Chapter 21: Riku

"Zack!" Aerith shrieked with excitement and ran to my tall, built uncle who was standing in the middle of the sand lot, next to her fiancé. I watched his face light up in more ways than one. It looked like he was so happy to see her, but upset she was there because she was getting involved the danger, but wanting to grab her and kiss her, but not wanting to because Cloud was standing right there. But Aerith didn't care. She ran to Zack, stray tears flying from her face, the sun catching them and making them glisten. I watched as Aerith jumped into Zack's arms and cried out his name again, her brown braid whipping around and falling over her shoulder. I stared at her red ribbon. The one that symbolized Zack's love for her. Cloud was looking to the side a bit, trying to act like he didn't see his fiancé embracing his best friend, his mako blue eyes focusing on a flower that was growing on the edge of the sandlot. Zack looked Aerith in the eye and ran his hand over her long brown braid, grazing his hand over the red bow lightly.

"Its been too long, Aerith." He said in a serious tone. He kissed her on the cheek softly and set her back down on her feet. She looked like she was a bit disappointed to be put down so soon, but remembered that Cloud was right there. She turned to her fiancé.

"I'm so glad you're safe." She said, wrapping her arms around the blonde man's neck. Cloud didn't smile, and his eyes remained focused somewhere else, but returned to hug, wrapping his arms around her lower back, and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Why did you come, instead of Leon? Its dangerous here." Muttered Cloud over Aerith's shoulder.

"I needed to see you two again. And I need to be here, Cloud. You know the power I hold." She pulled back to look her lover in the eye. Cloud bit his lip and mouth 'okay'.

After that little scene, I forgot that Sora, Axel, and I were still there, and why we were there for that matter.

"Riku, Sora, come give your uncle a hug!" Said Zack, opening his big broad arms to us. I looked at Sora who looked a bit embarrassed, but he walked swiftly over to hug Zack anyway.

"Its been years!" Said Sora quietly. Zack rustled Sora's hair.

"That it has." Zack agreed.

"Come on Riku, come give me a hug!" Zack demanded. I walked slowly over to him and awkwardly put my arms around him. I didn't know why I had such a problem hugging him, but I guess it was just hugging people in general. And the fact I hadn't seen him in so many years played a role in the awkwardness as well.

"Wow, Riku, you're almost as tall as me!" Zack said in amazement. I laughed and stepped back to look at him. It was true, I was almost as tall as him, but he was much bigger. His muscles were much more toned and his hair added some height to him, also making him look more intimidating. It was black and spiky, almost in the exact same style as Axel's hair. He also had a big sword hanging on his back, which looked like it could kill you in one swing. Zack's mako eyes shifted behind me, and focused on the only one left.

"Axel, its been a long time." He said in a more serious and formal tone than that he had used on me and Sora. Axel walked over and shook my uncle's hand.

"Its good to see you, Zack." Said Axel. I didn't know they knew each other. I guess there was a lot I didn't know.

"I'm sorry I…failed… my mission." Axel muttered. "You know… Losing Roxas and all."

Zack put a hand on Axel's shoulder.

"Its alright Axel, it wasn't your fault. We'll get him back. All that matters is that you tried your hardest." He said. Axel smiled weakly and nodded.

"Alright! So this is the plan, folks. Me and Cloud mapped it all out before you got here." Said Zack, taking an in-charge tone of voice.

"We figure that since Aerith did join us on this little mission, it makes it easier. She can use her power to shield us from the little radars those silver haired freaks have in their brains." He said.

"I can?" Asked Aerith.

"Of course you can! But it won't keep them from actually seeing us with their eyes so we have to be extremely stealthy." He said and paused, nodding his head. I looked around and noticed everyone was nodding there heads in agreement. Wow… Nods are contagious.

"The prisoners are up in that clock tower." Zack pointed to the clock tower.

"And Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz are probably watching from a nearby building. I'm guessing they'd probably be taking turns watching, so I think the best time to attack is at night. So that means, everyone can chill around town for the rest of the day." Zack said with a big grin. I didn't exactly want to wait until night time, but I guess it was our only choice.

Everyone had dispersed for a few hours to mill around town. Zack and Cloud took Aerith shopping, Sora and Axel went to check out the struggle battle we saw a sign for, and I just decided to hang out on my own for a while. I was beginning to get overwhelmed by everything that was happening. I decided to go explore a little. I walked around the small town, finding cute little things about it that I loved. The train station, the tram that ran around the plaza area, the shops. It was great. And the permanent orangey color the town had all day.

I found myself walking through a back alley, and finding a sheet hanging, covering an area behind it.

"I wonder what this is." I though out loud. I swept the sheet aside and entered. And I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Hey get out of here this is our spo-…" Began Hayner until he noticed it was me.

"Riku?! What are you doing here? In Twilight town?" He asked.

"I was just about to ask you the same question." I said. I looked around and noticed Olette was there as well and some chubby kid I wasn't familiar with.

"Olette and I come here every weekend to visit our friend Pence. She and I used to live here, you know?" He said.

"No I didn't know that. Hi Pence, I'm Riku." I said, holding out my hand to the chubby, brown eyed boy.

"Hi Riku, welcome to our spot!" He said cheerfully. I smiled. I already liked the kid.

"So why are you here?" Ask Olette, curiously.

"Oh! Uh… Um, well I'm just on a little family get away. My uncle Zack was here and we just had to come see him. I haven't seen him in years." I said nervously. Hopefully it wasn't obvious I was twisting the story, big time.

"Oh well that's cool." Said Hayner, tossing me an ice cream.

"Thanks."

"Its sea salt. Its our favorite kind." Said Pence. Sea salt ice cream… That was Roxas's favorite too. I licked it and it was such a strange, yet satisfying taste.

"So where is the rest of your family? Like your uncle and brothers?" Asked Hayner.

"Oh they went to check out some other stuff around town. I think Sora went to check out the struggle battle thing." I said, nervously.

"Ah he should enter! Its for the best fighters in town. I'm entering. It takes place tomorrow, though. But you can register today." Said Hayner.

"Oh, well I'm not sure how long we're staying in town. But if we're here tomorrow I'll make sure he and I enter." I said.

"What about Roxas?" asked Olette.

"Who?" I stuttered nervously.

"Roxas." She repeated. "Your youngest brother?"

"Oh right, Roxas. Well I'm not sure if he's into the whole fighting thing, you know how he is. But I'll offer. Anyway, I better go. My family is probably wondering where I am." I said. I needed to get out of here. I was worried they'd find out what happened to Roxas if they pressed me more with questions.

"Alright… Well, see you around." Said Hayner with a two fingered wave.

"See ya!" Said Olette.

"It was nice meeting you." Said Pence, with a toothy grin. I waved and ducked under the sheet, out of their spot.

"Hey Riku, that struggle thing is awesome!" Said Sora excitedly as he followed by Axel, met back up with me by the accessory shop.

"Its like, a tournament. It's tomorrow! I so wanna do it!" He gushed.

"Sora, don't forget why we're here." I said.

"…Oh.. Well maybe if we rescue Roxas in time!" He said optimistically. Axel smiled, thoughtfully down at Sora, and sighed.

"We'll see. Lets go find the others."

We searched for them for a while and finally saw Zack and Aerith by the another shop. Cloud was no where in sight. They looked like they were deep in conversation, so Sora, Axel, and I decided to eavesdrop a little.

"I do love him." Aerith, said defensively.

"Well that wasn't a very good way to greet him." Zack said, folding his arms.

"Zack, I haven't seen you in years. Of course I'm going to be excited to see you…I…" She paused.

"I still… Love you…" She said in a vulnerable voice.

"You can't love me anymore, Aerith. What about Cloud?"

"I do love him! But I can love whoever I want! Its not my fault that you two forced him on me. Forced him into my heart and made me love him." She snapped, angry now.

"Aerith…" Zack began and stepped closer to her. She looked surprised as he picked her up in his arms and kissed her. Her arms fell limply over his shoulders, as she kissed him back.

"Where is Cloud?" whispered Sora.

"I have no clue. Shh." I hissed.

"I love you too." Said Zack.

"I never stopped loving you. And I'm sorry we forced Cloud on you. It was the only thing we could do."

"That's crap, Zack. I didn't need to be with anyone after I couldn't be with you." She said, running her hands through his dark hair.

"Well too late." Said Zack ,setting Aerith back on her feet.

"I'm going to marry Cloud." Aerith said, reassuringly.

"I know." Said Zack, with a sad smile on his face.

"But you will always be my first love. And I will always have a special place for you in my heart." She said. Zack nodded and kissed Aerith's hand.

"He should be coming back with those potions and elixirs soon." Zack said.

I turned to Sora and Axel and motioned for us to go meet them. We got up and rounded the corner.

Zack's eyes lit up when he saw us.

"Oh, hey guys! As soon as Cloud gets back with some supplies, we're off, alright?"

"Okay" I said. I felt bad for Cloud not knowing what just went on. But I guess Zack and Aerith needed some kind of closure. It was only fair. I looked at Sora's face. He looked sad. Most likely he was reminded of Kairi after watching that scene.

"Sora."

"Hm?"

"We'll get her back. I promise."

Author's note: wow I just wrote this basically all in one sitting. I feel gross! But it needed to be done. Cuz I'm about to go into super busy mode and won't have to much time to write. I hope you liked this chapter. Thankyou to the reviews I am getting, I appreciate it a lot. And thanks again, Natalie, for supporting me through this whole thing. Please review before you leave this page!!!!!!