Can this be? Am I actually back so soon? What the hells going on you ask? Well, I guess I have been bitten by the writing bug, and I must write! Either that or I will develop an unsightly rash…Anyway, read the chapter, I hope its better then the last one.
Chapter Eleven
Erin's house was clean. Very, very clean. The wooden floors were glossy beyond belief, and dust that usually clung to various trinkets around any other home was nonexistent in this home. The mother of the household continuously cleaned day after day, seeing it that she didn't have a job. Mrs. Delilah Jeffington was as short, excitable, and one minded as her daughter was. Her hair was always cut short in a no-nonsense manner, and her makeup was always perfectly applied though she rarely went anywhere except her garage and the grocery store.
She was a housewife right out of a fifties black and white T.V. series. And the thing Bella couldn't understand was that the woman liked her life that way. She just prayed that Mrs. Jeffington didn't turn Erin into a clone of Joan Clever as well. Of course, not all of the family was like ol' Delilah.
Her husband, Darrel, was a construction worker outside of town who was a real meat and potato's man. Every night at seven o'clock he would stomp up the front porch with his dirt covered boots, and dump his work belt and hard hat in the entry hall inside. The truth be told, if anyone had seen Mr. Jeffington from a distance, they would probably think he was the kind to beat on his wife. Scars from fighting in his youth marred his face in small lines, his jaw was stiff and constantly adorned by a fife o'clock shadow, his eyes were the darkest brown, so brown in fact that they nearly looked black. His black hair was shaved close to his head in a military style, and the last thing that finished off his look was the grimace that seem to always be poured over his face.
Violent. That was the first word that popped into B.D.'s head when she first met Darrel all those years ago, and she was sure the same thing popped into Riku's when he laid eyes on the man. However, looks were often deceiving. The day Erin brought the little Egyptian girl home to play with her vast collection of Barbie's, Mr. Jeffington had immediately offered a friendly smile and a cookie to the girl. The case was no different when the two teenagers entered the house and found the man lounging in his lazy boy recliner.
"Hey there, Bella." his gruff voice greeted as he tilted his head around the chair to look at her and Riku. "New boyfriend?"
Ah, yes. Mr. Jeffington always did know the right things to say.
"No, Darrel, this is Rick, my friend. Rick, this is Darrel, Erin's dad." she explained and pointed back and forth between the two males. They both nodded and gave a small 'hi', or 'hey' in response. B.D. had to hold back a sigh. What was it with men and quiet greetings?
"Bella-Donna, how good to see you again!" a new voice stated enthusiastically as the woman who was responsible for banging on the car window a few minutes earlier entered the room.
"Hey, Mrs. Jeffington." the girl greeted with a smile. She didn't know why, but for some reason, she just found it hard to call the woman by her first name. The squatty little woman pranced into the room with her hair covered by a handkerchief and a white apron wrapped around her body.
"And who's this young man?" Delilah asked. The teen clenched her jaw, hoping that the woman wouldn't ask about the 'boyfriend' issue like her husband did. After a few seconds, Bella let out a soft sigh when she only glanced back and forth between the teens with curious brown eyes.
"He's name is Rick. He's Bella's friend." Darrel broke in with a smirk, emphasizing the last word, bringing a slight glare from the girl.
"Oh, how nice. So good to meet you Rick." Mrs. Jeffington smiled and gestured in the direction of the kitchen. "Would you two like something to eat, drink, anything I can get for you?"
"Don't you ever think you're coming on a little strong?" a quiet, yet still powerful voice commented as a dark clothed male walked through the still open door and into the house. Vincent Jeffington. The seventeen-year-old was the 'bad seed of the family' as many put it, and B.D. knew why. If she hadn't known better, she would have said that Vincent Valentine was inspired by this guy. Unlike the rest of the family, his hair was baby fine and ran down his shoulders in perfectly straight, midnight black strands. His eyes were of a lighter brown then his mother or father, and bordered on the edge of crimson. Vincent's face was attractive in a pale sort of way, with high cheekbones and sharp features that could fit into either a startling handsome or down right scary category. In fact, he looked and acted so much like the game character that Erin sometimes called him 'Valentine', just to rile him up. That always earned her a cold glare. However, when the best friend called him by the nickname, he only glanced over at her with a small twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Hi, Vincent." Bella-Donna said as softly has he spoke with a strange little crooked smile.
"Hello, Bella-Donna." he nodded with a small smile of his own. Vince was the only member of the family that called her by her full name, and he was also the only member of the family that seemed to actually make real eye contact when talking to her. And Riku was pretty quick to pick it up…
"I'm Rick." the younger of the two males stated firmly and held his hand out to Vincent. B.D. quirked a brow slightly when she noticed the little gleam lining his aquatic eyes.
"Vincent." the other finally answered after staring at Riku's gloved hand for a few moments. They shook hands, and the room immediately filled to the brim with tension. Crimson and teal eyes locked as the grip of hands between them tightened from the secret battle that was raging between the two. Bella's eyes darted back and forth between the two anxiously. Vincent was tall. A lot taller then Riku. But she had a feeling that if some reason push came to shove, Riku's well formed muscles could be a fair opponent to the older ones lean body.
"How 'bout that homework, Delilah?" the girl finally broke the silence and clapped her hands in front of her. Almost instantly Vincent and Riku let go of each others hands and the tension drained down to a manageable puddle. But from the corner of her eye, B.D. could see the two still fighting it out with their eyes.
"Yes, it should be up in her room." Mrs. Jeffington responded, her voice a little edgy. Obviously, the young woman hadn't been the only one to notice the change in atmosphere. However, by the sound of Darrel's voice as he watched a football game, he was blissfully unaware of what was happening behind him.
"Right, thanks. Come on, Rick. I'll show you Erin's room, you and Vincent can play later." This little statement broke the eye lock, and Riku turned his glare on Bella for saying such a thing. Vincent on the other hand just stared at the two as the girl pulled the sliver haired by his arm up the stairs and out of sight.
The spotless white hallway was covered in pictures of the two Jeffington kids. Pictures of when Erin was five with curly pigtails, and pink and green dresses, all the way up to her newest school picture where she was dressed in a simple quote t-shirt and jeans. The other side of the hall was dedicated to Vincent's progress in growing. It was almost hard to believe the little boy with light brown, bowl cut hair, and a toothless smile was him. B.D. had never seen Vincent smile that big in real life.
Finally the two reached the poster covered door to the teens room. Bella stomped in after she lightly shoved Riku inside and slammed the door behind her. She had been thinking about the occurrence downstairs on the way up, and she had decided that if Riku was going to ask about her odd behavior with Bianca, then she had the right to ask about his own eccentric acting.
"What the hell was that all about?" Bella-Donna demanded more then asked.
"What the hell was what all about?" Riku fired back and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh come on, Riku, I'm not that stupid," she went on and crossed her own arms, mocking him. "You were ready to tear his throat out with your teeth if you had been able to reach."
"Are you saying I'm short?"
"That's completely irrelevant, Riku!" the blue eyed girl screeched in a whispered voice.
"I don't like that guy. He stares at people all wrong." he explained stubbornly and jerked his head toward the door where he was just sure that weirdo was eavesdropping on their conversation.
"How many people have you seen him stare at?" she asked, and irritated confusion marking her face. She thought about what he had said for a few seconds, before she leaned back with grin on her face. "You mean, he stares at me all wrong?"
This said, Riku moved his eyes back to her from the spot on the door he was staring at. For a while he just opened and closed his mouth like he wanted to say something, but he only succeeded in looking like a fish out of water.
"That's what you meant, wasn't it?" Bella pried on and took a few steps toward the still stern looking Riku. When he only glared at her, she let out a little huff. "That's it isn't it? Why…why, I'd even go so far as to say you're jealous."
"Jealous?" he finally lashed out and threw his arms out to his sides. "Why would I be jealous of that guy?!"
"Would you be quiet!" the Egyptian hushed him by smacking him lightly on the head. "And as for the jealously thing, as you put it earlier, 'I don't know, why would you be?' "
"And why aren't you talking to him about this? He did it as much as I did." Riku calmly asked.
"Because you should know better."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really." she hissed out through clenched teeth before she turned and started rummaging through Erin's desk where the girl usually stored her homework. Shaking her head, she mumbled to herself. "Besides, I can't blame him."
"Why not?" the young man behind her demanded before stomping toward her. Standing to her full height, Bella glared at the curious eyes of Riku.
"I wasn't talking to you. Must you listen to everything I say?"
"Most girls would appreciate that." he said with a small smirk on his face.
"Shut up." Bella-Donna grumbled and went back to her looking before Riku could see the small smile on her own face.
"You still didn't answer my question."
"What question was that?" her voice asked with false stupidity.
"Why can't you blame him?"
"Because," she started but drifted off as she pulled a few notebooks and a folder out of the desk drawer. Tapping the stack of items on the desk to get them even, she finished her sentence during the light bangs. "Because he's my ex-'boyfriend'."
"What?"
B.D. winced. That wasn't a 'what did you say' what, that was a 'what the hell' what. It was true. Not to long ago dark and creepy Vincent suddenly asked fun and sarcastic Bella-Donna if she wanted to go the play in town with him. Sure it was The Phantom of the Opera and a little depressing, but she had fun. It had been a good few months, but as time went on, Bella had found that even though Vincent did open up more after they had been 'dating', though she thought it was odd to put his name and the word dating in the same sentence, he just wasn't the right guy for her. Not to mention Erin almost went into a series of seizures when she discovered her Vincent Valentine look-a-like brother and her best friend were dating.
It wasn't a hard break up, but it wasn't that easy either. According to Erin, Vincent went directly back to his reclusive manner after she ended he long relationship. Yeah, they still talked now and then, but only when B.D. was over at the house. Never did one call the other just to talk about various things that they couldn't say to anyone else, or just listen to each other breath like they used to. So who cared if she could still feel that bit inside of her that absolutely adored that dark and mysterious nature of Vincent? Bella had a feeling that Riku would care.
"He was your boyfriend?" the mentioned boy questioned with a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Yeah, what of it?" the girl asked, suddenly defensive.
"He just doesn't seem like your type." Riku said stiffly, taking note of B.D.'s change of tone.
"People like him usually aren't my type." she admitted before heading toward the door. Pulling it open, she stepped out into the hall to see into the room of Vincent across the hall. Black furniture, dark wallpaper, dark carpet, and black drapes. It was a heavy contrast to the light décor of the rest of the house. As she walked down the hall, she could feel Riku following closely behind, his eyes borrowing into the back of her head. Why was he so sensitive about this kind of thing when he had Kairi? Should she be mad about his jealousy? After all, he had no right to be jealous when he had the island girl. But if she should be mad, then why did she have the huge urge to smile like a moron?
"Find it, honey?" Mrs. Jeffington's voice asked as the two descended the stairs.
"Yep, thanks, Mrs. Jeffington." Bella-Donna answered with a smile and held up the stack of notebooks. The woman's face was so cheerful that it was made contagious. In the back of her mind, B.D. had to wonder how in the world Auntie Albie told the Jeffington family that Erin would be gone for a while without telling exactly where she was. The mind of a genius probably had a hay day with Delilah's gullible personality.
"Oh, Bella, if you don't mind, could you bring Erin a bag of food? She forgot to pack any when she was last here." Erin's mom asked and pointed into the kitchen with a pleading look on her face. The girl nodded with a small smile.
"Sure thing, Mrs. Jeffington." B.D. agreed and jerked lightly when Mr. Jeffington's excited yell came from in front of the television. Another touchdown she supposed. Behind her, Riku gave his own chuckle at the man as the two shuffled their way into the white and blue kitchen. It was all wonderfully colored coordinated. White cabinets lined the walls while light blue tile covered the counter tops below them. A large island sat in the middle of the kitchen with the same blue tiling and white paint. Eight blue and white stools stood around the island, one filled up by a lone eating family member. A family member that clashed terribly with the cheerful little kitchen.
"Hey, Vincent." Bella mumbled as she caught sight of him and wished desperately that Riku would use common sense and head for the car before that wave of tension rushed over the house again.
Vincent just rose his hand in a small wave after he lifted his eyes from his plate of spaghetti and set them on the girl. The two just stared at each other as she walked by and to the refrigerator behind him. As soon as she was out of his line of vision, Vincent moved his gaze around the room to see Riku taking a seat on the opposite end of the island without being asked. It seemed that when males were being threatened or intimidated, they didn't wait for permission from anyone. The older of the two went back to eating, but he kept his attention on the strange boy across from him.
The rustling of a paper bag and the scrape of Vincent's fork on his plate were the only sounds that ran through the kitchen. Cold air flowed out of the fridge and chilled Bella to the point of goose bumps. Gathering some various things from hotdogs, to a small can of caviar, that B.D. had no clue why Erin liked, the girl placed them all in the bag and pushed the door closed with her hip. Turning to the counter, she next went for the basket of fruit that Mrs. Jeffington always made sure was full. Apples, oranges, and pears would do for Erin, but Bella-Donna was sure to take a few star fruits for herself.
"Your friend is awfully tense, Bella-Donna." a soft voice commented before dishes were placed in the sink next to her. She didn't even have to turn her head to know who it was. The sound of his voice and the sound of her full name told her right off. She didn't know why, but for some reason, Vincent always enjoyed her name. Probably because it was a poisonous plant.
"Yeah, he can be like that sometimes." she answered and glanced over her shoulder toward Riku with humor in her eyes. Turning back to the growing bag of food, she couldn't help but watch as Vincent washed away the excess sauce away from his plate, dousing a small bit of his black cuff that rested over his pale fingers in the water. Vincent always did have really nice hands…
"I assume he is going back with you?"
"Yeah, yeah he is." Bella nodded and took another glance back at Riku who was staring at the two with unmoving eyes.
"Will you be leaving today?" Vincent went on with another question. This wasn't like him. This little conversation was to much like small talk for the black haired young man. B.D. had a feeling that she knew what he was doing. Vincent wasn't stupid, not in the least. He knew that Riku's jealousy was flaring up behind him like a wildfire, and he knew that the smallest little word or touch he sent toward Bella-Donna would make that fire grow to violent proportions.
"Yeah." she answered with another nod and opened the drawer under the counter to pull out a knife to cut up the star fruit.
"Well, take care wherever you go when you leave, Bella-Donna" Vincent turned the water off in the sink and gave her a little touch on the arm before taking long strides out of the kitchen.
"See you later, Valentine." B.D. smiled and tilted her head up slightly to see the pale lips of Vincent turn upward into a hardly noticeable smirk before he left the room and disappeared up the stairway.
"Valentine?" a hoarse voice asked from behind followed by the sound of footsteps. Yet another smile worked its way up on her face.
"Its just a nickname Riku, calm down." she chuckled out between the sound of the knife cutting into the fruit in front of her.
"He still likes you, Bella." Riku stated like he had discovered something incredible as he leaned against the counter where Vincent was previously standing.
"Probably." the girl shrugged nonchalantly. The islander just stared at her intently.
"That's all you have to say about it? 'Probably'?" he drawled out and placed his outspread hands on the cold tile of the counter.
"What do you want me to say? I broke up with him, he didn't break up with me. Erin's come to the same riveting conclusion you have." she muttered sarcastically before popping a piece of yellow fruit in her mouth. Riku grunted beside her and tilted his head down toward the cutting board covered in the odd stuff she was shoving into her mouth. His gloved hand reached over and picked up a piece before bringing it up towards his eyes to study. When he did get a good look at the object, his eyes went wide.
"You can eat a piece if you want."
"You want me to eat a piece?" the boy asked with his eyes still as wide as dinner plates. Bella only shifted her eyes around a bit confused.
"I guess so…I didn't know it was that big of a deal."
"Not a big deal? You've gotta be the first person I've heard that said this wasn't a big deal."
"Well…how many people have offered you one?" Bella asked with a quirked brow. What was Riku getting at?
"A few girls back on Destiny Islands." he answered with a smug look on his face.
"Oh boy, a few girls!" B.D. cried out, sarcasm coating her words. "A few girls offering you a piece of star fruit is nothing to get cocky about Riku."
"Star fruit?" Riku asked with a surprised look on his face. "Since when does anyone call a paopu fruit, star fruit?"
"Paopu fruit?" Bella chuckled out and shook her head. "This isn't a paopu, its just star fruit, Riku. You thought I was offering you a piece of a paopu fruit?"
"Quiet," he glared and looked the piece of fruit over again. "It looks like a paopu."
"Yeah, after its cut," she started and pulled a whole star fruit out of the basket. "This is what it looks like whole. See, doesn't even resemble a paopu."
"Does a little bit. The outside has the same kind of skin. How do you know this just isn't your worlds paopu fruit?" he grinned and tossed the fruit into the air then caught it again.
"Its not." Bella-Donna reassured and took another bite. Riku watched her for a few moments before letting out a sigh and looked down at the star shaped piece that was still in his hand. The outside was the same texture and color as the paopu he remembered back home. The inside had the same look as well. Could it be this worlds paopu? Judging by the way Bella gave it out so easily, it probably wasn't. But, then again, one never knew. It was then that a thought came to Riku's mind.
"Did you ever share one of these with that Vincent guy?"
"Riku, give it a rest." B.D. laughed and wrapped all the fruit up in the bag before pulling the boy toward the doorway by his arm. Dragging his feet across the carpet of the living room floor and giving a small wave to the Jeffingtons, Riku looked over the girl toward the metal deathtrap called a car they were about to enter. She said something to him before she opened the door on her side, but he never heard her. Instead, he was to busy listening to the sound of his chewing on the piece of strange fruit.
"You just had to try to fight didn't you?"
"I just-"
"You couldn't listen to anything I said, could you?"
"I didn't-"
"Why are you so stubborn?"
"I was-OW!" Sora exclaimed as Erin slapped a bit gob of anesthetic on one of his cuts. Burn free…yeah right. Sure, he was accustom to using Cure or Cura on his wounds, but Erin convinced him that they needed to save up. No need to waste them on little things like elbow scratches.
"Oh, stop complaining. You brought this on yourself you know!" the young woman scolded and rubbed the goop over the red skin with her finger before placing a large bandage over it.
"But I-"
" 'But you', nothing! You should listen to me more, Sora. You could have gotten killed! Being eaten alive is no way to go, Mr. Keyblade master."
"You really do have a lovely bedside manner, Erin." Sora said sarcastically, but smiled good naturedly up at her from his spot on the floor of the Gummi ship. Actually, she was very right. That huge dog thing had nearly torn him to shreds, all because he hadn't listened to Erin's advice. She said he needed to go back to Traverse Town first to get some more practice before taking on a big foe like Cerberus. And what Erin wants, Erin will eventually get.
"I'm serious, Sora. You need to be more careful," the petite girl sighed out as she sat down next to the boy. This serious tone of voice brought his blue eyes up from the floor and up to her face. "Before you know it you'll be mixing your colors with your whites. The world doesn't need that kind of recklessness!"
And in a blink of an eye that seriousness was gone.
"Yes, and what a catastrophe that would be." Sora laughed and leaned his head back on the wall. Erin giggled a bit beside him and mocked his movement. Looking down toward his feet, the boy almost laughed again when he saw the difference between the girls small feet and his own. The girl was smaller then him in almost every way. Tiny hands, little wrists, nearly scrawny legs. She was just small, and that made her absolutely adorable.
"I wonder what Cleo's doin'." said girl wondered out loud and stretched her legs out to their full length. "I'm not used to not seeing her for this long."
"If she's with Riku I'm sure she's okay." Sora reassured with a brief nod. "Or…it might be the other way around."
"Got that right. Ol' Cleo's not the kind to be taken care of." Erin chuckled and rolled her head on the wall toward the boy next to her.
"I'm sure Riku will be able to break her of that." he added in with a slight smile.
"Yeah, maybe…someday…far, far away."
"Hey you two!" a voice quaked out from the cockpit. "We're here!"
"Alright, alright." huffed out and watched Sora pull himself up before he offered her a hand. Taking it with a grateful smirk she yanked herself to her feet and pulled her jeans back up. She really should remember to get a belt the next time she goes back.
Traverse Town was as quiet as it was the last time they had stopped by. A few people passed by here and there, a Moggle tripped its way up the steps in front of the Accessory Shop, and the candles burned brightly in the outdoor café. Being in the Heartless free First District was a welcome relief from the busy Deep Jungle and Wonderland. The four walked over the cobble stones silently. For some reason Traverse Town brought about a need for silence, even from the talkative Erin.
This would be the trip to the little town where Sora defeats the Opposite Armor and locks the keyhole. It would also be the visit when they would see Riku and Bella-Donna, though Erin didn't quite tell Sora that. No need to give away his whole future. Another good thing that would come of this was that she would get to see Leon again. Oh, how she loved that Gunblade wielder.
"So, Erin, what's gonna happen next?" Sora suddenly asked with humor in his voice.
"Uh…I, um…I don't…" the girl stuttered terribly as the small group passed through the gates to the Second District.
"Erin?"
"Uh huh?"
"I was just teasing you." he laughed and put and arm around her shoulders to shake her into loosening up. Alright, he still hadn't gotten her to admit that she was lying about anything so far, and he hoped that Riku was having about as much luck as he was. The guy didn't need to beat him at everything.
"I knew that." she scoffed and stuffed her hands into her jean pockets roughly.
"Sure you did." Sora started up again with a small laugh. Erin was about to retaliate with a series of offending words and gestures, but a strange sound from behind them cut her off. Two, no three…no, four Heartless Soldiers were suddenly jerking about around them. Almost immediately and instinctively, the otherworldly girl grabbed onto Sora's back and forced him in front of her. She had come face to face with many types of Heartless over the past few days, and she still couldn't get used to being around them so freely. Of course, her three male companions had no such thoughts. They all barreled into battle, blade, staff, and shield ready for anything.
"You get 'em, guys!" Erin called out enthusiastically as she backed up slowly away from the scene. They could surely handle this on their own. Of course if she had a weapon of her own she would be right out there fighting with them…with the smaller Heartless though. Maybe a White Mushroom or a Blue Rhapsody. Those were her kind of Heartless.
"Erin, look out behind ya!" Goofy warned and pointed in the girls direction. Like a scene straight out of a horror movie, she slowly turned her head around. She could just see her blood splattering on the wall from the bite of a Defender, or a concussion from an Air Soldier. Sweat covered her palms as she slowly turned her gaze over the shoulder to look upon the creature that would surely be in the concoction of her doom. Her knees shook with the fury of an earthquake as she met the eyes of the floating beast.
"Ahhhh!" Erin, and it seemed even the flying thing screamed in unison. From behind Sora turned his attention toward the girl hearing her scream, and raced off in her direction to be the almighty brave hero. He pushed the shaky Soldiers out of the way one by one until he could finally see the clear image of the brown haired girl laying on the ground screaming bloody murder. For she was in the direct path of a…
Green Requiem.
Sora just stood there, his Keyblade hanging loose in his grip, eyes wide, and mouth open. A Green Requiem, she was screaming because of that little thing? A Heartless that didn't even attack? At that thought the boys shocked face soon turned to entertainment as he watched the green thing bounce around in the air around Erin, probably more frightened then she was. It would be wrong to laugh at the girls panic. It would be wrong, so he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't laugh…he wouldn't laugh…he…wouldn't….
"Aahahahaha!"
"Shut up and kill this stupid thing, Sora!" the embarrassed girl demanded as she tried to scoot herself away from the Cure casting Heartless.
"I…can't…stop…" he tried to choke out, but only made himself fall face first on the stone ground, laughs still escaping his mouth in short gasps. He could just imagine the hurt he would be in if the girl hadn't been so frightened. To think, she had seen a Guard Armor, countless Power Wilds, and had come face to face with the Trickmaster. Yet, here she was, afraid of a wee little Greet Requiem.
"Sora!"
"Oh for crying out loud!" Donald exclaimed and rushed forward, shooing off the little Heartless. With a twirl and a sprinkle of green, it took off around the corner leaving the girl panting on the ground. The sound of the ducks webbed feet and Goofy's large shoes pounding on the stone as they passed her were mixed with Donald's aggravated grumbling and the dogs slight giggling from the whole ordeal. From behind, Sora could still be heard choking on his laughter. Struggling to her feet, Erin dusted herself off from back to feet before stomping toward the Keyblade master. He only looked up at her from the ground, sapphire eyes wide and glazed with tears of entertainment.
"Wh-what?" he asked in false innocence as he desperately tried to wipe away his grin.
"You are such an idiot." Erin grumbled and crossed her small arms tightly across her chest, face burning with embarrassment.
"I'm an idiot? I'm not the one screaming about…a…Green…Requiem…" he gasped out, short bursts of giggling escaping now and then. Sora could guess that his comments weren't helping the situation whatsoever, and the grim look on the girls face proved that instantly. She also continued to prove it when she left with a glare and made her way down the staircase. Off in the distance he could hear Donald screaming for them to hurry up, but laying there on the refreshingly cool ground was a big reason for him not to move. Visiting different worlds, fighting monsters…dealing with Erin, it was all very tiring for the fourteen-year-old. He was used to days on the beach with nothing to do but draw on cave walls, and duel with his various friends.
His friends.
What had happened to Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie? Did they manage to make it to another world like Erin and he did? If not, where were they? And what about Riku and Bella-Donna? His best friend seemed awfully sure of himself as he stood in the circle of darkness all those days ago. They both surely would have made it to another world, right? Of course. And they would take care of each other. That thought almost made him let out a small laugh. He wasn't kidding when he said that maybe Bella was really taking care of Riku instead of the other way around.
Riku was strong, brave, and smart. But all the years Sora had known him, he had discovered that the older boy didn't like to be alone that much. If they had been thrown into another world, Riku wouldn't know what the hell was going on. And if Bella was as educated about this whole thing as Erin was, the girl would probably be taking more care of the silver hair then he was taking care of her. It was almost funny to say it, big he-man Riku being taken care of by a girl.
"You still alive?" a voice shattered his thoughts and the face of Erin appeared above his head. Obviously she wasn't the type of person to hold a grudge, judging by her slight smile as she bent over him with her hands planted on her thin knees.
"And kicking." Sora gave that big goofy grin before propping himself up on his elbows.
"Duck boy and Goofy are waiting. Come on." she continued and held a hand out to him with a hand on her hip. For a few seconds, the young Keyblade master just looked up at her smiling face with a small sigh. He supposed she was right, even though if he didn't have an agenda he would have just stayed right there on the ground and slept. Instead, he took the girls hand in his own and allowed the frail female to haul him up to his feet.
"Alright, alright. As long as you don't freak out on me again." he chuckled when the girl whacked him on the back of the head with a closed fist before taking off down the stairs again. Sora soon followed calling out words of an apology.
"About time!" Donald screamed as the two rounded the corner into the alley. Resting his staff against his shoulder, the duck waddled on down the narrow street, Goofy trailing close behind, giggling every now and then at the still going argument between the two teenagers who were still lingering back by the first shallow pool of water. Before the Disney characters knew it, a splash sounded followed by Sora's voice yelling out curses at Erin who threw them right back with some spice added in. Donald's ragged sigh echoed through the Secret Waterway signaling that the two were being left behind.
"Wait for us!" the both cried out in unison before they charged down the alley and into the tunnel.
The cramped space was dark, the only light being from the end. It was hard to tell exactly where the deep parts were and where the shallow parts were, so Erin just kept herself afloat the entire time. Every now and then, Sora would push her under slightly. But then he would always regret it by her retaliation of full on splashes and dunks. Of course, they both regretted the little water fight when Sora sometimes resurfaced a bit to close to the girl, sending them both into a fit of redness.
"So, you found the Keyhole." Leon's voice reverberated throughout the cavern, sending chills up Erin's already cold body. Oh, that Squall.
"Yeah, the Keyblade locked it automatically." Sora responded with a small nod, shaking some of the water from his wet hair.
"Good."
"The Heartless enter through the Keyhole and do something to the world's core." the Gunblade master went on after Aerith.
"What happens to the world?" the boy asked with curiosity in his eyes. Beside him, Erin wrung the water from her clothing, knowing that it would be useless. After all, they would just have to go through the water again anyway.
"In the end," the pink clad woman continued. "it disappears."
"What!?" the three visiting males yelled in surprise.
"That's why your key is so important." Leon explained in his usual deadpan voice.
"Please lock the Keyholes. You're the only one who can." Aerith begged and clasped her hands in front of her chest, those big green eyes staring at Sora. Erin almost rolled her eyes when the young man let out a big grin. No wonder Cloud fell for the flower girl.
"I…I don't know." he answered, snapping out of the small trance he was in.
"Seeing other worlds would probably serve you well." the tallest male in the cavern offered up.
"Yeah!" Donald agreed with a quick nod on his bill.
"Yeah, and besides, you have to find Kairi anyway, right?" Erin shrugged and rested an elbow on his shoulder with a small smirk.
"We gotta find your friends," Goofy added, "And King Mickey!"
"I guess you're right…Okay!" the young man quickly agreed after looking back and forth between everyone. Aerith instantly gave him a loving smile and Leon nodded his head approvingly. All was set. He was to travel the worlds, lock all the Keyholes, and find his friends. Piece of cake.
"Sora, remember, you gotta ask about that Gummi block." the girl reminded with a small nudge toward Leon.
"Why don't you ask him?" the chestnut haired boy asked with a half smile and a quirked brow.
"Wh-whats that suppose to mean?"
"Since you've been looking at him all googly eyed I figured you'd want a chance to talk to him." Sora said with rolled eyes as he crossed his arms lightly over his chest.
"No, I can't talk to him!" she exclaimed and hid herself behind Sora, away from the practicing Leon.
"Why not? Scared?" he taunted and tossed the Gummi block from hand to hand as he stared at her with a sly expression.
"No I'm not scared." Erin spat before she gave her own smirk. "And while we're on the subject…why don't you go over and say 'hey' to Ms. Aerith over there?"
"Aerith?" Sora gulped as the girl jerked her thumb toward the pink woman who was leaning against the cave wall.
"Yeah, go on, talk to her if you think or so brave." she sneered and pushed him lightly.
"Heh, I'm not scared." the boy laughed slightly and pushed the girl back a bit harder.
"Bet you are."
Another push.
"Bet I'm not."
Another.
"I think you're chicken."
Push.
"I think you're a…a…chicken too!"
Another push.
"Nice comeback!" Erin yelled with a raised voice as she gave Sora one last shove. However, this time she lost control of her strength. Before Sora knew it he was underwater, again with an annoying little rock poking him in the back. Pulling himself out of the water to see Erin with a smug look on her face, he trudged up to her, got right in her face, and started to give her a piece of his mind, until…
"Where's the Gummi?" she asked with a shocked look and grabbed his hands in search.
"Uh…um…I…"
"You dropped it didn't you?!" "Well you pushed me I was caught off guard!"
"You're the Keyblade master, you're not suppose to be caught off guard!"
"You two fight like a married couple." Donald mumbled and tapped his foot in an aggravated manner.
"Shut up!" the teenagers yelled before they dove into the water in search of the missing piece.
Hollow Bastion was its normal strange, cold, and creepy self. The Entry Hall was completely deserted as Bella-Donna and Riku strolled in the front door. The splashes of the fountain in front of them and the sound of their footsteps where the only things that echoed through the huge room. The silence wasn't because of a fight they had on the way back, or the lack of something to talk about, it was simply because the eerie room seemed to demand quiet. The two huddled together as they walked down the narrow hallway to the Lift Shop, eager to leave the menacing chamber.
The trip back to the game world went fairly smooth. Auntie Albie did nothing else to turn the teens faces red, and Riku never brought up the subject of Vincent again. Though B.D. had the feeling that in the future his name would pop up in an argument. Unfortunately, the two hadn't appeared back where they left. Instead, the phone booth dropped them off in the Rising Falls, far from the safety of the bedroom. The threat of being discovered by Maleficent was something that plagued the girl with every corner that they turned. If the vicious woman found out that Bella had been bringing Riku off to far away places, the outcome couldn't be good. Though it was pretty easy to defeat the sorceress in the game, the girl had an instinct that told her it wouldn't be so easy without a Keyblade, spells, and two other people backing her up.
"Something on your mind, Bella?" Riku's voice brought her back with the question. Turning her head to him, she gave a shake of her head and a small smile.
"No…not really." she lied through her teeth. The halls of their floor were filled with Shadows, bustling back and forth. What the reason was for it, she had no idea, but Bella felt surprisingly unconcerned by the groups of hazardous creatures. Maybe she was getting the hang of this immortality thing. It was that small thought that brought her attention clattering down as she turned the corner to their left, bedroom bound. The familiar grunt from the unknown person sounded familiar as did the vicious sound Riku made when he laid eyes on the being. From her fallen spot on the floor, Bella could only guess as to who it was.
"We've gotta stop meetin' like this, babe."
"Hello, Hades." the girl mumbled as she stared up at the ceiling, still laying flat on her back. Overhead, the god of the Underworld bent slightly to look down at her while cocking his head to the side bringing a slight 'whoosh' noise from his flaming hair.
"Where've you two been? Ol' green and gruesome has been sendin' out a search party." the tall man explained and crossed his arms over his broad chest. B.D. sighed as she pulled herself up with the assistance of Riku, who was still glaring daggers at the god.
"In other words," she started, "she sent you to look for us?"
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm nobodies errand boy." Hades said sharply and narrowed his yellow tinted eyes menacingly.
"Then why are you still here?" Riku demanded, gaze stern. Instantly, the gray god turned toward the boy. For a few moments, Bella was left to simply glance back and forth between the two, much like she was forced to do earlier with Riku and Vincent. However, this time, she hoped, it wasn't because of the threat in the competition category.
"Mind your own business, kid." the silence was finally broken by the sharp toothed villain. Riku opened his mouth to respond, but Hades quickly turned his attention back to the female.
"But as I was saying, Maleficent wants to see you two down in the Chapel. Somethin' about you goin' on a little 'fieldtrip'." he mumbled on with hand gestures and leaned heavily against the wall, face unusually calm and collected.
"Fieldtrip?" Riku questioned with a quirked brow.
Ah, fieldtrip indeed. It was all starting to make sense to B.D. The scampering Heartless, the searching Hades, and the basic restlessness of the castle. Time sure did seem to fly in the game world; already Maleficent was summoning them for the 'fieldtrip', as Hades so eloquently put it, to Traverse Town. This little journey would probably prove to be the big test in trust between Riku and Bella-Donna. Either the islander would believe the sorceresses lies about Sora's betrayal, or Bella's words of truth on the matter. The turning point in the game was just over the horizon, and the girl was becoming concerned with how she was going to convince Riku that she was telling the truth, and not Maleficent. As he had said so many times before, she wasn't exact lying being the most honest person when it came to some things. Why should he believe her? Was the fact that they were close friends enough? She sure hoped so, because if it wasn't…things were going to cave in around her little plan of a better outcome.