Chibified

Shizuka Usagi

Chapter 10

"That was pretty clever, Yuffie, administering the medicine as a syrup." Riku complimented.

"It was nothing. If there's something that kid likes more than getting dirty, it's Sea Salt ice cream." The caretakers watched as Sora licked the green liquid off the blue popsicle.

"I'm surprised he didn't notice anything about the taste." Roxas commented.

Yuffie shrugged. "Merlin probably thought of that ahead of time. Haven't you ever heard of cherry flavored Tylenol™?"

"What could possibly be the flavor of that green stuff?" Roxas inquired.

"Watermelon?" Yuffie suggested. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"

"I think I'll pass." Roxas replied.

After leaving Merlin's, Yuffie brought Sora the Sea Salt ice cream she had promised. Since Sora—like many children—hated medicine, she tricked him into thinking it was flavored syrup. Like the chocolate or strawberry kind you put on ice cream sundaes. She poured the substance from the vial onto the bar, then handed it to the brunette.

"Mmm, this syrup is yummy! Can I have more, Mommy?" Sora asked.

"Sorry, Sora, it… uh… ran out." Yuffie explained. The caretakers were surprised he actually liked that stuff. They wondered what would happen if they told him it was medicine. Better not risk it…

"Oh… okay." Sora continued to lick without a care in the world.

Yuffie twirled the umbrella of their table uninterestedly. "I hope the cure works. I mean, I love the kid and all, but babysitting him is tiresome."

"You can say that again." Roxas agreed. "I didn't even start the summer homework Olette gave me."

Riku switched his gaze from Roxas to Yuffie. Then a scheming grin formed on his face. "Why don't you take a vacation, Yuff?"

"Whaddaya mean? I have to—" Yuffie began, but was interrupted.

"—I can take care of Sora myself. I used to look after him when he was younger."

"But why—" Roxas started, but Riku interjected.

"—better yet, why don't you both take one? You guys have been watching over Sora longer than I have. Therefore, I wouldn't need a break." Riku explained.

"Are you sure, Rik?" Yuffie questioned. Her ninja instinct sensed something fishy going on. What was Riku really planning? On the other hand, she was dying for a respite. Spending it with Roxas would make it all the more fun. She had to admit, she had developed a crush on our favorite former Nobody.

"Positive." Riku responded. Yuffie swore that she saw a mischievous glint in his eye.

"I don't know. How're we going to afford a vacation?" Roxas interrogated skeptically.

"It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Hollow Bastion has many tourist attractions, y'know. There's the carnival and the beach a little ways from here." Yuffie informed.

"Beach?" Riku and Roxas echoed.

"Uh-huh. It's going to open in a few days. But only the HBRC is allowed to go there at first. To make sure they're no Heartless or anything."

"But we're not members." Roxas pointed out, referring to himself and Riku.

"Oh, that reminds me. Leon wanted me to give you guys these." Yuffie flipped out two membership cards from her back pocket.

"Thanks." The boys said simultaneously, taking the personalized cards.

"No prob. Anyway, we should get going now." Yuffie said.

"Right, to the launders." Roxas sighed, picking up Sora's dirty clothing.

—

"How much detewgent did Mommy say to put in the washa?" Sora thought aloud, holding a container and gallon of detergent in his hand. "My clothes look pwetty dirty."

In his young state of mind, Sora believed that more was better. He poured an overabundant amount of detergent into the container. He overlooked the fact that the container was overflowing with the substance. He dumped the contents of the container into the washer, then closed the lid. Afterwards, he pressed the start button and waited for the machine to operate.

Sora's blue eyes widened in amazement as the washer began to shake and make loud, whirring noises. Bubbles and foam began to leak from the sides onto the floor. He backed away slowly, then screamed when the lid burst open with water flowing everywhere.

"Sora!" Roxas shouted from the front of the Laundromat. The blonde ran to the back of the store with Riku and Yuffie on his heels.

When they found Sora, he was curled into a fetal position, sopping wet and close to tears.

—

Once Sora was toweled and dry, wearing a non-waterlogged set of clothes, the caretakers set to finding out what had went wrong.

"How much detergent did you put, Sora?" Yuffie asked the brunette gently.

"I—I don't know. I—I didn't remember how much you told me to put. S—So I poured the whole container." Sora sobbed.

"The whole container!" Roxas exclaimed, causing Sora to cower back a little.

"Calm down, Rox." Yuffie chided, then she turned to the sniffling keyblade wielder. "Why didn't you use the measuring cup?"

"I—I forgot." Sora sniveled.

"It's okay, Sor. Just remember to ask next time, okay?"

Sora nodded and hugged his mom's leg.

"What about the cost, Yuff?" Roxas inquired.

"Don't worry about that. I've got that taken care of." Yuffie answered grinning.

At the counter, Riku frowned at the cost of repairing the washer. The fact that the owners of the Laundromat were squabbling at him didn't help. How in the world did Yuffie convince me to pay?