Riku and Mai

Eleven

"I mean if someone has been turned into a Heartless and a Nobody and later put back together, the Nobody has somehow gained enough power to separate again." Mickey answered.

"You can't be serious!" Riku exclaimed. "I bet Doki had something to do with it."

"Doki?" Mai asked.

"He's the guy you saw in green." Riku answered.

"So you saw him?"

"Yeah, and he wasn't that nice either."

Mickey jumped off the bench and turned to Riku. "Well, will you help me?"

Riku stood and thought for a moment. He didn't answer for a minute or two. "I will."

Mickey nodded. He then turned to Mai, "I'm sorry, we didn't get introduced, I'm King Mickey." He held out his hand for her to shake it.

"My name is Mai, you highness, pleased to meet you," she bowed and shook his hand slowly.

"Mickey, she's going to have to come with me," Riku said.

"Okay, no problem," Mickey said cheerfully.

Riku looked at Mai. Mickey shook his head, "I don't know how long it'll take for me to get Cid though, we haven't talked in months."

"Oh, well, all we have to do is wait," Mai said. "C'mon, let's go to Riku's house while we wait."

"Yeah, about that… with the car out of it we we're going to have to travel by train or bus, but Mickey can't be seen." Riku answered.

"Why not?" Mai asked.

"If he is seen it might cause an uproar, people aren't use to seeing large animals around here." Riku said.

"Oh, that makes sense." Riku and the King walked together. They allowed Mai to walk ahead. They trailed behind only a little bit. They talked about something, talking in whisperers. Mai didn't mind, although she wanted to know what they were talking about.

After a while of ducking and hiding they arrived home. Mai was tired, it took at least two hours to walk home. Once inside Riku and Mickey talked in the kitchen. They talked about the worlds and their conditions. Riku listened more than he talked, Mai tried to listen but it didn't interest her that much. She finally found out what they were talking about but she had no interest. And apparently the King didn't know about Sora's and Kairi's death. He kept asking about them but Riku would quickly change the subject. But oddly he knew of Riku's brother.

"Mickey… I don't want to talk about him right now," Riku finally said, since Mickey kept coming back to the subject. Mai became nervous, she felt sick, she didn't know why.

Riku caught her glance, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied. She smiled, "I'm going outside for a while, I need to think," she said.

"Do you want me to…"

"Riku, I wanted to talk to you," Mickey interrupted. "It's important." Riku looked at the King then at Mai, he honestly didn't want her leave.

'Wait… why am I acting this way?' he thought, 'She's not leaving, she's just… I'm thinking too hard, she'll be fine… I hope.' Riku nodded to the King and watched Mai leave.

Mai closed the door behind her. Seconds after she sat down on the steps she jumped back up. Axel had appeared from the dark hole. He walked up to her. Clearly he must have had news for her.

"Mai, where's Riku?" he asked after looking around.

"Inside," she answered. She was surprised that he let her answer this time. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay, is he coming out side soon?"

"It depends, he's talking to someone," she shrugged.

"Okay then we might have time," Axel looked around once more. "I have more news for you," he said. "What ever you are, you can read minds."

"Okay, stop, no one can read minds."

"You can. What you are you can read minds."

Mai ponders at this. So far he was right about everything else. "Okay, so how do I do that?"

"Well, you must touch a person's head with your thumb once, after that, no matter how long you've been separated you can continue to read that person's mind but only when in close distance."

Mai thought about it. Should she try this? She hoped that it would answer some questions. "Does that include dreams?"

"I don't know that. But here, touch my forehead with your thumb." He pointed to his forehead with his own and leaned forward. Mai reaches out slowly, but then pulls it away. She thinks and then touches his head.

'Can you hear me?'

"I… I can hear you?!" she was amazed it worked. His mouth never moved and she heard clear words coming from him.

"Good, that proves that you're not human, now I'm sure. Oh, and what ever you do don't summon your Keyblades all the time."

"Why?"

"Because a man in green…"

"I know him! He… he was in my dream, and at the police station, he wants me to go back to somewhere with him." Mai interrupted.

"So you know… do you remember his name?"

"Remember? We only spoke once."

Axel blinks in confusion. "Well, his name is Doki. D-O-K-I, keep it memorized, and if you see him stay away from him."

"Okay, so…" she looks down. "I can read your mind… can Doki do this?"

"Not that I know of."

"Okay," she answers slowly. "Who were those guys?" She asked, she was afraid to find the answer.

"They were the men that follow Doki's command, I also work for them."

"You do? Why? I thought you were good."

"Never say that, I have failed and I have fallen deep into darkness, I am not good," Axel argued.

"But your atoning for them by helping me," Mai answered.

"Maybe, but just keep your head up, keep an eye out, if they take you back…"

"Why are you working for them?!" she questioned. Now she was rattled. She didn't understand why he was helping her. If he wasn't good that he was doing something wrong by helping her.

"I can't just leave the organization, I'll be hunted and killed, like what they want to do to you," Axel answered. "I'll see if I can find more info, but as of now that's all I can give you."

"Okay," she said taking her spot on the steps. She was defeated; she couldn't understand these things, hopefully he'd open up to her in the end. She watched as Axel opened the black hole and vanished inside it. Seconds later Riku opened the door and glanced at Mai face to face. She smiled. Riku leaned on the house, he joined her outside. Mai looked to the sky. "What did you and the King talk about?"

"Traveling." He answered.

"To where?"

"To his home, I told him I didn't mind going but… I didn't… want to leave you here alone."

Mai's eyes slowly backtracked to his. His voice was low, and his spoke as if nervous. "Do you want to come?"

Mai looked down from his eyes for a second. He looked the sky while she sat in thought. Riku waited ever so patiently. Mai looked at him again. "I'll come, I'm curious," she grinned.

"Okay, we'll be leaving in a few days or so, get ready." He sat next to her. Then he changed the subjected but only after several minutes. "I haven't seen Axel in a while. I wonder what he's doing."

Mai swallowed. Was she going to lie? Should she tell the truth and just skip the whole truth? Should she tell him that Axel was helping her? She shouldn't. Riku didn't trust Axel at this point in time. She would have to lie. "I noticed. Since the party he hasn't bothered me."

"It doesn't matter; hopefully we won't see him for a while anyway."

Mai faced down. She didn't like lying to him. She didn't want to lie to him. She learned so much, she learned so much and yet she can't share it with Riku, not yet. Riku would reject her. Funny, Riku hated rejection but he was willing to reject. Mai realized this after a moment. That's why he seemed so cold she first woke up. She hated him for nothing and Riku knew it right off the bat.

Mai felt guilt riding on her. "Riku… I'm sorry for rejecting you…" she said.

He blinked in confusion. "When?" he had to be lying.

"When I first woke up, you knew I hated you right off the bat, didn't you?"

Riku grinned at his eyes took to the sky, "Yes," he said after a moment. "I sensed hate the second you woke up. That warrior look was more painful than you might think," his eyes were covered up by his long silver bang.

"I'm sorry," she said again. "I don't want to ever make you feel that way again. I was foolish to hate someone like you."

"I'll say!"

They laughed together and looked at the stars.

Mickey came outside after a while. "Riku, our first stop is Midgar," he peered through the door.

"Okay," Riku said. "When do we leave?"

"Well, in a few weeks, it looks like, the ships are ready but Chip and Dale are busy repairing the docks. And I can not get a hold of Cid."

"Oh, I see," Riku said.

"So, get ready, but rest, we have time." Mickey went back inside and closed the door.

"How do you know the King?"

"He and I go way back," Riku gestured his hand in front of him. "We were both in the realm of light together; we became friends and fought together. I am the only person who can call him by his first name."

"I noticed. I won't try that move, I'm afraid he'll get upset with me."

"I don't know, he might."

Mai stood after a while. She felt so tired. Riku stood after her and still continued to stare at the stars. After a while Riku went inside and went to bed. Mai watched as his body disappeared beyond her sight. She felt so warm, she felt warm as she stared at him. She felt safe, loved and happy. But… what is that warm spot? Was it something she never experienced? Her heart started to beat quickly, but don't painfully. She held her heart and thought about it as she closed the door. She shook the thought from her head. She was in love? She didn't want to be, Riku would reject her if he found out she's not human. She wasn't in love; no, she was just filled with joy that he forgave her. That's all it was, she hoped.