Tornado: Thanks for the tips, dude! Yes…I can fit that in *smirk* thanks a lot! Sorry….I just wanted to make my own kind of bad guy, for this story. I really don't remember how the battle went exactly..*sweatdrop*
Also, thank you Angel-chan, Draqua, and fle! And all those others who have reviewed!
Chapter Three: The Ikai Okuri (The Send-off)
The few days after the Heartless attack were sorrowful. People mourning over their lost ones, others upset over their broken property. The most sorrowful one of all though, was Sora. He wouldn't leave the room that Yuna had given him. He sat on the window seat, staring out over the ocean. He locked himself in the room, not answering when anyone knocked. Not even when Yuna asked him to come out.
'I could have stopped him.' Sora thought. 'I could have stopped Riku, from harming all those people. Riku never was like this before..why has he all the sudden changed? I don't understand…did I do something wrong? Did I offend him in some way? Was it me? Or was it because he was just angry? I wish I knew…that way I could help him.' He sighed. Sora closed his eyes and leaned his head on the wall, banging his head on the wall.
A knock came to the door. Sora looked over it, making no move to come to it. The knocking repeated, and finally stopped. Sora watched as the door handles glowed a soft blue, as they always did when someone opened the door. The door then opened, and there stood Lulu. Her hands at her sides.
"I created this effect on the doors, Sora. I can open them." She told him. The Black Magic Woman entered the room, waving her hand again, and the door closed. She walked over to him. "Now, tell me something. You have been locked in this room for days now. The attack by the Heartless made has shaken you, what is it?"
Sora shook his head. "Nothing, Lulu. I just need time for myself. I have been traveling world to world, and haven't been able to think."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Lulu looked at him for a long moment, as if searching through his soul. She nodded within a brief moment. "If you say so, Sora. Just remember one thing, if you ever need to talk to someone, go to Yuna. She will understand." She turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Sora's shoulders sunk and he banged his head on the wall again. Then he stopped. The Heartless were after another Princess's Heart…but who? There was no Princess in Spira…was there?
Rikku stretched out and stuck her feet up on the table. "So, Yunie, what's the plan for tonight? We going to have fun?"
Yuna looked at her cousin sternly. "Rikku, how can we? I have to send all those souls off tomorrow.."
"You need to relax, na?" Rikku winked. "How about we all sit down and play a game tonight? I know that you'll worry yourself sick about doing the dance tomorrow! Goofy agrees!"
"Garsh, I do." Goofy scratched his head. "Sora needs to loosen up as well."
Rikku put a finger to her chin, as in thought. "Yeah, he does! He has been in that room ever since I came by!" she looked at Yuna. "Yunie, is Sin back? Is that why those things are attacking?"
Yuna froze at the question. Her heart skipped a few beats, and she caught her breath. Was he back? No….Yuna had defeated him, once and for all! Yuna shook her head quickly. "I do not think so, Rikku. There must be another cause to all of this. There has to be! Sin cannot come back!" she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart.
"How about that game Wakka was playing?" Goofy asked. "I am not sure what its called, but it looked fun!"
"Oh phooey." Donald quacked as he walked into the room. "Three bathrooms in this whole mansion and all of them are taken up!" he shook his head and looked at the three. "What?"
Rikku laughed. She grabbed her mid section and giggled. She was finally able to stop, and she sat up, removing tears from her eyes. "Nuttin is wrong, Don! Besides that we are trying to figure out what to do tonight!" she looked at Goofy. "Naaa..I don't think the others want to play Blitzball."
"Garsh." Goofy replied.
Yuna sat down, placing her hands on her lap. "Maybe we shouldn't do anything tonight, Rikku. I know you mean well, but, no one is up to it." She sighed and looked at her cousin.
Rikku's shoulders sagged. "Yeah, I guess so." She stood up and stretched. "Well then! I'm off to bed….I mean, no point in staying up, right?" she winked to Donald, giggling at his mad reaction. She waved good night and headed up to her bed.
Yuna stood a few moments later. "I am going to head off too. You should try and talk to Sora. He needs someone to talk to, and I don't think any of us can help."
Sora slipped out of the mansion later that night. He sat in the sand by the beach, running his bare feet through the sand. He was dressed in his boxers, being his pajamas. His soft brown hair swayed in the wind, and he watched as the sand slipped through his fist, making a pile on the ground. He sighed, and turned his eyes to the ocean. The waves seemed almost unnatural, but Sora didn't notice.
"Sora?"
Sora looked over his shoulder. Rikku was standing a few feet behind him. Her hair was down, not in her normal braids and pony tail. It swayed in the same rhythm that Sora's did. She walked over and stood next to him.
"The ocean is different tonight." Rikku said softly. Her eyes over looked the ocean. "It knows that tomorrow is going to be sad, and depressing. It almost looks like its getting ready, doesn't it Sora?"
"I suppose." Sora replied, moving the sand through his hand again.
Rikku turned her gaze to him. "Sora, you are so depressed, why? I know I can be a little bit to hyper, but you, you never smile."
Sora didn't meet her eyes. "I used to be, but I guess I don't see a reason to anymore. My friends are gone, Riku is on the Heartless side, and I have no idea were Kairi is."
"Your friends aren't gone." Rikku smiled. "Donald and Goofy are still here. Yunie is like a friend, isn't she? She feels alone and lost like you." She sat down next to him. "She lost her love, and is battling with her self. She isn't sure if she should move on from Tidus, or if she should still love him."
"She'll meet him again, won't she?" Sora asked. "I knew Tidus, or at least he was on the same island as I. He was always hanging out with Wakka, playing Blitzball. Riku was with them."
Rikku shrugged. "I dunno, Sora. Maybe Tidus will just come in with the tides someday." She stood. "I'm heading back in, want to join me?"
Sora stood up, shaking the sand from his hair. He began to follow Rikku up the board walk, but stopped. He turned his head and saw that someone black was moving along with the tides. He shook off the feeling and ran up to Rikku, standing beside her as they reentered the mansion.
------
the next morning…..
Goofy strapped his shield to his back, and placed his weapon at his side. He looked over at Donald, who had his arms folded and was tapping his webbed foot. "What?"
"Why are you bringing those? There isn't going to be a fight! It's a ceremony for the dead." Donald said impatiently.
Goofy rolled his eyes. "Garsh, Donald, it's a feeling! A darn one too, just tellin' me to bring my things." He looked up as Sora came down the stairs. "Mornin' Sora!"
"Good Morning Goofy, Donald." Sora said, making sure that his crown necklace was on the correct way. He looked at the duck. "I agree, Donald. I saw something out by the waves yesterday, you might want to bring your things too." He walked into the kitchen, seeing Lulu sitting at the table, Rikku and Wakka beside her. "Morning!"
"Ohayio." Lulu replied bluntly. She looked at Sora, and smiled lightly. She looked over at Rikku who was poking Wakka. "Rikku-san!"
"Sorry Lulu." Rikku murmured and smiled at Sora. "Good Morning, Sora! Did you sleep well?"
"Ok."
Wakka stood up. "Come on, gang. Yuna asked us to support her at the ceremony." He walked out the back door, and Rikku jumped up running and screaming his name.
Lulu elegantly stood. "Come along, Sora and friends. I must warn you, if you feel uncomfortable, just say so. Yuna-sama will understand if you leave." She began to head out the door. The others followed.
Yuna looked behind her. She recognized many people, knowing that most of them were there because their loved ones were dead. She scanned the ground, and found her friends. They were standing close to the edge of the board walk. Yuna smiled softly, and looked in front of her. The sun was still low, sending off a orange and red glow. The waters were still, and the enclosed lost ones sat in the water. Yuna took a step forward, walking upon the water. Ripples followed her small feet as she walked on the surface. She stopped at the center of the circle of coffins, and closed her eyes. Yuna took a breath, and began the dance.
Sora watched Yuna with great interest. He heard soft singing, what seemed like a hymn. He looked at Lulu, and she just watched Yuna. Sora blinked a few times, and then turned his eyes back to Yuna. Goofy and Donald stirred, feeling a bit odd. Sora looked at Yuna as she jumped on the water, and landed softly back on it.
He noticed a soft glow from the water. It was green, pink, and a purple. Sora's eyes followed as the light beams circled around Yuna below the water. Suddenly the ground shook and he turned his head. His eyes widened and he nudged Donald. "Donald! Look….a Heartless!"
Donald brought out his staff, and Goofy turned his head. Sora ran from the ceremony, chasing the Heartless. He summoned the Keyblade, and held it in his right hand as he ran.
Lulu looked from the corner of her eye. She nudged Rikku. "I am going with them, Rikku. Stay with Yuna-sama." With that she headed off.
Sora stopped, breathing heavily. He knew that if the Heartless was not stopped, it'd ruin the ceremony, and destroy what ever hope that the souls had. His eyes scanned the area he was in. A square, with buildings behind him. A tall statue stood in the center, and some palm trees. He heard a hiss and he turned, clutching his blade.
The Heartless looked at him for a moment, than got into an attack position. It hissed at Sora, extending its claw like hands.
Sora spread his knees in a fighting position, his hands tightening on his Keyblade. He defended as the Heartless launched at him. Sora smacked it away, fending it off as it struck again and again. Sora fell to the ground, breathing hard. He was weak, and there was no way he could summon anything now. He shut his eyes, waiting for the end.
A sudden screeching cry came, and Sora opened his eyes. He found the Heartless melting away, and a tall warrior in front of him. He wore a yellow jacket-shirt with a white hood, and black suspended shorts. He gripped a blue flaming sword tightly, and smirked. The warrior was in his late teens, and turned to Sora.
Sora looked up at him, and then noticed that all the flames around them turned a sudden blue. He slowly sat up, his back exploding in pain. The teen helped him stand up. "Thanks."
"No problem." The warrior said. "What was that thing? I think I've seen them before….but.." he stopped his sentence, stood in front of Sora and looked down at him. "You remind me of someone…..I can't really remember it right now, but I grew up with him."
Sora noted the warriors sand blond hair, and blue eyes. He looked over him again. "You remind me of a friend as well. His name was Tidus, and he was a great…"
"Oh man, Sora?!" the warrior smiled. "You don't look the same, man! You've grown!"
Sora looked at him. The warrior knew him, but did Sora know the warrior? Sora stood there, looking at him as the warrior rambled on about something. That was when Lulu walked up behind them. "Lulu!"
Lulu placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "Well, Tidus-san. It is good to see you again. Back from the Fareplanes I presume?"
Sora's mouth dropped as Tidus smiled at Lulu. Sora collected himself. "T-Tidus?! But…Yuna said that you…"
"Yuna don't know that I'm here." Tidus said. He looked over towards the docks. "I was going to have it be a surprise, but I see that something has happened." He placed out his hand, and Sora gave him five. "Man, Sora! You seem a little bit older than last time I saw you, but I'm near adulthood…and how are you still a child?"
"Sora comes to the future." Lulu said. "He is on a quest, which he will explain later. Right now, we need to return to the ceremony." She turned around, and walked away. Tidus placed his hands behind his head and followed her, and Sora limped.
Yuna closed her eyes as she finished the dance. After a few moments, the sobbing continued, but the rest of the souls went to the Fareplanes. The wave Yuna stood on turned to the normal sea level, and Yuna turned back to her friends. Lulu stood next to Rikku, who was next to Wakka. Kimahri was standing next to Donald, who looked over as Sora limped back. He was very much beaten up, with some blood running down his face. Yuna froze as she saw a familiar blond walk up behind Sora.
Tidus.
