Chapter 50: Important After All

-April 17, 2009-

Riku's POV

As I watched from the shadows, Sora, Kasandra, and the others through the large window, a cold calloused hand clutched my shoulder none too gently, "You see? It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, now he values them far more than he does you. You're better off without that wretched boy."

I watched Kasandra as her expression grew angrier the more she spoke to Sora. She was interesting. I wonder...

The witch's voice broke me from my musings, "The girl… She doesn't seem to care much about him. Look at them bicker…" She motioned to Kassy who was pointing angrily out the window in our direction as she screamed at him. Most likely about our reunion, "I can tell she cares for you. Do you?"

I remained silent for a long few moments before slowly turning my head slightly towards her, "She… She seemed to care for Sora…"

I could hear more than see her smirk, "Not the way I see it. She cares for you and will care even more deeply if you pursue her. Help her."

"You can… help with me with her as well?" I reluctantly asked with a quiet voice.

Her grip tightened on my shoulder ever so slightly, "Of course. Come with me and I can help you. With her and what you're searching for…"

Hazel's POV

These arguments just kept coming and getting worse by the minute. Kassy was glaring at Sylvia. She was angry, "How can you treat him like this?! You don't even know him!"

Sylvia's fists clenched at her sides, "I sure as fuck do! He's an idiot and things are going to get better at this rate!"

"Kassy's right." Sora stepped up next to the short brunette, "Why are you like this? I'm trying to be your friend! I'm not your enemy!"

A manic grin lacking any humor appeared on her face, "Oh? You truly believe that don't you?"

His eyebrows furrowed, "I'm not! Really! I'm your friend! I don't push my friends away! If anything, it's you who's pushing us away."

I grabbed Elena's arm in rising fear, "Vy-Vy, calm down!" Her eyes had suddenly lightened when the light hit them just right. No one but I noticed.

Sylvia snarled, "Pushing you away?! I'm protecting my friends! Seems to me, you couldn't even get Riku to stay!"

"That's…" Sora's own fists clenched, "I tried to get him to stay. He was the one who left. It's… It's him!"

To everyone's surprise, Kassy who was starting to vibrate from so much anger, spun to face Sora, screaming, "He's standing right outside the window!"

But he didn't follow her outstretched finger. Instead he frowned, "That's kind of cruel. He ran off. It was his choice."

Tears trailed down her cheeks, "You have to believe me, Sora! He's okay!"

"I don't know if I can..." He turned away with a guilty expression, "All of you guys… These supposed powers getting out of control… I don't know if I can trust y-"

I blinked only once and Sora was against the wall, holding the gushing cartilage in the middle of his face. Kassy's hand shot up quickly to muffle her gasp, tears running down faster. Sylvia cracked her knuckles and stomped towards Sora, eyes glinting dangerously for a few moments before swirling to pure white.

Elena and I immediately gripped her arms and trying to calm her down. Elena was sent flying to Yuffie and Aerith's feet. I was sent to Leon and Cid's feet. Sora wiped his bloody hand on his jumpsuit and summoned his keyblade.

Leon and Cid stepped closer, "Hey! Sylvia, calm down!"

Sylvia looked over her shoulder at the two males with a snarl and raised a hand, sending a ball of darkness at them that sent them slamming into the wall behind them.

She turned back and raised a hand to Sora. Sora raised his keyblade. Balls of light and darkness gathered at their weapon's tips.

"Stop!" I cried out, rushing to my feet and jumping in between them, raising both my hands to them.

Both Sora and Sylvia were sent sprawling backwards. Sylvia's white eyes faded back as she stared at me with a frown. I stomped over to her with narrowed eyes, picking her up roughly by the arm, "I told you to calm down!"

Her eyes widened, "Woah! Haze, your eyes! I'm sorry about the you're not important spiel! You're definitely something!"

Satisfied that she was back to normal, I let her go before turning to look at the others, "Uh… Eyes?"

Leon approached slowly, "Left black, right white…"

I looked down at my hands, "And that… thing I did?"

Elena snorted, putting a hand on my shoulder, "You put Sylvia in her place, that's the important thing."

Sylvia's bottom lip curled up, pointing to a groaning Sora being doted on by Kassy, "Hmph! He's the one who antagonized me!"

"Let it go." I glared down at her.

Her eyes widened again, "Yes ma'am."

Elena grinned, "I like this power you have over her!"

Kassy stroked Sora's head as her hand and his held a cloth to his nose, "Why is she not dangerous like you guys are?"

Leon crossed his arms over his chest, "The Half-Princess of Heart is exactly half and half. Not more of either. An exact half of darkness and an exact half of light. It looked like you were able to counter the opposing powers of Sora and Sylvia."

"Huh." I mused before grinning down at Sylvia still on the floor, "Told you I was important!"

Sylvia let out a sigh of relief, "Thank god. Your eyes are back to normal. It was kinda creepy. But like I said. My bad."

I wrapped an arm around her neck and rubbed my fist into her hair, "I'm gonna milk this now!"

"Hey, hey! Stop it, bitch! I said I was sorry!" She laughed, weakly pushing at my limbs.

With the tension dissipated, everyone laughed for a few moments, enjoying the happier atmosphere. Aerith healed Sora's nose.

Yuffie spoke up first, "It's getting late. You guys better rest up!"

Sora frowned, "But what about the bell? We were gonna go check that out after."

Kassy smiled at him, hand on top of his on the floor between them, "Yuffie right. And we can check it out in the morning!"

Well, that's interesting. Sylvia, Elena, and I exchanged a smile. She was gonna be interrogated BIG time.