WARNING: This chapter is slightly unrealistic and melodramatic.
Just kidding (or am I? I guess you'll just have to find out... heheh :P). But what isn't these days? :P

Please R&R! Thanks to everyone who has so far!!!! xD

Chapter 14

Just a little review from last chapter:

"Mel," Riku breathed.

Melody sighed. "Riku," she said. Her voice was barely classifiable; it wasn't a croak, it wasn't a whisper, it wasn't a moan. But desperation could clearly be heard. "I'll love you forever and ever."

They kissed and hugged again, and then Melody turned around and waved to everyone. There were tears in Kairi's eyes, and Sora looked really depressed.

"Don't look back," she murmured to herself. "Don't look back."

Melody climbed into the blue GMC Envoy, and shut the door. Sora, Kairi, and Riku stood in their spots motionless until all they saw of that car was its red backlights. Soon, Kairi left. Then Sora left.

Riku never left.

Melody was going… going… gone. And this time, she wasn't coming back.

"Don't look back," Melody murmured to herself. "Don't look back."

She climbed into the blue GMC Envoy, and shut the car door. Immediately, she plugged in her earphones from her iPod and started listening to the song "Incomplete" by the Backstreet Boys. She always kind of thought that that song matched how she felt about Riku, especially after she left Destiny Islands the first time.

Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you, within me I can't find no rest
Where I'm going is anybody's guess

I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

Melody wondered what they were doing now. Were they moping? Or having fun on the beach? Most of all, she worried about Riku. He seemed intense when he told her his feelings. He'd be able to move on, right?


Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It's written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

Didn't Selphie always like him, anyway? So chances are he'd probably be able to find a girlfriend. It didn't stop him the first time Melody met him.


I don't mean to drag it on, but I can't seem to let you go
I don't wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go (alone)

I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

Incomplete

Ugh; Riku was too good for a girl like Selphie. She was just so … bubbly all the time. It annoyed the daylights out of Riku as well. But who else was there on the island that he could date now that Mel was gone? Melody sighed and realized that they were already on the interstate, on their way to Traverse Town. An idea popped into her head.

"Leon! Look, we're low on gas!" she gasped, looking at one of the little panels.

"Thanks, sis. I'll stop at the next gas station."

Ten minutes later, Melody and Leon pulled into a Shell gas station, and bought more gas. Leon went to get some doughnuts and coffee, and as he left, Melody jumped into the driver's seat.

'It's a good thing I got some driving lessons before I left Twilight Town,' she thought. 'Just don't freak, Leon.'

When Leon got back and saw Melody sitting in the driver's seat, he understood that she had something planned. "Mel, get out of there now. I'm driving."

"Aw, Leon, c'mon. I had so many driving lessons back in Twilight Town, and now I can finally drive! This is perfect! Please?"

"Fine. You drive, but I navigate."

"Deal."

So Melody drove for a while towards Traverse Town. She put on slow, sleepy music and put switched Leon's caffeinated coffee with her decaf coffee. Soon, he was asleep like a little baby.

'Ha! Too easy!' She thought.

At the next pit stop, she turned the car around.

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I'm shattered
I always turn the car around

Give it up, give it up, baby
Give it up, give it up, now
Now

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I'm faking
Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting
Always turn the car around

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around

Don't wanna turn that car around
I gotta turn this thing around

"I'm sorry, Leon," Melody whispered, even though he was asleep, "I don't want to do this to you; but I have to turn this car around."

She smiled at her pun. 'So many songs,' she thought, 'oh so many songs that relate to my life, they all seem to play at the right moment.'

Flashback:

"Funny, isn't it?" said Melody. "All these songs, they always play at the right moment."

Sora rolled his eyes. "It's like that for a reason, Mel."

"Huh? What d'you mean by that?"

Sora sighed. "Don't you remember? It's because of the Music Mae—"

"Melody? Where are you headed for? This isn't on the way to Traverse Town!"

'SHITAKE MUSHROOMS!' thought Melody. 'Leon's awake!'

She couldn't find anything to say.

"Mel, I knew you had something planned. We're not going back to Destiny Islands. Now, turn this car around."

"No. And technically you can't drive 'till we get to the next stop. Which will be our house at Destiny Islands," she added.

"When we get there, you're grounded for three weeks, Melody!"

"Yeah, yeah." Usually, Melody didn't do this kind of thing. But it was Riku she wanted to see, so of course she'd do most anything, right?

It took about another forty-five minutes, but finally Melody and Leon arrived at their house in Destiny Islands. The car ride there was silent but tense, with Leon giving Melody glares throughout the whole ride there.

Melody jumped out of the car. "Well, bro, looks like I'll be seeing you on Thanksgiving."

"Hmph. Funny. Get back in the car."

"No, no, I'd rather stay with Riku. I'll come and visit you on holidays, though. Bye!"

"Not so fast, Melody Kneller! You can't just leave me, I'm your guardian, and our parents ordered me to take care of you, and that means something to me."

"Don't you see, Leon? This is not taking care of me! It's watching me, sure, but taking care of me would be somehow convincing your boss for you to stay here!"

Leon sighed. "Give me some time. We'll move first thing tomorrow."

Melody ran off, to go find all her friends.

Sora and Kairi were on the dock, with Riku sitting a few feet away from them. Riku was so out of their conversation, and was just staring out into the ocean. Melody was sprinting on the beach now, to find the three teenagers at their usual spot. She stopped dead when she saw how Riku looked – even though she had only left for a few hours – he looked extremely depressed.

'How should I enter without giving them a heart attack? I'll say something that they would know only I would say.' She thought. "Miss the last keyblade bearer already?"

Riku turned around. 'That's it,' he thought, 'I have officially died. That's not Melody.' The way her hair was blowing in the wind, how her eyes glowed, and how she carried herself. She was happy again.

Sora and Kairi turned around too. Their jaws dropped.

"MELODY!" Riku exclaimed happily as he tackled her, accidentally making her fall onto the sand.

Melody smiled and laughed. "Riku." She kissed him passionately.

Next, Kairi and Sora hugged her. "Why didn't you tell us it was all a joke?" said Sora jokingly.

"Seriously," said Kairi, "what happened? Did he change his mind?"

Melody's eyes went from face to face – from Riku's bright, happy face, to Sora's surprised yet happy face, and to Kairi's skeptical yet happy face – as she thought of how to answer them. "I switched our coffees at the first pit stop. Then I convinced him to let me drive, he fell asleep, and I somehow managed to get here with out him like killing me."

Riku's face fell. "You still have to leave." It wasn't a question.

Melody nodded. "First thing tomorrow. But I got Leon to think about it, at least. Who knows, maybe for once fate will be on our side. I mean, look at our past," she added, "if we weren't all supposed to be together, I don't know what destiny is."

Everyone fell silent. They sat by the dock, eating pizza, watching the stars.

"That one looks like a soup ladle!" said Sora.

"That's the big dipper," said Melody, rolling her eyes.

"I see one that looks like ice cream," said Kairi.

"I see one that looks like a heart," said Melody. She blinked her eyes. Wait, was that? No, never mind. As she blinked her eyes, the big black blob that gave off a weird atmosphere was gone. The Heartless was gone.

Riku smiled. "I see a dragon."

Melody rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."

"Hello? Mr. Carlson? Yes, it's Leon."

"Listen, Kneller, you were supposed to be at your house a few hours ago. What the heck happened?"

"I-I'm sorry, sir. My sister—"

"Ah, yes, your sister Melody. She seems to be the trouble of all this."

"Sir?"

"I don't care, Kneller. Just be over here. Now."

"That's impossible!. The drive is at least two and a half hours by car."

"Just do it."

"Yes, sir."

"I wish we could stay like this forever," said Melody looking up at the sky. "All of us."

"Yeah," Sora sighed. "Your brother's job, though."

"Why do you live with your brother, anyway?" asked Kairi.

Melody froze. It was a very sensitive subject, and she never talked about it. Only Riku and Sora knew.

"Her parents are on a long business trip," Riku lied.

Melody sighed. "Riku, it's fine. I trust Kairi."

"I know you do. It's just hard for you to talk about it."

"I'm so sorry, Mel," said Kairi. "If I would've known, I would've never asked—"

Melody smiled sadly. "It's okay, you didn't know. How could you possibly?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered once more.

Flashback:

Four and a half-year-old Melody was in the backyard of Riku's house with Riku, Sora, and Kairi. Riku's mom came into the yard.

"Melody, dear, your brother needs to talk to you."

Melody exited the yard. "I'll be right back," she said.

Melody saw Leon. "Hi. What happened?"

Leon, still in his work suit, grabbed Melody's shoulders and squeezed them. "Mel, I have to talk to you."

"Okay."

"Mom and Dad were driving last night on the interstate, on their way back from Traverse Town, and there was a thunder storm. Lightening hit their car."

"Are they okay?"

"They're … asleep…"

"Oh. So I'll see them soon."

"No, Mel. I'm so sorry. They're dead."

Melody ran into Leon and started crying her eyes out. Although she said she'd be back to play with Riku, Sora, and Kairi she couldn't go play after she found out her parents had died.

"They loved you, Mel."

"I loved them too. Why'd they die, Lee?"

"I don't know, sis. But I have to take care of you now."

Melody grabbed onto him tighter. "I love you."

Leon was surprised. He never really spent that much time with his sister. "I love you too, Mel. It's all right. Everything is going to be okay."

End of Flashback.

"Mel? You there?" Sora asked, poking her arm.

Riku rolled his eyes. "Can't you tell? She's having a flashback."

Melody turned herself around. "How'd…you … know?"

Riku smiled a little. "What, with all the time I spent with you, you didn't honestly think I wouldn't be able to tell whether or not you were having flashbacks?"

"I … guess…" It was hard for her to talk; she just relived finding out about her parent's death. Riku sensed this, and pulled her close to him.

"Hey," he whispered. "It's all right. Everything's okay."

Melody got up. "Yeah, now it is!"

Everyone looked confused and taken aback. "What's that supposed to mean?" asked Sora.

"Everything's okay now, but what about tomorrow? And the day after that? Guys, don't you get it?! I'm still leaving! I'm not staying…"

Riku grabbed at her hands and pulled her to sit down with him on the dock. "Just make the most of it, then."

"No," she said, nodding her head violently. "No, I'm going to do something about it this time."

"Where are you going?" asked Riku.

"I have to speak to my dear brother."

Melody walked over to her house, but hesitated while she got to the door. 'If I just hid, and never showed up, I might be able to worm my way out of this,' she thought. 'Nah. Scratch that.' She knocked. "Leon? You home?" She opened the door a crack. "Leon?"

She saw a figure on the couch, but it was Leon. He looked up with a malicious grin on his face. "Melody, how nice to see you."

"And you are…?"

"I am Mr. Carlson, your brothers boss. Not to worry, he's asleep upstairs, he doesn't even know I'm here. I came to talk to his infamous sister, Melody."

"Me?!"

"Yes. See, whenever I ask Leon to move places, he always says that you cause trouble. So I just wanted to ask you in person to please stop."

Melody scoffed. "I'm sixteen years old. You, especially since you're not my guardian and have no authority over me whatsoever, cannot tell me what to do." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hmph. You really are a pain. You leave me no choice."

Riku sighed. "She'll be okay, right?"

Sora gave him a look. "Riku, for all we know, she could be on the interstate by now."

"No," he said getting up quickly, brushing the sand off of his pants. "I'm going to see if she's still home."

Kairi shrugged. "Sora and I will stay here. Just in case… she passes by."

Riku smirked. "Oh, don't act so innocent."

Kairi and Sora turned red.

From the Kneller household, muffled screams could be heard.

"MMM! UNTIE MEEH!"

"No can do. Until you let Leon move in peace."

"NEVA!" Melody said through the tape that Mr. Carlson put on her mouth.

"Then you leave me no choice."

Riku walked in just in time to see Mr. Carlson take out a big knife, and raise it in the air. Just as he was about to strike Melody, Riku dived and took him to the floor. He grabbed the knife out of Mr. Carlson's hand, summoned his keyblade, and struck Mr. Carlson.

"MMM!" Melody screamed. She was tied up to a chair with rope, with tape on her mouth.

Riku quickly untied Melody and took the tape off her face. Without saying a word, Melody grabbed Riku's face and kissed him passionately. "I love you," she whispered, her voice quivering. Riku noticed she was covered in cold sweat.

He held her closer and said, "Mel, you are my life. Who the heck was that, anyway? What did he want with you?"

"Mr. Carlson. Wanted me to not be so stubborn about Leon moving."

"Leon's boss?! So, what, he was just going to kill you because you were stopping his best employee from doing his job?"

Melody nodded. "I don't know if it was killing he had in mind, or just harming me, but, Riku, oh my god…"

"I'll sleep in your room tonight, then," he said.

"But in the morning—"

Riku nodded his head, smiling. "Mel, don't you see? You're not moving! Mr. Carlson's dead!"

Melody's jaw dropped. She looked at Riku weirdly.

"What? You should be happy!" he said.

Melody nodded her head. "You … killed him?!" she said, her voice getting unnaturally high.

Riku shrugged. "It was either that, or let him harm you and get away with it. There was no other way. If we called the cops, he would've escaped jail anyway."

"How do you know?"

"Because… he's my uncle."

"WHAT?!"

"Remember, I told you I was related to one of the most dangerous serial killers of all time? I just realized that that's Leon's boss. See, his real name is Cloud Strife, but he changed it. He never told us what he changed it to, but that initials were reversed. Steven Carlson, Cloud Strife. As soon as I saw him, I recognized him." (A/n: I choose Cloud randomly, I love him, but it was the only name from KH I could think of at the moment. Plus, the initial thing is pretty cool :P)

"Riku, how could you just kill your uncle like that?"

Riku shrugged. "He was dead to me, anyway."

"Why?"

"There's a reason why you've never seen my dad," said Riku, his eyes wet. Riku didn't cry, but Melody could tell he was upset.

"I'm so sorry…"

"Oh, no, he's not dead. 'Mr. Carlson' just messed up my dad's face using a blade, that's all."

"I'm so sorry, Riku," she repeated.

"It's all right. We have each other. Forever."

Melody sighed and smiled. "It feels good to know that we have forever."

"Doesn't it?"

When Leon got out of bed the next day, and saw Mr. Carlson's dead body on the floor, he screamed. Melody and Riku woke up instantly, and came downstairs.

"What's up, Leon?" Riku asked.

Leon just pointed at the dead body.

"Oh, yeah. Um, it's a long story…" Melody said. How should she tell her brother that his boss tried to kill her?

Riku blurted out, "He tried to kill Melody, and I came just in time."

Leon laughed. "Mr. Carlson wouldn't—"

"Lee." Melody spoke clearly and firmly. "Look at me. Look into my eyes. Don't I seem different?"

"A little, I guess."

"I've seen things, Leon. It's true. I would never lie about something as serious as this."

"So how do I know this isn't just some excuse so you don't have to move again, Mel?"

"I wouldn't kill someone because of it! Who do you think I am?"

Leon shrugged. "Like you said, you're different now. Explain everything."

Riku explained it all – how Mr. Carlson held Melody captive (in her own house), tried to kill her, and lastly, how Mr. Carlson was really Cloud Strife.

Leon shrugged. "Two things – one, we'll have to get this body buried, and two…" he looked at Melody and smiled. "I guess we're here to stay."

Melody shrugged. "I guess." She tackled her brother and smothered him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Leon smiled. "I will admit, Destiny Islands has always been my favorite place to live."

Melody looked at Riku. "Me too."

Everyone was so happy – especially Melody and Riku – now that Melody could stay at Destiny Islands. When Melody announced the news to Sora and Kairi, Kairi tackled her and Sora started hyperventilating. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. But most of all, Melody liked Riku's reaction.

Flashback:

After Melody and Leon were done talking, Melody wanted to go upstairs to her room and celebrate with Riku. She poked his arm.

"C'mon, Riku!" she said excitedly. "Let's go upstairs!"

Riku didn't move. He was in shock. But Melody knew he was in shock in a good way – she could see in his eyes how excited he was.

"Riku?" she said after a few minutes.

Slowly, he came back down to earth. He turned his head slowly towards Melody, and a huge grin crept on his face. "Come here."

Melody came closer, and Riku wrapped her in a tight hug. Melody could feel herself melting in his arms. "You're here. You're staying," he whispered.

Melody nodded. "I am."

"Did you not hear me?" he said louder. "YOU'RE STAYING!" He let go of Melody, and she saw his face.

"I know!" she said. "I can't believe it!"

Riku pulled her closer. "I think we should celebrate."

Melody shrugged, as if she couldn't careless. "I mean I guess we should…"

Riku picked her up, and carried her bridal style to her room. He put her down on her bed, and, of course, they started making out again.

End of Flashback.

So, there's a reason why I called this chapter Gotta Turn This Car Around; because, you know, in the song Shattered it always says that, and Melody literally turned the car around :P

And I know the killing off of Mr. Carlson was pretty, okay really dramatic, but I tried it out at first and thought it was pretty decent (that, and I didn't feel like changing it; what else would it have been, another fight between Leon and Melody?).

And, to The Cute one - you wished Mr. Carlson would die, and now he's dead! Hope you like! :)