Chapter 2
"Brother,"
"Where can I find you?"
"Well, uh, it's kind of a long story" Sora explained.
"Never mind then." Kadaj replied with a slight smile.
"We're going to explore the city a bit, want to join us?" Riku asked.
"No thanks, I think I'll just go back into the hotel."
"Suit yourself." Riku said as he turned around and waved his hand.
"See you later." Sora waved bye and left along with Riku.
Kadaj turned around and went back into the hotel. As he walked in he noticed a sign in a hallway he hadn't noticed before. It was a sign of a big black arrow pointing down the hall with the word "Bar" on it. Kadaj thought for a moment. "I guess I can start my search there."
He went down the hall and entered the bar. There were a lot of people and it was surprisingly large. At the middle of the bar he saw Tifa talking to the bartender, a man in semi-formal black and white clothes and red hair. He walked over to the bartender and saw Tifa leave.
"Hey" said the bartender.
"Hello." Kadaj replied.
"Take a seat." the bartender told him, now with a smile on his face.
"Okay…" Kadaj sat down tempted to ask the older man a few questions.
"Haven't seen you around here before, usually just the same people staying at this hotel."
"I'm just passing by, I'll be leaving in a day or two."
"Was it raining where you came from? 'Cause it isn't raining in here."
"What makes you say that?"
"You're wearing a hood, it makes you look a little suspicious."
"…I guess you're right." Kadaj took off his hood, revealing his vibrant green eyes.
The two stopped for a moment.
"So, the name's Reno. Yours?" Reno asked as he started preparing a drink for himself.
"Kadaj."
"Kadaj, huh? Well, you want a drink? I'll make it free since it's your first time here."
"I don't know, I've never drunk alcohol before."
"Never?"
"Not really."
"You should give it a try, it's pretty good."
"Hmm. Well, I guess one glass wouldn't hurt."
"Great, what flavor would you like? Just name any you can think of."
"Do you have a cherry flavor?"
"Yeah. One cherry flavored drink coming right up." He said as he started preparing the drink.
"What's your favorite flavor?" Kadaj asked wanting to converse a little more.
"I'd have to say mango with a little hint of strawberry."
"That sounds like it'd taste interesting."
"Yeah, it does. Kind of like a combination of sweet and sour."
"Maybe I should try that next time."
"Maybe."
Reno poured in some flavoring into Kadaj's drink and finished it off with a cherry.
"Here you go." He said, handing the drink over to Kadaj.
"Thanks."
Kadaj hesitantly took the cup and drank down the whole thing, leaving the cherry and a few ice cubes in the glass. Not exactly the wisest thing to do, for him anyway.
"Whoa, hold it." Reno took Kadaj's glass and realized he already drank the whole thing.
"…That just tasted bitter."
"Probably not the best idea to drink it like that. I would drink it a little slower and enjoy the flavor." He said and sipped his own drink.
"I guess I'll try another one."
"Okay, what flavor do you want?"
"I think I'll try that mango one you told me about."
"Good choice."
Reno made the drink. This one came with a fresh slice of sweet mango.
"Here you go."
"Thanks." Kadaj took the drink and slowly drank it, savoring every bit of flavor.
"What do you think?"
"It's pretty good if you drink it like that, but I'm starting to get a little dizzy." he said and ate his mango slice.
"That's kind of expected, since you don't really have a tolerance for it yet."
"This is just something I have to get used to?" he asked, starting to get a little dizzier.
"Yeah, pretty much."
Reno made Kadaj a third drink.
"Would you like to 'get used to it?'" he asked.
"Why not?" he drank his drink, this time it was pineapple flavored.
Reno watched him drink like he was a little kid.
"That was good." Kadaj told him, cheeks now getting a little red.
"Just tell me if you want another one." He said with a smile.
"More please." He said almost instantly.
"Alright." and he started to prepare yet another drink.
"Reno…can I ask you something?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you seen anyone with spiky blonde hair?
"…Last time I saw him was a couple months ago, don't know where he is now."
"Oh, thanks."
"Looking for him?" he asked, serving Kadaj's fourth drink.
"Yes, tell me if you see him." he started on his drink.
"I will."
Kadaj put his head down on the counter.
"Could I have another drink?" the now drunk Kadaj asked.
Reno took a look at him.
"You're drinking these faster than I do, this is already your fifth drink." with that, Reno made him another drink. When he brought it to Kadaj he started to think about if he should really serve it.
"You sure you can even lift up your head to drink?"
"Sure I can." Then he wearily lifted up his head to the drink.
"You're going to have the worst hangover when you wake up tomorrow." Reno said, giving him the drink.
"I've never had a hangover, is it fun?"
"That depends on your definition of 'fun.'"
"Have you ever had a hangover?"
"Not one like the one you'll have."
Kadaj put his head back down on the table, and closed his eyes.
"I really miss him."
Reno stared at him.
"Hello? Kadaj?"
He snapped his fingers next to Kadaj's ear a couple of times.
"Huh, he got knocked out faster than I thought he would."
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"Reno, do you have anything here that's really strong?"
"Yeah, of course I do. Why, need a good drink, Tifa?"
"No, not me. You remember Kadaj, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well he recently checked in to the hotel."
"Wasn't he taken care of a year ago?"
"Apparently not, but it doesn't seem like he remembers us."
"What's the problem then?"
"I can't let him leave the hotel, if he comes in here can you give him a drink that might give him a hangover or something?"
"That depends on if he likes to drink or not."
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"I think I might've overdone that a little bit."
Reno picked up his cell phone and left Tifa a quick message.
"Tifa, I've got a…present for you back at the bar, get here as soon as possible."
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy, Square Enix and Disney do.