SORA

I warped to Twilight Town in the middle of the Sandlot. I looked around for a few seconds, before I heard quick footsteps behind me.

"Hey you…Kid…" Sneered a voice.

I didn't even turn around. I hate being called, kid. I also hated the fact that by the sound of his voice…he wasn't much older than me.

"No, wait!" Breathed a girl heavily.

I could hear her footsteps slowly down.

"This is the third time today…" She grumbled. "Leave the kid alone…"

"I am not a KID!!!" I cried as I turned around.

The girl with long wavy blonde hair straightened her stance up, apparently not afraid.

"Oh…I'm sorry…maybe it's just your hair that makes you look taller…" She grinned menacingly.

The guy in a dark gray beanie looked down on her with an impressed expression and nodded approvingly. He had a blue beater pointed at me…

"Seifer?" I asked.

"S-yeah…" He said asked in a 'duh' tone. "Who'd you think I was…?...Hayner? I'm not gonna be like that wimp and let you off easy…you're on my turf now…"

A sly grin spread across his face, accenting the scar across his face. Aidley had her arms crossed as she glared at me, but with a triumphant smile. Before I could reply, Donald, Goofy, and Kairi warped beside me.

"Sora!" Kairi cried as she hugged me suddenly. "I warped! I warped by myself!!"

"S-Sora?" Seifer asked.

I turned around and gave him a cheesy grin.

"S-yeah….who'd you think I was? Hayner?"

A cocky grin spread over his face as he lowered the beater. Aidley ran up to meet us, as Axel, Larxene, and Riku warped in. Seifer nodded to each of us as Aidley greeted us all with a hug. I introduced them to Kairi and Axel did the same for Larxene. Aidley and Seifer eventually made their way to Riku, both wearing gruesomely sad faces. Seifer put a hand on Riku's shoulder as Aidley bowed her head at Riku.

"I-It's great to see that you are doing better, Riku." She said quietly.

Seifer stepped back, unable to think of anything to add to that, when Melody warped in next to Riku. Aidley was startled at first, but she continued to eye Mel. Aidley knew Mel…but she couldn't figure it out.

MEL

Aidley just watched me for a few seconds, not able to figure out who I was, until I made the cheeziest Sora-grin I could possibly think of. Her eyes instantly widened and I noticed Seifer's jaw dropped.

"Melody?!" They both cried.

Riku smiled at me as she thew her arms around me and hugged me tightly

"How are….how did….why.." She began to stutter as tears came to her eyes.

"Come with us." I smiled. "I'll have to explain the same thing to Hayner, Pence, and Olette."

Sora grew giddy the closer we came to the Usual Spot. Roxas was extremely excited. Seifer actually wore a smile as he watch Aidley and I engage into a conversation about how Fuu, Rai, and Vivi left Seifer's gang. Aidley seemed to notice it too because she couldn't keep her eyes off him.

We finally came to the entrance to the Usual Spot and I took in a deep breath. Sora was almost jumping up and down in excitement. I pushed though the material that Separated Hayner's gang from the rest of the town.

"Hayner?" I asked as soon as I stepped in.

"Yeah?"

Hayner, Pence, and Olette stared at me for a second, also not realizing who I was. Sora, Riku, Kairi, Donald, Axel, and Goofy all came in after me.

"Sora! Kairi! Donald! Goofy!" Hayner called out. "How have all of you been?"

Hayner stood up and went to greet everyone as Pence came up to me and looked over me carefully.

"Oh…Melody!" He smiled calmly.

Hayner whipped around and looked at me, shocked, as Larxene came through followed by Seifer and Aidley.

"Melody!!" Olette hollered as she hugged me.

"How are you back?" Hayner asked as he guided me to his personal sitting spot.

"It's a long story…but I'll tell it if you want me to…but Seifer and Aidley want to hear it too."

Hayner eyed me for a second and then looked back at Seifer and Aidley.

"Sure…but Seifer…this is my hangout…only this once can you come in here and be welcome…"

"With Pleasure…I wouldn't want this dingy place anyway…"

"Okay…." I smiled as everyone sat down either on the small couch or on the floor to get comfortable.

I felt like it was story time for little kids. They all looked up at me with glistening eyes, except Riku…he leaned against the air conditioner that I sat on. Even Kairi and Sora looked up at me excitedly, even though they've heard this story and lived through parts of it.

"Let's start back when I lost my Heart, which all of you saw…After I impaled myself with the Dark Blade…I found myself waking up in Darkness…"

KAIRI

Melody and Riku once again told the story of overcoming Darkness and Zexion together. It really was an amazing story, no matter how many times you have heard it. I think that Mel and Riku also enjoyed telling the story. It sort of reminded me of the lovey-dovey books that I read often. Riku and Mel's relationship is quite different from the books though. They never show their affection in front of others. They don't talk about it either. They keep to themselves and I think it's quite romantic in it's own unique way.

It's strange…I know that they had both spent the night with each other…in fact I know it happens often…but they have hardly even kissed. Mel tells me some stories…but I know that they are both somewhat shy of each other in a way. One thing I know for sure, is that Riku has fallen hard for Mel. Never have I seen him so happy. I guess Sora was right…Mel is the one for Riku.

After the story was finished, Sora explained the reason for the journey that we are on now, and why we are short on time.

"So…you're gonna leave again?" Olette asked.

"Yes…but we'll try and visit as often as possible…" Larxene said as she stroked her hair.

Larxene, I noticed, has been in a nurturing mood lately.

"Yes…and if something happens and we can't come back…always remember that we can never leave your Hearts…" Melody said.

"So…that's it? It's time for you to go?" Seifer asked as Aidley moved her hand over his.

"Yes…" Melody said as she looked down.

"Well…ca…can you at least come eat sea-salt ice-cream with us one more time?" Pence asked.

We all looked at Melody as she looked at Riku.

"Sure…." She finally said as she looked back to Pence.

Pence and Hayner told us all to meet them at the clock tower while they went to get the ice-cream. Melody, though being almost a year older than us, raced Sora and Olette to the clock tower. That's one thing that I loved about Melody. No matter how old she is…she will always be immature…she will always find her smile in the worst of times.

We all sat on the edge of the clock tower, with our legs dangling off. Hayner and Pence gave us all our ice-cream and we sat in silence and soaked in the time we had with each other. I noticed Mel laughing as Riku tried to eat his ice-cream before it melted all over him. When he finished it…he had still managed to get a bit of ice-cream up by his nose…he grinned sheepishly at Mel.

Aww……they really do make the cutest couple…

He truly was happier and that made me warm and cuddly inside. Mel pointed off to the side of her nose, indicating that Riku still had ice-cream on his face. He tried to find it but failed, so Mel had to wipe it off herself, making Riku's cheeks turn a little hint of red. Even though they are both older than Sora and I…I couldn't help but feel that Sora and I are more comfortable with our relationship.

I turned and looked at Sora, and for a second, I thought I saw Roxas right beside him also eating an ice-cream. No, I take that back. I know I saw Roxas there. He had his left leg crossed over his right, and he leaned against it as he ate his ice-cream. Sora was leaned back on his left hand as he had his right leg brought up on the ledge. I blinked a few times, and Roxas was gone, which kind of disappointed me. Sora looked at me as I moved my right hand to the top of his. He quickly looked at our hands and just smiled.