Chapter 7

"Leon...I don't think being outside is a good thing", Yuffie said, pointing towards the dark, looming storm clouds approaching the island. Leon turned around, and was as close to startled as Leon can get.

"Sora, how bad can these storms get...?" Leon asked warily, looking a bit pale.

"I have never been on the island for one, but I know on the mainland they were pretty awful, and by awful I mean 'we had to evacuate and people lost their homes' awful."

"Sounds wonderful" ,Cloud said sarcastically.

"The water level is rising, it's risen to the wall...", Aerith said, looking nervous.

"Of all places to get stuck on, we're on an island that gets frequent disastrous storms!" Axel said, for once not wearing his usual smirk.

"So what are we going to do?", Yuffie asked.

"I think it would be in everyone's best interest to go to the tree house. There's standing room for all and a big porch close by that's high, away from the water." Axel said already making his way toward it.

"I don't like this idea...", Cloud said, eyeing Sephiroth, who smirked and then grimaced as he felt the water lap at his foot. They all looked out as the rain began to come down

"TO THE TREEHOUSE!" Sora yelled and bolted. Everyone followed behind quickly.

"How long do these storms last?" Ventus, who somehow got squished between Roxas and Axel, asked. By this point rain had begun to pour and the water level had risen completely over the base.

"If I'm right, we'll be stuck here till nightfall", Riku said looking out the door. "Or longer, if its anything like the storms we used to get we could be stuck up here for a couple days." He along with everyone else was drenched, the rain was coming down at an angle.

"Good thing someone remembered the food." Yuffie sighed, they weren't able to gather much before the storm.

Saiix, who was sulking in the middle of the door, said, "Before we make another room we need to make actual doors."

"Saiix, you look like a drowned rat!" Larxene laughed.

"He is a rat, and now he is a wet one, it works perfectly", Axel said with more bite than usual do to his increased saturation. "I want dry clothes."

"Axel, stop complaining, we're all wet and no one wants to hear it." Roxas said wringing out his jacket. Axel tried to glare at him but couldn't.

"At least Demyx isn't here complaining." Saiix said. Demyx had grabbed his sitar and was out having a blast in the water.

"How can he enjoy being wet so much?" Axel wondered, after he shook the water off his hair.

"He has a couple screws loose, it's not rocket science." Larxene spit out. "It gives him an excuse to use that stupid thing." Demyx was out waltzing with his water sprites, and had started singing.

"At least he has a good singing voice." Aqua who was in the corner with Terra, Cloud, and Aerith said as an attempt to look on the bright side

"Hmph if only he was singing real verses of real songs." Terra said.

"I think Saiix gave him some of that powder stuff," Ventus accused bitterly, not even looking up. Saiix didn't say anything and just continued sulking in the rain.

"I wouldn't doubt it." Axel said as he leaned against Ventus. Ventus gave him a good hard shove.

"Where does he get it?" Ventus asked to no one in particular. Riku looked at him with a puzzled look.

"Hmm thats a good question." Riku pondered that for awhile and looked to Sora and raised an eyebrow. Sora was sitting leaning against Riku with Kairi's head in his lap.

Sora startled by the look said "Don't give me that look Riku, I'm not that stupid!" Riku raised his eyebrows higher. Sora punched him. Then paused. "Waka. He must of been growing stuff on the island, and using it there too, no wonder he was here throwing beach balls at us!...those really hurt."

"Hmph I wouldn't know." Riku said truly pondering the thought, Sephiroth watched his reaction. "And you're right Sora he was."

Aerith sighed "We'll be having none of that here. Leon?" She looked to Leon who held her stare until finally breaking getting.

"Riku lets go." Leon said "We having plants to dispose of. Do you know where they are?"

"Yeah I got a pretty good idea." With that they set out into the storm.

Riku and Leon, avoiding the water sprites Demyx was creating, headed out.

"So where is this spot, Riku?" Leon had to shout over the storm. Looking around almost nervously.

"It's on the other side of the island, we'll go through the secret path, the water usually isn't as high there." The two hopped from tree to tree and again on the other side. "Its over there, see where the rock is" Riku pointed from the zip line tower. Leon looked around.

"Hmm, the water is still high here." Leon said puzzled. Riku not realizing what he meant gave him a questioning look before speaking.

"Oh, the cave leads up higher into the island, i'm pretty sure only Waka knew about." The storm's winds shook the tower, neither one wanted to leave nor stay.

"Let's go." They started to climb down. Riku was the first down the tower the water was past his knees. Leon stayed on the ladder and looked down at the raging tide. "Why are we doing this now?" Riku had already begun swimming, when Leon spoke.

"Ask Aerith." Leon jumped in the water and caught up to Riku as fast as he could, who being a strong swimmer was almost there.

"Hurry up, it looks like the tide is still coming in." Riku was at the bolder. "I always wondered how this rock would always end up back in front of the entrance." Riku was able to get over it so he didn't move it. "Hmmm, I guess this is where we got the mushrooms. Leon, want to give me a hand here, I can't reach the tunnel…. Leon?" Riku looked around and bolted out. He looked around to see a body floating out to sea."...damn it, Leon."