Yay! I...put more effort into the relationship deepening again and it's not just cause I have no actual love life and suck at knowing true romance. Honest...I totally believe it...takes this long to...build love...I'm gonna go cry in a corner. Enjoy...I hope.
The five now stood before Sora's mansion home. They had come back here and were told it was because Roxas needed more than just what he currently had on. It was also a personal request by the blond himself that he have more attire than just what he came with. While they were out shopping, Riku, Axel and Demyx had the run of the house. To a point though, they weren't allowed into his side but it didn't matter since without him, no one could get there. The door had to have his magic unlock it and the only other one with it was Roxas. Axel and Demyx ran in with some sort of amused smile on their faces. Prospects of perhaps being told they could go anywhere inside with no supervision, like real children. Riku was the opposite. Being only the only one to walk inside and shut the door behind him. Sora just shrugged and walked down the road, Roxas following him.
Back at Destiny Islands
Chapter 48
As they walked, Roxas looked around the plain dirt road. The mansions were spread decently apart with all having fences and gates around them. Odds were to keep the…"common" folk envious of what they had. It wasn't long though 'til the smaller houses appeared. Many had yards and a few with backyards fenced off with different kinds. It looked a little more welcoming than the scattered mansions. It was almost interesting since in reality, the "Destiny Island" wasn't actually a small Island. Sora explained that the island he saw and that he referred to as home was not his real island home. It was off a bigger Island that was a two island chain known as "Destiny Islands". It made more sense now as to how they could have not one but two residential areas and now a town that was in the distance. It was a surprise to learn that the new save point wasn't actually new to Sora. He found it last time and used it frequently on the last journey whenever he dropped Donald off whenever he got mad.
More often it would be Wonderland he'd visit with Goofy on the ship but he did come back home rarely to relax on his locked side. It was better than being near the enraging duck half the time. Music didn't bother blocking him out cause the headset was always torn off. It would explain why the headset now went over the head and not earbuds. Roxas went to ask more bout Wonderland outside of the Islands. It was confusing that he'd go there more than back here, his home world. To which the brunet responded that Wonderland had two versions; His and Alice's and when he was in hers...parts of his would combine so he could traverse hers more easily. It was sorta like a computer borrowing internet; at least that was how Sora put it. In return for allowing him in, she would allow him to bring some of his Wonderland into hers. He didn't have any powers but Alice had powers in her mind. It just made it easier on him.
"So...why visit a place where you have no magic or powers?" Roxas questions.
"Wonderland can be interesting y'know. Not that I would recommend going unless you are able to...manage sanity." Sora said while breathing a heavy sigh. "I hate to admit it but to contend with madness, you have to a bit mad yourself then hope it doesn't take root."
"I'd rather avoid madness, unless that is where we are going next?" The blond asks. "Cause I'd like a warning if so."
"I wouldn't mind a trip there. See what's become of her mind. Last I saw her outside the last adventure was…" He stopped and crossed his arms, one hand moving a single finger to tap a cheek. "...after she lost her parents. I couldn't do much and I wasn't able to actually go to Wonderland but I hung around the Asylum she was locked up in. She was let out by time I got on with my journey though so I haven't gone back since."
"Do...you want to go back there then? See how she is doing?"
"Part of me does. She is a dear friend, granted...I..maybe fibbed and told them that me and her were...meant to be married and were engaged but it was to make sure I could actually go see her inside the building."
Roxas stared at him, "Does she know?"
Sora nods, "She knows. I wrote to her telling her what I did and she wrote back that it could be cleared up easily...once I got there and if she is...still there. If not, it was to be ignored until brought up. In which case, we simply say we called it off due to a long absence and are now friends."
He shrugs as they arrived at a store that sold shoes, clothes, accessories and jewelry.
"This is it. The only store that sells all you need. I know you probably don't care what the style is and it will be your pick of what to style your look too but…" The brunet smiles at him. "You do look good in the colors you are currently wearing. It doesn't have to be mixed though. It can be a solid color or...style it with other colors to complete a look. It's your choice. Go wild because I can cover it."
Nodding, Roxas walked inside with the brunet following him inside to see a one story building filled to the brim with clothes, shoes and accessories and an area dedicated to jewelry. It was kind of amazing to see a store look so small yet be this big. As Sora put it best, it was as if they got ahold of time lord technology and made the store like the TARDIS; bigger on the inside. The brunet stayed close by as the blond shopped. First shirts, including tank tops and then pants and soon other items. Each one being thrown into a cart being pushed by the brunet. The blond would have to try them on or at least try one of each to see just what size he'd need. It would be pointless to do so with each item since many looked to be part of a set. It seemed that the blond caught on though and stopped. Taking one of each and heading into a dress room and then coming back out seconds later. Adjusting the size of a couple items before continuing and stopping until the cart was full. The funny part was he only grabbed one pair of shoes and then told Sora that he was done and that he could get the process of paying the store down while he handled one other item.
He nods and headed to front desk near the entrance. Leaving Roxas to his own devices and letting the cashier begin a long, long process of scanning each item and bagging it. It would be more than just one load. With how much Roxas got, Sora would have to wash them all a certain way and in different loads. It wasn't bad but he hoped patience was going to be higher to leaving. Riku didn't like to linger too long when an important matter; like saving worlds was left undone or pushed to the side. Understandable but he was traveling with him and following his rule set of "breaks are needed" to make sure they could actually keep going. No way could he pull off another trip like his first one. That...oh, the lack of sleep, little meals and mostly drinking and eating quickly...even showers were just too short in between. If he wanted, yes...yes he could push them all to just go world by world cleansing them all of Heartless but there was no way and no chance even he could manage to do it again.
A tap had him look back and see Roxas had added a small box to the small pile of items now. Seems the blond was done and seconds after adding the small box, so was the cashier who seemed to think Sora couldn't handle the price as they said it with some...smug grin. Only for it to be wiped clean away as he handed her a card with no emotional reaction, flinching or care to the amount. 1,995 was barely a dent in his numbers. He had money constantly coming in. He couldn't break his bank unless he actually tried and even then, it would be pointless to even do so. This would be that rare expense.
"I didn't mean to wrack up such a large bill. You sure it's okay?"
Sora just smiles at the now, lack of smugness in their cashier, "Yeah, besides...gives me a chance to be a smug prick...but in all honesty, I won't be hit at all. I am a cheap date so this...pfft, nothing."
"Well...thank you...for this." Roxas watched the bags be grabbed by Sora. "Do we head back and hope your home isn't...well trashed."
"Ha, hardly a concern. It will be nice coming to a lively home and not empty and lifeless. I don't knock on the peace too much but because of me and Vanitas live. We don't often give the best house impression." The keyblade wielder sighs. "We often hear that...despite the lavish parties Van is known for throwing, we have a cold feeling home. As if the broken family dynamic is upfront and never truly fades until they leave or go outside the building."
The two walked through town and Sora didn't really say anything after that. Leaving him to absorb what he heard. The town felt as if the family was broken? It did have that feeling but for him, he felt it fade away when he went to the side locked away. The brunet's side had life...signs of life thriving. The map on the wall in progress, the paint cans and ladders...all of it seemed to bring some warmth to the cold feeling. To the point where Roxas never felt until after they had left for the Birthday Party Vanitas planned. If he extended the project then he could make it so the house wasn't so cold and he could help. Granted that meant seeing if he had any actual painting skills but he would help. Even if he could only tell him the colors he would need or setting up the area itself.
"How would you feel if you...expanded your map to the rest of the house?" Roxas says being given a confused look. "Let me explain. You said the house is cold, unwelcoming...well when we were on your side. I never felt that. It was warm, welcoming...even with all the incomplete worlds on the wall and the space among them. I only felt the coldness return when we joined the party."
"So...you think if I...painted the rest it would.."
"Yes, and who knows maybe Vanitas might like the ideas and if the others hate it yet feel welcome? Then what does it matter?" The blond shrugs. "Besides.." He looked back at the town. "I doubt they are gonna give damn anyways."
Sora laughs and lightly pushes him away, "I'll think about it." Roxas leaned against him, forcing him to stop. "Roxas...I gotta wash your clothes."
"I know...but before we get there." He held the box up. "Can you take a moment to open this? It's not some proposal item. Just something I wanted to do."
The keyblade wielder put the bags down and took the bags. Stepping forward and turning to look at the duel keyblade wielder. Spotting that the star on the zipper was...missing. He looked down at the box in his hand. Did he melt it down to be made into something? Or did he trade it's value for something else? If that was the case then it wasn't worth it. Yeah he gave his crown up but it was a sign of trust, love and care. A symbol to show how he felt. Giving up an item wasn't fair though and it had his guilt bubble up. Adding to the fact that in a sense, he perhaps the idea of him being with not just Roxas, but Axel would be a problem. Slowly pulling the lid up, he nearly dropped it at the sight. It was the star from the zipper, on a chain.
"...what...why did you…" He pulled it out.
"You handed over your crown to me back in that pirate world. Saying it grounded you to reality and would help me out but when I tried to give it back, you asked me to keep it. When you walked away, Riku said I not only earned your trust Sora...but I earned so much more." Roxas says, hands in his pockets. "So I am returning the favor. I have had that even when I was in Organization XIII. A reminder of who I was, even when I forgot. I can trust Axel with my life, I wouldn't date him otherwise."
"Then...why not give him this?"
"I gave him something else. In one of the worlds way back then, we came across an interesting shop that said "Piercings." so I picked an earring out for him to wear. He always has it cloaked to keep it safe. He gave me the bracelet set in return." Roxas explains, holding up the hand with the black and white bracelet and ring set. "So I want to give you that in return for what I have received."
The brunet slowly smiles as he put it, holding the symbol in one hand then looking up, "thank you."
The blond's cheeks turned bright red then, "Anyways…" he pulled his hands from his pockets and grabs all the bags. "We should get back." He walked by Sora.
"Yeah, I gotta wash them and teach you the requip spell after."
