Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 22

Mickey entered Master Yen Sid's office, wondering why his old Master had summoned him, wondering what he could want to speak to him alone about. Training the three teens maybe? He had to admit, it would be a good reason to remove them from the Islands and he had been considering offering that training himself already. He was worried about Riku and Sora and what they would be going through there. Kairi at least hadn't been gone for very long. He also wanted to speak to the older Master about Roxas, if he still existed somewhat separately within Sora could he be given a life of his own? Or would that damage Sora? Maybe he wanted to talk about the three missing wielders.

"Thank you for coming so swiftly."

"Yen Sid, I think we're finally close to figuring out where Ven's heart is," he blurted out. He should have mentioned Roxas or…the strange Drive Form that Sora had been in when he found them in the Realm of Darkness. Still, having just finished dealing with Maleficent and the data in Jiminy's journal the possibility of Ventus being found was at the front of his mind.

"Is that so? Then that leaves only Terra," Yen Sid nodded.

"Right. And we've gotta save all three of them."

Yen Sid stroked his beard, thinking, and it was a very familiar but also comforting sight from his time as an apprentice. "Hmm... The question is: What does Xehanort intend to do next?"

"Xehanort? But his two halves are gone. There was Ansem, who commanded the Heartless...and Xemnas, who commanded the Nobodies. Didn't Sora and Riku defeat them both?" he asked in confusion.

"Correct, those two met their end. However, therein lies exactly our problem. Their destruction now guarantees the original Xehanort's reconstruction."

"Huh?" it still wasn't done? He'd hoped they would have time for the children to be just that, children, for some time before getting down to full training.

"Xehanort's Heart, once seized by his Heartless half, is now free. And his body, which had become his Nobody, has been vanquished. Both halves will now be returned to the whole. In short...this means Master Xehanort will return," Yen Sid informed him gravely.

"And you think...you think that maybe he's gonna try something?" he felt a little sick.

"A man like Xehanort will have left many roads open."

"Well, it doesn't matter what he cooks up. Me and Sora, we'll be ready, and Riku and Kairi, too!"

"Yes, they are indeed strong. But...not true Keyblade Masters, like you," he pointed out, still stroking his beard as he considered things. "Tell me...would a single one of you suffice if what you faced was not a single one of him?"

Mickey jumped up and put his hands on Yen Sid's desk. "What? What do you mean?" he asked, stunned.

"Mickey, please summon Sora hither. Riku as well," he commanded as he stood, and Mickey nodded.

"Of course, but...why? What about Kairi, she has a Keyblade too."

"To show us the Mark of Mastery."

The answer shocked him and explained why he wasn't asking for Kairi; she had no real experience. While the boys were being tested he would help her, show her some things, and see how she was going, if she wanted to.

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

Riku took the rolled-up paper, seeing Mickey's seal on it, breaking it to unroll the letter. He skimmed it before reading out the greetings from the King and the others, wondering why he had written to them.

"I wanted to tell you right away...about memories from the past that sleep within you, and...about the pieces that will tie you to your future," he read out, glancing up at Sora who looked confused. They knew Roxas was inside his Heart, but that couldn't be what the King meant.

Sora took the letter and began reading. "Sora, Riku, Kairi... The truth behind the Keyblade has found its way through so many people, and now I know that it rests in your hearts. Sora...You are who you are because of those people, but they're hurting, and you're the only one who can end their sadness. They need you. It's possible that all your journeys so far have been preparing you for this great new task that's waiting for you. I should have known there were no coincidences, only links in a much larger chain of events. And now the door to your next journey is ready to be opened." Sora stopped, worrying at his bottom lip with his teeth, and Kairi gently took the letter to finish it, reading out instructions for the three of them to meet Mickey at Master Yen Sid's Tower.

"So what do we do?" she asked.

"It must be important for the King to summon us," Sora admitted, and Riku nodded.

"Mickey wouldn't call on us so soon without a very good reason," he'd wanted more time but it seemed the universe had other ideas.

"What do we tell our families?" Sora asked softly, "I…I can't just disappear on Mum again."

"Same here," Kairi shrugged. "Who knows what they'd do, especially with all three of us gone again."

Riku shrugged slightly, torn. He didn't care what his Mother thought but…things had been improving with his Dad when she wasn't around and then there was Mia. But any risk to the Worlds would put her in danger too. "What can we tell them without breaking World Order?"

"Does it matter? Not like my Mum'll go around telling others."

"I just need something believable to tell mine, especially since I have school," Kairi groaned.

They both laughed at her and she mock pouted at them.

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

Kairi ran her hands through Riku's hair, careful not to pull on the tangles. It was a mess, not surprising considering everything he'd been through. Sora's Mum had managed to fix some of it, but Riku hadn't been able to bare letting her so close for long enough to deal with it all. His hair was healthier than it had been when they first returned thanks to good food and being able to wash it. Riku had mostly been dealing with it by tying it back out of the way rather than actually sorting it out. With them being summoned though he had agreed to having it cut but couldn't step foot inside the hairdressers when they'd tried going either.

So she was sitting in a chair with him sitting on the ground in front of her, Sora sitting knee to knee with him, holding his hands. She leant forward and pressed a kiss to the top of Riku's head. "If you need a break just let one of us know, okay?" she asked gently and Riku nodded slightly. With his agreement she went to work.

In the end, it was done, but it took nearly three hours and two panic attacks, and some very sweet kisses between Sora and Riku to help calm him down. Watching them kiss didn't make her uncomfortable at all anymore, no, she was beyond happy for them.

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

Sora pulled his magical clothes from where he'd stored them, smoothing the fabric out with his hands. He was excited but also scared, just because he wanted to leave didn't mean he wanted the Worlds to be in danger again. And he still had to tell his Mum they were leaving again with no idea when they'd be back or if they would…he knew that with every fight there was always the chance of losing.

He looked around his bedroom, seeing the changes since they'd returned, Riku's belongings neatly placed around as well as his own. at least this trip, they were getting the chance to pack and take more than the clothes on their backs. It was silly but having the chance to pack…he had no clue what to take. And…he was putting off talking to his Mum, hoping Riku would get back and they could do it together which was really being silly, if Riku could talk to his Dad alone then he could talk to his much more understanding mother. Right?

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

Kadaj sat in the park on a blanket with Mia who was enjoying the sun. Donna was out with her friends so he had decided to spend his day off with Mia in the sun. It was relaxing and peaceful, something that he had hated at first but now enjoyed. He pulled her a little closer as he felt eyes on them but then Riku stepped from the shadows and he relaxed. He blinked, staring at the boy, taking in his clothes and hair, he'd cut it far shorter than Kadaj had ever seen him wear it. The brace on his wrist was familiar, he'd been wearing it every time Kadaj saw him which led him to believe that whatever leg wound he'd had when they returned, it hadn't been the only injury. The colouring was similar to what he remembered Riku wearing before but the style was not anything he'd seen on the Islands.

Riku walked over and knelt on the blanket, Mia squealing and reaching for him, letting out little baby babbles, and Riku smiled softly, giving her his hand. His eyes were sad and Kadaj knew, he was leaving, somehow.

"What are you involved in?" he asked, praying to anything out there that his past had not come for his son.

Riku looked up at him, obviously hesitating, torn, before looking away. "I…I messed up Dad, I did something…unforgivable," he choked, and then laughed softly. "Not that that stopped Sora and Kairi forgiving me. We weren't the only ones to go missing in that storm…and it's all my fault they never came back. I was so stupid. If Sora hadn't…he saved me, saved everyone, and he paid dearly to do it. I could have come back then, but I had to stay, I had to protect him while he slept and then when he was fighting. He was so mad at me for staying hidden, so was Kairi."

Riku was babbling, something he was not prone to do as far as Kadaj could recall. How could Riku think he was to blame for those who died in a storm? Very little of what his son was saying made sense, although added to that conversation he had overheard shortly after they returned, he would guess the memory issues regarding Sora likely lined up with Riku claiming he guarded his sleeping form. The boys were obviously caught up in something…but it didn't seem like it was the nightmares from his own past, thankfully.

"Riku slow down," he told him, and Riku sucked in a breath, cheeks going a little pink for a second.

"There…there are rules Dad. Telling you anything concrete is breaking them," Riku admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But Sora's telling his Mum… you know how Kairi just showed up one day? She's from another World."

Kadaj nodded, he had suspected as much, but remained silent to let him talk. He did wonder what he meant by World Order though.

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

Luna held her son as he curled into her, stroking his hair gently. Her poor boy…she was so proud of him…and terrified, what if whatever was calling him away again…he didn't survive. At least this time he'd be with Riku and Kairi from the start, they'd keep each other safe. She was so proud of them all; she didn't blame Riku, he'd been manipulated, something even adults could fall victim to.

She had to believe in them, that they would all come home again one day. She would not let Sora leave with the memory of her tears.

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

Riku finally fell silent, unable to look at his Dad, waiting for harsh words or something, surely he would hate him for everything he'd done. He focused on Mia instead, wondering if he'd be made to stay away from her now, to not taint her with the Darkness that still lingered in his Heart. He nearly jumped out of his skin as his Dad's hand came to rest on his shoulder, unable to help looking up at him, shocked to find no anger or disgust. He wanted to flinch back, to run, but he couldn't, he wouldn't.

"Riku," his Dad finally spoke, "I'm sorry."

Riku just stared at him, vaguely aware that his jaw had dropped. What? Why was he sorry?

"You look so much like my brothers…like him…and that was all I could see. That was wrong, you're not any of us."

Brothers? He had…Uncles? No, from the look on Dad's face, he'd had Uncles once.

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

Kadaj stared at his son, his brave and tormented child and he knew it was time to tell him everything. Who knew what…or who he would run into out there? If there was any chance then he had to be prepared.

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

Kairi sighed and tossed aside another draft. She loved her parents, she did, she knew they'd done their best for her over the years. She also knew it would be her Father who would be forced to act if the truth about Sora and Riku ever came out. Her Mum had never believed her, even from the start, about being from another World, though she'd played along for a few years before deciding Kairi needed to grow up. Her Dad though…she wondered just what he knew sometimes. World leaders did often know about other Worlds after all.

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

Riku…didn't know what to say. He…he never could have imagined but it explained a lot, it didn't excuse it, but it did explain. "I'm not them or you, Dad," he whispered.

"I know," he agreed. "Be careful and come home, Mia needs her big brother. Even if you can't live here, you better visit."

Riku stared at him, shocked he assumed that he wouldn't be back to live.

"You can't live here and be happy Riku, not unless a lot changes. You deserve to be happy."

"Dad I…" he shifted nervously.

"You love him," his Dad murmured, and Riku gulped but jerked his head in a nod. "Watch out for each other out there. If you've gotten anything from us, fighting will come easier to you than others. You might heal faster, be faster, stronger…"

"Well I don't seem to heal faster," Riku snorted, holding up the hand he now wore a brace over, though it didn't look like one because he didn't want Sora to know.

His Dad reached for his hand and he forced himself to stay still as it was removed, revealing the deformed bone. "What happened?"

"Had to block with no weapon but better my wrist than my face," he admitted. Roxas had been mad and had put a lot of power into his strikes, honestly he was lucky it wasn't even worse. He fought not to pull back or cry out as his Dad probed the area, apparently knowing what he was doing.

"How long ago did this happen?" he asked, and Riku had to stop and think, time when Sora had been asleep, especially once he'd taken that form, was hard to track.

"A year, maybe? No more, could be less."

"Did you get any treatment for this?"

"It…it was right before I took his form. It was gone when I did," he admitted quietly.

"Was it like this when you were restored?" His Dad asked, something tight in his voice, and Riku nodded. "We could try to re-break and heal it properly but I don't think that will fully fix it. There's a lot of bone damage. Wriggle your fingers."

Riku obediently moved his fingers, or as well as he could now. His pinkie didn't move at all but the other fingers moved, some better than others.

,,,,,,,,,,,

"How have you been hiding this?" Kadaj was shocked by the severity of the injury and that no one had apparently noticed.

"I don't use that hand for much," was the quiet answer.

He let go, seeing the pain Riku wouldn't admit to in his eyes. "Your best bet would be surgery and not what you could get here."

Riku nodded, obviously aware of the limits to the medical aide available. The damage to his wrist was beyond a simple potion or Cure, even if it was rebroken first. The nerves were either pinched off or damaged, he needed intricate surgery.

"If you're going into another fight, you need to tell this King first. One knock to this in a fight…"

"I know," Riku sighed. "Xemnas hit me there during the fight. I'll tell Mickey, he'll probably know a World that can do it, or at least give some improvement."

"Good. I'm going to get us all some lunch, watch your sister."

Riku had made mistakes, most with the help of outside influence, but he'd learned from them. He just hoped that why ever they were being summoned was not another threat to all the Worlds. They'd faced two already, surely that was enough? He was amazed by Sora's part though; he'd never thought that bright kid would be a fighter. He had heart sure, but to truly fight to the death? The fact he'd killed himself to held Kairi was a little worrying but hopefully they would keep him from doing something so drastic in the future.

He was almost home when he heard yelling and turned to see the Mayor's wife, paper clenched in one hand, yelling at Kairi, even as Sora pushed the girl back, protecting her. Sora actually yelled back, hands balled into fists and for a second…was that…black smoke? His eyes widened as he remembered what Riku had told him about the consequences of Sora having stabbed himself. That was not good! And then Riku was running up, passing Mia to a surprised Kairi before grabbing Sora, putting his back to Aulea as he gripped Sora's shoulders. Kadaj moved towards them as well, he needed to get the woman out of there before they all got to see this 'Anti-form' Riku had told him of.

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

Sora could feel it, bubbling under his skin as he faced Kairi's Mum. Obviously she'd found Kairi's goodbye letter a little quicker than expected.

"Sora…" Kairi whispered, and he knew he was seconds from Anti-form taking over.

Familiar hands grabbed him and then Riku was there, back to the woman, holding tight to his shoulders, and Sora gasped in a shaky breath. "Come on Sora, take a deep breath," he urged.

"What is," she began but then a calm, smooth voice cut in.

"You three should go now," Riku's Dad said, even as he took her elbow and tugged her further away, green eyes understanding as Sora met them. "Try and stay in contact and look after each other." Kairi stepped forward and handed Mia to him.

"What? Let go of me!"

"You don't want me to do that." The two moved, away and Sora gasped in air, slumping between Kairi and Riku.

"Sorry…sorry," he mumbled.

"It's okay," Riku murmured. "Dad's right, we should go now. Kairi?"

"I've got everything."

"Sora?"

He shook his head.

"Does your Mum know?" Riku asked, and Sora nodded. "Okay, let's go."

Sora let himself be pulled along back to his house, feeling like he was in a fog. Before he realised it, they were on the ship, Riku locking it up, before guiding him to the pilots chair.

"Hey, you with me?" Riku asked softly, crouching down, and Sora blinked before nodding. "We're safe on the ship," he told him, reaching up to brush his fingers through his hair.

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

Riku was fighting hard to not show how freaked out he was by how vague Sora was. If he hadn't heard the shouting…both times Anti nearly showed up on the Islands and all due to various Mothers. He gently ran his fingers through Sora's hair, watching as he came back to them. That had been too close, he'd seen the Darkness rising from Sora's body, hopefully no one else had noticed, though he thought his Dad might have.

He didn't think Sora had even registered his own Mum saying goodbye when they'd gone in to grab both of their things. If only Kairi's letter hadn't been found so quickly!

"Sorry," Sora whispered.

"And how many times have I woken you with a nightmare?" Riku shook his head and then kissed him gently. "You held it back Sora."

"Barely."

"Still an improvement."

"Here," Kairi held out a water bottle and Sora took it, drinking.

"Feel up to flying or should we spend the night here?" he asked.

"I can do it," Sora promised, straightening up.

Riku nodded and stood, worried, but he couldn't baby him. He had to trust him to know what he could handle. He glanced at Kairi who looked a bit shaky but also sorry. It wasn't her fault, what Mother wanted her daughter leaving for an indeterminant time with two boys she suspected of being together? He wished he'd gotten a proper goodbye to his Dad and Mia but at least they'd talked everything out, finally fully cleared the air between them. And he'd promised to come back…and find a way to fix his wrist. That was going to be fun to explain to Mickey.

Sora reached for the controls, starting the engines, and they quickly took the other two seats, strapping in. Sora glanced back at them and grinned, and they both grinned back. Finally, they were leaving the Islands together just like they'd always planned.

TBC…

This chapter has taken forever.

So, from Kadaj and Riku's chat you can either assume he has a somewhat canon past as of FFVII Advent Children or you can give him a past with brothers who died when their World fell and Kadaj ended up on the Islands alone or anything in between really. Though I suppose some kind of enhancement/magic is being suggested from his words to Riku about healing and stuff. Though that could just because they were good at fighting and magic and he figures his son would inherit that kind of skill.