Crowned Hearts Chapter Four

By Blue Dragon

Riku rushed to Mr. Barzhad's bar. He hoped to get some answers, but also hoped that Sora wouldn't be there to complicate things. He wouldn't want to reveal any part of his experiences to his friends just yet for fear that they might spill the beans to everyone on the coast of the sea division of Destiny Islands.

As he went further into the village, it gave way to a town and then a city as the buildings grew taller and the people began to move faster, and soon there were more people. The normally coconut-skin streets became a newly discovered mineral called concrete and sometimes even this ultra rare mineral called asphalt.

In the business area, there were a lot of fancy restaurants, but fortunately there was always the old-fashioned bar, "Fate: Sion's Bar and Pub."

Sora and his friends were always welcome in, even though it was a bar and pub. Riku went through the crowds of people and into the bar where there were some nice wooden chairs and tables as well as the old-fashioned big glass mugs.

"Hi, Mr. Barzhad"

"Hey there Riku! Why isn't Sora with you?"

"I came alone because he was somewhere else at the time. And also I have something kind of private I wanted to ask you about"

"Heh! You know I'm the master of love! I'll finish wiping these countertops and I'll be with you in the 'back room' in a second"

Mr. Barzhad put up the mugs and prepared to leave his position outside of the counter.

The "back room" was a place where Mr. Barzhad would get rich by letting big spenders gamble and play cards in his room. Very few people knew about it, and Mr. Barzhad always felt better saying:

"The DIPD (Destiny Island Police Department) should have better things to do than cheat a bar owner out of a little money"

By that, he meant that he would murder anyone that ever gave wind of his little plans, and to help he always referred to it as the "back room".

Riku went through the secret compartment in the plaster walls that revealed a very expensive looking room of marble walls and floors with professional card tables and every illegal gambling facility known to the islanders.

Riku took a seat at a table, and a while later Mr. Barzhad came to join him.

"Alright, boy, what is it you need help on?" he asked as he sat down across from his company.

"Well I.I mean my friend met this girl, and wants to ask her out. But I.I mean my friend just met her and doesn't want her to get the wrong idea. What should I.or, my friend do about it?"

Mr. Barzhad was a good man, but unfortunately a little on the slow side. When people say their friend, they count on the listener to know they are referring to themselves and help them without humiliating them, but Mr. Barzhad on the other hand.

"Your friend!? You mean Sora!? NO SO OF MINE WILL HAVE GIRL TROUBLE LIKE A HELPLESS WIMP AND STILL BE CALLED MY SON!"

Mr. Barzhad jumped through the window with a crash and started running of.

"SORA! YOUR DADDY IS 'A' COMIN'! YOU WON'T HAVE ANY GIRL TROUBLE IF YOU'RE MY SON!"

Riku sat there with his eyes wide open and his jaw dropping to the ground.

"That's what I get for asking an adult about adolescent problems"

Riku walked off feeling no relief of his current situation and did Sora's father a favor be closing up and locking the doors.

That's it. He thought to himself. I can't go through this forever. I'll ask her the next time I see her.

"I'm telling you Sora, Solidus Snake is alive!" Tidus fumed.

"Tidus, even if he held on to the bottom of that statue, it was still a fifteen foot fall, and he was already injured"

"Yeah, but we thought Vamp was dead like, two or three times and look at him"

"Tidus six, Sora five" counted Wakka, keeping score of the argument. The group was still stationed at their little relaxing spot, Riku's absence long forgotten.

"Well, we thought Fortune was dead twice, and she IS"

"Good point" said Kairi. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but it's still a tie."

"Well, we thought Liquid was dead but he's alive!"

"Tidus seven, Sora six" Selphie now counted.

"Well, we all thought Ocelot was dead, and he is" Sora countered.

"DON'T GIVE HIM A POINT FOR THAT!" yelled Tidus.

"Why?" asked Sora.

"BECAUSE HE'S ALIVE!"

"No he's.see! We started all over again. First it was about Gray Fox, then Raven, then Solidus, now Ocelot! Where not getting anywhere, Tidus. Who will we argue about next? Raiden?"

"No, we both know Raiden's alive"

"I thought he was dead"

"HOW CAN HE BE DEAD!? HE WAS AT THE END! YOU THINK EVERYONE IS DEAD!"

Sora finally lost his cool.

"WELL YOU THINK EVERYONE'S ALIVE!"

"Everyone just happens to BE alive"

"They all happen to be dead"

"Stop! Lets let Tidus get half of them alive, Raiden, Solidus, and Ocelot, while the dead can be Gray Fox and Raven, and Fortune"

"I guess." muttered Sora.

"That sounds about right."said Tidus.

Riku came to the large entrance and sat at the table with his friends.

"Hey Riku, where have you been?" asked Kairi.

"I was just doing some stuff"

"Did you hear about the crazy man that was arrested for yelling about his son and girl trouble in the streets?" asked Sora.

"Uh..yeah."

Riku would hate to hear Sora complain about his father not coming home that day.

"Riku, tell us whose dead and alive" asked Tidus.

"I thought we were done with this!" Selphie mentioned.

"Yeah, but Riku knows everything!"

"Fine. Whom are you talking about?"

"From Metal Gear Solid 1 & 2"

"Can't you just play the game?"

"Sora actually said Raiden was dead!"

"He is, you know"

"Guys, I have something else on my mind. I wasn't going to tell you at first, but I think know might be the time. I met this girl, you see, named Lisa, who is why I was gone. I just met her and I don't want her to think I'm a flirt if I ask her too soon, but the prom is coming up. Should I ask her to go with me?"

"Sure! Any girl that would like you must have good enough judgment to know the truth, man. She won't mind" Sora helped much more than his father who was now in custody.

"You really think so?"

"We all tink so, mon. Just go wid it" Wakka helped as well.

"Alright! All do it first time I see her tomorrow."

Riku got up to leave.

"Hey wait, Riku, we just saw you. Don't you wanna do something?" Tidus asked.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. We could all go to the skate park"

"I think I'll pass," said Selphie and Kairi immediately.

"Yeah, and I promised to meet Lulu today. Maybe I'll bring her by."

"Okay, then just you, Sora and me" Tidus changed the plan.

"Well, I have nothing better to do, why not?"

"Count me in!" said Sora.

With that, Tidus, Sora and Riku went off to the skate park where they knew little of what they would find there.