Author's Note: smackidge! *cough*sorry.... *cough cough* damn... i hate being sick.... well, i'll continue the story now... i dont' own, blah blah blah... review, read, etc. blah blah blah... you know... the stuff i've been saying for the last... i don't know.... but for a while....
Chapter Two
The next day, Sora, Riku, and Roz stood at the waterfall. Sora jumped in to get some water from it. As usual, he didn't care to take off his shoes and got them all soaking wet.
"Well, we set off, now!" Sora said, waving the container of water above his head. "Let's go!"
"Hold it, Mr. I'm-In-A-Rush-To-Get-Things-Started. We've gotta make sure we can use the damn way, first," Riku said tartly as Sora climbed out of the water, shook himself off, then handed over the slippery container to him.
"No prob!" Sora gave Riku another of his goofy grins before taking out the keyblade and marched up to the Secret Place and ducked under the vines to go in.
Once on the other side, the three made their way to the door. Sora used the keyblade to open the door, and stepped back to let Roz see. Sora gave one of his victory stances and a goofy grin only to be smacked upside the head by Riku.
"Ooh... Now this is what I call traveling in style... Nice pretty lights too..." She turned back to the boys, taking each boy's hand in her own. "Well, hopefully, this thing'll work! Let's go! If we stick together, then if it screws up, then we're lost together."
"Oh brother..." Riku turned his head to the side and glared at the ground, haing his own version of the 'Leon's Silent Look.'
Roz jumped in the vortex, bringing the two boys with her, and once they were through, the door slammed shut. Once through the swirling lights ans how, they landed in Traverse Town, right in the Accessory shop.
Cid stared down at them, leaning over the counter with his eyebrows arched.
"Well now... if it isn't the great Sora. Nice of you to... er... 'drop by'..."
Sora groaned. "Shuddup, Cid. Just shuddup..."
Riku rolled off of Roz who was on top of Sora who seemed squished. Riku dusted himself off as Roz picked herself off the floor--or rather, 'off Sora'--then helped Sora up off the wodden floor. He grabbed the boy's hand and pulled him up.
"Hey now, don't go faintin', okay?" Riku said in a teasing manner.
"I'm not gonna faint! Now shut up, Riku!"
"Well, I see you two get along great... But who's this fine young lady?" Cid asked Sora, jerking his head toward Roz.
"She's Roz," Sora replyed automatically; he glared at Riku as the older boy smirked at him.
Roz rolled her eyes. She approached Cid and shook his head. "Nice ta meet ya, but I think we otta go now."
She took each boy by the arm and started dragging them out the door. She kicked the door open, and before leaving she said, "Nice ta meet ya. Maybe we can talk sometime."
Once outside, she let go of the boys and closed the door with her foot. The boys just stared at her as she looked around the town. The boys muttered to each other before simultanioulsy nodding and reapproaching the girl who was zoned out.
"Roz? Are you still there?" Sora waved a hand in front of Roz's face to get her attention. "Or are you drifting off in space?"
"Hmm?" was all Roz said when she snapped out of Dreamland.
Sora shook his head. "Nevermind..."
The three looked through Traverse Town, letting Roz explore the First District before they chanced the Second and Thrid District as well. When they came upon the Item shop that that Hewey, Lewy, and Dewey took care of, they found Donald Duck and Goofy there as well.
"Sora!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed.
"Donald! Goofy! You guys! Hey!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy gave quick hugs. "How's it going, guys?"
"Not bad. My three nephews have been taking good care of the store and I thought I'd come and help them for once," Donald said.
"How about you, Goofy?" Sora asked Goffy in turn.
"Oh, being King Mickey's knight is all fine. Gawrsh, the job's a peice of cake!"
"That's because you sleep all the time, Goofy," Donald retorted.
"Ah, gawrsh, Donald."
Sora laughed. "Well, whatever, guys. But have you seen Leon or Yuffie, or maybe Aerith around?"
"Gawrsh. No, Sora. But maybe you should check the Secret Waterway where Leon usually works out."
"Or maybe at Cid's house," Donald added.
"Thanks guys." Sora turned back to Riku and Roz. "Let's go-- Roz!"
Roz was playing wtih the little ducks, poking them with her sticks, and lifted them up by their feet. She jumped when Sora shouted at her. Slowly, she turned around.
"Y-- Yeeeees...?"
"Roz! Drop 'em!"
Roz immediately dropped them.
"That's not what I meant!"
Riku patted Sora's shoulder. "Don't worry, she's probably never really been through Traverse Town and doesn't know about the Ducks," Riku whispered in Sora's ear.
Sora's brow twitched as the grip on the keyblade tightened. "Suuuuure...." he said through gritted teeth.
Roz quickly put her sticks away and shuffled back to Sora. "Soooorry..."
"Let's just go." Sora led out the door and to the Second District.
Once there, they encountered Heartless.
"What the--?! Why are Heartless here?!!" Sora exclaimed swinging his keyblade back and forth so to get the Heartless to back off a bit.
"Oh yeah.... I was attacked by those before the weirdo came and brought me to your place." Roz twirled her Kali sticks in her hands (both were about two and a half feet long) and wacked one of the Heartless that attacked her. "Oh, did I forget that? Was it important?"
Riku rolled his eyes as he effortlessly struck at one of the Heartless that was wearing armor.
Sora growled. "Well, yes! It would've! Alot!"
"Sora, shut up. You're just the same." Riku dodged a flame from one of the Heartless and took and air borne sweep at it.
Roz was distracted from her fighting as a boy came out of nowhere and wiped all the Heartless out with just a few blows. One of the Heartless that had escaped from the boy's attacks came after are and pounced on her. She gave a squeak before clobbering the damn thing.
"Eww! Gross! I've got all this crud on me!" Roz quickly wiped off the grim of her from when she fell.
When she finished, she finally noticed Sora and Riku's staring at her. She blushed and scratched the back of her head, laughing. When she ran out of breath, she realized that the boy who helped them was still there. In fact, he was leaning against the railing, opposite from the door. She approached the boy, prodding him with one of her sticks in the chest.
"Hey. You. What's your name?" She prodded him again.
Roz had no way of telling who exactly it was, besides that he was a boy, because he was cloaked as her. But even though his hood was down, he wore shades over his eyes, a scarf around his mouth and neck, and some kind of strip of cloth that went around his head and held up his mangy hair.
The boy made a noise that sounded similar to a scoff under the scarf. He lightly pushed the stick away only to be prodded again with another one.
"Hey. I'd like more of an answer then some noise, okay?" Roz placed one hand on her hip, while still holding the stick, and made a noise of her own.
Sora and Riku stayed behind the girl as she tried to get the boy to say something. Riku had planted his sword and leaned on it. Sora, on the other hand, just stood there.
Roz sighed after a few minutes of wasting her breath on the silent boy and got no answer from him. She turned back to Sora and Riku and gestured for them to move. "I don't think we'll get anything from this git, so let's keep moving. Those Heartless ain't gonna be polite when we come, so let's go and show 'em. Right guys?"
"Oh, so now we're a team?" Riku scoffed at the thought.
"Nah.. this might actually be fun! C'mon, Riku. Let's go!" Sora said, looking like he'd just found a new treasure.
Riku knocked Sora at the back of the head. "Doof. You're always so eager to get your ass kicked. Next thing you know, you're gonna get killed and not even know it. Or why."
With the silent boy forgotten, the three walked off down the pavement, walking past the stores there. Nothing was exciting, since it was all purses and dresses, and even Roz had no interest for them. They continued down the stairs and to the door that led to the alleyway.
The boy watched them from above, keeping a special close eye on the girl.
Once in the Alleyway, the almost immediately ran into Leon and Yuffie. The two were talking when the three came by. Aerith wasn't in sight yet.
"Hey, Leon. Yuffie. How's it?" Sora greeted them. He was really the one who knew and was friends with practically everyone in all the worlds.
Leon and Yuffie greeted Sora with warm welcoming; Yuffie the most showing. Riku was given a less sociable greeting, and Roz was silent when they talked to her. Yuffie seemed to be deep in thought when she stared at Roz.
"So, how's it going?"
"The Heartless are everywhere. We've manage to keep them from at least the First District, but somehow, they still roam through the Second and Third District."
"Yeah, no kidding. But what's attracting them is what we're trying to figure out." Yuffie scuffed her boot and frowned.
"Maybe... Maybe what's your'e really asking is why they came, not what they're here for... It's obvious they're here for some reason... but why, is the question... Right?" Roz shuffled her feet, somewhat nervous. "I mean... The Heartless came last time because of Malificent, right? She drew them in, right? Well, what happens if they came on their own? What happens if they came on their own free will to look for someone, but they have no clue of what exactly they're looking for? I mean, the Heartless may not have hearts, but they still have minds, right? .... Right?"
The group considered her words.
"You know, you may be right... But we aren't sure entirely... But you may be right this time," Sora said.
"Hey! Wait a minute! what do you mean 'this one'?! You barely know me! How do you know how I think or work!" Roz suddenly snapped.
"Because, you remind us of him," Riku said, gesturing to Sora.
"Hey, that's mean," Sora said, furrowing his brows.
Riku ruffled Sora's hair. "Oh, shut up. You know it's true."
"Well, excuse me for not noticing your title as being Mr. 'Big Brother,' okay?" Sora crossed his arms.
Roz laughed. "You two sound as if you were married."
Sora blushed and Riku turned his head away, muttering to himself. To Roz, it sounded as if he was making plans to kill her, which made her laugh again. Roz smiled as they continued their conversation about the Heartless and the "good ol' days." She walked around the alley, hopping onto the boxes in the back, sloshign through the water, skidding on the pavement in wet shoes, and jumping around like a hyper kangaroo. She only stopped when Riku tripped her.
"Oof. Ow..." She rubbed her hand where it hit the floor wrong. "Watch it, Riku."
"Well, I won't have to do it again if you'd just stop boucing around like some fool." Riku placed a hand on his hip as Roz glared up at him. He returned the glare with a smirk.
"You're wrong, man. Really wrong..."
"And what do you mean by that?" Riku challenged.
"... Nevermind....." Roz looked up on the balconies for the hotel rooms. She blinked when she saw the boy from earlier right there, leaning over the edge of the balcony, staring down at them. "How odd..."
"What?"
"Nothing!" Roz shook her head and faked a smile at Riku which only had him turn away and stalk back toward Sora, Leon, and Yuffie.
She sat there for a few minutes, staring up at the boy as he stared down at her. Well, it only seemed that he was staring down at her since she couldn't see his eyes with the shades blocking the way. She muttered to herself in a strange langueage, different from the common one used everywhere. She got lost in her thoughts as she continued to stare. She was only brought out of her own spell when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Roz tilted her head up to see an older girl smiling down at her.
"Hello, are you one of Sora's new friends?" she said. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail, and then braided. She wore a pink dress with a matching ribbon.
"Uhh... Sure. You could say that..." Roz looked over to Sora a called to him. "Hey! Sora! Mind introducing me?" she gestured to the girl in pink.
Sora blinked, looking from sitting Roz, to a smiling Aerith. "Uhh... sure... She's Aerith. Aerith, Roz. Roz, Aerith. There." Almost immediately, he went back to the conversation about Heartless.
"Okaaay...." Roz gave Sora a dull look that said that she wasn't ammused. She muttered again in that strange language again, before looking up at Aerith.
"Well, whatever. Hi."
"Nice to meet you too. Sora can be such a child sometimes, can't he?"
"I dunno. I only met him the other day. But, not to worry. I'm pretty sure I'll get enough of him by the time this is all over..." Roz looked up at where the boy was. He was still there staring down at her.
"Right. Hopefully, the Heartless will stop torturing innocent people and stay to where they belong." Aerith looked hopeful, but hinted that she doubted her own words.
"Nope. Won't happen. The Heartless aren't Heartless if they just sit there and watch as everyone else has fun. And anyway, there's always some freak who's out there with a wacked out heart drawing them in for the fun and kill. You should know that." Roz tucked back a lock of hair behind her ear before continuing. "See, King Mickey and the Heartless are enemies, right? But then there is also the Outlaws who are either hired for work, not noticed, or something around that. Outlaws are basically people who can get by as they please by using others as their ticket. Do you get where I'm going with this? Where there's light, there's always darkness, and with that always comes that small group of things, people or objects that are stuck in the middle. In this case, King Mickey and that whole entorage is the light, the Heartless is dark, and Outlaws are those things in the middle."
"And you are..."
"In the middle. Hello, I'm probably your first met Outlaw and probably youngest and friendliest. But when you get me pissed off, I come at ya like the Grim Reaper." Roz smiled devilishly.
Aerith laughed. "Ooh! You must be that good, then. You should challenge Yuffie or Leon in a duel sometime. You just might give them a workout." Aerith winked at Roz before going over to the others and having her turn in the conversation.
Roz scooted over to the edge of the pavement where the waterway was parted. She dipped her hands in the water and watched them drip, muttering as they did so. Little did she know, the boy above wasn't the only one watching her; Riku observed as well. Roz watched as sparkles scattered into the water from the tiny droplets that fell from her hand. She bit the inside of her cheek, thinking, as the sparkles disappeared into the water.
When she looked up, Riku had immediately looked away, but the boy stared on. Roz smirked and walked over to the hangover that seemed to be connecting the several balconies of the rooms of the hotel. She jumped up on the hangover and swung over onto the balcony where the boy was. She walked over to him, then leaned over the ledge next to him. All the while, she noticed he was watching her every move.
"So. I've noticed you've been watching me, but thing is, you don't talk. Is there a way we can communicate? I mean, if you can't talk, is there another way?" she said.
Roz combed her hair with her fingers, tugging at the few tangled strands. She cursed in her strange language at her hair as it continued to be uncooperative. Amazingly, the boy responded in the same language.
"Having a hard time?" he asked, hinting humor in his voice.
Roz blinked. "You understand me?" she said. "Wow. Well, this is one way to talk... But... How 'bout you tell me your name?"
"Aya. Yours?"
"How odd of a name. It's Roz."
"Hmph. Yours isn't any better."
"Shut up!" Roz cursed under breath.
"Just because you know Zaribira, it doesn't mean that you can always hide what you say. I do know the language, you know. In fact, it's the only one I know."
Roz blink, then cursed again. She was just about to clobber Aya when Sora started calling out for her. She grimaced and told Aya to hide. "I'm right here, you git." She waved from the the balcony.
Sora looked up, stuck out his tongue, then told her to come down.
"In a minute!" she said, returning the gesture by sticking out her own tongue. She waved him off, then sat down to talk to Aya again.
"Heh... I wonder about him... That boy, there, the one with the pointy brown hair that looks strangely like chocolate." Roz peaked over the side of the balcony with Aya, pointing out Sora to him. "Even though I don't know him too well, it seems as if he's changing... You know? I don't know how, but something inside... It's growing and growing and he doesn't even know it..." She shook her head and laughed quietly. "Well, whatever, you gonna join our lil ficcie or stay and watch from the shadows?"
Aya smirked, well, what would be called a smirk under that scarf of his. "Whatever suits you best..."
"Stay then. Stay, but follow. Unnoticed... by everyone but me... You know?"
Aya nodded, then let Roz jump over the side of the balcony and join up with her friends again.
"So, what's up?" Roz said as soon as she reached Sora and the others.
"Well, we'll need to get rid of the boss who controls the Heartless here, and then head on back to Donald and Goofy to borrow the Gummi ship. That, or visit Cid. Either way, we bet that the Heartless have spread to the other worlds and brought them into the same state as here," Sora explained, giving her 'it's kinda obvious' look as if she was stupid.
Roz had no care and took no notice. "Whatever..." She looked back up to the hotel balconies and saw the top of Aya's head peeking over the top. She smiled secretly up at him before following Sora and Riku.
The three explored the Second District for a while, fighting as they went; but what was different then last time, as Sora saw it, they weren't only attracted to the keyblade, but to somethine else... But he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He kept seesawing back and forth on the qustion in his mind. Other than the 'does Riku really care about me in that so-and-so way?' question, Sora mainly thought about how the Heartless might've come back or who's causing all this, or if Maleficent really isn't dead and is taking revenge, or if......
Sora shook his head with confusion. That wasn't right. Maleficent couldn't be out to get them again. And he was being as ridiculous as it comes. He didn't think about the Heartless so much anymore for his thoughts were starting to get unruely and insane, and highly impossible. They got so out of control, he had to smack himself. But, apparently, Riku got there first.
"Hey!"
"Hey, yourself," Riku said, raising his hand again in case he needed to make a second blow.
"Well, what was that for! It DID hurt!" Sora widened his eyes and nodded his head as if Riku's mental capacity wasn't big enough to take that all in.
Riku half hodded his eyes, looking down at the younger boy. "Well, I assumed it did, shall I try again to make certain of that hypothesis?" Riku teased and faked bringing down his hand to smack Sora again.
Sora flinched, and Roz couldn't help but laugh. "Boys, BOYS! Please! We need to move on! Riku," she eye Riku personally, "no more physical assults to Sora. And Sora, you're the troop leader here; lead on, will you? You nearly ran yourself into a wall!"
Sora went wide eyed. "What?!"
"Well, you did. That's why Riku smacked you. I just thought you were nuts. He said you weren't paying attention. I went with his idea. I thought it was mroe reasonable..." ^^
When Sora finally regained himself, he silently thanked Riku for his brutel, yet helpful help in coming back to present and away from his crazy thoughts. The three moved on, Riku watching Sora's every move from behind, Sora sulking and embarassed, and Roz happy as anything.
After a while, she broke the silence and talked to them. "You know, you two are the best fun I've ever had all my life. You know, maybe this adventure will turn out to be more funny then dangerous."
Sora sulked. "You wish... You're having more fun at this then I am... And Riku's having the time of his life by smacking me."
Riku shrugged."Actually, I find this so-called 'adventure' boring. Where's the boss? Why are we here again? How're we going to travel to the other worlds if your duck and dog friends don't or can't lend the ship? What about the real enemy? Where's the challenge? Where's anything?!"
"Well now... It seems you're eager to kick some ass." Roz responded, humored.
"Well, I can't hit you, right? Well then, what else? Who else am I gonna kick in the ass?" Riku complained.
"Me?" Roz suggest, half wishing she took those words back as soon as she said them.
"Like you'd let me. You'd just whack me with those sticks."
"And like Sora wouldn't hit you with his keyblade?" Roz shot back.
"No."
Sora glared. "Hey! I would too!"
"Then how come you haven't done it yet?" Riku shot Sora.
"Um... I just haven't thought of it!"
"Riiiight...." Roz looked bored. "Well, whatever. Let's go, okay?"
Sora did a "V" sign with his fingers and laughed sheepishly before moving off to the the doors that led to the Thrid District. Following, as before, was Riku and Roz.
But when they reached the Third District, they found something unusual. By the fountain, there was a votex like before when Roz dropped onto Destiny islands. Sora was puzzled when he led them straight to it. He looked back at Riku questioningly when he couldn't think of any conclusions for the weird vortex.
"I don't know what to make of it... Riku?" Sora said over his shoulder, gesuring for Riku to step up closer to see better.
"No." Simple. Another of his simple answers.
"Nothing?"
"No."
"Roz?"
The girl stepped up as well, on the other side of Sora, staring at the weird thing in wonder. "Nope. Not a thing... But maybe Leon can..." And silently to herself, she added: Or maybe Aya can...
I don't even know if he really is a friend or if he's even here, looking at this think with us from the shadows... Roz frowned, furrowing her brow.
"This is complicated..." she said.
"Apparently, this is a bit too complexed for my noggin," Sora said flatly.
As they stared, gaping at the strange being, a rumble crept upon them. Soon enough, the ground was shaking and rumbling. The three youths swayed and tried to grip for support. Roz attached herself to the wall, while Sora clutched to a pole in front of the fountain, with Riku next to him as a shield. Riku seemed to be playing the knight all over again since the play. It seemed to Sora as if the play never ended, and that he was still the princess, and Riku was the protective, loving knight.
Green eyes met blue ones as the rumbling went on. Strange noises came from the vortex next to them in the fountain. Sora and Riku glanced at each other before staring into the vortex. The only time they turned themselves away was when Roz screamed.
"Roz!" Sora shouted.
Roz was being picked up by a huge and new Heartless creature. She was being squeezed, then was thrown at the wall. "Ugh..." was all could be heard from Roz after her head and entire body smashed into the wall and then bounced off. Roz lay unconscious on the floor, leaving herself vulnerable to the Heartless creature's attacks.
Sora and Riku nodded to each other and charged the monster wtih their weapons. But apparently, this creature was strong enough to throw them back. They were thrown into the vortex and were slowly being consumed by it. Sora stared, wide-eyed as the Heartless creature stuck Roz in there with them. Slowly, bit by bit, they were being engulfed by the vortex...
Sora attempted a scream, but the vortex swallowed him whole... cutting him off. Everything... was... black.....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: yay!! second chapter done!!! yay!!! i'm proud... *sniff* go me... yay! well, whatever... now for my announcer voice... *clears throat* Now that this chapter is finished, what will happen in the next one? What exactly is that vortex thing? And where will it take the three young heros? And who exactly is Aya? Where did he come from? Who is he exactly? Why has he come? Why does he have such interest in the three youths? What is going on here?!*clears throat again* okay... back to the normal voice... ahem... well, yeah... just a few questions u may or may not have on your mind... but enjoy anyway...
Chapter Two
The next day, Sora, Riku, and Roz stood at the waterfall. Sora jumped in to get some water from it. As usual, he didn't care to take off his shoes and got them all soaking wet.
"Well, we set off, now!" Sora said, waving the container of water above his head. "Let's go!"
"Hold it, Mr. I'm-In-A-Rush-To-Get-Things-Started. We've gotta make sure we can use the damn way, first," Riku said tartly as Sora climbed out of the water, shook himself off, then handed over the slippery container to him.
"No prob!" Sora gave Riku another of his goofy grins before taking out the keyblade and marched up to the Secret Place and ducked under the vines to go in.
Once on the other side, the three made their way to the door. Sora used the keyblade to open the door, and stepped back to let Roz see. Sora gave one of his victory stances and a goofy grin only to be smacked upside the head by Riku.
"Ooh... Now this is what I call traveling in style... Nice pretty lights too..." She turned back to the boys, taking each boy's hand in her own. "Well, hopefully, this thing'll work! Let's go! If we stick together, then if it screws up, then we're lost together."
"Oh brother..." Riku turned his head to the side and glared at the ground, haing his own version of the 'Leon's Silent Look.'
Roz jumped in the vortex, bringing the two boys with her, and once they were through, the door slammed shut. Once through the swirling lights ans how, they landed in Traverse Town, right in the Accessory shop.
Cid stared down at them, leaning over the counter with his eyebrows arched.
"Well now... if it isn't the great Sora. Nice of you to... er... 'drop by'..."
Sora groaned. "Shuddup, Cid. Just shuddup..."
Riku rolled off of Roz who was on top of Sora who seemed squished. Riku dusted himself off as Roz picked herself off the floor--or rather, 'off Sora'--then helped Sora up off the wodden floor. He grabbed the boy's hand and pulled him up.
"Hey now, don't go faintin', okay?" Riku said in a teasing manner.
"I'm not gonna faint! Now shut up, Riku!"
"Well, I see you two get along great... But who's this fine young lady?" Cid asked Sora, jerking his head toward Roz.
"She's Roz," Sora replyed automatically; he glared at Riku as the older boy smirked at him.
Roz rolled her eyes. She approached Cid and shook his head. "Nice ta meet ya, but I think we otta go now."
She took each boy by the arm and started dragging them out the door. She kicked the door open, and before leaving she said, "Nice ta meet ya. Maybe we can talk sometime."
Once outside, she let go of the boys and closed the door with her foot. The boys just stared at her as she looked around the town. The boys muttered to each other before simultanioulsy nodding and reapproaching the girl who was zoned out.
"Roz? Are you still there?" Sora waved a hand in front of Roz's face to get her attention. "Or are you drifting off in space?"
"Hmm?" was all Roz said when she snapped out of Dreamland.
Sora shook his head. "Nevermind..."
The three looked through Traverse Town, letting Roz explore the First District before they chanced the Second and Thrid District as well. When they came upon the Item shop that that Hewey, Lewy, and Dewey took care of, they found Donald Duck and Goofy there as well.
"Sora!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed.
"Donald! Goofy! You guys! Hey!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy gave quick hugs. "How's it going, guys?"
"Not bad. My three nephews have been taking good care of the store and I thought I'd come and help them for once," Donald said.
"How about you, Goofy?" Sora asked Goffy in turn.
"Oh, being King Mickey's knight is all fine. Gawrsh, the job's a peice of cake!"
"That's because you sleep all the time, Goofy," Donald retorted.
"Ah, gawrsh, Donald."
Sora laughed. "Well, whatever, guys. But have you seen Leon or Yuffie, or maybe Aerith around?"
"Gawrsh. No, Sora. But maybe you should check the Secret Waterway where Leon usually works out."
"Or maybe at Cid's house," Donald added.
"Thanks guys." Sora turned back to Riku and Roz. "Let's go-- Roz!"
Roz was playing wtih the little ducks, poking them with her sticks, and lifted them up by their feet. She jumped when Sora shouted at her. Slowly, she turned around.
"Y-- Yeeeees...?"
"Roz! Drop 'em!"
Roz immediately dropped them.
"That's not what I meant!"
Riku patted Sora's shoulder. "Don't worry, she's probably never really been through Traverse Town and doesn't know about the Ducks," Riku whispered in Sora's ear.
Sora's brow twitched as the grip on the keyblade tightened. "Suuuuure...." he said through gritted teeth.
Roz quickly put her sticks away and shuffled back to Sora. "Soooorry..."
"Let's just go." Sora led out the door and to the Second District.
Once there, they encountered Heartless.
"What the--?! Why are Heartless here?!!" Sora exclaimed swinging his keyblade back and forth so to get the Heartless to back off a bit.
"Oh yeah.... I was attacked by those before the weirdo came and brought me to your place." Roz twirled her Kali sticks in her hands (both were about two and a half feet long) and wacked one of the Heartless that attacked her. "Oh, did I forget that? Was it important?"
Riku rolled his eyes as he effortlessly struck at one of the Heartless that was wearing armor.
Sora growled. "Well, yes! It would've! Alot!"
"Sora, shut up. You're just the same." Riku dodged a flame from one of the Heartless and took and air borne sweep at it.
Roz was distracted from her fighting as a boy came out of nowhere and wiped all the Heartless out with just a few blows. One of the Heartless that had escaped from the boy's attacks came after are and pounced on her. She gave a squeak before clobbering the damn thing.
"Eww! Gross! I've got all this crud on me!" Roz quickly wiped off the grim of her from when she fell.
When she finished, she finally noticed Sora and Riku's staring at her. She blushed and scratched the back of her head, laughing. When she ran out of breath, she realized that the boy who helped them was still there. In fact, he was leaning against the railing, opposite from the door. She approached the boy, prodding him with one of her sticks in the chest.
"Hey. You. What's your name?" She prodded him again.
Roz had no way of telling who exactly it was, besides that he was a boy, because he was cloaked as her. But even though his hood was down, he wore shades over his eyes, a scarf around his mouth and neck, and some kind of strip of cloth that went around his head and held up his mangy hair.
The boy made a noise that sounded similar to a scoff under the scarf. He lightly pushed the stick away only to be prodded again with another one.
"Hey. I'd like more of an answer then some noise, okay?" Roz placed one hand on her hip, while still holding the stick, and made a noise of her own.
Sora and Riku stayed behind the girl as she tried to get the boy to say something. Riku had planted his sword and leaned on it. Sora, on the other hand, just stood there.
Roz sighed after a few minutes of wasting her breath on the silent boy and got no answer from him. She turned back to Sora and Riku and gestured for them to move. "I don't think we'll get anything from this git, so let's keep moving. Those Heartless ain't gonna be polite when we come, so let's go and show 'em. Right guys?"
"Oh, so now we're a team?" Riku scoffed at the thought.
"Nah.. this might actually be fun! C'mon, Riku. Let's go!" Sora said, looking like he'd just found a new treasure.
Riku knocked Sora at the back of the head. "Doof. You're always so eager to get your ass kicked. Next thing you know, you're gonna get killed and not even know it. Or why."
With the silent boy forgotten, the three walked off down the pavement, walking past the stores there. Nothing was exciting, since it was all purses and dresses, and even Roz had no interest for them. They continued down the stairs and to the door that led to the alleyway.
The boy watched them from above, keeping a special close eye on the girl.
Once in the Alleyway, the almost immediately ran into Leon and Yuffie. The two were talking when the three came by. Aerith wasn't in sight yet.
"Hey, Leon. Yuffie. How's it?" Sora greeted them. He was really the one who knew and was friends with practically everyone in all the worlds.
Leon and Yuffie greeted Sora with warm welcoming; Yuffie the most showing. Riku was given a less sociable greeting, and Roz was silent when they talked to her. Yuffie seemed to be deep in thought when she stared at Roz.
"So, how's it going?"
"The Heartless are everywhere. We've manage to keep them from at least the First District, but somehow, they still roam through the Second and Third District."
"Yeah, no kidding. But what's attracting them is what we're trying to figure out." Yuffie scuffed her boot and frowned.
"Maybe... Maybe what's your'e really asking is why they came, not what they're here for... It's obvious they're here for some reason... but why, is the question... Right?" Roz shuffled her feet, somewhat nervous. "I mean... The Heartless came last time because of Malificent, right? She drew them in, right? Well, what happens if they came on their own? What happens if they came on their own free will to look for someone, but they have no clue of what exactly they're looking for? I mean, the Heartless may not have hearts, but they still have minds, right? .... Right?"
The group considered her words.
"You know, you may be right... But we aren't sure entirely... But you may be right this time," Sora said.
"Hey! Wait a minute! what do you mean 'this one'?! You barely know me! How do you know how I think or work!" Roz suddenly snapped.
"Because, you remind us of him," Riku said, gesturing to Sora.
"Hey, that's mean," Sora said, furrowing his brows.
Riku ruffled Sora's hair. "Oh, shut up. You know it's true."
"Well, excuse me for not noticing your title as being Mr. 'Big Brother,' okay?" Sora crossed his arms.
Roz laughed. "You two sound as if you were married."
Sora blushed and Riku turned his head away, muttering to himself. To Roz, it sounded as if he was making plans to kill her, which made her laugh again. Roz smiled as they continued their conversation about the Heartless and the "good ol' days." She walked around the alley, hopping onto the boxes in the back, sloshign through the water, skidding on the pavement in wet shoes, and jumping around like a hyper kangaroo. She only stopped when Riku tripped her.
"Oof. Ow..." She rubbed her hand where it hit the floor wrong. "Watch it, Riku."
"Well, I won't have to do it again if you'd just stop boucing around like some fool." Riku placed a hand on his hip as Roz glared up at him. He returned the glare with a smirk.
"You're wrong, man. Really wrong..."
"And what do you mean by that?" Riku challenged.
"... Nevermind....." Roz looked up on the balconies for the hotel rooms. She blinked when she saw the boy from earlier right there, leaning over the edge of the balcony, staring down at them. "How odd..."
"What?"
"Nothing!" Roz shook her head and faked a smile at Riku which only had him turn away and stalk back toward Sora, Leon, and Yuffie.
She sat there for a few minutes, staring up at the boy as he stared down at her. Well, it only seemed that he was staring down at her since she couldn't see his eyes with the shades blocking the way. She muttered to herself in a strange langueage, different from the common one used everywhere. She got lost in her thoughts as she continued to stare. She was only brought out of her own spell when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Roz tilted her head up to see an older girl smiling down at her.
"Hello, are you one of Sora's new friends?" she said. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail, and then braided. She wore a pink dress with a matching ribbon.
"Uhh... Sure. You could say that..." Roz looked over to Sora a called to him. "Hey! Sora! Mind introducing me?" she gestured to the girl in pink.
Sora blinked, looking from sitting Roz, to a smiling Aerith. "Uhh... sure... She's Aerith. Aerith, Roz. Roz, Aerith. There." Almost immediately, he went back to the conversation about Heartless.
"Okaaay...." Roz gave Sora a dull look that said that she wasn't ammused. She muttered again in that strange language again, before looking up at Aerith.
"Well, whatever. Hi."
"Nice to meet you too. Sora can be such a child sometimes, can't he?"
"I dunno. I only met him the other day. But, not to worry. I'm pretty sure I'll get enough of him by the time this is all over..." Roz looked up at where the boy was. He was still there staring down at her.
"Right. Hopefully, the Heartless will stop torturing innocent people and stay to where they belong." Aerith looked hopeful, but hinted that she doubted her own words.
"Nope. Won't happen. The Heartless aren't Heartless if they just sit there and watch as everyone else has fun. And anyway, there's always some freak who's out there with a wacked out heart drawing them in for the fun and kill. You should know that." Roz tucked back a lock of hair behind her ear before continuing. "See, King Mickey and the Heartless are enemies, right? But then there is also the Outlaws who are either hired for work, not noticed, or something around that. Outlaws are basically people who can get by as they please by using others as their ticket. Do you get where I'm going with this? Where there's light, there's always darkness, and with that always comes that small group of things, people or objects that are stuck in the middle. In this case, King Mickey and that whole entorage is the light, the Heartless is dark, and Outlaws are those things in the middle."
"And you are..."
"In the middle. Hello, I'm probably your first met Outlaw and probably youngest and friendliest. But when you get me pissed off, I come at ya like the Grim Reaper." Roz smiled devilishly.
Aerith laughed. "Ooh! You must be that good, then. You should challenge Yuffie or Leon in a duel sometime. You just might give them a workout." Aerith winked at Roz before going over to the others and having her turn in the conversation.
Roz scooted over to the edge of the pavement where the waterway was parted. She dipped her hands in the water and watched them drip, muttering as they did so. Little did she know, the boy above wasn't the only one watching her; Riku observed as well. Roz watched as sparkles scattered into the water from the tiny droplets that fell from her hand. She bit the inside of her cheek, thinking, as the sparkles disappeared into the water.
When she looked up, Riku had immediately looked away, but the boy stared on. Roz smirked and walked over to the hangover that seemed to be connecting the several balconies of the rooms of the hotel. She jumped up on the hangover and swung over onto the balcony where the boy was. She walked over to him, then leaned over the ledge next to him. All the while, she noticed he was watching her every move.
"So. I've noticed you've been watching me, but thing is, you don't talk. Is there a way we can communicate? I mean, if you can't talk, is there another way?" she said.
Roz combed her hair with her fingers, tugging at the few tangled strands. She cursed in her strange language at her hair as it continued to be uncooperative. Amazingly, the boy responded in the same language.
"Having a hard time?" he asked, hinting humor in his voice.
Roz blinked. "You understand me?" she said. "Wow. Well, this is one way to talk... But... How 'bout you tell me your name?"
"Aya. Yours?"
"How odd of a name. It's Roz."
"Hmph. Yours isn't any better."
"Shut up!" Roz cursed under breath.
"Just because you know Zaribira, it doesn't mean that you can always hide what you say. I do know the language, you know. In fact, it's the only one I know."
Roz blink, then cursed again. She was just about to clobber Aya when Sora started calling out for her. She grimaced and told Aya to hide. "I'm right here, you git." She waved from the the balcony.
Sora looked up, stuck out his tongue, then told her to come down.
"In a minute!" she said, returning the gesture by sticking out her own tongue. She waved him off, then sat down to talk to Aya again.
"Heh... I wonder about him... That boy, there, the one with the pointy brown hair that looks strangely like chocolate." Roz peaked over the side of the balcony with Aya, pointing out Sora to him. "Even though I don't know him too well, it seems as if he's changing... You know? I don't know how, but something inside... It's growing and growing and he doesn't even know it..." She shook her head and laughed quietly. "Well, whatever, you gonna join our lil ficcie or stay and watch from the shadows?"
Aya smirked, well, what would be called a smirk under that scarf of his. "Whatever suits you best..."
"Stay then. Stay, but follow. Unnoticed... by everyone but me... You know?"
Aya nodded, then let Roz jump over the side of the balcony and join up with her friends again.
"So, what's up?" Roz said as soon as she reached Sora and the others.
"Well, we'll need to get rid of the boss who controls the Heartless here, and then head on back to Donald and Goofy to borrow the Gummi ship. That, or visit Cid. Either way, we bet that the Heartless have spread to the other worlds and brought them into the same state as here," Sora explained, giving her 'it's kinda obvious' look as if she was stupid.
Roz had no care and took no notice. "Whatever..." She looked back up to the hotel balconies and saw the top of Aya's head peeking over the top. She smiled secretly up at him before following Sora and Riku.
The three explored the Second District for a while, fighting as they went; but what was different then last time, as Sora saw it, they weren't only attracted to the keyblade, but to somethine else... But he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He kept seesawing back and forth on the qustion in his mind. Other than the 'does Riku really care about me in that so-and-so way?' question, Sora mainly thought about how the Heartless might've come back or who's causing all this, or if Maleficent really isn't dead and is taking revenge, or if......
Sora shook his head with confusion. That wasn't right. Maleficent couldn't be out to get them again. And he was being as ridiculous as it comes. He didn't think about the Heartless so much anymore for his thoughts were starting to get unruely and insane, and highly impossible. They got so out of control, he had to smack himself. But, apparently, Riku got there first.
"Hey!"
"Hey, yourself," Riku said, raising his hand again in case he needed to make a second blow.
"Well, what was that for! It DID hurt!" Sora widened his eyes and nodded his head as if Riku's mental capacity wasn't big enough to take that all in.
Riku half hodded his eyes, looking down at the younger boy. "Well, I assumed it did, shall I try again to make certain of that hypothesis?" Riku teased and faked bringing down his hand to smack Sora again.
Sora flinched, and Roz couldn't help but laugh. "Boys, BOYS! Please! We need to move on! Riku," she eye Riku personally, "no more physical assults to Sora. And Sora, you're the troop leader here; lead on, will you? You nearly ran yourself into a wall!"
Sora went wide eyed. "What?!"
"Well, you did. That's why Riku smacked you. I just thought you were nuts. He said you weren't paying attention. I went with his idea. I thought it was mroe reasonable..." ^^
When Sora finally regained himself, he silently thanked Riku for his brutel, yet helpful help in coming back to present and away from his crazy thoughts. The three moved on, Riku watching Sora's every move from behind, Sora sulking and embarassed, and Roz happy as anything.
After a while, she broke the silence and talked to them. "You know, you two are the best fun I've ever had all my life. You know, maybe this adventure will turn out to be more funny then dangerous."
Sora sulked. "You wish... You're having more fun at this then I am... And Riku's having the time of his life by smacking me."
Riku shrugged."Actually, I find this so-called 'adventure' boring. Where's the boss? Why are we here again? How're we going to travel to the other worlds if your duck and dog friends don't or can't lend the ship? What about the real enemy? Where's the challenge? Where's anything?!"
"Well now... It seems you're eager to kick some ass." Roz responded, humored.
"Well, I can't hit you, right? Well then, what else? Who else am I gonna kick in the ass?" Riku complained.
"Me?" Roz suggest, half wishing she took those words back as soon as she said them.
"Like you'd let me. You'd just whack me with those sticks."
"And like Sora wouldn't hit you with his keyblade?" Roz shot back.
"No."
Sora glared. "Hey! I would too!"
"Then how come you haven't done it yet?" Riku shot Sora.
"Um... I just haven't thought of it!"
"Riiiight...." Roz looked bored. "Well, whatever. Let's go, okay?"
Sora did a "V" sign with his fingers and laughed sheepishly before moving off to the the doors that led to the Thrid District. Following, as before, was Riku and Roz.
But when they reached the Third District, they found something unusual. By the fountain, there was a votex like before when Roz dropped onto Destiny islands. Sora was puzzled when he led them straight to it. He looked back at Riku questioningly when he couldn't think of any conclusions for the weird vortex.
"I don't know what to make of it... Riku?" Sora said over his shoulder, gesuring for Riku to step up closer to see better.
"No." Simple. Another of his simple answers.
"Nothing?"
"No."
"Roz?"
The girl stepped up as well, on the other side of Sora, staring at the weird thing in wonder. "Nope. Not a thing... But maybe Leon can..." And silently to herself, she added: Or maybe Aya can...
I don't even know if he really is a friend or if he's even here, looking at this think with us from the shadows... Roz frowned, furrowing her brow.
"This is complicated..." she said.
"Apparently, this is a bit too complexed for my noggin," Sora said flatly.
As they stared, gaping at the strange being, a rumble crept upon them. Soon enough, the ground was shaking and rumbling. The three youths swayed and tried to grip for support. Roz attached herself to the wall, while Sora clutched to a pole in front of the fountain, with Riku next to him as a shield. Riku seemed to be playing the knight all over again since the play. It seemed to Sora as if the play never ended, and that he was still the princess, and Riku was the protective, loving knight.
Green eyes met blue ones as the rumbling went on. Strange noises came from the vortex next to them in the fountain. Sora and Riku glanced at each other before staring into the vortex. The only time they turned themselves away was when Roz screamed.
"Roz!" Sora shouted.
Roz was being picked up by a huge and new Heartless creature. She was being squeezed, then was thrown at the wall. "Ugh..." was all could be heard from Roz after her head and entire body smashed into the wall and then bounced off. Roz lay unconscious on the floor, leaving herself vulnerable to the Heartless creature's attacks.
Sora and Riku nodded to each other and charged the monster wtih their weapons. But apparently, this creature was strong enough to throw them back. They were thrown into the vortex and were slowly being consumed by it. Sora stared, wide-eyed as the Heartless creature stuck Roz in there with them. Slowly, bit by bit, they were being engulfed by the vortex...
Sora attempted a scream, but the vortex swallowed him whole... cutting him off. Everything... was... black.....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: yay!! second chapter done!!! yay!!! i'm proud... *sniff* go me... yay! well, whatever... now for my announcer voice... *clears throat* Now that this chapter is finished, what will happen in the next one? What exactly is that vortex thing? And where will it take the three young heros? And who exactly is Aya? Where did he come from? Who is he exactly? Why has he come? Why does he have such interest in the three youths? What is going on here?!*clears throat again* okay... back to the normal voice... ahem... well, yeah... just a few questions u may or may not have on your mind... but enjoy anyway...