Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 10

Kairi collapsed on the bench, Keyblade vanishing as she panted. She happily accepted the water bottle Riku held out to her, glaring at Sora who looked as fresh as when they'd started. Was that really the difference between a whole person and a Nobody? Or between someone who had been using a Keyblade for much longer and someone newer? She wondered how he'd do against King Mickey, that would prove which it was.

"Are you okay?" Sora asked as his own Keyblade vanished, at least he hadn't used both against her. "It wasn't too much was it? I'm not really used to fighting people," he admitted, before sending a Cure spell at her.

"I'm fine guys," she told them both firmly.

She'd probably be aching by tomorrow though, good thing the mansion bathroom had those old-fashioned soaking tubs, that was where she'd be spending the night. Kairi knew that Riku and Sora slept in the same bed, Riku had assured her nothing beyond kissing had happened, blushing when he admitted to having been so tired he'd ended up sleeping almost naked with Sora one night. She just didn't feel ready for that, not yet, just like she didn't want Sora to say that he remembered being in love with them to her. Holding hands, kissing, hugging, that was enough for now. She didn't mind that they slept together though, she knew Riku had needed the comfort of having Sora close while she was sleeping and even now.

She didn't like the mansion, it was rundown and creepy, especially with the underground lab that none of them knew the origins of, even if it had come in handy. And DiZ…she didn't trust him as far as Jiminy could throw him. She'd heard his comments about Sora and Naminé and they made her feel sick. She just knew that if given the chance he'd kill them both.

"Hey, getting lost in there?" Riku asked, flicking her forehead, and she slapped his hand away playfully.

"Just thinking," she smiled and used his hand to tug him closer, looking for a kiss which he happily gave. "When do you think we'll be ready to leave and how will that work?" she asked as Sora sat down on the bench beside her, taking another water bottle from Riku with a small smile of thanks. He was definitely getting better at faking emotion from what Riku had told her of how he'd been at first.

"We need to wait for the Replica to wake up," he pointed out. "Doubt DiZ will be any kinder to him than a Nobody."

"Will he come with us?" she asked.

"That's up to him," Riku answered, sitting on the ground to lean against their legs.

She smiled and reached out to run her fingers through lengthening silver hair, it was a lot softer than its jagged cut made it look. He tipped his head back, leaning into her touch. She smiled again when Sora's hand joined hers, if Riku was a cat he'd be purring at their attention, relaxing totally. It was nice to see, he didn't just relax and let go enough. She knew a lot of that was the guilt over what he'd done, but he'd always had trouble fully relaxing. Came from the man of the house she guessed, Sora was too but it was just him and his Mum while Riku had his younger siblings to worry about. Which also had to be making him feel even worse about what he'd done, especially since they didn't know how everyone back home was. Had anyone been lost permanently when the Islands fell? She knew Riku would never forgive himself, even though he'd been manipulated by a pro.

She'd been avoiding thinking of her adoptive parents, of her friends, anyone from home really. She wanted to see them but that would be dangerous, wouldn't it? What if they led the Organisation there and they took hostages or something? No one there knew about other Worlds either, so how would they explain leaving again…how would they explain Sora? It would break his Mum's heart to see him as he was now; the physical changes could be explained away as puberty but the blankness? It would hurt her too much. Was that why Sora hadn't gone back even though he had a way to? But…there was a chance they wouldn't win, they were really outnumbered after all, what if this was their last chance to see their loved ones?

"Kairi?" Sora called, his free hand moving to her shoulder, and she leant into the touch, looking up at him. "Is something wrong?"

His question made Riku tense, straightening up and turning so he could see them too. Drats, just when they had him nice and relaced. "Kairi?" he frowned in concern.

"It's nothing," she denied, but Sora shook his head. She sighed. "Just thinking…about home," she admitted softly.

"I could take you back if you want to see it," Sora told her.

"Part of me wants to but…how could we when we'd just have to leave again? And what if the Organisation found us there, we'd be putting everyone in danger."

Riku flinched at that, looking down at the ground, and she reached for him, slipping off the bench to wrap him in a hug. She felt Sora follow a moment later and it was still a bit weird to have him following her lead rather than her following him when it came to emotional things.

"Riku, it wasn't your fault," Sora said before she could. "Ansem was a master manipulator, like Xemnas…they're the same," he whispered in shock.

"Sora?"

"Xemnas, take out the X and rearrange the letters and you get Ansem. Ansem was the Heartless and Xemnas is the Nobody. If Ansem was anything like Xemnas then you didn't stand a chance Riku."

"But you didn't listen to Xemnas," Riku pointed out.

"Because I had a very firm goal and a reason to be wary," Sora told him firmly. "I had to get back to Kairi, that was all that mattered. If I hadn't had that or if I'd remained amnesiac… he'd have had me and I'd be going along with the Organisation."

"But…"

Kairi cut Riku off this time by kissing him gently. "It wasn't your fault. Maybe if you'd told someone about the creepy guy at first things might have been different but he got to you Riku. We were just kids, we still are. You didn't know any better."

"Come on, showers and then we're going to the Islands to see that everyone's back, then on to Hollow Bastion to see if Cid can get us a ship," Sora announced, getting up and pulling them to their feet.

They both stared at him for a second before Kairi giggled and mock saluted. "Yes sir!" happily, that got a small smile from Riku.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Mickey."

He turned at Sora's call, smiling at the young Nobody before straightening at the serious expression on his face. "Sora is something wrong?" he asked in concern, thankfully Sora shook his head.

"Can we borrow your coat?"

"I thought Riku has been using yours?" he didn't really like Sora not using one, no Heart to corrupt or not, and honestly…he wasn't entirely sure Sora fully lacked one. Every now and then, there was a flicker and that gave him hope, he knew it did Kairi and Riku too. There had to be a way to restore Sora fully, it was why he was planning to go see Master Yen Sid, to see if he knew anything.

"He is, it's for Kairi. They want to go home, to see for themselves that everyone is alright. We figured we'd stop by Hollow Bastion on the way back to see if Cid can get a ship for us."

"Hmm…well, that won't be easy Sora, the lanes you used before will have closed with the Worlds being restored. Leave the ship to me, Disney Castle has several and at least one is bigger than the one you used."

Sora nodded. "Thanks, we might still go though, Kairi wants to let them know she's okay."

"What about you?" He asked.

Sora tilted his head slightly. "They know I'm dead."

"They think you're dead Sora, and that would make them sad, you're friends right? Don't ya think they deserve to know you're alive?" he pressed, seeing a flicker of confusion in blue eyes.

"I…but I'm not…"

"Sora," he moved closer, taking the boys hands. "They deserve the truth or are you worried they'll hate you for this?"

"It's too risky, the Organisation,"

"Has no reason to go after your friends when they think you're really dead. Besides, Merlin's magic can keep them out if he's with the others. Just think about it, alright?"

Sora nodded and Mickey handed over his coat. He could catch the train to his old Master's, Yen Sid would likely prefer that rather than him having Sora or Naminé open a Corridor for him. As creepy and dangerous as those were, they did come in handy. Why didn't the Light have a similar way of travelling? Or did they and they just didn't know it? That would be worth investigating.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora opened the Corridor where he knew no one should be loitering on a school day, the docks where they all tied their boats for easy travel to the Play Island and sure enough there were no witnesses to see the three emerge. Everything looked how he remembered and a glance at the others showed the same. "Where to first?" he asked, would Riku want to see his family or would Kairi?

"Your house," they both answered almost in unison, and he frowned.

"Why?"

"So you can see your Mom and know she's okay, silly," Kairi chided, slipping her arm through his, Riku moving to stand on his other side.

He didn't understand why, the whole purpose of the trip was to help Riku and to let Kairi see anyone she missed. He…didn't miss anyone. He remembered them all but there was no connection, no desire to see them. Even his Mom, there was nothing but the intellectual knowledge of their relationship when he knew he should miss and love her. He just didn't, he couldn't. He thought they understood that so why? Still, he let them lead him to the house he had grown up in, it looked no different to how it had that day. Was his room still a mess of clothes and toys?

They remained hidden but with a good view into the kitchen where his Mom was seated at the table, staring at something. As he watched, tears streamed down her face. "She's crying," he whispered.

"Sora, don't you realise what today is?" Riku asked, squeezing his hand, and Sora frowned, what day was today? He honestly hadn't been keeping track, he was pretty sure he'd lost time while being dead, before he'd formed as a Nobody. "Happy Sixteenth," was Riku's answer.

Sixteenth…today was his birthday? Oh. In a few months it would be a year since the Islands fell. It didn't feel like it. He'd never really gotten to stop while chasing Riku and trying to stop Maleficent, then he'd been dead, and there was no point keeping track inside the Organisation. Axel had treated him to ice cream on his one-month anniversary though.

Sora refocused on the familiar woman inside the house. She was crying because it was his Birthday and he was missing…or had the three of them been declared dead? He supposed that would make their ongoing absence easier. He'd never liked it when she cried, he didn't even notice he was rubbing at his chest as he watched.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku watched Sora closely, still holding his hand. Surely seeing his Mom crying would get a reaction, unless it was only them that could reach whatever fledgling emotions were there? No…Sora was rubbing at his chest…over his Heart, though he didn't seem aware of it. He glanced at Kairi to find her looking between Sora and the crying woman sadly. That firmed Riku's decision and he let go of Sora's hand to strip out of the protective coat, tossing it to her before making his way to the front door.

"Riku no," Sora hissed, but with Kairi hanging onto his arm there was nothing he could do to stop him that wouldn't reveal them anyway.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door, not entirely sure what he was going to say or how to explain the changes in Sora…head injury? He heard distant movement and then the door opened to reveal Sora's Mum. She froze, staring at him with wide eyes, and then he lunged forward as her legs buckled, picking her up easily. He hadn't realised just how much he'd grown while away till he was picking up the woman who had always seemed so much larger than life to him. Ms Aranea had always been willing to let him stay for as long as he wanted, when he needed a break from his siblings or his parents. She'd even been happy to babysit those siblings when he'd been left in charge too young.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he set her on the couch, and then nearly choked as her arms wrapped around him.

"Riku," she gasped, and he knelt on the floor to make it easier, hugging him back.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kairi held Sora back, watching as Riku entered the house. It would have been nice to know what he was planning but…maybe Sora needed this. She hoped it would help him. But what were the meant to tell her? The truth? Donald would flip out if they did, but Sora was her son, didn't she deserve to know? Would she blame Kairi since he'd done it to free her? She hadn't known what she was doing when her Heart went to him.

"Why?" Sora asked, looking confused.

"She's your Mother, Sora."

"But I'm not," he shook his head, unable to find the words. "This will hurt her more."

Kairi tugged him around to face her and then kissed him softly. "She loves you Sora, you know that, and I know you love her. We can tell her the truth or if you really want to preserve that World Order stuff, then we tell her you were badly hurt, brain damage level hurt. You better decide quick before Riku decides to just tell her everything."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Aranea couldn't believe it, Riku was there and alive. She hugged him tight, unable to let go of the boy who might as well be family. If he was alive then surely Sora and Kairi were alright. They had to be. Shockingly, Riku didn't grumble or pull away, just hugging her back. Eventually he disentangled them, staying on his knees as he looked at her.

"Sora?" she forced herself to ask, scared by his silence.

"Outside with Kairi," he answered, and her heart soared.

He was alive, her son was alive! She went to stand, to go find him, but Riku stopped her, expression serious and then her fear was back. Why hadn't Sora come in with him? And Kairi was with them, that was good too. She glared at Riku for stopping her, for not just telling her what was going on, but he was staring at the door and she turned to it, seeing two shadows, the sun behind them. Riku shifted back and she stood, moving slowly towards them only to stop.

"Sora?" she asked, was this really her son?

"Hi Mom," the near stranger answered, ducking his head, not making eye contact.

He'd grown, she thought he was a match for Riku in height now. His hair was lighter, a darkish blond, but no amount of weeks in the sun had ever lightened his hair so much before. When he glanced up she found his eyes were still the familiar shade of blue but there was something missing. His features had changed a bit, thinning out with puberty she guessed.

She reached for him and he finally moved from the doorway and into her arms. She hugged him tight, shocked to find he was taller than her, though she'd always known it would happen one day with how tall his Dad had been. She held on tight, feeling his grip tighten in return but something still felt off…different. "Oh Sora," she whispered, feeling the muscle under his clothes, at least he was healthy.

"I…I'm sorry," he murmured, head bowed against her, his words stilted and flat. Sora was always bubbling over with emotion and she realised that was what was off. She lifted her head, making him do the same or else risk one of them getting a bruise, staring into his eyes until he looked away.

"Sora?" it was obvious in his eyes; the blue was flat where once it had sparkled.

"Mom I…" he glanced at Kairi and then Riku who got up and moved to his side, taking his hand.

"Why don't you two go up to Sora's room, I'll explain," Kairi offered.

Explain? Just what had happened to her child?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku curled around Sora on his bed, it was a tight fit now. One hand was running through Sora's hair, the other rested against his stomach under his shirt, their legs tangled. He was glad Kairi had offered to explain, he knew he would mess it up, he didn't even know if Kairi was telling the truth or a lie to keep World Order. He lifted his head to kiss Sora's cheek, offering comfort. He knew Sora had felt something at seeing his Mom crying, had he felt even a flicker at the reunion? Maybe the comfort was only helping him and Sora was unaffected by it all, but Sora never turned him away when he wanted physical contact, he never had.

It was fully dark by the time Kairi joined them, tears drying on her face as she wriggled onto the bed, Sora's arm firmly around her waist to keep her on the bed. "Kairi?" Sora asked quietly.

"I told her the truth," she admitted. "Donald, even the King, can yell all they want about World Order, she deserved the truth."

Riku nodded, maybe it would have been kinder to lie about Sora's condition but when he got his Heart back and could really feel all the time then that probably would have been hard to explain.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Aranea opened Sora's door to see the three squished onto his bed, fast asleep with Sora in the middle, his hold on Kairi and the fact she was half laying on him the only reason she wasn't on the floor. She'd always thought she might end up with Kairi as her daughter-in-law, but it seemed she would also have a son-in-law. Whatever made Sora as happy as he was able to be now.

The thought of Sora dying….stabbing himself in the heart to save Kairi…her poor baby. Then to wake up in a strange World, all alone, only for some creep to take him…if she ever met this Xemnas she had a pair of boots with his name on them. Trust her son to keep his loyalty to Kairi and Riku through anything and everything. And she would like to meet this Axel, to thank him for looking after her boy, for teaching him to survive as he was now. And Kairi had given her hope, had admitted they had all seen signs of emotion from time to time. There was a chance Sora would one day be himself again and she would hold onto that hope. Either way, he was still her son. She wished they could stay longer but she understood why they couldn't. At least now she knew they were alive.

TBC….

Yep, another FF name for Sora's mum. And I even gave Riku more siblings this time, which adds to his guilt over what happened.