Chapter 49: Another Reunion
-April 17, 2009-
Kassy's POV
When we finally emerged from Merlin's training loft, Donald immediately got down to business.
"So, it turns out we are gonna need another day to rest. Fill up provisions, prepare the gummi ship, etc. So, we have keys to the hotel rooms for everyone. Cloud has one already. Two per room so pair up." Donald held out three colored keys.
"I call blue room!" Sylvia grinned, snatching the key from Donald's hand, "Kassy, you're with me!"
"Oh that's right! We haven't seen the other two rooms!" Hazel squealed, "Elena and I call yellow room then!" Elena took the key from him.
Cloud sighed, "I don't care who rooms with me. I'm in the green room."
Sora shrugged, "I'll pair up with you. I don't mind." Cloud nodded and bid his farewell for the night.
"Then that leaves Goofy and I in the red room." Donald pocketed the last key, "You're free to do what you want then until we leave the next morning."
"Sweet! Let's go and check out the rooms, guys!" Sylvia grinned at the three girls, "If it's a bunkbed, I call top!"
My bottom lip curled up, as she dragged me by the hand down the stairs and back through to the third district, "You always get the top!"
"I called first dibs!" She snickered, only to halt just after the edge of the wall to the open floor of the third district, "Oh, right!"
A small group of shadow heartless danced before us. The boys got into a fighting stance only to gasp as a sword slashed through.
"There you are! What's going on?" Riku!
Riku's POV
Sora hurried past the girls standing at the front of the group, "Riku?!"
"Hey, hey, cut it out!" I smacked his hands away from pulling at my face.
"I'm not dreaming this time, right?" His worry made me feel guilty. I smothered it, faking my feelings with a smirk, "Dreaming of me?" I chuckled at the red blossoming across his cheeks, "But seriously. I hope not. Took forever to find you."
"Riku!" He finally smiled that radiant smile of his.
A small brunette girl stepped next to him with a wide smile, "Riku!"
"Kasandra?" Well, wasn't this a surprise.
"I'm so glad you're here! I was so worried…" She clasped her hands together. Red jumped across her cheeks and she put her hands to her mouth, "I-I'm sorry! I-I mean Sora and I are glad you're safe!"
A smile slowly spread across my lips. Well, what do you know?
Sora looked up expectantly, "Wait a second, where's Kairi?"
My brows furrowed, "Isn't she with you?" Sora's face fell, "Well, don't worry. I'm sure she made it off the island, too." I walked past them, staring up at the starlit sky, "We're finally free. Hey, she might even be looking for us now. We'll all be together again soon. Don't worry. Just leave everything to me. I know this-"
The sounds of a sword slicing through the air had me silent. I turned around to face Sora.
He held a key shaped sword in his hand with a smug expression, "Leave it to who?"
One of the girls snorted. A short haired brunette, "Certainly not you."
"Hey!" He frowned over his shoulder at her, "I thought we were making progress."
She put a hand to her chest with an exaggerated shocked expression, "We were? My apologies for getting your hopes up!"
He frowned. Kasandra glared at the female, "Hey, we talked about this!"
I frowned, "Um… Someone want to enlighten me on what's going on? Or who any of you are?"
The sarcastic brunette's eyes shot in my direction, "Shut it, Riku! We're having a conversation, wait your damn turn!"
I stiffened with narrowed eyes before turning on my heel and walking away. Kasandra called out my name and to wait. Sora chorused with her.
"Please don't go! I've been looking for you for this long with them!" He pleaded.
I paused, slowly turned to face them, "What the hell is going on?"
The clearing of a throat came from a short duck, "My name is-"
"I've been looking this long for you..." Sora interrupted him desperately.
My eyes narrowed with a smug tone, "Really. Well, what do you know? I never would've guessed."
Kassy's POV
Goofy put his hands on Sora's shoulders, "And guess what! Sora's a keyblade master!"
Donald scoffed next to Elena, "Yeah... Who would've thought it?"
Sora growled at me and faced him, growling at him, "What's that mean!"
"So, this is called a Keyblade?" Everyone looked at Riku who held the keyblade in the air curiously.
"Huh?" Sora articulated, "Hey, give it back!"
After a moment, he tossed it back to its current owner, "Catch!"
"Whoa!" He caught it, clumsily, "Okay, so, you're coming with us, right?"
I nodded, clasping my hands together, "Please come with us!"
Despite my hoping for that he would change his mind, Donald still protested, "No, he can't come!"
Sora spun around to face him, "What?"
The duck shook his head, "Forget it!"
The Keyblade wielder stomped his foot childishly, "Oh, come on! He's our friend!"
Donald huffed, "I don't care!"
I had only looked away for a moment, but it was too late, "Riku!"
"He's gone!" Goofy pointed to where he had just been.
"Riku?" Sora faced the empty space Riku had once occupied, "Nice going. Oh, well. At least he's okay. And who knows? Maybe we'll run into Kairi soon, too!"
Sylvia rolled her eyes, "Yeah, pretty sure you pushed him away too."
"What?" Sora spun around to face her, "Why would you say that? I would never!"
I gasped at her, "Syvy!"
Sora frowned, "I would never push my friends away. Don't… don't ever say that to me…"
Sylvia's frame stiffened before she turned her head away and mumbled something. I think it was an apology.
I put a hand on Sora's shoulder, "But we know he's safe. That's the most important thing."
He frowned looking over at me, "Is he? We saw him… But…"
Sylvia groaned, "Oh, I can't take this anymore, I'm going on ahead." She spun on her heel and hurried up the steps towards the gang's safe house near the door to the second district.
I sighed quietly, "Just ignore her… It's just… It's been a really tough time for everyone… And Sora? We'll find Riku again."
He let out a soft sigh, "Okay… I believe you." He smiled faintly, "Thank you."
My cheeks burned lightly, "I-It's no problem at all… He's my friend too… And I believe we'll find him again."
Sylvia's voice echoed from the top of the stairs, "Get a room you two!"
Sora and I jumped several feet away from each other, faces burning brightly. The others laughed. Everyone herded after her.
