The next day seemed to have ended too soon because, to Riku, it only felt like a few hours before the night came, and he was laying on his bed reading and re-reading the King's letter Kairi had found in a bottle. The only light now in the room came from the lamp on Riku's desk near his bed.
The King's letter had been given to Riku for safe keeping, so it wouldn't be lost forever in the sea of chaos known as Sora's room. Riku, since he had gotten home from work, had been lying on his bed reading the parchment letter that bore the King's seal. He had been looking for something, a clue, a hint, a warning, anything that they might have looked over the first time telling them about Heartless or Nobodies. But the letter remained the same.
Sora, Riku, and Kairi-
Thanks to the three of you the balance between the worlds has been restored. There maybe a few tiny Heartless attacks, but I'm sure they'll die off quickly. But just to be safe Sora needs to close the door to Destiny Islands. Don't alarmed; it's just make sure no more Darkness seeks in to the World of Light.
Again, thank you for everything you've been through. If anything out of the ordinary happens there contact me as soon as possible, and I'll contact you if anything happens here. Hopefully, that won't happen and we can all rest peacefully.
-Mickey
"Hmmm….then maybe Sora accidentally unlocked the door instead because that wasn't a 'tiny Heartless attack'."
Riku racked his brain for an answer, but kept drawing a blank. The only thing he was sure of was that this Heartless attack was defiantly out of the ordinary. He laid the parchment on the desk near his bed, and stared at the ceiling.
"That Nobody…who was it? Or what was it? Since it was in human form, obviously someone who had a strong heart, but girl Nobodies are rare…"
Riku heard a noise coming from his window. It sounded like a pebble hitting his window. He ignored it at first but then the sound came again and again, until it was almost rhythmic. Riku glanced towards his window and saw that it was only beginning to rain. Suddenly there was a flash of light that was followed by a strong deep roll of thunder.
XXXXXX
The loud boom of thunder had woken Riku up from his sleep but he was too tired to feel scared about it. He was almost asleep again when Riku felt something jump on his bed.
"Riku…?" Something started shaking him.
Riku opened his eyes and saw that it was Ichigo trying to get his attention. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"What is it, Ichigo?" Riku said groggily.
"I'm scared."
"Of the storm?"
Ichigo nodded and as she did another round of lighting and thunder came. She jumped and gave a small scream. She looked at Riku with large frightened eyes, like a rabbit. "Please, Riku, can I stay with you tonight?"
"Fine, just stay on your side." Riku pulled up the covers so Ichigo could get in.
"Okay, and can you read me a story?"
"What?" Riku watched Ichigo pull up a story book she had brought from her room off the floor. She then crawled in bed beside Riku and handed him the book. "Ichigo, you're six, you can read now. And I'm really sleepy."
"But I like it when you read to me."
"You like it when anybody reads to you." Riku sighed and opened the familiar book. "But if it'll get you to go to sleep."
"Thanks, Nii-chan!" Ichigo pulled the covers up and got close to Riku so she could see the pictures in the book.
"Alright…once upon a time there was a beautiful girl named Cinderella. When she was young her father had died and left her in the care of her wicked step-mother and two spoiled step-sisters."
Riku continued reading and by the time Riku had gotten to Cinderella leaving the ball, both he and Ichigo had fallen asleep.
XXXXXX
The rain continued to fall outside, still making soothing pulses on the roof and on Riku's window. Riku had finished composing a letter to the King explaining what had happened, the Heartless, the Nobody, everything, and had laid it on his desk beside the King's. Riku also turned off the lamp, leaving the room completely dark except when the lighting flash outside, and with in a few minutes Riku was asleep.
