**************I've returned with a vengeance! Well, maybe not a vengeance, but definitely a need for Kingdom Hearts. I just downloaded one of the trailers to KH2 and I'm so excited that I can barely sit still. As Auntie Albie would say, 'its all so exciting!' Well here's the next chapter, and I'm sure you've all been waiting with baited breath…right.
Chapter Four
The silver haired boy helped pull Bella-Donna to her feet and out of the pool. By this time the tacky helmet was now hanging from her neck and partially filled with water, spilling onto the ground below. Her eyes were still dead locked onto Riku, with not intention of leaving anytime soon. Was he actually smiling at her? Yes, and it brought a crooked grin to B.D.'s drenched face, and her eyes became half lidded. The girl knew that she must have looked pretty stupid standing there with a gaudy helmet hanging from her, and the goofiest gaze on her face, but at the moment she didn't care. All that she cared about was that she was here in Destiny Islands, with Riku, and still holding his hand. Oh, wait.
"Uh, heh. S-sorry about that." she stuttered and let go of his hand quickly. After her hand was free, she fumbled with the helmet until it was rolling away from view. Bringing her blue gaze back to Riku, she couldn't help but swallow the lump that formed in her dry throat.
"I don't think I've seen you around here before. You new?" he questioned with a bit of suspicion in his voice. Bella chuckled lighted and bit her bottom lip with a grin.
"You could say that." she gave a little shrug as she answered. Riku raised a brow at her and sighed as if accepting her answer, thought the gleam of suspicion was still in his eyes.
"Hmm. I'm Riku." he introduced himself and held his hand out to her in greeting.
"Bella-Donna." she stated plainly and shook his hand, this time careful not to latch onto it. B.D. had to fight the urge to say 'Duh, I know who you are!', and luckily that urge was successfully subdued.
"Bella-Donna huh? Well now I know your not from around here. No one on these islands have names like that." he commented with a smirk.
"Uh, I'm trying to figure out if I should take that as a complement or an insult." she mumbled and sent a half smile back at him. At the smirk he gave a light blush flowed onto her face but, much to her relief, Riku didn't make any sign of noticing. He shrugged and turned toward the sea.
"Take it however you want. I think it's a pretty nice name, if that means anything." he said and B.D. smiled to herself. "So, Bella-Donna. What were you doin' sneaking around in the trees?" he asked again with a bit of suspicion. The girl opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word the island was filled with the high pitched sound of squealing. A pigs squeal maybe? No…a baboon? Close enough. Soon after the noise a steak of black and light blue rushed around the shack and ran right into Bella-Donna.
"Cleo, I saw Sora! I saw him…in real life! I haven't seen…Riku…yet…" she faded off when her gaze fell on the boy who was currently giving the small girl a strange look. The taller girl pried the shocked one off and let out a sigh before motioning to Riku.
"Erin, this is Riku. Riku, Erin. Oh, and she's the reason I was sneaking around in the bushes." she introduced and explained. The two just stared at each other. Erin was staring at the young man just because…well, he was him. Riku on the other hand was staring at her trying to figure this strange creature out. At first Bella was looking between the two with a bit of jealousy, then the jealousy turned to amusement when she saw the look Riku was giving the other girl.
"Erin…why don't you go look around some more, kay?" she coaxed the shaking girl toward the beach, getting a quick nod in response before the petite girl raced off to the Seaside Shack and up to where Sora was currently resting. Beside her, Riku cleared his throat as they both watched Erin sprint across the bridge.
"When you said you were sneaking around in the bushes because of her…did you mean you were hiding from her?" this question brought a silent laugh from the girl as she turned back to Riku.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After that day Bella-Donna and her, now more calm, friend Erin returned to the game world almost on a regular basis. In time, Auntie Albie returned home and to B.D.'s surprise, the woman wasn't at all angry with them. In fact it was almost as if she planned on it happening. Go figure. As the days in Destiny Islands turned to weeks, the two girls were introduced to Kairi, Tidus, and Wakka. Of course Bella finally met Sora, who immediately gave her a 'help' look as Erin clung to him.
Unexpectedly Erin had grown attached to Wakka as well as the fourteen year old boy. With Sora she usually just followed him around and clasped to him the entire time, but Wakka on the other hand had some how calmed the savage beast. Bella-Donna would never forget the day he tried to teach her how to play blitz ball. It wasn't that Erin messed up most of the time, it was that Wakka had underestimated her by a large amount. He went pretty easy on her the first go, and that earned him a big lump on the head. The long haired girl guessed it was because of all the hours of playing Final Fantasy X.
While the spunky girl spent her time with Wakka and Sora, Bella-Donna found that Riku wasn't just nice to look at. She finally came to the decision that the game didn't really do his personality justice. She expected a stern, stoic, high and mighty kind of guy, but that was almost the exact opposite. At least when he wasn't competing with Sora. The Riku she came to know was a good listener, intelligent, and funny at times. In fact she found herself spending a huge chunk of her time with the silver haired boy. It wasn't the fact that he was just a video game character that made her want to be around him, it was something else. It wasn't a mindless infatuation like Erin had with Sora, it was just a very welcomed friendship, and as far as Bella-Donna could tell the feeling was mutual.
Nearly almost everyday after school, the two sixteen year olds would head down to the lab and jump right into the phone booth and into the game. Luckily, Auntie Albie had came up with an alternative to the helmets for the girls. Small wrist bands with a dial and a few buttons, almost like a watch. Of course there were times when they forgot the devices and Albie had to go in and bring them back, but that at least told Sora that the beach wasn't haunted.
During all of this, the three females had managed to hide it all from Charlie, and had been able to keep the fact that Destiny Island was just part of a video game from any of the characters. They didn't entirely lie when they said they were from another dimension, but they couldn't bring themselves to spill the whole truth. After all, how would you feel if someone suddenly told you that your whole existence was a game? Bella-Donna was seeing mental breakdowns and violent behavior as a result of that news. Except for the obvious difference, everyone went on with their normal lives. Auntie Albie experimented, Charlie spilled his milk, and Erin and B.D. went to school.
"Who can tell me what a conjunction is?" the English teacher quizzed the class room from her spot at the blackboard. Conjunctions…ugh. Even the mention of the word brought that annoying 'conjunction junction' song to Bella-Donna's head. Turning her gaze to the clock she gave a small groan. It was only 5th period, and the itch to feel the warm island sun on her skin was making her jittery. She hated times like these. Times when she desperately wanted to do something, and wanting it that much just made the time go by slower, and slower, and slower.
B.D.'s blue eyes made their way across the class room and out the window. Greeting her were gray clouds, high winds, and…turquoise eyes? Turquoise eyes, silver hair, and a small smile to be exact. Wait that's not right! Bella's eyes went wide as she finally realized that she wasn't day dreaming, and that outside her class room window Riku was peeking through cautiously. She looked around the room to see if anyone else had spotted him, then turned back to him gesturing wildly for him to get out of sight. After all, she wasn't the only person in the school that liked Kingdom Hearts.
"Bella-Donna, is there a problem?" the teacher turned her attention to the gesturing girl who was mouthing get down.
"Uh…um…" she started and looked back to the window to see that Riku had finally taken the hint and ducked out of sight. She had to think quick. The girl couldn't just let Riku wander around out there, but she couldn't get out of the class for anything. Hell, this teacher wouldn't even let anyone go to the restroom…unless it was an emergency that is. Sucking up her pride, Bella threw a hand over her mouth and made a gagging sound. The teacher immediately motioned her to the door, which she ran out of and down the hall to the front doors. Fortunate for her no one noticed that she ran in the opposite direction of the restrooms. Searching around for the hidden boy, she whispered sharply.
"Riku? Riku where are you?"
"Right here." a voice suddenly answered from behind her, sending Bella-Donna into a startled jump. Turning toward him with a confused a frantic face, B.D. asked him in a calm voice.
"What are you doing here? How did you even get here?!" she questioned. Riku was about to answer when he was pulled back into the bushes by his shirt. Obviously the threat of being seen by either a teacher or a fan girl was getting to Bella.
"I convinced you aunt to let me through. I wanted to see your dimension." he answered like it was no big deal.
"Riku, you can't just roam the streets! Someone might recognize you!" she blurted out before she could stop herself.
"Recognize me? Why would anyone recognize me?" he asked with the same suspicious look he gave her when the first met. Bella-Donna cringed. She knew that it was only a matter of time until Riku would figure it all out, he wasn't stupid.
"That doesn't matter right now. Right now you gotta go back." she shook her head and pushed him out of the bush in the direction of her house.
"When will you be home?" he turned back, still out of sight of any passing staff members.
"In a few hours or so, but right now you gotta go. Watch T.V. or something until I get back." she answered.
"Fine, but you gotta promise that you'll show me around this place later on." he walked backwards while talking to her with a that smirk on his face again.
"I promise." she agreed with a smile back at him. She didn't really want him to go, but she couldn't risk anyone seeing him. That smirk almost broke her, but she snapped out of it and shooed him off. "Now go!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The day passed and Bella-Donna made her way home with a little bit of a quickness in her step. Maybe it was the fact that her book bag was really heavy and she wanted to get rid of it as fast as possible. Or maybe it was because she knew Riku would be at home. The girl had to shake her head at herself. She wasn't sure how to explain herself anymore. She was pretty sure that she thought of Riku as more then a friend, but then again she didn't really think of him 'that' way. Of course when she told Erin that all she said in return was 'not yet anyway'.
As she grew closer to her house, she could faintly see the form of Erin perched on her porch swinging her legs over the side. A confused look came over her face as she climbed the stairs and looked at the girl who was grinning at her widely.
"How did you get here faster then me?"
"My brother gave me a ride." she answered sliding off the railing and bouncing to the door.
"If you were coming her anyway then why didn't you give me a ride to?" she raised a brow and followed the smaller girl into the house. All she got in response was a sheepish grin and a shrug. Dropping her bag on the floor, Bella began her search for the silver haired boy while the other made a bee line for the basement.
"Bella-Donna! Dear?" a voice called from the dining room. Entering the large area, the said girl leaned against the door frame.
"Yeah?"
"If your searching for Riku, he went back a few minutes ago. I believe he was going to come back to meet you but…" she started but her voice faded as she started ready her papers again.
"But…?" B.D. urged on. Albie looked up from her work with her eyes narrowed in confusion.
"But what?"
"Riku. He was gonna come back to meet me but…but what?" she let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out a seat next to her dazed aunt.
"Oh, yes. Riku was going to come back to meet you, but it seems he hasn't returned yet."
"That's it? I thought you were gonna tell me something important." Bella let out a bit of a laugh and ran her hand through her hair. "By the way Auntie Albie, did Charlie see Riku?"
"You know, I'm not sure. Even if he did, I doubt he'd make the connection since he doesn't know what's going on yet." Albie waved her hand in a dismissing gesture and went back to her papers. Pulling herself out of her chair, B.D. traveled downstairs where Erin was waiting impatiently. Both girls grabbed for their wrist devices and stepped into the booth. All the while Bella-Donna couldn't help but think that something was wrong. Perhaps it was the thought of Charlie know about all of this that bothered her. It almost scared the girl to think that the boy could have done anything to the game. Everyone on Destiny Island had became close to the girls, and their lives wouldn't be the same without them. In B.D.'s case, Riku's absents would definitely have an impact.
Before the girls knew it, the warm air of the island greeted their skin along with the sound of the sea. This time they appeared on the paopu island out in the crystalline seas. It was strange, almost every time they came they ended up in a different place. Sometimes it would be the pier or the shack, or sometimes the hidden cove where the raft rested, and as long as the game was on this stage, that raft would stay there. Or so they hoped.
"Hey, there's Sora." Erin pointed to the beach in front of the secret cave and started running across the bridge and down the stairs. Close behind but at a slower pace, Bella-Donna followed toying with the edge of her t-shirt. Stepping out onto the beach she inhaled a gulp of fresh air. Though the oxygen was clean, the atmosphere was tainted. Something was wrong.
"Sleepin'?" Erin asked Kairi with a grin as the skirt clad girl approached. She laughed a little and looked down on the sleeping Sora. This moment was ringing a bell in the confines of B.D.'s head and she cleared her dried throat as she stood silently.
"Whoa!" the previously sleeping boy exclaimed, bringing another case of giggles from the girl.
"Gimme a break Kairi." Sora muttered.
"Sora you lazy bum. I knew I'd find you snoozing down here." the fourteen year old girl teased. The feeling of familiarity that Bella-Donna got from this conversation sent her into a fit of quick breaths.
"No! This huge black THING swallowed me up! I couldn't breath, I couldn't--Ow!" he exclaimed.
"Are you still dreaming?" Kairi replied. Suddenly the girl that had accompanied B.D. through the portal looked between the two with startled eyes, and her smile faded.
"It wasn't a dream! Or was it? I dunno. What was that place? So bizarre…"
"Yeah, sure." Kairi walked toward the water and inhaled the salty air, just as B.D. had done.
"Say Kairi, what was your hometown like? You know, where you grew up?"
"I told you before, I don't remember." she gave a small laugh, and the Egyptian girl felt like she was hyperventilating. This couldn't be happening, but it was. The whole conversation right before her eyes, complete with the out of place question about Kairi's hometown.
"Nothing at all?" Sora persisted.
"Nothing."
"You ever wanna go back?"
"Well, I'm happy here."
"Really?" Sora asked, in a bit of a suspicious tone. Nearly like Riku.
"But you know…I wouldn't mind going to see it."
"I'd like to see it too. Along with any other worlds out there. I wanna see 'em all!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Kairi smiled at the still sitting boy.
"Hey, aren't you guys forgetting about me?" a voice chimed in right on time. There Riku stood, with a log under one arm. Bella attempted to calm her breathing when he glanced over at her with a concerned look, but the game had to go on.
"So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." he walked over toward the two other characters and tossed the log to the standing Sora, sending him to the ground again then spoke to Kairi. "And your just as lazy as he is."
"So you noticed, ok we'll finish it together. I'll race you!" the girl laughed and challenged.
"Huh?" was Sora's reply.
"What, are you kidding?" voiced Riku. Before Kairi could yell the racing start Bella broke in.
"Erin, w-we have to go, right?" she quickly asked the panicky girl over near Sora. B.D. shuffled her feet over the sand and grabbed onto the girls arm and reached for her remote, but not before Riku grabbed her wrist.
"Are you alright?" he asked. B.D. was relieved that they could still freely talk, but the genuine concern that glazed Riku's eyes made the reality of what was happening hit harder. Pulling herself together, Bella gave a reassuring smile and a nod.
"Fine, I'm fine. We just have homework to do back home." she lied. As the young man gazed up at her, she could tell that he knew she wasn't telling the truth, and he still held fast to her wrist.
"I'm fine Riku." she stated in a more stable voice. Around them the other two main characters where also giving her worried looks. Finally, though reluctantly, the silver haired boy let go of the older girls wrist, but kept his eyes on her.
"We'll be back tomorrow." B.D. said before taking off with Erin in a close second. Pushing the return buttons on their wrist remotes, the girls could hear the echoing of Kairi's 'Ready? Go!' as they disappeared into the bright light of the portal.
Opening their eyes, Erin and Bella-Donna stared blankly in front of them for quite some time. Blinking her eyes a few times, the taller one moved her gaze over to the game console and quickly closed her eyes again when she spotted the start button on in all its blue glory. Soon after Erin broke out of her trance and dragged the booth door open and plopped down in a chair, an uncharacteristic stoic expression on her face. The other girl followed suit and sat herself down on a stool before resting her elbows on a plastic crate and burying her face in her hands.
"Are we really going back tomorrow?" Erin broke the silence with the timid question. All she received was a loud sigh at first, then Bella-Donna raised her head and looked toward the monitor that showed the live show of Sora going through the task of collecting items for Kairi. At the beginning of this little venture, Albie had explained to B.D. that while a person was inside of the game, they couldn't really get hurt. As in no bleeding, broken bones, or dieing. The worse you could get was a 'game over', but you'd just appear again. It was funny how this whole world seemed so real, yet still held its video game aspects. The information of not getting hurt got Bella thinking. And this thinking brought on an idea, and the idea brought on a conclusion. With a new confidence on her face, Bella-Donna turned her attention back to the other girl.
"Of course we're going back tomorrow."
**********Ohhh, what's Bella-Donna up to huh? Well, I hope you liked this chapter. It seems like it all got going a little fast, but oh well. If you all want, could you read my other Kingdom Hearts story for me? Its called Of Books and Blades. Its not like I'm going to release the hounds on you or anything if you don't, but it would be nice of you. Oh, it would also be nice if after your done reading this if you'd REVIEW!!!!
Chapter Four
The silver haired boy helped pull Bella-Donna to her feet and out of the pool. By this time the tacky helmet was now hanging from her neck and partially filled with water, spilling onto the ground below. Her eyes were still dead locked onto Riku, with not intention of leaving anytime soon. Was he actually smiling at her? Yes, and it brought a crooked grin to B.D.'s drenched face, and her eyes became half lidded. The girl knew that she must have looked pretty stupid standing there with a gaudy helmet hanging from her, and the goofiest gaze on her face, but at the moment she didn't care. All that she cared about was that she was here in Destiny Islands, with Riku, and still holding his hand. Oh, wait.
"Uh, heh. S-sorry about that." she stuttered and let go of his hand quickly. After her hand was free, she fumbled with the helmet until it was rolling away from view. Bringing her blue gaze back to Riku, she couldn't help but swallow the lump that formed in her dry throat.
"I don't think I've seen you around here before. You new?" he questioned with a bit of suspicion in his voice. Bella chuckled lighted and bit her bottom lip with a grin.
"You could say that." she gave a little shrug as she answered. Riku raised a brow at her and sighed as if accepting her answer, thought the gleam of suspicion was still in his eyes.
"Hmm. I'm Riku." he introduced himself and held his hand out to her in greeting.
"Bella-Donna." she stated plainly and shook his hand, this time careful not to latch onto it. B.D. had to fight the urge to say 'Duh, I know who you are!', and luckily that urge was successfully subdued.
"Bella-Donna huh? Well now I know your not from around here. No one on these islands have names like that." he commented with a smirk.
"Uh, I'm trying to figure out if I should take that as a complement or an insult." she mumbled and sent a half smile back at him. At the smirk he gave a light blush flowed onto her face but, much to her relief, Riku didn't make any sign of noticing. He shrugged and turned toward the sea.
"Take it however you want. I think it's a pretty nice name, if that means anything." he said and B.D. smiled to herself. "So, Bella-Donna. What were you doin' sneaking around in the trees?" he asked again with a bit of suspicion. The girl opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word the island was filled with the high pitched sound of squealing. A pigs squeal maybe? No…a baboon? Close enough. Soon after the noise a steak of black and light blue rushed around the shack and ran right into Bella-Donna.
"Cleo, I saw Sora! I saw him…in real life! I haven't seen…Riku…yet…" she faded off when her gaze fell on the boy who was currently giving the small girl a strange look. The taller girl pried the shocked one off and let out a sigh before motioning to Riku.
"Erin, this is Riku. Riku, Erin. Oh, and she's the reason I was sneaking around in the bushes." she introduced and explained. The two just stared at each other. Erin was staring at the young man just because…well, he was him. Riku on the other hand was staring at her trying to figure this strange creature out. At first Bella was looking between the two with a bit of jealousy, then the jealousy turned to amusement when she saw the look Riku was giving the other girl.
"Erin…why don't you go look around some more, kay?" she coaxed the shaking girl toward the beach, getting a quick nod in response before the petite girl raced off to the Seaside Shack and up to where Sora was currently resting. Beside her, Riku cleared his throat as they both watched Erin sprint across the bridge.
"When you said you were sneaking around in the bushes because of her…did you mean you were hiding from her?" this question brought a silent laugh from the girl as she turned back to Riku.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After that day Bella-Donna and her, now more calm, friend Erin returned to the game world almost on a regular basis. In time, Auntie Albie returned home and to B.D.'s surprise, the woman wasn't at all angry with them. In fact it was almost as if she planned on it happening. Go figure. As the days in Destiny Islands turned to weeks, the two girls were introduced to Kairi, Tidus, and Wakka. Of course Bella finally met Sora, who immediately gave her a 'help' look as Erin clung to him.
Unexpectedly Erin had grown attached to Wakka as well as the fourteen year old boy. With Sora she usually just followed him around and clasped to him the entire time, but Wakka on the other hand had some how calmed the savage beast. Bella-Donna would never forget the day he tried to teach her how to play blitz ball. It wasn't that Erin messed up most of the time, it was that Wakka had underestimated her by a large amount. He went pretty easy on her the first go, and that earned him a big lump on the head. The long haired girl guessed it was because of all the hours of playing Final Fantasy X.
While the spunky girl spent her time with Wakka and Sora, Bella-Donna found that Riku wasn't just nice to look at. She finally came to the decision that the game didn't really do his personality justice. She expected a stern, stoic, high and mighty kind of guy, but that was almost the exact opposite. At least when he wasn't competing with Sora. The Riku she came to know was a good listener, intelligent, and funny at times. In fact she found herself spending a huge chunk of her time with the silver haired boy. It wasn't the fact that he was just a video game character that made her want to be around him, it was something else. It wasn't a mindless infatuation like Erin had with Sora, it was just a very welcomed friendship, and as far as Bella-Donna could tell the feeling was mutual.
Nearly almost everyday after school, the two sixteen year olds would head down to the lab and jump right into the phone booth and into the game. Luckily, Auntie Albie had came up with an alternative to the helmets for the girls. Small wrist bands with a dial and a few buttons, almost like a watch. Of course there were times when they forgot the devices and Albie had to go in and bring them back, but that at least told Sora that the beach wasn't haunted.
During all of this, the three females had managed to hide it all from Charlie, and had been able to keep the fact that Destiny Island was just part of a video game from any of the characters. They didn't entirely lie when they said they were from another dimension, but they couldn't bring themselves to spill the whole truth. After all, how would you feel if someone suddenly told you that your whole existence was a game? Bella-Donna was seeing mental breakdowns and violent behavior as a result of that news. Except for the obvious difference, everyone went on with their normal lives. Auntie Albie experimented, Charlie spilled his milk, and Erin and B.D. went to school.
"Who can tell me what a conjunction is?" the English teacher quizzed the class room from her spot at the blackboard. Conjunctions…ugh. Even the mention of the word brought that annoying 'conjunction junction' song to Bella-Donna's head. Turning her gaze to the clock she gave a small groan. It was only 5th period, and the itch to feel the warm island sun on her skin was making her jittery. She hated times like these. Times when she desperately wanted to do something, and wanting it that much just made the time go by slower, and slower, and slower.
B.D.'s blue eyes made their way across the class room and out the window. Greeting her were gray clouds, high winds, and…turquoise eyes? Turquoise eyes, silver hair, and a small smile to be exact. Wait that's not right! Bella's eyes went wide as she finally realized that she wasn't day dreaming, and that outside her class room window Riku was peeking through cautiously. She looked around the room to see if anyone else had spotted him, then turned back to him gesturing wildly for him to get out of sight. After all, she wasn't the only person in the school that liked Kingdom Hearts.
"Bella-Donna, is there a problem?" the teacher turned her attention to the gesturing girl who was mouthing get down.
"Uh…um…" she started and looked back to the window to see that Riku had finally taken the hint and ducked out of sight. She had to think quick. The girl couldn't just let Riku wander around out there, but she couldn't get out of the class for anything. Hell, this teacher wouldn't even let anyone go to the restroom…unless it was an emergency that is. Sucking up her pride, Bella threw a hand over her mouth and made a gagging sound. The teacher immediately motioned her to the door, which she ran out of and down the hall to the front doors. Fortunate for her no one noticed that she ran in the opposite direction of the restrooms. Searching around for the hidden boy, she whispered sharply.
"Riku? Riku where are you?"
"Right here." a voice suddenly answered from behind her, sending Bella-Donna into a startled jump. Turning toward him with a confused a frantic face, B.D. asked him in a calm voice.
"What are you doing here? How did you even get here?!" she questioned. Riku was about to answer when he was pulled back into the bushes by his shirt. Obviously the threat of being seen by either a teacher or a fan girl was getting to Bella.
"I convinced you aunt to let me through. I wanted to see your dimension." he answered like it was no big deal.
"Riku, you can't just roam the streets! Someone might recognize you!" she blurted out before she could stop herself.
"Recognize me? Why would anyone recognize me?" he asked with the same suspicious look he gave her when the first met. Bella-Donna cringed. She knew that it was only a matter of time until Riku would figure it all out, he wasn't stupid.
"That doesn't matter right now. Right now you gotta go back." she shook her head and pushed him out of the bush in the direction of her house.
"When will you be home?" he turned back, still out of sight of any passing staff members.
"In a few hours or so, but right now you gotta go. Watch T.V. or something until I get back." she answered.
"Fine, but you gotta promise that you'll show me around this place later on." he walked backwards while talking to her with a that smirk on his face again.
"I promise." she agreed with a smile back at him. She didn't really want him to go, but she couldn't risk anyone seeing him. That smirk almost broke her, but she snapped out of it and shooed him off. "Now go!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The day passed and Bella-Donna made her way home with a little bit of a quickness in her step. Maybe it was the fact that her book bag was really heavy and she wanted to get rid of it as fast as possible. Or maybe it was because she knew Riku would be at home. The girl had to shake her head at herself. She wasn't sure how to explain herself anymore. She was pretty sure that she thought of Riku as more then a friend, but then again she didn't really think of him 'that' way. Of course when she told Erin that all she said in return was 'not yet anyway'.
As she grew closer to her house, she could faintly see the form of Erin perched on her porch swinging her legs over the side. A confused look came over her face as she climbed the stairs and looked at the girl who was grinning at her widely.
"How did you get here faster then me?"
"My brother gave me a ride." she answered sliding off the railing and bouncing to the door.
"If you were coming her anyway then why didn't you give me a ride to?" she raised a brow and followed the smaller girl into the house. All she got in response was a sheepish grin and a shrug. Dropping her bag on the floor, Bella began her search for the silver haired boy while the other made a bee line for the basement.
"Bella-Donna! Dear?" a voice called from the dining room. Entering the large area, the said girl leaned against the door frame.
"Yeah?"
"If your searching for Riku, he went back a few minutes ago. I believe he was going to come back to meet you but…" she started but her voice faded as she started ready her papers again.
"But…?" B.D. urged on. Albie looked up from her work with her eyes narrowed in confusion.
"But what?"
"Riku. He was gonna come back to meet me but…but what?" she let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out a seat next to her dazed aunt.
"Oh, yes. Riku was going to come back to meet you, but it seems he hasn't returned yet."
"That's it? I thought you were gonna tell me something important." Bella let out a bit of a laugh and ran her hand through her hair. "By the way Auntie Albie, did Charlie see Riku?"
"You know, I'm not sure. Even if he did, I doubt he'd make the connection since he doesn't know what's going on yet." Albie waved her hand in a dismissing gesture and went back to her papers. Pulling herself out of her chair, B.D. traveled downstairs where Erin was waiting impatiently. Both girls grabbed for their wrist devices and stepped into the booth. All the while Bella-Donna couldn't help but think that something was wrong. Perhaps it was the thought of Charlie know about all of this that bothered her. It almost scared the girl to think that the boy could have done anything to the game. Everyone on Destiny Island had became close to the girls, and their lives wouldn't be the same without them. In B.D.'s case, Riku's absents would definitely have an impact.
Before the girls knew it, the warm air of the island greeted their skin along with the sound of the sea. This time they appeared on the paopu island out in the crystalline seas. It was strange, almost every time they came they ended up in a different place. Sometimes it would be the pier or the shack, or sometimes the hidden cove where the raft rested, and as long as the game was on this stage, that raft would stay there. Or so they hoped.
"Hey, there's Sora." Erin pointed to the beach in front of the secret cave and started running across the bridge and down the stairs. Close behind but at a slower pace, Bella-Donna followed toying with the edge of her t-shirt. Stepping out onto the beach she inhaled a gulp of fresh air. Though the oxygen was clean, the atmosphere was tainted. Something was wrong.
"Sleepin'?" Erin asked Kairi with a grin as the skirt clad girl approached. She laughed a little and looked down on the sleeping Sora. This moment was ringing a bell in the confines of B.D.'s head and she cleared her dried throat as she stood silently.
"Whoa!" the previously sleeping boy exclaimed, bringing another case of giggles from the girl.
"Gimme a break Kairi." Sora muttered.
"Sora you lazy bum. I knew I'd find you snoozing down here." the fourteen year old girl teased. The feeling of familiarity that Bella-Donna got from this conversation sent her into a fit of quick breaths.
"No! This huge black THING swallowed me up! I couldn't breath, I couldn't--Ow!" he exclaimed.
"Are you still dreaming?" Kairi replied. Suddenly the girl that had accompanied B.D. through the portal looked between the two with startled eyes, and her smile faded.
"It wasn't a dream! Or was it? I dunno. What was that place? So bizarre…"
"Yeah, sure." Kairi walked toward the water and inhaled the salty air, just as B.D. had done.
"Say Kairi, what was your hometown like? You know, where you grew up?"
"I told you before, I don't remember." she gave a small laugh, and the Egyptian girl felt like she was hyperventilating. This couldn't be happening, but it was. The whole conversation right before her eyes, complete with the out of place question about Kairi's hometown.
"Nothing at all?" Sora persisted.
"Nothing."
"You ever wanna go back?"
"Well, I'm happy here."
"Really?" Sora asked, in a bit of a suspicious tone. Nearly like Riku.
"But you know…I wouldn't mind going to see it."
"I'd like to see it too. Along with any other worlds out there. I wanna see 'em all!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Kairi smiled at the still sitting boy.
"Hey, aren't you guys forgetting about me?" a voice chimed in right on time. There Riku stood, with a log under one arm. Bella attempted to calm her breathing when he glanced over at her with a concerned look, but the game had to go on.
"So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." he walked over toward the two other characters and tossed the log to the standing Sora, sending him to the ground again then spoke to Kairi. "And your just as lazy as he is."
"So you noticed, ok we'll finish it together. I'll race you!" the girl laughed and challenged.
"Huh?" was Sora's reply.
"What, are you kidding?" voiced Riku. Before Kairi could yell the racing start Bella broke in.
"Erin, w-we have to go, right?" she quickly asked the panicky girl over near Sora. B.D. shuffled her feet over the sand and grabbed onto the girls arm and reached for her remote, but not before Riku grabbed her wrist.
"Are you alright?" he asked. B.D. was relieved that they could still freely talk, but the genuine concern that glazed Riku's eyes made the reality of what was happening hit harder. Pulling herself together, Bella gave a reassuring smile and a nod.
"Fine, I'm fine. We just have homework to do back home." she lied. As the young man gazed up at her, she could tell that he knew she wasn't telling the truth, and he still held fast to her wrist.
"I'm fine Riku." she stated in a more stable voice. Around them the other two main characters where also giving her worried looks. Finally, though reluctantly, the silver haired boy let go of the older girls wrist, but kept his eyes on her.
"We'll be back tomorrow." B.D. said before taking off with Erin in a close second. Pushing the return buttons on their wrist remotes, the girls could hear the echoing of Kairi's 'Ready? Go!' as they disappeared into the bright light of the portal.
Opening their eyes, Erin and Bella-Donna stared blankly in front of them for quite some time. Blinking her eyes a few times, the taller one moved her gaze over to the game console and quickly closed her eyes again when she spotted the start button on in all its blue glory. Soon after Erin broke out of her trance and dragged the booth door open and plopped down in a chair, an uncharacteristic stoic expression on her face. The other girl followed suit and sat herself down on a stool before resting her elbows on a plastic crate and burying her face in her hands.
"Are we really going back tomorrow?" Erin broke the silence with the timid question. All she received was a loud sigh at first, then Bella-Donna raised her head and looked toward the monitor that showed the live show of Sora going through the task of collecting items for Kairi. At the beginning of this little venture, Albie had explained to B.D. that while a person was inside of the game, they couldn't really get hurt. As in no bleeding, broken bones, or dieing. The worse you could get was a 'game over', but you'd just appear again. It was funny how this whole world seemed so real, yet still held its video game aspects. The information of not getting hurt got Bella thinking. And this thinking brought on an idea, and the idea brought on a conclusion. With a new confidence on her face, Bella-Donna turned her attention back to the other girl.
"Of course we're going back tomorrow."
**********Ohhh, what's Bella-Donna up to huh? Well, I hope you liked this chapter. It seems like it all got going a little fast, but oh well. If you all want, could you read my other Kingdom Hearts story for me? Its called Of Books and Blades. Its not like I'm going to release the hounds on you or anything if you don't, but it would be nice of you. Oh, it would also be nice if after your done reading this if you'd REVIEW!!!!