Chapter 11
Hearing the name of the world Riku had taken her to was all the permission she needed to drag him by the hand out of their hiding place — the roof of an apparently abandoned home covered in sand and sparsely decorated with worn rugs and tapestries. She rushed down the stairs as quickly as their decrepit state would allow her, hardly sparing a second glance at their surroundings.
They burst out into the desert heat where they had to pause once more to let their eyes adjust. Natsumi blinked forcibly, eager to continue on their journey and to see the sights for herself.
"Have you been here before?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.
He shook his head.
"No, but Maleficent told me about it before we came."
The blonde turned back the way they were going. Maleficent again… She stopped suddenly, and Riku had just enough time to catch himself before he ran directly into her. Her fist clenched around the staff as she looked up at him. Riku's eyes widened slightly as she stared at him unflinchingly.
"You never told me what your mission was."
Riku stood in silence for a moment longer before he let out a breathless chuckle and shook his head.
"We finally get to a new world together, and that's what you want to do? Talk about a stupid mission?"
"I wouldn't keep bringing it up if you would just answer my question," she pointed out.
Running his hand through his hair, he looked off towards the marketplace and sighed. Natsumi frowned, watching him carefully. She was starting to get the sinking sensation that whatever Maleficent asked Riku to do, it wasn't good. She'd never known Riku to keep things from her, but it was clear he didn't want to tell her about the mission. When he didn't answer, she continued.
"Whatever it is, Riku, I can help you."
His expression hardened and he immediately shook his head. Natsumi's eyes widened at his blatant denial, a spark of anger coursing through her.
"I can take care of it, Natsu. Just… drop it, okay?"
"Why?" she pressed, instead.
Sometime during the conversation, their hands had released each other, and Natsumi tried not to let him see how much the realization stung. They didn't exactly tell each other everything, but neither of them had ever refused to answer a direct question. It made it impossible to ignore the fact that Riku was purposely keeping something from her.
"It's bad, isn't it? Whatever she wants you to do."
He looked as though he might deny it, or tell her to drop it again, until his resolve crumpled under her stare. Unable to say anything, he just nodded. Natsumi felt her heart, already anxious from the confrontation, begin pounding. Had her mouth only just gone dry, or had it been ever since they stepped into the desert heat? She reached out for his hand again, giving it perhaps a too firm squeeze, but it got his attention the way she'd meant it to.
"Tell me," she said softly.
Riku stared into her eyes, more unsure than she'd ever seen him as he searched for something. Whatever it was, she must have given it to him. The silver-haired boy nodded, opened his mouth, and told her everything. He told her about how he'd woken up in Hollow Bastion, alone until Maleficent found him outside the castle. He told her about how he'd told Maleficent he was looking for their friends, and that Maleficent had offered him the same deal she'd offered Natsumi. Do her "errands", and she'd help him find them. But unlike Natsumi, Maleficent had come to Riku to make good on their deal, and given him different tasks ever since. Different tasks that all had the same goal. Take girls from their homes, and bring them to her.
The whole time he spoke, Natsumi listened attentively, right up until he trailed off, having reached the end of his story. She stood there in stunned silence before swallowing thickly. Riku was looking at her expectantly, and she knew she had to say something.
"When Maleficent asked for my help, I thought she meant like… cleaning or something. Not kidnapping people."
For a moment, he said nothing, then a hesitant smile spread across his face before he chuckled breathlessly.
"That's not exactly the response I was expecting."
"Well what were you expecting?" she asked, slightly incredulously.
Riku shrugged, fingers rubbing absently over her hand in a way that soothed and worried her at the same time.
"I don't know," he said, glancing away and then back at her. "For you to be mad? Disappointed?"
Natsumi let out a long breath, finding that her own gaze was wandering. The alley that they were in was deserted, long forgotten crates and barrels pressed against the walls and surrounded by mounds of sand. On either side of them the alley stretched on, one ending at a wall and the other branching off in two more directions. Directly ahead of them was the path to the bazaar, but none of the bustling residents of this world had noticed them yet. The vendors were still shouting at people as they passed by, but nobody was looking down what was most likely a usually empty alley.
Uneasiness rested heavily in her stomach. With Riku's appearance, she'd begun to suspect that Maleficent wasn't everything she'd been telling them she was, but she'd never expected it to be something so sinister.
"What does she want with them?"
Riku's frown was full of shame as he avoided looking her in the eye. He shook his head.
"I don't know," he repeated. "She never told me that, and… I don't see them after she takes them."
She wanted to ask how many girls he'd brought to Maleficent, but at the same time, she didn't want to know. In the end, her mouth betrayed her by not letting her say anything. It was a strange feeling, to be speechless in this way and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"What do we have to do?" she forced herself to say instead.
Riku looked up at her, aqua eyes wide with surprise.
"We?"
"Well, yeah. Did you think I'd let you do this alone?" The thin line that resulted from his lips being firmly pressed together told her that whatever he'd expected, it hadn't been for her to help him. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Dummy. Of course I'm not letting you do it alone." She hesitated. "I get that we don't really have much of a choice. It's not like we can just leave, we'd just… be stuck here. So… let's just get it over with."
She squeezed his hand again, trying to give him a reassuring smile. In response, he smiled weakly back and nodded.
"Yeah, alright. Get it over with," he said with a scoff, but he continued on. "Maleficent said once we get here, we should find Jafar. He's supposed to lead us to the girl, and then we take her back to Maleficent. Easy."
He tried to sound flippant as he said it, but Natsumi knew he was anything but. The thought of kidnapping somebody sent the uneasiness in her stomach roiling and she tried to push it down. If it was a choice between Sora and Kairi, and this complete stranger, well, she knew who she'd pick.
"Easy. So, where do we find this Jafar?"
"He's the royal vizier at the palace and," Riku paused and smirked at her, "the way to the palace is through there."
He pointed with a gloved hand down the alleyway to the bazaar, and Natsumi's eyes widened.
"Well," she said slowly, "it can't hurt to take a look around, right? Just in case he came looking for us," she added hastily.
Riku's lingering smirk made it apparent that he saw right through her, though he didn't call her out on it.
"Right, just in case he came looking for us," he teased.
She gave him a small glare, but it was all she could muster with the excitement of finally seeing the bazaar up close chasing away any negative feelings. Before Riku could say anything more, she was dragging him by the hand again, down the alley and bursting out into the plaza, to the agitation of the people who happened to be in her way. She didn't even spare them a passing glance, instead turning her head back and forth to take in the busy street. Now that she had finally made her way down here, she wasn't sure where to go first.
"Here," Riku said. "Follow me."
"I thought you said you haven't been here before."
"I haven't. But I saw something I think you'll like. C'mon."
He smiled at her, eyes soft with an emotion that made her heart swell and lurch into her throat. Though he had turned around to lead her through the crowd and couldn't see it, she smiled softly at his back. They might not have known where Sora and Kairi were, but with Riku by her side, she couldn't help but feel as though everything would be okay. They weaved through people and vendors alike, Natsumi holding her staff behind her back in an attempt not to hit anybody with it. She was only partially successful.
The knowledge that they were in another world grew inside of her with each step, and eventually, she couldn't help but laugh, giddy with the surety of it. Riku glanced back at her questioningly, but she didn't answer, instead leaning forward clumsily to press a kiss to his cheek. Caught off guard, he blushed and turned away from her again, but not before she could see the pleased smile crossing his face. After a few more moments of this, they stopped in front of a stand covered in yards of colorful fabric and Riku released her hand again to begin sifting through them.
"What are you looking for?" She peered curiously over his shoulder, but it seemed he was so focused on what he was looking for that he didn't answer her. "Riku?"
"Allow me to assist." Natsumi looked up at the shopkeeper as he spoke, a large smile lighting up his face. "We have many fine items for sale, miss. Perhaps you'd like this?" He held up a swath of fabric, but before she could respond, he had set it down and was moving on again. "Or this." The next one he held up was brightly green. "To match your lovely eyes."
"I'm actually—"
He continued on, showing her fabric after fabric of what she finally realized were some type of scarf, though she couldn't fathom what anybody would want with one in the desert heat.
"Actually, we'll take this one," Riku interrupted, finally returning to her side and holding out a deeply blue scarf, embroidered with silver in a way that made it look like a starry sky.
The man beamed at them.
"An excellent choice," he said, and told them the price.
Riku rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a handful of munny, offering it to the man.
"I don't have as much as you asked for, but will you accept this?"
Though the man didn't stop smiling, his expression was suddenly chilly. Natsumi knew what his answer was going to be before he spoke.
"I run a business here, young man, not a charity."
He repeated the original cost. Riku grimaced and looked at Natsumi from the corner of his eye.
"Riku, it's—"
"Please," Riku said firmly, thrusting his hand towards the man.
"You kids better move along—"
"Oh, hush!" A woman's voice interrupted and abruptly took the munny from Riku's hand. "He wants to buy his sweetheart something nice, you stingy old man." The woman, who Natsumi could only assume was his wife, then turned her sharp gaze on the two of them and immediately softened. "You two enjoy, alright?"
"Hey, what do you—"
"Enough," the woman huffed, turning back to him and poking him in the chest. "Let these two kids have their day. I won't hear another word. Run along now."
This last bit was directed at Riku and Natsumi and the two of them nodded, expressed their thanks, and walked away from the booth.
"You didn't have to do that," Natsumi said, once they'd found a spot that was a bit out of the way from the rest of the bazaar.
"I wanted to," Riku shrugged.
"Was that all your munny?"
"Nah." He turned towards her and draped the scarf over her shoulders. "I have more at the castle."
"Where'd you get it?" she asked, running her fingers over the soft material.
"Heartless drop all sorts of weird things."
A sudden giggle drew their attention to a girl standing just a few feet away from them. They exchanged a glance that made it clear neither of them had noticed her until just that moment. She was dressed head to toe in unflattering brown, the fabric wrapped around her neck and draped over her head.
"That's not how you wear it," she explained when she noticed their stares.
"It's not?"
She shook her head, dark eyes crinkling at the corners in her mirth.
"Here." The girl stepped towards them, gesturing with her hands towards the scarf. "Allow me."
Natsumi's eyes darted to Riku. Though his expression was guarded, he didn't make any signal that she shouldn't allow this girl to help, and so she nodded slowly.
"Okay."
The girl smiled at them in a way that made it impossible for Natsumi not to smile back as she reached up and took the scarf in her hands. Deftly, she pulled it up and over Natsumi's hair, the few extra inches she had on the blonde allowing her to do so with ease.
"It's called a Shayla," she said as she worked. "And you wear it like this." She tucked in the last bit of fabric and stepped back to admire her handiwork. "There. Much better."
Natsumi reached up and felt the fabric. It wasn't wrapped too tightly around her head, but she felt as though it was secure enough that it wouldn't come off.
"Thank you." She turned to Riku and gave a little twirl before grinning widely. "How do I look?"
Riku's cheeks flushed, eyes darting to the stranger as he cleared his throat.
"Beautiful."
He said it quietly, just for her, but his tone made it evident that he thought it was silly she'd even asked, as there was clearly no other answer. Natsumi's grin stretched wider and she turned back to the girl.
"Thank you, again. I'm Natsumi, and this is Riku."
"It's very nice to meet you. I'm Jasmine. What brings you two to Agrabah?"
Though she asked the question innocently enough, the reminder that they weren't just two tourists in a new land made Natsumi's entire body go tense. Jasmine looked at them curiously, evidently noticing their sudden unease. Riku recovered first.
"What makes you think we aren't from here?"
"You're dressed quite strangely and," her eyes flicked between them, "you didn't know how to wear a Shayla. So I just assumed… Am I mistaken?"
"Well, no," Natsumi said, unable to come up with a lie.
"But we should be going."
Riku's hand was suddenly in hers, and Natsumi squeezed it tightly. She tried to tell herself there was no possible way this girl could know what they had been sent there for, but the thought still itched at the back of her mind like a mosquito bite. He squeezed her hand back and she felt slight relief at his presence next to her. Jasmine was still looking between them, expression slowly shifting from confused to wary.
"Oh, of course. Enjoy your visit."
"Yeah," was all Natsumi could manage, and Riku didn't say anything, tugging lightly on Natsumi's hand as they walked hurriedly away.
They walked with their heads down for what felt like an unbearably long time, winding through more back alleys and avoiding the plaza and its still bustling people. Being in a crowd suddenly felt like it would be dangerously exposed. Any time they got close to it or would have to go through it, they backtracked and took a different path, the entire time keeping the palace in their view. Natsumi glanced over her shoulder, knowing it was silly to think the girl was following them, but she couldn't shake it.
"You don't think… she could know, do you?"
Riku instantly shook his head.
"No. There's no way, how could she?"
"Right," she breathed. "How could she?"
He squeezed her hand again. The whole situation filled her with regret. That girl had seemed really nice, but the way she'd watched them walk away, with wariness in her eyes, like maybe she shouldn't trust them… It stung more than she thought it should for somebody she would never see again.
"We're almost there."
Natsumi looked up, finding that Riku was right and the palace was now almost entirely obscured by the walls and buildings around them. Only the tops of the domed roofs were visible from their vantage point, even when she craned her neck all the way back.
"So, once we get there… then what?"
"Maleficent said there's a way in through the back, and that's where Jafar will be. We have to go this way."
They'd arrived at the outermost wall of the palace, a large white structure that wasn't actually part of the palace, but surrounded it to prevent them from getting in easily. Walking alongside it briskly, they lapsed back into silence, Natsumi contemplating exactly what she'd signed up for in the name of helping Riku. She'd help him no matter what, but she couldn't help but wonder what Maleficent had in store for them.
Riku stopped abruptly and Natsumi's head snapped up, immediately finding what had caused him to stop. A swirling portal of darkness had appeared in front of them, and she instinctively knew that they'd arrived at the right place and soon they would be meeting the royal vizier, Jafar. Seconds later a tall, impossibly thin man with a pointed beard stepped out of the swirling shadows. In his hand he held a golden snake-shaped staff, and on his shoulder was a bright red parrot.
Another bird…
"Jafar," Riku said with a steady voice. "Maleficent sent us."
"I'm aware," he said. "Though I shall never understand why she insisted on sending me a couple of brats."
Natsumi scoffed.
"Yeah, well, we're not too happy with it either."
Jafar's eyes snapped towards her.
"We just want to get this over with," Riku said.
"You and us both, kid!"
Natsumi's eyes widened and darted to the bird, mouth gaping open.
"You can talk?"
The parrot rolled his eyes at her.
"Of course I can. Jafar, where did she get these schmucks?"
The man's thin fingers darted up and snapped over the bird's beak, ignoring when he started to struggle.
"Enough, Iago. I trust Maleficent has told you why you're here."
"She did," Riku affirmed.
"Then let us make haste. The search for Princess Jasmine is already underway."
At his words, despite the desert heat, Natsumi's blood ran cold.
A/N: Hi guys! Wow, another long gap between updates. The excuses are the same as they always are, and I'm so, so sorry! I love writing this story to pieces, I just haven't had as much time as I would like for it lately. However, I'm very pleased with how this chapter came out and I hope you are too. As always, if you have time, please leave a review!
