Author's note: hey... back.... I don't own KH or Squaresoft, I only own Roz and Aya.... oodles to those who do own KH and Squaresoft and soon to come characters..... but anyway, read, review, email, whatever.... and someone help me on the review box!!! quick!!! *cough* sorry.... well... yeah... read on, my friends, read on....
oh, and I warn that in this chapter, there are major... MAJOR weird stuff going on.... but hey, open minds, ppl... open minds.... just imagine all this happening.... okay? just try.... keep open minds... keep open minds.... and while i'm making this, know that i'm not myself...... not that any of you know what 'myself' is... or care otherwise... with me anyway..... um.... uh.... right... *looks around* _ _ well.... read on... and be afraid... be very afraid...
Chapter Four
"Sora, where've you been?" Riku said, leaning against the wall, staring out the window again.
Sora smiled. "I was with Roz when we got spereated. We ended up right outside that huge tree thing. We've been walking around tehre ever since. Food wasn't much... kinda digusting... but okay for gruel..."
Riku laughed. "Like you've tasted gruel before."
"No, but you haven't either, have you?"
"No."
"Well then?"
"....." Beaten. Damn. Where did Sora learn how to snap his tongue like that? or was he, Riku, losing his touch?
Sora laughed at Riku's silence. "Doesn't matter anyway. We got by and was stuck to sleep out there in the cold and wacky mist while you hitch-hiked a ride with these people and slept in a bed. Our so-called 'bed' was leaves and dirt." Sora made a funny face that made Riku have to concentrate to stiffle a laugh and keep a straight face.
Soon, Riku couldn't keep the straight face and laughed hard, clutching his stomach as if it hurt. Sora smiled at Riku's easiness toward his goofing around.
For a while, the boys talked, leaving Roz to contemplate to herself. She was fiddling with her necklace that was suppose to protect and give luck to the barrer. It was also supposed to help in clearing the mind; but Roz didn't believe that part. Every once in a while, she'd sneak glances at Sora, watching his movements carefully. Slowly, it seemed, he'd act a bit strangely, well, more than a normal person would, but it didn't seem that Riku noticed. Roz searched Sora with ehr eyes, looking him up and down. Something was worng... Terribly wrong... but... what?
Roz frowned to herself, watching Sora, but keeping to herself. Unconsciously, she was fingering the necklace, moving from bead to bead. Only until Sora himself waved a hand in front of her face, did she come out from her thoughts. She decided it was best to leave and exited the room. Riku seemed unphased, and Sora seemed oddly cheerful.
When Roz left though, Sora was a bit different, he started blabbing about how he missed Riku and how it seemed like eternity, and how he wished they'd never get seperated again. Sonn enough, though, Sora fell asleep.
That's when Roz came back in. She still held the necklace in her hand as if she never noticed she was playing with it in the first place. She said that she, Riku, and Sora were invited to come and dine with Dagger's uncle in his castle. Riku didn't seem to care either way, and Roz was about to tell him about Sora's weird behavior, but thougth better of it. Even though Sora was alseep, Roz seemed uncomfortable telling Riku what she thought. Riku seemed pretty annoyed and dulled at the same time anyway. So, Roz left with a 'yes' on her mind that Riku spoke for himself and Sora and that they said 'yes' and that they'd like to go.
Riku waited for the door to close before turning to Sora. Watching him, a song crept in his head. It was "Simple and Clean" by someone... he couldn't remember who... But it seemed to remind him of himself and Sora and what they're going through.
Soon enough, he started singing it softly.
"You're giving me too many things / Lately you're all I need / You smiled to me and said / Don't get me wrong, I love you / But does that mean I have to meet your father? / When we are older," Riku walked over to the window and leaned on the sill, "you'll understand / What I meant when I said "No, / I don't think life is quite that simple." / When you walk away..." Riku suddenly stopped and turned his head to find Sora sitting up, right there ont he bed, staring at him, listening to him. "What?"
"Nothing." Sora smiled. "I just liked your singing."
"Right...."
"No, really. I remember the song. I know the rest. I'm just surprised you're even singing at all." Sora smiled wickedly when Riku gave him his usual glares. "When you walk away / You don't here me say please / Oh baby, don't go / Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight / It's hard to let it go..." Sora sang suddenly, his voice beautiful considering he never sang before . "See?"
"Right... Right... I get ya..." Riku smirked. "The daily things that keep us all busy / Are confusing me / That's when you came to me and said, / Wish I could prove I love you..."
Sora picked up right away. "But does that mean I have to walk on water? / When we are older you'll understand / It's enough when I say so / Amd maybe some things are that simple..."
Suddenly, a new voice joined in. The boys looked to see it was Roz. "When you walk away / You don't here me say please / Oh baby, dont' go / Simple and Clean is that way that you're making me feel tonight / It's hard to let it go..." Roz quickly drew in a deep breath and matched the high pitched that the boys were sure they couldn't do. "Hold me / Whatever lies beyond this moring / Is a little later on / Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all / Nothing is like before..... Hold me / Whatever lies beyond this moring / Is a little later on / Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all / Nothing is like before..."
Roz smiled and huffed while she laughed quietly, proud of herself reaching the high pitch with such ease; she also seemed to be much less edgy now. The boys laughed and were amazed as well.
"Not bad, neh?" Roz asked the boys, sitting down on the floor, still laughing.
"Yeah... I don't think we could've made that high note." Sora grinned, seeing something roll down Roz's forehead and down the side of her face. "You okay? Maybe that was a bit much for you."
"Nah... S'okay... I'm fine... I just haven't done singing like that in a while..." Roz laughed again, falling backwards on the floor.
"I dunno... maybe Sora coulda reached that pitch... Maybe not too well, but good enough... He's already too much like a girl... Discluding the hair..." Riku mocked playfully, ruffling the boy's hair that still seemed to stay pointy.
Sora flushed, then stuck out his tongue, blowing a raspberry up at Riku. Roz laughed as the boys tackled each other. The only thing that stopped them was when Sora's stomach growled. Then, everyone laughed.
"I guess someone's hungry... Well, that was the actual reason why I came back up here besides that I could hear Sora all the way from the stair case..."
"Was it bad?"
"Nah... Just off..." Roz smiled reassuringly at Sora who blushed. "Well, anyway, let's go... I'm pretty sure Dagger, Zidane and the others are waiting for us... Otherwise, we might as well get lost in this big place..."
"Yeah..." Riku followed Roz out with Sora tagging along beside him.
When they were outside with the others outside the hotel, Zidane told a bit about Dagger and her uncle.
"She's a Queen?! And her uncle owns this place?!!! Oh, WOW!!!" Sora was awed and it showed.
Dagger smiled. "Yes, and his name is Cid. He doesn't mind if you call him Cid, as long as he knows you a bit, first..."
Sora nodded, grinning a mile wide until Riku knocked him on the head; this time, accompanied by another knock on the head by Roz who hit both of them.
"Behave!"
Zidane smiled at them as Sora and Roz glared at each other and Riku just laughed his head off then. But then, when Zidane started to lead them off toward the castle, Sora didn't follow. Roz stopped the others.
"Sora? What's wrong? Aren't you coming?" she asked the boy.
"Nah. No thanks. I think I'll skip royal eatings, thanks. I'll try next time," he reassured his friends. "If anything comes up, come and fidn me at the hotel, okay? Otherwise, i'll jsut stay and explore the place, thank you."
Riku cocked an eyebrow. "You sure? This is a first with you declining a feast with a bunch of food involved." Riku smirked.
Sora returned the smirk but with more bitterness behind it. "Nice, Riku. Just nice. But for once, I'm not some baka with a mind of food and a fool-hearty way of doing things. Okay?"
Riku was taken back by this statement. He'd never seen this side to Sora. With his eyebrows arched, Riku backed off and let Sora be.
But Roz wasn't satisfied. She sensed something wrong. "Sora, are you okay? All week when we were lost in the mist of the Lifa Tree, you've been acting like this... Earlier, before we came, you were fine and dandy. now I know I don't know you too well, but this just doesn't seem right, okay?"
Sora snapped at her too. "Just back off, okay, busu? Leave me alone. You're right, you don't know me, and you'll won't want to either, cuz I'm not going to give you a chance, not today, and not for a while, okay?" Sora stomped off, obviously mad at the moment.
Roz sucked in a breath, bit her trembling lip, and tried to hold back a shed of tears. She turned to Riku who was only shocked, and utterly surprised at Sora's actions jsut now. Riku made a sudden move to go after Sora, but Roz held him back. She placed a gloved hand on his chest and shook her head.
"E-- Even though he may not seem all too right, right now, we must stay away..." Roz said, sniffing stiffly, trying to look like she was at least was in control of some of herself. "He'll b-- be fine..." Roz drew in a shaky breath. "If he's lost, Z-- Zidane or someone will go and find him, okay?" Roz looked hopefully at Zidane and the others. She tried to crack a smile when they nodded and agreed to help in any way they could possible.
This was definitely not a good day for them. But Dagger and Zidane still insisted that they came and dined with them with Cid, Dagger's uncle and king to Limblum, the place in which they were now.
Sora was angry. He showed it. The boy wandered through the town, shoving his way past people and giving them glares if they tried to say something. He walked through the Business section of Limblum in silence, looking at the shops, and reminding himself not to buy anything.
Many minutes later, he came upon the synthesis shop.
"Welcome. How may I help you?" the shop keeper asked Sora nicely.
Sora shrugged. "I'm just looking around. Seeing what ya got..."
"Oh, well then..." The shop keeper showed Sora a list of what he could make, what was needed to build it, and how much it costed. He also told him what each one did.
Sora frowned. There was a lot of good things here, but so expensive, and so many things he didn't carry. He knew he couldn't trade anything; nothing he had could top off what the guy could make.... except... Sora got and idea and summoned the keyblade. He held it out in front of him and placed it on the counter in front of the shop keeper.
"Ever made this?" Sora asked the man with sudden fairness.
The shop keeper squinted his eyes, moving over every detail of the keyblade. The grip where Sora's hand still held it, the keychain and the end, the blade itself, the weird sign toward the end of the blade.
The shop keeper shook his head, pulling back from being so close to the sword. "I'm sorry, but no. What is it?"
"A keyblade."
"A... 'keyblade'? Well, son, what does it do?"
Sora briefly explained about what the keyblade did and who he was, but while Sora was talking, the keyblade was emitting a strange aura. When Sora finished, he looked down at the keyblade and gasped quietly. This action of the keyblade wasn't right. The aura it was giving off was dark, similar to the fog/mist that appeared when a Heartless was beaten. Sora became panicy and quickly picked up the keyblade and fled the shop, leaving the shop kepper speechless.
Sora flew through the alleys, carrying his keyblade with him. He didn't stop until he reached the hotel. There, he ran up the stairs and confinded himself in his room where he encountered Heartless. Sora drew his keyblade and immediately, the Heartless shrank at it's presence. Sora glared at the heartless, but then looked down at his keyblade; it still gave off the dark aura. But there was no time for him to get lost in his thoughts; the Hearless took the slim chance to charge him. Sora closed his eyes for a second... and then opened them in a flash; he wiped all the Heartless out with just one swing of his keyblade. Sora looked around the room. The mist of the Heartless stayed, hanging in the air. Slowly, more Heartless gathered around him, positioned ready to attack. Sora lowered his head and smiled demonically before taking on the Heartless...
Riku and Roz sat next to each other, whispering. Riku had a hand over Roz's trying to comfort her. Roz just sniffed after every other word while she talked.
No one from the group, not even Zidane, knew how to handle this. They didn't know Sora, and they barely knew Riku, so trying to help and be successful was slim to none. Everyone had already started eating, but Riku and Roz barely touched a thing on their plates. Cid had tried several times to strike up a conversation with the two, but hopes were dwindled when Riku would only say very few words to him. Cid also tried to get information about them from Dagger and Zidane, but even there, not much could be taken from them.
Lunch, was a saddening time. The food was wonderful, but the situation at hand was what was pulling all the fun down.
Roz spoke, now, to everyone. "Sora isn't at all right... There's something wrong with him... I know there is..."
Cid asked who Sora was.
"Sora, happens to be my best friend, but just a week and a few days ago, we got seperated when we were plunged into some kind of vortex," Riku explained. "Roz said that all during the week that she was with Sora and I was with your niece and her friends, sir, Sora was acting strangely. Well, more than he's capable of, and certainly in the wrong way. And just a while ago, he was very snappy and considerably rude. Now we now that Sora is never rude or snappy, even when he's pissed off. So we are worried that something is indeed wrong with him." Riku tried to be polite and use more words than he normally lets out.
Cid smiled at Riku and thanked him for his prolific information. but Riku wasn't done.
"But it wasn't only a matter of that he was rude and such, sir, it was how he said it and how much malice he stuck behind those words when he snapped at Roz." Riku jerked his head to Roz who had her head bent, still sniffling.
"I sensed something wrong in Traverse Town, but I didn't expect it to be this..." Roz said quietly. "I know I shoulda tolda ya, Riku, but you didn't seem to want to know or would even care. I thought that maybe I was just thinking things and sometimes Sora was like this, but when I saw how you two got along so well, and then this udden change over such a short peroid of time, I knew something was wrong. But again, when I thought about telling you, you seemed to be so happy and cool, and calm that maybe I still was thinking things. Things that were probably none of my business."
Riku reassured Roz and told her it was okay; that at least, now they know.
The luncheon went on dully. Cid had planned a bit of fun things, but since the mood was definitely not a good one, he deided that it was best Roz and Riku were taken back to the hotel to rest and that later, then maybe, he could come down and help them talk to Sora.
Riku and Roz were silent on the mini journey back to the hotel. On the way back to the business section of Limblum on the little airship, Roz stared outside the numerous windows. She jumped when she saw something was wrong with the hotel when they neared to a stop in the hanger. She tugged at Riku's arm, urging him to get up. Riku didn't; he told her it could wait until they'd landed.
So as soon as they did, she dragged him outside the airship and shoving past everyone in a hurry. She dragged Riku down the steps, and across the open street toward the hotel. She stopped just a few feet from it to point up at the windows on the second floor.
"Look! Look Riku! Now tell me that's not normal!" she said frantically.
Riku looked hard up the windows of the second floor. Black... Black with... Ack! That's the same substance of when Heartless are around! Sora! Riku rushed in the hotel.
Roz scoffed. "You coulda just said yes..." Then she ran in too, following Riku across the front office, then up the stairs and to the bedrooms.
Riku screeched to a stop when he reached the door, his hand inches away from the doorknob. Roz crashed into him for his sudden halt. She started to tell him off when Riku stopped her and pointed to the crack under the door. The same black mist was escaping the place. Riku glanced back at Roz who only stared wide-eyed at the feature. He grasped the doorknob, slowly turning the brass handle, and pushing the door open.
The whole room was covered in the same mist. In fact, there was so much that some of it drifted past Riku and Roz and clung to the hallway of the upper floor. Roz placed a hand on Riku's shoulder as he started to walk inside the room, keeping close to him.
They slowly inched deeper into the mist and farther into the room until they could finally see. It was the back of the room where the bed lay. The mist was surprisingly clear of here. Sora lay across the bed, his eyes closed and half of his body turned away from them. The keyblade was right next to him, giving off strange energy. Riku made a move to touch Sora and wake him up, but a Heartless emerged right in front of him and Roz, preventing any pass to Sora. Roz squeaked and took out her Kali sticks, ready for action, but just then, the Heartless was called off, sinking back into the floor, disappearing.
Roz frowned, not sure what happened. She lifted her head from where the Heartless disappeared, to Riku who approached Sora. She watched as Riku lightly shook the boy, waking him up. She stood still and silently as Sora fluttered open his eyes, groaning at the sudden action to move from his slumber. He sat up, and blinked up at Riku. Roz frowned, sensing something was wrong, but didn't say anything. Sora seemed fine enough; he was talking normally to Riku.
Riku seemed worried. "Sora? Are you okay?"
Sora blinked. "Um... yeah. Why?"
Roz decided to cut in. "Well, Sora, it's just that, the room was covered with a strange black mist that's only there when Heartless around. We just hoped you were okay. But apparently, you're just sleeping."
Sora suddenly became quiet and lowered his head, his mouth curving into a devilish smirk. A sound escaped him--sounding similar to a demonic laugh. Roz laid a hand on his schoulder. She asked the boy if he was okay for his shoulders were shaking.
Sora roughly pushed Roz away, making her stumble backwards. He lifted his head, but then tilted it back, laughing maniacally, which was very unike Sora. Riku dared and took Sora by the shoulders, shaking him. But that didn't do any good; Sora only grew angry and grasped Riku by the collar, shaking him in return. Sora drew the keyblade and stuck it next to Riku's neck. But Riku didn't seem to care at all about the keyblade. Riku knew that the keyblade was only a meer toy compared to normal swords, but what he didn't notice was the sudden transformation of it. Now, instead of the normal round blade with the King's symbol on it, it now was black with actual sharpness to the blades and the King's symbol was now the Heartless' symbol. Sora's ocean blue eyes were now dark, blood red. The pupils didn't seem to be there anymore, and this change scared Riku. He tried to push the keyblade away from him so he could talk to Sora senibly, but Sora was amazingly stronger than him; the keyblade didn't move an inch, and the grip on his shirt stayed. Riku and Sora made eye contact, but Sora didn't seem to be there, not his usual self; not really...
Riku stood there stiffly, trying to search Sora's eyes, to find any hope in finding the real Sora, but had no luck what-so-ever.
Many minutes passed, and no one moved. Riku was starting to get tired, but Sora didn't seem to be tired or lose any of his strength or hold on him at all. Riku didn't want to move for the keyblade was still close to his neck; besides, he couldn't move, Sora still had him by the collar. Riku could move, if he wanted to and had a choice to, but it seemed that Sora didn't want him to move at all. Roz was totally forgotten, so it was a surprise when she just jumped in and whacked the keyblade out of Sora's hand, and pushing him back onto the bed. Sora sat there, his head lowered. Riku picked up the keyblade and held it tightly in his hand; he mentally growled at himself. Riku and Roz both apporached Sora who stayed silent with his head bent, sitting on the edge of the bed. They waited for some kind of movement from Sora...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: yay! chapter four done! I'm happy! yay! Sora goes bad! yay! yippee! ... but to tell the truth, i kind think this chapter could use a bit of work. what do you think? please tell me what i can do to fix this chapter along wtih your reivews, okay? thank you
oh, and I warn that in this chapter, there are major... MAJOR weird stuff going on.... but hey, open minds, ppl... open minds.... just imagine all this happening.... okay? just try.... keep open minds... keep open minds.... and while i'm making this, know that i'm not myself...... not that any of you know what 'myself' is... or care otherwise... with me anyway..... um.... uh.... right... *looks around* _ _ well.... read on... and be afraid... be very afraid...
Chapter Four
"Sora, where've you been?" Riku said, leaning against the wall, staring out the window again.
Sora smiled. "I was with Roz when we got spereated. We ended up right outside that huge tree thing. We've been walking around tehre ever since. Food wasn't much... kinda digusting... but okay for gruel..."
Riku laughed. "Like you've tasted gruel before."
"No, but you haven't either, have you?"
"No."
"Well then?"
"....." Beaten. Damn. Where did Sora learn how to snap his tongue like that? or was he, Riku, losing his touch?
Sora laughed at Riku's silence. "Doesn't matter anyway. We got by and was stuck to sleep out there in the cold and wacky mist while you hitch-hiked a ride with these people and slept in a bed. Our so-called 'bed' was leaves and dirt." Sora made a funny face that made Riku have to concentrate to stiffle a laugh and keep a straight face.
Soon, Riku couldn't keep the straight face and laughed hard, clutching his stomach as if it hurt. Sora smiled at Riku's easiness toward his goofing around.
For a while, the boys talked, leaving Roz to contemplate to herself. She was fiddling with her necklace that was suppose to protect and give luck to the barrer. It was also supposed to help in clearing the mind; but Roz didn't believe that part. Every once in a while, she'd sneak glances at Sora, watching his movements carefully. Slowly, it seemed, he'd act a bit strangely, well, more than a normal person would, but it didn't seem that Riku noticed. Roz searched Sora with ehr eyes, looking him up and down. Something was worng... Terribly wrong... but... what?
Roz frowned to herself, watching Sora, but keeping to herself. Unconsciously, she was fingering the necklace, moving from bead to bead. Only until Sora himself waved a hand in front of her face, did she come out from her thoughts. She decided it was best to leave and exited the room. Riku seemed unphased, and Sora seemed oddly cheerful.
When Roz left though, Sora was a bit different, he started blabbing about how he missed Riku and how it seemed like eternity, and how he wished they'd never get seperated again. Sonn enough, though, Sora fell asleep.
That's when Roz came back in. She still held the necklace in her hand as if she never noticed she was playing with it in the first place. She said that she, Riku, and Sora were invited to come and dine with Dagger's uncle in his castle. Riku didn't seem to care either way, and Roz was about to tell him about Sora's weird behavior, but thougth better of it. Even though Sora was alseep, Roz seemed uncomfortable telling Riku what she thought. Riku seemed pretty annoyed and dulled at the same time anyway. So, Roz left with a 'yes' on her mind that Riku spoke for himself and Sora and that they said 'yes' and that they'd like to go.
Riku waited for the door to close before turning to Sora. Watching him, a song crept in his head. It was "Simple and Clean" by someone... he couldn't remember who... But it seemed to remind him of himself and Sora and what they're going through.
Soon enough, he started singing it softly.
"You're giving me too many things / Lately you're all I need / You smiled to me and said / Don't get me wrong, I love you / But does that mean I have to meet your father? / When we are older," Riku walked over to the window and leaned on the sill, "you'll understand / What I meant when I said "No, / I don't think life is quite that simple." / When you walk away..." Riku suddenly stopped and turned his head to find Sora sitting up, right there ont he bed, staring at him, listening to him. "What?"
"Nothing." Sora smiled. "I just liked your singing."
"Right...."
"No, really. I remember the song. I know the rest. I'm just surprised you're even singing at all." Sora smiled wickedly when Riku gave him his usual glares. "When you walk away / You don't here me say please / Oh baby, don't go / Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight / It's hard to let it go..." Sora sang suddenly, his voice beautiful considering he never sang before . "See?"
"Right... Right... I get ya..." Riku smirked. "The daily things that keep us all busy / Are confusing me / That's when you came to me and said, / Wish I could prove I love you..."
Sora picked up right away. "But does that mean I have to walk on water? / When we are older you'll understand / It's enough when I say so / Amd maybe some things are that simple..."
Suddenly, a new voice joined in. The boys looked to see it was Roz. "When you walk away / You don't here me say please / Oh baby, dont' go / Simple and Clean is that way that you're making me feel tonight / It's hard to let it go..." Roz quickly drew in a deep breath and matched the high pitched that the boys were sure they couldn't do. "Hold me / Whatever lies beyond this moring / Is a little later on / Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all / Nothing is like before..... Hold me / Whatever lies beyond this moring / Is a little later on / Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all / Nothing is like before..."
Roz smiled and huffed while she laughed quietly, proud of herself reaching the high pitch with such ease; she also seemed to be much less edgy now. The boys laughed and were amazed as well.
"Not bad, neh?" Roz asked the boys, sitting down on the floor, still laughing.
"Yeah... I don't think we could've made that high note." Sora grinned, seeing something roll down Roz's forehead and down the side of her face. "You okay? Maybe that was a bit much for you."
"Nah... S'okay... I'm fine... I just haven't done singing like that in a while..." Roz laughed again, falling backwards on the floor.
"I dunno... maybe Sora coulda reached that pitch... Maybe not too well, but good enough... He's already too much like a girl... Discluding the hair..." Riku mocked playfully, ruffling the boy's hair that still seemed to stay pointy.
Sora flushed, then stuck out his tongue, blowing a raspberry up at Riku. Roz laughed as the boys tackled each other. The only thing that stopped them was when Sora's stomach growled. Then, everyone laughed.
"I guess someone's hungry... Well, that was the actual reason why I came back up here besides that I could hear Sora all the way from the stair case..."
"Was it bad?"
"Nah... Just off..." Roz smiled reassuringly at Sora who blushed. "Well, anyway, let's go... I'm pretty sure Dagger, Zidane and the others are waiting for us... Otherwise, we might as well get lost in this big place..."
"Yeah..." Riku followed Roz out with Sora tagging along beside him.
When they were outside with the others outside the hotel, Zidane told a bit about Dagger and her uncle.
"She's a Queen?! And her uncle owns this place?!!! Oh, WOW!!!" Sora was awed and it showed.
Dagger smiled. "Yes, and his name is Cid. He doesn't mind if you call him Cid, as long as he knows you a bit, first..."
Sora nodded, grinning a mile wide until Riku knocked him on the head; this time, accompanied by another knock on the head by Roz who hit both of them.
"Behave!"
Zidane smiled at them as Sora and Roz glared at each other and Riku just laughed his head off then. But then, when Zidane started to lead them off toward the castle, Sora didn't follow. Roz stopped the others.
"Sora? What's wrong? Aren't you coming?" she asked the boy.
"Nah. No thanks. I think I'll skip royal eatings, thanks. I'll try next time," he reassured his friends. "If anything comes up, come and fidn me at the hotel, okay? Otherwise, i'll jsut stay and explore the place, thank you."
Riku cocked an eyebrow. "You sure? This is a first with you declining a feast with a bunch of food involved." Riku smirked.
Sora returned the smirk but with more bitterness behind it. "Nice, Riku. Just nice. But for once, I'm not some baka with a mind of food and a fool-hearty way of doing things. Okay?"
Riku was taken back by this statement. He'd never seen this side to Sora. With his eyebrows arched, Riku backed off and let Sora be.
But Roz wasn't satisfied. She sensed something wrong. "Sora, are you okay? All week when we were lost in the mist of the Lifa Tree, you've been acting like this... Earlier, before we came, you were fine and dandy. now I know I don't know you too well, but this just doesn't seem right, okay?"
Sora snapped at her too. "Just back off, okay, busu? Leave me alone. You're right, you don't know me, and you'll won't want to either, cuz I'm not going to give you a chance, not today, and not for a while, okay?" Sora stomped off, obviously mad at the moment.
Roz sucked in a breath, bit her trembling lip, and tried to hold back a shed of tears. She turned to Riku who was only shocked, and utterly surprised at Sora's actions jsut now. Riku made a sudden move to go after Sora, but Roz held him back. She placed a gloved hand on his chest and shook her head.
"E-- Even though he may not seem all too right, right now, we must stay away..." Roz said, sniffing stiffly, trying to look like she was at least was in control of some of herself. "He'll b-- be fine..." Roz drew in a shaky breath. "If he's lost, Z-- Zidane or someone will go and find him, okay?" Roz looked hopefully at Zidane and the others. She tried to crack a smile when they nodded and agreed to help in any way they could possible.
This was definitely not a good day for them. But Dagger and Zidane still insisted that they came and dined with them with Cid, Dagger's uncle and king to Limblum, the place in which they were now.
Sora was angry. He showed it. The boy wandered through the town, shoving his way past people and giving them glares if they tried to say something. He walked through the Business section of Limblum in silence, looking at the shops, and reminding himself not to buy anything.
Many minutes later, he came upon the synthesis shop.
"Welcome. How may I help you?" the shop keeper asked Sora nicely.
Sora shrugged. "I'm just looking around. Seeing what ya got..."
"Oh, well then..." The shop keeper showed Sora a list of what he could make, what was needed to build it, and how much it costed. He also told him what each one did.
Sora frowned. There was a lot of good things here, but so expensive, and so many things he didn't carry. He knew he couldn't trade anything; nothing he had could top off what the guy could make.... except... Sora got and idea and summoned the keyblade. He held it out in front of him and placed it on the counter in front of the shop keeper.
"Ever made this?" Sora asked the man with sudden fairness.
The shop keeper squinted his eyes, moving over every detail of the keyblade. The grip where Sora's hand still held it, the keychain and the end, the blade itself, the weird sign toward the end of the blade.
The shop keeper shook his head, pulling back from being so close to the sword. "I'm sorry, but no. What is it?"
"A keyblade."
"A... 'keyblade'? Well, son, what does it do?"
Sora briefly explained about what the keyblade did and who he was, but while Sora was talking, the keyblade was emitting a strange aura. When Sora finished, he looked down at the keyblade and gasped quietly. This action of the keyblade wasn't right. The aura it was giving off was dark, similar to the fog/mist that appeared when a Heartless was beaten. Sora became panicy and quickly picked up the keyblade and fled the shop, leaving the shop kepper speechless.
Sora flew through the alleys, carrying his keyblade with him. He didn't stop until he reached the hotel. There, he ran up the stairs and confinded himself in his room where he encountered Heartless. Sora drew his keyblade and immediately, the Heartless shrank at it's presence. Sora glared at the heartless, but then looked down at his keyblade; it still gave off the dark aura. But there was no time for him to get lost in his thoughts; the Hearless took the slim chance to charge him. Sora closed his eyes for a second... and then opened them in a flash; he wiped all the Heartless out with just one swing of his keyblade. Sora looked around the room. The mist of the Heartless stayed, hanging in the air. Slowly, more Heartless gathered around him, positioned ready to attack. Sora lowered his head and smiled demonically before taking on the Heartless...
Riku and Roz sat next to each other, whispering. Riku had a hand over Roz's trying to comfort her. Roz just sniffed after every other word while she talked.
No one from the group, not even Zidane, knew how to handle this. They didn't know Sora, and they barely knew Riku, so trying to help and be successful was slim to none. Everyone had already started eating, but Riku and Roz barely touched a thing on their plates. Cid had tried several times to strike up a conversation with the two, but hopes were dwindled when Riku would only say very few words to him. Cid also tried to get information about them from Dagger and Zidane, but even there, not much could be taken from them.
Lunch, was a saddening time. The food was wonderful, but the situation at hand was what was pulling all the fun down.
Roz spoke, now, to everyone. "Sora isn't at all right... There's something wrong with him... I know there is..."
Cid asked who Sora was.
"Sora, happens to be my best friend, but just a week and a few days ago, we got seperated when we were plunged into some kind of vortex," Riku explained. "Roz said that all during the week that she was with Sora and I was with your niece and her friends, sir, Sora was acting strangely. Well, more than he's capable of, and certainly in the wrong way. And just a while ago, he was very snappy and considerably rude. Now we now that Sora is never rude or snappy, even when he's pissed off. So we are worried that something is indeed wrong with him." Riku tried to be polite and use more words than he normally lets out.
Cid smiled at Riku and thanked him for his prolific information. but Riku wasn't done.
"But it wasn't only a matter of that he was rude and such, sir, it was how he said it and how much malice he stuck behind those words when he snapped at Roz." Riku jerked his head to Roz who had her head bent, still sniffling.
"I sensed something wrong in Traverse Town, but I didn't expect it to be this..." Roz said quietly. "I know I shoulda tolda ya, Riku, but you didn't seem to want to know or would even care. I thought that maybe I was just thinking things and sometimes Sora was like this, but when I saw how you two got along so well, and then this udden change over such a short peroid of time, I knew something was wrong. But again, when I thought about telling you, you seemed to be so happy and cool, and calm that maybe I still was thinking things. Things that were probably none of my business."
Riku reassured Roz and told her it was okay; that at least, now they know.
The luncheon went on dully. Cid had planned a bit of fun things, but since the mood was definitely not a good one, he deided that it was best Roz and Riku were taken back to the hotel to rest and that later, then maybe, he could come down and help them talk to Sora.
Riku and Roz were silent on the mini journey back to the hotel. On the way back to the business section of Limblum on the little airship, Roz stared outside the numerous windows. She jumped when she saw something was wrong with the hotel when they neared to a stop in the hanger. She tugged at Riku's arm, urging him to get up. Riku didn't; he told her it could wait until they'd landed.
So as soon as they did, she dragged him outside the airship and shoving past everyone in a hurry. She dragged Riku down the steps, and across the open street toward the hotel. She stopped just a few feet from it to point up at the windows on the second floor.
"Look! Look Riku! Now tell me that's not normal!" she said frantically.
Riku looked hard up the windows of the second floor. Black... Black with... Ack! That's the same substance of when Heartless are around! Sora! Riku rushed in the hotel.
Roz scoffed. "You coulda just said yes..." Then she ran in too, following Riku across the front office, then up the stairs and to the bedrooms.
Riku screeched to a stop when he reached the door, his hand inches away from the doorknob. Roz crashed into him for his sudden halt. She started to tell him off when Riku stopped her and pointed to the crack under the door. The same black mist was escaping the place. Riku glanced back at Roz who only stared wide-eyed at the feature. He grasped the doorknob, slowly turning the brass handle, and pushing the door open.
The whole room was covered in the same mist. In fact, there was so much that some of it drifted past Riku and Roz and clung to the hallway of the upper floor. Roz placed a hand on Riku's shoulder as he started to walk inside the room, keeping close to him.
They slowly inched deeper into the mist and farther into the room until they could finally see. It was the back of the room where the bed lay. The mist was surprisingly clear of here. Sora lay across the bed, his eyes closed and half of his body turned away from them. The keyblade was right next to him, giving off strange energy. Riku made a move to touch Sora and wake him up, but a Heartless emerged right in front of him and Roz, preventing any pass to Sora. Roz squeaked and took out her Kali sticks, ready for action, but just then, the Heartless was called off, sinking back into the floor, disappearing.
Roz frowned, not sure what happened. She lifted her head from where the Heartless disappeared, to Riku who approached Sora. She watched as Riku lightly shook the boy, waking him up. She stood still and silently as Sora fluttered open his eyes, groaning at the sudden action to move from his slumber. He sat up, and blinked up at Riku. Roz frowned, sensing something was wrong, but didn't say anything. Sora seemed fine enough; he was talking normally to Riku.
Riku seemed worried. "Sora? Are you okay?"
Sora blinked. "Um... yeah. Why?"
Roz decided to cut in. "Well, Sora, it's just that, the room was covered with a strange black mist that's only there when Heartless around. We just hoped you were okay. But apparently, you're just sleeping."
Sora suddenly became quiet and lowered his head, his mouth curving into a devilish smirk. A sound escaped him--sounding similar to a demonic laugh. Roz laid a hand on his schoulder. She asked the boy if he was okay for his shoulders were shaking.
Sora roughly pushed Roz away, making her stumble backwards. He lifted his head, but then tilted it back, laughing maniacally, which was very unike Sora. Riku dared and took Sora by the shoulders, shaking him. But that didn't do any good; Sora only grew angry and grasped Riku by the collar, shaking him in return. Sora drew the keyblade and stuck it next to Riku's neck. But Riku didn't seem to care at all about the keyblade. Riku knew that the keyblade was only a meer toy compared to normal swords, but what he didn't notice was the sudden transformation of it. Now, instead of the normal round blade with the King's symbol on it, it now was black with actual sharpness to the blades and the King's symbol was now the Heartless' symbol. Sora's ocean blue eyes were now dark, blood red. The pupils didn't seem to be there anymore, and this change scared Riku. He tried to push the keyblade away from him so he could talk to Sora senibly, but Sora was amazingly stronger than him; the keyblade didn't move an inch, and the grip on his shirt stayed. Riku and Sora made eye contact, but Sora didn't seem to be there, not his usual self; not really...
Riku stood there stiffly, trying to search Sora's eyes, to find any hope in finding the real Sora, but had no luck what-so-ever.
Many minutes passed, and no one moved. Riku was starting to get tired, but Sora didn't seem to be tired or lose any of his strength or hold on him at all. Riku didn't want to move for the keyblade was still close to his neck; besides, he couldn't move, Sora still had him by the collar. Riku could move, if he wanted to and had a choice to, but it seemed that Sora didn't want him to move at all. Roz was totally forgotten, so it was a surprise when she just jumped in and whacked the keyblade out of Sora's hand, and pushing him back onto the bed. Sora sat there, his head lowered. Riku picked up the keyblade and held it tightly in his hand; he mentally growled at himself. Riku and Roz both apporached Sora who stayed silent with his head bent, sitting on the edge of the bed. They waited for some kind of movement from Sora...
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AN: yay! chapter four done! I'm happy! yay! Sora goes bad! yay! yippee! ... but to tell the truth, i kind think this chapter could use a bit of work. what do you think? please tell me what i can do to fix this chapter along wtih your reivews, okay? thank you