Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

Chapter 7: Destiny

"This is amazing!" Hayner stared out the window of the gummi ship. Ienzo sent a gummi ship to them to take them to the islands.

The three teenagers from Twilight Town nearly lost their minds exploring the ship. And once they set off, their excitement only grew.

"Whoa! There's so much out there!" Pence grinned as giant rocks, the size of mountains floated past. "Can we see any other worlds on our way?"

Lea smirked. "Don't know, but we'll be coming to the islands in a day or two."

Sitting beside Xion, Olette detailed every detail she could see from the window. Xion looked over her shoulder, reading it silently.

"Do you like to write?"

"Yeah, I do. Maybe one day I'll come out here and study this place between the worlds, then I'll make a seriously detailed report on it, but for now this will do."

"Why?"

The brown-haired girl smiled, tapping the notebook. "I want to be a scientist one day. I find new places and things very fascinating. I wonder if anyone has tried to explore and document everything outside the worlds."

"You should ask Ansem the Wise about that."

Isa sat next to Roxas as they flew. The boy also watched outside, his eyes blankly taking in the expanse around them.

"You ok?"

"I think so… it's kinda like a weird dream. Axel promised Xion and I that we'd all go to the beach together one day, so I guess this is fulfilling that promise in a way, but it's not just the three of us this time. I never thought that promise would be fulfilled."

Isa smiled. "He promised that?"

That sounded like Lea.

Roxas nodded. "I've never been to the beach except on missions. What do you do for fun at the beach?"

"Well, you can swim or play outside the water." Isa picked up a small bag. "We brought a few things to play with on the beach." Opening it, he pulled out a frisbee. "I think Lea wants to play a match with Ven when we get there. Kind of as a rematch from when we were kids."

"Oh yeah, you guys met Ven a long time ago."

"Yes, and he beat Lea in a sparring match."

"Hey!" Axel called from the cockpit. "That was a draw!"

"That's a lie and we both know it!"

Roxas laughed a little to himself.

This was going to be fun!

"You made it!" Donald waved as they all exited the gummi ship. He stood by Goofy and Mickey. Further down the beach, looking at something in the sand, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus waited as well.

Ven spotted them first. "Hey!"

Goofy smiled. "Hayner, Pence, Olette, good to see you."

"Hi!"

Olette gasped as she looked out at the ocean. "I've never seen anything so beautiful."

"No kidding!"

Isa stepped out last, glancing around at everyone. Jiminy, from Mickey's shoulder, noticed him first. "Well, I'll be. Isa wasn't it?"

"That's right."

Axel grinned. "He's back too. And he's been staying with us."

"Yeah." Xion nodded, looking back at her guardian with a soft smile.

"Isa!" Ven ran over, grinning. "It's good to see you again properly."

"Good to see you too."

Roxas looked over at Terra and Aqua with a nod. "These three are our friends from Twilight Town. That's Hayner, Pence and Olette." He glanced around. "Where's Riku?"

"He'll be here soon. He said he has another friend with him as well."

"Another friend?"

Hayner kicked off his shoes and ran into the water. "Pence! Olette! Let's build a sand sculpture!"

"Great idea!"

Goofy laughed, glancing down at Donald. "Hey, that sounds like fun!"

"Let's do it too!"

Isa reached into the bag they brought and pulled out a frisbee. "Ven, want to play a few matches with us?"

"Sure!"

Axel, Ven, and Isa stepped away a little so hopefully they wouldn't hit anyone in the head with the flying frisbee.

Hopefully.

Mickey smiled as Aqua walked to Xion and Roxas. "How are you two settling in?"

"Pretty well."

Xion smiled softly. "The people in Twilight Town are so kind to us. A bunch of them came over and helped us fix up our house."

"Really."

"Yeah!" Pulling out his phone, Roxas flipped through his photos. "This is my room." He showed them a picture. "I'm planning to fill the shelves with tons of stuff. Not sure what yet."

Smiling, Mickey nodded. "That looks so nice. Do you have a picture of your room, Xion?"

"Yeah." She pulled up a picture of her room.

Terra gave her a warm smile. "That's really pretty. Are you happy with it?"

"I am. It feels so warm and safe."

"I'm glad."

"And what about Isa?" The king glanced over. "How do you two feel about him staying with you?"

A stern glance passed between the three.

Were they… worried?

Oh yeah, they heard a little about Xion and Roxas's treatment in the Organization.

Xion felt her heart warm. While they were questioning her new guardian, it made her feel nice to know these people, who barely knew her, were concerned for her.

"We're a little wary, but he's really nice to us."

"Yeah, he feels really guilty about how he treated us, and he's trying to make up for it however he can." The girl fiddled with the ruffles on her skirt a little. "Actually, we had to go to Radiant Garden and get some paperwork for some legal thing, and he was named my guardian. It was my choice."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Roxas nodded. "Axel is my guardian now too. Apparently we needed some paperwork to go to school or something like that. I don't really understand it."

"Paperwork is always a bit confusing." Jiminy hopped over to Xion's hands. "But we're very happy to see you two doing well."

"Thank you!"

A shadow passed over them as another gummi ship came to land.

"Riku's here!"

Everyone paused as the ship landed and Riku stepped out. "Hi everyone!"

"Riku! Good to see you!"

"Hey!"

Roxas gave him a nod as Riku met his gaze. "There's someone else here too." Turning back to the ship he smiled warmly. "There's no need to be nervous."

"I know." Came a soft voice.

Stepping out of the ship came a girl with flaxen blonde hair and indigo eyes wearing a white dress.

"NAMINÉ!"

Naminé's cheeks warmed slightly as all eyes turned to her. Instinctively, she found herself standing slightly behind Riku, averting her eyes.

Riku didn't seem to mind.

"When did this happen!?"

"About three days ago." Riku glanced back at her.

Xion approached first, smiling at the girl. "Hi, Naminé."

"Xion?"

"Yeah, it's me."

The two quiet girls smiled at one another as Riku stepped away. Naminé wrung her hands. "Xion… I'm so sorry."

"It's ok. I forgive you." Naminé was just as much a victim as Xion ever was, so Xion could feel no ill will toward the girl. "Hey, want to look for seashells? I used to come here after missions and collect them. There are some pretty amazing ones."

"Sure."

Riku walked over to where Mickey stood with Aqua, Terra, and Roxas. "Hey there."

"Hi."

Roxas glanced over at the girl. "Why didn't anyone say anything to us about her waking up?"

"We were coming here anyway, so it just worked out." Riku turned back to look at her. "Crazy thing… Ansem said they were still reconstructing her heart, and they would have a hard time finishing without Kairi. But then she just woke up. Heart and all."

"What!?"

"Yeah. They were just as shocked, but she's here now."

Terra glanced at the girl, a hand touching his heart. "She was… Kairi's Nobody, right?"

"Yep."

"So, I guess that's more proof that Kairi will be alright."

"I think so too." Riku glanced over at Roxas. "How are you?"

"Doing good."

"Listen, I never apologized for attacking you before… I'm really sorry for everything I did."

Roxas smirked. "It's ok… though I'm still a bit annoyed at you cheating."

"Cheating!?"

"Using darkness just because you're losing? I'd call that cheating."

Yeah, he'd gotten some sass from Sora… and from hanging around Axel.

Riku raised an eyebrow. "Care for a rematch then?"

"Now?"

"Not fighting, but how Sora and I used to settle things. A race."

"Sounds good."

"Can you cut me in on that?" Terra stepped closer to the two."

"Sure."

Riku pointed. "We start at the bridge, run to the pier and run back to the hut. First one there wins."

Mickey and Aqua glanced at each other with a smile. "We'll be referees."

"Sounds good!"

The three boys jogged to the bridge. Roxas stood between the other two, who both had a significant height difference on him.

Like that was fair.

He'd just have to be faster.

"Ready? GO!"

Feet pounded in the sand as the three took off. Riku's long legs gave him an early lead, but Roxas kept hot on his heels. Terra seemed to lag behind a bit, his footsteps heavy.

Guess he wasn't the fastest person, but the smile on his face told that he didn't really care.

Roxas could hear Aqua and Mickey cheering them on as they ran. As they hit the pier, his feet skidded in the sand, slipping as he tried to turn around.

Riku had no such trouble.

Home field advantage.

Regaining traction, Roxas managed to catch up, but Riku reached the finish line first.

"Great job!" Aqua cheered. "All of you."

Riku didn't say anything, but just smiled at Roxas. A warm, genuine smile.

And Roxas smiled back.

His heart felt so light.

So happy.

"Great job!" Terra placed a hand on the boy's shoulder as Aqua approached. "You're pretty quick. You and Ven should race sometime."

"Is he pretty fast."

"Oh yeah." The young woman giggled. "We've always had a hard time keeping up with him."

Roxas laughed.

But then his eyes caught Riku… staring out at the paopu tree.

He followed Riku's gaze, as did a few others.

Two people, sitting on the tree.

Everyone seemed to notice.

Everything stopped.

Sora and Kairi.

In the setting sun, they sat together.

But-

Sora's image faded away.

Vanishing before their eyes, leaving Kairi… alone.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

What… just happened?

Where did-

Kairi slipped off the tree, her feet hitting the ground-

Before her knees buckled and she dropped.

Riku tore across the beach, leaping up onto the bridge with a single leap. Axel followed right behind him.

Then everyone followed.

Axel reached Kairi right after Riku.

The girl knelt, her body shaking as she clutched something to her chest.

A moment later, she let out a long wail as tears fell down her cheeks.

"Sora… Sora…"

Taking off his vest, Axel knelt beside her, draping it across her shoulders.

Riku knelt in front of her as Aqua came around the other side, pulling the girl into a hug.

"Kairi."

Ven glanced around. "What just happened?"

"I don't know…"

They stood there for who knows how long as Kairi sobbed.

Things seemed so perfect not one hour before.

Eventually, Kairi cried herself out. Her gaze caught the faces of everyone, even those unfamiliar.

"You're… all here."

"Yeah, we are."

Hopping onto her knee, Jiminy took off his hat. "Kairi, I know this can't be easy for you, but do you know what happened?"

Slowly, she nodded. "He told me… he told me what would happen." The object in her hands, she clutched it close to her heart. "Sora, he… he said he broke a nature taboo in bringing me back."

"A nature taboo?"

Aqua's face paled as she looked up at the others. "A law of the universe and reality itself."

Oh-

Oh no.

"He said he'd have to pay a price for doing so." Kairi's shoulders began to shake once more. "He said- he said he'd vanish, and lose his power of waking. So, he could not come back. He… he's gone… he's gone!"

Her eyes let loose another torrent of tears.

Gone?

Roxas stared at Kairi. For a moment, he saw himself. Saw himself sitting on the ground outside the clock tower, as Xion's body vanished in his arms.

He knew this feeling.

He knew this pain.

"He can't just be gone!" Ven shouted. "We've got to do something, right? Sora helped all of us! We have to find him!"

Kairi glanced up at those words.

"Ven's right!" Axel nodded. "There's got to be something we can do. Screw this nature taboo business. All of us didn't go through all that pain and mess with Xehanort just to lose a friend."

"Especially since he helped pretty much all of us get back!"

Mickey nodded, his gaze hardened. "You're right. I'll go find Master Yen Sid and Ansem the Wise. We can try and figure something out!"

"I'll come too." Kairi gasped. "I have to help! This is my fault after all."

"It's not your fault!" Isa looked down at her, meeting her gaze. "Xehanort wanted this. It was his fault."

"Did you know?"

"No." Isa looked down. "I did know that one plan was possibly to remove Kairi from the picture, but I didn't know why. This had to be the reason. But we can undo what Xehanort planned. Sora did."

"Yeah."

Riku glanced past Kairi. "Kairi, you need to rest…" She followed his gaze to the main island. "I-I told them you and Sora would be coming back soon."

Who?

The girl closed her eyes. "But Sora-"

"I'll tell them the truth, but your parents are worried, Kairi. You should at least go home and rest for a little bit."

Parents…

Aqua looked up at Riku. "You're going to tell Sora's parents what happened?"

"I have to… since we weren't exactly truthful of the stakes of this. We downplayed how serious the situation was because we didn't want them to worry. But they need to know what happened."

"Then we should all go." Aqua stood up, helping Kairi to her feet. "Sora's family will be distraught, but it might give them some comfort to see how many people are here to help and willing to find Sora."

Jiminy nodded. "I think Aqua's right."

"Then let's all go."

"Yeah."

Sora's parents?

Roxas never really thought about that before… but Sora had a family. His family probably missed him.

But what would they think of him? Sora's Nobody.

The thoughts plagued his mind as Terra, Aqua, and Ven activated their Keyblade gliders (Which were super cool, and everyone wanted to learn how to make one.) and ferried people to the main island a few at a time.

When Roxas finally made it over to the other side, he and the others all saw a quiet town sitting at the base of a volcano.

Even quieter than Twilight Town.

"This is your home?"

"Yeah."

Riku led everyone down the small streets. Kairi still stood beside Aqua, the older girl keeping a comforting hand on her shoulder.

They didn't have to go far before they reached a small house with a single room on the second floor.

Sora's house.

Riku knocked.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Still nothing.

"Riku?"

They saw a teenage boy with orange hair, wrapped with a blue bandana, looking over. Riku smiled softly. "Hey, Wakka."

"Where ya been? And who are all these people?"

"Long story. Hey… have you seen Mr. and Mrs. Irino?"

"Yeah." He glanced over at Kairi, his gaze taking on a questioning air as he saw her tear-stained face. "They're up at the mayor's house. Apparently, your dad challenged Mr. Uchida and Mrs. Irino to a cooking challenge or something."

Riku sighed, but a slight smile crossed his face. "Sounds about right. Thanks."

"Everything ok?"

"Not really… but it's a long story. Thanks."

"No problem."

Riku continued to lead the way.

The sleepy little town around them certainly noticed the strange bunch of people all walking together. And a few obviously noticed Kairi's state, one particular person wearing a doctor's coat especially.

But they didn't say anything.

Coming up to a much larger house, Riku glanced back at Kairi. "You ok?"

"No."

"I know." Taking a deep breath, Riku knocked on the door.

"One minute!" A man threw open the door. His green eyes shining under chocolate-cherry colored hair; flour covered the apron he wore over his clothes. "Riku! Hey!" The man looked around at everyone. "Wow! Everyone we have gue-" His eyes landed on Kairi. "Kairi!?"

The girl looked up, eyes still teary. "Dad!"

Pushing past Riku, the man pulled her into a hug. "You're back!"

A female voice called from further in the house. "Tai(1)! Did you say Kairi!?"

"Kairi's home!" Tai looked at everyone. "Come inside, please."

"Thank you."

They walked inside the house. Xion and Roxas looked around. Photographs hung on the walls of Kairi. Some also contained Sora and Kairi at different ages.

As they entered a larger room, they saw two women and another man sitting on couches. In a nearby kitchen, also covered in flour, stood a woman and man.

"Kairi!" A woman with strawberry-blonde hair and onyx eyes jumped up, wrapping her arms around the girl.

"Mom…"

"Wow! That's a lot of guests!" Called the man in the kitchen; it took merely a glance to tell who he was with his silver hair and blue-green eyes. "Riku!"

"Hi, Dad."

The man wiped off his hands. "Hi everyone! I'm Riku's dad! Name's Mamoru Miyano." He pointed to a woman with platinum blonde hair and pink eyes behind large round glasses. "This is my lovely wife, Akiko(2)."

"Riku!" Akiko stood up and hugged her son. "We missed you."

Kairi's mom looked over at everyone, but she continued to glance at her clearly distraught daughter. "Nice to meet all of you. I'm Risa Uchida(3), and this is my husband, Tai."

A man with short, spikey brown hair and bright purple eyes stood up. "Hi. I'm Miyu Irino, and," he pointed to a woman with mousy brown hair and blue eyes standing in the kitchen, "that's my wife Yoko(4)." He looked around the group. "Um… where's my son? I thought he'd be with you all."

Sora's dad.

No one spoke.

The parents all paused.

Yoko spoke first. "Where is he? Where is Sora?"

Kairi choked back tears. "He… he's g-"

"He's missing."

Riku averted his eyes. "He was here, but he vanished."

"Vanished?"

"What do you mean by vanished!?" Yoko stepped closer. "Where is my son!?"

Kairi began to shake. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry! We don't know where he is."

Aqua stepped forward. "Ms. Yoko, Mr. Miyu, please… we all came to tell you that we will be looking for him. All of us."

"All of you?" Miyu glared at Riku. "What happened!? You said this wasn't that serious?"

"We… didn't exactly tell you everything."

"What!?"

Akiko's face paled as she looked at her son. "Tell us everything! Right now!"

Glancing back at the others, Riku sighed. "Yeah, we will."

"You died…"

Kairi nodded slowly. "And Sora brought me back, but to do so, he broke a nature taboo."

"A law of reality." Aqua gently explained. "And breaking one comes… with a price."

Miyu's hands clenched. "Our son… is gone…"

"We don't know where he is, and Kairi said he lost the power to return." Mickey looked down. "But we will find him. We promise."

Ven nodded. "Your son is a hero. He protected my heart for over ten years."

"He pulled me from the abyss of darkness."

"He helped free me."

Roxas looked at Sora's parents. "He did everything he could to bring me back."

"Understand," Jiminy said gently, "your son has done so much for all of us, and we will do whatever we can to bring him back safely."

Yoko wiped her eyes. "A hero?"

"Your son saved our universe." Aqua said gently. "He fought Xehanort and defeated him. The worlds owe him a great debt."

"And," she looked over at Kairi, "he sacrificed himself for you."

"Yes."

Yoko took her husband's hand. "That… sounds like him. He's always been selfless."

"Here." Ven hopped up and pulled out his gummi phone. "Take this. It's a gummi phone. We can call you on it from any world. When we find out where he is, we will tell you."

Sora's parents took the phone.

"Thank you."

Risa looked at her daughter. "You're staying here, right?"

"For a little while, but I have to go. I have to find him. I have to."

Her parents glanced between one another, but didn't say anything.

"Riku?"

"I'm going too." He sighed.

His dad sighed. "I'll allow it if you promise something."

"What?"

"No more secrets! Tell us everything straight. I know you wanted to keep us from worrying, but that ship has sailed."

Riku nodded. "I promise."

"We all do."

"Thank you."

Mickey stood up. "I'm going to go now and ask Master Yen Sid and Ansem about this. Kairi, if you want to come, I'll come back and get you in a few days. Rest."

"Ok."

Terra looked at Aqua. "We might have some information in our library back home."

"And we can search the computer." Pence offered.

"Yeah."

Miyu stood up, holding the phone. "Then… you should probably go. I think we need some time."

"Of course. And if you need to talk, or just want updates, please call any of us. Please."

"Alright."

Slowly, everyone began to stand up and leave. As Roxas stood up, a hand gently touched his shoulder. "Roxas?"

He turned to see Sora's mother looking at him. "Uh, yes?"

"I'm happy to see you."

"Huh?"

Kneeling down, she blinked her teary eyes. "Sora told us about you. He said he wanted to bring you back some day. I'm… I'm glad that you did come back." She looked at where Xion, Axel, and Isa stood, waiting for him. "It looks like you have somewhere to go already, but just know," and she looked up at the four, "if you need anywhere to go, our home is open."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you… all of you."

Xion felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "We will find Sora. We promise."

"Thank you."

Roxas turned away, feeling tears drip from his eyes as they stepped outside.

"Let's go home."

"Yeah."

Footnotes:

(1) Kairi's dad is named for Tai Yasue.

(2) Riku's dad is named for Riku's Japanese VA, and Akiko is named for the writer who was just added in KH4, Akiko Ishibashi.

(3) Risa is the name of Kairi's Japanese VA.

(4) Miyu is the name for Sora's Japanese VA, and Yoko is named for Yoko Shimomura.

VAs:

Tai Uchida- Sonny Strait (Maes Hughes, Korosensei, Usopp, Arsene Lupin III, Present Mic)

Mamoru Miyano- Micah Solusod (Riku, Best Jeanist, Ame, Midnight, Akito Hyuga)

Akiko Miyano- April Stewart (Izumi, Raava, Empress Jessamina Kaldwin, Christie, Aphrodite)

Risa Uchida- Kate Oxley (Fuyumi Todoroki, Misaki Kirihara, Mai Otsuka, Detective Simone)

Miyu Irino- Scott Porter (Cyclops/Scott Summers, Star-Lord, Harry Osborn, Nightwing/Dick Grayson)

Yoko Irino- Kath Soucie (Sora's Mom, Maketh Tua, Mera, Maddie Fenton, Vivi Ornitier)