Wings of Avalon: I'm glad you liked it! I kinda hated to make you guys go through it again haha, but I definitely thought it needed to be done.

XOneSkyx: Ah yes, poor Kaj! I have a soft spot for him, even though I didn't get to delve into his character too much in the story. Thank you for commenting!

Mitsuo the Universe jumper: Welcome! Always good to (metaphorically) see a new face (especially one that leaves reviews, haha!) Thanks for joining the party, glad you're enjoying so far.

coolmegan123: There's something I really want to tell you, but I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll wait. haha. Thanks for the comment!

And we're back with chapter 2! Hope everyone had a nice week...we're definitely taking advantage of the nice temperatures whenever we can around here. My girls are almost always outside. Anyway, don't guess I have much important to say, so on to the story!

Chapter 2

Perspective – Riku

The ride back to Master Yen Sid's tower after finding Sora was excruciatingly silent. Despite there being thirteen of us crammed on board one Gummiship, no one breathed a word or moved more than an inch the entire trip. The air was heavy with grief, and with I was sure a hundred things that the others wanted to be saying but wouldn't, out of respect for those of us dealing with the loss.

In the Master's office, I stood like a dutiful soldier in front of him as he commended us for our victory and welcomed back the newcomers. For once, though, I wasn't focused on his words, hardly heard any of them. Not that long ago I had stood in this same spot, and Meli had come bursting through the door and into my arms. This time, the door would stay closed. This time, my arms were empty, and that's the way they would remain. As I stared blankly at the flickering flame of the skull-shaped candle on Master Yen Sid's desk, the knowledge thrummed through my veins and left me even more achingly alone than I had been. I hadn't realized that was possible.

I blinked, and the meeting was suddenly over. Or at least, I assumed it was, since people were murmuring to each other, and Aqua was standing right in front of me. Blinking again, I tried to adjust my expression into something resembling normal, but my features felt numb. She gave me that sympathetic, understanding smile of hers again, and reached out to squeeze my arm.

"I'm very sorry about Meli, Riku. Terra and Ven and I are heading home now...it's been a long time, and we're eager to be back. But...if there's ever anything you need...please don't hesitate to contact me. I can't say that I quite understand the whole...Gummiphone thing yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to answer a call."

Nodding slightly, I cleared my throat and tried to find my voice. "Thanks."

Terra and Ventus both appeared as she moved on, solemnly offering their condolences. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Aqua hugging both Sora and Kairi on her way out. Once that trio was gone, it was Lea, Roxas, and Xion who timidly approached.

"Hey, um..." Lea scratched the back of his head, not making eye contact. "I just wanted to let you guys know how sorry I am about...you know." He sighed and shrugged. "She and I may not have been on the best of terms, but I hate that this happened. I really did want to see her get the help she needed."

"Not to mention that she saved all our butts," Roxas muttered.

Xion sniffled. "I was looking forward to getting to know her better."

"Yeah," Roxas nodded. "Me, too."

"Yeah. Um, so anyway...I have a feeling there's like, a lot of catching up for you guys and these guys –" Lea gestured between Roxas and Xion –"to do at some point, but...right now I'm sure you need some space. We were talking about maybe going back to the ol' Twilight Town, at least for now. So I guess that's where we'll be, if anyone needs us."

"Thanks, guys," Sora responded quietly . "We'll definitely get together soon."

Kairi trotted forward and gave Lea a quick hug. "Thanks for everything."

"Same to you, Princess."

Kaj was hidden away so quietly in the corner that I had nearly forgotten about his presence until Mickey started talking to him. "What do ya think you want to do now, Kaj? You're welcome to come back to the castle with us, or I'm sure you could go with these guys to Destiny Islands. Or if there's somewhere else you wanna go, just say the word and we'll get ya there." The King furrowed his brow. "Other than...well, I'm afraid we can't really take you back to your own universe."

Not without Meli.

"It's okay. I was kinda planning on staying, anyway." He glanced up at me, then down at his shoes again, stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets. "I don't want to be in anyone's way, though."

"You wouldn't be in the way!" Sora immediately reassured him. "I'm sure you could stay with Riku or me until you can get a place of your own. You could go to school with us, or get a job, or whatever."

Hi, Mom, I'm back, and guess what? I brought my doppelganger with me. That's cool, right?

"And you wouldn't be in the way at the castle, either," Mickey added. "But you might be more comfortable in a place that has kids your age, and a bit more normal life."

Kaj rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "Actually, um...I was kinda hoping that I could maybe get some more training from someone? I mean, I know the bad guys are all gone for now, but..I was enjoying what I was learning, and it kinda got cut short. I don't know if any of you know much about throwing knives, or would be willing..."

"Hmm." Mickey put a hand to his chin thoughtfully, then his face lit up. "You know what? I think I know just the people for you!" He nodded sharply, as if confirming the idea in his mind. "Yep, you'll fit in great and get just the training you want, and they can always use an extra set of hands on the committee. Me and the guys can take you there and introduce you on our way through."

Growing serious again, Mickey crossed to me. As much as I didn't want to be close to anyone right then, I made myself stoop down so that he could look me in the eyes. He drew in a deep breath, and let it out as a sigh. "I'm sorry, Riku. I know how special Meli was to ya. And even though she was struggling with the darkness, she was still a big help in making sure we won today. We'll all be forever grateful to her." Reaching out, he patted my hand. "I'll call ya in a few days to see how you're doin'."

I can't see how a few days are going to make any difference in how I feel.

Stepping back, the King surveyed the three of us. "I know everybody's real tired. Do ya think you'll make it home okay?"

"Sure, Your Majesty," Sora nodded. "We'll be fine."

If by 'fine' you only mean that we'll make it home without wrecking.

Mickey gave Sora and Kairi both a quick hand squeeze, Donald and Goofy attacked Sora in one of their infamous group hugs, Jiminy jumped out of Sora's jacket and onto Goofy's shoulder, and then they were gone, too. The three of us that remained stared silently at nothing, no one making the first move to leave.

"You all should be very proud of yourselves," Master Yen Sid spoke up. "The worlds are once more in your debt. This rest ahead of you is well-deserved, though I would implore you not to give up your training for long, so that you do not lose all that you have learned. In time, Sora, you may wish once again to take your Mark of Mastery exam. And Kairi, if you continue on this trajectory, one day you will be ready to take the exam, as well."

But not Meli. Meli will never get the chance.

Sora and Kairi both gave slight bows and mumbled assent, neither looking all that pleased with the idea as they normally would. With a final word of farewell from the Master, we all filed out of the room, down the stairs, and back onto our own Gummiship. Sora automatically took the driver's seat, and I didn't argue. He didn't start up the engine right away, though, instead gazing off over the orange waters that surrounded the tower.

"It doesn't feel like a victory."

Kairi sucked in a shuddering breath. "No. It doesn't."

Sora looked back at her as if he wanted to comfort her, but only heaved a sigh and began prepping for the flight home. Some little voice in the very back of my mind told me that I should be saying something, I should be trying to help them through this, but I was too numb to obey. What could I possibly say, anyway? I have nothing to give.

The second ride was just as silent as the first. By the time we got home, it was the early hours of the morning, but none of us had bothered to try to sleep. Anytime I so much as blinked, I saw the darkness crashing down into Meli's body, felt her disintegrating in my arms.

The island was still shrouded in cool, dark air as we slowly disembarked onto the beach. Our bikes were there, waiting. Without discussion, we each took hold of a set of handlebars and began walking up the path, none of us having the energy or desire to ride. In a few minutes, we were in front of my house. Sora and I both stopped out of habit, but Kairi took a few more steps before realizing we weren't following and turning to look at us. She seemed to be on the verge of tears again.

"Please," she whispered. "I don't...I don't think I can..."

"Yeah." Sora nodded and pushed his bike up toward hers. "I'll go with you."

It hit me like a punch to the gut. We have to tell her parents. For a moment I couldn't even breathe, much less talk or move.

"Riku?" I heard Sora say as if from a distance. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

I jerked my head up to meet his worried gaze. "I'll come." The very least I could do was be present for this. Kairi deserved my support, and knowing her parents, they'd probably be worried about me until they saw me. Besides, it wasn't like I was eager to be completely alone in my own house, no matter how little talking had been going on that night.

We let ourselves into the huge foyer of the Yoshida house, and I was immediately assaulted by a dozen memories of Meli. It didn't matter that this had been Kairi's house long before it was also Meli's, now it seemed wrong to be there without her. This was just the foyer, I couldn't imagine what venturing further into the house was going to be like.

There was a clattering of a spoon on a dish from the direction of the kitchen as soon as the door clicked shut, and Mrs. Yoshida – probably getting ready for an early shift at the hospital – appeared in the doorway with excitement already on her face. "You're back!" Taking a few more steps into the room, she slowed, then stopped altogether, expression falling. Likely her mind was beginning to register the morose faces before her, and the glaring absence of one particular person. I fixed my gaze on the burgundy rug beneath my feet, unable to watch.

Kairi drew in a gulp of air. "Mom..." That was all she was able to get out, as the tears took over from there.

"Oh, no..." Mrs. Yoshida breathed. "No...no, no..."

Sora and Kairi rushed forward suddenly, and I snapped back to attention to see them both supporting Mrs. Yoshida as she crumpled into her tears, guiding her toward the staircase to sit. I dragged along behind them, each sob pounding into my already aching heart.

"My poor baby..."

You were supposed to protect her. You promised her mom that you would bring everybody back home safely, and you failed.

Meli's frail, broken voice echoed through my mind – "Please don't blame yourself." I wished I could do that, for her, but the fact was that I had failed everyone, Meli most especially.

"Riku."

I flinched at Mrs. Yoshida's call, expecting her to scream at me for not protecting her daughter. I deserved it. You failed. You failed.

Instead, with tears still streaming down her cheeks, she reached out her hand to me. Kairi was tucked into her other side, and Sora was hanging on her knee. Even he was crying at this point. I stared at the proffered hand, not understanding what she wanted from me. Didn't she hate me?

"Come here, son."

The automatic forgiveness seemed almost more painful than being screamed at would have been. I didn't want to go to her. I didn't deserve the affection, I didn't want the proximity, I didn't want anyone to know that I couldn't seem to cry like the rest of them were. But I walked over anyway, took her hand, and followed her tugging to plant myself opposite Kairi. Mrs. Yoshida hugged me firmly against her side, pulling my head down onto her shoulder and stroking my hair.

"She was a hero," Sora murmured. "She saved everyone from being taken by the darkness. But...she sacrificed herself."

Kairi sniffed loudly, and Mrs. Yoshida let out a shaky sigh. "Of course she did," she whispered, nodding against the top of my head.

I didn't know how long we sat there, all huddled up together, but eventually Sora was prodding my arm and gesturing toward Kairi. She had fallen asleep with her head in Mrs. Yoshida's lap, exhausted from the battle and her tears.

"I'll get her." Untangling myself, I stood and scooped her up, ready to walk upstairs to her bedroom, but she woke suddenly and clutched at my jacket.

"I don't wanna...I don't wanna be in my room," she mumbled. "Don't take me to my room."

Their room. The room she shared with Meli.

I glanced down at her mom, who gave a sympathetic sigh. "The basement, then. I'll pull out the sofa bed." They had a guest room upstairs, but it was no better, since it had been Meli's when she first arrived.

Sora helped Mrs. Yoshida with moving the ottoman and getting out the bed, and I laid Kairi gently down onto it. She was nearly asleep again already.

"It's been a long day," Sora explained to Mrs. Yoshida in hushed tones as she slipped Kairi's boots off. "Or...long night? Both, I guess. Seems like it's been ages since we all slept last."

Mrs. Yoshida gazed down at Kairi's sleeping form, then back up at the two of us. "Why don't you all just sleep here, then? I can tell you're both exhausted. I don't want something happening to either of you on your way home because you're so tired."

I could see Sora's cheeks tinge pink. "Like...here?"

The corner of Mrs. Yoshida's mouth lifted in the slightest of smiles, and she cupped Sora's chin in her hand. "I doubt either of you want to be upstairs, either. I think I can trust the three of you to do nothing but sleep at this point."

Sora was clearly speechless at that, but he obligingly kicked off his own shoes and crawled onto the far edge of the mattress, away from Kairi. I began the same process without stopping to think too much about it. I knew my mind and body couldn't handle being up and awake much longer.

Mrs. Yoshida caught my hand in her own before I could get onto the bed, and I reluctantly met her eyes. "It's going to be okay, honey."

Cutting my eyes off to the side, I focused on a random spot on the wall and swallowed. "I don't see how it could be." Pulling my hand away, I turned without letting her reply, scooting myself up between my two friends and lying down. Mercifully, sleep was quick to come.

A/N: I've written the second draft through chapter 15 so far. It's going smoothly as of now! Hopefully soon I'll be able to move up to 2 posts per week, but I'll let you know when that's coming.

Thanks for the reviews last week, keep them coming! I love to hear what you guys think!