WARNING WARNING GO BACK
Several chapters have been replaced. A lot of things have been changed. you don't need to go back probably, and even so you'd really only have to go back to like, 17, maybe. but you might want to.

i'm finally updating because i was flipping through old stuff and remembered this fanfic account-- note the use of the word old. i have a new account now. sir shortstuff-- and noticed that this story had 20 people with it on alerts. now, looking back through the story, all i could really think was "wha...? but it's so bad!" but, since that many people have it on alerts-- i guess i'll continue it anyways. 4 more chapters and the story is done.

then, maybe, i'll write a sequel-- and here's the thing: if i do, it will be WAY better written than this story-- trust me.

Chapter 21

"We have to go home," Sora told Yuna from a payphone.

"Huh? Why? I like it here!"

"Something's going on. We're going home. Could you get in contact with someone? I don't know how to get back..."

"Fine."

"Yuna?"

"What?"

"Be ready. Have your stuff all together. We're going the first opportunity we get."

Sora, Riku, and Kaz packed using magic, which they found had been returned– to some minor extent. When Kerrak got back, they made Kaz tell him they were leaving.

"Why?"

"You're closest to him, you tell him."

"But... I'll do something stupid... Like cry."

Sora and Riku were both perfectly aware of this.

Kerrak didn't say anything until the other two had left, Kaz sobbing and Riku comforting, flashing a smile to Sora over his shoulder while the brunette walked out behind them, surpressing laughter.

"Sora?"

"Yeah?"

There was a moment of quiet between them until Kerrak whispered softly, "Have you told Kairi?"

Sora shook his head. "I will."

"Good... And Sora?"

"Mhm?"

Kerrak smiled a bit– "Tell Kaz- I'll miss him, too."

Sora laughed. Kaz had gotten out the words 'we have to go' before bursting into tears.

"I will."

Sora did tell Kairi, though it ended up being over the phone. She and her friends had gone to the mall immediately after going to the museum, so he couldn't do it in person.

"Um– an emergency back home, I guess," he lied, remembering the headmaster's words.

"Oh. Um.. Kay... Bye... I guess..."

"Bye."

Disconnect.

Now there was only one goodbye left to handle– Yuna had spoken to Cloud for him, and Sora had personally talked to Tidus and Wakka, who he was surprised to find had grown on him quite a bit. (He was also tickled to notice that Yuna and Tidus had quite an awkward goodbye between them, ending in a really sloppy kiss on Yuna's cheek.) Sora had even said a few words to Selphie, over the phone.

His bags were already in the car and everyone else was ready to go. But he had to find Ryo.

He eventually found him, outside, sitting on a bench in the school yard– one under a willow tree with the branches hanging down over their heads. He was crying, Sora noted, as he sat down beside him.

"Ryo?"

His twin didn't respond, but Sora breathed in deep and went ahead with it anyways.

"We're leaving– Kaz, Riku, Yuna and I."

Ryo looked up, startled, and his eyes flashed with something that Sora couldn't even describe, except to say that it made his stomach twist painfully with guilt.

"What– Why? It's not 'cause of that stupid fight, is it? Oh, I'm sorry– I always ruin everything."

At those last words, tears came faster down Ryo's cheeks and his breath hitched and he latched onto Sora's shirt, mumbling something Sora couldn't understand.

"No... No. It's not because of you, Ryo."

"Please don't go."

Sora shook his head and lightly pried Ryo's hands from his shirt, whispering softly to his brother– "I'm sorry"– and he meant it, but he didn't stay to make sure Ryo was okay, because even just ten more seconds of watching him cry would make Sora near-explode with regret.

It wasn't how he'd planned that final meeting to go, he reflected later, getting out of a taxi in the middle of nowhere a few hours later.

"Yuna?" Sora asked as they dropped their stuff in the grass and Riku paid the driver. "Where the hell are we? You were supposed to be getting us home."

"I am!" Yuna said. "There, look."

She grabbed her things and walked forward-- and disappeared when she hit a wall of vaguely shimmering air.

Sora's jaw dropped. "Uhh... I guess that's our passage home," he muttered, and Riku walked forward, nodding.

He frowned and walked back again. Then repeated the process.

But no matter how many times he tried, they stayed right where they were.