not Sora. He thought, feeling rather depressed. I'm Sora's screw-up best friend. So, it doesn't matter how Sora would react to the sudden appearance of someone he had fought, kidnapped, and knocked down a whole lot. It only matters what the screw-up would do, and the screw-up is going to hide behind a rock.
"Riku?" Sora called from somewhere behind him, drawing closer. "Riku, where are you. We need to talk." He walked around the rock. "Ri- oh, found you."
Riku expected Sora to try convincing him to go back to the others, but instead, the Keyblade bearer just sat down on the ground next to his friend.
"He doesn't blame you." he said after a moment of silence. "I would know. He's been living in my head for the last five months. I could feel his emotions. Happiness to see Naminè, stuff like that. He never hated you. At least not like he did me." Sora chuckled, then paused. "In a lot of ways, you remind him of Axel."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"You're not just making this up to make me feel better, are you?" Riku asked, looking his friend up and down.
Sora laughed. "C'mon, Riku. You know that I'm incapable of making up something like that."
I don't know." Riku replied, ruffling his best friend's hair. "You're not the same innocent island boy that you were a couple of years ago."
They sat there, in contentment for a few minutes.
"C'mon." Riku said, standing up. "Let's go back to the others."
Smiling, Sora nodded, standing up. That's when they heard it. Kairi screamed.
~*~
By the time Sora and Riku got back to the ship, the others were completely surrounded by Dusks. The boys threw themselves into the fray as everyone fought. Even Naminè, the only one in the group without a proper weapon, had armed herself with a large stick, and was using it to beat back the Dusks.
After a few minutes, they were all so involved in the battle that, understandably, it surprised them when the Dusks suddenly disappeared, and were replaced by a lone, black cloaked, impossibly skinny figure who stood there, clapping."
Roxas's mouth fell open as his Keyblades disappeared, his hands falling uselessly to his sides.
"A-axel?"
"Long time, no see, buddy," Axel smiled as he pushed his hood down. All around them, the group went silent.
"Impossible." Riku muttered. "You're dead!"
Axel opened his mouth to respond, when, at running force, Roxas hugged him. Axel looked down in surprise.
"I missed you!"
Axel looked down, stunned. Taking advantage of the silence, King Mickey approached.
"Axel, maybe you could join us!" he said.
"Yeah!" Sora continued enthusiastically. "With your help, it'll be easy to find out what's causing all the problems."
Axel pulled out of Roxas's hug.
"I'm afraid that's not necessary." he replied smoothly. "You see, I already know." all around him, Corridors of Darkness opened up, and black cloaked figures stepped out. "And I'm part of the 'problem'."
The other figures laughed as Axel stepped back into their ranks. There were bright flashes as six Keyblades appeared.
"Can we take them all?" Donald whispered. "It usually takes three of us to take down one."
Sora just shrugged, and prepared himself for the fight.
"Stay your weapons." a slow, calculating voice smirked. Xemnas stepped forward. "We mean you no harm, and are only here to collect what is rightfully ours."
"And, by that, you mean…?" Kairi asked.
"Roxas." the Organization's leader continued, shifting his gaze to the blonde Nobody, who shifted uncomfortably. "What reason could you possibly have for abandoning your comrades to throw in your lot with people, for whom your very existence is only a hindrance to Sora's power? What is stopping you from returning to the Organization?"
"That's not true!" Sora exclaimed, but Roxas just studied Xemnas.
"You ordered to have me killed."
"Only because you refused to return." Saïx inserted. "Will you be that stupid again?"
"Silence, Number VII." Xemnas snapped. "Well, Roxas?"
All stared at the youngest Nobody expectantly, no one moving. Roxas couldn't help noticing how hopeful Axel looked. Demyx sneezed.
Whatever I do, I'll stab someone in the back. Roxas realized in dismay. If I choose the Organization, I'll have to leave Naminè. If I choose Naminè, then I condemn Axel to an eternity alone with those jerks.
As if sensing his unsurity, Naminè walked forward, slipping her hand into his.
"There," she whispered. "My wish came true. Whatever you choose, just know that I love you, and that no one will blame you if you choose to go with them." She kissed him. "I'll miss you."
Roxas looked pensive, before turning his back on Naminè and everyone else, walking to stand next to Axel.
"Sora…" Riku muttered urgently.
"If it were you in that position, and me standing there in a black cloak, wanting you to come, which would you have picked?" Sora asked him.
When Riku didn't answer, Sora turned to King Mickey.
"Your Majesty, we should probably leave as soon as possible."
Mickey nodded.
"As soon as they're gone, we will talk about what we're going to do next."
~*~
Roxas had to force himself not to look back as he walked away. Though he felt no distinct affection for the Mouse King and his friends, other then those he had inherited from Sora, and he and Riku had never really gotten along, Roxas still felt bad about turning his back on his girlfriend, his Somebody, and, by extension, his Somebody's girlfriend. He could only hope they made it back to Disney Castle safely.
"Welcome back, Rox." Axel smiled. Roxas smiled back, pushing his worries to the back of his mind. Maybe everything would be fine.
"Hi, Roxas!" Demyx exclaimed from the other side of Axel. The red head rolled his eyes.
"My best friend." he said, pushing the musician back. "Go get your own."
Roxas smiled as Demyx replied with a comeback that had obviously seemed very biting while it had been in his head. The Key of Destiny was back.
Out of the corner of his eye, Roxas saw Zexion slide up behind Xemnas, whispering something in his ear.
I wonder what they're whispering about…
~*~
"They're plotting something." Sora muttered, almost to himself
"What?" Riku asked, walking up.
"The one with the blue-gray hair just whispered something to Xemnas. Something is up."
"That's Zexion." Riku said, turning around.
"You know him?"
Riku sighed.
"Sort of." he replied. "Well, we won't know what they're planning until they feel like letting us know." Riku sat down on a piece of the Gummi ship. "Might as well make yourselves comfortable."
It was then that Xemnas's voice rang out.
"It seems," he announced "That the chemical make-up of this comet, along with spitting Roxas and Naminè from their Somebodies, has interfered with our ability to open Corridors of Darkness. Sadly, we will be forced to spend the night here, with the Keyblade wielders." This statement was met with a chorus of very loud protests from the Organization, The only ones who didn't seem put out were Zexion and Roxas.
Naminè leaned over, whispering something into Kairi's ear. In response, Kairi twisted her head around, trying to see something. Her eyes widened.
"He's lying!" She said, turning to the others.
"Gee, Kairi, how d'you know that?" Goofy asked.
"He's crossing his fingers," Naminè replied, giggling.
There was a pause
"Seriously?" Riku asked incredulously. "That is so childish!"
"Hey," Sora exclaimed "I still cross my fingers!"
"Exactly."
By that point, most of the Organization had, disgruntled, moved away from them, walking around the curve of the comet, out of sight. The only one left was Roxas, who gave a small, unsure wave before funning off after Axel, who was walking farther on.
"Well, what now?" Donald quacked as the youngest Nobody disappeared.
"Now, we find some way off this rock." Mickey replied, looking over the ruined Gummi ship carefully. "Riku, stand up!"
Bemused, Riku leapt up. The King approached, pressing a few buttons on the Gummi piece Riku had been sitting on.
"What is it, Your Majesty?" Sora asked.
"Riku was sitting on the radio." the mouse replied "Let's just hope it still works."
~*~
"Demyx, you idiot!" Larxene screeched. "You put the fire out!"
"I'm sorry!" the musician insisted "It was an accident."
Xemnas sighed. Zexion's plan had better be worth all this.
"Number IX, put the sitar away. Where the heck is Axel?"
"He started his own fire over there, with Roxas." Xigbar said, motioning with his head.
"Would somebody please explain to me why we can't just go home, and come back in the morning?" Xaldin asked.
Zexion sighed.
"Because we need them to think we spent the night here."
"We are spending the night here," Marluxia pointed out.
"Exactly."
Silence
"It's cold!" Larxene yelled.
"That's it!" Xemnas said. "Everybody stand up. We're moving to Axel's fire.
~*~
Roxas's stomach growled.
"I'm hungry." he said, looking over at Axel. "Wouldn't some sea-salt ice cream be nice right now?"
Axel shook his head.
"Too cold for ice cream." he replied. "Hot chocolate."
Roxas nodded. He put his hands behind his head, leaning back, not realizing how much this made him look like Sora.
"Hey, Axel, what's it like to be dead?"
Axel shrugged his shoulders, sighing.
"I don't remember. Maybe it's something the living aren't supposed to know about. When I think about it though, I get the impression that it wasn't all that bad. It makes me wonder why we fear death."
There was a pause as they both thought about it.
"Do you regret coming back?" Roxas asked after a while.
"Not for a second."
"Hey, Axel, move over," Xigbar said, sitting down.
"What?" Axel exclaimed, looking around in confusion. "Why is everyone over here?"
"Demyx put out fire out," Xaldin replied, giving Demyx a death glare. "So we're using yours."
Axel looked around, exasperated.
"I suppose there's no point in protesting, is there?"
"Nope." Xemnas answered, as he sat down. "Everyone get some sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
"Are you going to tell us what is happening tomorrow?" Roxas asked.
"Tomorrow."
"Great."
~*~
"Chip and Dale are sending another ship to get us." King Mickey said, as he walked away from the radio. "It should get here some time tomorrow."
"Thank heavens!" Kairi exclaimed "I'm just anxious to get off this stupid rock."
"If we can survive whatever the Organization has planned." Riku inserted.
"You're so negative, Riku," Kairi admonished.
"Optimism is Sora's job."
"Sora is too tired to be optimistic, or pessimistic." Sora said from where he was laying down. "Let's go to bed."
"We probably should." Mickey said. "We have no way of knowing what's going to happen tomorrow. We need our rest."
Everyone nodded, and began finding the softest piece of ground.
"Night." Kairi said, listening as everyone replied…except one. "Night, Sora." No response "Sora?"
Riku laughed.
"Wow, he was tired."
A/N: Well, there's chapter four. I have 20 characters to work with now, and will have more, so if you think a certain character isn't getting the attention they should, please tell me and I'll try to add them in more. I'll get chapter five will be up as soon as I can. See you in the reviews!